104 THE entomologist's record. 



of the females when founding a new colony. The ants which infest 

 trees, constructing their nests in hollow parts of the branches, were 

 also specially dealt with, and the economic effect of their presence 

 described. The lecture was illustrated by a large number of speci- 

 mens, and also by means of drawings on the blackboard. 



Entomological Society of London. — March Ist, 1911. — Mr. G. T. 

 Bethune-Baker in the Chair.— A Beetle New to Britain. — Dr. Nichol- 

 son showed six specimens of Cholera fidviinosa, Er., an addition to 

 the list of British beetles, from Alphington, Devon. This species 

 closely resembles C. nigrita, Er., with which it has been mixed in 

 several collections, and is probably widely distributed in this country. 

 Larv^ of Sesias. — Mr. L. W. Newman exhibited some sticks (the 

 off-shoots of birch-stumps) containing larvae of .£'. cnliciforniis ; also 

 sticks of Salix caproea containing larvae of 'T. bembeciforme, one of 

 these showing the cap formed over the hole prepared for emergence. 

 This species is not usually supposed to form a cap. The larvae were 

 not, as is generally thought, confined to living wood, some of those 

 exhibited being in dead twigs. Also a living specimen of ^J:.'. culici- 

 formis, a species which the exhibitor remarked was easily forced. 

 Teratological Specimens. — Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker showed a 

 specimen of Erebia ceto which had been swept from the herbage with- 

 out its head, which was probably held fast by a spider ; nine hours 

 after capture this insect had still been capable of fluttering strongly. 

 He also exhibited a specimen of Erebia euryale var. adyte, with a half- 

 developed right hindwing ; a specimen of E. eriphyle with no left 

 hindwing, and a Melitaea varia with no right hindwing ; in the two 

 latter there was no trace of the wing ever having been developed. 

 Flea Eggs. — Mr. A. Bacot communicated a note confirming the 

 distinction made by the Hon. N. C. Rothschild between Ctenocep/ialus 

 canis and C. fells, both of which he had bred from the egg. He gave 

 measurements showing the difference in size and shape between the 

 ova of the two species, comparing them also with those of C. fasciatus 

 and Pulex irritam. Mr. A. Bacot also read a paper entitled : On the 

 Ferkistence of Bacilli in the Gut of an Insect (hiriny Metavwrphosis. 

 Commenting on this paper Dr. Chapman observed that in moulting 

 (referring chiefly to Lepidoptera) provision for increase of size is not 

 the only object in view, but also the removal of various possible 

 microbic enemies. In " laying up " for a moult, a larva almost 

 invariably first empties the alimentary canal ; at the actual moult, not 

 only the skin, but the lining membranes of the tracheae and of much 

 of the alimentary canal are cast also. The threads drawn from the 

 mouth and anus, consisting of the linings of the primae viae, often seem 

 long enough to represent the whole tube ; if this be so, then bacillary 

 inhabitants would be got rid of, and in any case must be so to a great 

 extent. It would be interesting to know what is the precise hiatus 

 between the oral and anal portions, and what provision there is for 

 establishing an aseptic condition of this portion of the tube. 

 Parasites. — Messrs. Ernest A. Elliott and Claude Morley communi- 

 cated A first snppUmentary paper on the Hy)nenopteroiis Parasites of 

 Coleoptera. Letter of Condolence.— The Rev. G. Wheeler, one of 

 the Secretaries, read a letter of condolence received by Dr. Chapman 

 from M. Charles Oberthiir, one of the Honorary Fellows, containing 

 an appreciation of the late Mr. J. W. Tutt. 



