Proceedings. x¢vll 
the larva of a moth (Carpocapsa saltitans) living in the capsule 
of an euphorbiaceous plant (Sebastiania palmeri) found in certain 
canons near Alamos. The plant exudes a milky juice, used by 
the Indians for poisoning arrows. As is the case with other 
EKuphorbiace, the carpels suddenly dehisce when ripe, but when 
the larva inhabits one, the parts fail to separate, being kept 
together by the carpet of silk which the larva spins on the 
inside. The peculiar jumping motions are thus described by 
Prof. Riley :—‘‘ The full-grown larva by its holding fast to the 
silken lining by its anal and two hind pair of abdominal pro-legs, 
which have very strong hooks, then draws back the head and 
fore body, the thoracic parts swelling and the thoracic legs being 
withdrawn. The contracted parts being thus suddenly released, 
the larva vigorously taps the wall of the cell with the head, 
sometimes thrown from side to side, but more often brought 
directly down, as in the motion of a woodpecker when tapping 
for insects. The seed will thus move whenever warmed for 
several months during the winter, because, as with most tortricid 
larve, this one remains a long time in the larval state after 
coming to its growth and before pupating.”’ 
March 19th.—Owing to the inability of Mr. Howard Martin 
to attend, the paper on ‘‘ Oysters’’ announced to be read by him 
was postponed. Mr. Lovett very kindly gave an interesting 
lecture on the ‘‘ Stalk-eyed Crustaceans,’’ which was illustrated 
by numerous specimens. The sub-order to which these belong 
is divided into three tribes—the large-tailed, comprising lobsters, 
crayfish, and prawns; the short-tailed, containing the crabs; 
and an intermediate form which includes the hermit crabs. 
They all undergo three stages of development—the egg, larva, 
and perfect form; but, unlike insects, it is in the latter stage 
that growth takes place. This necessitates numerous moultings, 
as the shell does not expand with the creature’s growth. Mr. 
Lovett stated that when nearly full-grown the moults become 
more infrequent, as instanced by full-grown acorn barnacles 
being found attached to crab-shells, and as these are slow- 
growing, some time must have elapsed since the previous moult. 
Some crustaceans have the curious habit of casting their limbs 
when frightened. These are renewed in a diminished size at 
the next moult, but in the course of time attain their full 
dimensions. Some species lay an enormous number of eggs, — 
the greater number of which form the staple food of fishes, 
while those species which inhabit burrows, or are otherwise 
protected, lay comparatively few. Some species inhabit the 
littoral zone, whilst others are found only in deep water or in 
the open sea. In the latter case some of the legs are modified 
into swimming paddles. A few of the more sluggish species 
