122 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Mr. H. Heasler exhibited a series of Scayhidium 4-maculatum taken under 

 a rotten oak-log at West Wickharn in February. The uuder sides of 

 the male and female were shown, the centre of the metasternum of the 

 male being depressed and pubescent; series of Agathidium varians, 

 taken under a decayed branch at West Wickham, in which the male 

 has the left mandible produced ; a peculiar character which is present 

 in varying stages of development in other members of the same genus 

 (the members of the genus have the power of rolling themselves up 

 into a ball) ; also several specimens of Ennearthron ajfine taken in two 

 small pieces of dry boletus. Mr. E. M. Dadd read a paper translating 

 and summarising Standfuss's work on ' Causes of Variation.' Dis- 

 cussion followed, especial interest being shown in the author's 

 definitions of albinism and melanism. Mr. Tutt, Dr. Chapman, and 

 Messrs. Prout, Nicholson, and H. Heasler took part, Dr. Chapman 

 being of opinion that the reason why albinic specimens occur sporadi- 

 cally, whereas melanic tend to increase and found a race, might be 

 explained by the fact that albinism is a sign of weakness in the 

 individual, whilst melanism is the result of special vigour, and thus 

 albinos die off, but melanic individuals transmit their variation to their 

 progeny. — H. A. Sauze, Hon. Sec. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — March 14$, 

 1898 (Meeting held in the Free Library). — The President, Mr. S. J. 

 Capper, F.E.S., F.L.S., in the chair. There was an excellent attend- 

 ance of members. Mr. Mosley, F.E.S., Curator of the Huddersfield 

 Museum, read a paper " On a new method of arranging a collection of 

 Insects, with special reference to Lepidoptera." He pointed out that 

 four main objects should be kept in view — (1) Economy of space and 

 of expense ; (2) facility in exhibition and examination of specimens ; 

 (3) preservation from destructive agencies (e.g. mites, &c.) ; (1) 

 avoidance of unlimited destruction of life. In expanding his four 

 main points, he especially disclaimed any idea of diminishing the 

 existing large collections, and was of opinion that every town should 

 have a large students' collection arranged in the ordinary way in 

 cabinets. At the same time he advocated a new system of arranging 

 one or two specimens in flat glazed tablets, showing also the life- 

 histories either by the preserved larva and pupa, or by drawings of 

 these stages ; this he maintained was a cheaper method, saving space 

 and expense ; and secondly, the insects being near to the glass, could 

 easily be examined by a lens without opening the tablet ; at the same 

 time the tablet could be held in one hand and the lens in the other ; 

 two specimens could easily be compared ; all alteration due to inserting 

 or increasing a series is saved ; and the cases, being hermetically 

 sealed, are secure from the attacks of mites, &c. Such a collection, 

 he maintained, would be specially useful to teachers, and would help to 

 lessen the destruction of species by making "long series" unnecessary, 

 He then dwelt upon the objects of the larger collections, and expressly 

 stated that he designed this smaller form of collection merely as an 

 index to the larger. After showing three mounts in this tablet form, 

 and giving particulars as to actual cost and arrangement of the tablets, 

 he dwelt upon the advantage of drawings of varieties and aberrations, 

 which, with notes on the species, could be kept in the same form. He 



