XIV 



Mr. J. P. Mansell Weale read notes " On Variations in Rhopalocerous 

 forms inhabiting South Africa." The author, after stating that he had 

 travelled over most of the eastern districts of the Cape Colony, alluded 

 to the distribution of plants as affecting that of insects, and noticed the 

 apparent encroachments of the subtropical flora and insect fauna along the 

 south-eastern seaboard, the absence of any great barriers and the general 

 uniformity tending to produce close variations. He exhibited and remarked 

 on a large series of Papilio merope, male and female, some reared by him, 

 and all collected in one small wooded gully, isolated in an open grass 

 country. He also exhibited male and female Nymphales xiphares [Thyestes), 

 the male of which is wanting in the National Collection, remarking on the 

 apparent imitation by the female of Amauris echeria. He next exhibited 

 and remarked on a series of imagines of AcrcBa esetria, some of the forms 

 of which are separated by some entomologists, and stated that all the forms 

 had been reared from larvae collected on a single plant. He next exhibited 

 a series of Junonia pelasgis and archesia, showing , a very close gradation 

 linking the. two forms, and showed that some of the latter approached 

 J. amestris, although the alliance was not so evident as in J. pelasgis. He 

 objected to the use of the name " species " as too freely used among plants 

 and insects, and suggested that it merely implied a provisionally uncertain 

 distinction of apparently important differences. In illustration of this, 

 he exhibited specimens of Callosune evarne and keisharmna, two forms 

 hitherto held distinct, but of which the ova, larvae and pupae exhibited no 

 differences, although in two broods in successive years the forms appeared 

 separately. He also remarked on artificially produced changes in the 

 pupae. 



Prof. Westwood stated that he had just received collections of Coleoptera 

 and Lepidoptera from South Africa, collected by Mr. Gates. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. W. G. Gibson, of Dumfries, stating 

 that Colias edusa had made its appearance in that district during the 

 month of June, and suggesting that its occurrence might be accounted for 

 by the large importation of foreign clover. 



Prof. Westwood stated that Mr. Alexander Wallace had informed him 

 that both Colias edusa and hyale were very common about Colchester in 

 June. 



Prof. Westwood brought under the Society's notice the recent accounts 

 of the appearance of the Colorado beetle in Ontario and near Cologne. 



Mr. May handed in a copy of the Memorandum issued by the Canadian 

 Minister of Agriculture in relation to this insect. 



Part II. of the ' Transactions' for 1877 was on the table. 



