Northern Entomological Society. 6355 



introducing another destructive insect into their houses, in order to enrich our cabi- 

 nets? In the box were specimens of Scopelosoma satellitia, from Kendal, nearly 

 black, and a perfectly black Acronycta Rumicis? the variety Salicis of most cabinets, 

 but not of Curiis. 



Mr. Johnson exhibited a box of Coleoptera, containing a Lesteva new to the 

 district. 



The Secretary then exhibited a box to illustrate "Lepidoptera and their Parasites, — " 

 a paper which it is hoped will be read before a Meeting shortly, — the perfect insect 

 and pupa-case, cocoon and two species of perfect parasites which attack the insect. He 

 then, after the discussion, called attention to a very long series of Leptogramma 

 parisiana? (Boscana?) and made the following observations thereon : — 



Leptogramma parisiana P (Boscana P) 



In placing this magnificent series of Leptogramma parisiana? (Boscana?) before 

 you, I may observe I have spent much time and trouble in getting them together, in 

 the hope that, from the various forms, we might judge whether they constituted one 

 variable species, or were really distinct and well-defined species. We have to thank 

 those kind friends who have assisted me, but we are especially indebted to Mr. Parfitr, 

 of Exeter, and to the Rev. E. Horton, of Wick, whose kindness in presenting me with 

 specimens and in forwarding specimens for exhibition here, from their own cabinets, 

 at great risk, deserve the best thanks of this Meeting. One of my friends writes me 

 from Yorkshire : " You are not singular in supposing L. parisiana and L. Boscana one 

 species." My attention was first called to this species by reading the Rev. Mr. Hor- 

 ton's remarks in the ' Intelligencer,' and I determined to work out this question, at 

 the same time I worked out the early states of the allied species in this group, and as 

 this is decidedly the most interesting question to us in the family, I have determined 

 to bring it before you first. You will observe that from the top of the series the spe- 

 cimens become gradually lighter and lighter until we see the eighth specimen, which 

 is the lightest autumn specimen yet seen (this belongs to the Rev. E. Horton), and 

 carries us into the true L. Boscana, or summer brood, in regular successive gradations ; 

 after which, the remainder lead us gradually down to the darkest or old L. scabrana 

 form again. I take my ideas of the true L. Boscana form from the specimen given to 

 me by my friend Mr. Allis, from Haworth's collection. We now come to the shape of 

 the insects : here again the sexes are permanent in form in both the summer and 

 autumn brood ; hence from the personal appearance of the perfect insects, we can only 

 conclude they are one and the same species ; size, shape and markings, to the eye of 

 the closest observer, are the same, colour only varying in intensity. We now come to 

 the early state of the species, without which, I grant all I have done and said might 

 eventually be confuted, and about which some who pride themselves on the possession of 

 large collections of Leptogramma care little, preferring either to give all that is known 

 about this species at present, and leaving the further illustration of the history of this 

 insect before you to be worked out as opportunity offers. First, both forms are elm- 

 feeders ; this is acknowledged on all hands, but perhaps I cannot do better than read 

 an extract from a letter I received from the Rev. E. Horton, who seems to have paid 

 more attention to the early states of this insect than any other person : he says, — " I 

 could not discover any difference in the larvae. I extract the following from 

 my journal as a description of the larva: Head brownish black, shining on 



