73 



Hind wings : black markings confluent except near the 

 margin, where the light brown spots show through a black 

 line parallel with the margin ; under side entirely silver, or 

 silver shaded with green. 



Mr. Dawson also exhibited an example of Chrysophamis 

 phlcBas, var. schmidtii, taken at Plumstead some years ago, 

 and an aberration of Tceniocampa incerta (instabilis) ; the fore- 

 wings of this specimen were grey in colour and traversed by 

 dark lines, the central one thicker and darker than the others, 

 but with a paler edge, discoidal spots absent ; hind wings 

 silvery grey with dark submarginal band. 



DECEMBER loth, 1896. 



C. G. Barrett, Esq., F.E.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Step exhibited the " pen " of the squid (Loligo vul- 

 garis), which was very common around Portscatho. These 

 pens were never found on the shore as the " shells " of the 

 Sepia are, and it was suggested that probably the Loligo met 

 its death by being eaten by some large fish, and that the 

 comparatively soft pen would be more or less destroyed. 

 This squid is in that district used for conger bait, and the 

 mode of its capture is somewhat peculiar. They are caught in 

 the evening with pilchards as a bait. Their suckers slowly 

 cling to the pilchard, and their beak is inserted. Cautiously 

 the fisherman draws the line, and when sufficiently near a 

 bamboo rod, previously fitted with numerous hooks, is used to 

 lift out the squid. Great dexterity must be used or the squid 

 will eject its " ink " full in its captor's face, and produce a 

 very unpleasant burning effect for some time. 



He also exhibited from the same locality specimens of 

 the crabs Xantho incisus and X. hydrophilus, and described 

 their characteristics and differences. 



Mr. Brooks, of Rotherham, exhibited a very long series of 

 Acherontia atropos bred this year from pupae obtained at 

 Long Sutton. They included an asymmetrical form, having 

 the right wings paler. Mr. Tunaley said he had bred a 

 similar form this year, and considered that the aberration 

 was probably the result of some injury to the wings during 

 emergence by which a portion of the wing fluid escaped. 

 He noticed that the specimen exhibited appeared to have 

 been injured in this way. He suggested that the fluid served 

 to somewhat intensify the colour, and its being deficient in 

 quantity caused the paler appearance. 



Mr. Brooks also exhibited a very long series of Triphcena 



