24 IJnne, 18G6 
Mr. Saunders exhibited a singular cone-shaped nest formed of a leaf of some 
Australian tree, and explained the method of its construction ; he considered it to 
be the nest of a spider. Mr. Stainton remarked that the larvae of the micro-lepi- 
dopterous Coriscium cuculipennellum formed similar cones on the leaves of privet. 
Mr. Saunders also exhibited the case of Oilceticus from Australia, formed of twigs 
arranged in a regular longitudinal manner, and proving that they were constructed 
in three or four instalments, according to the requirements of the inmate, this latter 
taking the precaution, when it enlarged the case, to provide beforehand for a con- 
siderable increase of size. 
Mr. Haward exhibited a collection of insects from Natal. 
Mr. Layard, of Cape Town, said that he had been requested by the inhabitants 
of James Town, St. Helena, to bring before the Society an account of the extra- 
ordinary ravages of the white ants in that island. These insects had been intro- 
duced some few years previously, and now prevailed to such an alarming extent, 
that, unless some means were devised for their destruction, the whole of James 
Town would be ruined. Various remedies had been tried without effect, and the 
inhabitants had gone to considerable expense in importing cyanized timber from 
England, but this had proved worthless, owing to the wood being insufficiently 
prepared. 
Mr. Layard also remarked that it was generally understood that the swarming 
of bees was caused by insufficient room in the hives, but that in South Africa, 
where large numbers of wild bees, allied to the honey-bee, live in large caverns 
(the entrance to which they blocked up with a curtain of propolis), they invariably 
swarm, though there could be scarcely any want of space. Mr. Tegetmeier said that 
in England it had been found possible to prevent swarming by adding to the size of 
the hive before the usual period arrived. 
Mr. Newman sent for exhibition a number of larv£e, probably of Hepialus 
lupulinits, found by Mr. Whittaker, feeding on the roots of coltsfoot, and infested by 
a large fungus of the genus Clavaria, which had destroyed them ; the mycelium of 
the fungus proceeded from the anterior segments, and equalled in length that of 
the larvse. Vide " Entomologist" for May, and the " Field." 
Mr. Stainton exhibited a large number of beautiful coloured drawings by Miss 
Wing, representing the larvae of various Tineina found by him during his recent 
visit to Cannes and Mentone, including Acrolepia sniilaxella of Milli^re, found on 
Smilax aspera, Hyponomeuta egregiellus on Erica scoparia, Gelechia higuttella? on 
Dorycnium, Prays oleellus on the olive — the true position of the last-named insect 
had only been pointed out last year by Herr Kaltenbach of Aix-la-Chapelle, but 
both in the form and habits of the larvae, and in the form and even markings of the 
perfect insect, it was manifestly closely allied to P. Curtisellus. Mr. Stainton also 
exhibited a drawing of a Lepidopterous larva which he had found commonly, 
gnawing the bark of Euonymus europmus in his garden at Lewisham, and which 
lived in galleries, formed under the " frass" and web left on the spindle-bushes by 
the last-year's larvae of Hyponomeuta euonymellus ; he was uncertain as to what 
species it would produce. 
Mr. Janson exhibited a Coleopterous insect new to Britain, viz., Throscus 
elatm'oides of Heer ; taken by Messrs. Brewer and E. Smith, and Dr. Power, near 
Rochester. 
The Rev. Douglas Timins communicated notes on collecting at Hyeres, in the 
south of France, during the first four months of 1866. 
