Entomological Society. 9643 



expressed his dissent from the conclusion of the aulhov, that the numerous forms of 

 Bombus therein mentioned were not true species, but merely varieties of the B. raon- 

 tanus of St. Fargeau. 



Prof. Westvvood directed attention to an article in 'The Gardener's Chronicle' of 

 the 3rd of June, ISfio, by Mr. VV. Carr, of Clayton BridjfC Apiary, Newton Hall, 

 Manchesler, in which the writer gives a detailed account of his observations, showing 

 that workeis of ihe Ligurian bee produced perfectly developed males or drones, corro- 

 boratinjr Mr. Stone's experience as to the occasional prolificness of worker wasps. 

 The Professor also to(ik occasion to remark upon the abundance of queen wasps during 

 the present year, notwithstanding the disease and destruction of the previous autumn, 

 as mentioned by Mr. Stone (Proceeding'-, January, 1865). 



The Treasurer produced an extract fiom the ' Pall Mall Gazeite ' of the 31st of 

 May, which stated that an exhibition of insects was about to be held in Paris.* The 

 exhibition was to be divided into two categories; the first to include (1) the producers 

 of silk, (2) the producers of honey and wax, (3) the insects used in dyeing, (4) insects 

 used for the tal)le, and (5) insects used in medicine. The second category was to con- 

 sist of all the insects that prove destructive to cereals, vineyards, orchards, forests and 

 woods used for building purposes. 



The President said that amongst the insects used for the table might be included 

 the larva of a Macrotoraa, which, under the name of " Barde," was (as he was informed 

 by Mr. Du Boulay) considered quite a luxury in the Swan River district of Australia. 

 The larva in question had been erroneously attributed by Mr. Newman to a dififerenl 

 insect, which he had named Bardistus cidarius. 



The Rev. H. Clark mentioned that, in company with Mr. Grut, he had been 

 present at a meeting convened by Lord Granville for the purpose of considering the 

 destination of some of the Exhibition Buildings at South Kensington, and was glad 

 to find the existence amonjjst those present of a very general feeling that more 

 Museums were required in London. He advocated the formation of district Museums 

 in different parts of the metropolis. 



Prof. Westwood also spoke in favour of the establishment of more Museums, and 

 remarked that there were buildings in the metropolis suitable for, or capable of easy 

 adaptation to, such purposes, e.g. the building in the Surrey Gardens, only temporarily 

 occupied. 



Mr. Grut said that a Committee had been formed to promote the institution of a 

 Museum of South London. 



Mr. Edward Sheppard thought that, speaking with reference to Entomology, one 

 good central collection was all that should be aimed at in the metropolis; ihut more 

 harm than good would be done by forming a number of petty collections; and that the 

 experience of this and other Societies in attempting to form collections should be 

 borne in mind. 



The President advocated the formation of small collections of typical forms for 

 educational purposes. 



* The exhibition is announced to open on the 15th of August, and will be held in 

 the Palais de I'lndustrie, under the auspices of the Central Society of Agriculture, the 

 Minister of Agriculture and Public Works being the President of the Committee of 

 Organization. 



