140 thk entomologist's record. 



exhibited Asphalia diluta, Epunda nigra, Polia chi and Anchocelis 

 rufina from Lakeside, and Polia fiavicineta bred from South Devon 

 ova. Messrs. J. W. Griffin and A. W. Hughes contributed notes on 

 collecting at sallow bloom. 



March 21st. — -New Members. — Mrs. O'Sullivan, 10, Cathedral 

 Mansions, Huskisson Street, Liverpool, and Mr. W. G. Clutten, 136, 

 Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, were elected members of the Society. 



The Competition. — The feature of the evening was the competition 

 for the Society's prizes specially offered for the encouragement of field 

 work and observation. 



A prize of five guineas for the best series of 60 males of Hibemia 

 defoliaria, first engaged the attention of the judges ; so good were the 

 exhibits in this class that it was no easy matter to determine upon the 

 most meritorious ; eventually it was decided to award the prize offered 

 for an essay upon the insect fauna of the sand hills as a second prize 

 in this class, there being no essay entered. 



The first prize of five guineas was therefore awarded to Mr. Chas. 

 P. Eimmer for his set of the moth from Delamere Forest and Eastham 

 Woods ; the second, two guineas, was given to W. G. Clutten, of 

 Burnley, for a collection made in the neighbourhood of that town. 



There were some very beautiful forms shown by the competitors, 

 including melanic variations from Burnley. Other exhibitors in this 

 section were : the Bev. F. M. B. Carr (highly commended), Messrs. 

 J. W. and G. A. Griffin and W. A. Tyerman. 



A prize of five guineas were also awarded for the best six photo- 

 graphs of insects in their natural resting places selected to show the 

 effect of protective resemblance. In this competion the prize went to 

 Mr. Hugh Main of London for a very fine exhibit. These photographs 

 were much admired, particularly the "Bryophila perla at rest on sand- 

 stone wall," this being an exceptionally fine example of protective 

 resemblance. Professor R. Newstead, F.R.S., and Messrs. Crabtree 

 and Mansbridge were the judges in the competitions. 



Exhibits. — Other exhibits were insect preparations under the 

 microscope by Mr. Chas. P. Rimmer and long series of early spring 

 Lepidoptera by Mr. S. Gordon Smith ; the latter included some nice 

 vars. of Hibemia leucophaearia, H. maryinaria, Nyssia kispidaria and 

 N. zonaria, further, the same member showed a fine specimen of 

 Acherontia atropos captured near Chester. 



March 21st. — Paper.— Mr. H. M. Hallett, a Vice-president of the 

 Society, sent a paper entitled " Parasitic Wasps and Bees." The 

 author gave a review of practically all that is known of the parasitism 

 of the Hymenoptera, but such a vast subject could not adequately be 

 dealt with in a short paper. Sketches of the life histories of the 

 parasitic Ichneumonidae, Chalcididae, Proctotrypidae, Chrysididae and 

 Aodeates were given, difficulties of observation were touched upon and 

 suggestions for future work advanced for the guidance of students of 

 these interesting families. 



Aberrations in British Lepidoptera. — Mr. Chas. P. Rimmer 

 exhibited a long series of Cerastis vaccinii to show the variation of the 

 species at Delamere Forest. Mr. W. Mansbridge showed Selenia 

 tetralunaria which had emerged in a warm room during February. 



