7576 Entomoloyicnl Society. 



He remarked that they were perfectly apodal, tapering towards the tail. The mine, at 

 first a slender gallery, eventually became a large blotch, in which the excrement 

 assumed the peculiar appearance of a coil of black thread. These larvae had often 

 before been observed by Mr. Stainton and other Micro-Lepidopterists, but had always 

 been neglected by them under the idea that they were Coleopterous. 



In reply to a 'question from Mr. Westwood, Mr. Stainton stated that the Lepi- 

 dopterous larvae to which these were most nearly related were those of the genus 

 Antispila. 



Improved Breeding-cage. 



Dr. Knaggs brought for exhibition one of the cages which he used for rearing the 

 larvae of Lepidopleva. It consisted of a glass cylinder, covered at its upper aperture 

 with muslin fastened by twine or thread, in preference to elastic India-rubber rings, 

 which are apt to break from dampness or long-continued contact with another sur- 

 face ; of an unglazed earthenware plate, with a perforation in the centre of sufficient 

 size to admit of the food-plant being dragged through, so as entirely to block it up ; 

 twigs, &c., requiring to have a strip of linen twisted round them before they are 

 passed through the opening ; and of a jam-pot or other receptacle for water. 



In his opinion there were many advantages over any breeding-cage he had hitherto 

 seen or heard of, of which the absence of putrid water, which must always occur where 

 damp sand is used, was the most important; dead larvae, frass, rScc, could be at once 

 removed ; there was a good fooling on the unglazed plate, on which larvae could not 

 only crawl with ease, but could not become entangled, as to their legs, with webs, 

 grains of sand (damp or dry), or cotton wool ; by simply lifting cage, larvae, food and 

 all, from the water, the ends of the plants might be clipped off with a pair of scissors, 

 and the cage placed into another jam-pot of pure water; and he suggested that if this 

 were done about every other day the food would keep perfectly fresh for at least a fort- 

 night; in fact, although the plant obtains the amount of moisture it requires, the cage 

 remains dry. Amongst other advantages may be mentioned facility for the observa- 

 tion of larval habits ; great economy of lime 'and labour; great economy in price, 

 thereby allowing a far larger number of cages for the same expenditure, so that spe- 

 cies, and even individuals when necessary, maybe kept separate; cleanliness, free 

 access of air and light, &c. 



On the score of economy he strongly recommended them ; the cylinders, being the 

 «ut-off bottoms of glass shades, were of course next to unsaleable articles, so that, at 

 any rate at present, they might be obtained for a sum varying from a penny to a shil- 

 ling, according to size. 



With regard to the unglazed plates (the ordinary slate in which stock is kept), 

 they might be got from the manufacturers ; he would advise, however, that those of 

 the best make should be procured, as being flatter; ingenuity would soon make holes 

 in them, which might be done either by a drill or by a stock and countersink. The 

 prices he paid for the best unglazed plates vary from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per dozen, 

 according to size. 



The following papers were read by the Secretary : — 



" Notes on the Distribution of Insects in the Channel Islands," by F. Walker, Esq. 

 "On the Euphorbia-infesting Coleoptera of the Canary Islands," by T. V. Wol- 

 laston, Esq. — E, S. 



