5112 



Insects, <$fc. 



when recently captured ? If they be caused by mites, it would be a curious fact that 

 they should be peculiar to this species only of the genus, as they do not appear on any 

 of the others, as far as I am aware. Stephens, in his ' Manual ' (in the ■ Illustrations' 

 they pass unnoticed), speaks of them as if markings of the same nature as the dusky 

 patches on the other parts of the elytra ; and such they appeared to me when I cap- 

 tured a few specimens in February last, in Somersetshire, and only remarked the 

 beauty of the species without examining it very minutely. But the red colour having 

 almost faded away since, I now observed that it must have arisen from something 

 attached to or actually in the body itself. I am surprised that Mr. Clark does not 

 notice this peculiarity in his description (Zool. 5050), forming, as it does, so easy 

 a guide to the recognition of the insect at first sight; but it may be peculiar to some 

 individuals only. It has, however, been also seen, in this or one of the allied species 

 (I am not sure which), on specimens taken on the banks of the Dodder, Co. Dublin. 

 I therefore think the circumstance may fairly be deemed worthy of investigation. — 

 A. R. Hogan ; Charlton, Dundrum, near Dublin, April, 1856. 



Origin of the Name Horse Chestnut. — Of late there has been a discussion in the 



'Zoologist' respecting the origin of the 

 name horse-chestnut. As yet it strikes 

 me no solution of the difficulty has been 

 given. I may be wrong, but from a 

 child I have believed the name horse- 

 chestnut to have arisen from the most 

 marvellous similitude of a horse's hoof 

 and nails therein, appearing at every 

 joint of the young wood ; and even 

 when severed with a knife the frog of 

 the horse's foot also appears. Mrs. 

 Fair encloses a rough sketch, figs. A 

 and B, which, I think, speaks for itself. 

 I enclose also a piece of the horse- 

 chestnut wood. — J. Farr ; Gillingham 

 Rectory, Beccles, April 12, 1856. 

 [I am surprised that no correspondent has previously suggested this most obvious 

 solution. The cicatrix formed at the point to which the fallen leaf has been attached 

 constitutes the hoof. Since receiving the Rev. Mr. Farr's interesting communication, 

 I find that the fact is perfectly familiar to residents in the country, and that we natu- 

 ralists are the only ignorami. — Edward Neivman.~\ 





