SOCIETIES. 
117 
very fair imitation of Polyrachis spiniger (under the same stone with 
which it may be found), even to the extent of evolving a pedicel and 
spines in what, were it an ant, would be its metanotum. Curiously 
enough, however, these spines are apparently not alike in any two speci- 
mens. Is it that this bag is still waiting for one of its race to accidentally 
sport spines more like those of P. spiniger, and thus to set the ball of 
evolution rolling afresh ? or is it that the present rough copy of spiniger* s 
spines is found sufficient to deceive? The bug has also been found in 
the Neilgherries. Mr. Rothney remarks on the above species ; — ‘ I have 
not found the species mimicking Mutilla ; but in Calcutta and Barrack- 
pore, where P. spiniger is a tree ant, forming its net by spinning together 
the twigs of a shrub, the mimicking bug also assumes arboreal habits, 
and may be found on the trunks of trees with the ants.’ ” Mr. Porritt 
exhibited living specimens of Eupithecia extensaria and Geometra s?narag- 
daria : the position assumed by the former proved conclusively that it 
had rightly been placed in the genus Eupithecia. Mr. Crowley exhibited 
two specimens of a Papilio from the Khasia Hills, belonging to an un- 
described species allied to P. papo?ie, sub-generic section Chilades. 
Col. Swinhoe remarked that he possessed a specimen from Northern 
Burmah. Mr. Moore and others took part in the discussion which 
followed. Mr. Dallas Beeching exhibited a specimen of Plusia moneta, 
recently taken by himself at High Woods, Tonbridge, and specimens 
of Gonepteryx cleopaira, lent him for exhibition, which were alleged to 
have come from the same locality. Dr. T. A. Chapman exhibited the 
larva of Micropteryx calthella, and read the following notes : — “ The 
larvae were obtained by placing moths in a cage with damp moss, dead 
leaves, and other debris off the surface of the ground. Into this the 
moths crept to the depth of half-an-inch, forcing their way into narrow 
cavities, and laid their eggs in groups of six or twelve. The eggs are 
clothed with fine hairs, tipped with refractive particles. The larva, 
about a millimetre in length, possesses on each segment eight processes 
of a globular form raised on a very slight pedicel. Besides the thoracic 
legs, each of the abdominal segments (eight) possesses a pair of minute 
jointed legs of the same type as the thoracic. There are also a pair of 
long jointed antennae.” Col. Swinhoe read a paper “ On new species 
of Heterocera from the Khasia Hills.” Mr. Crowley read a paper “ On 
a new species of ProthoeP Mr. C. J. Gahan read a paper “ On the 
South American species of DiabroticaP Part II., being a continuation 
of Dr. Baly’s paper on the same genus published in the Society’s Trans- 
actions for 1890, Part I. Mr. W. F. Kirby communicated a paper 
entitled “ Notes on the Orthopterous family Mecopodidczr Prof. West- 
wood communicated “Notes on Siphonophora artocarpi P YQiQxnng to 
an appendage of the eyes which had been overlooked in his previous 
description. — H. Goss and W. W. Fowler, Hon. Secretaries. 
City of London Entomological and Natural History 
Society. — Thursday, June iZth, 1891. — Mr. Huckett exhibited a box 
of insects from Epping, the most noticeable being Platypteryx hamula, 
P. lacertula, Nola cristulalis, Corycia temerata, Tephrosia consofiaria, a 
dark variety of Cidaria russata, and Hypena rostralis. All these insects 
were taken on May 23rd and June 6th. Mr. Mead, an interesting 
exhibit of numerous insects, including Noctute bred this year. Mr. 
Simes, living larvae of Saturnia carpini and Catocala nupta. Mr. Quail, 
