( xxxi ) 



most external of the minute Mcloe larvae it was seized, and the 

 little larva held on with such tenacity that on taking the dipteron 

 away he removed fully half tlie mass of larvae (some fifty or sixty 

 examples at least) clinging to it ; the larva passed witli great 

 rapidity on to the body of the dipteron, and seemed to be quite 

 contented therewith. He then presented a hemipterous insect (a 

 Limnohates] to one of the masses, but the little creatures would 

 not accept this as a host, and were in fact quite indifferent to it. 

 He put a number of the larvae into a tube and took them home 

 with him, and procured a small bee from the flowers in his 

 garden — a small Halictus, — to try some fresh experiments. He 

 turned some of the larvae out on to a sheet of paper, and taking 

 the bee, touched several larvae one after another with it ; each 

 time any hairy portion of the bee touched a larva, the latter 

 instantly held on and passed on to the body of the bee with great 

 radidity, taking up a position where it was protected, such as at 

 the base of the abdomen, and becoming quite quiescent, in 

 striking contrast to the constant jerking motion it had previously 

 exhibited. Dr. Sharp further said, that from what he observed 

 he did not think there was anything worthy of the name of 

 instinct in the operations of the larvae. They were more like 

 reflex actions ; the instant a suitable surface was touched by the 

 larvae it was clung to, and thus, as is well known, large quantities 

 of these larvae must starve from getting on to insects other than 

 bees, and thus failing to be carried to the homes of the bees, 

 where only they can continue their existence. 



Mr. Saunders exhibited a specimen of Halictus infested with 

 about 30 Meloe larvae. Mr. Billups remarked that he had 

 recently found 47 larvae of Meloe on the body of a specimen of 

 Eucera longicornis. The discussion was continued by Professor 

 Riley, who disagreed with Dr. Sharp, and believed these larvae 

 were guided by instinct, as they showed a decided preference for 

 particular hosts. 



Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited a male of Lycceiia hellan/us, and 

 a female of L. icariis, which had beeti captured in copula by 

 Mr. Hillman, and shown to the exhibitor at the time of capture. 

 Mr. Weir also exhibited a specimen of L. icarus which appeared 

 to be a hybrid, being of tlie colour of L. bellan/us. and another 

 male, which altliough approacliing nearer to L. hellarr/us than 

 L. icarus, yet had the left wings of the pur[ilish l)hie of L. icarus, 



