160 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



discussion that had recently been carried on between Mr. Herbert Spencer 

 and Professor Weismann, the former had stated that in his opinion the 

 different forms of social insects were produced by nutrition. Professor 

 Grassi's observations showed this view to be correct, and the specimens 

 now exhibited confirmed one of the most important points in his observa- 

 tions. Dr. Sharp also stated that Mr. Haviland found in one nest eleven 

 neoteinic queens, — that is to say, individuals having the appearance of the 

 queen in some respects, while in others they are still immature ; these 

 neoteinic queens were acccompauied by kings in a corresponding state. 



Mr. Haviland gave an account of the structure of some of the nests, 

 and of the cells of the females, and stated that two of the species of White 

 Ants exhibited certainly grow fungus for their use, as described by 

 Mr. Smeathman, many years ago, in the ' Philosophical Transactions.' 

 Mr. H. Goss remarked that the fact that the different forms of social insects 

 were produced by nutrition was known to Virgil, who referred to it, and to 

 the subject of Parthenogenesis in Bees, in the ■ Georgics,' Book iv. Mr. 

 McLachlan, Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. Champion, Mr. Jenner Weir, and Dr. 

 Sharp continued the discussion. 



Mr. 0. E. Janson exhibited specimens of Dicranocephalus adamsi, 

 Pascoe, from Sze-chuen, Western China, and D. dabryi, Auz., recently 

 received from the neighbourhood of Moupin, in the same district; he ob- 

 served that, although the latter had been quoted by Lucas, Bates, and 

 others, as a synonym of adamsi, the two species were perfectly distinct ; 

 the females of both were unknown to the authors when describing them, 

 and presented a remarkable difference, for whilst in dabryi this sex is 

 similar to the male in colour and sculpture, in adamsi it is entirely dull 

 black, with the upper surface minutely and densely punctate. 



Mr. C. 0. Waterhouse exhibited, for Mr. E. A. Waterhouse, a specimen 

 of Colias edusa, closely resembling C. erate, a Continental species, which 

 was taken on Wimbledon Common ; a varied series of Chrysophanus phlceas, 

 from Barnes Common ; and a series of Lyccena avion, from Cornwall. 



The Rev. Canon Fowler read a paper entitled " Some new species of 

 Membracida." 



Mr. F. Merrifield read a paper entitled " Temperature experiments in 

 1893, on several species of Vanessa and other Lepidoptera." He said that 

 the results tended to confirm Dr. Dixey's conclusions as to the origin of the 

 wing-markings in the Nymphalidce, brought out many, presumably, ances- 

 tral features, and in some cases were very striking. There was much 

 difference in sensitiveness between the seasonal broods of the same species, 

 even in V. c-album, although both broods of that species passed the pupal 

 state in the warmer part of the year. 



Dr. F. A. Dixey read a supplementary paper " Gn Mr. Merrifield's 

 experiments in temperature-variation as bearing on theories of heredity." 

 — H. Goss & W. W. Fowler, Hon. Secretaries. 



