VI JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 



insects, by himself, was read, containing descriptions of nearly 

 twenty species, half of which were new. Mr. Say presented his 

 Descriptions of new species of Curculionites of North America, New 

 Harmony, Indiana, July 1831. The 36th volume of the Transac- 

 tions of the Turin Academy was also presented, containing a Me- 

 moir by Professor Gene, upon Cecidomy'ia Hypeiici. Mr. MacLeay 

 sen. presented a fine Collection of Insects from New Holland. At 

 the Meeting of the 19th of November the continuation of the Mo- 

 nograph upon Diopsis was read. The 4th volume of the Memoirs 

 of the French Institute was presented, containing an extensive Me- 

 moir by M. Leon Dufour, upon the Anatomy of the Hemvptera and 

 Homoptera. Lieutenant Breeton exhibited numerous specimens in 

 spirits of a new species of Cochineal, recently discovered upon oaks 

 in the interior of New Holland. The clear spirit had acquired the 

 colour of red ink. Mr. Yarrell exhibited portions of the beams of 

 a house perforated in various directions apparently by the larvae of 

 some of the Ptinidce. 



Mr. Waterhouse called the attention of the Meeting to some pe- 

 cvdiarities which he had observed in the Stag-beetle {Liicanus Cervus), 

 and stated that he had lately kept a male specimen of that insect 

 alive for several weeks, his object being to ascertain the use of the 

 mandibles and some other organs. From his observations it ap- 

 peared evident that the mandibles are employed in procuring sub- 

 sistence, possibly by wounding the bark of yovmg trees, in order to 

 cause the sap to flow, upon which these insects feed. The specimen 

 in question was kept alive by feeding it with sugar and water; it also 

 seemed fond of the juice of raspberries and other saccharine sub- 

 stances. For the purpose of lapping up juices or other fluid mat- 

 ters, it appears to have an extraordinary power of thrusting out the 

 maxillae, the galea or terminal portion of wliich is extremely long 

 and flexible (not unlike the tongue of a bee). It carefully avoided 

 touching anything with the antennae, although these organs were 

 kept continually in motion, as if for the purpose of feeling : if by 

 chance they became smeared with sugar or any other matter, the 

 insect immediately cleaned them by drawing them between the 

 thigh of the fore leg and the underside of the thorax, in both which 

 parts a velvet-like patch of hair is to be observed, which is well 

 adapted for such purpose. That the mandibles were employed as 

 above mentioned appeared evident, from the insect frequently biting 

 the raspberry, to wound it, before it applied the maxillae; it also 

 frequently bit Mr. Waterhouse's finger, without, however, causing 

 a wound, and afterwards applied the maxillae, but finding no fluid, 



