1887.) l^ 



Mr. Wm. Warren exliibited specimens of Stigmonota pallifroniana, S. internana, 

 Asthenia pygnueana, Hiib., and A. abiegana, Dup. {subsequana, Haw.). Mr. Stainton 

 remarked that the two last named species both had white under-wings, and were, in 

 other respects, very similar. It was formerly thought that Haworth's subsequana 

 was identical with the species previously figured by Hvibiier as pygmaana ; but now 

 that the two allied species were critically examined it appeared that the species 

 described by Hawortli as subsequana was not MXibwer s pygmceana, but another species 

 known as the abiegana of Duponchel, dating only from 1842, so that Haworth's 

 name of subsequana had priority by thirty years. 



Mr. F. Pascoe exhibited a specimen of Diamines Taylori, Wath., taken out of 

 the stem of an orchid — Saccolabium cctleste — growing in an orchid-house at Croydon, 

 and received from Moulmein, in Burmah. 



Mr. McLachlan exhibited nearly 200 specimens of Neuroptera, in beautiful 

 condition, collected by Mr. E. Meyrick in various parts of Australia and Tasmania, 

 comprising about seventy species. There were between forty and fifty species of 

 Trichoptera, including moth-like forms from Western Australia, allied to Plectrutarsus, 

 Kol. ; and other species belonging to a group represented by Hydropsyche Edwardsii, 

 McLach. Among the Planipennia the most remarkable insect was a new species of 

 the singular genus Ps_yc^o;;*Js, Newm.,from Mount Kosciusko, where it was common. 

 Of I*seudo-Neu7'optera there was a species of Embiidce from Western Australia, 

 and certain curious I'socidce and Perlidce. The Trichoptera appeared to be exclu- 

 sively confined to Sericostomatidce, Leptoceridce , and Hydropsychidce. Mr. Meyrick 

 made some remarks on tlie localities in which he had collected the species. 



Mr. M. Jacoby exhibited a new species of Xenarthra, collected by Mr. Or. 

 Lewis in Ceylon ; also a species of Loxoprosopus from Brazil. 



Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited a living example of an Ichneumon — Ophion 

 macrurum — bred from a larva of Callosamia promethea, a North American species of 

 SaturnidcB. He also exhibited a number of wings of Lepldoptera denuded of the 

 scales and explained the raetliod he had adopted for removing the scales. The 

 wings were first dipped in spirit and then placed in eau de javelle (potassium 

 hyperchlorite) . Mr. Waterhouse said he had sometimes substituted peroxide 

 of hydrogen for eau de javelle, but the action was much less rapid, although 

 the results were satisfactory. Mr. Poulton observed tliat, although the pigment had 

 disappeared, he thought the scales were not removetl, but were merely rendered 

 transparent ; and he remarked that the discovery of some chemical for softening 

 chitine had long been wanted to prepare specimens for the microscope. The discussion 

 was continued by Mr. McLachlan and Dr. Sharp. 



Mr. Slater read a note, extracted from the " Medical Press," on the subject of 

 the poison used by certain tribes of African Bushmen in the preparation of their 

 "arrows. It was stated that a poison was prepared by them from the entrails of a 

 caterpillar which they called "N'gwa." 



The Rev. W. W. Fowler read a note received from Mr. J. Gardner, of Hartlepool, 

 in which it was stated that Dytiscus marginalis possessed the power of making a 

 'loud buzzing noise like that of a humble bee. Dr. Sharp said he was familiar with the 

 humming of Dytiscus marginalis previous to flight, and thought it might perhaps be 

 connected with an inflation of the body for the purpose of diminishing the specific 

 •gravity of the insect; he had noticed also that it was occasionally accompanied by 

 the discharge of fluid from the body. Mr. Wm. White read a paper " On the 

 occurrence of anomalous spots on Lepidopterous larvaj." A discussion ensued, in 

 ■ which Mr. Poulton and others took part. Mr. Waterhouse read " Descriptions of 

 new genera and species of Buprestida." — H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. 



