266 [November, 



melanic Coleoptera, which he stated had been unusually plentiful this year, whicli 

 went against the theory of damp producing melanism ; and Mr. Harker, a specimen 

 of Dasypolia Tenvpli, captured in the heart of Liverpool. — F. N". Pierce, Son. Sec, 

 7, The Elms, Dingle, Liverpool. 



The South London Entomological and Natiteal Histoet Society : 

 September 28th, 1893. —J. Jennee Weie, Esq., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. South exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Sabine, some fine varieties of Polyommatus 

 Phlceas, L., from Dartford, one being intermediate between the type and the var. 

 Schmidtii, some of the others being very dark. Mr. Frohawk exhibited two boxes 

 of tJie same species from Balham, &c., showing great variation in size and markings, 

 two examples approaching the var. Schmidtii, and two without copper bands on the 

 secondaries ; also a living pupa of Argynnis Paphia, L., and a nearly full grown 

 larva of A. Adippe, L., these two latter exhibits being a result of the phenomenally 

 fine and hot weather. Mr. Jager showed six specimens of Lyccena Avion, L., captured 

 by Mr. Bignell in Cornwall last June. Mr. Fenn exhibited a series of Dasycampa 

 ruhiginea, Fb., bred September, 1893, from Devonshire, also long and variable series 

 of Acidalia aversata, L., Acronycta rumicis, L., and interesting varieties of other 

 species. Mr. J. H. Carpenter exhibited a second brood of Argynnis Euphrosyne, L., 

 the larvse, after apparently commencing to hibernate, having rapidly fed up during 

 August. Mr. K. Adkin exhibited a series of Cymatophora d,uplaris, L., taken in 

 Sutherlandshire, they being very dark compared to the southern forms. A paper by 

 Mr. F. W. Hawes was then read, " On the unusual abundance of Polyommatus 

 Phlceas in 1893," in which he reviewed the early appearance of this species in April, 

 and its gradual numerical increase during the succeeding months, also noting some 

 interesting points in its life-history, the paper being illustrated by the exhibition of 

 two plants of Rumex acetosa, having thei'eon a number of ova laid in a state of 

 nature, some few of which had recently hatched. — H. Williams, Hon. Secretary. 



Entomological Society of London : October 4<th, 1893. — Heney John 

 Elwes, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Arthur Ernest Gibbs, F.L.S., of The Hollies, St. Albans, was elected a 

 Fellow of the Society. 



Mr. F. Merrifield exhibited specimens showing the effects of temperature in the 

 pupal stage on several species of Lepidoptera. Vanessa polychloros was much 

 darkened, especially towards the hinder margin, by a low temperature. Vanessa 

 c-alhum showed effects on both sides, especially in the female ; they were striking on 

 the under-side. Several examples of the striking effect produced by temperature 

 on the summer emergence (Prorsa) of Araschnia Levana were exhibited. Some 

 Vanessa lo showed the gradual disintegration, by exposure to a low temperature, of 

 the ocellus on the fore-wing, which in the extreme specimens ceased to be an ocellus, 

 and was a remarkable confirmation of Dr. Dixey's views of the origin of that ocellus. 

 Mr. Goss stated that in his experience of V. c-album, the form with the pale under- 

 side was the first brood, occurring in June and July ; and that the second brood, 

 occurring from the end of July to October, was invariably dark on the under-side. 

 Mr. Jacoby, Mr. Merrifield, and the President continued the discussion. 



Mr. A. H. Jones exhibited Lepidoptera collected in Corsica in June last, in- 



