7370 Insects. 



of the edifice he means to erect, ami, without rule, square, plumb-line or compass, can 

 cut out all his materials in their exact dimensions, without making a single mistake 

 or a single false stroke ? And yet this is what these little animals do invariably, and 

 thus teach us how much more wonderful and certain instinct is than all the efforts of 

 our boasted reason, which cannot attain certainty, and which these creatures manifest 

 spontaneously, working at all times with unerring precision. What is this teaching but 

 the manifestation of the eternal wisdom of the Creator infinitely diversified?'' I 

 recommend Mr. Hawkes to extract a small piece of empty comb, of which there is 

 abundance this most untoward season, from one of his swarms of 1860, and where no 

 pressure can have existed, and he will not fail to be convinced that the nesv theory of 

 a different shape than hexagonal to the hive-bee cell will be found completely in error. 

 — H. W. Newman ; Hillside, Cheltenham, December 4, 1860. 



Notes on the Family Phryganidce. By Edward Parfitt, Esq. 



The following are extracts from my notes on the appearance and 

 continuation of some of those species of Phryganidge observed and 

 taken by me in the neighbourhood of Taunton, Somerset, in 1860. 

 They follow in order of date as taken. 



Brachycentrus subuubiJns. First observed April 26, and disap- 

 peared about the 10th of May. Common along the river. 



Cyrnus pulchellus. May 6 to June 24. 



Agapetus funereus. Male and female, May 9. 



Notidobia ciliaris. May 12, very common. In addition to the 

 characters given by Stephens and Dr. Hagen, add "a white line 

 along each side of the abdomen." Continues to end of June. 



Sisyra fusca. May 19. 



Sericostonia Spencii. May 23 to the end of June, common. Add 

 to Dr. Hagen's description, " Tibia slightly spiuose inside." This 

 species has also a white spot at the inner angle of the wings, in some 

 specimens more conspicuous [in life. The males and females are 

 equally common, which is not the case with many species. 



Silo pallipes. May 24, not common. 



Phryganea grandis. Rare. May 24 to June 20. 



Tinodes luridus ? May 24. 



T, pallescens. May 24 to August 28 passim. 



Limnophilus pellucidus. May 24, not common. 



Leptocerus annulatus ? This has been compared by Mr. M'Lachlan 

 with the specimens in the British Museum ; and he, with myself, is 

 doubtful if this be the true L. annulatus, but is inclined to think it a 

 new species very nearly allied, as it differs somewhat from the types. 

 Taken May 30. 



