68 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
upon the herbage along the borders of the lake, accumulate to a considerable 
depth, and are then collected en masse, pressed into cakes, and dried for 
consumption. Until now the “ Kungu fly” has been conjectured to be a 
species of the Ephemeride@; but on actual inspection it proves to be a 
minute representative of the Culicide, and (so far as can be ascertained 
from the material at hand) of the genus Corethra. The condition of the 
compressed examples precludes an exact determination of the species being 
made from them. It is possible that ‘ Kungu cake” in other localities may 
be composed of other materials. 
Mr. W. L. Distant remarked that he had learnt from Mr. Chennell that 
Erthesina fullo, a very common Eastern Hemipterous insect, was largely 
eaten by the Naga Hill tribes of N E. India. 
Mr. Meldola stated that while on the subject of insect-food he would 
mention that Mr. 8. Stevens had forwarded to him a query by Mr. J. 
Watson respecting the chemical composition of the bodies of insects, 
which, since they furnish all the materials necessary for the food of those birds 
which, like swallows, feed on the wing, must contain, in addition to carbon, 
hydrogen, and oxygen, the requisite nitrogen and phosphates. Mr. Meldola 
remarked that chitine, the substance composing the horny external portions 
of the bodies of insects, had been shown by analysis to contain about 
6 per cent. of nitrogen. With regard to phosphates he stated that, 
although he was sure the ash of the bodies of insects did contain these 
salts, he was unable to find any direct statement to this effect, and at his 
request, therefore, Mr. William Cole had been good enough to burn some 
insects, and to test the ash for phosphoric acid, which he had succeeded 
in finding. 
Mr. ©. O. Waterhouse forwarded for exhibition a living Curculio 
found by Mr. J. C. Bowring in his orchid-house at Windsor. The insect 
was identified by Mr. Pascoe and Professor Westwood as one of the 
Calandride. 
The Secretary read the “ Report of the Sub-Committee appointed to 
consider the communication from the Board of Trade, dated 2nd November, 
1878, regarding the ravages of Anisoplia austriaca at Taganrog.” 
Mr. A. G. Butler communicated a paper “ On a collection of Lepidoptera 
rom Cachar, N.E. India.” 
Annual Meeting, January 15, 1879.—H. W. Bares, F.L.S., President, 
in the chair. 
Mr. J. W. Dunning, one of the Auditors, read an abstract of the 
Treasurer's Accounts for 1878, showing a balance of £30 14s. 7d. in favour 
of the Society. 
The Secretary read the Report of the Council for 1878. 
Mr. M‘Lachlan proposed and Mr. Wood-Mason seconded the adoption 
