238 Miscellaneous. 
METAMORPHOSES OF DONACIA SAGITTARIA. 
In this notice M. Perris gives some details on the mode of life of 
the larve of the Donacie, of which little was previously known. 
They live on Sparganum ramosum, near the roots and at the base of 
the leaves, which are immersed, for the greater part, in water, feed- 
ing on the sap rather than on the tissue of the plant. 
How do these larve respire under water, as they have no branchial 
organs? M. Perris thinks that the respiration is effected by means 
of endosmosis, which occurs through the membrane covering the 
stigmata. 
When the larva is about to undergo its metamorphosis, it buries 
itself in the mud in which the plant is rooted, and forms upon the 
root an elliptical cocoon, which is not of a silky nature, but of a dry 
gummy substance, about the thickness of a sheet of paper. 
The author was not able to observe this larva whilst forming its 
cocoon, and only ventures suppositions as to the mode which it em- 
pioys to construct this case without allowing a single drop of water 
to penetrate into it.—Bibliothéque Universelle de Geneve, June 1849. 
WILD ANIMALS OF ANCIENT BRITAIN. 
To the Notes in Vol. ii. Ser. 1. p. 356 and Vol. iv. Ser. II. p. 423, 
on the Wild Animals of Britain, and the Huntings of the Citizens of 
London, may be added the following, in which it appears that the 
Wild Cat is enumerated.—R. T. 
Rotuli Hundredorum. 3° Edwardi I. Membr. 13. 
Item dicunt, Quod Libertas Civitatis Domini Regis talis est : Quod 
Cives, cum canibus suis possunt currere ad Lepores Vulpes Cuniculos 
et Murelegos [Catos *] usque ad Pontem de Stanes ; et ad januam 
Parci de Enefende, et ad Arcubus de Stratforde, et ad Crucem de 
Wautham ; sed ista libertas impeditur per Warennam Comitis Cor- 
nubiz, apud Histleworth +, et Warrenam Willielmi de Say, apud 
Edelmeton ¢ ; nesciunt quo warranto. 
“«« Wild cats,’ says Pennant, “‘ were formerly reckoned among the 
beasts of chase ; as appears by the charter of Richard the Second to 
the Abbot of Peterborough, giving him leave to hunt the hare, fox, 
and wild cat. The use of the fur was in lining of robes, but it was 
esteemed not of the most luxurious kind ; for it was ordained ‘ that 
no abbess or nun should use more costly apparel than such as is made 
of camel’s or cat’s skins.” In much earlier times it was also the ob- 
ject of the sportsman’s diversion. 
Felemque minacem 
Arboris in trunco longis preefigere telis. 
Nemesiani Cynegeticon, L. 55.” 
* Tn the copy of the roll in the Chapter-house, Westminster, Membr. 3, 
the reading is ‘“‘ Catos.”—Murilegus, Voss. Felis—Du Cange, v. Catta, 
Cattus. 
+ Isleworth. + Edmonton. 
