10 



tlie c-olour grass-giecn ; on the first seg^ment a square brick-red spot, four more on 

 the iaterinediate segments, and one also on the last. It formed a cocoon on the same 

 day on which I found it. In reference to the early appearance of these insects, 

 I should mention that they were kept in a green-house." 



Mr. Baly exhibited a quantity of Hyraenoptera, captured by Signor Botteri, in 

 Dalmatia, comprising several species of Megachile, Nomada, Eucera, Anthophora, 

 Anthidium, Ceratina, Sec 



Mr. Stevens exhibited some insects recently captured by Mr. Bates, at Santarem, 

 including twelve uew Longicoru beetles ; and among the Lepidoptera several 

 Erycinida;, remarkable for the difierence of colouring in the sexes, which had hitherto 

 not only been taken to be distinct species, but had even been placed in diflferent 

 genera. Mr. Bates had informed him that he had discovered a character in the neu- 

 ration of the wings of this family, which he intended to communicate to the Society 

 at a future period. Mr. Stevens also exhibited two new insects, sent overland by Mr. 

 Fortune, from China, — a Carabus, and the female of Dicranocephala Wallichii, being 

 the second known specimen in Europe. He also exhibited some insects just received 

 from Mr. Thwaites, in Ceylon, an Adolias and one of the Arctiidae, with their very sin- 

 gular larv«, the latter with foliaceous appendages. 



Ants destructive to Cocci. 



Mr. Spence couimunicated the following extract of a letter from G. R. H. 

 Thwaites, Esq., F.L.S., Corr. M.E.S., dated Peradenia, Ceylon, February 9, 1854. 



" A gentleman in this island has at length discovered a remedy for the bug which 

 attacks the coffee-plant, but it seems rather uncertain at present whether the remedy 

 be not really worse than the disease. Armies of red ants have been called in, and it 

 appears that they make sad havoc amongst the young Cocci, but it is very eertain that 

 if the ants remain in any numbers upon the coffee-bushes, the Coolies would be unable^ 

 to gather in the berries, for these said red ants bite most fiercely, and the natives have 

 a great dread of getting amongst them. The ants seem to devour the young Cocci, 

 but on opening their nests, I have found many of the larger full-grown Cocci, which I 

 fancy they use as covvs, like other ants, the smaller species of which are always 

 attached to where the Coccus abounds, and feed on the exudation from them. If the 

 ants can be induced to quit when the Coccus is destroyed, they will be a use- 

 ful acquisition to the coffee-planter, but if they persist in remaining in the bushes, 

 I do not know how pruning and gathering can be accomplished on the estate, 

 but this will be ascertained by-and-bye. I question whether the ant would live on 

 the higher estates, as it is only found at a moderate elevation. It is very abundant 

 here, ami makes its large nests in cinnamon and other trees, spinning together the 

 leaves at the end of a bough, and woe be to him who breaks into their dwelling. A 

 Cooly who has happened to do so in climbing a tree, comes down a great deal faster 

 than he went up. Botany occupies so much of my time, that I am quite unable 

 to devote particular attention to Entomology or any other branch of Zoology, and I 

 often wish each day was double its length. This is such a fine Held for a critical ex- 

 amination of tropical plants, and the field is so extensive, that I see no prospect of 

 finding my work slacken in that direction. Mr. Edgar Layard, who is now in 

 England, is our most enthusiastic zoologist, and I shall be glad when he returns to the 

 island." 



