112 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



Bains, in the Ardeche. This is one of the very few cases in which 

 a moth is found as an inquiline of a gall ; another such case Mr. 

 Stainton stated conies to us from North America. _ Dr. Sharp 

 exhibited seventy -one species of Coleoptera new to Britain, eleven 

 of these, it was believed, were unknown on the Continent ; descrip- 

 tions of the new species were read. Mr. Meek exhibited an 

 undescribed Noctua, taken at Bermondsey, and Dicrorhampha 

 fulvo-dor satis, taken in North Devon, and new to the British list. 

 Prof. Westwood, in introducing the subject of an extraordinary 

 hermaphrodite butterfly (Pieris Pyrrlia), a drawing of which was 

 exhibited, took occasion to make several observations on the Dar- 

 winian hypothesis. Mimetic forms, he considered, could only be 

 looked upon as illustrations of the law of resemblance ; he believed 

 that all species were created with the same characters and attributes 

 that they now possess, and consequently that there was no " relation- 

 ship " between species even of the same genus, but that '• similarity " 

 alone constituted the bond of union. He was replied to by Messrs. 

 Wallace and Bates, and a discussion ensued in which Dr. Sharp, 

 and Messrs. M'Lachlan and Pascoe took part. 



8. GEOGRAPHY. 



{Including the Proceedings of the Boyal Geographical Society.) 



The flow of geographical knowledge is something like that of that 

 great river, which has at all times attracted and even is now attracting 

 the principal attention of travellers — it is of an intermittent cha- 

 racter. Occasionally an overwhelming flood pours down upon us, 

 so that Ave are unable at the time to make full use of its fertilizing 

 powers, and we have to wait until the waters have somewhat sub- 

 sided before the seeds of rational theory can be sown upon the new 

 alluvium. The present is rather the time of ebb. But few travellers 

 have of late returned to these shores, and though much solid 

 advance is being made by means of accurate descriptions and 

 statistics, but little startling enterprise attracts the attention of 

 those who are dazzled by hair-breadth escapes. 



In Abyssinia English captives still linger, though additional 

 tidings and gradual steps towards then ultimate return are from 

 time to time reported. The Europeans supposed to be held in 

 captivity in Somah land, where they were cast by the shipwreck 

 of the St. Abbs, are now being sought by a native, whose diligence 

 has been stimulated by the promise of 100Z. per head for all brought 

 back in safety. 



The report now published, with maps, photographs, &c, of the 



