SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 263 



impressions upon their eyes, but yet that such impressions differ in a 

 manner of which we have no conception. This, however, seems improbable, 

 and on the whole, therefore, it certainly does appear that Daphnia can 

 distinguish not only different degrees of brightness, but also differences 

 of colour. 



The Rev. A. E. Eaton gave a digest of an extensive monograph of the 

 Ephemerida, or Mayflies (part 1). In this the subject is prefaced by an 

 historical account and general review of the group, with a tabular conspectus 

 of the genera at present known, and descriptions of the genera and species 

 of the first group {Paleiujenia to Pentagenia). — J. Muuie. 



Zoological Society of London. 



May 1, 1883.— Prof. W. H. Ft,owek, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in 

 the chair. 



The Secretary read an extract from a letter addressed to him by 

 Mr. W. L. Crowther respecting the possibility of obtaining living specimens 

 of the Thylacine of Tasmania. 



The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Mr. H. Whitely, the skin of a 

 Bird of Paradise (Diph/llodes gnlielmi) from the island of Waigiou, which 

 was believed to be the second example of this rare species yet obtained. 



The Secretary exhibited a set of Radde's International Colour-Scales, 

 and explained the way in which it was intended to be used. 



A communication was read from Mr. F. Moore, containing the second 

 part of a monograph of the sections Limnaina and Euplmina, two groups 

 of Diurnal Lepidoptera belonging to the subfamily Euplmina. The present 

 paper contained the descriptions of many new genera and species belonging 

 to the group Euplmina. 



Mr. Alfred Tylor read a paper on the coloration of animals, showing that 

 the character of the ornament or decoration differs in the two great divisions 

 of the animal kingdom — the Iuvertebrata and Vertebrata. Mr. Tylor pointed 

 out that the law of emphasis, well known in Architecture, was, in his opinion, 

 applicable to Natural History, and showed that the prominent characters of 

 the animal are picked out in colour in precisely the same way whenever 

 colour is present. He divided the subject into several sections, and exhibited 

 illustrations of the more important families in coloured diagrams. 



A communication was read from Dr. 0. Boettger, of Fmnkfort-on-the- 

 Main, containing the description of new species of land-shells of the genus 

 Clausilia, from the Levant, collected by Vice-Admiral Spratt. 



Mr. W. F. Kirby gave an account of a small collection of Hymenopterous 

 and Dipterous insects obtained in the Timor-Laut group of islands by 

 Mr. 11. O. Forbes. — P. L. Sclatek, Secretary. 



