49 



and P. icarus, which varied between 13mra. and 5mm., smaller 

 than the minimum sizes given by various authors, others 

 practically agreed with such minima, notably P. )ia}ii, M. athalia 

 and A. coridon. Of these, the last mentioned was the only species 

 in regard to which he had been able to make any extended 

 investigations, but from observations extending over many years he 

 found that these 30mm. examples of A. coridon were not 

 infrequently recurrent, and he was of opinion that in such species 

 there was a well established small race, mdependent of any 

 accidental circumstances, such as shortness of food or similar 

 happenings, to which some other exceptional minature examples 

 might posssibly be ascribed. 



Mr. Frohawk exhibited specimens of Pi/ranieis atalanta, P. cardxd 

 and Vanessa io, to show extremes in size. The measurements of the 

 specimens exhibited were — 



P. atalanta, Crohamhurst, 1880, 47mm., and Wallington, 1914, 

 76uim. 



P. cardid, Littlehampton, 1888, 45mm., and bred New Forest, 

 1892, 7iimm. 



V. to, Chattenden, 1868, 47mm., and bred Ventor, 1891, 7Hmm. 

 He remarked that E. antiopa, P. atalanta and T'. io were 

 somewhat prone to extremes, whereas P. cardui varied but little in 

 size. As to the existence of dwarf races, he was convinced that 

 there was one of Lycaena avion in Cornwall, as year after year he 

 bad there met with, or known of, dwarf examples being taken. In 

 1893 most of the New Forest examples of Drj/as paphia were 

 exceptionally small ; this was not racial but due to the excessive 

 dryness of the season during the later portion of the larval period. 

 He also remarked on the wandering habits of the Vanessid larvae, 

 and the power this gave them of seeking far distant food when their 

 first supply was exhausted. Mr. Curwen said that he had met with 

 a small race of Vanessa io near Caux, Montreux, Switzerland. Mr. 

 Turner suggested that dwarfing in Alpine species of Vanessids 

 would possibly often occur from the superabundance of the larvas 

 causing an absence of food. It was pointed out that this would not 

 occur with a more or less solitary species like P. atalanta. 



Mr. Bunnett exhibited specimens of Envanessa antiopa taken near 

 Lake Winnipegosis, Canada, and a large water-bug (Hemipteron) 

 BenicHs griseiis, taken at the electric light in the same place. He 

 also showed a photograph of Saniia cecropia from Canada. 



Mr. Stanley Edwards exhibited species of the African genus. 



