i^ocitiTifcs. 285 



Perks: two living specimens of ///'«//?'»/// <»7«/.s/f(»;-, L., from Epping 

 Forest. Mr. McArthur coummnicated notes On the occurkence and 



LIFE-HISTORY OK CoCCYX COSMOI'HORANA, AND ReTINIA RESINKLLA. He 



said that the former was always more or less common at Rannoch, 

 where the latter was unknoAvn. As far as he had observed, the larvfe 

 of the former did not, in Scotland, feed in the way described by 

 Kaltenbach. He was convinced that the larvai did not normally feed 

 on the refuse of 7i. resinella, but that it did so at Forres he was per- 

 fectly certain. 



The City of London Entomological and Natural History Society 

 met on February 18th, 1896. — Exhibits : — Mr. May : Part of a series 

 of I'criilniiHu .s(/»c/(7, bred from Sandown ova, between November 22nd 

 and December 12th, 1895. The larvae were fed on cabbage, marigold, 

 and slices of carrot and potato, and the moths emerged either at dusk 

 or about 11 p.m., the expansion of the wings being very rapid after it 

 had once begun. One of the specimens was abnormally straight along 

 the costa, and the tips of the fore-wings were unusually pointed. Mr. 

 Bacot exhibited a long series of this species, and read the following 

 Notes on breeding Agrotis (Peridroma) saucia: — "1 exhibit 147 

 specimens out of 250 examples bred. The ova were laid by a dark 

 red female, captured at Sandown last August. Although there is con- 

 siderable variation in minor details and shades of colour, the brood as 

 a whole follows the J parent closely, and the specimens, witli one or 

 two exceptions, would not be called variable if compared with a 

 captured series. A few pale grey forms emerged, one of which is 

 almost as light as Arromjcta aceris. The $ s lay an immense quantity 

 of eggs ; I estimated the number at from 1500 to 2000. The larvfe 

 are very hardy, and easily forced if kept in a warm room. Very 

 few, if any, of mine died, and they will eat almost anything, either 

 leaves or roots, carrot, turnip, potato, or cabbage-stalk being eagerly 

 devoured." Mr, J A.Clark: living bred females of Phhjalia pedaria 

 and Niis^ia Inspidan'a. The Secretary read the following note from Mr. 

 J, B. Rosevear : — " Vanessa urtic^e at the Watch-night Service." 

 — "One of the midnight worshippers at the watch-night service in 

 Melham Congregational Church, on December 81st, 1895, was the 

 well-known Vamssa urtirac. For some time I observed this beautiful 

 creature flitting from pew to pew, and it was with considerable 

 difficulty I could content myself with sitting still. A strong desire to 

 rush out and capture it was only kept in check by the knowledge that 

 I was in the House of God, and that if I had done so the congregation 

 would think I was a fit subject for Colney Hatch. However, I 

 watched it, and presently the strong gas lights attracted it towards 

 them, and it at last rushed madly at them, and fell a victim to their 

 burning influence. It fell wounded and dying to the ground, and 

 eventually was secured by me. It is a fully developed specimen, but, of 

 course, minus antennae, legs, and portions of its wings. 1 think it worthy 

 of a place in my cabinet, notwithstanding." Messrs. J. A, Clark and 

 Tutt referred to other instances of the occurrence of this species in 

 London during the present winter. Mr. C. Nicholson read a paper on 

 " The Planet Mars." 



Jl^EYIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



]3y Tangled Paths. — By H. Mead Briggs [208 pp. PubHshed by 

 Fredk, Warne & Co. Price 8/6] . — Nothing is more pleasing to scientific 



