24 THE entomologist's record. 



In the discussion on Mr. Fenn's exliibit, Mr. Tugwell mentioned that 

 in his own experience he did not find that, as a rule, the brood followed 

 the particular form of the parent ? ; this was opposed by Messrs. South 

 and Fenn, whose experience pointed to a contrary conclusion. Mr. R. 

 South then referred to the recent exhibition by Mr. A. Robinson of a 

 remarkable variety ascribed to the species Closiera ciirtiila, and spoke 

 of an analogous variety of C. reclusa, recorded by Mr. Whittick in vol. 

 vii. of the Entomologist, and partly described. A figure is also given 

 by Stevens of a similar variety in vol. ii., but this in vol. iv. he con- 

 siders as a distinct species. The remainder of the evening was devoted 

 to a microscopical exhibition, but owing to the reason mentioned 

 above, only a few were in evidence; these belonged to Messrs. Adkin, 

 Billups, Dennis and Turner. — A. J. Hodges, 



April ^th, 1 89 1. — Mr. South exhibited three vars. oi Afiana strigilis, 

 one being of a distinct reddish colour; Mr. Adkin, Scotch specimens 

 of Pcedisca sordidana from Scotland, fed on alder ; Mr. Cockerell read 

 a note on Variation, and suggested that normal conditions would tend 

 to produce what we consider ordinary tendencies, but that abnormal 

 conditions would tend to develop some latent tendency, and hence there 

 would be a general tendency to vary under abnormal conditions. He 

 referred to Fieris rapcz in America, and a series of pale varieties of 

 Tceniocampa instabilis recently exhibited by Mr. Fenn. Mr. Fenn said 

 that a large proportion of his instabilis tended to follow the $ parent, 

 and he was more inclined to suppose the result due to heredity than 

 any condition of temperature. He also remarked how completely it over- 

 threw Mr. Merrifield's suggestion that exposure to great cold, just before 

 emergence, tended to produce dark coloration, as these were exposed to 

 very extreme cold. Mr. Tutt considered that Mr. Merrifield's varieties 

 were not produced by temperature, but were the result of heredity and 

 probably disease due to interbreeding. Mr. H. Moore exhibited two 

 specimens of Heterocera-Lep. — Caligo meninon — from S America. 

 Mr. Edwards then read a paper on " Papilionidas." The anatomical 

 structure was first of all pointed out by reference to diagrams, and the 

 different genera were then dealt with seriatim. Parnassius consisted of 

 species inhabiting mountains up to 15,000 feet. The ? 's of these when 

 freshly emerged had no chitinous pouch at extremity of abdomen, but 

 after copulation, if sufficiently prolonged, a pouch was found. The pupas 

 were enclosed in a slight web. Thais, a genus inhabiting the Medi- 

 terranean littoral also had the pupa enclosed by a few silken threads. 

 Plates showing the neuration of these were then exhibited. In the 

 genus Leptocircus reference was made to certain species mimicking the 

 neuropterous genus Libellula. In connection with the true Papilionidee, 

 the sexual dimorphism of Ornithoptera was pointed out, the $ 's being 

 larger, the (J's more brightly coloured. O. brookiana was referred to as 

 the connecting link between Ornithoptera and Papilio. The fleshy, 

 retractile scent-organ of the larvae of Papilio was then mentioned, and 

 the sub-division of Papilio by various authors. The mimicking power 

 of certain species of Papilio was noticed — Danais being one of the 

 genera mimicked. 'I'he powerful flight of some species, and the fact 

 that they had been seen at some distance from land was remarked. 

 The paper was illustrated by Mr. Edwards' very extensive collection 

 of this group. A vote of thanks to Mr. Edwards brought the meeting 

 to a close. — Ed. 



