20 



before pupating the larvae worked their way upwards, and 

 pupated just below the surface. Mr. Tutt expressed an 

 opinion that the species was Tineola biselliella, Hml. 



Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a series of Mania typica, L., and 

 said that the larvae from v/hich they were reared were found 

 in his garden at Lewisham, feeding gregariously on a leaf 

 of scarlet geranium last autumn. They were brought into a 

 warm room and supplied with dock leaves, on which they 

 soon fed up, and the majority of them pupated in November, 

 the imagines appearing in January and February of the 

 present year. He had found a similar method of forcing the 

 larvse of some of the TriplicencB that he had tried equally 

 successful, and he believed that many other species of Noctuae 

 whose larvae hybernated might be similarly treated with good 

 results, providing, of course, that they could be induced to 

 take such foods as might be obtained during the winter 

 months. It had been suggested that the unduly rapid 

 feeding-up of the larvae tended to produce undersized 

 imagines; it did not however appear that such was the case 

 in this instance. It had been further stated, and indeed had been 

 conclusively proved with regard to double-brooded species 

 showing seasonal dimorphism, that the lengthening or short- 

 ening of the duration of the pupal stage affected the tone of 

 colour of the imago ; but this again was here inoperative, for 

 although the time occupied in the complete metamorphoses 

 was considerably shortened the duration of the pupal stage 

 was not materially affected, the size and colour of the insects 

 exhibited agreeing well with examples reared under natural 

 conditions. 



Mr. Tutt exhibited typical specimens of Agrotis obelisca, 

 Hb., from Germany, the variety hastifera, Donz., from Hun- 

 gary, and some picked specimens captured by Mr, A. J. 

 Hodges in the Isle of Wight, of a different type to the var. 

 hastifera, but much nearer that than the typical obelisca. 



Mr. West (Greenwich) exhibited a small collection of 

 Coleoptera made by Mr. Rydes at Columbia. 



Mr. Billups exhibited a specimen of a Hemipteron of the 

 genus Pentatonia, taken alive in the Boro' market from a 

 package of bananas from the West Indies ; a species of 

 Chrysomelidce, found alive in a barrel of grapes from Malaga, 

 and a fine female of Bombus latreillellus , Kirby, found in a 

 hamper of lettuce from the south of France. Mr. Billups 

 also exhibited Testacella haliotidea, Drap., and made some 

 remarks upon the habits and economy of this interesting and 

 useful slug. 



