1890.] 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



109 



pointed out how easily this loss could be prevented. 



Mr. W. Gardner, showed fossil remains of Orthoptera and Neuroptera, from the 

 Blue Lias, Warwickshire. 



143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. F. N. PIERCE, Hon. Sec. 



THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL 

 HISTORY ASSOCIATION. 



April 24th, 1890.—]. T. Carrington, F.L.S., President, in the chair. Mr. F. Warne 

 exhibited a melanic variety of Hemerophila abruptaria, Thub., taken in the London dis- 

 trict. Mr. Barrett asked whether this species had been recorded for any other neigh- 

 bourhood. Mr. Briggs in reply said it was generally known that it occurred in the 

 North and East of London only. Mr. Carrington referring to the variety radita of 

 Spilosoma lubricipeda, Esp., remarks that between i860 and 1870 this particular variety 

 only occurred in a timber yard close to the Railway Station at York, he had recently 

 visited the neighbourhood, and was interested to find that although the timber yard 

 had been taken by the Railway Company the variety now occurred in fair numbers 

 throughout the whole district, showing the gradual establishment of a certain form of 

 variation. Mr. Tugwell exhibited specimens of the common Butter-bur (Petasitas 

 vulgaris,) and made some remarks thereon mentioning that it was the food plant 

 of Hydracia petasitis. Mr. Tutt said that at Sheffield the species was taken in the 

 factory yards on the plants growing among the refuse, but very rarely among the 

 larger plants growing on the river banks. Mr. Rice on behalf of Mr. H. Syer Cuming 

 exhibited among other documents the original rules and constitution of the Aurelian 

 Society bearing date June 1st, 1801. The Rules and objects of the Entomological Society 

 of London, founded on the Aurelian Society and dated 1st May, 1806, both being signed 

 by the founders of the two Societies. A printed book of Bye-Laws of the latter 

 Society, dated 1807. An autograph letter and circular signed by A. H. Haworth dis- 

 solving the Entomological Society of London, date, April 10th, 1806. A priced 

 Catalogue of Haworth's Collection sold at Stevens, 23rd June, 1834, an ^ ten following 

 days, and a Catalogue of Insects belonging to the Entomological Society, sold at 

 Stevens, 16th April, 1858. 



Mr. R. Adkin read a paper on the occasional abundance of certain species of 

 Lepidoptera in the British Islands. He took for his types several of the commoner 

 species including Pieris brassiccc, Colias edusa, Vannessa cardui, Plusia gamma, &c. 

 Having reviewed the known cases of migration, and the effects of meteorolog- 

 ical conditions upon these insects, he concluded that although immigration alone 

 would sometimes account for a species being unusually common, the cases of excep- 

 tional abundance occasionally observed, were he thought, due to immigration taking 

 place at a time when meteorological and other conditions were favourable to the econ- 

 omy of the species affected. 



Messrs. South, Tugwell, Barrett, Carrington and others took part in the discussion 

 v/hich followed. 



8th May, 1890. The President in the chair. Messrs. S. G. C. Russell of Balham, 

 G. C. Dennis of York, and J. H. Rowntree of Scarborough, were elected members. 

 Mr. Charles Fenn exhibited Hedya paitperana, Dup. Mr. Moore, galls of the so called 



