xt 
Mr. E. L. Layard said that he had obtained several species of these insects at the 
Cape, in Australia, and also in Ceylon; he had observed that the young larva when 
first hatched constructed their cases from the body of their parent: in one species the 
case of the larva when full grown was composed externally of sticks, much larger than 
the case itself, placed lengthwise, and this ornamentation was not added until the 
insect was full grown. 
Mr. M‘Lachlan observed that the fact of young larve of case-bearing species 
employing the body and case of the female parent as materials for their own cases, had 
been noticed by Réaumur; and he had himself seen it done by our British species of 
Fumea. 
Mr. Haward exhibited some Coleoptera and other insects of various orders from 
Natal. 
Mr. E. L. Layard called the attention of the Society to the fearful ravages of a 
species of white ant at St. Helena: it is a small slender species, having very long jaws, 
and he believed specifically distinct from any which be had seen in Ceylon or at the 
Cape of Good Hope; it was introduced into the island about twenty years ago, in 
timber from the West Coast of Africa, but its ravages had only become serious within 
the last ten years; at the present time James Town might be said to be devastated by 
it, the whole of the cathedral was destroyed, and indeed everything in the town made 
of wood was more or less injured; the library was also destroyed by them, and it was 
noticed that the theological works were eaten first, which he (Mr. L.) attributed less to 
the fact that the insects studied divinity, than to those books not being so often con- 
sulted by the reading public as novels and lighter works, and the insects therefore _ 
less disturbed in their work of destruction. Teak seemed to be the only wood they did 
not eat, but they would freely bore holes through it in order to get at other kinds more 
suited to their tastes: this fact had been proved, by placing a deal plank between two 
pieces of teak, when the latter were perforated and the deal devoured. They might 
even be said to make their way through tin cases, for in the Government stores it was 
found that their moist frass on the outside of such cases caused rapid oxidization of the 
metal, which enabled the insects to make their way in and devour the contents. He 
believed that unless some effectual remedy could be provided it would ere long be 
impossible to use timber on the island for any purpose ; any one who could suggest 
a remedy would confer a vast benefit on the inhabitants. The ravages of the 
insect were at present confined to James Town, but might spread all over the island 
at any moment, and even reach vessels in the roadstead in firewood, or by other means, 
and be carried to the Cape, Ascension, or elsewhere: it was a subject for serious con- 
sideration; the injuries already done to the Government buildings, &c., would 
necessitate an outlay from the public purse of many thousand pounds. 
The Secretary mentioned that in December, 1863, a communication had been 
addressed to him by the Secretary of the Admiralty, with reference to the depredations 
committed at James Town by the white ants. See ‘ Proceedings’ 1863, p. clxxxv, 
Mr. Bates, Mr. Wallace, and the late General Hearsey had subsequently addressed to 
him various practical suggestions, the whole of which were incorporated in a letter 
which on the 2nd of February, 1864, he had forwarded for the information of the Lords _ 
Commissioners of the Admiralty. | 
Mr. Layard also remarked that at the Cape of Good Hope wild bees were exceed-— 
ingly abundant, and as the natives appeared to be quite indifferent to the stings of 
