SOCIETIES. iyi 
food-habits of birds, or that any careful and exhaustive inquiry had 
been made into the subject. Instances were also cited to show how 
very easily destruction of this kind might be overlooked ; while nega- 
tive evidence derived from an examination of the contents of birds 
might be very misleading, owing to the fact that in so many instances 
the butterflies’ wings are not swallowed, so that any recognition of the 
remains becomes extremely difficult. Finally, it was urged that the 
large body of evidence resulting from merely casual observations 
indicated that the assumption that birds do not eat butterflies to any 
extent is certainly premature, and that a fuller inquiry will probably 
show it to be entirely unfounded. A discussion followed in which 
Mr. A. W. Bacot, Mr. H. Rowland-Brown, Mr. H. Main, Mr. A. E. 
Tonge, Mr. H. M. Edelsten, Mr. J. W. Tutt, and other Fellows gave 
their experiences on the subject, Mr. W. Sharpe maintaining that 
the actions of the sparrow, as a domesticated bird, was not evidence 
for conditions which exist in the case of purely natural species. Dr. 
T. A. Chapman suggested that the paucity of observations on the 
point was largely due to the shyness of birds eating in the presence 
of human beings. Mr. W. J. Kaye said that he had never observed 
birds attacking butterflies in Tropical South America, and Comman- 
der J. J. Walker gave similar testimony with regard to the many 
Australasian and other oversea localities visited by him.—H. 
RowuaAnp-Brown, M.A., Hon. Secretary. 
THe Souta Lonpon EnromonocicaL AND Naturat History 
Society.—February 11th, 1909.—Mr. A. Sich, F.E.S., President, in 
chair.—Mr. Bauman, of Chingford, was elected a member.—Mr. 
Newman exhibited portions of the stems of Viburnwm and pointed 
out the evidences showing that the larve of Ageria andreniformis 
were present. They were found in a shady locality.—Mr. Tonge, 
stereographs of the ova of Tvliacea citrago in sitt on lime twigs, and 
of Ruralis betule on sloe.—Mr. Main, a second brood specimen of 
Melampias eptphron, bred on Sept. 20th, 1908; a very light example 
of Stauropus fag from the New Forest, and a very dark form from 
Epping Forest.—Dr. Hodgson, a dark, smoky specimen of Brenthis 
selene from H. Sussex, with rayed submarginal markings.—Mr. Coote, 
bred and captured specimens of Calymnia pyralina.—Mr. R. Adkin, 
a series of Camptogramma fluviata bred from Nov. 21st to Dec. 13th 
last, from Hastbourne.—Mr. Harrison reported that the results of 
the cross breeding of the forms of Aplecta nebulosa by Mr. Mans- 
bridge, were grey x thompsoni = all robsoni and robsoni x grey = fifty 
per cent. each of these forms. A long and interesting discussion took 
place as to the oviposition and early life of the lava of the Aigeriids. 
It was noted that in the first instar the larve of several species 
were hairy and presumably external feeders. 
February 25th, 1909.—The President in the chair.—Mr. Stone, of 
Clapham, was elected a member.—Dr. Hodgson exhibited a series of 
Nemoria viridata taken in 1906-8 in Lancashire and Surrey, and 
commented on the forms shown, including ab. concavilinea. He also 
showed a third brood specimen of Celastrina argiolus in which the 
blue was almost wholly replaced by dull grey.—Mr. West (of Green- 
wich), a cabinet drawer of Coleoptera, the first of the rearrangement 
of the Society's Collection—Mr. Main, for Mr. Baldock, a yellow 
