125 
might very pardonably have been described as a new species; and the amount of 
variation to which it now appeared that Sterrha sacraria was liable seemed to throw 
doubt upon the specific distinctness of the several continental forms which had been 
described as species allied to S. sacraria. In reply to enquiries, Mr. M‘Lachlan stated 
that Polygonum aviculare was not previously known to be the natural food-plant, 
but had been given to the larve experimentally and was eaten with avidity. M. Carl 
Ploiz had figured the larva on a species of Chamomile, but as the moth occurred in 
all parts it must either feed on some plant of very wide distribution or more probably 
was polyphagous. 
Mr. Bond exhibited four specimens of Acidalia mancuniata, Knaggs, and for com- 
parison therewith, a series of its nearest allies, A. subsericeata and A. straminata ; also 
a coloured drawing, by Mr. Buckler, of the larva, which, as well as the imago, differed 
from those of the other species mentioned. This new insect had been both captured 
and bred at Manchester and Shefiield ; in this case also the larve fed on Polygonum 
aviculare, a plant which appeared to be very generally acceptable to the larve of Geo- 
metre. 
Mr. Bond also exhibited a number of admirable photographs, by Dr. Maddox, of 
microscopic objects, e.g., the leaf insect of the sycamore, the Acarus of the fig, para- 
sites of the field-mouse, the mole, the sparrow, the chaflinch, &c. 
Mr. M‘Lachlan exhibited a partially andromorphous female of the dragon-fly, 
Calepteryx splendens ; the left anterior wing was in colour precisely like that of a 
male, but retained the female form of wing; the right anterior wing had only blotches 
or dashes of the dark male colouring on the dorsal portion of the wing ; the specimen 
was captured in France by M. Fallou, of Paris. De Selys Longchamps mentioned 
the capture, in Prussia, by Dr. Hagen, of a female C. splendens the wings of which 
were entirely coloured as in the male, 
Mr. Janson exhibited Myrmedonia plicata, Hrich., a species new to Britain: a 
dozen specimens had been captured at Bournemouth in August last, by Messrs. E. A. 
and Edgar Smith ; they were found on an open heath, at the roots of grass, amongst 
which was a nest of the ant, Tapinoma erratica. Mr. Janson remarked that the pre- 
sence, in all the twelve specimens, of the curious conformation of the dorsal surface of 
the fourth and fifth abdominal segments rendered it probable that this structure was 
common to the two sexes, and was not peculiar to the male of Myrmedonia, as had 
hitherto been supposed. 
Mr. G. R. Crotch exhibited Mgialia rufa, Fubr., Erich, a species new té Britain, 
of which several specimens were taken at Liverpool by Mr. F. Archer, but, with the 
exception of that exhibited, had been accidentally destroyed ; also Lithocharis castanea, 
Grav., Erich., which is the Medon Ruddii, Steph., whilst the species from the Isle of 
Wight which is in many of our collections appears to be the L. maritima, Aubé 
(Grenier, Cat. Col. Fr.); also Monotoma 4-foveolata, Aubé, of which three or four 
specimens were formerly taken by Mr. Janson in Hainault Forest, and which was 
readily distinguished from all the other species by its thoracic fovee ; this name was 
introduced into the British list by Mr. Waterhouse, but afterwards withdrawn, his 
insect proving to be M. rufa, Rede. 
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a box of insects of all orders, being a further portion of 
the collection made by Mr. Andersson in Damara-land. Amongst them were Goliathus 
Layardi, Eurymorpha Mouflleti, 2’. (cyanipes, Hope), an Atractosomus, &c. ; and a new 
species of Acrwa from the Victoria Falls, Zambesi. 
