SOCIETIES. 167 



Cceliodes nibicundus, Erirhinus pectoralis, and Rhynchites tianus, the whole 

 having been captured at West Wickham. Mr. Milton brought a quantity 

 of insects which he had recently taken at VVicken Fen and the New 

 Forest, the most noticeable being Chrysomela graminis, male and female 

 specimens of Agapanthia lineatocollis, Hoplia philanthus, a Ion series 

 oi Serica bninnea (partly taken at sugar), Necrophorus riispator^N. vespi/lo, 

 Gastropliysa raphatii, several species of Telephoriis, etc. ; also a fine 

 Cercopis cornuhis (Homoptera), saw flies and many dragon flies. 



Septembea 4lh, — Coleopteta: — Mr. Beck exhibited New Forest species 

 including Leptiira fulva, Geotnipes vernalis from Swanage and the Lake 

 1 district, also G. pyreiuvus, Licinus silphoides, Carahiis niieiis, C. arvensts, 

 Achcnium depressiiin and Rhagium bifasciatiuu. Mr. Heasler, species 

 from Deal, including Syncalypta /lirsuta, Psainmodiiis sukicoUis, Corti- 

 caria Wollastoni\ Silpha opaca, Corymbetes pectinicornis, Tekphorus 

 lividus var. dispar. Mr. Milton, Prionus coriarius, Silpha littoralis, 

 Dorcus para/kkpipedus, and Shwodendro?i cyli?idrkum. 



Lepidopkra : — Messrs. Raine and Simes, some well-preserved larvae 

 of Nokdonta dictcea, JV. dromedarius, Cuspidia aceris, Plalypteryx 

 lacertula, Smerint/nis iiluv, and Metrocampa maigaritata. Dr. J, S. and 

 Mr. S. R. Sequeira, a number of insects from the New Forest, including 

 MelitiEa atlialia, Zygcrua trifolii, Z. melikti, a white-banded form of 

 Lobophora hexapkrata, Eukpia cribrum^ Boannia repandata var. conver- 

 sa?-ia, B. roboraria, Mania maura, Ckora iiche/iaria, Diphthera orion, a 

 very dark Eiibolia palu?nbaria ; also fine larvae oi Sphinx ligustri. Mr 

 Hanes, a series of Phorodesma smaragdaria from the Essex marshes 

 and stated that at the present time he had larvae of the same feeding in 

 his garden at Kentish Town. The following members exhibited species 

 of the genus Agro/is, to the discussion of which the evening was to be 

 more especially devoted : — Messrs. Battley, Clark, Gurney, Hanes, 

 Harper, Hodges, Hollis, Mera, Sequeira, Smith, and Tutt. 



Mr. Battley having first drawn the attention of the members to the 

 genus, Mr. Tutt gave a lengthy account of the superficial characters of 

 the imagines, the apparent sub-divisions into which the genus might be 

 divided, and the range of variation in the species, and made some 

 remarks on the distribution, etc., of individual species in the genus. 

 With regard to the superficial characters, he pointed out that there was 

 first of all those species with hyaline hind-wings, joined by A. segetuni 

 and A. lunigera to the triiici-cursoria group, and that at the end of the 

 genus were several species — agathina, ravida, porphyrea, pyrcphila, and 

 cafidelaru ni var. ashicorthii — which seemed to have scarcely any affin- 

 ities in common. The close connection of Agrotis saucia and A. sujfiisa 

 was referred to, and the connection of these species by means of A. 

 segetiini, etc., to the next group. With regard to the superficial characters 

 Mr. Tutt pointed out that sexual dimorphism was largely developed in 

 many members of the group, but that whilst the J 's'were generally pale 

 and the ? 's dark, pale ? 's and dark (^'s were by no means uncommon 

 This was exceptionally well illustrated by Agrotis puta and A. cinerea, 

 and almost equally so by A. lunigera, A. segeium, A. corticea, and 

 A. exclamatio7iis. The colour variation of A. ripce with reference to 

 environment was explained, and the difficulty of separating A. tri/ici, 

 A. cursoria, and A. obelisca tackled. In Air. Tutt's opinion these 

 formed three distinct species, but aquilina he considered purely and 



