Journal of Proceedings. lxxix
Mr. J. A. Finzi exhibited under the microscope some young larva; of
Noctuae, which he had mounted in balsam in order to test the statements
contained in Mr. Meldola's paper [Trans, ii. 19.] Many species in the
newly-hatched stages were found to be very geometriform, and this was
especially well shown in the case of the larva of the pretty moth Comta
diffinis.
The President made some remarks upon the interesting nature of the
facts demonstrated by the specimens Mr. Finzi had shown them, and he
hoped that their entomological members would work at the subject.
Mr. B. G. Cole exhibited, as an instance of the extreme mildness of
the weather, a fine specimen of the Copper Butterfly (Polyommatus
Phlaeas) which he had caught flying near Fairmead Bottom on November
13th. Mr. W.Cole remarked that on the same day he had noticed twelve
or fifteen species of common wild plants in vigorous bloom.
Mr. F. H. Varley exhibited two specimens of the "Swallow-tailed"
Butterfly (Papilio Machaon) bred from pupa found attached to the
stems of an Umbelliferous plant (possibly Peucedanum) growing near the
banks of the Thames between Southend and Tilbury, Essex, in October,
1868. Five pupae were found, three of which emerged as butterflies in
April of the following year.
The President remarked that these specimens were of great interest,
as they were veritable Essex "swallow-tails." The members were well
aware that the insect still bred in the fen districts of Cambridgeshire and
elsewhere, but it was thought to be extinct in Essex. It was a curious
fact that in this country the butterfly was very rarely seen far away
from its congenial fen-lands, but on the Continent it was a common
garden insect in many places, and occurred in perfectly dry districts.
Mr. W. Cole called attention to a statement by the late Edward
Newman, that P. Machaon was found commonly as near London as
Tottenham, in the early part of this century. Mr. Newman wrote in his
' Natural History of all the British Butterflies,' published in ' Young
England,' that when at school at Tottenham [probably before 1812]
he had found the beautiful caterpillars of the butterfly feeding upon
rue. A member of the Club, Mr. G. H. Raynor, had recorded the
occurrence of Machaon at Maldon, in ' Entomologist' for October, 1872
(vol. vi. 223). It was caught by Mr. Gutteridge, Surgeon, in Maldon,
about the beginning of August, 1872. The writer adds :—" It does not
seem possible that the insect could be a bred one escaped, as there is
but one entomologist in the town who does not plead guilty to having
had any Machaon pupae this year. The marshy nature of the sur-
rounding district renders it not improbable that Machaon may breed
regularly in some sequestered nook near here." In a letter to the
Secretary, dated November 12th, 1881, Mr. Raynor comments upon
this :—" I had only just gone to live at Maldon then, and did not
know much about the Essex marshes, which I have since examined
more thoroughly. I do not now think it probable that Machaon breeds