1891.1 25 



■' L'Abeille." — Bj the will of the late Abbe de Marseul this publication became 

 the property of the Entomological Society of France. The Society has decided to 

 continue it, under the editorship of M. L. Bedel. As heretofore, it will be mainly 

 devoted to memoirs on the Coleoptera of the Old World. Each volume will consist 

 of 12 parts of 24 pages each, and the subscription is fixed at 10 francs to Members 

 of the Society and 12 francs to others. We would suggest that the original form 

 (12mo) of the journal was inconveniently small. — -Eds. 



Soqii^tiiis. 



Birmingham Entomological Society : November l^th, 1890. — Mr. W. Gr. 

 Blatch, F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. M. Stanger Higgs was elected a Member of the Society. 



Mr. H. M. Lee showed Calocampa vetusta, Scopelosoma satellitia, &c., from 

 Sutton Park. Mr. P. W. Abbott showed a fine series of Tapinoatala fidva taken in 

 Sutton Park, flying at night in the company of Nonagria ariindinis. Mr. R. C. 

 Bradley showed two varieties of Abraxas grossularinta. A discussion followed on 

 the causes of colours in insects, in which Messrs. W. Gr. Blatch, C. F. Thornewill, 

 R. C. Bradley, and C. J. Wainwright joined. Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed several 

 wings of Selenia tetrahmaria denuded of scales, one of which lacked half of one 

 longitudinal vein ; a discussion followed, in which Messrs. Blatch, Thornewill, and 

 Wainwright joined. Mr. Blatch mentioned a curious case of a specimen of Habros- 

 tola urticce, which had the body filled with scales like those on the wings. Rev. C. 

 F. Thornewill showed a collection of Lepidoptera made at Abbott's Wood in June, 

 1890, and made remarks on them. 



December \st, 1890. —The President in the Chair. 



Mr. W. Gr. Blatch reported that during 1890 he had taken sixty species of 

 beetles new to the Midlands. Messrs. C. F. Thornewill, R. C. Bradley, W. 'Harrison, 

 Gr. W. Wynn, and A. Jolmson showed collections of insects taken during 1890. 

 Mr. Thornewill's included a specimen of Scotosia certata, taken on September 8th, 

 and seeming, therefore, to point to a second brood of the species. Mr. G. T. Baker 

 showed a collection of Madeiran butterflies. Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed Cosmia 

 affinis and diffinis from near Bromsgrove. — Colbean J. Wainwright, Hon. Sec. 



Lancashire AND Cheshire Entomological Society. — The monthly meeting 

 was held on Monday, December 8tli, 1890, in the Free Library, the President 

 (Mr. S. J. Capper, F.L.S.) in the Chair. 



Mr. B. H. Crabtree was elected a Member. 



Mr. R. Newstead, F.E.S., read a paper on " British Wasps : their parasites and 

 scavengers ;" in which he gave the life-history of the wasp, from the commencement 

 of the nest by the single queen, to the complete formation of the colony, and enu- 

 merated twenty-two species of insects, which he had found inhabiting these nests ; 

 the paper was fully illustrated with specimens and diagrams. The President 

 exhibited Acidalia immorata from Lewes. Mr. Gl-regson, cases of Articulata, showing 

 manipulation before being presentable at private and public museums. Mr. Sydney 



