4 i9 



Bakau depreciates in value alter 18 inches diameter. It grows 

 principally on silt where the long heavy seeds on being drifted or 

 falling are easily embedded in the soil. 



With a 6-inch, diameter, 1 have no doubt but that the Forest 

 Capital would be increased and worked under short rotations, 

 ensuring the quickest and highest net returns. 



V. P. BORGES. 



Holi.ingburv Estate, 



At UAH via SINGAPORE, 



Straits Settlements. 



November T2tk y 1904. 



BEETLES ATTACKING RUBBER, 



The Editor, 



Straits Bulletin. 



Dear Sir, — -I am sending herewith three specimens of a beetle V 

 have often noticed feeding on the young shoots and leaves of Para 

 plants, and would be obliged if you would let me know, in your next 

 issue if it is a common species. These specimens were taken from 

 a field adjoining jungle, planted with Para stumps and the beetles 

 had attacked the first shoots. They do not appear to be numerous, or 

 to do any serious damage. The specimens sent, I kilied with tobacco 

 smoke while on the leaves, and am sending them with the leaves 

 on which they were feeding. I have also enclosed a leaf to the under 

 side of which the eggs of some insects are attacked. 



I have, &c, 



R. A. BURGESS. 



The beetles sent by Mr. BURGESS are tiger beetles Cicindela, sp. 

 They are little over \ inch long, brown in colour above with large 

 black eyes and powerful toothed jaws, the thorax narrow and cylin- 

 dric, the elytra deep green or brown with a yellow edge and a few 

 yellow waved markings and dots. They are finely punctate all 

 over the punctations having a red and green metallic lustre ; the 

 underside of the body is co\ered w ith white hairs, and with the long 

 legs and the thoracic and neck joints is metallic green. Three of 

 the beetles were holding firmly on to the shoots and leaf out of 

 which a portion had certainly been bitten by something and the 

 mouths of the insects seemed to be covered with latex. All these 

 beetles are, however, carnivorous, living on other insects and their 

 jaws are not at all adapted for vegetable food. What can have in- 

 duced them to bite the rubber plants is hard to say. This class of 

 beetles is one to be encouraged as they destroy a number of other 

 insects, both in their larval form and as adults. It may be taken 

 as an accident that these beetles hav e bitten the plant and that they 

 will probably dc no real harm. The eggs referred to were very 

 curious. They had the shape of a cylindrical bottle containing a dull 



