232 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



preserved the shell of the chrysalis. It is intermediate in size 

 between Tapniocampa stabilis and T. instabilis, the posterior 

 half being more rounded, I think, than in either of those 

 species. Under the microscope the anal extremity shows 

 four very fine points, one much longer than the others and 

 curved. Having only examined one specimen, I am of course 

 unable to say whether these characters are fixed. I find, as 

 a rule, that the pupae of Instabilis, Stabilis and Gothica are 

 distinguished by two points of equal size and not curved. 1 

 mention these insects, as they emerge about the same time as 

 Conspicillaris, and are commonly supposed to be taken in 

 company with them, that is, in the pupa state. I fear these 

 observations will not aid much in helping to distinguish the 

 aristocrat from the plebeian, but they may be interesting to 

 your readers. — {Rev.) J. Greene ; 57, Upper Leeson Street, 

 Dublin. 



Myrmica domestica. — Possibly the enclosed little speci- 

 mens may be of sufficient interest to place under a micro- 

 scope. If new they will be interesting. Ajar of ginger, from 

 India, was (some two years ago) given me by a sea captain, 

 who, 1 apprehend, brought it direct from China. It remained 

 on a shelf, unopened ; it fell from thence two or three days 

 ago, and, in order to remove the sharp pieces of porcelain 

 adhering to the preserved ginger, one by one the pieces were 

 washed in water. The enclosed insects floated on the top. 

 Possibly the like process would produce the like result in all 

 washed ginger; if so, what myriads of little things must be 

 swallowed by the unconscious lovers of this condiment ! — 

 Isaac Sharp ; Middleshro\ January 14, 1869. 



[The insect is Myrmica domestica, a small ant that has for 

 years past infested Loudon houses wherever sweets are kept. 

 — E. Neiaman.] 



Fascination exercised by a Froy. — The following remark- 

 able case of fascination, exercised by a frog on a butterfl}', 

 occurred to me in September, 1868, in the presence of a 

 friend. 1 had been rearing a number of the larvae of Vanessa 

 Urticae and V. Atalanta. On opening the box one morning 

 a newly-disclosed specimen of V. Urticae flew to the ground, 

 when a large frog leaped from its ambush under a heap of 

 stones and rubbish close by, and took three or four leaps in 

 the direction of the butterfly. When at a distance of about 



