236 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[November 



Cirrhoedia xerampelina from Aylesbury, and a specimen Ennomos erosaria from Epping 

 Forest. Mr. Prout, various specimens shov^dng asymmetrical markings or malfor- 

 mations, including Xanthia silago, Arctia lubricipeda, Noctiia xanthographa, Triphana 

 orbona, and Lomaspilis marginata. Mr. Milton, a bred series of Plusia chrysitis ; also 

 in Coleoptera, Byrrhuss pilule:^ and Hypeva rumicis. Mr. Heasler, specimens of 

 Cis bilamcllatus taken in fungus at Mitcham last February. He also mentioned that 

 he had seen an albino specimen of the sparrow at Westminster. 



October i^th. — Exhibits : Mr. Boden, a series of Hesperia lineola taken near Strood, 

 in September, and a dark specimen of Melanargia galathea ; he also showed the speci- 

 men of a noctua, previously exhibited, bred from a tomato, on August 6th. This 

 insect had since been identified as Prodrenia Uttoralis (Boisduval) a species hitherto 

 unknown in Britain. He stated that he had failed to obtain any information as to 

 the locality from which the tomato came, but expressed an opinion that seeing how 

 extensively this fruit was now cultivated in England, it was quite possible that the 

 insect might become naturalized in this country. The larva was brown, with a pig- 

 like head, and fed on the interior of the tomato during the night, resting during dur- 

 ing the day, in a straight posture outside the fruit. The cocoon, which he also 

 exhibited, was formed just under the surface of the sand, at the bottom of the garden- 

 pot in which the insect had been bred. Dr. Sequeira, Zanthia silago, Epione apiciaria, 

 Scotosia dubitata, Emmelesia affinitata, Cidaria silaceata, a very small specimen of Abraxas 

 grossulariata, and many others. Mr. Quail, life histories of Eurymene dolabraria and 

 Pericallia syringaria, also a specimen of Polyommatus virgaurea, taken on a thistle 

 head at Birling Gap, near Seaford, 4th August, 1891. The specimen was a male, 

 in good condition, being however, slightly worn, and appearing to have been on 

 the wing for some days. Mr. Clark a series of Dianthoecia capsincola from the north 

 of Ireland ; also specimens of Noctua festiva and N . conflua from various localities. 

 Mr. Southey, Noctua rubi, N. festiva a.r\d N . triaiiguliun , with preserved law se oi esich.. 

 Dr. Buckell, Noctua festiva from London district and York, and so-called var. 

 conflua from Aberdeen, N . sobrina from Perth, N . augur from Highgate, and N . rubi 

 from Suffolk and Muswell Hill. Amongst the latter was a specimen in which the 

 area between the transverse line just beyond the reniform and the hind margin was 

 unusuall}' dark. There was also a dark shade at the base, and the black dot under 

 the orbicular had become expanded into a longitudinal dash. Mr. Hill, a living larva 

 of Notodonta dictaoides from Epping Forest. Mr. Prout, various species from 

 Sandown, Isle of Wight, including Satyrns hyperanthus var. arate, Agrotis lunigera. 

 Messrs. Tutt, Bayne, Milton, and Battley also exhibited their series of the genus 

 Noctua, and Mr. Horne, of Aberdeen, sent a very variable series of N . festiva from his 

 district. 



Coleoptera: — Mr. Cripps, Silpha lavigata, Quedius trist'is, Q. molochinus, Ilibius 

 fuliginosus and Agabus guttabus. Mr. Heasler, Quedius umbrinus, taken among reed 

 refuse on the banks of Barking Creek. Mr. Milton, Cryptocephalus aureolus, Philonthus 

 fucicola, Aepus marinus and A. roboni. 



Mr. Tuft, in opening the discussitm on the genus Noctua, said that N . fennica and 

 N . subrosea were, in his opinion, wrongly placed, and should be removed from our 

 restricted genus Noctua to the genus Agrotis, to which they were closely related, both 



