( xl ) 



in another direction, — No. 3 turned to seek the female, who had 

 by this time comfortably ensconced herself under the carpet, where 

 his mandibles prevented him from reaching her. Mr. White said 

 he thought there were several points of interest in connection 

 with this struggle that were worthy of note. 1. No duel took place 

 previous to the attack. 2. The successful rival maintained his 

 position passively, and even when his mandibles were free to 

 combat his enemy he did not fight him, as might have been 

 expected. 3. The great strength of the thorax of the female is a 

 very remarkable provision, necessary as a protection against the 

 powerful jaws of her suitor, which would otherwise crush her in 

 the encounter; it has evidently been developed under natural 

 selection, as the result of severe conflicts, and must continue to be 

 subject to those conditions. 4. The peculiar specialisation of the 

 tibiae and tarsi of the anterior legs of the female is to be 

 similarly accounted for. 5. No choice in pairing is exercised by 

 the female ; it is simply a question of power of I'esistance on the 

 one part, and strength to resist and endure the attack of rival 

 males. He remarked also that the extreme development of the 

 male armature in several large species of various genera seemed 

 to be specially fitted for particular methods of attack ; and that 

 the extraordinary throracic processes obtaining in such species 

 as Xylotrupes dicJiotomus, Megacerus nasicornu, Galofa elaviger, 

 G. Porteri, and especially Dynastes Hercules, — of which outline 

 sketches were produced in illustration of this point, — might well 

 be used with success as wedges, if inserted in the manner attempted 

 by the Lucanus cervus under notice. Professor Westwood, Mr. 

 Jenner Weir and Mr. Trimen took part in the discussion which 

 ensued. 



Papers read. 



Mr. E. A. E'itch read a paper, communicated by Mr G. Bowdler 

 Buckton, " On the Occurrence in Britain of some undescribed 

 Aphides." 



Professor Westwood read a paper "On a Tube-making Hom- 

 opterous Insect from Ceylon." 



Mr. Theodore Wood read a paper "On I]ruchus-inksted 

 Beans." A discussion ensued, in whicli Professor Westwood, the 

 l\ev. W. W. Fowler, Messrs. Jenner Weir, Fitch, Tritncn and 

 others took part. 



