MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 59 



and yielding; and on opening it we discovered that in the interim it had been 

 completely cleaned out by an Ichneumon of some size^ the pupa of which was 

 ensconced in the interior almost mature. 



The facts which we think we are fairly entitled to deduce from the above 

 case is^ that the pupa had been pierced Jpj an Ichneumon during the time 

 it had been lying exposed on the surface, for had the creature been attacked 

 before it changed into the chrysalis it would have died long before. We are 

 satisfied that it could not have been a recently changed pupa, as it had evidently 

 been scraped up from the spot where it had passed the winter months. The 

 period when we found it was about the middle of April — too late for the 

 changing of any winter-feeding larvce, and too early for the spring ones; any 

 of which we have never noticed changing till the beginning of May. The 

 pupa in question was about the size and of the same colour as that of 

 Semiophora gothica. 



We think that it may be also deduced from the above fact, that the 

 piercing of pupae by Ichneumon Flies is in a measure accidental, and consequently 

 of rare occurrence; that they do run the risk of such attacks, however, is 

 sufficiently obvious from the great care with which nature provides against 

 them, in supplying many kinds with a cocoon quite impenetrable by the 

 ovipositor of an enemy, while with many others the want of such protection 

 is well supplied by descending into the earth, and there remaining secure, 

 and in other eases crevices and lurking-holes form a good means of escape, 

 by eluding detection. 



From this we see an example of the working of one of the most beautiful 

 laws of nature, by which one race prevents the undue increase of another, 

 and the means employed on the other hand to prevent any such destroyers 

 from overstepping their given limits; for it is quite evident that were the 

 pupae of Lepidopterous insects as much exposed to external attacks as they 

 are in their previous stage, their numbers would be decreased to an undue 

 extent, and the number of their enemies increased in a proportional ratio, 

 which would be sure to end, if there, were no preventative,' in the confusion 

 which must result from the violation of any of those harmonious laws which 

 constantly meet the admiring eyes of the naturalist. 



Glasgow. 



MmWumm llntire. 



The Spaniel. — V friend of mine was acquainted with a man who had a 

 dog of the above breed, which was very much attached to him. The dog's 

 master it seems, was a particular friend of "John Barleycorn's;" and on one. 

 of his occasional visits to the house where that notable person may be found, 

 his companions blacked his face for a "lark." Not being aware of the trick 

 they had played him, he left the house and went on his way home. 



