3844 The Zoologist — January, 1874. 



Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited specimens of a minute Hymeuopterous insect 

 (a species of Psen), which he had observed in large numbers (probably 150) 

 in June last, on a pear-leaf at Lewes. They had congregated together on 

 the surface of the leaf like a swarm of bees, though it was not apparent 

 what motive brought them together. 



Mr. Dunning read some portions of a letter which he had received from 

 Mr. Nottidge, enclosing the Eighth lleport of the Canterbury (New Zealand) 

 Acclimatization Society, and stating that the red clover had been introduced 

 into the colony, but that they had no humble bees to fertilize the plant. 

 Also that certain Lepidopterous insects had been accidentally imported into 

 the islands, but that the corresponding ichneumons were wanted to keep 

 down their numbers. He would be glad of any suggestions as to the best 

 mode of introducing both humble bees and ichneumons into the colony, as 

 might be requisite. It was suggested that by procuring a sufficient number 

 of humble bees in a dormant condition and keeping them in this state (by 

 means of ice) during the voyage the result might be attained. Mr. M'Lachlan 

 mentioned that he had received a letter from Capt. Huttou from the same 

 colony, stating that indigenous Aphides did not, apparently, exist there, but 

 imported species were becoming very destructive, and he asked if it would 

 be possible to introduce Chrysopa. 



Papers read, S^c. 



Mr. Baly communicated a paper on the Phytophagous Coleoptera of Japan, 

 being a continuation of that contained in the ' Transactions ' of the Society 

 for 1873, p. 69. 



]\Ir. Bates contributed a paper on the Longicorn beetles recently brought 

 home by Mr. Thomas Belt from Chontales, Nicaragua, being supple- 

 mentary to that published in the ' Transactions of the Entomological 

 Society' for 1872, p. 103. The additional species amounted to thirty- 

 seven, which, with those enumerated in the previous paper, brought up 

 the total number to 309. Mr. Bates remarked that a work by Mr. Belt 

 would shortly be published on Nicaragua, which he believed would be of 

 much interest to entomologists. 



Mr.W. H. Miskin, of Queensland, communicated criticisms on a Catalogue 

 of the described species of Diurnal Lepidoptera of Australia, by Mr. George 

 Masters, of the Sydney Museum. 



A fourth portion of the ' Catalogue of British Insects,' now being pub- 

 lished by the Society, was on the table. It contained the Hymenoptera 

 (Oxyura), compiled by the Bev. T. A. Marshall, M.A. 



A Prospectus was on the table of a Scientific Societies Club, which it was 

 proposed to establish in the neighbourhood of Burlington House. — F. O. 



