80 



The Naturalist. 



hermaphrodite specimen of the fox moth, Bomhtjx ruhi. — J. W. Ellis, 

 Hon. Sec. 



Poet Elizabeth Naturalists' Society. — The meeting of this society, 

 on October 19th, was one of unusual importance, the subject of discus- 

 sion — viz., "Injurious Insects " — being of vital interest to agriculturalists 

 and commercial men. Mr. Russell Hallack, president, occupied the 

 chair. Mr. S. D. Bairstow, F.L.S., introduced the question, briefly 

 alluding to the ravages of insect pests. Scientific research has failed 

 hitherto in elucidating the causes which operate in producing the vast 

 swarms of destructive insects at certain periods. Gregarious locusts, 

 living peaceably together, by some curious and inexplicable communica- 

 tion of purpose, suddenly take wing and fly towards distant parts in 

 countless myriads. Butterflies, beetles, flies, &c., of great rarity one 

 season, appear in swarms during the succeeding. How may these facts 

 be explained 1 By scientific and practical observation. The first is 

 desirable, the latter essential. Thus, farmers and horticulturalists who 

 are constantly working amongst their crops, are the proper persons to 

 discover cause by recording effect. Much difficulty is encountered in 

 this country through the utter absence of popular books or magazines. 

 We have no gardener's chronicle, agriculturalist's guide, no text-books or 

 useful monthlies, and few, if any, of our press publications devote columns 

 to the furtherance of Natural History observations. The naturalists 

 petition '"'outside aid." They require notes and specimens, and will 

 undertake for their part to accumulate observations and suggested 

 remedies, forwarding all correspondence to a proper centre for purposes 

 of determination. A most valuable and interesting letter was read by 

 the secretary from MissE. A. Ormerod, F.M S., the well-known farmer's 

 friend, and several pamphlets were distributed amongst the members. 

 Mr. Bairstow also exhibited a pen-and-ink sketch illustrating the life- 

 history of our conmion fig-moth, with comments thereon, as an example 

 of personal observation. — [Communicated by S. D. Bairstow, F.L.S., 

 late of Huddersfield.] 



RiPON Naturalists' Club. — A very pleasant evening, under Mr. E. A. 

 Ebd ell's presidency, was spent, and a number of exhibits were handed 

 round for inspection, including — Mr. Lickley, prehistoric chisel of rein- 

 deer horn, found 1878 in Stammergate, 14 feet below the surface, three 

 antique keys found near the Minster, blade of old dagger found near 

 Quarry Moor, three coins and fossil from Whitby lias ; Mr. T. Pratt, 

 M.R.C.Y.S., Eozoon canaclense from Laurentian limestone, Montrose ; 

 Mr. D. W. Moss, several fossils from magnesian limestone of Wormald 

 Green ; Mr. G. Malthouse, cowslips, primroses, and violets in flower. 

 Mr. J. Waite reported capture of the following moths this month : — 

 P. populi, E. tiliaria, H. pennaria, H. aurcmtiaria, H. defoliaria, 0. 

 jiligrammaria, G. Jlavago, H. micacea, N. C-nigrum, &c. The swallow 

 was seen the third week in October, and the house martin the fourth 

 week, at Borrage. 



