56 



viously rocordnd ; our British species of the closely-allied genus Tacliytes, are burrowers 

 in the ground, particularly in sandy situations ; their anterior tarsi are strongly ciliated, 

 the claws bifid and admirably adapted for burrowing. On examining the insect which 

 constructed the nest now exhibited, I find the legs differently armed; the anterior pair 

 are not ciliated, and the claws are simple and slender, clearly indicative of a peculiar 

 habit, differing from its congeners, and how admirably is this illustrated in the nest 

 before us. 



" Another nest, also sent by Mr. Bates from Ega, is equally interesting ; it is that 

 of a species of Sphex, I believe the Sphex Lanierii of Guerin : this is constructed of 

 a cottony substance, which fills a tunnel formed by a large curled leaf. Here we have 

 another instance of economy at variance with our preconceived notions of the habits of 

 the genus ; we have hitherto regarded the species as being pre-eminently fossorial,and 

 upon examing a large number of individuals I find they have the anterior tarsi very 

 strongly ciliated, and all the tibia? strongly spinose. On exan)ining the Sphex which 

 constructed the nest in the rolled leaf, the anterior tarsi are found to be very slightly 

 ciliated, and the tibiae almost destitute of spines, thus affording another instance 

 proving that difference of structure is indicative of difierence of habit." 



Mr. Tompkins exhibited three species of Psychidse hitherto unrecorded as British, 

 viz. : — P. roboricolella, Bniand, bred June 26, 1858 ; P. salieolella, Bruand, bred 

 June 23, 1858; P. tabulella, jBruanrf, taken July 24, 1854 flying about beeches at 

 Mickleham ; the names were determined from Bruand's Monograph of the family. 



Mr. Stainton exhibited specimens of the coloured plates which were intended to 

 illustrate ]\Ir. Logan's projected work on the Lepidoptera of Scotland, on which the 

 transformations of the following species were beautifully delineated, viz. : — Poly- 

 ommatus Artaxerxes, Agrotis luceruea, Lanipronia rubiella, L. quadripunctella and 

 Lozotfenia costana. 



Mr. Westwood exhibited the larva of Anobium striatum commonly known as the 

 " bookworm,'' and a living larva of Phlogophora meticulosa, found feeding on 

 southern-wood, which he considered a very extraordinary food-plant for the insect. 



Entomology of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Mr. Adam White read the following extracts from a letter addressed to him by 

 R. Trimen, Esq., dated Knysua, Cape of Good Hope, November 15, 1858 : — 



" My experience in this part of the world since last July tends to show that the 

 entomologist in South Africa must not expect an abundance of active insect life; as 

 yet I have not in any place seen as many insects congregated and visible at one time 

 as in the woods of England in June or July. As far as the Lepidoptera are concerned, 

 I have found it hitherto almost impossible to discover the metropolis of any species ; 

 with the exception of some common Pieridae and HipparchiEe, which are to be found 

 everywhere, the butterflies appear to be scarce. In this district the entomologist 

 requires a great deal of patience, for the nature of the woods — with their rotting stumps, 

 fallen logs, stones and immense variety of thorns — renders chasing insects an impossi- 

 bility, and the only way is to stand quietly in some sunny nook, and catch them as 

 they successively visit the spot. The following will show you the respective pro- 



