92 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



when first advanced, has, I am glad to see, in a paper by Mr. A. F. Bayne 

 (' Record,' iv. 34), been allowed to pass from the recrion of theory into that 

 of acknowledged fact. — J. Clarke ; Reading, Feb. 17, 1893. 



Further Notes on the Economy of Retinta resineixa, Linn. — 

 In an earlier number of this magazine (Entom. xxiii. 76), I gave a brief 

 sketch of the probable life-history of Retinia rednella. T have since, 

 chiefly through the kindness of friends resident in the North, and others 

 who have journeyed thither for the purpose, been able to verify the 

 details then given. But one point in the economy of the species, 

 of which I then had some knowledge, but which appeared to be so 

 extraordinary that I refrained from publishing it until I had further oppor- 

 tunity of investigation, appears to he perfectly correct, namely, that the 

 insect not only takes two years to complete its metamorphosis, but that the 

 imagines appear only in alternate years; thus in 1888, 1890, and 1892 

 immature larvae only were to be found ; while in 1889 and 1891 the larvae 

 found in the spring months were invariably full-fed, and the imagines sub- 

 sequently appeared. Many species occurring in North Britain are, I believe, 

 to be found much more abundantly in alternate years, but I am not aware 

 of any so completely biennial in their appearance as rednella, nor am I aware 

 whether this species has a similar habit in other countries. Possibly some 

 of our continental friends may be able to give us some information on this 

 point ; but providing that in such places the imago is annual in its appear- 

 ance, the peculiarity above referred to would appear to point strongly to 

 the species being a recent introduction to this country. — Robt. Adkin ; 

 Lewisham, Feb. 1893. 



SOCIETIES. 



Entomological Society of London. — February Sth, 1893. — Henry 

 John Elwes, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S., President, in the chair. The President 

 announced that he had nominated Mr. F. DuCane Godman, F.R.S., 

 Mr. Frederic Merrifield, and Mr. G. H. Verrall, as Vice-Presidents during 

 the Session 1893-1894. Mr. Charles R. C. Hibbert, of Holdfield Grange, 

 Coggeshall, Essex ; Mr. Oswald B. Lower, of Bleak House, Parkside, 

 Adelaide, South Australia ; and Mr. John Baxter Oliver, of 12, Avenue 

 Road, St. John's Wood, N.W., were elected Fellows of the Society. Mr. 

 S. Stevens exhibited a specimen of Chcerocampa celerio, in very fine con- 

 dition, captured at light, in Hastings, on the 26th September last, by Mr. 

 Johnson. Mr. A. J. Chitty exhibited specimens of Gibhium scotias and 

 Pentarthrum huttoni, taken by Mr. Rye in a cellar in Shoe Lane. He 

 stated that the Gihbium scotias lived in a mixture of beer and sawdust in 

 the cellar, and that when this was cleaned out the beetles disappeared. The 

 Pentarthrum huttoni lived in wood in the cellar. He also exhibited Mezium 

 affine, taken by himself in a granary in Holborn. Mr. McLachlan 

 exhibited a large Noctuid moth, which had been placed in his hands by 

 Mr. R. H. Scott, F.R.S., of the Meteorological Office. It was stated to 

 have been taken at sea in the South Atlantic, in about lat. 28° S., 

 long. 26° W. Colonel Swinhoe and the President made some remarks on 

 the species, and on the migration of many species of Lepidoptera. Mr. W. 

 F. H. Blandford exhibited larvae and pupae of Ehynchophorus palmarum, L., 

 the Gru-gru Worm of the West Indian Islands, which is eaten as a delicacy 

 by the Negroes and by the French Creoles of Martinique. He stated that 



