Entomological Society. 



8217 



" wings clothed with scales" applies only to a portion of the Lepidoptera, the large 

 and heterogeneous family at present called Psychidas having both wings and bodies 

 clothed with hairs exactly after the manner of the Phryganidae. The thorax in Acen- 

 tropus is furnished with tippets, and certainly this is the case in the most conspicuous 

 groups of Lepidoptera ; but does it obtain throughout ? are the Psychidae thus pro- 

 vided ? Again, the hind wings are said to have a bristle, but this will tend as much 

 to unite Acentropus with the Hymenoptera as with the Lepidoptera. Lastly, Mr. 

 Brown is quoted as stating "The pupa-case puts the relationship of the Acentropus 

 beyond a doubt ; it is clearly the chrysalis of a moth " (Zool. 5919) ; but neither Mr. 

 Brown nor Mr. Cooke state in what characters the pupa of a moth differs from that of 

 a Phryganea. In fine, viewing the question under the cross lights thrown on it by 

 the various guesses hitherto published, we are compelled to admit that no progress 

 whatever has been made towards settling the question ; and I fear I cannot concede 

 that Mr. Cooke has taken a single step in the right direction. The proper mode of 

 proceeding in such a case as this is the following : — 



1st. Give a life-history of Acentropus : describe its egg, larva, pupa : define 

 economy, food and metamorphosis. 



2nd. Describe the imago : its mouth, wing-rays, thorax and legs should have espe- 

 cial care bestowed on them. 



3rd. Define the difference in economy, metamorphosis and structure between a 

 lepidopterous and phrvganidous insect, taking universally-acknowledged types, as 

 Sphinx Ligustri and Phryganea grandis. 



4th. Institute the most rigid comparison between Acentropus and these two 

 insects, and give the result of the comparison. 



Above all things, come to the task quite unprejudiced: throw overboard all the 

 guesses of others and all the leanings of your own mind, and give your verdict solely 

 on the evidence before you. — Edward Newman. 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Entomological Society. 

 September 1, 1862. — John Lubbock, Esq., V.P., in the chair. 



Donations. 



The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the 

 respective donors : — ' The Zoologist' for September ; presented by the Editor. * The 

 London Review' for August; by the Editor. 'Journal of the Society of Arts' for 

 August; by the Society. ' Sitzungsberichte der Konigl. bayer. Akad der Wissen- 

 schaften zu Miinchen,' 1862, Part 1 ; by the Academy. ' Reise nach Mossambique,' 

 von Dr. Peters (5ter Band, Insekten und Myriapoden) ; by J. W. Dunning. 



Election of Members. 



Beriah Botfield, Esq., M.P., F.R.S., &c, of Norton Hall, Daventry; Edmund 

 Walcott, Esq., of the Oriental Club, Hanover Square ; and Peter Inchbald, Esq., of 

 Storthes Hall, Huddersfield, were elected Members of the Society; and Win. Phil- 

 lipps, Esq., of Reigate Lodge, was elected a Subscriber. 



VOL. XX. 3 E 



