l!20 Analytical Notices of Books, 



growth, together with some account of its anatomy. Its specific 

 character is as follows, 



P. Cernium. P. corpore griseo toto squamoso ; capite magno 

 subcomplanato, sulcis radiantibus exarato ; maxilla inferiore longi- 

 ore. 



Br. 7 D. ±i P. 18. V. :^. A. ^V C. 17. 



A " Notice on an Hymenopterous Insect of the family of the 

 DiplopteriSy known in certain parts of Brazil and of Paraguay 

 under the name of Lecheguana, and collecting honey," by M. 

 Latreille, refers to a very interesting fact, and one which might, 

 but for the repeated confirmation of it by succeeding travellers, 

 have been regarded as doubtful. The insect is referable to M. 

 Latreille's first section of the genus PoUstes ; and he assigns to it 

 the trivial name of Lecheguana. Its characters are '' body black, 

 rather silky, and punctured ; scutellum prominent ; head, tho- 

 rax, and feet without spots ; metathorax unidentate on each side ; 

 hinder margin of the five first segments of the abdomen yellow ; 

 under wings clouded at their base." Only neuters have yet been 

 seen of this interesting insect, which presents an exception to the 

 rule hitherto generally received, that Bees alone were possessed 

 of the means of making honey. The honey of the Lecheguana 

 has been examined by M. Lassaigne, who has ascertained that it 

 differs considerably from that of the bee ; the former being en- 

 tirely soluble in alkohol, while the latter treated with the same 

 solvent, leaves a saccharine, solid, and cristallizable mass. 



The article by M. Geoff'roy St. Hilaire, " On the nature, 

 formation, and uses of the Stones found in the auditory cells 

 of Fish," is adapted to destroy the theory advanced by Camper, 

 that these parts constituted an essential portion of the organ of 

 hearing. The attention of the sagacious author of this paper was 

 first directed to the subject by the consideration that if these 

 were really bones, they would offer a very decided deviation from 

 all the analogies which he had previously observed ; and the result 

 of his enquiries has been to establish the fact that they are merely 

 to be regarded ^ calculi formed in a cavity which has no commu- 

 nication with the external air. The most important objection 

 that can be urged against this explanation appears to be derived 



