No. 1. ] 



MisPflhl Ilf07(^ jVo/f.t, 



Xyleborus saxeneni Ratz. and it is thought to be the one that does most 

 of the damage to the casks. 



The Xijlehorus beetles, which attack stored casks, cau be easily dis- 

 tinguished from tlie Tripoiiendron beetles, which attack green wood, 

 by the fact thiit the Xylehoms is very much smaller than the 

 I'ripodevdroii (3 mil. long by 1 mil. broad, against 4 mil. long by 2 mil. 

 broad), and also by the shape of the burrow, which in the Xylehoms 

 branches a good deal, while in the TripGdendron the straight tunnel made 

 by the parent has only a number of little chambers eaten out around it 

 by the larvae. 



The above is a sketch o£ the question as it stands at present, but 

 several of the points are still uncertain, and as it is obviously of import- 

 ance to determine whether the damage is due to original unsoundness 

 in the casks or to subsequent injury in store, Mr. Blandford is taking 

 up the whole question and collecting information with a view to settling 

 it definitely. He will be grateful for any help that is given him in the 

 matter, and writes that the chief points upon wiiich he reqnires inform- 

 ation are : (1) if the barrels are attacked on board ship, or in transport, 

 or in store : (2) whether the beetle is confined to beer casks or also 

 attacks other timber : (t3j any particulars about the life history of the 

 insect and the extent to which it gives trouble in Indian breweries. 



PostscrijJt. — Mr. H. M. Phipson of Bombay writes — (January 1^92), 

 that the Inspectors at the Commissariat offi<.'e in Bombay all say that of 

 late they have not been troubled with the borer. They agree that two 

 or three years ago, when so many of the casks were attacked, the casks 

 were in the majority of cases found to be leaking, on being landed, so it 

 would appear that the insect commences its operations on board ship. 



In the rainy season of 1891 attention was again called to the 

 " cheroot weevil/' Lasioderma teslaceum 

 Kedtenb. (Dermestidse). This insect drills th^ 



Cheroot borer. 



small round holes which are so often met with in Indian clieroots, and 



