S (June, 
laid ia small ; a dozen on either side would be above the average, though I have 
seen more. The larvae burrow upwards and downwards. Many of the beetles 
assume the perfect state in autumn, and either continue the larval burrow untiLj 
spring, after the manner of rhododadylus, or, escaping, make a fresh longitudinaj 
burrow iu a higher portion of the same stick in which they hybernate, apparentlj 
eating a little all the winter. I was much puzzled by finding, during the winter! 
one or more beetles in longitudinal burrows branching from parent galleries, of 
which the young brood were already for the most part perfect. I believe these ; 
were beetles of the young brood which had used the openings of the old galleries 
to enter the bark, just as they instinctively go to the bottom of a crevice to begin 
burrowing. Some assume the perfect state during the winter, and not a small 
proportion pass the winter as larvse ; even now (May 14th) I have some still in the 
larval state. The period of oviposition is rather later than in rhododactylus, and 
occupies nearly a month. 
The full-grown larvse of Scolytus almost invariably burrow into the wood to 
form a hybernaculum ; I have frequently noticed a similar habit in rhododactylus, 
and more rarely in ohscurus ; and, as throwing light on the use of this habit, I may 
note that in furze they rarely do so, but that those passing the winter as larvge in 
broom almost invariably do, the bark of broom being thinner, and when mined by 
these beetles much more easily separated, a mere touch removing it when soaked 
with rain. 
Ohscurus, under the name of trifoUi, is said to occur in the roots of clover, 
which is its recognised habitat ; and as clover belongs to the same natural order as 
furze and broom, it seems by no means unlikely that it would eat clover in default 
of them, but I am inclined to doubt its ovipositing in them. 
These beetles seem very free from parasites, a predaceous-looking larva, with a 
double-hooked tail (very like a miniature Pyrochroa larva), and from which I have 
bred Rhinosiinus planirostris, is the only one I have found. It is more abundant 
in old burrows than in those still containing larvse ; so that, if it is carnivorous, 
and is not satisfied with the damp frass, it probably eats Acari, a Thrips which is 
common iu old burrows, and other such creatures, more frequently than the larvse 
of Phlceophthorus or H. obscurus. — T. Algernon Chapman, M.D., Abergavenny, 
May, 1869. 
Note on Argyra leucocej>hala.— Mr. Scott told me lately of an interesting habit 
he has observed in this Dipteron. He met with it in considerable abundance near 
Morpeth, and says it resembled snow falling and melting immediately it touched 
the ground ; for, when on the wing, the silvery gloss on the body appeared white, 
but, when the insect settled, the closed wings at once obscured it. This is probably 
an instance of an obscure colour protecting an insect when at rest, like the brown 
underside of the common (J "ghost" moth. — G. H. Vekrai.l, London, April, 1869. 
Queries respecting a few willow galls. — Thanks to a botanical friend, I shall be 
enabled to give all my willow galls, except a few, their true botanical position in 
the descriptive list of galls upon which Mr. Miiller and myself are now engaged for 
this Magazine. I therefore take the liberty of making a few remarks on these 
galls, but before I commence so doing, I may observe that my collection is indebted 
