170 tJ'^iy. 



BlEMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY : J/aj/ 15th, 1893. — Mr. E. C. 

 Bradley, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. G-. W. Wynn showed Acherontia Atropos from Cannock Chase. Mr. A. H. 

 Martineau said that at Solihull a specimen of Sphinx ligustri had entered a hive and 

 been killed by the bees ; the bees then, unable to remove so large a body, had 

 covered it up with wax. The Secretary announced the receipt from Mr. John Willis, 

 of Edgbaston, of a handsome present of books, about 40 volumes ; and a cordial 

 vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Willis for his kind gift. 



Whitsuntide Excursion. — An excursion was made to the Cotswolds at Whit- 

 suntide, when, under the kind guidance of Mr. Frank Stephens, of Ebley, a pleasant 

 three days were spent in the neighbourhood of Stroud by the few members who 

 attended. Lycaena Adonis and Ino Qeryon were common amongst the Lepidoptera, 

 and a number of interesting Diptera and Hymenoptera were taken. The most 

 noteworthy capture was, perhaps, that of Cheilosia chrysocoma, one of which was 

 taken near Painswick. — Colbean J. Wainwbight, Hon. Sec. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society : 

 May 11th, 1893. — Chas. Gr. Barrett, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. E. South exhibited a series of Diurneafagella, Fb.,from Buckinghamshire, 

 the light and dark forms being about equal in number. Mr. South said that the 

 trees in the wood in which they were taken were darker on their western side than 

 on their eastern, and at the time he collected these specimens the wind was in the 

 east, and most of the moths were at rest on the western side of the trees, the dark 

 insects being inconspicuous, and he thought that if this often happened when this 

 species was on the wing, it would, by natural selection, tend to produce a darker 

 race. Mr. Barrett, in referring to the breeding of Bomlyx castrensis, L., in captivity, 

 said the larvae should be well wetted at times and exposed when possible to the sun, 

 and he thought the absence of the latter in some years might account for the un- 

 certain appearance of this species. Mr. Turner said that he had bred B. castrensis 

 very successfully on rose leaves dipped in salt water, the discussion being continued 

 by Messrs. Tutt, Frohawk and South. Mr. Adye exhibited a long series each of 

 Moma Orion, Esp., Eurymene dolobraria, L., Amphidasis betularia, L., Mylophila 

 prasinana, L., &c., the majority having been bred in March and April indoors, from 

 larvae taken in the New Forest last autumn. Mr. Tutt said that on May 6tli Lyccena 

 hellargus, Eott., was on the wing in Kent, also Nemeophila plantaginis, L., Euclidia 

 glyphica, L., &c., whilst pupse and larvae of Vanessa urticcB, L., were reported for 

 the same date. Mr. Jager mentioned that Cidaria truncata, Hufn., was now emerg- 

 ing, and Mr. South said he had bred Coccyx strobilana, Hb., from the spruce fir in 

 Buckinghamshire. — F. W. Hawes and H. Williams, Son. Sees. 



May 26th, 1893.— J". Jennee Weir, Esq., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Adkin exhibited a bred series of Cidaria suffumata, Hb., from Forres, with 

 bred series from Dover and Box Hill for comparison ; also a bred series of Loho- 

 phora carpinata, Bork. {lobulata, Hb.), from Eannoch, including one extreme 

 banded form, with southern series for comparison. Mr. Gerrard, a specimen of 



