THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



237 



transformations. He received frequent applause for his clever chalk and 

 crayon drawings. 



Dr. J. W. Ellis, F.E.S., gave a sketch lecture on the "Mouths of Insects/' 

 and comparing the mouth parts of the bee, a bettle, and a butterfly, shewed 

 that the same organs are present in each insect, although, of course, modified 

 to meet their various uses. 



On the tables were placed a number of interesting exhibits. By the 

 President, Mr. S. J. Capper, 5 drawers, forming an educational collection of 

 insects. In this were shewn the principal types, and in some cases the life- 

 history of the whole order of insects ; and a drawer of Lyccena, containing 

 most extraordinary varieties of the undersides. By the Rev. H. H. Higgins, 

 British Syrphida. By Mr. C. S. Gregson, 2 drawers of his wonderful 

 varieties of Abraxas grossulariata, these drawers excited great attention, as 

 they are recorded to be the finest lot of varieties of this species extant, being 

 picked from over 100,000 specimens bred by himself. By Mr. E. N. Pierce, 

 a drawer shewing the various modes of " setting/' and a selection of British 

 Lepidoptera shewing the larva and imago of each species, and a case shewing 

 Irish cream-coloured Arctia mendica, compared with the ordinary form ; also 

 a series of several species shewing range of variation. By Dr. J. W. Ellis, 

 British Lamellicornes and Chrysomelida, in the latter drawer was a full series 

 of the beautiful Chrysomela cerealis taken by himself on Snowdon. By the 

 Honorary Secretary, R. Wilding, drawers of British Coleoptera, this exhibit 

 was greatly admired for the exceedingly neat way in which the beetles were 

 arranged, and as containing many very rare species. By the courtesy of the 

 Rev. H. H. Higgins and T. J. Moor, Esq., selections from the British and 

 European collections of Lepidoptera, bequeathed to the city by the late Nicholas 

 Cooke. By Mr. W. Johnson, a drawer from his cabinet containing the 

 Lithosias and some grand varieties of Arctia caja ; he also exhibited 2 boxes 

 containing specimens of all the Plusia and Dianthcecice. By Mr. R. W. 

 Hughes, a drawer containing specimens of all species captured during the 

 year, and with one exception around the Liverpool district. Mr. C. H. H. 

 Walker had beautiful illustrations of insects taken from life, drawn by him- 

 self. By Mr. J. Mcintosh, curious old entomological books ; while round 

 the room were distributed every conceivable apparatus useful in the collection 

 and preservation of insects, exhibited by B. Cooke and Son, of this city. 

 This exhibit commanded great attention, shewing as it did, the perfection 

 that entomological apparatus had been brought to. It was curious to see old 

 collectors handling zinc boxes, nets, &c, and seeing how money, now, could 

 smooth the difficulties of their younger days. Microscopes were exhibited by 

 Mr. J. C. Thompson, E.R.M.S., and other members. 



