SOCIETIES. 191 



Homceosoma bincevella and Myelophila cribrum, both from thistle ; and 

 made remarks on the protective resemblance of the latter species 

 to the glumes, etc., on the flowering stems of a certain grass, which 

 grew in amongst the thistles. Mr. Mera exhibited a very nice series of 

 Bisulcia ligustri^ and a var. of Argytinis euphrosyne with the central 

 area of the wings banded, taken at Chattenden last June. Mr. Barker 

 exhibited Boarmia repandata var. conversaria, vars. of Hypsipetes 

 elutata and the dark banded form of Caiiiptogramma bilitieata. Mr. 

 Jager exhibited the specimens of Callinwrpha hera recorded in last 

 month's number, and a large box of Manx captures, and read a note 

 on his work in the Isle of Man^ a full account of which is given in the 

 " Notes of the Season " for the month. Mr. Wellman, comparative 

 series of Hyponoineuta padellus, H. cognatellus and H. evotiymellus. 

 Mr. Fenn, Scotch forms of Cidaria inwiaiiaia, extreme forms of Agrotis 

 airsoria, and a specimen of Ephestia ficulella captured in the rooni 

 where the meeting w-as held. The most interesting exhibit of the 

 evening was that of Mr. Bright (Bournemouth). His box contained 

 a fine lot of local varieties, including the dark form of Limenitis 

 Sibylla (New Forest) ; two specimens of Urapteryx savibucata (Wolver- 

 hampton) showing extreme variation in the direction of lines on 

 superior wings; vars. of Arctia caia\ Vanessa urticcp., reported as 

 captured by Mr. Mountford at Polegate, showing apparent reversion 

 to an American species, Argyntiis paphia vars. with pale areas, from the 

 New Forest A. adippe var. cleodoxa from Sussex ; splendidly suffused 

 vars. of Venusia cambricaria from Sheffield ; a fine var. of Boarmia 

 roboraria (New Forest) ; a magnificent series of the dark and red vars. 

 of Ta^niocampa gracilis from the New Forest, and a series of the heath 

 form of CEnectra pilleriana (Bournemouth), which is strikingly different 

 from those obtamed by Mr. Eustace Bankes and other collectors 

 in Dorsetshire ; other varieties included aberrant specimens of 

 Syrichthus alveolus (New Forest), Boarmia repandata (English and 

 Scotch forms), B. abietaria, Tephrosia biundi/laria, Larentia aesiala 

 (Rannoch), Coremia propugnata, Fidonia atomaria, etc. Mr. Carrington 

 made some remarks on the capture of C. hera ; Mr. Fenn pointed out 

 that this species was first captured in England by Mr. D'Orville ; Mr. 

 Tutt stated that specimens had been cajitured this year by Mr. Hollis, 

 and that there was no doubt about the authenticity of these captures ; 

 Mr. C. G. Barrett quite agreed that there was no doubt thrown on the 

 authenticity of these specimens, but the doubt arose some time ago as 

 to its probable introduction ; Mr. Tutt pointed out that the locality 

 where these were taken, was very near the geographical limit of the 

 species, but that the climatic conditions in Devon would be favourable, 

 an opinion with which Mr. Jenner Weir acquiesced. Mr. Cockerell gave 

 a most interesting account of the phenomenon of "alternation of 

 generations," as observed in certain gall-flies and its bearing on 

 parthenogenesis. Mr. Carrington wished to correct an error {Record, 

 p. 165); he did not find larvce of A. lathonia, hut made an almost 

 unsuccesful search for ova. Messrs. Bright, Carrington, C. G. Barrett 

 and J. Jenner \Veir joined in a discussion on the food of Lyctena agon 

 in which was a good deal of speculation and but very little fact. The 

 meeting was brought to a close by Mr. Jenner Weir reading some 

 notes from New Zealand and Australia. 



