Inserts. 5721 



Greek Oislron, and so forth, all meaning the same cattle-frighting object noticed by 

 all: and so terrific is the fright that the cattle will run away with their plough even 

 through the opposing hedge rather than submit to their infliction ; and yet, what is 

 most singular, they possess no weapon of infliction, but simply a telescopic sort of tube 

 for thrusting the egg down upon the skin, which hatching there, the tiny grub gnaws 

 its way through the skin and forms its nidus there in a comfortable abcess, leaving 

 its abode when fully grown, and tumbling to the earth becomes a chrysalis and next a 

 fly, which goes forth to perform this strange round of events, the object of which appears 

 to be to save the poor cow and ox from the effects of idleness and repletion, which, in 

 those sunny regions, they would be so exposed to, if not roused into activity and 

 leached and blistered in this way. Such are the ways of Providence, meant in 

 kindness no doubt. It is the susurrus, or whistle they make that frightens the cattle, 

 and not the infliction. And what is too remarkable to be omitted, we learn from that 

 very ancient poet Avienus, that these Isles, abounding in forests, wild cattle and these 

 flies, were known by the name of CEstrimerides before they obtained from the Romans 

 the name of Britannia. — Bracy Clark; 18, Giltspur Street, London. 



Description of the Male of Megastigmus Pinus. — Having been furnished with 

 some more of the Pinus seeds, such as produced the female described some time ago 

 (Zool. 5548), I have been fortunate enough to breed a mule specimen ; I therefore 

 give a description of it, so as to complete the species: — Yellow; the eyes and tips of 

 the mandibles ferruginous ; antennae black ; the scape honey-yellow ; the flagellum 

 with a pale yellow line along the back. Pro thorax subquadrate, the collar with three 

 minute ferruginous dots above : base of the prothorax with a green transverse stripe and 

 a triangular blackish macula ; an angular spot above the tegulse, also a triangular spot 

 on the scutellum, black. Wings beautifully iridescent, the stigma and nervures black. 

 Abdomen honey-yellow, the upper surface with an interrupted broadish black line. 

 Legs pale yellow, the claws of all the tarsi ferruginous. Length If lines; expanse of 

 wings 3 lines. — Edward Parfitt ; 4, Weirjield Place, St. Leonard's, Exeter ; July 10, 

 1857. 



Capture of Dyschirius impunctipennis. — I have again met with Dyschirius 

 impunctipennis, Daw., and have taken about seventy specimens. Let those who 

 want it write to me, — not to exchange a "black dog" for a "monkey," as 1 prefer 

 giving insects and having them given to the huxtering system which seems so much 

 in vogue now. Of course I shall supply old friends first, and any one who does not 

 hear from me may conclude my stock is exhausted. — C\ S. Gregson; Stanley, June 9, 

 1857. 



Occurrence of Carabus intricatus near Plymouth. — When digging for insects, a few 

 days since, in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, I had the good fortune to find three 

 fine and perfect specimens of Carabus intricatus and the mutilated remains of a fourth. 

 These insects vary much in colour, some being tinged with resplendent blue and violet, 

 whilst others are dull and nearly black. — John Gatcombe ; Wyndham, Plymouth, 

 May 18, 1857. 



Description of an uncharaclerized British Anthicus. 



Anthicus Schaumii. 

 A. ater nitidus confertim punctulatus el cinereo-pubescens, capite magno poslice 

 valde guadrato, antennarum basi tibiis tarsisque plus minus rufescentioribus. 

 {Long. corp. lin. 1 J.) 



xv. 3 c 



