10 



visible and easily examined. Supposing the collection to have been formed from spe- 

 cimens of amber collected on the shores of the Baltic (the chief source of supply for 

 this material), it would show that the climate of Prussia had undergone many changes ; 

 for it contained a great number of forms quite analogous or even identical with exist- 

 ing European groups, intermingled with others of a tropical character, and others, 

 again, quite distinct, especially among the Neuroptera, where so many gaps in the 

 natural series exist in the known forms. The volume published contained the plants, 

 Aptera of Linnaeus, Hemiptera and Neuroptera, the latter very carefully worked out 

 by Dr. Hagen ; the Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera remaining to 

 be treated upon in the fourth volume, now in course of publication. As the collection 

 was eventually intended for sale, he trusted that it would be secured for the British 

 Museum, and supposed it would be regarded as an appendage to the zoological rather 

 than to the palEeontological collection. 



Dr. Gray did not wish to detract from the merit of the elaborate work on the table, 

 but considered great caution was necessary in the investigation of these organic 

 remains in amber, as a large portion of the article sold for Baltic amber was in fact 

 gum anime, and brought from Africa ; and instanced many frauds practised by dealers 

 in specimens on the Continent. He imagined there could be no doubt that a col- 

 lection of this kind was a zoological one, and not palaeontological. 



Election of a Member. 

 The Kev. G. VV. Braikenridge, of Brooinvill House, Brislington, near Bristol, was 

 balloted for and elected a Member of the Society. 



Exhihitions, 



Mr. Douglas exhibited bred specimens of Lamprosetia Verhuellella and Buccula- 

 trix maritima, from Mr. Hemmings, of Brighton ; also specimens of Laverna Rasch- 

 kiella and L. conturbaiella, two species of Tineae, hitherto unrecorded as British, both 

 taken at Box Hill, by Mr. F. 0. Standish. 



Mr. Foxcroft sent for exhibition some Coleoptera taken in Perthshire, including a 

 single example of Deudrophagus crenatus, Payk. ; and some living specimens of 

 Chrysomela cerealis from Wales. 



The President observed that C. cerealis appeared to be plentiful in Wales this 

 season. Mr. Brewer had shown him a great number recently taken there. 



Mr. Stevens exhibited a living specimen of Lebia crux-minor, taken by himself 

 near Brighton ; Adgesles Benneltii, bred from the larva described at the last meeting; 

 and a pair of Heterogenea Asellus, lately taken in the New Forest. 



Mr. Stevens also exhibited larvse of Petasia nubeculosa and Notodonta Carmelita, 

 nearly full-fed, being the same as he exhibited at the last meeting, then a few days 

 old; and a box of beautiful Lepidoptera, taken by Mr. Bates at Ega, containing Pa- 

 pilio Bolivar and some fine species of Charaxes, Leptalis, &c. 



Mr. A. F. Sheppard exhibited Gastropacha Ilicifolia from Cannoch Chase, and 

 specimens of Laverna Raschkiella and L. conturbatella from Box Hill. 



Mr. Adam White exhibited a box of insects, of various orders, taken by Mr. 

 Bowring at Hong-Kong, Siam, &c., including a new species of Monohammus, of a fine 

 bluish green colour, with black spots, for which Mr. White proposed the name of M. 

 Bowringii; also a new butterfly, of the singular genus Cyrestis, from Siam, and some 

 curious spiders from Java, &c. 



