88 



a wall or fence before disclosing the imago. The two British 

 species of this genus, C. splendens and C. virgo, may be known 

 by the extremely long basal joint to the antennae, and also 

 by the fact that the two lateral caudal lamellae are three- 

 angled instead of leaf-hke. It is difficult to distinguish the 

 two species from one another. Only C. splendens, however, 

 occurs in the district in which these were taken. The most 

 striking features about this nymph are the long legs and 

 antennae, and the longitudinal lighter markings on head and 

 thorax. When at rest these, together with the position the 

 nymph assumes, give it a close resemblance to a piece of 

 dead stick, and conceal it very effectively from even close 

 search. It is indeed extremely difficult to pick out the insect 

 from its surroundings. Its form and markings also cause it 

 to resemble some of the curious stick-like Hemiptera that 

 live in the water, possibly to its advantage." 



Mr. R. Adkin exhibited specimens of Dianthcecia luteago, 

 var. barrettii, from Howth, Ireland, taken in 1878 and i8go, 

 for comparison with the following exhibits by Major Ficklin 

 and Mr. Tutt. 



Major Fickhn exhibited a form of the same species, var. 

 ficklini, from Cornwall, and contributed the following note : 



"The four specimens of the variety of D. luteago were 

 taken by me on June loth, and during the following week, in 

 Cornwall. They were all captured at dusk, flying at flowers 

 of the Silene maritima. Two of the insects were quite fresh, 

 and the others, which were taken a few days later, were 

 much worn. The locality is very wild and rocky, large 

 masses of the- Silene hanging from the cliffs in sheets of 

 blossom, making a splendid background on which to see 

 the rapidly flying moths ; but the high wind which prevailed 

 made their capture very difficult, the flowers being in con- 

 stant motion, and the moth, once disturbed, gone in a 

 moment. I should like to draw attention to the beautiful 

 violet-grey markings on the fore-wings which distinguish var. 

 ficklini readily from var. barrettii.'" 



Mr. Tutt also exhibited examples of a form of D. luteago 

 which were bred by the Rev. Frank E. Lowe, of St. 

 Stephen's Vicarage, Guernsey, on June 15th, 1897, from 

 pupae obtained under Silene maritima. 



Referring to the various forms of DianthcBcia {Luperina) 

 luteago, Mr. Tutt said that they were exceedingly interesting 

 from the fact that the species appeared to form a distinct 

 race in almost every district ; in fact, the species was almost 

 polymorphic with regard to its whole range, yet that each 



