XIV 



Eudianodes Stoanzii. — Niger, nitidus ; capite prothovaceque subtiliter punctalis, 

 hoc macula magna fere tripartita fulva ornato ; elytris subtilissime puuctatis. Long. 

 1 1 lin. Hab. Cape Coast Caslle." 



Mr. Pascoe also read the following description of a new species of Curcu- 

 lionidse: — 



^^ Oxycorynus hydnorcB. — Kufo-fuscus; rostro altenuato; fronte prothoraceque 

 creberrime punctalis; elytris 6-carinalis, interstitiis granulatis. Long. 6 lin. (rostro 

 incl.). Hab. Catamarca." 



This Oxycorynus formed part of the contents of a small box sent from South 

 America by Mr. F. Schickendantz, of Pilciao (see Proc. Ent. Soc. 1 867, p. cviii). The 

 other insects in the box were a Xylopertha, resembling X. sinuata, but smaller; two 

 species of NilidulidsB, apparently near Carpopbilus; and a Saprinns, with a large 

 yellow spot on each elytron. The whole of these were stated by Mr. Shickendantz to 

 have been found by him " in the flowers of a new species of Hydnora " (a genus of 

 Cytinaceae, root-parasites, some of which exhale a peculiar animal odour). 



Mr. T. W. Wood (who was present as a visitor) exhibited pupae of several Lepi- 

 doptera from Sierra Leone, one of which, apparently an Antheraea, was remarkable 

 from having two very deep impressions near the hinder extremity. Mr. Wood men- 

 tioned that he had once opened a pupa of Sphinx Ligustvi, and found that the 

 haustellum was of the moth, after passing down the projecting snout of the pupa 

 and up again, was continued down the breast of the insect and terminated on a level 

 with the extremity of the wing-cases. 



With reference to the numerical disproportion of the sexes of insects {ante, p. x),. 

 Mr. Stainton mentioned that since the previous Meeting he had inquired the results 

 of the experience of Mr. Doubleday and Mr. Hellins in breeding Micro-Lepidoptera. 

 Mr. Doubleday thought that males were generally more numerous than females, and 

 did not remember a single instance in which he had met with an excess of females^ 

 Mr. Hellins, on the other hand, reported that he had usually found females more 

 numerous than males. 



Mr. Stainton added that Mr. Darwin would be glad to'reeeive replies to the following 

 further inquiries: — (1), whether sexual attraction or fascination was exercised in 

 the same manner by butterflies which have the wings gaily ornamented on the under 

 side and by those which have dark under sides, as e.g. by Argynnis and Vanessa;. 

 (2), whether any and what moths were more brightly coloured in the male than in the 

 female sex ; and (3), whether any and what moths were more conspicuously coloured 

 on the under side than on the upper side of the wings. (In reply to the third query, 

 Mr. Wormald mentioned the genus Hypopyra). Mr. Darwin was also desirous of 

 acquiring facts bearing on the distinction between sexual and protective colouring iu 

 insects; and of ascertaining the causes which decided the success of one out of several 

 males which were in pursuit of the same female. 



