1868.J 



99 



dashes, which in the first variety, outlined the As, could still be traced. 

 3. A pale variety sent to Mr. Buckler by Mr. G. T. Porritt, of Hudders- 

 field. Ground colour pale ochreous ; the broad bands wanting : the 

 double dorsal line very fine, most distinct at the folds, the sub-dorsal 

 line and the oblique dashes fine also, all brown in colour ; under the 

 spiracles a clouded, irregular, blackish stripe, shading off to the pale 

 grey of the centre of the belly, with some oblique dashes. 



The pupa, as in the other species, just under the surface of the 

 fine, loose soil. 



Exeter : Mj, 1868. 



Localities for Mesites Tardii. — From the editorial note appended to Mr. Wilkin- 

 son's recent communication about Mesites Tardii, I imagine that a list of the 

 localities of this species may not be uninteresting. Accordingly I send a few notes 

 with reference to such of them as have come under my individual notice. The first 

 specimens I possessed were said to have been taken in Ireland, but I know not in 

 what part, or by whom they were taken. Afterwards I had a large series from my 

 friend Mr. E. C. Buxton, taken by him out of a holly-tree, at Sheringham Park, 

 Norfolk, many years ago. The first specimens I saw from the north were some 

 brought to me by the same gentleman, who had found them abundant, but dead, in 

 an ash-tree in the grounds of Furness Abbey. The year afterwards I took a single 

 specimen (a very small one) when sweeping in the woods on Bound way Hill, 

 Devizes. 



In the spring of 1865, my friend Mr. Edleston and I went to spend a few days 

 at Grange, near Lancaster; after tea on the evening of our arrival we set out for a 

 short walk, and had not gone many yards from the inn, when Mr. Edleston stooped 

 down to examine an old stump of a tree built into the wall, close to the church, and 

 from it produced a fine specimen of Tardii. I returned to the inn for our diggers, 

 and we soon found other specimens ; but the position of the stump prevented our 

 doing much, so we proceeded on our walk, and were astonished on our return to 



the stump had disappeared, its place being filled with stone. On reaching our 

 sitting-room we found two immense hampers on the table, containing the portions 

 of the stump ; a kind Mend, who had heard of our trouble, having planned this 

 surprise for us. On splitting up the logs we found M. Tardii in great numbers 

 Thei'e was another ash-tree much perforated, and no doubt containing the beetle, 

 but the large black ants had also effected a lodging there, making examination 

 unpleasant. 



My next acquaintance with this species took place at Beaumaris, Anglesea ; 

 where I met with it plentifully in the roots and stumps of several ash-trees ; it was 

 also ahundant in trees near Nant, and on the north-west of the island. Mr. Buxton 

 has since met with it near Capel Curig, and I found a stump of ash this year near 

 Llanrwst, containing some broken, dead specimens. Omitting the Irish locaHty, of 

 which I know nothing, this will give at least seven distinct localities extending from 

 Wiltshire to Lancashire, and from the east coast of Norfolk to the island of Anglesea 

 on the west. — Joseph Sidebotham, Beech Grove, Bowdon, 1st August^ 1868. 



