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FEBRUARY 22na, 1900. 



Mr. W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. J. W. Enock, of Charlton, and Mr. S. Kemp, of 

 Notting Hill, were elected members. 



Mr. Tomlinson exhibited a specimen of Eristalis tenax and 

 its pupa, contributing the following note : 



The maggots were observed in the sludge tank of the 

 Kingston Sewage Works, and afterwards were found in the 

 crude sewage. They possessed fairly rapid swimming 

 movements in the liquid, but in the semi-solid they appeared 

 to crawl without movement of the tail. The temperature 

 at which they developed most rapidly was 10° C. It is 

 hoped that if the development of these flies can be fostered, 

 they will take an important place in the purification of 

 sewage from putrescent organic matter. At present the 

 arrangement at the works do not permit of the developed fly 

 being allowed to live or feed freely. Perhaps the worms 

 and maggots do more in the matter of sewage purification 

 than the much-talked of bacteria and micrococci. 



Mr. Lucas exhibited several species of dragonflies from 

 Sumatra, Ceylon, and the United States, to show striking 

 ornamentation of the wings. 



Mr. Colthrup exhibited an empty cocoon tenanted by a 

 species of spider, and also a mass of Ichneumon cocoons, 

 which had been formed under a larva (probably Geometrid). 



Major Ficklin reported that a friend had found and for- 

 warded him a specimen of Macroglossa stellatarnni, which 

 had hibernated in the heart of the city, and had been taken 

 early in February. Mr. Adkin said that the interesting fact 

 was, that the insect was found here alive in midwinter. 



Mr. Robert Adkin exhibited a series of Cossus ligniperda, 

 taken at Lewisham in June and July last, and read a paper 

 entitled " Notes on the Pupation of Cosstt-s ligniperda " 

 (page i). 



MARCH Wi, 1900. 



Mr. W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



The President, on behalf of Mr. Harwood, of Colchester, 

 exhibited a macropterous form (the first noticed) of the 

 rather uncommon grasshopper, Xipliidiiun dorsalc. It was 

 taken near Clacton. 



