NATUKAL HISTORY — ZOOLOGY. 231 



simulate the mid-rib of a leaf. The four wings so disposed pre- 

 sented the most exquisite resemblance to an autumnal leaf ; and 

 even the veining is represented with wonderful fidelity, especially if 

 the animal is held two or three feet from the eye of the spectator. 

 A remorseless rat one night earned off the insect, along with the pin 

 on which it was impaled ; but I had a few days before got a photo- 

 graph of i t made, which I now send you. It is, however, very far 

 from giving a just idea of the original. The upper side of the 

 wings were most brilliantly coloured, but I do not remember exactly 

 what colours." Of course, these brilliant colours will only be seen when 

 the insect is in motion ; when at rest, and more exposed to danger, 

 the folding back of the wings conceals them, and shows only this ex- 

 traordinary resemblance to a leaf. The resemblance is every whit 

 as great as that exhibited by the leaf insect proper (Phyllium), only 

 being that of a dead leaf instead of a green one. The insect appears 

 to be undescribed, and, from its powers of concealment, is no doubt 

 rarely captured. Most butterflies have lines on the anterior and 

 posterior wings, often both above and below, which become con- 

 tinuous -when placed in juxtaposition ; and there are several exotic 

 species which have a line similar to the mid-rib of a leaf figured upon 

 the under sides of the wings ; but none hitherto described at all 

 approach the preseut in its close resemblance to a leaf, both in shape, 

 veining, and shading. It is impossible, from merely a photograph 

 of its underside, to determine its genus ; but from its falcate anterior 

 and single- tailed posterior wings, it probably belongs to the same 

 group of the Nymphalidce as Amathusia and Zeuxidia. 



ANTS IN NEW MEXICO. 



Me. Saunders has called the attention of the Entomological 

 Society to a statement in Froebel's Travels hi Central America, that 

 certain species of Ants in New Mexico construct their nests ex- 

 clusively of small stones, of one material, chosen by the insects 

 from the various components of the sand of the steppes and deserts ; 

 in one part of the Colorado Desert their heaps were formed of small 

 fragments of crystallized feldspar, and in another, imperfect c^stals 

 of red transparent garnets were the materials of which the ant-hills 

 were built, and any quantity of them might there be obtained. 



SHOOTING BUTTERFLIES. 



Mr. Saunders has exhibited to the Entomological Society two 

 injured specimens of Papilio Antenor, sent from Madagascar by Mr. 

 Layard, and read a note on their capture by that gentleman, who 

 stated that the insects were obtained by shooting with a gun, it 

 being impossible, from their high and rapid flight, to get them by 

 any other means. 



gall-flies. 

 Mr. F. Smith has read to the Entomological Society a paper 

 " On Cynips lignicola, and C. radicis," in which he detailed his expe- 

 riments in rearing some thousands of examples of these Gall-Flies, 



