Xlll. 
other generic terms in this group. The Greek word Ptenos=winged, 
and with the prefix a means without wings. The species under Niptus , 
Mezium , Gibbium , and Ptinus appear to be all apterous, therefore the 
term Ptinus hardly applies. With regard to Niptus, this may be a 
transposition of the letters in the word Ptinus ; but the term has also 
been written Tipnus. Mezium is likewise of obscure origin ; but 
Gibbium probably refers to the hump-back or convex shape of the 
elytra, and is rather an appropriate term. With regard to the specific 
or trivial names, some may be made out in a satisfactory manner, 
while others cannot be. Therefore, although a knowledge of deriva¬ 
tives is very useful, taking it as a whole, applied to entomological 
terms, it is rather profitless work. 
Niptus hololeucus is doubtless the commonest species, and may be 
found dropping about all over City warehouses, particularly during the 
warm months of the year. The larva will feed on almost any dry 
substance, such as wood, bodies of moths, beetles, or dried skins. 
Sometimes it finds its way into store-boxes of insects which have been 
neglected, and does a deal of damage. In fact it may be found in any 
house, whether old or new. Two or three broods of the beetle can be 
obtained during the year, but from November to April appears to be 
the period for the winter larva. I have bred the insect on several 
occasions, and have taken much interest in watching its development 
from a minute larva to the perfect state. The larva is of a dirty - 
white, with a hard head and mandibles, formed rather for boring than 
otherwise; it will eat through paper with the greatest ease, and some¬ 
times will even eat its way through a chip box. It matures rapidly in the 
summer, and on attaining full-fed stage, the skin is shuffled off to the 
apex, leaving the pupa exposed to view. The wing cases of the beetle 
are quite discernible, being folded round the front, as in lepidopterous 
pupae. The tail is quite flexible, and on touching or handling the 
pupa, it wriggles about sharply. As the larval stage is of longer 
duration in the winter, so also is the pupal stage, and some four or five 
weeks elapse before the beetle makes its appearance. It is often found 
in old dwelling-houses, and not unfrequently drops into cups and 
basins in cupboards. It is said to be fond of moist sugar ; but figs 
certainly possess attractions for the larvae, as I am well able to testify; 
having once lost an entire brood through the larvae gorging themselves 
to death on this pabulum. 
Two closely allied insects to the last are Mezium affine and Gibbium 
scotias. The habits of these species are very similar to that of Niptus. 
The larva of M. affine is of the usual wood-boring type, with hard 
black mandibles, and covered with coarse hairs. 1 he colour is of 
dirty white, with opaque patches or ridges at each segment. Although 
