Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/378

354 was taken in the New Forest, and was the first of the species observed at the latter end of June.

Prof. Westwood called attention to a note in 'Nature' of June 27th (p. 226), reprinted from the 'American Naturalist' for June, and relating to the manner in which Lepidoptera escape from their cocoons. The article referred to is by Dr. A.S. Packard, who records his observations on Actias luna, and describes and figures the cocoon-cutter by means of which this moth cuts its way out. Prof. Westwood claimed priority for the 'Transactions' of the Society where similar observations are recorded by Capt. Hutton (1st series, vol. v., p. 85), who describes "the method by which Actias selene cuts its way through the cocoon," and also calls attention to an instrument which he names the "wing-spur."

Prof. Westwood also stated that he had recently heard of injuries done to potato crops by insects which had not hitherto been considered injurious, viz. Cetonia aurata, which had been found stripping the leaves, and a lepidopterous larva (probably a species of Botys) which bored into the stem.

Mr. Jenner Weir stated witb reference to the organs at the base of the fore wings in the large Bombycidæ, that lie had distinctly heard a clicking noise in the cocoon of Attacus polyphemus just before the emergence of the imago, caused without doubt by the creature's sawing asunder the silk threads with the organs in question. He had not heard the same noise in the cocoons of Attacus cynthia nor in those of A. cecropia.

Mr.Dunning read the following "Note on Spiders resembling Flowers":—

"At recent meetings of the Society we have had brought to our notice several interesting cases of resemblance between insects and plants, the suggestion being that the insects thereby obtain protection from foes, or that in some other way the resemblance is advantageous to them in the struggle for existence. The following observations, made by my friend Mr. Thomas Nottidge, of Ashford, appear to afford other instances of the same class of phenomena, in which spiders are the possessors of the pro- tective or imitative resemblance : — 'On the 11th May, 1878,' Mr. Nottidge writes, 'in the beech woods on the escarpment of the chalk between West- well and Charing, Kent, I noticed the Dumber and variety of the insects that visited the blossom of the wayfaring tree, Viburnum, and on taking the blossom in my hand, I found a spider most beautifully disguised both for protection and for the easier capture of her prey. The spider was all over of a pure creamy white, the exact tint of the flower, and her abdomen exactly resembled the unopened buds— of which there were many in each cyme of blossom — not only in colour, but also in size and shape. Nearly every bunch of blossom was occupied by one or more of these spiders, the young and half-grown ones being just like the full-grown ones in colour. The male was not so well disguised as the female, having a few black dots on his back and some black about the head and jaws. Many of the spiders