2532 The Zoologist— March, 1871. 



Prof. Westwood furtber exhibited a minute species of Corixa, destructive 

 to tbe ova of fisbes iu India, received from Mr. H. S. Tbomas, respecting 

 wbicb tbat gentleman made tbe following remarks : — 



" Its habitat is fresh water in tbe rivers of Canara, though, I dare say, it 

 may also be found iu other rivers of the Madras Presidency. I observed it 

 myself in a still hollow in a rock, where tbe water was quite clear, and only 

 two or three inches in depth. The insects kept tossing the ova up from the 

 bottom, and following them closely up to tbe surface, whence they gradually 

 subsided to the bottom by their own weight, the insects apparently adhering 

 to the eggs all the time ; but the moment they were at the bottom they 

 were vigorously tossed up again. I daresay it attacks other spawn also ; but 

 the ova I saw it engaged with were those of tbe ' Masheer barbas mosal,' 

 commonly called ' Masheer,' tbe most valuable fish iu tbe Indian rivers." 



Mr. Thomas sent also an extract from the report of Pisciculture in 

 South Canara, detailing experiments made by an intelligent observer to 

 test the destructive habits of tbe insect. In one instance a hollow was 

 watched, in which were many freshly deposited ova, but no Corixae. The 

 next morning the latter were there in large numbei-s, and nothing left but 

 the empty egg-shells. In another experiment the ova were placed in a 

 finely woven basket, and the Cori.\a3 immediately came in quantities and 

 endeavoured to penetrate from the outside. This insect, which is deposited 

 in the British Museum iu accordance with Mr. Thomas's request. Prof. 

 Westwood characterized as under : — 



" Corixa ovivora, sp. n. Minuta, supra griseo-fusca, infra (cum pedibus) 

 pallide lutea; capite lutesceute; hemelytris griseo-fuscis, apicibus pauUo 

 pailidioribus, margine antico lineis uonnuUis punctoque apicem versus 

 nigris, notato ; femoribus intermediis longis, tibiisque gracillimis ; mctasterno 

 profunde bisiuuato, angulis posticis lateralibus elongatis. Long. corp. 

 hn. IJ ; exp. hemelytr. liu. 2J. Habitat in fluviis India orientalis copiose, 

 ova piscium devorans" [Doin. H. S. Thomas). 



Paper read. 



" Description of a new genus, and of six new species of Pierinae," by 

 Mr. A. G. Butler. 



The new species were described as Ixias venatus, from the White 

 NUe ; Kricogonia fantasia, from Nicaragua ; Callidryas foruax, from Chili ; 

 C. Jai'esia, from Para; Eucbloe limonea, from Mexico; and Larino- 

 poda (n.g.) lycreuoides, from West Africa, — this latter form seemed, in 

 some respects, intermediate between the Erouia group of Pieriufe and 

 the genus Deloneura among the Lycsenidae, accoi'ding to Mr. Butler. — 

 R. M'L. 



