115 



also drawn to the fact that the black apical markings of this 

 species become blacker after the insect has flown, in conse- 

 quence of the white scales on the tips becoming dislodged. 

 Mr, Frohawk and Mr. Adkin both agreed that most probably 

 the dark P. brassiccs, L., from Harwich, were the descendants 

 of immigrant parents. 



Mr. H. Moore exhibited three Harlequin beetles, Acrocinus 

 longinianus, from Trinidad, Demerara, and Brazil. 



Mr. H. A. Auld showed an almost white variety of Loma- 

 spilis marginata, L., from Folkestone ; also a series of Argynnis 

 paphia, L., var. valesina, Esp., from the New Forest, and 

 mentioned that a few Colias edusa, Fb., had been taken at 

 Folkestone. 



Mr. Step had a number of pupae of the bacon beetle, 

 Bermestes lardarius, L., and said that a large quantity of the 

 larvae had been sent by a correspondent to the Editor of the 

 " Fishing Gazette " as a new fishing bait. 



Mr. Barrett said that a friend of his, on opening a drawer 

 containing books, found in it about thirty Lepidopterous larvae 

 about three-fourths of an inch long, with tubercles on the 

 third pair of legs, which he suggested were most probably 

 those of Diurnea fagella, Fb. The larvae were in earthen 

 tubes, and seemed paralysed, and were supposed to have been 

 stored by one of the fossorial Hymenoptera as food for its 

 young. Messrs. Step, South, and Fenn took part in the dis- 

 cussion which followed, Mr. Step mentioning that the leaf- 

 cutter bees, Megachile, will frequently take possession of a 

 piece of lead piping, or anything else with a hole in it. 



Mr. Frohawk said the white-spotted form o{ Argynnis paphia, 

 L., was again common in the New Forest ; and Mr. Turner 

 mentioned that Mr. Croker had caotured Tapinostola bondii, 

 Knaggs., DianthcBcia albimaada, Bork., and Sesia chrysidi- 

 formis, Esp., at Folkestone. 



Mr. Turner exhibited two varieties of Argynnis selene, 

 Schiff., in which the central markings of each wing were more 

 or less coalesced, forming imperfect fasciae. He also ex- 

 hibited Eupcecilia nana. Haw., and several other Tortrices. 



Mr. Briggs exhibited a portion of the outer covering of a 

 tree wasp's nest, having stripes of brilliant blue all over it, 

 these stripes having been made from some blue paper or other 

 material of that colour. 



