SOCIETIES. 847 



taniata, St., from Co. Kerry, lighter than the English form, and a 

 specimen of Arctia caia, L., from Louth, with very intense blaok- 

 brown markings. Mr. H. W. Williams, a bred series of Oporahia 

 diliitaria, Bork., includiug two very dark unifonn specimens, and one 

 with a light marginal area. Mr. McArthur, living larvse nnd a 

 recently-emerged imago of Triplmna comes, Hb., var. curtim, Newm., 

 from Orkney, and said all the captured ones were of that form. 

 Mr. Turner, a specimen of Fhorodesma smaragdaria, Fb., unique in 

 being bred on September 26th ; and several varieties of Vanessa urtica, 

 L., one of which had the central spots reduced to minute dots. Mr. 

 Mansbridge, a series of Scojmria hasistrbjalis, Knaggs, taken at sugar 

 in Epping Forest. Mr. Sturt, a living larva of Spliinx canvolvuli, L., 

 from Cornwall, with drawings of the others he had had. It was noted 

 that one specimen was of the rare striped form of the larva. A 

 discussion took place as to the necessity of forcing the pupge of the 

 larger hawk-moths. Mr. South, a short bred series of Acnmycta 

 menijanthidis, View., from Macclesfield, and stated that the larvae were 

 found chiefly on sallow, but a few were taken ofl" birch. Mr. Ashdown, 

 a number of Lepidoptera, including a strange var. of Melanippe sociata, 

 Bork., having a light looped band from the costa, including the 

 discoidal spot. — Hy. J. Turner, Hon. Report. Sec. 



Chester Society of Natural Science and Literature. — The first 

 general meeting of the winter session took place at the Grosvenor 

 Museum on October 31st, when the opening address was given by the 

 President, Dr. Stolterfoth, " On the Compound Eye of Insects." The 

 lecture was illustrated by lantern slides, microscopical sections, and 

 diagrams. The following were among the many interesting exhibits : — 

 (1) Vertical section of an insect's eye seen through the microscope. 

 This showed an outline of the faceted cornea, the rods, cones, retina, 

 and optic nerve. (2) Picture of boy and girl seen through the cornea 

 of the eye of a water-beetle, Dytiscus marginal is. The cornea was fixed 

 in a microscope, and appeared starred with exact duplicates of the 

 picture. (3) An insect, a Thrips, also seen through the prepared 

 cornea fixed in a microscope. The cornea appeared starred with 

 duplicates of the insect, each facet showing a picture as in no. 2. 

 (4) Lantern exhibition slides, photographed by the lecturer, showing 

 the pictured cornea in the above illustrations. A cordial vote of 

 thanks was given to Dr. Stolterfoth for his interesting lecture ; and 

 the Mayor, W. H. Churton, was also suitably thanked for presiding. — 

 J. Arkle ; 2, George Street, Chester. 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — September 16th, 1895. — Mr. 

 G. T. Bethune-Baker, President, in the chair. Mr. J. W. Smallwood, 

 18, Pakenham Boad, Edgbastou, was elected a member of the Society. 

 Exhibits : — By Mr. B. C. Bradley, a specimen of Didea alneti, the pale 

 green form, from Sutton ; also one of Echinomyia grossa, from Sutton, 

 where it has not been taken before. By Mr. P. W. Abbott, Lithosia 

 griseola and var. Jiava, from Norfolk, and Hepialus humuU var. heth- 

 landica, from the Shetlands. By Mr. Valentine Smith, beetles from 

 Braunton Burrows: yebria complanata (a nice series), Phaleria cada- 

 verina, and Psammodius suhicollis. By Mr. Wainwright, a single 



