374 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



October SOtJi. — The President in the chair. Exhibits : — By Mr. 

 Eickard, a number of South African insects, including various 

 Orthoptera of Phymateus and allied genera, and Hymenoptera ; and a 

 specimen of Batracho tetiix, a very variable insect, whose colour is said 

 to depend upon the nature of the ground in its neighbourhood. By 

 Dr. Sharp, various stages of Thysidopteryx ephemeriformis from Wash- 

 ington, U.S.A., including some perfect insects which had emerged after 

 their arrival in England. The President read a paper upon " Jumping 

 Cocoons" (published simultaneously in the 'Entomologist' for No- 

 vember). He described the structure of the pupa and the mechanism 

 by which it chisels and hammers its way out of the cocoon. He 

 suggested that the "jumping" was produced by the efforts of the 

 insect to free itself when the cocoon had by accident become detached 

 from its moorings. Mr. Lamb remarked that the mechanics of the 

 process were rather obscure. 



LANCAsmRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SociETY. — November 9thj 

 1896. — The President, S. J. Capper, Esq., in the chair. Owing to the 

 Secretary, Mr. H. B. Jones, going abroad, Mr. J. N. Pierce undertook 

 the duties until the end of the year. Mr. F. N. Pierce read a paper 

 entitled *' Are hybrids hermaphroditic ? some recent investigations in 

 the genitalia," illustrated by diagrams and preparations shown by the 

 micro-lantern. The author stated that, in the specimens he had 

 examined, whereas the male hybrids, although distinct from the 

 parents, were perfectly formed and apparently capable of copulation, 

 the female was hermaproditic, the genitalia containing the organs of 

 both sexes. Dr. Ellis stated that in nature it was easier to produce 

 males than females, and suggested that if the organs of females were 

 more generally examined it would probably be found that instances of 

 the male organs also being present would not be rare. Mr. Gregson 

 exhibited varieties of Abraxas grossulariata and an Aplecta occulta bred, 

 by him that morning. — F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec.^ pro tern, 



Birmingham Entomological Society. — Sept. 21st, 1896. — Mr. P. W. 

 Abbott, V.-P., in the chair. Exhibits : — By Mr. E. C. Bradley, Ephestia 

 kuhniella^ bred from larvae sent from Liverpool. By Mr. G. W. Wynn, 

 a series of Orthosia suspecta from Sutton Park ; Chcerocampa porcellus 

 (one) from Northfield ; Cymatophora duplaris from Sutton ; and Lupe- 

 rina cespitis, Eugonia erosaria (a series), Pterostoma palpina, Notodonta 

 ziczac, Grapta c-album (a series of the pale second brood), and Cerura 

 bifida, all from Wyre Forest. By Mr. E. C. Eossiter, Acherontia 

 atropos from Norfolk ; Bombyx rubi, nice brown specimens, from the 

 Hebrides; Acidalia imitaria from N. Wales; Thecla w-album from 

 Arley, where he had discovered it on the railway bank between Arley 

 and Highley; it has not hitherto been known in the Birmingham 

 district, excepting by a chance specimen, but was not uncommon in 

 this district ; also Ccenonympha davus, a series from the Hebrides ; 

 Scodiona belgiaria from the Hebrides ; and Nudaria mundana from 

 Arley. By Mr. J. T. Fountain, a fine series of Selidosema ericetaria 

 from the Dorsetshire coast ; Papilio machaon bred from Wicken larvae ; 

 Colias edusa from Knowle, and var. helice from Dorsetshire ; and a long 

 fine bred series of Gortyna ochracea from various spots near to 



