PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 67 
Entomology was represented by some beautiful specimens of 
butterflies, Vanessa Cardui, Colias Edusa and C. Hyale were sent 
by the Rev. Bernard Smith, of Marlow; Sphinx Convolvuli and 
V. Cardui were exhibited by the President, also some very perfect 
specimens (third brood?) of the Small Copper (Phileas Polyom- 
matus), taken on the second of October. Mention was made by 
the President of a variety which he had seen in the district without 
spots on the front wing, but with the dark band on the hind 
margin much broader than usual. 
The President in his opening address, after referring to the 
re-appearance of some scarce insects in our neighbourhood, 
directed attention of the members to the remarkable abundance 
of a Saw-fly (Dolerus Coracinus) in the beginning of the year. 
This insect is very like the Dolerus niger, but distinguished from 
it by the presence of a red spot at the basal joints of the wing. 
The imago appeared in March, and attracted but little attention. 
In a very short time the larvee swarmed by myriads. The par- 
enchyma of the leaves of a weeping Ash was consumed as if by 
magic. It seemed impossible to destroy the larve. Thousands 
upon thousands were shaken down and swept away, but there was 
no apparent difference in their numbers or destructiveness. He 
took occasion from the exhibition of this insect to explain the 
physiology of the Saw-fly, and pointed out the mistakes some- 
times committed by writers in popular periodicals, when describing 
this as well as other families in the insect world. 
The President then gave a short description of his observation 
of the transit of Mercury—which took place on the fifth of 
November. The heavens were most propitious. There was not 
a cloud upon the eastern sky. When the sun had risen above 
the mists of the horizon there was nothing to hinder the most 
perfect observation. With powers of magnification ranging from 
90 to 150 diameters Mercury’s disk was as clearly defined as if 
engraved with a diamond. But though carefully watched for, 
the apparent prolongation of the form of the planet by the 
so-called dark bands or protuberances was not seen. Yet the 
planet was observed up to the last internal contact with the 
- limb of the sun. 
A few minutes were spent in speaking of the ‘‘ November 
Meteors,” which, according to calculation, our earth ought to have 
passed through about 6 p.m. on the thirteenth of themonth. The 
portion of the heavens in which the phenomena were to be 
seen at that time was below our horizon—and consequently in- 
visible to us. Some were seen by a gentleman at Wycombe on 
the fourteenth day. But the grand display was observed by 
Professor Phillips at Oxford, between three and four in the 
morning of the fourteenth. 
