1879.] 141 



Mr. McLachlan exhibited specimens of an Hemipterous insect just received 

 from a gentleman residing near Canterbury, and -which were stated to be doing great 

 damage to hops, being known to the planters as the " Needle-nosed Flea." The 

 species was Anthocoris nemorum, and Mr. McLachlan suggested that it was sought 

 to destroy an insect that was probably of considerable benefit to the hop growers, 

 for, so far as was known, the Anthocoris is carnivorous, and feeds on small insects 

 and larvae. He also exhibited the larvae of one of the Embidce, forwarded to him 

 by Mr. Wood-Mason, who found them at Jubbidpore in India, chiefly under bricks 

 on the ground. The species was probably Oligotoma Saundersi, Westwood. He 

 further called attention to the subject of the sculptured stones on the shores of 

 Lake Leman, a subject he had twice already brought before the Society, on informa- 

 tion received from Professor Forel, the latter considering they might be due to the 

 action of certain Trichopterous larvse. Mr. McLachlan had recently examined 

 multitudes of these stones on the shores of Lake Neuchatel, and doubted much if 

 the sculptures were due to insect agency. He was more disposed to consider them 

 owing to Jlollusca, or possibly to several causes, for there was miich diversity in 

 the nature of the sculpturing, which might, however, be owing to the different 

 textures of the various stones. 



Mr. C. O. "Waterhouse stated, that with reference to the injury to hops, he had 

 recently inspected a hop garden in which great mischief had been done by Evaean- 

 thus iiiterruptus, assisted by a Lygus. These punctured the leaves, and holes 

 afterwards formed in them. 



Mr. Pascoe exhibited a remarkable species of Acrt/diidee, which he had recently 

 found hopping about on the surface of pools at Para, during his recent visit to the 

 Amazons. 



The Eev. A. E. Eaton exhibited larvae, pupae, and cases of a Trichopterous insect 

 belonging to the genus Sydroptila as restricted by him. He found them in the 

 Valais and in Savoy, frequenting rocks over which dribbling sprays passed ; they are 

 at first free, but afterwards form cases of fine mud. He noticed also that Sydroptila 

 fuscicornis, Schneider, formerly placed by him in the genus Phrixocoma, really be- 

 longed to the same genus. 



Sir John Lubbock exhibited Orchesella rufescens, a species new to Britain, taken 

 in Kent. 



Mr. Boscher exhibited coloured drawings of two varieties of the larva of Sme- 

 rinthus ocellatus, feeding on Salix viminalis and S. triandra respectively. Ho was 

 not aware that this instance of dimorphism in larvae had been recorded. 



Mr. Wood-Mason communicated notes as to the locality of Narycius (Cyphono- 

 cephalus) smaragdulus. 



Mr. Butler communicated "Descriptions of new species of SphingidcB." 



Mr. C. O. Waterhouse read " Descriptions of two new genera and species of 

 Coleoptera belonging to the TenehrionidcB and Ceranibycid<x respectively." He also 

 read a paper on " The affinities of the genus Polyctenes, Westwood, with a descrip- 

 tion of a new species." He considered the genus really belonged to the Diptera, 

 and this view he thought was confirmed by the existence of a new genus and species 

 of Diptera from Columbia {Euctenodes mirab His), -which in being blind, and in other 

 characters, showed affinity with Polyctenes, although evidently allied to Strebla. 



