7 
about 1886, by Mr. Bedford Pim and the Rev. Theodore Wood, at 
Pegwell Bay. Also taken by Mr. Heasler, at Deal, in 1890 ; and by 
Mr. Cripps, at the Norfolk Broads. The insect is nearly always of a dark 
violet or black colour, and occurs on Phragmites , etc., in June and July. 
D. affinis , Kunze.—The last of the genus. A much smaller insect 
than the preceding, and on this account readily distinguished from D. 
broccota . It occurs at Walthamstow, among Spargcuiium , on the large 
ponds in that locality. Also taken at Wimbledon by Mr. Newbery • by 
Mr. A. Piffard, Herts. 
January 1st, 1891.—Mr. Tutt exhibited a box of Lepidoptera received 
from Mr. W. Reid of Pitcaple, including a fine series of dark forms of 
Agrotis pyrophila ; a very variable selection of Triphcena o?'bona , the 
fore-wings of which varied from light drab, through red brown, to almost 
black; Melitcea artemis , several fine vars.; a series of Melanippe 
fluciuata var. neapolisata; Fidonia piniaria , and Abraxas grossulariata, 
the males of which had a tendency to be very dark, while the females 
were comparatively pale. Mr. J. A, Clark exhibited a very variable 
series of Dianthcecia co?ispersa from Lewis. Mr. Heasler exhibited 
Dromius meridianus , D. quadrimaculatus and D. quadrinotatus , all of 
which he had taken during the Christmas holidays, also for comparison 
several other species of the same genus. 
January 15//2, 1891.—Exhibits:—Dr. Buckell, a butterfly from India, 
with the undersides of wings marked like a dead leaf. Mr. Tutt, long 
series of intermediate forms of Miana strigilis and M. fasciuncula , and 
remarked on the impossibility of separating these specimens into two 
species, as there were no structural differences wherewith to distinguish 
them. In reference to the larvae, he said that he had lately seen four 
descriptions, all of which were totally different, thus proving that the 
larvae were very imperfectly known. Mr. Simes exhibited a specimen 
of D. galii, taken at Clapton, 12th August, 1890. Mr. Clark, a pinkish 
variety of Aplecta occulta , bred; also Pogonocherus hispidus , Rhizotrogus 
solstitialis , Necrophorus mortuorum , and Blaps similis. Mr. Heasler, a 
series of Coccinella variabilis. The Secretary read a paper by Mr. R. 
Gillo, of Bath, on the “ Colours of Animals.” He stated that the 
present coloration of animals had been brought about by “ natural 
selection ” and the survival of the fittest, which tended to produce an 
effect advantageous to the animal. He divided the subject into eight 
parts, as follows :— 
1. Protective colouring. —A very large number of animals have ac¬ 
quired a colour which harmonizes with their surroundings. In order to 
see this, we must study them in a state of nature, eg. —the stripes of the 
tiger accord with the rank grass of the country which it inhabits ; polar 
animals are white, and animals frequenting deserts are uniformly sand- 
coloured. 2. Variability of colour. —Animals which occur in different 
localities vary to suit their surroundings. Further, some animals, espe¬ 
cially reptiles and fishes, have the power of changing colour when 
removed from light to dark places, or vice versa. Larvae of Amphidasys 
betularia, reared amid green leaves and shoots, are green; while those 
fed among twigs assume the brown colour, with the exception of about 
2 per cent., which are green. 3. Warning colouring. —Brilliantly- 
