The Zoologist— February, 1867. 577 



Mr. Janson exhibited a collection of insects, chiefly Coleopteva, made by Mr. W. 

 Hume in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. 



Mr. W. F. Evans sent for exhibition a number of insects found in wool imported 

 from New Zealand, accompanied by the following note: — 



" Some time ago I brought under the notice of the Society the circumstance 

 of the large number of Pyronota festiva found in wool imported from New Zealand. 

 Since then I have requested my friend to continue sending me every insect 

 which might be found in the fleeces from that locality, and now beg to exhibit 

 the various insects, larvae, animals, a seed and a shell, &c, &c, which have been thus 

 found. The Pyronota seems to be in the greatest profusion, and the specimens vary 

 very much in colour.'' 



Mr. Duer (who was present as a visitor) exhibited a pupa of Vanessa, having 

 some extraordinary projections from both wing-cases. 



Dr. Sharp exhibited specimens of Stenus major, Mulsant, taken at Southend : this 

 insect was new to our Fauna, and was hitherto known only as a native of the South of 

 France. 



Prof. Westwood mentioned that the late Mr. Stephen Stone, of Brighthampton, 

 had bequeathed his valuable collection of wasps' nests and other natural objects to the 

 Oxford Museum. 



Prof. Westwood read the following letter from Mr. Edward Holdsworth, dated 



Shanghai, July 20, 1866:— 



" I trust you will pardon my taking this liberty, but my excuse is this,— reading 

 your revised edition of Dru Drury's ' Exotic Entomology,' the other day, I noticed you 

 remarked that no authenticated description of Actias Luna had been sent to you: as I 

 have reared several specimens this summer I am able to give you a correct description 

 of this larva; As soon as hatched the worm is reddish brown, with two black bands 

 round its body and several black spots : after the first change it is reddish brown, with 

 fleshy points all over its side and back, each point surmounted with a black spot and 

 one thin white hair. In two or three days the larva changes to a yellowish red colour, 

 a sign that it is about to pass to its second skin : after this change it appears of a light 

 yellowish green colour, the fleshy points (mentioned before) are yellow, and each is 

 surmounted with one brownish hair. On the head are four large fleshy points, which 

 are each surrounded by a black ring, below the extreme tip, which is yellow. After 

 the next change the four major spots on the head and the one at the end of the back 

 are now very large, and have seven short hairs or bristles slicking out at the ends. 

 This is the last change, and the larva is now about two and a half or three inches in 

 length, and fully one inch in diameter. It is fairly common in the neighbourhood of 

 Shanghai, and always found feeding on privet. Those I reared I fed with willow, and 

 they thrived very well on it. It spins a very large cocoon, fully two and a half inches 

 long, but with too much gum about it to allow the silk to be made use of. The caterpillar 

 has down its back two straight lines or ridges of fleshy lumps, which terminate with a 

 single lump placed over the joint of the last leg and in the centre of the back: along 

 each side and just above the legs is a yellowish line, running the length of the body 

 and terminating at the fleshy lump placed on the side of the last leg. The vent and 

 outsides of the two last legs (right and left) are of a very deep plum-colour. In this 

 SECOND SERIES — VOL. II. H 



