SOCIETIES. 189 
luridus (Ruthe), a species of Ichneumonide new to Britain, 
obtained by Mr. Bignell. Mr. W. White, in exhibiting cocoons 
of Cerura vinula, called attention to the vexed question as to how 
the perfect insect escapes from these solid structures. He was 
inclined to think that formic acid, secreted by the insect, was a 
probable factor in the operation. The question as to the mode 
of escape from these cocoons of the parasitic Ichneumonide and 
Diptera was also raised; and the President, Baron Osten-Sacken, 
Mr. Waterhouse, and Prof. Meldola made remarks on the subject. 
Mr. Elisha exhibited living larvee of Geometra smaragdaria from 
the Essex marshes. He also exhibited the singular pupe of 
A. bennett. Mr. Howard Vaughan exhibited a series of several 
hundred bred specimens of Peronea hastiana, showing the 
innumerable varieties of the species. He also exhibited, on 
behalf of Mr. Sidney Webb, of Dover, an interesting series of 
Cidaria suffumata, with especial regard to the progeny of 
particular females, the parent and the produce of the eggs laid 
by her being carefully separated. Mr. Vaughan also read notes 
on the subject communicated by Mr. Webb; and Mr. Jenner 
Weir, Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Distant, Dr. Sharp, and Mr. Stainton 
took part in the discussion that ensued. Mr. A. G. Butler com- 
municated a paper on “ New Genera and Species of Lepidoptera- 
Heterocera from the Australian Region,” in which 21 new genera 
and 103 new species were described. Mr. J.S. Baly communi- 
cated a paper on “‘ Uncharacterized Species of Diabrotica.” 
HERBERT Goss, Secretary. 
Tue Souru Lonpon EnromoLoeicaL anD Natura History 
Socrrry.—May 6th, 1886. R. Adkin, F.E.S., President, in the 
chair. Messrs. F’. Enock, F.E.S., and C. Brady were elected 
members of the Society. Mr. Elisha exhibited a bred series 
of Antispila pfeifferella, Hb., together with specimens of the 
mined leaves, and the pupze-cases cut out from the leaves. With 
reference to his exhibit, Mr. Klisha stated that there was a note, 
in one of the early volumes of the ‘ Entomologist,’ in which it was 
stated that the larvee of this species pupated under the surface of 
the earth. This season he had bred some hundred or two of the 
insect, and he found that they all placed their cases among the 
decaying leaves. Mr. Wellman exhibited Cidaria suffumata, Hb., 
including two of the Dover form; a fine bred series of Pygera 
