232 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [November 



resting again in December, 1890, and in January, 1891, commencing 

 to lay again. She continued to lay through February to May when 

 she moulted. She was killed, fat, for the table, 14th July, i8gi, and 

 dissected. The ovarium had then more than 400 eggs still within it, 

 but no advanced eggs; about 30 all slightly advanced, many are of 

 the size of No. 5 or 6 shot, all others being the size of mustard seed or 

 less. 



She usually laid four days and missed one, this giving 6 eggs per 

 wedk. Her first "lyter," five months, therefore gave 125 eggs; her 

 second "lyter," to November, 1890, was 90 eggs; her third, loth 

 January, 1898, to end of May, was no eggs, total 325. After laying 

 all these eggs it will be observed she still retained about the average 

 number in her ovary. I have secured progeny from her this spring. 

 Though such an excellent layer it will be observed she only had about 

 30 eggs advancing for her next "lyter," a proof that no fowl will pay 

 to keep after her second year. - C. S. Gregson, Liverpool, Aug., 1891. 



Reports of Societies. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



October 'jth. — Dr. David Sharp, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 



The Chairman referred to the death, on the 14th September last, of Mr. E. 

 W. Janson, who had been a member of the Society since 1843, who had formerly 

 filled the offices of Secretary and Librarian respectively. 



The Rev. Dr. Walker exhibited a long series of several species of Erebia, and of 

 Argynnis pales, which he had recently captured near Roldal, in Norway. 



Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited specimens of Danais chrysippus, with its two varietal 

 forms, alcippns, Cram., and dorippus, King., all of which he found together in the 

 Pretoria district of the Transvaal. Mr. Jenner Weir, Colonal Swinhoe, and Mr. 

 Distant took part in the discussion which ensued as to these forms and their 

 distribution.- 



The Rev. W. F. Johnson sent for exhibition specimens of Velia ctirrens from 

 stagment water near Armagh ; also a specimen of Nabis limbatus, killed whilst hold- 

 ing on to its prey, a very hard species of Ichneumon. Mr.' Saunders thought that, 

 from the nature of the Ichneumon, the only chance the Nabis had of reaching its 

 internal juices would be through the anal opening, as recorded by Mr. E. A. Butler 

 in a similar case, in the Ent. Mo. Mag., Oct., 1891. 



Mr. F. P. Pascoe exhibited two British species of Diptera, unnamed. He said 

 they had been submitted to Mr. R. H. Meade, but were unknown to him, and are 

 probably new to the British list. 



