paper was discoloured. On examining tlie insect under the microscope 

 I observed that the cephalic projection was perforated at the extremity 

 and communicated with a duct. On touching the same part of living 

 specimens a small drop of acid and gummy matter was traceable on the 

 finger. Termes trinervius is the common food of the Cape Ant-bear 

 {Orycterojnis Capen$is) and I believe also of the Aardt-wolf (Proteles 

 cristatus). Another species of Termes has, I think, a similar secretion, 

 but in a less degree. The soldier of tliis species is armed with prehensile 

 mandibles, and has no cephalic projection. 



"Larva; of Hesperlda. — In glancing over the pages of the 'Revue et 

 Magazin de Zoologie' for 1875 I noticed a paper by Dr. Burmeister on the 

 larvse of Hesperida, and as I have myself discovered and reared those of 

 Pyrgus Elma and Ismene Florestan in Kaffraria, I thought it might be 

 of interest to make a few remarks on this subject. Both the Cape species 

 cover themselves up in a fold of the leaf, and from what Dr. Burmeister 

 states I imagine the same is the case with those of South America. Of the 

 four species figured by him three are greenish, and one conspicuously 

 marked. The larva of Ismene Florestan is ringed with purplish brown and 

 pale Naples yellow, but the cuneate head is bright reddish yellow with black 

 spots. That o( Pyrgus Elma is pale green and somewhat whitely pubescent 

 — in fact, exactly the colour of the under surface of the leaves of its Ibod- 

 plant [Jhutiton gonucratiacum) — but its head is blackish. Both caterpillars 

 feed principally during the night, and in feeding their heads are the only 

 conspicuous parts of their body. Here is a case in which a protective 

 resemblance in larvae is apparently useless." 



The President remarked, with reference to the secretion of formic acid 

 by the cephalic process of soldier Termites, that although he had carefully 

 studied species of Termites having similar processes, he had never observed 

 such secretion. 



Papers read, dc. 



Mr. E. Saunders read a paper entitled " Remarks on the Hairs of some 

 of our British Hymenoptera.'' The author had examined microscopically the 

 hairs of one or more species in almost all the genera of British Aculeata, 

 and had come to the conclusion that the presence of branched or plumose 

 hairs is characteristic of the Anthophila, although this character is of no 

 further value for making divisions within this section. The hairs of the 

 Fossores, of Heterogyna and the Diploptera, are all simple, or in some cases 

 twisted. Mr. Saunders distinguished nine distinct varieties of hairs, and 

 suggested that the plumose hairs of the Anthophila may be of use in 

 collecting pollen. 



Mr. F. Smith remarked that he had first observed beautifully plumose 

 hairs in bees from Australia, 



