SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



9 1 



Mr. A. Perry, Anerley, was elected a member. 

 Mr. Lucas exhibited nymph cases of Anax formosus 

 taken by himself and Mr. W. Prest at the Black 

 Pond, Esher, in June. Mr. Winkley exhibited a 

 specimen of Testaalla haliotidta from his own 

 garden, which had existed there some considerable 

 time, in spite of the gulls and teal he kept there. 

 Mr. Auld, a fine bred series of Phorodesma bajularia 

 from the New Forest. Mr. Malcolm Burr, a small 

 collection of Orthoptera from the Persian Gulf, 

 collected by Mr. J. H. Hiles. They were chiefly 

 European species (see " Entomologist," July, 1897). 

 Mr. Ficklin, three specimens of Dianthoecia lutcago 

 var. bartiitii, from Cornwall, this year. They were 

 very different from the Irish form, being grey. This 

 was interesting, as being the first well-authenticated 

 occurrence of the species in England. Mr. Mera 

 a bred seriesof Hadina dissimilis (suasa), from Essex, 

 including a specimen having all the markings 

 converted into longitudinal streaks. Mr. Turner, 

 a bred series of Cleora licheiiaria from Ashdown 

 Forest, and series of several species of Coleoptera, 

 including Strangaiia melanura from Ranmore 

 Common, Ciinus scrophalariae from Chalfont Road, 

 and Lep'.ura livida from Canvey Island. Mr. Robt. 

 Adkin. series of Eupithecia satyrata var. curzoni, bred 

 from Shetland larvae, and contributed notes. — 

 Hv.J. Turner, Hon. Report. Sec. 



N ?.th London Natural History Society. — 

 On Saturday. May ijth, an excursion to Brentwood 

 took place. The excursion was not very successful 

 as far as collecting went, the previous very cold 

 weather having retarded the emergence of most 

 insects. Mr. Harvey found a nest with seven eggs 

 of willow wren (Sylvia trochilus), and a nest with 

 six eggs of redstart (S. phocnicurus). Very few 

 lepidoptera were taken. — May 27th, 1897, Mr. C. 

 Nicholson, F.E.S., President, in the chair at 

 ordinary meeting. Exhibits : Mr. Battley, a large 

 specimen of lichen found hanging from trees near 

 Worthing. Mr. Bacot, pupae of Epinepheh 



nthus; larvae of Acidalia inornata and A. 

 marginepunctata ; a female Eurymcnc dolobraria bred 

 from an ovum laid by a female taken in the New 

 Forest last Whitsuntide. Mr R. W. Robins, 

 Pinguicula vulgaris in flower ; also growing plants of 

 Parnassia palustris, Viola paluslris, Anagallis tcnclhi, 

 Campanula htdtracca, etc. Mr. C. Nicholson, bred 

 seriesof A nticlea badiata. Mr. Wheeler read some 



■•tshire Notes." Mr. Bacot enquired the 

 reaso: •Teasing population of the towns 



in Central Dorset He said that the underground 

 huts, mentioned by Mr. Wheeler in the course of 

 his paper to have been found in the county, were 

 still in use in some islands in the North West 

 Atlantic Mr. Battley said that the chalk strata 

 on the Old Marry Rocks on the side nearest 



•:mouth were nearly horizontal, but as we 



ich Swanage they suddenly become nearly 

 perpendicular, similar to the chalk at the Ni 

 I W . ot which this Dtinualion. After 



the chalk, the various Wealden formation follow, 

 alv) perpendicular, and the Purbei 

 reached at Swar. peculiar position '.f the 



beds causes the irrcii divei cem 



sage, as a large number 01 distinct formations 



ip within a few miles '.:■ oodward, 



Simes, Austin, and C pari In 



tflcuarion. Mr Wheeler, in the course oi 

 ed th.-it Dorsetshire peopl 

 I*** r ''i other "Hinlies. — 



June 'mrsi'.n to ( he, hunt. A 



numher of member* and visitors arrived b 

 '.e made their way to the • 



lying around the river Lea. It soon became 

 evident that the recent cold days had prevented 

 Lepidoptera from emerging, but flowers were very 

 abundant. In the ditches Hottonia palustris (water- 

 violet), Thalktrum flavmn (meadow-rue), Myosotis 

 palustris (forget-me-not) and Valeriana officinalis 

 (valerian) were noted, whilst the fields were in 

 many cases covered with Rhinanthus crista-galli 

 (yellow-rattle). Working along the edge of a 

 small stream, Miss Robinson noticed a lava of 

 Cucullia verbasci on a plant of Scrophularia aquatica 

 (figwort), and this species of larva proved after- 

 wards to be well distributed. Among birds, the 

 kestrel, corncrake, reed-bunting and sedge-warbler 

 were the most noticeable. After tea the members 

 proceeded to the other side of the river where 

 flowers were even more abundant, Nuphur luteum 

 (yellow water-lily) and Mimulus lutens (monkey- 

 flower) being among those not previously noted. 

 Lepidoptera were beginning to fly, including Miana 

 fasinucula, Hydrocampa nymphacata, Cataclysta lemuala, 

 and several species of Micro-Lepidoptera. To 

 these flowers Miss Martin records a list of about 

 thirty other plants, in addition to those already 

 mentioned. — June 24th, 1897, the President in 

 the chair. Exhibits : Mr. Prout, larvae of 

 A nticlea (?) badiata and A. nigrofasciaria for 

 comparison. He drew attention to the doubt 

 as to the classificatory position of the former. 

 Standinger places it in Scotosia, which seems 

 no more appropriate than Anticlea (perhaps less 

 so). Another position which has been assigned to 

 it, namely in the genus Ortholitha, corresponding 

 to Eubolia, seems worth looking into ; Mr. C. 

 Nicholson, larvae of Cucullia vcrbassei, from Ches- 

 hunt, and Ephyra pendularia, from eggs received 

 from Mr. Bishop, who had obtained them from a 

 moth taken at Oxshott ; also a piece of Mimulus 

 lutens, or monkey-plant, from Cheshunt. Mr. Prout 

 had spent the last three days at Mildenhall, and 

 had taken, atTudclenham, Agrophila trabcalis in any 

 numbers, a few Acidalia rubiginata, four female 

 Dianthoecia irregularis, one fresh specimen of 

 Heliothis dipsacca, a pair of Lithosia griseala and 

 a couple of somewhat worn specimens of Spilodes 

 sticticalis. Mr. L. J. Tremayne recorded nine Setina 

 irrorella and two Acidalia ornala, neither of the 

 species being in brilliant condition, from Boxhill, 

 on Jubilee Day. Mr. Battley remarked on the 

 similarity of the fauna and flora of Tuddenham 

 to those of the sea-coast district. — June 26th. 

 A field excursion to Oxshott, Surrey, was well 

 attended. Among other species taken were 

 Hadena genistac ; Eubolia plumbaria, locally common 

 on heath and in fine condition ; Lycaena acgon, 

 also fine; Euthemonia russula ; Dianthoecia cat- 

 pophaga ; Elio/ia prosapiaria; Macaria liturata; 

 Aspilates strigillaria; and in the evening flight, 

 Angerona prunaria, with occasional Acidalia lutcata. 

 — Lawrence ] . Tremayne, Hon. Sec. 



[After careful consideration we have decided 

 nol i" publish a long report of a discussion on 

 " Vivisection," which took place before the North 

 Ion Society. This is chiefly because the 

 meeting only represented one side of the question, 

 and there was not anyone present to deal exhaus- 

 tively with the other Bide We fear this subject 

 U'', iih- Idlcicd I'V so much ■ .<■ 1 1 1 i mental 



[eration that it can now only be satisfactorily 

 I by experts who are possessed of aknow- 

 eol bi fai Is "ii both «ides, Ed s.-(;.| 



..1 I ON DON E rOMOl OOICAL and 

 IAI II' I'" iOCIBTV May [8th, iH'17, 



Mr. J. W. 1 '.it, 1 1 s, Prei Ident, In the choir 



