48 



morphosis to pupa 14th July, and the imago appeared on the 23d July. — 

 A Description of some New Birds from the Solomon Islands and New Britain, 

 by Edward P. Ramsay of Sydney, was then read by the Secretary. The new 

 species are : Ceyx sacerdotis, Pomarea [Monarcha] ugiensis, Calornis feadensis, 

 Carpophaga Finschii, Baza Gurneyi, and Asiur pulchellus. 



November 17, 18S1. — Dr. Francis Day showed examples of the sto- 

 machs of the pilchard with special reference to their digestion. These fishes 

 come in shore on the Cornish coast towards night to feed, when they are 

 netted. Examination shortly after reveals the Zo'éa stage of crustaceans to 

 be their chief food. While this lies loosely in portions of the stomach, at 

 the pyloric division it appears to be enclosed within a sac, or sausage-shaped 

 envelope. Microscopic examination proves the sac to be a cast-oif lining of 

 the stomach walls. What purpose it serves in the economy of digestion is 

 uncertain, though it bears resemblance to the sac vomited by hornbills during 

 incubation. — Sir J. Lubbock read his ninth communication »On Ants, 

 Bees, and Wasps.« He commenced by detailing some experiments made 

 with a view of ascertaining not only whether bees could distinguish one co- 

 lour from another, but also whether they preferred certain colours. Under 

 precisely similar conditions he placed drops of honey on papers of different 

 colours, having accustomed marked bees to come to the spot for food. He 

 then placed these pieces of paper on a lawn. When the bee returned and had 

 sipped the honey for about a quarter of a minute he removed it. She then 

 flew to a second colour ; this he took away. Then she went to a third, and 

 soon. In this manner he induced her to visit all the drops successively ; 

 and, by recording a large number of observations, he ascertained for which 

 colour the bees showed a preference. The result was that the bee seemed to 

 like blue much better than the other colours. It may be asked why it is that, 

 if blue is the favourite colour of bees, and if bees have so much to do with 

 the origin of flowers, there should be so few blue ones. He suggests the ex- 

 planation to be that all flowers were originally green, and then passed through 

 white or yellow, and generally red, before becoming blue. — Dr. Cobb old 

 described a new Entozoon from the Ostrich , which he named Strongylus 

 Doiiglasii. By information received from Mr. Arthur Douglas, of Heatherton 

 Towers, near Grahamstown, it was shown that this parasite proves very de- 

 structive to Ostrich chicks, its action being similar to that of Strongylus per- 

 gracilis which occasions grouse disease. The Ostrich worm bears remarkably 

 few eggs, in this way resembling certain free nematodes. For its destruction 

 Dr. Cobbold recommended the Cape farmers to try the new worm remedy 

 called milk of papaw [Carica papaya) . — J. Murie. 



3. Società Entomologica Italiana in Firenze. 



Adun. del di 26 Octbre. 1881. — Cavanna e Piccioli, Mostruo- 

 sità (melomelia) in una femmina ad elitre liscie del Dytisciis marginalis. — 

 Camerano, Ancora del Sinoxylon muricatum in Vìemonie. — Simonetta, 

 I Pediculini del Museo di Pavia. — Curò , Aggiunte al Catalogo dei Lepi- 

 dotteri d'Italia. — G. Cavanna. Secret. 



Druck Yon Breitkopf und Härte) in Leipzig. 



