58 
Mr. F. Smith also exhibited the large larva and pupa of Ripiphorus, found in 
queen-cells of the common wasp, referred to at the previous meeting (ante, p. 49), and 
read the following communication from Mr. Stone :— 
“Tt is certainly not the fact that female Ripiphori are found exclusively in female 
cells of wasps, and males in those of workers; for I have bred scores upon scores of 
both males and females from the cells of workers; nor can I perceive any very great 
difference in the size of the sexes, although the females are unquestionably somewhat 
larger, and much more plump in appearance, than the males; still there is nothing 
approaching the vast disproportion in size which exists between full-grown larve 
found occupying the cells of queens and those found in the cells of workers. The 
former must produce specimens of gigantic size. Then there must either be two dis- 
tinct species, or there must be a permanently large and small variety, the former inva- 
riably depositing its eggs in the cells of queens, the latter in those of workers ; or, if 
there is only one species, and no permanent variety of the insect, it must be that the 
difference in size arises solely from the fact that some larve have been placed, or by a 
piece of good luck have placed themselves, in a situation in which they have met with 
an abundant supply of food, thus enabling them to attain the full and proper size, and 
so produce Ripiphorus as it ought to be; while the others must be looked upon as 
diminutive examples of the insect, dwarfed and stunted by the limited and insufficient 
supply of food allotted to the larve from which they were produced, May I direct 
Prof. Westwood’s attention to page 294, vol.i., of ‘ An Introduction to the Modern 
Classification of Insects’? He will there find the following statement :—‘ The larger 
specimens of the Ripiphorus paradoxus, which are much more rare than the smaller 
ones, are uniformly found only in the cells of female wasps.’ .This statement appears 
to be made on the authority of the Rev. F. W. Hope, and from it I think may be 
plainly seen that that gentleman did not consider these large examples to be ex- 
clusively females, and the smaller ones, bred in the cells of workers, exclusively 
males.” 
Mr. Smith remarked that, according to Mr. Hope’s experience, the Ripiphorus was 
found only in the nests of Vespa rufa, whereas Mr. Stone never found it in the nest 
of Vespa rufa, but only in that of V. vulgaris. Prof. Westwood thought this apparent 
discrepancy probably arose from some mistake in the nomenclature or synonymy of 
the species of wasp, rather than from an actual difference of habit of the Ripiphorus 
in different localities. 
Mr. W. F. Kirby read the following :— 
r 
Notes on the Synonymy of certain British Butterflies. 
“The following notes on priority are taken chiefly from Staudinger’s Cata- 
logue. 
“Genus Pyrameis, Hub., Doubl. §& Hew.—This genus, which can be immediately 
distinguished from Vanessa by the rounded and scalloped hind wings, contains a 
number of very closely-allied species from different parts of the world, and forms an 
exceedingly natural group. It is admitted by many writers on exotic Ento- 
mology; but our European writers generally place the only two European species 
(Pyrameis Atalanta and P. Cardui) under the genus Vanessa. I think that so natural 
and well-marked a genus should be universally admitted. 
“Genus Melanagria, Meigen (Arge, Esp., Hub., Bd.) — This genus contains the 
group of Hipparchie represented in England by Melanagria Galathea. The name 
