Notes upon the Food of Predaceous Beetles. 165 
was conclusive that the unripe seeds were what they were 
after and not microscopic insects as was at first supposed. 
The insect is not only cunning, drawing up its legs and 
dropping to the ground upon the least disturbance, after 
the manner of a Chrysomelid, but also shows consider- 
able ingenuity. It grasps the lower extremity of the 
glume tightly in its mandibles, then relaxing slightly, 
passes upward and again tightens its grasp — a series of 
movements which finally force the seed, which is now of 
the consistency of cream, out at the apex. This it at once 
proceeds to devour with an appetite which reminds one 
quite forcibly of a tramp who has been obliged to earn 
his dinner in advance. Later in the season it is found 
feeding in the same manner upon the seeds of Agrostis 
vulgaris Witt. Specimens of Anisodactylus baltimoren- 
sis Say were observed feeding upon the marrow and 
fatty matter clinging to the tibia of some dead animal, 
probably that of an ox. Attention is called to this as be- 
ing in perfect accord with microscopic observations re- 
ported by Mr. Forbes in the following paper, upon an- 
other specimen found upon grass a few months later. 
Calathus gregarius Say may be found abundantly upon 
the heads of timothy grass during the early mornings of 
the first of July. Of the genus Platynus only a single ob- 
servation has been obtained, and this was during the lat- 
ter part of June of the present year, when two specimens 
of P. cupripennis Say w T ere seen harassing a half -grown 
cricket, which they had already disabled. The carnivor- 
ous habits of beetles are often as difficult to discover as 
their vegetarian. Usually they are not at all in favor of 
public dinners, and, like beasts or birds of prey, prefer 
to drag their victims to some secluded nook to devour 
them; hence, if the observer gets any insight into this 
part of their domestic affairs he must take them by sur- 
prise. In this manner a Staphylinus cinnamopterus 
Grav. was surprised while in the act of devouring an 
Anomoglossus pusillus Say, having first, to guard against 
its escape, eaten off four of its legs. 
In another instance a Dyschirius globulosus Say was 
observed to spring upon a small salmon-colored maggot- 
