A SHORT SKETCH OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SERIAL LITERATURE IN BRITAIN. 55 



which is usually .considered as a most important epoch in individual 

 life-history, the babe having grown to manhood. In my address last 

 year I endeavoured (though very briefly) to review the work done by 

 our society since its formation, and hope I was successful in showing 

 that it has been far from an idle one, and that we have accomplished 

 useful scientific work, which will compare favourably with that done by 

 other societies. The past year has left an encouraging record. The 

 papers read have been excellent, and the discussions most; interesting, 

 while at the same time the number of our members has increased.' 

 "We should have liked to see a more regular attendance at all the 

 monthly meetings, for while some have been crowded, others have 

 been quite the reverse : and when a paper, the preparation of which 

 has involved consideral)le time and tliought, is presented, a meagre 

 attendance is highly discouraging to all. Do try to remember this in 

 future, engrave on your memories that our meetings are held on the 

 2nd ]\Ionday in each month, and by your presence evince your interest 

 in the prosperity of the society. The exhibits are always a most im- 

 portant feature at our gatherings, and these during the past year have 

 been quite as numerous and interesting as heretofore. 



Insects which, twenty years ago, were not known as British, or 

 were of the greatest rarity, have been exhibited, not only in single 

 specimens, but often in considerable numbers, till we have wondered 

 what would be the next surprise, and we have begun to question 

 whether there is such a thing as an insect rarity, or whether our limited 

 knowledge of its habits and life-history lead us to consider a given, 

 example as such. It may be interesting, and will support what I say, 

 to mention a few of the lepidopterous in.sects which have been exhibited 

 during the past twenty years : — ^p/iiii.r pinastri. — This was, twenty 

 years ago, quite a doubtful liritish species (although the capture of 

 some larvio in Sufiblk by the Hon. Mrs. Carpenter was recorded in 

 1879), but, in the year 1892, Lord Rendlesbam and his son captured 

 11 specimens in the neighbourhood of Woodbridge, Sufiblk, and since 

 then they have been taken yearly in the same locality. Whether they 

 were originally introduced into this country by planting foreign trees, 

 on which the insect existed, as by some people is thought probable, I 

 cannot say, but it is certainly now established as a British 

 species. Zijiiaena c.ndaiis. — Twenty years ago tliis species, and even Z^ 

 vu'liloti, were comparative rarities, though Mr. Tugwelldrew attention 

 to the latter in the I'lutiniKihtiiist, as a now species, no longer ago than 

 1872. Weil do I remember my delight in adding a few specimens of 

 this then novelty to my colii'ction, through the generosity of Mr. Gulliver 

 (father of the present Mr. Charles Gulliver). He kindly sent my 

 friend Mr Owen and myself, as a present, a series of these insects, 

 though at the time they were worth several shillings each. Calli- 

 morpha licra. — Previous to 1882, only two or three recorded ; now 

 plentiful in South Devon. i'iilaria irtitulata. — Several specimens 

 were taken at Windermere in 1856, by Messrs. Allis and Hodgkinson, 

 then it was lost sight of until Mr. Hodgkinson took a specimen in 1876. 

 You will remember the interesting paper we had read to us about this 

 insect some months ago by the llev. A. M. ]\Ioss. At Mr. llodgkin.son's 

 sale, in November last, some of these in.sects realised only a few 

 shillings each, ('ii/iiioilca f.nilis. — Mr. Cooke captured this in.sect at 

 Loch Laggan in 1S7G, and Mr. IJond exhibited it at the l-'ntomo- 



