272 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [December 



of the principal genera (of which he had drawn large coloured diagrams in 

 illustration). In the course of his remarks he described the distinctive characters 

 and exhibited drawings of the following new species : — Lecanurni assimilis n.sp. on 

 Aster at Colwyn Bay, L. minimum n.sp. on Areca under glass, Cheshire, Pulvinaria 

 persica n.sp. on peach, Cheshire, Pseudococciis associalis n.sp. on Ribes, Yorks. ; Ripersia 

 tomlinii n.sp. on grass roots in ants' nests, Guernsey, R. pulvevaria n.sp. under leaf 

 sheaths of Agrostis, Cheshire. Mr. Neustead exhibited specimens of 172 species of 

 Coccidae, which included all the known British species. Mr. Gardner exhibited 

 Coccus cacti and Carteria lacca, the latter with their products. The Secretary 

 Aspidiotus personatus, Vinsonia pulchella, and Lecanium oUcb^ the latter were much 

 broken by some Lepidopterous (?) larvae which had formed silken tunnels under the 

 scales. The President exhibited melanic and other forms of Liparis monacha Mr. 

 Gregson varieties of the Dianthecia conspersa which he divided as follows : Conspersa , 

 var. " pronounca ," black and white, little if any ochreous yellow, "Port Patrick," 

 South Scotland, D. conspersa, var. ochra, all the usual white obscured with ochre, 

 whole insect ochreous; D. conspersa, var. ohscura, all light markings obscured with 

 brown ochre colour, "Forres," Moray; D. conspersa, var. o^^/zY^r^?, whole insect dark 

 olivaceous brov/n, usual markings faint sometimes quite obliterated, Shetland, 

 and Abraxas grossulariata, bred by him this year. Mr. Walker, water-colour 

 drawings of Deilepkila galii and Mr. Stott, a noctua exhibited some time ago which 

 has since been pronounced to be a variety oi Epunda lichenea by Mr. Barrett. — F. N. 

 Pierce, Hon. Sec, 143 Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. 



GUERNSEY NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY. 



The usual monthly meeting of the Guernsey Society of Natural Science and Local Re- 

 search was held at the Guille-Alles Library last Wednesday evening Nov. i8th, in the 

 absence of the President (Mr. John Whitehead), and the Vice-President (Mr. Thomas 

 Guille), the chair was taken by Mr. E. D. Marquand. There was a good attend- 

 ance of members. 



Mr. Z. Robert exhibited a number of interesting geological specimens which he 

 afterwards presented to the museum. 



Four new Sections were founded on similar lines to those of the Geological Sec- 

 tion, which has been doing very good work throughout the year under the direction of 

 its honorary secretary, Mr. A. Collenette, F. C.S., F. R. Met, Soc. 



These new Sections, which are intended to specialise and expedite certain depart- 

 ments of the Society's works, will respectively deal with. 



Botany Mr. Royle, hon. sec. Folklore Mr. Pitts, hon. sec. 



Entomology Mr. Luff, ,, Marine Zoology Mr. Sharp, 



Twelve new members were proposed for election at the next meeting. 



A very interesting discussion then took place on " Flowers and their origin," the 

 subject being ably introduced by Mr. Royle. He was followed successively by Mr. 

 Marquand, who spoke on the influence of locality in the modification of flowers ; by 

 Mr. Rose, on insects and flowers ; by Mr. Sharp, on floral development ; and by Mr- 

 Collenette, on the geological record as it bears upon the origin and history of flowers. 

 Each address was limited to five minutes. Afterwards a very interesting conversa- 

 tion sprang up among the members generally, touching various points referred to by 

 the different speakers. The proceedings throughout were very enjoyable. 



Report of the City of London Society did not reach us in time. 



