9 
-February 18th, 1896.—Exhibits :—Mr. May : Part of a series 
of Pendroma saucia, bred from Sandown ova, between November 22nd 
and December 12th, 1895. The larvae were fed on cabbage, marigold, 
and slices of carrot and potato, and the moths emerged either at dusk 
or about 11 p.m., the expansion of the wings being very rapid after it 
had once begun. One of the specimens was abnormally straight along 
the costa, and the tips of the fore-wings were unusually pointed. Mr. 
Bacot exhibited a long series of this species, and read the following 
Notes on breeding Agrotis (Peridrojia) saucia:— !< I exhibit 147 
specimens out of 250 examples bred. The ova were laid by a dark 
red female, captured at Sandown last August. Although there is con¬ 
siderable variation in minor details and shades of colour, the brood as 
a whole follows the 5 parent closely, and the specimens, with one or 
two exceptions, would not be called variable if compared with a 
captured series. A few pale grey forms emerged, one of which is 
almost as light as Acronycta aceris. The ? s lay an immense quantity 
of eggs ; I estimated the number at from 1500 to 2000. The larvae 
are very hardy, and easily forced if kept in a warm room. Very 
few, if any, of mine died, and they will eat almost anything, either 
leaves or roots, carrot, turnip, potato, or cabbage-stalk being eagerly 
devoured.” Mr. J. A. Clark: living bred females of Plriyalia pedaria 
and Nyssia hispid aria. The Secretary read the following note from Mr. 
J. B. Bosevear : —- “ Vanessa urtigve at the Watch-night Service.” 
—“One of the midnight worshippers at the watch-night service in 
Fulham Congregational Church, on December 31st, 1895, was the 
well-known Aylais (Vanessa ) urticae. For some time I observed this 
beautiful creature flitting from pew to pew, and it was with considerable 
difficulty I could content myself with sitting still. A strong desire to 
rush out and capture it was only kept in check by the knowledge that 
I was in the House of God, and that if I had done so the congregation 
would think I was a fit subject for Colney Hatch. However, I 
watched it, and presently the strong gas lights attracted it towards 
them, and it at last rushed madly at them, and fell a victim to their 
burning influence. It fell wounded and dying to the ground, and 
eventually was secured by me. It is a fully developed specimen, but, of 
course, minus antennae, legs, and portions of its wings. I think it worthy 
of a place in my cabinet, notwithstanding.” Messrs. J. A. Clark and 
Tutt referred to other instances of the occurrence of this species in 
London during the present winter. Mr. C. Nicholson read a paper on 
“The Planet Mars.” 
March 3rd, 1896.—Exhibits:—Mr. Frost: two specimens of Cymato- 
phova ocularis, taken in 1893; he had not seen the species in the same 
locality since. Mr. Tutt said the most likely way to obtain this in¬ 
sect was to search for the pupae in the angles at the roots of poplars, 
wherever the species was known to occur. Mr. J. A. Clark : a short 
series of Nyssia hispidaria, bred between February 17th and 22nd, from 
New Forest larvae ; all the specimens were more or less light in colora¬ 
tion. Mr. Pearse: an absolutely black male of tbe same species, 
which he had taken at Epping Forest with 11 others; one of these 
was a black female, the rest being normal. Mr. Sauze: a specimen of 
Melanippe rivata from Deal, having the broad white fascia on the 
