7 w/aLF 



SOCIETIES. 41 



tropics, are viviparous like the parasitic Ortliopteron Hemimcrits. 

 The young are born at a very advanced stage, but yet differ con- 

 siderably from the adult. Two of the forms {spasmce, and talpa) 

 described as distinct species, and lately placed in two different 

 genera, are immature and adult examples of the same species. — Mr. 

 Harwood exhibited two specimens of Micrurula melanoccphala taken 

 near Bishop's Stortford by sweeping in the evening, which he 

 believed to be var. bnmnea, Heer ; also two specimens of Ocijims 

 cyaneus taken by Mr. W. H. Harwood at Colchester, one in May and 

 the other in June of this year, the first specimens taken in the 

 district for nineteen years ; also a species of Coccinella taken in a case 

 of Tasmanian apples at Colchester. — Mr. H. Eltringham, specimens 

 of African Acrteas, to show that wide differences of colour and 

 pattern may occur in a single species, and, conversely, that certain 

 species which can scarcely be distinguished by their outward appear- 

 ance are nevertheless very distinct, as shown by the structure of the 

 male armature. Several new species and forms were also shown, in- 

 cluding A. lofua, Eltr., male and female ; A. grosvenori, Eltr., male ; 

 A. aureola, Eltr., male; A. ella, Eltr., male; A. cinerea subsp. alberta, 

 Eltr., male ; A. ijerii^hanes f. acritoides, Eltr., male ; and A. astrigera f. 

 bnmnea, Eltr., male and female. Dr. Jordan remarked on the 

 extreme variability of the genus and its allies, geographically, indi- 

 vidually, and even in the characters of the genitalia. — Mr. Bethune- 

 Baker remarked on the unrehability of the genitalia in certain 

 Lycaenidge. — The President stated that the male genitalia were, as a 

 rule, reliable in the Aculeata, but in the Tenthredinidse the male 

 genitalia were quite useless for specific determination, though the 

 females afford excellent characters. — The Hon. Walter Rothschild 

 remarked on the identity of the male genitalia in certain distinct 

 species of Macroglossinas.— Com. Walker read a paper on " The 

 Effect of Temperature on Animal (especially Insect) Life," by A. G. 

 Butler, Ph.D., F.L.S. — The following papers were also communi- 

 cated : — " Parthenogenesis in Worker Ants, with special Reference to 

 two Colonies of Lasius niger, Linn.," by W. C. Crawley, B.A. ; " A 

 Monograph of the genus Acrcea," by H. Eltringham, M.A., F.Z.S. — 

 George Wheeler, M.A., Hon. Sec. 



The South London Entobiological and Natural History 

 Society.— Oc^ofter 12th, 1911.— Mr. W. J. Kaye, F.E.S., President, 

 in the chair. — Mr. H. R. Sweeting, M.A., of S. Woodford, was elected 

 a member. — Mr. W. J. Kaye exhibited bred and captured series of 

 Lithosia deplana, in which some of the former were much darker 

 than usual. — Mr. Barrett, three series, one taken many years ago, 

 one in 1909, and one this year ; the 1909 were generally darker in 

 colour but not so dark as Mr. Kaye's bred specimens, although 

 several specimens were without the yellow costa of the fore wings. — 

 Mr. Barrett, also a Xylina furcifera (conformis) taken in 1904 in the 

 east of England, and an example bred in S. Wales in 1876, by Evan 

 John. The latter was var. suffusa, Tutt. — Mr. Sich, specimens of 

 Gracilaria syringella bred from PhUlyrea media, a food-plant not 

 hitherto recorded. — Mr. R. Adkin, an example of Tortrix podana bred 

 on September 13th from a pupa taken in a shoot of Euonymus at 



