408 XYVLEBORUS sp. prox. PERFORANS, WOLLASTON. 

appeared in connection with another industry, that of the sugar- 
cane in the West Indies where, under the well-known name of 
the “shot-borer”’ it has committed serious havoc, In 1g00 a 
Xyleborus was reported in this connection from Bengal, and it 
is considered to be either identical with, or closely allied to, X, 
perforans. 
Whether an insect known to be a dry wood-borer will 
at the same time bore into and egg-lay in living plants is a 
point open to very considerable doubt, and a careful 
examination of all the specimens so reported would appear to 
be required to set the matter at rest. Asthe writer pointed out, 
however, in an article on sugar-cane pests written in 1900, 
and published in the 7ndian Museum Notes}, if these should on 
further examination prove to be identical, it will greatly 
aid its increase should the dry wood it affects be lying in the 
neighbourhood after the removal of the green crop, 
Points in the life-history requiring further observation. 
1. Number of eggs laid and method of feeding of the 
larve in the Sal wood and length of time spent in 
the larval stage. 
2. Length of time spent in the pupal stage, 
3. When do the beetles arising from the eggs laid in 
April emerge? 
4. Is there more than one generation in the year? If so, 
how many ? 
5. In which stage and where does the insect hibernate in 
the cold weather months ? 
LiInsect pests of the sugar-cane in India.—/nudian Museum Notes, 
Vol. V, No. 3. 
