io6 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



! May 



consisting of Sesia scoliiformis , Arctia caja, Dicranura vinula, Orgyia antiqua, Nemeophila 

 plantaginis, and N. russula, the male specimen of which had smoky hind wings, and 

 Odonestis potatoria, the coloration of the female being intermediate between the sexes. 

 Mr. Perks showed a Bramble-leaf from Chessington, Surrey, corroded by a micro- 

 scopic fungus. The Secretary, Mr. H. Williams, read a letter from Mr. Robson, of 

 Hartlepool, requesting aid from members of the Society in filling up forms he had 

 prepared asking for certain information as to meteorological conditions, &c, when 

 sugaring for Noctuse, and thus, by comparing results from different parts of the 

 country, Mr. Robson hoped to come, to some conclusion regarding some of the 

 anomalies of this subject. Mr. Robson said he would be happy to send forms to any 

 applicant for same. Mr. Turner reported the capture of Eupithecia nanata, Fidonia 

 atomaria L. and larvae of Thera firmata, T. variata, and Ellopia fasciaria. Mr. 

 Carpenter said that Thecla ruH had been taken at Eynsford, Kent, on April 3rd, and 

 Syrichthus malvce on April gth. The remainder of the evening was devoted to a long 

 discussion with regard to the proposed excursions of the Society during the ensuing 

 summer. — F. VV. Hawes and H. Williams, Hon. Secretaries. 



LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



April 10th.— -The President (Mr. S. J. Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S.) in the chair. Mr. 

 H. W. Bowler, Lisbon-road, Broadgreen, was elected a member of the society. Mr. 

 John Watson read a p iper entitled " Notes on three hybrid silk moths." The author, 

 in speaking of these hybrids, stated that he had microscopically examined the female 

 hybrids, and found them infertile, there being no trace of an ovary. He also stated 

 that the hybrid larvae spun double the weight of silk in forming the cocoon than 

 either of the parents. — Dr. H. H. Corbett read a paper entitled " Notes on the 

 lepidoptera of Doncaster." He enumerated the lepidoptera taken by him around 

 Doncaster, and drew attention to the local variation of several species he exhibited 

 and described. — Lithocolletes cerasicolella, a species new to the British list which had 

 just been added by himself. Mr. Watson exhibited Papilio elwesii female from 

 Central China, which, as far as he knew, was at present unique. The president 

 exhibited Papilio machaon; and Mr. Newstead a collection of coccidae formed by Miss 

 Tomlin from Madras.— F. N. Pierce, Hon. Secretary. 



NOTES 



ON SOME OF THE RARER 



HYMENOPTERA-ACULEATA 

 OBSERVED IN LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE. 



BY WILLOUGHBY GARDNER, F.R.G.S. 



Read before the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. 



It is well known that many species of insects which have long been 

 considered to be rare, have remained so merely because they were 

 never looked for, or because observers were ignorant of their habits, 

 and therefore did not know how to search for them. 



This is especially the case in some of the less " popular " orders, 

 such as the Hymenopteva. 



Some attention has been paid to this order by two or three workers 

 in the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society, but their 



