286 '^^^'^^' 
social Lepidopterous larva at Cantagallo, in Brazil : this contained a number of 
pupa>, each enveloped in a particular cocoon. The larva which was said to form 
this structure was also exhibited. It was spiny, and resembled tliat of a Vanessa, 
or Acraia ; but it was remarked that it was improbable that a Butterfly larva should 
spin a cocoon of this nature. 
The President called attention to the first part of Von Harold and Gemminger's 
Catalogue of all described Coleoptera, containing the CicindelidcB, now on the eve of 
publication. The genera are to be arranged in their natural order, and the species 
alphabetically, this appearing the best plan by which to avoid the conflict of opinion 
as to relative specific position. 
Mr. Stainton noticed a short paper by Herr Hartmann, in the new part of the 
Stettin Zeitung, recording the breeding of three Lepidopterous insects, viz., Sesia 
cephiformis, Staudinger, GraphoUtha interrwptana, Herrich-SchaSer, and Oelechia 
electella, Zeller, from galls on the stems of Juniper. 
Mr. Smith read an extract from the " Guardian," published originally in 1713, 
relative to the habits of ants, and this notice appeared to be the origin of the idea 
as to these insects storing up grains of corn and biting oS" one end to prevent their 
germination. The writer gravely detailed as facts from personal observation what 
are now known to be fallacies ; and he seemed to have built up a superstructure of 
fiction on the mistaken notion that the pupge of these insects were in reality grains 
of cereals. 
6th April, 1868. H. W. Bates, Esq., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair. 
Mr. Stainton exhibited some mines of a species of Nepticula in leaves of 
Euphorbia dencl/roides just received from Mr. Moggridge from Mentone ; he remarked 
that the creature remained a long time in the pupa state, for from larvae, collected 
by himself at the early part of last summer, he had only recently bred the moths. 
Mr. Boyd exhibited a dark variety of Stenopteryx hyhridalis from Hertfordshire. 
Mr. Druce exhibited part of a collection of Butterflies sent by Mr. Pearson 
from Peru ; the most noticeable species were Papilio Zagreus, Morpho Aurora, and 
three forms of Euterpe. 
Mr. Weir exhibited several varieties of Lyccena Corydon and Alexis, and an 
insect which he thought might be a hybrid between Alexis and Adonis. 
Mr. Stevens brought for exhibition the type specimen of Nemophora Cartcri, 
described by Stainton in the " Insecta Britannica." Mr. Stainton remarked that 
the species had been excluded from the European Catalogue, and he had thought 
that it might possibly have been American ; a close examination of the specimen 
now induced him to believe that the head and fore-wings belonged to one of our 
common species, and that the hind-wings and abdomen were those of a Oerostoma, 
and had been artificially affixed ; the species was therefore in reality a nonentity. 
Mr. Smith remarked that in the collection of insect productions in the British 
Museum was a portion of a pollard-oak, sent there three years since by Mr. Kidd, 
as exhibiting a great number of the now common round galls. This had been 
placed in a glass case with a large lump of camphor, yet each spi-iug there were 
bred from this oak numerous examples of Clytus arietis, on the larvie and pupae of 
which beetle tho camphor seemed to have no cflbct. 
