ON THE HOENS OF THE PRONGBUCK. 295 



no reason why the visitors to Regent's Park should not be able to study 

 for themselves the habits of the ant and the economy of the hive-bee. 

 Perhaps Sir John Lubbock could help here ? 



As yet, of course, only a beginning has been made, but enough has even 

 now, we think, been done to prove the success of the experiment, which is 

 of course capable of development to almost any extent. As the season 

 advances, the number of insects exhibited will no doubt become much 

 increased, whilst constant changes, both as regards the condition of the EntM.M.xviii. 

 specimens and the various forms exhibited, will always give the charm of 16 ( 18 ^ 

 novelty to a visit to this house. It is to be hoped, indeed, that at no 

 distant period the Londoner may be able to contemplate at leisure the 

 charms of a live MorpTio or Urania, without going further from his home 

 than the Eegent's Park. 



The Insectarium is under the charge of Mr. W. Watkins, already well 

 known to many readers of this magazine, and under him will no doubt 

 daily increase in efficiency and attraction, and so perform its main 

 mission of instructing and amusing the public. When more experience 

 in the working of the Insectarium has been gained, it may also be 

 possible to utilize some of the opportunities now afforded for experiments 

 in such matters as the effect of increased temperature or moisture in 

 producing variation in insects. It would also be interesting to experi- 

 ment further on the reproduction of Aphides, with the object of dis- 

 covering how many generations in succession of agarno-genetic individuals 

 (if the term may be thus used) could be produced under circumstances 

 favourable for their propagation presented in the Insectarium. 



50. REMARKS UPON THE HORNS OF THE P. z. 8.1882, 



PRONGBUCK.* 



ME. W. A. FORBES exhibited and made remarks on the horns shed by 

 the male Prongbuck (Antilocapra americana) living in the Society's 

 Gardens since December 1879, which had been dropped, one on 

 November 15 and the other on November 24, of 1881. This, it was 

 believed, was the first instance on record of one and the same individual 

 of this species having shed its horns in consecutive years, though that 

 this event took place periodically had been rendered nearly certain from 

 previous observations t. 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 1. 

 t SeeP.Z.S. 1880, p. 540. 



