3864 Mollusks.—Mr. Stephens Collection. 



time, and begin to be wasted, patiently follow one on a fine morning without troubling 

 it, and observe on what plant it settles ; after some preliminary attempts it will proba- 

 bly be seen to bend its body under a leaf, which proceeding is a certain sign of its 

 laying an egg ; this may soon be recognized by its white colour. The female will 

 continue to lay eggs for a long time without resting to feed, and thus in a short period 

 a number of eggs may be collected. To prevent their drying up, they must be fixed 

 upon leaves of a living plant set in a flower-pot, and thus every opportunity may be 

 had for leisurely observing the larva during its changes. In this way I procured the 

 eggs of and reared to perfection Argynnis Dia, Colias Hyale, Polyommatus Corydon, 

 Alexis, Amyntas, Hylas, Arion (both the latter on Thymus Serpyllurn), Argiolus, Acis 

 (on the capitula of Armeria vulgaris), Phlaeas, Circe, Hippothoe, Chryseis, &c, Leu- 

 cophasia Sinapis (on Trifolium arvense and Coronilla varia), Papilio Machaon, Poda- 

 lirius, Hesperia Actseon (on Stipa capillata), alveolus (on Potentilla alba, but T often 

 find the larva on Potentilla anserina among alder-bushes), Emmelesia albulata (on 

 Alectorolophus minor), and many others." 



Mr. F. Smith read a monograph of the Hymenopterous genus Cryptocerus, in- 

 cluding descriptions of 14 new species, and illustrated by outline figures of all the 

 species known. Three new genera are established, — Meranoplus for two species hav- 

 ing the body pedunculated and rounded in the female, Cataulacus for four species of 

 the Old World structurally different from Cryptocerus, and Onychognathus for a sin- 

 gle species from New Zealand remarkable for having only five joints in the antennae. 



Mr. Spence presented for the signatures of the members, a petition to the Govern- 

 ment, originated by the Royal Society, praying that it and the other Societies for the 

 study and advancement of natural knowledge, should be provided by the State with 

 apartments in juxta-position ; showing the disadvantages under which such Societies, 

 and, through them, science, at present laboured, on account of their disconnected lo- 

 cations, and having severally to support heavy expenses for house-rent and other ne- 

 cessary charges. 



Part 4, Vol. II., n. s., of the Society's ' Transactions,' was announced as ready, — 

 J. W. D. 



Occurrence of Onychoteuthis Banksii at Banff, N. B. — I beg leave to place on re- 

 cord, through the pages of your journal, the capture of Onychoteuthis Banksii, Leach, 

 at Banff, N. B. It is a decapodous cephalopod, which usually inhabits the Atlantic 

 and Indian Oceans. I am not aware of the previous occurrence of this mollusk in 

 Britain ; and my friend Arthur Adams, Esq., F.L.S., whom I have consulted on the 

 subject, thinks it new to the British Fauna. — John Rose, M.D., R.N. ; Haslar Hos- 

 pital, Gosport, March 14, 1852. 



Mr. Stephens's Entomological Library and Collection. — Entomologists will be 

 pleased to learn that Mr. Stephens's rich collection of British insects has been pur- 

 chased by the Trustees of the British Museum. His valuable entomological library- 

 is likely to pass into the hands of Mr. Stainton. — E. N. 



