166 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



species belonging to a group represented b}'' Hy dropsy che 

 echvardsii (M'Lach.). Among the Planipennia the most remark- 

 able insect was a new species of the singular genus Psychopsis 

 (Newm.), from Mount Kosciusko, where it was connnon. Of 

 Pseudo-Neuroptera there was a species of Evihiidcs from Western 

 Australia, and certain curious Psocidce and Perlidce. The 

 Trichoptera appeared to be exclusivel}^ confined to Sericostoma- 

 tida, Leptocerldcs, and Hydropsycliidcs. Mr. Meyrick made some 

 remarks on the localities in which he had collected the species. 

 Mr. M. Jacoby exhibited three specimens of a new species of 

 Xenarthra, collected by jNIr. G. Lewis in Ceylon ; also a species of 

 Loxoprosopiis from Brazil. Mr. C. 0. Waterliouse exhibited a living 

 example of an Ichneumon — Ophion macniriim — bred from a larva 

 of Callosamla -promethea, a North-American species of Satiirnidcs. 

 He also exhibited a number of wings of Lepidoptera denuded of 

 the scales, in order to show the neuration for study, and explained 

 the method he had adopted for removing the scales. The wings 

 were first dipped in spirit and then placed in eau de javelle 

 (potassium hyperchlorite). Mr. Waterhouse said he had some- 

 times substituted peroxide of hydrogen for eau de javelle, but the 

 action was much less rapid, although the results were satisfactory. 

 Mr. Poulton observed that, although the pigment had disappeared, 

 he thought the scales were not removed, but were merely rendered 

 transparent; and he remarked that the discovery of some chemical 

 for softening chitine had long been wanted to prepare specimens 

 for the microscope. The discussion was continued by Mr. 

 M'Lachlan and Dr. Sharp. Mr. Slater read a note, extracted 

 from the ' Medical Press,' on the subject of the poison used by 

 certain tribes of African Bushmen in the preparation of their 

 arrows. It was stated that a poison was prepared by them from 

 the entrails of a caterpillar which they call " N'gwa." The Rev. 

 W. W. Fowler read a note received from Mr. J. Gardner, of 

 Hartlepool, in which it was stated that Dytiscus marr/inalis pos- 

 sessed the power of making a loud buzzing noise like tliat of a 

 humble bee. Dr. Sharp said he was familiar with the humming 

 of Dytiscus marginalis previous to flight, and tliought it might 

 perhaps be connected with an inflation of the body for the purpose 

 of diminishing the specific gravity of the insect ; he had noticed 

 also that it was occasionally accompanied by the discharge of 

 fluid from the body. Mr. Wm. Wliite read a paper "On the 



