IS 



111 the dark, this larva emits a soft green lightj shining principally through the 

 sides of the body and the venter: on the back it appears only in the intervals 

 between the horny segments. The whole length of the larva being thus illu- 

 minated in the dark, when it mooves briskly about it is amost beautiful object. 



The larva is still alive, although I have little hopes that it will undergo its 

 transformation in captivity. But. I have not the slightest doubt now that it 

 belongs to Melanotics, the more so as this genus, in Dr. LeConte's arrangement, 

 is placed in the same subtribe (Corymbitini) with Pi/rophorus. 



At the time when I first described this larva, all the large specimens which 

 I possessed came from the South. (Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana) and I was 

 not aware that such specimens could be found in the Middle States, and as the 

 largest Melanactes occurs in the latter States, this made me doubt that the larva 

 could belong to that genus. The discovery of the larva iu the state of New- 

 York removes this doubt. 



Since it is settled that the larva is an elaterideous one, its structure only 

 gains in interest. As I have shown in my paper, it has more of the characters 

 of the LampyridoR than of the Elateridae, and. remarkable enough, it has very 

 little resemblance to the larva of Pi/rophorns. The latter reproduces the com- 

 mon type of the Elatcriden, and is very like the larva of Alaus. 



The following Papers wete presented for publication in the Proceed- 

 ing :— 



'• Contributions to the Natural History of the Cynipidse of the United 

 States and of their Galls, Article 4th, by Baron R. Osten Sacken." 



"Descriptions of new North American Coleoptera, by James H. B. 

 Bland." 



And were referred to Committees. 



NEW BUSINESS. 



The Report of the Committee appointed to frame By-Laws for a 

 Chapter on " Publication Fund," &c, read at the last meeting, was 

 taken up for a second reading. Each article as read was separately 

 acted upon, and unanimously adopted. 



The death of our late fellow member, Dr. Thomas B. Wilson, and 

 the resignation of Mr. George Newman, causing vacancies in several 

 of the Standing Committees, it was, on motion of Mr. Pine, resolved 

 that the Chair fill said vacancies by appointment. 



In accordance with the above, the Chair appointed Mr. J. H. Ridings 

 on the Committee on Diptera, and Mr. John Cassin on the Committee 

 on Publication, to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Thomas B. Wilson, 

 deceased; and Mr. Charles F. Parker on the Committee on Hymenop- 

 tera. to fill the uuexpired term of Mr. George Newman, resigned. 



ELECTIONS. 



On ballot, Messrs. William Montgomery and George B. Dixon, of 

 Philadelphia, were elected Resident Members of the Society. 



