35 



on its work of destruction that although it was removed from the 

 moth it immediately returned to its prey, and was only driven off by 

 force. He also related the circunistauce of a small spider taking a 

 very minute fly which had fallen into its web, which was constructed 

 in the side-window of a first class railway carnage. During the 

 progress of the train, and while the carriage was in considerable 

 motion, the occurrence took place, from which it may be inferred 

 tliat the spider saw the fly as soon as it touched the web, and 

 that it was not attracted to it by the motion set up by the fly on 

 the web. 



The President then drew the attention of the Meeting to a series 

 of plants placed on the table, with a view of showing tlie botanical 

 nature of the fruit of the common Fig, and the close affinity there is 

 between the Fig, the Mulberry, Dorstenia and Nettles, however 

 different they may be in general appearance. 



November 9, 1866. — The Secretary brought for exhibition a speci- 

 men of Homalota Saundersi, Rye, a species new to Science, and 

 named after the President of the Club. It was captured by himself 

 (with one other specimen which was accidentally destroyed) in the 

 sand-pit on Reigate Heath, in August last. The following is from 

 Mr. Rye's description of this insect (Ent. Monthly Magazine, vol. iii. 

 p. 121): — "Homalota Saundersi appears to he very closely allied to 

 H. dilaticomis, Kraatz. ; the general structure of the two insect?, 

 and especially that of the antenna (except that the apical joint is a 

 trifle longer in H. Saundersi), being almost identical ; it differs, how- 

 ever, from that species, in its rather larger size, darker colour and 

 more strongly punctured elytra; and m the sexual characters the 

 male of H. Saundersi having the teeth on the sides of the sixth 

 abdominal segment longer and more robust, reaching, at their points, 

 slightly beyond the two tubercles in the middle of the upper suifuce 

 of the same segment, which tubercles assume the form of wide find 

 apically truncated tooth-like elevations, projecting beyond the apical 

 margin. (See Plate I. fig. 3). 



Mr. John Linnell, jun., brought for exhibition the following six 

 species of Cercyon, all captured by himself and his brother. 



