1486 The Zoologist — December, 1868. 



1848—1860; and 1868, Parts 1 and 2; by the Society. 'Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society,' Second Series, Vol. iv. Part 2; by the Society. ' Annates de la 

 Societe Linneenne de Lyon,' N. S., Tome xv., 1867 ; by the Society. ' Bulletin de la 

 Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou,' 1867, Nos. 3 and 4 ; by the Society. 

 'Berliner Entomologisehe Zeitschrift,' Vol. xii. Parts 1 and 2; by the Entomological 

 Society of Berlin. 'Stetliner Entomologisehe Zeitung,' 1868, Nos. 7 — 9; by the 

 Society. 'Journal of the Quekett Microscopical ^Club,' Nos. 1 — 3; by the Club. 

 Hewitson's ' Exotic Butterflies,' Part 68; by W. \V. Saunders, Esq. ' Coleoplerolo- 

 gische Hefte,' herausgegeben von E. v. Harold, ii. and iii. ; by the Editor, Newman's 

 ' Brilislr Moths,' Nos. 20 — 23 ; by the Author. ' The Zoologist,' August to November : 

 by the Editor. ' The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine,' August to November; by 

 the Editors. 



The following additions by purchase were also announced : — Schiner, ' Diptera der 

 Novara Reise.' Redtenhacher, ' Coleoptera der Novara Reise.' Tournier, ' Descrip- 

 tion des Dascillides du Bassin du Leman.' Gerstacker, ' Bericht der Enlomologie 

 wahrend der Jahre J 865 und 1866.' ' Catalogus Coleopterorum hucusque descriptorum 

 Synonymicus et Systematicus ;' autoribus Dr. Gemmiuger et B. de Harold; Tom. i., 

 Cicindelids, Carabids. F. Walker, 'Catalogue of Heteropterous Hemiptera in the 

 British .Museum,' Parts 1 and 2; 'Catalogue of Blattariae in the British Museum.' 

 A. G. Butler, ' Catalogue of Satyridae in the British Museum.' 



Exhibitions, fyc. 

 The President exhibited specimens of Vanessa Urticne and Zygasna Filipendulae 

 from the Isle of Man, remarkable for their small size. The following note by the 

 captor, Mr. Edwirr Birchall, was read: — 



"I captured about twenty specimens of Vanessa Urticae in the Isle of Man in June 

 last, all of the same diminutive size as the examples sent for exhibition. The outline 

 of the wings is more angular than in English specimens, the black spots either larger 

 in proportion, or in the case of the two spots in the centre of the fore wings, actually 

 larger iu the small insects from the Isle of Man than in the large English ones, the 

 variation from the typical firm beiirg thus exactly the reverse of what occurs in the 

 Corsicair subspecies Ichneusa, in which these spots are altogether wanting. Whether 

 some accidental cause has dwarfed the insects, or that we have here a distinct insular 

 variety, and the opportunity, as it were, of watching the origination of a new species, 

 future inquiry must decide. Zyga?na Filipenduia; also occurs in a very dwarfed con- 

 dition: this I have observed both in 1S67 and 1868, and the specimens exhibited are 

 certainly the ordinary condition of that insect in the island. I hope entomologists 

 who may visit the Isle of Man will collect other common species found there, as well 

 as the rare ones for which it has become celebrated, that a wider basis for generaliza- 

 tion than at present exists may be obtained." 



Mr. F. Smith inquired whether Vanessa Urtica? was always thus dwarfed in the 

 Isle of Man, or whether the stnallness was one of the effects of the peculiarly hot 

 season of 1868? He believed that during the past season many Hymenoptera had 

 been observed in a dwarfed condition. 



Mr. J. Jenner Weir had noticed that the common while butterflies of the past 

 season were unusually small. 



