162 - [December, 



country the worst that can be said about our midges is that they are excessively 

 irritating and annoying. In Hungary, &c., a species (<S. coluinhaczense) has long 

 been known to cause death in cattle and horses. In the United States there are two 

 species that often cause great destruction to all kinds of domestic animals, the loss of 

 stock thereby being sometimes enormous, and death in man also is said to have 

 occurred. To realize this, one has to take into account the extent of the swarms of | 

 these minute pests, and the myriads attacking a single unfortunate animal. As ini 

 true gnats, &c., it is only the ? that sucks blood. As only a tithe of the $ Simulia^. 

 can ever have a taste of blood, it has been surmised that this taste might, in some! 

 occult manner, benefit the race. Prof. Eiley thinks otherwise, and opines that a ? 

 gorged with blood dies almost instantly; what may be death to the attacked is certain 

 death to the attackers. We would gladly notice other chapters in this valuable 

 Keport did space permit. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society 

 October 27tA, 1887.— E. Adkin, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Messrs. C. E. M. Ince and W. H. B. Fletcher, M.A., were elected Members of 

 the Society. 



Mr. C. A. Briggs exhibited dwarfed form.s and varieties of Lyccetia Cori/clon, Fb 

 taken this year. Mr. C. E. M. Ince, a variety of the under-side of Argynnis Paphia, 

 L. Mr. Sheldon, living larvse of JEupithecia expallidata, Gn., and Aphomia sociella, 

 L., and a discussion ensued as to the hibernation of this species in the larval stage. 

 Mr. Tutt, a cocoon of Satiirnia pavonia, L., having two exits, there being only one 

 pupa inside. Mr. Tutt stated tliat Mr. Clark, of Hackney, had met with a similar, 

 cocoon of Bomlyx trifolii, Esp. Mr. Eobinson, who was present as a visitor^ 

 Tapinostola fulva, Hb., Plu.sia chryson, Esp., and a specimen of a Noctiia which 

 Mr. Weir said was probably a variety of Orthosia itpsilon, Bork. Mr. E. Adkin, 

 read " Notes on collecting at Eastbourne during August and part of September." At, 

 the close of the paper a discussion ensued, in which Messrs. J. J. Weir, Sheldon, 

 Tutt, Cooper, Carrington, Tugwell, Wellman, and Billups took part. 



November 10th, 1887. — The President in the Chair. 



Messrs. A. M. Xeay, J. H. A. Jenner, and A. Eobinson, were elected Members. 



Mr. J. A. Cooper exhibited a curious form of Hadena dentiva, Esp., red forms 

 of Noctua glareosa, Esp., a series oi Noctua castanea, Esp., from Perth, and a series 

 of Tephrosia biundularia, Bork, from Derliyshire. Mr. Oldham, a strongly marked 

 variety of Noctua baia, Fb., &c. Mr. Tugwell, Irish, English, and Scotch forms of 

 Soarmia repandata, L. Mr. Mera, fine varieties of Arctia caia, L., bred from ova 

 hatched in June. Mr. Kenward also exhibited varieties of ^. caia. Mr. J. A. Clark 

 Polyommatiis Phlaas, L. (bred), and contributed notes. Mr. Druce, a melanio 

 variety of Vanessa urticce, L., taken in Mexico. Mr. Sheldon, a long series of 

 Tephrosia biundularia, Bork, from Derbyshire, and contributed notes. Mr. Tutt, 

 specimens of Diantha'cia compita, Fb., from Germany, and a variety of D. nana, 

 Eott., very closely approaching the specimens of compta. Mr. West (Gi-eenwicli), 

 species of Dytiscus. Mr. Billups, Astynomus cedilis, L., Strangalia auruleida, F., 

 and Nehria complanata, L. Mr. Tutt read a paper on " Darwin's Theory of 

 Hybridism." — H. W. Barker, Hon. Secretary. 



