SSZ Zoological Collections. 



)the animal lay in wait for its prey, with no less design than would be ex- 

 hibited by a cat or a tiger, and if an unlucky fly happened to alight in his 

 neighbourhood, there was hardly left to it a chance of escape. He projects 

 rapidly his armed paw, and, with unerring aim transfixing his victim, 

 lodges it in the toothed hollow of the thigh, destined for its reception. 

 After the fly is in his power, no time is lost in devouring it, commencing 

 with the trunk, and in a few minutes swallowing the whole, the head and 

 wings constituting the finishing morsel. In this manner he would destroy 

 at a meal five or six large flies, which, in point of bulk, nearly doubled his 

 own body. 



On viewing the structure of the fore-limb of this tnsect, it seems impos- 

 sible to imagine any thing more perfectly contrived for the end in view. 

 The limb itself so strong and muscular, provided with a claw at its extre- 

 mity, likewise strong, horny, and sharp as a needle, and the groove in the 

 last joints, with the double row of teeth or spurs on the margin, correspond- 

 ing and locking closely into each other, like the fangs of the alligator, al- 

 together constitute an apparatus for seizing and securing its prey, which, 

 in so small a creature, cannot but excite admiration. By means of these 

 formidable weapons, the insect not only becomes destructive to others, but 

 is employed to attack its own species ; and in China, we are told, fighting 

 the mantis forms as much the favourite amusement of boys, who carry them 

 about in cages for the purpose, as cock-fighting in England, or among the 

 inhabitants of the Eastern Islands. 



2. Account of a Singular Species of Mollusca from the Coast of Ceylon * 

 By James Calder, Esq. 



The specimen of this animal presented to the Society was sent to Mr 

 Calder by Captain White, commanding the ship Sherborn, who gives the 

 following account of the manner in which it was procured by him : — 

 While passing Ceylon, he says, a boat came off, in which was this curious 

 sea-anirnal. We had never seen any thing of the kind before, and the na- 

 tives appeared to have a great dread of them, as they gave an account of the 

 large ones, on being touched, possessing the power to destroy the use of a 

 man's arm. It lives on the weeds which grow on the rocks, and is fre- 

 quently found on the Coast of Ceylon. It is observed, that, from several 

 circumstances in its anatomical structure, the species would appear to rank 

 among the Asterias ; but it differs materially in other respects from the spe- 

 cies described by systematic writers, and presents a peculiarity of external 

 form that does not belong to any of the Mollusca, as far as his acquaintance 

 with this order extends. It is, however, chiefly interesting from the reported 

 power it possesses, as alluded to by Captain White, of benumbing or de- 

 stroying the ability of a person's hand touching it, resembling in this point 

 the Torpedo liaia, and Gymnotus electricus. It seems strange, however, 

 that no mention should have been made of an animal of this description by 

 any of the authors who have written on Ceylon and its natural productions. 

 The subject is deserving of further inquiry, and, should the native account 

 be confirmetl, we shall have obtained a most interesting addition to our 

 zoological knowledge in the animal now under consideration. 



• Read at a meeting of the Asiatic Society, June 13, 1828. 



