28 
retracted, into the cranial cavity towards the eye, thence bending posteriorly and 
extending along the posterior wall of the head to the mouth opening. Both 
mandible and styliform parts are perforate (or possibly grooved). 
Two unmistakable tarsal claws are present in this genus. From their 
relation of position to the pads the latter would seem to be modified pulvilli. 
Prof. Osborn was much pleased with what Prof. Garman had stated. He 
had also observed some of the points mentioned in a special study which he had 
made of these insects, and hoped Prof. Garman would publish his results as soon 
as possible. 
Dr. Weed presented a short paper on the oviposition of Listronotus lati- 
usculus. The eggs are laid in clusters of from five to ten upon the leaf stalks of 
Sagittaria variabilis, and are covered with small pieces of the epidermis which 
are nibbled off by the adult beetle. This was discussed by Messrs. Garman, 
Fletcher and Webster. 
Mr. Charles Robertson, of Carlinville, Ill., read a most interesting note upon 
the habits of the bee Emphor bombiliformis, which was originally described by 
Creason as a Melissodes, but Paton, in revising the genus, raised it to Emphor-. 
This bee, it was stated, confines itself almost exclusively to Hibiscus, chiefly 
H. lasiocarpus. The appearance and habits of the bee were described. It was. 
stated that in collecting these bees it is important to catch those flying around 
the plant without alighting, as these were generally the males, whilst those visit- 
ing the flowers for honey and pollen were the females. On August 5th, when 
walking along a dam with water on one side, he had noticed a female standing 
upon the water ; she then flew to a bank, and he observed that she was carrying 
water to facilitate the excavation of hard ground, into which she was burrowing 
to build her nest. Sometimes one pellet of earth would be taken out after such 
an application of water, but at others three or even four. An interesting dis- 
cussion followed which was participated in by Messrs. Osborn, Cook, Weed, 
Fletcher and others. 
Prof. Osborn read the following note “On a Peculiar Form of Coleopterous 
larva”: Eleven years ago, while a student in college, I found a peculiar form of 
larva boring in the twigs of ash trees, and it was described at the time in the 
students’ journal at the college (The Aurora, May, 1879, page 5.) under the cap- 
tion “ A Grub With Legs onits Back.” The description is as follows: “The speci- 
men was found boring in the pith of a small twig on an ash tree near the road 
west of the college, apparently beginning at or near the tip of the twig and work- 
ing downward. Numerous twigs were found that had been inhabited in this 
way, but only one specimen of the borer was found—this about a quarter of an 
inch long, quite slim, and nearly white. Its great peculiarity consists in the dis- 
position of its locomotive apparatus. The first three segments following the head 
are provided with the usual pair of legs, each in the normal position—that is, on 
the ventral surface. The following six segments are provided each with a pair 
of pro-legs, similar to those found on many caterpillars, but, strange to say, these 
are arranged upon the dorsul surface, exactly the opposite of the usual arrange- 
ment, while the number six is different from either the caterpillars, where there 
are four or five, or the saw-fly larva, which have eight. The remaining three 
segments have no propellers whatever. The beauty of this arrangement, for the 
conditions of the borer, can at onee be seen, for it has as much foot-hold above as 
below. Placed upon a flat surface it could make no advancement, but wriggled 
awkwardly about, evidently seeking its double foot-hold. Placed between two 
thin plates of glass, it moved rapidly, using all its legs, and going with equal 
