1908.] 141 



Mandera exhibited a collection of butterflies from Bourbon demonstrating examples 

 of mimicry, and the effects of the interaction of species. He concluded by describ- 

 ing the physical characteristics of the island, and said that the area favourable for 

 the existence of Euplcea's was extremely small, and as the larvae of goudoti and 

 euphon fed on the same plants there was in all probability a struggle for existence 

 set up in which the invader proved the stronger and eventually exterminated its 

 rival. In the discussion which followed Professor Poulton remarked that in the 

 neighbouring island of Rodriguez there was a species of Euplcea (desjardinsi) 

 greatly resembling euphon, and no doubt a geographical race of that species, and 

 this would also suggest that euphon formerly existed in Bourbon. Mr. W. J. 

 Lucas, a glow-worm found at Oxshott on May 4th, inside the shell of the snail Helix 

 caidiana. There was no doubt that the larva was feeding on the snail, for on 

 breaking away parts of the shell he found the moist remains of it near the apex. 

 Mr. Lucas also brought for exhibition the $ , ? , and nymph of the dragonfly 

 Oxygastra curtisii, first described by the late J. C. Dale, and at that time supposed 

 to be confined to the British Islands. Mr. H. St. J. Donisthorpe, an example of 

 the beetle Xantholinus distans, Kr., taken at Helton, near Dumfries, on May 1st, 

 a species new to the British list.* 



Mr. W. J. Lucas read a paper on " The British Dragonflies of the ' Dale 

 Collection.' " Dr. T. A. Chapman, on " The Distinction of Several Species of 

 Everes, determined by their Genitalia," and exhibited photographs to illustrate his 

 remarks. He announced that as the result of his investigations Everes argiades^ 

 Pall., and the so-called var. coretas were separate, though very nearly allied species. — 

 H. Rowland-Bkown, Hon. Secretary. 



ON THE PROCTOTRYPID GENUS AKTAiON, 



WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES AND A TABLE OF THOSE 



OCCURRING IN BRITAIN. 



BY THE LATE ARTHUR J. CHITTY, M.A., F.E.S., kc. 



[It will be with considerable satisfaction that English entomo- 

 logists learn that the very fine collections of all Orders of British 

 insects amassed by Mr. Chitty have been presented by Mrs. Chitty 

 to the Hope Department of the Oxford University Museum, with the 

 proviso that a selection of the more conspicuous insects, suitable for 

 the younger studeuts, be presented at Prof. Poulton's discretion to 

 Eton : in remembrance of Mr. Chitty's own younger days, and in 

 anticipation of his son's advent on the stereotyped line of education. 



While t'oing through these collections and arranging for their 

 transmission, I found that which I had hoped to discover — the 

 following very valuable article, upon which I was aware that Mr. 

 Chitty was engaged when he wrote me, for the last time, that he 

 feared he " was in for a bad time," on November 2Gth last. This 



* X. distans has been recorded by me from Braemar, r.f. Ent. Mo. Mag., x, p, 158 (December, 



1878).— G. C. C. 



