280 iMay, 1S87. 



Entomological Society of London : April Gih, 1887. — Dr. David Sharp, 

 F.Z.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Francis Galton, M.A., F.R.S., of 42, Rutland Gate.S.W. ; Mr. John Henry 

 Leech, B.A., F.L.S., of 10, Hyde Park Terrace, W. ; and Mr. George S. Parkinson, 

 of Percy Cross, Fulham, S.W. ; were elected Fellows. 



Mr. Samuel Stevens exhibited specimens of Arctia mendica, collected in Co. Cork, 

 by Mr. McDowall, of Manchester. The peculiarity of the Cork form is that the 

 majority of the males are as white as the female of the English form. 



Mr. McLachlan exhibited a zinc box used by anglers for tlie purpose of keeping 

 living flies in, which he thought might be adapted to practical entomological use in 

 the field. 



Mr. George T. Porritt exhibited a large number of specimens of Syhernia 

 progemmaria, bred from moths collected at Huddersfield last spring. All the 

 females and a large proportion of the males were of the dark variety /wsea^a, which, 

 formerly, was almost unknown in Yorkshire, but which now seemed likely to replace 

 the paler and original type. Mr. Jenner Weir and Lord Walsingham both remarked 

 that the number of melanic forms appeai'ed to be on the increase in the north. 



Mr. Gervase F. Mathew, R.N., exhibited several new species of Mhopalocera 

 taken by him in the Solomon Islands, during the cruise of H.M.S. " Espiegle " in 

 1882 and 1883. 



Mr. E. B. Poulton exhibited a large and hairy Lepidopterous larva— apparently 

 of a Bonibyx — brought from Celebes by Dr. Hickson, and made remarks on the 

 urticating properties of the liairs of the species. Lord Walsingham, Mr. McLachlan, 

 Dr. F. A. Dixey, Mr. Jenner Weir, Dr. Sharp, Dr. Slater, and Mr. Poulton took part 

 in a discussion as to whether urtication was due to the mechanical action of the hairs, 

 or to the presence of formic acid, or some other irritant poison, in glands at the base 

 of the hairs. There appeared to be no doubt that in some species the irritation was 

 merely due to mechanical action. 



Mr. P. Crowley exhibited a collection of Lepidoptera recently received from 

 West Africa. 



Mr. H. Goss announced the capture by Mr. G. D. Tait, at Oporto, in September 

 last, of a specimen of Anosia Plexippus, and remarked that only two specimens had 

 been previously recorded from the Continent of Europe. 



liord Walsingham read a paper entitled " A Revision of the Genera Acrolophws, 

 Poey, and Anaphora, Clem. ; " and he exliibited about twenty new species of these 

 and allied genera. The paper was discussed by Mr. Stainton, Mr. McLachlan, 

 Mr. Champion, and Dr. Sharp. 



Mr. Poulton read " Notes in 1886 on Lepidopterous Larvae, &c." In the 

 discussion which ensued, Lord Walsingham referred to instances of protective 

 resemblance in larvae, and alluded to the existence in certain species, especially of the 

 genus Melltcea, of prothoracic glands. Further instances of protective resemblance 

 were cited by Mr. Jenner Weir. Dr. F. A. Dixey remarked on the extraordinary 

 powers of contraction which appeared to be possessed by the retractor muscle of the 

 flagellum in D. vinula. The discussion was continued by Mr. Gervase Mathew, 

 Mr. W. White, Dr. Sharp, Mr. Porritt, and others. — H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. 



END OF VOL. XXIII. 



