One exception however to this rule too may be recorded, the larvje of 

 D. cucubali having been so numerous in my own garden as to devour 

 every leaf of the bladder-campion, which has obligingly sown itself there. 

 But the chief Entomological event of the year, so far as our district is 

 concerned, has been the addition to our list of 5. anomala, which has 

 hitherto been represented by one doubtful capture of considerable 

 antiquity. Mr. R. Freer, of Rugeley, and I took it in some numbers, 

 flying at dusk, on the open part of Cannock Chase, during the evening 

 of August 5th, and its occurrence in this county must now be regarded 

 as an established fact. I had also the pleasure of taking, in the same 

 locality, on Tuesday, July 29th, a remarkable black variety cti A. Aglaia, 

 (an insect of which scarcely any varieties are known to exist) which was 

 exhibited at the meeting of the Entomological Society of London, on 

 Wednesday, October ist, and has since been figured by Mr. Mosley, of 

 Huddersfield. I also took at the same time a female of S. belgiaria, 

 which has only once before occurred in the district. These instances 

 shew that even in a bad season it is possible to pursue Entomology with 

 advantage, and may serve - I hope— to encourage those collectors who 

 are prone to lo.se heart when things do not go quite according to their 

 wishes. 



CHAS. F. THORNEWILL, 



Chairman. 



REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SECTION, 18S9-90. 



Chairman : J. T, Harris, Esq. 



The Botanical Section, as a whole, has but little to report this year, 

 though its working members have not by any means been idle. 



Two evening Meetings were held during the winter, at which the 

 average attendance was 9. At the first, which took place on November 

 28th, Mr. J. E. Nowers read a Paper on "A Botanical Ramble on Ben 

 Lawers" which was illustrated by a large number of Specimens col- 

 lected by himself. At the second, held on April 28th, the Chairman ■ 

 exhibited and described part of his splendid collection of plants from 

 Algeria, and the Hon. Sec. exhibited leaves and photographs of the 

 Lattice-leaf plants, \Oiiviranda fcne^tralis, and bernicriana.) 



