VI PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



M, proscarabceus and v'lolaceus are identical with the insects found 

 on Nomadce, &c. The change from the active habits of the young 

 to the inactive full grown larvae was noticed, and it was stated that 

 the limbs became gradually shortened by the claw being thrown 

 off at each change. In reply to an observation by Mr. Westwood, 

 that the full grown larva had been described by Geoffroy, (Hist. 

 Ins. i. 377,) Mr. Newport stated that Geoffroy had mistaken the 

 larva of Timarcha tenebricosa for that of Meloe. Mr. Newport 

 further stated that he had counted as many as 2109 eggs in each 

 ovary of a female M. violaceus for a first deposit ; and that there 

 were eggs in an immature state for two or three more layings, so 

 that the whole number could not be less than 10,000 : the young 

 larvae are found in flowers of low plants, such as the dandelion, 

 buttercup, &c., but the eggs are deposited at the roots of grass 

 and are of yellow colour. Mr. Westwood stated, however, that 

 on one occasion, whilst collecting in Coombe Wood, upon beating 

 a broom into his sweeping net he found an immense number of 

 minute larvae of a Meloe, many of which, by crawling upon his 

 person, produced a most violent irritation for a short time. 



Mr. Douglas stated that Sphinx celer'io and convolvuU had been 

 as abundant in France during the last season as in England, as 

 stated in the French " Annales :" and Mr. Westwood stated that 

 near Canterbury the latter had been so abundant that a friend of 

 his had captured as many as five in his net at once. 



Mr. Spence read an extract of a letter from G. H. K. Thwaites, 

 Esq., dated 18th December, 1846, respecting the larvas of Tinea 

 granella, of which he had given a series of details at a former 

 meeting. Mr. Thwaites stated that in collecting some larvae on 

 that day he had observed that instead of burrowing into the 

 wood of the granary beams, &c. many of them had made their 

 hybernacula by fastening grains of corn to the sides of the wall. 

 This had occurred in a room where a bulk of corn had been 

 recently removed and the walls had not been kept clean. 



Mr. Spence added some observations on the interest thus 

 shown in the insects modifying their habits under certain, in this 

 case unknown, circumstances. 



Mr. Waterhouse alluded to the hybernation, in the larva state, 

 of Cossns, and Mr. Doubleday to that of the Tentkredinidce and 

 many Torlricidce and Tineidce under similar circumstances. 



