264: LApril, 1871. 
on the monuments in Egypt were obliterated by the mud nests of a wasp, Rhyn- 
chium brunneum; and Mr. Smith remarked that an example of this wasp had been 
found by Dr. Birch when unrolling an Egyptian mummy. 
Mr. Smith further called attention to a passage in “ Pepys’s diary,” dated in 
1665, proving that observatory bee-hives were then in existence. 
Mr. Miiller read a paper on the “ Dispersal of non-migratory insects by atmo- 
spheric agencies,” in which he had collected numerous recordsof showers of insects 
after hurricanes and other violent atmospheric disturbances; and he stated his belief 
that by these means many points in the present geographical distribution of species 
might be explained. In the discussion that followed, it was suggested that 
migration did not exist in insects, in the sense to which the term was applied to 
birds, and that the so-called migration of the former, either habitual or occasional, 
was in a great measure dependant upon the supply of food. 
6th March, 1871. The President in the Chair. 
The following gentlemen were elected:—Baron De Selys-Longchamps, as 
Honorary Member; the Rev. T. A. Preston, as Ordinary Member; and Mr. G. C. 
Champion as Subscriber. 
Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited a small collection of butterflies from Madagascar. 
Mr. Smith exhibited two small branches of ash, from which the bark had beer 
removed by a hornet, as observed by the Rev. J. Hellins. He found that Réaumu: 
had recorded a similar habit, and he believed it was for the purpose of extracting 
the sap for food, and not for obtaining building materials fur its nest, the latter. 
according to his experience, always being formed from dry and decayed wood 
Mr. Smith further called attention to an assertion that Fulgora is luminous, in ¢ 
letter from the Marquis Spinola published in the “ Revue Zoologique ” for 1844: 
he maintained his belief that Fulgora is occasionally luminous, notwithstanding what 
had been said and written to the contrary. 
Mr. Dunning exhibited a parasite from the peacock, which was clearly Pediculus 
pavonis, of Linné, though by Nitzsch, and modern writers, it was called Goniodes 
falcicornis, Nitzsch quoting Linné’s name as a synonym. 
Mr. Miller read ‘‘ Notes on a Cecidomyia forming galls upon Campanula 
rotundifolia.” 
Mr. Lewis exhibited instances of antennal malformation in Lepidoptera. 
Dr. Sharp communicated “ Notes on some British species of Oxypoda,” in which 
he described four as probably new to science. 
Mr. Lowne read a paper “on immature sexuality in insects,” in which he stated 
his belief that what appeared to be species sometimes originated from the early 
development of the sexual organs before the acquirement of adult characters. 
He also thought the larval and pupal conditions of insects were acquired, and 
not direct, stages of development. 
Mr. Briggs detailed experiments made with a view of determining wheth’ the 
numerical proportion of the sexes in insects, or sex itself, depended upon the ® pyole 
ment of the larva; and stated that the results negatived any such supp’ ioe 
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