SOCIETIES. 51 



At the same meeting, the Rev. T. B. Eddrupp exhibited melanic 

 Agrotis agathina from the West Riding of Yorkshire, whilst Mr. 

 Mansbridge also showed melanic specimens of the same species from 

 Delamere, for comparison with those exhibited by Mr. Eddrupp; they 

 were seen to be more smoky in ground colour than the West Riding 

 specimens, appearing quite dull beside them. 



At the Annual meeting of the Entomological Society of London, held 

 on January 23rd, the retiring president, Mr. F. Merrifield, delivered an 

 interesting address, in which he discussed some of the causes of the 

 persistent abundance or scarcity, generally or locally, of species and 

 varieties of insects, and the relative importance of the consumption 

 of their food and the attacks of their enemies. Reference was made 

 to striking characters that seemed of no biological importance, to 

 habits and activities not directly concerned with nutrition or repro- 

 duction, and the manner in which they are affected by external con- 

 ditions, and to structure and fixed habits indicating their ancestral 

 history, and affecting their present capabilities. 



Can any reader refer us to any record relating to the habits of the 

 young larvae of Melitaea athalia? Is there any evidence bearing out 

 the statement that they are gregarious when young, as noted by Mr. 

 South'? 



A most suggestive paper by Dr. T. A. Chapman, on " Progressive 

 Melanism," as exhibited in Hastida hyerana, is appearing in the Ent. 

 Mo. Mag. 



Mr. Luff, in the same magazine, makes a long series of additions to 

 the Hymenoptera-Aculeata occurring in Guernsey. Of these Di<><L>- 

 notus friesei* Kohl., Coelioseys afra, Lep., appear to be the most 

 interesting. Mr. E. Saunders points out the peculiar fact that whilst 

 Coelioosys afra is associated with Mc/jachile argentata in Guernsey, 

 ( 'oelioxys brevis is associated with it in Jersey. 



Mr. E. Saunders adds Halt tens brevieomis, Schrank, to the British 

 fauna, from specimens found between Southbourne and Hengistbury 

 Head, in July, 1906, and at Eastbourne, August, 1906. 



_The Hon. N. C. Rothschild describes Typhlopsylla isacantkus, a 

 flea new to the British fauna, from a ? taken on Hypudaeus 

 glareolv*, at Lyndhurst, in December, 1906. 



SOCIETIES. 



City of London Entomological Society. — January 1st, 1907. — 



PoCKKT BOX EXHIBITION. DwARF LEPIDOPTERA. — A bllOfl n;i 11 y Small spvei- 



mens, including Agrotis puta, A. saucia, Plusia gamma, /'. chrysitis, and 

 Mam extra brassicae, taken at sugar in September, 1906, which the 

 exhibitor attributed to the exceptionally dry and hot season, Rev. C. 

 R. N. Burrows. Poll* cm. — From moor near Whitby, in -August. 

 The species was abundant on the dark stone walls common in this 

 district, but no dark specimens were seen, Mr. S. J. Bell. Aoronygta 

 menyanthidis.— Very dark specimens from York. Mr II. M. Edlesten. 

 Brenthis selene. — From Ashdown Forest, including a J with 

 confluent marginal spots, and a $ much suffused with black spots, 

 Mr. T. H. L. Grosvenor. Polyom.m virs corydon, l\ bellargus, 1'. coarus 

 (alexis), and Plebeius .egon. — Long series arranged to demonstrate 

 parallel variation in these species, Dr. G. G. S. Hodgson. Thyatika 



