92 [April, 



W. ; and the Rev. Frank E. Lowe, M.A., of St. Stephen's Vicarage, Guernsey ; 

 were elected Fellows of the Society. 



Dr. D. Sharp exhibited a collection of White Ants {Termites), formed by Mr. 

 Q-. D. Haviland in Singapore, which comprised about ten or twelve species, of most 

 of which the various forms were obtained. He said that Professor G-rassi had 

 recently made observations on the European species, and had brought to light some 

 important particulars ; and also that, in the discussion that had recently been 

 carried on between Mr. Herbert Spencer and Professor Weismann, the former had 

 stated, that in his opinion the different forms of social insects were produced by 

 nutrition. Professor Grassi's observations showed this view to be correct, and the 

 specimens now exhibited confirmed one of the most important points in his observa- 

 tions. Dr. Sharp also stated that Mr. Haviland found in one nest eleven neoteinic 

 queens — that is to say, individuals having the appearance of the queen in some 

 respects, while in others they are still immature ; these neoteinic queens were ac- 

 companied by kings in a corresponding state. 



Mr. Haviland gave an account of the structure of some of the nests, and of the 

 cells of the females, and stated that two of the species of White Ants exhibited 

 certainly grow fungus for their use, as described by Mr. Smeathman, many years 

 ago, in the " Philosophical Transactions." Mr. H. Goss remarked that the fact that 

 the different forms of social insects were produced by nutrition was known to Yirgil, 

 who referred to it, and to the subject of Parthenogenesis in Bees, in the " Georgics," 

 Book iv. Mr. McLachlan, Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. Champion, Mr. Jenner Weir, and 

 Dr. Sharp continued the discussion. 



Mr. O. E. Janson exhibited specimens of Dicranoeephalus Adamsi, Pascoe, from 

 Sze-chuen, Western China, and D. Dabryi, Auz., recently received from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Moupin, in the same district ; he observed that, although the latter 

 had been quoted by Lucas, Bates, and others, as a synonym of Adamsi, the two 

 species were perfectly distinct. 



Mr, C. O. Watei'house exhibited, for Mr. E. A. Waterhouse, a specimen of 

 Colias Tldusa closely resembling C Erate, a continental species, which was taken 

 on Wimbledon Common ; a varied series of Chrysophanus Phlceas, from Barnes 

 Common ; and a series of Lyccena Avion, from Cornwall. 



The Rev. Canon Fowler read a paper, entitled, " Some new species of Memira- 

 cidcB." 



Mr. F. Merrifield read a paper, entitled, " Temperature Experiments in 1893 

 on several species of Vanessa and other Lepidoptera." He said that the results 

 tended to confirm Dr. Dixey's conclusions as to the origin of the wing-markings in 

 the NymphalidcB, brought out many, pi'esumably, ancestral features, and in some 

 cases were very striking. There was much difference in sensitiveness between the 

 seasonal broods of the same species, even in V. c-album, although both broods of that 

 species passed the pupal state in the warmer part of the year. 



Dr. F. A. Dixey read a paper, entitled, " On Mr. Merrifield's experiments in 

 Temperature Variation, as bearing on theories of heredity," which was supple- 

 mental to the previous paper. Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. Hampson, Mr. Jenner Weir, 

 Mr. Merrifield, and Dr. Dixey took part in the discussion which ensued. — H. Goss 

 and W. W. Fowlee, Hon. Secretaries. 



