4 
all the eggs were deposited, the remainder being, therefore, unfertilized. 
He suggested that this was probably a parallel case to those mentioned 
by Mr. Milton and others. 
Thursday , 21 st January, 1892.—Exhibits:—Mr. Southey, a variable 
series of Apamea gemina from Hampstead. Mr. Smith, female 
specimens of Lyccena corydon , showing variation in the amount of blue 
coloration ; also Melanippe fluctuata from the Lake district, with the 
band much more complete than the southern forms. Mr. Quail, 
variable forms of Miana strigilis and M. furuncula , from the London 
district, Wicken, Margate, etc., one of the strigilis being the dark form, 
with a red central band (var. virgata). Mr. Battley, various species of 
Pterophori \ and a series of Diurn osa fagella from several localities, 
those from districts near the metropolis exhibiting the darkest ground 
colour. Mr. Simes, a male Bombyx neustria , with the two transverse 
lines confluent on one side. He called attention to a similar variety of 
Bombyx rubi exhibited at a meeting of the Society on 18th September, 
1890 (Enf. Rec., vol. i., p. 189). He also exhibited cocoons of this 
species containing two and three pupae respectively. Mr. Tutt, two 
cabinet drawers containing all, except four, of the British species of 
Pterophorina. Mr. Fox, three larvae feeding on tomato which had been 
imported from Teneriffe, where this fruit is extensively cultivated. 
These larvae seemed to possess affinities with Dianthoecia , and Mr. Tutt 
thought it probable that they might prove to be Prodenia littoralis , 
Bdv., a specimen of which was exhibited by Mr. Boden at the Society’s 
meeting on 15th October, 1891 ( Ent . Rec., vol. ii., p. 260). This insect 
is common in the Canary Isles, and on the north-west coast of Africa. 
Two of these larvae were pea-green, with three darker green longitudinal 
lines, those on the side being suffused with rusty red. The surface of 
the body was covered with whitish tubercles, studded with short hairs. 
Head, pea-green. The third specimen was similar in markings, but had 
the ground colour whitish green, and the tubercles black. Coleop- 
tera :—Mr. Heasler, a series of Rhizophagus perforatus. Mr. Milton, 
dark form of Strangalia armata , Helops coeruleus , Phalera cadaverina , 
and in Hemiptera, Calocoris sexguttatus. Mr. Tutt then read a paper 
on “ The Pterophorina.” 
The Pterophorina. —The Pterophorina, or “plumes” are now 
generally considered to be an aberrant group of the Pyralid^e, but so 
distinct are they in appearance and structure, that they will probably be 
always considered as a separate family. Their fragile appearance makes 
them look difficult to manipulate, and hence many collectors will not 
study them. This appearance is deceptive, and no group is easier to 
pin and set than the “plumes.” They should always be killed with 
ammonia, because of the importance of the legs being set, and ammonia 
leaves them very flaccid after death. The specimens are apt to verdigris, 
and so black pins should always be used. Most of the species are 
abundant where they occur, though very local; a few are very rare, but any 
active collector may get a large number of species during his first season, 
especially in the South of England. Under the Doubleday arrange¬ 
ment the family was divided into three genera— Agdistis , Pterophorus , 
and Alucita , the first and last genera containing only one British species 
each. Herr Wallengren first sub-divided the unwieldy genus Pterophorus 
