9556 Entomological Society. 



Spiramia retorta (NocttiidaB, Fam. Hypopyridae), and the other upon the imago of a 

 species of an undetermined Geometridous genus. Both these moths had the fungus 

 springing, in more or less lengthened hair-like filaments, from the body, legs, palpi, 

 antennae, and along the neriiires (but not from the mernbianous portion) of the wings 

 on the upper side. Mr. Moore was informed by Mr. M. C. Cooke that these peculiar 

 Fungi belong to the doubtful genus Isaria, the majority of the species of which are 

 parasitic on insects or cxuvise: this genus is not regarded as autonomous, but as a 

 condition of the ascigerous genus Cordiceps (Entomogenous Sphaeiia;). 



Mr. Janson exhibited a large collection of insects, principally Lepidoplera and 

 Coleoplera, formed by Mr. A. E. Russell in Beng^ and the Himalayas. 



The President read the following extract from ' The Times' of the 28lh of March, 

 1865:— 



"French Honey. — A great portion of the immense quantity of honey consumed in 

 France is supplied from the island of Corsica and froiu Brittany. Corsica produced 

 so much wax in ancient times that the Romans imposed on it an annual tribute of 

 100,000 tbs. wei};ht. Subsequently the inhabitants revolted, and they were punished 

 by the tribute being raised to 200,000 tbs. weight annually, which tbey were able to 

 supply. Wax is to honey in Corsica as one to 15, so that the iiihiibitniits must have 

 gathered 3,000,000 kilogrammes* of honey. When Corsica became a dependency of 

 the Papal Court it paid its taxes in wax, and the quantity was suflScient to supply the 

 consumption not only of the churches in the city of Rome, but those in the Papal 

 States. Brittany likewise supplies a great (juantity of honey, but of inferior quality to 

 that of Corsica. The annual value of the honey and wax produced in that province 

 is estimated at 5,000,000f." 



The President read the following note: — 



" Last July, when passing over the snow-fields on the top of Monte Moro, at an 

 elevation of about 8000 feet, I noticed here and there a sharply-defined cylindrical 

 hole in the snow, such as might have been c.iused by pressing a wine-cork into it. 

 These holes were generally about an inch in depth, and at the bottom of each was 

 either a small lump that looked like peat, or more frequently an insect, invariably- 

 either Dipieioiis or Ichneomcmidcous. I cannot accouiil for the lumps of peal; but 

 I imagine that the insects settling on the snow, became torpid from its low tempera- 

 ture, and sank gradually (or perhaps rapidly) into it, the hole being caused by the 

 melting of the snow by the radiation of heat from the insect. The solar rays on 

 mountain summits aie asserted to be warmer than those falling on the plains, but 

 there is no doubt that the radiation from solid bodies at great elevations is very 

 marked. 1 took Cryptus larsoleucus apparently not long alighted, and still feebly 

 moving a wing or a leg. Perhaps it is only in the finest weather that insects would 

 take so lofty a fli^iht ; however, a little lower down, Bonibus moutanus was not 

 uncommon, enjoying itself amongst the flowers of a J^inaria, but surrounded on all 

 sides by patches of snow. Nearly up to the same point I frequently passed a little 

 black moth, Psodos trepidaria, taking its short trembling flight. Higher than either 

 of these, and among some short grass in the middle of the snow, I found a Byrrhus. 

 These were the last evidences of animal life observed. But as flowering plants extend 



* Qu, kilogrammes or pounds ? 



