24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



larvae of this insect, it used to occur in the spring as well as 

 in the autumn, — in larger proportion at the latter season. It 

 is not easy to obtain, as it falls from the heath if alarmed, 

 even perhaps by the sound of a footstep. The best way is to 

 sweep the plants with a circular net; beating them into an 

 umbrella is not so effective, as, from the mode in which the 

 larvae rest, they slip by the edge of the umbrella. Of the 

 larva? thus taken in autumn all will not feed-up the same 

 season, even in confinement; but few survive until the 

 spring. They appear to eat at intervals, which renders it 

 more difficult to manage them. The insect occurs also on 

 Wimbledon Common, on the side near the park. — J. R. S. 

 Clifford. 



South London Entomological Society. — The third annual 

 exhibition of this Society was held on Wednesday evening, 

 December 9th, in the Girl's School-room, St. Mary's, Newing- 

 ton, which had been kindly lent by the managers. There 

 was that variety of objects which always gives its charm (o 

 meetings of this kind. All orders of insects, and those of all 

 climes, were abundantly represented. One of the most 

 interesting cases was exhibited by Mr. Weir, the Comptroller- 

 General of H.M. Customs. It was labelled " Mimicry," and 

 contained specimens of butterflies which possess the marvel- 

 lous power of changing colour when pursued by a certain 

 bird that has a peculiar liking for their flavour, and contem- 

 plates them with an ardent affection akin to that with which an 

 alderman may be supposed to regard real turtle. No sooner, 

 however, is the insect aware of its pursuer, than it transforms 

 itself into the similitude of another butterfly, for which the 

 bird has no taste at all, but rather holds in abhorrence. So 

 the accomplished harlequin of the pantomime escapes, 

 unscathed, to practice the same clever deception over and 

 over again. Mr. Hoey exhibited a case of larvae admirably 

 preserved. Mr. Wellman (the President), Mr. Champion, 

 Mr. Tugwell, Mr. Williams, Mr. Power, and many others, 

 were also contributors ; and I must not omit Mr. Barrett, 

 the indefatigable Secretary, to whose courtesy, unwearying 

 assiduity, and excellent arrangement, the exhibition was 

 mainly indebted for its success. — Edward Neivinan. 



