' 7 6 ■ TRANSACTIONS OF THE CITY OF LONDON ral Histom society FOR THE YEAR 1899. V' >.. s ^ -/V * i V 1 / PUBLISHED BY THE CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, THE LONDON INSTITUTION, FINSBURY CIRCUS, E.C. CITY OF LONDON Entomological & Natural history SOCIETY. ESTABLISHED 1858. MEETINGS HELD AT ,0ND0N INST FINSBURY CIRCUS, E.C., On the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in each month. Council for the Year 1900. President.. L. B. PUOUT, f,k.s. Vice-Presidents ( J t FREDERICK .7. HANBUllY, f.i,.s., f.e.s., J. A. CLARK, f.e.s., m.p.s. J. W. TUT f.e.s. T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., f.z.s., f.e.s. T rustees / ‘ ' l JAMES SCOTT SEQUEIRA. m.r.c.s. T. HUCKETT. Treasurer 1 " l C. NICHOLSON, f.e.s., 202, Evering Road, London, N. Librarians 1 t H. A. FULLER. F. B. JENNINGS, F.E.S. Curators . . f H. HEASLER. W. ILSTON COX. ( W. J. KAYE, f.e.s., Worcester Court, Worcester Park, Surrey. J. BELL, 17, Wiltshire lload, Brixton, S.W. ANI) A. BACOT, E. M. DADD, E. HEASLER, H. H. MAY, H. A. SAUZE. Hon. Secretaries TRANSACTIONS OF THE City of London Entomological Natural History Society, PART IX. (1898-9.) REPORTS OF MEETINGS. THE SOCIETY’S ROOMS, LONDON INSTITUTION, FINSBURY CIRCUS, E.C. 1900. REPORTS OF MEETINGS. Dec. 20th, 1898. — Pocket box exhibition. — Mr. J. A. Clark exhibited Miana areuosa from Abbott’s Wood, Cardbus nitens from the New Forest, and Astynomus aedilis from Scotland. Mr. E. M. Dadd bred specimens of Deilephila yalii, Catocala nupta, C. electa and C. rloeata, also captured specimens of Anthrocera trifolii of the palustris form from Sandown, Isle of Wight. Mr. J. W. Tutt, for Mr. Harwood, eight specimens of Anthrocera filipemlulae of the intermediate forms between the type and the var. tiara. Mr. Donisthorpe a coleopterous monstrosity of Pterostichus y radii* which had three distinct tarsi on the right hind leg. The specimen was taken in Dorsetshire. Sandown insects. — Mr. H. H. May, two Triphaena orbona (subsequa), seven aberrations of Ayrotis e.eclamationis in which the orbicular and reniform stigmata were joined with varying amount of suffusion. In one the two spots were distinct but very small ; also specimens of I'rochilium erabroni forme from larvae raised on poplar trunks instead of the usual osier twigs. Sandown Agrotids, etc. — Mr. S. J. Bell, good series of Ayrotis eortieea and A. Inniyera , together with Macroylossa stellatarnin, eggs of the latter being found on (lalium rerum. Dasycampa rubiginea. — Dr. T. A. Chapman bred specimens of this species from Devonshire, Germany and Carinthia for comparison. Enodia hyperanthus. — Cumberland specimens shown by Mr. A. E. Bayne. The undersides were unusually pale. Noctua augur bred. — Mr. J. Riches, two specimens reared from Hampstead Heath lame. Camptogramma bilineata vars., etc. — Dr. J. S. Sequeira exhibited a long and varied series of < '. bilineata from the New Forest, which included some tine dark banded forms. Mr. A. W. Mera showed several SpHomna lubrieipeda var. radiata. Mr. C. Oldham, series of Hydroeeia nietitans and Ayrotis puta taken at sugar in Epping Forest, also a 5 specimen of I'nlyommatus ieai us of a drab colour from Folke¬ stone in October. Exotic Lepidoptera. — Mr. A. Bacot, on behalf of Mr. A. Quail, specimens from Ceylon, of Jnnonia laomedia, Aeraea riolae , Ypthima ceylonicus, Catopsilia pyranthe, Terias suara and If ceres juirrhasius, and from Australia / leteronyinpha merupe. Melanippe aberrations. — Mr. L. B. Prout, a drawer of Melanippes with many aberrations ; a variable series of Leueania albipuncta from Sandown, /,. putrexcens from Torquay, and two L. ritellina from Sandown. Several forms of Gnophox obseuraria including a sandy variety from Torquay. Hydrilla palustris and other Lepidoptera. — Mr. Hodges sent for exhibition two Pachetra leueophaea, four Hydrilla palustris from A\ icken, Camptoyramma jluriata , Leueania ritellina and l.aplryyina r.eiyua from S. Devon, and a. dark Leueania albipuncta from Isle of Might. Mr. Christy forwarded for exhibition a series of Oporabia autumnata from Rannoch. 3 Hemiptera-Hetekoptera. — Mr. F. B. Jennings exhibited Xepa cinerea, Aphanits gini found under ling in Epping Forest, Eys arcoris nielanocephalns from Chiddingfold, Pyrrocuris apterus from Oreston Rock, Devon, per Mr. G. C. Bignell, also Gonocerus Venator from Box Hill, the only known British locality. Exotic Lepidoptera. — Mr. A. Iieyne, a visitor, exhibited a large number of exotic and continental lepidoptera, including: Apatova ilia ah. assasioides, 1 dnessa in abs. fin cheri, antiyone, and bellisavia, Aylais urticae abs. ichnusoides and niyrita, Pyrame is atalanta ab. klymeni, Eui/onia polychloros ab. testudo. Lophopteryx sieve vs i from Dorpat, Russia. Aphnaeus hutchinsoiiii from Natal. Smeriuthns austauti and N. atlantieii. s from Algeria. Mr. H. 8. Woolley, cases of American lepidoptera, including Junonia coenia, Aglais milberti, the American representative of urticae, Amphion ness as, Thyveus abbottii, I Lyperchiria in, and many species of Catocala, including cava, vidua, ilia, obscura, and antinympha. Jan. 3rd, 1899.— Mr. W. J. Kaye, F.E.S., of Worcester Court, Worcester Park, Surrey, was elected a member. Catocala elocata. — Dr. J. S. Sequeira, a specimen of ('. elocata which had been recognised by Mr. E. M. Dadd, in Dr. Sequeira’s series of British C. nugta. The Doctor said he had no doubt that the specimen was set by himself, and that the insect was taken unawares in these Islands. This would be the first record of the species in Britain. Coleoptera from Epping Forest. — -Mr. F. B. Jennings exhibited three Anehomenus anyusticnllis ( junceus ) from Epping Forest, which had been found hybernating. The beetle was new to the district. North American Lepidoptera. — Mr. TI. S. Woolley showed three drawers of Rhopalocera taken in the neighbourhood of New York including, Papilio moans, /’. troilus, /’. astevias, P. ajax and P. philenov all in series. Satyrus alopr and var. nephele, Xeonympha cauthns, X. curythvns, Idinenitis artlwmis, Eiidamits tityvus, Polyyonia intrrroyationis, with its var. nmbrosa, Theda crysalus, Cyaniris pseudar- yiolns, with its var. I aria and Anthovaris yenutia. Sandown Agrotids.- — Mr. Ii. H. May, a fine series of Ayrotis corticea and A.lnniyera from Sandown, also a bred specimen of Aplecta tincta from Wimbledon. Coast Insects. — Dr. T. A. Chapman in starting a discussion on “Coast Insects,” sought an answer to the question “ Why are lepidoptera of certain species confined to our coasts in England, which on the continent occur inland?” If not occurring in a given locality, insects must either be unable to reach it, or the locality must be unsuitable in some way. In considering why our coasts are more suitable for some species, there were many views which might be taken. The air is pure — certain food-plants are found round the coast, not occurring inland — the air is drier — it is less cloudy, resulting in more sunshine than enjoyed inland — climate differs at sea-coast, there being an increase of temperature in winter, and a decrease in summer, and a milder winter does not perhaps demand the quiescence of hybernation. The fixed life-history of a given insect, may conflict with conditions of temperature inland. In the matter of hybernation, the habits of insects are divergent. In some cases hybernation appears to be a 4 habit which must be indulged in at all hazards. borne insects commence hybernating, but re-emerge from their winter quarters at the least incentive. Others give an impression that they must hybernate, but do not want to. Cultivation may, and does destroy habitats in inland localities, while at our sea-coasts the ground often presents steep slopes affording special protection. In seeking a cause of lepidoptera appearing only on our coasts, species must be treated individually. The habit of the larva feeding during the winter may account for this restriction of Aporophyla australis, Helinphobus hispid its and Leucania albipnncta. A mild winter is essential to putrescens. Sunshine is necessary for the day-fiying Melitaea cinxia and Thymelieus actaeon. Nature of the soil may account for suitability of locality of Xi/ssia zonaria. In the cases of Phorodesma smaragdaria, Aridalia inmutata, Eupithccia extensaria, it may be a question of food-plant. The following species were also considered — Diantlmecia albiniacula, Heliothis peltigera, Agrotis hntigera, Xglophasia suhlustris, Hhagades globular iae, Emgdia rribnuu, Callimorplta hera, Prilephila galii, Argynnis latona, Epunda lichenea, Malacosoma castmisis and Paehygastria trifolii , and immigrants ( 'alias rd usa, Pyrameis card ui and Euvanessa antiopa. Mr. Bacot wondered whether there were other causes still, for the greater abundance of insects at coast localities, generally attested by the better productive¬ ness of •• sugaring.” Could the sea-birds keep off insectivorous birds of smaller size, and cause an absence of enemies of lepidoptera ? Is it probable that the strong winds often prevalent keep down hymenop- terous parasites? He thought there was an absence of honeydew at coast localities, and the purity of the air might benefit species such as Malacosoma castreusis and Pachygastria trifolii, which he had found difficult to rear, they being in his experience liable to a diarrhoea disorder. M. castreusis requires sunlight. One cause, however, will not account for all. Temperature is a factor, but not so in many cases, amongst which he put Phorodesma smaragdaria. He moved a vote of thanks to Ur. Chapman. Mr. Clark considered that the scarcity of /’. smaragdaria was owing to the hardships of its locality, a bleak coast, often under water, while at other times its food-plant, Artemisia maritima, was dried and caked with mud. It hybernates on the plant in winter, looking like a dried-up piece of the plant. In spring it fixes on its body new pieces of fresh plant. Mr. Prout said that in sheltered spots (/alias ed usa occurred year after year. Dr. Chapman thought it a question of frost. If the frost is severe, the brood is killed off in these islands, and the country must be replenished with fresh immi¬ grants. Peilephila galii is an immigrant — the caterpillar will feed up and pupate here, but the imago emerges too late to persist. Mr. Dadd seconded the vote of thanks, which was carried. •Tan. 17th, 1899. — Mr. J. A. Clark exhibited Peronea umbrana and /'. cristana, from the New Forest, in great variety. Dtpteron on sloe. — Mr. F. B. Jennings, a fly Pijdza noetiluca, taken in Epping Forest, on sloe. Agrotis cinerea. — Mr. A. F. Bayne exhibited two specimens of tli is species, one being very large, taken at Tring, on the chalk. A dark specimen of Thera rariata was also shown. Trinidad Lepidoptera. Mr. W . J. Kaye, five boxes of Trinidad Khopalocera, taken by himself, showing many llesperids in great variety. Many of the insects were species new to science, and were awaiting description. The named species included Cicrclla dracontix , Tithorea tl a rcxccnx (■ meyara ), Danaix yUippux, Lycorea aterycitix , Ithmnia pellucid a, Eueides isabellae, Zeonea clwrinnaeux, Sidcmnc i. E. Figgis, of 99, Forburg Road, Clapton, was elected a member. Exhibits. — Mr. C. Oldham, a series each of Comia difiiim and O. ajfinix, taken in Epping Forest in the summer of 1898, and four i'Aichclia jacobacac from Mid-Norfolk. The President remarked on the fact that < difli-nn could still be found in Epping Forest, and elicited the statements from the Revs. G. H. Raynor and C. R. N. Burrows, that it swarms at Maldon and Mucking. Gonopteryx ehamni ab. — Mr. J. A. Clark showed a specimen of this species captured at Croydon in the autumn of last year (1898), the two forewings having the coloration of a 2 and the hindwings that of a $ . Mr. Riches, a number of the carnivorous shelled-slug, Testa- cella halioclitca, from Hornsey. Mr. A. Bacot, a box of South African Lepidoptera, from a station nine miles from Johannesburg. Of these Mr. Tutt observed there were many which appeared identical with British insects, such as Sphinx convolvuli (though smaller than our insect), a large sized Lithosia complana, also two were Lapln/yuia exiyua and Heliothis armiyera. Spilosoma lubricipeda, etc.- — Rev. G. H. Raynor, about 800 speci- mensof S. lubricipeda, the produce of wild larvae obtained from the Lin¬ colnshire coast. Larvae sent him from this district in 1898, being obtained late in the season, were ichnemnoned, but from some taken in August, 1894, about 50 were bred. Four years’ breeding resulted in the num¬ bers exhibited, but he had been unable to spare time to keeping the broods distinct, and to working out statistics of typical and varietal forms. Many of the dark radiata aberrations were remarkable, but he had not got representatives of all the Yorkshire forms. He also exhibited an Kjrincphcle. tithonus $ , caught at Hazeleigh, near Maldon, last August, in which the rust-red colour is replaced by light yellow, and one Noctua rubi ah. taken at same locality and month. A male Anyerona prunana, of an unusual unicolorous brown tint, with a spot only of orange on disc of each wing, was exhibited, together with some very variable forms of 3 and $ obtained by pairing this insect with a typical 2 . Queensland beetles.- — Mr. F. B. Jennings, specimens of Cyproea eaminla and < poraria, from Raeni Island, Queensland, and llycilinia tflabra, known by its small umbilicus, from the Lea valley. Jamaican Pykalidae. — Mr. W. J. Kaye, a box of Jamaican Pyra- lidae, collected by himself in August, 1898. Spilosoma lubricipeda. — Mr. H. Massey had most kindly forwarded from Manchester his drawer of Spilosoma lubricipeda, bred from wild larvae from York and Manchester, including the vars. eboraci and fasciata (from Yorkshire larvae only). Mr. A. W. Mera also brought up drawers of this insect showing the type, and vars. fasciata and radiata, to illustrate his paper of the evening. Chariclea umbra. — Mr. Bell exhibited a series of Char ivle a umbra, from the Isle of Wight. When captured bright green “spikes ” could be noticed on their heads, but were now withered. Mr. C. Nicholson, on examining these, said they were pollinia of orchids, and showed the Howers which these insects had been visiting. Hawthorn in bloom and spring butterflies.— Mr. Jennings said the hawthorn at Edmonton, referred to by him at the last meeting, was now showing dower buds, with one actually in bloom. Mr. Donisthorpe had seen (-ronopteri/.r rhamni dying at Chiddingfold, Surrey, on the 17th inst. Spilosoma lubricipeda. — Mr. A. W. Mera read a paper on “ Notes on Spilosoma lubricipeda ” (printed in Transactions). A long discussion fol¬ lowed, justifying Mr. Prout’s remarks about the advantage of having a paper on an insect well known to all members. Rev. G. H. Raynor asked what was the food-plant of var. radiata from York. In Lincolnshire that of lubricipeda was the elder, which had the tendency to produce dark forms. Mr. Dadd proposed a vote of thanks, and spoke about the fact of lubricipeda swarming on elders. He asked if radiata was the only form in Heligoland, and was informed it was the type there. Rev. G. H. Raynor, in seconding the vote, said his and the lecturer’s experiences did not correspond in two matters. A second brood of lubricipeda was never reared at Maldon, and he found eggs from pair¬ ings always hatched. Mr. Bacot found that it would feed on Virginia creeper and scarlet runner beans. He regretted no statistics of the broods were available with Rev. G. H. Raynor’s fine exhibits. Mr. Nicholson could speak to ivy, ferns, Japanese anemone and chrysan¬ themums being eaten by the larva of this insect, and wondered what it would not eat in the London district. Mr. Dadd cited nasturtium as being unpalatable. Mr. Tutt regretted that the scientific value of all the Rev.°G. H. Raynor’s trouble was practically lost by not keeping the series separate and preserving parents of each brood. He threw strong doubts on the British origin of the very first Yorkshire parents from which have been bred most of the var. radiata in the English cabinets. He understood that the British lubricipeda type was unknown in Heligoland, where the dark form only was reported to occur. A wild form" or race on the Lincolnshire coast will produce dark radiata forms if inbred and taken care of artificially, but dark forms are not found naturally in any numbers. In Heligoland Nature had apparently preserved the race by what breeders try for, isolation. If it is only a question of moisture or wet climate, why are the Irish and west of England specimens so buff? Food can affect the imago in other directions than size. A succulent and abundant diet will alter the size, but indirectly food might also alter the scales, the last outcome 8 of growth, by producing a physically strong or weak race. Tt is possible to get no scales at all in imagines. The abnormality of these radiata is evident, and aberrant insects tend to produce a second brood. He could add dock, syringa, and raspberry to the list of known food- plants, but had never met with it on oak, poplar, or birch. It was remarkable how common the insect was in the neighbourhood of towns, as if it had less difficulty in fighting for existence there. The vote of thanks put to the meeting was carried unanimously ; and the Secretary was desired to write and thank Mr. Massey for his kindness in for¬ warding for exhibition his series of the insect mentioned above. March 7th, 1899. — Mr. Herbert Massey, of Ivy Lea, Burnage, Didsbury, was elected a member. Larvae, etc. — Mr. Bacot exhibited larvae received from Dr. Chap¬ man found on walls, case-bearing micros apparently allied to the Psychids, also larvae of ('nethocanipa piUjocampa, which he described as having pockets or folds in the middle of the back of the first eight abdominal segments. These folds were furnished with lips which, if the insect were irritated, open and disclose tufts of hairs somewhat loose, and readily becoming detached, float in the air, and possess an urticating property. The larvae, if disturbed in their nests, move in a jerky, spasmodic fashion. Drawings of the hairs of Portliexia ami- jiua, < 'ncthocampa pitijocampa, and I .axiocampa qucrais, and showed the actual hairs under a microscope. Tephrosias. — Mr. Prout exhibited some Tephrosias taken by Mr. Routledge, a series of 7’. creqntscularia ( binndnlaria ) taken at Orton, and a number of T. bixtortata (crepnxcnlaria) from Keswick. Australian Cockroach. — Mr. Marsh, a specimen of the Australian cockroach found flying at Lymington (Hants). It produced seventeen young, but these he failed to rear, but exhibited one larva. He also showed specimens of Acanthosonia haemorrhoid ale, Iropicoris rntipex, and Asilus crabroni/onnix. Hydrocampid larva. — Mr. Pearson, a larva feeding in water, which he thought was that of a Hydrocampid. It had been bybernating in a web for one month. Paper. — Mr. F. Bouskell forwarded a paper on “ Poisonous Plants in relation to Medical Jurisprudence” (printed in Transactions). March 21st, 1899. — Messrs. Frank Bouskell, F.E.S., of Market Bosworth, Nuneaton, B. II. Crabtree, F.E.S., of The Acacias, Levens- hulme, Manchester, and S. J. Marsh, of 152, Friern Road, Dulwich, were unanimously elected members. Oporabias exhibited. — Mr. Trout brought up a cabinet drawer of Oporabiax, specially to illustrate his paper on 0. antmnvata. The long series of this species were principally bred from eggs obtained from Mr. Horne, of Aberdeen. There were also long and beautiful series of (K jiligramnaria and (>. dilutata ; also a box of continental O. autunwata from many localities, and a fine series of the same bred by Mr. Christy from Rannoch parents, which were larger than those from Aberdeen. The Ennomids. — Mr. .T. A. Clark, a cabinet drawer of the “ Thorns,” showing series of all the species of Ennomids and a series of V roc-all ix dini/navia , with some vars. 9 Early appearance of Panolts piniperda. — Mr. Bacot, a specimen of P. piniperda, taken on the 19th instant, being a very early appear¬ ance, at Oxshott. It was of an unusual silvery-grey colour. Publication Committee. — The President chose the following members to form the Publishing Committee for 1H99 : Messrs. -T. A. Clark, .J. W. Tutt, C. Nicholson, H. Donisthorpe, and H. A. Sauze. Paper. — Mr. Prout then read a paper on “ Tlie Life-history of Oporabia ( Kpirrita ) antumnata (Bkh.)” (printed in Transactions). Mr. Tutt proposed, and Mr. Porritt seconded, the vote of thanks at the close. April 4th, 1899. — Stiltcus fragilis. — Mr. Donisthorpe exhibited a series of the Staphylinid beetle St Mens frayilis, taken the previous day from faggot-stacks at Shirley. He had taken this beetle at the same place for several years, and found that a larva which he believed to be that of this Staphylinid, was generally shaken out on the same occasions, and he had one preserved in spirit, which was remarkable for the length of the styles at the apex of the abdomen. Tineids. — Mr. J. A. Clark, a cabinet drawer of Tincina, including the Psychids, of which he had a very full series, with examples of the larval cases in most instances. Sallowing at Ripley and elsewhere. — Mr. Bacot said he had visited Ripley for working the sallows, but had taken nothing beyond ten Panolis jdniperda , the sallows not being properly out. At Selborne, however, they were more forward, but still insects were few, and the only insects taken were Tueniocampa yothica, T. stabilis, and Pachnobia lencoyrapha, with worn < 'crastis rare inti. Mr. Dadd, in giving his experience at the sallows, remarked that he had taken twelve T. stabiiis and two T. tjothica at Broxbourne, and had found nothing to speak of at Oxshott, with the exception of Anarta myrtilli on heath. Mr. Clark, at Epping Forest, had already seen many Brephos par- thenias , but had only secured live, the insect being very partial to the tree-tops. He had captured two l.arcntia miiltistrijaria, and saw plenty of J >inrnea fayclla and Tortricoides hyemana. Paper. — Mr. Bacot read a paper entitled “ Notes on the Relation¬ ship of Insects to Man.” He said, insects have been in the past of vast importance in the history of life, both of the vegetable and animal kingdoms. Such is the vitality, persistence, and adaptability of the class, aided by the rapid rate at which the species breed, that it has occupied, in one form or another, almost every portion of the globe. The beauty and grace of form of some, and, again, the mechanical per¬ fection of structure in others are unsurpassed throughout the animal world. In intellectual development and social organisation, too. certain species of Ortlioptera and Hymenoptera far outclass many of the Vertebrata. Speaking of intelligence, he instanced the fact of Annno- phila urnaria having been known to use a small pebble held in its mandibles to flatten down the earth over the nest in which its eggs were laid, in order to more conceal the situation, and showed this using of a tool placed the insect in some respects as high as the gorilla or fox. While man dominated the terrible Carnivora and took toll of Cetacea and Ruminantia, even to the point of nearly exterminating forms that once occurred in hordes, insects, even in temperate climes, but especially in tropical countries, were irrepressible, and it is often as 10 much as he can do to hold his own against their attacks. He thought that if the restriction on their size were removed while their rate of multiplication remained, man would be relegated to a secondary place. But as things are, man’s size, upright posture, and development of the hands, with intellect, constitute him at present the dominant species on earth. Insects have had an actual influence on man s development, both as regards his physical and mental abilities. Few, if any land animals can lay claim to so ancient a lineage or compete for priority with the Insecta. They have been traced back to the Devonian strata, which perhaps presupposes the existence of primitive forms at a very much earlier time. Long previous to any serious rivalry or interference in their arboreal and aerial domains, insects must have exerted a vast influence on, and consequently produced sweeping changes, in plant life. Plants acquiring antiseptic properties, gummy and resinous saps, nauseous features, poisonous, purgative, emetic" and narcotic qualities in their passive resistance to insect attack. By the agency of insects, flowers with their tints, scents and nectar, were evolved. From the earliest known mammals — the insectivorous marsupials — have sprung the bats, the only mammals perfectly equipped for flight. 'Che Carnivores and Primates have without doubt risen through the insectivorous lemuroids from the same source ; and it is to the habits and needs of these insectivorous ancestors of his, that man owes the development of the hand with its opposable thumb. Man in truth, has had not only his senses and aesthetic tastes largely developed in accordance with standards which were raised by insects before his advent, but his structure also clearly shows traces of the habits and needs of his insectivorous progenitors. A discussion followed, in which Messrs. Dadd. Cox and Dr. Sequeira took part. April 18th, 1899. — Mr. L. B. Hall, of 7, Union Road, Tufnell Park, N., and Mr. ,J. C. Moberly, of 9, Rockstone Place. Southampton, were elected members. Tuddenham Lepidopteka. — Mr. J. A. Clark exhibited specimens from Tuddenham of Spilod is verticals ( ei-nctalh ) that were strongly marked. Also two aberrations of Arctia rillica bred from larva? taken at Harwich, each having a very large cream-coloured area at the apex of the upper wings. Euchloe ? hybrid.— Dr. Chapman, a specimen of Euchloe caught at Cannes, which he supposed to be a hybrid between Eurltloe card amines and cuphcnoides. Pimelia bipunctata. — Mr. Jennings showed a Tenebrionid beetle, Himelia bipunctata, collected by Dr. Chapman on the coast sandhills at Alassio, Gulf of Genoa, in March. He said the genus Vimelia contained a number of species of rather large size, but is not represented in Britain. Heliopath ox ;/ ibbus of which a type was shown, was said to be probably the nearest ally with us. The specific name bipunctata at first puzzled him to see its appropriateness, but it was perhaps explained bv the fact that in one specimen the thorax had two rough punctures, lii all the others, however, the thorax appeared to bo nearly, if not quite, smooth. Agartcus campestris. — Mr. Riches, an abnormal specimen of the common mushroom, Ayaricux campestris , in which the stalk was 11 continued beyond the apex of the pileus for a short distance, the skin of the pileus near the apex being reflexed and forming the same, covering the gills of a small reversed mushroom. Paper. — Mr. Donisthorpe read a paper on the “ Coleoptera of Weymouth.” The following is a brief summary : He remarked at the commencement that the strata of this part of the country belong chiefly to the Oolitic group ; the chalk formations are also largely represented. The “ Ghesil Beach ” was found to be a good collecting ground. The severe drought of 189G, following a mild winter, made things scarce, and also appeared to have some effect on the individuals that succeeded in completing their development. Several abnormal forms were taken, among them being a very small specimen of (reotnqm mutator, Harpalus caspius, quite green instead of the usual black, tinged with green about the thorax, a small specimen of Taphria nivalis, quite unlike the type form, and most curious of all, a specimen of Pterostichus yracilis with three tarsi on one leg. Members of the Carabidae and Staphylinidae were principally met with, but he, with his friend Prof. Beare, was able to compile a list of species amounting to nearly 300. Two myrmecophilous beetles occurred, the rare Trichonyxmarkeli taken by Prof. Beare, with Formica tiara, near the Ghesil Beach, and the curious Clarifier testaceus at Upwey and Portland, with both Formica tiara and /•'. niyra. Three species of Bledius, It. spectabilis, Jl. unicornis and B. a renanus, were obtained by digging up the sand on the Ghesil Beach, and dropping it into small pools of water. Cillenus lateralis occurred in profusion on the flat sand near the mouth of the Fleet ; the insects being totally covered by the sea for several hours at high tide. Of rare species, two Harpalus obscurus were taken under stones near the Ghesil Beach, quite a new locality. The existing specimens have previously been obtained in Cambridgeshire. C 'ymindis a.villaris, Ma so re us wetterhalii, Harpalus picipennis and //. melancholic us from the Ghesil Beach. Pterostichus yracilis, liembidiwn clarkii and Lathrobium filiforme were secured in a marshy field near Dorchester, all that is now left of the Herringstone Marshes, a locality mentioned in Dawson’s “ Geodephaga Britannica.” Mr. Heasler proposed a vote of thanks, and referring to the destruction of localities, such as the Hammersmith Marshes, said that he had found Bembidium , cl arid at Hendon Reservoir, and Acupalpus computus on Mitcham Common. Dr. Chapman, Messrs. Jennings, Clark and Tutt continued the discussion, which became animated over the probable cause of the increased number of limbs such as was mentioned in the paper. Mr. Tutt suggested the cause must be the division by fission from some reason of the imaginal disc or germ within the larval form. Mr. Clark, referring to his having bred Stauropusfayi, said that he had known the lame fight, and a leg bitten off in that stage resulted in a shortened leg in the imago. Dr. Chapman had recently seen a lizard with two tails, a possibility of which he had been formerly sceptical. In this instance the bifurcation did not commence until about three inches from the root, and both divisions were slender and tapering, showing the latter acquisition was of some standing. The lizard must have received some injury at the spot where the bifurcation occurred. May 2nd, 1890. — Chrysomela lamina. — Mr. T. B. Jennings passed round specimens of this species on its food-plant Anthriscus sylrestris 12 (wild parsley), and contributed a note on the discovery of this beetle in Pyrame’s Park, Edmonton, where he had found a colony of the imago in the summer of 1898. The larva was said to be white with a faint bluish tinge, and had a dark dorsal longitudinal stripe on the body. He also exhibited a beetle, larvae found in rotten wood at Chingford Ferry, but could not suggest its identity. Egos of Cnethocampa. — Dr. Chapman had eggs for exhibition of G. pitgocanipa laid round the stems of Finns pinaster, on which the mass of eggs resembles a bud of the pine, it was also to be found on Pinas aleppensis. The moth uses the large scales of its body as a “ thatch ” to cover the eggs, directed downwards to throw off rain and wet. The eggs themselves are oval in cross section, and so are probably “ flat ” eggs — like those of the Lasiocampids laid in a similar manner. Mr. Tutt said the eggs had a vertical micropylar axis, and if they are laid like those of Eriogastcr lanestris on each other, the moth should be placed amongst the Lasiocampids, and not with the Liparids, where American writers placed it. Mr. Bacot, who referred to some observations of the larva?, favoured the placing of the insect with the Lasiocampids. Sallows. — Mr. Dadd, sallowing at Wimbledon on April 26th, found little to reward his search. One very fresh specimen of PItlogophora mcticulnsa came as surprise. He regarded it as an early emergence of one of the spring brood. Mr. Jennings reported that he found the season a backward one. So far, both diptera and liymenoptera were very scarce in his district. Dr. Sequeira spent a short time at Brockenlmrst — from April 22nd-80th. Very few lepidoptera were on the wing. Gonepteryx rhamni were flying when the sun shone. Pieris napi and Pararge egeria were in good condition. All vegetation was in a backward state ; sallowing and sugaring were both disappointing. One Srnliuptcrgx libatri.v came to sugar, and a few larva? of Triphaena fimbria were taken at night. Dr. Chapman said he had just bred Taeniocampa gothica from a larva taken at Avignon ; it pupated, and had emerged at the time T. gothica appears here, and not at the time it should (August) if it remained in its true habitat. Cucullta scbophulariae. — Mr. Tutt said that of some pupa? of this species, left dry for four, if not five years ago, two had lately emerged ; he then damped the rest and put them where they could be kept heated, and two more emerged. Lachneis lanestris has been known to go over as many as six years in pupa. With reference to these remarks Mr. Heasler asked if an ichneumon was known to go over two years. It did not appear to be known in the case of L. lanestris. Announcements were made to the effect that Mr. F. B. Jennings had been appointed Librarian in place of Dr. Chapman, resigned. Also that the Annual Congress of the South Eastern Union of Scientific Societies was to be held May 25th-27th, Mr. Tutt being appointed official delegate. That the Society’s Excursion this year would be to Darenth Wood, under the leadership of Mr. Cox, and that the Hackney and E. Middlesex Band of Hope Union, were about to hold an Industrial Exhibition, and asked help towards a loan exhibition. Paper. — Mr. Heasler read a paper on “ Secondary sexual characters in Coleoptera” (printed in Transactions), and exhibited $ and $? upper and undersides of Pgtiscus marginalia, and undersides of the following 13 species of Pterostichus, to illustrate these characters appearing on the last ventral segment — V n'ujcr, raised keel in $ and ? — P. a nth r acinus, depression in $ — V. nip vita, tubercle in $ — P. minor, a raised keel — P. mad ulus, a raised transverse ridge. Mr. Donisthorpe spoke later of a secondary sexual character not mentioned in the paper, viz., the horns developed in some $ and not in ? . Darwin had called them sexual ornaments, Bates giving no indication. Mr. Bacot asked if these minute characters (of Pterostichus) were of use sexually — i.c., prevented hybridising. Mr. Heasler thought not. But, it was asked, if there were not a sexual difference, why were they different in the sexes? Dr. Chapman said although the characters referred to in Pterostichus were minute, it could not be said they were of no use, nor could one well say what the use was, until more observations were made. Few could guess the use of the whip¬ like tip of the antenna; of the $ (hhjnerus spinipes, until one had seen these clinging round the antenna; of the y when the insects were in cop. A question was asked, if $ s require protection. If, for instance, $ D. marr/inalis receives protection, why does not the male require it? Mr. Prout thought the 5 always has more need of protection for the due propagation of the species. May 16th, 1899. — Donation.— Mr. F. J. Ilanbury kindly presented the Society with a copy of “Kent Flora,” of which he is a part author. Mr. Nicholson proposed that a vote of thanks be accorded. Mr. Jennings seconded, and the vote carried. Exhibits. — Mr. E. M. Dadd bred specimens of Araschnia levana, Notodonta bicnlor, N. torva, Valeria oleapina, Gastmpacha trem ulifolia, Clostcra pi'jra, P. rurtula, Pamphila ci/ercmct and /'. viator. Mr. F. B. Jennings, imagines of Sialis lutaria, contributing a note about this Neuropteron. The unknown larva exhibited by him at last meeting having been pronounced by Mr. McLachlan as that of this insect. Valeria olkagjna. — Mr. Dadd stated that a pupa of I*, olear/ina showed a white spot on the wing-case in October, the moth emerging in April. Mr. Tutt thought this indicated that the moth matured the previous autumn. Paper. — A paper, contributed by Mr. Tutt, on “ Nature’s Scaven¬ gers,” was read by Mr. Sauze. It was pointed out that all vital processes produce waste material, which has to be reduced by chemical action to its elements, or else reconverted by “ scavenger ” animals into organic products. Some of these go to work in a perfectly sani¬ tary way, others the reverse, i.e., some creatures have the instinct to bury waste, like the “ sexton ” and dung beetles. Some feed on offal, &c., like the carrion birds and carrion-eating mammals. And thirdly, there is a dangerous class, such as the carrion and dung flies, which although doing good by laying their eggs in putrid matter, are often the means of carrying diseases, Ac. Of the first-mentioned class the habits of Geotrupes were detailed, its burrow, vertical and even, reach¬ ing to some eight or ten inches below the excrement, some of which they bury and lay an egg therein. The Aphodii have similar habits, but it is to be noted they are always shining and clean in appearance. The Necrophori undermine and “ bury ” the dead bodies of the smaller mammals and birds, laying their eggs in the flesh. Four specimens of N. relutinus have been known to drag a swallow a distance of six 14 foot four inches, to suitable group. 1, and half bury it during the night. Dead trees are soon opened to the action of rain and air by the attacks of Avood- boring beetles. Euplectus, Scydinaenns, llatnsus, I richonyx , Ptinella, Triehopteryx, and Lathridiuni prefer standing rotten trees, in which the bark forms a rain-proof covering to the rotten wood beneath. Paromalus, Baptolinus and Comma * prefer the wood to be thoroughly wet, whilst Platypus, Melanin, Irypodendron and Phloeotrya bore into the solid wood of fallen trees, whilst dead branches not yet fallen to the ground are the home of a destroying host of Anobiidae, Ptinidae, rpsidae and Scolytidae. Amongst the second group of “ scavengers ” are such creatures as vultures, pariah dogs, wolves, jackals, and hyenas. The kite was once tolerated as a “ scavenger ” in English towns. In many parts of the world noisome birds are protected from a sanitary point of view. The carrion and dung Hies, taken as examples of the third dangerous class of sanitary workers, are specially well equipped for the performance of their duties, in the rapidity with which the eggs produce larva after being laid. Nature has further specialised the development of Sairupltaya, in that they are able to produce their young alive, the eggs hatching just previous to extru¬ sion. The numbers of the progeny of Garrion-Diptera, and the voracity of the grubs, together with the rapidity of their development, are added factors in this equipment. That this is a result of natural selection is evident, those individuals whose eggs hatch most quickly, and the grubs from which come to maturity most rapidly, will succeed where the slower ones must fail, and heredity would soon establish the race. Other broad questions arise. Certain insects must have developed particular habits after certain evolutionary changes had taken place in other directions. Thus the special functions of the dung-beetles must have originated after the development, or side by side with the development of herbivorous mammals. It is probable that some primitive species, feeding at iirst on animal or vegetable substances, became modified, as the competition for existence increased, so that it could feed on the excrement of animals which had already existed for a considerable time, and multiplied sufficiently to allow of such a scavenger to follow in their wake. June (ith, 1899. — Donations. — “Annual Report of Ent. Soc. of Ontario, 1*98,” and “Journal of City of London College of Science Society.” Election. — Mr. Robertshaw, of Ellenroyde Hall, Luddenden root, Yorks, was elected a member. Exhibits. — Mr. Jennings, the pupa of rhnjsomela yoettinyensis, which was found under moss, and of a yellow colour. The species was taken on Box Hill. Mr. J. A. Clark, a series of ] Ioann in rinetaria showing much variety, and a red form of Tacniocampa ynailis, all taken in the New Eorest at the beginning of May. Mr. W. J. Kaye, pupa* of Theda pruni, T. u- -alb am and Eephyrus ijnernis. Dr. Chapman, a larva of a species ot ant-lion in sand from its habitat. When exposed for inspection it burrowed backwards into the sand. Rev. C. R. N. Burrows, lame from Mucking of Leioptilus lieniyianns, in their protective “ tents,” on the back of leaves of mugwort (Arte¬ misia ndyaris). lie confirmed the known fact that as soon as the larva' find they are protected by being placed in a box, they cease con- 15 structing “ tents.” He also exhibited (■erasti s liyula with two vars., also Hydroecia nidi tans with vars., and Miselia o.vyacanthae with some yellow forms, from Mucking. A specimen was also shown of Plusia iota, taken by Dr. Lang, in his house at Southend, in 1890. Mr. Prout, a series of Taeniocam pa incerta, bred from the egg, the $ parent being from Aberdeen. Cases of the Psychid Proutia betulina (/), from Epping Forest, were exhibited, that had been taken off haw¬ thorn. Mr. Bacot, two ? Aydistis bennettii, imagines and pupae of Aciptilia yalactodactylas, one being red marked. He said nearly one- half of those bred by him were so marked. Mr. Prout had met with one in a few bred, but the rest were all green. Mr. Bacot also exhibited the larva of (Edematophorus lithodactylus, on ilea -bane. Communications. — Mr. Dadd said Noctuae, taken as larvae at Wimbledon, were now emerging ; he had already bred four Xoctua auyur and two X.festica. At Horsley he had taken Ncmeobius lucina, Cupido minima, and CaUophrys rubi. Mr. Donisthorpe, at Woking, at the commencement of June, took Donacia cinerea, a beetle usually con¬ sidered rare, in great profusion by the canal on the reeds. A boat was necessary to reach the plants. Mr. W. J. Kaye a week ago had visited Wicken, and had taken Meliana jlammca. Hydrilla paluslris was not seen. At Chippenham one larva of Plusia chryson was found. June 20th, 1899. — Ptilinus pectinicornis. — Mr. Jennings, Ptili- nus pectinicornis $ , from Edmonton, which had probably been burrow¬ ing in ash. The flabellate antennae of the $ are at once noticed. Athous rhombeus. — Mr. H. Donisthorpe, a specimen of a living Athous rhombeus. This very rare click beetle had been taken in some numbers in the New Forest, he and Professor Beare digging out of beech stumps eighteen in all — -pupa; and imagines. One black larva was exhibited preserved in spirit. He had been successful in rearing all the pupa? into imagines. Plumes. — Dr. Chapman, larva of Pterophorus rhododactylus, which has been looked upon as nearly extinct. Also larva? of Ebulea crocealis, from Reigate, feeding on flea-bane. Enos. — Mr. Bloomfield, ova of Macaria notata, Zonosuma punc- taria, Lomaspilis maryiuata, Papta bunaculata, the insects being taken at Daren th. Syntomis phegea. — Mr. Bacot, a living Syntomis pheyca ? , the larva being taken by Dr. Chapman in 8. Europe. Communications. — Mr. Jennings reported he had found the larva? of Chrysomela hyperici on the occasion of the Society’s excursion on the 17th inst. Like that of C. lamina, it had a longitudinal band, and in colour somewhat resembled that of C. yoettinyensis, being a dingy brown. He took Vryptocephalus parvulus, Rhynchites pubescens, Ac., and mentioned that Air. .J. J. Walker found Tripla.v lacordairei there. Mr. W. I. Cox reported that the excursion to Darenth had been very successful, the party numbering fifteen. A list of Macro-lepidoptera taken totalled G9 species, including Cyaniris aryiolus, Heteroyenea lima- codes, Arctia rillica, Eurymene dnlnbraria, Zonosoma porata, Eupithecia venosata, Phibalapteryx tersata, /'. ritalbata, Dianthoecia carpnphaya, P. conspersa, Acontia luctuosa, and Phytometra nridana. Report. — Mr. Tutt gave a report of the Congress of the South- Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, which he had attended as the 16 delegate of the City of London Entomological Society, and in his comments strongly recommended that the organisers should on future occasions provide for the subdivision of the work of the Congress into at least three sections — Geological, Botanical, and Zoological, each with its own President. July 4th, 1899.— Exhibits. — Mr. A. Bacot, two T/tyri* famtrata# and ? alive, with eggs on clematis, a case of Psyche riUosdla with the $ emerged, ova of Platyptilia yonodactyla on coltsfoot, ova of < Keyjitilus tencrii on wood sage, ova of Aciptilia yalactndactyla on burdock, ova of I.eioptilus lieniyianus on mugwort, and larva* of lalaeporia pseutlo- bombycella feeding on dead body of < 'alliplmra nmiitoria. Mr. IV. I. Cox, a large collection of Rhopalocera from \Y. Africa, obtained during the Benin Expedition, also an exotic Lamellicorn beetle of a light shimmering blue colour, used in Paris to decorate ladies’ bonnets. Mr. -J. A. Clark, forms of Xnctua rubi from AYicken, and an almost black Ayrotis seyetmn. Dr. Sequeira, insects obtained at Wicken, visited at the same time. No Hydrilla palustris were taken, nor were moths plentiful at light. Some fresh Hadena dentina were taken, and one good specimen of Papilio maehaon was caught on the wing. Mr. D. ('. Bate, three lampyrid beetles from New Jersey, locally known as “ Lightning Bugs.” July 18th, 1899. — Sheri vi nes tiliae vars. Mr. J. A. Clark, a box of insects containing, amongst others, two specimens of Snierinthas tiliae without the central bar, two specimens of Aymtis ayuthina. Dr. Sequeira showed four specimens of Triphaena fimbria, bred from larva; obtained in the New Forest. Also cocoons of l’mmby.e nmri with almost white silk. Mr. Fuller said he believed it was a question of diet, the light-coloured silk being the outcome of feeding the larva* on dandelion and lettuce. Dr. Sequeira said the cocoons exhibited were made by mulberry-fed larva*. Mr. Clark confirmed this view. Mr. Bacot, larva; of Laria l-niynnn, the peculiarity of which was that when small, if touched, they would jump forward. He said it was the first larva he had seen with this peculiarity. Malacosoma castrknsis, etc. — Mr. Bacot also showed larva* of this species from Port Victoria. Previously he had failed to breed this insect. He had tried to feed them up on leaves sprinkled with salt. At present he was trying them on sallow and knot-grass, and he suggested that they were confined to the salt-marshes on account of the temperature being higher. Pupa* and cocoons of lWtln-da elmjs- sorrhoea from larva* taken by Mr. Dadd at Deal, were exhibited. He also remarked on having seen a Lyeaena in Cornhill. Triphaena fimbria. — Mr. Dadd stated that this insect was very common in the New Forest. Many imagines were to be seen at sugar. A discussion ensued concerning the apparent larger size of moths seen at electric lamps. Rev. C. R. N. Burrows mentioned that he had been nearly tripped up over the shadow cast by a small clothes’ moth. August 1st, 1899. — Bomhyx mori cocoons. — In referring to the note at last meeting’s minutes, Mr. Bate said in his experience if the insect was fed on lettuce the cocoons were white, but yellow if fed on mulberry. 17 Dicycla oo at Walthamstow. — Mr. Fuller exhibited a series of this moth captured at sugar in this neighbourhood, also, from Darenth, a specimen of Mam extra sordula. Abraxas grossulariata.— Mr. Riches showed a specimen of Abraxas yrossulariata, found on a wall at Hornsey Rise. The central area of the liindwings had no black spots arranged as a fascia across the middle. Mr. Bate was of opinion that A. yrossulanata tended to produce darker specimens with less yellow if fed on Kuonymus. This view was not shared by Mr. Clark, who had brought up a number of specimens fed on this plant, being all he had bred this year. Although all were not dark, the majority were so tending, a few being very dark. Mr. Riches said his custom was to feed these larvfe on currant, and thought his were darker than those exhibited. Mr. Clark mentioned that he had found it feeding wild on hawthorn. Smerintiius popult variation. — Mr. Bate exhibited S. populi, remarking that the $ s showed variety in colour, but the $ s were all of the same tint. Noctuids. — Mr. J. A. Clark, two beautiful vars. of Xoctua festiva, and one of Grammesia triyrammica , which was much suffused and very dark, from Polegate. Saturnia pavonia cocoons. — Mr. A. Robertshaw had sent to the Secretary for exhibition two cocoons of the above species, the one brown and the other pale. Mr. Robertshaw drew attention to a note of Mr. May in the Transactions for 1896, in which it is stated that if the larvae are kept warm and moist brown cocoons result, but if kept cool and dry, pale. Mr. Dadd mentioned a case in which he had known a cocoon of this species go brown on one side when wet remaining white on the other. Mr. Clark said, in a place where no damp could get, he had some cocoons brown and some pale. Malacosoma castrensis bred, etc. — Mr. Dadd said Mr. Bacot’s M. castrensis had pupated, and three had emerged. Of the Porthesia chri/sorrhoea 88 imagines had appeared. August 15th, 1899. — Abraxas grossulariata on different food- plants. — Mr. Riches exhibited a series of A. yrossidariata. These were the picked specimens out of 800 bred. He had commenced feeding the larva? on Kuonymus, and had finished on currant. Under these circumstances the point raised at the last meeting as to which food- plant ( Kuonymus or currant) produced the blackest imagines could hardly be judged by these specimens. Some were as dark, some darker, and some were lighter than Mr. Bate’s specimens fed entirely on Kuonymus. Orgyia antiqua in London. — Mr. Bate said, having seen in a daily newspaper that the trees in the avenue of limes at Buckingham Palace were being destroyed by caterpillars, he had visited the place to discover the identity of the larvae, and found Oryyia antiqua on the trees in thousands, and their cocoons were packed together in masses. There were also immense numbers of cocoons of ichneumon flies, the cocoons being golden yellow, and of the size of rice grains. A pupa of 0. antiqua taken home produced a ? moth, which attracted into the house several $ s. Leaving the box open in the room, he forgot it for a day or so, and on next remembering it he found the ? dead, but a few males still in the room, and for two days after he knew the insect to 18 be dead he noticed males flying into the room. He did not know for certain whether a pairing had taken place before its death, but a few eggs Avere laid it being uncertain whether they would prove fertile or not. Sept. 5th, 1899. — Dicranura bifida bred. — Mr. J. Riches exhibited IB imagines of this species that had hatched from 27 pupie, the result of a batch of ova obtained at Hornsey. He thought the remainder of the pupie were probably dead, but would keep them to see if they w cie lying over another year. Mr. Tutt said the pupie must not be allowed to get too dry. Pyralis farinalis. — Dr. Sequeira, a dark form and a red form of P. farinalis, from Hackney. He found the red form more commonly, but the chairman thought this to be the most noteworthy. Cnethocampa pityocampa. — Mr. Bacot exhibited living ^sof ( netho- campa pityocampa, a continental processional moth. Lachneid larv.e, etc. — Dr. Chapman exhibited a batch of larvae from Arolla, which might prove to be the well known var. arbusculae of Lachneis lanestris. Members thought it was probably distinct. He also exhibited a larva of Mditaea cynthia black, and with the spines black, together with set 8 and $ . ' The $ is comparable with British M. artemis, but the 3 is distinct. Mr. Jennings showed Tettiyonia viridis a homopteron from the Lea valley. Catocala nupta at Hackney. — Dr. Sequeira said he had taken twenty C. nupta at Hackney, for the first time in many years collecting. There was no willow in the immediate neighbourhood, but members said that the larvae would feed up on poplar. Macroglossa steelatarum. — It was reported that this moth had been abundant this year at Clapton, Reigate and Hornsey. Mr. Tutt mentioned that Pyramids atalanta was exceedingly plentiful at Chattenden. At Fontainebleau he had met with Plebeius aeyon in June and again in August, which indicated there, at least, two broods in the year. Sept. 19th, 1899.— Coleoptera.— Mr. Jennings exhibited an aberration of MycetojihayHs ijuadripnstulatiis taken on fungus in the Lea valley. The two red spots on the right elytron were normal, but on the left the spots had run together at their inner sides in a straight line parallel with the suture. He also showed a living specimen of Byrrhu* dorsalis from Box Hill, and a Swiss specimen of Km its h ictus taken by Dr. Chapman. Noctua ditrapezium. — Mr. H. H. May, a fine series of A’, ditrapczwm with dark and pale forms, bred from larvie taken at Wimbledon. Mr. Dadd, specimens of Phibalapteryx vittata and ('amptoyramma fhiriata from Wicken. Porthetria dispar aberrations. — Mr. Garland, several 3 s of /’. dispar, splashed irregularly with patches of $ coloration. Exotic Erycinidae.— Mr. W. J. Kaye, a large exhibit of exotic Erycinidae, including Eurybia sahnnc from\ onezuela, Ancyluns atalmalpa from Columbia, and Anteros J'ormosus from Irinidad. Also the rare Sphingid, Aellopus commassiae, from W. Africa, with other Sphinyi-daf. Teratological specimen of apple. — Mr. Kaye also exhibited a double apple, the two having coalesced at the sides, and having two cores, but a common stalk. 19 Noctutds. — Mr. Bloomfield, a series of H yd roeeia nictitan s from Niton, Isle of Wight, with one dwarfed, also one Ayrotis obdisca. Camptogramma fluviata. — Mr. Dadd said he had just returned from Wicken, where the weather had been bad. C. fluviata was his best catch. He had also taken seven Nonayna lutosa and worn Apamea leucostiyma. The larvae of Papilio mcichaon were common, and he had collected bull-rushes for N onayria arnndinis, and one ? had already emerged. Collecting at Deal. — At Deal in August, Mr. Dadd reported having taken A// rot in tritici in numbers, Apamea leucostiyma, Aspildtes ochrearict and A. yilvaria. Lepidoptera at Torquay. — Mr. Prout, at Torquay, had found Leucania jmtrescem common, and Acontia luctuosa still about. At Sandown, where he had been last, few insects were to be taken. Three Aporophyla australis, one Leucania albipuncta, and one well marked L. vitellina were secured. Collecting in Cornwall and the Broads. — Mr. Ivaye in Cornwall, in June, found Sesia musciformis in numbers on thrift, and Phtsia festucae at iris blossoms with Dianthoecia carpophaga. At the “Broads,” in August he had taken Xonayria brevilinea, C'elaena hauorthii, Xotiayria nenrica, Arsilonche albovenosa, Phibalapteryx rittata, Ac., and pupie of Nonayria arnndinis in the bull-rushes. Interference with collecting in Epping Forest. — Mr. Garland reported that he had been stopped beating for larvae in Epping Forest, in the Loughton district, and objection had even been made by the keeper to his sugaring. Mr. Jennings had been spoken to about the barking of trees. Mr. Tutt thought if anything that could be called damage were really done, it was of no use interfering with the keeper, but if this keeper was taking upon himself to stop ordinary beating and sugaring, a letter should be written to Mr. E. N. Buxton. The Secretary thought the matter might first be mentioned to Mr. Cole of the Essex Field Club, and this he was desired to do by the Meeting. Oct. 3rd, 1899. — Mr. Russell James, of 3, Mount View Road, Stroud Green, was elected a member. Wicken Lepidoptera. — Mr. E. M. Dadd exhibited a large number of insects taken at Wicken. He mentioned K panda lutulenta, X on¬ agri a arnndinis, ( alatnia lutosa , one with the nervures of the wings much suffused, a pale Xanthia J'ulvayo. ( 'id aria testata was noted as com¬ mon all over the Fen, and it was remarkable how many specimens were malformed. In ten captured specimens this was noticeable, the right hindwing being badly formed or quite absent. He did not see an instance of the left wings being abnormal, but in one specimen both right wings were malformed. Mr. Prout asked if they were all captured, and suggested that the specimens, although taken dis- persedly, might all be of the same brood, or that it might be a matter of heredity from a weak strain in the Fen. Rev. C. R. N. Burrows thought lie had seen more malformed specimens of lepidoptera this past season than usual, and suggested it might have been caused bv the exceptionally dry weather. Agrotis tritici at Deal. — Mr. Dadd showed a long series of A. tritici, from Deal, taken in August, which varied so much that he was in doubt whether he had not got other species mixed with it ; also 20 Porthesia chrysorrhoea, brecl from larvae taken early in the year at Deal. Spilosoma lubricipeda var. radiata. — Mr. S. -J. Bell bred S. lubricipeda from one batch of ova received from Mr. Harrison, of Barnsley, exhibiting much variation in the direction of ab. radiata ; one noticeable specimen had clear Avhite central areas on the fore- and hindwings, with black margins, thin on forewings, but deeply radiated at inner angle of hindwings. Mr. Ii. H. May, who had received some of the eggs, bred insects varying from the type to ab. radiata, one approaching ab. fasciata. He also showed four bred S. menthastri, which were very large ; in one the black spots were larger than in those usually captured. Living lame from Sandown were also shown, along with on e Leucania albipuncta and three Taradrina ambifjua. Agrotis exclamationis ab., etc. — Mr. AY. -J. Kaye, an aberration of A. exclamationis from Cornwall, it being more ample than usual, and having the reniform stigma approaching that of ab. play a. An aberration of Amphipyra trayopoyonis from Worcester Park, with pale marginal area ; a very small Xoctna xanthoyraplia from Narborough, and a specimen of ('. ambiyna which he had taken so near London as AVorcester Park. Air. Prout said he had taken several narrow-winged malformed Ar. xanthoyraplia at Sandown. Dytiscus dimidiatus at AVicken. — Mr. Donisthorpe, four D. dimidiatus, two 3 two $ , out of nine specimens altogether, taken this year at AVicken in August. This insect has not been taken for about 30 years, with the exception of one specimen caught three years ago by Mr. Bouskell, also at AVicken. AIalacosoma castrensis bred. — Air. Bacot bred M. castrensis, contributing a note, read at meeting (see Transactions). Catocala nupta at Hackney.— Dr. Sequeira, series of twenty C. nnpta captured at Hackney over a period of six weeks. He supposed they must feed up on poplar, no willows being in the neighbourhood. Air. Prout thought the larva? would feed on apple, on which he believed they had been found at Sandown. The eggs do not all hatch at once, but the hatchings extend over a period of six weeks or two months. Air. Dadd said the American species attack apple and plum. Leucania lithargyria ab. — Mr. Prout, a pale specimen of L. litharyyria from Torquay, almost answering to the description of the silvery aberration mentioned in Air. Tutt’s lhitish Xoctuae ; two bred Cidaria testata, one from Nottingham and one from Sandown, exhibit¬ ing two extremes of colour, purplish and orange, (r nophos ubscitraria, two forms from Torquay, one ordinary and one sandy in colour, and four Anticlea rubidata bred two from Torquay, and two from Sandown, the latter having a rosy tinge, of which the Torquay insects were devoid. The forms were interesting as the species is generally considered a constant one. The dark form he considered as an aberration. Air. J. A. Clark said he had bred the rosy form from Croydon larva?. Deilephila eupiiorbiae. — Dr. Chapman, a specimen of / >. enphorbiar which had emerged in the autumn, having been three weeks in pupa. It was exhibited to show the broad blue scales at the incision of the abdomen. Abundance of Pyrameis atalanta, etc. — Mr. Donisthorpe spoke of the abundance of /’. atalanta everywhere this autumn. He had noticed 21 this abundance at Peterborough, Leicester, The Fens and Chiddingfold. Mr. Clark had seen it in hundreds at Ilfracombe. Mr. Bacot had seen great numbers at Loch Fyne, Carlisle and Newcastle, and Mr. S. J. Bell in N. Wales. Mr. Clark said Macrotjlosna stellataruni occurred in hundreds at Ilfracombe, and Mr. Fuller had seen an unusual quantity of them in the Channel Islands, where also Lam pities boctica had turned up in some numbers. Of Colias edasa Mr. F. J. Hanbury had seen a few in Devonshire, Mr. Clark had observed two at Ilfracombe, and Mr. Cox recorded seeing about a couple of dozen in the south and south-west of Ireland, and one in September was seen at Boxhill by Mr. Dadd. Letter from Secretary of Essex Field Club. — A reply from Mr. William Cole, Hon. Sec. of the Essex Field Club, was read, stating in answer to the Secretary’s letter, he knew of no bye-law forbidding heating and sugaring in Epping Forest, and thought more enquiries should be made. Mr. F. J. Hanbury moved that a letter lie now written to Mr. E. N. Buxton. The motion was carried. Oct. 17th, 1899. — Habits of Meliana flammea. — Mr. E.M. Dadd exhibited two pupte of Meliana jlammea, and mentioned that the species hybernates as a pupa. The larva was said to be found feeding on sedge at night unconcealed. Caradrina ambigua early stages. — Mr. S. J. Bell, two larvie, pupa and cocoon of Caradrina ambit pi a from Sandown, also a dark form of Boartnia repandata and Spilosoma menthastri aberrations carbonaeea and ochracea. Triphaena vars. — Mr. C. Oldham, one light T. pronuba, five T. orbona, one of which was identical with one of the forms figured in Newman, having two zigzag transverse lines across the forewings, and one had but a very faint discoidal spot on the hindwings, one T. fimbria and also a dwarf Pi/rameia atalanta. All the specimens were from Woodford. Choerocampa porcellus bred from the egg. — Mr. May, a series of C. porcellus bred from ova taken at Sandown. The moths were observed ovipositing on Galium rerum. The eggs were laid singly, and from one to 25 on a stem. He also showed a Poli/onnnatus icarus which had the appearance of P. astrarche. Ova of Malacosoma castrensis, etc. — Mr. Bacot, ova of M. castrensis, of Puilura monaclia and Cncthocampa pitt/ocamjia. Adelid larva case. — Dr. Chapman, the case of an Adelid larva, Xemntois fascicllus from Mucking, and a specimen of Arctia pudica from Cannes, which was interesting from the habit of the larva remaining three months in the cocoon before changing to pupa. This specimen had spun up in April, had changed to pupa in August, and emerged at the end of September. Hister unicolor. — Mr. F. B. Jennings exhibited a series of H. unicolor. Cleora lichenaria bred. — Mr. J. A. Clark, a series of C . lichenaria bred from eggs received from the North. Leucania vitellina. — Mr. L. B. Prout, a fresh specimen of L. vitcllina from Sandown, caught on September 5th last, and a long series of Ac id alia rusticata bred from North Kent larva', all of which were half as large again as the normal size. 22 Discussion on ova. — Mr. Proufc suggested that the discussion might range round three points : (1) How to induce moths to lay eggs when captured ; (2) Where to look for ova in the field ; and (3) What use could be made of them, i.e., what light did they throw on the grouping of moths, and would they help in the differentiation of species. Mr. May said he advised keeping for egg-laying a worn $ of any rare species, even if the insect was thus lost as a specimen. He remarked that the way he induced moths to lay was to put into the box with them split cork or muslin, and he had also found a piece of sponge especially useful, the moths inserting their ovipositors into the crevices. During the captivity of the moths moistened sugar was said to be palatable nourishment. Mr. Bacot had found that crumpled paper is often of use for grass-feeding moths, such as Lemania littoraUs. Grass should be put into the boxes, as the ? s will lay their eggs in the turned down edge of the withered leaf. Canvas will tempt Amphulasys be tula eta and A. strataria. He gave an instance where Phluyophura meticuloaa was induced to lay from 2-3000 eggs by a course of feeding and starving alternately, but the eggs proved infertile. Mr. Nicholson spoke of the similarity of the eggs of Triphaena pronuba and Naetiia typica, but said those of A', typica, the smaller moth, were double the size of those of T. prunuba. He recommended feeding the moths and also supplying them with moisture, while keeping them for egg- laying. It did not, he said, appear to be so necessary in the case of geometers, which generally lay at once in chip boxes, choosing any prominences there may be. These often lay their eggs in bunches, as if they did not move while laying. To get insects to deposit eggs he had sometimes put them into the cyanide bottle, allowing them to be just overcome by the fumes, and on release and reviving, found they dropped their eggs.' He suggested this latter might be done as the effect of fright, lest they should die before providing for a succeeding generation. Mr. Bell mentioned a case where he had thought he killed a Lasiocampa (piercm with oxalic acid, and after setting discovered it had laid eggs 24 hours afterwards. Some members thought this acid unsatisfactory for killing, but Mr. Clark recommended it if applied on a pin thrust into the junction of head with thorax on underside, and the point of the pin then given a turn downwards. In the case mentioned by Mr. Bell, he thought the acid had killed the ganglia in the thorax, but the abdominal ganglia being unaffected, and to a certain extent independent of the thoracic, the insect continued to protrude eggs. Mr. Prout spoke of Deilephila liromica laying nineteen eggs in a net when captured, attributing it to fright. Mr. Clark attested to the value of placing fresh pieces of the food-plant in with the imago as an induce¬ ment to lay. He cited ( 'hrysophanus phlacas, with which he had been successful. ” Mr. May said in the matter of finding eggs as laid by wild insects, he had watched Callupltrys rubi laying her eggs on the flower, buds of rock-rose, / lelianthemum rulyare, and Sphinx liyustn on young shoots of privet. Liparids were said to be fond of laying their eggs near their old cocoons. Triphaena prunuba on exposed dry twigs, and even round galvanized wire. Mr. Dadd said lie had been successful in obtaining eggs from T. fimbria, and had tried to humour T.janthina by placing string in the box with her. Triaena tridem and /’. pxi liked the presence of their food-plant, and Lemania impudem would lay a string of eggs along the edge of a blade of grass, if it were placed 28 in the cage. Mr. Front bad found that traUum, put in with Melanippe nrata, induced egg-laying. Three moths, in his experience, laid on this, and one which would not lay proceeded to do so when this plant was introduced. He felt it of importance to supply moisture for the $ moths, usually employing cotton wool saturated with water. He found Noctuids put off egg-laying as long as possible, perhaps waiting for their natural environment, and would at last lay all their eggs in a very short time. Home might be waiting for fertilisation. He once got 1500 eggs from a dilatory Ayrotis saucia, but they were infertile. The eggs of < 'heiniatobia hrumata and C. boreata were very different and easily distinguished. Oporabia dilutata has smooth eggs, which are laid in crevices, while 0. filiyraminaria has rough eggs, which are fastened to twigs. < 'atocala sponsa lays very far down the cracks of oak bark, while its near ally 6'. promism lays on the bark. The eggs of Hemerophila abruptaria and llinton hirtaria are similar, those of Himera pennaria are sugar-loafed in form, the smaller end adhering to the object on which they are laid. Ennoinos alniaria lays her eggs in a line, Id. quereinaria in a batch arranged tile-like. The eggs of Dicranura rimila are dome-shaped with a fine netting, whilst those of D. enninea are flat, of oak-spangle shape, and with an obvious netting. Nov. 7th, 1899. — Scotch insects. — Mr. Bacot exhibited a large number of insects from Scotland, including many specimens of Hydroecia nictitans var. hum s and ('Maria ivunanata, also specimens of Scoliopteripv libatri.r, Cirrhoedia xerampelina, Calocampa solidaginis, Oporabia fHiyranimaria, Celaena haicorthii (Argyllshire) and several Krebia aethiops from Isle of Bute. Brephos parthenias. — Mr. May, specimens of B. partlwnias, those from Wimbledon in some cases having the dark markings on the hind- wings, leaving rounded spots near the outer margin, while those from Theydon Bois had the band continuous across the undenving. Fcjmea casta at Wicken. — Mr. W. J. Kaye, cases of F. casta from Wicken Fen. Dytiscus marginaus at Edmonton. — Mr. F. B. Jennings, living specimens of / >. maryinalis from Edmonton, also Xaucoris cimicoules, a rather important addition to the Lea valley list of Hemiptera, and a larva of Sialis lataria. Transactions for 1898. — The President announced that the Transactions for 1898 had been received from the printers. Paper. — Mr. F. 1>. Jennings read a communication on “ Some marsh beetles of the Lea Valley.” A hearty vote of thanks was accorded on the motion of Messrs. Dadd and Nicholson. On variation of certain species of lepidoptera. — Mr. Bacot followed with a very minute study carefully worked out of the variation in broods of Malacosoina castrensis, A.rylia putris, Spilosonia urticae and Cncullia umbratica. An interesting discussion followed, in which Messrs. Prout, Dadd, Mera and May took part, Mr. Jennings moving, and Mr. May seconding, a vote of thanks. The paper was illustrated by the broods in question (paper printed in Transactions). Notes on Eupithecia coronata. — Mr. L. B. Prout read a com¬ munication on “ Notes on Eupithecia coronata, Messrs. Kaye, Nicholson and Dadd contributing to the discussion, Messrs. Nicholson and Bate expressing the thanks of the members (paper printed in Transaction s). 24 Not. 21st, 1899. — Papilio machaon aberrations. — Mr. Clark exhi¬ bited specimens of P. machaon from Wieken, taken between June 10th and 17th, one having an extra black spot at the apex of the forewings. Dr. Sequeira, also a specimen taken in 1894, of abnormal form which he identified with aberration natzhai, Garb., mentioned in Tutt’s British Butterflies under the description “ an abnormal form in which the outer and inner margins are strongly bent inwards, making the wings narrower and smaller, and forming at the anal angle a deep inlet of elliptical form.” Agrotis saucia from Sandown. — Mr. May, several A. saucia from Sandown, picked out of a bred series from larva1. One had a dark band on outer margin, and two were of the ab. nipricost-a. Papilio machaon and allied species. — Mr. Bacot, a large selection of P. machaon , including both captured and bred specimens, from Wieken and Norfolk. A series of P. hospiton was also shown, and this was said to be the Corsican form of machaon. A single P. poilalirius, bred from a continental pupa, was very pale, but this was said to be the usual result obtained by those who breed P. podalinus in captivity. Collection of Psychids. — Dr. T. A. Chapman, a collection of Psychids, including Proutia betulina, one taken in Epping Forest, continental forms, and one bred by Mr. Whittle, of Southend, Bacotia sepiitm and one which he believed to be P. salicolella from Epping Forest, bred by Mr. Prout, but this might prove to be a new and undescribed species. Dyschorista suspecta. — Mr. Prout, specimens of J>. susjwcta, from Wimbledon and Aberdeen. He mentioned that Mr. Kaye had raised a question as to whether this species was congeneric with I Ktissipuncta, as placed by Lederer. Mr. Prout also thought that the larva did not seem to be congeneric with that of D. fissipuncta. Oporabia autumnata. — Mr. Prout mentioned that misfortune had attended his breeding this species. A few interesting forms had hatched. The dates of emergence were from .July 30th-November 14th, these being actually the offspring of the same parents, and having pupated at the same time. The difference of dates is wide enough to be interesting. Of two found feeding on pine, by Dr. Chapman, near Cannes, one proved to be ichneumoned and one was crippled, but showed itself to be a dark autumnata. Interference with collecting in Epping Forest. — A letter had been received from the Epping Forest Committee of the City Corpora¬ tion, stating that in answer to the representations of the Society the keepers will lie instructed not to interfere with entomologists in their pursuits, unless there is actual damage to the trees. Discussion on Papilio machaon. — Dr. Sequeira remarked on the fact that in June last all stages of the butterfly were to be obtained at one time, i.e., ova, young larva?, fullfed larva1, pupa, and imagines. Mr. Prout suggested that anyone able to give proofs of its being double-brooded, or who could show that the pupa goes over two years, should do so. Mr. E. M. Dadd asked “why was this insect confined in England to the Broads and Wieken Fen ” ? The food-plant occurs plentifully in marshy places in several parts of England. In Germany he had found the imago on liill-tops. Mr. .1. A. Clark confirmed the fact that in June, larva?, pupa?, and imagines could be taken at one 25 time in Wicken. Dr. Sequeira said he had never seen the imago so late as in September. Mr. Bacot was of opinion it had a fixed hyber- nating stage, that of pupa. The larva feeds rapidly in sunny weather. Although he would have thought the Fens were bleak, yet after visits he came to the conclusion that in summer the marshy ground here absorbed much warmth, and the reason for P. madman being limited in range he attributed to lack of sufficient heat elsewhere. He pointed out that the larva was first spiny and then smooth, indicating that it was specialised when first hatched, and had probably lost the primitive stage. Dr. Chapman had found on the continent that butterflies will fly to the top of hills, not because the larvae fed there, but because they apparently like to be at the top, and will drive others away. He had noticed this habit in Apatura iris, Papilio podalirius and Pyrameis atalanta. Mr. W. -T. Kaye had found the larva on wild angelica in England, and questioned whether the food-plant on which it occurs in the Fens was really ever wild carrot. He believed it to be Peucedanum palustrc, a species not unlike the wild carrot (Damns carutd). He thought there were three points remarkable about this butterfly : (1) Its wide range throughout the world, (2) its narrow range in Eng¬ land, (8) the fluctuations in the numbers of its occurrence. The scarcity of it in some years he attributed to its being too prolific. If it produces a second brood rather late in the season the larv* are not able to feed up in time to change to pupa before the winter, and the following year’s supply of imagines suffers. He also thought it was an insect requiring, besides great warmth in summer, also a sufficient amount of cold in winter. Mr. Nicholson spoke of the two colour forms of the pupa, and had obtained both in rearing his larvae without being able to distinguish the determining cause. The wild pupae were generally of the green and yellow form. Mr. Clark mentined they pupate on reeds in the Fens, although they feed up on “ wild carrot.” Mr. Bacot had found a pupa on dwarf sallow. Dr. Chapman referred to Mr. Merrifield’s recent experiments. If the larvas were allowed to pupate on black sticks the pup), is very clear on this point, and prevents technical objections being raised. It runs “ whosoever shall administer or cause to be administered, or to be taken by any person any poison or other destruc¬ tive thintj, Ac.” This covers anything which might have injurious effects whether acting chemically or mechanically. For our purpose then we will take the broad view and include any plants which may act mechanically. In considering the various plants under the above heads, owing to their number, our notes must of necessity be brief. Plants used for criminal purposes. The first to notice is one of our deadly poisons, found in most gardens, the aconite or monkshood (Aconitum napellus). This plant has been the agent employed in several murders. The first case recorded is from Ireland (c). The aconite was supposed to have been mixed with some greens by the prisoner, but no traces of the plant were discovered, and it was only by the closest analysis of symptoms and post mortem appearances that the charge was sustained. The medical evidence proved only too true, for the prisoner, after conviction, confessed that the powdered aconite root had been mixed with pepper and sprinkled on the greens. Aconitine, the alkaloid of the plant, was the agent employed in the celebrated Lamson case (d). There Dr. Lamson was only convicted of the murder of his brother-in-law after a most lengthy trial and numerous experiments on animals by the medical experts. Laburnum (< 'ptisus laburnum) was the subject of a manslaughter trial at Inverness (e). Here a youth, by way of a practical joke, put some laburnum bark into his fellow servant’s broth and unfortunately killed him. The Water Parsnip or Hemlock Water Dropwort {penanthe crocata) was used in France for criminal purposes by mixing slices of the root pi) Guy and Ferrier, For. Med. (/>) 24 and 25 Viet., c. 100, Sec. 11. (<•) It. v. McKonkcv, Monaghan Lent Ass., 1841. \tl) K. v. Lamson, C.C.C., March, 1882. O') Ed. Med. H. J., October, 1843. 84 in soup. The objectionable taste caused the frustration of the intended murder. The prisoner was convicted of the attempt (a). The Common Laurel ( Prunm latiro-ceramts) was the subject of a murder trial in 1781 ( b ). In that case the prisoner substituted two ounces of laurel water for medicine, which was equal to nearly 2i grains of pure prussic acid. As might be expected the patient died within half an hour of taking the draught. The Common Spotted Hemlock ( Conium maculatum) was used at Ipswich in a murder case (c), the prisoner, however, was acquitted for want of evidence. It was also used in a case at Dessau (d). The Deadly Nightshade or Belladonna ( Atropa belladonna) . The alkaloid of this plant atropine has been used in two criminal cases, in neither of which was a conviction sustained (e). Tobacco (Xicotiana tabacum ) and the other cultivated species and varieties, A', a (finis, &c., have been used for many criminal purposes, drugging liquors, Ac.; and in Belgium nicotine was the subject of a murder trial (/). The residue left in pipes is a very strong poison, a child has been killed by sucking an old pipe, yet we have found in the country that it is a common practice to give children pipes to play with. A small portion of nicotine out of a pipe will kill a snake in about 30 seconds. We have tried it on adders in the New Forest, so you can imagine children not doing well on it. The Thorn Apple ( Datura stramonium ) and other allied species are favourite poisons in the east, the Indian Thugs are specially partial to it, and not long ago it was used extensively in Germany and Paris to cause loss of consciousness preparatory to the commission of various crimes. The flowers of some species will produce faintness, especially in a small room, but the heavy scent might be a warning. A case of Vat lira poisoning is recorded from Osnabruck (//). A number of plants have been used for improper purposes, and have so become the subject of criminal proceedings, of these we will mention a few. Yew ( Taxus baccata ) has been used on several occasions, the alkaloid taxine being a severe irritant. Animals have also been poisoned by it, owners of gardens with yew-trees overhanging fields should be careful, for lie who plants a dangerous thing within reach of his neighbour’s cattle is liable for any damage ensuing (A). Rue (llnta ijraveolem ) has also been used and is frequently employed in France (/). Ergot of Rye ( Clariceps jmr/mrea). This fungus which appears on the rye in damp seasons is well known for its use for criminal purposes, many cases are recorded (./). (a) Gaz. Med., January 3rd, 1846. ( b j R. v. Donellan, Taylor Poisons, 717. (<•) II. v. Bowyer, Ipswich Sum. Ass., 1848. (d) Guy and Ferrier, 582. ( e ) 11. v. Sprague, Exeter Aut. Ass., 1848, R. v. Stie'e, Mm cluster Lent. Ass., 1872. ( f) Ann. d’ Hyg., 1851, vol. 2, p. 187. in) Taylor Poisons, 785. Christison, 841. (/() Crowhurst v. Amersham Burial Board, 4 Ex., 1). 5. (i) Taylor Poisons, 783. (j) It- v. Caldcr, Exeter Lent. Ass., 1844, R. v. Baddelcy, C.C.C., July. 1877. 35 Saim (Juniper its sabtna ) has also been used for the same pur¬ poses («). Pennyroyal (Mentha puletjium). This innocent herb was used in one case, but it is doubtful whether it really has any injurious proper¬ ties (h). Tansy (Tancnrtum. vul/are). This plant has been used in the United States, in several cases with fatal results, many other plants and herbs ha\e been used improperly, both Digitalis and Belladonna, and according to 1 rofessor lidy the following must be looked upon with suspicion : hellebore, A etc a raceinosa, Tdtjnmi vitae, tansy, wormwood and mug- wort ( Artemisia rub/aris ) (<■•). The Foxglove ( Digitalis purpurea) has been the subject of several manslaughter cases when given bv quacks. From these cases it will be seen that upwards of twenty plants have been used for criminal purposes. Doubtless many poisons are used in India and the East which are almost impossible to discover and hence a number of crimes pass unpunished. Possibly cases pass undetected here, but analysis and experiments with animals, as in the Lamson case, must act as a deterrent. Great strides have been made in this direction since Palmer was convicted after a lengthy and sensational trial of poison¬ ing with strychnine, but on the other hand, many supposed criminals have been acquitted for want of sufficient evidence. Many vegetable poisons are most difficult to detect, some being almost impossible to hud out, to wit, some of those used by the Juju men on the*West Coast of Africa, but in nearly all cases the most careful and delicate analysis is necessary, and even where the poison has not been detected, experi¬ ments on animals, which produced the symptoms of the poison suspected, have led to convictions. Of all cases of murder the law considers that by poison the most detestable, because it can, of all others, be least prevented by manhood or forethought. It is a deliberate act necessarily implying malice, however great the provoca¬ tion may have been. Luckily the percentage of murders by poisoning, is very small, only about 5% we fancy. Plants which have been used by mistake for culinary or medicinal PURPOSES. This class is rather a large one, and when we look at the large number of plants which have caused fatal results through gross ignorance and carelessness one wonders that in these days of education it should be possible for such cases to occur. Lately we have had occasion to visit a good many of our local schools, both National and Board; we find on the walls excellent plates of British birds, and others showing the cocoa and other useful plants, but never have Ave met with one shoving common poisonous plants to be avoided. Perhaps there may be such, but at any rate from enquiries we have made they are not in general use (cl). If the Board of Education would forego a few yards of red tape and cause a little of (a) It. v. Phillips, C.C.C., February, 1885. It. v. Fascoe, Cornwall Lent. Ass., 185:2. 11. v. Moore, Northern Circuit, December, 1853. (b) 11. v. Wallis, 1871. 11. v. Collins, Chelmsford, Aut. Ass., 1820. (<•) Tidy Leg. Med., p. i i . . p. Kir. (hoellandrium) . The roots have been taken as parsnips, causing death. The Narrow Leaved Water Parsnip (Sium ani/ustifolium ) is common in brooks in the south, and the leaves have been taken in mistake for watercress, with fatal results. The terminal leaflet of watercress is larger than any of the others, whilst in the water parsnip it is smaller. This would prevent mistakes if generally known. The Fool’s Parsley (Aethusa cynapium ) has been eaten for parsley, the roots for young turnips. The leaves are not unlike badly grown parsley, but finer and of a darker colour, it can easily be distinguished by the beard or three long pendulous leaves of the involucrum under the flower, and in its earlier stages by the pungent odour of the leaves when rubbed. The Black Hellebore or Christmas Rose (Helleborus uiyrr) belongs to a poisonous genus, its roots have been taken by mistake for rhubarb, and quacks or herbalists have given it with fatal results. The Stinking Hellebore (//. foetid us) and white Hellebore ()>»•«- tnnn album) have both caused death through mistake. Henbane (Hynscyamun niyer) is a dangerous plant, its leaves and roots have been cooked as articles of diet with disastrous results. The Potato ( Solatium tuberosum), generally looked upon as the most useful and innocent of plants, has on occasion belied its character. (a) Stephenson and Churchill, Med. Ii h., vol. ii., p. 81). 37 The green berries have proved fatal, and tubers grown exposed to the air have caused illness, and undoubtedly are unwholesome. The Common Nightshade (S. dulcamara), one of the nearest allies to the potato, has been taken by mistake. Its berries are very poisonous, the black berries of S. nvjra are still worse, and the whole plant is poisonous. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea ) and other introduced species are all bad. Herbalists have dabbled with this plant to the cost of their credulous patients. The Meadow Saffron or Autumnal Crocus ( Colchicum autumnalis), a pretty but dangerous plant, is found in bloom in our meadows in September and October. The bulbs and spring shoots have been eaten by mistake for onions, the leaves and decoctions of the flowers have caused death. The Caper Spurge (Euphorbia lathy ns) is exceedingly dangerous in the fresh state, but when pickled is used as a substitute for capers, although it is questionable whether it is a wholesome article of diet. Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) has been used fatally as a pot herb. The Common Sorrel (llumex acetosa), a favourite addition to salads, sauces, &c., on the continent, whilst quite wholesome in moderation, has, on account of the large quantity of binoxolate of potash it contains, caused serious illness when taken in excess. The Common Elder (Sambucns nirjra). Who has not heard of (or perhaps felt) the effects of elder wine for the head ? Elder-flower water in some villages is supposed to be highly beneficial to the complexion, at the same time an infusion of the berries without fermentation is reported to have caused serious illness, although, as far as we are aware, when ripe they contain no noxious properties. The leaves and flowers are irritants, and have caused very severe illness (a). A case ended fatally through taking the sap from the roots (b). The Dwarf Elder (S. ebulm) has caused death. The Great Water Parsnip (Siam latifolium ) has been eaten in mistake for watercress, and caused instant death. The Common Laurel (P. lauro-cerasus) before referred to, has added many cases to the accidental list, the leaves often used in custard, when overdone by ignorant cooks have caused illness, whilst the fruit and decoctions of the leaves have caused death. Entomologists know how powerful the leaves are, especially the young growth which contains a large amount of prussic acid A Another plant with the same active principle is the peach. Christison gives two instances of poisoning by the flowers, in both cases they were taken for medicinal purposes, the kernels of course contain a quantity of prussic acid, and if eaten in excess might very easily prove fatal. Cherry Kernels (Prunus avium) when eaten in quantities have also proved fatal. The Celandine (( 'helidonium majus) according to Stephenson and Churchill, has caused many deaths. The Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) contains a poisonous substance with emetic properties. Injudicious use has caused illness. («) Ed. Med. and Sur. Jour., xxxiii., 73. (b) Med. Gaz., xxxv., 9G. 88 Poppies, white, reel and yellow all contain poisonous properties. The heads of the white poppy grown here contain meconate of morphia, and numerous cases of poisoning have occurred by the use of syrup of poppies, many children having lost their lives through its use. When a child is teething, in some districts it is a common practice to give this (or Godfrey’s cordial, which is worse, as it contains more morphia) ; a few convictions for manslaughter might check it. In one case two poppy heads were boiled in a quarter of a pint of milk, two small spoonfuls of this was given to a child, and it was quiet for ever. In another case two tea spoons of a decoction from one poppy head was given by a nurse to quiet a child. The child died the next day. The Ranunculus family mostly contain acrid and noxious proper¬ ties. The meadow crowfoot (11. arris) has caused death. Black bryony ( Tamils communis). The roots contain an irritant principle bryonine. In several cases where prescribed medicinally it has ended fatally. The Thorn Apple (Datura stramonium) has been taken accidentally as well as criminally. An infusion of the leaves has been taken in error for Senna tea, and also for horelioimd, with fatal results. It has also been added to salads. The alkaloid is daturia. Hedge Hyssop (Gratiola officinalis) has been given by quacks, causing death. The poisonous principle is known as gratioline. Milk. — Another point which may he here considered is that of cattle feeding on certain plants, and their milk thereby becoming poisonous. The hedge Hyssop ((!. officinalis), several Spurges (Euphorbiae) are supposed to have caused this, and according to Taylor it is now generally admitted that milk may he so poisoned. There can be no doubt that when cows feed on garlic, wormwood, sow¬ thistle, and even on cabbage, the taste of the milk or butter is affected (how, we will leave to recent research in bacteria and buttermaking to explain). A case is reported from Aurillac, in France, where sixteen persons were seized with violent sickness after drinking the milk of a goat. It was never discovered what had caused the poisonous action. There was a quantity of Euphorbia esula growing on the pasture, and it was surmised that the goat had been eating this plant. Poisoned Flesh. — Some cases of poisoned flesh are recorded in North America. Pheasants which had been feeding on the buds of Calmia lati folia have caused severe illness (a). The flesh of hares w hich have fed on Rhododendron chrysanthemum is considered dangerous. A e came across a case under this head. In the severe winter of 1895 a hare was sent to some people. The whole family who partook of it became severely ill, and mind it was quite fresh — no question of ptomaine poisoning arising. We should say that in all probability that hare had been indulging in some poisonous garden-plant. In France, snails which had fed on Coriaria myri folia poisoned a whole family (b). It is also known that honey from bees fed on rhododen¬ dron, calmia, azalea, datura and other plants, acts as a poison, causing severe illness (<;). (a) Becks. Med. Jur., 854. (b) Gaz. Med., Oct., 1812. (c) Taylor Poisons, 100. Poisoned Bread. — Bread has been poisoned by : — (1) The intro¬ duction of the grain of our only poisonous grass, darnel ( Lolium temulentum) . (2) Rye bread on the continent, by the introduction of the fungus ergot of rye ( Secale cornu turn), which develops on grain grown in wet seasons. (3) The flower from seeds of Txttlnjrns cicera and Kn-um or ilia (bitter vetch) in some places added to bread ; where more than one-twelfth part of it is used, it becomes highly dangerous. (4) Mould. Sometimes mould grows spontaneously on bread ( Peni - cillinm roscnm and P. glaucinn), the former being a red and the latter a green mould. Such bread, according to Taylor, is highly dangerous, and may actually cause death, the red forms being the worst. Fungi. — Everyone or nearly everyone eats mushrooms — mushrooms being poisonous must be referred to — we do not mean to say that the toothsome morsels one buys are bad, but that they may he for all the average person is able to tell us. In a paper like this there is only room to refer to a few species which have caused death or serious results. The Common Mushroom (Agancua campestris ) when decayed has caused poisoning, and in one case a woman died within twenty hours after eating them. The Morel ( Hecella aexculenta) has caused serious illness, a case is recorded where six persons were poisoned by partaking of them. The Yellow Coloured ( Amanita citrina ) has also caused death. Most fungi growing under trees are dangerous, and a case is mentioned of a boy eating two fungi (sp. ?) from under a tree and dying within 44 hours. A. pantharina and A. muscaria have both caused death and serious illness. Agaricus plialloides , which has no un¬ pleasant smell when fresh, is one of the most dangerous. The common truffle ( Murchella csculenta), so often found in turkeys and other like places, has given rise to severe symptoms of irritant poisoning. It is a curious fact that the poisonous properties of mushrooms vary with climate, and probably with the season of the year when gathered. Some persons also are liable to be seriously affected, even by species generally regarded as wholesome (just as shell-fish affect persons differently). Our common mushroom is regarded as poisonous in Italy, whilst many of our poisonous species are eaten with relish in Russia. According to Guy and Ferrier, there are few, if any, edible fungi which ordinary people can be trusted to distinguish from poisonous ones. Even when two kinds are contrasted in plates faithfully drawn and coloured, some care is needed to distinguish one or two species from others which resemble them. Nor can the general rules which have been laid down by our worthy grandmothers for the detection of bad species be relied upon. Their silver spoons were (and are) all very well on a table, but quite useless as a test. Colour is quite indecisive, and some of the most dangerous are void of any unpleasant smell when fresh, though the most wholesome may be offensive when old. We shall be on the safe side, however, in rejecting all that have an offensive or repulsive odour and those which present a bitter taste, burning and parching of the throat, those, too, which have a livid hue and assume various colours when broken or bruised. Experience is the only safe test, and no one should try species incautiously, with whose character they are not thoroughly 40 acquainted. For persons with only a slight knowledge of fungi to try new species is hardly worth the danger. Dr. Cooke’s popular work on fungi will help us to distinguish many, but these remarks are intended only for those who have no special botanical knowledge. Plants which have been eaten by childken by accident. As several cases quite recently have come under our personal view in this division, we must briefly mention a few dangerous plants. Yew ( Taxus baccata). A most attractive and dangerous plant, which is accountable for many victims. The red covering of the berry is harmless, but the kernel or seed is very poisonous. A fatal case occurred at Lubbenham, Leicestershire, in 1892, of children eating the young shoots in the spring. Laburnum (Cytisus laburnum). Both seeds, flower and bark have caused fatal results, children seem specially attracted by the shining vetch like seeds. We ourself have made children throw the flowers out of their mouths. The Bryony (. Bryonia dioca). The red berries, in the autumn, of this plant have been taken by children, red seems to have a fatal attraction, no warning colour for them. The Spindle Tree (Emmy mu. s eurnpaeu. s), from which the gypsies make their bunches of wooden skewers, is another handsome shrub with large bunches of bright crimson berries, these are decidedly dangerous. The Holly (Ilex aqui folium). The berries are dangerous, and a case of serious illness is recorded through eating them. The Guelder Rose or Snowball Tree (Viburnum upulus). The red berries are dangerous, a fatal case is recorded by Stevenson. The Privet (Liyustruin rulyare). The black berries of the autumn have killed children, and the shoots are exceedingly dangerous. Common Nightshade (Solatium dulcamara) before mentioned, the red berries have poisoned children. The Mezerion or Daphne (l)aphnr mezereum), the earliest dower¬ ing of our garden shrubs, pink blooms appearing before the leaves, the red berries are most dangerous, many cases of children taking them have occurred. The Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna). The luscious-looking berries and flowers have caused several deaths, fortunately this plant is by no means generally common, although on the Cotswolds and in Hertfordshire it is not scarce in places. The berries have been sold in London streets for fruit, and, as might be expected, killed the children eating them. Herb Paris (Paris quad ri folia) a common plant in some woods, Stephenson and Churchill record a case of a child being killed through eating the berries. The Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) a curious case occurred at Oadby, Leicestershire, in July, 1893. A child aged five swallowed a lot of the berries, and subsequently died. At the inquest the medical evidence was to the effect that death was caused through irritation caused by eating the berries followed by convulsions. The seeds are very rough and setup inflammation, death ensued from the mechanical action, and it was given in evidence that the berries are not poisonous. Everyone knows that the bark, roots, flowers and young leaf-buds of 41 this tree are poisonous, and contain prussic acid, if anyone doubts let them crush a little bark, the smell is nearly as strong as laurel, it generally follows in similar cases that the fruit or rather the seed, or kernel, exclusive of pulp, contains the poison in a concentrated form, hence we may take it that mountain-ash berries are poisonous from a chemical definition point of view. The Petty and other Spurges ( Euphorbia peplus, K. heliascopia and K. atnygdalaides) have all been eaten by children, and in some cases death has ensued. Lords and Ladies Arum {Arum maculatum), the commonest of hedgerow plants. Flowers, leaves and berries have all been eaten by children, several fatal cases are recorded. Amongst the plants which we have before mentioned, which have also unfortunately poisoned children are Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetasa), Cicuta cirosa, Oenanthi ‘ crocata, Datura stramonium and Siam latifnlium. Only this last summer we saw a boy of about six with a flower stem of this plant in his mouth, we of course made him discard it, and frightened his companions well. In conclusion it might not be out of place to mention a few noxious plants to be barred, which might cause illness or death, if they have not already done so. It should be understood that the plants we have mentioned are some of our worst examples, but in a paper like this, it is impossible to give every plant. Plants to be avoided. The Crowfoot family, except It. auricomus. The juices and bruised leaves of It. sceleratus, It. bulbosus and It. arris contain irritant properties, the leaves of 11. arris will blister the hand if crushed. The Anemone {A. nemarasa, A. pulsatilla, A. pratensis, &c.), possess poisonous properties. The Wild Clematis or Traveller’s Joy {( 'lematis ritalba ) is more or less poisonous. The Marsh Marigold ( C alt ha palustris) may in certain localities contain poisonous qualities, but in this country they are of a mild character. The Yellow Stoneerop {Snlum acre) contains in its fleshy succulent leaves irritant properties. The Meadow Rue ( Thalirtrum durum) is certainly poisonous, so is the Purging Flax {L-inum cathartieum), which should never be taken by people who are not properly acquainted with its properties. The Horseradish {< ' ochlearia armoracea) contains irritant properties, and Wild Celery (Apium >/ rain dens) is more or less poisonous, the blanching in cultivation deprives the plant of its injurious properties. The Wood Sanicle (Sanicula eurapaca) contains similar properties. The Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) contains highly dangerous qualities. The Bindweed (( 'anralrulus sepium) contains in its roots and leaves a poisonous principle. The P>luebell {Hyacinthus nonscriptus) contains noxious properties, as do the Lent Lily {Narcissus pseudo-narcissus) and the numerous cultivated varieties. Delphinium or Larkspur, of various species, are decidedly dangerous. The Cyclamen {Cyclamen europarum), the Fritillary or Crown Imperial {Fritillaria imperialis), common in all old fashioned gardens is bad. The Plumbago {Plumbago eurapaca) generally seen in greenhouses, has dangerous properties. The Rhododendron {It. chrysanthemum) is well known for its poisonous properties. Lobelia is another dangerous genus. The Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), a common garden plant, Pink Root (Spiyelia marylandica and S. calif arnica) are both poisonous. The Meadow 42 Pimpernel (. Anayallis anwurix), Wild Chervil (Chaerophi/llinn sylvestre), Mountain laurel ( Camia l at i folia), and very many other plants, are dangerous. In conclusion we must admit it is somewhat of a large subject to treat in a small paper with any success, and we can only say that if any of the facts we have recorded lead indirectly to a greater interest being taken in our poisonous plants, Ave shall have been amply repaid for our labour. THE LIFE-HISTORY OF OPORABIA (EPIRRITA) AUTUMNATA, Bkh. (Bead March 21st, 1899, by LOUIS B. PEOUT, F.E.S.). The notes which I propose, under the above title, to bring before this Society this evening, may be regarded as supplementary to the general paper on “The Genus Oporabia,” which I read here on May 4th, 1897, and of which the more important part was published in the Entom. llecord, ix., pp. 247, 282, 315, readily accessible to our members." 1. In Kntom. xxx., p. 234 (Sept., 1897), Mr. Kane records what is obviously the true autumnata, Bkh., under the name autumnaria, Gn., as occurring near Belfast. 2. In Knt. lice., x., p. 93 (April, 1898) I wrote some critical notes on the synonymy, the gist of which was that autumnata, Bkh.= autumnaria, Wea Y. = addcndaria, White — approximaria, Weav., and that the specific distinctness herefrom of autumnata, Gn., no. 1334, pi. 18, fig. 7, and oi nliyranmaria, H.S., still remained doubtful. The life-history which I have worked out does not prove Epirrita autumnata to be a species absolutely distinct from E. filii/rammaria ; probably the two stand in just about the same relationship as do many of our other most puzzling pairs of forms, e.y., Anthroeera trifolii and palitsitrix, Laniocampa qucrcri* and callunae, Tcphrosia bistortata and crepumdaria, Ac.; that is to say, they are differentiated by localities, periods, food-plants, markings, Ac., but not yet by important structural characters. Apart, however, from the extreme jiili lilutata , being content with the general statement that it would be impossible to confound the two species. Of course, the differences between them are mainly the same as beeween < lilutata and jiliyram¬ maria, namely, that the former is practically unicolorous, generally of a bright apple-green, yellowish at the segment incisions, and with an indistinctly yellowish lateral line, and with the addition in a fair percentage of specimens of a purple dorsal line, of which there is no trace in its allies ; moreover, < lilutata appears somewhat more plump, and presents altogether a very different aspect, and its head, though lightish brown, is not without some tinge of green, and never such a dark brown as that of autumnata and Jiliyrammaria. The duration of the third stadium was, in all the observed cases, only four or five days. In the fourth instar, autumnata continues to be somewhat variable, some sharply marked examples being hardly distinguishable from jiliyrammaria, but the bulk being of a duller green, decidedly less sharply marked, the lateral line less yellow, though not absolutely white, as in so many < lilutata larva? of this age ; the subdorsal line also less yellow, and narrower than in Jiliyrammaria. I again noticed, as in the third instar, the entire difference of aspect between those two forms and (lilutata ; these differences being mainly of the same character as there noted, I need not recapitulate them. The time occupied in the fourth instar seemed to vary much, namely from four to nine days ; to which must be added two to three days required for the final moult ; I think none of the preceding moults occupied more than a day. In the fifth (final) instar, I made several interesting observations and comparisons. In its earlier days, many of the larva? were of a bright goldy-green colour, which very occasionally appeared as a variety in filiy ram maria : the rest were of a rather bright apple green, and none showed the dark and rich greens which are so frequent in jiliyrammaria : the yellow subdorsal line was narrower, the lateral stripe paler yellow, and not strikingly conspicuous, the band of dorsal colour beneath it, inclined to shade off gradually to the ventral colouring ; the head was in almost all cases green, very rarely indeed with the lobes of the face brownish tinged, while a very good proportion 48 of filv/ravuiiaria (though not all) had the lobes more or less brown. At this period, therefore, the larvae were still distinguishable from even the wholly green form of dilutata. But as they advanced towards full growth, they tended more and more to approach a uniform type of coloration, and that, curiously enough, was almost exactly that of dilutata in its green form, and, therefore, quite a contrast to full-fed riiit/raniinaria. That is to say, the larvae of autmunata (except a very small percentage of more strongly marked specimens) became, when full-grown, of a nearly unicolorous bright apple-green, the subdorsal lines and pale tubercular dots becoming very inconspicuous, and in many specimens even the lateral stripe also becoming so, except on the last few segments. At this stage it conforms to G uenee’s description of the larva of his autmunata (var. t/ueneata), and if he studied only full-grown larvae, and from but one locality and food-plant, he could easily have described the species as not varying at all." On two separate occasions I compared these full-fed autmunata with the green form of dilutata of the same age, and it would hardly be exaggerating to say that their general aspect was identical ; autmunata appeared slightly the more yellowish-green, dilutata slightly the more bluish; in autmunata the pale subdorsal lines were still faintly traceable, in dilutata quite obsolete ; in autmunata the pale trapezoidal spots were slightly more noticeable than in dilutata : in autmunata the minute spiracular dots were darker than in dilutata , though still by no means black ; in dilutata they were red, extremely inconspicuous, and surrounded with a halo of yellow, which was not observable in autmunata ; in both the broods compared, the head was green, the lateral line yellow, but in many dilutata the latter is white or nearly so — sometimes almost snowy. The general constancy of autmunata at this stage, compared with the enormous variability of dilutata, was very striking. The larvae went to earth in about six to nine days from the final moult ; the whole larval period would thus reach from about 25 to 86 days, according to temperature and other circumstances; at least one larva, which was specially noticed, went down only 25 days after- hatching, the dates being March 18th to April 12th, 1898. At large, the larva of this species appears generally to be met with in May and June, though one record for July (Andersson, Knt. Tidskr., v., p. 187) probably belongs here. Mr. Allen, at Enniskillen, took larvre on April 28th, May 8th, 14th and 27th, 1898, two of which were full-fed on May 14th ; some were still feeding on May 81st, but all the healthy ones had gone down by June 10th. Dilutata taken from hawthorn near by on May 14th and 19th had all gone down (except sickly ones) hy the end of the month, and Mr. Allen writes (in lift., November 11th, 1898) that “ autmunata seems to be just a little later all through, than dilutata." It may be well here to summarise the most important points in the above notes on the larvre. autmunata with jilitiraniinaria. Never any very momentous differences. In the second instar, autmunata much less definite green than tilinrannnana, more olivaceous, or even grey ; in the fifth instar much more unicolorous than jilitiraniinaria, generally lighter and brighter green, yellow longitudinal lines much more tending to obsolescence; no noteworthy difference in other stages. Autmunata 49 grows tho larger, and perhaps feeds up a trifle the more rapidly ; my records for the larval period of jiligrammari-a range from about 98 to 50 days. E. autamnata- with dilutata. I emphatically repeat that it is impossible to confound these in second, third, and fourth instar. In second instar, dilutata is of somewhat different build, much yellower- green, the head, prothoracie and anal plates less brown, &c.; in third and fourth it lacks the yellow longitudinal lines of autamnata, is often more or less marked with purple or brick-red, colours which never appear in that species, and still differs in shape ; indeed autamnata reminds me more in this respect of the genus Operophthera ( Cheima - tobia). In the fifth instar, on the other hand, the resemblance of the two becomes very striking, owing to the weakening off of the distinguishing longitudinal lines ; it is, however, only a small percentage of dilutata which continue devoid of purple or red markings up to this period, and it is of course only the unicolorous green forms which can be confused with autamnata. I take it that this approach of the adult larvre may be referable to their agreement in habit, both being tree-feeding forms, and requiring similar protection ; the more variegated aspect oi jilirjrammana up to the last is, I presume, no disadvantage to it on its low growing food- plants, but as I have never seen it in situ I cannot do more than speculate on this subject. While on the subject of habits, I may mention that my autamnata larva; were more restless under observation than jilvirammaria ; and this also I should attribute to the tree-feeding habits of the former, which would perhaps have a better chance of escaping by dropping or retreating on the approach of enemies, whil sfiligrammaria might reasonably trust more to rigid immobility. Food -plants. — Birch and fir (Doubleday, teste Guenee), larch (in Switzerland — Pungeler in lift.), alder (Enniskillen — J. E. R. Allen), oak (Greening, teste Gregson), birch, sallow, alder, aspen (Sp. -Schnei¬ der). My larvae were reared mainly on hawthorn, on which they throve well ; and they would probably eat the leaves of many other trees and shrubs. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt as to the predilection of the species for birch ; Weaver, Logan, Gregson, &c., give this for Britain, Guenee for France (var. ; /ueneata ), Borkhausen for Germany, and various Scandinavian authors for Norway and Sweden. In Norway it is sometimes so extremely abundant that it is ranked among the injurious insects, occasionally defoliating the birch woods, in which case, pressed by hunger, it is found feeding on anything, even Aconitum (Wocke, Stett. Ent. Zeit., xxv., p. 189) ; and it is discussed at some length (under the name of dilutata) by Schoyen in the “ Norske Forstforenings Aarbog ” for 1891, and by Hagemann in his “ Yore Norske Forstinsekter ” in the same year; the larval descriptions and the material I have received from Prof. Aurivillius {vide, Ent. llec., ix., 249 ; x., 95) prove that it is the present species with which they are dealing. Mr. J. E. R. Allen had sent me some interesting notes from Enniskillen ; the larvas which he obtained there last spring from hawthorn all without exception produced dilutata, while those from alder, only a few hundred yards away, all produced autamnata. He further noticed that a good percentage of the earlier dilutata larva; he obtained were marked with red or purple, but all the later ones were without it, >uid he failed fcQ distinguish them 50 from his alder larvae (autumnata). It occurs to me as just possible that this was more than a mere coincidence, and that the red-marked larvfe are not so well adapted to the full summer dress of the hawthorn as to its early spring appearance. While I am on the subject of feeding, I may mention that I noticed autumnata occasionally eats its cast-off skin — a habit which, though frequent enough in certain families, is most unusual in the Larentiidae, so far as my experience extends. Further Larval habits. — In addition to the points incidentally noticed above, I may remark that I repeatedly observed in each of my three broods when in the fourth and fifth instars, but particularly the latter, a habit of striking round very petulantly at any object which was brought into contact with the tail; I did not notice this propensity in tUv/rammaria, but unfortunately the larvae had all gone down before I had thought of experimenting upon them in this direction. As this movement was so constant, and so vigorous, I think it must certainly act defensively. It is worthy of remark that I never noticed autumnata eject the green defensive fluid with the use of which its congener ililutata is so lavish." Pupa. — My notes on this stage are very few and meagre. Super¬ ficially examined, the Kpirrita pupa does not present any striking characters to distinguish it from the bulk of subterranean Geometric! pupa'; it seems to come tolerably near that of Operophtliera ( Chcima - tubia). The pupa; of all the species of Kpirrita arc enclosed in rather small compact earthen cocoons with a considerable admixture of silk, just beneath the surface of the earth. They are tolerably stout, but I fancy dilutata is stouter than its congeners. The species just named is somewhat variable in colour, generally red-brown (darker dorsal ly), but occasionally tinged with greenish on the wing-cases. But I believe that the pupa.' of tilit/raiumaria and autumnata are always easily distinguishable from it (though not from one another) ; they have the wing- and leg-cases, Ac., dull green, the rest of the pupa more or less greenish light brown, darkening somewhat on dorsum and anus, especially the latter. Hiibner’s figures (Lair, drain., ii., .T'.ijuir., B. la-/) of the early stages appear to me undoubtedly to represent both species (ililutata and autumnata), though he calls them all ililutata : at any rate, figs, a and h will give an excellent idea of the larva (in its final stage, but before losing its strongly marked appearance) and pupa of autumnata ; even before 1 had studied autumnata 1 made a note, on looking at these figures “?some other species;” consequently I again consulted the plate on April 14th last (1898), and wrote “ 1 find my suspicion confirmed,” Ac.; “ b, the pupa quite agrees with mine of autumnata examined yesterday.” On the other hand, the figures c-f are true dilutata larva1 and pupae. The duration of the pupal stage certainly varies considerably in different seasons, different individuals, Ac., as will clearly appear from a study of such references as Mr. Clark’s in l\nt. Bee., vii., p. 289. Each of my own broods went to earth within quite a limited period, while the dates for emergence of the imagines as given below, show a pretty wide range. Pupation takes place within a moderately short time from the completion of the cocoon, yet not so rapidly as with the I have since seen this fluid used by autumnata, hut wdy very rarely. 51 species which are to emerge in the summer ; I have no exact records, hut believe the period is about a week. Imago. — This has already been described above, and I am compelled to omit from this already lengthy paper, a discussion of its variation, and named forms. I have, therefore, only to deal with its time of appearance and its habits, and then to conclude with my notes on the distribution of the species. Time of appearance.— The following dates deal with the appearance of F. antmmiata in a state of nature: September-October (F. B. White, Sir T. Moncreiffe); late September-second week of November (Gregson); October 2nd, 1898 (Allen); September 25th-()ctober 23rd, 1897 (Horne); end of September-early October (Christy — at Rannoch) ; November (Guenee) ; end of August-October (Aurivillius, Schoyen, Sec.) ; Sep¬ tember 18th-October (Sparre-Schneider) ; September 16th, 1890 (Bohatsch) ; October 24th, 1897 (Ileyne). In captivity, this species emerges very erratically, and over a considerable period of time ; and when the larvie are forced at all, it will sometimes commence appearing very early. Three of my 1898 specimens (which, as I have already shown, were very forward in the larval state) took advantage of some cold weather in the beginning of July to put in an appearance ; unfortunately I was not expecting them, and cannot give the exact dates. I have, however, exact dates for all the other specimens I bred, and Mr. Allen has very obligingly furnished me with those of his Enniskillen examples. I give the following records: My Aberdeen brood, July (before the 10th) — August 26th; one Kincardine brood, July (before the 14th) — October 3rd ; another Kincardine brood, August lst-October 28th ; Mr. Allen’s Enniskillen series, September 24tli-November 6th ; Mr. Clark’s Rannoch brood, 1895 (Fut. Jiec., vii. , p. 289) August 5th-November lltli ; Schneider from Sydvaranger larvae, 1893 (Tromsu Mas. Aamh., xv., p. 79), cir. August 20th-September 6th, as against cir. September 20th-October, in a state of nature. All my available records go to show that the emerging period of diliitata is, on the whole, more regular and less protracted. Habits. — Of these I know next to nothing. According to Weaver, the typical form rests on the branches of birch, while the var. appro.vi- maria is found in fir plantations, and often at rest upon the trunks. Some of my correspondents have obtained specimens by beating trees, and these specimens will presumably have been resting amongst the branches. Mr. Gregson used to find them on tree-trunks in Delamere Forest, and he has an interesting observation (Fool., 1859, p. 634S) that “ the habits of the October and November insects are so different that anyone can tell which species he is about to take : 0. diliitata flies off the tree bole rapidly and generally upwards, 0. autumnata is one of the most sluggish flyers ; an old friend once observed to me ‘ nay, do not hurry, autmnnata will not go fast or far. ” Possibly, however, my friend Mr. Allen may have something to say as to the last part of this quotation ; I gather from one of his letters that he had at least one good chase after a specimen at Enniskillen. Distribution.— This is at present very imperfectly known, and I have had to work up my list almost exclusively from specimens I have myself seen ; the following includes all localities as yet known to me : Great Britain and Ireland ; Swansea (one specimen from Major Boberlsen), Delamere Forest (Gregson, Ac.), Liverpool (F. Birch), Carlisle (Hodgkinson), Glas¬ gow (Dalglish), Bannoch (Weaver, Christy, &c.), Aberdeen (Horne, Cannon, Buchan, &c.), Kincardineshire (Horne), ?? Isle of Lewis (intermediate between autumnata and jiligrammaria), Belfast (Kane, Entom., xxx., p. 234), Enniskillen (Partridge, Brown, Allen). France : Central France (Guenee), Chateandun (Guenee), Pont de l’Arche, Eure (Dupont), Chamounix (Linnean Society’s collection), Cannes (Chapman). Switzerland : Val d’Anniviers (de Rougement), Zermatt (Pungeler). Germany: Hanover (Hoffmann), Brunswick, Giessen, Leipsic (Heyne), Pome¬ rania (Frey coll.), Aix-la-Chapelle, Dresden (Piingeler). Austria : Gratz (Bohatsch), Schneeberg (Bohatsch), Buda-Pesth (Leech coll.). Norway and Sweden : Common, and apparently generally distributed, Stock¬ holm, Smaland, Upland, Tromso, Ac. Russia : North Finland (received through Staudinger), St. Petersburg (Zeller coll., from Kolenati). I consider also that it is this species rather than dilntata which extends through Labrador to the mainland of North America ; in the National Collection there is in addition a short series of a very interesting Epirrita ( Oporabia ) from Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, which is either an extreme variety of autumnata or a related species, while O. japonaria, Leech, Entom. Supply 1891, p. 48, from Japan, is also nearer to autumnata than to dilntata. NOTES ON EUP1THECIA CORONATA, Hb. (Read November 7th, 1899, by LOUIS B. PROUT, F.E.S.). I do not suppose there can he any doubt as to the Eupitheciid affinities of this species ; but it is by no means certain that it is absolutely congeneric with the majority of the Eupitheeias. lliibner in his Yerzeiehniss subdivides the pugs into a number of genera, most of which have not been accepted; but among them is Chloro- clystis, erected for the three green species known to him — corunata, rrctanf/ulata and debiliata. To these would now of course be added the recently discovered chloerata of Mabille — by the bye, when are we going to turn this up in Britain ? I believe it is a blackthorn feeder. Meyrick in his Handbook follows lliibner with respect to this genus, its differential character being that nervure 11 of the forewings runs into, or anastomoses with 12. Tutt, in his British Moths likewise accepts this genus. But I must confess that I am not wholly satisfied with this arrangement ; despite the superficial resemblance of corunata to rectanr/ulata, which has led Gumppenberg to sink the former as “ rectanyulata var. corunata ” [! !] , 1 feel some hesitancy in uniting them in the same genus, though unfortunately I have not sufficient acquaint¬ ance with the early stages to be able to suggest any definite re-arrangement. The following points appear to me to be worthy of consideration : 1. The shape of the wings is different in corunata, the forewings being very broad, and the hindiyings rather small; and correlated with 53 this is a somewhat different resting posture from that assumed by the rest of the Eupithecias, the forewings being somewhat thrown back over the hindwings, more as in so many of the “ Carpets,” instead of being placed forward, and exposing the hindwings in the characteristic “Pug” attitude, liectanr/idata on the other hand, has always struck me as being perfectly typical in these respects. 2. The larva, the Rev. H. Harper Crewe says, is “ somewhat different in gait and shape from those of all the other Eupitheciae, and resembles that of Hibernia rupicapraria.” The difference has not struck me as very marked, but I am not nearly so great an authority on Pug larvfe as Mr. Crewe, and have no doubt he is quite right. 8. < 'omnata, unlike the other green species, passes the winter in the pupal state or at any rate within the pupal shell. This alone would not amount to much, as some very close allies are differentiated largely by the hibernating period — -e.i/., Cularia tnmcata and immanata ; nor docs it serve to separate corunciia from the bulk of the genus. But it is certainly worthy of mention, as there are very many genera in which the hibernating stage is constant throughout. I should like to call attention also to the peculiar pale discoloured- looking patch which is liable to occur at the inner angle and along a good part of the inner margin of conmata ; I have never seen any tendency corresponding with this in its supposed allies. It is not nearly so variable a species as are they both, indeed I should consider it a very constant one except in size, though some specimens are rather more strongly dark-marked than others. It seems a rather active little species, and most of the specimens I have beaten by day have been in a highly disreputable condition ; I have occasionally picked up good ones, presumably recently-emerged, on tree-trunks, palings and walls. The larva, as Crewe has said, is extremely variable in colour, and I am only just learning to recognise it. It seems to be a very general feeder, though there is little doubt that Clemati* vitalba is its most favoured pabulum. In addition, Crewe gives Eupatorinm, Solid atpt and AiKjelica, of which I have personally verified the first-named ; it occurs regularly on Eupatorinm in one spot at Sandown, though rather sparingly. I can add one or two other food -plants from personal knowledge, besides the Atriplex given by Merian (Der liapseii JJei/in, published about 1G78). A larva found feeding on bramble flowers on August 12th, 1897, yielded a specimen of this species on April 28th, 1898 ; and, more curiously, I beat a larva from hawthorn, on which there were certainly no flowers, and I think no fruit, on August 20th, 1890, and fed it up on hawthorn leaves, obtaining a crippled imago on May 2nd, 1891. I also once beat a larva which I believed was this species from sallow ; but I failed to rear it, and as it was several years ago I may have been mistaken as to its identity. Enpithccia corona ta has regularly at least two broods in the year, one in April and May and another in July and August ; but one not infrequently gets a partial third emergence in September and October. I am almost certain that those which hibernate in tbe pupal shell do so fully developed like the Tauiiocampids ; but such a large number of those which develop in the autumn turn out to be dead by the spring, that it may possibly only be these which have misled me, and I should be glad to have the question more fully investigated. The few which escape the winter emerge in April or very early May. This summer I had one case of almost phenomenally rapid transforma¬ tion, which is certainly worth putting on record. A female captured at Torquay on July 28th, this summer, laid eggs the next day. These hatched in four days, namely, on August 2nd, and the larvae were fed on flowers of clematis. The three moults of the most forward specimens took place on August 5th (three days), August 8tli (six days) and August 11th (nine days), and on August 16th — fourteen days from hatching, and five from final moult— they began going to earth. One imago emerged on August 80th, only 82 days from the deposition of the egg, and the rest of the pupae developed about the same time ; but no more imagines have appeared, and I am afraid the pupae have now dried up. The larva? are extremely easy to breed, and if the correct method of managing the pup* can be found, it would be recommendable to breed it largely from the egg; beaten larva?, so far as my experience goes, are somewhat liable to be ichneumoned, but 1 am unable to give the name or names of the species (singular or plural) which attack them. VARIATION in BROODS of AXYUA PUTRIS, CUCULLIA UMBRATICA, SPIL0S0MA URTICAE and MALAC0S0MA CASTRENSIS. (Head November 7th, 1899, by A. BACOT). Axylia putris. — These were reared from ova laid by a female captured in June, 1898, at Waxham, Norfolk. The larva? were fed on hop. Ninety-seven specimens emerged during the past summer (1899), mostly during June. The sex of these insects is rather difficult to determine, but after some little trouble 1 made out the respective numbers as follows : — 50 males = 52%, 47 females = 48%. Two speci¬ mens are crippled, both arc males. The variation of coloration and marking is exceedingly slight, and seems to consist only of minute difference of darker or lighter shading on the forewings. The variation as regards size is also of little moment. Only two specimens are worthy of note, one male and one female, both are deficient in respect of the darker shading of the wings, the female being rather* the paler of the two. Both are smaller than the majority of the brood, which suggests that this variation is due to malnutrition. C'ucullia umhratica. — This is a much smaller brood. Considerable mortality occurred during the larval period, and among the pupa? also, unless a considerable number are passing a second winter in this s'.age. Out of some 80 to 85 specimens bred 27 are available for examination, the remainder having either escaped or been ruined in breeding opera¬ tions. Ten out of the 27 are males ( = 87%), and 17 females (=68%,), in addition there is one cripple, of which l am unable to determine the sex. There is a well marked sexual dimorphism in this brood as regards the colour of the hindwings, and a less constant difference in the 55 shading of the forewings, the females being darker than the males. Like the brood of Axi/lia putrid the differences of individual pattern and coloration are insufficient to enable me to classify them. Malacoso.ua castrensis. — On Whit- Sunday, 1899, I took a web containing young larvae of this species near Port Victoria. Judging by their size they had only recently emerged from the eggs. The web or nest was more or less spherical in shape, about one inch or less in diameter, not unlike a nest of young spiders in general appearance. There can be no doubt but that all the larva; were the offspring of a single female. The larva; were reared in a glass jar, at first on sea- wormwood (. Artemisia liiaritiina ) and sea lavender ( Staticc liiiionium). After a week their food was gradually changed to sallow and knot¬ grass (Poli/i/onum ariailare) on which they throve surprisingly. In about fourteen or fifteen days they were transferred to a large gauze covered flower-pot, and when they outgrew this receptacle they were again transferred to a small wooden tub, gauze-covered, and with a layer of damp cocoanut fibre at the bottom. Both the pot and tub were kept in a well ventilated garden frame, in order that they might have the advantage of sun, warmth and fresh air, all of which 1 believe are essential to development. Their food, after the first ten days, was limited to sallow and knot-grass with an occasional supply of broad leaved plantain, and a soft grey-leaved willow when they exhausted my supplies of sallow. Very few, if any, deaths occurred during the larval period, and all, or nearly all, spun cocoons, using an ample supply of silk. Considerable mortality occurred during the pupal period, chiefly, so far as I could ascertain, from insufficient room. The limited size of their quarters not allowing them to scatter, they spun up in dense masses, with the result that many moths were unable to emerge from their cocoons at all. A few were hopelessly crippled, while in some cases the lame had failed to pupate successfully, owing to their cocoons being drawn out of shape by other larvae spinning against them. In all, about 80 specimens emerged, some three or four escaping. The following notes refer to 77, 14 of which are females ( = 57%), and 39 are males ( = 43%). The range of varia¬ tion as regards size is considerable, and in coloration it is very wide. Four males and three females are complete cripples, two males and three females have poorly-developed wings ; this is especially noticeable as regards the hindwings of all three females, and one of the males. In the males, variation is from canary-yellow to dark umber on the forewings, intermediate shades being also present. The hindwings do not show anything like the same range of variation as the forewings. But all the pale forms have a tendency to develop remnants of a pale band on the hindwings, which is entirely absent on those of the dark forms. Fifteen specimens ( = 46%) are on what I should describe as the pale side of the line, and 11 ( = 33%) on the dark. One is of a unicolorous ochre, having the forewing markings nearly obsolete. The remainder are ill expanded or cripples. Of the females 24 ( = 60%) have well marked pale bands across the forewings, while in 16 ( = 40%) there is a more or less strongly marked tendency for this character to be obsolete ; most of the latter are dark forms, while with the 60% of banded there is a gradual and well balanced gradation from dark to pale ground colour. The ill-banded, suffused dark forms, show little or no "trace of any hindwing band, but the well banded generally show some traces of this character. 56 Spilosoma ubticae. — A series of K6 specimens were reared from ova laid by a female captured in June, 1898, at the Norfolk Broads. The larvae were fed on various garden weeds, chiefly plantains. My brood is very variable, both as regards number and strength of the spots. I have not had much experience with this species previously, but am told that these specimens show a much greater amount of spotting than is usually the case with S. mticae. Owing to the simplicity of its pattern and coloration, this species is admirably suited for working out variation in detail, and my notes are more extended than with the previous species. I have divided the spots on the forewings into three groups for convenience in classifying : basal, central and marginal. It is necessary to state that the actual basal sjxit itself I have left out of account altogether, because it is so frequently obscured by the long hairs of the thorax. When any doubt existed as to a spot being present or absent I examined the specimen with a powe.ful hand lens, and have counted even a single black scale as a spot. Fifty are males = 60%, 34 females =40%. Himhvintfs : 64% of the males and 35% of the females have no central spot = 52% of the whole brood. Only 6% have marginal spots on the hindwings, and all of these are males. Fureu iwjs: The central group of spots is the most constant, all the specimens, both males and females, having one or more spots belonging to the group. Of the marginal group, 98% of the males, and 94% of the females = 96% of the brood show traces of this group. Of the basal group, 62% of the males and 53% of the females = 58% of the brood show at least traces. 17% of the hrood have 5 or less than 5 spots on the forewings, 8% of the males and 29% of the females. 89% of the brood have more than .5 spots on the forewings, 92% of the males and 71% of the females. 40% of the brood have more than 10 spots on the forewings, 48% of the males and 29% of the females. 14% of the brood have more than 15 spots on the forewings, 12% of the males and 18% of the females. 4% of the brood have more than 20 spots on the forewings, 2% of the males and 6% of the females. Thirty-six per cent of the entire brood (32% of the males and 41% of the females) are asymmetrical as regards the actual number of spots on the forewings. In making this calculation I have allowed a single black scale on one wing to balance a spot composed of several black scales on the other. If the size of the spots were taken into account, a very much larger proportion would be counted as asymmetrical. One female has the forewing marginal group of spots on the left hand side, while another female has this group on the right wing only. Three males have the central spot of the hindwings on the right hand wing only. One male has this spot much darker on the right than the left wing, while three males show this spot on the underside of wings only. Of three females, two show the central spot of the hind¬ wing on the underside of the left wing only. Five females show the central spot of the hindwings on the underside only. One female shows the central spot of the hindwings on the underside only, but that on the left wing is very much larger than that on the right. The central spot of the hindwings is, 1 believe, a tolerably constant feature in the allied ■% iiicnl/atstn , but unfortunately 1 have not a large enough 57 series to be very sure of this. It is noticeable what a much larger proportion of the males than of the females have lost this spot, and it is also apparent that the spots are generally smaller on the males than the females. The large amount of variation and asymmetry in the spotting, points, I think, to the rather unusual strength of this feature in the brood being an atavistic character, and further to the probability of the spots in .S', urticae being a survival of no present use, if not actually harmful to the species. General remarks. — The wide range of variation in the broods of M. castrensis and .S’, urticae is in marked contrast to the constancy of the specimens in those of A. putris and < umbratica. From the stand¬ point of natural selection, this variation suggests a great difference in the habits and methods of protection between the former and the latter. A. putris and U. umbratica are doubtless protected by very specialised development of coloration and pattern ; that of the former giving it a wonderful resemblance to a dead and broken twig. In captivity it folds its wings closely against its body after the fashion of Vhalcra bucephala. I have never found it resting under natural conditions, but should expect it to rest in the lower portion of a hedge¬ row or under bushes where dried and broken twigs are plentiful. C. umbratica presents a beautiful example of protective coloration Avhen resting on unpainted wood work, such as a split oak fence or a gate post, but it seems hardly likely that its scheme of coloration was evolved since these comparatively modern resting-places have been available. Probably its natural resting-place would be the dead and dried stems of burdocks, mulleins, thistles, Ac., on which it would be equally wel 1 if not more perfectly protected. The imaginal life of M. caxtrcmis would seem to consist only of pairing and oviposition, and under normal conditions is probably not prolonged for more than three or four days, so that its need of protective coloration is certainly less than with the above mentioned Noctuid moths. Its habits (in captivity) suggest that it hides low down among the herbage, or perhaps the drift rubbish of the saltings. In any case its resting-places are likely to be varied and the range of coloration in individuals would give the species as a whole, a better chance of escape. In captivity, when resting on the dried sallow and willow leaves, among which the cocoons were spun, it was very far from being a conspicuous object. As to .S. urticae I am not aware of its resting-habits. The colora¬ tion of the allied -S. menthastri and its freely exposed resting-places, suggest that it is a nauseous species, as I believe a good many of the Arctiids are, but the tendency of development in N. urticae towards pure white, suggests that it may obtain some sort of protection by its resemblance to a feather, for although many fen and marsh species are protected by their pale coloration, the white of A. urticae is too aggressively pure to Avar rant the assumption that it could pass unnoticed among even such pallid surroundings as Avitherel reeds. On the other hand, the Avhite coloration of this moth may still have a Avarning significance to bats and night-flying birds. The Avhite Liparids, Porthesia chnjxorrlutea and similis are, in all probability, protected by the irritating larval hairs Avhich become entangled in the anal tuft on emergence, Avhile T.cucoma rnlici *• is able to exude a bright green nauseous (?) fluid from two orifices in the thorax. 58 50 SOME MARSH BEETLES OF THE LEA VALLEY. (Read November 7th, 1899, by F. 13. JENNINGS, F.E.S.). I propose in this “ communication ” to try to convey to your minds, with as little technicality as possible, some pictures of beetles in their haunts as I find them in my collecting rambles in the above locality. The few beetles I have had time to put together for exhibition in connection therewith will no doubt, to lepidopterists, seem dingy objects enough, but, as 1 shall endeavour to show, the interest which attaches to them does not depend in any great degree upon their coloration. Eastward of the railway line which traverses the southern portion of the Lea Valley, and lying between it and the range of low, undulat¬ ing hills which forms its eastern border, is a long strip of Hat, marshy ground, through which winds the river Lea, its tributaries and backwaters, and through which, between Broxbourne and Tottenham, runs the straight-cut line of the Lea canal. Besides the actual streams, numerous ditches intersect the marshy fields. In that particular part of this territory which 1 have in my mind we shall find, at the proper season, a wealth of vegetable life springing up. This is in the month of May, at which time the large golden cups and rounded shining leaves of the marsh marigold rise in little clumps above the level of the surrounding herbage, and the cowslips, and the buttercups, with a few straggling blossoms of the lesser celandine, all combine to make the low-lying fields a mass of yellow, when the pretty snow-white flowers of the stitchwort star the hedgerows, while the lavender blossoms and dark red leafshoots of the ground ivy present a beautiful contrast on those ditch-banks where lately the strange-looking flower spikes of the butter-bur, rising scarcely above the level of the surrounding soil, were almost the sole indications of the approaching spring. Now, too, the tall hawthorn hedges which separate the fields are one mass of pink and white, haunted by busy Andrenae and hovering Diptera. In the ditches, the various sub-aquatic plants — the flags and rushes, the water speedwell, the tall valerian, the water-cress, and Udosdadum, are beginning to rise in that luxuriance which will eventually absorb the water through which they sprang, and choke up the dykes with their masses of greenery, while on their borders the umbel-like flower heads of the meadow-sweet, that most typical plant of the marshes, are getting ready to burst into blossom and disperse their delicate scent upon the breeze. Near by, in the river, the fish make joyous leaps into the glad sunlight, while to and fro amongst the adjacent willow branches Hits the reed hunting, and a silent observer may watch, stealing along the ditch sides, the quiet little sedge-warbler. And amongst the vegetable luxuriance which clothes the fields at this season there exists an abundant insect fauna, one which is largely peculiar to this marshy habitat. In the beetle world this is especially so, and no section of the order Coleoptera is better represented here than that of the weevils. Some kinds there are which live upon the 60 aquatic plants themselves, and to which an occasional bath, when they drop from their food-plant at the approach of danger, seems to offer no inconvenience whatever. Such a species is Ht/pera polhi.r, which, with its variety alter nan s, lives upon the cress-like Umbellifer known to botanists as Hdosciadmn. 1 have observed that these two forms, although apparently so very unlike, do, as a matter of fact, inter- copulate freely, and it seems extraordinary that they still maintain their distinctive coloration. They are confined to a space of a few yards in a single ditch, and the prettily striped form which our pioneer English coleopterist, Stevens, called alternant, in allusion to the alternating light and dark lines on the wing-cases, is, I am glad to say, as well represented numerically as its more sober relative, //. polln.r. Out in the marsh, but seldom far from the side of the ditch, a few passes with the sweep net will often bring to light another species of Hjipera, If. suspidosa, which is very different in colour and shape from its relatives, being, at least in the female, more robust, and distinguishable otherwise by the characteristic white mark on the suture of the elytra (or wing-cases) below the centre. 11. rariabilis, a smaller species, but reminiscent at first sight of a battered H. tuspiciota, very occasionally puts in an appearance in the net, together with the pretty little velvety-green II. niprirostrix, which, however, is not such a favourite with me personally as it would be if its colouring-scales were less fugitive. The group of weevils I have just mentioned are all of a fair size. But amongst the struggling mass of insects of all orders brought up by the net, we shall find numerous objects which at first sight appear to bo merely little balls of dirt. Presently, however, these objects begin to move, out come three pairs of legs, a long slender snout emerges, and slowly and with dignity these little weevils of the genera Ceut/iorrhj/ncJiut or Crntliorr/u/ncliident, begin to move towards the margin of the net. Perchance in so doing they are upset by more active insects, if so, they immediately withdraw their legs and rostrum into the grooves fitted on the under-surface of the body to receive them, and again lie motionless for a while. By far the largest number of these weevils will be of a reddish or greenish-grey colour with a paler spot at the scutellum. This species is common all over the marsh, and its larva must either be attached to some very common plant, or, not improbably, feeds on several different plants. Besides this species, we shall very occasionally notice a jet black insect with a pure white roundish spot on the middle of each wing-case, and a narrow elongated one at the suture where the wing-cases join, this third spot being in a line with the other two, while at the base of the elytra is another less well defined spot. This pretty little species, which from its dark ground colour naturally shows up well against the white canvas of the net, rejoices in the name of < 'euthurrhiinclins asperit'oliarmn, and takes its specific name from being attached chiefly to the rough leaved Jlarai/inacme. It is by no means confined to marshes, and I have taken it in Surrey from the viper’s bugloss on a chalky hillside. Here in the marsh-fields, where 1 find it by no means common, I have beaten it from nettles in a dry ditch, and swept it in a damp hollow in close proximity to a watery ditch, where its food- plant may well have been the pretty little Veronica anapallit, the water speedwell. I once saw a specimen of ( '. axperifidiarum on a plant 61 which one would think most unsuited to it— the great strong rough¬ leaved comfrey. This is one of the plants given in the books as supporting asperi folia mm, and I was pleased to be able to verify what had seemed to me an unlikely connection. But to return once more to the net and its contents. If now we sweep yonder bed of shepherd’s purse, a number of little dark blue atoms will in all probability be the result. These, though appreciably smaller than the two species already mentioned, still belong to the genus Ceuthorrlojnchus, and are named contractus, in allusion to the habit, before referred to, which is common to them all. I take this little weevil from < 'apsella bursa- pastoris alone, in widely separated spots in the Valley. Yet a fourth species of Ceuthorrlujnclius should be found in those damper spots where grows the pale-dowered t'ardamine pratensis, the “ milkmaids” of the country children. This, called ( '. cocldeariae, from its being also attached to the plant genus < Wide aria, is not unlike C. contractus, but is distinctly larger, and has a white spot at the scutellum. But the fifth, and the last of this genus, time permits me to mention, is to my mind the prettiest of them all. It is of the size of asperi foliarum , but instead of being black is thickly covered with greyish scales, and across the wing-cases runs a zigzag white line which has the appearance of a rough W, from which mark it takes the name triaiuiulum. This weevil is one of my most recent discoveries in the Lea Valley, and at the same time one of the most unexpected. Fowler says it is found on sandy soil on the yarrow, Achillaea millefolium . It was first discovered in Britain by my friend Mr. E. A. Waterhouse, who took his specimens on the coast, and all hut three of the ten localities given for it by Canon Fowler are also on or near the coast. Most of my specimens were obtained in an area, lying close to a ditch, where the numerous holes and general appearance of the soil betrayed its decidedly marshy character, even although it was dry at the time I visited it. In this spot there was no yarrow, but Canlaminc pratensis was common. Walking along by the sides of the ditches, one cannot help noticing how numerous are those curious plants the figworts. Where the herbage on the bank side is tall and dense they are frequently hidden away, and become short and stunted. But, placed in some favourable spot, the tigwort ascends to a great height, and becomes, with its spikes of little, dark red, peculiarly shaped flowers, a very fine plant indeed ! But these interesting plants have many enemies amongst insects, not the least of which are the gorgeous larva' of the moth < 'ucullia rerhasci, and of the wasp-mimicking the saw-fly, Allant us > srrophu- lariac. To the coleopterist, however, their most interesting guests are the beautiful weevils of the genus < 'ion us, of which in the Lea Valley we have four species, one of which unfortunately (< '. hortulanus ) was met with scantily in only one season, and has not been seen since. As at least one species of < 'ionus is common in most parts of the country, and all three stages can be observed on the same plant at the same time, it is hardly surprising that the life-history of the genus should be well known. < ’. tubcrculosus and scmphulariae, the two larger species occurring with me, are of a fair size as weevils go, and are chiefly characterised by their ribbed elytra, clothed with beautiful velvety- black and bluish scales, flecked at the scutellum and near the apex with little white streaks, above each of which is a finely rounded velvety- black spot. They are much alike, and occurring together on the 62 same plant as they often do, might well be imagined by the uninitiated to be one species, or at most as sexes of the same form, but there is no doubt of their distinctness. C. scrophtlariae has the thorax entirely covered with yellow-white pubescence ; tuberculosus has the disc of the thorax bare, and the sides only clothed with darker yellowish scales. Sharing perhaps the same plant as these larger species, one may not infrequently discover a smaller snowy-white weevil, having velvety dark red markings, the chief of which are a large irregularly shaped blotch on the suture just below the scutellum, and near the apex of the suture, the same large circular spot which adorns the two other < ioiii. This is < blattariar. At a little distance this pretty species is curiously like a bird-dropping, and this likeness probably operates as a protection to it. The larva of < ’ionm, which, with the pupa, may, as I have already mentioned, be found on the plant with the perfect insect, is a slimy creature which might perhaps by the casual observer be put down as a tiny slug. AYhen the time arrives for the change to the next stage these larva? envelop themselves in a glutinous secretion, within which, when formed into a sort of ball and hardened by exposure to the air, the change takes place. These pupae may often be found congregated together on the leaves and flower-heads of the plants. Away on the marsh beyond the river there runs from north to south a line of dwarf, bushy willows, with here and there a hawthorn intermixed. Another hedge, running at right angles up from the river, joins the first about midway down its length. At the corner where the hedges meet, the ground becomes slightly depressed, broken up, and pitted with irregular holes, and hereabouts grow numbers of peculiar-looking plants whose sheathed stems and needle-pointed branches are entirely destitute of leaves. These “horse-tails” (botanieally the representatives of the genus Kiptmtum) have their especial beetle parasite, the weevil, (iri/j>i. ericca and its close ally 1>. comari are the species which vary most in colouring, and of each of these forms hardly two specimens can be found of exactly the same tint. Unlike the little coppery-red D. semi- cuprea, which in the Lea valley I find restricted with few exceptions to the reeds along the river’s edge, or the duller narrow-bodied ]>. lincai is, which confines itself to the waving sedges in a single ditch, ]). sericea, though seldom straying far from the damper spots, wanders indifferently amongst the crowded vegetation of the ditch sides. A group of many-hued / >. serieea, seen in the hot stillness of a summer noon sucking the sweetness from a bunch of the creamy blossoms of the meadow-sweet, is a beautiful sight, and one I have often witnessed. Seven of the sixteen British Donaciae are found in the Lea Valley, and of these I have already alluded to three. Jointly, their time of appearance extends from May to nearly the end of August, but most of those which appear in the first named month have vanished by the close of June. These at the beginning of July are succeeded by species of somewhat different habit from those which frequent the reed stems. Let us pay a visit to one of these later species in its natural habitat. For this purpose we must seek the ancient bed of the river Lea, which, from its sinuous nature unsuitable for navigation, has here been left to gladden the heart of the naturalist and the admirer G4 of rustic scenery. In one spot wide and shallow, it ripples with little gurgles over the stones in channels divided by tiny islets, in which are numerous shoals of silvery minnows disporting themselves in the sunshine ; in another, where an old wooden bridge enables the pedes¬ trian to cross into the shady lane beyond, the water, though still delightfully clear, is deep and smooth, and here, where like aquatic streamers float the long submerged grasses, are many fish of large size lying close to the muddy bottom of the stream, while in a shallow pool beneath the bankside lies the wary jack — motionless, but alert. And in these opening days of July what a rich botanical treat awaits us in this rural spot ! On yonder bank, rising conspicuously above those giant docks and comfreys, we see displayed the purple glories of the loosestrife, and near by, the similarly coloured but more retiring flower spikes of the marsh woundwort. Down here by the bridge the banks are golden with the blossoms of the introduced Mint ulus, well established in this spot, where I have noticed it almost every summer since 1894. Up by the broad shallows, which in spring were white with the cups of the water Hanunculus, those islets are green with the many-branched Alima. But more closely connected with our immediate purpose are these little groups of long-stemmed plants whose rounded leaves are floating just level with the surface of the water. Here, on the broad leaves of these water-lilies, are the Donaciae, sitting with antenna1 erect (ike miniature deer, ready to take wing to some less accessible spot at the approach of danger. This species, ]>. crassipea, which is apparently confined in the Lea Valley to this one spot, is, with its broad flat wing-cases and long hind legs, one of the most conspicuous of those indigenous to our islands. I find it here in two well marked forms, one which lias the elytra greenish-bronze, the other with them violaceous. The Donaciae are members of a group called Clmjsomelidae, or popularly, “Golden Apple Beetles.” Several of the smaller repre¬ sentatives of this group are inhabitants of the ditches and their borders. Among the myriad insects swept up by the net in May, are the small, convex, slaty-blue Hi/drat/iawa anrta, whose wing-cases are bordered with yellow, and H. nian/incUa, which closely resembles a acta, but has a yellow margin to the thorax, which in aucta is unicolorous. In May I often find niart/inella inside the buttercups, and in winter under the looser bark of the adjacent willows. In the ditches themselves, on the aquatic plants, occur my favourites, Praxncuris junci and phellandrii, the former on the water speedwell, the latter without apparent preference for any special plant, although it is said to favour the umbellifer / ’hellanilriiiw . Both are oblong in shape, and narrow ; P.jimci is wholly dark blue, while 1‘. pUrllandrii is marked with alternate black and yellow stripes, and has yellow borders to the thorax. If we shake the branches of those larger willows at the side of the field, out will fall numbers of shining golden drops, the destructive I '/n/llodecta vitcllinac. Here and there we pick out a dark blue specimen, while perhaps, if we are lucky, we may find the exquisite little ( repidodera aurata, with its bright crimson thorax and golden green elytra, a species not at all common here. The beetles 1 have alluded to in this short paper constitute only a very small portion of those actually to be met with in the Lea Valley, but the limit of time to which 1 am tied prevents me from enlarging 65 upon the others as I should like to have done, and, in concluding, may I urge upon you very briefly the need for a wider study of natural history by each individual ? The specialist who is content to limit his knowledge of Nature’s works solely to one narrow branch of them, cannot, to my mind, be called a naturalist in the true sense of the word. Spcialism is undoubtedly necessary, hut it can be carried too far. The ideal naturalist, I think, should possess at least a rudimentary knowledge of every department of zoology and botany, in addition to devoting his special attention to one of them. Nature is an entity, and I feel strongly that if her student is to drink her deepest delights, and to appreciate to the full the charm of the association of animals and plants, it is as an entity that he must study her. ERRATA. Page 3, line 3, for “ Pyrrocoris ” read “ Pyrrhocoris .” Page 3, line 30, for “ monus ” read “ turnue.” Page 3, line 32, for “ eurythrus ” read “ eurytus.” Page 3, line 32, for “ arthemis ” read “ artemis Page 5, line 4, for “ chorinnaeus ” read “ chorineux Page 8, line 30, for “ Iropicoris ” read “ Tropicoris.” Page 9, line 33, for “ Tortricoides ” read “ ’Tortricodes .” Page 11, line 30, for “ picipcntm" read “ piespemm.” Page 13, line 30, for “ having been pronounced ” read “ had been pronounced." Page 37, following line 2, add : “ Old potatoes late in the season contain more Solanine than usual ; in Germany a number of soldiers became seriously ill last year through eating them/’ Page 42, line 2, for “ Cumin ” read “ Calmvi.” Page 60, line 10, for “ Stevens” read “ Stephens.” Page 01, line 24, for “ Achilla ca ” read “Achillea.” Page 01, line 14 from bottom, for “ wasp-mimicking the saw-liy ” read “ wasp- mimicking saw-fly.” 66 THE FAUNA OF THE LONDON DISTRICT. LEPIDOPTERA. Compiled by Dr. F. J. BUCKELL, M.B.; Edited, with the additions subsequent to 1S93, by LOUIS B. PltOUT, F.E.S. {Continued from Transactions, Yol. 17/7., 189S.) Since the publication of the first part of this catalogue, I have had to thank several friends for contributing further lists of their captures, or isolated notes. The following abbreviations will be met with in the present part, in addition to those previously explained : Bell =S. J. Bell. Tooting Common and immediate neigh¬ bourhood. Bell— C. =T.H. Clarke teste Bell; Bell— M. = H. H. May teste Bell; Bell — R. = F. J. Robinson teste Bell; Bell — S. = L. Short teste Bell. All included in Mr. Bell’s Tooting list. Bi. — C. A. Bird, Hammersmith within the last nine years, mostly in own garden. C. = F. M. B. Carr. Lee, &c. E. N. = Essex Naturalist. Jo. =A. H. Jones. Eltham, A;c. Ma. =H. II. May. Wimbledon, Nocture. Mu. =C. Murray. Stratford, chiefly at light. T. = J. W. Tutt. South-east district, &c. I have also received a good number of supplementary records for the species in part 1, but I propose to hold these over for another year, in order to publish the supplement all together ; I know from bitter experience the inconvenience of having to wade through a long series of petty annual supplements in order to find a record which is wanted. My revision of the generic nomenclature has, as I expected, been the subject of some criticism, and I am afraid the present instalment of our list will show at least as great deviations from “ South’s List ” as the preceding ; I have to a large extent followed corrections proposed by Prof. Grote in his various papers on the Noctuid family, and in these and all cases I have endeavoured to abide by the accepted rules of zoological nomenclature and to follow them to their logical conclusions, so that I trust the names employed, some of which at present sound so unfamiliar, will soon gain the recognition to which they are legally entitled. Louis B. Prout. London, April 7th, 1900. 172. — Oehria <>ch racea, Hb. 1. Isle of Dogs, 15 in 1892 (Wy.); Hackney Marshes(Ch); Clapton, p. in burdocks and thistles(Ss.); 07 Loa Valley, p. (Ba., N.); Tottenham, at light (Be.); Woodford (Ent., xix., 67); Stratford (Mu.). II. Locally common (F.); Greenwich and Plumstead marshes(T.); Brockley(E.R., i., 349); Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140). III. Tooting (Ma.); Barnes (Ta.); Wandsworth (Ent., xxi., 58) ; Bedford Park (Ent., xxiv., 139); Wimbledon (Ma.). IV. Hampstead (Ent., xxi., 112); Highgate Woods (So.); Finsbury Park* (Ent., xxvi., 51). 173. — Gortyna nictitam, Bork. I. Walthamstow, n.c. (J., Bu.); Hale End (Bt., Ss.); Woodford (Ent., xix., G7); Forest Gate (M.). II. c. (F.); Westcombe Park (T.); Brockley (E.R., i., 349); Dulwich (W.); Croydon, c. (Sh.); Chislehurst (Ent., xvi., 233); Streatham (Fo.). III. Wimbledon Common (Ta., Ent., xxii., 151, Ac.); Chiswick, “common at sugar, the form with orange reniform also taken ” (Si.); Tooting, rather scarce (Bell). IV. Ealing (Fe.); Hampstead Heath (So.); Highgate Woods (So.); Muswell Hill (Bu.). 174. — (t. micacca, Esp. Nearly everywhere whence reports have been received. The only curious exception which I notice is Wimble¬ don Common ; surely it must occur there ? 175. — A.n/lia putrin, L. I. Nearly everywhere. II. n.r. (F.); Lee, one in 1896 (C.); Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140); Westcombe Park (T.); Croydon (H.). III. Tooting, rather scarce (Bell — R.); Wimbledon Common, “ at bramble ” (Bu.); Chiswick, f.e. (Si.); Hammersmith (Ta.). IV. Canonbury, Islington and Highbury, at dusk (Bu.); Hampstead (So.); Highgate (So.). 176. — Xylcna rurea, Fb. I. Hagger Lane Forest (Bu.); Hale End. “ hovers at dusk round bushes and at sugar ” (N.); Larks Wood (Ba.); Chingford (Be.). II. c. (F.); Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140). III. Chelsea (Ent., xxiv., 222); Tooting, r. (Bell, May); Wimble¬ don Common (D., Ma.). IV. Hendon (So.); Highgate, “ common on palings ” (Bu.); Highgate Woods (E.R., i., 159, So.); Hamp¬ stead Heath (So.); Wood Green (Bu.). ab. alopecurm, Auct. I. Hale End (P.). IV. Highgate (Bu.). [Probably everywhere with the type, but the records do not indicate it. — L.B.P.] 177. — X. lithu.vylea, Fb. Everywhere except the heart of London. 178. — X. sublustris, Esp. II. Shirley* (Sh.). 179. — X. monoylypha, Hfn. Common everywhere. 180. — X. hepatica, L. I. Hale End (Bt., L, Ac.); Chingford (Be.); Hackney Marshes (Cl.). II. c. (F.); Dulwich (W.). III. Wimbledon Common (Ta., Ma.); Chiswick (Ent., xix., 134); Kingston (IL). IV. Highgate (E.R., ii., 168, So.): Hampstead Heath (So.). 181. — X. scolopacina, Esp. II. Shirley* (Sh.); Dulwich (B.). IV. Highgate Woods, c. (So., Cl., Ac.). 182. — Diptenyyia scabriuscula, L. Apparently quite generally distributed in the suburbs, often common. In London, it has been recorded for S. Hackney (Se.); Regent’s Park (Ent., xxiv., 140); Hamilton Terrace, N.W.* (Ent., xxxii., 237). 183. — Laphyyina exiytia, Hb. II. “ Scarce ” (F.); Greenwich* (Tutt, Ent., xvii., 234); *(Tugwell, Ent., xvii., 235). 184. — Neuria reticulata, Vill. II. Croydon (H.). 185. — Heliophobus pnpularix, Fb. I. General. II. n.c. (F., Sh., Ac.). III. Tooting, f.c. (Bell — M.); Barnes (Bu., P.); Wimbledon G8 (Bu.). 1Y. General. Most of the records indicate the special partiality of the species for light. 186. — Ceraptemjx f /ram inis, L. I. Woodford* (Ent., xix., 67); Forest Gate (M.); Stratford (Mu.). II. Scarce (F.); Bromley (Ent., xviii., 20). III. Wimbledon* (Bu.). IV. Clerkenwell, in a shop window'- (Bl.) ; Hampstead Heath* (Bu.). 187. — Thal-pophila matura , Hfn. I. Chingford (Be.); Hale End* (N.); Forest Gate (M.). II. n.r. (F.); Herne Hill, f.c. at light (C.); Bromley* (Ent., xvii., 279); Dulwich (E.B., ii. , 140, W.); Greenwich marshes (T.); Croydon, n.c. (Sh.). III. Tooting, r. (Bell — C.); Wimbledon (Ent., xxii., 150, Bu.); Petersham, at light (A.). IV. Winchmore Hill* (Ba.); Highgate, 3 (L.). 188. — Luperina testacea, HI). Common almost everywhere, including Clapton (N., Ba., Bt., Ss.); Hackney Marshes (CL); Isle of Dogs (Wy.); Finsbury Park (Ba.); Greenwich dist. (T.), &c. 189. — Tholera ccspitis, Fb. 1. Wanstead (Cl.); Forest Gate (M.). II. r. (F.); Eltham, occasionally at light (Jo.). III. Streatham (Fo.); Barnes (Ta.); Richmond, c.(K.). IV. Hampstead Heath(So.). 190. — Hama abjecta, Hb. I. Clapton*, at sugar on willow tree at bottom of Spring Hill, Clapton, close to the River Lea (F. .J. Hanbury). II. Greenwich and Plumstead marshes (T.). 191. — H. sordida, Bork. I. Walthamstow, n.c. (J., Bu.); Hale End (N., P.); Chingford (Be.); Woodford (Ent., xix., 67). II. c. (F.); Croydon, c. (Sh.). III. Hammersmith (Bi.). IV. High¬ gate, on palings (Bu.). 192. — Barathra brassicae, L. Common everywhere. 198. — B. persicariae, L. Common everywhere. 194. — Apamea baxilinea, Fb. Everywhere, except in the heart of London. Mostly common, but I have only met with very few at Dalston, and Sich says “ occasionally” for Chiswick. 195. — A. genii na, Hb. I. c. II. c. (F.); S. London (Ent., xvii., 90); Greenwich dist. (T.); Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140). III. Tooting (Bell — M.); Wimbledon (D., Ta.); Chiswick* (Si.). IV. High¬ gate and Hampstead (So.). 196. — A. unanimis, Tr. I. Chingford (Be.) ; Hale End (N., P.) ; Lea Bridge Road (BL); Clapton (P.) ; Forest Gate (N.). II. r. (F.); Greenwich and Plumstead marshes, Westcombe Park (T.) ; Croydon, n.c. (Sh.) ; Dulwich (W.). IV. Zoological Gardens (Bl.) ; Highgate (Bu., So.). 197. — A. op/iwrjramma, Esp. As this is notoriously a London species I quote our records in full. I. Tottenham (Be.) ; Stamford Hill (Ent., xxv., 65, Ba.) ; Clapton (Bt., N., F. J. Hanbury) ; Wood¬ ford (Ent., xix., 67) ; Leytonstone (Ent., xxv., 319) ; Hackney marshes (CL). II. n.r. (F.) ; S. London* (Ent., xvii., 90); Lee*, in 1896, none since, formerly abundant (C.) ; Eltham, f.c. in gardens (Jo.) ; Brockley (E.R., i., 849) ; Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140) ; Forest Hill* (Ss.) : Westcombe Park (T.) ; Croydon, n.c. (Sh.). ILL Streatham (Ent., xxiv., 228) ; Tooting (Bell — M.) ; Wimbledon (D.) ; Hammersmith (E.R., i., 116, Bi.) ; Chiswick (Ent., xix., 134). IV. Ealing (Fo.) ; Hampstead (Ent., xxiii., 316, So.) ; Highgate (Bu., So.); Southgate* (Pa.); Bush Hill Park (Ent., xxv., 221) ; Canonbury (Bu.) ; Hornsey Rise (So.); North London (Sd.). 69 198. — A. secalis, P>jerk. ( didyma , Esp.). Common everywhere, except in the heart of London. 199. — Olvjia striyilis, Cl. Almost everywhere. As a contribution towards the question of London melanism I insert the follow¬ ing: I. Dais ton, ah. aethiops only (P.) ; Clapton, “ usually ab. aethiops ” (Ba.) ; Walthamstow, “about 85%, ab. aethiops ” (Ss.). II. Lee, “ a perfect pest in garden, ab. aethiops almost without exception ” (C.) ; Lewisham, Greenwich, Westcombe Park, almost entirely ab. aethiops (T.). III. Chiswick, “ type and ab. aethiops common ” (Si.). IV. Willesden, nearly all ab. aethiops (Ent., xxi., GO). See also Ent., xxi., 249 ; E.R., iv., 109. 200. — 0. fasciitncula, Haw. I. Clapton (Bt., N.) ; Hale End, c. (-J., N., &c.) ; Chingford (Be.) ; Woodford (Ent., xix., 67) ; Hackney marshes (Cl., P.) ; Forest Gate (M). II. “Abundant” (F.) ; S. Londou (Ent., xvii., 90) ; Greenwich and Westcombe Park dists. (T.) ; Forest Hill (E.R., ii., G9) ; Dulwich (W.). III. Tooting, n.c. (Bell — M.) ; Wimbledon Common (D., Ma.) ; Hammersmith (Ta.) ; Chiswick- (Si.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; Hendon (Ent., xxiv., 189) ; Hampstead Heath (So.) ; Highgate, at light (L.) ; Highgate Woods (E.R., i ., 159, So.). 201. — 0. literosa, Haw. I. Chingford (Be.) ; Forest Gate (M.). II. n.r. (F.) ; S. London- (Ent., xviii., 90); Dulwich (B.) ; Green¬ wich dist. (T.). 202. — 0. bicoloria, Vill. Almost everywhere. 208. — 0. arcuosa, Haw. I. Clapton marshes (Ba., P.); Hale End, c. at sugar (N.) ; Chingford (Be.) ; Woodford (Ent., xix., 67). II. Abundant (F.) ; Forest Hill (E.R., ii., 69) ; Dulwich (W.) ; Bromley (Ent., xviii., 20). III. Tooting, f.c. (Bell — M. — R.) ; Wimbledon Common (D., Bu., hotia utrii/ida, Thnb. II. Shirley, c. (Sh., F.). III. Wimbledon Common (Ma.) IV. Hampstead Heath (So.). 222. — Auiathes ylareosa, Esp. I. Stratford (Mu.). II. Shirley, at heather bloom, r. (Sh.); Eltham* (-To.). III. Wimbledon Com¬ mon (Ent., xxii., 151, Ta., &c.). 223. — A. (Examis) aiii/ur, Fb. Generally common. 224. — A. (Ochropleum) plecta, L. Generally common. Dr. Buckell has taken it at light on the Thames Embankment. 225. — A. c-nitjnm, L. I. Hale End* (N.) ; Lea Valley (Be.) ; Wood¬ ford (Ent., xix., 67) ; Stratford (Mu.). II. n.c. (F.) ; Green¬ wich dist. (T.) ; S. London (Ent., xvii., 90) ; Bromley (Ent., xvii., 279) ; Dulwich (E.R., ii. , 140, W.). III. Tooting, r. (Bell, Sec.) ; Wimbledon Common (Ent., xxii., 151, Ta., Vc.) ; Hammersmith (Bi.) ; Chiswick, v.c. at sugar (Si.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; Ilighgate (Bu., So.) ; Hampstead Heath (So.). 226. — A. ditrapezium, Bork. III. Wimbledon Common (P., Ma., &c.). IN’. Ilighgate Woods (E.B., i., 159); Hampstead Heath (So., P., Sec.) ; 2 bred in 1895, 1 in 1896, 2 in 1897, 24 in 1898, 41 in 1899, none seen or heard of prior to 1895, notwithstanding diligent collecting of spring larva1 in the locality some 14 to 18 years ago, imago never seen on the heath, though collecting lias been carried on there at the time when it was out (So., who adds “ the last two years the spring noctua larva? were abundant on Hampstead Heath ”). 227. — A. trianijulum, Hfn. 1. Hale End, c. (•)., N., &c.); Chingford (Be.); Woodford* (Ent., xix., 67). II. c. (F.); Greenwich dist. (T.); Bromley* (Ent., xvi., 233); Dulwich (W.). 111. Wimble¬ don Common (D., Ta., &c.). IV. N. London, common every¬ where (So.). 228. — A. stii/matica, Hb. II. Sometimes common (F.); Crovdon, r. (Sh.).' 229. — -A. brunnea, Fb. I. Hale End (N., P., Bt.); Chingford (Be.). II. c. (F.); Dulwich (W.). III. Wimbledon Common (D., Ta., &c.). IV. Hampstead Heath, 1. (Ba., So.); Ilighgate Woods (E.H., i., 159, Ent., xxv., (55, &c.). 230. — A. i>rinntlac, Esp. (j'estica, Hb.). A generally common species, but apparently avoiding the more central parts of London. The records are: 1. Walthamstow (Bu.); Hale End, c. (J., Bt., tic.); Chingford (Be.); W’oodford (Ent., xvii., 67). II. Abundant (F.); Greenwich and NVoolwich dists. (T.); Bromley (Ent., xvii., 278); Sydenham (E.R., ii., 164); Dulwich (W.). III. Tooting, c. (Bell — M.); W'imbledon Common (D., Ta., &c.); Chiswick, n.c. (Si.). IV. Paddington (Ph.); Hampstead Heath, 1. (Ba., So.); Highgate W’oods, swarming (Bu., So.); Wood Green (Ba.). ' i 231. — A. nib/, View. Recorded from nearly all the same localities as preceding, also : I. Thames Embankment, at electric light (Bu.); Dalston, one or two (P.); Stamford Hill* (Ba.); Ponders End (Bu.); Forest Gate (M.). III. Tooting, r. (Bell, &c.); Wimble¬ don, n.c. (P., Ma.); Hammersmith (Ta.). IV. Ealing (Fe.); Islington, Highbury (Bu.); Muswell Hill (Bu.). 232. — A. ainbrusa, Hb. I. Hale End* (N.); Chingford (Be.). II. Formerly common (F.). III. Wimbledon Common (Ent., xxii., 151); Barnes (Ta.); Chiswick, at sugar" (Si.). IV. Hampstead Heath (So.); Hendon (So.). 233. — A. baia, Fb. I. Hale End, c. (-J., N., Ss.); Chingford (Be.). II. c. (F.); Woolwich and Greenwich dists. (T.); Sydenham (E.R., ii. , 164); Dulwich (Heasler, teste B.). III. Wimbledon Common (D., Bu., &c.); Chiswick, r. (Si.). IV. Hampstead Heath (So.); Highgate Woods (So.). 234. — A. castanea, Esp. II. Shirley, c., both type and ab. neylecta, Hb. (Sh., Cl., -To.). 235. — A. xanthoyraplia, Fb. Common everywhere, except in the heart of London. 236. — Triphaena ianthina, Esp. I. Stamford Hill (Ba.); Tottenham (Be.); Hale End, c. (J., N.); Woodford" (Ent., xix., 67); Strat¬ ford (Mu.). II. c. (F., C., &c.). III. Tooting, r. (Bell — M. — R.); Wimbledon Common, 1. on nettles (Ent., xxii., 151); Hounslow, usually abundant at sugar (Ent., xxi., 19); Chiswick, c., 1. on young shoots of balsam poplar (Si.). IV. Ealing (Fe.); N. London (Sd.); Holloway* (Bu.); Canonbury* (Bu.); Hampstead (So., Bl.); Highgate (So., L.). 237. — T. Jimbriata, Schreb. ( fimbria, L.). I. Hale End, n.c. (J.); 1. on sallows (N.); Woodford (E.R., i., 166); Isle of Dogs* (Wy.). II. c. (F.); Eltham, 1., f.c. in 1900 (Jo.) ; Brockley, 1. (E.R.^ i., 349); Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140); Croydon (Ent., xiii., 221). III. Tooting, r. (Bell — R.); Wimbledon Common (Ent., xxii., 151, Bu., &c.). IV. Ealing (Fe.); Hampstead Heath (P>a., So.); Highgate (So.). 238. — T. interjecta, lib. I. City* (Heasler). II. n.c. (F.); Lee, in 1899* (C.); Croydon, frequent (Sli.). III. Wimbledon Com¬ mon, on the wing (A., Ent., xxii., 151); New Malden (Ent., xx., 64); Chiswick (Ent., xix., 134). IV. Hampstead Heath (So.). 239. — T. orbana (Hufn.), Rott. (subsequa, Auct.). Chelsea at electric light (Ent., xxiv., 222). [Has Mr. Stewart’s record been authenticated? if not, I would venture to suspect some mistake in the determination. — L.B.P.] . 240. — T. subsequa, Esp. (comes, Hb.). Common everywhere except in central London. It is unfortunate that, according to the law of priority, the commonly accepted names of this and the preceding species have to be reversed, as shown by Snellen as long ago as 1867. 241. — T. pronuba, L. Common everywhere, generally abundant. Probably as variable a series could be collected in a London garden as from localities scattered over the whole country. 242. — Pyrophila pyramidea, L. I. Larks Wood* (Ba.); Hale End, n.c. (J., N., &c.); Hagger Lane Forest (Bu.); Stratford (Mu.); S. Hackney (Se.). II. c. (F.); Bromley (Ent., xvii., 279). 111. Wimbledon Common (IX, Bu., Ac.). IV. Kensington Gardens, 1.* (Bu.); Hampstead Heath (So.). 243. — trayopoyonis, L. Very generally distributed, though missing from central London. Recorded from Paddington (Ph.). 244. — Nacnia typica, L. Common everywhere. 245. — Marino inaura, L. Generally distributed, but not recorded from nearer the City than S. Hackney (So.). 246. — Paiiolis yrisco-rarieyata . Goeze (piniperda, Panz.). I. Wood 73 Street, Walthamstow, on a fence" (Ss.). II. n.r. (F.); Shirley, c. (Cl., Sh.). IV. Highgate, 2 (So.). 247. — Pachnobta rubricosa, Fb. I. Hale End, n.c. (J., N.); Chingford (Be.); Woodford (Ent., xix., G7). II. Common in some seasons (F.); Sydenham (E.R., ii., 1G4); Croydon, c. (Sh.). III. Wimbledon Common (Ta., 1\, &c.); Chiswick, occasionally (Si.). IV. Hampstead, c. (So.); Highgate Woods (So.). 248. — Graplnphora fiothica, L. Generally common, but no strictly urban records. 249. — G. incerta, Hfn. Almost everywhere, including Dalston (P.); Canonbury and Highbury (Bu.); Ladbroke Square (Ent., xx., 199), &c. 250. — G. o pirn a, lib. I. Wanstead (Cl., M.). Apparently only dark forms occur in this locality. 251. — G. populi, Strom. ( populcti , Fb.). I. Wanstead (Cl.). II. Locally abundant (F.); Woolwich, Plumstead and Lee dists. (T.); Eltham, 1., c. (Jo.) ; Sydenham" (E.H., iii., 292); Shirley, r. (Sh.). III. Wimbledon (E.R., ix., 156, Ma.): Coombe Wood (K.). 252. — G. ccrani, Fb. (stabilis, View.). Common in the suburbs; Dr. Buckell records pupre as near the City as Highbury. 253. — G. (iravili* , Fb. I. Hale End (N., Ss.); Chingford (Be.). II. n.r. (F.); Eltham, 1., v.c. one season in terminal shoots of sallow (Jo.); Dulwich (W.); Croydon, c. (Sh.). III. V imbledon Common (Ent., xxii., 152, P., &c.); Tooting, c. (Bell, &c.); Chiswick, occasionally (Si.). IV. Ealing (Fe.); Hampstead Heath, c. (So.). 254. — G. mini ora, Fb. II. Scarce (F.); Shirley" (Sh.). III. Wimble¬ don (S. J. Bell). IV. Ealing (Fe.). 255. — G. nntnrfa , Esp. II. c. (F.); Shirley, c. (Sh.). III. Kingston (K.); Wimbledon (Ma.); Tooting (Bell — M.). 256. — G.pnlventlenta, Esp. I. Hale End, c. (J., N., &c.) ; Chingford (Be.) ; Hackney marshes (Cl.). II. Abundant (F.) ; Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140, W.). III. Wimbledon (D.) ; Richmond Park (A.). IV. Southall (Ba.) ; Ealing (Fe.) ; N. London, common everywhere (So.). 257. — Ih/schorixta smpecta, Hb. II. Locally common (F.) ; Dulwich, freely in 1895 (B.); Shirley, r. (Sh.). II. Wimbledon Common, at sugar (A.) ; Richmond Park (A.). 258. — D. fissipuncta, Haw. (upsilon, Bork.). Generally distributed, especially wherever there are willows ; 1. occasionally on poplar (L.B.P.). 259 . —Orthosia lota (a), Cl. I. Hale End (P., Ss.) ; Chingford (Be.); Hackney marshes (Cl.). II. c. (F.) ; Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140, W.) ; Greenwich Park (T.) ; Sydenham (E.R., ii., 164) ; Brom¬ ley (Ent., xvi., 19). III. Wimbledon, 1. on blackthorn (Ent., xxii., 151); Barnes (Ta.) ; Chiswick, c. at ivy (Si.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; Harrow (Ent., xxiv., 156) ; N. London, generally dis¬ tributed (So.). I have never seen the red form — ab. ntfa, Tutt, from the London district. — L.B.P. (a) Unfortunately this genus will require to be re-named, as Curtis, in 182S, selected instabili » (incerta, Hfn.) for the type of Orthosia. 74 260. — (>. macilenta, Hb. II. n.r. (F.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; High- gate (So.) ; Winchmore Hill (Ba.). 261. — Ayrochola Jwlrola,h. [rufina, L.). II. e. (F.). III. Wimbledon Common (Ta.). 262. — A. jnstacina, Fb. Nearly everywhere, excepting the central parts. 263. — A. lunosa, Haw. The same may be said of this species. 264. — A. Utura, L. II. c. (F.) ; Sydenham (E.R., ii . , 164). HI. Wimbledon Common (D., Ta., Ac.) ; Chiswick, abundant, 1. common on tlowers of sorrel (Si.) ; Hammersmith (Bi.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; Highgate "Woods (Bu.) ; Winchmore Hill (Ba., P., Ac.). 266. — Glaca raccinii, L. Common everywhere in the suburbs. 266. — (1. liffula, Esp. (xpadirea, Haw., ner Hb.). 1. Hale End, c. (Ss., Ba.); Chingford (Ba.) ; Hackney Marshes (Cl.). 11. c. (F.); Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140) : Svdenham (E.R., ii., 164) ; Bromley (Ent., xvi., 19). 111. Wimbledon (Ma.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; Highgate (So.) ; Muswell Hill (So.) ; Palmer’s Green, Winch¬ more Hill and Southgate (Ba.). 267. — /■, uf/siliu satellitia, L. 1. Hale End (N., Ss., Ba.) ; Chingford (Be.); Hackney Marshes (Cl.). 11. e. (F.) ; Sydendam (E.R., ii., 164) ; Dulwich (W.). ill. Tooting, r. (Bell— B.) ; Wimble¬ don Common (1)., Ma.) ; Hammersmith (Bi.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; Highgate Moods (So.); Crouch Hill := (Ent., xxv., 65) ; Muswell Hill (Ba.) ; Winchmore Hill (Ba., P., Ac.). 268. — Jnilia crorraf/n, Fb. II. n.e. (F.); Eltham, sparingly (.Jo.) ; Dulwich" (W.). 260. — Tiliaci’a ritrai/n, L. 1. Hale End (J . , P.); Buckhurst Hill, 1800 (E.N., v., 162); Wanstead Flats (Cl.). II. c. (F.) ; Eltham, 1., c. (.Jo.), ill. Tooting, r. (Bell, Bell — R.); Barnes (Ta.); Chis¬ wick, occasionally (Si.). IV. The records for this district, and for the S.E., indicate a wide distribution. 270. — l iliacra (/) aurayn, Fb. 11. Local and scarce (F.). 271. — Citria irtrritia, Hufn. (fiilcar/n, L.). II. c. (E.); Croydon, e. (Sh.). III. Tooting, r. (Bell — R.); Wimbledon Common (D., Ta., Ac.); Hammersmith (Ta.). IV. Ealing (Fe.); Hampstead and Highgate (So.). 272. — C. lutca, Strom, (fiacanu, Fb.). 1. Forest Gate (M.). 11. c. (F.); Woolwich dist. (T . ) ; Bromley " (Ent., xvii., 279); Dulwich (E.R., ii., 140, W.); Shirley, c. (Sh.). 111. Tooting, r. (Bell-- R.); Wimbledon Common (Ta., Ent., xxii., 151, Ac.); Barnes (Ta.). IV. Hampstead and Highgate (So.); Muswell Hill " (Bu.). 273. — Mdiinia ijilraija, Esp. 1. St. James’ Street, Walthamstow, 18/10/00:: (N.). IV. Highgate 8/9/93 (Bu.); Winchmore Hill (Ba.). 273a. — M. ocelliirix, Bork. II. Dulwich, 3/10/94" (Ent., xxvii., 132). III. Wimbledon, at sugar, 27/9/93 (E. 11. Taylor); October 1H04 ,: (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxxi., 50) ; Twickenham (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxx., 161). 274. — M. circrllartx, Hfn. I. Hale End (X.); Chingford (He.). II. c. (F.); S. London (Ent., xxii., 90); Sydenham (E.U., ii.. 164); Dulwich (B.). III. Tooting, c. ( Hi'll, Ac.); M imbledon ('ommon (Ta., Ma.); Chiswick, abundant (S : .) ; Hammersmith (Bi.). 75 IV. Ealing (Fe.); Hampstead and Highgate (So.); Palmers Green (Ba.). 275. — Cirrhoedia .verampelina, HI). I. Stratford, at light (Mu.). II. n.c. (F.); Charlton, on lamp (Jo.) ; Bromley* (Ent., xvi., 19). IV. Acton, at light " (Ent., xxi., 276). 276. — Jpimorphn notacula, Fb. (subfund, Fb.). For this species we have a large number of single records, and probably if it were syste¬ matically worked for, it might be described as “ generally com¬ mon.” But as matters stand, it seems needful to give the full list. 1. Dalston, 1.* (P.); Hackney Downs, 1. * (Tr.); Stamford Hill, IF (Ba.); Walthamstow" (Bu.); Woodford * (Ent., xix., 67). II. c. (F.) ; Westcombe Park (T.) ; Eltham, 1. very abun¬ dant (Jo.) ; S. London (Ent., xvii., 90); Bromley (Ent., xvii., 279); Dulwich* (W.); Croydon, r. (Sh.). III. Wimbledon (D.); Kingston Vale" (Ent., xxii., 151); Ham Common (A.); Chiswick, at sugar" (Si.). IV. Highgate (Bu., So.). 277. — /. retusa, L. 1. Walthamstow* (J.); Ponders End, at light* (Bu.). 11. Rare, formerly common (F.); Eltham, “abundant one season, bred 100 from terminal shoots of sallow ” (.To.). 278. — Vicijcla no, L. 1. Walthamstow, r. (J.); Hale End (Bt., N., Ac.); Chingford (Be.). II. Occasionally (F.); Bromley (Ent., xvi., 19); Woolwich Common*, at rest on oak (Jo.). IV. High¬ gate Woods* (So.). 279. — Coniuia trapezoid, L. Nearly everywhere outside the four-mile radius, including Isle of Dogs, n.c. (Wy.). Within the radius our only record is Dalston, 2 or 8, 1. once on rose in garden (P.). 280. — C. p>/ralina, View. 111. Kingston Hill* (K.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) Mr. W. J. Kaye has also taken it at Worcester Park, just outside our district boundaries. 281. — di/jinin, L. I. Hale End, c. (J., N.) ; Chingford (Be.); Woodford (E.N., vii., 128). 11. n.r. (F.) ; Eltham, n.r. (Jo.); Dulwich (E.R., i i . , 140); Sydenham (E. 11., ii., 164) ; Croydon, frequent (Sh., Ent., xiii., 221). 111. Tooting, r. (Bell — S.); Wimbledon (Ent., xxii., 151); Richmond Park* (A.); Roehamp- ton (Bu.); Hammersmith (Bi.). IV. Ealing (Fe.); Hampstead (So.); Highgate (So.). 282. --r. a /finis, L. Nearly the same localities as < '. di/fiuis ; also Stratford (Mu.) ; Bromley (Ent., xvii., 279) ; lslewortli (Ent., xxiv., 156) ; Chiswick (Ent., xix., 181); Southall (Ba.). 288. — Eremubia nchrolruca, Esp. I. Victoria Park (Cl.). II. Croy¬ don, r. (Sh.). 284 . —Hadena vonnpema, Esp. (mna, Rott.). II. n.c. (F.) ; Croydon, c. on fences (Sh., Cl.). 285. — //. bierun's, Hfn. ( capninmla , III).). I. Dalston (P.) : Clapton (N.) ; Stamford Hill (Ba.) ; Woodford (Ent., xix., (17) ; Stratford (Mu.). 11. c. (F.) ; Greenwich (list., in gardens on sweet- william (T.) ; Lee (C.) ; Dulwich (E.R., ii., 1 10). III. Tooting (Bell — R.) ; Hammersmith (Bi.) ; Chiswick, at blossoms on red lychnis and soapwort, 1. on lychnis, c. (Si.). IV. Generally- distributed (So., Sd.). 286. — II. eueubali, Fuess. 1. Tottenham (Bt.) ; W oodford (Ent., xix.. 67). 11. n.c. (F.) ; Greenwich, at sugar ('I'.): Dulwich (W., B.) ; Croydon, c. (Sh.). 111. Hammersmith (Bi.) ; Chis- 76 wick (Ent., xxxii., 256). IV. Brunswick Square, W.C., 12/6/99 := (Meldola) ; Ealing (Fe.). 287. — H. carpophaya, Bork. I. Wood Street, Walthamstow, on water¬ works paling* (Bu.) ; Hackney marshes (Cl.). II. Croydon, c. (Sh.). III. Tooting, r. (Bell — B.). [H. capsuphila, Dup. Mr. Woolley’s record in Ent., xxv., 191, is obviously erroneous, and is not repeated in his later list for Isle of Dogs.] 288. — Hecatera cliryscnona, Bork. I. Stratford (Cl.). 289. — //. serena, Fi>. Records show a very general distribution round London, though it is only given as “ common ” in the S.E., and seems to be absent from the Hampstead and Highgate district, which has been so thoroughly worked by our Society. Surely the food-plant (Crepis) must occur there ? Last summer (1899) Mr. Hanbury took a specimen hovering over flowers in his garden at Clapton. 290. — Folia chi , L. II. Brockley, one or two (E.R., i., 849). Mr. Turner (in lift.) says, this “was only a chance capture;” prob¬ ably escape from breeding. 291. — 1‘. flacicincta, Fb. I. Woodford (Cl.). II. n.c. (F.). III. Kingston, c. (K.); Richmond, on the railway bridge (A.); Bedford Park (Ent., xxiv., 189). IV. Ealing (Fe., Bu.) ; Southall (Ba.). 292. — Dasi/polia tan pi i, Thnb. I. Stratford, at light (Mu.). IV. Ealing (Fe.). 298. — Apornphi/la lutulenta, Bork. II. Scarce (F.). 294. — Cleuceris viminalis, Fb. II. c. (F.); Dulwich (W., Cox, teste B.); Croydon, 1. on sallow, c. (Sh.. H., Cl.). IV. Hampstead Heath (So.). 295. — Misclia nxyacanthar, L. Almost everywhere, excepting the more central parts. Ab. capiicina, Mill, very frequent. 296. — Dichonia oprilina, L. TT. Scarce (F.j. 297. — Euplexia lucipara , L. Common everywhere, mostly abundant. 298. — Fhhejophovci meticulosa, L. Everywhere, mostly common; but seems less of a pest round London than in many parts of the country. 299. — Envoi a occulta, L. II. Lee, a few (F.). III. Wimbledon (Ent., xiv., 258). 800. — Aplecta nebulosa, Ilfn. I. Hale End, c. (J., Bt., Ac.); Larks Wood, 1. on sallow* (Ba.); Hagger Lane Forest (Bu.); Lea Bridge Road (Bl.). II. c. (F.); Woolwich dist. (T.); Dulwich (W.). III. Wimbledon Common (D., Ta.). IV. Hampstead (Ent., xxiv., 189); Highgate Woods, abundant (Bu., So.). The London forms of this species show a decided melanochroic tendency. — L.B.P. 801. — A. tincta, Brahm. LI. Croydon, 1. on birch, c. some years (Sh.). IV. Wimbledon Common (A., Ma., &c.). 802. — A. cuivcna, Fb. II. Occasionally (F.); Eltham, r. (Jo.) ; Crov- don (H.). 808. — Mamestra adnsta, Esp. I. Hale End, r. (I*.). [M. protect , Bork. vide No. 812. ] 304. — M. dentine/, Esp. (.' net net, Ilfn.). I. Hale End (Tr., P.) ; Ponders End (Bu.); Forest Gate (M.). II. c. (F.); Greenwich, Woolwich dists. (T.); Sydenham (E.R., ii . , 164): Shirley (.J.). 77 III. Barnes (Ta.); Wimbledon (Ent., xxii., 151); Chelsea (Ent., xxiv., 221). IV. Highgate Woods (So.); Southgate* (Ba.). 305. — 21. trifolii, Rott. Everywhere, except in the very heart of London, abundant in many parts. 30(5. — 21. dmimilis, Enoch. I. Hackney Marshes (CL). 307. — 21. oleracea, L. Common everywhere. 308. — 21. pisi, L. Very generally distributed, often common (a.); Lee, formerly common, none since 1897 (C.); Canon- bury and Highbury (Hu.) ; N. London, generally distributed (So., Sd.). 326. — Plum’ a ((Jhry.saptrra) moneta, Fb. This recent interesting addition to our fauna has already several times been taken round London. I. Woodford 2/6, 93" (Oldham); Ent., xxvi., 254, E.N., vii., 107 and 127. II. Bromley (Ent., xxix., 263); Croydon" (Ent., xxviii., 311). III. Sutton" (Ent., xxix., 263); Hammersmith* (Ent., xxxii., 212). 327. — I'laaia chri/sitis, L. Nearly everywhere outside London. We have no records for Wimbledon, Richmond, &c., but this is probably a mere oversight. Writing of Lee and Grove Park, Mr. Carr says, “ another common moth which has dropped off during the last two seasons.” Dr. Sequeira has taken it in his garden at S. Hackney, and Dr. Phillips at Paddington. 328. — P. iota, L. I. Stamford Hill (Da.) ; Hale End (Dt., Ss.) ; Chingford (Be.) ; Woodford (Ent., xix., 67). II. n.c. (F.) ; Brockley (E.R., i., 349) ; Croydon, frequent (Sh.). IV. Ealing (Fe.) ; Hendon (So.) ; Highgate (So.) ; Southgate, occasionally at light (Da.). 329. — /’. pnlchrina , Haw. HI. Chiswick" (Si.). IV. Highgate Woods (So.) ; Crouch Hill (Ent., xxv., 65). 330. — P. yamma, L. Everywhere, though only occasionally wander¬ ing into the central parts of London. 331. — /'. interrofiatioiM, L. Ealing (Fe.). [Surely an escape? — L.D.P.] 332. — Anarta vn/rtilli, L. II. n.r. (F.) ; Abbev Wood (W.) ; Shirley, c. (Sh., W., Cl., Ac.). 333. — Pcmemeria tenvbrata, Scop. I. Walthamstow (E.R., i., 132); Hale End, n.r. (N., Tr., Ac.). . II. Locally abundant (F.) ; Dulwich (W.). III. Streatham (Fo.) ; Wimbledon Common (Ent., xxii., 151, A.). IV. N. London (Sd.) ; Southall, com¬ mon, but local (Da.) ; Ealing (Fe.) ; Willesden (E.R., ii.. 291) • Harrow (D.) ; Mill Hill, c. (R. E. James). 334. — Hdinthin pcltipera, Schiff. 1. Clapton, in garden" (N.). II. Sydenham" (E.R., ii., 164). 385. — P.mtplo trabralis, Scop. I. Hackney marshes (Cl.). 336. — Tarachc lurtnosa , Esp. II. Lee" (F.) ; Croydon, r. (Sh., Cl.). 387. — Hapalot'i* faxciana, L. I. Wanstead Flats (Cl.). 11. Forest Hill, 24/7/86 (E.R., ii., 69). III. Richmond Park, 8 or 4 on tree-trunks, 28/7/81 (Du.). I V. Highgate Woods (So.). 79 888. — Pud alia mi, Cl. I. Halo End, c. (N., Ss., Ac.). II. n.c. (F.); Abbey Wood (W.) ; Dulwich (W.) ; Croydon (H.). III. Wimble¬ don Common (Ta., A., Ac.) ; Hammersmith (1).). IV. Southall (Ba.) ; Willesden (E.R., ii., 291). 839. — K. (jbjphiea, L. II. Croydon (H.). IV. Southall (Ba.). 340. — Catocala fra.vini, L. I. Stamford Hill* (Goymour). III. Sutton, 18/9/87* (Ent., xx., 82.7). IV. Hyde Park, 9/9/85* Ent., xviii., HIM). 841. — O. nupta, L. Everywhere except in the heart of London, generally common, abnormally so last autumn (1M99). Out as early as July 7th in 1K93 (E.N., vii . , 128). 342. — C. ttponxa, L. IT. Blackheath, 1/9/87* (Ent., xx., 300); Croydon* (H.). 343. — Parascatia fuliyinaria, L. I. Upper Thamas Street (Ent., xiv., 179, 228). II. Bermondsey (Ent., xiv., 212) ; Lewisham Ent., xiv., 212, 228). 344. — Rivulet sericcalis , Scop. II. Croydon, r. (Sh.). 845. — Rant col a. v on ©»tomolo0tcal ^ |l at aval ifjietovy Society. 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