SOCIETIES. 47 



reliable, as that gentleman never adopted any system in describing them. 

 He thought, also, that larvae varied so much in their different states, that 

 the descriptions of solitary larvae were of very little value. Mr. South ex- 

 pressed an opinion that the two species were undoubtedly distinct, in 

 which opinion Mr. Barrett concurred, pointing out what he considered 

 good distinctions between the two, adding that the larvae, which were 

 internal feeders, were very difficult to obtain aiid rear, and would no doubt 

 vary considerably, although he had never himself bred any of the MiancB. 

 Mr. Tutt said that he considered the points of difference alluded to were 

 only superficial and unsatisfactory ; the remarks made by him as to the 

 two species being identical were based, not on an isolated specimen of the 

 form received from Ireland, but on a long series of the form which was cer- 

 tainly intermediate between strigilis and fasciuncula ; he would, however, 

 at a future meeting, exhibit the specimens referred to. Mr. Tutt, on 

 behalf of Mr. Keid, of Pitcaple, exhibited long series of Agrotis simulans ; 

 a fine series of Triphmia comes, Hb., varying from pale to very dark, some 

 of the specimens being beautifully banded ; very bright forms of Melitcea 

 aurinia, Rett. ; also dark examples of Melanippe fluctuata, L. ; and some 

 specimens of Abraxas grossulariata, L. ; this species Mr. Tutt stated had 

 been introduced by Mr. Reid in the vicinity of Pitcaple with some success, 

 and had apparently developed sexual dimorphism, the males becoming 

 darker and females paler every year. Mr. Manger showed a box of 

 Coleoptera from Australia. — H. W. Barker, Hon. Sec. 



Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological SociETy. — January. 

 ' — The Annual Meeting of this Society was held in the class-room of 

 the Free Library, William Brown Street, when the President, Mr. S. J. 

 Capper, occupied the chair, and delivered an address. He remarked 

 that, having been frequently asked the question why have a special 

 society devoted solely to the study of insects, viz., an " entomological 

 society," in towns where there were biological societies and natural history 

 societies, which, of course, included this study, it had occurred to him that 

 an apology for the Society, even though it had now been in existence four- 

 teen years, might not be altogether inopportune. Before replying, he 

 expressed his warmest sympathy with all societies and individuals interested 

 in natural history, and in this feeling he was sure they all reciprocated, 

 whilst many of them were, in addition to their own, members of other 

 similar associations. It was, however, the vast field of investigation em- 

 braced by such associations as those alluded to, that led to the formation of 

 societies like their own, where the studies were more circumscribed. 

 However inexplicably, there appeared something peculiar in insect life that 

 attracted certain minds specially. Most of those thus attracted would 

 probably be naturalists generally, but they would acknowledge that they had 

 a special predilection in this direction. This led to the formation of a 

 special society. It was most fortunate for the advancement of knowledge 

 that men's minds were so constituted, and that they were enthusiaists in 

 different directions and became specialists, otherwise the fields of research 

 were so inexhaustible that little real permanent work would be achieved. 

 It would be found, in societies with more pretentions, that the men who 

 made the greatest discoveries and did much practical work were specialists 

 in some department. Briefly, the necessity for a society like their own 

 was that the study of insect-life was attractive very specially to certain 

 persons, drawing them into deep sympathy with each other, and 



