SOCIETIES. 169 



parents. Dr. H. H. Corbett read a paper entitled " Notes on the 

 Lepidoptera of Doncaster." He enumerated the Lepidoptera taken by 

 him around Doncaster, and drew attention to the local variation of several 

 of the species ; he also exhibited and described LithocoUetis cerasicolella, a 

 species which he had recently added to the British list. Mr. Watson 

 exhibited Papilio elwesi, female, from Central China, which, as far as he 

 knew, was at present unique. The President exhibited Papilio machaon ; 

 and Mr. Newstead, a collection of Coccidae formed by Miss Tomlin in 

 Madras. — F. N. Pierce, Hoti. Sec. 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — March 29th, 1893. Mr. G. 

 H. Kenrick, V.P., in the chair. The following were exhibited : — By Mr. 

 R. C. Bradley, insects from Sutton, including Euholia cervinaria, &c. By 

 Mr. G. W. Wynn' insects from Wyre Forest, including Dicranura bifida, 

 Lobophora hexapterata, &c. ; also Smerintlius tilim from Haubury Park. 

 By W. W. Harrison, Amphidasys prodromaria, from Arley, &c. Mr. G. 

 Kenrick read a paper " On the occurrence of the black variety of Amphi- 

 dasys betularia." He said that it was first described by Milliere in 1859, 

 from a specimen from Yorkshire : at that time it seems to have been a new 

 and exceptional form. In 1869, Newman says of the species, "some are 

 black." Since then it seems to have been getting more and more common, 

 until now we find it contributing a large proportion of the whole. Mr. 

 Kenrick mentioned the various theories of the causes of black forms of 

 insects, but dismissed them all as inadequate to explain the origin and 

 increase of this. He thought this might have come about in the following 

 manner: — In all cases ofi'spring more or less resemble their parents, some- 

 times one only, sometimes both ; at times the tendency is very strong for 

 them all to resemble one parent only. When breeding A. betularia, using 

 one type and one var. doubledayaria, it has been noticed that most of 

 the offspring are black ; therefore, it may be, a chance black example has 

 bred and been perpetuated in this manner. It is a hardy species ; the 

 blackness of the variety seems neither to assist nor injure it, and therefore 

 there would be no selection of either form ; and it can easily be seen that 

 if the offspring of any pair, where there is only one black form, tend mostly 

 to become black, then the form would rapidly increase, as this appears to 

 have done. The paper was discussed at length by the Rev. D. J. Nurse, 

 Messrs. G. T. Bethune, Baker, R. C. Bradley, and C. J. Wainwright.— 

 CoLBRAN J. Wainwright, Hon. Sec. 



Cambridge Entomological and Natural History Society. — 

 February 17t/i, 1893, Annual Meeting. — Mr. Gibson, of Queen's College, 

 was elected a member. An abstract of the report of the Secretary and 

 Treasurer showed the Society to be in a very satisfactory condition ; thirty- 

 one members were elected during the year. The meeting held fortnightly 

 during the University Terms had been well attended, and the exhibits 

 numerous and interesting. The following were elected officers for the 

 year:— President, Mr. F. V. Theobald, B.A., F.E.S. ; Vice-President, Mr. 

 A. M. Moss ; Librarian. Mr. A. Jones ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. W. 

 Farren, F.E S. ; Council, Mr. T. H. Bryan, M.A., Mr. J. C. Rickard, Mr. 

 M. White. Mr. Rickard exhibited British specimens of Saperda carcha- 

 rias, an unnamed species of the genus Necrophorus, Trichiosoma betuleti, 

 Sirex gigas, a dark variety of Vespa vulgaris, Reduviiis personatus and its 

 pupa, Bombyliis major, and an unnamed Tachina ; and from South Africa, 



ENTOM. — MAY, 1893. Q 



