188 THE entomologist's record. 



forms harmonized well with the hawthorn leaves, the black larvae, wlieii 

 lying side by side on a leaf, completely' hid it, and gave it the appear- 

 ance of a hole in the hedge. Dr. Sequeira, several species of butterflies 

 without the usual spots on the upper side. These included Pieris 

 rapce, Chortobins pamphihis, C. davns and Sati/rus hi/peranthis. Cai)t> 

 Thompson, a dusky specimen of Ennonioft angulnria, Platypteryx falcnhi 

 with gold scales, and a living bred specimen of Phorodesma bajularia. 

 Mr. Riches, dark specimens of Henierophila ahnipdaria. Mr. Huckett,. 

 a bred series of Pericallia si/ringaria. Coleoptera : —Mr. Clark, Ocypm 

 cupreas, Ehaijium inquisitor, Balaninus n'Uosus, &o. Mr. Heasler, Tiresins 

 serra, bred from larvae found under bark at Richmond Park la.s^t 

 Christmas. Mr. Pearson, Blaps sinu'lis and Sphodnis leucophthalmns. 

 Mr. Lewcock gave an account of an excursion to Woking and Farnhani: 

 at Whitsuntide, the chief species observed being Doaacia snyittarite, 

 D. linearis, Covi/mbetes tessellatns, Cieindtla sijlrntlca (at North Camp) 

 and Pachyta coUaris in the hop grounds. Mr. Bacot announced that a 

 batch of eggs found upon privet last year had proved to be those of 

 Noctiia triangidnm. — A. U. Battley and J. A. Simes, Ron. Sees. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — May 8tJi. — 

 Mr. Robert Xewstead. F.E.S., communicated a paper, entitled, " On a 

 successful method of rearing DedephiJa galii,'" in Avhich he gave his. 

 experiences of rearing this species in 1888, and stated that cold was 

 fatal to the larvae, and that forcing was absolutely necessary for the 

 pup?e. The author also added some notes on " Lepidoptera attracted 

 by honeydew." Mr. S. J. Capper exhibited some tine varieties of 

 Boarmia rhomboidan'a ; Mr. Collins, Hadena snasa and a Lancashire 

 specimen of Boarmia abietaria ; Mr. Deville, African Pieridie ; Mr. 

 Sharp, Coleoptera from Wales ; Dr. Ellis, Coleoptera from Grahams- 

 town, South Africa ; Mr. Stott, a pretty piebald variety of the water 

 shrew (Crossopus fodieiis var. remifer) ; Mr. Watson, Papilio viacleayana 

 and P. sarpedon. — F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec. 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — Aprd 17th, 1893. — Messrs. 

 R. C. Bradley, W. Harrison, A. Wainwright, each showed long series of 

 Bombylias major from Trench Woods, where it was quite common at 

 Easter. Mr. Wainwright also showed a long series of 3Iehinostoiii(i 

 ambigna and other Diptera taken at the same time and place. Mr. 

 A. W. Martineau showed Prionus coriarins and other insects from 

 Solihull. Mr. R. Freer read a paper upon " Variation, with special 

 reference to Melanism," and showed i^^vsects in illustrations. He said 

 that melanism was due to scales in which he believed granules of 

 pigment were deposited in rows ; this he concluded from microscopical 

 observation. He believed that both a deficiency and a superabundance 

 of pigment were pathological conditions, and this he illustrated by 

 reference to the human race. He showed that in those localities 

 whei-e nielanic forms mostly occurred, the conditions of life were not 

 very favourable, such were sea shores, where food plants had low 

 nutritive power, isolated spots, where there was much inbreeding, 

 neio-hbourhoods of large towns, etc., and he believed that these con- 

 ditions of life were the cause of pathological conditions with melanic 

 results. He believed pigment to be an expression of energy. — Colbran 

 J. Wainwright, Hon. Sec. 



