1892. J 113 



BiEMiNaHAM Entomological Society: March lUh, 1892. — Eev. C. F, 

 Thornewill in the Chair. 



Mr. R. C. Bradley showed several species of Culex taken at Sutton. Mr. G-. 

 T. Bethune-Baker showed ScoiJarice from St. Helena, which differed from British 

 ScoparicB in the possession of deeply serrated antennae. Mr. Baker said that even 

 from the mainland of Africa, nearest to St. Helena, he knew of no ScoparicB with 

 the same characteristics. Mr. Gr. H. Eenrick read a paper, " Some considerations 

 on Insects confined to small areas." He touched briefly upon self-evident causes of 

 localisation, mountain chains, &c. ; he entered fully into the causes of the presence 

 on our coast lines, in the fens, woods, &c., of many species only found in those 

 restricted districts in our country, though found in similar ones on the continent ; 

 he remarked that it seemed peculiar to find so many species restricted to so small an 

 area as our fens, for example, and showed that they represent a once very wide extent 

 of country, all fen, extending over the Grerman Sea to, and including, Holland, and 

 of which our Lincolnshire and Norfolk Fens, and those in Holland, are all that is left ; 

 the insects inhabiting this wide extent of country are now, to a considerable extent, 

 crowded into the few remaining spots, and hence we get many peculiar species in a 

 small area; he believed the same applied to coast species : our coast line having once 

 formed part of a very much more extented continental coast line ; to wood species, 

 our woods being the remains of former extensive forests, &c. A discussion followed, 

 in which Rev. C. F. Thornewill, Messrs. Gc. T. Bethune-Baker, R. C. Bradley, 

 and C. J. Wainwright joined.— Colbran J. Wainwright, Hon. Secretary. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society : March lUh, 1892.— 

 Mr. S. J. Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Messrs. H. Locke, of Birkenhead ; and Gr. Norel Deville, of Crosby ; were 

 elected Members. 



The President referred to the loss the Society and Naturalists generally had 

 sustained by the death of Francis Archer. Mr. William Webster, of St. Helen's, 

 read a paper, entitled, " Was Shakspeare an Entomologist ? " The author stated he 

 had examined the works of the poet, and found 207 references to insects, and, as far 

 as could be ascertained, mention of 30 kinds of insects, and showed by numerous 

 quotations that Shakspeare not only possessed a fair knowledge of entomology, but 

 that he was a philosophical observer of nature. Mr. Willoughby Grardner, F.R.Gr.S., 

 read a short note on the " Popular names of insects about Shakspeare's time," some 

 few of which still existed in country places. Mr. Webster exhibited Papilio 

 Zalmoxis. The President, Messrs. Stott, Harker, and the Hon. Secretai-y, long and 

 variable series of Noctua /estiva and confiua. Messrs. Harker and Jones, British 

 and continental forms of Lyccena Icarus.— F. N. Pierce, Hon. Secretary, 143, 

 Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. 



