SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 939 



Mr. Billups also exhibited three specimens of Dimeris mira, Riitlie, 

 captured at Headley Laue last January ; and two specimens of CerojJtres 

 arator, Hart., bred from the galls of Cynips Kollarl. Also a long series of 

 the very local Philonthus therinarum, Aube, taken from a cucumber-frame 

 on the West Ham marshes. 



Mr. H. Bedford Pirn remarked that he had captured twenty specimens 

 of P. thermanim in a hotbed at Dulwich last year. 



Sir Sidney S. Saunders read a paper, "On the Pediculus melitta of 

 Kirby, and its affinities with reference to the larva of Meloe." This was 

 illustrated by the exhibition of many microscopic preparations of the speci- 

 mens referred to in the memoir, and by an exhibition of many thousand 

 specimens of the yellow larvae of Melo'e. 



Mr. H. J. Elwes read a paper, " On the Genus Parnassius," especially 

 referring to the remarkable form and development of the anal pouch in the 

 females as a specific character, to the geographical distribution of the 

 species of the genus; and made some remarks on their life-history. 

 Edwards' and Burmeister's writings on the genus were referred to, and 

 Mr. Elwes commented on the remarkable fact that almost every systematic 

 writer except Boisduval had entirely overlooked the presence of the anal 

 pouch. Mr. Elwes illustrated his remarks by numerous diagrams, and by 

 the exhibition of specimens of every known species and form occurring in 

 the genus. A discussion followed, in which Messrs. Dunning, Fitch, Weir, 

 Kirby, Pascoe, and Slater took part. 



Mr. E. Meyrick read a further paper on the classification of the 

 Australian Pyralidina, treating of the families Musotlmidm, Botydida, and 

 ScopariidcB. He remarked that only forty per cent, of the Botydida were 

 endemic, whereas the general average in all other groups, except the 

 Butterflies, was about ninety per cent. 



Lord Walsingham communicated a paper on "North American Tor- 

 tricidse." 



May 7, 1884.— J. W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., &c.. President, in 

 the chair. 



The President feelingly alluded to the loss the Society had sustained 

 since their last meeting through the death of their Vice-President, Sir 

 Sidney Saunders, who was then present and read a paper to the Society. 

 He made some remarks on Sir Sidney's life and works, and said it was the 

 second time it had fallen to his lot to announce the death of a Vice-President 

 in harness ; now it was " one of the oldest and worthiest of our colleagues, 

 and one who with a genuine love of Science combined with it the courtesy 

 and kindness of a gentleman." 



W. H. Patton, Esq. (Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.A.), and William 

 White, Esq. (Morden House, 55, Highbury Hill, N.) were balloted for and 

 elected Members of the Society, 



