SOCIETIES. 311 



insects), by Prof. Westwood, by the late Mr. Kirby, or by any 

 other entomologist in this country who had given especial attention 

 to economic Entomology. Prof. Riley also said it seemed highly 

 improbable, if this insect had been here so many years, that its 

 presence should have so long remained undetected both by 

 entomologists and agriculturists. It had been stated that the 

 insect was introduced into America by the Hessian troops in 

 1777, but this was impossible, as its existence at that date was 

 unknown in Hesse. Mr. M'Lachlaii, Capt. Elwes, Mr. Verrall, 

 Mr. Jacoby, and Dr. Sharp continued the discussion. Mr. James 

 Edwards communicated the second and concluding part of his 

 " Synopsis of British Homoptera-Cicadina." Prof. Westwood 

 contributed " Notes on the Life-history of various species of the 

 Neuropterous genus Ascalaphus.'' Capt. Elwes read a paper " On 

 the Butterflies of the Pyrenees," and exhibited a large number of 

 species which he had recently collected there. Mr. M'Lachlan 

 said he spent some weeks in the Pyrenees in 1886, and was able 

 to confirm Capt. Elwes' statements as to the abundance of buttei'- 

 flies in that part of the world. He remarked on the occurrence 

 of Spanish forms in the district, and on the absence, as a rule, of 

 the peat-bogs so common in the Swiss Alps. The discussion 

 was continued by Mr. Distant, Mr. White, Dr. Sharp, and 

 others. — H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History 

 SoGiF.TY.—Se2n. 22nd, 1887. R. Adkin, F.E.S., President, in 

 the chair. Mr. Jager exhibited Stilbia anomala, from Tenby ; 

 Callimorpha hera and var. lutescens, from Devon ; and stated he 

 had obtained ova of hera and now had the larvae feeding. 

 Mr. Sheldon, Xanthia fulvago and vslv. Jiavescens, and remarked 

 on the number of melanic specimens which he had observed in a 

 particular valley in Derbyshire. Mr. Cooper, dark forms of 

 Eugonia queranaria, upon which some interesting comments 

 were made by Mr. Goldthwaite. Mr. Carpenter, a number of 

 specimens of Argynnis paphia var. valesina. Mr. Tutt, Melanthia 

 hicolorata var. plumhata, from Rannoch. Mr. Oldham, Dlcycla oo, 

 from Epping Forest; a dark form of Arctia caia; and a variety 

 of Pararge megara. It appeared from the remarks of members 

 that D. 00 had occurred freely at Epping and in some parts of 

 Kent. Mr. Skinner exhibited a specimen of Deiopeia pulchella, 

 taken at Dover, 1886 ; a bleached specimen of EpinepJiele ianira ; 



