68 THE entomologist's record. 



young larva inside the stems of the grass. Mr, Robson, a var. of 

 Bombyx rubi with the lines forming the band confluent at the inner 

 margin, three vars. of Dianthcecia conspersa from Hartlepool ; also a 

 banded form of Melanthia bicolorata with the band extending right 

 across the wing. A banded form of Acidalia degeneraria, very similar 

 to Milliere's var., and other interesting species. Mr. Prout, a series 

 of Agrotis nigrica7is from the Isle of Wight. Mr. Quail, a drawer of 

 Hepialida to illustrate the paper. Mr. Bacot, a number of Hepialidce, 

 including a very light form of H. huniuli J . Mr. Clark and others 

 also exhibited the genus Hepialus. Coleoptera : — Mr. Heasler exhibited 

 Homalota splendens and Cleonus sulcirostris from Mitcham. Mr. 

 Lewcock, a long series of Silpha atrata, showing the pale forms from 

 Orkney, and the var. suhrotundata from Ireland. He pointed out that 

 in the latter var. the margin of the elytra was very broadly developed, 

 while in the Orkney specimens the margin was in all respects similar 

 to the type form. Mr. Lewcock also exhibited two pairs of Alesites 

 tardyi from Dublin. Referring to this species, he said that in the male 

 the antennae were inserted near the apex of the rostrum, while the 

 female had the antennae inserted nearer the base. The apex of the 

 rostrum also was thickened in the male, and the reverse in the female. 

 Messrs. Cripps, Burrows and Southey also exhibited Coleoptera. In 

 Odonata, Mr. Simes exhibited (on behalf of Mr. Wattson of Clapton) 

 a number of living larvae and pupae of LibellitlidcE, zEschnidcB and 

 AgrionidcE. Mr. Robson then read his paper (ante, p. 52). 



Mr. Tutt, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Robson, said that he 

 quite agreed with that gentleman in placing structure before wing 

 markings as a basis of classification ; he, however, dissented from Mr. 

 Robson's opinion that hiimuli showed the greatest sexual dimorphism 

 in the group, and pointed out that though the sexes in humidi differed 

 greatly in colour, the shape of the wings was similar in both sexes, 

 whilst in sylvinus and lupulinns, although there existed no great colour 

 difference, the shape of the wings of the two sexes differed very much. 

 Mr. Lewcock seconded the vote of thanks to Mr. Robson, and stated 

 that he had seen H. velleda commonly at Farnham, in the hop gardens. 

 Mr. Quail stated that he had taken H. sylvinus ? at sugar. Mr. Simes, 

 referring to Mr. Robson's opinion that the white colour of humiili was 

 not required in the Shetlands so much as in the South, because of a 

 longer daylight in these latitudes, asked how the advantage indicated 

 would accrue, if, as was to be expected, a dusk-flying species varied its 

 time of flight in proportion to the amount of light. Mr. Robson, in 

 reply, stated that in the Shetlands, where it never got really dark in the 

 summer, the species was essentially a day-flier : he added, further as his 

 experience, that injects flew at regular times, and not in accordance 

 with the amount of light. Messrs. Simes, Battley and others, were of 

 opinion that the flight depended on the amount of light — insects flying 

 earlier on dark evenings and later on light ones. The vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Robson was then carried unanimously. 



Fauna List. — The Council of the City of London Entomological 

 and Natural History Society have decided to compile a list of the fauna 

 of the London District. The departments of Birds, Lepidoptera, and 

 Coleoptera are already in hand, and notes will be welcomed from all 

 naturalists. Contributors are requested to observe the following 



