40 



search. The part chosen for collecting lies on the north 

 bank of the canal, and in consequence of the grounds being 

 private, having the towing-path on the opposite side, the 

 banks here are unfrequented and present a naturally wild 

 aspect, with a fair amount of undergrowth, backed by a row 

 of lime, poplar, and privet. The sweet-flag, Aconis calamus, 

 grows in abundance on the margin of the water, and num- 

 bers of dragon-flies, Ischmira dedans, flitting here and there 

 amongst the rushes, present at once a striking feature. 

 Time will not allow of my giving an exhaustive account of 

 the many interesting inhabitants of the canal proper, but in 

 past years it has been a source of the greatest interest to me, 

 chiefly on account of the great numbers of the three-spined 

 stickleback {G aster osteits actdeatus), attended by their guests, 

 the little-known Entomostracon, Argidiis foliaceus, whose life 

 history 1 have had exceptional opportunities of studying. 



" From time to time I have taken here several species of the 

 aquatic Hemiptera, Corixa, Nepa, Notonecta, etc., as well as 

 the larval forms of several of the dragon-flies and may-flies. 



"The waters abound with microscopic life, such as the 

 Desmids, Infusoria, Rotifera, fresh-water Diatoms, etc. etc., 

 and I have derived much instruction and interest from their 

 study with the microscope. 



"The Lepidoptera, as one might imagine, are of the ordi- 

 nary type. In previous years Catocala nupta was frequently 

 to be found on the adjoining grey brick walls, their similar 

 appearance to the latter being, no doubt, a good example of 

 * protective coloration.' Spilosoma menthastri and 5. lubri- 

 cipeda, Dicramira vinida, Smerinthus poptdi, Phlogophora meti- 

 cnlosa, Arctia caia, etc., are among others I have noticed. 



" During my search this afternoon I took the following 

 examples of the various orders : — Lepidoptera — Schcenobius 

 forficellus ; Coleoptera — CoccineUa biptmctata ; Diptera — two 

 species of Syrphidai ; Hymenoptera — the black ant {Lasius 

 niger) and a species of ichneumon ; Odonata — Ischmira 

 elegans ; Trichoptera — a species of caddis-fly ; and Hemi- 

 ptera — one of the genus Spwnaria.'" 



JULY 2Stk, 1 90 1. 



Mr. A. Harrison, F.L.S., F.E.S., in the Chair. 



Mr. Kemp exhibited the following species of Coleoptera 

 taken at the end of June in the New Forest : — Donacia 



