1897.] 65 



click-beetles were unsatisfactory, and he suggested that it might be found that the 

 act really depended on an elasticity arising from the mode in which the parts of the 

 mesothorax and elytra were sliaped and fitted together. Mr. Eickard read a paper 

 upon " Jumping Beans." He said that probably the larva, after consuming all the 

 kernel of the nut, attacked the shell ; in this endeavour to obtain food it breaks its 

 way out of the nut, while the struggles supply the motive force to which the jumping 

 is due. He thought that the actual motion was merely mechanical, and determined 

 by the formation of the Euphorbiaceous seed. — C. J. Wilkinson, Hon. Secretary. 



Lancashire and Cheshire ENTOMOLoaicAL Society : February 8th, 1897. 

 — S. J. Capper, Esq., F.L.S., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Eev. R. Freeman gave a lecture, entitled, " Elementary Biology and 

 Anatomy of Insects," in which he traced the connecting links from the protoplasmic 

 amoeba to the perfect insect, describing in detail the organs of nutrition, the nervous 

 system, breathing organs, &c., of insects. The lecture was fully illustrated by dia- 

 grams from the author's preparations. Mr. John Watson, of Manchester, exhibited 

 specimens of Belenois teutonia and nisea from Australia, and showed transitional 

 forms from the New Hebrides, proving that these two species must now be considered 

 as only local forms of the one ; he also showed Eurycus Cressida and form from 

 North Queensland. The Rev. A. M. Moss, a curious bronze coloured variety of 

 Amphidasis prodromaria captured by himself at Windermere. Mr. Gregson, a box 

 of asymmetrical specimens of Lepldoptera ; the collection included two fine varieties 

 oi Arctia Caja, the upper wings of one specimen being very different. — F. N. Pierce, 

 Hon. Secretary, The Elms, Dingle, Liverpool. 



The Annual Meeting was held on Monday, January 11th, in the Class Room 

 of the Free Public Library, William Brown Street. The President occupied the 

 Chair. Mr. F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec. pro tern., read the Report of the Council, from 

 which it appeared that nine meetings had been held during the past year, at which 

 valuable papers had been read, and many interesting exhibits shown. The following 

 OflBcers were appointed for the ensuing year : — President, Mr. S. J. Capper ; Vice- 

 President, Rev. F. Freeman : Hon. Secretary, Mr. F. N. Pierce ; and Hon. Treasurer 

 and Librarian, Mr. H. Locke. The following gentlemen were elected on the 

 Council :— Mr. W. E. Sharp, Dr. J. W. Ellis, Messrs. W. Webster, B. H. Crabtree,. 

 and Douglas Walker. The President then delivered his Annual Address. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society: 

 December lOtfi, 1896.— C. G. Barrett, Esq., F.E.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Brooks exhibited a very long series of Acherontia Atropos, bred from pupae 

 obtained at Long Sutton this year; one specimen was much lighter on one side 

 than on the other, it was suggested that a deficiency of fluid in the wings through 

 injury was the cause. Also a very long series of TriphcBiiaJlmbria, hved from larvae 

 collected near Rotherham. Many specimens were light and only very few of the 

 dark form. It was stated that the colour variation was by no means sexual, and 



