THE ESTOMOLOG MONTHLY MAGAZOE: CONDUCTED BY T. BLACKBURN. B. McLACHLAN, F.L.S. H. G. KNAGGS, M.D. E. C. RYE. H. T. STAINTON, F.L.S. VOL. I. "J'engage done tous a eviter dans leurs ecrits toute personnalite, toute allusion depassant les limites de la discussion la plus sincere et la plus courtoise." — Lahoulhene. ^-V g' ?7/ LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW 18 64-5. LONDON : Printed by A. Napier, 52, Seymour Strket, Euston Square. PREFACE. The first Volume of The Entomologist'' s Monthly Magazine being concluded, its Editors take the opportunity of saying the following few words on their reasons for bringing it forward. They felt that the Entomologists of this country had no periodical, exclusively devoted to their science and procurable at a moderate price, which could be used as a medium for publishing discoveries or obsei'vations. With that feeling, and at the request of numerous friends, they instituted this Magazine ; resolving at the outset that, although of a sufBciently scientific character to contain descriptions of new species, and memoirs of similarly high interest, — it should also act as a chronicle wherein any observer could register note-worthy captures, or observations on the transformations, habits, &c., of insects ; such records being of great value as a source from which writers of monographs or papers on geographical distribution, &c., may draw much information. Feeling assured that the majority of those in Great Britain who follow the study of Entomology cannot find time to attend to the productions of other countries than their own, the Editors determined that the proposed Magazine should especially be devoted to recording observations upon, and additions to, our Insect Fauna: still, they will always be glad to receive papers on European and Exotic Entomology ; and congratulate themselves on having been enabled to publish several such of considerable importance. At first, it seemed problematical whether a Magazine of the above nature could be sustained at such a price as to be within the reacli of all ; thanks, however, to their supporter.^, the Editors have great satisfaction in stating that this publication is no longer an ex^ieriment ; nevertheless, as it must be evident, that the very essence of a periodical like this is its amateur character (for what hired work is equal to a labour of love?), it is hoped that the present sup[)()rters will exert themselves to further its circulation, and so place the Editors in a position to increase the number of pages (whereby they will be spared much of their present labour and anxiety in selecting), and to give more wood-cuts, or even an occasional plate. 1, Paternoster Row, London, E.G. ]sf il/ai/, 18fi5. r> ^^. INDEX. INDEX TO GENERAL SUBJECTS. PAGE A Lepidopterous imago and ichneumons bred from one larva 118 A List of Lepidoptera captured in 1864 189 Abundance of Syrphi and other destroyers of Aphides 238 An essay towards a knowledge of British Homoptera . . 150, 198, 220, 251, 272 Another singular instance of parasitism 281 Aquatic habit of a Hymenopteron 186 British Coleoptera, On some new and rare species of 236 Captures at Chertsey 192 ,, ,, light near Worcester 237 „ in North Devon 145 ,, „ the neighbourhood of Wandsworth 72 „ „ the South 121 „ near Hartlepool 144 „ of Coleoptera during the past winter 260 „ „ Lepidoptera 119 „ on the Cotswolds 72 Coleoptera near Lowestoft '5 Diptera in the Lake District 239 Entomological Society of London ... 23, 51, 76, 100, 124, 148, 171, 195, 220, 244, 268, 284 Extract from M. Allard's paper on Sitones, &c 275 Gratuitous offer 283 Hermaphrodite insects 22 Hybrid insects 22 Incredible masses of larvae 243 Lepidoptera at Rannoch 44 „ Wokingham 144 ,, near Worcester 189 Lepidopterous captures in 1864 242 Migration of Aphides 123 PAGt: New species of Butterflies from Guatemala and Panama . 1, 31, 55, 81, 113, 126, 161, 178, 202 Noctuce at sugar 214 Note to " The Egg-state, Management" 214 Notes from Japan 262 „ on collecting (Lepidoptera) 65, 97, 193, 217, 240, 265 „ „ insects inhabiting the reed, and their parasites 184 „ „ Micro-Lepidoptera 279 „ „ Northern Coleoptera 145 „ „ the Diurnal Lepidoptera of North-Western India, with descriptions of new species 101, 131, 181 „ „ „ Lepidoptera of Ireland . . . • 270 „ „ „ occurrence of certain varieties 264 Occasional visitors at sugar 264 On a singular caddis-worm case from Ceylon 125 On the late swarms of Syrphi in the Isle of Wight 139 Phytophaga, Descriptions of some uncharacterized genera of 133 Re-appearance of some Lepidoptera unnoticed since the year 1860 74 Recent Suffolk Captures 143 Reminiscences of an Entomological excursion up the Demerara river ... 79, 104 Suffolk captures 187 „ ,, recent 143 Thatch 93 Tinese feeding in birds' nests 282 Varieties of Lepidoptera, and their causes 53 Wasp attacking larvte 23 Waterfall insects 21 INDEX OF SUBJECTS NOTICED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OP THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. Abraxas grossularia, Photograph of variety of 196 Acari on Libellula striolata ; 100 Acarus on black currant 52 Acronycta strigosa. Drawing of larva of 196 Agra, Crepitating 284 Agrotis (exclamationis ?), Larvae of 124, 148 PAOE Aleochara spadicea 124 Anchinia verrucella. Pupa of 52 Apatura Iris, Variety of 268 Autalia puncticollis 148 Atractocerus Kreuslerse 148 Bolbocerus, Noise emitted by 284 Bombus i)omorum 172 Bombyx Cynthia, Silk of 52 Celebes Butterflies 23 Ceuthorhynchideus Poweri 172 Ceutorhynchus biguttatus 244 Charaxes Argynnides, Nymphalis Jahlusa 220 „ from Zambesi 23 Cheirolasea Burkei 196 Chigoe 284 Clythra, Larva of 51 Coccus on sugar cane 51, 172 Colias Edusa, Variety of 269 Corticaria truncatella 244 Cossyphus, Geographical distribution of 244 Curculio with SphserisB protruding 148 Dasypolia Templi 220 Depressaria olereUa 220 Ephestia ficella 220 Euryusa sinuata 124 Eusebia bipunctaria. Albino variety of 100 Gall on beech leaves, conical, woody 172 „ „ dwarf Salix, red, berry-like ,172 ,, „ oak, woolly 172 „ „ willow, rose-coloured, shaped like a fircone 172 „ „ „ rose-shaped 269 Galls on roots of oak, 4 feet below the ground 172 „ from Syria (various) 284 Gelechia Lathyri 76 ,, pinguinella 100 Haustelli of butterflies prepared for the microscope 196 Hepialus Hamuli, variety from Shetland 220, 244 Himalayan Lepidoptera 284 Homalota notha 124 Hydrilla palustris 23 IV. PAGE Insects from the Nile 190, 220 Insects, Syrian 124 „ in snow 284 Ixodes plumbeus 244, 268 Leptura analis 124 Lesteva monticola 148 Libellula striolata, Acari on 52 Liphyra Brassolis 100 Lixus filiformis 171 Longicorn beetles from Penang 220 New wax made in an empty hive 52, 76 Nyctegretes achatinella 100 Odontolabis Stevensii, Monstrosity in 52 Peritelus griseus 172 Prize Essays 244, 269 Pyralis farinalis 76 Pyronota festiva 190 Rhipiphorus larvae 172, 196 Saunders, W. W., Testimonial to 171 Sibynes canus 172 Spider simulating flowers of Senecio in South Africa 52 Spider's nests, Globular, from South Australia 196 Sphseroid growths in Lepidoptera 284 Tachinus proximus 148 Testimonial to W. W. Saunders 171 Trochilium sphegiforme bred 172 Vanessa urticse. Variety of 269 Wasp architecture 52 Wasps' nest built by two species of Vespa (vulgaris and germanica) . . . . 196 Zenzera sesculi. Preserved larva of 100 SPECIAL ACARl. PAGE Trombidium lapidum, notes on 170, 186 COLEOPTERA. Aehenium depressum Agriotes pilosus Aleochara obscurella Amara consularis f ulva rufocincta Anchomenus gracilipes Anisotouia litura 167, ornata 167, silesiaca Triepkii Anommatus 12-striatus, note ou Anthophagus alpinus Aphodius depressus obliteratus Aphthona (hilaris ?) nigriceps Apion afer confluens diflforme subulatuin Arpedium brachypterum Articerus Duboulay i 75 235 261 75 75 260 75 237 237 459 258 245 146 147 169 260 117 146 260 260 260 146 149 Baridius lepidii 260 Bembidium Mannerheimii 146 Bledius longulus 261 Bolitobius, description of the British species of 155 analis 156 atricapillus 158 cingulatus 157 exoletus 159 foriiiosus 158 inclinans 157 pygmaeus 160 frinotatus 159 Borboropora Saulcyi 222 INDEX. PAGE Brachinus explodens 236 var. glabratus 259 Byblitea (woo. ^#M.) 136 Deyrollei 136 Cavabus auratus, locality for 262 Carpophilus sexpustulatus, note on . . . . 259 Cassidse, to preserve colour in 259 Cerylon obsoletum 245 Ceuthorhynchideus Poweri 137 Choleva longula 257 Chrysomela marginata 261 Chthoneis {nov. gen.) 135 apicicornis 136 Cleonus sulcirostris, habit of 261 Colaspoides (?iot». ^en.) 134 Corylophus cassidoides 260 Cryphalus tilise 212 Cryptophagus pubescens .. 146 Damaster blaptoides 262 Dermestes tessellatus 260 Dianous caerulescens 146 Donacia affiiiis 147 aquatica 146 dentipes 146 Dromius oblitus, new locality for 200 Dyschirius politus 75 Elater balteatus 146 Elodes marginata 146 Ennearthron fronticorne ... 138 Epuraea oblonga 48 Falagria thoracica 75 Geodromicus nigrita 147 Goniocteua affinis 278 Harpalus luteicornis, locality for 75 Helophorus arvernicus 146 Homalota currax 146 intermedia 146 maritima 261 plumbea 261 puncticeps 261 CoLEOPTERA (coTitinued). PAGE Hydnobius Perrisii 139 Hy drocy phon deflexicollis 147 Hydroporus melanarius 147 nigrita 147 Hyphydrus variegatus 185 Ilyobates uigricoUis 261 Jphimeis (nov. gen.) 133 fulvipes 134) Iphitrea {nov. gen.) 134 limbata 135 Iscbnodes sanguinicollis 138 Isclmomera melanura 75 Ischnopoda rubicunda 146 Lathrobium pallidum 75 Latridii, on the structure and affinities of 14 Latridius filiformis, capture of 260 Lebia hsemorrhoidalis 236 Leptura sanguinolenta 279 Limnichus sericeus 260 Liodes axillaris 118 castanea 118 humeralis 118 Lucanus cervus, oifer to capture 262 Micropeplus tesserula, locality for .... 259 Mycetoporus nanus 261 Nemosoma elongata, capture of 76 Ocypus ater 75 Odontseus mobilicornis, capture of 139 Oligota flavicornis ^ 139 pygmsea 138 Omalium Allardi 261 riparium 261 Orthochsetes setiger 261 Oxypoda glabriventris 212 Oxytelus tnaritimus 261 speculifrons 21, 47, 237 Oxythyrea stictica 236 Pachyrhinus quadrinodosus 260 Patrobus clavipes 146 Philonthus albipes 147 procerulus .. 261 Phyllotreta melsena 260 Phytosus, remarks on the habits of 261 nigriventris 261 spinifer 261 Pseudopsis sulcatus 260 Ptenidium turgidum 175 Quedius attenuatus 146 auricomus 21, 146 semiobscurus 75 truncicola 138 umbrinus 146 Rhipiphorus paradoxus, discovery of larva and pupa of 118 Rhizophagus parallelocollis, note on ... 215 Saprinus maritimus 261 Scymnus Mulsanti 260, 261 Sitones, extract from M. Allard's paper on, &c 206, 229, 275 arcticollis 231 biseriatus 278 cambricus 275 cinerascens 256, 276 crinitus 232 cylindricollis 277 discoidens 278 flavescens 229 gemellatus 276 gressorius 229 griseus 229 hispidulus 277 humeralis 276 inops 278 languidus 231 lineatus 276 lineellus 231 longicollis 230 longulus 230 raeliloti 277 puncticoUis 276 regensteinensis 275 sulcifrons 230 suturalis 230 tibialis 230 tihiellus 277 Waterhousei 231,260 CoLEOPTiiRA {contimted). PAGE Sphaeroderma fuscicornis 1 Si Stenolophus brunnipes 48 Steiius, descriptions of the British species of 6, 36, 59, 86, 108 ffimulus 41 argus 63 asphaltinus 3G ater 37 atratulus 39, 261 bifoveolatus 89 biguttatus 9 bimaculatus 11 binotatus 88 bipunctatus 10 brevicollis 89 brunnipes 87 buphthalmus 38 canaiiculatus 42 cicindeloides Ill circularis 64 crassus 86 debilis(?) 42 Erichsoni 108 exiguus 43 flavipes 109 fornicatus 112 fulvicornis Ill fuscicornis 108 fuscipes 63 geniculatus 92 gonymelas 91 guttula 10 Guynemeri 21, 62, 146 impressus 91 incrassatus 40 Juno 36 Kiesenwetteri 109 latifrons 112 littoralis 86 longitarsis 37 lustrator 61 nielanarius 39 melanopus 41 morio 38 nanus 64 nigritulus 87, 260, 261 nitidiusculus 90 Til. PAGE Stenus oculatus llu opacus (?) 42 opticus 87 ossiuni 91 pallipes 109 palustris lOS picipennis 90 picipes 90 plantaris 88 proditor ... , 62 pubescens 88 pumilio 64 pusillus 43 Rogeri 60 scrutator 61 solutus 110 speculator 59 submarginatus 63 Sylvester 61 tarsalis 110 Tachinus elongatulus 147 pallipes 168, 237 Tachyusa sulcata 261 Tarus axillaris 75 Telephorus abdominalis 147 Thyamis dorsalis 260 parvula 260 Trachys nanus 260 Trechus obtusus 146 Trichopterygidae, on various species of, new to Britain 173 Trichopteryx, descriptions of three new species of, found in the Canary Islands ... 247 ambigua 177 bovina 174 brevis 175 canariensis 249 Crotchii 248 dispar 176 fucicola 174 Kirbii 175 lata 174 picicornis l75 Wollasloni 248 Tychius brevicornis 168, 237 pygmseus 168, 237 Zeugophora Kirbyi 183 vin. DIPTERA. PAGE Authomyia fumosa 239 Atherix crassicornis 240 Baccha elongata 239 Beris chalybeata 239 clavipes 239 Bolitophila cinerea 240 Chrysochlamys senea 239 Chrysotoxum arcuatum 239 Diptera in the Lake District 239 Empis stercorea 239 Erioptera nodulosa 240 Leptis notata 240 Limnobia flavipes 240 leucophsea 240 picta 240 Oi'talis syngenesiae 239 Palloptera 5-maculata 239 Platypalpus varius 239 Psila bicolor 239 Sericomyia lapponaj 239 Syrphi, on the late swarms of, in the Isle of Wight 139 abundance of 238 Syrphus arcuatus 139 balteatus 139, 238 pyrastri 139, 238 scalaris 239 Tetranocera hieracii (?) 239 reticulata 239 Tipula annulicornis 240 longicornis 240 Xylota segnis 231 HEMIPTERA— HOMOPTERA Cicada anglica 154 in Surrey 171 on the synonymy of . . . . 205 Cixius contaminatus 155 musivus 155 nervosus 154 leporinus , 155 PAGE Delphax albomarginatus 227 collinus, 274 discolor 275 elegantulus 252 guttala 200 bamatus 228 leptosoma 252 limbatus Cci'S.'.'.\ i{i'/. ... 226 lineola 200 lugubrinus^. 272 .T,!^,,.,... nasalis 227 neglectus 274 ^W. Berenice. It was brought home in great numbers from Jamaica by Messrs. Salvin and Godman; all the specimens agree in the colour and markings as here described. + Mechanitis Cldinhorazona. A distinct local form of M. Polymnia. Smaller than the type or any other of tlie numerous races of this species : (J . 2" 8'": 9 . 2" 10'". Its distinguishing features are (1) the constant |)reseiice of a large broad yellow spot in the middle of the fore-wing, the spot possessing a narrow lobe which extends between the second and third median branches towards the outer margin : (2) a short yellow belt near the apex of the fore-wing; (8) the sexual diflerence in the black discal stripe of the hind-wing, which in the male is always broad and distinct, and in the female invariably obsolete. In other respects this form does not differ from M. Polymnia type. Western foot of Chimborazo, at an altitude of 3 — 4,000 feet. Sent home in great numbers by Mr. Spruce, the distinguished Botanical Traveller. All the specimens agree in the distinguishing features as here described, and no other form ot Mechanitii Polymnia accom|)anied them. M it is in Ifh. Ninonia. Fore-wing, above, with basal third orange tawny, rest black ; the basal part has a large black spot in centre of the cell connected with a short black costal stripe ; the black apical part has a large quadrate yellow spot within the end of the cell, a very flexuous row of yellow spots halfway between the cell and apex, and a closer sub-marginal row of similarly-coloured oval spots along the outer margin; the hind- wing has its basal half orange tawny, its apical half black, the black part being very broad near the apex, and extending as a lobe towards the disk of the wing. Beneath : same as above, except that the hind- wing has a sub-marginal row of small yellow spots. Panama. 18. — ITHOMIA PSYCHE. ^. Same size, shape, and colours as ItJi. Victorina (Hewits' Ex. Butt. Ithom. f. 75), and Ith. Gotytto (Hewits. Ex. Butt. f. 76). Differs from both in the neuration of the hind- wing ( 3" ) ; the lower discocel- lular being angulated near its middle, and the middle discocellular being long and strongly curved towards the apex of the wing. The colour and markings of the fore-wing are almost the same as in Jth. Victorina (Hewits. 1. c. f. 75), the only difference being that both the second and third median branches are both thickened with black. Hind- wing with the narrowish outer border rusty red, edged with black, and showing a clear white speck near the apex. Beneath : the black borders are all reddish, and the hind-wing has a series of short white streaks on the margin ; the costa of the same wing is pale yellow near the base. Collar reddish, antennae black. Gruatemala, Pacific slope ; many examj)les. 19. — ITHOMIA SALVINIA. $ . Shape and neuration same as Itli. Sylvo, but a little larger in size. The dark narrow borders and the nervures are light fulvous brown instead of blackish brown, and the pale spot of fore-wings is chalky white instead of yellow ; the spot is nearly square in form, and covers part of the bases of both the radial nervules as well as the sub- costal ; the dark streak from the costa over the discocellulars is narrow as in Ith. Sylvo, and none of the nervures are thickened with dark edgings. The narrow fulvous outer border of fore-wing is thickened at the end of the nervures ; the space between the median nervure and hind margin is fulvous brown and opake. Beneath : same as above, but paler; two chalky spots at tip of hind- wings. Body black, thorax marked with white, antennae black, stoutish. Guatemala. 35 20. — ITHOMIA CASS0TI8. (^ $ . Neuration same as in Ith. Cymo (Hiibii). Fore- wing broad towards the apex, especially in the male, owing to its being produced near the hind angle ; the hind margin is for the same reason strongly incurved towards the hind angle. Grlassy with a bluish tinge ; borders and a wedge-shaped spot over end of fore-wing cell black. The black border is widened at apex of fore-wing, and is there broken by two semi-hyaline spots ; the outer border is much thickened at the ends of the nervures ; the space between the median nerviu*e and the hind margin is black. The hyaline space between the end of the cell and the black apex is crossed by a white belt, which is chalky towards the costa, and milky towards the outer border, the latter hue is continued in isolated spots between the third and second, and second and first median branches. Hind- wing with a simple narrowish black border. Beneath : same as above, except that the black parts are fulvous. Body black, thorax marked with white, antennae black. Guatemala ; Motagua Valley. 21. — ITHOMIA DOEILLA. ^. In shape, neuration, and colours, closely resembling Ith. Azara (Hewits. Ex. Butt. Ith. f. 23). Wings transparent glossy ; basal half orange tawny ; apical half dusky. The basal orange fawny part of the fore- wing has a large dusky spot extending from the sub-costal nervure obliquely to the bases of the second and third median branches, and a second dusky spot in the middle of the cell, besides having the costa and hind margin streaked with dusky. The dark apical part has a broad yellow belt crossing over and beyond the end of the cell, and joining a yellow spot between the first and second median branches, a second isolated yellow spot between the second and third median branches, and a row of four yellow marginal spots near the apex, the apical one being large. Hind-wing has a broadish faint dusky border, and a spot of same colour towards the disk. Beneath : same as above, except that all wings have a marginal row of white triangular spots. Body black, thorax marked with yellow ; antennae wanting. Panama. {To he continued.) 36 DESCEIPTIONS OF THE BRITISH SPECIES OP STENUS. BY E. C. KTE. {Continued from page 11). b. elytra unspotted. i. legs black. JuKO, Fab., Erichson. 2^ lin. Black, rather opaque. Palpi tes- taceous yellow, the apical joint entirely, and the apex of the second, pitchy. Head with two grooves. Thorax rather strongly and closely punctured, with an obsolete dorsal channel. Elytra more strongly punctured, the interstices presenting an irregular and rough " engine- turned " appearance. Abdomen with the short middle keels as in the last species. In the male the femora, especially the hinder pair, are very broad and slightly curved ; the tibiae also are slightly curved and termi- nate in a short spur. Beneath there is a thick tuft of yellow hair between the middle coxse, and sparse yellow pubescence on the meta- sternum, the middle of which is depressed, closely and delicately punctured. In the male the sixth segment beneath is deeply and rather narrowly notched, the part of the segment behind the notch being depressed and shining; the fifth exhibits from its middle to its posterior margin a somewhat square area, depressed, sloped, and shining, on each side whereof is an elevated broadly truncate ridge, reflected at the posterior margin, in the centre of which is a deep semi-circular notch. The base of this enclosed area has in its middle an oblong tubercle. The fourth segment has a slight depression, with a thinner oblong tubercle in the middle, and the remaining segments also exhibit traces (gradually diminishing) of a similar nature. Most abundant. North., Dur.. and Cumb., Falkirk, fen district, Boston, Brighton, Preston, Bungay, Eepton, and London district, AsPHALTiNUS, Erichson. 2^ lin. Smaller than Juno, and more like ater in size and build, but more coarsely and strongly punctured than either, and with shorter elytra. Black, shining; basal joint of palpi, and sometimes base of the second joint, testaceous ; ajjical half of mandibles pitchy red. Thorax and elytra coarsely and deeply, but not very closely punctured, the interstices rugose and shining ; the former with a short groove in the middle. The abdomen does not exhibit the short keel in the middle of the transverse grooves noticed above. In the male the sixth segment beneath is widely but shallowly notched at the hinder margin, and the fifth is depressed in the middle, and very slightly sinuate. 37 Very local ; occasionally not rare in chalk and sand pits in Kent, especially at Charlton and Erith. Ateb, Mann., Erichso7i. 2| — 2\ lin. Smaller and more slender than Juno, and rather more opaque, with the legs and tarsi thinner. Palpi, black ; the basal joint and lower third of the second joint, testa- ceous. Thorax rather more cylindrical, with a narrow and more decided dorsal channel, and, with the elytra, not so irregularly or coarsely punctured. Beneath, no tuft of hair between the middle coxae, and the meta-sternum not depressed, strongly and more remotely punctured. In the male the femora are slightly curved and thickened, and the hinder tibiae have a slight tooth-like elevation on their inner side, about a third of their length from the apex. In this sex also the sixth segment beneath has a polished longitudinal space, with two small tubercles in the middle, and a blunt triangular notch in the hinder margin. The fifth segment has a longitudinal, broad, polished depression, enclosed between two elevated ridges (clothed with long yellow hairs), which terminate in two flatly truncated teeth ; the hinder margin also is gently and widely sinuate. The fourth segment has a broad central depression (not polished), between two faint ridges, each terminating in a minute tubercle, and clothed with long yellow hairs ; a faint indica- tion of this structure exists also on the third and second segments. Not found in Northumberland or Scotland apparently ; occurs sparingly at Deal, Brighton, Mickleham, and Darenth, and in the London district, generally more common on tlie chalk. LoKGiTARSis, Thomson, SJcand. Col. II., 213, 214. This species (new to our lists,) is closely allied to the preceding, from which it differs as follows. It is smaller ; the largest specimen I have seen being rather smaller than any S. ater, the smallest being scarcely larger than 8. huphtliahnus. The head is narrower and more deeply excavated ; the palpi having the first joint, and extreme base only of the second joint, light in colour. The thorax is shorter ; the elytra are longer and more convex (especially behind), and with the in- terstices rather more shining. In the male the hinder tibiae do not possess the tooth-like elevation on the i}\ner side, and the sixth segment of the abdomen beneath is not polished, the tubercles being wanting ; the depression on the fifth segment is not nearly so broad, deep, or polished, the elevated ridges at the apex being much less developed ; the depression on the fourth segment is narrower (especially behind), but more defined and polished, and there are no long yellow hairs on the ridges of this or the fifth 38 segment ; there is also only a very small smooth depression in the middle of the margin of the third segment. The meta-sternum is depressed, more closely and finely punctured. I took this insect some years ago in a wet marshy place on AVim- bledon Common, not near any chalk, and unaccompanied by S. ater ; it has since been taken in the same neighbourhood by Mr. E. Shepherd, Mr. Sharp, and Dr. Power, also by Mr. Sharp at Bishop's "Wood, Hampstead. I must have brought forward this species with some doubt (my specimen being a female), had not the latter gentleman taken a male, which he kindly lent me. BuPHTHALMUS, Grav., Erichson. 1\ — 2 lin. Black, opaque. Palpi black, with the basal joint clear testaceous yellow. Head a little wider than the thorax, closely and deeply punctured, with two shallow longitudinal grooves, the insterstice slightly convex. Thorax a trifle longer than broad, slightly narrowed behind, closely and deeply punctured, with a narrow, almost obsolete dorsal groove, and an obscure depression on each side behind the middle, best seen Avith a glass of low power. Elytra short ; scarcely, if at all, longer than the thorax ; strongly and deeply punctured, the interstices rugulose and dull. Abdomen more finely punctured, the four first segments having four short keels in the basal transverse grooves. Legs short ; the femora, especially in the male, stout. The male has a very slight triangular notch in the margin of the 6th segment beneath.* This most abundant species assumes at times a very puzzling aspect, but may generally be known by its robust build, opaque appearance, short elytra, stout legs, and the depression on the sides and back of the thorax. Common all over England, usually most abundant. MoRio, Erichson. 1\ lin. Ashy-black, slightly shining. Palpi black, the basal joint testaceous. Head decidedly wider than the thorax, gently hollowed in front, with mere traces of grooves, and the interstice scarcely elevated. Thorax nearly cylindrical, with no channel or depressions. Elytra decidedly longer than the thorax, slightly convex, thickly and deeply punctured, the interstices level. Abdomen narrowed at the apex, shining, closely and delicately punctured. The broader head, concave forehead, ampler elytra, and more closely punctured abdomen, distinguish this species from melanarkis ; and the absence of * As the species get smaller this eniargination, or notch, in the male becomes so diminished, or undeveloped, as to afford little help, and indeed sometimes is scarcely visible. I shall therefore omit referring to it, unless it is sufficiently large to afford assistance in determining species. 39 a thoracic channel, the less thickly punctured thorax and elytra (the former also narrower), and the concave forehead, also separate it from canaliculatus. The last mentioned character, indeed, is enough to remove it from all its allies. Two specimens have been taken by Mr. E. "W". Janson, on different occasions, in a watercourse near Highgate, both of which have been submitted by that gentleman to Dr. Kraatz, who returned them as S. morio without any qualification. Ateattjlus, Erichson. \\ — 1^ lin. Somewhat resembling the two preceding species, but smaller, comparatively stouter, and more coarsely punctured. Black, rather shining. Antenna? short and black. Ac- cording to Erichson, the palpi should be black, with basal joint testaceous, and Mr. Bold's specimens exhibit this appearance, whilst those taken by me near London have the basal joint rufo-piceous, though in all other respects identical. Head not hollowed, with two shallow grooves, the interstice convex and shining on the vertex. Thorax as broad as its length, rounded in front and more decidedly narrow behind, strongly and closely punctured, with an obsolete dorsal channel. Elytra wider and considerably longer than the thorax, strongly and closely punctured, the interstices rather flat, and with a slight elevation at the base between the suture and shoulders, which latter are also somewhat elevated. The abdomen, which is thick in the female, is strongly and rather coarsely punctured, with the four little keels in the transverse basal grooves of the first four segments very conspicuous. The male is smaller, with a more attenuate abdomen. This species bears a considerable superficial resemblance to small examples of S. nigritulus, from which its margined abdomen at once distinguishes it. In recent examples the silvery pubescence is very distinct. Taken by Mr. T. J. Bold rarely, in Northumberland on the coast ; also by Mr. Crotch very rarely at Wicken Een, Cambridge, and by myself in Battersea Park, sparingly. Melanaeius, (Kirly, M.S.S.) Stephens' Illust. Brit. Ent.,Mand. 1832, vol. V. 299, 54; Waterhouse and Janson, Trans, Eut. Soc. Lond. vol. iii. (N.S.), Pt. v. 1855. cinerascena, Erichson. As this species is the first in the genus wherein priority is given to a Kirbyan or Stephensian name, I append my reasons for so doing. It is intelligibly described by Stephens (loc. cit.), the description being from Kirby's M.S.S., p. 271, vol. iii. (now in the Zool. Dep., Brit. 40 Mus.), wherein the species is mentioned as being in Kirby's own col- lection, and in those of Drs. Spence and Hooker. In the M.S.S. Catalogue accompanying Kirby's Collection melanarius is referred to as No. 7 in the section with margined abdomen and black legs ; and the identical specimen labelled No. 7, and named melanarius, is to be seen among Kirby's Staphylinidce, also in the British Museum, to which Institution they were presented by the Entom. Society of London. This insect agrees well with the description, and there can be scarcely any doubt as to its identity with the subsequently described cinerascens of Erichson, as it accords with the latter's description, with type sent by Dr. Kraatz to the Brit. Mus., and with my own examples, which are identical with a specimen belonging to Mr. E. Shepherd, also named cinerascens, by Dr. Kraatz. Of similar colour and appearance to morio, \\ lin. Palpi black, the first joint pitchy-testaceous. Head rather wider than the thorax, the grooves not deeply impressed, with the interstice moderately convex. Thorax decidedly longer than broad, rather narrowed behind, with no trace of a dorsal channel, but very slightly depressed behind the middle; thickly punctured, the interstices narrow and scarcely rugulose. Elytra a trifle longer, and less closely punctured, than the thorax ; the interstices nearly flat (but not so level as in S. morio) ; depressed at the suture. Abdomen shining, with fine and rather scattered punctures. The difierences between this species and morio are pointed out above ; from canaliczdatus it may be known by its more slender struc- ture, and the absence of a thoracic channel ; and from biiphthalmus by its narrower thorax, less strongly punctured elytra (the interstices of which are scarcely, if at all, rugulose), and by the finer and more remote punctuation of its abdomen ; it is also altogether more slender. Besides the above-mentioned examples this species has been taken by myself in the London district, and by Mr. D. Sharp at Wimbledon ; it is also in Dr. Power's collection, from the Fen district. Incrassatus, Erichson. 1| lin. About the size of huplithahmis, from which it may be known by its narrower head, more ample elytra, and thicker abdomen. Rather dull black ; palpi black with basal joint testaceous. Head very narrow ; scarcely, if at all, wider than the thorax. Thorax scarcely longer than broad, very closely and strongly punctured, the interstices almost rugulose, and with a slight depression behind. Elytra considerably wider and a little louger than the thorax ; strongly and closely punctured, the interstices somewhat coarsely " engine-turned," and with a large scutellar depression. Abdomen (especially in the female) stout, shining, with the keels at the base of the segments as in huphthalmus. 41 In the male the fifth and sixth segments beneath are slightly- depressed in the middle, the latter having a wide shallow notch. Bungay, Boston, Brighton, Wicken Fen, &c. London district ; formerly common at Hammersmith Marshes. Melauo^us, Marsham (1802) ; Waterhouse and Janson. nitidus, (Boisd. et Lac. 1835) Erichson (nee Stephens). 1^ lin. Deep black, very shining ; palpi black, with the basal joint testaceous. Head with two well-defined grooves meeting in front ; the enclosed space elevated and shining. Thorax very slightly longer than broad, strongly rounded in front and contracted behind ; strongly but not closely punctured, the interstices being flat, and with a deep, well- defined, dorsal channel not reaching much beyond the middle. Elytra a little longer than the thorax, strongly but rather remotely punctured, the interstices flat, and with a slight elevation between the suture and shoulders. Abdomen with the keels in the grooves at the base of the segments not so distinct as in incrassatus. In the male the sixth seg- ment beneath is slightly and widely notched. Common at Falkirk, Newcastle, Weston, and Gravesend ; also in the Cambridge and Norfolk Fens, and London district, and generally distributed all over England. This species runs quickly over wet muddy banks, and in the winter may be often found in hay-stack rubbish. JSmolus, Ericlison. ? nitens, {Kirhif) Stephens. Usually about two lines long, but sometimes considerably smaller. Slender; shining black ; easily separated from canaliculatus by its more elongate form and shining appearance. Antennse and palpi black and slender, the latter with the basal joint, and base of the second, testa- ceous. Head broad and depressed, thick and strongly punctured, with a thin elevated shining middle longitudinal line. Thorax elongate, slightly rounded in front and gently narrowed behind ; thickly and strongly punctured, with a thin well-defined dorsal channel for its entire length. Elytra scarcely longer than the thorax, very strongly punc- tured, the interstices flat. Abdomen shining, less deeply punctured, the four little keels very conspicuous in the basal groove of the first segment. Legs slender. In the male the sixth segment beneath is slightly but widely cmarginate, and the fifth is also very slightly sinuate, the surface of the segment being depressed. The meta-sternum is coarsely and rather closely punctured. AVicken and Horuina: Fens. ' , 42 Caxaliculatus, Cryll., EricJis. If lin. xlbout the size of huph- thalmus, but more pubescent, with larger elytra, and the thoracic channel more strongly defined. Eather dull black ; palpi black, with the basal joint, and extreme base of the second joint, testaceous, the apical joint stout. Head rather depressed, with scarcely any perceptible grooves or middle elevation ; thorax of the same shape and punctuation as in buphthalmiis, but with scarcely any depression behind, and a delicate but distinct dorsal channel for its entire length. Elytra decidedly longer than the thorax, not so irregularly punctured as in buphthalmus, the interstices flat, and with scarcely any depressions. In the male the fifth segment of abdomen beneath has a wide and shallow emargination, the sixth being more deeply notched. Northumb. and Cumb. (not common), Falkirk, Weston, Fen district, Bungay, Boston, Brighton, and London district (common), Debilis, Dietrichsen (in litt. ?) opacus, Waterh. Cat. (nee Erichson). Mr. E. W. Jan son informs me that a specimen of the insect taken by Messrs. Crotch and Matthews, and referred by them to 8. opactis, has been returned to him by Dr. Kraatz with the following remarks — " Steno debili, Diefr. (in litt. ?), proximits ; verisimiliter eadem species" also that Dr. Kraatz seemed doubtful whether a description had been published. This insect somewhat resembles S. bupJithalmns, but may be dis- tinguished from that species by its flat, dull appearance and very closely punctured abdomen. If lin. Dull black and rather flat. Antennse and palpi short and pitchy black, the latter with the basal joint, and base of the second, testaceous. Head wide and flat, with two wide shallow grooves, the interstice gently convex. Thorax scarcely longer than its greatest breadth, rounded considerably in front and narrowed behind ; closely, but not very strongly punctured, the punctures thickest at the base, seemiug almost granulate, and with an obsolete transverse depression behind the middle. Elytra scarcely longer than the thorax, depressed, slightly im.rrowcd at the Rhoulders, and with the hinder margin sloping upwards irom the outer angle to the suture, closely punctured, the punctures rather stronger than on the thorax, the interstices almost rugulose at the apex. Abdomen slightly shining, very closely punctured; the basal fovese of the first four segments obsoletely keeled, the most evident keel being in the middle of each. Legs pitchy black, the tarsi whort, and with the penultimate joint obcordate, or almost bi-lobed. 43 In the male the femora are slightly thickened, imd the sixth seg- ment beneath is rather strongly notched, the fifth being depressed in the middle and sinuate at the hinder margin. The abdomen beneath is clothed with yellowish grey hairs. The above description (which certainly accords very closely with Erichson's opacus) is from specimens taken at Horning Fen, Norfolk, where this insect has been found by Messrs. Crotch, Matthews, Brewer, and Sharp. It has also been taken at Wicken Fen, Cambridge by Mr. Crotch, and near Burton-on-Trent by Dr. Hewgill. The two specimens in Mr. Waterhouse's cabinet, supposed to come from Northumberland, on which the species opacus was introduced as British, only differ from the fen examples in having the legs and antennae inclined to pitchy-brown, and the elytra a trifle more contracted at the shoulders. The position of the present species in the genus is certainly difficult to define ; the almost bi-lobed tarsi and tendency to pitchiness in the limbs not agreeing with the others in which the abdomen is margined. PusiLLUS, {Kirhy) Stephens (1SS2) ; Erichson. 1 — 1^ lin. Black, rather glossy, and somewhat flattened. Antennae short and stout ; palpi black, with basal joint testaceous. Head with two grooves meeting in a point in front, the interstice elevated and rather shining. Thorax rather wider than long, the sides strongly rounded and contracted at the base ; rather strongly punctured, with two lateral depressions behind the middle, united by an obsolete transverse depression near the base. Elytra decidedly longer than the thorax, rather flat, strongly punctured, the interstices shining and nearly rugulose ; slightly depressed in the scutellar region. Abdomen short, rather suddenly attenuate at the apex ; shining, finely punctured, with the rudiments of keels in the basal grooves of segments. Tarsi short. Northumberland, Durham, and Cumberland ; Boston, Falkirk, Bungay, Repton, Preston, Fen district, and near London. Common. 'EtXiOiVVS,, Erichson. 1 — l:flin. Very like j?Ms?7Zzf*, but the thorax not so flat, rather more glossy and less closely punctured, and not exhi- biting the depressions behind so strongly. The elytra shorter (scarcely longer than the thorax), not quite so flat, a little more strongly and not quite so closely punctured, and more contracted at the sboulders. Holme Bush, near Brighton ; Lincolnshire and Cork. (To he continued.) 44. LEPIDOPTERA AT KANxVUCH IN JULY". Eaely iu July, 1861, I spent a few days Ib company with Mr. Bircliall and several other friends at Eannoch. Fortunately we had some fine hot weather, though we did not escape a few of the heavy storms of rain so frequent in the Highlands. Insects in that neighbourhood evidently know how to appi'eciate fine weather, for when the sun shone they made the best of it, appearing in great abundance. Among our captures were the following : — Oeometra Papilionaria. — This species, in company with swarms of Metro- campa- margaritaria, flew in the evening round our sugared trees. They were rather suspected of taking a sip on the sly. A specimen that I beat from a young birch in the day time made no attempt to fly, but fell to the ground. Dasydia dhfuscata. — On the heaths at the foot of Craig Cross. When disturbed they dashed away with such rapidity that pursuit was useless. I managed however to secure a specimen as it rose. Psodos trepidaria. — We mounted Craig Cross one day expressly for this species, but could only find one specimen. It was flitting about the sheltered hollows near the top of the hill, and settling now and then on the herbage, something in the style of Syricthus alveolus, but much more gently. Acidalia fumata. — Common among the long heath in the fir woods, settling low down among the stems, but easily disturbed, when it would flit a short distance and settle again in some hollow. Fidonia pinetaria. — Yery abundant in the same woods, but more local, sometimes swarming over a spot of a few yards in extent ; indeed, I have had half-a-dozen specimens in my net at once. The males are very lively in the sunshine, though their flight is not powerful, and they generally flutter quietly about the very tallest heath. The females are not nearly so common as the other sex, and much quieter in their habits, usually remaining settled on the tall heath when undisturbed. Emmelesia ericetata. — Also very local, but on the open heaths ; I do not recollect that we saw it in the woods. Its flight is slow and graceful, the delicate markings on the fore wings being visible as it flies. Coremia munitata. — Common on the hill sides among scattered trees, especially in the ravines or water courses. Particularly fond of settling on the under side of a fallen tree, or one which leaned across a ravine. Tlie female was not at all common. 45 Xylophasia polyodon. — The black form of this insect, which also occurs . in the west of Ireland, came occasionally to sugar. Noctua conflua. {?') — Of this species or variety we took half-a-dozen specimens at sugar, but among the scores of f estiva we took were many varieties so intermediate that I confess I was unable to decide which were conflua, and was obliged to leave it to Mr. Birchall. Aplecta occulta. — Many splendid specimens of the black form came to sugar, and one occurred almost as pale as the southern specimens. This species, though not so restless on the sugar or in the box as A tincta, will not remain quiet in a pill box many minutes, but requires to be pinned as soon as possible. Aplecta tincta. — Also rather common, but as usual very shy. I caught a female late at night flying very slowly among Myrica Gale, apparently depositing eggs. This species was also much darker and handsomer than specimens taken in the South of England. Sadena contigua. — Not very common at sugar. Contrary to the usual rule, rather smaller and considerably lighter and brighter in colour than Southern specimens. Plusia interrogationis. — Mr. Birchall took one specimen flying over the heath in the day-time, and another occurred at rest on a stone wall. Scapula alpinalis. — Common on the sides of Craig Cross at rest among the grass and short herbage, but easily disturbed, when it would dart up suddenly and fly quickly to some distance, generally up the side of the hill, a procedure which made the ascent pretty easy, though coming down was rather a difBcult matter. Crambiis inquinatellus. — I found this species common among alder bushes near Kinloch, but did not meet with any on the heaths, which it usually frequents here in the South. Cramlus ericellus. — Not uncommon among the heath, but rather worn when we were there. Tortrix adjunctana. — Smaller and much darker than Southern speci- mens. Amphisa Gerningiana. — I only found this species high \ip on Craig Cross. In the valleys probably it was over. Sericoris Daleana. — Not uncommon in damp sheltered places on the borders of woods. Coccyx ustomaculana. — Abundant, flying in the sunshine, about the hollows and sides of banks in the fir woods among long heath and Vacciniicvi. 46 . Mixodia palustrana. — lu company with the last named, and almost as common. Both are exceedingly active, and not very easy to secure in the sushine, but it is possible to distinguish them when on the wing, as palustrana flies more straightly forward than ustomaculana which rather spins about, that is if my memory serves me. Mixodia Schulziana. — It may be worth remarking that this species was quite common, though rather worn, on the top of Craig Cross when there was not a specimen to be seen in the valleys. Orthotcenia antiquana. — Common in a small grass field, where we used to find it flying just before dusk. Some specimens were remarkably dark and strongly marked. Tinea ochraceella. — It seemed a curious thing to examine ants' nests in the morning in order to find these moths ; yet there they were, pretty commonly perched on the grass blades and bits of rubbish on the tops of the nests. Prays Curtisella. — The only specimen that I took had the fore wings entirely dark brown, the blotch being but little darker than the ground colour. Gelechia galbanella. — Not uncommon on the trunks of the fir trees, and easily distux'bed. (Ecophora stipella. — Among firs, but seems to prefer hiding among the heath. (Ecopliora Jiavifrontella. — At rest on the fir trunks. Incurvaria Oehlmanniella.— I was rather surprised at meeting with this species on the summit of Craig Cross, it seemed rather out of place there. Fleurota hicostella. — Pretty common among the heath and at least double the size of ordinary English specimens, besides being more strongly marked. Lithocolletis vacciniella. — Pretty common on Craig Cross among Vaccinium Vitis-idcea. I did not see any in the valleys although its food plant was common. I believe we picked up some decently good beetles in the course of the trip, but do not know much about them. When putting the sugar on the trees for Noctuse we found numbers of Cetonia csnea paying their respects to what remained from the night before. The handsome Trichius fasciatus occurred occasionally, with head plunged deep into into a thistle blossom, or flying about the orchids, &c. Charles Q. Barrett. Haslemere. 47 Cryptocampus angustus (Willow-gall Sawfly). — Tu October of last year, one of my young friends bi'ought me some galls, which were produced on Sali^r vitellina. The structure of the galls differing considerably from those formed by a gall-gnat (Cecidomyia), I duly consigned them to a glass-topped box, to see whether the fol- lowing spring would reveal the name of the occupants. Previously to doing so, I cut open one of the galls, and found three or four smoke-coloured larvae with black heads, and tails that bore evidence of their relationship to Tenthredo. Later still I opened another of the galls, and found that a further change had taken place. The pupsb were enclosed in a white, cottony, somewhat transparent, cocoon ; the pupae themselves were white, with brown patches where the eyes were to appear, and three brown dots triangularly placed between them. I now anxiously watched for the imago-state of the tenant. On the 24th of April, the sawflies began to emerge, and before the close of the month, all had made their exit from the galls. I have to thank Mr. Smith, of the British Museum, for kindly naming the insect. It ig the Cryptocampus angustus of Hartig. He further remarks that he believes it is the first time that it has been noticed in this country. Hartig says that it occurs on the Continent on Sa.lix viminalis ; and it might do considerable damage in osier grounds if allowed materially to increase. The willow on which it has occurred in Yorkshire is undoubtedly vitellina, with its glandular- serrate leaves. In size the fly is a little larger than the gooseberry sawfly ; black, with testaceous feet, and darker coxae. The body is somewhat flattened. The galls themselves evidence the mode of growth, woody matter having gradually formed over the groove, so as to secure food and shelter for the sawfly during the earlier stages of its develop- ment.— Peter Inchbald, Storthes Hall, May 6th, 1864. Note on Sericostoma Spencii. — During the last few weeks I have examined speci- mens of this insect in order to ascertain the range of variation. In both sexes the fore -wings, the vertex, and the prothorax are frequently clothed with black instead of golden brown pubescence. One female which had the vertex, prothorax, and mesothorax covered with golden brown pubescence and the fore-wings dark, had the antennae annulated throughout with ochreous. The fore-wings of each variety are sometimes spotted at the junction of the apical veins with the hind (apical) margin, and in some instances irregular discal lines are present near the anasto- mosis. The comparison of numerous male specimens has verified Mr. Mo Lachlan's supposition that the relative lengths of the prongs of the penis sheaths is variable. In some sisecimens the lower prong is shorter, in others it is equal in length to the upper, or even a little longer. In all that I have yet examined the app. intermed. and inf. are constant in form. — A. E. Eaton, Little Bridy, Dorset. — May Slst, 1864. [Mr. Eaton's remarks quite accord with my own ideas, that the comparative lengths of the sheath-prongs alone are not enough to give specific value. I am aware that my friend Dr. Hagon is disposed to think otherwise, and considering his high authority in these matters, I am still open to conviction that I am wrong, in which case the insects with equal sheath-prongs should be S. multiguttatus, Pictet. Hagen. — E. Mc L.] Oxytelus speculifrons. — Since writing my notice of this insect in last No. I have taken five specimens at Shirley, where it has also been found by Mr. Sharp. Dr. Power has also taken it at Mickleham. — E. C. Rye, 48 Occurrence of Stenolophus hrunnipes, Sturm, in Britain. — I have recently taken a species of Stenolophus, which answers very well to the descriptions I have seen of S. hrunnipes, Sturm ; it also agrees with specimens of that insect in collection of the British Museum sent by Herr Dohm. S. irunnipes is about the size of S. dorsalis ; black, with the basal joint of the antennae, the legs, and the reflexed margin of the elytra, testaceous. The thorax is broader in proportion to the width of the elytra, not so much narrowed behind, the posterior angles more rounded, and the basal fovese more punctured than in S. dorsalis ; the elytra also are rather" lon- ger in S. hnmnipes. 8. derelictus, Dawson (a species I am not acquainted with), is also closely allied to this insect, but the differences are pointed out in Geod. Brit. I took a single specimen at the beginning of the present month in the neighbour- hood of London. — D. Sharp, 13, Loudoun Road, N.W., May 11th. New British Epurcea. Epur.ea oblonga, Herbst ; Erichson, Nat. der Ins. Deutsch. iii, 153, 17. — I have recently taken eight examples of this insect under fir bark at Shirley. It resembles E. pusilla in build, but is rather smaller and flatter, more delicately and closely punctured, with the front of the thorax very slightly hollowed (in fact almost straight), and the apex of the elytra truncate. It differs from E. longula in its flattened surface and finer punctuation. It is yellowish brown (almost straw coloured when alive), with the usual deceptive triangular scutellar patch and sub-apical spots on the elytra, caused by the folding of the wings; rather closely and very finely punctured. The club of the antennse is dusky at the tip, the apical joint being smaller than the two preceding. The head has two slight depressions in front, between the eyes, united by an almost obsolete hne. The thorax is about a third shorter than broad, very gently hollowed in front, rounded at the sides, and with the margins flat, especially behind. The elytra are very long, more than twice the length of the thorax, the margins narrowly depressed, and the apex truncate, but rounded at the angles. In the male, the middle tibiae are dilated at the apex on the inner side, and slightly sinuate. — E. C. Uye. Note on the larva of Leucania littoralis. — On the 13th May I found full-fed larvae of L. Uttoralis at roots of Ammophila arundinacea ; I have met with these larva3 for some years, having first, accidently, in 1861, captured a small one, which, after feeding up and being duly figured, was reared ; when very young their colour is glaucous green, with longitudinal stripes, assimilating closely to the underside of the almost cylindrical blades of their food-plant ; after April they leave then* hiding places, and burrow beneath the sand, having, by this time, considerably in- creased in size, and having, also, become much paler in tint, some individuals being almost whitish green, others of a pale flesh colour. — Wm. Buckler, Lumley House, Emsworth. Descriptions of six Larvce of the Genus Lithosia, ly William Buckler. Lithosia pygmcBola. — On the 7th June, 1862, I had this larva kindly sent me by Mr. Doubleday. It was said to feed on lichens growing amongst moss, but lived only a few days, as I could not find any such lichen as the small portion of food which accompanied it, and which had a very pungent saline odour ; it refused all other kinds of lichen, and so starved. It was short and rather thick, tapering a little posteriorly ; brown on the back, with a thick black dorsal line, the sub-dorsal lines dark brown, and the sides rather paler brown, with a dirty white line along the spiracles ; the tubercles with short brown hairs, and the head black. 49 L. Caniola. — A larva, feeding on olive-green house-top lichens, with a taste for clover, was secured to me for figuring by the kindness of Dr. Knaggs, on May 30th, 1862. Its head was dark brown, the body tapered a little at either extremity, the ground colour brown, a thin blackish dorsal line slightly widening in the middle of each segment ; the sub-dorsal lines composed of cuneiform orange-red marks pointing backwards, and bordered laterally with similar marks of black, a whitish spot almost touching the point of each wedge ; the sides rather paler than the back, with a dusky lateral line ; the tubercles studded with brown hairs. L. Complanula. — Said to feed on lichens, though I have not found this the case with the few I have reared ; the first I had, fed on oak ; others were taken on buckthorn and dogwood, and this season one on clematis. This larva is of nearly uniform thickness ; its colour above is a very dark bluish grey, the head, plate on the second segment, broad dorsal line, and sub-dorsal, black ; the body furnished with black tubercles and hairs, excepting an orange lateral stripe, beginning at the fifth and ending on the twelfth segments, which encloses the spiracles and extends to the pro-legs; the tubercles and hairs on the latter segments being also orange colour. L. Complana. — I have also been indebted to Mi-. Doubleday for a specimen of this lai'va, which throve well on lichens off fir trees, and was nearly full fed June 9th, 1862 ; the perfect insect appeared the end of July following. Its colour was brown, with a very dark brown head and dorsal line. The sub-dorsal markings consisted of oblong, somewhat reniform, dull orange-red marks, one on the anterior of each segment, followed by an interval of the ground colour, and succeeded by a whitish spot ; the usual tubercles and hairs dark brown. L. Stramineola. — This insect, as previously recorded in the Zoologist, M. Guenee has pronounced to be a variety of L. Grlseola, after comparing a figure of the larva with preserved skins of Oriseula in his possession. The larva was depicted June 24th, and the imago appeared July 30th following. The larva was brown, the head a darker brown, the back of the second, third, and anal segments orange-red, as though the sub-dorsal naarks had become confluent ; a similar red mark of an irregular trapezoid figure foi'med the sub-dorsal line on the anterior two-thirds of each segment, a thin blackish line bordering them exter- nally ; a thin dark brown dorsal line, interrupted on the second and third, and terminating on the twelfth segment. Tubercles and hairs brown. L. Ruhricollis. — A tolerably abundant larva in beech woods during September and October, feeding on the tree lichens. I also found it once swarming on a lichen covered park paling, and reared a large number of the perfect insects, which appeared during the month of May. The larva is rather elongate, tapering pos- teriorly ; head blackish, body greyish and freckled with yellow ; a fine thread of whitish, bordered with grey, forms the dorsal lino, which is white on the second segment ; the sub-dorsal is a black line on the second, third, and fourth segments, and on the remainder becomes an elongated black trapezoidal mark on the anterior two-thirds of each, and terminates on the twelfth. The ground colour of the back on each side of the dorsal line of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth segments is whitish ; the sides mottled with gi-eenish yellow and grey ; tubercles hairy. 50 Lwrva of Xylophasia Scolopacina. — I am indebted to Mr. Batty for two healthy larvae of this species. They feed on coarse grasses, and a species of wood rush. Their bodies arc uaii'urmly cylindrical and slender. The head, and plate on the second segment, are of a translucent greenish tint, and there is a black mark on each side of the mouth. Ground colour of the body ohve green above ; on the back a fine thread-like line of yellowish or pale greyish, enclosed by two others of dark grey, which form the dorsal line and run through a series of elliptic marks of slate colour. The sub-dorsal is a narrow line of slate colour, beginning at the third, and after the fifth segment, merging into a broad lateral stripe (which commences on the second segment) of dark slaty grey, most intense at its lower edge ; just above which, on each segment, is a large blackish shining tubercle, furnished with a bristle ; tlie ordinary dorsal tubercular spots small, with minute hairs. The spira; cular region bright sulphur-yellow, and the belly greenish. — W. Bucklee, June 3rd. Xylina conspicillaris. — I bred two of this rare species in April last, one a re- markably fine specimen, the other with very small and undeveloped wings. This is but a poor reward, though, for upwards of fifty days spent in pupa digging during the last season, and the insect may truly be accounted rare. — Abkaham Edmunds, The Tything, Worcester, May, 1864. Agrotis dnerea bred. — Whilst searching on the " Gluseigs," near Llangollen, for the larvae of A. Ashworthii on 25th April last, I took a larva quite unknown to me, which turned to pupa before I had an opportunity of noting its description. The pupa was short and stout, light coloured, with very conspicuous spiracles. In 24 days a fine lead-coloured female of A. cinerea appeared, reminding me of a bred specimen of A. lucernea, though of course much smaller than that species. The " Gluseigs" (spelt as pronounced by the natives), or " Great rocks," are limestone knolls encircling the mountain of Castle Dinas Bran, with a gigantic "van- dyked" edge, terrace over terrace ; and it was ui^on the top of one of the highest ledges of the fourth knoll, counting from the east, that I found the above mentioned larva. — C. S. (trf.gson. Spring Hill, Stanley. — 19th May, 1864. Ewpithecia Lariciata, Frey. — I am enabled to name two distinct localities for this species. On Friday, May the 20th, I captured a pair on Ashdown Forest, in a pine plantation near the little hamlet of Wych-Cross ; and on Saturday, the 4th of June, on Leith Hill, in the same spot where last year I had secured six, I obtained several more. By these dates it may be concluded that the best time to be on the watch for this species will be the last week in May. It bears considerable resemblance to Eup. Castigata, but the wings are longer and the colour less brown in tint ; a white spot behind the thorax also presents a good character. — Edward Hopley, 14, South Bank, Regent's Park. Ewpithecia Fraxinata and Cymatophora Jluctuosa. — On the 19th of May two specimens of E. Fraxinata appeared in my breeding cage ; the larvae from which they were bred were beaten from ash ti-ees last August. During the past three weeks I have also bred eight specimens of C. jluctuosa from larvae beaten from birch last autumn at West Wickham and Darenth Woods. — Edward Meek, 5, King Street, Old Ford Road, N.E.— June 2nd. 51 Pcedisca oppressana, Tr. — Two years ago I observed this hitherto rare species, of which, at the time, only two specimens had been recorded, in considerable num- bers on the trunks of poplars at Edmonton ; owing, however, to delay in identifying the specimens which I then captured, I failed to obtain a good supply. Last year the insect was scarce, and I was able to secure only a single specimen, but, at the time I write this, the insect has again made its appearance, though more sparingly than when I first had the pleasure of making its acquaintance. The larva, no doubt, feeds in the bark of poplar, and I have found the empty pupa-case sticking out from the bark, much after the style of that of 8. Wceherana on apple and pear trees. When the weather is at all cool, or the wind blowing with any force, the moth is sluggish, hiding itself in the crevices of the bark, which it cannot readily be induced to leave ; but when the day is calm and the sun's rays powerful, it has a peculiar jumping flight, jerking itself from the tree to the collector's coat or to the adjacent herbage, and as suddenly returning after a short interval to the tree- trunk. It bears considerable resemblance, at first sight, to grey specimens of the common Gr. Nisana, for which it has probably often been overlooked ; Entomologists residing near any locality where large poplars occur, will do well to look out for this species in the month of June. I have placed my captures of this species in the hands of my friend, Dr. Knaggs, who has undertaken to set and distribute them ; any Entomologist wishing for a pair will, therefore, please send a hox, with return postage, to 72, Kentish Town Road, N.W. — Bernabd Piffard, June IZth. Curious fact about Dicranura Vinula. — Last summer two of my cocoons of this species did not give forth their images ; I did not, however, throw them away. Recently I opened one of them and found the imago dead ; I then, more carelessly, opened the other, and discovered that the pupa case was cracked and contained a live imago, which began to protrude its antennae and legs through the slits in the pupa case ; I rendered assistance with the point of a pin by removing the partially detached pieces of case, and a fine female came out. Although placed under favour- able circumstances her wings did not expand, but remained as two little lappets of about a quarter of an inch in length ; next day she continued in the same state, but on the afternoon of the second day the wings attained their full size, making her one of my finest and best developed specimens — I expect that T brought her to the light of day before all was prepared for the process of wing-forming. — William Horn, 106, High Street, Portsmouth. Entomological Society of London, June 6th, 1864. — H. T. Stainton, Esq., F.L.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Morris, who was present as a visitor, some leaves of sugar cane from Mauritius, which were much infested with Coccus : this insect being the cause of considerable injury to the sugar crop in that island. Mr. P. Smith exhibited a female Bomhus, which he was unable to refer to any known species ; it had been captured by his son on the sand hills at Deal. Mr. McLachlan exhibited a case-bearing larva, which had been found by Mr. Douglas on Box Hill amongst thyme ; it was of so singular an aspect that he felt quite uncertain to what order it should bo referred. Professor Westwood pronounced it to be Coleopterous, of the genus Clythra, one of the Chrysomelidoi. 52 Mr. F. Smith exhibited an extensive series of illustrations of wasp architecture, which he had received from Mr. Stone, of Brightampton ; these had all been erected in square wooden boxes with glazed fronts, some in an almost incredibly short space of time ; six, five, or even three days having sufi&ced for the completion of some of the most curious. The whole series had been constructed in the months of Septem- ber and October, 1862, by a colony of Vespa Qermanica. Major Parry had sent for exhibition a Lucanoid insect, Odontolahis Stevensii, with a singular monstrosity in both of the antennae ; the right antenna had the last joint bifid, and the left antenna had the penultimate joint trifid. Professor Westwood exhibited some microscopically small specimens of an Acarus, which had been found by Mr. Chapman, of Glasgow, in the unexpanded buds of the black currant ; viewed with an ordinary lens, they only looked hke so much dust, but under a good microscope they clearly appeared to be very minute Acari ; but instead of having eight legs (the normal number), these had only four. Mr. Bates read a notice from Mr. Roland Trimen on the imitative habits of a spider at the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Trimen's attention had been first di-awE to it on his approaching a composite plant with yellow flowers, a species of Senecio, on which several specimens of a Satyrus were reposing ; two of these did not fly away, but remained fixed to the plant, and on a closer examination he found that each was firmly held in the grasp of a yellow spider. On releasing them from their position the spider remained quiet for some moments, but soon recovering its activity and courage, it fixed itself in the position in which it awaited its prey. Holding the stem of the plant with its hind legs, it expanded its six anterior legs, so that the body of the spider represented the disk of the flower, the six legs simulating the ray-florets, and in this position it was hardly distinguishable from the genuine flowers of the plant. Professor Westwood exhibited a new butterfly from Singapore, which he pro- posed to describe under the name of Liphyra Brassolis. Mr. Stainton exhibited the angulated and naked pupa of Anchinia vemccella, which is so analogous in its mode of attachment to the pupae of some of the Pierida^. Dr. Wallace exhibited some specimens of silk of the Bombyx Cynthia, the larva of which feeds on the Ailanthus glandulosus ; one of the specimens exhibited had been successfully reeled ofi" from the cocoon in a continuous thread, a process which has previously appeared almost impracticable. Mr. Tegetmeier stated a circumstance in connection with bee-instincts, which he thought might prove interesting to some of the members of the Society. Expecting a hive to swarm in May last, he placed in the immediate vicinity of it an empty hive, in which was some comb, thinking that probably when the swarm took place the bees would quietly take possession of it ; and he found that the bees not only set to work to clean out this hive, but that without any swarm having taken place, new wax had been made in the empty hive, as though the intended tenants pur- posed putting their future residence in complete repair beforehand. Mr. Teget- meier remarked that the swarm had not yet taken place in consequence of the supervening cold weather. Mr. F. Walker communicated a paper on undescribed Chlacidites. 53 VARIETIES OF LEPIDOPTERA, AND THEIR CAUSES. BT EOBEET C. B. JORDAN, M.D. In the Autumn of 1862, a curious variety of the larva of Smerinthus Populi vpas brought to me, so light as almost to be called white rather than green, although not a perfect albino. In June, 1863, the moth appeared, and the same variation that occurred in the larva was repro- duced in the perfect insect. This is worthy of note, as tending to throw some doubt upon the validity of the test of a species afforded by slight differences in the larva ; indeed, it must be confessed, that a priori reasoning would lead us to expect, in local varieties, that there would be a corresponding difference in the previous states. Our experience, however, (though the subject has been little worked at) as yet points to a contrary conclusion. The following classification of varieties may at all events tend to place the different groups in some order for study : VARIETIES OF LAEV^. 1. Sexual. — As in the case of the common vapourer moth {Orgyia Antiqua), the sexual difference in larvae, according to my ex- perience, is rarely as strongly marked as in perfect insects. 2. Varieties of constant occurrence not apparently connected with sex. — The commonest example, perhaps, is given by Sadena oleracea, in which, as is well known, two frequent varieties — one brownish, the other green — occur. Heliothis Marginata and DasycJdra pudihunda are other instances. 3. Varieties in intensity of colour. — Intermediate shades occurring, as in Gheimatohia JBrumata, &c. 4. Variations depending on the nature of food. — The simplest proof of this. occurs in Mamestra Brassicce, y^hioh may often be met with feeding on the flowers of the dahlia, and somewhat assuming the hue of its red petals. This is, how- ever, a cause of variation worthy of study. It has seemed to me that the red spiracular line was much more deeply marked in larvae of Cidaria russata fouud feeding on dock, than in those eating the Geum : but the character of a red or rose-coloured Bpiracular line is often inconstant, as in the case of Q. russata, and again in Ohrysoplianus Phlceas, in both of which it is sometimes entirely absent, at other times well marked. 5. Variations of the period of life in the larva state. — The most remarkable example of this is in Lnsiocampa CalluiKP, but 54 lesser alterations are frequent : for example, in parts, at least, of the northern districts of England, the common brimstone moth is single-brooded ; indeed, cases of this kind are far from ixncommou, VAEIETIES IN THE PERFECT STATE, A. — TSTOEMAL TAEIATIONS. 1. Sexual. — Almost all insects vary somewhat in the two sexes, but some, as Sypogymna Dispar, vary so extremely that they might well be taken for different genera. Secondary subjects of interest arise from a consideration of these sexual differences : for example, the more pectinated antennae in the male seem to point to these organs as connected with the function of smell ; again, the apterous condition of some female moths is worthy of note, as also the fact that this wingless state is so very prevalent amongst our winter insects, 2. Local varieties. — a. With regard to size alone. h. With regard to colour or markings. Many insects are decidedly smaller in the northern parts of our island than in the south. Simera pennaria affords one example. Of changes in colour many proofs also may be found without resorting to the more doubtful ones, such as CcenonymjjJia Typhon and Polyommatus Artaxerxes ; Xylopliasia lithoxylea, X.polyodon, and Grapholita ulicetana give examples admitting of no cavil, 3. Spring and Autumnal varieties. — As in the genus Pieris, the true thom-inoths, &c. Here it must be noted that some insects appear twice in the year, but that the autumnal brood is not parent to the brood of the following spring, such, aecordmg to my experience, is the case in the genus Lasiom- mata. These three classes of varieties seem to be more or less constant, and may be termed natural varieties ; the remainder obey no law, and we shall therefore call them abnormal, B. — ABNOnMAL VAEIATIONS. 1. Varieties of frequent occurrence, but not apparently depending on local causes — Abundant examples of this group may be found, as in Apamea oculea, Peronea, &c. The much greater tendency of some species to vary is remarkable. 55 2. Varieties confined to one sex. — For example, Oolias Edusa var Helice. 3. Varieties of accidental or solitary occurrence. 4. Albinos and black varieties. These are, perliaps, monstrosities rather than varieties ; the albino depending on a deficiency, the black variety on an excess of pigmentary matter. Examples of the former are frequent and of the latter occur in Hypercamfa dominula, Qidaria impluviata, Prays Gurtisellus, &c. 5. Varieties in the time of appearance occur in the imago as in the larva state. This sketch vrould be yet incomplete without noticing two groups of distinct species, which seem as it were, to mimic varieties. An example of the first group is given by Acronycta Psi and A. Tridens ; in these, as is well known, the perfect insects are exactly similar, while the larvae are widely dififerent. Of the second group, Gidaria russata, and G. immanata may be taken as examples ; here we have the typical forms of the imago very different. But both species are liable to variations, and these varieties are in some cases indistinguishable the one from the other, seeming to run together. Though, doubtless, many omissions are made in this list, yet enough has been said to show that, in these varieties, a large field for thought and observation exists, much of which has never been worked at as its interest demands. Spring Orove Terrace, Edghaston. May ISth, 1864. NEW SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES FROM GUATEMALA AND PANAMA, BY HENET WALTER BATES, E.Z.S. (Continued from page 35). 22. — MELIN^A IMITATA. Same size and shape as Melincea Messatis (Mechanitis id. Hewits. Ex. Butt. Mech. f. 4) : in colours and markings almost identical with Heliconius Telchmia (Doubled. & Hewits. Gen. Diurnal Lepid. pi. 14, f. 4). Fore-wing black, with a very broad and oblique sub-basal orange- tawny belt, commencing on the costa (of which it occupies the l)asal ])ortion), becoming narrower posteriorly, and terminating very near the 56 hind angle. An oblique black stripe traverses the middle of this orange- tawny belt from the base of the eosta to near the middle of the wing. Apical portion of the wing crossed by two yellow macular belts. Hind- wing orange-tawny, with a discal and marginal stripe black. Beneath : nearly the same as above, except that there is a sub-marginal row of silvery-white spots. Thorax black, striped with yellow ; collar orange. Antennae yellow, except at the base, where they are black. Guatemala, interior. 23. — TITHOEEA DTJENNA. ? . Expans. 3" 10'". Deep brownish-black. Fore-wing with a short basal longitudinal stripe reddish orange-tawny ; apical half of the wing with twelve smallish and equal-sized pale yellow spots, placed irregularly. Hind-wing reddish orange-tawny, costa and outer border to the anal angle, and a short discal stripe from the apex towards the abdominal edge, deep brownish black. Beneath : the same, but paler ; the wings having a sub-marginal row of white spots. The sinuses of the wings are edged with white. Abdomen dark orange-tawny. Thorax brown ; tippets each with a round yellow spot ; collar red. Antennse black. This fine species was found only on the elevated table land of Guatemala, near Duenas. 24. — HELICONIUS JUCUNDTJS. Same size and shape as H. Eiicoma (Hiibn. Zutr. 577) and its relatives ; colours the same as H. Ismenius (Latr. in Humboldt's Zool. pi. 41, f. 5, 6). Outer margin of hind- wing slightly festooned as in most examples of H. Eucoma. Fore-wing black, basal third (excluding costa) orange-tawny ; the apical portion is crossed by four white macular belts, the third and fourth near together and rather distant from the apex ; this distinguishes the species at once from A. Ismenius, in which the fourth macular belt is distant from the third, and close to the apical margin of the wing. Hind-wing orange-tawny, a discal stripe (varying in length in diiferent examples,) and the outer border black ; the costa also has two black stripes, and the apex has a white spot. Beneath : the same, except that the hind-wing has a marginal row of elongated white spots. Body and antennse same as in H. Micoma. Panama, many examples. One specimen in Mr. Salvin's collection wants the third white macular belt of fore-wing, and approximates JS. Ismenius. 5T 25. — HELICONIUS XANTHICUS. Agrees with S. Jucundus in every respect, except that the macular belts of fore-wing above and beneath, and the apical spot of the hind- wing above, are yellow instead of white ; and that the costa of hind- wing has a sub-marginal black stripe. Several examples in company with S. Jucundus, Panama. This form, whose distinctness from S. Jucundus must at present remain a matter of doubt, connects S. Jucundus with H. Zuleika (Hewits), an inhabitant of the same countries. 26. — HBLICONIUS MAGDALENA. Same in size and colour as S. Bhea (Cramer, 54, c.d.). Differs constantly in both the yellow belts being linear and narrow instead of oblong aiid broad. The inner belt consists of the same number of spots, but it is only one-half the breadth of the same belt in S. Bhea, and terminates in a point on the first median branch nervure. The apical belt is narrow, and extends nearly across the wing to the outer border. Another point of distinction from H. Rhea is a narrow white edging or fringe to the hind-wing, always very conspicuous in //. Magdalena, but scarcely visible in S. Rhea. Beneath : the same, except that the pos- terior line of red spots in hind- wing is seldom present in H. Magdalena. This form takes the place of the Guiano- Amazonian U. Rhea in the valley of the Magdalena and neighbouring regions in New Granada. It seems to be common on the Isthmus of Panama. 27. — HELICONIUS VEB^PACIS. Closely allied to S. Rhea and S. Magdalena ; differs in the shape and colour of the pale belts. In colour they are much paler, the apical one especially being nearly white. The basal belt is as broad as it is in H. Rhea, but it consists of four distinct spots, and commences in a square form near the costa, terminating in a point on the first median branch nervure. The apical belt is very short, narrow, and interrupted. This form was found only in the province of Verapaz, interior of Guatemala. AU the examples taken agree perfectly in their points of difference from allied forms.* • Heliconius Sprticei. Similar to B. Shea and H. Magdalena, but smaller, 2" 5'". The white fringe of the hind-wing is very conspicuous, owing to the edae of the wing itself being also white, and thi! outer border of the fore-wing is edged with white. Yellow belts of the fore- wing the same in breadth, position, and colour as in S. Magdalena. Western side of Chiraborazo, at an altitude of 8-4000 feet. Tslfen in great numbers by Mr. Spruce. All the examples agree perfectly in their distinctive characters. 58 28. — HELICONIUS LEUOE. This ia figured in Hiibner's " Exotische Schmetterlinge " as S. Sappho of Drury, the latter being quite a difterent species. I have adopted tlie M.S. name given to it by Dr. Boisduval. Taken, in some numbers, in the interior provinces of GTuatemala. 29. — HELICONIUS GALANinUS. Similar in size, shape, and colour to H. Leuce; namely, the ground colour is glossy slaty blue, with the extreme borders of the wings black. The fore-wiug has in the middle a very large slightly transparent clear white spot, occupying nearly the half of the wing ; its outer edge is only a little incurved near the hind border, and has not a prolonged lobe as in H. Leuce ; a black spot lies on the upper discocellular ner- vules, which is connected with the black costal border extending to the base. The hind-wing has a series of gray marginal spots increasing in size from the anal angle to the apex. Beneath : fore-wing same as above ; hind-wing dark brown ; a costal streak, a short discal stripe, and a curved streak parallel to, but distant from, the hind margin, dark reddish ; the outer border near the apex has a row of three white spots. Body and antennae black. Interior and eastern parts of Guatemala. 30. — HELICONIUS CHIONEITS. Closely allied to ITel. GyAno (Doubled. & Hewits. Gen. Diurn. Lep. pi. 15, f. 3). Ground colour glossy blue-black, becoming gray near the edges of the pale belts. The fore-wing has a large belt of the same shape as in S. Gydno, but instead of yellow it is pure white. The hind-wing has a broad sub-marginal white stripe similar to that of S. Cydno ; it is crossed by nervures, and is so near to the hind margin, that it leaves but a very narroiv dusky outer border. Beneath : same as above, except that the fore edge of hind-wings is broadly ochreous, and that there are two broad tawny-coloured vittse across the disk. Panama, one example only. 31. — ACR^A GFATEMALEKA. Expans. 3" 4'". Allied to A. Thalia. Blackish-brown. Fore-wing with five spots or streaks near the base (between the branches of the median nerviire and in the cell), and a belt of four spots, distant from the apex, pale ochreous. Hind-wing with a broad blackish-brown outer border emitting short thick streaks between the nervures ; the rest of 59 the wing pale ocbreous, with dark iiervures auJ a dark streak iu the middle of the cell. Beneath : the same, but the black borders have all pale ocbreous streaks running between the nervures to the margin. Body and antennae black. Guatemala.* 32. — ACE^A LEUCOMELAS. Expans. 3" 5'". Glossy slaty-black. Fore-wing Avitli three large pale ocbreous spots in the middle, situated in the end of the cell and in the spaces before and behind the first median branch nervule. Beneath : pale ochreous, nervures and streaks between them dusky. Fore-wing with a very large central ochreous space clear of dusky streaks, base of the wing black ; outer edge of the central ochreous space bordered with black. Body and antennte black. Guatemala ; many examples. 33. — ACE^A NOX. Expans. 3" 5'". Glossy greenish or bluish-black. Beneath : black ; fore- wing with a large triangular sub-basal spot, pale ochreous ; a smaller spot of same hue near the base of the hind-wing. Guatemala ; many examples. DESCKIPTIONS OF THE BRITISH SPECIES OF STENUS. BY E. C. EYE. CConUnued from page 43.) (Abdomen margined ; elytra unspotted.) ii. legs more or less light in colour, never entirely black. SPECITLATOE, Boisduvol et Lac, Erichson. 2\ lin. Dull black, winged. Palpi clear testaceous ; sometimes darker at the tip, through the internal fluids collecting at the apex in drying. Antennae fuscous, with the two basal joints shining black. Head gently hollowed. Thorax obsoletely channelled. Elytra robust ; as long as, if not longer * Acriea equatoria. Expans. 1" 8'" — 2" 0'". Pale dusky-brown. Fore-wing with a large triangular sub-basal spot (divided by the dusky nervures and a dark spot across the middle of the cell), and a broadish belt, distant from the apex, pale ochreous, semi-transparent. Hind-wing with a broad dusky brown border, emitting long thin sti-eaks between the nervures ; rest of the wing pale ochreous, serai- transparent, nervures dusky, a short streak within the cell, and a zigzag line across the disk (sometimes obsolete) dusky. Beneath : the same, except that all the borders are pale ochreous, and have black streaks between the nervures. Western side of Chiraborazo ; altitude of 3-4000 feet. Taken by Mr. Spruce. It is curious that nearly every species found in these remarkable elevated valleys are dwarfed in size compai-ed with the same or closely allied species of other regions of Tropical America. 60 than, the thorax ; strongly and closely punctured, slightly rugulose near the scutellum. Abdomen rather shining, closely and much more delicately punctured. Legs testaceous, the femora and tibiae slightly suffused with pitchy -black at each end ; the tarsi pitchy-black. Coxae black, trochanters pitchy. A thick tuft of grey Iviirs between the middle coxae, and thin grey pubescence on the metasternum, the middle of which is depressed, closely and delicately punctured. In the male the hinder femora are thickened : the sixth segment has a deep trian- gular notch, and the fifth is widely depressed for its entire length, the depression narrowing and becoming more shallow behind, and being polished close to the outer margin, where it terminates in a wide gently rounded emargination ; the slightly elevated ridges of this depression end on each side of the emargination in a blunt tooth, and exhibit scanty short yellow hairs. The remaining segments are depressed in the middle, but in a scarcely perceptible degree. Extremely abundant in marshy places, &c., all over England. EoGEEi, Kraalz, Ins. Deut. providiis, Wat. Gat. (nee Erichson). Generally rather smaller than speculator, from which it differs as follows. It is shining, more coarsely and not quite so closely punc- tured, and has only rudimentary wings. The palpi are darker at the apex. The head is more deeply and suddenly hollowed. The antennae are pitchy-black. The thorax is narrower in the middle, with the dorsal channel much more distinct. The elytra are decidedly shorter, straighter at the sides, more strongly but not quite so closely punctured, with the interstices shining. The abdomen is more shining. The legs are more broadly suffused with black. The coxae are pitchy, and the trochanters fusco-testaceous. The tuft of hair between the middle coxae is thinner. In the male the notches are much the same as in speculator, but the sixth segment is polished in the middle longi- tudinally ; the fifth is more strongly depressed, and polished in the middle for its entire length, with the lateral teeth more prominent ; each of the remaioing segments exhibits a diminishing longitudinal central depression, with a small ])olished space on its hinder margin ; and, finally, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments have on each side of their central depressions a thin ridge of yellow hairs pointing backwards, gradually getting longer, and forming curls turned inwards. Not uncommon in the London district, being generally found in wet moss. It also occurs at Cambridge, near Brighton, and in Derbyshire. 61 1 am not aware of the existeuce, as British, of the true S. jyrovidus, Er., and the insects I have seen, sent as types of that species by conti- nental Coleopterists, are always i*?. Soger i, Ktz. The true *S^. j)rovidus appears from Erichson's description, to be a dull insect, with the elytra as long as in speculator, from which it diflfers in having the head less hollowed, the thorax more distinctly channelled, the antennse black, the apical joint of the palpi and the legs darker, and the coxse and trochanters black. In the male, also, the abdominal characters appear to be much the same as in S. Bogeri. SCKUTATOK, Erichsoii, Gen. et Spec. Staph., 708, 33. 2^ lin. Closely allied to speculator, but rather smaller, the palpi with the second and third joints pitchy, except at the base, the legs pitchy, the femora pitchy-testaceous from the base to beyond the middle, the coxae black, and the elytra longer, being one-third longer than the thorax. The metasternum is not hairy, and in the male the sixth segment is notched, the fifth having in the middle a wide polished depression, terminating in a wide emargination, on each side of which is an elevated ridge, ending in a somewhat prominent tooth. The fourth segment is slightly depressed in the middle. Two specimens taken in Richmond Park, Surrey, in May, 1857, by Mr. E. Shepherd, named by Mr. E. W. Janson, and confirmed by Dr. Kraatz, are the only English exponents of this species, as far as I am aware. STLYESTEE, JErichson, loc. cit. 34. 2 lin. Also closely allied to speculator, but much smaller, the last joint of the palpi fuscous, and the legs pitchy-testaceous, with the tips of the femora and the tarsi pitchy. In the male the sixth segment has a triangular notch ; the fifth exhibits a wide, central, very polished depression, on each side of which is an elevated ridge, ending behind in a prominent tooth, the hinder margin being also widely emarginated, and the fourth, third, and second segments have each also a triangular polished depression, gradually getting obsolete. A single specimen " from Northumberland " named by Mr, E. W. Janson, and confirmed by Dr. Kraatz, is in the collection of the former gentleman. LUSTEATOE, Erichson. 2\ lin. Allied to speculator, but mostly a little smaller, somewhat shining, of a leaden black colour, the palpi pitchy-black, with the first joint and base of the second clear testaceous, the legs more slender and more suffused with pitchy, the eyes more prominent, the punctuation coarser and not so close, and the elytra 62 a little longer and moi-e convex, with the suture itself broader. The metasternum is more remotely punctured, and but little depressed. In the male the middle tibiae have at the apex, on the inner side, a very minute spur ; the sixth segment has a slight triangular notch ; the fifth has a wide triangular emargination, and is polished in the middle longitudinally, but very slightly depressed, having on each side an acute, abruptly elevated keel, not reaching to the hinder margin, and also a slight central tubercle ; the remaining segments are slightly depressed in the middle, with long yellow hairs forming curls, as in S. Rogeri. Wicken Fen ; also sparingly in the London district from moss, at Wimbledon, Richmond, Shirley, and Croydon. I have a male from "Wimbledon in which the ciliation is entirely absent. GrUTNEMEKi, Jocq. Duval, Fairm. et Lab. 2^ lin. Deep shining black, surface very \mequal, in parts " warty"; the basal joint of the palpi, and base of the femora abruptly, bright yellow, the middle of the tibfe pitchy -testaceous, and the clava of the antennae fuscous. Head with a shining middle keel, and two interrupted side elevations. Thorax somewhat suddenly contracted behind the middle, with a coarse, shining, interrupted, dorsal channel rather behind the middle, and a wide and deep transverse depression in front. Elytra very coarsely and closely punctured, roughly and irregularly " engine-turned," the interstices shining, confluent, and elevated unevenly. Abdomen broadly margined, rather coarsely punctured at the base and sides of the segments, the keels obsolete, and the transverse depressions hairy. The metasternum is scarcely, if at all, depressed ; shining, strongly and rather remotely punctui-ed. In the male the sixth and fifth segments are very shallowly (scarcely perceptibly) emarginated. The abdomen is clothed with scanty long pubescence, which gets thicker towards the apex. Judging from the upper side one is led to expect a corresponding increase of development in the sexual characters of this species ; there is, however, scarcely any difference between the male and female in that respect. Under stones in and near waterfalls (often with Dianous) ; at Paisley, Buxton, Matlock, and North "Wales. PEODiTOE, Erichson. 1| lin. Dull leaden black, rather cylindi'ical; basal joint, and base of the second joint of palpi, testaceous ; the legs pitchy -black or dark pitchy -red, lightest at the base of the femora ; eyes very large and prominent. This species most resembles S. argiis, from which it difters as follows. It is darker in eoloiu' and not so much 63 clothed with grey pubescence ; tlie Lead is more deeply hollowed in front, with a distinct middle elevation ; the elytra are much shorter, not so convex, with the interstices not so flat or wide ; the abdomen is more distinctly margined, with the middle keels more distinct. The metasternum is depressed in the middle. In the male the sixth segment has a triangular notch, and the fifth has a middle depression, widest, and polished, towards the hinder margin, which is widely and rather deeply emarginated in a somewhat semi-circular form ; on each side of the emargination is an obsolete tubercular elevation. This species cannot be confounded with small examples of ^S*. cemulus, Avith which it is sometimes found, on account of its dull appearance, shorter elytra, and want of a dorsal channel to the thorax. First taken by Mr. E. "W. Janson at Finchley ; subsequently by Messrs. Crotch, Matthews, Power, Brewer, and Sharp, at Wickeu and Horning Eens. Both this and the next species are not satisfactorily placed in this section, owing to their dark legs. AEGUS, Qravenliorst, Erichson. 1\ — If lin. Leaden black, rather shining, with thick short grey hairs. Basal joint of palpi testaceous, legs pitchy, or pitchy-red, lightest in the male. In this and the preceding species the males are smaller than the females, with broader heads, and narrower, more pointed, abdomens. Head with scarcely any middle elevation. Thorax even. Elytra longer than the thorax, evenly and strongly punctured, rather convex. Abdomen sub-cylin- drical, not widely margined, the margins getting fainter towards the apex. Northumberland, London district, Horning Een. srBMAEGHNATTJS, {Kirhij, M.S.S. and Coll.) Stephens. vafellus, Ericlison. 1\ lin. Leaden black, with short grey pubescence, rather shining; legs pitchy-red, often clear reddish-brown. Head not hoUowed, but with two wide furrows, the middle space tolerably elevated. Elytra decidedly longer than the thorax, flatter than in S. argus, with the humeral angles more decided; the abdomen also is flatter, more decidedy margined, with the margins distinct at the apex. Horning Een, "Weybridge and Lincolnshire. msciPES, OravenJiorst, Erichson. 1\ lin. Black, rather shining, the legs varying from dark to light reddish-brown, the knees darkest ; more coarsely and not so closely punctured as in suhmarginatus, the elytra more convex and much shorter, and the abdomen more delicately margined. In the male the abdomen is much narrower and more pointed than in the female. 64 This species is sometimes confounded with fuscicornis, in the bi-lobed section, from which it may be known by the short basal joint of its hinder tarsi. London district, Cambridge and Norfolk Fens, Falkirk. CIRCULA.E1S, Gravenhorst, Urichson. 1 — li lin. Dull black, flattened, the two basal joints of antennae and the palpi testaceous ; the legs rufo-testaceous, with the knees darker. Head with a shallow furrow on each side, the interstice wide, scarcely elevated, except a little in the front. Thorax broader than long, the sides strongly rounded, very closely and strongly punctured, the interstices rough. Elytra considerably longer than the thorax, not so closely punctured, with a slight elevation between the scutellum and shoulder. Abdomen flattened, strongly margined and contracted to the apex, the transverse grooves and the keels very distinct. Eltham, Mickleham, Norwood and Wimbledon. " Once (rather plentifully) in a flood at Bungay, Suffolk " (Mr. Grarneys). NANUS, Stephens, III. Mand. V. 301, 59, 1832 (and Coll.) declaratus, Erichson, Col. Mar. vol. 1, pt. 2, 183i). 1\ lin. Black, depressed, very slightly shining ; the legs dark pitchy-red, though sometimes a little lighter ; palpi black, with the basal joint testaceous. Similar in shape and size to circularis, but differing from that species in the following points (besides the colour of legs, palpi, and antennae). The head has two deep furrows, with a sharp, decided, shining, middle elevation. The thorax is flatter, broader, more contracted behind, and with an indistiuct broad transverse de- pression between the middle and the hinder margin. The elytra are flatter, a little longer, and rather more even. The abdomen is not quite so distinctly margined, and the transverse grooves and keels are not so evident. Abundant all over the kiagdom. PUMiLio, Erichson. This species is avowedly included in Mr. Gr. R. Crotch's " Catalogue of British Coleoptera " on the authority of the " Entomologist's Annual " for 1855, p. 125, 86, where a reference is given to " A. R. Hogan, Zool., p. 4340 (1854)." I find that the Eev. Mr. Hogan records it (loc. cit.) simply as " Stenus pumilio, Er.; common," in a list of Coleoptera captured near Dublin. Dr. E. Perceval Wright has kindly examined for me (with Erichson) the eight or nine specimens representing this species in the Eoyal Dubliu Society's Museum, from Mr. Hogan's collection, and finds that none of 65 them answer the descriptiou of S. pumilio, Er. I liave also commu- nicated with Mr. Hogan on the point, but that gentleman is unable to find any of his specimens of "pumilio," and believes he must have inserted the species in the Dublin List on the authority of Mr. A. H. Haliday. I therefore append a short notice of the insect in question, which can be accepted or rejected as British according to fancy. ^ lin. Allied to circularis and nanus, St., but much smaller than, and not so flat as, either of them. It may be known from circularis by its darker legs, antennae and palpi, and from nanus by the shallow excavation and slightly convex interstice of its head, and also by its want of ashy pubescence. {To he continued.) NOTES ON COLLECTING, MANAGEMENT, &c. (LEPIDOPTEFA), BY H. GUARD KNAGGS, M.D. The following " Notes," which do not pretend to be perfect, or altogether free from mistakes, are put forth as an endeavour to lead the young Entomologist, whether his tendencies lean towards mere collecting or to instructive observation, to reason for himself as occasion may suggest or require. No originality is claimed for them, the facts and suggestions contained being already generally known and looked upon as a kind of public property, on which account references have been avoided as giving useless trouble and unnecessarily occupying space. The writer cannot terminate these few prefatory words without expressing his deep indebtedness to Messrs. C. G. Barrett, Frederick Bond, Henry Doubleday, the Eeverend J. Hellins, and other friends, for theii- kind assistance during the progress of these papers. THE EGG STATE. " Ev'ry insect of each different kind, In its own egg cheer'd liy tlie solar rays. Organs involv'd, and latent life displays." COLLECTING. There are two chief ways in which the eggs of Lepidojptera may be procured : the first, which has been termed egg hunting, is by finding them after they have been deposited naturally ; the second is by allowing or inducing females to lay in captivity. Sgg hunting is a pursuit which from difficulties due to the small size of the objects, and the consummate skill with which they are frequently concealed, has hitherto scarcely met with that amount of attention which the subject deserves ; while confessing on the one hand that the eggs of insects certainly are comparatively 66 diflBcult to find, not only for the above reasons, but also from the facts that obviously they leave no tracks as larva) do, and that being generally firmly attached they are not to be shaken or beaten from their positions ; yet on the other hand I cannot but think that continued and careful observation as to the situations in which eggs are deposited, the time during which the different species remain in the egg state, together with their appearances, disposition, and naode of concealment, would fur- nish results valuable ahke to the collector, the observer of Nature's works, and to Science itself; and it must be admitted that the egg-hunter would sometimes stumble upon batches of such numbers as he could never hope to meet with in the other stages of insect existence, and that too of living embryo individuals hardly ever affected by parasites* unlikely to sicken from change of food and air, and not liable to droop and die from having received an unfortunate knock with the beating stick or unlucky dig with the trowel ; besides, the fact that eggs do exist in almost infinitely greater numbers than larvse, pupae, or imagos, ought to stimulate us to overcome the difiiculty. The situations in which eggs are deposited are naturally either upon or in the neighbourhood of the food of the future larvae, and almost always in such localities as are adapted to the well-being of the species.f A known or likely locality^ must therefore first be selected as a spot for commencing operations. The more common positions of eggs are upon the surface and in the chinks of bark (frequently, un- fortunately, high up on the trunk and branches), on twigs, buds, leaves, flowers, and seeds, of various trees and plants ; sometimes on neighbouring objects, as palings, walls, rocks, stones, sods ; at others among refuse vegetable and animal matters ; now and then loosely scattered upon the ground, or even fixed to aquatic plants beneath the surface of the water ; while in some special cases the nests of ants, wasps, and bees, are the situations chosen by the parent female. A knowledge of the time during which the different species remain in the egg state would very materially assist the collector, but little on this question has been chronicled ; however, I think that, with few exceptions, the following may be adopted as rules : Eggs deposited in ea/rly spring may be expected to hatch at about the time when the buds of the respective food-plants are ready to burst forth into leaf; but it not unfrequently occurs, even in Nature, that circumstances, which do not affect the eggs, retard the development of the food-plant, and the young larvoo are excluded before food is ready for them, in which case they generally pierce and feed within buds, catkins, &c., until such time as the leaves have become expanded, when, after feeding up in a variable time, they change to chrysaUdes, in which state the winter is passed. * Tlie eggs of Lepidoptera are rarely affected with parasites ; perhaps those of Orgyia An- tiqua, and Pudibunda, are most subject to the attacks of such species as Microgaster ovulorum. + Occasionally, however, as in the instance of females attracted to light, which liave been known to deposit on the bars of the lamp, eggs arc deposited in sudi situations as cannot j)ossibly aftord a chance to the futuie larva. I By a "likely locality," I mean one which, having the required food, has a similar soil, altitude, temperature, amount of moisture or dryness, shelter or openness, to one wliich llie insect looked for is known to inhabit ; thus, the collector will rarely stand a chance of finding upon a gravelly soil a species which is attached to the chalk or limestone, or a mountain species in the valleys, or a heat-loving species in a bleak locality, a fen-insect on high and dry ground, or an inhabitant of a dense wood upon the open moors, ice. 67 Eggs laid in spnng and early summer usually hatch in a foi-tnight or three weeks, the species also feeding up and passing the winter in the chrysalis state. Eggs deposited late in the summer and early aidumn months in two or three weeks produce larva3 which feed up more or less slowly and frequently hybernate. While eggs deposited in the latter months of the year do not usually hatch until the following spring. It may here be well to mention a few special cases, namely, double-brooded species, of which there are two groups, " spring and summer brooded," and " sum- mer and autumn brooded ; " the eggs of both broods of the former group hatch quickly (in 10 days or so), the larvae feeding up and changing to pupae, in which state the winter is passed ; the eggs of first batch of second group do likewise, but those of the last batch either do not hatch till spring, or hatching the larvoe hy- bernate. Some eggs laid in summer, as for instance those of Cidaria dotata, do not hatch until the following spring ; with other eggs there is sometimes the peculiarity of hatching at intervals, thus those of Ennomos fuscantoHa seem to hatch at inter- vals of two or three days from the end of May to the end of June. Another ck- ceptional case is that of insects which hybernate in the perfect state ; these do not generally lay, or even paii*, until the following spring. Of course it stands to reason that eggs are laid daring some period of the lifetime of the parent female, and that, therefore, when a species has been on the wing for some time, or more surely, if it be getting over, it is time to begin to look for the eggs ; but, whereas some species deposit even directly after coi^nlation, others do not lay until a variable, sometimes very considerable, time afterwards. The appearance, disposition, and mode of concealment of the eggs of the Lepidoptera are highly interesting points, not only to the egg-hunter, but to every thoughtful observer ; that the eye should become familiarised with the general aspect of these objects as they appear in Nature is of the utmost importance to him who would successfully follow the pursuit of egg-hunting. Probably most of us are acquainted with the appearances of the eggs of many species, as for instance, the conical ridged egg of Pieris Brassicce, the fluted barrel-shaped eggs of Vanessa TJrUco}, the pointed egg of Gonepteryx Rhamni placed singly upon the terminal shoots of buckthorn, the large oval green egg of SmeHnthus Populi deposited singly upon poplar leaves, the masses deposited by Zygcena and Zeuzera, the latter in the chinks of bark, the fast-blackening globules of the female Hepialus HiMrmli as she sows them broadcast, the pearly beads of the Lithosidce and Chelonidce neatly placed in batches, the beautiful egg of A. VilUca being iridescent Uke mother-of-pearl, the ringed egg of the Drinker Moth deposited on blades of grass, the batches of C. Neustria and E. Lanestris arranged spirally round twigs and coated over with protecting var- nish, the colour-changing eggs of Endromis placed in small batches upon the twigs of birch, and of Saturnia on heather bramble and other plants, the somewhat cup- like-looking eggs of Orgyia coating the old cocoon of the neai-ly apterous female, the brown hemispherical eggs of Dicranivra Vinida, and the black drops of its smaller congeners Bifida and Fv/rcula firmly fixed by their bases in groups of twos and threes upon the upper sides of the leaves of willow and poplar, the pale drop- like eggs of the Notodontida; sparsely scattered upon the leaves of their special food- plants, the ragged egg of D. Caruleocephala, the neatly placed brick-shaped eggs of 68 the genus Ennomos, the green imbricated patches of small eggs of Biston, and those of Boarmia disposed of by the female in suitable chinks and crevices, the oval pearly eggs of Meldnthia and OidaHa often so amazingly large when compared with the size of the parent moth, the scale-like egg of the Tortrix, and many others, which, when we come to know them well, will lead us to deduce analogies of the utmost assistance in previously forming an opinion as to where and what-like will be the egg of any particular species of which we may be desirous of going in quest. And an examination of the anal segment of a female specimen would also aflFord us a means of making a fair guess at the situation and mode of concealment of its eggs. Thus — should she be provided with a longish protruded ovipositor, as Zenzera, Cossus, Boarmia, Eivperia, the inference would be that the eggs would be found deposited deeply in the chinks of bark ; should the abdomen be pointed with concealed or only slightly projecting ovipostor, as in some of the Cosmido', Dianthoi- cicB, Hihernido', Eiipithecicc, and other geometers, the probability would be that the species would deposit its eggs in flowers, or in axils of leaves, buds, &c. ; should the abdomen be blunt, the eggs may be expected upon leaves, twigs, &c. ; while, if the anal segment be tufted, the eggs will be found in patches, felted over with downy fur, and generally upon the surface of bark and twigs. In searching upon trees, bushes, &c., it is advisable to carefully scrutinise each leaf, foot stalk, and twig, from different aspects, which may be done by turning the branch under examination about in such a manner as to get successive views of the upper aud under sides of leaves, and the circumference of the twigs ; it is also a good plan to look at the branch against a rather strong Hght. Of course, when- ever any unusual speck, spot, or patch arrests the attention, the collector must satisfy himself as to the cause of it. He will generally find that the under sides of the leaves are the most favoured positions, but some species, as the DicranuridcB, select the upper surface ; eggs are most frequently placed near the midrib and towards the apex of the leaf ; the eggs of some moths are deposited in autumn upon the axils of leaves, and remain there through the winter, as for example those of 0. Lota and Tethea Retusa, and from this cause thousands of these species are de- stroyed by the basket makers, who cut down the " witheys " in winter ; the eggs of other species are placed in the buds, especially of the terminal shoots, as in the case of G. Rhamni. The species which subsist on flowers and seeds, as most of the Eupithecice, DianthwcioB, XantJvice, and Erastria Venustula, probably deposit at the base of the petals or soft ovary, or on the flower stalks of UmbelliferEe, &c., as the case may be ; the eggs of internal grass feeders will usually be deposited in or about the axil of the sheath around the stem, while those of wood and bark feeding species will generally be placed in chinks of bark, though Sesia Bembeciformis certainly deposits naturally upon the leaves ; the eggs of low plant feeders may be most likely detected on the under sides of the leaves of their food-plant, on adjacent stems of grasses, or on other plants or objects in the neighbourhood. A consideration of the foregoing remarks would seem to indicate that, while for real instructive observation the eggs of all species should be carefully sought, and when found made note of, so far as the mere desire to possess is concerned but a partial success may be expected, for assuredly of most species the eggs will be far more easily obtainable by the following plan ; 69 Allowing or inducing Lepidopterous females to lay in captivity is a process well worth attention, and since it has been adopted by energetic breeders has well repaid the almost daily care which necessarily attend and follow it. Some species deposit freely enough, even when shut up in a pill box or impaled with a pin, requiring no inducement to the act ; but many, unless properly managed, are apt to disappoint the collector's hopes in this respect. Among those which will be found to lay freely I may mention the Smerinthi, the Hepialidce, LithosidcB, Cheloni- dcB, Liparidw, Bomhycidm, (indeed, most of the true Bomhyces,) Coremia, Hibemia, Cidaria, and many other Geometrce, Dicranura, Closte^-a, and several Notodontidm, Acronycta, Xylophasia, some of the Tceniocampas and Xanthias, the genus Pyralis, Hydrocampa, Pterophorns, &c. ; others, on the contrary, require such inducements as space, admission of the sun's rays, nutriment, presence of food-plant, suitable cracks and surfaces in which and on which to deposit, and other conditions which may from time to time suggest themselves to the observant Entomologist. Butterflies, as a rule, require space, admission of sun's rays, presence of food- plant (especially of the flowers), air, &c., as incentives to laying, but some species, as A. Galathea, Argynnis Euphrosyne, Paphia, Satyrus JUgeria, Hyperanthus, Chortohius Pamphilus, &c., will generally lay freely enough if only the three latter conditions be complied with ; again, the day-flying sphinges, as Macroglossa and Sesia will of course require the sun's rays and space,* while some of the autumn spi^cies, as S. Convol- vuli,\ A. Atropos, and C. Celerio, would probably not deposit naturally until after hybernation, when they also would require space. The Bombyces generally lay pretty freely ; when shut up in a pill box it is advisable to leave the lid a little open on one side so that the enclosed insect may not be stifled, or the top of the lid may be knocked out and gauze substituted for it, and kept in place by the rim of it. The tongued Bombyces, as the LithosidcB and the Hook-tips, should be allowed to sip from a sponge moistened with honey and water ; and to the species whose females naturally deposit eggs in bright sunshine, as the day-flying Hook-tips, the sun's rays should of course have free admission. Many GreometrSB require nourishment, as aflforded by the damp sweetened sponge, and some seem particular as to the surface upon which they deposit, one seeming to like deep chinks in rough bark or slits in a chip bos, as Nyssia, Biston, Boarmia ; another, as Epione, preferring a corner, such as that formed when the chip of the circumference of a willow box overlaps, a third, as Cidaria, depositing at the tips of any little projections from the surface, while a fourth is not satisfied unless she lays her eggs among some loose texture, as the folds of muslin, and so on. The Noctuae more than all require the stimulus of the sweetened sponge, as they are a class of insects which are apt to delay oviposition until sometimes a very long period after impregnation, it not unfrequently happening that they die without depositing their ova. In their case, as with the Geometers, we must first place the females in a suitable chamber, such as a child's toy box loosely lined with paper * M. Stellaiarum deposits its eggs while on the wing as it hovers, curling its abdomen forwards and upwards so as to place the epg upon the under surface of the leaf of its food-plant the bcdstraw. Faeiformis |)robably does the same upon the leaves of the honeysuckle. t Mr. D'Orville onoe sqiiee/i'd an egg from the body of a female .S Conrolviili ivhicli hatr/ted late in September ! ! ! 70 (for facility of the subsequent removal of the eggs), and having a piece of gauze or leno substituted for the wooden top of the lid. The sweetened sponge may be pinned to the side of her cage, fi-om which she will generally be found to sip fi-eely ; in order, however, to make sure of her having a taste, place the sponge in front of her palpi and then very gently blow towards her, when she will immediately unfold her tongne and partake of the nectar. It must be borne in mind that the males of some species, as Bomhyx, Saturnia, Endromi.'f, fly by day in quest of their respective females, but that the females do not generally fly or deposit their eggs until the evening has set in. As a rule the food- plant should be introduced to laying females, it can never do harm, and may some- times be the means of procuring eggs otherwise unobtainable ; and I may just note here that the introduction of a gas or lamp light to an apartment in which a female is depositing will, in most cases, stop the process, though in others this very means may be adopted as an incentive to lay ; and it is sometimes noticed that a female with which every inducement had failed, has laid freely enough after having been treated with oxalic acid ; and even the plan of actually squeezing out eggs from the body of a refractory female appears to have met with, at any rate, partial success in more cases than one. {To be continved.) Captures of Phytometra wnca and Eupitliecia lariciata. — I took Phytometra cenea somewhat plentifully on April 29th in St. Leonard's Forest. Most of the specimens were poor, and had evidently been out some time. Mr. Stainton's Manual gives the date of its aiDpearance as June and July. I have been also taking rather freely the new pug Eupithecia lariciata, and shall be glad to distribute it as far as my supply goes. The specimens are not first- rate, having been taken rather too late. — Du. Battersheli. Gill, 5, Cambridge Place, Eegent's Park, n.w. Description of the larva of Tethea suhtusa. — The eggs of this species are pro- bably laid at the end of July and throughout August on the young twigs of poplar. The larva hatches in the following spring, as soon as the young buds burst into leaf ; it immediately spins two leaves together, and continues this practice during the whole of the larval state. Like some other species, it effects the various changes of skin in the same situation. In confinement it appears to feed only at night. The following is a description of the full-grown larva, which is not at all variable either in colour or markings : — pale yellowish-green, rather glossy, not unlike dictcBa. The dorsal stripe broad, pale yellow, much more so than the ground colour. Spira- cular line the same ; along this latter is a row of black rings, somewhat oval, having a pale yellow centre. There is one such ring in the second and ten following seg- ments. Just midway between the dorsal and spiracular lines is another slender, clear yellovv stripe, slightly interrupted by the segmental divisions. Head chrome yellow, bordered with black. Mouth and prolegs black, slightly mottled with yellow. The larva lies curled up between two leaves spun together, and in this position, whrn in a state of nature, may easily be detected by looking np at the leaves. Pupa 71 subterranean ; pupa case weak. The larva is full growu about the eud of May, aud the perfect insect appears throughout July. It appears widely distributed, and not uncommon.— Rev. J. Gkeene, Cubley Rectory, Doveridge, Derby, July I2th, 1864. Description of the larva of T her a coniferata. — At the beginning of the present year a few eggs was sent to me by a friend. Six hatched, of these only one, I am sorry to say, came to maturity. When full grown it was short and stumpy, extremely like the larvae of some of the Eupithecice. Head pale brown. Ground colour grass green. Dorsal line broad, pure bluish white ; this is bordered on each side by a slender stripe of the same colour. Spiracular line the same. These stripes are all very clear and well defined. Segmental divisions yellow. Prolegs pink. There are no dots or marks. It is one of the most sluggish creatures I ever saw, lying, for hours— even days, in the same place, just stretching itself to get at the food within reach. It remained a long time in the larval state, as it was hatched the third week in March and did not spin up till June 6th. It effected this change between moss and the sprig of juniper, on which it was feeding, so unwilhng was it even, then to move. The pupa is dark grass green, abdominal segments lighter. The perfect insect appears in three weeks. — Id. Xylina conspicillaris. — In the first number of the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine is a notice from the Rev. E. Horton to the effect, that he had bred one fine specimen of this very rare species. I think it only due to Mr. Horton to state (what his own modesty withheld) that, owing to his generosity, the specimen is now in my collection. In Xo. 2 is a communication about Eupithecia lariciata. Will your correspon- dent ki.'ii'ily give a few more particulars, as I know nothing aboiat this species? — Id. Cidmia sagittata hred. — My friend, Mr. Buckler, has lately bred the moths from larvaa received from Mr. Alfred Fryer, of Chatteris, both in 1862 and 1863, thus for ever putting an end to all doubts as to the true history of this species. — Rev. J. Hellins, Exeter, July, 1864. Habits and description of the larva of Lozogramma petra/ria. — A captured moth laid me some eggs on the 10th May of this summer. These at first were pale straw coloured, soon turned bright red, and afterwards became dingy. The larvte hatched on 28th May, and fed throughout most freely on common fern (Pteris aquilina) ; they rested at full length, but when disturbed twisted into knots and jumped about angrily ; they went to earth during the last week in June. The larvae assimilate well in appearance to their food-23lant, and must be hard to detect ; when full fed their length is rather over an inch, shape cylindrical, and of uniform size throughout, except that the segmental folds look contracted, and the head is rather flattened. The ground colour olive green, beDy paler, more olive- grey ; some individuals had a slight reddish tint. At first sight the whole larva seems to be covered with very slender chocolate-brown longitudinal lines — I could count at least 24 all round the body, but on examination it is seen that those are an-anged in pairs ; thus, there is a double dorsal, and three double sub-dorsal lines, the lowest being darkest and thickest. The spiracles black, below them a creamy white line ; and the belly is striped somewhat like the back, only that the lines are more diffuse and not so numerous ; the segmental folds are red. — hi. TA ,. Habits and description of the la/rva ofAcidalia imrmitata. — I received eggs of this species from Dr, Knaggs on 18th July, 1863, and the larvae hatched on July 22nd. They chose for their food Polygonmn aviculare, but did not attain any great size before liybernation ; through the winter they rested on the withered stems of their food-plant, and did not begin to feed again in spring till the young seedlings of the Polygonum had put out their second pair of leaves, when they seemed to find out that it was time to commence to eat again. They attained their full growth during the last week in May and first week in June of the present summer, and spun themselves up in silken cocoons under some short moss which had grown upon the surface of the earth in their flower-pot. The first moth emerged on July 2nd. When full grown the larva is about 1^ inch long. In shape cylindrical, slightly pufied at the spiracles, tapering evenly towards the head, which is small and round ; the whole skin is ribbed in rings which go quite round the body. The ground colour is a warm stone-coloured tint, and there is a dusky dorsal line fonming two ismall dots at each segmental division ; above the spiracles an irregular double dusky line } spiracles black, placed in a stripe rather paler than the ground colour, below which comes another dusky line, darkest on its upper edge and fading off below. The larva described above, in structure and colouring resembles those otAcidalia fumata, promutata, and imitaria, except that the two last are longer ; and it is al- together different from the type furnished by the shorter, stiff, and flattish larvae of A. suhsericeata, incanata, aversata, inomata, and osseata. — Eev. J. Hellins, Exeter. AcidaUa promutata. — Three or four seasons following I have reared one or two of the larvae of this species upon yarrow and mugwort to nearly full growth, when without any apparent reason they have all sickened and died. I should much like to hear from any one who has been more successful. — Id. Captures on the Cotswolds. — When at Dinsby, on the 19th of May, in a three hours' recreative ramble on the north hill-side and summit of Stinchcombe, one of the most prominent of the Cotswold range, I was happy to meet with Argy- nnis Euphrosyne, Melitcea Artemis, and Nemeohius Lucina. — W. Far]£en White, The Vicarage, Stonehouse, Gloucester. Captures in the neighbourhood of Wandsiuorth. — Up to the end of May I have met with the following species at Coombe Wood : — Argynnis Euphrosyne (flying in the open parts) ; T. punctulata, Ephyra porata, punctata, and pendularia (by beating) ; Eupisteria heparata (very local, I only found it in one particular glade) ; Nvm,eriapulverai-ia (by beating) ; Ypsipetes impluviata (by beating amongst alders) ; Platypteryx Falcula (from birch). Whilst mothing in my garden I have also met with Coremia unidentaria, (ferrugata does not appear to be common here), Scotosia certata and Xyloca/nipa Uthorhiza. And on Wimbledon Common I collected eighteen larvae of Orgyia Qonostigma. — G. B. Longstaff, South-fields, Wandsworth. Stawropus Fagi, near Aylesbury. — While searching for examples of Cidaria silaceata, in Drayton Wood, yesterday, I was fortunate enough to find a fine male of Stauropus Fagi at rest on a small fir tree, it looked as fresh as if it had just emerged from its pupa. I may also mention that I took a female specimen of Notodonta Cucullina last May in the same locahty. — W. E. Paksons, New Koad, Aylesbury, Bucks.— Jkhc Uth, 1864. 73 Chwrocampa Porcellus, in Gloucestershire. — I took two specimens of C. Porcellus in good condition, hovering over honeysuckle jitst hetiveen dayliyht and dusk ; one on June 1st, and the other on June 9th. I cannot find this locality given ; I did not observe any larvae last season. — Rev. E. Hallet Todd, Windrush, Burford (the eastern extremity of the Cotswold). An instance of 'parasitism in ivhich a chrysalis of Chelonia Caja produced a living inoth and larvce of a Hymenopterous insect at the same time. — It is vrell known that the parasites on larvaa usually kill them before the transformation into pupae, or at any rate, do not allow them to assume the perfect state. M. Kiinckel has communicated to me a somewhat rare case, in which parasitism has permitted of the appearance of the imago. It occurred to a female of Chelonia Caja, which made its appearance alive, but with the wings crippled, at the same time that the parasitic larvEe came out of the chrysalis. Do facts of this kind perhaps explain certain abortions in the imagines oi Lepidoptera in the natural state ? The parasites belonged here to the Hymenoptera, for the larva showed traces of punctures, and the little cocoons were found in the cocoon spun by the larva. Robineau-Desvoidy cites an analagous instance among the Bvptera (Essai sur les Myodaires, t. 2, 1830, p. 28.) M. Carcel, he writes, has seen Phryxe emerge from the imago of Sphinx Ligiistri. (M. Maurice Girard in the "Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Prance," 4me serio, 4me tome, 1864, premier trimestre.) Eupithecia tripunctata. — I bred this insect on the 20th April from eggs ob- tained from a captured specimen in the month of August, 1863. By keeping the sexes together and feeding them with honey, I succeeded in getting some eggs, and the larvao hatched on the 9th May. They were placed on the umbels of Anthriscus sylvestns, then the only umbelliferous plant in flower, and so rapid was their growth that, to my great surprise, one larva was full grown and went into pupa on the 22nd May. By the 26th May all the remaining larvae had assumed the pupa state. In all my experience of insect breeding this is certainly the most remarkable case that has occurred. It may probably, in some degree, be attributed to the unusually high temperature that prevailed in the month of May. The perfect insects began to emerge on the 5th inst., and a finer specimen than the first (a female) I never saw. The question now arises, is this insect double brooded ? In confinement I have proved it to be so ; but I cannot satisfy myself that it is so in the natural state. At the time I had the larvae feeding I examined and beat hundreds of plants, in different localities, of Anthriscus sylvestris, and could find no trace of Eupithecia larva), nothing but larvEe of Depressaricn, nor have I ever captured a specimen of the insect earher than the end of July. — H. D'Orville, Alphington, near Exeter, July 7th. Habits of Madopa salicalis, Eupcecilia amhiguana, !^c. — On the 25th May last I was collecting in the woods in company with a gentleman visiting here, who, although not himself an Entomologist, was amusing himself by catching insects for a friend in London. I had just walked up a grassy path and secured two or three Nemeohins Lucina, when my companion came to me to know whether a moth that he had just boxed was worth keeping or not. I peeped, and saw — Madopa salicaUs. My state of excitement may be imagined, and it was not lessened when my friend. 74 two or three minutes afterwards, started another out of the grass and caught it. We both worked hard the rest of the afternoon, but did not see more. However, by repeated visits to the place on subsequent days I managed to secure a few specimens. The habits of this species appear to be modified according to the season. Two years ago, when the ground was very wet, my specimens all occurred in low bushes of beech or oak, while those I took this year, when the weather was hot and the ground pretty dry, were all hiding among the long grass and rushes in the wood- paths, apparently seeking the coolest places. They were generally veiy quiet in their habits, starting up before my feet and settling again in the grass at the dis- tance of a few yards ; but one specimen flew quite vrildly over the bushes, and gave me a pretty chase, and two or three others I think I lost that way. Its flight closely resembles that of Crambus pratellus, which of course abounds at the same place, but M. salicalis shows the dark grey colour of the fore-wings even when flying. It is, however, very hard to distinguish them from specimens of Bohjs fuscalis, which only look a little smaller. I met with one specimen about 10 o'clock in the morning, but all the rest occurred between 2 and 6 p.m., and one which I captured about the latter hour seemed to be taking its evening flight. It must, however, also fly after dark, as I took one some years ago at a gas lamp at night. It cannot at any time be very active, since I have neyer taken a worn specimen, the last captured on June 9th being as fine as the first. The fore- wings, however, appear to be very brittle, and liable to have little bits broken out of the hind margin. A few sijecimens of Loiophora sexalata occur here every June. In the earlier part of the day they rest, I believe, on the trunks of trees or large bushes, but towards 4 or 5 o'clock p.m. they seem to mount to the upper parts of the sallow bushes, and on a hot afternoon will fly off directly one comes near, and flit about in a rather excited manner. I have known them dart oS" when I have been several yards a\Yay, and not looking for them. On cooler afternoons they may be easily beaten out of the bushes. They fly in the very early dusk, rather before most other Qeometroe, and their flight is then very gentle. This species seems to frequent almost exclusively sallow hedges ; I have hardly ever taken it in woods. EupeBcilia amhiguana has again occurred among Bhamnus Frangula, and a.mong that alone. It is easily beaten out of the bushes in the afternoon, and looks very distinct on the wing, as, fi-om its steady flight, the broad dai-k bar across the wings is rather conspicuous. Its time of flight is about sunset. The place where I take it every year is just within the border of Sussex, but this year I beat a specimen from a buckthorn bush in a wood in Surrey, probably its first occurrence in this county. — Chas. G. Barrett, Haslemere, llth Jxhj, 1864. 071 the re-appearance of some Lepidoptera unnoticed since the year 1860. — The following observations apply exclusively to the Midland Counties of England, and especially to the valley of the Trent, which suffered more severely than most other parts of the country, both in its fauna and flora, during the wet and sunless summer and intensely severe winter of 1860 ; from that time many of our commoner Lepidopterous insects became rare, and various larvas, which one 75 used to meet with in every mral and suburban walk during their respective seasons of existence, disappeared. It is now interesting to mark how nature is gradually resuming her normal state. Trachea piniperda, which we took freely in the imago state at sallows, and in the larval state on its food-plant (Pinus sylvestris), had, since 1860, almost disappeared, but is now yeai-ly increasing in number. The plump larva of Diloba ccerideocephala, which formerly met the eye as it lay extended along the tender shoots of the hawthorn and crabtree, was not seen for several years, but it is again abundant in the particular part of this painsh which is its chosen locality. Porthesia anriflua, whose larvae, juveniles with entomological proclivities, delight in gathering, cramming them by the score into purloined lucifer-match boxes, or other available but unsanitary receptacles, and whose almost spotless white-winged imago attracts the attention of the most unobservant as it sits conspicuous on the hedge, or sails heavily across his path at twilight, was last year, for the first time since 1860, tolerably common, and this summer the larva is in profusion. Smerinthus ocellatus and Odonestis potatoria, both of which disappeared, are again showing themselves sparingly. One " old familiar face " has so far failed to re-appear, I allude to Sphin.v Ligustri, whose delicate pulpy larva was unable to reach maturity during the wet summer alluded to, and to the present time, although diligently sought for year by year in its former haunts, not a single individual has been taken. On the other hand, Sm. Populi and C. vinula suffered little, and have appeared re- gularly ; the latter is now abundant. This list might be greatly extended, but the above is snfBcient to show that there are ups and downs even in insect life, and no doubt have been through all time past. — George Gascoyne, June, 1864. Coleoptcra near Loivestoft. — In the end of June, 1861, I had a few days' col- lecting in the neighbourhood of Lowestoft ; the weather was very hot, and insects were very plentiful. Amongst my captures the following are the more remarkable : Inland I took the following species: — Harpalus luteicornis, Dufts. ; I took a female of this very rare insect at the roots of grass, near Carlton Church. Falagria thoracica, Steph. ; in dung near Kirkly, a village about a mile west of Lowestoft. Ocypus ater, Grav. ; one specimen under a stone on the margin of a pond at Mutford. Ischnomera melanura, Lin. ; one specimen on a door-step. On the sea shore the following occurred : — Tarus axillaris, Fabr. ; one specimen found by my father under a piece of dry dung, on the denes north of Lowestoft, a curious locality for it, as it generally occurs on chalky soils, whereas the above locality is on the sand. Dyschirius politus, Dej. ; one specimen under a stone. Calathus flavipes, Fourc. ; abundant near Yarmouth, at the roots of grass. Ancho- menus gracilvpes, Dufts. ; one specimen at the i-oots of grass near Kessingland, a village about three miles south of Lowestoft ; another was found by my father under a stone about a mile north of Lowestoft. Arnara consularis, Dufts. ; one specimen under a stone, near Kessingland. Amara fulva, Dej. ; common near Lowestoft, under stones and rejectamenta. Quedius semiolscurus, Marsh ; under rejectamenta. Lathrohium pallidum, Nordni. ; four specimens running on the sands just above high water mark, between Lowestoft and Pakefield. Achenium depressum, Grav. ; under rejectamenta. Notoxus monocenis, Lin. ; common at the roots of grass, running into numberless varieties, some (fuite black. — E. Saunbeks, Hillfield, Reigate. 76 Nemosoma elongata. — In 1860 I found a pair of this rare insect under the bark of an old paling, on the bank of the 'Avon, near Bath. — V. C. de Rivaz, 4, Shrewsbury Road, W. Occurrence of Cordulia a/rctica in Ireland. — T have in my cabinet a male of Cordulia arctica, Zetterstedt, taken at Killarney, in 1862, by Mr. Birchall, and pre- sented to me by that gentleman. This dragon-fly had hitherto only been found in one British locality, Rannoch, Perthshire. Being undoubtedly a northern species, one would scarcely have suspected its occurrence in the south-west of Ireland, but Mr. Birchall remarks that he has found Caenonympha davus and Hadena rectilinecu at the same place, neither of which occurs in the southern parts of England. De Selys-Longchamps mentions that it has been taken on an elevated heath near Arlon in Belgium, a locality still further south. The figure of the appendices in the "Revue des Odonates" is very characteristic. — Robert McLachlan, Forest Hill, 15th July, 1864. Entomological Society of London, July 4th, 1864. — A. R. Wallace, Esq., F.Z.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. Professor Westwood called the attention of the members present to a valuable paper in the Transactions of the Russian Entomological Society, by Kolenati, on the Nyeteriiidw, a tribe of flies parasitic on bats, in which several new genera were founded. Mr. Wallace stated, that during his travels he had found a few of these insects on bats, but that they were not nearly so abundant as the allied parasitic insects on birds. Mr. Tegetmeier exhibited the piece of comb which he had mentioned at the June meeting, showing clearly the line of new wax by which the bees had fastened it to the frame, without any swarm having taken place, and when the workers were of course unaccompanied by the queen. His attention had been first called to it by observing some scales of new wax which had been dropped on the floor of the hive. Mr. Tegetmeier also exhibited some pieces of comb containing cells of various sizes and forms, some of which were circular, some hemispherical, some pentagonal, and others hexagonal, and observed, that accoi'ding to his views, the bees com- menced by excavating hemispherical depressions, which as they became larger and came into contact, of necessity assumed the hexagonal form. Mr. Smith read a short notice by Mr. Stone of the mode by which he had con- trived to make the wasps erect the singular structures which had been exhibited at the Juno meeting. Mr. Stainton exhibited some specimens of a Oelechia, which had been bi-ed by Mr. Thomas Brown, of Cambridge, from larvae collected last autumn in the fens on Lathyrus palustris. The insect had hitherto been supposed identical with the Con- tinental nigricostella, which it closely resembled, but a comparison of bred specimens of the two insects showed that they were distinct, and Mr. Stainton proposed for the species bred from the Lathyrus palustris the name of Qelechia Lathyri. Professor Westwood stated, that from the larvas exhibited by Captain Cox at the May meeting of the Society, and which had been found amongst bran, he had reared some beautiful specimens of Pyralis fannalis. A paper by Mr. Roland Trimcn, on New South African Butterflies, in which fifteen new species were described, was then read by the Secretary. DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF GELECHJA, AND A NEW SPECIES OF COLEOPHORA; WITH REMARKS ON COLEOPHORA OLIVACEELLA AND C. SOLITARIELLA. BY G. G. MiJHLIG, FEANKrORT-OIT-THE-MATN. Translated from the "Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung" Nos. 1-3, 186