SOCIETIES. 151 



histories of many species were exhibited by Mr. Short, Mr. C. H. Williams, 

 and Mr. A. J. Croker, Phorodesma smaragdaria and Miana strlgilis being 

 specially noticeable ; and also by Mr. Quail, whose specimens, mounted on the 

 natural food-plant, were much admired. Mr. Sydney Webb exhibited long 

 series of varieties of Vanessa urtlccB and Abraxas grossulariata, Mr. 

 Hawes, varieties of Rhopalocera, and a long series of Hesperla lineola, in- 

 cluding the three specimens taken in 1888, from which the species was 

 identified. Mr. T. W. Hall, varieties of Noctuse. Mr. J. R. Wellman, 

 his magnificent collection of Plusiidse and AcidaUidse. Mr. J. T. Williams, 

 long series of many species. Professor Stuart, examples of mimicry among 

 Lepidoptera ; and a case showing secondary sexual characters. Mr. C. B. 

 Smith, fine series of the genus Argynnis. Mr. E,. Adkin, the British 

 butterflies geographically arranged, in order to show local variation ; also 

 long series of the genus TrijyJicma. Mr. S. J. Capper, a fine lot of 

 varieties and typical specimens of Ccenonympha davus. Mr. C. A. Briggs, 

 long and varied series of the Pieridae and other groups. Mr. C. Feini, 

 varieties of Tcsmocampa incerta, and examples of Tortrices. Mr. A. H. 

 Jones, scarce British Noctuse. Mr. J. W. Tutt, his collection of the genus 

 Agrotis. Messrs. Nussey, Collins, Joy, Barker, and many others, also 

 exhibited British Lepidoptera, while fine exhibits of exotic species were 

 made by Mr. Jenner Weir and Mr. S. Edwards. Mr. Mosley contributed 

 an interesting collection of insects injurious to agriculturists, &c. Botanical 

 exhibits were made by Mr. E. Step (British lichens and mosses). Miss 

 Billups, Miss Adkin, Messrs. A. L. Clarke, and C. S. Cooper; minerals by 

 Mr. Russell; and Mr. M. Winkley exhibited a collection of Queensland 

 opals, showing fossil bones, shells, &c., opalised, the whole of which were 

 collected by Mr. T. C. Wollaston. Entomological objects under the micro- 

 scope were exhibited by the undermentioned gentlemen : — Messrs. H. J. 

 Turner, A. J. Croker, f . R. Billups, R. Adkin, E. Hinton, E. Dadswell, 

 F. Coles, R. Macer, T. D. Ersser, A. L. Corbett, H. G. Coombs, C. S. 

 Bouttell, J. T. Holder, H. Groves, W. West, W. B. Medland, F. Reeve, 

 W. Gregory & Co., F. Enock, C. H. Oakden, and C. S. Cooper. In a sepa- 

 rate room Mr. Henry Burns exhibited pond life, the enlarged image of the 

 living object being thrown upon a screen by aid of a lantern. On each 

 evening Mr. F. Enock delivered a lecture on " The Wonders of Insect 

 Life, as exemplified in the Life-history of the Hessian Fly "; and Mr. G. 

 Day lectured on "A Walk by the Sea Shore"; both of these were illus- 

 trated by means of the oxy-hydrogen lantern. Mr. George Smith, of the 

 Sciopiicon Company, also gave exhibitions of micro-photographs. — H. W. 

 Barker, Hon. Sec. 



Birmingham Entomological SociF/ry. — April Qth, 1891. — Mr. R. C. 

 Bradley in the chair. Mr. C. J. Wainwright showed long series of Cheilosia 

 cestracea and Volucella pellucens, the former from Somersetshire, the latter 

 from several localities. Mr. R. C. Bradley, Echinomyia grossa and /era. 

 Mr H.J. Sands, a piece of ebony completely destroyed by some large larvae. 



April UOth.—tiew. C. F. Thornewill, F.E.S., Vice-President, in the 

 chair. Dr. Stacey Wilson was elected a member of the Society. Mr. 

 R. C. Bradley shovveu Lauxania cylindricornis from Wyre Forest and 

 Lcenea from Trench Woods. Mr. A. Johnson showed larvse of Ohunda 

 llchenea. The Secretary read a paper on " Urtication," which was commu- 

 nicated by Mr. R. Freer. He described the effects which the hairs of For- 

 tJiesia siinilis, JJainhyx ruhi, and other Lepidoptera, in various stages, 

 produced, and said he concluded from them that the irritation was caused 



