52 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 27- 
Wallichii (male ancl female, the latter sex now for the 
first time transmitted to Europe), and a splendid new 
species of Cardbus. 
Mr. Douglas exhibited some blades of Grass inhabited 
by the larvte of different species of minute Moths be¬ 
longing to the genus Elaeldsta, the transformations of 
which had been previously unknown. Likewise spe¬ 
cimens of the rare Depressaria capreolella, taken at 
Sanderstead, in March. Specimens of the rare Moths, 
Stanropus fagi, and Gluphisia crenata, reared from the 
larvae now sent for exhibition, by tbe Rev. Jos. Greene, 
from Halton, Bucks. 
The Chairman exhibited the transformation of a 
Butterfly belonging to the genus Ailolias (the larva of 
which is a strange creature, with rows of very long 
feathery spines), and of a Moth allied to the genus 
Arelia, reared by Mr. Thwaites, in Ceylon. 
A letter from the same gentleman, addressed to 
William Spence, Esq., F.R.S., was communicated by 
the latter gentleman, relative to the employment in 
Ceylon of colonies of Red Ants, for the purpose of 
destroying the “ bug ” which attacks the Coffee plants, 
and does great injuries on the plantations of that veget¬ 
able. The “ bug,” from the description, appears to be 
a species of Coccus, and the nests of the Ants are huilt 
on the Cinnamon-trees, at the end of the boughs, the 
leaves being drawn together by the Ants. It appeared, 
however, that the Ants proved so irritable to the natives 
employed in the plantations, that it was doubted whether 
they did not prove a greater evil than the bug§ them¬ 
selves. Mr. Westwood suggested, further, that the 
Ants not only did not destroy theCoccidoe, but that they 
frequented the plants infested by them, in order to feed 
upon the honey dew secreted by them, as is also the 
case with Ants in this country frequenting plants in¬ 
fested with aphidae. 
A paper by Mr. Newman was read, containing the 
description of the transformations of a species of Moth 
from Sautaren, to which he gave the name of Peropliora 
Batesii , after Mr. Bates, by whom it had been observed 
and reared in Brazil. The perfect Moths have a good 
deal the appearance of our Drinker Moths, hut the 
larvae reside in oases formed of pieces of leaves very 
beautifully united together; the genus had previously 
been named Saccopliora, by Dr. Harris, the American 
Entomologist, who had found a congenerous species in 
North America, hut he had subsequently altered the 
generic character to Peropliora. The Caterpillar closely 
resembles those of the genus Psyche, but the chrysalis 
has transverse rows of fine teeth on the hack segments, 
like that of Cossus and Zeuzera, hut the veins are quite 
unlike those of Zeuzera. 
Mr. Saunders read a paper containing descriptions of 
a number of new species of Stag Beetles, Lucanida, 
brought from the tea districts of China, by Mr. Fortune. 
The northern parts of India are also very rich in species 
of this family, which appears to have its metropolis in 
the High Lands of India and Assam. 
Mr. Douglas communicated a translation of a memoir 
on the habiis of the rare Bolboveras Mobilicornis, num¬ 
bers of which had been captured in France, flying at 
dusk over foot paths near fields of Lucerne, and digging 
holes into the ground. Mr. Curtis suggested that the 
habits of insects varied in different countries, as he had 
found the species in question flying in numbers over 
heathy places near Norwich many years ago. 
The last-named gentleman also read a paper contain¬ 
ing descriptions of the larvm of several kinds of beetles, 
including Velleius dilatatus, found in hornets’ nests by 
Professor Henslow; Elater rhombeus, found in a de 
cayed tree at Pan; Boletopliagus reticulatus, found in a 
large Boletus, in Scotland, by Mr. Foxcroft; and Pros- 
tomis mandibularis, found in rotten Walnut trees, in 
France, by Mr. Curtis himself. 
A very well-arranged Agricultural Show took place at 
Aylesbury, on Wednesday the 12th inst., when fourteen 
silver cups were awarded to the different owners of 
cattle, the stock exhibited being both numerous and of 
excellent quality. By very far the most interesting 
feature of the day, however, was the spirited compe¬ 
tition for a very massive silver teapot, valued at twenty 
guineas, the liberal gift of the Baroness Meyer de 
Rothschild, being by far the most valuable prize that has 
ever been awarded at a poultry exhibition. Fourteen 
individuals competed, the regulations limiting the 
entries “ to parties holding not less than fifty acres of 
laud, and the prize to be awarded to the four best and 
most useful pens of poultry for agricultural purposes 
(of four different varieties), the property of a single in¬ 
dividual.” The result proved in favour of Mr. Ed. 
Terry, of Aylesbury, who exhibited Grey Dorkings, 
Black Spanish, Buff Cochins, and Aylesbury Ducks. 
These were very excellent specimens, more especially 
the Dorkings and Cochins, which were superior to the 
general run of birds we meet with at exhibitions. Mr. 
Rd. Fowler, and others, also were exhibitors of very 
meritorious fowls. The services of Mr. Edward Hewitt, 
of Birmingham, were obtained asjudge on this occasion, 
and the interest in poultry matters thus excited, has de¬ 
termined the acting committee to very shortly hold 
another similar exhibition. 
ADVICE TO SMALL HOLDERS. 
I must now cast an eye over those vegetable adjuncts 
which may he said to belong to the garden rather than 
the field. But that strict line of demarcation which 
has hitherto kept these twin arts from such a cordial 
and enduring agreement as when once thoroughly 
recognised will give equal impetus to both, is gradually 
losing its distinctions, and, I hope, in a very few years, 
a great proportion of our British acres will have so 
much advanced in high culture as to puzzle a spectator 
iu deciding whether they he farms or gardens. 
The chief vegetables applicable to cow and pig 
feeding, or capable of being made subservient to a i 
system which aims at a combination of farming and 
gardening, are as follows;—as usual, I place them in the ! 
order of their importance as near as may be:—Cabbages ; 
and the various greens, Beans, Peas, Lettuces, Jeru¬ 
salem Artichokes, and Spinach. 
