50 
Rev. F. W. Hope on Succinic Insects. 
botanist, as it is properly his department. I cannot quit this part 
of my subject, however, without expressing a wish that some one 
may direct his attention to the investigation of the plants found in 
Anime and amber, as it may eventually lead us to the knowledge 
of the antediluvian tree which produced the latter. It may here 
perhaps not be amiss to hazard a conjecture how the insects be- 
came enveloped in the Anime, and I do so with the hope that my 
remarks may lead others to investigate a subject which can only 
satisfactorily be done by persons residing in the country where the 
resins are produced. The Anime in some cases appears to have 
exuded from the tree in considerable quantities and at different 
times. It trickled in drops on the ground, and is found in a mass 
sometimes of 7 lbs. weight. It is of various sizes and forms, not 
unfrequently assuming that of stalagmite : and I possess a stalac- 
tite which contains a portion of the branch to which it was sus- 
pended. In some specimens laminae ©r layers are observable, ap- 
pearing like flaws in minerals ; where this is the case, the liquid 
resin probably fell on the previously indurated fluid, as they readily 
break in the direction of the flaws. The liquid Anime appears to 
have formed on the ground an heterogeneous mass with the mix- 
ture of earth, sand, and vegetable matter, sometimes enveloping 
pieces of stick, leaves, and blossoms of flowers, &c. ; it remained 
some time concreting, and was at length hardened by the influence 
of the sun and air. While liquid the wandering lizard, probably 
in search of the very insects we find imbedded, became entangled 
in the viscous fluid ; the land Helix, crawling over it, was arrested 
in its progress ; and the fallen leaf, partly adhering to the mass 
belowy became perfectly enveloped from successive drippings from 
above. Supposing the Anime to have flowed down the trunk of 
the tree, it would naturally embalm in its precious resin every 
thing in its progress. If such were the case, we should then ex- 
pect to find Lichens, cortical and subcortical insects, embedded in it ; 
in other words, the Xylophaga, as well as other Xylobious insects, in 
profusion. Such we do find, and find them in numbers far surpassing 
our expectations. How, however, are we to account for the pre- 
sence of Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, various genera of Hymenoptera, 
and numerous Dipteral Whilst the Anime remained liquid, the 
locust, cricket, and Cicada may have alighted on the glutinous 
bark. The Lepidoptera and some of the Hymenoptera may have 
mistaken the Anime for honey, particularly if the resin yielded a 
fragrant and aromatic odour, as insects are endued with an extra- 
ordinary sense of smell, and are easily attracted by sweets ; — find- 
ing Apidce in great abundance, it is probable that an aromatic 
