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THE ZOOLOGIST FOR 1855.

Pp. 4533—4928. Appendix ccv—ccxil.

LONDON:
KE, NEWMAN, PRINTER, 9, DEVONSHIRE STREET,
BISHOPSGATE.

THE

ZOOLOGIST:

A

POPULAR MISCELLANY

NATURAL HISTORY.

CONDUCTED BY

EDWARD NEWMAN, F.L.S., Memp. Ine. L.-C. Acap.

VOLUME THE THIRTEENTH.

LONDON:
JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW.

M.DCCC.LV.

“Que de charmes, que d’idées douces, agréables nous présente | Histoire
Naturelle! Que d’objets variés, interessans! Quelle source inépuisable d’obser-
vations, de recherches, et d’instruction pour celui qui se sent un gott decidé

pour cette vaste science!”’—Davpin.

Cen DEN Ts:

The Roman numerals in the following Lists refer to the Appendix.

ALPHABETICAL LIST

AKERMAN, J. Y.
The birds of London, 4702
AsHwonrrTH, Joun S.
List of a few rare Lepidoptera cap-
tured in Wales, 4814
Artxinson, Rev. H. G. :
Capture of Gastropacha ilicifolia on
Cannoch Chase, 4740
Arxinson, Rev. J. C., M.A.
Memorandum on the habits of the
jack snipe, 4656
Arkinson, W. S.
Note on the sexes of Indian Lepi-
doptera, 4909
Batss, H. W.
Proceedings as a Natural-History
collector in foreign countries,
4549; Observations on the habits
of two species of Mygale, 4800
BERESFORD, GEORGE
Smew near London, 4704
Boxtp, THomas JoHN
The Ruff at Prestwick Car, North-
umberland, Egyptian goose near
Newcastle, Little auk in North-
umberland, 4560; Capture of
Nomada borealis at Gosforth,
Northumberland, 4767 ; Pectoral
sandpiper on the coast of North-
umberland, 4808; Great abun-
dance of “clegs” in Cumber-
land and Northumberland, 4815 ;
Crossbills in Northumberland and
Durham, 4871; Capture of Sco-
lytus destructor in the North of
England, 4873
Bowrine, J.C.
Note on the Coleoptera of Siam,
4910
Bramtey, T.
Hoopoe at Low Layton, 4895

OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Bree, C. R.

Black hare shot at Brome, 4628;
Rare birds captured near Stow-
market,4629; Birds killed by cold,
4870; On the double-broodedness
of Gonepteryx Rhamni, 4871;
Memorandum on _ Gonepteryx
Rhamni, 4916

Breer, Rev. W.T., M.A.

Gonepteryx Rhamni double-brooded,

4740, 4915
Briees, JoHN JOSEPH

Note on the congregation of swal-
lows, 4558; Note ou the destruc-
tion of swallows, &c., by the
severity of the weather, 4808

BrockHo.es, J. F.

The hedgehog devouring its young,
4894; Note on the cuckoo, A
valuable hen, 4895; Note on
the habits of Epunda lichenea,
4904

BromrFire.p, W. A., M.D. (The late)

Note on the economy of Saturnia

Pyri, 4653
Crark, Rev. Hamuer, M.A.

Notes on certain British Hydro-
cantharide, 4769: Synonymic
list of the British carnivorous
water-beetles, together with cri-
tical remarks, and notices of
foreign allied species, 4846

CoLiinewoono, Curpsert, M.B., &e.

Birds in the neighbourhood of
Blackheath in 1854, 4592; Ca-
lendar of natural phenomena ob-
served at Purley Park, Berkshire,
4725

CooKxe, NicHoLas

Pigmy curlew and little stint near

Warrington, 4560

Coucu, JonaTHAN, F.LS., &c.
A record of some of the effects
of severe weather on animals,
4701
Curtis, Joun, F.L.S.
Larva of Ctenicerus marinus, 4571 ;
Economy of various insects, 4600 ;
On the galls produced by Cynips
Quercus-petivli, 4708; Note on
Anommatus and Langelandia,
4800; On the Dytiscide, 4916
Datez, J. C., M.A., F.L.S., &c.
Scorpion taken at Dorchester, 4898 ;
Reputed British butterflies, 4903 ;
Arcturus Sparshalii an Australian
insect, 4904; Acrida Standishii
at Glanville’s Wootton, Delphax
longipennis at Glanville’s Woot-
ton, 4906
Dovus.Lepay, HENRY
Description ofa new species of Agro-
tis, 4749; Gonepteryx Rhamni
double - brooded, 4811, 4901;
White swallow, 4871
Dove tas, J. W.
Note on Psyche helicella, 4642;
On greasiness of insects, 4677;
Gonepteryx Rhamni_ double-
brooded, 4812; Abundance of
Noctuide, 4819; Occurrence of
Tarus axillaris and Licinus de-
pressus near Croydon, 4911
Downie, Mr.
Improvements in bee-hives, 4600
D’Ursan, W.S. M
On Saturnia Hyalophora cecropia,
4750; Spotted crake and avocet
on the Exe, 4895
Durron, JoHNn
Bee-eater in the Isle of Wight, 4870;
Disappearance of the chough from
the Isle of Wight, 4871
Epwarps, Henry
Entomological Society and Museum
at Melbourne, 4924
Evans, HeENry
Spelotis valesiaca, S. cataleuca and
Botys terrealis, near Beddgelert,
4654
Firen, A., M.D.
Note. on Coccus Arborum linearis,
4641
Fox, CHARLES
The vinegar polype, 4873, 4926
Freperick, GEorRGE S.
Polish swan at Hornsey Mere,
4661
GARDINER, JAMES
Creameéoloured courser on Salisbury
Plain, 4913

vi

GATCOMBE, JOHN

Iceland Gull and other scarce birds
in the neighbourhood of Ply-
mouth, 4705

GRANTHAM, G.

Little ringed plover and smew near

Brighton, 4762
GREENE, Rev. Josepn, M.A.

Is Gonepteryx Rhamni

brooded? 4872
Gurney, J. H., M.P.

Note on the eagle which is said
to attack the trained falcons of
Asiatic falconers, 4631

GURNEY, SAMUEL, JUN.

Black swans breeding in confine-

ment, 4661
Guyon, GEORGE

Remarkable vitality in a specimen
of Sitona fusca, 4563; Insensi-
bility of reptiles to poisons, 4705;
Singular state of a living He-
lops, 4741; Tenacity of life in a
Bembidium, 4767; Occurrence
at Richmond, Surrey, of a Cole-
opterous insect new to Britain,
4815; Mononychus Pseudacori
in the seeds of Iris foetidissima,
Curious effect of a magnet on
flies, 4916

Harcourt, Epwarp VERNON
Hen’s egg with double shell, 4762
Harpine, H. G.

Annual address to Society of British
Entomologists, 4644; Double-
broodedness of Gonepteryx
Rhamni, 4902

Harpy, JAMES
Scolytus destructer in Lancashire,

double-

4905
Hawker, Rev. Wiiiiam Henry, M.A.
Local lists, 4645; Gonepteryx

Bbamni double- brooded, 4765
Haywarb, W. H.

Capture of the larva of Deilephila
Galii and Stauropus Fagi at
Devonport, 4903

Hiacins, Epmunp THomas

Supposed new species of flounder,

4596, 4914
Histor, Rosert
Note on Melolontha Hippocastani,
4924
Hoaan, A. R.
‘ Entomologist’s Annual,’ 4562
Hoae, Joun, F.R.S, L.S, &e.

Notice of a tunny stranded in the

estuary of the Tees, 4594
Hox.pswortnu, E. W. H.
Supposed insensibility of reptiles to

Vil

poison, Supposed unnoticed cha-
racter in the angler or fishing
frog, 4763

Hussey, Rev. Artuur, M.A.

Ravages of caterpillars,4546; Short-
toed lark and Lapland bunting in
Sussex, 4558; A white swallow
obtained in East Kent, 4559;
Richardson’s skua in Sussex,
4560; Inquiry respecting the
name of an Australian spider,
4561; Deer feeding on the fruit
of the horse-chestnut, 4913

Janson, E. W.

Motion communicated to seeds by

insects, 4565
JoHNSON, Rev. Jos
Egg and young larva of Chrymodes
Templi, 4741
Jones, J. M.
White ant in India, 4656
Kavatz, Pastor, oF CouRLAND
Elaters feeding on Aphides, 4910
Ketrt, G. S.

Remarkable act in an aged cat,

4761
Knox, R., M.D., F.R.S.E., &c.

Some observations on the Salmo
Estuarius or estuary trout, 4662 ;
On the food of certain gregarious
fishes, 4709; Inquiries into the
philosophy of Zoology, 4777; On
the growth of the salmon, from
the egg to the adult, 4792; Con-
tributions to the philosophy of

Zoology, 4837
Lester, LESTER

Supposed new wrasse and other

fishes in Swanage Bay, 4913
Macuin, WILLIAM

Singular variety of Anthocharis Car-
damines, Notodonta carmelita at
West Wickham, Early appear-
ance of Cucullia umbratica, 4562 ;
Notodonta carmelita in Kent,
4740; Note on the breeding of
Notodonta dicteoides, &c., 4873

Means, R. H.

Note regarding the name of the

Australian trap-door spider, 4765
MIiterR, C.

Multitudes of dead flies on a panicle
of grass, 4741; Offensive smell
of the fluid emitted by Melo-
soma Populi, Habits and food of
Tineade, 4742; Note on Tinea
granella, 4905; Note on Ceram-
byx moschatus, 4912

Miner, Sir W. M. E., Barr., M.P.

Snowy owl in Sutherlandshire, 4594

More, A. G.

On the three species of divers or

loons, 4628
Newman, Epwarp, F.L.S., Z.S., &c.

Singular specimen of Anthocharis
Cardamines, 4568; White speci-
men of the flounder, 4596; Silk felt
produced by Saturnia Spini. 4599 ;
Note on Helobia impressa of New-
man, 4600; Address to the Ento-
molugical Society, 4605; Remark-
able variety of the woodcock, 4631;
A word for the cockroach, 4641 ;
Memorandum of the tadpole fish,
4673; Habits of Eastern butter-
flies, South African honey-bee,
4675; A new enemy to the honey-
bee, 4676; Curious act of auto-
surgery in a teal, 4704; Go-
nepteryx Rhamni double-brooded,
4706; A word on the use of ini-
tial capitals to specific names,
4739; Remarkable variety of
Cynthia Cardui, 4744; Note on
Athons campyloides, 4745; The
common broom the food-plant of
Anarsia Geniste, 4746 ; Office of
the wing-rays of insects, 4752;
Snowy owl in Aberdeenshire,
4761; Note on Otiorynchus sul-
catus, 4801; Duplicates of the
genus Colymbetes, 4816; Memo-
randum on Dr. Knox’s papers in
the ‘ Zoologist,’ Spined loach near
Dorking, 4836; The loach or
beardie, The gudgeon in con-
finement, Food of fishes, Trans-
parent fishes, 4897; The sup-
posed male of the argonaut, 4898 ;
Double-broodedness of Gonepte-
ryx Rhamni, 4902; Lithocolletis
Bremiella in Britain, Note on
Colymbetes dispar of Bold, 4905 ;
Capture of Rhizotrogus ochraceus
in Wales, Capture of Melolontha
Hippocastaniin Scotland, Capture
near London of a Coleopterous in-
sect new to Britain, 4906; Occur-
rence of a specimen of Xylocopa
violacea near London, 4908; Note
on Trochilium Chrysidiforme,
Hats manufactured of the silken
felt spun by Saturnia Spini, 4811 :
The supposed new flounder, 4914;
Description of a new British Tro-
chilium, 4928; Descriptions of
two new Deretaphri, ccix ; Cha-
racters and some account of the
economy of a supposed new species
of Australian Bombyx, cexi

Vill

Newman, HENRY
Enormous flight of Ephemere, 4816
Norman, ALFRED MERLE

On the introduction of forms of
animal and vegetable life into
new localities, 4544

NorMAn, GEORGE

Singular conduct in a robin, 4594 ;
Large flocks of crossbills near
Hull, 4808

PickaRD-CaMBRIDGE, Octavius

Curious capture of Pecilocampa
Populi, 4562; On the corporeal
sensations of insects, 4578; Ex-
traordinary hen’s egg, 4703

Powys, Hon. T. L.

Bittern and goosander in Northamp-
tonshire and redthroated diver in
Plymouth Souud, 4762; Buona-
parte’s gull on the Irish coast,
4762, 4809

Preston, T. A.

Curious act of auto-surgery in a teal,
Electric property in the feathers
of a woodpigeon, 4661

Price, SAMUEL

Vanessa Antiopa in North Wales,

4814
Reapine, J.J.

A list of a few rather interesting
Lepidoptera that have occurred
in the neighbourhood of Ply-
mouth, 4898

Ricu, Mr.

A new British Cynips and the galls

made thereby, 4566
Roserts, ALFRED

Rare birds killed near Scarborough,
4558; Lesser whitewinged gull
near Scarborough, 4560; Shag,
American scaup and Continental
wagtail near Scarborough, 4631 ;
Wild fowl at Scarborough, 4660 ;
Honey buzzards near _ Scar-
borough, 4761

Ropp, Eowarv HEarLe

Supposed new snipe, 4704; Honey
buzzard near Truro, 4807: Rose-
coloured pastors near the Land’s
End, Solitary snipe near Pen-
zance, 4895 ; Note on the common
night heron, 4913

Sareint, E. H.

Tetrodon Pennantii on the coast of

Ireland, 4560
Scnavum, H., M.D.

On Heterorrhina bicostata of West-
wood, 4678; Remarks on Mr.
Curtis's recent descriptions and
figures of British Elateride, 4679

Scott, JoHN

Are the Psychide to be considered
Bombyces or Tineina? 4653;
Note on Argynnis Lathonia, 4873

SHarp, FREDERICK

Colias Edusa and Colias Hyale

near Brighton, 4899
SHEPHERD, EDWIN

Double-broodedness of Gonepteryx

Rhamni, 4899
Smiru, Rev. Bernarp, M.A.

Note on Ptilophora plumigera,

4562
SmitH, FrepERIcK

Economy of Brazilian ants, 4604 ;
Toads long known to be enemies
of the hive-bee, 4738

Spurr, Henry

An owl laying an egg after twenty

years confinement, 4761
Srarmnton, H. T. .

Entomological Botany (with more
especial reference to the plants
frequented by the Tineina), 4553,
4680, 4771, 4842, 4890; Galls
produced by Cynips Quercus-
petioli, 4571, 4640 ; Occurrence of
the small genera of Tineina in tro-
pical countries established, 4747 ;
Habit of the larva of Glyphipteryx
Haworthana, 4654; Gonepteryx
Rhamni double-brooded, 4812

STEvENSON, H.

The Lapland bunting in Norfolk,
4631; Winter visitors to the Nor-
folk coast during severe weather,
4660; Note on the hawfinch,
4703; Wild fowl on the Norfolk
coast, 4704; Extraordinary hen’s
egg, 4762; Roller in Suffolk,
4808

StretTcu, Ricwarp H.

List of land and freshwater Mollusca
in the neighbourhood of Banbury,
Oxfordshire, 4540; Correction of
an error, 4635

Taytor, ALEXANDER 8,

Note on the great vulture of Cali-

fornia, 4632
Temeter, WivuiaM F.

Some remarks on the marine Fauna

of the South of Devon, 4575
Tuompson, WILLIAM

An unnoticed character in the struc-
ture of the fishing frog or angler,
Curious habit of the fringed-
lipped lamprey, 4705; Marine
vivaria, 4768; Short directions
for the management of marine
vivaria, 4816

Wacker, Francis, F.L.S.

‘List of spiders found at Piercefield,

near Chepstow, in 1853, 4561
Watuace, ALFRED R.

Description of Ornithoptera Brook-
iana, 4619; The Entomology of
Malacca, 4636; Proceedings as
a Natural-History collector in
foreign countries, 4803

Warineton, Rosert, F.C.S.

Memoranda of observations made
in small aquaria, in which the
balance between the animal and
vegetable organisms was perma-
nently maintained, 4533; On
artificial sea water, 4573 ; Obser-
vations on the natural histury and
habits of the common prawn, 4695

Wartrins, Cuar_es W.

Double-broodedness of Gonepteryx
Rhamni, 4900; Unusual abun-
dance of Vanessa Io, 4903

Westwoop, J. O., F.L.S.

Luminosity of Helobia brevicollis,
4565; Introduction of Bombyx
Cynthia into Malta and Italy,

4569; Locality of Papilio An-

tenor, 4571; Indian method of

preparing the silk of Bombyx

Cynthia, 4641; Rectification of

misstatements, 4746; Destruc-

tion of crops by insects, 4908
WILSON, JAMES

Salmon and salmon fry, 4763

Winter, Joun N.

Capture of Leucania musculosa at
Brighton, Capture of Phlogophora
empyrea at Brighton, 4904 ; Cap-
ture of Lepidoptera at Brighton,
4916

Wottaston, T. Vernon, M.A., F.L.S.

Water-beetle new to the British
Fauna, Note on the Orchesia
minor of British cabinets, Note
on the Tachyporus nitidicollis of
Stephens, 4655; Descriptions of
two Coleopterous insects new to
the British Fauna, cev; Revision
of the characters of Deretaphrus,
cevil

Wooprorre, Mrs. F.
Ornithology of the Diggings, 4761

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS.

Acer campestre, insects feeding on, 4556
» Pseudo-platanus, insects feeding on,
4557
Acilius caliginosus, 4923
fasciatus, 4850
» sulcatus, zd.
Acrida Standishii at Glanville’s Wootton,
4906
Esculus hippocastanum, insects feeding
on, 4557
Agabus abbreviatus, 4855
affinis, 4854
agilis, 4853
arcticus, zd.
biguttatus, id.
bipunctatus, 4855
bipustulatus, 4856
brunneus, zd.
chalconotus, 4854
confinis, 4855
congener, 7d,
conspersus, 4856
dilatatus, 4853
elongatulus, 4854
femoralis, 4855

”

Agabus fontinalis, 4853

fuscipennis, 4855

guttatus, 4853

Heffneri, zd.

maculatus, 4855

melanarius, 4854

nigricollis, 4855

paludosus, 4854

Reichii, 4855

serricornis, 4853

Solieri, 4856

striolatus, 4854

Sturmii, 4856

subtilis, zd.

uliginosus, 4855

vitreus, id.

vittiger, 4854

» Wasastjerne, 4853

Agrotis Ashworthii, 4749

Althea officinalis, insect feeding on, 4554

Anarsia Geuiste, common broom the
food-plaut of, 4746

Angler or fishing frog, an unnoticed cha-
racter in the structure of, 4705 ; sup-
posed unnoticed character in, 4763

b

Animal and vegetable life, introduction
of forms of into new localities, 4544

Animal and vegetable organisms, balance
between permanently maintained, in
small aquaria, 4533

Animals, effects of severe weather on, 4701

‘Annals and Magazine of Natural His-
tory,’ 4590, 4684, 4752, 4823, 4874,
4889

Ant, white, in India, 4656

Anthemis Cotula, insects feeding on, 4601

Anthocharis Cardamines, singular variety
of, 4562; singular specimen of, 4568

Ants, Brazilian, 4604

Aphides, Elateride feeding on, 4910

Aquaria, smal], memoranda of observa-
tions made in, 4533

Arcturus Sparshalii an Australian in-
sect.4904

Argonaut, supposed male of, 4898

Argynnis Lathonia, note on, 4873

Artemisia maritima, insects feeding on,
4602

Astragalus Glycyphyllos, insects feeding
on, 4842

Athous campyloides, 4745

Auk, little, in Northumberland, 4560

Avocet on the Exe, 4895

Beardie or loach in confinement, 4897

Bee-eater in the Isle of Wight, 4870

Bee, honey, South African, 4675; a new
enemy to, 4676

Bee, hive, toads long known to be enemies
of, 4738

Bee-hives, improvements in, 4600

Beetle, water, new to the British Fauna,
4655

Beetles, carnivorous water, synonymic list
of the British, and notices of foreign
allied species, 4846

Bembidium, tenacity of life in a, 4767

Birds, rare, killed near Scarborough,
4558; in the neighbourhood of
Blackheath in 1854, 4592 ; rare, cap-
tured near Stowmarket, 4629; visit-
ing the Norfolk coast during severe
weather, 4660; of London, 4702;
scarce, in the neighbourhood of Ply-
mouth, 4705; killed by cold, 4870

Bittern, common, 4630; in Northamp-
tonshire, 4762

Bombyx, Australian, characters and some
account of the economy of a sup-
posed new species of, ccxi

Bombyx Cynthia, introduction of into
Malta and Italy, 4569; Indian
method of preparing the silk of,
4641

Bombyx (Doratifera ?) Oxleyi, cexi

Botys terrealis near Beddgelert, 4654

A

Bowen, John,‘ A Brief Memoir of the
Life and Character of William
Baker,’ 4691

Bunting, Lapland, in Sussex, 4558; in
Norfolk, 4631

Butterflies, 4650; Eastern, habits of,
4675; reputed British, 4903

Buzzards, honey, near Scarborough,
4761; near Truro, 4807

Carduus lanceolatus, insects feeding on, —
4602

Cat, aged, remarkable act in, 4761

‘Catalogue of British Hymenoptera in
the Collection of the British Mu-
seum, 4877

Caterpillars, ravages of, 4546

Cerastium glomeratum, insects feeding
on, 4554

Char, food of, 4714

Child and snakes, 4810, 4836

Chough, disappearance of the, from the
Isle of Wight, 4871

Clark, William, ‘ Mollusca Testacea Ma-
rium Britannicorum, 4758

“ Clegs,” great abundance of in Cumber-
land and Northumberland, 4815

Cnemidotus cesus, 4857, 4919

A rotundatus, 4857

Coccus arborum-linearis, 4641

Cockroach, a word for the, id.

Coleoptera, British, proposed catalogue
of, 4675, 4707; small, in the Tropics,
4748; of Siam, 4910

Coleopterous insects, two new to the
British Fauna, cev

Colias Edusa and C. Hyale near
Brighton, 4899

Colymbetes adspersus, 4852

bistriatus, zd.

consobrinus, 4922

dispar of Bold, note on, 4905

dolabratus, 5851

exoletus, 4852

fuscus, 4851

Grapii, 4852, 4922

notatus, 4851

pulverosus, zd.

a striatus, zd.

Colymbetes, duplicates of the genus, 4816

Conger, effects of severe weather on, 4702

Corticaria borealis, ccvi

Courser, cream-coloured, on Salisbury”
Plain, 4913

Crake, spotted, on the Exe, 4895

Crossbill, large flocks of near Hull, 4808 ;
in Northumberland and Durham,
4871

Crymodes Templi, egg and young larva
of, 4741

Cuckoo, note on, 4895

Cucullia umbratica, early appearance of,
4562
Curlew, pigmy, near Warrington, 4560
Cybister Reeselii, 4850, 4923
Cynips, a new British, and the galls made
thereby, 4566
Quercus-petioli, galls produced by,
4640, 4708
» Rose, galls of, 4743
Cynthia Cardui, remarkable variety of,
4744
Cytisus Laburnum, insect feeding on,
4775
Deer feeding on the fruit of the horse-
chestnut, 4913
Deilephila Galii, capture of the larva of
at Devonport, 4903
Delphax longipennis
Wootton, 4906
Deretaphrus Erichsoni, ccxi
po Wollastoni, ccx
Deretaphrus, revision of the characters
of, cevii
Diver, blackthroated, 4630; redthroated,
in Plymouth Sound, 4762
Divers or loons, on the three species of,
4628
Dytiscide, notes on, 4916
Dytiscus cireumcinetus, 4850
circum flexus, zd.
dimidiatus, id.
flavoscutellatus, 4923
lapponicus, 4850
latissimus, 4849
marginatus, 4850
punctulatus, zd.
Eagle said to attack the trained falcons
of Asiatic falconers, 4631
Ege of Ciymodes Templi, 4741
Egg, heu’s, extraordinary, 4703; laid by
tawny owl after twenty years’ con-
finement, 4761; hen’s, with double
shell, 4762; extraordinary, zd.
Elateride feeding on Aphides, 4910
Elateride , proposed monograph of, 4642 ;
British, 4679
Entomological Botany, 4553, 4680, 4771,
4842, 4890
Entomological Society and Museum at
Melbourne, 4924
Entomological Society, proceedings of,
4564, 4599, 4639, 4674, 4706, 4743,
4799, 4817, 4869, 4907
‘ Entomologist’s Annual,’ 4562
‘ Entomologist’s Annual for 1855, 4689
Entomology of Malacca, 4636
Entomostraca, 4723
Ephemera, enormous flight of, 1816
Epunda lichenea, note on the habits of,
4904

”

at Glanville’s

Erodium cicutarium, insects feeding on,
4618

Euonymus europeus, insects feeding on,
4682

Falcous, trained, eagles said to attack,
4631

Fauna, marine, of the South of Devon,
4575; British, two Culeopterous in-
sects new to, ccv

Fish, tadpole, memorandum of, 4673

Fishes, on the food of certain gregarious,
4709; food of, 4897; transpareut,
4897; in Swanage Bay, 4913

Fishing frog or angler, an unnoticed cha-
racter in the structure of, 4705 ; sup-
posed unnoticed character in, 4763

Flies, dead, multitudes of on a panicle
of grass, 4741; curious effect of a
magnet on, 4916

Flounder , supposed new species of, 4596 ;
white specimen of,id.; the supposed
new, 4914

Forest-trees, insects injurious to, 4803

Fowl, wild, at Scarborough, 4660; on
the Norfolk coast, 4704

Galls produced by a new British Cynips,
4566, 4571, 4640

Gastropacha ilicifolia, capture of on Can-
noch Chase, 4740

Genista tinctoria, insects feeding on, 4773

Genus or natural family, on the relation
of species or race to, 4837

“Geranium, insects feeding on, 4681

pratense, insects feeding on, zd.
x robertianum, insects feeding
on, id.

Geodephaga, new locality for, 4911

Geum rivale, insects feeding on, 4894

» urbanum, 4893

Glyphipteryx Haworthana, habit of the
larva of, 4654

Gonepteryx Rhamni, double-broodedness
of, 4706, 4740, 4765, 4811—4813,
4871, 4872, 4899—4902, 4915; me-
morandum on, 4916

Goosander in Northamptonshire, 4762

Goose, Egyptian, near Newcastle, 4560

Gosse, Philip Henry, ‘The Aquarium,
4690; ‘A Manual of Marine
Zovlogy for the British Isles, 4885

Gudgeon in confinement, 4897

Gull, lesser whitewinged, near Scar-
borough, 4560; Iceland, in the
neighbourhood of Plymouth, 4705;
Buonaparte’s, on the Irish coast,
4762, 4809

Guyon, Gi ‘A-List of the British Species
of Geodephaga,’ 4688

Gyrinus bicolor, 4868

distinctus, id.

39

”?

Gyrinus marinus, 4868

» minutus, zd.

» _ Natator, zd.

» _‘ditens, zd.

3» _Urinator, zd.
Hematopota pluvialis, 4815
Haliplus cinereus, 4867

" confinis, 4868

¥ elevatus, 4866, 4919

bs ferrugineus, 4919

0 flavicollis, 4867

te fluviatilis, id.

ay fulvus, zd.

sd guttatus, id.

= lineatucollis, 4868 °

é maritimus, 4867
4d mucronatus, 4866
» obliquus, 4867

. ruficollis, id,

variegatus, 2d.
Hare, black, shot at Brome, 4628
Hawfinch, 4631, 4703
Hedgehog devouring its young, 4894
Helobia brevicollis, luminosity of, 4565
»» lmpressa, note on, 4600

Helops, living, singular state of a, 4741
Hen, a valuable, 4895
Hen’s egg, extraordinary, 4703, 4762;

with double shell, 4762
Heron, common night, note on, 4913
Herring, 4715; food of, 4719
Heterorrhina bicostata, 4678
Hippocrepis comosa, insects feeding on,

4844
Homalota cambrica, ccv —
Hoopoe at Low Layton, 4895
Hydaticus austriacus, 4850

" bilineatus, 4851

‘5 cinereus, zd., 4922

- Hybneri, 4851

A stagnalis, 4850

5 transversalis, 4851
‘ verrucifer, id.
zonatus, id.
Hydrocantharide, British, notes on cer-
tain, 4769
Hydroporus alpinus, 4859
a analis, 4861
- angustatus, 4865
a assimilis, 4858
- Aubéi, 4860
i bicarinatus, 4866
i, brevis, 4862
FS cambriensis, 4921
of canaliculatus, 4859
9 Ceresyi, id.
- confluens, 4858
+ cuspidatus, 4857
* Davisii, 4858, 4920
- decuratus, 4857

x

Hdroporus depressus, 4859

”?

dorsalis, 4860
duodecim-pustulatus, 4859
elegans, zd.
elongatulus, 4864
erythrocephalus, 4862
fasciatus, 4858
ferrugineus, 4863
flavipes, 4865
geminus, 4866
glabriusculus, 4862
granularis, 4866
griseostriatus, 4859
Gyllenhalii, 4864
halensis, 4859
hyperboreus, 4858
inequalis, 4857
incertus, 4864
Lapponum, 4860
latus, 4861, 4921
lepidus, 4858
limbatus, 4861
lineatus, 4865
marginatus, 4861
marginicollis, 4859
Macklini, 4862
melanarius, 4863
melanocephalus, 4862
memnonius, 4864
meridionalis, 4865
minutissimus, 4866
neglectus, 4865
neuter, 4862

nigrita, id.
nigrolineatus, 4858, 4921
nivalis, 4863

notatus, 4865
novem-lineatus, 4860
oblongus, 4863
obscurus, 4865
opatrinus, 4860
pallens, 4858
palustris, 4861
parallelogrammus, 4860
picipes, ¢d.

pictus, 4858

planus, 4921
platynotus, 4860
pubescens, 4862
pumilus, 4866
quinque-lineatus, 4857
reticulatus, 7d.

rivalis, 4858

rufifrons, 4863
Sanmarkii, 4858
Sansii, 4859
Scalesianus, 4865
septentrionalis, 4858
striola, 4864

tristis, 2d,

XML

Hydroporus umbrosus, 4865
5 unistriatus, 4866
a vagepictus, 4863
$4 vittula, 4861
xanthopus, 7d.
Hygrotus bisulcatus, 4920
e decoratus, id,
Hypericum hirsutum, insects feeding on,
4556
* perforatum, insects feeding
on, 4555
% pulchrum, insects feeding on,
4556
Hyphidrus ovatus, 4857
Sr variegatus, td., 4920
Ilybius angustior, 4852
» ater, zd.
» fenestratus, zd.
» guttiger, zd.
» meridionalis, zd.
» obscurus, zd.
», Prescotti, zd.
uliginosus, 4853
Impatiens “Noli-me- -tangere, insect feed-
ing on, 4682
Insect, Coleopterous, new to Britain,
occurrence of at Richmond, Surrey,
4815; capture near London of a,
4906
Insects, motion communicated to seeds
by, 4565 ; photographic representa-
tions of, 4568; on the corporeal
sensations of, 4578; various notes
on the economy of, 4600; on
greasiness in, 4677, 4707; office
of the wing-rays of, 4752; in-
jurious to forest-trees, 4803; de-
struction of crops by, 4908; Cole-
opterous, two, new to the "British
Fauna, cev
Inula dysenterica, insects feeding on, 4601
Iris foetidissima, Mononychus Pseudacori
in the seeds of, 4916
Juncus glomeratus, insects feeding on,

4602
Laccophilus hyalinus, 4856
$4 minutus, zd.
Pe testaceus, zd.

variegatus, 7d.

Lamprey, fringed-lipped, curious habit of,
4705

Lark, short-toed, in Sussex, 4558

Larva of Ctenicerus marinus, 4571; of
Glyphipteryx Haworthana, 4654; of
Cryinodes Templi, 4741: of Polyom-
matus Agestis, 4743; of Deilephila
Galii and Stauropus Fagi, 4903

Larve preserved in Canada Balsam, 4570

Lathyrus pratensis, insects feeding on,
4844

Lepidoptera, rare, captures of, 47425 in
Wales, 4814; a list of a few rather
interesting that have occurred in
the neighbourhood of Plymouth,
4898; Indian, 4909; captures of at
Brighton, 4916

Leucania musculosa,
Brighton, 4904

Linum usitatissimum, insect feeding on,
4681

‘List of the British Species of Geode-
phaga, 4688

Lithocolletis Bremiella in Britain, 4905

Loach or beardie in confinement, 4897

Loach, spined, near Dorking, 4836

Local lists, 4645

Lotus corniculatus, insects feeding on,
4777

»5 Major, insects feeding on, 4842

‘Manual of Marine Zoology of the British
Isles, 4885

Marine vivaria, 4768; short directions
for the management of, 4816

Medicago falcata, insects feeding on,
4775

Melasoma Populi, offensive fluid emitted
by, 4742

Melilotus, insects feeding on, 4776

Melolontha Hippocastani, capture of in
Scotland, 4906; note on, 4924

Micro-Lepidoptera, tropical, 4707

Mollusca, land and freshwater, found
in the neighbourhood of Banbury,
4540; correction of an error, 4635

‘Mollusca Testacea Marium Britanni-
corum,’ 4758

Mononychus Pseudacori in the seeds of
Tris foetidissima, 4916

Mygale, observations on the habits of
two species of, 4800

Natural- History collectors in foreign
countries, proceedings of, 4549, 4803

‘Natural History Review, 4735, 4852

Natural- History specimens, Professor
Bailey’s mode of giving permanent
flexibility to, 4557

Natural phenomena, calendar of, ob-
served at Purley Park, Berkshire,
4725

Noctuide, abundance of, 4819

Nomada borealis, capture of, at Gosforth,
4767

Noterus crassicornis, 4856

» levis, zd.
45 semipunctatus, zd.
» Sparsus, 4922

Notodonta carmelita at West Wickham,
4562; in Kent, 4740
Pn dicteoides, note on the breed-
ing of, 4873

capture of at

XIV

Omias sulcifrons, note on, 4679
Ononis, insects feeding on, 4775
»» arvensis, insect feeding on, zd.
» Spinosa, insects feeding on, zd.
Orchesia minor of British cabinets, note
on, 4655
Orectochilus villosus, 4869
Ornithology of the Diggings, 4761
Ornithoptera, description of a new species
of, 4819

Ornithopus perpusillus, insects feeding |

on, 4844

Orobus niger, insect feeding on, id.

Otiorhynchus sulcatus, note on, 4801

Owl, snowy, in Sutherlandshire, 4594 ; in
Aberdeenshire, 4761; tawny, egg
laid by, after twenty years’ confine-
ment, zd.

Oxalis Acetosella, insects named from,
4682

Pecilocampa Populi, curious capture of,
4562

Pelobius Hermanni, 4850, 4920

Palemon serratus, 4695

Papers, Dr. Knox’s, memorandum on,4836

Papilio Antenor, locality of, 4571 !

Pastors, rosecoloured, near the Land’s
End, 4895

Persica vulgaris, insects feeding on, 4844

Phenomena, natural, calendar of, ob-
served at Purley Park, Berkshire,

4725

Phlogophora empyrea, capture of at
Brighton, 4904

Pistacia Lentiscus, insects feeding on,
4602

Pisum, insects feeding on, 4843

Plover, little ringed, near Brighton, 4762

Poisons, insensibility of reptiles to, 4705 ;
supposed insensibility of reptiles to,
4763

Polyommatus Agestis, larva of, 4743

Polype, vinegar, 4873, 4926

Prawn, common, natural history and
habits of, 4695

Prunus Cerasus, insects feeding on, 4890

» domestica, insects feeding on,
4845

Lauro-cerasus, insects feeding on,
4893

» padus, insect feeding on, id.

» Spinosa, insects feeding on, 4891
Psyche helicinella, note on, 4642
Psychide, are they to be considered

Bombyces or Tineina? 4653
Ptilophora plumigera, note on, 4562
‘Quarterly Journal of Microscopical

Science, including the ‘Transactions

”

of the Microscopical Society of

London,’ 4884, 4926

Reptiles, insensibility of to poisons, 4705 ;
supposed insensibility of to poisons,
4763

Rhamnus catharticus, insects feeding on,
4683
95 Frangula, insects feeding on,
4771

Rhizotrogus ochraceus, capture of in.
Wales, 4906

Robin, singular cunduct in a, 4594

Roller in Suffulk, 4808

Ruff at Prestwick Car, Northumberland,
4569

Salmo estuarius, some observations on,
4662 ;

Salmon and salmon fry, 4763

Salmon, food of, 4722; on the growth of,
from the egg to the adult, 4792;
artificial rearing of, and some of its
results, 4831 )

Salmonide, dentition of, 4777; colora-
tion of, 4786; proportions of, as
compared with each other and with
the generic animal, 4788

Sandpiper, pectoral, on the coast of
Northumberland, 4808

Sarothamnus scoparius, insects feeding
on, 4774

Saturnia (Hyalophora) cecropia, 4750

:, Pavonia-media, silk felt pro-
duced by, 4599
Pyri, note on the economy of,

"4653
» Ricini, 4745
i Spini, hats manufactured of the

silken felt spun by, 4911

Scaup, American, near Scarborough,
4631

Scolytus destructor, capture of in the
North of England, 4873; in Lanca-
shire, 4905

Scorpion taken at Dorchester, 4898

Scoter, common, 4630

Sea water, artificial, 4573

Seeds, motion communicated to by in-
sects, 4565

Senecio Jacobea, insects feeding on,
4601

Shag near Scarborough, 4631

Shell-fish burrowing into rocks, &c., 4597

Shrew, water, effects of severe weather
on, 4702

Silk, culture of, in Piedmont, 4570;
felt produced by Saturnia Pavonia-
media, 4599

Sitona fusca, remarkable vitality in a
specimen of, 4563

Skua, Richardson’s, in Sussex, 4560

Smew near London, 4704; near Brighton,
4762

XV

Smith, Frederick, M.E.S., ‘ Catalogue of
British Hymenoptera, 4877

Smolt, May, what is the age of? 4794

Snake, great American, caught, 4896

Snake and child, 4810, 4836

Snipe, jack, memorandum on the habits
of, 4656 ; supposed new, 4704; soli-
tary, near Penzance, 4895

Society of British Entomologists, pro-
ceedings of, 4572, 4644, 4741, 4820,
4911

Spelotis cataleuca near Beddgelert, 4654

an valesiaca near Beddgelert, zd.

Species or race, on the relation of to
genus or natural family, 4837

Specific names, use of initial capitals to,
4739

Sphinges, 4652

Spider, Australian, inquiry respecting the
name of an, 4561 |

Spiders, list of, found at Piercefield, near
Chepstow, in 1853, 4561; Australian
trap-door, note regarding the name
of, 4765

Spirea Ulmaria, insects feeding on, 4893

Stainton, H. T., ‘ Entomologist’s Annual
for 1855,’ 4689

Stauropus Fagi, capture of the larva of
at Devonport, 4903

Stellaria Holostea, insects feeding on,
4553

a uliginosa, insect feeding on,

4554

Stint, litue, near Warrington, 4560

Swallow, white, obtained in East Kent,
4559; at Epping, 4871

Swallows, note on the congregation of,
4558 ; destruction of, by the severity
of the weather, 4808

Swan, Polish, at Hornsey Mere, 4661

Swans, black, breeding in confinement, id.

Tachyporus nitidicollis of Stephens, note
on, 4655

Tadpvle fish, memorandum of, 4673

Teal, curious act of auto-surgery in, 4661,
4704

Tetrodon Pennantii on the coast of Ire-
land, 4560

‘The Aquarium: an unveiling of the
Wonders of the Deep Sea,’ 4690

Tilia europea, insects feeding on, 4555

Tinea granella, note on, 4905

Tineide, habits and food of, 4742

Tineina, small genera of, occurrence of
in tropical countries established,
4747

Toads long known to be enemies of the
hive-bee, 4738

Tortricide, natural history of, 4742

‘Transactions of the Entomological So-
ciety of London,’ 4592, 4828

‘Transactions of the Linnean Society of
London,’ 4590

Trifolium, insects feeding on, 4776

arvense, insect feeding on, id.
e medium, insects feeding on, id.
us pratense, insects feeding on, id.
Trochilium chrysidiforme, note on, 4811
* scolieforme, occurrence of

in Wales, 4928
Trout, estuary, some observations on,
4662; early spring or gray, 4714
Tunny stranded in the estuary of the
Tees, 4594
Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club, 4821
Ulex europeus, insects feeding on, 4772
», Nanus, insects feeding on, 4773
Vanessa Antiopa in North Wales, 4814
» 1o, unusual abundance of, 4903
Variety of the woodcock, 4631 ; of Cynthia
Cardui, 4744
Vendace, 4712
Vicia Cracca, insects feeding on, 4843
»» Sepium, insects feeding on, zd.
» sylvatica, insects feeding on, zd.
Vinegar polype, 4873, 4926
Visitors, winter, to the Norfolk coast
during severe weather, 4660
Vitis vinifera, insects feeding on, 4680
Vivaria, marine, 4768; short directions
for the management of, 4816
Vulture, great, of California, 4632
Wagtail, Continental, near Scarborough,
4631
Wing-rays of insects, office of, 4752
Woodcock, remarkable variety of, 4631
Woodpigeon, electric property in the
feathers of, 4661
Wrasse, supposed new, in Swanage Bay,
4913
Wren, effects of severe weather on, 4702
Zoology, inquiries into the philosophy
ot, 4777 ; contributions to the philo-
sophy of, 4837
‘Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S.
Herald,’ 4589

ADVERTISEMENT.

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year.

THE ZOOLOGIST

FOR 1855.

Memoranda of Observations made in small Aquaria, in which the
Balance between the Animal and Vegetable Organisms was
permanently maintained. By RoBERT WaRINGTON, Esq.*

Fresh Water. Memorandum 1.—{n my communication, dated
September, 1852,+ I gave a detailed account of my observations on
the thread or web which some species of the fresh-water snail form to
effect or facilitate their passage from one spot or object to another,
and thus either ascending or descending by its means; and the
instances noticed up to that period had reference only to the varieties
of the Limnez. In continuation of my observations on the same
subject, I have now to state that the varieties of Planorbis, as also
Neritina fluviatilis and Physa fontinalis, have, since that date, been
noticed to possess the same power; and in the case of the latter,
Physa fontinalis, the thread or web was so tough and strong, that on
one occasion I was able, by means of a small rod introduced between
the creature and its point of attachment, to move it out of its straight
course a considerable distance, and, by then slowly drawing the rod
upwards, I succeeded in raising the snail completely out of the water
a space of about seven inches, suspended by its thread, so that, under
these circumstances, the thread itself became distinctly visible.

From the observations which I have been enabled to make, I con-
sider that I am justified in stating that all the fresh-water snails are
possessed of this power.

* Read at the Liverpool Meeting of the British Association, and communicated
by the author.
+ Published in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1852, p. 3633.

XIII. B

4534 Notes on Animals in small Aquaria.

Memorandum 2.—As an evidence of the permanency of the balance
capable of being established between the animal and vegetable organ-
isms by the introduction of the water-snail or other phytophagous
mollusk, as I have elsewhere described,* I may state that the same
water in which my original experiments were made in March, 1849,
has been in continual use up to the present time, several fish living
constantly in it, without disturbance, and that it is now as bright and
in as healthy a state as at the first period of its being employed.

Again, in a small jar of about one pint capacity, having a single
plant of Vallisneria spiralis growing healthily in it, and with a few
small water-snails as scavengers, I succeeded, during the spring of
1858, in hatching and rearing a young trout. The egg was obtained
from Mr. S. Gurney, jun., and had been removed from his preserves
in the river Wandle; the shell ruptured the day after my receiving it,
and it was maintained in a perfectly healthy state during the whole of
the period required for the development of the respiratory organs, and
the complete though gradual absorption of the ovum. This develop-
ment was perfected in fifteen days from the bursting of the shell, till
the period that the fish could sustain itself contiuously in the water
and was able to swim strongly. Having arrived at this stage of
maturity, the vessel became far too small for the free use of its active
powers of locomotion, and it was therefore transferred to a small tank
containing several minnows, when, to my great annoyance, it was
immediately seized and devoured.

As another instance of the voracity of the finny tribe and their
destruction of each other, I may mention here that I had on a
previous occasion placed several small trout fry over-night in an
aquarium containing some gold-fish, but they must have been rapidly
preyed upon, as no trace could be seen of them the following morning.
These facts will demonstrate clearly the havoc which must take place
in the rivers and streams among the young fry of various fish under
ordinary circumstances, when they are proved to be devoured with
such extraordinary rapidity even by such species as the gold-fish or
carp tribe and the minnow.

Memorandum 3.—Care should be taken in the aquarium for fresh
water to exclude the ordinary polype or Hydra fusca, particularly
where certain species of fish are to be preserved, as with the minnow
(Leuciscus Phoxinus), for these creatures, insignificant as they may
appear, after a short time cause their death, and that under most

* Published in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1850, p. 2868.

Notes on Animals in small Aquaria. 4535

extraordinary circumstances, as the following observations will tend
to show :—In a small aquarium that had had gold-fish kept in it for a
length of time, but which had been removed into one of larger dimen-
sions and more fully exposed to the light, an enormous number of the
Hydra fusca were observed to have made their appearance very soon
after this removal. Wishing therefore to ascertain if the appearance
and rapid increase of these polypes had been prevented by the gold-
fish, the following experiments were made :—Fifteen individuals of
the Hydra fusca were placed in the aquarium containing the gold-fish,
but they very soon disappeared, having, I presume, been devoured by
the fish; a second fifteen were then introduced, but with the same
result. At the same time as this experiment was made, fifteen Hydras
were placed in a tank containing four minnows (Leuciscus Phoxinus)
and a pair of small eels, but as the minnows did not appear to touch
them, the same number of polypes being counted over several times
during a period of three weeks, they were soon forgotten altogether.
After a space of about seven months had elapsed from this time, the -
minnows were observed to assume a most extraordinary aspect, the
head appeared very much swollen, and the eyes of all of them looked
as though starting out of their heads, being forced upwards and in an
outward direction and much enlarged; by degrees the gills of some
of them became streaked with bloody markings, and this gradually
extended to the base of the pectoral fins. The whole appearance
was most distressing to contemplate, particularly as it was im-
possible, from ignorance of the cause, to adopt any remedial
measures. Judging from their appearance my impression was
that they had been poisoned, and, assuming that it must have arisen
from something putrescent which they might have raked out of the
materials at the bottom of the aquarium, the whole of the water was
drawn off clear by a syphon, the gravel and sand thoroughly washed,
and everything replaced in the tank with the fish; no improvement,
however, appeared io follow, the fish got worse and ultimately died.
This was in June, 1853. Before this extraordinary change came on,
the fish had been observed to cluster together in one particular
secluded spot, and rarely came out as they had been accustomed to
do, and when they did venture forth they rubbed or jerked themselves
with much force against the gravel and rock-work, as though some-
thing was irritating the skin: nothing, however, was visible. I had
had these fish for about eighteen months in the same aquarium. As
the water was perfectly bright and clear, and free from all odour or
unpleasant taste, I procured six fresh minnows and placed them in

4536 Notes on Animals in small Aquaria.

the tank; for about ten days they appeared to be pretty healthy:
they did not, however, swim about freely, but herded together in one
corner of the aquarium, and then the same extraordinary change
gradually came on which had been observed in the others, and after
lingering for seventeen days they all died. On carefully scrutinizing
the different parts of the tank with a magnifying glass, my attention
was at once arrested by observing the enormous number of the Hydra
fusca which were present, particularly on the parts of the aquarium
where the fish had been accustomed to-feed; that is, along the water-
line towards the light, at the base of the plants of Vallisneria spiralis,
about half-an-inch above the gravel, and on the whole of the rock-work
around the space where the minnows delighted to hide: here they
might have been seen stretching out from the sides, hanging down
from the top—in fact, in every possible direction: here, then, was a
solution of all the evil. It now became a question how these pests
were to be eradicated, and after canvassing in my mind a variety of
suggestions, I determined to endeavour to remove them individually,
and by this means they were speedily got rid of; from fifty to a
hundred being taken out daily. The method by which this operation
was effected was as follows:—A long glass capillary tube open at
both ends was introduced into the water, having the finger kept
tightly over the upper orifice, while, with the edge of the lower
opening, the polype was detached from its hold; the moment this
was effected and the Hydra began slowly to fall through the water, the
finger was removed, and the water with the polype was thus rapidly
driven into the tube by the pressure of the external column of water ;
on replacing the finger the contained water and polype were removed.
By persevering in this course they were caught with the greatest
rapidity and dropped into another vessel before they had time to
attach themselves to the interior of the tube, falling through the water
like a miniature parachute. When situated in places where this mode
of capture could not be employed, as on the leaves of the Vallisneria
or on the under sides of the rock-work, they were pulled off with a jerk
by means of a small pair of forceps. In this manner between four and
five hundred polypes were removed from a small aquarium holding
about six gallons of water. Since this some small carp and also
minnows have been placed in the same water, and have continued
now for upwards of sixteen months in perfect health.

It is a curious problem as to the manner in which this destruction
of life was brought about:. my own impression is that the Hydras
seized on the minnows whenever their extended tentacula were

Notes on Animals in small Aquaria. 4537

touched by the swimming fish,—stinging them, and causing a great
degree of irritation; and that the polypes were torn from their
position by the greater strength of the fish and carried to their places
of retreat, where, by consequence, the mischief was continually
accumulating. A similar removal from one place to another of an
analogous creature, the young of the Actinia, takes place in sea water,
from their attaching themselves by their tentacula to some moving
denizen, the hold being released very soon after they are forced from
their original attachment.

Sea Water. Memorandum 1.—In my previous experiments in this
branch of the subject, commenced in January, 1852,* and of which
some results were communicated to the British Association at their
meeting last year at Hull,t I stated that the result of my experiments
to ascertain the kind of sea-weed best fitted for maintaining the
balance with the animal life was, under ordinary circumstances, in
favour of the Chlorosperms, and that the Rhodosperms submitted to
the like conditions did not answer the purpose desired and at the
same time retain their colour and beauty, inasmuch as they very soon
became coated with a growth of short green and brown Conferve
(Conferva tortuosa ?), which entirely mantled the whole surface of the
fronds and destroyed their characteristic appearance. During these
investigations, however, it occurred to me that it might be possible to
obviate this drawback, and I have, I believe, succeeded, after a series
of experiments, in overcoming this inconvenience, and can now retain
them in all their natural loveliness, and render them quite efficient for
all the purposes required—that is, as consumers of carbonic acid and
generators of oxygen.

The ground on which I have reasoned as a basis for these experi-
ments has been the consideration, that nearly the whole of these red
or pink-coloured sea-weeds are found either in deep water or under
the shade of other Algz, and from the fact that they were also often
known to occur in shallow rock-pools: it was hence fair to assume
that the pressure of the column of water could not be an important
element in the production of these coloured growths, and therefore
that it must depend upon a modification of the light. Hence my
idea was that the effects of the depth of the water might be capable
of being imitated by tinting the light through the interposition of

oad

* *Garden Companion,’ January, 1852.
t ‘ Zoologist’ for 1853, p. 4118.

4538 Notes on Animals in small Aquaria.

coloured media, and thus all the results observed in the vegetation,
and much even of the healthy animal life of deep sea water could be,
under this arrangement, assimilated; and this, 1 am happy to state,
has proved experimentally to be the case, so that, by very simple
means and with very little trouble, we shall be enabled to grow and
preserve these elegant and beautiful plants in all their varied hues, as
well as many of the wondrous forms of animal life usually found
associated with them, for any length of time; and thus a much
enlarged field for observation will be brought within the limits of our
aquarium.

In order to obtain this desideratum, a medium having a blue
or green tint has been had recourse to, and of such a nature as
merely to colour, soften or diffuse the light, without materially
diminishing its quantity. This was at first accomplished by the
employment of a thin film of paint of the desired shade, of a thin silk
gauze of a blue colour, by layers of tissue paper tinged blue and
green, sometimes oiled to render them more transparent, at others the
sheets of paper being superposed until the desired effect was pro-
duced, or by coloured varnishes, blue, and blue and yellow, and mixed
to the tint required. These materials should be applied to the surface
of the glass, or interposed between the source of light and the water,
in such a way that the whole of the light which directly illuminates
the aquarium may be tinted of the proper colour. In proportion to
the quantity of light at command and the varying aspect to the sun’s
rays, so must the transparency of the colouring medium be adjusted.
In my own case I have been obliged partially to employ coloured
glass, as the other methods were found to impede too much of the
direct light; but it must be borne in mind that this is in the midst of
a crowded city, in a smoky atmosphere, and surrounded by tall
houses. To such an extent has this plan succeeded, that several
small attached pieces of delicate red sea-weed which I had received
in October, 1852, and had become thickly mantled with the brown
and green confervoid growth already alluded to, and which had not
exhibited the least signs of vitality, on being placed in a small glass
jar arranged with tinted and oiled tissue-paper, soon lost the whole of
this parasitic growth, from its gradually decaying and being then con-
sumed by the mollusks, the fronds assuming their deep crimson hue,
becoming perfectly clear, and even after so long a period throwing
out numerous young shoots or leaflets; and on one of these pieces
several beautiful specimens of the Coryne sessilis made their appear-
ance, together with groups of Lepralia and corallines.

Notes on Animals in small Aquaria. A539

Memorandum 2.—Another very interesting experiment that I have
had progressing very successfully for some time past, is the preserving
sea water in a perfectly transparent and healthy state without the use
of vegetation of any kind, or, in some cases, even of u scavengering
mollusk. The adoption of these experiments was in a great degree
forced upon me from circumstances which have been already pub-
lished. In the paper read before the Meeting of the British Associa-
tion at Hull, I stated that in consequence of the ravenous propensities
of the crabs and the varieties of rock-fish, I had been obliged to
establish several small imitation rock-pools, so as to separate these
various depredators from each other; and as some of these, the
blennies, also attacked the common periwinkle and other mollusks
which were employed as scavengers, the plant or vegetation conse-
quently became of little use, and was therefore omitted altogether
from the arrangement. It may be asked, then, how can the sea water
under such circumstances be possibly kept in a healthy state? Why,
thus: by exposing a very extended surface of it to the action of the
air, and at the same time limiting its depth. The means that I have
been adopting for upwards of twelve months consist in the employ-
ment of shallow circular stone-ware pans of about eighteen inches
internal diameter by five inches deep; these are filled for about two
inches with water, the bottom is supplied with sand and shingle, and
numerous fragments of rock-work are arranged at the sides, some close
below the surface of the water, others rising in gentle slopes above,
and others again grouped to form cavities of retreat, so as to accord
with the habits of the crabs, blennies, &c., placed in them. The whole
is covered with a sheet of common window-glass, raised about one-
fourth of an inch from the edges of the pan by means of slips of wood,
so as to allow a free current of air over the surface of the water, and at
the same time impede the evaporation and prevent the greater part of
the dust and soot from settling on it. By this arrangement a very
extended surface of water is submitted to the oxidizing influence of
the air, and the fish and crabs, by their continual movements, cause
sufficient motion in the fluid to expose a fresh surface frequently to
its action, and thus keep up its aération. But it must be borne in
mind, that the oxygenation of the water thus effected is a very
delicate equilibrium, and the maintenance of a healthy aération is
liable to be disturbed by very slight interfering causes; nor do I con-
ceive that this method would be applicable except to such marine
denizens as are either of such low organization as to require but little
aération of the water, or to such as the crab tribe, the blennies,

4540 Notes on Animals in small Aquaria.

cotties, gobies, and those creatures which delight in very shallow
water, or which have the power of climbing out of their liquid
element. The varieties I have myself kept in perfect health for the
period mentioned are crabs, blennies, gobies, cotties, and varieties of
Actinia. Cancer Menas has under these circumstances cast its skin
three times during the present year, having increased in its dimen-
sions most extraordinarily each time.

Memorandum 3.—The form of aquarium which, after upwards of
five years’ experience and observation on the natural habits of the
various animated tenants, I have now adopted, consists in a four-sided
vessel having the back gradually sloping upwards from the bottom at ©
an angle of 45 to 50 degrees, and the consequently extended top
sloping slightly downwards and resting on the upper part of the back.
The bottom, therefore, becomes necessarily narrow. The front for
the purposes of observation, and the top for the admission of light,
are to be of glass; the back, ends and bottom being constructed of
slate ; the whole fixed in a stout framework.

The advautages of this arrangement are :—

First. That it allows of a most extended view of the whole interior
of the aquarium.

Secondly. That it enables the occupants to resort to water of any
depth they may desire, or even to ascend the sloping back and
emerge from the water.

Thirdly. It admits of a much larger surface of water being exposed
to the action of the light; and

Fourthly. The sloping top allows the water which condenses on
the glass, from the effect of radiation, to trickle off and return to the
aquarium without first resting on the zinc or iron frame-work.

I need hardly mention that the sloping back is to be covered
with light rock-work extending to a short distance above the water-
line.

ROBERT WARINGTON.

List of Land and Fresh Mollusca found in the neighbourhood of
Banbury, Oxfordshire. By Ricuarp StretcH, Esq.

THE nomenclature of this list is that of Gray’s ‘ Turton’s Manual.’

Neritina fluviatilis. Not uncommon in the Cherwell, but small. I
collected about two dozen specimens in a few minutes. Turton (page
33) limits this species to the southern part of the island; but I have

Mollusks. A5AL

found it at York, along with Planorbis corneus and Cyclas rivicola,
which he states are not found further north than Nottinghamshire.
Paludina achatina. Abundant in the Cherwell and the Oxford
Canal.
Bithinia tentaculata. Common in most of our streams.
» ventricosa. The Cherwell.
Valvata piscinalis. Abundant in the Cherwell.
» cristata. Rare. The moat at Broughton Castle.
Arion ater. Very abundant.

“ hortensis. A few specimens in the same localities as Limax

agrestis. |
Limax maximus. Not uncommon in damp situations.

» flavus. Rather. common in the cellars here. They are diffi-
cult to find, as they do not come out of their hiding-places till about
midnight. I found one specimen which was infested with a colony of
white lice, which ran swiftly about its body without any seeming in-
convenience.*

» agrestis. Very abundant.

Vitrina. pellucida. Common in moist herbage at. the bottom of
hedges. |
Helix aspersa. Common everywhere.

» hortensis. Not uncommon along with H. nemoralis.

» hybrida. A few specimens in a small wood, with hundreds
of H. nemoralis.

» hemoralis. Very common.

» Pomatia. Ihave not found this species nearer ee Charl-
bury Forest, where it is abundant.

» arbustorum. Common, but local ; feeding on the rank herb-
age in damp ditches.

» lapicida. Not uncommon amongst loose stones at Charl-
bury.

» pulchella, Common in moss and under stones. I have
found the variety imbricata in dry situations, as mentioned by C.
Ashford in his list of shells found at Ackworth (Zool. 4262).

» fulva. Not unfrequent in damp woods.

» aculeata. Amongst decaying vegetable matter at the bottom
of hedges. |

», hispida. Common under stones.

», rufescens. Common in the hedge opposite the Union.

* This circumstance is of frequent, if not constant, occurrence.—Ep.
XII. Cc

4542 Mollusks.

Helix concinna. Found along with H. rufescens.
» virgata. Very common, feeding on the scanty herbage of
the limestone rocks.
»» caperata. Five or six specimens on a mud wall at Hanwell.
» ericetorum. Hill-side near Wiggington Heath.
Zonites rotundatus. Common under stones.
5, umbilicatus. Common in the limestone walls at Edge Hill
and Chipping Norton.
» pygmeeus. Pretty common in damp grass.
» cellarius. Common under stones.
» allianus. Ditto.
»» purus. Frequent in damp ditches and woods.
» nitidulus. Common under stones.
» Yradiatulus. Occasional.
» crystallinus. Rather common along with Z. purus.
Succinea putris. Found in marshy situations, but not so plentiful
as S. Pfeiffer.
9 Pfeifferi. Common in marshy ditches and osier-beds.
Bulimus obscurus. A few specimens at the roots of trees.
Zua lubrica. Common in gardens and woods.
Achatina.acicula. A few dead specimens from a dry bank at
Broughton.
Pupa umbilicata. Common beneath moss and at the roots of grass.
» marginata. A few specimens from Rainsbro’ Camp.
Vertigo pygmea. Beneath the moss on the old wall of Rainsbro’
Camp.
» pusilla. Same locality as V. pygmea.
Balea perversa. Not uncommon on old walls at Sibford and

Astrup.
Clausilia bidens. Not rare in the woods at Edge Hill.
rs nigricans. Very abundant in woods.

Carychium minimum. Common at the roots of mossy grass.
Limnzus auricularis. Some fine specimens from the canal and
river.

. pereger. Very common, as also is the var. lineatus.
43 stagnalis. Common in the river Cherwell.

palustris. Very abundant in the Oxford Canal.

‘i truncatulus. Not uncommon along with L. palustris.

Ancylus fluviatilis. Common in running streams, but small and
difficult to find, being generally covered with a greenish incrusta-
tion,

Mollusks. 4543

Velletia lacustris. Not uncommon under the leaves of plants in
the Cherwell.
Physa fontinalis. In the Cherwell.
Planorbis corneus. Not uncommon in the river.
if levis. Moat at Broughton Castle.

> marginatus. Very common.

o vortex. Common in small ponds and ditches.

mn spirorbis. Ditto.

> nitidus. Rare.

et contortus. A few specimens of this species have oc-
curred.

Cyclas rivicola. Very common in the Cherwell.
» cornea. Common in the river.
», calyculata. In a large pond at Hanwell.
Pisidium nitidum. Ditto.

4 Henslovianum. Two or three specimens from the moat
at Broughton.

re amnicum. Common in the river and along with P. nitidum.

7 cinereum. A large pond at Hanwell.

Anodon cygneus. Very abundant; the varieties are so numerous
that I cannot say with certainty which are found in this neighbour-
hood.

Unio pictorum. Not uncommon in the Cherwell.

Dreissina polymorpha. The sides of the canal for some distance
are lined with multitudes of this species of all sizes:* the large speci-
mens are much corroded at the umbones.

In conclusion, I will just mention a method of representing the
animals of Mollusca generally, which is peculiarly applicable to the
genera Arion, Limax, and others which have either a very small
shell or none at all. I have seen it carried out to some extent in the
cabinet of a friend of mine in this town, and the effect is extremely
good. He models the animal ina paste made of new white bread,
worked between the fingers to such a consistency that it is easily
moulded without cracking, and when it is nearly dry he paints it the
natural colour, and varnishes it over. The semitransparency of the
body is beautifully imitated by this method if the paste is kept

clean. .
RICHARD STRETCH.
Parsons Street, Banbury,
November 18, 1854.

4544 Animal and Vegetable Life.

On the Introduction of Forms of Animal and Vegetable Life into
New Localities. By AurrRED MERLE Norman, Esq.

TIMES are changed. No longer is the student of the works of the
Creation looked upon as half-witted, or despised as one who trifles
away his time in an idle and useless pursuit. Each day is adding to
the number of our naturalists. The time when the study of Nature
was centred in the few is gone, we trust, never to return; and some
acquaintance with the leading features of Natural History is consi-
dered at the present day to be almost anecessary part of education.

Many have been the causes which have conduced to this most en-
couraging state of things. Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Mu-
seums, Ward’s cases, and glass tanks, have brought many of the most
beautiful productions of the animal and vegetable kingdoms before
the eyes of hundreds, who would otherwise have been ignorant of the
existence of such gems. They have looked, admired and looked
again ; the attention at length becomes fixed, and what was at first a
mere idle gaze ripens into one of interest, and ends in enthusiasm. I
have known many such instances, more especially resulting from ad-
miration of the rich and endless variety of form and colouring dis-
played by the prisoners in Marine Vivaria.

Another cause of the impulse which the study of Natural History
has of late received, has been the establishment of Natural History
Societies throughout the country ; and although the meetings of many
such societies consist for the most part of persons who come to see
their friends, and not from any real regard to the objects of the meet-
ing, yet still they cannot listen to the lectures, usually delivered on
such occasions, without receiving some instruction ; and their being
present at any rate tends to make Natural History fashionable.
Many of these societies, moreover, have already done much real
scientific good in adding not a little, by means of carefully prepared
local Faunas and Floras, to our knowledge of the geographical distri-
bution of animals and plants.

The microscope has been a third and most invaluable incentive to
many to look more closely into the works of Nature ; and while it has
revealed to the astonished student the fact that each drop of water is
in itself a world, the telescope has shown the world itself to be a mere
drop of water as compared with the vastness of Creation.

-But much of encouragement as we may see in the enlistment
which is so rapidly taking place, from these combined causes, in the

Animal and Vegetable Life. A545

ranks of science, and rejoice as we may over each recruit that is added
to our staff of working naturalists, whether in field or barracks, we
must nevertheless all look most carefully and cautiously, lest, instead
of forming our troops into a firm phalanx, we fall foul of each other,
and thus endanger the safety of our “ Natural Defences.”

The dangers referred to are many in number; but there is one to
which I would wish in particular to call attention, as being of rapid
growth in the present day, and to which the more scientific mode of
studying Natural History now adopted has in a great measure con-
tributed.

An acquaintance with the mere form of any natural object was
formerly deemed sufficient, and Natural History was pursued for the
sake of simply naming a collection of objects which would look
pretty in a cabinet. Under these circumstances the mere descrip-
tions of outward forms were all that were required; and but few en-
tered upon scientific investigations of those classes of animals which
they studied. Natural History has now soared above this degrading
state of things, and every fact is esteemed as important which will in
any way tend to elucidate any portion of the history of particular spe-
cies; the minutest details of habit and food, growth and develop-
ment, habits and economy, as well as of anatomy, external and inter-
nal, are considered of value, and to be worthy objects of the most
searching investigations.

In order that they may forward these views, many lovers of Nature,
when they have met with some rarity in another district, are not con-
tent with procuring specimens at the time, from a wish to possess so
great a prize in their immediate neighbourhood, or for the still more
natural and justifiable cause, that they may examine and watch the
development of their protégés, but are in the habit of transporting ani-
mals and plants from one district to another. But although the
watching of the success that attends such trials may be highly inte-
resting to the individual making the experiments, and the changes
which result from difference of climate, soil, or food, in specimens of
the animal or vegetable kingdoms, may be highly instructive to all,
still such experiments as are now referred to should not be made
without certain precautions having been adopted, lest, while in minor
points the experiment be instructive and of value, in major ones it
prove detrimental to the last degree. If every naturalist were to in-
troduce exotic forms of life into this country, or carry animals and
plants from one part of Great Britain to another, science would suffer
one of the severest blows that could be dealt at it. Our previously

4546 Insects.

conceived ideas of geographical distribution would be subverted, and,
in the inextricable confusion that would ensue, naturalists of the pre-
sent time would hereafter receive but sorry justice, and would be
thought to have overlooked many objects which our descendants had
through their greater assiduity discovered ; while naturalists of future
years would find themselves entangled in a very Penelope’s web in
the vain attempt to unravel the knot we had tied, and to separate truly
indigenous species from those that had been introduced.

I would earnestly beg, therefore, that any one who shall hereafter
introduce any form of animal or vegetable life into a new locality, or
may have already done so, will make known the same through the
medium of the ‘ Zoologist,’ or any other such like publication, to his
brother naturalists of the present and future times; and I trust that
my namesake, Mr. G. Norman, will have the kindness to send the
names of the Mollusca he has succeeded in naturalising in the North
of England (Zool. 4435) for insertion, and thus set an example,
which I hope all, under the same circumstances, will follow.

There is little doubt but that many forms of exotic animal life
would as easily become acclimatised in this country as do those of
the vegetable kingdom ; but whether it is desirable thus to introduce
them is a matter on which there is a great diversity of opinion. All
I wish now to enforce is the great importance of making known,
in the most public manner possible, every instance of foreign importa-
tion into this country, or into any particular neighbourhood. It
would take up too much of your space were I to enumerate the many
uncertainties that have arisen, with regard to the ascertaining of true
natives, from the neglect of this most important measure in past times.
Many such will occur to your readers in almost any branch of Na-
tural History in which they may be interested. .

ALFRED MERLE NoRMAN.

Isle of Cumbrae, N. B.
Sept. 10, 1854.

Ravages of Caterpillars. By the Rev. ArtHuUR Hussgy, M.A.

For the last two summers many of the gardens in this village have
been infested by caterpillars to such an extent, that the cabbages
have been utterly destroyed. When fully fed, the vermin, as usual, —
crawled away in search of a spot where to undergo their next change,

Insects. A547

at which period the ridges of the surrounding walls presented a cu-
rious appearance, being occupied by a continuous string of the crea-
tures, generally travelling in the same direction. Last year a
favourite goal was the roof of a large house, near which an immense
host had been bred, and the walls, being white, rendered very con-
spicuous the unbroken dark line of the insects, which for some time
persevered in swarming up it, and which not merely entered the
rooms, but crept into the beds, among clothes, or into any other place
of concealment, the only remedy for the nuisance being to keep the
windows closed. Though the owner of the premises employed a
number of boys, his scholars, in sweeping with brooms the walls
leading to the house, their exertions produced no visible effect; con-
sequently they were soon relinquished. A band of melted tar was
next drawn under the coping of the wall on the side whence the hos-
tile hosts proceeded, but to no good purpose, for when the vermin
reached the tar, they simply followed it to the extremity of the wall,
where it ceased, and then resumed their former course. The rate,
too, at which these little animals advance, is far more rapid than
would be imagined, though some attention will prove that their mo-
lions are really ie their sole object during the journey aE ane
to be to “ move on.’

A large proportion of the caterpillars of 1853 took refuge in a malt-
house, from which they could not escape as butterflies, the result
being that for several weeks during the past spring and summer the
maltster swept up daly many hundreds (700 or 800! I was informed)
of the dead insects. Notwithstanding, though rather less numerous
than in 1853, they abounded quite sufficiently this year to cause the
annoyance and loss alluded to above, especially as they arrived in
successive swarms: if the garden had been completely cleared of
them, a fresh army was speedily to be perceived as busily ——— as
its predecessor.

The ‘ Zoologist’ for 1846 records (Zool. 1442, 1443) the immigration
about Dover from the Continent of an immense flight of white butter-
flies, in the beginning of July in the same year, and the pest, from
whatever cause it might proceed, certainly extended to this place,
the cabbages that season, partially if not generally, having been
entirely devoured. I then noticed for the first time the operation of
the ichneumon flies, the effect being that few or none of the cater-
pillars were observed by me in the chrysalis state, and that in 1847
the gardens were, if I recollect rightly, free from the ravages of the
preceding year. My experience on that occasion induced me to

4548 Insects.

watch the course of events last autumn, but, though the ichneumons:
were neither entirely absent nor yet inactive, the proportion of their
victims to those which escaped seemed very small indeed. During
this season, however, the number of “ fly blown” caterpillars must, I
conceive, have been ten times that of 1853, even although the aggregate
amount of both sound and unsound may have been less; from which
circumstance I am disposed to anticipate the great mitigation, if not
the total cessation, of the plague in 1855.

Among countless nests of ichneumons already changed to the
chrysalis state, I searched long before I could discover an example of
the little maggots in the act of emerging from the body of the cater-
pular, but eventually succeeded very fully. By that time the cater-
pillar is in a torpid condition (but not dead, since it moves if
touched), remaining quite still while the parasites gradually extricate
themselves with a wriggling motion, sometimes in such a quantity
that it is impossible to count, without removing, them. I have seen
a mass which I should estimate at two dozen at least. Their next
change must occur very rapidly, for in one instance I examined a
brood, of which only one was distinctly visible, and that was busily
engaged in spinning the silky web wherein it was to be enveloped.
On my return, in about twenty minutes, I looked again, when the
little creature had completely concealed itself. A very large propor-
tion of the ichneumon-cases have now for some time been empty, but
what may be the general rule with regard to the perfect insect coming
forth must be left to entomologists. The flies I have seen were very
small.

In the first volume of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 826), I have related some
illustrations I had noticed of the prevalence and sudden disappear-
ance of certain insects, which disappearance, in one case, I was able
to trace to its probable cause. The phenomena now described are of
the same class, being among the innumerable proofs we possess of the
care wherewith a wise and beneficent Providence maintains “ the ba-
lance of power” in its creation; and showing that, although vermin
of various degrees and kinds are occasionally sent in vast multitudes
for our chastisement or our trial, provision is also mercifully made for
the alleviation and final removal of the infliction.

In the course of the observations detailed above I remarked a few
' particulars, which may be appended to this account. Among the
victims of the ichneumon flies I have not known one green cater-
pillar, though they are sometimes offensively plentiful upon the cab-
bage tribe. They may suffer, but I have never seen any which had

NA
a,
~
Nv

Natural-History Collectors. 4549

done so: perhaps they protect themselves by their habit of pene-
trating very deeply into the plant, besides that their colour renders
them less conspicuous than others. Neither am I aware that the
number of the green caterpillar ever approaches nearly to that of the
variegated kind, as during the last two seasons. The latter insect,
when uninjured, seems to me to undergo its change, if upon a plain
surface, in a perpendicular position, with the head uppermost. F're-
quently, however, it selects a depression in the face of a wall, or fixes
itself under the coping bricks, or in some similar spot, when its posi-
tion is necessarily varied according to the situation, but I have never,
I believe, found a chrysalis reversed. When the insect has become
merely a case for the parasites, it makes the final pause in any direc-
tion, as often as not perhaps with the head downwards. Among the
myriads which wander in search of a resting-place, not one perhaps
of the sound, and very rarely one of the unsound, caterpillars will
stop upon a wall exposed to the south or south-west, that is, to the
winds from the sea. A favourite locality is a line of wall facing east-
ward, and open throughout to the north-east; consequently they can
have no instinctive apprehension of the effects of frost, contrary to
the common and groundless notion of that being generally fatal to
insect life.

Experience has suggested to a neighbour and friend, who has been
much pestered with the creatures, that probably a very durable green
dye might be obtained from the bodies of cabbage-fed caterpillars.
Years of washing have not effaced the stain of one accidentally
crushed upon linen, nor will water remove such marks from a brick
pavement.

ARTHUR HUSSEY.
Rottingdean, November 10, 1854.

Proceedings of Natural-History Collectors in Foreign Countries.

Mr. H. W. Barers.*—Santarem, March 27, 1854.—Although I can-
not get ready a collection by this month’s steamer, [ think it well to
write, and chiefly to let you know of the safe arrival, a fortnight ago,
of the box of books and packet of letters forwarded by you on the 26th

_ of December last. I cannot give you an idea of the pleasure it caused

| * Communicated by Mr. 8. Stevens.
XIII. D

4550 Natural-History Collectors.

me to receive so many cheering, valuable, and useful books and letters,
especially as a long time had passed since hearing from you, and I had
began to feel disconsolate. The seven vols. of ‘Suites 4 Buffon’ I very
much needed, especially the Hymenoptera part, and henceforward
you may depend upon it the bees, ants, &c., will feel the effect, and
I hope many curious notes of habits can be prepared for the ‘ Trans-
actions.’ You did quite right to send me the two vols. of Jardin des
Plantes Catalogues. These catalogues are very necessary, as the best
books we can get only describe asmall portion of the subjects, which .
deficiency the catalogues supply, and thus a complete guide to col-
lecting is made up between them. The last time I wrote (January
last) I informed you of the safe arrival of not only the box of books you
sent in May, 1853, but also the long-lost parcel of May, 1852, so that
up to the present time not a single article or letter you have advised
me as forwarded per Singlehurst & Co. is missing. I have not had
such good fortune with the ‘ Illustrated News’ by mail; I have not
received more than half the numbers sent; therefore do not send me
any more by that conveyance. As to books I am quite set up in all
the orders of insects, and do not require anything now except first-rate
Monographs, as they appear, such as what I ordered of you, Lacor-
daire’s ‘ Phytophages,’ and also such as F. Smith’s Monograph of
Cryptocerus, and Catalogues of British Museum and Jardin des
Plantes, as they appear. They at present seem to be working on
different families and orders: of course, when the London and Paris
Catalogues are on the same group, it is not necessary to send both.
Chemnitz you can continue to send as it appears. In my January
letter I ordered a few British Museum Catalogues, amongst them
Part 1, Hemiptera; but, however, all the Zoological Catalogues (ex-
cept those on British Fauna only) from this day forward would be use-
ful to me, and you can send me them by degrees. Please thank
Messrs. Hanbury, Janson and Baly for their notes and letters : to Mr.
F’. Smith I will write, if there be time, before post closes. To Mr.
Hanbury please say I never lose an opportunity of acquiring objects
in his department. The difficulty is not in collecting together plenty
of different kinds of balsams, resins, or medical roots and barks (really
so or only reported), the real difficulty is in identifying these separate
objects with the tree which produces them, and acquiring a flowering
specimen ofit. ‘This is much aggravated by the loose terminology of
the Indians, who give the same name to very different things. The
same applies to useful woods, but still by degrees I am getting a cor-
rect knowledge of these things. ‘To Mr. Baly please say that ¥ will

Natural-History Collectors. 4551

bear him particularly in mind in collecting the ants and bees: of the
GE&icodema, since I have received his note,[ have found two species
quite different from the true cephalotes, and I think it likely I may
add immensely to the number of species ofants. The Eulaima I now
know very well, and shall procure males and females of every species.
One species, I believe, makes its nest in wood: the Mesoplie and
Mesocheire of St. F. are very likely parasites on them. In the cy-
clicous Coleoptera I will also bear him in mind: it was a favourite group
with me last year, as I drew up a careful analytical description of all the
generic forms—a mass of manuscript, with brief characters of about
400 species : although they are the only Coleoptera here one may call
abundant in individuals, many of them (especially the Megalopi and
Megaceles) require a long time to get a tolerable set of. Mr. Wallace,
I suppose, will be off ere this, therefore next month will do to reply to
his kind letter. I hope somebody will send mea copy of his other
book, the Voyage. The Palms I have now two copies of, and it is
really a very correct, useful book on the class. I can add many
species, however, to his list, and I doubt not Mr. Spruce could dou-
ble it. It is curious that two months before receiving your last letter
I had been attending to the Termites. I began first to look for M.
Schiddte’s new Staphylini and ended by becoming greatly interested
in the Termites, without, however, finding the Staphylini. Some of
the results of my examination up to the present date I intend to send
you on separate sheets. The specimens will follow next month. I
have examined about 100 colonies: some of the results I have come
to are, that there are no truly apterous imagos; that there are only
two kinds of larve, fighters and workers; that a large hillock is always
an agglomeration of many very distinct species which build with very
different materials; that some species cherish only one female and one
male adult in a colony, whilst others have a great number, 50 or 100
adults, the male and female in about equal numbers. Lastly, I have
detected a very good character to distinguish male and female in the
pupa and adult states. I have found pupz in various. stages of
growth or ecdysis, without, however, as yet, detecting the first moult
from the larva to the pupa, to decide what becomes of the monstrous
apophyses of the head and the mandibles of the soldier (fighter)
larva. My remaining collections I will send next month, just before I
leave for the Upper Amazons, which I expect will be early in May.
The Cattleya, &c., I will look for when 1 get to a good place for
them. I understand the business, I think, quite sufficiently. You
make me very envious in only speaking of the Morpho Cypris, &c., of

4552 Natural-History Collectors.

Bogota. I wonder how they are captured, if they are like M. Adonis
and Hecuba here: about five miles from Santarem these two Morphos
and a third very red and orange in colour appeared for a few days at
the beginning of the wet season, but they would never descend lower
than from 30 to 40 feet. I watched them for hours, until I nearly dis-
located my neck with looking up at them. The one Adonis I sent
from Para, for my private collection was caught by a lad I employed,
by climbing a tree.

Santarem, April 27, 1854.—By the steamer this month I send a
cedar-wood chest containing six boxes of insects, a few specimens of
economic. Botany, and miscellanies. The insects to be placed with
my stock of private collection are those things which I find it most
difficult to preserve in this climate ; and by degrees I see I shall have
to send the whole of my private collections of other families, which
become mouldy here more readily than the others. The collection
for sale contains a large lot of ants, with many notes for Mr, F.
Smith, a letter, anda collection of Termites, which I have had great
trouble to keep from Acari and mould, many having been destroyed:
my notes on these I consider important, containing several disco-
veries I have made on their habits. The notes might be published in
the ‘ Trans. Ent. Soc.’; if you would get the species drawn, described,
and named, they would form a splendid paper; in fact, I flatter my-
self, would attract much the attention of naturalists. The phial with
Termites in spirits is in a tin box in the parcel: there is also a speci-
men of a species of Orchis (lilac-coloured, but not a Cattleya I think) ;
just show it and ask if good; I am growing one part of it on a tree in
my garden. I wrote you last month acknowledging the receipt of
your most welcome parcel of letters and box of books, which, up to
this date, has been to me a continued intellectual feast, and given me
lots of occupation. In the account of the insects I send you now, I
have kept the ants and Termites as separate items; I want to see
how they sell; the British Museum, I think, should have the Ter-
mites, if they arrive in good condition; with the notes I send they
become of value. Please to thank Mr. Hanbury on my part for the
present of the pamphlets and the hints contained in his two notes. I
scarcely expect to find any of the different kinds of balsams of Peru
in the Valley of the Amazons, except it is near the eastern foot of the
Cordilleras. ‘The present collection I have taken great care to keep
free from mould. The ants and other Hymenoptera are pinned and

Entomological Botany. 4553

dried so carefully that I am sure they will be valued as specimens, if
the moisture does not collect on them. I find the Diptera and Or-
thoptera most difficult to keep, aud am afraid I shall be obliged to
send them all to be kept in London, and therefore lose the pleasure
and advantage of having them at hand to study. What I now send
of the private collection I have made memoranda of, so as to know
pretty well when I meet with a fresh species in future. I cannot yet
send you a collection of showy Diurnes, as you request; there are
none at Santarem except the very common, as C. Dido, the common
Agraules, Callidryas, &c. I have never seen an Epicalia Ancea here,
nor any of the handsome Para Papilios, except now and then a Sesos-
tris. At EgaI could get you up a glorious collection of 1000 to 2000,
and I am hourly expecting the Nanta steamer down, when I shall
bargain with the captain to take me up here on his return (J suppose
it will be considered a favour, besides costing £15 or £20 passage
money).

H. W. BatTEs.

Entomological Botany (with more especial reference to the Plants
JSrequented by the Tineina). By H. T. Stainton, Esq.

(Continued from page 4472).

Stellaria Holostea. Greater Stitchwort.

Common in hedges, frequently growing in considerable masses, and
when in flower “ its brilliant white starry blossoms render it very con-
spicuous.” The association of ideas with this plant is pleasant ; we
think of it in connection with the lengthening evenings at the end of
April, when everything is bursting into leaf, and the cuckoo’s song is
first heard. I remember, when a child, I was told the plant was
* Cuckoo’s Bread and Cheese,” but I have not observed this given as
a synonym in any botanical work. As early as January we may find
the larva of Gelechia tricolorella mining the leaves of this plant, and
at a later period (March and April) screwing up the terminal shoots
and feeding therein. (See ‘Transactions of the Entomological Society,’
vol. ii. New Series, plate x. fig. 1). In April the leaves are mined by
the larva of Gelechia maculea, which at the end of May may be found
in the capsules feeding on the seeds. (See ‘Transactions of the

4554 _ Entomological Botany.

Entomological Society, vol. ii. New Series, plate x. fig. 2). At the
end of April and in May the larve of Coleophora solitariella may be
noticed in their pale whitish cases attached to the under side of the
leaves, in which they make pearly white blotches, by devouring the
parenchyma. (See ‘Transactions of the Entomological Society,’
vol. ii. New Series, plate xi. fig. 3). The young larve of this last
species may be met with feeding in October and November.

Stellaria.uliginosa. Bog Stitchwort.

A common but rather insignificant plant, frequenting moist places,
and growing almost concealed among the ranker herbage; in the
early spring (March and April), when the smooth shining leaves are
just making their appearance, the small shoots are noticed to be dis-
torted into various uncouth shapes: this apparent malformation is
caused by the presence of a brown larva which feeds in the heart
of the young shoots; it is the larva of Gelechia fraternella. (See
‘Transactions of the Entomological Society,’ vol. ii. New Series,
pl. x. f. 3.)

Cerastium glomeratum (vulgatum). Broad-leaved Mouse-ear
_Chickweed.

The larva of Gelechia fraternella, though most partial to the pre-
ceding plant, may occasionally be found in the shoots of this, and the
larva of Coleophora solitariella has also been observed feeding on
this.

Malva moschata. Musk Mallow.
Malva sylvestris. Common Mallow.
Malva rotundifolia. Dwarf Mallow.

No Tineina larva is known to feed on any of these plants, though
the two last are almost universally distributed: when we bear in
_ mind how the larva of Gelechia malvella feeds in the seeds of the
allied Althza rosea, the Hollyhock of our gardens, it is difficult to
imagine that the seeds of our wild mallows, or “ cheeses,” as they are
called by children, are not to the taste of any of the numerous larve
of Gelechiz which are still unknown to us.

Althea officinalis. Marsh Mallow.

Speyer gives this as a food-plant of Eubolia cervinata; however,
the larva of that species is more accessible on the Hollyhocks, which

Entomological Botany. 4555

grow nearer home than “ marshes, particularly near the sea,” which
Babington gives as the habitat of this plant. [I am not aware that
the Althzea officinalis has ever been examined by any Micro-Lepi-
dopterist.

Tilia europea. Lime Tree.

The list of Micro-Lepidoptera feeding on this tree or its congeners
(parvifolia and grandifolia which, for entomological purposes, do not
claim a distinct notice) is rather formidable. Speyer gives the fol-
lowing:—Smerinthus Tiliz, Aglia Tau, Endromis versicolora, Stauro-
pus Fagi, Petasia cassinea, Notodonta camelina, Platypteryx sicula,
Cossus ligniperda, Zeuzera AXsculi (the two last feeding in the wood),
Hypogymna dispar, Leucoma Vau-nigrum, Dasychira pudibunda, Py-
gera bucephala (which sometimes actually defoliates the trees pre-
maturely), Gastropacha Pruni, Pecilocampa Populi, Eriogaster la-
nestris, Acronycta Psi, Amphipyra pyramidea, Miselia Aprilina,
Orthosia instabilis, O.stabilis, Xanthia Citrago, Cosmia trapezina, Hi-
bernia defoliaria, Nyssia hispidaria, Biston hirtarius, Odoptera Alniaria,
O. erosaria, O. angularia, Ourapteryx Sambucaria, Kurymene dola-
_ braria, Harpalyce Corylata, Euthalia psittacata, and two of the Micro-
Lepidoptera, Tortrix Ribeana and Rosana.

The Tineina larve feeding on the lime are few in number; Mme.
Lienig found on it the larva of Cerostoma sequella in May ; she also
states that the larva of Réslerstammia Erxlebella feeds on the lime in
May and September, on the under side of the leaves, in which it
makes large round holes; but, as I have elsewhere stated, I suspect
there must be some mistake here; the larva of Coleophora anatipen-
nella (the Tiliella of Schrank) sometimes feeds on this tree in May ;
and in winter and spring the larva of Chrysoclista Linneella feeds on
the inner bark: this species, which is so excessively abundant around
London, is a rarity in many localities, and is nowhere common on
the Continent. The larva of Bucculatrix Hippocastanella feeds on —
the leaves of the lime in June and August; probably when young it
mines the leaves, but on this point we are yet uninformed. It is sin-
gular that no larva of Lithocolletis or Nepticula has hitherto been
observed on this tree.

Hypericum perforatum. Common Perforated St. John’s Wort.

The larva of Cloantha perspicillaris (of which only one British
specimen is known) feeds in July and August on this plant; the larve
of the allied species C. radiosa and Hyperici (which have never been

4556 Entomological Botany.

detected here) also feed on it in June and July. Speyer also gives
the larva of Anaitis plagiata as feeding on it. The larva of Catoptria
Hypericana feeds in the shoots in May, and in the seeds in July; and
at the end of May and beginning of June the larva of Depressaria
Hypericella may generally be met with in the screwed-up heads of the
plant, unless the contortion has been caused by that polyphagous
nuisance to the collector Sciaphila subjectana: the larva of Gracilaria
auroguttella mines the leaves when very young, making a slight pucker
longitudinally, and afterwards constructs a neat cone of the leaf (see
‘Transactions of the Entomological Society,’ vol. ii. n.s. pl. xiv. f. 3),
which, at first green, speedily turns dirty yellow, from the epidermis
and half of the parenchyma being taken away from the inside of the
cone; the cones are then very conspicuous, and may readily be
noticed in July and September: when the larva is full fed it quits the
cone, and twists up a short leaf longitudinally, making a miniature
imitation of a cigar, within which it changes to a pupa: these cigars
are at first quite green, but turn to a dirty greenish brown colour; they
may be noticed at the end of July and during winter. The larva of
Cemiostoma lustratella is stated to feed on this plant; but though no
doubt it occurs here, it has not hitherto been detected as British.
In September and the following months, the leaves are mined and
slightly puckered by the larva of Nepticula Septembrella, which is,
however, more partial to Hypericum pulchrum.

Hypericum hirsutum. Hairy St. John’s Wort.

The larve of Catoptria Hypericana and Depressaria Hypericella
also feed readily on this plant. |

Hypericum pulchrum. Small Upright St. John’s Wort.

The principal food-plant of Nepticula Septembrella, the larva of
which I have observed feeding in the glossy little leaves as late as
December ; the delicate little patterns which it traces in these leaves
are quite in harmony with the general neat appearance of the plant.

Acer campestre. Maple.

The food-plant of two of our rare prominents, Lophopteryx cucul-
lina and Ptilophora plumigera, both of which have lately been met with
on the chalk in Buckinghamshire, though on the same strata South of
London they have not been observed. Speyer also enumerates Pygera
bucephala, Xanthia sulfurago, Cosmia trapezina, Anisopteryx Aceraria
(a species exceedingly likely to occur in the South of England) and

Entomological Botany. A557

Ephyra omicronaria. The larva of Dictyopteryx Forskaliana is ex-
cessively abundant on this plant at the end of June, and the pupa may
be conveniently collected in the leaves which have a corner turned
down very closely. The active larva of Gelechia scriptella may be
found in September doubling the leaves nearly in half, and tying the
sides together by some strong silken cables. In July and in October
the leaves are apt to have a slight distortion at the edges, caused by
the larvee of Lithocolletis sylvella, which establishes its puckered mine
on the under side of the leaf. No larva, either of a Coleophora ora
Nepticula, has yet been observed on the maple. The seeds, or
“keys” as they are sometimes called, merit attention, as probably
they will be found to afford nourishment to more than one species of
insect: I once found a Lepidopterous larva in one.

Acer Pseudo-platanus. Sycamore.

The larva of Acronycta Aceris, one of the most beautiful we have,
frequents this tree, though also partial to the horse-chestnut; Speyer
also enumerates the larve of Odoptera lunaria, O. illunaria, O. illustraria,
Ptycholoma Lecheana, and Gracilaria rufipennella; the larva of the
last-named species forms cones on the leaves (similar to those of
G. stigmatella on sallows and willows) in the month of June.

ZEsculus hippocastanum. Horse-Chestnut.

Though not an indigenous tree, [ am obliged to mention it here,
it being too important entomologically to be overlooked ; the wood is

_. eaten by the larva of Zeuzera A‘sculi, and the leaves by the larva of

Acronycta Aceris and Anisopteryx A’scularia. The larva of Buc-
culatrix Hippocastanella should be found on the leaves in June and
at the end of August, and this is the only Tineina larva at present
known to frequent this stately tree. ,
H. T. STAINTON.
Mountsfield, Lewisham,

January, 1855.
(To be continued).

Professor Bailey's mode of giving Permanent Flexibility to Natural-History Speci-
mens.—The mode of application which I have employed is to immerse the dry
specimen for some time in a neutral saturated solution of chloride of calcium, which
any one can make for himself, by saturating hydrochloric acid with marble, and then,
after the specimen has become sufliciently softened to bend easily, remove it, and let
it drain in the open air. In some cases, where the specimens do not imbibe the salt

XIIT. E

4558 Birds.

readily, it is well to soften them in warm water before immersion in the salt. A speedy
impregnation will then take place, after which the specimens, if plants, may be
subjected to moderate pressure in the usual way, and restored to the herbarium,
while other specimens may be kept on shelves, or in any way usually employed for
similar objects, and all will, for any length of time, retain sufficient moisture to
prevent brittleness. The salt being neutral, no fear need be apprehended of its
injuring colour or texture, while its antiseptic properties will aid in the preservation of
matters liable to decay.— From ‘ Silliman’s Journal.’

Rare Birds killed near Scarborough.—The following rare birds have lately been
killed in our neighbourhood :—one red-necked phalarope, fourteen gray phalaropes,
five stormy petrels, four little auks, four purple-backed sandpipers, one red-throated
diver (mature), one female goosander. On the 25th of November, a noble female
specimen of the gyr-falcon was shot near Robin Hood’s Bay, on the moors of Sir John
Johnstone, M.P.: the bird is in the finest adult plumage: beak pale blue; cere wax-
yellow; irides black; head, neck, breast and lower part of body white: upper parts
are white, sparingly marked with arrow streaks of black pointing downwards: the tail
has no bars, but is white; legs yellow; talons brown: the crop was overloaded with
the entrails of some animal, most probably a hare; the stomach with the feathers of
grouse and portions of the grouse. The length of this majestic bird, from the point of
the beak to the end of the tail, was 203 inches; full extent of wings when opened,
3 feet 10 inches; weight, 3 tbs. 3 oz. Sir John Johnstone has forwarded the bird to
me to be preserved.— Alfred Roberts; King Street, Scarborough, December 1, 1854.

Occurrence of the Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla) and of the Lapland
Bunting (Emberiza Lapponica) in Sussex.— My. Swaysland, of Brighton, the fortunate
captor, as recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ for this month, of the Sylvia galactotes (? galac-
todes), possesses a short-toed lark and a Lapland bunting, both which were caught in
lark nets in the neighbourhood of Brighton, and were kept alive for a time.—Arthur
Hussey ; Rottingdean, November, 1854.

Note on the congregation of Swallows.—About the 14th of last August I noticed a
number of swallows to roost every evening in a small willow plantation, in this parish.
This number gradually increased, until about the middle of September, when they
amounted to thousands—I was going to say myriads. To see their movements
about roosting-time was one of the most pleasing sights which I have ever witnessed
amongst the feathered tribes. About six o’clock every evening, several hundreds of
birds, apparently those bred in the parish, collected together at a particular part of the
air, and amused theniselves by twittering and hawking after flies. In a short time
another body of swallows would arrive, evidently from another locality, and their
arrival was announced by a burst of twittering from both parties: then arrived another
from an opposite direction; the same actions were repeated, and it joined the main
body. In this manner the original flock was augmented, apparently from all points of
the compass, and it gradually swelled into a tremendous flight, which kept up such a
loud, continued twitter, as to arrest the attention of the most inattentive. As I sat
and watched the birds assembling, with unwearied delight, I have often been struck
with astonishment at their amazing multitudes; for their numbers seemed really
sufficient to people every town and hamlet in England. To watch them retire to roost
was a singular spectacle: they collected over the willow-bed, circled round and round

_ Birds. 4559

at a great height above it for some time, then down came a hundred or two into the
middle of the willows, like a shower of large black soot-flakes, the main flock
continuing to circle round and round until it came immediately over the bed, when
down came another shower of them, and so on, until the whole had descended. The
noise which they made was precisely like that of a steam-engine when blowing off the
steam; it could readily be heard at the distance of a quarter of a mile. Upon
creeping cautiously up the plantation I found every twig, every leaf, bush and bit of
herbage alive with birds, for they were shuffling about in order to settle down com-
fortably ; ten or twelve would occupy one small branch scarcely two feet long. The
stench arising from their droppings was very disagreeable, and the ground, strewn as
it was with them, reminded one of some guano deposit upon the shores of the Pacific.
To see them day by day set out in different directions, each to his appointed work—
to watch them gradually congregating night by night at the same hour, and move off
to roost almost to a minute—to witness the harmony which seemed to reign amongst
them, their unanimity of purpose, and the completeness with which they acted, as it
were, upon one organised plan, was extremely interesting, and reminded one more of
an army of peaceful human beings gathered together upon some high occasion than
a congregation of simple and diminutive birds. They came every evening to roost in
the manner described until the 17th of September, when they departed, leaving only a
few hundreds, which remained until the middle of October. I have seen the usual
- autumnal congregations, but never saw one upon the same immense scale before.
How came they to congregate in a locality which they never had visited before in such
numbers, and five or six weeks before they usually assemble in the autumn? In the
‘Illustrated London News, of November 8, I read the following remarks of the Paris
correspondent, who, writing of the cholera, which had been raging fearfully in that
city, said, “‘A singular fact has been observed, viz., that the swallows, which had
entirely deserted Paris during the time that the epidemic raged, are beginning to
return. To prove how much the existence of this malady influences the feathered
tribes, we may state that, in the month of June, 1849, when the cholera was at its
height in Paris, a flight of swallows passing over Paris, which they had pre-
viously deserted, a large number fell dead, and were picked up in. the streets
or floated down the river.” During the period when the swallows assembled
here in the multitudes which I have described, the cholera was raging fearfully
in London and other large cities and towns. Is it probable that they had
deserted localities where this disease was rife? Were they noticed to leave the
suburbs of London during the prevalence of it? Large congregations, I know, occa-
sionally are found in the autumn roosting upon willows upon the banks of the Thames
and some other rivers. Are they ever found in immense congregations so early as the
14th of August? With us they do not flock much together until the latter end of
September or beginning of October, departing, on an average, about October 20th.—
John Joseph Briggs ; King’s Newton, Swarkeston, Derbyshire, November 14, 1854.

A White Swallow obtained in East Kent.—I have received information that,
towards the end of October, a white swallow was killed in the neighbourhood of Sand-
wich, having been observed and pursued by several persons. ‘The head, neck and
upper part of the back were a delicate silvery light brown, shading off in the under
parts, tail and wings, to a not very pure white ;” and the bird is stated to have “looked
brilliant in the sunshine.” The gentleman who shot it has sent it to Mr. Leadbitter,
in London, for preservation.—Arthur Hussey ; Rottingdean, November 10, 1854.

4560 Birds, &e.

Occurrence of the Pigmy Curlew (Tringa subarquata) and Little Stint (T. minuta)
near Warrington.—Myr. Fletcher, Curator to the Warrington Museum, shot several
specimens of Tringa subarquata and T. minuta on the sands above Runcorn on the
6th ult., and more have been killed since by other parties. They are rarely met with
in the river Mersey.— Nicholas Cooke; Massey House, Penketh, November 6, 1854.

Occurrence of the Ruff (Tringa pugnax) at Prestwick Carr, Northumberland.—
Perhaps it may interest some of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ to know that the ruff is
occasionally procured so far north as Newcastle. Prestwick Carr, a tract of boggy
moor, some 1100 acres in extent, and about seven miles north-west, is annually
visited by immature specimens, or birds without the ruff; but this season several have
been seen in full breeding-plumage; one or two of these were shot, and are now pre-
served in the neighbourhood.— Thomas John Bold; Angas’ Court, Bigg Market,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, December 6, 1854.

Occurrence of the Egyptian Goose (Anser AMigyptiacus) near Newcastle.—A fine
specimen of the Egyptian goose was shot at Blaydon Flats, about three miles above
Newcastle, on the 16:h of November last: it is in beautiful plumage, and has the
appearance of having been a wild bird.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Lesser White-winged Gull (Larus islandicus) near Scarborough.
—A specimen of this rare and valuable gull was obtained, under curious circumstances,
on the morning of the 8th of December. I was taking the temperature of the sea
from the outer pier, when I observed floating a gull which had been shot by some
sportsman ; at first I took it to be a young specimen of Larus canus, but, observing no
black on the tip of the wings, I felt satisfied it was a rarity, and when taken out of the
sea it proved to be an immature example of the lesser white-winged or glaucous gull:
it is not unfrequently met with at the Shetland Islands in the winter season, but,
taken on our coast, is a treasure for the ornithologist. My specimen measures in
length 21 inches; the wings, when closed, reaches 2 inches longer than the tail; eyes
dark brown; colour, dull white, very beautifully clouded with pale ash-brown.—Alfred ©
Roberts ; King Street, Scarborough, December 11, 1854.

Occurrence of Richardson’s Skua (Lestris Richardsoni) in Sussex.—In the last
week of September, during or just after a high wind, a skua gull, pronounced to be
Richardson’s, was picked up in a dying condition by a shepherd upon the Downs
above this village.—Arthur Hussey ; Rottingdean, November 10, 1854.

Occurrence of the Little Auk (Alca alle) in Northumberland.—During November,
two or three specimens of tle little auk have been procured in Northumberland. One
of these was picked up alive, in an exhausted condition, near the village of Cram-
lington, which is several miles from the sea.— Thomas John Bold; Angas’ Court, Bigg
Market, Newcastle-on- Tyne, December 6, 1854.

Occurrence of Tetrodon Pennantii on the Coast of Ireland.—I have much pleasure
in recording the capture of another specimen of Tetrodon Pennantii, about fourteen
days since, at Ardmore, County Waterford; being washed ashore, like the individual
recorded by me in 1852, than which it is somewhat smaller.—E. H. Sargint ;
26, Dengille Street, Dublin, December, 1854.

Arachnida.

4561

List of Spiders found at Piercefield, near Chepstow, in 1853.—

Lycosa campestris

» lugubris

» saccata

» obscura
Dolomedes mirabilis
Salticus cupreus

» scenicus

» coronatus
Thomisus cristatus

= bifasciatus

5 brevipes

B53 pallidus

5 incertus

- floricolens

ry citreus
Philodromus dispar
9 cespiticolis

Clubiona erratica

” comta

» . amarantha
9 accentuata
Ciniflo ferox

Linyphia montana
“4 pratensis

% nebea

i pulla

J, insignis

$y fuliginea
is marginata
cauta

F tenuis

Neriene rubella
» munda
» dubia
Pachygnatha Degeerii
Epeira diadema
» inclinata
» antriada
» cucurbitina
jo) Coniéa
» callophylla
» scalaris
» apoclisa
» ceropegia

93) atrox 5° fusca
Tegenaria atrica » albimacula
Celotes saxatilis Tetragnatha extensa
Theridion nervosum Dysdera Erythrina

* pulchellum 4 Hombergii
¥ lineatum Segestria senoculata.

Linyphia triangularis
_—F, Walker; The Grove, Highgate, October, 1854.

Inquiry respecting the name of an Australian Spider.—It will be esteemed a favour
if any reader of the ‘ Zoologist’ will mention the proper appellation of the Australian
spider of which the habitation is a hole in the ground, with a moveable entrance. Of
the example now before me, from the neighbourhood of Adelaide, the door is triangular,
the apex being undermost, with the sides rather curved, and it is suspended by somewhat
acting as hinges attached to the base of the triangle. When I first saw the specimen,
soon after its arrival from the antipodes, the door opened easily, though now unfor-
tunately it is fixed. It is impossible to ascertain of what the hinges are made and how
constructed, or to describe the interior of the cell, without destroying the curiosity.
The substance of the door resembles the surrounding soil, and appears to have been
cut out of the solid surface, rather than compacted of compressed mud. If there are’
varieties of this insect, the generic name of the tribe can be given, though it will be
impossible to identify the individual. The information requested may be either
inserted in a future number of the ‘ Zoologist,’ or forwarded by post to the Rev. A.
Hussey, Rottingdean, Brighton, who will be thankful for attention to this inquiry.

4562 Insects.

‘ Entomologists’ Annual.’ —It is with much pleasure that I have read Mr. Stainton’s
proposal on this subject in the ‘ Zoologist’ for October; such a publication seems to be
a great desideratum ; and I would venture to suggest that it is no less a desideratum
that a similarly compiled record should be formed of the occurrences of rare species
which are noted from time to time in the ‘ Zoologist’ and other periodicals: beginners
are so constantly tantalised by learning that species marked rare by our great authori-
ties have, since their works appeared, been more generally found, though the fact be
only known to those who have regularly perused the public journals. Such a record,
even if it were merely to mention the names of the species, localities and captors,
with a reference to the page at which they are detailed more fully, would be a great
boon to the younger followers, at least, of the science, and I think it might easily be
conjoined with Mr. Stainton’s already determined work. To make the book exten-
sively useful, every order of insects ought to be noticed in it, as the author would
wish ; and I sincerely hope that all entomologists will combine to assist so desirable
an undertaking.—A. R. Hogan; Charlton, Dundrum, near Dublin, October 10, 1854.

Singular Variety of Anthocharis Cardamines.—I have a specimen of this insect, taken.
by a friend of mine at Hainhault Forest, which has the orange spot of the male on the
under side of the right wing only; the upper side representing the perfect female.—
William Machin ; 35, William Street, Globe Fields, Mile End.

Note on Ptilophora plumigera.—Having met with a few eggs of this Bombyx on
maple sprays, last winter, and bred the perfect insect from them this November, I have
pleasure in communicating a few facts about its transformations. The egg occurs about
here on the young shoots of the maple in hedge-rows. It is light brown, circular, and
has a white ring round it, which is, in fact, the under side. It is found singly, or in
twos and threes, and is pretty visible in the sunshine. The larva appears about the
middle of April, or as soon as the maple bursts; at first it is hardly perceptible to the
eye, being transparent and of a pale’ yellow colour; it soon beeomes grass-green, with
a dorsal stripe of darker green, bounded by two white lines: while young it is distinctly
hairy. It sleeps during the day, frequently under the leaf it fed on the preceding
night, and is of quiet habits and apparently social, as two often fold upon one leaf.
Soon it changes its skin, and then assumes yellow rings about the shoulders, but retains
the general grass-green tint and large transparent green head until ready to change:
the white lines now become fainter, its habits are more active, and it feeds night and
day ; lastly, the tint becomes blueish, like Camelina before its change, and the dorsal
stripe disappears. About the end of May or early in June, the larva buries nearly two
inches below the surface, and there spins an oval cocvon, from the top of which is sus-
pended the pupa: this is cylindrical, compressed and bifurcate at the tail. By placing
the breeding-cage (in my case, a flower-pot) in the sunshine, about the middle of
November, I found the perfect insect emerged from the lower end of the cocoons—in
one instance escaping through the bottom of the flower-pot. Of the two varieties, the
light and the dark, the latter seems rarer.— Bernard Smith ; Marlow, December, 1854.

Occurrence of Notodonta carmelita.—It was my good fortune to take a fine specimen
of this rare insect last year, and another this year, both early in May, at West Wickham.
—William Machin ; 35, William Street, Globe Fields, Mile End.

Early appearance of Cucullia umbratica.—I took this insect in beautiful condition,
on the 6th April last, at Wilmington.—Jd.

Curious Capture of Pecilocampa Populi.—A few days ago I was agreeably surprised
at finding in an old garden-shed, where I usually keep my breeding-cages, fourteen

-

Insects. 4563

males of Pecilocampa Populi sitting on the window and other parts of the shed, some
of them rather worn, but others in beautiful condition. Not being otherwise able to
account for so unusual an occurrence of an insect I have never before met with and
have always regarded as rather rare, I set it down to their having been driven in for
shelter in a sudden and violent storm of wind and rain that had taken place late the
night before, which was previously very calm and bright: however, the next day,
visiting the shed again, the night having been throughout remarkably quiet, I found
in it, to my great surprise, eleven more, some sitting on what I had before considered
an empty breeding-cage, but which, on close examination, I found to contain a female
of the same species, apparently lately out, and in fine condition: this of course ex-
plained at once the appearance of the males. Now, though it is a well-known mode of
capture of various species—of the Bombyx, &c., in particular—to expose a female in a
gauze-covered cage, yet the instance I mention is remarkable, both from the number
of males attracted by a single female in an out-of-the-way situation, under a north
wall and at a distance from trees, and their remaining after daylight, and reposing in
such a position as to be discovered and taken with the greatest ease: these facts may
be useful as hints in experiments with this mode of capture in respect of the rarer
Notodontide. The female, being a desirable acquisition, was of course made a speci-

men of immediately, and I need hardly say that not a single male has appeared since
her removal. I was not aware of having placed in the cage any larva of P. Populi;
but, on recurring to my notes of a Day in the New Forest last June, I find one of the
beating for an oak on the 22nd of that month “a large gray flattish, hairy larva,
irregularly marked with black,” which, as it has never answered to its number in any
other furm, I conclude was the producer of this moth, but from which I had ceased to
look for any perfect insect, concluding it to have been previously affected by some
parasitical devourer. — Octavius Pickard-Cambridge; Bloxworth House, Dorset,
December 14, 1854.

Remarkable Vitality in a Specimen of Sitona fusca.—I was much surprised this
morning, on taking up a phial containing insects collected at Petersham on the 28th
of September, to find a specimen of Sitona fusca alive, having been seven weeks all but
one day in the bottle. The laurel-leaves which had beeu enclosed with it still retained
a considerable aroma, though not of course that hydrocyanic smell which is so quickly
fatal to all insects. The Sitona was not only alive, but vigorous, travelling along at
little less than the customary pace, and much more actively than many Curculios do
when in full health. In the same bottle, which contains barely a cubic inch, and was
well corked, were three more of the same species, together with Apion striatum and
others, Haltice, Atomariz, Demetrias atricapillus, Notoxus monoceros and some small
Brachelftra, all, however, quite dead. I have remarked, in introducing insects into a
phial with laurel-leaves, that the Brachelytra are usually the first to yield, then the
Malacoderma and Geodephaga, and that the Curculeonide resist the influence longest ;
Diptera and Hymenoptera seem very svon overcome. It is somewhat remarkable that
one Sitona should appear little affected under circumstances that killed three others,—
George Guyon ; Richmond, November 15, 1854.

A564 Entomological Society.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Donations.

November 6, 1854.— Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—‘ Entomologische Zeitung,’ July to October; by the Entomological Society
of Stettin. ‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1854, No. 9; par M. F. E. Guérin
Ménéville ; by the Editor. ‘Journal of the Society of Arts’ for October; by the So-
ciety. The ‘Atheneum’ for October; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for
October; by the Editor. The ‘ Zoologist’ for November; by the Editor. ‘Smith-
sonian Contributions to Knowledge,’ vol. vi.; ‘Seventh Annual Report of the Board
of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for 1852;’ ‘ Directions for Collecting,
Preserving, and Transporting Specimens of Natural History,’ 2nd Edition; ‘ Regis-
try of Periodical Phenomena,’ one sheet; ‘Catalogue of the Described Coleoptera of
the United States,’ by Friedrick Ernst Melsheimer, M.D., revised by S. S. Haldeman
and J. L. Le Conte, 1 Vol. 1853 (6 copies); ‘List of Foreign Institutions in Cor-
respondence with the Smithsonian Institution ;’ ‘ Natural History of the Red River
of Louisiana ;’ (reprinted from the Report of Captain R. B. Marcy); all by the
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, U.S. ‘ Boston Journal of Natural History,’
vol. vi. No. 3; ‘Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, pp. 225 to
384, November, 1852, to April, 1854 ; both by the Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. ‘ Proceed-
ings of the Royal Society,’ vol. vi. No. 102; ‘ Philosophical Transactions of the Royal
Society,’ Vol. cxliii. Part 3, Vol. cxliv, Part 1; ‘ List of the Royal Society, 30th No-
vember, 1853; all by the Royal Society. Plutella annulatella (2) and Tinea ochra-
ceella (2) ; by George Wailes, Esq. A box of Scotch Lepidoptera and Coleoptera ;
by Mr. Foxcroft.

Election of a Member.

Professor Edward Solly, F.R.S., F.L.S., &c., was ballotted for and elected a Mem-:
ber of the Society.

Ecvhibitions.

Mr. Stevens exhibited a new British beetle, Otiorhynchus septentrionis, Herbst, a
single specimen taken by Mr. Foxcroft at Rannoch. He also exhibited some insects
sent from Port Natal by Mr. Plant, including the rare Goliathus Derbyanus and
Tefflus Delargorguei ; also two living examples of an Tulus which were imported in a
case of plants, and had been in his possession more than a fortnight.

Mr. Salt sent for exhibition a fly presented to him by a medical friend, who wrote
concerning it “It was apparently blown out through the nostril by a gentleman who
had long had pain in the face, and discharge of pus from the nose and throat. It is
supposed to have been lodged in the ‘antrum of Highmore,’ a cavern that exists na-
turally in the bones of the face.” It appeared to be Phora urbana. Mr. Westwood
said he had reared species of this genus of fly from wool and animal rejectamenta,
such as old crab-shells. My. Walker had reared them from Fungi, and Mr. Curtis
from the body of one of the Sphingide.

Entomological Society. 4565

Mr. Stainton exhibited a specimen of the rare Elachista triseriatella, taken by
Mr. Hogan near Dublin, and specimens of a new Simaéthis, for which he proposed
the name S. Parietarie, the larve having been found by Mr. Harding on Parietaria
officinalis. )

Luminosity of Helobia brevicollis.

Mr. Westwood said Mr. Gould had placed in his hands a specimen of the common
beetle Helobia brevicollis, which he found one evening lately near Windsor, having
been attracted thereto by its luminous appearance. Mr, Westwood thought the
Inminosity was due to adherent particles of phosphorescent matter arising from some
decaying animal, or a Geophilus—one of the luminous Scolopendre—on which the
Helobia had been feeding ; both these views, indeed, had been advanced with respect
tc a luminous Goérius, at a Meeting of this Society on December Ist, 1851, by the
late Mr. Stephens, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Smith.

Motion communicated to Seeds by Insects.

Mr. Janson, adverting to the Report of the discussion on this subject at the last
meeting, said that in his remarks on that oecasion he did not mean to deny that any
motion could be communicated to the seeds by the imprisoned larva, but he still
maintained that the possibility of larve, perfectly enclosed in seeds, having the power
of causing the seeds to jump had not been explained. ‘The instance quoted from
Kirby and Spence he did not think was analogous, for that was evidently a naked
chrysalis unencumbered by an extraneous envelope.

Mr. Westwood read the statement in Kirby and Spence’s ‘Introduction,’* which
had been referred to, where, alluding to Réaumur’s Memoir upon the enemies of
caterpillars, they say, “ Round the nests of the Processionary Bombyx he found
numerous little cocoons suspended by a thread, three or four inches long, to a twig or
leaf, of a shortened oval form and close texture, but so as the meshes might be
distinguished. ‘These cocoons were rather transparent, of a coffee-brown colour, and
surrounded in the middle by a whitish band. When put into boxes or glasses, or laid
in the hand, they surprised him by leaping. Sometimes their leaps were not more
than ten lines, at others they were extended to three or four inches, both in height
and length. When the animal leaps, it suddenly changes its ordinary posture (in
which the back is convex and touches the upper part of the cocoon, and the head and
arms rest upon the lower) and strikes the upper part with the head and tail, before its
belly, which thus becomes the concave part, touches the bottom. This occasious the
cocoon to rise in the air to a height proportioned to the force of the blow.” In the
_ same chapter of the ‘Introduction’ it is also recorded by the author, “ that in 1810 a
young lady informed him a friend had brought a similar chrysalis, which was found
attached by one end to the leaf of a bramble. It repeatedly jumped out of an open
pill-box that was an inch in height. When put into a drawer, in which some other
insects were impaled, it skipped from side to side over their backs, for nearly a quarter
of an hour, with surprising agility. Its mode of springing seemed to be by balancing
itself upon one extremity of its case. About the end of October one end of the case
grew black, and from that time the motion ceased; and about the middle of April in

* Vol. ii. page 299, 4th Edition.
XITl. F

4566 Entomological Society.

the following year a very minute ichneumon made its appearance by a hole it had
made at the opposite end.” Réaumur could not ascertain the fly that should legiti-
mately come from the cocoon, for different cocoons gave different flies: whence it
was evident that these ichneumons were infested by their own parasite. This might
have been the case with the cocoon mentioned by the lady.

Mr. Westwood said, that though in this account the chrysalis was stated to be
attached to the leaf, yet it was evidently an enclosed pupa, for its case is immediately
afterwards mentioned. Since the last meeting he was satisfied the larve in the seeds
were Lepidopterous, and thinking it possible that only those seeds moved that contained
a larva infested by an ichneumon, he had inquired of Sir William Hooker if there were
any exceptions, among the affected seeds, in the power of jumping, but was informed
all gave equally strong leaps. |

Mr. Curtis said that at the last meeting he had observed “he expected the seeds
contained the larva of a Bruchus,” and in confirmation of Réaumur, and of the possi-
bility of an insect confined in a hard case having the power to give it motion, he
had stated that “he had a compact horny oval cocoon formed by an ichneumon,
which bounded about on a table like an India-rubber ball, shortly before the fly
hatched.” In order to identify the fact with the insect, he had searched for and found
the specimen which had been disregarded for twenty years, and he now had the satis-
faction of exhibiting the insect with its cocoon, and the label attached to it when the
fly hatched. It was a Campoplex allied to C. majalis, Grav., and probably described
by that author ; but the species of this genus being very difficult to identify, he would
not venture to characterise or name it.. These Ichneumonide are parasititic on the
Tortricide and smaller moths, and also on the Curculionide.

Mr. Lubbock said it would not be difficult to demonstrate, according to the laws
of matter and motion, that the muscular power of an insect in the situation referred to,
if exerted in a particular manner, would cause a jumping motion in its envelope.

A new British Cynips and the Galls made thereby.

Mr. Rich, present as a visitor, exhibited some sprays of oak thickly covered with
bunches of large galls. In Somersetshire generally, and in part of Gloucestershire,
they were so abundant that the oaks were covered with them, to the extinction of the
acorns, the loss of which, for feeding their pigs, the farmers greatly regretted,
although he believed that in the value of these galls they had more than an equiva-
lent, for their chemical qualities were nearly equal to those of the imported galls of
commerce.

Mr. Curtis said, Mr. Rich recently gave him an example of this gall, and he had
since received some of the galls with a specimen of the fly from his friend W. H. L,
Walcott, Esq., who obtained these galls from an oak growing near the Hotwells,
Clifton. Having paid great attention to the Cynipide,* and bred most of those
which are produced from oak trees, he had often been doubtful regarding the true
Cynips Quercus-petioli of Linneus, but he was convinced the specimen he now

* Vide vols. i. ii, iii. iv. and vy. of the ‘Gardener’s Chronicle, for the economy
and figures of Cynips aptera, C. umbraculus, C. Quercus-tiare, C. lenticularis, C.
Quercus-pedunculi, C. Quercus-ramuli, C. Quercus-castanee, and C. Quercus-folii.

Entomological Society. 4567

exhibited, which was bred with a few others from the galls alluded to, is the Linnean
species. He believed all that have hatched are females, but as there are many maggots
alive in some of the galls he expected the males would appear in the spring.

Cynips Quercus-petioli is described by Linneus in his ‘ Fauna Suecica, No. 1523,
where he refers to Reesel, who has given good figures of the galls, fly, &c.* The flies
are much larger than any other species which has been described as British, and they
are nearly allied to those produced from the galls of commerce, the Diplolepis galle-
tinctorie of Olivier. He was inclined to think the species was of recent introduction
into England, for during the time of his researches into the Cynipide neither he nor
the many friends who assisted him with specimens from all parts of the country had
ever seen it, and such conspicuous galls could hardly have escaped notice if they had
existed.

Mr. Stainton said that for the last four or five years he had noticed these galls in
Devonshire, but not in such profusion as now stated.

The President said he had some doubts if this was the Cynips Quercus-petioli of
Linneus, for the galls were situated in the axil of the leaf, and not on the petiole.

Chrysomelide of Australia.

Mr. Baly read the concluding portion of his Memoir on the Chrysomelide of
Australia.

New Part of the Transactions.

Part 2, vol. iii. N.S. of the Transactions, published in October, was laid on the
table.

December 4, 1854.—Epwarv Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to
the donors :—‘ Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the East India Company,’
Vol. i.; by the Hon. Court of Directors of the East India Company. The ‘ Literary
Gazette’ for November; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for November; by the
Editor. The ‘ Zoologist’ for December ; by the Editor. The ‘Journal of the Society
of Arts’ for November; by the Society. ‘ Revue et Magasin de Zoologie,’ No. 10,
1854; by the Editor. ‘Insecta Britannica, Diptera, Vol. ii., by F. Walker; ‘ Lepi-
doptera—Tineina,’ by H. T. Stainton ; by the Committee of the ‘ Insecta Britannica.’
‘List of Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,’
Part i. Lepidoptera—Heterocera; ‘ List of Specimens of Dipterous Insects in the Col-
lections of the British Museum, Part v. Supplement 1; ‘ List of Specimens of Neu-
ropterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,’ Part iv., Odonata ; ‘ List
of the Specimens of British Animals in the Collection of the British Museum,’ Part xiv.,
Nomenclature of Neuroptera; all presented by Mr. F. Walker. The First Annual
Supplement to ‘Insecta Britannica, Lepidoptera—Tineina, by H. T. Stainton; by
the author. —

* “Tnsecten Belustigung,’ iii. Supp., tab. 35 and 36.

4568 Entomological Society.

Election of a Member.

George Wailes, Esq., Newcastle-on-Tyne, was balloted for and elected a
Member.

Exhibitions.

Mr. Pickersgill exhibited a fine specimen of Argynnis Lathonia, and a variety of
Vanessa Urtice in which the colours of the upper wings were not distinct but
suffused, and the under wings were almost entirely black. Both these butterflies eS
caught near Eastbourne, Sussex, on the 29th of July last.

Mr. Saunders exhibited two examples of a small patelliform nidus, probably of a
spider, attached to a leaf of Chailetia latifolia received from Rio Negro.

Mr. Stevens exhibited some Coleopterous larve, which had destroyed a large
cherry-tree drooping by forming galleries in the solid wood, a log of which he
also showed. The larve were probably those of Gnorimus nobilis.

Mr. Tweedy exhibited a box of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, among which were
some new species, just received in fine condition from St. Domingo.

Photographic Representations of Insects.

Herr Pretsch, Manager of the Imperial Printing Office at Vienna, present as
a visitor, exhibited a great number of magnified positive photographs of various insects
and parts of insects.

Mr. Westwood observed, that though these figures gave very good general repre-
sentations of the objects, yet the details were not sufficiently accurate for entomo-
logical purposes; indeed, he had never seen the small parts of insects delineated by
this process with the clearness necessary to render the figures of scientific value.

Mr. Curtis thought that, if greater distinctness in detail could be attained, the
photographic process would be invaluable for representations of the wings of the
Ichneumonide and the neuration of wings generally.

Singular Specimen of Anthocharis Cardamines.

The President exhibited a specimen of Anthocharis Cardamines, which had been
placed in his hands by Mr. W. Machin, of Mile End: the insect combined the
characters of the sexes in a remarkable manner: the whole of the upper surface
of the upper wings, as well as the antenne, head, thorax and abdomen, present the
normal appearance of a female: there was nothing whatever to induce a doubt of the
individual being a female: the same observation applied to the left wings on the
under side, but the right upper wing on the under side was adorned with the bright
orange mark distinctive of the male. Many insects were known to be subject to what
he (the President) had called hemigynism, 7.e. when the individual is divided by a
right line down the back, the one half being male and the other half female;
the peculiarities of each sex extending not only to the distribution of colour, but also
to the structure of the antenne, eyes and genitalia; but the present instance differed
from any that he had previously seen, in the fact of the entire upper surface being
female.

Entomological Society. 4569

Introduction of Bombyx Cynthia into Malta and Italy.

Mr. Westwood exhibited a sample of the silk produced at Malta from cocoons of
Bombyx Cynthia, which sample was given by the Governor, Sir William Reid, to
Dr. Templeton, and by him forwarded to Mr. Westwood with the following letter :—

“ Valetta, November 10.

+ My dear Westwood,

‘“‘T take advantage of the Governor's kind offer to send you the enclosed silk,
unwound from the Cynthia cocoons by Signor Lotteri, an Italian, skilled in silk-
winding, who declared that his fingers stuck together for a very long time afterwards,
so gummy and resiny was the binding matrix of the silk. The result seems very
fine, and is, I believe, very strong, in comparison with the silks of similar thickness.
At Casal Zebbourg a gentleman introduced, from the Governor’s gardens, some of the
worms, got little boys to tear the cocoons to pieces, and native women to spin it; and
there is now hanging, in the window of Mr. Goodenough’s shop, a pair of stockings
and some lace-work made from the spun silk: the stockings have a muddy look, the
colour of the enclosed, but in other respects appear fine substantial affairs, such as
country people would be glad to get; and I believe they are everlasting. The great
business is to get a machine to tear the cocoons to pieces, and that will soon follow,
I presume. They have got the worm now into Tripoli in a fine healthy state; and
planting castor-oil plant is now the order of the day everywhere.

“TI trust the packet of live cocoons arrived safe, which were sent to you by the
Governor's directions, per last mail. His Excellency was much pleased by the note
in the ‘ Atheneum’ respecting them.

, “ Very truly yours,
(Signed) “R. TEMPLETON.”

Mr. Westwood added that he had received the cocoons referred to, and found that
some at least of the pupz inclosed were alive, notwithstanding the long journey and
the change of temperature to which they had been subjected.

The Secretary read, from the ‘ Journal of the Society of Arts, November 10, the
following extract from a despatch forwarded by Governor Sir William Reid to his
Grace the Duke of Newcastle :—

“We have here in Malta gone through all the operations as practised in Assam,
except weaving the silk thread into cloth. For this we have not yet a sufficient
quantity; but the worms are breeding here faster than we can rear the castor-oil
plant: they are now (in October) thriving in the open air, and as they consume the
leaves of the castor-oil, they travel from plant to plant, feeding upon several, but
apparently doing well only on the Ricinus.

“The French Government have applied, through their Consul, for a larger
quantity of eggs, both for France and Algeria, and I have been enabled to supply
him with as many as he requires.

“‘In consequence of statements published in the ‘ Journal of the Society of Arts,’
I have had an application from the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Grenada,
in the West Indies, for eggs of this silkworm. Some fresh cocoons will be sent from
hence to Grenada, and I am not without hope, from the way in which they are being

4570 Entomological Scciety.

conveyed, and with the assistance of the Directors of the Royal Mail Steam Company,
that eggs in a sound state will reach the West Indies.”

The Secretary also read the following extract from the ‘ Turin Gazette,’ inclosed in
the above-mentioned despatch :—

“ Culture of Silk in Piedmont.—Sig. Vincenzo Griseri, the first person who has
undertaken the rearing of the Bombyx Cynthia worm upon leaves of the castor-oil
plant, and the first who introduced it into France, has now terminated his second
experiment of rearing the said worms. Sig. Griseri, conceiving the great service that
these valuable insects might render in the production of silk, diligently distributed
them to the various provinces of the State, as also in Brianza, and has received from
all quarters accounts of a successful result. He succeeded last spring in rearing these
worms even upon the castor-oil plants while in the ground and in the open air, in the
garden of the Chemical Laboratory, under the observation of Chevalier Cantu, Director
of that establishment, the Minister, Conte de Cavour, his Excellency the Duke of
Guiche, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, Professors Abbenne and Borsarelli, and
many other distinguished personages. From this mode of treatment Signor Griseri
discovered that these worms do not suffer from a low temperature, nor from strong
winds, nor from continued rain; but, on the contrary, he obtained finer and better-
formed cocoons than those produced by the ordinary method, all which circumstances
have been submitted to the Royal Academy. After the first experiment he published,
through the printers Chirio and Mina, the mode of bringing up these worms. In the
second experiment he also fully succeeded, and found that the cocoons were superior
to those brought from Calcutta and Malta, on which account he came to the conclu-
sion that this new silkworm, a native of Bengal, has found its own climate in our
country. An experiment is now being made as to the mode of extracting the silk,
which has been confided to the care of able throwsters, and from some samples
already produced it results that this silk is finer and more elastic than our common
silk; further, two more important facts have just been communicated by Sig. Griseri,
namely, that he has succeeded in feeding these worms exclusively upon willow-leaves
and lettuce-leaves, and has obtained cocoons similar to those produced from the
leaves of the castor-oil plant. During these experiments Sig. Griseri was assisted by
the Countess Marianna Antonini, an experienced producer of silk, and Sig. Francesco
Comba, a distinguished naturalist, who kindly offered him their aid and advice.
Sig. Griseri intends next spring to try the rearing of our native grubs, the Pavonia
major and the Pavonia minor, which feed upon various wild plants, and yet produce
silk, as he has already confirmed this by experiment. There is reason to believe from
these experiments made by so celebrated a silk-grower, well known by the numerous
services he has rendered in rearing and improving the race of silkworms, that the
culture of silk will receive a development, the limit of which can hardly be foreseen,
as the object is nothing less than to convert the vegetable matter of the most common
leaves into the valuable substance of silk.”

Larve preserved in Canada Balsam.

Mr. Westwood said he had received examples of insect larve preserved in Canada
balsam, by a gentlemen in Zurich, and he wished to state that they could be furnished
at a very reasonable rate.

Entomological Society. 4571

Galls produced by Cynips Quercus-petiolt.

Mr. Stainton, adverting to the mention of this subject at the last meeting, read
the following extract of a letter received from R.C. R. Jordan, Esq., of Queen’s
College, Birmingham :—

“The galls are old friends of mine, I have known them for twenty years: of late
they have been more common. I have here some fine specimens of the Cynips,
or rather, in searching them out, I have four specimens: I have known the Cynips
for three years. About five years ago a medical man at Lympstone, near Exmouth,
used them always to make his ink, and tried to impress upon the country people the
use that might spring from making them an article, so to speak, of exportation. But
of course, as with all other things of this sort, they would gather the galls for him to
make the ink, when paid for it, but never made any attempt to sell them elsewhere.
They would be a good substitute for the nut-galls, and deserve to be used instead.

“The Cynips appears in September, perforating the gall by a single round hole.
The galls themselves are first green, afterwards brown: the larve may be occasionally
found in them in spring. I have never found any other than a Cynips larva in the
galls: in the common cherry-like gall on the under side of the oak leaves, there is a
larva of a saw-fly occasionally, and I have a notice of an ichneumon-parasite on the
Cynips.”

Mr. Stainton added that, since the last meeting, he had ascertained these galls were
more than usually abundant this year in Devonshire.

Mr. Curtis hoped that Mr. Stainton would procure some of these galls, for he still
doubted if those seen by Mr. Stainton and Mr. Jordan were identical with those he
had referred to Cynips Quercus-petioli.

Mr. Westwood said he had announced the discovery of this species in England, in
the ‘ Gardener's Chronicle, some time since.

Larva of Ctenicerus murinus.

Mr. Curtis read a letter from the Rev. C. A. Kuper Trellich, Monmouthshire, -
stating that he had found, under a loose stone, a larva of a reddish colour, which he
believed to be that of Ctenicerus murinus.. The locality was the top of a wall in an
elevated bleak situation, whereon stems of gorse had been laid and had decayed, in
which stems, he presumes, the larve feed, for he had often found the perfect insects
thereon while immature.

Locality of Papilio Antenor, Drury.

Mr. Westwood stated that this butterfly was long known only by the figure of
Drury, until Mr. Hope received a specimen, taken, as he stated, by Ritchie, at
Soudan, in Central Africa, which, however, was doubted by Mr. Edward Doubleday,
who considered the species to be an Asiatic form. He had now to announce that the
British Museum had just received a specimen from Madagascar. Was it possible the
species could have so wide a geographical range, or had there been some error in the
former instance ?

Mr. Westwood also took this opportunity to state, as bearing upon this subject,
that a beetle, Pachylomerus femoratus, stood in Mr. Hope’s collection as African ;

4572 Society of British Entomologists.

another species or sub-species of the genus had now been received from Mozambique,
on the Eastern Coast of Africa, and yet it had a great resemblance to the forms from
Tropical Western Africa.

Economy of various Insects.

* Mr. Curtis read a paper entitled ‘ Notes on the Economy of Various Insects.’

Essay on the British Formicide.

Mr. Smith read ‘ An Essay on the Genera and Species of the British Formicide,’
in which twenty-eight species were described, being an addition of eleven species to
the list of species known in 1851.—J. W. D.

SociETY oF British ENToMOLOGISTs.

November 7, 1854.—Mr. H. Harprine, President, in the chair.

Messrs. Jobson, Thorne and Oxley were balloted for and admitted subscribers to
the Society.

The President exhibited a box containing, in great variety, the Peronea cristana,
and remarked on the extraordinary abundance in which that insect had occurred
during the present year, and contrasted this with its apparent scarcity during several
preceding years: he also exhibited some specimens of Eudorea murana, which he bred
from lichens found on old walls; the insects were accompanied by the pupa cases:
also specimens of Depressaria liturella with its food, a species of wild mint ; and a new
insect allied to Cochylis stramineana.

December 5, 1854.—Mr. HArnine, President, in the chair.

The President exhibited the following Lepidoptera :—

Peronea Schalleriana, together with its pupa-case and food-plant, the common
meadow-sweet (Spirea Ulmaria).

Cnephasia subjunctana, together with its pupa-case and food-plant, the small
spreading rest-harrow (Ononis reclinata) : the larva spins together the leaves of this
plant, thus making a domicile in which to undergo its transformations.

Cnephasia Perterana, with pupa-case and food-plant: the larva draws together the
petals of the mouse-ear hawkweed (Hieracium Pilosella), and feeds on the stamens.

Cnephasia Virgaureana, with pupa-case: the food of this species varies greatly ; the
President had bred specimens from the common crowfoot, blackthorn and other plants ;
many others of the genus are not particular on what plant they feed.

Sericoris lacunana, with pupa-case and food-plant, the common millefoil (Achillea
millefolium); the larva draws together the leaves which protect the young buds, and
feeds on the interior or heart of the bud.

Coleophora Viminetella, with pupa-case and food-plant, the common sallow (Salix
caprea): a good description of this insect would be found in the ‘Insecta Britannica’
(Tineina, vol. iii. p. 223).

Coleophora Onosmella, with pupa-case and food-plant, the viper’s bugloss (Hchium
vulgare).

On Artificial Sea Water. 4573

On Artificial Sea Water. By Rosert WaRINGTON, Esq.

In the ‘ Zoologist’ for August last (Zool. 4400) appeared a short
communication from Mr. Gosse, on the artificial formation of sea
water, and having lately had my attention especially directed to this
paper by a friend who wished to put the formula given into practice,
I was surprised at the difference in the proportions of the ingredients
as compared with what I had myself employed in the course of 1853,
more particularly from the circumstance, that when Mr. Gosse called
upon me in January last, and consulted me on the feasibility of the
plan, I told him that there could be no difficulty in the matter, as I
had made and had then in use several small quantities artificially pro-
duced, and that all that was required was that a good analysis should
be taken as the basis for deducing the proportions, and at the same
time referred him to the source from which I myself had worked,
namely, Dr. E. Schweitzer’s analysis of the water of the English
Channel, taken off Brighton. | 7

Now, as numerous parties have been inquiring respecting this sub-
ject, and the erroneous formula has been copied into other journals, it
may prevent much annoyance as well as disappointment if this matter
is set right. The error appears to be twofold, the one arising from
miscalculation, the other from assuming that the sulphate of magnesia,
as given in the analysis, represented the ordinary crystallized salt, and
not the anhydrous sulphate, which is always the case in giving ana-
lytical results, and which is, indeed, so specified by Dr. Schweitzer in
his paper, when he states that the dry residue obtained by the evapora-
tion of 1000 grains of water amounts to 35°25628 grains, consisting of

the following ingredients :—

Chloride of sodium . . . . . . . . . 1.) . . . 2705948 grains.

bs Ofmisgneium das omise 20) 0) bas aie7/aqS8°66658 3:1;

- SEROMA: pis nalt onkizeacl- haticaic saad a0 Geos cont
Beroitie OL TRACTIESINM ~ 5) nts we ow me ee oy os, 002929...
Dememte OV Miseiesia 4. ss Gt wk lt lt, 2BOSTST
ME Cg So ee et aie sa’. | CO OdaOl 1m
Pompuste on memes EY 10, cosy Wt O03 MON 02) 7 AggGey 4:

Now, as these results all stand in the same denomination, grains, it
is competent fur us to treat them as pounds, ounces, or any other
weight that may best suit our purpose, and as the decimal notation is
so readily capable of facilitating these deductions, there is no difficulty

XIIT. G

A574 On Artificial Sea Water.

in at once arriving at the correct relations. Thus, the gallon of water
being equal to 10 pounds, if we wish to estimate the proportions of
materials for that quantity, or for 100 pounds, 10 gallons, it only
requires that the decimal point should be removed, in the first case,
two figures, or, in the latter, one figure to the left, and we have the
whole operation completed and the result exhibited in decimal frac-
tions of the pound; thus for 100 lbs. or 10 gallons :—

Chloride of sodium . . . . 2°706
- of magnesium. . . 0°367
5 Of potassium §: .-.. -OOs76

Bromide of magnesium . . 0°003

Sulphate of magnesia . . . 0-230} mY Eepus rr aR RA
- oflime® 4)! .), $45. .9:0440

i RES FAL Ms 003 | anhydrous = 0-178 crystallized sulphate.

It will be observed, that, in order to simplify the notation, I have
decreased the extended places of decimals and employed the nearest
amount to such fraction, by this means throwing off three places of
figures. Then, by reducing these decimal fractions to the nearest
value in terms of avoirdupois pounds and ounces, the proportions
will stand thus for the 100 pounds of water produced :—

/

Gosse.

Chloride ofscdium . . . ..... « « 43} ounces. 35 ounces.

” Of mgenesigm i ee ot ali 44 ,,

BS OE POUASSIUMA Lois SS peg oi ae ae OMe peat Of. os
Bromide of magnesium. . . 4 21 grains. —
Sulphate of magnesia anhydrous 38. 02. shyly 7% ounces. ae
Sulphate of lime anhydrous 23 oz.= crystallized. 23 ,, —--
Carbonate of limé@:.. BENS E°GL ) aleceore 49/2 graing a

In order to exhibit the extent of the error I have alluded to, I have
placed in the adjoining column the proportions deduced by Mr. Gosse
from the same analysis and for the same quantity of water, one of the
ingredients having been omitted, besides the two that exist in so small
a quantity. Now, as Dr. Schweitzer’s analysis is on a given weight of
which the saline ingredients constitute a part, it becomes necessary to
deduct their weight from the 10 gallons of water employed: this, it
will be seen, amounts to 602 ounces, or in round numbers to 60 ounces,
which is equal to three imperial pints, so that 9 gallons and 5 pints
will be the true proportion of water to be used.

The next point that presents itself is as to the best mode of obtaining
these saline ingredients for the manufacture of the artificial sea water,

Zoophyies. 4575

as many of them, not being usually kept for sale, would have to be
made for the purpose. There cannot be a question that by far the
simplest plan would consist in the evaporation of the sea water itself
in large quantities at the source, preserving the resulting salt in closely
stopped vessels to prevent the absorption of moisture, and vending it
in this form to the consumer; the proportion of this dry saline matter
being 564 oz. to the 10 gallons of water, less the 3 pints. This plan
was suggested by Dr. E. Schweitzer himself for the extemporaneous
formation of sea water for medicinal baths, and, on inquiry since
writing the above, I find that such a preparation is manufactured by
Messrs. Brew and Schweitzer, of No. 71, East Street, Brighton, under
the title of “ Marine Salts for the instantaneous production of sea
water.” Mr. H. Schweitzer writes me, that he has for many years
made this compound in accordance with his cousin’s analysis. The
proportion ordered to be used is 6 oz. to the gallon of water, and
stirred well until dissolved.

RoBERT WARINGTON.
Apothecaries’ Hall, November 1, 1854.

Some Remarks on the Marine Fauna of the South of Devon.
By WILLIAM F. TEmMpPLeER, Esq.

(Continued from page 4468.)

ZoopHyta—Anthozoa Hydroida.

Hydractinia echinata. On Buccinum undatum, Budleigh-Salterton ;
ova present in March.

Coryne pusilla. Rock pools, Littleham Cove and Ladram Bay.
This zoophyte is much infested with parasites, amongst which I have
noticed the beautiful Lichanophora or fan-bearer.

Tubularia indivisa. Dredged off Otter Point by C. J. Harris, Esq.

Sertularia polyzonias. Rocks between tide-marks, Dawlish, Shaldon,
Teignmouth, attached to the rocks; very common from the Plymouth
trawls.

‘5 rugosa. Parasitical on Flustra foliacea; Slapton Sands.

? rosacea. Very fine, parasitical on Plumularia cristata, on
the Slapton Sands; not uncommon from the Plymouth trawlers on
Plumularia falcata and Sertularia polyzonias.

4576 Zoophytes.

Sertularia pumila. Abundant everywhere, but very fine amongst
the rocks on the Shaldon side of Teignmouth.

a tamarisca. Plymouth trawlers.

us abietina. Dawlish, abundant on Slapton Sands; Coppinia
arcta may be found growing from it in smal] yellow tufts.

argentea. Very fine on the Warren, Exmouth, attached

to mussels; it should be well examined with a lens, for the very
small and pretty Campanularia syringa which grows from it.
Thuiaria articulata. I have found it on the Slapton Sands and the
* Warren, Exmouth, but it is very rare on the Devonshire Coast.
Antennularia antenina. Fine in Torbay, and also fine and very
plentiful from the Plymouth trawlers.

a ramosa. May be obtained from the Plymouth trawls ;
it is much more common than the foregoing species, and forms the
largest portion of the refuse of the trawls.

Plumularia falcata. Plymouth trawlers; on the beach, Dawlish, at
times in large quantities.

= cristata. Rocks to westward of Dawlish between tide-
marks; growing on the backs of Corwich crabs, and roots of Laminaria
to be found on the Slapton Sands.

a pennatula. Plymouth trawlers; I found a fine specimen
thrown up by Otter Mouth, Budleigh-Salterton, after a heavy gale.

"3 setacea. Rock pools, Exmouth.

- myriophyllum. From the Plymouth trawlers.

Laomedea geniculata. Parasitical on Laminaria digitata, cast on
shore on the beach, Budleigh-Salterton.
a gelatinosa: Parasitical on Fucus serratus beneath the
Hoe, Plymouth, abundant; also rock pools to the east of Exmouth.
Campanularia volubilis. From the Plymouth trawlers and Plymouth
Sound, by dredge.
a syringa. Exmouth and Dawlish, growing on An-
tennularia antenina.
” verticillata. Slapton Sands, very fine; Plymouth
trawlers ; vesicles in the month of May.
ci dumosa. Plymouth trawlers, abundant, and also at
times on the beach, Dawlish.

Anthozoa Asteroida.

Gorgonia verrucosa. Budleigh-Salterton, many and fine specimens
may sometimes be procured here, cast on shore after heavy gales.

Zoophytes. A577

Anthozoa Helianthoida.

Caryophyllia Smithii. Attached to rock near low-water mark, near
Hope’s Nose, near Torquay; I mention this on the authority of
Mr. Ralfs.

Actinia coriacea. Abundant amongst the rocks at Shaldon, near
Teignmouth, Littleham Cove, Budleigh-Salterton.

a bellis. Beneath the Hoe, Plymouth; also rock pools, Ilfra-
combe.

Lucernaria auricula. Abundant on Zostera marina, Mill Bay,
Salcombe Estuary. It is also to be found in Littleham Cove, but
rare.

Potyzoa—Polyzoa Infundibulata.

Tubulipora patina. Parasitical on Alcyonidium gelatinosum, Slapton
Sands.
Crisia eburnea. Parasitical on other zoophytes, from the Ply-
mouth trawlers; also from the trawlers, Ilfracombe.
Eucratea chelata. Fine specimens, parasitical on Halidrys sili-
quosa, beneath the Hoe, Plymouth, after a southerly wind.
Anguinaria spatulata. Beach, Budleigh-Salterton; parasitical on
Alge.
Hippothoé divaricata. On old shells, Budleigh-Salterton.
Lepralia tenuis. On valve of Pecten maximus, Dawlish.
unsata. Ilfracombe, between tide-marks, Hole and Small-
mouth.
ya pediostoma. Hole, Ilfracombe.
» semilunaris. On beach, Budleigh-Salterton, and beach,
Exmouth, on dead shells.
Cellularia reptans. On Flustra foliacea, trawlers, Ilfracombe.
Flustra foliacea. The Warren, Exmouth; more abundant on the
Slapton Sands; trawlers, Ilfracombe.
» cChartacea. Trawlers, Ilfracombe.
» avicularis. On Flustra foliacea, trawlers, Ilfracombe; on
Eschara foliacea, Budleigh-Salterton.
Salicornaria fasciminioides. Fine on Slapton Sands, and brought
in abundantly by the trawlers at Plymouth and I]fracombe.
Alcyonidium gelatinosum. On the Warren, Exmouth; the beach,
Dawlish; very abundant on the Slapton Sands; on the beach,
Wildersmouth, []fracombe, and from the trawlers, Ilfracombe.

4578 Insects.

Serialaria lendigera. At times abundant beneath the Hoe, Ply-
mouth ; parasitical on Halidrys siliquosa.

Bowerbankia imbricata. On the beach to westward of Dawlish.
It is most abundant growing on Fucus serratus in the Salcombe
Kstuary, two or three miles towards Kingsbridge.

PS. In the former paper, I made some remarks on the Plymouth
trawlers, as to their overcharge for the refuse of the trawls, and I
spoke of it as worthless rubbish; perhaps I was not justified in this
remark: the larger portion of the refuse of the trawls consists of fine
specimens of Antennularia ramosa; amongst it may also be found
the crustaceous Atelecyclus heterodon, and, in the Echinodermata,
beautiful specimens of scarlet Goniasters.

WiwuiaM F. TEMPLER.
Oban, Argyleshire,

December, 1854.

On the Corporeal Sensations of Insects. By Octavius PickaRD-
CAMBRIDGE, Esq.

THE accusation of deliberate cruelty that has, by many humane
and well-meaning persons, been cast upon the prosecution of the
science of Entomology generally, and upon collectors of insects (who
are not necessarily ‘‘ entomologists,” in the true meaning of the term)
especially, has by different friends been so urged against me, an
almost enthusiastic lover of the study and collection of this order of
creation. Although, from the earliest period of my collecting, con-
vinced of the comparative immunity of insects from what we call pain,
and subsequently strengthened in that conviction by observations both
in Entomology and other branches of Natural History—which is also
probably the case with most entomologists who have at all directed
their attention to the point—still I venture to put forth the following
considerations on this subject, hoping that more experienced physio-
logists than myself will add to them the results of their researches, and
that they may tend to remove from the minds of non-entomologists
the idea of our being unnecessary and merciless inflictors of pain upon
creatures, by their defenceless state entitled to our protection and
support. |

‘

Insects. 4579

I will here first premise what I think all will agree in, that, even
supposing pain to be inflicted, there is no class of men who show more
real regard for the well-being of insects than true entomologists. Just
observe the different modes of treatment to which these creatures are
subjected by those who are and those who are not entomologists !
the former, from a study of their habits, economy and position, as
instruments in the great scheme of creation, are so deeply impressed
with their importance, that, save specimens for the purpose of study
(and these it is their great object to deprive of life by the speediest
possible method), they are most jealous of the wanton destruction of a
single insect; and to see these creatures, in the full enjoyment of life
and vigour, performing their allotted part in the system of nature is an
entomologist’s most delightful occupation, while one who has not made
them the subject of study and observation may perhaps have some
vague idea of their being for some good purpose, inasmuch as “in
wisdom they were all created,” though more commonly but little really
impressed by such a consideration, looks upon insects, at least those
with which he is more immediately brought in contact, as wholly
noxious and troublesome, and the unfortunate wasp, spider, cater-
pillar or other creature, is crushed with no more heed to its use or
feelings than if it were a blade of grass; and if taxed with thoughtless
cruelty, he tells you, as I have been frequently told, that it does not
matter, seeing they are certainly not responsible creatures.

I have not here made any mention of the destruction of really
noxious insects; but when any species is proved to be a real pest
there is no one more ready or more qualified to aid in its removal
than an entomologist; and, indeed, it is to him, almost without ex-
ception, that mankind are indebted for the discovery of many minute
and destructive insects, and the means of exterminating, or, at all
events, keeping them within due bounds; and, on the other hand, it
is not unfrequently his pleasant office to rescue some inoffensive
creature from undeserved obloquy and consequent immolation, on
account of some fanciful injury or ignoraut prejudice: this has hap-
pened to myself several times; once-in particular when, hearing that,
in a neighbouring parish, a farmer had caught and secured the “ cause
of the potato disease,” I made inquiries, and was able to save from
destruction and unmerited reproach sundry larve of the death’s-head
(Acherontia Atropos). Again: not long since, on showing an old
gamekeeper a large box of the larve of the emperor moth (Saturnza
Pavonia-minor), his exclamation was, “ Lor, sir, they be poisonous !

4580 Insects.

I do always put my foot on ’em, and zao I do kill ’undreds o’ ’em on
the heath;” but its habits and transformations having been shown
and explained to him, he was much struck, and promised to cease his
thoughtless warfare.

But, after all apology has been made for entomologists, it must be
admitted that they have a double character, one as “collectors,” the
other as “ true investigators:” numbers there are merely of the former,
who collect either for the sake of possessing some rarity or for having
a fine series of beautiful objects, or for the excitement and difficulty
of their capture: numbers, again, combine all this with a true love
and admiration of them as creatures and as a scientific study. Many,
again, collect for all the above reasons, and the additional one of
making a profit by their sale, while many do so for the purposes of
profit alone; all these motives are justifiable, and those who collect
for any of the above reasons, other than for study, if of an intelligent
disposition, are, from the necessary observations they must make in
their pursuit, in a fair way to become in time something more than
mere collectors; and, in fact, I doubt whether all entomologists cannot
trace their present love of the science to some of these motives.

I might here (and it would be, indeed, a pleasant task) trace the
general tendencies of the study of insects on the minds and habits of
its devotees, and the numberless moral lessons, unheeded by those
who neglect the wise man’s command, “ Go to the ant, thou sluggard,
consider her ways, and be wise,” that this study forcibly impresses us
“that the works of the Lord are great,” and that the sanction imme-
diately following ‘sought out of all them that have pleasure therein,”
is peculiarly applicable; but my object now is but to show cause
against the stigma of cruelty attaching to the pursuit of Entomology,
by considering whether insects feel what we call “ pain,” in anything
like the degree appreciable by ourselves or other warm-blooded ani-
mals, under similar inflictions or laceration of their parts: and here
the question arises, ‘‘ What is pain?” which I define to be “ Un-
pleasant sensations experienced by living organized creatures on
violence being offered to their parts.” Sensation, from all we can
find out by observation, is the peculiar result of a living nervous
organization ; it is not of necessity connected with life, for in that
case all the vegetable kingdom may lay claim to it, and if we exclude
this portion of creation from its influence, where, between it and the
animal kingdom, is the line to be drawn, on one side of which is
sensation and the other side none? Thus, sensation may be defined

Insects. A581

as the “perception of the organs of sense,” which are so constituted
as to inform their possessor of the contact or proximity of external —
objects, and the perceptions so excited may be either pleasurable or
the contrary—z.e. may produce either pleasure or pain.

As to the degree in which these sensations are felt by animals
other than man we can have no direet evidence, and can therefore
only reason on them by analogy: thus, we find that certain inflictions
produce certain effects on man; the like inflictions produce pretty
similar results on all animals possessing a warm-blooded nervous
organization similar to man, and as we are assured by man that such
inflictions on him are accompanied by certain peculiar unpleasant
sensations, z.e. by pain, I think we may not unreasonably conclude
that such sensations, differently modified in some cases by other
principles intervening, are also the results of the like inflictions
on those similarly constituted animals. I am aware that this is but a
presumption in favour of all warm-blooded animals possessing the
same corporeal feelings; but it is still a fair presumption, although
we know that many similar injuries do occasionally produce very
different degrees of pain, even on different individuals of our own
species, and, therefore, as we cannot infallibly deduce any particular
amount of pain from any particular injury on one species of a large
class, still less can we do so in reference to all the species of that
class: however, the general truth of the proposition will, I think, be
granted.

Passing on, then, to animals of a very different organization, still
nervous but with a circulation of cold fluids, such as reptiles and
fishes, we find that similar inflictions produce on them by no means
the same results as on warm-blooded animals: a tortoise has been
known to live four months after deprived of its brain, and without
showing any symptom of suffering (see Dalzell’s Introduction to
translation of Spallanzemi, p. 45).° Neither are insects or worms,
likewise of a cold circulation, affected by injuries in anything like
the degree that warm-blooded animals are: thus, once when out
walking I had captured one of the largest species of dragon-fly, and
after nipping the thorax pretty sharply, and apparently killing it, I
pinned it to my walking-stick with a pin, the size of which, compared
with the present entomological pins, was quite a lark-spit; however,
after carrying it in this way for about half an hour, it began to flutter
as violently as if totally uninjured, and disengaging itself from the
stick, flew straight away, pin and all, at a considerable height in the
air, until I lost sight of it in the distance. More recently I had taken

XIII. H

4582 Insects.

a beetle, Lacanus parallellopipedus, and after immersing it for a few
moments in scalding water, it being apparently quite dead, I pinned
it to a piece of cork, and placed it in an open drawer to dry ; two days
after, missing it from the cork, I searched high and low, but could not
find it, until at last it was found crawling away, with the pin still in it,
at a distance of several yards from the drawer. Could we, or any other
warm-blooded animal, have performed this, after a similar infliction ?
Again, it is well known that some species of moths may be pinned to
a tree while at rest during the day, and appear to know nothing of the
matter, for aught we can tell from any movement they make, until their
usual period of flight arrives, when vain efforts are made to regain their
liberty, and the only apparent inconvenience is the being jived to the
spot (see Introduction to Westwood and Humphries’ ‘ British Butter-
flies, &c.). Ihave myself witnessed similar instances, though at this
moment I forget the species.* Ihave also seen a hornet (Vespa crabo)
severed at the junction of the thorax and abdomen during a voracious
repast on a pear, but this injury did not for some minutes appear to
interrupt its enjoyment of the meal, and even when aware of its loss
the only effect seemed to be the prevention of flight by the absence of
the natural balance of its body. Is it, then, agreeable to our know-
ledge and ideas of the effect of pain to suppose that if, in any of these.
instances, there had been felt what would certainly have been our sen-
sations under such injuries, they would have taken it so quietly and
unconcernedly, and with scarcely more apparent feeling than would
have been visible in a vegetable? and would not the physical effect of
such maltreatment on ourselves have been to produce speedy, if not
instantaneous, death? and if, therefore, we find injuries and violence
to their parts producing on insects and warm-blooded animals such
very dissimilar results, shall we not be justified in concluding that their
feelings on these occasions are also of a very dissimilar nature ?—that
is, if a total dissimilarity of organization produces, as far as direct
evidence goes, totally different effects, may we not reasonably con-
clude that the difference is kept up even as to those effects of the pre-
cise amount of which we have no direct evidence? there appears to
me, at all events, a strong presumption in favour of such a con-
clusion.

Again, there are some parts of our own bodies that are sensitive in
very different degrees from other parts ; and some, again, such as those

* JT have just had a striking instance of this with a number of small specimens of
P. Popwli,--O. P.-C. ; December 10, 1854.

Insects. 4583

easily reproduced, the hair, nails and teeth (to a certain age), in which
there is no feeling whatever, neither is there in the bones, and this
shows that pain and the living material of nervous organizations are
not necessarily connected; nor does the fact of pain in these parts,
in a disordered or diseased constitution, affect this conclusion. Now,
some insects, as the daddy-longlegs (Tipula pectiniformis), probably
most species of spiders and some moths—I have witnessed this power
in the angleshades (Phlogophora meticulosa)—part with their legs
voluntarily on provocation or excitement, accompanied with but very
little force: crabs, lobsters, and probably other species of that order,
have the same power, and so independent appear to be these parts
that their possessors, or rather losers, not only seem not the least con-
cerned at the loss, but, as is the case with our hair and nails, these por-
tions of their bodies are—in the case of crabs and lobsters, to my own
knowledge—reproduced in due time: the slow-worm (Anguis fragilis)
also, and lizard (Lacerta agilis), by muscular exertion, can throw off
portions of their tails, which I have every reason to believe are repro-
duced.* There is, then, an analogy, in this respect, between such parts
of the lower animals and the independent parts of man, and it seems
reasonable thence to infer that the respective sensations in these corre-
sponding parts are similar. There appears to be a sort of graduated
scale in the comparative value of these independent parts in the dif-
ferent orders of animals, though, in all, they are the parts least essential
to actual existence: thus, in the highest orders, the hair and nails;
in the next, or cold-blooded, as reptiles, portions of the tail; in Crus-
tacea, Arachnida and insects, more important parts, as legs and wings ;
lower again, as in worms, any portion may be cut off, and the head
will be in full existence ; and, lowest in animal order (the Polypi), are
still less sensible to maltreatment; whence we pass, by insensible
degrees, to the vegetable kingdom, in which scarce any amount of de-
privation of parts, at the right seasons, appears to affect the vital -
energy. But as the above analogy, if granted, would only point to a
probable immunity from pain in the limbs, &c., and their peculiar sets
of nerves, and not in the body, where the principal nerves and matter
are collected, I will notice another thing, which would apply equally
to the whole of the insect ; man and other warm-blooded animals may
be viewed, in a general way, as composed of a mass of organized
matter interspersed with nerves, all of which centre in one place—the

* In Mr. Gosse’s work on Jamaica he has found this is the case with a species of
lizard he met with there.

4584 Insects.

brain—this mass of matter enclosing and supported upon-a framework
of bones, while insects, Crustaceans and Arachnida may be defined as
a collection of nerves not centreing in one point, but with different
centres, which, conjointly with other organs and a small amount of
organized matter and juices analogous to the flesh and blood of warm-
blooded animals, are enclosed in a case more or less solid, in some a
mere cuticle, but in others horny, as in beetles, or as crabs and Mol-
lusca, whose shells are as hard or harder than any bone: in other
words, the one have the bones inside and the other the bones outside.
Now, man’s chief seat of feeling is in the softer parts, and those prin-.
cipally outside, that is, on the external surface of the body; he has
little or no feeling in the substance of the brain or medullary matter,
as the marrow, which flows from the brain, nor has he in the substance
of his bones or hard outer cuticle, or in the mass of his flesh or in his
blood. Why, then, should it be supposed that those animals which
consist chiefly of these parts, namely, nervous matter, organized
matter analogous to flesh, juices to blood, and hard cuticle to bone,
and have none of that peculiar organization which we see in ourselves
necessarily concomitant with acute feeling—why should it be supposed
that they feel more pain than is experienced in analogous parts of
warm-blooded animals ?

Again, it is certain that the lower the temperature of our bodies the —
less sensibility is there in them; and, it being certain that the tem-
perature of the animals under consideration is by nature greatly below
that of ourselves, it appears to me fair to conclude from it that their
comparative sensibility is, in consequence, much less than ours: also,
from the fact, that what used to be the most painful operations in
surgery can now, by Mesmerism or magnetism and other means, be
rendered entirely painless, we see not only that life, simply, and sen-
sation are not necessarily connected, but that neither are a nervously
organized life and sensation; and proves, moreover, that, under cer-
tain conditions of existence, animals can be actually without corporeal
feeling. Whence I do not think it will be considered presumptuous
to throw out, as a speculation, the idea that insects may be devoid of
acute corporeal feeling, from the operation of magnetism, or some
other such agent, acting on them under purely natural laws.

It is, @ priori, an argument in favour of a very different degree of
corporeal feeling among the different orders of animals, that others
of the external senses are very variously experienced ; smell and taste,
for instance, and even the sense of hearing. Who doubts that the
sensations of an animal who greedily devours putrid meat or drinks

Insects. 4585

from a stagnant pond are, in respect of the sense of taste, widely dif-
ferent from those of one who revolts at the mere idea of such a repast ?
And so of hearing; who will say that the senses of hearing of an animal
on which no sounds seem to make any, far less a pleasant impression,
and of one who is ravished or painfully annoyed by certain sounds, are
the same? It may be said that insects have no organs of hearing and
tasting, whereby they could appreciate things in the way other animals
do, and therefore it proves nothing; but, allowing this, in either case
it shows how widely dissimilar in every material particular, in these
respects, different creatures are, for if one sense is wholly wanting, why
may not another be? and if the same cause produces pleasure on the
one hand and disgust on the other, can their respective sensations be
the same?

Let us look at the matter in another point of view: it is certain that
impaling alive for a length of time and then being released, and many
other severe injuries, loss of legs, wings, &c., have no permanent bad
effects on insects, neither ultimately destroying nor suspending the main
objects of their existence (multiplication of the species being among
the chief), and, as I have noticed above, even the loss of the whole
abdomen was not at first perceived, and would not for some time have
been fatal, and, if this is so, is not the sole, or, at all events, the prin-
cipal reason, as far as we can trace cause and effect, for their being
endowed with acute corporeal feelings absent? Such injuries would
be, many of them, instantly fatal to warm-blooded animals, and, at any
rate, most of them would materially interfere in the carrying out the
lot appointed them in the scheme of nature. So here we find as, in
tracing out the workings of a benevolent Creator, we should expect to
find that such animals are endowed with senses of such a delicacy and
acuteness as may warn them at once, on the slightest injury, to avoid
the threatening calamity. I conceive, therefore, that it would be to
the last degree irreconcileable with what we know of the universal
benevolence of God in the creation, to suppose that, without apparently
any sufficient reason, myriads on myriads of His creatures, placed in
situations peculiarly liable to injury and exposed to violence beyond
all others, witness the thousands trodden under foot at every step we
take, or destroyed in operations of gardening and husbandry, not to
mention the countless swarms, the main end of whose creation appears
to be to suffer a violent death, in being devoured as the appointed food
of other animals—would it, I say, be reasonable to suppose that these
orders are endowed with acute corporeal feelings?

With many persons, I am aware, it is sufficient -proof of an acute

A586 Insects.

feeling of pain in insects, that when impaled they often struggle
violently and writhe themselves about, but I believe it is well known
(I have experienced it myself over and over again) that moths and
beetles, and other insects, may be impaled when at rest and show no
knowledge of it, but take hold of the pin and remove the insect from
its position, and it will struggle and writhe immediately ; replace it, so
that its feet may again have a firm hold, and it is perfectly quiet; and
this is sufficient to show that no argument can be drawn from the fact
of struggling and writhing, since these are evidently excited by some
other cause, and are not therefore necessarily connected with pain.
Again, it is well known to collectors that when insects still alive are
pinned in the collecting-box, a cool situation will keep them perfectly
quiet for any length of time, but bring them into a warm atmosphere,
and all their wings are set fluttering immediately, though some, and I
may particularly mention Eulepia cribrum as an instance, will not
move, either in a cool or warm position, until their time of flight
arrives. No one will, I think, argue from this that the temperature
affects their feelings; the simple explanation of the circumstance ap-
pears to me to be that their muscular activity alone is instantaneously
awakened or lulled by changes of time and temperature, in this their
impaled state, as we know it is in their state of liberty. Ifa warm
atmosphere were essential to the activity of insects, it would afford
ground for supposing that other properties and senses, as feeling, &c.,
might also be awakened by it; but it.is not essential, for some species
C. Brumaria, for instance, may be seen in a state of the greatest
activity during the coldest nights of winter. Nor am I aware that
any degree of cold or heat raises or lowers the temperature of the
insects themselves, though this is a fact which requires experiment to
put it beyond doubt. Bees, indeed, it is well known, generate a con-
siderable degree of warmth, even in the depth of winter, but this also
is a fact now, I believe, unaccounted for.

I have thus set down in a cursory way, and without attempt at any
methodical arrangement, the considerations which appear to me to
lead to the irresistible conclusion that insects, and many others of the
lower orders of the Creation, but insects especially, are by no means
susceptible of the acute corporeal sensations that man and other warm-
blooded animals undergo. In recapitulation, therefore, of these con-
siderations in a more regular order, it appears that—

First, from a comparison of the effects, both physical and as
shown by outward demonstrations of inflictions and injuries on warm-

Insects. 4587

blooded animals, taking man as their type, and cold-blooded animals,
insects in particular, as serving our present purpose, it seems im-
possible to conclude that their respective corporeal sensations are in
any degree similar, but, on the contrary, the comparison points to the
most extreme amount of dissimilarity.

Secondly, from a state of coma, induced by magnetism, being
favourable to insensibility of pain in ourselves, it is evidently not
absurd to suppose insects devoid of feeling, since they may possibly
be by nature under some such influence.

Nor, thirdly, is it absurd to suppose them devoid of, or at any rate
with but a very low state of the sense of feeling, since many like senses
are in other creatures of such different intensity, and probably
some senses occasionally absent altogether, or recompensed by others
totally different !

Fourthly, from a comparison of the ultimate effects of injuries on
the different orders of creation, the chief reason for being endowed
with acute feelings appears, from considerations also of divine bene-
volence, to be absent, and therefore it does not seem unreasonable to
conclude the absence of such feeling !

Fifthly, from the fact of a high temperature of body being con-
nected with sensibility in ourselves, its absence would appear to show
a want of sensibility in insects ! -

Sixthly, from a physiological comparison of their composition and
internal and external organization with that of other creatures, it is
highly probable that insects have little or no feeling whatever.

Seventhly, from a consideration of the circumstances connected
with the struggling and writhing of insects impaled alive, it would not
be reasonable to connect tt with an acute sense of feeling.

I have given no authorities for any physiological positions I may
have advanced, for what I have now written has been in the absence
of works on the subject to which I could refer, and is therefore chiefly
from recollection of former reading and personal observations, so that
should there be any erroneous or dogmatic assertions I shall be too
happy to have them pointed out and corrected ; and, in fact, my prin-
cipal reason for broaching the subject at all is to invite discussion, and
to endeavour to draw forth the opinions of good scientific anatomists
and physiologists.

I fancy now that I hear some one say that it will prove anything
but a boon to the insect world to show them to be destitute of acute
feeling—that the thoughtless will have no reason to be more thought-

4588 Insects.

ful, and the humane, having none of the pangs of apprehended
cruelty, will lose their chief inducement to treat them well; but
I myself have no fear of any such result: that the thoughtless may be
thoughtless still is very probable, but the humane, being spared the
pangs of inflicting pain will be not only able, but hundreds will be
induced who before would not hear of such a thing, to study these
creatures closely, without fear of being disgusted, and it is from their
being made a general object of study and investigation that I antici-
pate for them a thoughtful and lenient treatment, and I think 1 may
even assert that the thoughtless in these matters are now but few and
far between, and likely to become still fewer: on the other hand, if
what I have said shows anything it shows that an enormous number
of animated beings are still gifted with an acute sense of pain; so that
there is no fear of deadening in the human mind, for want of exercise,
the beautiful sentiments of mercy and pity, which will now be the
more forcible as they will be less misdirected.
Octavius PickARD-CAMBRIDGE.

Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton,
November 3, 1853.

PS. Seeing that the subject of cruelty to insects is mentioned in a
paper on ‘ Killing Insects,’ by G. B. Buckton, Esq. (Zool. 4503), who
notices the disinclination of writers to broach the subject, I trust the
present paper (written, as may be seen by the above date, last autumn)
will be received as the first stray shot fired from the hitherto-silent
fortress, to be followed up by the heavy batteries of other more skilful
marksmen. One or two other facts mentioned by myself are also
noticed by Mr. Buckton, but the different dates of our papers preclude
any idea of intentional plagiarism; I think it also but fair to myself
to state that I have never read it, nor was I before aware of Messrs.
Kirby and Spence’s treatise upon this subject, as mentioned by
Mr. Buckton. .

O. P.-C.
Bloxworth House, November 30, 1854.

[I could not have admitted Mr. Pickard-Cambridge’s paper after peremptorily
closing the brilliant but too extended discussion on the same subject, contained in the
early volumes of the ‘ Zoologist,’ had that gentleman reopened the question then at
issue, but his observations appear too general to invite reply —H. Newman. |

Notices of New Books. 4589

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

‘The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald, under the command
of Captain Heury Kellett, R.N., C.B., during the years
1845—51.’ Published under the authority of the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty. Reptiles and Fish. By Sir JoHN

- Ricwarpson, Knt., C.B., M.D., F.R.S. Part III. Royal 4to,
32 pp. letter-press, 7 Plates. Price 10s. 6d.

WE have already expressed our inability to understand the plan of
this beautiful and expensive work ; we therefore address ourselves only
to the contents of the portion before us, of which we give a synopsis,
without pretending to have made any ‘ited ery as to the scope, aa
or arrangement.

Osteology etritneayeanaidow? p. 141; Elephas primigenius,
p. 142. -

Reptiles. — Lophosaura Goodridgii, Gray, p. 148, Tab. XXVI.;
Craniosaura Seemanni, Gray, p. 148, Tab. XXV.; Gecko Reevesii,
Gray, p. 151, Tab. XXVIII.

At p. 155 we learn that other species of reptiles and batrachians
were collected on the voyage; a list of fourteen is given, among which
occur “ Rana, nova species from Canton;” “ Gecko, near Naultina,
from the Island of Gorgona, Coast of Peru;” “ Rana, nova species
from Mazatplan ;” ‘“ Grammatophora and Emys scabra, from same
locality, not marked. Likewise upwards of fifty species of snakes :—
Crotalus, Dendrophis, Boa, Pelamis, &c., from — various places, but
chiefly from Western Mexico,” p. 156. |

Here are the indications of important and yatwnwle additions to cur
Reptile Fauna, and we look forward with high anticipations to the
publication of these novelties in that elaborately minute and wonder-
fully accurate style for which Sir John Richardson is so deservedly
celebrated: we have no notice as to the date of publishing these
details, but the author proceeds, on the same page on which the
exciting announcement is made, to

Fish.—Anchisomus geometricus, p. 156, Tab. XXX.; Anchisomus
angusticeps, p. 159; Anchisomus multistriatus, p. 160, ‘Tab. XXIV. ;
Anchisomus eebatets p. 161, Tab. XXXI.; Platessa stellata, p. 164,
Tab. XXXII.; Platessa glacialis, p. 166, Tab. XXXII.; Salmo

XIII. I

4590 Notices of New Books.

consuetus, p. 167, Tab. XXXIII.; Salmo dermatinus, p. 169,
Tab. XXXIIT.

‘Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Vol. XX1., Part
II}. 4to, 58 pp. letter-press; 5 plates. Price 12s., 10 Members
gratis. |

This Part contains the following papers :—

‘Notes on the Vegetation of Buenos Ayres and the Neigh-
bouring Districts. By Charles James Fox Bunbury, Esq., F.R.S.,
F.L.S., &c.

‘On the Genus Aquilaria.’ By the late William Roxburgh, M.D.,
F LS., &c., with Remarks by the late Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Esq.,
F.RS., F.LS., &c.

‘On Acradenia, a New Genus of Diosmee.’ Ry Richard Kippist,
Ksq., Libr. L.S.

‘On the Genus Myrmica and other Indigenous Ants.’ By John
Curtis, Esq., F.L.S., &c. |

“Note on the Elatus of Trichia.’ By Arthur Henfrey, Esq., F.R.S.,
F.L.S., &c.

‘Note on the Genus Ancistrocladus of Wallich. By G. H. K.
Thwaites, Esq., F.L.S., &c.

‘Remarks relative to the Affinities and Analogies of Natural Objects,
more particularly of Hypocephalus, a Genus of Coleoptera.’ By John
Curtis, Esq., F.L.S., &c.

‘On the Osteological Relations observable among a few Species of
the Bovine Family.’ By Walter Adam, M.D.

‘The Annals and Magazine of Natural History.’ Nos. 83 and 84,
dated November and December, 1854; price 2s. 6d. each.
London: Taylor & Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

No. 83 contains the following papers :—

‘Contributions to the Natural History of the Infusoria. By A.
Schneider. [Extracted from Miiller’s Archiv. for 1854, p. 191.]

‘“Zoosperms of Spongilla.” By H. J. Carter, Esq.

Notices of New Books. 4591

On the Genus Lycium.’ By John Miers, Ksq., F.R.S, F.L.S., &c.

‘On the Occurrence of the Bottle-headed Whale (Hyperoodon
bidens, Flem.), and Remarks thereon. By William Thompson, Esq.

*On the Primitive Diversity and Number of Animals in Geological
Times.’ By L. Agassiz. [Extracted from ‘Silliman’s Journal’ for
_ May, 1854, ]

‘Memoranda of Observations made in small Aquaria, in which the
Balance between the Animal and Vegetable Organisms was _ per-
manently maintained.’ By Robert Warington, Esq.
~ ©On a Mode of giving Permanent Flexibility to Brittle Specimens
in Botany and Zoology.’ By Professor J. W. Bailey, U.S. [Ex-
tracted from ‘ Silliman’s Journal’ for July, 1854.]

Bibliographical Notice: —A Manual of Natural History, for the
Use of Travellers; by Arthur Adams and others.

Proceedings of Learned Societies :—Zoological.

Miscellaneous:—On the Natural and Artificial Fecundation of
AXgilops by Triticum; by M. Godron [extracted from the ‘ Comptes
_ Rendes,’ July 17, 1854, p. 145]. The Ounces; by Dr. J. E. Gray. .
The African Seal (Heliophoca atlantica); by Dr. J. E. Gray.

The papers contained in No. 84 are as follow :—

‘Remarks on Associations of Colour, and the Relations of Colour
and Form in Plants.’ By G. Dickie, M.D., Professor of Natural
History, Queen’s College, Belfast. ‘

‘On Linaria Sepium of Allman.’ By C. C. Babington, M.A.,
F.R.S., &c. [From the ‘Transactions of the Botanical Society of
Edinburgh.’ |

‘Characters of Four Indian Species of Cyclophorus, Montfort,
followed by Notes on the Geographical Distribution of the Genera
of the Cyclostomacea in Hindostan.’ By W. H. Benson, Esq.

‘ Description of a New Bivalve Mollusca.’ By H. and A. Adams.

‘On Artificial Sea Water” By Robert Warington, Esq.

‘On the Genus Mermis.’ By Dr. G. Meisner. Analysis by Dr.
W. J. Burnett. - [From ‘Silliman’s Journal’ for July, 1854].

‘On the Fecundation of the Conifere.’ By Dr. W. Hoffmeister.

Proceedings of Societies :— Royal — Zoological — Botanical of
Edinburgh—Linnean.

Miscellaneous :—Note on Alpheus affinis; by W. V. Guin, F.G:S.
On a New Species of Rock Kangaroo; by Dr. J. E. Gray.

4592 Birds.

‘ Transactions of the Entomological Society of London.’ New Series.
Vol. IIL, Part 3. Demy 8vo., 48 pp. letier-press; 2 plates.
Price 2s. 6d. London: Longman. 1855.

This part contains the following papers :—

‘Descriptions of four New Species of Beetles belonging to the
Family Pausside. By J. O. Westwood, Esq., F.L.S., &c.

‘On some of the Difficulties of Entomological Students, as exem-
plified by recent experience in the genus Elachista.” By H. T.
Stainton, Esq.

‘Description of a New Genus of Coleopterous Insects inhabiting
the Interior of Ants’ Nests in Brazil.’ By J. O. Westwood, Esq.,
PES -, Re. :

‘Essay on the Genera and Species of British Formicide.’ By
Frederick Smith, Esq.

This is a valuable and interesting part, and one which will be par-
ticularly acceptable to the British Entomologist.

Birds in the Neighbourhood of Blackheath in 1854.—The following indigenous
birds commenced their song in this order :—

Robin, Erythaca rubecula, Jan. 1. Yellowhammer, Emberiza flava, Feb. 26.
Thrush, Turdus musicus, Feb. 5. Greenfinch, Coccothraustes chloris, Feb. 28.
Chaflfinch, Fringilla ccelebs, Feb. 6. Bunting, Emberiza miliaria, March 3.
Wren, Troglodytes Europeus, Feb. 7. Blackbird, Turdus merula, March 5.

Sky Lark, Alauda arvensis, Feb. 12.

Some of these birds were rather late in commencing their song, owing perhaps to
the very severe weather at the beginning of the year. The redbreast sang bravely
through all the winter frost and snow: of the rest, the chaffinch and wren commenced

with a weak ditty something like the autumnal song, while the others were tolerably
* strong in song ”’ from the first.

Summer Birds of Passage, with the dates of their appearance.

Chiff-chaff, Sylvia hippolais, April 3. Love Lane, Lee.

Willow Warbler, Sylvia trochilus, April10, Elmstead.

Tit Lark, Anthus arboreus, April11. Plumstead.

Blackcap, Curruca atricapilla, April 11. Plumstead Common.
Redstart, Phenicura ruticilla, April 13. Greenwich Park.
Whitethroat, Curruca cinerea, April 14. Annerley.

Wryneck, Yuna torquilla, April 15. Abbey Wood. —

Birds. 4593

Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, April 15. Beckenham.

Swallow, Hirundo domestica, April 15. Sydenham.

Nightingale, Philomela luscinia, April 16. Love Lane, Lee, and Abbey Wood.
Sedge Warbler, Salicaria phragmitis, April 16. Near Burnt-Ash Farm.
Martin, Hirundo urbica, April 17. Kidbroke.

Grasshopper Lark, Salicaria locustella, April 17. Shooter's Hill.
Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, April 30. Dartford Heath.

Wood Warbler, Sylvia sylvicola, May 3. Greenwich Park.

Whinchat, Sawxicola rubetra, May 4. Farm Lane, Lee.

Lesser Whitethroat, Curruca sylviella, May 5. In my own garden.
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa grisola, May 6. Greenwich Park.
Swift, Cypselus apus, May 18. Wimbledon.

It appears to me that some at least of these birds commenced singing on the day
of, or the day after, their arrival: such was especially the case with the willow warbler
and the redstart. On the day I first heard them my attention was only arrested by
two or three weak notes, which was all I heard, and that frum only a single individual
of each species; and yet there could be no mistake, for, singular to say, on the fol-
lowing morning every grove was resonant with their voices. I was particularly struck
with these two cases, and only less so in the case of other birds. It seemed as though
they arrived in song, but the fatigue of the journey rendered it necessary for them to
rest a few hours before giving utterance to their buoyant feelings.

It is to be remarked, in reference to the foregoing list, that the weather in the first
half of the month of April was bright and warm, but towards the 19th or 20th it
changed to dull and cold, and every one must recollect the very severe night of the
23rd. This checked the influx of our summer visitors for a time, and, although up to
that period fresh arrivals were taking place every day, a fortnight elapsed, during
which Nature retrograded and the remaining birds wisely kept aloof.

I was unfortunately not in a position to note the cessation of the summer song
with any accuracy ; but I observed that the following birds recommenced their song
later in the season :-—

Blackbird, Turdus merula, Aug. 4, Swallow, Hirundo domestica, Sept. 1.
Robin, Erythaca rubecula, Aug. 5. Goldcrest, Regulus auricapillus, Sept. 12.
Willow Wren, Sylvia trochilus, Aug. 23. | Chaffinch, Fringilla celebs, Oct. 15.
Blackcap, Curruca atricapilla, Aug. 30. Lark, Alauda arvensis, Oct. 18.
Chiff-chaff, Sylvia hippolais, Aug. 31. Thrush, Turdus musicus, Oct. 19.

Wren, Troglodytes Europeus, Aug. 31. Hedgesparrow, Accentor modularis, Oc-
Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, Sept. 1. tober 19.

I am much inclined to believe that, at least in the majority of instances, the birds
which first begin by favouring us with their long-lost voices in the autumn are the
young birds of the year; in some cases I am sure of it, from having seen the young
birds themselves utter the note to which my attention has been directed owing to its
having been so long silent. I do not assert that they alone sing in the latter part of
the season, but I believe they are generally the first to break the autumnal silence.
The redbreast is by far the most indefatigable vocalist: throughout the whole year he
was silent only from July 17th to August 5th, and then the quiet was profound: for
weeks together his was the only voice heard, and nothing seems to impair his powers:

4594 . Birds, &c.

so incessant is his music that the small recording voices of his progeny are unheard.
In conclusion, the swallow left us on the 5th of October; but nearly three weeks’ after-
wards, on the 22nd of the same month, I saw a single swallow flying briskly about at
Auchincruive, four miles from Ayr, N. B., at 5 in the afternoon, the weather being
cold, wet and inclement. — Cuthbert Collingwood; Purley Park, Berks, December,
1854.

Occurrence of the Snowy Owl (Strix nyctea) in Sutherlandshire-—About the 15th of
October, 1853, the forester at Altneharrow, in Sutherlandshire, observed a very remark-
able bird on Knock Stack, a high rock in the forest. He had his rifle with him, and
killed what turned out to be a very fine adult specimen of the snowy owl, which is
' now in my collection. He says he has never seen or heard of any bird like it during
the whole time he has lived at Altneharrow. It is the largest British specimen I have
ever seen.— W. M. E. Milner ; Nunappleton, December 30, 1854.

Singular Conduct in a Robin.—Some few weeks ago I was amusing myself with a
common snake (Coluber natrix), and in order more perfectly to observe its beautiful
and graceful motions I placed it on the lower branches of an apple tree. This ar-
rangement had evidently been watched by a robin, for immediately the snake com-
menced climbing towards the top of the tree the robin perched himself about a yard
distant from his head, and followed him closely wherever he went, occasionally ven-
turing even within a few inches. The snake did not regard the presence of the bird,
but appeared quite indifferent, while the inquisitiveness and daring of the latter were
really very interesting. All this took place within a few feet of where I was standing,
and, although the tree was shaken rather violently at times, the robin seemed so ab-
sorbed in the contemplation of his strange neighbour that he took no notice of my
presence. May not similar occurrences have been observed in other countries, and
thus have given rise to the absurd tales told of the power of fascination possessed by
reptiles ?—G. Norman; Hull, December 20, 1854.

Notice of a Tunny stranded in the Estuary of the Tees.—I beg to send the follow-
ing account of a very large fish, which two fishermen of Stockton found on a sand-
bank in the estuary of the river Tees, in September last, and which has proved to
be a fine specimen of the Thynnus vulgaris of Cuvier:—In October, 1854, I was in-
formed that two fishermen had found a remarkably large fish, which was to them quite
unknown, on a sand-bank of the Tees, where it had very recently been stranded. The
description of this strange fish, as given by these men, was as follows: it had a head
much like that of a salmon; the large back-fin was spiny and erect, like that of a
perch ; the tail was curved and spreading. The colour on the back was nearly black,
but that on the under part light.. I at this time received a large bony scale, which
had been taken from the front of the fish, as well as a portion of the thick and smooth
skin of the back, containing numerous imbedded smaller scales. From this account
it occurred to me that this unknown fish was most probably a tunny, which, in its pur-
suit of herrings and other small fishes, had run itself upon a sand-bank, where it was
left by the receding tide. Again, in the latter part of December, 1854, I obtained
the following further information, from the same source in Stockton, respecting this

_ which evidently (from the age and en-

Fishes. 4595

fish. The fishermen described the flesh on being cut as much resembling a piece of
highly salted bacon, z.e. red with salt or saltpetre: they said its weight was ‘ pretty
well on to 60 stone,” and that three strong men could, with difficulty, move it over
from one side to the other. My informant had shown one of these men Mr. Yarrell’s
figure of the common tunny, in his ‘ British Fishes, which he at once pronounced to
be the identical, aud to him unknown, species. He also showed me the tail, which di-
rectly confirmed my supposition of its being a tunny. This was of a very regular
crescent-shape, with one-half or division exactly similar in curvature to the other: it
had 18 rays in each half, = 36 in the entire caudal fin or apparatus; and between the
two divisions and sides a cartilaginous keel was well defined. The width between the
tips of the crescent, or from one tip of the’ tail to the other, I found to measure
2ft.8tin. Mr. Pennant, in his ‘ British Zoology,’ (p. 362, vol. iii. edit. 1812) has
described a large tunny, which had been captured in Inverary, when he was there, in
1769, the tail of which, he says, “ was in form of a crescent, and measured 2 feet
7 inches between tip and tip.” If, therefore, the wide spreading of the tail be any true
or uniform character, from which an estimate of the size of the fish could be fairly
taken, the Tees specimen would be evidently larger than that recorded by Pennant.
I then requested my informant to inquire, when he next saw the fishermen, if they had
observed any small appendages or finlets on the body, where it tapered towards the
tail, as this seemed to me to be the only character wanting to decide what little doubt
could remain in my mind as to the identity of the species. Next, on my third visit to
him at Stockton, on January 5th, 1855, he, to my great satisfaction, exhibited to me
two strips of the skin cut from the back and belly, with these finlets attached, which
of course determined the species beyond all question. The number of spinous finlets
or fin-like appendages on the skin from the back amounted to eight, whilst the number
of those from underneath was nine; but I know not whether all of them had been
carefully saved. Yet, from the descriptions of different naturalists, it is clear that these
spurious finlets vary in number, for Linneus and Fleming reckon them “ utrinque
ucto ;” Artede and Cuvier “ octo seu novem ;” Gronovius writes “ utrinque novem ;”
and Jenyns “nine above and below.” Also Pennant, in the Inverary specimen, makes
them “eleven above and ten below.” May these finlets increase in number, as the
fish itself increases in size andage? Their colour was of a dirty yellow, edged with
dark brown or black. Of the other fins that were at the same time shown to me I need
make no mention, except indeed of the
pectoral, which was remarkable from
its extremity being cleft or divided, and

tireness of the strong black skin) had
not been recently done, if accidentally
done in its origin. The annexed dia-
gram 1 represents its form, with the
plain skin devoid of rays between the
cleft, whilst 2 gives the form of the pec-
toral fin from Pennant, and 3 that as
figured in Donovan’s plate 5. The
total length of this pectoral fin was 124
inches, and the number of rays was 31 or 32, according as one, which appeared double
or branched into two at a little distance from its base, be counted one or two: the

4596 Fishes.

whole was covered with a black, smooth and leathery skin. Mr. Jenyns, in his specific
characters of the common tunny, says (p. 362, ‘ Manual Brit. Vert. Animals’), the
pectoral is “ contained five times and a half in the entire length:” if this measure be
correct, and not found to vary as the fish becomes aged, the entire length of the Tees
fish would have been just about 5 feet 9 inches. I cannot, however, but think that
this measure is liable to some variation, because Pennant’s fish was 7 feet 10 inches
long, or 2 feet 1 inch longer than the former, whilst the spread of the caudal crescent
of the Tees fish was 14 inch wider than Pennant’s These characters seem to me to
require further investigation, which perhaps can only be effected in the Mediterranean,
as in our own seas the tunny is so rare. The large scale, or rather osseous plate, which
was taken from the corselet on the thorax of the Tees specimen, proved on measuring
it to be an oval, a little more than 13 inch in length by 14 inch in width; but. the
small scales that are imbedded under the external leathery skin of the back are
rounder, and many averaged nearly $ths of an inch in diameter. The disposition of
these smaller scales and the great strength of the coating itself are very remarkable;
and as I could find no description of them in any work on Ichthyology, I gave a brief
account of them ina short communication which I made to the Linnean Society, on
the 5th of December, 1854, since which time I have had the satisfaction of thoroughly
identifying the species. I may observe that the only time I have seen a freshly caught
and perfect tunny was in the month of June, at Palermo, when two able-bodied fish-
ermen were carrying it on their right shoulders, the one walking a few feet before the

other; but I had not then an opportunity of visiting a Tonnara and witnessing the _

method of catching this large and most useful fish.—John Hogg ; Norton, adantigiso
on-Tees, January 10, 1855.

Supposed New Species of Flounder.—Having lately obtained in this neighbourhood
several specimens of a Platessa (floun-
der) which differs in. many respects

YY from the common flesus, I send a

AN slight sketch of it. Very dark brown

\\ (almost black) ou both sides. The

: length of the head, as to the whole

length of the fish, is as two to nine;

the pectoral, ventral and caudal fins

are considerably longer than in the

same sized specimens of Platessa fle-

sus; but the greatest peculiarity is the

deep notch, in the dorsal line, imme-

diately behind the eye. The fin-rays

af in number are—D. 58; P. 10; V. 6;

Wy A. 41; C.18. In all other respects

, oy it is similar to the common flounder.

: The largest specimen is about 6 inches

long. I should feel greatly obliged if any of the correspondents of the ‘ Zoologist’

would supply me with duplicates of recent and fossil fishes’ ear-bones.—Edmund
Thomas Higgins ; Birkenhead, December 26, 1854.

White Specimen of the Flounder (Platessa flesus)—In his invaluable work on

British Fishes, Mr. Yarrell remarks, “ Varieties of the flounder occur much more

commonly than those of any other species of flat-fish. I have before me, while now

:
|

Mollusks. 4597

writing, specimens without any colour on either side; specimens coloured on both
sides; and specimens with both eyes and the whole of the colour on the left side in-
stead of the right. Those without any dark colour on either side are albino varieties,
through the transparent skins of which the colour of the blood-vessels and muscles
has suggested the trivial names of rosea and carnaria to the authors who considered
them species.” Through the kindness of Mr. Jenner Weir I have before me a speci-
men of the flounder which seems to present some peculiarities: both sides are white,
~ but the eyes themselves are of the usual colour, and without that peculiar red tinge
which usually characterises albinos: there is no rosy or flesh-coloured tint ou either
side, and the blood-vessels and muscles are not discernible through the cuticle, so that
this appears to be quite distinct from that peculiar freak of nature called albino.—
Edward Newman.

Shell-fish burrowing into Rocks, &c.—Mr. Charlesworth * gave an account of the
various theories which have been advanced by naturalists, to explain the remarkable
power possessed by certain kinds of shell-fish, of burrowing into rocks, hard timber,
and other substances. The hypothesis explanatory of this curious phenomenon, to
which he first adverted, was that of Mr. Garner, an hypothesis which deserves especial
consideration, from it being adopted by so high an authority as Professor Owen. Mr.
Garner supposes that the currents of water produced by the movements of the vibratile
cilia, or hair-like processes with which some portions of the bodies of shell-fish are
covered, is the chief agent by which the burrows of these creatures are hollowed out.
Mr. Charlesworth considers this theory untenable on two grounds: one, the extreme
improbability that currents of so feeble a character as those produced by the cilia of
shell-fish could sink holes in rocks of the hardest limestone, even if the excavation of
these holes occupied a period of a thousand years, instead of being, as is well known,
effected in a few days or weeks; the other, that of there being a limit to the depth of
the burrows, for all stone-boring shell-fish leave off excavating when they have lodged
themselves at such a distance from the surface of the stone as is consistent with their
- own security and the supply of their wants. Now the ciliary currents alluded to by
Mr. Garner are in motion during the whole life-time of these creatures. If, then,
these currents scoop out the holes in question, a burrowing shell-fish through life would
never cease to deepen its excavation, a condition which is not found to be borne out
by fact. A more generally received hypothesis, and one of much earlier origin than
the above is, that shell-fish bore into stone by a rotation of their own shell, which is
assumed to act as an auger or drill, and to be sufficiently hard to file away those por-
tions of solid bodies against which the instinct of the contained animal directs it.
The characters of the Pholas, a shell whose burrows may be seen at low tide on the
scar at Whitby in the greatest profusion, favour this theory, since its shape is cylin-
drical, and its surface studded with numerous short strong spines, apparently well
adapted for rasping. Mr. Charlesworth, however, could not accept the mechanical

* At the Meeting of a Natural-History Club at York.
, XIII. B

4598 Mollusks.

hypothesis in connexion with the shell as the perforating instrument, for though it may
explain the burrows made by the Pholas, it is utterly inapplicable to the case of other
stone-borers, some of which, though not cylindrical, occupy excavations of the same
shape as their shell, and which excavations consequently could not be scooped out by.
a rotatory motion of this organ, no rotation being possible ; while other kinds, although
like the Pholas of a cylindrical shape, instead of having the shell rough and file-like,
have it covered with a delicate membrane, of such a nature that any friction of the
shell against a hard substance would inevitably effect its destruction ; yet this mem-
brane is found present and uninjured on shells of this particular kind at all periods of
their growth. The next hypothesis reviewed was the chemical one — that which sup-
poses stone-boring shell-fish to secrete an acid ora peculiar solvent capable of dissolving
all the various substances into which these creatures burrow, not even excepting wax,
Mr. Charlesworth enumerated as difficulties in the way of accepting the chemical hy-
pothesis, that, after repeated and most carefully conducted experiments, chemists had
failed in detecting the smallest trace of an acid secretion in the skin or other soft
parts of stone-boring shell-fish ; that if any such assumed acid or solvent do really
exist, its properties must be of a most novel and extraordinary kind, from the variety
in the chemical constitution of the substances upon which it acts,—wax, wood, lime-
stone, &c. &c.; that it would, upon this hypothesis, be difficult to understand how it
is that the solvent in question does not act upon the creature’s own shell, as well as
upon the walls of the burrow or cell in which that shell is lodged; and lastly, as the
work is carried on under water, it would be necessary to assume some provision for the
application of the solvent without the accident of its dilution by the surrounding
fluid, a provision which would hardly appear possible in some cases, such, for instance,
as the excavations made by Gastrochena and Lithodomus, in the highly porous sub-
stance of the common brain coral]. In conclusion, the attention of the meeting was
directed to the views and elaborate researches of Mr. A. Hancock, of Newcastle,
bearing upon the elucidation of this long-agitated problem in Natural History. Mr.
Hancock states that, upon submitting to microscopic examination that portion of the
boring shell-fish designated by comparative anatomists as the “ foot,” he found it
studded with minute crystalline bodies, upon which acids had little or no effect: hence
he assumes these bodies to be silicious, and, detecting their presence in other organs
of the animal besides the foot, he founds upon this and other considerations most ably

treated of in his published memoir upon the subject an hypothesis that the burrows of —

shell-fish are formed by a mechanical process, but that the soft parts of the animal
crmed with these silicious studs or points are the boring instrument, not the shell. In
reference to this last hypothesis, Mr. Charlesworth stated that he thought it far more
philosophical than any of the theories which Mr. Hancock’s predecessors in this field
of research had advanced. He still, however, saw difficulties in the way of at once
adopting it. Other naturalists, however, would doubtless follow the line of investi-
gation pointed out by Mr. Hancock, and independent observations would, ere long, be
forthcoming in confirmation or refutation of this gentleman’s views. A highly inte-
resting series of specimens of stones, wood and coral, showing the boring shell-fish in
their burrows, were exhibited by Mr. Charlesworth in illustration of his remarks.

Entomoloyical Society. 4599

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

/

January 1, 1855.—Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to
the donors: —The ‘ Zoologist’ for January; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for
December; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ four December; by the Editor.
The ‘Journal of the Society of Arts’ for December; by the Society.‘ Entomolo-
gische Zeitung’ for November and December; ‘ Linnea Entomologica,’ 9 Band; all
by the Entomological Society of Stettin. Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies, Parts 12
and 13; by W. Wilson Saunders, Esq. .‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol.
xxi. Part 3; ‘ Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Nos. 52—58; ‘ List of the Lin-
nean Society, 1854 ;’ ‘ Address of T. Bell, Esq., President of the Linvean Society,
at the Anniversary, May 24th, 1854;’ all by the Linnean Society. ‘ Proceedings of
the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, 1853—4; by the Society. * The
Entomologist’s Annual for 1855;’ by the Editor, H. T. Stainton, Esq.

- Exhibitions.

Mr. Douglas exhibited a living specimen of Cratonychus castanipes, Payk., one
of the Elateride, which he found a few days since in the centre of a large mass of
rotten wood thoroughly permeated with fungoid matter, which he dug out of an old
oak stump, and within which it lay in an oval cell, at one end of which were seen the
pellicles of the larva and pupa. This species, kindly determined by Mr. Janson, has
not hitherto been recorded as British, though it probably exists in most collections
mixed with Melanotus fulvipes, which it greatly resembles.

Mr. Stevens exhibited a fine specimen of the niale of Jumnos Ruckeri, from Dar-
jeeling, and a fine female of Dicranocephala Wallichii, from India; both beetles out
of the same collection.

Sik Felt produced by Saturnia Pavonia-media.

The President exhibited a specimen of silk produced at Vienna by the larve of
Saturnia Pavonia-media called in Germany “ Schwartzdornspinner:” he had received
it through the kindness of Herr Pretsch, from whom he learned that a series of most
interesting experiments were now in progress, the object being to obtain, from the la-
bours of this insect, a silken felt impervious to water. The larve were confined sepa-
rately in polished receptacles, from which there was no escape, and which presented
no salient points that the cocoons could possibly be attached to, so that the whole
stock of silk was exhausted on the smooth surface, and could afterwards be removed
at pleasure. As the space allotted to each caterpillar was large and the stock of silk
small, the coating was very thin, as in the specimen exhibited, but the felt was readily
increased in substance by introducing a second and then a third larva, each of which
readily worked on the felt manufactured by its predecessor. He did not know to
what extent the experiments have hitherto been carried, but be believed they promised
perfect success.

4600 Entomological Society.

Note on Helobia impressa, Newman.
The President read the following memorandum on Helobia impressa :—

“TI beg to exhibit some specimens of the insect which twenty-three years ago I
ventured to describe as distinct, under the name of Helobia impressa; and I do this,
not because I am now at all persuaded of its distinctness, but because the Rev. Mr.
Dawson appears to have been unacquainted with the insect at the time he was pre-
paring his invaluable ‘Geodephaga Britannica.” Helobia impressa was found at a
great altitude, on Ben Nevis and Ben Voirlich, by our friend Mr. Walker, and was
distributed by him amongst entomologists at the time: the specimen which I beg to
exhibit was captured by him. The difference between this and the common Welsh
insect, Helobia nivalis, is this: — in nivalis, one interspace of each elytron, the third
counting from the suture, is impressed with large deep fovee ; in impressa, two of these
interspaces, the third and fifth, are thus impressed, giving the insect, at the first
glance, a very different appearance. After having read Mr. Wollaston’s admirable re-
marks on the effects of isolation on species, I will not presume to dwell on the
importance of the character on which the species is founded, but I trust entomologists
will agree with me that the subject is worthy of investigation, and that this very
doubtful species ought at least to be separated from its Cambrian congeners as a named
and locally isolated variety.”

Improvements in Bee-hives.

Mr. Downie exhibited a model of a wooden bee-hive, containing, as he explained,
several important improvements, proved by its use for the last three years. The im-
provements consisted of a moveable open floor with bars placed transversely to the
bars of the hive, sliding above the true floor of the hive, and affording great facility
for removing dead bees in winter without admitting cold air, a circumstance on which
he laid much stress, as by the ordinary method of lifting the hive for the purpose of
clearing the floor the bees were injured by the reduced temperature in the hive; and
where the dead bees were not removed, as was too common, the effluvium arising
therefrom was most prejudicial to the living bees: this winter, within a circuit of nine
miles from his residence, he knew five hundred hives in which the bees had perished
either from this cause or the want of ventilation. Another improvement was a set
of openings below the false floor and at the top of the hive, which could be closed en-
tirely or partly at pleasure, as occasion required, and by which the ventilation of the
hive was at all times secured. The third improvement was a shallow zinc feeding-
trough at the side of the moveable floor. The whole hive was surrounded by a loose
wooden cover.

** Notes on the Economy of Various Insects.”
Under the above title the following notes, by John Curtis, Esq., were read :—

“ As nothing can contribute so essentially to the advancement of the science of
Entomology as a correct knowledge of the economy of insects, whether we regard
their influence on the vegetable productions of the earth, or study them as a branch of
Natural Science which has occupied the attention of some of the most celebrated phi-
losophers of antiquity as well as those of our own age, I shall make no apology for
laying this sketch of the habits and transformations of some species but little known,
and to which I shall hope to make additions as opportunities may offer.

Entomological Society. 4601

“Tn 1844 Col. Goureau contributed a memoir upon this subject to the Entomolo-
gieal Society of France,* full of truth and interest, and I trust the following observa-
tions may throw some light upon the early stages of various families of insects. I
regret that several years have passed since many of the discoveries were communicated
to me, and those facts which fell under my immediate observation were principally
collected in the year 1848, in the Isle of Wight, in company with my esteemed and
lamented friend Dr. Win, Arnold Bromfield.

“ Anthemis Cotula. Stinking Chamomile.

‘On the 10th of August at least half the flower-heads around Ryde had the recep-
tacles infested by little maggots, which ate into the solid parts, giving them a brown
appearance when the florets were removed. They were cylindrical, shining and
whitish, with two very minute sharp black hooks at the head. When arrived at ma-
turity they contracted themselves, and assumed an oval form: they then changed in-
side the receptacle, or in cavities eaten on the surface, to oval pitchy pupe, from which
a fly (Tephritis radiata) emerged on the 12th of August. There were also scarlet
larve of a Cecidomyia and various others, which evidently escaped my search from
their minuteness, as from the flowers I bred the following insects :—from the 20th to
the 28th August, Tephritis radiata, Fab., 9 specimens ; Cecidomyia, 2; Lasioptera, 3;
Phytomyza lateralis, Fall., 3.

_ “The Hon. C. Harris first detected the larve of the Phytomyza feeding in the re-
ceptacles of Pyrethrum inodorum.t The cocoons are elongate, cylindric, the ends
rounded, with two minute tubercles at the head; they are coriaceous, but very thin,
shining, and of a straw colour.

“On the 22nd of September, from the same heads, I found hatched in the box—
Cochylis subroseana, Haw., 1; Phalacrus eneus, Payk.,1; nov. gen.? of Staphylinide
_ allied to Hypocyptus; and Pteromalus, 2 species.

“* Senecio Jacobea. Ragwort.

“ There were small and large maggots in some of the receptacles which were more
or less eaten out, the cavities being blackened with the dung of the larve, whilst others
contained pupe.

“ On the 28th of August males of Tephritis marginata, Fall., hatched, and on the
30th two females came forth; also three of Cecidomyia flava, Meig.

“The larva of the Tephritis is elongated, fleshy and yellow, attenuated at the
head, which is furnished with two minute black hooks, and two trifid ferruginous

spiracles at the tail. The pupz are oval, but curved, black and shining like polished
ebony.

“ Inula dysenterica. Common Fleabane.

“ The 11th of August the receptacles had been eaten into by a caterpillar, and the
space was covered with dung. This caterpillar could descend by a thread: it was

* * Notes pour servir a Histoire des Insectes qui vivent dans le Chardon penché
(Carduus nutans), pat M. le Colonel Goureau. 2nd Series, y. 3, p. 75, pl. 2.
+ Vide Curtis’s Brit. Ent. fol. and pl. 393.

4602 Entomological Sceiety.

somewhat depressed, broadest anteriorly, the segments constricted and slightly hairy,
ochreous with bright brown spots on the back, caused by the intestines shining
through: the head was small, black and shining, with two black spots on the thoracic
segment ; the six pectoral feet were very minute, as well as the anal ones: the excre-
ment towards the tail shone through of a green colour, and there was a spot at the tip.
These, I suspect, are the caterpillars of a Tinea (Aphelosetia ? Inulella),* two of which
I bred from the flowers of the Inula on the 28th of August, and in all probability the
larve feed on the seeds.

“On the 9th of September I bred also a female of Niulio phates lacteipennis,
Curt.; and on the 10th Pteromalus cupreus, a male, and an ichneumon allied to
Trachyderma or Bassus.

“ Carduus lanceolatus. Spear-thistle.

“ On the 11th of August I found maggots in the receptacles, feeding on the seeds.
They were fat, barrel-shaped, but attenuated before, shining ochreous-white; head
furnished with two short black hooks, the tail with a circular ferruginous space, the
lower margin pitchy, with two minute spiracles in the centre of the stern. The pupe,
which were imbedded in the woolly receptacles, were similar in form to the larve, being
attenuated to the head and obtuse at the tail, and of an ochreous or rusty colour,
From these, on the 4th of October, I bred a female Tephritis pallets Wied., and af-
terwards four males and eight more females. ;

“ Juncus glomeratus. 9

“Dr. Bromfield frequently found, attached to the bundles of seed-vessels, whitish
cases in which the larve of some species of Coleophora had lived, and from which the
moths had hatched about the third week in August, but most of them produced a mi-
nute dark green parasite of the family Chalcidide, which prevented my ascertaining
the name of the moth: possibly it is the Porrectaria leucapennis of Haworth, or the
Coleophora cespititiella of Zeller.

“ Arlemisia maritima. Sea Wormwood.

“ At the end of September, 1852, I bred from this plant two specimens of a minute
Cecidomyia ? and a still smaller Entedon.

* Pistacia Lentiscus. Mastic.

“ During my sojourn at Nice, in Piedmont, in 1850—51, I frequently found upon
the Pistacia bushes, which grow wild on the rocky hills near Nice and Villafranché,
galls attached to the midrib of the leaves, as large as scarlet bean seeds and somewhat
of a similar shape: they were very plump, of a pale green colour, more or less rosy
from being marbled with red. In the early part of December I opened and examined
the contents of these galls, and found them to contain an Eriosoma, very like E. bur-
saria, Linn., but larger, and also the pupe of an Agromyza, rather larger than Phy-
tomyza lateralis. It was of a cinereous tint, as if dusted with the white powder which
enveloped the Eriosoma; the face white; antenne black; legs ochreous; the thighs

* “ Vide my description in the Ann, and Mag. Nat. Hist., 2nd Series, v. p. 117.

.

Entomological Society. 4603

dark, tipped with ochre. I will name this provisionally Agromyza Pistacie. A
Pteromalus also issued from the galls, no doubt a parasite of the fly.

“I once saw, on a lawn at Wilton, the larva of some genus of this family carrying
off an earthworm several times its own length; and last May a gentleman near London
caught a similar larva holding fast to a worm by its strong mandibles.

“ After heavy rains I have observed the Carabus glabratus, F'ab., on the mountains
in Yorkshire, emerge from their hiding-places and seize earthworms in their jaws,
running off with them readily enough.

“The following species have been observed or reared from the larve by F. J.
Graham, Esq., F.L.S.:—

“* Helobia brevicollis, Fab. In turnip-fields, where the larve form cells about two
inches below the surface, communicating with the surface by a vertical shaft.

“ Malachius bipustulatus, Linn. Bred from an ash stump. It has also been
reared from the stalks of an Echium by M. Vallot; and M. eneus, Zznn., has been
obtained by M. Perris from stubble, where it undergoes its transformations. The larve
are carnivorous.

*“ Elater longicollis, Fab. Reared from a pupa found in his garden at Cranford.
The exuvia of the larva exhibits a structure of the tail somewhat like that of E. mu-
rinus? viz., with a denticulated margin and two horny processes at the apex.

a Bedoromebus agilis, Fab. Females of thisichneumon and Microgaster annplipes’ rs
were bred from the same bundle of cottony cocoons, and J have more than once ob-
served the same fact. It may be inferred that the Pezomachus is the parasite of the
Microgaster, yet it is possible their larve might inhabit the same caterpillar and the
whole spin up together, for Ratzeburg has bred P. agilis from the larve or pupe of
Orthotenia Buoliana, P. hortensis from Tinea lichenella, and a third species, which he
names P. terebrator, from the pupe of Bombyx Salicis; whilst Schonherr has reared
P. pedestris from larve of Hypera plantaginis, and Degeer has bred a species from
the larva of a Curculio. Mr. Haliday bred a species of Pezomachus and Hemiteles
fulvipes from the mass of cocoons formed by Microgaster intricatus.

“Scopula prunalis, W.V. End of April, the caterpillars feeding on the leaves of
scarlet geraniums, at Cranford.

“ Lophonotus fasciculellus, Steph. The caterpillars feeding on the leaves of An-
gelica sylvestris, leaving the entire membrane perfect like lace. Several specimens of
this beautiful and curious Tinea were bred from them, together with a Microgaster.

“Tephritis guttularis, Meig. Bred from galls at the top or collar of roots of
Achillea Millefolium.

“‘ Heteroneura albimana, Meig. Bred from rotten willows. The pupe resemble
_ those of Piophila Casei.

“ The following Staphylinide, which I have not seen in any other British collec-
tion, were captured by myself, and have not I believe been recorded as inhabitants of
England :—

“‘ Myrmedonia funesta, Grav:, I found in a fungus in Birch Wood, on the 6th of
. May, 1821.

‘“‘ Gymnusa brevicollis, Payk. On the 13th of May, 1844, I swept a fine speci-
men off rushes by the side of a brook near the sea, at Covehithe, Suffolk; and Mr.
Haliday also captured one on the edge of a pond near Holywood, Belfast.

4604 Entomological Society.

“ Euryporus picipes, Payk. I took this rare insect in June, 1837: I believe it was
found under a stone at Slaughter, in Gloucestershire.

“ Stenus vafellus ? Erich., and S. emulus, Hrich., I discovered in the marshes at
Horning, Norfolk, on the 14th of July, 1840. I am indebted to Mr. Waterhouse for -
the names of these two species, which he found in my collection.” |

British Species of Stenus.

Mr. Waterhouse read a memoir, by himself and Mr. Janson, on the British species
of the genus Stenus, with notes on the species of the genus in the collection of the
late Mr. J. F. Stephens.

Brazilian Ants.

Mr. Smith read a paper, by himself, entitled “ Descriptions of some Species of
Brazilian Ants, with Observations on their Economy by Mr. H. W. Bates.”

In his note on a new species, Eciton legionis, Smith, Mr. Bates says that he only
found it on open, sandy and grassy campos, which kind of locality afforded him an
opportunity of observing some parts of the habits of the species, and the business
which occupies its immense processions. Among other things, he noticed that the
column consisted of two trains of ants, moving in opposite directions, one train empty-
handed, the other loaded with a variety of the mangled remains of insects, chiefly the
larve and pupe of ants. |

Mr. Brayley, present as a visitor, remarked that this fact might illustrate one of
the causes of the accumulation of insect remains seen in strata of the secondary geo-
logical formation, for if these trains of ants had been covered up suddenly, the stratum
in which they were imbedded would in after time exhibit the same appearance as the
deposits to which he had alluded.

Mr. Saunders observed, that insects were sometimes congregated together in im-
mense numbers by local or accidental circumstances: he remembered especially that,
a few years since, Galeruca Tanaceti was seen in immense numbers on the Norfolk
coast.

Errata.

Page 4568, line 12, for “ cherry-tree drooping” read “ drooping cherry-tree.”
» 46571, lines 27 and 30, for “ murinus” read ‘ castaneus.”
‘ »» line 28, insert a comma after ‘‘ Kuper.”—J. W. D.

Anniversary Meeting, January 22, 1855.—Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in
the chair.

Election of Officers.

The Secretary read the chapter of the Bye-laws pertaining to the Anniversary
Meeting, and the Report of the Library and Cabinet Committee made to and adopted
by the Council. The Treasurer’s accounts, duly audited, were laid before the Meeting,
and it appeared that the finances of the Society were now in a better condition than

Entomological Society. 4605

at any former period. The ballot for four new members of the Council then took
place, when F. Bond, Esq., J. Curtis, Esq., J. Lubbock, Esq., and J. O. Westwood,
Esq., were elected in the room of W.S. Dallas, Esq., W. W. Saunders, Esq., S. J.
Wilkinson, Esq., and W. Wing, Esq., and the following gentlemen were then elected
officers for the year: John Curtis, Esq., F.L.S., &c., President; Samuel Stevens, Esq.,
F.LS., Treasurer ; J. W. Douglas, Esq., and Edwin Shepherd, Esq., Secretaries.

The President delivered the following Address, for which and his services to the
Society during the last two years the Meeting passed a cordial vote of thanks, and
requested he would allow the Address to be printed.

Votes of thanks were also passed to Mr. Stevens and Mr. Douglas for their services
in the respective offices of Treasurer and Secretary.

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

GENTLEMEN, ;

. Time with that rigid punctuality, which disregards alike human
haste and human delay, relieves me to-night of those honourable duties
with which you have entrusted me; and, permitted by custom, I in-
dulge in a retrospective glance at our progress during the past year.

_ From the Report of the Library and Cabinet Committee you have
learned that our books and collections are in good preservation, but
that the exotic insects are in an unsatisfactory state as regards ar-
rangement and naming; an invitation is held out, to such of you as
are willing to give your services, to join the Committee and take part
in this most desirable labour, and I sincerely hope I shall hear of
members voluntarily coming forward and applying themselves to the
task: I believe I may even now hint to the Society an offer by Mr.
Smith to undertake the arrangement of the Hymenoptera, and we
know that there is no member of our Society so capable of accom-
plishing the task.

I have particularly to congratulate the Society on the state of its
_ finances as disclosed in the Auditor’s Report just read: two years ago,
Owing to unusual and perhaps unavoidable outlay, the Society had
incurred a debt which was only liquidated a few days before I came
into office by the generous contributions of several of its members,
but I am fortunate, peculiarly fortunate, in having presided over the
Society for a period of two years during which it has been entirely
self-supporting, during which the Chancellor of our Exchequer has
drawn from legitimate sources all the funds requisite for the main-
tenance of our position, and now exhibits a large surplus applicable

XIII. L

4606 Entomological Society.

to our future requirements. I lay great stress on these facts, because
I believe that all societies dependent on accidental, eleemosynary, or
any extraneous support whatsoever, contain in themselves the elements
of dissolution.

It appears that during the year we have elected ten members and
three subscribers, and that we have lost three members by resignation
and one by death, and one subscriber by resignation, thus giving us
during the year an increase of six members and of two subscribers, a
state of affairs on which I think we have every reason to congratulate
ourselves: we have also elected, as corresponding members, Mr. Bates
and Mr. Wallace, of whose indefatigable industry I said so much on
the occasion of my last addressing you, and whose claims on us for
the little courtesy thus rendered them will be freely admitted by all of
you.

It is my painful duty to say a few words of that member of whom
death has deprived us, on the very threshold of what aphenters to alla
brilliant and a prosperous career.

William Wing in early life was distinguished for his love of Natural
History and for the care and accuracy with which he depicted natural
objects: in the capacity of an artist he was frequently employed by
Dr. Gray, of the British Museum, and the range of objects he deline-
ated was very extensive: by degrees he appears to have turned his
attention more and more to Entomology. In 1847 he was elected a
member of our Society, and during the last and preceding years he
filled the office of one of our Secretaries, but for many months he has
been disqualified by illness from attending to the onerous duties which
that office entails. He continued to employ his pencil in the cause of
Science, and many of the illustrations of the Catalogues of the British
Museum, of the Transactions of the Linnean, Zoological, and Ento-

mological Societies, and of several other publications, are the work of —

his hands: a paper of my own, just published in the Transactions of
our Society, owes any value it may possess to the surpassing accuracy
with which he depicted the perfect insects, and the artistic skill with
which, from very slender materials, he contrived to give most life-like
figures of the larve. The illustrations of Mr. Stainton’s volume on
Tineina are also by his pencil, and his last effort was to draw the
figures of Goniodoma auroguttella and Nepticula Weaveri for Mr.
Stainton’s ‘ Entomologist’s Annual.’ About twelve months ago a

disease that almost always proves fatal exhibited itself, and this, acting —

on acoustitution predisposed to consumption, terminated his life on the

9th of the present month, while in his 28th year. He was distinguished .

Entomological Society. 4607

throughout his brief life by the most amiable and obliging manners,
and he will be equally regretted for the amenity of his disposition and
his skill as an artist: we have no one who can fill that department in
science which his death leaves vacant. Mr. Wing was a Fellow of the
Linnean Society, having been elected in 1852. I am only aware of
two entomological papers that he has written: these are intituled

Characters of Three New Genera and Species of Lepidoptera. Proc. Zool. Soc.
1854, p. 104.

Descriptions of some Hermaphrodite British Lepidoptera, with figures of the Insects.
Trans. Ent. Soc. v. 119.

I must here notice the loss which our Science, although not our
Society, has sustained, in four other deaths which have occurred
during the year.

Abel Ingpen was born on the 20th of May, 1796: he very early
evinced a strong predilection for Entomology, and not only collected
with indefatigable industry, but was remarkably careful and neat in
his method of nomenclature and arrangement: the success of his la-
bours is proved by the fact that in 1826, or less than twenty-eight
years ago, he sold to the Manchester Museum a collection of British
insects, of his own making, for the sum of £100: he again made a
most valuable collection, not only of insects, but also of shells, fossils,
birds’ eggs, prints, rare books, &c., all which were arranged and pre-
served with the utmost neatness and care. He was elected an Asso-
ciate of the Linnean Society in 1826, and was very regular in his
attendance of the meetings of that learned body: he was an original
member of the Entomological Society, and for years took an active
part in its proceedings, but resigned his membership in 1849. He was
also a member of the Microscopical Society, being devotedly fond of
the microscope, and having made valuable observations on the struc-
ture of the scales on the wings of Lepidoptera. Mr. Ingpen was the
author of the little work intituled ‘ Instructions for Collecting, Rearing
and Preserving British and Foreign Insects, and for Collecting and
Preserving Crustacea and Shells, a neat, useful and extremely porta-
ble volume, which has gone through two editions, and which ought
to be in the hands of every entomologist: to all who have written on
“collecting” it forms what might be called the base of operations,
and is more practical and more readily understandable than anything
in our own language on the same subject. I find one paper by Mr.
Ingpen in the Transactions of our Society,* intituled “ Remarks on the

*. Vol. i..p. 174.

4608 Entomological Society.

Destruction of Cocci.” Mr. Ingpen was also an enthusiast in Horti-
culture, and contributed many articles to the ‘Gardener’s Magazine’
and ‘ Horticultural Magazine.’ His garden was so well stocked with
rarities, and kept in such exquisite order, that the late Mr. Loudon
paid it a visit for the express purpose of describing it in the ‘ Gar-
dener’s Magazine.’ He died of cholera, at his residence at Chelsea,
on the 14th of September, 1854, in the 58th year of his age. He was
a man of mild and inoffensive character, and was beloved and respected
by all who enjoyed his friendship. By far the greater part of Mr.
Ingpen’s contributions to science being strictly anonymous, I am un-
able to give any of their titles, with the exception of those above
mentioned.

George Newport, whose name stands first and almost alone as a
British physiological entomologist, was born at Canterbury on the 14th
of February, 1803, and was apprenticed to his father, a wheelwright,
residing in that city. His taste for Natural History was early noticed,
and he was appointed to the Curatorship of the Natural History Mu-
seum immediately on its establishment: the decided bent of his inelina-
tions, thus evinced, led to a dislike of business and to a preference for
the study of medicine ; he consequently became a pupil of Mr. Weekes,
of Sandwich, and soon afterwards came to London to attend lectures
at the London University : here he wrote a paper on the Nervous Sys-
tem of Sphinx Ligustri, and on the changes it undergoes while the
insect is progressing to maturity. This essay was read before the Royal
Society, and printed in the ‘ Philosophical Transactions.’ No sooner
was it known than its merits were admitted, and the author was at
once acknowledged to be the most profound physiological entomolo-
gist that this country has produced. This remarkable essay is distin-
guished by the elaborate and conscientious care with which the most
minute details are worked out, and it is worthy of record that many of
the delicate and difficult dissections were made with the assistance
of a single lens. Papers of a similar character rapidly succeeded
each other, and occupied him almost up to the hour of his death: of
these I can only give the titles; a volume might be occupied in cri-
tically analyzing the works themselves. He was elected a member of
the Entomological Society in 1835, and filled the President’s chair in
1843 and 1844, but resigned his membership in 1848: he was also a
Fellow of the Royal and Linnean Societies. While engaged in his
researches on the changes which the ovum of the frog undergoes during
its development, it became necessary to examine the living objects in
all their stages; and in his zeal to procure these, during the chilly

Entomological Society. 4609

months of February and March, he is supposed to have contracted
that fever which terminated his life: he died at his residence in Cam-
bridge Street, Hyde Park, on the 6th of April, 1854. I cannot con-
clude this notice more appropriately than in the words of Mr. Bell :—
** He loved and followed Science for her own sake; and if occasion-
ally he appeared somewhat tenacious of his opinions and over-anxious
for his own fame, surely this was pardonable in one who gave up all
for the pursuit of knowledge, depriving: himself without a murmur of
even the most common comforts, that he might devote himself the
more unreservedly to the one noble object of his life. He worked for
knowledge and perhaps for fame; but he never prostituted science to
gain, nor mingled ignoble motives with his pursuits.”

Inst of Mr. Newport's Scientific Papers.

On the Nervous System of the Sphinx Ligustri, and the changes which it undergoes
during a part of the Metamorphoses of the Insect. Phil. Trans. exxii. 383,
and cxxiv. 389.

On the Respiration of Insects. Id. exxvi. 529.

On the Temperature of Insects, and its connexion with the Functions of Respiration
and Circulation in this Class of Invertebrated Animals. Id. cxxvii. 259.

On the Organs of Reproduction and the Development of the Myriapoda (Ist Series).
Id. exxxi. 99.

On the Structure, Relations and Development of the Nervous and Circulatory Systems,
and on the Existence of a complete Circulation of the Blood in Vessels in Myri-
apoda and Macrourous Crustacea. Id. cxxxiii. 243.

On the Reproduction of Lost Parts in Myriapoda and Insecta. Id. exxxiv. 283.

On the Impregnation of the Ovum in Amphibia. Proc. Roy. Soc. v. 971; vi. 82, 171.

‘On the Respiratory Organs of the Common Leach (Hirudo officinalis) and their con-
nexion with the Circulatory System. Id. iii. 206.

Monograph of the Class Myriapoda, Order Chilopoda, with Observations on the
General Arrangement of the Articulata. Linn. Trans. xix. 265 and 349.

On the Aqueous Vapour expelled from Bee-hives. Id. xx. 277.

Note on the Generation of Aphides. Id. xx. 281.

On the Natural History, Anatomy and Development of the Oil-beetle (Meloé), more

_ especially of Meloe cicatricosus of Leach.—First Memoir: The Natural History
of Meloé. Id. xx. 297.—Second Memoir: The History and General Anatomy of
Meloé, and its Affinities, compared with those of Strepsiptera and Anoplura, with
reference to the connexion which exists between Structure, Function and Instinct.
Id. xx, 321—Third Memoir: The External Anatomy of Meloé in its relation to
the Laws of Development. Id. xxi. 167.

On Cryptophagus cellaris of Paykull. Id. xx. 351.

On the Formation of the Air-sacs and dilated Trachee in Insects. Id. xx. 419.

‘On the Anatomy and Affinities of Pteronarcys regalis of Newman, with a Postscript
containing Descriptions of some American Perlide, together with Notes on their
Habits. Id. xx. 425.

4610 Entomological Scciety.

The Anatomy and Development of certain Chalcidide and Ichneumonide, compared
with their Special Economy and Instincts; with Descriptions of a New Genus and
Species of Bee-Parasites. Id. xxi. 61 and 85.

Further Observations on the Genus Anthophorabia. Id. xxi. 79.

Further Observations on the Habits of Monodontomerus; with some Account of a
New Acarus (Heteropus ventricosus), a Parasite in the Nests of Anthophora retusa.
Id. xxi. 95.

On the Ocelli in the Genus Anthophorabia. Id. xxi. 161.

On the Predaceous Habits of the Common Wasp (Vespa vulgaris, L.) Ent. Trans. —
1, 228.

On the Use of the Antenne in Insects. Id. ii. 229.

On the Habits and Structure of the Nests of Gregarious Hymenoptera, particularly
those of the Hive-Bee and Hornet. Id. iii, 183.

On the Habits of Megachile centuncularis. Id. iv. 1.

On the means by which the Honey-Bee finds its way back to the Hive. Id. iv. 57.

Address to the Entomological Society at the Anniversary Meeting, 1844. Id. 1845.

On Iulus Sandvicensis et I. pilosus. Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1842.

On the Parasitic Habits of Nomade. Id. 1842.

On some New Genera of the Class Myriapoda. Proc. Zool. Soc. x. 177.

On the Anatomy of certain Structures in Myriapoda and Arachnida which have been
thought to belong to the Nervous System. Lond. Med. Gaz. 1838, p. 970.

A List of the Species of Myriapoda Chilopoda contained in the Cabinets of the
British Museum, with Synoptic Descriptions of 47 New Species. Ann. & Mag.
Nat. Hist. xiii. 94 and 263. .

On the Genus Atya of Leach, with Descriptions of four apparently New Species, Id.
xix. 158.

The Article “Insecta” in Todd’s ‘Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology,’ iv.
853—994.

Observations on the Anatomy, Habits and Economy of Athalia centifolie, the Saw-fly
of the Turnip, and on the means which have been adopted for the prevention of
its Ravages; being a Prize Essay proposed by the Entomological Society of Lon-
don in conjunction with the Agricultural Society of Saffron Walden.

Major Champion recently died at Scutari of wounds received in the
Crimea: twenty years ago he was well known to the readers of the
‘Entomological Magazine, under the pseudonym of “Ionicus,” by
his admirable papers on the economy of certain Cephalonian insects,
published in the third volume of that Journal: it is true that some of
the statements there published related to facts previously familiar to
entomologists, yet described with great care and evident originality ;
others, for instance the fact that Brachinus grecus explodes with its
mouth, I have not seen elsewhere. “On the approach of danger,”
wrote the author, “ this insect salivates and a bubble appears at its
mouth ; on contact with the air it explodes with a considerable report,
and gaseous matter may be seen rising up like smoke: * * * on
being immersed in boiling water to kill it, it let off one of these

Entomological Society. 4611

explosions, and the water for about an inch around it effervesced wnuch
in the same manner as a Seidlitz powder.” Major Champion col-
lected botanical as well as entomological specimens, not only in
Greece, but also in China and Ceylon. In the second volume of the
new series of our ‘ Transactions,’ he is spoken of by Mr. Bowring as
“a very zealous entomologist: ” he discovered many new Coleoptera,
some of which are described by Mr. Westwood in our ‘ Transactions,’
and one is named after him Callirhipis Championii. Major Cham-
pion’s scientific papers are as follow :—

Notes on Various Insects. By Ionicus. Ent. Mag. iii. 176, Id. 376, and Id. 460.

A foreign entomologist, Count Mannerheim, well known as an acute
and diligent Coleopterist, and the author of a great number of Me-
moirs, most of them descriptive, published in the ‘ Bulletin de la
Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’ died at Stockholm, on
the 9th of October, 1854.

The interest as well as the attendance of our meetings has been
well maintained, and many of the exhibitions and notices have led to
animated discussions. Three subjects appear to be peculiarly worthy
of remark: Ist, the production of silk by other insects than the well-
known and invaluable Bombyx Mori; 2nd, the materials of which -
wasps construct their nests; and 3rdly, the communication of motion
to seeds by the movements of an inclosed insect. With your per-
mission I will say a few words on each of these.

One of the silk insects, and that which has obtained the most at-
tention, is the Bombyx Cynthia, a native of Assam, the larve of which
feed on the castor-oil plant (Ricinus Palma-Christt) : it was first intro-
duced to our notice by Mr. Spence, who read some extracts from the
‘ Journal of the Society of Arts,’ from which it appeared that this insect
was reared most extensively over a large part of Hindustan, more par-
ticularly in the districts of Dinagpur and Rangpur,—that the silk was of
incredible durability, and the insect so prolific that twelve broods
were reared in one year. Dr. Helfer, who transmitted the informa-
tion, adds, that he estimates that no less than 150 of the Indian Bom-
byces form cocoons more or less adapted for manufactures. At the
June meeting Mr. Westwood exhibited some of the cocoons of this
insect, forwarded from Malta by Dr. Templeton, together with an in-
quiry whether any method was known by which the silk could be
unwound; and finally, at the October meeting, our Secretary read
extracts from the ‘ Journal of the Society of Arts, showing that the
imsect had been introduced with complete success into Malta and

4612 Entomological Society.

Italy ; and Mr. Westwood added that Professor Solly had made seve-
ral experiments on the cocoons brought to England, and he believed
a method of unwinding the silk from the cocoons had been discovered.
At Vienna a number of experiments have been made with a view to
introduce the silk of Saturnia pavonia-media as an article of com-
merce: the few particulars yet known were introduced to your notice
by myself at a late meeting of the Society. From the information I
have received on this subject it seems highly probable that. these ex-
periments will lead to the most important results, since the insect not
only produces the raw material, but completes the fabric without
the intervention of machinery. Nevertheless on these important topics
a few commercial questions necessarily obtrude themselves: for in-
stance, is there any difficulty in obtaining an ample supply of silk
from the well-known silkworm ? will the new species, or either of them,
bear a greater degree of cold than the silkworm of China? can the silk
be produced cheaper? is it more durable—of finer quality or colour?
The man of science will be interested in all such discoveries as those
to which I have alluded, but before we can engage the merchant in
the cause we must point out to him its pecuniary advantages.

The materials used by wasps for the paper-like substance of which
their nests are composed was brought under consideration, by the late
Mr. Ingpen, at the July and August meetings: having detected fungoid
matter in the nest of an exotic wasp, he thought it probable that
those of our native species were not altogether composed of wood, as
is generally believed ; and, in corroboration of this idea, that lamented
entomologist exhibited a piece of decayed wood from one of the cedars
in the Botanic Garden at Chelsea, in which was a layer of fungus, and
wasps were observed to frequent this, apparently for the purpose of
obtaining building materials: in support of such a supposition I took
occasion to observe to you that a mass of anomalous matter, cut from
a wooden rail, had been found, on a microscopic examination, to be
entirely fungoid. In connexion with this subject were two other
statements of much interest: the first from the late lamented Mr.
Wing, that he had seen wasps collecting the tomentum of a mullein;
the other from Mr. Watkeys, that he had seen wasps at work on the
stems of dead and dried nettles. TI observed that all other speakers
_ on the subject strove to establish the fact that wasps had been seen in
the act of detriting the surface of palings, &c., a fact that I previously
conceived to be so notorious as not to need this reiteration. Revert-
ing, then, to the question raised by Mr. Ingpen, ‘‘ What is the material
actually used by wasps?” I am able with confidence to announce the

Entomological Society. 4613

following results :—The nest of Vespa Norvegica is not uniform in its
composition: in one part it consists of very long, flat, cotton-like
fibres, very much resembling, if not actually identical with, the long
silky hairs attached to the seed of the cotton-grass (Hriophorum), in-
termixed with a very few fibres of woody tissue, and in a number of
examinations a single fibre only was detected of coniferous wood: in
another part of the same nest the cottony fibres of the supposed Eri-
ophorum were intermixed with particles of the cuticle and large
cellular tissue of what appears to be a species of Juncus. The nest
of Vespa germanica is almost entirely composed of loose bundles of
flexible cotton-like fibre, the material and structure being very similar
to that in the nest of Norvegica, but other fibres are intermixed, pre-
cisely similar to those which compose the epidermis in the thistle
tribe. The disposition of the fibres is similar in the material used by
both these species: they look as if felted together. The exterior of
the nest of Vespa vulgaris is composed of the vascular tissue of
coniferous and other woods: spiral cribriform and entire vessels occur
in abundance, with fragments of divergent layers frequently adhering
to them; the entire substance is composed of these materials, with a
considerable admixture of transparent cementing matter having just
the appearance of irregular films of isinglass: the interior of the nest
is composed of the same materials more highly comminuted, and with
a larger admixture of the cementing matter. When I tell you that
the nests and names were obligingly supplied by Mr. Smith, and that
the microscopic investigation was conducted by Mr. Bowerbank, un-
rivalled in his knowledge of intimate structure, you will see that the
facts elicited must be received as final: the conclusions drawn from
them may be various; my own conviction is that each species, or per-
haps even each colony, may select the most accessible substance
Suited to its purpose: thus the wasp of the barren moor may find
suitable material at hand in the gracefully flowing tresses of the cotton-
grass, while our London wasp may obtain from every post and rail all
that is required: again, the exotic species instanced by Mr. Ingpen
may have built its dwelling in a region of Fungi, and have found in
the dried fibres of these generally fugitive vegetables a fitting material
for its purpose: again, the nest of the tree wasps, exposed to wind
and rain, may need a different material from that used by the ground
wasp, whose nest is always sheltered from the storm. Simple, and I
trust satisfactory, as this explanation may appear, it is one which must
fill our minds with the most profound admiration; for it exhibits a
being which we heretofore supposed to be acting under the influence
XIII. M

A614 Entomological Scciety.

of a blind but unerring instinct, like a machine or automaton worked
by steam or by clock-work; it exhibits that being in a new and
unlooked-for character,—the character of a calmly reasoning architect,
who, in the first instance, selects his materials according to the site of
his building, and who, secondly, not finding at hand the material best
suited to his purpose, substitutes another totally and widely different
as far as all external appearances are concerned, still perfectly adapted
to his requirings. It is held to be a triumph of intellect when a man
thus substitutes one article for another and incurs no loss by the
change, but here we have a much-despised insect constantly doing
this, always reasoning on, and shaping its course by adventitious cir-
cumstances. Is it not a fresh proof of the perfect wisdom of that
Power which has created and which upholds the Universe !

The third subject, which has attracted attention at some of our meet-
ings, I am compelled to strip of its miraculous character: I allude to
the so-called “jumping” of seeds. The seeds to which our friend
Mr. Westwood alluded, in the interesting communication made at the
meeting of October 2nd, were the cocci or compartments of the well-
known tricoccous fruit of a Euphorbiaceous plant, the botanical name
of which, if indeed such name exist, is not ascertained; but the gene-
ral character of such vegetable productions is familiar to many of
you: they may be said to possess three surfaces; one highly convex,
almost hemispherical ; the two others flatter, but still slightly convex :
in the species under consideration these cocci were about a third of
an inch in length, and each of them contained an obese maggot, be-
lieved by Mr. Westwood and Mr. Stainton to be Lepidopterous, a
conclusion which I am quite willing to believe correct, since I have
long since observed the Coleopterous larve confine their ravages to
farinaceous seeds, while Lepidopterous larve are not unfrequently
found devouring the interior of oleaginous seeds, of which fact I might —
cite many apposite examples: this larva is contained within the —
coccus. Many of the cocci moved from the first; others were quiescent !
at first, and could only be induced to move by the application of
warmth; many did not move at all: the motion was slight and of a —
rocking character, such as a man in a cask, a child in a cradle, or |
people in a boat, would produce; and which, repeated, ‘sometimes —
amounted to a slow progressive movement, so that in some instances —

the cocci were eventually worked off the table by the movements of |
the contained larve : the motion was of course more observable when —
the coccus rested on its more convex than on its less convex surface;
but it did not even then entirely cease. Dr. Hooker, who has most |

Entomological Society. 4615

ebligingly supplied me with this information, adds, “ Many people
saw this motion day after day ; we had them exhibited at parties, and
IT think if you reflect you will agree with me that it is nothing more
than a repetition of the old trick of the mouse in the egg, and”—here,
gentlemen, I wish you to notice particularly Dr. Hooker’s concluding
words—“ besides this rocking I never saw any other motion whatever.”
The accounts previously published in Réaumur and Kirby and Spence,
ef cocoons or pupe possessing locomotive powers, aud to which allu-
sion was made at two successive meetings, do not appear to meet the
case: they belong to quite another class of phenomena, and must still
rest on their respective authorities, which I do not for a moment
question, but which are totally independent of and totally unsupported
~ by these more recent observations.

The year has been remarkable not only for the number but for the
extent and the intrinsic value of its entomological publications.
Of our own ‘Transactions, * of which four unusually valuable parts
have been published, I refrain from saying anything, since every
member must be thoroughly acquainted with them: of the other serials
I say but a few words.

In the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History ’+ for August is
a description by Mr. Wollaston of an entirely new curculionideous
insect, which that gentleman has called Pentarthrum Huttoni: it is
one of the Cossonides of Schénherr, yet is so singularly constructed
as respects the funiculus of the antenna, which is five-jointed, that it
may be regarded as connecting the Cossonides with the Rhyncopho-
rides, in which a similar number of joints occasionally obtains: four
specimens of this curious insect were extracted from the, hard and un-
decayed wood of a cherry tree at Alphington, near Exeter, in
November, 1853.

Mr. Stainton has commenced, in the ‘ Zoologist,’{ an essay on Ento-

* ‘Transactions of the Entomological Society of London.’ New Series. Vol. ii,
Part 7. 1854. Price 3s. 6d.

Id. 1854. Vol. ii. Part 8. Price 4s.

Id. 1854. Vol. iii. Part 1. Price 3s. 6d.

Id. 1854, Vol. iii. Part 2. Price 3s. 6d.

t ‘The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. London: Taylor & Francis.
1854. Nos. 73—84. 2s. 6d. each.

} ‘The Zoologist: a Popular Monthly Magazine of Natural History, and Journal
for recording Facts and Anccdotes relating to Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes,
Anunelides, Insects, Worms, Zoophytes, their Habits, Food, Retreats, Occasional
Appearance, Migrations, Nests and Young. London: Van Voorst. 1854. Nos.
135—146. Price Is. each.

46.16 Entomological Society.

mological Botany, more especially with reference to the plants fre-
quented by the Tineina. This work promises to be very useful: it is
on the plan of Martyn’s ‘ Aurelian’s Vade-Mecum,’* published at
Exeter in 1785, and a work which the late Mr. Stephens highly
prized: it is an almost forgotten but invaluable witness to “ the light
of other days.” Mr. Harding, the President of the Society of British
Entomologists, has taken up the same subject, and has made various
observations on the pupa-cases and food-plants of Micro-Lepidoptera :
these will be found in various numbers of the ‘ Zoologist.’

In the January number of the ‘ Zoologist’ I had the pleasure of
recording the capture of Zygena Minos in Ireland, by Mr. Milner, of
Nunappleton, and in the September number are some valuable remarks
on this interesting insect by Mr. A. G. More, who informs us that it
occurs all around Castle Taylor, Ardrahan, and that he has traced it
within the limits of the county Galway as far as Garryland: it is more
particularly abundant towards the sea: it appears about the first week
in June, and is in perfection until the middle of the month; it then
swarms on many parts of the rock-strewn pasture so characteristic of
the mountain limestone district of the West of Ireland.

In the December number of the ‘ Zoologist’ is a minute description, by
that indefatigable collector Mr. Bold, of a brachelytrous insect, which
he has called Lathrobium carinatum: the very careful description has
enabled our excellent curator, with little hesitation, to identify the
species with the Lathrobium dentatum of Kellner, described at page
414 of the ‘Entomologische Zeitung’ for 1844; but even under the
altered name the insect is new to this country, and an interesting ad-
dition to our insect Fauna: two specimens only have come under
Mr. Bold’s notice; one, a male, taken by himself under gravel by the
river Irthing, in Cumberland ; the other, a female, ina similar locality,
on the Devil’s Water, Northumberland, by Mr. Wailes.

In the same number of the ‘ Zoologist’ is anotice of the occurrence
of Dytiscus lapponicus in the Isle of Mull, together with a copy of
Gyllenhall’s description. The Rev. Hamlet Clark, who made this
interesting discovery, says that he took four specimens on four different
occasions, in a very deep lake in the Isle of Mull, in September,
1854. Mr. H. Clark expresses his belief that the Dytiscus septen-
trionis, distinguished by the smooth elytra of the female, will be

* ¢' The Aurelian’s Vade-Mecum ; containing an English Alphabetical and Linnean —

Systematical Catalogue of Plants affording nourishment to Butterflies, &e.’ By M.
Martyn. Exeter: 1785. 8vo. .

|
~~_F- ~~

a i a i i

Entomological Society. 4617

eventually referred to lapponicus: it seems to be now pretty clearly
established that the smoothness or sulcation of the elytra in Dytisci
is neither a certain charaeter of species nor absolutely diagnostic
of sex. |

_ A great number of other notices occur in the ‘ Zoologist,’ recording
the capture of novelties or rarities, but I will not repeat them here,
because that Journal is always on your table as soon as published ;
and, moreover, I believe I may congratulate myself on having each
individual member as a subscriber.

In the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society’ * are two beautifully
illustrated papers by that distinguished entomologist whom, since lL
began to address you, you have elected as your future President.
The first of these is intituled “On the Genus Myrmica and other
indigenous Ants;” the second, “ Remarks relative to the Affinities
and Analogies of Natural Objects, more particularly of Hypocephalus,
a Genus of Coleoptera.” In the paper on British Auts Mr. Curtis
enumerates five genera and sixteen species, two of which, Myrmica
perelegans and M. denticornis, are presumed to be new to science.
The paper on Hypocephalus has a double object; the first, used_as a
stepping-stone to the second, is to show that Hypocephalus belongs
to the great Coleopterous section of Lamellicorns; the second, in the
author’s own words, is “ to assist in fixing our systems on some firm
basis, generally understood and universally to be adopted, so that we
may no longer be tossed to and fro as we are at present.” I am sure
that every entomologist will give his meed of praise to so high an ob-
ject as these words disclose, but I do not feel quite so confident that
what I have called the stepping-stone to this philosophical eminence
will be so generally availed of: I do not feel quite sure that entomo-
logists will, with the same unanimity, agree to place Hypocephalus
among the Lamellicorns, and I should scarcely be enacting my pre-
sent part with perfect faithfulness were I not to say that I entertain a
different view; but it must be distinctly understood that I dissent
simply in my individual capacity as an entomologist, entirely dis-
claiming any importance for my dissent on account of the office which
I have just relinquished; and I feel confident that Mr. Curtis will at
once pardon what is simply an avowal of difference of opinion.

Mr. Stainton has published the first number of a new serial called the

* «Transactions of the Linnean Society.’ Vol. xxi. Part 3. 4to. Plates. London:
Longman. 1854. Price 12s.

4618 Entomological Society.

‘ Entomologist’s Annual:’ * it contains much useful information, col-
lecting in a concise manner the published records of novelties added
to our lists of Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera: these three
orders are worked out respectively by Mr. Stainton, Mr. Smith and.
Mr. Janson. Mr. Stainton has likewise issued a second edition of the
‘Entomologist’s Companion,’ t and has completed the Museum Cata-
logue of the British Lepidoptera ft interrupted by the death of the
lamented James Francis Stephens.

Mr. Walker, with a laborious assiduity which I have never known
surpassed, has produced four Parts of the Museum Catalogue.§ Some
idea of these important works may be gained by the following
summary. ‘The first list is intended to include short descriptions of
all the species, genera and families of Lepidoptera: the first part con-
tains descriptions of 508 species, of which 114 are Cydimonii and
394 Zygenides; in the Cydimonii there are 21 new species, and in
the Zygenides 175: the second part contains descriptions of 575 spe-
cies of Lithosiide, of which 276 are new: the total number of species
is 1083, of which 472 are new. The second list includes descriptions
of the species of Diptera not characterized in the first series of the
_same work or in the ‘Insecta Saundersiana:’ the first part contains
379 species of Stratiomyde, of which 26 are new; 36 of Xylophagide,
of which 1 is new; and 830 of Tabanidz, of which 31 are new: the
second part contains 74 species of Acroceridz, and 470 of Asilide, of
which 8 are new: the total number of species is 1789, of which 66
are new.

Mr. Andrew Murray, of Conland, has published an admirable

* ¢The Entomologist’s Annual for 1855, comprising Notices of the New British
Insects detected in 1854.’ Lepidoptera, by the Editor, H. T. Staixton: Hymenoptera,
by Frederick Smith: Coleoptera, by E.W. Janson. Col. Plates. London: Van
Voorst. 1855. Price 2s. 6d.

+ ‘The Entomologist’'s Companion.’ Second Edition. By H. T. Stainton.
London: Van Voorst. 1854. Price 3s.

t ‘List of the Specimens of British Animals in the Collection of the British
Museum.’ Part 16. Lepidoptera completed. London: 1854. Price 3s.

§ ‘ List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British
Museum.” Part 1. Lepidoptera: Heterocera. London: 1854. Price 4s.
Id. Part 2. Lepidoptera: Heterocera—continued. 1854. Price 3s. 6d.
‘List of the Specimens of Dipterous Insects in the Collection of the British
Museum.’ Part 5, Supplement 1. London: 1855. Price 4s, 6d.
Id. Part 5, Supplement 2. 1855. Price 3s.

Entomological Society. 4619

‘ Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Scotland :’* this little work not only
equals but far surpasses any Catalogue of Coleoptera ever published
in England: it exhibits an acquaintance with the best continental
authorities and great power in adjudicating the true value to supposed
species. It is a source of the most unmixed pleasure to me to see
Scotland, the finest field for the naturalist in the Queen’s dominions,
thus understood, appreciated and illustrated by one of her own sons.

Our indefatigable friend Mr. Westwood has just published a re-
issue of his work on the Butterflies of Britain,t and also a Supplement
to Wood’s ‘ Index Entomologicus, { which “ contains five plates now
first engraved, exhibiting 180 coloured figures of British moths and
butterflies not included in the former edition of the ‘Index Entomo-
logicus, with synonyms and localities, also a systematic list of the
whole of the species, in order to show their distribution into families
and the position of the supplemental species, and of those whose
generic classification has been modified.”

Messrs. Baikie, Barron and Adams have published a work intituled
‘A Manual of Natural History for the Use of Travellers.’§ This
volume contains 750 pages, 150 of which are occupied by Ento-
mology.

I now arrive at the Rev. J. F. Dawson’s Monograph of the Carnivo-
rous Ground-beetles, || a work that bears internal evidence of invincible
assiduity and a profound knowledge of the subject. This volume is
less remarkable for the amount of new matter it contains than for the
mass of old and worthless matter which it sweeps away. Nothing was
ever more extraordinary than the wholesale destruction of names
which Mr. Dawson has achieved. Those entomologists who had

* ‘Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Scotland.” By Andrew Murray, of Conland,
W.S. Blackwood: Edinburgh and London. 1853.

+ ‘The Butterflies of Great Britain, with their Transformations delineated and
described.” By J. O. Westwood, Esq., F.L.S., &e. Col. Plates. London: Orr.
1855. Price lds.

{ ‘A New Supplement to Wood’s Index Entomologicus, or a complete Illustrated
Catalogue of the Lepidopterous Insects of Great Britain.’ By J. O. Westwood, Esq.,
F.L.S., late President of the Entomological Society, &c. Col. Plates. London:
Willis. 1854. Price 12s. 6d.

§ ‘A Manual of Natural History for the Use of Travellers, being a Description of
the Families of the Animal and Vegetable Kingdom.’ By Arthur Adams, William
Balfour Baikie and Charles Barron. London: Van Voorst. 1854. Price 12s.

||‘ Geodephaga Britannica. A Monograph of the Carnivorous Ground-beetles
indigenous to the British Isles.’- By John Frederic Dawson, LL.B: Col. Plates.
London: Van Voorst. 1854. Price 12s.

4620 Entomological Society.

reserved long gaps in their cabinets, under the fond idea that these were
to be eventually filled, now find that half the names for which this:
extensive accommodation was prepared actually signify nothing, while
a large portion of the remaining moiety is comprised of names. erro-
neously applied. I do not lay this enormous mass of error at the
doors of any one or two or three individuals who may have been more
actively engaged than the rest in literary labours in Entomology: we
have all more or less contributed to this confusion by fostering a mor-
bid desire for novelty, and a consequent tendency to exalt unreason-
ably the importance of accidental and inconstant differences. The
numerical diminution of names in Mr. Dawson’s work extends to the
genera as well as to species, and no less than 31 genera, which had
become familiar as household words, have merged in others and dis-
appear: these are — Lamprias merged in Lebia; Helobia and Pelo-
phila in Nebria: Blethisa in Elaphrus; Trimorphus in Badister;
Platynus and Agonum in Anchomenus; Peecilus, ‘Abax, Platysma,
Adelosia, Steropus, Omaseus, Argutor and Platyderus in Pterostichus ;
Celia, Acrodon, Percosia, Bradytus and Curtonotus in Amara; Opho-
nus in Harpalus; Epaphius in Trechus; Cillenum, Tachys, Ocys,
Philocthus, Peryphus, Notaphus, Leja, Lopha and Tachypus in Bem-
bidium. These are sweeping alterations, but I think there is no doubt
they will be regarded as wholesome ones, for this department of our
science had really become overloaded with names that signify
nothing. The actual additions to our British Geodephaga make slight
compensation for the large deductions: these are twenty-one in num-
ber, and are highly interesting in character :—1. Dyschirius obscurus
of Gyllenhall, found by Mr. Haliday on the sandy shores of Lough
Neagh. 2. Dyschirius impunctipennis of Dawson, found by the author
by the side of astream on the Smallmouth sands, near Weymouth.
8. Dyschirius jejunus of Dawson, found by Mr. Bold, of Newcastle,
on a sandy bank of the river Irthing, in Cumberland, a little above
Lanercost Abbey. 4. Anchomenus atratus of Duftschmidt, first cap-
tured in Hampshire, afterwards in Cornwall and other western coun-
ties of England, and very abundantly near Bristol. 5. Amara curta

of Dejean, not uncommon on the sand-hills at Deal, in company with _

lucida and tibialis, but readily distinguishable from either by its
broader form. 6. Amara ingenua of Duftschmidt, a well-known Eu-
ropean species, but unique as British, the only known example having
been captured in Scotland. 7. Harpalus cordatus of Duftschmidt,
also well known on the Continent and also unique as British; the
only example was captured by the author near Deal, at the roots, of

Entomological Society. 4621

tall wing-grass which grows on the sand-hills. 8. Harpalus rupicola
of Sturm, found in chalky districts, Dorking, Basingstoke and the
Isle of Wight. 9. Harpalus sulphuripes of Germar; a single exam-
ple taken near Bristol. 10. Harpalus Wollastoni, of which four or
five specimens were captured by Mr. Wollaston, in May, 1852, at
Slapton Ley, Devonshire. 11. Harpalus melancholicus of Dejean,
captured by Mr. Wollaston near Swansea. 12. Stenolophus elegans
of Dejean, found by the Rev. Hamlet Clark between Sheerness and
Queensborough, in the Isle of Sheppey. 13. Stenolophus derelictus
of Dawson, found near London by Mr. F. Smith. 14. Stenolophus
exiguus of Dejean, discovered in England by Mr. Samuel Stevens,
who captured a few specimens on Bury Hill, near Arundel: a single
specimen was taken by Mr. Wollaston in the Isle of Wight, and Mr.
Dawson himself subsequently took a series of the insect on the sands
at Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate, in February, 1849. 15. Bradycellus
cognatus of Gyllenhall, a mountain species, which appears to occur
only on the high moors of Wales, Yorkshire and Scotland. 16. Bem-
bidium fluviatile of Dejean, taken by Mr. Hadfield, of Newark, on
the banks of the Trent at Kelham. 17. Bembidium stomoides of
Dejean, captured by Mr. Bold, of Newcastle, on a sandy bank by the
Irthing. 18. Bembidium obliquum of Sturm, found also by Mr. Bold,
at Gosforth, in Cumberland. 19. Bembidium Schuppelii of Dejean,
found by Messrs. Bold, Murray and Wailes, on the banks of the
Irthing. 20. Bembidium Doris of Panzer, an insect of rare occurrence
in the salt-marshes of England. And lastly—21. Bembidium callosum
of Kuster, found by Mr. Steuart on Woking Common. I believe the
whole of these twenty-one insects to be perfectly distinct as species,
certainly all of them are new as British. It would have been a labour
of love with me to have abridged the minutely accurate characters
which Mr. Dawson has drawn up for each of them, but I think that
every British Coleopterist is bound to possess himself of this valuable
volume. ;

In next calling your attention to Mr. Stainton’s work on the
British Tineadz,* it seems necessary to glance at the previous closet-
history of these minims of their tribe: this closet-history commences
in 1829 with the publication of the fourth Part of Haworth’s ‘ Lepi-
doptera Britannica, a monograph the most complete, the most learned,
the most useful, ever published on the Entomology of Britain, and

% * Insecta Britannica.’ Lepidoptera: Tineina. By H. T. Stainton. 8vo. Plates.
London: Lovell Reeve. 1854. Price 25s.

XIII. N

4622 Entomological Society.

one which will long remain an invaluable treasure to the Lepidop-
terist. The sterling good qualities of Haworth are, first, that he:
described from Nature, and, secondly, that he described well: he.
says, “* My specific and detailed descriptions of every species and va-
riety are entirely new-wrought, and from British specimens, except in
a few instances, where I either had no British specimen, or where
they were not very good, in which cases only I have extracted the
description of Linneus, Fabricius or Villars, and in no instance with-
out a proper acknowledgment.” That Haworth, working almost alone,
should have fallen into some errors is not only excusable, but must be
regarded as a necessary consequence of this comparative isolation:
thus it need not be concealed that in several instances he multiplied
species unnecessarily, while in others he reduced Nature’s species to
the rank of varieties ; but these last he distinguished by the significant
memorandum “ Forté propria species.” Of the Tineadez, the family
to which my observations are now exclusively directed, Haworth
described 286, and from that period the study of the Micro-Lepidoptera.
appears to have received an impetus which culminated in the appear-
ance of Mr. Stainton’s volume: the great labourers in this fruitful
vineyard to whose names I would particularly call your attention are
Mr. Stone, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Chant, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Edwin Shep-
herd, Mr. Bedell, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Samuel Stevens, Mr. Doubleday
and Mr. Weir; and more recently Mr. Wing, Mr. Allis, Mr. Wilkin-
son, Mr. Boyd, and many others, have laboured assiduously in the
field: the collections of Stone, Bentley and Shepherd have stood out
conspicuously and prominently from the rest: that of Stone was, for
its day, incomparably the finest, but merged in that of Bentley, and —
eventually in that of Shepherd, which I presume now stands as a whole |
entirely without a rival, although perhaps equalled or surpassed in all
groups except the Tineade by that of my worthy friend Doubleday :
still, although the Jabourers have been so many and so successful, two —
of them appear to me to call for individual notice, and these are the
late James Francis Stephens and William Bentley, both of them dis-
tinguished for the extreme liberality, candour and pains-taking with
which they opened their collections, compared specimens, explained
differences, and unlocked and made patent without reserve the arcana —
of the science; and to the memory of Mr. Stephens a still greater —
debt of gratitude is due, for the free use he allowed all students to
make of his magnificent library of entomological works. Mr. Stain- —
ton is now in the possession of this library, and, with such an accession _
to his own previously extensive collection of authors on Lepidoptera, —

-

Entomological Society. 4623

possessed of an energy which no obstacle can resist, an assiduity which
no amount of labour can weary, and turning his attention almost ex-
clusively to these minims, it is not extraordinary that he should have
produced, as he has done, a second most useful monograph on a sub-
ject already ably treated. It contains really elaborate descriptions
of 591 species, of which 272 are not given as species by any other
British author. 1 say advisedly “as species,” because I am well
aware that “as varieties” some few of them are noticed by the illus-
trious Haworth, in whose footsteps Mr. Stainton has closely followed,
by carefully describing every species, as he himself assures us, from
actual specimens. It would far exceed the limits, and indeed the ob-
ject, of an evanescent summary like this, were I to give even the
names, authorities and localities of the new species, as I have done in
the instance of Mr. Dawson’s Geodephaga: the most superficial
mention of 272 species would occupy an hour at least, and I will not
venture such a tax on your patience. All that I can do is cordially to
recommend Mr. Stainton’s volume, and to hope that al! may profit by
it equally with myself. The copious and almost crowded illustrations
by the pencil of our deeply-lamented assistant-secretary are worthy of
attentive study.

But the most important and valuable work I have to notice, and
the one which as a work of science will confer most honour on this
country, is the ‘ Insecta Maderensia’ of Mr. Wollaston.* This work
is distinguished throughout by persevering industry, profound know-
ledge and philosophical spirit. Nothing can exceed the industry with
which the author has pursued his object, a fact that will be sufficiently
evident when I state that he has described 213 genera and 482 species
_ of Madeiran Coleoptera, out of which 41 of the genera and 270 of
the species are now characterised for the first time, and are therefore
absolutely new to science. With regard to the solid entomological
knowledge possessed, and in every page made manifest without display,
_ there can be but one opinion, for not a single species or genus is men-
tioned unaccompanied by the evidence of a perfect knowledge of its
antecedent history: this, I am aware, is very high praise, but it is
praise which no one can say is unmerited. The philosophical spivit
is manifested equally in the masterly characters given of every genus
and species, and in the explanatory remarks which invariably follow

* “Insecta Maderensia; being an Account of the Insects of the Islands of the
Madeiran Group.’ By T. Vernon Wollaston, M.A., F.L.S. 4to, Col. Plates.
London: Van Voorst. 1854. Price £2 2s.

4624 Entomological Scciety.

each description; and I must not omit to add that these descriptions
and remarks are invaluable to the British Coleopterist, because a large
proportion of the genera described and cited for comparison are fami-
liar to us as indigenous to Britain. Into such descriptions and such
remarks it is impossible for me to enter here, but [ caunot forego the
opportunity of citing some general observations which appear to me
of more than ordinary value. The statistical conclusions ‘forced on
Mr. Wollaston’s attention by his analysis of the Madeiran Coleoptera
are as interesting as unaccountable. In this mild and sunny isle there
is not a single representative of those lovers of warmth and sun, the
Cicindelide and Buprestide; in the deep mossy ravines there is no
representative of the moss-loving Pselaphidz ; in this land of flowers
the flower-feeding lamellicorns and the Elateride have each but a
single and abnormal representative: descending to genera, the cosmo-
politan Carabus, Nebria,.Silpha, Necrophorus, Cetonia, Telephorus,
Tentyria, Pimelia, Acis, Asida and Otiorynchus are entirely unrepre-
sented. The numerical proportion of the thirteen great groups of
Coleoptera present in Madeira is as follows :—

Rhyncophora . é : «SOS
Necrophaga : 2 : : 80
Brachelytra : : - : 74
Geodephaga’. j : - 63
Serricornes . , ; : : 35
Atrachelia . ; : ; ; 29
Cordylocerata. - : : 22
Phytophyga 4 : : : 21
Pseudotrimera_. : 5 ; 17
Philhydrida : ” ; : 13
Trachelia . , : E : 11
Hydradephaga . : : , 7
Longicorns : : : ‘ 6

482

-

The most remarkable feature in this list is not the preponderance of
Curculionide, Necrophaga, Staphylinide and Carabidae, all of which ~
one would suppose abundant, but the extremely small number of

water-beetles and longicorns: 4 Colymbetes, 2 Hydropori, and the
familiar Gyrinus natator, are all the Hydradephaga. Mr. Wollaston
thinks that this paucity is not difficult to understand, “ the rapid nature
of the rivers, which are liable to sudden inundations from the moun-
tains, and to deposit their contents in positions distant from their
banks, or to pour in ceaseless torrents over the perpendicular faces of |

Entomological Society. 4625

the rocks,” being peculiarly unfavorable to the preservation of insect
life: this is a reasonable solution, but how shall we account for the
absence of Cerambycide from this island of woods? and how shall
we account for the great scarcity of all flower-loving Coleoptera, ex-
cept on the supposition that their office of pollen-bearers is performed
by the hosts of Hymenoptera and Diptera. Mr. Wollaston’s remarks
on the effects of isolation on species are worthy of deep study and
attention ; they will be found appended to the descriptions of Scarites
abbreviatus, Calathus complanatus, Harpalus vividus, and the Ptini:
after alluding to the two sections of the latter, the author proceeds to
say that “the representatives of both are subject to very great variation |
in size and colour, and, since even the sexes themselves often display
considerable incongruity, inter se, it is not surprising that the bounda-
ries between some of the species which are nearly allied should be
difficult to trace out. Such being the fact, it is impossible to overrate
the importance of studying them in sztw, so as to be enabled not only
to connect the numerous aberrations, but even at times, perhaps, in a
certain measure, to account for them; since it is by this process of
inquiry that we are more likely to arrive at truth, than by the collation
of treble the amount of individuals, at a distance, when anything like
local phenomena in connexion with them must be entirely overlooked.
So completely, indeed, are some of the Madeiran Ptini affected by
isolation, and by an exposure to a perpetually stormy atmosphere, that
they do not attain half the bulk on many of the adjacent rocks that
they do in the more sheltered districts of the central mass; and so
marvellously is this verified in a particular instance, that I have but
little doubt that five or six species, so called, might have been re-
corded, had only a few stray specimens been brought home for identi-
fication, without any regard having been paid to the respective
circumstances under which they were found. Judging from many
hundred examples which I have submitted to a close comparison, the
most constant of their characteristics would appear to be outline and
sculpture, whilst size and colour are apparently the least to be de-
pended on, and hence trifling differences may be often of specific
indication in the former case, where in the latter much larger ones are
worthless.” Again, the observations on Tarphius, one of the Colydi-
idz, a family of Necrophaga, are replete with interest: prior to the
publication of Mr. Wollaston’s work a single species was known, and
this of the greatest rarity ; it was taken in Sicily by the late lamented
Coleopterist Mr. Melly. Mr. Wollaston has added no less than fifteen
Madeiran species, all of which appear to be abundantly distinct. “ Of

4626 Entomological Society.

the influence and economy 7” situ of such an assemblage it is not easy
to speculate ; suffice it therefore to remark that the enormous numbers
in which they exist, when compared with the limits within which they
are confined, would seem to point to some especial end which they
may be presumed to fulfil amongst the insect population of those re-
mote upland districts. Meanwhile it is far from improbable that, like
many of the Nitidulide and the xylophagous groups, they may assist
materially in the decomposition of the superfluous masses of loose
rolling timber with which the damp ravines and dense mountain slopes
of Madeira everywhere abound. To such localities it is that they are
exclusively assigned, occurring in the greatest profusion in those spots
which are the least accessible, and where consequently the primeval
timber is, except by the hand of man, most untouched. In their
habits the Tarphii are strictly nocturnal, adhering to the under sides
of moist decaying logs of wood, felled timber, and even stones during
the day, and being only active apparently by night. From 2000 to
5000 feet above the sea may be said to include their range; neverthe-
less they are more peculiarly abundant from 3000 to 4000 feet, and it
is perhaps towards the upper edge of these bounds that they find their
maximum. * * Considering the inaccessible nature of their favorite
localities it is far from improbable that many species will remain for
ever undiscovered, a possibility which is not lessened by the fact either
of the remarkable manner in which they are able to counterfeit death,
and so elude observation, or of the near resemblance of the dull rusty
colouring of their uneven and inanimate-looking surfaces to the stones,
lichen and portions of rolling wood to which in the day time they re-
main firmly fixed.” We are all aware of the creaking sound emitted
by Aromia moschata and many other longicorns; we all know that this
noise is accompanied by a movement of the great.central articulation
of the body, that of the prothorax with the mesothorax, and we all at-
tribute the creaking to the friction of some part of the prothorax on
some part of the mesothorax. Mr. Wollaston is not content with this
theory, although self-evident, but has been at. great pains to discover
the exact truth, and has detected and described the mechanical appa-
ratus by which the sound is produced, and tested his conclusions by
producing similar sounds at pleasure and with Nature’s own instru-
ments: he finds in the genera Deucalion, Parmena and Dorcadion, a
narrow space in the shape of an isosceles triangle (the apex being
turned towards the scutellum), which occupies nearly the entire length
of the mesonotum, and which, from its brightness, appears at first sight
perfectly smooth, but when viewed under a microscope, is seen to be

Entomological Society. 4627

covered with very fine transverse parallel and acute ridges, closely set

together after the manner of a file; and it is by depressing and raising
the prothorax, an act w hich alternately exposes and recovers the upper
region of the extremely cylindrical mesothorax, that its under side is
brought to play against this inner dorsal file, and by this process the
strictulation is effected. “In order to convince myself,” says Mr.
Wollaston, “ of the reality of this, I have relaxed many specimens of
the genera in question, and have caused the sound artificially with the
greatest ease.” Although these Madeiran commentaries and quota-
tions have already exceeded a reasonable length, | trust I shall be
pardoned for making still another extract, in which the effects on in-
sect life of a calm at sea are admirably set forth: the author is on the
Northern Deserta or Ileo Chao, and is speaking of the Ptinus albo-
pictus. ‘So perpetually,” says he, “is that remote table rock played
over by the breezes of the ocean, that even a temporary respite is al-
most an anomaly within its desolate area; and if such a crisis should
chance at times to arrive, it is curious to note how every species of
life, taking advantage of Nature’s repose, comes forth to enjoy the
calm. I shall not soon forget the pleasure I derived on the 5th of
June, 1850, from the sudden effects of a lull, after an exposure to the
blasts during several successive days, on this iron-bound isle, — how
all things seemed to participate in the change, and literally to rejoice.
Even the vegetaticn, as though released from its suffering, began to
look up; whilst insects, unthought of before, filled the atmosphere as
it were on the instant, as though experience had taught them that
such tranquillity was but of short duration, and that if it were to be
enjoyed at all not a moment was to be lost. It was on that particular
afternoon that I first appreciated the prodigious numbers of the lilli-
putian Ptinus under consideration, which, though apparently scarce
during the more boisterous period, now emerged by thousands on
every side. From whence they came it would have been difficult to
conjecture: * * they were in greater or less profusion everywhere,
until, as evening approached and the winds began to return, as quickly
as they came every one of them vanished.”

With this sketch of the entomological labours of my friends—con-
trasting, so unfavorably to myself, with my own inactivity—I conclude
this too lengthened Address: faint and imperfect as the sketch confess-
edly is, it still must amply suffice to show that Entomology with us
is not on the wane: your exertions were never greater; they were
never crowned with more triumphant success: this is a subject on
which I may heartily and truthfully congratulate you, and as heartily’

4628 Quadrupeds— Birds.

and as truthfully may I congratulate you on the state of the Society,
on the solidity of our present position, and on the brightness of
our future prospects: we have published largely, and met with a
most encouraging sale; the number of our members has increased;
our exchequer is full; our debts are paid. Heartily wishing that this
prosperity may continue, that every success may attend our united
and harmonious labours on behalf both of the Science and the
Society, I now retire from that important office with which you have
entrusted me, deeply feeling that no thanks of mine can make you an
adequate return for the kindness with which you have invariably re-
ceived me, and carrying with me into obscurity the most pleasurable
recollections of my brief tenure of authority.

Black Hare shot at Brome.—During a battue at Brome, near Eye, the seat of Sir
Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart., in the early part of January, a hare perfectly black
was shot in one of the plantations, and has been preserved by the honorable baronet.
Seven years ago a similar specimen was shot in the same place, but none have been
seen since. —C. R. Bree; Stricklands, Stowmarket, February 8, 1855.

On the three Species of Divers or Loons.—Of the first, the redthroated, it is almost
needless to repeat that it is a common species, so far as relates to the “‘ speckled loon,”
on most parts of our coast, though occurring, from its non-gregarious habits, in but
small numbers. It may here be well to notice that in one instance I fell in with what
appeared to be a small family party of the blackthroated diver. These five or six
birds frequented for some time a small bay near Bembridge, and seemed most studious
to keep up this family connection, until one day I succeeded in effectually dispersing
them by a lucky cartridge which left two sprawling on the surface (of which however,
by some strange inherent vitality, one contrived to escape), and after that I saw no
more of the association. One of them was afterwards shot in my presence, and, after
having passed through the ordeal of careful examination, was thrown into the water
to wash away the blood, when, to the great surprise of the shooter, he swam and dived
away most gallantly, not again to be so easily outwitted. The favourite food of the
divers appears to be the sea-smelt or atherine, if I may judge from the result of seve-
ral dissections. ‘The next common is the great northern diver, and I may perhaps be
- allowed to say that its rarity, at least in the immature or winter (?) plumage, is gene-

rally overrated. With us at all events (at Bembridge) the bird was a regular winter
visitant to the coast, and well known to the fishermen and “gunners.” I shall not
easily forget my delight when first the great northern diver fell before my gun, but I

Birds. 4629

have since learned_to think more of my luck in killing the bird than of its actual
scarcity. There seems, too, an impression current that the divers seldom make use of
their wings, but from my own experience, and I have made the genus to a certain ex-
tent a special object of study, they do fly quite as much as could be expected in birds
of such astonishing subaqueous facilities. They were in the habit of flying in and
out of Bembridge Harbour, probably for the sake of food; and I have constantly,
when out sailing, seen them on the wing over-head far out of gun-shot: nay, they have
many times trusted to the air, “ par préférence,” whilst I was endeavouring to circum-
vent them; and this was also the constant habit of the horned grebe when we bore
down upon him. It may seem unnecessary to allude to the loon’s marvellous activity
in diving, called as they are after this pre-eminent faculty, still I may safely say that
of many shots I have fired at them, and within twenty yards too, I scarcely ever knew
one to take effect, even with a percussion gun, unless the bird had the back of its head
turned to the flash; and often when rising close to the boat a sort of spring and a
momentary glimpse of its curving back was all I could catch of the hunted bird.
Frequently, too, has one of these stately creatures, emerging close at hand, appeared
to court a shot, till the result showed one might as well have aimed at a “ Will o’ the
wisp.” Their mysterious disappearance after a tedious chase is well known, and I
should feel inclined rather to side with those who ascribe it to the power they have of
using their beak alone for respiration while the body is all concealed, than to the more
flattering conclusion of a fatally wounded bird entangling itself in sullen despair
among the sea-weed at the bottom. The blackthroated diver is also probably less un-
common than is said; and the great difficulty of obtaining specimens, together with
the impossibility of distinguishing the two smaller species until brought to bag, may
serve to account for this. Though perhaps seldom procured, about an equal number
passed through my hands, in the Isle of Wight, as of the great northern. Two inte-
resting questions remain for the solution of some diligent observer: the first, respecting
the plumage, as to whether any numbers of adult birds do regularly visit our South
coast in winter, as is supposed from the comparatively few young that are reared an-
nually; and it is as well to remember, on this point, how very much heavier are those
few which are got in perfect plumage: further observations, too, are much needed on
any birds found in the intermediate state, or in whatever condition whilst approaching
the adult livery. The second point wanting confirmation is whether the redthroated
diver still breeds in the northern isles of Scotland. It is much to be feared that the
other truly indigenous species (blackthroated) is too much persecuted by the unscru-
pulous avidity of private egg-collectors (who too often spare neither nest nor parents),
so as in no small degree to justify the apprehension that this fine bird will soon be
numbered with the wild swan, the gray lag, the crane and the bustard, among glories
ornithological long since departed, to the regret of every real lover of birds. As to
the great northern diver, too, there seems considerable doubt whether it does at the
present day nest upon British soil ; and the several unaccountable instances of its oc-
currence in the early summer months, as when lately in full plumage it fell to the rifle
of a friend on Lough Corrib, Ireland, tend in no small degree to render the solution
still more difficult, but it is presumed, for that very reason, the more interesting.—
A. G. More; Trinity College, Cambridge, January, 1855.

Rare Birds captured near Stowmarket—During the severe weather from the 16th
of January to the 7th of February, of this year, some rare birds have been taken in

XIII. O

4630 Birds. .

this neighbourhood. I use the term “ rare” of course relatively. Our position with —
regard to the coast makes many birds common there great rarities here. Ipswich is
about twelve miles from Harwich, but the Orwell is tidal, and, in places, nearly a mile
in breadth, so that it may almost be termed an arm of the sea. From Ipswich we are
twelve miles, a tolerably sized canal connecting the two towns. It is this canal, I
have no doubt, which brings up the birds from the sea.

Blackthroated Diver (Colymbus arcticus). In the beginning of February, when
the snow covered the ground upwards of a foot, one of the gamekeepers of E. Bennett,
Esq., of Buxhall Lodge, was coming into Stowmarket, when he saw a curious-looking
bird struggling in the snow of a field by the road-side. He jumped over the fence,
and gave chase: the bird could not rise, and was soon captured; it, however, made a
most determined attack upon the aforesaid keeper's face, which so alarmed the man °
that he killed the kird. It was sent by Mr. Bennett to a bird-stuffer in this town, and
upon examination I pronounced it to be a young specimen of the blackthroated diver.
I subjoin a description for the sceptical. Beak as long as head, horn-colour, pointed ;
upper mandible longest and slightly curved at extremity; lower mandible reddish at
base ; both curved inwards. Plumage, upper surface :—head gray, mottled with darker
colour; nape and upper surface of neck grayish brown; interscapulars, wing-coverts,
back and tail-coverts grayish black, both sides of each feather being broadly margined
with ash-gray, lighter on the tail-coverts; tail short, rounded, brownish black ;
wings — tertials and secondaries brownish black edged with ash-gray, primaries dark
brown and unicolorous. Under surface :—throat and chin dusky white; upper part of
neck for about two inches mottled with dusky; lower part of neck, breast and under
surface of the body white; flank brown, edges broadly bordered with gray; feathers,
under the wings, white; around and on each side of vent and extremities of wing and
tail feathers dusky gray. Legs placed much beyond the centre of gravity; outer side
dark green, inner light green; tarsus much compressed, 33 inches long; toes four,
three in front united by a membrane rounded superiorly; posterior toe slight, and at-.
tached by a membrane to the inner surface of tarsus. Dimensions: —from tip of beak
to end of tail, 27 inches; from tip to tip of wings, 414 inches; length of wing, 18}
inches; from carpal joint to end of first primary, 11 inches; from tarsal joint to end
of first toe 4 inches, and inner toe 3 inches; beak from gape, 3} inches. It will be
observed that in describing the beak I have said slightly curved at extremity. I am
inclined to think that it is a mere abnormal variety: it is very slight, but enough to
take off the pointed character of the beak. J believe this to be the first instance of
the blackthroated diver being captured in this neighbourhood. A bird so northern in
its habitat seldom visits even our eastern coast. I have given the description of this
bird at length, as none is contained in Yarrell’s excellent work: that gentleman refers
his readers to the great northern diver, which he says is similar in plumage when
young.

Common Scoter (Oidemia nigra). A specimen of this bird was taken last week in
the snow, alive, at Clopton Hall, by’Mr. Parker, son of Major Parker, the present
high sheriff of the county. I have not seen this bird, but I am informed by the Rev.
Mr. Freeman, who has seen and examined it, that it is a veritable scoter. Clopton
Hall is five miles further from the sea, but one of the tributaries to our canal runs
through the parish. They are trying to keep the bird alive.

Common Bittern. A specimen of this now rare bird was shot a few days ago at

Birds. AG31

Aspal, about ten miles from hence, by Mr. Freeman. It rose up in a wood, and took
refuge alas! in a tree near, from which it.was shot. It was very thin.

Hawfinch (Fringilla coccothraustes), A fine male specimen of this bird was taken
about a fortnight ago, in a trap, at Old Newton, near here. It is now in my collection.

—C. R. Bree; Stricklands, Stowmarket, February 8, 1855.
Note on the Eagle which is said to attack the Trained Falcons of Asiatic Falconers.
-—In the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 3648 and 4052) I drew attention to some passages in the
works of various authors which appeared to throw some light on the above curious
subject. I now beg to call attention to a statement bearing on the same matter, and
contained in the recently published first volume of the ‘ Catalogue of the Birds in the
Museum of the East India Company,’ a volume which, it may be observed, is not
limited to a simple list of specimens, but which also contains a very great amount of
interesting information as to the habits of the species therein enumerated. The editor
_ of the ‘ Catalogue,’ under the head of Aquila Nevioides (called in India the Wokhab),
quotes the following, from a paper published by Mr. Jerdon, who in his turn refers as
his authority to the notes of Mr. Elliot, viz., ‘The wokhab is very troublesome in
hawking after the sun becomes hot, mistaking the jesses for some kind of prey, and
pouncing on the falcon to seize it. I have once or twice nearly lost shaheens in con-
sequence, they flying to great distances from fear of the wokhab.” The Aquila Nevi-
oides is said to be in the habit of plundering other raptorial birds of their prey, a
circumstance which, if correctly asserted, would give great probability to Mr. Elliet’s
theory as to the cause of these eagles attacking trained falcons—J. H. Gurney ;
Catton, Norfolk, February 14, 1855.
The Lapland Bunting (Plectrophanes lapponica) in Norfolk.—I have the pleasure
of recording a specimen of this rare bunting, which was netted during the last week
of January, at Rostwich, near Norwich. This bird is apparently a male in winter
plumage, very lively, but far from shy, and seems to thrive well in confinement.—H.
Stevenson; Norwich, February 16, 1855.
Remarkable Variety of the Woodcock.—Mr. Cooper, of Radnor Street, St. Luke’s,
has favoured me with the sight of a most beautiful specimen of the woodcock, widely
- differing from the normal colouring of the species. Every part of the plumage was of
a delicate fawn colour, just that tint which naturalists have termed isabellinus. Every
_ sportsman is acquainted with the beautifully distinct markings of the woodcock in its
‘normal state of plumage, markings so wonderfully represented in Bewick’s figure, the
_ finest bird-picture in existence: all these markings are just indicated, and no more, in
_ Mr. Cooper’s specimen ; you could catch them, like reflected light, appearing in some

positions and vanishing in others.— Edward Newman ; February 19, 1855.
Occurrence of the Shag (Carbo cristatus), the American Scaup (Fuligula mari-
toides) and the Continental Wagtail near Scarborough.—I have an adult female shag
_ (a rare bird with us) which was shot on the South Sands. A fine example of the
American scaup was killed from the Light-house pier: it was purchased by I. Tindall,
Esq., of this place, who is having it preserved. A continental wagtail was shot by a
friend of mine, Mr. H. Jackson, an intelligent farmer living at Deepdale, a short dis-
tance from here: it was feeding near his sheep, in a turnip-field.—Alfred Roberis ;
King Street, Scarborough, January 23, 1855.

4632 Birds.

Note on the Great Vulture of California (Cathartes vel Sarcoramphus
Californianus). By ALEXANDER S. TayLor, Esq., of Monterey.
Communicated by J. H. Gurney, Esq.

THE great Californian vulture — the northern representative of the
condor of South America—is a species which is not only one of great
intrinsic interest, but also one of extreme rarity in European collec-
tions, and respecting which we possess but meagre and scanty in-
formation.

The following notes, written on the spot by my ingenious and able
friend Mr. Taylor, will, I am sure, be acceptable to the readers of the
‘ Zoologist, and will require no comment from me, except it be to re-
mark that, should the statement respecting the edible qualities of this
vulture’s egg excite a doubt, it is to be remembered that Le Vaillant
makes a similar observation respecting the eggs of two of the large
vultures of Southern Africa. |

. J. H. GuRNEY.
Catton, Norfolk, February 12, 1855.

A FINE specimen of this bird was killed on the beach at Monterey,
afew days ago. It was a female, and weighed, when killed, 20 tbs.
avoirdupois. The following are its dimensions and proportions: from
beak to the end of tail-feathers, 4 feet 6 inches; from tip to tip of
wing, stretched out, 8 feet 4 inches; one wing, 3 feet 3 inches ; tail-
feathers, 12 in number and 15 inches long; from ruffle on the neck
to vent, 2 feet 9 inches. It has 82 brachial feathers on each wing;
the five long outer wing-feathers measure 2 feet 5 inches each; its
breadth across the breast-bone is 8 inches; under the wings and over
the breast it has a long triangular layer of dirty white feathers, and
the outside of the lower part of the wings is also dashed with a few
feathers tipped white.

The bead, down to the commencement of the beak, is covered with
a beautiful lemon-coloured loose skin. The beak is 14 inch long, and
curved over with a point as hard as iron, with a waved edge as sharp
as a knife: the under beak is a perfect half cylinder, into which fits,
with the nicest accuracy, a hollow tongue of the same shape: this
tongue is a curious feature, being 1% inch long by $ an inch broad,

Birds. 4633

and is serrated with a hardened edging inclining down the gullet,
which the bird uses with great force and power in reducing its food
for digestion previous to swallowing.

The head is 7 inches long, and is barred over with a triangular-
shaped band of featherets on a naked white skin: across the crown it
measures 8 inches. The neck is bare of feathers, is of a pale dirty
flesh-colour, and is 7 inches long from the base of the skull to the
ruffle at the root of the neck; it is furnished with a ruffle of stiff
broad feathers, with elongated points at the root of the neck, into
which it buries its neck when at rest. Its legs are of a dirty white
colour, and measure 10 inches from the knee-joint to the end of the
claw of the main toe. The feet consist of four toes, which are armed
with strong black curved claws; the middle toe is 5} inches long,
which includes a claw of 1} inch in length; the hind toe with claw is
only 13 inch long. The breadth of the foot across the palm is 2}
inches. The length of the legs, from the hip-joint to the end of the
middle toe, is 15 inches.

The egg of the bird, as I am informed by a fifteen-year senile of
California, is 3 inches broad by 5 inches long, about one-third larger
than a goose’s egg. Its colour is a dirty pale blue, spotted brown, and
it is nearly as thick as an ostrich egg. The same person informs me
that the female lays only one egg during a season, and makes her nest
on the ground in the ravines of the mountains, and generally near the
roots of the red-wood and pine trees. It is three months before the
young bird can fly.

The eye of the bird is 1 inch long by 1 inch broad, and weighs
half an ounce; the iris is a beautiful light pink. The brain is shaped
like a heart flattened, and weighs 1 oz.; it measures 14 inch in
breadth and length. The heart, lungs and liver are nearly the dimen-
sions of a year-old pig’s; the gutis short and wide; the gall-bladder is
4ths of an inch long. The bird, when erect, stands above 4 feet from
the ground, and, from its huge wings, when spread out or even closely
folded, looks a mountain of black feathers. The feathers are of a
uniform dusky brown and black colour, with the exceptions mentioned.
The body is covered closely with a long lead-coloured feathery down,
with a thick skin (or hide rather) which is underlaid over the whole
body, and particularly its under part, with a compact layer of bright
yellow fat, of a strong musky smell. The flesh is of a bright arterial
red, and, with large flakes of air-cells under the wings and breast-
sides, copiously fills out the contour of the animal. The muscular and
bony development of the wings, neck, head and legs, is enormous, and

4634 Birds.

gives it immense strength and power in flight, and in attacking and
devouring its prey.

Such is the description from nature of the Sarcoramphus Californi-
anus or condor of the Rocky Mountains and the North-west.

This bird is closely allied to the condor of the Andes, but is totally
distinct in features and habits from the turkey buzzard, with which it
has been confounded, and which is rarely more than one-third its size.
It soars at elevations of from 6,000 to 16,000 feet, and is found
throughout the length and breadth of the Rocky Mountains of Cali-
fornia and the North-west coasts, and is sometimes seen near San
Francisco. It is particularly fond of fish, and is often found on the
sea-shore watching for fish thrown on the beach, or even steals them
from the Indians when catching salmon and mountain trout in the
lakes and rivers of the great plains of the coasts. A dead whale
thrown ashore is sure to bring some of them in sight, and a hunter
killing a deer in the mountains is confident of their appearance as
soon as the animal is wounded. They are also said to attack wounded
deer or other animals, and kill them, and sometimes to carry off alive
smaller creatures. They are also stated to carry off fish caught in
rivers, sea and lake shallows; and though they will eat dead meat,
they will not, like the turkey buzzard, eat carrion,—but this last wants
further coufirmation. When hungry they are exceedingly difficult to
approach, but when gorged with food they are stupid, and fly or move
with slow unwieldy motions. They soar at great heights, in circles,
like the turkey buzzard, without moving their wings; but on a straight
line they fly and sail by starts and flaps, at intervals of four or five
minutes, Its range of vision is probably as great as that of the
Andean condor, which is said to sight its objects at a greater distance
than any other living creature.

The foregoing description will answer for the male bird, it being
generally larger, and the colour of its head, neck and body being of
rather brighter and deeper tint. The white feathers of the under
wings are not so thick and numerous in the female as in the male.

Since writing the above, a hunter has informed me that three years
ago he caught two young condors in the red woods of Santa Cruz
county, and kept them more than a month. When young they have a ~
strong smell, and are three months old before they fly. He added that
the female is smaller than the male, and this without doubt, as he has
often observed them. She lays two eggs in a year, which are hatched
in about six weeks, near the middle of March: the eggs weigh about
twelve ounces, and are better eating than any other eggs. They

Mollusks. 4635.

sometimes lay on the ledges of high rocks, but quite as often on tall
trees, in the old nests of hawks and eagles. The plain diggers of
Northern Mexico use the quills for putting their gold-dust in.

Three of these birds will eat a deer, and when they attack a man or
animal, in defence, will nick a lump of flesh out in a minute. The
barrel of the outer wing-feathers is 4 inches long by 3ths of an inch
in diameter: when the bird is standing, the long wing-feathers will
overlap those of the tail more than 6 inches. The upper beak is of a
horny white, with a thick, sharp, solid, curved-down and pointed end,
and overlaps the lower by ths of an inch. The mandibles are fully
zzth of an inch thick. The ear is } an inch long, and 13 inch from the
eye, at the termination of the upper jaw bone.

When flying the white band of the wings and breast does not ex-
tend over the breast, but the breast and belly appear as an intermission
of black. They float in the air rather than sail, and their motions
aloft form the most elegant and graceful feature of the bird’s habits.

On the 13th instant, at one o’clock in the afternoon, some object
attracted a flock of these vultures. At first one suddenly appeared,
but in the course of fifteen minutes I observed twenty of them, circling
at an altitude of some four thousand feet, and immediately over the
beach. When in the air they may be distinguished with a spy-glass
from the turkey buzzard, by the white band under the wings. They
are generally seen on the sea-shore at Monterey, in the latter fall
months, in clear weather; but sometimes they make their appearance
in a foggy atmosphere. As they come so they go—a company will be
out of sight in fifteen minutes. They appear “to drop from some
cavern in the sky,” as described of the vulture of South Africa, by Le
Vaillant, many years since.

One of these birds, killed a few days ago in Carmel Bay, near
Monterey, a friend informs me, measured (including breast) 13 feet
from tip to tip of wing.

A. S. Taytor.
November, 1854.

Correction of an Error.—I wish to correct an error into which I have unintention-
ally fallen in my “ List of the Mollusca found in the Neighbourhood of Banbury”.
(Zool. 4540). The Pisidium cinereum is not found in this neighbourhood, the specimens
{thus named] being very good ones of P. pusillum, as I have been kindly informed by
Mr. Webster, of Birkenhead.—R. H. Stretch ; Parsons Street, Banbury, February 21,
1855.

4636 Insects.

The Entomology of Malacca. By ALFRED R. WALLACE, Esq.

(

To an entomologist Malacca seems, at first sight, a much finer lo-
cality than Singapore: the former is one of the very oldest European
settlements in the East, while the latter is almost the newest. In the
one, patches of the primeval forests remain on the hill-tops only, and
all the low grounds are covered with new plantations of gambic, pep-
per and nutmeg, which afford scarcely an insect worth collecting: in
the other, though for miles round the town the virgin forest has long
since disappeared, its place is supplied by old plantations and shady
groves of magnificent fruit trees, in which many of the insect inha-
bitants of the jungle appear to thrive as well as in their original
domains. Further in the interior the whole country gradually merges
into the vast forests of the centre of the peninsula, where the nume-
rous Malay villages, embosomed in masses of cocoa-nut, jack and
durian trees, and the settlements of Chinese tin miners, with the nu-
merous paths and roads made by them, offer many tempting localities
for the entomologist. And the promise is well fulfilled; for though
some particular groups were far more abundant at Singapore, yet,
taking insects of all orders, the superior richness of Malacca was very
striking. My first locality was near a Chinese mining settlement,
about twelve miles inland. My servant getting fever, I was obliged
to return to Malacca in less than a fortnight, where I was attacked
myself, and it was another fortnight before I was well enough to leave.
I then went to a government bungalow, seven miles further in the.
jungle, and remained there a month. From thence I made an excur-
sion to Mount Ophir, in the interior, where I remained a week, and
then returned to Malacca and Singapore.

It was at my earliest station that I first fell in with the magnificent
Ornithoptera Amphrisius, but for a long time I despaired of getting a
specimen, as they sailed along at a great height, often without moving
the wings for a considerable distance, in a manner quite distinct from
that of any other of the Papilionide with which I am acquainted. To
see these and the great Ideas on the wing is certainly one of the finest
sights an entomologist can behold. It was, however, at my next sta-
tion, and at the foot of Mount Ophir, that I first met with many of the
fine Eastern Papilios, which are certainly superior in beauty and
variety to those of South America: by variety I do not mean the
number of species, but the different forms and style of colouring. Of ©
the handsome green and blue spotted butterflies, P. Agamemnon, &c., ©

Insects. 4637

I obtained three species, one I think new. This group is eminently
beautiful. They fly with the greatest rapidity of any Papilios; the
eye can scarcely follow them; in fact, they much resemble in habit the
humming Sphinxes, and_hover over flowers, or more frequently over
damp places on the ground, with a constant vibration of the wings.
P. Antiphates is the only species of the Protesilaus group, and is not
very common. The grand P. Memnon flies very rapidly, and seldom
settles. P. Iswara, and another species allied to P. Helenus, but
I think new, have an undulating flight, very like that of the South
American Morphos, or even sometimes approaching that of the large
Noctuide, and they rest with the upper wings deflexed over the lower.
The beautiful P. Polydorus flies weak and low, exactly like P. Auneas
and allied species in South America. Then there are the elegant
white.and black marked species, P. Delessertii, P. Leucothoe, P. Nox,
and a very fine species allied to Coon, which (if it is not P. Neptunus,
Guér., of which I have no description) is quite new. But my greatest
treasure among the Papilios was a magnificent green and gold pow-
dered species, which (if it is not P. Crino or P. Brama) is also new.
If we add to the above, Papilio Epius, P. Demolion, P. Pammon, and
P. Tetrarchus, we have a series which for variety of form and colour-
ing, as well as for size and beauty, no country can surpass.

But though we may claim for the Eastern Papilionide, and also for
the Pieridz, a superiority over those of America, it is far different in
other groups. The Eupleas, though very beautiful, cannot compete
with the exquisite Heliconide, to which they are so closely allied;
neither have I yet met with any Nymphalide here which can compare
with the Epicalias, the Callitheas and the Catogrammas of the Amazon.

I obtained, however, several fine species of Charaxes and Adolias.
_ The Cyllo Lowii of Borneo also occurs at Malacca, and the lovely
_ little long-tailed Lycxnidz are the only group that at all compete with
the Erycinidz of America.
~ Turning now to the Coleoptera, the most remarkable feature is the
almost total absence of those hosts of elegantly varied Longicorns
which so delighted me at Singapore. The beetles altogether were
exceedingly small and scarce, requiring the most persevering search
to find any at all: yet they were very different from those of Singa-
pore, and (principally through the persevering efforts of Mr. G. Rappa,
agentleman of Malacca, who spent a month with me in the jungle,
and accompanied me to Mount Ophir) I was enabled to add 260 spe-
cies to my already extensive collection.

The Therates dimidiata of the Singapore jungle was replaced at

XIII. P

4638 Insects.

Mount Ophir by a larger species, and the two fine Catascopi of the
former place had also their Malacca representatives. I here obtained
my first species of Tricondyla, and in the centre of one of the densest
and darkest jungles was so fortunate as to find the strange Mormolyce
phyllodes, under a huge boletus,—just where, from its resemblance to
the curious Thyreoptera of Singapore, I had expected to discover it.
Numerous species of Apoderus were very remarkable among the Cur-
culionide, while most of the curious Anthribide of Singapore were
wanting. Many exquisite species of metallic Cassidas were found for
the first time; the Heteromera, too, were very numerous, and the
Elaters and Buprestide furnished me with many new species. Of
Lucanide I obtained eight species, mostly small, though one (the
Dorcus Titanus, Botsd.) is quite a giant.

Amidst this variety of Coleoptera the most remarkable circumstance
is the almost entire absence of the great family of the Cetoniade.
Though constantly searching for them I procured but five species, and
those all small and single specimens.

But it was in the other orders that I obtained the greatest amount
of novelty and variety. In the little streams about the foot of Mount
Ophir were hosts of new and beautiful dragon-flies, and even on the
summit, at an elevation of 4000 feet, I obtained one species. Of these —
interesting but much-neglected insects I nearly doubled my collection,
which now amounts to seventy-two species of true dragon-flies. The
Hemiptera and Homoptera were perhaps most abundant of all, con-
taining many fine species of Peciloptera and Cercopis, as well as —
extraordinary Reduviide and brilliantly coloured Scutellere. On the
muddy pools in the path to Mount Ophir were numbers of a very large
and handsome Notonecta, which took the way as we approached, but,
settling on the adjacent foliage, were easily captured. Of these inte- —
resting insects I added a hundred species to my collection, which now
amounts to 228 species. The Orthoptera, though much fewer in num: ~
bers, were very interesting for the great variety of the Phasmide —
and Mantide. I have species of Mantis coloured like wasps, others —
like ants, and one brilliantly metallic. The winged Phasmide ap- —
peared endless: for a long time every one I captured was a different |
species, and the greater portion remained to the last unique. The —
Diptera, too, were very interesting. Among them I obtained the ex-
traordinary Celyphus obtectus, or an allied species, which has the
head of a fly to the body of a Scutellera among the Hemiptera. I
also obtained three species of the curious stalk-eyed flies.

In order to give some idea of the entomological riches of this part —

Entomological Society. 4639.

of the world, I will add a summary of my collections at Singapore and
Malacca, made within six months of my landing at the former place,
but of which not more than four months were spent in collecting. It
will also show, I hope, that I have given equal attention to every order
of insects.

Coleoptera - é : 940 species.
Lepidoptera ( Brincs 237) 2 ; 353 4,
Hymenoptera (Ants 35) . ; : 173"; 3
Hemiptera 143; Homoptera 85 : 228 =«(«y,
Neuroptera (Libellulide 72). ; cal
Orthoptera : ; : : ri: les
Blatte and F uirfieulas : ; ; 26°);
Diptera . ‘ ; : : : Less Vices
Pplal myo: lagggh is

ALFRED R. WALLACE.
Sarawak, Borneo,

November 25, 1854.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.
ENTOMOLOGICAL Society.
February 5, 1855.—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

ia The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to
_ the donors: —The ‘Zoologist’ for February; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for
| January; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for January; by the Editor. The
“Journal of the Society of Arts’ for January; by the Society. ‘ Proceedings of the
Royal Society,’ Vol. vii. No. 7; by the Society. ‘Report of the Council of the Art
Union of London for 1854,’ 2 copies ; by the Art Union. ‘ Revue et Magasin de
Zoologie,’ Nos. 11 and 12, 1854; by the Editor, M. Guérin-Méneville. Specimens of
the silken fabric woven by caterpillars of Saturnia pavonia-media, accompanied by
figures of the insect in its different stages of growth, with a summary description

thereof, and the method used to procure the silk; presented by Herr Pretsch, through
Mr. Newman.

President's Inaugural Address.
- The President returned thanks for his election, and delivered an Inaugural Address,
which was ordered to be printed.
Vice-Presidents.

The President nominated as his Vice-Presidents J. O. Westwood, Esq., E. Newman,
Esq., and H. T. Stainton, Esq.

4640 Entomological Scciety.

Exhibitions.

Brigadier Hearsey exhibited a case of Lepidoptera and three cases of Coleoptera,
just received from Sylhet. Among the rarer Coleoptera were pointed out Jumnos
Ruckeri, ¢ and Q, numerous species of Cicindele and Lucanide, Lamia Stanleyi
and Buprestis Edwardsii. ;

Mr. Stevens exhibited three perfect specimens of the rare beetle Cheirotonus
Macleayii, from India.

Galls produced by Cynips Quercus-petioli.

Mr. Stainton exhibited a bunch of galls gathered from an oak near Exeter, and of

the same kind as those exhibited by Mr. Rich at the November meeting. He also read ©

the following extract from a letter of the correspondent who had forwarded the galls :-—

“ Having observed, in the ‘ Gardener’s Chronicle,’ a notice of the Proceedings of
the Entomological Society, in which the subject of the oak-galls of this county was
spoken of, I beg to say that they are more numerous now than at any other time I
have observed them. They are confined to the young and mostly the long shoots
which spring from oaks which have been cut down to the ground, and to those old
stumps which grow in hedges, and are subject to be cut down in repairing the hedges,
perhaps once in three or four years, or it may be more. It is curious to observe that,
should an oak tree stand in a hedge, it is only the lower spray which is selected by the

insects: it is exceedingly rare to see a gall upon the higher branches of a tree. It.

may be taken as a rule that the insects never attack a tree or bush above ten feet from
the ground, but the nearer the ground the more numerous the galls. Some dwarf oak
pollards I saw the other day, near Stoke Wood, which had been completely denuded
of their branches last winter, and of course last spring the trees produced a goodly
crop of young shoots all round: to see these trees now without any leaves, and the
young one-year old branches almost covered with galls like a gooseberry bush laden
with fruit, is very curious and striking.

“Ti is rather difficult now to find any galls containing insects, for it appears that a
portion of the insects make their escape in the autumn and the rest in the spring fol-
lowing ; but the little prying tits (Parus ceruleus) appear to have found them out, and
thousands are devoured by these birds: it is astonishing how soon they work a hole
and extract the larva, which no doubt is a very dainty morsel, particularly this hard,
frosty weather.

“As for the species of Cynips which causes these galls, if it is C. Quercus-petioli
certainly that name was wrongly applied, for the galls on the petioles of the leaves of
oak never attain that woody consistence which is peculiar to this kind of gall. I sent
some of these galls, three or four years ago, to Mr. Westwood, through the ‘ Cottage
Gardener, asking for the name, and received for answer that it was Cynips ter-
minalis.”

Mr. Stainton pointed out that the galls now before the meeting were well figured —
by Réaumur,* and that no subsequent author appeared to have referred to his figures. —

* ‘Memoires ’ tome iii. 452, pl. 41, figs. 7—15.

Entomological Society. 4641

Indian Method of preparing the Silk of Bombyx Cynthia.

Mr. Westwood read, from the ‘ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,’ vol. vi.,
brought by Brigadier Hearsey, the following account of the method used in India to
prepare the silk from the cocoons of Bombyx Cynthia.

“ The cocoons are put over a slow fire, in asolution of potash, when the silk easily
comes off: they are taken out, and the water slightly pressed out; they are then taken
one by one, loosened at one end, and the cocoon put over the thumb of the left hand;
with the right they (sir) draw it out nearly the thickness of twine, reducing any irregu-
larity by rubbing it between the index and thumb: in this way many cocoons are joined
on. The thread is allowed to accumulate in heaps of a quarter of a sur (sic); it is after-
wards exposed to the sun or near the fire to dry; it is then made into skeins, with two
sticks tied at one end, and opening like a pair of compasses: it is then ready to be
woven, unless it has to be dyed.”

Mr. Newman read the following note, intituled

“A Word for the Cockroach.

>

_ “There is nothing new under the sun:’ so says the proverb. I believed, until a
few days back, that I possessed the knowledge of a fact in the dietary economy of the
cockruach of which entomologists were not cognizant, but I find myself forestalled ;
the fact is ‘as old as the hills:’ it is that the cockroach seeks with diligence, and de-
vours with great gusto, the common bed bug. I will not mention names, but I am so
confident of the veracity of the narrator that I willingly take the entire responsibility.
‘Poverty makes one acquainted with strange bed-fellows, and my informant bears
willing testimony to the truth of the adage: he had not been prosperous, and had
sought shelter in a London boarding-house: every night he saw cockroaches ascending
his bed-curtains; every morning he complained to his very respectable landlady, and
invariably received the comforting assurance that there was not a ‘ black beetle’ in the
house: still he pursued his nocturnal investigations, and he not only saw cockroaches

running along the tester of the bed, but, to his great astonishment, he positively ob-

served one of them seize a bug, and he therefore concluded, and not without some
show of reason, that the cockroaches ascended the curtains with this especial object,
and that the minor and more odoriferous insect is a favourite food of the major one.
The following extract from Webster’s ‘ Narrative of Foster’s Voyage’ * corroborates this
recent observation, and illustrates the proverb which I have taken as my text:—
* Cockroaches, those nuisances to ships, are plentiful at St. Helena; and yet, bad as
they are, they are more endurable than bugs. Previous to our arrival here, in the
Chanticleer, we had suffered great inconvenience from the latter, but the cockroaches
no sooner made their appearance than the bugs entirely disappeared: the fact is that
the cockroach preys upon them, and leaves no sign or vestige of where they have been:
so far it is a most valuable insect.’ ”

Coccus arborum-linearis, Geoff.

The President read the following extract of a letter from Dr. A. Fitch :—

* “Foster's Voyage,’ Vol. 1. 373.

4642 Entomological Society.

‘“* My esteemed friend,—I take the liberty to enclose to you some pieces of bark
covered with the scales of a Coccus which is making appalling havoc in the orchards
of Illinois and Wisconsin, and is abundant in my own neighbourhood. I have sup-
posed this to be the Aspidiotus linearis (Coccus arborum-linearis, Modeer, §c.), but
have at hand no good description of that species, and am not without suspicions that
it may be your A. Ostreeformis or conchiformis, these names being far more applicable
to these scales than is that of linearis. As this insect will be embraced in the Report
on insects injurious to fruit trees, which I am now preparing (for the New York State
Agricultural Society, pursuant to directions of the State Legislature), I wish to be
more certain with regard to its true name. <A word from you, in reply to my inquiry,
will be very gratefully received.” |

The President exhibited the insects in sitd#: they were the Coccus arborum-linearis,
Geoff., and the C. conchiformis he believed of Gmelin. The President remarked that
“Tt is a subject for congratulation that these matters are being taken up by the State,
and, from the valuable work of Dr. Harris having reached a second edition, it is evi-
dent these important objects will in future not be neglected in the United States.”

Proposed Monograph of Elateride.

The President said M. Candeze of Liege, one of the authors of the ‘ Catalogue
des Larves des Coléoptéres,’ had written to him to make known his intention of pub-
lishing a complete Monograph upon the Family Elateride, which he estimates at 3000
species. He solicits the assistance and cooperation of the entomologists of this
country, by the loan of specimens, especially those of the East Indies and Australia.
Most of the professors in the different cities of Europe have promised to lend him
specimens for description, which he undertakes to return speedily.* He is one of the
pupils of Professor Lacordaire, to whom the Catalogue is dedicated; and the President
will be happy to transmit to him any specimens which the Members are willing to
send him, provided they be entrusted before the end of February, when his friend will
leave London.

Note on Psyche helicinella.
Under this title Mr. Douglas read the following remarks :—

“ More than a century ago Réaumur, in his ‘ Mémoires, + recorded the discovery
of some curious heliciform cases, which he believed to be those of the larve of a moth,
although he reared from them only ‘ une petite mouche noire et a quatre ailes, which
Siebold thinks must have been a Chalcis parasitic on the larva.

“« Professor Siebold,{ in a notice of the recent discovery by several entomologists of
helical cases, which he regards as identical with those mentioned by Réaumur, states
the curious fact that none of the finders thereof, nor any other entomologists, had

* England, he writes, has not responded to his appeal in the name of Science,
which has been made to the Entomological Society of London through Mr. Westwood.
His first volume will appear at the end of the summer, and he especially wants the
genera Agrypnus, Campsosternus, Hemops and Crepidomenus. |

+ Tome iii. Part 1, 12mo, p. 249.

{ Trans. Ent. Soc., Vol. i. n. s., page 238.

—

1 ee a ie

Entomological Society. 4643.

up to that time had the good fortune to rear from any of these cases a winged Lepi-
dopterous insect, but either a Chalcis, a Pteromalus, or a vermiform female like that

of a Psyche, which Siebold named provisionally P. helix.

“ Herrich-Schaffer described and figured * a Psyche helicinella, male, from speci-

mens sent froin Sicily by Mann, who only suspected they had escaped from spiral

cases which he found in the vicinity of their capture.

“ Bruand t has described and figured a Psyche helicinella, male, but does not state
that he ever identified the perfect insect with the case. On the contrary, speaking of
the inhabitant of the helical cases, he says that ‘ the caterpillar is difficult to rear; and
for my partfafter three unsuccessful attempts, I have ceased trying to obtain the

-imago in captivity. It is probable that some atmospheric conditions (the morning dew

for example) are necessary to its coming forth. The caterpillar fed quite well up to
the time of its transformation, then it commenced to wander about in the vase or box

in which it was placed, and at length fixed itself near the partition; ... then nothing

came out—it died miserably.’ Neither does he state that he has reared the male from

‘the pupa found in the natural habitat, so that it may be inferred he also figured the

insect from captured specimens.
“ Lastly, M. Nylander has recorded{ that he raised from a helical case which he

found in 1853, in the South of France, a male Psyche.

** Whether the spiral cases, seen by so many observers, all belong to one species of

larva is not certain, but, assuming that they do, it would seem that M. Nylander has

been the first to rear the male insect, which he refers to Psyche helix, Sieb. = P. he-
licinella, H.-S.

“‘ The larve inhabiting these spiral cases appear to be polyphagous, having been

found on Cheiranthus odoratum (Vallot § Tarnier), Teucrium Chamedrys (Bruand),

Anthyllis vulneraria, Lotus corniculatus, Gnaphalium arenarium and _ olive-trees
(Zeller), Atriplex laciniata (Kollar), and Artemisia vulgaris (Reutti).

“ [ have thought it worth while to collate and bring these facts before the Society,
as I think it probable, judging from the wide range of the species (it being generally
distributed in Italy, France and Germany), that it may be found in this country, if
our collectors know what to look for. There also attaches to the species another con-
sideration of interest, it being one of those insects of which fertile eggs are constantly
laid without the intervention of the male, as affirmed by Siebold and Reutti.

“T avail myself of this opportunity to remark that out of the eighty-two species
of Psychides enumerated by M. Bruand, only ten or eleven have yet been detected in
Britain. When we remember that of this latter number two§ are not known on the
Continent, I cannot but think that we have to find in this country some of the conti-
nental species, and probably some more not yet recognised abroad.”

Descriptions of Lucanide.

Mr. Westwood read a paper descriptive of many new species of Lucanide, illus-
trated with figures of the insects described.

* System. Bearbeit., Bd. ii. figs. 108, 109.
t ‘ Essai Monographique sur la tribu des Psychides,’ p. 73.
{ ‘Annales de la Soc. Ent. de France,’ 1854, p. 336.

§ P. reticella, Newm., and P. inconspicuella, Stainton (M. Bruand assigns both
these names to Mr. Curtis).

4644 Society of British Entomologists.

New Part of the ‘ Transactions.

Part 3 Vol. iii. of the ‘Transactions, published in January, was laid on the table.
—J. W. D.

1 NTO ISTS.
SocrETy oF British ENTOMOLOGIST

Annual Meeting, January 2, 1855.—Mr. H. Harprinc, President, in the chair.

The Secretary laid before the Members a statement of the affairs of the Society.

The President said that it gave him great pleasure to hear, from the Report read
by the Secretary, of the flourishing state of the Society. There was only one draw-
back—the slow progress made in the addition of species to its cabinet during the past
year: he hoped the Members would bear this in mind, and make up for it in the
ensuing season.

The President then said “ According to custom I will, with your permission, take
a review of the past year. The season of 1854 has by most entomologists been consi-
dered a very bad one: the beautiful mild weather in the spring is, without doubt,
remembered by all; vegetation felt the influence of the bright sun and warm nights ;
many larve were making rapid progress in consequence of the early bursting of the
young buds, but a series of cold nights and blighting winds from the North-east, until
the early part of June, destroyed them. On the 10th of June I went to the coast:
what was the prospect of vegetation there? the whitethorn, which should have been
in blossom, had its leaves blackened and dried up: where now were all the larve which
were called into life by the early spring ? all dead for want of food. This and the late
cold weather was no doubt the cause of the bad season for many species: the Noctue,
excepting in a few instances, made their appearance in the usual course. Through
the exertions and euterprising spirit of our entomologists, however, many rare and
some new species have been taken, four some account of which I refer you to Stainton’s
‘ Entomologist’s Annual,’ which is now before me on the table, a work which has been
kindly presented by the author, who I hope may live long to continue it. I am much
pleased with the observations of the editor at page 3: they breathe a true scientific
spirit, not always met with even in those calling themselves scientific men; but it is a
spirit that ought to animate all inquirers after truth. In conclusion, I would remind
my friends that there is a great deal to be done among the smaller Lepidoptera: many
discoveries are in store for those who will seek them, but it ought always to be borne
in mind that they must be diligently sought after. I intend in a few weeks to begin
the campaign for 1855, and exhort all my entomological friends to do likewise.
Science ‘expects every man to do his duty.” "—J. T. N.

Insects. 4645

Local Lists. By the Rev. W. H. Hawker, M.A.

“* Why sleeps he not when others are at rest ?”
Byron

SOME time ago a book was published by a nobleman, which one of
the Reviews thus criticised, “‘ Things hoped for, by Viscount * * *’—
and by nobody else.” I will not thus summarily deal with “ Things
hoped for, by John Scott, Ksq.,” which appeared in the ‘ Zoologist’
for September last, but wish merely to make a few friendly suggestions
thereupon. | |

To hope for a thing implies, at least in this case, that the thing
hoped for does not exist. Now many of the things that Mr. Scott
is hoping for have already entered upon their existence (for instance,
local collections and lists, and popular lectures on Natural History),
quietly, perhaps, and unobtrusively, but not the less really. Nothing
in, nature or science -is born full grown, “parva * * primo, vires
adquirit eundo,” and it would take away the chief charm of the study
of Natural History, if, the moment we entered upon the zealous pur-
suit of any particular branch, everything connected with it were to
burst upon one with a hop, skip and a jump, and a “here we are!”
like the clown ina pantomime. Nature is a coy maiden, who will
; strongly resent any rough handling, and will only by degrees, in pro-
portion as you cultivate her acquaintance, unfold all her charms to
_ you: she is no coquette, and if she courts your attention it is more
_ by her retiring modesty than by any meretricious display of her riches.
I remember, when on the Continent, experiencing a feeling almost
of disappointment at seeing Bath whites and Camberwell beauties
flaunting about in such profusion, and felt almost inclined to say,
“Tam ashamed of you—I really thought better of you.” The same
feeling is expressed by a friend of mine, who, writing me a description
_ of some of the New Zealand and Australian localities for ferns, says,
“Ferns are really too numerous in New Zealand—they almost cease
to be interesting from their vulgarity. In South Australia, for the
Same reason, Adiantum ceases to be lovely.” I merely adduce these
instances to show that it is the need of “patience and perseverance,”
and the gradual mastering of difficult passages, that renders the
book of nature so interesting.

To return to the ‘Things hoped for.’ I find there a “desire and
wish to see men spring up with minds so large as to compete with

XIII. Q

4646 Insects.

those departed and on the wane.” Mr. Scott is not the first person
who, since the time of Cadmus, has wished to make men spring up
ready armed from the ground. But who, I ask, are to be these uni-
versal regenerators of systems and nomenclatures? {[ myself do not
despair of seeing men rise up who will possess the peculiar talent
of grasping all the discoveries subsequent to the last generally
received systems, and of reorganizing those systems; but you
may depend upon it, that, as we are told that “great occasions
make great men,” so, when the proper time comes, the demand will,
in this case, though it does not universally, create a supply; and,
until that time comes, a set of mere collectors and observers of
nature will no more be able to make themselves great by inventing
a lot of fantastic names, than you would be able to keep them
to any one system (and Mr. Scott says this is a “ necessity ”)
so long as you allow them to alter generic and specific names at
pleasure. ied

“Not be tied by old names and defunct lists”! Why, where
should we be without them? If it were not for the labours and lists
of Linneus and others, whose systems and names (and perhaps their
names more than their systems) are European, where should we be
now? How would you or I, when looking over some Continental
collection, explain to the curator, Monsieur This or Herr That, that
the garden white was a butterfly of by no means rare occurrence in
one’s native country? If the collection was so fortunate as to boast a
specimen, one could of course point to it as a child or the learned pig
would to “B was a Butterfly!” But suppose the specimen was
wanting, how could you express yourself, unless you had the common
ground of some universally received, though perhaps, in some respects,
imperfect nomenclature? Those who come nearest to Linneus and
the ancients in science appear to be the most careful and jealous to
avoid altering the existing nomenclatures.

Again, many of our most successful entomologists would, if left to
name their captures themselves, make use of Her Majesty’s English,
which they understand, in preference to obsolete languages, of which

ee aS

they may chance to know but little. Then an insect might rejoice in

as many aliases as a London pickpocket, or amongst birds that un-
fortunate Caprimulgus, and interchange of ideas and of specimens —

:

would be next to impossible. Thus we should have the same insect —
called, according to trivial association, “the neglected rustic” by one |

person, “the pale puss” by another, “the speckled footman” by a
third, or perhaps, if taken near Manchester, “the clouded drab!” If —

+

Insects. 4647

you forced the dead languages upon them it would be worse still.
I was lately visiting the stove-houses of a nobleman who has one of
the best collections of exotic orchids and ferns in this country, and
whose gardener is most scientific and successful in their cultivation ;
but the poor man was terribly put to it with the labels, and had too
often joined masculine and feminine, with a more correct idea of
-connubial than of grammatical harmony !

The greatest difficulty will hereafter arise in the way of forming
correct lists of truly British insects, from the quantity of bought
specimens and collections, which Mr. Scott so justly decries. Kirby
says, “I have seldom seen a cabinet so meagre as not to possess some
unique specimen.” Now, alas! if one substituted the word “bought”
for “unique,” it would be nearer the truth. This evil should be taken
in time, and might be counteracted by every bond fide collector, who
wishes that science should benefit by his labours, keeping a careful
catalogue containing the history of how each scarce insect came into
his possession; and properly not a single specimen bought from a
dealer should be admitted without some mark being adopted to note
its antecedents.

The importance and value, therefore, of “ Local Lists” cannot, in
this respect, be overrated. But, at the same time, there is now a well-
founded and natural aversion to publishing the exact localities and
Stations of rare things, from the unscrupulous way in which collectors,
amateur as well as professional, too often eradicate, as far as lies in
their power, any rare object.. What writes a friend, a prominent
entomologist, to me on my telling him of the discovery of a scarce
imSect? “Be sure you don’t say anything about the locality to any
one.” One of the most distinguished botanists in England, on hearing
of my finding a rare plant, writes, “I trust you will be very careful not
to risk the extirpation of so truly interesting a species by making its
Station known to any of our collecting societies or their agents, or to
any collector of plants for sale.” Botany is more exposed than her
sister sciences to this danger; and this has been the reason why com-
munications to the ‘ Phytologist’ were so much less numerous than
those to the ‘ Zoologist ;? not because Botany is less studied at present
in Britain than Zoology, or that there is little left to discover and
record, for one’s own experience and that of one’s friends convinces
one of the contrary, but that when one finds new stations for rare
plants, or good botanical localities, one is shy of publishing them; as,
the more choice the plants, the more certain it is that the ruthless
hand of some “ eradicator of rare plants” will visit the spot, and carry

>

4648 Insects.

off all he casts his unpitying and wnnatural eye upon. The same

rule applies, with some modifications, to insects. You or I, A or B,

being persons of known respectability, and having won the keeper’s —

heart by taking an interest in his young pheasants, and perchance
affording him a practical hint or two on their management, are allowed
to roam about and wander at will in Lord C’s or Sir Harry D’s woods,
which are an easy walk from your house. After a due course of colds,
caught by leaving your windows open at night, and of treacle and

rum (not for the colds!) a “carefully compiled local list” appears in —

the ‘ Zoologist.”. I may here remark, that India-rubber shoes and a
dark lanthorn carry supernatural terror to the guilty consciences of
night-prowlers, who, I’ll venture to say, don’t forget the first fright so
as soon to invite a second. The story of course runs that ghosts of
murdered people are to be met with o’ nights in the woods, and the
startling cry of the puckeridge is soon translated into the scream of a
punished spirit. You thus prove no mean ally to the keepers.

Well, after acting “Jack-o’-Lanthorn” for some time, the list
appears. If it be sufficiently tempting, the next spring sees the

arrival of some “ Mr. E” or “ Mr. F,” professionally retained to collect —

insects for the “ silver-net” naturalists, and may be with a private order
in his pocket from some oologist in Leadenhall Market. The historical
result in the experience of the keepers is, “ that there were more barren
hen pheasants that year as the man went about with a green net than
any other year they remember.” I do not wish here to condemn the
entire practice of collecting by proxy; but, as we occasionally read
complaints of such and such woods and parks being forbidden to col-
lectors, through the so-called “illiberality of landed proprietors,” I
wish to show that such proceedings are often not so harsh and ill-

natured as they might at first sight appear to be; and I would say to —

such cavillers, “audi alteram partem.”

A friend of mine, who was at Spa last summer, tells me he chanced
to ask a lacquais-de-place whether there was any game in the country.
The man triumphantly (as if his strong point had been unwittingly
touched upon) pointed to a neighbouring hill, and said that on that
very hill, that very season, a gray hen had hatched out a brood. The
gentleman sighed on thinking of the different view taken of the rights
of property in bis own degenerate neighbourhood, and wondered how
long a pheasant’s nest in Hants would remain intact after becoming the
talk of the parish. Here, apparently, the whole population rejoiced with
their neighbour, and took a pride in his good fortune. The guide,
gathering his thoughts from his disjecta verba, added “ But M’sieu

*

Insects. 4649

may console himself, two chasseurs were placed to guard the nest day
and night.” “Sic vos non vobis, nidificatis aves.” Birds in that
country, even when nesting, are not left to themselves! Well, people
in England, not liking the trouble of chartering a couple of policemen
to guard any rare object from reckless depredation, adopt the alterna-
tive afforded them by the proverb, that “ Silence is the best noise.”

Now, all this is contrary to the spirit in which the study of Natural
History should be followed. For what is the end and object of
studying the works of Creation? Is it not to try and arrive at the
knowledge of God? Our aim, then, should be, not so much to outdo
our predecessors in systems and nomenclatures, as to show that these
studies affect our hearts and lives: and that man will do infinitely
more good to his generation, aye, and (if that be his wish) have much
more claim to have his name handed down to posterity, by competing
with the Isaac Waltons, the Gilbert Whites and the William Kirbys,
in their Christian simplicity and kindliness of disposition, than if he
were to succeed in overthrowing all the systems of Linneus, Jussieu
and Cuvier.

But how is this to be done? We know that for 4000 years, ‘‘in the
wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God;” and yet we
profess that our object is the knowledge of God: and let us not think
that that world which was so unsuccessftl owed its disappointment to
its consisting of uncivilized barbarians, for it boasted the most culti-
vated and highly polished nations that have ever been known on earth
—nations that have left us works of genius and of intellect as yet un-
rivalled in the world, and that have beaten us hollow in almost every-
thing but the science of money-getting: and yet these men, with all
their own wisdom and gifts of intellect, and with all the works of God’s
wisdom around them, “knew not God.” Let us, then, “ not be high-
minded but fear.”

But, again I ask, how is it to be done! I supply the answer in the
words of a revered friend of mine, who, meeting me one day as I
sallied forth armed cap-d-pie for an entomological ramble, concluded
a conversation thus: “ Yes, my young friend, I like to see it; for
there are two books which we cannot read too much, the Word of
God and the Works of God. But remember! the book you are going
to read to-day will do you no good, unless you blend its teachings
with those of the other; for though that one can do without this, this
one cannot do without that.” And as it was of old so it is now, it is
not by wisdom, it is not by the knowledge of the external objects of
nature that men come to know God, but through Jesus Christ: that

4650 Insects.

is, in other words, it is not by reasoning but by revelation, not by
philosophy but by faith.
I add to this paper a list of the butterflies and moths (to the end of

the Sphingide) which I have captured or observed during the last —

few years in this neighbourhood. The country I have worked has
been geologically favourable,-consisting of chalk, upper green sand,
lower green sand and London clay. Botanically, it is perfect; the
chalk offers magnificent beech woods and hangers, and downs studded
with yews, junipers and furze: the clay boasts of its oak woods,
which extend, almost without break, from Chichester to Southampton ;
and the few old primeval trees still remaining tell us that the ancient
British Forest of Anderida stood hereabouts, now partly represented
by the Forest of Bere: the undergrowth consists of birch, holly, black-
thorn, whitethorn, buckthorn, &c.: the sand can still pride itself in an
unreclaimed heath, and, where enclosed, is entomologically improved
by plantations of larch and Scotch fir. If the list is still far from
perfect, and does not yet boast of C. sponsa, C. promissa and T. sub-
sequa, I plead in return that Entomology is not my profession, and
what I have done and hope to do is achieved by half-hours now and
then ; but, if I may be allowed to contort the passage, I endeavour to
have “nulla dies sine Linnzo.”

2

List.— Butterflies.

Pieris crategi. In and near woods, June. Not common.

» Brassice, Rape, Napi, A. Cardamines. Common.
Leucophasia Sinapis. Not common; May and August.
Gonepteryx Rhamni. Common; double-brooded.

Colias Edusa. Common some years, along the railway from Chi-
chester to Havant, and adjoining fields, &c.

ie » var. Helice. I have taken three specimens of this

variety.

», Hyale, Five specimens, one in the Isle of Wight, the rest

at the same place as C. Edusa.
Thecla Betulz. In Woolmer Forest and Forest of Bere ; September.

» Quercus. Ashford, near Petersfield and Forest of Bere.

» Rubi. Same as above.

Chrysophanus Phleas. Common.
Polyommatus Argiolus. In the garden at Ashford, occasionally.

= - es A

Insects. 4651

Polyommatus Alsus. I think I have taken it at Ashford, but am
not quite certain. :

s gon. Local, but common.

S Alexis. Common.

‘ Adonis. I have not taken this nearer than the Isle
of Wight.

+ Corydon. Same as above.

“3 Agestis. Rare.

Nemeobius Lucina. Widely dispersed and abundant in woods.

Limenitis Sibylla. Ashford, Forest of Bere and Stansted Forest.
In 1853 I took fifteen in a very few minutes in the Forest of Bere.

_ Argynnis Paphia, A. Aglaia, A. Adippe. In woods.

x Lathonia. I have had the great good fortune to capture
six specimens of this splendid insect: with two exceptions I think
I have taken all that I have seen. These exceptions were, one last
year in the Forest of Bere, which I observed sunning itself within a
yard of me, but over-anxiety and an intervening spray of blackthorn
defeated the first dash with my net, and, after a frantic chase of some
minutes, a hostile bramble reduced me to something below a level in
_a deep ditch: the other specimen I saw the year before near the
same place, but I had no net with me, and failed to catch it with my
hat. The specimens I took were on the skirts of, or just inside, woods.
All occurred in the latter part of June.

7 Kuphrosyne and Selene. Very common in woods.

Meliteza Artemis. Marshy ground near Ashford.
» Athalia. One specimen at Ashford.
Vanessa Cardui. Sometimes very common.

= Atalanta, Io, Urtice. Common.

» Polychloros. Widely distributed in woods, and not un-
common.

Es C-album. Nursted Woods and Forest of Bere; not un-
common.

Apatura Iris. Not uncommon in woods’ at Ashford and Forest of
Bere, but of course very difficult to capture. I took a magnificent
female on the 26th of August, and the same year took another on the
14th of July.

Arge Galathea. Common.

Satyrus Semele. Common on the sea coast, eight miles from here,
and in the Isle of Wight.

» Janira, Tithonus, Megera, Augeria, Hyperanthus and Pam-
philus. All common.

A652 Insects.

Pamphilia Linea and Sylvanus. Common.

: Comma. I have taken a few specimens at Ashford.
Syrichthus Alveolus. Common in woods. |
Thanaos Tages. Common in woods.

Sphinges.

Trochilium tipuliformis. Ashford, on vines; June.

4 formiceformis. Forest of Bere. ‘Two specimens.
fXgeria apiformis. Willow-bed at Ashford.
» bembiciformis. Same as before.

Sesia bombyliformis. Forest of Bere, and at Rhododendron flowers
in.the neighbouring gardens; June.

Macroglossa Stellatarum.

Cherocampa Elpenor.

Deilephila Euphorbiz. On the sea coast, about eight miles from
here, where Euphorbia paralias abounds, I have observed unmistak-
able tracks of the larve of the insect, but have not yet got it.

ot Galii. A brood of the larve were found in the flower-
garden at Uppark, by Mr. Weaver, secretary there.

Sphinx Convolvuli. Abundant in 1846, when I took it just after
dusk, hovering over a bed of Verbena, and also at the tall pink Phlox.
I have met with it a few times since, both at Ashford and near here.

» Ligustri. Common.

Acherontia Atropos. In potato-beds at Ashford. Atropa belladonna
abounds in the woods, but I have never found the larve of this moth
on it yet, though I have searched.

Smerinthus Tiliz. Not uncommon; Ashford, &c.

a ocellatus. Same as above.

‘ Populi. Same as above.
Anthrocera Trifolii. Three specimens; Ashford.

a Filipendulz. Common.

Procris Statices. Forest of Bere.
I reserve the rest of my list for a future number.
WILLIAM Henry HAWKER.

Horndean, Hants,
February 10, 1855.

— eed Bi

Insects. A653

Note on the Economy of Saturnia Pyri.—I obtained nineteen cocoons of this spe-
cies, collected in the neighbourhood of Paris, in the autumn of 1829. Of sixteen
cocoons remaining alive in 1830 (having given two away, and pierced a third, with a
view of preserving the pupa), the first imago was hatched about the 27th of March,
the cocoons having been kept all the winter in an extremely warm room, which undue
degree of heat does not appear at all prejudicial to this insect; two more made their
appearance between the above period and the 6th of April, all three females ; leaving, as
far as I can judge, but two males in the whole collection, which are not yet (April 7tb)
disclosed. The three now existing were perfectly developed, notwithstanding, in the
first instance, the cocoons were not bound down, a precaution I adopted immediately
for greater security. ‘The females are much more active than I imagined; fluttering
about during the night in their prison, to the great detriment of their wings: their flight
is very easy and rapid, and they are readily attracted to a lighted candle. I have just
opened the body of a dead female, but, to my surprise, could find neither eggs nor even

any apparent ovaries. That this insect, in its larva state, is little sensible to cold, may
be inferred from the fact, that I could obtain at the close of the most ungenial summer
of 1829 no less than nineteen cocoons, and had the season been more propitious
I might, probably, have procured many more.—W. A. Bromfield. This note by
the late amiable Dr. Bromfield was obligingly forwarded me for publication by Mr.
Curtis.
Are the Psychide to be considered Bombyces or Tineina ?—This small group, small
at least so far as concerns our Fauna, is at present knocking at everybody’s door for a
protector. Like the genus Eudorea it is bandied about, now here, now there, one
refusing to place it amongst the Bowbyces, another amongst the Tineina. Much
weeding and transplanting has been done of late, and many of the little fellows must
feel rather queer with such strange signboards put over them. It seems strange that
amongst the many who have such ample means of determining and fixing the “ locus”
of the Psychida—I refer to the records of the researches of others which they possess,
as well as to their own investigations—that there should still be so much division on
the subject. One party asserts and insists that they are true Bombyces, and so he
_ arranges them in his cabinet. Another prints a list in which they do not figure in that
section. A third party, whether acting on this hint or being emboldened at seeing his
own views shining through the cloud, pauses until it clears a little, and produces a
most able Monograph, showing them to be a section of the true Tineina: many are
the comparisons which he calls to his aid. Long before the appearance of Mr.
Doubleday’s list,—indeed until then I was not aware that any one entertained simi-
lar views to myself,—and consequently long before the publication of M. Bruand’s
_ Monograph, I often thought of their great external resemblance to some of the
Tineina, from the many points which they held in common with that family, from their
very earliest stages up to their final development. First, we have the larva bearing
its house about with it on its back as in Taleporia, Solenobia, Diplodoma, Xysmato-
doma, &c. Then we have apterous females, as in the two former of these genera. To
this circumstance I do not attach so much importance, as I see no reason, because
we have not hitherto met with them, why, in the yet unexplored regions of the earth,
the Rhopalocera, Sphingina, Noctuina, Pyralidina, &c., should not be found having
apterous females. It would only be completing the gradation, and is not drawing too
largely upon the imagination to suppose this. In the males again, the contour of the

XIII, R

4654 Insects..

wings partake very much of those of Talzporia and the others mentioned before, and

the covering of the wings also, in some of the species, being hairy rather than scaly,

bind them to a portion of Lampronia and other gevera. On denuding the wings and

examining their neuration, we find that the affinities do not cease entirely, although we

feel bound to say that we agree with M. Bruand when he states that this is a charac-

ter on which not much dependence can be placed, seeing that in the same genus one

“species partakes of a character wanting in another. We give his own words: “ Voir les
nervures de fascelina et pudibunda: l'interne, qui est double chez la premiére, est

simple chez la seconde.” (Mon. Psychides, p. 125.) These we think are the most pro-

minent points, those on which all from a little careful observation may be able to give
an opinion. But we will proceed a little further, as, although the characters are not
su conspicuous, yet they are equally important, consisting of the minutie into which
many may never have enquired, and many others may not have possessed the means of
examining ; whilst a third class may not have thought of comparing them. These

bear with them some little testimony of the views entertained by ourselves. Certain
of the species of the Psychides are without a tongue, and on referring to the Tineina,
Exapate, Dasystoma, Taleporia, Tinagma, &c., are found minus that organ, while in

several other genera it is so short as to be scarcely discernable: the palpi also are
sometimes entirely wanting, as in the case of Cemiostoma, &c., while in other genera,
such as Diplodoma, Xysmatodoma, Ochsenheimeria, at least one pair is undeveloped.
From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that we consider the Psychide nearly
related to the Tineina, and that they especially resemble Taleporia, Solenobia, Diplo-
doma and Xysmatodoma, in external characters. The two former of these genera have

apterous females ; the two latter winged in both sexes. The tongue is wanting, and
the maxillary palpi are in all four cases undeveloped. The larve are also case-bearers.
And now if we shall have thus been the means of inducing others to come forward with
such proofs as they have collected, either as relates to the consignment of the Psychide
to the Bombycina, or to the Tineina, we have obtained the end which we had in view.
—John Scott; South Bank, December, 1854. |
Occurrence of Spelotis valesiaca, S. cataleuca and Botys terrealis, near Beddge- —
lert—Any entomologist whose rambles may lead him into North Wales, would pro-
bably find a rich field for his labours in the neighbourhood of Beddgelert. My own
experience of the locality is but limited; however, the result of a few hours’ collecting
about the 23rd of July last, was twenty-eight of S. cataleuca, one S. valesiaca, and a —
B. terrealis, S. cataleuca was flying in the middle of the day with the greatest
activity, and in swarms, over a quantity of débris from some old copper mines, their —
lively habits, together with the roughness of the ground, rendered their capture some-

what difficult. Out of this same débris I also started a fine S. valesiaca, which Was }

readily captured ; another specimen I had chanced to detect at rest near Capel Curig :

3

a few days before. B. terrealis I took amongst some brake at the foot of Snowdon,
very near Beddgelert, and perhaps at an elevation of 300 feet. The old mines lie to
the left of the road from Beddgelert towards Llanberris, about two miles from the —
former place, and may readily be recognised from having a powder magazine and —
manager’s house attached, both partially in ruins—Henry Evans; Darley Abbey,
Derby, Feb. 19, 1855. |
Habit of the Larva of Glyphipteryx Haworthana. — Mr. Edleston informs me, he
has been acquainted with this larva for years ; it feeds in the heads of the cotton-grass —
(Eriophorum). Mr. Edleston writes, “ suppose a collector wished to get them now, I

Insects. 465d

should say, go to the ‘ Moss’ and pick up all the old cotton-grass heads off the ground,
and by so doing, Mr. Haworthana would appear in due course.” — H. 7. Stainton ;
Mounts field, Lewisham, March 3, 1855.

Occurrence of a Water Beetle new to the British Fauna.—It gives me great plea-
sure to record the capture of a Hydroporus new to our native lists, — five examples of
the H. elongatulus, Sturm (recently determined for me by Dr. Schaum, of Berliu),
having been discovered by myself on Midgeley Moor, near Halifax, during July, 1852.
They were taken in company with H. Gyllevhalii and H. tristis in a small pond, or
tarn, above Hebden Bridge; and, had I recognised them at the time as anything
uncommon, I might, doubtless, have secured considerable quantities of them. They
are darker than the ordinary continental specimens, appearing to want the diluted or
piceous tinge towaids the base and margins of the elytra, which is so evident in their
German representatives. — 7. Vernon Wollaston; 25, Thurloe Square, Brompton,
March 6, 1855.

Note on the Orchesia minor of British Cabinets.—The Orchesia minor appearing,
from its great rarity, to be but imperfectly known, not merely in this country, but
throughout Europe generally, a few words concerning it may not be altogether un-
acceptable. It appears to have been originally described by Mr. Walker (Ent. Mag.
iv. 83), in 1837, from a Scotch specimen found near Lanark; and subsequently (as
Dr. Schaum, of Berlin, informs me) by Rosenhauer, from the Tyrol, under the title of
O.sepicola. It seems essentially an autumnal species ; coming into being about the
middle of July, and lasting until September; at which time, in certain localities,
I have observed it in tolerable numbers. It is particularly attached to the common
Sloe (Prunus spinosa, L.), from off the branches of which it may be occasionally
beaten, especially in low, damp thickets (beneath trees), on a clayey soil. Under such
circumstances I have captured it at Spridlington, near Lincoln, from July to Septem-
ber, not unfrequently ; as also at Shenton, Leicestershire (in Ambion Wood), towards
the end of October, in company with Phloiophilus Edwardsii, and other insects
of post-autumnal habits. The shuffling or skipping motion, so characteristic of the
genus, is carried out to such a singular extent in O. minor that, even whilst in the net,
it is by no means easy to secure.—d.

Note on the Tachyporus nitidicollis of Stephens.—It may bea fact worth recording,
for the collectors of our native. Brachelytra, that the Tachyporus nitidicollis of
Stephens is a species unknown on the Continent, and one which has consequently
escaped notice in Erichson’s Monograph of the Staphylinide. For many years past I
have been accustomed to capture it in several districts of Ireland, and I had always
regarded it as peculiar to that country ; nevertheless, Mr. Stephens’ dictum of “ hedges,
near London” (although it is true that a single specimen only exists in his cabinet)
would seem to imply that it has an English “ habitat ” likewise. At any rate it must
be extremely rare on this side of the channel, since it has never come beneath my own
observation, nor am I aware of its occurrence in any collection except the Stephensian
one. In Ireland, however, it is apparently universal; and in the counties of Cork
and Kerry it may be taken almost everywhere. In the vicinity of Killarney it
abounds, particularly, during the autumnal months, around cultivated grounds, and in
grassy spots beneath trees. In the neighbourhood of Kanturk it occasionally teems;
and in the plantations of my friend, W. Leader, Esy., of Rosnalee, it is literally
anuisance. I have also met with it near Dublin; and towards the end of September,
1854, it was tolerably common in the grounds of Trinity College. I may add that I

AG56 Insects— Birds.

have lately transmitted a series to Berlin, for examination by Dr. Schaum and
M. Kraatz, by whom it was altogether unknown.—Zd.

White Ant in India.—TI have just received the following in a letter from a near
relative, in the Horse Artillery, at Bangalore : — “ Some time ago, T think in 1853, an
order of Government directed all the white ants’ nests within fifty or a hundred yards
of the public buildings to be rooted out. In doing so, numbers of queen ants were
found, and, strange to relate, in one nest no less than three queens were discovered, and
not merely in one nest, but actually and truly in one cell! In several nests two queens
were found. These are curious facts, are they not? Let me know if this has been
discovered before. In my opinion there must be two kinds of queen, as at Secun-
derabad I made a coloured sketch of one from nature, and made another officer com-
pare the sketch with the insect: well, on coming down here to Bangalore, and showing
the sketch to a naturalist, he said I had evidently made a mistake in copying it, as he
had never seen a queen like it, and assured ne they were not of the same kind at this
place, as he had seen numbers of queens when they were dug up by reason of
the same Government order. I will, however, (D. V.) manage to get one and compare
it with my sketch, which I know is correct. I watched the one from which my sketch
was taken for hours, and highly amused was I in so doing. I had unfortunately at
that time no large magnifying-glass, but could see with the naked eye that there were
four or five different kinds of small ants performing their relative duties around their
queen; one kind apparently cleaning her; a second polishing the shields on her back ;
a third evidently carrying away the dirt or dust swept off her; a fourth kind, with very
strong mandibles, superintending and certainly correcting the lazy ones; still, a fifth
kind carrying away the eggs. All the time I could plainly distinguish a drumming
noise proceeding from the bunch of them, accompanied by the champing of the man-
dibles I spoke of (even of a night in your room where the ants are working you can
hear the latter very plainly); I watched and watched, until the queen (literally a great
piece of moving fat) actually made me sick. She is, without exception, the nastiest
looking creature IT ever beheld. As soon as I have obtained a Bangalore queen (if
there is any difference between the two) I will send you the coloured sketches. I have
never yet seen a proper sketch of a queen white ant; the woodcuts seen in books are
absurd, and no more like the original than the moon is like cream-cheese. I know (as
I told you before) my sketch is right, as several of us compared it closely with the ori-
ginal.’— J. M. Jones ; 3, Garden Court, Temple, March 6, 1855.

Memorandum on the Habits of the Jack Snipe.
By the Rev. J. C. Atkinson, M.A.

The jack snipe, says Mr. Yarrell (vol. 11. p. 612) “ when not search-
ing for food chooses sheltered situations among strong rushes or coarse
long grass, and the luxuriant vegetation common to moist grounds.

In such places it is remarkable for its sluggishness, seldom taking

wing till almost trodden upon, which has induced French naturalists
to call this species Bécassine Sourde, as though it were deaf to the

let Re os

eee cs

ee eee

Birds. 4657

approach of an enemy, and instances have occurred in which a jack
snipe has allowed itself to be picked up by hand before the nose of a
pointer.” .... “ It does not, when flushed, utter any note.”

In the month of March, last year, | fell in with five or six jack
snipes in a piece of boggy ground on the moors here, and on one of
these I very nearly trod as I stepped across a sort of water channel.
This bird, on being so very rudely flushed, did utter a note,—the one
solitary instance in which I have ever heard the note of the jack
snipe: it was a little, faint, stridulous pzpe, and more resembling the
ery of the common bat than that of any bird I ever listened to.

In reference to the other peculiarity in the habits of the jack snipe
described in the above quotation, I may mention, that as I was walk-
ing a few weeks since with my gun, | wounded and followed a par-
tridge. While searching for it | walked up a hedge, by the side of
which a little stream of a few inches in width trickled along. An
object in this stream caught my eye sufficiently to arrest my attention ;
a second look showed me it was a jack snipe lying perfectly motionless
on its breast, and with head stretched out, on the surface of the water,
which was streaked and spotted with a few blades and leaves of water-
grass and other aquatic plants. That it was not dead was apparent
from the fresh unruffled appearance of the plumage; that it was simu-
lating death was equally apparent. I stood within two paces of it,
watching it for a minute or two; it remained unmoved; I advanced a
step nearer, still it did not stir; I stooped, put out my hand, and then,
but not until my fingers were within a foot and a half or so of it, did
the little fellow show that it was only feigning all this time, for quickly
and briskly enough it rose and flew away.

Now, I do not hold that this jack snipe showed itself either “ slug-
gish” or “sourde” by the conduct I have detailed ; on the contrary
I think, that in virtue of that instinct which, in such a vast number of
the animals we know most familiarly, looks so marvellously like some-
thing higher than what we commonly understand by instinct, it did
what was best and most appropriate under the circumstances and in
connexion with the object in view. Every wild creature, with an ex-
ception or two, when disturbed by man, or indeed any other of its
enemies, seeks refuge in one of two ways—by flight or by conceal-
ment; and as far as my own observation goes, I believe that the latter
way is the one which the creature by its first natural impulse is led to
attempt, and is in fact the one much the most frequently attempted
when at all practicable, except under abnormal conditions. Why
does the hare on the stubble or fallow, as you go by her within a few

”

4658 © Dirds.

yards, only crouch down the closer in its seat?) Why does the water-
hen, as you walk along the stream, make for the overhanging bush, often
on foot,—if by flight, only by a short one,—and there emerge itself?
Why does the partridge, after lifting its head for a moment to survey
the approaching intruder, cower close to the ground, if at all rough of
surface, or crouchingly run to the nearest available covert of stubble
or weed or bush? Why does the common snipe, as you draw near to

its haunt, leave the ground it was feeding on, and hastily run off to ~

the sheltering rushes.* 1 say, because instinct teaches them to em-
ploy those habits which Nature has given them for such purpose in
seeking safety by means of concealment, and because, moreover—shall
we again say '—znstinct points out to them the way of concealment
under the circumstances of place and possible shelter, the most easily
attained and likely to be effectual. Alter the circumstances, and you
alter too the conduct of all these creatures. The little-disturbed covey
of partridges that yesterday hid themselves till you were within
twenty or twenty-five yards of them, to day, when snow covers the
ground, flies hastily off as soon as you come in sight. The hare
leaves the open field and goes to the hedge, and, unless that hedge be
very thick, very likely steals away on the other side long before you
come abreast of it. The snipe, if not already driven from its haunt of
yesterday, rises wild, and betakes itself to some open spring, or else
some close concealment. But why? Because their “instinct”
teaches them that concealment is, under the circumstances, impossi-
ble: nor do I think the increasing wildness of the game birds as the
season advances weakens the argument. It does not take long to
teach birds, the dwellers in islands hitherto untrodden by man, to
avoid their first human visitor as an enemy and destroyer; and
depend upon it, the sound of the gun is soon recognised and under-
stood by the grouse and the partridge; and besides, the birds that
have tried their powers of flight once and again when alarmed or dis-
turbed soon learn to place confidence in that resource.

No doubt some creatures resort to concealment much more than
others. The water rail and land rail both must be surprised to be made

* All these facts I have verified by personal observation within a few weeks past.
Twenty times have I seen, since the snow first set in, the waterhen retreating to con-
cealment as I approached, or the tracks of its having done so within a few minutes
past. ‘Twice I have observed the snipe acting as mentioned in the text ; while, with
respect to the partridge and hare, every person the least conversant with their habits
will at once recognise the truthfulness of the reference I have made to a part of those
habits,

Birds. 4659

to fly at all, and rarely, if ever, can be flushed a second time. The
jack snipe and woodcock (and often the common snipe) “lie” re-
markably “close.” The coot and the waterhen can scarcely ever be
driven from the sedges and reeds, and so on; but still, allowing for
variation in habits, I think observation shows that wild creatures
generally, when they are able, through a combination of natural
powers and favourable circumstances, try in the first instance to avoid
what may be approaching danger by avoiding discovery; if this
attempt appears likely to be in vain, then by flight.

Now I think that the jack snipe I have mentioned was influenced to
act as it did by this instinct. There were no “ strong rushes,” or “ coarse
long grass,” or “luxuriant vegetation,” anywhere near it: concealment
by such means was out of the question; but gwas?-concealment by
means of utter stillness and simulated death—a means resorted to,
observe, by many another creature besides the jack snipe, and not
imputed to them as sluggishness, or stupidity, or intellectual deafness—
is practicable, and therefore adopted; and, indeed, the little bird
might well have gone unnoticed by nine passers-by out of ten,
although of much quicker sight than myself.

I know that man is “ fearfully and wonderfully made,” and I be-
lieve that the inferior orders of animate creation are, at the least,
“ wonderfully” made, and it is with feelings of distaste that I hear
whole species of them vilipended as to their—what in our own case
we should call—common sense. It seems to me like throwing a slur
on Creating Wisdom. I believe that the foolish guillemot and the
dotterel are as sufficiently furnished with the common sense requisite
in their own scale of creation as the race of mankind is in theirs,
while I am sure that the “silly goose,” the “ obstinate pig,” and the
“stubborn” and “stupid jackass,” very frequently are better stocked
with the article in question than many of those who apply these epi-
thets to them; nay, even the booby and the noddy might not be
found so very “ deficient” after all, if only we knew them, and they
knew man, more intimately. For my own part, I have the most
entire conviction that the more closely we observe the ways and
habits of animal creation, the more thoroughly and intimately-we
become acquainted with the laws of their being, the more searchingly
we trace and investigate the characters legibly—and to the true
inquirer not unintelligibly—impressed upon them by the Author of
their existence, the more, even among the most contemned and
despised races, shall we find to admire, to wonder at, and reverently

4660 Birds.

to pronounce compatible only with the possession by their Maker of
nothing short of Infinite Wisdom, Infinite Power, and Infinite
Goodness.
. J. C. ATKINSON.
Danby, Grosmont, York.

Occurrence of Wild Fowl at Scarborough.—We have had abundance of wild fowl
on our coast this severe weather. I here send you a list of birds brought in from
February Ist to the present time, to be preserved :— Brent geese, three; smews,
four; common scoters, three ; velvet scoters, three ; goldeneyes, fifteen; scaup ducks,
sixteen ; mergansers, two; rednecked grebes, five; eared grebe, one; blackthroated
diver, one: all in fine adult plumage.—Alfred Roberts; King Street, Scarborough,
February 27, 1855.

Winter Visitors to the Norfolk Coast during the late severe weather.—The unusual
severity of the weather during the last two months naturally put collectors on the gui
vive for good birds; but although our coast is generally noted for the occurrence
of rarities, the present season seems chiefly remarkable for the numbers of scarce spe-
cies, usually appearing in small quantities. Most of the common kinds of wild fowl
and hoopers have visited us in very large flocks; the goldeneye and scaup ducks
peculiarly numerous: at the same time there has been an almost total absence of some
species looked for in sharp weather, such as the pintail and long-tailed ducks; and, in
another class, the Bohemian waxwing has not, I believe, occurred in the county. The
following is a list of such birds as have come under my notice :—

Snow buntings and bramblings. Large flocks of these birds have been met with.
A bird-stuffer in this city has now eight of the former alive and doing well in con-
finement.

Hawfinches. Several of these birds have been shot lately.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (females). Rare.

Rock Pipit. Killed at Yarmouth.

Hoopers. More than twenty of these swans have been killed to my knowledge.

Bewick’s Swan. Two shot at Yarmouth, one at Hickling, and two at Bowthorpe,
near Norwich.

Whitefronted, Bernicle, Brent and Bean Geese.

Pinkfooted Geose. One specimen from Holkham.

Sheldrakes. Five adult birds.

Velvet Scoters. One old male and two females

Common Scoters. Extremely numerous.

Goosanders. Out of thirteen specimens, six adult males; very fine.

Red-breasted Merganser. Three old males, in full winter plumage.

Common Cormorants. Two.

Green Shag. One.

Blackthroated Diver. Young male.

Redthroated Diver. Six or seven, all immature. — H. Stevenson; Norwich,
March 19, 1855.

Birds. 4661

Occurrence of the Polish Swan at Hornsey Mere.—On the 2nd of March two fine
adult specimens of the Polish swan were killed on Hornsey Mere (near Yarmouth), by
Mr. Rising’s keeper: they were quite alone, and difficult to approach. One of the
specimens was sent to Mr. Yarrell for his inspection, who confirmed me in my opinion,
as to its being the “Cygnus immutabilis” (changeless swan) of his work. Several
flocks of this wild swan were seen in the neighbourhood during the late severe
weather, and within the last ten days three more birds have been obtained in the
same locality: as the above; one of which proved to be Bewick’s, and the other two
hoopers.—George S. Frederick ; 13, Westbourne Terrace, North, March 19, 1855.

Black Swans Breeding in Confinement.—A pair of black swans which have been in
my possession for about three years, without having bred, have just hatched three cyg-
nets, from four eggs. They were very busy quite early in January in making their

‘nest, which consisted of rushes, which they collected themselves on the banks of the
canal; and of which they collected a large quantity, and which they were continually
adding to the nest during the titne they were sitting. They have chosen a spot
entirely exposed to the north wind without the slightest shelter, and at times I feared
they would have been buried in the snow. The first egg was laid about the 15th of
January, and the young ones were hatched on the 8th of March: they are quite
strong, and there seems every chance of their living.— Samuel Gurney, Jun. ; Carshal-
ton, March, 1855. :

Curious act of Autosurgery in a Teal.—On the 27th of February my brother wrote
to me from Conway, North Wales, and he says, ‘‘ I shot a teal some days ago which
had had its leg broken some days previously, probably by a shot. This bird had most
ingeniously spliced and mended it. Through a hole in the skin the bird had passed
tolerably large feathers, had passed them round the protruding bone and back again
through the hole, thereby keeping the bone not only covered, but pretty close to the
fracture ; several feathers were thus employed, and all fastened off and glued together

by means of the clotted blood, so that a casual observer would not have remarked it. I
thought it uncommonly ingenious, and, in my desire to ascertain the modus operandi,
I pulled all the feathers ont, or I should otherwise have preserved it.” I wrote to my
brother to know whether he was certain it was not done by some other means, as
for instance, by the shot. To my inquiries he replies: “ The teal’s leg was broken in
the length where there are no feathers, and the principal feather inserted by the bird
was not such a feather as grows on the upper portion of the leg, but appeared to me to
be a long breast-feather or wing-feather near the breast. The manner in which it was
inserted, leaves no doubt in my mind that it was so placed by the bird, as were
the other feathers which I have described.”—-7. A. Preston; Emmanuel College,

_ Cambridge, March 13, 1855.

Electric Property in the Feathers of a Woodpigeon.—* On Thursday, the day before
the thaw commenced, I shot a woodpigeon, which I put into my pocket; on taking it
out when I got home, a good many feathers which were loose, were so attracted to my
body and clothes that it was a work of labour to remove them all; and when I held
one of the feathers in my hand and put my finger or anybody else’s finger near the
feather, it was attracted to it. Now, I am aware that this is caused by the electricity
of my body, but as no other feather was thus attracted except taken from the body
of the lately-killed pigeon, I should like an explanation of this.” In answer to
questions put by me, my brother says: “The pigeon had been shot fully an hour
before I got home. It was very severe frost, probably the feathers had retained

XIII S

4662 Fishes.

a good deal of their natural heat, from being carried in my pocket: I fancy the
state of the atmosphere had a good deal to do with it. The feathers of the bird next
day showed no signs of electricity.” Are feathers in general so electrified? or does
this happen in certain states of the weather? If you would kindly furnish me with
any information on these points, you would much oblige.—Jd.

Some Observations on the Salmo Estuarius or Estuary Trout.
By R. Knox, M.D., F.R.S.E., &e.

Many esteemed naturalists still view certain members of the natural
family of the Salmonidz as mere varieties, dependent for their origin
and permanency on the influence of the surrounding media in which
they have been accidentally placed. In respect of some of these so-
called varieties such a view is probably the correct one; but having
for many years adopted other views as to the origin of species, the
relations of species to natural subfamilies, and of these again to natu-
ral families or genera, and having lately tested these views by an
appeal to the principles of transcendental anatomy, I continue to view

as distinct species many races or kinds of animals which others look

on as mere varieties.

Amongst these I place a race or kind of trout which I have ventured
to call the estuary trout (Salmo Estuarius), simply because I have
hitherto found it to frequent chiefly those waters “ into which the tide
ebbs and flows,” waters very difficult to define, a fact which many pro-
prietors of salmon rivers have learned to their cost. The term
“estuary” will not, I hope, be objected to on the ground that there
are many rivers which have no estuary, and in which this species of
trout may notwithstanding be found, my meaning being merely this—
that the trout in question inhabits those waters, and those waters only,
influenced by the tide; the brackish waters, in fact, of rivers whose
limits neither naturalists nor engineers, lawyers nor chemists have
been able rigorously to define.

The trout I am now to describe is a fine and delicate fish, with all
the beauty of the class or natural family to which it bielotiee? It in-
habits the brackish waters or estuary, and I have never found it higher
up in the rivers towards their sources, and only twice in the sea.
Those I have examined, and they have been very numerous, were

mostly taken with the net near the mouth of the Tyne of East Lothian, —

in North Britain, and in the Nith of Dumfriesshire (also in Scotland),

—— =

oS ae ES

Fishes. 4663

between the bridge and the Solway Frith, into which the Nith pours
its waters. They have been taken also in the estuary of the Forth,
and, as I have been assured, in the brackish waters of the Esk, in
Eskdale, Yorkshire. They were generally about a foot in length, al-
though I have seen taken, and examined one which weighed four
pounds, a weight which no doubt the greater number would reach but
for the constant net-fishing which prevails in these waters. That the
young of these trout were also in the net at the time the larger were
captured is extremely probable, as some of the nets took everything
down to the minnow and herring fry; but the young of all the Sal-
monidz bearing a close resemblance to each other did not then receive
from me all the attention the subject merits. Agreeing so far with my
distinguished friend M. Valenciennes, that naturalists have to do only
with the adult individual of any species, yet, as an anatomist interested
in the advance of Philosophic Zoology, I feel bound now to say that
neither the anatomy nor natural history of the grown individual will
ever enable the naturalist (whatever may be his genius or learning) to
place Zoology on that basis which alone entitles it to the name of a
Science.

As regards its food it seems to me, after numerous examinations, to
live almost exclusively, during the summer at least, on a small shrimp
(Gammarus), which floats in innumerable shoals in these waters: these
shoals or groups assume the form of a cone, the apex being upwards
towards the stream, and generally close to some bank or abutment
_ projecting into the main stream of the river. With these small shrimps
I have always found the stomachs of the estuary trout gorged, and con-
clude that it must be the food they prefer: a draught of the net, in
the Nith, took several other species of the Salmonide, and thus a
comparison could be and was instituted on the spot: in the true salmon
no food was found but the remains of the eggs of the Echinodermata ;
in the sea trout or Salmo fario this food was also found, but occasionally
the sand eel and small herring; the same remark applies to the
hirling: the small common river trout and the par, which were also
taken in the net at the same time, had been feeding abundantly on
flies, screws, cad bait, and all the ordinary food of the common river
trout which anglers know so well; the estuary trout alone had been
preying on the shrimps or Gammari, and nothing else.

As food for man these trout are excellent; their flesh is of a pink
colour, and quite equal to the fine river trout of England. I fancied
them equal in this respect to the celebrated Loch Leven trout, but
this is a matter of taste, which I mean not to insist on.

4664 Fishes.

And now, in respect of their distinguishing or specific characters,
external and internal: they are a red-spotted trout, both above and
below the lateral line; their head and fins are proportionally more
delicate than those of the common red-spotted trout of the Scottish
rivers and brooks; their proportions are, in fact, somewhat inter-
mediate between the delicate lacustrine trout (Salmo Levensis) and
the common riverine species, neither do I believe them transmutable
or convertible into any other species of trout by any natural changes
now in operation. What forms they might assume if compelled to
live wholly in the sea, or in waters (whether lacustrine or riverine)
wholly fresh, is a question I shall not discuss here ; my own opinion is
that they would become extinct.

The place it is entitled to in the scale of the natural family of
the Salmonide I shall consider presently. The teeth are nearly as
large again as in the common river trout, and the dentition is as
follows :—

Upper jaw.—Supermaxillary . ; . ‘ ; 25 +25 = 50
Intermaxillary ; ; : . : 10+10 = 20
Palatine : P : ‘ : : 14+ 14 = 28

Vomerine as usual in a double alter-
nating row. ; : err at 20
Lower jaw or mandible i ; ‘ ‘ : : 20-+20 = 40
Lingual ‘ : ‘ ; : ; 6+. 6; =F

These teeth are reckoned, not from the actual number of teeth present,
which varies of course at almost every instant in the life of the fish,
but from the number of distinct mucous cavities fitted for the recep-
tion of the teeth, whose number determines rigorously that of the teeth
which are present or which are in process of development, and which
disappear when, by age or maturity, a bone is about to become
edentulous.

The vomerine teeth, the peculiar characteristic of the Salmonide,
and to the arrangement and development of which M. Valenciennes
attaches so much importance, do not differ in any remarkable way
from others of the trout species. The anterior transverse vomerine
teeth are not more distinct than they are in the common and Leven
trout; that is, they do not extend beyond the mesial line, as in the
common or true salmon. Having neglected to note with sufficient
care the dentition of the large or full-grown estuary trout, those of
4 ths. for example, I am unable to say what changes take place in the
vomerine teeth. The law of edentulation (loss of teeth), as regards

Fishes. 4665

the vomerine teeth in the Salmonide, I have ascertained to be thus:
when young, all the species of the three subfamilies, into which the
Salmonidz may, for the’ convenience of description, be subdivided,
have the same dentition, which, as regards the vomerine teeth, con-
sists in a double alternating row of teeth, with a few transverse teeth
in front upon the fore part of the vomer.* As the fish grows the great
generic character and law yields to the law of specialization and of
family. Thus, as regards the Salmonide, if the young fish is to grow
into a true salmon, it loses the vomerine teeth from behind forwards, the
transverse teeth in front being those which remain to the last. This,
in fact, is the special character of the dentition of the true salmon.
and the law which regulates it. If, on the other hand, the young fish
is to become a sea trout or Fario (a subfamily strongly allied to the
true salmon by some species, and as strongly no doubt with true trout
on the other), it also loses the vomerine teeth from behind forwards,
but retains a few occasionally in a single row, the transverse or front
vomerine remaining as in the salmon; but if the young fish is to
grow up a trout, then the transverse teeth, always few in number, either
remain as they were or are lost, the double alternating row continues,
and the bone becomes edentulous from before backwards. Which
form prevails in the estuary trout I know not; I should think the
latter; but, be this as it may, the estuary trout seems to me to fill
up that link in the grand serial chain of the Salmonide, connecting
the river trout with a fish of the salmon kind which appears in the
markets occasionally in September,—a fish not yet well described nor
placed ; the red or purple-spotted salmon.

In thus describing the characteristic dentition of the three sub-
families of the Salmonidz at present known to zoologists, I do not
pretend that such distinctslines of demarcation absolutely exist in
nature. To us they seem real, and so far are real, because we know
no better; but, in the great scale of Nature, there are in reality no
such things as species or subfamilies, all gaps being no doubt filled
up, did we but know sufficiently the fossil and the recent zoologies.
Generic distinctions seem alone to exist and to be recognised in
Nature’s scheme, and some distinguished anatomists are disposed to
doubt even this. In the mean time, for the sake of classification and
in the interests of science, these characters of subfamily and species
answer well enough.

In August the milt in some specimens was found to be largely

* Chevron of French naturalists.

4666 Fishes.

developed. The vertebre are 60; there are 32 floating ribs on either
side, and the pancreatic ceca, or rather cecal apertures, were 36;
but, if my notes do not mislead me (and they are not very distinct,
having been made more than thirty years ago), I find that the
number varied, a circumstance I am disposed to attribute to some
error in observation.

The insect which the salmon and sea trout bring with them from
the sea is also found to infest the estuary trout. The skeleton tissue
is not so dense as in the common and Leven trout: it may induce
zoologists and others interested in Natural History to examine the
tables of proportions and measurements which I here annex, if [
briefly state my own views on the relation of species to natural family
or genus, based partly on these tables, but chiefly on the transcen-
dental in anatomy.

The young of every large natural family, by the law of unity, greatly
resemble each other: this extends to all the species, externally and
internally. As the young grow the characteristics of subfamily and
species predominate over the generic, or rather, many of the latter
disappear, leaving some which by their presence mark the species and
subfamily. If we apply this to the natural family of the Salmonide,
a member of which I now describe, we shall find the view, though
transcendental and abstract, fully supported by an appeal to the
material manifestations of forms, and fully supporting these proposi-
tions: Ist, the specific characters of all the species of any natural
family are included in the young of every species of that family ;
2nd, the development of any species depends on its position in time
and space, and not on the transmutation of one species into another;
3rd, were all the species of any natural family destroyed saving one,
from that one all the other species belonging to the same natural
family might be developed, this being merely a question of time,
locality, aud geological influences.

Thus no species grows out of another; all are foreseen in the
natural family or genus, as proved by Embryology and by the Tran-
scendental. The following sketch of the natural arrangement of
the Salmonide, extremely imperfect no doubt, is subjoined merely
to explain the view.

Salmonide.—A Natural Family.

Generic characters, as exemplified in the young of any of the
species: Ist, by the dentition; 2nd, by the system of coloration—

—~/——— ——

ny

2. e. by 1, red spots;
scales.

* 1, Trout.
Fig .t.
“a

Red spots or dark spots,
as the case may be. The
red-spotted prevail in ri-
vers ; one species frequents
the estuary : the dark-spot-
ted trout are lacustrine
generally.

Fishes.

4667

2, dark spots; 8, par markings; 4, silvery

Subfamilies.—Adult.

2. Sea Trout.
Fig.t2.
ad

Colouring.

Many dark spots above
and below the lateral line.
By so much as the fish is
silvery and scaly and with
few spots, by so much does
he approach the pure sal-
mon, and in health he loses
all the red spots.

3. Salmon.
Mg 13.

Silvery scales; a few
dark spots above the la-
teral line. When the dark
spots below the lateral line
amount to five or six, the
salesman knows that the
fish is coarse, and that it
approaches the Fario in
character. The specific
character, then, of the very
fine salmon is to lose all
the spots of every kind.

Lastly, for I am unwilling to extend this memoir further, species no
doubt exist or have existed approximating all these species and sub-
families, leaving no gap or deficient link in the serial unity of the
family ; and these species will be found to be characterised, not by
any new feature, not by any character wanting in the young, but the
predominance of one to the exclusion and extinction of the others.

_ The embryo, the young, is perfect generically; the adult specifically.

This is the law of species, and this is no doubt the law by which
Nature provides for the extinction of certain species and the ap-

pearance of others in time and space.

Were our observations

* Fig. 11. a, marks the vomerine teeth in the trout and in the young of all the
the species of the Salmonide. Fig. 12. a, vomerine teeth in the sea trout: the young
salmon from 24 to 3 Ibs. weight has the dentition of the sea trout. Fig. 13. a, vomerine
teeth in the full-grown salmon: the transverse vomerine teeth remain; the mesial
and posterior are reduced to one or two.

4668 Fishes.

sufficiently delicate [ have no doubt that the principal species com-
posing any natural family might be determined @ priori by an
inspection of the embryo and young: then and then only can
Zoology be esteemed a Science.

Observations made on the proportions which the various segments
of animals bear to each other, and to the corresponding structures in
other animals, bear me fully out in these views.

In the fish, what may popularly be called the head includes the
_ organs of prehension, the teeth—and of respiration, the gills. Its size,
compared with the other segments of the fish, and with the same
structure in other species of the same family and subfamily, will
always furnish valuable information as to the character of the fish
and its generic relations. The same remark applies to the fins
generally; but to each after its own manner, seeing that all the
fins do not belong to one system. In the table which follows
are given the various measurements of three distinct species of
trout.

TaB ez I.
Salmo S. Salar of
estuarius. §S. Levensis, the Tweed.
ine in. in.
Total length . . ; : . 123 123 . “ore
Length of head, measuring 5 fits snout to posterior
margin of gill cover : ° : - - 24 23 3g
Utmost gape ; : 3 : : : : lz 1}
From snout to eye , ; : : : ; 3 3 1
From snout to pectoral fin 5 ; ; é . 2b 23 3
Length of pectoral fin . ; 3 ; ; ~ pale 13 1g
From snout to dorsal fin : : ; / 1 picanee 43 53
From snout to mort fin : ‘ ; . : $ 9 9
From snout to pelvic fin . : 5 : . oO 53 64
From snout to anal fin ¢ : ; . . 8b 8+ 8}
Breadth of tail : ; ’ ay ie 33 22
From snout to end of maxillary ties. : “+ jae 14 12
Greatest depth (immediately anterior to the dana
fin) . : : . 2% (or 4th of the whole length).

Smallest (anterior to the eetting on of the tail) oh

4669

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XIIT,

4670 Fishes.

The late Mr. W. Murray, of Henderland, whom I had the pleasure
to call for many years my friend, informed me that occasionally a
trout much resembling the species I have described was taken in the
trawl-nets in Loch Fine; and this observation was confirmed by my
brother, who, being engaged on the 17th January 1838, in inquiring
into the herring fisheries of the Western Lochs, was present when
two trout were taken in the trawl-net, off Collambray Ferry, in the
Kyles of Bute. The following description of these trout I subjoin
from my brothers notes: I examined them also; they seemed to
me to differ somewhat from the estuary trout, but as observations
respecting red-spotted trout caught in the sea are so rare, I shall
not venture to offer any more decided opinion.

No. 1.—Trout taken with two others in a trawl-net off Collambray
Ferry, Kyles of Bute, on the Bute shore, January 17,1838: that
ts to say, in the sea.

Snout to centre of tail E . : : : : 13 inches.
= > to-dorsal fim”. : : , : ‘ : i
» topelvisfin . ; ; : : : : GE.
» to anal fin : ; : ‘ F aes
» to extreme margin of gill- cover ; 3 ‘ ae
Length of head (dorsal ay ‘ : - ; : hia
Greatest depth . : , at ae ; $ 27°);
Weight. : : : ; ; ‘ . ; 13 oz.

“Milt not larger than a crow-quill, soft, but had evidently per-
formed its function; when cut into, red (like the Loch Leven trout) ;
food various, and in large quantity; pancreatic portion of intestine
contained a large tape-worm and several small hard worms, &c.; spleen
was triangular, not more than gths each way; liver healthy; no fatty
deposit whatever in the interior.

“ This trout, when first taken from the Loch, looked exactly like a
river trout in very fine condition; the abdomen and fins were of a
rich yellow colour. With the exception of the spots being about
half the size and greatly more numerous, the general colouring
of both trout was the same. As an article of food it was deli-
cate, and resembled closely the red trout got in Loch Leven, the
Tyne at East Linton, and that from the estuary of the Nith at
Dumfries.”

Fishes. | 4671

No. 2.—Trout taken with two others in a trawl-net off Collambray
Ferry, Kyles of Bute, on the Bute shore, January 17, 1838.

Snout to centre of tail . : : . 2 j 13+ inches.

» todorsal fin . d \ F : , , 54 55

» topelvis fin . ‘ : 5 : : ‘ 6 Se

» teapalfn . : : ‘ . : : 8i,,

»» to extreme margin of gill-cover_. j A oa
Length of head (dorsal line). : : . : AGasg
Greatest depth . ‘ F ; ; } ; fF (Cy
Weight . . ‘ ; : ; . : 13 oz. 4 drs.

“Sex, female-——Ovary small, whole mass about 1} inch in length.
The fish may have spawned, in all probability, last September or
October early: muscle, when cut into, a bright and clear vermilion
colour, like salmon.

“This trout in colour and marking was very like the preceding
one; the form, however, of the body generally greatly differed.
I have preserved the skin and taken a cast, which will show the
difference in form, the comparative smallness of the head, and
greater depth of body. The skin shows the spots on the integuments
greatly larger than in No. 1, and fewer in number. This fish, as an
article of food, was decidedly superior to the preceding, and I think,
generally speaking, that the female trout is superior in this respect
to the male, both being at the time in good condition. I am of
opinion that Nos. 1 and 2 were male and female of the same species
of trout, and in all probability of the same age. I have taken a
plaster cast of the stomach, viscera, &c.; the contents of the stomach
consisted entirely of a clear pale orange-red, shrimp-looking insect,
something like those got in the stomach of the other trout, and pre-
served; but in this, the female trout’s stomach, they seemed to be
of finer quality. From the pancreatic cceca I drew out three tape-
worms, similar to those found in the male trout: these worms were
each about 6 inches in length.”

To sum up the specific characters of the estuary trout, I would say,
that, in general colouring, it resembles the common river trout,
with bright metallic tints; scales minute, adherent; head and jaws
proportionally smaller than in the common river trout; muscles pink-
coloured, sometimes bright red; numerous red spots above and
below the lateral line; lives in brackish waters, but is sometimes
found at sea; food, small shrimps.

4672 Fishes.

Radii branchiostegii be ey ae ee |
Rays of the pectoral fins : ; ey oe 14
x pelvis or ventral . : : : L=- 39 es. 30
bs anal. ; : : D : 34-9 =
ss dorsal , : : , : 3+11 = 14
& caudal—each lobe .64+8 = 4W+1H = 28
100
Teeth—Intermaxillary . ; : 10+10 = 2
Vomerine : : ‘ ‘ 20
Upper maxillary : 4 25+ 25 = 50
Palatal . : , ; , 14+ 14 = 28
Total, upper jaw . , ‘ . : ~ (148
Mandibular or lower jaw . ; 20 +20. = 40
Lingual . : ; A : 6+ 6 = 12
52
General total 4 : : ‘ , - > 17

My esteemed friend and former student Mr. George Hunter, of
Tynefield, and who I recollect was a first-rate angler, said that he
believed he had occasionally caught these trout with a very small
artificial fly and single hair tackle, from off the bank of his father’s.
property, which skirted the estuary of the Tyne. I do not doubt
this, for all the species of the Salmonide will occasionally rise to a
fly, although it is the natural food of only some of them.

In conclusion: throughout the preceding inquiry into the natural
history ;of the estuary trout I have used the dentar formula so
strongly recommended by my esteemed friend M. Valenciennes, as
being the one I think generally received; but I think it right to
state here, that extended inquiries I have of late years made on this,
point have satisfied me that the view adopted by this eminent,
naturalist is neither practical nor scientific. The true salmon and,
the salmon trout, when weighing between 24 and 3 Ibs., have pre-
cisely the same arrangement of the vomerine teeth, and cannot there-
fore be distinguished from each other by this character alone. On
the other hand, as the Fario or sea trout grows larger it loses the,
posterior vomerine teeth just as much as does the true salmon, and,
thus the dentition again ceases to be a distinguishing characteristic.
The young of both Salmo and Fario have the dentition of the
common trout. Thus, the law of dentition applied by M. Valen-

Fishes. 4673

ciennes to the three subfamilies of the Salmonidz is a partial law,
applicable probably to some Continental species, but inapplicable to
the great family of the Salmonide as they now exist in the waters of
the globe. Now, the Philosophy of Zoology, based on the Transcen-
dental in Anatomy and Physiology, requires higher generalizations
than those used by and of use to the merely practical man. A wide
inquiry into the dentition of serpents taught me this fact many years
ago.
R. Knox.
Miessen House, Upper Clapton.

Memorandum of the Tadpole Fish.—TI have lately observed among the sprats
brought to Billingsgate Market an occasional specimen of the tadpole fish (Raniceps
trifurcatus). My attention was called to the subject by my son, a boy of eight, bring-
ing me one which he had picked out from among a parcel of sprats, and this inducing
me to look more carefully at the sprats exposed for sale, I am led to the conclusion
_ that this odd-looking fish is not so excessively rare as is generally supposed; and I
wish particularly to direct the attention of ichthyologists to its occasional occurrence
amongst sprats. The extreme length of a specimen which I minutely examined was
53 inches, and its circumference close behind the insertion of the pectoral fin 44 inches ;
the length of the head to gill-opening as 1 to 34 of the entire length; from the tip
of the nose to the tip of the pectoral fin as 1 to 24, or very nearly one-third of the

entire length. The colour was smoky brown above, paler beneath ; the skin covered
with slime, as in the eel, and presenting no indication of scales, under a lens of half-
an-inch focus. I mention this because the scales have been minutely described by
Dr. Johnston, and I know not whether my observation proves my own inadequate
power of examination, or that the scales are not present at the younger age at which
my fish was taken. The number of fin-rays was as under:—

Ist D. 1: 2nd D. 56: P. 20: V.5: A. 53: C. 34:

thus in every instance being less than recorded by Pennant. The first dorsal was: a
slender flexible spine unaccompanied by any membrane, and the ventrals were also
flexible spines of different lengths, and only partially united by membrane. When the
little fish had become somewhat dry, the “ pea-like tubercles ” behind the pectoral fin,
to which Fleming alludes as distinctive of Raniceps Jago, and Johnston as possessed
by Raniceps trifurcatus after death, were very manifest both to the eye and finger. I
may perhaps be pardoned for remarking with reference to the discrepancy in the num-
ber of fin-rays, that counting of them must not be considered as absolutely distinctive
of specific difference, seeing that age, sex, or size of the fish, or the skill of the enu-
merator, may cause discrepancies such as those above noticed.—Hdward Newman.

4674 Entomological Society.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

March 5, 1855.—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—‘ Genera des Coléoptéres ou Exposé M éthodique et Critique de tous les Genres
proposés jusquici dans cet ordre d’Insectes, par M. Th. Lacordaire, Tome ii.; pre-
sented by the Author. ‘ Bericht uber die Wissenschaftlichen Leistungen im Gebiete
der Entomologie wahrend des Jahres, 1852,’ von Dr. Herm. Schaum; by the Author.
‘Geodephaga Britannica, by J. F. Dawson, L.L.B.; by the Author. ‘List of the
Specimens of Dipterous Insects in the British Museum,’ part 6, supp. 2, by Francis
Walker; by the Author. ‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England,’
Vol. xv., part 2; by the Society. ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society, Vol. vii., No. 8;
by the Society. ‘Journal of the Society of Arts’ for February; by the Society.
‘The Literary Gazette’ for February; by the Editor. ‘The Atheneum’ for
February; by the Editor. ‘The Zoologist’ for March; by the Editor. ‘ Magazin
des Thierreichs, Erster Band; by John Curtis, Esq. ‘Notes on four Galls
from the Crimea,’ by John Curtis, Esq., F.L.S. (from the Gardeners’ Chronicle) ; ‘ On
the Genus Myrmica, and other indigenous Ants,’ by John Curtis, Esq., F.L.S.,and
‘Remarks relative to the Affinities and Analogies of Natural Objects, more particularly
of Hypocephalus, a Genus of Coleoptera,’ by Juhn Curtis, Esq., F.L.S. (both papers
from the Transactions of the Linnean Society) ; all by the Author.. ‘ Insecta Saunder-
siana; Coleoptera Curculionides,’ by H. Jekel; by W. W. Saunders, Esq.

Exhibitions.

Mr. Stevens exhibited a quantity of insects of all orders, including several fine new
species, being part of the collection made by Madame Pfeiffer, at Amboyna and
Ceram. Among the butterflies were the true Ornithoptera Priamus 2, O. Panthous
and O. Amphimedon, Cramer. The Lepidoptera came packed between sheets of
paper, and the other orders loose in layers between paper and cotton, not pinned; and —
all had travelled quite securely.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a specimen. of Arctia Caja, from the collection of
Mr. Allis, having the left upper wing marked with two nearly parallel streaks of the
same colour as the under wings, crossing the other colours of the wing from the base
to the posterior margin. He likewise exhibited, from the collection of Mr. John Scott, a
specimen of Triphena orbona, of which the upper wings were much shortened and
the colour was nearly black, the anterior margin being suffused with red. This
remarkable variety was taken in Scotland.

Mr. Edward Sheppard exhibited a silken bag of a slight, flossy texture, being one
of the kind imported from China as coverings to the ends of the hanks of silk in bales.
Dr. Gray said he was informed by Mr. Reeves that each of these bags was only a
single cocoon beaten out.

Entomological Society. 4675

Prize Essay for 1855.

The President announced that the subject proposed for the Prize Essay of the
Society this year was the Coccus producing the lac-dye of commerce, towards which,
as announced last year, Dr. Royle had promised the assistance of all the information
on the subject possessed by the East India Company to any one who would undertake
the Essay.

Proposed Catalogue of British Coleoptera.

The Secretary stated that a proposition had been made to the Council that the
Society should print a concise Catalogue of British Coleoptera, to facilitate the
exchange of specimens among collectors, and thus lead to a rectification of the
synonymy. The Council, although aware that at present such a list must be imperfect,
were disposed to give the proposition a favourable consideration provided they were
assured of support, and they invited communications on this point from Coleopterists
generally.

Mr. Westwood thought, that by the united labours of our Members this desirable
work might be accomplished.

Dr. Gray said he had long tried to get a Catalogue of British Coleoptera made,
but in vain; he was still ready to print one, and to pay the author.

Habits of Eastern Butterflies.

Mr. Newman called the attention of the Meeting to a paper, by Mr. Wallace, ‘On the
Butterflies of Sarawak,’ which appeared in the March number of ‘ The Zoologist.’ The
passages to which he referred were as follows:—‘‘'The handsome green and blue
spotted butterflies, Papilio Agamemnon, &c., fly with the greatest rapidity of any
Papilios: the eye can scarcely follow them; in fact they much resemble in habit the
humming Sphinxes, and hover over flowers, or more frequently over damp places on
the ground, with a constant vibration of the wings. * * * Papilio Iswara, and
another species allied to P. Helenus, but I think new, have an undulating flight, very
_ like that of the South American Morphos, or even sometimes approaching that of the

large Noctuide, and they rest with the upper wings deflexed over the lower.” Mr.
Newman thought both these facts, the hovering like Sphinxes, and the resting with
deflexed wings, extremely interesting : it would be within the recollection of many en-
tomologists that Mr. Swainson and the late Mr. Edward Doubleday had urged the
latter character as a reason why Castnia should be united to the Sphingide : with this
new evidence before us, we may perhaps agree to the conclusion of these eminent
Lepidopterists, but we must demur to the reasoning, because if Castnia were a Sphinx
- only on the ground that it possessed the character of resting with deflexed wings, then
Iswara were a Sphinx also. On mentioning this subject to Mr. Adam White, the ori-
ginal describer of Papilio Iswara, and a gentleman whose entomological knowledge
is all but universal, he obligingly showed Mr. Newman specimens of allied Papilios
preserved, in the matchless collection of the British Museum, with their wings in the
position described by Mr. Wallace.

South African Honey-bee.

Under this title Mr. Newman read the following memorandum: —“ TI believe it is ©
generally supposed that one particular species of bee is entitled to the name of ‘ honey-

e

4676 Entomological Society.

bee,’ because the only one that in this country produces honey in sufficient quantity to
be serviceable to man; but there are several others. A friend, writing from the Cape,
mentions a honey-bee which is even more productive than ours; he describes it as
very small, scarcely half the size of Apis mellifica, and very fond of domiciliating in
outhouses, and otherwise attaching itself to the homesteads of man. I expect to re-
ceive specimens, and shall have much pleasure in handing them to Mr. Smith for
examination. Mr. Webster, in his graphic narrative of the ‘ Voyage of the Chanti-
cleer,’ also writes thus on visiting the farm-house of a Dutch boor:—‘ The first thing that
attracted my attention was a swarm of bees that had attached themselves to the parlour-
window, occupying the space between the shutter and the glass. On inquiring about
them, I found that they had taken a liking to the situation for several years. * * *
After the fear of being stung by them was got over, I contemplated the labours of these
little creatures with much pleasure, and they frequently. afterwards occupied my atten-
tion. They are much smaller than our bees, and appeared to be far less irritable, and
I was informed that they work during the whole year. They kept the house well sup-
plied with honey, the comb being taken away about eight times during the course of
the year, or about every six weeks. The hexagonal form of the cells did not seem to
be the result of pressure, and were all of the same form, both at the top and sides. In
the course of my observations of them, I frequently saw them removing a portion of
wax from one part of the comb to another.’ These proofs of the existence of so
profitable a honey-bee in the Cape Colony, appear to me very interesting. Mr.
Webster’s observation about the figure of the cells reminds me of an idea that I
carried out three years ago: I obtained a cake of bees’ wax and perforated it with cir-
cular holes as near as possible together, and afterwards, with a sharp penknife,
reduced the walls to the greatest tenuity they would bear without breaking; the result
was the formation of closely approximated hexagons, a good deal resembling those
made by the bees ; but of course much larger and much less regular: I believe the ex-
periment was suggested by a note written years ago by Mr. Waterhouse,* but it
seems to imply that the hexagonal form is almost an inevitable result of two grand
objects of Nature,—economy of space, and economy of material,—and does not prove
the existence of that reflecting power which some have claimed for the bee.”

A new Enemy to the Honey-bee.

Under this title Mr. Newman read the following note :—

“You will probably recollect my mentioning some months back, on the authority
of Mr. Lucas, a fact which I thought new, that of a fat toad squatting himself on the
alighting-board of a bee-hive, watching for the bees and swallowing them one after
another as they returned home at night after the labours of a long summer's day. The
statement was received with evident distrust: I particularly remember our friend Mr.
Hudson thought it impossible for a toad to climb to such a pusition, and a learned
apiarian, a namesake of my own, wrote a reply showing that such an assertion
was totally unworthy of serious consideration, and evidently comforted himself in
believing he had totally extinguished this supposed new light in bee history. How-
ever, there is another glimmer from the same lamp, and exhibited quite incidentally
and @ propos to another anecdote. My informant is Mr. Charles Muskett, of Norwich.

* Trans. Ent. Soc. III. Proceed: p. xii.

Entomological Society. A677

‘It is, no doubt, well known,’ says Mr. Muskett, ‘that the common toad will sit
at the entrance of the hive and devour the bees one after another as they come within reach
of his tongue ; but a rather singular circumstance occurred a few days Since in this
neighbourhood; it was witnessed by my brother, and I can vouch for the fact: during
the late severe weather, happening to be occupied in the garden, he heard a tapping
noise in the direction of the bee-house, and on directing his attention to the spot,
observed a woodpecker (Picus viridis) drop down on the block and devour the bees as
fast as they made their appearance. My brother had previously noticed that the bees
diminished in number, and could not account for it: on examining the hive he
found the mortar had been pecked away, so that more light was admitted.”

Mr. Westwood remarked that the fact that toads were enemies to bees was new
and interesting, and he would take this opportunity to mention, as a circumstance that
had come under his own observation, and one that he had not seen published, that the
common sparrows ate honey-bees with avidity, but only at a certain period of the year,
namely, in July, when they had young ones to provide for and there was a lack
of their usual food.

On Greasiness in Insects.

Mr. Douglas read the following note :—

“In his Monograph of the Genus Depressaria, published in the 9th vol. of the
* Linnza Entomologica, Professor Zeller, in a note under D. ultimella, says he could
not distinguish the examples of that species received from Mr. Stainton, on account
of the greasy condition of their bodies; and he further remarks, that the greater pre-
valence of greasiness in English collections, compared with those of Germany, is due
tothe use of camphor in English cabinets. I have heard this idea before, but esteemed
it only as the dictum of an individual; for we often find certain species get greasy
even before they are removed from the setting-boards, and this remark applies
especially to those Lepidoptera which, in their larva state, are internal feeders. In
the cabinet it is almost invariably internal feeders, both Lepidoptera and Coleoptera,
which first become greasy. Yet it is perhaps worth while to ask some of our chemical
friends to tell us whether there is any foundation for the opinion that the odour of

camphor has any influence in developing greasiness in preserved specimens of insects.

“ The Germans, I am informed, use quicksilver to keep away mites, and it might be

‘asked, in addition to the question just proposed, whether its presence in the insect-

drawers has any influence in preventing the appearance of grease in the specimens.
As in Germany it is the practice to mount insects high up on the pins, there is no dif-

. ficulty in the use of quicksilver, but with us it would be far different, for, as the wings
_ of our Lepidoptera touch the paper, the globules would roll over and destroy them,—

that is, if the method of placing it loose in the drawers, as used in Germany, were
adopted.

“In France they appear to use no preservative at all, if we may judge from the con-
dition in which specimens of Lepidoptera have been returned to this country; and we
know that the fine state of preservation of our collections has excited the admiration
of French Lepidopterists.

“For the injury to insects by greasiness, camphine is an effectual remedy ; simple
immersion therein, however, is not sufficient to prevent the recurrence of greasiness ;
the specimens should remain in the spirit for several days,

XIII. U

4678 Entomological Society.

“Tn old and neglected specimens the pins become quite corroded by verdigris: to
prevent the occurrence of this, a method is used in Germany, of which I was informed
by Mr. Dohrn: it consists in pushing the pin further through the insect than it is in-
tended to remain, covering the portion immediately below the insect with a solution
of gum arabic, and then drawing back the pin, which, by the coating it has received,
is preserved from the action of the grease. The same principle has recently been ap-
plied in this country, by electro-plating the pins; and it is likely to be of use for those
species in which the pin becomes corroded, and yet the grease does not much affect
the insect: but the expense of these pins will prevent their general adoption.”

Mr. Edward Sheppard said he had found the use of electro-plated pins check the
growth of verdigris in greasy insects.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd said he had tried pins doubly-gilt, and yet in some instances
he found they were acted on by the grease of the insects. He thought that when the
bodies of insects rested on the paper they were more liable to become greasy than when
the insect was elevated on the pin, as in the continental method.

Mr. Waterhouse said one great cause of greasiness was the placing insects in the
cabinet soon after they were captured.

The President said that in the continental cabinets, where quicksilver was used, it
was confined to grooves in the bottom of the drawers.

Captain Cox said that so long as he kept his insects in London none of them were
greasy, but having removed them into the country, near to a running stream, forty or
fifty of them have become greasy, and this effect he attributed to the moisture of the
atmosphere of the place.

Mr. Janson read the following two notes by Dr. H. Schaum, of Berlin.
On Heterorrhina bicostata, Westwood.

“‘ Mr. Westwood has lately given, in the ‘ Transactions’ of this Society, New Series,
iii. p. 66, some details and a drawing of an African Heterorrhina, which he considers
to be the H. bicostata, published by me in the fifth volume of the ‘ Transactions,’ p.
65. He asserts that the unique specimen described by me, is in Captain Parry’s col-
lection, and that his, drawing had been taken from that specimen.

“T beg to state that this assertion is not correct, but that my specimen was from nie
cabinet of the late Mr. Melly (as indicated by me |. c. p. 65), and is now in the posses-
sion of his son. I mention this, because a comparison of Mr. Westwood’s figure with
my description leads me to the opinion that the H. bicostata of Mr. Westwood is spe-
cifically distinct from the insect published by me.

“The following differences seem to exist between the two insects: in the typical spe-
cimen of Heterorrhina bicostata of Schaum the thorax is unusually small; the meso-
sternal part of the sternal process short; the four posterior tibia deeply sulcated inside ;
while in the specimen figured by Mr: Westwood the thorax is of the usual size,
the mesosternal process long, and the four posterior tibia without furrows on the
inside. Furthermore, the anterior tibie are simple in Mr. Melly’s specimen, while
they are armed beyond the middle with a broad, though obtuse, tooth, in Captain
Parry’s insect. On this last difference I lay, however, but little stress, as it may arise
from the two specimens belonging to different sexes. For, though: Mr. Westwood
designates his specimen as a male, I am inclined to draw: from his own words the con-

Entomological Society. 4679

clusion that it isa female. The presence of a tooth on the outside of the anterior
tibiz would itself be quite an anomalous character in a male of a green African
Heterorrhina, and the indication, that the abdomen has “‘a slight oblong-oval impres-
sion,” seems as little to support Mr. Westwood’s opinion, for in all other species the
abdomen of the male shows a broad and deep furrow along its middle.
“It might seem ludicrous for me to discuss the sex of an insect, which I have not
seen, and I would certainly have refrained from doing so, if I had not compared in the
{ Royal Museum, at Berlin, a specimen taken in Mosambique by Dr. Peters, which I
suppose to be the male of Mr. Westwood’s insect. It agrees well with the figure of
the latter, except that it is considerably smaller, that the anterior tibie are unarmed,
the tarsi longer, and the abdomen with a deep excavation in its middle. These are,
{ however, differences, which, in the genus Heterorrhina distinguish the males from the
fernales.
“If my supposition proves to be correct it will become necessary to bestow another
name to Heterorrhina bicostata of Westwood.

Remarks on Mr. Curtis's recent Descriptions and Figures of British Elateride.

“‘The descriptions and figures of some British Elateride, published by Mr. Curtis
in the ‘Transactions’ of this Society, New Series iii., p. 10, enable me to point out
under what names most of these species have been described by continental authors.

“ Ketinus? gagates, Curt., is undoubtedly Ampedus lugens, of Redtenbacher and
Germar, as stated already by Mr. Janson in the ‘ Entomologist’s Annual’ for 1855,
p- 98.

_“N.G.? punctolineatus, Curt., is perhaps Ampedus scrofa, Germ., though I have
never,seen a specimen of the latter which attains the size given by Mr. Curtis, and in
which the smooth line down the centre of the thorax, mentioned by Mr. Curtis, is well

marked.

. £laternigrinus, Curt., seems better to agree with Ampedus obsidianus and brunni-
cornis, Germ. (which are varieties of the same species as recognised by Germar hin-
self) than with the true Amp. nigrinus, Payk., Gyll.

“‘ Aplotarsus maritimus and Cardiophorus formosus, Curt., are unknown to me.
Should not the latter be regarded as a foreign insect accidentally introduced into
England?

) Aplotarsus? cothurnatus, Curt., is in all probability Ampedus subcarinatus, Germ.
“ T take advantage of this opportunity to state that the Lathrobium carinatum, Bold.
figured in the ‘ Entomologist’s Annual, is angusticolle, Er.”

Observations on British Elateride.
Mr. Janson also read some observations, by himself, on the British Elateride,

alluded to by Dr. Schaum.
M. Henri Jekel communicated, through Mr. Waterhouse, the following

Note on Omias sulcifrons.

' “ A very interesting fact for the British Fauna should be the increase of a genus in
the family Curculionide (though adding no new species), if sufficient generic differences
were to be found.

4680 Entomological Botany.

“M. Jacquelin Du Val has shortly described and figured in his ‘Genera des
Coléopteres d'Europe,’ page 13, plate 10, fig. 21 bis et 21 bis A, under the name of
Barypeithes rufipes, an insect which is nothing but the Omias sulcifrons, Sch., t. vii.
pars 1, page 143, a species, as far as I am informed, only found, until the present time,
in England, but now also pertaining to French-Britain’s Fauna, the specimens in the
collection of M. Chevrolat having been caught in the neighbourhood of Brest; no un-
usual fact, for I have received from M. de Leseliuc, who resides in the Department du
Finestére, several species, which had been recorded as British only before his investiga-
tions. The national name of British is then not the only point of resemblance between
the two countries.

“The value of M. Jacquelin Du Val’s generic characters, as well as the place he
gives to this insect (which, in my opinion, should be connected with Omias), I propose
to discuss in my next note. I venture to say at present, that both the description and
the figure do not permit one to recognise the insect, and I have to add that Boheman’s
description in Schonherr (loc. cit.) is perfect.”

Entomological Botany (with more especial reference to the Plants
Srequented by the Tineina). By W. T. Srarinton, Esq.

Continued from page 4457).

Vilis vinifera. ‘The Vine.

A sufficiency of this plant is grown in England, more especially in
the South, where it ornaments the front of many a cottage, to render
it worthy of notice independently of its claim to our special attention
as the only food-plant of Cherocampa Celerio; whilst the allied spe-
cies, Deilephila Livornica, Cherocampa porcellus and C. elpenor, are
also partial to this plant. Speyer gives Agrotis aquilina as a vine-
feeder; but I think if Guenée were consulted on this point he would
dissent ; the habit of the larve of the genus Agrotis, according to his
observations, being to conceal themselves among roots during the day,
only protruding the anterior segments of the body sufficiently to reach
the lowermost leaves of the surrounding herbage (Guenée, ‘ Histoire
Naturelle des Noctuélites,’ vol. i. p. 254). Speyer also mentions Lo-
besia reliquana as feeding on the vine. But there are two Micro-
Lepidopterous larvee which are great enemies to the vine-growers of
the South of Europe, Ginectra Pilleriana, on which several essays
have been written in France, to show the best modes of preventing the
ravages of Le Pyrale dela Vigne, and Eupecilia ambiguella (rose-
rana, Frélich), which latter feeds on the young flower-buds, thereby

Entomological Botany. 4681

assisting Father Mathew in the temperance-movement most essen-
tially. The larva of Ginectra Pilleriana is not exclusively a vine-
feeder, having been noticed on many low plants, and Mr. W. Wilson
Saunders found it some years ago in the Isle of Wight, in the green
capsules of Iris feetidissima. The larva of Elachista? Rivillei, to
which attention has recently been drawn in the ‘Transactions of the
Entomological Society,’ vol. iii. N.S. (Part 3) pp. 87—89, is also a
vine-feeder, and may very probably be found in the South of
England.

Geranium. Crane’s-bill.

As a general feeder on this genus of plants Speyer mentions Clisio-
campa castrensis, of which, however, the sea wormwood (Artemisia
maritima) is, I believe, the principal food-plant in this country.

Geranium pratense. Meadow Crane’s-bill.

On the capsules of this plant in August may be found the larva of
Heliothis marginata; Duponchel and Guenée, however, both seem to
agree in representing it as very difficult to rear.

Geranium Robertianum. WHerb Robert.

Though so common a plant, frequenting many a pleasant hedge-
bank, we do not know of any Lepidopterous larva specially attached
to it. Zeller has, indeed, suspected (‘ Linnza Entomologica,’ vol. vi.
p. 341) that the larva of Pterophorus acanthodactylus feeds on this
plant, he having found the larva of that species on a Pelargonium in his
garden, and having frequently taken the perfect insect among Gera-
nium Robertianum. Of course the larve of a Pterophorus must be
sought for on the flowers or seeds, for they are great epicures.

Erodium cicutarium. WHemlock-leaved Crane’s-bill.

A common plant on sandy or gravelly soils, and assigned by Speyer
as a food-plant to Polyommatus Agestis. I wonder if any of our Lewes
or Brighton collectors could find the larva of that species, for no
doubt Mr. Logan would be extremely glad to see it, and compare it
with his larve of P. Artaxerxes, which I am still inclined to think
only a climatic variety of P. Agestis.

Linum usitatissimum. Common Flax.

Speyer mentions, from his own observations, Calocampa exoleta as
feeding on this plant; but I am not aware of any other Lepidopterous

4682 Entomological Botany.

larva attached to it, though I am strongly disposed to think that seve-
ral species of Micro-Lepidopterous larve might be found if the flax-
fields were carefully examined by the entomologists who happen to
be located in their vicinity.

Impatiens Noli-me-tangere. Yellow Balsam.

Why should we use Noli-me-tangere as a specific name for a plant,
and yet scruple to use Pavonia-minor for a moth ?—if names com-
posed of two words are objectionable, why use a name composed of
three ?

Speyer gives Coremia ligustrata as feeding on this plant, the larva
being figured on it by Hiibner; Duponchel says it feeds on several
low plants, and not on the privet; hence no doubt some purist in no-
menclature would like to change its name, though I have no doubt, if
the name itself could speak, it would say “ Noli-me-tangere.”

Oxalis Acetosella. Wood Sorrel.

This pretty little plant, with its delicate green leaves and graceful
white flowers, is partial to woods, showing itself from beneath the
fallen leaves simultaneously with the more robust wood Anemone
(Anemone nemorosa). ‘The Oxalis Acetosella is not known as the
special food-plant of any Lepidopterous larva; but two Noctuz (not
hitherto known as British), Mesogona Acetoselle and M. Oxaline,
have received their names from it: the larve of these feed on various
low plants in May and June.

Huonymus Europeus. Spindle-tree.

A common shrub in hedges and woods. Speyer enumerates as
feeding on the spindle, Acherontia Atropos, Ennomos evonymaria
a Geometra, in spite of the abundance of its food-plant with us, not
hitherto detected as British), and Zerene adustata. One of the most
interesting of the spindle-feeders is Acrobasis angustella, of which I
believe only two British specimens are extant; it is double-brooded,
the larva feeding in July between united leaves, and in the autumn in
the fruit of the plant: strange that with this knowledge we cannot
find theinsect! Itis on this plant that three species of Hyponomeuta
feed, H. Evonymellus, H. irrorellus and H. plumbellus; H. Evony-
mellus is, indeed, notorious for its occurring on spindle-bushes, fre-
quently to such an extent as completely to defoliate them ; and the
ignorant, of course, concluding that the caterpillars that made white

Entomological Botany. 4683

webs on the spindle were identical with those making similar webs on
the apple-trees, and, having noticed that the spindle was more infested
by them than the apple, have gravely suggested that spindle-trees
should be freely planted in gardens and orchards to attract to them
the larve which would otherwise injure the apple-crops: there is no
necessity to revert to the time of Résel’s gardener to show that horti-
culturists would be wiser “in their generation” for some knowledge of
insects and their habits. The larva of H. Evonymellus does not
attach itself to orchard-trees ; nor should we find it in our gardens at
all unless we kindly planted the spindle-tree purposely for its accom-
modation. Of Hyponomeuta irrorellus, formerly so great a rarity,
the larva has lately been discovered by Mr. Kirby, of Wandsworth,
feeding on this plant in July, the same bush sometimes affording
shelter both to this species and the preceding. The observations of
Lewis and Zeller have shown that the eggs of the apple-feeding Hy-
ponomeutz are hatched at the end of summer, and that the larve
remain, under the glutinous covering which is deposited on the top of
the cluster of eggs, without feeding till the following spring, when of
course the larve are pretty hungry after their seven months’ fast, and
commence feeding on the young leaves with a good appetite. The
larva, however, of Hyponomeuta plumbellus has a very pecular habit,
for, though we know not when it emerges from the egg, yet its first
appearance in the spring is not as a feeder on leaves, but it feeds on the
pith of the young shoots, and its presence may be recognised by the
drooping of the terminal leaves, just as though they had been pinched
by a late frost in April; the larve, however, soon quit their abode in
the twigs, and come out to feed on the leaves, making small webs; for
this species is not gregarious, only a few occurring on one bush: after
the larva has quitted the stem of the twig, the rapid growth of the
plant soon enables the drooping leaves to revive; so that in a short
time there is nothing to betray the whereabouts of the larva but the
slight web that it makes. How necessary it is to be cautious in
- generalizing !
The larva of Theristis caudella also feeds on this plant: it lives
gregariously two or three together within a broad web, in June and
July ( Treitschke,’ ix. 2, 43).

Rhamnus Catharticus. Buckthorn.

A plant widely distributed, occurring in hedges ;_ but, as far as my
experience goes, I have never seen it in any plenty; however, it is

4684 Entomological Botany.

rather a close-growing shrub, and affords considerable shelter for
insects. The beautiful velvety green larva of Gonepteryx Rhamni
first claims our attention. Speyer also gives Polyommatus Argiolus
as feeding on the buckthorn, though I believe it is more partial to the
flowers of holly and ivy. Speyer next mentions the larve of three of
the Geometride, Scotosia Rhamnata, S. vetulata and Triphosa dubi-
tata: the larva of S. vetulata feeds in the young leaves before they
are fully expanded, and is very plentiful at the beginning of May;
but when it quits the young leaves it appears to conceal itself
: most effectually, as after it is half-grown
it is extremely difficult to find. The
larva of Bucculatrix Frangulella is stated
by Zeller to feed on Rhamnus Cathar-
ticus, as well as on R. Frangula, to
which latter the observations of most au-
thors have restricted it. Nepticula Ca-
tharticella is very abundant, in the larva
state, on this plant, in July and October.
) Some idea of the appearance of the leaf
mined by this Nepticula larva may be gathered from the annexed
wood-cut.

| H. T. STAINTon.
Mountsfield, Lewisham,
March 4, 1855.
(To be continued).

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

‘The Annals and Magazine of Natural History.’ Nos. 85 to 88,
dated January to April, 1855; price 2s. 6d. each. London:
Taylor & Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

No. 85 contains the following papers :—

‘Notes of an Excursion to the South of France and the Auvergne
in Search of Diatomacee.’ By the Rev. William Smith, F.L.S., Pro-
fessor of Natural History, Queen’s College, Cork.

‘Amended Characters of the singular Lymneadous Genus Campto-
ceras, and Description of a new Ancylus, inhabitants of North-Western
India.’ By W. H. Benson, Esq.

Notices of New Books. 4685

‘Characters of the Genus Opisthoporus, an Eastern form of the
Cyclostomacea, with Remarks on its Affinities, and Notes on several
Opercula.’ By W. H. Benson, Esq.

‘On Artificial Sea Water.’ By Philip H. Gosse, A.L.S.

‘Notes on Swiss Mollusca.’ By J. Gwyn Jeffreys, Esq., F.R.S.

‘Sketch of the Life of the late Professor Edward Forbes.’ By
J. H. Balfour, M.D., Professor of Botany, Edinburgh. [From ‘ Trans-
actions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh.’] ;

Bibliographical Notices :—‘ The Entomologist’s Annual for 1855 ;’
edited by H. T. Stainton. ‘A Catalogue of British Fossils ;’ by John
Morris, F.G.S. (second edition). ‘Popular Conchology ;’ by Agnes
Catlow (second edition). |
_ Proceedings of Societies :—Zoological.

Miscellaneous :—Note on the Reproduction of Ligula; by M. Brullé
[from the ‘ Comptes Rendus’ for October 23, 1854, p. 773]. Descrip-
tion of the Animal of Cyclina Sinensis; by Dr. J. E. Gray. Observa-
tions on the Development of Actinia; by M. Lacaze-Duthiers [from
the ‘Comptes Rendus’ for August 28, 1854, p. 434].

No. 86 contains the following papers :—

‘Some Account of the Actiniade found upon the Coast near Teign-
mouth, Devon.’ By Robert C. R. Jordan, M.B. Lond., Professor of
Comparative Anatomy, Queen’s College, Birmingham.

‘On a Monstrous Oyster Shell... By George Busk, Esq.

-£On Hypericum anglicum. By Charles C. Babington, M.A.,
F.R.S., &c. [From the ‘Proceedings of the Botanical Society of
Edinburgh.’ |

-£On the Ornithology of Malacca.’ By A. R. Wallace, Esq.

‘Descriptions of the Animals of certain Genera of Bivalve Shells.’
By S. P. Woodward, Esq., F.G.S.
~£On Fossil Echinoderms from the Island of Malta; with Notes
on the Stratigraphical Distribution of the Fossil Organisms in the
_ Maltese Beds.’ By Thomas Wright, M.D., &c.

‘Notes on British Zoophytes, with Descriptions of New Species.’
By the Rev. Thomas Hincks, B.A.

’ ©On the Marine Vivarium.’ By C. S. Harris, Esq.
- Proceedings of Societies :—Zoological—Linnean—Royal—Botani-
cal of Edinburgh. |

Miscellaneous :—Observations on the Nests of Humming Birds;
by John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., &c. [from Proc. Zool. Soc. July 26,
1853]. On a Marsupial Frog (Notodelphys ovifera) from Venezuela ;

XIIT. x

4686 Notices of New Books.

by Dr. D. F. Weinland [from Miiller’s Archiv for December, 1854,
p. 449]. Descriptions of Two New Species of Ptilonopus ; ey George
Robert Gray, F. L. S., F.Z.S. [from ‘ Proceedings Zool. Soc.,’ Mar. 22,
1853].

No. 87 contains the following papers :—

‘A Monograph of the Indian Species of Phylloscopus and its
immediate Affines. By Edward Blythe, Esq. [From the ‘ Journal
of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,’ No. 5, 1854).

‘On Fossil Echinoderms from the Island of Malta; with Notes on
the Stratigraphical Distribution of the Fossil Organisms in the Maltese
Beds. By Thomas Wright, M.D.

‘On the Genera Pionandra, Cliocarpus and Piacihogkatenall By
John Miers, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &e.

‘On the Discovery of Viviparous Fish in Louisiana” By B.
Dowler, M.D. [From ‘ Silliman’s Journal’ for January, 1855].

‘On the Anomalous Oyster-shell described in the ‘ Annals’ for
February.’ By Dr. J. I. Gray.
‘On Actinophrys Sol.’ By E.Claparéde [Abridged from Miiller’s
Archiv for December, 1854.|

Proceedings of Societies :—Zoological—Royal—Botanical of Edin- ©
burgh.

Miscellaneous: —On the Movements and Reproduction of the
Navicule; by M. Focke [from the ‘Comptes Rendus’ for Jan. 22,
1855, p.167]. On Lottia zebrina and L. Scurra; by Dr. J. E. Gray.
Description of a New Species of Sorex from India; by R. Templeton
[from Proc. Zool. Soc., July 26, 1853].

Dr. Dowler’s paper on Viviparous Fish is extremely interesting :
the following is an extract :—

“In the month of October, 1854, through the politeness of J. C. B.
Harvey, M.D., of Tchoupitoulas Street, I received a small osseous
fish, caught in the New Orleans Canal, which connects the city with
Lake Ponchartrain. ‘This fish had been placed in a basket containing
crabs, one of which wounded it slightly in the abdomen, near the
cloaca, thereby exposing several foetal fish enveloped in a delicate
membrane. The parent fish, which had been rudely thrust into a
narrow-mouthed phial of spirits, retains, after immersion for two weeks,
the original rigor mortis, and the same remark applies to the foetuses,
though they have been soaked in water some of them have been
forcibly straightened. On the 17th of October, in the presence of,
and assisted by, Drs. J. Hale and M. M. Dowler, I enlarged the

Notices of New Books. A687

wound,and proceeded to dissect a somewhat globular mass of foetuses,
‘bounded by the intestines before, and separated from them by an
indescribably thin, diaphanous membrane; this mass was further
bounded above by the spine and ribs, below and behind by the
posterior inferior abdominal walls, bulging backward of the anal
orifice and fin. The exterior envelope of this oblong globe consisted
of a very thin, pellucid, extremely delicate and apparently laminated
and flocculent membrane, like the amnion of the human embryo in
the early state: it did not form a simple sac, but consisted of many
duplications, like the arachnoidal reflections among the sinuosities
and convolutions of the human brain, sending its prolongation as the
hyaloid membrane does through the vitreous mass of the eye. This
uterine membrane (ovisac it cannot be termed) contained twenty-two
fishes. It is probable that the inner surface of the uterine membrane
sent forth a still more delicate membrane, which enveloped each fish
after the manner that the peritoneum envelopes the abdominal viscera ;
_ but the parent fish, and still more its enclosed organs, were too minute
to admit of full demonstration during a necessarily hurried examina-
tion; moreover, the wish not to mutilate the parent fish very much
prevented a fuller dissection of the foetal mass in sitw. Each foetal
fish was doubled laterally, sometimes to the right, sometimes to the
left, into a globular form: the caudal fin, which is inclined to the
lancet shape, though blunter, overlapped one eye and one side of the
mouth: each fish in situ, and even after forcible extraction from its
bed, was enfolded in a sac: some were drawn out united by pedicles
to a common stem, somewhat like an umbilical cord. These feetal
fishes presented a perfect example of close packing. A perceptible
force was required to dislodge them from their beds. The concavity
left by their extraction appeared to be lined with a smooih, black,
peritoneal membrane. The intestines, which were very minute, were
crowded forward by the rounded mass of foetuses which occupied the
greater portion of the abdominal cavity. No ova were discovered.
“Without attempting fully to describe even the dermal skeleton, I
may observe that this tiny fish is a most symmetrical one. Its minute-
hess may be imagined when I state that after the removal of the
enclosed foetuses it weighed only seven grains, though not dis-
emboweled. Thorough desiccation would probably reduce its weight
one half or more. The fish exposed for two hours in the shade on a
damp day was but slightly desiccated. It was weighed by Mr. Mac-
pherson, apothecary, in my presence; but fearing a mistake I had it
Weighed a second time, with the same result. If each foetus weighed

4688 Notices of Lew Books.

but one grain, the aggregate would be more than three times that of
the mother.”

No. 88 contains the following papers :—

‘A Comparative View of the more important Stages of Develop-
ment of some of the higher Cryptogamia and the Phanerogamia.’ By
Charles Jenner. z

‘Observations on the Natural History and Habits of the Common
Prawn (Palemon serratus). By Robert Warington, Esq.

‘Report on a Collection of Diatomacee made in the District of
Braemar by Professor Balfour and Mr. George Lawson.’ By R. K.
Greville, LL.D., &c.

‘On Fossil Echinoderms from the Island of Malta; with Notes on
the Stratigraphical Distribution of the Fossil Organisms in the Maltese
Beds.’ By Thomas Wright, M.D., &c.

‘On Monopus medusicola, a species of Leech.’ By Philip Henry

Gosse, A.L.S.

‘On Ancylus oblongus and A. fluviatilis. By William Clark, Esq.

‘On Actinophrys Sol.’ By KE. Claparéde. [Abridged from Miiller’s
Archiv for December, 1854. |

Proceedings of Societies :—Royal—Zoological—Linnean— Botani-
cal of Edinburgh.

Miscellaneous :—On the Anomalous Oyster-Shell; by Professor

J.S. Henslow. Description of a New Species of Corynactis; by

William Thompson [from Proc. Zool. Soc., Nov. 8, 1853]. On the
Species confounded under the Name of Laminaria digitata, with some
Observations on the Genus Laminaria; by M. A. Le Jolis [from the
‘Comptes Rendus’ for Feb. 26, 1855, p. 470]. Descriptions of two
New Species of Humming Birds from Pera; by John Gould, Esq.
(from Proc. Zool. Soc., November 22, 1853].

°A List of the British Species of Geodephaga, intended for marking
Desiderata and labelling Collections, taken from Mr. Dawson’s
Geodephaga Britannica. By G. Guyon, Richmond, Surrey.
Price (prepaid by post) Four Stamps.

Tuis, although merely a list of names, will be found highly useful
to the Coleopterist; and I sincerely hope may have the effect of

i ee —_

Notices of New Books. 4689

increasing the sale of Mr. Dawson’s work, since many of the specific
names, brought into use by that careful author, are unintelligible until
accompanied by his own satisfactory explanations: the synonyms
would have made the list far more valuable to the student; but
would certainly, at the same time, have trebled the cost.

*The Entomologist’s Annual for 1855, comprising Notices of the New
British Insects detected in 1854. Lepidoptera, by the EpirTor.
Hymenoptera, by FRepEerick SmiTH. Coleoptera, by HK. W.
Janson. Edited by H. T. Srarnron. London: Van Voorst.
1855.

The same Work. Second Edition, with considerable additions, in-
cluding Instructions for Collecting, Preserving and Arranging
Insects, and an Address to the Young Entomologists at Eton,
Harrow, Winchester, Rugby, and at all other Schools. 154 pp.
12mo. One coloured plate. Price 2s. 6d.

THis work is avery useful one: it is the following out of a plan
which I think originated with myself, of giving a summary, at the end
of the year, of our entomological doings during the year: this was
partially and imperfectly carried out in the Preface to several suc-
cessive volumes of the ‘ Zoologist,’ but was suspended on my election
to the chair of the Entomological Society in favour of the new obli-
gation then devolving on me of preparing an annual address. Thus
a hiatus of two prefaces has occurred, the matter, however, appearing
in a somewhat altered form; and [ trust, life and health permitting,
to resume the agreeable task at the close of 1855.

Although, in the explanatory title of the ‘ Annual,’ which I have
given verbatim, the Editor only promises a summary of the labours of
‘the year, yet these constitute but an infinitesimal part of the book
itself: thus the Lepidopterous portion is headed after this fashion—
“ New British Species since 1835,” which, according to my compre-
hension, comprises twenty years instead of one. The Hymenopterous
summary is a retrospect of all discoveries since the ‘ Monographia
Apum,’ a period of fifty-three years! The Coleopterous summary,
commencing with 1839, comprises sixteen years. This is indeed so
much more than bargained for, and is most acceptable, but is quite at
variance with the character of an annual summary.

4690 Notices of New Books.

With regard to the second edition, the additions are admirable: —
the directions by Mr. Wollaston on collecting Coleoptera are the best q
, of the kind hitherto offered for the instruction —

of the juvenile entomologist.

The annexed wood-cut, representing Zy- —
gzena Minos, one of the novelties of the year, |
has been most obligingly lent me by the
Editor of the ‘Entomologist’s Annual. My
readers will recollect that this novelty was captured in Ireland, as
recorded in the pages of the ‘ Zoologist.’

‘The Aquarium: an unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Sea.
By Puiu Henry Gossz, A.L.S., &c. London: Van Voorst.
1854. Post 8vo, 276 pp. letter-press} six coloured plates and
six lithographs. Price 17s. cloth.

Mr. Goss is one of the most prolific and pleasant of writers, and,
were it not that he occasionally introduces extraneous topics rather too
freely, his book would be a most captivating fire-side companion. I
must, however, protest against what has been called “ the introduction —
of religious homilies @ propos to nothing.” I will give Mr. Gosse’s ©
heading of an entire chapter in order to illustrate my meaning :—

“ A Meditation—The Spiritual Uses of Natural History—Extremes |
of Opinion— Spiritual Warrant for the Study—Its Limits — Three |
Inspired Modes of Treatment—I. Direct Testimony to God—Founded
on our Ignorance — On our Knowledge —Various Attributes of God
discoverable — Responsibilities — Cain’s Offering—II. Moral Lessons
by Examples—III. Spiritual Parallelisms—Similes—Types—Symbols
—Allegories—God’s Message of Grace.”

I have nothing to object to in the mode of treatment: I am willing |
to believe that an Archbishop of Canterbury himself would not have |
handled the subject more logically or expressed it with greater une- |
tion; but is it in keeping with what immediately precedes? “ Fiddler |
Crab—A ‘ Striking’ Species—Ferocity—Greediness—Tit for Tat— |
An Odd Fish—Rubbish—A Fine Beard, &c. &c.” Is it in keeping
with the objects for which the book is ostensibly written? Is it in —
accordance with the impression by which every advertisement of the”
book seeks to secure purchasers? Are we anywhere told, or is it even —
hinted, that the book is mentally medicinal, a drastic curative, the —

Notices of New Books. 4691

unpleasant flavour of which is to be concealed in the saccharine
vehicle of Natural History ?

It must, however, in fairness, be stated that Mr. Gosse’s ‘ Aquarium’
is a most agreeable and delightful book, and that the saccharine
vehicle predominates to a great exteut. There are multitudes of
passages marked for extract, passages which nothing but the want of
space prevents my transferring to the ‘ Zoologist,’ and which may still
be considered as standing over for a more leisure moment: in the
mean time, let me intreat Mr. Gosse to separate his theological from
his physical labours, and to learn the truth that a Natural-History
writer may be truly pions, may even convey religious instruction to
his readers, without making the dose so powerful as that presented to
us in the ‘ Aquarium.’

ae ee

-

A Brief Memoir of the Life and Character of William Baker,
prepared principally from his Diary and Correspondence.’
By Joun Bowen. Taunton: May, 1854. 128 pp. 8vo.

_ THis is a brief but interesting memoir of a most intelligent man: it
is penned by one who, to feelings of true and genial kindness towards
the deceased, adds an amount of veneration that seems almost bound-
less for his scientific acquirements ; and thus we have an inflated pane-
gyric rather than a faithful biography. Poor John Bowen had paid
the debt of nature before this memoir reached my hands: he sur-
vived his friend but six months: William Baker died on the 8th
of October, 1853; his devoted friend and biographer on the 29th of
March, 1854.

‘Scarce had lamented Forbés paid
The tribute to his minstrel’s shade:
The tale of Friendship scarce was told,
Ere the Narrator’s heart was cold.”

_ It is difficult to say a word in depreciation of a memoir published
under such circumstances as these ; but Mr. Bowen was no naturalist,
and, believing Mr. Baker to be a profound one, and taking in the most
implicit faith omne ignotum pro magnifico, he brings into painful pro-
minence little inaccuracies over which a naturalist would have drawn
a veil: for instance, Mr. Baker wrote and pronounced a very common
word “amphibeea;” Mr. Bowen preserves the spelling: Mr. Baker

4E92 Notices of New Pooks.

writes of “the bronze-winged Bipustulata;” Mr. Bowen preserves
this: a naturalist would have quietly given the term a meaning by
making it Malachius bipustulatus. Of course a man of Baker’s
industry and Gilbert-White-like observance of natural phenomena
was visited by naturalists passing through the town where he resided ;
Mr. Bowen regards him such a law-giver in Science that these were
the visits of philosophers coming from the ends of the earth to sit at
his feet. The following passage explains-the observing, truth-seeking
character of the man, even up to the last days of his life, and, at
the same time, corrects his biographer’s assumption that Mr. Baker’s
knowledge of Natural History was universal and profound :—* The
very last exercise of this talent (drawing) was on the larva of the
death’s-head moth, an unusually coloured specimen of which was sent
him by his friend Mr. Richard Anstice. This was thought a new
species, and another drawing made and sent to Mr. Newman, the
Zoologist, who found it to be only a variety of the Sphinx Atropos,

differing somewhat from the usual specimens in size and colour.”—:

p-119. Such inquiries frequently reached me, often couched in terms
of child-like simplicity ; always in.a spirit of diffidence and evident
distrust of his own knowledge. It was this excess of diffidence, this
fear of recording observations that might be unimportant or trifling

that prevented William Baker from giving to the world a work

equal in interest to White’s ‘ Selbourne’ itself.
When, at fourteen years of age, he was bound apprentice, he says,

“JT was so well acquaiuted with the nests and eggs of birds, their

songs, and even their call-notes, that I readily recognised those of one

species from another. In after life I have never improved, I think, and.
have scarcely retained the delicacy of my ear for the ever-charming

music of birds.”—p. 6.

Vv ———

During his apprenticeship he was a fifer in a volunteer corps, raised —

to fight the French; and also an actor: in his own Diary Mr. Baker ~

introduces us to one of the same craft, who afterwards became more

famous as a Shaksperian tragedian than any other Britain has pro-—

duced. For the benefit of Mrs. Kent, an invalid actress then at Bridge-
water, it was agreed, with the assistance of a Mrs. Cary and her two

sons, and of two or three amateurs, among whom were young Baker
and his biographer, Bowen, to perform the ‘Merchant of Venice.’ —
“The arrangement and study of our parts brought us altogether on
evenings, after the hours of business, and the talent and agreeable’
person of the younger Cary, about sixteen years of age, were very”
attractive. I became particularly acquainted with him, and was

|

Notices of New Books. 4693

exceedingly partial to him.”—p. 13. After three or four “good houses”
in Bridgewater, the company, with the exception of Baker, toured the
neighbourhood, performing in Cannington, Stowey, Wiveliscombe and
Crowcombe. “Here, then,” continues the narrator, “in barns and
village inns, were displayed the youthful talents of the future prop of
Drury Lane—the magnet of attraction, the star before whose brightness
all rival influences were to become pale.” This talented and agree-
able young Cary of course became Edmund Kean: whether he
changed his name by Act of Parliament or by what other process this
deponent knoweth not.

In 1804 Baker marched with his regiment, as second fife, to Taunton,
and while stationed there on what he calls “ permanent duty,” began
his first entomological collecting. In 1805 a second march to Taunton
was effected, and “I had now attained,” he writes, “to the honour
which I had been ambitious of; I took my place at the right hand of
the front line of our little band, and was its leader.”

He, however, very soon gave up soldiering, and obtained employ-
ment as a journeyman currier in London; and his account of attending
lectures, especially against the use of gas, then proposed for street
illumination, is curious. “ Every possible evil was prognosticated
from explosions and poisonous exhalations. In proof of this, birds,
rabbits, and other animals were exhibited to audiences under bell-
glasses, and an atmosphere of gas admitted to the luckless prisoners
in their confined cells, and, as foretold, death of course speedily fol-
lowed.”—p. 36. What reader of the ‘ Zoologist,’ residing in any of our
large towns, has not since seen the same scenes enacted against rail-
ways? Some patriotic gentleman, selected for oratorical power, pre-
siding in the chair, eloquently describing railways as an invention of
the Evil One, and lashing the butchers, bakers and tailors into a whirl-
wind of phrenzy at the idea of London mutton chops, London penny
rolls and London trowsers being introduced into their hitherto peaceful
homesteads! then, in sepulchral intonations, describing their wives as
inmates of unions, and their children as begging bread. Baker neither
liked London nor the anti-gas agitation ; he was surprised at the want
of knowledge exhibited by the lecturers; he was startled at the ob-
Stinate resistance to what he considered so great a boon: and he
records that his friend Bowen from that time contracted an aversion
to lectures and lecturers, with but few exceptions, which he never
overcame. He pined for the country, and soon had an opportunity of
leaving London on what is usually called “the tramp,” seeking, and
sometimes obtaining, employment in the larger towns, as, for instance,

XIIi. ¥

4694 Notices of New Books.

at Northampton, Nottingham, Hull, Newcastle, Kirkaldy and Glas-
gow. In his notes of this tour there is little of Natural History ;
but at Kirkaldy, on the 8rd of October, he says, in a letter to his
parents, ‘‘ The robins are come into the gardens singing their plaintive
songs; I know from this that the beauty of your garden is fading.
When I was at home the withering flowers and the robin’s song used
to make me sweetly melancholy. I am surprised to see the swallows
flying about in this part yet. Ihave not forgotten my collection of
insects since I have been out, for I have caught several moths and
butterflies, which I have preserved in Thompson’s ‘ Seasons.’” [!]

At the age of twenty-two, he settled at Bridgewater in a small
currier’s shop, and two years afterwards married. He now com-
menced in earnest that collection of insects which is supposed by his
friends to have eventually become unrivalled. I use the expression
“supposed” because I am not aware, from the evidence of any ento-
mologist, what was the extent of a collection which was undoubtedly
the wonder of his own neighbours and acquaintances. He continued
forming and arranging this collection, without the aid of any books
whatever, and, when he subsequently obtained a work compiled from
Linneus, he found that he had made a very similar arrangement of
the various groups. Shortly afterwards he purchased Donovan, and
feasted on this expensive publication.

At this time his attention was also occupied by birds, fishes, reptiles,
and especially by fossils, and although he describes himself as
“travelling round and round his counter, cutting heel-taps, weighing
sparrow-bills and counting hob-nails,” yet his heart was in Science ;
and now commenced a correspondence with Dr. Leach, which exhibits
that learned entomologist in a very amiable light, and as rendering
every assistance to this comparative tyro in the science. Ina letter to
Dr. Leach, dated October, 1818, Mr. Baker records the great number
of Colias Hyale and Vanessa Cardui that occurred that autumn in the
neighbourhood of Bridgewater: the former had not been seen for four
years. |

We next find Mr. Baker corresponding on fossil saurians and lily
encrinites; moving into more extensive premises; and converting a
spacious loft into a museum, “ where the boa constrictor could stretch
its vast length along, and the solan goose and the swan expand their
wings unchecked,” and the biographer speaks of this museum as “that
motley store which was open to everything, from the head of an alligator
to the egg of a humming-bird.” These passages given by a kind-
hearted and almost worshipping friend, are no doubt strictly true, but

Crustacea. 4695

do not impress the scientific reader quite so favourably as the admiring
writer. A taste for the miscellaneous collecting of curiosities is not
exactly that development of scientific talent which leads to lasting and
beneficial results. It was, however, in Geology that William Baker
attained most proficiency ; he was elected a member of the Geological
Society, and attained the lasting friendship of many of the most emi-
nent professors in that seductive science. He was a man of perfect
integrity and strict moral conduct; a diligent tradesman, supporting
an expensive family by his own unwearying industry; a kind and
hospitable friend ; and in every sense of that too common-place ex-
pression, a “good man.” I knew him personally, and enjoyed his
company. I well recollect the animation with which he explained to
me his views respecting the identity of the salmon and trout, a subject
on which he had experimented and observed for many years: 1 am
aware of the danger of misrepresenting the views of one who declined
to reduce them into form for publication; but the impression left on
my mind by his conversation was, that he believed all our Salmonide
to constitute but a single species, races of which, by long isolation in
lakes and streams, assumed different specific appearances, and, repro-
ducing inter se, perpetuated their peculiarities: but that the entire
series and “system,” so to speak, of our supposed species and varieties,
might and.would be reproduced in the process of time from a single
pair of either.

To write a memoir of William Baker, more faithfully portraying his
estimable qualities as a man or less correctly setting forth his un-
doubted qualifications as a naturalist, were almost impossible. As
showing how a good man can struggle upwards under every difficulty,
it is a valuable essay; as a contribution towards Natural-History
biography, it is all but useless.

Observations on the Natural History and Habits of the Common
Prawn (Palemon serratus). By RoBeRT WARINGTON, Esq.*

Havine during the years 1852 and 1853 had the opportunity of
making some observations on the natural habits and minute character-
istics of the common prawn (Palemon serratus), which I understand

* From the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ for April, 1855, and
obligingly communicated by the author.

4696 Crustacea.

are novel, I have been induced to collect the results together, and
submit them to the readers of this Journal.

The observations about to be detailed were made in the small tanks
or aquaria already described,* in which the balance between the ani-
mal and vegetable organisms in a medinm of sea water was perma-
nently maintained without artificial aération or disturbance. The
materials employed for effecting this, in the aquarium now under con-
sideration, consisted of the Ulva latissima and Enteromorpha as the
vegetable members of the circle; several varieties of Actinia, Madre-
pora, Annelida and Palemon, to represent the animal section; while
the functions of the scavengering mollusks were fulfilled by Littorina,
Trochus and Purpura. The small tank, containing these several
organized members, was constructed of a zinc framing 38 feet in length,
1 foot in depth and 1 foot in breadth, having the bottom, ends and
_ back filled with slate, and the front, or part towards the observer,
glazed with plate glass, the whole being covered over loosely by a
shade partially glazed, so as to impede the evaporation of the water,
exclude as much as possible the soot and dust of the London
atmosphere, while, at the same time, a continual change of air could
take place. A quantity of rock-work was also introduced, and so ar-
ranged that the creatures could readily find a retreat, or screen them-
selves from the strong influence of the sun’s rays during the day, and
from the numbing effects of radiation in a clear night. A short and
small shingle beach was also constructed at one extremity of the
aquarium, to enable the various denizens to retreat to shallow water
whenever they should be so inclined.

Into this vessel, thus arranged, several individuals & the common
prawn were introduced during the months of October and November,
1852: they were fed every second or third day with small pieces of
either oyster, mussel, cockle, shrimp, and the like, or, when these could
not be obtained, with softened shreds of raw, lean meat, which had
been previously dried by exposure to the air, in order to preserve it
from putrefaction, and allow of its being kept as a store of provision
capable of being had recourse to as occasion might require.

The manner in which these beautiful creatures take their food while
foraging about the tank is very interesting. The first and second pair
of didactylous feet are cautiously and continuously thrust into every

* Transactions of the Chemical Society, as published in their ‘ Quarterly Journal,’

vol. iii. p. 52, 1850; ‘Garden Companion,’ January, 1852; ‘ Annals and Magazine
of Natural History,’ vol. x. p. 273, and vol. xii. p. 319.

4
.

Crustacea. A697

eranny, around and partially under the pebbles and rock-work, and

often into the tubes of Serpule or Sabelle, or the shells of the uni-
valve mollusks and others; and these, if not protected by an opercu-
lum or some provision for closing the orifice of their tube or shell,
soon fall a prey to their attacks. When anything edible is met with,
it is rapidly seized by these prehensile feet and transferred to the
jaws.

The senses of touch and smell in the Palemonide are exceedingly
delicate, the latter appearing to reside most strongly in the antenne.
Thus, when a small particle of food has been dropped into the water
and has sunk to the bottom, the moment the antenne of the prawn in
its movements pass across the column of water through which the food
has fallen, the whole motion of the creature becomes changed in an
instant, and it darts rapidly here and there, from the surface through-
out the path of its transit until it is discovered; and often, after it
has been devoured by the one, a second prawn will, on reaching the
same locality, gain the scent and hunt over every spot in search of
that which had been already removed, but which evidently had left
its track of odour behind. It has very often occurred, that if some
one of the Actiniz had been first fed, the Palesmon, on gaining the

scent, has tracked the food to the Actinia and speedily rifled it of its
repast; and, in instances where the latter had even transferred its
meal by means of its tentacula to its pouch, the prawn has redoubled
its efforts, and frequently dragged the savoury morsel out of its very
stomach. This operation it effects in a very surprising manner: the
Palemon charges, without any apparent fear, full on the extended
disk of the Actinia, the tentacula of which it keeps in constant play
by means of its three pairs of unarmed feet, while, at the same time,
one of the second or larger pair of prehensile feet is thrust into the
orifice of its maw, and the food forcibly and quickly extracted. The
only chance the poor Actinia has of preventing this and securing its
feast appears to be by contracting the whole of its tentacula together,
and thus forming itself into a small globular form, so as to close en-
tirely all approach to the orifice of its stomach. The energy with
which this attack is effected depends very much on the keenness of
the prawn’s appetite, and, in cases where the Actinia is strong and also
very hungry, the conflict is often very severe, and the aggression is
sometimes, though rarely, successfully repelled.
The first pair of didactylous feet are slender and most delicate in
their structure, and, when examined with a magnifying glass, are
found to be provided at their extremities with a brush-like appendage

4698 Crustacea.

of short hairs standing out at right angles to the claw. The power of
motion with which these are endued is most wonderful, and their use-
fulness is applied in every conceivable direction, — around the eyes,
and among the apparently complicated apparatus of mandibles, anten-
ne and palpi, at the head, within or beneath the carapace, and for
some distance between it and the body, particularly when the period |
of moulting is approaching; also for the cleansing of the abdominal
false feet or swimming webs and the expanded lobes of the tail: and
the appearance of the prawn during the execution of the brushing or
scrubbing operation at these more distant parts is grotesque in the
extreme; the body is supported and raised high on the four pair of
legs, the abdominal part and tail being curved forward between them,
so that the whole posterior division of the creature can be brought
within the reach of the first pair of feet, and thus the necessary
cleansing operation be readily effected.

When in full swimming action, the appearance of these beautifully
transparent creatures is most elegant. The front feet are generally
laid backward and tucked under the body, like the fore legs of the
deer tribe in the act of leaping; the long and delicate antennz stream
gracefully on each side of its body, and float for some distance beyond
its entire length, while its strong abdominal paddles propel it rapidly
through the water. In the aquarium under consideration, the whole
of these elegant creatures were in the habit, on the summer evenings,
of careering to and fro for upwards of an hour’s duration, close to the
glass front of the case and towards the room, presenting a most
pleasing object, and one which must be observed in order to be appre-
ciated, as no description can convey an adequate idea of the interesting
scene. ;

It is also a curious and striking phenomenon to observe these Palz-
.monide by the aid of a lighted candle or lamp in a dark room during
the night, in consequence of the bright reflection of the luminous body —
from their prominent pedunculated eyes; and as the prawn does not
retain a stationary position, but slowly roams about through the water
and over the rock-work seeking for its food, it adds an increased inte-
rest to the appearance to behold these small globes of bright light,
like the bull’s-eye signal-lamps of a miniature railway engine looming
through the distance in a dark night, moving slowly along, the body
of the creature being quite imperceptible, and nothing visible but
these pairs of globular balls of fire shining from out the dark water.
Even the small eyes of an allied species, that remarkable little crusta-
cean the Athanas nitescens, exhibit the same effect, although, from

Crustacea. 4699

their shy habits and diminutive size, it can be but rarely ob-
served.

When the period arrives at which the Palemon serratus is about to
throw off its old external covering, it ceases to feed, and seeks about
from spot to spot in a restless and fidgety manner, until it has fixed
on a locality apparently sufficiently adapted for the purpose required
and suited to its fancy ; for this really appears at times to be the case.
The third, fourth and fifth pairs of legs are then stretched out wide
apart, and the feet hooked so as to hold firmly upon the surrounding
substances, in such a way that the body may be poised and capable of
moving freely in all directions, as though suspended on gimbals. The
prawn then slowly sways itself to and fro, and from side to side, with
strong muscular efforts, apparently for the purpose of loosening the
whole surface of the body from the carapace; the two pair of prehen-
sile or didactylous legs are at the same time kept raised from the
ground, stretched forwards, and frequently passed over each other with
a rubbing motion, as if to destroy any remaining adhesion; the eyes
also may be observed to be moved within their covering by muscular
contraction from side to side; and when every precaution appears to
have been perfectly taken for the withdrawal of its body from its too
limited habiliments, a fissure is observed to take place, between the

carapace and the abdomen at the upper and back part, and the head,
antenne, legs, feet and all their appendages, are slowly and carefully
drawn backward and out from the dorsal shield until the eyes are
quite clear of the body-shell or carapace, and appear above the upper
margin of it; the prawn thus half released then makes a sudden back- .
ward spring or jerk, and the whole of the exuvium is left behind, gene-
tally adhering by the shell of the six feet to the surface it had selected
for its purpose.

A moment’s consideration will develope to the contemplative mind
what a truly wondrous process this act of exuviation really is. When
we reflect on the small size of this crustacean, and the extreme deli-
‘cacy and intricacy of its various organs, and then find that in this
moulting the shell of the most minute and complicated of these struc-
tures is thrown off in a complete and unruptured state, even to the
gauze-like membrane covering the projecting and pedicled eye, the
filamentous antenne, the many-jointed legs, the delicate didactylous
hand, the paddled abdomen with its beautiful appendages, the palpi,
and all the minute spines and microscopic hairs with which these
various members are provided, the human mind can hardly appreciate

A700 Crustacea.

the wonderful wisdom of the Creative power that could have called
into existence so marvellous an adaptation.

At the moment the prawn has been thus liberated from its old en-
velope, it rolls on the surface of the ground perfectly helpless, for it is
at first, evidently, so soft that it does not possess the power of sup-
porting its own weight erect upon its feet, while the beautifully delicate
antennee float from its head like gossamer threads through the water.
In a short time, however, it plunges or springs, by a strong muscular
exertion of the abdomen, from place to place, stretches its webbed -
tail and the large paddles of its swimming apparatus, and soon retreats
into some dark and sheltered corner, where it remains, continually
exercising its various organs, until such a period as the new investing
membrane shall have become sufficiently hardened to allow of its ven-
turing forth among its companions without danger, for during all this
interval it is liable to their attacks whenever it comes near them, and
is obliged by a series of forcible leaps rapidly to evade their attempts
and escape out of their way. When the newly coated Palemon first
makes its exit from its hiding-place, its appearance is doubly beauti-
ful; the colours are so clear and bright, particularly the orange and
rich brown bands which encircle the pale blue prehensile feet, the
various markings are so defined, and the small spines and fringes of
hair so clean and well developed, and the deportment of the creature
itself is altogether so bold and vain-glorious, as though proud of its
new vesture, that it cannot but command the admiration it seems to
seek.

It may be interesting to specify here the intervals of this moulting
as they were observed during the summer of 1853. These periods
were ascertained in the following manner. When the observations
first commenced there were eight healthy prawns in the aquarium, and
as each exuvium was cast off it was removed from the water and the
date noted down, and by continuing this process the following results
were obtained :—

May 25th, two cast skins were removed.

» 29th, two i .

» olst, one cast skin was removed.
June 5th, one ‘s ‘i

» 7th, two cast skins were removed.

* 9th, two ¥ zs

» 12th, two 9 oa

», 14th, two A .

» 16th, one cast skin was removed.

Crustacea. A701

June 19th, one cast skin was removed.

» 2st, one ” ”
» 26th, one ” ”
» 27th, one ” ”
» 28th, one ” ”
» 29th, one ¥ m
July 4th, one 3 ©
” 9th, one ” ”
» 11th, one ” ”

At this date four individuals were given to a friend, so that the
number was reduced to four.

July 15th, one cast skin was removed.

» 17th, one a Kr
” 18th, one ” ”
» lst, one a s
” 30th, one ” ”
August 3rd, one _ 3

» 4th, two cast skins were removed.

», 12th, one of the prawns died during the moulting.

», 14th, one cast skin was removed from the aquarium.

» 2st, one ” ” 9.
September 2nd, one i, ot ibe me

So that the period appears to vary from twelve to twenty-four days.
This variation may depend upon the quantity of food taken by the
respective individuals, and also on the varying temperature of the
aquarium, which, from its small capacity and other circumstances, is
_ yery liable to be readily affected by the heat of the sun through the
day, and the effects of radiation during a clear night. I may mention
that, if these cast skins are not removed from the water, the prawns
will devour all the smaller and softer parts, as the legs, the palpi, and
the false or swimming feet, with great rapidity.
I hope in a future communication to add several observations on
- other varieties of the Palemonide.
: RoBerT WARINGTON.

Apothecaries’ Hall, Blackfriars,
March 12, 1855,

A Record of some of the Effects of the late Severe Weather on Animals.—It is the
opinion of Mr. Bell (Br. Quad. p. 306) that the longtailed field-mouse of English
authors is the species which Ray terms Mus domesticus medius; but no reason is
assigned why it should be called a domestic mouse. The late cold weather, however,

XIII. Z

A702 Birds, &e.

has explained any doubt that may have existed on the subject, by drawing them in
considerable numbers into such houses as were accessible to them.

Water Shrew (Sorex fodiens). This is a common animal with us, and often meets
the fate of the ordinary shrew (Sorex tetragonurus), in being left dead on the surface
of the ground in summer: it is so rarely seen in the winter as to have led to the belief
that it passes the cold season in a state of sleep; but in the last week in January, when
there was a smart frost, and snow lay on the ground, two of them were found lying
dead on the ground; and on the 1st of February, still severely cold, another was seen
to be killed by a hen. They had probably been driven from the water by the frost,
which had congealed the whole surface of the stream; but their plump condition
showed that they did not die from want of food. In some notes which accompany my
sketches of the organs of this creature I find the following remarks:—The three
internal lobes of the ear, in their ordinary condition, are closed over the aperture; so
that when the animal goes into the water none of the fluid can enter through the
orifice: but at pleasure, or when alarmed, it can open the aperture widely, and thus it
hears well; it is able also to open or throw back a portion of the tragus, by which
means a blind sack is exposed, which guards the orifice of the ear from water, and yet
allows of some degree of hearing. The auditory passage is directed downward and
forward, and is wide for the size of the animal. The antitragus, by being placed a
little backward, forms one side of the blind pouch, and at the same time constitutes a
valve for the auditory passage.

The Wren. This little bird braves our hardest winters, but the manner in which
it obtains protection from the cold has been little attended to by naturalists. Solitary
as they usually are, they assemble and cluster together to obtain warmth. In one
case, in the hole of a hedge where moss was in abundance, my informant found them
assembled together in a ball as large as a quart measure; and ina short distance of each
other were three or four of these clusters, containing together little short of a hundred
wrens. In less numbers this clustering is not uncommon; and when the birds are
seen acting thus it is supposed to foretel a cold night: they sometimes seek refuge in
the hole of a tree, and prefer a haystack before a corn-mow. The wren has not suffered
from want of food, as the Turdi have done severely.

Conger. Towards the end of February a ship from Cornwall, passing northward,
came among a large quantity of congers which were floating on the surface, nearly but
not altogether dead, and much inflated. A boat was sent out, which took up about
500 Ibs. weight of them for food, and the largest was found to weigh 30 Ibs. These
fish were scattered over a wide space, and the men supposed they might have loaded
their ship, if so inclined. I suppose the death of these fish to be less owing to the cold
of the air than to the cold water, which a long continuance of N.E. winds had driven
down from the German ocean.—Jonathan Couch ; Polperro, March 6, 1855.

The Birds of London.—Many of the feathered race love the haunts of man, and
build and breed near homesteads, despite of ill usage. The thrush and the blackbird
are heard throughout the year in your shrubbery, and promenade at all times on your
lawn ; the titmouse rears its young in 4 hole in the garden-wall; while the pert note of
the robin is heard in the walks, and his red breast is often seen on your window-sill.
Even the magpie, the most wary and cunning of birds, often selects a tall tree near

Birds. 4703

the farm-yard wherein she may hatch and bring up her young. Country people laugh
at our London sparrows, which abound everywhere, contrasting their plumage with the
pert Passer of the barton. Every citizen knows that for years past a pair of rooks have
built at the corner of Wood Street, nearly under the shade of Bow Church, while the
crowns on the turrets of the Tower of London are occupied by these sable denizens
every year: a considerable colony has long been settled in the large elms in Gray’s Inn
Gardens, from which they must have a real “ bird's-eye view” of the hills that surround
London. Ina week or two the thrush may be heard in the gardens of Marlborough
House: the recent severe weather has caused these birds to suffer in that quarter.
Last week we saw a thrush, driven by hunger in quest of food, on the pavement at the
back of the Atheneum Club. But we must return to the sparrows, London’s sparrows,
the most saucy of birds, as London urchins are the sauciest of boys :—starlings haunt
Somerset, House and the old buildings of the Temple; in the breeding-season they
may be seen in the Temple Gardens, picking up worms and larve for their young
_ broods: the sparrow attends as a gleaner to these birds, as the starling follows the
rooks: as soon as the old starling has filled its crop and its beak to repletion, and is
about to take its flight to its nest the sparrow watches his opportunity, and making a
sudden spring snatches the redundant morsel from the beak of the old starling, and,
quickly devouring it, looks out for another bird whom he may plunder in like manner.
The reader may witness this feat a hundred times on asummer evening. It is curious,
too, to see these same starlings feeding on the worms which showers invite from their
holes: the bird darts upon the worm ere it has time to retreat, and, tugging with all its
might, the mollusk is at length withdrawn, and the devourer, as he tears him from his
hole, fairly tumbles heels over head! We have on more than one occasion noticed the
hedgesparrow in the Temple Gardens during the autumn, a locality where ornitholo-
gists may scarcely expect to find sucha bird. These remarks, it is scarcely necessary
to add, apply to the more crowded districts of London, and not to the suburbs.—
J.Y. Akerman ; Somerset House, March 20, 1855.

Note on the Hawfinch.— During the late severe frost several of these singular birds
were shot at Blofield, in this county, where some fine old yew trees in a garden seem to
have had an irresistible attraction in a prolific crop of berries. The man who shot them
gives the following account of their habits: they come, he says, “ with a very rapid flight,
and pitch into the yew trees like sparrows into the ivy ; once there it is almost impossible
to catch sight of them, as they keep amongst the thickest foliage.” It was only by con-
cealing himself that he could get a chance shot, as they rarely exposed themselves on an
open branch, and on leaving the trees they again flew with great swiftness.—H. Steven-
son; Norwich, April 17, 1855.

Extraordinary Hen’s Egg.—Truly we live in an age of wonders; but I hope the
oological wonder I have now to relate will not prove as hard of digestion as I fear the
ornithological wonder related by Mr. Preston (Zool. 4661), concerning an “ Auto-
surgical Teal,” will prove, even to the most enthusiastically credulous naturalist. The
wonder I have to record was related to me a few days ago by the curate of the parish
(Hooton Roberts, near Rotherham) in which the occurrence took place, and is as
follows:—A hen belonging to a farmer in his parish having laid an egg of unusual
dimensions, equalling in size a goose’s egg, it was broken, with the idea of ascertaining
if it contained, as is frequently the case, two yolks; but, to the good agriculturist’s
surprise, he found within this outer shell, and enveloped in albumen, a full-sized, perfect
egg, with a strong, hard shell, but whether containing a yolk and white and a germi-

4704 pire

nating principle remains to be proved, as it has been preserved entire, I believe, for
the purpose of incubation: the outer egg contained no yolk. I trust that if such an
instance has ever before occurred within the knowledge of any of your readers or cor-
respondents they will make it known. TI have every reason to believe the accuracy of
the facts as related, which, though perhaps not inexplicable, still appear to me unpre-
cedented.— O. Pickard- Cambridge ; Durham, April 17, 1855.

Supposed new Snipe-—For some years past I have occasionally met with a snipe
in this neighbourhood, which I strougly suspect to be distinct from the common
snipe, and not hitherto described. I think the first I observed was in 1834: it was
sent to me by a gentleman who devoted himself at that time to snipe shooting, and
who thought, from its superior size and its general dark tone of colour, that it was a
different bird from the common snipe. Some little time afterwards I submitted my
bird to Mr. Yarrell, and that gentleman informed me he had consulted some scientific
ornithologists, and he believed, as well as themselves, that the bird was referrible to the
common species, and that the greater depth of colouring might be attributed to summer
plumage. I omitted to tell him when the bird was killed (about Christmas), but if I
had done so he would not have suggested this cause for the variation of the plumage.
Some five or six examples have since come to my notice, and I may remark that the
size of the new bird is longer and more bulky than the common snipe. The whole of
the tints of the upper plumage, both as to rufous and buff markings, are darker, and the
longitudinal dorsal stripes are much narrower and appear altogether more obscure than
in the Scolopax gallinago. There is also more rufous about the neck and shoulders,
and the under parts are more darkly clouded, with the flanks much more striated and
the belly less silvery white. Mr. Vingoe has been looking out for specimens during
this hard winter, and succeeded in shooting one, which he says rose without any note
and without any companions. All the specimens that I have seen correspond with
each other: they all appear larger than the common snipe, but, like that bird, have
fourteen tail feathers— Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, March 24, 1855.

Curious Act of Auto-surgery in a Teal—Under this title a fact will be found recorded
at p. 4661, by Mr. Preston (who, I learn, has no claim to the title of ‘“ Reverend”).
When I read this I felt inclined to suppress it, having frequently observed a similar
occurrence, and having always given it an entirely different explanation, believing that
the curious juxtaposition of feather and bone was produced by the shot, without any
contrivance on the part of the bird, and indeed much against its will and convenience,
Still I felt reluctant to take a step that could have the appearance of discourtesy to a
correspondent and observer of nature. I therefore printed the note, and now add my
own theory on the subject.—Hdward Newman.

Occurrence of the Smew near London.—On the 26th of February I shot a very fine
specimen of the smew, at a distance of about seventy yards, between the White House
and Temple Mills, near Lea Bridge.—George Beresford; Lea Bridge, Clapton,
March 13, 1855.

Wild Fowl on the Norfolk Coast.—In my notice of winter visitors to this locality
(Zool. 4660) I omitted to mention Smews, of which several have been shot; amongst
them four males in perfect plumage. Within the last fortnight we have had in our
market two adult Bewick’s swans and two young ones, and four fine specimens of the
eastaneous duck have been lately obtained at Yarmouth.—H. Stevenson ; Norwich,
April 13, 1855.

PS. The word “scarce,” in my last note, should certainly have been “ some.” —ZZ. 8,

Reptiles — Fishes 4705

Occurrence of the Iceland Gull and other Scarce Birds in the Neighbourhood of
Plymouth.—The Iceland gull (Larus leucopterus) was killed by the Rev. R. A. Julian,
January 30th, on the Laira. This species is far less frequent with us than Larus
glaucus; indeed, the only other specimen I know of, obtained in this locality is in the
collection of Dr. Moore of Plymouth, where it has been for many years. During the
late severe weather some fine examples of the gadwall, goosander and smew have been
obtained, also many bitterns. The cold appears to have had great effect upon the
common heron, from the unusual quantity received for preservation by the taxider-
mists of Plymouth.—John Gatcombe ; Wyndham Place, Plymouth, March 10, 1855.

Insensibility of Reptiles to Poisons.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ a short time ago I met with
an observation, which I cannot now put my hand upon, respecting the insensibility of
reptiles to strong poisons. This reminded me that some years ago, when I used prussic
acid in killing insects, I endeavoured by its means to destroy a common water newt;
but, though several strong doses were administered, no effect seemed produced on the
reptile. The acid was Scheele’s, and kept well corked.—George Guyon; Richmond,
Surrey, April 9, 1855.

‘An unnoticed character in the structure of the Fishing Frog or Angler.—On the 14th
of April I obtained a very fine specimen of the angler (Lophius piscatorius), which was
on the same day forwarded alive to the Gardens of the Zoological Society. It was
taken on the ebbing of the tide at 8 a.m., and was kept in a pool of water until 3 P.m.,
at which hour it was packed and dispatched. I would draw the attention of natu-
ralists to a fact I have not seen hitherto mentioned, which is this; when looking down
on the fish, the whole of the outline of the head and also the body carries little leaflets
which are in constant motion. In all the drawings I have seen appendages only ap-
pear around the anterior part of the head, and these are represented as cirrhi. This is
not the case; the appendages are carried round the body quite to the commencement of
the caudal, and do not differ from each other, excepting in size ; these are mostly 3ths of
an inch in length, nearly flat, and all shaped like an oak-leaf; they are very regular
in their shape: these are, doubtless, from their constant motion, used to entice prey.—
William Thompson ; Weymouth, April 22, 1855.

Curious Habit of the Fringed-lipped Lamprey.—My friend Mr. Coombs, the Mayor
of Dorchester, has lately found the fringed-lipped lamprey (Petromyzon Planeri)
in great quantities in the river Frome, close to Dorchester. I had noticed two about a
fortnight since, and was much amused at their proceedings: they were in a small
rivulet near the County Gaul: I watched them for nearly an hour, during which time
they were constantly employed in removing stones, and this evidently in their search
for food. Their mode of proeeeding was to attach themselves to the stone, and then
by wriggling their bodies to detach it from its bed, and then, making a spring for about
eighteen inches, they dropped the stone ; they never made a second dart with the same
stone: on dropping the stone, they immediately returned to the spot from which they
had taken it and nozzled for some time in the mud and sand, leaving me to infer they
were searching for food : they certainly were not making a nest, as they never dropped

A706 Entomological Socicty.

two stones in the same place; they carried the stones up the stream, and appeared to
drop them when the strength of the springing forward was exhausted. We thus see
an admirable adaptation of the mouth of the lamprey to its habits; it doubtless feeds,

exclusively, on the minute animals which are found in abundance under all the stones.
—Id.

Gonepteryx Rhamni double-brooded.—The Rev. Mr. Hawker (Zool. 4650), in
noticing the occurrence of Rhamni, adds, without further comment, the expression
“ double-breoded.” Now, I think no one ever had more opportunities of making the
acquaintance of this butterfly than I have. I have seen it on new year’s day and
almost every succeeding day in the year, on Christmas-day most certainly, and have
taken careful note of its condition, and my conviction—my firm conviction—has been
that there is but one (an autumnal) brood during the year, and I shall feel extremely
obliged if Mr. Hawker will detail the particulars of the interesting and important dis-
covery he has made. I may add, that I have spoken on the subject to Mr. Doubleday
and other eminent Lepidopterists, to which title I lay no claim, and I find the dis-
covery is as new to them as to myself— Edward Newman.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOcIETIES.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

April 2, 1855,—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.
Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ‘ordered to be given to the
donors :—‘ Abhandlungen der Mathematisch-Physikalischen Classe der Koniglich
Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vol. xvii. Part 2; ‘ Bulletin der Koniglich
Akademie der Wissenschaften, Nos. 1—52, 1853; ‘ Ueber das Klima von Munchen,
von Karl Kuhn; by the Academy. ‘The Literary Gazette’ for March; by the
Editor. ‘Journal of the Society of Arts’ for March; ‘Catalogue of the Seventh —
Exhibition of Inventions ;’ both by the Society of Arts. ‘ Proceedings of the Royal
Society, Vol. vii. Nos. 9 and 10; by the Society. ‘The Zoologist’ for April; by the
Editor. ‘ Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalist’s Club,’ Vol. iii. No. 5; by the
Club. ‘The Entomologist’s Annual for 1855,’ 2ud Edition; by the Editor. Hewit-
son’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies, Part 14; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Entomologische
Zeitung,’ 1855, Nos. 1 and 2; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. Fifty-two
specimens of British Lepidoptera; by H. Doubleday, Esq.

Distribution of the Society's Duplicate Insects.

The Secretary announced that the Council had determined to distribute among the
Members the duplicate specimens in the Society’s collection of British Coleoptera,
Exotic Coleoptera and Exotic Diurnal Lepidoptera; and that, in order to give the
country Members an opportunity of selection, the distribution would not take place

Entomological Society. 4707

until after the June meeting. The Council did not make any condition of exchange,
but they hoped the Members would, in return, contribute as far as they were able the
desiderata to the Society’s collection.

Proposed Catalogue of British Coleoptera.

The Secretary also said he was happy to announce that the offer of Dr. Gray for a
Synonymic Catalogue of British Coleoptera had been accepted by our Curator, Mr.
Janson, who would be glad to receive any information and assistance from his brother
Coleopterists in the work he had undertaken. The first part of the Catalogue would
be ready in about two months, and it was also Mr. Janson’s intention eventually to
print a Nomenclature of the Species, for interchange among collectors,

Exhibitions.

Mr. Foxcroft sent for exhibition specimens of several species of Lepidoptera, re-
cently reared by him from larve collected in Fifeshire; a pair of each species would
be given to each of his subscribers for Lepidoptera: also two specimens of Papilio
Machaon, with the skins of the chrysalides from which they came: both insects and
pupz, he said in a note, presented certain constant differences of marking divisible
into two kinds, of each of which he had reared males and females.

Mr. Bond exhibited a Phragmatobia lubricipeda, presenting an agglomeration of
the dark spots on the costa into a continuous line, and also some other variations of
marking. This specimen was reared by Mr. Foxcroft.

Mr. Stevens exhibited, from the collection of Madame Pfeiffer, a pair of the rare
beetle Euchirus longimanus.

Greasiness of Insects.

Mr. Stainton exhibited two specimens of Nepticula Acetosz, pinned last summer,
which already showed signs of verdigris on the pins.

Mr. Edward Sheppard exhibited four specimens of a Donacia, two of which were
mounted on gilt and two on ungilt pins. They were all pinned at the same time, four
months ago, and the gilt pins exhibited no trace of verdigris, but the ungilt pins were
surrounded with it.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd repeated his former remark, that after the lapse of a year or
more he had found pins doubly gilt were affected by the greasiness of the insects
equally with ungilt pins.

Description of a New Ornithoptera.

Mr. Stevens ‘read a description, by Mr. Wallace, of a new butterfly taken by him
on the N. W. coast of Borneo, under the name of Ornithoptera Brookiana, of which
a drawing was exhibited.

Tropical Micro-Lepidoptera.

Mr. Stevens read an extract from a letter received from Mr. Wallace, in Borneo,
in which he stated that he had taken about 700 Micro-Lepidoptera, among which are
some extraordinary developments of palpi, &c. He finds these small moths come in
abundance to a lamp, on dark, wet nights, and in the wet season he is sure he could
get thousands of them.

A708 Entomological Society.

The President read the following note :—

On the Galls produced by Cynips Quercus-petiolt.

“ When, at the last Meeting of the Society, I presented my observations upon
various galls from the Crimea, lately published in the ‘ Gardener's Chronicle,’ I had
no opportunity of referring to the oak-galls which have been several times exhibited
to the Members under different names. |

“ It is, however, most important that the name of the species should be determined ;
I therefore investigated the subject carefully, and am satisfied that I was correct in
the opinion I first gave. It may be remembered that when the galls, with the fly,
from Mr. Walcott, were laid before the Society by me, and also by Mr. Rich, I stated
they were identical with the Cynips Quercus-petioli of Linneus, but this opinion was
objected to by Mr. Newman, owing to the galls not being apparently produced from
the petioles.

“On referring to Linneus’s ‘ Fauna Suecica,’ p. 387, I find he writes of Cynips
Quercus-petioli, ‘ Habitat in Galla utrinque convexa inflata, petioli seu ramuli
Quercus,’ showing that the galls are not confined to one spot, and he refers to Roésel’s
Ins. App. t. 35, 36, which volume I had obtained of Mr. Janson at the last Meeting,
in order to exhibit the excellent plate of the galls there given, together with the
imago, which agrees well with the females bred by Mr. Walcott, at once identifying
the galls and insects which T exhibited last November with the Cynips Quercus-petioli
of Linneus, and likewise with Reaumur’s fig. 7, pl. 41, vol. iii., which evidently repre-
sents the galls of the same species of Cynips.

“TI would also observe that the ‘ Galle en pomme,? represented in the same plate
by Reaumur, and formed by the Cynips Quercus-terminalis, is so totally different
from the galls of the C. Quercus-petioli in the internal structure, as well as in their
position on the twigs of the oak, that they must be the productions of very different
species.

“ Since the above memoranda were written I see Mr. Westwood has given, in the
“Gardener's Chronicle,’ an Essay on the British Ink-Galls, with figures of the oak-gall
and the Cynips from Devon; and I am glad to learn he intends to investigate still
further the galls of commerce. It is possible they may not be found so valuable, in a
commercial point of view, as they were formerly, owing to the galls being superseded
by metallic ingredients in the manufacture of ink; nevertheless they may still be ser-
viceable in furnishing a permanent dye.”

Mr. Westwood said he had very recently found his specimens of the Cynips, which
he had determined to be the C. Quercus-petioli so long ago that the ink with which
the name was written on the label had faded.

Duration of Life in the Honey-Bee.

Read, “ Observations on the Honey-Bee, in continuation of the Prize Essay of the
Entomological Society for 1852;” by J. G. Desborough, Esq.

Mr. Wollaston’s Collection of Madeira Insects.

Dr. Gray said it might be interesting to the Members to know that Mr. Wollaston
had transferred to the British Museum his collection of Madeira Insects.—J. W. D.

Fishes. 4709

On the Food of certain Gregarious Fishes.
By R. Knox, M.D., F.R.S.E., &c.*

=

AT an early period of my inquiries into the natural history of the
- Salmonidz, I was much struck with the difficulty there seemed to be
of arriving at the truth in a matter so simple in appearance as the
determination of the food on which certain interesting gregarious fishes
live and thrive. The conflict of opinions on this point which then
existed, and strange to say still exists, induced me to devote a good deal
of attention to it; and as I find my views still opposed to many, and
especially to those of my esteemed and distinguished friend M.
Valenciennes, I have thought it might serve the cause of science and
of truth to submit a memoir on the subject to a society, venerable as
well by its name as by the services it has rendered the sciences of
observation.

The inquiries, of which the results are merely given here, were
commenced about 1824, or about thirty years ago; and although I
have repeated them on many occasions, I do not find it necessary to
alter or modify the statements originally made on this point to the
Royal Society of Edinburgh, in whose ‘ Transactions’ a mere notice
of my researches and observations were published.

My attention was first directed to the fact, for such it is beyond a
doubt, that in the stomachs and intestines of fresh-run salmon, that
is, of salmon fresh from their best, indeed their only true feeding-
ground, the unknown recesses of the ocean, nothing is ever found
but a peculiar reddish substance (and that in small quantity), unlike
anything known to possess life. The reddish coloured matter is also
found in the intestine. On applying to practical fishermen, that is, to
those who had seen, I shall not say examined, hundreds of salmon
opened and gutted, I found that they had but one opinion on the
subject, namely, that the food of the salmon, whilst a resident in the
ocean, was altogether unknown.

On inquiring of the same class of persons as to their knowledge of
the food of the herring, I found them equally at fault. They spoke
vaguely about the herring living by suction, but they were agreed as
to the main fact, namely, that food discernible to the naked eye was
rarely to be found in the stomach of the herring. Whilst reflecting on

* Read December 19th, 1854, to the Linnean Society. Communicated to the
Linnean Society by William Yarrell, Esq., V.P.L.S.

XIII. QA

4710 Fishes.

these circumstances, so singular in the natural history of fishes play-
ing an important part in the economic history of Great Britain,
Holland, and the Scandinavian nations, I learned accidentally that
in Soutl Scotland, in a lake or lakes near Lochmaben, there was, in
great abundance, a small gregarious fish, which could not be tempted
by any bait, and whose food was entirely unknown. These lakes, of
various extent and depth, are situated at no great distance from the
river Annan, with which they all communicate directly or indirectly,
but not all with each other; they contain many kind of fish, as the
vendace, of whose food I am about to speak, which are not found in
the river Annan; neither am I aware that the salmon and sea trout,
which, at certain seasons, abound in the river, make their way into
these lakes. Thus many curious questions are opened up for the
consideration of the philosophic naturalist. The jack or pike abounds
in the Castle Loch, and yet has not destroyed the vendace, a fish not
found, so far as I know, in any other part of Britain. With the food
of this fish, the vendace, I resolved to commence the inquiry. Con-
fined to certain lakes, and never quitting these, abiding in waters which
I could command with the net, the property of gentlemen whom I had
the pleasure to call my friends,1 felt that the inquiry ought to com-
mence there. The facts, moreover, were reported as being, without
exception, an important point in every physical inquiry. Far other-
wise, I saw, would be the inquiry into the food of the herring and
salmon; questions surrounded by numerous difficulties, and overlaid
with prejudices, extending even to the naturalist.

The mass of mankind love mystery now, as they once did anything .
which bore the semblance of a miracle. This foolish and silly passion
can only be met and stemmed by philosophy, by science. The case
between the lovers of mysterious untruths and truth-seeking science
has been well stated lately by the illustrious Faraday. In the matter
of the food of the vendace of Lochmaben, a gregarious fish, now
arranged by naturalists with the Corregoni, I found, on reaching the
village of Lochmaben and its pleasing lakes, many vague and mys-
terious stories afloat as to the vendace, which even naturalists had
taken the trouble to repeat. One forenoon’s inquiry destroyed the
whole illusion or delusion. Dozens of the vendace were opened
immediately on being removed from the lake, by means of nets, for
they are not to be caught in any other way: on their stomachs being
examined they were found to be crammed with thousands of EKntomo-
straca, or microscopic shrimps as they may be called, the class of
microscopic shell-fish so beautifully described by Miiller. The solu-

Fishes. A711

tion of the mystery depended simply on the placing a portion of the
contents of the stomach under a strong lens, which I took care to be
provided with. Strange as it may seem, nevertheless, the fact is cer-
tain, and now I believe admitted by all, that no one had ever thought
of this before. r
_ The species of the Entomostraca first discovered belonged to the
genus Lynceus, but several other genera were observed ; and in winter
(14th December, 1832, for I had the lakes fished expressly for this
inquiry), the Cyclops of Miiller of several species most abounded.
Thus, instead of living on air and water, the vendace consumes daily,
no doubt, thousands of shell-fish, a highly nutritive food; the roe of
these Entomostraca, being swallowed with the parent, contributing to
render the food still more nutritious.

The mystery was now at an end. I have sometimes thought that
the villagers were not over well pleased at so simple a solution of what

they had so pleasantly and so frequently discussed. A dissenting
clergyman of the place wrote an article against my views, or rather
against myself, which article was published in a work * so replete
with error as to stand, I believe, unparalled in the history of com-

_ pilations. Another parson,t a man of common sense and fond of

_ science, recommended the dissenter to see me jfirst, and ‘examine
with me the food of the vendace, for himself; in other words, “to
test the fact by an appeal to the materials.” This he declined doing,
for reasons I need not state. The contempt of the class I speak of
for physical truths is extreme, but this lamentable frailty, so detri-
mental to the best interests of mankind, does not fortunately extend
to all theologians.

This unlooked for discovery opened up at once a vast field of
— inquiry ; in fact I commenced with the vendace knowing the difficul-
ties which awaited its extension to some other gregarious fishes larger
than the vendace, that is, the apes the early spring trout of Loch
Leven, and the char.

Before proceeding to these, I shall allude to several facts made out
as to the natural history of the vendace, facts ascertained during the
course of frequent journeys to Lochmaben ; they may be useful to the
naturalist who may hereafter more fully describe the Corregoni. The
notion that, like the herring, the vendace dies immediately on being
removed from the lake was disproved at once, by bringing them to the

* ©The Statistical Account of Scotland.’ Blackwood.
+ Dr. Macknight.

4712 Fishes.

village in buckets of water: it is by no means a very delicate fish,
and could easily be transplanted to other lakes ; but it is not a high-
seasoned fish, and in this respect also what has been said of its singu-
larly good qualities is a pure exaggeration. ‘The object of science is
to destroy mystery and popular delusions.

Mr. Harkness, of Lochmaben, who assisted me greatly in these
inquiries, had the kindness to have the vendace caught for me in the
depth of winter, that is, on the 16th of December. The rivers Annan
and A were fished for me on the same day for parr, and specimens
of both were sent me. ‘There were twenty-four vendace; of these
twenty-two were females and two males; they were taken in the
Castle Loch of Lochmaben, as usual with the net. In nineteen of the
female vendace the ovaries were small, very soft, and the ova mere
points; but the fish themselves were in good condition: in three
females the ova were very large, and the fish just about to spawn; in |
the two males the milts were progressing in size, but not much
enlarged.

The vendace is found in two of the system of lakes near Loch-
maben, namely, the Castle Loch, so called from the ruined castle of
the Brus on its banks, and the Mill Loch: this latter is a deeper
loch, but not so extensive. As it seemed to me that the vendace of
the two lakes differed somewhat from each other, my brother, at my
request, examined them very carefully; the result of that inquiry is
as follows :—

Examination of the Vendace of the Castle Loch and Mill Loch,
February 26, 1837.

“The mouth being fully closed, and the specimen laid on a flat
board, the following dimensions were taken :—

Castle Loch. Mill Loch.

Snout to centre of tail . ‘ : ! . 63 inches. 62 inches.
» dorsal fin . : : ; A ae a 3 -
3° mori d , é ; BR 8g 64,
» “pelvic fine,’ ' 5 ‘ ; 8 “ 3 %
pe Ona Minds ie ’ . , | p Atk ae AL. ogy
extremity of gill-covers , ; Ree OT RRS or
Breadth of eye. : ; : : ee oP RO
Length of head, dorsal line ; : : . hee Tg
Greatest depth of body . - : ; a he es iia

oz. drs. grs. oz. drs. grs.
Weight . : : : : “gig ust ae Ll "or4e

Fishes. 4713

“Lateral line precisely mesial in the Castle Loch vendace, but
one-eighth nearer the dorsal line than the abdominal line in the
Mill Loch.

“A section shows both these specimens to be female, with the ovary
more fully developed in the Mill Loch vendace; the liver is evidently
larger in the vendace of the Mill Loch: these differences, however, will
not account for the great additional weight of 4 drs., and which evi-
dently arises from the greater depth and thickness of the Mill Loch
_vendace. This greater depth and thickness of the body, and the larger
head, seems to me to constitute the only specific differences between
these two fishes. The difference in colour is very striking; but this
seem to me to depend on the greater number of minute black spots
of the rete mucosum in the Mill Loch vendace: the dark shade is so
strong on the head as to obscure almost, if not entirely, the brain; and
thus the peculiar and much-dwelt-on heart appearance observed in the
Castle Loch vendace is not seen in that of the Mill Loch. The scales,
which I took from the lateral line and near it, of both specimens pre-
sent precisely the same appearance when placed under the microscope :
I counted 30 rays on that part of the scale, in both specimens, which is
exposed: the number of rings on the part concealed by the super-
imposed scale is greatly more.”

The largest vendace I have ever seen was 9 inches in length.

Another delusion in respect of the vendace was the supposition that
the males lived apart from the females in deeper water, and hence be-
yond the reach of the net. Like everything else in the history of the

_ fish this also seemed a delusion ; for the net being drawn in the Castle

Loch of Lochmaben, and near the castle, in presence of Mr. Murray
and myself, of fifteen vendace which I examined nine were females and
six males: this was in October. Nevertheless, I feel disposed to think

_ that the males are not so numerous as the females, for of forty taken in

the Mill Loch at one time only two were males. The males are lighter
coloured than the females.

(Thus terminated a popular delusion which had no doubt maintained
its ground for centuries. The discovery of the food of the vendace,
and of countless millions of other fishes to be spoken of immediately,
was a gift of the microscope to science: it illustrates and perhaps ex-
plains many obscure points in the natural history of such fishes, and
may one day lead to important results.—Added to the original MSS.
April 20, 1855.)

4714 Fishes.

The Food of the Char.

Having thus successfully solved the problem as to the food of the
vendace, and removed all doubts from even the most prejudiced, I next
turned my attention to that of the char. Some fine specimens were
obtained from Windermere, and the food, which proved to be the En-
tomostraca, with which the lakes abound, was exhibited to the Royal
Society of Edinburgh. The char is a gregarious, deep-swimming fish,
shy of taking any bait; nevertheless, it will rise to a fly, and the
common food of the trout may be found in its stomach, although I have
not found it to be so; nevertheless, it does not seem to me to feed ex-
clusively on the Entomostraca, although these unquestionably form by
far the larger portion of its natural food.

The observations as to the food of the char were repeated several
times, and always with the same results.

(The disappearance of the char from many lakes in Scotland, as for
example, from the lake of Leven, may be connected with circum-
stances dependent on the natural history of the Entomostraca, which,
no doubt, form its natural food.—Added to the original MSS. April
20, 1855.)

The Early Spring or Gray Trout of Loch Leven.

I had remarked many years ago that certain trout of Loch Leven
come into season much earlier than others; that there were some, in
fact, which were in the highest condition in the end of December,
January, February and March, a period of the year in which all
other descriptions of trout are worthless as food for man. I at first
conjectured that this peculiarity might depend on a specific distinc-
tion, and I am still disposed to believe that in Loch Leven there are
two distinct species of lake trout, an early fish and a late one, but
anatomical investigation has not as yet borne out this view. But be
this as it may, the facts remained simply as they were,— namely, that
an admirable sort of trout comes into perfect condition in Loch Leven
as early as December and January ; and then came the question of its
food.

In January, 1832 or 1833, I requested two friends* to be present at

* The late Mr. William Murray, of Henderland, and Mr. Graham, of Redgorton,
nephew to Lord Lynddoch.

Fishes. A715

the examination of four specimens of very fine Loch Leven trout,
purchased in the market that morning. On their stomachs being laid
open and examined with a lens, they were found to be filled with
Entomostraca; and these I have always found to constitute the food
of the early spring trout of Loch Leven.

During the remainder of the year the ordinary Loch Leven trout live
‘on the small Buccinum and the common food of trout, with which the
lake abounds: they rise readily at an artificial fly, and may, no doubt,
be taken with worms or minnows, or any of the ordinary bait for
trout.

It has been asserted, since these discoveries were made, that the
Entomostraca form the staple food of most of the finer sorts of lake
trout. I believe the statement to be very probably correct, but I have
not myself had an opportunity of verifying the fact. Those who
doubted all these facts at first went soon afterwards, on finding they
could not be refuted, into the opposite extreme, and asserted that the
Entomostraca, of which, by-the-bye, they had no very clear idea,
formed the most nourishing food of fishes. I lay no claim to such
sweeping generalizations, being simply contented with what I can
prove by demonstration. :

The Herring.

Having thus cleared the way, as it were, of some of the obstacles to
the successful prosecution of the inquiry, I next proceeded with that
of the food of the herring. The difficulty was to obtain the herring

from the deep sea, in fine order and as remote as possible from
_ its spawning condition. When found near the coasts, the herring is
either about to spawn or has already spawned: it is, to a certain
- extent more or less, a foul fish, and the food it may take at that time
is not to be held to be its natural food ; this can only be made out in
the herring when in the finest order and in the deep sea, to which he
_ seems annually to retire. _ This part of the inquiry was accompanied
‘by a good deal of trouble and considerable expense: the herring had
to be examined on both coasts of Scotland, and indeed under a variety
of circumstances.

Of the hundredsand hundreds of herrings I have examined, with
this view, I remember but a very few in whose stomachs anything was
found excepting Entomostraca of various species. Of the specimens
to which I allude as having been feeding on other prey, one had

AT16 Fishes.

been living on sand-eels ; another on what appeared to be small her-
rings; and in the stomach of the third were the shells of about
a dozen small Buccinums. These were the only specimens out of hun-
dreds in which the Entomostraca did not form the sole food. I leave
the negative and positive evidence to speak for themselves. The
positive evidence | at last obtained on this curious point would fill a ©
volume.

Throughout the inquiry, which was prolonged for several years, my
great object was to obtain the herring at as great a distance from the
shores as possible and in the best order. The British herring-
fisheries are in reality shore-fisheries, or nearly so, and the herrings
are most frequently taken on the spawning-ground, and in a con-
dition when the fish do not feed. Notwithstanding these innumer-
able difficulties, it seems to me that I have succeeded in deter-
mining, beyond all doubt, the food of the herring to consist of various
species of Entomostraca, with which it is known the seas and bays
abound.

When near the coast the herring is frequently not feeding. Thus,
in the Forth, in January and February, 1836, I examined the stomachs
and intestines of a very great number of fresh herrings, taken in the
Frith of Forth, and found them empty. The roes and milts were
large, but not remarkably so. On the other hand, after spawning,
and whilst close to the shores, they seem to take to other food,
as sand-eels and shrimps. I find in June, 1831, that herrings taken
off Dunbar were in this state; the stomach and intestines loaded
with putrescence; the fish worthless and insipid. My journals of ob-
servations, made by my brother and myself, at every season of the
year and on both coasts, are now before me: they confirm the facts,
already well-established by practical men, that shore-fisheries of fish
whose habitat is the deep sea seldom produce fish in their prime
condition. The deep sea cod and haddock, as compared with
the same fish caught high in estuaries, furnish a good example of this
truth; the herring another. Thus, in the Frith of Forth fishings of the
20th of July, 1834, five male herrings, taken at random from a large
number, were found to have the milts small; they had been feeding
on the Entomostraca alone: these herrings proved of good flavour
and were excellent to eat: thirty others of the same take were found
to be insipid and worthless. Of these some had been living on sand-
eels as well as Entomostraca; their stomachs and intestines were full
of putrescent remains. Thus food, as well as their approach to

; Fishes. 4717
the spawning or recently spawned state, exercises a striking influence
on the quality of certain fishes as food for man.

_ In August some fine herrings were examined in Glasgow (west
coast of Scotland); the food appeared to be the ova of some testaceous
animal, as the shrimp, but after all, was probably merely Ento-
mostraca, exceedingly minute: nevertheless, a few even of these her-
_ rings had been eating thesand-eel. On this coast also, as the herrings
get out of order, they take to other food and become insipid and
worthless. These observations were repeated on September 27th and
October 13th, 1834, at Anstruther, in Fife, and close to the mouth of
the Frith of Forth. Of fifteen herrings taken on July 6th, 1838,
of three different sizes, the stomachs were filled with Entomostraca:
the first were in good order as food. But in winter, in friths, they do
not seem to feed; as on February 6th, 1836, of many fresh herrings
caught in the Frith of Forth, the stomachs and intestines were found
to be empty.

_ Of fifty herrings examined on the 13th of February, 1836, caught
‘im the Frith of Forth, forty-two had the stomachs and intestines
empty; four had been feeding on the ova of small fishes, and four
on a peculiar red substance: in twenty-two others nothing was
found. Thus, when caught in bays and friths, the stomach is
often quite empty; like the salmon, they are then off their feeding-
ground, which is the deep sea. The sexes are usually in equal
numbers. On the 30th of November, 1834, my brother remarks, in his
journal, that it has been invariably in herrings caught off the Isle of
May that he has found the Entomostraca: further up the frith, their
stomachs are very generally empty. ‘The Isle of May is close to the
Ferman Ocean. On the 4th of December, some herrings taken even
now are good; and this, my brother remarks, is invariably the case
with the first taken—even in winter.

Continuing the examination of these original journals, I find the
following entries :—

- “July 6, 1838. Fifteen herrings, taken off Anstruther and dis-
ected, gave the following results; the date of capture as above.

Largest size-—From snout to centre of tail . ; - 10% inches.
Length to dorsal fin . : , a
» to extreme margin of gills Sheed
Greatest depth a
Weight 8 0z

XIII. 2B

4718 Fishes.

Middle size.—Measured as above. ; ‘ . : 8% inches.
Ditto i , F 2 . é 43. «y
Ditto os ; m , ; : i a
Ditto - : é : : : i oem

Smallest size—Measured as above . j : t ; 72. a
Ditto 3 . 5 ; : : ars
Ditto » : 7 . ; . i
Ditto = : i , : : be 4s

“ The results of the dissection of these three sorts were as follows :—

“1st examined, was in good order, fat; a male: milt small; 3 inches
long by + inch broad: food Entomostraca.

“2nd, a male; in most respects as preceding: food Entomostraca.

“8rd, a male; as above: stomach empty ; intestines clean and quite
empty.

‘Ath, in fine order, as above; a male: food Entomostraca.

“Sth, a female; in all other respects as those already examined: ©
food, 1st, Entomostraca, abundant, minute; 2nd, two small prawns.

“6th, a female; in other respects as above: food Entomostraca, of
two kinds; one extremely minute.

“7th, a female; the fish in the highest order: food Entomostraca.

“8th, a male, 93 inches long: milt longer than in those described ;
4 inches long by 3 inch broad: food Entomostraca. |

“9th, a male; as in the first seven: food Entomostraca.

“10th, a female; in the best order: food Entomostraca.

“ 11th, ditto ; ditto: food Entomostraca, of a large species and
greenish colour.

“12th, length 7 inches; of very inferior quality, soft; seemingly a
young fish, yet tolerably fleshy ; a female: food Entomostraca.

“The 13th, 14th and 15th specimens were in as good condition
seemingly as those described, but although taken early this morning
the viscera by 5 P.M. were found to be putrescent: food Entomostraca.

“Thus, the quality as to food of the natural family of the Clupea
depends—lIst, on species ; 2nd, on their food; 3rd, on their condition —
as to the state of the milt and roe. Their natural habitat is the deep
sea, where they find their natural food—the Entomostraca.”

Lastly, I availed myself of the assistance of my much esteemed
friend and former student Mr. Henry D. Goodsir, now, alas! with Sir —
John Franklin. This gentleman with his more celebrated brother, ©
Mr. John Goodsir, were my favourite students and assistants in my com-
parative anatomical pursuits, in consequence of their fondness for such —

Fishes. A719

studies. Their family resided at Anstruther, a great fishing station on
the Frith of Forth, and I wrote to Mr. Henry D. Goodsir to push the
inquiry for me to the utmost: this he did by embarking in the fishing-
boats himself on the stormy frith, and proceeding with the fishermen
to the fishing-ground, not far from the Isle of May, and in the open
sea. He wrote me two letters in answer to my inquiries, one of which,
J fear, has been lost; I transcribe a copy of the second; of its value
I need say nothing :—

_ Copy of Mr. Goodsir’s Letter respecting the Food of the Herring.

“ Anstruther, June 15, 1843.

“My dear Sir,—I ‘gies put off thus long in answering your letter of
the 29th ult. for the purpose of making further observations on the
herring and its food, and find that my previous observations are quite
correct in regard to the matter. I will now, then, answer your queries
_ separately.

“1st. The Entomostraca are at certain seasons the almost exclu-
sive food of the herring: there can be no doubt, either, that they follow
shoals of these Crustacea to prey upon them, for it is only when the
latter make their appearance on this coast that the former are seen;
and when their food is most plentiful the herring are in best condition.
It is during the summer months also that we find the larve of the more
common species of Decapoda, along with those of Balani, and occa-
sionally a minute shell-fish, amongst the contents of the stomach.

“2nd. It appears to be chiefly during the winter and spring months

_ that the herring take other kinds of food than the Entomostraca; during
these months, however, we find the stomach oftener empty, and only
occasionally filled with the larger Crustacea, such as the shrimps, &c. ;
in other cases with Entomostraca.
_ “3rd. As to Entomostraca being the partial or exclusive food of other
fish besides the herring, there can be no doubt that during the summer
months, when the shoals of Entomostraca, or what our fishermen
_ term maidre, are in great abundance, they form the food of a great
number of other animals besides the herring. The common coal fish
is perhaps the species which, next to the herring, preys on the mazdre
in greatest number, and is consequently often caught in large quantities
in the nets during the early part of the season.

“It appears to me also that the shoals of Cetacea which make their
appearance in the frith during the herring season are in pursuit of the
maidre, and not of the herring, as is most generally thought to be the
case.

A720 Tishes.

“Tf you are aware of any other points which would require observa-
tion, be so good as let me know.
*‘ Believe me most sincerely yours,

(Signed) “ H. D. Goopsir.
“To Dr. Knox.”

Thus, after the lapse of nearly twenty years, a student of my own,
favoured by his position, confirms, to an extent I had scarcely hoped for,
my original observations on the food of the herring. I call the attention
of naturalists, and especially of my esteemed friend M. Valenciennes,
to these facts. As regards man, they are the most important which,
next to the capture of the herring, can be brought forward in respect
of the natural history of the herring; and they explain certain economic
statistics bearing on the great fisheries of Holland, which otherwise
were wholly unintelligible. The naval power of the ancient republic
of Holland was created and based on a deep-sea herring fishery; the
modern herring fisheries of France, England and the Scandinavian
States are shore and boat fisheries, of little value as a food-producing
employment, and of no value whatever in a naval point of view.

Prior to these researches the difficulty of discovering the food of the
herring was proverbial, and had been declared such by all. Soon after
my discovery of the food of the vendace, I spoke with that true patriot
and most amiable and talented man, the late Sir John Sinclair, on the
subject, and he informed me that he had often turned the matter over in
his mind, but without coming to any definite conclusions: he put into
my hand a pamphlet, by the late Sir Gilbert Blane, entitled ‘ Reflec-
tions on the Present Crisis of Public Affairs,’ dated 1831, pointing out
to me the following passage :—‘“ There are few problems of Nature in
the solution of which naturalists are more at fault than the disposal
and nutrition of the finny family. It is proverbially true that they
prey upon each other; but it is so much even beyond conjecture to
ascertain what is the ultimate food of fish, that it is the tenet and belief
of some of the most respectable inquirers into this department of
Nature, that the last fishes which those next above them make their
food have no sustenance but water. The phenomenon of the immense
shoals of herrings, and the fact of gold and silver fishes living without
any visible food, are some of the grounds upon which they found their
doctrine.” When I removed from the stomachs of the herring, the ven-
dace, the char and the Loch Leven trout, hundreds of Entomostraca, in
the presence of this excellent nobleman, and, placing them under a mi- |
croscope, convinced him that the popular belief that all or any of these —

Fishes. 4721

admirable fishes lived by or on suction, or on water merely, or on
nothing, as some would have us believe, was unfounded, he was greatly
surprised and pleased. Thus was this most difficult problem solved
at last. I am aware that there are some, but still, I hope, for tne honour
of my countrymen, few, who say that the solving such a problem as
this is a perfectly simple matter—of no value in science, and scarcely
meriting notice; yet strange to say that, in respect of all the fishes
enumerated, amongst which we may include the salmon, the problem
had avowedly remained unsolved from the earliest recorded period until
that of my own investigations. It would seem also that Dr. M‘Cullagh
gave an early attention to this matter, and conjectured that the herring
preyed on the Meduse; but he made no inquiries into the subject.

Lastly, it has been asserted that Leuwenhock had detected Entomo-
straca in the stomach of the herring. There is not a single passage
in the Memoirs of this celebrated observer furnishing the smallest
hint for the belief that he ever detected the Entomostraca in the
stomach of the herring, and his remarks are as follow :—“ After much
turning this matter in my thoughts, I had a fancy to know what is the
food of this fish (the herring); and for that purpose I inquired of
many men used to this fishing, what food they generally found in the
stomachs of herrings when first caught, but the constant answer I got
from them was that they never found any. At length 1 met with a
merchant who fits out ships for the herring fishery, and from him I
learned that in a certain tract of sea near the coast of Scotland herrings
are caught, in the stomachs of which are found some kinds of small
fishes, but that those herrings will not keep long.” “ Not content with
this,” continues Leuwenhock, “I determined to wait for the season
when certain herrings are brought to our town, which, as I have heard,
“are caught in great numbers not far from Amsterdam.”

Thus it would appear that to practical men, fishermen, merchants,
Dutchmen, who turned over millions of florins and guilders annually
from this great staple, the food of that fish by which they lived and
throve was itself as unknown as it is at this day to the same class of
men in Britain; that is, fishermen, who deny that it lives on anything;
fishermen who say that it lives upon suction, but without attaching the
smallest meaning to the word suction. But Leuwenhock says that he
“was not content” with the answers of fishermen and merchants, so
he commenced opening the stomachs of some fresh herrings caught in
the Zuyder Zee. Failing in all attempts to ascertain the real food of
‘the herring, he came to the conclusion that herrings not only “feed
on small fishes and even on their own eggs, but that when urged by

4722 Fishes.

hunger they will swallow anything they meet with.” This illustrious
man, for he truly was so, adopted other theories and hypotheses in
regard to the herring :, he thought that all herrings were of one year’s
growth, and that when they once abandoned the coasts they never
more returned to them; and, lastly, he concluded that the small fishes
on which herrings feed (which, by-the-bye, he admits he could not
discover), besides being inconceivably small, “ are used but sparingly
by the herring.”

The Food of the Salmon.

From about midsummer, but more especially with the autumnal
floods, salmon and sea trout of various sizes begin to rush up the
fresh water streams and rivers: their object in this annual migration
is clearly enough made out—they are proceeding to the place of their
birth, the original streams in which they first saw the light, there to
perform the act of the propagation of their species. As the roe and
milt grow the fish get more and more out of condition: from the time
it enters the fresh-water rivers it ceases to feed, properly speaking.
True, it may be tempted to spring at an artificial fly, or to attack a
worm or minnow, in accordance seemingly with its original habits and
nature; for whilst it lived as a smolt in the fresh waters the ordinary
food of trout was also its food; but from the time it first descends to
the ocean as a smolt and tastes its marine food, it never again resorts
to its infantile food as a constant mode of nourishment. This great
fact, well understood by fishermen and true anglers, Mr. Young, of
Invershin, has placed, by direct experiment, beyond all doubt.

But what is the food of the true salmon in the ocean ?—that food
which he cannot do without ?—that food on which relatively all his
good qualities depend?

As nothing is ever to be found in the stomach and intestines of the
fresh-run salmon but a little reddish substance, 1 placed a microscope
over this substance. After much difficulty came to the conclusion
that it was composed of the ova of some species of the Echinodermata.
With salmon, whilst in the sea, this is the constant and sole food: sea
trout and hirling also live on it, but they readily take to other food,
even in the sea, such as the sand-eel, herring-fry, &c. In fresh-water
streams the true salmon does not feed; the sea trout feeds, but does
not thrive. The absence of this peculiar food forms an insurmountable
obstacle to the localization of the salmon, and even of some kinds of
the sea trout in fresh-water lakes.

Fishes. 4723

M. Valenciennes remarks, in his great work on Fishes, that the salmon
is “vorace ; sa nourriture consiste en poissons ; (annodytus tobianis.”)
There exists not a single fact in the history of British salmon in sup-
port of this opinion.

In the absence of positive evidence in respect of the marine food of
the salmon various theories have been invented by ingenious men,
fishermen, closet naturalists, amateurs, and others, to explain the well-
known fact of the seeming emptiness of the stomach and intestines in
the high-conditioned fresh-run salmon. These theories require no
refutation. Some imagined that the salmon refrained from eating in
order to prepare himself for his ascent up the river; we owe this
Singular fancy to Sir Humphrey Davy. Others imagined that the
digestive powers of the salmon resembled a furnace, consuming in an
incredibly short space of time all the little fishes they swallow; as the
intestines are empty as well as the stomach, they were obliged to assign
to the salmon’s stomach a power equal to the digestion of indigestible
parts, such as the skeleton, lens of the eye, &c. Lastly, some con-
jectured that the salmon discharges, on being taken, the contents of
his stomach; but daily on the Tay at Invershin, and elsewhere, salmon
are taken in large numbers at a single haul of the seine; I have often
seen them so taken. Could such a fact, if true, escape observation ?
I leave the hypothesis in the hands of the practical fishermen.

In spring, as the spawned fish are descending with the smolts towards
the ocean, they may occasionally be tempted with an artificial fly or
lob-worm; but as to their feeding regularly in rivers, Mr. Young’s ex-
periments prove, beyond all doubt, that if they feed they profit nothing
by it, losing weight and strength daily during their sojourn in the fresh

waters.

Of the Entomostraca themselves.*

The object of this memoir being simply to establish the fact that

_ many valuable gregarious fishes live, some exclusively, others partly, on

the Entomostraca, it is not my intention to say much respecting the
minute shell-fish serving as their food. They were first admirably de-
scribed by Miiller and Jurine, and their natural history is tolerably well
known. They must be exceedingly prolific, and breed no doubt many
times a year: they are abundant in the sea as well as in fresh-water

* Engravings of the specimens of the Entomostraca first discovered in the ven-
dace and herring will be found in my Memoir presented to the Royal Society of
Edinburgh.

A724 Fishes.

lakes ; and it is easy to see, by their numerous remains in the limestone
of Birdiehouse, and in the limestone of other quarters, that they played
an important, perhaps the same, part in the economy of the ancient
world that they do in this, namely, serving as food to countless shoals
of gregarious fishes, which abounded then as now in fresh and marine
waters.

The Entomostraca of the Southern hemisphere differ seemingly
from those of the northern; there also they serve as the food of gre-
garious fishes. This was proved by my brother many years ago, in
respect of the so-called herring of the Bay of Islands, a gregarious
fish abounding in these seas, and living on Entomostraca.

To the minuteness, and, indeed, microscopic character of the Ento-
mostraca, must be ascribed the fact of their having so long escaped
the notice of naturalists and others, and causing even distinguished
observers to consider their occasional presence in the stomachs of
fishes to be merely accidental.

The largest of the gregarious fishes I have as yet observed which
lives, or may live, exclusively on the Entomostraca, is the early gray
trout of Loch Leven and the char; but I have no doubt that on the
American continent there are many admirable fishes of the natural
families of Salmonide, Corregoni, Clupeadz, and even others, whose
food, when discovered, will be found to be Entomostraca of various
species. ‘They vary considerably in size, and seem to extend from
pole to pole, consuming the organic remains which but for them
might speedily infect the ocean itself.

To the geologist the facts stated in this memoir must, I think, prove
of deep interest. Certain of the most productive of the gregarious
fishes of past and present times depend for their existence on a class
of animals exposed to destruction by chemical or other changes in the
waters they inhabit: their destruction would-probably involve the
fish which prey on them. As regards the herring, these facts may
some day explain the capriciousness in the movements of the vast
shoals which visit the coasts of Scotland and other northern
countries—their appearance and disappearance at various times; for
the question of food must be with herrings, as with men, the all
important question.

R. Knox.
Miessen House, Upper Clapton.

Calendar of Natural Phenomena. 4725

| Calendar of Natural Phenomena observed at Purley Park, Berkshire.
By CutTusBert Cotiinewoop, Esq., M.B., &c., &c.

January, 1855.

1. Robin Redbreast (Sylvia rubecula) in full song.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) sings.

Furze (Ulex europeus) flowers.

Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) flowers.

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), leaves appear.

. Song Thrush (Turdus musicus), song commences.
4, Daisy (Bellis perennis) flowers.
Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), leaves appear.
do. Nuthatch (Sitta europea), call heard.
Blue Tit (Parus ceruleus), note commences.
Marsh Tit (Parus palustris), note commences.
Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), song commences.
6. House-fly (Musca domestica) appears, in a room with a fire.
8. Witches’ Butter (Tremella mesenterica) appears.
Creeper (Certhia familiaris), spring note commences.
Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) flowers.
9. Great Tit (Parus major), note commences.

10. Longtailed Tit (Parus caudatus), note commences.

12. Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) flowers.

13. Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) flowers.

14, Fish begin to rise.

_15. Up to this time the weather has been remarkably mild and
. spring-like: to-day it changed to frost.

16. Lark (Alauda arvensis), song commences.

. Dandelion (Leontodon taraxacum) flowers.

17. Green Field Speedwell (Veronica agrestis) flowers.
Buxbaum’s Speedwell (Veronica Buxbaumiz) flowers.
White Dead-nettle (Lamiuwm album) flowers.
Chickweed (Stellaria media) flowers.

18. Hazel (Corylus avellana) flowers.

Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua) flowers.

Banded Snail (Helix fasciata) comes abroad.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellit) first seen.

(During the night there was a heavy fall of snow, the effects of
which were immediately visible, as follows.)
XIII. 2C

os)

4726 Calendar of Natural Phenomena.

19. Mallards (Anas boschas) and Teals (Anas crecca) arrive on our
waters.

Wren (T7roglodytes europeus), song commences.

20. Great, Solitary or Double Snipe (Scolopaa major) seen.

21. Canada or Cravat Goose (Anser canadensis) taken on our waters.
Wigeon (Anas Penelope) and Coot (Fulica atra) arrive.

22. Goldeneye (Fuligula clangula) seen.

23. Common Gull (Larus canus) seen.

Remarks.—The first fifteen days of this month have been remark-
ably mild, and more like the weather that we should look for in the
beginning of April than in January. All nature rapidly advanced: the
robin, which had, as usual, been singing all through Christmas, was
joined, on New-Year’s Day, by the starling, which sang magnificently
in my chimney on that day, but which, however, has not continued
through the month. On the 3rd the song thrush commenced, pre-
ceding the missel-thrush, which usually takes the lead in the year, by
two days; the tits, of which five species are here common, followed in
rapid succession; and six or seven plants were already in flower by
the 15th: on that day frost began; nevertheless, a day or two after,
two species of Veronica opened their petals, not unaccompanied by
other flowers; and it is remarkable that on the 18th, the earth being
then frost-bound, the banded snail woke from his winter sleep and
marched about in the hedge, two months before his usual time, and
doubtless soon to retire again. On the night of the 18th a fall of
snow occurred, which was immediately followed by a tribe of wild
fowl, consisting of mallards, teals, wigeons, coots, goldeneyes, and
other Anatide, of which I have no authentic account; and it is —
worthy of notice that on this very morning, when stress of weather
drove hither these hardy birds, the pigmy wren essayed his first
spring ditty. On the 21st a pair of the rare solitary snipe alighted
near this house; and the following day (another fall of snow having
occutred in the night) the lockman brought down a fine specimen of
the Canada or cravat goose, which I examined: it weighed 9 tbs., and
presented no marks of having escaped from a domesticated state,
although I cannot affirm that it had not done so. Other arrivals of
Anatide have taken place during the latter days of the month; and
the last two days have been marked by unusual severity of weather,
snow having fallen almost without intermission. As the ground has
been more or less covered with snow since the 18th, and it now lies
several inches, and in some places several feet deep, it has been

Calendar of Natural Phenomena. 4727

impossible, during that time, to mark the progress of vegetable life.
Indeed, animal life has scarcely advanced, and for some days even the
robin has been silent; but to-day (February Ist), after two days’ in-
cessant snow anda night of uncommon severity, the robin and the
wren are singing briskly, and they are also joined by the harsh but
mew voice of the bunting (Emberiza miliaria). The river (Thames)
is to-day, in many parts, frozen over. A friend shot close by, and
submitted to my inspection, two female examples of the scaup duck
(Fuligula marila), a truly oceanic species, which is not common, and
is still more rarely found so far from the sea. |

February, 1855.

1. Bunting (Emberiza miliaria), song commences.
Scaup Ducks (Fuligula marila) shot.
2. Large flocks of Wild Geese (Anser segetum) appear.
Hedge Accentor (Accentor modularis), song commences.
_ 3. Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) and Redwings (T. tliacus) migrate
further South.
4, Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) shot on the banks of the Thames.
5. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis), laughing note commences.
Primrose (Primula vulgaris), leaves appear.
6. Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) flowers.
Corn Marygold (Chrysanthemum Segetum) flowers.
7. Scarlet Peziza (P. coccinea) appears.
10. Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus), red berries appear.
_ 17. Hoopers or Whistling Swans (Cygnus ferus) visit us.
20. Ring Dove (Columba palumbus) coos.
_ 21. Partridges (Perdix cinerea) pair.
_ 22. Yew (Taxus baccata) flowers.
_ 23. Japan Quince (Cydonia japonica) leafs.
N.B. After a smart fall of snow this morning the frost broke up.
_ 24. Yellowhammer (Emberiza flava), song commences.
H Winter Aconite (Helleborus hyemalis) flowers.
_ 25. Chaffinch (Fringilla celebs), song commences.
‘ Squirrel (Scturus vulgaris) leaves his winter retreat.
Gnats (Culices and Chironomi) appear in clouds.
Thrush (Turdus musicus) resumes his song, after seven weeks’
intermission.
White or Barn Owl (Strix flammea) screeches.
_ 26. Skylark (Alauda arvensis), song commences.
Hoopers or Whistling Swans (Cygnus ferus) return northwards.

4728 Calendar of Natural Phenomena.

26. Snipe (Scolopax gallinago) last seen.
Wild Duck (Anas boschas) last seen.
27. Bean Geese (Anser segetum) return Northward.
Pansy (Viola tricolor) flowers.
28. Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) resumes his song, after four weeks’
intermission.
Redwings (Turdus iliacus) and Fieldfares (7. pilaris) return
from their second migration.
First Lepidopterous insect (Hibernia
wing.

?) seen on the

Remarks.—The month of February has, in many respects, differed
considerably from the preceding month in atmospheric influences, and
their effects upon animal and vegetable life. The first two-thirds of
January were comparable with ordinary March and April weather, and
the last fortnight, although more seasonable, only paved the way for
binding up the whole month of February in the iron bonds of an un-
usually severe winter. Instead of bathing in the river, as I did during
the first half of January, the corresponding part of February saw me
skating on its frozen surface. Nature, which advanced with too rapid
strides in January, has, in February, been unduly repressed. A frozen
month of drifted snow has enveloped the earth for six weeks, in some
places so thickly that the absence both of light and air has materially
checked the growth of the early spring plants; so that vegetation, in
those places where a botanist would look for its gradual advance—in

the hedgerows and woods—has been almost at a stand-still; the very

lanes themselves being, in many instances, impassable from the ac-
cumulated snow. The effects of this inhospitable covering over the
otherwise bountiful table of Nature have been manifest on that class of
animals which chiefly look to it for supplies. The granivorous birds
have been hard pressed by hunger; and the insectivorous birds have
felt even more keenly the common destruction of their natural food,
and the difficulty of obtaining those supplies which yet remained. It

is remarkable that, contrary to the popular impression, the supply of.

“ hips and haws,” which form the subsistence of a large number of birds,
especially in default of other food, was this winter extremely scanty,
in fact, almost entirely deficient. Under these circumstances, it is not
surprising that, during the late hard weather, birds should not un-
frequently have been found dead, having perished from the failure of
supplies, and the consequent severity of the cold, which alone would
not have affected them. During the whole time that the frost has

Calendar of Natural Phenomena. _ 4729

lasted, those birds which had previously been in song have intermitted
their notes, being doubtless too much occupied in the earnest search
for a precarious subsistence to indulge in those buoyant feelings which
induce song. This applies to all ground-feeders, with scarcely an
exception; but it is worthy of remark that the busy tribe of the tits
(Paride), which find their food principally in the crevices of the bark
of trees, have been active and busy throughout, and have enlivened
the plantations with an unceasing volley of sprightly notes. The
same remark applies to the nuthatch (Sztta europea), whose loud and
business-like whistle is never wanting, for the same reason. A curious
effect of the unwonted keenness of the past winter was exhibited by
the fieldfares and their congeners, the redwings: they have performed
a distinct double migration. On the 2nd of the month, while travelling
to Oxford, 1 saw large flocks of these birds in the fields all the way
along; but since that day, for a space of nearly four weeks, I have
looked in vain for a single one. I conjectured that they had sought
a more southern and congenial climate, and I anticipated that when
the frost broke they would return ; and, indeed, yesterday (February 28)
they did return, and reappeared in our meadows in vast numbers and
in good condition.
The month opened with the most wintry aspect that can well be
imagined. For the last forty-eight hours in January the snow had
been incessant and the nights severe; but neither frost nor snow had
as yet influenced the condition of our passerine birds, and the bunting
(Emberiza miliaria) opened the month with his harsh note: his ex-
ample was followed the next day by the hedgesparrow (Accentor modu-
laris), and it is curious, as an example of the varying influence of the
seasons on different classes of birds, that at the moment I was arrested
by first hearing his note I was engaged in watching the majestic flight
of twenty-one wild geese (Anser segetum), as, driven from their usual
haunts by the freezing of the waters, they sailed in one long, unbroken
line, about 100 yards overhead ; but the birds just mentioned soon felt
the chilling influence, and ceased singing almost as soon as they had
begun; nor were they joined by any new voices until the latter part
of the month. On the night of the 3rd a remarkably rapid thaw, suc-
ceeded by a no less rapid frost, in the space of a few hours produced
a curious result: every tree, from the largest branches to the smallest
twigs, was in the morning encased in a transparent tube of ice, which
glittered beautifully in the sunlight. For two or three days it con-
tinued to thaw under the influence of the sun, freezing again at night,
so that: by the 6th the snow had almost disappeared, disclosing a few

4730 Calendar of Natural Phenomena.

flowers which flourish despite the frost; but among them was one
which I should little have expected to find in such circumstances: in
an open turnip-field, half-covered with frozen snow, I plucked a hand-
some and fully-expanded blossom of the corn marigold (Chrysanthe-
mum Segetum), a plant which we are accustomed to see blooming in
July among the ripening grain. On the 7th a considerable fall of
snow took place, which has not yet entirely disappeared: from that
day until the 23rd was an unceasing frost, and the most trying part of
the whole winter to the feathered tribes: the days were all unusually
fine, and the nights clear and bright, the thermometer generally sinking
below 20° F. The number of wild fowl visiting our streams have not
increased in proportion to the severity of the weather, and that for two
reasons :—in the first place, the country being densely populated, there
was little chance of rest for birds, which every one who possesses a
gun considered fair game; and, secondly and chiefly, the river and
other waters have long been almost entirely closed up by ice, so that
they are forced to proceed further in search of open waters, which are
necessary to their existence; nevertheless, we have had some variety
of them, as follows :—

More than one flock of wild swans (Cygnus ferus) have passed this
way. The first flock of these magnificent birds I had the good fortune
to see; it consisted of six, one of which was shot near Reading, and
sold by the shooter for one guinea; the remaining five, when I saw
them, were hovering over a small piece of open water near the lock,
attracted there by the presence of a pair of tame swans (Cygnus olor).
These birds are very unusual here, and are only seen in the hardest
winters: the lockman tells me, however, that he has seen them settle
in the meadows, and feed there for a whole morning, during which time
he was deterred from shooting them by the idea that they were only
the tame swans of the neighbouring ornamental waters.

Wild Geese. I am not sure whether more than one species has
visited us this year, viz., the Bean Goose (Anser segetum), but numerous
large flocks have been seen. u

Wild Duck (Anas boschas). The earliest and latest wild fowl that
have been observed, and also the most common.

Wigeon (Anas Penelope). Not unfrequent.

Teal (Anas crecca). <A very few at the commencement of the frost.

Scaup Duck (Luligula marila). Two or three have been shot
close by.

Goldeneye (Fuligula clangula). Several of these handsome birds
have been taken: the last, a most beautiful male specimen, was shot

Calendar of Natural Phenomena. A731

on the 21st, and is stuffed and placed with others in the hall of this
house. - |
_ Pochard (Fuligula ferina). Six of these delicious birds, only in-
ferior to the canvas-back duck of America, were killed in one after-
noon, on the 16th, by a gentleman, a quarter of a mile from this
house. ‘There have been other species, but these are all I have myself
seen. The genus Fuligula, to which the last three belong, consists of
marine ducks of diving habits, which are not usually seen inland, unless
pressed by strong necessity.

- The occurrence of the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) should be noticed,
as it is a bird fast becoming rare; and, moreover, in the part of the
river where it was shot, the cover of reeds, &c., is very scanty for so
large and shy a bird.

- It will be seen, in my Calendar for the past month, that from the
7th to the 17th but one observation was registered. This was to be
expected during such a dead season, and, in default of other and more
active sources of remark, I found not a little interest in the study of
what may be called the “Ichnology of the snow.” In so soft a
material the gentlest footfalls, though unheard, leave an impression
which betrays the track of many a watchful animal. Of all the im-
pressions thus produced, by far the most numerous, and by far the
most universal, were those of the wild rabbit (Lepus cuniculus), with a
sprinkling of hares (ZL. t¢midus), the two hind-feet parallel, and one
fore-foot a little advanced before the other, thus S oo. There is
not a spot, however exposed, where these wary animals do not venture
at night: their marks were almost as numerous at the threshold of my
door and under my window as among their burrows in the copse.
Out in the open fields the cautious grimalkin had stalked, in search, I
suppose, of feathered prey; and pairs of minute depressions at regular
intervals showed where the little hardy shrew (Sorex araneus) had
made a short journey; but the birds presented by far the greatest
variety of footsteps. The marks of the passerine birds in the shrub-
_beries were comparatively rare: they seem to have confined themselves
more to the trees; but in the stubble fields, for acres in extent, not a:
square inch was left unimpressed by the busy feet of flocks of larks..
Almost as numerous, but more circumscribed, were the foot-prints of
the starlings. Some few largish footmarks were left by the rooks, but
very few, considering their numbers. A zigzag series of impressions,
for nearly a furlong in extent, showed where a covey of partridges
had been feeding; while perhaps a dozen impressions of three large
spreading toes here and there by the river-side, betrayed the spot

4732 Calendar of Natural Phenomena.

where a heron (Ardea cinerea) had alighted. The indistinct impres-
sions left by the webbed feet of the ducks (Anatide) readily dis-
tinguished them from the clearer marks of the moorhen (Gallinula
chloropus), although of the same size, and situated precisely in the
same position at the water’s edge.

About the 20th the soft cooing of the ring dove and the pairing of
the partridges gave indications of approaching spring, and these
symptoms were followed by a sudden and rapid thaw on the 23rd,
occurring immediately after a short but heavy fall of snow. All at
once the face of Nature was changed: on the 25th the thermometer
stood at 48° F., and the air, after having been so long cold and
bracing, felt oppressively warm. ‘The effect was magical; the snow,
except where it had drifted deep, had disappeared; the groves re-
sounded with the voices of birds, rejoicing in the downfal of the
iron rule of Winter; but all the rest were almost drowned by the
hitherto unheard, but now universal, song of the musical chaffinch ;
the little squirrel quitted his retreat, and leaped nimbly from bough
to bough; the thrush, after seven weeks of mournful silence, ushered
in the evening with his tuneful voice; and even the stillness of night
was broken, for the first time, by the shrill and prolonged scream of
the white owl. The business of pairing has scarcely commenced yet ;
the domestic birds, the fowl.and pigeon, it is true, have broods a
month old: the jackdaw (Corvus monedula) made attempts to pair
early in January before the frost set in, but their domestic arrange-
ments were of course interrupted: the only birds which have really
paired are the hardy partridges; but their example will quickly be
followed by the rooks, which have suffered much during the late hard
weather, but which for the last day or two have shown that restless
activity which foreshadows the important business of the season of
love.

In conclusion, I trust I may say, “ The winter is over and gone,
and the time of the singing of birds is come ;” and I hope that before
I close the account of the present month I may be able to announce
the arrival of the first of our summer birds of passage, the pretty and
amusing chiffchaff.

March, 1855.
1. Hive Bee (Apis mellifica) comes abroad.
Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) pair.
Missel Thrush (Zurdus viscivorus) resumes his song, after seven
weeks’ interval.

7.

8.
9.

10

13.
14,
15.
16.
17.

18.
19.

20.

21
2]

823

24

25.

Calendar of Natural Phenomena. 4733

. Field Spiders appear in numbers.

Redwings (Turdus iliacus) and Fieldfares (7. pilaris) last seen.

. Seven-spotted Ladybird (Coceinella 7-punctata) appears.

Elder (Sambucus nigra) leafs.
Common Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) leafs.

. House-flies (Musca domestica) appear in rooms without a fire.

Spurge Laurel (Daphne Laureola) flowers.

. Spiders shoot their webs.

Rooks build.

» Cuckoo-Pint (Arum maculatum) unfolds its leaves.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) mined by the larva of Phytomyza aqui-
folia, a Dipterous insect.

. Alder (Alnus viscosa) flowers.

Gossamer (Aranea aéronautica) appears.

Water Vole, Water Rat (Arvicola amphibius) comes abroad.
Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata) visits us.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) resumes his song.
Greenfinch (Coccothraustes chloris), song commences.
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) pairs.

Wallflower (Cheiranthus fruticulosus) flowers.
and 11. Heavy snow.

White Willow (Saliz alba), catkins open.

Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) flowers.

Arbor-vite flowers.

Goldilocks (Ranunculus auricomus) flowers.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) flowers.

Woodlark (Alauda arborea), song commences.
Gooseberry (Ribes grossularia) leafs.

Aspen (Populus tremula) flowers.

Polyanthus (Primula polyantha) flowers.

Common Ladybird (Coccinella variabilis) appears.
Goldencrested Wren (Regulus auricapillus), song commences.
Primrose (Primula vulgaris) flowers.

Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepleryx Rhamnz) appears.
Stock Dove (Columba @nas) coos.

Scarlet Satin-mite (Zrombidium holosericeum) appears.
et seg. EK. winds and sleet.

Diving Duck (Fuligula ?) last seen.

Ivy (Hedera Helix), berries ripen.

Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) builds.

Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) flowers.

XIII. 2D

A734 Calendar of Natural Phenomena. |

25. Wood Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) flowers. |
26. Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus Ficaria) flowers.
Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus) appears.
Gray Wagtail (Motacilla boarula) last seen.
27. Very heavy fall of snow in the night.
29. Coltsfoot (Zussilago farfara) flowers. |
31. Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans), song commences. _
Ivy-leaved Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) flowers.

Remarks.—The struggles of regenerated Nature in spring to regain
the victory over the grave of winter have been this month unusually
protracted and severe: for atime it has seemed as though the new-
born season had established its dominion, when suddenly the icy
clutch of its expiring predecessor has been felt in all its severity, and
although we well know which must ultimately prevail, yet up to near
the close of the month there appears but small advantage on either
side. Indeed, the month of March has been singularly transitional ;
although it “came in,” contrary to the popular adage, “like a lamb,”
yet its lamb-like qualities did not long endure, except, indeed, in one
respect—that, namely, of yielding abundance of wool. On the 10th
and 11th, after some fair, spring-like weather, there suddenly came a
fall of snow, so heavy and long-continued, and so unaccompanied by
wind, that the surface of the earth presented the most perfect and
beautiful snow-scene we have had this winter: it all disappeared,
however, in one day (the 12th), and after another interval of ten days,
during which we enjoyed some lovely days (especially the 20th), the
21st ushered in a cold and violent. easterly wind, with abundance of
sleet, and the waters were frozen for several successive nights. Still
the spring recovered itself sufficiently to show its smiles on the 26th,
when, lo! as if in revenge, the night of the 27th brought the heaviest —
fall of snow .with which this winter has favoured us: so heavy was it
that had it not melted as fast as it fell it would have laid much deeper
on the ground than from any previous fall. The last day of the month,
however, gives promise that spring, assisted by the advancing year,
will soon shake off the mantle of winter. Iam thus particular in
giving a summary of the weather, because the welfare and. advance-
ment of animal and vegetable life so much depend upon it: of the
two animated kingdoms, however, the vegetable has suffered far more
this month than the animal, and its effects upon it are far more en-
during. The impetus given to animal life by the dissolution of the
long frost in the latter part of February has never been interrupted,

Calendar of Natural Phenomena. 4735

but for a day or two at a time: vegetation, however, during the whole
month, has made but very slender advances ; on the whole, it is now at
least one month behind the usual period in an average year; in many
instances it has, to all appearance, been stationary for weeks together :
thus, the common snowdrop, which, during the whole of February and
the greater part of March presented the same aspect, is still in full
bloom, although the first spring bird of passage has made its appear-
ance; the buds of the box tree (Buxus sempervirens) | have watched
for full six weeks, and during that time they have undergone no per-
ceptible change, nor are they apparently any nearer opening now than
they were in the middle of February; the blushing buds of the Japan
quince (Cydonia japonica) were apparently ready to burst at the begin-
ning of the month, but they have not yet opened. On the other hand,
‘those early builders, the rooks, commenced operations on the 4th instant,
only four days later than last year, and the chiffchaff appeared with his
sprightly note by the Ist of April, rather before the average time, and
in like manner with other birds. Those insects also that I have ob-
served have not made their appearance much after the usual time.

— It is easier to note the arrival of birds than their departure; and I,
who make up my list at the end of each month, may be led, for a time,
into the assumption that a bird has taken its departure, whereas it
may yet reappear after an interval. Thus, in my calendar for February,
I wrote, “26. Wild duck last seen,” supposing from the apparently
settled state of the weather that we should see them no more; but
during the past month they have frequently appeared, and even up to
the last hour of the month: I flushed a brace towards midnight on the
81st, as I was walking along the banks of the river by moonlight; in-
deed, I am assured that this species occasionally remains with us, and
breeds in the deep ditches near the river; but not only have the
common species been seen from time to time, but on the 6th we were
visited by a species hitherto, this season, new to us: a party of nine
tufted ducks (Fuligula cristata), the usual companions of those species
previously enumerated, spent the morning upon the river, and one
Specimen was procured. Even as late as the 21st an oceanic duck of
this genus (Fuligula) was seen, but that I think will be the last. 1
should remark that, in my list of Anatidz last month, I omitted the
eravat goose (Anser canadensis), which, it will be remembered, was
killed here on the 20th January, making altogether four genera and
ten species which have come under my immediate notice this winter.
_A little before Easter, some years since, the man who still occupies the
lock-house shot a pair of birds which puzzled him: although very

4736 Calendar of Natural Phenomena.

unusual-looking birds he did not take them to any connoisseur, but,
after a little debate with his wife, they agreed to make an Easter
Sunday dinner of them, which they accordingly did. These birds
proved to be a pair of the beautiful and rare white spoonbills (Platalea
leucorodia), and, much to their chagrin, the worthy couple found that
they had made a dear repast, although obtained for nothing: an
esteemed friend of mine, who then lived in this house, and who
possesses a beautiful collection of British birds, stuffed with his own
hand, would willingly have given five guineas to have added so
valuable a desideratum to them; but I believe they did not even save
their spoons.

_ In making observations on Natural History it is necessary that the
observer be extremely careful, lest he be led astray by one of the
numerous fallacies to which he is especially liable, and to set down
with caution any extraordinary circumstance, making due allowance
for sources of error. I am led to this remark by something which
occurred about the middle of the month: observing a number of dead
fishes accumulated in a certain reach of the river, I was led to examine
more closely, when I found that in a space of about 150 yards there
were 182 dead fishes. Now and then | took from the water a fish
which floated by, but still gasped for breath, although incapable of
motion. All these fishes were more or less covered with a sort of
fungoid growth, which, I was well aware, generally proved fatal when
it appeared upon them, gradually spreading all over them, and de-
stroying their vital functions. Moreover, on a further examination, I
found that, with the exception of a very few dace (Leuciscus vulgaris),
and bleak (LZ. alburnus), all these fishes were roach (L. rutilus), and
not a single perch (Perca fluviatilis) was to be seen among them,,
although these last fish are very plentiful in the river. On a primd
facie view of this. evidence I was inclined to believe that this disease
had been epidemic among the roach, or was at least confined to the.
genus Leuciscus. In this mind I made further inquiries, and at
length elucidated the mystery. On asking the fisherman who rents.
the water whether he had thrown away any fish, he told me as follows:
having received an order for a number of live roach he netted the re-.
quired quantity, and placed them in his live-box, to. be ready when
sent for. One night the box broke its moorings and disappeared :. it,
was upwards of three weeks before it was discovered, and during
that time the fish had become. what the fishermen aptly enough call
“furred,” the almost inevitable result of the confinement of too great
a number of fish in a small space for too long a time: as they were

CS ee ee ee

_—.

Calendar of Natural Phenomena. 4737

nearly all dead he threw them away into the river, and they had
floated down and collected in the spot where I saw them. The nature
of the disease, for disease it is, after all, is, I believe, that of a para-
sitic fungus, and the only account of it 1 ever met with is in an early
number of the ‘ Illustrated London Almanac,’ perhaps ten years ago.
I was sorry to see in the tank at the Crystal Palace, last week, a fine
pike lying at the bottom “ furred” and dead. I may mention further
a remarkable fact, and one that should be known, namely, that the
presence of a barbel (Barbus vulgaris) or two will prevent the furring
of fish in confinement.

In further confirmation of what I advanced previously, I may state
that sheep have been remarkably prolific this spring. Those lambs
which the farmers designate sieck or grass lambs, and which are born
generally early in March, or about two months later than the house
lambs, have been wonderfully numerous. In a flock of 300 ewes, be-
longing to a farming friend, 120 produced doubles, and there were
besides a considerable number of threes: nor is this a. peculiar case,
but it is, I believe, the general good fortune of the breeders this spring.
But if the farmers may congratulate themselves on a good lambing
season, their complacency has a limit. There is an old adage, “ A cold
March and a crop of wheat;” but the same gentleman assures me that
in examining his wheat-fields, a week or two ago, he was chagrined to
see that the violent and cold winds had laid bare the roots of the
young wheat-plants, and exercised such a deleterious influence upon
them, in that tender state, that he looks forward to their produce being
an utter failure. I trust, however, that either he is too readily alarmed
or that this accident is far from being general.

All our indigenous birds, with a very few exceptions, are now in full
song. These exceptions are somewhat singular: in the first place,
ever since I have been here I have never seen or heard a single linnet
(Linota cannabina), a bird usually common; neither have 1 yet seen
a goldfinch (Carduelis elegans), although I have once heard him: both
these birds are well known here, however, and I cannot account for
their absence, which I can only regard as temporary. But it is re-
markable that the blackbird, which usually commences his song in
February, has not yet been heard: they are often enough seen, although
not in the usual numbers, which I attribute to their having been greatly
thinned by the protracted frost: I have not unfrequently found them
dead. The rook also, I have no doubt, suffered greatly, and were
much reduced in numbers; an establishment.of thirty-seven nests in
one part of our grounds, which were occupied last year, is this spring

4738 Insects.

entirely deserted. I shall be anxious to see whether the lateness of
the spring will have any effect in retarding the arrival of our summer
birds of passage: there is such an intimate relation between vege-
tables and animals, as regards the means of subsistence, whether
directly or indirectly, through the insect world, that I can hardly ex-
pect to see them return punctually ; nevertheless, the first of them, the
chiffchaff (Sylvia hippolais), of whose advent I spoke in my last, made
himself very distinctly heard this morning, which is rather before the
average time. ‘The behaviour of the fieldfares and redwings has
most puzzled me: it will be remembered that they made a second
migration early in February, and returned on the 28th: on that day and |
the next (March Ist) large numbers were seen in our meadows, but
since then none all through the month, although these species do not
usually leave us till the middle of April.

~ But the ornithologists’ month par eacellence has now commenced ;
and its occurrenees, to which | look with the liveliest interest, shall be
duly forwarded to the ‘ Zoologist.’

C. CoLLINGWOOD. |
Purley Park, April 1, 1855.

Toads long known to be Enemies of the Hive-Bee.—At the meeting of the Ento-
mological Society on the 5th of March last, I was much gratified by the observations
which were read on the animals destructive to hive-bees; but more particularly so
with Mr. Muskett’s observation that “ it is no doubt well known that the common toad
wil] sit at the entrance of the hive and devour the bees, one after another, as they come
within reach of his tongue.” This not only confirmed a similar statement made known
to the Society upwards of twelve months ago, but it appeared to treat the circumstance
as one well known to bee-keepers, or at least as one respecting which Mr. Muskett had
no doubt whatever; but he proceeded to state, in his communication, a fact which did
appear singular—namely, that of the common woodpecker devouring bees in great
numbers at the mouth of the hive: this appeared to Mr. Muskett to be a new fact in
bee-history ; that of the toad was new and interesting to Mr. Westwood. Alas! “ there
is nothing new under the sun.” I have before me a quaint old book intituled ‘ Profit
and Pleasure United; or, the Husbandman’s Magazine; being a Treatise on all kinds
of Domestic Cattle, on the Improvement of Land, and on Gardening: to which is
added Directions for the Encreasing and Preserving of Bees.’ The latter part of this
title tells us at once that the author, “J. Smith, Gent.,” was aware that they had
enemies: this we shall see presently was undoubtedly the fact of the case. The article
on the honey-bee is a very short one, but full of information; it commences thus :—
“The Bee, though a small creature, and by many numbred amongst Insects, is ex-
treamly Advantagious to his Nurisher in returning abundance for the little he receives.”
Our author, like a practical man, thoroughly earnest in his purpose, begins with direc-
tions for procuring your bees: to store yourself with bees, he says, there are three
manner of ways—‘ Buying them, Taking wild Swarms, or making them by Art:”

Insects. A739

then follow directions for knowing which swarms are to be selected when purchasing,
and most likely to be profitable to their nourisher: next, “‘ ‘To store your Self with Wild
Bees, Take such as Breed in Clefits of Oaks, or other Trees, in Fields, Forrests or
Wildernesses, or in rocks, or Ruins of Castles or Churches:” “To find them out, set
a little Box with a small hole in it, near the Water-side, whither you perceive the bees
to resort, and when many have entered, for the Sugar and Honey put therein, stop up
the hole, and let one out, follow him as far as you can see him, then let out another,
following him likewise, and so a Third, till by their flying directly (for so they will) to
the place of their abode, you find them out.” Admirable ingenuity ! and so there were
honey-bees to be seen in clefts of trees, in rocks and ruins, in J. Smith’s time (1704).
I never met with more than one swarm, in a wood near Barnet—doubtless one that
had escaped its “‘ Nurisher.” Our author proceeds :—“ Having found them, smoak them
out, and settle them by the ringing of any Brass Vessel.” It is to be regretted that no
directions are given for “making them by Art;” but here follows a list of “all which
are utier Enemies to the Bees”—the toad, redbreast, woodpeckers, moth, hornet, li-
zard, swallow, sparrow, spider, butterfly, serpent and stork. First and foremost, our
author places the toad ; and the list, it will be seen, includes the woodpecker, mentioned
as destructive to bees. In what manner some of the “utter enemies” are prejudi-
cial to the bee I am not prepared to say, nor does our author afford any information
on the subject: he emphatically denounces the whole host as “ utter enemies.” The
essay concludes with directions for taking the honey from the hives, and the manage-
ment of the swarms ; on this head one direction is admirable, and deserves to be quoted—
“Tf the Master-Bee, or King, be too apt to lead the swarm abroad, clip his wings, and
then, not daring to trust them, he will stay at home”! I cannot do better than con-
clude, in the words of the author, “ And thus much shall suffice for the ordering of
Bees, from whose labour rises great Profit to most Kingdoms.’—Frederick Smith ;
April 12, 1855.

A Word on the Use of Initial Capitals to Specific Names.—We are agreed on using
initial capitals for genera, but we have no law as to initial capitals for species; for we
cannot certainly reckon as a law that draft of a bill which was sent down to us from
the Upper House, videlicet, the British Association, and which we, the Representatives
of the People, threw out, nemine contradicente. Now, having no law, every one does
exactly as he pleases; and not only are no two entomologists consistent with each other,
but no one, as far as my knowledge extends, is consistent with himself. It is difficult
_ to believe or understand the trouble which this diversity of practice gives to an editor,
more especially should it so fall out that his contributor, having steadfast faith in his
own critical sagacity, demands to see a proof; for then the said contributor, being in
absolute command ofa ship that has no rudder, and purring complacently over the
unwonted authority he is enjoying, is sure to assume the printer to be in error, and in-
continently to alter every small letter to a capital, and every capital letter to a small one.
It is with a view to relieve entomologists of this critical Jabour that I suggest this
simple rule—As all specific names must be substantives or adjectives, let every substan-
live (nominative or genitive), and no adjective, have an initial capital. One exception
only occurs to me, but exceptio constat regulam; it is when a man’s name is converted
into an adjective, as Metterbacheriana or Abildgaardana,—I don’t much envy these
insects or their godfathers,—then the capitals must of course be preserved as signboards
to testify to future generations that it is mortal men have been thus immortalized ;
otherwise, the cui bono of these ponderous monuments of genius, like that of their

4740 Insects.

fellows on Salisbury Plain, must grievously puzzle philosophers yet unborn.— Edward
Newman. ;
Gonepteryx Rhamni double-brooded.—Touching the question whether Gonepteryx
Rhamni be double-brooded, no one, I presume, can deny that there are at least two (if
not more) flights of the insect in the course of the year; and this perhaps may be all
that Mr. Hawker meant by saying that it is “ double-brooded.” Certain it is that the
insect appears on the wing in the early spring, and again later in the year, generally
in August, according to my own experience, or the end of July. In the ‘ Butterfly
Collector's Vade Mecum, “spring, beginning of June, and in autumn” are stated as
the periods of its flight. The Rev. F. O. Morris says, “There are two broods, one in
May, the other inthe autumn. Many of the autumnal brood live through the winter,

and are to be seen in the spring, even so early sometimes as February and March.” |

“‘ These early specimens,” say Humphreys and Westwood, “have survived the winter,
and produce eggs, from which a fresh brood of butterflies is produced in May, and
another in the autumn, some of which last again survive the winter.” Time was when
I used to suppose that all the early vernal specimens were such as had hybernated, or
lived through the winter in the winged state; but in this opinion I stood corrected by
a practical entomologist, who directed my attention to the perfectly fresh and brilliant
condition in which some, at least, of the vernal specimens appeared, which showed, he
said, that they could not have hybernated, but must have emerged from the chrysalis
at that early season. If this be so,—if there are two different periods of the year at
which G. Rhamni comes forth from the chrysalis,—is it not an insect, which, in the
language of collectors, is styled “ double-brooded?” I well remember being once
called to account by a talented naturalist for using the term “ double-brooded” as ap-
plied to an insect which makes its appearance at two different times of the year. The
expression, I was told, was ambiguous and incorrect. 1 merely replied that I believed
it was perfectly intelligible to all collectors, and the term constantly employed by them
to express an insect of which there are two flights during the year. Nobody doubts
that this is the case with G. Rhamni, whether the specimens have hybemated, or come
fresh from the chrysalis in the spring. Probably some individuals fall under one
description, and some under the other. I am surprised, therefore, to find that the
idea of G. Rhamni being double-brooded should be new to Mr. Newman, Mr. Double-
day and other eminent Lepidopterists (Zool. p. 4706). I will add that Haworth says,
under Papilio Rhamni, “ Mas et fem. vivant per hyemem. Femina ova ponit tempore
vernali.” Though, strange to say, both in bis ‘Prodromus’ and in ‘ Lepidoptera
Britannica, he merely gives the beginning of June as the time of the insects ap-
pearing.— WV. T. Bree; Allesley Rectory, May 12, 1855.

Capture of Gastropacha ilicifolia on Cannoch Chase.—I hasten to inform you that
two specimens of Gastropacha ilicifolia were this day captured on Cannoch Chase,
near Rugeley, Staffordshire, by my friend Arthur Partridge, Esq. The insects were in
repose on an old oak post, not many yards from the spot in which the first English
specimen was taken by my brother, W. 8. Atkinson, Esq., in May, 1851. Not being
myself an entomologist I must content myself with mentioning the fact.—A. G,
Atkinson, Curate of Rugeley ; April 27, 1855. |

Occurrence of Notodonta carmelita in Kent.—A single specimen of this rare insect
was taken at West Wickham by Mr. Standish, jun., on the 13th of May, and a second
by myself on the 14th; the last-mentioned was a female in fine condition — William
Machin; 35, William Street, Globe Fields, Mile End, May 15, 1855.

Society of British Entomologists. ATAL

Singular State of a living Helops.—The power that insects and other creatures of
the same height in the scale of being possess of existing, with little apparent incon-
venience, under circumstances that would at once be fatal to any of the higher orders,
is so well known that, generally speaking, such cases are perhaps little worth recording.
The following is, I think, however, sufficiently remarkable to be mentioned :—Four or
five years ago, in investigating a hollow tree, in the park here, which had often repaid
amy trouble, I noticed something singular in the appearance of a specimen of Helops
striatus, and, having secured it, found a small portion of one elytron was broken away,
and every vestige of the contents of the abdomen cleared. ‘This could not have been
the result of any sudden crush or other accident, but must apparently have been the
work of ants, or something else of similar propensities, as the insect was otherwise un-
injured, yet, notwithstanding its condition—hollow as a lantern—it was crawling about
nearly as actively as if in its natural state: probably it had been thus some time, for
the ants, or whatever they were, must have consumed time as well as the hapless
insect’s interior. I have the specimen now pinned through the thorax, the only
available point-d’appui, with the label, ‘‘ Found in this state alive and active.” Poor
Helops! dull as his feelings might be, he must have been conscious of a void within
which nothing could supply.— George Guyon ; Richmond, Surrey, April 18, 1855.

Egg and Young Larva of Crymodes Templi.—For a long time I have believed
that the eggs of this highly interesting insect were not deposited until the spring, a
supposition which has been confirmed, as far as individual observation goes. On the
breaking up of the frost I succeeded in finding a tine, perfect female: on the 16th of
March she began to deposit her eggs, and continued laying until near the 30th, when
she died. The eggs appeared of small size, in proportion to the moth, and were so
firmly glued to the box that I could not detach them, otherwise I would have sent
some to be engraved for the ‘ Zoolovist,’ as I think they would have possessed much
interest for its readers. The following particulars of the egg may be noticed:—From
the equator to the crown rose about thirty very prominent ribs, meeting in a point; in
fact, arranged precisely as the meridians on a globe: the colour, when the egg was
first deposited was a light orange, but in about a fortnight the equatorial region
assumed a most beautiful purple hue, which gradually faded upwards towards the
crown: near the time of hatching both the orange and purple colours vanished
‘entirely, giving place to a uniform chocolate-brown. They began to hatch about the
24th of April, and more than three hundred larve have appeared: I gave them every
kind of food I could think of, but without success: one or two ate slightly of ragwort
and yarrow, but not sufficient to keep them alive. The head of the larva is remarkably
large, in proportion to the size of the body, and quite black: the body is green and
perfectly smooth.—Job Johnson; Denby Parsonage, near Huddersfield, May 19, 1855.

PROCEEDINGS OF SocIETIES.
Society oF British ENTOMOLOGISTS.
April 18, 1855.—Mr. Harpine, President, in the chair.

Multitudes of dead Flies on a panicle of Grass.

| Mr. Miller exhibited the panicle of a common grass, to the blossoms of which were
‘attached numbers of a species of Dipterous insect; and remarked that while at Darenth

XII. | 2E

ATA2 Society of British Entomologists.

Wood, on the 19th of August last, his attention was drawn to the grass by observing
the insects attached in great numbers to its blossoms, and perfectly lifeless: in no in-
stance could he observe a living specimen; and he added that while the heads of the
grass were thickly covered with the dead insects, the surrounding herbage, with but few
exceptions, was entirely free.

Mr. Harding stated that he was with Mr. Miller on the above occasion, and was
greatly astonished at the thousands of dead specimens that covered every panicle of
grass: he considered the mortality was due to atmospheric influence, and read some
extracts bearing upon the subject from the seventh volume of Loudon’s ‘ Magazine of
Natural History.’

Mr. Jobson suggested that probably they had been feeding upon some plant of a
poisonous nature.

My. Harding differed from this opinion, remarking that, if this were the case, such
a circumstance would be of common occurrence, whereas he had not, during his ex-
perience, noted a similar instance.

Mr. Miller thought they had been attracted by some glutinous secretion of the
blossoms, from which they had been unable to detach themselves, and had thus been
starved to death, for, on examination, he found them to be firmly attached by the
proboscis, and requiring some slight degree of force to remove them.

Offensive Fluid emitted by Melasoma Populi.

Mr. Miller also stated that while in the same locality, at a later period of the vear,
he observed a number of larve of Melasoma Populi, from the sides of which, on the
slightest noise or on being touched, a white exudation took place, which gave out a
very disagreeable odour, but was withdrawn on the danger passing away.

Habits and Food of Tineide.

Mr. Miller exhibited some mined leaves of a Geum, which Mr. Stainton informed
him he suspected were caused by the larve of Nepticula aurella, and that similar
mines had been observed in the leaves of Fragaria vesca and other plants, which were
most probably referrible to this species: also larve of Elachista rufocinerea, E. atri-
comella, Solenobia inconspicuella, Gelechia tricolorella, &c.; remarking of the former,
that although abundant, up to the spring of last year all attempts to discover the
larye had failed, when it was observed mining the leaves of Holcus mollis.

Natural History of the Tortricide.

Messrs. Harding and Miller intimated their intention to investigate, during the
present season, the habits and transformations of the Tortricide, so as to elucidate, as
far as possible, the natural history of this interesting family, and intimated that any
information upon this subject from friends or Members of the Society, accompanied,
when practicable, by the larva, would be highly useful and esteemed.

May 1, 1855.—Mr. Hanorine, President, in the chair.

Captures of rare Lepidoptera.

Mr. Harding exhibited a box of beautiful insects, among which were Teniocampa
munda, some remarkable varieties of T. instabilis, specimens of Notodonta dodonea,

-

Entomological Society. 4743

several specimens of Cloantha conspicillaris, bred from the egg, specimens of

_ Ennomos illustraria, Aleucis pictaria, and several other species: he likewise exhibited.
_ some larvae of Coleophora solitariella, feeding on Stellaria holostea, and the larva of
_ Elachista Staintoni, on the leaves of Helianthemum vulgare.

| “as

'

Larva of Polyommatus Agestis.
Mr. Harding observed that, in his ‘Entomological Botany’ (Zool. 4681), Mr.

_ Stainton expresses some doubt as to the Erodium being the food of Polyommatus
_ Agestis; but, for the last three years, he (Mr. H.) had taken the larve of this insect

feeding on this plant, and had bred them: he should feel great pleasure, if he met with
it again, in sending the larva to any entomologist who may wish to have it.

Galls of Cynips Rose.

Mr. Harding also exhibited a number of the cocoons of Cynips Rose, forming
several large masses, on the stem of a wild-rose twig: many of the insects were
emerging from the cocoons.—J. T. N.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
May 7, 1855.—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society, Vol. vii. No. 11; by the Society. The

_ ‘Atheneum’ for March and April; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for April ;

_ by the Editor. The ‘ Zoologist’ for May; by the Editor. ‘List of Specimens of

Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,’ Part ii., Lepidoptera-
Heterocera; by F. Walker, Esq. ‘A List of the British Species of Geodephaga in-
tended for marking Desiderata and Labelling Collections, taken from Mr. Dawson’s
Geodephaga Britannica,’ by G. Guyon; two copies, by the Author. ‘ Annales de la
Société Entoumologique de France, 3me Série, Tome ii, 4me Trimestre; by the

Society. ‘Verhandlungen des Zoologisch-Botanischen Vereins in Wien, Band iii.

1853, Band iv. 1854; by the Society. ‘Entomologische Zeitung’ for March and

April, 1855 ; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. Trachodes hispidus, one speci-

men; by F. Plant, Esq., of Leicester. Trachodes hispidus, one specimen; Lina
nea, two specimens; Callistus lunatus, two specimens; by F. Bates, Esq., of

_ Leicester.

Exhibitions.

Mr. Crewe exhibited two specimens of Notodonta cucullina bred from the eggs.

Mr. Stevens exhibited six specimens of Notodonta carmelita reared from the eggs;
also five specimens of Aleucis pictaria, taken within the last week at Dartford Heath.

Mr. Foxcroft sent for exhibition three specimens of Endromis versicolor, taken by
him in the birch wood, Fincastle, Perthshire, on the 18th of April.

The Rev. W. H. Hawker exhibited a specimen of the very rare Cloantha perspi-
cillaris, taken in a spider's web at Ashford, Hants; and two specimens of Argynnis
Lathonia, captured in that locality.

4744 Entomological Society.

Mr. Stevens exhibited a Dicranocephala, taken in China by Mr. Fortune, which
was thought to be distinet from D. Wallichii.

Mr. Newman exhibited three species of the Australian genus Deretaphrus, de-
scribed in the Appendix to the ‘ Zoologist,’ p. 207, all of them remarkable for the
excavation in the prothorax, from which the genus received its name: he added that
an admirable description and summary of the characters of this curious genus, from
the pen of that accomplished Coleopteiist, Mr. Wollaston, was prefixed to the
descriptions of the species.

Mr. Newman also exhibited two beautiful specimens of that rare Australian beetle,
the Diphyllocera gemellata of Westwood, admirably described and, figured in our
‘Transactions,’ vol. i. p. 214, and tab. xxii. fig. 1. They have been most obligingly
placed in Mr. Newman’s hands by Mr. James Gibbon, together with an immense
number of rarities and novelties collected by himself at Moreton Bay.

Mr. Newman also exhibited the unique specimen of Dobrnia miranda, one of the
Australian Gidemeride, described by him at p. 133 of the Appendix to the ‘ Zoologist :”
he wished particularly to invite attention to the perfectly anomalous structure of the
antenne of this insect.

Remarkable variety of Cynthia Cardui.

Mr. Newman also exhibited a specimen of Cynthia Cardui, showing a remarkable
aberration from the norma] colouring: it was taken on the 8th of September, 1851, at
St. Lawrence, in the Isle of Wight, by Mr. George Ingall, who most obligingly
placed it in Mr. Newman’s hands, and enabled him to draw up the following brief
description, which appeared at the time at p. 3304 of the ‘ Zoologist, but the insect
never having been exhibited to the Society, Mr. Newman thought it might be
interesting :—

““ Upper side: fore wings——In examples of Cynthia Cardui in its normal state,
the entire apical area is of a deep brown colour, approaching to black, and adorned
with certain white markings, the chief of which is a large oblong white blotch,
situated at about two-thirds of the costal margin, to which its upper extremity is
closely approximate; beyond this are four subrotund white spots disposed in an
irregular series, the first and fourth being considerably larger than those which are
intermediate, and again, beyond these, and still nearer the apex of the wing, is a
sinuous series of five slender white lunules: in the aberrant example the large white
mark, as wel] as the lunules, are entirely absent; the four subrotund spots are present,
but altered in form, and having indistinct and suffused limits: the lowest of the four
is increased to treble its normal dimensions, and,united to an equally large and
similarly shaped white spot in the adjoining areolet, and again, in the next areolet,
i.e., the one stil] nearer the anal angle of the wing, is still another smaller round
white spot: in normal specimens the fulvous discoidal area is blotched with very dark
amorphous patches, in the aberrant example these are entirely absent, the discoidal
area being uninterruptedly fulvous : in the normal state the black border of the anal
portion of the external margin is of an intense dark brown, in the aberrant example
it is much paler, and increased to double its usual width. Upper side: hind wings.—
In normal examples of this species there is an interrupted band of dark brown
markings across the discvoidal area; nearer the exterior margin is a series of five
round black spots, one in each of the open areolets, with the exception of that nearest

Entomological Society. A745

the anus; again, beyond this is a series of six elongate black lunules, one in each
open areolet: in the abnormal example, all these markings are absent but nearly on
the site of the five round black spots are five round pure white spots, of which that
nearest the anal angle has an indistinct brown ocellus. The black marginal markings
which, in the normal state, have been described as hastate, are in the aberrant ex-
ample suffused and considerably altered in appearance. Under side—This partakes,
in a great degree, of all the remarkable aberrations noticeable on the upper side, but,
in addition, the entire under surface has a washed or suffused appearance, all the
distinctness or sharpness, so to speak, of the usual exquisitely beautiful marbled
markings being obliterated.”

Athous campyloides.

Mr. Newman also exhibited the three specimens of Athous campyloides taken by
that indefatigable collector, the late Mr. Robert Foster, on the blossoms of elder, at
Ramsgate, and described at p. 509 of the first volume of the ‘ Entomological
Magazine.” Mr. Newman had lately submitted the specimens to the critical
examination of Mr. Janson, and he believed no one understood our British Elateride

so thoroughly, and Mr. Janson pronounced the species to be perfectly distinct from
any other British Elater with which he was acquainted. The specimens are two
males and one female; they differ considerably in size and colour, but evidently
belong to the same species. Mr. Newman remarked that the time and locality were
very inviting to out-of-door entomologists, and he hoped to incite some of his
brethren of the net to a further search: the species, he observed, was probably Con-
tinental, as well as insular, but he knew of no other description than the one to which
he had alluded. He added that, since he had been in the room, Mr. Dawson had
shown him a specimen taken also at Ramsgate.

Death of Dr. De Haan.

_ The Secretary announced that the Council had been informed of the death of
Dr. De Haan, one of the Honorary Members of the Society, at the age of fifty-
four years.

Election of Members.

The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected Members of the Society :—
Henry Ansell, Esq., Tottenham; John Matthew Jones, Esq., Welshpool ; and Joseph
Baly, Esq., Kentish Town.

Saturnia Ricinz.

Mr. Douglas called the attention of the Society to the note by Dr. Boisduval, in
the ‘ Annales’ of the Entomological Society of France, on the Indian Saturnia, which
feeds, in the larva state, on the castor-oil plant, the insect being quite distinct from
S. Cynthia, with which it has been confounded, and Dr. Boisduval proposes for it the
name of 8. Ricini, after its food-plant.

Descriptions of new European Lepidoptera, Formicide, Diptera, Arachnida, sc.

Mr. Douglas also directed attention to the ‘Verhandlungen’ of the Zovlogisch-
Botanischen Verein of Vienna, containing many entomological articles of great interest,

A746 Entomological Society.

including the following :—‘ On the First State of some Phycide ; by J. v. Homig.
The natural history of the following species is given :—

Gymnancyla canella (a rare British species). The larve feed, in September and |
October, on Salsola kali, eating the stems of the plant, and living under a whitish
leathery web, which never contains more than one larva.

Spermatophthora Hornigii, Zed. The larva feeds, in September and October, on
the seed-vessels of Atriplex angustifolia.

Homeosoma binevella. The larva lives,in May and June, inside the flower- _
heads of Carduus Acanthoides.

Cryptoblabes Rutilella, .-v.-R. The larva, which is very local near Vienna, lives
in the autumn on alder bushes, changes to pupa at the beginning of October, and
appears in the perfect state the following May.

There are also ‘ Descriptions of two new Geometride, by Mann; viz., Psodos
alticolaria and Geometra Beryllaria. ‘ Dipterological Fragments ;’ by Dr. Schiner
and Dr. Egger. ‘Contributions towards a Knowledge of Ants, containing descriptions
of several new species, by G. L. Mayr. ‘ Contributions towards the Monography of
the Genus of Spiders, Dysdera;’ by K. Doblika. A continuation of the ‘ Versuch, die
Europaischen Spanner ;’ by J. Lederer. ‘Notes on the Lepidoptera of Siberia;’ by
J. Lederer. ‘On the Myrmicide, and a New Genus thereof;’ by G. L. Mayr.

The Common Broom (Genista scoparia), the food-plant of Anarsia Geniste.
Under this title Mr. Newman communicated the following note ;:—

“The following memorandum, placed in my hands by Mr. William Machin, of
35, William Street, Globe Fields, Mile End, will give our members an idea when
and where to look for this scarce insect, the larva of which appears, from Mr. Stainton’s
‘Tineina,’ to have been bred only from Genista tinctoria:—‘ Having collected a
quantity of larve from the common broom in a number of localities, and placed them
altogether in a breeding-cage, I reared from them, on the 6th of July last, two
specimens of Anarsia Geniste ; thus proving not only the food-plant of the insect, but
also that it appears in the perfect state in the beginning of July.’ ”

New Entomological Works.

Mr. Stainton informed the Meeting that Professor Boheman had recently published
a Report on the Entomological Works and Papers of 1851 and 1852, which he
characterised as very complete and effective: its title is ‘ Berattelse om framstegen i
Insekternas, Myriapodernas och Arachnidernas Natural Historia for 1851 och 1852:’
Stockholm, 1854.

Mr. Stainton also said that during his recent visit to Paris he had seen a very
useful work, published by Mons. Leon Fairmaire and Dr. Laboulbéne, entitled ‘ Faune
Entomologique Frangaise, and containing descriptions of all known French insects:
two parts of the Coleoptera are published, price five francs each.

Rectifications of Misstatements.

Mr. Westwood stated that he felt it necessary to make the two following rectifica-
tions of misstatements recently published in the Society’s ‘ Transactions :’—

“T. In p. 58, vol. iii. New Series, Mr. Curtis has stated, in a foot-note, that the
characters of Coniopteryx given by Mr. Westwood in the ‘ Introduction to the Modern

Entomological Scciety. AT47

Classification of Insects’ (Gen. Syn. p. 48), are copied from his ‘ British Entomology.’
It will be necessary only to compare the characters given in these two works to see
that this statement is unfounded: Mr. Westwood’s original detailed description (accom-
panied by drawings of the anatomical details of the genus) was, moreover, read at the
Entomological Society five months before Mr. Curtis published his description, and
the insect was referred by Mr. Westwvod to its legitimate family, whereas by Mr. Curtis
it was incorrectly placed in the family Psocide ; whilst Mr. Stephens, who had, in fact,
first pointed it out as a genus, referred it to a different order.”

“TI. In page 134, vol. iii. New Series, Mr. Smith has described the Formicideous
genus Stenamma, which he assigns to Mr. Stephens as its author; that author, how-
ever, had no other share in its establishment than that of indicating its existence in his
Catalogue (p. 356), as follows :—

‘Genus 92: (666)
4838, + 1. Westwoodii mihi. In Mus. D. Westwood.’

The fact simply being, that knowing that Mr. Westwood possessed a new British ant,
which the latter regarded as a distinct genus, he thought fit to notice its existence, iden-
tifying it with Mr. Westwood’s insect by attaching his name to it specifically. The
name and characters of the genus were first given in the ‘Introduction to Modern
Classification.” Mr. Smith states, moreover, that there are no other differences
separating Stenamma from Myrmica than the three-jointed labial palpi (in Myrmica
they are four-jointed), the importance of which character Mr. Smith endeavours, perhaps
with reason, to disprove. But, in the ‘ Introduction’ (ii. p. 219, 226, and Gen. Syn.
p- 83), Mr. Westwood has described and figured the structure of the mandibles and
maxillary palpi, which entirely disagree with those of Myrmica, proving the insect to
belong to the same section as Myrmecina and Polyergus.”

Mr. Stainton read the following note :—

The Occurrence of the Small Genera of Tineina in Tropical Countries established.

“The question has frequently been asked, whether the small genera of Micro-
Lepidoptera, Lithocolletis, Nepticula, &c., which are so plentifully represented in
these temperate regions, did not also occur in tropical climates. Those who had col-
lected abroad denied their occurrence there, because they had never seen them; but
this was a negative proof which merely established that they had not been observed,

‘not that they did not occur there; and to observe these small genera a special educa-

tion is absolutely necessary ; the eye which has been trained to detect an Ornithoptera
on the wing at the distance of a quarter of a mile, cannot at once, and without previous
practice, notice a Nepticula at the distance of a few feet.

“ T have for some time entertained the opinion that, if the exotic Micro-Lepidoptera
are to be collected, it must be by some entomologist who has learned first to collect

insects of that group at home, and who then carries his home-bred skill into distant
regions. I regretted that when Mr. Wallace and Mr. Layard were in this country

neither stopped here long enough to learn the habits of our Micro-Lepidoptera: among
the species of Microptera collected in Ceylon by Mr. Layard were several belonging to
the family Elachistide, and I could scarcely doubt that a short training in this
country would have enabled him to have discovered many smaller species.

4748 Entomological Society.

“In August last Mr. Atkinson (well known as the captor of Gastropacha Iilicifolia)
forwarded me some mines and larve of Phyllucnistis saligna and P. suffusella, and at
the same time informed me he was about to start for Calcutta, I regretted to lose a
useful correspondent in this country; but it directly struck me that here was an op-
portunity of obtaining information of East Indian Micro-Lepidoptera, which might
prove of great importance to us, and I begged Mr. Atkinson to pay particular attention
to any indications he might fall in with of the existence of the smaller genera in
India.

“On the 6th of April I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Mr. Atkinson,
with the agreeable information that he had already detected the mines of three
different species of Lithocolletis, of one of which he had reared the perfect insect, and
of this species he has forwarded me some mines in the upper side of the leaves of
Bauhinia racemosa, which I now exhibit; for this species, which, in the perfect state,
has some affinity with our L. trifasciella, Mr. Atkinson proposes the name of Litho-
culletis Bauhinia.

“T think this important discovery will be useful in urging upon those who may
hereafter be likely to visit our colonies the necessity of completing their education in
this branch of entomological science before they leave home, as I am satisfied that a
skilled Micro-Lepidopterist in unexplored regions would, with the greatest facility,
obtain novelties without end, and would also be able to observe the habits and trans-
formations of the greater part of his discoveries, so that he would at once add to our
knowledge as well as to our collections.”

The President doubted if Micro-Lepidoptera would be found so plentiful in tropical
countries as Mr. Stainton anticipated ; for, even in the South of Europe, through which,
in company with Mr. Walker, he made a tour some years ago, although they collected
diligently, and sought especially for Micro-Lepidoptera in places similar to those in
which they were plentiful in England, yet, out of more than six thousand specimens of
insects they brought home, the number of small moths was very few. If Micro’s were
abundant in the tropics we should surely have had more of them sent to us.

Mr. Saunders said that when he was in India he gave very little attention to the
small Lepidoptera; but he saw the mines of their larve in leaves, and he remembered
that many small moths used to come to the lights at night.

Small Coleoptera in the Tropics.

Mr. Waterhouse said it used to be thought that tropical countries produced but
few Micro-Coleoptera; but this was an error, for Mr. Darwin had brought from South
America great quantities of minute beetles, collected chiefly just after the rainy
season. |
Mr. Westwood said Helfer had collected in India thirty species of Anthicus, besides
many other small beetles, now in the collection at Prague.

Mr. Baly said Mr. Fry had in his possession a drawer-full of minute Staphylinide
from Brazil.

‘On the Entomostraca of South America.’

Under this title Mr. Lubbock read a descriptive paper, accompanied by drawings
of the species.

Entomological Society. ATA9

A new Species of Agrotis.

Read the foilowing description, by Mr. Henry Doubleday, of a new species of
Agrotis taken in Britain :—

“Acrotis AsHworrHit. Alis antivis cinereis, strigis tribus denticulatis atris,
macula quadratad nigra inter stigmata, posticis fuscis. (Exp. alar. 1 unc.
5—8 lin.)

“ Anterior wings cinereous, powdered with black atoms, with three denticulated
strige arising from black spots on the costa; one near the base, a second before, and

a third beyond the middle of the wing. Between the stigmata (which are very in-
distinct) is a quadrate black spot, and another between the anterior stigma and the

second striga; a fuscous cloud crosses the centre of the wing as in Teniocampa
populeti, T. instabilis, &c.; cilia fuscous. Posterior wings fuscous in both sexes,
with the cilia paler; head whitish; thorax cinereous; abdomen pale fuscous; an-

- tenne fuscous, white towards the base.

“ This pretty species, which appears to be quite unknown upon the Continent, was

- discovered: at Llangollen, North Wales, by Mr. Ashworth, in the summer of 1853,

and the specimen forwarded to me for inspection. Last summer many specimens
were taken by Messrs. Cooke, Gregson, &c., as noticed in Mr. Stainton’s ‘ Ento-
mologist’s Annual, where the insect is figured under the name of Spzlotis Vallesiaca.

_ The figure, however, is by no means good, the anterior wings being much too broad.

,
i
5
4

a
i

“‘T forwarded a specimen of the male and a drawing of the female to my friend,
M. Guenée, and he says that he believes it to be quite new; I have therefore named
it after its discoverer: it is closely allied to A. lucernea, A. decora, &c.”

Part iv. vol. iii. New Series, of the ‘ Transactions, published in April, was on the

table.

The President announced that Mons. Alex. Yersin, of Morges, Canton de Vaud,
Suisse, is engaged on a Monograph of the Gryllide and Locustide, and solicits the
loan of British species.

June 4, 1855,—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :-—‘ Korrespondenz-Blatt des Zoologisch-mineralogischen Vereines in Regens-
burg,’ Achter Jahrgang, 1854; by the Society. ‘Proceedings of the Royal Society,
Vol. vii. No. 12; by the Society. ‘The Zoologist’ for June; by the Editor. ‘ Revue
et Magasin de Zoologie,’ 1855, Nos. 2,3 and 4; by the Editor, M. Guérin Méneville.
* Annales de la Societé Entomologique de France, 3me Série, Tome ii. ler, 2me et 3me
Trimestres ; by the Society. ‘Journal of the Society of Arts’ for May ; by the Society.
‘The Literary Gazette’ for May; by the Editor. ‘The Atheneum’ for May; by
the Editor. ‘Contributions to Fossil Entomology’ (from the ‘ Quarterly Journal of
Proceedings of the Geological Society’); by the Author, J. O. Westwood, Esq. A

aii. - oF

4750 Entomological Society. Te

selection of Indian Insects from the Himalayan district, consisting of many fine and
rare species of several orders; by S. P. Pratt, Esq. Some small insects sent from
Ceylon by Mr. Thwaites; by W. Spence, Esq.

Election of Members.

Herr Dohrn, President of the Entomological Society of Stettin, and William
Atkinson, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.R.B.S., &c., were balloted for and elected Members
uf the Society.

Exhibitions.

Mr. Stevens exhibited a splendid specimen of Ornithoptera Brookiana, the new
species recently captured in Borneo by Mr. Wallace, and of which the description
was read at the April Meeting of this Society.

Mr. Foxcroft sent for exhibition a box of Coleoptera, recently taken in Perthshire,
including a single specimen of the very rare Dendrophagus crenatus, and a bred
specimen of Anarta cordigera, with a pupa and puparium: of the latter he says,
“They are found made up on the sunny side of stones or on the bark of birch trees ;
but the perfect insect selects the side of the stone or tree away from the sun.”

The President exhibited the insects presented by Mr. Spence, and read the
following extract of Mr. Thwaites’ letter addressed to that gentleman :—

“One of the bottles contains the larve and imagos of a Carabideous beetle which
infests the nests of a little black ant, a few of which are in the bottle. The other
little bottle contains a lot of tiny species of insects of all kinds, amongst which is the
pupa of a little Papilio, sent me by a neighbour as ‘a most wonderful natural produc-
tion, and which, viewed through a lens, has a most extraordinary resemblance to a
monkey’s head.”

The President also read the following note, addressed to him by Mons. Charles |
Delarouzée, of Paris:—

“In removing an old butt, which had served many years to hold water, to water the
garden, it occurred to me that some insects might be found under it; and absolutely,
by examining the earth carefully to the depth of three feet, and in the decayed wood
of the butt, I took an individual of Euplectus sulcicollis, Redt., and many examples
of Anommatus 12-striatus and Langelandia anophthalma. I suppose that the Anom-
matus is a parasite of the Langelandia: probably, by searching in similar places,
yon might ascertain the fact.”

The President observed that the insect described by Stephens as an Anommatus
was the Aglenus brunneus of Gyllenhal and Erichson. He believed that the Anom-
matus had not yet been discovered in England.

On Saturnia (Hyalophora) cecropia.
Under this title the following note, by W. S. M. D’Urban, Esq., of Newport, near

‘xeter, was read, and the cocoons alluded to exhibited :—

“Having seen in the reports of the Proceedings of the Entomological Society,
during the last twelve months, many notices relating to the silk of Bombyx Cynthia, |

Entomological Scciety. 475]

and that several persons have discovered means whereby the glutinous substance
which fastens the threads together may be dissolved and the silk unwound, I am
inclined to think that several other Bombyces meet with undeserved neglect, and
_ especially the subject of these notes, which appears to be well adapted for introduc-
tion into England, since it is a native of a climate subject to severe alternations of
temperature; and the larva feeding only in July and August, it would not be at all
_ affected by the could of this island, as most of the other foreign species of Bombycide
are. If we add to this that it produces an immense quantity of a very strung
_ material, and that its food-plants flourish well in England, we have all the requisites
to constitute a valuable silk-producing insect. During my residence in Canada
_I had several opportunities of observing its transformations; but I regret I did not
determine accurately, from my own observation, its food, as only one of its splendid
larva, and that a full-fed one, came into my possession: this larva was picked up
crawling across a road at Sorel, Lower Canada, on the 19th of August, 1849, and was
confined in a small basket covered with gauze: after many fruitless attempts to effect
_ its escape it finally settled itself in the middle of the handle of the basket, and there
_ began spinning its cocoon (No. 1) the same evening, which, however, it did not com-
_ plete till the third or fourth day after, being engaged in spinning, with scarcely any
intermission, during the whole of that time. Having been kept in a warm room
through the winter, it was evolved on the 7th of April, 1850, seven months and
nineteen days from the commencement of its cocoon. In its natural state, however,
it does not make its appearance till June, remaining, therefore, nearly ten months in
the pupa. The cocoon (of which the accompanying specimens are examples)
contains an immense quantity of silk, and is double—a wise precaution against the
' severity of the Canadian winters: the outer case is of a very close and stiff texture;
but the inner or true cocoon is rather finer, and is covered on the outside with a
quantity of rough silk, whilst the side next the pupa is very smooth and polished.
Could it be made useful it would be a great boon, as it must be a durable material
indeed to resist the wind and rain of ten months, or of even two or three years, as I
have found these cocoons adhering as strongly as ever to the tree the following spring
after the escape of the moth.

“Even if the cocoons could not be unwound they might be carded and spun in
the same manner as they do those of Bombyx Cynthia, &c., in India. These cocoons
are common about Sorel and Montreal, and still more so about Toronto, in Upper
Canada, and are very easily found, as they are spun on the smaller branches of
various trees, and are very conspicuous when the leaves have fallen: they are most
abundant on maple, but I have found them also on apple, fir, &c., and on palings
and dead stalks of weeds. It appears to feed on a variety of plants, and amongst
others I have reason to think on the choke-cherry (Prunus serotina), of which several
_ plants, reared from seed sent from Canada, are now flourishing in the garden here,
and could be grown to any extent required. I have seen it stated that it feeds on the

wild American plum (Prunus pennsylvanica), and that it has been occasionally reared
on apple-leaves. There would, therefore, be no trouble in finding food for it in this
country; and I do not think there would be much difficulty in introducing it, as the
cocoons could be gathered in any number in Canada aud the United States, and sent
home by steamer, packed in air-tight boxes, as sea air, from my own experience,
seems to be fatal to them. It would be hardly possible to send the eggs across the
Atlantic, as only two months intervene between the appearance of the moth and

—

.

a,

ee - -CCC—™

4752 Notices of New Books.

the larva going into cocoon, it is manifest the eggs must be hatched soon after they
are laid: these eggs are large and oval in shape, and pure white. If the moths,
when bred in England, could be got to pair, there would then be no further obstacle
in obtaining a supply of silk by the end of the following August after their arrival.

“This and the other magnificent species of Saturnia inhabiting North America
present a strange appearance, when darting past in the dusk of a summer’s evening,
and are extremely difficult to capture, unless they happen to be found at rest during the
day. Mr. Gosse does not appear to have been acquainted with this fine moth, for,
although he mentions several other species of Saturnia in his ‘Canadian Naturalist,
he does not notice it.

“In conclusion, should the subject be thought worthy of the consideration of this
Society, I shail be happy to obtain cocoons from Canada, and forward some to any
entomologist wishing to make the experiment.”

References to numbers attached to the cocoons were read.

Office of the Wing-rays of Insects.

Read, a paper by Mr. Newman, intituled ‘A Memorandum on the Wing-rays
of Insects, in which the author maintains, in opposition to the published views
of Herold, Kirby & Spence, Oken, Westwood and other distinguished entomologists,
that the wing-rays are the supports of the membranous portion of the wing, and
in all respects the analogues, although not the homologues, of the wing-bones of
the bat, and that the passage of air, bluod and nerves through their channels is
simply a provision of Nature for their maintenance in a healthy and efficient
condition. He supported this view by a reference to experiments and observations
on living insects, and also by the anatomical researches of Chabrier and Bower-
bank, which he had himself verified—J. W. D.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

‘The Annals and Magazine of Natural History.’ Nos. 89 and 90,
dated May and June, 1855; price 2s. 6d. each. London: Taylor |
and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. :

No. 89 contains the following papers :—

‘On the Structure of Chlorophyll.’ By Hugo von Mohl. [Trans-
lated from the ‘ Botanische Zeitung’ for February 9 and 16, 1855, by
Professor Henfrey.|

‘Notice on the Question of the Presence of an Operculum in the ©
Genus Diplommatina of Benson, and Description of a New Species.
By W. H. Benson, Esq.

——-

Notices of New Books. A753

‘Short Characters of some New Genera and Species of Algz dis-
covered on the Coast of the Colony of Victoria, Australia.” By W. H.
Harvey, M.D., M.R.1.A., &c., Keeper of the Herbarium of the Uni-
versity of Dublin.

“Some Remarks on Vegetable Placentation. By John Cle-
land, Esq.

‘On the Attitudes and Figures of the Morse.’ By Dr. J. E. Gray,
F.R.S., V.P.Z.S.

‘Descriptions of Eight New Species of Birds from South America.’
By John Gould, Esq., F.R.S.

‘On the Impreguation and Germination of the Alge. By Dr.
Pringsheim. A copy of Dr. Pringsheim’s researches on these obscure

_ but interesting subjects, lately laid before the Berlin Academy, having

been forwarded to Professor Henfrey, together with a request that he
would make them known in England, that gentleman has prepared this
paper, which is a brief and very compressed abstract, for publication
in the ‘ Annals.’

Bibliographical Notices :—‘ A History of the British Marine Testa-
ceous Mollusca, distributed in their Natural Order;’ by Wilham
Clark. ‘The Ferns of Great Britain, illustrated by John E. Sowerby :
the Descriptions, Synonyms, &c., by C. Johnson. ‘First Steps in
Economic Botany, for the Use of Students; by Thomas Croxen Archer.
‘The Entomologist’s Annual for 1855;’ edited by H. T. Stainton.

Proceedings of Learned Societies: —Royal—Linnean—Zoological—
Botanical of Edinburgh.

Miscellaneous :—Origin of Wheat [extracted from the ‘ Gardener's
Chronicle’ for March 10, 1855]. Mr. Busk’s Anomalous Shell; by
Professor J. S. Henslow. On the Fructification of the Arachis
hypogea; by Hugh M. Neisler [extracted from ‘ Silliman’s Journal’
for March, 1855]. On the Structure of the Starch Granule; by Mr.
Grundy [extracted from the ‘ Pharmaceutical Journal’ for April, 1855].
Description of a New Species of Aulacorhamphus; by John Gould,
Esq., F.R.S. [extracted from the ‘Proceedings of the Zoological
Society’ for February 22, 1853].

No. 90 contains the following papers :—

‘Monograph on the British Species of Phalangiide or Harvest
Men. By R. H. Meade, F.R.C.S.

‘On the Structure of Chlorophyll.’ By Hugo von Mohl. [Trans-
lated from the ‘ Botanische Zeitung’ for February 9 and 16, 1853, by -
Professor Henfrey. This paper is now concluded. ]

A754 Notices of New Books.

‘On Perna quadrata of Sowerby.’ By John Lycett, Esq.

‘Notes on the Ornithology of Madeira.’ By Edward Vernon Har-
court, Esq.

‘On the Characters which distinguish the Vegetation of a Country.’
By M. Alphonse De Candolle. [‘Translated from the ‘ Bibliothéque
Universelle de Genéve’ for December, 1854. ]

Proceedings of Learned Societies :—Zoological—Royal.

Miscellaneous :—On Pheenicura Tithys; by Dr. Jordan. On the
Transmission and Metamorphoses of the Intestinal Worms; by
MM. Milne Edwards and Valenciennes [translated from the ‘ Comptes
Rendus’ for April 30, 1855, p. 997.] Note on Trichomonas vaginalis
of Donné; by MM. Scanzoni and Kolliker [translated from the
‘Comptes Rendus’ for May 7, 1855, p. 1076.] On a Lunar Vapour-
bow: by Charles Clouston.

This is an unusually valuable number, containing three papers of
interest to the zoologist; but I cannot help regretting that so much
space should be occupied by extracts from other journals which
almost every naturalist in Britain has on his study-table: in the
present number I count twenty-seven pages of such extracts, besides
sixteen pages of Proceedings of Learned Societies, which the said
Societies themselves circulate amongst us. ‘The papers to which I
wish particularly to invite attention are, Mr. Meade’s ‘ Monograph of
the Phalangiide, Mr. Harcourt’s ‘On the Ornithology of Madeira,’
and Dr. Jordan’s ‘ Note on Pheenicura Tithys.’ Mr. Meade has done
us good service by the publication of his Monograph: it is careful,
lucid, and, I doubt not, conscientiously accurate: it describes five
species of Phalangium, of which one, Phalanguim minutum, is new ;
two of the new genus Megabunus of Meade, of which one, M. insignis,
is new; four, of Opilio, of which one, O. agrestis, is new; one of
Leiobunus; two of Nemastoma; and one of Homalonotus. As a
friendly criticism I may add that the description of a new species,
Phalangium minutum, from two specimens, “one immature,” and of
both of which the sex and habitat are unknown, is rather a dangerous
precedent. Dr. Jordan’s paper recites the various instances of the
occurrence of the black redstart in the West of England, which have
already been made known to ornithologists in the earlier numbers of
the ‘ Zoologist.’ The following notice of its habits is interesting :—
“It seems always active in search of Diptera, on which it evidently
feeds, and one reason for its preference for the cove by the Parson and
Clerk rocks is, that a collection of the larger olive-leaved sea-weeds is
generally heaped up there for manure; on this heap flies abound in

4

Notices of New Books. 4755

mild weather throughout the year. The attachment to locality is,
however, very marked in this species: they will be seen not only ina
particular spot, but on a particular stone in that spot; they are fond
of perching on some prominent point of rock, and from this they
sometimes dart out upon any passing gnat, much after the manner of
a flycatcher.” Dr. Jordan speculates on the question, Why should
this bird be a winter visitor, and the common redstart a summer
visitor, in South Devon? but he adduces no evidence. as to the direc-
tion in which the species is passing when arrested in its passage on
the southern coast. A multiplicity of observations, or rather records
of observations, respecting Sylvia Tithys seem quite to harmonise
with, or at least not to disturb, the theory I have long since submitted
to ornithologists, that there is a uniform movement among migrants,
southward in the autumn, northward in the spring. Nothing is more
probable than that the later individuals should be deterred, by the
great breadth of sea, from crossing from the Devon and Cornish coast,
especially as Dr. Jordan points out that there is a supply of food there
throughout the winter: even as far eastward as Brighton, and all along
the intermediate coast, the same facts obtain; but still further east-
ward, where the narrowness of the channel offers a facility to this
feeble-winged bird for crossing, it is not found during the winter
months, although occasionally observed on its southward passage in
autumn, and on its northward passage in spring.—L. N.

The Natural History Review. No. VI., dated April, 1855; price
2s. 6d. London: Highley.

WE notice with pleasure that this periodical has now obtained a
London publisher, but still must be regarded as, purely Irish in
character, and as bearing the most direct and indisputable evidence
to the zeal and industry of Irish naturalists. It contains ‘ Reviews,’
‘Notices of Serials, ‘Communications made to Irish Societies,’ and
‘Proceedings of Irish Societies, and is conducted in a spirit of
fairness and with a display of critical acumen which are highly
praiseworthy. It-certainly seems a little remarkable that while the
meetings of Irish Societies are reported thus carefully and regularly .
im extenso, not only in this ‘ Review,’ but also in local newspapers,
that in England such reports rarely appear in print: if we except the
Entomological Society of London, reported in the ‘ Zoologist,’ what

4756 Notices of New Books.

English Society is fairly represented by the literary press of England ?
We do not vouch for the value of all the papers read before Irish
Societies; we think that, in many instances, the authors might with
advantage study a little, previously to appearing in print, not only
“‘ How to observe,” but “ What to observe ;” but we do assert and will
maintain that these detailed reports are extremely useful, and doubly
useful is the periodical which collects them with such care, and
preserves them with such impartiality.

The following papers, read before Irish Societies, appear in the
present number :—

‘Notes on some Familiar Facts connected with Sounds and
Hearing. By R. Dowden, Esq.

‘On Pectunculus Glycymeris, and on the Local Range of Molluscous
Animals, traced with the Dredge.’ By Dr. Farran.

‘On a Species of Annelide new to Ireland.” By William
Andrews, Esq.

‘Remarks on the Percide and Serrani, with an addition to the
Ichthyology of Ireland.’ By William Andrews, Esq.

‘Directions for Capturing Lepidoptera. By the Rev. Joseph
Greene.

“On the Probable Occurrence of the Lepidopus argyreus in Dublin
Bay.’ - By Dr. Ball.

‘On Cricetus pheus.’ By Dr. Carte.

‘Capture of Anthocharis Belia in Worcestershire.’ By J. Walter
Lea, Esq.

‘Notes on the various Insects captured or observed in the Neigh-
bourhood of Dingle, County Kerry, in July, 1854.” By A. R. Hogan,
Esq.

‘On Fungi parasitic on Insects; with particular reference to some
lately-discovered Irish Specimens.’ By E. P. Wright, Esq.

‘Descriptions of Insects figured, and references to Plates illus-
trating the Notes on Kerry Insects.’ By A. H. Haliday, Esq., M.A.

‘On a Crustacean of the genus Hyas.’ By J. Grainger, Esq.

‘On Collecting and Arranging British Mollusca” By E. P.
Wright, Esq.

Two of these papers only require a passing notice :—

Ist. The capture of Anthocharis Belia in Worcestershire. With
respect to this and the simultaneously recorded capture of Pieris
Daplidice in the same county, suffice it to make two observations:
first, that we entertain not a shadow of a doubt that both state-
ments originate in some error; and secondly, that the tone of the
communication evinces a desire to maintain rather than amend the

Notices of Nen Books. AT57

error: the error implies carelessness—its attempted maintenance an
unphilosophical spirit.

2nd. Mr. Haliday’s ‘ Descriptions of Insects,’ on the contrary, is a
paper,of the highest scientific interest and the most painstaking
accuracy. The following species are described :—one Hymenopterous;
Heptamelus ochroleucus, synonymous with Melicerta ochroleuca of
Stephens, a Tenthredinidous insect which “seems to connect Blasti-
cotoma Filiceti of Klug and the group with 9-jointed filiform antenne.
The number of areolets, the broad stigma, and original of the radial
veinlet, agree in both genera. Peculiar to Heptamelus is the short
pobrachiial areolet, which in the Tenthredinidz usually extends a good
deal beyond the end of the prebrachial. In Plagiocera, also, they
are conterminous ; but the pobrachial is twice as long as the posterior
discal; and that genus, belonging to the group with clavate antenne,
has little affinity in other respects to Heptamelus.” One Hemipterous,
of the family Lygzidz, Dipsocoris alienus of Haliday, synonymous
with the Cryptostemma alienum of Herrich-Scheffer. “ Meyer
doubtingly refers this insect to the Capside, influenced probably by
the supposed want of ocelli which both Meyer and Herrich-Scheffer
have overlooked. It seems to me better,” continues Mr. Haliday,
“to place it for the present with the Lygewide, in a peculiar section,
next the Anthocorini, and approaching, perhaps, to the Capside,
with both of which it has considerable likeness in the wings; although
the dilated and imbricated sutural margin of the hemelytra is peculiar
to it, and the rather short, detached proboscis makes some approach

_ to the structure of the Reduvide. On the whole, Hylocharis is pro-

bably the nearest allied native genus. In its habits it most resembles
the Saldz, but shuns the light more than they do.” It “inhabits the
banks of rivers, throughout the summer, gliding among the wet gravel,
its silky down protecting it from the wet. It takes flight readily,

_ even from the surface of the water. The yellowish larve and pupe
are found in the same situation, leaping like the perfect insect.”
_ Five Dipterous, Clunio marinus, a new genus and species of Chirono-

mide, found on gravelly sea-coasts below high-water mark, walking

with its wings half raised and in rapid vibration, without taking flight ;

Dolichopus pretextatus and Aphrosylus celtiber of the family Doli-
chopide ; Geomyza cingulata of the family Muscide; and Canace
nasica of the tribe Ephydrini.

XIII. 2¢

4758 Notices of New Books.

‘ Mollusca Testacea Marium Britannicorum. A History of the British
Marine Testaceous Mollusca, distributed in their Natural Order,
on the Basis of the Organization of the Animals; with References
and Notes on every British Species. By Wititam CLARK.
London: Van Voorst. 1855. 536 pp. 8vo. Price 15s.

THIs is just one of those books that we take up to study, rather |
than to criticise. It is full of information—full of the result of deep,
reflective, patient study: a considerable portion has already appeared
in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History ;’ but the author,
having calculated that four years would be occupied in completing the
entire work in that journal, and considering it would be almost pre-
sumptuous in him to calculate on being able to watch the publication
during so long a period, determined on printing the whole in a collective
form. ‘There are no plates and no descriptions of shells: these wants
Mr. Clark considers supplied by his continued references to Forbes —
and Hanley’s ‘ British Mollusca.’ No one can peruse this important
volume without perceiving that the question of the scientific importance
of the shell is now tested in the most severe manner; the animal has
long been gradually crawling into importance; but we were scarcely
prepared to see a dozen species dwindle into one, because, however _
different the shells, the animals were alike. A graver question is
opened up than at first meets the eyes: Mr. Clark, by his own labours,
is placed in direct antagonism to Forbes and Hanley, whose work —
on the British Mollusca he himself applauds, and concerning which a
phrase of unqualified approbation has been stereotyped for the use of ©
all future commentators. We proceed to prove this antagonism; it
were unjust simply to record the impression made on ourselves by a
perusal, however attentive. We close the book, and it opens spon- |
taneously at p. 342: we proceed to quote :—

“LL. RupiIs, Donovan.
“TL. rudis, Brit. Moll. iii. p. 82, pl. 83, f. 1, 2, 3,5, 6, 7, and pl. 86,

“T,. patula, Brit. Moll. iii. p. 36, pl. 85, f. 6-—10, animal, pl. G G,
“'L. tenebrosa, Brit. Moll. iii. p. 39, pl. 84, f. 11, 12, and pt. 85,
“LL. saxatilis, Brit. Moll. i. p. 43, pl. 86, f. 45.

“LL. fabalis, Brit. Moll. ii. p. 49, pl. 86, f. 2, 3.
“LL, palliata, Brit. Moll. iii. p. 51, pl. 84, f. 8, 9, 10.”

~~

Notices of New Books. A759

From this citation we have purposely omitted irrelevant references:
confining ourselves to Forbes and Hanley’s recent work, we find that
six of their species are thrown overboard without hesitation, and
we may add that four more species, zonaria, rudissima, jugosa and
neglecta of other authors, are sent to keep them company. The
author proceeds :—‘ To describe the varieties enumerated above,
which are the psendo-species of authors, would be to say that the
organs of all, both internal and external, do not vary in the slightest
degree in form: the only differences are modifications of colour, size,
and in the striz, depending entirely on habitat.”

Thus, we are told, Forbes and Hanley devote nineteen pages of
letter-press and twenty-three figures to a species which “ does not vary
in the slightest degree in form.” We have already said we take up
the book to study, not to criticise, and we make no attempt to gainsay
an assertion made so unhesitatingly ; but a conclusion certainly forces
itself upon us that these cgnflicting authors are unintentionally and

- unwittingly making sad havoc of our Natural History: no two books,

written in the worst spirit of dogmatic controversy, of editorial heart-
burning, ever contradicted each other more flatly, or advocated more
opposite views, than these which, like a pair of turtle-doves, wing
their amiable way from the same nest: never was criticism so crush-
ingly severe as Mr. Clark’s passing commentary on this dozen species
of Littorina.

The truth of the matter lies hid in the fact that naturalists are not
agreed as to “ what to observe:” we have good books on “ how to
observe ;” but unless we know “what” to observe it is of little moment
that we learn “how” to observe it. The difficulty experienced by the

_ compilers of works on the Mollusca is that they have to consult two

classes of authorities, first, the conchologists, secondly, the mala-
cologists—classes which are made to represent two different sciences,
and it seems to us that we shall never arrive at just conclusions until
these sciences merge in one. Entomologists experience a somewhat
‘similar difficulty in the larva and imago, but—and, as it appears to us,
wisely—avail themselves of the characters of both, in order to attain
just conclusions. We do not say that the larva and imago are in any
respect the analogues of the animal and shell; but the naturalist, in

-both cases, is presented by Nature with two classes of phenomena: is

it wise of him to ignore either? From every page of Mr. Clark’s
volume we learn, as clearly as though printed in scarlet, that he con-

-siders the shell of no importance whatever in the study of the Mol-

lusca: he utterly ignores it in the larger divisions—he utterly ignores

4760 | Notices of New Books.

it in species. Yet, we may ask, on what characters, excepting those
of the shell, were those very genera founded which he adopts through-
out his work? and if we are right in supposing that these genera were
founded on characters of the shell alone, and are serviceable in a
system dependant alone on the characters of the animal, does not this
coincidence not only prove that the characters of shell and animal vary
in unison with each other, but that the shell is a most important guide
when the animal is injured, imperfectly preserved, absent. or altogether
unknown? We wish to know so much of nature, and really know so
little, that we should rejoicingly avail ourselves of every assistance she
may offer.

We must, however, confess to a great leaning towards that principle,
which, indicated in everything Mr. Clark has written, tends to elevate
physiological over physical characters as the basis and starting-point
of system; and we behold, in imagination, the dawning of a new era
in science, to be distinguished by a reference to causes rather than a
studying of effects; by an observation of functions rather than of
organs; by noting the stages by which a being arrives at maturity
rather than by the mensuration of parts when mature. The idea, how-
ever, although, as we have said, indicated in all that Mr. Clark has
written, does not originate with him; Adanson, Lamarck, Poli, De
Blainville, Gray and Swainson have done much the same thing,

making physiological characters the foundation of their several ©

systems. It does, however, become a most important question, and it
is one on which we range ourselves among the non-contents, whether
the shell, which we are content to throw over in the classification, is
also to be ignored in the discrimination of species. To us it seems,
as the colouring of the bird, as the striping and spotting of the cat
tribe, useless in the formation of primary groups, but all-important in
the discrimination of species. A word more: Mr. Clark’s terms are
not sufficiently definite and precise; he is either careless in phrase-
ology, or adopts technicalities of which he does not know the exact
import: thus, in the very outset, his system, founded on sexual
organization, is rendered obscure, by his using the word “ dicecious”
in a sense exactly opposed to the received one: this fault is not un-
common among those authors who go somewhat ahead of the rank
and file of their brother naturalists, but it is nevertheless a grave one.
He who promulgates new ideas should be particularly careful to
explain them with perspicuity and precision. With these reservations

we cordially recommend Mr. Clark’s volume to the study of naturalists.

.

..
i

-
,
4

Quadrupeds— Birds. 4761

Remarkable act in an aged Cat.—There is at the present time (April, 1855) a cat,
twenty-five years old, belonging to the Government House, New Brunswick, who has
seen three successive Governors: this cat, who, from her venerable appearance, is called
“Granny,” a few weeks since produced a single kitten: she was much delighted with
her offspring, and nourished him with the greatest care for one month. Another cat in
the house then brought forth six kittens: as soon as Granny became aware of the fact
she took up her son in her mouth, carried him to her neighbour’s dormitory, and
deliberately dropped him into her box. This feat accomplished, Granny began im-
mediately to disport herself, gambolling all over the house, and from that time has
never taken the smallest notice of her kitten: meantime the other cat gave a warm
welcome to the intruder, and has brought him up with the same tenderness as her
own. It is a laughable sight to see the foster-mother with her half-grown son and
her own kittens. No wonder Granny was tired of a young family, but the anecdote
shows she was in full possession of her faculties— Communicated by a resident at New
Brunswick, through G. 8. Kett, Esq., of Brooke, Norfolk.

Occurrence of Honey Buzzards (Falco apivorus) near Scarborough.—A fine female ©
specimen of this bird was shot at Flamborough on the 2nd of June: the stomach was
full of frogs, slugs, &c.; the ovary did not contain eggs in a very forward state. A
most beautiful adult male—a remarkable variety of this variable hawk—was also
shot about the same time at Louth, in Lincolnshire: buth specimens were bought by
C. W. Shepherd, Esq., of Luddesdon, Kent, who has forwarded them to me to be
preserved.— Alfred Roberts ; King Street, Scarborough, June 14, 1855. °

Occurrence of the Snowy Owl in Aberdeenshire.—Myr. Green has just shown me,
in the flesh, a fine male specimen of the snowy owl, shot in Aberdeenshire on the 24th
instant, and sent to him to be preserved.— Edward Newman.

An Owl laying an Egg after twenty years confinement.—Having kept a female
tawny owl (Strix aluco) in my possession nearly twenty years, she is now in perfect
health, and, to my great surprise, laid her first egg yesterday. Henry Spurr; West-
field House, Scarborough, April 24, 1855.

Ornithology of the Diggings.—We are quite in the Bush, and have innumerable
birds of all sorts and sizes flving about; most beautiful parrots, parroquets, cockatoos
by hundreds, and magpies by thousands: the noise made by the latter exactly
resembles the tune of “ Merrily danced the Quaker’s wife,” but they never get any
further than “ Merrily danced,” and this over and over again, in all keys, is incessantly
kept up all day, and sometimes at night too: then there is the laughing jackass, a ,
bird that makes a horrid noise; bush turkeys, which fly very high; wild ducks, cranes,
swallows, pelicans, crows, curlews, moorpawks, that say ‘“‘ Moorpawk” quite as plainly
as our cuckoo says its name; but my favourite is a black swan with a white neck ; it
is all black except the neck, which is a dazzling white, and makes finer swan’s-down

than our English bird: it is a rare bird, flies very high in the air, and walks most

majestically ; one which settled near me the other day reminded me of the second
Mrs. Dombey, so proud, firm and dignified; they tried to shoot it, but did not
succeed.—F’. Woodroffe; Jeffrey's Dairy Station, near Kyneton, Mount Macedon,
Victoria, Australia, January 3, 1855.

4762 Birds.

Hen’s Egg with Double Shell.—At page 4703 of the ‘ Zoologist’ a correspondent
appeals to your readers to corroborate a fact which he communicates concerning a
double-shelled hen’s egg. I have much pleasure in stating that an egg precisely
similar to the one he describes was brought under my notice in March last by Mr.
Burrell, poulterer, at Hastings, in whose possession the curiosity was. I do not at
this moment recollect, although I took a note of it at the time, the exact weight and
dimensions of the egg; but I think the weight was something like six ounces, and the
measurement was something extraordinary. The hen which produced this monstrosity
was a cross between a Malay and a mongrel Dorking. For the rest, the description
supplied by your correspondent would apply equally to the egg to which I have
referred.—Edward Vernon Harcourt ; 20, Portland Place, London, May 9, 1855.

Extraordinary Hen’s Egg.—The singular freak of nature recorded under this
heading in the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 4703) is not, I think, of such very unusual occurrence as
your correspondent seems to suppose. About two years since I was shown a very
large egg, laid by one of the Dorking fowls, which contained a perfectly shelled egg
inside, and I believe the remains of a second yolk in a fluid state; the interior egg
and the fragments of the outer one I preserved, being the first instance of the kind I
had ever met with. During that year I was told, on good authority, of a similar
abnormity in a duck’s egg; and I have lately heard of another hen’s egg laid in the
same manner.—H. Stevenson ; Norwich, June 20, 1855,

Occurrence of the Little Ringed Plover and Smew near Brighton.—In February
last my brother and self succeeded in obtaining several specimens of the little ringed
plover (Charadrius minor), and also a very good specimen of the female smew (Mergus
albinus), along the sea-coast between Cuckmere Haven and Seaford.—G. Grantham ;
47, Western Road, Hove, May 19, 1855.

Occurrence of the Bittern and Gioosander in Northamptonshire, and of the Red-
throated Diver in Plymouth Sound.—On the 5th of January I shot a remarkably
fine bittern (Botaurus stellaris) from a small brook below the village of Aldwinkle,
in Northamptonshire. I only mention this, as the bird is excessively rare in the
county; the last instance of its occurrence in Northamptonshire with which I am
acquainted was near the same place, about twenty-five years ago. I saw and
pursued a female goosander (Mergus merganser) for several days in January last,
on the river Nen, in Northamptonshire; it was afterwards shot by our game-
keeper, and is now in my possession, stuffed. I shot a specimen of the redthroated
diver (Colymbus septentrionalis) in the Sound here, on the Sth instant. Is this not
very late for this bird in these parts? This specimen had a few red feathers in the
neck.—7. L. Powys; Mount Wise Barracks, Devonport, May 16, 1855.

Occurrence of Buonaparte’s Gull (Larus Buonapartii) on the Jrish Coast.—On
Wednesday, the 14th of February, 1855, Captain Watkins, a brother officer of mine, shot
a gull on the coast near Skerries, about seventeen miles north of Dublin, which is
pronounced by all the Natural History Societies of Dublin to be Buonaparte’s gull
(Larus Buonapartii), of whose occurrence I believe there are but two previously
recorded instances in Great Britain. The bird has been preserved and mounted by

Mrs. Baker, of Grafton Street, Dublin, and is now in Captain Watkins’s collection.—
Id.

Reptiles— Fishes. 4763

Supposed insensibility of Reptiles to Poison.—In a recent number of the ‘ Zuologist’
(Zool. 4705), one of your correspondents makes some remarks on the insensibility of
reptiles to strong poisons, and instances a case of the common water-newt, as not
suffering from the effects of ‘‘ several strong doses of Prussic acid.” This may perhaps
occur among the Batrachia, but it is certainly otherwise with the viper, the only
reptile that I have hitherto tried this poison upon. Last June, when in Devonshire,
I procured a fine lively viper, and, wishing to preserve the skeleton entire, a difficulty
arose as to the means of killing the animal] without risking injury to any of the bones:
it struck me that poison might be usefully employed for this purpose, and some Prussic
acid of Scheele’s strength having been just received from London for medicinal pur-
poses, I at once proceeded to administer it. Holding the viper near the head with a
stick, I put the bottle of acid to his lips; but, being unable to force open his mouth, I
was induced to try another plan, and left him alone, with a single drop of the poison
resting on the nose: these gentle measures succeeded better than the more forcible
ones, for presently he protruded the tongue, and, on withdrawing it, carried the poison
into his mouth: the effect was instantaneous; the viper began snapping furiously,
rolled over on his back, and twisted about with the most violent contortions: in less
than a minute a slight muscular contraction of the body, on being taken up, was all
that remained of the vital powers that but a short time before were so actively dis-
- played. The question of the effect of poisons on serpents, especially that.of poisonous
bites inflicted on them by similar or allied species, is one about which we have much
to learn, and difficulties arise in drawing just conclusions from accidental cases, from
the fact that the tooth of the assailant may perhaps penetrate some vital part, and
death will be the consequence, without the application of the injected venom. Some
cases that have occurred in the Zoological Gardens seem to bear on this point: in one
instance a puff-adder was bitten through the head by his companion, and died; another
was }itten on the back, and, although apparently suffering in consequence for a time,
it lived for some months after, and ultimately died from other causes.—E. W. H. Holds-
worth ; 26, Osnaburgh Street, May 16, 1855.

Supposed unnoticed character in the Angler or Fishing Frog.—With reference to
Mr. Thomson's notice (Zool. 4705) of the leaf-like appendages on the body as well as
on the head of Lophius piscatorius, I may observe that they are distinctly, although
perhaps not very accurately, represented in the figure of that species at the head of the
article in the second edition of Yarrell’s ‘ British Fishes, though the author appears to
have omitted mentioning them in his detailed description, except as being found
_ around the head. I had an opportunity, with many others, of examining this fish
soon after its arrival, when its extraordinary appearance and many curious characters
made it a general subject of regret that it had not survived its journey from the coast.
I mention the second edition of ‘ British Fishes,’ as that is the only one that I have by
me; but, as the fish in question is so well known, the figure is probably the same in
the first edition of that work.—#.. W. H. Holdsworth ; 26, Osnaburgh Street, May 16,
1855.

Salmon and Salmon Fry.—Knowing the interest you take in all that relates to
Natural History, I would, had my time permitted, have sent you a memorandum
before now of a very interesting meeting which took place at the salmon-breeding

4764 Fishes.

pond, a few miles above Perth, on Wednesday, the 2nd inst. The hatching-troughs
connected with the pond were stocked with ova during the season before last, and
these were successfully hatched in the course of the spring of 1854. The young fry
speedily became inmates of the capacious pond, in which they have continued ever since,
and where they are now in excellent condition. The pond is very judiciously con-
structed, being not only ample, but of various depth, with a fine pure sparkling stream
running through it night and day. It corresponds entirely in its character to any
natural expanse of the river Tay, on the bank of which it is formed. Many of the
young fish enter the supplying stream, and sport there in the current. You are
aware that two objects have been kept in view by the promoters of this experimental
‘pond; first, to increase the breed of grilse and salmon, by raising securely an addi-
tional supply of parr, which are the young recruits from which the marketable fish are
eventually obtained; and, second, to ascertain, by a renewed and enlarged experi-
ment, open to the inspection of the public, whether these parr assume the silvery aspect
and general condition of smolts (on becoming which they speedily migrate to the sea)
after the completion of their first, or not till the termination of their second year.
Mr. Andrew Young, of Invershin, a person of great experience, maintains that the
smolting, and consequent seaward journey, take place in about a year, that is, that the
fry hatched in the spring of 1854 will become smolts, and seek the sea, in that of
1855. This, of course, if the correct view, would be the more agreeable, because
advantageous, one for the artificial breeder, in so far as, in the rearing of his young
fish, he would save a year’s care and keeping; and where there is only a single pond,
that pond might be emptied of its contents each season, and the newly-hatched fry let
down into it, soon after their predecessors of a year old had been allowed to take their
departure to the sea. On the other hand, Mr. John Shaw, the first who demonstrated
that parr, commonly so called, were the fry of salmon, and remained for a long con-
tinuance in the river waters, maintains that these small fishes do not become smolts,
nor seek the sea, till after the completion of their second year from the time of hatching ;
so that, in his opinion, the genuine smolts of this spring were hatched in the spring of
1853, while the parr of last year’s hatching will not grow into smolts, nor migrate sea-
wards, till the ensuing spring of 1856. I desire now to state to you, very briefly, the
result of our recent examination of the contents of the pond, and the conclusion
come to. We saw many thousands of these parr, with sufficient distinctness to receive
a correct impression of their actual state; and we, moreover, netted a sufficient
_number of samples for a closer and more minute examination. Although these fish
are now about thirteen months old, there was not a single smolt among them. They
corresponded entirely to the year-old parr which we took from the river for comparison.
The only example of a smolt exhibited to the meeting throughout our prolonged and
careful inquiry and investigation of several hours, was one caught by Dr. Kisdale, of
Perth, while angling in the river Tay. He brought it up to us immediately, and
when set alongside the parr from the pond, its greater size and spotless silvery lustre
made its difference obvious to all. The meeting came to the distinct and unavoidable
conclusion that the inhabitants of the pond were still parr; and Lord Mansfield,
especially, and very properly, pressed for their being detained in confinement for
another year, for the sake of a complete and conclusive experimental demonstration
that these so-called parr take two years to become smolts. In this view Mr. Shaw
(who was present) and myself cordially concurred. We did not hear a dissentient
voice; and not a syllable was said about a single smolt having been seen in the pond:

Arachnida— Insects. 4765

their continued captivity was therefore determined on.—James Wilson ; in ‘ Witness’
_ Newspaper.*

4

Note regarding the Name of the Australian Trap-door Spiders.—In the January
number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 4561) there is an inquiry, from the Rev. A. Hussey,
respecting the name of the Australian spiders which form their habitations in the

ground, with a movable entrance. ‘This question cannot be determined, unless speci-
mens of the spider itself could be procured and examined by a competent Arach-
nologist, which I believe has never yet been done. Spiders which construct burrows
in the earth furnished with a moveable lid have been found in different parts of the
world, as Jamaica, Barbary, the Island of Naxos, Montpellier and Corsica, besides
Australia; and, although a good deal has been written regarding them, authors are
not quite agreed as to the names of the species. I may refer Mr. Hussey to the
* Bridgewater Treatise,’ written by the late Mr. Kirby, who gives a plate containing
figures of the nests constructed by two of these species, which he denominates Cteniza
fodiens and C. nidulans: he also gives an interesting description of the construction.
of the nests or tubes. He refers to a memoir published in the Annals of the Ento-
mological Society of France (vol. ii. p. 69), by M. V. Audouin, who mentions four
species of the genus Cteniza, Zatr. (only a subgenus of Mygale, according to
Walckenaer), all of which construct these trap-door retreats. Mr. Westwood read a
memoir before the Entomological Society of London in 1840, respecting a living
spider, which he received from Barbary, said to possess this curious instinct: it was
alterwards publishedsin the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ for February,
1841, but I have not the volume by me: he referred the specimen to the genus
Sphodros of Walckenier; but the latter naturalist doubts the accuracy of his state-
ment, in consequence of all the species of Sphodros with which he was acquainted
being natives of America (Walckendaer, Hist. Nat. des Insectes Aptéres, tom. ii. p. 440).
The Australian species probably belongs to a different genus from any of the others,
and Walckender says that perhaps it may be identical with his Missulena occatoria, a
tame given by him to an Australian spider (loc. cit. vol. i. p. 253), with whose habits
he was unacquainted.—R. H. Meade; Bradford, February 21, 1855.
t

_ Gonepteryx Rhamni double-brooded.—I am requested by several of my entomo-
logical friends to offer a few words in answer to Mr. Newman’s remarks under this

head (Zool. 4706); I should otherwise have considered as superfluous any addition
_to Mr. Bree’s list of authorities and conclusive remarks upon the subject. By applying
the term “double-brooded” to G. Rhamni I endeavoured to convey the impression
that, as far as my own observations went, there were two broods of this insect in the
year. I did not add any “further comment,” because, the same fact having been

already noticed by several authors, I was unwilling to trespass upon the good nature

—

* Communicated by A. White, Esq., of the British Museum.
XIII. 2H

4766 Insects.

of the Editor of the ‘ Zoologist, by lengthening unnecessarily my already long article: —
I should otherwise perhaps have hazarded a suggestion, or rather a query, as to

whether this insect, in favourable seasons, may not be somewhat similar in its appear-
ance to such insects as Thyatira batis, which “ keeps on coming out” through a great
portion of the summer. I say “ favourable seasons,” for in ordinary seasons its general
appearance is confined to the two flights, in spring and autumn, which, as Mr. Bree
says, no one doubts. My observation of G. Rhamni on the Continent resulted in my
having an impression that the above might be the case, but I cannot, at present,
speak with sufficient accuracy as to whether it is so or not. It appears to be an
established and undoubted fact that, in this country, many of the spring specimens of
this insect are in “ perfectly fresh and brilliant condition,” as noticed, not only by the
“practical entomologist” mentioned by Mr. Bree, but also by every entomologist
whom I have consulted on the subject. With regard to the ragged specimens one
meets with in winter and early spring, no one, I believe, ever doubted their having
hybernated. They present to the eye the same “ faded state” which Mr. Westwood,
in his splendid work, notices in similar veteran specimens of Vanessa polychloros.
Any supposition that Mr. Newman may not have had such opportunities of observing
G. Rhamni as some of the practical country entomologists is at once set at rest by |
his remarks, for it is plain that he has enjoyed the most enviable opportunities of

studying this insect. Had I ever been so fortunate as to visit the “ happy hunting-
ground” in which this beautiful butterfly is to be found all the year round, as
Mr. Newman describes, I should, in my limited knowledge of Entomology, have
been more inclined to have called it “hundred-brooded” than have cavilled |
at the term “double-brooded” being applied to it; for, as one of my corres-
pondents, an “eminent Lepidopterist,” after writing as follows—* Surely there is
a spring hatch of G. Rhamni, as well as an autumn one, and a Christmas-day

specimen would differ from an April one; and if Mr. Newman has taken note of the
condition of many April specimens, he must be an active pedestrian, if not ‘ Aliger’
himself,” very aptly adds, “and if he has seen it on ‘ New Year’s-day, and almost
every succeeding day in the year’ (except with a pin through it), his locality must
beat all ‘Forests of Bere’ out of the field; and the climate realize the ‘ ver per-
petuum’ of the poets.” Well, upon the face of the acknowledged fact that many of
the spring specimens are “perfectly fresh and brilliant,’ we are now told by |
Mr. Newman that “his conviction, his firm conviction” is that there is only one |
brood, an autumnal one.. We therefore have it asserted, with all the authority of the |
late President of the Entomological Society, that the brimstone butterfly, emerging
from its chrysalis in the autumn, not only survives the winter (which no one doubts),
but, after laying its eggs, continues to enjoy a vigorous existence until the eggs it has.
laid are hatched, the larve fed up, and the chrysalides ready to burst; in short, that
the period of its existence is a year; and that all this knocking about the world has
rather improved its personal appearance than otherwise. We shall thus have insects”
approaching nearer to the condition of birds, and shall be led to look for perfection in.
a specimen (at least of Gonepteryx Rhamni), not as soon as posssble after its ap-
pearance from the chrysalis, but rather to wait until it attains to its full adult winter |
or spring plumage. And now, I beg respectfully to submit that it is Mr. Newman»
who has made an “ interesting and important discovery,” and one which, if established, !
would tend to overthrow all one’s preconceived opinions as derived from one’s own
observations, aided by reference to standard works, upon the economy of insects, _

a

Insects. A767

especially butterflies; and would deprive of half their meaning the lines of that
beautiful poem (‘The Butterfly’s Birth-day’), which say

‘“* When bursting forth to life and light,
The offspring of enraptur’d May,
The butterfly, on pinions bright,
Launch’d in full splendour on the day.

“ Unconscious of a mother’s care, 4
No infant wretchedness she knew ;
But as slie felt the vernal air,
At once to full perfection grew.”

_ Having thus directed Mr. Newman’s attention to the more important part of the
subject, it would be superfluous to add the reasons which induced me individually to
call, and for the present still to consider, Gonepteryx Rhamni “ double-brooded.”—
William Henry Hawker ; Horndean, Hants, June 21, 1855.

Capture of Nomada borealis at Gosforth, Northumberland.—I have taken a fine
series of females and two males of that beautiful bee Nomada borealis: they are
parasitical upon Andrena bicolor, and were entering its burrows when captured. The
locality was a slippery bank of dry friable clay, in a pine-wood, at Gosforth, and the time
the latter end of April,—one of those cold gusty days (of which we have had so many), —
relieved only occasionally by a gleam of sunshine; and it is somewhat curious that I
have not taken a specimen since, although I have watched the locality on sunnier and
more “likely” days.—Thomas John Bold ; Angas Court, Bigg Market, May 31, 1855.

Tenacity of Life in a Bembidium.—Yesterday, when collecting Bembidia on the
shingly borders of the Thames, I observed a curious-looking insect endeavouring to
get out of a small hollow left in the mud hy the removal of a pebble. On closer
examination I found the mysterious object to be the head, thorax and two fore-legs of
Bembidium concinnum, which had, no doubt, been severed from the remainder of its
corporation in scraping over the shingle with my digger. About five minutes after-
wards I encountered the trunk and remaining limbs of this unfortunate insect, and
finding them quite dead, turned again to the fore-quarters, which were as active, on

being touched, as if no injury had been sustained: the strength and vigour of this
portion seemed unimpaired, but, from the impossibility of maintaining the balance, it
‘Tepeatedly rolled back to the bottom of the cell, not being practised in the pas de deux.
I marked the spot with a forget-me-not (a rather appropriate mark), and examined
the living fragment at intervals of five minutes; it was quiescent till disturbed, but

‘then became very active: this continued up to three-quarters of an hour from the

‘time of first observing it, and in another five minutes all motion had ceased; it
‘seemed as if its powers had failed suddenly. I mention this incident, because it
‘Seems to me somewhat singular that the fore portion should be so much more reten-
live of life than the rest of the frame in those races in which that portion is not the
principal seat of the nervous mass; in the Vertebrata the case appears very different.
I ought to mention, however, that one of the elytra seemed to indicate that some
further -injury had happened to that portion than the mere separation.—George
Guyon ; Richmond, Surrey, June 20, 1855.

4768 i Marine Vivaria.

Marine Vivaria.—I beg to draw your attention to a fact which, although probably
well known, has never, that I am aware, been published in any remarks on vivaria: I
allude to the fact that plants will live in water without the compensating balance of
animal life. My study-window faces North-east, and I have at the present time five
show-glasses filled with salt water, and two and a globe filled with fresh water. The
following is the state of the marine portion :—No. 1 was three-parts filled, last June,
with water, and a few animals, that I had under examination, and some weeds placed
in it; the animals and weeds died: I left it still in the window, and two-thirds of the
water has evaporated; there is, notwithstanding, a healthy growth of Enteromorpha,
and the surface is covered with air-bubbles: the water, as in all, is perfectly sweet.
No. 2 was filled in August last, and a small gurnard placed in it: as the water
evaporated it was filled up to its original level with fresh water; the gurnard was
killed by the severe frost, and the water left: no weeds were placed in this glass, and
the dead gurnard was taken out: the water has evaporated to half, and there is now
a luxuriant growth of Enteromorpha, much thicker and more forward on the side next
the window. No. 3 was also filled with sea water in June last, but nothing placed in
it: in the course of a few days a growth of green weed appeared. In July or August
last I placed in it a small mullet: this mullet died near the end of the last frost, and
the water has been since left; it is now covered with a growth of weed, but not to the
extent of the last; it has, however, a thick coating on the bottom, and a small quantity
of film floating on the top: the mullet fed on the weed. No. 4 was filled, in March
last, with weeds and a few of the smaller Serpule and Annelides: these last I by
degrees took out, leaving nothing but the weeds: all these are alive and doing well,
and the sides of the glass jar are covered with patches of green weed; the weeds
evolve oxygen in large quantities, and the top of the water is covered with patches of
air-bubbles. No.5 contains water which I made putrid by throwing in dead animal
substances, until it became black and stunk insufferably; I then filtered it several
times through filtering paper, in which was placed a quantity of powdered charcoal,
until I at length obtained it scentless and crystalline: I left it in a room away from
the window until to-day, and on examining it I find a slight growth of weed round
the edges of the bottom: the taste of this water is slightly pungent. In all these
glasses the sole animal life is a few minute Entomostraca, such as Cyclops and
Cypris. Now, if carbonic acid is evolved solely from animals, whence comes the
necessary quantity for the plants in my glasses? The facts are exactly as I have
stated them; and another fact that I have observed appears to point to a solution ; it
is this—if you watch the glasses during the morning, and as long as the sun dves not
shine on them, you will find all at rest. There are the plants, and there is the water,
but no air-bubbles; but watch it when the sun shines on the glass, then you will find
that, one after another, the little bubbles form and rise to the surface, and this lasts
until the rays of the sun cease to shine on the glass. Should the sun, as at this
present moment, be hidden by clouds, the bubbles cease forming, but to recommence
on his appearance. From what I have said it appears to me that I shall be justified
in assuming that the direct light rays of the sun possess and exercise the power of
furming sufficient carbonic acid, or some other chemical combination, for the well-
being of plants, and thus far supplies the want of animals.— William Thompson ;
Weymouth, May 28, 1855.

Insects. A769

Notes on certain British Hydrocantharide.
By the Rev. Hamiet Crark, M.A.

“ Things hoped for” is a subject which deserved, and has already
received, your attention. There are many things among Coleoptera
for which we have been “hoping” for the last twenty years: with
your kind assistance as editor our wants perhaps may be supplied,
and at length we may hope to find.

My object in writing to you is to point out some of the enigmas
which exist among British Hydrocantharide, and also to ask for the
good aid of your readers, in endeavouring to obtain solutions.

Haliplus fluviatilis. Schaum (Zool. 1889) detects two British spe-
cimens in Mr. Wollaston’s cabinet, the locality of which is unrecorded.
It appears to be a river species, having been taken freely in the
Seine by M. Aubé, and by M. Chevrier among Conferve in the
Rhone: the species has probably been overlooked as a variety of H.
impressus, which it closely resembles.

H. Sanmarkii. I have little doubt that this will prove a variety of
that most inconstant of Hydropori, rivalis: I notice it, however, as
the question may readily be set at rest by any one who is in the habit
of taking this latter species. I have never seen a specimen which
exactly corresponds with Aubé’s description of Sanmarkii, though
several examples in my cabinet of rivalis approximate to it.

Hydroporus opatrinus. The sole. authority for this as a British
species appears to be “ Netley, Salop,” taken by the Rev. Mr. Hope.
Steph. Man. ii. 193, Appendix. Has it ever been taken in this or
any other locality since 1829, the date of that capture ?

H. ferrugineus. Stephens (Man. ii. 193) gives near Collingbourne
wood once in 1828, and several in a stream at Kimpton, during the
spring of 1829. This insect is allied 'to Memnonius, and appears to
be generally distributed, occuring also in the lake Constance.

H. Scalesianus. A pair were taken by the late R. Scales, Esq., in
Norfolk, previous to 1828; one specimen of these is in Stephens’
cabinet: the species has not since occurred. It has been taken in
great abundance by M. Erichson, at Berlin, and according to Schaum
(Zool. 1893) is very local. Mr. Scales resided at Beechamwell, near
Swaffham, Norfolk, and his home collecting-ground was a high chalk
district: although I have visited that country during three summers
in search of this insect, my then ignorance of these facts is quite
sufficient to account for my entire failure.

-

A770 | Insects.

Hydroporus unistriatus. Ihave seen but one example, taken many
years ago in a chalk-pit, on the Madingley road, near Cambridge.
Stephens gives London and Devonshire as its localities: it is generally
distributed throughout the continent.

Hydaticus stagnalis. Not common; although occurring throughout
the Continent. I shall be glad to hear of any modern localities in
Britain (Steph. Llust. ii. 86).

Agabus serricornis. By Mr. Hope, “ at Netley, rare.” There is no
reason why this insect may not occur in Soctland or the Orkneys, as
plentifully as in the north of Europe, Sweden and Lapland.

Cybister Reeselii. This beautiful species is found in most countries
of Europe, though the single recorded instance of its capture in
England is in ‘Stephens Illustrations,’ at Walton, Essex, at the end
of September, 1826.

I feel that I need not apologise for sending you this list: it
appears to me not only to suggest practical matter for investigation to
the working entomologist, but to be of some little interest by pointing
out how far the labours of the present generation of Coleopterists have
been surpassed by those of the former: in this group at least we are
obliged to confess to the probability that our known Fauna of good
species is not so extensive as in 1830. I fear that among the |
Helophoride and Hydrophilide, when they are properly understood,
our position will be found to be even more unsatisfactory.

Might I venture to invite especially the attention of our Scotch
entomologists, and of naturalists who are proposing tours into the
Highlands, to the subject of this paper? I am confident that any one
who will carefully examine the water-beetles of those districts will be
amply rewarded by the discovery of new species. During a visit of
only a few days in the autumn of last year, I was fortunate in taking,
inter alia rarissima, a new Hydroporus at Oban, and a new Dytiscus
in Mull; both species (as are some six others, at present unknown to
us), common in Lapland. I shall be happy to supply exact details
and directions to any one who wishes to examine these localities, or
to any one who may propose to search the waters of his neighbour-
hood any information in my power. It is only by the united labours
of many that success in the investigation of any department of insect
life can be, attained; but especially in this case, when, as in these
groups, peculiar habits forbid general distribution, and the lives of
generations of a species are confined to the limits of one solitary lake
or moor. ‘This stimulates the efforts of the individual lover of Nature,
for by his researches he can enrich others, and this rewards combina-

-nenitaha=

Entomological Botany. 4771

tion, for thus the knowledge of each consists of the results of the

united labours of all..

HAMLET CLARK.
Northampton, June 23, 1855.

Entomological Botany (with more especial reference to the Plants
Srequented by the Tineina). By H. T. Stainton, Esq.

(Continued from page 4457).
Rhamnus Frangula. Alder Buckthorn.
‘

Speyer enumerates as feeding on this plant Psyche Viciella and
Agrotis ravida; Bruand is silent respecting the food-plant of the
former, and the latter is stated by Freyer to feed on various low
plants, especially the species of Rumex; it appears, therefore, ques-
tionable whether either of them has any partiality for the Rhamnus.
The Continental Dosithea incanata is stated to feed on this plant,
but the larva does not appear to have been observed by any ento-
mologist since the time of Hiibner. The larva of Hyponomeuta
plumbellus has been reputed to feed on this plant, but there is reason
to believe this supposition was erroneous.

The above is a very good sample of the amount of scrutiny that
Speyer’s compilation requires, in order to ascertain the proper degree
of confidence to be placed in it; as Pisistratus Caxton says, in ‘My
Novel,’ @ propos to “ Knowledge is power,” Never quote second-
hand. .

However, there is one Micro-
Lepidopterous larva which cer-
tainly feeds on Rhamnus Fran-
gula, and may be found thereon
in August— this is Bucculatrix
Frangutella: the larva, when
young, mines the leaf in con-
centric circles, as shown in the
annexed wood-cut; after a time
it ceases to mine in a _ con-
tinuous curve, and flies off at a
tangent; it is then about to quit
the mine, after which it changes
its skin, and then feeds on the leaf |
externally, at first only eating the leaf half through, but subsequently
making holes in the leaf.

A772 Entomological Botany.

Ulex Europeus. Common Furze; Gorse.

An unpleasant plant to search for larve amongst, as it is very
difficult to do so without pricking the fingers and trying the temper
of the collector. Much probably remains to be done before the ento-
mological treasures of this plant can be considered exhausted. The
larva of Catoptria ulicetana, which, in the perfect state, swarms on
furze bushes all the summer, is reputed to feed on the seeds, where it
finds as a bedfellow the Coleopterous Oxystoma Ulicis. Two of the
Depressaria larve feed on this plant in June, D. costosa and D. um-
bellana; the larva of the former is brown-black, and feeds on the
flowers and the young tender shoots; it is, like many of its congeners,
very active: the larva of D. umbellana we have not yet succeeded in
finding, and I cannot therefore point out to the collector wherein it
differs from that of D. costesa. Of the omnivorous genus Gelechia
only one species is known to feed on this plant, viz., Gelechia muli-
nella: it has an epicurean taste; it enters the unexpanded flower-
buds in April, through a hole it makes in the hinder petal; it then
discusses at its leisure the stamens and anthers, and proceeds to a
neighbouring bud to repeat a similar dainty meal. Anarsia Spartiella,
in the perfect state, frequents Ulex as well as broom, and it is probable
that the larva feeds also on the shoots of this plant. The original
discovery of GScophora Lambdella is thus recorded by Donovan :—
“has hitherto only been taken on Epping Forest: the brood was dis-
covered on a furze-bush, by Mr. Bentley, an eminent collector of
insects, in July, 1789; the cabinets of several naturalists have been
supplied from the parcel then taken, as the species has rarely been
observed since.” Whilst we are groping completely in the dark to
discover a larva, any ray of light, however feeble, should always
readily be thankfully received, and as this insect is, at the present day,
only taken singly, the record that a large number were taken in one
furze-bush nearly seventy years ago may assist us by indicating that
the larva feeds on some part or other of the Ulex. The Oicophora
larve feed, almost without exception, on decayed wood: the presump-
tion is therefore great that, to find the larva of Qicophora Lambdella,
decayed stumps of furze should be carefully examined. The larva of
Butalis grandipennis, discovered by Mr. J. F. Brockholes, of Birken-
head, feeds in winter and spring on this plant; but, as his observa-
tions show that it is more partial to the Ulex nanus, it is mentioned
more fully under the latter plant. Of the genus Coleophora only one
species is yet known to be attached to the Ulex, namely, Coleophora

Entomological Botany. 4773

albicosta: the larva may be found in autumn and spring, but its case
closely resembles a dried calyx of the plant, and it requires a very
close scrutiny in order to distinguish it. One Lithocolletis, ulicico-
lella, frequents the furze, and no doubt the larva feeds on it, but
hitherto we have failed to find it; indeed, the Germans have far out-
stripped us in their skill in finding Lithocolletis larve in Papiliona-
ceous plants, and at present we are quite laggards in the race.

Ulex nanus. Dwarf Furze.

Probably most insects which feed on Ulex europeus feed also on
this, but the observations of Mr. Brockholes and Mr. C. S. Gregson
show that the larva of Butalis
grandipennis has a decided pre-
ference for Ulex nanus. This
larva may be found from Ja-
nuary to April, in little webs
near the stems of the twigs
of the Ulex: an idea of the
appearance which a shoot as-
sumes, when furnished with a
web made by one of these in-
sects, may be gathered from the
annexed woodcut. Within the
last week I have found on this
plant at Dartford Heath a fat
greenish larva, inhabiting a
more opaque white web, and
which I am disposed to think must be the long-sought larva of

_ Depressaria umbellana.

ne

Genista tinctoria. Dyer’s Weed.

Speyer mentions as feeding on this, Thecla Rubi, Anthrocera
Minos, Hadena Geniste and H. contigua, Calocampa exoleta and
C. vetusta, Hemithea cythisaria and Boarmia crepuscularia. In
May and June the shoots are contorted by the larve of Gelechia len-
tiginosella, which may then be collected in abundance, and at
the same time the larve of Depressaria atomella may be met with,
and the larvz of Gelechia vorticella, and a little later the larve
of Anarsia Geniste ; at the beginning of June the shining black cases
of Coleophora vibicella should be sought for on this plant. Coleophora

XIII. 21

ATTA Entomological Botany.

Wockeelia, which was suspected of feeding on Genista tinctoria,
feeds on Stachys hirta, and perhaps on some other species of Stachys
(hirta not being a British plant).

Genista anglica. Needle Whin.

More generally distributed, I believe, than the preceding species,
but we are unacquainted with any larve that feed on it.

Sarothamnus scoparius. Broom.

This plant, which seems to have a great partiality for railway banks,
is probably on that account much more plentiful with us than
formerly, and the broom-feeding species ought, in consequence, to be
of more frequent occurrence. The number of insects which feed on
broom is very considerable. Speyer enumerates Thecla Rubi,
' Polyommatus Argus, Lasiocampa Quercus (though this is too poly-
phagous to deserve special mention), Hadena Geniste and H. con-
tigua, Mamestra Pisi and M. Chenopodii, Calocampa vetusta and C.
exoleta, Angerona prunaria, Geometra papilionaria, Hemithea cythi-
saria, Crocallis elinguaria, Boarmia crepuscularia, Speranza conspicua-
ria, S. spartiaria (not yet detected in this country, but closely allied
to S. conspicuaria), Chesias spartiata, Cabera strigillaria, Eubolia
meeniaria (the new species figured in the ‘ Entomologist’s Annual’ for
1855), Pellonia vibicaria (formerly, like Trochilium Chrysidiforme, a
reputed British species), Acidalia aversata, Botys cinctalis and B.
limbalis (the latter not yet known as British).

Of the Tineina the following may be mentioned :— Depressaria
assimilella, feeding in March and April, and fastening together several
twigs, not by the tips, but in the middle of their length; D. costosa
and D. atomella, feeding on the leaves and flowers in May and June;
Gelechia mulinella, feeding in April, in the same way that it feeds on
the flowers of Ulex Europeus (Cleodora cytisella, though named
after the broom, we suspect is attached to the common fern, Pleris
aquilina) ; Anarsia Spartiella, feeding in the shoots; Gracilaria
Kollariella (not yet found in this country) feeds on this plant, as
well as on Lotus corniculatus, mining the leaves ; Coleophora satu-
ratella, the larva full-fed at the beginning of July,—the black case
has numerous short projections; Lithocolletis scopariella no doubt
feeds on this plant, but we have not yet detected either the larva or
the mine; Cemiostoma spartifoliella forms tracks beneath the bark in
winter and spring, and its snow-white cocoons may be found on the
branches in May; and lastly, Trifurcula immundella is so manifestly

Entomological Botany. ATT5

attached to the broom that the larva must feed on some part of
the plant.

Cytisus Laburnum. Laburnum.

Thongh no British plant, yet it grows well in most gardens,
and there is a very fine tree of it in Torwood; the leaves are
mined in July and autumn by the larve of Cemiostoma laburnella.

Ononis. Rest-Harrow.

As feeding on this genus of plants, Speyer enumerates Polyommatus
_ Alexis, Polia tincta, Calocampa vetusta and C. exoleta, Heliothis
Ononidis (a Noctua intermediate between dipsacea and scutosa, but
not yet known as British) and Fidonia ononaria (which appears to be
confined to the South of Europe).

Ononis arvensis. Trailing Rest-Harrow.

In May the larve of Pterophorus pheodactylus may be found
abundantly on this plant.

Ononis spinosa. Spinous Rest-Harrow.

Speyer enumerates as feeding on this species Heliothis marginata,

(of which Guenée remarks “not rare, but rather difficult to rear”’),

Eupithecia centaureata and Pterophorus calodactylus, by which

name, I believe, he means our P. acanthodactylus, which has on

_ several occasions been taken rather freely amongst rest-harrow, though

_ Tam not aware that the larva has been found on that plant. Gracilaria

_Ononidis mines the leaves of this plant in April and May, but

: hitherto it has escaped the researches of all the Micro-Lepidopterists of
- this country, the perfect insect having only been taken by sweeping.

Medicago falcata. Yellow Sickle Medick.
z ;
_ Speyer mentions as feeding on this, Lasiocampa Trifolii and

_ Euclidia Mi.

Medicago sativa. Lucerne,
Medicago lupulina. Black Medick,
Medicago maculata. Spotted Medick,

Are not known as the food of any special species, but they are all
plants deserving of careful observation.

A776 Entomological Botany.

Melilotus. Melilot. —

Speyer mentions the following as feeding on this genus of plants:
Polyommatus Alexis and P. Argus, Agrotis rectangula (a scarce
South European species), Euplexia lucipara (the larva of which is
pretty nearly polyphagous), Mamestra suasa, Strenia clathrata,
and the Anthrocera Meliloti (which obtains its name from these
plants).

Trifolium. Trefoil.

As the Papilionaceous plants are the favourite food of most of the
“little blues,” as well as of the Anthrocere, and several feed with
avidity on more than one of this tribe of plants, a good deal of repeti-
tion must necessarily ensue, and yet we may be far from mentioning
all the larve which feed on any individual plant. |

Speyer gives as feeding on this genus, Polyommatus Adonis, An-
throcera Minos, Lonicere, Filipendule (and the non-British Sca-
bios, Meliloti and Peucedani), Dasychira fascelina, Lasiocampa
Trifolii, Triphena orbona, Mamestra Pisi, Acontia solaris (which
latter, however, Guenée gives'as feeding only on Convolvulus), and

Euclidia Mi.

Trifolium pratense. Purple Clover.

Speyer enumerates as feeding on this species, Orthosia litura,
Euclidia glyphica, Aspilates palumbaria and Larentia bipunctaria.
It is on this plant that I am inclined to suspect the larva of Coleo-
phora Fabriciella feeds, but up till now, neither in spring nor in au-
tumn, neither on the leaves nor on the seeds, have we been able to

find any Coleophora larve. Gelechia antbyllidella is not uncommon
on this plant.

Trifolium medium. Zigzag Clover.

This is one of the plants on which the larva of Lithocolletis Bre-
miella has been met with in July and September: this brilliant
species, almost surpassing in beauty L. lautella, is not yet numbered
amongst our British species; the larva mines the under side of the
leaf of T. medium, but is more partial to Vicia sepium and V.
angustifolia.

Trifolium arvense. Hare’s-foot Trefoil.

Cited by Speyer as a food-plant of Leucophasia Sinapis.

Fishes. A777

Trifolium procumbens. Hop Trefoil.

Probably the plant from which Mr. Gregson bred Coleophora
deauratella (Zool. 4030). It is sad that a half-made observation like
this should be allowed to relapse into obscurity.

Lotus corniculatus. Bird’s-foot Trefoil.

Speyer mentions as feeding on this plant, Leucophasia Sinapis and
Thanaos Tages. This plant is rather favored by the larve of Tineina,
or probably it would be more correct to say that it has undergone
more careful scrutiny ; Gelechia ligulella feeds between united leaves
in May, Gracilaria Kollariella mines the leaves in July, Coleophora
discordella feeds on the leaves in autumn and May, and a Nepticula
(not yet bred) mines the leaves in July.

7 H. T. Srarnton.

Mountsfield, Lewisham, July 16, 1855.

Inquiries into the Philosophy of Zoology. By R. Knox, M.D., &c.
Part I.— On the Dentitton of the Salmonide.

In the admirable volume of the ‘ Histoire Naturelle de Poissons,’
in which my esteemed friend M. Valenciennes has discussed the
natural history of the Salmonide, that distinguished naturalist lays
down a doctrine that, in respect of the division of the Salmonide
into genera or subfamilies, the dentition is the only natural-history
character to be absolutely depended on, and that, in point of fact, it

_ has never failed in his hands.

To arrive at this conclusion M. Valenciennes has been forced

to exclude from all consideration the natural history of the young,

alleging, what no doubt is true in a certain sense, that “the
naturalist, as a naturalist, is concerned with or interested only in the
adult.” By this view, however, my friend embarrasses himself, with-
out seeming to be aware of it, with the difficult question of age.
Anatomists know well that the adult condition is not so easily
determined even in mammals, and much less in fishes.

In accordance with views and researches conducted in this spirit,

amy esteemed friend arrives at the cénclusion that the Salmonide now

A778 Fishes. —

living on the globe, form three distinct subfamilies or genera to
be clearly and always distinguished by their dentition. To these
three genera or subfamilies he appropriates the names of, Ist, Salmo,
2nd, Forelle or Fario, and 8rd, Salmo Trutta or Trout, names not new
to naturalists, though new, perhaps, in their strict application to
the three subfamilies of the Salmonide, long known and distinguished
in Britain as salmon, salmon or sea trout, and trout. These sub-
families then correspond with the arrangement of many European
naturalists who know them by the names of salmon, salmon-trout and
trout: the salesman, on the other hand, speaks of the Salmonide as
of two kinds only, — with him what is not salmon is trout,—regard-
less of affiliations with species higher or lower in the scale, he looks
only to the market-value of the fish.

To understand the question at issue between M. Valenciennes and
myself, | may first remark that the text of my friend is not clear; the
engravings inaccurate and unworthy the high character of the work.
It is difficult, as I have experienced, to get artists to copy exactly
what is placed before them. The errors in the engravings alluded to
must be ascribed to the artists employed ; the obscurity in the text
M. Valenciennes, no doubt, will himself explain.* Proceeding on
principles directly opposed to those of M. Valenciennes, I select, as
the starting-point of the inquiry, the dentition of the young of the-Sal-
monide ; one of the objects held in view being to ascertain whether it
be correct to say, in all cases, that “the adult salmon is to be charac-
terized by the persistence of certain vomerine teeth only ; the forelle
by the presence of others superadded to those of the salmon; the
Salmo Trutta by the presence of a dentition wholly distinct from
both.” The whole of my researches are opposed to this view, which,
although seemingly practical, is really not so. It may further facilitate
the clear apprehension of the object and results of these inquiries,
and their bearing on some important points in the Philosophy of
Zoology, if I, in the first place, lay before my readers the dental for-
mula arrived at by M. Valenciennes and subsequently the results of
the inquiries I have made into this matter, from which I think it will
be manifest to the scientific naturalist that the natural-history
arrangement of the Salmonidze adopted by M. Valenciennes is
inadmissible.

lst. The true salmon, observes this distinguished naturalist, is cha-

* Whilst occupied with the correction of the proofs of this memoir, I have just been
informed of the death of my most amiable and esteemed friend.

Fishes. A779

racterized by the presence of certain teeth, placed transversely on
the fore part (chevron) of the vomer, the rest of the bone being
edentulous.

2nd. The forelle or Salmo Fario of all countries and localities may
at once be recognized and arranged by the presence of transverse
teeth on the chevron of the vomer, and by a single row of teeth
extending backwards along the body of the vomer, mesially.

8rd. The trout of all localities is known by a double row of teeth
on the body of the vomer, the transverse teeth on the chevron or fore
part of the bone being absent or but little distinct (pew distincte).

This arrangement is so simple, so clear, so seemingly practical, so
easily understood, that one feels a reluctance to disturb it: it reminds

_me of the arrangement of serpents by their dentition, prior to the ex-

tension of the inquiry into the Indian species and those of the Japan

seas; like it, the formula applied so well to certain genera of Europe

and perhaps of Africa that it was the most natural thing in the
world to believe it universally true; but it failed in presence of
a more extended inquiry, as the natural-history arrangement of
M. Valenciennes, in respect of the Salmonidz, will be found to do.

I. Select a salmon of such a size, say 30Ibs. weight, as to leave no
reasonable question of its adult condition, and the dentition will,
generally, be as follows :—

Upper jaw.— Maxillary and intermaxillary teeth. . 85+35 = 70
Palatal teeth. . L , , i «vet Lt = 1S y= eae

Vomerine (called by some middle palatal)

on the chevron 4; on the body, mesially
and behind the others, 1 or 2. : ! : é : 6

Now these teeth of the vomer vary much, even in the adult, for
sometimes there are none on the body of the vomer, and the transverse
may be five in number or reduced to one or two.

In the lower jaw and on the tongue there are,

36
10

Ist. Mandibular teeth. ‘ ; d " é " 18 + 18
2nd. Lingual teeth, . . : ; = : : 5+ 5

ll Il

As the teeth of fishes, like those of serpents, are constantly being

shed and replaced by others, the number of fixed teeth becomes un-
_ important as a natural-history character. Not so the number of mu- |

cous cavities destined to receive the teeth; these, no doubt, are

- constant and determined from the first. I reckon the dentition, there-

!

fore, by the number of these mucous cavities destined to receive

4780 Fishes.

the teeth, and not by the number of teeth actually present. So long
as these narrow mucous cavities are present, teeth either forming
or fixed will be found in connexion with them: their absence
implies that the dentition has been exhausted, and that the bone now
edentulous will carry no more.

Now, examine the mouth of a true salmon of some 4 or 5 Ibs.
weight, and, in addition to the transverse teeth on the chevron, you will
find a single undulating and somewhat irregular row of teeth extend-
ing backwards on the body of the vomer, varying in number, but
always present. Were this specimen to be classed by the method of
M. Valenciennes, it would be called a Forelle, Fario or sea trout, but
we know it to be a pure salmon, though with the dentition of
the Forelle. M. Valenciennes would no doubt say, “my formula
applies only to the adult salmon, and this is evidently not an adult.”
I admit the force of the objection, so far as it goes, and shall proceed ©
with my inquiry, at the same time remarking that the natural-history
character, which not merely fails in recognising a salmon of 4 Ibs.
weight to be a salmon, but which, if attended to, would lead the natu-
ralist to an entirely false view, cannot be viewed as one of any
value. 3 |

Now, look into the mouth of a salmon about a foot in length, and |
the dentition of the vomer will be found to consist of, Ist, transverse —
teeth anteriorly on the chevron; 2ud, posterior vomerine teeth con-
sisting of a double undulating row, as in the common river trout.

Lastly, as regards the true salmon, look into the mouth of a salmon
smolt a few inches in length, and the dentition will be found
such as I have just described it to be.

Thus, the dentition of the salmon, from the smolt to the adult, |
passes through a series of metamorphoses, representing the adult den- |
tition of all the species of the Salmonide I have yet examined. The |
edentulatory process then, in the salmon, is not an accidental chapter '
in its history, but a philosophical reading of its affiliations with all the:
salmon kind. |

II. The practical history of the dentition of the Forelle or Fario,
the sea trout of British naturalists, is the same as in the salmon..
As a smolt, it resembles in its dentition, with all other species of the
Salmonide, the common trout. Ata pound weight it still retains a)
double alternating undulating row of teeth on the body of the vomer,
together with a distinct cluster on the fore part of the bone. At 3 or
4 lbs. weight the mesial row of the vomerine teeth from being double.
has become single; when larger or heavier, and presumed to be older,

Fishes. . 4781

_ these mesial teeth begin to fall out and are not replaced, the teeth on
the chevron remaining to the last. In the sea trout, as in the sal-

mon, the progress of edentulation is from behind forwards, and the
process goes on until they are not unfrequently reduced to two

j or three, at which point, in respect of its dentition, the true salmon and

_ the Fario are,identical, or nearly so.

_ Thus the dentar formula of the French naturalist is again at fault.
By it alone, the true salmon, from the smolt upwards to the fish of 2 lbs.
weight could be distinguished neither from the common trout nor sea
trout or forelle; and now we find, that by it alone, the full-grown
forelle can scarcely, if at all, be distinguished from the true salmon.

Iil. Let us now apply the formula to the fish called the Salmo

_Trutta or common trout, lacustrine and riverine. In the young of all

“species the dentition is the same. The vomer carries the two kinds
of teeth, the transverse and the longitudinal, perfectly distinct. The
posterior are arranged in a double interrupted or undulating row, and
extend well back on the body of the vomer; the group of teeth
in front, already spoken of as the trans¥erse teeth or those of the
chevron, are well marked, and quite identical with the species of all
the genera of the Salmonide. In certain large lacustrine'trout I have
examined, weighing from 6 to 12, and in one of 20 lbs, there was a

_ double row of teeth on the body of the vomer, but the anterior group on
the chevron had disappeared. Thus the law of edentulation in these
lacustrime trout was the reverse of that subsisting in the true salmon

and Fario, but I do not mean this to be applied to all the species of

lacustrine trout, for I have not examined all; and the longer I live
and the more extended my inquiries are, the more deeply am I con-
vinced of the error of applying natural-history views derived from the
examination of species and genera of one continent or of one
country to those of another. Nature admits not of the restrictions
laid down by naturalists; an European fact is not an African or

Asiatic one,—still less is it kosmic.

_ As to the river trout I have examined, from a few ounces to 10

or 12 Ibs. weight, I have found the law of their dentition to be a double

“row of teeth upon the body of the vomer, and, in addition, a group

; of transverse teeth on the fore part of the same bone, perfectly distinct.

‘i ephat there may be riverine species which lose the anterior group, and

| “others which retain these but lose the posterior or mesial I will

_ either affirm nor deny; I speak only of what I have seen. For rea-
sons to be afterwards stated, I am inclined to think that this will be
found to be the case.

XIII. 2K

|

4782 | Fishes.

IV. I shall now place before my readers, as briefly as I can, the
result of multiplied researches into this subject. As a transcendental
anatomist, I naturally commence with the dentition of the young; in
its history we have the key to the numerous exceptions, rendering
M. Valenciennes’ law inapplicable, and to the anomalies and embar-
rassments of naturalists and others. If we commence the inquiry into
the history of the dentition of the Salmonide at a stage of their
growth when the size of the teeth admits of ready and sure inspec-
tion,—let us say in a fish from 24 to 4 inches in length, we shall find
that whatever be the species examined, the dentition is the same. It
consists of

Upper jaw—Maxillary teeth . . b . , 19+19 = 38
Intermaxillary do. : : ‘ : 9+}. 9a soa
Palatal sip gc ee ty ee

Vomerine (anterior group or transverse
mesial and posterior in a double row) : - 16
Lower jaw—Mandibular . . « «. . «. I18+18 = 86
Tongue.—Lingual * . i ‘ : : 5+ 5 = 10

Thus, as regards the dentition, the young of the Salmonide is of no
species, but a generic animal, whose nearest approach as to type in
the adult animal is the common river trout. It possesses all the
teeth which any species of the natural family ever has, and more than
any adult of any other species, and even in this respect is the perfect
animal, z.e. perfect generically. By growth, which means merely the
metamorphoses or transformations it has to undergo before acquiring
its speciality, the generic young of the Salmonide simply loses cer-
tain teeth, which are not replaced; it does not acquire any new ones
not already existing. As the changes are most remarkable in the
system of the vomerine teeth, I shall confine my remarks to these.
Ist. If the young fish is to grow up a river trout simply, it retains,
as seems to me, in some species at least, all its vomerine teeth to its
adult condition. I have examined large river trout of England, and
such I have found to be the arrangement: the transverse or anterior |
cluster of vomerine teeth, which M. Valenciennes assumes to be
absent in the adult of all trout, are quite as distinct and as large as
those on the body of the vomer. Here is the dentition as regards the —
vomerine teeth of a Kennett trout (Hampshire) caught in the waters —
of Popham, weighing 9% lbs.; the anterior cluster of vomerine teeth are
large and distinct; they are five in number; they are followed by a.
double row of teeth on the body of the vomer, also quite distinct ;

| Fishes. 4783

these are ten or twelve in number. I have also examined a large
Thames trout, weighing 5}]bs.; it has a double row of teeth on
the body of the vomer, and a group of perfectly distinct teeth on the
chevron of the vomer. There is the skeleton of a very large river trout
in the College of Surgeons, in London; the specimen is not favorably

‘placed for the examination of this question, but so far as I can

observe, the teeth are arranged as in the Kennett trout: thus, contrary
to M. Valenciennes’ view, these species of trout are not characterized
by the absence of the anterior group, but, by the presence of a
double row on the body of the vomer, which I have found to
apply to all trout; all are characterized by a double row of teeth
on the body of the vomer, but as regards the transverse or ante-
rior teeth, some lose them and some do not; the river trout seem
to retain them to the last, and M. Valenciennes admits that they are
present in the beautiful trout of the Moselle, that species which
he assumes as the type of his genus Salmo Trutta. Here is the
description of the dentition of the trout of the Moselle by M. Valen-
ciennes himself: “Il en existe un seul rang, sur chaque palatin et
celles de vomer disposées sur deux rangs, sont divergentes aussi méme
plus fortes; aussi une petite rang transversale sur le chevron.”*
The trout of Baillon, which M. Valenciennes at first mistook for a sal-
mon, until put right, as he admits, by the fishermen, has a double row
of teeth on the body of the vomer, and a complete set of transverse
teeth. Now this determination‘he arrived at from the examination of
a young fish 13$ inches long; but with years, the trout of Baillon
may lose some of these teeth and assume a different character ; in as far,

_ then, as regards the dentition of a Baillon trout of 133 inches, the fish

might be either a common river trout, a sea trout, or a salmon, for at
that age the dentition is nearly identical in all; and thus the sub-
family to which the Baillon trout belongs has not been determined by
M. Valenciennes, and cannot be by his method in a fish of the size

- quoted.

On the other hand, in certain large lake trout, reported to me as
from Ireland, the anterior cluster of vomerine teeth was absent or had
_ disappeared, there remaining on the body of the vomer a double row
of teeth: these trout were of great size: now this is the dentition

which corresponds to M. Valenciennes’ idea of a real trout, but
_ we have seen that it does not apply to any river trout I have yet ex-

amined, nor to those of France, nor eyen rigorously to the celebrated

* Page 321, 8vo edition.

A784 Fishes.

Leman trout, which has teeth on the chevron of the vomer. The
adult lake trout I speak of were dark spotted trout with pink-
coloured flesh. They all had a double row of teeth on the body
of the vomer, whilst the anterior group, called transverse and
teeth of the chevron by M. Valenciennes, had disappeared. That
they were once present no one can now doubt; the law therefore of ©
edentulation (for, in point of fact, it comes to this) in the lake trout of
the species I now speak of, is to lose the anterior group of the vome-
rine teeth and to retain the double row on the tee of the vomer to the
last.

On the other hand, in a 4 lbs trout of Loch Leven, the largest of
that peculiar species I have yet examined, the anterior clustered
vomerine teeth were present, whilst those on the body were assuming
the form of a single undulating row, which possibly in time. they.
would have become. ‘

Lastly, M. Valenciennes admits, that in the mouth of the trout of
the Moselle, which he views as the type of the order, the clustered an-.
terior teeth are distinct as well as the double row on the body of the
vomer, thus excluding the species forming the type of the order from.
the law he intends shall apply to all.

Thus, the law of M. Valenciennes does not apply to the trout
of British rivers nor to those of certain lakes, whilst it expresses the
dentition of others. Itis not then a safe guide for the determination of
the subfamily, Salmo Trutta. Let us‘now test its accuracy in respect
of the remaining subfamilies, the forelle or salmon trout and the true
salmon.

If we trace the young of the forelle in its progress ener
the adult fish, we shall find that up to a certain weight it retains its
original generic dentition, that is, it resembles strictly that of all the
salmon kind. At this stage of its growth or metamorphosis it could
not be distinguished by the dentition alone from the Salmo Trutta or
from the true salmon of the same size: yet neither the salesman, nor
the naturalist, nor even the angler, lowest in the scale of observers,
experiences any difficulty in deciding on the nature of the fish before —
him. They do not look at the teeth; they have other much surer
characteristics, even at that-age. ‘Tracing the forelle until it attains
a considerable size, we find at last that the body of the vomer presents
a single row of teeth; but the same edentulation has happened to the
salmon of the same size: in both, this single row is finally reduced to:
one or two teeth, and may in both ultimately disappear; even the clus-

Fishes. 4785

tered teeth are ultimately reduced in the very large salmon and sea
trout to two or three.

The law of edentulation, then, in the Salmonidz is curious and inte-
resting, the result seemingly of generic and specific influences. Cer-
tain of these difficulties are removed by tracing its history from the
young, z.e. the generic fish, onwards. In it we find a type including
all; it alone is perfect, the species being characterized by a loss
of parts and not by any superadded organs. ‘To this conclusion I had
long ago arrived by other routes. What is true of the dentition we
shall find to hold good in respect of some other characteristics of the
generic animal, and to these, after a few additional remarks, I next
proceed.

Up to the length of 13 or 14 inches, the dentition in all the
subfamilies is nearly the same; at 2lbs weight the dentition of the
forelle and salmon is identical. They are both beginning to lose the
teeth of the body of the vomer, and often show a single instead of a
double row. At 6, 8, 10 or 20 lbs weight, both have lost the greater
number of the teeth on the body of the vomer, but still retain those on
the chevron. There may be certain species of the forelle or salmon
trout which retain, to a large size, a smgle row of teeth on the body
of the vomer, but I have not met with them.

Throughout the preceding observations I have confined my remarks,
with but few exceptions, to species and subfamilies I have myself ex-
amined and can command; not that I distrust the observations of others,
for what observations can, for example, be more fully depended on than
the valuable contributions to Science of my most esteemed friend, Sir
John Richardson. If a reference be made to his admirable work, the
‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana,’ it will there be found, that the formula in.
use by M. Valenciennes, will not, cannot be applied with any success
to the vast number of species of the Salmonide which people the seas
and rivers of the great Continent of America. The Mackenzie River
salmon, for example, must be rejected altogether from the natural
family of the Salmonide, if the dentition alone be regarded, for it has
the teeth en velours, or like the pile of velvet in narrow bands, and
the upper maxillary bones carry none. The Salmo Rossii has thirty
teeth on the tongue. Is Scouler’s salmon (Salmo Scoulert) a salmon,
a Fario, or a trout? The palatine and vomerine teeth are implanted
in double rows, and there are none on the chevron of the vomer: here
is a true salmon, for such I esteem it to be, with a dentition wholly
- peculiar. The great lake trout of North America has a cluster of

‘

A786 Fishes.

teeth on the anterior part of the vomer, and a double row behind,
and herein is directly contrasted with the British lake species. In
the common trout of New York there is a triangular cluster of about
ten teeth on the anterior part of the vomer: no mention is made of any
posterior rows. Such exceptions could be much multiplied ; they are
sufficient to prove that a dentar formula applicable to the adult Sal-
monide of all species has not yet been found.

Section II.

As it is by the exterior and not by the interior, that Nature chiefly
specializes all animals, bestowing on them those outward forms,
colouring and proportions, by which they are known to men and ani-
mals,—enabling man to distinguish at a glance the lion from the tiger,
the zebra and ass from the horse and mule, the dog from the fox and
wolf, which the interior, though examined by the profoundest anato-
mist that ever lived, scarcely enables him to do,—so I return to the

exterior of the Salmonidz to look for other proofs of the existence of

the law Ll now seek to establish; the law by which I endeavour to
give the genus or natural family a real existence; to reduce it to
materiality ; to include it within the range of legitimate science, and
to submit it to intuitive or direct inspection; to prove,-in fact,
the young to be of no species, a generic being, invisible as such to the
bulk of mankind, but real, tangible and visible to the scientific.

Coloration of the Salmonide.

The system of coloration of the Salmonidz is either specific or
generic. When the individual is in prime condition, perfectly
developed, pure in breed, and adult, in as far as we can well deter-
mine, the coloration may then be considered specific, may be

assumed as unalterable, in a certain sense, and characteristic. Viewed.

in this way, the coloration, Ist, of the true salmon may be briefly de-
fined as silvery scaly, with a few dark or purple spots above the late-
ral line; 2nd, of the forelle, less silvery, with numerous dark spots
above and below the lateral line; 3rd, of the lake trout, dark or
purplish spots, more or less numerous, above and below the lateral line,
and of the river trout, red spots more or less numerous above and be-
low the lateral line. Lastly, certain river trout retain throughout life
transverse bars composed of numerous minute dark spots; these I

shall call parr-markings, as they are most distinct in the little fish —

Fishes. 4787

which in France is called tacon, in Scotland parr, in England finger- ©
ling, a fish of doubtful character, and whose real nature has not yet
been clearly determined. I do not mean that these arrangements in-
clude all the species of the three subfamilies of the Salmonide ; but
the arrangement is of unobjectionable accuracy, in so far as it goes.
There are many foreign species, no doubt, filling up all the gaps
in each subfamily, but these have not been, as yet, sufficiently
described.

Such is the specific coloration of the three great subfamilies generally.
What is the generic coloration, that, namely, which includes all these?
What is the coloration of the young, the generic type of the entire
family? To describe it, we have only to examine the young of any
of the species of any of the subfamilies, and we shall find that its
coloration embraces all,—red spots, dark spots, of various hues, parr-
markings, silvery scales. The generic animal then is perfect, and
represents Nature’s scheme ; as it grows towards maturity it gradually
lays aside its generic characters, retaining the special; if it is to
become ariver trout it retains the red spots, losing the others; one spe-
cies, the parr trout, retains, with the red spots, the parr-markings ; if a
lake trout it loses the red spots, and retains the purplish and dark ones;
if a sea trout or forelle it retains the dark spots only ; if a salmon it
loses all, saving a very few; the fewer it has, the more is it considered
as of pure breed. A salmon showing five or six dark spots below the
lateral line is looked on with suspicion by the salesmen, as if it had
something of the forelle or trout about it; when puzzled, he turns
the doubtful fish over and looks at it from several points of view; he
is at that moment endeavouring to elicit a correct idea of its propor-
tions, to which he appeals in the last instance. Scientific men would
do well occasionally to observe the interested, for wherever self-
interest is concerned the senses become exceedingly acute and the
powers of observation infinitely refined. As nothing, I imagine, of the
nature of gold could escape the eye of the experienced gold-seeker,
so nothing that is eatable escapes the notice of the savage Bosjeman:
poisonous serpents they distinguish from the innocuous at a glance,
and from a drove of ten thousand oxen they will select and claim
for their master, after a year’s absence, a single animal of a team
they once knew. The salesman, then, seldom errs in his dis-
crimination of the fish submitted to his inspection: he knows nothing
of Science, but trusts to his tact and instincts. It is the same with
“woman; she never bewilders herself with Science, but, trusting to

A788 Fishes.

acute observation, she proves generally the best of practical natu-
ralists. That the system of coloration in the Salmonide cannot
always be depended on in characterizing the species may be ad-
mitted without under-rating its value. Human observation is not ex-
tremely refined; it is, in fact, extremely imperfect ; besides, in the
case of the Salmonide, the generic colouring is apt to reappear,
though imperfectly, even in the adult: hence a fertile source, no
doubt, of error. For my own part, I believe the system of coloration
of the Salmonide to obey fixed laws, and to be constant and regular,
the class being free from any influence which obviously affects the
colour, namely, domesticity.

Section I]I.—The Proportions of the Salmonide, as compared with
each other and with the Generic Animal.

The adult well-formed individual of every species of animal has its
due proportions characteristic of its nature; with these its movements
or style of motion is connected. By these movements it may be
recognized by man and other animals when alive; when dead or at rest,
its proportions indicate its nature. The distinction extends not unfre-
quently to sex, in which case the peculiar proportions are said to be
sexual. In wild animals these proportions are remarkably constant,
suffering indeed but little change or variety, as in the case of the co-
loration; it is amongst those animals whose nature permits of domes-
tication that we find colour and proportions to undergo changes,
which, though limited, are yet remarkable in extent.

Nearly all my early observations, made many years ago, were insti-
tuted on the adult specimen, or rather (for it 1s not so easy to deter-
mine what is adult) on individuals which had attained a considerable
size. Salmon, sea trout and trout, of various species, were carefully
measured and compared with each other, and the results compared,
the object being to discover the law of subfamily and species. To
these I now add the proportions of the generic animal, as compared
with the adult, from which I think it will be manifest that the generic
animal has proportions peculiar to itself, yet including the specific,
that is, it presents a type out of which all the others may easily be
constructed by the comparative enlargement of some measurements
and the comparative restriction of others. The tables of these mea-
surements I give at the conclusion of this section; the general results
may be stated here.

Fishes. 4789

Tabular view of the relative eit
1. Of the head;
2. Of the segment of the body anterior to the anal fin to the length ;
3. Of the segment of the body beyond the anal fin to the length—

in the
Smolt. Estuary Trout. Leven Trout. Tweed Trout.
q be 1. 4g
z in. nearly, lin. nearly. 1 fh: $ in.
2. 255 2. 23
671. °678. 664. 664.
3. 3. 3. 3.

15 to 35 or 2°33. 33 tol0lor 3:06. 34to100 or 2:94. 32 to 95 or 3:06.

&

The three great functions of respiration, locomotion and prehension,
as represented by the jaws, teeth and fins, may be held, as compared
with the general bulk of the body, to offer natural-history characters
more or less indicative of the natural state of the individual, and of con-
sequence of the species and subfamily to which it may belong: accord-
ingly it appeared on measurement, that, in respect of the fins gene-
rally, the true salmon was much more delicately organised than the
salmon trout, a coarser and no doubt a more rapacious fish, and that
assuming the head (the gill covers and branchial orifices included)
as a tolerably correct measure of the comparative strength of the gills
and jaws, or, in other words, of the organs of respiration and prehen-
sion, the salmon trout, or forelle, uniformly exceeded the salmon in
all such measurements. This law of proportions I found to hold
good in all the species of the Salmo Trutta I have yet examined ;
the coarse fish presenting enlarged proportions of the organs I have -
just spoken of, as compared with the more delicate species; the com-
mon river trout, for example, of the brooks and rivers of Scotland,
compared with the estuary trout, and more especially with the deli-

“cate char-trout of Loch Leven. The very young of the salmon kind,

In its proportions, approaches more nearly the type of the common

Tiver trout than any other: as it grows these proportions alter, but

even when of 4 or 5 inches in length its proportions are still peculiar,
Tesembling more in their character the type of the river trout than that
of the salmon, to which the specimen we know belongs. The mea-
surements were made on the young of salmon from the Tay, the Shin
and the Annan.

Thus the young animal, at a certain stage if its growth, is the type
not of the species to which it belongs by hereditary descent, but

6) il 2 L

4790 Fishes.

represents a generic type, transcendental, and requiring for its full
development or embodiment in all its material, that is, specific forms,
countless millions of years ; for as the young, that is, the generic ani-
mal, includes many species, perhaps all which the natural family can
assume in time and space, so as species die out, others appear, new
to the world as species, but not generically. The ossemens /fossiles
belong to species clearly distinct from those that now live; their
generic resemblance is undeniable. Species perish, but not genera,
and thus the past, present and future, form but one. Species are
not convertible into each other by any influences at present known
to man: that these species follow each other, agreeably to certain
laws, may be admitted, but that it is in the direction of a supposed
perfectibility I do not believe, nor ever did. ‘Time, which means plan
and circumstances, which mean the geological changes on the earth,
are, no doubt, the producing causes of species. Hence, the generic
unity of every natural family, and the appearance from time to time
of individuals, not resembling the species from which they spring,
but others of the same natural family. :

As regards the dentition, then, of the Salmonide, the young are
of no species; on the contrary, they are transcendentally generic,
that is, each individual, no matter how descended hereditarily,
- displays all the characters of all the species and subfamilies of that
natural family to which it belongs: as it contains within it the
possible of all the species, it seems reasonable to believe, that its de-
velopment into any peculiar species must be dependent on physical —
causes at least, which must have a direct relation to the existing order
of things. Should a species become extinct, another appears.
This implies no new formation or creation, nor after all any real ex-
tinction, for the characters of the new species (new to man, who —
naturally looks only to the adult) and those of the extinct are still
included in the young of every species which yet lives, or has lived.
What has become extinct, may even reappear; but should the natural —
family perish ail the species cease with it.

Domesticity plays a limited part in the production of varied forms,
but these forms do not constitute species: some species are more in-
fluenced by domesticity than others; man very little, if at all. It is
the same as regards the laws of coloration and proportions; the gene-
ric animal includes the types of all.

I have sometimes thought that this law of natural family and of
propagation of a generic animal not at first specific may play a part
in some phenomena at present inexplicable. For example: all that

Fishes. . A791

is as yet known respecting the river fish called parr was known to

_ Willoughby; even the extraordinary fact that in the female parr the

ovaria remain stationary, whilst in the males the milts at certain times
become excessively developed. This antagonism in the character of

_ the young has no counterpart, in so far as I know, in natural history.

OO a a a

——————————— —_

+ But a still more extraordinary fact, though not so well determined as
the preceding, was also known to Willoughby. With this milt of the
male parr the ova of a salmon 40 lbs. in weight may be fecundated,
whilst the parr itself does not weigh more than 3 or 4 ounces. _ Now,
there is nothing like this in natural history, and the fact stands alone
in singularity. Reflecting on these curious facts in the history of the
parr, and on others connected with its natural history, [ have sometimes
fancied that as the parr is a generic animal apparently, upon whose
specific form naturalists are not yet agreed, may it not be, that being
the product of a generic animal which has not attained a specific
form, it may never attain that condition, but remain in this aborted
state, a type merely of the salmon kind. In the case of the parr, if
this idea be correct, the female remains barren, the male becomes
productive: possibly in the great range of the zoological world there
may be instances of the contrary, though unknown to me; or it may
happen, as a law of nature, that the generic animal of both sexes may
grow up unaltered and be productive, the specific forms not appear-
ing in the existing order of things. These are but speculations it is
true, but they are speculations supported by laws which hitherto have

been, and still are, but imperfectly understood.

I here subjoin a single remark, lest it be supposed that I believe in

_ the reality of species.

Species are only real in so far as regards man’s observing powers:
they seem to form no part of Natures scheme or plan, which obviously
fills up all gaps, leaving no link deficient in the great chain. A serial

unity connects all, the past, the present, and the future. Those who

fancy that gaps exist mistake merely a deficiency in their own know-

" ledge for a part of Nature’s scheme. The transmutation of one species

into another I do not believe in, any more than in the three or four

successive creations of Cuvier. Unless we are prepared to adopt the
doctrine of chance, there can exist only one creative idea, and conse-
quently one creation. The theological doctrine of Socrates, worked
into a system by Philo-Judzus and his followers of “the final
cause” school, applies merely to simple mechanical laws of obvious
Signification and application: it has nothing to do with the great
laws of life; the laws of formation and deformation; the laws of

4792 Fishes.

unity of the organisation in all that ever lived; the law of serial unity —

which makes the living and past organic worlds one, and not many.
Nevertheless, to man, species is everything in a practical sense ;
for, although specific character and structure explain but little in
the philosophy of zoology, specialities are the first steps which
lead to more important inquiries: without this step philosophic
zoology, geology, paleontology, could not be said to exist: hence
the intrinsic and enduring value of the labours of the immortal

Cuvier. :

R. Knox.
Meissen House, Upper Clapton,

June, 1855.

On the Growth of the Salmon, from the Egg to the Adult.
By R. Knox, M.D., F.R.S.E., &c.

Att who have angled in such rivers as the Tweed, frequented by
salmon, sea trout and river trout, must soon, if they observe at all,
have become acquainted with the following facts or appearances :—

1. That river or common trout, whether large or small, may be

readily enough distinguished from every other kind of fish caught in |

the river; occasionally, though rarely, the young trout may be con-
founded, when about the length of the little finger, with a small fish
called the parr, to whose history I shall presently advert, but, im the
fresh specimen, and with a good sight, the young trout may always be
distinguished from the parr.

2. That these small fish, called parr, are to be found in the rivers
frequented by salmon or salmon trout, from the sources to their em-
bouchures, and in such rivers only. But the converse of this is
doubted ; first, by Mr. Young, of Invershin, who says that there are
rivers frequented by parr, into which neither salmon nor salmon trout
have ever penetrated; secondly, although I tished the Tyne, in Scot-
land, a great many times, and had it fished for me by skilful anglers,
who knew the river well, I never could find a parr; thirdly, I was pre-
sent at the fishing of a stream on the East coast of England (North
Riding of Yorkshire), on the estate of Mr. Wharton, near Guisborough :
the stream was fished with a net (which took everything), from a
mill-dam insurmountable for salmon to the sea, yet no parrs were
found: nothing, indeed, was taken but—lIst, sea-trout of various sizes ;

2nd, smolts covered with scales, on their way to the sea; and 38rdly, —

Fishes. 4793

a few common trout: on every hypothesis, save one, the absence
of the parr in these and the adjoining streams is inexplicable:
the fishing took place in May; the sea trout and smolts were
descending to the sea: the net took everything to the minnow,
yet no parrs were to be found: on one hypothesis alone is this
explicable, namely, that the young of the sea trout, hatched from
the ova deposited in November of the preceding year, had all
become smolts, and were proceeding to the sea. If the age of these
smolts had been two years or even one year, the young fish, in their
generic or parr dress, must have been found in the streams and pools:
nothing of the sort occurred: had the smolts, then and there found,
being the females of one year, the males of the same age, but less"
in size, not as yet changed into smolts, must have been discovered in
the net: in a fishing of some miles nothing of the kind appeared.

3. That these fish, called parr, are male and female; that in the
female the roe remains always at its minimum; in the male, on the
contrary, the milt enlarges remarkably during the autumn and winter
months, and not infrequently is found enlarged at all times of the year.

4, That, in addition to river trout of various sizes, and of parr,
which never exceed eight or nine inches in length, there appear
suddenly as it were, in the streams, in May, thousands of a small fish
(the smolt) covered with silvery scales, which fish is presumed to be,
and has been proved to be, the young of the salmon and sea trout.
It was first remarked by Mr. Hutchinson, of Carlisle, in 1782, and
subsequently by all who observed what happened to the smolt when
kept for some time and roughly handled, that the scales being rubbed
off, the smolt assumes the appearance of a parr; but Mr. Hutchinson
did not think that this proved the smolt and parr identical. What is
the age of these fish—of the May smolts? The whole question of the
protection of the salmon is wrapped up in this question. The question
of its identity with the parr is a distinct question; the presence of
the parr-markings to be discovered under the scales proves nothing
specifically, since these are generic characters common to the whole
natural family of the Salmonidz at a certain period of their grant
or development to trout and salmon of every kind.

5. It was asserted by Willoughby (1686), and the assertion has not
been refuted, that with the developed milt of a male parr, 6 or 7
inches in length, the ova of a full-grown salmon may be fecundated.
If we adopt the theory, that under every circumstance the parr is
simply a young salmon or salmon trout, as the case may be, the
astounding physiological fact first announced by Willoughby still

A794 Fishes.

remains unexplained, and without a counterpart in zoology, namely,

that the male salmon of five or six months age, according to the
Invershin hypothesis, and of seventeen or eighteen months age,
agreeable to the Drumlanrig experimenter, should already have
arrived at the adult condition in respect of the ability of reproducing
his kind; the female in the meantime continuing, as regards the
ovaria, at the minimum of development; and, as if to add to the com-
plexity of the enigma, we are now further asked by these experi-
menters to believe, that the female, in whom the ovaria do not alter,
grows faster than the male by a whole year, the generative organs and
the general growth of the body being in an inverse ratio to each other.

6. The May smolts, covered with scales, collect into flocks or
groups, and descend the rivers to the ocean; parrs never do. In the
smolt which descends to the ocean in May to seek a habitat still un-
known, the ovaria and milt are uniformly at their minimum. His
food in the ocean was unknown until I demonstrated it to be the
eggs of the Echinodermata. The smolt which descends to the
ocean in May, 5 or 6 ounces in weight, returns in July, August and
September a grilse or salmon of as many pounds. If permitted, he
returns to the ocean next spring; he again makes for the rivers a
grown salmon in the autumn of the same year, varying from 12 to
20 tbs. weight. His subsequent history is not well known.

Lastly: Whilst in the fresh waters the grown salmon dves not feed,
but loses condition to a great extent: thus a return to the ocean is
essential to his existence. Whilst a smolt he lived and throve on the
common food of trout; he acquires the silvery scales in May, being
then 7 or 8 inches in length; he seeks the ocean, impelled by an in-
stinct seemingly as strong as that which induces the grown salmon to
rush up the rivers at the approach of winter. |

The observations just made are generally admitted to be facts: the
more curious, indeed all of any moment, were known to Willoughby,
Hutchinson and others; but they do not solve the difficulties con-
nected with the subject, the first of which is—What is the age of the
May smolt?

What is the age of the May Smolt ?

The opinion which has prevailed, in Annandale, time out of mind,
is, that as the parr is the young of the salmon, so the May smolt must
be one or two years old; some thought more. The practical fisher-
men of the Tweed thought otherwise; they disbelieved the parr to be
the young of the salmon, and thought that the May smolt was the

Fishes. 4795

_ product of ova deposited under the gravel in October, November and
December of the previous year. To bring the question of age to an
issue there are obviously two ways: the first is to observe the pro-
gress of the ova surrounded by the natural influences, and undis-
turbed; the second is to watch the development of the ova placed
in artificial circumstances. I naturally adopted the first, and for
this simple reason, that the salmon being an animal fere nature,
or of the wilde; it would, at all times, be difficult to say bow far
an artificial locality might affect it. The result of my early obser-
vations have been stated briefly, and in much clearer terms by
Sir John Richardson, in his admirable ‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana,’
than by myself. I shall here quote from his work, premising that I
had already carefully observed the development of the ova of the
salmon deposited in the bed of the Whitadder, on the 2nd November,
1832; that on the 25th February I found the ova under the gravel
seemingly unchanged ; that on the 23rd March changes were visible,
some of the young fry having burst their coverings, and were lying
embedded in the gravel. On the Ist of April most of the fry had
quitted their gravelly bed, and on the 19th May the river abounded
with smolts (some 7 or 8 inches in length) of various sizes, all covered
with scales. We now learned that smolts had been taken on the 5th
May in the same streams, which | considered as the young of an earlier
hatching, and as on a subsequent occasion I found ova unchanged on
the 10th April, and on the 17th April fry lying embedded in the gravel,
1 inferred that the time of hatching varied according to circumstances
easily understood. Twenty-two smolts were taken from the river,
and examined with the greatest care; they were male and female, in
tolerably equa! numbers; the male could often be recognised from
the female by the enlargement of the extremity of the lower jaw. It
is right to observe, that for two or three years the parr had disappeared
from the Whitadder. To return to the remarks made on this subject
by Sir John Richardson, extracted from his admirable work on the
American Fauna :—

“ Dr. Knox, in the appendix to the very able paper from which the
foregoing passages are abridged, remarks, that there are two cir-
cumstances which persons* of sound judgment and great experience
with regard to the salmon question still think undecided, or at least
demanding a more extended proof. ‘The first is a series of experi-
ments to determine the growth of the salmon fry from the state of the
egg to its attaining the length of 6, 7, 8 or 9 inches, before which it is

* T alluded to Mr. R. Buist, of Perth.

4796 Fishes.

seldom seen by the angler, and after which it ceases to be found in
fresh-water rivers. Secondly, proof that the fish we call salmon fry
(smolts), taken in salmon rivers by anglers during the months of April
and May, do really proceed to the ocean, and return after a period to
the rivers as grilse, salmon trout, and salmon. The facts ascertained |
by Dr. Knox, in conjunction with the previous observations of others
who have attended to the subject, go towards the answer of the first
question, whilst the experiments made in Sutherlandshire, on the Lax-
ford and Divard may be considered as a reply to the second. Fry
marked in April returned as grilse on the 25th June.”

Soon after these observations had been made and submitted to the
Royal Society of Edinburgh, others entered on the field, and the
Duke of Buccleugh must have taken some interest in the matter, since
he permitted one of his game-keepers, a Mr. Shaw, to experiment on
the ova of the salmon, and on what he called the parr. The ideas
of this person respecting the parr have no foundation whatever either
in observation or experiment; the experiments he made led to what
is called the two-years’ theory of the May smolt. By confining the
young of the salmon in ponds and boxes, and placing them under
artificial circumstances, he contrived to retard the growth of the fry to
the extent specified: thus he first misled himself, and then others. —

When I first heard of the two years’ theory of the age of the May
smolt, my remark was this—‘ Wait a little, and another experi-
menter, proceeding on the same principles or want of principle, will
prove to you that three years is the age; and after a little while
another of the same class will show you that one year is the true
period.” ‘The prediction was verified to the letter. Mr. Hannay, of
Kircudbright,* showed by experiment that the smolt is a three years’
old fish; Mr. Young, of Invershin, by the same method, proves
one year to be the true age, and the experiment repeated at this
moment by my esteemed friend Dr. Esdaile, of Perth, on ova reared in
ponds adjoining the Tay, has brought to a sudden close, and for ever,
the two-year’ old theory, a delusion of the plainest character, but yet
sufficient to mislead many naturalists. Scientific continental natural-
ists, finding persons engaging in these controversies who are not
scientific men in any sense of the term, stand aloof.

Whilst I now write my friend Dr. Esdaile, to whom the public is
already deeply indebted for services rendered humanity in India,
and who I am proud to say was at one time my student, informs

* See this gentleman’s letter, published by me in the work already quoted; the
original is now before me.

J : Fishes. A797

me by letter, that a new theory of the age of the May smolt has
been proposed, intended to include the history of the parr and all its
difficulties: it is this; “the silvery May smolt fully developed as a
smolt, and actually proceeding with or without the kelts, or spawned
fish of last antumn, is a female of one year’s growth; the males are
there still in the form of parrs; their growth is slower ; they remain in
the waters another year, forming the autumn and winter parr, and
descending next May with their sisters of one year’s growth.” I do
not recollect a single observation directly in favour of this view, which
still leaves all that is extraordinary in the history of the parr unex-
plained. The smolts which descend the rivers in May are of all
sizes, from 3 inches or less to 7, 8 and 9 inches; the males supposed
to be left are at least as large. These smolts are of both sexes, and
such will be found to be the case with those leaving the ponds on the
Tay. But if this be true, (which I doubt not), what becomes of the
theory? The following are a few of the direct observations bearing
on this question which I find in a little work I published lately,* but
many more could be added to this had I leisure to examine my
journals.

At my request, Mr. Harkness, of Lochmaben, fished the 4, an An-
nandale river, for me in December, and caught with a bait (small red
worms) twenty-four parr, which he transmitted to me at the time in
Edinburgh. Of these parr fourteen were female and ten male. The
largest parr measured 7 inches, the smallest 3 inches; the average
was 53 inches. The female parr were as large as the May smolts.
Why had they not left in the preceding May? In the females the
Ovaria were as usual at their minimum: in some of the males the
milts were of considerable size, in others not developed: they had
been feeding on insects. Now, if these parr were young salmon,
why the development of the milt in the male? And if the females
belonged to the class which was.to descend next May, and the
males only after another year, how comes it that no well-marked dis-
linction can be established in respect of size? Of the hundreds of
May smolts I have examined, I have never found the roe or milts

_ altered in the slightest degree ; they were uniformly at their minimum,
nor could I ever discover any traces indicative of a fact which
ought to have occurred if the winter male parr, with the milt deve-
loped, grew into a salmon, namely, appearances indicating that the
milt had been developed the preceding winter.

* * Fish and Fishings in the Lone Glens of Scotland. Routledge, London.’
XIII, 2M

A798 Fishes.

On the 22nd July, 1833, six parr were caught with the artificial fly —
at Romaro bridge on the Lyne, a branch of the Tweed. They were of
the usual size, averaging probably 5 inches: all were males, with the
milts large, and 2} inches in length. Do we usually find salmon with
the milts large in July? And if these parr become smolts next May,
what in the meantime becomes’ of the enormously enlarged milts ?

On the 3rd September, of thirteen parr caught in the Tweed,
between the Bield and Polmudie, there were only two females, and
such observations, if repeated and supported by extensive evidence,
might lead to important results. In the mean time, it is remarked in
my journal, that of these eleven males some were 84 inches in length,
others only 4 or 5 inches; in the larger the milts were enormously
enlarged. Now, what became of these males, which in September
were as large as the largest May smolts? Did they cease to grow
until the arrival of May? What became of the milts? And if
such a premature development of the male takes place without a
cause and without an object, how comes it that no May smolt ever
shows traces of these organs having been once developed ?

In conclusion, it is to be regretted that experiments which might
have formed valuable acquisitions to science have been so conducted
as to be repudiated by most scientific men. Profoundly ignorant of
the basis of all zoological science, the observers could not be trusted.
Those being now conducted near Perth are in quite different hands,
and will, no doubt, lead to important results. ‘The question of a dis-
proportion of males to females, as regards the autumn and winter parr,
did not escape my notice, as may be seen by reference to page 93 of
the work so often referred to in this brief notice ; at page 95 will be
found a minute account of the experiments on the Dee, proving the
three-year old theory. With a little more confinement and restraint,
the period of development of the smolt might perhaps have been ex-
tended to four years ;* the two -and three-year theories have now
been disposed of by my friend Dr. Esdaile, but the one year view has
still to be proved, and this can never be satisfactorily done by breed-
ing in artificial waters.

R. Knox.
Miessen House, Upper Clapton,

June, 1855.

* Mr. Newman, editor of the ‘ Zoologist, and a distinguished naturalist, informs
me that you may keep tadpoles as tadpoles as long as you like, merely by restraining
their development.

Entomological Scciety. 4799

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.

ENTOMOLOGICAL Society.
July 2, 1855.—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
_ donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ Vol. vii., No. 13 ; by the Society. ‘ The
_ Literary Gazette’ for June; by the Editor. ‘The Journal of the Suciety of Arts’ for
June; by the Society. ‘ The Zovlogist’ for J uly ; by the Editor. ‘ Revue et Magasin
de Zoologie, 1855, Nu. 5; by the Editor, M. Guérin Méneville. ‘ Monograph on the
British Species of Phalangide or Harvest-men’; by R. H. Meade, F.R.C.S.; by the
Author. ‘Saussure’s Monographie des Guépes Sociales’, Cahir, No.7; by the Author.
A specimen of the mole cricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris); by Mr. J. P. Edwards, of Lynd-
hurst, Hants.

Election of Members.

John Walter Lea, Esq., of Ramsgate, and Alexander Fry, Esq., of Montague
Square, were balloted for, and elected members of the Society.

Exhibitions.

Mr. Meade returned and exhibited the collection of British Arachnida, preserved in
glass tubes, formerly presented by him tu the Society, aud which had recently been for-
warded to him for the purpose of replenishing the spirit in the tubes: he had also
considerably increased the number of species in the collection, which now numbers
ninety-four true spiders-and thirteen Phalangide. Mr. Meade stated that he now
employed as a substitute for spirit, a saline solution composed of equal weights
of water and sulphate of magnesia, with the addition of a small quantity of alcohol
_ and sulphuric acid; this does not injure the colours of spiders, as spirit almost
invariably does.

Mr. Foxcroft ‘sent for exhibition a small box of Lepidoptera, recently taken in
_ Perthshire ; it also contained the silken galleries formed in ants’ nests by the larve of
Tinea ochraceella, Teng.

Mr. Stevens exhibited a splendid new longicorn beetle from Tana, New Hebrides,
_ for which Mr. Adam White proposed the name of Psalidocoptus scaber.

Mr. Westwood read a note from a correspondent, who had found the larve of
Melée in immense numbers on potato-plants “hanging in clusters like swarms
of minute bees;.” he also exhibited some of the larve which had been ferwarded to
him.

Mr. Janson exhibited two specimens, one of which he presented to the Society’s
cabinet, of Hypulus quercinus, Payk., taken by him on the same stump of oak which
_ yielded the species last year at Colney Hatch.

Mr. Smith announced that Mr. Frederick Grant had recently discovered colonies
of Tapinoma erratica at Wimbledon and Weybridge; he also exhibited the female of

4800 | Entomological Society.

this species from the latter place, being the only British specimen of that sex hitherto
captured.

Mr. Edward Sheppard exhibited three specimens of Drypta emarginata, found
by Mr. Arthur Adams under a tuft of grass near Portsmouth, but about two miles
inland.

My. Stainton exhibited a number of very accurate drawings of the transformations
of Micro-Lepidoptera, made by Herr Grabow, of Berlin, among which the most
interesting was that of Asychna eratella, which feeds in a pod-like excrescence which
it appears to form on the shoots of Polygonum aviculare, in autumn.

Mr. Hunter exhibited a female Stauropus Fagi, recently taken at Black Park, and

also the young larve about thirty-six hours old, produced from eggs laid by this
specimen.

Anommatus and Langelandia.

The President stated, with reference to the communication made by him at the
last Meeting from Mons. Charles Delarouzée, that he had recently been informed by
that gentleman that the water-butt alluded to was sunk in the earth to the depth of
three feet, which would account for his having found the insects then mentioned three
feet below the surface; he added, that he had no doubt, by searching in similar situa-
tions in this country, we might discover both Anommatus and Langelandia.

Observations.on the Habits of two species of Mygale.
Under the above title, Mr. Smith read the following notes, by Mr. H. W. Bates :—

“‘ With regard to spiders, there is one observation I made, which I am sure will be
of the highest interest to Science: it is with respect to the habit of the genus
Mygale to prey on birds. Now, I have detected them in this fact as far back
as 1849, but thought little of it at the time, as I had the idea that it was a well-known
and undisputed fact in Science. Lately, however, I read an account (I think,
in ‘ Langsdorff's Expedition in the Interior of Brazil’), where the fact is considered to
rest on no foundation, and to be one more of the fables originated by Madame
Merian.

“Now, I will relate to you what I saw in the month of June, 1849, in the neigh-
bourhood of Cameta; I was attracted by a curious movement of the large gray-brown
Mygale on the trunk of a vast tree: it was close beneath a deep crevice or chink iu
the tree, across which tRis species weaves a dense web, open for its exit and entrance
atoneend. In the present instance the lower part of the web was broken, and two
pretty small finches were entangled in its folds ; the finch was about the size of the
common siskin of Europe, and I judged the two to be male and female; one of them
was quite dead, but secured in the broken web; the other was under the body of the
spider, not quite dead, and was covered in parts with the filthy liquor or saliva exuded
by the monster. I was on my return from a day’s excursion by land at the time, with
my boxes full of valuable and delicate insects and six miles from my house, and
therefore could not bave brought the specimens home, even if I had wished, which I
did not, as the spider was a very common species, easily to be procured nearer home.
The species I cannot name; I sent several fine specimens, stuffed, to London,
in 1851; itis wholly of a gray-brown colour and clothed with coarse pile. Doubtless,
you will immediately know the exact species to which I refer. .

ee ho, Se Mae

+

Po

Eintomological Society. 4801

“Tf the :Mygales did not prey upon vertebrated animals I do not see how
they could find sufficient subsistence.

“On the extensive sandy campos of Santarem, so bare in vegetation, there are
hnndreds of the broad slanting burrows of the large stout species (that fine one, dark
brown, with paler brown lines down the legs, of which I sent specimens in 1851). The
campos, I know, from close research, to be almost destitute of insects, but at the same
time swarm with small lizards, and some curious ground finches of the Emberiza
group (one of which has a song wonderfully resembling our yellow bunting of
England), besides which, vast numbers of the Caprimulgide and ground doves
lay their eggs on the bare ground. I believe this species of Mygale feeds on
these animals and their eggs at night. Just at the close of day when I have been
hurrying home, not liking to be benighted on the pathless waste, I have surprised

these monsters, who retreated within the mouths of their burrows on my approach.”

Some conversation ensued on the supposed poisonous nature of spiders, and
the strength of the webs formed by various species, in which the President, Mr. West-
wood, Mr. Meade, Captain Cox, &c., took part. :

Note on Otiorhynchus sulcatus.

Under this title Mr. Newman read the following paper :—

“In the later months of summer this weevil may frequently be seen crawling about
the wood-work of the fern-house, especially at night ; and who does not visit his fernery
by night? But occasionally you may also find the female clinging to the stipes or
frond-stalks, especially of Adiantum, Cystopteris and Asplenium, genera which send
up fronds in succession until the stalks look like a little forest: nestled among these,
and with its head upwards, it drops its small white globular eggs, which fall quite free,
and seem neither to attach themselves by any viscid covering nor to be attached
designedly by the parent tu the frond-stalks or other substances which may happen to
be at hand. We must allow imagination to picture the hatching of the egg and the
descent of the tiny grub: I find the juvenile depredators a few days afterwards
ensconced in snug little cavities of the caudex scarcely large enough to admit the
head of the smallest pin: they are now minute, jelly-like, transparent legless maggots ;
I say jelly-like, because the word describes their appearance with great exactness; but
it must not be understood as implying the possession of the moist or mucous surface
distinctive of the larve of some Coleopterous and Hymenopterous insects: on the con-
trary, the surface of these little grubs might be described in the words of pleasant old
Gerarde, as clean and ‘ dry in the first degree:’ after feeding for a very few days the
colour of the grub becomes opaline and slightly opaque, the opaline tint being caused
by the quantity of food in the intestines; this food becomes more and more apparent,
as long as the grub continues to feed. The cavities in the caudex of the fern now
rapidly become larger, and the effect is very visible above ground. When the grub is
feeding most eagerly it is spring ; and, one after another, the Ionic volutes of the nas-
cent circinate fronds droop, wither and fall, plainly proclaiming the presence of the
Sapper and miner at work below, the canker-worm at the seat of life. When its appe-
tite is at length satiated, the grub becomes quite opaque, and of a uniform cream-
colour; the food disappears from the intestinal canal, and the creature withdraws
about three-quarters of an inch from the scene of his labours. We use a light sandy
soil for the ferns, and the grub seems to find no difficulty in making his way through

4802 Entomological Society.

this, and adapting it to his purposes; for he now forms a circular cell, quite large
enough for himself and two friends, although he never invites them; and he polishes
up the walls of this cell in the nicest and neatest manner; and, without using silk of
his own spinning, or any other material except the often-watered earth, he makes every
thing snug and comfortable, and settles himself in for a fortnight’s rest, during which
he practises total abstinence, as if to atone for his former voracity. I will describe the
grub in this state of abstinence and rest. Length, -4125 inch; greatest breadth, 2.e.
at one-third of the length between the head and the anal extremity,*151 inch: head tes-
taceous, horny, very shining, gibbous in front, rounded at top, truncate below at ils
greatest diameter, having therefore the figure of a beehive: beneath the truncature
protrudes the labrum, which exhibits the anomalous or previously unobserved character
of a curious pectinated process at each angle,—two strong, incurved, testaceous man-
dibles, having a blunt tooth near their black tip, or, perhaps, more correctly cha-
racterised as being obtusely bifid at the apex,—two maxilla, much smaller and less
conspicuous than the mandibles, but horny and glabrous; internally and apically the
maxille bear an obtuse lacinia, having a serrated, subspinous, internal margin ; exter-
nally they bear a biarticulate palpus, the basal joint of which is stout and nearly glo-
bose, the apical joint rather longer, cylindrical, and somewhat obtuse,—finally, a labium,
long and narrow, bearing at each external angle a biarticulate palpus, much resem-
bling those of the maxille. The body is composed of twelve segments, of which the
first seems to have only its sternal surface developed, and the twelfth is little more
than a tubercle; on the second on each side near the head is a circular spiracle, the
only one that I can find: there are no legs, but each segment has a series of papille
and a number of strong testaceous bristles ; aided by which, the grub has very con-
siderable powers of locomotion when placed on a somewhat uneven surface. At the
expiration of a fortnight the larval state has ceased and that of pupa has been assumed ;
this undergoes changes of colour very much like those of the larva; at first it is hya-
line, then slightly opaline, and finally cream-coloured, with very conspicuous black
eyes: the peculiarities of a necromorphous pupa are now so familiar to entomologists
that I need not dwell on them; every limb is free, and every joint of the antenne and
tarsi is discernible through the slender pellicle with which it is invested ; the elytra,
attached to the dorsal surface at the anterior margin of the mesonotum, at first
bend forwards, and passing between the middle and hind legs, repose on the latter,
which, in their turn, are neatly arranged in front, reposing on the sternum. An un-
explained phenomenon must be noticed here; a considerable number of the pup, say
one in nine, preseut an atrophied or shrunken appearance, and these, not possessing
sufficient vitality to carry them through the final change, die, turn black, and
eveutually decay: coexistent with these atrophied pupe is the presence of a certain
myriapod, which I believe to be the young of Lithobius forcipatus ; but the connexion
between the myriapod and the weevil still remains to be unravelled. The pupa state,
like that of the larva after it leaves off eating, lasts about a fortnight, and it takes
another fortnight at least for the weevil to become hard and fitted for a more locomo-
tive life; so that six weeks are occupied from the formation of the tomb-like earthy
cell to the time for finally quitting it. The beetle, when first emancipated, is of a dull
white colour; it soon turns to a pale, testaceous brown, which gradually becomes
darker and darker, until the final deep hue and hardened surface are attained: it then
breaks the walls of its self-constructed prison and crawls solemnly and slowly about
the greenhouse, probably in quest of amorous adventures, to be followed by those

Insects. 4803

parental duties, which are a necessary consequence of that command which went
forth at the beginning to weevils as well as to man, ‘ Increase and multiply. It is
more than twenty years since I first traced the history of this insect, which is a most
dangerous enemy to the horticulturist: my observations were then directed to its
operations on Saxifraga sarmentosa, the crown of leaves and flowering stalks of which
I constantly found completely severed from the roots by this subterranean marauder,
but I think this is the first time it has been noticed in connexion with ferns.”

Insects injurious to Forest-trees.

Captain Cox remarked that Chrysoclista Linneella was swarming on the trunks of
lime-trees in Hyde Park, the bark of the trees in many places being almost destroyed
by the larve: he also alluded to the destruction now progressing of many fine elms
and uther trees in the parks by the Scolytus, &c., and regretted that those in authority
would not adopt the very simple means to remedy the evil.—Z. S.

Proceedings of Natural-History Collectors in Foreign Countries.

Mr. A. R. WaLiace.*—“ St. Munjon Coal Works, Borneo, 8th April,
1855. You will see by the heading of this letter that I have changed my
locality. Iam now up the river Sadong, about twenty miles N.E. of
Sarawak. A small coal-field has been discovered here, and is now
being worked. At present the jungle is being cleared, and a road
made to carry the coals to the river side, and it is on account of the
scarcity of roads in this country that I thought it advisable to come
here. Another reason was, that this is the district of the “ Mias” or
Orang-utan, the natural history of which I am very anxious to investi-
gate, so as to determine definitely whether or no three species exist
here, and also to learn something of their habits in a state of Nature.
An English mining engineer has the direction of the works here, and
has about a hundred Chinese labourers engaged. I am residing with
him, at the foot of the hill in which the coal is found. The country
all round us is dead level and a perfect swamp, the soil being a vege-
table mud, quite soft, and two or three feet deep, or perhaps much
more. In such a jungle it is impossible to walk ; a temporary path
has, however, been made from the river (about a mile and a half) by
laying down trunks of trees longitudinally. Along this path is very
good collecting-ground, but many fine insects are daily lost, and but-
terflies can hardly be captured at all, from the impossibility of step-
ping out of the path, and the necessity of caution in one’s movements

* Communicated by Mr. S. Stevens.

4804 Insects.

to preserve balance and prevent slipping, not at all compatible with —
the capture of active tropical insects. The small clearing in which
our houses are situated also furnishes me with many good insects
among the trunks and stumps, and other decaying timber. Half a
mile further on in the jungle, on the hill side, is another clearing,
where coal levels are to be opened ; and, lastly, the jungle is being cut
down to form a road or railway, and which, as it progresses, I expect
will offer me very fine collecting-grounds. Having now been here
nearly a month I can offer some opinion on its entomological capa-
bilities. Imagine my delight in again meeting with many of my
Singapore friends, — beautiful longicorns of the genera Astathes,
Glenea and Clytus, the elegant Anthribide, the pretty little Perical-
Jus and Colliuris, and many other interesting insects. But my plea-
sure was increased as I daily got numbers of species, and many genera
which I had not met with before. Longicorns I think are more
abundant than at Singapore, and more than half of them are new to
me. ‘The species, too, run a size larger. Some of the scarcest there
are here the most abundant, while many of the commonest of that
locality seem to be altogether absent from this. Curculionide are
about equal in number, and there is a fair proportion of novelty.
Two or three species closely allied to the Mecocerus Gazella are
abundant, and many curious Brenthide. I am paying much atten-
tion to the most minute species, and can safely promise abundance of
novelty for Mr. Waterhouse. Carabide are hardly so abundant as at
Singapore, but I have some beautiful new Therates, Catascopus and
Colliuris, and the curious Thyreoptera also occurs sparingly under
Boleti. The Cleride seem very similar to those of Singapore, but
scarcely so numerous. ‘The Buprestide I am happy to say are very
fine; not that the species run very large, but they are tolerably ©
abundant. One of the most beautiful I make out to be Belionota
sumptuosa, about an inch long, and of the richest golden copper-
colour ; it flies with the greatest rapidity, making a loud bee-like hum,
and settles on timber only in the hottest sunshine. There are also
many smaller species of a dark green, variously marked with lighter
green or golden spots (Chrysobothris sp.?). Also several slower fly-
ing kinds, which when fresh are clothed with a yellow powder, like
the Euchroma gigantea? of Brazil, which, however, seldom reaches
England in that condition, as it is difficult to capture and kill the
insect without injuring its delicate covering. I have also some very
curious minute species, making altogether thirty-six species of this —
interesting family collected in Borneo. I also pay much attention to.

|

Insects. 4805
the Elateride, and have many pretty things, especially among the
velvety species, with a swollen thorax. Of Heteromera, Erotylide,
Chrysomelidz and Trimera, I have hosts of curious things, which are
daily increasing in number. The only family in which there is an
absolute deficiency, is that of the beautiful Cetoniade. I have only

_ at present one or two Tenioderas, a fine green and black Coryphocera,

and the handsome Macronota Diardi, which is, I believe, very rare:
I scarcely dare hope to increase my collection of this family to any
great extent, as they evidently are only abundant in mountainous and
rather open shrub-producing districts, while they are scarcely at all
represented in the dense and gloomy jungles which are the favourite
haunts of all those insects which at any period of their existence feed
on fresh or decaying timber, or on the boleti which grow upon it.
‘Among my latest captures are, my first species of Paussus, which I
have been long anxiously looking for: [ took it in the daytime flying
about fallen timber. Two days since I obtained a species of Malaco-
macrus, a Brazilian genus of Longicorns, described and figured by
White in the ‘ British Museum Catalogue,’ and yesterday, while at
breakfast, a magnificent black and yellow spotted Lamia flew into the

verandah, and was caught in my hand. I have now 135 species of

r

_
’

Bornean Longicorns, and I do not despair of getting 200 before I

_ leave this place, which I mean to work thoroughly.

To give English entomologists some idea of the collecting here, I
will give a sketch of one good day’s work. ‘Till breakfast I am occu-
pied ticketing and noting the captures of the previous day, examining
boxes for ants, putting out drying-boxes and setting the insects of any
‘caught by lamp-light. About 10 o’clock I am ready to start. My
equipment is, a rug-net, large collecting-box hung by a strap over my
shoulder, a pair of pliers for Hymenoptera, two bottles with spirits,
one large and wide-mouthed for average Coleoptera, &c., the other
very small for minute and active insects, which are often lost by
attempting to drop them into a large mouthed bottle. These bottles
are carried in pockets in my hunting-shirt, and are attached by strings
found my neck; the corks are each secured to the bottle by a short
String. The morning is fine, and thus equipped I first walk to some
dead trees close to the house frequented by Buprestidae. As I
approach I see the bright golden back of one, as he moves in
Sideway jerks alonk a prostrate trunk,—I approach with caution, but
before I can reach him, whizz! — he is off, and flies humming round
my head. After one or two circuits he settles again in a place ren-
dered impassable by sticks and bushes, and when he leaves it, it is

“iI. 2N

,

AS06 Insects.

»

to fly off to some remote spot in the jungle. I then walk off into the —
swamp along the path of logs and tree-trunks, picking my way —
cautiously, now glancing right and left on the foliage, and then sur-—
veying carefully the surface of the smooth round log I am walking on.
The first insect I catch is a pretty little long-necked Apoderus sitting
partly upon aleaf: a few paces further, I come to a place where some
Curculionidae, of the genus Mecopus, are always seated on a dry sun-
shiny log. A sweep of my net captures one or two, and I go on, as I
have already enough specimens of them. The beautiful Papilios,
Evemon and Agamemnon, fly by me, but the footing is too uncertain
to capture them, and at the same moment a small beetle flies across
and settles on a leaf near me—I move cautiously but quickly on—see
it is a pretty Glenea, and by a sharp stroke of the net capture it, for
they are so active that the slightest hesitation is sure to lose the spe-
cimen. I now come to a bridge of logs across a little stream ; this is
another favourite station of the Buprestidz, particularly of the elegant
Belionota sumptuosa. One of these is now on the bridge, — he rises.
as I approach,—flies with the rapidity of lightning around me, and
settles on the handle of my net! I watch him with quiet admiration,—
to attempt to catch him then is absurd ; in a moment he is off again,
and then settles within a yard of me; I strike with all my force, he
rises at the same moment, and is now buzzing in my net, and
in another instant is transferred in safety to my bottle: I wait a few
minutes here in hopes that another may be heard or seen, and then go
on; I pass some fallen trees, under which are always found some
Curculionide, species of Alcides and Otops,—these I sweep carefully
with my net and get two or three specimens, one new to me. I now
come to a large Boletus growing ona stump,—lI push my net under it,
two Thyreopterz run on to the top, I knock one with my hand into
my net, while the other has instantly escaped into a crack in the
stump and is safe for this day, but his time will come. In some dis-
tance now I walk on, looking out carefully for whatever may appear ;
for near half-a-mile I see not an insect worth capturing; then sud-
denly flies across the path a fine Longicorn, new to me, and settles on
a trunk a few yards off. I survey the soft brown mud between us, look —
anxiously for some root to set my foot on, and then cautiously advance »
towards him: one more step and I have him, but alas! my foot slips |
off the root, down I go into the bog and the treasure escapes, perhaps |
a species I may never obtain again. Returning to the path, another |
hum salutes my ear, and the fine Cetonia, Macronota Diardi, settles on
a leaf near me, and is immediately secured: a little further, a yellow-

Birds. | 4807

’ ,
powdered Buprestis is caught in the same manner. Having reached

the usual limits of my walk in this direction, I turn back and am soon

rewarded by what appears a Colliuris sitting on a leaf, but which is
discovered, on capturing it, to be of the equally acceptable Longicorn
genus Sclethrus: a little further anda true Colliuris is caught. These
insects I have named, from their elegant form, lady-beetles, English

_ names being necessary for the use of my boy Charley, who is now a

rather expert collector. During the rest of the walk back, the principal
insects I get are two velvety Elaters crawling on the logs, and two or
three curious Heteromera in the same situation. Returning by the
Chinamen’s houses, I find, at an odoriferous puddle, the fine Papilio
Iswara, which I capture, as well as a P: Evemon and P. Sarpedon. I
then walk to the other clearing, where, among the fallen timber and
branches, I get several small Buprestide ; numbers of the handsome
red Eurycephalus maxillosus are here constantly flying about and
crawling on the timber. On one tree I find running about with ants,
which they much resemble, the curious little short-elytra’d Longicorns,
Hesthesis sp. Here also, I get two or three pretty species of Clytus,
and a Callichroma. Between whiles I have picked up a few flies,
wasps and bugs, aud have got tolerably filled bottles. Returning
home, I find Charley has also had a fair day. We empty our bottles
into boiling water, and on pinning and setting our captures, find we
have got between us 94 beetles, 51 different species, 23 of which are
new to my collection: I have 5 new Longicorns, 2 new Buprestide,
and 5 new Curculionide. I have been ont five hours, and consider
this a very good day’s work. It will be seen that a far larger number
of insects can be collected in a day in England, but perhaps hardly
such a large proportion of species.

A. R. WALLACE.

Occurrence of the Honey Buzzard (Falco apivorus) near Truro. — A specimen of
the honey buzzard was shot last week at Carclew, the residence of Sir Charles Lemon;
and it appears that this is the second instance of its occurrence in the same locality,

and the only two recorded instances of its appearance in this county. The specimen

that was obtained some years since, and which I was previously unaware of, I had an

- opportunity of cursorily inspecting yesterday at the Royal Institution’s Museum at

Truro; and it appeared to have a greater preponderance of brown both on the upper
and lower plumage than the one recently killed. The under parts are rufous-brown,
with a few narrow, transverse bars of white, about six in number, at some distance

4808 Birds.

from each other: in the specimen just obtained the under parts are creamy white —

blotched with light rufous-brown, becoming more transverse towards the lower parts.
The feathers of the upper breast and throat have a very dark hair-like streak down the
shafts of each feather, very distinct and remarkable at some distance. The variations
in the plumage of this species are apparently so frequent that it is often difficult to
determine the sexual distinctions, as well as the signs of the adult and unadult state
ofits plumage. Authors, I observe, give the female two shades of brown to her breast
and belly, and more or less white to the immature bird’s head and neck. The speci-
men lately obtained from Carclew, and which is now before me, proved on dissection
to be a young male. There is no white about the head, and the fore part of the head
and the whole of the region of the eyes are of a dull bluish ash, The tail has no dis-
tinct bar, but the upper third presents a darker shade of brown than the lower part ;
the tip to the extent of an inch almost black. The iris, which I examined in the flesh,
bright yellow.—Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, June 30, 1855.

Occurrence of the Roller (Coracias garrula) in Suffolk.—A specimen of this rare
and handsome bird was shot on the 28th of May, at Honiton, near Somerleyton. It
proved to be an adult female.—H. Stevenson; Norwich, June 25, 1855.

Occurrence of the Pectoral Sandpiper (Tringa pectoralis) on the Coast of

Northumberland.— A mature female of that rare bird, the pectoral sandpiper ‘

was shot by Mr. R. Duncan, ef Newcastle, on the Northumbrian coast, near
Whitley, on the 27th of June last. It agrees in every respect with the description of
that species by Mr. Yarrell, and, as in his instance, it showed a great partiality for sit-
ting on sea-weed, always, when disturbed, flying from one heap to another, uttering at

the same time a loud and peculiar note. — Thomas John Bold; Angas Court, Bigg |

Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, August 2, 1855.

Occurrence of large Flocks of Crossbills near Hull. —We have lately pier, a very
large arrival of crossbills, large flocks having been seen in various parts of the country
in this neighbourhood. I have myself noticed on several occasions small flocks flying
about in the vicinity of the town, their presence being indicated by their peculiarly
lively call-note. Isawa gentleman this morning (from a village near the shores of
the Humber), who said they abounded there in extraordinary numbers, the flocks
arriving early in the morning from over the sea, and flying eastward at a great height.
During the daytime, when congregated in the trees, they allowed their numbers tu be
much thinned by the gun without being much disturbed. Parties who shot them for
food reported them to be very good eating —G. Norman; Beverley Road, Hull, Au-
gust 7, 1855.

Note on the destruction of Swallows, &c., by the severity of the weather.—I have
been somewhat surprised that none of the correspondents of the ‘ Zoologist’ have
alluded to the remarkable destruction of Hirundines and other birds which occurred at
the end of May in the present year. I have traced this destruction over many por-
tions of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire; and it is probable that it
was not confined to the midland counties. The night of the 30th of May was
extremely cold, and on the 31st numbers of the chimney swallow (Hirundo rustica)
were found dead in various parts of Derbyshire. Four were found in the eourt-yard at
Melbourne Hall, and many lying at intervals on the banks of the pool. The mar-
gin of a small rivulet below King’s Newton was dotted with them at intervals for more
than a mile: apparaently they had tried to gain the bushes whereon to roost, and

Birds. 4809

failed from exhaustion. On Newton-field farm thirty were picked up. On the even-
ing of the 30th swallows were exceedingly tame: many were knocked over by boys
with sticks and stones. Some labourers who came over Swarkeston Bridge noticed
great numbers settled on the parapets and the road, scarcely able to crawl along.
Those that died were very poor; indeed, I knew an instance in which some seemed
driven to such extremities that they came and fed with some pigs out of the pig-
trough. A few days previously the weather had been warm, and brought out nume-
rous insects, which the returning cold had killed, and the swallows in many cases died
for lack of sustenance. This was evidently not the case with all. Upon examining
the bodies of several I found the feathers much cut and mutilated, and many of the

_ tail-feathers were completely knocked out; and I have no doubt such birds were killed

by the hail-stones which fell on the 30th, and which were driven about with great
force by the wind. Many swallows were found dead, floating upon the surface of the
Trent, and lay with their wings expanded as if they had been suddenly checked in their
course while flying. Very few swallows escaped with life. I never heard that any
swifts or sand martins died, but the common martins suffered considerably. On the 30th
of May a curious circumstance was noticed in the market-place in Derby. Against
the ledges of the windows of the New Assembly Room the martins clustered together
by hundreds, for the purpose of keeping themselves warm. Several which I saw fell
to the ground, not being able to sustain their position on account of their weakness.
At Chesterfield, Ashbourne, and indeed over a considerable portion of Derbyshire, the
destruction of these birds was extensive. In Leicestershire many were picked up near
Castle Donington, onthe borders of Donington park, Wilson, and other places. Near

Ratcliffe and Holme Pier Point, in Nottinghamshire, the destruction was general.

Large numbers suddenly disappeared, and were afterwards found dead in sheds and
covered places, in which they sought a friendly shelter. On the premises of the Rev.
J.J. Peach, near Ratcliffe, thirty were found, and more than one hundred between
that gentleman’s residence and the village. At Wilford hundreds of swallows congre-
gated on the roof of a house of a gentleman resident there, and after remaining the
whole of the night, and also the next day, dropped off the roof by scores in a perfectly
lifeless state. No wonder that these interesting little beings suffered so much, when
at High Oakham, in the same county, the cold was so excessive as to cause the death
of three sheep which had been recently clipped. Numbers of the landrail and other
migratory birds fell a sacrifice to the cold weather. In the parish of Melbourne, Der-
byshire, more than a dozen were picked up dead and very poor. Those that escaped
had the eggs, which they were incubating, spoiled. Indeed, the weather seems to
have caused great irregularity in the incubation of the eggs of the landrail. 1 found
in the same field a nest.containing eleven eggs not incubated, a bruod of young birds
just hatched, and some also about three weeks old and nearly feathered. Many broods
this year consist merely of from 2 or 3 to 5 or 6 birds instead of 12 or 13. With
partridges this is also the case in many localities, and I believe also with grouse.
John Joseph Briggs; King’s Newton, Swarkeston, Derbyshire, August, 1855.
Occurrence of Buonaparte’s Gull (Larus Buonapartii) on the Irish Coast.—On
Wednesday, the 14th of February, 1855, Captain Watkins, a brother-officer of mine,
shot a gull on the coast near Skerries, about 17 miles north of Dublin, which is pro-
nounced by all the Natural-History societies of Dublin to be Buonaparte’s gull, of
whose occurrence I believe there are but two previously recorded instances in Great
Britain. The bird has been preserved and mounted by Mr. Baker, of Grafton Street,

4810 | Reptiles.

Dublin, and is now in Cagis’ Watkin’s collection.—7. LZ. Powys ; Mount Wise Bar-
racks, Devonport, May 21, 1855,

Child and Snakes.—A man and his wife, in humble circumstances, by the name
of Hill, live in Gilmanton, about two miles from London Ridge. © They have several
children, and among them a bright little girl, six years old, who, some six weeks ago,
got into the habit of going out and spending part of the day away from home. The
father worked out at day’s work and the mother was busy at home, and not much
uotice was taken of it, though the girl remarked upon what nice times she had with
her pets in the bushes, and several times spoke about the snakes. It was supposed
that she spoke figuratively, as children are apt to do, representing their dumb play-
things as possessed of intelligence. One night she stayed out till past nine o’clock,
and ber parents went out and called for her, but she did not answer. After a while
she came home, and reluctantly told that she had been playing with the snakes. The
mother’s anxiety became great, and the next morning she persuaded her husband,
before he went to his work, to go with the girl and see if she found any snakes. They
went off, and waited a moment, and out came two black snakes, the one a little over four
feet long, and the other a monster of his kind, judged to be between six and seven feet
long. The father looked with astonishment and fear as he saw the snakes hasten with
joy to the feet of his child, and yield delighted to her fondling caresses, coil them-
selves lovingly about her neck and bosom, crawl into her lap and cuddle down toge-
ther in child-like security, and apparently fall to sleep while she patted and gently
stroked them with her tiny hand. The father became indignant, and ordered his
daughter to go home if these were her playmates. He went off to his work, and she
remained with the snakes in spite of his orders. So things rested for a few days, an
older sister going with her and seeing her play with and feed the disgusting reptiles.
At last the parties became much excited about the matter, the mother threatening to
shoot the snakes if the father did not, the child protesting. But the prevailing idea,
that if you kill the charmer the charmed one will languish and die, induced him to
consult Dr. Wight, who advised him not to kill the snakes. Last Sunday morning
Mr. Hill, with gloves upon his hands, started in pursuit of the snakes. He found the
smallest one, and chased it a long distance before it stopped so that he could get hold
of it. At last he succeeded in catching it, and now keeps it secured in a sugar-box.
It is cross to the rest of the family, but some of our informants have seen it coil itself
about the neck of the little girl, fold itself to sleep in her lap with the fondness of a
pet lapdog. It eats freely when fed by her, but seldom when fed by others. The lit-
tle girl was asked if she was not frightened when she first saw the snakes. She said
she was terribly frightened ; and when asked why she did not run, she said she tried
to, but could not; she also tried to scream for her mother, but could not speak a word.
The idea was that she was paralyzed by the magnetic power of the snakes. . The first
time she remained with them a very long time, could not tell how long. Afterwards
daily she staid with them several hours, feeding them regularly. She says they liked
sweet things best, and that she stole three cakes of maple-sugar that her mother had
laid away, and sweet gingerbread whenever she could, to give them. ‘The big snake
would try to drive the small one from her when fed, and she cuffed him several times,

4
q

Insects. 4811

and he returned the compliment by taking her fingers into his mouth several times,
without doing much harm. Consequently she don’t love this snake as much as she
does the other one, though he is generally fond of her. The parents, with the little
girl and snake, are now on a visit to this city, for the purpose of receiving such aid as
the minds of scientific men can bring tothem. They have been visited in their rooms
by many citizens since their arrival, on Friday; and the deep interest which the entire
community feel in this very remarkable case, together with the curiosity manifested to
see them, has induced Mr. Hill to prolong his visit for two or three days, for the pur-
pose of giving the public such an opportunity at Cochituate Hall, Tremont Street,
near the head of School-street, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, July
23rd, 24th and 25th, from two o’clock till five p.m. His stay must of necessity be
brief and cannot, by any possibility, be extended beyond this time.—Bosion (U.S.)
Evening Gazette, July 21, 1855.*

Gonepteryx Rhamni double-brooded.—I only saw the May, June and July num-
bers of the ‘ Zoologist’ a day or two since, and was not previously aware of the dis-
cussion as to whether G. Rhamni is or is not double-brooded. Mr. Bree’s letter
compels me first to make a few remarks upon the meaning of the term double-brooded.
Until I read his communication I never supposed that it was applied to a species
which does not go through all its changes twice in one year; in other words, which
has not two distinct broods in each season. An insect which is hatched from the egg
in the spring, goes through its changes during the summer, and produces the perfect
insect in the autumn, hybernates, and reappears in the spring, cannot possibly be
called double-brooded ; and this is the case with G. Rhamni. There is most certainly
but one brood in the year. I have reared numbers from the eggs, and can speak posi-
tively on the subject. The female butterfly deposits her eggs about the middle of
April, upon the shoots of Rhamnus catharticus and R. Frangula; and in a lane near
this place, where the former species grows intermixed with -dogwood, whitethorn,

-blackthorn, &c., I have often watched the female, and observed how unerringly she

distinguished the shoots of the buckthorn, never depositing an egg upon the twigs of
the other shrubs with which it was closely intermixed. These eggs hatch early in
May, and the larve are full-grown about the end of June; they then assume the
pupa state, and in twenty days the butterflies come forth, that is, about the end of
July, and they continue to appear till the middle of August. These specimens hyber-
nate, and reappear in the spring. A moment's consideration must convince any one
that the statement in Humphrey and Westwuvod’s work, that a fresh brood appears in
May, is incorrect: the insect could not possibly go through its changes in so short a
time. The perfect state of some of the specimens which appear in spring is no proof
that they have not hybernated; but I must say that I have never seen one equal to
those found in August. Still, I admit that many are in good condition; but it must
be remembered that numbers become quiescent very soon after they have emerged

from the pupa state, and appear in spring almost as fresh as when first hatched. That

* Obligingly communicated by William Yarrell, Esq.

4812 Insects.

this species sometimes exists very nearly a twelvemonth in the perfect state is a fact,
having myself had a female alive from August till the beginning of May; and I have
seen specimens in June which were most certainly disclosed the previous summer.
Many species which hybernate live as long, especially in cold, backward seasons.
An outhouse on my premises is a very favourite hybernating-place with Gonoptera
libatrix. I have often seen two or three dozens sitting ona beam. They first enter
the place at the end of August, very soon after emerging from the pupe; and this year,
owing no doubt to the cold, late spring, some of them did not move till the middle of
June; and last night (July 13th) I saw three or four specimens at sugar, which of
course had survived the winter, and were still in very good condition. Before quit-
ting the subject I may just observe that in warm seasons a few specimens of species
which are usually single-brooded will appear in the autumn, but they are invariably
barren. Lastautumn I had the eggs of a female Aplecta occulta sent to me. When
they hatched, a few of the larve grew much more rapidly than the others, became
pupe, and in October produced fine specimens of the imago, the larger portion of the
larve at that time being very small, and having ceased feeding for the winter. The
same thing has occurred with Aplecta herbida, Cerura furcula, &c. ore 'y Doubleday ;
Epping, July V4, 1855.

Gonepterye Rhamni double-brooded.— On this subject the ‘ Zoologist’ contains the
opinions of three naturalists: first, that of Mr. Hawker (Zool. 4650), that the species
is double-brooded ; second, that of Mr. Newman (Zool. 4706), that there is but one
brood during the year ; third, that of Mr. Bree (Zool. 4740), that there are two flights
in the year, with a disposition to believe there are two broods also within that period ;
and, lastly, there are the funny remarks of Mr. Hawker (Zool. 4765). Now, it is
very curious that three persons who have had opportunities of observing should have
written on this subject, and yet have advanced nothing more than “ opinions” about
the matter. Not a word is said about the history of the insect, except the quotation
from Haworth, that both “ males and females live through the winter,” and that “ the
female deposits her eggs in the spring.” Ihave a fact to state which is a real step
towards settling the point in dispute; but first I wish to remark on the theory set forth
by Mr. Bree, that “the perfectly fresh and brilliant condition in which some at least
of the vernal specimens appeared showed that they could not have hybernated, but
must have emerged from the chrysalis at that early season.” The “ practical entomo-
logist” who made this profound remark could have had very little experience on the
subject of which he spoke; for it is well known that, as a rule, the specimens of such
species of insects as hybernate lay up for the winter almost immediately upon exclu-
sion from the chrysalis. They thus get no injury by flying, and, as many would
remain during winter in places quite secure and defended from the weather, such spe-
cimens would emerge in the spring perfectly fresh and brilliant. Mr. Hawker’s
observations may very well be left for Mr. Newman to reply to: it appears to me that
he makes out from Mr. Newman’s words a great deal more than they imply; and the
inferences are very curious. Now for my fact. On the 31st ult., at Mickleham, I
saw plenty of the larve of G. Rhamni, in all stages of growth, on Rhamnus catharti-
ticus, and saw a faded imago flying, but could not catch it. On the 5th inst., at Da-
renth Wood, the larve, also of various sizes, were abundant on Rhamnus Frangula ;
and I caught, flying, a female imago, of which the colour is faded and the wings rag-
ged. I could from these facts easily build up a theory which would read as well as
some we have had before us; but I only say that the caterpillars I saw must be the

i”
ate

Insects. 4813

first brood, because there were no leaves on the trees to nourish one earlier; and it
now only remains for some one to find a second brood this year to establish that the

_ species is double-brouded. The condition of the female I caught, taken, be it noticed,

at the time some of the larve were full-fed, shows that it could have belonged to no
“summer” brood. . The larve I found will be butterflies in August. The second
brood of larve therefore must be looked for in August, and I hope whoever finds will
inform us.—J. W. Douglas ; Lee, July 12, 1855.

Gonepteryx Rhamni double-brooded ?—Before touching upon this vexata questio,
will you allow me to intrude upon you the answers I have received from my friend Pro-
fessor Zeller to the first four somewhat similar questions I propounded at page 150 of
the ‘ Entomologist’s Annual :’—

“1. Papilio Machaon. The Machaon which you saw on the 25th of May at the
Forester’s house had that month escaped from the pupa, which had wintered, and
of which the larva had lived in August and September (probably on Athamanta Oreose-
linum). Its subsequent appearance takes place in July and August, from the eggs laid
in June. Two broods in the year are in our neighbourhood past all doubt, and
there appears no reason why in England it should only be single-brooded.

“© 2. Colias Hyale flies at the end of May and beginning of June, and has then
escaped from pupe of which the larve, of various sizes, had wintered. Its later
appearance is from July to late in September. The latter specimens are probably all
descendants of the Hyale which fly in May; since from eggs which I collected in
July, and the larve from which I fed with their favourite plant, Trifolium repens, I
obtained a male butterfly on the 3rd of September. The females which come out at
that time certainly lay eggs, from which in about ten days the larve proceed, which
on the approach of frost seek their winter-quarters. Thus this species is certainly
double-brooded,

“*3. Melitea Selene appears with us in August, not scarce, in the same places
which it frequents in May and June. Euphrosyne is too scarce here for me to have
observed it twice a-year; but I doubt not that where it occurs abundantly it is
double-brooded.

“4, Argynnis Lathonia, quite certainly double-brooded ; flying in June from larve
that have wintered. The summer brood appears in August, and continues till late in
September. As in Hyale, it is much more plentiful than the spring brood; whilst the
reverse is the case with Seleue.”

In the two first of these instance we have the insect traced through its various stages
of egg, larva, pupa and imago, and, insects all being subject to these metamorphoses,
that seems the rational mode of proceeding in an argument on such a subject. Now,
to apply this to Gonepteryx Rhamni, do not the hybernated females lay eggs in the
spring ?—do not these eggs produce larve which feed up in May, and furnish the per-
fect insect in June ?—do not these latter lay eggs which produce larve that feed up in
July ?—and do not these larve furnish the autumnal and most plentiful brood of the
imagoofG.Rhamni? I pause for an answer to these inquiries. It seems to me the

height of absurdity that we know that Nepticula anomalella and N. marginicolella are

double-brooded, and that we have good grounds for believing that Nepticula angulifas-
ciella and N. viscerella (though respectively feeding on the same plants, rose and elm)
are single-brooded, and yet no entomologist exists in Britain sufficiently observant to
have noticed the transformations of G. Rhamni, the double-broodedness of which was

XIII. 20

4814 Insects.

never questioned till the Editor of the ‘ Zoologist’ thought he had discovered—a mare's
nest.—H. T. Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham, July 11, 1855.

Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa in North Wales.—On the 30th of last June I saw a
fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa near Llyn Ogwen, Caernarvonshire, North Wales,
but did not secure it.—Samuel Price; 44, Bell Barn Road, Birmingham, August 4,
1855.

List of a few rare Lepidoptera captured in Wales.—I have collected during the
greater part of the last three summers in this valley, and, as very few Welch localities
have appeared in the ‘ Zoologist,' have sent a short list of some of my rarer captures,
and hope that as a small contribution towards a better knowledge of the entomological pro-
ductions of the principality it will be acceptable. I have no doubt that, if thoroughly
wofked, Wales would prove quite as rich in novelties, for its extent, as Scotland has
done.

Trochilium sphegiforme. In June, 1854, I bred a female of this fine insect, and
took three males at liberty; and in July this year I had again the good fortune to meet
with it.

Luperina furva. Many specimens came to sugar from the middle to the end of
July this year, all males. In 1853 I took several off the flowers of Scabiosa colum-
baria, from the middle to the end of August, all females.

Spelotis cataleuca, Agrotis Ashworthii. Both came to sugar during July. They
appear to be exclusively attached to the limestone, and are rather local there. I took
a single specimen of the latter species on the 20th of July, 1853, about a mile from
the nearest limestone, but have not since met with one even on trees only a few yards
off. ‘They seem to secrete themselves during the day amongst the loose, broken stones
lying at the foot of the rocks, and are very much infested with a scarlet Acarus. Two
females of Ashworthii laid eggs in the ropes: these were at first of a pale straw-colour,
but on the fourth day changed toa delicate flesh tint, and assumed a dark pink spot
at the apex, and a zone of the same colour round the middle.

Agrotis corticea is common in the’ same locality as the last, but has a much more
extended range. I have taken it, but sparingly, in other parts of the valley.

Cerigo cytherea, Rusina tenebrosa, Noctua triangulum, Neuria Saponarie, &c.
All at sugar, in July.

Xylina rhizolitha. At sugar, October.

Harpalyce picaria. By beating hazel, beginning of July.

Homeosoma eluviella. At sugar, July 19.

Tinea semifulvella, By beating oak, May 18, July 16.

» Tufimetrella. By beating hawthorn, July.

Micropteryx Leppella. Common in June.

Nemotois Scabiosellus. I have several times seen the female in the position men-
tioned by Mr. Stainton, her abdomen thrust down amongst the florets of Scabiosa
columbaria, and her wings lying expanded on the top of the flower; but have failed
to detect either eggs or larve.

Cerostoma sequella. By beating Acer campestre, in September.

Cleodora Cytisella. Common amongst brake, July and August.

CEcophora grandis. Not uncommon in the end of May and June, in one fence
composed, like most of them in this neighbourhood, of a mixture of dead and living
hazel; in this one, however, mixed with some dead birch. They fly only in warm
sunshine, from 10 a.m. to 1: when the sun is off the fence they cannot be made to fly.

Insects. 4815

_ A think they secrete themselves in dead leaves on the grouud, they so soon become
worn.

Pancalia Latreillella. Very scarce in the same fence as the last, May 27 and 28.

Argyresthia glaucinella. Taken sparingly from the middle of May to the end of
June, sitting on the trunks, and beaten from the branches, of three or four very old,
_ half-decayed oaks.

Chauliodus Cherophylellus. From the beginning of October to the end of June.

Elachista Gangabella? By heating hazel, May and June.

Lithocolletis Roboris. Not uncommon in May.

“ hortella. One specimen, May 15.
‘“ tenella. Scarce. Middle to end of May.
—John S. Ashworth ; Bryn Hyfryd, Llangollen, North Wales.

Occurrence at Richmond, Surrey, of a Coleopterous Insect new to Britain. — Four
or five years ago I was waiting in the garden belonging to the Union at this place
for a friend who had gone into the house to see one of the inmates, and, entomologist-
like, I oceupied the time in examining the surrounding paling. Along with some
other things, I captured what I imagined was a specimen of Tamicus bidens, but,
finding on after examination with my friend Mr. Dawson, of Geodephagous celebrity,
that it certainly was not that, and not being able to identify it, by his advice it was
sent to Paris, whence it was returned as Bostrichus bispinus of Megerle, with the
remark, “Je le crois inédit.”, I know not whether it has ever appeared in printer’s
ink; but at any rate, not wishing to add to synonyms already sufficiently numerous, I
shall attempt to give a description, under the above cognomen, sufficient to enable it
to be recognized if it has occurred elsewhere in this country. Slightly shining, with
scattered hairs ; thorax pitchy chestnut, darkest in front; elytra paler, a dark testa-
ceous. The thorax is rather narrowed in front, where it is studded with tubercles
arranged somewhat in curved rows parallel with the anterior margin of the thorax, which
appears to be slightly reflexed. The remainder of the thorax is punctured, with a ridge
in the centre extending from the tubercled portion to the hinder margin. Elytra
punctured, with a single shallow stria on either side the suture. Apex retuse from
the sudden widening of the sutural strie, and the upper edge armed with a tooth as
in bidens, but larger, curved and claw-like; in advance of each tooth is a small tuber-
cle. The limbs were not set out, and now that it is old and dry I do not wish to incur
the risk of attempting it, so that further details cannot be added ; but I think enough
is given above (and probably more than enough) to enable any captor of the species to
recognize it. Iam aware that the occurrence of a single example of a species is slender
ground for admitting it into our Fauna, especially when it belongs to the Xylophagous
tribe ; but the locality in this case does not appear to be a suspicious one ; and, as I have
never searched it since, it is possible that a further examination, which I intend to
make, may lead to the capture of other examples.— George Guyon ; Richmond, Surrey,
April 28, 1855.

Great abundance of “ Clegs ” in Cumberland and Northumberland.—I certainly
never recollect such a plague of “clegs” (Hematopota pluvialis) as our district has
this season been visited with. When in Cumberland, in the second week of July, they
were in such numbers on the moors and other elevated places that I was frequently
driven from my pursuits by the pertinacity of their attacks. The same abundance was
noticed in many parts of Northumberland ; indeed, they are said to have been in such
force in some places as to be a perfect torment to man and beast. This I can readily

4816 Insects, &c.

believe, as my face and hands were much swollen by their villanous bites.— Thomas
John Bold ; Angas Court, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on- Tyne, August 3, 1855.

Duplicates of the Genus Colymbetes.—The water-net has produced duplicates of
the following species of Colymbetes: I shall be much pleased to send them to any
entomologist as long as the store holds out: C. oblongus, J//., chaleonotus, Pz., macu-
latus, Lin., vitreus, Pk., Sturmii, Gyll., bipustulatus, Lin., ater, Fabr., obscurus,
Marsh, angustior, Gyll., fuliginosus, Fabr., pulverosus, Knoc., exoletus, Fors., and
bistriatus, Bergst. I shall be much obliged for specimens of the following species,
which do not appear to be metropolitan: C. arcticus, Pk., fontinalis, Ste., congener,
Pk., uliginosus, Pk., dispar, Bold, brunneus, Fabr., notatus, Fabr., and adspersus,
Fabr. Iwish it to be distinctly understood that my offer to distribute duplicates is
quite unconditional, and not in any way dependant on gifts I may receive. I hope
this mode of advertising entomological duplicates and desiderata will be followed by
my readers: the pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ are at their service, and there is no longer
any duty on advertisements.—Hdward Newman.

Enormous Flight of Ephemere.—As we were steaming down the Rhine, and near
Bonn, with a brisk breeze up the river, we became aware of an appearance as if a
heavy storm of snow were coming up against us: we were soon in the midst of a
shower of Ephemere, all in an immature state, having the wings opaque and white:
they fell in multitudes on deck, drifting in places into white snow-like masses. ‘The
storm continued for miles, the poor things being driven before the wind with that con-
fused indeterminate motion we so often see in flakes of snow.— Henry Newman ;
Brussels, August 11, 1855,

Short Directions for the Management of Marine Vivaria.—I am preparing a hand-
book on the management of marine vivaria, but as my time will not admit of its
publication forthwith, and being deluged with applications from friends requiring to
be fairly started, I have thought it right to send to the ‘ Zoologist’ the heads of what
I consider to be of vast importance, and which, if fairly carried out, will repay those
who attempt it with the success equal to that obtained by myself and others.

First —When you have obtained your tank, in the first place build up your rock-
work: when the cement is set, soak the tank well, that it may be perfectly cleansed
from oil and other noxious substances. Coral rag is the best rock for the purpose.

Secondly.—Place your shingle and sand at the bottom of the tank, and then pour
gently on it the sea-water; leave it for a day, and the sand which was stirred up will
subside; you can then put in a little more shingle when required.

Thirdly.—Obtain your sea-water, when possible, from the western coast; it is
much purer than that on the eastern coast. Use a pine cask for the conveyance of the
water; oak casks are injurious, from the tannic acid they contain, and casks that have
contained fermented liquors are especially deleterious. When the water in the tank
has cleared itself, place the weeds in it, and place the tank where the sun can shine on
it for at least two hours during the day.

Fourthly.—When the weeds throw off pretty freely bubbles of oxygen you may
safely put in some animals; Actinie are good ones to commence with: add the ani-
mals gradually, until the tank is properly established.

Entomological Society. 4817

Fifthly—In placing in old shells and débris watch carefully that there are no dead
animal matters attached. The Annelides are very prone to die and form a nucleus of

_ putrefying matter: it is better not to place in any Annelides until the tank is esta-

blished ; the death of a few is then of slight importance.

Sixthly.—All large stones should be raised a little from the bottom, so as to allow
a wash under them, and also the Crustacea to cleanse all the dead animal and vege-
table matter: this will prevent the black deposit, which is a sure sign of sulphuretted
hydrogen.

Seventhly.— Do not discourage the confervoid growth on the sides of the tank, un-
til the tank is perfectly established; its oceurrence is a sure sign the water is in good
condition, and it is my opinion it oxygenises the water more effectually than do the
larger plants. 3

Eighthly.—Syringe the water at times; it can do no harm, and the animals appear
to like it.

Ninthly.—Do not overcrowd your tank.

Tenthly.— Remove animals as soon as they are dead.

Eleventhly.— Use sea-water in preference to any salt and water.

I am confident that if the above very simple rules are attended to the owners of
vivaria will find success the rule and failure the exception. What is to prevent them
being as successful as the Zoological Society? it is to Mr. Mitchell’s care and atten-
tion that their success is due. I am now engaged in maturing a new plan for trans-
porting some of the animals and all the weeds, and which, if successful, will lessen
the carriage considerably, and also lessen the risk of death amongst them. I shall be
much obliged to any gentleman who can give me any hints or advice, and who will
allow me to make use of it in my forthcoming hand-book, all of which shall be duly
acknowledged. Any information of experience as to the shapes, dimensions aud
prices of tanks will be acceptable. I myself incline to a shallow tank with a large
area.— William Thompson: Weymouth, August 11, 1855.

PROCEEDINGS OF SocIETIES.
ENTOMOLCGICAL SOCIETY.

August 6, 1855.—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—‘ The Literary Gazette’ for July; by the Editor. ‘The Atheneum’ for

‘July; by the Editor. ‘Journal of the Society of Arts’ for July; by the Society.
‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Vol. xvi. Part 1; by the

Society. Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies; Part 15; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Die
Gallen. Versuch die durch Insecten an den Pflanzen Verursachten Answichse nach

‘ibren Haupttypen und Wachsthumsverhaltnissen naturgemass zu gruppiren,’ von

Georg Frauenfeld; by the Author. ‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie,’ 1855, No. 6;

by the Editor, M. Guérin-Méneville. ‘ List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous In-

4818 Entomological Society.

sects in the Collection of the British Museum, Part III. Lepidoptera Heterocera ;
by the Author, Francis Walker, Esq., F.L.S. A box of Indian insects; by Major
Hamilton. A specimen of Sirex gigas; by G. H. Drew, Esq. Bembidium Clarkii
(6) and Bembidium obliquum (8) from Northamptonshire; by the Rev. Hamlet
Clark.

Election of Members.

Mons. F. Pictet, Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in the Academy
of Geneva, was elected an Honorary Member in the room of Dr. De Haan, deceased ;
and Edward Henry Burnell, Esq., 32, Bedford Row, was elected an Ordinary Member
of the Society.

Exhibitions.

Dr. Power sent for exhibition some rare British Coleoptera, including Agrilus
chryseis, Anthraxius nitidula, Rhyncolus ater, Microrhagus pygmeus, all from the
New Forest, and Drypta emarginata (2), recently taken by himself near Portsmouth.

Mr. Bond exhibited some Lepidoptera recently taken by him in Cambridgeshire:
the more remarkable species were Pionea margaritalis, Nascia cilialis, Eupithecia
sparsaria, Anesychia funerella, Opadia funebraua, Argyrolepia Schreibersiana, and a
singular dark variety of Arctia villica.

Mr. Baly exhibited a specimen of Cryptocephalus nitens, taken from an ash tree
at Cobham, Kent. Mr. Stevens said he captured an example of this species yester-
day on a birch tree at Mickleham.

Mr. Doubleday sent for exhibition specimens of Caradrina blanda and C. alsines,
species quite distinct, but mixed in collections under the former name.

Mr. Weir exhibited a remarkable variety of Anthrocera Filipendule, with only five
spots on each of the upper wings, taken tn copuldé with an ordinary six-spotted speci-
men. He likewise exhibited Penthina sauciana bred from Vaccinium myrtillus,
Anarsia Geniste bred from Genista tinctoria, and other rarities.

Mr. Dutton exhibited some Lepidoptera recently captured in the Isle of Wight,
among which were fine specimens of Agrotis lunigera.

Mr. Douglas exhibited a specimen of Trochilium Chrysidiforme taken by Mr. J. A.
Brewer, of Reigate, while sweeping for Coleoptera, near Dover, on the 25th of June
last, and presented alive to Mr. Douglas. This species had hitherto only two British
representatives ; one, now in Mr. Edwin Shepherd’s collection, stated in Mr. Stephens’s
‘T}lustrations’ to have been captured by Mr. Francillon ; the other, in Mr. Curtis’s
collection, taken by Mr. Leplastrier near Dover.

Mr. Douglas also exhibited Asychna eratella from Darenth Wood, and Butalis
fusco-zenea from Headley Lane: both species were taken last month.

Mr. Westwood exhibited a living scorpion brought from Mexico with plants for the
Horticultural Society. He also exhibited eggs and living larve of the flea of the dog,
and stated that Mr. Haliday had recently dissected some of the larve, and found that
his former opinion, grounded chiefly on the characters of the perfect insect, that the
flea belonged to the order Diptera, must be abandoned, and the insect referred to the
distinct order Aphaniptera of Kirby. He added that the eggs of the flea were not at-
tached to the surface on which they were laid, as had been stated ; for upon moving
the cloth or rug on which his dog was accustomed to lie the eggs rolled off.

VO i

Entomological Scciety. 4819

Mr. Westwood exhibited a specimen of Ludius ferrugineus which he had had alive
for a fortnight, and which was reared from an old ash tree by Mr. Boddy.

Mr. Westwood also exhibited specimens of the Saturnia reared at Malta from ex-
amples recently introduced from India as 8. Cynthia; and he also exhibited specimens
of the true Saturnia Cynthia received from Major Jenkins, in India, with a ticket at-
tached stating that this was the species whose caterpillars produced the “ Eria ” silk.
The difference between these specimens and those from Malta was s0 trifling that he
thought Dr. Boisduval had scarcely sufficient grounds for making the Indio-Maltese
species distinct from S. Cynthia, as he had recently done in the French ‘ Annales,’
under the name of S. Ricini: he believed if the progeny of a single pair of 8. Cyn-
thia was distributed over a wide geographical range, that, after three or four genera-
tions, quite as much difference would be observed among the specimens as between
these so-called distinct species.

Mr. Stevens exhibited a splendid butterfly, a new species of Agrias recently sent
from Villa Nova by Mr. Bates.

Mr. Foxcroft sent for exhibition some Coleoptera and Lepidoptera recently taken
in Perthshire. Among the latter were two Polia occulta, apparently differing from
the general type of that species only in the darkness of their colour, but their larve
were said to be totally unlike. This statement was corroborated by a note from Mr.
Logan, of Edinburgh, read to the Meeting.

Abundance of Noctuide.

Mr. Douglas remarked that the number of Noctuide this season appeared to be
unusually large near London, and he should like to know if this abundance was
general.

Mr. Stevens said that on the previous night, at Mickleham, he saw 800 or 900
Noctuidez attracted to sugar.

Mr. Westwood said other sweets than sugar were exceedingly attractive to moths:
in his garden Noctuide abounded about a bed of beans which were infested with
Aphides, whose excrement, as was well known, formed a sweet deposit; and they also
swarmed around some gooseberry bushes, whose fruit, in consequence of the wet
weather, had burst.

The President said that in a large conservatory near Alton he had lately seen large
quantities of moths, which, attracted by the scent of the flowers, had entered by the
open door and could not find their way out. He added, that Captain Chawner had

told him that occasionally, at the lighthouse at Lowestoft, the moths abounded so

much at night that the keeper had to sweep the lantern in order to clear them away.

The Society's ‘ Transactions.
Part 5, Vol. iii., nN. s. of the ‘Transactions’ was on the table.—J. W. D.

The following was read at the April meeting :—

Description of a New Species of Ornithoptera.

“ ORNITHOPTERA Brooxiana. Wallace.
“ Expansion 63 inches. Wings very much elongated; black, with a horizontal
band of brilliant silky green. On the upper side this band is formed of seven spots

4820 Society of British Entomologists.

of a subtriangular form, the bases of the four outer being nearly confluent, and of the
three inner quite so, forming a straight line across the centre of the wing; the
attenuated apex of each spot very nearly reaches the outer margin at each nervule.
On the lower wings the green band occupies the centre half, and has its upper margin
tinged with purple. The lower wings are finely white-edged. There are some azure
atoms near the base of the upper wings. The collar is crimson, and the thorax and
abdomen (?) black. Beneath black, upper wings with the green spots opposite the
bases of those above, small and notched, the basal one with brilliant purple reflexions,
also a purple streak on the anterior margin at the base. Lower wings with a sub-
marginal row of diamond-shaped whitish spots divided by the nervures ; base of wings
with two elongated patches of brilliant purple. Body obliquely banded with crimson ;
abdomen black. , |

“ Hab. N.W. Coast of Borneo.

“This magnificent insect is a most interesting addition to the genus Oruithawiard’
The green-marked species have hitherto been fuund only in N. Australia, New Guinea
and the Moluccas, and all those yet known so much resemble each other in their
style of marking, that most of them have been considered as varieties of the original
Papilio Priamus of Linneus. Our new species is therefure remarkable on two
accounts ; first, as offering a quite new style of colouring in the genus to which it
belongs; and, secondly, by extending the range of the green-marked Ornithoptere to
the N.W. extremity of Borneo. As it has not been met with by the Dutch naturalists,
who have explored much of the S. and S.W. of the island, it is probably confined to
the N.W. coast. My specimen (kindly given me by Captain Brooke Brooke) came
from the Rejang river; but I have myself once seen it on the wing near Sarawak.
I have named it after Sir J. Brooke, whose benevolent government of the country in
which it was discovered every true Englishman must admire.

“ ALFRED R. WALLACE.”

Society oF British ENToMOLOGISTS.

June 5, 1855.—Mr. Harpina, President, in the chair.

Messrs. Kent and Doe were elected Subscribers to the Society.

The President exhibited specimens of the following insects :—Trochilium Culici-
formis, Lophopteryx carmelita—he remarked that this insect had not been taken at
Darenth Wood for nearly thirty years, Peridea trepida, Xylina conspicillaris, and
many others: the whole of the above were taken at Darenth Wood during the past
month (May). :

July 3, 1855.—Mr. Haroina, President, in the chair.

Mr. Miller exhibited specimens of the new Tortrix discovered by Mr. Harding
feeding on the Eryngium maritimum, or sea-holly; also Cucullia Asteris, and a box of
small Lepidoptera,—among others Gelechia tenebrosella, G. pictella, Gicophora Pan-
zerella, Coleophora alcyonipenella, Elachista Gangabella, &e.—J. 7. N.

|
:
:

:

Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club. 482]

TyNnesIpE Naturauists Fretp Crus.

Meeting at Bothal.

The first meeting of the season of the Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club was held,
by invitation of the Rev. Henry Hopwood, Rector, at Bothal and Sheepwash, on
Monday, June 11th. According to previous arrangements, the party from Newcastle
assembled at an early hour at the Central Station. On alighting at. Morpeth they
were joined by several other members, with whom they proceeded on foot, by the banks
of the Wansbeck, to Bothal, and thence to Sheepwash, examining on their way the
various objects of interest which came under their notice. On reaching Sheepwash
they met with a kind and courteous reception from the Rev. Henry Hopwood, by whom
they were most hospitably entertained. After luncheon, the members of the club, with

_ some ladies who were visiting Mrs. Hopwood, having assembled on the lawn in the
_ Rectory gardens, Mr. Sidney Gibsun read a paper on the “ History of the Church,
_ Castle, and Barony of Bothal,’ which he had prepared at the request of the Rector,—

first remarking that, as it was to be read upon the spot, his (Mr. Gibson’s) object had
been to give a brief historical sketch, rather than a description of the locality and its
architectural remains.

With regard to the parochial history of Bothal, it would seem that the parish
church had not originally nestled under the protection of the castle, but had been
situated at Shipwash, much lower down the river. The tradition was that the church
formerly standing at Shipwash (which was dedicated in the name of the Holy Sepul-
chre of our Lord), was the mother church of the parish of Bothal; and it continued
to be a separate benefice until the year 1615, when it was annexed to the rectory of
Bothal. From the dedication being in honour of the Holy Sepulchre, and from the
fact that the Templars had a Preceptory at Chibburn, Mr. Gibson was disposed, how-

_ ever, to attribute the church to a period not earlier than the first Crusade, and to con-

nect it with that illustrions order of military monks. At all events it was prvbable,
he thought, that a church was erected on the site of the existing church of St. An-
drew, at Bothal, soon after the reign of Henry I., when the Bertram family acquired
those extensive domains. But there was reason to believe that a parish church

existed at Bothal before the Conquest, inasmuch as the tithes were amongst the dona-

,

tions made by Robert de Mowbray, the great Norman Eari of Northumberland, to the
monastery of Tynemouth, The present church of Bothal was dedicated under invo-
cation of St. Andrew, who seems to have been the favourite saint of the great Wilfrid,
in whose footsteps so many edifices of religion rose; but this circumstance alone (Mr.
Gibson remarked) would not support a claim of such high antiquity for the church of
Bothal. If any church existed here before the time of Athelstan it was probably
destroyed by the Danes, and there was reason to believe that it was in ruin at the time
of the Conquest. In glancing at the Anglo-Saxon period, Mr. Gibson shortly
described the wanderings of the monks with the remains of St. Cuthbert, which had
traversed part of the parish of Bothal on the flight from Durham to Lindisfarne in
1069, the monks having passed the Wansbeck at the ford of Shipwash, and rested at
a spot in the chapelry of Hebburn, where the chapel of St. Cuthbert was afterwards
founded. As regards the fabric of the existing church it appears tu have been rebuilt,
wholly or in part, early in the thirteenth century, and the chancel is of first pointed

XIII. 2P

4822 Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club.

architecture. The nave and aisles were replaced late in the fourteenth century by
those now standing; and the edifice now consists of a chancel, nave, two aisles, a —
southern porch, and a campanile in which hang three bells. The clerestory is of ele-
gant middle pointed work. Originally there had been a pointed roof of high pitch, —
but it was replaced by the present flat roof in 1496, when the living was sequestered
for repairs. Bothal church is altogether an interesting edifice, and affords, as many
other churches in Northumberland do, an example of the influence of military archi-
tecture and of the disturbed state of the Border lands on the form and fabric of the
parish church. Thus, the square-headed trefoiled arch, which is common in castel-
lated architecture, is found in many ecclesiastical edifices in Northumberland; and a
castle being adjacent, we have a campanile instead of a tower. Passing then to the
history of the castle and barony, Mr. Gibson traced the descent of the great family of
Bertram, who seem to have acquired Bothal in or not Jong after the reign of William
Rufus, their ancestor, Guy de Balliol, having received these possessions with the other
confiscated estates of Earl Robert de Mowbray. Bothal was made a barony as early
as the time of Richard Ceeur de Lion, and the great baronial family of Bertram flou-
rished here until late in the reign of Edward III. Robert Bertram, the last lord in
the male line, seems to have been a man of great energy and martial spirit, and it
was he who obtained the royal license to make a castle of his manor-house of Bothal.
The noble gate tower, which is the only perfect portion remaining of the Edwardian
Castle, is a well-preserved monument of his dominion. This martial chieftain fought
at the battle of Nevill’s Cross, and captured William Douglas. Malcolm Fleming,
Earl of Wigton, was conveyed after the battle to Bothal Castle for safe custody, but
was allowed to escape without ransom, for which the Lord of Bothal fell under the
King’s displeasure ; but he seems to have died in the possession of power and honour,
and on his death the barony and possessions descended on Helen, his only child, by
whose marriage to Robert de Ogle, Bothal came to a branch of that ancient Northum-
brian family. After his death the Lady Helen married three successive husbands.
She founded a chantry in the church of St. Andrew, at Bothal, and is commemorated,
together with her first husband, by the magnificent monument which forms so con-
spicuous a feature in the sacred edifice. Their posterity succeeded to the barony and
possessions, and in their time, probably, additions were made to the castle. A survey
made in the time of Elizabeth mentions, besides the Great Tower, the Blanch Tower
and the Ogle Tower, all which have long been destroyed, though they were represented
as Standing in a view taken in 1728. Mr. Gibson said it was probably after the acqui-
sition of Bothal by the Ogle family that the edifice known as the Lady Chapel was
built. Its ruins stand higher up on the banks of the Wansbeck, on a spot where a
hermitage was supposed to have existed. After tracing the descent of the barony and —
possessions of the Lords of Bothal to the Ducal House of Portland, Mr. Gibson read
some characteristic extracts from the will of Robert, sixth Lord Ogle of Bothal, who |
died in 1562, and from the inventory of the furniture and effects in Bothal Castle at
the time of his death. He also read, from the survey made in 1576, the description
of the castle as it then existed, and of the kinds of fruit that were cultivated in its
gardens, remarking that their record afforded us some glimpses of the life, habits and
costume of the Border chieftain of the Elizabethan era. It was painful to contrast —
the now ruinous state of this castle with its former magnitude and strength ; but the
whole spot was suggestive of feudal memories, and invested with a picturesque beauty —

and interest which could hardly be exceeded even in any of the river valleys of —
Northumberland. |

Notices of New Books. 4823

On the motion of the Rev. George Cooper Abbs, of Cleadon House, the thanks of
the meeting were given to Mr. Gibson for his very interesting paper.

Exhibitions.

Mr. T. J. Bold exhibited a series of specimens of one of our wild bees and its pa-
rasite; the latter (Nomada borealis), he remarked, had hitherto been regarded as a
very rare British species.

Two other insects (Hydroporus melanarius, Sturm, and H. atopieat Sturm) were
also shown, and were noted as additions to our catalogue of water beetles, having
been taken by Mr. Bold at Prestwick Car.

The same gentleman communicated a notice of having observed a pied flycatcher
in the vicinity of Newcastle, concluding by intimating that he was collecting materials
for a catalogue of the Aculeate Hymenoptera of the district, and would be obliged for
any assistance that the members could render him.

Mr. Storey laid before the meeting specimens of the mountain melic grass (Melica
nutans), a species which he had met with during the day, and which he stated was new
to the locality.

Election of Members.

The election of members was next proceeded with, when the following gentlemen
joined this flourishing society, viz., Rev. Henry Hopwood; Rev. Edward Lacey,
Bothal; Charles Gibson, M.D.; Messrs. Edward Spoor, A. M. Dunn, Thos. Stokoe,
John Hopper (Newcastle), E. Finch (Blakelaw), and R. W. Swinburne (Cleadon
Cottage).

The very cordial thanks of the party having been given to Mr. and Mrs. Hopwood
and the ladies for their polite attentions, the meeting broke up.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

* Annals and Magazine of Natural History.’ Nos. 91 and 92, dated
July and August, 1855; price 2s. 6d. each. London: Taylor
and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

No. 91 contains the following papers :—

‘Observations on the Development of Gonidia (?) from the Cell-
contents of the Characez, and on the Circulation of the Mucus
Substance of the Cell: with a Postscript. By H. J. Carter, Esq.,
Assistant-Surgeon H.C.S. Bombay.

‘Descriptions of the Animals of certain Genera of Conchifera.’
By S. P. Woodward, Ksq., F.G.S.

‘Notes on some New or little-known Marine Animals.’ By Philip
Henry Gosse, A.L.S.

A824 Notices of New Books.

‘On the Homologies of the Carapace and on the Structure and Func-
tion of the Antenne in Crustacea.’ By C. Spence Bate, F.L.S., &c. '

‘On Double Monstrosity in Fishes.’

Proceedings of Societies :—Linnean, Zoological, Royal Institution,
Botanical of Edinburgh.

Miscellaneous :—On the Nereis bilineata; by William Thompson.
On a New Species of Thalassidroma; by George Robert Gray,
F.LS., F.Z.S., &c. On the Eggs of Otogyps and Prosthemadera ;
by H. F. Walter. .

No. 92 contains the following papers :— |

‘Notes on Paleozoic Bivalved Entomostraca.’ No. I. Some
Species of Beyrichia from the Upper Silurian Limestones of Scandi-
navia. By T. Rupert Jones, F.G.S. .

‘On the Conjugation of the Diatomacea.” By J. W. Griffith, M.D.,
F.L.S. |

‘On a New Genus of Fossil Cidaride, with a Synopsis of the
Species included therein.” By Thomas Wright, M.D., F.R.S.E.

‘Brief Notices of several New or little-known Species of Mammalia
lately discovered and collected in Nepal, by Brian Houghton
Hodgson, Esq. By T. Horsfield, M.D. )

‘On the Assiminia Grayana and Rissoa anatina.’ By William
Clark, Esq.’

‘Descriptions of Two newly-discovered Species of Acanideenes
By Jobn Blackwall, F.L.S.

‘Note on the Descent of Glaciers. By J. Gwyn Jeffreys, Esq.,
F.R.S.

Bibliographical Notices :—Catalogue of British Hymenoptera in
the Collection of the British Museum, Part I. Apidz, Bees; by
Frederick Smith, M.E.S. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Philosophical
- Society.

Proceedings of Societies :—Zoological, Botanical of Edinburgh.

Miscellaneous :—On the Organization of the Pedicellate Glands of
the Leaf of Drosera rotundifolia; by M. A. Trécul [extracted from
the ‘Comptes Rendus,’ June 25, 1855, p. 1855]. On a New Organ
observed in Callitriche; by M. A. Chatin [extracted from the Comptes
Rendus,’ June 18, 1855, p. 1291). Description of a New Tanager of
the Genus Calliste; by Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A. [extracted from
the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society, Nov. 14, 1854]. On the
Spermatozoa of the Crickets; by C. Lespés [extracted from the
‘Comptes Rendus, July 2, 1855).

j

” q

z Notices of New Books. 4825

Mr. Spence Bate’s paper on the Function of the Antenne in
Crustacea is highly interesting: after describing these organs with
some care, he thus continues :—

“The next question which we have to consider is, to which sense
either of these two sets of organs belongs; whether the upper belongs

to the auditory and the lower to the olfactory, as I shall endeavour to
prove, or vice versd, as maintained by Prof. Milne-Edwards.

“We shall divide the evidences on either side under two heads ;
the first, that which is derived from an external observation; and the
second, that which is derived from its internal organization.

“ First, then, from external circumstances: an auditory apparatus
is an organ furnished to an animal for one or both of two objects;
first, for protection from danger; secondly, for the pleasure derivable

- from sounds. To animals so low in the scale of beings as the Crus-
tacea, placed as they are in a medium which must considerably
_ modify its character, sound can convey little to the consciousness of
the animal beyond a sense of. security or danger.
_“To enable this to be of the most extensive value, the auditory
organ must [be] and always is so placed as to be most exposed to
external impressions at all periods; particularly when the animal is
at rest or pre-occupied.
“Now if we look at the organ the present state of science attri-
butes to the sense of hearing, we find that, in the most perfectly
formed animals, the Brachyura, it is enclosed within a body case, and
secured by a calcareous operculum; that it always is so in a state of
rest, and only exposed when especially required. Not only is this the
case throughout the order, but, in some genera, as Corystes, Cancer,
&c., it is again covered by the supplying organs of the mouth.
“If we take into consideration that the inferior antenna is frequently
_ developed into organs assimilating to feet, and frequently used for the
purpose of assisting to climb, &c., it seems difficult to admit that it is
an organ capable of protecting the animal by its quick detection of
_ the sound of approaching danger.
“If we turn our attention to the superior antenna, we find that
in the living animal it is always elevated in the water and never at
: rest,—always playing with a constant vibration and a jerking motion
_ peculiar to itself in the higher orders. Among the Amphipoda,
_ though constantly erect, the motion is more regular and graceful ;
_ this probably is consequent upon the greater relative length of the
organ.
| “ This organ is one that appears as if always on the watch ; let the

4826 Notices of New Books.

animal be at rest, let it be feeding, no matter, the superior antenna is
ever elevated and on constant guard.
“ Again, if we turn our attention to the land Crustacea, we find the

organ as an antenna disappear; and in Ligia and the amphibious ©

Orchestide they are rudimentary, as if the organ, passing from water
into a less dense medium, required modification in order to adapt it
to the change of circumstances.

“If we take into consideration the nature of sound, and its
difference of character when conveyed under water from that of
passing through air, the obtuse character of the former, which
can scarcely be more than a vibratory action of particles of water,
which conveys to us a very modified and imperfect idea of sound, we
find it difficult to understand that the organ situated at the base of
the under antenna is capable of receiving impressions of sound,
enclosed as it is within and covered by a stout calcareous operculum.

“ But if we view it as an organ of smell, every objection previously
becomes evidence in favour of the idea. The small door, when it is
raised, exposes the orifice in a direction pointing to the mouth; this
also is the direction of the same organ in all the higher orders. In
Amphipoda it is directed inwards and forwards. In every animal it
is so situated that it is impossible for any food to be conveyed into
the mouth without passing under this organ, and of this the animal
has the power to judge its suitability for food by raising the oper-
culum at will, and exposing to it the hidden organ—the olfactory.

“If we turn to the upper antenna, we find that its position, form
and power are as capable of fulfilling the office of conducting the
sensation of sound, as the lower is that of smell. As I before ob-
served, it is always placed erect, and continually feeling in the water
for the first approximation of sensation. The filamentary appendages
are always two or more, one of which is supplied with singularly
delicate membranous cilia, being apparently prolongations of a
similar membrane to that which covers the larger orifice of the
olfactory organ. ‘These lengthened and delicate cilia are peculiarly
adapted to receive and convey the most minute vibratory sensation
of the medium in which they are suspended. These organs when
spoken of may conveniently be designated as auditory cilia, and
have been found in every species of Crustacea that has been
searched for them.

“If we turn our attention to the internal structure of this antenna
we shall find that it supports the idea of its being an auditory organ
more forcibly than its external analysis. In the Brachyura, as before

. Notices of New Books. 4827

observed, the first or basal articulation is largely developed: if it be
removed from its connexion with the animal, and broken open, the
basal articulation will be found occupied by a still smaller chamber,
having calcareous walls of a much more delicate character than the
integumentary structure. This internal chamber or cell is that which
in this paper is supposed to be a cochlea, from its analogy, both in its

_ structure and supposed use, to that organ in higher animals. It is
situated in the cavity of the basal articulation of the antenna, and
attached to the walls furthest from the median line of the crab. It
presents a tendency to a spiral form, but passes not beyond the limits
of a single convolution. The calcareous walls extend across the axis
of the ideal spire, and the internal cavity is one continuous irregular
chamber, the walls of which, at the centre of the axis, closely
approximate so as almost to meet.

“This internal cell represents, we think, the cochlea of higher
animals, to which it bears some resemblance, both in form and
structure. If so, then beyond dispute it identifies the superior
antenna as an organ of hearing.

“The internal structure of the inferior antenna differs. very
materially from the appearances we have just described. In the
Brachyura, where the organs are most fully developed, there is
attached to the operculum a long osseous tendon or lever, by which
the attached muscles raise or close the entire organ, but there is no
internal structure of any kind which could identify it as an organ of
sound. The aqueous sac mentioned by Edwards I have entirely
failed to discover.

“Viewing the two antenne each as a whole, in their relative
positions and connexion with the rest of the animal, we are forcibly
led to the conviction that the upper antenna is an organ of hearing
and the lower antenna is an organ of smell.”

I am desirous of giving every publicity in my power to this
ingenious hypothesis, diametrically opposed, though it be, to my own
convictions on the subject.

Mr. Thompson’s note on Nereis bilineata is as follows :—

“I beg to draw your attention to a fact I have not seen noticed in
print. It is, that Nereis bilineata constructs a tube for its domicile.
Its usual habitat is the upper coils of any dead whelk that may have
been selected by a Pagurus for its domicile. This annelid is well
known to the fishermen here, by whom it is much used as a killing
bait for whiting. I was not aware of the fact of its constructing a
tube for itself until lately, when, on breaking off the top coils, I found

4828. Notices of New Books.

that the worm had constructed a tube, with which it bad lined its
lodgings. The tube is perfectly white, carl strong, and not
attached to the whelk shell.” |

Mr. Blackwall’s new spiders are Ciniflo humilis and Nériene ~
affinis, both captured by Mr. R. H. Meade, the former in Buckingham-
shire, in August, 1854, the latter in the vicinity of Burton-on-Trent,
and also at Hornsea, on the east coast of Yorkshire.

‘ Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. New Series.
Vol. III., Parts 1V. and V. London: Longmans. 1855.

Part IV. contains 48 pp. of ‘ ee 36 pp. of ‘ hintatarsenes >
and no plates; it is charged 3s.

The papers are intituled—

‘Essay on the Genera and Species of British Formicide.’ By
Frederick Smith, Esq. (concluded).

‘On the British Species of the Genus Sedaka with Notes on the
Species of Stenus described by Kirby, and in the Illustrations of
British Entomology, by Mr. Stephens; together with Observations
upon the Specimens in Mr. Stephens’ Collection.’ By Messrs. G. R.
Waterhouse and E. W. Janson. |

‘Descriptions of some Species of Brazilian Ants belonging to the
Genera Pseudomyrma, Eciton and Myrmica (with Observations on
their Economy by Mr. H. W. Bates.) By Frederick Smith, Esq.

Mr. Smith’s paper completes the Catalogue of the British Formi-
cide, and will be particularly useful to the students of British Ants,
more especially as it corrects some recently-made errors in the
nomenclature of our species, for example :—

Myrmica scabrinodis of Nylander, Foerster and Smith = saree
mica rubra, Curtis, Trans. Linn. Soc, xxi. 213.

Myrmica ruginodis of Nylander, Foerster and Smith = Myrmica
vagans, Curtis, Trans. Linn. Soc. xxi. 213.

Myrmica sulcinodis of Nylander and Smith = Myrmica per-
elegans, Curtis, Trans. Linn. Soc. xxi. 214.

This shows how necessary it is to keep pace with the progress of —
our science on the Continent, if we wish to establish (and who does —
not?) uniformity of nomenclature.

The paper on the genus Stenus is also of great value, and reflects
great credit on the patience and perseverance of its authors.

In Mr. Smith’s paper on Brazilian ants the observations on economy

Notices of New Books. 4829

by Mr. Bates are particularly valuable and interesting. Of Pseudo-
myrma oculata he says :—“ Its colonies I have hitherto found only in
the tumuli of different species of Termes: in some instances I found
them in spacious elliptical chambers, in the outer walls of the Ter-
mitaria; one colony to each chamber; the chambers wide apart and
having no connection with each other; the number of individuals
few in each colony ; the pupz are not enclosed in cocoons. In some
instances I have found them with their larva [larve] and pupe
within the same chambers as the Termes, in different parts of the
Termitarium ; the workers are sometimes found in numbers coursing
rapidly over trees and herbage. Another species [of Pseudomyrma]
constructs its Formicarium in the pith tube of dried twigs; the
colonies are not numerous.”

Part V. contains 48 pp. of ‘ Transactions, 16 pp. of ‘ Proceedings,’
and five plates, and is charged 5s.

The papers, in addition to the conclusion of Mr. Smith’s Descrip-
tions of Brazilian ants, are—

‘Monograph of the Australian species of Chrysomela, Phyllocharis
and allied Genera.’ By J. S. Baly, Esq.

‘Observations on the Honey Bee, in continuation of the Prize
Essay of the Entomological Society for the year 1852.’ By J. G.
Desborough, Esq.

‘Descriptions of some New Species of Lucanide. By J.O. West-
wood, F.L.S., &c.

Continuing our extracts from Mr. Bates’ ‘Observations on the
Brazilian Formicide, that indefatigable traveller observes of Eciton
legionis, a new species :—“I have only found it in open, sandy and
grassy campos; it shows the same irritability and hurried movement
as the other species; is very quick to break line and to attack
furiously any intruding obstacle. In a procession which I observed
there were no individuals with the largely developed mandibles, as in

other species. The locality in which I observed it being an open

district, it afforded me an opportunity of observing some parts of its
habits, and the business which occupies its immense processions ;
the columns of the other species I have always observed marching in
the dense thorny thickets of the forest, so that the same facilities for
observation do not offer themselves, and no human endurance can
sustain the overwhelming attacks, the cruel sting and bite of these
formidable insects. In this smaller species, although they climb by
hundreds over one’s person, in the same sudden way, the sting is not
XIII. 2Q

4330 Notices of New Books.

at all formidable. The first time I met with this species it was near

sunset; I found the column consisted of two trains of ants moving in —

opposite directions; one train empty-handed, the other laden with a
variety of the mangled remains of insects, chiefly, however, the larve
and pupe of ants. I had no difficulty in tracing the line to the spot
from which they were conveying their prey; this was in a low
thicket; the Ecitons were moving rapidly about a heap of dead
leaves: the tropical twilight was deepening, and I deferred further
examination till the next day. On the following morning I found no
trace of the ants in the place I had left them the preceding day, nor
in the thicket were there any signs of insects of any description: but
at the distance of eighty or one hundred yards I found them again,
evidently engaged in another piece of business, a razzia of a similar
kind, but requiring other resources of their instinct; they were eagerly
occupied on the face of an inclined bank of light earth, excavating
mines, whence, from the depth of eight or ten inches, they were
extracting the bodies of a bulky species of Formica. It was curious
to see them crowding round the orifices of the mines, and assisting
their comrades to lift out the bodies of the Formice; the latter being
too bulky for one Eciton to carry, it was torn into pieces, and the
laden marauders forthwith started off with their booty. On excavating
the earth about the mines, I found the Formice at the depth of about
eight inches, also their larve and pupe. As fast as I excavated the
Kcitons rushed in, seizing the ants; I had great difficulty in securmg
a few specimens; they disputed them with me, even in my hands.
In excavating their mines they assisted each other in so systematic a
manner, with an appearance of so much intelligent cooperation, that
it was truly a wonderful sight: those in the mines lifted up the pellets
of earth to others stationed at the entrance, who forthwith conveyed
them to a few inches distance from the place. I now turned towards
the line of ants returning with their spoil of mutilated remains. | For
some distance there were many lines of them moving along the
declivity of the bank, but at a short distance these converged; I then
traced them to a large indurated and ancient ‘Termitarium: up the
ascent of this the Ecitons were moving in a dense column, like a
stream of liquid metal; many were now assisting in lugging up the
bodies of the Formica, and the whole disappeared im one of the
spacious tubular cavities which always traverse these old: Termitaria
from the summit to the base.” TiwIRER
We must make room for one more extract; it relates to > Myrmica
saevissima :— TPO BIST

,

Fishes. | 4831]

“On the borders of the river Tapajos, this is the most dreaded ant,
the terrible scourge of the river Tapajos. In 1852, I found, along
the shores of the long sandy bays of the Tapajos, a continuous line
of sediment, eight or ten miles in length, formed entirely of the bodies
of the winged individuals of this species. It was the end of the
rainy season, and the swarms had been carried away by the squalls of
wind into the river, and had subsequently been cast ashore by the
swell. This species is exclusively found on sandy soils, in open;
semi-cultivated or neglected places: in the shade of the woods not an
individual is to be found; careful cultivation and weeding expels
them from limited spaces; they increase only in the neighbourhood
of deserted houses, or unweeded plantations; consequently, they are.
a scourge only to the lazy and worthless people who inhabit the
shores of this magnificent river. Sometimes they increase to such an
extent that not an inch of ground is free from them; they dispute
every fragment of food with the inhabitants; clothing they destroy for
the sake of the starch, and attack persons with such cruel fary that
the lords of the creation are obliged to beat a retreat, and the village
becomes deserted. Their sting is very severe; the Brazilians com-
pare it to the prick of a red-hot needle or point, hence the name
‘Formiga de fogo. Their Formicarium is subterranean, and in the
village of Aveyros the unweeded streets are covered with their
mounds: there are one or two on the floor of the church,—it is im-
possible, in fact, to avoid an attack. The ‘ Formiga de fogo’ lets no
one have any repose; one’s legs are instantly covered with them, and
they appear to attack in sheer malice. I was frequently obliged to
retreat to the house of the Commandant, where it was my daily
custom to enjvy an evening chat with the priest and a few neigh-
bours; seated on chairs, with stools to support our feet, the ground
being in full possession of the spiteful Myrmica sevissima.”

Artificial Rearing of Salmon, and some of tts Results.

ANOTHER most important point has just been established in regard
to the history and habits of the salmon, in connexion with the very
interesting experiments which have for nearly two years been carried
on at Stormontfield. On Friday morning last, a beautiful grilse of
53 tbs. weight was caught on one of the City of Perth’s fishings at
Darry Island, bearing perfectly indubitable evidence of being one of

4832 . Fishes.

the marked fish which were liberated from the Stormontfield Ponds in
May and June last. Another specimen, we hear, was caught a week
before at the foot of the Willowgate. In addition to these, we noticed,
a fortnight ago, that a grilse was said to have been caught some days
previously at the mouth of the Earn, similarly marked: the truth of this
statement, as we remarked at the time, we have no reason to doubt, but
the actual specimen itself not having been preserved, we did not feel
warranted, upon the ground of it, to attempt to found any definite
conclusions in regard to the various theories which have been so
earnestly advocated upon this interesting and important subject. The
specimen caught at Darry Island, however, having been preserved and
sent to Mr. Buist’s office, where it was exhibited during the day to
hundreds of visitors, brings all controversy upon this branch of the
subject irrefragably to an end. There can be no doubt whatever as
to the genuineness of this specimen; the dead fin had been clean cut
off,—the mode in which the smolts were marked on their liberation
from the ponds,—and the abscission was completely cicatrized, and
had evidently been so for some considerable time.*

That the fall bearing of this interesting result may be more com-.

pletely seen, we shall once more trace the progress of the experiment
from the beginning.
In November and December, 1853, many thousands—as nearly as
could be estimated 300,000—of ova were deposited in the boxes. _
In April and May, 1854, the hatching took place. On the 15th of

April, little fish were first observed at large in the troughs. We may

remark, however, that in some more sheltered localities, where similar
experiments were being carried on, at the same time, in a small way,
by private gentlemen, the eggs were found, in one case, at least, to
have been hatched in sixty days from the time they were deposited.
In this instance they were laid under a stream of spring water just at
its exit from the rock.

In June, 1854, the tiny inmates of the boxes, having generally
attained the size of about an inch and a half in length, were in-
troduced to the larger sphere of the pond, where, for twelve months,
they were carefully tended and fed.

* In addition to the specimens referred to above, we saw on Tuesday, in
Mr. Buist’s office, another beautifully grown grilse of 5 Tbs. weight, which had
that morning been captured at Carthagena Bank, on the Seaside fishings, two miles
below Errol, belonging to the Glover Incorporation of Perth. In the case of this
fish, the dead fin was not only entirely cut off, but the scales had completely grown
over the part which had been cut.

[
|

Fishes. 4833

' In May and June, 1855, a large proportion of the fry, having then
reached the condition of smolts and manifesting the most undoubted
evidences of the time of migration, having arrived, the sluice of the
pond was removed, and free egress given to all the fish which might
desire their liberty. During the Jatter part of May, and the earlier.
days of June, almost all the silvery-coated smolts had voluntarily left
the pond, and drifting daily, in shoals of from 1000 to 10,000, into a
temporary erection at the confluence of the conduit and the river, con-
structed for the convenience of marking, were, after suitable numbers
had from time to time been marked, allowed ultimately to escape.
About one in one hundred, we believe, was the proportion so marked.

~ On May 29 a very much larger number than on any other day sought

for the river, and a proportionally large quantity were of course
marked.

And now, on Friday last, the 20th of July, after an absence of not
more than two months, we have the perfectly indisputable result of
one at least of those smolts, so shortly liberated, having returned from
the sea a beautiful and well-grown grilse of 53 ths. weight.

The very largest of the smolts which left the ponds in May and
June measured only about 7 inches in length, and weighed from 4 to

loz. The grilse caught on Friday measures 24% inches in length, and

123 inches in circumference, weighing, as we have said, 53 ths. That
the comparative sizes of the same fish at the two stages of its growth
may be more easily and accurately apprehended, a very beautifully
executed photograph has been taken by Mr. Cumming,—now prac-
tising that wonderful art in this place,—for the purpose of being
printed, of the marked grilse caught on Friday, along with a preserved
specimen of the largest size of the smolts as they were liberated in
May and June.

Thus is one more perfectly irrefragable proof afforded of the fact,
which for some time, indeed, has been satisfactorily enough esta-
blished, that the young of the salmon which migrate to the sea in the

earlier part of the season as smolts, return in the later part of the same

season as grilses. This is the first occasion, we suppose, of the fact
having been publicly demonstrated in the Tay: but in other rivers it
had been clearly proved years ago. In a very interesting and valuable
work on the ‘Natural History and Habits of the Salmon,’ by
Mr. Andrew Young, of Invershin, superintendent of the Duke of
Sutherland’s extensive fishings, we find the following stated as the
result of that gentleman’s repeated experiments in regard to this
point :—

A834 Fishes.

‘‘I marked,” says Mr. Young, “ a number of smolts on their way to
the sea, and continued this process for several summers, but yearly
changed the mark from one part of the fish to another. This marking
was done particularly for the purpose of ascertaining the exact time
that the smolt was absent from the river until it returned a grilse;
because it was the opinion of some, and some even assert it yet, that
smolts are a whole year in the sea before their return; but if they
were a year they must be more—they must have been fourteen months.
However, without marking them at all, we are certain that salmon in
no stage of their migrations remain that time absent from the rivers.
What I marked was in April and May, and in course of June and
July following we caught several of them with the same marks, grilses
varying from three to eight pounds, but did not catch in the following
year a grilse with the smolt-mark of the previous year. And, although
I continued marking and searching for them on their return, the result
was invariably the same. And, from these expesiments and the
length of time the marked smolts were absent, 1 am of the decided
opinion that the great majority of them remain away only about two
months.” .

But the duration of the smolts’ absence at the sea before returning
as grilses is not the point which has been principally debated in this
locality. Our controversy has been chiefly upon a point far antecedent
to this. Our readers will remember, that after having successfully
reared some 200,000 or 300,000 young fish, it was, in the early part of
May last, keenly discussed—what we were to make of them; whether
they were to be allowed, at the end of the first year, after hatching, to
seek their way to the sea; or whether they should be detained in the
ponds until the end of the second. Upon this point the authorities
were quite at variance. Mr. Wilson, of Edinburgh, and Mr. Shaw, of
Drumlanrig, after visiting the ponds, pronounced for a two years’
nursing, while Mr. Young, of Invershin, who had never seen them, but,
basing his opinion upon the result of his own experience elsewhere,
was equally decided in favour of only one. The balance of authority
seemed to be against Mr. Young, and at one time, we believe, it was
resolved to confine the whole stock till May next year. A week or
two’s further experience and observation, however, speedily turned the
scale against the two-year theory. The rapid growth of the fry, the
large proportion which immediately progressed into indisputable
smolts, and the striking evidences which the larger inhabitants of the
ponds themselves clearly manifested that the time of migration had

" oar

Fishes. 4835

really arrived, led to the wiser resolution of the committee, that the
more advanced and matured of their charge should be allowed to
follow the dictates of their nature. The result has proved the wisdom
of this resolution. To have confined the whole fish would certainly
not have proved that salmon fry remain two years in the river before
going to the sea; while, by the course which has been adopted, it has
been proved that the larger part of them remain in the river only one
year. We cordially congratulate all the gentlemen concerned upon
this highly satisfactory and gratifying result of their experiment; and
we trust we shall speedily have to congratulate those gentlemen more
immediately interested, perhaps, in the success of this scheme for
increasing the tigre of the river, upon a very abundant grilse
season.

_ But, while several points in regard to the natural history of the
salmon have been thus clearly and most satisfactorily determined, one
very interesting question is still pending at Stormontfield. While all
the ova were deposited in November and December, 1853, and all the
hatching was completed in April and May, 1854, only about two-thirds
of the fry had attained the migratory stage in May and June, 1855.
One-third of the original stock are still in the pond, and, although
the sluice has never been closed since it was first opened in May,
they manifest no desire whatever to leave it. In point of fact, with
perfectly free means of egress, not one of them has left the pond since
the general migration ceased at the 7th of June last. Thus, while one
portion of the same hatching are being captured in the river, beauti-
fully grown grilses of 24 inches in length, another portion is. still
enjoying the shelter of the pond, tiny creatures, none of them more
than three or four inches long. The result of this striking feature in
the experiment will be watched with much interest. It may be, that,
while Mr. Young was right in holding that smolts migrated to the sea

at the end of the first year after hatching, and his opponents were

wrong in maintaining that they only migrated at the end of the second,

they, too, were so far right, should it be found, notwithstanding the
migration of a portion at the end of the first year, that a portion also
—— over the second.

‘We can only remark now, in regard to the sexual question raised

in. connexion with this subject, that nothing whatever has as yet been
established i in regard to it at Stormontfield, further than that the grilse

taken on Friday was a female, and that on ‘Tuesday a male; and that
any observations that have been made on the small fish give reason

4836 Fishes.

—*

to conclude that there are both male and female now in the ponds.—

Perthshire Courier, July 26, 1855.*

Memorandum on Dr. Knox’s papers in the last ‘ Zoologist.—Two notes were
appended to Dr. Knox’s papers in the last number as the proofs passed through that
gentleman’s hands. Both entirely escaped me until my attention was called to them
by correspondents. The first is at p. 4778, and relates to the supposed death of
M. Valenciennes. TI have reason to hope that distinguished zoologist is still living and
in good health. The second is at p. 4798, and relates to myself: the conversation to
which the Doctor refers related to the experiments so often recorded of keeping tad-
poles in the dark, and thus prolonging their tadpole existence.—Hdward Newman.

Occurrence of the Spined Leach (Botia tenia) near Dorking.—I took this pretty
little fish about a fortnight ago in a little muddy stream that runs into the Mole just
below the Bridge at Brockham Lodge, the residence of my friend William Bennett,
whuse hospitality I was enjoying. I was fishing for Hydradephaga, and, on seeing
the little creatures wriggling at the bottom of the net, I supposed the first and second
haul to be juvenile beardies, and threw them in accordingly; but the uniformity
of size at last struck me, and this, inducing a closer inspection, oculis armatis,
i.e. having put on my specs, I found myself possessed of a fish whose personal

acquaintance I had not previously made. Mr. Yarrell says it is called “the ©

groundling;” but I certainly can scarcely suppose that it is known as distinct from
the beardie by any of those who apply English names, and I would rather believe
that the terms loach, stone loach, beardie and groundling apply equally to the larger
species. There is nothing by which this fish is likely to be distinguished from the
beardie, unless by the instructed eye of science, which imparts an interest and a value to
all that it beholds. It occurred in coarse grass floating over a muddy bottom at the
very edge of the stream, and the habitat did not extend above half a dozen yards.

I may here remark that the undulating outline of the back, which gives so marked a —

character to Mr. Yarrell’s figure, was wholly unobservable in the living fish; and as
this character is not mentioned, I believe it possible that it may be due to the
process of preserving, through which the little fellow had doubtless passed before
sitting to the artist who has immortalized him in the ‘ British Fishes’.—Hdward
Newman.

~_

The Snake and Child Exhibition—The Child Bitten Repeatedly, and the Father

Arrested.—Several hundred people visited Cochituate Hall yesterday afternoon, to —

witness, it is hoped, the last exhibition of what have been falsely termed the “ charmed
snake and child.” Our readers may be assured that there is no “ charming” or “ fasci-
nation” whatever connected with the show; but, on the contrary, the whole affair is a
gross attempt to deceive the public at the expense of merciless torture to a little girl of

tender years, who has been so often bitten by the reptile that the cruel and disgusting —

exhibition is likely to be stopped. Yesterday afternoon the father was taken into

r

custody on complaint of Dr. I. W. Ayer, reporter for the Chronicle.—Hvening Tran- —

scripl, July 26, 1855.

* Obligingly communicated by William Yarrell, Esq.

4

|

Part I.—On the Relation of Species or Race to Genus or Natural

Philosophy of Zoology. 4837

| "Contributions to the Philosophy of Zoology. By R. Knox, M.D.,

F.RS.E., &e.

Family: a Question of Transcendental Anatomy.

INTRODUCTION.

ZooLoGy, to be esteemed a Science, must be based on philosophical

principles. True, it is a science of observation and not of calcula-
tion; it has to deal with living bodies, and with the mysterious and
hitherto undiscovered principle of life, whose laws are not to be ex-

plained by numbers, however multiplied, nor by a geometry, however

refined. Fluxions avail not here, nor the integral calculus. Never-
theless, some great minds have shown that Zoology has its laws,

which, despite difficulties almost innumerable, may be so inquired

into as to evolve some truths of more import to man than at first

appears.

The observation of nature is no doubt the first duty of every candid
observer; next comes the duty of the inquirer into her laws, for the
mere observance of a fact is of no value whatever, unless that fact be
placed in its relations with all others. Men had observed, and no
doubt observed carefully, long before the age of Aristotle, but he

alone was equal to the production of the ‘ Historia Animalium.’ He

_was followed, at a long interval, by Buffon and Linné; last came the

immortal Cuvier. The discovery of the true signification of the fossil

remains of the organic world by this illustrious and justly celebrated

_ man, was unquestionably the most remarkable step ever made for the

advancement of the human mind. The element of research he em-

_ ployed was the descriptive anatomy of the adult or fully-developed indi-

vidual of all, or at least of most, of the species of animals now occupying
the globe. - The minute descriptive anatomy of the species, with a view

to the rigorous determination of its true nature and position in a natural-

history arrangement, seemed to be the ultimatum of all his inquiries ;
and if he spoke of genera or natural families it was more as a

naturalist, or as one by whom generic distinctions were viewed rather

as expressions of philosophic arrangement than as realities based in

Nature. It was whilst pursuing this inquiry into the existing and

living Fauna of the present world that the thought struck him of

applying the element of research he then wielded with such dexterity
XIII. 2R

4838 Philosophy of Zoology.

to the fossil remains of a former world; never since man studied
science had a thought so fruitful in great results entered the human —
mind. By it he dissected, as it were, the globe itself, giving to the
lovers of truth in science a key wherewith to read those vestiges of
successive animal forms which we, for want of a more correct term, —
call Vestiges of Creation, and removed from the mental vision of men
that dark veil of ignorance which had certainly endured for some
thousand years.

As Cuvier pursued his anatomical investigations, for they were
strictly so, he classified and arranged the individual animals examined
by him into distinct species, according to their anatomical differences ;
still, adhering to the anatomical method, he only viewed the distinc- |
tions as generic when they were wider, larger and quite apparent. i
Not that he despised external characters, or neglected them ; but as_
an anatomist he felt himself bound to view them as secondary and of -
infinitely less importance than the anatomical. Moreover, they were ©
wholly inapplicable, or nearly so, to the fossil world, at least to that —
class, the Vertebrata, in which man is most interested. x

If the theory I am about to propose be true, that the young, (
namely, of every species, represents a generic animal, embracing in |
its structure and natural-history characters the possible of all the —
species, past, present and to come, belonging to the natural family of ©
which it forms a portion, then the natural history of the fossil world |
might be guessed—might be restored, but not otherwise. The fossil
horse was only a horse generically; but whether a horse properly so —
called, an ass, a zebra, a quagga, or none of these, none can now for
certain say: the fossil tiger was no tiger, in all probability ; nor the
bear a bear, appertaining to, or to be classed with, any species NOW
living. The exterior of the fossil world is lost for ever; all that is left.
of it being merely the fabulous traditions of rude ages, peopling the :
world with monsters, which the discoveries of Cuvier in some measure |
corroborated. |

When the anatomical method failed in Cuvier’s hands, as it often)
did, the illustrious discoverer was thrown upon the field of hypothesis.
The seeming fixity of species was the first stumbling - block he
encountered; this led to his theory of successive creations, if that cam
be called a theory which removes the inquiry at once from all further
investigation. By anatomy it was not easy, occasionally impossible,
to distinguish species from each other, which, when viewed as clothed
with their external attributes, are obviously and notoriously distinct,
In this predicament stood the lion and tiger, panther and leopard,

Philosophy of Zoology. 4839

horse, zebra, ass, dog, wolf, fox, jackall, pig,ox, man. The theory of
variety, to a certain extent permanent, was next brought to bear on

these difficult questions; the influence of domesticity was also in-

yoked, and even the fruitfulness of hybrid races was asserted ; so that
Natural History fast retrograded towards the silly hypothesis ascribed
to Aristotle, who is supposed to have conjectured that the vast variety
of animal forms with which Africa abounds is due to the arid nature of
the country and its paucity of rivers and springs, thus bringing
together animals of many species and genera; hence the varied
character of Afric’s Fauna.

The inadequacy of anatomy to distinguish species in every case
was fully admitted by Cuvier himself. I also admit this practically,
but with this reservation, that the minute anatomy of even the

_ osteology of every species differs in a certain degree, however slight,
from every other; but such minute differences are not of much im-
_ portance in the establishment of important principles, nor can they

always be depended on. ‘The nasal bones of the horse and ass differ
in form from each other, more perhaps than any part of their respective
osteology ; but how insignificant is this difference, in a natural-history
point of view, when compared with those external characters which
mark the zebra, the horse, the ass, and quagga! The same remarks
apply to the lion and tiger, in respect of these very bones, the nasal,
and their relations to the superior maxillary bones; to the white ox
of Scotland and to the common domestic ox. ‘The nasal bones, the
skeleton of the head, the character of the teeth, do not differ more
regularly or constantly, nor to the same extent, in the horse, zebra
and ass than they do in the races of man. The skeleton of the head

of the Negro and Bosjesman differ much more widely from the white

races of man than those of the horse and lion differ from the corre-

sponding structures in the tiger and zebra. I do not, therefore,

admit, to the full extent, that anatomical characters ever fail to
discriminate species; but I freely admit their occasional inadequacy

-to characterise or to lead to the determination of species in a

practical sense. On the other hand, the facility with which this may

_ be done, by a consideration of the external characters, is known to all
the world. Science admits of no exaggeration; Anatomy has done

much for Natural History; much for Philosophy; still more for

_ humanity, by purging the human mind of deep-rooted errors, of a gross

and scandalous character, of forty centuries’ growth. But Anatomy
has its limits, notwithstanding, and these limits were admitted and
defined by the Great Master himself.

4840 Philosophy of Zoology.

It was not to be expected that a mine of knowledge such as was —
discovered and first worked by the great Cuvier should continue to be
explored by so many vigorous hands, and that al] should go smoothly
with the labourers: difficulties soon appeared, and they increased so
rapidly in number and in strength as to cloud with anxiety for the
fate of his great discovery the mind of the immortal author of the
‘Qssemens Fossiles.’ It seemed as if he were about to survive his own
vast reputation. So seemingly unimportant a question as the influence
of domestication over animal life embarrassed the great anatomist.
The anatomical element of inquiry having failed in establishing
specific distinctions in the various oxen which ornament the culti-
vated earth, Cuvier was forced to imagine them to be like the dog, of
one species; Goethe, the transcendentalist, starting from a higher
point of view, had arrived at the same conclusion. ‘“ The infinite
varieties of the domestic ox,” observed the sublime author of ‘ Faust,’
“are simply the gift to man of domesticity acting through millions of
years.” Such also was Cuvier’s opinion, omitting the “millions of
years.” What his real opinions were on the influence of time and
circumstances he never, so far as I know, communicated to any one.
The monumental records of Egypt, depicting man then as he is now,
after the lapse of at least 4000 years, were perfectly well known to him.
Still greater difficulties he prudently passed by without a passing
notice. And yet his great discovery laid the foundation of Geology,
Paleontology, and a true history of life on the globe. Before him
these sciences could not be said to exist.

Prior to this eventful scientific era the German school of philosophic
anatomists had made an advance towards the same object, but from
a different point of view. Anatomy was still the element of research
which they employed, but it was the Anatomy of the embryo. At the
head of this school was the justly-celebrated Goethe, poet, philosopher,
naturalist, mathematician; his genius seemed universal. He it was
who first distinctly formuled the law of unity of the organization in all
that lives or has lived. The doctrine of “arrest of development”
came soon after into vogue, chiefly through Meckel and the German
schools of anatomists,—a doctrine based on a superficial and a some- :
what incorrect application of facts, curious and important in them- —
selves; to this at last were added the Teratologie of Etienne Geoffroy :

:
|

(St. Hilaire) and the serial unity of De Blainville.

Believing the transcendental in Anatomy to be the only instrament
of research at present known by which a correct basis can be laid for
the philosophy of Zoology, I have never ceased to study and teach it j

Philosophy of Zoology. 4841

since the period (1811) when it first became known to me. To the
writings of Vicq. d’Azyr I am indebted for the first hints of its
existence. Biassed in favour of descriptive anatomy, I have ever ob-
jected to the too hasty adoption of extreme transcendental views,
holding it to be a true maxim in science, as well as in social life, that
the change or step in advance, in order to be certain and trustworthy,
must ever be made with caution, and, if possible, supported by the
demonstration of physical materials; or, in other words, the thought
which genius submits to the world as an idea must become a physical
demonstration before the world can fairly be called on to admit its
truth. This is the view I take in the following Memoirs, in some of
which it is my intention to apply the transcendental to Natural
History as a preliminary to my inquiry into the natural history of
man. The true relation of species or race to genus or natural
family seemed to me to present a favourable mode of testing the
value of the transcendental, not with any idea of testing its truth,—
that has been settled long ago,—but of ascertaining its practical
value as an instrument of research. The true relation of race to
natural family being first discovered, it will then be time enough to
apply the transcendental to the relation presumed to subsist between
natural families, and, lastly, between these and the universal primeval
life of the organic world of this globe.

In selecting the natural family of the Salmonide as a subject of
research I have been guided by several considerations: I had already
made them the subject of extended research, and their external
characters offered favourable points of view for such an inquiry. It
is chiefly to the exterior that I give my attention in the present
Memoirs; the interior will follow. I commenced with the dentition,
that natural-history character to which all, whether naturalists or
anatomists, ascribe such importance; next followed a_ brief
inquiry into the systems of coloration and proportion. To all
these the transcendental applies, or ought to apply, if true. That it
is true as a theory I have not a doubt myself, however I may fail in
proving it to the satisfaction of others. My immediate object is to
prove the existence of a generic animal, the product, no doubt, of
hereditary descent from a species, but in itself including the charac-
teristics of all the species belonging to that natural family; or, in other
terms, proving hereditary descent to have a relation primarily to genus
or natural family. By this term I endeavour to explain family like-
nesses commingling with the generic ; the more or less resemblance,
for example, of an individual with other affiliated races, to none of

4842 Entomological Botany.

which it belongs by strict hereditary descent. My ultimate aim is
to offer a scientific explanation of the appearance, from time to time,
of seemingly new species on the earth, and of the extinction of
others, thus restoring to legitimate science that branch of philosophy
which the theory of successive creations, invented by Cuvier and still
maintained by his followers, had clearly removed from it. To prove
the unity of the organization, the unity of creation, and the serial
unity of all that lives or has ever lived, forms the aim of the first part
of this inquiry.
R. Knox.

Meissen House, Upper Clapton,
September, 1855,

Entomological Botany (with more especial reference to the Plants
Srequented by the Tineina). By H. T. Starnton, Esq.

(Continued from page 4777).

Lotus major. Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil.

It is probable that most of the species which feed upon L. cornicu-
latus feed also on this plant; at any rate, the Nepticula (still not bred)
does, as I found several of it in Headley Lane last month.

Astragalus Glycyphyllos. Sweet Milk Vetch; Wild Liquorice.

Speyer enumerates as feeding on this, Lyceena Cyllarus, Anthrocera
Achille, A. Hippocrepidis and A. Onobrychis, all species unknown to
us as British, though it is extremely likely that we have yet to find more
than one species of Anthrocera. 'Toxocampa lusoria, not yet detected
in this country, feeds on this plant in May. Two species of Coleo-
phora feed on this plant, neither of which has been found in this
country, because neither has been looked for: they are C. Coronille
and C. serenella. The former is most plentiful in August; it has a
rather long case, without lappets ; it eats again a little in May. C. se-
renella, whose personal acquaintance I made at Glogau and Stettin,
where it seems to occur almost wherever the plant grows, feeds in Sep-
tember and again plentifully in May; the case is short, white and
very broad, reminding one of a short lady with numerous flounces.
This was the insect to which Réaumur gave the name of ‘Teigne a

ie ~
i

Entomological Botany. 4843

falbalas. The mined places on the Astragalus leaves are of a pearly
white and very conspicuous.

Vicia sylvatica. Wood Vetch.

An elegant climbing plant, most frequent in mountainons districts.
It is fed upon by Psyche viciella and Toxocampa Viciz, according
to Speyer; but Guenée gives Vicia dumetorum, which is not a British
plant, as the food of the last-named species.

Vicia Cracca. Tufted Vetch.

A plant which from its long tufts of deep blue flowers early attracts
our attention. It delights to grow in hedges and bushy places, and
is often mercilessly stripped of its blossoms by the young botanist,
who deems, on finding it, he has got a prize. This is the principal
food-plant of Toxocampa pastinum, of which the larva feeds in May.
Speyer also cites as feeding on it, Gnophos obfuscaria. No Tineina
larva has hitherto been observed upon it.

Vicia Sepium. Bush Vetch.

Abundant in lanes and borders of woods, and one of the first of the
genus which greets us in the spring with its dark purplish flowers.
Speyer gives as feeding on this Ptychopoda remutata. Two years
ago a Tortrix? larva was observed on this plant, and also on Lathy-
rus pratensis, feeding in September and October, between two united
leaflets, of which it devours the inner epidermis: these larve, though
not uncommon, all perished in the winter, and we are unaware to what
species they should be referred. This plant is, however, most noto-
rious for being the favourite food-plant of the lovely Lithocolletis Bre-
miella. This species, according to Professor Frey, of Zurich, frequents
those plants which grow in shady borders of woods, mining the under
side of the leaf; the larva appearing in July and again in September
and October.

Pisum. Pea.

Speyer mentions as feeding on this, Calocampa vetusta and C. exoleta,
Mamestra Pisi, Noctua brunnea and Endopisa nebritana. I am not
aware of any Tineina larve attached to it whilst in a growing state,
though dry peas are eaten very readily by Endrosis fenestrella and
GE cophora pseudo-spretella.

4844 Entomological Botany.

Lathyrus pratensis. Meadow Vetchling.

Speyer gives as feeding on this plant, which is very common with
us in meadows and hedges, two species not known as British, Orgyia
selenitica and Fidonia glarearia. The Tortrix larva, already men-
tioned under Vicia Sepium, feeds on this plant in September and Oc-
tober; and a Coleophora larva has been observed on this plant
(according to Tischer), but there is some doubt to which species it
should be referred.

Orobus niger. Black Bitter Vetch.

A very scarce British plant, yet cited by Speyer, on ‘Tischer’s autho-
rity, as the especial food of Ephippiphora Loderana. It may, how-
ever, feed on other and commoner species of the same genus.

Ornithopus perpusillus. Bird’s-foot.

Common on dry sandy and gravelly heaths, but easily overlooked
from its prostrate habit. Speyer mentions as feeding on it Anthrocera
fausta and Eyprepia Hebe, but the larva of the latter appears quite
polyphagous. It is hardly necessary to add that neither of these spe-
cies is known as British.

Hippocrepis comosa. UHorse-shoe Vetch.

Common in chalky places, but probably confounded by the unini-
tiated with Lotus corniculatus, which it much resembles; the leaves,
however, are pinnate instead of trefoil-form, and thus it may be imme-
diately distinguished. Hiibner represents the larva of Polyommatus
Corydon as feeding on this plant, and it is on it that I am disposed to
think that the larva of Coleophora niveicostella will be found to feed.

Persica vulgaris. Peach.

Speyer mentions as feeding on this, Papilio Podalirius, Anthophila
communimacula (a species not alluded to in Guenée’s Noctuelites),
Tortrix cerasana and Cerostoma persicella. Tortrix cerasana, as we
know very well, is tolerably polyphagous; but no other food-plant has
yet been assigned to Cerostoma persicella, which may some day put
in its claim to be naturalized amongst us, as many another insect of
extraneous origin has already done. The larva of Anarsia lineatella,
figured in Fischer-von-Réslerstamm, plate 94, feeds on the young
shoots of the peach in early spring, boring down the stem of the shoot

and causing the terminal leaves to droop. _ It is very injurious to the —

ss. 2 Te ee oe

a es

Xe

ee pe Se

t
}

Entomological Botany. 4845

"plants it attacks, and is much dreaded by the gardeners of Vienna
and Berlin. It has not yet been found in this country, but as, accord-

ing to Fischer, it has occurred on the plum-tree, and indeed Fischer
suspects it also feeds on sloe, the chances of our finding it here are
very considerable.

Prunus domestica. Plum.

Speyer enumerates the following species as feeding on this plant :—
Papilio Podalirius, Pieris Crategi, Thecla Pruni, T. Betule, Trochi-
lium culiciforme, Liparis dispar, Porthesia chrysorrhea, P. auriflua,
Orgyia gonostigma, O. antiqua, Eriogaster lanestris, Clisiocampa
neustria, Gastropacha Pruni, Acronycta tridens, A. Psi, A. Rumicis,
Orthosia instabilis, O. stabilis, O. munda, Amphipyra pyramidea, Mi-

_selia culia, M. Oxyacanthe, Xylina rhizolitha, X. petrificata, Catocala

:

paranympha, Ennomos alniaria, KE. lunaria, E. illunaria, E. illustraria,
Ourapteryx sambucaria, Rumia crategata, Angerona_ prunaria,
Chlorochroma vernaria, Hibernia leucophezaria, H. defoliaria, Boar-
mia rhomboidaria, Tephrosia crepuscularia, Biston betularia, B. hir-

taria, B. prodromaria, Coremia fluctuata, Eupithecia rectangulata,

Toririx diversana, T. crategana, Penthina prunina, P. variegana,
Carpocapsa Weberiana, C. pomonana, Exapate gelatella, Cerostoma
scabrella, C. aspereJla, Swammerdamia pyrella, Coleophora anatipen-
nella; he also mentions Pterophorus pentadactylus, which we know
feeds only on Convolvulus; and this ‘capital error shows with what
caution all the preceding statements must be received. In the fore-
going list the species not yet detected in this rctaid are designated
by Italics.

The most important plum-feeder that we know is Opadia fune-
brana, the larva of which feeds in the inside of the fruit of the plum.
All eaters of plum-pie must have observed that some plums have the
stone embedded in a layer of little brown grains, which are in fact the
“frass” of this larva, though when we see this “ frass” in a boiled
state and swimming in juice, unless we are entomological enough to

know what it is, it eats very well.

“ What the eye don’t see, the heart don’t feel.”

Strange that an insect so common that we see it by dozens in our
plates is so seldom met with by entomologists that it is to be found in
very few collections !—but the habit of the perfect insect is very
retired, and when sitting on the stem of the plum-tree, from its uni-
form dingy colour, it is not very easily recognized.

XIII. 28

4846 Insects.

Nepticula plagicolella, though most at home on the sloe, mines the
leaves of the plum also very readily; and it is probable that many
other sloe-feeders will be found also to occur on the plum.

H. T. Srarnron.

Mountsfield, Lewisham,
September 8, 1855.

Sunonymic List of the British Carnivorous Water Beetles, together
with Critical Remarks, and Notices of Foreign oe Species.
By the Rev. HAMuetT Criark, M.A.

Any one who takes the trouble to compare our lists of British —
Hydrocantharide and Philhydrida with those of other European
countries, as Austria, France, Sweden, comes at once to the conclu-
sion that we cannot compete with them; ours are manifestly inferior ;
we can boast neither of the same number nor the same variety of
species. Why is this? How is it that, in the genus Hydroporus,
Schaum’s excellent list of our native species gives but forty-two, while
Fairmaire, representing France, can bring forward his sixty-six —
species? It must proceed from one of two causes; either our |
islands are comparatively unproductive, or our field naturalists have —
been inattentive. And yet, with regard to the former, if we may argue _
from analogy and from other departments of Nature, Britain is not so —
entirely barren; our Flora is certainly creditable; our lists of birds ij
are respectable; fishes, and mollusks and Echinodermata frequent —

our shores, and Diatomacee and Desmidiz our peat districts, at least i
in proportion to those of our neighbours; nay, even as to insect life, —
we discover—thanks to the energy of some among us—that in —
Micro-Lepidoptera we are considered preeminent: can it be that in—
Coleoptera alone, and especially in those groups of the order which
are protected by their habitats from many of the vicissitudes and —
accidents of ordinary beetle-life, and live and die in their native
waters from generation to generation undisturbed, we are so inferior ?
I for one am convinced that it is not so; and that our confessed
inferiority proceeds simply from the absence of investigation. is
remember of course the small geographical area of Great Britain
compared with the extent of other countries with their richer Faunas,
but [ can find in this no sufficient explanation. We have in the
Western Islands and Orkneys our Lapland and Sweden ; in Perthshire

{
g
Fy
i

+

F Insects. 4847

arid the Highlands our Alps; in the southern coasts of England and
Ireland our France and Germany: in short, by our natural variety of
soil and climate, we have, and in approximating latitudes, many of
the peculiar physical characteristics of other countries.

That investigation may be quickened among us, and that these un-
known but interesting groups may receive increased attention, I have,
in as few words as possible, described other species, found onthe
Continent, but at present unrepresented here: I might have extended
them numerically, but have introduced (in parentheses and without
numerals) those only which I believe may probably be found in this
country: the capture of four or five additional species, without any
corresponding effort, during the past year, will show that this antici-

_ pation is not absolutely chimerical.

It will be understood, then, that this catalogue does not profess to
be accurate; rather, that it professes to be inaccurate ; that it is merely
approximating and suggestive; and that criticism, species by species,

amendments and corrections, will be welcome proof of its value.

I have assumed that it’ will fall into the hands chiefly of those who
have some knowledge of our present British species; I have not
therefore described these, and others only relatively by their approxi-
mating and distinctive characteristics: in the hope, however, that
others may be led to take up the study of these groups, I will adda
few suggestions as to practical collecting. The apparatus is simple;
a couple of well-corked, wide-mouthed phials, containing bruised
laurel leaves or a few drops of chloroform on blotting-paper; a water-
net of cheese-cloth on a steel hoop of 16 or 18 inches diameter, with
joints so as to fold up in the pocket; an oil-skin bag as a cover; and
a walking-stick with ferrule, to which the net is screwed, is all that is
necessary.

And as to the localities to be visited—ditches in which are clumps
of Sphagnum, or tangled masses of any water-plants; any place, in
fact, that affords shelter will be sure to afford insects. I have
taken, in Norfolk, a dozen specimens of Colymbetes Grapii at one
dip, by securing a handful of hay floating on the top of the water;

and in a lake in Scotland I was only successful in taking species by
_ sinking in the water little bundles of grass and heather, and examining
them day by day. ‘Water-plants of all kinds, and especially those at
the ends of ditches, will repay examination: on the moors and moun-
tains species are found in abundance, not only in pools, but in little
bits of marsh, where the net must be scraped along the ground in
order to get up any water; rivulets and pebbly brooks have their

A848 Insects.

peculiar representatives that frequent not aquatic piants, but the
margins of pebbles; species of the genera Elmis and Hydrena may —
often be taken by removing with the hand stones from the bottom —
of brooks, and examining their under-surface; while muddy banks —
are tenanted by Heteroceri and some species of Cercyon. Although, —
however, these are the most productive localities, it is often advan- —
tageous to search those that appear the most unproductive. Ihave —
taken good Hydropori in a horse-tank: when adjoining ditches, —
promising in appearance, were barren, recently-flooded grass fields —
have produced insects not to be met with under usual circumstances; —
and I recollect that I first captured Hydrop. geminus, in the utmost —
profusion, in the filthy mud of one of the Huntingdonshire Fen lodes, —
when nothing whatever was to be found in the ordinary localities.
With reference to the important subject of the due preparation of }
specimens when taken for the cabinet, I cannot do better than refer —
your readers, especially such as are commencing the study, to the —
capital remarks of my friend Mr. Wollaston, in the second edition of —
Mr. Stainton’s ‘ Entomologist’s Annual’ for this year. If the collector —
has but little time for arranging smaller specimens, during his ento- —
mological excursions, I recommend Mr. Wollaston’s plan of setting — i
out promiscuously the choicest examples on large pieces of framed —
card-board, to be cut out, pinned and arranged hereafter at leisure; ;
this plan, however, requires ample time and abundant leisure: to —
those who can command less time for future setting out I should —
recommend the plan, which I as frequently adopt, of having in the ©
travelling-case small oblong cards, of two or three sizes, neatly cut, :
which may receive at once single or pairs of specimens, and which,
without any further preparation of cutting or pinning, are ready to
be catalogued forthwith, and forwarded to entomological friends, or
consigned to the cabinet. Both plans are good, and the adoption of |
either will produce a neat, well-disposed collection. I shall have
pleasure in sending to any Coleopterist some of my cards, which are
printed on one side with a copper-plate, for the purpose of being more
accurately cut. .
With regard to the season for collecting; in opposition to the re-—
quirements of other insect-life, all months are more or less productive,
June is the height of the season; but owing to the protection which
these families have from extremes of temperature, no month is without —
its representatives. I have taken many species from under the ice,
and indeed the scarce species, Hydrop. oblongus, Steph., and Agabus |
striolatus, Gyll., and probably others, are to be taken freely only in —

.
™
|

Insects. 4849

the months of February and March. Many of us have forgotten that
these insects are far better protected against the rigours of frost than
we are; and so, by following the old-fashioned custom of collecting
only when the sun shines, we fail to obtain probably many species
which are now either of the rarest, or altogether unknown.

So far as we know, there is but one of our native species that is
eminently nocturnal in its habits—Orectochilus villosus.

I have been making, during the summer, some experiments as to
the practicability of keeping these insects in vivariums; and have
succeeded, at least so far as to be able to recommend the subject to
any who would desire to enter upon an untrodden field of research,
or even to those who would view vivariums merely as interesting
subjects for their drawing-room windows,

I believe that a careful study of these groups when alive, and when
subject only to conditions which affect their natural state, will reveal
to us very much of their habits, of which we are now so confessedly
ignorant: we know nothing of the period of their larva and pupa
states, of their metamorphoses, of their distinctive specific habits;
nay, we are unable to recognize the insect at all as a pupa or larva.

All this and much more has to be learned; and all this and much
more may readily be discovered by any who will give a little patient
attention to the subject of vivaria. I have no doubt whatever that it
is within the power of almost any one of your readers to throw much
light upon these very interesting questions; and this, not by devoting

himself entirely to the study, but as an amusement, by merely

%

attending to the natural requirements of the species, keeping up a
proportionate supply of vegetable life, spending a few minutes de die
in diem in watching them, and carefully recording on paper, which
should always lie near the vivarium, whatever he sees with his

eyes.

I have throughout the following catalogue noted the size of each
species in French millimetres; I have done so because, in the absence

_of specimens, I found it very difficult to give their exact value in

lines without either producing unwieldy fractions, or deviating from
strict accuracy; I have hence followed the Continental system of
measurement.

Genus DyrTiscus.
(D. latissimus, Zinn., Fab., Oliv. Long. 40; larg. 25. The largest
of the genus, known at once by its largely-dilated elytra; not un-
common in northern countries of Europe. Rare in France.)

4850 Insecls.

1. D. circumcinctus, Ahrens, Gyli., Steph., Sturm. 2 elytris
sulcatis, D. dubius, Gyll., Aubé. D. angustatus, Steph. Long.30—33 ;
larg. 15B—17. Whittlesea Mere; near Cambridge.

2. D. marginalis, Zinn. D. submarginalis, Steph. 2 elytres
levibus, D. conformis, Kunz., Steph., Aubé. Common every-
where. 5

3. D. circumflexus, ad. elytris sulcatis, D. perplexus, Aubé.
Near London; Mr. Newman has taken it at Peckham.

4. D.lapponicus, Gyll., Germ., Zeiterst. D.septentrionalis, Gyll.
Long. 25—28; larg. 14—15. Pitchy brown, beneath testaceous,
margins of thorax and sides of elytra bordered with yellow, along the
elytra are 18 or 20 faint luteous lines: may readily be distinguished
by its smaller size, and the frequent luteous lines on elytra. 1 took
this insect in the Isle of Mull, September, 1854.

_ 5. D. punctulatus, Fad., Steph., &c. Common.

6. D.dimidiatus, Bergst., Steph. Not so common as D. punctu-

latus, but generally distributed.

Genus CYBISTER.

1. C. Roeselii, Fab. Long. 30—33; larg. 16—18. Certainly rare
in England; Stephens notices a specimen taken at end of September,
1826, at Walton, in Essex; also near Colchester, Steph. Man.
Dr. Power informs me that it has been taken at Southchurch.

Genus P&LOBIUS.
1. P. Hermanni.

Genus ACILIUS.

1. A. sulcatus, Zinn. <A. scoticus, Steph. Ill. .
2. A. fasciatus, Degeer, Erich., Steph. Man. A. canaliculatus,
Nicol., Steph., Aubé. A. caliginosus, Curtis. A. sulcipennis, Sahld.
A. dispar, Zzeg. Not so abundant as A. sulcatus. Whittlesea
Mere; near Edinburgh. |

Genus HyYDATICUS.

1. H. stagnalis, Fab., Gyll., Steph., &c. Long. 14;. larg. 73.
The introduction of this species to our lists rests upon two specimens, |
one taken by Dr. Leach “in a pond near Exeter,” the other by the ~
Rev. F. W. Hope-“ in a pond at Netley.”

(H. austriacus, Dej., Sturm. Long. 123—13; larg. 73—74. Closely
allied to H. cinereus; it is however somewhat smaller and more oval ;

ne

Insects. 4851

_ sides of thorax not so rounded; the yellow transverse band of the

thorax narrower. France, Austria; probably in other northern
countries of Europe.)

_ 2. H. cinereus, Payk., Gyll., Curt., Steph. Long. 14—15; larg.
8—84. By no means common. Cambridge and Huntingdon Fens.

(H. bilineatus, Deg., Payk. Long. 15; larg: 9—93. Closely allied
to H. cinereus; to be distinguished by flatter body, and by broader
band on thorax. North of Europe.)

(H. zonatus, Fab., Panz., Dej. Long. 14—15; larg. 8—83.
Allied to H. austriacus and H. cinereus: it differs slightly in form,
and especially in the disposition of the black transverse bands on
thorax, which /eave the anterior and posterior margins yellow.
North of Europe.) |

(H. verrucifer, Sahib. Long. 14—15; larg. 8—83. May be re-
cognized at once by the peculiar striz on the thorax all converging

_ to its centre. Finland; Lapland.)

3. H. Hybneri, Fab., Oliv., Sch. Not common. Whittlesea

Mere and Yaxley are the only localities in which I have taken it;
Mr. Hope has found it at Netley; Mr. Newman has taken it at Cam-
berwell and Lee.
_ 4. H. transversalis, Fab., Panz., Steph. Though not abundant, the
most common species of the genus. Cambridge, Norfolk, Whittle-
sea. It would seem that no representative of this genus has been
detected either in Scotland or Ireland.

Genus COLYMBETES.
1. C. fuscus, Linn., Fab., Gyll., Sturm, Steph. C. striatus, Aubé,

| Steph. Man. C. Paykulli, Steph. Man. Long. 16—18; larg. 8—9.

Common.

(C. striatus, Zinn. C. Bogemanni, Awbé, Gyll. Long. 17—18;
larg. 8—84. With other distinguishing characteristics, the trans-
verse strie of elytra sufficiently designate this species. North of

_ Europe.)

(C. dolabratus, Payk., Gyll. Long. 15—16; larg.73—8. Hardly
distinct from C. striatus; it is always smaller, relatively narrower;
not dilated behind the middle. North of Europe.)

_ 2. C. pulverosus, Steph., Sturm, Erich. CC. conspersus, Gyll.,
Aubé. Apparently more common near London than in any other
district.

3. C. notatus, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. This insect sometimes
occurs in considerable numbers in the fen districts; Wandsworth

4852 Insects.

Common, Norfolk, Carlisle, Southend, Bottisham, Dollar, Falkirk, —
Berwickshire. a

4, C. exoletus, Forst., St. C.collaris, Payk., Gyll., Erichs., Aubé. 2
Not uncommon in Huntingdonshire; near London; Carlisle, Prest-
wick Car.

5. C. bistriatus, Bergst., Hrichs., Steph. C. agilis, Payk., Gyll.,
Steph., Audé. Rare in England; more common in Scotland;
Norfolk, Kensington, Cambridge, Dollar, Swinton; near Glasgow;
Paisley ; Oban, common.

6. C. adspersus, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. The rarest of the
genus: I have never been so fortunate as to meet with it, though some
years ago it was frequently taken by collectors. It is shorter and
relatively broader than any of the allied species. .

7. C. Grapii, Gyll., Steph., Erich., Aubé. C. niger, Lacord.
Not uncommon in the fens of Cambridgeshire; rarer near London.
Mr. Newman has taken it abundantly at Birch Wood, in Kent.

Genus ILYBIUs.
1. I. ater, Degeer, Fab., Gyll., Steph. I. quadrinotatus, Steph. ?

Common.

2. I. obscurus, Marsh, Steph. I. quadriguttattus, Lacord, Erich.
Common.

(I. Prescotti, Mannerh., Aubé. Appears to be simply a variety of
I. fenestratus, taken at Petersburg. Colour castaneous instead of

piceous.)
3. I. fenestratus, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. I. subzeneus, Steph.
I. lacustris, Fad. Local: occasionally in the fens; Welton Place,

near Daventry ; Croydon Canal, Parley Copse, Leominster.

4. I. guttiger, Gyll., Steph., Erich., Aubé. |More common in
northern counties than near London; Bewdley Forest, Gosforth,
Paisley.

5. I. angustior, Gyll., Steph., Erich., Aubé. London district, }
Whittlesea Mere, Whitsunbank Hill. This local species has more ~
recently been discovered by Dr. Power at Woking, and taken in
some abundance by the London entomologists. It is most closely ;
allied to the preceding species, I, guttiger; and though it is possibly :
distinct, I am not able to discover any clear, satisfactory specific i
characteristics.

(I. meridionalis, Dej. Allied to 1. uliginosus; the same form, but
broader; colour darker, of a different metallic tint; elytra without
the distinct marginal band of the following species.)

Insects. 4853

6. I. uliginosus, Linn. I. fuliginosus, Fab., Gyll., Sieph., Aubé.
D. lacustris, Panz. A most abundant species.

Genus AGABUS.

(A. serricornis, Payk., Gyll. Long. 9—11; larg. 5—6. Oblongo-
ovate ; nigro-piceous, very slightly zneous; sides of thorax continued
in same arc as sides of elytra; sides of elytra and thorax broadly, but
indistinctly, ferruginous. In ¢ four terminal joints of antenna dilated.
France, Sweden, Lapland, Finland.)

1. A. agilis, Fab., E'rich., Steph. Man. A. oblongus, Jil., Gyll.,
Steph. Illust., Aubé. D. hemorrhoidalis, Fab., var. A. ruficollis,
Schaller. Yaxley ; Cambridge; near London; Raehills, Dum-
friesshire.

2. A. arcticus, Payk., Gyll., Steph. Scotland, Dollar, Isle of
Mull; Orkney, August, 1855.

3. A. guttatus, Payk., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. Long. 8—9; larg. 4—4#.
Common.

(A. dilatatus, Brull., Aubé. Long. 83; larg. 42. Allied to
A. guttatus, somewhat larger; elytra not so dark, with a more decided
brown; more finely reticulated: probably it will prove to be a local
variety. Morea, France.)

(A. biguttatus, Oliv., Farrmaire. Long. 9; larg. 5. Differs from
A. dilatatus by its colour, entirely black and shining, more convex in
form; differs from A. guttatus in general form, less parallel and more
convex, as well as by its greater brilliancy of colour; the reticulations
are much less distinct than on A. guttatus. France, Spain, Italy,
Sicily.)

4. A. fontinalis, Steph., ll. A. guttatus, var., Steph. Man. A. vit-
tiger, Steph., not Gyll., Aubé. By no means an abundant species.
Devonshire, Sussex, Dorchester; Mr. Newman has taken it this
autumn on Car Caradoc, in Shropshire. This insect may be
determined at once by the third tooth on the anterior feet of the
male.

(A. Heffneri, Mannerh. Long. 74; larg. 33. Evidently smaller
than A. guttatus, comparatively rather shorter, more finely reticulated ;
the three lines on the elytra are less distinct: the posterior angles of
the thorax more obtuse and almost rounded. Sweden.)

(A. Wasastjerne, Sahib. Long. 73; larg. 34. However closely
resembling (by descriptions) the former species, it appears to be
distinct: thorax less rounded on sides, posterior angles of thorax

XIII. av

A854 Insects.

sharper, and in no degree rounded, punctuation of elytra more —

distinct. Lapland, Finland.)

5. A. chaleonotus, Panz., Ill., Steph. A.cyaneus, Steph. Illust., —

var. A. montanus, Steph. A. nigro-zeneus, Marsh, Steph., not

Krich. <A. aterrimus, Steph. A variable and common species, —

Long. 8—10; larg. 43—5}.

6. A. affinis, Payk., Gyll., Steph., Sturm. C. branchiatus, Bab., j
Steph. Long. 64—74; larg. 82—4. Not common. Near —
London; Netley, Norfolk, Cambridge. I have found this species I

more abundantly on chalk than other soils.

(A. elongatulus, Gyl/. Long. 8; larg. 32. Allied to A. affinis, but |

longer; posterior angles of thorax more rounded, and not pointing
backwards towards elytra; colour of elytra black, with a broad and
indistinct margin of brown. Lapland.)

7. A.striolatus, Gyll., Aubé. A. rectus, Bab. Long. 8; larg. 43. —

Oval, elongated, rounded behind, black, scarcely shining; head black,

with labrum and two spots in front ferruginous; antenne and palpi j
ferruginous; thorax black with narrow lateral margins of yellow, —
covered with linear impressions pointing in all directions; elytra with —

impressions less distinct: black, without spots, with three almost
obsolete lines of punctures; legs ferruginous. This insect, by

some oversight, is omitted in Schaum’s list: according to Babington —
(Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. vi. p. 54) it was first discovered in Horning ~
Marshes by the Rev. J. L. Brown, in March, 1839; and again in ©

March, 1840. In May, 1855, I took a single specimen in the same
locality.

(A. vittiger, Gyll., Erich. Wong. 743; larg. 32. Body more oval,
less parallel than A. striolatus; thorax simply and distinctly reticu-
lated; elytra more convex; black, with a short longitudinal line,
hardly visible, placed near the middle of length, and some distance
from external margin. North of Europe.)

(A. melanarius, Awbé. Long. 84; larg. 4%. Differs from A. strio-
latus by its rather larger size, form more oval, the less generally

longitudinal direction of the linear punctures on elytra, and also by
a ferruginous narrow band at their margin, visible only when the
insect is wetted: differs from A. vittiger, among other peculiarities, —

by the frequent linear impressions on thorax, pointing in all direc-
tions, as in A. striolatus.)

8. A. paludosus, Fab., Gyll., Steph. <A. striolatus, Steph., not
Gyll. Not rare: generally found throughout the country in running
water.

i

j

Insects. 4855

9. A.congener, Payk., Gyll., Steph. A.confinis, Steph., not Gyll.

_ Long. 74—8; larg. 44—4}3. Suffolk, Norfolk; rare near London:

but little is known of the localities or habits of this insect.
(A. confinis, Gyll., Sahlb. Long. 83—933 larg. 4{--5. Head and

_ thorax black, without the narrow ferruginous border of A. congener;

elytra slightly elongate, dark brown, with lateral borders cloudily but
broadly testaceous; with 3 longitudinal lines of punctures; smooth,
not reticulated as in A. congener. North of Europe, Sweden,
Finland.)

(A. nigricollis, Zoubkoff. Long. 9; larg. 42. Head black, labrum
and two spots in anterior red; thorax black, lateral margins slightly
ferruginous; elytra slightly elongated behind, varying in colour from

_ pitchy brown to bright red-brown; with two spots, hardly, sometimes
not at all, visible, one on external margin, the other at apex.}

10. A. femoralis, Payk., Gyll., Sieph., Sturm. A.assimilis, Sturm,

Aubé. Near London; Cambridge; generally distributed.

11. A. uliginosus, Payk., Gyll., Sturm. Long.7; larg.4. South-
end; Windsor; rare near Edinburgh; Aberdeenshire. Rare.
A. dispar, Bold (Zool. 1849, xxiv.), must be referred to this species,
as L have ascertained by comparison of a fine series which Mr. Bold
obligingly allowed me to examine.

(A. fuscipennis, Payk. Long. 93—10; larg. 53—5%. Fuscous;
thorax dark brown, irregularly punctuated with a few more deeply im-
pressed punctures on anterior margin; lateral borders broadly ferru-
ginous, anterior narrowly; elytra oval, considerably dilated in front
of the middle; colour and broad lateral margins in thorax, punctua-
tion more fine. North of Europe.)

(A. Reichii, Aubé. Long. 73; larg. 43. Closely allied to A. uli-
ginosus: differs in form, which is more convex, and by the greater
dilatation of elytra a little in front of the middle: it appears to cor-
respond in colour and punctuation entirely with A. uliginosus.)

12. A. abbreviatus, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. A common

species in the Fen districts; Windsor; Mr. Newman has taken it at

Leominster.

13. A. maculatus, Linn., Fab., Sieph. Frequents especially brooks
and running water throughout the kingdom: dark varieties are occa-
sionally met with.

14, A. vitreus, Payk. A. didymus, Oliv., Aubé. Generally dis-
tributed, but not abundant.

15. A. bipunctatus, Faub., Gyll., Aubé. A.nebulosus, Forst., Sleph.
Very common.

4856 Insects.

16. A. conspersus, Marsh, Steph. A. subnebulosus, Steph., Aubé.
Aldborough, Suffolk; near Northampton; Musselburgh.

17. A. brunneus, Fab., Aubé, Steph. Man. D. castaneus, Sch.
C. ferrugineus, Steph. L11. Rare. South Devon, by Dr. Leach in
spring of 1825; Dartmoor; near Caernarvon: I am indebted to
Dr. Power for specimens which he took in the New Forest.

18. A. Sturmii, Schénh., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. Abundant.

19. A. bipustulatus, Linn., Fab., Steph. A. carbonarius, Fadb., Gyll.
Abundant.

(Var. C. Snowdonius, Newm., Steph. This is an interesting form:
I think it cannot be regarded a species, but as an extreme mountain
variety of A. bipustulatus. Mr. Newman has obligingly forwarded to
me one of his few remaining specimens; I have scores in my cabinet
and boxes of A. bipustulatus, but have none that approach the
peculiarities of this example,—the two fovez at base of prothorax, —
and the very apparent posterior attenuation of elytra: I notice the
subject here, as it would be very desirable if a series of the insect {
could be obtained from Snowdon; single examples are always —
unsatisfactory as the basis of an opinion in questions of doubt. Ae

(A. subtilis, Er. Differs from A. bipustulatus by its smaller size, :
more convex form; elytra more finely striolated and reticulated.) [

(A. Solieri, Aubé. <A. alpestris, Heer. Long. 10; larg. 53. —
Allied to A. bipustulatus, but is distinct by its narrower form; more
depressed; mouth narrower, and more prominent; thorax smaller,
rounded at the sides, with posterior angles obtuse; sides of elytra —
more parallel. Pyrenees, Vernet, Grenoble, Savoy.) ;

Genus NOTERUS.

1. N. crassicornis, Fab., Gyli., Steph. N. capricornis, Herbst,
Sturm.

2. N. semipunctatus, Fab., Erich., Steph. Man. N. sparsus,~
Marsh, Curt., Steph. Lllust. Long. 5; larg. 24.

(N. laevis, Dej., Sturm. Long. 43; larg. 23. Approaches in form —
N. semipunctatus, in antenne N. crassicornis: may be distinguished —
from both by the smoothness of the elytra, the few impressions upon
which are very minute. France and other countries.) .

Genus LACCOPHILUS.
“S

1. L. minutus, Lin., Fub., Erich. Steph. L. interruptus, Panz., -
Aubé. 1. hyalinus, Marsh, Steph. Long. 5; larg. 23

arena

Insects. 4857

2. L. hyalinus, Deg., Evich., Steph. L. minutus, Marsh, Steph.,

_ Aubé. L. obscurus, Panz. Long. 42 larg. 22.

(L. testaceus, Aubé. Long. 5; larg. 3. Broader and more convex
than L. hyalinus; without the longitudinal markings on elytra which

distinguish L. minutus. France, &c.)

(L. variegatus, Germ., Sturm. Long. 4; larg. 24. At once known
by the broad luteous transverse bands on elytra, interrupted at the
suture; one a little removed from the base, the other behind the
middle. France.)

Genus HypuIDRUs.
1. H. ovatus, Linn. 8, Steph., Erich., Aubé. D. ferrugineus, Linn.

_—=6©, Don. H. ovalis, Fab., Gyll. $. H. gibbus, Fab., Gyll. 2.

Var. H. variegatus, Steph.
(H. variegatus, I/lig., Dej7. Long. 44; larg. 3. Size of H. ovatus:
at once distinguishable by its markings on elytra. France.)

Genus CNEMIDOTUS.
1. C. cesus, Du/fts., Gyll., Steph., Aubé, Erich. C.impressus, Panz.
Near London; Fen districts, Northampton, &c.
(C. rotundatus, Aubé, Fairmaire. Long. 33; larg.2. Distinct
from C. cesus by brighter colour, form broader and more rounded,
punctuation more deep and distinct. France.)

Genus Hyproports. |
1. H. inequalis, Fab., Gyll. Hygrotus reticulatus, Steph. Long. 3;

» larg. 2.

2. H. reticulatus, Fab., Gyll., Erich., Aubé. Hygrotus collaris,

. Fab., Steph. H. affinis, Steph. Ill. Long. 34; larg. 2.

+4

(H. quinque-lineatus, Zett. Long. 37; larg.2. Allied to H. reticu-
latus, which it resembles in size, form and maculation; it differs in

_ punctuation; in H. reticulatus the elytra are densely covered with

fine punctures interspersed with others deep and decided: in 5-lineatus

the surface of elytra is covered with deep punctures. Lapland.)

8. H. decoratus, Gyll. Near York; Norfolk; near London;
Northamptonshire. Long. 24; larg. 13.

(H.cuspidatus, Kunz., Germ. Long.3; larg.2. Short, ovate, densely
punctured, shining, ferruginous or brown; thorax ferruginous, slightly
darker on anterior and posterior margins; external margin of elytra
and two transverse irregular bands dark brown; apex lengthened into
a point. France, Italy, Germany.)

4858 Insecis.

4, H. pictus, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. Abundant throughout the —
country. H. arcuatus, Fab., Panz. Long. 23; larg. 14. Sl

(H. fasciatus, Dahl., Dej. Cat. Long. 23—83; larg. 14—1%. Black,
almost impunctate; thorax with lateral margins ferruginous; elytra
rufo-testaceous, with very narrow border at base; suture, two trans-
verse bands and lateral margin black. France.)

5. H.lepidus, Oliv., Schon., Aubé. H. scitulus, Steph. Not un-
common in fens, affects muddy ditches and pools.

6. H. confluens, Fab., Panz., Gyll. Long. 33; larg. 2.

(H. nigrolineatus, Stev. H. blandus, Germ. H. enneagrammus, ~
Ahr., Sturm. Long. 4; larg. 2. Shining; head, thorax, elytra, pale |
yellow; in the latter the suture and four lines clear black; body beneath —
black; legs testaceous; form longer than H. confluens. Russia and
central Europe.)

(H. pallens, Mannerh. Long. 3¢; larg. 1%. Subconvex, deeply —
punctured; testaceous; anterior and posterior margins of thorax —
somewhat darker; elytra somewhat elongate, with two punctured

strie; the suture and a line on exterior margin hardly darker; body
beneath black; legs testaceous. Lapland.) :
7. H. rivalis, Gyll., Aubé. H. fluvatilis, Steph. Common in

)

streams in the North of England. Long. 8; larg. 12.

8. H. Sanmarkii, Sakdb. H. assimilis, Gyl/., Aubé, Steph. This —
insect is absolutely the same as H. rivalis, Gyll., in everything but —
colour. I believe it will be found to be a variety. .

9. H. septentrionalis, Gyll., Aubé. H. alpinus, Kunz., Steph.
Found occasionally with H. rivalis, but more sparingly; it may be —
distinguished at once by its longer form. Long. 34; larg. 13. |

(H. alpinus, Payk., Gyll., Germ. H. bidentatus, Gyll., Aubé, 2. —
H. borealis, Gyll.(?) Long. 43; larg. 21. Closely allied to —
H. Davisii, somewhat larger; lateral borders of thorax rounded; not
so depressed; more narrowed behind; colour not so dark. North of
Europe.) .

10. H. Davisii, Curt, Steph., Aubé. WH. borealis, Aubé, Steph., —
not Gyll. Not uncommon in running streams. Cambridge, Nor-_
folk, Lincolnshire. Long. 4; larg. 2+.

11. H. assimilis, Payk., Steph. H. frater, Kunz., Steph., Aubé.
H. halensis, Steph. Man. UH. areolatus, Steph. il. Common. |
Long. 42; larg. 23. 5

(H, hyperboreus, Gyll. H. affinis, Stwrm. Long. 4; larg. 24. —
Differs from H. assimilis by absence of any spots on elytra caused by #]
confluence of longitudinal lines; on margin of elytra two small linear ~

a a
wa

Insects. 4859

marks; between first stria and suture rudiment of another stria,
always shorter than others. Lapland.)

(H. luctuosus, Aubé. Long. 54; larg. 22. Black; head in front
rufo-ferruginous ; sides of thorax much rounded; on elytra two large

transverse spots at base; two round at margin, nearer the apex; two

at the apex; and two oblong near the suture, a little beyond the

‘middle, all pale; at apex denticulated. France, Sardinia.)

12. H. halensis, Fab., Germ., Evich., Aubé. HH. areolatus, Dufts.
H. griseostriatus, Steph. Long. 44—44; larg. 24—23. Taken
in a deep lake in the Isle of Mull by Mr. Hislop and myself; at Rae-

hills, Rev. W. Little: probably to be found in other parts of Scot-
land.

(H. griseostratus, Deg., Gyll. Long. 4%; larg. 24. Thorax with

sides hardly rounded ; testaceous, with two dark spots at base; elytra
with seven lines more or less confluent; sixth and seventh lines some-
times interrupted, and united again in the form of spots: distinct from
H. halensis, Fab., by longer form, thorax narrower, lines on elytra
: more confluent. Throughout Europe.)

(H. Ceresyi, Auwbé. Long. 5; larg. 24. Allied to H. griseostriatus,

but larger; thorax somewhat broader, posterior angles sharper; elytra

with four entire longitudinal lines, and a fifth rudimentary at suture.
France.)

(H. canaliculatus, Dej., Aubé. Long. 5¢; larg. 23. Testaceous, ©
slightly pubescent; thorax with two small dark spots near the base;

elytra with six or seven lines and irregular spots; with three longi-

tudinal strie faintly impressed; elytra broader than thorax; body

beneath black; legs testaceous. Spain, France.)

13. H. elegans, Illig., Panz., Steph. . brevis, Sturm. H. de-

_ pressus, Steph., Aubé. Not common in Scotland; found in many
_ of the southern counties of England. Long. 5; larg. 22.

_ (H. marginicollis, Dej. <A variety, without any black markings, of
Hz. elegans, L0/ig.)

(H. Sansii, Solter. Long. 5; larg. 23. Resembles H. elegans,
from which it differs in outline; margin of thorax more rounded;
elytra more parallel and compressed; the two teeth at apex of elytra
not so acute. Spain.)

(H. depressus, Fab., Gyll., Steph. Found in Sweden: is dark
beneath, and of a more elongated shape than H. elegans, J/l.: itis not
ascertained that it is a mere local variety.—Schaum, in Zool. 1891.)

14, 11. duodecim-pustulatus, Fab., &c. Scotland; throughout
England: I found a black variety in profusion in the Isle of Bute,

A860 Insects.

September, 1854, also in a small stream in Isle of Man: Mr. Newman
has found the same variety at Leominster. Long. 6; larg. 3.

15. H. parallelogrammus, Ahr., Sturm $, Aubé 2, Erich. 3 &.
H. lineatus, Marsh 2, Steph. $2. H. consobrinus, Kunz., Aubé ¢.
H. nigrolineatus, Kunz., Sturm. In profusion near Sheerness ;
Southend, Norwich, Ipswich, Wandsworth Common. Long. 5;
larg. 22.

16. H. novem-lineatus, Rudd, Steph. Ill. H. nigro-lineatus, Gyll.,
Steph., not Stev., dubé. H.consobrinus, Zetterst. d. H.Schénherii,
Aubé 6. H. parallelus, Awbé 2. Bute, Sept., 1854; not common;
two specimens from gravel-pits, Weyhill, Oct., 1828. Long. 4;
larg. 2

17. H. picipes, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. H. alternans, Kunz.,
Steph. Ill.: Q var. H. lineellus, Gyll., Aubé. Occasionally near
London; Norfolk, Salop, Devonshire, Southend. I am indebted to—
my friend Mr. Wollaston for recent examples which i took at
Killarney, Autumn, 1854. Long. 5; larg. 22.

18. H. dorsalis, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. More frequent than the
above. I have taken it freely in Norfolk and Huntingdonshire, also
Cambridge Fens; Cantire; near London. This insect varies much
in maculation. Long. 43—5; larg. 25—22.

(H. lapponum, Gyll. Long. 5; larg. 23. Somewhat depressed ; —
punctulated; pubescent; size and general outline of H. dorsalis;
head, thorax and elytra dark brown; margins of two latter inclined to —
ferruginous; sides of thorax more rounded than in H. dorsalis. —
Lapland; “ peut-étre aussi en Allemagne et en Angleterre.”)

19. H. opatrinus, Germ., Steph., Aubé. This is one of those un-
satisfactory insects, the claims of which for admission to our Fauna
rest not upon insufficient but upon too remote authority; I cannot
ascertain that it has been taken since 1829, by Mr. Hope, “ Netley ;
Salop.” It is a very distinct insect, size of H. dorsalis, black, punc-
tulate, clothed with dark green pubescence; thorax broad and rounded
at sides. Taken throughout Europe, Long. 44—-5; larg. 24—23.

(H. platynotus, Germ. H. murinus, Sturm. Long. 4}; larg. 23.
Allied to H. opatrinus, which it closely resembles in colour and
punctuation; it is always smaller, comparatively broader, more de-
pressed; margin of thorax continued in almost the same line as
that of margin of elytra; and not forming an angle with it, as in
H. opatrinus.)

(H. Aubei, Muls. Long. 44. Dark red-brown; thorax as large as
base of elytra, and does not form an apparent angle with it: differs

€

Insects. 4861

from H. platynotus in its more parallel form; more depressed ; sides
of thorax less rounded; punctuation of elytra more decided, of head
and thorax more fine. France.)

20. H. latus, Steph., Curt. H. ovatus, Sturm, Erich., Aubé.

_H. castaneus, Heer. Long. 43; larg. 23. Marston Lodge, York-
shire, Rev. G. T. Rudd: “Ouseburn in July,” Bold’s Catalogue of

boogie

Northumberland Insects; Mr. Bold, who has recently taken it, has

kindly supplied my cabinet with examples.

21. H. palustris, Linn., Sturm, Steph., Erich. WH. sexpustulatus,
Fab., Gyll., Aubé. HH. lituratus, Fab., Panz. HH. proximus, Steph.
fll. WH. cambriensis, Steph., Curt. The most common, and also
one of the most variable of our Hydropori: I have specimens from

_ Argyleshire perfectly black. Long. 4; larg. 2.

22. H. vittula, Hrich. H. ambiguus, dubé. H. nigrita, Steph.
Nowhere abundant; sparingly in Norfolk, May, 1854; near Oban;
Whittlesea Mere; occasionally near London. Long. 2%; larg. 13.

23. H. xanthopus, Steph. HH. planus, Steph. Man. Hz. flavipes,
Steph. Ill., not Fab. Hz. lituratus, Brullé, Aubé. In abundance
at Southend; near London; Hertford, Ripley, Norfolk, Wandsworth
Common, Ely. Long. 34—32; larg. 14—2.

(H. limbatus, Dalh. Long. 4}; larg.24. Allied to H. xanthopus ;
differs in its markings on elytra; may also be distinguished by its
larger size, more abundant pubescence; anterior of head and sides of
thorax more distinctly ferruginous; antenne entirely testaceous.

_ France.)

(H. analis, Aubé. Long. 38%; larg. 13. Differs from H. xanthopus
in its markings on elytra; transverse band at base of elytra not so

_ broad, or represented by one or two spots; more narrow form; pu-
_bescence more abundant: differs also from H. xanthopus and

H. limbatus by punctures on abdomen, which are close and fre-

quent, whereas in these two species they are rare and isolated.

France.)

(H. marginatus, Dufts., Aubé, Fairmaire. Wong. 44. Head black,
vertex and anterior red; thorax black, with broad, testaceous or ferru-
ginous lateral margins; elytra dark brown or reddish; at their base
a testaceous broad irregular transverse band, which is continued
along the margins of elytra; body beneath black; legs ferruginous
or testaceous. France, Germany, Spain. This species I took in
England at Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire, September 3, 1848. 1 do
not, however, introduce it into our lists until it has actually been com-
pared with examples in the foreign cabinets.)

XIII. 2U

4862 \ Insects.

(H. Marklini, Gyll., Zett. Long. 84; larg. 2. Head testaceous,
ferruginous on sides and behind; thorax testaceous, with anterior
and posterior margins broadly black; elytra black, with broad irregular
eriseous fascia across the base, into which run five or six abbreviated —
longitudinal lines of same colour; sides of elytra griseous. Sweden.)

24. H. pubescens, Gyll., Aubé. H.melanocephalus, Marsh, Steph.,
Sturm. H. caliginosus, Steph. Man. H. planus, Marsh., Steph.
Lllust. Dr. Schaum retains with propriety the name of H. pubescens -
for this species (although H. melanocephalus, Marsh., has the claim of
priority), in order to avoid confusion with H. melanocephalus, Gyll., —
Aubé, a very distinct species, which has not yet received any other ~
name. Long. 33; larg. 13. |

25. H. melanocephalus, Gyll., 4ubé. Long. 3%; larg. 1g—2. ©
Black, punctulate, hardly shining; sides of thorax very slightly —
rounded, continued in same line with sides of elytra; elytra rounded —
towards the apex; legs ferruginous, feet black; body beneath black.
I took this species on the hills behind Oban, September, 1854, in
swampy ground caused by one of the hill rivulets; had it not been —
night, when I could not distinguish the insects in my net, I might ~
have no doubt taken many: it will probably be found elsewhere.

(H. glabriusculus, Sahlb. Long. 84; larg. 14. Allied to H. me- —
lanocephalus in every respect, of which I believe, so far as I can gather
from descriptions, that it may prove a variety ; much smaller in size; —
proportionally somewhat narrower; feet testaceous; legs ferrnginous. —
Lapland.) §

26. H. erythrocephalus, Linn., Fab., Gyll., Steph., &c. H. de-
planatus, 2, Gyll., Aubé. Long.4; larg.2. Very common through- ©
out Great Britain. .

27. H.nigrita, Fab., Gyll., Aubé. H. trivialis, Steph. Long. 3—33 ;
larg. 14—13. This species is, by some accident, omitted in Schaum’s
valuable list of our British species (Zool. 1892). Southend; near
London, by Dr. Power; Norfolk, Cambridge, Northampton. “ Dollar, ~
Edinburgh, Paisley.”— ‘eee Catalogue.

(H. brevis, Sahlb. Long. 23; larg. 14. Closely resembles in form
H. nigrita, is half the size; no trace of longitudinal lines on elytra.
Finland. Var. of H. nigrita. ?)

(H. neuter, Fairmaire. Long. 34. Allied to H. petite: same
colour, slightly larger, more elongated; head anteriorly reddish,
finely punctured; sides of thorax continuing in same line as those of
elytra, fully and distinctly punctured: elytra as in H. nigrita, more
pubescent. This species differs from H. melanarius by its form, not |

o
.
.

Insects. 4863

parallel, less depressed, punctuation more fine; from H. melano-
_ cephalus by its form, not parallel, less elongated, smaller size and
_ pubescent elytra. France.)

(H. nivalis, Heer., Fairmaire. Wong. 3—4. Much resembles

_H. nigrita and H. melanocephalus; differs from H. nigrita by its

larger size, more elongated form, suture always punctate at base,
head black, legs more obscure; differs from H. melanocephalus

by its smaller head, thorax uniform in punctuation, elytra not
_ parallel, their sides somewhat broader at base than base of thorax.

iF

ae

France.)

28. H. erythrocephalus, Zinn., Fab., Gyll., Aubé. WH. deplanatus,
Gyll., Aubé, var. 9. One of our most common species. Long. 47;
larg. 2.

(A. vagepictus, Fairm. Long. 4. Much resembles H. erythro-
cephalus, more convex, more narrow behind; thorax forms with base
of the elytra a more distinct angle; lateral band of elytra larger and
more distinct: differs from H. rufifrons by its more oval form, less
parallel sides of elytra, head larger, thorax less narrowed in front,
punctuation not so deep, and by the angle of thorax with sides of
elytra. France.)

29. H.rufifrons, Dufts., Gyll., Sturm. WH. piceus, Steph. I have
taken this species in the Huntingdonshire Fens and near Cambridge:

_ itis by no means common: Norfolk; Berwickshire, rare; occasionally
near Paisley. Long. 5; larg. 23.

30. H. oblongus, Steph. H. nitidus, Sturm, Hrich., Aubé. This

_ insect is to be taken in abundance only in the very early spring, or
_ even before spring has appeared: I took it very sparingly round

Horning, Norfolk, in May, 1854. Long. 43; larg. 2¢.
31. H. ferrugineus, Steph. H. victor, Audé. Long. 4; larg. 2.

The only known localities for this species are near Collingbourne

Wood, once in 1828, and several in a stream at Kimpton during the

spring of 1829: it resembles H. memnonius, but has thorax more
‘rounded at sides, is more parallel in form. It is taken in France,

Constance, &c.
32. H.melanarius, Sturm, Erich. Long. 32; larg. 2. Resembles

_ somewhat H. melanocephalus, Gy//., but may be distinguished at once

by its more parallel sides; head and thorax decidedly larger, elytra
continuing exactly the line of the thorax, and covered with deeper and
more distinct punctuation; colour more brilliant black; legs and an-
tenne entirely ferruginous. I took two examples of this insect in
Horning Fen, 1854.

A864 Insecis.

33. H.memnonius, Nicolai, Hrich., Aubé, Steph. H.subelongatus,
Sleph. $. H. marginatus, Steph. $ immature, not Dufts., Aubé.
H. deplanatus, Steph. 2, not Gyll., Aubé. H. niger, Sturm ¢.
H. jugularis, Bab. $2. H. castaneus, Aubé &. Long. 4; larg. 2.
Abundant occasionally: Southend; near Peterborough; Whittlesea; _
near London; Daventry, Newcastle; Raehills, Dollar, Kinross-shire, —
Tweed.

34. H. Gyllenhalii, Schiddie. 4H. rufifrons, Steph., not Du/fts.
H. piceus, Awbé, not Sleph., Sturm or Hrichson. Long. 4; larg. 2.
Occasionally throughout the country, more abundantly in the northern
counties; common in Cantyre; Dalineny, Rev. W. Little.

(H.incertus, Dey. Long. 4; larg.2. Size and form of H. Gyllen-
halii, which it closely resembles, and of which it may be but a variety ;
it is, however, rather more depressed, deeper black, more brilliant,
more finely punctured, elytra with two longitudinal lines of points; _
sides of thorax not so full and rounded, more oblique. France and
South Europe.) |

35. H. tristis, Payk., Gyll., Sturm, Erich., Aubé. Long. 34; larg. 14.
This species, of which Schaum found but two examples in Stephens’s
collection, is generally distributed, though somewhat local and rare:
I have taken it in Lancashire; in Argyleshire; in Mull; “not common
near Prestwick Carr,” Mr. Bold: it seems to affect especially peaty
soils on moors and sides of mountains. : |

36. H. elongatulus, Sturm. Long. 34. Closely allied to H. tristis, ©
but differs from it by its more compressed, less oval form, elytra
rounded at sides, more distinctly pubescent, thorax somewhat mar-—
rower ;* appears to vary very considerably in size. This species was

first detected by my friend Mr. Wollaston, who took a few :

on Midgley Moor, Yorkshire: I have taken it since in Derbyshire, and
previously in Scotland. It is not an uncommon species.

(H. striola, Gyll. Long. 33; larg. 12. Of somewhat the form of
H. tristis, more depressed, more finely punctuate, and distinguishable
by the colour of the elytra; thorax as in H. tristis. Elytra of H. tristis,
according to Aubé, are “castaneo-brunnea,” “ d’un brun ferrugineux ;”
of H. striola “ fasco-brunnea,” “ brunnatres ;” the latter has a trans-
verse fascia at base of elytra, and exterior lateral band of dark brown;
within this band is a dark longitudinal spot near the centre. France,
Germany, Sweden.)

* According to Fairmaire, the colour is dark brown or brown: this is the case in
some of my examples, but in the majority it is deep black. .

'

5

Insects. 4865

+ (H. notatus, Sturm. Long. 34; larg. 1%. Resembles in colour and

general appearance H. striola, but differs essentially in outline; it is

narrower, and more parallel in form, and the punctuation of elytra
more distinct. Berlin.)
(H. neglectus, Schaum, Fairmaire. Long. 23. Oval, slightly

elongated; depressed towards suture of elytra: differs from H.

_ tristis by smaller size, more contracted, sides of elytra more com-

pressed, forming a more distinct angle with sides of thorax:
distinct from H. umbrosus by its form, longer, somewhat more

_ depressed, sides of thorax more fully rounded, forming an angle

~—=—e! - re © 5

with base of elytra; elytra less pubescent and more finely punctuate.
France.) .
37. H. angustatus, Sturm, Erich., Aubé. H. tristis, Steph., not

Payk. H. acuminatus, Stawrm. Long. 34; larg. 22. In abun-

dance in Gravesend Marshes in the spring: Sheerness ; not uncommon
throughout all the fen districts; “ Prestwick Car, elsewhere near New-
castle,’ Mr. Bold; ‘“‘near Swinton, Berwickshire; Raehills,’ Mr.
Murray.

38. H. obscurus, Sturm, Hrich., Aulé. H. tristis, var. 8., Gyll.
H. umbrosus? Steph. Long. 3; larg. 13. Argyleshire, near
Connell Falls, plentifully ; near Killamey, by Mr. Wollaston.

39. H. umbrosus, Gyll., Sturm, Aubé, Erich. H. minutus, Steph.

Long. 23; larg. 12. Local. Not common near London. I took

ee te

several specimens in Norfolk, May, 1854, in a muddy swamp;
sparingly near Paisley.
40. H.Scalesianus, Sieph. ti. pygmeus, Sturm, Aubé. Long. 2;

larg. §. There is but one British example of this insect in existence,

——~

in the cabinet of the late Mr. Stephens; Mr. Scales, its discoverer,
resided at Beechamwell, near Swaffham, Norfolk, a high chalk district ;
it has been taken in abundance near Berlin by Erichson, but is very

~ local.

41. H. lineatus, /ab., Oliv., Gyll., Sturm. H.ovatus, Fab. H. pyg-

F meus, Fub., Steph. H.ovalis, Marsh., Steph. Long. 34; larg. 13.

Common.
42. H. flavipes, Oliv., Aubé. H. minimus, Steph., not Scop. H.con-
cinnus, Sleph. H.marmoratust Bakewell, Steph. Long. 23;

larg. 13. Local: taken by Mr. Wollaston in Ireland and Anglesea ;
occasionally near London; Devonshire.

(H. meridionalis, Awbé. Long. 23; larg. 1Z. Closely allied to
H. flavipes, smaller, narrower, more convex, may be distinguished at
once by the colour of the thorax; testaceous, with the posterior and

4866 Inseels.

anterior margins of a dark brown colour, which meets sometimes in |
the middle of the disk.) | |

43. H. granularis, Fab., Gyll., Steph., &e. Long. 24; larg. 1}.
Common.

44. H. geminus, Fab., Gyll., Steph. &c. H. pusillus, Fad.
Long. 24; larg. 4. Common in shallow muddy water in the
Fen districts. hie sibseiecsips Common, Coombe Wood, Gosforth.

(H. varius, Dej. Long. 23; larg. 14. Black, slightly pubescent;
margin of thorax ferruginous; elytra ferruginous, with base, band
along suture dilated on either side at the middle, and again near apex, ~
black ; on the shoulders a black mark, and another oblong one on the
disk, bounded by a narrow line along the margin of elytra. France,
Germany.) > i

45. H. unistriatus, I//., Oliv., Steph. HH. parvulus, Payk., Gyll.
Hyg. bisulcatus, Curt. Long. 23; larg. 1}. A rare species ap-
parently: one specimen near Cambridge; Devonshire ; iia
near London.

(H. bicarinatus, Clairv. Hyph. costatus, Gyll. Long. 24 ; larg. 14.
Broader than H. unistriatus, markings somewhat similar, but more —
testaceous in colour. France.) , . .

(H. pumilus, Dey. Long. 23; larg.13. Broader than H. unistriatus,
markings somewhat similar, but more testaceous in colour; distinguish- —
able from H. bicarinatus by sides of the thorax somewhat more —
rounded, anterior and posterior margins more broadly black; this —
colour hardly reaches lateral margins. France.) :

46. H.minutissimus, Germ., Aubé. H. trifasciatus, Woll. Long.2;
larg. $. This at present is exclusively an Irish species: it was
taken some years ago in the rivers near Cork by the late Mr. Clear;
and described by Mr. Wollaston as H. trifasciatus in the ‘ Annals of
Natural History.’ The species is not uncommon in France and other
countries, and may probably be detected again by any one who will
search the Cork district.

Genus HALIPLUS.

1. H. elevatus, Panz., Gyll., Steph., Aubé, Erich. Rather a local
insect: running streams near Bexley; sparingly in the reservoir near
Daventry ; Ouseburn and Boldon; Mr. Newman takes it in the canal
at Leominster; also occasionally in Scotland.

2. H. mucronatus, Steph. H. parallelus, Bab. H. badius, Aubé.
Long. 43; larg. 23. We know but little of this insect: Aubé took
it very abundantly in September. Compiégne.

Insects. 4867

3. H. fulvus, Fab., Clairv., Babington, Erichs., Steph. Man.

: H. ferrugineus, Gyll., Audbé. H. ferrugineus, var., Steph. Il.
_ Long. 4; larg. 24. In abundance occasionally in the Fens: not

uncommon.

(H. guttatus, Dahl., Aubé. Long. 34; larg. 2. Allied to both of
the above species. Differs from H. fulvus, Fad., by its longer form ;
thorax with a transverse line at posterior margin of very large, almost
black, punctures: differs from H. mucronatus, Steph., by smaller and
more compressed head and eyes, and by the invariable presence of
markings, which are more cloudy than those of H. fulvus, on the

elytra. France.)

4, H. flavicollis, Sturm, Awbé. H.impressus, Hrich., Steph. Illust.
H. ferrugineus, Steph., Bab., not Linn. Long. 43 ; larg.24. Near
London; Norfolk, Bottisham, Northampton ; near Lincoln.

5. H. variegatus, Sturm, Evrich., Aubé. H. subnubilus, Bab.
Hi. marginepunctatus, Steph. Jll., not Panz. H. ruficollis, Steph.
Man., not Degeer, Erich. Long. 33; larg. 23. Cambridge,
Huntingdon, Norfolk; not common near London.

6. H.cinereus, Aubé, Erich., Schiddte. H.affinis, Steph. Long.34;
larg. 2. The disposition of the striz on elytra is the same as in
H. flavicollis, but the punctures are closer, smaller and more frequent
in each stria; differs also by its smaller size, by the cloudy markings
on elytra, and by the irregular punctuation of thorax; differs from
H. ruficollis, Dej., by the absence of. striz at the base of thorax, and
by the markings on the elytra, which are always less distinct; it is
also broader in form, with more parallel sides; more rounded at the
apex than H. ruficollis.

7. H. ruficollis, Dey., Erich., Steph. Illust. HH. impressus, Gy/1.,
Aubé. H. marginepunctatus, Panz. H. fulvicollis, Steph. Man.
H. melanocephalus, Steph. Illust. H. brevis, Steph. H.rubicundus,
Bab. Long. 23; larg. 14. Abundant.

8. H. fluviatilis, dubé, E'rich., Steph. Long. 3; larg. 14. Dr.

Schaum detected two examples in Mr. Wollaston’s cabinet: it ap-

pears to be closely allied to H. ruficollis, Dej., to be brighter in
colour; the small lines on elytra which compose the transverse bands
are never confluent; it is larger, longer and less dilated at the shoulders ;
it frequents rivers and running water, the former pools and stagnant
ditches.

9. H. obliquus, Fad., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. Long. 3$—4; larg. 14—2.
This well-marked species is local, but not uncommon.

(H. maritimus, Fatrmaire. Long. 33. Colour and markings as

4868 Insects.

preceding, from which it is readily distinguished by its more dilated
form, and a black transverse band at the base of thorax ; the markings
on elytra are somewhat differently arranged; apex less acute. Ostend;
brackish water.) ;

10. H. confinis, Steph. H. lineatus, Aubé, Erich. Long. 3};
larg. 2. Allied to, and often confounded with, H. obliquus; smaller,
narrower, more obtuse; thorax with a small longitudinal stria on
either side near the margin; the dark lines of the strie of elytra
are less interrupted, so that the markings on the elytra are less
distinct and well defined.

11. H. lineatocollis, Marsh, Gyll., Steph., Aubé. H. bistriolatus, —
Du/jis. Long. 3; larg. 12. The black anterior margin of thorax, |
and longitudinal line (which sometimes is an ill-defined cloud) along —
the centre of its disk, sufficiently point out this abundant species.

.
:

Genus GYRINUS.

1. G. marinus, Gyll., Ahr., Erich., Aubé.. G. natator, Fab., not Linn.
G. eneus, Steph., not Aubé. G. eratus, Steph. G. dorsalis, Gyll.,
var. Taken throughout Great Britain.

2, G.natator, Linn., Gyll., Steph. G.substriatus, Steph. Abundant.

(G. nitens, Suff. G. xneus, Aube. Long. 53—7; larg. 34.
Of the form, tint and punctuation of G. natator, from which it
differs by the dark metallic colour of the lower part of the body,
and also by the extremity of the elytra, of which the external angle is
straight, not rounded: it is also allied to G. marinus, from which it —
is distinguished by its greater convexity, its colour more metallic
and brilliant, and by the lines of points, of which those nearer the
suture are less perceptible. Italy, Spain, middle of France; erro-
neously quoted as British.) .

(G. distinctus, Awbé, Fairmaire. Long. 64; larg. 33. Head and
thorax the same as G. natator; it differs by its form, more elongated,
somewhat less convex, breast and last ventral segment piceo-ferru-
ginous. The whole of Europe.)

3. G. minutus, Fab., Gyll., &e. Not common. Devonshire; near
London; Netley; near Newcastle; water of Leith; near Edinburgh ;
Paisley: I took a fine series in a lake in Mull.

4. G. bicolor, Payk., Gyll., Curt., Steph. G. angustatus, Audé.
Norfolk, Suffolk; Sheerness, in abundance; salt lakes in Devon-
shire.

5. G. urinator, Jllig., Aubé. G. lineatus, Steph. Slapton Ley:
I have also received specimens from Mr. Bold, from Ouseburn.

oe ee Ne

a
|

; Entomological Scciety. 4869

Genus ORECTOCHILUS.
O. villosus, Fab., Gyll., Steph., Aubé. G. Modeeri, Marsh.

_ Lhave thus endeavoured to place in their natural position, side by
side with recognized British species, such foreign species of Hydro-
_ cantharide as have not yet been discovered here, but whose locality
or latitude leads us to hope that they may eventually be added to our
lists. At some future time 1 may be able to investigate in a similar
manner the British and Continental species of the Philhydrida—a
_ group equally interesting, but equally unknown.

HAMLET CLARK.
Northampton, September, 1855.

wees yye r *

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
September 3, 1855.—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—‘ The Journal of the Society of Arts’ for August; by the Society. ‘The
Literary Gazette’ for August; by the Editor. ‘The Atheneum’ for August; by the
Editor. ‘Proceedings of the Royal Society, Vol. vii, No.14; by the Society.
‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1855, Nos. 1 and 7; by the Editor, M. Guerin
Méneville. ‘Lettre addressée & M. Jacquelin du Val, par M. H. Jekel, sur le

_ Barypeithes rufipes (Extrait des Annales de la Soc. Ent. de France); by the Author.

‘List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British
Museum,’ by Francis Walker, F.L.S., Part iv., Lepidoptera Heterocera; by the
Author. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung, May to August; by the Entomological Society

of Stettin. ‘Recueil d’Observations de Zoologie et d’Anatomie Comparée,’ par

_ Al. Humboldt et A. Bonpland, texte; presented by the President. ‘ Nouveau Genre
de Carabiques, de la Tribu des Carabides ;’ ‘ Description de Seize Espéces de Longi-
corns du vieux Calabar, a la cote occidentale d’Afrique ;’ ‘ Description de Vingt et
une Espéces Nouvelles de Coléopterés Lengicorns;’ all by the Author, Mons. A.
Chevrolat. Twenty species of British Lepidoptera; by F. Bond, Esq.

Exhibitions.

Mr. Foxcroft sent from Perthshire some of his captures of Coleoptera, consisting
chiefly of Brachelytra.

Mr. Douglas exhibited Elachista Brunnichiella bred from larve mining leaves of
Clinopodium vulgare; Lithocolletis comparella, reared from a leaf of Lombardy
Poplar, from Mickleham; and a pair of Gelechia maculiferella, taken in cop. on a
window of his house at Lee.

Mr. Waring exhibited some remarkable varieties of Boarmia repandaria, Tephrosia

SAE. a

4870 Birds.

crepuscularia and Anticlea rubidata; all from the neighbourhood of Coomb Hurst,
Croydon.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a specimen of Leucania musculosa (L. nervosa,
Haw.), captured near Brighton by Mr. J. N. Winter.

Mr. Westwood said that during a recent visit to Plymouth he had captured Aepus

marinus on the shore; and under some sea-weed he saw, but could not catch, a
minute Dipteron,which he had little doubt belonged to the genus Clunio.
_ Mr. Westwood called the attention of the meeting to three new works by Dr. Bur-
meister, which he had just received. The first, intituled ‘ Uebersicht der Brasilian-
ischen Mutillen, a monograph of the Mutillide, would include, besides the species
described by Dr. Klug in the ‘Nova Acta,’ all those discovered by Dr. Burmeister
himself in Brazil. The second, ‘ Untersuchung wher die Flageltypen der Coleopteren,
treated of the venation of the wings in Coleoptera, an Order hitherto very partially
investigated in this respect. The third, ‘ Kritische Bemerkungen tiber M. S. Merian’s
Metamorphoses Insectorum Surinamensuim, which would be enriched in its progress
by the author’s researches into the natural history of insects made during his residence
in Brazil.

The President said that during a recent tour on the Continent he had learned
that the third volume of Professor Lacordaire’s ‘Suites 4 Buffon’ was nearly ready; _
also that M. Candéze had collected a large amount of material for his monograph on
the Elateride, and still hoped to receive from English entomologists the assistance he -
had asked, and that they were so well able to afford.

Mr. Haliday, at the request of the President, gave some account of the matters of
entomological interest that had come under his notice during the Continental tour he ~
had recently made in his company. That which had especially attracted his attention
was an adaptation of a microscope to a camera obscura by Herr Weinnertz, of
Crefeld, whereby the image of an object was thrown upwards on to a horizontal
surface of glass, and a drawing on tracing-paper was made with great, facility.
For copying the venation of wings it was ssdoolalle useful, and had been exteusisdil
employed by Herr Weinnertz ; Mr. Haliday esteemed it a preferable and far more ia
method than the camera lucida.—J. W. D.

“wa ee Le

Birds killed by Cold.—I have this year, for the first time in twenty years, missed
the nightingale from my grounds. TI generally have two nests at least, and three
weeks’ beautiful song; but this year I have had neither, and I should be glad tu hear
frum your correspondents if they have had like misfortune, and if we are to attribute
this loss to the cold weather. I did not observe any deaths among the swallows; but
I think most of our tenderer birds suffered severely. I picked up a male and female
bullfinch in my shrubbery at the point of death about pairing time.—C. R. Bree ;
Stricklands, Stowmarket, September 8, 1855.

Oceurrence of the Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) in the Isle of Wight.—Lieutenan
E. J. B. Edwards, of the Royal Engineers, shot in June last, at Weston, Freshwater,
a splendid specimen of the bee-eater. ‘This was communicated to me by Mr. Murrow,
of the Royal Albion Hotel, Freshwater Gate, at whose house Lieutenant Edwards
was staying at the time, and who sawitin the flesh. I also saw the person who
skinned it, viz. Mr. Rogers, bootmaker and naturalist, Freshwater, Isle of Wight.—
John Dutton ; St. Peter’s Place, Hammersmith, September 15, 1855.

4

| -— Birds— Insects. 4871

Disappearance of the Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) from the Isle of Wight.—
These birds were formerly very plentiful in the Isle of Wight, building about the high
cliffs from the Needles to the Freshwater Gate, but are now, it is supposed, reduced to
a pair or two: the last known to be killed was caught in the rabbit-warren at Headon,
Alum Bay, abuut two years since. They used to be as common as other crows: a

man named Long told me he once killed five ata shot. A family named Lea were
nearly poisoned by eating them twenty years since: this was told me by Lea himself
(a coast-guard man), who partook of them.—Zd.
White Swallow.—Last evening I saw a swallow flying over my garden that
appeared to be pure white all over. I could not see any other colour whatever.—
Henry Doubleday ; Epping, August 20, 1855.

Occurrence of Crossbills in Northumberland and Durham.—During the summer
a great many crossbills (Loxia curvirostra, Linn.), have visited our district: they were
in the greatest numbers during August, and were generally in parties of six or seven.
A friend of mine, who shot a good many of them, is of opinion that they had been

_bred here, as they were in such plumage as to render their coming from a distance
very improbable-—Thomas John Bold; Angas’ Court, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-
Tyne, September 4, 1855.

On the Doubled-broodedness of Gonepterye Rhamni.—Although I am not the
Mr. Bree who has raised this point for discussion, I have a word or two to say on the
subject. I think Mr. Douglas is hasty in his remarks about the want of practical
knowledge in the Rev. Mr. Bree’s observations. It is a very fair inference, and one
very generally drawn by “ practical entomologists,” that insects appearing in early
spring in a wasted condition have hybernated, and vice versa, those that are fresh have
recently emerged from their pupa stage of existence. A sound inference is as valuable
as « known fact; if not Bacon has lived in vain, and the inductive process of reasoning
is false. Mr. Douglas proves nothing by his fact, except what was very well known,
that the larve of the first brood of G. Rhamni are full-grown in June. I know that
this takes place with other insects, in which the larve produce a second brood in the
autumn, and I will state a case in point. The first warm, sunny day in May I can
always take in one locality in this neighbourhood many specimens of Speranza con-
spicuaria quite fresh, with their wings covered with those delicate frosty, silvered atoms
which impart such beauty to this insect. I infer that it has not hybernated, inter alia,
from its freshness; and my grounds for this inference are—firstly, the broom, upon
which the larve feed, grows on an exposed hill, far removed from any house or place

_of shelter; and secondly, if the insect has hybernated, it must have been covered with
three or four feet of snow once or perhaps twice in the winter, and consequently
exposed to the drenching thaw which succeeds. I have taken it, in different years,
upon the 7th and 29th of May and beginning of June, and it is found for about four-
teen days, more or less, when it disappears, and the larve may be found full grown in
the beginning of July. In the beginning of August the second brood appears more
numerous than the first, and disappears in about the same time—about fourteen days;
the larve become full-grown in the late autumn, and pass the winter as pupa—to
emerge as perfect insects the following May. Now, knowing this to be true, have I
Dot a right to infer that exactly the same process takes place with G. Rhamni, and
that it is equally “double-brooded.” I have the greatest possible respect for the

4872 - Insects.

opinion of that excellent entumologist, Mr. Doubleday; he has often—very often—
been of the greatest possible assistance to me in my entomological pursuits, and it is
with much diffidence that I suggest any views in opposition to his, but he will I am
sure be glad to have a sulject like this publicly discussed. Do insects which
hybernate disappear directly they emerge from the pupe state in autumn, if the
weather is warm? Or do they only do so upon the approach of winter? I saw and
took G. Rhamni this day, September 10. Does the intercourse between the sexes,
according to the single-brood theory, take place before or after hybernation? If
before, the insect would not look fresh in spring, as it is this process which disturbs —
the nuptial bloom of insects more than anything else. Depend upon it that hyberna-
tion of the imago is an accidental or casual ocenrrence. It is opposed to the whole —
scheme of insect life.—-C. R. Bree; Stricklands, Stowmarket, September 10, 1855.
Is Gonepteryx Rhamni double-brooded ?—I have read with much interest the
several remarks of Mr. Newman (Zool. 4706), Mr. Doubleday (Id. 4811) and
Mr. Douglas (Id. 4812), on the question whether G. Rhamni be double-brooded or
not. I entirely coincide in the opinion expressed by them, that it is not. If the
insect be double-brooded (in the exact meaning of that term), there ought to be three
“flights” of the insect, it being admitted on all hands that it is seen on the wing in
April, or earlier if the season be favourable, and again in the autumn. ‘The first, or,
as it may be termed, the midsummer brood, would be produced from eggs laid by the
parent insect in April, or earlier, as the case may be. Supposing Rhamnus catharticus
to bud about the beginning of May, the larva, by rapid eating, might become a pupa ~
at the end of the month, and, by an equally rapid proceeding, might become an imago
by the middle of June. Let us then turn to facts. Has any entomologist ever seen
G. Rhamni, fine or otherwise, on the wing, either in June or July? It would be pre-
sumptuous in me, on my own individual authority, to deny positively that it has been
so seen; but I have collected in Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire and
Suffolk, and I can confidently affirm, that, as far as my acquaintance with those
counties extends, G. Rhamni has never been on the wing in June or July. It lies
with the advocates of “ double-brooded” to show that it has not only been seen, but
seen in fine condition during those months. If their proof in this respect fail, the 4
question, as it appears to me, is set at rest. Mr. Stainton asks, “‘ Do not the hyber-
nated females lay eggs in the spring? do not these eggs produce larve which feed up
in May, and furnish the perfect insect in June? &c.,” and adds, “I panse for an
answer to these inquiries.” He has my answer, that J never saw the insect on the ~
wing in the month of June, though I do not deny that others may. With regard to
the circumstance so strenuously urged, and apparently so confidently relied upon, by
Mr. Bree and Mr. Hawker, that fine specimens are seen in April or earlier, what has
this to say to the question. “single or duuble-brooded?” Do they call these the first
brood? Brilliant specimens may be taken in the spring; but, though I have captured
dozens, aud seen hundreds on the wing at that season, I have never been fortunate —
enough to take one worth placing in my cabinet. Conceding the fact, however, —
nothing can more easily be accounted for. As Mr. Doubleday truly remarks, numbers
become quiescent very soon after they have emerged from the pupa state, and appear
in spring almost as fresh as when first hatched. In corroboration of this, 1 may
mevtion the following fact:—Walking out about a fortnight since, I saw a number of
pupe of Vanessa Urtica, and took home about a dozen: on the 27th of last month one
of them produced the insect, about six o'clock in the evening: that night there was a
pretty sbarp frost, and the insect became apparently torpid: from that date, up to the ©

Insects —Radiata. 4873

present moment, it has never stirred, and, when pushed, merely moves a leg: as the

sun never shines on the place where it is, 1 have no doubt it will remain quiescent

until next spring. Now, if an insect, immediately after emerging from the pupa,
could thus become torpid, even in a room, how much more so when exposed to the
open air. In conclusion, I have only to state my firm conviction that there is but one
brood of G. Rhamni in the year.—Joseph Greene ; Brandeston, Woodbridge, Suffolk,
September 5, 1855.

Note on Aryynnis Lathonia.—Seeing we are making sundry investigations relative
to certain of the Rhopalocera, A. Lathonia amongst the number, I have a question to
ask, and I believe in doing so I am stating the wishes of many of my brethren. It is
this, that each party who possesses a specimen or specimens of this insect would
kindly forward a notice to the ‘ Zoologist,’ stating when he captured them, where they
were captured, or how they came into his possession. ‘There has been, it is currently
reported, a “job” lot, as the merchants say, distributed amongst various individuals,
and which have no more claim to be British than I have to a benefice: their
repinning allows them to be easily “seen through,” and the flattening out of the
abdominal groove also proves them to be an admirable “ gull.’—John Scott; South
Stockton, September 7, 1855.

Note on the Breeding of Notodonta dicteoides, §c.—Having heard frequent com-
plaints from entomologists of the difficulty of breeding this beautiful prominent, I beg
to make kuown a method I have tried, and which has proved very successful. It is
as follows:—I procured a large flower-pot, and cut it in two, and cut a round hole in

a square piece of wood, so as to fit tight round the upper part of the bottom half of

the pot. This forms the bottom of my cage, which is made of thin slips of wood
about nine inches high, and covered over (including the top) with book-muslin. In
light cages of this kind, there is no difficulty in feeding up larva, provided they are
kept suppiied with fresh food. I fill the pot with fine mould, mixed with rotten wood,
from the root of the aspens at Wanstead, leaving a few leaves on the top. When the
larve have gone down, [ take the pot out, and put it in a large cage in my garden,
where it stands winter and summer. This last-mentioned cage is of sufficient size to
hold four or five pots, is made of wood with painted lines in the sides, back and front,
and a slanting wood and fine wire top, which admits of a free circulation of air, and
prevenis mould. In cages on this plan I have bred all my N. dictevides that went down
last séason (ten in number), twenty-seven Asteris, twenty-three Flavicornis, and many
other insects.— William Machin; 35, William Street, Globe Fields, Mile End,
September 3, 1855.

Capture of Scolytus destructor in the North of England.—W hen at Gibside, in the
latter end cf August last, I was not a little surprised to find seven specimens of Sco-

-lytus destructor, in the bark of a felled elm-tree. They were accompanied by num-

bers of larve, in all stages of growth. Whether this was a colony recently founded,
or the pest a denizen of our woods, is a question for future observers to determine.—
Thomas John Bold ; Angas’ Court, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, September 6,
1855.

The Vinegar Polype.—The French missionaries, Huc and Gabet, seem, from their
inleresting varrative of a journey through Thibet and China, to have been more skilled
in the knowledge of men than of the animal or vegetable world. When in the Pro-
vince of Kiang-si, three hundred miles from the sea, they describe the want of vine-

4874 Notices of New Books.

gar to quench their thirst as having been supplied by polyp, the properties of which,
they say, were not new tothem. ‘“ Ata guard-house near Nan-tchang-fou, we asked
for some vinegar. ‘I have some,’ said the mandarin; ‘it is polypus vinegar, made by
the animal itself” This Tsou-nv-dze (vinegar polypus) is a creature that, on account
of its extraordinary property of making excellent vinegar, merits particular mention.
It is a monstrous assemblage of fleshy and glutinous membranes, tubes, and shapeless
appendages, that give it a very ugly and repulsive appearance; you would take it for
an inert, dead mass, but when touched it contracts and dilates, and assumes various
forms. {It is an animal whose structure and character are not better known that that
of the other polypi. This Tsou-no-dze is found in the Yellow Sea, and the Chinese
fish for it on the coasts of Leao-tong, but it is rather scarce. Possibly it may be more
abundant in some other places, where it is neglected from ignorance of its peculiar
property. This polyp is placed in a large vessel filled with fresh water, to which a few
glasses of spirits are added, and after twenty or thirty days this liquid is found trans-
formed into excellent vinegar, without going through any other process, and without
the addition of the smallest ingredient. The vinegar is as clear as spring water, very
strong, and of a very agreeable taste. After the first transformation, the source ap-
pears inexhaustible, for as it is drawn off by degrees for consumption it is only neces-
sary to add an equal quantity of pure water, without any more spirit, and the vinegar
remains equally good. The Tsou-no-dze, like the other polypi, is easily propagated
by germination ; you detach a limb, which vegetates and grows, and in a short time
is found to possess the same property of changing water into vinegar. These details
are not only based on the best information we have been able to collect, but we our-
selves possessed one of these polypi, and kept it for a year, using constantly the deli-
cious vinegar which it distilled for us. At our departure for Thibet, we presented it
to the Christians of our mission in the Valley of Black Waters.” Can this marvel-
lous animal, said to be fished up in the Yellow Sea, be anything else than the repul-
sive-looking mass, answering to Huc’s description of the Tsou-no-dze, which is found
in certain states of acetous fermentation, distinct from the mould that occasionally
gathers on the surface, and which in the North of England is called “ the mother,” in
vinegar, &c., as supposed to concentrate all the acid? Whether it is now as produc-
tive of agreeable vinegar as the missionary represents his polyp, I am not prepared to
assert.—Charles Fox ; Trebah, Falmouth.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History. No. 98, dated
September, 1855; price 2s. 6d. London: Taylor and Francis,
Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

The following are the contents :—

‘ Observations on the Genera Pachybdella, Diesing, and Peltogaster,
Rathke, two animal forms parasitic upon the abdomen of Crabs.’ By
Professer Steenstrup. [Extracted from Weigmann’s Archiv, 1855, p. 15.]

‘Notes on Paleozoic Bivalved Entomostraca. No. II. Some British
and Foreign Species of Beyrichia.’ By T. Rupert Jones, F.G.S.

po ue

Notices of New Books. 4875

‘On the Heart and Circulation in the Pycnogonide.’ By Dr. A.
Krohn. [Extracted from Weigmann’s Archiv for 1855, p. 6. ]

‘Abstract of a Monograph of the Family Gorgonide.’ By M.
Valenciennes.

‘On the Genus Assiminia.’ By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S.

“On the Law which has regulated the Introduction of New Species.’
By Alfred R. Wallace, F.R.G.S.

“On some New Species of Hemipedina from the Oolites. By
Thomas Wright, M.D., F.R.S.E.

‘Short Biographical Notice of the late Dr. Johnston, of Berwick-
upon-T weed.

Bibliographical Notice :—‘ The British Flora, comprising the Phe-
nogamous or Flowering Plants, and the Ferns.’ The 7th edition, with
additions and corrections. By Sir William Jackson Hooker, K.H.,
D.C.L., &c., and George A. Walker Arnott, LL.D., &c.

Proceedings of Societies:—Royal, Linnean, Botanical of Edin-
burgh, Zoological.

Miscellaneous :—Monstrosity of Antirrhinum majus; by Dr. J. E.
Gray. Notice on the Horns and Skull of the Arnee; by Dr. J. E. Gray.

In the Proceedings of the Royal Society occurs the report of a paper
by Dr. John Davey, intituled ‘Some Observations on the Ova of the
Salmon in relation to the Distribution of Species.’ In this the Doctor
gives the result of experiments on ova submitted to various tests, with
a view to elucidate the geographical distribution of fishes. The con-
clusions drawn from the observations are as follows :—

“1. That the ova of the salmon in their advanced stage can be ex-
posed only for a short time to the air if dry, at ordinary temperatures,
without loss of life; but for a considerable time, if the temperature be
low, and if the air be moist; the limit in the former case not having
exceeded an hour, while in the latter it has exceeded many hours.

“2. That the vitality of the ova was as well preserved in air saturated
with moisture as it would have been had they been in water.

“3. That the ova may be included in ice without loss of vitality,
provided the temperature is not so low as to freeze them.

“4, That the ova, and also the fry recently produced, can bear for
some time a temperature of about 80° or 82° in water, without materially
suffering ; but not without loss of life, if raised above 84° or 85°.

“5. That the ova and young fry are speedily killed by a solution of
common salt nearly of the specific gravity of sea-water, viz. 1026; and
also by a weaker solution of specific gravity 1016.

“Finally, in reference to the inquiry regarding the distribution of

4876 Notices of New Books.

the species of fishes, he expresses his belief that some of the results
may be of useful application, especially those given in the second and
third sections; inferring, that as in moist air, the vitality of the ova is
capable of being long sustained, they may, during rain or fog, be cone
veyed from one river or lake to another, adhering to some part of an
animal, such as a heron or otter, and also during a time of snow or
frost; and further, that other of the results may be useful towards
determining the fittest age of ova for transport for the purpose of
stocking rivers, and likewise as a help to a the sp. and
some of the habits of the migratory species.”

The following note by Mr. Hogg on the fish lately stranded in Tees
Bay is from the Proceedings of the Linnean Society :—

‘Since my return home, I have had an opportunity of learning more
particularly respecting the large fish which was stranded last September
in the Tees Bay; and I have now not the least doubt that it was a
common tunny, and that too ofa large size. One of the fishermen who
had seen the fish, on cutting it said—the flesh looked like highly-salted
bacon, z.e. red with salt or saltpetre. He described it in size as ‘ being
pretty well on to 60 stone,’ which, at 8 Ibs. to the stone (meat weight),
would give 480 tbs. The only freshly-killed tunny I ever saw was at
Palermo ; it was a good-sized fish, and was carried on the shoulders of
two strong fishermen, the one walking a few feet before the other.
Pennant describes, in his ‘ Brit. Zool.’ (edit. 1812), vol. ili. p. 362, one
which was caught at Inverary in 1769 as weighing 460 tbs. This then
would probably be somewhat less than the Tees fish; and this is
further shown by the following fact :— Pennant says the tail ‘measured
2 feet 7 inches between tip and tip’ of its crescent-form. I yesterday
measured the tail of the Tees fish, which gave 2 feet 8g inches from tip
to tip, thus having 1+ inch more in the width of the crescent-tail than
Pennant’s, and consequently most likely it was the larger of the two.
The fisherman had well preserved the tail, and it presents a beautiful
specimen of a crescent, and very perfect, each half corresponding in a
very accurate manner with the other. It is covered with a thick, nearly
black skin, and quite smooth. I counted the caudal rays, and at first
I made nineteen on one side and eighteen on the other; but on re-
counting them I am more satisfied that they are equal, z.e. eighteen on
each side or in each half. Between them I noticed most distinetly ‘a
cartilaginous keel between the sides of the tail,’ as described by Cuvier
in his generic characters of his genus Thynnus.”

Notices of New Books. 4877

—§ Catalogue of British Hymenoptera in the Collection of the British
| Museum. By Freperick Smiru, M.E.S. Part I. Apide—
Bees. London: Printed by order of the Trustees, 1855.
248 pp. 12mo, 10 plates: price 6s.

Our readers will doubtless recollect Mr. Smith’s admirable papers
on British Bees which appeared from time to time in the pages of the
‘Zoologist.’ There was a comprehensiveness of thought, a mastery of
_ the subject, and a lucidity of arrangement about them, which at once
raised the author to the very highest rank as an entomological writer,
and which rendered the students of our bees the greatest possible
assistance. To myself these papers were of peculiar value and interest,
inasmuch as for several years I had paid almost exclusive attention to
this somewhat neglected tribe; and with Kirby for my guide I had
_succeeded in identifying a large proportion of our species. Admirable,
however, as are the descriptions of the ‘ Monographia,’ I could not
resist the conviction that a more intimate knowledge of the living
insects would have induced the learned author to associate, under one
specific name, bees which appeared to me to differ only in sex or in
the still less satisfactory character of age. Mr. Smith did everything
I desired, associating sexes and varieties, with a judgment that struck
me as little less than miraculous. From that time to the present
Mr, Smith has directed great attention and much time to perfecting
his knowledge of the tribe, until his researches have culminated in the
production of a volume which must unquestionably be pronounced the
best entomological monograph in the British language. This is saying
a great deal, when we bear in mind the labours of Kirby, Shuckard,
Denny, Stainton and others; but it is the peculiar charm of
Mr. Smith’s writings that he always carries conviction to the mind
that he is perfectly acquainted with the subject on which he is
writing. Other authors appear to do the best that can be done
“ considering the obscurity of the subject,”—“ considering the paucity
of materials,’-—“‘ considering the erroneous statements of previous
writers, and the utter worthlessness of their labours:” Mr. Smith
needs no such apologetic qualifications; no man living surpasses
him in his knowledge of the subject, and no one has hitherto
surpassed him in making that knowledge available to others,

A debt of gratitude is also due to Dr. Gray for the zeal and energy
he has displayed in the publication of such works as these; for
although this may possibly be the only one of the series properly

XIII. 2Y

4878 Notices of New Books.

entitled to be considered a perfect monograph, yet the others are of
incalculable value to the student, and now form a key to the know-
ledge of the animal world. I believe the whole of them are issued at
the mere cost of printing and paper, in order that naturalists may
derive the greatest possible amount of benefit from their publication.
In support of my unqualified commendation of Mr. Smith’s volume
I proceed to make a copious extract, which [I trust will be read by
others with the same pleasure that it has given me, premising, how-
ever, that I purpose returning again to these bees, and giving a some-
what more systematic account of their methodical arrangement, and
adding to Mr. Smith’s Jabours a running accompaniment of my own.
The passage relates to the species of Andrena. |
“These bees are subject to the attacks of parasites: the first to be
remarked upon are those bees which compose the genus Nomada;
they are more popularly known as wasp-bees, since they bear a con-
siderable resemblance to some of the small solitary species of that
family. These parasites appear to be upon a perfectly friendly foot-
ing with the industrious bees, and are permitted, without let or hin-
drance, to enter their burrows. It has been advanced as a proof of
the ingenuity and artifice necessary to be employed in effecting the
deposit of their eggs in the working bees’ nests, that the parasites
should bear a close resemblance to the bees upon which they are
parasitic : some instances may undoubtedly be advanced, as Apathus
and Bombus, and also in the different species of Volucella which
infest the nests of humble-bees, but amongst the solitary bees no such
resemblance is required to aid in any necessary deception. It may
be remarked that the two cases are not analogous: this is true; and
I am not prepared to say that in the case of the Bombi and their ene-
mies it may not be necessary, but as regards solitary bees it certainly
is not;—colonies of Andrenidz and their parasites mingle together in
perfect harmony, issuing from and entering into the burrows indiscri-
minately. I have on several occasions watched with much enjoyment a
large colony of Eucera longicornis, the males occasionally darting
forwards with great velocity, then turning sharply round, and as it
were swimming in circles close to the ground, then darting off again
and again in an unceasing round of sportive enjoyment; their indus-
trious partners, whose whole existence appears to be bound up in one
unceasing round of labour, would occasionally return home laden with —
food for their young progeny. Sometimes it would happen that a
Nomada had previously entered her nest; when such proved to be
the case, she would issue from it, and, flying off to a short distance, —

Notices of New Books. 4879

wait patiently till the parasite came forth, when she would re-enter

and deposit her burden. It will be observed, in this instance, that

between Eucera and Nomada no resemblance exists in general
appearance, one being several times larger than the other, and
covered with pubescence of a sombre colour; whereas the parasite is
a gaily coloured insect, destitute of pubescence, and readily observed
from the brightness of its colouring. To some extent, I have observed
that a constant connexion between certain species exists, and I have
never met with some species of these parasites except in connexion with
certain species of Andrena; but there are others, as Nomada ruficor-
nis, succincta, alternata, and Lathburiana, which infest the nests of
several species of Andrena indiscriminately ; the species are, A. tibialis,
Trimmerana, Afzeliella, and fulva; but the following I have never
observed, except connected as follows: Nomada lateralis and A. lon-
gipes, N. baccata and A. argentata, N. borealis and A. Clarkella, N. ger-
manica aud A. fulvescens, and lastly, N. sexfasciata and Kucera lon-
gicornis. Much further investigation is still necessary before we can
arrive at a knowledge of the real nature of the connexion which exists
between the bees and their parasites. It has been supposed that the
parasitic larva is hatched sooner than that of the rightful owner of the
nest, and that it consequently consumes the food, and leaves the larva
of the bee to perish; but to this I do not assent: it appears so con-
trary to all natural laws, that I cannot think it even probable: nature
I have never observed to be thus wasteful of animal life—such a pro-
ceeding is unnecessary, and therefore unlikely : where a destruction of
animal life is observed, it can usually be traced to some reasonable
cause, as the destruction of the larve of certain Lepidoptera, being a
check upon their superabundance: a parallel to this does not appear
to me to exist in the case of the bees: I am more inclined to believe
that when the parasite has deposited her egg upon the store of pollen,
the industrious bee at once deserts it, and proceeds to construct a
fresh burrow; and that the parasites which may be observed con-
stantly entering different burrows, do so in order that they may find
the requisite quantity of food, which will usually be much less than
that required for the industrious bee; having found which, they de-
posit their egg, and the nest is then possibly deserted by its legitimate
owner.

“The Andrenidz are also subject to the attacks of other enemies, if
so they can be called; we have seen that in the first place their food
is attacked by Nomade; we are now to find their larve attacked
by insects belonging to the Order Coleoptera; these belong to the

4880 ~ Notices of New Books.

genus Stylops, which several distinguished entomologists of the pre-~
sent day agree in placing among the Heteromerous parasitic beetles.
These insects were placed in a new order by Mr. Kirby, named Strep-
siptera, and as such they are still regarded by many entomologists;
we have at present only to do with them as enemies to the bees, and
briefly to narrate the manner in which the latter are attacked by them.
These insects are diminutive in size, the largest known species not —
exceeding a quarter of an inch in length; we are now speaking of the
winged males; the females are apterous grub-like insects, which never —
leave the bodies of the bees. If the abdomens of a number of Andre--
nidz be examined, it is most probable that the female of Stylops will
be found; her presence is known by the protrusion of her head and a
portion of the thorax between the abdominal segments on their supe- |
rior surface, resembling the point of a small bud of a brown colour, |
or rather a flattened scale. I have several times bred the larve of
Stylops in the following manner: on finding a bee infested as
described, place her in a box 5 or 6 inches square, cover it with
gauze, and supply the bee with fresh flowers, such as the Andrenide
frequent; examine the bee every day, and it is most likely that in
eight or ten days she will appear as if her abdomen was covered with
dust; examine it, and in all probability she will be found to be covered |
with an innumerable quantity of exceedingly minute animals; these.
are the larve of Stylops; by the aid of a magnifying-glass they may
be seen to issue from the transverse aperture on the thorax: when the
bee re-enters the cell, or settles upon flowers, these diminutive creatures ©
will of course occasionally be deposited, and by these means, when”
other bees visit the flowers, they attach themselves to them and are
carried to their nests. Judging from the multitude of larve pro-—
duced by each female Stylops, amounting to many hundreds in each
case, and the rarity of the perfect insect, the majority must perish,
probably in the larval condition. From the fact of seldom more than
two Stylops being found to infest the same bee, we may suppose that
to be the largest number which infests one larva of an Andrena; they —
undergo their changes in the body of the bee, the male on its final ©
transformation becoming an active winged insect, the female remain-
ing a mere apod, attached for life to the bee which nourished it. A
most complete and interesting summary of the observations of ento-
mologists on these parasites will be found in the twentieth volume of
the ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ by Mr. George Newport,
who has in this paper entered most minutely into the anatomy, func-
tions and development of these remarkable parasites, being the most.
interesting and complete essay on the subject yet written.

Notices of New Books. 4881

' “There are still other parasites to be noticed, which will occasion-
ally be found on the bodies of these bees; the first to be noticed is a
small orange-coloured Pediculus, which is about one-tenth of an inch
in length ; this is the larva of Meloé; I have several times reared these
hexapods from the eggs of that beetle. For the most complete
account of their history reference must be made to the twentieth vo-
lume of the ‘ Linnean Transactions, which contains Mr. George New-
port’s most interesting memoir on Meloé cicatricosus ; 1n this paper it
is shown that the larva of the beetle feeds on that of Anthophora pili-
pes; but it remains to be proved that the larva of an Andrena can
serve as food for the larva of a Meloé: I am inclined to think this can
never be the case, and that the fact of our finding them on these
bees is a mere indication of the usual habit of the larve in attaching
themselves to any insect which comes in their way, for we as constantly
find them on Diptera and flower-visiting Coleoptera as upon the An-
drenide :—it has been shown that.a larva of Anthophora will nourish
that of Meloé, but so small a larva as that of Andrena can, I think,
scarcely answer that purpose; I have however included them, but
merely as supposed parasites on Andrena.

“We now come to the last supposed parasite on these bees; it is
found on their bodies, and exactly resembles in form the last-men-
tioned, but is of a brown-black colour, and is full twice the size; they
attach themselves to the hairy parts of the bees, as the metathorax,
and the sides of the thorax beneath the wings. What these pedi-
culi really are is at present involved in complete obscurity; Mr.
Kirby regarded them as insects in their perfect condition, naming
them Pediculus Melitte. I have frequently observed these creatures
in considerable numbers in the flowers of Ranunculus acris, as many
as twenty or more in a single flower, about the month of April; and I
think always before the usual time for meeting with the larve of Me-
loé. I have found them on various species of bees, usually on those
which are most pubescent, as Andrena fulva, thoracica, and nigro-
_eenea; also commonly on Melecta armata, Anthophora retusa and pili-
pes: this circumstance would appear to confirm, or indicate a con-
nexion between the insects, and from analogy we might readily con-
clude that this Pediculus must be a parasite on some species of bee;
but we have nothing in support of this supposition, and against it we
have the following observations :—Mr. Newport has shown that it can-
not be the larva of Meloé cicatricosus, and, as well as myself, has
proved that it cannot be that of M. violaceus or of M. Proscarabeus;
and since the only other species of Meloé, the M. variegatus, does

4882 Notices of New Books.

not occur near London, it appears certain that it cannot be the larva
of any species of that genus, unless it be discovered hereafter that the
larva of Meloé not only increases in size in its hexapod state, but that
it also changes from bright orange to black.

“Another circumstance which induces me to hesitate in adopting
an opinion of the Pediculus being a larva at all, is the fact, that on
opening some cells of Anthophora retusa, which I dug up on Hamp-
stead Heath, I found two living specimens of the hexapod in the
same cell as the perfect bee; it is certainly possible that they might
have subsisted on a portion of the food laid up by Anthophora; but
here was no change of condition, and how came they into the cell?
I am inclined to think that they, being insects in their perfect condi-
tion, came there exactly in the same way as we find Forficule, having
forced an entrance, which I did not observe, and that they were in
quest of food, seeking what they might devour.”—P. 45.

‘The Natural History Review. No. VIL., dated July, 1855; price
2s. 6d. London: Highley.

The following papers, read before Irish Societies, appear in the
present number :—

‘The Fjords of Norway and other similar Coasts.’. By J. J. Murphy.

‘Native Zoophytes.’ By W. Thompson, Esq., LL.D. |

‘Notes on the Effects of the late Frost.’ By Mr. Robertson.

‘On the Occurrence of the Iceland Gull.’ By Dr. Creighton.

‘Notes on the South-West Coast, and on the Occurrence of the
Greater Shearwater (Puffinus major)” By W. Andrews, Esq.

‘Notes on the Occurrence of Ianthina communis and Spirula
-~Peronii.? By Mr. Hopkins.

‘On the Remains of Animals at Dunshaughlin.’” By Mr. Wakeman.

‘On the Habits and Varieties of some of the Laride. By Mr.
Watters.

‘Notes on the Diurnal Lepidoptera, and on the Sphingide of some
portion of Worcestershire. By J. W. Lea, Esq.

‘On Rearing Lepidoptera from the Pupa state, together with Notes
on the Management of the Larve and Pup of Micro-Lepidoptera.’
By Mr. Shield.

‘List of Irish Micro-Lepidoptera. By A. R. Hogan, Esq.

‘Remarks on some rare British Insects.’ By J. C. Dale, Esq., F.L.S.

Notices of New Books. A883

‘Entomological Remarks.’ By A. H. Haliday, Esq., A.M.
Besides these contributions to science we cordially commend to the
notice of entomological readers the able review with which the number

_ commences: it is intituled ‘ Recent Works on the Diptera of Northern

Kurope, and is very evidently from the pen of that eminent Dipterist,
Mr. Haliday.

Mr. Haliday’s ‘Entomological Remarks’ contains useful informa-
tion. On the shore of the creek of Owenbeg river, within a space of a
few yards square, he found the following maritime Coleoptera, besides
others of less note: —Bradycellus pubescens, Pogonus chalceus, Bem-
bidium laterale, Aépus Robinii, Micralymma marinum and Hetero-
cerus Marshami. It is remarkable that of this list only the first was
known to Mr. Clear as a native of the county Cork. Mr. Haliday had
never before seen them all associated. The Aépus, which occurs also
near Passage, appears to be confined to those parts of the coast, below
high-water mark, where clay comes to the surface. Specimens from
Scotland, the gift of Mr. Javet, were exhibited, also Aépus marinus from
Strangford. Mr. Haliday was disposed to doubt the importance of the
distinctions assigned to the two alleged species, Robinii and marinus.
The difference in the armour of the feet led him to suspect that a sexual
distinction may have been treated as specific. He quoted the remarks
under Ptilium pallidum in the ‘ Faune Francoise’ of Fairmaire and
Laboulbéne : “ Les angles posterieurs du corselet varient un peu, et il
est facile, avec de la bonne volonté, de trouver des angles ‘ trés obtus’
et des angles ‘ présque droits ;’ mais selon nous ces deux termes sont
fort exagérés.” Agreeing with Mr. Haliday in the unsatisfactory nature
of the diagnostics on which the species Robinii is founded, yet we
cannot suppose with him that a sexual has been taken for a specific
difference, seeing that from the three great stations of marinus, Devon-
shire, Queensferry and Strangford, not a single example of Robinii
has been recorded; surely the sexes are not geographically separated.
Mr. Haliday found at Blarney Lake last summer some specimens of

i Phytobius velatus, of which he possessed before but a single specimen,

taken at Holywood, These were partly taken out of the water, partly
swept off the stems of Equisetum, when the sun was shining strong.
Beck, the discoverer of this species, has remarked that it swims fast
and dives. The peculiar natatorial character of the legs was pointed
out, being thinly furnished with long hairs, the tarsi without the broad °
felt-like sole usual in the family, and with scarcely any enlargement
or notch of the penultimate joint, but with long claws like those of
Elmis, &c., by which it clings to the submerged plants, Myriophyllum,

4884 Notices of New Books.

Zannichellia, &c., among which are its haunts. A second species,
Phytobius leucogaster, of which also specimens were exhibited, and
which was taken by Mr. Haliday at Holywood, has the like structure
in some degree, and the two have been separated from Phytobius by
Redtenbacher, as the genus Litodactylus, but, as Suffrian has
remarked, there is considerable difference between these two species,
while a third, P. velatus, has the aquatic character much more
marked than either.

Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, including the Trans-
actions of the Microscopical Society of Landon,’ Edited by
Epwin LANKESTER, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., and Grorer Busk,
F.R.C.S.E., F.R.S., F.L.S. London: Highley. No. XI., dated
April. 110 pp. demy 8vo. letter-press and 2 plates; price 4s.

ALTHOUGH not bearing a “ Natural-History” title this periodical
has strong claims to be regarded as an emanation from our science,
It is a kind of compound of the late Mr. Cooper’s ‘ Microscopic
Journal’ and the admirable ‘Transactions of the Microscopical
Society.’ Its contents will be given in future numbers of the
‘Zoologist, with a view to making it known among a larger body of

naturalists than are at present aware of its existence. The contents’

of the present number are as under :—

‘On the Development of Purpura Lapillus. By William B. Car-
penter, M.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., President of the Microscopical Society.

‘On the Occurrence among the Infusoria of peculiar Organs
resembling Thread-cells.’ By George J. Allman, M.D., F.R.S.

‘Snow Crystals in 1855” By James Glaisher, F.R.S.

‘An Investigation into the Structure of the Torbanehill Mineral,
and of various kinds of Coal.’ By John Hughes Bennett, M.D.
F.R.S.E. [Extracted from the ‘ Transactions of the Royal Society
of Edinburgh.’ |

‘Observations on Noctiluca (miliaris ?).. By Dr. W. Busch.
[Translated from ‘ Beobachtung. tib. Anat. u., Entwickl. einiger
wirbellosen Seethiere, p. 103. Berlin, 1851. ]

‘Researches on the Development of the Microscopic Alge and
‘Fungi.’ By Dr.T. Cohn. [Translated from the German. |]

Reviews :—‘ Principles of Comparative Physiology;’ by W. B.
Carpenter, M.D., F.R.S. ‘The Microscope, and its application to

Vegetable Anatomy and Physiology ;’ by Dr. Hermann Schacht; |

i
oe ee —

"

Notices of New Books. 4885

edited by Frederick Curry, M.A. ‘ Lettsonian Lectures on Pulmonary
_ Consumption ;’ by Theophilus Thompson, M.D., F.RS,

_ Notes and Correspondence :—Feet and Wings of Insects; by Mr.

- John Tyrrell. The Markings of the Pleurostigmy, &c.; by Mr. G.
Hunt. Definition of Delicate Test Objects; Anon. Cheap Micro-

scopes. Cilia in Diatomacee; by Mr. J. Hogg. New Mode of Illu-
mination; by Dr. Wright. On the Aperture of Object-glasses; by.
Mr. J. D. Sollitt. On Washing and Concentrating Diatomacee; by
Dr. Munro. On Camphylodiscus Clypeus; by Mr. R. Wigham.
Cilia on the surface of Conferve; by Dr. Kingsley. On an Easy
Method of Wiping thin Glass Covers; by William Hodgson.
Metallic Impressions of Microscopic Objects; by Mr. Wenham,
Note on Dr. Griffiths’ paper on Angular Apertures; by the Editors.
Proceedings of Societies :—Microscopic, Royal.
- Loophytology.

“A Manual of Marine Zoology for the British Isles. By Putte
| Henry Gossz, A.L.S. Part I. London: Van Voorst. 1855.
203 pp. 12mo, 335 figures in wood. Price 7s. 6d.

THE authors preface will thoroughly explain the object and
scope of this little work. I have great pleasure in giving it entire.
Mr. Gosse has certainly followed out his programme most usefully,
although perhaps imperfectly, and we gladly accept this little sum-
mary of sea-side lore as an unassuming travelling companion that
will always be in our pocket when we visit the coasts of our sea-girt
isle. ‘“ Imperfecily!” Of course we must explain our meaning:

_ Mr. Gosse is not always at home in his subject, and is compelled
to seek information from scattered and sometimes rather obscure

sources: thus, he tells us “Of the hundreds of thousands of insects
known to exist but two live in the sea.” The entomological reader

will be surprised to hear that these two are Aépus marinus and Micro-

lymma brevipenne. These are land, not marine insects, and are only

_ submerged at certain states of the tide, just in the same way as Aépus

Robinii, Broscus cephalotes and a host of others, but the truly marine
and highly interesting Macroplea Zostere is entirely omitted. Now
those who have read Mr. Gosse’s capital account of Zostera marina,
the food-plant of Macroplea, will not suppose him unacquainted with
the beetle, but may infer that he did not know its name, or, more
Strange still, was not aware that it was a true insect. Doubtless

XIII. 2 Z

4886 Notices of New Books.

Mr. Gosse is better informed on most branches of the subject than

on this; indeed, his published labours on the sea-coast convince us —
that he is so, and we cordially welcome the little book as a cheap |

and useful assistant to those sea-side visitors whose mental energies
are unsatisfied with crochet and the last new novel.

“Tt is now about four-and-twenty years ago, that, in a land far —

remote from this, I began the study of systematic Zoology, with

insects. It is, beyond all comparison, the most extensive class of |

animals, in fact all but boundless; but in my ignorance I attacked it
entire and indivisible, collecting and trying hard to identify every-
thing that I found, from the Cicindela to the Podura. I had not an
atom of assistance towards the identification, but the brief, highly
condensed and technical generic characters of Linneus’s ‘Systema
Nature, over which I puzzled my brains, specimens in hand, many
an hour. Of course there was much darkness, there were many
egregious blunders; but perseverance did a good deal, and I have
never regretted the time spent in that exercise. The leading forms
of that great class were familiarized to me in a way that they never
would have been if I had merely learned their names from coloured
engravings, or from the oral information of some more learned friend ;
and what was of far greater value, I acquired the habit of comparing
structure with structure, of marking minute differences of form, and
became in some measure accustomed to that precision of language,
without which descriptive Natural History could not exist.

“T have endeavoured in the following pages to furnish to the sea-
side naturalist what the Linnean Genera Insectorum were to me.
That such a book is a desideratum I need hardly say. Many a time
have I been asked to indicate some published work, whereby the

student who picks up a shell from the beach, or a worm from under —

stones at low water, may know what it is that he has found. I might
indeed point to the admirable works of Yarrell, of Forbes, of Johnston,
of Baird, of Bell, of Busk, and others who have written Monographs
of particular classes or groups. But this is not what is wanted ;—
the information required is scattered through so large a number of
volumes, that a book-case needs to form a part of the sea-side
visitor’s luggage. Moreover, to persons of limited income the ex-
pense of these works often forms an insuperable bar to their posses-
sion. Thirty pounds would not purchase the books neccessary for
the identification of the marine animals of Britain; while if this sum
were expended, there would still remain gaps of awful width,—-whole
classes, for the recognition of which no English book is extant.

ee ————<—- -. rh, e eeee

ore tT

Notices of New Books. 4887

I need only mention the Foraminifera, the Covered-eyed, and Cilio-
grade Medusz, the Turbellaria, the Sessile-eyed Crustacea, the An-
nelida, and a poriga of the Polyzoa, in proof of this alleged
deficiency.

“Let it not be supposed that I think lightly of the Monographs
I have alluded to. I should only convict myself of gross ignorance
if I were to do so. ‘They are of the highest value,—models of
scientific research, acumen and accuracy; but the very care and
labour which have been bestowed upon them, to give them the per-
fection they confessedly possess, have necessarily put them (as a
whole body of science) out of the reach of the great multitude of
students. My little book is not a rival, but an introduction, to these
elaborate works. It is a Manual that can be carried in the pocket,
and referred to as the tyro sits upon a weed-fringed rock, or stands
on the tide-washed beach.

“I do not speak theoretically only, but experimentally, when I
say that such a work as this is a felt need. Most of the books I have
alluded to above are in my own library, but still I have often felt the
want of a Manual which should contain the characters of every class,
order, tribe, family and genus, of our native marine animals, so
arranged as to be suitable for ready reference. The Manual did not
exist, and I set myself to make it.

“I believe the student will find here the means of learning, with as
little trouble and doubt as possible, the generic name of every animal
that has been recognised by naturalists as inhabiting the British seas;
from the lowest sponge up to the whale. To this universality there
are only these exceptions :—

“1. That the intestinal worms (EZntozoa) are not included. Properly
speaking, they are no more marine than they are terrestrial animals;
for though some of them live in marine animals their proper sphere is
not the water or the land, but the living tissues of other creatures;
they have a world of their own.

“2. That the swarming millions of animalcules, known as Infusoria,
which the microscope reveals in the sea, as well as in fresh water,
I have not included in detail, for reasons which will be found under
the head of this class.

“Knowing by experience the difficulties which lie in the way of
identifying animals by published characters, I have laboured to
remove or to lessen those difficulties as far as was possible. I have
endeavoured to make these pages practically useful to the beginner,
while yet they should be precise enough to serve the advanced

4888 Notices of New Books.

zoologist as a convenient medium of reference. Many of the diffi- —
culties in the path of science are not inseparable from it; the
language used is often unnecessarily technical, and yet, strange to
say, loose withal. Thus we sometimes find one species described as

having ‘the fore limbs short,’ and the next, which is to be dis-
tinguished from it, not as having ‘the fore limbs long,’ but ‘the
anterior extremities elongated.’ Sometimes in the long descriptions
which must be waded through and carried in mind, the head in one
case is mentioned first, then the tail, then the trunk, the limbs, and so
on: but in the succeeding example, which has to be compared with
it, perhaps the limbs come first, then the head, then the trunk, &c.
Such difficulties as these are most perplexing; and yet it is easy to
see that a little care might entirely remove them. Ifa certain order
were maintained in the details of description of kindred forms, and a
fixed phraseology, I need not point out how much the work of
comparison would be lightened.

“In the wording of the following definitions I have endeavoured to
make the phraseology as Saxon as possible. I am far from desiring
to rob our language of its Latin element; it would be greatly im-
poverished by such a privation; and multitudes of words of Latin
derivations are as familiar as the homeliest Anglo-Saxon. Suill our
scientific language might be much more Saxonised than it is, without
losing that precision which is indispensable.

“On the other hand, the student must bear in mind that so many
of the ideas themselves in modern science are new, and custom has so
generally affixed to these new ideas classical expressions, that it
would be both absurd and often unintelligible to substitute homelier
expressions for them—to exchange, for example, such words as
thorax, abdomen, oval, for chest, belly, egg-shaped; that others, as
homogeneous, parasitic, truncate, &c., can be otherwise expressed
only by using many words; and that not a few, as ctlia, tentacle,
antenne, have really no correspondent words in Saxon English.

“T have, however, added a glossary for the explanation of such
technical terms as were unavoidable; or else have taken care to
expound them on their first occurrence. With these aids I trust
there is not an expression in the book which a person of average
English education will not understand.

“ But what I consider the principal feature of this work is the

copiousness and character of its illustration. Perhaps I may say that —
I have enjoyed more than ordinary facilities for a labour of this kind. ~

Having been accustomed from childhood to draw animals from the

:
|
:

eS a) a

lilt a,

Notices of New Books. 4889

_ life, I have accumulated in my portfolios about three thousand figures

of animals or parts of animals, all drawn by myself from nature, of
which about two thousand five hundred are of the Invertebrate
Classes, and about half of these done under the microscope. The

_ portion of the work now issued (Part I.) contains figures of three

hundred and forty species,—a jfigure of every genus named,—of
which one hundred and twenty are drawn from living, and one
hundred and two from preserved, specimens. Those who are familiar
with the subject will, [ trust, acquit me of vain-glory in affirming that
upwards of a hundred figures taken from diving animals in these low
forms, constitute a somewhat unusual feature in a book of this size
and price. Of the character of the figures I must leave others to
judge.

“The entire work will consist of two parts, each complete in itself.
Part I., now issued, includes the following classes :—

I. Poriphora. VIlt. Annelida.
Il. Infusoria. 1X. Rotifera.
Ill. Rhizopoda. X. Crustacea.
IV. Zoophyta. XI. Cirripedia.
V. Acalepha. XII. Arachnida.
VI. Echinodermata. XIII. Insecta.

VII. Turbellaria.

“Part II. is im a state of forwardness, and will be published as
soon as possible. It will include the following classes :—

XIV. Polyzoa. XIX. Pteropoda.
XV. Tunicata. XX. Cephalopoda.
XVI. Brachiopoda. XXI. Pisces.

XVII. Conchifera. XXII. Mammalia.

XVIII. Gasteropoda.”
The Glossary requires revision.

“Annals and Magazine of Natural History” No. 94, dated

October, 1855; price 2s.6d. London: Taylor and Francis,
Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

The contents of the October number are as follows :—

‘The Vegetable Individual in its relation to Species, By. Dr.
Alexander Braun. [Extracted originally from the Transactions of
the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences for 1853, but the English

translation reprinted from ‘Silliman’s American Journal’ for May,
1855.]

4890 Entomological Botany.

‘Note on the Subgenus Limea, Bronn.’ By John Lycett, Esq.
‘Notes on the Brachiopoda observed in a Dredging Tour with

Mr. M‘Andrew on the Coast of Norway, in the Summer of the ©

Present Year.’ By Lucas Barrett, F.G.S. ,

‘On the Young States of Some Annelides.’ By R. Leuckart.
[Extracted from Weigmann’s Archiv, 1855, p. 63.]

‘ Observations on the Genus Assiminia.’ By William Clark, Esq.

‘On the Morphology of the Organs called Lenticels.’ By M. H.
Germain de Saint Pierre. [Extracted from the ‘Comptes Rendus,’
August 20, 1855, p. 305. |

Bibliographical Notice: —‘ A Manual of Marine ht for the
British Isles ;’ by Philip Henry Gosse, A.L.S.

Proceedings of Societies :— Zoological, Linnean.

Miscellaneous :—Sibbald’s Drawings of Scottish Animals ; ip the

late Dr. George Johnston. Clausilia Rolphii; by Mr. S. P. Wood-
ward. Note on Helix aspersa; by Mr.S. P. Woodward. Descrip-
tions of some New Species of Birds; by the Viscount du Bus de
Gisignies [extracted from the ‘ Bulletin de Academie Royale de
Belgique, vol. xxii. p. 150, 1855]. On the Operculum of Diplom-
matina; by Captain Thomas Hutton. Note on Aphyllanthes mon-
speliensis, and the New Family Aphyllanthacee; by M. Parlatore
[extracted from the ‘Comptes Rendus’ for the 27th August, 1855,
p- 344].

The specimen of Helix aspersa, or common garden snail, noticed
by Mr. S. P. Woodward, is an adult shell with a second half-grown
individual fixed to its spire and partly imbedded in the suture of the
body whorl. The winter-door or epiphragm remains in the exposed
part of the small shell’s aperture, showing that it had died during the
first hybernation, whilst its neighbour had survived, and, not getting
free from the incubus of the empty house of the deceased, had par-
tially enveloped it in the course of its growth to maturity.

Entomological Botany (with more especial reference to the Plants —

JSrequented by the Tineina). By H. 'T. Srainton, Esq.

(Continued from page 4842).

Prunus Cerasus. Cherry.

Speyer enumerates a great many of the plum-feeders as feeding

also on cherry, but it is hardly worth our while to repeat this list; the ©

a

Entomological Botany. 4891

"special cherry-feeders that he mentions are Vanessa Polychloros

(which we are inclined to doubt), Asteroscopus Cassinia, Diphthera
ludifica (not yet known as British), Phesyle psittacata, Tortrix
sorbiana and Coleophora hemerobiella. The larva of Argyresthia
ephippiella feeds in the leaf-buds in May, and the long mines of the
larve of Lyonetia Clerckella are not unfrequently observed.

Prunus spinosa. Blackthorn; Sloe.

The list of Lepidopterous larve feeding upon this plant is not a short
one: Speyer enumerates Papilio Podalirius, Aporia Crategi, Thecla
Spini, T. Pruni and T. Betule, Procris Pruni and P.infausta, Episema
ceruleocephala, Cilix spinula, Drepana unguicula, Saturnia Carpini,
Perthesia auriflua, Orgyia gonostigma and O. antiqua, Gastropacha
quercifolia and G. Prunz, Lasiocampa Quercus and L. Rubi, Trichiura
Crategi, Eriogaster everia and E. lanestris, Clisiocampa neustria,
Eyprepia grammica (surely some mistake, as this is a grass-feeder,
and should be looked for in the open parts of woods in sandy places—
in such localities I saw it quite common at Glogau, at the end of May),
Hypercompa dominula, Acronycta strigosa, A. tridens and A. Psi,
Diphthera ludifica, Miselia culta and M.Oxyacanthe, Mamestra Pisi,
Orthosia munda, Calocula paranympha and C. hymenea, Ennomos
lunaria, E. illunaria and E. illustraria, Angerona prunaria, Rumia cra-
teegata, Ourapteryx sambucaria, Geometra vernaria and G. bupleuraria,
Aspilates purpuraria, Crocallis elinguaria, Boarmia consortaria and
B. rhomboidaria, Amphidasis pilosaria, Nyssta pomonaria, Biston
hirtaria, Hibernia defoliaria, H. leucophearia, H. rupicapraria, Ani-
sopteryx escularia, Harpalyce corylata, Steganolophia prunata,
Abraxas grossulariata, Scopula prunalis, Nola palliolalis and Penthina
pruniana. In the above list the species not yet detected in this
country, many of which we certainly owght to find, are indicated by
italics. An important addition to the above list, at least it will ap-
pear important to all our British Lepidopterists, is Valeria oleagina,
‘of which Guenée says the larva feeds “in May and June on Prunus
Spinosa, principally in shady places or on the borders of woods.”
Myelois suavella and M. epelydella feed on sloe, and form long
tubular galleries on the stems, the outside of which is concealed by a
coating of “frass.” Of the larve of the Tineina feeding on sloe a
goodly number may be enumerated, and there can be little doubt
that we are far from having exhausted the riches of this plant. Swam-
merdamia pyrella is frequently to be seen at home here, and Hypono-
meuta padella is very abundant in the month of June: the larva of

4592 Entomological Botany.

Cerostoma horridella feeds on the sloe at the beginning of that month. —
In August and September the leaves will sometimes be observed with
the two sides slightly drooping, this effect being produced by the larva
of Enicostoma lobella, which feeds on the under side, in a silken tube
which draws down the sides of the leaf: the larva of Ypsolophus
fasciellus, on the contrary, doubles the leaves wpwards, forming a
complete chamber ; it may be found in September. Dasycera sulphur-
ella, which feeds on decaying sloe stems, as well as on almost any other
kind of wood, is the next that claims our attention; it may especially
be noticed where the black-thorn hedge has been clipped, profiting by
all the clefts left in the branches where they have been cut, and
betraying its retreat by a heap of ill-digested wooden “frass.” Of the
genus Argyresthia, the whitish-green larva of A. mendica, the orange-
banded green larva of A. albistria (not unlike a miniature P. Machaon)
feed on the young leaf-buds in May. Of the genus Ornix we have
already bred two species, O. anglicella and O. torquillella, from sloe:
the young larve mining the leaves might easily be mistaken for larvee
of a Lithocolletis young; but, on closer scrutiny, the mine will be ob-
served much smaller than a developed Lithocolletis mine, for the
larvee of this latter genus have a prescience denied to man, and as
soon as they escape from the egg (of which I believe they eat the shell,
for hitherto I have been unable to find it), they commence making a
mine big enough to last them the term of their natnral lives; after
which, though the larva trebles its size, the dimensions of the mine
remain unaltered, except by the shrinking of the leaf. The Ornix
larve, after quitting their mines, turn down the edge of the leaf, and
feed on the inside of the tubular abode thus formed ; any one possessed ~
of eyes may find these freely on almost any sloe bush in July and
September. ‘The larva of Coleophora paripennella is to be found
very commonly on sloe in autumn, its funny knobby case looking as
if laid on the leaves, as in winter and spring we find it attached in the
same flat position to the stems of the bushes or to palings. The
larva of C. anatipennella carries his case erect, not that it holds its
head any higher on that account, for it is its taz/ which is elevated at —
an angle of 90°: it is very common in May, and from its queer black ~
look and pistol-shape is often wondered at by the ¢gnorami. C. pal-
liatella I never met with in proprid persond, so that I cannot say
much about it; but as it carries a broad scaly flap on each side of its
case, it is even a more extraordinary sight than its congener.
Coleophora nigricella feeds on the sloe, but not so commonly as on
hawthorn and apple; its straight case is a very inferior piece of ©

Entomological Botany. — 4893

_ tailoring compared with the cases of the preceding species. Of the
genus Lithocolletis but one species, the variable L. spinicolella, feeds
on this plant; it mines the under side of the leaves, and makes but a
small mine: the brown blotches on the surface of the leaves sometimes
- inform us that Cemiostoma scitella has not disdained to feed upon
the sloe, though it is more frequently observed upon apple and
hawthorn. Of the genus Nepticula the two now well-known species,
N. plagicolella and N, Prunetorum, are all that we have at present
discovered. |

’ Prunus padus. Bird Cherry.
, The especial food-plant of Hyponomeuta Padi, but not that I am
aware interesting to us in any other way.

Prunus Lauro-cerasus. WUaurel.

Though not generally attacked by larve, it is sometimes; I once
saw a bush nearly stripped of its leaves by the larve of Episema
ceruleocephala, and Mr. D’Urban informs me that he has bred both
this insect and Porthesia chrysorrhea from larve fed exclusively on
this plant; the perfect insect must have been as hard to kill as
Mithridates.

Spirea Ulmaria. Meadow Sweet.

How the mere mention of the name of this plant reminds us of
hay-fields and long summer’s evenings, and rambles by the banks of
streams. My Dipterist friends are of course well aware that there is
a Dip. larva very abundant in the leaves of this plant in July: a
Coleophora larva has been found on this plant, the case of which

- resembles the case of the elm-feeding C. fuscedinella, but the perfect
insect was not bred, and so we only suspect that they should be
referred to that species. Strange that a plant so plentiful should not
be more patronised by Lepidopterous larve.

Spirea Filipendula. Dropwort.
Abundant at Mickleham Downs, and on other similar localities,
but not at present known as the food of any Lepidopterous larva.

Geum urbanum. Wood Avens.

A common but inconspicuous plant in hedge-bottoms and moist
shady places; the flower so soon falls to pieces that it rarely attracts
our attention, but the burr-like seeds are more conspicuous; the leaves

XIII. 3A

4894 Quadrupeds.

are not unlike those of the bramble, but without thorns. The larva of

Nepticula aurella is not uncommon in the leaves of this plant, and may |
be found in October, November, March, April, and June and July. —
The larva of Lampronia prelatella also patronises this plant, but as it ©

more especially favours the wild strawberry, it is mentioned more in
detai] under that plant.

Geum rivale. Water Avens.

Babington says “ damp woods,” but though I have been in many a
“damp wood” I never yet met with this graceful plant, which is of
entomological importance, in order to assist us in unravelling the
Linnean Pterophorus didactylus, for Linnzus says specially ‘‘ Habitat
in Geo Rivali,” and we find in De Geer a full account of the larva of
a “plume” feeding on this plant: he says that “he found the larvee
on the Geum rivale in great abundance in May; they generally keep
on the flowers of the plant, and appear to like the calyces of the
flowers, which they gnaw, and pierce through and through; neither
do they spare the petals, which are equally to their taste, but they do
not so willingly eat the leaves of the plant.” It may be hoped that
this notice will induce some entomologist to send me word that he
has known this larva for the last ten or twenty years, and supposed
everybody else knew it also. I have had abundant evidence, in the
progress of this ‘Entomological Botany,’ of the truth of Mr. Lees’
remark, that “the majority of collecting entomologists are not of a
literary turn,” each, like an animalcule, gyrates in his own small
circle, knowing nothing of the larger world beyond. |

Nepticula aurella and Lampronia prelatella both feed on this

plant as well as on the preceding species.

H. T. Stainton.
Mountsfield, Lewisham,

October 5, 1855.

The Hedgehog devouring its own Youny.—Abvout the middle of last August a hay-
maker in this neighbourhood found a hedgehog’s nest containing six young ones. He
shortly afterwards mentioned the circumstance to a fellow-labourer, who bargained for

the nest, with the intention of giving it to me. Happening to pass during the day, he ©

told me of it, and showed me the nest, but, as the parent was absent, we agreed to leave
the young ones (which were as yet blind, avd could not be many days old) until we
could catch her; this he succeeded in doing the following evening, when he took the
whole home. For want of a more suitable cage, he placed them, nest and all, with
some food, in an empty tub for the night, intending to send them to me next day. On

visiting them in the morning, he was surprised to find five of the young ones eaten, —

|

Birds. 4895

and all of the sixth except the skin of the back, which was rolled up under the mother,
where it remained until I removed it. The mother had undoubtedly made a meal of
her young, since’ nothing could have entered the tub without displacing the covering,
which was not moved. I have lately heard of another hedgehog killing her five young
ones, under similar circumstances. This is of common occurrence amongst rabbits,

but I have not heard previously of its being the case with regard to the hedgehog.—

J. F. Brockholes ; 7, Egerton Terrace, Birkenhead, September 29, 1855.

Note on the Cuckoo.—One morning, towards the end of last May, a country boy,
who for two or three seasons has procured me some small birds’ eggs, found the nest
of a yellow bunting, containing one egg, which he left, expecting the bird to lay more.
On passing the place during the day, he observed a cuckvo near, and on looking into
the nest he missed the yellow bunting’s egg, and found in its place that of a cuckoo.
Country boys in this district generally pull a bird’s nest out on robbing it, so that the
cuckoo, in this case, must have taken the missing egg. There is a popular saying in
Lancashire, that cuckvos suck birds’ eggs in order to make their voices clear, and the
above will tend to show that this is not entirely without foundation. The yellow
bunting afterwards laid two eggs in the same nest, and then forsook it. Ina few days
the boy fuund another cuckoo’s egg in a yellow wagtail’s nest, and a third in a sedge
warbler’s. The statement may be relied on, since I have never detected the boy in
trying to deceive me, although I have questioned him minutely.—J. F. Brockholes ;
7, Egerton Terrace, Birkenhead, September 29, 1855.

Occurrence of the Hoopoe at Low Layton.—A person employed on Tyler’s Farm,
near Low Layton, being engaged in catching sparrows, had the good fortune to capture
a young hoopoe, on the 7th of August last—TZ. Bramley ; 9, Winchester Street,
Waterloo Town, Bethnal Green.

A Valuable Hen.—A friend of mine has a hen, which, last spring, laid five or six
eggs per week, varying in weight from three to five ounces each: the shell of one which
weighed five ounces is now in my collection; it is 3; inches long and 2 inches in
diameter through the widest part, is roughly finished, and presents the singular ap-
pearance of having been in three pieces,—that is to say, the two ends appear to have
been cemented to the centre portion before the whole was thoroughly hard. The egg
contained only one yolk, which was small in comparison with the size of the shell.
The hen combines the American, Dorking and a third breed of poultry. —J. F’. Brock-
holes ; 7, Egerton Terrace, Birkenhead, September 29, 1855.

Occurrence of Rosecoloured Pastors near the Land’s End.—I have just seen four

examples of the above beautiful bird, two males and two females; three of them were

killed near the Land’s End, and the fourth more eastward.—Hdward Hearle Rodd;
Penzance, October 9, 1855.

Occurrence of the Solitary Snipe near Penzance.—The first instance that has come
to my knowledge of the solitary suipe having been seen or killed in Cornwall was one
handed to me by the gamekeeper of W. B. Praed, Esq., of Trevathon, near this place,
who told me he shot it in a small wet morass near St. Ives: its weight was just 7 oz.,
and from the indistinctness of the bars in its under plumage, with a remarkably short
beak, I think it is a bird of the year.—Id.

Occurrence of the Spotted Crake and Avocet on the Exe.—On the 17th of
September I shot a spotted crake (Crex porzana), which rose from a patch of rushes

4896 7 Reptiles.

in our marsh. I believe this bird has occurred a few times before in this neighbour-
hood. On the 6th inst. a specimen of the avocet (Recurvirostra Avocetta) was killed on
the mud-banks opposite the town of Topsham, on the Exe, by a man named Hall, who
says he saw it feeding before he shot it, and that it worked its bill from side to side.
under water in a very curious manner: it was almost entirely white, having very little -
black on it, except the crown of the head and back of the neck. It is a rare bird on
this river, and has seldom occurred here before. It has been well preserved by
Mr. Truscott, taxidermist, Exeter.—W. S. M. D’'Urban; Newport, near Exeter,
October 11, 1855.

The Great American Snake caught.—The ‘ Buffalo Daily Republic,’ of the 13th of
August, announces the capture of the great American water-snake on that day in the ©
Silver Lake, near Perry village, New York. On Sunday, the 12th, the snake came to
the surface, displaying 30 feet length of his body. On Monday morning all were on the
alert. At nine o’clock the snake appeared between the whaleman’s boat and the shore: —
he lay quiescent on the surface, and the whaleman’s boat moved slowly towards him, ~
Mr. Smith, of Covington, pointing his patent harpoon. On reaching within ten feet —
of the snake, the iron whistled in the air, and went deep into his body. Instantly the ©
whole length of the snake lashed the air, and he darted off towards the upper part of —
the lake, almost dragging the boat under water by his movement. Line was given him, —
and in half an hour his strength seemed much exhausted. The whalemen then went
ashore, and gradually hauled the line in. When within fifty feet of the shore, the
snake showed renewed life, and with one dart nearly carried off the whole line; but —
he was dragged slowly ashore amid excitement unexampled in the district. Four or ~
five ladies fainted on seeing the snake, who, although ashore, lashed his body into
tremendous folds, and then straightened himself out in agony with a noise that made the f
earth tremble. The harpoon had penetrated a thick muscular part, eight feet from his 3
head. He is 59 feet 8 inches in length, and has a most disgusting look. A slime a —
quarter of an inch thick covers his body, and if removed is instantly replaced by —
exudation. The body is variable in size. The head is the size of a full-grown calf. —
Within eight feet of the head the neck gradually swells to the thickness of a foot in —
diameter; it then tapers down, and again gradually swells to a diameter of two feet
in the centre, giving about six feet girth; it then tapers off towards the tail, and ends
in a fin, which cau expand in fan-shape three feet across or close in a sheath. Double —
rows of fins are alternately placed along the belly. The head is most singular. The —
eyes are large, staring and terrific, with a transparent membrane attached to the lids,
protecting the eye without impeding the vision. No gills appear. The mouth is like
that of the fish called a sucker ; it can stretch so as to swallow a body a foot and a half —
in diameter: there are no teeth; a bony substance, extending in two parallel lines, ~
covered the upper and lower part of the head. The sides and back are dusky brown;
the belly is dirty white. Although sinuous like a snake, there are hard knot-like sub-
stances along the back. The harpoon is still in him. He lies in the water, confined
with ropes, which keep his body in a curve, so that he cannot get away. He can use ||
his head and tail, with which he stirs the water all aronnd. When he rears his head
(which he generally keeps under water) he presents a fearful aspect. In expanding”
his mouth he exhibits a blood-red cavity, horrible to look at, and the air rushes forth”
with a heavy short puff.— Times, October 1, 1855. |

Fishes. A897

The Loach or Beardie (Cobitis barbatula) in Confinement.— This little fish appears

_ tobe entirely destitute of the power of swimming as practised by the majority of fishes:

‘it remains motionless at the bottom of the vessel during the greater part of the day,
‘but towards evening, and also in showery weather, it frequently comes to the surface

bya violent wriggling movement of its eel-like body ; having reached the surface it is

totally unable to remain there, either by a continuance of the exertion or by that easy
‘floating which many fishes practise so gracefully: the moment the exertion ceases the
fish falls heavily and languidly to the bottom, dropping from rock to rock, or from plant
to plant, until it finds a resting-place, where, whether it is a stone or plant, it will re-
main perched, as it were, for hours: I have seen them rest apparently balanced cross-
wise on the edge of a vertically-placed stone: aquatic progress seems the result of
powerful exertion of the vertebre. It is excessively voracious, and will consume an
incredible number of small worms, that is of worms 14 inch to 2 inches long; as soon
as it seizes one it immediately stirs up the sediment at the bottom of the vessel,
making the water so cloudy that the fish instantly becomes invisible. The operculum
of the nostril stands up like a minute horn on each side of the face. I have never
noticed any indication of familiarity in this fish: it is unconquerably shy, and although
its voracity will not allow it to deny itself the gratification of devouring a worm in my
_ presence, yet this is always accomplished in nubibus, as above noticed. I keep them
in shallow milk-pans or glass globes with a few weeds, and never change the water,
unless to cleanse the glass of Conferve: I have found it die in a zinc tank. In a state
of nature it lurks in long floating grass quite as commonly as under stones. — Edward
Newman.

The Gudgeon (Gobio fluviatilis) in Confinement.—This fish, like the beardie,
appears to be greatly addicted to reposing motionless on its belly: in this position it
will remain for hours; but if the forehead be brought against the glass it darts round
and round the vessel with inconceivable velocity: it has no disposition to float in
swimming, but its movements, when rising to the surface, are not so laboured as those
of the beardie, neither is its descent so languid and helpless. I have had one in a zine

4 _ tank with unchanged water for eight months, during which time it has greatly increased

in bulk, consuming quantities of worms. The most interesting act I have observed in
this fish is that of gliding on its belly, like a slug, up and down the perpendicular sides
_ ofa leaden cistern, without the slightest perceptible motion of fins or vertebral column.

_ This fish thrives in a cistern into which water is daily admitted, and from which it is
as constantly withdrawn, maintaining itself in good condition without other food than

% that contained in the water, which is much improved in purity and brilliancy by its
_ presence.—d.

Food of Fishes.—The preceding observation on the gudgeons thriving on the im-
a purities of London water leads me to Dr. Knox’s observations on the minute food of
the vendace, &c. Iam not only willing thoroughly to adopt the opinions expressed
by Dr. Knox in his paper in the June number (Zool. 4709), but I had always sup-
posed it a received fact that the principal food of very many fishes was the minute

animal life contained in water, and invisible to our unassisted eyes.—Jd.

Transparent Fishes.—At the recent meeting of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, Professor Kolliker, of Wurzberg, exhibited a series of
transparent fishes from the coasts of Messina. The only known fish that can be at all
compared with these, in the character of transparency, is the lancelet, Amphiowus
lanceolatus of Yarrell, who gives an excellent figure and description at p. 618 of the

4398 Mollusks— Arachnida— Insects.

second volume of the ‘ British Fishes,’ a creature so jelly-like that the great naturalist
Pallas actually considered it a slug; but the lancelet is regarded as a cartilaginous fish,
while these novelties are osseous, and belung to the genera Leptocephalus, Helmicthys,
Hioprorus and Telurus.— Jd.

The supposed Male of the Argonaut.—In 1842 Professor Kolliker found, respectively
on Tremoctopus violaceus and Argonauta Argo, two worm-like creatures closely re-
sembling the Hectocotyle Octupodis described by Cuvier * as found on Octopus granu-
losus. In 1845 the learned professor communicated to Robert Brown his belief that these
were neither more nor less than the males of the Cephalopoda on which he found them.
At first sight the professor took them for epizootic worms, to which, from their white
colonr and numerous suckers, they bore a great resemblance; but when he examined
them more accurately he found so many peculiarities, as the existence of a heart,
arteries and veins, branchie, and coloured contractile pigment-cells, that at length he
was compelled to abandon this opinion and adopt one widely different, namely, that
they were the males of the most highly organized of all mollusks. In favour of this
conclusion he urged that Hectocotyle Argonaute and H. Tremoctopodis bear a close
resemblance to Cephalopoda in general, and in particular to the genera on which they
live, for they have the same spermatozoa, contractile pigment-cells, similarly-formed and
similarly-organized suckers, and the same arrangement of muscular fibres: again, as |
to sex, 280 Argonauts examined were females, a male has never been found; the —
Hectocotyle are males only, and are always found in the neighbourhood of the sexual
organs of the Argonauts; finally, according to the observations of Madame Power and
Signor Maravigna, the eggs of the Argunaut contain embryo Hectocotyle: the last
fact seems conclusive in favour of the professor's theory. The foregoing facts have
been familiar to all English naturalists for the last ten years. At the recent meeting
of the British Association Professor Kolliker exhibited specimens of Hectocotyle,
curious eight-armed creatures, with one arm enormously developed, and said to retain
vitality long after separation from the animal. Edward Newman.

a

Scorpion taken at Dorchester.—I lately saw a scorpion taken at Dorchester by the
Curator of our Museum there; but on inquiry I found it was captured at the bone-
mills, and, as foreign bones are often imported for manure, its introduction seems
easily accounted for.—J. C. Dale ; Glanville’s Wootton, near Sherborne, September 18,
1855.

A List of a few rather interesting Lepidoptera that have occurred in the neigh-
bourhood of Plymouth :—

Thecla Betula. September 12th, flying about oak trees.

Deilephila Galii. September 5th, a full-fed larva of this species was taken in the
garden of Admiralty House, Devonport, by the gardener, who states that a few days
previously he took two others of the same species, but fearing they would injure the
plants he cut them to pieces. Mr. Dell, of Devonport, is the fortunate possessor of
this rare larva. It changed to the pupa the following day.

ee eee ee eee

* “Annales des Sciences Naturelles,’ Ist Series, vol. xviii. p. 149, date 1829.

Insects. A899

Pecilocampa Populi. September 6th, larva feeding upon poplars.

Lasiocampa Trifolii. This species, in the larva state, is very abundant on the
coast from the beginning of May till the first days in July; and the imago from
August 25th continues for about a month.

Apatela leporina. Within the last fortnight I have taken six larve of this
species, feeding upon black poplars.

Heliophobus hispida. I had one of these rare moths come forth from a pupa I
took on the coast.

Cucullia Chamomille. This summer I have taken five larve of this rather rare
species.

Heliothis peltigera. Last year and this I have been fortunate enough to rear
this rare species.

Ennomos illustraria. This is attracted by light better than by perhaps any other
method.

The plumes are represented here by Pterophorus cosmodactylus, P. caludactylus,
P. acanthodactylus, P. pheodactylus, and several others, as also the pretty Alucita
pulydactylus.—J. J. Reading ; 5, Union Street, Plymouth, September 21, 1855.

Occurrence of Colias Edusa and Colias Hyale near Brighton.—From the 12th to
the 22nd of September I have taken, near Kemp Town, five specimens of C. Edusa and
two of C. Hyale, and one a female variety of Edusa, C. Helice, a very beautiful
specimen, and the exact representation of the one figured in Humphrey and West-
wood’s book, and which in this neighbourhood seems a very rare insect with collectors :
there have altogether been about thirty specimens of C. Edusa and four or five of
C. Hyale taken by different collectors in the above locality.— Frederick Sharp;
100, Trafalgar Street, Brighton, September 24, 1855.

Double-broodedness of Gonepteryx Rhamni.—Mr. Stainton’s inquiries respecting
G. Rhamni, in the September number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 4813), are in effect already
answered by the excellent remarks of my friends Doubleday and Douglas, which ap-
peared at the same time. I believe no one ever doubted that the hybernated specimens
laid eggs in the spring; but with regard to his second query, Do not these eggs pro-
duce larve which feed up in May? I may be allowed to say that, if such were the
case, we should of course find them full fed at the end of that month; and how a larva
which feeds on buckthorn, and takes nearly two months to arrive at maturity, could
attain its full growth in this country by the end of May, I leave such profound
botanists as Mr. Stainton to determine; it certainly appears to me, that for a large
portion of its life it would have to subsist on the branches or roots, especially in such
_ backward springs as the last. My experience fully confirms the statements of
_ Messrs. Doubleday and Douglas, already published: I found the larve early in July
last in all stages of growth; these of course were the progeny of the hybernated
specimens, and it seems to me quite impossible for them to become full fed earlier in
this country. I must protest against Mr. Stainton’s assertion, that no one in Britain
has noticed the transformations of G. Rhamni, merely because he has not done so
himself. It is true Stephens says (Illust. Haust. vol. i. p. 9), “This insect is
apparently double-brooded.” Mr. Curtis (‘ British Entomology, p. 175) says, “and
the eggs which are then deposited (by the hybernated specimens) produce green
caterpillars that feed upon the buckthorn, and again appear as butterflies in August.”
This is a plain and correct history of the insect, and published some years before
Mr. Stainton commenced his able career as an entomological author. I fully admit

4900 Insects.

that it would appear “ the height of absurdity ” if we were in reality less acquainted with —

the history of our Papilionide than of the Nepticule; but surely those entomologists

who, like Mr. Stainton, have devoted themselves exclusively to the study of Micro- —

Lepidoptera, and have done the most to bring about such a state of things, ought to
be the last to find fault with our ignorance of the larger groups. Mr. Stainton
informs us, on the authority of Professor Zeller, that Papilio Machaon is double-
brooded in Germany; such, I admit, may be the case, but am very certain there is
only one brood of the species in this country, and am confident all British entomolo-
gists who have had opportunities of judgiug will support my opinion: the same
remarks will also apply to Melitea Selene and M. Euphrosyne. It appears to have
been the custom in former days to imagine there were two broods of any of our
Lepidoptera, of which examples might be found in the perfect state in May and
August; but it is now a well-known fact that many species which pass the winter in
the pupa state emerge therefrom throughout the whole of the following summer: two
common examples, Notodonta Camelina and Acronycta Psi, may be given; the larve
of these species may be found in all stages of growth from July to October, and the
perfect insects from April to August following; the larve, which become full fed in
July, produce in the early spring specimens of the imago, whilst those which do not
assume the pupa state till late in the year emerge in the following July and August:
a succession of specimens is thus produced, as in the case with Papilio Machaon, &c.
It seems needless to add to Mr. Doubleday’s unanswerable facts on the perfect condi-
tion of hybernated specimens. I will just add that Theristes caudella is well known
to pass the winter in the perfect state, and occurs in perfect condition in the spring;
on the 5th of June last I took a specimen of this species on Coombe Hurst, in the
finest possible condition; of course this insect had existed in the perfect state since
the preceding August or September: if such a delicate creature as this, possessing as
it does the most ample cilia to the wings of any of our Lepidoptera, could survive the
last severe winter in such an exposed locality without injury, we surely cannot be
surprised at seeing G. Rhamni in good condition in the spring.--Edwin Shepherd ;
176, Fleet Street, October 4, 1855.

Double-broodedness of Gonepteryx Rhamni.—So many letters having lately been
published in the ‘ Zoologist’ under this head, I would not trouble you with the
following, did I not think it would tend to throw some light on this much-discussed
question. Your correspondent, the Rev. Mr. Greene, asks “ Has any entomologist ever
seen G. Rhamni, either fine or otherwise, on the wing either in June or July?” In
answer to which I beg to state that on the 12th of June last I took several specimens
(and saw numbers of others) in Bickly Vale, on the river Plym (about five miles from
Plymouth), in very fair condition, far better than they could possibly have been, I
think, had they passed the winter in a torpid state, and been subject to the changes of
our last cheerless spring: the warm, sunny days at the end of February and beginning
of March usually bring out those that have hybernated, and had these specimens been
on the wing since that period, whenever the weather permitted, I think they would
have presented a most forlorn and ragged appearance, instead of a very fair one (the
few previous days to the 12th having been rainy and cold, which might have
destroyed their first brilliant appearance). In Devonshire the food of the larva,
Rhamnus catharcticus, would probably, even in backward seasons, be sufficiently ad-
vanced to afford them support by the middle of April, so that no very rapid progress
would be necessary to produce the perfect imago by the beginning of June; again,

4
:

ON

Insects. 490d

if these specimens had been on the wing the previous August and September, and
again brought out by the warmth of a March sun, I think most entomologists will
agree with me that their term of life must have been an unusually long one. I regret,
owing to my embarking a few days afterwards with my regiment for Gibraltar, I was
unable to visit the locality again to prove beyond doubt that they were to be taken
during the remainder of the month. The specimens which I took are now at Gibraltar
with the regimental baggage, to which station I am returning almost immediately, or
otherwise I should have had great pleasure in forwarding one for your inspection.—
Charles W. Watkins ; Clifton, October 1, 1855.

Double-broodedness of Gonepleryx Rhamni.—I had no wish to say anything more
about G, Rhamni, but I seem almost compelled to reply to Mr. C. R. Bree (Zool. 4871),
and I may first remark that the question is not one of inference, but of fact. Mr. Bree
will often find himself in the wrong, if he infers because an insect which appears
at a certain period of the year is double-brooded, that another species, which appears
at the same time, must be so likewise: the most closely-allied species often differ in
this respect; take, for example, Harpalyce russaria and H.immanaria; these two
species so nearly resemble each other, that it is sometimes rather difficult to separate
the numerous varieties of each; yet the former is always double-brooded, while the
latter has only one brood in the year. According to Mr. Bree’s argument, Anthocaris
Cardamines, which appears at the same time of the year as P. Rape, P. Napi and
P. Brassice, ought to be double-brooded, because these three species are so; but, like
G. Rhamni, it is most certainly single-brooded. Mr. Bree asks whether insects which
hybernate disappear directly they emerge from the pupe state, if the weather is warm.
I reply, that some species most certainly do so, without any reference to the state of
the weather, while others seem to continue on the wing in the autumn as long as the
weather is fine. To Mr. Bree’s next question, whether the intercourse between the
sexes takes place in the autumn or in the spring—I answer, invariably in the spring,
when both sexes hybernate, as is the case with the Lepidoptera. Mr. Bree’s last
sentences rather astonish me: he says, “‘ Depend upon it that hybernation of the imago
is an accidental or casual occurrence. It is opposed to the whole scheme of insect-
life.” Surely there is some mistake here, as I thought every entomologist was aware
that numbers of species invariably pass the winter in the perfect state, and reappear and
deposit their eggs in the spring. Having now replied to Mr. Bree’s queries, I cannot
conclude without saying that Mr. Stainton’s statement, that no living British ento-
mologist had been observant enough to have noticed the transformations of G. Rhamni,
is a libel upon his fellow-labourers in Science. That some persons who profess to have
a thorough knowledge of the transformations of the minute tribes are profoundly
_ ignorant of the economy of the larger Lepidoptera, I can readily believe; but al/ have
not begun at the wrong end. With regard to the first species in our catalogues,
Papilio Machaon, I may just remark that I believe we have only one brood in a
season: the perfect insects begin to appear in May, and keep coming out all the
summer from pupe of the preceding season. Last year I had about a hundred pupe
in the same cage; the first butterflies appeared at the end of May, and the last in the
first week of September: I have had numbers of larve at different times, but never
reared a butterfly from them the same season. Argynnis Selene and A. Euphrosyne
abound here, but I never saw an autumnal specimen, and I rather doubt their being
regularly double-brooded on the Continent. I am aware that in some seasons a few
specimens occur in August and September, but I believe these are merely individuals

XIII. 3 B

4902 Insects.

which have gone through their changes prematurely, and are all barren. I have found
the larve of A. Selene in the early spring sunning themselves on the dead leaves.
I never saw the larva of A. Euphrosyne.—Henry Doubleday ; Epping, October 10,
1855.

Double-broodedness of Gonepteryx Rhamni.—It is said that discussion elicits
truth, and I hope it will do so in the present instance: I observe that while those
gentlemen who advocate the double-broodedness of G. Rhamni have advanced no
single fact in support of their opinion, those on the opposite side appeal to facts only.
I have been an entomologist for thirty years, and I learned from positive observation
in the second year of my collecting that there was but one brood of G. Rhamni in the
year. Nothing can be more clear or more familiar to practical collectors. The hyber-
nated insects are abundant in May: the female lays her eggs; the larva feeds in June
and July; the perfect insect soon appears on the wing, and continues to fly until
October, when it generally secretes itself for the winter. Mr. C. R. Bree infers from
what he knows of the history of Speranza conspicuaria that the same history will serve
for G. Rhamni. Inference is not fact. The facts, as repeatedly stated about G. Rhamni,
are totally different. Mr. Bree draws another inference totally at variance with fact:
he infers that hybernation is accidental or casual, and opposed to the whole scheme of
insect-life ; now, not only in G. Rhamni, but in polychloros, Io, Urtice and Atalanta,
it always takes place, and the only inference to be fairly drawn from the fact is that it
always will.—H. J. Harding ; 1, York Street, Church Street, Shoreditch, October 11,
1855.

[I can now positively state, from my own observations, made during 1855, that
Gonepteryx Rhamni is only single-brooded. The term, however, should be ex-
plained. The first warm days of spring invite the perfect butterflies, which
invariably hybernate, from their winter hiding-places: they copulate in May, and
lay eggs on the buckthorn a few days after copulation: the caterpillars feed -as
soon as the leaves are ready for them: they are full-fed early in July, and
become pupe: these again become butterflies early in August: these butterflies
never copulate or lay eggs during the remainder of the year; but on the first frost
retire to winter quarters, emerging only on hot sunny days, until the following spring.
Thus one cycle of animal life occupies an entire year, and this is what I call single-
brooded. I hope I may without offence express an opinion at variance with that
of Mr. C. R. Bree at p. 4872: Mr. Bree’s opinion is couched in these words, “* Depend
upon it that hybernation of the imago is an accidental or casual occurrence. It is
opposed to the whole scheme of insect-life.” I have no hesitation in stating thatin —
many species of Lepidoptera I have found hybernation of the imago to be the positive
and constant rule. I have gone so far as to keep late pupw of some of the Vanesse
in a very cold and dark cellar, with a view of retarding the assumption of the butterfly
state; nevertheless most of them changed, and might be seen sitting on the walls and
ceilings all the winter; and the few which remained unchanged until spring never
became butterflies at all. I am doubtful whether the pupe of these insects: can with-
stand the cold of winter like those of the genus Pieris; but whether this be the case
or no, I cannot for a woment doubt that it is for some good end in the economy of
Nature that an Allwise Providence has ordered that certain of the insect-tribes should
pass the winter as eggs, others as larva, others as pup, and the rest as perfect sects ;
the object of this rule may be inscrutable to us, but this is no ground for discrediting
the evidence of our senses.—Hdward Newman. |

Insecis. 4903

Unusual abundance of Vanessa To.—On ihe banks of the river Avon, a short
distance from its confluence with the Severn, Vanessa lo was literally in hundreds:
every head uf Fuller's teasel (Dipsacus Fullonum) being covered with them; any one
desiring to take specimens might have secured hundreds. Common as this beautiful
insect is, I never before saw it in such unusual numbers: I had been in the same
locality a few days before and did not see a single specimen.—Charles W. Watkins ;
Clifton, October 1, 1855.

Reputed British Butterflies—I have found a few notes, written a long time ago,
on certain butterflies which the late Mr. Haworth thought it would be better to
expunge from the British list. When a person is proved guilty of trying to pass off
as British what he knows to be foreign he ought to be well exposed, but he ought also
to be thoroughly convicted of it. The Hesperia Vitellius of the old‘ Entomological
Transactions’ is in my possession; it came from the collection of Dr. Abbott, who, I
suspect, was a relation of Georgian Abbott [the joint author with Sir J. E. Smith of
the ‘Insects of Georgia’]. I doubt whether Haworth rightly understood Abbott that
he lately took H. Vitellius in Bedfordshire; it is more probable that he wrote he had
“lately added it to his collection:” unfortunately Haworth destroyed Abbott's letter,
in which the facts were mentioned. On seeking for this insect in the British Museum
I could not find one exactly like it, but found a species like it on the obverse, but
having the reverse entirely different, and another exactly vice versd, the obverse
different, the reverse similar. Mr. Westwood is quite mistaken about this insect, the
species in his work having no affinity thereto. Mr. Westwood is no less mistakeu as to
the Hesperia Oileus of the ‘ Entomological Transactions,’ as my original specimen
from Dr. Abbott is H. Syrichtus, also a Georgian species, and very much lighter in
colour than Mr. Westwood’s Oileus. I observe the name Oileus is always quoted
with a note of interrogation after it. As the original specimen of Thecla Spini came
into my hands, I took it to the British Museum, and having compared it, with the
assistance of Mr. F. Smith, I find it to correspond with the T. Silenus of the British
Museum, which is identical with the T. Melinus of Hubner, and is a native of Brazil.
The pin is old, and had a very foreign look about it. I think Haworth told me he
received it from Captain Lindegren, or from a London dealer who said he took it near
London. Be this as it may, it has no claim whatever to be considered a British

‘specimen. I have seen no less than four species placed in collections as representa-

tives of Haworth’s Thecla Spini; one in the cabinet of the late Joseph Sparshall, who

told me he received it from Haworth, who broke his pair to give him one: in another

account Sparshall said he received it from Dr. Leach, in exchange for the Gastropacha

Pini figured by Curtis. Curtis took a drawing of this insect but I do not know the name

of the species. I have seen T. Llicis, received from Mansfield, also placed as represent-
ing T.Spini. Lastly, I have a true T. Spini, received from Chapman, of York, mixed
with British insects, and unset, but he very fairly told me he could not warrant its
being British—J. C. Dale ; Glanville’s Wootton, near Sherborne, September 18, 1855.

Capture of the Larva of Deilephila Galii and Stauropus Fagi at Devonport.—On
the 3rd of September a friend of mine obtained possession of a larva of the rare
D. Galii, taken in the gardens of Admiral Sir W. Parker, the present Port Admiral ;
two others had unfortunately been destroyed by the gardener a day or two previously.
The same person also had, on the 8th of the same month, a fine larva of Stauropus
Fagi brought him, taken in the park of the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe.-— W. HZ. Hay-
ward; Devonport, October 2, 1855.

A904 Insects.

Arcturus Sparshalii an Australian Insect.—Mr. Sparshall professed to be very
careful not to admit foreign insects into his cabinet, and yet (perhaps by mistake)
Arcturus Sparshalii, figured by Curtis, was said to have been taken by him at Horning,
and the date given. Boisduval suspected this insect to be American, but there are a
pair in the British Museum from Australia. Again, I received from him a specimen
of Libellula Tillurgus, the L. Sparshalii of Dale, also taken at Horning, although an
inhabitant of the other side of the globe. Sparshall said that as Machaon was taken
at the Fens as well as in India and China, why should not other foreign insects occur
at Horning ?—J. C. Dale; Glanville’s Wootton, near Sherborne, September 18, 1855.

Capture of Leucania musculosa at Brighton.—On the 17th of August I took, at a
gas-light in this hospital, a male specimen of Leucania musculosa: it is a very perfect
specimen, and has probably been seen at the Entomological Society by most of
the London entomologists. ~ John N. Winter; Sussex County Hospital, Brighton,
September 27, 1855.

Capture of Phlogophora empyrea at Brighton.—-During the present month (October)
I have taken, in company with my friend, Mr. Eagles, five specimens of Phlogophora
empyrea at sugar: all the specimens are more or less worn.—d.

[This beautiful insect, previously unknown as British, has been identified and named
by Mr. Doubleday. Guenée gives the following references: —“‘ Hib. 63, 646; Tr. 1.
383; Dup. p. 345, plate 94, fig. 4. Dupenchel’s is the best figure. Hab. Italy, central
and Western France in September: never abundant.”—Edward Newman.]

Note on the Habits of Epunda Lichenea.—The larve of this insect vary con-
siderably, especially in depth of colour: whilst young many of them are of a beautiful
pale green, having a soft velvety appearance, and others are slightly mottled with
deeper green, which detracts somewhat from their beauty. On casting their skins,
when about half-grown, they assume a very different appearance: in many instances
the ground-colour becomes pale or dark olivaceous, whilst many still retain the green,
and all become freckled with dusky black on the back and sides: along the back are
three rows of dusky black markings, which arise near the head, and continue to near
the anal extremity; these are triangular in shape, having their apices pointed towards
the head, and in dark individuals they are nearly, if not quite, confluent: a line along
each side and the pectoral legs are paler than the ground-colour of the back; the
ventral and anal legs and the whole of the under side, in pale examples, still remains
greenish, whilst in dark ones they are of an olivaceous green: there are a few hairs
scattered over the back and sides, and the head, which is glossy, varies in colour from
greenish to brown, in accordance with the larva. No material change takes place
now until they are full-fed, with the exception that the general colour becomes
darker. They feed voraciously on golden moss (Sedum acre), and sparingly on rag-
wort (Senecio Jacobeéa), and grow rapidly. On arriving at maturity, which they do in
April or early in May, they spin a loose and dirty web a little below the surface of the
earth, wherein they undergo the pupa state. A few specimens of the imago occur
during the last days of August, but the majority do not appear until after the first
week in September. Like many other Noctue they are hatched principally during
the afternoon, whilst the Diurne, on the contrary, generally leave the chrysalis early
in the morning. This insect comes sparingly to syrup, though never, I believe, whilst
quite fresh. Specimens may be taken more freely resting on dead fences after dark,
when their evening flight is over.—J. F'. Brockholes ; 7, Egerton Terrace, Birkenhead,
September 29, 1855.

Insects. 4905

Occurrence of Lithocolletis Bremiella in Britain.—At the October meeting of the
Entomological Society Mr. Stainton exhibited leaves of Vicia Sepium mined by the larve
of Lithocolletis Bremiella, an iusect entirely new to Britain, since which Mr. Douglas
informs me he has bred thirty or more of the same new species from similar larve.—
Edward Newman.

Note on Tinea granella.—This species must be double-brooded, as I observed, on
the 13th inst., many specimens settled on the walls of the granaries in Clink Street,
Southwark, which, from their fine appearance, could not long have quitted the pupa
state. There were also crawling about on the walls numbers of small larve, of a yel-
lowish white colour with brown heads, which were most probably referrible to this
species. I likewise noticed specimens of Calandra granaria.—C. Miller ; 17, Silurian
Terrace, Brooke Road, Dalston, October 15, 1855.

Note on Colymbetes dispar of Bold.—My Coleopterist readers will recollect that in
the Appendix to the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1849 (Zool. App. xxiv.) Mr. Bold described a
Colymbetes under the name of dispar: the description was particularly minute, and
the author appeared to have taken great pains to ascertain whether any previous
description existed. I was unable to obtain a sight of this insect until February of the
present year, when Mr. Janson very obligingly allowed me to see a pair presented to
him by the discoverer, and it appeared to me that they closely resembled a species I
have long known under the name of uliginosus, and Mr. Janson, in the ‘ Entomo-
logist’s Annual, had previously expressed an opinion that it was probably a variety of
that species. Within the last month Mr. Bold has most kindly and liberally sent me
a series of both sexes, and I have thus been enabled to give the species a careful
examination and comparison, the result of which is that I can discover no difference
whatever between dispar of Bold and uliginosus of Paykull. On communicating this
opinion to Mr. Bold, that indefatigable entomologist called my attention to the great
dissimilarity of the sexes, a character which induced him originally to name the
species dispar. On again referring to my sexes of uliginosus, i found the similarity
complete in this respect also; and I may here observe that the discrepancy which
frequently obtains between the sexes of the Hydradephaga does not appear to have
been sufficiently noticed: in Dytiscus and Acilius the elytra are sulcated in the female,
and this character appears tu be represented, in many species of Colymbetes and
Hydroporus, by a rougher surface, causing a dull appearance, which contrasts forcibly
with the extreme glabrous and shining surface of the elytra in the males. On subse-
quently communicating with Dr. Power and the Rev. Hamlet Clark, I was delighted
to find that those careful entomologists had, independently of myself and of each other,
arrived at the same conclusion as to the identity of dispar and uliginosus. Another
question, however, seems to arise, and the result will I believe be the retention of
Mr. Bold’s name. It is a well-known rule that two species in une genus cannot bear
the same name: now, at the time the name of Colymbetes uliginosus was applied to
the insect under consideration, there already existed a Colymbetes uliginosus, that
specific name having been originally applied by Linneus, as proved both by description
and specimen, to the subsequently named fuliginosus of Fabricius, Gyllenhal and
Aubé.— Edward Newman.

Occurrence of Scolytus destructor in Lancashire. — My. Bold’s communication
respecting this little “ destructive” in the October number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool.
4873), reminds me of its occurrence, on the wing, at Stretford in this district in
August last ; a boat was being laden with recently-felled timber close by, out of which,

4906 Insects.

I infer, the insects came.—J. Hardy; Radnor Street, Hulme, Manchester, October 4,
1855.

Capture of Rhizotrogus ochraceus in Wales.—Mr. Weaver, during his late trip to
North Wales, has met with this scarce insect in some abundance, flying by daylight.
The insect is smaller and shorter than the familiar midsummer chafer known in our
collections as Amphimalla solstitialis ; the antenne of the male are also very different,
the club formed by the lamelle is shorter, and the exterior margin, so conspicuously
curved or concave in A. solstitialis, is nearly straight in R.ochraceus. This insect,
the Rhizotrogus ochraceus of Burmeister’s ‘ Handbook’ (‘ Handbuch der Entomologie,
vol, iv. part ii. p. 415), is composed of two supposed species, which the author con-
siders varieties: Var. a, pronoto maris femineque parum villoso, pubescente = Melo-
lontha ochracea of Knoch (Neue Beitr. i. 90, 5) and Schonherr (Syn. Ins. i.3, 176, 60) ;
and Var. b, pronoto maris dense villoso femine pubescente = Melolontha Fallenii of
Gyllenhal and Schonherr (Syn. Ins. i. 3, 175,51, App. 85, 118); Rhizotrogus Fallenii
of Dejean’s Catalogue; and Amphimalla Fallenii of Mulsant (Lam. d. Fra. 447, 4): it
is mentioned by Stephens (‘ Manual, p. 168), under the name of Fallenii, as having
occurred in Derbyshire. I think Burmeister has done wisely in uniting these supposed
species; but our insect being the var.a, and decidedly the Melolontha ochracea of
Kuoch, whose name has the claim of priority, there can be no doubt about the propriety
adopting Burmeister’s name of Rhizotrogus ochraceus. I should also state that
Dr. Schaum, in the Stettin ‘Catalogus Coleopterorum Europe,’ includes a third sup-
posed species, the Amphimalla tropica of Mulsant, an insect with which I am totally
unacquainted: he unites the three under the name of Rhizotrogus ochraceus.—
Edward Newman.

Capture of Melolontha Hippocastant in Scotland.—Mt. Hislop, of Blair Lodge,
near Falkirk, has had the good fortune to capture this species in some abundance in
his own neighbourhood, and has enriched many of the London cabinets with specimens.
At first sight it is distinguishable from Melolontha vulgaris by its conspicuously ferru-
ginous pronotum: the anal style of the female is also much shorter than in that
species. Mr. Stephens (‘ Manual, p. 168) mentions this species as having occurred on
the banks of Windermere: it has also been taken in Ireland.—Jd.

Capture near London of a Coleopterous Insect new to Britain.—Mr. Janson, the
talented Curator of the Entomological Society, is the fortunate captor of a Coleopterous
insect quite unknown in Britain, if not altogether new to Science; he informs me it is
related to Choleva, and possibly belongs to that curious genus of blind beetles called
Adelops: Mr. Janson is investigating its history and nomenclature, and in due time
will publish all particulars.—Jd.

Occurrence of Acrida Standishii at Glanville’s Wootton.—I was mentioning only
two days ago to Mr. Haliday, who was here on a visit, that I had not seen Acrida
Standishii for years, and to-day a female has been brought me, so that my old
acquaintance has reappeared this season.—J. C. Dale; Glanville’s Wootton, Sher-
borne, October 18, 1855.

Occurrence of Delphax longipennis at Glanville’s Wootton.—While Mr: Haliday
was here [ took a specimen of a very good thing, Delphax longipennis: it is a very

active insect, and difficult to secure. I think I had another in the net, but lost it.—
Id.

Entomological Scciety. A907

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

October 1, 1855.—Joun Curtis, Esq., President, in the chair.

Donations.

The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—‘ Mémoires de ) Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-
Arts de Belgique, Tomes xxviii. and xxix.; ‘ Bulletins de l’Academie Royale des
Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Tome xxi. Part 2, Tome xxii.
Part 1; *‘ Mémoires Couronnés et Mémoires des Savants étrangers, Tome vi. Part 2;
‘Notices Extraites de !Annuaire de lObservatoire Royale de Bruxelles pour 1855,’
par le directeur, M. A. Quetelet; ‘Sur la Relation entre les Températures et la Durée
de la Végétation des Plantes,’ par M. A. Quetelet; ‘ Annuaire de l’Academie Royale
des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, 1855;’ ‘ Bibliographie
Académique ou Liste des Ouvrages Publiés par les Membres Correspondants et
Associés Residents;’ by the Académie Royale des Sciences, &c., de Belgique.
* Bulletin de la Societé Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’ Année 1853, Parts 3
and 4; Année 1854, Part 1; by the Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou.
‘ Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis Physico-Chemica et Mathematica, von Ernst A.
Zuchold, Vienna, Jahrgang, 2 Heft, July bis December, 1854; by the Author.
‘Proceedings of the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Society during the Forty-
fourth Session, 1854—55, No. ix.; by the Society. ‘The Journal of the Society of
Arts’ for September; by the Society. ‘The Literary Gazette’ for September; by the
Editor. ‘ Hewitson’s Exotic Butterflies’ Part 16; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘The
Zoologist’ for September and October; by the Editor. ‘The Natural-History Review,’
No. 7; by the Editor.

Election of a Member.
James John Reading, Esq., Plymouth, was elected a Member of the Society.

Exhibitions.
Mr. F. Smith exhibited a fine collection of Coleoptera, made during September, ‘at
Deal, including the following species :—
Gymnaétron Beccabunge _ Phytonomus fasciculosus Choragus Sheppardi

Ceutorhynchus Resede Otiorhynchus rugifrons Helops pallidus
Acalles misellus Limobius mixtus Haltica Modeeri
», Roboris Lixus bicolor Harpalus cordatus
Sibinia primita Apion vernale Amara curta
Erirhinus scirrhosus » Sedi.
Also the following Hymenoptera, taken at the same time and place :—
Pompilus rufipes Pompilus crassicornis Astata stigma
a plumbea Ammophila lutaria.

Mr: Smith also exhibited a minute Dipterous insect, Elachipteron brevipennis,

4908 Entomological Society.

caught by him at Deal on the back of an Hemipterous insect, Nabis subaptera, in the
act of inserting its ovipositor under the elytra.

The Rev. J. F. Dawson exhibited a fine series of both sexes of Harpalus cordatus,
Dufts., a species so rare in England that at the time his ‘ Geodephaga Britannica’
was published (1854), only a single specimen was known. All the specimens he now
exhibited were recently captured by himself at Deal.

Mr. Foxcroft sent from Perthshire for exhibition a box of Lepidoptera, of which
the best species were Depressaria ciniflonella and Poedisca ophthalmicana.

Mr. Bond exhibited a fine series of Heliophobus hispidus, recently captured by
himself in the Isle of Portland.

Dr. Power exhibited a specimen of Dinodes Maillei, Dej., taken among moss at
Gurmard Bay, Isle of Wight by Mr. Arthur Adams. Mr. Dawson said that as this
species was a native of the Morea, and was not found in the countries intermediate
between these and England, it could hardly be considered indigenous to Britain: he
had frequently seen insects not natives of this country floating in the sea off the Isle
of Wight, which he suspected had been brought to the vicinity in ships, and it was
possible a similar mode of transit might have occurred in this instance. Mr. Edward
Sheppard said Mr. Adams had assured him that there was no mistake about this
specimen, for he had a perfect recollection of its capture.

Mr. Newman exhibited a specimen of Xylocopa violacea, aoehonnianeed by the
following memorandum :—‘“ This bee was taken by Mr. Charles Wood at Dulwich
Common the second week in June last: it had flown into a greenhouse, and
Mr. Wood, who is a professional gardener, was attracted not only by its extraordinary
appearance, but by its loud humming when on the wing. A bee, supposed to be of
this species, is described and figured in the ‘ Monographia Apum Anglie,’ vol. ii.
p- 310, and pl. xvii. fig. 9, under the name of Apis iricolor, but the specimen, now in
the cabinet of our Society, is evidently an American species, and must have been
introduced into Mr. Kirby’s cabinet by some mistake. Donovan’s ‘ British Insects,’
vol. xii. p. 25, and pl. 403, fig. 1, may also be consulted. I believe the present to be
the only really British-captured species of this beautiful bee, but it is very abundaut
in some parts of France, and I have seen many specimens in the garden of the
Tuileries: the large importation of shrubs (especially orange trees) from the Con-
tinent for the Crystal Palace may perhaps account for its introduction. I should add
that Mr. Wood, finding the interest I took in the capture, has most obligingly
presented me with the specimen.”

Mr. Stainton exhibited leaves of Vicia Sepium containing larve and pupe of
Lithocolletis Bremiella, a new British species, from the neighbourhood of Bexley.
Only on Wednesday last he received some similar mined leaves from Frankfort, and,
thus instructed, he succeeded in finding these examples on Friday; on Sunday two
moths came out, and these were also exhibited.

The President exhibited a scorpion in spirit, presented to him by Mr. Henry Page
as the largest ever seen in Sierra Leone.

Destruction of Crops by Insects.

Mr. Westwood said that Mr. D. W. Mitchell, the Secretary of the Zoological
Society, had forwarded to him some withered turnip-leaves, as a sample of the plants
on ten acres of land, all similarly caused to perish by the attacks of insects: these
leaves were accompanied by many Syrphi; but these had not done the mischief, for,

a

Entomological Society. 4909

as was well known, they fed upon Aphides, which no doubt were the real depredators.
Although the tubers would doubtless perish in consequence of the loss of the leaves,
yet they were not affected by gangrene, and so there was no analogy with the destruc-
tion of the tubers of the potato, attributed by Mr. Smee to the attacks upon the leaves
by the Aphis vastator.

Mr. Lubbock mentioned a similar destruction of turnip crop near Farnborough ;
and the President said he had heard of another instance nae Cranford: he was also
sorry to add that Athalia Spinarum or “the black nigger” of the o SHEEE was very
abundant this year in several districts.

Mr. Westwood also stated that there had been a vast amount of injury caused
this year by the larve of saw-flies to pear, cherry, gooseberry and other fruit-trees,
amounting in some instances to a total destruction: he thought it might be a
very useful subject of inquiry, if the prodigious multiplication of these insects
was due to any peculiarity of the season, especially as it appeared that, under
some such influence, certain flowers had failed, and others had flourished this year
better than usual.

Indian Lepidoptera.

Mr. Stainton read the following extract from a letter addressed to him from
Calcutta by W. S. Atkinson, Esq. :—

“What mistakes writers at home make about exotic species! In Swainson’s
‘Zoological Illustrations,’ second series, vol. iii. pl. 101, you will find the pupa of
Papilio Polydorus suspended from the tail: this he should have known must be
a mistake; I have had several, and of course, like the rest of the Papilios, its head
is uppermost, supported by the silken girth. There is a strange confusion about
P. Nomius, Boisd. (P. Niamus, Swains.): Swainson has a very good figure of this
well-marked species (which I take here): he says, ‘It is a native of Southern Brazil,
and of such rarity that in two years we never met with more than one specimen;’
and Boisduval, vol. i. p. 252, says, ‘J’ai cru jusque’a ces derniers temps que les
individus que je poisséde venaient du Bengal, quoique Godart indique cette espéce
comme d’Amerique; mais il me parait demontré aujourdhui que j’avais commis une
erreur a habitat, puisque M. Swainson dit l’avoir prise lui-cméme dans le Nord du
Brésil:’ Swainson must surely be mistaken ; for it is hardly likely that this insect is
an ivhabitant of both the old and new continents. Again, Boisduval, on the
authority of Westermann, unites P. Pammon and P. Polytes as male and female:
this is certainly not the case. P. Pammon is one of the commonest butterflies here,
and I have had several females of the species; some of these, but not all, have red
lunules below the central white of the posterior wings, in that respect resembling
P. Polytes, but they are never without the band of white blotches on the anterior
wings. Blyth, the Curator of the Asiatic Society’s Museum here, entirely agrees
with mein this; but he assures me that he has seen these two and P. Polydorus
in copulé with one another, but that he has tried in vain to rear a brood from
them.”

Mr. Westwood remarked that General Hearsey had brought from India Papilio
Pammon and P. Polytes, which he had found united.

itt. a ¢

4910 Entomological Society.

Elateride feeding on Aphides.

Mr. Douglas read, from the ‘ Entomologische Zeitung,’ the following note by
Pastor Kavall, of Courland :—

“TI am able to confirm the fact that the Elaters do not confine themselves to
vegetable juices, but attack Aphides. As long ago as June 7, 1847, I saw Elater
tesselatus eat Aphides upon Viburnum opulus, and I observed it closely with a lens.
I also noticed Elater Ephippium and E. elongatus on Prunus padus similarly
occupied. At other times I have seen Elateride sucking (the juices of) plants.”

Coleoptera of Siam.

Mr. Edwin Shepherd read the following extract from a letter addressed to
Mr. Adam White by J. C. Bowring, Esq., Corr. M.E.S., at Hong Kong :—

“ You may perhaps have heard that I accompanied my father on his mission to
Siam ; I did so for change of air, which I sadly wanted. I cannot say that I got the
rest and quiet I needed, as we were fully occupied during the whole of our stay at
Bangkok, and there was scarcely a night that we were not at it until half-past one or
two o'clock: as the thermometer nearly every day was up to 92° or 94°, this was some-
what trying to a semi-invalid, and I am sorry to say I do not find any benefit to have
accrued from my trip. Having been so busy you may imagine that I had not much
time to bestow on our favourite Entomology ; I brought away with me, however, some
500 Coleoptera, taken principally in doors, the insects having been attracted by the
lamps: this number, considering all things, is very respectable; but, excepting a few
longicorns and Rhynchophora, the species are of very minute size, the whole having
been brought away in a pill-box; they are now being mounted, and cut a decent
figure. I scarcely yet know how many species there are amongst them, but certainly
over a hundred, and any duplicates I have shall go to the British Museum. Most of
the insects which came in to the lights were small Bembidiide, Staphylinide and
Pselaphide: of these last I have some sixty specimens, comprising five or six species.
Bangkok, indeed, would seem to be the very metropolis of the Pselaphide kingdom,
as every morning numbers were found drowned in the cocoa-nut oil in the burners,
and I could have got many hundreds of these greasy gentry.

“The country seems to swarm with insects of all kinds, and any collector who
could spare a season for Siam would reap a glorious harvest. On our way from Siam
to Singapore we had to call at Pulo Aor to cut wood, having run out of fuel, and
while our men were at work in their way, I was so also in mine. It was such a
fatiguing matter to force a way through the jungle, the sides of the hill (the whole
island being a mountain rising precipitously from the sea) being so steep that I was
not very successful, and only obtained about forty Coleoptera, of one or two of which
I have duplicates, and these you shall have.

“In Hong Kong Coleoptera I cannot be expected to progress very fast; it isa
rare thing now for me to fall in with a novelty, but still I do so occasionally: the
other day I got my first specimen of the only beetle in poor Champion’s collection,
which I did not possess when he left China,—an Orthogonius; I don’t know whether
it has been described. My Chinese Coleoptera now number some 1300 species.

“ T fear we shall not get many novelties from Japan, under our new arrangements
with that country; the place, I imagine, will be as much closed against us as ever,

Society of British Entomologists. 4911

and Admiral Stirling’s convention, instead of in any way rendering it accessible to us,
seems to me to have quite a different bearing. I had quite been looking forward to
the receipt of a host of curious forms from that extraordinary country, but 1 have
completely given up all such expectations.”

Mr. Newman communicated the two following notes :—

Note on Trochilium Chrysidiforme.

“In the report of the August meeting our Secretary has appended to the
interesting record of the capture of Trochilium Chrysidiforme an assertion that the
species had previously but two British representatives: if he will turn to page 3289
of the ‘ Zoologist, he will find a record by Mr. Barron of the capture of a third
specimen near Haslar Hospital.”

Hats manufactured of the Silken Felt spun by Saturnia Spini.

“It will be recollected by several of our members that I had the pleasure of
mentioning, at a former meeting, the fact of the silk of Saturnia Spini being applied
to economical purposes at Vienna. I have lately learned from my friend Mr. Pretsch,
who was also my original informant, that the silken felt which I then described has
been most successfully applied to the manufacture of hats by Herr Flebus, of Vienna,
who has taken out an Austrian patent for this object. The hats are extremely
durable and perfectly waterproof, being rendered so by the glutinous nature of the
silk itself: they are held in great estimation by sportsmen and gentlemen much
exposed to the weather, but the cost has hitherto been too great to admit of any
extensive sale. Herr Flebus is, however, about to establish a factory in the district
of Erzgebirge, situate between Bohemia and Bavaria, induced by the abundance of
the food of the caterpillar and the cheapness of human labour.”

New Locality for Geodephaga.

Mr. Douglas said it might be worth while to inform Coleopterists that a week
since he took Tarus axillaris and Licinus depressus three miles beyond Croydon:
these species had not hitherto been found nearer to London than Reigate or
Boxhill.—J. W. D.

Society or British ENToMoLocists.

August 7, 1855.—Mr. Harpine, President, in the chair.

Mr. Millar exhibited, among other Micro-Lepidoptera, specimens of Nothris
Durdhamella, bred from larve found by Mr. Harding feeding on the wild marjorum
(Origanum vulgare), and identical with a larva swept by Mr. E. Shepherd near Dart-
ford, which a good deal resembled that of Gelechia rufescens. Mr. Harding stated
that he had recently met with this species near Darenth.

Mr. Millar also exhibited a specimen of Colias Edusa, a male, taken by a friend
near Darenth Wood, on the 22nd of July.

pee ee

4912 Society of British Entomologists.

September 4, 1855.—Mr. Harpinc, President, in the chair.

Mr. C. J. Briggs was proposed as a subscriber.

The President exhibited a box of insects, taken principally on the coast of Kent;
among them were the following :—Melitea Cinxia, Sphinx Convolvuli, Lithosia
pygmea, L. quadra and L. complana; Acronycta auricoma, taken near Canterbury ;
Spzlotis cataleuca, Eremobia ochroleuca, Heliothis marginata and H. dipsacea,
Plusia orichalcea, Botys fuscalis, B. lancealis, Ceramia ligustrana, Timandra emu-
taria, T. imitaria, with a number of others. He said that he had also taken four
larve of Deilephila Galii, and that three of them had gone into the pupa state. In
all the years he had been an entomologist he had never seen such numbers of white
butterflies as there were this year along the coast ; their caterpillars had destroyed all
the cabbages. Plusia Gamma and Xylophasia polyodon were also in such number as
to be a perfect pest; the former, swarming among the flowers in the evening; the
latter rendered sugaring quite a dead letter, as they came in swarms, and their
pugnacious habits were such that they drove away any other insects that came: it was
quite amusing to witness the battles that took place.

Mr. Millar exhibited specimens of Choreutes scintillulana, Swammerdamia
lutarea and Peronea hastiana var. Bentleyana. Mr. Millar said the statement of
Madame Leinig, that the larva of this species feeds upon birch, is certainly deserving
of credit, as Mr. W. Machin has bred it from leaves of this tree, collected in-
discriminately, and therefore has not any recollection of the larva. On the 2nd inst.,
he beat two specimens from a birch-tree in Headley lane: it is rather singular that
the perfect insect should exhibit such a partiality for the Lombardy poplar; but
Asychna modestella is extremely partial to the blossoms of Stellaria, yet there is no
proof that this plant is the food of the larva.

Mr. Millar made the following observations on Cerambyx moschatus:—“I was
much amused, one day last July, with the proceedings of a specimen of this common
beetle: I had put it away in a chip-box, and on looking at it a few days after I found
that it had gnawed the sides of the box, and was in consequence covered with small
fragments of wood: its first care on being released from captivity was to free itself
from these particles; for this purpose it laid its antenne on the tarsus of the fore leg,
then covered it with the tarsus of the second leg, and, elevating its head slowly, drew
the antenne through; thus was proved the use of the pulvilli, which acted as minute
brushes, and cleaned the antenne from the particles adhering to them: this operation
concluded, the tarsi were raised to the mouth, and the palpi passed repeatedly over
them, for what purpose I cannot say, but most likely to remove the collected fragments
entirely from them. No sooner was the foregoing process ended than the long tibie
were raised to the base of the elytra, and passed repeatedly over them, until every
particle was removed. From some accident one of the wings had got attached to the
tip of the corresponding elytron; this it discovered in an attempt to fly; and now to
show the admirable conformation of so trifling an object as a beetle—without the least
hesitation or sign of perplexity the spine at the base of the tibia was passed down the
suture of the elytra repeatedly, until the obstruction was removed, and the insect able
to fly.”"—J. T. N.

Quadrupeds— Birds—Fishes. 4913

Deer feeding on the Fruit of the Horse-Chestnut.—It is said that the Turks grind
(or perhaps crush) the fruit of the horse-chestnut, and give it to horses to improve
their wind, whence the name horse-chestnut. In this country these nuts are generally
deemed useless, and I was not aware they were eaten by any animals till I had ocular
demonstration of the fact. Many years ago I was waiting in the churchyard within a
nobleman’s park, when several deer came up to a horse-chestnut tree not many yards
distant from me, and not only picked up the nuts from the ground, but also gathered
those on the lower twigs. Moreover, one buck certainly, perhaps more (I do not now
recollect the precise number) thrust his horns into the tree, and rattled the boughs
about till he had shaken down some of the fruit otherwise beyond his reach. Hard as
the nuts are, the deer champed them up with little apparent difficulty, and decidedly
as if they were a treat.— Arthur Hussey ; Rottingdean, October, 1855.

Occurrence of the Creamcoloured Courser on Salisbury Plain.—I have just
received a very rare bird to stuff for Mr. Walter Langton, who shot it on East Down,
Salisbury Plain, on the 2nd of this month (October): it is the creamcoloured courser
(Cursorius isabellinus). My. Langton was following a wild covey of birds which had
pitched on the open down, when his pointers stood at this bird: it got up, flew about
a hundred yards, and pitched again: he kept it in sight and shot it on the ground.
Mr. Yarrell had the bird to examine in the flesh; he was much pleased with it, and
will figure the breast-bone in a Supplement to the ‘ History of British Birds, which
he is now preparing.—James Gardiner ; 426, Oxford Street, October 30, 1855.

Note on the Common Night Heron.—It has been remarked that in very old birds
of this species the number of occipital plumes increase. The usual number seldom
exceeds three, and I have observed this number in several examples where the state of
plumage exhibited perfect maturity. It is, however, very probable that, without
depending either upon age or sex, the number of plumes now and then exceed three ;
I have heard of one specimen, which came under the notice of Mr. Vingoe, having
six. Yesterday I examined a specimen, killed a few years since in the Lizard
district, at the same time and in the same locality that afforded me a very beautiful
male specimen in perfect plumage, which had three well-defined snow-white plumes.
The example now under notice is scarcely so bright in plumage as my bird, but quite
adult ; but the number of plumes that adorn the head is no less than ten; one or two
of them are rather shorter than the rest, but differing in no other particular.— Edward
Hearle Rodd; Penzance, October 27, 1855.

Occurrence of a supposed new Wrasse and other Fishes in Swanage Bay.—Whilst
dredging the other day in Swanage Bay I took a wrasse, a description of which
I enclose, in hopes that some of your readers may be able to tell whether it is a new
species or only a variety of Labrus Comber (Yarrell, vol. i. p. 323) or of Labrus
Donovani (Yarrell, vol. i. p.315). It was ofa slender form, bright olive-green on the
back and head, lighter on the sides, and silvery on the lower part of head and belly;
a silver streak runs from the superior edge of the orbit to the tail, beneath and fol-
lowing the lateral line; the fins shaded and tipped with orange. Length 23 inches.

XIII. 3D

4914 Fishes.

Fin formula, D. 20+ 10: P.14:V.1+5: A.3+8:C.14. Within the last two
days I have also taken specimens of the equoreal pipe fish (Syngnathus equoreus,
Yarr. ii. 442), green-streaked wrasse (Labrus Donovani, Yarr. i. 315), Montagu’s
sucking fish (Liparis Montagut, Yarr. ii. 374). Of the last fish Mr. Couch says it
never attaches itself to any fixed substance: the specimen I had certainly did,
both to the wood of a pail and to the side of a glass bottle.—Lester Lester ; Langton
Maltravers, Dorset, October 3, 1855.

[The small size of the wrasse implies its youth, and it seems not improbable
that it may be the young of the comber wrasse (Zabrus Comber), a fish which
agrees with Mr. Lester’s in its slender proportion: this species is of excessive
rarity, and its occurrence in Swanage Bay is of great interest. — Edward
Newman. |

The supposed new Flounder.—Enclosed I send you a more lengthened description
of the black flounder than that originally communicated. I have this summer
obtained three more, and am more convinced of its being distinct: they are from the
same locality as the others. The length of the head is to the whole length of the fish
as 7 to 31; the greatest width of the body without the fins is to the whole length as
1 to 3}. Mouth small; one row of small teeth in each jaw. Lateral line very slightly
curved over the pectoral fin, and marked with numerous rough stellated tubercles at
its commencement, some more of which are continued below the lateral line as far
the widest part of the fish. Scales small. Dorsal and abdominal lines armed with a
series of denticulated tubercles, one in each space, between the rays. Upper eye
rather the largest, and placed rather more backward than the lower. A strong,
prominent, tuberculated, bony ridge between the orbits, the tubercles being continued.
in a curved line to the commencement of the lateral line. Pectoral and ventral fins
longer and more pointed than in the common flounder (Platessa Flesus); dorsal fin’
commencing on a line with the posterior edge of the lower eye, extends almost to the’
tail; ventral fin nearly on a line with the margin of the operculum ; anal fin preceded
by a spine directed forwards, commences considerably further back than in the plaice,
and terminates on the same plane as the dorsal. Fleshy portion of tail narrow; its rays
more elongated than in P. Flesus; the four central rays longer than the rest. Fin rays
in number are—dorsal 57—59; pectoral 10; ventral 6; abdominal 41; caudal 18.
Colour almost black on both sides. Dorsal line recurved so as to form a notch above the’
eye. Seven specimens have been examined by me, and in all of them the characters
(which are underlined) distinguish this species from the Flesus. I do not lay undue
stress on the colour, as varieties of all colours are met with amongst the other Pleuro-
nectide ; but when, associated with it, I find so many points in which it differs from
the common flounder, I think myself justified in regarding it as a distinct species.—
Edmund Thomas Higgins ; Birkenhead, October 13, 1855.

[Unwilling as I always am, and always shall be, to damp the ardour of discovery
or oppose opinions advanced by my correspondents, yet I feel myself in some
respect culpable if I allow opinions to go forth without comment after I have had
reason to doubt their soundness. I have taken great interest in the subject discussed
by Mr. Higgins; and have submitted the whole of the evidence to Mr. Yarrell: I have
also spoken to several fishmongers on two points, the notch above the eye and the
black colour of the under side; and I learn, Ist, that it is a favourite trick of the
fisher-boys to cut a notch just in the place indicated when they catch a flounder too
small to be saleable; and they do this in order to be able to recognize it when caught

Fishes—Insects. 4915

a second time: the cut is a simple incision, but both edges recede in healing, and
thus the notch is formed ; and 2ndly, that variation in colour, as both sides white, both
sides black, and one or both sides piebald, is not extraordinary. Mr. Yarrell has a
specimen with the natural colour on the wrong side, not a dextral flounder, but looking
to the left like a Rhombus. Seeing, then, that the notch is artificially caused, and
that the altered point of the commencement of the dorsal is a consequence of the
mutilation, and seeing also that the colour is a mere lusus or freak of nature, we have
only the altered form and greater length of pectorals and ventrals to deal with; and
here I confess that there appears a marked difference, but whether sufficient for the
establishment of a new species it requires a far more skilful ichthyologist than myself
to decide.— Edward Newman.]|

Double-broodedness of Gonepteryx Rhamni.—I did not think I should have raised
such a controversy when I made a few remarks on the question whether G. Rhamni
be double-brooded or not. All that I will positively contend for is that there are two
periods of the year, viz. the early spring and July, August, &c., when the butterfly is on
the wing in a perfectly fine and bright condition. Mr. Greene, I think, must have
been singularly unfortunate in his collecting excursions; for he states (Zool. 4872)
that “though he has captured duzens, and seen hundreds on the wing at that season
[the spring] he has never been fortunate enough to take one worth placing in his
cabinet.” I should hardly have thought it worth while to say another word on the
subject had it not been that Mr. Greene asks, with an air of considerable confidence,
as if the question could not be answered in the affirmative, “ Has any entomologist
ever seen G. Rhamni, fine or otherwise, on the wing either in June or July? It
would be presumptuous in me, on my own individual authority, to deny positively
that it has been so seen; but I have collected in Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Buck-
inghamshire and Suffolk, and I can confidently affirm that, as far as my acquaintance
with those counties extends, G. Rhamni has never been on the wing in June or July.”
Now this statement does appear to me tu be passing strange, having myself seen
G. Rhamni on the wing repeatedly in each of these months. On referring to my
“Calendar of Nature, kept for many years, I find the appearance of G. Rhamni
recorded on the Sth, 18th, 2ist, 22nd, 24th, 29th, 30th and 31st of July; and to
several of these entries I had, in my simplicity added “2nd brood,” because the spring
appearance of the insect had been previously recorded for the same year. The June
appearances have not been recorded in my ‘ Calendar, for this obvious reason,—I con-
sidered them as belonging to the spring flight which had already been noted. I have
had no opportunity of tracing the insect from the egg or caterpillar state, like some
more favoured entomologists. Rhamnus catharticus does not occur in this immediate
neighbourhood, and though R. Frangula does, I have often examined this shrub for
the caterpillar of G. Rhamni in vain. The butterfly itself, too, like several others, has
become comparatively scarce in this neighbourhood. In conclusion, I would merely
thyow out a suggestion for the consideration of some more fortunate entomologists,
especially Mr. Doubleday, who appears to have traced the insect from the very laying
of the eggs. May not some of the later-bred caterpillars turn to chrysalis and remain
in that state through the winter, making their appearance in the winged state in the
early spring? Should this be so, it would account for the five condition in which

A916 Insects.

many of the vernal specimens do certainly appear.— W. T. Bree; Allesley Rectory,
October 22, 1855.

Memorandum on Gonepteryx Rhamni.—The specimen of G. Rhamni which I took
on the 10th of September (see Zool. 4871) I placed in a large box with a wire
gauze door: it remained attached to the side of the box for about a month, when
it died and fell to the bottom.—C. R. Bree; Stricklands, Stowmarket, October 20,
1855.

Captures of Lepidoptera at Brighton On September 15th a fine female specimen
of Ennomos alniaria was attracted by the light to this Hospital, and is now in my
collection. I have likewise taken during the past year—Acronycta Auricoma; one
Diphthera Orion; five Phlogophora empyrea at sugar, three of them worn; one
Leucania musculosa (of this I have sent previous notices to the ‘ Zoologist’) ;
Agrotis saucia; one Agrotis obelisca; several Dianthecia conspersa; several Hadena
lutulenta; one pale var. of Aporophila australis; three Ennomos illustraria, one
‘bred. Among the Tineide I took about fifty of Nemotois scabiosellus in July and
August.—John N. Winter ; Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, October 20, 1855.

Occurrence of Mononychus Pseudacori in the Seeds of Tris foetidissima—I have
just met with a few specimens of Mononychus Pseudacori in the seeds of the Iris
feetidissima (not Iris pseudacorus as given in Stephens), and one of them presents the
peculiarity of having the club of the left-hand antenna testaceous, like the other joints,
while that of the right is black as usual. I do not remember meeting with a similar
instance in that or any other species.—George Guyon; Ventnor, Isle of Wight,
October 25, 1855.

Curious effect of a Magnet on Flies.—Just after I last wrote to you I observed in
the ‘Illustrated London News’ the remark of a correspondent that a magnet, armed
with a piece of iron in the usual way, which was suspended in his study, was carefully
avoided by the flies, though they often settled on pieces of iron in the neighbourhood,
and if their flight happened to take them near it they immediately turned away. It is
well known that wherever a current of magnetism is established a current of electricity
exists at right angles to it; this electricity, in the case of powerful magnets, may be
developed in the form of sparks or shocks, and it seems to me not impossible that the
delicate organization of an insect may be sensitive to the electricity circulating round
a small magnet which to our grosser natures is imperceptible. I placed the needle of
of a compass, the only magnet at hand, on the table, and a fly presently paraded
along it with the most contemptuous indifference—the circuit, however, had not been
completed. This discovery, if proved, might perhaps be turned to account, and it
would be a boon in tropical climates if the musquito-curtains could be superseded by
magnetized bed-posts.—Id.

—

Notes on the Dytiscide. By Joun Curtis, Esq., F.LS.

I am glad to find that Mr. Clark has commenced his labours prepara-
tory to a monograph, I trust, upon the water-beetles of these islands—
a tribe which it is impossible to study, with any degree of satisfaction,
from the works of Marsham and Stephens.

Insects. 4917

There can be no doubt that when this fine family becomes a more
universal favourite with entomologists, that many species, rare or even
unique in our cabinets, will be procured in abundance, and new
species will be detected; but I think we can never expect to find, as
was intimated in the last number of the ‘ Zoologist,’ a very con-
siderable number which are natives of France and Germany. It is
geographically improbable: nearly the whole of France is to the
South of England: the country (viz. two or three degrees) beyond a
line drawn from Bordeaux eastward, either skirting the Pyrenees or
bounding the Mediterranean, where African types are far from un-
common. France also stretches to the Rhine and Rhone on the
East, and as far West as any part of England. France may there-
fore be presumed to produce most, if not all, of the species found in
this country, as well as a very large amount of Austrian and Italian
_ Coleoptera, which we may look for in vain in our island. Our
advantage, if any, over the fertile and varied soil and climate of
France must be sought for in the North, where, from recent re-
searches, it appears that the Fauna of Scotland is identical with that
of Sweden, and in Ireland, which extends much farther West than
any part of France or even of Europe.

In viewing this subject impartially and correctly, it will be seen, by
referring to other orders and families, that Great Britain cannot com-
pete with France in her entomological productions; for instance, our
Heteromera will scarcely fill a drawer, whilst those of France of
themselves form an extensive collection; and our poverty is still more
manifest in the Buprestidz, Lamellicorns and Longicorns. Again, if
we turn to the Lepidoptera, we shall find France far richer than
England. ‘The amount of Papilionide must be treble that of ours,
whilst Artaxerxes and dispar are the only species we can boast of
that are not natives of France. In 1830 I saw on the wing and
captured in central and southern France, in an excursion of two
months, fifty-one butterflies I had never seen alive before, and it has
struck me as a remarkable fact, that whilst in the South of France
one finds almost a tropical Fauna as regards insects, the species of
the North of Europe are also very abundant, as at Pau, in the Basses
Pyrenees, Toulouse, &c., where the Carabide, Curculionide, &c., of
Great Britain are the most common.*

It is therefore to the Lakes of Scotland and Ireland I expect that

* It was only last year that my friend M. C. Delarouzée took Pytho depressus
near Cauteret.

A918 Insects.

we must look for new water-beetles. Dr. Power, Mr. Babington, and
others have well searched the Fens of Cambridgeshire; portions of
Yorkshire were diligently investigated by the late Mr. Rudd; and I
devoted much of my time in my youth to explore the marshes and
broads of Norfolk, especially those of Horning and Wroxham. From
my success in the Lake districts of England in 1827, I would strongly
recommend a good examination of the Lakes of Cumberland and
Westmoreland, not neglecting the brooks and rills around Ambleside.

As regards the mode of collecting water-beetles, Mr. Clark’s instruc-
tions are so complete that [ need not enter upon my own practice,
except to say that the rejyectamenta left by floods in the early spring,
and sometimes collected on the surface of still waters and eddies near
mill-pools or in the angles of rivers, produce a rich harvest of water-
beetles, Carabide, Staphylinide, &c. In setting specimens for col-
lections 1 would recommend an example of each species to be placed
on its back, as the under sides often exhibit peculiar characters of
structure and sculpture which have been neglected in this family,
where I believe they will be found more than usually characteristic.
As the elytra of these beetles are so smooth that they are easily
detached when affixed on their backs, a drop or two of nitric acid
may be added to the gum to make it more tenacious, which is the |
basis of the powerful liquid glue of Paris called “ Colle forte.”

As Mr. Clark invites criticism and solicits information, I will now
proceed to contribute what I think may forward his object.

Such vague indications of localities as ‘‘ Norfolk, Suffolk, &c.,” so
frequently occurring in our entomological works being useless to the
collector, I will subjoin what I can supply from my catalogues, con-
fining my remarks to the rarer species. It may be useful to state
that all such notices relating to the above counties which are inserted
in the ‘ Manual’ and ‘ Illustrations’ of Stephens were obtained from
Mr. Burrell’s ‘Catalogue of Insects found in Norfolk,’ from myself
previous to 1824, and from Mr. Kirby’s MSS. Mr. Burrell explored
the neighbourhood of Letheringsett, near Holt; Mr. Kirby’s collecting
was confined principally to Barham, Martlesham Heath and the
country on that side of Ipswich; and my own researches extended
eventually over the greater portion of the two eastern counties. Much
uncertainty must exist as to the localities registered by Mr. Stephens,
from the fact that the specimens in his cabinet are, to a great extent,
incorrectly named; they often do not agree with the descriptions; a
very considerable number in the more extensive genera, which bear
the names of Gyllenhal and other continental authors, are merely

Insects. 4919

varieties of our commonest species; and occasionally different species
stand under one name, or the same species is located in even different
genera: with such incorrect data, it is scarcely safe to rely upon any
of the localities, excepting those which are distinctly stated to have
been communicated by the captors.

Having for many years kept a journal which was incorporated
annually in catalogues of all the orders, extending to four quarto
volumes, specifying the localities and dates of capture of each
species, as far as the knowledge of my friends and my own ex-
perience enabled me, I can speak with tolerable confidence, except
in some instances where the names have been transposed from the
late unsettled state of our nomenclature; but with regard to the rarer
species, the data have been recorded by me with the greatest care,
and may therefore be depended upon.

Accuracy is most essential in every branch of Natural History, for
errors once in print become permanent, and are not unfrequently
widely spread by writers copying one another, instead of referring to
the original source. There are innumerable instances of this nature
bearing on my own labours, and as it is now thirty years since the
first genus of Dytiscide was illustrated in my ‘ British Entomology,’
and many entomologists in the country may not have access to the
sixteen volumes, I shall refer to the nine genera of that family, with
the figures given, adding such corrections as have been considered
necessary by subsequent investigations. I hope also that the
localities I shall furnish may render the chasse of the collector
satisfactory and successful.

According to my arrangement, I commence with

Hauipius, Lair.

1. H. elevatus, Panz. In September, 1810, the Rev. J. Burrell
took me to a little clear running brook at Letheringsett to show me
the locality of this pretty and at that time rare species; we found in
company with it Colymbetes vitreus and C. maculatus. These are all
more abundant in May.

2. H. ferrugineus, Payk., Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 730. This is the
D. fulvus of Fabricius; “ Paykull however gave the name of ferru-
gineus to this Haliplus before Fabricius and Marsham noticed. it,”
vide Brit. Ent. fol. 730.

Cnemipotus, J/.

3. C.czesus, Duft.; D. flavicollis, Marsh. I yvemember taking this
curious insect in the vicinity of Norwich, but subsequently I used to

4920 | Insects.

find it in the ditches of Battersea Fields, which were, thirty years
back, one of the finest localities for insects of all orders in the neigh-
bourhood of London.

Pa.osius, Schén.

4. P. Hermanni, Fud. I do not find any localities of this fine
species recorded by Mr. Clark. I have generally found it in ponds in
Epping Forest and on Hampstead Heath, the beginning of April and
again in August; it also occurs on Wandsworth Common, preferring
clay-pits into which the leaves of trees fallin the autumn; it used
also to be taken in Copenhagen Fields, on the spot which is now
transformed into the Cattle Market.

Hypuiprus, Jl.

5. H. variegatus of Stephens is merely a common variety of
H. ovatus, as indicated by Mr. Clark. The H. variegatus of Illiger is
a very distinct species, only inhabiting the South of Europe and
Northern Africa.

Hyerotus, Steph.

When I gave the characters of this group in 1835, I expressed
a doubt of the necessity of separating it generically from Hydroporus,
and this opinion prevails on the Continent. As, however, the labrum
and labial palpi are very different, at least in H. inzequalis, if these
differences extend to the other species, they might very advan-
tageously form a section of the genus Hydroporus.

6. H. bisulcatus, Curt. Ann. Nat. Hist. v. 5, p. 276. Of this
curious little beetle I have a coloured drawing, and it was described
by me in the ‘ Annals, in June, 1840. “It was taken on Cambridge
Fens by the Rev. J. L. Brown.”

7. H. decoratus, Gyll., Curt. Brit. Ent. pl.531. This species stood
for a long time unique in the British Museum. In July, 1834, it was
found in abundance, and given to me by Mr. G. A. Wright, who met
with it “on Askham Bog, near Tadcaster, in shallow puddles on the
overflowed part of the Bog, where the grass was very thick: in these
places water-insects of every description abounded, and the H. de-
coratus seemed exclusively confined to them,” vide Brit. Ent. fol. 531.

Hyproporus, Clairv.

8. H. Davisii, Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 343. This distinct species was
one of the many rare water-beetles first introduced to British Ento-

Insects. 492]

mologists from the streams and ponds at Hebden Bridge, York
shire.

9. H. nigrolineatus, Schén. This appears to be the H. 9-lineatus of
Rudd, and is well figured by Schénherr: it was unknown as a British
species until I took a single specimen in Loch Fad, in the Isle of
Bute, the end of July, 1825, and both sexes in the same lake the 9th
of August, 1834; subsequently Mr. Dale and myself found it not un-
common in Woolmer Pond, four miles to the. east of Selborne,
Hants.

10. H. latus, Curt. Brit. Ent. fol. 343. Of this distinct species
Mr. Dale first took a pair in his pond at Glanville’s Wootton: I
named it H. latus in the first edition of my ‘Guide,’ published in
1829, and described it in ‘ British Entomology.’ Mr. Rudd subse-
quently compared specimens he had taken with the one in my
cabinet, and of course adopted my name, and gave it to the author of
the ‘Manual:’ it is consequently my H. latus, not Mr. Rudd’s,
although it is so given by Stephens and others. Some time after I
described it, Sturm gave a very good figure of it, under the name of
H. ovatus. |

11. H. cambriensis, Curt. Brit. Ent. fol. 343. I know not what
‘became of the specimen I described, taken in Wales; it might be a
variety of D. palustris, Zinn., which is the opinion of Mr. Murray ;
but I apprehend the specimens ticketed in Stephens’ cabinet as
H. cambriensis cannot be admitted to identify the unique specimen
taken by Mr. Davis.

12. H. planus, Fab. ‘The little species thus named by Marsham is
quite different to the Fabrician insect, and may prove to be the
H. umbrosus of Gyllenhal; but the specimens named H. planus in
Stephens’ cabinet are undoubtedly H. melanocephalus. On the 28th
‘of April, 1842, I took a single specimen of an Hydroporus, closely
allied to, if not the true H. planus: I found it under a stone in a
pond used for sheep-washing on the downs near Wilton. ‘This
“specimen, which I was enabled to compare with examples of the
Fabrician species sent to me by the late Dr. Sturm, I conceived was
identical with the true species; but Dr. Power having recently
examined them, he is disposed to think that the Wilton and Fabri-
- cian H. planus are distinct: if such prove to be the case I wish to
Name my specimen H. Harrisii, in compliment to an esteemed friend
who took a great interest in the ‘ British Entomology’ during its
progress through the press.

XII. oe

A922 Insects.

Noterus, Clairv.

13. N. sparsus, Marsh., Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 236, and the difference
between the two species are there carefully considered: in addition to
the localities there given I may add another,—a pond at Newtown,
Isle of Wight, where I took N. sparsus, on the Ist of July.

CoLyYMBETES, Clazrv.

14. C. consobrinus, Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 207. This is said to be
the D. Cicur of Fabricius, a native of the Cape of Good Hope: it
was introduced into my work, in consequence of Dr. Leach and
Mr. Wilkin having purchased of Tuther, a dealer in Natural History,
specimens which he assured them were taken near Wanstead House,
Essex. The individual described and figured by me is in the
cabinet of the Zoological Society, and Mr. Tuther received three
guineas for that specimen !

15. C. Grapii, Gyll. This finely-sculptured insect I first dis-
covered in ditches at Drayton, near Norwich, and at Horning, in
May, 1810: it was at first confounded with C. bipustulatus, Zinn.,
and at that time entomologists were very loth to admit that they were
distinct, until the difference of sculpture in the elytra was made
manifest by a drawing which I possess,—a singular proof how much
better Entomology is understood and the species investigated at the
present time than it was forty years back.

Hypaticus, Leach.

16. H. cinereus, Linn., Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 95. The four species
inhabiting Britain are very local, and one of them (H. stagnalis) is so
rare that I have never been able to obtain a native example of it:
whether the neighbourhood of Exeter and Netley will ever again
furnish specimens I think very doubtful, and Wiltshire, it must be
admitted, is a very ambiguous habitat. The other species are taken
at Whittlesea Mere in June and July.

Dytiscus, Linn.

As a proof of the importance of attending to the structure of
the under side of the Dytiscida, not only in reference to generic
characters, but in support of specific distinctions, I would call
attention to the form of the furcate lobes of the metasternum in
this genus, as exhibited in plate 99 of ‘ British Entomology,’ to show

Insects. 4923

that this character is one of the best to facilitate a correct separation
of the species.

17. D. dimidiatus, Jll., Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 99. This, which is
the largest British species, has been taken principally at Whittlesea
Mere, with D. angustatus, in ditches, in May, June and July.

18. D. flavoscutellatus, Zat.? was, by an error, printed “ flavo-
maculatus” in the ‘ British Entomology:’ it is the D. circumflexus
of Illiger, and the D.excrucians of Stephens in the ‘ Zoological
Journal.’

CyBISTER, Curtis.

19. C. Roéselii, Fab., Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 151. The female
figured by me was found on the 30th of September, 1826, in a
puddle at Walton, Essex, by J. Dane, Esq., and is in the cabinet ot
Mr. J. H. Griesbach. Another specimen was obtained by Mr. Davis,
in August, 1831, which had been thrown out of an oyster-basket in
the City Road, and the beautiful female in my own collection was
taken out of a pond with other Dytisci on the 12th of September, 1836,
at Southchurch, Essex, and presented to me by Mr. C. Parsons,
F.L.S.

Aciuius, Leach.

20. A. caliginosus, Curt. Brit. Ent. pl. 63. ‘This has been decided
to be the D. fasciatus of Degeer, since I published the genus in 1825;
it was discovered the previous year at Whittlesea Mere, by Mr. Chant
in July.

The variety of A. sulcatus which I named A. scoticus was captured
at Kinnordy, in Forfarshire, and presented to me by Sir Charles
Lyell.

It is a curious fact that these water-beetles fly by day, when it is
fine: an Acilius alighted on a carriage in which I was riding, near
Heron Court, on the 15th of September, in the middle of the day, as
we were driving towards Bourne-mouth, and at the same time a
Colymbetes flew down.

In conclusion, 1 hope that other entomologists will assist in
advancing our knowledge of this interesting tribe, by contributing
such information as they may possess, and especially the localities

and dates of capture of the rarer species.

JOHN CURTIS,
Belitha Villas, Barnsbury Park,

October 18, 1855.

4924 Entomological Society ai Melbourne.

Note on Melolontha Hippocastani.—A larger number of specimens of M. Hippo-
castani has this year come intu my possession than during any previous one; but my
information is too limited to enable me to determine whether the greater abundance
has been owing to a season more favourable to their development or to a more pro-
ductive locality having been examined. My friend Mr. Burgess, who obtained two or
three specimens for me last year, kindly engaged to watch for the appearance of the
insect this summer in the neighbourhood of Doune Castle, Stirlingshire; and during
the last week of May and the first week of June he succeeded in procuring many fine
specimens, not a few of which are now in the cabinets of friends in the South. In
other years the beetle has appeared in the beginning of May. I have this season, for
the first time, a specimen from Ayrshire, where also M. vulgaris is said by Mr. Rennie
to occur. My oldest specimens are from Cudzow Forest, amongst whose noble oaks
the Urus scoticus still leads a half-savage life: the old gardener who collected them
there twenty or thirty years ago, when his activity began to fail called in the aid of a
canine assistant, which caught them as they rose from the grass at dusk to career
among the trees during the night, thereby increasing the number, without, however,
improving the quality of his master’s specimens. I am here strongly tempted to remark,
that many other species sent me in exchange by correspondents in previous years seem
to have been taken by terriers also, contrasting as they do most painfully with un-
mutilated specimens that come through the hands of true entomological taste and
tact. Ihave been much struck by the difference in size of all the Scotch specimens
I have seen, compared with a conple of Continental ones in my possession. The
latter do not exceed 93 lines in length and 4% in breadth, while the former are from
L1 to 124 in length and 5% to 6 in breadth: most of my females singly outweigh both
the Continental specimens. It would be interesting to know whether the sizes
indicated above generally prevail in the respective latitudes.— Robert Hislop; Blair
Lodge, Falkirk, October 30, 1855.

Entomological Society and Museum at Melbourne-—When I last saw you in England
you expressed a desire that I would sumetimes write to you on the subject of Natural
History, and I have much regretted that circumstances have prevented me from doing
so as I could have wished: you are, however, I am sure, quite aware of the many
difficulties which rise up in the path of every new arrival in a colony, and more
particularly in that of Australia. Since I have been a resident here I have been able to
devote only a very limited portion of my time to my favourite pursnit, and have thus
been prevented from maintaining a correspondence with many friends at home (your-
self among the number) upon the subjects which are mutually interesting to us.
Things are, however, gradually—I may almost say rapidly—settling down to a condi-
tion similar to that of the mother country, and consequent improvements in our social
condition are every day witnessed: among these advancements I regard as the most
important a rising desire among the colonists to investigate and develope the natural
productions of their adopted country; and a very excellent Museum is in course of
formation in Melbourne. Tn this establishment, however, the branch of Natural
History in which I am most interested (Entomology) is—and, from various reasons,
will be—totally neglected: this is a source of great regret both to myself and to many
gentlemen here who are interested in this branch of natural science, and we have
privately resolved upon the formation of an Entomological Society and Museum, the
principal ends we shall have in view being the formation uf as large a collection as

Entomological Society at Melbourne. 4925

possible of the insects of New Holland, the description of new species, and the trans-
mission of as many duplicates as possible to the various Entomological Sucieties in
England, ou the Continent and in America. For the proper carrying out of our
objects, we most earnestly invite the assistance and co-operation of our friends at
home; and I am deputed to write to as many as possible of the leading members of
the Entomological Society, and request their advice and support. You are eminently
qualified to be of great service to us, and I have presumed upon my slight acquaint-
ance with you to write to you rather fully upon the matter. If you would inform me
where and how it would be possible for us to obtain descriptions of the greatest
number of known species, and would forward to me a copy of the Rules and Regula-
tions of the Entomological Society of London, you would render us a most important
service. Of course it is most desirable that we should know, as far as possible, what
species have been described, as it would not be advisable to increase the number of
synonyms; and a list of the publications in which Australian insects are figured or
described, as far as could be given, would be highly valuable to us. I may mention
to you that we have many hard-working practical entomologists here, and that cor-
respondents are ready to assist our endeavuurs in Sydney, Van Dieman’s Land,
Adelaide and Swan River. I am myself about to start on a journey to the Clarence
River, 700 miles north of Sydney, one of the objects of which will be the formation of
an entomological collection. In Melbourne alone we already possess nearly 4000
species, my own collection numbering upwards of 2000; many of them, I believe, are
undescribed, and more particularly this may apply to the smaller Coleoptera, which
are very numerous in Victoria. I need hardly say to you that the field before us is a
most extensive one, and must yield a productive harvest. We shall endeavour to
publish a journal of our transactions every six months, or at least once in the year,
and shall hold it as one of our most particular rules to transmit as many specimens as
possible to any Societies desirous of obtaining them. I am of course aware that a vast
number of the insects of this colony have long been known and described’ at home;
but I am perfectly certain that we have not yet reached the threshold of our knowledge
with regard to the whole, and I believe that the most efficient way to promote this
desirable end is the establishment of a society such as that which, I am happy to say,
is in a state of progress. A very old friend of yours, Mr. Christy, the engineer, is most
warmly interested in the object, and is now naturalising in the district of the River
Murray: he desired me to remember him most kindly to you: he has paid great
attention to the Lepidoptera, and has figured a great number of species with their
caterpillars. The Lepidoptera known to the Melbourne entomologists, as far as I can
ascertain, at present number about 700 or 800 species, and most of these have been
obtained within a comparatively very short distance of the city. I may observe that
of all the orders of insects the Lepidoptera are the fewest in individuals: of butterflies
only twenty-eight species are known to us, and these have mostly been obtained in the
open spaces on mountain ranges: I am speaking now of the Melbourne district only,
as on the Sydney side diurnal Lepidoptera are more frequent than with us: our most
common species is a Cynthia, very closely allied to C. Cardui, and, as far as I can
judge, identical with it; I have not, however, been able to compare it with a British
specimen. You mentioned to me that you were desirous of obtaining specimens of
the Longicorns of New Holland; I have collected a great number for you, but I shall
not forward them until after my return from the Clarence, as I hupe in my journey to
find some new and beautiful species. In the meantime, if you will favour me with

4926 Notices of New Books.

any information you may deem useful to us in the formation of our Society, and
mention our intention to any of your friends, you will greatly oblige me.—Henry
Edwards ; Merrivale, Merri Merri Creek, near Melbourne, Victoria, July 14, 1855.

The Vinegar Polype.—I cannot regret having sent so long an extract from Hue’s
‘Travels’ relative to the “ Tsou-no-dze,” as it has elicited remarks from that accurate
naturalist, Jonathan Couch, who, on his grand black cliffs at Polperro, allows few
denizens of air or sea to escape his observation: he writes to me that he has an
opportunity for examining what he supposes to be analogous to the Chinese polype of
the Yellow Sea, and that, kept in water not salt, it for some months has furnished a
supply of vinegar: he believes it to be a species of Tremella (or Palmella of Harvey),
living in water, and at certain periods multiplying by foliations or off-shoots. When
he saw the parent plant it was lying in a reddish turbid fluid, having a strong smell of
vinegar. He thus describes some of the off-shoots subsequently sent to him :—“ When
I proceeded to examine the contents of the bottle presented to me, I perceived in it,
near the bottom, a disk, which I had no doubt of being one of the so-called plants ;
and on closer scrutiny I discovered one or two more. I then poured the whole into a
bowl, and found no less than four. The largest was about the size of a large break-
fast-cup and the thickness of a penny-piece, perfectly circular (although not made so
by the containing vessel), and it was so heavy as to fall to the bottom of the fluid in
the bowl. The second disk was also circular, of the size of a half-penny and the
thickness of a penny. The third was also of the same circumference, but much thicker
and cup-shaped—I do not mean hollow or excavated, but resembling a mass of jelly
or metal solidified in a cup. The fourth was abont the same circumference as the
two last named, but perhaps four inches long, and with circular indentations, which
made it appear like a number of disks united together. Still, however, they were not
evenly united, but, viewed on one side only, bore some resemblance to a slightly cut
screw. The skin of the last specimen hung loosely about it, as did that of the large
original specimen when I-inspected it. It appeared to me that this pellicle ought to
be removed, but as yet I have not ventured to doit.” This account seems to withdraw
the so-called “ polype” from the domain of Zoology, in which Huc had placed its
congener, but its power of continuously secreting acid, when immersed in a bowl of
water, appears tu be a novelty in vegetable organisms, and it is a mystery whence it
can procure carbon sufficient to form vinegar, when the supply of available carbonic
acid gas must be very small.—Charles Fox ; Trebah, near Falmouth, October 10, 1855,

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

‘Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, including the Trans-
actions of the Microscopical Society of London,” Kdited by
Epwin Lanxestrer, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., and Grorcr Busx,
F.R.C.S.E., F.R.S., F.L.S. London: Highley. No. XII,
dated July, 1855; price 4s.

The contents of the July number are as under :—

‘ Observations on Cosmarium margaritiferum and other Desmidiex.’
By Mrs. Herbert Thomas, of Bristol.

Notices of New Books. 4927

‘Address of the President at the Annual Meeting of the Micro-
scopical Society,’ February 28, 1855.

‘An Account of Mr. Peter’s Machine for Microscopic Writing.
By R. J. Farrants, Esq., F.R.C.S.

‘On the Illumination of Objects by Polarized Light or on a Dark
Field.’ By John Furze.

‘On the Structure of the Cutaneous Follicles of the Toad, with
some Experiments and Observations upon the Nature and alleged
Venomous Properties of their Secretion.’ By George Rainey, M.R.C.S.,
Lecturer on Anatomy, &c., St. Thomas’s Hospital.

‘On the Reproductive Organs of certain Fungi.’ By Frederick
Currey, Esq., M.A.

‘On Ciliary Action as the Cause of the Circulation in the Cells of
Plants.’ By Ferguson Branson, M.D., Sheffield.

‘Observations on the Circulation of the Sap in the Leaf-Cells of
Anacharis Alsinastrum.’ By F. H. Wenham.

‘On the Cellulose (in Animals) Question.’ By R. Virchow. [Trans-
lated from Archiv f. Pathol. Anatomie, 1i. Physiologie, &c., vol. viii.,
H 1, p. 140.]

‘On the Action of a Concentrated Solution of Urea upon the Blood-
cells.” By A. Kolliker. [Translated from Zeitsch. f. Wiss. Zool.
vol. vii. p. 183. ] )

‘Notice respecting the Occurrence of Lymph-Corpuscles in the
commencements of the Lymphatic Vessels.’ By A. Kolliker. [Trans-
jated from Zeitsch. f. Wiss. Zool. vol. vii. p. 182.]

‘On the Influence of Caustic Alkalies upon the Motions of the
Spermatic Filaments.’ By A. Kolliker. [Translated from Siebold
and Kollik. Zeitsch. f. W. Zool. vol. vii. p. 181, March 26, 1855.]

‘On the Restoration of the Motions of the Spermatozoids of the
Mammalia. By MM. Moleschott and J. C. Ricchetti. [Translated
from the Comptes Rendus, No. 13, March 26, 1855.]

‘On the Vitality and Development of the Spermatic Filaments.’
By A. Kolliker. [Translated from the Verhand d. Phys. med.
Gesellch in Wurzb. Bd. vi. 1855.]

Notes and Correspondence :—Reply to some Remarks of Mr. Wen-
ham on the Difficulty of Discovering the Markings or Structure of a
Severe Test when mounted in Canada Balsam ; by Professor J. Bailey.
Aperture of Object-Glasses in relation to Objects in Canada Balsam ;
by F. H. Wenham. Microscopical Conversaziones. Cheap Micro-
scopes. On “Species” of Diatomacee. On a New Locality for
Microscopic Test-Objects ; by Professor J. Bailey. Memorandum on
Flies’ Feet; by John Hepworth. On Finders. Memoranda on the

4928 Insects.

Employment of Artificial Sea-water in Marine Aquaria; by William
Alford Lloyd.

Proceedings of Societies :—Royal, Stoke Newington Natural History
and Scientific.

Zoophytology.

Occurrence of Trochilium scolieformis in Wales.—Mr. Ashworth, already favour-
ably known to entomologists as the discoverer of a new Noctua, Agrotis Ashworthii of
Doubleday (Zool. 4749), is the fortunate captor of a large and beautiful Trochilium
altogether new to this country. This insect is the Sphinx scolieformis of Borkhausen,
subsequently described: as Sesia scolizformis by Laspeyres, who records its having
been taken at Darmstadt in May on the blossoms of Rhamnus Frangula: both these
authors, however, appear to have only been acquainted with the female, whereas
Mr. Ashworth has taken both sexes: this is probably the species of which Mr. Ash-
worth previously recorded the capture (Zool. 4814), under the name of Trochilium
Sphegiforme. I append a description, which may serve as an Addendum to my
‘Monographia Ageriarum Angliz,’ published in the first volume of the ‘ piste
Magazine.’

TROCHILIUM SCOLILEFORMIS,

Antenne maris nigre, femine, ante apicem, late.albicantes : thoracis dorsum nigrum,
lineis 2 obliquis, longitudinalibus, flavescentibus, signatum: abdomen nigrum,
fasciis 2 flavis barbaque anali croced ornatum. (Long.corp.*75 unc. Alarum
dilat. 1°3 unc.)

Sphinx scolieformis, Borkhausen, Naturg. Europ. Schmet. ii. 173, tab. figs.
2&3 fem.

Sesia scolieformis, Laspeyres, Sesie Europee, No. VI. p. 13, tab. figs. 1 & 2 fem.

Head black, and together with all other black parts, having an iridescent tint;
there is a slender whitish line before the eyes, and an indistinct ring of pale yellow
round the neck; palpi black above, yellow on the sides and beneath, except the apical
joint, which is altogether black ; antenne of the male black and ciliated, of the female
black and simple, with a long whitish space on the apical portion extending almost to
the apex: dorsum of the thorax black with two lateral narrow oblique longitudinal
yellow lines ; pectus with a large quadrate yellow spot on each side: abdomen black
above with two yellow belts, the first basal and narrow, the second median and broad ;
beneath there is one yellow belt, this is median and occupies an entire segment; the
sides of the abdomen are also ornamented with somewhat obscure tufts of yellow
scales; and its apex with a tuft, which is bright ferruginous both above and below:
wings hyaline, the anterior pair with the veins, a median costal spot, and the broad
apical lunate fascia and cilia black, the lower margin of the wing gilt with scattered
yellow scales; posterior wings with the veins, a median costal spot, and the long cilia
black; beneath, the veins and opaque markings of the wings are so thickly sprinkled
with yellow scales as to have a glittering golden appearance: legs black with yellow
markings; the femora have a yellowish linear mark in front ; the tibiz are almost clothed
with yellow scales, except at the apex; the basal joint of the tarsi is also yellowish, .

Both sexes taken by Mr. Ashworth at Bryn Hyfryd, near Llangollen, i in nd
Wales.—Edward Newman; London, November 6, 1855.

APPENDIX

TO

THE ZOOLOGIST

FOR 1855.

Art. XXX.— Descriptions of Two Coleopterous Insects new to the British
Fauna. By T. Vernon Wottaston, Esq., M.A., F.L.S.

THE followimg two insects appearing to be hitherto undescribed, not merely
in our own country but on the Continent at large, I subjoin the accompanying
brief diagnoses, which may serve to characterize them.

Family—StTAPHYLINIDE.
Genus— HoMaALorta.
HoMALOTA CAMPRICA.

Angusto-linearis, depressa, fusco-picea, subnitida, pubescens ; elytris paullo dilu-
tioribus ; pedibus pallido-testaceis ; antennis gracillimis, fuscis. (Long.
corp. lin. 14.)

Narrow, linear and depressed; of a brownish piceous hue, slightly shining,
and pubescent. Head roundish quadrate and very slightly narrower than the
prothorax, finely and rather sparingly punctured, flattened on the forehead, and
with an almost obsolete longitudinal foveolet, which vanishes posteriorly. Pro-
thorax a little narrower than the elytra, and rather more evidently punctured
than the head; subquadrate, and very slightly narrowed behind; obsoletely
channeled down the disk. Elytra somewhat more diluted in colouring than the
head and prothorax, and a little more pubescent. Abdomen linear, rather
shining, sparingly punctured, and diluted at its extreme apex. Antenne rather
longer than the head and prothorax, fuscous, and extremely slender; their ter-
minal joint ovate. Legs likewise slender, pale testaceous.

XIII, APPENDIX. AA

ccvi Mr. Wollaston’s Descriptions of New Insects.

A very peculiar little Homalota, somewhat allied to the H. gregaria of
Erichson, but smaller, narrower, more diluted in colouring, and with its legs and
antennse (especially the latter) extremely slender. It is certainly unrepresented
in the Stephensian collection, and I am informed by M. Kraatz, of Berlin, that
it is probably distinct from anything described in Erichson’s Monograph. It
would appear to be a mountain species, the only two specimens which I have
seen having been captured by myself in North Wales (I believe at Bettws-y-coed)

during July.

Family—LaturiviaD&. .
Genus—CoRTICARIA.
CoRTICARIA BOREALIS, Woll.

Subovato-cylindrica, rufo-ferruginea, pubescens ; capite prothoraceque profunde
punctatis, illo lato oculis magnis exstantibus, hoc ad latera rotundato et
valde crenulato ; elytris profunde striato-punctatis, singulo stria fortiore
suturali ultra medium impresso, sutura scutelloque sepius nigrescentibus.

' (Long. corp. lin. 1—13.)

Somewhat ovate-cylindrical, being convex, but a little expanded behind the
middle ; reddish ferruginous, slightly shining, and more or less clothed (especially
on the elytra) with a pale rigid pubescence. Head and prothorax deeply punc-
tured ; the former very wide, and with the eyes large and prominent; the latter
convex, rounded at the sides, and with its extreme lateral edges powerfully
crenulated. Elytra coarsely striate-punctate, each of them having a more deeply
impressed stria alongside the suture, behind the middle; the suture (particularly
behind the middle), and occasionally the lateral margins also, together with the
scutellum, more or less black. Antenne and legs a little paler than the rest of
the surface. i. |

The above description has been compiled from three specimens of a large, and
apparently new, Corticaria, in the possession of G. R. Waterhouse, Esq., of the
British Museum, which were captured many years ago by Charles Darwin, Esq.,
though in what locality [am unable to ascertain, I possess, however, two ex-
amples, taken by Mr. Hardy on the coast of Durham, and (if I mistake
not) registered as the C. crenulata in his enumeration of the insects of that
county and of Northumberland. It seems to be undescribed in Mannerheim’s
Monograph of the genus, and unnoticed in the ‘ Catalogus Coleopterorum
Kurope,’ published at Berlin in 1852. I may add, that on the return of M.
Motschoulsky to. St. Petersburgh, after his visit to England in 1851, I took the
opportunity of sending it for comparison with his large assortment of Manner-
heim’s types, with none of which it would appear to agree. It is a very singular
and well-marked species, its cylindrical outline, wide head and prominent eyes, in
conjunction with its usually darkened suture (which has a deeply impressed stria

-

Characters of Deretaphrus. ccvil

on either side of it, behind the middle) and scutellum, giving it a character which
it is impossible, even prima facie, to mistake.
T. V. WoLuastTon.

Arr. XXXI.—Revision of the Characters of Deretaphrus and Descriptions of Two
New Species. By T. Vernon Wouwastron, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., and
Epwarp NEWMAN.

Order—CoLEOPTERA.
Section—NECROPHAGA.
Family—CoLyp1aD&.

Genus—DERETAPHRUsS, Newm.

Corpus angusto-elongatum, parallelum, subcylindricum: prothorace subcordato,
angulis anticis deorsum leviter productis: mesothorace cylindrico, superne
subobservando, scutello rotundato: elytris (presertim circa humeros) longi-
tudinaliter costalis, necnon profunde sculptiratis: abdomine e segmentis
ventralibus sex composito. Antenne prothorace breviores crasse, articulo
1mo valde robusto subgloboso intus (ut in gen. Bothrideres) inflato, 2do et
3tio vix brevioribus (illo ad basin flexuoso), inde ad 8vum transversis brevi-
bus (longitudine latitudineque vix crescentibus), reliquis poculiformibus,
clavam intus leviter triserrato-ampliatam efficientibus), 9no et 10mo latis,
ultimo minore angustiore ad apicem valde truncato). Labrum sub fronte
fere opertum, submembranaceum, transversum, ad latera necnon ad angu-
los anticos rotundatum, apice fere integrum sed _pilis longissimis introrsum
vergentibus densissime ciliatum. Mandibule magne corne robustissime
crass glabre, ad apicem obtuse sed fortiter bidentate, margine interno
subintegro et membrana haud instructo, basin versus externam profunde
sinuate. Maxille bilobe, valde pubescentes: lobo externo latiusculo ;
interno huic angustiore et paullo breviore, ad apicem ipsum minutissime
uncinato. Palpi subfiliformes, articulo ultimo subfusiformi elongato.
Mentum amplissimum, corneum, transversum (antice versus utrumque
latus profunde fissum). Ligula parva angustissima, valde pilosa, ad apicem
tenuissime membranacea rotundata ac leviter dilatata. Pedes validi: tibiis
compressis et apicem versus dilatatis, ad apicem externum in spinam ex-
stantem productis, ad internum calcariis duobus ineequalibus (nisi fallor
mobilibus, necnon ad basin articuli tarsorum primi affixis) armatis (calcari
superiore in anticis, inferiore in posterioribus, majore et leviter incurvo) :

CCVill Mr. Wollaston’s Characters

tarsis 4-articulatis, articulis lmo, 2do et 3tio paulatim vix decrescentibus,
ultimo majore clavato, unguiculis simplicibus munito.
Typus: Deretaphrus fossus, Newm. (ex Australia).

Regarding the affinities of this genus there cannot, I think, be the slightest
question, retaining as it does all the characteristics of the Colydiade, even though
it presents, at the same time, many anomalies of a minor kind which may serve
to connect it in some measure with other departments also far removed. Thus,
in its external contour (so strongly suggestive of Colydium proper) and tetrame-
rous feet it is precisely in accordance with the normal members of that family ;
in the inflation of the basal joint of its antenne it is the exact counterpart of
Bothrideres ; and in the construction of its tibie it has much in common with
the Lycti. From the Trogositide, to which at first sight it might be supposed
perhaps to be allied, it is altogether separated by its four-jointed tarsi and the full
development of its inner maxillary lobe; whilst its general facies and subcylin-
drical body are more indicative of a lignivorous mode of life than of the bone-
and skin-infesting tendency which is so strongly displayed in the representatives
of that group. ‘The construction of its thickened and greatly abbreviated anten-
nee, with the curious foreshortening of their terminal articulation, is very pecu-
liar, calling to mind a good deal what we observe in Thorictus, with which genus,
moreover (although in other respects by no means related to it), m the form of
its robust and glabrous mandibles, it, singularly enough, almost coincides. Its
tibial spurs are moulded on a very remarkable type, being of unequal dimensions,
and the larger of the two (which in the anterior pair of legs is the front, and in
the posterior four the hinder, one) considerably developed, and subcompressed,
somewhat after the manner of those of Melée and other Heteromera. I think
it far from unlikely also that, like them (although I have not been able to satisfy
myself of this from positive observation, having been unwilling to destroy the
single specimen from which the above generic diagnosis has been compiled), they
may be articulated on to the basal joint of the foot, and therefore of a moveable
nature, rather than fixed appendages of the tibia itself.

Upon the whole, however, there cannot, I imagine, be much doubt that Dere-
taphrus is rightly referred to the Colydiade ; and I should be inclined to suspect
that, when placed between Colydium proper and Bothrideres, it will be found
nearest to those groups with which it has the most evident affinity.

It may perhaps be useful to mention, that the main points of structure in
which Deretaphrus recedes from Colydium are in the excessive robustness of its
antennee and the proportions of their joints, particularly in the inflation of the
basal, and in the smallness and truncature of the ultimate, one; in its more
concealed upper lip; in its larger, robuster and more obtuse mandibles, which
are deeply sinuated towards their outer base, with their apex merely bidentate,
and their internal margin almost entire and free from membrane; in the more
distinctly uncinated inner lobe of its maxille; in its larger, differently shaped

of the Genus Deretaphrus. ccix

and more corneous mentum; and in its smaller, narrower and more pubescent

ligula.
T. V. WoLLAsTon.

THE genus Deretaphrus was first characterized by myself at p. 403 of ‘ The
Entomologist’ for October, 1842, and four species were described, all of them
Australian: no critical observations are appended, but it is placed as an ally of
the Ptinide.

The second notice of the genus, obligingly pointed out to me by Mr. Janson,
is at p. 287 of the ‘ Naturgischichte der Insecten Deutschlands,’ from the pen
of that great Coleopterist, Erichson, who (agreeing with Mr. Wollaston)
places it in his family Colydii, thus characterized :—‘“ Antenne rectee, clavate
vel capitulate. Coxe anteriores globose, postice transversales semicylindrice.
Tarsi 4-articulati. Abdomen segmentis ventralibus 5, anterioribus 3 vel 4 im-
mobilibus.” Hrichson divides the family into seven groups, of which the third
is thus distinguished :—“ Palpi filiformes. Pedes postici distantes. Abdomen
segmento ventrali primo reliquis majore.” In this group the genera are three in
number, and are thus tabulated :—

covered... ie igh . DERETAPHRUS.
Mouth beneath :
approximate ... SosyLvs.
free: anterior legs P
distant ne BotTHRIDERES.

The third of these genera only is German ; the others are therefore only briefly
alluded to. Deretaphrus is thus noticed :—‘“‘ Deretaphrus of Newman is a New
Holland form of more attenuated and more cylindrical shape than Bothrideres,
and also differs from this genus partly in having the club of the antenne triarti-
culate, and partly in having the mouth entirely covered beneath by a flat continu-
ation of the margin of the throat: the pits also in which the anterior legs
articulate are divided from each other by a narrow partition only; and the inter-
mediate legs likewise are not widely separated. The thorax has a central
longitudmal furrow. Of the four species given by Newman, loc. cit., only the
first, D. fossus, Newm., from which the generic character is drawn up, and _per-
haps also the second, D. puteus, Newm., which the royal collection of this place
does not possess, are to be referred to Deretaphrus; the other two appear to
belong to Bothrideres: on the other hand, there are im our collection three non-
descript species of Deretaphrus.”

The third notice of the genus occurs at p. 292 of the ‘ Linnea hsokittncsion
in a paper intituled ‘“ Beitrage sur Insecten fauna von Adelaide, von E. F.
Germar,” published m 1848. The type species is the same, but unfortunately
both genus and species are renamed as new, no mention whatever being made of

ecx Mr. Nenman’s Descriptions

the two prior descriptions: the characters, however, are drawn up with Professor
Germatr’s usual skill, and the location of the insect in the family Colydii is con-
firmed :—‘ Fam.—Colydii. Genus— Sigerpes, Germ. Antenne mediocres,
11-articulatze, articulo primo incrassato, sequentibus brevibus, ultimis tribus dis-
tincte crassioribus, transversis, ultimo truncato. Palpi breves, filiformes. Oculi
parvi, parum prominuli. Caput postice constrictum, collo exserto. Pedes brevi-
usculi, omnes basi distantes; tarsis 4-articulatis, articulis simplicibus. Genus
Pycnomeris affine, sed clava antennarum 3-articulata, collo exserto, et thorace
elongato, postice valde angustato distinctum.”.

The fourth and last notice is that with which Mr. Wollaston has so kindly fur-
nished me, and which is printed verbatim above. The characters drawn up from a
single specimen of Deretaphrus fossus of course have a tendency to restrict the limits
of the genus, and thus to corroborate the previously expressed opinion of Erichson
that certain of the species should be eliminated. My own opinion, not to be
weighed in the balance against that of Erichson and Wollaston, is rather the ex-
tension than the restriction of generic divisions on account of the encumbrance
to Science caused by the multiplicity of names; but I cannot conclude this
remark without inviting the attention of entomologists to the profound knowledge
and genius of Erichson, who, from descriptions of a few words each, could pro-
nounce unhesitatingly an opinion on the affinities of insects, which should be
confirmed by the independent testimony of Professor Germar and the careful
dissections and elaborate investigations of Mr. Wollaston.

~ DERETAPHRUS WOLLASTONI.

Niger, prothorace confertim puncto, punctis confluentibus, elytris argute carinatis
interstitiis profunde ac striatim punctis. (Corp. long. ‘47 une. lat. +14
une, )

Black ; head coarsely punctured ; prothorax deeply and coarsely punctured, the
punctures confluent; at its base, and extending nearly to the centre of the disk,
is an obscurely defined sulciform median depression, and parallel with this, on
each margin, is a ridge or keel of corresponding length, which does not follow the
curved margin of the prothorax where it widens, but is continued in a direct line
towards the anterior margin, ceasing, lke the median depression, about half-way
between the anterior and posterior margins of the prothorax: elytra carinated,
the keels (nine in number on each elytron) sharply produced and strongly pro-
nounced ; the first next the suture is the least elevated; each interstice is im-
pressed with a series of deep punctures: the under surface of the entire insect is
deeply and regularly punctured.

This species somewhat resembles Deretaphrus fossus in size, habit and colour ;
but the sculpture, as described above, is perfectly distinct. It forms part of a rich
collection made in the vicinity of Moreton Bay, North Australia, by Mr. James

of New Deretaphri. ccxl

Gibbon, to whose courtesy I am indebted for the opportunity of examining this
and many other most interesting novelties from the same locality. I have named
this insect in honour of Mr. Wollaston, whose profound knowledge as a Coleopte-
rist is only equalled by his kindness in imparting it.

DERETAPHRUS ERICHSONI.

Rufo-piceus; capite puncto, punectis minutis sparsis distinctis; prothorace
puncto, punctis majoribus crebrioribus, medio longitudinaliter vage im-
presso ; elytris carinatis, carinis postice interruptis in tuberculos salientes
divisis, interstitiis profundis serie unica punctorum magnorum impressis.
(Corp. long. ‘47 une, lat. +14 une.)

Pitchy red, approaching to black towards the apex of the elytra: head im-
pressed with a small epicranial fovea, and there is another more conspicuous
immediately adjoining the epicranial margin of each eye: the entire epicranium
is minutely punctured : prothorax punctured more coarsely and regularly than the
head: elytra carinated, the carine interrupted towards the apex, and broken, as
it were, into salient, irregular, and sometimes rather acute tubercles: under sur-
face of the insect uniformly punctured, pitchy red, shining; coxe, together with
the space immediately surrounding them, and apex of abdomen, darker: legs
pitchy black, with redder femora; exterior margin of tarsi strongly serrated.

Habitat: Adelaide, South Australia. There are two specimens, from the col-
lection of Mr. 8S. Stevens, in the cabinet of the British Museum. I have named
this in honour of the late Professor Erichson, whose memory I revere as that of
one of the greatest Coleopterists the world has produced.

‘The described species of Deretaphrus, exclusive of those which Erichson pro-
posed to remove to the genus Bothrideres, are now four in number: 1. D. fossus,
Newman, Entom. 403, synonymous with Sigerpes piceus of Germar. 2. D.
Wollastoni, Newman, described above. 8. D. Erichsoni, Wewman, described
above. 4. D. puteus, Newman, Entom. 404. They are all peculiar to Austra-
lia, feeding under the bark of trees, principally Eucalyptus.

Kpwarp NEWMAN.

Art, XXXIT.—Characters and some Account of the Economy of a supposed
New Species of Australian Bombyx. By Kpwarp Newman.

Bompyx (DoratIFERA?) OXLEYI.

Fem. Castaneofusca; alarum limbo anticarum lato albido, posticarum ciliis
tantum pallidis ; abdomen subtus apice densissime lanugine fusco vestitum.
(Corp. long. 1°6 une. alar. dilat. *6 une.)

eexll New Australian Bombyx.

Female.—Palpi small, short, clothed with pale scales, their apices bent down-
wards: maxille not observed, probably wanting; scales of the face brown, of the
epicranium bright ferruginous ; at the base of each antenna is a little erect tuft
of brown scales; the apices of these tufts are connivent, approaching each other
above the epicranium ; the antenne are moderately long, quite simple, and pale
brown: scales on thorax, immediately behind the head, long, loose, and bright
ferruginous, the rest brown; scales on dorsal segments of abdomen short, closely
appressed, reddish brown, on the sides and beneath long, woolly, and dark brown,
forming a large and dense apical mass. Above, anterior wings reddish brown, the
oblique exterior margin with a broad pale band; the discoidal dark brown portion
of the wing is somewhat more deeply coloured at the base, along the costa, and
at the upper inner margin of the pale band: the wing is marked throughout with
slightly undulated oblique parallel lines, which seem rather to result from an un-
duiating character in the membrane of the wing than from diversity of colour:
posterior wings uniform concolorous brown, the cilia alone pale. Beneath brown ;
the tips of the anterior wings, an obscure stigma and the cilia paler.

This moth is nearly allied to the Bombyx vulnerans of Lewin’s ‘ Lepidoptera
of New South Wales,’ pl. 4,—Doratifera vulnerans of Westwood, described at
p- 181 of Duncan’s ‘ Exotic Moths,’ which forms No. 7 of ‘ The Naturalist’s
Library.’ The larva of that species is “‘ of very singular aspect, broad, thick and
massive, with four reddish protuberances on the anterior part of the body and
four behind. ‘These knobs it has the power of opening at pleasure, and darting
out eight rays or bunches of stings of a yellow colour: * * * the wound
inflicted by these little fascicles of stings is described by Lewin as very painful
and venomous, and it darts them forth whenever it is alarmed by the motion of
anything approaching.” The cocoon of B. Oxleyi is remarkably small for the
size of the moth, being scarcely larger than a good-sized pea: it is of an oval
shape, extremely compact, and not to be broken without a sharp blow; it is com-
posed of a glutinous substance secreted by the larva, and mingled with highly
comminuted particles of the rind of a twig of some species of Eucalyptus, to the
denuded wood of. which it is firmly attached, the caterpillar evidently laying bare
a portion of the twig with its mandibles and employing the fragments in the fabrica-
tion of its cocoon, the smaller end of which is provided with an operculum or lid,
which separates only on the imago arriving at maturity, and leaves a smooth-
margined, perfectly circular aperture, through which the moth escapes. J am
indebted to Mr. Oxley for the opportunity of describing both the moth and the
cocoon, and have much pleasure in dedicating the species to that. zealous entomo-
logist. I donot find any characters of the genus Doratifera.

Epwarp NEWMAN.

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