3924 The Zoologist — March, 1874. 



Longicom beetle. He stated that they were splitting up tlie diseased 

 stumps, and that only about two per cent were unaffected. The larvae 

 bored into the tree between the forks of the root, working into the heart and 

 feeding on the wood, as high up as nine or twelve inches above ground. A 

 specimen of the insect was exhibited, which proved to be Anthores leuco- 

 notus, Pascoe. In the bottle with the larvse were also specimens of 

 Ceroplesis caffra, but the former insect was stated to be the cause of the 

 evil. They had split up some 5000 trees, which were diseased, and the 

 only remedy which they had, as yet, tried, was to apply Stockholm tar to 

 the roots : he would be glad to be advised as to the best mode of extermi- 

 nating the insects. Mr. M'Lachlan remarked that it was very important 

 to ascertain if the insect was really the original cause, or whether, as he 

 believed, the trees wore previously diseased. Mr. Miiller was of opinion 

 that the eggs were laid on sound trees, and he added that the maximum 

 time for the appearance of the perfect insect was only about two weeks, and 

 suggested hand-picking as they came out, a practice frequently adopted on 

 the continent of Europe, with regard to Melolontha: it was also very 

 desirable to avoid shooting tlie various species of insectivorous birds, which 

 were frequently destroyed for the sake of their plumage. 



Mr. Butler communicated the following in correction of a remark made 

 at last meeting : — 



" At the last meeting for scientific business I made remarks respecting 

 Apatura Herse and A. Lycaon, of Fabricius, which seem to have been 

 entirely misunderstood ; I wish, therefore, to state clearly what are my 

 views, in order that I may not be supposed to give in my adherence to Mr. 

 Scudder's views respecting them. 



" The synonymy of the American species is, in my opinion, as follows, 

 viz. : — 



" Apatura Herse and A. Lycaon of Scudder and Riley {nee Fabricius) 

 = Apatura Clyton and A. Celtis of Boisduval, and are two distinct species. 



" Apatura Herse and A. Lycaon, Fab., are sexes of one species and = 

 Apatura Alicia, Edwards. 



" I have come to this conclusion from an examination of the unpublished 

 drawings of Messrs. Jones and Abbott." 



Paper read. 



A paper was communicated entitled " Descriptions of Fifteen new 

 species of Diurnal Lepidoptera, chiefly from South America," by Herbert 

 Druce, F.L.S. 



Mr. Dunning announced with regret the death of Mons. F. E. Guerin- 

 Meneville, of Paris, one of the Honorary Members of this Society. — F, G. 



