96 



The Naturalist. 



and with the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union to Wharncliffe Woods and 

 Wortley. The financial position of the society is satisfactory. Mr. F. 

 Brittain was elected president for the ensuing year. Dr. Hime and Mr. 

 A. H. AUen, the vice-presidents, and Mr. C. Burrell, hon. sec. Mr. H. 

 C. Sorby read an interesting paper on " The Mineral. Constitution of 

 Shells and Corals, and its connection with the Organic Structure." 



Wakefield Naturalists' Society. —Meeting, Dec. 6th, Mr. William 

 Talbot, v.p., in the chair. — Mr. Spurling exhibited some fine specimens of 

 Taxidermic art, including the following : — Porzana maruetta (spotted 

 crake), and Turdus Uiacus (redwing). The exhibits by Mr. H. Sims were 

 A. saucea, A. citraria, A. aura^itiana (male and female) ; by Mr. G. 

 Wilson, D. Orion, A. ripoe, and N. trepida. Mr. E. B. Wrigglesworth 

 read a paper on Melolontha vulgaris, the cockchafer. He referred first to 

 the system of Linnaeus, who divided this group into three sections, in the 

 first of which the thorax is armed with horns, the second with the thorax 

 unarmed but having horns on the head, and the third those like M, 

 vulgaris, in which the head and thorax are both without horns, and in 

 illustration showed specimens of Typhosus vulgaris, Linodendron cylindri- 

 cum, Scarabceus lunaris, and Melolontha vulgaris. He next explained the 

 cause of its altered position in our modern nomenclature, pointing out the 

 distinguishing features of the Melolontha, illustrating his remarks with 

 a number of microscopic slides and a beautiful specimen of Lucanus cervus, 

 the great stag-beetle, kindly sent him by G. T. Porritt, Esq., F.L.S. He 

 finally discussed at some length the habits and food of both larvae and 

 imago. 



York and District Field Naturalists' Society. — Meeting Dec. 

 11th, Mr. G. Webster in the chair.— Part I. of the ^'Transactions" of 

 the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union was laid on the table. The chairman 

 exhibited a large number of finely mounted specimens of the bramble 

 tribe, from the West-Riding of Yorkshire — several species new to the York- 

 shire list — amongst which were the following Ruhi ; B. calvatus, Dring- 

 houses ; B. Lejeunii, Lotherton : B. Jissus, and B. co&sius, var. agrestis, 

 Askham Bog ; B. Koehleri, Dringhouses ; B. Lindleianus, Acomb and 

 Lotherton ; B. tuherculatus, Acomb ; B. radula and B. sublustris, near 

 Acomb ; B. fusco-ater, Poppleton ; B. carpinifolius, Dringhouses ; Mr. G. 

 Bacon : eggs of Falco peregrinus, F. cesalon, and F. tinnunmlus, of the 

 latter a very fine variety ; Mr. William Simmons : some finely preserved 

 larvae, also the following tortrices : — Dictyopteryx lorquiriana, Dicrorampa 

 sequana and plumhana, Eupcecilia notulana and rupicolana ; the secretary 

 the following very rare species : — JCylomiges conspicUlaris, Anarta mela- 

 nopa, Eupithecia togata, Cramhns ericellus and adipellus, Trachonitis 

 Pryerella, Phycis adornatella and Melissoblaptes cephalonica. The paper 

 on collecting in Sherwood Forest was not read by the secretary on account 

 of ill health ; it will be read at the January meeting. — Wm. Prest, 

 Hon. Sec. 



