THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 223 



the larvae and pupse taken by him, giving the date of their capture, localities, how 

 they were to be taken and method of taking. 



Amongst the several subjects discussed was the " sagacity of rats," one member 

 giving an instance where the rat was in the habit of leaping over a trap which had 

 been placed on a beam to intercept it. Among the exhibits were a large number of 

 preserved larvae, by Mr. J. Wilkinson. A specimen " death's head " moth, taken in 

 this district last year, was presented to the Tallie House Museum. — Jno. Buckle. 



CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY 



SOCIETY. 



Tuesday, 19th June, 1894. — The President in the chair. 



Exhibits. — By Dr. F. J. Buckell, a specimen of Pararge egeria, sent by Mr. Hodges, 

 from Guernsey. It was practically identical with the Linnasan type (egeria) which differs 

 from the ordinary British form (really egeridcs) in having the spots dark brownish orange 

 instead of straw coloured. 



By Mr. Battley, Taniocampa gracilis, munda, populeti, incerta, and siabilis, all from 

 Broxbourne ; the latter was a specimen with stigmata confluent in both fore wings, 

 a single line surrounding both. Mr. Bate stated that he had this year bred a similar 

 specimen. 



By Mr. Clark, several specimens of Selenia lunaria, forming part of a brood which had 

 been gradually emerging since Christmas last. 



By Captain Thompson, Coccyx argyrana, Adda degcerclla, Gclcchia alcelUt. Teleia 

 luctilella, and Lavcrna atra ; also cocoons of Plusia festucse sent by Mr. Arkle from the 

 vicinity of Chester ; he read a letter from that gentleman to the effect that he had taken 

 them on the 13th June, spun upon leaves of sedge. These leave-; were bent downwards 

 at an obtuse angle by the contracting of the silk of the cocoon ; this did not take place 

 when they were made on the Yellow Iris (which is rarely the case), upon which the larva 

 readily feeds. 



By Mr. Bacot, bred specimens of Gucullia vcrhasci from Norfolk and Wales, and a 

 larva which he believed to be Brephos notha. 



By Mr. Prout, a specimen of Melanippe sociata of a yellowish tinge ; this specimen 

 had lain in pupa during the winter, the rest of the brood having emerged in the previous 

 autumn. 



Dr. Francis Buckell, of Romsey, read a paper on " Pollen Grains," and exhibited many 

 original drawings illustrating the diversity of form among these objects. He suggested 

 that this difference in form was probably due to evolution, regulated to a large extent by 

 the varied structure of the organ of the different insects by which each species of flower 

 was fertilised. The magnifying power used was 300 diameters. 



Tuesday, 3rd July, 1894. 



Exhibits. — Mr. Clark, a large number of Australian Lepldoptera received from Mr. E. 

 Anderson ; also living larvae of Selenia lunaria. 



Mr. May, an empty cocoon of Plusia moneta from Weybridge. He stated that the 

 moth had emerged from this a few days previously. 



Mr. Hollis, bred specimens of Ocneria dispar. 



Mr. Prout, a series of Eupithccia assimilata bred from five different females taken in 

 1893, the specimens showing a decided tendency to heredity. 



Dr. Sequeira, Meliana flzmmca, Simyra venosa, and Macroyastcr arundinis, all from 

 Wicken Fen. 



