SOCIETIES. 291 



bands. The same gentleman also drew a comparison between Mr, 

 Merrifield's inferences, based on the so-called temperature experiments, 

 and some of Mr. Tutt's deductions as set forth in the Record. Mr. 

 Tutt stated that he considered that temperature, moisture, etc., only 

 affected the larval stage (although retardation might possibly affect 

 pupae in a slight degree), and that the results of Mr. Merrifield's latest 

 experiments were probably due to in-breeding. Mr. Machin exhibited 

 Duranura furcida, Lithocolletis insigfiitella, Incurvaria canariella, 

 CEcophora siipclla, and other Tineina. Mr. Hodges, Setina irrorella 

 var. signata, from the Isle of Wight, and two line vars. of Abraxas 

 grossulariata, the inner half of forewings being suffused with yellow. 

 Mr. Quail, cocoon of Saturnia carpini with two exits, cocoon of 

 Simyra venosa, etc. Mr. Battley, cocoons of Ciispidia acetis. Mr. 

 Boden, Phoxopteryx upupana, and Mixodia ratzeburghiana. Of 

 Coleoptera : — Mr. J. A. Clark exhibited a cabinet drawer of various 

 species ; Messrs. Cripps, EUiman, Heasler, Lewcock, Milton, and 

 Newbery collections of the genus Donacia, which comprised seventeen 

 species of that genus, the two unrepresented being obsciira and impressa. 

 Mr. Lewcock read a paper on the subject, and gave an account of the 

 nomenclature, the life-histories, variation (melanism), and the methods 

 of collecting the species, with lists of localities, etc. He referred to the 

 misapprehension respecting the identification of dentata and sparganii, 

 and the vague specific distinctions between sericea and discolor {coinari), 

 showing that the descriptions laid down in both Cox's Handbook of 

 Coleoptera., and Fowler's Coleoptera of the British Isles failed in their 

 purpose of identification. It was quite true that the extreme forms of 

 the insects were very dissimilar, but there also existed various con- 

 necting links between them. He likewise produced over loo 

 specimens of the insects in support of his statements. In some of the 

 specimens the anteimae were long, others of medium length, and the 

 remainder very short. One very dark specimen (from Esher) had 

 scarcely any tubercle at the sides of thorax, very short legs, and long 

 antennce. He commented on Mr. Newbery's exhibit which contained 

 typical specimens of sericea and discolor from Scotland, Middlesex, and 

 Surrey, with intermediate forms of the insects. In the discussion 

 which ensued, Mr. Tutt pointed out, that it was remarkable, that the 

 dark varieties of the species exhibited, were all uniformly small. Mr. 

 Newbery, while agreeing entirely with Mr. Lewcock's observations on 

 sericea and discolor., said that the misapprehension concerning the 

 identity of dentata and sparganii was to be attributed to the tabulation 

 in Cox's Handbook. Messrs. Cripps, Heasler, Milton, etc., also took 

 part in the discussion. 



January ist, 1891. — Mr. Tutt exhibited a box of Lepidoptera received 

 from Mr. W. Reid of Pitcaple, including a fine series of dark forms of 

 Agrotis pyrophila ; a very variable selection of Tripluena orbona, the 

 fore-wings of which varied from light drab, through red brown, to almost 

 black ; Melitcea arfeniis, several fine vars. ; a series of Melanippe 

 flucluata var. neapolisata ; Fidonia piniaria, and Abraxas grossulariata, 

 the males of which had a tendency to be very dark, while the females 

 were comparatively pale. Mr. J. A, Clark exhibited a very variable 

 series of Dianthcecia conspersa from Lewis. Mr. Heasler exhibited 

 Dromius meridianus., D. quadrimaculatus and D. quadrinotatns, all of 



