4-20 Entomological Society. 



fallen under his observation being purely calcareous : he has not, 

 however, yet had an opportunity of examining the Gorgonia Briareus, 

 the axis of which is described by Ellis as consisting of numerous 

 little purple glossy needles, but in the nearly allied Alcyonium ashes- 

 tinum (the spicula of which closely agree with this description) he has 

 ascertained that the spicula are calcareous. In the siliceous nature 

 of its spicula the Coral in question agrees with some of the Sponges, 

 Tethyce, &c. 



Mr. Gray stated that this curious production had occupied much 

 of his attention several years since, and that he had delayed the 

 publication of his views respecting it, in the hope of being enabled, 

 by the acquisition of more copious materials, to clear up some points 

 which did not appear to him to be, at that time, capable of satisfac- 

 tory elucidation. He characterized it as the type of a new genus. 



Hyalonema. 

 Corallium simplex, subcylindricum, ad basin attenuatum et in 

 Spongid immersum, supra basin cortice coriaceo tuberculato 

 tectum ; tuberculis sparsis, depressis, polypiferis. Axis e spi- 

 culis numerosis, elongatis, filiformibus, subcontortis, siliceis 

 constans. 

 Polypus ignotus. 

 Hyalonema Sieboldi. 

 Hah. apud Japoniam, Dr. Siebold. 



Specimens are contained in the British Museum, to which they 

 were presented by John Reeves, Esq. ; in the Museum at Leyden ; 

 and in the collection of Mr. Gray ; the latter having been purchased 

 from the Dutch Museum, through the kindness of Dr. De Haen. 

 A few fibres of the axis formed part of the Sloanean Collection, 

 when it was originally acquired for the British Museum, but their 

 nature was altogether unknown. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



At the meeting on the 3rd of August, a variety of remarkable 

 insects, and insect productions were exhibited by various mem- 

 bers, including the vegetative Wasp of the West Indies, spider silk 

 obtained from the Nephila clavipes of the same country, exhibited by 

 Mr. Hearne ; and the following memoirs were read : Note relating 

 to the Beetles observed in unrolling a Mummy at Belfast, by Robert 

 Patterson, Esq. ; Account of the Dead Sea Apple, and the Insect 

 by which it is produced, by Walter Elliott, Esq. It was announced 

 that the address delivered by the Secretary at the last anniversary 

 meeting, on the present state of Entomology, had been published 

 for distribution amongst the members, and for sale to the public. 



At the meeting in September, various donations of entomologi- 

 cal works were received, and the following communications read : 

 Descriptions of two new Irish Crustacea, by Robert Templeton, 

 Esq., R.A. j Description of a new Hemipterous Insect from the 

 Atlantic Ocean, by the same; Letter from Mr. Engleheart an- 

 nouncing the capture of various rare English Insects. 



