9700 Entomological Society. 



has eleven segments or rings ; with the exception of the first and last, is studded with 

 a pair of lamps of more than emerald brightness ; constituting in all eighteen lamps, 

 nine on each side, each light being of the diameter of a small-sized goose-quill. 



" The insect exhibits slight streaks of black on the dorsum of the first two segments, 

 whilst the common Lampyris has well-marked black lines on the back of all its seg- 

 ments; its hal)it is sluggish, and it differs from the common variety in this respect. 

 It would bury ilsell deep in the eanh, rendered soft by a free sprinkling of water, and 

 never show itself unless forced out for examination. The common Lampyris would 

 shun the light of day; and at night, unlike its shy neighbour, would stealtliily creep 

 out of its hiding-place, and, with tail erect, open the window of its single lamp and 

 shed forth a bright light all round. To examine the new insect, it is necessary to 

 touch it, and then it will curl itself up and impart the resemblance of a ring studded 

 with 'jewelled lamps.' M. 



"GampoUe, 15th January, 1865." 



With reference to the discussion at the May Meeting (Zool. 9621) on the alleged 

 contemporaneous flashing of the light of fireflies, Mr. Clark read the following extract 

 from a letter received from Mr. Alexander Fry: — 



" I can confirm your observation that the fireflies of the genus Aspisoma of 

 Caslelnau (corrected into Aspidosoma by Lacordaire) flit at night in great numbers 

 over low-lying damp fields, chiefly near water, emitting light by short flashes at 

 intervals of three or four seconds, the majority keeping time with each other, as if in 

 obedience to the h&to7i of a leader. I think it is only the fireflies of that ;ienns who 

 practise it. The numerous fireflies common in Mexico and North America belong 

 chiefly to the genera Ellychnia and Plioturis, whose habits are different, so far as 

 I have had opportunity to observe their congeners in Brazil." 



Mr. W. F. Evans said that, in consequence of the late President, Mr. F. Smith, 

 having called attention to Madame Merian's statement respecting the emission of light 

 by the lantern-fly, he had sent a copy of the President's Address (of the 25th of 

 January, 1864) and an outline drawing of Fulgora laternaria to his son, Mr. \V. T. 

 Evans, of the Commissariat, at present in British Honduras, with a request that he 

 would endeavour to ascertain the fact : the following was an extract of a letter recently 

 received from him: — 



"Belize, 17th May, 1865. 



"I have succeeded in my entomological researches about the lantern-fly. I had 

 one given to me (caught here) alive, and I myself saw it giving light. I kept it in a 

 tumbler fur about a day, and it sometimes did not give it, but at others it did. The 

 ants have eaten off two of its legs. I must wait for a chance to send it home." 



" The Rev. Douglas C. Timins communicated the following "Note of a Month's 

 Collecting at Cannes": — 



" The mouth of March being extremely cold for this climate, collecting did not 

 begin this year until April. The gay-coloured Gonepteryx Cleopatra was the first 

 note-worthy capture, and appeared in very great abundance in fields and marshes. 

 I took Papilio Podalirius very commonly on the blossoms of the peach and apricot: 

 when on the wing its flight is rather rapid, and the insect has a curious appearance, 

 darting about head downwards with its long tails up in the air, as it usually does. 



