Sucklers. 9759 



Mr. Wormald had seen something very similar at St. Albans on the 26th of August, 

 when a swurm of small black ants presented the appearance of smuke issuing from the 

 Abbey. 



Prof. Westwood directed attention to the remarkable form of Pteratorans, a 

 Hymenopterous insect, as figured by M.Packard in his paper "On the Humble Bees 

 of New England and their Parasites;" the anterior wings were divided or cleft like 

 those of a plume-moth (Pleruphorus). 



New Pari of Transactions.' 



A new Part of the ' Transaciions' (Tr. Ent. Soc., 3rd Series, vol. iii. Part 2), 

 containing Mr. Pascoe's " Longicoruia Malayana" (continuation), and being the third 

 Part published during the present year, was on the table. — /. W. D, 



Popular Names in Natural History. — May I be allowed to draw Mr. Alston's 

 attention to the fact that the German word for " willow " is " weide," and that in some 

 parts of Switzerland the same is pronounced " wiide," both of which are evidently 

 much more closely allied to " wheetie" and " whey" (as used in Lanarkshire fur the 

 willow wren), than the expressions mentioned (Zool. 9709). Perhaps the readers of 

 the 'Zoologist' will pardon me if I lake this opportunity to draw their attention to a 

 subject which is often abused ; I mean popular names. But, before I proceed, I wish 

 it to be clearly understood that I do not for one moment inleud to speak in favour of 

 the so-called " popular names," as given by some, for instance, to the difl'erent species 

 of bultei flies. To plead for such as " gale-keeper," " Queen of Spain," &c., would be 

 simply absurd; but I allude to those quaint and often striking expressions for certain 

 insects which are to be found here and there in the idioms of sundry nations ; they are 

 often full of thought and precise meaning, and I have no doubt that if this mine is 

 properly worked in this country it will amply repay the little trouble it gives, especially 

 if extended to the comparison of the same word in distinct but kindred languages. 

 An interesting instance of this kind was given by Mr. E. C. Rye iu No. 15 of the 

 'Entomologist's Monthly Magazine' (p. 52), and I cannot but think that a little 

 attention to the subject will soon produce numbers of similar facts. If some of our 

 working entomologists and general observers who cross the land in its length and 

 breadth will kindly bear in mind what is said above, and note down such names as 

 they happen to hear, including other bits of entomological folk-lore, as proverbs, 

 sayings, stanzas, &c., about any insect, it might be useful to see them recorded iu the 

 pages of the 'Zoologist;' or, if not considered valuable enough, I shall be glad to 

 receive any direct communications, for it cannot be contradicted that the tendency of 

 our time is to level ail those provincial peculiarities of the language; and to save what 

 may still be saved is the purpose of this note. — Albert MuUer ; 2, Camden Villas, 

 Jannine Grove, Penge, S.£., August 31, 1865. 



A Male Chimpanzee at the Zoological Gardens. — The Zoological Society has just 

 received a male chimpanzee. The introduction of the stranger lo the female in the 

 gardens was an amusing fact. The two creatures rushed into each other's arms, like 

 stage-lovers. They kissed each other; then the male chimpanzee patted the female's 



