OBITUAEV. 20S 



of breeding experiments with these insects were briefly described. 

 The wonderful similarity, both in form and habits of the Leaf Insect 

 to various plant structures was remarked upon, and it was pointed out 

 that development is slow and requires considerable heat and moisture 

 for it^ continuance, restricting the geographical distribution of these 

 creatares to some of the islands of the Tropical Zone. Sexual 

 dimorphism is very pronounced, the females being large and 

 foliaceous, whilst the males are much more elongate and are 

 not, therefore, so leaf-like in appearance. The feeding habits 

 of S. iinttata were described in some detail, as were also the 

 methods of oviposition obtaining in the two families under considera- 

 tion. The Mcuititlae possess some strange modifications in structure, 

 resulting from their carnivorous habits. Thus, the front legs, 

 which are modified for the seizure of prey, are developed to an 

 extent out of all proportion to the same limbs in other insects. 

 The Mantidae enjoy a wider distribution than the Phasmidae, 

 being abundantly represented in all the warmer regions of the 

 world, including South Europe. P. argus (iEGON). — Dr. P. F. 

 Tinne exhibited I'lebcim anjits (aeyoii), from the Mew Forest and other 

 localities. April lot/i. — Lepidopteiia of Wickkn. — The Rev, S. 

 Proudfoot, of Altrincham, communicated a paper, " Collecting in 

 Wicken and District," in which he gave a most interesting resume of 

 his experiences in the district among the Lepidoptera, describing the 

 various methods of collecting practised, and enumerating the special 

 msects peculiar to Fenland. Madeiran butterflies. — Dr. Tinne 

 exhibited a drawer of Madeiran Rhopalocera, comprising rijmincis 

 utalanta and var. Cidlirue, L'yranieii^ cardtii, hsuria lathonia, doiias 

 eilima, a>nd ^iatyius aentele. Neuroptera. — Mr. Leonard West brought 

 live specimens of Taenioi>teri/.v nebtdom and yainoura inconspicua from 

 Heapy, near Chorley. Aberrations of Lepidoptera. — Mr. Wm. 

 Mansbridge showed a fine intermediate variety oi Anii'lddads betularia, 

 bred from a wild larva taken at Simon's Wood, Lanes., and a uni- 

 colorous fuscous-grey aberration of Scvparia ambi(iualis, from 

 Burnley. Saturniid.e. — Mr. Oscar Whitaker exhibited a pair of Attacus 

 orizu/ia bred on Willow. 



<D B I T U AR Y. 



Professor John Bernard Smith. 



Two books on our Library shelves recall the above name to us, 

 one is Economic Kntoinoloiji/, an example of those admirable summaries 

 of Entomological Science, serving the double purpose of an introduction 

 to Entomology in general and as a book of reference for those interested 

 in economic Agriculture, etc., the other book is A Catalogue nf the 

 Lepidopteroiifi SHpcrj'aiiiilij yoctiiidae found in Boreal America, a useful 

 book of reference for systematists and students. 



.John Bernard Smith was born in New York in 1858, and was 

 brought up to the practice of law. But in 1884 the uncongenial 

 nature of this profession conquered him and he accepted an appoint- 

 ment in the Department of Agriculture, going as Curator in 1886 to 

 the U.S. National Museum at Washington. During the three years of 

 his work in that institution he published some excellent works 

 mcluding a Monouraph of the Sphinyidtp of America north of Mexico, A 



