1232 Insects. 



ter. When I was lately in town, Mr. Hunneman, of Queen Street, Soho, informed me 

 that he had received some specimens of asbestos from Professor Bonelli, which upon 

 examination were found to contain many larvae of some insects, that had perforated it 

 in various directions, and in it underwent their customary metamorphosis. These 

 when arrived at their perfect state, proved to be a species of the genus Dermestes, — a 

 tribe that usually feeds upon dead animal matter when dried. He obligingly gave me 

 specimens of the beetles, and also of the asbestos, the latter appeared to be of the 

 flexible kind, which is called amianth. Upon examining the former, I find it to be the 

 Dermestes vulpinus Fabr. (Oliv. Ins. No. 9. t. 1. f. 6), a species common to South 

 Europe and South Africa. As the animals of this tribe are not particular in selecting 

 a place in which to undergo their metamorphosis, it is not probable that they would 

 have taken the trouble to perforate the asbestos for the sole purpose, since they will not 

 only assume the pupa in the exuviae of the animal they have devoured, but even under 

 their own excrement (see De Geer, iv. 196) ; but a further proof that this was not their 

 object is furnished by the varying size of the holes perforated in the specimen of the 

 amianth that Mr. Hunneman gave me. There were three, one of which was a line and 

 a half in diameter ; another a line and three-fourths ; and a third two lines ; from 

 whence it seems to follow that the insects that perforated it were in different stages of 

 growth, and consequently derived nutriment from that substance. 



" I hope that the fact T have here recorded will not be unworthy a place in the 

 ' Philosophical Magazine,' and that it may stimulate some of your readers, who may 

 have had an opportunity of making observations on similar subjects, to lay them 

 before the public. Insulated facts, though seemingly trifling, are often of great use to 

 the physiologist and natural philosopher. 



" I am, yours, &c, 



W. Kirby." 



P.S. Since forwarding you my paper on ' Animals feeding on Mineral substances,' 

 a day or two ago, I have met with the following instances which you will oblige me by 

 inserting. I have not Kirby and Spence nor Macleay by me, but as you doubtless 

 have, perhaps you will trouble yourself to turn to the references. 



The larva of Callidium bajulus feeds upon lead, often perforating spouts and roofs ; 

 the lead has been found in its stomach, (see 'Kirby's and Spence's Introduction 

 to Entomology ', vol i. p. 235, and ' Macleay, Horse Entomologicae,' vol. ii. p. 193.) 



Macleay gives I think several instanes ; still I think it may be admitted in general 

 that no member of the animal kingdom is ever maintained or nourished for any great 

 length of time by inorganized substances, though a few, as common salt, may be used 

 as a condiment to the organized substances. — George Munford ; East Winch, Novem- 

 ber \0tk, 1845. 



Additional note on Tetrastichus. — In * The Zoologist' (Zool. 1158), I mentioned a 

 species of Tetrastichus whose larva destroys Yponomeuta Euvonymella. It is the 

 Eulophus Euvonymellae of Bouche (Naturgeschichte der Ins. i. 172, 68). Its assump- 

 tion of the perfect state continued from the early part of August till near the middle 

 of October, during which time about forty individuals, nearly all of them females were 

 disclosed. The eggs whence they sprung were probably laid much later in the year 

 than those of the parasites before-mentioned. — Francis Walker. 



