326 General Netes. [ April, 
matter of some sort. In fact about one-half the food of these 
twenty-eight specimens consisted of vegetation, one-third of it 
being derived from Cryptogamia and the rest from grasses and 
Composite. 
Still more startling, however, are the results of his examinations 
of different Coccinellidee or ladybirds., Coccinella novem-notata, 
Brachyacantha ursina, Hippodamia convergens and Megiila macu- 
/ata were all found to be extremely fond of the spores of fungi 
and some of them of the pollen of different Composite, the last 
named species in addition to fungus spores and pollen grains 
(probably those of the common dandelion), was proven to feed 
also upon the anthers and pollen of grasses. We have long been 
suspicious that this species was almost as thoroughly a vegetable ° 
feeder as the well-known northern squash-beetle (4pilachna 
borealis), which was always supposed to be the only exception to 
the carnivorous habits of its family. 
In July, 1874, we received a number of specimens of this Megilla 
from Mr. Geo. B. P. Taylor, of St. Inigoes, Md., who reported 
them as having done considerable injury to corn by eating holes 
in the blades, and specimens of blades that were riddled and 
perforated accompanied the beeties. We have on one or two 0¢- 
casions since endeavored to test the vegetable-feedipg habit of 
this insect in confinement, but without success, though it freely 
partook of the eggs of other insects, while we have known it to 
feed indiscriminately on the eggs, larvae and pupee of Lina scripia, 
or the streaked cottonwood-beetle. 
Mr. Chambers’ note refers to a communication by Mr, Wm. 
Trelease in the American Entemologist who found the common 
Harpalus caliginosus engaged in eating the contents of the partly- 
grown seed of the Rag-weed (Ambrosia artemisiefolia), which ob- 
servations were confirmed by Prof. W. A. Buckhout,? of the State 
College, Center Co., Penn., who believed that he had in addition 
found this beetle feeding upon the pollen of the staminate flowers 
of the same plant. 
In accordance with his general conclusions indicated ina notice 
in the present number “On some Interactions of Organisms, 
Prof. Forbes believes that this partial herbivorous habit among 
the predaceous beetles renders them more valuable to man than 
they would be if confined solely to animal food. To use his owa 
language: “As a prudent sovereign finds it worth while to main- 
tain a much larger fighting force than is necessary to the ordinary 
administration of his government, in order that he may have 
always a reserve of power with which to meet aspiring rebellion, 
so it is to the general advantage that carnivorous insects should 
abound in largernumbers than could find sustenance in the ordinary 
surplus of insect reproduction. They will then be prepared to 
1Vol. Il, p. 251. 
4ibid., p. 277- 
