SOCIETIES. 247 



South London Entomological Society. — Septeviher 22?id, 1892. — 

 Mr. Fenn exhibited a series of Or\;yia aiitiqua, rather above the ordinary 

 size ; ^[r. McAithur, a series of Hepialiis huunili from the Shetlands, 

 and stated that whilst the now weli-known dark males from those 

 islands affected the marshy districts, those taken on the cliffs were 

 white. He also exhibited Sesia scolurfonnis, with the pupa case, the 

 puparium in sitii, and ichneumons bred from the species. Also 

 Agroiis hyperborea, with empty pupa case and preserved larvae mounted 

 on the foodplant. Mr. Frohawk exhibited a bred series of Vanessa 

 atalanfa, and referred to the statement that was frequently made that 

 the small white spot in the red band was indicative of the female. He 

 exhibited six females with, and six females without, this white spot, but 

 said that only one male had the spot present, and this was peculiar 

 in having other superficial female characters. Mr. Tutt stated that 

 he had found the males invariably without the spot, but the females 

 both with and without, and that therefore those specimens with the 

 spot were almost certain to be females, but those without were both 

 males and females. Mr. Carpenter exhibited a bred series of the same 

 species, showing the same main points, but he also had one male with 

 the white spot. Mr. Barren exhibited several each of Colias ediisa and 

 C. hyale, taken on the same day at Blean. Mr. Fenn said he had seen 

 Vanessa urticce, ifi copula, and asked whether it was probable the female 

 would lay her eggs this autumn, and so produce a late brood. Mr. 

 Carrington did not believe the Vanesscs were double-brooded. Mr. 

 Tutt stated that it was his opinion that most of the Vanessc^ occasion- 

 ally copulated in the autumn, and in such cases he considered the 

 female would lay her eggs at once, and that an attempt at a partial 

 second brood would thus be made, which would be a success or 

 failure, dependent on the condition of the weather during late autumn. 

 He further stated that it was generally accepted that when butterflies 

 emerged in the summer those that meant to hybernate would go into 

 hybernation at once, however early, and would copulate the fjllowing 

 spring, but that a butterfly having copulated would not go into 

 hybernation. He stated that autumnal copulations of V. ur/i'ae were 

 very frequent, those of V. polycJiloros less so. Mr, Cooper supported 

 this view, and stated that he had, a day or two previously, taken newly 

 hatched larv^ of V. urticce. Mr. Adkin considered that the ova 

 hatched a few at the time, and the existence of a brood might thus be 

 spread over a long period. Mr. Frohawk pointed out that this would 

 be practically impossible in the gregarious species of Vanessce which 

 clear the food as they go, and that the late hatched ones would starve. 

 Mr. Hawes exhibited larvcX of Colias edusa — the ova laid 15th to 17th 

 August, hatched the 22nd to 28th. As the larvce were almost full- 

 fed, these were certainly about to produce a second brood, as was the 

 case in 1877. Mr. Tugwell exhibited Granunesia irigraminica^ 

 including specimens of vars. evidens, setnifuscans, obscura and pallida- 

 linea, but apparently no specimens of the var. bilinea of Hiibner; i.Iso 

 a pale variety of Cymatophora or, and nice specimens of Bisukia 

 ligustri and Hadena genista. Mr. Frohawk saw Euchloe cardainincs in 

 Surrey on August [8th and August 20th; whilst Mr. Warne took two 

 very fresh Argynnis selcne late in August. Mr Adkin exhibited a series 

 each of Oxyptilus pilosellcc and disfans, captured at Folkestone; and, for 



