252 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Vol. vl 



smaller insects, and largely upon insect eggs. The Dryings are said to confine their 

 attacks to small hymenopterous insects such as Jassidse, etc., and to live in small felt- 

 like sacks protruding from the abdominal spiracles of the host. A curious feature 

 found only in this one sub-family of hymenoptera, is that of the chelate anterior 

 tarsi of the females. These chelae are formed somewhat on the plan of the formid- 

 able pincers of the lobster, although relatively more slender. They are outgrowths 

 from the inner side of the fourth tarsal joint and are of comparatively large size, so 

 that when opened in a straight line, the expanse is nearly equal to the combined 

 length of all five tarsal joints ; when the two members of pincers are closed together, 

 the lid is folded upward against the inner side of the first, second and third tarsal 

 joints. They are probably used for holding the prey when the female is ovipositing. 



Mr. Beutenmiiller showed a number of remarkable Australian Hepialids from Mr. 

 Schaus' collection ; among which were Zelotypia stacyi, Hepialus virescens, H. 

 swainsonii, H. daphnandrce, H. exi??iia, H. splendens, H. lignivorus and H. leivinii. 



Mr. Joutel spoke on the protective habit of Cotalpa lanigera. He stated that the 

 beetle, which is bright yellow and a very conspicuous object, has the habit of drawing 

 the edges of the leaves together with its claws, so that it is completely hidden. 

 Several may be on the same bush, but from this habit not one will be seen. He also 

 exhibited eggs of the common walking-stick. They very much resemble seeds, in 

 color, size and shape. Adjournment. 



Meeting of January 18, 1898. 

 Held at the American Museum of Natural History. 

 President Dr. Love in the chair. Eleven members present. 

 The Auditing Committee reported on the Treasurer's accounts as being correct. 

 Dr. Ottolengui spoke on the genus Plusia and pointed out the relative differences 

 and doubtful nomenclature of various species of this genus. 



Meeting of February i, 1898. 



Held at the American Museum of Natural History. 



President Dr. Love in the chair. Twelve members and several visitors present, 

 amongst which were Professor Smith, Messrs. Southwick and Ormond. 



Mr. Joutel proposed Mr. W. T. Davis for membership. 



The President appointed Messrs. Zabriskie, Palm and Beutenmiiller, to form an 

 auditing committee for 1898, and Messrs. Loss and Munch as the field committee. 



Mr. Crampton spoke upon experiments upon the grafting of pupae of Lepidoptera. 

 He described in detail a series of experiments upon pupae performed during the spring 

 of 1897. These experiments, he added, were similiar to those made by Dr. Born 

 upon the coalescence of portions of different embryos of Amphibia. Besides the possi- 

 bility of coalescence of two individuals or parts of individuals, there appeared in the 

 Lepidoptera experiments certain other interesting problems, which related chiefly to 

 the causes producing the magnificent colors of the imago. From the work of Mayer 

 and others it has been shown that the pigmented colors are produced by the chemical 

 decomposition of the haemolymph in the empty scale cells. Hence, a priori, it 

 might be possible to produce reciprocal color effects of one moth upon another differ- 

 ently colored moth by uniting the heemolymph of each with that of the other. The 

 problem of heredity involved in such cases, as C. promethea where the male and female 



