Entomological Society. 3825 



Mr. Waterhouse observed, that the Rev. F. W. Hope used to rear great numbers 

 of Lepidoptera, and he always kept the earth in his cages covered with damp moss. 



Read also, the following note by the Rev. J. Greene, on a curious circumstance 

 observed in hybernating specimens of Vanessa Io. 



" About ten days since (December 8), being engaged in digging for pupae, in a 

 wood about a mile from my residence, I came to a moderate-sized beech-tree, whose 

 roots formed an arch, about half a foot in height. As I was on the point of inserting 

 my trowel into the cavity, I heard a faint hissing noise : thinking it might be an 

 adder, I started back. Upon a closer inspection, however, I discovered, to my great 

 surprise, three hybernating Vanessa Io (the peacock). Two were attached to the con- 

 cave part of the arch, the third was on the ground, and the noise I heard proceeded 

 from it. It is difficult to describe the noise exactly, but the nearest approximation to 

 it, is the sound produced by blowing slowly, and with moderate force, through the 

 closed teeth. It was decidedly not a rustling sound, such as would proceed from an 

 imprisoned insect. While making the noise, the wings were slowly depressed and 

 elevated. To remove any doubt as to whether the sound was produced by the insect, 

 I pushed off one that was adhering to the tree, which immediately commenced the 

 same movement of the wings, accompanied by a similar noise. That the noise was 

 produced in part by the movement of the wings is very likely; but that it was wholly 

 so, is, I think, improbable, from the fact of the extreme slowness (I might say, deli- 

 beration) with which the wings were opened and shut. Strange as it may appear, it 

 certainly struck me that the noise was intended to intimidate! Whenever I pointed 

 the trowel at it, it forthwith turned towards it, and commenced the noise with renewed 

 vigour. I saw no more, neither do I remember to have ever met with hybernating 

 Diumes before. 



" As I think I can find the tree again, I shall re-examine it, though I am not 

 aware that I can add anything to the above. 



" I may add, that a more unlikely place for hybernation could scarcely be found. 

 The tree was on a high bank, facing the north, and the opening was quite exposed to 

 rain, snow, &c." 



The following memoirs were also read : — 



" Descriptions of some new species of Longicorn beetles, brought from the North 

 of China, by R. Fortune, Esq." By W. W. Saunders, Esq. 



" Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Curculionidae," by G. R. Waterhouse, 

 Esq. The following is an abstract : — 



Oxyrhynchus. — Family Oxyrhynchida. 



Oxyrhynchus Fortuni. A species much larger and proportionately shorter than 

 O. discors, with the puncturing both on the thorax and elytra less distinct ; general 

 colour pale ashy brown ; thorax with three longitudinal white lines ; elytra with a white 

 line running from the shoulder to the middle of the suture. Hab. N. China. 



Oxyrhynchus Philippininensis. Like O. discors in its markings, but of larger size, 

 the elytra relatively shorter, with a tooth in the middle at the base, the margin much 

 raised between this tooth and the scutellum, and the raised part concave beneath and 

 opening in front. Hab. Philippine Islands, 



XI. P 



