115 



Messina, from March to May, 1913. Their small size is note- 

 worthy ; of the 30 specimens, 23 were less than 35mm. in expanse, 

 several of them measuring only 31mm., while the remaining 

 specimens were between 35mm. and 40mm. Wheeler, in his "Butter- 

 flies of Switzerland" gives the average size as 42mm., commonly 

 37-45mm., exceptionally 31-49mm. It will thus be seen that 

 a large proportion of these Sicilian specimens are exceptionally 

 small. They are of the southern variety known as tnrritu, in 

 which the orange apical patch does not extend beyond the black 

 discal spot. This spot varies much in size. In one specimen it 

 is almost obsolete, while in others it is as large as in average 

 British examples. The names of minor and hesperidcs have been 

 given to these very small forms. I have also put in the box my 

 largest and smallest continental specimens, both from Vernet-les- 

 Bains, in the Eastern Pyrenees. The former, a female, reaches 

 47mm. and the latter, a male, only 30mm., even smaller than the 

 Sicilian, but in this case it was exceptional, and not the prevailing 

 form. There are also large and small British examples, a female 

 46mm., a male 34mm., and females 43mm. and 33mra. I have 

 occasionally taken this small form in my garden, but in my 

 experience it is rare." 



Mr. Sich said that he had so far this year seen but few Abraxas 

 grossulariata, and all had been small specimens. Several members 

 had made similar observations. It was suggested that during 

 the period of the final feeding up of the larvfe, the weather had 

 been very hot. Mr. Blair had found the larvte of that species 

 feeding on laurel. 



Mr. Edwards noted that the imagines of EapitJiecia ohlouijata 

 (centaureata) were very scarce this year. 



Dr. Chapman said that in many parts of Switzerland the severe 

 April frosts had killed the vines. In the Ehone valley the 

 walnut trees had been extensively damaged by the late frosts, 

 which had killed not only the shoots of this year, but many of the 

 smaller branches also. Both Messrs. Blair and Main had noted 

 similar damage around Meiringen and Lucerne. 



Mr. Piatt Barrett reported that he had been to Sicily, but the 

 intensity and early appearance of the heat-wave had compelled 

 him to return. On one occasion he had seen a cloud of Aporia 

 cratdiji previous to a storm ; they were going west. None were 

 to be seen the next day. He had also on another occasion seen 

 a cloud of Pieris brassictv, also going west. The butterflies were 

 very early this year; he had been unable to get any Melanargia 



