SOCIETIES. 241 



Dr. Sharp exhibited the soldiers and workers uf a species of Termite 

 found by Dr. Haviland in South Africa. He stated that these insects 

 possessed eyes and worked in daylight like Hvmenopterous ants, and 

 that in habits they resembled harvesting ants b}' cutting grass and 

 carrying it into holes in the ground. Dr. Sharp said that, although 

 these holes were ju'obably the entrance to the nests. Dr. Haviland was 

 unable to find the actual nest, even by prolonged digging, .so that the 

 winged forms were still unknown. He thought this species was 

 probal)ly allied to Tennei^ rinruiii of Snieathman, in which the soldiers 

 and workers possessed eyes and had been observed by Smeathman to 

 issue from holes in the ground, whose nests could not l)e discovered. 

 Mr. McLachlan observed that it was possible there might be species of 

 Termites without any winged form whatever. Mr. Kye called attention 

 to the action of the Conservators of Wimbledon Common, who had 

 been destroj'ing all the aspens on the common. He enquired whether 

 it was possible for the society to protest against the destruction of the 

 trees. Mr. Goss said he would mention the matter to the Commons' 

 Preservation Society. Mr. Francis Galton, F.E.S., read a paper entitled. 

 " Entomological Queries bearing on the question of Si)ecitic Stability." 

 The author said that the information desired referred to (1) instances 

 of such strongly marked peculiarities, whether in form, in colour or in 

 habit, as had occasionally appeared in a single individual in a brood ; 

 but no record was wanted of monstrosities, or of such other cliarac- 

 teristics as were clearly inconsistent with health and vigour ; (2) in- 

 stances in which any one of the above iieculiarities had appeared in 

 the broods of different parents. In replying to this question, he said it 

 would be hardly worth while to record the sudden appearance of 

 either albinism or melanism, as both were well known to be of 

 frequent occurrence;* and (8) instances in which anj' of these pecu- 

 liarly characterised individuals had transmitted their peculiarities, 

 hereditarily, to one or more generations. Mr. Merrifield stated that he 

 received some years ago, from Sheffield, ova of Selenia tetralunaria, the 

 brood from which produced, in addition to typical specimens, four of a 

 dark bronze colour, and from tliese he bred a numlier of sjjecimens of a 

 similar colour. Dr. ¥. A. Dixey referred to a variety of the larva of 

 Satnrnid carpini with pink tubercles. He said the imago bred from 

 this larva produced larvfe of which ten per cent, had jiink tubercles. 

 Professor Poulton said he had found larvae of Smerinthns oceUatns with 

 red spots, and that this peculiarity had been perpetuated in their 

 descendants. Mr. G. F. Hampson read a pajier bj* Mr. C. W. Barker, 

 entitled, " Notes on Seasonal Dimoridiism in certain species of Khopa- 

 locera in Natal." Mr. Merrifield said ht- was of ojfinion that a record of 

 the temperature at different seasons would be a very desirable addition 

 to observations of seasonal dimorphism. Mr. Hampson said he believed 

 that temperature had vei-y little to do with the alternation of forms. 

 At any rate, according to his experience, in India the wet season form 

 succeeded the dry season form without any ajiparent difference in the 

 temperature. Professor Poulton remarked that the apparent tempera- 



• We doubt very much whether it be even remoteh' true that " the sudden 

 appearance of either albinism or melanism " is known " to be of frequt^it occur- 

 rence." We take it that neither albinism nor melanism has anytliing but the 

 slowest process of development, but it is to be e-xpected that species, originally umch 

 darker or paler than now, would, under suitable conditions, show reversion. — En. 



