25 



bog, after oals. There is also another rick close by, whicli is afTecled ihe same way. 

 When first they appeared they were removed at once, but in one or two days after the 

 rick was as bad as ever. I shall feel mnch obliged if you will let me know what they 

 are, what should be done to the hay lo get rid of them, and also whether it is bad for 

 horses to be fed on such hay. 



" I am. Sir, yours truly, 



" A. E. NicHOL." 



Mr. Westwood exhil)ited a drawing of this Acarus, observing it was very similar 

 lo the common cheese-mite. 



Habitat of a Chelifer. 



Mr, Westwood exhibited specimens of a Chelifer, which had been found in great 

 numbers on the plants and fruit in melon-frames. Messrs. Walker and Curtis had 

 likewise observed them frequently in such places, and both thought they fed upon 

 minute insects. 



Materials of Waxps' Nests. 



The Secretary read the following letter from Mr. W. H. Watkeys, relative to 

 wasps' nests, and specimens of the material alluded to were exhibited. 



" Stroud, July 27. 

 " Sir, 



" Seeing, in the report given in the ' Gardener's Chronicle ' of your meeting, 

 that a discussion arose as to whether wasps use the scrapings of solid wood in the con- 

 struction of their nests, allow me to give an account of a little personal observation on 

 the subject. I have several times observed wasps on and near beds of the dried stalks 

 of stinging-nettles and similar substances, but till last Saturday I had not proof that 

 they were used in the construction of their nests : I was passing near a hedge in which 

 were numbers of these stalks, and about ten or a dozen wasps were hard at work 

 biting ofl' nearly all the outside of the dried nettles, and, the nest being near, I 

 watched their coming to and fro, which I think was evident proof of the fact main- 

 tained by your Society. 



" I am. Sir, yours &c., 



" W. H. W^VTKEYS." 



Mr. F. Smith observed that wasps sometimes do use solid wood in the construction 

 of their nests, for he once had a nest of Vespa Norvegica for some months in his room, 

 the wasps going constantly to and fro, during which period he noticed them frequently 

 scraping and gnawing the outsides of his store-boxes, which are of deal, for building 

 material. His room being a very dry one, he is confident it was the wood they used 

 and not fungus, which could not have been foimd in such a place under such circum- 

 stances. 



Beetles iii Seeds of the Brazilian Wax Palm. 

 The following letter, from Geo. F. Wilson, Esq., was read : — 



" Price's Patent Candle Company, Belmont, Vauxhall, London, 



"August 22, 1854. 

 " Sir, 



" A short time back a friend brought us, from Ceara, some seeds of the Coper- 



nicia Cerifera, — the wax palm of the Brazils, which yields the Carnahuba wax. 



E 



