SOtrKTIKS. 21 



like liead. The insect was unknown to the memhei-s present, the 

 general opinion being that it had been imported with the fruit ' (Ent. 

 Beeord, &c., vol. ii., p. 1G7). Further we read : — ' This specimen has 

 since been identified as the Prodenia littoralu of Boisduval, a species 

 hitherto unknown in Britain. He (Mr. Boden) stated tliat he had failed 

 til obtain any information as to the locality Avhence the tomato 

 came, liut expressed an opinion that, seeing- how extensively this plant 

 was now cultivated in England, it Avas quite possible that the insect 

 might l)ecome naturalised in this country' (/ c. p. 2G0). Staudinger 

 records it from 'Crete, Syria and the Canary Isles' (Catalog,' p. 104). 

 Colonel Swinhoe records it ' from Moulmein and Eangoon ' (Trans. Ent. 

 Soc. of London, 1890, p. 127). Butler writes: — ' Prodenia testafe aides 

 (Guenee, NoctneUes, vol. v., p. l()o) is a slight variety, and P. dedinata, 

 Walker (I.e. vol, xi., p. 723), is a starved specimen' {Transactions of the 

 Entoni. Societi/ of London, 1890, p. G66). I have not l)een able to test 

 this statement, but as Colonel Swinhoe in the Trans. Ent. Soc. of 

 London, 1890, p, 227, adopts Butler's synonymy, proliably it is correct, 

 Boisduval's original diagnosis of this species is as follows : — ' Alls anticis 

 fusco violascentibus, niaculis ordniariis nervo medio albido junctis, 

 strigis transversis pallidis, maculisque apicalibus sagittatis nigris ; 

 jjosticis albo-opalhiis ' [Fanna Madagas. , ctv., p. 91 (1834)]" (British 

 Noetiue and their Varieties, vol. iv., pp. 124-125). — Ed.]. 



South London Entomological Society. — December 22nd, 1892. 



Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher exliibited a long series of Liparis monacha, and 

 stated that in 1887 he obtained from Mr. Tate a batch of eo-o-s laid by 

 an ordinary (not in the least blackish) 2 , from the Xew Forest, and that 

 by selecting every year the darkest of lier descendants from which to 

 breed, he had at last oljtained a very dark race, and that there was no 

 doubt in another year or so perfectly Idaek specimens would be produced. 

 A selection of specimens bred each year was exhiluted. Those b]-ed in 

 1888 were on the Avhole quite as pale as ordinary captured New Forest 

 specimens. Those bred in 1889 from the darkest 1888 siiccimens were 

 distinctly dark Ijanded, those in 1890 from the darkest 1889 specimens 

 had the central area very dark, and the outer margin suffused, whilst 

 the 1891 and 1892 liroods were still darker; some of the latter beino- 

 nearly Ijlack. Mr. Fletcher stated that Messrs. Fenn, P>ower and Porritt 

 were the only lepidopterists Av^ho had had living specimens in any staoe 

 of this strain. He considered it necessary to bring forward the liistory 

 of this brood, on account of the discussion at present talcing place relative 

 to this species, Mr. Adkin considered that the foreigii specimens of 

 xax.eremita were l)rowner than British, but Mr. Tutt said that certainlv 

 the well-bred specimens figured in the Ent. Beeord, &c., in October 

 last, and now known to l)e of German origin, were (piite indistinguish- 

 able from the equally Avell-bred specimens exhibited by Mr. Fenn, and 

 coming directly from Mr. Fletcher's British stock. Mr. Fletcher 

 thought that the colour Avas quite independent of their origin, and that 

 by selection, Avhite or Ijuff lireeds might be estalilished as readily as 

 black, Mr. Dobson stated that he captured several specimens of a 

 dark-banded race in the Ncav Forest some years ago. Mr. Tutt 

 remembered the occasion, as Mr. l)ol)Son sent him some of the 

 specimens, and they Avere uoav in his collection. Mr. Barrett remarked 

 that " in-and-in " breeding Avas impossilde in some species (e.g., in the 

 allied Ocneria dispar) Avitliout the species running out, and becomino- 



