i8 93 .] THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 99 



and include the following species : — Niptus hololeucus, Mezium affine, 

 Gibbium scotias, Anobium paniceum, A. domesticum, Xestobium tessellatum, 

 and Ptinus fur. 



As reference has frequently been made to species of Bookworms in 

 the " Publishers' Circular " and other publications, it will not be out 

 of place to give some particulars respecting the hfe-histories of these 

 species, as observed by myself in a City printing office. In the first 

 place it must be stated that the reports concerning the ravages of 

 bookworms are nearly always from persons who appear to be 

 unacquainted with the rudiments of Entomology, and possibly the 

 statements as to the damage done by these species are greatly 

 exaggerated. But real harm ma}' occur where books and 

 bookshelves are entirely neglected, and where dust and moth doth 

 corrupt, and beetles and cockroaches roam without let or hindrance, 

 while with due care and attention this would be entirely obviated. 

 In the British Isles, at least, little danger should be apprehended from 

 bookworms. But in warmer countries, where cockroaches and white 

 ants abound, then extra precaution is highly necessary. As we are 

 concerned only with bookworms which affect our own country I will 

 now proceed to deal with them specifically. 



In endeavouring to trace the origin of the term of " Ptinus " my 

 labours have proved almost futile, as indeed is the case with many 

 other generic terms in this group. The Greek word Ptenos=winged, 

 and with the prefix a means without wings. The species under Niptus, 

 Mezium,, Gibbium, and Ptinus appear to be all apterous, therefore the 

 term Ptinus hardly applies. With regard to Niptus, this may be a 

 transposition of the letters in the word Ptinus ; but the term has also 

 been written Tipnus. Mezium is likewise of obscure origin ; but 

 Gibbium probably refers to the hump-back or convex shape of the 

 elytra, and is rather an appropriate term. With regard to the specific 

 or trivial names, some may be made out in a satisfactory manner, 

 while others cannot be. Therefore, although a knowledge of deriva- 

 tives is very useful, taking it as a whole, applied to entomological 

 terms, it is rather profitless work. 



Niptus hololeucus is doubtless the commonest species, and may be 

 found dropping about all over City warehouses, particularly during the 

 warm months of the year. The larva will feed oh almost any dry 

 substance, such as wood, bodies of moths, beetles, or dried skins. 

 Sometimes it finds its way into store-boxes of insects which have been 

 neglected, and does a deal of damage. In fact it may be found in any 

 house, whether old or new. Two or three broods of the beetle can be 

 obtained during the year, but from November to April appears to be 

 the period for the winter larva. I have bred the insect on several 

 occasions, and have taken much interest in watching its development 



