Queries and Anstvers. 4-05 



three distinct coverings, composed of a brownish substance resembling 

 paper in appearance, thin and rather brittle. The whole was hung by a 

 thread of the same material. If you or one of your correspondents would, 

 through the medium of your valuable Magazine, favour me with the name 

 of the species which inhabits this curious structure, with some particulars 

 connected with its natural history, it would oblige yours, &c, — //. Gunt, 

 Missendeuy Bucks, July 7.1829. 



The Harvest Bug. (p. 290.) — This is one of the most teasing little animals in 

 nature. Though bred and intended, like its congener the red spider ( ^''carus 

 vitis),to live on vegetables, as currants, raspberries, and French beans, yet it 

 will desert these, whether by accident or design, to live on and annoy the most 

 delicate and sensitive portion of the human race. These insects are so mi- 

 nute, that they are only visible to the keenest eyes, and then only when placed 

 on any very smooth white surface ; in course, they are only known by their 

 effects. Ladies and children are the first to complain of their attacks ; and 

 chiefly where any part of the dress fits closely to the skin. There they seat 

 themselves at the intersection of the lines, and lay such firm hold with their 

 feet and jaws, that they cannot be displaced by rubbing, nor by washing, 

 unless a powerful spirit or acid is used. A microscope readily detects them ; 

 and, by its assistance, they may be dislodged with the point of a muslin 

 fieedle, and, if placed on writing paper, will be seen to have eight legs, two 

 tentacula or feelers, and an abdomen something egg-shaped ; colour livid 

 red; and in size no bigger than the point of a small needle. They lacerate 

 the epidermis in some way or other, as a small hole is observable where they 

 have been seated; and cause extreme itching and considerable inflammation 

 of the part. — J. M. Chelsea. 



The Superstition respecting Bees prevails in some parts, as to informing 

 them of any great public event that takes place. — Anon. Bishopsbourne 

 March 26. 1829. 



The Eggs of Butterjlies. — Sir, Amongst your numerous correspondents, 

 unquestionably there are many, no doubt, willing to give any information 

 that might be considered useful to the pursuit of natural history. Should 

 there be any that can assist me, I should feel obliged by their communica- 

 tion. Most generally, collectors find no difficulty in obtaining the eggs of 

 moths, by the readiness of these insects to copulate and deposit them. 

 With the butterflies (that portion of Lepidoptera called day-flies) the case 

 is very different, it being impossible to make them copulate or deposit their 

 eggs when bred from the chrysalis. At any rate, I have found it so ; nor 

 do I know any one who has been able to effect it. I have succeeded in 

 obtaining a few eggs by going into the woods, and catching them whilst in 

 •copulation, and carrying them home. On the separation of the male, having 

 placed the female in a box, with some of the food of the caterpillar, and 

 tied it on with green gauze, I placed it in the sun, and thus obtained only a 

 few. Should any of your friends be able to assist me, they will oblige me 

 by their information. Yours, &c. — D. G. Kerridge. Ipswich, July 15. 1829. 



The Nidus on a Rush. (p. 104.) — Sir, The illustrious De Geer has given, 

 in detail, an account of some similar ones that he met with both in Holland 

 and Sweden. The first he observed were suspended in a hay chamber, and 

 he noticed others afterwards in similar places. He describes them as com- 

 posed of silk of a dirty white, in the form of little oval bags, suspended by 

 a slender but strong thread. They were nearly of the shape of hen's eggs, 

 and were so thin that the eggs they contained might be seen through them. 

 When the eggs hatched, they produced a spider, which he names Aranea 

 tuberculata.* He afterwards found, suspended to stalks of grass, &c., other 

 nests, more nearly resembling those figured in your Magazine, which he 



* De Geer, vii. 227. plate xiii. fig. 5. 



