﻿286 [May, 1870 



Mr. Staiuton exhibited Cosmopteryx Lienigiella, bred from English larvae. 



With reference to a query as to whether Argynnis Niobe and Adippe might not 

 be one species, with dimorphic larva, Mr. Stainton mentioned the dimorphic form 

 of that of Acherontia Atropos, though not as tending to prove the identity of the 

 two species of Argynnis. Mr. Butler was still inclined to believe in the possible 

 identity of the two species, though confessedly he knew nothing of the larvae. He 

 had seen the two forms dallying one with the other in the Alps. 



Mr. Kirby communicated " Notes on Butterflies described by Linnaeus." 



4th April, 1870.— A. R. Wallace, Esq., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair. 



H. W. Preeland, Esq., of the Athenaeum Club, was elected a Member. 



Mr. A. P. Falconer sent for exhibition a mole-cricket, found in a boat between 

 Philse and Alexandria. This was identified as most probably Oryllotalpa Cophta of 

 De Haan, according to Scudder. 



Mr. Jenner Weir (for Mr. Vogan, present as a visitor) called attention to the 

 enormous harm done in granaries by weevils. Out of 74 tons of wheat ware- 

 housed by Mr. Vogan, 10 cwt. of weevils had been sifted at one time ; in 1868, 

 145 tons of maize were stored, and in August, 18f ; 9, 6 cwt. of weevils were sepa- 

 rated therefrom, and in December, 1869, 29 cwt. more. In both instances the 

 depredator was Sitophilus oryzce. 



Mr. Vogan asked for information respecting the earlier stages of the insect, 

 and if it were probable that it would attack standing or newly-ripe corn. It was 

 the general opinion of the meeting that it only infested dry cereals, in which it 

 continued to breed ' in and in.' Mr. McLachlan referred to the fact of ship-biscuit 

 being extensively attacked by Sitopliitus ; and in this case the only remedy consisted 

 in re-baking. It was urged that, in the case of corn, this process would utterlj 

 destroy its value. 



Mr. Vaughan exhibited a box of bred examples of Dianthoscia carpophaga from 

 Croydon, the specimens shewing very considerable variation in colour. 



Mr. Miiller remarked that he had received a letter from Mr. Bassett, of 

 Waterbury, U. S. A., confirming his observations as to the odour emitted bj 

 Cynipidw. 



Mr. Smith exhibited Masoris vespoides of Cresson, and Pterochilus 5-fasciatus 

 of Say, both from the Rocky Mountains. 



Mr. Weir exhibited a collection of Argynnis Niobe and Adippe, typical forms 

 and varieties, with a view of proving the perfect specific right of the two species, 

 as opposed to the views held by Mr. Butler. 



Mr. Dunning read an extract from the Journal of the Society of Arts, respecting 

 the spectrum produced by the fire- fly of New Hampshire. This was perfectly 

 continuous, without traces of lighter or darker lines, extending from a little above 

 Frauenhofer's line C in the scarlet to about F in the blue, gradually fading at the 

 extremities. 



Mr. Crotch communicated notes on British species of Dasytidce., and exhibited 

 British examples of D. plumbeus (Miiller), D. ceratus (Stephens), and Dolichosoma 

 protensa (Gene). 



END OK VOL. VI. 



