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THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[May 



Fenn then remarked that the temperature necessary to alter the colour, viz.: 47 to 

 57 degrees, and 57 degrees alone was quite sufficient to put at least all our winter, 

 spring and aufumn insects entirely out of its action. E. aiitumnaria one of the 

 species relied on, Mr. Fenn had had considerable experience in breeding, and in the 

 series he exhibited there were many paler and many darker than any shewn by 

 Mr. Merrifield, and the larva; and pupas had been kept under usual conditions and 

 the greater proportion of them followed the parent forms. In conclusion he said 

 such variation as was shown by Mr. Merrifield was practically impossible in a state of 

 nature unless it was the result of disease. Messrs. Weir, Adkin, Tugwell, Carrington, 

 Dobson, Barrett and Tutt continued the discussion, the last named gentleman 

 following Mr. Fenn in attributing the variation to disease, and that to a large extent 

 it was caused by preventing the proper development and formation of the colouring 

 pigment. He thought the action of temperature was indirect and produced 

 variation by interfering with the normal development. Mr. Merrifield agreed with 

 many of Mr. Fenn's observations and thought most of them were consistent with the 

 results obtained in his experiments as reported by him. In any case there could be 

 no doubt that in the species principally operated on by him, temperature applied in 

 such moderation as not to effect the healthy appearance of the insect, produced with 

 great uniformity conspicuous differences in colouring. There were other species in 

 which no considerable effect was produced unless the temperature was so extreme as 

 to cause a certain amount of crippling or imperfect development. The meeting 

 closed with a vote of thanks to Mr. Merrifield, proposed by Mr. Fenn and seconded 

 by Mr. Jenner Weir. — H. W. Barker, Hon. Sec. 



CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 



HISTORY SOCIETY. 



Thursday, April yth. — Exhibits, Lepidoptera : — Mr. Gates, a living specimen of 

 Hadena pisi. Mr. Southey, a long and variable series of Hybernia defoliaria from 

 Highgate Woods. Mr. Bacot. a series of Hybernia progemmaria, including var. 

 Ascata ; also an asymmetrical form of Avctia caja. Mr. Clark, Brephos pavthenias, and 

 Amphidasys prodromaria, both from Epping Forest. Mr. Battley, ova, young larvae 

 and cocoon of Liparis salicis. Mr. Simes, a life history of L. salicis, and a variable 

 series of Hybernia leucophaaria. Mr. Smith, a series of Selenia illiinaria, showing 

 considerable difference between the spring and summer forms. Mr. Gurney, a series 

 of Lithosia quadra from the New Forest. Dr. Sequeira, a case of Rhopalocera from 

 Central Africa. He pointed out the similarity of several of the species to our 

 British representatives, one in particular very closely resembling Polyommatus phlceas, 

 but having the tails to the hind wings longer. Mr. Milton, Asthena blomeri from 

 Clevedon ; and in Coleoptera, Lina longicollis and Grammoptera riificornis. Mr. 

 Heasler, Chilocorus similis, Bythinus cnrtisi and Agathidium varians. Mr. Battley then 

 read his paper on " The life history of Liparis salicis " giving his experience in 

 breeding this insect from the egg. He pointed out that it usually pupates by 

 spinning the leaves together, and rarely, if ever, forms its cocoon on the trunk of a 

 tree as stated by Newman. Mr. Mera observed that the time of flight of this species 

 was about midnight, but he had occasionally seen it on the wing at dusk. Mr. 

 Burrows had found cocoons of this species formed upon the trunks of trees, but 

 thought that the larvae were compelled to spin in this way, as they had almost 

 defoliated the trees. Mr. Simes called attention to the peculiar yellow blood of the 

 species, and to the glands on the thorax. Messrs. Clark, Gates, Tremayne, 

 Nicholson, and others also took part in the discussion, and a vote of thanks was 

 accorded to Mr. Battley for his paper. Mr. Riches stated that recently he had seen 

 a freshly emerged specimen of Spilosoma menihastri. Mr. Southey recorded the 

 breeding of Biston hirtaria from pupae that had gone over two winters. A discussion 



