Society of British Entomologists. 3797 



8. Phoridae. 15. VermetidaB. 



9. Ampullariadae. 16. Vanieoridae. 



10. Viviparidae. 17. Valvatidae. 



11. Rissoellidae. 18. Caecidae. 



12. Littorinidae. 19. Truncatellidae. 



13. Planaxidae. 20. Capulidae. 



14. Melaniudae. 21. Calyptraeidae. 



M. Deshayes made some observations upon the manner in which the animals of 

 these groups take their prey. — D. W. M. 



Proceedings of the Society of British Entomologists. 



January 4, 1853. — Mr. Haeding, President, in the chair. 



The President exhibited some living specimens of Phragmatobia papyratia, bred 

 within doors, and said he could have brought several more, as they still continued to 

 come out of the chrysalides. 



The President then addressed the Members ; and having made some observations 

 on the prosperous state of the Society, concluded with comments upon the pleasing 

 results of entomological researches during the past year. He instanced the labours of 

 Mr. Weaver in Scotland, whereby our cabinets have been enriched by several valuable 

 acquisitions. In other parts of the country also many rare insects have been found in 

 considerable abundance; among which he mentioned Agrotis lunigera, Aporophila 

 australis, and Plusia orichalcea, besides many rare or new Micro-Lepidoptera ; and he 

 had no doubt that another year of perseverance would produce still more gratifying 

 results. But amidst all these causes of congratulation, the President remarked that 

 there were still many motives for sorrow. A sad loss had been experienced in the de- 

 cease of one of the best and most independent writers on Entomology, — Mr. J. F. Ste- 

 phens. It appeared as if every year were to be taken from us some of our best teach- 

 ers. A short time since we had to deplore the loss of Mr. E. Doubleday, then of the 

 Rev. W. Kirby ; and in Scotland, Sir John Graham Dalyell, Dr. Patrick Neill, and 

 Professor MacGillivray had recently been removed by death. But these losses should 

 not be allowed to depress the energies of the naturalist ; they should rather incite him 

 to renewed exertions. The President was happy to say that the ranks of this Society 

 had not been thinned by death ; they nevertheless felt the temporary loss of several of 

 their members who have gone abroad, and whose company they might again hope to 

 enjoy, although they could not profit by their labours, the Society's cabinets being ex- 

 clusively devoted to the reception of British insects. 



A letter was then read from Mr. Oxley, who is in Australia, containing observa- 

 tions on the number of insects he had met with. He had been particularly struck 

 with the beauty of some of the Lepidoptera, of which he said he should make a point 

 of forming a collection. 



A vote of thanks to the President and Secretary having been passed, the meeting 

 adjourned. — /. T. N. 



