SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



etc., Cemftogramma bilimeata (black forms from 

 Kerry and banded from Shetland), banded Thera 

 .::.i from Orkney, black Amphidasys betulaiia 

 from Yorkshire, vars. of Boarmia repandata and 

 .-'.' Jt.:= gt sssvlariata. Mr. J. W. Tutt's Zygsenids 

 included Zygsna hippocrepidis, a species usually 

 confounded with Z. jilipcnduU : amongst his 

 Geometers were a series of aberrations of Cidaria 

 immanjta from Lochgoilhead, and a hybrid between 

 Amph:.: ■■ :a and A. betularia. Mr. W. ML 



Christy, Zygena iilipendulce and Z. trifolii, with 

 vars. Maeroglossa bombyli/ormis, with scales all over 

 the wings, as found prior to their use, and Nyssia 

 iria, with N. sonaria and Continental 

 relatives for comparison. Mr. C. G. Barrett, 

 British and European Psychids, with their curious 

 larva-cases ; long and variable series of Agrotis 

 p u rs o r ia and A . triti;i ; Leucaniidae, with Leucania 

 ■ . n.sp., lately determined by himself, and 

 vars. of female, spotted, the latter belonging to 

 Mr. G. F. Mathew : and a moth from Unst. 

 Shetland, agreeing with Hadcna maillarJi (St. Cat), 

 placed on the table as a form of Crymodcs exults, 

 but if of specific rank would be an addition to 

 British fauna. Typical C. ixulis and one inter- 

 mediate form belonging to Mr. Percy M. Bright 

 were also exhibited. Mr. F. J. Hanbury, Xoctuae, 

 /estiva var. conf.ua being largely represented, 

 and the Xanthiae and Catocalae were much admired. 

 Mr. L. B. Prout, bred series of Corcmia ferrugata 

 and C. unidentaria to illustrate the influence of 

 heredity. Mr. G. Elisha, a fine exhibit of twenty 

 drawers of micro- lepidoptera of the greatest 

 beauty as to freshness of moths and regularity of 

 setting. Mr. D. C. Bate, larva of Orgyia gonostigma. 

 Mr J. Riches, larva: of Apamea ophiogramma on 

 their food-plant, variegated ribbon-grass. Mr. C. 

 Nicholson, preserved larva of Lasiocampa quercifolia, 

 showing the " lappels." Mr. S. Edwards, a 

 valuable and immense collection of Papilionina 

 from all regions. Exotic lepidoptera were exhibited 

 by Messrs J. A. '.'lark I.Morphinx-. Atlas, Cecropia, 

 Tkyumia agrippixa, etc ). A. Bacot (South African). 

 E M Dadd (American) and Dr. J. S. Sequeira 

 (Indian) The subject of " Mimicry," or the 

 assumption by persecuted species of similar or 

 nearly similar colouration to that of species 

 protected by scents, colours, or presumed nauseous- 

 ness of flavour, from birds and animals, v. 

 illustrated by Messrs Watkins and Doncaster and 

 Messrs O. E Janson and Son. Mr II. Ileasler, 

 coleoptera, being the material for his " London 

 List,' which includ' i u; minor, Oodet 



in, Aphodiu: lividm, Rhinonau bruchoidc. 

 Messrs. O. E Janv.n and Son, case of I'hasmi'l.i or 

 stick insects, twig. like when quiescent— a further 



pmentoftbi lmicry"pi 



Mr W. J Aih-1' 

 imfitj Httrum quadrimaculata ■■ .ir /> l 



can be captured in Surrey. Mr. J. A. Clark, nests 

 of vespa britannica from Forres, on fir, birch and 

 heather, and from New Forest on ivy and yew. 

 Dr. J. S. Sequeira, " insect products," such as 

 silk, wax, honey, cochineal, shellac, etc. Mr. R. 

 M. Wattson's "life in a pond" exhibited dragon- 

 fly nymphs, water-beetles, water-scorpions and 

 other inhabitants of our ponds and pools. Mr. D. 

 C. Bate, a " cat's-eye " electric lamp for sugaring. 

 Mr. R. A. Adkin, mollusca : Turricula terrestris (Helix 

 elegans), from Dover; a large Limncea peregia, with 

 body whorl abnormally humped. Mr. G. K. Gude 

 beautiful varieties of Helices. Mr. C. Oldham, 

 polished agates ; also mosses and lichens from 

 Merioneth. Mr. F. J. Hanbury, Italian Alpine 

 plants and rare or extinct British plants. Comm. 

 Thomas Hanbury, fresh fruits and curious seed- 

 pods from La Mortola, Vintimiglia, Italy, including 

 many varieties of Citron and Solaiium; Finis repeus, 

 the climbing-fig; Eucalyptus globulus, the blue-gum ; 

 also the "bottle-brush," from Australia; cotton, 

 sissal hemp, and seed-pods of Cauavalia ensiformis, 

 Martynia proboscidea (the "wait-a-bit" thorn), and 

 Pithecoctcnium muricatum (family Bignoniaceas), a 

 double-valved husk covered with blunt spines, 

 holding innumerable closely-packed winged seeds, 

 with a hinged " septum " between the valves. 

 Birds' eggs were shown by Messrs. A. F. and W. 

 M. Bayne and F. S. Cottell. Cases of birds and 

 mammals adorned the side tables, Mr. F. J. Han- 

 bury exhibiting terns, corncrake, shrews, pole-cats 

 (rapidly becoming extinct in this country). Mr. J. 

 A. Clark, rotche, smew (male and female), cinna- 

 mon-coloured blackbirds; and Dr. J. S. Sequeira, 

 great northern diver, laughing-jackass, sirral cat (a 

 musteline) and porcupine ant-eater (Echidna liystiix). 

 Microscopists displayed Meliccrta conifera and 

 Stephanoceros cichornii (tube - building rotifers), 

 Lophopus crystallina, Plumatella rcpens, Volvox globatur, 

 etc. Dr. W. A. Kibbler exhibited illuminated 

 photo-micrographs. Gerard Smith, Esq.M.R.C.S., 

 etc., gave a demonstration of X-rays phenomena 

 twice during the evening, and Mr. Fred. Knock, in 

 his happiest style, gave a lecture on "The British 

 Trap-door Spider." Lord Walsingham, an honorary 

 member of the Society, visited the soiree early 

 and addressed the members on the value and 

 pleasure of a study of nature. A programme of 

 music was delightfully rendered in the course of 

 the evening, and light refreshments were served 

 to all visitors. 



II. A Sauzi':. 

 i, tfounl i 



U tiham Hill Road, London, S,B, 



I i IDEM McKlNLBV and Secretary Sherman 



i,:,- ,■ r'-> ommi ndi d thai * on ;res« shall mal < an 



appro| *).', ' l"i ill' 1 i' |'"' ditation ol 



il,, : i .. it the Paris Expo iltion "i [900, 



