232 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Oct. 1, 1S69. 



however, as they would soon add their numbers to 

 the slain. 



The thought suggests itself 

 tion to leave the shore (if at 

 provision of Nature to rid us 

 performed its allotted purpose, 

 nuisance if remaining. 



Norwich. 



whether this inclina- 

 all common) is not a 

 of what, after having 

 would prove a serious 



T. Southwell. 



N.B.— When I wrote the above, I had not ob- 

 served Mr. Cordeaux's note in the Zoologist, S. S., 

 p. 1839. On 21th July, the same day as above re- 

 ferred to, about thirteen miles from the Lincolnshire 

 coast, his cutter ran through numerous belts of 

 water, "from a few yards to some hundreds in 

 breadth, and extending both to port and star- 

 board as far as the eye could reach," so full of 

 myriads of green-winged aphides as to present a 

 "thick pea-soup appearance." The air in and 

 around this city literally swarmed with these insects 

 during the whole of that day. Mr. Cordeaux also 

 mentions the astonishing numbers of the larvae of 

 the Ladybird in the pea-fields,— ten or twelve on 

 each plant. "There were many of tbe perfect 

 insects, but the larvae outnumbered the parents as 

 fifty to one." T. S. 



THE LAY OE THE OLD LADYBIRD. 



Confound 'em ! ladybirds and beadles, 

 And daddy-long-legses, as well ! 



That keep one thus on pins and needles, 

 Lor ! what to do I cannot tell. 



Ah, flics and spiders, legs and wings, 



I can't abide them creeping things! 



There's flies ! One wants a little sleep, 

 And just a-dropping in a doze, 



When, drat the things, they buzz and creep 

 Upon a poor old lady's nose. 



Lor, how they tickles and they stings ! 



I can't abide them creeping things ! 



There's earwigs dropping in your cup 

 When in the arbour you takes tea. 



There's what o' night-time wakes you up, 

 That will not budge, and seldom flee. 



Distress such recollection brings— 



I can't abide them creeping things ! 



Confound 'em ! beadles, gnats, and wopses, 

 Elies, spiders, ladybirds— what-nots ! 



I'd like to stomp 'em all to copses 

 As ants is, so says Dr. Watts. 



I find to life too much they clings— 



I can't abide them creeping things \—Fun. 



THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OE 

 LONDON. 



|"N the latter part of last, and earlier years of the 

 -*- present century, several attempts were made 

 to establish an Entomological Society in London. 

 These proved all more or less abortive, the associa- 

 tions thus formed being chiefly characterized by 

 the brevity of their existence ; though one actually 

 so far succeeded as to publish two parts of 

 "Transactions." The now existing Society was 

 instituted in 1834, "for the improvement and 

 diffusion of Entomological Science " {vide chap. i. 

 of its Bye-laws), and nearly half a dozen of the 

 gentlemen composing the first council are still 

 living. During the thirty-five years that have 

 elapsed since that period, it has published sixteen 

 bulky volumes of " Transactions " on all branches 

 of Entomology, and now issues, in parts, a thick 

 volume annually, embellished with many beautiful 

 plates. Though the number of its members is con- 

 siderable, we do not think it receives the amount of 

 support from our countrymen who pursue the study 

 that is justly due to it ; and we feel assured that 

 many do not join its ranks from ignorance of the 

 modus operandi, and thereby lose much pleasure 

 they would otherwise derive from attending its 

 meetings, and from borrowing books from its exten- 

 sive library. 



The meetings are now held, by permission, in the 

 rooms of the Linnean Society in Burlington House, 

 and are conducted in a more conversational style 

 than is usual in many of our Scientific Societies. 

 Admissions are granted in two forms — in one, pay- 

 ment of a small admission fee and an annual sub- 

 scription are necessary — in the other the subscrip- 

 tion only is demanded. The advantages are equal, 

 save that those gentlemen joining under the latter 

 condition can take no part in the executive. The 

 Transactions are sent, as soon as published, gratis to 

 gentlemen who reside outside a radius of fifteen 

 miles from London, whereas those who live within 

 that radius can obtain them at half price; it being 

 considered that country members, through inability 

 to regularly attend the meetings, are placed in a 

 less favourable position than their metropolitan 

 colleagues. 



The next meeting will take place on the 1st of 

 November, and we are at liberty to state that all 

 information will be gladly afforded to any Entomo- 

 logist who may think of joining, by either of the 

 two secretaries ; viz., Mr. J. W. Dunning, M.A., 

 E.L.S., of U, Old Buildings, Lincoln's-Inn, or 

 Mr. R. M : Lachlau, E.L.S., of 20, Limes Grove, 

 North Lewisham. 



The library is kept at 12, Bedford-row, Holborn, 

 and the Librarian attends there every Monday from 

 2 to 7 p.m. 



