582 The Zoologist — February, 18(57. 



first a sufficient motive power to change the species of the Leptalides. Mr. Wallace 

 thought, on the contrary, that it would, because it was self-evident that under all 

 circumstances the " fittest must survive," and any variation which caused hut a small 

 percentage of individuals to escape destruction would to that extent benefit that 

 variety, and might, when the species was struggling for existence, cause that variety 

 alone to survive. To deny this would be to deny that insectivorous birds could ever 

 be deceived by slight resemblances, although it was well known that very rude 

 resemblances sometimes deceived animals and even men. Mr. Wallace thought, 

 therefore, that the theory of the "survival of the fittest" (or natural selection) did offer 

 an explanation of almost every fact connected with mimickiug insects, and that the 

 objections that had been made to it were of a vague nature, and such as could be made 

 against any theory whatever that attempted to explain the phenomena of organic life. 

 Our knowledge of the present life-history of insects was exceedingly imperfect, and 

 how many questions might be asked concerning them that no one could answer. In 

 the long life-history of species how much more must ever remain unknown ; yet 

 because our knowledge was thus incomplete we should be the more thankful for such 

 a theory as that of Mr. Darwin, which supplies a real cause of modification of species, 

 and enables us to correlate so many of the most curious phenomena of organic 

 existences, and to comprehend the series of actions and reactions by which they have 

 most probably been brought about. 



Prof. Westwood reiterated, with further illustrations, some of the objections to the 

 theory stated by him at the previous Meeting, and the discussion w;is brought to a close 

 by a few remarks from the President. 



Paper read. 



Mr. M'Lachlan read a paper entitled "A new Genus of Heinerobidoc, and a new 

 Genus of Perlidffi." The former was described under the name of Ripism i, and the 

 type was the Hemerobius viridipennis of Walker; the latter utider the name of 

 Stenoperla, and the type was the Chloroperla prasina of Newman. 



January 7, 1867. — Sir John Lubbock, Bart., President, in the chair. 



Additions to the Library. 



The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the donors: — 

 ' Memoires de 1.' Societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve,' Vol. xviii. 

 pt. 2; presented by the Society. ' Exotic Butterflies,' Part 61 ; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. 

 ' Notes on on the Zygsenida; of Cuba,' by Augustus Radclifle Grole ; by the Author. 

 ' Eepidopterological Contributions,' by Aug. R. Grote and Coleman T. Robinson ; by the 

 Authors. 'Note on the Japan Silkworm,' by Captain Thomas Hulton ; by the Author. 

 ' De Tunnelgravende Biller Bledius, Helerocerus, Dyschiiius og deres Danske Arter,' 

 •Danmarks Cerambyces,' ' Danmarks Buprestes og Elateres,' ' Krebsdyrenes Suge- 

 mund, I. Cymothoa?,' ' Phthiriasis og Mundens liygning hos Pediculus,' by J. C. 

 Schiodte; by the Author. 'Danmarks Geophiler,' by Bergsoe and Meinert; by the 

 Authors. ' Om Shieglen Stalita,' by the Editor of ' Naturhistorisk Tidsskiift.' ' The 



