SOCIETIES. 39 



including most of the named varieties. Mr. Battley, life history of 

 Abraxas ulmata. Messrs. Quail and Simes, a number of life histories, 

 mounted on the natural foodplants. Mr. Southey, a well marked 

 specimen of Smerinthus popidi, bred from a dug pupa, having a dirty 

 white right hind wing, somewhat similar to the xanthic varieties of 

 Epinephele janira ; also a number of preserved larvae, the hairy species 

 being especially well done. Mr. Goymour, Polia flavicinda from 

 Enfield. Mr. Smith, Xylina petrificata from Blandford, Dorset, also 

 Scopelosoma satellitia, Hybernia aurantiaria, etc. Mr. Fox, a number 

 of preserved larvce. Mr. Riches, a variable series of Agrotis excla?na- 

 tionis from Highgate Wood. Mr. Milton, Aporia cratcegi, taken at 

 Malvern in 1S76, and Plusia orichalcea from Cambridge; also in 

 Coleoptera, Calathus inicrofiteriis, Leiodes glabra, L. castanea, and 

 Colyjnbetes exoktus ; and in Diptera, Eristalis sepulchralis, Theriopledes 

 micans and Xylota sylvariim. Mr. Newbery, specimens of Ilybius 

 fenestratus. Mr. Heasler, Choleva spadicea, from Highgate Woods. 

 He said that this was rather a scarce species, and he had found it very 

 local in Highgate Woods. 



Mr. Quail then read his paper on " Preserving larvae." He stated 

 that the easiest time to preserve larvae was immediately after the last 

 moult. He killed them in the cyanide bottle, leaving the hairy larvae 

 there for twenty-four hours. The contents of the body were then ex- 

 tracted by pushing a needle into the anal orifice, and afterwards rolling 

 the larva with a pencil on a pad of blotting paper, taking care not to 

 press too hard, or the colour would be removed. The blowing 

 apparatus consisted of one of the double bellows used with scent 

 diffusers, and a short piece of glass tube drawn to a point, and fitted 

 with a piece of watch spring to hold the larva on the tube. For drying 

 the distended skin he had used an ordinary gas burner with a metal 

 top. Occasionally, the larva adhered to the tube, and it then had to 

 be disengaged with a slightly moistened needle. He then described 

 the difficulties peculiar to certain species. The green colour of Papilio 

 machaon and Saturnia carpini was easy to preserve, but most of the 

 green species faded, and he had stuffed Smermihus ocdiatus with silk 

 to restore the colour. Among hairy species, Ardia caja and Orgyia 

 pudibunda were fairly easy, if care were taken not to singe the hairs. 

 O. antiqud, Spilosoma lubricipeda and Liparis auriflua, howe\'er, were 

 difficult, as the hairs easily came out. Eriogaster latiesiris exuded a 

 kind of grease towards the end of the drying process, which gave the 

 skin a shiny appearance. The legs of Staiiropus fagi were apt to 

 scorch ; and he had to squeeze out the contents of the body of 

 Phorodesiua smaragdaria, as rolling would spoil the covering of leaves 

 made by this larva. With pupae, he had found the best way was to 

 let the imago form, and then slice the back of the pupa off, and 

 remove the contents. The golden spots on the pupae of the Vanessidcs 

 were preserved by this process. The plants, on which the larvte were 

 to be mounted, were covered with silver sand, and kept in a dry place 

 for a few weeks. 



Mr. Battley said that he had found that the contents of the body 

 were better extracted by pressing with the finger, as the pressure could 

 be regulated more easily, also that hairy larvae such as Spilosoma 

 tnendica might be blown without rolling, if they died naturally, and 



