Ixxiv 
beating with its head against the side of the cell, the noise produced being quite as 
loud as the tick of an ordinary watch, thus confirming Mr. Derham’s observations, 
‘and viewing them with a convex lens, I soon perceived some of them to beat or make 
a noise with a sudden shake of their body, &c. From this time the honey-comb, which | 
perhaps from its peculiar sonorous nature suited them so well, became the head- 
quarters of Atropos, and night after night, and sometimes by day, might be heard the 
tick, tick, tick, by the hour together; sometimes one, sometimes two or more, ticking | 
away with all their might, as if to out-tick each other. At any time by carefully 
approaching the comb, and waiting a second or two quietly, they might with the aid of 
a lens be seen at their peculiar pastime. Since then I have lived in my present 
house, a comparatively new one, for about twelve years, and during that time have 
constantly heard the familiar tick from time to time, twice during the last week, 
October 8th and 10th. Atropos is very numerous here, seeming to prefer the mantel- | 
piece, upon which are several vases filled with artificial flowers, and any night they | 
may be seen by the dozen prying into any little crevice, or minutely surveying petal — 
after petal of their floral habitation.” 
Mr. F. Smith said that he had a number of living Atropos which he had been 
observing for some time, but he had not yet been able to detect them making any 
sound. 
Mr. M‘Lachlan reiterated his disbelief that so soft an insect could be the author 
of the tapping noise attributed to it; and with reference to Mr. Chaney’s observations, 
he should scarcely have thought that hcney-comb was of a “peculiar sonorous 
nature.” 
Paper read. 
Dr. Wallace read a paper ‘‘On some Variation observed in Bombyx Cynthia 
in 1866.” 
February 18, 1867. 
Sir Joun Luszock, Bart., President, in the chair. 
Donations to the Library. 
The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the donors:— 
* Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’ 1865, No. III., 1866, 
No. ‘II.; ‘Annales de la Société Entomologique de France,’ 4e Sér. Tome v., 1865; 
‘Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung,’ 1867, Nos. 1—8; ‘ Proceedings of the Natural 
History Society of Dublin,’ Vol. iv. Part iii.; presented by the respective Societies. 
‘ Beskrivelse over Lophogaster typicus, en merkvedig Form af de Lavere Tifceddede 
Krebsdyr,’ by Dr. Michael Sars; *‘ Norges Ferskvandskrebsdyr, Foerste Afsnit, Branch- 
iopoda. I. Cladocera Ctenopoda (Fam. Sidide & Holopedide), and ‘ Beretning om en 
i Sommeren 1863 foretagen Zoologisk- Reise i Christiana Stift, by G. O. Sars; * Ento- 
mologiske Underseegelser i Aarene 1864 og 1865, by H. Siebke; presented a the 
respective Authors. 
