238 Miscellaneous. 



METAMORPHOSES OF DONACIA SAGITTARIA. 



In this notice M. Perris gives some details on the mode of life of 

 the larvae of the Donaci(S, 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 larvae 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 io 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- 

 ploys to construct this case without allowing a single drop of water 

 to penetrate into it. — Bibliotheque Universelle de Geneve, June 1849. 



WILD ANIMALS OF ANCIENT BRITAIN. 



To the Notes in Vol. iii. 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 

 Gives, cum canibus suis possunt currere ad Lepores Vulpes Cuniculos 

 et Murelegos [Catos *] usque ad Pontem de Stanes ; et ad januam 

 Parci de Encfende, et ad Arcubus de Stratforde, et ad Crucem de 

 Wautham ; sed ista libertas impeditur per Warennam Comitis Cor- 

 nubiae, apud Histleworth f , 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 minacera 

 Arboris in trunco longis pra^figere tells. 



Nemesiani Cynegeticon, L. 65." 



* In the copy of the roll in the Chapter-house, Westminster, Membr. 3, 

 the reading is " Catos." — Murilcgus, Voss. Felis. — Du Cange, v. Catta, 

 Cattus. 



t Isle worth. f Edmonton. 



