Miscellaneous. «375 



Hev. T. W. Hope read a letter from Sir Thomas Phillips on the best 

 method of destroying insects which infest books and MSS. Sir Tho- 

 mas found the wood of his library attacked by Anobium striatum, par- 

 ticularly where beech had been introduced, and appeared to think that 

 this insect was much attracted by the paste employed in binding. He 

 recommended as preservatives against their attacks spirits of turpen- 

 tine and a solution of corrosive sublimate, and also that the latter sub- 

 stance should be mixed with the paste. In some instances he found 

 the produce of a single impregnated female sufficient to destroy a 

 book. Much unimportant discussion followed the reading of this let- 

 ter, regarding the best manner of preventing the Coleoptera and their 

 larvae from destroying objects of natural history. Turpentine and 

 spirit of tar were recommended ; but Mr Gray stated, that the only me- 

 thod pursued in the collections of the British Museum was an abun- 

 dant supply of camphor, with attention to keeping the rooms dry, 

 warm, and well ventilated. Mr Macleay stated that it was acari only 

 which fed on the paste employed in binding books, while it was the 

 larvae of the Coleoptera only which pierced the boards and leaves. He 

 also recommended dryness and ventilation. 



Mr J. Sail read a notice of Erica Mackaiana, Babington, from 

 Cunnemara, and exhibited living specimens ; adducing arguments in 

 favour of its being distinct from E. tetralix. Mr Mackay made re- 

 marks on its distribution, and stated, that another addition to the Bri- 

 tish flora had been discovered in the Erica carnea, found wild with- 

 in eight miles of the town of Galway. 



Tuesday, 12{h September. 

 Mr Macleay read a communication from Captain Ducane of South- 

 ampton, on some marine animals. In laying this communication be- 

 fore the section, he stated, in explanation of the objects of the paper, 

 that, while Mr Thompson had observed that the craw fish underwent 

 metamorphoses from the young to the perfect state, Rathke of Berlin 

 maintained the reverse, which would be a remarkable fact if proved, to 

 find that a change took place in long- tailed Crustacea, while none 

 had been observed in the Brachyurine division. He felt inclined 

 to support Mr Thompson's opinion, considering that gentleman an 

 accurate naturalist, and he could scarcely think that one who had 

 observed the remarkable fact of the cirrhipeds being locomotive and 

 free in their young state, would now be mistaken. The letter about 

 to be read confirmed his views, and showed an instance of an indi- 

 vidual, who had not previously attended to natural history, observing 

 and proving the curious transformations which are puzzling our 



