116 



of the cells in the seed-vessel of a Mesembryantbemiim, forcing the remaining cells, 

 which become abortive, into a very small space. 



Mr. Walker observed that the galls exhibited by Mr. Saunders were probably 

 similar to one which Mr. Bouchard had lately found al the root of an oak tree. This 

 gall was in the possession of Mr. Smith, who has reared numerous Cynipidaj from it, 

 and also specimens of a Pteromalus, which much resembles P. Puparum, the butterfly- 

 chrysalis parasite. 



Mr. H. Cooke exhibited a hybrid moth which had been obtained in the following 

 manner. He had bred a considerable number of Ephyra trilinearia and E. orbicularia, 

 and had repeatedly endeavoured to pair the opposite sexes of these species, but only 

 succeeded in one instance in doing so, the insects being a male E. orbicularia and 

 female E. trilinearia. The female deposited eight eggs, all of which hatched, and ihe 

 larvae in due course were full-grown, al which time they presented great dissimilarity 

 in appearance, two or three exactly resembling the larva of E. trilinearia, while others 

 were precisely like those of E. orbicularia, the remainder differing much from those of 

 either parent. Although all of them seemed to enter the pupa state in the most satis- 

 factory manner, yet only the one moth exhibited, and that somewhat crippled in the 

 posterior wings, was produced. This insect bore very little resemblance to either 

 species, the colour and markings approaching nearer to E. poraria, the central fascia 

 common to all the wings being broad and well defined. 



Mr. Bond exhibited a specimen of Smerinthus ocellatus, having one side of the 

 abdomen pure white, the markings in all other respects being as usual. The insect 

 was taken at Freshwater. 



Mr. Rye exhibited a specimen of Euryporus picipes, taken at Holme Bush. Also 

 both sexes of Ptiuus germanus, from Purfleet ; and a line series of Badister peltatus, 

 taken by himself near Boston. 



Mr. Saunders read the following extracts from Froebel's ' Central America,' 

 pp. 433 and 537 : — 



Poisonous Caterpillars. 

 "Early the next morning we arrived at San Antonio. Here I learned what had 

 befallen, during the three months of my absence, the small caravan with which I had 

 started from Chihaohoa. They had encamped iu the prairie, a few miles from San 

 Antonio. Sickness had broken out among the mules, carrying off nineteen of the best 

 animals, and afterwards more died on tl)e road. Several had been bitten by rattle- 

 snakes, and saved with the greatest dilBculiy. The same thing happened to one of 

 our drivers, but a remarkable accident befel the waggon-master ; he had crushed on 

 his hand a little hairy caterpillar which was crawling on it, and in a few minutes the 

 most alarming symptoms appeared. A shiver ran from the hand through his whole 

 frame, and especially down his back. His abdomen swelled, his tongue was heavy, 

 his consciousness became dimmed, and for a week the man was in imminent danger. 

 I afterwards saw the caterpillar in a collection of insects at San Antonio, where the 

 patient recognised it. If he was right it is a little worm covered with long yellowish 

 hairs, about a quarter of an inch long ; it resembles a caterpillar, but whether it is 

 one I cannot say. I afterwards heard of other examples of the extraordinary effects 

 caused by this creature. In a garden at Indianola one of them dropped from a tree 

 on to a child's arm, who immediately screamed with pain ; .the arm swelled, a violent 

 fever came on, and the child's life was in great danger for several days,"--p. 433. 



