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THE IOUNG NATURALIST. 



Mr. Gervase F. Mathew, R.N., exhibited several new species of Bhopalocera 

 taken by him in the Solomon Islands during the visits to those Islands of 

 H.M.S. 'Espiegle'in 1882 and lb83. Amongst the specimens exhibited 

 were specices of JZuplaa, Afycalesis, Messarus, Rkinopalpa, Cyrestis, Liadema, 

 Parthenos, Lampides, Sithon, Pieris, Papilio, &c. 



Mr. E. B. Poulton exhibited a large and hairy lepidopterous larva — ap- 

 parently of a Bombyx — brought from Celebes, by Dr. Hick son, and made 

 remarks on the urtieating properties of the hairs of the species, which were 

 said by the natives to produce symptoms similar to those of erysipelas if the 

 larva was handled. 



Lord Walsingham, Mr. M'Lachlan, Dr. F. A. Dixey, Mr. Jenner Weir, 

 Dr. Sharp, Mr. Slater, and Mr. Poulton took part in a discussion as to 

 whether urtication was due to the mechanical action of the hairs in the skin, 

 or to the presence of formic acid, or some other irritant poison, in some glands 

 at the base of the hairs. There appeared to be no doubt that in some species 

 the irritation caused by handling them was merely due to the mechanical 

 action of the hairs. 



Mr. P. Crowley exhibited a collection of Lepidoptera recently received from 

 West Africa, including specimens of Papilio Hachii, and several new or un- 

 described species of Mylothrh, Diadema, Harma, Rhomaleosoma, &c. 



Mr. H. Goss reported the capture by Mr. G. D. Tait, at Oporto, in 

 September last, of a specimen of Anosia plexippus, and remarked that, 

 although some twenty specimens had been caught in the South of England, 

 only two specimens had been previously recorded from the Continent of Europe. 



Lord Walsingham read a paper entitled " A Revision of the Genera Acrolo- 

 phus (Poey) and Anaphora (Clem.) ; and he exhibited about twenty new 

 species of these and allied genera. Mr. Stainton made some remarks on the 

 genus Anaphora, and said he was glad Lord Walsingham was working at it 

 and its allies. The paper was further discussed by Mr. M'Lachlan, Mr. 

 Champion, and Dr. Sharp. 



Mr. Poulton read " Notes in 18S6 on Lepidopterous Larvce, &c." In the 

 discussion which ensued, Lord Walsingham referred at some length to in- 

 stances of protective resemblance in larvae, and alluded to the existence in 

 certain species, especially of the genus Melitaa, of prothoracic glands. Fur- 

 ther instances of protective resemblance were cited by Mr. Jenner Weir. 



Dr. F. A. Dixey remarked on the extrordinary powers of contraction which 

 appeared to be possessed by the retractor muscle of the flagellum in B. vinula, 

 and enquired whether any corresponding peculiarities of minute structure had 

 been observed in it. The discussion was continued by Mr. Gervase Mathew, 

 Mr, W. White, Dr. Sharp, Mr. Porritt, and others. — H. Goss, Hon, Sec, 



