1895.1 197 



Societies. 



Birmingham Entomological Society : May 20lh, 1805. — Mr. P. W. 

 Abbott, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Abbott showed a series of Zygcena melUoti from the New Forest, for com- 

 parison with some doubtful specimens of Mr. Wainwriglit's, which he belicTed to 

 be only vars. of Z. lonicera ; also a pale specimen of Agrotis ripcB bred from Fresh- 

 water, and A. Ashioorthii from. North Wales, bred by Mr. Gregson. Mr. R. C. 

 Bradley showed PompUus viaticus from Wyre Forest, and remarked on the extra- 

 ordinary activity of the Family Pompilidce, and the difficulty of capturing 

 them. Mr. Valentine Smith, a variety of Rhagium lifasciatum from Edgbaston, 

 with the white colour much extended, making a white-looking specimen ; also Elater 

 lalteatus from Edgbaston, and three Ulster purpurascens from New Street in 

 the centre of the City. 



June \st to 4:ih. — The Fourth Annual Excursion was made to Cannock Chase, 

 but owing to the dullness of the weather, and the very small attendance of Members, 

 notliing of importance was done, though a number of insects were secured. 



Jinie nth, 1895. — Mr. R. C. Bradley in the Chair. 



Mr. A. H. Martineau showed Siiwdendron cylindricutn, $ , from Solihull ; 

 Criorhina asilica from Trench Woods ; and some unusually fine specimens of 

 Aiidrena rosce, var. Trimmerana, from Clifton Downs. Mr. P. W. Abbott, a number 

 of Lepidoptera taken during a three days' trip to Wicken at the end of May ; 

 amongst others were Arsilonche alhorenosa, Metiana flammea, Nascia cilialis, Acontia 

 luctuosa, Myelophila cribrum, Earias chlorana, Lithostege griseata, Hydrelia uncula, 

 Bapta taminata, and Phibalapteryx lignata. Mr. C. J. Wainwright, fine series of 

 Asthena luteata and Eupisteria heparata from Cannock Chase. Mr. R. C. Bradley, 

 a number of grass heads from Sutton Park covered with great numbers of Melanos- 

 toma scalare, which had been killed by a fungus ; he found great numbers, but only 

 in a small spot a few yards square, and all were on tiie grass flower heads only ; there 

 was only the one species too ; they had evidently been attacked by the fungus, and 

 had then gathered together at the one spot to die : while he was watching others 

 continued to arrive, and all remained to die. He also showed an Ichneumon, the 

 thorax of which, when taken, was covered with bright red parasites of largo size; 

 it made the insect look, when caught, as if it had a very large bright red thorax ; 

 the parasites looked like beetle larvae. He also showed a specimen of Crahro 

 pahnipes, with a cluster of eggs at the base of the wings on one side. Both of these 

 were from Sutton Park. Mr. Valentine Smith, the following from Cannock Cliase : 

 Plerostichus lepidus, Cymindis vaporarioruin, and Thymalus limbatus. — CoLBKAN 

 J. Wainwright, Hon. Secretary. 



The SorTH London Entomological and Natural History Society: 

 3Iay 23rd, 1895.— T. W. Hall, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Barrett, on belialf of Mr. Home, of Aberdeen, exhibited very long series of 

 both Agrotis cursoria, Bork., and A. tritici, L., from the N. E. Coast of Scotland 



