206 THE entomologist's record. 



say that in this race the claviform is seldom constant, sometimes being 

 so large as to almost obliterate the black bar-like mark beneath the 

 orbicular and reniform, whilst occasionall}'^ it is entirely absent, and 

 every degi'ee may be observed between these two extremes. In other 

 cases you observe that the orbicular and reniform are only outlined in 

 black on the hind-marginal side, and almost unite on the inner side, 

 giving the appearance of a whitish-grey splash on the costal margin. 

 When the fore- wings have a deep ground-colour, I usually find the 

 hind-wings follow suit. I think I need say no more to show how 

 variable this species is with us. In H. dentina, variation seems confined 

 to the depth of colour, and our almost black local form presents a strong 

 contrast to specimens from the South Coast." The i^aper concluded 

 with the following notes on "the life-history of H. ylanca.'" — " The eggs 

 are laid in batches on sallow in May, and are spherical and indented on 

 the top, with a number of ribs from top to bottom ; they are of a pure 

 white when first laid, changing to cream, and finally to a deep brown. 

 The young larva emerges in about fourteen days, and rests on its food- 

 plant in a sphinx-like attitude; it is of a pale green colour, changing with 

 the several changes of skin, first to a darker tint of sap-green with a pale 

 green stripe in the region of the spiracles, then to a rich velvety bistre 

 brown, indeed almost black. When the larva is full-fed, the head is 

 joale shining brown and is narrower than the second segment, and the 

 body gradually thickens towards the end ; the larva is then hairless, 

 and in colour a pale umber brown, with an indistinct medio-dorsal 

 stripe and a dirty- white line in the region of the spiracles ; the back 

 is reticulated with darker shades of brown, and the spiracles are 

 pure white. If annoyed, it is extremely irritable, and falls to the 

 ground, lashing out in all directions. It pupates just below the surface 

 of the ground in a loose cocoon of silk and earth. The puj^a has a 

 squarish tail with four spines, and every segment is armed with a ring 

 of spines ; it is very active, moving at the slightest touch ; its colour is 



pale mahogany-brown, turning to black before emergence." On 



June ISth, Diptera and Hymenoptera were to the front. Of the former, 

 Mr. Bradley exhibited Syrphm trianguJifer (new to Britain), Cheilosia 

 clirysocana, etc., and Mr. Wainwright, Si/rphns annulipes (new to Britain). 

 Of the latter, Mr. H. Martineau showed Osiiu'a xauthoniclana, Andrena 

 hucephala, Noiiiada ochroctana, a remarkably dark form of Bomhus 

 mmcarum, etc. All the foregoing were captured at Selsley, at Whit- 

 suntide. Of Lepidoptera, Mr. Bradley showed a specimen of Thecla 

 ruhi, which had no trace of white markings on the underside. Mr. 

 Kossitcr : Chacrocampa porcellus, Notodonta dictaea, etc., from Wyre 

 Forest. 



City of London Entomological and Natural History Society. — 

 May loth, 1894.— Mr. T. L. Bix, of 20, Hartham Koad, Tottenham, 

 was elected a member of the Society. Exhibits : — Mr. Battley ; 

 preserved larvaj of Miana striijiUs showing two distinct forms of color- 

 ation, viz. grass-green and dirty cream colour, and a third form inter- 

 mediate between these two. Mr. Clark ; a bred series of Aleucis 

 pictaria from the New Forest. Mr. May ; larviB of Geometra papilion- 

 aria from Hayes, Kent. Dr. Sequeira ; varieties of Ennomos quercinaria, 

 including a fine dark-banded form. Mr. Prout remarked that some 

 larvae of Miava fwrmicula, which he had once bred, were very similar 

 to those of M. atriyilis exhibited by Mr. Battley. Mr. Battley stated 



