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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



varieties of Pevonea hastiana, bred from larvae collected at Braemar, Aberdeen. Mr. 

 Ince, lepidoptera from Switzerland. Mr. R. Adkin, a series of Hypermecia angustana, 

 bred from larvae found feeding in shoots of sallow, collected in county Derry, Ireland. 

 The specimens shewed considerable variation, some having the ground colour of the 

 primaries silvery and the usual reddish-brown central fascia and costal patch intensi- 

 fied, while in others the colours of these markings was almost entirely replaced by 

 dull grey ; and, from the same locality Pcediscia scmifuscana, which also shewed 

 variation, both in the colours and markings of the specimens. Mr. Jenner Weir, 

 chrysalides of Pieris napi, to shew that, although their colour was very much affected 

 by the environment of the caterpillar at the time of their metamorphoses, yet, in no 

 way did they approximate to that of their surroundings ; they were all the produce 

 of one female of the species ; those that had changed to chrysalides in an ordinary 

 breeding case with perforated zinc sides were of a dull cream colour with black spots, 

 and those that had metamorphosed in a tin gentle box with the usual perforations at 

 the top were of a beautiful apple green with black spot? ; they had all been reared 

 from the egg and fed up in a breeding cage, and that those had become chrysalides in 

 the gentle box had been placed there a few days before. A discussion ensued. Messrs. 

 Carrington, Tugwell, White, South, Auld, and Weir taking part. Mr. Turner 

 exhibited a varied series of Triphcena pronuba, and said that he was in doubt as to 

 which was the var. innuba, but that the variation of the species was similar to that of 

 T. orbona. Mr. Billups on behalf of Mr. Tearoe, ApantaJes jucundus, from Deal. 



October loth, 1889. — The President in the chair. Mr. Weir remarked that at the 

 last meeting he exhibited chrysalides of Pieris napi, when it was thought by some of 

 the members that the apple green specimens would, if placed in a strong light, lose 

 their colour, he now exhibited the same chrysalides which he had exposed for weeks 

 to the direct rays of the sun without the slightest fading in the green colour. Mr. 

 Wellman, light forms of Gnophos obscumria, from Lewes, and it was stated that this 

 light form was only to be met with in that locality, but Mr. Tutt remarked that he 

 had taken one example at Folkestone. Mr. South referring to Mr. Turner's query 

 as to Triphcena pronuba and its var. innuba, stated that in the var. the wings and thorax 

 were unicolorous ; he also exhibited a variety of Luperina testacea and a specimen of 

 L. nickerlii, the latter received from Mr. Baxter, of St. Ann's-on-Lea, Preston ; also 

 a long series of Triphcena orbona, and read notes on the markings of the secondary 

 wings. Mr. Carpenter, Pterostoma palpina, from Essex, and Heliophobus popularis, taken 

 at Streatham. Mr. Oldham, several species of lepidoptera from the Cheshire Mosses. 

 Mr. R. Adkin, examples of Ellopia fasciana and Boarmia abietaria, and referring to 

 the view held by some entomologists, that larvae fed upon one particular plant would 

 not readily take to another, said that the larvae of the last-named species were 

 obtained from fir and were at first fed upon fir and yew, but upon some birch being 

 put into the cage they immediately left the other two plants and fed exclusively upon 

 it. Messrs. Carrington, Tugwell, Cooper, Weir, South, J. A. Claik, and others 

 made observations relative to this subject. Mr. Adye, a specimen of Sphinx convol- 

 vuli, taken at Christchurch. Mr. C. A. Briggs, an albino form of Epinephcle tithonus. 

 Mr. Cooper, a bred series of specimens of Deilephila galii, and in reply to Mr. 



