1886.] 143 



fair abundance from a manure-heap in this neighbourhood. The heap in question is 

 covered with a layer of sand, and the beetle usually occurs buried an inch or two 

 beneath the surface. I have taken most of my specimens by shaking tufts of grass, 

 &c., growing upon the heap, after tearing them up by the roots. The beetle is not 

 an easy one to find, as it feigns death when disturbed, and is almost undistinguish- 

 able from the debris among which it lies. Xantholinus fulgidus is plentiful in the 

 same heap. From decaying stumps in a copse close by, I have taken six examples 

 of the active little Choragus Sheppai'di ; Staphylimis stercorariiis has been fairly 

 common upon the shore. — Theodore Wood, St. Peter's, Kent : October 2nd, 1886. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society, 

 September IQth, 1886 : R. Adkin, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Cooper exhibited a series of Triphcena fimbria, L., bred from North Devon 

 pupse ; and a series of Zygcena filipendulce, L., showing marked variations of the 

 border of the posterior-wings. Mr. Adkin, Lophopteryx cuciilla, Esp. Mr. E. Joy, 

 a remarkable variety of Epinephele Janira, L. Mr. Wellnian, a series of Acidalia 

 hisetata, Hufn., from Folkestone ; a varied series of Bryophila muralis, Forst., from 

 southern localities, also B.par, lib., for comparison, and also Dianthoecia virgularis , 

 Hufn. Mr. W. G. Sheldon, Agrotis agathina, Dup. ; some discussion ensued as to 

 rearing the larvae of this latter. Mr. J. Jenner Weir, a specimen of an Agrotis 

 taken some forty years since, which has has not yet been identified. Mr. West 

 (Grreenwich), a long and variable series of Cryptocephalus pusillus, F., from West 

 Wickham. 



It was announced that as the Society's Rooms had proved quite inadequate on 

 the last occasion, the usual Annual Exhibition of Specimens of Natural History 

 would take place at the " Bridge House Hotel " on Thursday, the 25th Nov. next. — 

 H. W. Barker and W. A. Peaece, Ron. Sees. 



Entomological Society of London : October 6th, 1886. — Robert 

 McLachlan, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. W. Bartlett Calvert, of Santiago, Chili, was elected a Fellow. 



Mr. McLachlan exhibited a number of seeds of a Mexican species of Euphor- 

 liacecB, popularly known as " jumping seeds," recently received from the Royal 

 Horticultural Society. These seeds are known to be infested with the larvas of a 

 species of Totricidce, allied to the apple Tortrix ; they were first noticed by Prof. 

 Westwood at a meeting of the Society held on the 7th June, 1858, and the moths 

 bred therefrom were described by him as Carpocapsa saltitans {cf. Proc. Ent. Soc, 

 2nd series, vol. v, page 27). They have since been referred to both in Europe and 

 America. A discussion ensued in which Mr. Pascoe, Mr. Poulton, Mr. Roland 

 Trimen and others took part. 



Mr. Roland Trimen exhibited and read notes on some singular objects 

 found in the nests of Termites, and also in those of true ants, in South Africa. 

 They were apparently of the same nature as those from the West Indies described 



