128 THE entomologist's kecokd. 



T. crepiiscidaria beingyellow, and whilst theshellof the formerwas irides 

 cent and slightly transparent, that of the latter was somewhat opaque. 

 There were also faint traces of longitudinal ribbing, just round the 

 shoulder of the micropylar end, in the egg of T. bistortata, such traces 

 not being discernible in the egg of T. crepmndana. The Qgg of T. 

 bistortata, too, was also noticeable for small irregular depressions, which 

 occurred on the surface, and which appeared to be due to pressure or the 

 contraction of the protoplasmic contents of the egg. These were not 

 to be seen in the egg of T. crepmcidaria, the shell of which appeared, 

 under a high power, to be minutely pitted. Another character of 

 differentiation in the two sets of eggs observed, was in the position of 

 the lateral depression, which is so characteristic of many Geometrid 

 eggs. In the egg of T. bistortata, the depression was placed well 

 toward the micropylar end, whilst in the egg of T. crepuscularia it is 

 placed much nearer to the centre. In the set of T. bistortata eggs 

 examined, which had been fertilised by a male T. biundularia, the 

 general shape, colour and appearance were very similar to those of the 

 first set of 2\ bistortata. The eggs were, however, slightly smaller, 

 and tended to be a little more rounded at one end than the other, 

 showing some trifling variation between the two sets, and one or two 

 of the eggs out of a considerable number examined, exhibited a most 

 complete oval shape. They were, however, still very distinctly T. 

 bistortata eggs, as apart from those of T. crepuscularia. In colour, the 

 cross fertilisation seems to have had some efl'ect, for the eggs were, 

 under a good power, certainly yellower than the other batch of T. 

 bistortata eggs. This may, however, have been due to a slight 

 difference in age. The lateral depression of this batch of eggs was 

 puzzling, but, after a number of eggs had been repeatedly examined, it 

 was found that it was placed well up towards the micropylar area, but 

 was somewhat obscured by the depressions described as being character- 

 istic of T. bistortata, being often placed in close proximity therewith. 

 These eggs, like those of many other species that are laid in crannies, etc., 

 e.fj., Orrlioilia, etc., appear to be capable of much modification in shape 

 by pressure, the moth pushing the egg into a cranny, and the soft egg 

 being affected, more or less, by the pressure, and becoming somewhat 

 similar in shape to the cranny into which it is pushed. It is very 

 probable that the eggs of these two species have never before been 

 examined side by side under the microscope, owing to the different 

 dates at which the insects usually appear. The chance of doing so 

 now is due to Mr. A. Bacot, who, by forcing ^he pup^? of T. crepuscu- 

 laria, brought out the imagines at the same time that those of T. bis- 

 tortata were appearing in the breeding cages. By this means also he 

 obtained pairings between $ 2\ bistortata and ^ T. crepuscrdaria, 

 although it appeared that they would not cross the other way. This 

 is, of course, exactly parallel with Dr. T, A. Chapman's experiment, 

 when he forced A. betnlaria to appear in March, obtained pairings 

 between that species and A. st rat aria, and not only obtained fertile 

 ova, but bred the hybrid imagines. Living specimen of Aglais 

 URTic.E. — Mr. Garland exhibited A. jirticae, taken at rest upon a brick 

 wall at Harrow Green, Leytonstone, about 10 o'clock in the morning 

 of Feb. 19th. Aberrations of Hybernia defoliaria. — Mr. Garland 

 also exhibited bred male aberrations of U. defoliaria, he'ing larger than 

 captured specimens. Bruchus lentis. — Mr. Newbery exhibited Bnichus 



