Ixxxii JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 



having been observed to settle on the blue float of a fishing-line ; five 

 or six resting on it at a time ; whilst great numbers of Calepteryx 

 Virgo, and Ludoviciana had been seen flying about some beech trees, 

 and frequently alighting on the smooth light- coloured stems. A 

 friend who observed the latter circumstance, conceiving that it might 

 originate in the attraction caused by the white shining colour of 

 the trunk, laid aside such parts of his dress as were not of a white 

 colour, and several specimens immecUately flew to him and alighted 

 on his breast. The two last-named insects are common at Ballymena 

 and Portarlington, being 1 60 miles apart, and yet neither of the spe- 

 cies occurs in the intermediate locality of Belfast. 



The author also states, from information given to him by B. J. 

 Clarke, Esq., of Portarlington, the following particulars respecting 

 the mode of oviposition in the Agrionidce. After alighting upon 

 aquatic plants during the coupling, the male flies off", but the female 

 descends the stem or leaf of the plant to a depth of some inches be- 

 low the surface of the water, and there remains, as is supposed, for 

 the purpose of dejDOsiting her eggs. On being disturbed, the female 

 desisted from her work, crawled up to the surface, and after remaining 

 there for a few minutes, again directed her way downwards, in order 

 to complete her task. Mr. G. C. Hyndman had observed in one of 

 the ponds of the botanic garden in Belfast, an analogous fact, with 

 respect to one of the larger PhryganecE. 



" On the Predaceous Habits of the Wasp." By George Newport, 

 Esq. (See p. 228 ) 



" Some account of the Economy of the Hymenopterous genus 

 Perga." By Mr. R. H. Lewis. (See p. 232.) 



The President stated, with reference to the destruction of the tur- 

 nips by the " blacks," that in Buckinghamshire they had been equally 

 abundant and destructive, and that a meeting of several of the prin- 

 cipal farmers had lately taken place, a report of which meeting he 

 hoped to be able shortly to lay before the Society. He added, that 

 in that county the Swedish turnips had suftered equally with the 

 other kinds. 



Mr. Shuckard, in allusion to some circumstances mentioned in the 

 letter of Mr. Lewis, stated that he had been long induced to believe 

 that the species of the genus Thynnus were the males of Myrmecodes, 

 and that he had recently received a male insect from the same 

 country, and belonging to the same family, which he considered to 

 be the male of Diamma, Westw. 



Relative to Mr. Patterson's observations, several circumstances 

 were mentioned, showing the attachment of insects to particular 

 colours ; the falling of the Dyticidce whilst on the wing upon the panes 



