SOCIETIES. 247 



which, I think, is more usual, though several of these latter trees stood 

 quite near. I may also note that many instances of this moth being taken 

 iu the neighbourhood of Aldborough and Saxmundham have been recorded 

 of late years, but specimens were taken by my brothers here one so early 

 as 1875, and two more in the years 1876 and 1879 respectively. Since the 

 latter date S. pinastri has not been taken in this neighbourhood until last 

 year, when the larvae were discovered, — A. P. Waller ; Waldringfield, 

 Woodbridge, Suffolk, June 27th, 1894. 



Pterostoma palpina and Lithosia mesomella at Delamere Forest. 

 — On July 2^nd, 1893, I took two nearly full-fed larvae of P. j^alpina oflf 

 poplar. They pupated a day or two after. A fine imago (male) emerged 

 May 31st. The only other record I can find for the district is " Puddington, 

 1 specimen" {'Macrolepidoptera of the Cheshire District,' by Alfred O. 

 Walker). On June 16th, 1894, T found a fine fresh specimen of L. meso- 

 mella at rest on a birch-leaf close to the ground. Excepting the capture at 

 Tan-y-Bwlch on June 9th, 1893 (Entom. xxvi. 289), I am not aware that 

 this species has ever been previously taken in this district. — J. Arkle ; 

 2, George Street, Chester. 



Larva of Catephia alchymista. — On July 5th I went mothing with 

 a friend in Abbot's Wood, near Eastbourne. We happened to shake an 

 oak-bough on the chance of getting some larvse, when down fell two larvae, 

 which to all appearances are those of Catephia alchymista. They were 

 identified by Mr. Watkins, of Villa Sphinx, Eastbourne, who thought they 

 were undoubtedly C. alchymista. They both spun up the next day, before 

 I could carefully note the markings ; but this is the description as far as I 

 can remember : — In shape very much like Catocala nupta ; colour reddish 

 grey ; ventral area bluish white, with a black spot on each segment, with- 

 out legs or claspers ; very conspicuous yellow collar ; two small pyramidal 

 humps on the fifth segment, and two slightly larger on the twelfth, covered 

 with black hairs. Down each side was a row of small yellow warts, one on 

 each segment, emitting one or two black hairs. The whole dorsal area 

 speckled with minute black dots. CaUhjenia miniata was common in the 

 wood, and Aryyrmis aglaia swarmed on Beachy Head. — H. W. Shep- 

 heard-Welwyn ; Glenryde, Bidborough, near Tunbridge Wells, July 17th, 



[The 5th of July seems to be exceptionally early for C. alchymista to 

 pupate. On the Continent the larva is found from July to September. 

 Our correspondent's description of the larva agrees in a striking manner 

 with that given by Newman in ' British Moths,' p. 463. — Ed.] 



SOCIETIES. 



South London Entomological and Natural History Society. — 

 May Mth, 1894. E. Step, Esq., President, in the chair. It was 

 announced that Mr. T. W. Hall, F.E.S., had been elected a Vice- 

 President in place of Mr. J. Jenner Weir. Mr. C. A. Briggs exhibited 

 a variety of Lycana aryiolus, L., having several spots on the under 

 side lengthened into streaks and some united ; also a variety of Vanessa 

 io, L., with the eye-spot only partially developed. Mr. Hall, a specimen 

 of Dicranura bicuspis, Bork., with its cocoon, and remarked how closely 



