JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixvii 



scattered over the surface of the twig. Mr. Ingpen stated, with re- 

 ference to the suggestions made by himself for the destruction of 

 these insects at a previous meeting of the Society, that in the ' Gar- 

 dener's Magazine' for the present month is contained a mode of 

 treatment of the pine-apple, by a Correspondent, similar in its nature 

 to that suggested by himself, and which consisted in syringing the 

 plants vdth soap-lees from the washhouse, heated to 110°, every 

 morning for a week, the thermometer registering 120". This remedy 

 had been found to be completely effectual in a stock of one thousand 

 plants. 



The Secretary exhibited specimens of a species of Odynerus, reared 

 from larvae, forwarded to the Society by Mr. Letts, and which he 

 had minutely examined through their different states, thereby dis- 

 covering, contrary to the suggestion of Mr. Shuckard, that the larvae 

 of both sexes exhibit the same number of segments, and are similar 

 to each other. 



The following memoirs were read : 



" Note relative to the Beetles observed in unrolling a Mummy at 

 Belfast." By Robert Patterson, Esq., Pres. Belfast Nat. Hist. Soc, 

 in a letter addressed to the Secretary. 



In this communication Mr. Patterson expresses his dissent from 

 the opinion, that the insects exhibited by him at the meeting of the 

 4th of May last were coeval with the mummy, and took up their 

 abode in it during the process of embalming. In. his opinion the 

 larvae of the flesh-flies would at that time have been the most lilcely 

 visitants, and not insects which fed upon dried animal substances. 

 The appearance of the mummy-case, independent of a,ny reference to 

 the habits of the insects, corroborates this view. The lower part was 

 decayed, and in some places sufficiently so to give admission to in- 

 sects. It appeared therefore to him not to be unlikely that those 

 insects may abound in the mummy vaults ; and when that part of 

 the case which is in contact with the ground has become decayed, the 

 insects gain admission to the interior. In the present instance they 

 appeared to have gained admission near the feet, attacked, in the 

 first instance, one of the feet, and then travelled upwards, under- 

 neath the bandages, making the substance of the legs and thighs 

 furnish them with aliment, until gradually they extended their at- 

 tacks to the body, the chest, and even a portion of the neck. 



Mr. Hyndman agreed also entirely with the wTiter in this view of 

 the matter*. 



* It does not appear possible to explain, by this view of the subject, why the 

 larvcB of the Dennestes should be found dead if thus in the midst of congenial food, 

 nor why the colours of the perfect insects should be so completely faded. — Sec. E.S. 



