1892.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



99 



also took place with regard to the occurrence of Gonepteryx rhamni near London ; 

 Wimbledon Common and Highgate Woods were mentioned as good localities for the 

 species. 



Thursday, April 21st. — Exhibits: — -Five specimens of Ti^iiiocMiipa instabilis from 

 various localities in the north of London, two being of a very light colour. Mr. 

 Huckett, two examples of /////s/rarm bred from larvas taken last autumn ; he 



stated that the imagines bred from these larvae closely approached the aestival form. 

 Mr. Tremayne, Cidaria miata, Amphidasys prodromaria from Epping Forest, C- 

 flavicornis and Dasychira pudibunda. Mr. Clark, a series of Dasystoma salicella from 

 Epping Poorest. Mr. Hill, a ? specimen of Dasychira pudibunda, quite freshly emerged, 

 having a large area in each wing denuded of scales, these areas were strikingly 

 symmetrical on either side of the insect. Mr. Smith, C. flavicornis and Tephrosia 

 crepuscularia from West Wickham. Mr. Southey, a series of Crocallis elinguavia and 

 Ennomos angularia from Hampstead, one of the latter species having the tips of 

 the anterior wings suffused with purple. Mr. Battley advised those members 

 possessing any ribbon-grass in their gardens to search for the larvae of Apamea 

 bphiogramrna now, he also added that during February these larvae had wandered 

 from the ribbon grass and attacked carnations. Coleoptera — Mr. Heasler, 

 Cncmidotus iniprcssa, Hydroporus crythroccphala, Philydrus melanocephahis and Beroms 

 signaticollis from Mitcham. — A. U. Battley and J. A. Simks, Hon. Sees. 



LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



April 11th. — -The President, S. J. Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S., in the chair. Messrs. 

 W. Webster, of St. Helens ; C. F. Johnson, of Stockport ; aud the Rev. C. 

 Buckmaster, of Wigan, were elected members. Mr. J. E. Robson, F.E.S., of Hartle- 

 pool, Editor of the "British Nattiralist," read a paper entitled " Melanism and the 

 theories explaining it." After reviewing the various theories of previous writers for 

 the tendency of certain species to darken, he stated that it was his belief that no single 

 theory could account for the phenomena of melanism now going on, and while 

 agreeing with Lord Walsinghara that the dark colour of insects in cold, and snowy 

 regions, was due to that c ''our being most advantages for absorbing heat, he also 

 considered that the increase of smoke and dirt, obscuring the suns rays near large 

 manufacturing towns, would also tend to produce melanism by the law of natural 

 selection. The paper was illustrated by numerous examples of melanic forms of 

 Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. Mr. C. A. Briggs' very dark Sphinx ligustri, the 

 President's black Boarmia cinctaria and B. rihovaria and Mr. Robson's very dark 

 Choi'tobius pamphilus, Arctia mcnthastri and Odoniopcra bidentata being especially fine, 

 but the little box that attracted most attention contained side by side, Mr. Briggs' 

 fine variety of Arctia eaja with faint buff coloured markings on the fore wings with 

 black £/co/or-like spots occupying the centre, the hindwings being all red; and Mr. 

 Capper's variety of the same species, the forewings of which are immaculate with the 

 exception of one black spot near the centre, the hind wings being normal. Mr. 

 Newstead exhibited types of Prosopophora dendrobii Doug, of M.S. only; a very 

 remarkable coccid from Dernerara, descriptions of which will shortly appear in the 

 EMM. Mr. Collins on behalf of Messrs. C. R. Billups and J. Button of 

 Warrington, ^ and ? of Dytiscus dinridiatvs captured in the fens in 1891 after being lost 

 sight of for eight years, and Silpha atrata var. S2ibroti!)idata from the east and south- 

 west coast of the Isle of Man, Feb., 1892. Mr. Sharp, melanic vars. of Calathns 

 nubigcna. &c.; Mr. Scowcroft, fine varieties of Argynuis aglaia ; Mr. Pierce, ISIacari.i 

 Uturata a black form with a broad marginal orange band to botli \vin;(s: — F. N 

 Pii'.RCE, lion. Sec, 143, Sniithdown Lane, Li\-erpool. 



