12 



February 27th, 1885. 



The Rev. E. P. KNUBLEY, M.A., on "CANADA." 



The paper was illustrated by a uumber of very etFective sketches, made 

 en route by Mrs. Knubley, aud also by a large collection of Indian stone 

 weapons (arrow heads, &c.), and some beautiful specimens of Indian work 

 in birch bark, ornamented with porcupine quills, consisting of models of 

 canoes, toboggans, snow shoes, and a variety of other articles. He also 

 exhibited a number of skins of Canadian birds. The lecturer described, 

 in a popular manner, his journey through Canada to the Eocky mountains, 

 giving much information respecting the geology, natural history, climate, 

 and productions of the Far West. A vote of thanks was most heartily 

 accorded to the Eev. lecturer and Mrs. Knubley. 



March 13th, 1885. 



EXHIBITS. 



R. W. Rusby exhibited a light-coloured variety of the large Heath 

 butterfly, taken near Harwich, together with other Lepidoptera. Some 

 peculiarities in the marking, colour, and shape of these insects, led to an 

 interesting conversation on the causes of melanic variation in Lepidoptera. 

 W. D. Roebuck, F.L.S., stated that Lord Walsingham had recently spoken 

 on the same subject, in his presidential address to the Yorkshire Naturalists' 

 Union, at Doncaster ; and that in his opinion, as the Lepidoptera in high 

 latitudes were generally of such colours as would most readily absorb the 

 warmth of the sun's rays, so in manufacturing districts, where this 

 tendency had been most observed, the insects had taken darker colours for 

 the purpose of absorbing more of the scant warmth of the sun so greatly 

 interfered with, and diminished, by the dense smoke of factories aud forges. 

 This view of the subject was generally concurred in by the other speakers, 

 and C. Smethurst promised to show, at the next meeting, some specimens 

 of Lepidoptera taken twenty years ago, and compare them with recent 

 specimens of the same insects. C. D. Hardcastle showed several cases of 

 stuflfed birds from Natal, and a Flying Fox, said to have been taken about 

 200 miles from Durban. As this bat has not previously been noticed as 

 occurring on the continent of Africa, but was found plentifully in 

 Madagascar aud adjacent islands, W. D. Roebuck thought that the state- 

 ment would need verification. W. Nelson showed specimens of Planorbis 

 parvus, from Oregon, North China, and other places. W. D. Roebuck 

 exhibited a dissected specimen of Testacella haliotidea var. scutulum, the 

 dissection showing muscles attaching the body to the skin. It was noticed 

 that the muscles were chiefly on the left side. W. Booth brought a living 

 specimen of the Kestrel (Falco tinmmcuhis ), which had been taken from 

 the nest when very young, and had become quite tame during the three 

 years it had been in his possession. 



