167 



December U, 1838. 



Dr. Bostock in the Chair. 



An extensive collection of Fossil Tertiary Shells, from Italy, wa3 

 laid on the table, and a letter was read from Dr. Michellotti of Turin, 

 begging the Society's acceptance of them. 



A Wasp's Nešt, of very large size, was also exhibited to the Mera- 

 bers present. This nešt was sent from Ceylon by the Governor of 

 that island, and was accompanied by the following letter from Lieut. 

 W. Williams, R.A. 



Colombo, 27th May, 1838. 



" The specimen of the Sočiai Wasp's nešt, now on board the 

 barąue ' Morning Star,' was found by me in a talipot tree near 

 Colombo in Ceylon : its apex was secured at the junction of two of 

 the smallest leaves of this magnificent tree, and the bottom of the 

 nešt was about seventy feet from the ground, at which elevation the 

 leaves began to shoot. 



" It had been abandonedby the wasps, and its exterior -vvalls were 

 much injured by the monsoon rains and storms, -vv'hich left the ter- 

 races unprotected and unsupported, except by their interior pillars : 

 and the natives were in conseąuence unable to lower it from such a 

 height without destroying some of the lower terraces. 



" I shall not attempt to enter further on this subject, a structure 

 so \veU known to naturalists. The appearance of the nešt, as it 

 hung upwards of seventy feet from the ground, the shaft to it per- 

 fectly bare ; and the larger leaves (used by the natives as umbrellas 

 and tents) waving over it, presented a very singular appearance : and 

 I hope its remains may reach England in a statė of preservatioil 

 sufficient to satisfy the inspection of the curious. 



" W. WiLLiAMs, Lieut. R. Artillery." 



A letter was read from Dr. Philip Poey, Corr. Memb. Z. S. dated 

 Havanna, September 28, 1838, accompanying two specimens of 

 Cupromys Fonrnieri, which he begged to present to the Society for 

 the Menagerie. 



The readiiig of Mr. M'^Clelland's list of new additions to the 

 Fauna of India was resumed by Dr, Horsfield, and some drawing8 

 of the new species were cxhibited. 



No. LXXII. — Proceedings of thb Zoological Societt. 



