1877.] 14,1 



South Russia, and the CaucasTis, I found a live specimen on the stable wall of this 

 Rectory, iu the third week of last August. No circumstance likely to account for 

 its introduction occurs to me. — Eustace F. Clark, Ufton Eectory, near Southam, 

 Warwickshire : Ibtk September, 1877. 



Untomology underground. — A few days ago, whilst going through a colliery in 

 South Yorkshire, I saw Pyralis farinalis flying in the workings more than a quarter 

 of a mile underground, and the cobwebs contained quantities of remains of the same 

 insect. One of the colliers informed me that they often killed " mosquitoes," 

 which seemed to possess strange qualities. Upon investigation, it appeared to me 

 that the " mosquitoes " were a species of Sirex, which had probably escaped from 

 the mine props. — Howard Yaughax, Bromley, Kent : 2Sth September, 1877. 



6bituarir. 



Captain Alwin S. Sell. — Believing that this Magazine will be increased in value 

 by being made the record of departed natui-alists who have contributed directly or 

 indirectly to its pages, I send you the following brief account of one, who though 

 little known to the public, was, nevertheless, an ardent lover of natural history. I 

 have had, before now, to announce the discoveries of Captain Alwin S. Bell, of the 

 2nd West India Regiment, on Sherborough Island, from whence he sent home new 

 species of lolaus of great beauty ; and have also described some new species of 

 butterflies, which he took on the memorable march to Coomassie, where, in his 

 coiuitry's service, he was so prostrated by fever, that he never recovered his health, 

 and, to the deep regret o'f those who knew him, died at Harrogate on the 24th of 

 September last. My collection contains several memorials of his generous kindness. 

 — [W. C. H.] 



Entomological Society of London : ^rd October, 1877. — Professor J. O. 

 Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Distant exhibited pieces of dry hides from China, riddled by the ravages of 

 Dermestes vulpinus, which had swarmed in that particular importation to such an 

 extent, that deterioration in value from 15 to 20 per cent, was the result. 



Mr. McLachlan also refciTcd to the subject, and showed a portion of a wooden 

 case in which hides had been imported from SJianghai, reduced almost to powder by 

 the borings of the insects. 



Professor Westwood exhibited the pupa of a Ti-ichoptcrous insect, and made 

 some remarks on its structure. Also a small Lepidopterous insect from Lake Nyassa 

 (apparently a Psyche), which was said to have emerged from the pupa-caso of a 

 Tachina, but there was evidently some uncertainty or error of observation. He next 

 referred to the subject of the Lepidopterous larva (exhibited at the last Meeting) 

 attached by a thread-like substance to the dorsum of the abdomen of one of the 

 FulgoridcB {Eurybrachys spinosa), and was inclined to think it was a true case of 

 parasitism, the larva probably feeding on the waxy secretion of the llomoptcron. 

 Mr. Wood-Mason, in referring to this and other instances, looked upon them as ex- 

 amples of commensalism rather than of parasitism. A discussion on this subject 

 took place, in which many members joined. Prof. Westwood mentioned that Mr. 

 Bates had found, in Brazil, numbers of a small moth on the living body of a sloth. 



