20 



Mr. Bowring exhibited the larva of a Chinese Elater, and the pupa-cases of Sagra 

 femorata, apparently formed of excrement. He made the following coramunicalion 

 respecting the Sagra and the Monohammus : — 



" The pupa-cases of Sagra, now exhibited, were discovered by Lieut.-Col. Dunlop, 

 R-A., in the interior of the stem of a large climbing species of Ipomaa, which trails 

 over a fine row of bamboos in the rear of Head-Quarters House. In clearing away the 

 creeper he observed that the stem was considerably thickened in some places ; and on 

 cutting open the swellings the pupae were found. The larva I have not yet met with; 

 but, being now acquainted with the habitat of the insect, I have little doubt of falling 

 in with it on my return to China. 



" The beautiful species of Monohammus, to which Mr. White has called the 

 attention of the members present, is found upon a species of oak not uncommon in 

 Hong-Kong; but the species is by no means of frequent occurrence. I first met with 

 it in 1848, since which time, until the spring of the present year, I have found it only 

 during one season. On each occasion the appearance of the insect was limited to a 

 few days, and every specimen captured was taken on the oak already mentioned. 



"During the summer of 1855 Agestrata chinensis appeared in considerable abun- 

 dance in the Happy Valley, Hong-Kong, flying in the evening about the tops of some 

 large mango trees, and, from its great size, having more the appearance of a bat than 

 an insect. In the mornings I not unfrequently found the beetle hanging on the under 

 side of the leaves of the mango." 



Mr. Weslwood wished the interior of the cocoons of the Sagra femorata to be 

 examined, to see if they contained the cast skins of the larvs. in order to ascertain if 

 the insect was provided with legs in the larva state. 



Mr. Wilkinson exhibited a bred specimen of Opadia funebrana and the pupa-case ; 

 also several living specimens of a species of Pyrophorus, probably P. noctilucus, £., 

 one of the fire-flies of the West Indies. On the meeting-room being rendered as dark 

 as possible, the luminosity of these insects was observed with much interest by the 

 members present. Mr. Wilkinson remarked that these specimens had been brought 

 from Cuba vi& New York, but that their luminosity was not so great as on their first 

 arrival in this country. 



Mr. Baly exhibited specimens of eight species of Cryptocephalus, taken this sea- 

 son, including C. nitens, C. Coryli, and other rare species. 



Mr. Wcstwood brought for distribution amongst the members the case-bearing 

 larva; of Porrectaria hemerobiella and P. laricella. The latter species had done so 

 much damage to a plantation of young larches this season that the owner feared he 

 should have to cut the trees down. He also exhibited some empty pupa-cases of a 

 Tortrix, apparently a species of Sericoris, found in curled-up leaves of wheat. 



Mr. Westwood also exhibited a specimen of the imago and two cocoons of a spe- 

 cies of Saturnia, sent to the Society of Arts from California, where attempts were 

 being made to render the silk of the cocoons an article of commerce. He observed 

 that these cocoons were flask-shaped, like those of our British species, S. Carjjini, — a 

 matter of great importance in a commercial point of view, for, the threads being all 

 divided at the orilice formed for the exit of the perfect insect, it would, he conceived, 

 be quite impossible to unwind the silk ; and he therefore feared the speculation would 



