( XXX ) 



July 7, 188(). 



J. Jenneb Weir, Esq., F.L.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Donations to the Library were announced, and thanks voted to 

 the respective donors. 



Election of a Fellow. 

 Mr. S. H. Scudder, of Cambridge, Mass., United States, was 

 elected a Foreign Member of the Society. 



Exhibilions, dc. 



The Rev, H. S. Gorham exhibited specimens of Eucnemis 

 capucina (Ahr.), a species new to Britain, discovered in June last 

 in an old beech tree in the New Forest. He also exhibited 

 specimens of Cassida chlorls. 



Dr. Sharp exhibited larvse of Melo'e. He stated that on tlie 

 17th June last, when walking iu company with Mr. Champion 

 at Southampton, he observed some brown masses at the 

 extremities of some blades of grass, and on stooping to examine 

 them more carefully was pleased to find that they were the 

 insects now known to be the larvae of Melo'e, formerly considered 

 to be a Pediculus living on the bee. Melo'e proscarabaus had 

 been abundant in this spot a few weeks previously, and he had no 

 doubt these insects were the newly-hatched larvae of that species. 

 They were agglomerated in masses at the ends of stems of grass, 

 from 100 to 400 or 500 specimens in each muss, and tliere were 

 altogether on the spot fully 4000 individuals : these masses were 

 only to be found on two tufts of grass quite near to one another, 

 and were probably the larvae hatched out from one brood of eggs ; 

 and Newport estimated the nnmber of eggs laid by a single 

 female as fully 4000. The larvae in tliese agglomerations were 

 in a state of great activity, holding on to one another, but each 

 twitching about in a peculiar manner, and tlie outside ones jerking 

 up the head and thoracic segments. Being desirous of ascer- 

 taining whether they would go on to a bee. Dr. Sharp tried to 

 procure one, but tlie day was so bleak and windy thai lie could not 

 iind one at hand, but he procured a dipterous insect of moderate 

 size, a species of Musca, and presented its llioracic region to one 

 ot the masses; the moment the dipterous insect touched one of the 



