24 
THE entomologist’s RECORD. 
In the discussion on Mr. Fenn’s exJiibit, Mr. Tugwell mentioned that 
in his own experience he did not find that, as a rule, the brood followed 
the particular form of the parent $ ; this was opposed by Messrs. South 
and Fenn, whose experience pointed to a contrary conclusion. Mr. R. 
South then referred to the recent exhibition by Mr. A. Robinson of a 
remarkable variety ascribed to the species Clostera curtula^ and spoke 
of an analogous variety of C. reclusa^ recorded by Mr. Whittick in vol. 
vii. of the Ento 7 ?iologist, and partly described. A figure is also given 
by Stevens of a similar variety in vol. ii., but this in vol. iv. he con- 
siders as a distinct species. The remainder of the evening was devoted 
to a microscopical exhibition, but owing to the reason mentioned 
above, only a few were in evidence ; these belonged to Messrs. Adkin, 
Billups, Dennis and Turner. — A. J. Hodges. 
April ()th, 1891. — Mr. South exhibited three vars. of Miana strigilis, 
one being of a distinct reddish colour; Mr. Adkin, Scotch specimens 
of PcEdisca sordidana from Scotland, fed on alder ; Mr. Cockerell read 
a note on Variation, and suggested that normal conditions would tend 
to produce what we consider ordinary tendencies, but that abnormal 
conditions would tend to develop some latent tendency, and hence there 
would be a general tendency to vary under abnormal conditions. He 
referred to Fieris rupee in America, and a series of pale varieties of 
Tceniocampa instabilis recently exhibited by Mr. Fenn. Mr. Fenn said 
that a large proportion of his instabilis tended to follow the 2 parent, 
and he was more inclined to suppose the result due to heredity than 
any condition of temperature. He also remarked how completely it over- 
threw Mr. Merrifield’s suggestion that exposure to great cold, just before 
emergence, tended to produce dark coloration, as these were exposed to 
very extreme cold. Mr. Tutt considered that Mr. Merrifield’s varieties 
were not produced by temperature, but were the result of heredity and 
probably disease due to interbreeding. Mr. H. Moore exhibited two 
specimens of Heterocera-Lep. — Caligo memnon — from S America. 
Mr. Edwards then read a paper on “ Papilionidse.” The anatomical 
structure was first of all pointed out by reference to diagrams, and the 
different genera were then dealt with seriatim. Parnassius consisted of 
species inhabiting mountains up to 15,000 feet. The 2 ’sof these when 
freshly emerged had no chitinous pouch at extremity of abdomen, but 
after copulation, if sufficiently prolonged, a pouch was found. The pupae 
were enclosed in a slight web. Thais, a genus inhabiting the Medi- 
terranean littoral also had the pupa enclosed by a few silken threads. 
Plates showing the neuration of these were then exhibited. In the 
genus Leptocircus reference was made to certain species mimicking the 
neuropterous genus Libellula. In connection with the true Papilionidae, 
the sexual dimorphism of Ornithoptera was pointed out, the 2 ’s being 
larger, the J^’s more brightly coloured. O. brookiana was referred to as 
the connecting link between Ornithoptera and Papilio. The fleshy, 
retractile scent-organ of the larvae of Papilio was then mentioned, and 
the sub-division of Papilio by various authors. The mimicking power 
of certain species of Papilio w^as noticed — Danais being one of the 
genera mimicked, d'he powerful flight of some species, and the fact 
that they had been seen at some distance from land w^as remarked. 
The paper was illustrated by Mr. Edwards’ very extensive collection 
of this group. A vote of thanks to Mr. Edwards brought the meeting 
to a close. — E d. 
