18V2. 1G7 



ittiarn. 



Frof. Wesmael. — Constantin Wesmael was born at Bruf?sel9 in 1708, and died at 

 St. Josse-ten-Noodc (in Belgium) on the 25th October last. In him, Belgium has 

 lost one of the most honoured of her now extensive band of Entomologists. His 

 attention was principally devoted to Hymenoptera, and especially to the neglected 

 parasitic families of that Order ; but he also enriched entomological literature by 

 memoirs on Neuroptera, Coleoptera, &c. Old age and infirmity had for some years 

 prevented him from following his studies with the same energy as formerly, but there 

 are few who have so disinterestedly devoted their lives to entomological pursuits, 

 and to whose memory greater respect is due. 



Robert Smith Edleston. — We have received information of the death, on 31st 

 October last, of this gentleman, at his residence, Bowdon, Cheshire, at the age of 53 

 years, for the last 35 of which he had devoted his leisure to British Insects of all 

 orders. His collection of British Lepidoptera is very extensive, and in fine pre- 

 servation, and some time suice he occupied himself almost entirely with the genus 

 Nepticula, in which he made very valuable discoveries, having probably the best 

 collection of its species in existence. Latterly he attended more to Coleoptera. 



Entomological Society op London, Mh November, 1872. — Prof Westwood, 

 M.A., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a Fieris Daplidice and six examples of Argynnis 

 Lathonia captured by himself near Dover, last September ; also Sesia asiliformis, 

 Choerocampa Celerio, and Deilophila livornica from Brighton, and varieties of several 

 other British Lepidoptera. 



Mr. F. Smith exhibited a large collection of Formicidce sent from Calcutta by 

 Mr. Eothney, interesting, as shewing, in many cases, all the forms of each species. 

 He also exhibited, and presented to the Society, the Minute-book of the Meetings of 

 the Entomological Society existing in London from 1806 to 1822, in which were 

 copied the Minutes of the pre-existing Am-elian Society. For this, a donation to 

 Mr. Smith by Dr. J. E. Grray, the meeting passed a special vote of thanks. 



Mr. Butler exhibited a remarkably perfect impression of the whig of a fossil 

 butterfly (allied to the existing genus Caligo) in the Stoncsfield slate. 



Mr. Davis exhibited a large number of finely preserved larvae of various insects. 



Prof. Westwood remarked on the manner in which the common gnat (all females) 

 had infested certain rooms in his house during the autumn. Although carefully 

 destroyed each day, they were always replaced by others, notwithstanding that both 

 doors and windows were shut. 



Mr. Miiller read notes on the habits of Ozognathus cornutus, Lee, a beetle allied 

 to Anobium, which he had bred in numbers from a large woody Californian oak-gall, 

 sent to him by Mr. Riley. 



The Rev. R. P. Murray sent notes on variations of neuration in FaplUonidm. 



Mr. Dunning read notes on Atropos and ClothiUa with reference to Mr. W. A. 

 Lewis's strictures on Dr. Hagen, pointing out that the English critic had himself 

 been guilty of most egregious blunders. 



A further portion of the proposed general Catalogue of British Insects compris- 

 ing the IcJineumonidcB, Braconidce, &c., compiled by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, was 

 announced as published, and notes thereon by Mr. Marshall were read. 



