i 



260 ^ t^^P"'. 



has for a long time proved very destructive in the United States, gradually extending 

 northwards to Canada, and has been extensively noticed by the various State 

 Entomologists (especially by Mr. Riley, of Missouri) in their official reports. 



March 2nd, 1874 ; the President in the Chair. 



Mr. McLachlan exhibited two male examples of an Ortliopterous insect belonging 

 to the family Locustidce, given to him by Mr. Daniel Hanbury, by whom they were 

 received some years since from his brother, then residing in Shanghai. It appeared, 

 according to Mr. Hanbury's statement, that these insects are sold in the city of 

 Shanghai confined in small fancy wicker cages, and kept in the houses for the sake of 

 the sound they produce. The species seemed to be undescribed, and apparently 

 pertained to a new genus somewhat allied to Xiphidium. It was not contained in 

 the collection of the British Museum, nor was there any apparent clue to its identity 

 among described species. In connection with this exhibition, the President said 

 that in Turkey a species of cricket was kept in paper cages and fed upon lettuce 

 leaves with a similar object.* He also exhibited male and female images, female 

 sub-imago, fully-developed nymph, and larva of the singular species of Ephemeridce, 

 described and figured in this Magazine for October, 1873, as Oniscigaster Wal-e- 

 ^eZt^i, McLaeh. ($ imago). These were included in a further collection of New 

 Zealand Neuroptera sent from Christchurch, N.Z., by Mr. C. M. Wakefield. The 

 aquatic conditions bad the curious horny dilatations of the sides of the abdomen 

 along the whole length of this part of the body, and, in addition, a similar structure 

 (placed vertically) along the middle of the dorsum. He further marked that at a 

 recent meeting of the French Entomological Society, M. Gruenee expressed liimself 

 somewhat incredulous as to the aquatic habits of the moth noticed by M. Bar 

 (see report of meeting on January 5th, ante, p. 216) under the name of Palitstra 

 Lahoulbenei. M. Guenee thought the insect was allied to CnetJiocampa, and said 

 that its characters, in all its stages, were utterly opposed to the supposition of 

 aquatic habits. He considered further information most desirable. 



The Rev. A. E. Eaton made some interesting observations on the entomology of 

 Spitzbergen as observed by him during the summer of last year, illustrated by 

 beautiful photographs of various views in that Arctic locality. Three species of the 

 insects were exhibited :— (1) the ubiquitous P/w^e/Za c/'ifcZ/erario?;, the larva3 of which 

 fed upon a species of Draba ; (2) a Phycita of considerable size allied to siihorna- 

 tella ; (3) a Trichopterous insect which was probably the Goniotaidius arcticus 

 described by Boheman from the same locality.f 



Mr. Champion exhibited a beautifully fresh example of Cassida vlttata recently 

 captured near Chatham. 



Mr. Grrut read a letter from Mr. Gooch referring to the report submitted to him 

 concerning the damage to coffee-plantations in Natal by a Longicorn beetle (see 

 report of meeting on February 2nd). Mr. Gooch considered that the idea of the 

 plants being in an unhealthy condition before they were attacked by the beetle was 

 probably correct. Some discussion ensued on the vexed question of the habits of 

 wood-feeding beetles in general. 



Mr. Roland Trimen communicated descriptions of new species of Lyccenidce 

 from South Africa : the insects were exhibited. 



Mr. Hewitson communicated a paper on new species of LycmnidcE. 



Part V of the Transactions for 1873, and Part I for 1874, were on the table. 



* In the United States the ' songs of the gi-asshopper ' have been set to music. I once had the 

 ' score ' tested, and have no desire to repeat the experiment. — R. McL. 



t Mr. Eaton's insect agrees with Boheman's description, but it has no connection with 

 Cioiiiiitaolius. It is ii species of .(4ji;o(a)!4(i, which the description sufficiently indicates so far as 

 the inimbur of leg-spurs is concerned. Every intUvidual is a female.— li. MuL. 



