282 The Zoologist— July, 1866. 



producing a tent-like structure quite iinperviuus to wet; the nidus was about half an 

 inch ill leugth and nearly the same in diameter at the base. 



Mr. Saunders also exhibited two cases formed by the larvae of some species of CEceti- 

 cus (Oiketicus)?, about two inches in length, constructed of four series of small pieces of 

 the cuhn of some kind of grass ; these four series were ot different lengths, increasing as 

 the larva; appear to have ^rown larger and required a more roomy habitation : in each 

 series the pieces of culm were very nearly equal iu size and length, and so arranged 

 as to form a cylinder. These cases had somewhat the shape of a pocket-telescope 

 drawn out to its full length : they were from New South Wales. 



Mr. E. L. Liiyard said that he had obtained several species of these insects at the 

 Cape, in Austrdlia, and also iu Ceylon ; he had observed that the young larvae when 

 first hatched constructed iheir cases from the body of their parent: in one species the 

 case of the larva when full grown was composed externally of slicks, much larger than 

 the case itself, placed lengthwise, and this ornamentation was not added until the 

 insect was full grown. 



Mr. M'Lachlan observed that the fact of young larvae of case-bearing species 

 employing the body and case of the female parent, as materials for their own cases, had 

 been noticed by Reaumur; and he had himself seen it done by our British species of 

 Fumea. 



Mr. Haward exhibited some Coleoptera and other insects of various orders from 

 Natal. 



Mr. E. L. Layard called the attention of the Society to the fearful ravages of a 

 species of while ant at St. Helena: it is a small slender species, having very long jaws, 

 and he believed specifically distinct from any which he had seen in Ceylon or at the 

 Cape of Good Ho|)e; it was introduced into the island about twenty years ago, in 

 timber from the West Coast of Africa, hul its ravages had only become serious within 

 the last ten years ; at llie pre&eiil time James Town might be said to be devastated by 

 it, the whole of the cathedral was destroyed, and indeed everything in the town made 

 of wood was more or less injured ; the library was also destroyed by them, and it was 

 noticed that the theological works were eaten first, which he (Mr. L.) attributed less to 

 the fact that the insects studied divinity, than to these books not being so often con- 

 sulted by the reading public as novels and lighter works, and the insects therefore 

 less disturbed in their work of destruction. Teak seemed to be the only wood they did 

 not eat, but they would freely bore holes through it in order to get at other kiudsmore 

 suited to their tastes : this fact had been proved, by placing a deal plank between two 

 pieces of leak, when the latter were perforated and the deal devoured. They might 

 even be said to make their way through tin cases, for in the Government stores it was 

 found that their moist frass on the outside of such cases caused rapid oxidization of the 

 metal, which enabled the insects to make their way in and devour the contents. He 

 believed that unless some effectual remedy could be provided it would ere long be 

 impossible to use timber on the island for any purpose ; any one who could suggest 

 such means would confer a vast benefit on the inhabitants. The ravages of the 

 insect were at present confined to James Town, but might spread all over the island 

 at any moment, and even reach vessels in the roadstead in firewood, or by other means, 

 and be carried to the Cape, Ascension or elsewhere : it was a subject for serious con- 

 sideration ; the injuries already done to the Government buildings, &c., would 

 necessilaie an outlay from the public purse of many thousand pounds. 



