i 5 8 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



At the March meeting of the Entomological Society of London, Mr. E. B. 

 Poulton, M.A., F.Z.S., read 'Further Notes upon Lepidopterous Larvae and 

 Pupae, including an account of the loss of weight in the freshly-formed pupa.' 

 He noted points in the ontogeny of Smerinthus larvae, and gave a description 

 and figure of the bifid and hairy caudal horn in the newly-hatched Smerinthus 

 popidi. The adult larva of Acherontia atropos was compared with that of Sphinx 

 ligustri, and the as yet unknown appearance of the former in earlier stages was 

 predicted. Hitherto unnoticed eye-like marks were pointed out in the terrifying 

 attitude of Chcerocampa elpenor, and the terrifying attitude of Dicranura vinula was 

 described, and its defensive fluid shown to be strong formic acid. An eversible 

 gland was described in Orgyia pudibnnda, and the protection of Acronycta 

 leporina was explained by its resemblance to a cocoon, and the darkening of its 

 hairs when full-fed. A valvular aperture in the cocoons of Chloephora prasinana, 

 &c, was described, enabling the imagos to emerge. There were also notes upon 

 Paniscus cephalotes parasitic on the larva of D. vinula, and tables showing the 

 immense loss of weight in newly-exposed lepidopterous pupae, due to evaporation 

 from the moist skin. 



Xx>< 



At the April meeting of the Entomological Society of London J. W. Ellis, 

 L.R.C.P., was elected Fellow of the Society. Dr. Sharp read a paper ' On some 

 proposed transfers of generic names,' calling attention to a practise advocated by 

 M. Des Gozis, which was apparently extending on the Continent, of transferring 

 the names of some of the commonest genera to other genera. The extreme con- 

 fusion caused by the practice was pointed out, and the author showed briefly that 

 the theory on which M. Des Gozis's system was based was as unsound as the 

 practice itself was objectionable. Considerable discussion followed, in which the 

 project was unanimously condemned. 



XxX 



The annual meeting of the Manchester Field Naturalists' and Archaeologists' 

 Society was held on the 29th January. The report stated that the customary 

 number of ordinary Saturday afternoon trips and summer evening walks had taken 

 place, the arrangements being attended with agreeable success. The soirees during 

 the year had also been successful. There are 188 members now on the books of 

 the Society. The election resulted as follows : — Mr. Leo H. Grindon, president 

 (re-elected); Messrs. John Angell, F.C.S., William Carr, David Fielden, and 

 John Plant, F.G.S., vice-presidents; Mr. Benjamin O'Connor, treasurer; botanical 

 referee, Mr. Grindon ; and secretary, Mr. Alfred Griffiths. 



xxx 



The sixth annual soiree of the Manchester Microscopical Society was held on 

 the 30th January and was largely attended. There was a large collection of 

 microscopes ; the exhibitors, Messrs. William Blackburn, R. Graham, E. J. Bles, 

 Henry Hyde, H. C. Chad wick, D. Alston, J. B. Pettigrew, G. Burgess, G. H. 

 Fitzbrown, M. Sykes, J. Fleming, John Eastwood, William Stanley, J. L. Fletcher, 

 J. Elliott, F. W. Lean, H. Astley, C. Numeaux, S. Hilton, A. Hay, W. Astley, 

 J. Duncan, E. C. Stirrup, E. W. Napper, and E. Ward. Mr. Ward contributed two 

 cases of collecting and mounting materials and apparatus. Prof. A. M. Marshall, 

 F.R.S., of Owens College, delivered an address on Seaside Animals. A vote of 

 thanks was passed to him. In reply, he said he had not been in Manchester many 

 years, but he had been here long enough to know that a closer bond might exist 

 between societies such as this and Owens College. All naturalists had only a 

 common object to work for, and he told the audience candidly that gentlemen in 

 his position had a great deal to learn from members of such associations. Members 

 took up individual groups of animals, and knew a great deal more about them than 

 he did himself, or, probably, ever hoped to know. Therefore they could be of 

 great use to professors, who in their turn could aid the members. Owens College 

 owed a debt to this neighbourhood, and if it in any way could assist in promoting 

 the efficiency and aid the work of Manchester societies, he was quite sure it would 

 do so. 



Naturalist, 



