( Hv ) 



Mr. J. W, TuTT exhibited a number of series of tlie genus 

 Melitjea to illustrate his remarks made at the last meeting. 

 The discussion on the affinities of the several named species 

 was continued, and in reply to a question by Mr. Tutt, Mr. 

 H. J. Elwes said that so far as he knew no systematic 

 examination of the genitalia had yet been made. The 

 President suggested that the i-eal physiological test by which to 

 determine and differentiate the several species of the genus 

 was by breeding, and he impressed upon entomologists resident 

 in favourable localities, as in Switzerland, the desirability of 

 making these experiments. 



Mr. H. J. Elwes mentioned that he was at present engaged 

 in the classification and arrangement of the Melita^as and 

 Argynnids in the British ]\Iuseum, and appealed to collectors 

 tD bring their series there to be looked over, and to present such 

 specimens as might be useful for the completion of the group. 



The President exhibited a set of 323 butterflies from 

 British Guiana, all captured on one day, August 28th, 

 1903, between the 9th and 10th mile from the Potaro 

 River to the gold-mines. The road starts from the 

 river-side at a point about 30 miles above the confluence 

 with the Essequibo. This opportunity of studying the 

 proportions of the various constituents of the Mullerian 

 group wa« owing to the kindness of Mr. W. J. Kaye. The 

 specimens constituted the entire catch of a single day, and 

 all were taken by the road-side, on the white blossoms of a 

 large-leaved plant which springs up wherever the bush is 

 cut down. The catch represented a full day's work. August 

 28th was a particularly dry day in one of the driest months 

 in the year. The butterflies were most plentiful from 6 to 

 11 a.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m., retiring into the thick bush 

 during the hottest part of the day. 



The dominance of the black-hind-winged group is seen in the 

 fact that it included no less than 295 specimens belonging to 

 the following species : — 



Ithomiin.e. 



Melinsea mneme — 253. Medianitis pol)jmn{a — 9. 

 ,, crameri — 8. ,, n. sp. — 10. 



,, egina — 9. 



