146 iJune, 



Curator ; and also Professor of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology at the Medical 

 College of Bengal. He was a good all-round Naturalist, and was on more than one 

 occasion deputed by the Indian Government to investigate the causes of failure of 

 crops, and he also recently toot part in a deep sea dredging expedition. As an 

 entomologist his attention was chiefly directed to the Mantidce and Phasmidce, in 

 both of which Families he did much good work spread over a multitude of papers, 

 and he was engaged on a G-eneral Catalogue of the former Family, which is in part 

 published. He also wrote much on Indian Butterflies, chiefly in conjunction with 

 Mr. de Niceville. He had not been home for many years, and the trying climate of 

 Calcutta, and overwork, had developed Bright's disease, which it was thought a visit 

 to England might cure or alleviate, but it was too late, and he died a few days before 

 he should have reached this country. Wood-Mason was a man of great general 

 knowledge in Natural History, and his death at the early age of 47 is much to be 

 deplored. He leaves a widow and several children. 



oi^i^ti^s. 



Birmingham Entomological Society : April 17th, 1893. — Mr. W. Gi-. 

 Blatch, President, in the Chair. 



Messrs. R. C. Bradley, W. Harrison, and C. J. Wainwright, each showed long 

 series of Bomhylius major from Trench Woods, where it was quite common at Easter. 

 Mr. Wainwright showed a long series of Melanostoma amhigua and other Diptera 

 taken at the same time and place. Mr. A. H. Martineau showed Prionus coriarius 

 and other insects from Solihull. Mr. E. Freer read a paper upon " Variation, with 

 special reference to Melanism ;" and he showed a number of insects in illustration. 

 He believed that both a deficiency and a superabundance of pigment were patholo- 

 gical conditions. He showed that in those localities where melanic forms mostly 

 occurred, the conditions of life were not very favourable — such were sea shores where 

 food-plants had low nutritive powers ; isolated spots where there was much in- 

 breeding ; the neighbourhood of large towns, &c. ; and he believed that these 

 conditions of life were the cause in the organism of pathological conditions with 

 melanic results. He believed pigment to be an expression of energy. — Colbean J. 

 Wainwright, Eon. Sec. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society: May 8tA, 1893.— 

 Mr. S. J. Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Robert Newstead, F.E.S., communicated a paper, entitled, " On a successful 

 method of rearing DeilepMla galii," in which he gave his experience of rearing this 

 species in 1888, and stated that cold was fatal to the larvse, and that forcing was 

 absolutely necessary for the pupse. The author also added some notes on "Lepidop- 

 tera attracted by honey dew." The President exhibited some fine varieties of 

 Soarmia rhomboidaria ; Mr. Collins, Sadena suasa, and a Lancashire specimen of 

 Boarmia abietaria ; Mr. Deville, African Pieridce ; Mr. Sharp, Coleoptera from 

 Wales ; Dr. Ellis, Coleoptera from Grahamstown, South Africa ; Mr. Watson, 

 Papilio Macleayana and P. Sarpedon. — F. N. Pierce, Ron. Sec, 7, The Elms, 

 Dingle, Liverpool. . 



