94 



was due to the sharp jerking action of the wings. The insects were able to remain 

 three or four hours beneath the water, but required occasionally to swim to the sur- 

 face, or crawl thither up the stem of an aquatic plant, in order to breathe; so, at least, 

 it was to be inferred from the fact that specimens which had been confined for a whole 

 night, in such a manner as to be unable to reach the surface, were all found dead in 

 the morning. Mr. Lubbock had never seen the insect fly, but of the other species of 

 the genus one was known to feed on the eggs of Pontia brassicae, and consequently 

 was of terrestrial habits. With reference to what he termed the geological aspect of 

 the question, Mr. Lubbock remarked that, if this insect had been found in a fossil 

 state, no geologist would ever have imagined that it was an inhabitant of the water, — 

 a circumstance which showed the necessity of some degree of caution in deducing 

 from the structure of animals conclusions as to their habits. 



Payer read. 

 Professor Dr. Schaum, of Berlin, communicated the following description of and 

 remarks on Scaritarchus Midas, a new genus and species of the Coleopterous group 

 Scaritidas : — 



Scaritarchus. 



" Labrum antice subemarginatum. Mandibulse intus unidentatse, supra rugoso- 

 striatae. Maxillae apice rotundatae. Mentum dente medio simplici, profunda 

 canaliculate, lobis lateralibus rotundatis breviori. Palpi maxillares articulo 

 ultimo triangulari, lato, fere subsecuriformi, praecedentis longiludine ; labiales 

 articulo ultimo fortiter securiformi. Prothorax breviter cordatus, angulis pos- 

 ticis distinctis, basi subemargiualus. Coleoptera ovalia, striato-punctata. Tibiae 

 aulicae supra canaliculatae, extus iridentatae, dentibus inferioribus approxi- 

 matis obtusis, tibiae intermediae fortiter unidentatse. Trochanteres postici bre- 

 ves, validi, apice rotundato. 



Scaritarchus Midas. Niger, prothoracis margine laterali basalique et elytrorum 

 margine laterali late aureo, his crebre striato-punctatis, interslitiis subcon- 

 vexis, cariuula humerali in interstitium continuata. Long. ]^ poll, et ultra. 



The splendid insect here described constitutes a new genus of Scaritidae, and 

 belongs to the first section of that group (Lacord. Gen. i. 192), which embraces Pasi- 

 machus, Emydopterus, Carenum and Scaraphites. It stands nearest Carenum, resem- 

 bling it in the securiform last joint of the labial palpi, differing from it, however, in 

 the broad, triangular and almost securiform last joint of the maxillary palpi, in the 

 simply and feebly emarginated labrum, in the cordate prothorax with distinct angles, 

 and in its strongly unidentale intermediate tibiae. A few specimens, collected in Laos 

 by the late M. Henri Mouhot, have recently been received by Mr. Stevens. A figure 

 of it will be shortly given." 



Special General Meeting. 



The Secretary announced that a requisition, signed by six members of the Society, 

 had been presented to the President and Council, requesting that a Special General 

 Meeting be called, for the consideration of certain specified alterations in the Bye- 

 Laws : a copy of the Bye-Laws with the proposed alterations was laid on the table, 

 and was taken as read to the Meeting ; aud notice was given that a Special General 



