160 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
that it had been deprived of its natural food and fed for eighteen months 
on pink paper, with which the box in which it was kept was lined, and 
subsequently on white cardboard. Mr. M‘Lachlan remarked that the most 
extraordinary peculiarity about this larva, in addition to the colour, was the 
absence of the usual odour of Cossus. Lord Walsingham observed that it 
was questionable whether the colours of larvae were dependent on the colours 
of their surroundings, or whether they were affected by the contents of 
the intestinal canal. Prof. Meldola said that the caterpillar exhibited having 
eaten the pink paper had most probably become dyed by the colouring 
matter, and he did not think the observation had much bearing on the 
question of the protective colouring of caterpillars. It was well known to 
physiologists that certain dye-stuffs could be introduced into the tissues 
of animals by mixing the colouring matters with the food, and paper was 
frequently stained with coal-tar dyes such as eosin, magenta, é&c., so that it 
was simply a case of direct dyeing of the larva. Mr. W. White observed 
that two extreme forms of a larva might often be found feeding side by 
side on the same tree or shrub, so that the colour of a larva could not be 
altogether governed by the colour of its food. 
Mr. B. A. Bower exhibited a specimen of Parasia neuropterella, bred from 
heads of Centaurea scabiosa, and said he believed the species had not 
been previously bred. He also exhibited series of Coleophora olivaceella, 
C. solitariella, and Laverna subbistrigella. The President remarked on the 
beautiful condition and setting of the specimens. 
Mr. White exhibited a series of male and female specimens of Orgyia 
thyalina, belonging to Mr. Leech, and obtained by the late Mr. H. J. Pryer 
in Japan. Some of the females had their wings fully developed, and some 
of them were semi-apterous, as is usual with the females of this genus. 
Mr. White remarked that he knew of no other species of the genus in 
which the females had fully-developed wings. Lord Walsingham, Prof. 
Meldola, and Mr. R. South took part in the discussion which ensued. 
Lord Walsingham exhibited specimens of preserved larvae of Hupithecia 
extensaria, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk ; also a preserved larva of Smerinthus 
ocellatus and one of Sphina ligustri. The larva of the last-named species 
was a variety, and the President remarked that it was the only one of this 
species he had ever seen. 
The Secretary read a communication from the Rev. Dr. Walker, 
announcing his intention of making an expedition to Iceland this year, 
from the 23rd June to the 29th July, and asking that any entomologists 
who might wish to accompany him would send him their names. 
Mr. Gervase F. Mathew communicated a paper entitled “ Descriptions 
and Life-Histories of new species of Rhopalocera from the Western 
Pacific." —H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. 
