SOCIETIES. 167 



fiepidopterou known (except, perliaps, Attacns alias), Thyaamla 

 agrippiiia, a native of lirazil, which measures ten inches across the 

 expanded wings. Kejirosentatives of most of tlie other sub-orders of 

 Inseuta were provided by Messrs. J. S. Soul (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, 

 Neuroptera, &c.), 0. E. Janson (Coleoptera), G. A. Lewcock (Coleop- 

 tera), G. B. Ashmead, H. A. Auld and J. A. Clai-k, the two latter 

 gentlemen showing nests of several British species of Vespa. In the 

 department of Botany, Commendatore Thomas Hanbury came over 

 from Italy purposely to show and describe a collection of the fruits of 

 the Aurantiace<i<', and other interesting plants grown in his garden at 

 La Mortola ; Mr. F. J. Hanbury provided rare and extinct dried 

 British plants, chiefly Orchids. 



Among the exhibitors of cases of stuffed birds, nests, eggs, &c. were 

 Messrs. J. A. Clark, ¥. J. Hanbury, J. T. Crockett and G. B. Ashmead. 

 Mr. D. C. Bate exhibited a piece of telegraph pole, upon which was 

 mounted a Green Woodpecker (Gecinus virklis). The specimen was 

 from Norway, where the bird makes considerable trouble by jnercing 

 the poles to such an extent as to cause many of them to break off. The 

 birds, it is supposed, are deluded into the idea that there are insects in 

 the poles by the humming caused by the wires. 



Geolog3S conchology, and other branches were not neglected. Mr. 

 Alfred Sich exhibited two rare shells — Helix aspe.rsa monstrum and 

 Clauaila biplicata; Mr. Gurney, a case of coral and tlie jaws of a shark; 

 Messrs. J. A. Clark and C. Oldham, polislied agates and madrepores. 



One feature of the (Conversazione, which, as usual, attracted much 

 attention, was a fine display of microscopes. Nearly twenty instru- 

 ments of various sizes and i)atterns were actively engaged during the 

 whole evening in revealing some of the marvels, both living and dead, 

 of the animal and vegetable worlds to the wondering observers. The 

 exhibitors were Messrs. F. Coles, W. R. Dodd, J. D. Harding, P. S. 

 King, A. J. Kose, J. S. Soul, C. Willmott, A. Bacot, J. A. Clark, F. J. 

 Hanbury, W. H. Jackson, H. H. May, C. Nicholson, Dr. J. S. Se(]ueira, 

 and others. A recent invention in connection with the production of 

 Photo-micrographs was exhibited and explained by the inventor. Dr. 

 W. A. Kibbler. 



We must not omit to mention the collection of rare and otherwise 

 interesting books on Natural History, which were very kindly lent from 

 the Library of the London Institution, by the Secretary, Mr. K.W. Fraser. 



Feb. Idth, 1895. — The following resolution was carried unani- 

 mously : — " That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to all who assisted 

 the members of the Society at the recent Conversazione in the matter of 

 exhibits, and to those ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave their 

 services in respect of the musical programme." Exhibits : — Mr. Clark : 

 a sooty-black specimen of Dicranura vinnla, which he had purchased at 

 a recent sale at Stevens'. Mr. May : Catocala nnpta from Tootin"- 

 Bee Common, which had been relaxed slightly with damj) sand, and 

 then with wood naphtha ; one of the specimens had an unusually pale 

 central ])atch on each fore-Aving, thus resembling its congeners C. 

 sponsa ?a\(\. C. promisHa. Mr. Bacot: a bred specimen of Ni/ssia Jn'spi- 

 daria, having male head and thorax, and a female l)ody. On behalf of 

 Dr. Kuaggs, ]\Ir. Clark showed a sample of a preparation of linoleum, 

 which is superior to cork for setting-boards, itc, on account of the 

 closeness of its substance ; also samples of the new " nickel " pins, by 



