44 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



Mr. Gervase F. Mathew exhibited a variety of a female of Lycotna telicanus, 

 from the neighbourhood of Gallipoli, Turkey : also some specimens of a 

 Lyccena from Vigo, believed to be varieties of Lyc&na baton, but differing 

 from the type in being much larger and darker. He further exhibited several 

 examples of a Leucophasia from Vigo, which appeared to be identical with 

 L. cestiva (Staud.) 



Mr. Porritt exhibited, on behalf of Mr. N. F. Dobree, a series of a remark- 

 able red form of Taniocampa gracilis, bred last season from larvae collected 

 in Hampshire. 



Mr. Eland Shaw exhibited specimens of Pachytylus cinerascens (Fab.), 

 Mecostethus grossus (Linrie) Gryllus fiavipes (Gmel.), and read a "Note on 

 the Identity Gryllus (Locusta) fiavipes, Gmel." 



The Secretary read a communication from Prof. Riley, of Washington on 

 the subject of the " Australian Bug" {leery a purchasi.) It was stated that 

 the insect had of late years become very destructive to various trees and 

 shrubs in California, into which country, as well as into New Zealand and 

 Cape Colony, it had been introduced from Australia, where it was believed to 

 be indigenous ; but on this point further evidence was asked for. 



The Rev. T. A. Marshall communicated " A Monograph of the British 

 Braconidae," Part 2, being a continuation from Part 1 of the " Transactions " 

 for 1885. 



Mr. Francis P. Pascoe read a paper entitled " Descriptions of some new 

 species of Brachycerus." 



Mr. Francis Galton, F.R.S., read a paper on "Pedigree Moth-breeding as 

 a means of verifying certain important Constants . in the General Theory of 

 Heredity." In this paper Mr. Galton suggested the institution of a system 

 of experimental breedings, to be continued for several years, with the object 

 of procuring evidence as to the precise measure of the diminution of the rate 

 at which a divergence from the average of the race proceeds in successive 

 generations of continually selected animals. 



Mr. Frederic Merrifield read a paper (by way of an appendix to Mr. Gal- 

 ton's paper) entitled " A proposed method of breeding Selenia illu&traria, 

 with the object of obtaining data for Mr. Galton." 



Mr. M'Lachlan said he considered the fact that 6". ilhstraria was dimor- 

 phic, an objection to its selection for the experiments proposed by Mr. Galton, 

 and he suggested that the Common Silkworm Moth, or some other large 

 Bombyces, would be more suitable for Mr. Galton' s purposes. 



Prof. Meldola called Mr. Merrifield's attention to some observations on 

 Selenia illustraria by Dr. Knaggs in vol. iii. of the Ent. Mo. Mag., which 

 had some bearing on the projected experiments; and he remarked that 



