54 



FIELD AND FOREST. 



Capricorn larva, leaving only a mere 

 shell, some place-, not mure than one- 

 eighth of an inch in thickness, and from 

 encl to end lacking about two inches. A 

 hole in the opposite end showed where 

 the "borer" entered. How far ii had eaten 

 before getting into this particular 1 -onion 

 cannot be known, but evidently for some 

 distance. The grub is white, with a large 

 head (proportionately) tapering out to 

 quite a slender caudal extremity, mancli- 

 • bles black, length of larva nearly one 

 inch and a half. It would, from its ap- 

 pearance, have become an imago next 

 season. 



Now for the singular part of the story. 

 The laths of which this one formed a part 

 were purchased in 1864 by Mr. Clark, 

 and have been in use every season since. 

 How many times this particular one had 

 been used is of no consequence. They 

 were sawn from a tree that came down 

 the Connecticut river in a raft the spring 

 previous, but how long it had been cut is 

 not known. Making all allowances, and 

 the larva had been in the timber fourteen 

 years, had eaten away more than four feel 

 in length, and in this lath the whole width 

 with the exception first named, and was a 

 larva still. It had filled the cavity behind 

 with its chips. Very possibly the season- 

 ing of the timber retarded the develop- 

 ment of the insect. It had evidently 

 become bewildered during its long jour- 

 ney, else why should it eat lengthwise of 

 the timber, as these larvae are not in the 

 habit of eating very far longitudinally. 

 Some may object and say the borer knew 

 wdiat it was about, and would not eat it- 

 self out of "house and home till it was 

 ready to fly. It certainly did not. The 

 species is not known, but the specimen is 

 in possession of the writer. — N. Coleman. 

 Berlin, Conn., September ij, iSyj. 



Predatory Flies. — Whilst sitting on a 

 ledge of rocks in S >uth Park, my atten- 

 tion wis attracted to what I at first sup-' 

 posed was a I ir ;e grasshopper traveli.i ; 

 very briskly over the turf. On close in- 

 spection it proved to be. a sort o( Ichneu- 

 mon fly, resembling a very small black 

 hornet or a large flying ant with a tight 

 laced waist, packings, large green caterpil- 

 lar at a brisk pace "through brush and 

 through briar," at least ten times it own 

 weight and size, as easily as a porter 

 would pack a light valise on his shoulders. 

 The fly standing astride of the grub held 

 it tightly in his jaws by the middle'of the 

 belly upside down to prevent the cater- 

 pillar's legs from catching at any obstacle 

 en route. The strength and courage ap- 

 plied must have been comparatively enor- 

 mous. Presently he reached a little^ ar- 

 temsiabush, climbed it tossing and dragging 

 his prey among the branches and finally 

 hanging it securely in a fork. This I sup- 

 pose was to place it out ot reach of ma- 

 rauding ants and other insects of prey, 

 just as a hunter would hang his venison 

 out of reach of wolves. Then he de- 

 scended and prospected busily either for 

 his own hole or some convenient den. 

 Presently he reached a small round hole, 

 whether his own or a spider's I could not 

 learn. In he bustled without knocking to 

 inquire if any one was at home. Ap- 

 parantly satisfied he returned to his quarry; 

 he rolled him down from the tree, dragged 

 him to the hole, entered and hauled the 

 body lengthwise after him; he remained 

 below a few moments then returned to the 

 surface and began carrying out of the way 

 in his jaws the larger straws and sticks near 

 the entrance. This was preparatory to 

 covering up his prey in the sime manner 

 as a dog covers a bone, by kicking the 

 fine sand into the hole, descend every mo- 



