144 THE entomologist's record. 



mentioned having taken a fine specimen of Coccyx cosmophorana on 

 May 30th, 1914, in the Gatebarrow wood, also Adela jibulella and 

 Eupithecia distinctaria (constiictata). Eastham Lepidoptera. — Mr. A. 

 W. Hughes exhibited Lepidoptera from Eastham as follows: — Ihjhcrnia 

 defoliaria, II. aurantiaria, and a \evy long series of Cheimatohia briiiuata, 

 the latter showing great variation from very pale to very dark brown, 

 almost chocolate coloured forms, the last were scarce,, forming only 

 three per cent, of the number captured. II. aurantiaria had not been 

 recorded previously for the locality. The genus Cnephasia (Sciaphila). 

 — Mr. F. N. Pierce showed his extensive series of the genus Cnephasia 

 (Sciaphila), containing all the British species except aahlbomiana and 

 ahrasana. With regard to these he stated that it was considered very 

 doubtful whether they had any right to be included in the British 

 fauna or even to be ranked as good species at all. The variation was 

 remarkable in that almost every species showed both melanism and 

 albinism and it is only by a microscopical examination of the genitalia, 

 which can easily be done without damaging the specimen, that the 

 moth can be identified, especially when it approaches the extreme 

 variation. 



Fehniarij 15th. — Pocket-box Exhibition.— The evening was devoted 

 to a pocket-box exhibition of Natural History objects. Mr. F. N. 

 Pierce contributed a selection of " Insect Habitations," which included 

 portable cases characteristic of the FsycJudae, Coleophoridac, and the 

 Trichuptera ; he also showed the cases of the Coleophoridae under the 

 microscope, and called attention to the character of the silk of which 

 some of them were composed. Mr. R. Wilding exhibited a number of 

 Tortrices collected in the neighbourhood of West Derby, including 

 series of the following : — Dicti/optcri/j: holiitiaiia, (^atoptria cana, Ortho- 

 taenia striana, and many of the common hedge-side species. Dr. 

 Cotton, a box of Triphaena /iiiibria and Carsia puludata from near St. 

 Helens. Mr. W. Mansbridge brought a specimen of the fungus Vohj- 

 porus betalintif, which, when dried and cut into strips, he used for 

 mounting micro-lepidoptera ; also a series of Adidnia (Miinaesioptilus) 

 bipiinctidactijla, cinnamon-coloured form, from the Crosby sandhills, 

 and a short series of a melanochroic variation of Ellopia prosapiaria 

 bred from a Delamere female ; he stated that, although not usually so 

 dark as the present series, the species is considerably darker in 

 Delamere Forest than in the South of England. 



March 15th. — Election. — Dr. A. Randell .Jackson, M.D., M.Sc, 

 Westcote, Hoole Road, Chester, was elected a member of the Society. 

 Paper. — Mr. Leonard West, M.I.M.E., read a paper entitled "A Short 

 Account of some Neuroptera." The paper was fully illustrated by 

 lantern slides of the principal species of the various families; these were 

 treated in a way specially designed to enlist the interest of the young 

 entomologist. The metamorphoses and general economy of the Stone- 

 flies, May-flies, and Caddis-flies being ably described by the author. 

 At the close of the paper Mr. West also shewed a number of beautiful 

 slides of river scenery as examples of the breeding places of the insects 

 and as showing the loveliness of the natural surroundings the student 

 would become familiar with in pursuit of these comparatively little 

 known creatures. 



