The Zoologist— May, 1866. 231 



and irregular lines that it is hard to describe. The head is pale ochrcous ; down the 

 centre of the back is a double fine dusky line, which, with the first subdorsal line (com- 

 posed of a double fine tluead also), forms a series of irregular figures by alternately 

 contracting and expanding; on the anterior and posterior segments the dorsal line 

 becomes closer and darker. Below the first subdorsal line is a stripe of yellowish or 

 reddish buff; then comes another waved fine double thread; then the yellowish 

 spiracles, scarcely distinguishable in a drab stripe, which is bordered below with a 

 dusky line, followed by a reddish buff line ; the belly drab with central and sub-ventral 

 whitish lines. The usual spots are represented by fine black dots, and the central 

 segments in one specimen were suffused with a smoky hue. About the 20th of May 

 these larvae began to spin, and soon formed for themselves beautiful spindle-shaped 

 cocoons of yellow silk, attached to upright blades of grass. And here, unfortunately, 

 I can say no more : after waiting some time for the perfect insects I examined the 

 cocoons closely, and found that by some mischance the pupae had been killed. But 

 although I failed, I think ihe species might be easily reared if kept in the open air, and 

 fed on growing plants of dock, chickweed, knotgrass and the coarse grass which, in its 

 localities, is doubtless the favourite food of this species.— iJer. John Hellins, in the 

 ' Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 'for January, 1866. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



ENTOMOLOGICAi SOCIETY. 



April 2, 1866.— Sir John Lubbock, Bart., President, in the chair. 



Donations to the Library. 

 The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the donors: — 

 ' Exotic Butterflies,' by W. C. Hewitson, part 58 ; presented by W. W. Saunders, Esq. 

 ♦ Monographie des Platypides,' par F. Chapuis ; by the Author. ' Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society,' Vol. xv. No. 81 ; by the Society. 'The Zoologist' for April; by the 

 Editor. ' The Eutomologist's Monthly Magazine ' for April; by the Editors. 



Election of Member, 



John Watson, Esq., of Rose Hill, Bowdon, Cheshire, was ballotted for and elected 

 a Member. 



Exhibitions. 



Mr. William Rogers sent for exhibition specimens of the ichneumon Pimpla 

 oculatoria, which he had bred from the egg-bag of a spider found under the loose bark 

 of an oak-fence. 



Mr. F. Smith and Mr. Desvignes both said that they had bred the species, but 

 always from bramble-sticks. 



Mr. W. W. Saunders exhibited three interesting objects from New South Wales. 

 First, a number of (empty) eggs, probably of a Chrysopa, disposed in a line or chain 

 on, or rather over, the bark of a tree ; they were elongate in shape, about twice as long 

 as broad, formed a continuous and connected chain, and each was supported by a 



