16 PBOCEEDINGS OF THE 



quently found in the oak and the black poplar as due to natural 

 causes of a somewhat similar kind; in these trees the central bud of 

 a twig often dies, and the lateral one flourishes, thus producing an 

 angular growth. 



Mr. Tyndall presented some particulars relative to the rainfall 

 and readings of the Barometer and Thermometer for the months of 

 May, June, July, and August. 



Evening Meeting, Nov. 9th, 1877. It was reported that one 

 collection of Insects and three collections of Plants had been sent 

 in, in response to the offer of Prizes made by the Committee in 

 February. The first prize for Insects was awarded to Mr. Edwin 

 Ashby. For the collections of Plants the first prize was awarded 

 to Miss Margaret C. Crosfield; the second to Mr. A. Policy; and 

 the third to Mr. Jabez E. Howe. Dr. Bossey stated that the collection 

 of Mr. Howe contained a specimen of Galeopsis versicolor, gathered 

 near Nutfield, which was a plant not previously recorded as 

 occurring in the district. 



Mr. Sydney Webb read a paper on the Entomological features 

 of the year, which he characterized as having been very nearly 

 unproductive as regards insects worth recording. He attributed 

 this to the mildness of last winte», and the subsequent unfavorable 

 weather, past experience having shown that a severe winter is usually 

 followed by a season of good collecting. It is deserving of notice 

 that wet winters and springs destroy an immense amount of insect 

 life; and as a large proportion of this would be injurious if preserved, 

 they are in this sense beneficial. The writer referred to the failure 

 of the fruit crop as due rather to meteorological than to entomo- 

 logical causes, and spoke of the Codlin moth (Carpocapsa pomana) 

 and its congener, C. pruniana, which latter may be expected to be 

 rare for some years to come, owing to the scarcity of stone fruit. 

 The great feature of the year has been the extraordinary abundance 

 of the Clouded Yellow (Colias Edusa), which has been met with 

 throughout the United Kingdom. In August the variety Helice 

 was observed in considerable numbers; intermediate varieties were 

 also met with, and some other curious forms, as for instance, 

 Edusa with helice stripes or spots on the disc; Edusa with one wing 

 only helice; Edusa with one side helice and the other normal; and 

 one taken near Dorking has the hind wings alone of the deep color, 

 the fore wings being helice. The writer then alluded to the causes 

 of variation, and expressed his opinion that while the actual causes 

 are remote and indeterminate, there is usually an increased tendency 

 to vary in bad collecting seasons; as a mild wet winter which tends 



