( xxiii ) 



1883. The parent female was mistaken for Cabera jmsana, L., at the 

 time of capture. 



Mr. Robert Adkin exhibited a specimen of a Lepisma, which was 

 found swarming on some account books which were constantly kept in an 

 iron safe at High Street, Aldgate. 



Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited specimens of Batrachotetrix bu/o, taken by 

 Mr. G. A. Farini in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa. Although these 

 grasshoppers strongly resembled toads, there was no reason to suppose the 

 resemblance was mimetic, but that, on the contrary, as the toad and the 

 orthopteron did not inhabit the same districts, such could not be the case. 

 The resemblance in colour between the vertebrate and the insect might be 

 termed synchronism, and was brought about by the need in each for a pro- 

 tective coloration in harmony with its geological environment. Mr. Jenner 

 Weir was strengthened in this view of the case because Mr. Farini 

 informed him the hue of the Batrachotetrix varied as the colour of the soil 

 which they inhabited. If these insects are preyed upon by some insecti- 

 vorous bird, it must have a powerful beak, as the dermal covering was 

 found to be hard enough to turn the point of a pin. 



Mr. Jenner W^eir also exhibited two specimens of Arachnids of the 

 order Solpugidse, apparently belonging to the genus Galeodes. These large 

 Arthropods were about 2^ in. in length, and their legs stretched a distance 

 of over 6 in. As usual in the order, they possessed two eyes and very 

 powerful didactyl mandibles, 4-lOths of an inch in length, each forming a 

 hand with movable fingers, like that of the scorpions. On each hind leg 

 there were five coriaceous pedunculated organs somewhat in the shape of a 

 capital Y, about 1-lOth of an inch in height and rather more in breadth. 

 When first taken from the spirit, in which the specimen had been brought 

 to England, these appendages were as white as ivory and opaque, but in 

 drying they became brown and transparent ; it was difficult to suggest their 

 use. Although in drying these curious appendages had become flat, they 

 were, when taken from the spirit, more in the shape of a mushroom, and 

 the only idea that occurred to Mr. Weir's mind was that they might 

 be suckers enabling the creature to obtain a firmer hold than the weakness 

 of the claws on the six hinder legs would otherwise enable it to obtain. 

 They were captured in the Kalahari Desert by Mr. G. A. Farini. Also 

 a living rhynchophorous beetle belonging to the genus Brachycerus, 

 which had survived the journey from the Kalahari Desert, from which it 

 had been brought about two mouths ago by Mr. Farini. At present it 

 seemed none the worse for the voyage. Also a large ant-lion [Palpares 

 immensiis, McLach.), and the cases of some insect which appeared to be 

 made of agglutinated sand, in which were embedded small pebbly stones ; the 

 natives erroneously have a great dread of the inmates of these cases as 

 being one of ihe most venomous creatures existing in their district. 



