190 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
—Mr. Ashdown exhibited a bred series of Spilosoma mendica, from 
the New Forest, one female having the spots enlarged and with a 
tendency to coalesce into transverse fasciz.—Mr. Buckstone, a speci- 
men of Bithys quercus var. bella, taken at Oxshott, July 24th, 1908. 
—Mr. Joy, a living larva of Hipparchia semele, pointing out its pro- 
tective habit of resting among dry bases of. grass-stems.—Mr. New- 
man, living larve of Dryas paphia, Argynnis adippe, and A. aglaia, 
and a very large example of Chrysophanus dispar. 
May 27th.—My. A. Sich, F.E.S., President, in the chair.—Mr. 
Ramsey, of Kew, was elected a member.—Dr. Chapman exhibited two 
very extreme forms of Pararge @geria, in which the fulvous areas 
were much enlarged. They were taken at Amelie les Bains.—Mr. 
Edwards and Myr. Carr, living specimens of Cucullia chamomille 
from south-east London.—Mr. Smith, a melanie specimen, var. 
haggarti, of Teniocampa pulverulenta (cruda) taken at Dover in April. 
—Mr. Edwards, larve of the stag-beetle (Lucanus cervus) found in 
some rotting wooden palings on Shooter’s Hill—Mr. Newman, an 
unusually extreme melanic female of Spzlosoma fuliginosa bred from 
Sheffield —Mr. Sich, a peculiar aberration in the sealing of Hwpithecia 
castigata.—Mr. West (Greenwich), specimens of the rare Coccinellid 
Halyzia 16-guttata, taken in the New Forest by Mr. Ashby and 
himself, and a series of Cassida fastuosa taken in some numbers by 
Mr. H. J. Turner, at Box Hill, on Inala conyza.—Mr. Lucas read a 
paper entitled, “The Scotch Fir (Pinus sylvestris), and illustrated 
his notes with a large number of lantern slides made from his own 
photographs, with a few slides of microscopical details by Mr. F. 
Noad-Clark.—Hy. J. Turner, Hon. Rep. Sec. 
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTomMotoGicaL Society. — Aprel 
19th, 1909.— Mr. R. Wilding in the chair.—A lecture was de- 
livered by Mr. R. Newstead, M.Se., on the ‘Natural History of 
Jamaica,” with especial reference to the insect fauna of the island, 
notably certain pests allied to the Insecta which had been particular 
objects of study, viz. the cattle ticks. The lecture was fully illustrated 
by lantern-slides, and by specimens brought back by Mr. Newstead. 
The results of the expedition, due to the initiative and support of Sir 
A. L. Jones, will be fully reported upon officially.—Dr. Tinne exhibited 
a series of Cenonympha typhon from various localities to show the 
range of variation in the species.—H. R. SwErtTine and Wm. Mans- 
BRIDGE, Hon. Secs. 
City oF Lonpon EntromoxuoaicaL Society.— March 16th, 1909. 
— Mr. A. W. Mera exhibited Stauropus fagi, taken at Hammer- 
smith in 1863.— Mr. A. J. Wellsdon, Camptogramma flwviata, 
bred from Bournemouth female, including many examples with 
interrupted fascia.—Discussion. Dr. T. A. Chapman opened a dis- 
cussion as to the cause of the scarcity or absence of a species (of 
Lepidoptera) that sometimes follows a period of exceptional abun- 
dance in some particular locality. The opener advanced as a possible 
explanation the theory that abnormal abundance might be due to 
the temporary inactivity of some selective and destructive force ; 
comparatively unprotected individuals would thus be allowed to 
