1876.] 47 



before loading. It was suggested that the mischief was initiated by the parent beetle 

 laying lier eggs in the nuts when still in a green and soft state. IVFany larvae infested 

 each nut, reducing it to a rotten state. The metamorphosis took place in a cocoon 

 inside the nut, and specimens of the beetle were shewn, proving to be a species of 

 Caryoborus. 



Mr. McLacliIan, in connection with the above exhibition, placed before the 

 meeting the nuts of another species of palm fCopernicia ceriferaj from Bio, for- 

 warded to him by Prof. Dyer, and likewise infested by a species of Cari/oborus (alive 

 when he received them), which, according to the British Museum collection, is 

 C. hactris. In this case each nut served as food for only one larva, which bored 

 in it a cylindrical hole of considerable size and depth. 



Mr. E. A. Fitch exhibited seeds of a (probably) Leguminous plant from Egypt, 

 foi'ming an article of commerce, infested by a Bruchus to so great an extent that it 

 was estimated that a loss of 50 per cent, was occasioned. 



Prof. Westwood exhibited the larva of an Australian species of Uepialus (pro- 

 bably from Queensland) which had a long fungus, with four or five branches, growing 

 out of the back of the neck and from the tail; also the pupa of a British Noctua 

 with a fungus proceeding from the back of the neck. 



ilr. Fryer exhibited a curious variety of one of our QeometridcB, believed to 

 pertain to Rlelauippe rivata. 



Mr. McLachlan, on behalf of Dr. Atherstone, of South Africa, exhibited sundry 

 insects and insect-productions from that quarter. First, a couple of a very singular 

 Orthopterous insect of considerable size (belonging to the Acri/diideB), which, in 

 colour, and in its granulated texture, so exactly mimics the sand of the districts in 

 which it occurs as to render it almost impossible to detect it when quiescent. There 

 was some doubt as to the species to which it should be referred, but it approached 

 an insect noticed by Walker as Trachyplera scutellaris. Secondly, singular oval 

 flattened cases (open at each end by a slit) from six to eight lines in length, formed 

 of silk, to which was externally fixed a quantity of fine light brown sand. The cases 

 were formed under stones in sandy districts, and were stated by Mr. C. O. Water- 

 house to pertain to a beetle of the genus ParaJichas (Fam. Da.scillidce). Lastly, the 

 case of a species of (Ecelicus, of peculiar structure. The inner lining of the tube 

 was composed of toughened silk as usual, but to this was attached externally a 

 quantity of fine saml, and outside this a number of small angular pebbles, only the tail 

 end having a few rather long twigs and pieces of grass-stem : thus, the case differed 

 from those of most species, in which exclusively vegetable substances are attached 

 externally : the addition of the pebbles made the case (which was nearly two inches 

 in length) unusually heavy. 



Professor Wcstwood read descriptions and exhibited drawings of two very 

 singular forms of Coleopterous insects from Mr. A. R. Wallace's private collections. 

 For the first, which belonged to the TelephoridcB, he proposed the generic term 

 Astychina, remarkable for the form of the two terminal joints of* the antennae in 

 one sex, which were modified into what appeared to be a prehensile apparatus. The 

 other pertained to the Cleridce, and was termed Anisophyllus, differing from all 

 known beetles by the extremely elongated branch of the 0th joint of the antennae. 



Mr. Smith read "Descriptions of new species of Hyraenopterous insects from 

 New Zealand, collected by Mr. C. M. Wakefield." The number of known Hymen' 



