238 



[February 



to know more must consult Greek grammars, and Donaldson's New Cratylus, 

 ])p. 491 — 529, where the various ezceptioDB are fully treated. Lastly, the dis- 

 tinction of the endings -odes and -o'ides (not oides) is unimportant, as pointed out 

 by Mr. Dunning. The former termination is (in Greek) only a contraction of the 

 latter. The canon mentioned by mo was laid down by Burmeister, I believe, but 

 have not the book at hand. I shall bo glad to leave the word ^liodes as it stands^ 

 I may take this opportunity of objecting to another class of words, scattered 

 sparingly through entomological works, viz., formicceformis, rrmscceformis, tipulcn- 

 formis, for formiciformis, musciformis, and ti/pidiformis. I have also noticed athalics- 

 j)erda for athaliiperda. — T. A. Marshall, Barnstaple, January, 1869. 



Entomological Socikty of London, 4th January, 1869. H. W. Bates, Esq., 

 F.Z.S., President, In the Chair. 



W. F. Kirby, Esq., of the Royal Dublin Society (formerly a subscriber), and 

 E. Holdsworth, Esq., of Shanghai, were elected Members. 



Mr, Bond exhibited examples of Vanessa urticce of very small size ; he had 

 bred a large number from one brood of larvae during 1868, and attributed the 

 diminutivenesB of the imago to rapid development owing to the hot season. He 

 also exhibited varieties of Apatu/ra Iris and Pamphila comma. 



Mr. Meek exhibited two beautiful specimens of Dianthoecia Barrettiiy captured 

 by Mr. C. S. Gregson, in Ireland. 



Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited an example of Cramhus myellus, captured by his 

 cousin, Mr. Adam Boyd, near Blair Athol. 



Mr. Home, late judge in N. W. India (present as a visitor) exhibited a fine 

 series of the nests of many species of Indian bees and wasps, accompanied by 

 specimens of the insects forming them, and by drawings made from the fresh 

 nests. Among them were nests formed in the hollow interior of the handle of an 

 earthenware vase, in the interior of the hay-nest of a mouse, attached to a signet- 

 ring, &c., &c. Mr. Home remarked on the abundance of these insects in India, 

 and on the rapidity with which they seized upon available positions for nest-building, 

 such as the interior of door-locks, &c. 



Professor Westwood said that apropos of the bees-nest in the interior of a 

 mouse-nest, he had observed a contrary instance in his own bee-hives, a mouse 

 liaving chosen one of them as a place wherein to build its nest ; apparently killing 

 the bees, but devouring only their heads. 



Mr. Eaton sent a note on the structure of the ovipositor, bearing upon the 

 writings of Dr. Packard, M. Lacaze-Duthiers, and his own, on that subject. 



]\Ir. F. Smith read a paper upon the affinities of SibyUina, an anomalous 

 Hymenopterous genus described recently by Professor Westwood. Mr. Smith 

 combated Prof. Westwood's suggestion that the genus pertained to the Vespida?, 

 and was inclined to refer it to the Ichneumonidce, as having some affinity with 

 Anomalon, &c. Prof. Westwood remarked that Mr. Cresson had recently described 

 a genus which he believed to bo identical with SibylUna,&iid also referred it to the 

 Ichneumonida- 



Professor Westwood exhibited drawings of various anomalous forms in Coleop- 

 tera, and of an Ichneumon, the larva of which was an external parasite on a spider. 

 ^Ir. E. Saunders read " Descriptions of nine new species of Buprestida:.'^ 



