4752 Notices of New Books. 



the larva going into cocoon, it is manifest the eggs must be hatched soon after they 

 are laid : these eggs are large and oval in shape, and pure white. If the moths, 

 when bred in England, could be got to pair, there would then be no further obstacle 

 in obtaining a supply of silk by the end of the following August after their arrival. 



" This and the other magnificent species of Saturnia inhabiting North America 

 present a strange appearance, when darting past in the dusk of a summer's evening, 

 and are extremely difficult to capture, unless they happen to be found at rest during the 

 day. Mr. Gosse does not appear to have been acquainted with this fine moth, for, 

 although he mentions several other species of Saturnia in his ' Canadian Naturalist,' 

 he does not notice it. 



" In conclusion, should the subject be thought worthy of the consideration of this 

 Society, I shall be happy to obtain cocoons from Canada, and forward some to any 

 entomologist wishing to make the experiment." 



References to numbers attached to the cocoons were read. 



Office of the Wing-rays of Insects. 



Read, a paper by Mr. Newman, intituled 'A Memorandum on the Wing-rays 

 of Insects,' in which the author maintains, in opposition to the published views 

 of Herold, Kirby & Spence, Oken, Westwood and other distinguished entomologists, 

 that the wing-rays are the supports of the membranous portion of the wing, and 

 in all respects the analogues, although not the homologues, of the wing-bones of 

 the bat, and that the passage of air, blood and nerves through their channels is 

 simply a provision of Nature for their maintenance in a healthy and efficient 

 condition. He supported this view by a reference to experiments and observations 

 on living insects, and also by the anatomical researches of Chabrier and Bower- 

 bank, which he had himself verified. — J. W. D. 



NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 



' The Annals and Magazine of Natural History? Nos. 89 and 90, 

 dated May and June, 1855 ; price 2.s. 6d. each. London : Taylor 

 and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 



No. 89 contains the following papers: — 



' On the Structure of Chlorophyll.' By Hugo von Mohl. [Trans- 

 lated from the ' Botanische Zeitung' for February 9 and 16, 1855, by 

 Professor Henfrey.] 



' Notice on the Question of the Presence of an Operculum in the 

 Genus Diplommatina of Benson, and Description of a New Species. 

 By W. II. Benson, Esq. 



