68 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and other entomologists. He then delivered an address, in which he 

 discussed the part played by the study of insects in the great contro- 

 versy on the question, "Are acquired characters hereditary?" He 

 argued that the decision whether Lamarck's theory of the causes of 

 evolution is or is not founded on a mistaken assumption largely 

 depends upon evidence supplied by the insect world, and finally con- 

 cluded that the whole body of facts strongly supports Weismann's 

 conclusions. At the end of his address the President urged that the 

 study of insects is essential for the elucidation and solution of 

 problems of the widest interest and the deepest significance. Professor 

 Meldola, F.R.S., proposed a vote of thanks to the President and other 

 officers. This was seconded by Mr. Verrall and carried. Prof. Poulton, 

 Mr. Goss, Mr. Rowland-Brown, and Mr. Jones replied. — H. Goss, 

 Hon. Secretary. 



South London Entomological and Natural History Society. — 

 December 8th, 1904.— Mr. Step in the chair. — Mr. Grosvenor, of Red Hill, 

 Surrey, was elected a member. — Mr. Tonge exhibited some thirty-five 

 species of British Lepidoptera, which he gave to the Society's collec- 

 tions. — Mr. Main, Orthoptera from Borneo and the Cape. — Mr. West, 

 a specimen of the extremely rare coleopteron, Tropideres sepicola, taken 

 by him in the New Forest in the summer of 1904. — Mr. Edwards, the 

 parasitical bee, Ccelioxys elonyata, from Blackheath, and read notes on 

 its habits. — Mr. Dobson, series of Geometra vernaria and Aglossa 

 cnprealis, which had come to light at dusk around his house at 

 Maldon ; the former sitting on leaves, and the latter resting in the 

 curtains. Pliisia chrysitis had also been seen at light in the neigh- 

 bourhood. — The remainder of the evening was devoted to an exhibition 

 of lantern- slides by Messrs. Tonge (ova of Lepidoptera), Lucas (bio- 

 logical and botanical subjects), Goulton (lepidopterous larvae). Step 

 (lepidopterous larvae), Main (resting positions of larvas and imagines of 

 Lepidoptera], and Dennis (flowering and seeding of trees and shrubs). 

 Hy. J. Turner, Hon. Rep. Sec. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — The Annual 

 Meeting was held in the Royal Institution, Liverpool, on December 

 19th, 1904, Mr. Robt. Tait, Junr., Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Messrs. A. Bury (Newburgh), L W. Horton (Mawdesley), and W. A. 

 Rhodes (Liverpool), were elected members. Mr. Sopp, one of the 

 Secretaries, read the Report of the Council, which showed that the 

 past session had been one of the most successful in the history of the 

 Society, and that the membership had increased by thirty-three. The 

 Treasurer's Balance-sheet, presented by Dr. Cotton, showed a credit- 

 balance at the bank and in the hands of the Treasurer of £'12 13s. 7d. 

 Certain alterations in the rules having been adopted, the following 

 officers were elected to serve during 1905 : — President : Saml. James 

 Capper, F.E.S. Vice-Presidents : Professor T. Hudson Beare, B.Sc, 

 F.E.S., F.R.S.E.; H. St. J. K. Domsthorpe. F.Z.S., F.E.S. ; Richard 

 Wilding; F. C. Thompson ; J. R. Charnley, F.Z.S., F.E.S. Trea- 

 surer: J. Cotton, M.R.C.S., F.E.S. Secretaries: E. J. B. Sopp, 

 F.R.Met.S., F.E.S. ; J. R. le B. Tomlin, M.A., F.E.S. ; W. Delamere 

 Harrison, Librarian: F. N. Pierce, F.E.S. Council: B. H. Crabtree, 

 F.E.S. ; J. F. Button ; Wm. Mausbridge, F.E.S. ; F. R. Dixon- 



