3G 



FEBRUARY 2Wi, 1895. ' 



T. W. Hall, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Beauman, of 18, Victoria Road, S.W., was elected a 

 member. 



Mr. Stanley Edwards exhibited larvas of the Dipteron 

 Eristalis tenax, L., found in some water in the stump of an 

 old apple tree. 



Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a series of Crauibus cricellns, Hb., 

 from Sutherlandshire. A discussion ensued as to the dis- 

 criminating character of this species from C. pasciiellus. Mr. 

 Barrett stated that the silvery stripe in this species was 

 always narrow and even, and that the spot beyond was as 

 nearly as possible in the same line. These he considered to 

 be the most reliable points of difference. Mr. Adkin said 

 that some small dark C. dumetelUts from Aberdeen ran very 

 close in appearance. 



Mr. Mansbridge exhibited a skin of the rattlesnake 

 (CrotaUis diirissus), and a rattle, from the Indian Territory, 

 U.S.A. ; also a cast skin of the black snake {Bascanuuii 

 constrictor). 



He stated that the sound of the rattle could be heard a 

 very considerable distance, and resembled an intensified 

 hiss. The dogs were not afraid of the rattlesnake, but 

 would dash in and kill it, while the very poisonous black 

 snake was never attacked by the dogs, who seemed instinc- 

 tively to know the danger. He also stated that large 

 numbers of rattlesnakes every year crossed the Mississippi 

 from the Western plains and hybernated in the rocky 

 " bluffs " of the Eastern shores, recrossing in spring. This 

 fact was taken advantage of by men, who killed them at this 

 time for the oil their bodies contained. 



Mr. Tutt exhibited Continental specimens of Xanthia 

 ocellaris, Bork., and pointed out the distinguishing features 

 from X. gilvago, viz,: — i. The lower part of the reniform 

 stigma was white. 2. The nervures were well dotted with 

 white scales. 3. The apex of the wing was different. He 

 stated that some German authorities considered the two 

 species as merely well marked geographical races, and pos- 

 sessed a graded series of forms uniting both. In his opinion, 

 the specimen exhibited at the last meeting was certainly not 

 A', ocellaris. 



Mr. Tutt read a paper entitled " Lithosia Intarella, L., and 

 its varieties" (printed in full " Ent. Rec," vol. vi., p. 217), and 

 illustrated it by a magnificent series from Deal and the Alps. 



