280 ~ [M'ly. 1884. 



Mr. E. A. Fitch exhibited a large Coleopterous larva, apparently Geodcphagous, 

 which he was assured had been coughed up by a young man at Maldon who was 

 sufEei'ingfrom bronchitis. Some Members present appeared to be slightly incredulous, 

 and suggested the possibility of an error in observation. 



Mr. E. Saundera read the concluding portion of his Synopsis of British Aculeate 

 Symenoptera, and also a paper on the anal segments of insects of the same group. 



A discussion on nomenclature ensued, arising from some remarks by the President 

 respecting a recently-described butterfly which the describer avowedly named after 

 himself,and respecting the gcneTCicierxaaDarioinhydrus, Tyndalhydrus, Spencerhydrus, 

 &c., employed by Dr. Sharp a few years ago. 



2nd April, 1884. — The President in the Chair. 



The following were elected Members, viz. : — Stanley Edwards, Esq., of Black- 

 heath, E. P. Collett, Esq., of Kentish Town, J. A. Finzi, Esq. (formerly a Subscriber), 

 of Q-ower Street, F. Lovell Keays, Esq., of Cobham, and Edward Shuttleworth, Esq., 

 of Preston. 



The President read a letter received from the describer of the butterfly noticed 

 in the report of the previous meeting. 



Mr. Billups exhibited Diospilus oleraceus, Hal., and Sigalphus ohscurellus, Nees., 

 two species of Jiraconidce parasitic on Ceulhorhynchus sulcicollis ; he remarked that 

 whereas one of these underwent its transformation within the swellings caused by 

 the beetle-larva, the other came out and formed cocoons in the earth. He also 

 exhibited Dimeris mira and Ceroptres cerator, new to Britain, the latter also indicating 

 a new British genus. Also Philontkus thermarum from cucumber frames at West 

 Ham. Mr. Pirn said he had taken the latter at Dulwich. 



The Rev. A. Fuller exhibited a small number of figures of the larvse of British 

 Lepidoptera, made by the late Mr. Buckler. 



Sir S. S. Saunders read a long and interesting historical and biological sketch, 

 respecting the vexed question : — What is Pedicuhis melittce, Kirby ? He considered 

 that, in all probability, it is founded on young larvoe of Meloe proscarahcBus that have 

 been arrested in their development, the black colour being only the result of age. 



Mr. Elwes read a paper, illustrated by specimens and diagrams, on the "pouch" 

 of the females of the genus Parnassins. After alluding to the supposition that these 

 pouches are not developed until after the insect has paired, he proceeded to demon- 

 strate that they were of great value as a means of grouping together and separating 

 the numerous species, some of which he considered were, on this character, little 

 more than local forms. A discussion ensued in which Messrs. Fitch, Weir, Pascoe, 

 Kirby, and others, took part. 



Mr. Meyrick read a further paper on the classification of the Australian Pyralidina 

 treating on the families Masotimidce, Botydidce, and Scopariidce. 



Lord Walsingham coinmuni9ated a paper on North American Tortricidce. 



f 



END OF YOL. XX. 



