20 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



dana, &c. ; he also showed fine specimens of Plusia orichalcea, v-aureum, 

 iota, interrogations, festucce, Z. exulans (from Braemar), A. strigosa, aini, 

 L. testudo, M. altemata, C.fluviata, M. arcuosa (females), and striking 

 varieties of C. suffumata and M. strigilis ; his box also contained a beautiful 

 series of C. russata, from North Knapdale, and. for comparison, a series of 

 the pretty Arran variety. Mr. Stewart exhibited specimens of the egg of the 

 rare Capercailzie, found in the North of Scotland. Mr. J. Bennett Browne 

 exhibited a large number of specimens of -birds and eggs, most of which were 

 taken in the neighbourhood of Garelochhead, and regarding which, a very 

 interesting paper was read. Mr. C. B. Cross showed a case of moths, with 

 beautiful preserved specimens of the larva of each species, which had been 

 arranged and forwarded for exhibition by Mr. F. N. Pierce, of Liverpool, a 

 corresponding member. The caterpillars were very neatly mounted on wire, 

 and presented quite an artistic appearance. The natural colouring of the 

 larvse were also fairly well preserved, and showed that the mode of treatment 

 used by Mr. Pierce is a very successful one. Among the species represented 

 in the exhibit may be mentioned N. droniedarius, 0. fascelina, A. gemina, 

 N. cucullatella, E. lichenea, T. piniperda, C. spinula, B. perla, &c. Mr. 

 Cross also showed a specimen of the short-tailed Mouse (Arvieola agrestis), 

 taken in the district. Mr. George E. Paterson exhibited a pair of magpies, 

 each of which, curiously, when captured, was found to have had one of its 

 legs maimed. Mr. E. C. Eggleton handed round for inspection a box con- 

 tained a fine series of Sesia bembeciformis, bred from larvse found in the 

 trunks of old sallows in Kelvingrove Park. Mr. T. J. Henderson read a very 

 interesting paper— " Notes on Lepidoptera, season 1886," — in which he 

 gave a brief resume of his collecting experiences during the past season. The 

 essayist had to complain about a good many things, all of which tended to 

 make the past season disappointing to the entomologist. He had to grumble 

 about the lateness of the season, the cold, bleak weather, and above all, the 

 scarcity of insect life. In his opinion, the past season was in many senses a 

 failure. Mr. Henderson, in his paper, also touched upon the subject of the 

 retarded emergence of some species of lepidoptera, and the various atmos- 

 pheric and other influences which tend to bring this about. Another very 

 interesting paper was read entitled "Pupae," contributed by Mr. Joseph 

 Anderson, Junr., Chichester, a corresponding member. The paper was a 

 most comprehensive one, and presented in a condensed form, a pretty accurate 

 account of what is generally known regarding the shapes and peculiarities of 

 the many kinds of pupae. A vote of thanks to the exhibitors and essayists 

 brought a most interesting meeting to a close. — John Mackay, Hon. Sec- 

 retary. 



