iSgi.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



171 



year they wei"e to be found crawling on the outside of the bark, probably for the 

 purpose of oviposition. He had endeavoured to induce them to make the well-known 

 " ticking " noise, but they only produced a faint sound, and he suggested that the 

 louder noise was caused by the acoustic property of their burrow. He also exhibited 

 a series of Telephorus transliicidns, which he remarked was formerly thought a rare 

 species, but it had been taken a few years ago at Epping, then at Highgate, and now 

 he had found it at Peckham. Mr. Quail read a portion of a letter that he had 

 received from Mr. Culpin, who had gone out to Brisbane. The subject brought 

 forward was the position of Lycc^iia hcetica. He stated that three species occurred in 

 his neighbourhood, viz. : Bcetica, and two closely allied allied species, and expressed 

 his opinion that they should not be included in the genus Lyccsna, but form a separate 

 genus, between Lycana and Thecla. Mr, Tutt, in commenting on this letter, said that 

 some of the continental forms of the Lyccenida had the two sexes resembling res- 

 pectively the genera Polyoinmatus and Lycana, thus proving the close connection 

 existing between them.* 



Thursday, July 16th, 1891. — Exhibits — Mr. Clark, a series of Hcliodcs arbuii from 

 Epping Forest, varieties of Arctia lubricipeda (bred) and A. iiientliastri (from Hackney) 

 both showing a large development of the black markings ; also a larva of HepiaJus 

 vivescens (from New Zealand) with a fungoid growth of Torriibia robertsii protruding 

 from the back of its head. He remarked that there was a description of this in the 

 July number of the Entomologist's Record (p. 98). Mr Battley exhibited a bred series 

 of Avtia villica, he pointed out that the pale specimens had the markings on the fore 

 wings approaching those of A. caja, the four cream coloured spots nearest the tip of 

 of the wing coalescing to form the X like mark much resembling that species. He 

 also exhibited light and dark forms of CalliiuorpJia doiiiiniila, from Deal. Mr Gates, 

 Procris statices, Sciaphila sinuana, Psyche reticclla (from Southend), -Dasyr^ra sulphurella. 

 Endrosis fenestrcUa, S-c, also living larv^ of Dicranura vinuJa. 



Dr Buckell exhibited the ova of Acronycta ii:ej;acephala, under the miscroscope. 

 These were deposited singly, and not in groups as with A. riunicis. They showed the 

 usual shape and contour of the genus, and were pale green, with dark red spots. He 

 also exhibited a specimen of Melanippe flnctiiata from Highgate, with a pale space in 

 the centre of the dark costal blotch, thereby revealing the discoidal spot ; and a series 

 of Ephyra trilinearia from Epping Forest. These latter varied considerably in (i) the 

 basal line, which was well marked in some, but scarcely to be traced in others ; (2) 

 central line, usually narrower in the females, but in one specimen (female) it was ex- 

 crgerated into a band ; (3) discoidal spot, on (a) upper wings, not to be traced in one 

 ■>pecimen, well marked in others, and outlined with black in one ; (b) hind wings, to 

 be traced in all, and often well marked. The position of this spot varied from being 

 imbedded in the median line, to half-way between median and basal lines. Mr Bayne 



* The division suggested was made by Hubner, those with short tails being placed in 

 the sub-genus Lampides, those without orange or fulvous spots on the underside in 

 the sub-genus Nomiades, and those with such spots in the sub-genus Agriadcs. The 

 first includes Bcetica and A rgiodes ; the second Argiolus, Acis, Alsiis and A vion ; the 

 third, Corydon, Adonis, Icarus, Agestis, and lEgon. It is to be hoped no one will 

 suggest new sub-divisions. See Dale's British Butterflies. — Ed. B.N. 



