31(5 [December, 1892. 



specimens of the first brood was remarkable in having the under-side of a very dark 

 colour, identical with typical specimens of the second brood. He thouf^ht the 

 peculiarity of colouring in this specimen had been caused by a retarded emergence 

 from the pupa, due to low temperature and absence of sunshine. 



Mr. F. W. Frohawk exhibited a series of striking varieties of Satyrus hyperan- 

 thus, bred from ova laid by a female taken in the New Forest in July last. 



Mr. F. D. Grodman exhibited a specimen of Amphonyx lledon, Cr., received 

 from Jalapa, Mexico, having a pouch-like excrescence at the apex of its body. 

 Mr. McLachlan, Mr. H. J. Elwes, and Mr. Poulton commented on it. 



Mr. C. J. Grahan communicated a paper, entitled, " Additions to the Longi- 

 cornia of Mexico and Central America, with notes on some previously recorded 

 species." 



Mr. W. L. Distant communicated a paper, entitled, " Contributions to a know- 

 ledge of the Homopterous family Fulyoridce." 



Mr. Oswald Latter read a paper (which was illustrated by the Society's new 

 oxy-hydrogen lantern), entitled, "The Secretion of Potassium-Hydroxide hj Di- 

 cranura vinula, and the emergence of the imago from the cocoon." The author 

 stated that the imago produced, probably from the mouth, a solution of caustic 

 potash for the purpose of softening the cocoon. The solution was obtained for 

 analysis by causing the moths to perforate artificial cocoons made of filter-paper. 

 Prof. Meldola said that the larva of I), vinula secretes strong formic acid, and Mr. 

 Latter had now shown that the imago secr-etes potassium-hydroxide, a strong alkali. 

 He said he had long been familiar with the fact that the secretion from the imago 

 of D. vinula was alkaline to test-paper, but he had never investigated its composition ; 

 and he also stated that the fact that any animal secreted a strong caustic alkali was 

 a new one. Mr. Merrifield, Mr. Hanbury, Mr. Gahan, Mr. Poulton, and Prof 

 Meldola continued the discussion. 



Mr. H. J. Elwes and Mr. J. Edwards read a paper, also illustrated by the 

 oxy-hydrogen hintern, entitled, " A revision of the genus Ypthima, principally 

 founded on the form of the genitalia in the male sex." Mr. McLachlan said he 

 attached great importance to the genitalia as structural characters m determining 

 species, and he believed that he could name almost any species of European Tri- 

 chopiera simply from an examination of the detached abdomens of the males. Mr. 

 Osbert Salvin said he had examined the genitalia of a large number of Hesperidce, 

 with the view ol considering their value in distinguishing species, but at present he 

 had not matured his observations. Mr. Jacoby, Mr. Bethune-Baker, Colonel 

 Swinhoe, Mr. ijewis. Dr. Sharp, Mr. Hampson, and Mr. Champion continued the 

 discussion. 



Mr. S. H. Scudder communicated a paper, entitled, " New light on the forma- 

 tion of the abdominal pouch in Farnassins." Mr. Elwes said he had based his 

 classification of :he species of this genus largely on the structure of this abdominal 

 pouch in tlie female. Mr. JennerWeir remarked that similar abdominal pouch was 

 to bo found in tlie genus Acrcea ; and Mr. Hampson I'eferred to a male and female 

 of Parnassius i a Mr. Leech's collection, in which the pouch had come away from 

 the female and v/as adhering to the male organs. — H. Gross and W. W. Fowlee, 

 Son. Secretaries.. 



END OF YOL. Ill (Second Seeies). 



