1854.] Linnean Society. 333* 



June 20. 

 Thomas Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



The President exhibited two specimens of the Megalopoid form of 

 the genus Planes, and made some observations on their structure 

 and affinities. 



Read an extract from a Letter dated " Santarem, 27th March, 

 1854," addressed to Samuel Stevens, Esq., F.L.S., by Mr. H. W. 

 Bates, " On some Particulars in the Natural History and Habits of 

 Termites." 



" It is curious," Mr. Bates says, " that for two months before re- 

 ceiving your last letter, I have been attending to the Termites. I 

 began first to look for M. Schiodte's new Staphylini, and ended by be- 

 coming greatly interested in the Termites, without, however, finding 

 the Staphylini. Some of the results of my examination up to the 

 present date I intend to send on a separate sheet ; the specimens will 

 foUow next month. I have examined about a hundred colonies. 

 Some of the results I have come to are, — that there are no truly 

 apterous imagos ; that there are only two kinds of larvae, fighters and 

 workers ; that a large hillock is always an agglomeration of many 

 very distinct species, which build with very different materials ; that 

 some species cherish only one $ and one <? adult in a colony, 

 whilst others have a great number (50 or 100) adults, the <? and 

 $ in about equal numbers ; lastly, I have detected a very good 

 character to distinguish S and $ in the pupa and adult states, and 

 have found pupae in various stages of growth or ecdysis, without, 

 however, as yet detecting the first moult from the larva to the pupa, 

 to decide what becomes of the monstrous apophyses of the head, and 

 the mandibles of the soldier (fighter) larva." 



Read also a Letter addressed to the Secretary by Dr. George 

 Buist, " On the Construction of the Nest of a Species of Mason- 

 Wasp in the Neighbourhood of Bombay." 



" I observe," says Dr. Buist, " that some specimens of the nest of 

 the Mason-Wasp or bee from India were placed before a late meeting 



No. LIX*. — Proceedings of the Linnean Society. 

 i ' u -. 



