Ivi Journal of Proceedings. 



to the microscopist. Cortinarius vigens, a very rare species and recently 

 new ; Mr. English had found it in Monk's Wood ; the form very much 

 resembles C. ochvolciua, although in his opinion perfectly distinct. 

 AgaricKS ecricceiis, a common species in the Epping Woods, but one which 

 appears to be a great puzzle to mycologists ; it had been returned to 

 him under three names, velutinus, stercoraria and squamosus. 



The Secretary exhibited some insects from his own collection for the 

 purpose of illustrating Mr. Meldola's remarks at the last meeting on 

 mimicry and protective resemblance in these animals. The case of 

 mimicry was that of the little moths Acidalia suhscriceata and Asthena 

 candidata before explained, and "protective resemblance" was exempli- 

 fied by many specimens of caterpillars which possess various modes 

 of concealment. 



Taking these specimens as his text, Mr. Meldola engaged the atten- 

 tion of his audience by a short dissertation on caterpillars, their habits 

 and appearances, considered as means of protection from their enemies. 

 He pointed out that many caterpillars resemble twigs, dead leaves, 

 flowers, leaves, etc., and so escape detection. Such cases are easily 

 recognised. On the other hand many caterpillars are hairy or brightly 

 coloured and appear to court observation rather than concealment. 

 Many experiments made by Mr. Jenner Weir, Mr. Butler, and Dr. 

 Weismann, went to show, however, that insectivorous birds rejected 

 such larvae, probably on account of some unpleasant taste or odour. 

 Of course it would benefit the insect but little to be bitten in two and 

 then rejected, and Mr. Wallace had suggested that bright colours and 

 hairs served the purpose of danger-signals, warning the birds of the 

 nauseousness of the morsel. Some caterpillars have fringes of hairs 

 just above the legs, and Mr. Meldola suggested that such hairs might 

 be of advantage by softening the shadow thrown by the insect when 

 stretched along a bough, and so rendering it less distinctly seen. This 

 was the case with the larva of the " 1.3.Y^^ei-moih,''' Lasiocampa querci- 

 folia shown by Mr. Cole. Other caterpillars possess eye-like spots, and 

 Dr. Weismann found by direct experiments that these frightened birds 

 off the insects ; his results being confirmed by the experiments of Lady 

 Verney. In short, there was not a hair, spot or marking on a caterpillar 

 but possessed some meaning, and indicated some trait in the economy 

 of the species. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Andrew Johnston asking for 



information as to the correct orthography of the words " High Beach." 



The general opinion of the meeting was that the word should be so 



spelled, and not " Beech ; " the words probably indicating high ground, 



in which pebbly gravels cropped out, so forming a " beach." * 



* We have adopted the form " Beach " in the reports, but must confess to feehiag con- 

 siderable doubt as to its coiTectness; it must be noted that the word is spelled " Beech " m 

 the Ordnance Maps, in Warner's " Plantee Woodfordienses" and also is so ^Titten hi some 

 MS. notes in Mr. Un^Yin's copy of the same work. We shall be glad of information on the 

 point. — Ed. 



