Insects of extraordinary Configuration, 601 



on the bank of the Derwent, saw a fine pike suddenly dart 

 out of the river, and seize a swallow that was gliding along 

 the surface of the water. (Morning Herald^ July 4. 1824.) 

 Swallows nearly touch the water sometimes; and pass slowly 

 over the surface sometimes : and it is not difficult to suppose 

 that the sun might be so low as to give the bird*s shadow in 

 advance of the bird itself, and thus give the pike an advantage. 



Eels (V. 313. 744., VII. 283.); the Places in which they 

 breed, — I taken them of all sizes (from that of a needle 

 upwards), in ponds totally unconnected with, and far distant 

 from, either river or brook. ■ — Henry Berry. Bootle, near 

 Liverpool^ Aug, 27. 1834. 



Insects. — {The external Configuration of some Species of 

 Insects is very extraordinary (II. 20., V. 318. 591.): Conjee- 

 tures on some of the Purposes of this Configuratio7i in some 

 Species, — The following remarks, by Mr. Guilding, he had 

 written in relation to Mr. Kirby's figures and descriptions of 

 the astonishing centrotuses in our II. 20 — 22.] : — 



Among my West Indian insects are several species which 

 have these wonderful dorsal appendages : my collection con- 

 tains several new genera, which I am about to publish ; 

 and among them is a species without appendages, but having 

 the promuscis [a form of mouth resembling a horn : see II. 

 20, 21.] curved backwards over the head. This peculiarity 

 of structure would enable the insect to obtain the nectareous 

 juices of flowers which have a bended corolla ; and for this 

 purpose it was doubtless given. Mr. Swainson has figured, 

 in the first series of his Zoological Illustrations, a lovely little 

 humming-bird, whose bill is, in a slight degree, similarly con- 

 structed. The specimens I obtained from Demerara, and one 

 of them was sent to my valued friend Mr. Kirby. The use of 

 the processes, Mr. Kirby notices [in our II. 20.], are given for 

 concealment and deception ; and they imitate, in a singular 

 manner, the Clavariae and other i^ungi which spring from the 

 bodies of dead insects in damp places. 



One genus here^ is remarkable for the curious manner in 

 which it protects its eggs from the rapacious ants; which 

 compel the larvae to offer them for food, on their extensile 

 tubiform anus, their drops of saccharine excrement. The 

 eggs have, under the microscope, the appearance of red 

 cherries enclosed in one of those open white china basketwork 

 fruit-dishes so common in the last century. — Lansdawn 

 Guilding. St, Vincent, May 1. 1830. 



[Mr. Westwood's very interesting figures and descriptions 

 of insects remarkable in form, published in V. 318 — 327. 

 591, 592., should be cited in connection with the above. 



