1906. J • 259 



Porritt enumerates no fewer than thirty species of the larger moths which are now 

 known to regularly produce nearly or quite black specimens in the Huddersfield 

 district ; and in some cases, as in the well-known instance of Amphidast/s hetularia, 

 and more recently that of Odontopera hidentata, the melanic forms appear to be 

 well on the way to locally supersede the ordinary type of these species. A nearly 

 equal number of moths are there also being apparently influenced towards the same 

 end, specimens much darker than the typical forms being often taken, though few 

 actually melanic examples have yet occurred ; while a very few species show a 

 tendency to become lighter in colour, the case o( Acronycta menyanthidis, which in 

 other parts of Yorkshire is often nearly black, being especially interesting. The 

 generally accepted explanation of the cause of this strongly localized and rapidly 

 increasing melanism, viz., the protection afPorded to the darker moths by day when 

 at rest on walls and tree trunks blackened by the smoke of a humid manufacturing 

 district, is largely discounted by Mr. Porritt's observation that even pale-coloured 

 and conspicuous moths are but little liable to the attacks of enemies under these 

 conditions ; and that instances of very marked melanism are frequent in such 

 smokeless areas as the Hebrides and the Shetland Isles. Incidentally some very 

 interesting information as to the chief enemies of moths is given, and the paper is 

 well worthy of the attention of entomologists and all others interested in the study 

 of the ])henomenon of melanism. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society : 

 Thursday, September 13th, 1906.— Mr. H. Main, B.Sc, Vice-President, in the 

 Chair. 



Mr. Goulton exhibited a long series of Calymnia trapezina from the New Forest, 

 the only species met with in several nights' sugaring in August. Many were var. 

 rufa, and a few var. ochrea. He also showed larvae of Acronycta Ugustri from 

 ova. Mr. Bellamy, series of Adopxa lineola from Grravesend. Messrs. Harrison 

 and Main, long bred series of Sadena contigua aud Coremia unidentaria from the 

 New Forest. Mr. Barnett, (1) very dark bred examples of Abraxas grossulariata 

 from G-reenwich larvae, one of which was rayed on the hind-wings ; (2) very pale, 

 dark suffused, and extremely dark forms of Hybemia marginaria from W. Wick- 

 ham, Mr. Sich, living larvte of Pieris daplidice from Greneva, feeding on mignonette. 

 Dr. Chapman, (1) a short seines of Lampides telicamis, bred from eggs and larvae 

 found in N. W. Spain, and discussed the relation between the marbling of the 

 under-surface and the usual Lycaenid spotting ; (2) specimens of Chrysophanus 

 phlxas, Polyommatus bellargus, L. boetica, and L. telicamis in illustration of his 

 further remarks on the spotting. Messrs. West and Ashly, some seventy species 

 of Chrysomelidx and CurcuUonidse from the New Forest this year. Mr. Clark 

 reported numbers of Catocala nupta resting on the walls of Paddington Infirmary, 

 all most conirpicuously situated. Mr. Main had met with numbers near Cossus 

 infected trees. Mr. J. W. Tutt gave some most interesting remarks on his trip to 

 the French Alps in August. Mr. Kaye exhibited some very large specimens of 

 Thecla betulse, bred from Huntingdon larvae, which were kept close in tin boxes, 



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