4044 Entomological Society. 



Another communication was as follows : — 



" In our vicinity an enemy has appeared upon our fruit-trees, the apple and the 

 cherry, which threatens to destroy our entire crop. So far as I can learn, the foe is a 

 stranger to our fruit-growers ; it is spread upon all parts of the tree, and, when it is 

 shaken, drops from it suspended by a web, then winds up its web, and again gains its 

 position on the tree. The trees, when badly eaten, present a dry and sere appearance. 

 In all these points it is like the canker-worm, as it is also in size, and to a casual ob- 

 server it would be pronounced their work ; but in many respects it is dissimilar. The 

 canker-worm is brown, this is nearly white, with two longitudinal stripes running its 

 whole length ; the canker-worm is slow of motion, this is very quick, and moves ra- 

 pidly from place to place in all directions, to escape an enemy ; the canker-worm moves 

 forward by doubling or opening and throwing forward its head and fore part, this is 

 provided with 16 legs, — 6 near the head, 8 near the middle, and 2 at the tail, and uses 

 them with great celerity in running. The canker-worm has no shelter upon the tree, 

 but lies out upon the leaf or branch ; this forms itself a house by webbing the corner 

 of a leaf, into which it retreats on the first appearance of danger: the canker-worm 

 rarely eats the fruit, if it can get leaves ; this is now eating into and spoiling and dis- 

 figuring the fruit. Of the insect which produces them I know nothing. My neigh- 

 bours say that about three or four weeks since they noticed an abundance of small 

 millers, of an ash colour, and they may have proceeded from them. If the insect, 

 with its habits, are unknown, we have before us a work of careful observation, as the 

 first descent of these depredators threatens more injury to our fruit than any other in- 

 sect which has attacked our trees. If there are not enough to spoil my trees and fruit 

 entirely now, I am sure that double the present number on those of my trees most 

 eaten, would not leave me an apple or a leaf remaining. 



" E. C. Stone." 



" Sherburne, June 21, 1853." 



The Editor adds : — " Shaking the trees pretty freely dislodges them. We advise 

 this practice, and also syringing the young tree well with whale-oil -soap, strong soap- 

 suds, or even clear water. We understand that muriate of lime will destroy them, by 

 sprinkling the ground with it, and shaking the worms down upon it.'' 



Mr. Wollaston communicated an extract of a letter from Dr. Schaum, informing 

 him of the death of Dr. Germar on the 8th of July, from an attack of gout, at the age 

 of 66. 



Mr. Smith read some "Observations on the Economy of Pompilus punctum," 

 showing that P. petiolatus, Vander Linden, is the female of that species, which fact 

 he had ascertained by breeding both from one set of cells, found by the Rev. W. Del- 

 mar, at Elmstone Rectory, near Canterbury, and communicated to him by Mr. W. 

 Thomson, Director of the Natural-History Department at the Crystal Palace. 



Mr. Douglas read the following extract from Layard's * Discoveries in the Ruins 

 of Nineveh and Babylon,' 1853, page 338. 



" Ruins at Konyunjik. — The walls were panelled with sculptured slabs about six 

 feet high. Those to the right in descending represented a procession of servants car- 

 rying fruit, flowers, gum, and supplies for a banquet, preceded by mace-bearers. The 



