10(5 [J"iy- 



district. Mr. J. T. Fountain, a niiniljer of Lepidojitf-ra, all taken this jear, including 

 Safuniia pavonia (o ) taken at Sutton on April Sdtli by sembling, Selenia illu- 

 naria from Acock's Green, a lot of TteniocampcB, including ruhricoxa from Marston 

 Grreen, An/idea hadiata from Knowle and Marston Green, a7id Anisopteryx ascularia 

 from Moor Green. Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker, two drawers full of Palsearctic Mela- 

 nargias and Erebias. — Colbran J. Wainwright, Hon. Secretary. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society: 

 March 23rd, 1899.— Mr. J. W. Tutt, F.E.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



A communication was read from Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell, of New Mexico, sent 

 with the idea of raising a discussion. After stating the facts that tropical species 

 are, as a rule, much more easily separated than the species of temperate regions, 

 and that holaretic groups were especially polymorphic, he went on to discuss the 

 causes of these phenomena. He noted that owing to conditional changes, such as 

 the various glacial desolations, in the temperate regions, species were ever answering 

 to this environment and being newly formed. In the tropics on the other hand the 

 environment was more stable, and no doubt had been so for an indefinite period, 

 hence the easier definibility of the species in those regions. In the discussion, 

 which ensued, numerous Palsearctic groups of very closely allied species were 

 mentioned, and the necessity of naming the various forms as a matter of convenience 

 for study and reference was generally conceded. Mr. Montgomery read notes on a 

 series of broods of Pieris napi reared originally from ova deposited by a female from 

 Enniskillen, compared with bred series from Middlesex, to show the typical 

 dimorpiiism. The Irish specimens were especially noticeable for the brilliancy of 

 the yellow on the under-sides. A long discussion ensued, and the members present 

 considered that it was most necessary in all experiments of this nature, that every 

 specimen bred should be preserved with its label giving full details. Mr. F. N. 

 Clark exhibited specimens of the mite, Psoroptes longirostris, taken from a rabbit, on 

 which it produced a skin affection and suppuration. Mr. Adkin, a wasp's nest of 

 several cells, found in a hand of tobacco from Kentucky. It was made of mud and 

 no doubt the inhabitants were killed during the smoking process over wood fires. 

 Mr. Montgomery, numerous coloured drawings of the eggs and first instar of the 

 larviB of several species of British butterflies. 



April \Mh, 1899.— Mr. A. Harrison, F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Crabtree, F.E.S., of Levenshulme, Manchester, was elected a Member. 



The evening was devoted to Microscopy under the direction of ]Mr. Scourficld, 

 F.R.M.S., who took as his subject, " British Freshwater Entomostraca," illustrating 

 his remarks with numerous diagrams aud blackboard drawings, together with a 

 varied series of specimens of the group, shown under the microscopes of several 

 Members and friends. The Society were much indebted to the kindness of Mr. 

 Scourfield for a vei-y pleasant evening. 



April 21th, 1899.— The President in the Chair. 



Mr. Smith, of Tresco Eoad, Peckham, was elected a Member. 



Mr. Drury, F.R.H.S., presented to the Society's collections a large number of 

 the species of the smaller Lepidoplera. Mr. Ashdown exhibited several specimens 

 of the earwig, Forficula auricularia, showing considerable variation in the shape 



