34 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[February 



moths ; the first portion being generally fertile, while the later ones often proved 

 infertile. It was suggested that in the latter case the fertilizing fluid had become 

 exhausted. 



T/nirsday, January 21st, 1892. — Exhibits. —Lepidoptera, Mr. Southey, a variable 

 series of Apawea geiiiina from Hampstead ; Mr. C. B. Smith, female Lycaena corydon 

 shewing variation in the amount of blue coloration, also Melanippe iiucUiata from the 

 Lake District : Mr. Quail, variable forms of Miana strigiUs, from the London district, 

 Wicken, Margate, &c. ; Mr. Battley, \arious Pterophori and a series of Diiirnea 

 fagclla from various localitiss, those from districts near the metropolis exhibiting the 

 darkest ground colour ; Mr. Simes, a Boinbyx neustria with bars confluent, he called 

 attention to a similar va"iety of Boinbyx rubi exhibited at a meeting of the Society on 

 i8th September, iSqo; also two cocoons of this species containing all the British 

 species of Pievopliurina except C. rhododactyla ; Mr. Fox, three larvae feeding on tomato 

 which had been imported from Tenerifte, where this fruit is extensively cultivated. 

 The larvae seemed to possess affinities with Dianthcecia, aud Mr. Tutt thought it 

 probable that they might prove to be Prodrcnia littoralis, a specimen of which was 

 exhibited by Mr. Boden at the Society's meeting on October 15th, 1891, (" British 

 Naturalist," Vol. I, p. 326). This insect abounds in the Canary Isles and on the 

 north-west coast of Africa. Two of these larvae were pea green, with three darker 

 green longitudinal lines, those on the side being suffused with rusty red. The surface 

 of the body was covered with whitish tubercles, studded with short hairs. Head, 

 pea green. The third specimen was similar in markings, but had the ground colour 

 whitish green, and the tubercles black. Coleoptera. — Mr. Heasler, a series of 

 Rhizophagjis pcrforatus; Mr. Milton, dark form of Strangalia armata, H clops cenileus, 

 Phalcra cadavorina, and in Hemiptera : Calocoris sexgiittaUis. Mr. Tutt then read his 

 paper on the " Pterophorina," giving an account of the various species inhabiting 

 Britain, with the methods of obtaining them. He also mentioned his monograph of 

 the group, which v/as now publishing in the "British Naturalist," and would be 

 issued in a separate form. A vote of thanks to Mr. Tutt concluded the proceedings 

 — A. U. Battley and |. A. Simes, Hon. Sees. 



LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Monday, January nth, 1892. — The annual meeting of this society was held in the 

 classroom of the Free Public Library, William. Brown Street, where, although the 

 weather militated against a large attendance, a most enjoyable evening was spent. 

 The president, Mr. S. J. Capper, occupied the chair, and in the course of his annual 

 address referred to the entomological records of the past year, and also gave a 

 most interesting personal reminiscence of his experience as an entomologist for over 

 fifty years. This began at an Fpping school, where Henry Doubleday did so much 

 work, and helped the schoolboys by naming and describing their captures. The 

 president spoke of the progress of the science since his first aquaintance with it, and 

 the improvements in the mode of capturing and preserving specimens. He referred 

 also to the inauguration of the Lancashire and Cheshire Society, the first meeting of 

 which was held at his house at J-fuyton, in INIarch, 1S77. The president further 

 enumerated the principal achievements of the past session, which, he said, had been 

 at least equal in good work to any previous session. In conclusion, he remarked 

 that it was to the younger member.^ that they now looked for the further progress of 

 the society (applause). Mr. Capper was re-elected president ; and the Rev. H. H. 

 Higgins vice-president ; ?vir. F. N, Pierce (hon. secretary) and Mr. C.»H. Walker 

 (hon. librarian) were re-elected ; the new members of the committee being Mr. 

 George Harker and Mr. C. F. Stctt. — During the evening the following specimens 



