240 f March, 1867. 
Mr. Pascoe exhibited a collection of Coleoptera from Vancouver's Island, con- 
taining several interesting forms. 
Mr. G. S. Saunders exhibited the nest of some Lepidopterons insect from St. 
Paulo, Brazil. This was about a foot in length, forming a compact web between 
two small branches. 
Dr. Wallace stated that he had recently seen an example of Drepana sicula, in 
the collection of Dr. Bree, of Colchester, which that gentleman assured him had 
been taken by himself in the vicinity of Stowmarket, in SuiFolk. 
Dr. Wallace exhibited various preparations of the silk of Attacus Cynthia, 
including a portion carded by himself ; also a large number of the moth, exhibiting 
great variation in size and colour, dependent upon forcing, retardation, light, food- 
plant, &c. He stated that his experience was decidedly favourable to the theory 
that in Lepidoptera the males emerge before the females. He further made some 
remark on the specific value of A. ricini and A. Guerinii, and was inclined to look 
upon these as merely local forms of A. Cynthia. He had observed that a sound 
Bometimes proceeded from the eggs of A. Cynthia, which he attributed to the con- 
traction and expansion of the shells caused by the movements of the young larvsa 
immediately before hatching. 
Mr. Moore exhibited various examples of A. ricini, together with its silk, and 
the unique specimen of A. Guerinii, 
Mr. Woiinald exhibited a collection of insects received from Mr. Fryer, of 
Shanghai. In it was an example of a true wild Bomhyx, allied to B. Huttoni. 
Mr. Gould stated that Hylurg^(,s piiniperda had recently been causing great 
devastation in a plantation of Pinus insignis in the grounds of Lord Falmouth, in 
Cornwall. 
Mr. Pascoe called attention to a statement by a writer in " Science Gossip," 
claiming for Atropos the power of producing a ticking sound. Mr. McLachlan said 
he thought that some error had occurred, as he could not imagine by what means 
so soft an insect could produce a sound. Mr. Smith said he had for some time 
kept examples of Atropos in small boxes, but could not detect any sound produced 
by them. 
Mr. Wilson, of Adelaide, communicated further notes on South Australian 
Coleoptera, remarking that various species were common in cow-dung. Mr. A. E. 
Wallace alluded to the manner in which these insects had seized upon circumstances 
favourable to their modes of life, as cows were only a very recent importation into 
that 23art of the world. One of the insects alluded to was Calosoma Curtisii, the 
European congeners of which were well known as arboreal species. Mr. Gould 
stated that previous to 1 838 cows were unknown in Austi-alia. 
It was announced that the prize offered by the Society for the best essay on 
Economic Entomology had been awarded to Dr. Wallace, for his paper on Bomhyx 
Yama-mai ; and that it had been decided to continue the offer for the present year 
on the same terms as before ; the essays to be sent in on or before the 30th of 
November next. 
