( xcv ) 



that the various named forms of each would eventually be 

 proved to be aberrations only. 



Variant and rare Coleoptera. — Mr. R. Beck brought 

 for exhibition (a) seventy-seven variant forms of Adalia bijJunc- 

 tata, L., found in 1894 and 1897 on hop- vines at Alton and 

 Farnham, of which the larva and imago prey on the hop 

 aphis ; {b) examples of Lixus paraplecticus, in appearance 

 resembling small pieces of driftwood, taken 1891, 1893 and 

 1899, between noon and 3 p.m. on Simn angustifolimn ; and (c) 

 a specimen of Leptura sanguinolenta taken at Burnside, 

 Southampton, on June 20th, 1891, by sweeping Vmhelliferse. 



Temperature experiments with Nymphalin.e. — Mr. W. 

 ScHMASSMAN showed a case containing specimens of Pyrameis 

 atalanta, which had been subjected in the pupal stage to 

 various degrees of temperature. It was noticeable that a 

 low degree pi-oduced the " ice-form," some approaching the 

 var. merrifieldi, while a high degree tended to convert the 

 scarlet bands of the hind-wing to a creamy-orange, 



Mr. F. Merrifield also exhibited a remarkable aberration 

 of A. urticee, bred in October 1906 by Mr. Reuss of Liburg 

 Hall, Ware, from wild autumn larvae, the pupa having been 

 subjected to strong sunshine, the rays of which, there appeared 

 to be some reason for thinking, pi-oduced other effects thiui 

 merely those ascribable to increase of temperature. There were 

 white spots shaded into violet on the apex of the fore-wings so 

 arranged as to suggest an incipient ocellus as in V. io (a 

 specimen of which with the ocellus disintegrated by exposure 

 of the pupa to abnormal temperature was shown for com- 

 parison). This arrangement of the white spots was somewhat 

 masked by the brownish colouring of the wing, and was 

 shown more strongly in a photograph which took no account 

 of that colouring. The upper surface of the hind-wings was 

 very different from the normal colouring in V. urticse and had 

 instead the velvety, warm brown-red of V, io. Tlie under side, 

 also, was very different from the normal, being much darkened, 

 somewhat like in F. io — the hind-wings being entirely black, 

 with a broad, darker band.* 



* The following is from an explanatory note on the subject which has 

 since been sent b}' Mr. Reuss. He believes this " to-coloured " and " io- 



