150 Entomological Society. 



November 2nd. — J. Walton, Esq., V.P. in the Chair. 



Mr. Westwood gave an account of several recent observations 

 made by him relative to the development of the Myriapoda, exhibit- 

 ing specimens and drawings of some minute individuals of Lithohius 

 forcipaius, which diiOfered from each other in the number of limbs, 

 one having only eight pairs of feet, another ten, another eleven, 

 whilst one, which was a quarter of an inch long, had gained fifteen 

 pairs. In the former individuals there were several pairs of ex- 

 tremely minute appendages arising at the sides of the rudimental 

 terminal segments of the body ; but in the last-mentioned specimen 

 the terminal segment of the long hind pair of feet were fully de- 

 veloped. He also exhibited a full grown Lithohius, one of the pe- 

 nultimate legs of which was very short, and which he considered 

 was the result of an arrest of development, and not the reproduction 

 of the limb. He would also explain in the same manner the cause of 

 the minute size of one of the feet of several specimens oi Scolopendra 

 which had been exhibited at former meetings of the Society, in all 

 which it was one or other of the hind feet which was of a diminished 

 size. He also exhibited a small slender white wingless insect, one 

 sixth of an inch long, captured running on the ground, possessing six 

 feet and two very long anal filaments, thus resembling the larva of 

 a Staphylinus, but having multiarticulate antennae, and broad 4-den- 

 tate mandibles ; the abdominal segments were also furnished at the 

 sides beneath with very minute short filaments. Hence as this 

 insect would not accord with the larvaj of any known group of in- 

 sects, he deemed it possible that it might constitute a new genus of 

 Myriapoda in an undeveloped state. 



The following memoirs were read. 



Notice of a simple method of entrapping and destroying Wasps. 

 By the Rev. F. W. Hope. This plan, which is veiy serviceable in 

 protecting wall fruit, consists in placing pieces of the fruit or bits 

 of meat under a hand glass raised an inch or two above the ground, 

 having one of the top panes taken out or a small hole made at top, 

 •with another hand glass placed on the top of the lower one ; the 

 insects being attracted to the food fly upwards into the upper glass, 

 and are easily destroyed by introducing a fcM' lighted matches into the 

 upper glass. This plan is mentioned by Mr. Ingpen in his instruc- 

 tions for collecting, and Mr. Marshall stated that he had also known 

 it used for collecting nocturnal Lepidoptera, a light being used under 

 the glass to entrap the moths. Mr. Bainbridge also mentioned that 

 by hanging dead birds or pieces of flesh in front of wall-fruit trees 

 the fruit would be left untouched. 



The continuation of Mr. Westwood's memoir on the' Linnsean 

 StaphylinidcB was also read. 



December 7th.— The Rev. F. W. Hope, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Evans exhibited a specimen of Paussus Burmeisteri, and a 

 new species of Chiron, which he had recently received from South 

 Africa. 



