36 



and Tutt also commented upon the doubtful origin of various 

 other so-called British examples of D. compta. Messrs. 

 Adkin and Tutt preferred to consider D. carpophaga and 

 D. capsophila as two distinct but closely allied species, the 

 latter gentleman remarking upon the extraordinary superficial 

 resemblance and the curious parallelism in their range of 

 variation, but stating that the consideration of their geo- 

 graphical distribution was sufficient to separate them. He 

 asked if any one knew what was the structure of the tongue 

 of D. cucubali, stating that it was the only species of the 

 genus which came to sugar, and the only double-brooded 

 species. Mr. T. W. Hall said that he always found the 

 larvse of D. carpophaga on Lychnis vespertina, and but few on 

 Silene inflata ; at the same time he generally bred a few 

 D. conspersa and D. capsincola among the D. carpophaga. Mr. 

 McArthur asked if those who had taken D, barrettii had 

 noticed how quiet it was in the net, while the other species 

 of the genus were very lively. He remarked at length upon 

 the protective resemblances of D. conspersa in the various 

 districts he had observed it. In the Shetlands, on the east 

 of Mainland, where the rocks upon which it settles were 

 very dark, all the specimens taken were extremely dark, and 

 there were no intermediates. In Unst, the cliffs on the 

 north-west were more exposed and lighter in colour ; there 

 the species was whiter, and intermediates occurred. In 

 another limited locality, where orange-coloured lichen grew 

 on the rocks, D. conspersa had yellow markings. At Brighton, 

 where the prevailing colour was white, both of walls and 

 chalk rocks, the species assumed its lightest coloration. The 

 food-plant of the species was Silene maritima. 



MARCH 26ik, 1896. 



R. South, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. A. E. Eldridge, 50, Alpha Road, Surbiton, and Mr. 

 F. A. Bowen, 11, Buckland Crescent, Hampstead, were 

 elected members. 



Mr. F. Enoch gave, and illustrated with the lantern, an 

 admirable and instructive lecture on " The Life-history of 

 the Tiger beetle (Cicendela campestris)','" being an epitome of 

 his observations on the insect, both in nature and in con- 

 finement, during the last five years (p. 87). 



Mr. Fred. Clark exhibited a number of photo-micro- 

 graphic slides, some of which were prepared from specimens 

 lent by members of the Society. 



