170 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[August 



Covycia temerata, Tephvosia consonavia, a dark variety of Cidavia russata, and Hypena 

 rostralis, all taken on May 23rd and June 6th. Mr. Simes, living larva of Salurnia 

 carpini and Catocala nupta. Mr. Quail, series of Emmelesia albulata, Eupithecia laviciata 

 and H diodes arbiiti. Mr. Milton, 27 species of Lepidoptera bred this year, among 

 which might be mentioned Papilio machaon, Saturnia carpini, Smerinthus tilia, Deilephila 

 euphorbia (foreign), Abrostola triplasia, Cucullia verbasci, Amphidasys beUilaria, Eurymene 

 dolabraria, lodis lactearia, &c. Mr. Smith exhibited, Smerinthus tilics bred this year, 

 also Platypteryx hamitla, P. falcula, P. lacertula and Anaitis plagiata from Wickham, and 

 Platypteryx ungiiicula, Cilix spinula, and Ephyra trilinearia from Chingford. In Cole- 

 optera, Mr. Burrows exhibited a nice specimen of Thalycm sericea, one of the rare 

 club-horn beetles. Mr. Tutt remarked on the abundance of Lepidoptera at 

 Chattenden, he having taken as many as 180 insects there in a few hours. Dr. 

 Buckell, who exhibited the genus Lobophora, gave an interesting account of the species 

 exhibited. He said that all the species of the genus were characterised by the 

 development of a lobe at the base of each hind wing. In sexalisata and hexapterata 

 this presents the appearance of an additional wing. Hexapterata occurs in two 

 forms, one with transverse lines more or less over the whole disc of the wing, the 

 other with a pale zone occupying the whole of the centre of the wing. 



'Thursday, 2nd July, 1891. — Exhibits: — Mr. Tutt, a very dark, almost black, 

 specimen of Boarmia roboraria. Mr. Battley, living larvae of Scotosia certata; he 

 remarked that he had taken this species in several localities in North London, and 

 had also found the larvae. The latter are usually spun up between two leaves in the 

 top shoots of the Holly-leaved Barberry [Mahonia aquifolia) which grows freely in the 

 London parks and gardens. Dr. Buckell exhibited the ova of A crony eta rumicis under 

 the microscope. He also exhibited ova of Amphidasys betularia ; these were very 

 small, in that respect resembling ^4 . prodromaia ; they are ovoid in shape, one end 

 smaller than the other, ribbed longitudinally, and of a geenish-grey colour. Like 

 the ova of Biston hirtaria, they are deposited in crevices, but have not much cohesion. 

 Mr. Quail exhibited bred specimens of Callimorpha dominiila and Chelonia villica. Mr. 

 Smith, Platypteryx lacertula, Ephyra punctulata, Cidaria corylata, and a fine variety of 

 Rumia cratagata, taken at light at Rectory Road, the outer half of the left fore-wing 

 being suffused with reddish brown, the wing rays remaining yellow.* Mr. Hill, a very 

 fine variety of Argynnis euphrosyne, taken by a lad in Epping Forest some years ago. 

 The upper surface was much suffused witth black, while the silver spots on the under- 

 side were changed into streaks. He also exhibited a dark specimen Dicranura vinula, 

 and a bred specimen of Cabera pusaria v.'ith the lines on the left fore-wing coalescing. 

 Mr. Bayne exhibited Platypteryx hamiila and P. unguicula from Epping Forest, a 

 specimen of Notodonta dodonaa, and some vars. of Lycuna alcxis from Aylesbury, also 

 some asymmetrical varieties of Taniocanipa stabilis. Coleoptera, Mr. Heasler ex- 

 hibited a series of the " Death-watch beetle," Xestobium tessellatum. He stated that 

 although this species was fairly common in the bark of oak trees, specimens were 

 difficult to obtain, owing to the hardness of the wood, but at a certain time of the 



*There is no doubt whatever the reddish hue has been produced by the flame of the 

 lamp. Anyone may make such varieties by passing a specimen through a iiame, 

 which will brown the wing scales leaving those on the nervures yellow. — Ed., B.N. 



