1898.] 259 



Birmingham Entomological Society : August 1st, 1898. — Mr. G-. T. 

 Bethune-Bakee, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. John Levick, Livingstone Road, Handsworth, was elected a Member of 

 the Society. 



Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed a series of males of Volucella injlata, taken on 

 hawthorn bloom in the Ifew Forest last June. Mr. E. C. Bradley, a dark specimen 

 of Cidaria corylata from Sutton ; also a specimen of Pemphredon, pi'obably luguhris, 

 with a parasite on the disc of each wing. Mr. R. G-. B. Chase, Amphydasis hetu- 

 laria, var. Doubledayaria, from Edgbaston. Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker, referring to 

 the last exhibit, and the increase of melanism, said that whilst at one time the black 

 variety of Gracilaria syringella was a rarity, it is now quite common in the 

 neighbourhood of his house at Edgbaston ; also that he remembered a time when 

 the black form of Miana strigilis was also uncommon locally, the common form 

 being like the type ; now, however, the black form was common. Mr. C. J. Wain- 

 wright said that in his expei'ience the black form of the latter species was the only 

 one occurring locally now. Mr. A. H. Martineau, Ammophila liirsuta from Tenby, 

 South Wales, where it was taken by Mr. Chase. Mr. Gr. T. Bethune-Baker a number 

 of species of Palasarctic and tropical butterflies, CJiaraxes, Lihythea, &c. 



September 19tt, 1898. — The President in the Chair. 



Mr. E,. C. Bradley showed a specimen of Brachypalpiis bimaculatus ^ from 

 Sutton, taken on July 3rd this year, and said that the species was exceedingly rare, 

 almost the only other captures he knew of being two males taken in Sherwood Forest 

 in 1892 by himself and Mr. C. J. Wainwright. Mr. A. H. Martineau, Ammophila 

 sahulosa, bred from a pupa found in the New Forest last June ; also Spilomena 

 troglodytes and Stigmus SolsJcyi from Solihull, two species which he said were 

 amongst the smallest of the British Aculeates. Mr. G-. W. Wynn, Cosmia affinis^ 

 Numeria pulveraria, Cidaria silaceata, Eubolia cervinaria, a long, bred and very 

 beautiful series of Triphcena fimbria, and a long variable series of Hydracia nictitans, 

 all from Hampton in Arden ; also a long, bred series of Cucullia verbasei from Wyre 

 Forest; and a single specimen of Acidalia straminata also from Wyre Forest, which 

 he said was a new record for the district. Mr. H. Willoughby Ellis, a series of 

 beetles from Cannock Chase, including Orchesia micans, Miscodera arotica and many 

 others. Mr. Gr. T. Bethune-Baker, two drawers of palsearctic Lepidoptera, containing 

 the genera Neptis, Junonia and Limenitis. — CoLBRAN J. Wainwright, Hon. Sec. 



The Meetings of this Society will be held from this date in the Norwich Union 

 Chambers, Congreve S. O., Birmingham. Entomologists are at all times made 

 cordiallv welcome. 



The South London Entomological and Natural History Society: 



July lUh.—M.r. E. Adkin, F.E.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. H. Shortridge Clarke, F.E.S., Sulby Vicarage, Isle of Man, was elected a 



Member. 



Y 2 



