118 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



proposed Rifle Range in the New Forest, held at Lyndhurst by the 

 Hon. r. W. H. Pelham, on the 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd inst., and 

 that they had given evidence at such inquiry, and addressed a large 

 meeting of ^Var Office officials, Verderers and Commoners. — H. Goss 

 and ^V. W. Fowler, Hoii. Sees. 



City of London Entomological and Natural History Society. 

 — Thursday, April "jth, 1892. — Exhibits: Lepidoptera — Mr. Gates, a 

 living specimen of Hadeua pisi. Mr. Southey, a long and variable 

 series of Hyhernia defoiiaria. Mr. Bacot, a series of Hybernia pro- 

 get?imaria, including var. fiiscata, also an asymmetrical form of Arctia 

 caia. Mr. Clark, Brephos partlienias and Aniphidasys p7'odromaria 

 from Epping Forest. Mr. Battley, ova, young larvjE and cocoon of 

 Leucoina salicis. Mr. Simes, a life-history of L. salicis and a variable 

 series of Hybernia leucophctaria. Mr. Smith, a series of Seknia 

 bilunaria, showing considerable difference between the spring and 

 summer forms. Mr. Gurney, a series of Lithosia quadra from the 

 New Forest. Dr. Sequeira, a case of Rhopalocera from Central Africa. 

 He remarked that several of these specimens much resembled British 

 species, one in particular being almost identical in markings with 

 Poly 01)1 niatiis phlceas, but having tails to the hind wings. Mr. Milton, 

 Asthena blomeri from Clevedon. The exhibits in Coleoptera were as 

 follows : — Sina longicollis and Grammoptera riificornis by Mr. Milton. 

 Mr. Heasler exhibited Chilocorus siinilis, Byihinus curiisi and Agathi- 

 diu7?i varians. 



Mr. Battley then read his paper on the " Life-history of Leucoma 

 salicis,'" stating that the ova were deposited from the 12th to the 15th 

 of July, 1890, in large clusters, and enveloped in a tough substance, 

 havmg the appearance of froth. They were globular in shape, and at 

 first bright green in colour, changing to lead colour before hatching, 

 which took place on 27th July. The young larvae, leaden black in 

 colour, with a rusty tinge on the back, fed in a state of nature on 

 various species of poplar {Populus fastigiata, nigra, balsamifera and 

 tremula) and willow {Salix alba and fragilis). They began to stop 

 feeding at the beginning of August, and having cast one skin, retired 

 for liybernation at the end of the month. They then formed whitish 

 cocoons, of a firm but transparent texture, under the bark of their 

 foodijlants. At the end of April, 1891, they began to feed again, and 

 soon cast their second skin, the third and fourth being shed about 

 20th May and 8th June. They now assumed their full-fed markings, 

 the colours, however, being not quite so bright. About 19th June 

 they cast their skin for the fifth and last time, and were full-fed by 

 the end of June. Newman says that it "spins a web on the trunks 

 of the poplar, or on the ground," but Mr. Battley stated that he had 

 always found them spin up among the living leaves.^ The pupa is 

 black, thickly covered with yellow hairs. The imagines emerge from 

 the middle to the end of July, and are very common in most parts of 

 the Lea valley in the neighbourhood of their foodplants, the males 

 coming to gas lamps about midnight. 



In the discussion that followed, Mr. Mera stated that the time of 

 flight was about midnight, but he had occasionally seen it on the 



^ The larva alwa)'S spins up in this way at Deal, where the moth is 

 abundant. — Ed. 



