SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



255 



starvation during hibernation. Mr. A. Bacot 

 showed a box of Spilosoma lubricipeda bred in 1895 

 from ova received from Mr. Hewitt. The parents 

 were shown, the female having a tendency to 

 aberration zatima. There were fifty specimens, 

 twenty being males and thirty females. As to the 

 central spot on fore-wings, in seven males and nine 

 females, i.e. thirty-two per cent, of the offspring, this 

 is stronger or better marked than in either parent, 

 while in three males and six females, or eighteen per 

 cent., it is notably weaker. As to the costal blotch 

 on the fore-wings, on the left fore-wing of one male 

 only is this more prominent than with the male 

 parent, but ten males and three females, or twenty- 

 six per cent., have it as well marked or stronger than 

 the female parent. As to the transverse bands on the 

 fore-wings, seven males and nine females, or thirty- 

 two per cent., have the transverse bands as strong 

 and distinct as the male parent, and in many cases 

 less broken up into spots, so that, as a transverse 

 band, it is better marked than in either parent. 

 As regards the width of the band due to the longi- 

 tudinal length of the separate spots, none of the off- 

 spring can vie with the temale parent. The tendency 

 to approach aberration zatima is in no instance 

 so strong in the brood as with the female parent, 

 and the under-wing blotches are also less de- 

 veloped. Mr. F. B. Jennings, a larva from a willow 

 stump at Edmonton, being that of the Cardinal 

 beetle, Pyrochroa, probably sp. serraticornis, as that 

 is the only one of the genus known to occur in the 

 district. Rev. C. R. N. Burrows, a number of 

 common species of autumn insects, but of interest- 

 ing forms, from Mucking, Essex, including Cerastis 

 spadicea (ligula) type form and vars. ; Miselia oxya- 

 canthae, with a yellow-grey form, and ninety-nine 

 specimens of Epunda lutulenta, in none of which 

 was there a tendency to the Irish form. Also 

 Sphinx convolvuli, from Cranbrook, Kent. Mr. A. 

 W. Mera, a series of bred male and female 

 Camptogramma fluviata from South Devon, which 

 emerged last September, and a number of beau- 

 tiful bred specimens of Spilosoma lubricipeda de- 

 veloped by selection from wild stock taken on 

 Lincolnshire coast, ranging in variation from type 

 to aberration radiata. Mr. S. J. Bell, insects from 

 Sandown, I. W., Vanessa urticae, one specimen with 

 right side-wings of a tawny ground colour in- 

 stead of the usual red, presumably caused by 

 damage to pupa, which was moved about just at 

 the time of pupation ; two red specimens of 

 Leucania lithargyria ; two Sesia ichneumoniformis 

 taken by sweeping over Lotus corniculatus in after- 

 noon, and four Trochilium crabroniformis (bembeci- 

 formis) taken on poplar trunks. Mr. Riches, a 

 series of Eucosmia undulata bred from Colchester 

 larvae. Mr. Woolley, a magnificent exhibit of 

 several boxes of Lepidoptera recently taken in 

 America. Business followed, and the President 

 then gave his annual address, reviewing the 

 history of this old society from its inauguration 

 in 1858, under the style of the Haggerston Entomo- 

 logical Society. It successfully opposed attempts 

 made to destroy and enclose parts of Epping 

 Forest, and obtained suitable room for the Double- 

 day Collection at Bethnal Green Museum and its 

 thorough preservation. He spoke of the new 

 species of insects recorded during the year now 

 closing and noted the occurrence of such of the 

 rarer species as have come before the entomo- 

 logical world. He then entered upon a discussion 

 of the various problems that had faced him during 

 an exhaustive study of the Anthrocerids.— H. A. 

 Sauze, Hon. Sec. 



METROPOLITAN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 

 The following is a list of societies in the London district 

 devoted to natural science, with hours and places of meeting. 

 They may he visited with introduction from a Fellow, 

 Member, or Secretary. Will secretaries send additions or 

 corrections. 

 Anthropological Institute of Great Britain, 3, 



Hanover Square. Second and fourth Tuesdays at 



8.30 p.m., November to June. 

 Battersea Field Club and Literary and Scientific 



Society. Public Library, Lavender Hill, S.W. Thurs- 

 days, 8 p.m. 

 City of London College Science Society, White Street, 



Moorfields, E.C. Last Wednesday in each month, 



October to May, 7.30 p.m. 

 City of London Entomological and Natural History 



Society, London Institution, Finsbury Circus. First 



and third Tuesdays, 7.30 p.m. 

 Clapham Junction Natural Science Circle, Young 



Men's Christian Association Rooms, Battersea Rise, 



S.W. Alternate Wednesdays, 8 p.m. 

 Conchological Society, London Branch, St. Peter's 



Rectory, Walworth. Irregular meetings. Rev. J. W. 



Horsley, President, will answer enquiries. 

 Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club, 



Public Hall. Third Tuesdays, October to May, 8 p.m. 

 Dulwich Scientific and Literary Association. Fort- 

 nightly lectures Lordship Lane Hall, second and fourth 



Mondays, 8.15 p.m., from October, for winter season. 

 Ealing Natural Science and Microscopical Society. 



Victoria Hall, Ealing Second and last Saturdays. 



October to May, 8 p.m. 

 Entomological Society, ii, Chandos Street, Cavendish 



Square. First Wednesday, October to June (except 



January). Third Wednesday, January, February, March 



and November, 8 p.m. 

 Geologists' Association, University College, Gower 



Street. First Friday, 8 p.m., November to July. 

 Geological Society of London, Burlington House, 



Piccadilly. First and third Wednesdays, 8 p.m., 



•November to June. 

 Greenhithe Naturalists' and Archaeological Society, 



7, The Terrace. First Fridays, 7 p.m. 

 Lambeth Field Club and Scientific Society, St. Mary, 



Newington, Schools, Newington Butts, S.E. First Mon- 

 days all the year and third Mondays in winter, 8 p.m. 

 Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly. 



First and third Thursdays at 8 p.m., November to June. 

 London Amateur Scientific Society, Memorial Hall, 



Farringdon Street, E.C. Fourth Friday in each month, 



October to May, 7.30 p.m. 

 Lubbock Field Club. Working Men's College, Great 



Ormond Street, Bloomsbury, W.C. Excursions second 



Sundays, Meetings following Mondays, 8 pm, 

 Malacological Society of London, meets in Linnean 



Society's Rooms, Burlington House. Second Friday 



each month, November to June, 8 p.m. 

 Mineralogical Society. Meets in rooms of Geological 



Society, February 4th, April 14th, June 23rd, November 



17th, 8 p.m. 

 Nonpareil Entomological and Natural History 



Society, 99, Mansheld Street, Kingsland Road, N.E. 



First and third Thursdays, 8 p.m. 

 North Kent Natural History and Scientific Society. 



St. John's Schools, Wellington Street, Woolwich. 



Alternate Wednesdays, 7.30 p m. 

 North London Natural History Society, Sigdon Road 



Boys' Board School, Dalston Lane, Hackney Downs 



Station. First and third Thursdays, 7.45 p.m. 

 Quekett Microscopical Club, 20, Hanover Square. First 



and third Fridays, 8 p.m. 

 Royal Botanic Society of London, Regent's Park. 



Second and fourth Saturdays at 3.45 p.m. 

 Royal Horticultural Society, 117, Victoria Street, S.W. 



Second and fourth Tuesdays, except December to 



February ; 2 p.m. on show days, which vary. 

 Royal Meteorological Society, 22, Great George Street, 



Westminster. 3rd Wednesday, November to June, 8 p.m. 

 Royal Microscopical Society, 20, Hanover Square. 



Third Wednesdays, October to June, 8 p.m. 

 Selborne Society, 20, Hanover Square. Meetings and 



rambles are arranged by the various local branches. 

 Sidcup Literary and Scientific Society, Public Hall. 



Sidcup. First and third Tuesdays, October to May, 8 p.m. 

 South London Entomological and Natural History 



Society, Hibernia Chambers, London Bridge, S.E. 



Second and fourth Thursdays, 8 p.m. 

 Sutton Scientific and Literary Society, Public Hall 



Chambers. Second and forth Tuesdays, 8 p.m. 

 West Kent Natural History, Microscopical and 



Photographic Society. Meets in School for Sons of 



Missionaries, Blackheath, third Wednesday, in Decem- 

 ber, fourth Wednesdays in October, November, January, 



February, March, April, May, 8 p.m. 

 Zoological Society of London, 3, Hanover Square. First 



and third Tuesdays, 8.30 p.m., November to August. 



