221 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[October 



Dr. D. Sharp exhibited several species of ForficulidcB , and called attention to the 

 diverse conditions of the parts representing the wings in the apterous forms. 



Mr. H. Goss exhibited living larvae of Scoria dealhata, reared from ova. They 

 were feeding on Polygonnin av/ciilare, but not very freely ; Brachypodium sylvaticum had 

 been named as a food-plant for this species, but he did not find that the larvae would 

 eat this or any other grass. 



The Rev. Dr. Walker exhibited, and read notes on, a collection of Lepidoptera, 

 Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Neuroptera, and Diptera, which he had recently made in 

 Norway. Mr. Champion, Mr. Billups, and Mr. M'Lachlan took part in the 

 discussion which ensued. — H. Goss, Hon. Sec. 



LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



September 14/A. — The opening meeting for the winter session. The President, 

 S. J. Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S., in the chair. 



Mr. C. H. H. Walker read a paper on " Nerves and Nervous Systems," describing 

 the general structure of the nervous system of a typical insect and comparing it with 

 that of a spider, and pointing out the close affinity, which differs only when the 

 economy of the subject rendered it necessary. The paper was illustrated with 

 carefully executed blackboard drawings. Among the numerous exhibits the president 

 shov/ed specimens of the new Tortrix dinelana from Galway. Mr. Walker curious 

 varieties of Vanessa antiopa which he had bred, from Canada, the black subterminal 

 band and the blue spots being quite absent and the yellow border very wide. 

 Mr. Melville a fine specimen of Chosrocampa nerii, captured at Prestwich in 1846. 

 Mr. Newstead several cases of life histories including the full history of the Sircx gigas, 

 which he stated had been very common this year. Mr. Prince a fine variety of 

 Arclia caja, the fore wings of which were almost entirely brown and the black spots on 

 the hind wings formed a thick dark marginal band ; bred by him this year. Mr. 

 Gregson a series of Lithosea sericea taken this season. Mr. Harker Dianthecia barreftii, 

 from. Howth.— F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec, 143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. 



CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 



HISTORY SOCIETY. 



September yd, 1891. — Exhibits. — Mr. Cooper, a fine variety of Abraxas grossiilariata 

 Forest Gate, having a solid black band across the wings, the yellow markings being 

 entirely absent. Mr. Mera, a specimen of Nonagria concolor, dark vars oi Hadena suasa, 

 and pale forms of Agrotis ript? and A. tritici ; also living larvae oi Acronycta tridens. 

 Mr. Smith, Liparis monacha, a fine dark banded form of Ennomos angularia, and 

 ScQtosia rJiamnata, all from Epping Forest ; also varieties of Ypsipetes elutata from 

 Lyndhurst. Mr. Nicholson, Lithosia miiscerda, Minoa euphorbiata, a fine specimen of 

 Boarmia repandata var conversan'a, dark forms of Ypsipetes elutata, and a specimen of 

 Sirex gigas, all from the New Forest. Dr. Buckell exhibited a long series of Acronycta 

 megacephala, bred this year from larvae found on poplar trunks in North London last 

 Autumn. One of these was the ochreous form, the remainder varying either in the 

 direction of a dark unicolorous form, or becoming pale (vav tiiranica, Stdgr). Only 



