1894.] MR. O. THOMAS Olf A GIRAFFE FROM SOMALILAJSTB. 135- 



from Australia ; Sesia culidformis and Sesia bembiciformis, European ; 

 Lasiocctmjya monieiri and a species of Rhabdosia, both from S.E. 

 Africa. 



The specimen of Lasiocampa monteiri is not set out, as the 

 upper edges of the under wings present a very curious hairy 

 appearance, and look as though they had been singed. This could 

 not be seen in a set-specimen. The specimen of Rhabdosia, sp. inc., 

 is a male, and there is a shigle specimen (a female) in the National 

 Collection, but it has not yet been named. 



The cocoons of Actias mimoscp, from which the specimens ex- 

 hibited emerged, were very kindly sent from S.E. Africa by the 

 Eev. H. A. Junod, who had seen our Insect-house before leaving 

 Europe. Other cocoons of this species were deposited by the 

 Hon. Walter Rothschild, from which five pairs of moths emerged. 



During May last I captured some wild specimens of the common 

 Pearl-bordered Fritillary, and placed them in one of the cases,. 

 with a good supply of their food-plant ( Viola) : many eggs 

 were laid. The young larvae hatched in due course, and fed well 

 at first ; they then became sluggish and crawled into the corners 

 of the case. After a time they commenced to feed again, and a 

 second brood was produced — the first specimen emerging on the 

 31st July. I exhibit this evening half a dozen examples of this 

 second brood. In a state of nature this species is single-brooded. 



The specimens of the Hornet Clearwing of the Osier (Sesia 

 bembiciformis) that were exhibited during the past season created 

 great interest ; and many visitors, before reading the label, thought 

 they were really hornets or wasps. 



The most remarkable and interesting insect exhibited during 

 the past year was a Goliath Beetle (GoUaiJms druri/i) from Accra, 

 AVest Africa, which was presented by F. W. Marshall, Esq., on 

 the 5th October, and which died on the 16th of December. This 

 is probably the first specimen of this Beetle ever brought to 

 England alive. It had been in Mr. Marshall's possession since 

 May 1893, and had been in England some time before it was 

 received at the Gardens. It fed principally upon fruit, and 

 preferred ripe melons to any other food. 



Of Orthoptera a large number of the Canadian Stick-insects 

 {Diapheromera femorata) were reared from ova deposited in 1892. 

 Three specimens of Leaf-insects (PTii/Uium gelonus) from the 

 Seychelles were presented by Dr. Nowell in December ; but I am 

 sorry to say they did not live long. 



Mr. Oldfield Thomas exhibited the skin of a Giraffe from 

 Somaliland, which had been brought to his notice by Messrs. 

 Eowland Ward and Co., and pointed out the considerable difference 

 in the character of the markings shown by it as compared with the 

 S.-African Giraffe. In the Northern form the dark marks were 

 large, sharply defined, and only separated from each other by 

 narrow pale lines ; while in the S.-African form these marks were 



