3538 The Zoologist — May, 1873. 



Monthly Magazine' for April; by the Editors. 'Instructions for the 

 Collection and Preservation of Neuropterous Insects,' by E. M'Lachlan, 

 Esq., F.L.S. ; presented by the Author. ' Bulletin de I'Academie Eoyale 

 des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux Arts de Belgique,' t. xxxi. — xxxis'. ; 

 * Memoires Couronnes et autres Metnoires,' t. xxii. ; by the Academy. 



Election of Member. 

 Mr. Edward Cracroft Lefroy was balloted for and elected a Member of 

 the Society. 



Exhibitions, de. 



Mr. Champion exhibited specimens of Triboliura confusum and Ptinus 

 testaceus, which he had observed in British collections mistaken for 

 Tribolium testaceum and Ptinus fur. 



Mr. Verrall exhibited a specimen of Laphria flava, L., one of the Asilidae, 

 taken in Scotland, not having been hitherto discovered in this country. 

 Also the following Syrphidae, viz. : — Syrphus compositarum, Ver., S. flavi- 

 frous, Ver., and S. puuctulatus, Ver., all new species ; together with S. annu- 

 latus, Zett., S. barbifrons. Fall, and S. nigricornis, Ver. (= obscurus, Zett.), 

 the last three having been found in this country for the first time. 



Mr. M'Lachlan stated that he had been informed by Lord Walsingham 

 that when on his recent visit to California and Texas he had frequently 

 noticed dragonflies preyed upon by other large insects whilst flying through 

 the air. These latter were, no doubt, some species of Asilus ; but it was 

 the first time he had heard of dragonflies being preyed upon by other 

 insects, as they had hitherto been supposed to be free from such attacks. 



Mr. F. Smith remarked that when examining the box of insects sent to 

 him from Calcutta, by Mr. Rothney, he had come upon a species of Penta- 

 toma of a dull brown colour. Mr. Piothney stated that whilst seeking 

 shelter under a tree from the sun, he observed the bark of the tree covered 

 with hundreds of this species, which were of exactly the same colour as the 

 bark, and on this account were not readily noticed. Mr. Smith was not 

 aware why the insect should require this protection. Mr. Bates suggested 

 that they might be subject to the attacks of lizards; but Mr. Meldola 

 thought that it would be useful to them in attacking other insects, which 

 they were occasionally known to do, although usually phytophagous in their 

 habits. 



Papers read, dc. 



Major Parry communicated a paper on the " Characters of Seven Non- 

 descript Lucanoid Coleoptera, with Remarks on the Genera Lissotes) 

 Nigidius and B'igulus." 



Mr. Frederick Bates communicated " Descriptions of New Genera and 

 Species of Tenebriouidae from Australia, New Caledonia and Norfolk 

 Island." 



