CURRENT NOTES. 219 



proportionately longer in the summer form than in the specimens of 

 the spring brood. This case of variability, he observes, is of 

 importance for the systematist as well as the evolutionist. It disposes 

 of the opinion still held by many systematists that a form with some 

 distinction in the organs of copulation is a species, and it demonstrates 

 at the same time that a species can be split up by natural causes into 

 forms which differ morphologically like species, in organs of such 

 importance for the preservation of the species as are the organs of 

 copulation. This view is important, but facts are wanting to 

 demonstrate the point satisfactorily. Edwards has suggested [Trans. 

 Zool. Soc. London, xiv., p. 160, pi. xxiii., figs. 27-27«) malvoides, 

 as a species distinct from Si/richtJnift rnalvae on this ground, and it 

 would be interesting to know how many specimens examined 

 exhibited these genitalic characters, how far when put together, they 

 agreed with and differed from ordinary S. nialvae from the same districts 

 in general form, wing-markings, and other characters. Then there is 

 the work done by Grote and Smith. We have a reference to this in 

 British Noctuae and their Varieties, iv., pp. xvi-xvii, re Graphiphora 

 aiujur and G. harnspica, and Grote's detailed discussion of the subject 

 relating to Noctuids, Hesperiids, &c., in the same work, pp. xvii- 

 xviii. It is, indeed, quite time that a summary of work done in this 

 direction was published. There are many interesting facts in Giard's 

 " La Poecilogonie " {Bull. Scientif. de France et Belgique, xxxix., pp. 

 153 et seq.) that we received from the author only today (July ith), 

 bearing on the same and similar points. 



A meeting of the Entomological Club was held on June 27th, at 

 " Stanhope," The Crescent, Croydon, when Mr. T. W. Hall was the 

 host. A large number of members and friends were received by Mr. 

 and Mrs. Hall, and, after tea had been served, the beautiful evening 

 was spent on the lawn in informal discussion of matters entomological 

 and otherwise. An excellent supper was served at 8.30 p.m., when 

 the following among others sat down — Messrs. R. Adkin, A. J. Chitty, 

 J. E. Collin, W. Distant, H. St. J. K. Donisthorpe, S. EdAvards, A. 

 Harrison, W. J. Kaye, H. Main, A. Sich, E. Smith, R. South, E. 

 Step, H. J. Turner, J. W, Tutt, G. H. Verrall. Some time was then 

 spent very pleasantly gossiping, until the southeast contingent had to 

 leave about 10.30 p.m. for London Bridge, the west-end party staying 

 some time longer before thej'^ started on their return journey. Mr. 

 and Mrs. Hall are to be congratulated on providing such a pleasant 

 evening for their entomological friends. 



There was a large and brilliant assemblage in the Sheldonian 

 theatre, at Oxford, on Thursday morning, June 29th, and among 

 the many present the Entomological Society of London was well 

 represented to witness the ceremony, and to applaud Engineer 

 Commander .]. J. Walker, R.N., one of the secretaries, upom Avhom 

 the Convocation was to confer the honorary degree of Master of 

 Arts, in recognition of his services to entomological science. The 

 gallant Commander was introduced in a brief Latin speech commem- 

 orating his achievements in naval science, and in the peaceful 

 fields of entomology, especial stress being laid upon the work done by 

 him in the order of coleoptera. Among those who had come to 

 congratulate the recipient of an honour, which should be especially 

 gratifying to all lovers of entomology, we noticed Professor E. B. 



