SOCIETIES. 239 



Mr. E. Aclkin, short series of Zonaria orhicnlaria, inbred from 

 New Forest larvae, the specimens showing a good deal of variation ; 

 also living larvae of Tiicra firmata, remarking on their close 

 resemblance to the pine-needles; and of Tcphrosia imnctularia, 

 the larvffi, when first hatched, being all of a green colour, and, 

 after moulting, several had become of a mottled brownish colour, 

 while others were green. Mr. E. Joy, Lcucania im2)udens from 

 Wicken Fen. Mr. Eobson, a variety of Argynnis ciiphrosyyie, 

 the silver markings on the under surface being very prettily 

 distributed. Mr. Tugwell, two specimens of Eupithecia cxtensaria 

 from King's Lynn, and made observations thereon ; also speci- 

 mens of Mclanippe fiuctnata and the var. costovata , which he 

 thought had no claim to a varietal name. Mr. Carrington, 

 a si^ecimen of Sirex gij/as. Mr. West stated be had on several 

 occasions seen this species drying its wings on willow-trees. 



August dtli. — The Vice-President in the chair. Mr. E. Waller, 

 of Clapham, and Mr. Y. N. Younge, of Eotherham, were elected 

 members. Mr. Cook exhibited a variety of SmeriutJius tiU(e, the 

 lower part of the central band on the central wings being absent. 

 Mr. Wellman, bred examples of Plusia chryson and Eugonia 

 autumnaria, and said he had bred nine females and only two 

 males of the latter. Mr. Joy, bred specimens of Geometra vernaria 

 and Pseudoterpna pruinata. Mr. C. A. Briggs, Zygacna vwUlotl, 

 taken this year in the New Forest. Mr. Eobson, living larvae of 

 Panolis piniperda. Mr. Carrington, specimens oiBoarmia repnndata 

 and Venusia camhrica, sent for exhibition by Mr. Batty, of Sheffield, 

 and called attention to the melanic appearance of the specimens. 

 This exhibit gave rise to a discussion on melanism, Messrs. Weir, 

 West (Greenwich), Step, Carrington, and others taking part. 

 Mr. West (Streatham), a short series of Ilomoeosoma si}iuvll(i, 

 taken near Brighton. Mr. Weir, an example of the imago of 

 Mynnelcon europccus, bred by him from larviB taken at Fontain- 

 bleau in 1887. Mr. Carrington made some observations on a 

 fortnight's collecting on the Chiltern Hills, and as to the late 

 appearance of many species of Lcpidoptcra. Mr. J. Jenncr 

 Weir read an extract from a letter he had received from 

 My. Cockerell, dated the 21st May, 1888, referring to Mr. 

 Cockereli's theory that Goncptery.v rJt<uiini and G. cieopatva 

 originated as seasonal races, or, as Mr. Weir said he should 

 term it, horeomorphic races. — II. W. Baukkii, U<m. Sec. 



