46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



much whether such another wouLl ever be formed again ; and he was 

 indeed fortunate in securing a collection of varieties formed by one 

 like Mr. Owen, who had a special perception for the detection of the 

 slightest peculiarity, and he well knew, from his intimate connection 

 with him, that he never admitted any insect into his collection at all 

 doubtful as British, or which was not fully authenticated. He suggested 

 that the desire to record nowadays was much overdone, and it must 

 be a great temptation to dealers, when purchasers insist on a minute 

 record, to make a guess of it. Mr. Capper brought an exceptionally 

 interesting address to a close by relating some of his entomological 

 experiences, and gave several illustrations of the now plentiful abun- 

 dance of previously scarce and consequently valuable insects. And in 

 most instances it was shown that, whereas they may at some period 

 have easily commanded and readily fetched several pounds apiece, 

 they could at the present day be purchased in numbers for as many 

 pence. The insect fauna of Great Britain was represented by many 

 thousands of species, and it was largely due to the unselfish labours 

 of a little band of specialists that Entomological literature held the 

 important position that it does to-day. He hoped that the younger 

 generation would emulate the industry that characterised the work of 

 those whose names were now a by-word amongst them, who had left 

 them such a legacy of knowledge as would spur them on to a more 

 complete understanding of the vast and minute world with which they 

 were surrounded. — F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec. 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — November 21st, 1898. — Mr. 

 P. W. Abbott, V.P., in the chair. Mr. P. W. Abbott showed Hydrilla 

 palustris takeu at Wicken Fen this year, including one fine dark variety, 

 nearly black ; also Ayrotis chierea from Brighton and from Wyre Forest ; 

 those from the latter locality (where he took six or eight), were very 

 different from the Brighton ones, looking like a different insect ; they 

 were mouse-coloured, with definite but not conspicuous markings, while 

 those from Brighton were whitey grey in colour with very pronounced 

 markings. Mr. E. C. Bradley, Methoca melanocephala (female), from 

 Sutton, with an apterous ichneumon, Aptesis niyrocincta (female) which 

 is remarkably like it in general appearance ; he said that he had been 

 informed that the ichneumon was a parasite on Hybernia defoliaria. 

 Mr. J. T. Fountain, some good series of moths taken in the suburbs 

 close to the busy parts of the town ; they were Calocampa exoleta, 

 Cerastis spadicea, Miselia oaeyacanthcB with its var. capudna, Anchocelis 

 pistacina, and Phlogophora meticulosa, long series of the last three. 



December ldth—Mv. P. W. Abbott in the chair. Mr. B. Bradley 

 exhibited a box containing a large number of Tortrices and various 

 rare Lepidoptera, presented by Dr. P. B. Mason to the type collection 

 of the Society. Mr. A. H. Martineau showed a specimen of Sphinx 

 convolvuli, taken at Solihull recently. Mr. B. C. Bradley, Chrysetoxum 

 sylvarum and 0. elegans, both taken in the New Forest last Whitsun- 

 tide. Mr. A. H. Martineau, Tachytes pectinipes, male, from Cannock 

 Chase, and female from Nevin, North Wales ; also Salius exaltatus 

 (females), Nysson dimidiatw (female), and Entomognathus brevis (female), 

 all from Nevin. Mr. P. W. Abbott, a case containing a number of 



