70 



covered with very fine transverse parallel and acute ridges, closely set 

 together after the manner of a file ; and it is by depressing and raising 

 the prothorax, an act which alternately exposes and recovers the upper 

 region of the extremely cylindrical mesothorax, that its under side is 

 brought to play against this inner dorsal file, and by this process the 

 stridulation is effected. " In order to convince myself," says Mr. 

 Wollaston, " of the reality of this, I have relaxed many specimens of 

 the genera in question, and have caused the sound artificially with the 

 greatest ease." Although these Madeiran commentaries and quota- 

 tions have already exceeded a reasonable length, 1 trust I shall be 

 pardoned for making still another extract, in which the effects on in- 

 sect life of a calm at sea are admirably set forth : the author is on the 

 Northern Deserta or Ileo Chao, and is speaking of the Ptinus albo- 

 pictus. " So perpetually," says he, " is that remote table rock played 

 over by the breezes of the ocean, that even a temporary respite is al- 

 most an anomaly within its desolate area ; and if such a crisis should 

 chance at times to arrive, it is curious to note how every species of 

 life, taking advantage of Nature's repose, comes forth to enjoy the 

 calm. I shall not soon forget the pleasure I derived on the 5th of 

 June, 1850, from the sudden effects of a lull, after an exposure to the 

 blasts during several successive days, on this iron-bound isle, — how 

 all things seemed to participate in the change, and literally to rejoice. 

 Even the vegetation, as though released from its suffering, began to 

 look up ; whilst insects, unthought of before, filled the atmosphere as 

 it were on the instant, as though experience had taught them that 

 such tranquillity was but of short duration, and that if it were to be 

 enjoyed at all not a moment was to be lost. It was on that particular 

 afternoon that I first appreciated the prodigious numbers of the lilli- 

 putian Ptinus under consideration, which, though apparently scarce 

 during the more boisterous period, now emerged by thousands on 

 every side. From whence they came it would have been difficult to 

 conjecture : * * they were in greater or less profusion everywhere, 

 until, as evening approached and the winds began to return, as quickly 

 as they came every one of them vanished." 



With this sketch of the entomological labours of my friends — con- 

 trasting, so unfavorably to myself, with my own inactivity — I conclude 

 this too lengthened Address : faint and imperfect as the sketch confess- 

 edly is, it still must amply suffice to show that Entomology with us 

 is not on the wane : your exertions were never greater ; they were 

 never crowned with more triumphant success : this is a subject on 

 which I may heartily and truthfully congratulate you, and as heartily 



