152 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



different position anatomically, and therefore not corresponding with 

 the larval organ. The latter is lost in the imago, and it is clear that 

 this elaborate structure exists solely for the larval state ; but Dr. Sharp 

 acknowledged that he was unable to guess what use such a structure 

 could be to a larva, leading as this does an underground life, and 

 having, as far as we know, no relations with the lives of other 

 individuals of its own species that could be influenced by any sound 

 it might make. 



March 12th. — The President in the chair. Dr. Sharp exhibited, on 

 behalf of Dr. Havilaud, part of his magnificent collection of Termites. 

 His method of preparation consists in placing the various forms of a 

 species found in one nest in glass- tubes divided into compartments by 

 cotton-wool and filled with spirit. A photograph" of a termitarium of 

 Teriiu's mcdaijanus, taken in situ after it had been sectionised, showed 

 the royal cell in the middle of the structure, and the chambers for 

 growing fungi — this species being a fungus grower — about the 

 periphery. Portions of this nest and individuals taken from it were 

 exhibited. The nest is composed of thin fragile laminte of a pottery- 

 like structure ; but the royal cell, composed of this substance, is very 

 thick and solid. The fungus-chambers are not constructed of clay, but 

 of comminuted vegetable matter, subsequently cemented together. 

 The specimens taken from this nest included two queens and one 

 king from the royal cell, large and small soldiers, and large-headed 

 and small-headed workers. — L. Doncaster, Hon. Sec. 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — Feljruary 15th, 1897. — Mr. 

 R. C. Bradley in the chair. Exhibits :^By Mr. Bradley, unusually 

 tine large specimens of Cimhex sylvarum from Sutton. By Mr. A. H. 

 Martineau, bramble stems containing pupte of aculeate Hymenoptera, 

 and explained how he collected them in this manner ; also cocci of 

 cochineal as imported ; also VespaB, to show their position during 

 hybernation — they hang by their mandibles, with their legs all drawn 

 up and their wings under the body, the wings to some extent support- 

 ing the body. By Mr. G. W. Wynn, varieties of Cerastes vaccinii and 

 C. spadicea, taken at sugar at Hanbury Park; one of C. vaccinii had a 

 pretty chestnut thorax, with chestnut marginal bar and fringes and 

 some at the base of the fore wings, the rest of the fore wings being 

 greyish, giving the appearance of a chestnut insect with greyish bars. 

 By Mr. Eountain, local bred Nijssia hispidaria. By Mr. C. J. Waiu- 

 wright, rare Diptera, including Orthoneura brevicornis (a pair from 

 Sutton), Chryso(jaster virescens, female (from Sutton), and Chilosia 

 berganetammi. 



March 15^/(.— Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker, President, in the chair. 

 Exhibits : — By Mr. R. C. Bradley, various Lepidoptera. By Mr. A. 

 H. Martineau, Odijncrus livipes from Wyre Forest, a rare insect, which 

 he said seemed to be well established at Wyre, as Mr. Bradley had 

 also taken specimens there on another occasion ; he also showed 

 Sphecodes nii/er, male. By Mr. Bethune-Baker, two drawers containing 

 a portion of the Papilionida", with the genus Parnassiits and its allied 

 genera ; they included Luehdorjia puziloi from Vladivostock, Sericinus 

 telamon from Eastern Asia, Ismene helios from Switzerland, &c., and a 

 fine rich dark variety of Doritis apollinus from Asia Minor, with a great 

 deal of red and more black than usual. — C. J. Wainwkight, Hon. Sec. 



