Entomological Society. 4801 



"If the iMygales did not prey upon vertebrated animals I do not see how 

 they could find sufficient subsistence. 



M On the extensive sandy canipos of Santa rem, so bare in vegetation, there are 

 hundreds of the broad slanting burrows of the large stout species (that fine one, dark 

 brown, with paler brown lines down the legs, of which I sent specimens in 1851). The 

 catnpos, I know, from close research, to be almost destitute of insects, but at the same 

 time swarm with small lizards, and some curious ground finches of the Emberiza 

 group (one of which has a song wonderfully resembling our yellow bunting of 

 England), besides which, vast numbers of the Caprimulgidse and ground doves 

 lay their eggs on the bare ground. I believe this species of Mygale feeds on 

 these animals and their eggs at night. Just at the close of day when I have been 

 hurrying home, not liking to be benighted on the pathless waste, I have surprised 

 these monsters, who retreated within the mouths of their burrows on my approach." 



Some conversation ensued on the supposed poisonous nature of spiders, and 

 the strength of the webs formed by various species, in which the President, Mr. West- 

 wood, Mr. Meade, Captain Cox, &c, took part. 



Note on Otiorhynchus sulcatus. 



Under this title Mr. Newman read the following paper : — 



" In the later months of summer this weevil may frequently be seen crawling about 

 the wood-work of the fern-house, especially at night ; and who does not visit his fernery 

 by night? But occasionally you may also find the female clinging to the stipes or 

 frond-stalks, especially of Adiantum, Cystopteris and Asplenium, genera which send 

 up fronds in succession until the stalks look like a little forest: nestled among these, 

 and with its head upwards, it drops its small white globular eggs, which fall quite free, 

 and seem neither to attach themselves by any viscid covering nor to be attached 

 designedly by the parent to the frond-stalks or other substances which may happen to 

 be at hand. We must allow imagination to picture the hatching of the egg and the 

 descent of the tiny grub: I find the juvenile depredators a few days afterwards 

 ensconced in snug little cavities of the caudex scarcely large enough to admit the 

 head of the smallest pin : they are now minute, jelly-like, transparent legless maggots ; 

 I say jelly-like, because the word describes their appearance with great exactness ; but 

 it must not be understood as implying the possession of the moist or mucous surface 

 distinctive of the larvae of some Coleopterous and Hymenopterous insects : on the con- 

 trary, the surface of these little grubs might be described in the words of pleasant old 

 Gerarde, as clean and ' dry in the first degree: ' after feeding for a very few days the 

 colour of the grub becomes opaline and slightly opaque, the opaline tint being caused 

 by the quantity of food in the intestines ; this food becomes more and more apparent, 

 as long as the grub continues to feed. The cavities in the caudex of the fern now 

 rapidly become larger, and the effect is very visible above ground. When the grub is 

 feeding most eagerly it is spring ; and, one after another, the Ionic volutes of the nas- 

 cent circinate fronds droop, wither and fall, plainly proclaiming the presence of the 

 sapper and miner at work below, the canker-worm at the seat of life. When its appe- 

 tite is at length satiated, the grub becomes quite opaque, and of a uniform cream- 

 colour ; the food disappears from the intestinal canal, and the creature withdraws 

 about three-quarters of an inch from the scene of his labours. We use a light sandy 

 soil for the ferns, aud the grub seems to find no difficulty in making his way through 



