60 



going on. In addition to small cockroaches and Lepisma (generally dead and 

 crushed) two, if not three species of Anobiura (A. striatum and A. paniceum), and 

 their larvae were more commonly found ; the latter gnawing the interior of the 

 bindings as well as perforating the leaves. He considered that the larvae might be 

 destroyed by placing the infected volumes in a large close box in which a small 

 quantity of benzine collas had been dropped. 



He also exhibited an insect which he had received some time previously from Mr. 

 Backhouse, of Gateshead, as a gigantic flea, and which he had exhibited to the 

 Society on the 4th of May, 1857 (without, however, having previously had an oppor- 

 tunity of carefully examining it), and for which he then suggested the name of Pulex 

 Imperator. He had, however, recently examined the insect more minutely, and had 

 ascertained that it was a very young larva of a Blatta, much distorted by being crushed 

 flat in rather an oblique position, and with most of the limbs broken off. A small por- 

 tion of the base of one of the multiannular antennae was visible in such a situation 

 as to seem like a part of the mouth, but on microscopically examining it, as well as 

 the portions of the legs still remaining, it became evident that the insect was not a flea, 

 and on dissecting the mouth, its true character was at once detected. 



Captain Cox exhibited some beautiful drawings of the larvae of Lepidoptera, 

 including those of Carpocapsa saltatans, Westw., Phlogophora empyrea, Nyssia hispi- 

 daria, &c. 



Mr. Stevens exhibited, on behalf of Signer De Tivoli, some larvae of Lepidoptera, 

 spiders and other insects, preserved by having been immersed in a chemical solution 

 which had the efi"ect of hardening them ; in some instances the form and colour were 

 well preserved. 



Mr. Gorham exhibited a specimen of Tachyusa concolor, recently found by him at 

 Chelsea Water-works. 



Mr. Janson called attention to the recently pnblished Catalogue of European Cole- 

 optera, by Dr. Schaum, in which were many modifications and alterations, amongst 

 which he might mention the Strepsiptera being included in it as a family of Cole- 

 op tera. 



Mr. Adam White mentioned that he had just received an interesting letter from 

 Mr. Gloyne, now a student in Geneva. Mr. Gloyne had been making excursions in 

 the neighbourhood of that Swiss city, and was struck with the occurrence of species of 

 Coleoptera not met with in Great Britain, but associated with species of common 

 occurrence in our islands. He had not himself taken Omophron limbatum, but a 

 friend of Mr. Gloyne's found that curious geodephagous beetle in banks, by pouring 

 water on them here and there, when little groups of eight or ten individuals were some- 

 times met with. 



Mr. White also remarked that he was glad to see in Dr. Schaum's new ' Catalogue 

 of the European Coleoptera,' that the learned chief compiler of that Catalogue had 

 separated the Brenthidae from the Curculiouids, and placed them close to the Longi- 

 corn Beetles. 



Mr. White added that he had, some lime back, tried to show at a Meeting of the 

 Linnean Society, where he had exhibited the specimen of the rare Hypocephalus 

 Desmarestii, belonging to J. Aspinall Turner, Esq., M.P., that Hypocephalus 

 belonged to the Longicorns, and was close to Dor^sthenes. He had then dwelt on 

 the Brenthidae not being far removed from the Longicorns ; some, such as the great 

 Eutiachelus Temminckii of Java, showing this affinity most markedly. He alluded 



