PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, 267 
May 5, 1880.—H. T. Srarnron, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 
Mr. Peter Inchbald, of The Lodge, Hovingham, York, a former 
Member, was ballotted for and re-elected into the Society. 
Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited a very pale specimen of Nyssia hispidaria, 
taken at light at Cheshunt Station. 
Mr. M. J. Walhouse exhibited some Geodephagous beetles which were 
found only on the summits of some of the highest mountains in India. 
Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited a long series of specimens of the Mada- 
gascar Homopteron Ptyelus Goudoti, Benn., to illustrate the extreme 
variability of the species. The series showed a gradation from melanic 
forms having the tegmina and pronotum black, to an albinic variety in 
which the tegmina and pronotum were pale luteous. One specimen 
was asymmetrical in the markings of the tegmina, thus possessing the 
characters of two varietal forms, as shown in the accompanying woodcut. 
Mr. Distant observed that he had found this not at all an exceptional 
occurrence in extremely variable species of the order Rhynchota. Like 
other species of this and allied genera, P. Goudoti in the larval condition 
emits a frothy secretion, which M. Goudot described as being done so 
plentifully at the time of the greatest atmospheric temperature, as to 
assume the appearance of actual rain. From an experiment made with 
sixty or seventy larve, M. Goudot concluded that a vessel holding nearly 
an English quart could have been filled with this secretion in an hour 
and a half. 
Mr. Stainton pointed out that this series «ffered a good illustration of 
the danger of founding a species on a single specimen. 
Mr. T. R. Billups exhibited two living specimens of Carabus auratus, 
found in the Borough Market, and probably introduced with Belgian 
potatoes. 
Mr. F. P. Pascoe stated that he had recently heard a rumour to the 
effect that the Sphinx-moth with a proboscis of sufficient length to reach 
into the nectar of Anagrecum sesquipedale, predicted by Mr. Darwin and 
Mr. Wallace to occur in Madagascar (see also Proc. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. iii.), 
had actually been captured in that island, and he asked whether any 
Members of the Society were able to confirm this statement. 
