SOCIETIES. 69 



average of the race proceeds in successive generations of con- 

 tinually selected animals. Mr. Frederic Merrifield read a paper 

 (by way of an appendix to Mr. Galton's paper) entitled "A pro- 

 posed method of breeding Selenia illustraria, with the object of 

 obtaining data for Mr. Galton." Mr. M'Lachlan said he 

 considered the fact that S. illustraria was dimorphic an objection 

 to its selection for the experiments proposed, and he suggested 

 that the common silkworm moth, or some other large Bombyces, 

 would be more suitable for Mr. Galton's purposes. Professor 

 Meldola called attention to some observations on Selenia 

 illustraria by Dr. Knaggs in vol. iii. of the Ent. Mo. Mag., which 

 had some bearing on the projected experiments ; and he remarked 

 that, although for some reasons the species selected was well 

 adapted for testing Mr. Galton's conclusions, he believed that 

 the fact of the moth being seasonally dimorphic was likely to 

 introduce disturbing elements into the experiments which might 

 influence the results. The discussion was continued by Dr. 

 Sharp, Messrs. Baly, Kirby, White, Klein, Porritt, Dunning, 

 Waterhouse, Bates, Merrifield, Galton, and others. — H. Goss, 

 Hon. Secretary. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History 

 Society.— January 21tk, 1887. E. South, Esq., F.E.S., Vice- 

 President, in the chair. — Messrs. F. H. Barclay and C. Eoberts 

 were elected members. Mr. J. J. Weir exhibited Nilasera pirama, 

 Moore, and N. amantes, brilliant butterflies from Ceylon ; also a 

 piece of amber containing three specimens of Chrysomelidae, 

 one of Coccinelidse, and one of Orthoptera. Mr. Billups exhibited 

 living specimens of Rhagium bifasciatum, Fab., from Braemar, 

 and contributed notes. Mr. J. Jenner Weir communicated a 

 paper entitled " Notes on the comparative rarity of Lepidoptera- 

 Pihopalocera once common in the neighbourhood of Lewes." 

 The following is an abstract : — 



" In presenting to the Society this evening a copy of my friend 

 Mr. J. H. A. Jenner's list of the ' Macro-Lepidoptera of East Sussex,' I 

 deem it a fitting opportunity to make some remarks on the present scarcity, 

 in that district, of several of the species of Rhopalocera which in my 

 young days, half a century ago, were frequently, or even commonly, 

 met with. 



" Ajooria cratagl. — Mr. Jenner states. ' Formerly at Holmbush Hen- 

 field.' When about the year 1838 I first in earnist connuunced to make a 



