1892.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



13 



Thursday, Dec. 17th, 1891. — Pocket Box Exhibition, held at the Society's new 

 room, at 33, Finsbury Square. Exhibits. — Mr, Allbuary, a perfect albino specimen 

 of Epinephele janira taken at Dover in 1889, and fine varieties of Arctia caja and A 

 villica; Mr. Cooper, black forms of Boaj-mia repandata from Sheffield, and banded 

 specimens (var. conversaria) from the New Forest ; Mr. Machin, Scotch forms of 

 Govtyna flavago with southern specimens for comparison, the former being much 

 darker ; also Eupithecia Jielvcticaria, CrambtLS myelins, Coccyx ustomaculana and CEcophora 

 stipella ; Dr. Buckell, a long series of Triphana pvonuba from the London district, 

 showing much variation, the most noticeable forms being those with dark anterior 

 wings and light stigmata ; Mr, Quail, life histories of many Geometrae, including 

 Scotosia certata, Hemerophila abruptaria and Phorodesma smaragdaria ; Mr.^Gates, living 

 larvae of Melanippe montanata, and cocoons of Dicranura vinula; Mr. Battley, a number 

 of microscopic slides, illustrating the anatomy and structure of various insects ; also 

 on behalf of Mr. J. Collins, of Warrington, a beautiful series of LWiosia sericea, taken 

 in the Manchester district ; Mr. Simes, variable forms of SmerintJius populi, also 

 bleached forms of Epinephele janira and Canonympha pamphilns ; Mr. Southey, 

 Acronycta alni, and a specimen of Deiopeia pulchella from Southend ; Mr. Prout, 

 specimens of Cosmia trapezina, bred singly, and so having no chance of obtaining 

 animal food, these specimens were all much smaller than usual. He also exhibited 

 some fine bred forms of Melanippe subtristata (sociata) ; Mr. Hill, a number of species 

 from Rannoch, including Petasia nubeculosa, Cidaria immanata, and dark forms of 

 C . populata and Melanthia mbiginata ; Mr. Clark, Fumia cratagata without the brown 

 markings, a smoky variety of Abraxas ttlmata, Stilbia anornala from Aberdeen, and the 

 dark var of Argynnis aglaia previously exhibited ; Mr. Riches, a series of Abraxas 

 grossulariata bred from Hornsey larvae ; also in Diptera, Tabaniis bovimis and Asilus 

 crabroniformis ; in Orthoptera, Phrasgonura viridissima ; and in Hymenoptera, Trichosoma 

 lucornm ; Mr. Elliman, a large number of species taken in 1891 at Tring, Herts., 

 including Neuria saponaria, Liiperina cespitis, Cirrhasdia xerainpelina and Noctiia 

 rhomboidea ; also the following Coleoptera, Myllaena diibia, Coryphium augiisticolle, 

 Phlceophlus edwardsil, and Epitrix atrope ; Mr. Heasler, cases of aquatic Coleoptera and 

 Staphylinidae ; Mr. Lewcock, a number of good ColaDptera from Eynsford, Kent, 

 including Cryptocephahis lineola, Ci stela luperus, Otiorhynchus tenebricosiis and Toxotiis 

 meridianus ; Mr. Milton, Pachyta octomaculata, Aepiis marimis and A, robinii; in Diptera 

 Stratiomys riparia, S . potomida, Gastrophiliis nasalis, and G. eqiii ; in Hymenoptera, Sirex 

 gigas, Ephialtes tuberculatus and Vespa ritfa ; in Orthoptera, Plirasgonura viridissima and 

 Ectobiiis lapponica ; in Neuroptera, Osinybus chrysops and Baetis fluminum ; and in 

 Hemiptera, Ranatra linearis. He also exhibited a specimen of Eiibolia palnmbaria 

 captured by a plant of the Sundew (Drosera rotiindifolia) , and a piece of polished 

 stone, the markings of which resembled a landscape, with trees and hedges.— 

 G. A. Lewcock and E. Harris, Hon. Sees. 



LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The monthly meeting was held on Monday, Dec. 14th. The president (S. J. 

 Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S.), in the chair. Mr. Willoughby Gardner, F.R.G.S., read 

 a paper, entitled : "A preliminary list of the Aculeate hymenoptera of Lancashire and 

 Cheshire, with notes on the habits of the Genera,"* illustrating his remarks by 

 specimens of the various species, cases containing nests and "life histories," &c. 

 The president exhibited a type collection of Hymenoptera ; Miss Tomlin, of Chester, 



*This valuable paper will appear in the Magazine, we therefore omit the summary. 

 -Ed., B.N. 



