xiii 
Mr. Bates could not consider the argument of the existence of Cardium 
edule in the Aralo-Caspian basin as of much weight, it not proving the 
operation of great elevation within a comparatively recent period, the district 
in question being still eighty-three feet below the sea-level. 
The President said it was impossible with him to overcome the geological 
difficulty in the way of a supposed former land-connection; for though he 
could readily believe in great elevation or depression, either continuous or 
alternate, yet it was a generally received opinion that the great depths 
between these islands and the continent of Europe had existed since the 
secondary period. The example of Keeling Island, as noticed by Mr. 
Murray, was of little importance, because, being a coral island, it was 
of very recent date, and, as there was little variety of vegetation, it was 
impossible for the insects to show great increase; but, let the island become 
more elevated, and its flora more varied, then its few involuntary insect 
immigrants would each become the nucleus of a group of generic forms. 
Mr. Murray had not explained the greatest objection to Mr. Wollaston’s 
theory, the wonderful absence in the Atlantic Islands of indigenous mammals 
and reptiles, which, if the islands be the remnants of a once-existing 
continent, ought certainly to be represented; neither did he account for 
the absence of the apterous groups of bulky Huropean heteromerous 
beetles, such as Pimelia, &c., an absence the more remarkable in the 
face of the fact that genera, and even species, of other families, become 
apterous in the islands, though they are winged in Europe. 
In connection with the absence of mammals, Mr. Bates alluded to the 
almost total want of coprophagous beetles, a group very numerous in species 
in those parts of Europe that approach nearest to the Atlantic islands. 
3 April, 1871. 
A. R. Waxuace, Esq., President, in the chair. 
Donations to the Labrary. 
The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the 
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ No. 126; presented by the 
Society. ‘The Zoologist’ for April; by the Editor. ‘The Entomologist’s 
Monthly Magazine’ for April; by the Editors. ‘Report of the Fruit- 
growers’ Association of Ontario for the year 1870;’ by the Association. 
‘Exotic Butterflies,’ part .78; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Lepidoptera 
Exotica,’ part viii.; by Mr. Janson. ‘ Die Alpenkafer und die Niszeit,’ by 
P. V. Gredler; by Mr. Miller. 
