46 



ab. ohi^cHrata, Sth. Ent., xxi., 'M, fig. Isle of Lewis. 



[General darkening of lighter areas.] 

 race idandica, Prout. Seitz., iv., 258. Iceland, 

 race dnbiosata, Alph. Hor. Ross., xvii., 216. Thian Shan. 

 3. Cidaria ."iiperr/resm, Btlr. III. Het., iii., 55, pi. 54, f. 11. 

 Japan. 

 A small group of three species very much alike. 

 II. Differentiation of A', rivata from X. alternata {sociata). 

 The following points of difference of rivata were noted. 

 Generally larger and single-brooded in nature {alternata is 

 double-brooded). More glossy wing. The post-median white band 

 (especially on hindwing) broader and scarcely bisected by a dark 

 Ime. Distal area less uniformly darkened, and more mixed with 

 blue-grey. Basal area of hindwing more white mixed both above 

 and below. Hindwings beneath with a brown band proximally to 

 the sub-terminal band and always interrupted between the 3rd and 

 1st median vein. (In alternata this is always »» broken). Median 

 band extremely narrowed and broken. 



Mr. A. A. W. Buckstone exhibited short series from numerous 

 localities, and called attention to a darker form of alternata {sociata) 

 which appeared somewhat later than the general emergence of the 

 first generation, which last took place at the end of June and in 

 early July. 



Mr. Mera exhibited series of the two species and contributed the 

 following note : — 



" I have always found rlmta to be the less liable to variation of 

 the two species, and it may usually be distinguished by its larger 

 size and generally higher colour. Also, it is a single brooded 

 species occurring usually in early July. Sociata on the other hand 

 is double-brooded, and in S. Devon I have bred a third brood. My 

 specimens from S. Devon are of a distinctly browner ground colour 

 than I have usually found them. The specimens from the Isle of 

 Itewis are quite a distinct race, losing somewhat the strong band 

 across the wing, the darker portions of the wing very much 

 absorbing what is usually white. 



" The time of appearance is hardly a reliable guide as to which 

 species is taken, as the broods of f^ociata undoubtedly overlap one 

 another, and only a few nights ago I took a worn specimen of 

 sociata in Epping Forest." 



Mr. Enefer exhibited the egg of a Chrysopa species on the top of 

 a gall on a sycamore leaf, and another egg the stalk of which was 



