40 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
province. This specimen differed but slightly from the typical form, the 
colour of the prothoracic shield being a bright blue-violet, and its resem- 
blance to a flower deceived for the moment the practised eyes of Mr. Kurz. 
Mr. Wood-Mason hoped before long to be able to give coloured figures of 
these anthomimetic Mantide. 
Mr. W. L. Distant stated that Waterton recorded in his ‘Essays on 
Natural History,’ the resemblance of the rattle of the rattlesnake to an 
orthopterous insect, and suggested that this, by deceiving and attracting 
birds, might be of service to the reptile in the same manner that the floral 
resemblance of Gongylus serves to secure for these insects a supply of food. 
Mrs. Randolph Clay (who was present as a visitor) exhibited a living 
specimen of Zopherus Brémei, from Yucatan, Mexico, which had been 
worn by her for many months as an ornament, during which time the 
insect was stated to have taken no food. (See also ‘The Queen,’ 24th 
August, 1878.) 
Sir Sidney Saunders exhibited specimens of Blastophaga Psenes, Linn., 
male and female, employed in the process of caprification, received from 
M. Jules Lichtenstein, of Montpellier. Also specimens of Sycophaga 
cassipes, Westw., from the Sycamore figs of Egypt, together with certain 
apterous associates corresponding with Apocrypta of Coquerel (but speci- 
fically distinct) recently found in the same figs. 
The Secretary read a Report from Her Majesty’s Consul at Taganrog, 
which had been sent to the Foreign Office and transmitted to the Socicty 
through the Board of Trade. The Report related to the destruction of 
the corn crops by Anisoplia austriaca in the neighbourhood of Myriapol, 
and in various districts in Berdiansk, Kharoff, Poltana, Ekaterinoslaff, 
Kherson and Bessarabia. Cleonus punctiventris and Anisoplia crucifera 
were also reported to be spreading in the provinces of Kiero and Podolia. 
The total damage done by these destructive Coleoptera is estimated at 
two million roubles. A Sub-committee was appointed to draw up some 
observations on these beetles for the use of Her Majesty’s Consul. 
Miss E. A. Ormerod communicated a paper “ On tl Prevention of 
Insect-injury by the use of Phenol Preparations,” and exhibited drawings 
and specimens showing the destruction of carrot crops by Psila rose. 
Sir Sidney Saunders communicated a paper ‘‘ On the Habits and Affinities 
of Sycophaga and Apocrypta from the Sycamore Figs of Egypt.” 
Mr. C. O. Waterhouse communicated “ Descriptions of new Telephoride 
from Central and South America.” 
Mr. W. L. Distant communicated “ Descriptions of new Species of 
Hemiptera-Homoptera.” 
Part III. of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1878 was on the table-—R. Mrtpona, 
Hon. Secretary. 
