Entomological Society. 9213 
Exhibitions, &c. 
Prof. Westwood directed attention to a paper in the second part of the ‘ Hore 
Societatis Entomologice Rossice’ on the parasites of bats: uot only were several 
species of Pulicide and of Nycteribia enumerated, but also species allied to the latter, 
yet differing so much in structure as to necessitate the creation of new g@nera (or sub- 
genera); he might remind the members present of the extraordinary mode of trans- 
formation of Nycteribia, the larva state beiug passed within the egg, which was not 
extruded from the body of the female until afier the pupa state had commenced. 
Mr. A. R. Wallace mentioned that be had found Nyctevibie in the tropics, but not 
in large nuinbers, though probably a sufficient examination would show that each 
species of bat was infested with its own peculiar species of Nycteribia. 
Mr. Tegetmeier exhibited one of the frames from the bee-hive, mentioned in the 
minutes of the previous Meeting, in which wax had been scereted for the purpose of 
repairing the old comb and fastening it securely, with a view, as he thought, to future 
occupation of the hive. He added that the expected swarm had not taken possession, 
for the recent cold weather had killed the young queens, and the hive from which had 
. issued the bees which did the repairs had not swarmed at all. 
Mr, A. R, Wallace inquired what evidence there was of any purpose or design of 
taking possession of the empty hive? Had not the bees simply obeyed a mere 
impulse to make wax ? 
Prof. Westwood asked whether it was certain that there had not been a“ false 
swarm,” or. that the queen had not been accidentally killed? If Mr. Tegetmeier’s 
hypothesis were true, that the bees, without a queen, had repaired the old combs with 
the intention of taking possession of them, how was the swarm to compel the queen 
(who was commonly supposed to lead the swarm) to carry out their design and enter 
the repaired hive? 
Mr. Tegetmeier replied that it was a common oceurrence for bees tu visit a tenant- 
less hive, in which comb was left, and clear out the refuse, after which a swarm would 
take pussession of the hive: in the present case the existence of the new wax was 
indubitable, the scales on the floor-board showed that it had been recenily made in the 
hive, and it was found in those places, and those only, in which the old combs had 
become detached from the sides of the frame and required support, Ifa queen had 
entered the hive she would immediately have laid eggs, and the bees would then have 
remained. He believed that bees somehow or other decided beforehand upou the place 
of which, on swarming, they would take possession ; it was difficult otherwise to account 
for the perfectly straight and rapid flight of a swarm to a window or other suitable 
‘spot, such selected spot being often at the distance of a mile or two from their Starting 
point. His view was that the swarm carried the queen, aud not that the queen Jed 
the swarm. a 
Mr. Tegetmeier also exhibited a number of pieces of comb of the honey-bee 
showing singular formations of cells; the specimens had been picked out of beaps uf 
old combs, and were not the result of special experiment or of artificial manufacture, 
One piece of cemb contained a row of sixteen central (not marginal) cells which were 
pentugonal, two of the angles being right angles; -a second piece contained a group of 
cells, some pentagons, some hexagons, of various degrees of irregularity, in the middle 
of a mass of the regular hexagonal form; a dependent piece of old comb had had 
formed_ou its edge a number of shallow cells which were nearly hemispherical cups, 
