A paper was read from Dr. R. Broom, C.M.Z.S., entitled " On 

 some Points in the Anatomy of a Theriodont Reptile." 



A communication from Mr. George L. Bates contained field- 

 notes on the Mammals of Southern Oameroons and the Benito. 



A communication from Mr. G. T. Bethujs-e-Baker, F.Z.S., 

 contained an account of a collection of Heterocera from the Fiji 

 Islands. Of the species enumerated eleven were new to 

 cience. 



Mr. F. E. Beddard, F.R.S., read a paper entitled " A Contri- 

 bution to the Knowledge of the Arteries of the Brain in the 

 Class Aves." 



Mr. Macleod Yearsley. F.Z.S., read a paper on the Function 

 of the Antennae in Insects. After reviewing the literature on 

 the subject he pointed out that Lowne, in his work on the 

 Blowfly, suggested that the antennae were probably balancing 

 rather than auditory organs. Lord Avebury and Latreille were 

 cited in favour of this view, and the work of Yves Delage on 

 Crustacea and of Clemens upon a moth {Samia cecropia) as 

 confirmatory expeiiments. 



The Author then gave details of experiments upon 30 Wasps 

 {Vespa vulgaris) in which the antennae had been removed. The 

 results of this mutilation were : — 1. Loss of power of flight ; 

 2. Loss of sense of direction ; 3. Noticeable slowness in all 

 movements. The conclusion arrived at was that, in Wasps, the 

 antennae were equilibrating in function. This supported Lowne's 

 surmise and corroborated the experiments of Clemens on Samia 

 cecropia. 



'The next Meeting of the Society for Scientific Business will 

 be held on Tuesday, the 21st February, 1905, at half- past Eight 

 o'clock P.M., when the following communications will be made : — 



1. Mr. G. A. BouLENGER, F.R.S. — A Contribution to our 

 Knowledge of the Varieties of Lacerta muralis in Western 

 Europe and North Africa. 



2. Mr. R. Lydekker.— On the Nigerian and Kilimanjaro 

 Giraftes. 



3. Mr. Cyril Crosslakd, F.Z.S.— The CEcology and Deposits 

 of the Cape Yei'de Marine Fauna. 



4. Mr. Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S., and Mr. Harold Schwann, 

 F.Z.S.— The Rudd Exploration of South Africa.— II. List of 

 Mammals from the Wakkerstroom District, South-eastern 

 Trar-svaal. 



