1887.) ]9 



Mr. Wm. Warren exhibited specimens of Stic/monota pallifrontana, S. internana, 

 Asthenia jjygmceana, Hiib., and A. abiegana, Dup. (subsequana, Haw.). Mr. Stainton 

 remarked tlint the two last named species both had white under-wings, and were, in 

 other respects, very similar. It was formerly thought that llaworth's subsequana 

 was identical with the species previously figured by Hiibner as pggmceana ; but now 

 that the two allied species were critically examined it appeared that the species 

 described by Haworth as subsequana was not Hiibner' 8 pj/gmceana, bat anotlier species 

 known as the abiegana of Duponchel, dating only from 1842, so that Haworth's 

 name of subsequana had priority by thirty years. 



Mr. F. Pascoe exhibited a specimen of Diaxines Taylori, Wath., taken out of 

 the stem of an orchid — Saccolabium cceleste — growing in an orchid-house at Croydon, 

 and received from Moulmein, in Burmah. 



Mr. MoLachlan exhibited nearly 200 specimens of Neuroptera, in beautiful 

 condition, collected by Mr. E. Meyrick in various parts of Australia and Tasmania, 

 comprising about seventy species. There were between forty and fifty species of 

 Trichoptera, including motli-like forms from Western Australia, allied to Flectrutarsus, 

 Kol. ; and other species belonging to a group represented by Hydropsyche Edioardsii, 

 McLach. Among the Planipennia the most remarkable insect was a new species of 

 the singular genus Psychopsis,'Sie\Nm.,hova Mount Kosciusko, where it was common. 

 Of Fseudo-Neui-optera there was a species of JSmbiidm from W^estern Australia, 

 and certain curious PsocidcB and Perlidce. The Trichoptera appeared to be exclu- 

 sively confined to Sericostomatidce, Leptoceridce, and HydropsychidcB. Mr. Meyrick 

 made some remarks on the localities in which he had collected the species. 



Mr. M. Jacoby exhibited a new species of Xenarthra, collected by Mr. Q-. 

 Lewis in Ceylon ; also a species of Loxoprosopus from Brazil. 



Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exliibited a living example of an Ichneumon — Ophion 

 macrurum — bred from a larva of Callosamia 2iromethea, a North American species of 

 SaturnidcB. He also exhibited a number of wings of Lepidoptera denuded of the 

 scales and explained the method he had adopted for removing the scales. The 

 wings were first dipped in spirit and then placed in eau de javelle (potassium 

 hypei'chlorite). Mr. Waterhouse said he had sometimes substituted peroxide 

 of hydrogen for eau de javelle, but the action was much less rapid, although 

 the results were satisfactory. Mr. Poulton observed that, although the pigment had 

 disappeared, he thought the scales were not removed, but were merely rendered 

 transparent ; and he ri-marked tliat the discovery of some chemical for softening 

 chitine had long been wanted to prepare specimens for the microscope. The discussion 

 was continued by Mr. McLaclilan and Dr. Sharp. 



Mr. Slater read a note, extracted from the "Medical Press," on the subject of 

 the poison used by certain tribes of African Bushmen in the preparation of their 

 arrows. It was stated that a poison was prepared by them from the entrails of a 

 caterpillar which they called " N'gwa." 



The Eev. W. W. Fowler read a note received from Mr. J. G-ardner, of Hartlepool, 

 in which it was stated that Dytiscus margina'is possessed the power of making a 

 loud buzzing noise like that of a humble bee. Dr. Sharp said he was familiar with the 

 humming of Dytiscus marginalis previous to flight, and thought it might perhaps be 

 connected with an iiiflation of the body for the purpose of diminishing the spe.cific 

 gravity of the insect j he had noticed also tliat it was occasionally accompanied by 

 the discharge of fluid from the body. Mr. Wm. White read a paper " On the 

 occurrence of anomalous spots on Lepidopterous larva?." A discussion ensued, in 

 which Mr. Poulton and others took part. Mr. Waterhouse read " Descriptions of 

 new genera and species of Bupiresiidce." — H. G-oss, Hon. Secretary. 



