1894.] 237 



He said that they took a very long time to dry their wings, twenty-four hours after 

 emergence some of them were still quite limp ; this he attributed to want of sun. 

 He said the species was becoming not at all uncommon round Birmingham, and he 

 had taken many at Sutton, although a few years ago it probably did not occur here. 

 Mr. A. H. Martineau desci'ibed some experiments he had been making upon different 

 killing substances, in order to ascertain their eiSect upon the colours of insects. 

 Amongst other things, he had tried the fumes of sulphur, which certainly seemed 

 to preserve the reds and yellows of Diptera and Hymenoptera better than ammonia 

 or cyanide of potassium ; if anything, the effect being that the colours were 

 heightened, not turned to black. On the whole he recommended at least a trial of 

 sulphur. — COLBEAN J. "Wainweight, Hon. Sec. 



The South London Entomological and Nattjeal IIistoey Society: 

 August 2Srd, 1894— E. Step, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Hall exhibited two cabinet drawers of Diurni, captured in Switzerland 

 during a fortnight in July, comprising about 100 species, among which were noticed 

 specimens of Hesperia Uneola, O. Mr. Filer showed a very dark Staur opus fag i, 

 L., from Ashdown Forest. Rev. J. E. Tarbat, a remarkable aberration of Vanessa 

 cardui, L., from N. Wales. Mr. Mera, Agrotis tritici, L., and A. aquilina, Hb., 

 stating that it was considered by some persons that these were forms of one species. 

 A discussion ensued, Messrs. Barrett, Fenn, and others taking part. Mr. Frohawk, 

 pupae of Vanessa urticce, L., showing beautiful variation in colour, induced by 

 artificial surrounding^. Mr. Sauze, various forms of Formica nigra, and contributed 

 notes thereon. 



September 13t7i, 1894, the President in the Chair. 



Mr. E,. Adkin exhibited, on behalf of Mr. South, all the named forms except 

 var. albana of Feronea variegana, Schiff. ; on behalf of Mr. Murray, of Carnforth, a 

 beautifully bleached var. of Erehia cethiops, Esp., from his neighbourhood ; on 

 behalf of Mr. W. F. de V. Kane, a pale grey var. of Agrotis segetum, from N. 

 Ireland ; and a short series of Arctia Caja, L., bred this year, with notes on the 

 variation shown by them. Mr. C. Gr. Barrett, the specimen of Plusia moneta, Fb., 

 taken at Norwich by Mr. Tillett, and a beautiful red var. of Oncocera ahenella. 

 Zinc., taken at Folkestone by Mr. Purdey. Mr. Filer, series of JSpinephele hyper- 

 anthes, L., from Brockenhurst and Halstead, showing local variation. Mr. H. Moore, 

 male and female living specimens of the Orthopteron, Ephippigera vitium, from 

 Poitiers, and read notes as to their habits ; he also contributed his observations 

 upon Lepidoptera in France during August. Mr. A. Hall, a splendid var. of 

 Fyrameis myrina, from Bogota, S. America, with the type form for comparison. 

 Mr. Dennis, a specimen of the " Silver Fish," Lepisma saccharina. Mr. Manger, a 

 specimen of the rare stalk-eyed Crustacean, Qonoplex angulata, which had been 

 dredged off Weymouth. Mr. C. G. Barrett, photographs of the Entomologists who 

 recently met at Mr. Capper's house in Liverpool. Mr. Tutt gave a lengthy and 

 interesting account of what Dr. Chapman and himself had observed during a tour 

 through France, Switzerland, and N. Italy, especially referring to those species of 

 Rkopalocera whicli occur in Great Britain. A discussion ensued ; and Mr. Mans- 

 bridgc gave a few remarks upon Lepidoptera in the Indian Territory, U. S. A. Mr. 

 West, of Greenwich, a specimen of the rare Coleopteron, Lebia cyanocephala, L., 

 from Bookliam, with specimens of the two races of L. chlorocephala, Iloff., for 

 comparison. — Heney J. Tuener, lion. Secretary. 



