( lis ) 



honeysuckle. Besides this there seems to be an element of 

 sweetbriar, but without the characteristic roughness — 

 recalling rather the rose than the foliage of that plant. The 

 scent also conveys a suspicion of orange or lemon-peel — nearer 

 orange. The scent of nearly all Dr. Longstaff's specimens 

 was noted by him as being like that of clover ; in one, how- 

 ever, it was thought to be like that of G. rapse. The female 

 was found by me to be scentless. 



"Only one specimen of Glutophrissa saba, Fabr., $, was 

 tested ; no odour was detected. 



"A few specimens of Synchloe hellica, Linn., $ , examined by 

 me gave a distinct, though not very strong scent like that of 

 gorse. The females were odourless, as indeed were many of 

 the males. A male tested by Dr. Longstaff was recorded by 

 him as having 'a very slight, heavy, flowery odour.' 



" It is worthy of notice that although in all these species 

 the intensity of the scent varies, sometimes greatly, as between 

 different individuals, this variation bears no definite relation 

 to the condition as to freshness of the specimen examined. I 

 have no clear evidence that the scent is discharged more 

 copiously during courtship ; though this may quite possibly 

 be the case. The perfume may persist for some little while 

 after the death of the insect, but has generally become much 

 impaired or has disappeared altogether by the time that the 

 butterfly is stiff. So long as stiffening has not taken place, 

 the scent is more easily detected and estimated at home 

 than in the field. Rubbing the wings is in most cases un- 

 necessary. 



" I exhibit this evening spirit extracts of the wings of 

 Mylothris agathina and Belenois severina, which will be found 

 easily distinguishable by the sense of smell from each other 

 and from the pure spirit. On a future occasion I hope to 

 say something of the odours as they exist in other groups of 

 butterflies." 



A discussion on the presence and use of scents in various 

 orders of insects followed, in which the President, Professor 

 Poulton, Col. C. T. Bingham, and other Fellows joined. 



