296 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
this stage the larve looked very pretty in the seeds, of which 
they had consumed the contents, presenting the appearance 
of living rubies, cased in flat capsules of transparent horn. 
The adult larve had fourteen segments; they were elongate 
and of a reddish colour, with. darker intestines; the first 
segment very slender and beak-like. In the full grown state 
they were lively; but in the earlier stages they appeared 
rather sluggish. I regret that mildew killed the whole brood. 
I propose for this species the name of C. Campanula, as its 
peculiar mode of life warrants my considering it a new 
species.” 
British Species of Oxypoda.—Dr. Sharp communicated 
““ Notes on some British species of Oxypoda.” After remark- 
ing upon the extreme state of confusion that existed respecting 
the species of this genus, Dr. Sharp proceeded to critical 
notes upon most of the previously recorded British species, 
and described four as probably new to science, viz. O petita, 
hitherto confused with O. cunicularia, generally distributed in 
England and Scotland; O. edinensis, from near Edinburgh ; 
O. verecunda, from near London and in the fens; and 
O. tarda, from salt-marshes near Dumfries. 
Immature sexuality, §c., of Insects —Mr. Lowne read, 
“Observations on immature sexuality and alternate genera- 
tions in insects.” The author thought that species originated 
occasionally from the maturation of the sexual organs 
before acquiring the adult characters. He had _ been 
induced to believe that such is the case, from the early 
period at which the sexual organs first make their appearance 
in the embryo and larva, from the fact that some larve have 
been taken im copuld, and from an analogous phenomenon 
which had been observed among the Echinodermata. In the 
course of the paper he had occasion to enter largely into 
details of correlation of development between the cutaneous 
and sexual organs in insects. He stated his belief that such 
correlations often gave rise to secondary sexual characters. 
The paper concluded with a comparison between acquired 
and direct larval forms. The author thought the larva and 
pupa of insects were probably all acquired, and not direct, 
stages of development. With reference to Mr. Lowne’s 
remarks on the early development of the sexual organs 
in insects, and with a.view of disproving a not uncommon 
