THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



161 



SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY 



SOCIETY. 



June 28tk, 1888. — John T. Carrington, Esq., E.L.S., Vice-President in 

 the chair. Miss M. Kimber and Mr. A. E. Hall, were elected members. 

 Mr. Hawes exhibited pupae of Argynnis paphia and A. adippe, from South 

 Suffolk. Mr. Slater, a specimen of Chcerocampa nerii from Zululand, and 

 remarked on the difference in colour between the insect shewn and European 

 examples of the species. Mr. Tugwell raised a question as to whether the 

 specimen was an example of C. nerii, Mr. South suggested that it was pro- 

 bably a very closely allied African species. Mr. West, of Streatham, 

 specimens of Ueliothis marginata (C. umbra, Hufn.^, bred from larvae 

 found at Eolkstone. Mr. Tugwell, examples of Spilosoma menthastri, and 

 var. ochracea, bred from ova received from Dundee, the larvae having been fed 

 upon stinging nettle. Mr. Tugwell mentioned that he had recently bred 

 several specimens of Sesia sphegiformis, the larvae having been found at Til- 

 gate Eorest, and remarked that from his experience he was of opinion that 

 the insect was three years in the larval stage, the ova being laid in July, the 

 larvae feeding through that year were to be found feeding close to the bark 

 the second year, and feeding during the third year they pupated about the 

 2nd week in May, the perfect insect appearing the first or second week in 

 June, usually about 9 or 10 o'clock on a sunny morning. Some observations 

 were made by members on capturing the rarer species of Sesidae. 



July Vlth. — J. T. Carrington, Esq., Yice-President, in the chair. Messrs. 

 A. L. Clarke, W. B. Earr, and R. Atherton, were elected members. Mr. 

 Weir exhibited a male specimen of Lyccena icarus, which he had taken at 

 Lewes in June last. It was remarkable as shewing a slight tendency to 

 hermaphroditism; there were on the upperside of the under-wings two well 

 defined and several smaller submarginal spots, while the colour of all the wings 

 in other respects was that of the ordinary male of the species. His attention 

 had been drawn to the insect by a male of the same species, evidently by its 

 actions, mistaking the specimen exhibited for a female ; some discussion 

 followed, Messrs. Tutt, Tugwell, South, Weir, and Carrington taking part. 

 Mr. Jager, two specimens of Arctia villica, with dark hind -wings, forms of 

 EupUhecia rectangulata and an example of the larvae of Callimorpha hera. 

 Mr. R. Adkin, Eupithecia togata, bred from Perthshire larvae which varied 

 much as to colour. Mr. Robinson, an example of Miana strigilis, from 

 Monkswood, which was pinker than usual. Mr. South remarked that he had 

 taken very large and red forms in North Devon. Mr. Dobson, Cymatophora 

 ridens and Notodonta chaonia, bred from larvae beaten in the New Eorest. 



