115 



vestigations of Goddard, Thompson, and Backhoi-f. Structure 

 and location of penis. The ovipositor, its development and 

 reduction. Researches of van der Weele and Tillyard. 

 Wing venation. The work of Comstock and Needham. Larvie. 

 Respiratory and digestive functions. Length of larval life. 

 Balfour Browne's work thereon. Number of moults in- 

 constant. Duration of larval instar very variable. Larval 

 peculiarities. Osburn's demonstration of their inability to 

 become adapted to saline solutions. Agrionine larvae living in 

 small accumulations of water at leaf-bases of plants. Mud- 

 dwelling larvae. Taxonomy. Fossil Odonata. The work of 

 Handlirsch. Faunal studies. Conclusion (cf. Vol. II., p. 140). 



G. H. Carpenter expressed the thanks of the meeting to 

 Dr. Calvert for the wide summary comprised in the paper, and 

 hoped that other specialists would follow the author's example 

 at future meetings of the Congress. 



Gordon Hewitt thanked Dr. Calvert for his admirable 

 review. He was especially interested in the reference to the 

 varying number of larval stages in a single species, and believed 

 that, as the life histories of insects were more carefully studied, 

 we might have to modify our ideas regarding the fixity of the 

 number of larval stages or ecdyses. 



R. S. Bagnall was to have read a paper on the Order Thy- 

 sanoptera and other kindred subjects, but was prevented from 

 being present. His specimens were however exhibited later in 

 the afternoon, when he was able personally to demonstrate them 

 to an interested and appreciative audience. 



E. L. Bouvier was prevented by illness from attending 

 the Congress. His paper entitled 



Le Stade natant ou Puérulus des Palinukides 



was taken as read (cf. Vol. II., p. 78). 



