i^'"i 189 



broken off after the insect was mature. Examination, howcTer, has shown me that 

 while the first and second joints are of the natural length and thickness, the third is 

 somewhat shorter, thicker, and slightly more clavate than usual, and is rounded off 

 at the apex, verj much like an ordinary terminal joint, but more obtuse. I infer, 

 therefore, that the loss of the fourth joint took place just at the period of the last 

 moult, when there was neither time nor material to form a substitution, and all that 

 could be done under the circumstances was to make the third joint while still soft as 

 much like an ordinary fourth as possible. It is the only instance of the kind I have 

 ever seen. 



Nearly all the examples of reproduction of antennte that have come under my 

 notice among the Hemlptera have been in Lygceina, which, from their terrestrial 

 habits, are more exposed to the attacks of enemies living like themselves in secluded 

 quarters under moss, grass, and tfe'irw; it will probably be found that the loss of 

 antennae is caused by geodephagous Carahidce, to which the tender asparagus-like 

 antennae may be the only portion of the otherwise unsavoury Hemiptera they could 

 eat. In the majority of cases, I presume the victim, in its struggle for existence, 

 manages to escape from its assailant after the amputation of one, or part of one, of 

 its antennae. 



The subject of the reproduction of last parts in the Ariiculata does not appear 

 to have received attention commensurate with its physiological interest ; this may 

 possibly be due to the inherent difficulties of investigating it, and the requirement 

 of patience and skill such as Newport brought to it. — J. W. Douglas, Lee : 14:th, 

 December, 1876. 



Homoptera flying in December. — Yesterday, a female Chlorita viridula, as 

 verdant and lively as if just perfected, flew into my room, and for her temerity I 

 made an example of her. The thermometer in the shade stood at 50", the wind was 

 S.W., and there were occasional gleams of sunshine ; these conditions doubtlesB 

 tempted other Typhlocyhidce to leave their winter quarters, though they did not 

 visit mine. — Id. : 4</t December, 1876. 



Entomological Society of London : Qth Dec, 1876. — Sir S. S. Satjndeks, 

 C.M.Gr., Vice-President, in the Chair. Professor E. Grube, of Breslau, and Dr. 

 Katter, of Putbus (the notice of whose election in our last No. was premature), 

 were elected Foreign Members ; and Lord Dormer was re-elected a Subscriber. 



Mr. McLachlan exhibited (by request of Mr. W. D. Roebuck, of Leeds) examples 

 of locusts taken last autumn in several localities in Yorkshire, over which county a 

 swarm had evidently passed (details are given in the present No. of this Magazine). 



Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited living larvae of the Trichopterous insect known as 

 Urachycentrus subnubilus, in their quadrangular cases^ reared from the eggs. He had, 

 on previous occasions, exhibited the same larva?, but had not, until now, succeeded 

 in keeping them alive for so long a time ; the cases being more than half-an-inch in 

 length, and the larvae healthy. Latterly ho found they would feed on water-cress 

 {Kaslurlium officinale). 



Mr. S. Stevens (on behalf of Mr. E. Eirchall) exhibited Cirrhcedia xerampelina, 

 var. unicolor, Agrolis lucernea, var. latens, and a small variety of Zygana filipendulce, 

 with its cocoon, which was whitish instead of yellow. 



