24 



Meetings, 1885. 



thanks to the untiring zeal and energy of Messrs. Guille and 

 Alles in promoting the interests of Science. Suitable rooms 

 are being provided, and it now remains for the members to 

 assist in furnishing them with specimens of the rich and varied 

 flora and fauna of the neighbourhood. It is not necessary 

 here to enlarge on the advantages of an extensive and carefully 

 arranged collection of natural objects, either to the local 

 collector or to scientific visitors. Several of the latter have 

 visited Guernsey during the past year both from France and 

 England, and though members of the Society have afforded 

 them much assistance in their labours, it is to be regretted 

 that the result of their researches has not yet been com- 

 municated to the Society. 



Botany has again received a fair share of attention, and 

 the number of plants now identified and entered on the 

 Society's list is 312. 



Excursions have been made to several of the gravel and 

 clay pits of the island with a view of studying their character 

 and probable formation. Further examination of the coast 

 has also furnished us with evidence of raised beaches, which 

 have now been noticed all round the island. 



Our Entomologists have not been idle, and while the rarer 

 species of Lepidoptera have not escaped capture, it has been 

 noticed that certain kinds have been unusually abundant this 

 year, notably the Clouded Yellow Butterfly (Colias edusa), and 

 amongst moths Sphinx convolvuli, and Acherontia atropos. 

 Larvge and pupee of the latter have been abundant, and 

 specimens of both have been taken in all parts of the island. 

 The former has been captured in greater abundance than in 

 any season since 1875. One collector (Mr. Luff) has had as 

 many as fifteen specimens. No doubt the unusually dry 

 summer has been peculiarly favourable to the development of 

 these fine moths. In addition to the above the most noticeable 

 captures are ;— Cosmia affinis, Mamestra persicarise, Gonoptera 



