304 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



SOCIETIES. 



South London Entomological and Natural History Society. — 

 Sept. lith, 189:3. — J. Jenner Weir, F.L.S., President, in the chair. Mr. 

 Auld exhibited living larvae of Phorodesma smaragdaria, Fb. ; also two 

 breeding-cages for larvae, as described by Mr. H. G. Knaggs in the 

 * Entomologist's Monthly Magazine ' for July last. Mr. South showed a 

 fine series of Spilosoma luhricipeda var. zatima, Cr., and modifications of 

 that form from Heligoland ; a splendid var. of Argynnis euphrosyne, L., 

 taken in Lancashire by Mr. T. Baynes ; a pale var. of Vanessa urticcB, L., 

 from Monmouthshire, captured by Mr. W. E. Cox ; a blue specimen of 

 Procris statices, L. ; and a number of Zygana trifolii, Esp., including almost 

 all the known forms. Mr. Tutt mentioned that out of about two hundred 

 specimens of this insect taken in North Kent last year, five only were 

 absolutely typical, the remainder having a tendency to assume a six-spotted 

 form, these in most cases being well-marked and similar to Z. filipeyidulce, 

 L. Mr. Weir was of opinion that these two species do occasionally cross 

 in a state of nature. Mr. Fenn exhibited a loug series of Spilosoma luhri- 

 cipeda var. radiata, St., bred from ova received from Mr. Tugwell ; Gnoplios 

 ohsciorata, Hb., from Folkestone ; and Macaria notata, L., bred form ova, 

 Mr. Fenn also exhibited Selenia lunaria, Schifi"., and read a note thereon. 

 Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a series of Thecla betulcB, L., and read a note with 

 reference to the order of sexual emergence. He also showed a short series 

 of Pygcera pigra, Hufn. {reclusa, Fb.), bred from larvae taken in Sutherland- 

 shire last autumn. Mr. Jenner Weir read a note in which he stated that 

 in a recent tour in Belgium he had seen no Colias hyale, L., and but one 

 C. edusa, Fb. He also stated how exceedingly abundant the third brood of 

 Polyommatus jfhlceas, L., had been in his garden, at Beckenham, this 

 September. Mr. Tutt gave his experience of a day amongst the Lepidoptera 

 in the suburbs of Paris, at the beginning of August, when G. hyale, L., 

 was in numbers, with Agrophila sulpliuralis, L., Acontia luctuosa, Esp., &c., 

 and many other species in great numbers. Mr. Enock exhibited wheat- 

 stems containing pupae of the Hessian fly, from Sidmouth, where he found 

 it infesting the wheat and barley ; also examples of Chlorops tceniopus, the 

 destructive ribbon-footed corn-fly, and made some interesting remarks on 

 both species. — H. Williams, Hon. Sec. 



Lancashire and Cheshire ENTOMOLoarcAL Society. — Sept. 11th. — 

 Mr. W. E. Sharp, Vice-President, in the chair. Mr. Gr. Morel-Deville 

 read a paper entitled " A Fortnight's Entomology in the Canary Islands," 

 in which he described the difficulties of collecting specimens in Canary, 

 owing to the intense heat, the large cactus, and the laval nature of the 

 ground. He then recounted the species taken, the majority of which 

 occurred in Great Britain, and gave a graphic description of the capital 

 and general features of the country. The paper was illustrated by nume- 

 rous photos and specimens. The chairman exhibited a number of 

 Coleoptera from Worcester and Delamere. Mr. Harker, Lepidoptera from 

 Missouri and Kentucky, Mr. Watson, the female of Papilio phorcas, which 

 he stated was apparently very rare, although the male was commonly 

 received from Africa. Mr. Newstead, nests or cells of Crahro crysostoma 

 and Pemphredon lugubris, the former stored with a species of Syrphus, and 

 the latter with an aphis [Melammoxanthus salicis, Linn.) common on willow, 

 to be used as food ; and Cassida viridis, taken on new land formed by the 

 Manchester Ship Canal at Ince, Cheshire. — F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec. 



