THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 199 



doubt; many hundreds of the imago were obtained in all. These have mostly been 

 found on the coast, as the food-plant, Galium verum, is usually abundant on 

 coast sand hills, but odd specimens have been taken inland also. 



Collectors were naturally on the look out for larvae, and had an early search 

 been made, beginning about the middle of August, the large number that 

 have been found would have been greatly exceeded. But it does not appear 

 that they were looked for much before September. My friend Mr. Porritt 

 tells me he found them on the 30th and 31st August, " of all sizes, from 

 about three-quarters of an inch to full growth, some of them being grand, big 

 spotted fellows." Mr. Porritt also calls attention to another matter of some 

 importance : " We found them on both white and yellow bedstraw, but most 

 on the former, contrary to general supposition as to the food, I believe, and 

 most were found on the poor, short, sparse patches — only three or four, I 

 think, being found on big patches, and they were nearly all quite exposed on 

 the upper stems of the plants." This corresponds in every respect with my 

 own experience with larvae of M. stellatarum, and the only larva of C. por- 

 cellus I ever found was on a little patch that hardly seemed enough for one 

 meal. Mr. Porritt' s larvse were taken at Deal, and I learn from other cor- 

 respondents that a very large number were taken after he left. From other 

 places 1 have similar records, so far as I can judge the Cheshire sand hills, 

 and those about Deal, producing the greatest number. The only place not 

 on the coast where I have reports of it being common is at Cambridge. 

 Possibly records from other inland districts may be given in the other maga- 

 zines, but when we hear of one gentleman, who must be nameless till he 

 speaks himself, having taken over 150 larvae in one locality, there can be no 

 doubt that the captures this year very far exceed any previous year, and 1888 

 must in future be known as the great Galii year. 



REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 

 HISTORY SOCIETY. 



September 6tk, 1888. — Mr. Cooke, President, in the chair. The ex- 

 hibitions of lepidoptera and coleoptera were very numerous, and comprised 

 the following : — Mr. Hanes, a nice yellow variety of Dominula and a fine 

 bred series of Scolopacina. Mr. Fordham, various species of grasshoppers. 

 Mr. Bellany, a number of Indian silk-producing moths. Mr. Pearson, bred 

 Ridens, Piniperda, Prodromaria, and Lychnitis. Mr. J e A. Clark, long series 

 of L. agestis and a very fine variety of Bipunctaria with a black band and 



