1874.] 259 



larger than is required by it when young, and is, besides, often partially closed by a 

 membi-ane. Perhaps, however, all larvae can turn themselves in their cases (which 

 certainly does occur with some, and probably with BrachycentrusJ , and by this 

 means can cut off the small useless end ; but this can only be done periodically, 

 for it is necessary at the same time to add the partially closing membrane. — E. 

 McLachlan, Lewisham : Qth March, 1874.. 



EocHESTEE ENTOMOLoaiCAL SOCIETY. — The first half-yearly meeting of the 

 above Society was held at its I'ooms on Wednesday, March 4th, to review the pro- 

 gress of the Society since its foundation in September, 1873. The number of members 

 at present is twelve, of whom three are honor.ary. 



The meetings are held every Wednesday evening, at 7 p.m., at 12, Orange 

 Terrace, Star Hill, Rochester. 



The entrance fee is 2/-, and subscription 2/6 per annum. Members ai'C 

 earnestly requested. 



T. J. Cleave Warne, Secretary, 12, Orange Terrace, Rochester. 



[We shall be glad to receive similar information concerning other local Societies 

 in accordance with our request in the January number, ante, p. 186.- — Eds.]. 



ENTOMOLoaiCAL SociETT OF LoNDON, IQtli February, 1874. — Sir S. S. Saunders, 

 C.M.G., President, in the Chair. 



The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society : — E. A. Fitch, 

 Esq., Down Hall, Rayleigh j A. Dowsett, Esq., of Brighton ; and James Wood- 

 Mason, Esq., of Calcutta. 



Mr. Jenner-Weir exhibited two samples of wheat from Japan and Australia 

 respectively, very much infested by grain-feeding weevils of the genus Sitophilus. 

 The species in the Australian wheat was (S. oryzm, with its parasite LcBmophloeus 

 ferrugineus ; the Japan wheat produced S. granarms, accompanied by Rhizoperthaj 

 pusilla. Mr. Weir, in a few remarks, urged upon the members the necessity of more 

 attentive study of the economic branch of Entomology. 



Mr. Higgins exhibited a collection of rare CetoniidcB from the Phillipine 

 Islands, including the types of the species described by Dr. Mohnike, which had 

 lately come into his possession. Also a few rare species of the same family from 

 Queensland, including a fine new species of the genus Dia2)Jwnia (D. iJigglesi, 

 O. Janson). 



Mr. F. Smith exhibited the remarkable example of the ant — Myrmica lavinodis 

 — figured and described by him in the Entomologists' Annual for 1874, in which 

 the characters of the male, female, and worker were combined in the one individual. 

 He also communicated notes by Mr. Moggridge, detailing further observations upon 

 the grain-storing ant (Atta structor) of Southern Europe. Mr. Moggridge was 

 endeavouring to ascertain by what means the germinating power of seeds was 

 destroyed by the ant. He had found the beetle Platyarthrus very common in the 

 nests, and also examples (which were exhibited) of Cholooocera atta, Kraatz. 

 Remarks on trap-door spiders were included, in which it was stated that the traps 

 were often placed absolutely in the ants' nests, the spiders feeding upon the ants. 

 In connection with this latter subject, the President remarked that, according to 

 trustworthy observation, some species of trap-door spiders in Corfu fed by night, 

 apparently temporarily leaving their nests for that purpose. 



A discussion took place on the ravages of the Colorado potato-beetle recently 

 noticed in various newspapers and other journals ; this beetle (Doryphora 10-lineaiaJ 



