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The Na^turalist. ✓ 



sexual selection, be pointed out that although this theory threw much 

 light upon the subject, it also left much unexplained ; for instance, why 

 the colours and markings produced should be of a most refined type, or 

 why beauty should exist throughout nature. They had, therefore, to 

 look for something beyond ; and since man's intellect was capable of 

 appreciating, and to some extent, imitating this beauty, and since it was 

 highly improbable that it had been created solely for his gratification, 

 they were irresistibly led to the conclusion that it was the product of an 

 intellect alike in kind, but immeasurably grander than man's own. The 

 paper led to an animated and interesting discussion. Mr, F. M, Pierce 

 exhibited a specimen of Lahiditra gigantea, taken in his office, Tithebarn- 

 street, Liverpool ; and Mr, von Sobbe and Mr. Wilding some recently 

 captured and bred lepidoptera. 



Manchester Cryptogamic Society. — Monthly meeting, September. 

 Dr. Carrington presided, and reported some of the proceedings of the 

 Biological Section of the British Association during its late meeting at 

 Southport. The president also distributed a few specimens of the 

 characteristic mosses of Southport, which he had collected during his 

 visit. Mr. Wm. West, of Bradford, sent a number of mounted slides of 

 British marine and fresh-water algse for exhibition, and also a number of 

 beautifully executed tracings of figures of cryptogamic plants, which were 

 much admired for the skill and patience required for their delineation. 

 Mr. W. H. Pearson exhibited a new British moss, Tortula palndosa, 

 which had been sent by Mr. Davis, of Brighton. The specimen had 

 been collected by Mr. W. Mullen in the Clydach valley, Abergavenny, 

 in August last. Mr. Pearson also exhibited the rare British- hepatic, 

 Dumortiera irrigiia, collected in East Sussex by the Rev. E. N. Bloom- 

 field ; Mr. George Burgess, of Prestwich, exhibited a number of mosses 

 from the neighbourhood of Malham. — T. Rogers, Hon. Sec. 



York and District Field Naturalists' Society. — Meeting October 

 10th, Mr. G. C. Dennis in the chair, — The chairman exhibited the 

 following insects, taken by himself at Bishop's Wood, near Selby : — 

 Nonagria fulva, Teras caudana, a long series of Poedisca ophthalmicana 

 P. sordidana, and Pteroplioms trigonodactylus ; the hon, sec. (Mr. Brest) 

 a fine series of Sesia chrysidiformis, Tephrosia extensaria, Macaria notata, 

 Eupithecia satyrata, Cidaria silaceata, Psyche reticella, Anesychia funerella 

 and decemguUella, and the rare tortrix Ephippiphora nigricostana. Mr. 

 Wilkinson brought for exhibition a fine collection of well-mounted 

 specimens of rare plants, most of them collected by himself during the 

 present season : — Geranium sangidnenm, G. lucidum, collected at Mal- 

 ham ; G. rotundifolium from Somerset ; G. sylvaticum (Teesdale), G. 

 striatum (Scarborough), G. pratense, G. pusillum, G. molle, G. dissectum, 

 G. Rohertianum, G. cohimhinum, G. pyrenaicum, collected near York. 

 Mr. Prest, on behalf of his son, Mr. C. S. Prest, exhibited the jawbone 

 of the Indian shark, and the saw of a large sawfish, brought by him from 

 the East Indian coast. — W. Prest, Hon. Sec. 



