THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



place of the white bread commonly consumed, and Mr. Hillman stated that 

 a process had just been brought to perfection which would give a perfect and 

 palatable form of whole meal bread which ought to meet with universal 

 acceptance. Specimens of this, together with many other makes of bread 

 were placed in considerable quantities on the table, and freely used by the 

 author to illustrate his remarks ; subsequently they were also freely experi- 

 mented on by the gentlemen present. The appearance of the meeting being 

 at one stage of the proceeding highly suggestive of the annual supper night. 



At the meeting held March 15th, Mr. Goldthwaite exhibited a long row 

 of H. rupicapraria, he having met with it in great abundance during the 

 early part of the year. Mr. Lewcock's box contained the two species of the 

 genus Aureta, the difference between the two, however, being only to be de- 

 termined with the aid of a microscope, the size of both being so very minute. 

 Mr. Hillman exhibited two almost black skylarks, a common bunting very 

 much splashed with white, a fieldfare having a speckled head and neck, a 

 curious drab-coloured starling and a specimen of White's thrush, shot by him 

 at Twickenham in October 1887. Mr. Cooper had with him a Noctua cap- 

 tured in Scotland, which was unrecognised by the members, though thought 

 to be in the genus Hadena. Mr.' Cooke exhibited and presented to the 

 Society a photograph of the great auk's egg; and also made some remarks 

 on the correct way to bring home and preserve eggs. Mr. Lewcock refer- 

 ring to the discussion on Melolontha vulgaris, which took place on the 2nd 

 February, with reference to the duration of the larval stage of this species, a 

 point on which he was at variance with the author of the paper, he stated 

 that he had since referred to all the authorities on the subject, and found 

 them unanimous in stating three years to be the limit of the larval period. 



It was arranged that a distribution of surplus specimens should take place 

 on Thursday, 19th April. — J. Russell and B. Anderson, Joint Hon. ^ecs. 



SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY 



SOCIETY. 



February 23rd, 1888.— T. R. Billups, F.E.S., President, in the chair. 

 Mr. Routledge exhibited a number of preserved lepidopterous larvae. 



The Secretary read a paper " Notes on the Geodephaga in Ireland," con- 

 tributed by the Rev. W. F. Johnson, of Armagh. The author said that the 

 number of species of Geodephaga at present known to occur in Ireland was 

 only some 140, out of the 300 and odd species in the British list. This 

 apparent disproportion of numbers arose from the fact that Ireland had never 

 been properly worked for coleoptera. Consequently it might reasonably be 

 supposed, that a more thorough investigation would raise the number in the 



