SOCIETIES. 185 



workers of a species of Termites found by Dr. Haviland in South 

 Africa. He stated that these insects possessed eyes and worlied in 

 daylight like hymenopterous ants, and that in habits they resembled 

 harvesting ants by cutting grass and carrying it into holes in the 

 ground. Dr. Sharp said that although these holes were probably the 

 entrance to the nests, Dr. Haviland was unable to find the actual nest, 

 even by prolonged digging ; so that the winged forms were still 

 unknown. He thought this species was probably allied to Tenncs 

 riantm of Smeathman, in which the soldiers and workers possessed 

 eyes, and had been observed by Smeathman to issue from holes in the 

 ground, and whose nest could not be discovered. Mr. McLachlan 

 observed that it was possible there might be species of Termites 

 without any winged form whatever. Mr. Eye called attention to the 

 action of one of the Conservators of Wimbledon Common, who, he 

 stated, had been destroying all the aspens on the Common. He 

 enquired whether it was possible for the Entomological Society to 

 protest against the destruction of the trees. Mr. Goss said he would 

 mention the matter to the Commons Preservation Society. Mr. 

 Francis Galton read a paper entitled " Entomological Queries bearing 

 on the question of Specific Stability." The author said that the 

 information desired referred to :— (1) Instances of such strongly 

 marked peculiarities, whether in form, in colour, or in habit, as had 

 occasionally appeared in a single individual in a brood ; but no record 

 was wanted of monstrosities, or of such other characteristics as were 

 clearly inconsistent with health and vigour. (2) Instances in which 

 any one of the above peculiarities had appeared in the broods of 

 different parents. In replying to this question, he said it would be 

 hardly worth while to record the sudden appearance of either albinism 

 or melanism, as both were well known to be of frequent occurrence. 

 (3) Instances in which any of these peculiarly characterized individuals 

 had transmitted their peculiarities, hereditarily, to one or more gene- 

 rations. Mr. Merrifield stated that he received some years ago, from 

 Sheffield, ova of Selcnia illtistraria, the brood from which produced, in 

 addition to typical specimens, four of a dark bronze colour, and from 

 these he bred a number of specimens of a similar colour. Dr. F. A. 

 Dixey referred to a variety of the larva of Saturnia carpini with pink 

 tubercles. He said the imago bred from this larva produced larvfe of 

 which ten per cent, had pink tubercles. Professor Poulton said he 

 had found larvae of Smerinthus ocellatus with red spots, and that this 

 peculiarity had been perpetuated in their descendants. Mr. McLachlan, 

 Canon Fowler, and Professor Meldola made some further remarks on 

 the subject. Mr. G. F. Hampson read a paper by Mr. C. W. Barker 

 entitled " Notes on Seasonal Dimorphism in certain Species of Kho- 

 palocera in Natal." Mr. Merrifield said he was of opinion that a 

 record of the temperature at different seasons would be a very desirable 

 addition to observations of seasonal dimorphism. Mr. Hampson said 

 he believed that temperature had very little to do with the alteration 

 of forms. At any rate, according to his experience, in India the wet- 

 season form succeeded the dry- season form without any apparent 

 difference in the temperature. Professor Poulton remarked that the 

 apparent temperature as felt must not be relied upon without obser- 

 vations taken by the thermometer. Dr. Dixey, Mr. Barrett, Dr. Sharp, 



