419 
Bakau depreciates in value after 1 8 inches diameter. It- grows 
principally on silt where the long heavy seeds on being drifted or 
falling are easily embedded in the soil. 
With a 6 -inch diameter, l have no doubt but that the Forest 
Capital would be increased and worked under short rotations, 
ensuring the quickest and highest net returns. 
V. P. BORGES. 
Hollingbury Estate, 
Muar via Singapore, 
Straits Settlements. 
November 12th , 1904. 
BEETLES ATTACKING RUBBER. 
The Editor , 
Straits. Bulletin. 
Dear Sir, — l am sending herewith three specimens of a beetle 1 
have often noticed feeding on the young shoots and leaves of Para 
plants, and would be obliged if you would let me know, in your next 
issue if it is a common species. ' These specimens were taken from 
a field adjoining jungle, planted with Para stumps and the beetles 
had attacked the first shoots. They do not appear to be numerous, or 
to do any serious damage. The specimens sent, 1 killed with tobacco 
smoke while on the leaves, and am sending them with the leaves 
on which they were feeding. I have also enclosed a leaf to the under 
side of which the eggs of some insects are attacked. 
I have, &c., 
R. A. BURGESS. 
The beetles sent by Mr. BURGESS are tiger beetles Cicindela , sp. 
They are little over £ inch long, brown in colour above with large 
black eyes and powerful toothed jaws, the thorax narrow and cylin- 
dric, the elytra deep green or brown with a yellow edge and a few 
yellow waved markings and dots. They are finely punctate all 
over the punctations having a red and green metallic lustre ; the 
underside of the body is covered with white hairs, and with the long 
legs and the thoracic and neck joints is metallic green. Three of 
the beetles were holding firmly on to the shoots-and leaf out of 
which a portion had certainly been bitten by something and the 
mouths of the insects seemed to be covered with latex. All these 
beetles are, however, carnivorous, living on other insects and their 
jaws are not at all adapted for vegetable food. What can have in- 
duced them to bite the rubber plants is hard to say- This class of 
beetles is one to be encouraged as they destroy a number of other 
insects, both in their larval form and as adults. It may be taken 
as an accident that these beetles have bitten the plant and that they 
will probably dr no real harm. The eggs referred to were very 
curious. They had the shape of a cylindrical bottle containing a dull 
