24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



cussing some questions in connection with the formation of lepido- 

 pterous pupae, makin<? reference to the so-called " Poulton's line," 

 and the criticisms of Dr. Chapman and Mr. J. W. Tutt thereanent. 

 He said that the proboscis of the pupa of Acherontia atrtipos is 40 mm. 

 long ; that of the imago is but 14 or 15 mm. He suggested that 

 the brevity might be in connection with the habit of extracting 

 honey ; and also that the reason why the moth was so rarely found 

 in beehives in this country might be found in the construction 

 of the hives. The object disclosed by the last moult of a lepido- 

 pterous larva resembles neither a caterpillar nor a pupa, but is 

 much more like the imago. There is also present a thick coating 

 of gelatinous -looking material enveloping the entire organism ; the 

 external surface of this material rapidly hardens and takes on the 

 special form of the pupa. As the lower portion of it solidifies it 

 shrinks away from the enclosed imago, with the result that the pupal 

 imago is left loose inside the pupal envelope, the only organic connec- 

 tion seeming to be the trachejie that connect the imaginal wnth the 

 pupal spiracles. Proof of the accuracy of this statement is afforded 

 by the presence of wing-cases on the pupjB of wingless female moths. 

 Thus the female of the Ortiya atdiqua, fox instance, possessed imaginal 

 wings of average size at the last larval moult, such wings being sub- 

 sequently reabsorbed. The contradictory statements of Prof. Poulton 

 and Mr. Tutt are easily reconciled if we suppose that the Professor's 

 observations were made at an early stage of pupal existence, while 

 Mr. Tutt's were made immediately before emergence of the imago. 



NoNPAKEiL Entomological and Natural History Society. — Xovember 

 5th, 1896. — Exhibits : By Mr. J. A. Clarke, a specimen of the rare 

 sawfly (Sirex juvencus) captured at Eltham on Oct. 5th. Mr. Huckett 

 said he had no doubt it was an imported species, Mr. Clarke, 

 however, added that he had one given him some years ago by Mr. 

 Eddols, taken on the Hackney marshes. By Mr. Lusby, two species 

 of Zyiioina filipendnlic, one example showing pretty variation of the 

 hind wings, which were rosy orange in colour and minus the dark 

 margins. He remarked that he had bred some numbers of this 

 species, and that any variation that occurred had always been in the 

 hind wings ; this was considered to be merely a curious circumstance, 

 members having bred specimens in which both fore wings were 

 aberrant. Mr. Lusby also showed a very pretty specimen of Cceno- 

 nijinpha pamphUus, the inner ground of the wings being paler than 

 usual, with heavily developed dark borders, and minus the spot on tip 

 of fore wings. Likewise two male specimens of Liparis dispar, 

 illustrating the darkening by interbreeding. With reference to L. 

 dispar, Mr. Norman, who has bred numbers of this species, remarked 

 that the males of the successive broods get darker each year, and the 

 females degenerate ; and he was of opinion that if interbreeding was 

 continued, the female would in time become apterous. A discussion 

 on " The Preservation of Species (local and otherwise) from Exter- 

 mination by Overcollecting, &c.," was fixed for the next meeting 

 (Nov. 19th), and any suggestion will be welcome. , Mr. J. A. Clarke 

 drew attention to the extraordinary iecnndity ol Lasiocainpaqiierci/olia, 

 he having obtained 1050 eggs from one female. — F. A. Newbery, 

 Reporting Secretary. 



