SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



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Carlisle ; and on behalf of Mr. Wilkenson, of 

 Carlisle, a very variable series of Melit^a aurinia 

 (artemis) including several good aberrations. 

 Mr. FI. Moore, exotic Orthoptera, including (i) 

 Loscusta pcrcgrina from several localities, showing 

 great variation in density of colour ; (2) Pachytylus 

 viigratorius var. a'nerascens ; (3) a long series of CEdipoda 

 fasciata, from many places, and varying with the 

 soil upon which it rests ; and some ten species of 

 American QEdipodidas. Mr. T. W. Hall, con- 

 spicuous varieties of the following species : Arctia 

 caja (one almost black secondaries) ; Spilosoma 

 lubyicipeda (one of var. zatima taken at Wicken) ; Sesia 

 culiciformis (yellow-banded), Polia xanthomista (var. 

 staticcs) ; Dcmas coryli (banded) ; Mamestra persicaria 

 (unicolorous black), Xylina, conspicillaris, and many 

 other species. Mr. Frohawk, his fine series of 

 undersides of Enodia [Epinephele) hyperanthus 

 varying from extreme var, arete to the beautiful var. 

 lanceolata ; and vars. of Papilio juachaon, including 

 a very dark tawny form bred from Wicken. 

 Mr. Tutt, his specimens of Melampias melampus 

 and M. pharte upon which he bases his opinion 

 that they are only forms of one species, and his 

 series of the hitherto supposed distinct Ciznonympha 

 iphis and C. satyrion. Mr. Dawson, a dark male of 

 Diyas (Argvnnis) paphia somewhat approaching var. 

 valezina of the female ; Shetland forms of 

 Camptogramma bilineata ; a var. schniidtii of Cliry- 

 sophanus phlaas ; and a Taniocampa incerta with 

 much intensified transverse lines. — December loth, 

 1S96. Mr. C. G. Barrett, F.E.S., Vice-President, in 

 the Chair. Mr. Step exhibited the "pen" of the 

 squid, Loligo vulgayis. This species is common on the 

 Cornish coast, but the pen is never found on 

 the shore as is the shell of the Sepia. No doubt 

 the Loligo meets its death by being eaten by some 

 large predaceous fish, and the soft pen would be 

 more or less assimilated. The squid is much 

 used as bait for conger, and is caught very 

 cautiously with pilchards as bait. He also 

 exhibited specimens of the crabs Xaniho incisus 

 and X. hydi'opliilus. Mr. Brooks, a very long series 

 of Acherontia atropos, bred from pupae obtained 

 at Long Sutton this year. One specimen was 

 much lighter on one side than on the other, it 

 was suggested that a deficiency of fluid in the 

 wings through injury was the cause. He also 

 exhibited a very long series of Ti-iphisiia fimbria, bred 

 from larvae collected near Rotherham. Many 

 specimens were light and only very few of the dark 

 form. It was stated that the colour variation was 

 by no means sexual and tended to follow the 

 parent colouration. Mr. Mansbridge exhibited a 

 long and very variable series oi Agrotis auxUiaris from 

 North America, taken in 1S93, and read a paper on 

 the exhibit, describing the forms of variation, life- 

 history and distribution of the species. Mr. 

 Barrett, two specimens of A gratis subgothica, said to 

 have been captured by Raddon, of Barnstaple, and 

 also forms of A. tritici of the var. subgothica. A 

 discussion ensued in which it was conclusively 

 proved, by reference to Doubleday and others, that 

 the bona fides of Raddon could not be relied on. 

 Mr. Adkin read an addendum to his previous paper 

 on Triphcena comes (orbona), giving more detailed 

 evidence of the occurrence of the species and its 

 var. curtisii in various localities. He also exhibited 

 some Shetland forms of Camptogramma bilineata, 

 one having a dark fascia, broad and complete, with 

 a pale central blotch. ]Mr. Dennis, microscopic 

 slides, showing the striking distinctions between the 

 antennae of Hybernia auranttaria and H. defoliaria. — 

 Hy. J. Turner, Hon. Report. Sec. 



Royal Meteorological Society. — The monthly 

 meeting of this Society was held on Wednesday 

 evening, the i6th inst., at the Institution of Civil 

 Engineers, Mr. E. Mawley, F.R.H.S., President, 

 in the Chair. An interesting paper, by Dr. Leigh 

 Canney, on the "Winter Climate of Egypt," was 

 read by the Secretary. " The climate of Egypt 

 during the winter is influenced," he stated, "by 

 the Libyan Desert, by the Mediterranean Sea, and 

 by the extent of cultivated land." The author gave 

 the results of a series of observations which he had 

 carried on during the past three winters. The 

 observations were started with the object of 

 arriving at a comparative knowledge respecting 

 the climates of the various stations now considered 

 as health-resorts in Egypt, and by a strictly com- 

 parable method to arrive at the precise differences 

 between the climates of Upper and Lower Egypt, 

 all previous observations having failed in this 

 respect. The stations at which observations were 

 made were Cairo, Helouan, Mena House Hotel, 

 Luxor, Assouan, Valley of the Tombs of the Kings, 

 and the crest of the Libyan Hills. As self-record- 

 ing thermometers and hair hygrometers were used 

 at each station, valuable data has been obtained 

 on the diurnal variation of temperature and 

 humidity. Mr. R. H. Curtis also read a paper 

 on "An Attempt to determine the velocity equiva- 

 lents of wind forces estimated by Beaufort's 

 scale." The author has compared the anemome- 

 tric records at Scilly, Fleetwood, Yarmouth, and 

 Holyhead, with the wind forces as estimated by 

 the observers at the same or adjoining stations, 

 and has by this method obtained a satisfactory 

 table of velocity equivalents in miles per hour for 

 the estimated forces by Beaufort's scale. 



North London Natural History Society. — 

 Thursday, November 26th, 1896. Mr. L. B. Prout, 

 Vice-President, in the Chair. The curator an- 

 nounced a donation to the society's collection of 

 Lepidoptera from Mr. Prout, including Scotosia 

 rhamnata, Pericallia syringaria, Cosmia affinis, Taenio- 

 campa populeti, Thyatira derasa and T. batis, from 

 Epping Forest, and Sesia tipuliformis and Agrotis 

 nigricans from Dalston. Mr. Austin had taken a 

 walk in Epping Forest on the 14th inst., and 

 recorded the following birds: blackbird, robin, 

 golden-crested wren, long-tailed tit, great tit, blue 

 tit, wagtail (? species), chaffinch, starling, jay, jack- 

 daw, rook and pheasant, also three squirrels in 

 Monkwood. He had noticed an unusual profusion 

 of berries, particularly holly-berries and hips and 

 haws. Miss M. E. Robinson mentioned that she 

 had a singing mouse at home. She thought the 

 curious noise produced by this animal was probably 

 caused by some pulmonary affection. Mr. C. 

 Nicholson, F.E.S., was elected President for 1S97. 

 A discussion subsequently took place on "The 

 Planet Jupiter." — Laurence J . Tremaync, Hon. Sec. 



City of London Entomological and Natural 

 History Society.— Tuesday, December, ist, 1896 

 (Annual General Meeting). Exhibits: Dr. J. S. 

 Sequeira, a specimen of Catocala promissa, taken 

 in the New Forest, having the upper wings of 

 the rich dark-brown frequently occurring in its 

 congener, sponsa. Mr. Bacot, a short bred series 

 of Trichiura crataegi and Orgyia gonostigma. A short 

 discussion ensued as to the double-broodedness of 

 the latter in nature. The election of Council for 

 1897 having been accomplished, Mr. Nicholson 

 read the Treasurer's account (in the absence of Mr. 

 J. A. Clark) and the report of the Secretary; both 

 statements were duly adopted. Mr. J. W. Tutt 



