1903.] 43 



known by Mr. Bradley as occurring locally at Sutton Park ; also Sumpetrum 

 striolatum, Charp., taken in his own garden at Moseley. Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker, 

 a long series of Emntnrga atomaria, L., from the hills above Corwen, N. Wales, and 

 pointed out the great amount of variation which obtained in the shape of the 

 wings, the colors, and the markings. Some of the females closely approximated in 

 appearance to the males. It was remarked that all alike were unusually pale in 

 comparison with the usual Midland forms of the species, and especially so in com- 

 parison with the Cannock Cliase specimens ; and he said that many of the paler ones 

 looked white on the wing. — Colbkan J. Wainwbight, Han. Sec. 



Lancashike and Cheshire Entomological Society : December 8th, 

 1902.— Mr. William Webster, of St. Helens, in the Chair. 



Messrs. J. F. Dutton (Helsby) and J. R. Le B. Toinlin (Chester) were elected 

 Members of the Society. 



The Secretary announced donations to the Library from the following Authors: 

 —Fourteen works from Mr. Malcolm Burr, B.A., F.Z.S., F.E.S. ; four from Mr. F. 

 Bouskell, F.E.S., F.R.H.S., and one from Mr. W. E. Sharp, F.E.S. Mr. Burr's 

 handsome donation further included volumes by Pastel (2) and de Bormans (1). 

 Mr. Alfred J. JoUey (Warrington) read an instructive paper on " Larval Forms, a 

 study for the doctrine of descent," in which he portrayed the magnitude of the 

 difficulties with whicli the student had to contend, and the need for caution in 

 dealing with questions of evolution in those animals that passed through complete 

 metamorphosis, since in many cases the life-history of the individual cannot be 

 accepted as representing the life-history of the race. A hearty vote of thanks 

 having been accorded the lecturer for his interesting and exhaustive discourse, 

 Mr. F. N. Pierce (Liverpool) contributed a communication " On the specific 

 differences between Lithosia .ten'cea, L. complana and L. complanula," in which 

 he recorded the results of his investigation on the genitalia of the Lithosida. Un- 

 fortunately, the results of his research as regards the first two were of a negative 

 character, inasmuch as the genitalia were identical in both species, but as L.pygiiKBola 

 was also similar to these, and no one doubted the claim of the latter to specific 

 rank, he was of opinion that as the diiJerences in colour, habitat, larvae, &c., were 

 80 constant, until the one had been bred from eggs laid by the other, L. sericea and 

 L. complana must stand as distinct species. The notes were illustrated by the 

 author's preparations thrown on the screen by the Micro-lantern, drawings of the 

 genitalia, and the insects themselves. Mr. Collins (Warrington) in discussing the 

 paper, confirmed Mr. Pierce's conjecture as to moisture being responsible for the 

 production of melanism in the Lithosidce. The following exhibits were examined :— 

 A fine collection of Transvaal Lepidoptera, ranging from the Sphinges to the 

 Beltoides, by Captain B. Fairclough. Lithosida by Mr. F. N. Pierce ; British 

 Longicornes, including Strangalia aurulenta, Saperda scalaris, and Leptura 

 scutellata, by Messrs. J. R. Le B. Tomlin and J. B. Dutton ; some remarkably light 

 varieties of Abraxax grossniariata, and a var. of Therafirmata from Delamere, by Mr. 

 J. Womersley ; Grall-niaking insects and specimens of their work by Mr. J. Deane ; 

 melanic forms of Triphmiia orbona from Lewis, Elgin, &c., one specimen with dark 

 hind-wings, lacking the marginal band, being exceptionally interesting, by Mr. B. H. 

 Crabtree (Manchester) ; Caradrina ambigua, A])0)-ophg/a nigra, &c., by Mr. R. Tait, 



D 2 



