474 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
volume of “ Memoirs of the Smithsonian Institute,” 
contains a curious paper on the parasitic species of 
plants and animals growing in the bodies of animals. 
Mr. Stainton presented a Catalogue of the library of 
the late Mr. Stephens, preceded by a very interesting 
biographical notico of that distinguished Entomologist. 
A work by Messrs. Candeze and Chapuis, entirely 
devoted to the larvae of Coleopterous insects, was also 
presented, being a valuable contribution towards the 
science. The first part, also, of a new projected work 
by M. Jekel, of Paris, was also upon the table, remark¬ 
able for having the text entirely written in Roman 
characters, in lithograph, by the author himself. This 
novel plan has been adopted with the view of issuing 
at a much lower price than could otherwise be done, 
works of a limited circulation. The title of this work 
is “ Eahricia Entomologica,” and it is chiefly devoted 
to the description of new species of Curculionidce. M. 
Candeze, of Liege, communicated a request to be 
favoured by English Entomologists with species of 
Elatendce in their collections, being engaged upon a 
monograph of that family. It was also announced 
that a new part of the “ Transactions of the Society ” 
(vol. ii. n.s., part 0), with two coloured plates, repre¬ 
senting the transformations of various small species of 
Lepidoptera, was ready for distribution amoug the 
members. Mr. F. Bond presented a series of fine 
specimens of the rare Pyralis farinalis, captured in 
Cambridgeshire, in an outhouse attached to an oil mill. 
The business of the Meeting consisted almost entirely 
of notices of the captures of rare and new species of 
minute Lepidoptera , and of their habits and economy. 
M. Weir exhibited specimens of the rare little Moth, ; 
Coleophora WocTteella , and the cases formed by its 
larvae, as well as specimens illustrating the history of 
another species which feeds in the inside of the capsules 
of Silene infiata. Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited some 
very fine specimens of Cynaida dentalis, which had 
been immersed in turpentine, and then covered with , 
powdered pipe-clay, to prevent them from greasing, j 
This is an excellent plan, which should be adopted with ; 
all specimens liable to grease, ns it does not injure the 
most delicate-scaled species. These, with specimens of 'j 
the rare Coleophora vulneraria, were taken near Dover, 
on the coast. Mr. Sam. Stevens exhibited an extraor- 
i dinary variety of Limemtis sibilla, the white markings 
' of the wings being almost suffused with black, taken 
at St. Osvth ; and a new Simaelhis, from Arundel. Mr. 
Westwood mentioned that he had reared a species of 
Coleophora, from a cased larva found on Asparagus. 
Mr. Edleston exhibited a specimen of Plusia hractea, 
to the eyes of which were attached the anthers of a 
Honeysuckle-blossom. He likewise offered specimens 
of this Moth to the members. Mr. W. Wing exhibited 
specimens of a new British Ypsoloplms (F. verhascellus), 
from Norfolk, found on Verhascum floccosam ; and Mr. 
Waring a new British Eudorea (E. phceoleuca). Mr. 
Douglas mentioned that he had observed a remarkable 
larva in the leaves of the Dogwood, which was destitute 
of true legs, and had only four rudimental prolegs. 
September 22. 
When full grown it forms a flattened case for itself, by 
cutting the two surfaces of the leaf in an oval form, j 
between which it is enclosed. A species, with nearly j 
similar habits, had been described by Reaumur, as j 
feeding upon the Vine, in Italy. Mr. Douglas also 
exhibited Oelechia hrizella, from the Statice armeria, 
near Brighton, and read a note from Mr. John Scott, of 
Renfrew, on the supposed indigenousness of Oelechia 
cerealella ; a single specimen only of this most de¬ 
structive Moth having been taken two years ago, at 
Renfrew. Mr. Stainton exhibited the cased larvae of 
O racilaria phasianipennella, Cosmopteryx eximia, and 
Elacldsta lestaceella , the last of which had been well 
described by De Geer. A note from Mr. Weaver was 
also read, on the claims of Lasiocampa callunee to be 
considered a species distinct from L. quercus; the periods 
of the year at which the two supposed species undergo 
their different transformations being very different; the 
former requiring two years, and the latter only one, to 
complete its changes. Mr. Westwood mentioned a plan 
which he had adopted for partially depriving hives of 
honey, and which lie considered superior either to 
fungus or chloroform; it consisted simply in driving 
the bees into an empty hive, by drumming on the out¬ 
side of the full hive, when the combs may be cut out at 
pleasure, and the bees returned in the same manner as 
before. 
On the Grey Shanyhaes, miscalled Brahma Poutra fowls, 
we have had many letters. One from Mr. Sheehan we 
have declined to insert, because he advertises attacks 
upon us in other papers, and his letters to us are 
advertisements of his own birds. 
Mr. J. M. Bryan, of Ingress House, Milton-on- 
Thames, says :— 
“ In your Number of the 8th inst., you justly condemn 
the want of good regulation in returning the birds from 
shows. I was a sufferer at the late shows in London. In 
your report of the show at Great Yarmouth, you omitted to 
say that I took the first prize for White Aylesbury Duck¬ 
lings, ten-weeks old. They were good, and fetched To 10s. by 
auction. I am of your opinion, that the so-called Brahma 
Poutras are only Grey Shanghaes. I received, direct from 
Shanghae, last month, by the Duke of Portland, a very fine 
grey hen. I enclose a few feathers from her for your in¬ 
spection; they are a fair average of her plumage. She 
arrived in very good condition, and is now laying eggs, daily, 
two-and-a-quarter-ounces each; she is low on the leg, and 
a square, well-shaped bird, over seven pounds weight. 
“ I am not aware that a dealer took a prize for Ducks at 
the Baker-Street Show, as your correspondent, “ Looker On,” 
states; but 1 certainly think Mr. J. Weston, of Oxford-road, 
Aylesbury, that took the first prize at Gloucester, and the 
second at the Surrey Gardens, ought to be considered as a 
duck-dealer, for he sends about 3,000 to the London market 
yearly." 
The feathers sent arc precisely like those on the 
Brahma Poutras. A clergyman also writes to us, that 
Mr. Weston is a poultry-dealer, and ought not to 
exhibit as an amateur. 
Another correspondent, signing as Verax, but who is 
known to us, writes as follows :— 
“ The public are much indebted to you for exposing the 
humbug of Brahma Poutra fowls. Many persons, myself 
among others, have received pullets, above one-half or two- 
