270 1^ October, 



from Scotland, and Euperia fuJvago from Sherwood Forest and Cannock Chase, 

 Mr. Colbran J. Wainwright read a paper upon " Isolation as a Factor in the Evolu- 

 tion of Species," in which he endeavoured to show that not only were the indirect 

 effects of isolation very considerable, but that directly it performed an important 

 part in the divergence of species without the assistance of natural selection. Con- 

 siderable discussion followed, in which Messrs. G-. H. Kenrick, Neville Chamberlain, 

 and R. C. Bradley joined. — Colbran J. Wainwright, Ron. Sec. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society: Sept. 12th, 1892.— 

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



Mr. F. N. Pierce, F.E.S., read a paper, entitled, " Some further researches upon 

 the genital structure of Lepidoptera." The author described the different species 

 in the genera Acronycta, Agrotis, Noctua, &c., and showed that in cases where the 

 identity or otherwise of species was disputed the genitalia might often be used as a 

 sure means of differentiation. The paper was illustrated by the author's prepara- 

 tions of these parts thrown upon a screen by the aid of oxy-hydrogen micro lantern, 

 and by photographs and specimens of each species described. The President exhi- 

 bited varieties of Angerona prunaria ; Messrs. G-regson and Robson, series of 

 Abraxas grossulariata, showing variation produced by food ; Mr. Scowcroft, varieties 

 of Xanthia cerago ; Mr. Wm. Johnson, a fine variety of Vanessa urticce, which had 

 the ground colour very pale, Bomhyx ruhi, in which the bands were absent, and 

 Orgyia fascelina with a mass of dark scales near the centre of the costa of the fore- 

 wing ; Mr. Prince, varieties of Abraxas grossulariata, and a specimen of Colias 

 Udusa, nearly the var. Helice, captured at Wallasey ; Mr. Barker, C. Edusa from 

 Crosby ; Mr. Crabtree, a large series of C. Edusa captured at Sidmouth, S. Devon, 

 who remarked that he had only taken one var. Helice among fifty-six Edusa. — F. N. 

 Pierce, Eon. Sec, 143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool : September 15th, 1892. 



NOTES ON COLLECTINO BUTTERFLIES IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF 



FRANCE. 



BY WILLIAM EDWAED NICHOLSON, F.E.S. 



To naturalists who have not sufficient leisure to be able to wander 

 far afield, there are, perhaps, few more interesting localities than the 

 south-eastern portion of France. The pleasant recollections of my 

 experiences at Digne in June, 1890, in company with my friends, Messrs. 

 Jones and Lemann, and already recorded by the former in this Magazine, 

 made me very willing to comply with the suggestion of Mr. Lemann, 

 that we should again visit these favoured regions. 



It was a great treat to escape from the cold and sunless summer 

 of 1891 in England into the warm district of the Mediterranean, as the 

 weather throughout our stay in the south was magnificent. 



We arrived at Aries, our first halting place, about mid-day on the 



