1334 Thk Zoologist — August, 180'8. 



type, the specimen exhibited was almost entirely of a deep rich fulvous colour, with a 

 few black marks on the cosla of the fore wings, and but for its origin being known 

 could scarcely have been recognized as Arctia villica. 



Mr. R. Davis, of Waltham Cross, Herts (who was present as a visitor) exhibited a 

 huge collection of larvae of Lepidoptera, admirably dried and preserved, and expressed 

 his desire to receive living larvae from Lepidopterists in other parts of the country, 

 a portion of which, when preserved, he would return to the sender. 



Mr. T. W. Wood (who was present as a visitor) exhibited specimens and drawings 

 of several exotic species of Saturuiidae, and made some observations on their habits. 

 Suiurnia Cynthia was remarkable for its attitude during repose, the wings being held 

 perfectly horizontal, without any external support, and widely expauded, the hind 

 wings being an inch or more apart. The altitude of S. Promethea and S. Cecropia 

 was very similar to that of a Papilio, and there were other strongly-marked points of 

 resemblance between the Saturniidae and Papilionidse, both in form and habits ; for 

 instance, the gentle waving up and down of the wings, as if for display, as observed in 

 these moihs, was more characteristic of diurnal than of nocturnal Lepidoptera : he had 

 kept a pair of S. Polyphemus alive for a considerable time, and found that they some- 

 times (particularly the female) rested after the manner of butterflies, but at other times 

 their wings were horizontal, a large portion of the hind wings, including the ocellus, 

 being hidden by the fore wings. Mr. Wood had also observed that these insects 

 possess a moveable appendage on the under side of the anterior tibiae, which is used 

 as a comb for cleaning the antennas: he had many times seen the males of S. Pro- 

 methea use these appendages for that purpose; the large feathery autenna was 

 clasped at the base between the tibia and the comb, as between a linger and thumb, 

 and was drawn slowly through to the tip, being thereby effectually cleared of all dust 

 and scales or other foreign matters. 



Prof. Westwood said that there was a similar appendage or plate on the fore tibia; 

 of Papilio Machaon. 



Mr. A. G. Butler (who was present as a visitor) exhibited Halia Wavaria and its 

 Dipterous parasite, a species of Tachina, bred from the pupa?. 



Mr. Bond, after referring to the cases recorded in Proc. Ent. Soc. 1865, pp. 103, 

 104, of several males of CEcelicus and Micropteryx being discovered in simultaneous 

 sexual contact with one female of their own species, mentioned that Dr. Kuaggs had 

 met with a still more remarkable case, inasmuch as he had found a male of Tortrix 

 \iiidana and a male of T. heparana in contemporaneous union with a female of 

 T. viridana. 



Mr. Bond then exhibited a female of Drilus flavescens,— the third known British 

 specimen of that sex (Zool. S. S. 1 137),— and two males of the same species, the trio 

 having been captured in copula simultanea near Freshwater, Isle of Wight, on the 

 12lh of June, 1868, by Mr. H. Rogers, who had supplied the following account: — 



" I captured them on Friday, June 12th, at a place called Blackbridge, Fresh- 

 water: they were on the high road, and first attracted my attention through the 

 female crawling along and dragging both males behind her. I picked them up and 

 closely examined them, and both males were in cop. with her at the same time, and 

 remained so for upwards of two hours; both left her within ten minutes of each 

 other. When I first saw them the males were quite helpless." 



