PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 21 



Dowden (Richard), Esq., were elected corresponding members ; and Robert Barton, 

 Joseph Greene, and George Norris, Esqrs., were elected ordinary members of the 

 Association. 



The President then stated that the following resolution had been agreed to : 



u Resolved That the members of the Dublin University Zoological Association 

 have received, with extreme sorrow, the President's announcement of the prema- 

 ture death of their excellent corresponding member, the late Professor Edward 

 Forbes 5 they deeply sympathize with his many friends at the loss which, as indi- 

 viduals, they have sustained, and with naturalists, generally, at the death of one 

 whose well-ordered mind and high talents had so much contributed to raise to its 

 present philosophical character zoological study, and from whom, in the eminent 

 position he had obtained, much was expected for the future. They call to mind, 

 with melancholy gratification, the interest he evinced for the progress of the Asso- 

 ciation, the valuable advice he gave at its formation, and the lucid information he 

 afforded when he attended its meeting." 



Dr. Ball stated, that the collection of Artie Zoology would not be exhibited until 

 he could secure the presence of Captain M'Clintock, who would then give much 

 useful information about them. 



Mr. Lamprey read the following letter, from his brother, Dr. Lamprey, of the 

 15th Regiment, Ceylon, Corresponding Member : 



" Kandy, October 9, 1854. 

 "MY DEAR BROTHER, 



" My boy brought me the insects and the wool-like substance which I enclose 

 in this letter the history and description of which I will endeavour to give; and, 

 perhaps, some of your entomological friends will be able to recognise them. I was 

 struck, some time ago, by observing a white, wool-like substance, of a beautifully 

 fine texture, and very strong, on a leaf of a white-blossoming plant (Datura, I 

 think) ; and on opening it at the time I found a quantity of small eggs, which I 

 fancied were the eggs of a spider ; but I mislaid the specimen, and thought nothing 

 more of it till my servant-boy brought me another specimen, which he found on a 

 leaf of a mulberry (morus) plant. Unfortunately he tore it nearly off, but I think 

 you will be able to understand what it was like when you refer to the diagram and 

 examine the enclosed. 1 observed a number of larva? crawling about the leaf, and 

 thought that they were those of the common horse-fly. On examining them a few 

 days after, I found them very torpid. When I first got them, I put some on a 

 piece of raw beef, and others on a piece of plantain, to ascertain whether they sub- 

 sist on animal or vegetable substances ; but they touched neither ; on the contrary, 

 they died soon after. 



" Unfortunately I was sent to an out-station to do duty, and was not able to 

 observe them further ; but on looking into the box in which I left them during my 

 absence (about three weeks) I found that, instead of torpid larvae, there were a 

 number of flies scattered all around, and all dead. I was much disappointed, in 

 every sense of the word, and am puzzled to find out whether one fly, as small as 

 the enclosed, could manufacture such a large quantity of silk. That the silk is not 

 the product of a caterpillar, I have every reason to believe; and you can ascertain 

 this point by opening the mass, and you will not find a chrysalis, or anything 

 indicative of such a fact ; and my finding eggs in an earlier stage, sufficiently 

 satisfies me on that score. The larva, before changing to the fly, formed a chry- 

 salis of its own in the substance of the wool, which you can see ; perhaps you may 

 also find a matured fly unescaped. 



" It would be a valuable discovery if it could be ascertained how to rear the 

 insect which produces this substance, as its texture is so beautiful of extraordinary 

 fineness, strength, and purity of colour (white). 



u I will endeavour to send you a variety of the same, which I found attached 

 to the walls of a garden well ; but the animal producing it is aquatic, and the sub- 

 stance, though four times the size, is slimy, and, I fear, too bulky to send by post. 

 I found masses on the leaves and stems of the trees overhanging the water, as well 

 as on the wall of the well. I have sent my boy out for a specimen. The 

 variety I first described is not very common, and but occasionally met with." 



