20 THE entomologist's record. 



and workers of Sericomyrmex opaciis, Mayr, a species of Fungus-growing 

 and Fungus-eating Ant. 



At the meeting of the South London Entomological and Natural 

 History Society, on Nov. 8th, 1894, Mr. H. Moore exhibited a turnip, 

 the rootlets of which were extensively clubbed by the action of a 

 fungus (Plaxinodiophora brassiea). Mr. Fremlin : a varied series of 

 Emydia crihrum from the New Forest ; also a series of Dasycampa rubi- 

 ginea from Berks. Mr. C. A. Briggs : varieties of Lycaena bellargus 

 from Kent (a) with the black spots on the underside much elongated 

 (b) with most of the black spots absent on the underside (c) with a con- 

 siderable increase in size of all the paler markings on the underside. 

 Mr. Trenerry : a light variety of Chrysopliamis pMoeas from North 

 Cornwall. Mr. Manger : a very large Pyrameis cardui, in the unusually 

 fine band of which was a white spot. Mr. R. Adkin : bred series of 

 Bicranura bifida from Bucks, and of D. furcnla from Hants ; he said that 

 he could not discover any of the more prominent markings that were 

 sufficiently constant to be relied upon for differentiating these two 

 species, and that it was therefore a difficult matter for him to identify 

 all examples with certainty ; nevertheless, the general appearance 

 enabled him to pick out each species, although he could not describe by 

 what means he did so ; he suggested that the case was parallel with 



that of Acronyrtn ptsi and A. tridens. Nov. 22nd. — Mr. Barrett 



exhibited (for Mr. Sydney Webb) a gi-and series of varieties of Arctia 

 m'Uica, ranging from a specimen with very few black markings, to one 

 almost wholly suffused with black ; also (for Major Still), sjiecimens 

 taken on Dartmoor this year, illustrating the apparent influence of the 

 extreme humidity of the season ; among them was a black Phisia gamma 

 a deep-toned Cidaria siterata, with a green marginal border on the 

 hind wing, a much suffused black form of ChrysopJianns pMoeas^, and 

 dark vars of Pararge egeria and P. megaera. Mr. E. Adkin (for Mr. 

 R. E. Dillon): a number of Irish Lepidoptera, including Taeniocampa 

 gothica var. gothicina. a red var. of T. gracilis, a dark Aplerta nebnjosa, 

 and an almost black Boarmia repandata. Mr. Fremlin : a fine specimen 

 of Chaerocampa celcrio, captured at the South Foreland lighthouse, on 

 Aug. 12th, 1894. Mr. Mansbridge : a ien\ale Seleniabilunaria, in which. 

 only the central band was developed. In connection with a state- 

 ment made by Mr. Adkin to the effect that Hipparrhia semele after 

 settling on stony patches and similar spots, often rapidly sought the 

 shelter of the surrounding herbage, Mr. Tutt mentioned that, in order to 

 conceal itself, Erebia tyndarus drops down, falls over sideways, and 

 wriggles along the cow-paths of the higli Al]:>s, until it reaches some 

 overhanging tuft of grass, under which it rests. 



The Birmingham Entomological Society is notable for the number 

 of students of other orders than the favourite Lepidoptera and Coleop- 

 tera who take j^art in its meetings. The meeting on Oct. 15th was 

 almost entirely occupied with exhibits by them as follows : — Mr. R. C. 

 Bradley : Aculeate Ilymenoptera from the New Forest, including 

 Pompilius spissus and Myrmosa luehinoccpjhala. Mr. A. H. Martineau : 

 a few insects taken at Nevin, N. Wales, in September ; three specimens 

 of Syrphus annulipes, the species which was introduced to the British 

 list by Mr. Wainwright on the strength of a single specimen taken by 

 him on the Cotswolds in June last {vide, vol. v., p. 155); Arctnphila 

 mussitam, which Mr. Martineau stated he had had great difficulty in 

 distinguisliing, when on the wing, from Bombus muscornni. Mr. A. W. 



