Ill 



OCTOBER i2th, 1898, 



Mr. J. W. TuTT, F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Russell, The Limes, Southend, Catford, was elected a 

 member. 



Several donations to the collections were exhibited, in- 

 cluding numerous species of dragon flies from Messrs. 

 Ashdown and Lucas, and a large number of specimens of 

 micro-lepidoptera from Mr. Drury, F.R.H.S. 



Mr. Moore exhibited a series of Polia chi, and read the 

 following note : — " A writer in the current number of the 

 " Entomologist " has instanced this species as an example 

 of protective resemblance, ' appearing like a grey spot of 

 lichen on the rocks.' My experience does not confirm it. 

 In the neighbourhood of Matlock, Derbyshire, it was 

 common during the last week of August and the first of 

 September. The stone hedges thereabouts are black with 

 age, but the moth shows no melanic tendencies ; in fact, it 

 is as conspicuous as a white spot on a black place well can 

 be, and is easily seen from a comparatively long distance. 

 What its natural enemies may be I do not know; neither in 

 the morning nor evening did I see any birds after it, and 

 considering how readily they capture inconspicuous Diptera, 

 &c., they could scarcely miss Polia chi if they wanted it ; 

 in short, to consider the species specially protected by its 

 resemblance to its surroundings seems to me a far-fetched 

 fancy." 



Mr. Fremlin exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Auld, three 

 specimens of the summer form of Pygcera ci^rtula, and three 

 examples of the spring form of that species ; also three 

 specimens of P. anachoreta, and eleven hybrids from a 

 crossing between female P. curtida and male P. anachoreta. 

 These last were bred in April, 1898, by Dr. Knaggs. It 

 was noticed that in their markings the hybrids followed the 

 female parent, and that the coloration was somewhat similar 

 to the darkest form of the spring brood of P. curtula ; the 

 chocolate tips of the wings, however, were darker than is 

 often found in that species. 



Mr. Fremlin exhibited also (on behalf of Mr. Hope 

 Alderson, of Farnborough, Kent) a beautiful var. of E^tbolia 

 bipunctaria, which at first sight looks like Melanippe monta- 

 nata. 



Mr. Winkley stated that he had observed the blue tits 

 attacking the galls on some willows in his garden, while the 



