86 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[April 



structure of the Mollusca, and concluded by referring to the recently established 

 Malachological Society of London. Mr. Lewcock, in proposing a vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Rosevtar, mentioned that the larvae of Hydrophilus piceus feed on young water 

 snails. Dr. Buckell seconded the vote of thanks, and it was carried unanimously. 

 Mr. Riches stated that he had observed Biston hirtaria on March 3rd. Mr. Lewcock 

 also recorded this species. Mr. Battley stated that the sallow was nearly in bloom, 

 some of the sheltered bushes being fully out. 



Tuesday, March 21st, 1893. — Exh ibits . Mr. Clark, Nyssia hispidaria, PhigaUa 

 pilosana, &c, from Chingford. Mr. Hollis, PhigaUa pilosaria, Hybernia leucophearia, 

 and H . progemmaria from Highgate, two of the females of the latter being the 

 melanic form. Mr. Riches, a variable series of Hybernia leucophearia from Richmond. 

 Mr. Huckett, suffused forms of Hybernia progemmaria bred from Epping Forest larvae. 

 Mr. Battley, short series of Procris statices, P.geryon, and P. globularia. Mr. Tremayne, 

 Leucania turca, Hyria auroraria and many others from the New Forest. Mr. Prout, 

 series of Gnophus obscurata taken on the greensand at Sandown, and chalk at Ventnor. 

 He remarked that although these localities were only a few miles apart, the speci- 

 mens responded to their environments, the Sandown forms being decidedly the 

 darker. Dr. Sequeira, Cymatophora ridens, bred from New Forest larvae. Coleoptera 

 — Mr. Heasler, Haploenemus impressus, Scaphidema anea, Rhinosimus viridipennis, 

 Scydmanus horticoliis, and Euthia scvdmanoides, ail from Acton. Mr. Jarvis, Plinthus 

 caliginosus, Homaloia plana, Prognatha quadricome, and Platydcrus ruficollis, from Wands- 

 worth and Darenth. Dr. Buckell then read his paper on " Specific Nomenclature, 

 present, past and future." After an exhaustive review of the entomological writers 

 since the time of Linnaeus, he expressed his opinion that the time had now come to 

 settle the nomenclature of our Lepidoptera, and that this could only be accomplished 

 by an international arrangement with other countries. Mr. Lewcock proposed a 

 vote of thanks to Dr. Buckell for his paper. Mr. Tutt, in seconding this, remarked 

 that Great Britain was the only country that did not support a State Entomologist, 

 most of the Continental countries, as well as the United States, Canada, and 

 Australia having a regular staff of working entomologists, constantly engaged in 

 carrying out experiments. He also stated, that although disagreeing with Dr. 

 Buckell on a few minor points, he regarded his paper as of great value, as it con- 

 densed all the present knowledge on the subject. Messrs. Trema)'ne, Jarvis, 

 Newbery, Prout, and others continued the discussion, and the vote of thanks was 

 unanimously carried. 



THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 



HISTORY SOCIETY. 



February 23rd, 1893. — J. Jenner Weir, Esq., F.Z.S., President, in the chair. Mr. 

 S. Edwards exhibited a box of exotic Lepidoptera (butterflies), illustrative of 

 mimicry from widely different localities. Mr. South, series of Cerostoma radiatella 

 and C. costella, and remarked on the number of varieties of radiatella.* Mr. Barrett 

 drew attention to a method of transferring the scales of the wings of Lepidoptera 

 to paper, as exemplified by a sample from Herr Aug. Hoffmann, and Mr. Tugwell 

 noticed that the scales were necessarily reversed, and the body, eyes, antennas, &c, 

 painted in. Mr. McArthur shewed a method of steadying and securing an insect, 

 by means of a slip of paper doubled over, when, for any reason, the pin through 

 the thorax had been rendered useless. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a short series of 

 Spilosoma mendica, bred from larvae found in Aberdeenshire, the males being of a 

 brownish colour. Mr. Tugwell referred to the fact that specimens of the male 

 5. mendica, from Barnsley, were light, whereas those from Huddersfield were dark 

 forms, as exhibited recently by Mr. G. T. Porritt. Mr. Billups some curious forms 



