﻿1870.] 201 



Htposmtlus PUNCTiPEiSTsris, Walker. 



Osmylus punctipennis, Walk., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., n. s., vol. v, p. 183. 

 H. brunneus. Caput testaceum, super antennas flavum. Antennas 

 brunnece. Pedes flavo-brunnei, flavo-ciliati ; tarsis obscurioribus. Alee 

 testaceo-hyalince, venuste micantes : anticce punctis nonnullis ante apicem 

 fuscis ; sub-costd et radio flavis, reliquis venarum venularwnaue flavis, 

 fusco-variis ; spatio pterostigmaticali flavido, obsolete fusco-notato. 

 Long. corp. 6'" ; ecop. alar. 24 — 28'". Sab. : India septentionali. 



In Mus. Brit, et auctoris. 



Pale brown. Head testaceous ; crown much inflated, but with an abrupt 

 declivity above the antennae which is occupied by a yellow transverse space, in 

 which are situated the ocelli, which are very small, and placed closely together in 

 a triangle ; the posterior portion of the head, partly below the eyes, shows two 

 large oval tubercles, one on each side. AntennEe and palpi pale brownish. 



Eyes somewhat plumbaceous. Thorax above with sparse, but long, testaceous 

 hairs. Abdomen fuscous (colours probably altered) , clothed with testaceous hairs ; 

 the last segment entirely testaceous and provided with two large oblique approxi- 

 mating valves ((??)• Legs yellowish, with yellow hairs; the tarsi somewhat 

 darker ; the claws shining brown. 



Wings long and broad, acute at the apex ; hyaline with a testaceous tinge, and 

 with beautiful blue, purple, and golden reflections ; the pterostigmatical region 

 yellowish with indications of fuscous dots ; sub-costa and radius yellow ; most of 

 the other veins whitish, but many of the transverse veinlets fuscous ; the margins 

 and veins longly ciliated with yellowish hairs : in the anterior wings are several 

 fuscous dots on the outer series of gradate veinlets, and a smoky corneous dot in 

 one of the discal cellules near the middle ; the cellules in the costal area irregular ; 

 the discal cellules very numerous, but leaving a very broad marginal space. 



Of this large insect I have seen but two examples — Walker's type, 



and the one given to me by Captain Lang, by whom it was captured at 



Kunawur. 



20, Limes Grove North, Lewisham, S.B., 

 December, 1869. 



HINTS ON PRESERVING LARVAE. 

 BY H. PETER. 



Some two years ago, seeing some preserved larvae in the possession 

 of Mr. Bond, I became desirous to 'know the method by which they 

 were prepared ; and, after a good many experiments, I attained success. 

 Believing that there are many others who would like to be informed of 

 the modus operandi, I have pleasure in giving them the result of my 

 experience, as follows. 



Having procured a larva, immerse it in a solution of alum or pyro- 



