PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
23 
without any markings. You may observe the disk-like, expanded form of its toes, 
which distinguishes this family from the ordinary frogs and toads. On seizing this 
creature I was struck with the great tenacity of its grasp, owing to the adhesive 
surface of its toes; it is thus able to creep up a wall, or jump from branch to 
branch. Their legs also, being remarkably long and muscular, are admirably 
adapted for jumping great distances. 
In conclusion, I may state, in reference to this interesting fact of the Hylus’s 
mode of spawning in trees, that it affords a third form in which we see the Batra- 
chia deposit their ova, and is not less remarkable than that adopted by the Su¬ 
rinam toad, which, you may remember, carries its young like so many balani on its 
back, till sufficiently matured to maintain an independent existence. In Ceylon 
such a provision is absolutely necessary to protect the ova from the depredations of 
snakes and other animals ; whereas in this country the ordinary method of spawning, 
with which we are familiar, is sufficient for all purposes of protection. 
LARViE INFESTING THE HORNS OF OREAS CANNA, ETC. 
Mr. Ilaliday made some remarks on two pair of antelope’s horns exhibited to the 
meeting, by J. M. Neligan, M.D. ; these horns belonging, one pair to Oreas 
Canna (PI. 1., Fig. 3), the other to Kolus ellipsiprymnus , were brought home 
from the Gambia about five months previously by J. Fitzgibbon, Esq., M.D., who 
lately purchased them from some natives in the market at Macarthy’s Island, 
being struck by their appearance, as they were perforated by grubs enclosed in 
cases which projected abundantly from the surface of the horns, although these 
were taken from freshly killed animals, the blood not having dried up on them when 
brought to market. The cases were cylindrical, and closed at the outer end like 
the finger of a glove ; extremely tough, and composed of a dark, brown felt, evi¬ 
dently the comminuted fibres of the horn. The largest were about two inches in 
length. Dr. Neligan had examined them when first received in Dublin, and found 
they contained larvse, then plump and fresh; but when Mr. Haliday first saw them 
they were shrivelled up, and the interior of the body so clotted that maceration failed 
to recover any trace of the vessels. Most of these larvae were found with the head 
outwards, indicating, probably, that they had arrived at their full growth, and had 
then turned round preparatory to the final transformation. The largest after 
being steeped were nearly an inch long (Fig. 4. natural size, 5 magnified side view); 
the body of a pale colour, without distinguishable markings, the head, the terminal 
segment, the legs, the ring of the prothoracic spiracles, and the hooklets of the pro¬ 
legs dark chesnut, tending to black on the head (Fig. 13, the head from above; 14, 
the same from beneath). The antennae (Fig. 20) scarcely as long as the man- 
dibulse ; three-jointed, tapering, the second joint longest, with a paler ring at its 
base and tip, the terminal joint exceedingly minute. The mandibles very strong, 
the end truncated and denticulated (Fig. 15, a mandible from outside, and also from 
within). The labrum sinnate emarginated (Fig. 16). The maxillae with a 
double lobe, the outer lobe armed at the end with three slender spines, and some 
fine hairs (Fig. 17, maxillae and labrum in position; 19, end of maxilla, 
with palpus), the conical four-jointed palpus shorter than the lobe. The com¬ 
pressed bilobed labium, armed at the base with a spine pointing backwards and 
upwards, the lobes finely ciliated (Fig. 18); the legs short (Fig. 8) ; the prolegs 
four pair, on the third—sixth abdominal segments, the hamuli on each between 
forty-five and fifty in number (Fig. 9) ; the last segment without prolegs, but the 
under plate emarginate (Fig. 10, last segment from above ; 11 ditto, side view ; 12 
ditto, from beneath). The abdominal spiracles were not to be detected in the skin 
cleaned and stretched (Fig. 6) ; (Fig. 7, the prothoracic spiracle). 
The habits of this larva made it probable that it belonged to some of the Tineidse, 
nor was there anything observed in its structure inconsistent with this ; the most 
remarkable point was the evidence that the horns had been thus infested, while the 
animal was yet living which bore them. 
Dr. Neligan called attention to the circumstance that in each pair it was the left 
horn chiefly that was attacked. The President showed some horns of the Gayal, 
from the University Museum, more extensively and indiscriminately perforated by 
a similar larva, as appeared from the remains of the cases about the apertures. 
