104 



to appear daily till about September 30th. The larva 

 producing the dark specimen did not pupate till October. 



Mr. W. Brooks exhibited a series of Acherontia atropos, 

 bred this year, together with varieties of the same species : 

 (i) A particularly fine example, with all the light markings 

 double their usual size, the normally dark parts being con- 

 siderably lighter, and the whole insect dusted as if with a fine 

 white power, so that when looked at sideways it gave the 

 appearance of being a white specimen. (2) A fine and very 

 dark example with unusually broad and dark markings on the 

 hind wings. He also exhibited examples of the radiata form 

 of Spilosmua Inhricipcda without any perceptible trace of 

 fringes to the naked eye, the specimens being nearly black, 

 with the rays running quite out of the fringes. A specimen 

 of Pyraineis aialanta with the marking or colouring of the 

 right hind-wing replaced with a light or creamy tint instead 

 of the usual red ; but unfortunately the left wing was damaged 

 when caught. 



Mr. W. Bateson exhibited a series of S specimens of 

 Hyhcrnia progcmmaria, which had been lent to him by 

 Mr. H. B. Prince, of Birkenhead, to illustrate the progressive 

 melanism of the species. They were all from the sandhills 

 between the Mersey and the Dee. Fuscous varieties, pre- 

 viously unknown in this locality, were first noticed in 1893 

 and have become increasingly common, though the normal 

 light form is still found. According to Mr. Prince the light 

 form is fairly distinct. The fuscous varieties range from a 

 dark form with fore-wings a unicolorous dark brown, and hind- 

 wings largely irrorated with brown, to an intermediate in 

 which the yellow of the type is largely sprinkled with brown 

 scales. The very dark variety elsewhere found has not yet 

 appeared in the locality. 



In connection with this exhibit, Mr. Bateson ventured to 

 appeal to entomologists to aid in the attempt now being made 

 by the Evolution Committee of the Royal Society to watch 

 and record the progress of melanism among several families 

 of British moths, especially Geometers. It was well known 

 to all present that during the latter half of this century 

 melanic forms, previously unknown, had appeared, in many 

 localities entirely replacing the previous normal forms, in 

 other places existing side by side with them. There was no 

 reason to doubt that this process is still continuing, and that 

 the melanic forms are yearl}' appearing in new districts and 

 becoming more and more abundant. An exceptionally good 

 opportunity is thus provided of watching the progress of an 



