26 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
Lecture: A lecture entitled, ‘‘Observations in 
America,’’ illustrated with a large number of lantern 
slides, was delivered by W. M. Carne, Esq. 
Mr. Carne gave an interesting account of his travels 
in the United States of America, explaining the methods 
adopted for the cultivation of plants on the various ex- 
perimental farms and irrigation areas visited; and also the 
methods of teaching in the numerous colleges and univer- 
sities. Several views of the native vegetation, including 
the Cactaces, so common in Mexico, as well as a number 
of different plants, including Australian Eucalyptus, used 
for street planting. A cordial vote of thanks was pro- 
posed by Messrs. A. A. Hamilton and BH. Cheel, and car- 
ried by acclamation. 
Exhibits: Mr. A. A. Hamilton exhibited specimens of 
Styphelia tubiflora and Symphyonema paludosum, and read 
some interesting notes thereon. 
Mrs. Spencer brought for exhibition an interesting 
specimen from Bundanoon, which Mr. J. E. Carne, F.G.S., 
explained, was Spirifer Sp., a characteristic fossil of the 
Upper Marine beds of the Permo-Carboniferous Strata. 
PORISMUS STRIGATUS. 
By L. Gallard. 
The parent stage of P. Strigatus is well known, but, 
so far, | have not been able to find any description of the 
larvee, or any notes on the life history. In Mr. Froggatt’s 
Australian Insects, p. 63, there is a figure of a larva, 
doubtfully supposed to belong to this species. During 
the last two years, I have been fortunate enough 
to get the larve and breed them out, and I now offer 
these few notes on the life history. The larva is long and 
ferret-like in shape, with head and 12 body segments. 
The segments are separated by such deep constrictions 
that they have a highly scolloped or beadlike appearance. 
The mandibles are long, and project almost straight out 
from the head longitudinally, but are turned slightly up- 
wards towards the point. They are not turned inwards 
at the point like the other lace wings which have to grasp 
their prey while running about. These mandibles appear 
to be specially constructed, to enable the insect to drive 
them through bark to where its prey is concealed, in either 
cocoons or cells. The Antenne are long, and generally 
carried curled at the ends, and the labial palps are also 
highly developed. 
Eggs laid April 4th to 11th, hatched May 2nd to 5th. 
A number of cocoons which I collected hatched towards 
the end of March and early in April. 
ee 
