450 CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES 



Tuesday, September 6. 



Mr. T. Sheppard in the Chair. 



Captain T. Dannreuther, R.N., described a Scheme for Recording 

 Immigrant Insects, in which he invited the co-operation of the societies 

 in correspondence with the British Association, especially those in the 

 midland and northern counties of England, where observers could render 

 valuable assistance by keeping watch for and recording the appearance of 

 insects known to be migrants. The collective results of such records would 

 prove of importance and scientific value on a subject where knowledge 

 is lacking for want of systematic observation and available data. The 

 scheme is an adaptation of a card-indexing system devised by Dr. C. B. 

 Williams for tabulating records of insect migration . Captain Dannreuther 

 pointed out that hitherto such records have been fortuitous, and it is 

 hoped that with the aid of local observers such records will continue to be 

 kept systematically, with a view to analysis and subsequent publication. 



As to the scientific value of such records, he called attention to the 

 existing lack of knowledge of the habits and true habitats of certain well- 

 known migrants, and instanced several species of the commoner butterflies 

 and moths observed in England during the spring and summer, which it 

 is known cannot survive our winter months, while, unlike migrant birds, 

 there are no apparent return flights to balance the migration. A number 

 of lighthouse- and lightship-keepers from Land's End eastward as far as 

 the north-east coast are acting as observers with the consent of the Trinity 

 Brethren, and he urged that the assistance of the Corresponding Societies 

 would be valued in keeping observation in their own areas, and forwarding 

 the records to him upon the approved cards for tabulation. Such cards, 

 together with further information, can be obtained from Captain T. 

 Dannreuther, R.N., Windycroft, Hastings, Sussex. 



Cf. Report, Hastings and St. Leonards Nat. Hist. Soc. (1930-31); 

 Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist, 4, 5 (1932); Bull. S.E. Union Sci. 

 Socs., 60, June i (1932) ; Entomologist, 65, 832. 



