Entomological Society, 4323 



if the ants remain in any numbers upon the coffee-hushes, the Coolies would be unable 

 to gather in the berries, for these said red ants bite most fiercely, and the natives have 

 a great dread of getting amongst them. The ants seem to devour the young Cocci, 

 but on opening their nests, I have found many of the larger full-grown Cocci, which I 

 fancy they use as cows, like other ants, the smaller species of which are always 

 attached to where the Coccus abounds, and feed on the exudation from them. If the 

 ants can be induced to quit when the Coccus is destroyed, they will be a use- 

 ful acquisition to the coffee-planter, but if they persist in remaining in the bushes, 

 I do not know how pruning and gathering can be accomplished on the estate, 

 but this will be ascertained by-and-bye. I question whether the ant would live on 

 the higher estates, as it is only found at a moderate elevation. It is very abundant 

 here, and makes its large nests in cinnamon and other trees, spinning together the 

 leaves at the end of a bough, and woe be to him who breaks into their dwelling. A 

 Coolv who has happened to do so in climbing a tree, comes down a great deal faster 

 than he went up. Botany occupies so much of my time, that I am quite unable 

 to devote particular attention to Entomology or any other branch of Zoology, and I 

 often wish each day was double its length. This is such a fine field for a critical ex- 

 amination of tropical plants ; and the field is so extensive that I see no prospect of 

 finding my work slacken in that direction. Mr. Edgar Layard, who is now in 

 England, is our most enthusiastic zoologist, and I shall be glad when he returns to the 

 island." 



Mr. Westwood doubted if the ants intentionally destroyed the Cocci, considering 

 their death as the acoidental result of the injuries sustained in consequence of the en- 

 deavours of the ants to procure their exudation. 



Method of capturing Bolbocerus mobilicornis. 



Mr. Douglas read the following translation of a note on a method of taking Bol- 

 bocerus mobilicornis, communicated by M. A. Rouget to Dr. Aube, and by him to the 

 Societe Entoraologique de France, and inserted in the ' Bulletin ' of that Society for 

 1853, page 25. 



"The locality where I take Bolbocerus mobilicornis is about three kilom. from 

 Dijon, in the centre of corn-fields and natural and artificial meadows, rather lower 

 than the surrounding country, which, however, itself is flat. This locality is very 

 damp, and is on the border of a small stream, which is nearly dry in summer, 

 but where, on the hottest and driest nights, the dew is very abundant ; it is at the edge 

 of a field of lucern near this stream that I place myself in ambuscade in order to cap- 

 ture my insect. I station myself upon a road which is rather lower than the field, 

 and thus, by stooping a little, I have my western horizon just above the stems of the 

 lucern ; this circumstance is indispensable for success, for it is between 8 and 9 

 o'clock that I find the insect flying heavily over the lucern, and if it be not projected 

 upon the sky, it is impossible to see it on account of the obscurity. I do not know if 

 the lucern is indispensable to the insect, and as the neighbouring fields have not the 

 same elevation above the road, I have not been able to prove the matter ; possibly the 

 question might be resolved by means of a lantern, but not having tried the method, I 

 do not know if it would succeed. 



" To ensure a successful result it is necessary, independently of the condition of 

 horizon, but for the same reason, to have a sky without clouds, and an atmosphere very 



