270 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



half orange-coloured and half black, all but four of the pupae on the 

 roof of the orange-coloured side were green with very little dark spot- 

 ting, and all the pupa3 on the roof of the black side were bone-coloured 

 with numerous dark-brown spots. He regarded the phenomenon as 

 protective. The exhibit was discussed by Prof. Poulton, who showed 

 a similar series of specimens, and observed that he found the rays near 

 the D line of the spectrum had the greatest influence upon the incipient 

 pupae, the effect diminishing towards either the red or the violet ends. 

 The effect therefore appeared to be one of luminosity. Mr. Bateson 

 stated that his own experience fully confirmed Mr. Merrifield's results, 

 but to establish tbat the green colouration of the pupae was protective 

 in the winter brood required the consideration of a number of points, 

 so far untouched. Mr. G. H. Verrall read a paper on "Syrphidae col- 

 lected by Colonel Yerbury at Aden," the specimens, together with some 

 rare British Diptera, being exhibited by Col. Yerbury. Papers were 

 communicated by Mr. Gr. C. Cbampion on " The Clavicorn Coleoptera 

 of St. Vincent, Grenada, and the Grenadines," based on the determi- 

 nations of M. Grouvelle, and by the Rev. T. A. Marshall on " The 

 British Braconidae, Part VIII." — W. F. H. Blandfokd, Hon. Sec. 



South London Entomological and Natural History Society. — 

 Sept. 22nd.— Mr. J. W. Tutt, P.E.S., President, in the chair. Mr. R. 

 Adkin exhibited a short series of Dianthcecia nana (conspersa) from 

 Shetland, and read notes on the variation. He also exhibited, on 

 behalf of Mr. Reid, of Pitcaple, a long series of Taniocampa gothica, 

 the result of breeding from selected parents through some four genera- 

 tions, and read notes on the variation; a very distinct form of variation 

 of Abraxas grossulariata, in which the black markings were absent from 

 the central areas of all the wings, the discoidal marks only being 

 present ; a series of Melanthia bicolorata var. plumbeolata ; and very fine 

 examples of Pachnobia hyberborea (alpina) from Perthshire. Mr. Lucas, 

 specimens of five of the less common species of British dragonflies, 

 viz. : — Sympetrum sanguineum and Libellula fulva, from Sandwich, 

 Kent; S.flaveolum and JEschna mixta, from Ockham Common; and 

 Agrion mercuriale, from the New Forest. Mr. Tutt, a large number of 

 Zonosoma annulata (omicronaria) , bred by Dr. Riding from selected 

 parents, to show the hereditary nature of the absence of the annulus. 

 Some seventy-five per cent, of the imagines bred were without the 

 annulus on the fore wings. The President, for Mr. Thornhill, a 

 curiously-marked specimen of Euchloe cardamines from Cambs, having 

 two wings curiously clouded with black ; and for Mr. Manger, a box of 

 insects of all orders, captured at sea, among which were Deilephila 

 livornica, Chcerocampa celerio, Macroglossa stellatarum, Patiila macrops, 

 Abraxa perampla, and Acridium peregrinum. Mr. Dolman, a wonderful 

 specimen of Abraxas grossulariata, taken on a tree-trunk by a boy, in 

 which the black markings were normal, but having the ground colour 

 of a uniform deep orange ; and ova of Aporia crateegi, from Dover. 

 Mr. Hall, several specimens of an ant found in the burrows of Sesia 

 sphegiformis. Mr. West, of Greenwich, bred specimens of the Hemi- 

 ptera, Podisus luridus and Goniocerus venator, both from Box. Hill. 

 Mr. Turner, a bred series of Porthesia chrysorrhcea from North Kent 

 larvae ; a larva of Dicranura bifida. Mr. Dennis, the ova of Thecla 

 w- album under the microscope. — Hy. J. Turner, Hon. Report Sec. 



