Xll 



April 3, 1878. 

 H. W. Bates, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S., President, in the chair. 



Donations to the Library were announced, and thanks voted to the 

 donors. 



Election of a Member. 



Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, of Dunster Lodge, Spring Gro e, Isleworth, 

 was ballotted for and elected a member. 



Exhibitions, dc. 

 Mr. McLachlan called attention, with reference to Mr. Mansel Weale's 

 observations on Termes trinervius made at the last meeting of the Society, 

 to a statement in Hageu's " Monographie der Termiten " ('Liunsea Entomo- 

 logica,' xiv., p. 86), given on the authority of Osten-Sacken, respecting 

 Termes Rippertii of Cuba, the soldiers of which species are said to exude a 

 drop of clear liquid from the point of the head when handled. Mr. 

 McLachlan said that it was interesting to find that Mr. Mansel Weale's 

 observations had confirmed those formerly published. 



Mr. F. Grut exhibited, on behalf of the Rev. T. A. Marshall, a collec- 

 tion of insects made by the latter in the Windward Islands, and read a 

 letter which accompanied the collection. 



Mr. F. Smith exhibited a series of specimens of a species of " Har- 

 vesting Ant," sent to Mr. Darwin from Florida, U.S., by Mrs. M. Treat. 

 On comparison, the Ant appears to be identical with the species from Texas, 

 Myrmica harbata, the il/. molifaciens of Buckley. Three phials containing 

 ants were sent, one containing specimens gradating from large soldiers to 

 small workers, all having acutely dentate mandibles. A second phial 

 contained ants varying in size, but all with mandibles having rounded 

 teeth ; in the specimens in the third phial the teeth were obsolete. 

 Mrs. Treat's letter did not make it clear whether intermediate forms of 

 teeth are to be found in nests, or whether it is to be understood that three 

 distinct races exist in colonies, each being thus constituted for the per- 

 formance of distinct functions. Mr. Smith stated that he had entered 

 into correspondence with Mrs. Treat, and hoped shortly to obtain further 

 information. 



Mr. Alexander A. Berens exhibited a pair (male and female) of Thestor 

 Alauritanicus, Stand., taken on the Atlas Mountains, in Algeria, in 

 April. 



Mr. M'Lachlau exhibited a coleopterous larva (probably a Buprestis or 

 Longicorn) belonging to the tribe known as " coffee-borers," sent from 



