Mr. J.P. Mansell Weale read notes "On Variations in Rhopalocerous forms inhabiting South Africa." The author, after stating that he had travelled over most of the eastern districts of the Cape Colony, alluded to the distribution of plants as affecting that of insects, and noticed the apparent encroachments of the subtropical flora and insect fauna along the south-eastern seaboard, the absence of any great barriers and the general uniformity tending to produce close variations. He exhibited and remarked on a large series of Papilio merope, male and female, some reared by him, and all collected in one small wooded gully, isolated in an open grass country. He also exhibited male and female Nymphales xiphares (Thyestes), the male of which is wanting in the National Collection, remarking on the apparent imitation by the female of Amauris Echeria. He next exhibited and remarked on a series of imagines of Aeræa Esetria, some of the forms of which are separated by some entomologists, and stated that all the forms had been reared from larvae collected on a single plant. He next exhibited a series of Innonia Pelasgis and Archesia, showing a very close gradation linking the two forms, and showed that some of the latter approached I. Amestris, although the alliance was not so evident as in I. Pelasgis. He objected to the use of the name "species" as too freely used among plants and insects, and suggested that it merely implied a provisionally uncertain distinction of apparently important differences. In illustration of this, he exhibited specimens of Callosune Evarne and Keiskamma, two forms hitherto held distinct, but of which the ova, larvæ and pupæ exhibited no differences, although in two broods in successive years the forms appeared separately. He also remarked on artificially produced changes in the pupæ.
Prof. Westwood stated that he had just received collections of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera from South Africa, collected by Mr. Gates.
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. W.G. Gibson, of Dumfries, stating that Colias Edusa had made its appearance in that district during the month of June, and suggesting that its occurrence might be accounted for by the large importation of foreign clover.
Prof. Westwood stated that Mr. Alexander Wallace had informed him that both Colias Edusa and Hyale were very common about Colchester in June.
Prof. Westwood brought under the Society's notice the recent accounts of the appearance of the Colorado beetle in Ontario and near Cologne.
Mr. May handed in a copy of the Memorandum issued by the Canadian Minister of Agriculture in relation to this insect.
Part II. of the 'Transactions' for 1877 was on the table.—R. Meldola, Hon. Sec.
