200 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



attacks the sheep, devouring the fatty part surrounding the kidneys and leav- 

 ing the poor animals to die miserably. The farmers consequently wage such 

 a war upon the parrot tribe that many species are soon likely to become 

 extinct. The latter bird is nocturnal in its habits, and, feeding principally on 

 roots, is quite harmless to the farmer. Mr. Campbell also showed eggs of 

 European Water-tortoise Emys Earopoea, Schu., deposited by specimens in 

 Kelvin grove Museum ; and the claw of a Norwegian species of crab showing 

 a peculiar malformation. Mr. John Young, F.G.S., exhibited a specimen of 

 Elaterite, or flexible bitumen, a hydrocarbon mineral found in fissures in the 

 carboniferous limestone at Castleton, Derbyshire, and stated that it had only 

 been found in two localities in Scotland, and was rare in all the countries of 

 the world. Mr. Robert Dunlop showed a species of Chelifer found in old 

 paper at Airdrie ; and Mr. Robert Pettigrew specimens of Caropata, a poison- 

 ous parasite, from Brazil, which he exhibited under the microscope. Mr. 

 Alex. M. Stewart showed a number of lepidoptera from Argyllshire and Arran, 

 some of which were striking varieties. Some species from Arran were much 

 darker in colour than those from Knapdale, while others had quite the 

 opposite peculiarity. — Johx Macka.y, Hon. Sec. 



OBNOXIOUS AND INJURIOUS INSECTS. 



By JOSEPH CHAPPELL. 



Continued from page 171. 



Rhaginum indagator is abundant under the bark of pines, especially 

 pine stumps and recently felled trees. It occurs in Scotland and Shropshire, 

 in the latter locality it is rare. 



It- bifasciatum feeds beneath the bark of alders, and frequently other 

 forest trees, also pines abundantly. Some years ago I discovered this species 

 in an old gate post, which lay on the hillside in Stalybushes. An old ento- 

 mological friend, Mr. W. YTorthington, and myself soon demolished what 

 the beetles had left, which was very little. I was afterwards informed that 

 the ow ner of the gate said we had spoiled the post, however, to make amends, 

 I think we had saved some of the other posts, besides alder trees in the dis- 

 trict ; we found several alder trees infested with this species. 



Taxotus meridiarms occur on ash and oak trees, in the interior of 

 which it feeds, it also occurs in old hedges, and may be seen on the wing in 

 the hot sunshine. 



Pachyta COllaris are found on flowers in the South of England, 



