307 



-with, live flies ; dead ones it would not toucli (thougli on one 

 occasion it ate one, still soft, that was jerked past it when 

 hungry), nor would it touch moths or woodlicc. On some days 

 it would devour eight to ten flies, inclusive of blowflies, on others 

 less, usually commencing at the head or side, and biting off the 

 wings and legs of its prey in succession as the}^ came in its way. 

 "When satisfied, it would catch the flies as vigorously as ever, 

 l)ut only eat off the head, and then drop them. During the 

 night, from the 30th of April to the 1st of May, it laid the first 

 batch of eggs enclosed in a semi- cylindrical case pointed at 

 hoth ends, and apparently containing 18 partitions directed 

 obliquely towards the base. It was fixed diagonally on the side 

 ■of the box. For several days before, the mantis exhibited some 

 striking peculiarities in its conduct, inasmuch as ifc took no 

 food, though striking lazily and aimlessly at approaching flies 

 as if it were blind. The day after the deposition of the ova it 

 again fed as voraciously as ever, having totally recovered its 

 activity, and continued to be very active for several weeks. It 

 is to be remarked that it got perfectly tame after it had been 

 a short time in captivity, and would exhibit no signs of alarm if 

 it were approached by the finger, or the box opened or moved 

 about, or even when brought suddenly near the light out of total 

 darkness. Xight or day seemed to make no difference in its 

 appetite while well, and it caught as readily the flies put in at 

 midnight as during any other part of the day. After some four 

 weeks subsequent to the deposition of the first ova the same 

 symptoms as to sluggishness, apparent blindness, and want of 

 appetite were repeated (taking no food for five or six days), and 

 on the morning of -May the 28th the second case was found 

 deposited on the opposite side of the box (but this time hori- 

 zontally) containing the same number of partitions. Plies 

 being put into the box, it was so eager to catch them that it 

 •changed its position several times, as if very impatient to break 

 its fast, which it very seldom did otherwise, usually waiting im- 

 moveably till its prey came near enough for striking. 



OEDI^fAET MEETIXa, AUGTJST 2, 1887. 



Prof. EE]!fNiE in the chair. 



Exhibits. — J. G. O. Teppee, P.L.S., cases of insects. 'W. 

 HowcHiN, P.Gr.S., new species of Foraminifera from the Car- 

 boniferous strata of the North of England. 



Papees. — Peazee S. Ceawfoed, on the ^'Iceri/a Purcliasi, 

 with some Notes upon its Parasite." W. Howchi>s", P.Gr.S., 

 *' Eemarks on some New Species of Poraminifera." 



