384 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



means of strong spirit of ammonia ; and also a pan containing 

 the insects in the turpentine in the rough. 



The President, in some subsequent observations, con- 

 firmed the great success of this method of obtaining many 

 foreign insects, stating that some of the finest specimens he 

 had seen in any European cabinets had been procured in this 

 manner, and a fine North American cabinet might thus be ob- 

 tained for a few pounds, and without stirring from our own 

 firesides. He recommended spirit of caoutchouc as a solvent. 

 Mr. Raddon further mentioned his success in obtaining in- 

 sects from a gum, which he believed to be copal ; but which 

 the President doubted, never having known any authenticated 

 instance of insects found in that gum, but always in gum 

 anime, which received its name, originally, from the great 

 number of ex-animated remains found in it. 



Mr. Raddon next exhibited a phial containing hymenopterous 

 and other insects, sent over in rum from the Gambia, which he 

 recommended as by far the best mode of transmitting all in- 

 sects, excepting Lepidoptera, from abroad ; and, as a proof, dis- 

 played some of the most delicate specimens taken out and set, 

 which were as brilliant and perfect as if just captured. 



Mr. Waterhouse bore testimony to the safety and excel- 

 lency of this method of transmitting foreign specimens. 



Mr. Raddon, lastly, exhibited two specimens, which he 

 forbore to give any name to. They had been Lepidoptera, but 

 were completely eaten up by a fungus. 



The President remarked, that a wasp's nest had been ex- 

 hibited in that room with some of the wasps in a similar pre- 

 dicament. 



A very interesting paper by Mr. Sells was read, on the 

 Cteniza nidulans, the trap-door-raaking spider of Jamaica. He 

 exhibited a perfect specimen of the insect, with some beautiful 

 drawings of its curiously-constructed nest. 



Mr. MacLeay confirmed the accuracy of Mr. Sells' descrip- 

 tion, from his own personal observation, and mentioned the 

 existence of a spider of similar habits in India and the South 

 of Europe. 



A paper by Mr. Waterhouse, containing further descrip- 

 tions of insects, collected by Mr. Darwin, was read; speci- 

 mens of the insects, principally Altkxv, were exhibited : 

 one of these Mr. Westwood considered nearly identical with 



