SOCIETIES. 345 



one male was a noteworthy variety, its colour was uniformly umber- 

 brown of a tint very similar to that of the dark form of HemeropMla 

 ahrnytaria, the transverse lines and discoidal spots being just perceptible. 

 In both males and females, the series presented specimens in which 

 there were no dark markings on the fore-wings, save the usual lines 

 and spot, and others in which that portion beyond the outer line was 

 strongly suffused with dark scales, whilst there were forms intermediate 

 between these extremes. In some specimens the transverse line on the 

 hind wing was well marked, in others it was hardly perceptible. The 

 situation of the transverse lines also varied. In a specimen captured 

 at Hollo way, the distance between the outer line and tlie hind margin, 

 and between the inner line and the base was very small. Dr. Buckell 

 also exhibited a specimen of Clianeas graminis, captured at Wimbledon 

 on August 30th, the ground colour of which was of an olive tint, and 

 the furcate blotch immediately under the reniform the only white 

 marking ; three specimens of Oporabia dilutata, bred from pupiB dug 

 at Sutton Park, near Birmingham, one of which was a distinctly 

 melanic form with a striking white blotch in the middle of the median 

 nervure ; a specimen of Epiaephele tithonus, cajjtured at Bookham, in 

 which the ocellus on the fore-wing had only one pupil. Mr. Clark, 

 two very dark sj^ecimens of Eanomos aagularia. Mr. Kirby, specimens 

 of a Noctua received from Berkshire, and intermediate in appearance 

 between Dasycampa rnbiginca and Orrhodia vaccinii These specimens 

 led to a discussion, and although the form was quite new to the members 

 present, the general opinion was that they were varieties of D. riibi- 

 ginea. Mr. Battley, Orthoda lota, 0. macilenta, Xanthia gilrago, 

 Hddena protea and Pi/ralis glaucinalis, all from Winchmore Hill, 

 Mr. Riches, Scojjelosoma satellitia and the red form of Orthopia lota 

 from Salisbury. Mr. Oldham, a long series of Agroti>i negetum from 

 Norfolk. Captain Thompson, a dark form of Enbolia cervinaria from 

 Hornsea, Yorks. Mr. Southey, series of Agrotis j^orphyrea, and 

 Triphcena inter jecta from Hampstead Heath. The following gentlemen 

 were then nominated as officers for the coming year : — President and 

 Treasurer, Mr. J. A. Clark ; Vice-Presidents, Mr. J. W. Tutt and 

 Dr. F. J. Buckell; Curators, Messrs. Heasler and Smith; Librarians, 

 Messrs. Gurney and Prout ; Secretaries, Messrs. Nicholson and Battley ; 

 Council, Messrs. Oldham, Lewcock, Newbery, Hollis and Captain 

 Thompson. 



Dr. Buckell then read his paper on " The History of Butterfly 

 Classification " {vide ante jj. 315). 



Tuesday, 5th December, 1898. — Exhibits: — Dr. Buckell, a series of 

 Noctua rnbi, bred from a female cajjtured at Wimbledon in August, 

 these being, therefore, the third brood. The females of this series fol- 

 lowed the female parent in being almost unicolorous, while the males 

 had the black dot below the stigmata developed into a wedge-shaped 

 mark, similar to the claviform of the Agrotidce. Mr. Clark, a variety 

 of Arctia caia, with the hind wings much suffused with black. Mr. 

 Hill, Cymatophora oadaris, from WickeL, a female of Lyccena icaruH 

 with white spots, and a si^ecimen of Vanessa antiopa taken by Mr. Geo. 

 Turner, at Hythe, Kent, 30th August, 1893. Mr. Battley, series of 

 Mdanippe montanata, from Hale End and Rugby. He i:)ointed out 

 that the Hale End specimens had a very dark band on a clear, cream- 

 coloured ground, whereas the band in the Rugby specimens was much 



