PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 155 
Mr. F. P. Pascoe exhibited a specimen of Peripatus Nova-Zelandia in 
spirits, and remarked that Sir J. Lubbock, in his recent Address, quoted a 
German author who asserted that the trachez discovered by Moseley were 
merely modifications of the subcutaneous glands, thus again removing 
this curious creature from the Arthropoda back to the worms (Vermes). 
This was, however, contrary to the opinion of Huxley, Schmarda and other 
writers. It was stated that Peripatus was unsegmented, but Schmarda 
gives “13 to 36” segments in characterizing the group. Through the 
kindness of Prof. Jeffrey Bell, he (Mr. Pascoe) had examined the species in 
the British Museum, and found that P. Edwardsii was the only one with 
any traces of segmentation. It is probable that Schmarda intended that 
each pair of legs indicated a segment. 
Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited a very large Cicada received from Mada- 
gascar, belonging to the genus Platypleura, but at present undescribed. 
In reply to the President, as to whether any information was procured 
as to the amount of sound produced by the musical apparatus of this large 
Cicada, Mr. Distant stated that unfortunately he had no opportunity of 
learning anything of its habits; but that he might perhaps be permitted to 
state, whilst on the subject, that though undoubtedly the possession of the 
sound-giving apparatus was confined to the males, and was thus due to 
sexual causes and used for sexual purposes, it might still possibly serve 
some protective function as well. 
Mr. W. F. Kirby announced the death of Herr Gabriel Koch, sen., of 
Frankfurt, on January 22nd, 1881, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. 
He was best known for his work on the geographical distribution of 
Lepidoptera. 
Mr. R. Meldola read a communication from M. André with reference to 
some criticisms, made at the October meeting of the Society, on the author's 
method of publishing the descriptions of new genera and species on the 
wrapper or on loose sheets of his work now publishing on the Hymenoptera 
of Europe. 
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. George Giles, of Brixton, enclosing 
& newspaper cutting from an Australian paper detailing the death of a child, 
in consequence, as was supposed, of the bite of a small spider. 
Mr. Arthur G. Butler communicated a paper entitled ‘‘ Descriptions of 
new Genera and Species of Heterocerous Lepidoptera from Japan.” 
Mr. R. M‘Lachlan read some ‘‘ Notes on Odonata of the Subfamilies 
Corduliina, Calopterygina, and Agrionina (Legion Pseudostigma), collected 
by Mr. Buckley in the district of the Rio Bobonaza in Keuador.” 
Mr. W. F. Kirby read “ A List of the Hymenoptera of New Zealand,” in 
which eighty-two species were enumerated, including five described as new. 
Mr. Joseph S. Baly communicated a paper entitled ‘“ Descriptions of 
new species of Gulerycide.”-—K. A. Firca, Hon. Secretary. 
