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MARCH iZth, 1889. 

 T. R. BiLLUPS, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Messrs. J. E. Cutts, W. T. Sturt, and W. G. Macmurdo 

 were elected members. 



Mr. Hawes exhibited a variety of Epinephele ianira, L,, 

 taken near Hastings, Sussex, having additional spots on the 

 primary wings ; also two varieties of Zygcena filipendulcs, L., 

 taken on the banks of the Great Northern Railway at Oak- 

 leigh Park, July, 1876. In both these specimens the central 

 spots and upper spot of the outer pair were absent, and the 

 inner pair of spots much contracted. 



Mr. W. H. Tugwell exhibited examples of Deilephila galii, 

 Schiff , and read the following notes : — 



The unusual number of Deilephila galii, that occurred 

 all over England last year, extending even to Ireland 

 and Scotland, naturally re-opens the oft-repeated query as 

 to their origin. The idea that has perhaps found the most 

 favour is the so-called "blown over" theory, although there 

 has never been any conclusive evidence given to prove it ; 

 but merely that it appeared the most feasible solution of 

 the origin of this sudden and wonderful abundance of a 

 large and showy species like galii. It may be remembered 

 that in February last I exhibited a bred series of D. galii, 

 three males and three females, as fine and large as any 

 British-born specimens I had ever seen ; when, to my sur- 

 prise, after the meeting, one of our members, Mr. F. Oswald, 

 came to me, and whilst admitting the beauty of my speci- 

 mens, asked if they were not unusually small. On thinking 

 this matter over afterwards, I too recollected that Mr. J. T. 

 Williams had also told me how large the specimens were 

 that he and Mr. Oswald had taken in St. Margaret's Bay, 

 so much so that Mr. Oswald had supposed them to be vS. 

 ligustri, L. This gave me the key to what I am now fully 

 convinced is a positive fact, viz., that in nearly every case of 

 captured moths of D. galii they are immigrants from the 

 Continent, as I found on writing to all the captors of 

 imagines in 1888 for measurement of their insects, they all 

 agreed in being the large type that is found in France, but 

 which type is never reared here in England from British- 



