1889.] 403 



The author says, with truth, "En tout pays les Nevropteristes sout clair semes," 

 but it is with great gratification we regard the existing state of things with that of 

 twenty-five years ago. 



BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Aug. \Qth, 1889. — Mr. W. Gh Blatch, 

 President, in the Chair. 



Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed Sphinx convolvuli taken in Handsworth, 

 S. ligiLstri from Ely, &c. Mr. R. C. Bradley showed Lithocolletis messaniella from 

 Moseley ; also a small branch of oak, every leaf of which contained many mines of 

 the species. Mr. P. W. Abbott showed Triphcena interjecta from the Isle of Wight, 

 and T. fimbria from Sutton. 



September 2nd, 1889. — The President in the Chair. 



Messrs. R. Freer, of Rugeley, and J. T. Harris, of Burton-on-Trent, were 

 elected Members. 



Mr. H. M. Lee showed Calocampa solidaginis from Cannock Chase, and 

 Mr. Blatch showed it from Hopwas Wood, the latter being a new locality for the 

 species. Mr. E. C. Tye showed young larvae of Acidalia emutaria. Mr, R. C. 

 Bradley showed varieties of Abraxas grossulariata. Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed 

 Xanthia cerago, silago, &ndferruginea, which he had bred in considerable numbers 

 from catkins collected at Wyre Forest and Scounslow Grreen. Mr. H. Stone showed, 

 under the microscope, Empusa muscce. — Colbran J. Wainwright, Son. Sec. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society : 

 August 22nd, 1889.— J. T. Carrington, Esq., F.L.S., Yice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Wellman exhibited a number of Abraxas grossulariata, L., showing 

 considerable variation, and Scoparia angustea, St., from Folkestone. Mr. Skinner, a 

 bleached example of Spinephele Janira, L., taken at Box Hill. Mr. Carrington, on 

 behalf of Mr. G-. A. Lewcock, some 300 specimens of Coleoptera taken during the 

 season, mainly from Chattenden, Epping, Woking and Farnham. 



September 8th, 1889.— T. R. Billets, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. J. Jenner Weir exhibited desquamated upper- wings of the male of Argynnis 

 Faphia, L., in order to show that the apparent thickening of the median nervules 

 and sub-median nervure, in that sex of the species, was due to the dense covering of 

 broad scales, bent over and concealing some very narrow clavate black scales or 

 androconia, that appeased to be of a different substance to the ordinary scales. 

 Mr. Weir remarked that some British Entomologists appeared to think that in the 

 restricted genus Argynnis \ there was a real dilatation of some of the median 

 nervules, and occasionally of the sub-median nervure, but neither American nor 

 German Entomologists had fallen into such an error. Mr. Weir also exhibited 

 specimens of Vanessa urticce, L., bred from larvae taken at Lewes, showing great 

 variation in the amount of yellow in the fore-wings. Mr. Wellman, Bryophila 

 muralis, Forst., Lobophora polycomniata, Hb., and dark forms of Gnophos obscuraria, 

 Hb., from Folkestone. Mr. Croker, Gnophos obscuraria, from the New Forest, and 

 a variety of Tceniocampa gothica, L., closely approaching gothicina, H.-S., taken at 

 West Wickham. Mr. Fenn mentioned that he had taken a similar variety at 

 Lewisham. Mr. Auld, a long series of Cidaria truncata, Hufn., bred from eggs 



