56 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



he knew a spot, near Tunbridge Wells, where the ground had sunk to a great 

 degree and was still sinking. A vote of thanks to the President closed this 

 very interesting meeting. — J. Russell and E. Anderson^ Hon. Secretaries. 



SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY 



SOCIETY. 



January mk, 1888.— T. R. Billups, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the chair. 

 Mr. Tugwell exhibited for comparison, German and Welsh specimens of 

 Xylina furcifera, Hufn. Mr. J. Stringer, a varied series of Hybernia 

 defoliaria, Clark. Mr. Cooper remarked that while searching for H. leuco- 

 phearia during the previous week, he had seen numbers of H. defoliaria 

 at rest on the trees, and it seemed to be usual to meet with this species in the 

 spring. Mr. Adkin, bred specimens of Ptilophora plumigera, Esp., which 

 had recently emerged, and thought that the cold weather experienced at the 

 time the species usually appeared had kept them back. Mr. Carrington, 

 referring to Mr. Cooper's and Mr. Adkin's observations, contributed notes as 

 to the effect of temperature on the emergence of lepidoptera. Mr. Tutt, on 

 behalf of Mr. Alderson, varieties of Aplecta tincta, Brahm., Scopelosoma 

 satellitia, L., Anaitis plagiata, L., a melanic specimen of Phigalia pilosaria, 

 Fb., and a curious form of Tceniocampa munda, Esp., which he stated were 

 all taken in the neighbourhood of Bromley. Mr Carrington said that he had 

 frequently taken this form of T. munda, and recommended sugaring in the 

 earlier part of the year for the genus Tceniocampa, stating that on one 

 occasion he captured numbers of T. munda, with commoner species of the 

 genus, at the same time taking a considerable number of Asphalia flavi- 

 cornis, L., an insect not generally supposed to come to sugar. Mr. Billups, 

 on behalf of Mr. W. F. De Y. Kane, Rhopalomesites tardii, Cork, from 

 Killarney and Powerscourt, Ireland, and invited remarks upon the same as 

 regards variation, the pale forms, however, were considered to be immature. 

 Mr. Dobson read a paper on " Darwinism," which was followed by a dis- 

 cussion. 



February 9tA, 1888. — The President in the chair. Messrs. F. Warne, 

 N. Warne, A. T. Mitchell, F. E. Strong, and P. C. C. Billups, M.D., were 

 elected members. Mr. South exhibited, for comparison, forms of Dianthce- 

 cia compta, Fb., and D. na?ia, Rott., and contributed notes ; also a long 

 series of what he stated were known in this country as Cerastis vaccinii y L. 

 and C. spadicea, Hb., he considered these to be two forms of one species, 

 but at present was unable to bring forward any facts of sufficient weight in 

 support of this, but thought he could establish the fact that British lepidop- 

 terists had for years been in error in associating Hubner's name of Spadicea 



