NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 275 
most pleasant in his eutomological career. “So free from any 
restraint, so unconscious of the presence of the host,” will 
convey a fair idea of the tenour of his speech, and no better 
words could have been used. Mr. Carrington, in a few terse 
words, while thanking the subscribers for their present, claimed 
the bulk of the pleasure of the meetings for himself, such pleasure 
he said, with his accustomed good nature, being far more than 
recompense for any trouble to which he might have been put. “To 
see most of my old entomological friends around me is one of the 
greatest pleasures that can fall to my lot,’ was heard with satis- 
faction by all. It must have been felt by all present that the 
opportunity of meeting once a month at these réunions is a great 
boon, and one which entomologists cannot appreciate too highly, 
as it not only calls together old friends, but brings to a focus 
much of the work done, especially around London, during each 
summer. These gatherings average about thirty-five to forty, and 
many rarities are there exhibited which might otherwise never 
be seen by those who are interested; and while many local 
societies hold exhibitions at various times, those at the Royal 
Aquarium stand pre-eminent. A cursory glance at some of the 
exhibits on this evening will bear out this statement, although 
the general scarcity of the past summer was evident in the 
number of boxes shown being less than usual. Still, however, 
the well-marked specimens of Argynnis. lathonia, taken at Dover 
this year; the very pale, in fact yellow, variety of Vanessa urtice ; 
the widely varied under sides of Lycena adonis, exhibited by 
Mr. E. Sabine, were as interesting as the living larva of Plusia 
bractea, brought over specially from Ireland by Mr. Percy Russ. 
The specimen of Crambus myellus shown by Mr. Julius Jager 
was very good, as likewise were his dark forms of Hydrocampa 
nymphealis, his variety chantana of Peronea cristana, and his 
long row of Hrastria venustula; and the Pterophorus acanthodac- 
tylus bred from Stachys sylvatica, exhibited by Mr. Richard South, 
drew much attention. Vanessa urtice seems to have been subject 
to considerable variation this year, for Mr. F. L. Burney showed 
some of extraordinary character; so also has V. atalanta, for 
several could be seen in various boxes, although the aberrations 
were not in such striking degree. That of Mr. J. A. Clark is 
worth mention, the crimson colour of the margin of the hind 
wing being considerably extended. In the same box was a dark 
