SOCIETIES. 93 



dozen of earnest students of this group who would not deny — in book 

 form — the results of long and careful research to their less experienced 

 brethren, and there must be as many, or more, gentlemen willing — I 

 believe anxious — to support the publication of such a work by qualified 

 hands. Why should it not be a standard work ? Through the careful 

 co-operation of micro-lepidopterists much might be achieved ; unity is 

 strength, and accurate notes of individual species from past, present, 

 and future working might be sent in monthly to a committee competent 

 to arrange and select everything that would be permanently useful. 

 This might be carried on for a couple of years without unduly rushing 

 into print, or incurring any expense, meanwhile it could be ascertained, 

 by means of the entomological journals, if a satisfactory number of 

 subscribers could be obtained. It is within the power of the beginner 

 to supply facts which the collector of half a century may have over- 

 looked. In this way, a vast mass of information might be collected and 

 sifted, and a book given to entomologists of tlie utmost value. General 

 co-operation, guided and kept in hand by a committee, would obviate 

 friction, and everyone might hope to contribute data for the good of all, 

 and perhaps obliterate to a certain extent that tendency to secrecy, 

 which may be regarded as the typical failing of the British 

 entomologist. 



These crude remarks merely skim over an important subject, but 

 they may serve to bring it to the front, and I shall be glad if they elicit 

 the opinions of experienced collectors. Such a book as I advocate, 

 compiled and published by the activity of many, would surely be of 

 more value, and more easily carried into effect than any individual 

 effort, however praiseworthy. — R. E. Salwey, Folkestone. May, 1891. 



[I should be pleased to have practical suggestions from those, and 

 only those, willing to help. Something definite might then be arranged. 

 I think I could devise a satisfactory method of collecting, collating 

 and arranging the information obtained. — Ed.] 



fgOCIETIES. 



Entomological Society of London.— y?^«e T^rd, 1891. — Mr. E. 

 B. Poulton exhibited living larvae of Endromis versicolor, and com- 

 mented on their habits. Mr. W. F. H. Blandford called attention to 

 the fact that the larvge of Liparis vwnacha remained in small groups on 

 the bark of the tree for about a week after emerging from the eggs, 

 and that this fact was taken advantage of by the German foresters to 

 destroy them. Also that he had himself verified the statement that 

 uric acid can be detected in the malpighian tubes of insects. Mr. 

 M'Lachlan agreed that the demonstration that the malpighian tubes 

 were of the nature of renal organs was now satisfactory. Mr. C. J. 

 Gahan exhibited two species of Coleoptera that he considered to 

 possess a mimetic resemblance. Mr. Tutt exhibited a hybrid between 

 Amphidasys prodromaria and A. betularla, obtained by Dr. Chapman. 

 Mr. Stainton commented on the fact that the two insects appeared 

 at different times ; and Mr. Tutt stated that the A. betulnria had 

 been subjected to forcing, so as to cause it to emerge at the same 

 time as A. prodromaria. Mr. Tutt also exhibited forms of Caradritia, 



