20 



THE ENTOMOLOGISTS RECORD. 



beginning of June to August gth, and with Mr. Atmore to August 26th 

 and September 6th ; whilst I have had full-fed larvae from September 

 4th, none of which, however, produced moths the same year. It will 

 be worth while looking for early larvae when occasion offers. — \Vm, 

 Farren, Cambridge. December 27//;, 1891. 



Urtication. — With regard to the mQ;}iuy {Ent. Rec, ii., p. 296) about 

 "urtication" caused by larvae and cocoons, I have been affected by 

 those of Bo7nbyx calhmce. They do not affect my hands, but if, after 

 handling either the larvae or cocoons, I rub my face or neck, a very 

 disagreeable stinging sensation is produced, and rubbing only makes 

 matters worse. I have known the hands of ladies and children to 

 become much swollen after carrying larvae of the same species. The 

 last time 1 was affected was in the dead of winter when sorting pupae, 

 and I certainly was not perspiring at the time. — A. D. Connon, Wood- 

 end Brace, Aberdeen, N.B. [The only species that has ever affected 

 me in this way is Liparis chrysorrhcea, but it is too long ago to give 

 anything like the exact information that Mr. Freer requires. At the 

 time handling the larv^ie under any conditions used to produce large 

 blisters over my arms, face, and neck ; and only going into the room 

 where the larvce or pupae were kept was sufficient to ensure my face 

 swelling to such an extent that I was hardly able to see. A good dip 

 in cold water and a turn in the open air soon put matters straight. 1 

 was rather astonished to find symptoms of urtication develop in my son, 

 a boy about ten, when handling larv?e of L. salicis. This species never 

 has the slightest effect on me. — Ed.] 



fgOCIETIES. 



City of London Entomological and Natural History 

 Society. — Thiwsday, December i^th, 1891. — The Annual Pocket Box 

 Exhibition, held at the Society's new roomS; 33, Finsbury Square, 

 E. C, attracted a large number of members and friends. It is impos- 

 sible to give a detailed account of all the exhibits, but some of the 

 most noticeable were the following : — Mr. Allbuary, a perfect albino 

 specimen of Epinephe/e janira, taken at Dover in 1889, and line bred 

 varieties of Arctia caia and A. villica. Mr. Cooper, black forms of 

 Boarmia repandaia from Sheffield, and banded specimens (var. con- 

 versaria) from the New Forest. Mr. Machin, Scotch forms of 

 Gortyna flavago^ with southern specimens for comparison, the former 

 being much darker ; also Etipithecia helveiicaria, Crawbiis fiiyelhis, 

 Coccyx ustomacidatia and CEcopliord stipella. Mr. Sampson, series of 

 Pseudoterpna cytisa?-ia and CalUgenia viiniata, and long and varied 

 series of Hybernia defoliaria and Triphmna fimb?-ia. Mr. Huckett, 

 series of Argynn's aglata, A. paphia and var. vaiesi/ia, and Linienitis 

 sibyl/a from the New Forest. Dr. Buckell, a long series of Triphcena 

 pronuba from the London district, showing much variation, the most 

 noticeable forms being those with dark anterior wings and light stig- 

 mata. Mr. Quail, life histories of many Geometrae, including Scotosia 

 certata, Hemerophila abruplaria and Phorodesma smaragdaria. Mr. 

 Gates, living larvae of Melanippe montatiata and cocoons of Dicrafiura 

 vinula. Mr. Battley, a number of microscopic slides illustrating the 

 "anatomy and structure of various insects : also, on behalf of Mr. J. 



