1877.] J. Anderson — F/oral sitnulat ion of Gongylns gongylodes. 193 



resume my seat I hope to be permitted to speak a few words about the agree- 

 able surprise which the Chairman had provided for us. Dr. Eajendralala 

 has laid the Society under many obligations, but his latest labour of love is as 

 valuable as any that preceded it. The work of cataloguing MSS. is no 

 doubt very trying and in the main uninteresting, but the very absence of 

 attractions ought to make us grateful to those who' undertake the necessary 

 task. In the midst of an increasing load of years and anxieties, and a 

 multiplicity of avocations and pursuits, the learned Doctor has given an 

 example of perseverance and assiduity which men younger in years would 

 do well to imitate. The author's name was a sufficient guarantee of the 

 value of the work, and I beg to propose that — 



The best thanks of the meeting be tendered to Dr. Eajendralala Mitra 

 for the labour of love which he has performed in bringing out the first fas- 

 ciculus of an improved Catalogue of the Society's Sanskrit MSS. 



The motion was seconded by Mr. W. T. Blanf ord and carried unani- 

 mously. 



JVote on the Floral simulation of Gongylus gongylodes, Linn. — By Dr. 

 J. Anderson, Superintendent Indian Musewn, Calcutta. 



Dr. Anderson said, that he was indebted to Mr, C. T. Buckland for 

 the opportunity to exhibit some living examples of a very remarkable form 

 of Orthopterous insect. Three of the insects were ahke and were probably the 

 females of a fourth insect which, however, differed from them considerably 

 in size and colour, as well as in the absence, or merely rudimentary develop- 

 ment of certain leaf -like appendages which are a striking feature in the 

 larger insects. Dr. Anderson expressed regret that, owing to the temporary 

 absence from Calcutta of Mr Wood-Mason, he was deprived of the special 

 knowledge which Mr. Mason possesses regarding the Orthoptera, as he would 

 possibly have been able to say if all the insects belonged to one species, i. e. 

 whether the small brown insect is the male of the larger and green coloured 

 individuals. 



These insects, however, all came from the same locality, having been 

 forwarded to Mr. Buckland by Mr. Larymore of the Central Jail at Midna- 

 pur. Mr. Larymore had procured them from the neighbouring country 

 district where Santal women and children had hunted them out and brought 

 them in, hanging on branches or twigs of a bush, somewhat like a wild plum 

 tree. They are also said to be found upon rose bushes, and in connection 

 with this it was observed that, in Midnapur, they were known as rose-leaf 

 insects from the circumstance that when the insect is more developed and 

 fm'nished with wings, the foliaceous appendages are said greatly to in- 

 crease in size and exactly to resemble rose leaves. Dr. Anderson, however, 

 was disposed to think that more than one species might probably occur in 



