56 



its presence appeared to cause no inconvenience to the 

 lepidopterous larva, which moved about and performed its 

 usual functions quite in the ordinary manner. The T. pro- 

 nubana larvae that I have previously found in a wild state at 

 Eastbourne, have been singularly free from parasites of any 

 sort, and the fact that the only two known survivors of an 

 attempt to artificially introduce the species into a new locality 

 should both be fatally attacked, may throw some light upon 

 one of the reasons why similar attempts so often fail." 



Mr. Adkin also exhibited a specimen of Argynnis aglaia, 

 taken on the wing at Eastbourne some years since, in which 

 the left fore-wing was only about half the size of the right- 

 hand wing. To all appearance this small wing was com- 

 plete, and the markings of its basal half were but little 

 smaller than those of its fellow, but those of the outer half 

 were reduced in size, and the row of black spots was united 

 with the sub-marginal black lunules, thus forming a row of 

 elongated patches. It therefore appeared that the reduction 

 in size was chiefly due to a contraction of the outer half of 

 the wing. The left hind wing was almost equal in size to 

 the right, and the insect when on flight appeared to suffer 

 little inconvenience from the considerably reduced size of 

 one of its wings. 



Mr. E. Step exhibited photographs of the setterwort or 

 stinking hellebore {Helleborns fcetidus), and read the following 

 note : 



" Among the few Surrey localities for Hclleborus fcetidus, L., 

 two stations at Mickleham have long been known. Unfor- 

 tunately, both have been enclosed for some years ; but one 

 of these is at least accessible. On March 28th of the present 

 year, I visited the spot and brought away several flowering 

 stems for careful examination. These notes are the result. 



" H. fcetidus has a permanent stem, in which respect it 

 differs from its only British congener, H. viridis, which has 

 only a perennial rootstock, and has to send up a new stem 

 each year. From the summit of the old stem H. fcetidus. in 

 February, suddenly produces strong new growth, of so pale 

 a green that it appears almost white in contrast with the 

 dark leathery foliage of the previous year, and this branches 

 above into several corymbs of drooping globose flower-buds, 

 with numerous leafy bracts. The fully-matured buds are 

 about an inch in diameter. At first the sepals open only 

 slightly, revealing two or three curved stigmas — which are 

 already mature — surrounded by the numerous closely-packed 

 anthers, at present immature, in four whorls. The filaments 



