118 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



caterpillars of the spring brood, which become lethargic, awaken 

 from their torpidity after a time, resume eating, undergo their trans- 

 formations, and emerge as butterflies in July and August. This same 

 feature occurs in some of our own species of Brenthis (Anij/)ini.s), &s I 

 have several times observed. 



" The cause of this strange feature in butterfly life must be 

 attributed, like all other points in their history, to the struggle for the 

 perpetuity of the species. Should disaster befall the advance-guard 

 who have not halted by the way, the sluggards can take up the work ; 

 the chances of survival are not doubled, perhaps, but greatly increased. 

 Nature seizes upon some phenomenon in the life of each species, and 

 turns it to its advantage ; thus in the European lUmthis, it seizes on 

 the caterpillar's habit of hybernation when half-grown, and forces the 

 spring brood of caterpillars at that point in their groAvth to premature 

 hybernation, in which some continue throughout the hot weather, and 

 until the following spring." — Ed. 



OCIETIE S 



The Entomological Society of London resumed its meetings on 

 Oct. 2nd, 1895. Mr. H. Tunaley exhibited specimens of Lobophora vire- 

 tata from the neighbourhood of Birmingham. Specimens of the dark 

 green form were shown in their natural positions on the bark, and speci- 

 mens of the yellow form Avere shown on leaves on which they rested. Mr. 

 J. W. Tutt exhibited, for Mr. Anderson, of Chichester, cases formed 

 by a Lepidopterous insect received from the Argentine Republic, 

 which he said he recognised as being either identical with, or closely 

 allied,"to, Thijridoptcryx ephemeracforwis, which did great damage to 

 many orchard and forest trees in North America. Mr. Tutt also 

 exhibited a series of Lycaena aegon, captured by Mr. Massey, of Dids- 

 bury, on the Mosses in Westmoreland. The males were remarkable 

 in bearing two very distinct shades of colour. The females also 

 differed considerably from the form occurring in the south of England. 

 He also exhibited, for Mr. T. Acton, a long series of Uydroecia lucens, 

 captured in the Mosses near Warrington, and for comparison a series 

 of Hydroecia paludis, and he read notes on the various specimen^ 

 exhibited." — ^Another meeting was held on October 16th, when Mr. 

 F. C. Adams exhibited a series of nineteen Merodon rqnestn's, con- 

 taining several varieties, showing their resemblance to wild bees of 

 the family Apidae ; also specimens of Leptomorphus loalhcrt, Curt., 

 taken in the New Forest in September last, and Melanostoma hyaJi- 

 naluni, Fin. (male and female), from a series of eighteen, also taken in 

 the New Forest in the latter part of August last. Mr. Adams further 

 exhibited a specimen of SpUomyia spectosa, Rossi, from the New 

 Forest. Lord Walsingham exhibited the type and paratypes of 

 Fseudodoxia limulus (Rghfr.), together with the larval cases and a 

 preserved larva. His lordship directed attention to the curious trun- 

 cate concave head of the larva which forms an operculum to the tube, 

 and remarked that the cases of this insect, which were apparently not 

 uncommon in Ceylon, the larva feeding on mosses and lichens, had 

 been known for some considerable time. So long ago as 1864 Mr. 



