ter. When I was lately in town, Mr. Hunneman, of Queen Street, Soho, informed me that he had received some specimens of asbestos from Professor Bonelli, which upon examination were found to contain many larvae of some insects, that had perforated it in various directions, and in it underwent their customary metamorphosis. These when arrived at their perfect state, proved to be a species of the genus Dermestes^ — a tribe that usually feeds upon dead animal matter when dried. He obligingly gave me specimens of the beetles, and also of the asbestos, the latter appeared to be of the flexible kind, which is called amianth. Upon examining the former, T find it to be the Dermestes vulpinus Fabr. (Oliv. Ins. No. 9. t. 1. f. 6), a species common to South Europe and South Africa. As the animals of this tribe are not particular in selecting a place in which to undergo their metamorphosis, it is not probable that they would have taken the trouble to perforate the asbestos for the sole purpose, since they will not only assume the pupa in the exuviae of the animal they have devoured, but even under their own excrement (see De Geer, iv. 196) ; but a further proof that this was not their object is furnished by the varying size of the holes perforated in the specimen of the amianth that Mr. Hunneman gave me. There were three, one of which was a line and a half in diameter ; another a line and three-fourths ; and a third two lines ; from whence it seems to follow that the insects that perforated it were in different stages of growth, and consequently derived nutriment from that substance.
"I hope that the fact I have here recorded will not be unworthy a place in the 'Philosophical Magazine,' and that it may stimulate some of your readers, who may have had an opportunity of making observations on similar subjects, to lay them before the public. Insulated facts, though seemingly trifling, are often of great use to the physiologist and natural philosopher.
W. Kirby."
P.S. Since forwarding you my paper on 'Animals feeding on Mineral substances,' a day or two ago, I have met with the following instances which you will oblige me by inserting. I have not Kirby and Spence nor Macleay by me, but as you doubtless have, perhaps you will trouble yourself to turn to the references.
The larva of Callidium bajulus feeds upon lead, often perforating spouts and roofs ; the lead has been found in its stomach, (see 'Kirby's and Spence's Introduction to Entomology', vol i. p. 235, and ' Macleay, Horæ Entomologicæ,' vol. ii. p. 193.)
Macleay gives I think several instanes ; still I think it may be admitted in general that no member of the animal kingdom is ever maintained or nourished for any great length of time by inorganized substances, though a few, as common salt, may be used as a condiment to the organized substances. — George Munford; East Winch, November 10th, 1845.
Additional note on Tetrastichus. — In 'The Zoologist' (Zool. 1 158), I mentioned a species of Tetrastichus whose larva destroys Yponomeuta Euvonymella. It is the Eulophus Euvonymellæ of Bouché (Naturgeschichte der Ins. i. 172, 68). Its assump- tion of the perfect state continued from the early part of August till near the middle of October, during which time about forty individuals, nearly all of them females were disclosed. The eggs whence they sprung were probably laid much later in the year than those of the parasites before-mentioned. — Francis Walker.
