XVI 



has succeeded in hardening the nymphal thoracic prominence 

 into a permanent horn, but, as j)ointed out by Mr. Gr. J. Arrow, 

 some tropical species certainly possess a horn on the thorax. 



Fabre concludes his chapter with the following words. 

 " Then what is the meaning of these horny preparations 

 which are always blighted before they come to anything ? 

 With no great shame I confess I have not the slightest idea. 

 My reply may not be couched in learned phraseology, but it 

 has one merit, that of absolute sincerity." 



Examination of a cell which has been kept in the position in 

 which it was formed by the parent, and in which the pupa has 

 been formed undisturbed, discloses the solution of the problem 

 that puzzled Fabre. He had dug up cells from his breeding 

 cages and opened them without taking note of their proper 

 orientation. He thus missed seeing the pupa in its normal 

 vertical resting position, supported on the extremity of the 

 projecting horn, with all the remainder of its delicate body free 

 from contact with the surrounding wall. Only the tip of the 

 tail assists in balancing it on its support (Fig. 6). 



There is no doubt that the horn is similar in function to the 

 various spines and bristles that appear on various parts of the 

 pupae of other Coleoptera, viz. to keejD the delicate organs out 

 of contact with their surroundings while they are being fully 

 developed. 



Insects reared in subterraria allow of easy observation of 

 their various stages exactly as they appear in nat\ire. Clues 

 are thus obtained to the meaning of structures, which otherwise 

 might be missed. 



The perfect insects were produced during the month of 

 September. 



Papers. 



The following papers were read : 



" Gynandromorphous Pleheius argus L.," by Dr. E. A. 

 Cockayne. 



" Butterflies from the Nile," by Mr. H. Mace. 



" Types of Oriental Carabidae," by Mr. H. E. Andrewes. 



" New Genera and Species of Neotropical Curculionidae," 

 by Dr. G. A. K. Marshall. 



