iSgi.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



222 



two had a distinct reniform, when examined with a lens. He also exhibited Strenia 

 clathrata from Leigh, with the ground colour golden yellow instead of "dingy white" 

 as described by Newman ; and a specimen of Hespcria Uncola from the same locality 

 having the left fore-wing about two-thirds the size of the right. He also showed 

 larva of Demas coryli, which varied from yellowish white, to black. Mr. Gates 

 exhibited Toxocampa pastimim from Sevenoaks, Bryophila glandifera from Brighton, and 

 Spilodes palealis from Heme Bay, also an albino of the Common Starling from 

 Brentwood. Mr. Tutt, Aeronycta megacephala, Tephvosia biundiilaria var delamerensis and 

 a parallel black variety of T. crepuscularia, both from South Wales; also a series of 

 Agroiis ravida and its varieties from Wicken. Coleoptera: — Mr. Beck, series of 

 Donacia crassipes D. deiitata, D. sericea, D. affinis, Lixus paraplecticiis, &c., chiefly from 

 Christchurch, also a specimen of Leptura sanguinolenta, one of the rarest of the 

 Longicorn beetles, which had not been taken in Britain for many years. Mr. Heasler, 

 Nitidula ohscura, and Rhizophagiis crihratiis. Mr. Milton, Colymbetes pulverosris, C. notatits, 

 Agahiis conspersus, Ilybius fenestratus, I. obscimis and Movdella fasciata ; also a specimen of 

 Tabanus autunmalis, and an apple twig infested with the scale insect (Coccus agathinnm). 

 Mr. Battley exhibited a flower of laburnum, picked the same day, and stated that he 

 had seen some fresh male catkins of sallow during the last fortnight. He also 

 exhibited a series of Apamea ophiogramma from Stamford Hill, together with the 

 preserved larva, pupae, and cocoons, and read some notes on the life history and 

 habits of the species. 



September ijth, 1891. — Exhibits. — Mr. Tutt, varieties of Strenia clathrata, extreme 

 forms of Boarmia repandata var conversaria, a black specimen of Teplirosia biundularia, a 

 pinkish variety of A grot is valligera, several specimens of the red-banded form of 

 Coremia unidetidata, &c. Mr. Clark, Agrotis Ashworthii, bred from larvae taken in 

 Wales. He remarked that these larvae fed entirely on the blossom of the dandelion, 

 concealing themiselves by day at the roots of the plants. Mr, Battley exhibited 

 Cenira vinula, Nola cnciilatella and Eupithecia subnotata, together with parasites bred 

 from each. He also showed a number of cocoons of Eriogastev lanestris, part of which 

 had been formed among dead hawthorn leaves, and the rest among paper shavings 

 the former being much darker than the others. He stated that the silk appeared to be 

 almost white in both cases, but after the cocoon was partly formed, the larvae injected 

 it with a brown Hquid, which caused the dark colour. Mr. Tutt, remarked that he 

 had noticed a similar instance of protective colouring in the cocoons oi H alias chlorana. 

 which almost invariably assumed the colour of the surrounding objects, if the larvae 

 had been in the same situation for two days before spinning. If, however, they were 

 placed under the different conditions just before they formed their cocoons, they 

 made them to accord with the colouring of the objects from which they had been 

 removed. Mr. Quail exhibited life histories of Saturnia carpini and Cymatophora 

 iiavicornis; also a preserved larva of Phorodesma smaragdaria, and an ichneumoned 

 larva of Aeronycta alni. Dr. Buckell, living larvse of Caradina morpheus, six weeks old 

 He remarked that Newman states that this species "feeds throughout the Autumn 

 and Winter until the following May, when it makes a cell rather than a cocoon just 

 under the earth, in which it changes to a pupa " and that Merrin says that the pupa 



