12 
bistortata eggs, as apart from those of T. crepuscularia. In colour, the 
cross fertilisation seems to have had some effect, for the eggs were, 
under a good power, certainly yellower than the other batch of T. 
bistortata eggs. This may, however, have been due to a slight 
difference in age. The lateral depression of this batch of eggs was 
puzzling, but, after a number of eggs had been repeatedly examined, it 
was found that it was placed well up towards the micropylar area, but 
was somewhat obscured by the depressions described as being character¬ 
istic of T. bistortata, being often placed in close proximity therewith. 
These eggs, like those of many other species that are laid in crannies, etc., 
e.y., Orrhodia, etc., appear to be capable of much modification in shape 
by pressure, the moth pushing the egg into a cranny, and the soft egg 
being affected, more or less, by the pressure, and becoming somewhat 
similar in shape to the cranny into which it is pushed. It is very 
probable that the eggs of these two species have never before been 
examined side by side under the microscope, owing to the different 
dates at which the insects usually appear. The chance of doing so 
now is due to Mr. A. Bacot, who, by forcing the pupae of T. crepuscu¬ 
laria, brought out the imagines at the same time that those of T. bis¬ 
tortata were appearing in the breeding cages. By this means also he 
obtained pairings between ? T. bistortata and $ T. crepuscularia, 
although it appeared that they would not cross the other way. This 
is, of course, exactly parallel with Dr. T. A. Chapman’s experiment, 
when he forced A. betulana to appear in March, obtained pairings 
between that species and A. strataria, and not only obtained fertile 
ova, but bred the hybrid imagines. Rare species. —Mr. Tutt exhibited a 
series of Cedestis yysselinella, Dup., captured by Lord Walsingham and 
Mr. Durrant at Merton on July 4th, 1890; specimens of Steyanop- 
tycha pyymaeana, Hb., captured by Mr. Durrant, also at Merton, on 
April 19th, 1896. Also a specimen of Carratemna terebrella, Zk., bred 
by Mr. Durrant on July 18th, 1896, from Cephalonica, at Merton. 
Local Coleoptera.— Mr. Heasler exhibited his collection of Club¬ 
horned Coleoptera, the latest additions being Myrvmtis piceus, taken in 
a nest of Formica rufa, in the New Forest, and Rhizophayus ferruyineus, 
captured in Richmond Park, under bark. European Lyc,enid;E. —Mr. 
Dadd: Lycienidie from Europe, including Chrysophanusviryaurea,kippu- 
thoe, and dorilis, Everes aryiades, Polyornrnatus darnon, Lycaenaarion,jolas, 
Nomiades cyllarus, and N. semiaryus. Experiment in breeding Arctia 
caia. —Mr. Bate detailed an “ Experiment in breeding Arctia caia.” He 
had begged some larvie off Mr. Geo. Shields last August, the imagines of 
Which he exhibited. They had been fed on lettuce, and all had more 
or less yellow hind-wings. The continuing generation, which formed 
the subject of the paper, was fed on deadnetble. Mr. Bate proceeded : 
“ As my insects emerged, one after another, throughout the first three 
weeks of September, I made desperate attempts to get them to pair, 
which they are none too ready to do in captivity. The Fates at first 
seemed to be against me. There were several days difference between 
the dates of emergence of the sexes, and I continually had to try and 
pair a three or four days’ old male with a fresh female, or rice rasa. 
I kept them all till they died, but either they laid no eggs at all, or 
infertile ones, until, on September 20th, a pair emerged within a few 
hours of one another, and, although in this case, as in all the others, 
I was unsuccessful in observing the act of pairing, on the 22nd I 
