292 THE entomologist's record. 



which he had taken during the Christmas hoUdays, also for comparison 

 several other species of the same genus — G. A. Lewcock and A. U. 

 Battley, Hoji. Sees. 



South London Entomological Society. — December nth, 1890. — 

 Mr. South exhibited Lyccena agestis vars. sahnacis, artaxerxes and allous. 

 Mr. Adkin, a remarkably pale series of Perotiea hastiana from the Isle 

 of Man (these were very like some of the forms which may be obtained 

 at Deal, but very unlike those from St. Anne's-on-Sea). He also 

 exhibited Hepialus sylvmus, and drew attention to the fact, that in 

 copulation, the ? holds to a twig by the fore legs, but the $ hangs 

 free, and in this position they bear some resemblance to a dead leaf. 

 Mr. Tugwell exhibited Eupithecia satyrata, with its vars. curzoni and 

 callunaria ; also a melanic form of Eupithecia referred to satyrata, 

 irisig?iata, and virgaun-ata by different lepidopterists. Mr. Tutt 

 remarked that it was next to impossible to name an isolated specimen 

 of an extreme melanic variety with any certainty. Mr. Short exhibited 

 the pale Portland forn of Epnnda lic/ie/iea ; Mr. Farrant, a specimen of 

 CJirysopIianus phlicas v^x. schmidtii. Mr. A. J. Hodges exhibited cells 

 of the mason wasp {Felopcens) from Texas, whilst Mr. Billups made a 

 most interesting exhibit of various Ichneianoiiidce. 



January Zth, 1891. — Mr. Tugwell exhibited series oi Miana sirigilis 

 and M. fasciuticula and pointed out superficial differences which 

 appeared to him fairly constant ; he called attention also to the 

 published descriptions of the larvae by Newman and Buckler. Mr. 

 Fenn pointed out that the descriptions of larvge in Newman's book 

 were very unreliable, also, that larvte varied so much at different ages, 

 that descriptions taken from solitary larvae were of but little value. 

 Mr. Barrett, although expressing his opinion that sirigilis and 

 fasciuncula were distinct, so far as he knew the species, yet agreed with 

 Mr. Fenn's remarks about the unreliability of the published descriptions 

 of the larvs. Mr. Tutt stated that the previous speakers had proved 

 that most of the published facts relating to these species were of an 

 entirely superficial or unsatisfactory character, that if his observations 

 {ante, pp. 242, 243) directed further attention to the species he would 

 be quite satisfied, but that it was ridiculous to state that he must be 

 wrong, in the present unsatisfactory condition of our knowledge. Mr. 

 Adkin exhibited bred species of Boarmia gemmaria and B. rtpandata, 

 also Refinia buoliana and R. pinicolana from various localities. Mr. 

 Tutt exhibited, for Mr. Reid of Pitcaple, a long series of fine varieties 

 (including some very dark forms) of Agrotis pyropJiila ; varieties of 

 Triphccna orlwfia ranging from very pale grey to almost black, the 

 banded forms being specially admired, and vars. oi Abraxas grossulariata. 

 This species, Mr. Tutt remarked, was comparatively rare in Aberdeen- 

 shire and those in the immediate vicinity of Pitcaple (introduced by 

 Mr. Reid) had apparently developed sexual dimorphism, the $ 's 

 gradually becoming darker, and the ? 's paler, than the introduced 

 specimens. A long series of beautiful specimens of Melanippe fiuctuata 

 var. neapolisata with other very extreme forms, and a series of small 

 Fidonia piniaria,c\\\(t'^y females, completed a very interesting exhibit, 

 Mr. Manger exhibited a box of Australian Coleoptera, some of which 

 Mr. Billups remarked appeared to be common to Britam and Australia. 

 —Ed. 



