284 [December, 1910. 



and an example of the host captured at the same time. Mr. P. J. Bai-rand, 

 examples of two new forms of Melitxa aurinia from Italy (a) var. aurunca, 

 Turati, from the Aiuamci Mountains, Southern-Central Italy, first discovered in 

 May, 1909, by Sio-nor Querci, of Formia, the most striking featiu-e being the 

 wide black median band on the upper-side, contrasting with a rather pale 

 ground-coloiu- ; and (b) var. comacina, Turati, from above Como, North Italy. 

 Mr. A. E. Gibbs, a case of butterflies containing a representative collection of 

 the twenty-eight species met witli by liim at Blidah and Hammam R'Irha, &c., 

 during an entomological excursion to Algeria made at the end of May and the 

 beginning of Jime tliis year. The weather was extremely bad throiighout, 

 being cold, wet, and windy ; the most interesting species taken in the first- 

 mentioned locality were Euchloe eupheno and Ccenonympha arcanioides ; in the 

 latter Dryas pandora and Melitma setheria var. algerica. Mr. W. J. Kaye, many 

 remarkable wasp-like and beetle-like Syntomidse, with their models, the wasps 

 and beetles from British Guiana, S.E. Brazil and Venezuela. Attention was 

 particularly drawn to the wonderfully similar habits of the one to the other, so 

 much so, that it was impossible in some instances to distinguish tlie moth from 

 the model until it settled. This was the case with Pseudosphex noverca and 

 the wasp Zethus binodis, which Mr. Kaye had caught on Ageratum flowers at 

 Fernandes Pinheiro in Parana. From Caracas, Venezuela, were shown also 

 the Syntomid Macrocneme lades, with a Pompilid wasp of an undescribed 

 species. The two insects had been caught flying together. In the discussion 

 which followed, the President said that cases of close similarity with insects of 

 different Orders were always welcome, and that in this instance Mr. Kaye had 

 shown that the resemblance extended not only to outside appearances, but to 

 the hal)its of the several mimics and their models. Arguments based upon 

 cabinet specimens alone as to the supposed resemblance of originals in the 

 field were to be accepted with caution. Mr. C. J. Gahan, Mr. G. C. Champion, 

 the Eev. F. D. Morice, Mr. J. W. Tutt, Mr. A. Sich, Dr. T A. Chapman, and 

 other Fellows joined in the discussion. Mr. E. D. Nevinson, bred series of 

 Xanthia ocellaris, developing three distinct aberrant forms, and examples of 

 X. fulvago and X. gilvago for comparison, the exhibit demonstrating the 

 apparent transition from one species to the other through the typical and 

 variant forms. The only other series bred from British ova by Mr. Mills in 

 1908 displayed no variation of any kind, and were all typical specimens. The 

 Hon. N. C. Rothschild, a number of Anthrocerids captru'ed in Great Britain, 

 and called attention to some remarkable specimens secm-ed at Ashton Wold, 

 Oundle, which belonged to the form known as Anthrocera Mppocrepidis ; he 

 also showed some enormous specimens of A. filipendulse from the same locality, 

 and pointed out tliat this large race had apjjarently exterminated A. Mppo- 

 crepidis in a locality where that species had only recently appeared. Com- 

 menting on Mr. Rothschild's exhibits, Mr. J. W. Tutt said he also found the 

 insect confined to rough pastui-es, and also with a tendency to die out in one 

 spot and appear in a similar one at no great distance. 



Sir George H. Kenrick communicated a paper " On some rare and undescribed 

 Butterflies from Dutch New Guinea." Mr. A. E. Wileman, on " New Species of 

 Heterocera from Japan." — H. Rowland-Brown, Hon. Secretary. 



END OF VOL. XXI (Second Series). 



