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Show LS82.] MR. A. THOMPSON ON A STICK INSECT. 719 p. 3281). The ova of this insect were sent to England by Mr. J. Wood-Mason, F.Z.S., to whom the Society is indebted for many interesting additions to the collection of insects. The ova were received from Cachar in October last year, and were at once placed in one of the glass cases containing a young growing orange-tree and some grass. The young insects did not emerge till March of the present year; and I regret to say that most of them died when a few days old. One specimen, however, is still living and doing well. When young it fed upon grass ; but when nearly half-grown it began to devour the leaves of the orange-tree; and it and one other specimen which died almost denuded the tree of its leaves. The specimen now living is a female, it having quite recently laid eggs, and is therefore, I have no doubt, quite adult. It has shed its " skin " several times since it emerged from the egg, the last occasion being the 27th June, but has not shed its skin since that time. The last three shed skins (which are not quite perfect) were shed at intervals of about one month ; these I beg leave to exhibit herewith, together with a sketch of the living insect (Plate LII.), the eggs recently laid, and also the specimen which died when nearly half-grown, and two specimens showing the size of the insect when first hatched. The young are very active, and climb up the surface of the glass easily. The operation of shedding the "skin " is very simple : the skin splits down the back ; and the insect gradually draws out its legs and body, and at once crawls away, leaving the shed skin quite moist and limp. The specimen at present living did not eat for some time before laying the eggs, but since then has commenced to feed again. December 19, 1882. Prof. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions made to the Society's Menagerie during the month of November 1882 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of November was 96, of which I was by birth, 58 by presentation, 17 by purchase, 5 were received in exchange, and 15 on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 109. The following additions are of special interest:- 1. A collection of Reptiles from the Western States of North America, presented by Samuel Garman, Esq., of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A., November 3. Amongst these are examples of several species new to the Society's 1 As determined by Prof. Westwood from a drawing of the adult female living in the Gardens.-P. L. S. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1882, No. XLVIII. 48 |