112 



fUNE %th, 1893. 



J. Jenner Weir, Esq., F.L.S., etc., President, 

 in the Chair. 



Mr. F. W. Frohawk exhibited a variety oi Melitcea aurinia, 

 Rott., a most remarkable form, especially on the underside, 

 the normal orange-tawny colouring being replaced by fulvous- 

 brown. On the whole of the outer half of the right secondary 

 the markings are missing, excepting the sub-marginal row of 

 black dots ; while on the left secondary, the sub-marginal 

 band is slightly indicated, the usual cream-coloured spots at 

 the base of the secondaries being replaced by black markings, 

 The specimen is a fine female, bred from Penarth pupa. 

 May 17th, 1893. 



A very similar aberration of the same species was also 

 shown by Mr. Frohawk on behalf of Mr. Carpenter. 



Mr. H. A. Auld exhibited a specimen of Spilosoina urticce, 

 Esp., deficient in the usual row of black spots down the 

 centre of the body ; also a fine bred series of PJiibalapteryx 

 vitalbata, Hb. 



Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a splendid series of Asteroscopus 

 nubeciilosa, Esp., from Rannoch, bred 1893. Two of these 

 were from larvae fed up in 1890, thus having been three 

 winters in pupa; also a series from larvae fed up in 1891, 

 thus having passed two winters in pupa ; and he stated that 

 it was not unusual for this species to remain two years in the 

 pupal state. Mr. Weir referred to the view held by some, 

 that certain insects resisted any forcing, and instanced the 

 second brood of Pieris napi, L. In the discussion which 

 followed, Mr. Barrett contended that it was of the utmost 

 importance that a species like A. nubeciilosa should have the 

 power of delaying their emergence, should the weather be 

 too unfavourable ; and Mr. Weir remarked that if it was 

 the habit, say, of Eriogaster' lanestris, L., to all emerge one 

 season, it might in consequence of successive inclement 

 springs be the means of exterminating that species. 



Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited a specimen of Aporia cratcegi, 

 L., which he generously placed in the Society's collection, and 

 read the following note: "In the year 1839, early in the 

 month of June, I determined to commence to collect the 

 British Lepidoptera, being at the time at Keymer, Sussex. 

 The first insect I captured was Aporia cratcegi ; it was very 

 common, and had been so for many years previously in that , 

 locality. Not having proper boxes with me, I took but four 



