288 Zoological Society. 
the siik required by the insect for the formation of its cocoon, are 
formed the earliest. The Malpighian vessels are completed at a later 
period in these parasites than in the herbivorous larve, in which 
they are well formed almost from the moment of leaving the egg. 
In conclusion the author states, ‘‘ that in proportion to the more or 
less early development of any structure or organ, the function or in- 
stinct associated with that organ is more or less early evolved; and 
that in proportion to the completeness of a tissue, such is the degree 
of perfection of each special function or instinct in the animal.” 
Read also a paper by J. O. Westwood, Esq., F.L.S. &c., entitled 
“Description of Melittobia Audouinii, a Bee Parasite.’ The follow- 
ing are the essential characters of this genus, which belongs to the 
family Chalcidide and subfamily Kulophides. 
MELITTosIA. 
Antenne maris 9-articulatz ; articulo 1™° maximo subtus ad apicem ex- 
cavato, articulis 4° 5'° et 6te minimis; foeminz simplices, 8-articu- 
late ; articulis tribus apicalibus in utroque sexu clavam ovalem for- 
mantibus. Mas cxcus. Femina oculis ocellisque instructa. dle 
maris abbreviate, foeminz magnitudinis ordinariz ; ale vena ordinaria 
Eulophorum typicorum instructe. Tarsi 4-articulati—Habitatio pa- 
rasitica in nidis apum czementariarum. 
Notices of this insect (first observed by the late M. Victor Au- 
douin) had been published by Mr. Westwood in his ‘Introduction to 
the Modern Classification of Insects’ and in the Journal of Proceedings 
of the Entomological Society, and it was also considered by Mr. West- 
wood as identical with the insect described by Mr. Newport in the 
preceding paper under the name of Anthophorabia retusa, although 
different from the description published of that insect by Mr. New- 
port in the ‘ Gardener’s Chronicle’ in the major part of its characters, 
some of which, as the possession of a furcate median vein and 
5-jointed tarsi, are foreign to the family and subfamily to which it 
belongs; whilst the asserted possession of stemmatous eyes by the 
male was regarded as erroneous, there being no instance of such a 
structure throughout the whole range of winged insects, whilst it is 
essentially a character of some of the wingless tribes. 
Mr. Westwood also exhibited specimens of the larvee of Eulophus 
Nemati, which are parasites on the outside of the body of the larvee 
of Nematus intercus, but which are nevertheless destitute of hairs on 
the surface of the body, although the external parasitism of the larve 
of Monodontomerus was considered by Mr. Newport as indicated by 
the hairs on the surface of their bodies. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Noy. 14, 1848.—Wm. Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following papers were read :— 
1. Notes on THR Anatomy oF THE Mate Avrocus (Bison europaeus). 
By Pror. Owen, F.R.S., F.Z.S. erc. eve. 
It was with much concern that I received notice at the latter part 
of September last of the sudden failing of health of the male Aurochs ; 
