opinion on the specific value of tlie great discrepancy in the alar development 

 of the females, over which there hung a certain amount of mystery, and on the 

 obvious fact that the males, from different localities, also varied in the 

 contour of the fore wings. 



6 May, 1879. 

 H. T. Stainton, Esq., F.K.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 



Additions to the Library. 



The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the 

 donors : — ' Proceedings of the Puoyal Society,' No. 133 ; presented by the 

 Society. ' Verhandlungen der k. k. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft 

 in Wien,' vol. xxi. ; by the Society. ' The Canadian Entomologist,' vol. iv., 

 No. 3 ; by the Editor. ' Exotic Butterflies,' part 82 ; by W. W. Saunders,- 

 Esq. 'L'Abeille,' livr. 3, 4 & 5 ; by the Editor. 'The Entomologist's 

 Monthly Magazine ' for May ; by the Editors. Newman's ' Entomologist ' 

 and 'The Zoologist' for April and May; by the Editor. 'Notice sur 

 divers Lepidopteres du Musee de Geneve,' par M. A. Guenee; by the 

 Author. 



By purchase : — Gemminger and von Harold, ' Catalogus Coleopterorum,' 

 tome viii., pt. 2. 



Election of Members. 

 The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected : — Lieut. H. 

 Murray, 104th Fusiliers, as an Ordinary Member; and J. Eardley Mason, 

 Esq. of Alford, Lincolnshire, as an Annual Subscriber. 



Exhibitions. 



Mr. Edward Saunders exhibited a series of species of Australian 

 BuprestidcTD, illustrating the sexual difTerences existing in these insects, the 

 male in all cases being much smaller than the female. 



Mr. F. Smith exhibited a large collection of Hymeuoptera, chiefly 

 Aculeata, sent from Japan by Mr. G. Lewis. The collection was strikingly 

 European in its aspect, and, with the exception of one genus of ants, all 

 the genera were European. The genera repi'esented were Camponotus, 

 Tapinoma, Polyrhachis, Ponera, Formica, Tiphia (four species), Mutilla 

 (one species only), Scolia, Pompilus (allied to a North-American form), 

 Ammophila, Sphex, Bembex, Vespa, Sphecodes, Nomada, Coelicxys and 

 Halictus. Some of the species appeared to be identical with European 

 forms, such as Camponotus pubescens and ligniperdus and Sphex argentata. 

 Among the Tenthredinidse the genus Hylotoma was represented by six 



