PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.
Entomological Society of London.
July 3, 1878—H.W. Bates, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S., President, in the chair.
Mr. Basil George Nevinson, of 19, Torrington Square, W.O., was ballotted for and elected an ordinary Member. Mr. John A. Finzi, of 105, Gower Street, W.C., was ballotted for and elected a Subscriber.
Mr. F. P. Pascoe exhibited a selection of insects of all orders, as well as of Arachuida and Myriopoda, from a collection recently made during a tour through Algeria and the South of Spain. He also called attention to a remarkable Myriapod, having the cylindrical body of the Julidæ, but with only one pair of legs to each somite.
Mr. W. C. Boyd drew attention to the food-plant of Elachista cerussella, which has been always reputed, both in this country and on the Continent, to feed in the leaves of Arundo phragmitis. He stated that although he could not positively assert that the insect never feeds on this reed, he much doubted its doing so, as the Arundo does not usually come into leaf till the larva of Elachista is half-grown. All the specimens which he had bred were found in the leaves of Phalaris arundinacea, a grass which somewhat resembles A. phragmitis before the flower appears; hence, no doubt, the mistake.
Mr. H. T. Stainton remarked that although Mr. Boyd had shown that the Elachista larva undoubtedly feeds in Phalaris arundinacea, it must still be regarded an open question whether it does not also feed in Arundo phragmitis.
Mr. W.L. Distant exhibited an Homopteron which had been sent to him for identification, through Dr. Sharp, from Mr. Lawson, of Auckland, New Zealand. The species was Ricania australis, Walker, and Mr. Lawson wrote that it had been observed last year on the dahlia for the first time. The markings of the New Zealand specimen were, however, much darker than those of the Australian ones, and therefore if, as possible, the insect had been introduced from Australia, its arrival must probably have taken place some time ago to allow for the process of melanism which had ensued.
Mr. J. Jenner Weir exhibited two specimens of Leucania turca, with several pollinia of Habenaria bifolia attached to the trunk of each, these being the only two out of fifty specimens which had the pollinia thus attached. He had been able to satisfy himself, by comparison, as to the species of orchid from which the pollinia had been removed. Mr. Weir also exhibited a specimen of Hipparchia hyperanthus, in which the ocelli on the under side of the fore and hind wings were unusually large, oval, and
with the central white spots ovate and acuminate outwards. The specimen
