293 



reticuJatus, L which might sometimes be found in ants' nests, but 

 it was not, owing to its small size, such an important enemy to 

 the ants as the Ainphisb(enu;. The larvte of the Tijtula, Daddy 

 Longlegs or Cranetlies, were not known in England as " AVire- 

 worms" but as " Leather Jackets." The Wire-worms were the 

 larvai of the beetles known as " Skip-Jacks" or " Click beetles," 

 from their power of regaining their legs, when laid on their l)acks, 

 by a spring or skip, aecomiwinied by a sharp click. They behjnged 

 to the Elateridce, and in Trinidad many species of this genus 

 occurred and were known as candleflies from the light they emit 

 at night. 



Sir John Goldney presented the Club with a second instal- 

 ment of books, viz., six volumes of Cassell's Natui'al History 

 (New Edition) and Beale "On the Microscope." 



Dr. Rake presented the Library with three numbers of the 

 Transactions of the Bombay Natural History Society. The 

 Meeting adjourned at 9.30. The additions to the collection 

 during the month of December were a fine specimen of Hercules 

 beetle presented by Ilev. E. F. Tree, Couva, and two lai-ge 

 centipedes, yScolopendra sp. from Monos pi'esented by Mr. J. de 

 La Sauvagere. 



CLUB PAPERS. 



NOTES ON A SOUTH AMERICAN DIAMOND RATTLE 



^^XKTL~{C ROT ALUS IIORRIDUS, Linn). 



[The subject of these notes was exhibited during their reading but 

 refused to either rattle or feed while under the observation of the Club ] 



The Rattler l)efore you was brought from Venezuela by Mr. 

 C. W. Scott about the middle of last February. He was confined 

 in a small bottle with several cock roach e.3 and covered with apiece of 

 cloth. Mr. Scott kindly gave him to Mr. Mole, who, after keeping 

 him a few days, gave him to me in board and lodging. At that 

 time he was of a little lighter colour than he is now and the 

 difterent markings were not as clear as they are at present. His 

 length was about 10 inches and thickness of body about half an 

 inch. As you see he is now more than twice that size. His 

 rattle is perfect, i.e., he has the first ring, or original button, 

 as it is called by Mr. Quelch of the Demerara Museum, and two 

 other segments. 



This snake belongs to the family of CrotaUdoe, or Pit-vipers, 

 i.e. those vipers, which, like the Rattler before you, ■ have a pit 



