SOdiETiES. ^1 



by Lord Walsingham. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited male specimens of 

 Spilosoma mendica, Clk., bred from ova obtained from a female of the Irish 

 form which had been impregnated by a male of the Enghsh form. These 

 specimens were of a dusky white colour, and were intermediate between the 

 English and Irish forms. Mr. F. Merrifield showed samples of a material 

 known as "cork-carpet," and explained its advantages as a lining for 

 cabinets and store-boxes. Dr. Sharp fully endorsed the opinion expressed 

 by Mr. Merrifield. Mr. R. W. Lloyd exhibited specimens of Anisotoma 

 triepkei, Schmidt, and Megacronus inclinans, Er., collected last August at 

 Loch Alvie by Aviemore. Mr, Merrifield read a paper entitled, " On the 

 conspicuous changes in the markings and colouring of Lepidoptera caused 

 by subjecting the pupae to different temperature conditions." In this paper it 

 was stated that the results of many experiments made on Selenia illustraria 

 and Ejinomos autumnaria tended to prove that both the markings and 

 colouring of the moths were materially affected by the temperature to which 

 the pupae were exposed : the markings by long continued exposure before 

 the last active changes ; the colouring, chiefly by exposure during these 

 last changes, but before the colouring of the perfect insect began to be 

 visible, a moderately low temperature during this period causing darkness, 

 a high one producing the opposite effect, and two or three days at the right 

 time appearing in some cases suflBcient. Dryness or moisture applied 

 during the whole pupal period had little or no effect on either markings or 

 colouring. Applying the facts thus ascertained, Mr. Merrifield said he had 

 obtained from summer pupae of illustraria some moths with summer 

 colouring and spring markings, some with spring markings and spring 

 colouring, and some with summer markings, but an approach to spring 

 colouring. These specimens, with enlarged and coloured photographs of 

 them, were exhibited. Mr. 0. Fenn, who said he did not agree with Mr. 

 Merrifield's conclusions, exhibited a very long and varied series of specimens 

 of Eniiomos illustraria, all of which, he stated, had been bred at the same 

 temperature. He expressed an opinion that the presence or absence of 

 moisture, rather than differences of temperature, was one of the principal 

 causes of variation. The discussion was continued by Lord Walsingham, 

 Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Jenner Weir, Captain Elwes, 

 Mr. M'Lachlan, Mr. Porritt, Dr. Mason, Mr. Barrett, and others. Mr. G. 

 T. Baker read a paper entitled, "Notes on the Lepidoptera collected in 

 Madeira by the late T. Vernon Wollaston." The paper was illustrated by 

 a number of figures drawn and coloured some years ago by Prof. Westwood. 

 Mr. Hamilton H. Druce exhibited several very beautiful species of butter- 

 flies, belonging to the genus Hijpochrysops, from the Solomon Islands and 

 Australia, and read a paper on the subject entitled " A Monograph of the 

 Lycaenoid genus Hypochrysops, with descriptions of new species." Mr. C. 

 J. Gahan read "Notes on some species of Diabrotica." — H. Goss and 

 W. W. Fowler, Hon. Secretaries. 



The South London Entomological and Natuual Htstoey Society. 

 — November 27th, 1890. — W. H. Tugwell, Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Mr. R. South exhibited examples of Melanippe fluctuata, L., from various 

 localities, and called attention to the var. costovata of Haworth, also to an 

 unusually large specimen from Scotland ; he also referred to Milliere's 

 figure of the variety known as neapollsata, and expressed a doubt as to 

 the occurrence of this form in Britain. Mr. Hodges, Leucania vitellina, 



