165 



because butterflies were scarce that other Lepicloptera were rare also ; 

 I think rather that, of a great many species at least, the examples 

 were not seen for want of opportunity for collectors to seek them. I 

 arrive at this conclusion from the fact the London collectors have this 

 autumn found the larvse of the larger Lepidoptera in unprecedented 

 numbers, showing that the parent moths had been matured during 

 the summer. In some instances there has been positive proof of the 

 existence, in numbers, of species usually rare, such as Erastria venus- 

 tula, Deilephila Livornica, Stathmopoda pedella, &c. 



In Coleoptera there has been no scarcity of the usually common 

 species, and seldom have so many rare species been captured — in 

 considerable quantity too. I may instance Hallomenus humeralis, 

 Ehynchites truncorum, Mycetophagus 4-guttatus, Badister peltatus, 

 &c. Another season must elapse before we can ascertain whether 

 the " skiey influences " of 1860 have had any efiect upon the repro- 

 duction of Coleoptera. 



In the paper before quoted Mr. Smith says, "Another effect pro- 

 duced by the late summerless year has been a great diminution of 

 the brilliancy in colouring in many species," of which he gives 

 examples. Nothing of the kind, however, has come under my notice 

 among Coleoptera or Lepidoptera; indeed, in the latter order, we 

 we have had before us, at the last meeting, a specimen of Hemero- 

 phila abruptaria and one of Gonepteryx Ehamni, var. Cleopatra, 

 captured in 18G0, both of which were remarkable for their depth of 

 colour. But I doubt whether great heat is a cause of the intensity 

 of colour in insects, or at least in Lepidoptera, for it is notorious that 

 in many species which occur tlu'oughout Britain, the examples from 

 Scotland are much deeper iu colour than specimens taken in the 

 south ; and again it is well known that in Chariclea Delphinii, which 

 remains from one to seven years in the pupa state, the longer the 

 individuals are in assuming the imago condition the more intense is 

 the colour. 



British Entomological Societies. 



The establishment of Entomological Societies or Clubs in various 

 parts of the country is a cheering sign of the diffusion of Entomology 

 in Britain. With the exception, perhaps, of the Societies of Oxford 

 and Cambridge, none of these associations aim at a scientific standard, 

 and most of them are exclusively devoted to insects of the order 

 Lepidoptera ; yet, as centres of union for collectors, where they may 

 compare notes and captures, and communicate knowledge to each 



