excursion several magnificent specimens of the Actinia Dianthus were 

 procured. 



In a paper, read subsequently at one of the Society's meetings, con- 

 siderable exception v/as taken to the statements so often made with 

 regard to the extreme voracity of the Actiniadce, the writer quoting 

 several statements to this efiect from various authors, and giving, at the 

 same time, an account of numerous experiments which he had performed 

 for the purpose of testing the truth of these statements, — all of which led 

 him to believe that the Actiniadce were neither so voracious nor so 

 powerful as was generally believed. He also stated that in no instance 

 could he discover that the Actiniadw possessed that power of paralysing 

 their pi-ey which is so often attributed to them. 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



MR. P. CAMERON, JUN. 



Entomologically speaking, 1872 was one of the worst seasons known 

 to the oldest collector of insects. It commenced bad, and ended worse, 

 and was discouraging alike to the veteran and the tyro. The spring was 

 very cold, the summer one continued drizzle ; and although the early 

 autumn was somewhat better, yet the number of insects did not increase, 

 and, latterly, some of our collectors became quite disheartened. 



Such a season told especially upon a sun-loving order like the Hyinen- 

 optera, which was extremely scarce. 



The Humble-Bees were rare all the season. Eight species were cap- 

 tured : — Bomhus lapidarius, seen near Dumbarton ; B. pratorwm, not 

 uncommon on the sallow catkins at Fossil Marsh, in the spring, and, 

 later, at the flowers of Vaccinium myrtillus, in Cadder Wilderness. Its 

 parasite, AjxUhus Barhutellus, was even more abundant in the same 

 localities, in the autumn. B. terrestrls, one specimen at Tollcross ; B^ 

 lucoram, common everywhere ; B. hortorum, not uncommon at Carmyie, 

 Tollcross, &c. ; B. fragrans, two specimens taken at Fossil Marsh — a 

 female and a worker. Its nest was found there on July 3, and consisted 

 of an egg- case and a honey-cap, covered over by a dome of dry hay, B, 

 senilis, one specimen ; B. niuscorum, very abundant everywhere. 



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