1182 The Zoologist— April, 1868. 



Mr. S. Stevens referred to Drilus flavescens, the second known British female of which 

 was exhibited at the previous Meeting (Zool. S. S. 1 137). Mr. F. Smith cited Tenthredo 

 cingulalus, the male of which was rare, whilst the female abounded, and Hemichroa 

 Alni, of which the male was quite unknown. Of the latter Mr. Smith had a large 

 number of cocoons, and if there were such a thing as a male of that species he hoped 

 soon to breed it. 



The President remarked that the different habits of the sexes must be taken into 

 account. Among the South-American butterflies, the males of many were more 

 handsome than the females, and exceeded them in number iu the proportion of a 

 hundred to one; the male sported in the sunshine, whilst the female was slow in 

 flight, never appeared in the open sun, but remained in the shade of the forest: under 

 such circumstances it might be that a superabundance of males was necessary in order 

 to ensure the impregnation of the females and to prevent the extinction of the species; 

 but he was unable to suggest any explanation of an excess of females over males. 



Mr. Stainton thought that, by reason of the difference of habit of the sexes, little 

 reliance could be placed upon records of a supposed disproportion of the number of 

 the sexes of any insect when in a state of nature : it was only by breediug the insect 

 that the relative numbers of the sexes could be ascertained with any certainty. Iu 

 Micro-Lepidoptera he had often found the result of observations in the field at 

 variance with the result of breeding the same species iu confinement; species the 

 females of which, from their retiring and secluded habits, were seldom caught, whilst 

 the males were common, had, when eggs or larvae were obtained, produced twice as many 

 females as males. 



Mr. M'Lachlan said that Mr. Darwin had recently put two queries to him, Do 

 male dragon-flies fight with one another? and, Do many or several males follow 

 one female? He confessed his inability to answer with certainty either of these 

 apparently simple questions. 



Papers read. 



The following papers were read : — 



"A few Observations on the Synonymy of Tinea (?) alpicella and Zelleria Saxi- 

 frage, n. sp.," by Mr. H. T. Stainton. 



" On the Homologies of the Ovipositor," by Mr. A. E. Eaton. 



"Contributions to a Knowledge of the Coleoplera," Part 1 (continued); by 

 Mr. F. P. Pascoe. 



March 2, 1868.— H. W. Bates, Esq., President, in the chair. 



Donations to the Library. 

 The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the donors :— 

 'The Journal of the Liunean Society,' Zoology, No. 39; presented by the Society. 

 Newman's' British Moths,' No. 15, and 'The Insect-Hunter's Year-Book for 1867;' 

 hy the Author. 'The Zoologist' for March; by the Editor. ' The Entomologist's 

 Monthly Magazine' for March; by the Editors. 



Election of Members. 

 G. A. Lebour, Esq., of the Geological Survey Office, and Captain A. F. Lendy, 

 of Sunbury, were severally ballotted for, and elected Members. 



