512 ATTACHMENT IN A WILLOW WREN TO ITS NEST. 



But to return once more to the subject of natural history, not of cats, 

 dogs, or red-breasts, but of insects, bondjide insects. 



We have long expected the appearance of your conspectus of two- 

 winged flies, and hoped for one on beetles. 



I have sent you specimens of Nitidula grisea ; Ptinus ovatus ; 

 and also of the Cryptorhyncus Lapalhi (!LLIGER). They are not 

 set, as I captured one hundred and fifty-eight one morning in a 

 shrubbery here, on the bark of poplar trees. I know not whether 

 they are common with you, but here they are not, and I do not 

 meet with any other trees in this neighbourhood infested with them. 

 I took them in all stages, eggs, grub, pupa, and perfect insect, at 

 the same time and place. I do not know what else to put in 

 the box, or I would fill it; but I entreat your acceptance of the 

 specimens it contains, would they were better worthy your 

 notice. I have since thought of mentioning to you that I have 

 taken this summer six specimens of a curious architect, that you 

 do not mention in your work, a caddis worm, with an onisius-shaped 

 envelope, formed of small particles of sand cemented together ; many 

 of a spiral cylindric kind formed of grass ; and one of small grains of 

 sand, like a horn, open at one end and broader at the other, slightly 

 bent or curved. At the end of the cylindric ones is a sort of net-work, 

 with meshes * like bobbin-net, about .01 wide ; they burrow into 

 decayed branches of trees, &c. under water, and there assume the pupa 

 state. I found some hundreds of the empty cases in a pool recently 

 drained. I know not whether you have met with them, but I send 

 you a specimen of the first and second kind. In the history of the 

 Ephemera vulgala I do not recollect having read of a fact connected 

 with their history, that is, after emerging from the water, they seek 

 the grass or stems of trees, often flying to a considerable distance, and 

 there cast their skins, wings, &c. I took several of them in the act, 

 besides many cast skins or sloughs. 



Birmingham, Sept. 30th. 



REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF ATTACHMENT IN A WILLOW 

 WREN (Sylvia trochilus) TO ITS NEST. 



BY A LADY. 



IN the spring of last year, 1832, walking through an orchard, I was 

 attracted by something on the ground in the form of a large ball, and 

 composed of dried grass. I took it up in my hands, and upon exami- 



* I have figured this in " Insect Transformations," page 221. ED. 



