110 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Mr. Gahan exhibited drawings of the dorsal segments of the abdomen 

 of Dyscritina longisetosa, formerly described by Prof. Westwood in Trans. 

 Ent. Soc. 1881, a specimen of which was shown by Mr. E. E. Green at the 

 last meeting of the Society. He regretted that no drawing showing the 

 ventral surface had yet been prepared. 



Mr. B. A. Bower exhibited specimens of Argyresthia atmoriella, Bankes, 

 taken in Kent in June, 1894, a recent addition to British Lepidoptera. 



Mr. E. E. Green read notes on the habits of the Indian Ant, CEcophylla 

 smaragdina, Fabr. He believed that Mr. H. N. Ridley, of the Singapore 

 Museum, had made some remarks on this ant and its supposed habit of 

 using its own larvae as web-spinners in the formation of its nest, but though 

 he had not been able to find anything on the subject in the ' Proceedings,' 

 he was now able to produce corroborative evidence from an independent 

 source. The facts were noted by his friend Mr. W. D. Holland, of Balangoda, 

 Ceylon, a most careful observer. Mr. Green exhibited the specimens 

 referred to by Mr. Holland, and pointed out that the larvae were still tightly 

 grasped by the jaws of the ants, and he thought it probable that other web- 

 spinning ants utilized their larvae in the same way. Mr. Hampson said he 

 could confirm this statement. 



Mr. G. F. Scott-Elliot read a paper entitled " Notes on Flower-haunting 

 Diptera." The author pointed out that some of the higher types of Diptera 

 appeared to prefer red and blue flowers, and oftener visited the complicated 

 types of plants than the smaller Hymeuoptera. He also alluded to the 

 effect of insect visitors in isolating particular individuals. Prof. Meldola 

 expressed himself as much interested in the paper, and stated that although 

 he was aware, from the writings of Hermanu Miiller and others, that Diptera 

 played an important part in the fertilization of flowers, he was uuaware of 

 the great importance which these insects possessed for the function of 

 pollination until he heard Mr. Scott-Elliot's paper. He also called attention 

 to the urgent need of a Manual of British Diptera. Mr. Roland Trimen 

 mentioned that in South Africa some species of Orchidacece were fertilized 

 by Diptera. Dr. Sharp referred to Prof. Plateau's opinion that neither the 

 colour nor the form of the flower played any part in attracting insects, Mr. 

 McLachlan remarked that the flowers of Scrophularia possessed a great 

 attraction for wasps. Lord Walsingham enquired whether any observation 

 had been made as to the Diptera which visited differently coloured flowers 

 of the same species, such as Petunias. 



Mr. Tutt read a paper, by Prof. A. Radcliffe-Grote, entitled " On the 

 Nomenclature of the Geometrida." A discussion on the rules of nomen- 

 clature followed, in which Lord Walsingham, Prof. Meldola, Mr. Hampson, 

 and Herr Jacoby took part. — H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. 



