140 [November, 



Mr. South exliibifed an interesting series of about 150 specimens of Boarmia 

 repandata, bred in 1876, and during the present year, from larvae collected on 

 bilberry in the neighbourhood of Lynmouth, North Devon, including strongly 

 marked examples of the typical form, extreme forms of the var. conversaria, Hiib., 

 a form intermediate between the type and the variety last named, and examples ol 

 the var. destrigaria, Steph. Mr. South said that an examination of the entire series 

 vFould show that the extreme forms were connected with the type by intermediate 

 forms and their aberrations. 



Mr. Poulton exhibited young larvse of Apahtra Iris, from the New Forest ; 

 also eight young larvae of Sphinx convolvuli reared from ova laid on the 29th 

 August last by a specimen captured by Mr. Pode in South Devon. Mr. Poulton 

 Bald the life-history of the species was of extreme interest, throwing much light 

 upon tliat of Sp>hinx ligustri, as well as upon difficult points in the ontogeny of the 

 species of the allied genera Acherontia and Smerinthus. Mr. Stainton commented 

 on the interesting nature of the exhibition, and said he was not aware that the larvte 

 of Sphinx convolvuli had ever before been seen in this country in their early 

 stages. Mr. McLachlan remarked that females of this species captured on former 

 occasions, whoi the insect had been unusually abundant, had been found upon 

 dissection to have the ovaries aborted. 



Mr. R. W. Lloyd exhibited two specimens of Elater pomonce, and one of 

 Mesosa nubila, recently taken in the New Forest. 



Mr. Porritt exhibited a series of melanic varieties of Diiirnea fagella, from 

 Huddersfield, and stated that the typical pale form of the species had almost 

 disappeared from that neighbourhood. 



Mr. Goss exhibited, for Mr. J. Brown, of Cambridge, a number of puparia of 

 Cecidomyia destructor (Hessian fly), received by the latter from various places in 

 Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Wiltshire. Mr. Verrall, in reply to a question 

 by Mr. Enock, said he believed that the Hessian fly was not a recent introduction 

 into Great Britain, but had been here probably for a great number of years. Prof. 

 Riley said he was unable to agree with Mr. Verrall, and was of opinion that the 

 Hessian fly had been recently introduced into this country. Its presence here had 

 not been recorded by Sir Joseph Banks, by Curtis (who paid great attention to farm 

 insects), by Prof. Westwood, by the late Mr. Kirby, or by any other entomologist in 

 this country who had given especial attention to economic Entomology. It seemed 

 highly improbable, if this insect has been here so many years, that its presence 

 should have so long remained undetected both by entomologists and agriculturists. 

 It had been stated that the insect was introduced into America by the Hessian 

 troops in 1777, but this was impossible, as its existence at that date was unknown 

 in Hesse. Mr. McLachlan, Mr. Elwes, Mr. Verrall, Mr. Jacoby, and Dr. Sharp 

 continued the discussion. 



Mr. James Edwards communicated the second and concluding part of his 

 "Synopsis of British Homoptera-Cicadina." 



Prof. Westwood contributed "Notes on the life-history of various species of 

 the Neuropterous genus Ascalaphus." 



Mr. Elwes read a paper " On the Butterflies of the Pyrenees," and exhibited a 

 large number of species which he had recently collected there. Mr. McLachlan 

 said he spent some weeks in the Pyrenees in 18!S6, and was able to confirm Mr. 

 Elwes' statements as to the abundance of butterflies. He remarked on the 

 occurrence of Spanisli forms in the district, and on the absence, as a rule, of the 

 peat-bogs so common in the Swiss Alps. The discussion was continued by Mr. 

 Distant, Mr. White, Dr. Sharp, and others. — H. Goss, Son. Secretary. 



