314 THE KNT0iMoL0GI8t's UECOIU). 



Hei'i- Jacoby, and Professoi" Meldola continued the discussion. Aber- 

 ration OF AciDALiA MARGiNEPUNCTATA. — Ml'. E. Eniest Green exhibited 

 a typical specimen of Eplnjra omicronaria, together with what he 

 believed to be a remarkable melanic variety of the same species, taken 

 by Dr. Dudley Wright, at Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate, in September 

 last. Some of the Fellows present, after an examination of the 

 specimen, expressed an opinion that it was a variety of Acidalia 

 inaniincpunrtata, and not of E^iht/ra omicronaria. — November 18th, 

 1896.^Tephrosia bistortata and T. crepuscularia, etc. — Mr. Tutt 

 exhibited a series of the ochreous form of Teplinmn bistortata, Goetze, 

 known as ab. ahietaria, Haw., captured by Mr. Mason in March, 1895 

 and 1896, near Clevedon, Somerset ; also a series of the second brood 

 of the same species (ab. consunnria, St.), bred from ova laid by the 

 Clevedon specimens. He also exhibited a series of Tephrosia cre- 

 puscularia, Hb. [biundiilaria, Esp.), taken by Dr. H. H. Corbett, at 

 Doncaster ; a peculiar variety of /i/j^yjavc/fm semele, captured by Mr. 

 H. S. Clarke, near Ramsey, Isle of Man ; also a series of Plusia 

 hractea, bred by Mr. J. Finlay, of Morpeth, from ova laid in July last. 

 The eggs and larv.'e had been subjected to forcing treatment, with the 

 resiilt that the moths emerged in October. Mr. Tutt also exhibited a very 

 dark specimen of I'olia chi ab. oliracea, captured at Meldon Park, 

 Morpeth, by Mr. Finlay. Development of wings in the Coccid/E. — Dr. 

 Sharp called attention to Mr. Ernest Green's plates of the Cuccidae, of 

 Ceylon, which were exhibited on a screen in the room, and said that 

 he was inclined to consider the ('occidac as a distinct order of insects, 

 but at present the evidence was hardly sufiticient to warrant this. He 

 asked Mr. Green if he could give him any information with regard to 

 the development of the wings in the male. Mr. Green said that in 

 the males of the Coccidac the wings first appeared in the penultimate 

 stage as small projections on the sides of the thorax. These wing- 

 pads grew to a certain extent without any further ecdysis. Though 

 the insect was then quite inactive, and took no food during this stage, 

 the rudimentary wings and legs were free from the body, and were 

 capable of some slight movement. After the final ecdysis the wings 

 of the imago were fully expanded, and assumed their natural position 

 before the insect left the sac, or puparium, in which the resting stage 

 had been passed. Mr. McLachlan and others continued the dis- 

 cussion. Insect-catching spiders. — Mr. Bethune-Baker exhibited a 

 yellow spider from Orotava, which was of the exact colour of the 

 flowers that it usually rested upon, and which had been observed to 

 catch Vancsaids which settled on these flowers. Mr. Barrett said he 

 had noticed a spider with the same habit on the Ox-eye Daisy in 

 Surrey. Mr. Bethune-Baker also exhibited a very curious dark 

 variety of Arctia caja, bred by Mr. Moore. Injury to bristles by 

 Tinea biselliella. — Professor Meldola stated that it had been of late 

 found difficult to store bristles in the City, owing to the ravages of a 

 moth, of which he exhibited living specimens of the larvte and pupae. 

 Mr. Barrett said that the moth was Tinea biselliilla. Mr. Blandford 

 stated that the bisulphide of carbon treatment might be found to be 

 of advantage if it were practicable, but more would have to be 

 ascertained with regard to the extent and character of the ravages 

 before anything could be determined upon. Mr. Merrifield, Mr. Green, 

 and others took part in the discussion which followed. Formalin as a 

 preventive of mould. — Mr. Blandford called attention to the use of 



