98 



dotte specimens of mites, spiders, and Podurids were taken 

 in the same localities as the beetles, and probably furnish 

 the latter a scanty supply of food." 



Blissiis leucoptems, Sa}^ (the chinch bug). — This is the most 

 destructive enemy to wheat and corn found in the United 

 States, some seasons being so numerous as to travel in 

 armies from field to field in numbers almost as incredible as 

 the millions of dollars' worth of crops they destroy. There 

 are two broods during the season ; that of the late autumn 

 hybernates, appearing again early the following June. The 

 eggs are laid in the ground about the roots ; the female 

 occupies nearly three weeks in depositing them, some 500 

 in number. The smell of this species is said to resemble 

 that of Acanihia lednlaria, and one writer said that when 

 collecting them he found his nose as good a guide as his eyes. 

 Some half a dozen varieties have been enumerated, and a 

 whole library published upon its life-history, and ravages. 

 The specimens exhibited were collected by Mr. Mansbridge 

 at Sequoyah, Indian Territory, U.S.A. 



Mr. Winkley exhibited a slug which had been found in a 

 wood lying to the south-east of Croydon. It was presumably 

 a variety oi Avion ater, of a beautifully bright flesh-colour. 



Mr. Lucas exhibited specimens of the marsh violet {Viola 

 palustris) from near the Black Pond, Oxshott. 



Mr. Tutt exhibited a specimen of Libytliea celtis from South 

 France, which he had taken after hybernation. It was set 

 to show how it rested among the dead leaves, the upper 

 wings being hidden by the lower, which in the veinings and 

 markings closely resembled a weather-worn dead leaf. The 

 long porrected palpi filled up the space between the antennae, 

 which then were comparable to a leaf-stalk. Among other 

 things taken in the same district he also exhibited a tiny 

 specimen of Lyccsna argiades of a brighter blue than usual, 

 and also a very fine blue female of L. cyllaris. 



Mr. A. H. Jones exhibited several drawers of South 

 European Rhopalocera, including series of Thais cerisyi, T. 

 polyxena, and T. nunina, and their varieties, mostly bred, 

 together with a large number of Pierids, to illustrate his 

 paper on South European butterflies (page 24). In addition 

 to these he exhibited a case containing examples of Papilio 

 hospiton, Parnassiiis apollo, Charaxes jasiiis, Libythea celtis, 

 Satyrus circe, and many others. 



Mr. Tutt congratulated Mr. Jones on his paper, and the 

 members on being able to see such a beautiful collection of 

 the Palsearctic species under discussion. He remarked on 



