( XX ) 



Mr. J. H. Durrant exhibited specimens of the three British species of 

 Blaps [B. mortisaga, L., B. vmcronata, Latr., B. similis, Latr.), all lately 

 captured in the neighbourhood of Hitchin. 



Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited an ordinary specimen of Cilix spinula, 

 Scliiff, and remarked that though its peculiar position when at rest had 

 been described, it had not been noticed that it thus perfectly resembled 

 a species of the homoptei'ous genus Plata. Its anterior wings, vertically 

 raised, with the upper suiface exposed, are only visible, the antennae being 

 hidden and the head depressed, so that it appears truncate in front. Familiar 

 with tlie Homoptera, Mr. Distant concluded that he had discovered a species 

 of Flata new at least to Britain, until he came to set out the specimen. 

 He farther remarked that the recently loosely-used term "mimicry" could 

 not be applied here, as the moth could hardly be considered to mimic a 

 tlata which did not occur in our fauna. 



Mr. A. G. Butler remarked on the great similarity sometimes existing 

 between lepidopterous and homopterous insects ; he had lately described a 

 Lithosiid allied to Nudaria from New Holland, which he certainly thought 

 at first was an Horaopteron; the resemblance was so striking that he had 

 named the genus Homopsyche ; the hairs along the costa were very striking, 

 and he quite believed this was a case of mimicry. Quite lately he had 

 found a second specimen in the Museum collection which had been put 

 away in the supplementary cabinet as not a lepidopterous insect. 



Mr. E. A. Fitch called attention to the great resemblance that Cilix 

 spinula bore to the exci'ement of a bird, when at rest on the upper side of 

 a leaf, as was its common practice. 



Mr. G. C. Champion said when collecting in Central America he was 

 frequently deceived as to the orders to which certain insects belonged, and 

 was often surprised at their great resemblance to other natural objects. 



Mr. F. P. Pascoe, in connection with the above, exhibited a large and 

 pretty Chalcid (which Mr. Fitch determined as one of the Cleonymida:), which 

 he had lately captured at St. Helier's, quite thinking it was an Hemipteron ; 

 when running it had its wings overlapping in true bug fashion. 



Mr. T. Pi. Billups exhibited specimens of the two following TenihredinidcB, 

 new to Britain, which had been determined by Mr. Cameron : — Blenno- 

 campa alternipes, Kl., captured at Loughton last May, and Camponiscus 

 apicalis, Brischke, captured at Weybridge last May. The latter species 

 was only described last year, and is probably exceedingly rare. Also 

 specimens of a hymenopterous insect taken from the burrows of Halictus 

 morio at Chertsey on July 21st last. 



Mr. Fitch said this latter insect was a Chelogynus (probably C. lap- 

 ponicus, Thorns.), one of the Dryinida ; lie could not account for its 

 presence in the bee burrows, but he called attention to the remarkable 

 anterior ra[)torial claws, and exhibited Curtis's figure (Brit. Ent. fol. 206). 



