iSg 4 .] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



20I 



W. H. H. Walker, Wilding, Watson, Webster, W. Johnson (Wigan), and I. C. Thompson, 

 F.L.S., F.R.M.S. Such a gathering of the old and the new school of Entomologists 

 introduced many interesting subjects for discussion, species making and melanism being 

 very much to the front. Reunions such as this one help forward the cause of Natural 

 History, giving as they do opportunities of personally meeting those with whom one has 

 corresponded, and thus cementing the good fellowship by a shake of the hand. 



Mr. Capper is to be congratulated upon the success of the meeting, as also upon the 

 admirable and hospitable manner in which he entertained his friends, and long may his 

 kindly face and hospitable manner be spared to continue the good work he is doing 

 amongst the local Entomologists. 



Letters of regret were received from Messrs. Briggs, Porritt, Robson. Threlfall, 

 Hodgkinson, Mosley, Chappell, and others. 



CARLISLE ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



An ordinary meeting of this society was held on Thursday night, the 5th ult., at Tullie 

 House, the President (Rev. H. A. Macpherson) in the chair. There was a good show of 

 exhibits. Specimens of the little gull and two young gold-crested wrens were exhibited 

 by the President. Other members showed a number of Lepidoptera, among which were 

 Eupithecia rectangidata, Emmelesia decolorata, Acronycta leporina, Dianthcecia, 

 cucubali, and Hadena rectilinea. The last-named is a new insect to this district, and the 

 first specimen taken was by Mr. F. H. Day, at sugar in a wood near Carlisle, about a 

 fortnight ago. It has, however, been since taken by Mr. J. Wilkinson at another 

 locality. E, rectangiilata is said to be common here, but only one specimen has been 

 taken, and that by Mr. Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson also found some unknown tortrix 

 larvae feeding on laurel in the garden in Tullie House. — John Buckle. 



NOTES. 



On Type Insects. — Is the description the sole real authority of the 

 type ? If so, what becomes of Libelhia <znea ? Linnaeus' description 

 of it will, at least, apply to three species, viz., Cordulia csnea, C. metallica, 

 and C. arctic a. Any such fixed rule as the above would land Science 

 in a difficulty. Linnaeus again named his three species of the genus 

 Bombylius — major, medius, and minor. Strange to say, medius is 

 almost invariably larger than major. Verrall calls medius — discolor, 

 Mik. Has he examined the type in the Linnaean collection, or has Mik 

 done so ? Now that we are on the subject of types, I may as well inform 

 Mr. Tutt that the type specimens of Ascosmetia Morrisii, Dale, are in 

 my collection, and that they are white varieties of Arcuosa and not 

 Bondii, as he has been good enough to suppose. One reason why 

 Guenee and other writers of repute rejected the names of Haefuagel, 

 was because his descriptions did not well conform to the appearance 

 and character of the species they were supposed to represent. This is, 

 I suppose, what Mr. Tutt would wish me to discuss with him. At all 

 events, I will have nothing to do with the false science — Spiritualism . 

 — C. W. Dale, 



