02 THE entomologist's record. 



knoAvn no-\\^ to everylwdy, and further experiment and ol)servation 

 would have to be rather in the direction of physiological facts and 

 principles. The vote of thanks was seconded by Mr. C. G. Barrett, 

 who, among other remarks, referred to the general distribution, at the 

 present time, of the dark variety of Phnjalia pilomria in southern 

 localities, especially in the neighbourhood of London. — En. 



Fehruari/ 2drd, 1893. — Mr. S. Edwards exhibited a box of exotic 

 lepidoptera (butterflies) illustrative of mimicry from widely different 

 localities. Mr. South, series of Cerostoma radiateUa, Don. and C 

 costeUa, Fab., and remarked on the number of varieties of radiateUa. 

 Mr. Auld, a box of Coleoptera collected near the Cape of Good Hope. 

 Mr. Barrett, drew attention to a method of transferring the scales of 

 the wings of k'pidoptera to paper, as exemplified by a sample from 

 Herr. Aug. Hoffmann ; and Mr. Tugwell noticed that the scales were 

 necessarily reversed, and the body, eyes, antenna?, etc., painted in. 

 Mr. Mc Arthur shewed a method of steadying and securing an insect by 

 means of a slip of paper doubled over, when — for any reason — the pin 

 through the thorax had been rendered useless. Mr. Eobert Adkin 

 exhibited a short series of Spilosoma mendica, Clerck, bred from larvae 

 found in Aberdeenshire, the males being of a brownish colour. Mr. 

 Tugwell referred to tlie fact that specimens of the male *S'. mendica 

 from Barnsley were liglit, whereas those from Huddersfield were dark 

 forms as exhibited recently by Mr. G. T. Porritt. Mr. Billups, some 

 curious forms of Hemiptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Keuroptera 

 and Orthoptera, from a mission station in the iJemerara Eiver, British 

 Guiana, and called attention to a fungoid growth attached to a specimen 

 shewn, belonging to the Homoptera. Mr. Billups said it closely re- 

 sembled, if it was not the actual species known as Torrnbia rohcrfsii, 

 which attacks certain species in New Zealand. Mr. J. "Weir exhibited 

 specimens of Euploeine butterflies from three distinct groups, viz., 

 Crastia core, Narmada roceoides, and Pademma hollari, and read an in- 

 teresting paper on " Isochromatous Lepidoptera." Mr, E. Adkin 

 also exhibited a series of Dinrnam fatjella, Fal)., from Lewisham, and 

 mentioned several species, notably Eiqjithecia rectangulata, L., and 

 Miana strigilis, Clerck, which had assumed a marked tendency to- 

 Avards melanism in the London district of late years ; agTeeing with 

 Mr. Mansbridge that climatic conditions did not appear to account for 

 the change.* A discussion ensued, in Avhich Messrs. Barrett, McArthur, 

 Tutt, Mr. Eobson of Hartlepool as a visitor, and others took part. The 

 President then called upon Mr. Eobson who exhibited a short series of 

 S. mendica, Clerck, of which one specimen, a female bred at Hartlepool, 

 Avas of a distinct cream colour. Mr. Eobson stated that this species 

 was common in Northumberland and Durham along the coast, and that 

 the male insect occasionally varied to a colour intermediate between 

 the English and Irish forms. Mr. Eobson also exhibited dark speci- 

 mens of S. ijopuli, L. from Aberdeen, and light forms (females) bred 

 at Hartlepool. A discussion followed, Mr. E. Adkin stating that S. 

 mendica Avas not a common species in Scotland ; and Mr. Tutt and 

 Mr. J. A. Clark each noticing the occurrence of other varieties of the 

 species. — F. AV. Hawes and H. Williams, Hon. Sees. 



* Lewisham is in the Metropolitan area and now well within the range of 

 London soot and fogs. The tree-trunks are Avell blackened, and D. fagella, E. 

 rectangulata, etc. are essentially trunk resting species. A very elementary 

 knowledge of " natural selection " appears to solve the question. — Ed. 



