l$Q Zoology. 



their deadly game, and I was compelled to leave them before the battle was 

 over. I however visited the spot again, about one o'clock, and they were 

 then busily employed in removing their slain comrades. I counted about 

 thirty dead ants on the field; more, probably, had fallen, as doubtless many 

 had been removed before my return. In one small spot, of not more than 

 an inch square, seven dead ants were extended. Their courage is very 

 extraordinary; for in several instances, with such fury and obstinacy had 

 these little warriors contended, that two might be perceived locked in each 

 other's embraces, having died in this their last mortal struggle. We have 

 all read of the battles of ants, but as far as my enquiries have extended, I 

 believe but few have witnessed their combats. I have observed ants for 

 many years, but, with this exception, never saw any thing like hostility 

 among them. Some of your readers may be pleased with this account 

 from an eye-witness. Your constant reader — O. July 10. 1830. 



A hermaphrodite 'Qombyx castrensis. — The following is an extract from 

 a letter which we have received from M. Prevost Duval, a celebrated 

 entomologist of Geneva, mentioned in the preceding page by a much- 

 valued correspondent : — " Mr. S. has seen in my collection a very curious 

 lepidopterous insect; it is a hermaphrodite J56mbyx castrensis, captured 

 by me in July, 1829. Having reared the caterpillar with a number of 

 others of the same species, I was surprised to find in the same box an indi- 

 vidual presenting distinctly the two sexes. 

 Not wishing to deprive it of life, for the pur- 

 pose of examining whether the sexual organs 

 were perfectly developed, I left it as it was, 

 have it now in my collection, and send you a 

 correct drawing of it {fig. 26.) for your Maga- 

 zine. Not having the honour of being in com- 

 munication with the Rev. W. Kirby, you 

 will much oblige me by showing the drawing 

 to that gentleman, and stating to him that I 

 shall be happy to enter into correspondence 

 with him, and to exchange the lepidopterous insects of Europe for those 

 of other parts of the world. 1 am. Sir, &c. — Auguste Prevost Duval ^ 

 Memhre de la Societe Helvetique des Sciences Naturelles. Genevay Sept. 7. 

 1830." 

 We have sent the original letter and the drawing to Mr. Kirby. — Cond, 

 'Bombyx antiqua. — This moth, said by Mr. Samouelle to live in its larva 

 state on the oak, I have never seen in its larva state but on the bramble. 

 This season I took numbers of them on this plant. — A. Barnsleyy Oct. 30. 

 1829. 



Atlas Moth. — It is stated in a Madras paper, that a large moth was 

 caught at Arracan, measuring from tip to tip of the expanded wings 

 10 inches. One in my cabinet measures upwards of 8| inches. I have 

 lately had an opportunity of examining some exquisite drawings, by native 

 artists of Malacca, in the possession of the family of the late Ger.eral 

 Taylor ; they seem portraits of the originals. Among the insects are two 

 fac-similes of the Atlas moth of the natural size, measuring nine inches. 

 Now it should be remembered that these were rare or singular specimens. 

 — J. Murray. Carmarthen, April 2. 1830. 



Velia rivulorum and cicrrens. — It is, I believe, a disputed point among 

 entomologists (see Curtis's British Entojnology, vol. i. fol. 2a.), whether 

 Velia currens is the pupa of Ve. rivulorum. This point is, I think, incon- 

 trovertibly decided by the fact that, on the 15th instant, I took two of the 

 Ve. currens in the act of perpetuating their species. I saw no difference 

 between the male and female, except that the latter was larger than the 

 former. I have only met with one specimen of the Ve, rivulorum here. 

 It appears to me quite distinct. — A. Wright. Askam BryanyVork, Nov. 1830. 



