500 EEPOKTS or MEETINGS. 



"With respect to the other point which Mr. Boyd and Mr. Hudd 

 seemed ,to consider quite conclusive, viz., that the winged forms in 

 emerging from their cases dragged out with them their pupa skin — 

 nothing conclusive can be proved from this fact if all the circum- 

 stances are taken into account. In the one case you have a fully 

 developed, vigorous insect, and in its struggles to get free, the pupa 

 skin is dragged out of the case either fully or in part. On the other 

 hand, the apterous form is most sluggish, and is not only quite 

 wingless, but almost legless: the wonder to me is not that it does 

 not drag out its pupa skin, but that it is able to emerge at all. 



There is now no question at all that these singular apterous 

 females have in themselves the power of re-production for several 

 generations at least ; but I certainly am not prepared to admit that 

 they have the power of continuously re-producing themselves — a 

 conclusion to which we seem to be driven if S. Pomonoe is a true 

 species — since I first discovered this species, some fourteen or 

 fifteen years ago, I think I may say, positively, that no male form 

 has appeared, that is if Pomonoe is not a form of Melanella. It is a 

 question full of interest; and, now, that Mr. Boyd has again 

 drawn attention to the matter, it is to be hoped that it wiU not 

 again be lost sight of until the singular economy of these insects is 

 conclusively worked out. 



At the December Meeting of this Section, the Chairman, Mr- 

 S. Barton, called the attention of the \ members to the lamented 

 death of Mr. Sanders, and a motion was carried expressing the 

 sorrow of the Entomological Section at the great loss sustained by 

 the death of the President. 



Mr. W. K. Grrigg then read some further notes on Platypteryx 

 Sieula, and reported the capture of three additional specimens on 

 the 23rd, 24th, and 26th of June. He also mentioned, as of greater 

 interest, the fact of the larva of this insect having been discovered ; 

 one specimen of the caterpillar was beaten from lime by Mr. Thomas, 

 on September 11th, and was at once forwarded to Mr. Buckler for 

 figuring, and this had been satisfactorily ace omplished. 



