im.-\ 143 



Societies. 



Cambridge Entomological and Natural History Society : April 30th, 

 1897.— Dr. Sharp, F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



Dr. Sharp called attention to a peculiar structure which he detected some years 

 ago in Chrysinidia madagascarensis, better known as Urania rhipheus. On each 

 side of the second abdominal segment there is an ear-like opening, usually much 

 concealed by overlapping scales, giving entrance to a chamber which extends to the 

 middle line and forwards towai-ds the base of the abdomen, so that a considerable 

 space in the anterior and upper part of the abdomen is occupied by the chambers. 

 At the anterior external part of this depression or chamber there is a second vesicle- 

 like chamber formed by a delicate membrane. He considered this structure to be 

 some kind of sense organ, and thought it must be of great importance to the creature, 

 as it occupies a large area of the abdominal region. It is independent of sex, and 

 apparently occurs in all the members of the Families Uraniidce and Epiplemidai. 

 M. Oberthiir had kindly supplied him liberally with dried specimens for the exami- 

 nation of this organ, but fresh individuals, or some well preserved in spirit, are 

 necessary before any of the finer details of the structure can be ascertained. — L. 

 DoNCASTER, Hon. Secretary. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society : 

 April 22nd, 1897. — R. Adkin, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Malcolm Burr, Bellagio, East Grinstead, Sussex, was elected a Member. 



Mr. Barrett exhibited the only known Scottish specimen of Colias Hyale, cap- 

 tured in Dumbartonshire by Mr. Malloch ; he also exhibited a var. of Cryniodes 

 exulis taken by Mr. Percy Bright in Unst, which form was at one time considered a 

 distinct species, and termed Radena Maillardi, together with the same species from 

 Rannoch and Iceland. Mr. Auld, a varied series of Cucullia chamomillce from Lewis. 

 Mr. R. Adkin, a series of Hybernia marginaria [progemmaria) , the progeny of a pair 

 received from Mr. Hewett, of York ; about sixty per cent, of the males were of the 

 black form and followed the parents, while the whole of the females were dark ; he 

 also made remarks upon the scaling and pigmentation. Mr. Mera, a larva of Calli- 

 morpha Hera, which had fed all the winter and was in its last stage. Mr. Step, the 

 following specimens of Spider Crabs from Portscatho : — Macropodia rostratus, male 

 and female, with a card of dissections to show sexual differences, curved hooked 

 hairs, upper and under-sides of the chelae, &c. ; Inachus dorynchns and I. leptochirus ; 

 Fisa tribiilus, with a red sponge covering the whole of the carapace ; and photo- 

 graphs of Maia squinado. The Secretary then read a paper on the above exhibits, 

 communicated by Mr. Step, entitled, " Some British Spider Crabs." 



May IZth, 1897-— R. South, Esq., F.E.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Stanley Edwards exliibited a small scorpion which he had captured at 

 Digne, in the South of France, together with a specimen of the Field Cricket from 

 the same locality ; he also exhibited a pupa of Charaxes Jasius, and stated that Dr. 

 Chapman had sent him larvae of this species from Cannes earlier in the year. Mr. 

 Tutt made remarks upon the condition of vegetation and insect life as observed by 

 Ml'. Edwards and himself during a week's holiday at Easter in the S. E. of France. 

 The weather there was superb, but yet the vegetation was, at 1900 feet above the 



