28 . THE ZOOLOGIST. 
a white tip and the under side of the rays was also white, but tinged with 
pink; the ventral fin was like the pectorals, but without the white tip. The 
abdominal fin and the finlets were pinkish white; the tail was dark, 
resembling the first dorsal fin—J. H. Gurney (Northrepps, Norfolk). 
BreEEpiInG SuAson or OrayrisH.—As a note towards determining the 
breeding time of Sea Crayfish, I mention that I have to-day (Oct. 27, 1876) 
received one with the berry fully developed—THomas Cornisu (Penzance). 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
Linnean Society oF Lonpon. 
November 2, 1876.—Prof. Attaan, President, in the chair. 
Mr. Duppa Crotch exhibited a live specimen of the Norwegian Lemming, 
with charts showing the nature of the ground traversed in two instances in 
which he himself had witnessed the westerly migration of this singular little 
rodent. 
Mr. G. Bentham read a paper on the distribution of the Monocotyledonous 
order into primary groups, more especially in reference to the Australian 
flora, with notes on some points of terminology. 
Dr. Francis Day drew attention to examinations he had made on some Irish 
Sticklebacks (Gasterostei). Abnormal variations in the presence and absence 
of ventral fin and spines in specimens of the Three-spined and Ten-spined 
Sticklebacks induce him to consider these appendages of doubtful specific 
value. . 
Mr. H. W. Bates communicated a paper by Mr. D. Sharp on the respi- 
ratory function of the Carnivorous Water Beetles (Dytiscida). Experiments 
made by the author on numerous species show that there are wide 
differences in the length of time they spend submerged and on the surface 
for breathing purposes. Most specimens of the group are more active by 
night than by day. 
Prof. Dickie gave a supplementary notice of Marine; Alge obtained in 
the ‘ Challenger’ Expedition. Of some fifty species one only is new. 
A description of Thaumantis pseudaliris and Amesia pewifascia, two new 
Lepidopterous forms from Malacca, by Mr. A. G. Butler, was taken as read. 
The same author also had a communication on the genus Huptychia, a 
revision, with the addition of twelve new species being made. A case of 
these butterflies was exhibited in illustration of his paper. 
A second communication, by Mr. D. Sharp, referred to new species of 
Beetles (Scarabaida) from Central America. ‘These had been captured by 
Mr. Belt, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Chontales. 
