26 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER IN.STlTuTE 



smaller branches were noticed several beetles of the species Ad- 

 alia bi-punctata, and on a leaf the larvae of the same. Their 

 presence on the infested tree was significant, although they were 

 never observed devouring the scales. 



The members of the section examined specimens of scale life 

 under the microscope, and also made some study of the Stem- 

 eyed Flies (Sphyracephala brevicornis) found by the President 

 on March 4. 



The President closed his series of elementary talks upon the 

 orders with some general remarks upon the H3mienoptera and 

 their place in the scale of insect development. 



Monday evening. March 19. Regular meeting; seventeen 

 members present. The President in the chair. 



Walter S. Abbott read a paper on Anosia plexippus, which 

 contained an interesting account of his success in rearing this 

 common and beautiful species during the past summer. One 

 caterpillar that he had the good fortune to observe during its 

 change suspended itself September i, and transformed to a 

 chrysalis in the night of the 3d. After this the color of the 

 chrysalis began to darken very slowly, and by the 19th there 

 appeared' a purplish tinge. On the morning of the 20th the 

 faint outline of the wing could be seen through the transparent 

 shell of the chrysalis. At eleven o'clock the wing was quite 

 distinct ; b}^ three o'clock the veins and spots were plainly vis- 

 ible, and at five o'clock the whole chrysalis, where the wings 

 were not plainly to be seen, had turned to a deep purple, al- 

 though the butterfly did not emerge until 7:45 o'clock on the 

 morning of the 21st. When they first emerge, the wings are 

 very soft and flexible and cannot be held erect. In one instance 

 the butterfly remained upon a flower in the sunshine over two 

 hours before it became strong enough to fly away. 



The remainder of the evening was devoted to a further study 

 of venation. 



Monday evening, April 2. Regular meeting ; eight members 

 present. The President in the chair. 



George B. Burnham presented a paper upon Termes fiavipes, 



