•SOCIETIES, 165 



blending into pale smolcy brown at the base ; also a long and varied 

 series of E. hyperanthus, from the New Forest and Dorking. The 

 specimens Irom the former locality were considerably darker and more 

 strongly marked than those from the chalk. Amongst the specimens 

 was a variety of the female with large lanceolate markings on the under 

 side, taken in the New Forest in July, 1890, and a female from Dorking 

 v/ith large, clearly defined white-pupilled spots on the upper side. 

 Mr. Frohawk further exhibited drawings of varieties of the pupae of E. 

 hyperant/ius, and also a large specimen of a variety of the temale of 

 Eiichloe cardamines, bred from ova obtained in South Cork, with the 

 hind wings of an ochreous-yellow colour. Coloured drawings illus- 

 trating the life-history of the specimen in all its stages were also 

 exhibited, Mons, Serge Alpheraky communicated a paper entitled 

 ■" On some cases of Dimorphism and Polymorphism among Pal^earctic 

 Lepidoptera." — H. Goss, Hofi, Se-c. 



South London Entomological Society. — Thursday, Ani^ust \-^tk^ 

 i8gi. — Mr, Jenner Weir exhibited the different stages of Psyche 

 villosella^ illustrating the life history, with notes. He stated that the 

 male only, left the pupa skin projecting from the case from which it 

 emerged in June and July, The female was never observed to leave 

 the case, but was fertilised by the exceedingly extensile abdomen of the 

 male, and deposited its eggs also within the case. These eggs, he 

 observed, hatched in 10 or 12 days, and, most probably the first meal 

 of the young larvae consisted of the remains of their parent. These 

 larvae were very active, and at once commenced to cover themselves 

 with a case. They preferred strawberry, sloe, whitethorn, bramble, etc., 

 for food, rather than the less succulent heath. The females were 

 absolutely without eyes or appendages of any kind, and their only 

 movement seemed to be a feeble annular constriction. The inside of 

 the cases were made of fine silk, the pieces oi debris being placed on as 

 the cases were made, but the young larvae seemed to leave the central 

 portions of their cases free from pieces. He suggested that the larvae 

 reversed themselves before changing to pupae, and stated that the legs 

 on the anal segment were the most developed, no doubt for holding on 

 to the case, from which the young larvae protrude themselves very con- 

 siderably when feeding. He had failed to obtain specimens by 

 assembling. The larvae fed always in the very hottest sunshine. Mr. 

 Fenn exhibited an exceedingly datk Odonestis potatoria from Deal. 

 Mr. Carpenter, Epiiiephele hyperanthiis from Horsley, with the large 

 wings characteristic of the New Poorest specimens ; also MelitiEu athalia 

 bred from Essex, in which the contrast between the dark and light 

 markings was very noticeable. Mr. West, of Streathain, a series of 

 Apainea opfiiogramma taken in his own garden, and also a bred series 

 of Cucullia asieris. F was the general ex[)erience of the members that 

 the latter species was not usually captured at flowers. Mr. C, H. Watson 

 bred Ocneria aiipar, and stated that he had frequently endeavoured to 

 naturalize this species, but had always failed. None of the members 

 present were aware of any recent captures. He also exhibited A. ophio- 

 gramma from Streatham. Mr. C. A. Briggs, Heliothis peltigeni, several 

 of which were notably a very pale variety. Mr. H. Williams, herma- 

 phrodite Pier.s rapcT from Box Hill. Mr. Frohawk, bleached Epifiephek 

 ^auira, in tine condition ; Mr. Carrington remarked that he had taken 



