Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/418

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THE ZOOLOGIST.

Mr. Enock remarked, with reference to a spider which had been exhibited by Sir Sidney Saunders at a previous meeting as Atypus Sulzeri, that he had taken the specimen himself at Hampstead, and that he had since referred it to the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, who stated that the insect was certainly not A. Sulzeri, but that he considered it to be A. Beckii (Cambridge), which would probably be found to be the same as A. piceus (Thorell), though he was not certain, as the only female which he had of that species was too much damaged to admit of any satisfactory comparison. The type of A. Beckii was an adult male given to him by the late Richard Beck, who was uncertain of the locality, though Mr. Cambridge appeared to think it probable that he had got it from Hampstead, as he often collected there. The example sent to him by Mr. Enock was different from the Isle of Wight species, of which he had several female specimens, but no males, though he believed them to be A. Sulzeri. He would be very glad if collectors in the Hampstead locality would look out for the males in the autumn and winter, as if he could obtain that sex it would enable him to put the question, as to species, at rest.

Mr. Enock exhibited a bottle containing a great number of larvae of Cossus ligniperda, which he had found in a portion of a small willow. He had taken fifty-six larvae out of a piece of wood four feet long.

Mr. Dunning again directed the attention of members to the exhibition by Mr. Jenner Weir, at the last meeting, of a female specimen of Cicada montana, which was reported to have been distinctly heard to stridulate, notwithstanding that the insect was a female, and also that the species was one of which even the males were not previously known to stridulate. Mr. Weir stated that since the last meeting he had again been to the New Forest, and had seen, in the possession of Mr. James Gulliver, of liamnor, near Brockenhurst, two specimens of Cicada montana, and he was assured by Mr. Gulliver that the stridulation of the insect was well known to him, and that he was guided by the sound so made in effecting the capture. Mr. Champion said that he himself had captured the insect, and had distinctly heard a loud buzzing noise, but whether the sound was caused by the males or females he could not say. Mr. Dunning considered that further evidence was wanting to prove stridulation in the females.

A paper was read by Mr. W.F. Kirby, entitled "Notes on the new or rare Sphingidæ in the Museum of the Royal Dublin Society; with remarks on Mr. Butler's recent Revision of the Family."

Papers were also communicated, by Mr. J.S. Baly, on "Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Cryptocephalidæ," and by the Rev. H Gorham—"Descriptions of new Species of Cleridæ."