PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES, 
21 
Dowden (Richard), Esq., were elected corresponding members; and Robert Barton, 
Joseph Greene, and George Norris, Esqrs., were elected ordinary members of the 
Association. 
The President then stated that the following resolution had been agreed to :— 
“ Resolved—That the members of the Dublin University Zoological Association 
have received, with extreme sorrow, the President’s announcement of the prema¬ 
ture death of their excellent corresponding member, the late Professor Edward 
Forbes; they deeply sympathize with his many friends at the loss which, as indi¬ 
viduals, they have sustained, and with naturalists, generally, at the death of one 
whose well-ordered mind and high talents had so much contributed to raise to its 
present philosophical character zoological study, and from whom, in the eminent 
position he had obtained, much was expected for the future. They call to mind, 
with melancholy gratification, the interest he evinced for the progress of the Asso¬ 
ciation, the valuable advice he gave at its formation, and the lucid information he 
afforded when he attended its meeting.” 
Dr. Ball stated, that the collection of Artie Zoology would not be exhibited until 
he could secure the presence of Captain M>Clintock, who would then give much 
useful information about them. 
Mr. Lamprey read the following letter, from his brother, Dr. Lamprey, of the 
15th Regiment, Ceylon, Corresponding Member:— 
“ Kandy, October 9, 1854. 
“My Dear Brother, 
“ My boy brought me the insects and the wool-like substance which I enclose 
in this letter—the history and description of which I will endeavour to give; and, 
perhaps, some of your entomological friends will be able to recognise them. I was 
struck, some time ago, by observing a white, wool-like substance, of a beautifully 
fine texture, and very strong, on a leaf of a white-blossoming plant (. Datura , I 
think) ; and on opening it at the time I found a quantity of small eggs, which I 
fancied were the eggs of a spider; but I mislaid the specimen, and thought nothing 
more of it till my servant-boy brought me another specimen, which he found on a 
leaf of a mulberry (morus) plant. Unfortunately he tore it nearly off, but I think 
you will be able to understand what it was like when you refer to the diagram and 
examine the enclosed. I observed a number of larvae crawling about the leaf, and 
thought that they were those of the common horse-fly. On examining them a few 
days after, I found them very torpid. When I first got them, I put some on a 
piece of raw beef, and others on a piece of plantain, to ascertain whether they sub¬ 
sist on animal or vegetable substances ; but they touched neither; on the contrary, 
they died soon after. 
“ Unfortunately I was sent to an out-station to do duty, and was not able to 
observe them further ; but on looking into the box in which I left them during my 
absence (about three weeks) I found that, instead of torpid larvas, there were a 
number of flies scattered all around, and all dead. I was much disappointed, in 
every sense of the word, and am puzzled to find out whether one fly, as small as 
the enclosed, could manufacture such a large quantity of silk. That the silk is not 
the product of a caterpillar, I have every reason to believe; and you can ascertain 
this point by opening the mass, and you will not find a chrysalis, or anything 
indicative of such a fact; and my finding eggs in an earlier stage, sufficiently 
satisfies me on that score. The larva, before changing to the fly, formed a chry¬ 
salis of its own in the substance of the wool, which you can see; perhaps you may 
also find a matured fly unescaped. 
“ It would be a valuable discovery if it could be ascertained how to rear the 
insect which produces this substance, as its texture is so beautiful—of extraordinary 
fineness, strength, and purity of colour (white). 
“ I will endeavour to send you a variety of the same, which I found attached 
to the walls of a garden well; but the animal producing it is aquatic, and the sub¬ 
stance, though four times the size, is slimy, and, I fear, too bulky to send by post. 
I found masses on the leaves and stems of the trees overhanging the water, as well 
as on the wall of the well. I have sent my boy out for a specimen. The 
variety I first described is not very common, and but occasionally met with.” 
