30 
gemmarta, including var. fuscata, also an asymmetrical form of Arclia 
caia. Mr. Clark, Brephos parthenias and Amphidasys prodromaria 
from Epping Forest. Mr. Battley, ova, young larvae and cocoon of 
Leucoma salicis. Mr. Simes, a life-history of L. salicis and a variable 
series of Hybernia leucophctaria. Mr. Smith, a series of Selenia 
bilunaria , showing considerable difference between the spring and 
summer forms. Mr. Gurney, a series of Lithosia quadra from the 
New Forest. Dr. Sequeira, a case of Rhopalocera from Central Africa. 
He remarked that several of these specimens much resembled British 
species, one in particular being almost identical in markings with 
Polyommatus phlceas , but having tails to the hind wings. Mr. Milton, 
Asthena blomeri from Clevedon. The exhibits in Coleoptera were as 
follows :— Lina longicollis and Grammoptera ruficornis by Mr. Milton. 
Mr. Heasler exhibited Chilocorus similis, Bythinus curtisi and Agathi- 
dium varians. 
Mr. Battley then read his paper on the <£ Life-history of Leucoma 
salicis ,” stating that the ova were deposited from the 12th to the 15th 
of July, 1890, in large clusters, and enveloped in a tough substance, 
having the appearance of froth. They were globular in shape, and at 
first bright green in colour, changing to lead colour before hatching, 
which took place on 27th July. The young larvae, leaden black in 
colour, with a rusty tinge on the back, fed in a state of nature on 
various species of poplar {Populus fastigiata , nigra, balsamifera and 
tremula ) and willow {Salix alba and fragilis). They began to stop 
feeding at the beginning of August, and having cast one skin, retired 
for hybernation at the end of the month. They then formed whitish 
cocoons, of a firm but transparent texture, under the bark of their 
foodplants. At the end of April, 1891, they began to feed again, and 
soon cast their second skin, the third and fourth being shed about 
20th May and 8th June. They now assumed their full-fed markings, 
the colours, however, being not quite so bright. About 19th June 
they cast their skin for the fifth and last time, and were full-fed by 
the end of June. Newman says that it “ spins a web on the trunks 
of the poplar, or on the ground,” but Mr. Battley stated that he had 
always found them spin up among the living leaves. 1 The pupa is 
black, thickly covered with yellow hairs. The imagines emerge from 
the middle to the end of July, and are very common in most parts of 
the Lea valley in the neighbourhood of their foodplants, the males 
coming to gas lamps about midnight. 
In the discussion that followed, Mr. Mera stated that the time of 
flight was about midnight, but he had occasionally seen it on the 
wing at dusk. 2 Mr. Burrows stated that he had found cocoons of 
this species formed upon the trunks of trees, but thought that the 
larvae were compelled to spin in this way, as they had almost de¬ 
foliated the trees. Mr. Simes called attention to the peculiar yellow 
blood of the species, and the glands of the thorax. A vote of thanks 
was then accorded to Mr. Battley for his paper. Mr. Riches stated 
that he had seen a freshly-emerged specimen of Spilosoma menthastri. 
Mr. Southey stated that he was breeding Biston hirtaria from pupae 
1 The larva always spins up in this way at Deal, where the moth is 
abundant.—J. W. Tutt, 
2 The moth flies freely at dusk at Deal. It appears to remain on the wing until 
late.—J. W. Tutt. 
