on February 9th. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited, for Mr. C. H. Watson, a specimen of Pieris brassica, L., which approaches very nearly Pieris cheiranthi, Hb., from the Canary Islands. The specimen, a female, was bred from larvæ found in a garden at Streatham; also two female specimens of Apatura iris, L., bred from larvæ taken in the New Forest in the autumn of 1891. Mr. G. B. Routledge exhibited a small collection of butterflies from Algiers, Hyères and Switzerland, including Pararge ægeria, Esp. (typical form), Limenitis camilla, Schif., and Polyommatus virgaurea, L. (females). Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a series of Vanessa urtica, L., bred during 1892 in Sutherlandshire, N. B., which were generally dark in colour and with well-defined markings; also a specimen bred from the Essex coast, unusually light in colour. Mr. Sauzé, a small collection of Ichneumonidæ, captured in the perfect state. Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited specimens of a group of the Nymphaline from the African region, mimicking others from the subfamilies Danaine and Acræinæ. An interesting discussion ensued, and Mr. Weir referred to the fact that non-scented species of butterflies had been found eaten by birds, but scented species had not been so found; and Mr. South said that he understood that Danaine butterflies generally escaped the attacks of mites in collections. The question as to the excursions of the Society during the ensuing summer was put to the meeting, and it was decided to discuss the matter at the meeting of April 13th, before coming to a final decision. It is hoped that a large attendance may result on April 18th, and more especially of the younger members, for whose benefit the excursions have in past seasons been arranged.

The Society's Annual Dinner was held at the Bridge House Hotel on Thursday, March 2nd. Among other interesting matters touched upon in the speeches that followed, it was mentioned that the Society had this year attained its majority, it having been established just twenty-one years ago. A pleasing event of the evening was the presentation to Mr. H. W. Barker, the retiring Hon. Secretary, of a cheque for £19, that had been subscribed by some sixty members, as a mark of their appreciation of the valuable services he had rendered to the Society during the seven years he had filled that office.-F. W. HAWES & H. WILLIAMS, Hon. Secs.

YORK AND DISTRICT FIELD NATURALISTS' SOCIETY. The Annual Meeting of this Society was held on Wednesday evening, January 9th, in the Council Chamber of the Museum, York, Mr. T. C. Dennis, F.E.S., President, in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected as officers for the ensuing year:-President, Mr. G. C. Dennis; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. W. R. Robinson, R. Dutton, S. Walker, H. J. Wilkinson; Honorary Secretary, Mr. W. Hewett.

February 8th.-Mr. G. Jackson exhibited several rare or local species, including Deilephila galii, Cred.; Sesia musciformis, Isle of Man: S. ichneumoniformis, Isle of Wight: Zygana pilosella (minos), Ireland; Lithosia caniola, L. pygmeola, Emydia cribrum, Ringwood; Lalia cœnosa, from the collection of the late Mr. Owen. Mr. R. Dutton, Boarmia roboraria, Hyria auroraria, Agrotis ravida, Sesia sphegiformis, and Stauropus fagi, &c. Mr. W. Hewett, Zygana minos, Galway; Spilosoma mendica, Ireland; Lophopteryx carmelita, Marlow; Emydia cribrum, New Forest, &c.; also five very fine varieties of Spilosoma lubricipeda, from Barnsley, Driffield, and York, one from Driffield having the hind wings of the radiata colour, i. e., smoky black, the basal area wing-rays and fringe being cream-coloured, the head and thorax cream-coloured, the body yellow with

six black spots down the middle and on each side: antennæ simple; fore wings typical; an exceedingly fine variety of Arctia caia, from Hull, with the fore wings of an almost uniform brown colour, the hind wings (with the exception of the base) and fringe being black.-W. HEWETT, Hon. Sec.

LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-March 13th. -Mr. S. J. Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S., President, in the chair. Mr. W. E. Sharp read a paper entiled "Notes on some Irish and other Coleoptera.' After describing the division of England and Ireland from the Continent, he proved by the insect fauna that it was probable Ireland was the first to be separated, and enumerated many species taken by himself, including Philonthus lucens, new to the Irish fauna. He then read a list of additions to the local fauna. Mr. Willoughby Gardner, F.R.G.S., read a paper entitled "Notes on some of the rarer Aculeate Hymenoptera of our District." After presenting a copy of his Hymenoptera Aculeata of Lancashire and Cheshire' to the Society's library, he described several species new to the district, which he asked lepidopterists and others to keep a look-out for during their entomological rambles. Both papers were well illustrated by specimens. The President exhibited specimens of Bombyx quercus, including some fine varieties. Mr. Green, a collection of local Hymenoptera. Mr. Watson, Papilio machaon from England, Northern India, Japan, &c., and its huge variety hippocrates, from North-east China. Mr. Jones, on behalf of Mr. Bowler, a specimen of Sphinx convolvuli captured at Broadgreen.-F. N. PIERCE, Hon. Sec.

BIRMINGHAM ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-February 20th, 1893.—Mr. S. T. Bethune-Baker in the chair. The following were exhibited : - Mr. R. C. Bradley, a long series of the genus Conops taken at Wrye Forest last year, including the following four species, C. flavipes, C. quadrifasciatus, C. ceriaformis, and C. strigatus (two only). Mr. Barker, a box containing a number of rare and local insects, mainly continental examples of British species, including Plusia moneta, Arctia lubricipeda var. zatima, &c.; also pale male of Arctica mendica, from Ireland, &c. Mr. G. W. Wynn, a number of Noctum bred from hybernating larvæ found last spring at Marston Green and Wyre Forest, but which contained nothing better than Triphana fimbria. Mr. W. Harrison, living larvæ of Sesia tipuliformis. Mr. P. W. Abbott read two short papers, illustrated by specimens; one upon his work at Wyre during 1882,-he had been working new ground and turned up a lot of new things, including Cymatophora fluctuosa, C. duplaris, Asthena blomeri, &c.; the other paper described a journey to Freshwater last August, for Colias edusa. COLBRAN J. WAINWRIGHT, Hon. Sec.

NOTTINGHAM AMATEUR ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. This Society continues steadily to increase. Among the latest who have joined are the Rev. W. Becker, of Wellow Hall, Newark-on-Trent (who has kindly consented to take the chair), and Mr. Douglas H. Pearson, of Chilwell, Notts. Weekly meetings continue to be held in the Society's rooms (Morley House). On 27th February Mr. Pearson read a most interesting paper entitled "Collecting in the Fens," illustrated by insects taken there by him last summer. The following week, J. G. Clarke read a very interesting paper Various other papers are promised for future dates. Cards of membership are now printed, and all interested in Entomology are invited to join.-W. FERRIS.

on ants.

OBITUARY.

F. O. MORRIS.-One of the best known of the popular writers on Natural History of the time, the Rev. Francis Orper Morris, the Vicar of Newburnholme, Yorkshire, died at that place on Feb. 10th last, in his eighty-third year. He was born at Cove, near Cork, in Ireland, on March 25th, 1810, but belonged to a well-known Yorkshire family, many of whose members served with distinction in the great wars with France and America, both by land and sea. F. O. Morris was educated at Bromsgrove School, and afterwards proceeded to Worcester College, Oxford, where he graduated with honours in 1833, taking a second class in Classics. When at Oxford, he was in the habit of reading three or four authors alternately, by which means he was able to get through a much greater amount of work with far less fatigue than if he had confined himself to one thing at a time; the most mischievous course that any active-minded man of ordinary capacities can follow. The same habit clung to him through life; and at one time, in addition to his parochial duties, which he never neglected, he had to find copy every month regularly for five separate works the British Birds,' British Butterflies,' Aphorismata Entomologica,' Bible Natural History,' and the History of the Nests and Eggs of British Birds.' He used to quote with approval Southey's aphorism, "I have not time to do only one thing at once." Mr. Morris selected Pliny's Natural History' as the subject of his voluntary thesis at his final examination in Oxford; and in 1837 he published some notes on British insects (chiefly Lepidoptera) in a periodical called the Naturalist." In 1834 he was admitted to Holy Orders; and in 1854 settled down at Newburnholme Rectory for the rest of his life. His works had a large circulation, but as they were always of a popular character, and were necessarily to a large extent compilations, they were frequently underrated by writers of more pretensions. His opposition to Darwinism was perhaps unwise, but intelligible enough in a man of his age and surroundings. His writings include books on British ornithology, entomology, and general Natural History, besides sermons, polemics against Darwinism and vivisection, and a work on the County Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland.' His entomological writings include his 'British Butterflies,' first published in 1852, and perhaps his most successful work, as the seventh edition was passing through the press at the time of his death; his British Moths' likewise, with coloured plates of all the species; his Catalogue of British Insects' (the only general catalogue since those of Curtis and Stephens), and his Aphorismata Entomologica.' His British Butterflies' formed the basis of a still more popular work-Adam's Beautiful Butterflies.' Although it would be absurd to call Mr. Morris the "Gilbert White of the North," as some of his local admirers have done, yet he will long be remembered as one of the most prominent popular writers of the middle of this century, after the Rev. J. G. Wood. He married a Miss Saunders, of Bromsgrove, by whom he had three sons and five daughters. (Some of the particulars in the present notice are compiled from a long obituary in the Yorkshire Post' of Feb. 18th, 1898).