JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
XXXI 
The following memoirs were read : — 
“ Notice of the Coleopterous Insects of the Scilly Islands.” By 
Frederick Holme, Esq., M. A. 
“ Monograph on the Hymenopterous Genus Scleroderma .” By J . 
O. Westwood. 
“ Observations upon the Natural History of the Purple Emperor 
Butterfly ( Apatura Iris.) ” By Dr. Pallas, — originally communi- 
cated to the Aurelian Society of London. 
“Notice relative to the Mole Cricket of the West Indies.” In a 
letter from Mr. M'Barnet, of the Island of Grenada ; communi- 
cated by J. C. Johnstone, Esq., of which the following is a copy : — 
“ The insect has always (I believe) been known in the West In- 
dies, but not to any extent in St. Vincent’s, until after the dreadful 
hurricane in that island in 1831, when it rapidly increased in num- 
bers ; first appearing in the pastures about the town of Kingston, 
and then extending all along the sea -coast, and gradually getting 
into the interior of the island. The creature is seldom seen above 
ground in the day-time, but flies about at night, and is attracted by 
the light into the negroes’ houses. Its effects are first shown on 
the pastures, by the appearance of decayed patches often all over 
the field ; it burrows under the surface of the earth, destroying the 
roots of the grass, and causing the sward on the surface to die, leaving 
the ground as clear of vegetation as if it had been newly ploughed 
and harrowed ; and some considerable time of course elapses before 
it recovers itself. The mode in which it attacks the cane is, by de- 
stroying the young shoots at, or immediately under, the surface of 
the earth ; and also by boring into the plants , (which, as you are 
probably aware, are cut from the top and softest part of the 
full-grown cane,) and lodging there until it eats the soft part be- 
tween the joints, and effectually destroys it. On digging the ground 
where they have been for some time, their eggs are found in great 
numbers ; in the first instance having the shape and appearance of 
a small pearl ; from that state it swells a little, gets a fleshy appear- 
ance, and forms the young cricket, which bears an exact resem- 
blance to the full grown one in miniature. 
“ The mole cricket having increased to such an extent since the 
hurricane, it has been supposed that some destroying animal, or 
counteracting cause, was removed by that destructive visitation. 
I have used both lime and soap-lees (oil being too expensive) to 
destroy them ; but with what real success I have yet to learn. I 
should mention they show themselves in the richest part of the 
fields first.” 
VOL. II. 
i 
