121 



" It is Shakespeare who says : — 



"Ere to black Hecate's summons, 

 The shard-born beetle with his drowsy hums 

 Hath rung night's yawning peal." 



" Both references are generally considered to refer to the insect 

 in question." 



Mr. L. W. Newman exhibited a very long and varied series 

 of Aplecta nebulosa and its varieties ab. robsoni, ab. thompsoni, and 

 intermediate forms, A pairing was obtained in 1914 from male 

 and female, both of the robsoni form ; about 400 ova were laid, of 

 which over 350 were successfully reared to the imago, and the 

 percentages are as follows : — 



Robsoni (mcluding intermediate) 50 %, typical specimens 26 %, 

 thoinpsoni 24 %. 



He also showed a series of Boarmia rejiandata var. convermria, 

 from a pairing obtained between a typical light Hunts $ crossed 

 with conversaria <? . A large percentage of the brood were reared, 

 and that every specimen produced was var. conversaria, and every 

 one a $ , is a most remarkable result. 



Mr. Newman recorded the following interesting breeding 

 experience that had occurred to him with Abra.ms yrossnlariata of 

 the race containing ab. varleijata. 



" In 1908 I thought I had lost this strain, but I continued to 

 inbreed from typical specimens from the same race that in 1907 

 produced the var., and this year I bred 10 % varlei/ata, so that the 

 var. has remained dormant in the stram five years, during which 

 period nothing but typical forms were produced." 



Mr. Kaye, in reference to Mr. Newman's exhibit, quoted the 

 opinion of the late J. W. Tutt that not all melanic forms are new, 

 but were ancient forms which for years had ceased to be dominant, 

 but which were liable to reappear in favourable circumstances. 



Mr. P. A. Buxton communicated the following record sent from 

 the Dardanelles by his brother, Mr. D. A. J. Buxton. 



" I saw a big hawk moth one evening lately, and was going to 

 pursue it with my helmet, when a young butcher-bird swooped 

 down and flew off with it to a tree across a field. I followed, 

 hoping to find the wings at least, and there he was pecking away 

 and enjoying himself. As he shewed no intention of dropping it, 

 but rather of flying off elsewhere, I threw a stone at him and he 

 disappeared, but he took his dinner with him. It was a spurge or 

 striped hawk, or similar species." 



Mr. Main, in referring to Mr. Buxton's communication, said 



