SOCIETIES. 141 



forms of the latter from forms of C. costella. Mr. Auld, a box of 

 Coleoptera collected near the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Barrett drew 

 attention to a method of transferring the scales of the wings of Lepidoptera 

 to paper, as exemplified by a sample from Herr Aug. Hoffmann, and 

 Mr. Tugwell noticed that the scales were necessarily reversed, and the body, 

 eyes, antennae, &g., painted in. Mr. McArthur showed a method of staging 

 and securing an insect by means of a slip of thin card doubled over, when 

 for any reason the pin through the thorax had been rendered useless. Mr. 

 R. Adkin exhibited a short series of Spilosoma mendica, Clerck, bred from 

 larvsB found in Aberdeenshire, the males being of a brownish colour. Mr. 

 Tugwell referred to the fact that specimens of the male S. mendica from 

 Barnslev were light, whereas those from Huddersfield were dark forms, as 

 exhibited recently by Mr. G. T, Porritt. Mr. Billups, some curious forms 

 of Hemiptera-Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Nenroptera, Orthoptera, &c., 

 from a mission-station on the Demerara River, British Guiana, and called 

 attention to a fungoid growth attached to a specimen shown belonging to 

 the Homoptera. Mr. Billups said it closely resembled, if it was not the 

 actual species known as Terrubia robertsii, which attacks certain larvae in 

 New Zealand. Mr. J. Weir exhibited specimens of Euploeine butterflies 

 from three distinct groups, viz., Crastia core, Narmada coreoides, and 

 Pademma kollm^i, and read an interesting paper on " Isochromatous 

 Lepidoptera." Mr. R. Adkin also exhibited a series of Diurnea fagella, Fb., 

 from Lewisham, and mentioned several species, notably Eupithecia rect- 

 angulata, L,, and Miana strigilis, Clerck, which had assumed a marked 

 tendency towards melanism in the London district of late years; and 

 resuming the discussion on Mr. Mansbridge's paper, adjourned from the 

 previous meeting, agreed with the view therein expressed, that the vicinity 

 of a large city, rather than the dampness of the atmosphere, appeared to 

 account for the change. The discussion was continued by Messrs. Barrett, 

 McArthur, Tutt, Robson (of Hartlepool], and others. Mr. Robson exhibited 

 a short series of 8. mendica, Clerck, of which one specimen, a female, bred 

 at Hartlepool, was of a distinct cream-colour. He stated that this species 

 was common in Northumberland and Durham along the coast, and that the 

 male insect occasionally varied to a colour intermediate between the 

 English and Irish forms. Mr. Robson also exhibited dark specimens of 

 8. populi, L., from Aberdeen, and light forms (female) bred at Hartlepool. 

 A discussion followed, Mr. R. Adkin stating that 8. mendica was not a 

 common species in Scotland, and he was not aware that it had previously 

 been found so far north as Aberdeenshire. Mr. Tutt and Mr. J. A. Clark 

 each referred to varieties of the species. 



March Qth. — J. Jeuner Weir, Esq., F.L.S., President, in the chair. 

 The President exhibited specimens of Diurnea fagella, Fb., taken fifty 

 years ago, near London, and Mr. R. Adkin remarked that they were as 

 light as any taken now in the metropolitan district. Mr. Jenner Weir also 

 noted the capture of Vafiessa io, L., by his brother, on 19th February, near 

 Sevenoaks, and that he had seen Gonepteryx rhamni, L., on the wing on 

 9th March. Mr. Fenn reported G. rhamni as having been common near 

 Leatherhead at the end of February. A discussion arose as to the occur- 

 rence of Polyommatus dispar, Haw., at Camberwell, fifty years ago, and Mr. 

 Fenn and Mr. Tugwell both recorded Kentish specimens previous to 184S. 

 Mr. Tutt confirmed the capture of Melanippe galiata, Hb., near Hudders- 

 field, as recorded by Mr. Mansbridge in his paper read before the Society 



