Entomological Society. 9423 



Prof. Westwood's attention to page 294, vol. i., of ' An Introduction to the Modern 

 Classification of Insects'? He will there find the following statement : — ' The larger 

 specimens of the Ripiphorus paradoxus, which are much more rare than the smaller 

 ones, are uniformly found only in the cells of female wasps.' This statement appears 

 to he made on the authority of the Rev. F. W. Hope, and from it I tliiuk may be 

 plainly seen that that gentleman did not consider these large examples to be ex- 

 clusively females, and the smaller ones, bred in the cells of workers, exclusively 

 males." 



Mr. Smith remarked ihat, according to Mr. Hope's experience, the Ripiphorus was 

 found only in the nests of Vespa rufa, whereas Mr. Stone never found it in the nest 

 of Vespa rufa, but only in that of V. vulgaris. Prof. Westwood thought this apparent 

 discrepancy probably arose from some mistake in the nomenclature or synonymy of 

 the species of wasp, rather than from an actual diflference of habit of the Ripiphorus 

 in difi'erent localities. 



Mr. W. F. Kirby read the following : — 



Notes on the Synonymy of certain British Butterjlies. 



" The following notes on priority are taken chiefly from Staudinger's ' Cata- 

 logue.' 



" Genus Pyraraeis, Hub., Doubl. Sj- Hew. — This genus, which can be immediately 

 distinguished from Vanessa by the rounded and scalloped hind wings, contains a 

 number of very closely-allied species from different parts of the world, and forms an 

 exceedingly natural group. Tliis genus is admitted by many writers on exotic Ento- 

 mology ; but our European writers generally place the only two European species 

 (Pyrameis Atalanta and P. Cardui), under the genus Vanessa. I think that so natural 

 and well-marked a genus should be universally admitted. 



" Genus Melaiiagria, Meigen (Arge, Esp., Hiib., Bd.) — This genus contains the 

 group of Hipparchiae, represented in England by Melanagria Galathea. The name 

 Arge is inadmissible, because it is the specific name of one of the European species. 

 Those who adopt the name Arge for the genus employ for the species Amphilriie, a 

 name subsequently given to it. 



" Erebia Epiphron, Knock (Cassiope, Fab.) — If Staudinger is right in referring 

 Erebia Epiphron and E. Cassiope to the same species, the latter name must sink, as 

 Epiphron has the priority by ten years. 



" Erebia Medea, W. V. (Blandina, Fab) —The name Medea should be retained, 

 as it has a priority of seventeen years. 



" Polyonimatus Medon, Hufnagel (Agestis, IF. F.) — The former name has a 

 priority often years, and should be retained. 



" Polyonimatus Icarus, Rottemberg (Alexis, IF. F.) — The name Icarus has a slight 

 priority, but that of Alexis is extremely objectionable, as there is an East Indian spe- 

 cies of Stoll's (CEIicurus of Fabricius) bearing that name. The British species in 

 question need not be confounded with the Icarius of Esper, a European insect, as we 

 can adopt Schneider's name Amandns for that, as, if the two names are not simul- 

 taneous, it is probable that Schneider's has the priority. 



" Polyommatus Serviargus, Roltemberg (Acis, W. V.) — Roltemberg's name^has a 

 slight priority over the other. 



" Pyrgus MalvBB, Linn. (Alveolus, H'dh.) — Both Wallengren and Staudinger 

 agree with Westwood in assigning Linneus's name to this insect. Illiger's P. 



