26l 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [December 



of the first brood was remarkable in having the under side of a very dark colour, 

 identical with typical specimens of the second brood. He thought the peculiarity of 

 of colouring in this specimen had been caused by a retarded emergence from the pupa, 

 due to low temperature and absence of sunshine. Mr. F. W. Frohawk exhibited a 

 series of striking varieties of Satyrus hyperanthns, bred frcsm ova laid by a female 

 taken in the New Forest in July last. Mr. F. D. Godman exhibited a specimen of 

 Amphonyx medon, Cr., received from Jalapa, Mexico, having a pouch-like excresence 

 at the apex ot its body. Mr. McLachlan, Mr. H. J. Elwes, and Mr. Poulton 

 commented on it, Mr. C. J. Gahan communicated a paper entitled " Additions to 

 Longicornia of Mexico and Central AniCrica, with notes on some previously recorded 

 species." Mr. W. L. Distant communicated a paper entitled " Contributions to a 

 knowledge of the Homopterous family Fulgorid^e. Mr. Oswald Latter read a paper 

 (which was illustrated by the Society's new oxy-hydrogen lantern) entitled "The 

 Secretion of Potassium-Hydroxide by Dicranura vinula, and the emergence of the 

 imago from the cocoon." The author stated that the imago produced, probably from 

 the mouth, a solution of caustic potash for the purpose of softening the cocoon. 

 The solution was obtained for analysis by causing the moths to perforate artificial 

 cocoons made of filter-paper. Frof. Meldola said that the larva of D. vinula secretes 

 strong formic acid, and Mr. Latter had now shown that the imago secretes potassium- 

 hydroxide, a strong alkali. He said he had long been familiar with the fact that the 

 secretion from ihe imago of D. vinula was alkaline to test-paper, but he had never 

 investigated its composition ; and he also stated that the fact that any animal 

 secreted a strong caustic alkali was a new one. Mr. Merrifield, Mr. Hanbury, Mr. 

 Gahan, Mr. Poulton, and Prof. Meldola continued the discussion. Mr. H, J. Elwes 

 and Mr. J. Edwards read a paper also illustrated by the oxy-hydrogen lantern, 

 entitled " A revision of the genus Ypthima, principally founded on the form of the 

 genitalia in the male sex." Mr. McLachlan said he had attached great importance 

 to the genitalia as structural characters in determining species, and he believed that 

 he could name almost any species of European Trichoptera simply from an examina- 

 tion of the detached abdomens of the males. Mr. Osbert Salvin said he had 

 examined the genitalia of a large number of Hesperidae, v/ith the view of considering 

 their value in distinguishing species, but at present he had not matured his observa- 

 tions. Mr^ Jacoby, Mr. Bethune-Baker, Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. Lewis, Dr. Sharp, 

 Mr. Hampson, and Mr. Champion continued the discussion. Mr. S. H. Scudder 

 communicated a paper entitled " New light on the formation of the abdominal pouch 

 in Paniassius. — Mr. Elwes said he had based his classification of the species of this 

 genus largely on the structure of this abdominal pouch in the female. Mr. Jenner 

 Weir remarked that a similar abdominal pouch was to be found in the genus Acraa; 

 and Mr. Flampson referred to a male and female of Paniassius in Mr. Leech's 

 collection, in which the pouch had come av/ay from the female and was adhering to 

 the male organs. — H. Goss & W. W. Fowler, Hon. Secretaries. 



CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 



HISTORY SOCIETY. 



November 3rd, 1892. — Exhibits. — Lepidoptera, Dr. Bucknell, a series of Agrotis 

 sancia, from Freshwater, Isle of Wight, with London forms for comparison. Mr. 

 Hollis, a series of Lyccena bellargus (adonis), taken at Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Mr. 

 Battley, a fine series of Lycc^na argiolus taken at Southend, two males approaching 

 the colour of bellargus (adonis). Mr. Bacot, a series oi Xanthia silago bred from 

 sallow catkins, from Epping Forest. Mr. Clark, two very fine varieties of Arctia caja, 

 one being very pale, due to a failure of pigment, the other having a large splash of 

 the coloration of the anterior wings on the left posterior wing. Mr. Prout, typical 



