Society of British Entomologists. 3923 



Mr. Westwood also informed the meeting that specimens of a blind shrimp, found 

 in a well near Maidenhead, had been sent to him, and that he had identified them as 

 the Niphargus Stygius of Sciodte, found in the caves of Carniola, and of which a fi- 

 gure, description and account were published in the Society's' Transactions,' vol. i. n. s. 

 The well in question was about 18 feet deep, and these Crustaceans abounded in it to 

 such an extent, as to render the water unfit for use. The well had been cleaned out, 

 but the shrimps were still there, though to a less extent. — /. W. D. 



Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists. 



April 19, 1853. — Mr. Hakding, President, in the chair. 



The President announced that a box of Lepidoptera, containing between 200 and 

 300 specimens, had been presented to the Society for the cabinet. 



The President exhibited a box of caterpillars, preserved by removing the intestines, 

 and filling the vacant space with coloured worsted. The markings and colours were 

 nearly as bright as when the caterpillars were living, especially in those with smooth 

 skins. He also exhibited a pair of Anerastia Farrella, taken on the coast of Kent. 



The President made some observations on the tenacity of life in Mesium sulcatum. 

 Having placed a specimen in a pill- box in April, 1852, the box was not opened until 

 the 5th of April in the present year, when the insect was found alive, and apparently 

 in as good health as when put away twelve months before. That spiders will live for a 

 long time without food is well known ; but tenacity of life in beetles under similar cir- 

 cumstances is of more rare occurrence. 



A copy of Stainton's ' Entomologists' Companion ' was presented by the Author. 



May 3, 1853. — Mr. Harding, President, in the chair. 



The President exhibited two specimens of Aleucis pictaria, taken on the 13th and 

 26th of April, both in fine condition. 



The President said that in the course of his perambulations during the month of 

 April, he had been much surprised at the number of specimens of Vanessa Polychloros 

 that were basking in the sunshine ; he could not remember any time that he had seen 

 such a number. He observed that the members had without doubt seen articles in 

 the ' Zoologist,' in reference to the tenacity of life in spiders. It was a well-known 

 fact, that spiders were capable of existing a long time without food. As an illustra- 

 tion, he recollected, when he was a very young naturalist, taking a nest of spider's 

 eggs in mistake for those of a Lepidopterous insect, and putting them in a pill-box. 

 On opening the box some days afterwards, he found it full of young spiders and web : 

 it was then put by for a time, and upon opening it by chance he found the spiders still 

 alive. His curiosity being excited, he put the box away carefully for nine months, and 

 on opening it at the end of that time, he found the spiders still alive, but they died a 

 few days after. These little creatures had never tasted food. Many species of spider, 

 in the perfect state, remain torpid during the winter months, and do not move until 

 the warm days of spring call them into life, which will tend to account for their ab- 

 stinence ; but this does not apply to the case above mentioned. After all, however, 



