20 



Mr. Austin exhibited specimens of a wasp, Polistes metrica Say, . infested with 

 parasites. 



On motion the meeting was adjourned until 8 p.m. 



EVENING SESSION. 



Prof. Comstock exhibited specimens of a small Pyralid which is carnivoi'ous, feed- 

 ing in the larval state on the maple tree bark lice, under the cottony matter secreted by 

 the lice. He had bred forty of the moths fed in this way. 



Mr. Scudder drew attention to a very singular fossil, of which he had obtained 

 about 100 specimens, somewhat resembling the larva of an intsect, but yet quite differ- 

 ent from anything hitherto known. His remarks were illustrated by a figure of the 

 object. It consists of only six segments. 



Mr. Barnard exhibited specimens of Phymata erosa, which has proved quite 

 destructive to other insects ; they have been known to destroy quite a number of Fieris 

 rapce. Mr. Barnard exhibited a number of specimens which had been caught on the 

 burrs of the Bar dock. 



Prof, ililey stated that Pieris rapce was now quite common in Alabama ; it had been 

 seen as far as Selma, but had not yet reached Mobile. Mr. Scudder remarked that it 

 had been found in Savannah, Ga., two years ago. 



Prof. Comstock had received specimens of the Colorado Potato Beetle, tliis year, 

 from Manitoba, and thought that this was the farthest point north it has yet reached. 



Mr. Saunders made some remarks in reference to the capture of insects by the 

 flowers of a species of Bideiis, probably chrijsanthemoidcs ; the insects which he had 

 observed thus captured were Dipterous, all of whom had been caught by the mouth ; 

 some were found dead, others still living, but unable to withdraw their proboscis. 



In reference to the flight of butterflies, Mr. Lintner spoke of the enormous flocks 

 of Vanessa cardui which had been seen in Italy, Spain and Germany during the 

 summer. 



Mr. Grote referred to an undescribed insect for which he proposes the name of 

 Oiketicus Ahhotti; he had obtained the cases of this insect on the cotton plant in the 

 South, but had not seen the imago until he had reared it. This species is figured by 

 Abbot in unpublished plates in the British Museum ; it is referred to also in Harris' 

 Correppondeuce, edited by Scudder. 



Tue election of officers then took place, with the following result : — 



President. — S. H. Scudder. 



Vice-President. — A. E. Grote. 



Secretarij. — B. P. Maun. 



Alter some discussion it was agreed that in future it was desirable that the Presi- 

 dent and Vice-President hold office for one year only. 



The meeting then adjourned until the afternoon of the followingday. 



WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. 



Dr. Morris mentioned an interesting case of retarded development which had come 

 under his notice, where a specimen of Papiliu asterias remained in the chrysalis state 

 two years and a half before the imago appeared. 



Mr. Lintner remarked that instances of retarded development were common among 

 the Bombycidae, and especially mentioned cecropia ; it also occurs frequently among the 

 the Sphingida?, where a specimen will pass over one season until the next in the 

 chrvfialis state ; this has been supposed to be a natural provision for the perpetuation 

 of the species. 



Mr. Bassett inquired whether in such examples they were not uniformly females. 

 Mr. Lintner stated that in his experience both sexes were retarded. 



Piof. Martin exhibited transparent specimens of gum copal in which were imbed- 

 ded Hymenopterous insects. He stated that copal is a fossil resin of the post-tertiary 

 period obtained chiefly from Mazambique ; that he had found in this resin about fifty 

 species of insects, about one-third of which were Coleoptera, one-third Diptera and the 



