12r) fHE entomologist's kecorc. 



Battley, Cuspidla psi, Aplecta nehi(Iosa, Hybernia j^rogemmaria, &c., from 

 the London district. Mr. Clark, a black specimen of Limenitis sihylla, 

 and suffused forms of Poli/oiiivtatm pMceas and Venilia maculata. Mr. 

 Tiitt, dark and light forms of Xylophasia polyodon, Gnophos ohscnrata, 

 and Tephrosia biundularia. Dr. Sequeira, Boarmia repandafa, Hemero- 

 phila abrnpfnria, and Polia chi var. ol'ipacea. Coleo})tera. Mr. Heasler, 

 Quedlus scitus, OpiluH mollis, and CVs nitidus, all from Richmond. Mr. 

 Bellamy, stuffed specimens of the Fieldfare and Green Woodpecker. 

 Mr. Robson then read his })aper entitled " Is Melanism in Lepidoptera 

 caused by j\[oisture ? " in which he l)riefly reviewed the different notes 

 which had ap^^eared, written on the subject, and criticised at length 

 some of the views dealt with in Mr. Tutt's Melanism and Mclanocliroisin 

 ill British Lepidoptera, finally answering the question in the negative, 

 and expressing his opinion that melanism was due to deficient sunlight. 

 Mr. Tutt, in jjroposing a vote of thanks, criticised the paper at length, 

 and ridiculed the position assigned by Mr. Robson to Mr. Birchall's 

 paper. He complained that Mr. Robson had simply brought to 

 light a second-hand theory of Lord Walsingham's, and had given 

 no data to support his conclusion. Not only had Mr. Rol;)Son given 

 no data supporting this, l)ut he had neglected the experimental 

 evidence to the contrary, which had l)een brought forward by Messrs. 

 Mcrrifield and Poulton. He maintained that an agent was recjuired to 

 act on the larva physically, and jjroduce variation, and that then 

 *' natural selection " was the all-important factor. Meteorological con- 

 ditions offered such a primary agent — moistm-e and iirolialdy temjterature 

 Ijeing the most powerful factors, whilst smoke, pr()bal)l3% also acted 

 constitutionally ; smoke and moisture also darkened objects, hence they 

 acted indirectly as well, and in the direction of the production of melan- 

 ism. Mr. Robson's suggestions were entirely unable to meet very many 

 common cases of melanism, where melanic and pale varieties occurred side 

 by side, and where '* natural selection " was clearly the essential factor. 

 L)r. Chapman, who then spoke, considered that an exciting cause (or 

 causes) was necessary to produce variation, and that " natural selection " 

 was the means by which distinct races were then developed. A 

 further animated discussion followed, the proceedings terminating with 

 a vote of thanks (prci:)Osed by Mr. Tutt, and seconded by Dr. Buckell) 

 to Mr. Robson, for his kindness in coming from Hartlepool to read the 

 paper. 



Tuesday, 7th March, 181)3. — Exhibits: — J)r. Seipieira, Anisopteryx 

 cescidaria and Hybernia leucopha^aria, taken that day in Victoria Park. 

 Mr. Battley, a living female of Nyssia hispidaria, from Epjjing Forest ; 

 also various fossil shells from the Red Crag at Felixstowe. He pointed 

 out that the spiral shells were turned the opposite way to the forms 

 now existing. Mr. Riches, shells of Helix rirgata, H. ericetorum, H. 

 cantiana, H. hortcnsis, H. nemoraUs and H. aspersa. Mr. Clark, speci- 

 mens of the Swan Mussel (Anodonta). Mr. Soul, very fine specimens 

 of the Paper Nautilus (Argonaiita argo) and Pearly Nautilus (Navtihis 

 pompilius). Mr. Rosevear, a selection of shells, to illustrate his paper. 

 Mr. Bellamy, stuffed specimens of the Waxwing and Kestrel, from 

 Yorkshire. Mr. Rosevear then read his paper on " Conchology." He 

 claimed as advantages of this science, that it could be pursued at all 

 times of the year, and in all weathers, that the specimens were easily 

 preserved, and not liable to subsequent deterioration. He then jiro- 



