THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



55 



and possibly is quite as good a species as any of the 4 English Zygsena 

 {English in distinction from the Irish and Scotch insects.) 

 6, Lewisham Road, Greenwich. 



REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 

 HISTORY SOCIETY. 



February 2nd, 1888. — Mr. Cooke, President, in the chair. The meeting 

 was very numerously attended. Mr. Clark exhibited P. eupharidce and C. 

 glabraria light and dark vars.; Mr. Hillman, Melolontha vulgaris &c. 

 Mr. Paine was duly elected a member. Mr. Hillman then read a very 

 lengthy paper on Melolontha vulgaris, giving a very graphic outline of life- 

 history and habits, at the conclusion of which several members took part in 

 the discussion, amongst which may be mentioned Mr. Lewcock, who thought 

 the grubs attacked the weaker parts of the plants, and he had never found 

 the insect in any great profusion, and thought that there was little doubt that 

 we had literally clouds of them at times. Mr. Hillman stated that the larvse 

 stage lasted over five years and generally came out in the sixth year, and 

 that the larvae attacked not only the weaker parts but also anything weak or 

 strong, even roots of trees if it could get nothing else. The President stated 

 at the next meeting he would read a paper on " Extinct Animals." 



February l&h. — Mr. Cooke, President, in the chair. The members made 

 exhibits : Mr. Cooke, specimens of C. alchymista, captured at Rayston, Cambs, 

 1887. Mr. Anderson, series of H. leucophearia, taken this month. Mr. 

 Albury, long series of /. carnella, C. perlellns, and B. hirtaria, Mr. Gur- 

 ney, series of N. hispidaria, bred. Mr. Clark, N. hispidaria, bred this day. 

 The Society acquired a new cabinet for birds' eggs and it was brought into 

 the Society's Room during the meeting. Mr. Cooke then read a paper on 

 " Extinct Animals and Extraneous Fossils/'' which dealt with the geological 

 formation of the earth and the bones that had been found in the various for- 

 mations, also the fossils found in the various strata, which was highly interest- 

 ing. Mr. Clark stated that frequent discoveries of remains of the Mammoth 

 and other extinct species are still being found in the valley of the Sea, and 

 some where found quite recently at Herne Bay. Mr. Cripps drew attention 

 to the fact that the rise and fall of the land was not always caused by volcanic 

 action, and in fact was continually going on in various parts of the world 

 even in some parts of England, by gradual degrees. Mr. Cooke stated that 



