348 Zoological Society, 



Comparing the male Stylops with the female, Mr. Newport re- 

 marked especially on the peculiar organization of the former, as fitted 

 Tor special instincts, perfection of vision and celerity of flight, con- 

 jecturing that the object of this in Stylops may be the detection on 

 the wing of those Hymenoptera which carry about with them through 

 the air the apodal female that awaits impregnation; and showed 

 that all we yet know of the habits of Stylops is conformable to this 

 view. 



Returning then to the consideration of Melo'e, the author showed 

 that notwithstanding the structures with which it left the z^^ are fully 

 developed, they are so on an inferior type of organization, like Sty- 

 lops and like the Anoplura. The eye, although large and highly 

 sensitive to light, is still but a single ocellus, fitted only for near vi- 

 sion. The limbs although strong are unguiculated, like those of the 

 Anoplura, and fitted for clinging rather than for regular progression ; 

 and its mandibles, retaining the jointed, pediform structure of the 

 corresponding organs in the carnivorous Chilopoda, are fitted for 

 piercing soft structures, rather than for triturating or for incising 

 their food. This fact, overlooked by the author in his former memoir, 

 now induced him to believe that the young Melo'e pierces and preys 

 on the bee larva rather than that it subsists on its food. This he 

 believes also may hereafter prove to be the true habit of the larva 

 of most of the allied genera. 



Specimens of the larva and imago Stylops, and of the larva, nymph 

 and imago Melo'e, were on the table for inspection. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



January 26, 1847.— George Gulliver, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. 

 The following communication was read : — 

 Descriptions of Six New Species of Australian Birds. By 

 John Gould, F.R.S. 

 Cysticola lineocapilla, Gould. Cys. rufa; plumis capitis et 

 dorsi late conspicueque per mediam longitudinaliter nigro-fusco 

 striatis ; rectricibus maculd albd infra ornatis. 

 General plumage pale rufous, with broad and conspicuous strise of 

 blackish brown, forming lines down the centre of the feathers of the 

 head and back, the under surface fading into white on the throat 

 and centre of the chest ; tail-feathers with a conspicuous blackish 

 spot on the under surface near the tip ; irides light reddish brown ; 

 bill and feet flesh-brown. 



Total length, 3| inches; bill, \; wing. If; tail, I J ; tarsi, §. 



Hab, Port Essington. 



Remark. — Nearly allied to C exilis. 



MiRAFRA HoRSFiELDii, Gould. Mir. cinerea; mediis plumis, 



capite, dorso inferiore, alisque,fuscis; alis albo-marginatis ; guld 



serie macularum intense fuscarum semilunari ornatd. 



General plumage ashy brown, with the centre of the feathers dark 



brown, the latter colour predominating on the head, lower part of 



