THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
183 
specimen of Cleonus sulciroslris. I was 
at the time entomologizing at Deal. I 
had observed an odd specimen or two on 
some thistles; so next day I gave a look 
out after Cleonus. On the ground, at 
the roots of thistles, I soon found a fine 
specimen or two. Many of the thistles 
were quite dead and withered, — black, as 
may be commonly observed ; these are 
intermixed with green, healthy plants: 
the dead ones have been killed by Cleonus. 
As the readiest way of obtaining fine ex- 
amples, and of saving time, let the col- 
lector dig up the dead plants during this 
month : the roots are long and require 
digging deep for. On digging up some 
at Deal I found, usually about six or 
eight inches under ground, a part of the 
root swollen: this, in every instance, con- 
tained either larva, pupa, or perfect insect. 
There is no difficulty in breeding them : 
stick the dead, swollen portion of the 
root into moist sand, and keep it so ; 
place them where they will have a little 
sun daily, and they will soon arrive at 
maturity. I had a fine one out this 
morning. This may be useful to young 
collectors. — Frederick Smith, 27, Rich- 
mond Crescent, Islington, N. ; Aug. 25. 
Hyclrcechus Caraboicles. — Having taken 
this insect in some plenty from ponds 
near this place, I shall be glad to send 
specimens to any Coleopterist who may 
want it. Correspondents must send 
boxes, and pay return postage, except 
when they send me any other of the 
Philhydridci, which, except the com- 
monest species, are desiderata with me. — 
Herbert F. Gibbs, 20, Robert Street, 
Chelsea; August 27. 
Captures at Wimbledon.— Yesterday I 
took a specimen of Cychrus rostratus on 
Wimbledon Common, under a stone, just 
attacking a frog. This insect Stephens 
says used to occur at Coombe Wood. I 
also took a few specimens of Aphodius 
nitidulus at the same place. Perhaps 
some of your readers could inform me 
how best to kill these Curcidionidce, 
which are covered with scales, and there- 
fore spoilt by boiling water. — C. Gloyne, 
5, Terrace, Kensington ; August 30. 
TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
The life of an insect is divided into four 
stages, — the egg, the caterpillar or larva, 
the chrysalis or pupa, and finally the 
imago or perfect insect. This law is so 
general that, unless perhaps the genus 
Phasma, only two exceptions to it have 
as yet been recorded. 
Dr. Filippi (‘ Annals and Magazine of 
Natural History,’ 1852), however, in the 
Pleromalidce, and, more recently, M. 
Fabre (‘ Annales des Sciences Naturelles,’ 
1856), in the genus Sitaris, have ob- 
served facts so entirely at variance with 
all previous observations as to deserve 
the most attentive consideration of ento- 
mologists. 
Dr. Filippi observed in certain eggs of 
Rhynchites betuleti a small parasite like 
an infusorium, provided with a tail, which 
it moved briskly with a lashing motion. 
No organs could at first be seen in this 
animalcule, but a small vesicle soon ap- 
peared therein, increased in size and 
finally developed itself into the larva of 
one of the Pleromalidce. The subsequent 
metamorphoses did not appear to offer 
any remarkable peculiarities. 
The observations of M. Fabre are in 
some respects even more extraordinary. 
According to him the egg of Sitaris 
humeralis produces a larva resembling 
that of Silplia : the skin of this larva 
after awhile becomes dry and detaches 
itself from its contents, without, how- 
ever, tearing, so that it forms a closed 
sack, containing a chrysalis. The 
pupal skin in its turn separates itself 
from all connexion with the enclosed 
organism, and thus forms a second sack, 
included in the first, and itself containing 
a new larva. This larva casts its skin in 
