348 THE ZOOLOGISY. 
Mr. E. Saunders said he took a specimen of M. minor at Wandsworth 
the year before last. 
Mr. John Sang, who was present as a visitor, exhibited some varieties of 
British Lepidoptera. 
The Secretary read a communication from Mr. G. E. Piercey, asking 
for the identification of an insect noxious to travellers in Central Asia, and 
lately mentioned by the ‘ Daily News’ special correspondent amongst the 
Tekké Turcomans, under the name of ‘shep-quez” (—=“ bite the stranger”). 
Mr. E. A. Fitch thought most probably the creature referred to was 
the Argas persicus of Fischer de Waldheim; the habits of this tick 
and the effects produced by its attack, as related by Kotzebue and 
Dupré, agreeing fairly well with the account given in the correspondent’s 
extracts. 
Mr. W. F. Kirby remarked that the symptoms of the bite of the so-called 
“poisonous bug” of Persia (drgas reflewus), as described at a previous 
meeting, so much resembled those of malignant pustule—a disease well- 
known to be conveyed by flies—that it would be important to ascertain 
whether the bite of the Argas was itself venomous or merely a vehicle for 
the conveyance of morbific matter. 
The Secretary then read the report of the committee appointed at 
the last meeting to enquire into the supposed presence of the Phylloxera 
on the vines in Victoria. 
The Secretary next read a communication from the Colonial Office, 
enclosing a report from Her Majesty’s Vice-Consul at the Dardanelles, 
respecting the appearance in the Troad of an insect alleged to be destructive 
to the locust eggs; and asking for an opinion as to the possibility of the 
introduction of this insect, should its habits be correctly described, into 
Cyprus. 
The President stated that this communication had been considered by 
the Council of the Society, aud they had resolved that Sir Sidney S. Saunders, 
Messrs. C. O. Waterhouse, and E. A. Fitch be appointed a committee to 
investigate the subject and report. 
Lord Walsingham read a paper entitled “ The Tortricide, Tineid@, and 
Pterophoride of South Africa,” which included a complete list of the 
described South African species, characterizing several as new, which had 
lately been collected by Mr. W. D. Gooch in Natal, and made remarks on 
the affinities and general geographical distribution of the species, a few of 
which were exhibited. 
Mr. A. G. Butler communicated a memoir “On the genus Sypna of 
Guénée, a group of Lepidoptera of the tribe Noctuites.” 
Mr. W. L. Distant communicated “ Descriptions of Rhynchota from the 
Australian and Pacific Regions,” including, with other Pentatomide, four 
new species of the genus Menida from Australia. 
