Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/323

Rh ferax, lately known as the "salmon disease") was detected growing on the skin and particularly plentiful around the spots of injury received during its capture. Another specimen of the Beluga, kept in the same tank, was more lively in its movements, and remained longer submerged between each surface respiration. —

June 5, 1878.— F.L.S., F.Z.S., President, in the chair.

Mr. John A. Finzi exhibited a remarkable female specimen of Anthocharis cardamines, taken in Darenth Wood, Kent. The under side only of one fore wing possessed an orange patch.

Mr. F. Grut exhibited a specimen of an immature Mygale from South Africa.

Mr. D. Greig Rutherford exhibited a series of large cocoons sent by Mr. George Thomson from Mount Camaroons, West Africa, formed by the caterpillars of a species of Bombyx allied to Anaphe Panda, Bdv. They were taken at an elevation of 5000 feet above the level of the sea, and judging from the nature of certain twigs and pieces of native cord fastened to their exterior covering appeared to have been found attached to fences or to the eaves of houses. It would appear that A. Panda, like some other species of Bombycidæ, is social, and that the caterpillars unite in considerable numbers in order to form an aggregate cocoon of sufficient strength to preserve the chrysalis from the attacks of enemies, and probably also against extreme changes of temperature.

Mr. H. T. Stainton stated that the two small ermine moths (Hyponomeuta padella and H. evonymella) of this country were distinguished from one another by the fact that the larvae of one species spin up gregariously in close proximity, while those of the other species scatter themselves before spinning up.

Mr. Rutherford next exhibited a specimen of a Papilio which appeared to be a true case of so-called "hermaphroditism" occurring between Papilio Cynorta and P. Boisduvalianus, the left side of the wings showing the markings (somewhat interrupted) of the former, and the right side those of the latter species. This specimen seems to confirm the suspicion that the two forms are but the sexes of one species.

Mr. Meldola exhibited photographs of two species of tropical Orthoptera allied respectively to Pterochroza illustrata and P. ocellata, Serville, which had been sent to Mr. Darwin by Dr. Zachurias, of Chemnitz, on account of the very perfect leaf-like appearance of the fore wings, this "protective resemblance" extending to microscopic detail. The hind wings were orna- mented with ocellated spots, probably acquired through sexual selection.