THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 3, 1858 
MEETING OE THE ENTOMOLOGICAL 
SOCIETAL 
The July Meeting of the Entomological Society was 
held on the 5tli instant, the chair being occupied by the 
President, Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., &c. Amongst the dona¬ 
tions to the Society’s library, received since the last meeting, 
were announced—The publications of the Royal Society, the 
j Society of Arts, the Royal Society of Science of Brussels, 
I together with the classed Catalogue of the Educational Di¬ 
vision of the South Kensington Museum, one of the most re¬ 
markable productions of the present day, and to which the 
Society had contributed, by the description of a small typical 
collection of British insects, belonging to the different orders. 
Mr. Frederick Smith exhibited a case of insects of different 
kinds (chiefly Lepidoptera) recently sent from Sierrra Leone, 
in fine condition, by Mr. Fox croft, and of which descriptions 
were read by Mr. A. White. It did not appear that any very 
important additions to our knowledge of new species had been 
made by Mr. Foxcroft: but he had forwarded interesting 
materials for a knowledge of the habits of many hitherto de¬ 
scribed species, especially among the Hymenoptera , of which 
ho had sent a number of nests, several of which were, how¬ 
ever, very similar to nests of the same, or allied species, sent 
from Natal by Herr Guenzuis. Among them was a leaf 
covered with finger-like galls, which were stated to have been 
formed by a black species of Thrips, being the first instance 
in which gall-making habits had been ascribed to that family. 
Mr. Francis Walker, however, stated that he had been led to 
believe, that the small erect, galls, found so commonly on the 
leaves of Lime trees, were also caused by a species of Thrips. 
Illustrations were also forwarded by Mr. Foxcroft of the 
habits of the green Ant, Formica smaragdina , which agreed 
with Mr. Jordan’s account of the habits of the ants in India. 
The nest of a species of Belonogaster, formed of a white 
material, was also exhibited. 
Mr. Westwood exhibited typical specimens of Microphysa 
pselaphiformis , and of the bisect found in ants’ nests by Mr. 
lanson, exhibited at the last Meeting, and which proved to be 
the Microphysa myrmecophila. The latter insect, however, 
was certainly not congenerous with the old type of the genus. 
Mr. Stainton exhibited the mining nest of a species of 
Nepticula, from Bahia, formed in the leaves of the large- 
fruited Guava, thus proving that the Microlepidoptera, in 
tropical climates, agree in their habits with those of our own 
country. He also exhibited Anthrocera minos , from the 
western coast of Scotland; and Cemiostoma lotella, which 
latter exhibition led to an extended discussion on the modifi¬ 
cation of species, the existence of permanent varieties, or sub¬ 
species, &c., in which Dr. Gray, Messrs. Westwood, Stainton, 
and others took part, the subject being one of considerable 
interest with reference to the specific rank of many supposed 
species, not only of insects but of plants. 
Mr. Baly read a communication on the genus Foryphora ,— 
a handsome group of Plant-Beetles, natives of South America, 
and comprising some of the largest species of Chrysomelidse. 
Mr. Samuel Stevens gave an account of Madame Ada 
Pfeiffer’s sojourn in Madagascar, which had, unfortunately, 
not proved so advantageous as her former travels in the 
islands of the Indian Archipelago. 
Mr. Adam White described a species of Nocliia, found in 
large numbers in Ceylon by Mr. Mitford, where it occurs in 
clusters on the Coffee plants, which are often covered with it. 
It is described as being grey, with black spots, and the under- 
wings black with white fringe. 
Mr. Tegetmeier communicated to the Society the descrip¬ 
tion of a new kind of observatory hive, in which the difficulty 
found in ordinary observatory hives, arising from the sides, or 
back, being formed of a single sheet of glass (which was found 
too cold in the winter), was avoided, by the employment of 
double plates of glass, placed at a little distance apart. He 
also mentioned an experiment he had lately made, with a view 
to the solution of the question, as to the normal form of the 
cell of the hive bee. Having fixed a solid piece of wax to the 
underside of a bar of a bar-hive, instead of the ordinary piece 
of guide comb, he found that the bees formed cylindrical cells 
within the mass of wax ; and he contended, that when these 
cylindrical cells came into close contact with each other, they 
assumed the hexagonal form by pressuro, a statement which 
275 
Dr. Gray illustrated by saying, that he had tied a bundle of 
vermicelli together, and, having boiled it, he found, that when 
tightly tied together, the cylinders assumed a hexagonal form. 
Mr. Tegetmeier further contended, that the cells are always 
hemispherical at the base at first; and that, although the inner 
sides may be angulated, the outer sides of the outermost row of 
cells, in a comb, are rounded, which, when subsequently an 
additional row is formed, become hexagonal by the lateral 
pressure of the new cells. He, in fact, denies that there is any 
geometrical instinct in bees. This view of the subject, al¬ 
though supported by Dr. Gray, was opposed by several of the 
members, and gave rise to an animated discussion. 
REMEDY FOR THE ROBBING OE BEES. 
In the early part of May, I observed that one of my weaker 
swarms was attacked by its more powerful neighbours, and 
was rapidly losing its valued treasures. The bees were rushing 
in and out with fearful rapidity, presenting an appearance at 
a distance not very dissimilar to the issuing of a first swarm. 
I plainly saw that something must be done, and that with¬ 
out delay, or my little colony must fall a victim to the ruthless 
invaders. 
Never having had a case of the kind before, I could not avail 
myself of past experience, and so, with a feeling of confidence, 
took council with my old guide, that had thus far safely led 
me through the mazy avenues of apiarian experience— 
Quinby’s “ Mysteries of Bee-Keeping Explained.” And then, 
as the sequel proved, I found precisely the thing needful. 
In discussing the subject of robbing, Mr. Quinby says : — 
“ As for remedies, I have tried several. The least trouble is 
to remove the weak hive in the morning to the cellar, or some 
dark, cool place, for a few days, until at least two or three 
warm days have passed, that they may abandon the search. 
The robbers will then, probably, attack the stock on the stand. 
Contract the entrance of this in accordance with the number of 
bees that are to pass. If strong, no danger need be apprehended.” 
He further adds on the next page 1 “ Another method is, 
when you are sure a stock is being robbed, to take a time when 
there are as many plunderers inside as you can get, and close 
the hive at once (wire-cloth, or something to admit ah-, and 
at the same time confine the bees, is necessary) • carry in as 
before, for two or three days, when they may be set out. The 
strange bees thus enclosed will join the weak family, and will 
be as eager to defend what is now their treasure, as they were 
before to carry it off. This plan succeeds about four times in 
five, when a proper number is enclosed. Weak stocks are 
strengthened in this way very easily; and the bees being 
taken from a number of hives, are hardly missed. The diffi¬ 
culty is, to know when there are enough to be about equal to 
what belongs to the weak stock ; if too few are enclosed, they 
are surely destroyed.” 
Now, as mine was a weak swarm, I concluded to try the 
latter method, hoping thereby not only to prevent further 
robbing, but also to strengthen the swarm. On checking the 
operations in that hive, by closing the entrances, the greedy 
little fellows flew around in wild excitement, still intent on 
plunder, and made a descent on several adjacent hives, when, 
by the aid of contracted passages of ingress and egress, they 
were enabled to repel their assailants, though not without a 
considerable sacrifice of life; and thus my apiary was soon 
restored to its wonted harmony. 
The hive in question was that evening removed to the cellar, 
from whence it was taken after the lapse of three days, since 
which it has been unmolested, and by the operation was 
transformed from a puny swarm to one of my most vigorous 
ones — a striking illustration of the remark, “ that evil 
designs are often thwarted that good may come therefrom.” 
My success was so complete, and so easily achieved, that I 
felt constrained to present it to your readers (though nothing 
new), believing there is no better way, when prudently 
managed, of disposing of this casual annoyance.—P., Chatham 
Center , N. Y. —( American Country Gentleman.) 
[There is nothing very new in the above paper. The plan 
recommended of removing the attacked hive is often useful; 
but in this country it would only be in exceptional cases, that 
strange bees could be caught in sufficient numbers, to strengthen 
materially the weak or plundered stock.] 
