8664 



Radiata. 



was removed, so as to allow of an inspection of the interior, it was 

 found that one comb, consisting of the cells of workers, had been con- 

 structed since the 19th of August, the day on which the original 

 combs were strung together, in which a number of workers had 

 become developed, and two consisting of the cells of males, from 

 which males in abundance had been produced. In each of the other 

 nests one or two combs, consisting of male cells, were found to have 

 been formed, from all of which males were obtained, so that the 

 question as regards the production of male wasps, as well as workers, 

 from eggs deposited by workers, may be said to be fairly set at 

 rest. 



Then comes the question, whether, had the season not been so 

 near its close, these fertile workers, after having deposited a certain 

 number of male-producing eggs, would not have set about building 

 cells of females or queens, and deposited therein female-producing 

 eggs, or eggs which should produce queens ? Facts may, perchance, 

 at some future time be obtained, tending to show that beyond all 

 question such would have been the case. 



One would have thought that the opinion expressed in the 6 Ento- 

 mologist's Annual' for 1861, by one of the first Hymenopterists of the 

 day, Mr. F. Smith, " that we are at present only on the threshold of 

 the way leading to the discovery of the history of the Vespidse," an 

 opinion in which I fully concur, would have caused numbers of ento- 

 mologists to turn their attention to the subject, with the view of 

 endeavouring to dissipate, to some extent, the darkness and obscurity 

 in which a portion of the history of wasps is at present shrouded. 

 Such, however, does not appear to have been the case. 



S. Stone. 



Notes on Sea Anemones, Observations on the Tank, fyc. — It may be interesting to 

 aquaviists to know that young anemones, born in the tank, may be preserved with 

 much greater facility than when they are kept with those of larger growth, by trans- 

 ferring them to a separate vessel. A finger-bason makes an admirable extempore 

 aquarium for the purpose, which should have a handful or two of shingle at the bot- 

 tom, and the water be changed occasionally : the latter is indispensable. By this 

 means the little ones obtain more of their natural food, and when fed artificially the 

 process is easier, and none are neglected. Several rare and beautiful specimens 

 treated in this manner have amply repaid me for a little extra trouble. The colour of 

 choice species (rosea, miniata, Troglodytes, &c), usually deteriorated by light, 

 may be retained in its beauty for a lengthened period by placing a small bell-glass 

 over the specimens. This glass should be of a dark sea-green colour, four inches 

 high and about five in diameter. Some five or six small holes should be drilled round 



