( XXV ) 



" There can, I think, be Uttle doubt that Platychile is nocturnally 

 active, retiring under the sand during the day. Its pale unvaried tint is 

 well adapted to concealment among the sand. We could not discover any 

 burrows attributable to this beetle or its larva, the holes here and there 

 examined not yielding any specimens of the species. 



" South-Africa Museum, Cape Town, 

 24th June, 1884:." 



Paper read. 

 Mr. Butler communicated a paper by Surgeon-Major R. W. Forsayeth, 

 " On the life-history of sixty species of Lepidoptera observed iu Mhow, 

 Central India." Mr. Butler referred to the more remarkable species, and 

 Mr. Forsayeth's three books of drawings were exhibited. 



September 3, 1884. 



R. M'Lachlan, Esq., F.R.S., &c., Vice-President, in the chair. 



Donations to the Library were announced, and thanks voted to the 

 respective donors. 



Election of a Member. 



Lieut.-Col. Charles Swinhoe (13, The Close, Winchester) was balloted 

 for and elected a Member of the Society. 



Exhibitions, <£c. 



Mr. G. Coverdale exhibited a box of British Micro- and other Lepi- 

 doptera, all of which were set in his new method, without pinning, which 

 Tie had greatly improved upon since the last exhibition. 



Mr. H. T. Stainton called attention to the rarity and interest of many 

 of the specimens exhibited. He especially referred to some specimens of 

 a Goniodoina captured on the Shoebury saltings, which appeared to be 

 almost intermediate between G. auror/uttella and G. limoniella, being of 

 the colour of the former and having the pale costa of the latter species. 



Mr. T. R. Billups exhibited two large and very hard woody excrescences 

 on birch twigs from the New Forest ; there was a difference of opinion 

 whether they were a form of the familiar "witch-knot" supposed to be 

 produced by a Phytoptus, or whether they were only hardened sap caused 

 by some injury the twig had received, and having no connection with 

 insect-attack. 



Mr. Billups also exhibited a specimen of Ocypus cyaneus, Pk., captured 

 in North Devon by Mr. W. South this summer, and a series of Loxops 

 cvccineus, Meyer, taken at Chobham last August. Also a box containing 



