NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 141 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



Mr Francis G. Biiinie exlnbited specimens of Chaetopteryxvillosaj 

 Fab., from the river Allander, near Milngavie. This is an 

 addition to the list of Trichoptera- given in the "Fauna and 

 Flora of the West of Scotland," Glasgow, 1876. It seems 

 to be the only British representative of the genus, which 

 numbers eight species in Europe, according to the recent mono- 

 graphic revision of M'Lachlan. This species is strictly autumnal 

 in its habits, but individuals have been captured as late as 

 November. 



PAPERS READ. 



I. — Observations on the Study of the Phytophagous Hymenoi^tera. 



By Mr Peter Cameron. 



Having often been asked privately for information regarding 

 the methods of studying the plant-feeding Hymenoptera, I have 

 thought that it might not be entirely useless to describe to the 

 members the instruments for capturing, manner of preserving 

 and rearing, as well as the books required for the study of 

 these tribes. I may, however, add, that I do not intend 

 to go very minutely into the general methods of collecting, etc, 

 for information on this subject is to be had in such works as 

 Knaggs' " Lepidopterist's Guide," but only to give some 

 practical hints that will be of use to the commencing 

 Hymenopterist. 



First, then, with regard to their capture. The instruments 

 required for this purpose, consist of (1) a sweeping net, such as is 

 used by Coleopterists, with which the herbage, etc., is swept back- 

 wards and forwards, and in this way those species which are more 

 particularly attached to herbaceous plants may be obtained; (2) a 

 good stout alpaca umbrella of the " Sarah Gamp " order, to hold 

 inverted beneath trees and bushes, which are beaten over it, a 

 good sharp rap on a branch being sufficient. The insects are 

 thus collected in the open umbrella, the contents of which are 

 examined after a sufficient number of trees have been gone over, 

 and desirable specimens caught and placed in a collecting bottle. 

 (3) A light muslin net, such as is used by butterfly collectors, 

 may sometimes — and especially in very sunny weather — be 

 advantageously carried, but as a rule, the two articles just 

 mentioned will be found sufficient, for, generally speaking, any 



