17 



indeed, is so delicate as to be scarcely perceptible under a strong Stanhope lens, whilst 

 in H. imbecilla the puncturing throughout is tolerably distinct. 



H. thinobioides is the smallest of the group and the most slender in its make, but 

 very like H. carabrica : its colouring is darker, and the punctuation of the abdomen 

 is still more dense. 



This note is made upon specimens from Madeira, given me by Mr. Woliaslon. 



Mr. Westwood remarked the admirable manner in which the AbraBUS exhibited by 

 Mr. Waterbouse was set, every tarsus being spread out. Mr. Waterhouse thereupon 

 informed the Meeting that the plan he adopted to set out small Coleoptera, of this 

 and some other families, was to gum the insects slightly down on their backs (using 

 gum Arabic for this purpose) : the legs, &c., were then readily spread out with a 

 camel's-hair pencil, after which the insect was easily removed by gently inserting the 

 point of a pen-knife under it, and then placed in its proper position on gummed card : 

 by this simple process many species could be set out, of which it is otherwise almost 

 impracticable to display the limbs. 



Mr. Waterhouse also detailed another plan, which he had found very useful, in 

 setting out those tribes of small Coleoptera in which the limbs are rigid, such as the 

 Curculiouidae, &c., viz. to gum the insects on card, without attempting to set out the 

 legs, Sec, until the gum has dried, when by slightly moistening the limbs, on one side 

 of the insect only, they were very readily brought to their required position with the 

 setting needle, and, on their again becoming dry, the other side could be treated in a 

 similar manner; by gumming out several insects at once no time need be lost, as 

 whilst one specimen was under process, the others would be drying. 



Mr. Tegetmeier exhibited a newly constructed bee-hive, which consisted of two or 

 more boxes, designed to be placed one above the other, each one furnished with move- 

 able bars, to which the combs are attached, thus affording great facility for the removal 

 of the latter, either fur the purpose of scientific research, the partial deprivation of 

 honey, or the artificial production of swarms. The bars are retained in their places by 

 long wooden slides passing between them, which obviate the necessity for covers, 

 enable a single bar of comb to be removed without disturbing those remaining, and 

 permit the removal of the top boxes to be most readily accomplished. The boxes are 

 square in form, and so constructed that bars of brood or honey-comb can be easily 

 transferred from one to another. 



Some discussion having arisen relating to the construction of the cells of the hive 

 bee, Mr. Waterhouse stated that he was of opinion that the hexagonal form of cell 

 was accidental, so far as the couslructors of the cell were concerned ; and, having been 

 called upon to explain his views, he proceeded, in the first place, to call attention to 

 the fact that if a number of cylinders of equal size were packed close together, side by 

 side, each cylinder would be surrounded by six others ; that, assuming the cylin- 

 drical form (or at least a form of cell approaching more or less to tlio cylindrical, 

 and having a circular section) was the type form of isolated cells constructed by diiferent 

 kinds of bees, and that, in the case of the hive bee, a number of insects worked 

 together, first depositing a small portion of wax, then excavating a small circular 

 cavity in the same, for the commencement of a cell ; this then being followed by the de- 

 position of more wax and the excavation of more cavities, and these being placed close 

 to the first; then neither of the cells could be constructed of their natural diameter, 



D 



