On referring to figures of this species drawn in 1861 and 1865, the 
same characters are apparent, though two of them found under com¬ 
mon ash varied much in colour, one being a grey variety and the other 
a brighter and more distinctly marked example than any of those on 
wych-elm ” ( Ent. Mo. Mag., iv., p. 180). The larva is also recorded 
from flowers of ash, at Box Hill, by Mr. Machin ; on green seeds of 
wych-elm, at Llanelly, by Miss Perkins. It is very generally dis¬ 
tributed in England and Wales, and is stated by Birchall to be “ com¬ 
mon everywhere ” in Ireland. In Scotland, it appears also to be 
generally distributed, although I have Scotch specimens only from 
Aberdeenshire. Staudinger gives as its range :—“ Central Europe ; 
Sweden and S. Finland ; Piedmont and S. Russia.” 
Mr. Bloomfield stated that he had bred two specimens of X. anrago , 
from larvge taken on maple in Suffolk. A further discussion followed, 
and a vote of thanks to Mr. Tutt for his paper was passed. 
Tuesday, 21 st February, 1893.—Exhibits :—Dr. Buckell, a series of 
Coremia unidentaria, bred from a black-banded female; the males being 
all black-banded, and the only female, red-banded. Mr. Prout, red 
varieties of the same species, bred from a typical female from Sandown. 
Mr. Robson, Zygcena filipendulce, with five spots on the fore wings, also 
two specimens of the var. cerinus ; and a female of Arctia mendica, with 
cream-coloured anterior wings. Mr. Nicholson, an asymmetrical speci¬ 
men of Catocala sponsa, from the New Forest. Mr. Bellamy, Luperina 
cespitis, taken on lamps at Winchmore Hill. Mr. Bacot, bred series of 
Sphinx ligustri, from Folkestone and Hadleigh. Mr. Hollis, variable 
series of Hybernia defoliaria, from Highgate. Mr. Machin, a British 
specimen of Sphinx pinastri, and melanic forms of Boarmia abietaria, 
bred from Box Hill larvse. The following were among the exhibits of 
melanic lepidoptera:—Mr. Hodges, a number of species, including 
Stauropus fagi, Agriopis apnlina, Caradrina cubicularis and Melanthia 
rubiginata. Mr. Smith, dark females of Argynnis aglaia, from Blandford. 
Mr. Simes, black vars. of Noctua xanthographa and Agrotis nigricans, 
from Aberdeen, and a dark underside of Chortobius pamphilus, from 
Epping. Mr. Riches, dark forms of Hemerophila abruptaria. Mr* 
Battley, Cuspidia psi, Aplecta nebulosa, Hybernia progemmaria, &c., from 
the London district. Mr. Clark, a black specimen of Limenitis sibylla, 
and suffused forms of Polyommatus phlceas and Venilia maculata. Mr. 
Tutt, dark and light forms of Xylophasia polyodon, Gnoplios obscurata, 
and Tephrosia biundidaria. Dr. Sequeira, Boarmia repandata, Hemero¬ 
phila abruptaria, and Polia chi var. olivacea. Coleoptera. Mr. Heasler, 
Quedius scitus, Opilus mollis, and Gis nitidus, all from Richmond. Mr. 
Bellamy, stuffed specimens of the Fieldfare and Green Woodpecker. 
Mr. Robson then read his paper entitled “ Is Melanism in Lepidoptera 
caused by Moisture ? ” in which he briefly reviewed the different notes 
which had appeared, written on the subject, and criticised at length 
some of the views dealt with in Mr. Tutt’s Melanism and Melanochroism 
in British Lepidoptera, finally answering the question in the negative, 
and expressing his opinion that melanism was due to deficient sunlight. 
Mr. Tutt, in proposing a vote of thanks, criticised the paper at length, 
and ridiculed the position assigned by Mr. Robson to Mr. Birchall’s 
paper. He complained that Mr. Robson had simply brought to 
light a second-hand theory of Lord Walsingham’s, and had given 
no data to support his conclusion. Not only had Mr. Robson given 
