190 fJanuary, 
covering, composed of semi-digested substance, extracting from its materials 
wherewithal to construct a second envelope or case (usually termed ' foui'reau ' by 
French Entomologists), destined to protect those parts of its body which remain 
least capable of resisting injury. This case increases with the growth of the larvse, 
like the shell of the MoUusca, and ends by bursting the envelope, which falls oflf 
little by little, only leaving some slight traces at its lower extremity. The larva 
then presents almost the appearance of that of the PlvryganidcB, as it drags along 
a kind of sack, containing all that part of its body which is not horny. It is most 
often found in ants' nests, where it devours the little twigs or particles of dried 
leaves, heaped together in large quantities in those places. Here, again, we find 
occasion to admire the ways of Providence. If the soft parts remained uncovered 
the ants would soon make a meal of them ; but out of the case issue only a flat 
head, like a little square-cut disc (in Clythra the margins are rounded), as hard a3 
iron, homy and pointed legs, and a first segment solid enough to afford no hold for 
the jaws of the ants ; and at the least attack the larva can draw itself in, leaving 
only the ends of its legs and the flat surface of its head exposed. 
*' If any accident fi-om without happen to make a breach in the case, it is soon 
re-constructed. The sack swells at its hinder part, in order to allow a recurving 
of the abdomen, as in the larvae of Lucanus, Melolontha, &c. ; the anal orifice is 
thus brought near the opening, between the legs, which seize the matters secreted 
and make use of them as swallows do of their nests. It is then only that the larvse 
eat gi-een leaves [I presume with the idea of obtaining a more hurried action of 
the intestinal canal. — E. C. R.] ; for under all other circumstances they wait until 
the leaves are dry, — or, at least, prefer them in that state. As in snails, the 
covering is not attached to the animal, and can be separated from it without the 
larva receiving any injury. It becomes elongate little by little, through the suc- 
cessive additions made by the larva to its mouth, and in proportion as the larva 
increases in size. 
" Wlien the time arrives for the larva to undergo its change to pupa, it with- 
draws its head completely into the little mouth of the case, which it carefully 
closes up ; but, since in its perfect state it could not obtain an exit at this orifice, 
it takes the precaution to turn itself round to face the largest end. Arrived at the 
limit of its metamorphosis, the perfect insect cuts, as cleanly as with a saw, a sort 
of cap in the bottom of the case, which lifts up like a valve." 
M. Tappes also makes the somewhat unintelligible remark, that the stria3 of 
the elytra seem almost always equal in number to the joints of the antennae. — Id. 
Note on Lehia (LampriasJ chrysocephala, Motsclmlslcy. — This insect, referred to 
at p. 217 of the last part of the current vol. of "L'Abeille," seems to point strongly 
to the constantly small race of L. chlorocephala noticed by me as found at Shiiley, 
unaccompanied by the type form. Motschulsky's insect (which occurs in the 
meridional part of France) is of the colour and build of L. chlorocephala, but 
smaller, with the elytra a third shorter, and the thorax cordate and less transverse. 
These characters are tolerably evident in my insects above referred to. The elytra 
are described as having the interstices with a series of fine scattered punctures : 
but this character is equally found in chloroce;phala. — Id. 
