714 The Zoologist — April, 18C7. 



examination of the specimens exhibited, particularly of the worker, led him to believe 

 that they had been in some old collection for years; the pins were of very antique 

 pattern, and the abdomen of the female had been stuck on with gum : he thought there 

 must have been some mixing of specimens, and that these had by accident been 

 included in a British collection : the evidence of the actual captor was wanting, and 

 until that was forthcoming, or the species was recaptured, he could nut but think that 

 the supposed occurrence in Scotland was a mistake. 



Mr. F. Smith exhibited a collection of Hymenoptera taken by Mr. Du Boulay at 

 Champion Bay, N.W. Australia, containing a fine series of Formicidae, comprising 

 about fifty species ; twenty-four of the genus Camponotus, six of Polyrhachis, eight of 

 Ponera, one of Odontomachus, four of Crematogaster, one of Pseudomyrma, four of 

 Pbeidole, and four species of Cryptoceiidae, belonging to the genus Mcranoplus. The 

 collection also comprised twelve new species of Thynnidae, three of Pompilidap, 

 eleven new species of Mutillidae, thirteen of Apidae, four of Vespidac belonging 

 to the genus Paragia, and two remarkably beautiful species of the genus Odynerus. 

 Amongst the Formicidae was a very beautiful species of ant, which Mr. Smith pro- 

 posed to name Pbeidole hyacinthina, from the resemblance of its body to the gem 

 Hyacinthus. 



Mr. S. Stevens, on behalf of Mr. Higgins, exhibited some Coleoptera and Lepi- 

 doptera also sent from Champion Bay by Mr. Du Boulay. Amongst the beetles were 

 about a dozen new species, some fine Scaritidse, Bupiestidae (Stigmodera), a new 

 Cetonia, &c. 



Mr. Stainton exhibited two specimens of the imago (one a dwarf), and a drawing 

 of the larva, of Tinea olcastrella of Milliere, which he had bred from the olive, the 

 larvae having been sent him by Mr. J. T. Moggridge, from Mentone, in November, 

 186(5. Mr. Stainton had expected that when the Olcastrella made their appearance 

 they would be referable to the genus Swammerdamia, but to his surprise they differed 

 essentially from that genus, and came much nearer to Zelleria fasciapennella, though 

 from the thicker palpi and narrower anterior wings they scarcely seemed congeneric 

 with that species. 



Mr. Stainton exhibited a crippled specimen of Margarodes unionalis, which also 

 he had bred from olive: the species was on the Continent reputed to be very difficult 

 to rear. 



Prof. Wcstwood mentioned that on the 7ih of February Prof. Bolleston had taken a 

 hybernated specimen of Vanessa Urticae on the wing, and being anxious to know 

 whether any food or fatly matter had been stored up for winter consumption, he dis- 

 sected it. The hybernated specimens were usually females, fecundation taking place 

 in the autumn, the males then dying and the females lying torpid through the winter. 

 The dissected specimen, however, proved to be a male, and in its abdomen was found 

 a quantity of yellow greasy matter, which under a quarter-inch lens distinctly shewed 

 oil-globules, demonstrating the secretion of fat for the purpose of hybernation. 



Papers read. 

 Mr. A. R. Wallace read a paper " On the Pieridae of the Indian and Australian 

 Regions:" forty-seven new species were described, many of which were exhibited; 

 and the descriptions were preceded by introductory remarks on the geographical dis- 

 tribution of the Pieridae and on the existence in that family of cases of mimicry. 



