2J.0 [March, 1675. 



Sir S. S. Saunders exhibited a nest of Polistes gallica from Corfu, partly manu- 

 factured from play-bills posted near where it was found, and shewing the various 

 colours of the paper used by different 'strata' in tlie cell walls. In connection with 

 this exhibition, and with Sir John Lubbock's recent remarks (at the Linnean Society) 

 on the power ascribed to bees and other social Hymenoptera of communicating facts as 

 to stores of food, &c., he mentioned that he had placed this nest (containing larvae), 

 with one imago, outside a window, but within Venetian blinds, covering it with a 

 tumbler, which was removed in the morning, when the Polistes sallied out, and in 

 due time brought with her two companions to assist in feeding the larvae. Strangers 

 intentionally added from other nests were attacked and driven away. 



Mr. F. Smith stated that iie had introduced CoUetes cunicularis (a bee taken a 

 few years ago in the Isle of Wight, and subsequently near Liverpool) into suitable 

 localities at Shirley, in April, 1872 ; and in 1874 Mr. H. D'A. Power took an indi- 

 vidual there (which was exliibitcd) proving that the attempt at colonization had been 

 so far successful. 



Mr. Butler read ' Contributions to the Rhopalocera of Austi-alia." 

 Mr. W. A. Lewis read a paper on ' Entomological Nomenclature.' 

 The President nominated Messrs. J. W. Dunning, F. P. Pascoe, and J. Jenner 

 Weir as Vice-Presidents for the year. 



IZth February. — The President in the Chair. 



F. H. Ward, Esq., of Springfield, near Tooting, was elected a Member. 



Mr. Phipson exhibited a singular variety of Sirenia clathrata from Basingstoke, 

 the vmigs being nearly unicolorous (fuscous), with a few pale spots. 



Mr. F. Smith exhibited a further collection of Hymenoptera from Calcutta, sent 

 by Mr. Kothney. It consisted of 1573 individuals in beautiful condition, but with 

 probably not more than twenty-five undescribed species. 



Mr. Verrall exhibited a number of living fleas, taken two days previously from 

 the ears of a i-abbit near Lewes ; they were gregarious in this situation, which con- 

 dition he thought might be owing to the animal being unable to remove them by 

 Bcratching, owing to the pendant nature of the ears. In connection with this subject, 

 he alluded to a communication made to him by Mr. McLachlan, regarding a species 

 of PidicidcB from Ceylon, living gregariously, and closely packed (affixed by their 

 probosces) on a small portion of llie skin of the neck of a fowl, as exhibited at a 

 recent meeting of the Microscopical Society, and in the possession of Mr. Curteis, of 

 244, High Ilolborn. He had once found a nimiber of fleas just before the tail on a 

 dog's back, thus, also, in a position from which the animal could not dislodge them. 



Mr. Colo said he had found fleas in a hedgehog ; and Mr. W. A. Lewis had 

 observed them on a marmot in Switzerland. 



Mr. Dunning called attention to a recent extract from a French paper, in wliich 

 it was stated that a paint could be manufactui-ed fi'om cockchafers. 



The Rev. R. P. Murray stated that Mr. Edwards, the author of the magnificent 

 illustrated work on ' North American Butterflies,' was desirous of obtaining pupie of 

 Pievis napi. 



