1866.] 269 



found with the perfect specimens a large number of eggs and lai"V!n. These latter, 

 until after their third moulting, were hexapod and nearly transparent, after which 

 they acquired an additional pair of legs and somewhat the colour of the perfect " tick." 

 He promised to lay drawings and full particulars before the Society at a future 

 meeting. 



Mr. Bond exhibited some singular rose-shaped galls, formed at the apex of 

 willow twigs, and remarked that, on a largo willow tree, about fifty feet in height, 

 growing near Cambridge, almost every twig was so affected.* 



Professor Westwood said that he had before seen galls of a similar nature, but 

 larger ; he was uncertain as to the insect which produced them, but suspected 

 that it was a Cyni^ps. 



Wr. Bond also exhibited remarkable varieties of Colias Edusa and Vanessa 

 urticoi. 



With respect to the Entomological Prize Essays, the President read the 

 following notice : — 



" As an inducement to the study of economic Entomology, and with a view to 

 "increase the practical utility of the Entomological Society, the Council oflers two 

 " Prizes, of the value of Five Guineas each, to be awarded to the authors of Essays 

 "and Memoirs, of sufficient merit, and drawn up from personal observation, on the 

 " anatomy, economy, or habits, of any insect, or group of insects, which is in any 

 '* way especially serviceable or obnoxious to mankind. The essays should be illus- 

 " trated by figures of the insects in their different states, and (if the species be 

 " noxious) must shew the results of actual experiments made for the prevention of 

 "their attacks, or the destruction of the insects themselves. 



" On former occasions, the Council has selected a definite subject, e. g. 

 " ' the Coccus of the Pine-apple,' ' the larva of Agrotis segetum,'' &c. The consequence 

 " was, that competition was diminished, or not called into play. On the present 

 " occasion, therefore, the selection is left to the candidates, provided only that the 

 " subject be one fairly belonging to the economic branch of Entomology. 



" The essays must be sent to the Secretary, at 12, Bedford Row, with fictitious 

 " signatures or mottoes, on or before the 31st December, 1865, when they will be 

 "refen'ed to a Committee to decide upon their merits ; each must be accompanied 

 "by a sealed letter, indorsed with the fictitious signature adopted by its author, 

 "and enclosing the name and address of the writer. 



" The Prize Essays shall be the property of, and vrill be published by the 

 " Society." 



* The following letter has appeared in the columns of the At/ienaum, March 18, ISOa : — 

 " In Saturday's Atlvenaxun, p. :55:i, it is recorded that, at the meeting of the Entomological Society 

 " held on March Cth, 'Mr. Bond exliibited specimens of a gall found on a willow tree near Cambridge; 



" the attack of the insect caused a premature terminal development of leaves in whorls, 



" so as to resemble a tlower-head." Galls of this kind are of very frequent occurrence on willows in 

 "this neighbourhood, and, I believe, throughout the whole of Lincolnshire. They are so common here, 

 " that I have always suiiposed tiny must be familiarly known to naturalists. They first show them- 

 " selves in the latter summer and early autumn, but are not easily discovered until the tree sheds its 

 " leaves. When that happens, the gall-leaves become prominent objects. Their form is singularly like 

 " that of a small rose, and Ihe likeness is increased by the colour; which, in December and January, 

 "i.s a light brown, very often nearly approaching red. As time goes on, the brown becomes deeper, and 

 " when the green leaves shoot forth in spring, the galls fall off. The likeness to a rose is often so com- 

 " plete, that an uninstructed person might easily be led to the absurd conclu.«ion that he had seen roses 

 " growing on willows. That this opinion was current at one time, is proved by the following entry in 

 " the chronicle of John Ca])grave, 1338: — 'In that same yere welowes bore roses, re<l and fi-ech; and 

 " that was in Januarle,' (p. ii07}. This is another proof to be added to those accumulating daily, 

 " that the strange histories to be found in the records of past ages, are not. for the most part, deliberate 

 "fables, but truths ill understood, or facts seen out of their proper perspective. There is a story told 

 "by an Irish writer, of a certain willow-tree, which, having received the blessing of St. C'oenginus, 

 "straightway began to bear apples finn. Beycriinch, Thcat. Vit/r Humana:, t. 1, p. 9'Jla). It is 

 " highly lirobable that (he foundation of this legen<l must be sought in a similar direction.^ — KowASS 

 " I'KACCiCK, Hottfsford Manor, Urigtr, Mnrnh \^th, 1805 " 



