5414 Radiata. 



occurred : a specimen of Nymphalis Populi was recorded in the ' Memoires del'Academie 

 Royale de Bruxelles,' having the head of the larva instead of that of the perfect 

 insect. 



Mr. Gregson sent for exhibition a pair of Coleophora vitisella, and the case of the 

 larva of this species. 



Mr. Stevens read an extract from a letter received by him from Mr. A. R. Wallace, 

 written from Lombock, in which he remarked the paucity of insects of all orders in 

 that locality, attributable to the greater part of the island being now devoted to the 

 cultivation of rice. 



The Secretary read the following extract from a letter from G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq., 

 Director of the Botanic Garden, Peradenia, Ceylon, to William Spence, Esq.: — 



" I have often observed, on the whitewashed walls of the houses here, a whitish- 

 coloured spider stationary for hours, with its head downwards and its legs extended 

 (a pair of intermediate ones much shorter than the others), and two long spinnerets ; 

 but it was only a short time ago I had an opportunity of observing the curious mode 

 in which it entraps its prey. When an insect makes its appearance on the wall near 

 it, it commences running round and round it with the greatest rapidity, spinning a web 

 all the time, which confines the legs, wings, &c, of the poor victim most effectually, 

 and has just the effect of a lasso thrown over its limbs. With this knowledge of the 

 spider's habits we can understand the use of the long spinnerets, and that the short 

 pair of legs enable it to make a more rapid and smaller series of turns round its 

 victim." 



Mr. Westwood had great pleasure in stating that it was the intention of Messrs. 

 Saunders and Hewitson to commence the publication of a second volume of their 

 splendid work on ' Exotic Butterflies.' 



Part II. of Vol. iv. of the New Series of the Society's ' Transactions,' published in 

 October, was on the table. — E. S. 



Inquiry respecting Serpula contortuplicata. — I should be very much obliged if any 

 of your readers would state whether it is a common occurrence for the Serpula 

 contortuplicata to shed, or cast away, the trumpet-shaped operculum with which it 

 is furnished : this happened a week since to a very fine specimen in one of my tanks, 

 and although I feared that it was a precursor of death, as yet the gills protrude as 

 strongly and the animal seems as sensitive as before the loss of the operculum, which 

 now lies at the bottom of the tank an object of great beauty. — C. R. Lighton ; 

 Ellastone, November 29, 1856. 



Proceedings of Natural- History Collectors in Foreign Countries. 



Mr. A. R. Wallace* — " Ampanam, Lombock, August 21, 1856. — 

 Another month has passed since I wrote to you, and there is still no 

 chance of a passage to Macassar ; having missed one opportunity by 



* Communicated by Mr. S. Stevens. 



