March 3, 1880. 



H. T. Stainton, F.R.S., &c., Vice-President, in the chair. 



The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. 

 Donations to the Library were announced, and thanks voted to the 

 respective donors. 



Election of Members. 



Dr. Henry Charles Lang, of 41, Berners Street, Oxford Street, and 

 Mr. Franlv Crosbie, of Tiie Chestnuts, Barnet, Herts, were ballotted for 

 and elected Ordinary Members. 



Exhibitions. 



Mr. F. P. Pascoe exhibited several species of scorpions a projMS of a 

 controversy which has recently been going on in ' Nature,' respecting a 

 statement that scorpions are in the habit of stinging themselves to death 

 when in the midst of a circle of fire from which they are unable to escape. 

 He pointed out that the two common Eluropean species, Scorpio europcBus 

 and Buthns occitanus, were almost physically incapable of reaching a vital 

 part owing to the shortness of the tail or post-abdomen. Mr. Pascoe thought 

 there must be some error of observation with those who asserted the 

 contrary. From his own experience, he believed tliat scorpions were only 

 able to strike backwards and a little upwards. In some forms with very 

 long tails, such as Lychas, &c., it might be quite possible for the animal to 

 insert its " sting" into the soft parts between the segments ; but he thought 

 it was questionable whether, in this mild way, any poisonous matter would 

 be ejected. Another difficulty was that when the tail was so bent back 

 the convexity of the sting would be downwards, and consequently its point 

 would be upwards and away from the cephalothorax. 



Mr. S. Stevens exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Pirn (who was present as a 

 visitor), a dwarfed female specimen of Plebeius Icarus [Lyccsna Alexis). 



The Rev. A. E. Eaton exhibited three plates of drawings of Epheineridce, 

 showing the structural details of the species represented. These beautifully 

 executed plates, which are about to be published in a forthcoming work on 

 this family, contained figures of the following species: — 



Tricorythus maxiinus (in C(£nis), Joly. 



BcEtisca ohesa, Say. The fore-wings of this species are connate along 

 the greater part of the terminal margin, so as to form a shield covering the 

 base of the abdomen. Antennae short, deflected, 7-jointed, with the joints 

 unusually long. Labial palpi 3-jointcd, chelate. 



