76 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



Mr. Eland Shaw referred to the exhibition, at the last meeting, of Tettix 

 australis from New South Wales, and called attention to the fact that the 

 aquatic habits of certain species of the genus Tettix in India had been pre- 

 viously recorded by Leopold Fischer. 



Dr. Fritz Miiller communicated a paper on Fig Insects from the neighbour- 

 hood of the River Itajahi, South America ; and Prof. Meldola exhibited, on 

 behalf of Dr. Fritz Miiller, a number of specimens of the insects described 

 in the paper. 



Mr. E. B. Poulton, M.A., F.Z.S., read' " Further Notes upon Lepidopterous 

 Larvae and Pupae, including an account of the loss of weight in the freshly- 

 formed pupa/' The paper included notes upon points in the ontogeny of 

 Smerinthus larvee, and a description and figure of the bifid and hairy caudal 

 horn in the newly-hatched Smerinthus populi. The adult larva of Acherontia 

 airopos was compared with that of Sphinx ligustri, and the as yet unknown 

 appearance of the former in earlier stages was predicted. Hitherto unnoticed 

 eye-like marks were pointed out in the terrifying attitude of Chcerocampa 

 elpenor, and the terrifying of Dicranura vinula was described, and the de- 

 fensive fluid of this species was shown to be strong formic acid. An eversible 

 gland was described in Orgyia pudibunda, and the protection of Acronycta 

 leporina was explained by its resemblance to a cocoon and the darkening of 

 its hairs when full-fed. A valvular aperture in the cocoons of Chloephora 

 prasincma, &c, was described, enabling the imagos to emerge. There were 

 also notes upon Paniscus cephalotes parasitic on the larva of B. vinula, and 

 tables showing the immense loss of weight in newly-exposed lepidopterous 

 pupae due to evaporation from the moist skin. Mr. Poulton also exhibited 

 larvae of Paniscus cephalotes. A discussion followed the reading of this paper, 

 in which Messrs. Kirby, White, Slater, and Poulton took part. — H. Goss, 

 Hon. Secretary. 



THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 

 HISTORY SOCIETY. 



This Society, which dates from 1872, presents us with a report of 50 pages, 

 from which we gather the following. It now numbers 55 members, an in- 

 crease of three during the year. It has a library, a collection of insects, and 

 a herbarium, to the two former of which considerable additions have been 

 made in 1885. Five excursions have been held; an exhibition on 3rd Dec, 

 which was a great success ; exhibitions have also been made at the regular 

 meetings, among which we notice some very interesting species. The balance 

 sheet is very satisfactory, shewing £10 9s. 5d. in hand, against £3 12. lOd. 

 last year. The President (R. South, Esq.) gave a lengthy and interesting 

 address at the annual meeting, and urged upon the members the desirability 



