Entomological Society. 4677 



* It is, no doubt, well known,' says Mr. Muskett, ' that the common toad will sit 

 at the entrance of the hive and devour the bees one after another as they come within reach 

 of his tongue ; but a rather singular circumstance occurred a few days since in this 

 neighbourhood; it was witnessed by my brother, and I can vouch for the fact : during 

 the late severe weather, happening to be occupied in the garden, he heard a tapping 

 noise in the direction of the bee-house, and on directing his attention to the spot, 

 observed a woodpecker (Picus viridis) drop down on the block and devour the bees as 

 fast as they made their appearance. My brother had previously noticed that the bees 

 diminished in number, and could not account for it: on examining the hive he 

 found the mortar had been pecked away, so that more light was admitted." 



Mr. Westwood remarked that the fact that toads were enemies to bees was new 

 and interesting, and he would take this opportunity to mention, as a circumstance that 

 had come under his own observation, and one that he had not seen published, that the 

 common sparrows ate honey-bees with avidity, but only at a certain period of the year, 

 namely, in July, when they had young ones to provide for and there was a lack 

 of their usual food. 



On Greasiness in Insects. 



Mr. Douglas read the following note : — 



" In his Monograph of the Genus Depressaria, published in the 9th vol. of the 



* Linnaea Entomologica,' Professor Zeller, in a note under D. ultimella, says he could 

 not distinguish the examples of that species received from Mr. Stainton, on account 

 of the greasy condition of their bodies ; and he further remarks, that the greater pre- 

 valence of greasiness in English collections, compared with those of Germany, is due 

 to the use of camphor in English cabinets. I have heard this idea before, but esteemed 

 it only as the dictum of an individual ; for we often find certain species get greasy 

 even before they are removed from the setting-boards, and this remark applies 

 especially to those Lepidoptera which, in their larva state, are internal feeders. In 

 the cabinet it is almost invariably internal feeders, both Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, 

 which first become greasy. Yet it is perhaps worth while to ask some of our chemical 

 friends to tell us whether there is any foundation for the opinion that the odour of 

 camphor has any influence in developing greasiness in preserved specimens of insects. 



" The Germans, I am informed, use quicksilver to keep away mites, and it might be 

 asked, in addition to the question just proposed, whether its presence in the insect- 

 drawers has any influence in preventing the appearance of grease in the specimens. 

 As in Germany it is the practice to mount insects high up on the pins, there is no dif- 

 ficulty in the use of quicksilver, but with us it would be far different, for, as the wings 

 of our Lepidoptera touch the paper, the globules would roll over and destroy them, — 

 that is, if the method of placing it loose in the drawers, as used in Germany, were 

 adopted. 



" In France they appear to use no preservative at all, if we may judge from the con- 

 dition in which specimens of Lepidoptera have been returned to this country; and we 

 know that the fine state of preservation of our collections has excited the admiration 

 of French Lepidopterists. 



" For the injury to insects by greasiness, camphine is an effectual remedy ; simple 

 immersion therein, however, is not sufficient to prevent the recurrence of greasiness ; 

 the specimens should remain in the spirit for several days. 



XIII. U 



