THE YOUNG NATUBALIST. 



69 



these insects are so abundant, there are a great many people that have never 

 seen one. It is nocturnal in its habits, and if searched for amongst infested 

 material before dawn, from June to August, it will often be found abundantly. 



Anobium paniceum, — A smaller species than the preceding, is very 

 abundant in furriers skin warehouses, natural history collections if neglected, 

 herbaria, amongst skins of birds, and animals, on which the larvae feed. In 

 fact they feed upon almost every substance, on caper tea, dried culinary 

 herbs, ginger, cayenne pepper, Turkey rhubarb, cantharides, belladonna, 

 hellebore, even perforating tinfoil, and rendering ship biscuits unfit for use 

 by feeding and breeding in it. 



Xestobium tessellation is found in old furniture and wainscoting, 

 and in old oak trees in Dunham Park. It is much larger than the preceding 

 species, and is one of the death-watch beetles, it occurs more frequently in 

 country houses, where probably it has hastened the dissolution of many an 

 invalid. 



Ernobius mollis is sometimes found in pine or deal floors, but oftener 

 in a branches of Pinus sylvestris. 



Ptilinus pectinicornis is a small and cylindrical species. The male 

 has very beautiful pectinated or comb-like antennas. I have often found this 

 insect feeding on oak and willow. Mr. Westwood found this species feeding 

 on the bedpost, in myriads, which they completely destroyed in three years. 



Lasioderma serricorne- — I have never met with this species, but it 

 has been found feeding on gum-sumach by Mr. Westwood, also captured by 

 Mr. Hope, in his library in London, where it is supposed to have escaped 

 from the bodies of exotic insects. 



Hhizopertha pusilla occurs in granaries and corn stores, where it feeds 

 on wheat, from which I have obtained it. 



Blaps mortisaga occurs in houses in the north of Scotland, from 

 whence I have received it. It is extremely rare, or perhaps it is oftenest met 

 with by those people who do not study Entomology. 



Blaps mucronata with us bears the name of black beetle, which is 

 correct. They are very common in houses, and slow in their movements, 

 carefully lifting one Leg at a time, although I have seen one run very quickly. 

 They are nocturnal in their habits, and are sometimes very abundant in 

 kitchens, churchyards, coal pits, and stables. They emit a very disagreeable 

 odour, which is difficult to get rid of. Instances are recorded where the 

 larvge are said to have been discharged from the human stomach, in one case 

 as many as 2,000 larvse of this insect were so discharged at various tiroes, as 

 well as one pupa. 



