87 



Mr. Smith further observed that, for his own part, he could not, as the question 

 stood, but think that there had been some defective observation, and that further and 

 more close attention to the subject might possibly prove this to have been the case. 

 Dr. Ormerod got over the difficulty by supposing some of the small queens— or large 

 workers, as they in fact are— hybernated throughout the winter, being, like the queens, 

 impregnated the previous season ; but to this Mr, Smith could not assent ; it was con- 

 trary to the observations of all previous observers. He had himself found, during his 

 researches the last twenty years, great numbers of hybernating wasps, but all had been 

 the large queens : he had never known of a single worker having been thus discovered. 

 If worker wasps hybernated, and were capable of continuing their kind, whence any 

 necessity for queen-wasps at all ? — E. S. 



December 5, 1859. 



Dr. Grav, President, in the chair. 



Donations. 



The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be pre- 

 sented to the donors: — 'Genera des Coleopteres,' par M. T. Lacordaire, Tome v., 

 and ' Atlas,' Livraison 1 ; presented by the Author. * Monographic des Elaterides,' 

 par M. E. Candeze; by the Author. 'Transactions of the Zoological Society,' 

 Vol. iv. Part 6; by the Society. 'Farm Insects,' Part 7 ; by the Author, John 

 Curtis, Esq., F.L.S. 'The Zoologist' for December; by the Editor. 'The Pro- 

 ceedings of the Zoological Society, 1859,' Part 2; by the Society. ' The AthenEeum ' 

 for October and November; by the Editor. 'The Literary Gazette' for November; 

 by the Editor. ' The Journal of the Society of Arts ' for November ; by the Society. 

 ' The Entomologist's Weekly Intelligencer,' Nos. 163 to 166 ; by H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



Election of Members. 



Roland Trimen, Esq., 71, Guildford Street, Russell Square, and Henry Johnson, 

 Esq., 31, St. Mark's Crescent, Regent's Park, were balloted for and elected Members 

 of the Society. 



Exhibitions. 



Dr. Wallace exhibited some specimens of the Coquilla nut from South America, 

 the kernels of which had been eaten by the larva of Bruchus Bactris, of which he also 

 exhibited examples. 



Mr. Janson stated that he had had the larva of this species alive for the last five 

 months. 



Dr. Wallace also exhibited some specimens of Myrmica doraestica, which he had 

 lately found in great numbers in his own residence : as this was in the immediate 



