52 



Mr. T. R. Billups exhibited the following exotic Coleop- 

 tera : Megalosoma elephas, Fab., from Guatemala ; Xylotrupes 

 gideon, L., Java ; X. dichitomas y Fab., Philippine Isles ; Chal- 

 cosoma atlas > L., Philippine Isles ; Archon centaurea, Burm., 

 Guinea ; Golofa hastatus, Burm., Mexico ; G. eacus, Burm., 

 S. Columbia; and G. porteri, from same locality; also three 

 specimens of the rare Lamellicorn, Phceneus imperator, Chev., 

 from Chili. Mr. Billups also contributed the following inte- 

 resting remarks in relation to his exhibit. The species of 

 Lamellicorn Beetles shown belong to the family Dynastidae, 

 comprising some of the largest and handsomest of the beetle 

 race, mostly inhabiting tropical regions, there being no 

 English representative, although one species, Oryctes nasi- 

 comis, which is common on the Continent, is classed among 

 the British Coleoptera, According to Lacordaire, the habits 

 of the Dynastidae were very similar, being seldom seen 

 in the daylight, concealing themselves during the day, or at 

 most, crawling in the depths of the woods. They came from 

 their hiding places during the night, and flew about the trees, 

 as Lacordaire thought, in search of food ; but Mr. Billups 

 thought Professor Westwood was more correct, his view being 

 that they were in search of their mates. It was curious that, 

 as the British Rove Beetles were sometimes found in ants' 

 nests, so some of their monster exotic relatives were found in 

 similar places. 



Mr. E. Step exhibited a living example of the Slow Worm 

 (Anguis fragilis) from Leith Hill, and made some remarks 

 in reference thereto. Dr. Rendall asked whether this species 

 had any means of reproducing its tail after it had been shed or 

 broken off. Mr. J. J. Weir, in reply, said he had no positive 

 proof as to the Slow Worm, but he once found an example of 

 the Scaly Lizard (Zootoca vivipard) which had but a stump 

 for a tail. He had kept it, and it had now produced as long 

 a tail as he had ever seen ; he was pleased to be able to prove 

 this by actual experience, as not long since a doubt had been 

 thrown on the subject in Science Gossip. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. W. F. de V. Kane, con- 

 taining a communication from an Indian correspondent as to 



