XXXIX 



Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited an Homopteron which had been sent to 

 him for identification, through Dr. Sharp, from Mr. Lawson, of Auckland, 

 New Zealand. The species was Ricania australis, Walker, and Mr. Lawson 

 wrote that it had been observed last year on the dahlia for the first time. 

 The markings of the New Zealand specimen were, however, much darker 

 than those of the Australian ones, and therefore if, as possible, the insect 

 had been introduced from Australia, its arrival must probably have taken 

 place some time ago to allow for the process of melanism which had ensued. 



Mr. J. Jenner Weir exhibited two specimens of Leucania turca, with 

 several poUinia of Habcnaria hifolia attached to the trunk of each, these 

 being the only two out of fifty specimens which had the pollinia thus 

 attached. He had been able to satisfy himself, by comparison, as to the 

 species of orchid from which the pollinia had been removed. Mr. Weir 

 also exhibited a specimen of Hipimrchia hyperanthus, in which the ocelli 

 on the under side of the fore and hind wings were unusually large, oval, and 

 with the central white spots ovate and acuminate outwards. The specimen 

 was taken in the New Forest, and was the first of the species observed at 

 the latter end of June. 



Prof. Westwood called attention to a note in 'Nature' of June 37th 

 (p. 226), reprinted from the 'American Naturalist' for June, and relating 

 to the manner in which Lepidoptera escape from their cocoons. The 

 article referred to is by Dr. A. S. Packard, who records his observations on 

 Actias luna, and describes and figures the cocoon-cutter by means of which 

 this moth cuts its way out. Prof. Westwood claimed priority for the 

 'Transactions' of the Society where similar observations are recorded by 

 Capt. Button (1st series, vol. v., p. 85), who describes " the method by which 

 Actias selene cuts its way through the cocoon," and also calls attention to an 

 instrument which he names the " wing-spur." 



Prof. Westwood also stated that he had recently heard of injuries done 

 to potato crops by insects which had not hitherto been considered injurious, 

 viz. Cetonia aurata, which had been found stripping the leaves, and a 

 lepidopterous larva (probably a species of Botys) which bored into the stem. 



Mr. Jenner Weir stated with reference to the organs at the base of the 

 fore wings in the large Bomhycldie, that he had distinctly heard a clicking 

 noise in the cocoan oi Attacus polyphemus just before the emergence of the 

 imago, caused without doubt by the creature's sawing asunder the silk 

 threads with the organs in question. He had not heard the same noise in 

 the cocoons of Attacus cynthia nor in those of A. cecropia. 



Mr. Dunning read the following : — 



Note on Spiders resembling Flowers. 

 " At recent meetings of the Society we have had brought to our notice 

 several interesting cases of resemblance between insects and plants, the 



