yore | 
Ps a SER Se ees 
1884. } Entomology. 193 
fore justified in assuming that Niptus hololeucus once bore well- 
developed hind wings, and that these gradually became aborted 
in consequence of disuse, until they were finally thrown back into 
the young stages, and some day will disappear even from these 
stages. In other wingless beetles this period may have already 
occurred. 
This abortion of an organ brings after it other transformations 
ofthe body. Without the hind-wings the beetles cannot fly. It 
is therefore not necessary for them to be able to spread out the 
elytra, the latter remain permanently lying upon the back. What 
is the consequence? The two elytra grow together to form a 
firm dorsal shield, such as we find in nearly all beetles which are 
entirely destitute of hind-wings. Atthe same time the elytra be- 
come convex, and bend round at the sides, so that they embrace 
the abdomen. In consequence of the disappearance of the wing- 
muscles, the thorax becomes altered. The body acquires quite a 
different form ; new forms are produced which we call species. 
SITARIS AND ITS TRANSFORMATIONS.—Those who have read of 
the hypermetamorphosis of Meloé, and of Epicauta, &c., in pre- 
ng volumes of this journal, may be interested to note those of 
the European Meloé beetle, Sitaris, whose history was worked 
` 
ani Kis Š 
Cp 
out by Fabre, in 18 
It is hatched 1 
holes in 
Stage C, then an active fourth one (D), which be- 
| | figures | normal pupa E, the beetle being represented at F; all the 
a ION IN THE ArcTias.—Rev. Dr. Hulst, in the Bulletin 
es man 78 Entomological Society for October, relates how 
