74 



fimbria^ bred from larvae collected around Rotherham. There 

 Here only a few very dark specimens, but the majority were 

 light, and a few had numerous white markings. One ex- 

 ample had a somewhat broader band on the hind wings, and 

 the basal area was slightly irrorated with blackish scales. 

 Mr. Adkin stated that he had always reared both light and 

 dark forms from any batch of collected larvae. Mr. Barrett 

 said that this colour variation was not sexual. Mr. Hall 

 had bred the species from ova, and had never found very 

 light and very dark forms in the same brood, and he thought 

 they always followed the parent in colour. 



Mr. Mansbridge exhibited a long series of Agrotis 

 aiixiliarh, taken in the Indian Territory, U.S.A., in 1893, 

 during April and May, and read a short paper on the 

 exhibit (printed page 116). 



Mr. Barrett exhibited two specimens oi Agrotis siibgothica 

 belonging to Dr. Mason, and supposed to have been cap- 

 tured by Raddon, of Barnstaple ; and also examples of A. 

 tritici of the siLbgotJiica form, mostly from the east coast. 

 Mr. Tutt showed that the bona fides of Raddon was open to 

 the gravest doubt, adducing the evidence of Doubleday and 

 others. He was also in favour of accepting the name 

 jaculifera of Guenee, although the name siibgothica had been 

 recognised in America some years previously to Guenee's 

 description. Mr. Barrett said that the shape of the wings, 

 narrow at the base and broad outwards, was sufficient to 

 distinguish A. siibgothica from A. tritici. 



Mr. Adkin read a paper entitled " What is the Cause of 

 Melanism in the Scotch Specimens of Triphcsna comes {or- 

 bona) ? " (page 102). In the ensuing discussion Mr. Tunaley 

 thought that all variation should be looked upon as the 

 result of the action of two classes of forces — creative and 

 selective. His own experience was that Forres and its 

 neighbourhood was a very moist and relaxing area. 



Mr. A. W. Dennis exhibited under the microscope male 

 antennae of Hybernia aiirantiaria and H. defoliaria, and 

 pointed out the great difference between them in the structure 

 of their pectinations. In H. defoliaria short conical pro- 

 cesses spring from each side of the shaft, their apices being 

 adorned with a number of somewhat long, slender hairs ; 

 while in H. aiirantiaria the processes are long and of equal 

 thickness throughout their length, and have a double row 

 of short hairs springing from their sides. The antennae of 

 the remaining members of the genus resemble those of 

 //. aiirantiaria (see figures, page 75). 



