Gisxx )} 
Dr. Sharp read a paper entitled ‘On the Cost and Value of 
Insect Collections.” Mr. W. F. H. Blandford, Mr. McLachlan, 
Mr. Jacoby, Mr. Waterhouse, and the President took part in 
the discussion which ensued. 
Professor Auguste Forel communicated a paper entitled 
‘“‘Formicides de l’Antille St. Vincent, récoltées par Mons. 
H. H. Smith.” 
Mr. Blandford read a paper entitled ‘‘ Description of a New 
Subfamily of the Scolytide.” The author said that the new 
subfamily consists at present of six species, four from Japan, 
one from India, and one from Madagascar described under the 
name Scolytoplatypus permirus by C. Schaufuss, who considered 
it as a true Platypid. He had recently received the type of 
S. permirus for examination, and found it to be closely allied 
to his species, and to differ in some important particulars 
from Schaufuss’ description. It would necessitate a recon- 
sideration of the generic divisions. The insects are charac- 
terised by an exposed head, deeply recessed in the males 
above and below, a thorax which is emarginate and bordered 
at the sides, stout fore legs with scabrous tibie, greatly 
dilated in the females, short oblong elytra with apical 
tubercles or carine in the males. The under-skeleton 
resembles that of certain Tomicini, as do the mouth parts, 
and hinder legs. ‘They differ essentially from Platypi in 
possessing a six-jointed antennal funiculus, a non-carinate 
mesonotum, and a short metasternum and first tarsal joint. 
Among the remarkable features are a large dorsal pore on the 
thorax of the females; great elongation of the antenne in the 
males of some species, which have a deep fovea on the sides 
of the prothorax, and a modification of the prosternum, which 
is recessed in front, furnished with a fenestra covered with a 
transparent membrane, and armed with two minute hooks, 
like the nippers of an earwig. The antennal club is oval or 
pointed, solid, and honeycombed, with two bands of very 
minute papille. For the present they may be placed 
between Tomicini and Platypini, but are distinct from either. 
The President, Dr. Sharp, and Mr. Waterhouse took part in 
the discussion which ensued. 
