304 MEETINGS. 



moment ; and finally the proboscis, or tongue, one of the 

 most beautiful and complex pieces of mechanism in all 

 nature, were described in turn, and the diversity of these 

 organs in other insects briefly pointed out. 



The concluding Lecture, by Mr. R. C. Mabbs, was 

 entitled " Some Missing Links." Confining his remarks to 

 the great gap existing at the present day between the 

 Reptiles and the Birds, the lecturer described some of the 

 extinct animals which connect them, and showed their descent 

 from common ancestors. Beginning with the Dinosaurs, and 

 passing the huge Atlantosaurus, a creature 25 feet high and 

 35 feet long, we come to the singular Bird-reptiles, character- 

 ised by long tails and large teeth ; and so by degrees we 

 arrive at the Ichthyornis, a true fossil bird, but with clear 

 traces of a reptilian ancestry. 



Monthly Meeting held on February 18th, 1904, Mr. E. Charles 

 Ozanne, C.S.I., in the chair. 



The Hon. Secretary reported the receipt of several 

 books and publications. 



The principal portion of the evening was occupied by 

 the " Study of a Butterfly," the different aspects of the 

 subject being successively dealt with : and this method of 

 treatment proved exceedingly entertaining and instructive. 

 Mr. W. A. LufF gave the general life-history of a butterfly, 

 commencing with the egg, and described the transformations 

 which the insect undergoes before attaining its perfect state. 

 Mr. E. D. Marquand confined his remarks to details of 

 structure, pointing out how insects in general, and butterflies 

 in particular, differ from other representatives of the animal 

 world. Mr. A. Collenette traced the evolution of the insect 

 race from remote ancestors, and showed their close relationship 

 to the Crustacea, and other members of the great class of 

 Articulata. Blackboard sketches illustrated the various 

 subjects, and a very pleasant evening concluded with an 

 animated discussion on some of the points raised. 



Monthly Meeting held on March 16th, 1904, Mr. E. D. 

 Marquand, A.L.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 



The following ladies and gentlemen were unanimously 

 elected members of the Society : — 



