Entomological Society. 9083 
Coleoptera rarely hybernate in so mild a climate, and yet few were taken on the wing 
or crawling about, except Carabus monilis and Chrysomela Populi, and some of the 
genus Aphodius. This neighbourhood seems poor in Dytiscide, for I met with few, 
and these only the commonest species. In February the weather was extremely bad, 
and the only Lepidoptera which appeared were Lasiommata Ageria, L. Mera and 
Colias Edusa; early in March Papilio Podalirius reappeared and Gonepteryx Rhamni 
and G. Cleopatra also. During this month Colias Edusa, C. Myrmidone, Pieris 
Daplidice (very common), Anthocharis Belia, Vanessa C-album, V. L-album, Pontia 
Brassice and P. Chariclea, Thais Rumina, Thecla Rubi (very common), Polyommatus 
Alcon (?) and Saturnia Carpini appeared; also Vanessa Io and the other common 
Vanessidez. Several species of Cicindelide oceur now (March 24th) in the rocks, but 
I have not yet been able to identify them all; and of-Libellule, Hshna grandis, 
Libellula forcipata, L. depressa, &c. A good many species of Hemiptera occurred in 
December, and January, but I have been obliged to reserve their nomenclature for 
some future time, as I can obtain here no books on that order. Among the larve 
fuund in December were Deilephila Euphorbiz, D. Galii and Acherontia Atropos. 
The pine woods have been full of the larve of one of the processionary moths, living in 
society under white silky nets, and proceeding in lines or chains, sometimes thirty feet 
long (each larva is hardly an inch and a half in length), to bury themselves preparatory 
to assuming the pupa state: on reaching a suitable place for this purpose, the chain 
of larve disperses, and each one proceeds to bury himself, usually, however, near his 
comrades, so that when one pupa was found by digging, more were certain to be 
obtained within a few inches of the same place.” 
Paper read. 
Mr. Frederick Smith read a paper “On the construction of Hexagonal Cells of 
Bees and Wasps.” This was illustrated by the exhibition of a collection of nests, 
among which were those of Icaria guttatipennis, Nectarina Lecheguana, Tatua morio, 
Polistes tepidus, P. Tasmaniensis, Vespa vulgaris, Apis mellifica, &c.: among the 
most remarkable was a nest of Polistes Tasmaniensis, in which a single central cell 
had been prolonged and carried to a considerable distance above the level of the sur- 
rounding cells; this prolongation was alleged to be hexagonal, and much use was 
made of this in the course of Mr. Smith’s argument. Mr. Bates, however, took issue 
with Mr. Smith on the hexagonality of this part, and declared it to be, in his opinion, 
as neatly circular-cylindrical as possible. In contradistinction to the “circular 
theory” expounded by Mr. Waterhouse at the previous Meeting, Mr. Smith’s might 
be termed the “ hexagonal theory,” but it will give a better idea of the main argument, 
if we denote his view of the construction of the cells as the “intentional theory.” The 
hexagonal form of cell was described as “the ground plan laid down by the Great 
Architect,” and the bees were the builders who carried out his designs: it was argued 
that both bees and wasps began instinctively and with a primary intention to construct 
hexagonal cells; and so strong was the “ hexagonal principle” guiding them in their 
Operations, that one wasp, Apoica pallida, not only built hexagonal cells, but occasion- 
ally formed the entire comb of a hexagonal shape. Reference was also made to the 
artificial bases or foundations for cells used by the German bee-keepers, such founda- 
tions being hexagonal ; and from this it was argued that these hexagonal ground-plans 
must be exactly such plans as bees were accustomed to erect their cells upon, or at all 
events that the fact of bees at once accepting the plan furnished them was strongly in 
