SOCIETIES. 107 



1887, p. xxiii), by which they were deiuuled of their scales so as to expose 

 the neuration. Dr. P. B. Mason exhiliited cocoons of a species ot" spider, — 

 Theridion pallens, Black., — from Cannock Chase, distinguished by tlie 

 presence of large blunt processes on their surfare. Mr. H. Goss exliibited, 

 for Mr. N. F. Dobree, a number of galls of CoccidcB, picked off trees 

 of Acacia meluiwxyloa and Grevillea robiista growing in the Market 

 Square, Natal. These galls had been referred to Mr. J. W. Douglas, who 

 expressed an opinion tliat they belonged to the Fam. Brachyscelidae, and 

 probably to the genus Brachyscelis, Schrader. He said tliat most of the 

 species lived on FjUcaUiptas. Captain H. J. Elwes exhibited a long and 

 varied series of Tcrias Iiecabe. He remarked that all the specimens which 

 had strongly defined chocolate markings were taken in the cold and dry 

 season, and that those which were without, or almost without, markings, 

 were taken in the hot and wet season. Captain Elwes further observed 

 that he believed that many specimens which had been described as distinct 

 were merely seasonal forms of this variable species. Mr. W. L. Distant, 

 Mr. F. D. Godman, Prof. Meldola, Mr. H. T. Stainton, and Mr. G. Lewis 

 took part in the discussion which ensued. Mr. W. Dannatt exhibited 

 specimens of Thaumantis hoirqua, AVest, from Shanghai. Mr. H. Burns 

 exhibited, and made remarks on, a number of nests of living ants of the 

 following species, viz., Formica fusca, Lasius alienus, L. Jiavus, L. niger, 

 Myrmica scuhrinodis, &c. One of the nests contained a queen of L. jiavus 

 which had been in the exhibitor's possession since September, 1882. 

 Mr. G. C. Bignell communicated a paper entitled " Description of a 

 new species of British Ichneumonidge." Mr. A. G. Butler communicated 

 a paper entitled " A few words in reply to Mr. Elwes' statements respecting 

 the incorporation of the Zeller Collection vvith the General Collection of 

 Lepidoptera in the Natural History Museum." Capt. Elwes, Mr. Stainton, 

 Mr. Godman and others took part in the discussion which ensued. — 

 H. Goss and W. W. Fowler, Joint Hon. Sees. 



South London Entomological Axn Natural History Society. — 

 /i;))•^/25f/^,1889.— T.R.Billups,F.E.S., President, in the chair. Messrs. W. 

 Cant, of Regent's Park, and R. Fortune, of Harrogate, were elected members. 

 Mr. Cooper exhibited a series of Taniocawjy^ populeti, bred from a specimen 

 said to have been taken at Rannoch. Mr. Tugwell said that the specimens 

 did not differ from the southern form of the species, and Mr. Carringtou 

 remarked that the same form was taken in Yorkshire. Mr. Adye showed a 

 long series of Asphalia ridens, from the New Forest. Mr. Fremlin, varieties 

 of Vanessa urticm, picked from 3500 specimens bred by him last season ; in 

 some of the specimens the variation was in the shade of colour of the wings, 

 in others in the size of the two spots on the superior wings and in tiie 

 duplication of the spots, and in many in the absence of the pigment. These 

 last Mr. Fremlin said emeiged with crumpled wings, and died within a few- 

 hours of doing so. There were also several varieties of Vanessa io in ]\Ir. 

 Fremlin's exhibit. Mr. W. West ^Greenwich) exhibited the specimen of 

 Carpocapsa pomonella, referred to in Mr. Cockerell's note, read at the 

 previous meeting. Mr. T. R. Billups, a large number of British spiders, 

 mounted on card, and he stated that he had very little difficulty in pressing 

 them in this way. Mr. Wilkinson, an example of Ncplida inaurata, from 

 the Seychelle Islands, but expressed some doubt as to whether the insect 

 was properly named. Mr. Carrington contributed a paper, " British 

 Spiders,"' which was followed bv a discussion. 



