1868.1 203 
Entomological Society of London, I7th Felruary, 1868. II. W. Bates, Esq., 
F.Z.S., iu tho Chair. 
Linnseus Curaiuing, Esq., and E. P. R. Curzon, Esq., both of Trinity College, 
Cambridge, were elected members. 
Mr. McLachlan exliihitcd a large oval earthen cell containing a living male of 
Lucanus cervus. This had been found a few days previously, with others, by Mr. 
Backhouse, of Teddington, when digging in his garden. The cell contained also 
the puparium or cast-off larval skin, shewing that the insect had emerged from the 
pupa therein. Mr. Eaton said he had once seen a similar cell dug up in October in 
a potato-field, also containing a perfect insect. Mr. Janson was of opinion that 
the beetle assumed the perfect state in the autumn, and remained in the cell until 
the next summer. 
Mr. Latham, of Manchester, sent for exhibition the nest of a social Lepidoptorous 
larva from Natal ; this nest consisted of a stout and tough outer covering, inside 
which were a number of smaller cocoons. Mr. Trimen said they had been formed 
by Anaphe reticulata, one of the LiparidcB. Mr. Latham also sent a cluster of cases 
attached to the extremity of a twig, also from Natal. These were those of some 
insect allied to Oiketicus. 
Mr. Pascoe exhibited a beetle from New Zealand, which he described as 
Dryocora Howittii. He regarded it as belonging to the family Cucujidce, but it was 
a very extraordinary form, inasmuch as the tarsi were 4-jointed in both sexes. 
The President requested that any Members engaged in breeding insects from 
the egg would carefully note the relative numbers of males and females obtained. 
This information was wanted by Mr. Darwin, who was engaged upon the subject of 
sexual selection in animals. A discussion on this question ensued, in which several 
members took part, and the general opinion seemed to be that the females were 
really not less numerous than the males, but were less frequently observed on 
account of their more retired habits. Mr. Stain ton said that according to his 
experience in breeding Micro- Lepido]pterci, the females were far more abundant than 
the males, although the reverse was the case in examples caught at large. Mr. 
Smith alluded to the extreme abundance of the females of some TenthredinidcB, 
whereas the males were very scarce or qiiite unknown. 
Mr. Stainton read a paper entitled " A Few Observations on the Synonomy of 
Tinea alpicella and Zelleria saxifragce. 
Mr. Eaton read " Remarks upon the homologies of the ovipositor in insects," 
in which he drew a comparison between the last segment of Agrion and the sting of 
the honey-bee. 
Mr. Pascoe read a further portion of his " Conti-ibutious to a Knowledge of 
Coleoptera." 
2nd March, 1868. — Captain Lendy, of Sunbury, and G. A. Lebour, Esq., of 
the Geological Survey, were elected members. 
Mr. Pascoe exhibited a new genus and species of Prionidw from Mr. Swanzy's 
Cape-Coast-Castle collection ; this he characterized as Eudianodes Swanzyi ; also a 
species of Oxycorynus sent by Mr. Schickendantz from Catamarea, South America ; 
this he described as 0. Hydnorx. 
Mr. Wood exhibited the pupas of various Lepidoptera from West Africa, per- 
taining to the genera Vhcerocampa, Sphinx, Antherca, &c. 
