121 



Mr. T. W. Hall stated that he had larvse of Sesia myopi- 

 formis^ Bork., feeding in some pear-trees in his garden, and 

 inquired as to the best means of securing the moths. It was 

 suggested that the branches in which the larvse were should 

 be sleeved, and the moths taken out of the sleeves as they 

 emerged. Some discussion arose as to the time of emergence 

 of the imago from the pupa, and the general opinion seemed 

 to be that it was during the early morning. 



Observations were made on the backwardness of the season 

 as regards Lepidoptera. Mr. Adkin stated that species one 

 expected to find in some numbers were only represented by 

 casual specimens. Mr. Fenn said he beheved that at Reading 

 things were plentiful, but personally he had found it a very 

 bad season ; the day before he had spent the afternoon at 

 Tilgate Forest, and had only taken by beating four specimens 

 of macro-lepidoptera, viz., i Cabera pusaria, L., i Eupithecia 

 castigata, Hb., and 2 Drepana lacertinaria, L. There was 

 nothing flying. He also referred to Pieris rapce, L., as an 

 exception to the general scarcity. Mr. Jenner Weir also 

 referred to the abundance of this species, but added that he 

 had seen no other butterfly on the wing. Mr. Adye stated 

 that he had recently found Heliaca tenebrata, Scop., and 

 Euclidia mi, Clerck, abundantly at Willesden ; and Mr. Auld 

 also said he had found many species plentiful in Kent. 



JUNE 25M, 1891. 

 W. H. TuGWELL, Esq., Ph.C, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. W. West (Streatham) exhibited bred specimens of 

 Sesia formiciformis, Esp., and remarked on the species being 

 apparently much attacked by a species of the Ichneumonidae ; 

 he also stated that in his opinion many of the pupae were 

 lying over. 



Mr. C. A. Briggs exhibited a specimen of Pieris brassicce, 

 L., bred from among pupae received from Yorkshire, having 

 one of the antennae much smaller than the other, although 

 fully developed. 



Mr. Croker exhibited among others an example of Coremia 

 ferrugata, Clerck., with one antenna pectinated and the other 

 simple ; there was also a difference in the coloration of the 

 wings on the one side and the other. It was pointed out that 

 the specimen was gynandrous. 



The Secretary read a list, compiled by Mr. R. Adkin, of 

 Lepidoptera taken on the Society's excursion to Eynesford, 



