SOCIETIES. 266 



gave a resume of some 4iC)0 2)os( morleni examinations of l)irds which he 

 had obtained from various parts of Cheshire, during a number of years. 

 Of the many records the Coleojttera were by far the most numerous. 

 Many species of Geodepliaga were found in the rook, jay, wagtails, &g. 

 Di/tiscus punclalatus and Helophonis aquaticus were tlie only sjiecies of 

 the Hi/dradephaga observed. Of the latter species, about 150 specimens 

 were found in a golden-eye duck (Clangula glancion). The same insect 

 also occurred in several other birds. The Byachch/trn were only re- 

 presented by two or three species, found only during hard weather. 

 The Aphodii were well represented. A. pyancf ato-sidcatnx was frecpiently 

 observed in various birds. Also A. finietarms in the starling. A night 

 jar (C((pr/iiudgns em-oj^aeHs) had regaled itself with six s})ecimens of Geo- 

 tnipes titercorarint^, five of which were found almost i)erfect. Although 

 the hard coverings of the Cnrndionldae {lihi/ncophora) are said to save 

 them from attack (" IJarwinism," jd. 2GU), these insects far outnumbered, 

 the other Coleoptera. The names of many species were given, including 

 Sitones, PhijUobius, Apion, etc. The records of the Coccinellidae were 

 most important. These insects were found in the woodpecker, tree- 

 creeper, swift, hovise-martin and cuckoo. The finding of PhyUotreta 

 undulata and. P. nemorum, is of economic imjijortance. Three records 

 were given, all from the tree-creeper {Certhia familiaris). During 

 severe weather, two specimens of Forficula were found. From this fact 

 it was suggested that these insects are nauseous. Of the Hymenoptera, 

 the discovery of the larvaa of two species of Tenthredo in the cuckoo, 

 was of the most importance. ScA'eral species of the Ickncumonidae. 

 numerous specimens of a species of Cynips, and two species of Formica 

 were also recorded. Larvae and imagines of Lepidoptera occurred fre- 

 quently, but could hardly be identified. Larvae of Abraxas grossulariata 

 in the cuckoo, was the most important find in this order. I'syJlidae, 

 Aphididae and Coccidac, were found in several species of the Paridae. 

 Three species of Coccidae were determined. The Diptera were largely 

 I'epresented but, like the Lepidoptera, were most difficult to detei'mine." 

 We have received with much pleasure the " Reports for 18'ji " of 

 TiiK Scarborough Field Naturalists' Society. The society, although 

 not large in numbers, manages to cover a very large part of the Natural 

 History field. There are reports on Botany, Concholog}^ Geology, 

 Microscopy, Ornithology and Zoology, as well as on Entomology. The 

 latter, we give in full ; l)ut liave clianged the obsolete nomenclature, 

 which we regi'et to find still in force at Scarborough, for that which we 

 uniformly adopt in our " IJeports of Societies " : — " IWD-I has been a 

 most unfavourable year from an entomological point of view ; the long 

 continuance of wet weather during June, July and August almost i)ut 

 a stop to all entomological out-door work, and insects were remarkably 

 scarce. However, notwithstanding the unfavourableuess of the season, 

 many rare and comparatively new species to this district have turned 

 up, and some sj^ecies have been in great abundance, while others almost 

 if not quite absent. The early moths such as Phlgalia jicdaria, Uyhcrnia 

 lemophaearia, I'^c, were well out by the end of January. Early in 

 March hyberuated specimens of Cidaria miata put in an ap})earance, 

 and by the middle of the month Asjjhalia Jiavicornis, Anixojitcriix 

 aescidaria and Larentiainidtixtrigaria, including some fine dark varieties, 

 were common, and wwv ftillowed in another week by LoJiophvra carpi- 

 nata, Panolis pimpcrdu, Taeniocawpa muuda,T. crnda, Xylocawpa areola. 



