iSgi.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



15 



Record. Mr. Tutt, replying, stated his opinion that heat only influenced insects in 

 larval state, and that the results of Mr. Merryfield's experiments were mainly owing 

 to in-breeding. WLr. Machin exhibited D.fiirctda, also L. i}isig7ntella, I. canariella, CE. 

 stipella, and other Tineina. Mr. Hodges, a var. sf 5, irrorella from Isle of Wight, and 

 two fine vars. of A. gyossulariafa, the inner half of forewings being suffused with 

 yellow. Mr, Quail, cocoon of 5. carpini with two exits, cocoon of Simyra venosa, &C' 

 Mr. Battley, cocoons of Acronycta aceris. Mr. Boden, Phoxopteryx upupana, and 

 Mixodia ratzburghiana. Mr. Clark announced that he had seen a specimen of the 

 Peregrine Falcon which had recently been shot at Gravesend. 



Coleoptera : — Mr. J. A. Clark exhibited a cabinet drawer of various species, 

 Messrs. Cripps, Elliman, Heasler, Lewcock, Milton, and Newbery showed collections 

 of the genus Donacia, which comprised seventeen species of that group, the two un- 

 represented being obscura and tmpressa. Mr. Lewcock read a paper on the subject, and 

 gave an account of the nomenclature, the life-history, melanism, and the methods of 

 collecting the species, with lists of localities, &c. He referred to the misapprehension 

 respecting the identfication of dentata and sparganii, and the vague specific distinctions 

 between sericea and discolor (comari), showing that the descriptions laid down in both 

 Cox's Handbook of Coleoptera and Fowler's Coleoptera of the British Isles failed in 

 their purpose of identification. He likewise produced over 100 specimens of the 

 insects in support of his allegations. In some of the specimens the antennae were 

 long, others of medium length, and the remainder very short. One very dark speci- 

 men (from Esher) had scarcely any tubercle at sides of thorax, very short legs, and 

 long antennae. He commented on Mr. Newbery 's exhibit which contained typical 

 specimens of s^r?Vm and discolor from Scotland, Middlesex, and Surrey, with inter- 

 mediate forms of the insects. In the discussion which ensued, Mr. Tutt pointed out 

 that the dark forms exhibited were all uniformly small. Mr. Newbery agreed entire- 

 ly with Mr. Lewcock's observations on sericea and discolor, and said that the misap- 

 prehension concerning the identity of dentata and sparganii was to be attributed to the 

 tabulation in Cox's Handbook. Messrs. Cripps, Heasler, Milton, &c., also took part 

 in the discussion. — G. A. Lewcock and A. W. Battley, Hon, Sees. 



LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The monthly meeting was held on Monday, December 8th, the President, S. J. 

 Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S., in the chair. Mr. B. H. Crabtree, of Manchester was elected 

 a member. Mr. R. Newstead, F.E.S., read a paper on " British Wasps, their par- 

 asites and scavengers," in which he gave the life history of wasps, from the com- 

 mencement of the nest by the single queen, to the complete formation of the colony, 

 and enumerated 22 species of insects which he had found inhabiting the nests of 

 wasps. The paper was fully illustrated with specimens and diagrams. The 

 President exhibited Acidalia immerata from Lewes. Mr. Gregson, cases of Articulatce 

 shewing manipulation before being presentable at public and private museums, Mr 

 Sydney Webb, his two specimens of Plusia moneta. Mr. Beschorner, foreign Papilios. 

 Mr. Stott, a variable series of CJiaraas graminis. Mr. P. Schill, Parnassius, Apollo and 

 P. phcebus, with specimens of Papilio machaon, shewing the marked difference between 

 English and foreign specimens. — F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec. 



