i8 93 j THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 85 



long series of bred Zygana lonicevcs and Z. tvifolii, hybrids of the first generation with 

 the following parentage: — Z. lonicevcs, male — Z. tvifolii, female; Z. tvifolii, male — Z. 

 lonicerce , female ; also hybrids of the second generation between Z. tvifolii — hybrid, 

 and Z. lonicerce — hybrid. The President enquired whether the hybrids were robust 

 and healthy or the reverse. Mr. Fletcher stated that many of the hybrids were 

 larger than the parent species, and that some hybrids between Z. lonicerce and Z. 

 Jilipendulcs were the largest he had ever seen. He added that Zygana mehloti would 

 not hybridise with Z. lonicerce, Z. tvifolii, or Z . filipendula . Mr. Barrett and Mr. Tutt 

 continued the discussion. Mr. F. W. Frohawk exhibited a bred series of Vanessa 

 atalanta, showing the amount of variation in the red band on the fore-wings of the 

 female. In seven specimens there was a white spot on this band, and in ten 

 specimens it was absent. Mr. Elwes exhibited a large number of specimens of 

 Chrysophanus phlaas from various places in Europe, Asia, and North America, with 

 the object of showing that the species is scarcely affected by variations of tempera- 

 ture, which was contrary to the opinion expressed by Mr. Merrifield in his recent 

 paper " On the effects of temperature in the pupal stage on colouring," &c. Mr, 

 McLachlan, Mr. A. J. Chitty, Mr. Bethune-Baker, Mr. Tutt, Mr. Barrett, and Mr. 

 Frohawk took part in the discussion which ensued. Dr. Sharp read a paper entitled 

 " On Stridulating Ants." He said that examination revealed the existence in ants 

 of the most perfect stridulating or sound-producing organs yet discovered in insects, 

 which are situated on the 2nd and 3rd segments of the abdomen of certain species. 

 He was of opinion that the structures which Sir John Lubbock thought might be 

 stridulating organs in Lasius flavus were not really such, but merely a portion of the 

 general sculpture of the surface. Dr. Sharp said that the sounds produced were of 

 the greatest delicacy, and Mr. Goss had been in communication with Mr. W. H. 

 Preece, F.R.S., with the view of ascertaining whether the microphone would assist 

 the human ear in the detection of sounds produced by ants. Mr. Preece had stated 

 that the microphone did not magnify, but merely reproduced sound, and that the 

 the only sounds made by ants which he had been able to detect by means of the 

 instrument were due to the mechanical disturbance produced by the motion of the 

 insects over the microphone. A long discussion ensued, in which the President, 

 Canon Fowler, and Messrs. Champion, McLachlan, Goss, Hampson, Barrett, 

 Jacoby, and others took part, Mr. C. J. Gahan read a paper entitled " Notes on the 

 Longicornia of Australia and Tasmania, Part I. ; including a list of the species 

 collected by Mr. J.J. Walker, R.N., and descriptions of new forms. — H. Goss and 

 Vv\ W. Fowler, Hon. Secretaries. 



CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 



HISTORY SOCIETY. 



Tuesday, March 7th, 1893. — Exhibits. Dr. Sequeira, Anisopteryx cescularia and 

 Hybernia lencophearia, taken that day in Victoria Park. Mr. Battley, a living speci- 

 men of Nyssia hispidaria from Epping Forest ; also fossil shells from the Red Crag 

 at Felixstowe. He remarked that the spiral shells from this deposit were often 

 curled the opposite way to modern forms. Mr. Riches, variable specimens of Helix 

 virgata, H. ericetorum, H. cantiana, H. hortensis, H. ncmoralis and H. aspersa. Mr. Soul, 

 fine specimens of the Paper Nautilus (Argonauta avgo) and Pearly Nautilus (Nautilus 

 pompilius). Mr. Clark, shells of the Swan Mussel (Anodonta). Mr. Rosevear, 

 various shells to illustrate his paper. Mr. Bellamy, stuffed specimens of the Kestrel 

 and Waxwing, both from Yorkshire. Mr. Rosevear then read his paper on 

 " Conchology." He claimed the advantages of this science over Entomology, in 

 that it was independent of the weather and season, that shells required but little 

 preparation for the cabinet, and that there was no fear of their being destroyed by 

 mites or mildew. He then passed on to consider the life history, habits and 



