XXII 
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
Mr. Scales also noticed the great prevalence during the present 
season of various species of caterpillars ( Pontia brassicce , Mamestra 
brassicce, and Persicarice, See.) upon cabbages, and which was attri- 
buted by Mr. Westwood to the peculiar nature of the weather during 
the present season, and by whom it w r as suggested that considerable 
advantage might result from an inquiry into the connexion between 
the atmospheric changes upon vegetation and the abundance or 
scarcity of insects, especially of the herbivorous kinds, during the 
period of observation. 
Mr. Ashton exhibited a specimen of (Eshna viatica, in which the 
eyes after death had partially shrunk, leaving regularly-formed 
areas of considerable size separated by elevated ridges. Mr. Ste- 
phens regarded this peculiarity as the result of the immaturity of 
the individual. 
Mr. Stephens exhibited an iron case, being an old snuff canister, 
in which he had confined a male and female Lucanus cervus, which 
had gnawed a hole through the side, an inch in diameter, the action 
of the jaws being clearly visible. 
The following memoirs were read, — 
“Some Account of the Habits of various species of East Indian 
Coleoptera .” Contained in a Letter addressed by W. H. Benson, 
Esq. to the Rev. W. Kirby. 
“ Notice of the Entomological Proceedings at the Meeting of the 
British Association held at Bristol.” Communicated by the Rev. 
F. VV. Hope. 
In the Natural History Section, the following Entomological 
communications were made : — 
Mr. Rootsey exhibited a living specimen of a large spider, which 
he considered to be the My gale avicularia, taken at Bristol in a 
ship from the Bay of Campeachy. He noticed some of the extra- 
ordinary stories commonly reported of the venomous nature of this 
animal,* and its bird-catching propensities, but which he had thus ob- 
tained an opportunity of refuting. Mr. Lister mentioned a similar 
capture, and added that his specimen readily devoured beetles. Mr. 
Hope considered the insect to be specifically distinct from the M. 
avicularia, and that it was a species recently described by Perty in 
the Delect. Anim. Art. Brasilice. 
Mr. Rootsey, in some observations on the mangel-wurzel, stated 
that the opinion of its not being liable to the attacks of insects, 
was erroneous, as he had found Ilaltica nemorum feeding upon it. 
* It is to Lycosa tarantula, and not Mygale avicularia, that this vulgar notion 
is attributed. (J. O. W.) 
