PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 315 



slender, grows up straight, and its erect branches form a pyramid. It is uni- 

 sexual ; and the flowers of both sexes are insignificant ; those of the male last only 

 for a few days, when they dry up ; this is likewise the case with the petals of 

 the females. The segments of the calyx, however, continue to grow, changing 

 in their growth from green to white and vermillion, and become so attenuated 

 that the branched nerves are easily perceptible. In that state they are three 

 times as large as the fruit, which is still protected by the tube of the calyx : and 

 the whole might, in appearance, be compared to a shuttlecock. The risps are 

 dense, and the tree presents now a most elegant appearance. One unacquainted 

 with the contrary, would consider the tree covered with white blossoms tinged 

 with red, among which the dark green leaves have only occasionally room to 

 make themselves visible. The incautious botanist Who, allured by the deceptive 

 appearance, should approach the tree to pluck the blossoms, would rue his 

 attempt. The trunk and branches are hollow, like those of the Trumpet-tree 

 (Cecropia), and provided between space and space with partitions, which answer 

 to the position of the leaves on the outside. These hollows are inhabited by a 

 light brownish Ant, about two or three-tenths of an inch long, which inflicts the 

 most painful bites, causing swelling and itching for several days. If they find 

 themselves captured, they attack and kill one another like Scorpions. The 

 Aramah Indians call the tree " Jacuna," and the Ant, " Jacuna sae." 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



March 5. — J. F. Stephens, Esq., F.L.S., President, in the chair. — The 

 memoirs read at this meeting were, — 1st, Observations upon the habits and 

 other peculiarities of Brachelytra (genus Staphylinus, Linn.), by F. Holme, Esq. ; 

 2nd, Description of a new Strepsipterous insect, found in Brazil, and inhabiting 

 the body of one of the Sand Wasps, Spkegidce, by R. Templeton, Esq. ; 3rd, 

 Description of Platyrhopalus angnstus, a new species of Paussidce, brought from 

 the interior of India by Assistant-Surgeon Downes, by J. O.Westwood, Sec. E. S. 

 — Mr. Saunders exhibited a specimen of the splendid Urania Rhipheus, which 

 had been captured in the channel of Mozambique, many leagues from land. — 

 Mr. Bainbridge communicated a method for ridding insects saturated with a 

 greasy matter, which occasionally exudes from them when placed in the cabinet, by 

 immersing them in petroleum. — Messrs. Hope and Raddon made some observa- 

 tions upon the distinctions between the two gums, anime and copal, which have 

 been respectively considered to contain insects, and the latter member stated 

 that the singular noise emitted by the Death's-head Hawk-moth (Acherontia 

 atropos), and which has so much perplexed physiologists, is sometimes produced 

 by the insect whilst in the chrysalis state. 



April 2 — J. F. Stephens, Esq., President, in the chair Mr. Babker com- 



