SOCIETIES, £5 
Fowler exhibited the ege-case of a species of Mantide from Lake Nyassa, 
and specimens of Bledius dissimilis, Er., from Bridlington Quay, Yorkshire. 
Mr. McLachlan called attention to the re-appearance in large numbers of 
the diamond-backed moth, Plutella cruciferarum, which was very abundant 
in gardens near London, and expressed his opinion that the moths had 
been bred in the country and had not immigrated. Mr. Jenner Weir, 
Mr. Bower, and Prof. Meldola stated that they had recently seen specimens 
of Colias edusa in different localities near London. Mr. Jenner Weir and 
others also commented on the large immigration of Plusia gamma, and also 
on the appearance of a large number of Cynthia cardui and other Vanesside. 
The Hon. Walter Rothschild communicated a paper on two new species of 
Pseudacrea.—W. W. Fow Er, Hon. Sec. 
South Lonpon EnromotocicaL anpD Naturat History Soctety.— 
May 26th, 1892.—Mr. C. G. Barrett, F.E.S., President, in the chair. Mr. 
Jenner Weir exhibited a specimen of Anosia plewippus, L., var. erippus, 
Cramer, which Mr. Weir remarked had been obtained by one of the em- 
ployes of Captain Parke in the Falkland Islands. Until this insect was 
captured, the only butterfly known in these islands was Brenthis cytheris, 
Drury. During Capt. Parke’s residence in the islands he had never seen 
there a specimen of the Anosia in question ; it therefore appeared that, like 
its northern representative the true Anosia plexippus, the southern form 
had the migratory habit similarly developed. Mr. Hawes exhibited and 
contributed a note on a series of Pieris napi, L., bred from ova laid by 
the parent insect taken near Bentley, Suffolk, June 10th, 1891, seven 
males and a female imagines appearing from 2lst to 3lst July. The 
remainder of the brood stood over until the spring, and thirty-one emerged 
between the 6th and 20th of May. Mr. Hawes suggested that the cool 
summer of last year affected the pupa to such an extent as to retard three- 
fifths of the brood. Mr. Jenner Weir said this was the most interesting 
exhibition he had ever seen on this subject, the two forms of the species, 
viz., the summer and spring emergences, having both appeared from a 
single brood reared under exactly similar circumstances. Mr. Frohawk, a 
pupa of Argynnis paphia, L., and made some observations as to the time 
occupied in the pupal change; he also suggested that the brilliant metallic 
markings mimicked a dew-drop on a dead leaf. Mr. Tugwell, specimens _ 
recently taken by him at Tilgate Forest, including Syrichthus malvae, L., 
approaching the var. taras, Meig.; Nisoniades tages, L., showing variation ; 
varieties of Argynnis euphrosyne; also an extremely pale variety of Ani- 
sopteryx esculi, Schiff., taken by Mr. Hamne, of Reading. Mr. R. Adkin, 
a bred variety of Asteroscopus nubeculosa, Esp., and remarked on the 
species remaining in pupa for two or three years, those now exhibited 
having pupated in 1890. Mr. Tugwell stated he had bred them the first 
season. Mr. Hill, Teniocampa gothica, L., and var. gothicina, from 
Rannoch. Mr. Carpenter, an example of Vanessa antiopa, L., taken on 
Tooting Common some years back. Mr. Adkin called attention to the 
unusual abundance of Plusia gamma on the last few evenings. Mr. Dobson, 
Mr. J. A. Cooper, Mr. Frohawk, Mr. Adye, Mr. Winkley, Mr. Tutt and 
Mr. Barrett also made some observations thereon. Mr. Jenner Weir 
delivered a zoological lecture, in which he drew attention to some remark- 
able cases in which mammalia and birds, having been in remote geological 
times differentiated for one mode of life, had adopted entirely different 
habits. —H. W. Barker, Hon. Sec. 
