NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 285 



of Plusia moneta to the British fauna, and the capture of Caradrina 

 ambi^ua and Leucania vitellijia are the events of the season, whilst the 

 re-occurrence of the splendid form of Hydrcecia var. lucens, of the more 

 than usual abundance oi Apainea ophiogranima, the capture oi Nonagria 

 conco/or, Leucania bnviliuea, the fine vars. of Aporophyla luiulenta (?), 

 and the abundance of Triphcena subsajiia in the Forres district, are 

 worth perhaps a passing notice. The breeding of Eupithecia exlensaria, 

 Cidaria reticulata, and Phorodesnia smaragdaria in some numbers are 

 the only facts that appear worth noticing among the GeometRjE. The 

 capture of Crambus myellus in Scotland, a few specimens of the true 

 Crambus contaminellus and Melia a7ielhi at Deal, and C. paludcllus 

 among the Crambid^, and the determination of the new (probably 

 imported) Aphytoceros vagans among the Pyralid^e are perhaps the 

 only facts worth recording. Among the Tortrices many species that 

 used to be rare are now obtained regularly, — Tortrix piceana, T. 

 lafauryana, T. decretana, Phoxopteryx upupaiia, Eupcscilia matiniana, 

 etc. Among the Pterophorina, the abnormal abundance of Aciptilia 

 spilodactyla, and the re-occurrence in some plenty of Plaiyptilia 

 isodactylus are the only foots worth recording. The Tineina appear to 

 have been as well worked as usual, but there is very little of the work 

 done recorded, except by Dr. Wood and Mr. Nelson M. Richardson ; 

 and although it may be assumed that the hands of Messrs. Threlfall, 

 W. H. B. Fletcher, Eustace Bankes and Bird have not lost their 

 cunning, the record of their work is sought for in vain. 



We may turn from collecting to Societies. Probably at no time 

 during the last half century, has Entomology had so many adherents. 

 The position of the Entomological Society of London is more than 

 assured, and its long roll of members includes almost all the leading 

 entomologists in the kingdom. It surely should include all, and no 

 entomologist should begrudge supporting this Society, which represents 

 as it were, our highest aims and ambitions as scientists. Besides, a 

 member gets more than his money's worth in the Reports of the Society, 

 which no entomologist now can really do without. Of the other 

 London Societies, the City of London Society, which as the Haggerston 

 Society, collected together for many years the adherents of our study 

 from the East-end of the metropolis, has, in a more central position, 

 enlarged its sphere of usefulness, and during the last two years its roll 

 of members has steadily increased, and is still increasing ; and since 

 the system of reading papers at almost every meeting was adopted a 

 few months ago, a steady increase in the number of members has 

 resulted. This method of reading papers will continue, and I am at 

 liberty to say that sufficient papers have been promised to fill every 

 meeting until the winter session is ended. The South London Society, 

 which has undergone certain chronic fits of elevation and depression 

 since its commencement, reached its zenith about two years ago and 

 for some time enjoyed great popularity. Perhaps this has not been 

 altogether maintained, although the ordinary meetings are now more 

 than successful. The failure of the Council to publish the Annual 

 Reports and their inability to print the scientific papers read at the 

 meetings, have been probably two elements in the partial failure lo 

 keep the high position attained. The former, if brought out to date, 

 would be a strong connecting link with the country and outlyin^ 



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