iSgi.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



57 



assume that the paler forms were older although he did not think it possible), when 

 the dark specimens would have to be looked on as instances of progressive develop- 

 ment, instead of, as he had done, looking upon the dark forms as older, and the 

 gradual extinction of transverse lines and bands, and change of ground colour, as so 

 many steps in the line of progressive development. 



Dr. Buckell remarked on 71/. ocellata, Coremia fernigata, C. unidentaria, C . propngnata 

 and C. vdunitata, whilst Messrs. Clark, Milton, and Battley took part in the discussion 

 which followed ; and a \-ote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Tutt for his paper. An 

 interesting discussion also took place respecting the effect of the recent severe frost 

 on aquatic coleoptera and fish. Mr. Milton stated that Le had found large numbers 

 of dead beetles in the shallow pools at Clapton ; but in the deeper ponds they 

 appeared to have sur\ived. Several members had observed dead fish floating on 

 ponds and lakes, the oxygen in the water having apparently become exhausted. — 



Thursday, igtJi February, 1891. Mr, J. A. Clark, President, in the chair. Exhibits: 

 — Mr. Clark, Noctiia conflna, bred from the ova, larvae of Cossus ligniperda, showing the 

 pale form usually obtained in the spring ; also a photograph of a white frog. Mr. 

 Battley, varieties of Chelonia caja. Mr. Milton, Xanthia silago, Cidaria immanata 

 PyroMSta punicealis and Botys Jlavalis ; also the following Coleoptera : PJiosophshis 

 Edivardsii, Zeugophora flavicollis, Trachyphloeus spinimamts and Melandria caraboides. 



Mr. Heasler, Cicones variegatus (taken under beech bark), Megacronns inclinans, 

 Agathidiiun varlans, Bembidium mannerheinu , Tachinus siibterraneiis, Coryphium angusticoUis, 

 Sec, all from Loughton. 



Mr. Battley said that he had been to Richmond Park, and taken A. Jeucophaaria 

 H. defoliaria, C. brumata, P. pilosaria, and one specimen of N . hispidaria. He also 

 drew the members attention to the new part of Epping Forest (Higham Park) which 

 had just then been thrown open to the public. 



Mr. Milton had been to Richmond and Enfield, and taken several of the spring 

 insects. He remarked that specimens H. defoliana were still to be obtained in good 

 condition, their emergence having probably been retarded by the long frost. 



The Secretary read a paper by Mr. J. E. Robson on Abraxas pantaria, in which he 

 expressed his opinion that this species. Abraxas vlmaia,A. Icopardina^ and many other 

 Asiatic forms, were but varieties of one species. To prove this, he minutely described 

 the markings of A. vbnata, as compared with A. pantaria, and showed that the 

 same markings and colours were present in both species, but that in A . pantaria they 

 were less pronounced both in size and colour, but that even in the var. Cataria, which 

 had scarcely any markings the peculiarities could still be observed. The paper 

 Vv'as illustrated by various specimens from different countries. 



In the discussion which followed, Messrs. Clark and Boden stated that they had 

 formerly taken A. nlmata near Croydon. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. Hodge.s- 

 and seconded by Mr. Smith was unanimiOusly accorded to Mr. Robson for his kindness 

 in sending the paper. — G. Lewcocx and A. U. Batley, Hon. Secretaries. 



