was always partly a double-brooded species; T. biundularia appeared early in May until the first week in June, and was only singlebrooded; in every case the insect remained true to the parent type; and although the markings were somewhat alike in both species, yet there were characteristic differences as shown in the series exhibited; this also applied to the larval stages. Mr. Barrett and Mr. Tutt made some observations on this exhibit, the latter gentleman agreeing with Mr. Tugwell, but the former was of opinion that crepuscularia and biundularia were not distinct. Mr. Turner showed a very light form of Nyssia hispidaria, Fb., from Richmond. Mr. Carpenter also exhibited varieties of the same species. Mr. Fenn, a long series of Larentia multistrigaria, Haw. Messrs. Skinner, B. W. Adkin, and Mr. West exhibited Coleoptera, the latter gentleman a very interesting collection from the Colombian Republic. Messrs. E. Step, W. Manger, C. G. Barrett, Tugwell, Billups and others, also exhibited.-H. W. BARKER, Hon. Sec.

CITY OF LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.— March 20th.-J. A. Clark, F.E.S., in the chair. Mr. Quail exhibited a specimen of D. galii, Schiff., captured at Stoke Newington in July, 1888. Mr. Simes, a remarkably small E. cardamines, L., taken in Epping Forest, May, 1889. Mr. J. A. Clark, two varieties of T. gothicina, H.-S., the wings of one specimen, although having the markings of this species, strongly resemble T. incerta, Hufn., in shape. Mr. Whittle, a series of Catoptria juliana, Curt., and Padisca oppressana, Tr. Mr. Lewcock read a paper on behalf of Mr. Robert Gillo, of Bath, on the occurrence of aquatic Coleoptera at Burnham, Somerset, in September, 1889. It appeared therefrom that Mr. Gillo, by persistently working the district, day after day, had obtained forty-two species; included in this number were Pelobius hermanni, F.; Haliplus mucronatus, Steph.; Hydrophilus piceus, L.; Dytiscus circumflexus, F., and D. punctulatus, F.; in addition to these, he also found several species of Elmis, Latr., and Parnus, Fabr. Mr. Lewcock also read a paper on behalf of Mr. P. W. Jarvis, of Cape Town, on the "Coleopterous Fauna of South Africa." The number of species taken south of the Zambezi amount to upwards of 8000; Madagascar, having a distinct fauna of its own, is not included in the SouthAfrican list. The district appears to be very rich in Cicindelidæ, having about 50 species. The genera Carabus and Pterostichus are not represented, but in place of them are twelve species of Anthia, which are larger and far more powerful than our largest Carabus beetle, and twelve of the genus Polyhermia, which also are highly voracious insects; three species of the latter are so deeply pitted as to give the elytra the appearance of being perforated. A species of Brachinus found near Cape Town is three quarters of an inch in length, and the explosion emitted by it is in proportion to its size. Aquatic species are fairly represented; but Staphylinidæ are not quite so numerous as in Britain, although M. Fauvel has recently described fifty new species. Necrophagous beetles are not numerous, but several species of Histeridæ exceed three-quarters of an inch in length. Upwards of five hundred Lamellicorniæ are found. Some species of Helioropris

attain two inches in length; the genus Onthophagus (thirty species) contains many gaily-coloured beetles,-O. rangifer is of a brilliant ruby. The one hundred species of Buprestidæ are generally large in size. Elateridæ are not common. The genera Telephorus and Malachius are extensive, and most of the species common. The Tenebrionidæ, numbering over 400, inhabit the sandy veldt. Cantharidæ, some of which are prettily marked, find sixty-two representatives. South Africa also possesses a vast quantity of weevils, many of which are not found in other parts of the world. The Longicornia are much finer than the British insects, especially the Transvaal species. Chrysomelidæ are moderately common, some very showy. The genus

Donacia is conspicuous by its absence. Cassidæ are large and numerous. The Hispida (twelve species) are very strange-looking creatures, being covered with spikes about two lines long. Mr. Jarvis also gave information respecting the best time for collecting, and the names of the coleopterists of Cape Town.

April 3rd.-The President in the chair. Mr. Raine exhibited a bred specimen of P. rape, L., without black tips to the wings. Mr. Clark, a series of Rhodaria sauguinalis from north of Ireland. Mr. Smith, a bred specimen of A. atropos, L., from Dartford. Mr. A. U. Battley read a paper on the entomology and geology of the London Basin. The discussion which followed was taken part in by Messrs. Clark, Cripps, Lewcock, and others.-G. A. LEWCOCK and E. HANES, Hon. Secs.

BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. March 17th, 1890. - The President, Mr. W. E. Blatch, in the chair.-Messrs. C. R. Parsons and H. R. Hodgkinson were elected members of the Society. Mr. R. C. Bradley showed Asphalia flavicornis, from Solihull, in one of which the stigmata had coalesced. Mr. H. M. Lee showed three Hesperia, apparently lineola, which he had found in a collection, and which he believed had been taken in Jersey. Mr. C. S. Wainwright showed a collection of insects from Columbia, S. America, including some fine Morphos, Papilios, Heliconias, &c. Mr. W. E. Blatch read a note on a new species of the family Scydmænina, which he proposed to call Neuraphes planifrons. It was taken under bark of birchstumps, in company with Scydmænus godarti and S. exilis, at Sherwood Forest.-COLBRAN J. WAINWRIGHT, Hon. Sec.

REVIEWS.

Larva Collecting and Breeding: a Handbook to the Larva of the British Macro-Lepidoptera and their Food-plants, both in nature and confinement; with Authorities. By the Rev. J. SEYMOUR ST. JOHN, B.A. Pp. 165. London: Wesley & Son. 1890. Post 8vo.

FROM the title, it might be gathered that some hints on collecting and treating lepidopterous larvæ would be found in the work; but, as a fact, there is nothing of the kind, and the second part of the title alone would have sufficed.

Although it treats only of the Macro-Lepidoptera, the author of this little book deserves the thanks of British lepidopterists for the painstaking

way in which he has accumulated, prepared, and presented in handy form a large amount of interesting data concerning the larval food-plants of species occurring in this country. The book is divided into two parts. In the first, the larvæ are enumerated in classified order, and, where known, the food-plants upon which they feed are given. In the second part, the plants are arranged in accordance with the London Catalogue of British Plants,' 8th ed.; and the larvæ known to feed on each plant are mentioned. Reference to the work or works where the larva is described, or some observation on its economy recorded, enhances the value of this portion of the book; and it is to be regretted that in the first part, where it could have easily been done, no mention is made of the month or months in which each larva occurs.

For the benefit of those who may not be botanists, the common English names of the plants are added in both divisions, and an index to the second part provided. The lepidopterous genera of the first part are also included in this index. Altogether Mr. St. John is to be congratulated upon the production of a work which will certainly prove useful alike in the field or study.-R. S.

The Coleopterous Fauna of the Liverpool District. By JOHN W. ELLIS, M.B., F.E.S., &c. One vol. 8vo. Liverpool: Turner, Routledge & Co. 1889.

THIS is a reprint from the Proceedings of the Liverpool Biological Society, vols. ii., iii. Unfortunately, the original pagination has been retained, the first part commencing on p. 182, and the second part on p. 46.

The area dealt with is "that portion of Lancashire and Cheshire falling within a circle having a radius of fifteen miles from the Liverpool Town Hall." The systematic arrangement is very nearly that of the Catalogue of British Coleoptera,' by the Rev. Canon Fowler and the Rev. A. Matthews. In compiling his list the author has been careful to produce something more than a mere enumeration of the species of Coleoptera occurring in the district. Where necessary, exact localities are given, frequently accompanied by observations on habits, &c.; the published records, entomological diaries of, and information otherwise conveyed by, local workers, together with his own special knowledge, are the sources from which such data have been obtained.

Altogether, about 30 per cent. of the British beetles appear to be found in the Liverpool district, the exact number being 990 species as against 3227 species of Fowler and Matthews's List. This number is divided among the several groups as follows:-Geodephaga, 163; Hydradephaga, 66; Palpicornia, 49; Brachyelytra, 250; Clavicornia, 156; Lamellicornia, 42; Serricornia, 50; Longicornia, 8; Monilicornia, 51; Heteromera, 31; Rynchophora, 124.-R. S.

OBITUARY.

JOSEPH S. BALY.-It is with regret we have to record the death of Mr. Joseph S. Baly, of Warwick, A notice of his entomological work will appear next month.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

VOL. XXIII.]

JUNE, 1890.

[No. 825.

ON THE OCCASIONAL ABUNDANCE OF CERTAIN SPECIES OF LEPIDOPTERA IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS.*

By R. Adkin, F.E.S.

THE sporadic appearance in these Islands of certain species of Lepidoptera is a subject that has received a large amount of attention, and many theories have been advanced to account for the phenomenon: these may be grouped into two great classes, which may for present purposes be termed the "migration" and the "local causes "theories.

The British Islands, as we now know them, have a superficial area of some 121,000 square miles, and enjoy a temperate climate, but such favourable conditions were not always existent; at some former period this country was a land of snow and ice, probably not differing much from what Greenland now is, and the majority of our present species could not have lived under such climatic conditions: it is probable that at this time these Islands formed a portion of the continent of Europe, and that upon the glacial conditions giving way to a period of milder temperatures, a fauna suitable to the altered circumstances of climate would follow in due course. If we compare representatives of our more generally distributed species with those inhabiting Continental Europe, we find the majority of them are identical, and we arrive at the conclusion that they are of common origin. Further, the conviction is forced upon us that our present insect fauna has been derived from the Continent, and that it has been brought about by the several species gradually extending the area of their distribution. This would appear to indicate an initial migratory condition which it is easily conceivable would be subject to such modification as became necessary from time to time in the economy of a species; and the cutting off of the

Abstract of a Paper read before the South London Entomological and Natural History Society, April 24, 1890.

ENTOM.-JUNE, 1890.

British Islands from the mainland of Continental Europe cannot be regarded as imposing an obstacle that would not be easily overcome by migratory instincts thus engendered. If, however, the sphere of our observations is confined entirely to these Islands, we have great difficulty in detecting cases of probable immigration; for although the evidence may strongly favour migration, it may not be conclusive, and the circumstance might be referable to other causes. But if we find insects moving in numbers in situations where their presence cannot be accounted for in any other way, we may safely conclude that they are in a state of migration; the meeting with a swarm of Deiopeia pulchella in Mid-Atlantic is a case in point, and many other instances are on record referring to other species, and extending even to our shores. The reports furnished, through the courtesy of Mr. Cordeaux, by sundry Lighthouse keepers, although not numerous, are of great importance; those from Guernsey and Heligoland, referring to vast flights of Plusia gamma, Hybernia defoliaria, &c., passing frequently in a westerly direction, have a distinct bearing upon the subject.

On the other hand, there is the probability that the surroundings of a species during its metamorphoses would affect its subsequent abundance or scarcity: the evidence under this head is at best incomplete, but as far as it goes it is of importance. The females of many species deposit large numbers of ova, yet we do not find a corresponding annual increase in the number of the imagines of such species; their natural enemies hold them in check. If, therefore, we are to account for the cases of occasional abundance by purely local influences, we must find some irregularity in the working of Nature. It has been suggested that the insect may remain in one of its quiescent stages for an unusually prolonged period,-for instance as pupa, numerous cases are on record, but they tend to show that the second year is seldom exceeded, and in such cases as it is the number of emergences are proportionately smaller. But perhaps the most important of local causes is that of meteorological conditions: mild winters and cool summers are said to be detrimental to Lepidoptera, while hard winters and sunny summers are held to be favourable, and so forth; observation appears to prove that such is the case, but that the effect is upon Lepidoptera generally rather than upon a few species, and it is worthy of remark that some of the cases of greatest abundance of Vanessa cardui and Plusia gamma have occurred in cold wet seasons, when other species have been actually much less common than usual.

As examples of species exhibiting tendencies to occasional great abundance the following may be mentioned:-Hybernia defoliaria, H. aurantiaria, Oporabia dilutata, Cheimatobia brumata, C. boreata, and Orgyia antiqua. These all have apterous females,