EiUtomological Notes. .21 



prey was a rabbit; and when the little animal was drawn into 

 its mouth, up to the shoulders, it became matter of wonder to 

 me how the reptile supported respiration, for its mouth and 

 nostrils seemed to be completely stopped. Stooping down 

 for the purpose of watching the process of deglutition more 

 closely, my attention was arrested by the appearance of a 

 breathing-tube, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, pro- 

 jecting from the lower jaw, to the extent of an inch or more 

 out of the mouth, as if an elongation of the trachea : it lay 

 close up to the breast of the rabbit, and was, of course, con- 

 cealed by its body. The keeper of the reptile had never 

 before noticed this singular air-tube, and it was as much a 

 matter of astonishment to him as to myself; but having no 

 kind of familiarity or intimacy with each other, he felt disin- 

 clined to allow me to prosecute the investigation any further : 

 indeed, I believe, he feared lest the serpent might receive some 

 injury from being handled* However, I discovered quite suf- 

 ficient to satisfy my mind that this curious formation was of 

 service to the serpent, by affording it free respiration when its 

 mouth and nostrils were closed by the body of the rabbit. 



I have not, ever since, had the means of perfecting this 

 enquiry; and am now induced to mention the fact, hoping 

 that some of your correspondents, who are more favourably 

 circumstanced than myself, will embrace the first opportunity 

 to verify the observation, and examine this wonderful contri- 

 vance with the deojree of attention it merits. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Wrexham, Nov. 17. 1830. Bartholomew Dillon. 



Art. VIII. Entomological Notes. By J. C. Dale, Esq. 



Sir, 



As Kirby and Spence {Introd. to E/itom., vol. iv. p. 201.) 

 mention a singular monstrosity in Chrysomela haemoptera, in 

 the cabinet of Mr. Curtis, and which is figured in his JBr. Ent., 

 (plate 111. fig. 5.), where part of an extra-leg is attached to the 

 extremity of the femur of one of the hinder legs, I beg to 

 inform you that I have added to my cabinet a specimen of an 

 iE^mphytus (?) with seven complete legs, the supernumerary one 

 being placed between the fore and middle ones on the left 

 side, lately taken and presented to me by my friend Mr. 

 Morris of Charmouth, 



I have also added a specimen of Chrysomela cerealis, cap- 

 tured and presented by W. Hey, Esq., who found it near the 



c 3 



