188 Zoological Society : — 



at us in a glassy, expressionless manner, worthy of the ghastly ship- 

 mates of Coleridge's 'Ancient Mariner.' Nevertheless, the general 

 appearance of the insect is rather sprightly than otherwise, altliough 

 the absence of wings, and some other peculiarities, show it to be in 

 the larva or pupa state, and the frothy matter with which it is sur- 

 rounded, and which consists of an excrementitious fluid, is evidently 

 intended to protect its soft body from the attacks of its enemies" 

 (pp. 411,412). 



Although of minor importance, there are one or two points which 

 we might suggest as capable of improvement, should a second edition 

 ever be called for. Thus, the advantage of having at the head of 

 each of the several divisions of the chapters the name of the family ^ 

 or tribe, which is about to be treated of, would have been very con- 

 siderable ; for, owing to the light, and often amusing, style in which 

 the volume is written, one frequently has to read through as much 

 as a page and a half before becoming aware what the family really is 

 which is under discussion. This is a serious impediment to a be- 

 ginner, — ^who requires to have his attention prepared ab itiitio for the 

 several divisions as they occur ; and (which is very desirable), more- 

 over, his eye tutored to the names. An epitome, also, of the sub- 

 divisions, if given at the commencement of each Order, would have 

 been a great help to the tyro, in enabling him to discern his path 

 beforehand, and, as it were, to picture it in his imagination. 



These suggestions, however, are perhaps needless ; for such addi- 

 tions can, after all, be made by the reader himself without mucli 

 trouble. In everything essential the book is excellent, and will prove 

 a useful guide for the entomological student, — to whose careful 

 perusal we would, therefore, heartily commend it. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



July 14, 1857.--Dr. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



On Stoastomid^ as a Family, and on Seven proposed 

 New Genera, Sixty-one New Species, and Two New 

 Varieties from Jamaica. By the PIon. Edward Chitty. 

 [Continued from page 79-] 

 Genus III. Fadyenia, Chitty. 



Spire depressed, subangular on the upper part of the last whorl, 

 subplamdate at the periphery, subangulate below, and subpla- 

 nulate round the umbilicus. 



Fadyenia Fadyeniana. See Stoastoma Fadyenianum, Ad. 

 Mon. Stoast. Adams, 1849, p. 7 ; Cat. Phan. p. 231. 



Hab. Hills S.W. of Port Henderson. 



Other shells, I have reason to know, have been distributed for 

 this. 



