Exhibition of Insects. 



335 



(3.) Dr Smith said he might also notice the recent capture of a fine 

 specimen of the Ldbrus bergylta (Ballan Wrasse), near Cellar- 

 dykes. 



It is considered of rather rare occurrence in the Firth of 

 Forth, though common elsewhere. It was kindly sent to 

 Dr Smith by Mr Muirhead, Queen Street, as a rarity, and 

 was now being preserved for our important National Museum 

 of Science and Art. The fish was 18 J inches long, by 13 

 inches in circumference at the root of the ventral fins, and 

 weighed rather more than 3f lbs. 



III. Mr W. R. M'Nab exhibited several species of Coleoptera, which 

 had been recently collected in Egypt by Professor Piazzi Smyth. 



Among the specimens of beetles exhibited was one from 

 the interior of the Great Pyramid. It belongs to the 

 Heteromera, and is apparently new, but has not yet been 

 sufficiently examined. The collection included the A teuchus 

 sacer, the Sacred Beetle of Egypt; several Heteromera, a 

 Grapliipterus vciriegatus, Fab., and others of interest. 



IV. Mr Adam White exhibited two boxes of interesting Lepidopterous 



and Hymenopterous insects. 



Amongst the former the glorious resplendent blue of a 

 South American butterfly, Morplio cyjoris, was very conspicu- 

 ous. The curious Driver-ant of West Africa, the Mason-bee, 

 Mud-dauber, and other interesting ants, wasps, and bees, were 

 pointed out, which had histories and stories that would fill 

 volumes. The strange diversity in size and appearance of 

 the sexes of a species of Dorylus and Thynnus was alluded to. 



Wednesday, January 24, 1866. — William Turner, M.B., President, 



in the Chair. 



The following Donations to the Library were laid on the Table, and 

 thanks voted to the Donors : — 



1. (1.) Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol. XXIV.; 

 Science, Parts 4-6 ; Antiquities, Parts 2, 3, and 4 ; Polite Literature, 

 Part 2. (2.) Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vols. VII. 



