216 
THE entomologist’s record. 
autumn and winter until the following May, when it makes a cell 
rather than a cocoon just under the surface of the earth, in which it 
changes to a pupa,” and that Merrin says that the pupa is found in 
May and June “spun up in a leaf or an earthen cocoon attached to 
the foodplant” On the other hand, he had noticed that the larvje 
were full-fed about the end of November, when they bury, and spin 
distinct earthen cocoons, in which they remain as larvae till the end of 
the following May, when they change to pupae. It was therefore 
important to leave the cocoons in damp earth all the winter, or the 
larvae would dry up. Several members confirmed these statements, 
Mr. Battley saying that if the larvae were brought into a greenhouse 
about January they would pupate at once, and emerge in March or 
April. Mr. Bayne exhibited a series of Odonestis potatoria bred from 
Aylesbury larvae, also a yellow male of the same species from 
Epping Forest, and Cosmia affinis, Mia7ia literosa, Cerigo cytherea, 
Pliisia iota, F. v-aureum, Habrostola triplasia, H. urticcB, etc., from 
the same district. Mr. Smith, Catocala nupta and Ypsipeies elutata 
(sordidata) from Epping Forest. Mr. Milton, Halias quercana bred 
from Epping larvae; also the following Coleoptera : — Dytiscus 7 ?iargi 
7ialis, D. circu77iflexus, Cetonia aurata, and PhiloTithus sple7ide7is. He 
also exhibited specimens of a wasp, and remarked that the cyanide had 
changed the yellow bands and legs to red. Other exhibits in Coleop- 
tera were made by Mr. Bayne, who brought a specimen of Prionns 
corarius from Loughton ; and Mr. Clark, who showed Sphodrus 
leucopthal77ius, Necrophorus ruspator, Toxotus 77ieridia7ius and Nascerdes 
77iela7iura from Folkestone. Mr. Clark stated that he liad seen a 
specimen of Sphinx co7nwlvuli which was taken a few days ago at 
Southend. Mr. Battley had found the larvae of Phorodes7na S7narag- 
daria fairly plentiful at Benfleet, and imagines of Lyccena ado7iis, L. 
corydon, Acidalia or7iata, Aspilates gilvaria, and several other chalk 
species near Reigate. Mr. Smith had beaten three larvae of Stauropiis 
fagi in Epping Forest, and several others were recorded from the same 
locality. — G. A. Levvcock and A. U. Battley, Hon. Secs. 
Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — Septe77ibe7- 
i^th. — Mr. C. H. H. Walker read a paper on “ Nerves and Nervous 
Systems,” describing the general structure of the nervous system of a 
typical insect and comparing it with that of a spider, pointing out 
the close affinity, which differs only when the economy of the subject 
renders it necessary. The paper was illustrated with carefully executed 
blackboard drawings. Among the numerous exhibits the president 
showed specimens of the new Tortrix donelana from Galway ; Mr. 
Walker, curious varieties of Vanessa antiopa which he had bred from 
Canada, the black subterminal band and the blue spots being quite 
absent and the yellow border very wide ; Mr. Melville, a fine specimen 
of Choi7'oca77ipa 7ierii, captured at Prestwich in 1846; Mr. Newstead, 
several cases of life-histories including the full history of 
which he stated had been very common this year ; Mr. Prince, a fine 
variety of Arctia caja, bred by him this year, the forewings of which 
were almost entirely brown and the black spots on the hind wings 
formed a thick dark marginal band ; Mr. Gregson, a series of Lithosia 
sericea taken this season ; Mr. Harker, Dia7ithecia barrettii irom Howth, 
— F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec., 143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. 
