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Entomological Society. 
them ill Italy for a long time, and had never observed that they 
formed a hole previous to rolling their balls ; and that instead of 
assisting one another, the whole scene was one of confusion, each 
individual endeavouring to appropriate whatever it could to its own 
purpose. Mr. E. Doubleday also stated that his own observations 
on the tumble-dung beetles of North America coincided with those 
of Mr. Spence, and that he had never seen any pitfall formed, but 
that the insects sunk their balls in the same way as the Nect'ophagi, 
by merely scratching the earth from beneath them. 
March 24th. — The Rev. F. W.Hope, President, in the Chair. 
Two boxes of Lepidopterous insects, sent from Ceylon by R. Tem- 
pleton, Esq., were exhibited by Mr. Westwood. 
Mr. J. F. Stephens exhibited a pupa-case of the emperor-moth of 
an irregular form, being nearly twice the ordinary size, and having 
the appearance of being double, from which however only one moth 
had been produced. 
Captain Parry exhibited living specimens of a new species of Di- 
tomvs, which he had received inclosed in quills transmitted by post 
from Lisbon. 
Mr. S. Stevens communicated the following new and very effective 
method of relaxing insects : — “ I procure about a dozen shoots with 
the leaves of the common laurel, the younger the better, put them into 
a coarse bag or cloth (shot bag Fuse), bruise them well with a M’ooden 
mallet till the bag becomes quite moist, then put it into a glazed 
jar or other large vessel, and stick the insects on the top of the bag, 
which must be tied over with a bladder, or secured in some way so 
that it is perfectly air-tight. Twenty-four hours is generally suffi- 
cient to relax most insects ; but one great advantage is, that if they 
remain a week or ten days in the laurel, it does not in the least 
injure the specimens, so that they can be set out at any convenient 
opportunity. It also completely destroys the mites or mould, if the 
specimens happen to be infested ; and it will be found to have many 
very great advantages over the old plan of damp sand or flannel. I 
was in hopes, from experiments that I made on two or three green 
species, tiiat the colours would not fly ; but I since regret to find on 
further trial, that Hipparchus papilionarius , Hemithea vernaria and 
Cythisaria are considerably changed by it. Mr. Dale informs me it 
answers equally well with the other orders, he having relaxed nearly 
the whole of his dragon-flies ; and it is much used at Bristol for the 
Hyrnenoptera : it also effectually relaxes the skins of birds, and kills 
the vermin much better than camphor.” 
Mr. Marshall mentioned that a compound formed of one drachm 
of corrosive sublimate to eight ounces of the strongest alcohol was 
the most effectual remedy, when washed over an insect, against the 
attacks of mites, &c. 
Mr. Hope read a paper containing descriptions of some new species 
of Australian Buprestidce. 
Mr. Westwood exhibited drawings of two very splendid Chalcidida, 
forming a new genus, from Adelaide, collected by Mr. Fortnum. 
