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these insects is that they were taken from the sandy desert, where no trace 

 of life, either vegetable or otherwise, was to be seen. Their mouth parts 

 and also their organs of sight are very rudimentary, and especially so 

 when compared with coleopterous insects generally. What niitriment 

 they can get out of the desert sand is not quite clear, but evidently seem 

 contented, and in their movements are very active. Mr. Hewetson also 

 showed examples of Scarabei beetles, taken from Mentone, along with 

 ball of dung and earth containing their eggs. The ball, which is about 

 one inch in diameter and about two or three times the size of the beetles 

 themselves, is taken about by them by a peculiar mode of throwing, 

 exceedingly interesting to observe. Together with these beetles was 

 shown a relic of the ancient Egyptian Scarabeus found at Zagazig, and 

 cut out on the under side are the Egyptian characters of " Thommus III. 

 with. Cartouche." 



Mr. Edgar E. Waite, F.L.S., described a number of interesting insects, 

 and illustrated his remarks by means of drawings thrown on the screen, 

 and beautifully executed figures. Among others, he described the 

 following : — Drone Fly [Eristalis tenax). This is a common British 

 insect, and the larva is known as the "Eat-tailed Maggot." This larva 

 is aquatic, and is very partial to water which oozes from manure-heaps. 

 The oval body terminates in a long tail, composed of two segments, one 

 of which can be telescoped within the other. The larva feeds head down- 

 wards. Its tail places the body in communication with the air, and the 

 sliding motion enables it to be lengthened or shortened as required by 

 the varying depths of the water. Chameleon Fly {Stratiomys chamceleon). 

 The larva of this fly has a long tail, the extremity of which is provided 

 with a circlet of barbed hairs. These are capable of being folded together 

 so as to enclose a small bubble of air, with which the creature descends, 

 returning to the surface when the air is exhausted by respiration. The 

 Chigoe {Pulex-2)enetrans), a near relative of our common flea, burrows 

 into the feet of human beings, and if not ejected forms a hollow in which 

 the young are produced. This little creature is popularly known as " The 

 Jigger." The Cochineal Insect {Coccus cacti) is one of the numerous 

 tribe known to gardeners as " Scales " or " Mealy-Bugs." This species 

 supplies the cochineal of commerce. At a suitable time these insects are 

 collected and placed in a pot, where they are confined for some time, and 

 then killed by the application of heat. Specimens were exhibited, and 

 when crushed and mixed with a little spirit and water produced the 

 beautiful crimson colour used for dying. 



Mr. John Stubbins, F.G.S., F.E.M.S., exhibited a magnificent and 

 extensive series of slides on Insecta, a number of which was shown 

 under microscopes. 



Messrs. W. Nettleton, C. Chapman, J. Phillips, and E. Thompson 

 also contributed a number of microscopic objects. 



