OQ [January, 1892. 



o^ Agrotis cnrsoria, A. triticl, A. valligera, Hydrc^cia mioarea, H. nictitans, Epunda 

 latulenta, Hadena protea, Odontoptera hidentata, Cidaria immanata, C. testata, C. 

 pyraliata, and Boarmia repandata. 



The Eev. S. St. John exhibited two specimens of Lyccena argiades, taken in 

 Somersetshire by Dr. Marsh, in 1884 ; three specimens of Deilephiia euphorhice, bred 

 from larvse found feeding on Euphorbia paralias on the Cornish coast in September, 

 1889 ; and a series of various forms of Anfhocelis pistacina, all taken in a garden 

 at Arundel. Lord Walsinghara, Mr. Barrett, and Mr. McLachlan took part in the 

 discussion which ensued. 



Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited and made remarks on two dark specimens of 

 Zygcena Minos which had been caught by Mr. Blagg in Carnarvonshire. He re- 

 marked that the specimens were not representatives of complete melanism, and 

 suggested that the word "phceism " would be a correct word to apply to this and 

 similar departures fi'om the normal coloration of a species. 



Mr. C. J. G-alian exhibited specimens of the common " book-louse," Atropos 

 pnlsatoria, Fabr., which he had heard making a ticking noise similar to that made 

 by the "death-watch " (Anobium). 



Mr. B. A. Bower exhibited the following rare species of Micro- Lepidoptera : — 

 Spilonota pauperana, Frol. ; Gelechia osseella, Stn. ; ChrysocJysta bimacuJella, 

 Haw. ; and Elachisia cinqileUa, Fisch. Lord Walsingham and Mr. Tutt made 

 some remarks on the specimens. 



Mr. K.. Adkin exhibited a variety of Anthocharis cardaniinen, and one specimen 

 of Sesia .fcoliceformis bred from a larva found at Eannoch. 



Mr. G. T. Baker read a paper, entitled, " Notes on Lyccena {recte Thecia) 

 Rhymnufi, Tengstraemii, and pretiosa." A discussion followed, in which Lord 

 Walsingham, Mr. Elwes, and Mr. Baker took part. 



Mr. F. Merrifield read a paper, entitled, " The effects of artificial temperature 

 on the colouring of Vanessa urticcB, and certain other species of Lepidoptera." 

 The author stated that both broods of all three species of Selenia, Platypteryx 

 falcataria, Vanessa urticce, Bombyx quercns, and var. calluncB, and Chelonia Caja 

 were affected by temperature in the pupal stage, the lower temperature generally 

 producing the greater intensity and darkness of colour ; some of the Vanessa urticoi 

 made a near approach to the var. polaris of Northern Europe. A long discussion 

 ensued, in which Mr. E. B. Poulton, Mr. McLachlan, Prof. Meldola, Mi\ Barrett, 

 Mr. Jenner Weir, and Lord Walsingham took part, 



Mr. W. Buteson read a paper, entitled, " On the variation in the colour of the 

 cocoons of Eriogaster lanestris and Saturnia carpini," and exhibited a large number 

 of specimens in illustration of the paper. Lord Walsingham congratulated Mr. 

 Bateson on his paper, and on the intelligent care and method shown in his experi- 

 ments, and said that he was glad to see that at Cambridge there was an entomologist 

 ready to enter this interesting field of investigation, and perhaps at some future day 

 to contest the palm with Mr. Poulton as representing the sister University of 

 Oxford. He had noticed that the larvfE of S. carpini, if left in a box with dead 

 food, and probably partially starved, made a light-coloured cocoon ; but that when 

 tlie cocoon was made under natural conditions, on living food-plants on the moors, 

 it was of a dark colour. Mr. Poulton, Prof. Meldola, Mr. Bateson, and others con- 

 tinued the discussion. — H. Goss and W. W. Fowlee, Son. Sees. 



