ENTOMOLOGY. EXCHANGE. 259 



Ichneumon and Tortrix Larva. — Whilst sitting under a large chesnut 

 tree in my garden on the 20th. of September, I saw a Tortrix larva sus- 

 pended by its silken thread from a branch of the tree. Presently one of 

 the very small Ichneumons so abundant at this season came down the 

 thread about a foot, and then stopped, as though it intended to make 

 observations. Of course its object was to get at the small larva, then 

 about a foot and a half from the ground. Whether its instinct told it 

 that the larva might, in case it descended, be at that distance from the 

 tree too heavy for the silk to bear its own weight in addition, or what 

 were its contemplations, I know not, but having remained a few seconds 

 stationary, it ran back to the branch of the tree. In about half a minute 

 however, during which time little Tortrix grub had been making its way 

 earthward, it returned again to the same spot. To my equal surprise and 

 astonishment the Ichneumon now begun slowly to draw up the larva, just 

 as a human being would draw a bucket from a well. Its wings and legs 

 were in violent motion, and I observed a small knob or ball at the point 

 of the thread where it was situated. Nolens volens up came the grub, and 

 when it arrived an unwilling visitor at the knob or ball above mentioned, 

 the Ichneumon walked on to its back and commenced the process of 

 oviposition! Anxious to immortalize the name of the principal performer 

 in this curious feat, I boxed both insect and larva, but having incautiously 

 lifted the lid a very little to see how my friends were inside, out flew the 

 Ichneumon, and as I made a dash with the box to re-capture it, the larva 

 fell into the grass, so I thus clumsily lost them both. This incident displays 

 an amount of so-called instinct for which I should not a priori have given 

 the insect credit. — C. E. Bree, October 10th., 1857. 



The Wasp and the Spider. — In the above case of the Ichneumon we 

 have seen an exercise of instinct approaching very closely to reason. In 

 the following instance instinct seemed to have failed for once, but the 

 Wasp made up for the deficiency by a process very like that of reasoning. 

 Walking through my shrubbery yesterday, I saw a Wasp entangled slightly 

 in a Spider's web. The Spider, as usual, rushed down upon its supposed 

 victim. A sharp struggle ensued, which ended, however, in the victory of 

 the Wasp, who, clutching the Spider, stung him repeatedly, and then 

 deliberately cut off the said Spider's eight legs, and flew away with the body. 

 — Idem. 



Marine Shells. — I should be glad to exchange Terebrahda caput-serpentis, 

 Lima Mans, from Oban, for shells from the southern coasts, etc. — C. P. 

 Tootal, Chesnut Street, Wakefield. 



