14 
Communications.— Mr. Pickett said that the eggs from the pairings 
of Smerinthus ocellatus and S. populi had proved to be infertile. 
Excursion.— Mr. Fuller said the annual excursion had been highly 
successful, with an attendance of 20, but lists of captures that he 
embodied in a report were not to hand yet. 
Discussion on the scarcity of butterflies in England.— Mr. 
Dadd compared England to its disparagement, in the number of species 
obtainable in one day, with the Continent. Individual species, he 
thought, were getting scarcer, naming Vanessa io as a case in point, 
and although Drgas paphia still swarmed in the New Forest, in his 
experience he did not find A. aglaia or A. adippe at all common, even 
Pararge egeria he thought was scarcer. Mr. Prout reminded the 
meeting of the scarcity of Pie ns brassicae about 1891, when fears were 
entertained of its becoming a rarity. Now again its numbers had fully 
recovered. Some allusion was also made to the few specimens seen in 
the autumn of butterflies which hybernated, e.g., Gonepteryx rhamni, 
compared with the numbers seen Hying in the spring, and it was thought 
that many do not fly at all in the autumn but go at once into 
hybernation. 
July 17th, 1900. —Lepidoptera from Woodford.— Mr. C. Oldham 
exhibited the following, all from his garden at Woodford, Essex. Plnsia 
gamma of a fine red form, Habrostola triplasia, Mamestra trifolii, 
Dianthoecia cucubali and Oligia bicoloria. 
Abraxas grossulariata aberration.-— Mr. Pickett, a series of bred 
A. grossulariata showing much variation. These included a specimen 
in which all the usual yellow markings were replaced by black, a pale 
specimen with the black markings almost grey, and the yellow almost 
indistinguishable, and yet another finely powdered all over with minute 
black dots. 
Donations.— The Librarian acknowledged the receipt of the May 
and June parts of the Entomological News. 
Larva of Abraxas grossulariata in J uly.— Mr. Pickett mentioned 
that he had beaten larvae of A. grossulariata at Oxshott as late as 
July 14 th. 
Aug. 7th, 1900. —Coleoptera.— Dr. Chapman exhibited living 
specimens of Coleoptera taken in Switzerland, belonging to the genus 
Crina. 
Lymantria monacha, etc.— Mr. Pickett, a series of L. monacha, 
comprising light, dark and intermediate forms, also a series of Plebeius 
aegon taken on July 14th, at Oxshott. 
MelitjEa cinxia.— Mr. Riches, a series of M. cinxia bred from larvae 
taken by Mr. Prout in the Isle of Wight. Mr. Riches mentioned 
that he had bred eighteen specimens from nineteen pupae. 
Death of a member.— Mr. Riches referred to the death of Mr. W. 
G. Pearce, of which the Society had received no notification. 
Aug. 21st, 1900.— Abraxas grossulariata aberration.— Mr. Clark 
exhibited several vars. of Abraxas grossulariata, including a specimen 
with upperwings from base to usual yellow band entirely black. 
Food-plants of Phorodesma smaragdaria.— Mr. A. W. Mera read 
some notes on behalf of Mr. Burrows with reference to the food-plants 
