QQ [September, 1866, 



Mr. Bates remarked that lie had found nnmerous species of this family iu South 

 America, but in no instance had he met with one of nocturnal habits. 



Mr. McLachlan, Mr. Weir, and others, alluded to the small species found in 

 this country, commonly at night, on the sugared trees of lepidopterists.* 



The President stated that, with reference to the sound produced by insects of 

 the genus Boliocerus, alluded to at the meeting on the 3rd April last, he had com- 

 municated with Mr. OdewEilm, at Gawler, and he had received a letter from him, 

 explaining that it was caused by the rotation of the posterior coxae in the cotyloid 

 cavities. This, he had no doubt, was the true explanation of the cause of the sound. 



Mr. Edward Saunders exhibited a specimen of a rare British beetle, Trachys 

 pygmceus ; this he had captured in a marshy place near Lowestoft. 



Professor Westwood distributed some circulars from Mr. Armistead, of Leeds, 

 asking for speciufiens of, and information about, galls and gall-insects. 



Mr. Sharp exhibited specimens of the new British Cryptocephalus {G. decem- 

 punctatus) recently taken by him at Rannoch. Amongst them were specimens of 

 the black variety which Linne had described as a distinct species under the name 

 of Bothnicus. He also exhibited the larva of Dictyopterus Axtrora, from the same 

 locality. 



Mr. Stevens exhibited a portion of a collection of insects, sent over from Santa 

 Martha by Mr. Bouchard ; and the Secretary read Mr. Bouchard's letter, detailing 

 his experience of collecting in that locaUty. 



The Secretary read a letter, from Mr. S. Stone to Mr. F. Smith, dated in April 

 last and remarking on the extraordinary abundance of female wasps at that time. 

 Mr. Stainton, Mr. Saunders, &c., also spoke on the same subject, and alluded to 

 the fact that, notwithstanding the great numbers of females seen iu the spring, 

 there were no wasps about at the present time ; a fact which Professor Westwood 

 thought might be owing to several very heavy showers of rain, which had probably 

 drowned them. Mr. Saunders stated that at Reigate the rain-fall had been very 

 small this season, and on no occasion had there been more than one inch in twenty- 

 four hours. 



Lieut. Beavan sent from Calcutta beautiful drawings of the transformations of 

 the Tusseh silkworm. 



The Secretary read an extract from the Journal of the Society of Arts, recording 

 the fact that Bomhyx Atlas had been recently reared in France. Mr. Moore stated 

 that he had last year bred this insect in London. 



Mr. Dunning exhibited a singular example of Fidonia piniaria, captm-ed by him 

 on the 11th of June, 1850, in Yorkshire. This specimen, from the form of the 

 abdomen and antennae, was evidently a female, but the markings nearly approxi- 

 mated to those of the male. 



Mr. Dunning made some remarks on the use of the terms " Hermaphrodite," 

 " Pseudogynous," " Hemigynous," &c., as apphed to insects, and a discussion 

 ensued, in which Professor Westwood, Mr. Weir, and others, took part. 



Mr. C. A. Wilson sent some notes on the Buprestidce of South Australia. 



Mr. Baly read " Descriptions of new genera and species of Phytophaga," des- 

 cribing two new genera and eighteen now species. 



* Mr. Bond informs us that he has very frequently found Acrida viridUtima at sugar.— EDa. 



