50 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[March 



Organs of Diptera," which was illustrated by numerous diagrams. A long discussion 

 ensued in which Mr. Champion, Mr. McLachlan, Mr. jenner Weir, Mr. Slater, Mr. 

 Poulton, Mr. Distant, Dr. Sharp, Mr. Hampson, Mr. Elwes, and Mr. Barrett took 

 part. 



Mr. E. Meyrick read a paper entitled " On the Classification of the Geometrina 

 of the European Fauna." Mr. Hampson, Mr. Elwes, Mr. McLachlan, Colonel 

 Swinhoe, Mr. Tutt, and Mr. Distant took part in the discussion which ensued. — 

 H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. 



THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 



HISTORY SOCIETY. 



January 28th. — W. H. Tugwell, Esq., Ph. C, President in the chair. The Trea- 

 surer submitted his financial statement from which it appeared there was a balance 

 of ^48 to the Society's credit ; the Council's Report was read by the Secretary and 

 dealt wdth the work done during 1891. The election of officers was then taken and 

 resulted in the election of Mr. C. G. Barrett, F.E S., President; Messrs. J. Jenner 

 Weir, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S., and R. South, F.E.S., Vice-Presidents; Mr. E. Step 

 Treasurer; Mr. W. West, Curator; Mr. D. J. Rice, Librarian; Messrs. H. W. 

 Barker and A. Short, Secretaries; and Messrs. T. R. Billups, F.E.S., J. T. 

 Carrington, F.L.S., C. Fenn, F.E.S., F. W. Frowhawk, F.E.S., J. Henderson, W. 

 H. Tugwell, Ph. C, and J. W. Tutt, F.E.S., Council. Mr. W. H. Tugwell read his 

 Presidential Address, and the meeting closed with votes of thanks to the various 

 officers. 



February iith. — The President made som.e observations on taking the chair. Mr. 

 J. Jenner Weir exhibited several species of the genus Cymothoc, viz. : theodota, ceniilus, 

 ccenis, theobene, and read notes with respect to the extreme sexual difference. The 

 males in most cases were an ochreous or cream colour, more or less clouded with 

 black, while on the other hand the females rarely had any of the ochreous or cream 

 colour, and the markings were very varied and presented a very spotted appearance. 

 M. Weir then pointed out the differences in the species exhibited. Mr. Weir also 

 exhibited specimens of Pieris napi, L., and allied forms, which by some entomologists 

 were considered distinct species or sub-species, and by others mere local varieties, 

 and remarked that the object of the exhibition was rather to show the effect of 

 environment and season of emergence on the intensity of coloration, both in the 

 upper and under sides of the wings. Mr. Weir then contributed some interesting 

 notes on his exhibit. Mr. Austin exhibited an extremely rare form of Lycana adonis 

 having the blue colour entirely suffused with black scales, and another example with 

 beautiful markings on the upper side, both specimens were taken at Folkestone. 

 Mr. Tutt, a bred series of Hadena pisi, L., varying from grey to deep purplish-red; 

 three specim.ens of H. suasa, one with longitudinal striations ; a small specimen of 

 Arctia villica, the spots being very much reduced ; three specimens of Cerastis vaccinii, 

 one having the outer margin curved as in spadicea or var. ligula; Ambyptilia 

 acanthodactyla and A. pnndidactyla, bred from larvse, and remarked that it was 

 considered by some that these were distinct species. Messrs. Barrett, Weir^ 

 Carrington, Tutt, and Dobson made some remarks relative to this exhibit. 

 Mr. Adkin showed sm.oky varieties of Ncmcophila plantaginis. Mr. Farren, a long 

 series of Pentliina variegano, taken at Scarborough in September, and remarked that 

 there was plenty of the ordinary form of the species„ but the black form was as 

 plentiful as the ordinary form. Mr. Billups, a larva found feeding on tomato from 

 Teneriffe. Mr. Tutt expressed an opinion that it was Prodenia Uttoralis. Mr 

 Herbert Williams, a dark varieiy of Cosinia trapezina. Mr. Billups read notes on 

 shells obtained from drift collected by Mr. Barrett in Wales. Mr. H. Wallis Kew 



