Vll 



p. Nephalion, P. Polydarnas and P. T/ioas are solitary. These and 

 analogous cases are adduced by the author in support of Dr. Weismann's 

 conclusion that the " form-relationship " of caterpillars is more governed by 

 external conditions than by their " blood relationship," so that if a group of 

 insects be classified by their larval characters we should have a totally 

 different arrangement to that which would be given by a classification of 

 the perfect insects. Fritz Miiller Bums up his observations with some 

 remarks, of which the following is a free translation : — " Tlie caterpillars 

 which live alone and lack the bright colouring as a sign of offensiveness 

 must hide themselves, as those of C. Julia and D. VaniUcB. The spiny 

 covering is much less a protection against birds than against smaller 

 enemies, and they may by the protective habit of living together diffuse 

 around themselves an olfensive atmosphere, even to man, and thus gradually 

 becoming shorter (as with D. Juno), the spines of these caterpillars become 

 useless, and finally are altogether dropped." With reference to the conclu- 

 sions that caterpillars can become adapted to their environment quite inde- 

 pendently of the perfect insect, as worked out in a most masterly manner by 

 Dr. Weismann, Mr. Meldola stated that in his belief the principle had been 

 laid down, if not in detail, at least broadly, by Darwin, in the ' Origin of 

 Species.' It is there stated (1st ed., p. 440) that when an animal, during 

 any part of its embryonic career, is active, and has to provide for itself, 

 " The peri id of activity may come on earlier or later in life ; but whenever 

 it comes on, the adaptation of the larva to its conditions of hfe is just 

 as perfect and as beautiful as in the adult animal, i'rom such special 

 adaptations the similarity of the larvte or active embryos of allied animals 

 is sometimes much obscured." 



Mr. Bates, in conclusion, asked the Society to return their thanks to 

 Sir John Lubbock for his interesting paper, and remarked that the dis- 

 cussion to which it had given rise had ehcited much valuable information. 

 The President pointed out that every marking on a cnterpillar must have 

 some meaning with reference to external conditions, and that a large 

 and almost untrodden field in this direction yet lay open to the working 

 entomologist. 



The following papers were communicated by Mr. C, 0. Waterhouse : — 

 " Description of a new Dragon-fly [Gynacanlha) ivom. Borneo." " Description 

 of a new Species of Cher nit idee [Pseudoscorpionida;) from Spain." "On 

 the different forms occurring in the Coleopterous Family Lycidce, with 

 Descriptions of new Genera and Species." 



New Part of ' Tranmctions.' 

 Part IV. of the ' Transactions' for 1877 was on the table. 



