5948 



Northern Entomological Society, 



Nepticula angulifasciella, Tityrella and subbimaciilella, Trifurcula imiTiundella, 

 Lavema propinquella, Gelecliia acuminatella and visceiella, Coleophoia troglodytella, 

 riurinipennella and juncicolella, and a magnificent specinnen of Stigmanota lunulana, 

 all taken or bred by himself this season. 



The Secretary then exhibited a box from Mr. Dutton, of Hammersmilh, in which 

 were two fine specimens of Nonagria geminipuncta, taken last summer, observing that 

 it was generally represented by dealers that this species was exterminated at Hammer- 

 smith Marshes, but such was not the fact; a series of Acentropus niveus taken by E. 

 Brown, of Burton-on-Trent, on the river Trent, where Potomogeton pectinatus 

 was plentiful, and a dozen Pterophorus liihodactylus taken by himself near Heabone; 

 and a box from Mr. Reading, of Plymouth, in which were four of the finest speci- 

 mens of Heliophobus hispidus: also a box in which was Glaea erythrocephala, which 

 Mr. N. Cooke observed had very little resemblance to the continental specimens of this 

 species in his cabinet of European Lepidoptera, but it was remarked in Mr. Reading's 

 letter that it represented the variety glabra of Duponchel, as did also the specimen 

 taken by Mr. Cooke, of Brighton. 



An interesting discussion ensued upon the necessity or advisability of naming 

 varieties, the Rev. H. H. Higgins contending for it, and being opposed by other 

 members. The Secretary produced a series of varieties in his cabinet to show how 

 useless such a course would be, as the same variety could rarely, if ever, occur again ; 

 in some genera the Rev. Dr. Hume observed, perhaps it was advisable only to name 

 permanent varieties: this led to the old question of what is a species? and many 

 scientific and some humorous remarks resulted, the question 'remaining open^ for 

 further discussion at another time. 



Then followed the exhibition of two more boxes from Mr. Reading containing 

 Coleoptera : in the first was a beautiful pair of Meloe brevicollis and a fine pair of 

 Carabus intricatus ; the most interesting species in the second box were Drypta emar- 

 ginata, Leistus^monlanus, Elaphrus lapponicus, Panagseus quadripustulatus, Chlaenius 

 holosericeus, Stenolophus elegans, Hydroporus marginatus, &c. 



The Secretary then exhibited a box of Lepidoptera, collected in Australia by Mr. 

 Diggles, and sent as a present to his friend Mr. Warrington. Amongst them were 

 representatives of the following British genera: Satyrus, Polyommalus, Eulepia, 

 Sphinx, Procris, Euthemonia, Stauropus, Phragmatobia, Agrotis, Pyralis, Asopia, 

 Chlorochroma, Coremia and Acidalia ; Peronia was well represented, one species 

 nearly allied to, if not identical with, our comparana ; Sericoris, Eupoeciiia, Xantho- 

 setia, Cochylis and Tortricodes; in Tineina, Lampronia, Anesychia, Tinea and two 

 species of plumes, one allied to our bipunctidactylus, and the other to our penladac- 

 tylus, but smaller. 



After which was exhibited for Mr. Constantine, of Blackburn, a large box 

 of Geodephaga, captured by him in Lancashire, illustrative of a paper upon specific 

 differences, which was afterwards read for him by the Secretary. 



In the genus Trechus, discus, micros, lapidosus and rubens were sent: a number of 

 Pterostichus, including P. iEihiops ; P. orinomus and nigrita were also sent to illustrate 

 the paper, as were Amara orichalcica, rufocincta, brunnea, &c. ; and among the Bem- 

 bidia were rufescens, femoralum, bruxellense, lunatum, decorum, stomoides, monticu- 

 lum, prasinum, pallidipenne, &c,, forming a series well worthy of attention. Mr. 

 Constantine also sent a copy of a list of British Rhynchophora (Walton's Nomenclature), 

 which he had got printed to facilitate exchanges. 



