SOCIETIES. 57 



observations made by those Avho indulged in this interesting occupation, 



and showed how the ontogeny and phylogeny of insects could only be 

 studied by such as bred them, and that exact observation by careful 

 men would elucidate many entomological puzzles. He then passed a 

 high and well-deserved eulogium on the scientific work of I )r. C/hapman, 

 which was undoubtedly never better deserved, especially referring to 

 his work relating to the genus Acroiiycta and the ontogeny of Cuspidid 

 psi and C. tridens and also to his work on classification. Mr. Weir 

 quoted some remarks made by Professor Westwood many years ago 

 relative to the position of the Zi/yaenidae near the Sphinijidae, and 

 pointed out the way in which Dr. Chapman had discovered their real 

 aflinities. He then discussed the experiments of Mr. Merrifield, and 

 pointed out how valuable were the results obtained, both from the 

 phylogenetic and the ontogenetic points of view. Touching on colour 

 variation in general, Mr. Weir took the more advanced view as to its 

 being often due to physiological causes, the result of the unsettlement 

 of the normal constitution ttc. of the larvae. The direction of the 

 attention of entomologists to these and kindred subjects, Mr. Weir 

 observed, broke down the exclusiveness of British collectors who were 

 obliged to get material from abroad for their generalizations. He was 

 astonished that, in Dr. Smith's recent classification of the Noctu^ the 

 learned Professor sub-divided them into only three groups, of which 

 the Tlii/ati/riaat' and Brephinae bore no comparison with the large and 

 comprehensive Noctninae ; but here we are rather at issue with the Ex- 

 President, for the Thyatyrinae and Brephinae are such distinct connecting 

 gi'oups that we can well understand the Professor preferring to regard 

 them as of equal value with the compact mass of moths which are 

 evidently very closely allied, and sub-dividing this latter group into 

 families of more or less equal value. The Ukephides too, Mr. Weir 

 remarked, had been by Mr. Meyrick supposed to be Geometrae, but 

 here too we would point out that the consideration of the early stages 

 at once showed Mr. Meyrick's position to be untenable. Some interest- 

 ing notes followed on hybridisation, but in a short resume like this it is 

 impossible to do even approximate justice to a really valuable 

 addition to our scientific knowledge. We offer the Ex- President our 

 hearty thanks for his address, and await its publication with some 

 amount of impatience in the Proceedinys of the Society. 



At the meeting of The Birmingham Entomological Society on 

 Dec. 18th, 1893, Mr. Bradley exhibited the following Diptera, all of 

 which were additions to the British list : — Dactyolabis gvacilipes, Lw. ; 

 Goniomyia jecunda, Lw. ; Ephelia rarinercis, Ztt. ; Cliuocera lamellata, 

 Lw. ; and Didea fasciata, Maccp Mr. Harrison exhibited three boxes 

 of Hymenoptera, taken during the past year, including: — Andrenn 

 trimmcniiia, from a spot in Edgbaston, where he has seen it for several 

 years ; in 181)3, the parasite Nonuida alleriuila, which Mr. Harrison saw for 

 the first time, was commoner tlian its liost: JIalirtu.s sine<i(liinanell<t, Miiaesa 

 dahlbomi, Crabro unicolor, Coelioxys cedin, Osmia bicolvr, Sec. Mr. A. H. 

 Martineau also exhibited Hymenopiera taken in 1893 : — Cnibro inter- 

 nipttis from Middleton Woods ; Mimcsd dnhlbomi from Wyre Forest ; 

 and Arjenia ruriegata fi'om Selsley, Glos. j\Ir. H. T. Sands showed 

 Vetipa crabro from Alvechurch, where it has been unusually abundant. 

 Lei'Idoptera : — Mr, G. W. Wynn exhibited Notodonta chaonia from 

 Wyre Forest ; Mr. Bethuue-Baker, Crambus ericellus, C. furcateUus and 



