The Humming Bird. 37 



in England, and tolerably common in the South. It is deep 

 tawny above, with black spots and streaks, but the hind wings 

 are very handsome on the under surface, being green, streaked 

 or " washed " with silver. There is a curious variety of the 

 female found in the New Forest, in which the tawny red 

 colour of the upper surface gives place to green ; this variety 

 is much prized by collectors. 



Another British species was represented by some larvae 

 and pupae of Lycœna corydon, the Chalk-Hill Blue Butterfly, 

 which is common on chalk-cliffs and downs, these particular 

 specimens coming from Dover, which is a great place for them. 

 It is unique in colouration among British butterflies, being of 

 a peculiar silvery greenish-blue, very beautiful and striking. 

 In the same case were some pupae and perfect insects of the 

 Glanville Fritillary Butterfly (Melitœa cinxia) , an extremely 

 local species in this country, the principal resort being the 

 Isle of Wight, from which these specimens came. 



A second example of the genus Telea was shewn, in the 

 shape of T. promethea (the Promethean Silk-moth.) This 

 is a smaller and darker species than T. pohyphemus exhibiting, 

 in its general appearance a good deal of affinity with the 

 Cecropian Silk-moth. 



The family of Sphingidœ or Hawk-moths was represented 

 by several European and one North American species. One 

 of the most familiar to British collectors was the Spurge 

 or Spotted Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila euphorbia?) , 

 which is very pretty, with pink hind wings, barred with black. 

 A member of a different genus was the Oak Hawk-moth 

 (Smerinthus quercus) , also from Europe, resembling in shape 

 the Poplar Hawk-moth (Sm. populi) , a common British 

 species, but somewhat larger and paler than the latter. The 

 North American species in another case belonged to this 

 genus; it is a smaller moth, more like the English Sm. 

 ocellatus, or Eyed Hawk-moth, but smaller. Its scientific 

 name is S?n. excœcatus. 



Two representatives of the genus Sphinx were the 

 Convolvulus Hawk-moth (S. convolvuli) , and the Pine Hawk- 

 moth (S. pinastri.) The latter is a large greyish moth, a 

 reputed British species, but very doubtful. The former is 

 found in this country, but is far from being common. 



I was pleased to see on one of the centre tables, a case 

 containing some beetles belonging to the family Cassididœ. 

 These were very curious, head, legs, and body being entirely 

 hidden under acircular horny carapace, the tips of the antennae 

 and legs being just visible when the creature is walking, so 



