THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE: CONDUCTED BY C. G. BA.EEETT. E. McLACHLAN, F.E.S. J. W. DOUOLAS. E. SAUNDEES, F.L.S. H. T. STAINTON, F.E.S. VOL. XXI " Nature never did betray The heart that loved her : 'tis her privilege, Through all the years of this our life, to lead From joy to joy." r/^ Wordsworth. —-a//?^^'' LONDON: . JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW 1884-85. LONDON NAPIEB. PEINTER, SEYMOUR STREET, EUSTON SQUARE. MDCCCLXXXY. xyt INDEX PAGE PAGE General Index i. Index to Contributors xvii. Entomological Society ix. , Genera and Species New to (Science., xviii. Special Index — I ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, Britain., xix. Larv/E of British Species Described., xx. Reviews xx. Obituary xx. Coleoptera xi. Diptera xiii. Hemiptera xiii. Hymenoiotera xiii. Lepidoptera xiv. Neuroptera xvii. ' Errata xx INDEX TO GENERAL SUBJECTS. PA&E Abnormality in Epinephele Ilyperanthus ... ... ... ... ... 190 Abundance, Great, of Tipulae and Yanessa cardui ... ... ... Ill „ of Caterpillars in Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 „ „ Chrysopa vulgaris at Lowestoft ... ... ... 21 „ „ Vanessa cardui and other Lepidoptera in Ireland .. ... 134 Aciptilia niicrodactylus, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... HO Acronycta alni at Wisbech ... ... ... ... ... ... .•• 135 Action of Cyanide of potassium on colour ... ... ... ... 23, 66, 82 Aculeate Hymenoptera, Little known British ... ... ... ... ... 226 Additional Notes on Coleoptera in 188-1 ... ... ... ... ... 211 Additions to the Hemiptera of the Hastings district ... ... ... ... 113 „ „ „ Trichoptera of the Worcester district ... ... ... 267 „ , &c., to the Lepidoptera of Pembrokeshire ... ... ... 207 Adelops Wollastoni, Jans., Anommatus 12-striatus. Miill., and ... ... 256 Adicella filicornis, Pict. : an addition to the British Trichoptera ... ... 91 Aglossa cupreaiis, Life History of ... ... ... ... ... ... 75 Agrion, Note on oviposition in ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 211 Amara fusca, Dj., at Doncaster ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 112 „ „ „ „ Preston ... 192 Anax from Madaga&car, A new Dragon-fly of the genus ... ... ... 250 Ancyrophorus homalinus, Er., at Bewdley ... ... ... ... ... 69 Andrena nigrosenea and Nomada alternata in December, Occurrence of ... 231 Anommatus 12-striatus, Miill., and Adelops Wollastoni, Jans. .. ... 256 Aphidian migrations. More proofs of ... ... ... ... ... 131 Apion pomonae and Polydrusus undatus in cop. ... ... ... ... 36 Arctic Regions, Insects in ... ... ... ... ... ... 271 Argynnis Euphrosyne and Selene, Note on second brood of ... ... ... 109 „ Jainadeva and A. Adippe, Note respecting ... ... ... ... 66 „ Selene, &c., Protective mimicry in ... .. ... ... ... 87 Argyresthia Groedartella, Description of the larva of, with notes on the larva of A. Brockeella and another catkin-feeder .., ... ... ... 203 Asopia (Pyralis) farinalis, The Life History of 218 Asynarchus coenosus, Curt., Notes on the larva, &c., of i Atemeles paradoxus, &c., in the Isle of Wight Aulocera Scylla from A. brahrainus, On the distinctness of Authorship, On the, of the letter-press in volumes^ I, VI, and YII, of the Entomology in " Jardine's Naturalists' Library " Barsine, On the generic name Barypeithes brunnipes, 01., Note on Berseodes minuta, L., On the larva, &c., of Birchall, Death of Edwin Blaps mortisaga at Ilitchin Boreus hyemalis, Linn., near Killin Botys hyalinalis bred from the egg „ „ , Life History of ... ... British Ilomoptera : an additional species of Idioceras „ species of Laccobius, Note on the ... ... ... ■•• ■ ... „ „ „ the genus Sphecodes, Latr. (including nine additional) Revision of the „ Tortrices, Notes on " Broads," A week on the Bryophila impar, n. sp., distinct from B. glandifera Butterflies, Description of two new species of... " Butterflies of North America," by W. H. Edwards : Review Butterfly, Description of a new, from Madagascar „ of the genus Teracolus from Arabia, On an undescribed ... Csecilius atricornis, McLach., near Chertsey ... Capsidarum, Oligobiella novum genus ... Captures of Coleoptera near Lincoln ... Carabidse, Notes on some Hawaiian Carabus auratus in London "Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of the Bristol district, by A. E. Hudd:' Review Caterpillars in Wales, Abundance of ... Ceraleptus lividus, Stein, &c., at Chobham Ceropacha ridens. Varieties of Ennomos angularia and Cetonia aurata, Hibernation of ... Characters of two new genera of Pterophoridse from specimens in th British Museum Chauliodus insecurellus and pontificellus Chevrolat, Death of Anguste Chrysopa vulgaris at Lowestoft, Grreat abundance of .. Cis, A new species of „ bilamellatus. Wood ... Claviger foveolatus at Lewes Cledeobia angustalis. Description of the larva of Clinocoris griseus and indistinctus, Note on ... Coccinella bipunctata, L., and C. variabilis. 111., in cop. Cockroach, On the recent discovery of the wing of a, in rocks belonging to the Silurian period ... Cocytia, Description of a new species of PAGE 125 18 245 181 252 212 27 23 112 257 90 99 127 85 ..148,177 41, 61, 126 165 22 247 279 198 81 113 201 162 25 35 141 63 277 22 36 \ 175 255 192 21 .130,147 .130,147 36 86 276 19 199 156 PAGE Coelioxys elongata pupating on a thistle ... ... ... ... ... 68 Coleophora of the Statice limonium, hitherto erroneously recorded as the Groniodoma auroguttella, F. v. E,., On the ... ... ... ... 59 „ paripennella at Kennington in 1851, A notice of ... ... 110 „ potentillae, Boyd, in lit. ... ... ... ... ... ... 254 „ vibicigerella ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 206 Coleoptera at Bromley ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 35 „ „ Llangollen .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 277 „ , Descriptions of a new genus and some new species of Phytophagous ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 222 „ in 1884, Additional Notes on 211 „ „ mid-winter ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 212 „ near Lincoln, Captures of ... ... ... ... ... ... 162 „ , New Longicorn, of the Monohamminse group from tropical West Africa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 14 „ , Notes on three very rare species of British ... ... ... 220 „ , On setting ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 139 Colias Edusa at Plymouth, Varieties of ... ... ... ... ... 22 „ „ near Weymouth ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 159 Collecting, Entomological, on a voyage in the Pacific .. ... ... ... 115 Correction concerning Scoparia cratsegalis ... ... ... ... ... 236 Crambus cerussellus. Description of the larva of ... ... ... .. 16 „ pratellus, „ „ ,y » » ••• ••• ••• ••• 62 Cucujidse, On a remarkable new genus of, from Brazil ... ... ... 152 Cyanide, EfPect of, upon colour 23,66,82 Cymindis vaporariorum at Heswell, Cheshire ... ... ... ... ... 192 Dactylota Kinkerella in Holland, Occurrence of the larvae of ... ... 75 „ „ , On the very interesting but long overlooked ... ... 70 Danais Archippr.s at Ventnor, Keported occurrence of 202 Deilephila lineata at Dover .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 109 Deleaster dichrous at Shirley and Norwood ... ... ... ... ... 21 Deliphrum tectum, Pk., &c., in Warwickshire 69 Depressaria badiella. Description of the larva of ... ... ... ... 3 „ „ , Notes on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 ,, ,, „ „ the discovery by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher of the larva of . . . . . ... ... ... • • • • • ... ... 5 „ Weirella, A new food-plant for ... ... ... ... ... 90 Dermestes vulpinus and other beetles in Sheppey, Notes on , 161 Description of a new Butterfly from Madagascar 198 „ „ „ „ species of Cocytia ... ... ... ... ... 156 „ „ „ ,, „ „ Fodinoidea (a genus of moths) from the Betsileo country, Madagascar ... ... . . ... ... 197 „ „ „ „ „ „ the Greometrid genus Ophthalmophora ... 199 „ „ the larva of Argyresthia Goedartella, with notes on the larva of A. Brockeella and another catkin-feeder 203 „ „ „ „ „ Cledeobia angustalis 124 „ „ „ „ „ Crambus cerussellus .. ... ,.. ... 86 „ „ „ „ „ „ pratellus 62 „ „ „ „ „ Depressaria badiella $ iv. PAGE .30 Description of the larva of Herbula cespitalis... ••• " „ „ Scoparia crat^galis [afterwards corrected to ^^-^^^^^SG lineoln] •• •• "■ " -j^2l „ Stenia punctalis ... " J5 >' " " ' . , 25'' Tortricodes hyemana, Habits and " » " " " . 247 „ two new species of Butterflies ... Descriptions of a new genus and some new species of Phytophagous Coleoptera 2-. „ some new species of Lepidoptera from Algeria ... ^^^^ -^o Destruction of fish by larvae of Libellulidee ^^ Development of imago in an ichneumoned pupa ^^^ Diascmia literalis, Scarcity of, at Pembroke ... Dichrorhampha sequana, and others of that genus bred from tansy-roots . . . ^^90 tanaceti, Note on ... Diptera"of the Island of Madeira, List of the, so far as they are mentioned ^^ in Entomological literature .. Discovery by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher of the larva of Depressaria badiella . 5 of the wing of a Cockroach in rocks belonging to the Sdurian ^^^ period. On the recent ■" Distinctness of Aulocera Scylla from A. brahminus, On the ^^^ Dragon-fly migration of the genus Anax from Madagascar, A new ••• ^^ Duplication of generic names employed by Walker, On the -^^ ^^133 Effect of Cyanide upon colour •• ' Electric light as an attraction for Trichoptera, The 136 Enigma, An ... "" Ennomos alniaria (autumnaria) at Deal , areen larva of ^^^ angularia and Ceropacha ridens. Varieties of 22 Entomological collecting on a voyage in the Pacific H^ Society, Proceedings of the ... 24, 40, 69, 1 14, 163, 236, 258, 278 South-London, and Natural History Society ... 39 " " >, . 79 " Entomologische Nachrichten," The ... Entomology and MedicalJurisprudence of Portugal, Notes on the— Trichoptera 46 Ephippiphora tetragonana bred , Habits of 235 Epinephele Hyperanthus, Abnormality in 190 EuloreaportlandicaandE.phseoleu-a, Notes on 2"^ Eupithecia togata in Eoxburghshire /o 88 89 Eupteryx abrotani, Note on Evidence of the existence of insects in the Silurian period, Further .. 234 Extinction, On the probable, of Lycaena Arion in Britain 107, 133, 186 Fodinoidea (a genus of Moths), Description of a new species of, from the Betsileo country, Madagascar • ••• 197 Food-plant of Gelechia subocellea, Note on the 22- Further evidence of the existence of insects in the Silurian period 234 notes on British Pterophorida) 207 Gelechia subocellea, Note on the food-plant of 22 ' TAGE Grconietrina of Cambridge, Notes on the ... ... ... ... .. 136 G-erris rufoscutellata, Latr., near Norwich ... ... ... ... ... 21 Groniodoma MilKerella, Ragonot, Notes on ... ... ... ... ... 235 GrraphoHtha olivaceana, Habits of ... ... ... ... ... ... 67 Habit, Curious, of Osmia bicolor, Schk. 38,67 Habits and Description of the larva of Tortricodes hjeuiana ... ... 252 „ of Ephippiphora tetragonana .. ... ... ... ... ... 235 „ „ Graphoh'tba olivaceana ... ... ... ... ... ... 67 Hawaiian Carabidse, Notes on some ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Heliciforni Lepidopterous Larva-case from East Africa, Extraordinary ... 1, 27 Helophorus crenatus, Rej, Note on, as a British species ... ... ... 161 Hemerobius inconspicuus, McLach , bred ... ... ... ... ... 192 Hemiptera of the Hastings district. Additions to the 113 Herb ula cespitalis, Description of the larva of .. ... ... ... ... 30 Hetserius, On a new species of 83 Hibernation of Cetonia aurata ... .. .. ... ... .. 36 " Histoire Naturelle de la France, Hemipteres," by L. Fairmaire : Review 279 Homoptera, British, an additional species of Idiocerus ... ... ... 127 Humble-bees successfully introduced into New Zealand ... ... ... 255 Hunting-ground on the South East Coast, A 19 Hydrobius seneus : change of name ... ... ... ... ... ... 112 „ fuscipes. Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 84 Hydroptila femoralis, Eaton, in Scotland ... ... .. ... ... 39 „ longispina, McLach., in Scotland, Occurrence of ... ... ... 257 Hymenoptera, Little known British Aculeate . . ... ... ... ... 226 Hypothenemus eruditus, Westw., Note on .. ... ... ... ... 256 Idiocerus, British Homoptera, an additional species of ... ... .. 127 „ distiuguendus, Kirschb., = I. cognatus, Fieb. ... ... ... 162 Insects in Arctic Regions ... ... ... ... .., ... ... 271 Interesting, On the very, but long overlooked Dactylota Kinkerella ... 70 Joppa, A synopsis of the Central American species of, with diagnoses of new species ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 104 Kidd, Death of Henry Waring ... ... ,.. ... .. ... ... 39 Laccobius ininutus. Note on ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 139 ,, , Note on the British species of .. ,.. ... ... ... 85,112 Lamprinus saginatus, &c., in Dean Forest ... ... ... ... ... 19 Laphygma exigua at Pembroke ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 135 Larva-case from East Africa, Extraordinary Heliciforni Lepidopterous ... 1, 27 Larva, Green, of Ennomos autumnaria (alniaria) ... ... ... ... 160 „ in Nut-Catkins, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 255 „ of Argyresthia Goedartella, Description of the, with notes on the larva of A. Brockeella and another Catkin feeder ... .., ... ... 203 „ of Cledeobia angustalis, Desci'iption of the ... ... ... ... 124 „ ,, Crambus cerussellus, „ „ ... ... ... ... 86 )) J) „ pratellus, ,, „ ... ... ... ... 62 „ ,, Depressaria badiella, „ „ ... ... ... ... 3 „ ,, Herbula cespitalis, ,, ,, ... ... ... ... 30 „ „ Phlseodes tetraquetrana, The ... ... ... ... ... 253 PAGE Larva of Scoparia crat^ealis [afterwards corrected to S. lineola], Description of the ... 101>236 „ of Stenia punctalis, Description of the 121 „ „ Tortricodes hyemana, Habits and description of the 252 Larva, &c., of Asynarchus coenosus, Curt., Notes on the ... 125 „ „ Beroeodes minuta, L., On the ... ... ... ... ... 27 Laverna Langiella at Cheshunt •• •• HI Lecanium eesculi ... ... ... ••• ••■ •• • ■■ ••• ••• ^" Lepidoptera from Algeria, Descriptions of some new species of 241, 268 „ near Eeading, Observations on . 157 „ Notes on 273 „ observed during an Alpine tour in 1883, Notes on 7 „ of Pembrokeshire, Additions, &c., to the .. 207 Libellulidse, Destruction of fish by larvse of 234 Life-History of Aglossa cupreali 3 75 „ „ Asopia (Pyralis) farinalis 248 ,, ,, Botys hyalinalis . ... ... ... ... ■-. •• 99 Little known British Aculeate Hymenoptera 226 List of the Diptera of the Island of Madeira, so far as they are mentioned in Entomological Literature ... ... . ••• 32 Longicorn Coleoptera, New, of the Monohammina? group from tropical West Africa .. .. ... ■• •• ••• ■•• ••• • ••• 1'^ Lycsena Arion, Note on . ... ... ••• ••• ••• ••• ^7 jj , On the probable extinction of, in Britain ... ... 107,133,186 Lype reducta, Hagen ; an addition to the British Trichoptera 113 Madeira, List of the Diptera of the Island of, so far as they are mentioned in Entomological Literature 32 Medical Jurisprudence, Entomology and 272 Meyer-Diir, Death of L. Eudolf 259 Migration of Insects 30,159,208,232 Migrations, More proofs of Aphidian ... ... ... ... .. ... 131 Mimicry, Protective, in Argynnis Selene, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 87 Neraatus, A new species of, from England ... ... ... ... ... 80 Nepa cinerea. Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Nepticula, Note on a new, bred from rose in Lancashire by Mr. Hodgkinson 103 Neuroptera-Planipennia in Worcestershire ... ... ... ... ... 257 New food-plant for Depressaria Weirella, A ... ... ... ... ... 90 „ genera of Pterophoridse, Characters of two, from specimens in the British Museum 175 „ species of Hetserius, On a ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 83 „ „ „ Nematus from England, A 80 Nitidulidfe of Great Britain, The 54,92,142,215,260 Nomada alternata in December, Occurrence of Andrena nigro-senea, and ... 231 Nonagria fulva on rushes . .. ... ... ... ... ... ... Ill „ sparganii, Esp., at Deal ... ... ... ... ... ... 135 Notes on British Pterophoridpe, Fui'ther 207 „ „ „ Tortrices 41,61,126 jj ,, Typhlocybidse, with Diagnoses of two new species .. ... 228 „ „ Clinocoris griseus and indistinctus ... ... ... ... ... 276 Vll. PAGE Notes on Dermestes vulpinus and other beetles in Sheppy ... .. ... 161 „ „ Eudorea portlandica and E. phseoleuca ... ... ... ... 275 „ „ Groniodoma Millierella, Eagonot ... ... ... ... ... 235 „ „ Lepidoptera ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 273 „ „ „ observed during an Alpine tour in 1883 ... ... 7 „ „ some Hawaiian Carabid© ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 „ „ Tenthredinidffi 26 „ „ the discovery by Mr, W. H. B. Fletcher of the larva of Depressaria badiella .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ■■ 5 „ „ „ Entomology of Poi'tugal — Trichoptera ... ... ... .. 46 „ „ „ Greometi'ina of Cambridge ... ... ... ... ... 136 „ „ „ larva, &c., of Asynarchus csenosus, Curt. ... .. ... 125 „ „ „ Tortrices of Rannoch .. ... ... .. ... .. 138 5, „ three very rare species of British Coleoptera ... ... ... 220 Observations on Lepidoptera near Reading ... ... ... ... ... 157 Occurrence of Andrena nigrofenea and Nomada alternata in December .. 231 „ „ Hydroptila longispina, McLach., in Scotland ... ... ... 257 „ „ Sciaphila abrasana ... ... ... ... .. ... 192 „ „ the larva of Dactylota Kinkerella in Holland 75 Ocypus fuscatus at West Derby ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 192 Odynerus reniformis, Grmel., at Chertsey ... ... ... ... ... 68 Oligobiella, novum genus Capsidarum ... ... ... ... ... ... 201 Ophthalmophora, Description of a new species of the Q-eometrid genus ... 199 Osmia bicolor, Schk., Curious habit of ... ... ... ... ••• ■.• 38,67 " Our Insect Allies, by Theodore Wood ;" Review 140 Oviposition in Agrion, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... 211 Pancalia Leuwenhoekella and Latreillella ; are they the sexes of one species ? 193 Parry, Death of Major F. J. Sidney, F.L.S 240 Parthenogenesis in the Tenthredinidse, On ... ... ... ... .. 103 „ „ Zarsea fasciata, A postscript concerning ... ... ... 128 Penthina Staintoniana, Scotch form of P. sauciana ? ... ... ... 139 Phlseodes immundana bred from birch and alder catkins ... ... ... 276 „ tetraquetrana. The larva of ... ... ... ... ... ... 253 Polydrusus undatus and Apion pomonse in cop. ... ... ... ... 36 Proceedings of the Entomological Society .. 24, 40, 69, 114, 163, 236, 2c 8, 278 Proofs, More, of Aphidian migrations .. ... ... ... ... ... 131 Protective mimicry in Argynnis Selene, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 87 Pterophoridae, Characters of two new genera of, from specimens in the Bi'itish Museum ... ... ... ... . ... ... ... ... 175 „ , Further notes on British 207 Pterophorus gonodactylus double-brooded ? Is ... ... ... ... 160 Pyralidina, On the synonymy of some ... ... ... ... ... ... 202 (Pyralis) farinalis. The Life-History of Asopia ... ... ... ... 248 Reported occurrence of Danais Archippus at Ventnor ... .. ... 202 Revision of the British species of Sphecodes, Latr. (including nine additional) 118, 177 Rhizotrogus ochraceus, Knoch, Note on ... ... ... ... ... 256 Rhyncolus gracilis, Rosen., &c., in Sherwood Forest, Teredus nitidus ... 36 Rye, Death of Edward Caldwell, F.Z.S 238 PAGE Scarcity of Diasemia literalis at Pembroke ... 138 Sciaphila abrasana, Occurrence of ... ... ■• ... ••• ••• ^92 Scoparia crat^aralis fafterwards corrected to S. lineola], Description of the larva of ... 101,236 Scopelodes unicolor of Westwood and Walker, On the 155 Second brood of Argynnis Euphrosyne and Selene, Note on 100 Setting Coleoptera, On ... ... ... ... ■•• ••• ••■ ••• 139 Siebold, Death of Professor G. T. E. von 280 Silk culture in Assam ... ... ... ■•• -■ .•• ••• ••• 1^^ Solenopsis fugax, &c., in the Isle of Wight 37 Sophronia parenthesella, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... 88 South London Entomological and Natural History Society 39 Spanish insects and stridulating species ... .. ... ... ... 231 Sphecodes.Latr., Revision of the British species of the genus (including nine additional) 148,177 Sphinx pinastri at West Wickham ... ... ... ... ... ... 34 Stenia punctalis, Description of the larva of .. ... ... ... ... 121 Stenopsyche, a genus of Trichoptera, On the sub-aquatic habits of the imago of 234 Stridulating species, Spanish insects, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 231 Sub-aquatic habits of the imago of Stenopsyche, a genus of Trichoptera, On the 234 Sympetrum Fonscolombii at Deal ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 „ meridionale .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 Synonymy of some Pyralidina, On the .. .. ... ... .. ... 202 Synopsis of the Central American species of Joppa, with diagnoses of new species ... ... ... ... .. 104 Tapinoma gracilescens at Lincoln .. ... ... ... ... ... 276 Tapinostola Bondii in the Island of Rugen ... ... ... ... ... 190 Tenthredinidae, Notes on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26 „ , On Parthenogenesis in the ... .. .. ... ... 103 Teracolus from Arabia, On an undescribed Butterfly of the genus ... ... 81 Teredus nitidus, F., Rhyncolus gracilis, Rosen., &c., in Sherwood Forest ... 36 Thais Polyxena captured in England ... ... ... ... ... ... 34 " The Butterflies of Europe, illustrated and described by H. C. Lang, M.D., F.L.S. ;" Review 141 Tortrices, Notes on British 41,61,126 „ of Rannoch, Notes on the ... ... ... ... ... ... 138 Tortricodes hyemana. Habits and description of the larva of ... ... 252 Tortrix Lafauryana, Variability of ... ... .. ... ... ... 135 Trichoptera from Unst, North Shetland 91,153 „ of the Worcester district. Additions to the ... ... ... 267 Trichoptei'yx brevicornis, Mots., a species new to Britain ... ... ... 35 Typhlocybidse, Notes on British, with Diagnoses of two new species ... 228 Yanessa Atalanta and urticaj in Wellington, New Zealand 87 „ cardui, Abundance of, and other Lepidoptera in Ireland ... ... 134 „ „ , G-reat abundance of Tipulse and ... ... ... ... m „ „ , Note on . .: 34,66 Variability of Tortrix Lafauryana ... ... ... ... ... ... 135 Varieties of Colias Edusa at Plymouth .. .. .. ... ... ... 22 „ „ Ennomos angularia and Ceropacha ridens ... ... ... 22 Week, A, on the "Broads" 165 Zaraea fasciata, A postscript concerning Parthenogenesis in ... ... ... 128 Zuezera sesculi flying in the day-lime 00 INDEX OF SUBJECTS NOTICED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. PAGR Aciphus singularis exhibited ... =.. .., ... ... 236 Acrydiidse, Curious species of, from Central Africa ... ... ... 163 Agrothereutes Hopei and Cryptus pygoleucus probably sexes of one species 70 Andrena fulva, Abundance of ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 Annual Meeting ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 237 Aphides described by F. Walker, Types of ... ... ... ... 40 Aphidius transforming externally, Species of ... ... ... ... 24 Astynomus sedilis erroneously supposed to have occurred at Bath ... ... 236 Athous difformis ? near Hastings ... ... ... ... ... 70 Bankia argentula ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 236 Birch, Excrescenses on ... ... ... ... ... ... 163 Blaps from Hitchin, Three species of ... ... ... ... ... 114 Bombycidse, Hybrids in silk-producing species of ... ... ... 115 „ , Silk-producing species of ... ... ... ... 115, 163 Braconidfe, British species of ... ... ... ... ... 259 Caddis-flies from Unst ... ... ... ... ... ... 237 Calosoma syco])hanta from Margate .. ... ... ... ... 70 Canada, Insects fi'om . ... ... ... ... ... ... 237 Carabidse versus Earthworms, Larvse of ... .. ... ... 70 Cassididae, Preservation of colours of ... ... ... ... ... 258 Ceraleptus lividus from Chobham ... ... ... ... ... 258 Cerylon ati'atulus ... ... ... ... ... . . ... 258 Chaetotaxy in Diptera ... ... ... ... ... ... 164 Chauliodus insecurellus, Food-plant of ... ... ... ... ... 238 Cilix spinula mimicking a species of Flata ... ... ... ... 114 Cis bilamellatus ... .. ... ... ... ... ... 164 Coccidse, Notes on British species of ... ... ... ... 164 Cocytia, The genus ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 Coleophora limoniella and auroguttella, Notes on .. ... ... 163,236 Coleoptera and Hymenoptera, Mimicry between ... ... ... ... 237 „ from Brazil ... ... ... ... ... ... 164 „ , Rare British species of ... ... ... ... ... 163 Colour in beetles. Effects of exposure to light on ... ... ... 69 Cremastogaster scutellaris taken at Greenwich ... ... ... ... 40- Cryptus pygoleucus and Agrothereutes Hopei probably sexes of one species 70 Diptera, Chaetotaxy in ... ... ... ... ... ... 164 „ , imported or otherwise ... ... ... ... ... 164 Dragon-flies from Rhodes ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 Earthworms attacked by larvae of Carabida? ... ... ... ... 70 Ephestia destructive to cocoa biscuits, &c. ... ... ... ... 164 Fig Insects, Remarks on ... Goniodoma Millierella, auroguttella, and linioniella Helops striatus and brevicollis, Spermatozoa of Helota africana described Hemileuca, Remarks on ... Hemiptera, Rare British species of Hides perforated by larvfe of Q^stridae ' Histeridse from Japan, Notes on Homalomyia with double intermediate k'g Homoptera and Lepidoptera, Mimicry between Hybrid Bombycidae Hymenoptera and Coleoptera, Mimicry between „ ,, Lepidoptera, „ ,, ,, , Rai'e British species of Ichneumonidse, Additions to the British .. Idiocerus, New British species of Isosoma orchidearum, parasitic or non-parasitic ? Languriidse, New genera and species of Lecanium vitis from Jersey Lepidoptera and Homoptera, Mimicry between „ „ Hymenoptera ,, „ ,, , Australian species of ... „ from Graham's Town „ „ India, Histories of „ ,, „ , New species of Heterocerous „ from the Pacific „ , Nomenclature of British ... „ , Seasonal variation in ... Light affecting colour in beetles Lucanidfe pupating in thatch in India, Species of Lycaena chryseis reported from Aberdeenshire Mantidse, Egg-cases of Micro-Lepidoptera, New method of setting Microscope, Disc revolver for the Mimicry, Notes on Nemopteridse, A species of, from Chili Nomenclature of British Lepidoptera „ , Trinomial ... Nonagria sparganii at Deal Odontolabis carinatus pupating in thatch in India CEstridse, Damage occasioned to hides by larvse of. Oribtaidse, Remarks on Mr. Michael's Monograph of British Papilio Godeffroyi and Schmeltzii, Life-history of Parandra sexstriata exhibited Pelopseus, Nest of, in a tobacco hogshead Pezomachus new to Britain, Species of ... Photogi-aphy and its application to Entomological purposes PAGE 40 236 259 24 24 24 114 238 164 114 115 237 237 163, 236 ... 70 164 24, 40, 115 259 114 114 237 164 236 115, 164 40 163 238 237, 259 69 69 237 238 40, 163 258 114,163,237,278 ... 163,259 238 70 164 69 114 24 238 164 70 278 115, 164, 258 Platychila pallida, Notes on Platysamia Columbia, var.. Larva of, mimicking Elseagnus Porphyraspis tristis. Habits of Eanatra linearis in January Khodes, Dragon-flies from... Samia cecropia bred Scutigera, Supposed auditory organ in Spermatozoa, Allied species distinguished by form of the Sphingidse, Modifications of larvse of, during growth Spilosoma lubricipeda, Yariety of ... Strawberry plants distorted by an Acarus? Tenthredinidse, New British species of Teratology ... Unst, Caddis-flies from Vanessa cardui, Variety of "Worbles" Xois Sesara, Life-history of XI. PAGE ... 115 278 69, 163 ... 238 24 ... 24 278 259 ... 163 258 ... 40 114 ... 164 237 ... 163 114 ... 238 SPECIAL INDEX. COLEOPTEllA. PAGE . 152 Aciphus singularis (sp. n.), Olliff. ... Adelops Wollastoni 256 ^sernoides uigiofasciatus (sp. n.), Jacoby 223 A.gapanthia liueatocollis 162 A^leochara ruficornis 162 A.lphitobius piceus 161 A.mallopodes scabrosus 118 .\mara fusca 112, 192 rufocincta 192 \mphotis marginata 145 .\nchomeuus muscicola 25 .^.ncyrophorus homalinus 69 ^nommatus 12-sti-iatus 256 Aphodius consputus 161 A.pion poraonse and Polydrusus undatus in cop. 36 A.temeles paradoxus 18 ^trachycnemis. The relationship of 25 Barapeithes brunnipes 212 3atoinena multispinis (sp. n.), H.W. Bates 15 Bembidium decorum , 278 prasinura 278 5-striatura 192 Blaps mortisaga 112 Brachj-pterus gravidus 56 pubescens 56 urticse 56 Biyaxis Helferi 213 Waterhousei 18 Bythinus Burrelli 35 Curtisi ." 35 Callicerus obscurus 69 rigidicornis 69, 211 Callisphyris macropus 118 Calomela capitata (sp. n.), Jacoby 224 6-maculata „ „ 224 Carabus auratus in London 35 suturalis 120 Carpophagus bemipterus 58 mutilatus 58 sexpustulatus 58 Cercus bipustulatus 57 pedicularis 57 rufilabris 57 Ceroglossus chilensis 118 Cetonia aurata. Hibernation of 36 Chalcolampra rufipes (sp. n.), Jacoby 225 Cis bilamellatus (sp. n.), Wood... 130, 147, 212 micans 211 Claviger foveolatus 36 Coccinella bipunctata and variabilis in cop. 19 mutabilis 233 Corylophus sublajvipennis 212 Corymbites pectinicornis . 162 xu. PAGE Crioceris 12-punctata 231 Cryptocephalus interstitialis (sp. n.), Jacoby 222 Cymindis vaporariorum 192 Deleaster diclirous 21,35 Delipbrum tectum 69 Dermestes vulpinus 161 Dryocaetes villosus . 36 Elater coccinatus 37 Elmis aeneus 212 parallelopipedus 212 Volkmari 212 Ennearthron cornutum 211 Erirhinus scirpi 161 Epuraja ajstiva 94 angustula 98 decemguttata 93 deleta 96 diffusa 93 florea 96 immunda 97 longula 95, 211 melina 95, 211 neglecta 98 oblonga 95 obsoleta 97 pavvula 96, 162 pusilla 98 silacea 95 variegata 97 Gyropbgena minima 19 strictula 19 Harpalus litigiosus 220 Heledona agaricola 211 Helopborus crenatus 161 Hetaerius Bedeli (sp. u.), Lewis 83 Homalota elegantula 35 eremita 19 exilis ? 35 hospita 211 nigricoruis 211 Hydra3na gracilis 212 nigrita 212 Hydrobius ajneus 112 fuscipes 84 picicrus 84 Hy potbenemus eruditus 256 Ilyobates nigricollis 69, 162 Laccobius alutaceus 85, 112, 139 bipunctatus 85, 112, 139 rainutus ., 85, 112, 139 sinuatus 85, 112, 139 PAGE Lamprinus saginatus 19 Lamprolina unicolor (sp. n.), Jacoby 225 Latbridius testaceus 211 Leptusa analis 19 Limiiicbus pygma^us 161 Liranius tuberculatus 212 Litbocbaris raaritima 18 M auna frigida , . . . 25 Megatbopa villosa 118 Melanopolia convexa (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 17 farinosa ,, ,, 16 frenata „ „ 16 Mebasoma uigritarsis (sp. n.), Jacob}'- 226 Meligetbes ajueus 260 „ var, coeruleus 260 bidens 265 brunnicornis 263 coracinus 219 coivinus : 219 difficilis 261 „ var. Kunzei 261 erythropus 162 flavipes 267 fulvipes 218 iucanus 266 lumbaris 217 maurus 265 memnonius 262 morosus 261 ocbropus 263 ovatus 266 ■ pedicularius 264 picipes 267 rufipes 217 ' subrugosus 218 < umbrosus 265 • viduatus 162, 263 viridescens 260 Micrurula melanocepbalus 143 Miscodera arctica 278 Monobammus pictor (sp. n.), H.W. Bates 17 X-fulvum „ „ 18 ' Mycetophagus populi 162 Nitidula bipustulata 1431 flexuosa 144t quadripustulata 1431 rufipes 143 I Nitidulidae 541 Noserocera tuberosa (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 17" Ocalea castanea 162i Ocypus fuscatus 192 . Omosipbora limbata 142' PAGE Oniosita colon 1 46 depressa 146 discoidea 146 Paracynius seneus 1 L2 nigro-ijeneus 112 Philontlius fumigatus 192 Phloeotvya Stephens! 211 Pliylloeharis cyanicornis, var. confluens, Jacoby 225 Pbytobius velatus 212 Pocadius ferrugineus 147 Pria dulcamarfe 14(5 Ptenidium Gi'essneri 37 punctatum 212 Pterosticbus vitreus 278 Pteryx suturalis 19 Rbizotrogus ocbraceus 221, 256 Rbyncolus gracilis 37 Saperda carcbarias 162 Sapvinus immundus 19 maritimus 19 metallicus 19 Scydmagnus elongatulus 35 fimetarius 35 Spavsballi 35 Soronia grisea 145 punctatissima 145 Symbiotes latus 162 Tacbinus elongatus 211 Telraatopbilus typhse 161 Teredus nitidus 36 Tbalycra sericea 35, 147 Tracbys minutus 162 Tricbolamia plagiata (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 15 Tricbonyx Maerkeli 18 Tricbopteryx breviconiis 35 Tricbius abdominalis 221 DIPTERA. Dipteva of Madeira 32 HEMIPTERA. Calyptonotus lynceus 20 Ceraleptus lividus 20, 277 Clinocoris griseus 276 interstinctus 276 Dicranoneura aureola 228, 230 citrinella 228, 229 flavipennis 228,229 mollicula 228,229 PAGE Dicranoneura pygmsea 228, 230 similis (sp. n.), Edwards.228, 229 variata 228, 230 Eupelex producta 20 spatbulata 20 Eupteryx abrotani 89 Gerris rufoscutellata 21 Henestaris laticeps 113 Idiocerus cognatus 127 distinguendus 127 Lecaniuni aceris 38 tesculi 38 Nepa cinerea 20 Oligobiella fuliginea 202 Psylla bippopbaes 20 Rbyparocbromus sabulicola 20 Sigara Scboltzii 113 Teratocoris antennatus 113 Typblocyba salicicola (sp. n.), Edwards... 230 HYMENOPTERA. Abia nitens 104 Andrena angustior 227 nigroaenea 231 Bombus nivalis 228 Cladius padi 104 rufipes 104 Ccelioxys elongata 68 Croesus septentrionalis 104 varius 104 Hylotoma ustulata 104 Joppa, A Synopsis of tbe Central American species of 104 geniculata (sp. n.), Cameron 105 maculicornis „ „ 105 melauocepbala „ „ 104 melanostigma „ „ 104 nigriceps „ „ 105 Rogersi „ „ 105 varipes „ „ 104 xantbostigma „ „ 105 xantbostoma „ „ 105 Lopbyrus pini 104 Neniatus appendiculatus 104 cadderensis 104 commixtus 26 compressicornis 104 conductus 104 cratcegi 26 Fletcberi (sp. n.), Cameron 26 leucostigmus 26 XIV. PAGE Nematus nigrolineatus 26 politus 26 purpurea3 (sp. n.), Cameron 80 ruficornis 104 Nomada alternata 231 Od3*nerus reniformis 68 Osmia bicolor 38, 67 Pompilus pectinipes 226 Ponera contracta 37 Solenopsis fugax 37 Spbecodes, British species of 148, 177 affiuis 180 dimidiatus 180 divisus 180 ferruginatus 179 gibbus 150 hyalinatus 179 lougulus 178 niger 178 pilifrons 178 puncticeps 177 reticulatus 151 similis 179 spinulosus 177 sub-quadratus 151 variegatus 180 Tapinoma gracilescens 276 Tricbiosoraa lucorum 104 Zanea fasciata 128 LEPIDOPTERA. Acidalia immutata 168 mauritauica (sp. n.), Baker 243 scutulata 168 Terentius (sp, n.), Baker 244 virgularia, var. afra 243 Aciptilia microdactylus 110 Acronycta alni 135 Aglossa cuprealis, Larva of 75 Agriopis aprilina, „ „ 273 Agrotis agatbina 158 cinerea 158 Alamis polioides 118 Araphidasj'^s betularia 158 Aniphysa Gerningana 138 Antbocbaris Pechi (sp. n.), Baker 241 Anticlea rubidata 158 sinuata 158 Apamea fibrosa 166 opbiogramma 173 Aplecta nebulosa 1581 occulta 158i Argyunis Adippe 66 Cytheris 117 Euphrosyne 88, 109 Jainadeva 66' Papbia, var. Valezina 157 Selene 87, 109, 157! Argyrestbia Brockeella, Larva of ... 203, 276 Gcedartella, „ 203 Argyrolepia dubrisana 159 Asopia (Pyralis) farinalis, Larva of 248 Aulocera brabminus 245 Scylla 245 Bankia argentula 236 Boletobia fuliginaria 39 Bombyx loti, var. algeriensis 242 Staudingeri (sp. n.), Baker 242 Botys asinalis 207 hyaliualis. Larva of 90, 99 Bracbytccnia semifasciana. Larva of 42 Bryopbila iinpar (sp. n.?), Warren 22 Callidryas Drya 117, 118 Calocampa vetusta, Larva of 131 Carpocapsa Juliana, „ 441 Carterocepbalus flavomaculatus 116 Celajna Haworthii 1661 Cenoloba (g. n.), Walsingbam 176 obliterans 176 Ceropacba ridens 221 Cbaraeas graminis 64! Cbaraxes Violetta (sp. n.), H. G. Smith... 247 Cbauliodus insecurellus 238, 255 li pontificellus 255 J Chelonia vittigera 117 Cbilo mucronellus 165, 173 Chcerocampa porcellus 20 Cidaria corylata 158 Cledeobia angustalis. Larva of 86 Coccyx cosmophorana 138 i nemorivagana 138 1 ustomaculana 138 I! Cochlophora (?) valvata 27, 67 Cocytia Durvillei 157 Ribbasi (sp. n.), Druce 156 Coleophora limoniella 69 paripennella 110) potentillse 2541 vibicigerella 206 1 Colias Edusa 22, 159, 232, 233 Vautieri 116 PAGE Conchylis unicolov (sp. n.), Baker 268 Coremia propugnata 171 Cosraia pyralina • 158 Crambus cerus^ellus, Larva of 86 paludellus 173 pratellus, Larva of 62 selasellus 165 Cucullia lychnitis 159 Dactylota Kinkerella 70, 75 Dalaca pallens 117 Danais Archippus 202 ])asycampa rubigiiiea 158 Deilephila Annei 115 lineata 109 Depressaria badiella, Larva of 3, 5 Weirella 90 Diasemia literalis 138, 207 Dichrorhampha alpinana 90 herbosana 191 Petiverella 90 politana 90 sequana 90 tanaceti 90,190 Dictyopteryx Bergraauniana, Larva of ... 41 Diloba cseruleocephala, „ „ 274 Ditula angustiorana, „ „ •• 43 Elina Flora 117 Emmelesia affinitata 207 unifasciata 207 Ennomos alniaria Ill, 160 angularia 22 autumuaria Ill, 160 erosaria 207 Ephippiphora tetragonana 191, 235 Epinepliele Hyperantbus 190 limonias 117 Epione apiciaria 136 Epunda lutulenta 159 Eremobia ochroleuca 159 Eroessa chilensis 118 Eubolia lineolata 20 Euchromia arbutaua 138 mygindaua 138 Eudorea frequentella 275 pbteoleuca 275 portlandica 275 Eulepia (?) vittigera 118 Eupithecia artemisiata, var. Constantina... 244 assimilata 136 succentui-iata 136 tograta 88 XV. PAGE Eupoecilia Geyeriana 167 Mussebliana 138 Enptoieta Hortensia 116, 117 Eurrbyparodes accessalis 202 bracteolalis 202 stibialis 202 Eurycreon Pecbi (sp. n.). Baker 268 Fodinoidea maculata (sp. u.), Butler 198 Gelechia palustrella 172 subocellea 22 Goniodoma anroguttella 59, 60 Millierella 60,235 Grapholitba geminana. Larva of 45 naevana, „ 45 olivaceana, „ 67 trimaculana, „ 45 Hadena protea, „ 223 Heptaloba (g. n.), Walsingham 176 argyriodactyla 176 Herbula cespitalis. Larva of 30 Hipparcbia cbiliensis 117 Hybernia aurantiaria 30 defoliaria 30 Hydrelia unca 169 Hyperchiria Acbaron 118 erytbrops 117 Hypermecia cruciana, Larva of 43 Lapbygma exigua 135 Laverna Langiella Ill phragmitella 169 Leucania extranea 233 irapura 166, 168 stramiiiea 166, 173 unipuncta 117 Liparis dispar 157 Lithosia griseola, var. stramiueola 157, 168 LycfBua Arion 87, 107, 133, 186 bajtica 233 chryseis 237 Lygia Jourdanaria, var. obscura 244 Macrompbalia cbilensis 117 Melanippe bastata 43 Melantbia procellata 158 Melitaea Artemis 157 Cyiitbia, Larva of 13 didyma 13 Mixodia palustrana 138 rubiginosana 138 Molybdantba abiiegatalis 202 plumbalis 202 tricoloralis 202 PAGE Neomsenas coenonympliina 116 Servilia 116 Nepticula Hodgkinsoni (sp. n.), Stainton.. 103 Noctua rliomboidea 158 Nomophila noctuella 208, 209, 233 Nonagria brovilinea 167, 168, 170, 173 despecta 168, 171, 173 fulva Ill, 168, 173 sparganii 135, 165 (Eneis Bore 271 Ophthalmopliora bracteata (sp. n.), Butler 199 Pachyphoeuix sanguinea 117 Pffidisca rufimitrana. Larva of 61 semifuscana 139, 169 Pampliila fasciolata 117 fulva 117 Pancalia Latreillella 193 Leuwenhoekella 193 nodosella 193, 195 Papilio Arcliidamas 118 Machaon 169, 170 Sycoras (sp. n.), H. G. Smith 247 Parapon3^x stratiotalis 165, 168, 173 Paniassius Apollo 13 Penthiiia betuletana, Larva of 42 cj'uosbatella, „ 42 dimidiana 138 ,, Larva of 43 praelongana 138 pruniana. Larva of 42 sauciana 139 Staintoniana ......138, 139 variegana, Larva of 42 Pericallia syringaria 136 Perouea aspersana 169 mixtana. Larva of 41 Shepherdana 169 Phibalapteryx lignata 158, 207 ter.?ata 158 vitalbata 158 Phlaeodes immundana 276 tetraquetrana, Larva of 253 Pieris Blanchardii 117 Pionea strameutalis 159 Platyptilia isodactylus 207 Pleurota algeriella (n. sp.). Baker 269 oclireostrigella, „ „ 269 Plusia aurifera 233 biloba 117 chalcites 233 gamma 30, 159,208,232, 233 iiu 117 virgula 117 Polyommatus Corydoii 231 1 Polythysana Andromeda 117, 118 Procris melas 117 Protoparce Eurylochus 116 Psyche helix 2 Pterophorus acanthodactylus 208 bipunctidactylus 208 gonodactylus 160 . monodactylus 208 Pyralis farinalis. Larva of 248 Pyrameis Carye 115, 116, 117 Terpsichore 117 Retinia duplana 126, 138 turionella 126, 138 Sameodes cancellalis 202 lepidalis 202 meridionalis 202 piplesialis 202 j sidealis 202, trithyralis 202 I ve^pertinalis 202 Samia Cecropia 24 Satyrus Hyperauthus 157 Janira 157 Sciaphila abrasana 192 Scoparia alpina 138 crata3galis 101 ; lineola 236^ Scopelodes testacea (sp. ii.), Butler 156 unicolor 155 Sericoris Daleana 138 Doubledayana 167, 169, 171 irriguana 138 Sim^'ra venosa 170, 173 Sophronia parenthesella 88 Sphinx ligustri 157 pinastri 34 Spilodes palealis 159 Spilosoma fuliginosa 158, 171 lubricepeda 258 urticffi 207 Stenia punctalis, Larva of 121 Stenopteryx hybridalis 159, 208, 209, 233 Stigmonota coniferana 138 nitidana. Larva of 44 Weiraua, „ 44 Stilbia anomala 207 Strenia clathrata 158, 168 Syllexis lucida 117 Syntomis phegea 10 Tajniocampa stabilis 35 Tapinostola Bondii 190.. PAGE Teracolus arenicolens (sp. n.), Butler 81 aurigineus 81 Chrysonome 81 gaudens 81 Teras contaminana, Larva of 41 Thais Poly xena 34 Theristis caudella 159 Tinea mauritanica (sp. 11.), Baker 269 Tortricodes liyemana, Larva of 252 Tortrix Branderiana, „ 41 Lafauryana 135 murinana 62 Triphaena pronuba, Larva of 274 Vanessa Atalanta 87, 135 Callirhoe 233 cardui...34, 66, 111, 134, 159, 163, 233 urticae 87 Xantliia aurago 158 gilvago 158 ' Xylina seraibrunnea 159 Xj'lophasia scolopacina 158 sublustris 158 Ypthima excellens (sp. n.), Butler 198 Zenzera sesculi 90 Zygseua exulans 9, 13 transalpina 10 var. dubia 9 trifolii, ab. orobi 9 NEUEOPTERA. PAGR Adicella filicornis 91 Agrion mercuriale 211 Anax tumorifer (sp. n.), McLach 250 Asynarchus coenosus 125 Berseodes minuta 27 Boreus hyemalis 257 Csecilius atricornis 113 Chrysopa flavifrons 257 tenella 257 vulgaris 21 Hemerobius elegans 258 inconspicuus 192 pellucidns 258 Hydroptila femoralis 39 longispiua 257 Lype reducta 113 Mesopbylax impunctatus, var. n. zetlan- dicus, McLach 153 Micromus aphidivorus 258 1 GEcetis notata 267 ochracea 155 testacea 267 Sialis fuliginosa 258 Stenopsyche griseipennis ? 234 Sympetrum Fonscolombii 21 meridionale 21 Trichoptera from Unst 91, 153 of Portugal 46 INDEX TO CONTRIBUTORS. PAGE Aurivillius, Dr. C 271 Baker, George T 7, 66,241,268 Balding, A 135, 203, 255, 276 Barrett, C.G 23,41, 61, 126, 136 Barrett, C. G., Jun Ill, 138 Bates, H. W., F.K.S., &c 64 Beaunnont, Alfred 212 Bignell, G. C 22, 68, 87, 110 Billups, T. R 68,277 Blackburn, Rev. T., M.A 25 Blandford, W. F. H 207 Blatch, W. G 19,36, 69 Bloomfield, Rev. E. N., M.A 87, 109 Boyd, W.C 21, 111 Buckler (the late), W 3, 75 Buckton, G. B., P.R.S., &c 82 Butler, A. G., F.L.S., &c 66, 81. 133, 155, 197, 198, 199, 245 Butler, E. A., B.Sc 19,113 I Cameron, Peter 26, 80, 103, 104 Campbell, P. M., F.L.S 192 Cockerell, T. D. A 159, 190, 232 Constant, A 235 Cordeaux, John 30 Douglas, J. W..19, 38, 88, 89, 90, 162, 256, 276 Druce, Herbert, F.L.S 156 Eaton, Rev. A. E., M.A Ill, 159 Edwards, James 21, 127, 228 Elisha, George 90, 206, 254 Elliot, A 88 Ellis, J. W., P.R.C.P., &c 36, 112, 139 Enock, F 231 Fenn, Charles Ill Fletcher, J. E 257, 267 Fletcher, W. H. B. 5, 22 Fowler, Rev. W. W., M.A... 18, 35, 37, 54, 92 142, 147, 161, 162, 213, 256, 260 Goss, Herbert, F.L.S 107, 199, 234 XVUl. PAGE Griffith, A. F 35 Hall, C. G 21, 139, 220 Hartley-Durrant, J 112 Hellins, Rev. J., M.A..7o, 99, 121, 136, 248, 273 Hodgkinson, J. B 235 Holland, William 157 Jacoby, Martin 222 Jeffrey, W. R 90,99 Jenner, J. H. A 36 Jones, Albert H 138,139 Kane, F. deV., M.R.LA 134 King, J. J 39, 257 Kirby, W. F 67 Lewis, George, F.L.S 83 Lichtenstein, Jules 131 Longstaff, G. B 34 McLachlan, R., F.R.S., &C....1, 21, 27, 46, 66, 91, 113, 153, 211, 234, 250 Marsden, H. W 186 Meldola, R., F.C.S., &c 135 Meyrick, E., B.A 202, 252 Morton, K.J 27,91,125 Norris, Herbert E 232 Olliff, A. Sidney 152 Osborne, J. A., M.D 128 Osten-Sacken, Baron C. R 32 Parfitt, Edward 34 Pearce, W. A 39 PAGE Perkins, V. R 38, 67 Porritt, G. T., F.L.S 30, 62, 86, 101, 124, 160, 207, 236 Renter, Dr. 0. M 201 Richardson, Nelson M 252 Riley, Prof. C. v., M.A 67 Sang, John 191,192 Saunders, E., F.L.S 35, 148, 177, 226 Sharp, David, M.B 84, 85, 112 Simpson, H. W. 35 Smith, H. Grose 247 South, Richard 133,208 Stainton, H. T.,F.R.S.,&c ..5, 59, 70, 75, 103, 110, 181, 193, 255, 275 Swinton, A. H 231 Walker, J. J., R.N 115, 161 Walsingham, Lord, M.A., P.L.S., &c 175 Warren, W 22, 190 Waters, A. H., B.A 136 Watkins, W 34 Webb, Sydney 109, 160 Westropp, Dudley 202 Westwood, Prof. J. O., M.A., F.L.S., &c.. 181 Wheeler, F. D., M.A 165 Wilding, R 192,277 Wood, John H., M.B 253 Wood, Theodore ... 20, 21, 112, 129, 211, 212, 256 LIST OF NEW GENERA AND SPECIES, &c., DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLUME. COLEOPTERA. GENEEA. PAGE AciPHUS, Olliff. 152 .ESERNOIDES, Jaco% 223 Batomena, H". TF". JBa^es 15 Mauna, T. BlacTchurn 25 Melanopolia, JBT. TF. .Baies 15 noseeoceea, „ 17 Teicholamia, „ 14 SPECIES. Aciplms siugularis, Olliff, Rio Janeiro... 152 ^Esernoides nigrofasciatus, Jacohy, Australia 223 Batomena multispinis, H. W. Bates, Mt. Cameroons 15 Calomela capitata, Jacoby, Australia ... 2i'2i4: 6-maculata, „ Neiv Guinea.. '2,2,^ Chalcolampra rufipes „ Queensland... 225 Cis bilamellatus, Wood, Britain 130, 147 Cryptocephalus interstitialis, Jacohy, 3£adagascar 222 PAGE . 83 Heta^rius Bedeli, Lewis, Algeria Lamprolina unicolor, Jacohy, Australia.. 225 Melanopolia convexa, H.W. Bates, Gaboon 17 farinosa, „ „ 16 frenata, „ „ 16 Melasoma nigritarsis, Jacohy, Delagoa Bay 226 Monohammus pictor, JET. W. Bates, lit. Cameroons 17 X-fulvum „ Gaboon 18 Noserocera tuberosa, U. W. Bates, Mt. Cameroons 17 Phyllocliaris cyanicornis, var. coufluens, Jacoby, Torres Strait 225 Tricholamia plagiata, S. W. Bates, 3ft. Cameroons 15 HEMIPTERA. GENUS. Oligobiella, JBeu^er 201 SPECIES. Dicranoneura similis, Edwards, England 229 Typhlocyba salicicola, „ „ 230 HYMENOPTERA. PAGE Joppa geniculata. Cameron, Central America 105 maculicornis, „ „ 105 melanocepliala, „ „ 104 melanostigma, „ „ 104 nigriceps, „ „ 105 Rogersi, „ 55 105 varipes, „ ,, 104 xanthostigma, „ 55 105 xanthostoma, „ „ 105 Nematus Fletcheri, „ Britain . . 26 puvpureaj, „ 55 . 80 LEPIDOPTERA. GENEKA. Uenoloba, Walsingliam 176 Heptaloba, „ 175 Metkickia, Butler 133, 252 SPECIES. Acidalia mauritanica, BaTcer, Algeria terentius, „ „ virgularia, var. afra, ,, „ Antliocharis Peclii, „ ,, Bombyx loti, var. algeriensis, „ „ Staudin":eri, „ „ 243 244 243 241 242 242 xix. PAGE Bryopliila impar, Warren, JEngland 22 Chavaxes Violetta, Smith, Delagoa Bay.. 247 Cocytia Ribbaei, Drttce, Aru Islands ... 157 Coleophora limoniella, Stainton, England 60 Conc\\y\\?.Vimco\or, Baker, Algeria 268 Eupithecia artemisiata, var. constantina, Baker, Algeria 244 Eurycreon Pechi, ., „ 268 Fodinoidea maculata, Butler, Madagascar 198 Lygia Joiirdauavia, var. obscura, Baker, Algeria 244 Nepticula Hodgkinsoni, Stainton, Migld. 103 Ophthalomorpha bracteata, Butler, Rio Janeiro 199 Papilio Sycorax, Smith, Sumatra 247 Fleuvotn algevieWa, Baker, Algeria 269 oclii-eostrigella, „ „ 269 Scopelodes testacea, Butler, Silhet and Moulmeiu 156 Teracolus arenicolens, „ Arabia ... 81 Tinea mauritanica, Ba^er, ^Z^-er/a 269 Ypthima excellens, Butler, Madagascar.. 198 NEUROPTERA. Anax tumorifer, MeLach., 3fadagascar... 250 Mesophylax impunctatus, var. zetlandicus, McLach., Shetland Islands 153 ADDITIONS TO THE BRITISH INSECT FAUNA BROUGHT FORWARD IN THIS VOLUME. COLEOPTERA. PAGE Carpophilus mutilatus, I^r 58 Cis bilamellatus, JVood 130 Helophorus crenatus, i2ej/ IGl Hydrobius picicrus, Thorns. 84 Trichopteryx brevicornis, Mots 35 HEMIPTERA. Dicranoneura similis, Ed-wards 229 Idiocerus cognatus, Fieb., = distinguendus, Kbni. 127, 162 Tj'phlocyba salicicola, JEdtvards 230 HYxMENOPTERA. Nematus Fletcheri, Cameron 26 purpurese, „ 80 Sphecodes affinis, v. Sag 180 dimidiatus, „ 180 PAGE Sphecodes divisus, „ 180 ferruginatus, Schenck 179 hyalinatus, „ 179 longnlns, V. Hag 178 niger, „ 178 reticulatus, Thorns 151 spinulosus, v. Ifag' 177 variegatus, „ 180 LEPIDOPTERA. Bryophila impar, TFarrew 22 Coleophora limoniella, Stainton 60 tormentillse, Bogd 254 Nepticula Hodgkinsoni, Stainton 103 NEUROPTERA. Adicella filicornis, Pic^ 91 Lj'pe reducta, ifar^eji 113 Mesophylax impunctatus. var. zetlandicus, McLach. 153 LARV^ OF BRITISH SPECIES DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLUME. 125 27 99 Barrett 42 44 Aglossa cuprealis, BucTcJer and Hellins.. 75 Agriopis aprilina, JTeZZins 273 Argyrestliia Goedartella, J5aZ«ii»^ 202 Asynavchus ccbhosus, Ilorton Berseodes minuta, „ Botys hyalinalis, SeUins and Jeffrey Brachytsenia semifasciana, Carpocapsa Juliana, Cledeobia angustalis, Forritt 124 Crambus cerussellus, „ 86 pratellus, „ 62 Depressaria badiella, Buckler 3 'D'lctyo'pteryx Bevgmanmana, Barrett ... 41 mioha aernleocephala, Hellins 274 Ditula angustiorana, Barrett 43 Grapliolitha geminaua, „ 45 nsevana, „ 45 trimaculana „ 45 Hadena protea, SeZZms 273 PAGE . 30 Herbula cespitalis, Forritt Hypermecia cruciana, .Barreii 43 Psedisca rufimitrana, ,, Penthina betuletana, „ dimidiana, „ pruniana, ,, variegaiia, „ Peronea inixtana, „ PhlsEodes immundana, Balding 202, 276 tetraquetraua, TroofZ 253 Pyralis f ariualis, Sellins 248 Scoparia lineola, Forritt 101,236 Stenia punctalis, Hellins 121 Stigmonota nitidana, Barrett Weirana, „ I 44 44 Teras contaminana, „ ^1 Tortricodes hyemana, JS»c7iar(^son 252 Tortrix Branderiana, Barrett 41 Triphffina prouuba, Hellins 274 REVIEWS. Our Insect Allies : Theodore Wood The Butterflies of Europe : H. C. Lang Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of the Bristol District : A. E. Hudd Histoire Naturelle de la France, Hemipteres : L. Fairmaire ... The Butterflies of North America: W. H. Edwards OBITUARY. Edwin Birchall 23 Henry Waring Kidd 39 Auguste Chevrolat 192 Edward Caldwell Rye, F.Z.S 238 Major F. J. Sidney Parry, F.L.S. L. Rudolf Meyer-Diir Prof. C. T. E. von Siebold PAGE 140 141 141 ;I 279 I 279 PAGR .. 240 259 280 ERRATA. Page 168, line 8 from bottom,/or '' Lyccena" read " Liparis." "198 ,3 „ >• » "County," „ "Country." 8 ., 5, " secundum medianas," read ' ", 221', „20 „ „ „ " Stephens," reaci" Stevens." secundam medianas." THE ^S>> VOLUME XXI. V/^ ON AN EXTRAORDINAEY HELICIFORM LEPIDOPTEROUS LARYA- CASE FROM EAST AFRICA. BY ROBERT McLACHLAN, F.R.S., &c. At the Meeting of the Entomological Society of London, held on ^February 7th, 1877, I exhibited " an extraordinary case of a Lepi- dopteroiis larva from Zanzibar, sent by Dr. Kirk, who had found it on Mimosa. It was probably allied to Psyche and Oiketicus, and was in the form of a flattened Helix., half-an-inch in diameter, formed apparently of a kind of papier-mache, with a smooth whitish outside coating." {Cf. Proc. Ent. Soc, 1877, p. ii ; Ent. Mo. Mag., xiii, p. 240.) Wishing now to have a figure made from that case, I am unable to find it. Very recently my friend Mr. Bates gave me nine cases of a some- what similar character, found by Dr. Baxter at Mpwaipwa, East Africa, about 100 miles inland from Zanzibar. Dr. Baxter's attention had been drawn to them by seeing them carried about by the larvae that formed them. But these, instead of hemg flatten- ed, are high, and resemble shells of the genus Cyclostoma or Paludina in a wonderful degree. They vary from 9 to 13 mm. in diameter at the low^est whorl, by from 9 to 15 mm. in height. Each forms about 3^ whorls, the sutures indicating which are not very sharp, owing to a coating to be presently alluded to. In six of them the spiral turns from left to right, in three from right to left. The apex is blunt and depressed ; the mouth nearly 2 [June, circular, and there is a deep open umbilicus ; all have the mouth perfectly open. Upon making a vertical section, it is seen that the whorls are perfectly separated. They are of extreme lightness, yet the walls are nearly li mm. thick. This lightness is owing to the texture, which, although perfectly hard and firm, is some- what fibrous. The material is undoubtedly vegetable matter, but whether masticated specially for* the purpose, or excrementitious, is uncertain to me. I rather incline to the latter idea, because there is no opening through which the excrement could be ejected, other than the mouth of the case. The exterior has a thin coating of (apparently) silk of a pale drab colour, which renders the cases very smooth, but not glossy ; but the older cases are blackened by a coating of what is probably adventitious matter. I am unable to say on what plant they were found, but one of them is attached (at a point indicated in the top right-hand figure) to a fragment of a plant, which may possibly be Mimosa. It is well known that exotic species of PsycliidcB are given to fabricating cases of extraordinary forms, but, of all that I have seen, these are the most extraordinary, on account of their perfect simi- larity to shells. The cases of the South European Psyche {Cochloplanes) helix, are tolerably familiar to most entomolo- gists, but their resemblance to shells is less marked, on account of the debris with which their exterior is covered ; moreover, the texture is slight and yield- ing, and at, or near, the apex there is an opening through which the excrement can be ejected. They bear more ex- ternal resemblance to the now well-known cases of the Trichopterous . genus Heli- copsyche. For the sake of comparison, I give here figures of the cases of Psyche helix. The figures are enlarged to two diameters, but the smallest figure on each block (indicated by *) shows the natural size. With the above-described cases collected by Dr. Baxter are others formed of twigs, arranged longitudinally or transversely (not uncom- mon), and one, 47 mm. long, mimicking a shell of the genus Dentalium, but such. I think, have already been noticed and described. Lewisliam, London : May, 1884. DESCRIPTION OF THE LARYA OF BEPEESSARIA BADIELLA. By the Late WILLIAM BUCKLER.* On the 28tli of May, 1882, I received in a quill three little larvaa found the previous morning by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher on Freshwater Down, Isle of Wight, living under the leaves of RypochcBris radicata, one of the Compositce, of which three little plants accompanied the larvse. At this time they were nearly 5 mm. long, cylindrical, of a cinnamon-brown colour, with shining darker dots, a blackish-brown frontal plate and anal plate. By the second of June one of these had added 1 mm. to its length and seemed to have moulted, the cinnamon- brown being rather darker than before, the tubercular dots on the back were nearly in a line and darker brown than the body, the plate on the second segment glossy black, the head darker brown than the body, the anal plate shining black, and a transverse narrow black plate on the dorsal portion of the front of the anal segment. These larv« live in fine white silken webs between two leaves, or under one leaf, which is spun fast upon some firm substance ; they live in this way concealed, though by their feeding on the lower cuticle of the leaf a transparent blotch becomes visible, and they push out from their dwellings little heaps of blackish excrement. By the 7th of June the most advanced had reached the length of 8 mm. ; on the 16th I figured one of them, but minus the blackish tubercular dots, which are at this stage more trapezoidally arranged on the back ; a black shield was outside the anal legs. On the 11th of July I received more of these larvae from Mr. Fletcher, one of them grown to be 20 mm. long ; it was of a dark red colour, greenish when the segmental divisions were stretched, the dots black, ringed with greenish, the black plate on the second segment divided in the centre, and with paler yellowish margin of skin in front, the anal plate black and a small black transverse oblong on the front part of that segment. The head dark reddish-brown, anterior legs black; all the dark red skin dull, the greenish divisions glistening a little, the black dots, head and plates glossy, a fine hair arising from each dot. These five later larv« were put with three vigorous growing plants on the 16th, and by the 23rd every part of the plants had been devoured, and for want of food the larvae had devoured one another, only two escaping the massacre, one of these had spun up in an earth-covered ~ * This descriptioiTiTgiven by theMnd permission of the Rev T. Wiltshire, the Secretary of the Ray Society-that Society being now in possession of M»\Buckler s valuable iK)tes as well as his magnificent collection of drawings of larvse, which are to be published by the Society. A 2 cocoon, long and narrow, the other was still alive in the larva state, I tried to get it to feed up on Hawkweed, but in the course of eight days it died. On the 4th of July, 1883, 1 again received four of these larvae from Mr. rietcher, viz. : one 9 mm. long, one 12^ mm. long, very dark red on a dingy green ground, which is seen at the segmental divisions, and in the fine pale rings round the black dots ; another was 19 mm. long slightly tajDering from the third segment to the head, tapering again a little on the twelfth and considerably on the thirteenth segment ; the head, the second and anal segments with their plates just as described above from the specimens I received in 1882, but the colouring of the body of a deepish sober green, with a darker dorsal pulsating line, the blackish-brown dots appearing very small as their circumscribing pale rings have much faded, the front plate was deep olive outlined with blackish-brown ; one entered the earth on the 4th of July, another I watched burrow into the earth on the 5th. Mr. Fletcher tells me "that when young the larva is found on the under-side of leaves of the food-plant. When it is bigger it makes a tunnel or gallery under the plant on the soil, so that when the rosette of leaves is removed the larva is left behind. I think that this tunnel reaches into the turf beyond the radius of the leaves, as many a little sod cut round the plant comes away without the larva. 1 found one pupa of odd shape in this gallery." " When full grown the larva often eats out the heart of the jDlant and bores down far enough into the root to kill it. While the larva is feeding under the leaves its ravages are conspicuous enough, even while small, as it makes brown marks, which are visible on the upper-side of the plant." In confinement, without earth with the plants, its gallery of silk becomes covered with accumulations of " frass." Often when the larva attains the last moult we see the dark dingy olive-green variety, with belly rather lighter than the back, the one colour blending with the other, the spiracles round and black, are very minute and situated nearly close below the single row of dots on the side : the pale yellowish margin of skin next the head, in front of the plate on the 2nd segment, is a good and constant character. The pupa is generally enclosed in a cocoon, covered with grains of earth, of oval shape, 19 mm. in length, rather loosely held together with but very little silk in the lining of brownish-grey colour, the in- terior of cylindrical form and smooth, 12^ mm. in length, so that the pupa (which is only 10 to 11 mm. long) has plenty of room ; it is rather I 1884.1 5 slender in the (^, stouter in the ? , it has nothing remarkable in its form save that beyond the wing-covers, the abdomen tapers gradually in the ^ , more obtusely in the $ , and the moveable rings are deeply cut, the tip of the abdomen is surrounded with about twelve exceedingly minute curly-tipped bristles, which take a firm hold of the silk lining. One pupated openly on the surface of the earth, attaching its tail to a leaf of the plant, and this enabled me to see that for some time its colour was of a light greenish-ochreous, afterwards it was light brownish, and still later it turned very dark brown ; it was glossy from first to last. The moths were bred on August 11th, 12th, 17th, and September 13th, 1883. Notes on Depressaria hadiella. — I am indebted to Mr. Stainton for the chance of making a few remarks on Mr. Buckler's life-history of Depressaria badiella. And first as to the circumstances which led him to depart from his usual rule of not describing or figuring the larvae of Tineina. I had taken Botys Jlavalis freely at Freshwater in August, 1881. Mr. Buckler was very anxious to have the larvse of this species, and so, being equally keen to find it myself, I ran over to Freshwater on May 27th, 1882. The only result of a close search was the finding of a few email larvae of JDep. hadiella. These 1 felt sure were the right larvse. Neither Mr. Buck- ler nor I bred any moths from this lot ; but, on July 3rd, 1883, I was able to find a pupa and several large larvoe, so that we were both successful in rearing some moths. From the first Mr. Buckler told me that the larvse were not Pyrales, but Tortrices or Tineina. I think there could hardly be a better illustration of his kind- liness and great unwillingness to throw cold water on the hopes of a correspondent, than is shown in the fact that, in spite of his knowledge that these larvse did not come within the scope of his studies, he, on two occasions, took charge of them, beside figuring and describing them with his usual minute care. Next, two small points in the life-history seem to require notice. Mr. Buckler alludes to the larvse making a transparent blotch, while I find it by the dark brown marks, on the leaf of the food-plant. Mr. Buckler, no doubt, refers to the immediate result of the feeding of the larva, I to the more distant, when the milky juice of the plant has produced a brown stain on the wounded leaf. The " odd shape " of the pupa mentioned in the extract from my letter has reference to the difference between the flattened pupa of a Depressaria and the expected cylindrical one of a Botys.— \N. H. B. Fletcher, 6, The Steyne, Worthing : May 14th, 1884. NOTES ON THE DISCOVERY, BY MR. W. H. B. FLETCHER, OF THE LARVA OF DEPRESSARIA BADIELLA. BY H. T. STAINTON, F.E.S. Last September I received from the late Mr. William Buckler a Depressaria, on which he wished my opinion. He had received, from Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, some larvae which (J [June, were supposed to be those of Bofys Jlavalis. " My disappointment " wrote Mr. Buckler " was very great, when I very soon saw there was no hope of their hemg Jlavalis, and I thought I had got hold of some troublesome Tortrix'' The " troublesome TorfW^r," however, turned out a Depressaria, and one which had not previously been bred. The larvae in question had been found by Mr. Pletcher on Freshwater Down, Isle of Wight, feeding on the leaves of Hypochwris radicata. The sight of the single specim.en which first reached me did not enable me to determine the species with certainty. I wrote, however, to Mr. Buckler on the 23rd September, 1883, as follows :— " I believe your De^jresmria is one that has not been bred before, and, certainly, no larva of that genus was known to feed on R}jpocli(Bris, so at any rate there is a discovery, which may help to cousole you for your disappointment. Indeed, if every one of your disappointments could result in similar discoveries, I should be malicious enough to wish you many of them! Before positively determining the species, I should like to see your other specimens, especially as you say they are not all exactly alike." K week later, I received from Mr. Buckler his other three bred specimens, and I must confess that my first impression was that they were some unnamed species, which, though closely allied to badiella, differed from it in the shape of the anterior wiugs. Two years previously Mr. Sydney Webb had sent me some speci- mens of a Depressaria he had beaten from thatch at Folkestone, which I had then thought as probably distinct from badiella, and it occurred to me that possibly the insect now bred by Mr. Buckler might be the solution of Mr. Webb's problematical species. Moreover, I gathered from Mr. Buckler's letters that Mr. Fletcher had also succeeded in breeding several specimens of the same insect, hence, I wrote to Mr. Buckler on the 30th September, 1883, " before describing the insect you have bred, I should like to see again Mr. Webb's specimens, and also any that Mr. Fletcher may have bred." Mr. Fletcher being then from home I did not write to him at once, and being much occupied with other matters, Christmas was already past before I wrote to Mr. Sydney Webb and to Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher for their specimens of the hadiella-\ike Depressaria. They came promptly enough, but, alas, before I could get them examined Mr. Buckler was no more ! Ultimately I came to the conclusion that the specimens were really referable to badiella, of which we had previously only known captured specimens, which were more or less worn. 1884.] 7 The darker ground-colour of Mr. Buckler's specimens, and the different shape of the hind margin of the anterior wings arising, pro- bably, from the more complete cilia, seem to be the natural results of the finer condition of bred specimens. BadielJa, at the best of times, is always an obscure, dingy insect, and, though of wide distribution, has rarely been met with in any plenty, and as mentioned by Snellen in his " Ylinders van Nederland " (the latest systematic work on European Lepidoptera), the larva was quite unknown ; hence, its occurrence on one of the Composite is of great interest. Mountsfield, Lewisham : May lUh, 1884 KOTES ON LJEPIDOPTERA OBSERVED DURING- AN ALPINE TOUR IN 1883. BY GEOEGE T. BAKER. Last summer, in company with my friend Dr. Jordan, my holiday was spent between Aosta, Chamouny, and G-eneva. Our route from the ancient city of Aosta, with its interesting old remnants of Eoman architecture, lay up the valley of the Buttier, and over the Great St. Bernard Pass, where, of course, we stayed to see the famous monastery, from there, following the course of the Dranse, we descended to Martigny. This valley (of the Dranse) is certainly very bleak and dreary, and the insect life therein not to be compared in richness with that of the Yisp and Saas valleys, neither is its flora; to a certain extent, however, this may have been owing to the extreme lateness of the sea- son. From Martigny we walked over the Col de Forclaz, and Tete Noire to Chaumouny, this was our only wet day ; after remaining there for a few days we walked to Sallenches, took the diligence from thence to Geneva, where we stayed for about three days. It was then time to turn our faces homewards, but on our way we stopped for a day at Dole, in the extreme west of the Jura district, where we were by no means idle. "We started on the 14th of June, and were much favoured in the weather, from a tourist's point of view, not so, however, from an Entomological one, as our captures were by no means up to the average, especially among the Rhopalocera, but, as remarked before, this may have been due to the great backwardness of the season, which may be realized when I say that on the 21st of June, the whole of the Great St. Bernard Pass was entirely covered with snow, and we were 8 [June, thus prevented from taking any of the high Alpine insects. The follow- ing is a list of our captures, in which I follow the order of Staudinger's catalogue. Papilio Podalirius, Dranse valley, near Orsieres. Parnassius Apollo, Dranse and Buttier valleys. 1 also reared one at home about the end of July, the larvae were not uncommon. Aporia cratcegi, common everywhere. Pieris napi, v. IryonicB, summit of the Col de Forclaz : Daplidice, Aosta. Anthocharis Bella, Buttier valley : cardamines, Arve valley. Leucophasia sinapis, Dranse valley, and Gt. Saleve near Geneva. Colzas Hyale, Aosta, Dranse valley, and Gt. Saleve. Thecla ruM, Buttier valley. Polyommafus Hippothoe with its var. Euryhia, Arve valley near Ghamouny : AlcipJiron, Dranse valley near Orsieres: plilwas, Buttier valley. Lyccena JEyon, Dranse valley below Orsieres, abundant: Argus, Dranse and Buttier valle3''s : Baton, Buttier valley : Astrarche and v. ^Z/ows, Dranse valley below St. Pierre: Icarus and v. 7b«rmws, Buttier, Dranse and Arve valleys, we also took in the Buttier valley a beautiful variety with the colouring almost that of Belargus : Belargus, Buttier valley : Corydon and Hylas, Dranse valley below Orsieres : Sehrus, Dranse valley : minima, common everywhere : semiargus, Buttier and Dranse valleys, also one on the summit of the Col de Eorclaz: Alcon, Dole. Nemeohius Lucina, Gt. Saleve. Vanessa urticcB, Atalanta, and cardui, Buttier and Dranse valleys. Melitcea Cynthia, larvae reared from the Great St. Bernard : Cinxia, and PJioehe, Dranse and Buttier valleys : Didyma, Dranse valley : Dictynna, Dranse and Arve valleys : Atlialia, Dranse and Arve valleys. Where are we to draw the line between this species and dark speci- mens of Aurelia ? Argynnis Euplirosyne, Col de Eorclaz, Chamouny, and Arve valley ; Latonia, Buttier and Dranse valleys. Melanargia Galathea, St. Gervais (Arve valley), and Gt. Saleve. Erehia Ceto, Buttier and Dranse valleys : Stygne, Dranse valley, near Orsieres, and Arve valley, near Chamouny : Evias, St. Kemy (Piedmont), abundant. (Eneis Aello, St. Eemy. Pararge Mcera, Dranse and Arve valleys : Hiera, Arve valley : Megcera, Aosta, and Gt Saleve : uEgeria, Gt. Saleve : Achine, Dole, plentiful in the pine woods. 1884. J 9 JEpinepliile Janira, common everywhere : Hyperanthus, common everywhere. CoenomympJia Arcania, Gt. Saleve and Dole : Pamphilus, every- where. Syriclithus cartliami^ cacalice, and andromedce, Dranse valley below Orsieres : malvce, Grreat St. Bernard. Ghamouny : Sao, Buttier and Dranse valleys. Nisoniades Tages, Dranse and Buttier valleys, and Chamouny. Sesperia Thaumas, everywhere : lineola, Arve valley : Si/lvmius, common in all parts. Carterocepliala Palcemon, Orsieres and Chamouny. Macroglossa stellatarum, Dranse and Arve valleys. Zygcena scahiosce, Arve valley : acliillece, Buttier valley : exulans, reared from the Great St. Bernard, where the larvae were very abun- dant indeed : trifolii ab. orohi in which the tw^o median spots are not united as is the case in trifolii proper. The ground-colour of two specimens from the Buttier valley is steel-blue, with the black border of the hind-wings broader than in typical German or British specimens: V. duhia, Staudinger describes this in his catalogue as follows : — Zygcena v. duhia, " v. major, al. ant. macul. 5 vel. 6, al. post, latius nigris " of this we took a large number in the Buttier valley, in none of which are the central or basal spots confluent. The series is so interesting that I will describe thena in detail. a. Fore-wings steel-blue with the median spots red instead of crimson, and narrowly separated, hind-wings also red with a broad black border, spots on under-side all disconnected. h. Fore- wings bluish-bronze, with the spots crimson, smaller than usual, the median ones being more widely separated, hind-wings crimson with a broader black border. c. Fore-wings bluish-green with all the crimson-red spots very small, the median ones being very oblique, and still more widely separated, and the hind- wings having an exceptionally broad black border. On the under-side of this specimen there is a distinct trace of a sixth red spot on the fore-wings. d. Fore-wings greenish-bronze with the crimson spots small, and the 6th spot just visible (well marked on the under-side), the hind- wings are crimson with abroad black border. In none of the foregoing are the anterior- wings at all transparent. e. G-reen or blue-bronze, with markings similar to " d" but rather redder, and the 6th spot becoming much more visible, the black border of the hind-wings is decidedly narrower and more uniform, and the under-side of the fore-wings is suffused with red, they also have a tendency to being slightly transparent as is noticeable in Jilipendulce. f. In this variety the sixth spot is well marked, and were it not for the very broad and blue-black border of the hind-wings, it might be mistaken ^ov filipendwloe. 10 [June, From our specimens of this insect we are much inclined to believe that considerable interbreeding must take place between it and the six-spot ZygcdncB. We also took, in the same valley, a specimen with the fore-wings of a beautiful metallic-blue colour, with a distinct trace of a 6th spot, and the other spots well separated. Zijgcdna lonicerce, Buttier valley : Jllipendulce, Buttier valley and Col de Forclaz. It is really difficult to separate this from transaljiina, but with one exception, we have come to the conclusion that our speci- mens are JilipendulcB ; on the way up to the Col de Forclaz we took one variety transitional into v. cytisi, the two basal spots confluent, as also the two median, but the apical spots are very finely separated. "We now come to the handsome Zygcena taken by us in the Buttier valley. The fore-wings of which are opaque dull blue without any lustre, having six very small carmine spots, the median and apical one being very oblique and widely separated, all are united on the under-side by a crimson suffusion ; the hind-wings are carmine-red with a deep blue-black broad border. This is either a six-spotted form of angelicas or a fine variety of transalpina. Syntomis Phegea, Aosta. We were very much struck by the large size of these specimens ; those we have taken in the Yisp valley are quite dwarfs in comparison, measuring 32 mm., in comparison with 41 mm. Naclia punctata, Aosta, in the vineyards. Not uncommon. Nola cristatula, Dranse valley below Orsieres. Betina aurita, Buttier valley near St. Eemy, and Arve valley : V. ramosa, Buttier valley. Ziitliosia lurideola, larva reared from Aosta. Emydia crihrum v. punctigera. I reared a beautiful ^ on the 29th of July from a larva found near Orsieres. Euchelia jacohcece, Grt. Saleve and Dole. Arctia purpurata, Dranse valley, near Orsieres. Spilosoma mentJiastri, Arve valley, near Chamouny. Sepialus Jiumuli, Dranse and Arve valleys. Fumea ?, three specimens taken on the Italian side of the Great St. Bernard, which have a close resemblance to Sapho, but we cannot really determine if it is that species. Forthesia similis, a $ reared from larva found at Aosta. Bomhyx neustria, reared, larvae plentiful in Dranse and Buttier valleys. Bomhyx quercus, Larva found at Dole. 1884.] 11 Pi/ffce7'a pi^ra, Argentiere (Arve valley). Diloha cceruleocepliala, larva reared from Orsieres. Acronycta rm?iicis, larva reared from St. Gervais (Arve valley). Caraclrina q^iiadripunctata. Aosta. Ampliipyra tragopoginis, reared from larva found in the Dranse valley. Scopelosoma satellitia, reared from larva found in the Arve valley. Calocampa vetusta, reared from larva found near Orsieres. CuGullia verbasci, larvsB found in the Buttier valley. Plusia gamma, Dranse and Buttier valleys. Anarta melanopa v. rupestralis, Great St. Bernard, near summit of Pass. Protliymia viridaria^ Gt. St. Bernard, Dranse and Arve valleys. Agrophila trahealis, Gt. Saleve. Euclidia glyphica, Buttier and Dranse valleys. Hypena prohoscidalis, Dole. Bivula sericealis, Martigny. Geometra vernaria, Dole. Nemoria viridata, Chamouny. Acidalia sericeata, Aosta : dilutaria, Aosta : liumiliata, Aosta, Dole : hoJosericeataj Aosta : marginepunctata^ Dranse valley below Orsieres : strigillaria, Dole : imitaria, Aosta. Pellonia calahraria, Gt. Saleve. Abraxas marginata, Dranse valley. Caber a ewanthemaria, St. Hemy, Dranse valley. Ellopia prosapiaria v. prasinaria, Dole. Humia luteolata, Martigny. Larger and paler than British specimens. Macaria alfernata, Aosta. Common in the old bed of the river Doire, which was densely overgrown with HippopJiae : the specimens were smaller and much paler than usual. Gnophos glaucinaria, Dranse valley below Orsieres. Fidonia carbonaria, Gt. St. Bernard. JEmaturga atomaria, common everywhere. Diastictis artesiaria, Aosta. Flying with M. alternata. Phasiane clathrata, Dranse valley, Great Saleve, Dole. Scoria Uneata, Dranse valley. OrtJiolitha bipunctaria, Dole. Minoa murinata, near Orsieres, Dole. Odezia atrata, Dranse, Buttier, and Arve valleys. Anaitis plagiata, Dole. Cidat'ia dotata, Martignv. Much finer than British specimens: 12 [June, variata v. sfragiilata, Chamouny : turbata, Gt. St. Bernard, St. Bemy^ and Chamouny : aqueata, Arve valley : Jluctuata, Dranse valley : moiifanata, St. E-emy and Dranse valley : ferrugata^ Buttier and Dranse valleys, and Chamouny : incultraria, Chamouny : frustrata, St. E-emy : galiata, Dranse valley and Dole : rlvata, Dole : tristata, Great St. Bernard, Buttier and Dranse valleys : molluginata, St. Remy : alchemillata, Great St. Bernard : adcequata, Great St. Bernard : alhulata, St. Remy, Chamouny and Dole, common in every shade of colour, from almost white to quite dark : hilmeata, Great Saleve and Dole : trifasciata, St. B-emy, very abundant : herherata, Aosta : riibidata, Aosta and Dole. Eupithecia rectangulata, Aosta : tenuiata, Dole, and several others wticli we are at present unable to name. Scoparia duhitalis, Dranse valley, below Orsieres, and Dole : sudetica, Dranse valley and Chamouny. Hercyna SchranJciana, Gt. St. Bernard and Chamouny : phrygialis, Gt. St. Bernard and Chamouny. Eurrhypara urticata^ Dole. JBotys nigralis, Arve valley : octomaculata, Dranse valley : aurata, Buttier valley, south of St. Bemy : cespitalis, common everywhere : rhododendronalis, St. Bemy : fuscalis, Dranse valley : sambucalis, Col de Forclaz, Larger and paler than British examples. Eurycreon verticalis, Dranse valley and Dole. Pionea forjlcalis, lower portions of the Buttier and Dranse valleys. Crambus ceriisellus, Buttier valley : pascuellus, common every- where, Aosta specimens very dark and bright : prafellus, common everywhere : dmiiet ell us, Dv^inse valley, and very abundant at Chamouny. hortufiUus, Chamouny and Great Saleve : chrysonucheJlus, St. Bemy : concJiellus, Dranse valley : ciilmellus, Chamouny : perleUus, Martigny and Chamouny : v. Warringtonellus, Chamouny. Sypochalcia aJienella, Chamouny. Ap>homia socieUa, Aosta. Among the Tinecd I will only mention the following : Flutella cruciferarum, Gt. St. Bernard near summit of Pass. Antennse annulated. Cerostoma persicella, Aosta and Dole. There were certainly no peach trees in the latter place. Mimcdseoptilus serotinus, Orsieres. Aciptilia pentadactyla, Dole. Alucita Jieccadactyla, Orsieres. Before closing this account, 1 cannot refrain from remarking a curious feature we have been much struck by during our sojouruings among the Swiss Alps, viz., the remarkable predominence of black (or 1B84.] l^ SO nearly approaching that hue, as to appear black at a very little distance) and yellow as the colours of the majority of the larvae, this being particularly noticeable at high altitudes, say above 7000 feet. Last summer we found, among innumerable exulans larvae on the Great St. Bernard, several others simulating their general appearance very closely, so that it would seem from this that there must be some protective power in these colours ; it cannot, however, be any similarity to their feeding-ground, as they are rather conspicuous on the bright green Silene acaulis with its pretty pink flowers, and on the AlcJiemillw, &c., all just refreshed after the melting of the snow, neither can they be said to coincide v\ith the lichen-covered rocks, over which we have noticed them crawling some distance away from us. Among others we found some handsome larvae, from which the following hasty and incomplete description was taken at the time. " Ground-colour velvety- black with a narrow band of yellow at the juncture of each segment, and a central dorsal row of yellow spots. The black spiracles finely encircled with yellow are bordered above and below by a row of yellow spots. On each segment are several stout fleshy black spines emitting fine black hairs, which (spines) are most numerous on the central segments. Head, shining black." Only one succeeded in pupating and from this a shrivelled (^ Melitcea Ci/ntJiia emerged in July. The pupa had a large proportion of black in it on a greyish ground, but this, undoubtedly, would closely assimilate with the rock on to which it would attach itself. The pupa of M. Didyma (which I have reared from the Saas valley and Zermatt) is also similar to that of M. Cynfliia, and in the same way would have a protective influence. Again, Parnassius Apollo has a blackish-purple larva with deep yellow spots. It would be interesting to ascertain whether there can be any protec- tive power in these colours, as if there is, and we knew what it was, Tve might then be able to account for their preponderance at high altitudes. As my description of the larva of Calocampa vetusta found at Orsieres differs from that given by Guenee, and as I have twice found the same variety, it may be well to record it. " Ground-colour apple- green with darker back, and pale green central stripe, on both sides of which is a row of small white spots finely encircled with black from the third to the twelfth segment inclusive, each row consisting of three spots triangularly disposed on every segment. Spiracular stripe white, edged above by a black line. Spiracles scarlet. Fore-legs yellow, claspers tipped with pinkish-buff. Head yellowish. Length, about 54 mm. Stout in proportion." Augustus Eoad, Birmingham : March 24th, 1884. 14 [June, NEW LONGHCOEN COLEOPTEEA OF THE MONOHAMMIN^ GEOUP FROM TROPICAL WEST AFRICA. BY H. W. BATES, F.R.S., &c. The collections sent home by recent travellers from tropical east and west Africa, and particularly from the coast region between Cameroons and Angola, have given indications of a surprising wealth of species in the Coleopterous family Longicornia. A large number of new genera and species have been published by Thomson, Yon Harold, Quedenfeldt, and others, but countless others exist undescribed in English collections, which it is the intention of the present paper to reduce in some small degree. The Monoliammince group, of which the well-known European MonoJiammus sutor and sartor may be taken as types, seem to be very numerous and varied in these regions ; whether they approach in number and variety the rich fauna of Indo- Malaya cannot at present be guessed at, but it is certain they far surpass tropical America, where only five genera are known, two only of which occur in Brazil. It was one of the late Andrew Murray's favourite zoo-geographical speculations to trace an intimate relation between the faunas of West Africa and tropical America, whence he inferred a former land connection between them ; but the Monoliam- mince lend no countenance to such a hypothesis ; no genus at present found being common to the two continents. TEICHOLAMIA, n. g. General form of Ilonolimnmus, except that the elytra are rela- tively shorter (especially in the ? ), and the antennae very little longer than the body, even in the (^ , considerably shorter in the $ . The pro- and meso-sternal processes are simple, the claws divaricate, the cicatrice of the scape, though sharply defined and scabrous, only half enclosed by a sharply-defined rim. The head has elevated, but not very pointed, antennif erous tubercles, the front is short and quadrate ; the lower lobe of the eyes large and broad; the palpi in the ,$ , both maxillary and labial, have the terminal joints broadly truncate-ovate, or campanuliform, in the $ slender and sub-acute. The thorax is much broader than long, with lateral tubercles median, broad, and spinose at their apices, the anterior (one) and posterior (two) trans- verse sulci well-marked, the disc very uneven, with a broad central depression. The elytra are elongate-oblong, convex, obtusely rounded at the apex, sparsely punctulate and clothed (besides the fine compact tomentum) with very long upright hairs. The antenna! joints 1 — 6 are ciliated beneath, and the scape clothed all round with long black jj 1884. J 15 hairs, similar to those of the elytra. The fore-legs are not notably longer than the others ; the middle tibiae have their oblique groove nearer the middle than in Monohammus, and unaccompanied by a tubercle. The terminal joints of the S P^^P^ ^^^® ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^'™ ^^ in Tympmiopalpus, but are much less dilated, and there is no other resemblance between the two genera, except in those structural points in which both agree with the Monohcimmincd. TeICHOLAMIA PLAGIA.TA, n. Sp. Clothed with fine tawny-ochreous, the elytra with tawny-ashy, tomentum, the head and thorax partly, the scape and elytra wholly, beset with remarkably long, erect black hairs ; the elytra have a basal fascia, and on each side two lateral patches, one larger about the middle, a second smaller near the apex, brownish-black. Long. 25 — 28 mm., $ ? . Mt. Cameroons. BATOMENA, n. g. Of broader and more depressed form than Monohammus, the sur- face of the elytra armed with numerous briar-like spines arranged in rows, most numerous and continuous on the sides, the middle-sutural and posterior parts free. The head is very similar in form to Mono- Timnmus, the forehead moderately long and plane, the lower lobe of the eyes elongated, the antenniferous tubercles more elevated and separated by a deeply impressed line, which extends from the occiput to the epistome. The antennae in the ^ are nearly twice the length of the body, the cicatrice of the scape enclosed by a sharp rim and S" hairy, joints 1—5 ciliated beneath. Sterna simple, legs rather elongated ; middle tibiae with tubercle and groove near the middle. Batomei^a multispinis, n. sp. Dark brown, clothed with lighter brown laid pubescence, which on the elytra forms short vittse and spots : head and scape with scattered punctures : thorax trans- verse, with very strong and acute lateral spine and deep transverse groove in front and behind, the disc rather uneven, impunctate. Elytra sparingly punctured near the base, each with five faint longitudinal costae, each armed with a row of thorn-like spines, a few only (2 or 3) at the base of the Ist costa, the number increasing to 10—15 on the outermost costa j apex of the elytra rounded. Long. 34—38 mm., S ? • Mt. Cameroons : alt. 7000 ft. MELANOPOLIA, n. g. Moderately elongate and narrowed behind, interruptedly clothed with fine laid pubescence. Head exserted, front broad and quadrate, lower lobe of the eyes much broader than long ; antenniferous tuber- 10 [J^nt^.- cles moderately elevated, divergent, apices not produced : palpi slender, pointed. Thoracic lateral tubercles median, conical, more or less pointed. Elytra obtuse or subtruncated at the apex. Prosternum arcuated, simple ; mesosternum either simple, declivous, or vertical in front, plane behind. Legs moderate, middle tibise with tubercle and groove near the middle of their outer edge. Antennae, (^ , one-half longer than the body, scape nearly as in Monohammus, cicatrice scabrous, completely enclosed with a sharp carina, 3rd joint longer than the scape, 4th a little shorter, 5 — 10 gradually decreasing, 11th longest of all. ? . As in (J, except that they are shorter and the third joint is thickened towards the apex into a stout elongate club, clothed with black hairs. The elougate-clavate form of the 3rd antennal joint appears to be a peculiarity of the ? (at least it is so in one of the species), of the other two only females are known. The vertical mesosternum of the first species described is the only structural dif- ference I can detect between it and the other two, and all agree in facies and clothing. The genus has very little in common with Bho- dopis, in which the 3rd antennal joint is similarly clavate, and appears to be allied to Domitia (Thoms.), which has, however, simple middle tibise. Melanopolia peenata, n. sp. Shining black ; a tomentose hoary belt across the forehead below the eyes, con- tinued on each side along the cheeks and the flanks of the thorax to the middle base of the elytra, and thence curving to the suture at about one-third the length, dis- solving into confluent spots ; similar confluent spots scattered over the remainder off the elytra. Antennae with joints 3 — 10 ringed with grey at their bases ; sides of the body beneath and legs thinly clothed with short hoary pile. Thorax with broad I conical lateral tubercles, disc a little depressed and uneven, sparingly punc- tured. Elytra briefly sinuate-truncate at the apex, finely and rather widely? punctured, chiefly in lines, throughout, and faintly bicostate. Mesosternum vertical 1 in front. Antennee, $ , with the 3rd joint towards the apex very slightly thickened j )! $ , much thickened, and clothed with brush-like black hairs. Long. 16 mm., nights of the last w€^i in Oetol>er repeated :flightF of tluese moths Witli referenoe to th- :" - - " -'rlit of Fl-mia - - ■• - ' ?ross He^^- : - la2Dd in 1882, a noti<-e of -s^ ^ ^ ared iu the re ;. - 1 e Mi grar' : _ cf Birds, 1882, p. 47, Mr. CharJes Williams, at iL 1 _ • lionse, dS Guemser, states tliat :'' - - were oDi-rr^ei :: : June or Julj- Mr. James WaSsla, from tlje Fastnet B.oet lighthouse, eii" of lards from the X.E-- hut what was n3c«t remarkable was the ef large moths, wMeh he tan only ecanpare t??rsd segTsnent feoray and - >y. ibe former narrover tban tke iirer. and ba& tiLe _ : ~r•5:^ rr^xz-itd : ~ eyHndrical, and of uniform vidib. tap^n^ " i«> •rsi^ ^ne ^^iri^s : segmental dirisions w^l-d^ned. skin kas a earanee tban wben last deseribai. : T^ie tnbeveles or dull, ^Bokr^ browm^-blark. tbe funt <^ive tint; - - 7 T 7rii^ quite lost ; bead and second rr brown spots. Two grer line% ^- sfimentary canal, ^rm tbe doi^ str^e; rsal lin^. but a dii^x ocbreoos stripe oi . IT IB diSezent ^pedmats. extends alcM^ t^ - — - - - '~erele» Maek. findlT but ^earir e»- - ^^ti very aunute, aamoer impcr> whire eenires. ^ f and prolegs ratber paler aad :r-leg:s tipped witb dark^ar 32 tJ'ilv, Tbey were still living in galleries of web, just above the roots o: the food-plants, PJantago lanccolnta and P. major, but, by Septembei 2 1st, had nearly all spun up. The cocoons were fixed in corners, &c., of their cage ; they were one-third to half-an-inch long, very toughly and compactly formed of closely-woven snow-white silk. The pupa is about one-third of an inch long, plump and glossy ; the thorax, head, and wing-cases dark sienna-brown, abdominal divisions dark orange. The imagos appeared during the second week of May last. lluddersfield : June 8f/i, 188-1. LIST OF THE DIPTERA OF THE ISLAND OF MADEIRA, SO FAR AJ THEY ARE MENTIONED IN ENTOMOLOGICAL LITERATURE. BY C. K. OSTEN-SACKEX. The only strictly faunistic paper on Madeiran Diptera is the Dipterological portion of Wollaston's " Brief diagnostic characters of undescribed Madeiran insects" (Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 1858,> pp. 113 — 117 ; with a plate by AYestwood). It contains descriptionai of 21 species believed to be new. All other notices or descriptions of Madeiran Diptera have to be^ sought in the numerous works on descriptive entomology, among in- sects from other countries. I have compiled a list of all the species; hitherto recorded as occurring in that island ; owing to the difBculty) of that kind of search, there may be some omissions, but they cannot be very numerous. The list contains 53 species : 20 of these (indicated by *) are« European species, for the most part very common ; 2 species are com- mon to Madeira and to the Canary Islands ; 1 occurs all over Africa; 29 have been described from Madeira only, but among these 29 there) are the 21 species described by Mr. WoUaston, which require a closen comparison with the European species, as many of them will probably)' be found identical. The same may be said of the species described by Mr. Thomson and Mr. Walker. It appears, therefore, that the data in our possession are too( meagre yet to allow of any conclusion about the affinities or the origiui of the Dipterous Fauna of Madeira.* * Ihis List is published not by request of, but by permission of, the author. It was kindljlj compiled at my request for the use of a correspondent resident in Madeira, who is anxious to in-n' elude a List of all recorded Madeiran Insects in the new edition of a book on the island generally v After so much care had been taken in bibliographical research, it seemed to me desiiable that th« < results should also appear in some purely entomological publication.— R. McLaculan. 1884.] 3Ii Sciara cognata, Walk., List, &c., Brit. Mus., Dipt. I, p. 103, from Bogota, is ei stated by the same author (Ins. Saiuid., p. 419) to inhabit also Madeira, and to draw blood, like Culicidce. N.B. — This statement is impi'obable. *Simulium ornatum (Meig.), Schiner, " Novara," p. 15. JDilojyhus maderaxyphora pratorum (Meig.), id., I. c, p. 304. Sarcophaga cequipalpis, Thomson, I. c, p. 534. Cynomyia madeirensis, Schiner, /. c, p. 312. *Homalomyia canicularis (Linne), id., I. c, p. 298. *Heteromyza atricornis (Meig.), id., I. c, p. 231. Drosophila repleta, Wollast., I. c, fig. 7. Tetanocera inclasa, id., I. c, fig, 5 ; (?) Walkeri, id., I. c, fig. 6. Oscinis signata, id., I. c, fig. 8. * Sepsis punctum (Fabr.), Schiner, I. c, p. 261. *Fiophila casei (Linne), id., I. c, p. 261. Gymnopa clara, Wollast., I. c, fig. 9. Acinia insularis, id., I. c. ; valida, id., I. c. ; miranda, id., I. c. Ensina decisa, id., I. c. ; vacillans, id., I. c. *Tephritis amoena (Frauenf.), Schiner, I. c, p. 269 ; cosmia, id., I. c, p. 269. *Ceratitis capitata (Wied.), Loew, die europ. Bohrfliegen, p. 123, tab.2r), fig. 1. N.B. — Attacks oranges, and occurs wherever they grow ; the Ceratitis citriperda, McLeay, hispanica, De Breme, &c., are mere synonyms, or species based on indivi- dual varieties. *Hippobosca equina (Linne), Walker, I. c, IV, p. 11 JO. Heidelberg : June, 1884. Thais Poli/xena captured in England. — I wish to notice the capture, near Exeter, on May 27th, of a very good specimen of Thais Polyxena ; it was taken by two lads near the city, and was brought to me in a match-box in the afternoon of the capture. It appeared as if it had not long emerged from the pupa state, as the hind-wings were not quite extended to the full development, but I managed to get them out on the setting board, and it now presents a respectable appearance. From the size of the body I presume it is a female. I have not the least idea how the specimen came here, and I tried, by means of a notice of the specimen, and a question if any lady or gentleman had brought home any caterpillars of European insects, that perhaps this might have escaped, but I got no answer through the medium of the press or otherwise. I am not aware if this species has been taken before in England. Perhaps it would be as well to i notice this in the Ent. Mo. Mag. — Edward Parfitt, Exeter : June 6th, 1884. [Living pupse of Thais are imported by many of ovir dealers in Natural History specimens, and can be purchased from them at a cheap rate. We have no doubt the i specimen above alluded to was the produce of a pupa so imported. The larvae feed on Aristolochia, of which we have only one species in England, and that is generally reputed not indigenous. Moreover, Thais is an essentially southern genus ; so thei'c is very little probability of it becoming natui-alized here. — Eds.]. Sphinx pinastri at JFest Wickham. — On May 26th a young gentleman brought! me (alive and unpinned) a splendid perfect specimen of Sphinx pinastri he had thai; I morning taken off the palings of West Wickham Wood. — William Watkins, Thei Insectarium, Crystal Palace, S.E. : June 6th, 1884. [The first portion of the editorial note appended to the notice concerning Thais i Polyxena applies equally here. — Eds.]. Hote on Vanessa cardui. — During the hot weather at the end of May, V. carduh suddenly put in an appearance in considerable numbers. I think May 23rd was the( first day on which I saw them. They were all faded and worn, but much moro/i numerous than last autumn. Whence did they come ? — Gr. B. Longstaff, Twitchen| Morthoe, North Devon : June 6th, 1884. j [We think there is abundant evidence that a very considerable immigration oft Vanessa cardui has occun-ed this season, but, at present, not in any way equallings that of 1879.— Eds.]. Development of imago in an ichneumoned pnpa.-^lw the March number of tlie [agazine a correspondent mentions a curious instance of the above in the case of Hcranura furcula. A somewhat similar instance may he interesting. Two or iree years ago, having dug a large number of pupse, I broke open those that failed ,) emerge, so as, where possible, to see of what kind they were. In one, which as some species of Tceniocampa, I found that the moth had apparently died, as so [ten happens, when just ready for emergence, but within the body was a parasite iive, also just ready to emerge. I have kept the specimen, and enclose it herewith. -A. r. aEOFiTH, Sandridge, St. Albans : April, 1884. [This is a very curious instance of parasitism. The moth, apparently TcBnio- zmpa stabilis, had so far developed, that head, antennae, proboscis, legs, thorax, and i-ings were perfect, but the abdomen was entirely occupied by the pupa of the para- ite,a Tachina, leaving nothing between it and the pupa-skin of the moth except the tin and scales. The fly must have died when the pupa-moth was opened, as it as not spread its wings.— C. Gr. B.] Coleoptera at Bromley.— D\xvmg the months of June and July last year I iptured in the evening in this neighbourhood the following Coleoptera, which I link are worth recording. Homalota elegantula, Bris., 1 specimen by the side of wood. H. exilis, Er. ?, 1 specimen in the same locality ; it appears to me to be lentical with exilis in all respects except size, and in this respect it is nearly twice 3 large as that species. I sent the specimen to Dr. Sharp for his examination, and e returned it as being, in his opinion, too large for any of the exilis group ; it must, lerefore, wait till further specimens turn up to show if really distinct or only a large )rm of exilis. Deleaster dichrous, Gr., occasionally, flying. Homalmm iopterum, teph., and pygmceum, Pk., one or two specimens. Scydma^nns Sparshalli, Den., y sweeping ; elongatulus, Miill., ditto ; jimetarius, Th., I have found this year com- lonly in a hotbed. Bythhius Curtisi, Leach, and Burrelll, Den., as well as the ommoner bulbifer, Reich., by sweeping. Colon hranneum, Latr., not rare, by weeping. Thalycra sericea, Sturm, one specimen by sweeping, kindly determined ;. )r me by the Rev. W. W. Fowler ; I had put it aside as a large £^;Mr«a.— Edwabd ij lAlTNDEKS, St. Ann's, Mason's Hill, Bromley : May \lth, 1884. Trichopteryx brevicornis, Mots., a species new to B r it ai7i.— Arnold g some Tri- hopterygidcB sent me by Mr. T. R. Billups, I found a few species of a Trichopteryx i' rhich I at first sight referred to T. atomaria, but as it did not seem quite to agree rith that species, I sent specimens to Mr. Matthews, who pronounces it to be T. revicornis, Mots., a species new to the British list, and hitherto found only in , Madeira. \ It is slightly larger than T. atomaria, from which common species it may be ' ilistinguished by having the margins of the thorax bisinuate, by its longer elytra, '" vhich have a slightly fuscous tinge, and its shorter antennae, which are nigro-piceous ; "■ he sculpture is also somewhat different. Mr. Billups tells me that he captured the pecimens at Canning Town, West Ham Marshes, Essex, on November 29th, 1883, , -y shaking the bottom of a stack of radish-seed. The locality is the same which ' >roduced Spercheus a short time ago.— W. W. Fowler, Lincoln : June 9th, 1884. lil ■ Carabns auratit.<; in London.— I have to record the capture of a specimen of i 36 '-T'^iy.' Carahus auratus in a garden at Pentonville, London. N. I have shown the specimen to Mr. H. W. Bates and Mr. E. C. Eje, who suggest that it may have been intro- duced through the transport of vegetable substances from the continent ; but I have since made enquiries, and find the nearest market garden is at least half-a-mile off. — H. W. Simpson, 2, Robert's Place, Bowling Green Lane, E.G. : May 2Uh, 1884. [Our correspondent wrongly interprets the purport of the suggestion. Ther is no necessity for a " market garden." A French lettuce bought at the nearea greengi'ocer's shop would be suiEcient. One London locality for this insect is ihi Borough Market. — Eds.]. Apion poynoncB and Folt/driisus nndatus in cop. — The note by Mr. Douglas, a p. 19, reminds me that I saw, beaten out by a friend, at Laughton Woods, nea Lewes, on May 16th, a male Apion pomonce in cop. with a female I'oli/drusus undatu The insects remained in conjunction for more than four hours after their capture. J. H. A. Jenner, 4, East Street, Lewes : June USth, 1884. Claviger foveolatus at Lewes. — This insect occurs sparingly in the nests Lasius Jlavus under stones on the Downs near Lewes, only some half-dozen bein usually procurable from any one nest. I was, therefore, much surprised last Ma on turning over a stone, to see these insects congregated in niasses. The nest was small one, and the Claviger quite outnumbered the ants. I captured fully th: specimens, while numbers escaped. — Id. Hihernation of Cetonia aivrata. — In wading through previous volumes of tl Ent. Mo. Mag., I find a notice in the number for January, 1874, by Mr. John Scot recording the capture of a specimen of this species flying on the 15th October, 187^ with a question as to what could have caused such untimely flight. From this questio I take it that it is not generally known that Cetonia aurata lives in hibernatio through the winter, in proof of which I received during last month a specime (alive), which had been captured in the thatch of an old house at Helmsley, near Leeds.— John W. Ellis, 101, Everton Road, Liverpool : May 26th, 1884. [There can be little doubt that Cetonia aurata assumes the perfect state in the autumn, but ordinarily does not leave the cocoon until the following year. Occa- sionally, however, certain individuals come out in the autumn (especially in " bursts " of hot weather), and finding themselves overtaken by cold weather, either die, or seek convenient places for hibernation, cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xi, p. 208. — Eds.]. Teredus nit id us, F., RhyncoJus gracilis, Rosen., cfr., in SJierioood Forest. — The re-occurrence of Teredus nitidus in its original locality (Sherwood Forest), after lying perdu for so many years, seems sufiiciently interesting to deserve record. J As the result of very hard work during a ten days' visit in last month (May|| 13th to 23rd), I managed to secure eight specimens of this rare beetle, all of them under bark of oak stumps, and in every case associated with Dryoccetes villosus. Whether or not any relationship exists between these two species I am unable to say from my own observation. I searched for larvce of Teredus in the runs of Dryoccntes, but saw nothing except those of the latter beetle. All my specimens of the fully developed insect were taken from between the bark and the wood, their position being exactly that of a Rhizophagns. 1884. J 37 My special object in visiting the Forest on this occasion was to hunt up Eutheia lavata ; nor was I disappointed, a few examples of each sex being my reward. The riginal specimens occurred under oak bark ; but on this visit I found them on botli ak and birch — svib -cortical, of course. In birch wood I found three specimens of Rhyncolus gracilis, and from an oak ;ump I took what I believe to be Elater coccinatiis, the elongate, almost parallel, ensely punctured thorax agreeing with the description of that rare species. My other captures must be reserved for a future note ; but I may say that I btained two examples of Ptenidium Gres.fneri from a rotten birch stump, this laking the second British locality for this species. — W. Gr. Blatch, 214, Grreen iane, Smallheath, Birmingham : June 16th, 1884. Solenopsis fiigax, Sfc, in the Isle of Wight. — On April 12th, while collecting t the foot of the Culver ClifPs, near Sandown, I came across a nest of ISolenopsis ugax : this, I believe, is the fourth nest of the species that has been found in Jritain, two having been found by the late Mr. Frederick Smith, and two by myself, ^oth in the same locality. I found individual specimens of this ant in one or two ther places, not far from the spot where I discovered the nest, but still far enough way to prove that they belonged to other colonies. It was, however, the position f the nest which made the capture interesting. Sir John Lubbock, on page 78 of [Ants, Bees, and "Wasps" (International Scientific Series), writes as follows: — Another small species, Solenopsis fvg ax, which makes its chambers and galleries in he walls of the nests of the larger species, is the bitter enemy of its hosts. The atter cannot get at them, because they are too large to enter the galleries. The ittle Solenopsis, therefore, are quite safe, and, as it appears, make incursions into •he nurseries of the larger ant, and carry off the larvae as food. It is as if we had mall dwarfs, about eighteen inches to two feet long, harbouring in the walls of our louses, and every now and then carrying ofE some of our children into their horrid .ens!" In the case of the nest that I found, the Solenopsis had had no occasion to lake galleries ; on pulling at a large stone to remove it from the side of the slope n which it was imbedded, the top, which fitted very closely, came off in my hand, .nd between it and the lower part the Solenopsis had formed its nest : owing to the )08ition of the stone on a slope, the crack was in direct communication with the side >f the hill in which it was imbedded, and here a large colony of Formica fusca had ettled behind the stone ; not one of the latter, apparently, could have got into the Tack, but the Solenopsis had, of course, easy access to the F. fusca. The weather ivas rather cold, and the ants somewhat torpid, or I might have made further ob- ervations. Solenopsis have certainly the power of getting through very small spaces. I hook the nest into a chip box, and enclosed this in two more, and wrapped these in wo pieces of paper, but when I got home I found several in the outermost piece of )aper, and the majority had escaped ; one or two of the chip boxes were, certainly, lot quite safe for very minute insects, but, at the same time, I thought that they ;ould not have got through all. There were a large number of other species of ants to be found in the same jlace. Tetramorium cespitum and Formica cunicularia seemed common, and the 38 J"iy. ordinary species abounded ; setting aside the Solenopsls, however, my best find wa two specimens of Ponera contracta, which I obtained by splitting the chalky base o the cliff. I also found this rarity at Ventnor, in one case under a stone below higl water mark ; it is excessively sluggish, and I never found more than one in the sani spot.— W. W. FowLEB, Lincoln : June 9th, 1884. Curious hahit of Osmia bicolo}\ Schk. — I was out collecting on the 28th ultc on the slope of one of our hills, the morning was very bright and hot, and a bris wind was blowing. Owing to the dry weather we had lately experienced, the vegt tation was more scant than usual, but the Helianthemum and the Lotus were i bunches of bloom. I had been collecting bees for some days previously in the woo skirting this slope, and had met with Osmia bicolor ? , but could not meet with th S , so thought I would try the dry slope of the hill. I had not been standing aboi there many minutes, when I saw the female of the bee coming towards me carryin in her jaws a bit of dry bent some four inches long, holding it in the middle, jus exactly as an acrobat would carry a balancing pole to steady himself. As she cam past me I secured her in my net with the bent in her mouth, which, when she foun she was caught, she immediately dropped. Soon after this I saw another an another engaged in tlie same business ; they would settle down momentarily on tl ground, seize hold of a short bent, and start away with it in the direction of tl wood below. I saw this done at least twenty times by as many bees, and secure most of them. The moment I saw the first bee with the bent, I recollected I ha observed the same habit last year, but I had not then so good an opportunity i watching the bees as now. I at first came to the conclusion that this had somethin to do with their nidification, but am now very doubtful on tliis point, as the sair day I discovered this bee making its nidus in the shell of Helix nemoralis, and ca}, tured the bee in the whorl of the shell. I shall be very glad to know if this habi has been noticed by others, and, if so, what suggestions they may have to offer, asi fancy the habit must be peculiar as well as strange. — V. R. Perkins, Wotton-undeh Edge : June 6th, 1884. Lecaniiim cesculi. — On sheltered paling under young hor&e-chestnut tv&i {^sculus) I, this morning (shade-temperature 78° Fahr.), found a newly-emerge male of a Lecanium, which I take to be L. cesculi, KolL, sec. Signoret, Ess. Cocbi p. 242. It agrees very well with Signoret's description and his figure, pi. xii, fig. 12 it also conforms to Curtis' figure of Coccus aceris (Brit. Ent., pi. 717), which Siji noret says {op. cit., p. 14) is truly Lecanium aceris, Schrank. Signoret, whiii admitting that L. aceris, auct., and L. cesculi, KolL, are very much alike, finds di ferences which he deems to be specific ; from paucity of material I can offer i opinion on the point ; certainly Signoret's figures of tlie tAvo species, as understoc by him, are not alike. The scales on the sycamore and horse-chestnut are, sexually, very different! form and size, yet very similar on the two kinds of tree. I have often found the during winter and spring on the lowest and most sheltered young branches of th© trees, where, doubtless, there is less chance of their being rubbed off by the casualtit of winter than if placed on the higher branches, but I have always failed to the males from the scales removed and kept in glass tubes, and never till now tured or saw one of these rarities.— J. W. Douglas, 8, Beaufort GTardens, Lcwishaui Mayi lOt/i, 1884. Hydroptilafernoralis, Eaton, in Scotland. — At an excursion which the Natural History Society of Grlasgow had to the hille above Port Glasgow on May Slst, I was ; fortunate enough to obtain a nice series of Hydroptila femoralis, Eaton, by beating the branches of Scotch firs, and sweeping the herbage along the edge of the burn in the Devol G-len. This species has not, as far as I am aware, been recorded from Scotland ; it has been captured by the Kev. Mr. Eaton near Ashbourne, Derbyshire^ in June. ^ It is to be regretted that so little is known about the distribution of these small caddis-flies, which is, no doubt, owing to the difficulty of collection, and also in getting the specimens named. I think that a large amount of the latter raiglit be ; obviated by examining the specimens when they are freshly killed, as then the anal parts are very clear. — James J. King, 207, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow : June \Mh, 1884. Henry Waring Kidd died at Godalming on March 23rd, aged 39, after three » days' illness, according to a recent death-roll in the " Times." Readers of the first '« eight volumes of this Magazine will remember the numerous and valuable observa- 1 tions by 11. W. Kidd on galls and gall-insects. But, probably, very few were aware • ' of the physical disadvantages under which the writer of those notes laboured. A helpless paralytic cripple from birth, utterly without the use of his legs, and almost ■, ' in an equal degree without the use of his hands, he was a striking example of the i consolation derived from a taste for Natural History in the face of such terrible odds. \ H. W. Kidd was the son of Dr. Waring Kidd, of Godalming, who, it was long \ believed, wrote in the old " Entomological Magazine," and in the " Entomologist" i! of 1840—42, under the pseudonym " Rusticus," and was presumed to be the author ' ' of the charmingly written " Letters of ' Rusticus ;' " but it was afterwards athorita- tively announced that Dr. Kidd only furnished some of the materials. The South London Entomological and Natueal Histoey Society opened their New Rooms at 60, Blackman Street, Borough, S.E., on June 5th, at 8 p.m., with an Exhibition Meeting, wliich was largely attended, in spite of the inclemency of the weather. The exhibits were as follows : — Mr. T. R. Billups, 10 drawers of Coleoptera, 1 of Biptera, 4 of Hymenoptera, 1 of Hemiptera, 1 of Arachnidce, 2 of Orthoptera, and 3 of Mollusca ; also the life- 1 history of Tephritis onopordinis, the destructive celery-fly. Mr. Wellman, 2 drawers of Geometrce, and a series of Fidonia atomaria, which ■:, included a fine black variety. Mr. Elisha, 2 drawers of Tinecs. Mr. Adkin, 1 draw of OeometrcB, 1 of Cuspidates, and a series of Nola cento- jl nalis and Boletohia fuJiginaria. Mr. J. T. Williams, 6 bred specimens of Boletohia fuliginaria. Mr. Coverdale, a series of Lepidoptera, illustrating his new method of mounting without pinning. The President (Mr. W. West, L.D.S.), life-histories of 24 species of British I Lepidoptera. \ Mr. West, Greenwich, a collection of leaves infested with Coleophora, pupae of British Lepidoptera, and Actias Selene, an exotic silk-producer. 40 July, Mr. Hall, 1 case of Lycanidre. Mr. Bliss, 5 drawers of Exotic Lepidopiera. Mr. C. H.. Williams, life-histories of 4 species o^ Lepidopiera. Mr. Vincent, case of Neiiroptera and Trlchoptera. Mr. Eley, a small collection of Coleoptera. The Society's Typical Collection of British Insects was on view. An interesting feature was a variety of Entomological and other objects ex- hibited under microscopes. Mr. W. A. Pearce exhibited mounted Botanical specimens. Mr. Step water- colour sketches of British Fungi. Mr. A. E. Pearce water-colour studies of British and foi'eign plants. Waltee a. Pearce, Honorary Secretary. [The modest official report scarcely does justice to the excellence and. im- portance of this exhibition. All Orders of insects were well represented, and the condition of the specimens left nothing to be desired from a purely British point of view. Moreover, the recent enlargement of the scope of the Society, which permits it to include Natural History generally, had a decidedly beneficial effect, which will no doubt be still more apparent on future occasions. — Ei>s.]. ENTOMOLoaicAL SOCIETY OF LoNDON : Uh June, 1884.- -J. W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. Captain Richard Holt, of Wandsworth, and F. de V. Kanes, Esq., of Kingstown, Ireland, were elected Members. The Secretary read a letter from the President of the Society of Natural] Sciences of Philadelphia inviting Members of the Society to the Congress to be held there this ensuing autumn. Mr. Coverdale exhibited specimens of Micro (and other) Lepidopiera, illustra- ting his method of mounting on pith without pinning. Mr. McLachlan exhibited galls on the roots of various species of Cattleya, sup- posed to be produced by Lsosoma orchidearum, Westwood (vide report of previous Meeting, ante p. 24). He also exhibited the shell-like larva-cases from East Africa described in this Vol., pp. 1, 2. And nearly 100 microscopic slides of British Aphides, prepared by the late Francis Walker in 1847, which had been presented tc him by Mr. P. Hubert Desvignes, son of the late Mr. Peter Desvignes, who was one of the original Members of the Society : these slides evinced great care and skill ir microscopic mounting, considering that nearly 40 years had elapsed since they wert prepared. Mr. Billups exhibited a south European ant {Cremastog aster scutellaris) caughl at Grreenwich, and suggested that it might have been imported in cork. Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited strawberry plants from his garden at Cheshunt curiously deformed, which he thought might be due to the action of some insect oi Acarus, but of which no trace could be found. The flowers were wholly phylloid and the stems much shortened and flattened, so as to assume the character of tin condition known in teratological botany as " fasciation." Mr. F. Moore communicated Description of new species of Indian Heterocerou Lejpidoptera, chiefly in the collection of the British Museum, Mr. W. H. Patton communicated notes on the classification and synonymy o Fig-insects, in which he differed somewhat from tlie conclusions arrived at by tin late Sir S. S. Saunders. a I 1884. J 41 I NOTES ON BRITISH TORTRICES. 1 BY CHAS. G. BARRETT. i {Continued from Vol. xx,p. 270). Toy^trix Branderiana, L. — Larva stout, each segment thickened, especially the third and fourth, and tapering thence to the anal seg- laaent. Colour dirty pale green, spots minute, black, with small hairs. Head and plates black, the dorsal plate having in front a white collar. Pupa blackish. Feeding between united leaves of aspen. The larva iescribed — the only one that I have seen — was sent by Mr. Hodgkinson ■ 3f Preston, who reared others. This one did not produce the perfect nsect. Zeller describes this larva : " slender, very active, when young nearly black, with raised dots of the same colour bearing hairs ; when , Eull-grown, head, dorsal plate and claw-feet black, the dorsal bordered Sm front with white. In May in a folded leaf of Fopulus tremula.'' Pe7V7iea mixtana, Hiib. — Larva active, cylindrical, rather slender, j^ellowish-green with green dorsal vessel. Head yellowish-brown, plates bright green. On Calluna vulgaris in the beginning of August, drawing together the terminal shoots and forming a chamber among them in which it lives, coming out — apparently at night — to feed on the tips. Pupa dark brown, in a slight cocoon in the same place. The moths emerged early in November. These larvae were found in Scotland by my old friend Dr. Algernon Chapman, who very kindly forwarded them to me. Teras contaminana.^ Hiib. — Sluggish and rather plump, slightly flattened, when young pale green with head and dorsal plate black, when older the head becomes brown, and when full-grown the body :becomes almost yellowish, the head pale brown, and the dorsal plate yellowish, anal plate green at all ages. Yery plentiful in June drawing together leaves and terminal shoots of hawthorn and blackthorn, and feeding between them. Becoming a brown pupa in the same place. Zeller says it feeds on wild apple, plum, pear, sloe, oak, and mountain ash. Dictyopteryx Bergmanniana, L. — Larva cylindrical, when young pale greenish grey, paler beneath, sometimes even bluish when very young, head and both plates black and shining. At this time it com- j jmonly folds together a leaflet of rose and lives between. When older it often becomes yellow, sometimes very bright yellow, and the anal 42 r.Tnly, plate becomes jellow with a brown spot. Teeding, in night-time, in shoots and young leaves of all sorts of roses, and, sometimes, even on dewberry (Bubus ccBsius) drawing the leaves together, or even, in small roses, twisting them over like a hood. This latter is particularly obser- vable in Rosa spinosissima. The pupa state is assumed among the twisted leaves, and the moth emerges in myriads at the end of June. Brachytcdnia semifasciana, Haw. — Larva rather plump and slightly flattened, pea-green, with darker green dorsal and sub-dorsal lines, sometimes with a whitish appearance of efflorescence and whitish segmental divisions. Head yellowish-green, plates both green. On SalLv caprcea and other sallows in May and June, drawing together terminal leaves. Pupa blackish, in a cocoon of white silk between leaves, moth emerging at the end of June and in July. Rentliina hetuletana, Haw. — Larva cylindrical, smooth, shining andij rather plump but active. When young pale yellowish with broad g^6y-&^6^^^ dorsal vessel. Spots black, but very minute, hairs trans- parent. Head and plates jet-black, dorsal plate narrow and placedi? far back on the second segment. When full-fed rather attenuated at each extremity. Bright green j with yellow folds between the segments, the raised spots distinct andi yellow, and having a narrow dorsal, and two sub-dorsal lines grey-greenj Head small, yellowish-green, plates pale green. In May and June in screwed-up leaves of birch. Found odi Moncrieffe Hill, Perthshire, by the late Sir Thomas Moncrieffe. Penthina variegana, Hiib. {cynoslateUa, L.) — Larva cylindricalii rather sluggish, very dark green, spots black, very small. Head ano plates black. On hawthorn and blackthorn, drawing together a lea:a or two with silk in May and June. Pupa black, in the same placei moth emerging at the end of June. Penihina pruniana, Hiib.— Larva sluggish, short and plump, brighi green, spots distinct, and shining black with short hairs. Head ano dorsal plate shining black, anal plate either black or green. Oi) blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), drawing together the terminal shoots an« eating out their hearts, feeding from April to June. When f ull-fep^f^7« 5^«r5«, Dalm.— Cintra, 26th and 27th April. Slightly ioubtful. \ I Stactohia fuscicornis, Schneider. — Between Cea and Sabugueiro, tth June, between Oporto and Santa Anna, 18th June, near Villa Real, 24th June ; not uncommon. I * OrthotricJiia angiistella, McLach. — Near Cintra, 31st May and 1st June, and Ponte de Morcellos, 12th June ; many examples. Oxyetheira unidentata, McLach. {n.sp.). — Near Silves, 17th May. |A.pparently quite distinct from O. costalis. One or two species of Hydroptilidcd remain undetermined. ' For convenience of reference, the principal localities cited above ( are here given according to the provinces in which they are situated : — |l Ancient Kingdom of Algarve : — Poia, Picota, Sao Marcos da Serra, Silves, Monchique, Alferce. Alemtejo : — Almodovar. Estremadura : — Lisbon, Cintra. Beira : — Cea, Coimbra, Estrella, Sabugueiro, Sao Eomao, Ponte le Morcellos. Minho : — Oporto. Traz-os-Montes : — Villa Eeal, Euivaes. In order to complete the Linnsean Order Neuroptera (and this series of notes), the EpJiemeridcje and FerlidcB still remain to be enu- 'inerated. The former will be supplied by Mr. Eaton himself; the few species of the latter by one (or both) of us, so far as they can be determined. Lewisham. London : June, 1884. 54 [August, THE NITIDULID^ OP GREAT BRITAIN. BY REV. W. W. rOWLER, M.A., F.L.S. The position of the NitidulidcB is somewhat difficult to determine ; there is no doubt that thej have a connection with the Silphidce, both in structure and also through the habitat o£ many of the members of the family ; on the other hand, however, through Ips and Rhizophagus, they closely approach the TrogositidcB {Nemosoma, &c.) ; in fact, Erich- son classed the latter with the Nitidididce^ but they are separated off as a distinct family by the different plan of structure of the maxillaB and tarsi. Perhaps, as a whole, the Nitidulidce come in best between the HisteridcB^ to which in many ways they bear a close relation, and the Trogositidce ; and if the aberrant genus Micropeplus is to be removed from the StapliylinidcB, as seems necessary, to the neighbour- hood of the Nitidalidce, it cannot be better placed than immediately after the Histeridce, as a connecting link between Onthopliilus and the braohypterous genera of the Nitidulidce. The genus Byturus is often placed in the NitidulidcB. It ap- j)roaches this family, as remarked by Professor Westwood, "iu its habiit of frequenting flowers, and in the bilobed form of the third and minute size of the fourth joints of the tarsus," but it recedes from it iii several important particulars, notably in having the mandibles with several teeth, and in the fact that the tarsi have the second and third joints prolonged beneath into a membranous lobe. Dr. LeConte and Dr. Horn (Classification of the Coleoptera of North America, p. 141)' place this genus in the Dermestidce, at the same time noting the above! pecularitics, and stating that the position of the genus has been much disputed : — Erichson placing it in the Melyridw, Du Val in the TelmaA topliiUdcB, Eedtenbacher and Lacordaire in the DermestidcB, and YAQ^eiiViQiieY m the NitidulidcB ; according to the external skeleton i it might perhaps be placed in the Mycetophagidcd. The following are' the chief characteristics of the Nitidulid(B : — Head small, sunk into the thorax, which is usually emarginate ; forehead somi times straight, sometimes emarginate, in some cases furnished with strong lobes m each side {Amphotis, Soronia). Mentum very variable; usually narrow {Ip\ Cryptarcha, Cercus) ; sometimes broad, almost semicircular {Cychramus) ; wit anterior angles rounded i^Ips), or produced into a point {Nitidula), often bisinuaf in front {Nitidula, Soronia), or contracted in front and behind, and forming a obtuse angle in the middle of the sides {Omosita, Epurcea, Carpophilus) , or roundel in front, and furnished with two sharp strong teeth in the middle of the anterici margin, forming between them a deep emargination {Meligethes, Pria) ; the meic turn consists of two pieces, the suture of which is more or less plain. Maxill 1884.] 55 ilmost always unilobed ; occasionally bilobed {Brachyjiterus, Cercm) ; maxillary Dalpi usually short and thick ; sometimes longer and more slender {Pria, Cryiptarchd) . IJabial palpi short and thick, usually truncate at apex ; paraglossae marked in some ipecies. Mandibles variable : usually bluntly pointed at apex, and toothed imme- liately behind apex ; sometimes quite bifid {Amphotis) ; sometimes simple {Cychra- nus, CercHs) ; occasionally with a large sharp tip {Cryptarcha, Micruria). Antennae inserted under margin of front, ll-jointed, ending in a three-jointed, •arely two-jointed, club. (In Rhizophagus the club is two-jointed, and the 11th oint is wholly or partially enclosed within the 10th.) The club is strong, round, md compact (XitiduJa, JEpurcea, Meligethes), rather loose {Ips), or rather elongate ■ind feebly capitate {Cercus, Brachypterus) ; the antennae are received into furrows !n the head and thorax, which vary much in width, depth, and direction. Thorax usually widely margined at sides {Epurcea), sometimes very narrowly nargined {Mellgethes) , fitting closely to the elytra {Ips, Epurcea), or overlapping -he base of the elytra {Cychramus, Cryptarcha). Prosternum usually not pro- duced, but occasionally considerably produced {Pria, Thalycra, Meligethes). An- terior coxae transverse ; anterior coxal cavities nearly always closed (open in [ps). Mesosternum separating the middle coxae more or less widely : bifurcate , [Soronia), or emarginate in a wide curve {Cryptarcha) , ov broadly truncate {Omosita), ; it base ; epimera reaching to the coxae. Metasternum with cpisterna very narrow ; ;pimera invisible. Elytra entire, covering abdomen {Meligethes, Soronia, &c.) ; lometimes truncate, and leaving more or less of the abdomen exposed {Ips, Bra- ' fhypterus, Carpophilus). Il Abdomen with five free ventral segments ; males occasionally with a sixth dorsal rtegment {Epurcea, Brachypterus, Carpophilus). Legs short, usually rather stout, learly always retractile, in some cases {Meligethes, Omosita) strongly so ; tarsi five- pointed in both sexes, except in one or two foreign families, and in the Mhizophagina, \n which they are heteromerous in the male ; the 4th joint is very small, and the first three are usually broad, and clothed on the under-side with fine silky hairs. Erom the above characters it will be seen that the Nitidulidm form rather a heterogeneous family ; their clubbed antennae, however, separate them from a large number of families, and from the other families that also have clubbed antennae they maybe distinguished by the cylindrical anterior coxae, the free segments of the abdomen, and in most cases by the minute fourth joint of the tarsi. The following table will be found serviceable for separating the family into tribes ; for the greater portion of it, and for other informa- tion, I am much indebted to the kindness of Dr. Horn ; I have, however, dissected specimens of all the genera, and in some cases of several species in each genus, and representatives of the neighbouring families, and have altered and added to several points in order to suit our fauna; Dr. Horn's system in the main agrees with that of Erichson, except that the latter adds the Feltides as a separate group 'Of his Nitidularice, distinguished by having the first tarsal joint small instead of the fourth, and containing Nemosoma, TemnocUla, Trogosita, ■■■ iPeltis, and Thymalus. 1 56 r August, I. Antennse 11-jointed, terminated by a 3-jointed club ; tarsi isomerous, similar in the two sexes, in the British families pentaraerous. i. Labrum free, more or less visible. A. Maxillae with two lobes : antennse with a feeble elongate club.. Beachypteeina.1 B. Maxillse with one lobe; antennse with a strong, round, compact club a. Thorax fitting closely to elytra, not covering base of elytaa ©(•. Abdomen with two segments exposed .... Caepophilina. 8. Abdom^i covered, or only apex of pygidium exposed .. NiTIDULINA. h. Thorax covering the base of the elytra Cycheamina, ii. Labrum connate with the front, suture moi'e or less distinct Ipina. II, Antennse 11-jointed, club 2-jointed, the 11th joint wholly or partially enclosed within the 10th ; tarsi dissimilar in the sexes, heteromerous in the males, pen- tamerous in the females Rhizophagina. BEACHYPTEEINA. The members of this tribe may be distinguished by their elongate club, bilobed maxillse, and very short, feeble, antennal grooves, which are not visible below the eyes ; it contains two genera. 1. Claws plainly toothed at base ; extra anal segment of male plain.. Beachypteeus. 2. Claws not, or hardly, visibly toothed ; extra anal segment of male obscure .. Ceecus. Beachypteeus, Kugelann. 1. Elytra one-third longer than thorax. B. gravidus, 111. — Easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by its larger size and more convex form, and by having the elytra much shorter in com- parison to the thorax: the thorax is bisinuate at base, with. the posterior angles' almost right angles. Length, 1^ to 1| lin. Not uncommon, but local ; found on the common toad-flax,is Linaria vulgaris ; Hunstanton, Burwell Fen, Maidstone, Mickleham,ii Eeigate, Folkestone, Shiere, &c. 2. Elytra nearly twice as long as thorax. B. puhescens, Er. — Leaden-black, with whitish pubescence ; legs and antenna&l' pitchy ; elytra rather lees strongly punctured than is the case with the next species. Length, 1 lin. Very common on nettles throughout the country. B. urticcB, Kug. — Reddish-brown, shiny ; legs and antennse rufous ; pubescence very thin ; elytra rather longer in proportion to thorax than in the preceding species. and with rather stronger punctuation. Length, 1 lin. Yery common on nettles throughout the country. These species are very often mistaken for Ileligetlies by beginners, but, apart from other differences, they may at once be distinguished by their partially uncovered abdomen, simple anterior tibise, and. especially in the case of the last two species, by their longer and mud less retractile legs. « u 57 Thomson places B. gravidus in a separate genus, retaining Gyllen- lal's old name, CatJiereies ijulicarius (Ins. Suec., i, 245). Ceecus, Latreille. With regard to the small apical dorsal segment, through the ibsence of which in- both sexes this genus is to a great extent sepa- ated from the preceding, there seems to be a difference of opinion ; Erichson expressly says that the pygidium is simple in both sexes ; Thomson says, " segmento anali maris baud conspicuo ;" and Dr. Horn 3ays of the Brachypterina generally (including Cercus)/'i\iQ males have a small apical dorsal segment ;" as a rule, no such segment is to 3e seen, but in one of my specimens of Cercus pedicularius ( c^), there appears to be a very small dorsal segment at the extreme apex, which only visible under a high power, and when the beetle is held in a jertain position. L. Antennse long ; thorax transverse. C. pedicularius, Linn. — Very like the next species, but distinguished by its colour the elytra being reddish-testaceous, with the part round the scutellumand the apex paore or less dark — and also by the strongly dilated, triangular, second joint of the ntennae of the male. Length, | — 15 lin. Common on reeds, &c., in marshy localities. I have beaten it in abundance off Carex paniculata, in the Isle of "Wight. It also occurs bn the meadow sweet {Spircea ulmarid) and other flowers. |: C. hipustulaUis, Payk. — Elytra black, with two large testaceous spots on disc ; colour, however, very variable, sometimes entirely reddish-testaceous ; in doubtful ;ase8 the species may be distinguished by the simple second joint of the antennse of :;he male ; single female specimens of the two species are sometimes hard to deter- rine. Length, f — li lin. Common, under the same circumstances as the preceding. I have beaten it from Carex paniculata at Nocton, near Lincoln, in some numbers ; also found on Spiraea, and it has occurred in Cossus bur- rows in Sherwood Forest. 2. Antenna? short ; thorax nearly as long as broad, gradually contracted from base. C. rujilalris, Latr. — Yariable in colour ; usually blackish, with reddish mouth and legs ; sometimes entirely testaceous ; always very easily distinguished by the ftibove characters. Length, -| lin. f Common in marshy localities, on rushes and reeds, and by general iBweeping. CAEPOPHILINA. The genera of this tribe are distinguished from the Bracliypterina by their compact club, unilobed maxillae, and very evident grooves for jtbe reception of the antennse, and by the fact that a larger portion of Ithe abdomen is left uncovered by the elytra. The species of this 58 August, tribe are usually considered to be importations, but one or two have occurred under circumstances that give them abetter claim to be con- sidered indigenous than many other species already in our lists. ^ Carpophilus, Leach. | 1. Elytra spotted with yellow. a Thorax narrowed in front and widened behind ; elytra scarcely longer than thorax. C. hemipferus, Linn, {fiexuosus, Payk.).--Eather stoutly built, short and con- vex, with thorax much wider at base than at apex ; black, more or less pubescent ; elytra with a yellow spot at shoulder, and another at apex, sometimes wholly, some- times partially, covering their apical half. Length, 1\ — 1\ lin. This cosmopolitan species has often been imported with sugar, dried fruits, grain, and other provisions. Dr. Power, however, tells me that Turner once brought him four specimens alive, which he had taken with Engis humeralis in Cossus burrows in Dulwich Wood. Dr. Power has himself taken Silvanus, Trogosita, &c., under bark in the open country, and considers that all of them had probably wandered from some other locality. b Thorax narrowed in front and behind ; elytra twice as long as thorax. C. sexpustulatiis, Fabr. — Long and flat, narrow, somewhat shiny ; elytra witbj parallel sides ; thorax almost circular, rather broadly margined at the sides ; reddish-l brown in colour ; elytra with two plain impressions on each, and three spots, one alii shoulder, which is often obscure, a plainer one in the middle, and a third at apex usually obscure, sometimes almost invisible. Length, 1 — 1^ lin. This is the most doubtful of the three species as British ; only a few examples appear to be known, and they are undoubted importations. 2. Elytra without spots. C. mutilatus, Er. {hemipterus, Fabr., nee Jiemijjterus, Linn.). — Considerably narii rower in proportion than C. hemipterus, Linn., but wider than C. sexpustulatus S\ thorax quadrate, hardly broader at base than at apex, sides very slightly rounded :li elytra not much longer than thorax ; head reddish, thorax and abdomen darker r elytra rufescent, without spots, apical angles and region round scutellum more ok less broadly darker. Length, 1 — \\ lin. Among some beetles sent me for names by Mr. Beaumont, I f ounci two specimens of this species, which has not hitherto been recorded aji British ; Mr. Beaumont informed me that they had been given him bj) Mr. T. K. Hardy, of Manchester, who has himself written to me oti the subject ; he says that he has considered it to be C. sexpustulatusi and that he has taken it very commonly at the bottom of old wheal stacks in his neighbourhood. He has also taken it at Sherwooci Porest in Cossus burrows, which fact goes a long way towards es' tablishing its claim to be regarded as indigenous. Dr. Power possesses two specimens from Mr. E. A. Fitch, which have evidently been imi ported with corn ; it is very probably in many collections, unknowit or standing under another name. (To he continued.) iJ 59 )N TPIE COLEOPRORA OF THE STATICE LIMONIUM, HITHERTO : ERRONEOUSLY RECORDED AS GONIODOMA AUROGUTTELLA, ^ F. V. R. BY H. T. STAINTOTf, F.R.S. In the Entomologists' Annual for 1855, p. 46 (2ud Edition, p. 68), announced the capture in this country of G-oniodoma auroguttella, on he authority of " a single specimen taken by Mr. S. Stevens in the sle of Wight, last August, on the banks of the Tar, near Yarmouth, >y sweeping the herbage." ' I believe the description which I there gave w^as made from Con- inental specimens, w^hich we now know to be a totally different pecies. The same remark no doubt applies to the description given Q the Manual, vol. ii, p. 393. In the Entomologists' Annual for 1874, when summarising the bservations on Tineina, which had appeared in the previous nineteen olumes, I remarked (p. 32) of this Isle of Wight insect, which, by 'hat time, had been taken also by Mr. Bond and others in consider- able numbers : ? "This differs rather from Continental specimens, being darker ■nd larger. The Continental insect feeds on seeds of Atriplex, using m empty seed as a case. I am assured by Mr. Bond, who has often ijollected in the Isle of Wight, that where this insect occurs there 4-triplex is wanting." jj It seems strange now that the idea of its being really distinct ilrom the Vienna insect had not dawned on one sooner, as Mr. S. • Stevens had very kindly supplied me with living specimens as far back j;i8 1855, which, wdth others subsequently given me by Mr. Bond, had ,tood in my collection by the side of a veritable auroguttella from Vienna, which I had placed there to illustrate the species when it first )ccurred with us. ■ When Zeller wrote his treatise on Coleoplwra, which appeared in i849, in the 4th volume of the Linnjea Entomologica, the Vienna ipecies had ceased to be found in its original locality, and had not )een detected elsewhere. Subsequently, it occurred in Hungary, vhence I received specimens from Dr. Staudinger in 1866 and in 1876. [n 1877, Herr Mann sent it me from Austria. j I I had thus been gradually collecting materials for a more thorough '^Jomparison of the insects from Austria and Hungary, with those from the Isle of Wight, insects similar in form and appearance, but 3f utterly diverse habits, which w^ere still strangely coupled together I under the same name. 60 [August, Last January I received from Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher an intima- tion that he thought he had found the larva of the Isle of Wight insect, for on the spot where he had formerly taken the imago freely, he had swept early in September a number of larvae feeding on the flowers of Statice Umonium, using an empty flower as a case, much in the style of Gelechia suhocellea, but when full-fed boring into the flower-stem of the food-plant, or into the culm of a grass, leaving the case outside. The case afterwards generally falling off, leaving only the hole, carefully closed with silk, to indicate the presence of the larva within. In May, Mr. Fletcher, having spent a night at Freshwater, sent me some old stems of the Statice Umonium, containing larvae still un- changed, and from these I have, during the past fortnight, bred a nice series of the perfect insect. That an insect allied to the Qoniodoma auroguttella, which Fischer von E/Oslerstamm had so elaborately figured, occurred amongst a Statice at Cannes, has already been recorded in the Annales de la Sociefce Entomologique de France, 1882, bull, cxlix, by M. E. L. Eagonot, who proposed for it the name of Goniodoma Millierella, but this insect from the South of France does not appear to be identical with our Isle of Wight insect. 1° Millierella is said to be smaller than auroguttella ; now it is exactly the reverse with our Isle of Wight species, 2° No mention is made under Millierella of the much darker ground-colour, which so readily attracts our attention when contem-o plating the species from the Isle of Wight. ' 3° The great difference shown between auroguttella and the Isltt of Wight insect in the colouring of the apical portion of the costaij cilia, is not alluded to by Hagonot in the brief notice given of Millier\ ella. Hence I am forced to conclude that our British species is noK identical with the Millierella of Bagonot, and I would propose for i the name of limoniella ; further, as it would hardly be suitable teii 1^ ieir 66 [August, neither frost nor water can kill, the curlew and plover, which are so fond oj mountains in hard winters, can. These plovers inliabit the sea-marshes, but wher frost locks their food there their instinct teaches them to look for it in a similai place, which thej find on mountains ; and there, when frost and water miss th( moth-grub, they will work their beaks into the rushes and grassy tufts, and devoui myriads of them in a few weeks. Now, the winter of 1882 was mild, with the exception of two or three days' frost, and left the grubs all alive and kept the birds in their marshes as well. The summer of 1883 produced them all alive. Thej again fostered in their usual way, and were very numerous. Last winter was mild, and this good summer produces the myriads of caters as a result of two mild winters." Action of Ci^anide of Potassium on colour. — The recent notice in the Magazine of the action of cyanide of potassium on a butterfly reminds me that I have noticed the directly opposite effect. In June, 1880, I was at Zermatt, and filled all mj boxes the day but one before leaving, but, having a tin-killing box with a perforated division in it (I always use saturated solution of cyanide) I put my next day'f captures between papers in the top part, but, unfortunately, did not remove the cotton -wool from beneath, which was soaked in the cyanide. I was unable to sei these for four or five months, and when I took them in hand found that they wer( all bleached. LyccBna Rylas and Damon were changed into the palest brown or buff Satyrus Alcyone and Actcsa v. cordttht, S , had all the colour taken out of them, ai well as hyperanthus and several others, so much so, that if I had not known wha insects were in the box they would have been totally unrecognisable, as they war all thoroughly bleached and rendered more or less ti-ansparent. — George T. Bazeb 9, Augustus Eoad, Birmingham t July, 1884. Note respecting Argynnis Jainadeva and A. Adippe. — In a small series of but terflies from the N. W. Himalayas recently presented to the Museum, I found, male example of Argynnis Jainadeva so closely resembling A. Adippe, $ , both i: its ground-colour and in the size and arrangement of its markings, that I was 8: first convinced that Mr. Moore must, as some Lepidopterists assert, have erred i'| separating it from the European species : upon placing it with our series of A Adippe I was, to my surprise, immediately convinced of its total distinctness. Mr. Eiwes has frequently urged upon me the importance, in his opinion, of tbt expanded fusiform patches upon the median branches in the males of many specie of Argynnis, as probably constant and therefore valuable characters for the detei nation of otherwise nearly allied forms ; in this opinion I have no doubt he is rigl and therefore I do not hesitate to regard Argynnis Adippe (the male of which two such patches upon the pi'imaries) as perfectly distinct from A. Jainadeva, wliich these patches have not been developed. — A. Gr. Butler, British Museui July, 18ai.. Note cm Vanessa cardui. — With regard to the note in last month's Ent. Mil Mag. (p. 34), I may say that this species appears to be most unusually abundant oj the Continent this year. I recently made a short excursion, chiefly in Save, Butterflies did not appear to be so common as they usually are in alpine district But V. cardui was evei'ywhere, from 5500 ft. downwards, and, in individuals, pp 4 1 67 ibly represented about one-fourth of all the Butterflies obseryed. Most of the leciraens bore evidence of hibernation and travel, but occasionally an example was en in so fresh a condition as to induce me to believe it must have recently emerged W the pupa state. I observed no tendency to form " columns," nor of any parti- llar direction in flight ; they Avere simply dashing about in the usual vs^ild manner. B. McLachlan, Lewisham, London : July Vlth, 1884. Coehlophora (?) valvata, Gerst. {cf. ante p. 27).— It can hardly be expected that should be able to explain how an error originated in one of the " Zoological pcords " of ten years ago ; but I wish to point out that although Grerstacker found remains of larva or pupa in cases, he, nevertheless, found traces of a cocoon or pb still adhering to the opening. The first account of Cochlo'phora (?) valvata curs in Arch. f. Nat. xxxvii, p. 361 ( to where she alighted, and thought now I should see what she was doing, and be ! le to solve the mystery, but she was only resting, for, on my approach, she started ', and with the long bent hanging from her jaws, was making for the same direction F 2 68 [August, that the others had taken, when I stopped her from going any further, and secured her and her burden. Now, here comes a question, why did this one bee go up th( hill side, when all the others had taken a contrary direction ? Can it be put down tc instinct ? Did she know the burden she was carrying would weigh her down, anc that, consequently, she must start from a higher elevation in order to clear the topi of the trees below ? It looks uncommonly like it, and we know that the intelligence of this genus ranks very high. The nest time I went was to all appearance ar equally favourable day, but although I waited a considerable time I only saw one bee with a straw, and this was a very worn and faded insect. Since then I have nol seen any specimens of this bee, and conclude that they have entirely disappeared foi the season, and, therefore, I shall not be able to prosecute my enquiries further in thif direction. I notice that Shnckard, in his "British Bees," in speaking of O. hicolo and O. aurulenta, says that when they nidificate in snail-shells, after the cells are de posited, " they close up the aperture with earth and pebbles, or sticks agglutinatec together;" the one I found is covered-in with plain earth, and nothing else. Osmii aurulenta also occurs in this neighbourhood, but I have found this to be a burrowin; bee, and I have never observed it carrying bents. — Y. K. Perki^^s, Wotton-undei Edge : July l.it, 1884. Coelioxt/s elongata pupating on a thistle. — It may be interesting to note a ver curious departure from the supposed ordinary course of this species, which I bred o the 7th July from a cocoon found on a thistle on tlie 26th June. My young friend, who has been doing a little to Entomology for the past seve years, took unto himself a wife, and during his wedding trip saw a Vanessa cardi larva on a thistle. It struck him that he might as well collect a few larvae of cardii and in searching the thistles, he found the cocoon in question, and at once came I the conclusion that it was an ichneumon cocoon. Knowing my weakness for tl Ichneumonidce, he boxed it, brought it home, and gave it to me, with another 8U)( posed to be ichneumon, but which is without doubt that of a species of SyrphidtB.x The cocoon is very compact and hard, and it has resisted my efforts to softtf a portion of it in spirits of wine, and afterwards in boiling water. I was desirorl of doing this to ascertain, if possible, of what the outside covering consists. I vet strongly suspect it consists of portions of the florets of a thistle, as it has every a pearance of it, and in examining it with a strong lens, I can see the silken cords \ web which formed the foundation of the cocoon. My young friend thinks the vi was made by the larvae of cardui, the web being the cause of attracting his attenti to the thistle, thinking it contained a cardui larva. — G. C. Bignell, 7, Claren Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth : July 14th, 1884. Odynerus reniformis, Gmel., at Chertsey. — While rambling along the raili bank at Chertsey in search of Hymenoptera, at the latter end of May, my attent was attracted to what appeared to me at first sight to be a species of Ichneumoni but as its flight backwards and forwards was very rapid, it was some time befoi succeeded in capturing a specimen ; at last I managed to get one in the net, and ' delighted to find it was a species of Odynerus which I had not before met This led me to look carefully for its habitat, which I imagined must be somewbl in the bank close by. Some few yards from where I made my first capture, T c»j 1884.] C9 jupon a small bare spot of ground, certainly not more than two feet square, and here I found a cluster of beautifully granulated curved tubular entrances, eleven in all, plosely resembling the entrance tubes made by O. spinipes to its nest, the tubes Irising from the surface of the ground about one inch and a half, and, while examin- ing these curious structures, I managed to take two more specimens on their return to their storehouses, each having a larva of some species of Lepidoptera in its mouth. |Al heavy shower of rain prevented me from continuing my observations, and from jcapturing more on this occasion. On taking the three specimens to my friend, Mr. [jEdward Saunders, for his kind identification, he at once pi'onounces them to be Odynerus reniformis, Grmelin, and informed me that, with one exception, this species had never before been met with in England, he having taken a rm of the palpi as foundations for his genera— thus, as regards the Buration, the position of veins 3-5 of the posterior-wings, and of ' —8 of the anterior-wings deserves our attentive consideration. Turning to our new species we find that vein 2 of the posterior- ings arises at two-thirds, and vein 3 at four-fifths of the inner margin ' -: the middle cell, and that in the anterior-wings only veins 7 and 8, ^ Wh have a common stalk, terminate in the costa. In these characters , resembles only von Heinemann's genera Foecilia, Ergatis, Argyritis, "" tonochroa, Lamprotes and Borgpliora, but from all these it may be '^ ^stinguished by the extremely short, though pointed, terminal joint i i. the palpi, which is scarcely a third of the length of the middle jj lint, and further by the form of the posterior-wings of which the tj, jnd margin shows under the point in cell I an incision, as though the ,j| |ing would be split as in the Pferoplwri. comparison is now rather obsolete, as the prow of a ship is no longer formed as it •(i[| \ * This con ' |9dtobe.-H T.S. Q 74 [ f^eptem]>er, The characters of the new genus may thus be determined ai follows : Anterior-wings lanceolate, posterior-wings oblong-quadrangular with pointei projecting tip, the cilia very long. Antennae little more than two-thirds the lengtl of the anterior-wings, filiform, the basal joint oblong, little broader than the shafi with some diverging hairs at the base. Maxillary palpi and tongue wanting. Labia palpi falciform, with pointed terminal joint, the middle joint flat, as long as th head, beneath thin, above half as broad ns the eyes, the terminal joint one-third th length of the second joint, of uniform breadth at the base, the tip pointed, botl joints are rather rough in front, but smooth-scaled behind. Head rounded, rather flat, clothed with long closely-appressed scales, the fac^ oblong, broader than the eyes. Eyes moderate, ocelli very distinct. Thorax twici as broad as the head, flatly arched, smooth-scaled. Abdomen a third shorter thai the posterior- wings, thin, with a short anal tuft (c?). Legs formed and spurred a usual, of moderate length. Anterior-wings with 12 veins, the middle cell narrow, pointed, without distinc hind margin, veins 2 and 3 remote from each at two-thirds of the inner margin c the cell, 4, 5, 6, diverging from one point from the apex near the stalk of 7 and which run to the costa, 9, 10, and 11 apart from each other, 12 short ; no supply menlary cell. Posterior- wings with perceptible, though short, inner margin, a rounded ant angle, and at vein 4 the rounded curved hind margin, in which below the lonij projecting point is an incision. Cilia one-fourth longer than the breadth of the M'ing The posterior- wings have the inner-marginal veins very indistinct ; vein 2 ari& ' at two-thirds, 3 at four-fifths of the inner margin, 4 and 5 from one point from tl inner-marginal angle, the transverse vein tending backwards but soon ceasing, ai the middle cell open, 6 wanting,* 7 is the continuation of the anterior margin of tl middle cell, and runs very near the costa, ending in the apex of the wing, 8 very short. The costa and inner margin of the anterior-wings are parallel, and tolerab straight, the cilia at the apex rounded. The ground-colour of the palpi, antenn head, thorax, and anterior-wings is a greyish chalky-white, the latter sprinkled me and more with dark grey scales towards the hind margin and apex, and even on t| cilia ; these form no definite markings with the exception of a faint intersecting lii in the middle of the rather yellowish cilia. Posterior-wings light grey, with yellowish cilia. Abdomen also light grey, greyish-white, short anal tuft. The under-side is greyish- white, paler towards the apex of the wing, with indications of the intersecting line in the cilia from the apex of the wing. The middle cell of the anterior-wings occupies about a third of the breadtl the wings, and reaches to three-fourths of their length ; that of the posterior-i is above half the breadth of the wings, and two-thirds of their length. The specimen, a male, was taken by Heer Kiuker, June 5th, ISij at Noordwijk, probably on the edge of the dunes. * The posterior-wings have a fold at this place on both sides, so that it is imiDossible tc| whether vein 6 is really present, or whence it arises. ' 1884.] 75 Possibly this species is not the only representative of the genus, nd perhaps amongst the species placed by von Heinemann in his genus ')o7yphora are some that might be located along with Kinherella.'" Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : May Ibth, 1884. Occurrence of the larv(B of Dactylota Kinkerella in Holland. — Since ■writing le above, I have heard from my friend Heer P. C. T. Snellen, that the indications I ad sent him last autumn had enabled the Dutch Entomologists to find the larvsa D. KinJcerella, " in the leaves of Fsamma on the dunes ; they were very plentiful Zealand, though much scarcer near the Hague, but dreadfully infected with various ^hneumonidce. Moreover, as the larvae pass the winter unchanged, many die from boo much moisture, or from being too dry," so that the prospect of rearing the per- |Ct insects was not too bright when my friend wrote to me. — H. T. Stainton : illy 12th, 1884. LIFE HISTORY OF AGLOSSA CUFREALIS. From Notes by the late W. BUCKLER, Edited by Rev. J. HELLINS, M.A. This is one of the species, the larvae of which my late friend, [r. Buckler, had in hand at the time of his death, and the following jcount of it is compiled from the very full and precise notes left by im, with some little additions which were necessary to complete the Fe history. The eggs were obtained by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, who has also pry kindly given his assistance in working out some points in the fonomy of the larva. The eggs were laid by a captured moth during the last week of ^ily, 1882, being deposited, for the most part singly, on the sides of chip box ; on August 7th they changed colour, and on the 14th the krk heads of the larvae were visible through the shell ; most of the rvse hatched on the 15th, several more on the 17th, and one or two jain on the 20th and 21st. The larvae on hatching immediately hid themselves under a little ose bit of the chip box, as if instinctively seeking their natural fibitat, which is among and under rubbish accumulated on the barn 3or : they were at once placed on a little of such rubbish, -made up IS described in the history of A. pingui7icdis, Ent. Mo. Mag , vol. xx, 193) of husks of wheat and oats, bits of straw and dried grass, and irious dried stems and seeds — and on this they were reared. Mr. letcher considers that very probably they would prefer the wheat- G 2 yQ [September, straw, and husks, and would not by choice eat Cladium thatch ; one larva sent when nearly full-grown to Dr. Chapman made itself happy on a diet of bread ; it seems too that it is needful the food should not be too dry ; anything like mildew caused by damp would be injurious, but unless there is a certain amount of moisture in the food, such as w^ould generally exist in shady corners of stables and barns, the larvae seem to be starved, and certainly decrease in size ; and though they will bear starving to some extent, yet if the drought be continued, they die. From the first they spin the rubbish together, making tubes much in the same way as pmpmialis, and often making use of a straw, bean-husk, or folded leaf of Cladium mariscus, as a private retreat ; they seem, when supplied with plenty of materials, to make the sides of their galleries of some considerable thickness, and sometimes two or three larvae were found inhabiting the same gallery, which, however, in such a case would be noticeably longer than one occupied by a single tenant. The young larvae fed away at once, and their growth could be noticed after a few days ; in less than three weeks they were 4 mm. in length, and in four weeks more 7 mm. ; when disturbed they were very active, jumping backwards, hiding again as soon as possible, and,, showing great aversion to the light, and this, indeed, is the habit all through with the larva ; the number of moults was not observed, but one took place at about the age of two months, when the length wasi; still about 7 mm. ; and in another month, November 17th, they had not grown much, but a fortnight later again the largest was 9 mm..i| and this still was the length of one examined after hibernation odj March 4th, 1883 ; on March 26th one was turned out, which measure(ij 13 mm., but by May 1st most of them had not yet attained tha'i length ; by the 2 1st the largest was 19 mm., while some were only 1(1 mm. long ; on July l7th the largest had become 21 mm., other remaining still very small ; and the last examination made by Mil Buckler, September 18th, found them in the same condition : mean M hile, Mr. Fletcher had noticed that from the first some of the larvsF which he was rearing, were bent on outstripping the rest, though thai were all kept together, and received precisely the same treatment ; an during the summer of 1883 he bred two moths, and probably woul have bred more, had he not killed several of his largest larvae b keeping their food too dry through the winter, when he supposed the were hibernating ; but by far the largest number of his larvae live^" over 1883, and hibernated a second time, as was the case with all thoi in Mr. Buckler's care ; these last came into my possession, and c 1884.1 77 March 17th, 1884, I measured one fully 26 mm. long when extended in walking, and about 22 mm. w^hen at rest, and this I think would be the full-growm length : on 18th June I found I had three or four ijocoons formed, and on the same day received four other cocoons from Mr. Fletcher, two containing pupse, and two larvae yet unchanged ; Mr. Fletcher bred the rest of his moths in June and July, mine all smerged between July 12th and August 3rd, and on July 26th Mr. j^letcher sent me eggs from a captured moth. The lifetime, therefore, of an individual of this species may be iither one or two years in duration, out of which period its egg-stage 'ccupies three weeks or less, its pupa stage about a month, and the nterveniug ten or twenty-tw^o months are spent as a larva. J The egg is of a good size in proportion to the parent moth, and h of broad-oval outline, and plump, being about li nim. in long iameter, by i^ mm. in the shorter, and t* mm. in thickness, and eems to be deposited generally on its side ; the shell is thin, dull, and :|overed all over with large shallow^ irregularly pentagonal reticulation ; t first the colour is much the tint of new chip, but in about ten days hh becomes a very pale warm drab, and in another week the head of lie larva shows as a brown spot on one side of the egg. II The newly-hatched larva is 2| mm. in length, is just the colour • ^ new chip, head light brown, the neckplate very much paler brown ith a margin of pale skin between it and the head ; the skin 1 ^)aque, but allowing the internal vessel to be seen faintly, and at the velfth segment more plainly ; in ten days this internal vessel has ecome dark, and shows plainly through the pale skin : in another ten lys, when the larva is 4 mm. long, the body is wholly of an olive rown colour, the segmental folds showing somew^hat paler ; three eeks later, the larva, with an average length of 6 mm., is slender, le head light brown, rather shining ; the skin transparent, but show- g its whitish-grey tint at the segmental folds, and also along the des when one looks down on it from above ; but the internal organs ' r-e so dark, of a slaty-drab tint, and show through so plainly, that the iieral aspect is very dingy, the glossy plate on the second segment J : black behind, and paler in front, the eleventh segment shows paler ] ian the rest, and in some examples the thirteenth also ; the anal ate is pale almost whity-brown, the usual dots are very minute but ;i ilow dusky on the pale skin. In another fortnight the internal parts lii ftpear quite blackish, with paler intervals on the hinder segments, [b iiich show the greyish-white of the skin, the head brown, the plates jW before, the belly and all the legs colourless ; at this date, during a 78 f September moult, the blackish colouring is lost from the interior, so that only th head retains its colour, and the neck plate and two or three followin segments become greyish : the general appearance now remains muc the same for some time, till the length of 9 mm. has been attained, th skin being so clear that the pulsating dorsal vessel can be seen betwee it and the dark internal organs. During hibernation the length remains the same, but the bod becomes somewhat stouter ; at the beginning of March, the head i reddish-brown, the body dark slaty-grey brown with blackish dors£ line, but the back of the eleventh and thirteenth segments, the froE margin of the second, and all the legs, are greyish -white ; the skin i still so clear that the tracheal threads can be seen through it. Froi this time, as the larva increases in size, it seems to become darker i tint, and the skin becomes less transparent, and is in itself of a dirt whitish tint, and the dusky dots become less distinguishable ; when th length is about 12 mm., the general colour is brownish-black or blacl the head darker than before but retaining its reddish-brown tinge, tt middle part of the upper lip paler reddish-brown, the jaws black ; th anal flap pale-brownish and serai-transparent, as are all the legs, aii the papillae. At this stage, however, it seems the colour may vary a cording to the state of the food, or the proximity of a moult ; it w: noticed that a larva, which was looking pale greyish-drab, and wv, therefore considered a variety, on having its food damped turned bla(. in twenty-four hours ; and a figure was taken of a larva, more than J mm. long, preparing for a moult, drab in colour, with the dots showi: black; probably every moult is preceded by an obscuring of the daii internal organs, so that the colour at such times would always be pak A habitation of the larva depicted by Mr. Buckler represents agglomeration of pieces of straw, &c., about 3 inches long, and md than half-an-inch wide. The full-grown larva is 22 mm. in length, or 26 mm. when i tended, and just 3 mm. across the back at about its middle ; the figur* cylindrical, and the bulk very even throughout, except that the roune head is rather narrower than the second segment, which is itself : BO wide as the rest, being not so much puffed at the sides ; i1 noticeable, however, that the sub-spiracular ridge is less promin than in pinf/uinalis ; the skin is brilliantly glossy all over, but un}* the microscope is seen to be very finely and beautifully shagree the divisions between the second and third, and the third and foi segments (as in pinguinalis andifarinalis also) are curiously plica the folds broadening in a curve from the spiracular level to the i tity ; but it may be noted that bird and other natural history casei may be cleared from moth by a temporary but prolonged exposure t( cyanide vapour, under which treatment Tinea pellionella^ &c., surel succumbs. Weycombe, Haslemere : July %\st, 1884. * Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xxi, p. 23. t id., p. 66, \ Report of the British Association at Liverpool, 1854, p. 106. 1884. J ' 8J^ ON A NEW SPECIES OF HET2ERIUS. i BY GEOEGE LEWIS, F.L.S. j In the area assigned to the European Fauna there are fourteen species of Hetcerius known to us, five of these are found to the north )f the Mediterranean basin, and nine to the south of it. Outside this •egion six are reported from America, and two from Japan ; leaving ;he vast mainhind of Asia (probably rich in species) terra incognita as •egards the genus. The European species are : — Hetcerius ferrugineus, Oliv. Hetcerius lioderus, Eairm. IlarseuJi, Bris. Bedeli, Lew. arachnoides, Eairm. pluristriatus, Eairm. hispanus, E-osenh. Lewisi, Eeitt. comoselJus, Eairm. Icevidorsis, Eairm. setuJosus, Eeitt. grandis, Eeitt. pimctulatus, Luc. plicicollis, Eairm. Herr Eeitter considers that H. Sartorii = Eretmotus Uayei. The last addition to this list is : — Het^eius Bedeli, n. sp. Subrotundatus,piceo-ferrugi7ieus, vix dense sericeo-puhescens, punc- \ulatus ; f route grosse punctata, emarginata ; pronoto sub-transverso, iarte anteriore dense sat grosse punctata, angulis anticis ohtusis rejlexis ; lytris tristriatis, 1° integro, 2 ultra medium, 3° ante abbreviatis ; ptygidii) nloso ; prosterno grosse punctato, meso- et meta-sterno profunde exca- atis ; pedibus robustis, tibiis angulato-dilatatis. Long. 2 — 3 mm. This species may be placed near lioderus, but it is very distinct rom all on the list. Its colour and the density of its pubescence, the hickly set punctures on the anterior part of the thorax, its larger size ',nd broad tibiae, are its most conspicuous specific characteristics. The ibise are nearly as much dilated as those of Eretmotus sociator or angerianus, and they are angulated in the same way, being much )roader therefore than any other known species of Hetcerius. At the )ase of each elytron there is a faint impression resembling an obsolete tria. I am much pleased in naming this insect after Mons. L. Bedel, he captor of three examples at Daya, in the province of Oran, Novem- )er, 1879, and to whose continuous researches in Algeria we owe the liscovery of many novelties. 39, High Street, Wimbledon : July 28th, 1884. 84 [September, NOTE ON HYDRO BIUS FUSCIPES. BY D. SHARP, M.B. In tlie Bulletin entomologique of the Aniiales de la Societe entomolqgique de France, 1883, p. exxxi, there is a note by C. Q-. Thomson, of which the following is a translation : " Htdeobius rusciPES. — Under this name there are at present confounded two different species ; one, for which I preserve the an- cient name fuscipes of Linnaeus, is oblong-oval, not strongly convex, and has always the tibiae and the extremity of the femora reddish- yellow ; the other, which I call picicrus, is especially smaller and shorter, notably more convex behind, with the tibiae as well as the ex- tremity of the femora pitchy, and the hind angles of the thorax form a more obtuse right angle. The diagnoses may be established thus : "H. FUSCIPES. — Supra olivaceo-niger, cequaliter leviter convexus genuhus, tihiis tarsisqueferrugineis^prothorace angulis posticis suhrectis "H. PiciCEUS, mihi. — Supra olivaceo-niger, prcBsertim postice con- vexus^ hreviter ovatus, genuhus tihiisque nigro-ficeis, tarsis ferrugineis , prothorace angulis posticis ohtusiusculis. " PrcGcedente paulo oninor, hrevior, et magis convexus, tibiarwn colore ohscuriore, elytris striis fortius punctatis, prothorace juxta scu tellum utrinque evidentius sinuato, angulis posticis minus reef is distinc tus^ These two forms have long been distinguished by British ento mologists, and attention was directed to them by Mr. Eye in a nob published in 1871 in Ent. Mo. Mag., vii, p. 36, the var. a of Mr. Eyei I. c, being the picicrus, Thoms. (Mr. Eye being, however, in error i] stating that it has no larger irregular punctures on the alternate in terstices), and considered by our countryman to be probably th suhrotundus of Steph. (111. Mand., ii, p. 128). So far as the North o Europe goes, the two forms may be possibly distinct, for I find that though the characters mentioned by the talented Swede are variable there is another more important one to which he has not alluded, vizi that in picicrus, Th., the pubescence of the hind femora is not qui! so extensive, and the punctuation of which it is the accompanimei not quite so dense and fine ; but I do not think the two forms wi hold good as distinct throughout the whole of the extensive area mmon English butterflies were observed by him in 1881 in the Wellington Botanic ^ gardens, having, no doubt, been imported with plants. — Eds. Pvotective mimicvy in Avgynnis Selene, 8(c. — Much interest has been taken of '^ in observing the wonderful way in which the markings of insects tend to conceal II in their native haimts, and it has often been remai-ked how insects will choose 'heir resting place the objects which blend best with their own markings. 88 [September, I met -with a curious instance of this in the case of Argynnis Selene about twi years ago. Walking along a glade of Guestling Wood, I observed a head of th wood-rush {Luzula glomerata) which appeared very top-heavy. On looking closei I saw that six specimens of Argynnis Selene were resting on it, and going i little further I found four specimens on another head of the same plant. I saw n( more A. Selene at rest in that glade, and no more Luzula. It was curious to se how well the colours of the butterfly matched with the heads of the Luzula, and ' doubt whether they would have attracted my attention had they not somewha overdone it by congregrating so thickly on these two heads. A. Euphrosyne and Selene are said to have a second brood occasionally. Doubt less this is so, but I am not aware that I have ever met with specimens of the seconi brood of the former, though I have seen the latter not very uncommonly. Thus met with several specimens of A. Selene on August 28th, 1880, and again on th same date, 1882. As far as I remember, the latest date on which I have seen A Euphrosyne this year has been on August 1st, but this may not improbably be a lati specimen of the first brood. On the same day I took Argynnis Paphia and A Adippe, the latter much worn. Though I have lived here and collected more or less for twenty years, this is th first occasion on which I have taken either of the above larger species of Argynnis - E. N. Bloomfield, G-uestling : August 1th, 1884. P.S. — I have to-day met with a fresh and bright specimen of A. Selene, r doubt one of the second brood. — E. N, B. : August IMh, 1884. Eupithecia togata in Roxburghshire. — On the 21st June I took in this localiU* a specimen of Eupithecia togata, and two others on the 24th of the same mont'' which were in the finest ^possible condition, apparently just emerged. I sent one these to Mr. Barrett, who at once pronounced it to be a fine specimen of Eupithec togata. As this species is excessively local, perhaps a note of locality where taki may be of some interest. I was crossing through a rather extensive plantation Scotch and spruce firs, and when near to its southern aspect I came upon an op glade, surrounded principally by large spruces, their branches coming close doi( and sweeping the ground ; and in passing one of these I noticed a specimen of wb turned out to be Eup. togata flutter through the lower branches, presently cleari them, only however to be netted. I returned to the same locality a few days affcl wards and beat the lower branches of the large spruce firs, with the result of takil two more fine specimens, and I have not made another trial since. The trees at tJ particular place are large old spruce and Scotch firs, the former predominatiil Eup. castigata was here also numerous, and Coccyx hyrciniana abundant, and 1 1( a fine specimen of Cih'x spinula as it left one of the spruce firs. — A. Elliot, Sami ton, Jedburgh, N. B. : July I9th, 1884. Note on Sophronia parenthesella. — On the 25th July, about 10 p.m., amfl many Crambi which had flown in to the lights in the room was one moth whici did not at first particularly notice, but after a while I was attracted by its quieti for, as if paralyzed at its own audacity in taking an unusual course, it lay motion: though unhurt, on the white tablecloth, and could hardly be persuaded to enter ' covert of a pill-box presented to it, when I recognised it as a representative of • old friend I used to meet at West Wickham 30 years ago, Sophronia parenthesel ■ Certainly I should never have expected to be thus confronted hi my own house ith a living reminder of the adventures of a former generation of men and moths, id I was startled with this apparition clothed with scales so unexpectedly, on both des, introduced. Yet it was a dumb visitor, and gave no answer to the question, hence came you ? My acquaintance with the tribe and family to which the quasi- urist belongs has long been attenuated, and, therefore, I am not in a position to y if a nearer locality than West Wickham (8 miles off) is now known for the lecies ; this individual was neither worn nor travel-stained, and might very recently id close-by have been born, bred and come out of its chrysalis. The mystery of } native place might be less if the food of the larva were known, but this part of iC history is still in abeyance. Some insects, from causes over which they have no control, are involuntary igrants, and prosper thereby, or the contrary : I believe that some insects get an sisted passage by railway, or it may be termed a free pass — they enter a railway Triage and are carried a hundred miles before they leave it, besides, when the aterials of which an embankment is formed are removed from a distance, the in- cts attached to the plants thereon are, in some stage of their existence, removed erewith, and take kindly to their new locality. And so, by the railway which now aches from here to West Wickham, this Sophronia may have arrived. — J. W. .0UGLA8, 8, Beaufort G-ardens, Lewisham : August Uh, 1884. Xote on JEupteryx abrotani. — On the 13th of August, 1874, I was, with a com- tuioii who knew the ground well, on the moor near West Kilbride, Ayrshire ; after bright, hot morning wind and clouds came up from the sea and brought rain well prthy of the name. We sought shelter in the lone dwelling of a shepherd, and liile waiting I sallied out during a lull to try if there were, any insects in a bush of rtemisia ahrotanum in the garden. A shower of wet came into my net, and with a quantity of small Homoptera in all stages of life, which were at once fixed on e wet surface, but I managed to bottle some twenty perfected Eupteryx abrotani, ■: undescribed species, and quite new to me {cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xi, 118). I also M long fixed by the rain, but, like the hero of the immortal tale " Tarn o'Shanter," < whom, when weather-bound, it is said — " The storm without might rair and rustle. Tarn did na mind the storm a whistle," was indifferent to that, as well as to the soaking which I got in going to Saltcoats, ■y consolation, like Tarn's, being derived from the contents of the bottle. On the 27th of June last, on the boundary fence of my garden, I detected a ilitary individual of this same species, but only one. There is no question that the lecies is attached to Artemisia ahrotanum, a common cottage plant ; the curious iing is that it so rarely occurs and that I should now get it, not on the plant but at distance from it, for although there is a plant of the Artemisia in the garden it is V away from the place of capture, and neither at the time, before, or since has tare been an Eupteryx on it. My wanderer, I feel sure, came not thence, for all le species of the genus are gregarious ; Artemisia maritima, a coast plant, on ■jiich the species has been found, of course is not here, nor is there, as far as I iow, any other Artemisia at hand, yet, I apprehend the foster-plant was not very 1; off. Ten years ago I had to go 500 miles to see the little beauty, now I find it f my own door, not having seen one alive in the interval. — Id. : Aug. 13th, 1884. K 90 . Septembe Botys hyalinalis bred from the egg. — On the 27th of last July, my son beii down from London, we took a ramble through the woods near Charing, a few mil from here. The weather was fine till soon after reaching our hunting ground, wh a succession of heavy showers forced us to take shelter, consequently, the afterno( found us retreating with empty boxes, bewailing our bad luck, when a moth w disturbed, which I saw at large for the first time. This was B. hyalinalis, and n spirits revived as I remembered it was still unknown in the larva state, and I mig now have the chance of working out its life history. We according tried for mo] and several females being secured, eggs were obtained, which were shared with n late valued friend, Mr. William Buckler. A subsequent visit to the spot on bank holiday, August 6th, enabled me to o tain a few more eggs. Of the numerous plants given to the young larvae as th hatched, the one decidedly chosen was knapweed {Centaurea nigra) ; in this tl experience of Mr. Buckler and myself coincided. I think we may fairly conchv it is the right food plant, as many larvae were successfully fed upon it, and aft spinning up in dry beech leaves for the winter, renewed their attack on the knapwe( in early spring. On the 6th of July I had the pleasure of rearing two moths, be males, and on the 13th a female. Particulars as to the habits of the larvae, with d scription, may well be reserved for a future paper, which is in course of preparatio — W. R. JErFEET, Ashford, Kent : July 22nd, 1884. Bichrorampha sequana, and others of that genus, bred from tansy roots. — I d up some tansy roots on the south coast during the winter, in tlie hope of reari Dichrorampha alpinana, of which I took two or three worn specimens on the sj last July. The result is that I have reared a few alpinana (which, however, ca: out very slowly), a few politana, a few Petiverella, nine sequana, and some exceedin|| fine and handsome tanaceti, with, of course, many ichneumons. The tanaceti shij the markings of the species very much more distinctly than the captured specimc which I have in my cabinet, and some of the females have exceedingly dark hi]. wings.— Geo. Elisha, 122, Shepherdess Walk, City Road : July, 1884. A new food-plant for Depressaria Weirella. — I have reared this species ftl hemlock {Conium maculatum) within the last few weeks. The larvae were colleQ along with those of Alstroemeriana, and were all supposed to be of the latter speci I saw numbers crawling about their cage one evening just before changing tH food, and if they had shown any particular differences, I must have noticed th All were bright green and very similar, and they fed in the same way — foldingi leaves — so that I was much surprised when this dark species emerged. The! species were in about equal numbers, but Weirella appeared first, and was- over as Alstroemeriana began to emerge. — Id. Zeuzera cBsculi flying in the day-time. — The larvae of this species feed heij the stems of the lilacs, but the imago is not often found. I have more than seen an individual take a low, short flight by daylight from one bush to anotherf there settle, but I thought that this was an involuntary migration, caused by th'b* trusion into tlie lair of the Wood-leopard of a cat or troublesome sparrow, and &* a place of rest from the wicked one was being sought. To-day, however, at 2 when the sun was shining brightly, a Zeuzera, as if voluntarily, flew leisurely me, took a turn over the lawn, then mounted spirally and settled in an acacia 25 feet from the ground, evidently in the ascendant mood, and taking part i 91 !ting-charade of Altiora peto .— and a very curious figure it was, its long body pen- lint, and its wings seen distinctly vibrating in the l^xcelsior course.— J. W. Douglas, Beaufort Grardens, Lewishara : June 29th, 1884. jl Adicella filicornis, Vict. ; an addition to the British Trichoptera.—On the 14tli !■ June last, on the occasion of the excursion of the aiasgow jS^atural History )ciety, I captured by the river Mouse, near Cleghorn, Lanarkshire, a single ^ V Adicella filicornis, Pict., a species of Leftoceridoe new to our lists. During the ^:ter part of the same month the locality, was visited by Mr. King, of Glasgow, and :78elf, and a small number of both sexes were taken by each of us. They were (tained by sweeping the vegetation about a rock-spring. Only two or three ex- iiples were seen on the wing when the sun was shining brightly ; the flight was ^ry lazy. A. filicornis may readily be distinguished from the only other British (and lown European) species of the genus by the almost black pubescence of the wings, '..e Mouse is one of the larger waters which fall into the Clyde. About Cleghorn iflows through a very deep rocky glen, the sides of which are thickly wooded, '^ell sheltered, it is a good locality for Caddis flies, and produces Diplectrona felix, lunoecia irrorata, Tinodes avreola, and many other species.— Ken>'eth J. Moeton, Crluke, N.B. : August Qth, 1884. * lA. filicornis has a very wide continental distribution, but southern rather than ti thern. I have taken it on several occasions, but mostly only singly.— R. McL.]. ■ s The electric light as an attraction for Trichoptera.~Or\e evening in July, 1881, I-as at Spa, in Belgium, in company with Baron de Selys-Longchamps and his finly. There was a fete, and as part of the attractions to visitors an electric light Vi used. It was also attractive to insects, for the man in charge was obliged to kp continually brushing them away. Those insects were mostly Trichoptera. C Monday evening in the present week I arrived in Paris from the south ; it was tJ occasion of the "Fete Rationale," and I took two hours' stroll to 'see the il minations. At the Place de la Concorde, four electric lights were so placed as to tbw their rays on the four sides of the Obelisk of Luxor from a considerable d ance. Close to the lights it became evident that a multitude of insects, appearing h' silvery atoms as they entered within the limits of the rays, were attracted by tlm. I inspected the masonry against which three of the lights were fixed. It w snnply covered with insects, and again they were almost entirely Trichoptera, DO'tly LeptoceridcB. My collecting bottle was not in my pocket ; but even if it had bm I might have thought twice before attracting the attention of the mass of hnanity everywhere about by using it. The carbon points were exposed, but it d; not appear to me that the insects immolated themselves against them as is uially the case at an ordinary light ; the heat seemed to cause them to drop before tlr had damaged themselves. I was greatly surprised at the small number of Lidoptera; the only other insects in any abundance were sundry small green linoptera.—'R. McLachlan, Lewisham : July 17th, 1884. Trichoptera from Unst, North Shetland.— Mr. C. A. Briggs has been so kind as ;0?nd me a few Trichoptera collected by himself in the above-named remote portion « he United Kingdom last month. They are : Limnophilus sparsus. Curt., Steno- '^W,ax latipennis, Curt, (apparently common), S. concentricus, Zett., and Plectroc- ^eta conspersa, Curt., all well-known species, but all are remarkable for small size i^n dark coloration. Records of any species (even the most common) from the land Islands are desirable.— Id. : A^igust 2nd, 1884 H 2 [September 92 T^^ NITIBULIBM OF GBEAT BKITAIN. BT RET. W. W. FOWLEE, M.A., E.LS. {Continued from vage 58.) NITIDULINA. I. ProsterBUtn depressed behind anterior cox^, not produced. 1 Antennal grooves convergent, the convergence varying m degree, i. Tarsi dilated on all the feet; disc of thorax smooth. A. Labrum bilobed ; males with 6th dorsal segment. a. Thorax widely margined. TrpTiiis-ib c^. Posterior-legs approaching one another --^^^^^^ I Posterior-legs considerably separated Omosiphob.^ I Thorax with hardly perceptible margin Micb.kula.. B. Labrum only feebly emarginate ; males without 6th Beg-nt^^^^ ii. Tarsi not dilated; disc of thorax with impressions Soeond 2. Antennal grooves parallel, or nearly so. Amphotii i. Front very strongly lobed; mandibles bifid at apex ^.. _ ^, ii. Front not lobed ; mandibles not bxfid, but w.th a strong tooth about. third from apex ... II, Presternum produced behind. i. Head without antennal grooves, or with very indistmct ones. ^^^ a. All the tibise simple ...^...••- •• I. Front tibi« simple ; hinder pairs of tibi« furnished with Bpine^B^-^^^^ ii. Head with distinct antennal grooves. .. Tarsi not dilated ; front tibi. simple, produced mto a ^trong^pomt . ternally at apex ' " . , J. Tarsi all dilated, front tibi« more or less ^^-"^^^'^^^l^^^l^ toothed With the exeeptioB of /;,»*«, which does not belong to our fam the genera as above given are the same as those comprised ,n the tr. mtidulince, of Erichson (Naturgeschichte der Ins Deutscb., >n 13 Thon,son separates the tribe into three: the Meh^eJ''^na co.t^ Pria and MeUsetle. ; the Thalycrina containing Pocad^us and TMy^ and the NitMma containing Amplotu, Omouta, Soroma MHd^ and JBp».<.«. The tribe, however, as above given,is eas, y dist.ngu, able from the preceding by the abdomen being almost ,f not ent.r covered by the elytra, and from the next iCyehram^na) by the the only fitting closely to the base of the elytra, and not covering .t. EpuBiEA, Erichsoii, ' This genus is one of the most difficult of all ourgenera ; som:^ the speci's are very distinct, so much so that they have been he |. form separate genera^two^f*^e^avebeenad^ 7^— ;;ni7^;n;:;;;;i^77^i'^i^i;^^ it. is^4.] 93 almost as much reason a third might be introduced — Dadopor^a, Thorns., to include E. decemguttnta and E. diffusa ; other species, however, come exceedingly close to one another, and it is almost impossible to distinguish them, except by comparing them with authentic types : all the species are more or less testaceous or reddish in colour, and the males have a distinct extra abdominal segment. E. silacea is the largest (2 lin.), but it is hard to say which is the smallest, as some of the species {e. g., E. cestiva, E. deleta, and E. ohsoleta) vary in size in lia remarkable degree ; this is especially noticeable in a large picked ' series, such as that of Mr. Eye, whose whole collection of this genus has been very kindly lent me by Mr. Mason, together with those of , Mr. Wilkinson, and others in his possession. The species live under bark, at flowing sap, and in flowers, and to a certain extent they may ; be separated by their habitat ; this point, however, must not be pressed too far, as the flower-frequenting species {e. g., E.florea) are (pceasionally found at sap. ' Although no division of this genus has been found that is quite satisfactory, yet the following hints concerning some of the chief points of difference between the species may be of some practical use. [. TibifiB widely dilated at base ; intermediate coxse almost contiguous ; hind femora in male either furnished with a blunt tooth or thickened (Dadopora, Thomson). U. decemguttata, Fabr. — Eather a large species, distinguished at once by its contour, which is oblong-ovate, its colour, and its thick legs ; the thorax has light margins, with the disc more or less dark : the elytra are dark, except the margins, . which are very plain, and five testaceous spots on each, three on the margin, a long Dne at apex, and one behind the middle ; occasionally they are confluent : the male '": lias the posterior tibise excised at apex, and the posterior femora are armed with a olunt tooth or projection. Length, 1| — 2 lin. Found at sap of oaks, &c., but is usually connected with the bur- ■ows of Cossus ligniperda. Dunham Park, near Manchester, New i Forest, Shirley, Addington, Birdbrook, Sherwood Forest, Swansea ; a 'ery local species. E. diffusa, Brisout. — This species, which was separated by M. Charles Brisout le Barneville (Grenier, Catalogue des Coleopteres de France, 1863, p. 46), is very ■ ike the preceding, but it is a great deal smaller, and the spots on the elytra are not It, learly as well marked, and sometimes are so confluent that the elytra appear almost mtirely testaceous ; the elytra are somewhat more acuminate at the extremity than B the case with the preceding species, but this is not a marked character. In the SOJ Inale the posterior tibiae and femora are rarely more than thickened. , " Length, li lin. It is a question whether^this is anything more than a small variety 'A the preceding species ; the only structural character that gives it 94 [September, a claim to rank as a separate species is the fact that the male is said to have simple hind tibi?e and femora ; this, however, is not always a constant character ; in one of Mr. "Wilkinson's specimens, which is undoubtedly JE. diffusa, the hind tibiae and femora are formed as in ^. decemguttata, and the latter insect varies in the characters of these parts in degree, and also varies considerably in size. A male specimen of Mr. Rye's, now before me, is placed by him as intermediate between the two species, and this specimen and the one above referred to, form very good connecting links, and shew that, however far apart the ex- tremes of each series may seem, yet it may be very hard, if not impos- sible, to separate the species altogether. It is found under the same circumstances and in company with the preceding ; Addington and Shirley, in Cossus burrows. Mr. Chap- pell has taken it at sap of oak exuding from Cossus burrows in Dunham i Park, near Manchester, with JE. decemguttata ; Mr. Eeston has taken i1 at Stretford, near Manchester, flying over a wood yard ; it is deci- dedly uncommon. Although M. Brisout first gave a detailed description of JE.. diffusa as a separate species, as above-mentioned, yet it must not bej forgotten that it is the var. minor, elytris immaculatis of Waterhouse's'j Catalogue, and the E. fuscicollis, of Stephens ; the specimen from-j which it was originally described (taken by Mr. Waterhouse) was en-i] tirely testaceous, with dark thorax, and so it obtained its name. II. Tibiae, at most, slightly dilated at base, intermediate ones often sinuate in male ; intermediate coxae moderately separate ; all the femora simple in both sexes:^ i. Upper- and under-sides entirely testaceous, or rufo-testaceous, unicolorous ;' disc of thorax not darker than margins. (Occasionally these species have a dark spot or two towards the apex of the elytra, but this is usualh deceptive, being caused by the folding of the wings against the semi transparent elytra.) A. Species more or less oval and convex; anterior margin of thora: strongly emarginate. a. Antennae with the last joint broader than the penultimate. ' E. cestiva, Linn. — This species may be distinguished by the large apical joir of the antennae, which is always broader than the penultimate ; antennae unicolorouf thorax with distinct, but not broad, margins, sides rounded, and somewhat narrowe towards apex ; there is often a round darkish spot on each elytron in this specie but it is usually deceptive ; all the tibiae simple in both sexes ; punctuation clo and fine, but distinct. Length, 1 — 1^ lin. Very common in flowers everywhere, especially in hawthorn bio som in spring. Mr. Chappell tells me "that he has found the larv 1884.] ^^ ! plentiful in a uest o£ Bomhus lucoi^um, which he put into a tin, and from them reared a large number of the perfect insect in the fol- lowing spring. h. Antennae with last joint narrower than the penultimate. -E*. melina, Er.— Easily distinguished from the preceding, whicli it most closely resembles, by its much stronger and less close punctuation, the black club of its an- tennae, and its darker colour. Erichson says of this species that the " legs in both sexes are simple." Thomson says that the " male has the intermediate tibice sinuate." I have examined a number of specimens, and Dr. Power has kindly examined his series for me, and all these have the intermediate tibiae simple : this is only one out of many points on which authorities are found at variance in this genus. Length, 1^ lin. Found, like the preceding, in flowers, especially hawthorn, but nuch rarer. Bowdon near Manchester, Wimbledon Common, Cater- bam, Mickleham, Darenth, Amberley, Claygate, Holm Bush, Dulwich, Bretby near Eeptou, &c. jE. silacea, Er. — The largest species of the genus ; flatter than the two prece- ling species, with much wider and stronger margins to the thoi-ax ; sides of thorax larrowed in front, contracted and almost sinuate just before posterior angles ; )unctuation not so strong as in JS". melina, but stronger than in JE. cestiva ; antennae inicolorous, last joint hardly narrower than the preceding ; apex of elytra truncate ; dale with intermediate tibiae sinuate. Length, 2 lin. Very rare ; Mr. Champion has taken it at Aviemore at sap of )irch (Thomson considers it as exclusively attached to flowers) ; it has .Iso occurred at Braemar, and in a rotten birch stump at the foot of Jross Craig, near Camachgouran, Eannoch ; it seems to be exclusively northern species. B. Species strongly oblong ; anterior margin of thorax almost straight, or feebly emarginate. a. Punctuation extremely fine, almost invisible. -£'. oblong a, Herbst. — A light coloured species, easily distinguished from the •vo succeeding by its extremely fine and close punctuation ; side margins of thorax ery distinct, especially in front ; sides of thorax more dilated in front than in the ext two species, last joint of antennae distinctly narrower than penultimate ; male ith intermediate tibiae sinuate. Length, 1^—1^ lin. Kare ; Dunham Park, in cracks of Scotch fir, Mr. Chappell ; ; ♦raemar, Shirley, sap of pine, Mr. Champion; Shirley, under bark* of i Uhd. pine, Mr. Eye. b. Punctuation distinct. -E". longula, Er.— Distinguished from the preceding by its stronger punctuation I dark, almost black, club of its antenna? ; and from E.florea by having the an- '■ margin of the thorax distinctly, though slightly, emarginate, by its rather [September. 1884. 9G especially towards tlie base, and by the dark ^^^^^^^^ _^^_^^ ^.^_ """oT: co..on specie.; Nettleeo.b (Somerset) Tilgate Pce.t, Esber,ld other pUee' in the London Di.tnet. Tound .n flower. ^.>.., E,.-Ka*e. a shorter and u..al,y daAe, -^--^Jf ^^ ;^,^V^ , eolorou,. club .ot darXer ; .ale with inte^ediate UU. ""-te^^^^^^^^ ^_^j ,„. Eobin's Wood Hepton, Hampstead, Norwood, Cowley, Wimble-I^ common species, but local. /:r"^I^;—^eeo»l.. .ide. .. twc^, o. .o.. ^- '" S ?- ^P- *^-- contacted to hase,so.etl»es dj tinctly sinuate at point of contraction. , .. .... K..-Xestaeeou. ..h sut..e and ape. ot ^^^^^^^^^ da*eolo.atap.o.ene„el.^^^^^^^ ::li::i::::ra;;:...J.e.^^^^^^^^^^^^^ f„»thet,pe. these ma, easily be d«ung..shem.p^c™ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^___^ ,., hat — le .^t e .ape^ ot^.^tho... ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^_ ^^^^^^^^, obliquely out oil from ape:^ to antenna; is nam. with a strong sinuation ; the las jomt also the e ub ^.^ than the preceding, whereas in A. .sUva .t .s broader. g A very con^mon species in fungi, especially boleta, near Lmco .hert H /enerally occurs ^^ -^^r xfCtT^Jle; L^' ■ r^wXitr.'!;:^:^^^ Co_, and .nera. distributed. ^. ,„„.. Sturm.-A very da., species, often almost ^^oW.O. mar.m^ 1 . to F oJ.oZe^a but may be easily distmguished from that species oy thorax and elytra, as well as by the shape o ^^^^ the intermediate tibia, of the male are snnple. | October, 1884.] 0-7 A very local species, but somewhat plentiful where it occurs ; I lave found it in numbers in Sherw^ood Forest with Mr. Matthews, by baking faggots over a sheet, also a smaller variety by beating faggots 'f a species of Tilia (called "bass " by the country people) in Lang- rorth Wood, near Lincoln ; Stretford, flying over old wood -yard, Mr. leston ; Aviemore ; Daren th, faggot stacks, Mr. Champion ; also taken ear Scarborough. It will be noticed that the habitat of this species \ rather peculiar. E. immunda, Er. — This species is very little known, and others are perpetually lade to do duty for it in collections ; it is perhaps best distinguished superficially Y the colour ; the apex of the elytra and the sides, for the greater part of tiieir ngth, are suffused with dark colour, and the space of the elytra enclosed within is staceous; this, however, is not always the case; the margins of the thorax are irrow, of the elytra very pronounced ; the thorax is contracted towards base with sinuation, and is as broad as the elytra without the margins, which make it appear iltrrower. From E. deleta, which it approaclies in some points, it may be distin- lished by its col ur and the darker club of its antennae ; from E. obsoleta, with liieh it is most often confounded, it may be separated by its broader form, and by iving the last joint of the antennae about as broad as the penultimate, whereas, in , .. obsoleta it is distinctly narrower ; the thorax also is slightly more contracted at [f«e than in the latter species. Male with intermediate tibiie sinuate. Length, 1^ lin. A very rare species. Mr. Champion has taken it at sap of birch i Aviemore and Invercannich, Scotland, and Messrs. Wilkinson and Iiiwson at Scarborough. : E. variegata, Herbst. — A very distinct species of a dark red-rust colour, with tinsverse evenly rounded thorax, which is strongly contracted at base, the base ling much narrower than the base of elytra ; tlie sides show no trace of sinuation ; «;h elytron has a strong blackish spot in the centre, and a smaller and more obscure ca at apex; punctuation distinct, rather strong; male with intermediate tibige s^ple- Length, 1» lin. A very rare species ; Aviemore, Scarborough, Surrey ; found at sp or under bark. E. obsoleta, Fabr. — One of tlie most difficult species of the genus to determine ; vnable both in size, colour, and to a certain extent in structure of thorax, and i\\ c [Sequence often confounded with other species ; the elytra are, as a rule, obscurely Brked with dark patches, but occasionally the whole insect is of a reddish colour, al may in that case be confounded with species belonging to the first group, as E. Ji'ea-, from this species small unicolorous examples of E. ohsoleta may be distin- gshed by the plain emargination of the anterior margin of the thorax, and by the dk club of the antennae ; from E. pusilla, which it often closely resembles, E. ■ ooleta may be distinguished by the emargination being much less, by its truncate etra, more rounded sides, and narrower margins of thorax, and by the dark club Olts antennae; from other neighbouring specie?, such as E. parvula, it maybe 8(arated by the sinuate intermediate tibiae of the male. Length, f— U lin. I 98 [ October, Shiere ; Burnt Wood, Staffordshire ; Dunham Park, Manchester,] under chips in the midst of exuding sap; New Eorest ; Darenth; Cossits trees in Addington Park ; Aviemore and Forres ; not an un^ common species, but local. j) B. Sides of thorax strongly rounded in front ; not contracted behind. J J?, neglecta, Sturm. — One of the most distinct species of the genus ; like JEf parvula in colour, dark, with the margins of thorax and elytra light ; easily distiml guished by its very narrow thorax, which is twice as broad as long, rounded in from and not contracted at base ; base fully as broad as the base of the elytra ; elytrjl narrowed towards apex ; punctuation strong, almost rugose. Length, 1^ lin. i Very rare ; in Mr. Eye's collection there is one specimen witll no locality attached ;* Dr. Power possesses one or two specimens froul the Holt (Selborne) ; in Mr. Champion's collection it is not reprci sented ; in Mr. Eye's collection there are two doubtful specimen placed on one side under JSJ. neglecta ; one appears to be rather an al normal ^. parvula, and the other, except as regards size, agrees ii many points with the description of E. pygmcea, Er., which has hitherto been recorded as British (Stephens' E. pygmcea being onl E. cestiva) ; M'hether, however, it really belongs to this species hi| yet to be ascertained. C. Sides of thorax almost parallel, at most very slightly contracted at bs E. pusilla, Er. — A long and rather narrow species, distinguished by the anter margin of the thorax being very strongly emarginate, and the anterior angles consequence very prominent, by the very slightly rounded almost parallel sides the thorax, and by the rounded apices of the elytra ; the elytra usually pres( more or less cloudy dark markings, and the disc of the thorax is generally darl but pale examples are very common ; these, however, are easily distinguished by 1 above characteristics, and by the fact that all the tibise of the male are sligh curved, and the intermediate ones very strongly sinuate. Ltength, \\ lin A common species at sap, and under bark of stumps of felK trees, pine, oak, &c., both in England and Scotland. JE. avgustula, Er. — Yery distinct, easily separated by its narrow, oblong fo long, parallel-sided, almost quadrate thorax, and dark rufous, sometimes ab * black colour; out of a series of eighteen examples that I have before me, ther ' one entirely testaceous, but this is evidently an immature specimen ; from si I examples of -E". _pM*iWa this species maybe distinguished by the dark club of-" antennae, and also by the fact that the thorax is wider in front than behind, t^ the sides slightly converge to base in almost straight lines; in E. pusilla, a,!'* all the other species oi Epurcea, the posterior margin is wider than the anterior. Length, I— 15 1 ■ Very rare. Scarborough, Mr. Lawson and Mr. Wilkinson ; •' specimen near Shiere, Dr. Capron ; one specimen under bark of be ' in Dunham Park, Mr. Chappell ; Mr. Eeston has taken it by sweej.ii on Chat Moss. {To be continued.) ■* This was an old specimen from Mr. G. R. Waterhouse's collection. The "two doufW' specimens placed on one side under ^. neglecta" were never supposed by me to have anyrela** with that insect ; they were simply put aside in a convenient space.— E. C. Rye. '■ 1884.] 99 LIFE-HISTORY OP BOTYS HYALINALIS. BY THE REV. J. HELLINS, M.A. (assisted by W. R. JEFFREY). On July 27th, 1883, Mr. W. E. Jeffrey captured a female moth of this species, which deposited her eggs between July 30th and August 2nd ; the larvae hatched August 11th, and on being supplied svith leaves of various plants growing in the locality where the moths were flying, soon showed their preference for those of Gentaurea nigra^ it once spinning little webs along the side of the midrib towards the ,jtem ; they ate away the under-side, leaving the upper cuticle un- touched, and thus making little transparent blotches, which showed vhere they were feeding ; they were, however, themselves so glassy md translucent, that they were most difficult to detect, and hence several were lost or destroyed in changing their food : they continued .0 grow till the beginning of October, and as it then became apparent hat they would hibernate, Mr. Jeffrey supplied them with dry beech eaves, on which they soon constructed their tough hibernacula, and vere afterwards placed out of doors with a potted plant of Gentaurea ; bout the middle of December, during mild weather, it was noticed hey had nibbled some of the leaves, but the larvae themselves were lot seen. In January, 1884, I received Mr. Buckler's stock of hiber- lating larvae, some ten or twelve in number, but did not examine hem for some time : on March 8th I opened a little web, and found he enclosed larva quite dormant : soon after this they must have egun to feed again, for on March 19th Mr. Jeffrey found a Gentaurea 3af nibbled asunder near some loose spinning of silk, and on the Ist, I found similar indications of my larvae being at work : on April th, in the evening, I examined my growing plant of Gentaurea^ and aw that I had three larvae alive and feeding, apparently still using heir hibernacula for hiding places, and spinning short galleries from liem to the tender young leaves just shooting out of the earth, the 'hole substance of which they ate in the usual way ; one of these irvse was about to moult : on May Sth I found them full grown, and ;uring the next fortnight they spun gauzy cocoons, and became pupae uring the first M^eek in June ; unfortunately, I kept them too dry, nd bred only one moth, June 27th ; Mr. Jeffrey's larvae were rather iter in their dates, becoming pupae towards the end of June ; and he red the moths July Sth — 13th, and again captured the moths flying '^ large on July 31st. The eggs are described as being deposited in little patches, some- hat overlapping each other ; they are flat in form, of a pale honey 100 r October, colour, and so transparent that the development of the larvae within could be plainly watched ; thus, in about a week the eyes could be seen, and in two or three days more the organs o£ the mouth were visible, and an undulatory motion of the whole body was set up, as if the larva was feeding on whatever fluid remained in the egg shell with it. The newly-hatched larva is glassy or translucent ; in about five weeks time it has become greenish, with black spots, and reminds one of the larva of S. oUvalis ; at about the age of two months, when 9 or 10 mm. in length, they spin their hibernacula, which are very tough flat cocoons of roundish outline, some 10 mm. in length by 7 or 8 mm. in width, and made of thin but very close-woven pale grey silk ; the larvse during hibernation seem to become dingy, for the one I ex- amined was reddish-brown in colour, with the spots large, prominent, and glittering, but as three-fourths of my stock did not feed again in spring, it may be this dingy colour which I noticed was not the colour of health during the hibernating stage. After the last moult I made notes of the larva at two dates ; in April, just as it was beginning to feed again, it was about 11 mm. long when at rest, 14 or 15 mm. when in motion, of shortish fat figure, stoutest about segments six and seven, and thence tapering dorsally in a curve to either end ; colour all over dull opaque white ; head horny, pale yellowish-brown, mouth darker brown, a small dark spot on the top of each lobe ; the collar, which covers the whole of the back of the second segment, paler than ,^ the head ; anal plate not distinguishable ; the usual dots small and black, placed on pale Indian-ink warts, which glitter brilliantly ; tht front pair of the trapezoidals on each segment are on the largesi warts, which are in outline stumpy pear-shaped, having the broad ends turned inwards towards one another, and the blunt stems pointed out wards and backwards ; the hinder pair of trapezoidals are placed oi paler and narrower warts (growing broader in figure on the hindei , segments), which have their long diameter placed transversely ; eacJ : dot bears a pale brown bristle ; the dorsal vessel appears as an in ; terrupted fine brown thread on the latter half of each segment, an there is a little transverse streak of the same tint at each segment? division, and also at the middle wrinkle of each segment ; the spiracle i appear of the ground colour ringed with brown. Early in May the full grown larva is about 16 mm. long when i >. rest, and quite 22 mm. when extended in walking, 3 mm. wide i. segment seven, where it is stoutest ; the colour is still dull opaqi: • white, with perhaps the faintest tinge of green ; the dorsal regie with a faint shade of black from tke internal vessels ; the head vei, l , 1884.] 101 pale reddish, with a dark dot on the top of each lobe, and another dot on each cheek ; the collar now with scarce any reddish tinge at all, but showing its dots distinctly, namely, a row of six small ones close to its front edge, about the middle on either side a double dot like a Bgure of 8, and then a transverse row of eight dots varying in size, and lastly, a pair near the dorsal line just on the hinder edge ; the belly is now of a yellowish-white, the spiracles black, the thoracic legs rich brown ; the dots and warts just as before, perhaps more prominent, and as the lateral and ventral dots, as well as the dorsal, ire all placed on shining warts, the effect is striking. The cocoon is regular in figure, about 20 mm. long and 12 mm. vide, of very fine gauzy texture made of white silk ; the pupa is lender, 13 or 14 mm. long, tapering gradually to the tail, the tip of vhich terminates in a long spike with square end, set with six long ;urled spines ; the pupa skin is glossy and shining, curiously orna- neuted with tufts of hair ; on the back of each segment, just in the •egion of the sub-dorsal lines, there is a pair of tubercles, each set vith a whorl of eight or ten harsh looking waved and curled hairs ; [ihree of the anterior segments bear in addition each a pair of longish ransverse ridges behind these tubercles, and closely set with shorter urled bristles, and on the sides of the two segments next the head here is a group of three or four small spine-bearing tubercles ; below he spiracles the abdomen is ornamented with tubercles bearing fewer nd shorter bristles than those on the back ; the general colour is pale hestnut-brown, the wing-cases and some patches on the back of the ront segments darker brown ; the bristles, which under a lens look • ke cocoa-nut fibre, are light brown : altogether, this is one of the lost singular pupae 1 have seen. Exeter : September 6th, 1884. DESCKIPTION OF THE LARVA OF SCO PARI A CRAT^GALIS. BY GEO. T. POEEITT, F.L.S. On the 6th of April last I received from Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, :' "Worthing, a supply of Scoparia larvae, with the information that he fid collected them from lichens, " off a paling formed of oak-planks ke sleepers ; many of the larvae live far in the wood, probably using oles made by larvae of Basycera sulphurella. They are easy to find, they make a slight web over the lichen." Two days later, on the 102 [October, 8th, another batch of larvae reached me from Mr. Eletcher, which he had found in abundance on lichens on hawthorn twigs. The specimens were smaller and evidently younger than those from the oak-post lichens, but on a close examination I felt sure they were of the same species, as they appeared to differ only in the broad, transverse, whitish- grey streaks on each segment (described further on), seeming closer together, forming, indeed, a somewhat heart-shaped mark. Both lots of larvae proved to be those of ^cojparia cratcegalis. Specimens of the first batch I described on April 7th, as follows : — Length, about half an inch, of moderate bulk when at rest, but appears rather slender when crawling ; head aud frontal plate highly polished, the former has the lobes rounded, and is narrower than the second segment, into which it can be partially withdrawn; each segment is plump andi conspicuously divided from its neighbours by the deeply cut divisions,! and these, with the large raised glossy tubercles, give to the skin a somewhat rough appearance. Ground-colour dark olive-green, throwing into rather striking relief two whitish-grey, or cream-coloured, transverse streaks on eaclt segment, the front streak being broader and larger than that behinc it. On these streaks are situate the intensely black tubercles, which being as broad as the streaks, appear to divide them into sections and the streaks are further divided by the dark, fine, thread-likf dorsal line : there are no perceptible sub-dorsal lines, but an irregula greyish stripe extends along the spiracular region, and on each segmeD below this line is a small black spot : head and frontal plate, like th tubercles, of intense glossy black ; the small spiracles also black. Ventral area and pro-legs dingy dark olive-green, and on tl outside of each of the latter a black spot ; anterior-legs encircled witj black. They grew very slowly, and it was not until the beginning June that the last were full-grown. They were then nearly thre quarters of an inch long : the dorsal area had the ground-colour of paler olive-green, but in other respects was the same as when describ' in April. Ventral surface and pro-legs olive-green ; the 5th and 6 ., segments had each three transverse black spots, and similar spots, b! 1^ smaller and more irregular, occurred on others of the segments ; ' black spot on the outer side of each pro-leg; the anterior-k' , encircled with black. ) Huddersfield : September llth, 1884. ' fch i 1884.] 103 NOTE ON A NEW NEPTICULA BRED FROM ROSE IN LANCA- SHIRE BY MR. HODaXINSON. BY H. T, STAINTON, F.R.S. Mr. J. B. Hodgkinsou has been so fortunate as to breed three pecimens of a brilliant Neipticula new to science, from larvae found ist autumn miuing in the leaves of roses, at Ley land, near Preston, 1 Lancashire. Mr. Hodgkinson's first impression was that he had simply de- '3cted a new locality for N. Gentifoliella, which Mr. W. C. Boyd has epeatedly met with at Cheshunt ; but the very first glance I had of Ir. Hodgkinson's specimens satisfied me (as it did also Mr. Boyd) that i was a very different species from centifoliella. For this new species I would propose the name — Nepticula Hodgkinsoki. t may be described as follows : , Exp. alar., 2\ — 3 lines. Tuft of the head black. Anterior- wings with the en- ire basal portion rich golden-brown (with no tinge of purple before the fascia), scia placed beyond the middle, nearly perpendicular, bright pale golden ; beyond le fascia the apical portion is deep purple, with the cilia grey. There are two )ecimens exactly alike, which both appear to be males. The third specimen is a male, and has the basal portion of the anterior wings paler, more bronzy ; the scia is more of a silvery lustre, and rather obliquely placed. The mined rose-leaves, of which Mr. Hodgkinson has sent me Decimens, are ordinary sized leaves, thus not to be mistaken for the aves of Rosa spinosissima, which, moreover, does not grow at Leyland. It may, however, not be undesirable to mention that Mr. W. H. '. Fletcher has noticed near Worthing that the leaves of Rosa spino- ksima growing in very sheltered places ." well underneath the nut ashes " were mined last autumn by the larva of a NepticuJa which osely followed the margins of the leaf, and of which the mine I fiemed to be too small for either of the common rose-species. Lewishara : September 12th, 1884. ON PARTHENOaENESIS IN THE TENTHREDINID^, BY P. camero:n^. Since the publication, in 1882, of the first volume of my Mongr. rit. Phyto. Hym., wherein I gave an account of what was known up ' that time of the occurrence of Parthenoorenesis in saw-flies, I have 104 [October, been able to prove, experimentally its existence in the following British species : 1. Nematus appendiculatus. — Females bred. 2. Nematus rujicornis. — Eggs were laid, but the larvae died very young. 3. Nematus compressicornis. — Eggs were laid, but did not develop ; they were, however, certainly fertile. 4. Nematus cadderensis. — Males bred. 5. Nematus conductus. — Females bred. 6. Croesus septentrionalis. — Males bred. 7. Groesics varus. — One female bred. 8. Cladius padi. — Males bred. |j 9. Cladius rujlpes. — Eggs laid, but did not yield the larvae. 10. Abia nitens. — Males bred. 11,- Trichiosoma lucorum. — Males bred. 12. Hylotoma ustulata. — Eggs laid, but the larvae perished in them. 13. Lophyrus pint. — Males bred. G-lasgow : September Ibth, 1884. A SYNOPSIS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN SPECIES OF JOFPA] WITH DIAGNOSES OF NEW SPECIES. BY P. CAMERON. The following new species will be more fully described in Messrs Grodman and Salvin's " Biologia Americana-Centrali." JOPPA MELANOCEPHALA. Flavo-testacea ; capite, antennis, abdominis apice tarsisque pi terioribus nigris ; alisjlavo-hyalinis, apice violaceis, stigmate jiavo . Long. 21 — 22 mm. Hah. : Panama, Yolcan de Chiriqui, 2500 — 4000 feet ; Bugabij 800—1200 feet {Champion). JoPPA VARIPES. Flavo-testacea, antennis, vertice, ohdominis apice, tarsis,femorihl proparte tihiaru7nque apice nigris ; alis flavo-liyalinis, apice fumatr. stigmate jiavo. Long. 11 — 12 mm. Hah. : Panama, Yolcan de Chiriqui, 2500 — 6000 feet {Champic JoPPA MELANOSTIGMA. Flava, antennis, vertice, mesonoto, abdominis apice, geniculis pet terioribus Jcete tarsisque posterioribus nigris ; alis Jiavo-hyalinis, api fumatis, stigmate nigro. Long. 14 mm. Hab. : Bugaba {Champion), 1884.! 105 JOPPA XANTHOSTIGMA. Flava, antennis, vertice, mesonoto, mesosterno, ahdominis apice, arsis poster ioribus tibiaruinque posticarum apice nigris ; aJis Jlavis, ipice fumatis, sligmatejlavo, (^ . Long. 13 mm. Hah. : Cache, Costa Eica {Rogers) . JoPPA MACULICORNIS. Flava., antennis, capite postice, mesonofo,mesopJeuris,metanoH basi, 'Mominis apice, t arsis posterioribus femoribusque poster iorhus, dimidio picali nigris ; antennarum medio annulo albo ; aUs nigris, medio flavo- yalinis. Long. 12 mm. Hab. : Yolcan de Chiriqui, 4000 — 6000 feet, in Panama CJiampion) . JoPPA KIGRICEPS. Nigra, metathorace, abdominis segmentis 1 — 2, coxis, trochanteribtcs, emoribus tibiisque proparte, Jlavis ; aUs violaceis, albo-maculatis. Long. 18 — 19 mm. Hab. : Volcan de Chiriqui, Vera Paz (CJiampion). JoPPA EOGEESI. Differs from J. nigriceps in the scutellum not being raised into a larp peak in the centre, it being flat along its entire extent, and tra- Brsed by two or three carinse ; in the 3rd abdominal segment being lorter than all the succeeding segments, it being longer than them in ". nigriceps, in the metathoracic areas being all clearly defined, and le pronotum not transversely striated. Hab. : Irazu, 6000—7000 feet, Costa Kica {H. Rogers). JoPPA GENICULATA. Nigro-violacea, facie, metapleuris, ahdominis segmentis 1 — 2, coxis, ochanteribus,f emoribus tibiisque proparte jlavis ; alis violaceis, albo- jsciatis. Long. 16 — 18 mm. Hab. : G-ubilguitz, Vera Paz and Yolcan de Chiriqui (Champion). JoPPA XANTHOSTOMA. Nigra, ore, palpis, metathorace, coxis, trochanteribus, f emoribus pro- Ji'te, tibiis anteriorihus proparte posticisque (basi excepto) jlavis ; alis ■ olaceis, albo-fasciatis. Long. 20 — 22 mm. Hab. : Guatemala and Panama. Joppa eleganter, Smith, and J. puhhripennis, Smith, are referable 1 ()(^ [October, to Tragus ; tlie former = Tragus hlandifa, Cresson. Joppa maculosa^ Smith, may be referred to Ichneumon. SYNOPSIS OF THE SPECIES. Mesonotum without black. Wings hyaline, black at base. Head entirely black melanocephala, Cam. Head only black above. Hind coxae entirely yellow, base of 2nd abdominal segment not black, ex- treme apex of hind tibiae only black vaeipes, Cam. Hind coxae entirely black, metanotum smooth, almost impunctate, abdomen longitudinally striated variolosa. Smith. Hind coxae yellow, with two black spots, abdomen longitudinally aciculate, metathorax longitudinally striated elegantula, Cresson. Wings entii'ely black fumipennis, Cresson. Mesonotum marked with black. Wings entirely yellow alternans, Brull^* Wings yellowish, a small fascia at base of radial cellule, metathorax with two short spines behind, petiole black suturalis, BruUe, Wings yellowish, the apex smoky. Apex of tibiae and stigma black melanostig-ma. Cam Apex of tibiae aiid stigma yellow xanthostigma, Cam Wings yellowish, the base and apex black. Pleurae entirely yellow. Scutellum and base of metathorax black decorata, Cresson, Scutellum and base of metathorax yellow incerta, CressoK Mesopleurae black. Apex of hind femora black, apex of tibiae yellow maculicornis. Can; Apex of hind femora yellow, tibiae broadly black hilaris, SmitI Wings violaceous, the middle more or less hyaline. Pro-, meso-thorax, and head black, femora broadly black. Scutellum flat in centre, 3rd abdominal segment shorter than all the suij ceeding together Eogersi, Car| Scutellum sharply peaked, 3rd abdominal segment longer than all the ceeding together nigriceps, Cai'| Pronotum and pleurae yellow, hind knees only black modesta, Smifc Wings hyaline, apex and one or two fasciae in the centre black. Mesonotum entirely black. Pleurae entirely yellow, hind knees only black chiriquensis. Oaf Pleurae entirely black, femora broadly black. Metanotum black, a small fascia in middle of hind-wings. 1 (9) 2 (8) 3 (4) 4 (3) 5 (6) 6 (7) 7 (6) 8 (2) 9 (1) 10 (11) 11 (12) 12 (15) 13 (14) 14 (13) 15 (22) 16 (19) 17 (18) 18 (17) 19 (16) 20 (21) 21 (20) 22 (27) 23 (26) 24 (25) 25 (24; 26 (23 27 (22 28 (33; 29 (30 30 (29 31 (32 geniculata, Cs 32 (31) Metanotum yellow, no fascia in hind-wings xanthostoma. Calf 33 (28) Mesonotum yellow, with three black longitudinal lines, metanotum spotif with black Sumichrasti, Cress Glasgow : September, 1884. 1884.1 107 IN THE PEOBABLE EXTINCTION OF LYC^NA ARION IN BRITAIN. BY HEEBEET GOSS, E.L.S. During the last five and twenty years, Lyccena Ario7i has been gradually disappearing from its known localities in this country, ^his species was certainly extinct in Barnwell Wold, Northampton- hire, when I first visited that locality in June, 1865 ; and I was aformed by the late Eev. W. Whall, then resident at Thurning, in hat neighbourhood, that it had rarely, if ever, been seen in the Wold luce the wet summer of 1860. I have not seen Z. Arion in Gloucesterhire since June, 1877, nor ave I heard of its occurrence in that county since 1878 ; and now we )arn, from Mr. BignelFs note in the last number of this Magazine, f the disappearance of this species from its head-quarters on the Duth coast of Devon. It seems highly probable, therefore, that in le course of a few years, " the large blue," like " the large copper," ill be numbered amongst the extinct butterflies of the United kingdom. In the last week of June, 1876, 1 spent a few days in Grloucester- lire, and on the 26th of that month I first had the pleasure of seeing '. Arion on the w ing. The scene of this event was an old disused quarry I the Cotswolds, not many miles from Stroud, and at an elevation I over 700 feet. Although there was a considerable extent of wild nd in the locality to which I am referring, on the same geological )rmation, and with an identical flora, L. Arion appeared to be confined ) a space of about an acre or less ; but within this limited area it as not uncommon, and in the course of an hour I netted upwards " a dozen specimens. On the hill-sides in this locality wild thyme as most abundant ; and in addition to Lotus corniculatus, Sippocrepis mosa, and other common Lef/uminosce, there were occasional patches : the local Astragalus Jiypoglottis, together with the sweet-scented :tle musk orchis, Serminium monorchis. After spending an hour or so on the hill-sides, and in the old larries, I entered a beech-wood at no great distance, and having aversed it for more than two miles I arrived in some open sunny ades, where there was an abundance of flowers, especially wild ■ }yme. Here L. Arion was far more plentiful than on the open hills i f in the quarries, and was, moreover, not confined to such a limited ,' ifea, specimens being met with over an extent of ground more than a ^ Ale in length. In the open glades of this old beech-wood as many as three or 108 [October, four specimens of L. Avion were sometimes to be seen at the same time, flying gently about, or settling on tbe thyme, and they were accompanied by numbers of Lyccena Alexis, and by a good many L. Adonis and L. Agestis. I boxed several female L. Avion, in the hopes of getting ova, but did not obtain any. Amongst the other insects noticed in this wood were Chelonia planfaginis, Flafypteryx unguicula< Ephyra irilinearia, Ifelanippe monfanata, and Acidalia ovnata. In the end of June, 1877, I again visited Gloucestershire, anc stayed from the 25th to the 29th of the month, in a farm house abou two miles distant from the localities in which Avion had occurred ii the preceding year. I was delighted to find that the species occurrerl in both localities more plentifully than in 1876, and was even morj widely distributed in the open spaces in the beech-woods extending for a distance of nearly two miles. I On the 29th June, 1S77, the day on which I left the district, 1 Avion was commoner than on any previous occasion, and although' many specimens were worn, others, both (^ and $ , were just emergirj from the chrysalis, so that in this species there appears to be a succe: sion of specimens during June and the early part of July. In June, 1878, I heard from Mr. Marsden, of Grloucester, th.l L. Avion was very rare that year ; and from that time to the prese he has been unable to report to me the capture of a single specimer Last year, after an interval of six years, I was again staying the neighbourhood of Stroud, from the 18th to the 2Gth June, a visited the old localities on every day when the weather was fine a calm ; but neither on the hills, in the old quarries, nor in the beec woods, did I see a single specimen of L. Avion. Not only were thd; no L. Avion, but L. Adonis and Agestis were both conspicuous their absence ; and with the exception of a few Chovtohius Paonphi J and a casual Lyccena Alexis, insect-life seemed almost extinct, f could scarcely realize that I was in the same locality as that whic 1 had left in June, 1877, so full of life ! There seems to be no satisfactory explanation for this sudd disappearance of L. Avion from these localities in the Cotswo/i- It has been suggested by some persons acquainted with the distr ;■ that the apparent extinction of the species may be attributed to t practice of burning the grass on the hill-sides for the purpose^ improving the pasture. Had the herbage on these hills been bi i^ for the first time in 1878, it might, with some reason, have been ( > sidered the probable cause of the extinction of L. Avion ; but as i* practice of burning the grass is not a new one, but has, as I have l''' ^•' 100 ^formed on local authority, existed from time immemorial, it cannot p accepted as a satisfactory explanation for the sudden disappearance t this butterfly. But even assuming that the disappearance of L. irion might be due to this cause on the hills, commons, and sheep- alks, both in the Cotswolds and in Devonshire, that would not jcount for the extinction of the species in the open spaces in the : 3ech-woods, where, of course, from the nature of the surroundings, I'le burning of the grass has never been practised. Other persons i'pe suggested that the extinction of Z. Arion is due to the rapacity 'C collectors. This, I believe, may probably be the case where the necies is confined to such a limited area as in the locality which I :'st described ; but it seems incredible that an insect which was as «mmon in 1877 as I have reported it, and which was distributed over 1^1 extent of ground nearly two miles in length, could have been fddenly exterminated. It seems more probable that the sudden and total disappearance ( L. Arion from the locality in which I found it so plentiful in j,77, may have been due to an unprecedented succession of mild inters, ungenial springs, wet and cold Junes, and other unfavoura- h meteorological conditions, rather than to the burning of the grass -which, at least in one locality, had never been practicable— or the rpacity of collectors which could scarcely have been equal to the tik of the extermination of nearly all the " common blues " and C3er species, which, together with Arion, had been plentiful in the sue localities in 1877. Surbiton, Surrey : September 8th, 1884. Note on second brood of Argynnis Uuphrosyne and Selene. — As I have met with t] second brood of A. Selene so early as August 13th of this year, I am now in- c.ied to think that the specimen of A. Euphrosyne taken on August 1st {cf. Ent. y. Mag., xxi, 88) may have been one of the second brood. Can any of your readers g3 us information with respect to the second brood of the latter species ? The Luzula on which I found A. Selene congregating was L. campestris var. c(gesta, Sm. ; how it came to be printed L. glomerata I cannot imagine.* — E. N. E)0MFIELD, G-uestling: September \st, 1884!. DeilepTiila lineata at Dover. — A fine specimen of this insect was picked up n't here by a working man yesterday morning ; it was given by him to Mr. Davis ol.his town, in whose cabinet it will find a resting place. It was shown to me ai e, and may be worth a record in your Magazine. — Sydney Webb, Maidstone Ease, Dover: September l^th, 1884. * Through an unfortunate editorial lapsus.— 'Eds. 110 [October, A notice of CoJeophora paripennella at Kennington in 1851. — Just a third of a century ago, my friend, Mr. William Thomson, who was then living at Brixton brought me some cases, which he had found on an old wooden fence at Kennington and he assured me there were more where these came from. The cases he brought were different from any with which I was then acquainted' though I certainly apprehended they must belong to some species of the genu;^ Coleophora — their position on the fence was described to me as different from th(l ordinary pose of the Coleophora cases, with which we were then acquainted. I resolved, therefore, to visit the fence myself, and see the cases in situ ; ant having been furnished with a plan of the locality, I had no difficulty in finding th identical palings — open palings, about four or five feet high. I found the casej plentiful enough, lying well-nigh flat to the surface of the paling, some on the outei side, but more on the sides of the openings of the palings. I had been at wow about half-an-hour, when I found that Mr. James Francis Stephens (then liviui in the Foxley Road, Kennington) had come on the same errand as myself, an^ was busily picking these cases off the fence. I believe at the time we had neitht of us the slightest notion what species these cases would produce. I am sorry that I have no record of the date of this visit to the palings at Kej nington, but it was in 1851, and I think probably in the month of March. On the 31st May the perfect insects began to emerge — they were ColeopJioi paripennella, at that time a great rarity, and in very few collections. Only six caij out on the 31st of May, but early in June they came out more freely, and for sevei days I bred some twenty or thirty a day ; the last came out on the 20th of Jul and I then found that I had set out 224 specimens of this hitherto rare insect. How many cases I collected on that visit to the palings at Kennington I cam say, but as I no doubt distributed many cases amongst my friends, it seems proba that my total haul of cases would be little short of 500 ; Mr. Stephens I know ( lected a goodly number, and it is probable that other entomologists had also b( put upon the scent by Mr. Thomson, and had taken their fill. Behind the fence grew a somewhat stunted hedge, on which my notes are soV- what at variance, it was, however, either hawthorn or sloe. When the larvae \\ been feeding the previous autumn that hedge must have been a curious sight. I believe some years elapsed before we became familiar with the feeding la t of C. paripennella, the large lateral appendages to the case of the feeding Is i giving it a very different appearance to the case of the hibernated larva. I was told the other day that the larva of C. paripennella was solitary, yl think had my informant seen that hedge at Kennington in the autumn of 185C.» would scarcely have applied that epithet to the scores of larvae he would have i b there.— H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : September Gth, 1884. Note on Aciptilia microdactylus. — It has been stated that the larva of -4. ♦' crodactylus feeds in or on the flowers of Eupatorium cannabinum ; I feel c t^ certain that it feeds in the stem immediately below. In many cases the pi '' attacked can be at once distinguished, from the dwarfing of the central hea *' blossoms, caused by the attack of the larva on the terminal portion of the m having been made when it was tender, so that the side bunches of flowers overjjiik it. In ordinary circumstances the head of blossoms is all on the same plane. ^ ' ' 1884.] ill lie stem is attacked lower down, where it is harder, the blossom is not affected. If be larva fed on the flowers and afterwards entered the stem, I doubt very much rhether there would be any swelling in the stem, as the plant has ceased to grow rhen in full bloom. Yesterday I found a larva in a stem that was not in flower, nd I doubt very much its having come from another plant. In some plants I have een able to see a small hole above the joint, where I should think the larva first ntered ; and the reason why the hole below is so much larger is evidently to enable he larva to turn out its frass. — Or. C. Bignexl, 9, Clarence Place, Stonehouse, nymouth : August 27th, 1884. 1 [The history of this species was detailed by the late Mr. Buckler, in vol. xii of his Magazine, pp. 234 — 236. He found the larvae in the stems, even in a very oung stage, but his account was not drawn up absolutely ab ovo ; so far as it goes ; agrees altogether with Mr. Bignell's observations. — Eds.]. JEnnomos alniaria (autumnariaj at Deal. — Last evening, about 10 p.m., when 3turning from sugaring on the sandhills with Mr. Powell, I had the good fortune > capture two lovely E. alniaria at light. I have since taken another at rest. The iree specimens are females, and I have already obtained ova. — C. Fenn, G-lynde [ouse, Deal : September ISth, 1884. Laverna Langiella at Cheshunt. — About five years ago I noticed in my garden )me empty mines in the leaves of Circcea lutefiana, which I supposed had belonged ) Asychna terminella ; but until this year could not find one still tenanted. Last [ay, however, I succeeded in getting a few larvse, from which, somewhat to my irprise, 1 bred a couple of Laverna Langiella. Both specimens have a good many shite scales scattered round the anterior- wings. — "W. C. Boyd, Cheshunt : Septem- r ISth, 1884. Nonagria fulva on rushes. — I find that by examining the rush-stems at night ith a lantern I can obtain as many N. fulva as I like, for they seem to be very •mmon this year. One evening, when waiting to visit my sugar, I thought I ould light the lantern and look round the rushes in the marsh. I found four that ; toe perched about half way up the rushes. If touched, they immediately fell, •etending to be lifeless, but I have noticed them to propel themselves downwards rough the grass by an almost imperceptible motion. I worked them up in my ■are time on other evenings since. Two or three out of a dozen appear to be y males. — Chas. Gt. Barkett, Jun., Pembroke : August 21st, 1884. Oreat abundance of TipulcB and Vanessa cardui. — I suppose you are deluged ih notes recording the excessive abundance of Tipulce and V. cardui. The ' irlings, here, stuff themselves with the former all day long ; and the latter throng ft' gather in warm sheltered nooks, sunning themselves on Inula dysenterica. — A. E. i\ liTON, Osmington, Weymouth : September 20th, 1884. [The above may be taken as indicating facts that must be patent to all entomo- :i8te, at any rate in the south of England : but what is the condition with regard Colias Edusa and Hyale ? — Eds.] \\2 L October, Hydrohius (sneus : change of name. — Until recently, two species liacT been mixed in European collections of KydrophilidcB under the name of Hydrohius (sneus, Germ. One of these occurs in our country, and is recorded at present in our Catalogues as Paracymus ceneus. Sahlberg has lately pointed out the con- fusion, and has proposed the trivial name of nigro-ceneus for our species, which will, therefore, now stand as Faracymus nigro-ceneus, Salil. The true H. ceneus, Germ., is a rather smaller and narrower insect, with paler legs and palpi ; it is common in brackish waters in Southern Europe, occurring also in the Paris district, so that it may possibly be found in this country. Although the two species are superficially very similar, the structure of the antennse is different ; I am, indeed, strongly in- clined to the opinion that the two will have to be generically separated, for while there are nine joints in the antennse of Paracymus nigro-ceneus, Sahl., I can only 1 find eight in those of S. census, G-erm. The specimen of this latter that I have* mounted in balsam, in order to ascertain the fact, has not, however, made a veryi successful preparation, so that I do not feel quite satisfied on the point. — D. ShaePjI Southampton : August 30th, 1884. e Blaps mortisaga at Hitchin. — On July 22nd, a friend brouglit me two beetleij alive which he had caught in a trap in his cellar, and which he thought wen| different to the ordinary cellar-beetle {B.mucronata). On examination they proves to be Blaps mortisaga. I have now taken all the British BlaptidcB in this neiglia bourhood, viz., B. mortisaga, Hitchin, two specimens ; B. mucronata, Hitchin abundant ; B. similis, Pirton, rather common. — John Habtley-Dueeant, Bancrof-^ House, Hitchin, Herts. : September 13th, 1884. Amara fusca, T>j., at Doncaster. — Among a number of beetles recently collecte for me from beneath stones at Doncaster by a non-entomological I'elation, and whic I found awaiting my arrival there in a pickle-bottle with a piece of wet rag { " cover," I was pleased to find a single specimen (a male) of this scarce specie which had survived several days' imprisonment in the said bottle, while having f( companions pi'incipally Pterostichus vulgaris and Harpalus ruficornis. — John )/* Ellis, 101, Everton Koad, Liverpool : August 3\st, 1884. The British species of Laccohius. — Upon reading Dr. Sharp's remarks «i| these insects in the September issue of this Magazine {cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 8J| I examined mj own specimens very carefully, and find I have examples of i\ the four species he describes. L. sinuatus, Motsch. (= L. nigriceps, Th.), j course carried away the palm in point of numbers, but was approached very close » by L. alutaceus, Th., of which I took several specimens near Bognor in April of 1 1 present year. I do not seem to have this species from any other locality ; it is p] • bably very local. Of L. minutus, Sharp, I could only find one example, withe note as to locality, &c., but probably also from Bognor. L. bipunctatus, Th., I tc, plentifully from ditches on Selsea Bill in April, and also, more sparingly, m Aylsham, Norfolk, in June ; considering it to be only a varying form of the coma , species, however, I unfortunately neglected to mount more than two or three exa pies. My solitary Specimen of L. minutus has distinct traces of the white spot the apex of the elytra, which is so conspicuous in L. bipunctatus ; has Dr. Shi ' noticed this in his seines ? ' The punctuation of the thorax, however, is essentia' 884.J X13 ifFerent, and the distinctions between all the four species, indeed, are so well larked as to render it somewhat surprising they should so long have been over- •oked. — Theodore Wood, 5, Selwjn Terrace, Upper Norwood, S.E. : Septem- ?r 2nd, 1884 Additions to the Hemiptera of the Hastings district. — During a short stay at [astings at the beginning of August, I was fortunate enough to add the following iree species of Semiptera-Heteroptera to the list of 242 species already recorded om that neighbourhood. Senestaris laticeps. — A tolerably numerous colony at Bulverhythe, at the roots : various plants and amongst debris ; the species was extremely local, being con- aed to a few square yards of ground at the base of a low cliff ; it was only just riving at maturity, and many were in the larval condition, in which they are of a lie ochreous colour. Teratocoris ajitennatus.--A. single specimen on the sand hills at Camber, at the ots of Psamma arenaria. This insect has apparently been recorded hitherto only l)m Wicken Fen and Reigate. Much searching failed to discover a second speci- ibn of the imago, though I saw what I imagine to be the larval form. ' Sigara Scholtzii. — Plentiful in a pond near G-uestling Church ; I could have tten any number ; they were to be had only by scraping the net round the roots c patches of rushes growing on the margins of the pond. — E. A. Butleh, 7, Tm*le 1 ad, Tollington Park, N. Lype reducta, Hag en ; an addition to the British Trichoptera. — On August 2;h, I and Mr. J. J. King made an excursion to Weybridge. The weather was cold al damp, and the sudden change seemed to have rendered insects torpid, for very ft' were to be seen. When sweeping the banks of the Thames opposite Weybridge, I:aptured a single Lype, $ , which, in the form of the " dorsal plate," and of the aces of the inferior appendages (as detailed in the " Eevision and Synopsis," p. 4, pi. xlv), agrees with L. reducta. A second visit to the locality (this time in Cdpany with Mr. K. J. Morton), on the 11th inst. — a glorious day — resulted in tl finding of several L. phceopa, Steph., but in nothing that can be considered L. rvicta. The distinctive characters between the two are undoubtedly slight ; iD'eover the form of the " dorsal plate " in L. phceopa is decidedly variable ; yet I ive seen nothing purely intermediate. If it should prove that the two are really D( distinct, then L. sinuata, McLach., of which I have seen only two individuals (o; from Austria, the other from Finland), will also have to be united with L. pi opa, from which it is less distinct than is the form known as X. reducta. On each of these excursions, a few examples of Ithytrichia lamellaris, Eaton, W(i captured ; this Hydroptilid has, I think, only been recorded as British from thoriginal localities, viz. : Ashbourne and Eomsey. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : 8t ember \Uh, 1884. CcBcilius atricornis, McLach., near Chertsey. — On the 11th inst., when sweeping h bhort herbage on the banks of the Thames above Chertsey Bridge, close to the K 114 water's edge, I found an example «' *'^ ^^Jf f "',," a^Tset f- , . atricornu wa, described in thxs Maganne Tol. t P' ^^^ ^^^^ j^r j. C. Dale, at J , .„«! examples (two of wbic. are before ™e) found ^^^^^'^ ^^,_ „,, rresbwater. Isle of Wight, amongst "^^'^^^^L 1 discovered in Britain, and f hoar-frost on the ground. TJntU now, .t " ^;^;„„,, ;„ Aib^rda's collection. ,as only otherwise known fro. a '^^l^^H^l^,^,^ i, .Ughtly i-n.ature, Perhap8itisatrulyautumnalspec.es. My Cherts yp .^_^ and the head is greyish, rather than -'^^'f^'^^T...^,,,^^^ only slightly conspicuous on the fore-part of tl« '»- " '^f ^ ^^^^i„ ,/,pieem testaceo" indicated. It appears to me that the words -*- ° ^ ;» J ^„, ,i,at " ad (relating to the antenna) in the original d;-'P''°^^^"™^^;,;"J, up his diag„os« Lsiu-shouldbesubstituted^^I^^^^ TB^-s^^-'-ys^lsUopfo^^^^^^^^^^^^ the original o«.mples, which have the 1>«"-^ ^'j ';; ,^ ^,„,, ,t .hedi*, aisc,butthehlac..ffusi„poss.^^^^^^^^ betw::::yrge^-cX,:::aditiLtothefewrecordedBrit.h.^^^^^^^ for this species.— Id. E.X0MO.0..C.. SO0.XX o. Lo™o..-^«.»* «,188.= .. W. D...K. Esq M.A., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. _ . Mr. Paseoe exhibited Leoaniur. (PMnaria) .itis, found by bim on a vme "■ ^;!;l7e.hibited ... ».o.*... from near Hitchin, together with „»crona(a> and «.«;«» from the same locality. „.,„Wlm Mr. Distant, in allud.ng to CUi. s,.,.aa, called atten.on to he e*a rd™, resemblance this insect bore when at rest '\^^ ^'''^''^XZf.XeZrer.e.i Mr. Fitch alluded to the resemblance borne by the -- ^Ce t certain H birds Mr. A. G. Butler spoke concenung the resemblance borne by Holland i.yiip larv^ Miss E. A. Ormerod, in exhibiting a piece of h.de P^*™'^^ J^ fj^ ^'j , -1.SS4.1 115 Rilej said that in Illinois it was the practice to rub the backs of the cattle with mercurial ointment or kerosene oil in the late autumn, and this means was usually successful. Mr. Waillj exhibited hybrids between Attacus Roylei and A. Pernyi, and be- tween Smnia Cecropia and S. ceanothi, but he could not persuade the sexes of S. ^eanothi to pair. Likewise Creculu trifenestrata from Madras, bred for the first ime in Eui-ope ; the silk appeared to be of little commercial value. Furthermore, le exhibited a long series of Attacus Atlas, showing its variation in colour and size bccording to locality. The Secretary exhibited a photograph of Chrt/sopa perla sent by Mr. Bignell, -nd remarked on the apparent use of photography in illustrating neuration. He Iso exhibited, on belialf of Mr. McLachlan, specimens of CecidomyiidcB bred from he galls on the roots of Cattleya exhibited at the June meeting, and which were upposed to be wholly owing to tlie attacks of Isosoma orchid-earum. Prof. Riley as of opinion that the flies would prove to be inquilines, and not the true makers f the galls. Mr. Roland Trimen sent notes on the habits of Platychile pallida, F., as ob- ?rved on the sandy sea-beach near Cape Town. During the day they bury tliem- 'Ives in the sand, and are apparently only nocturnally active. Dr. Fritz Miiller communicated a series of interesting notes on the habits of 3uth American Butterflies, and sent some South American fig-insects. Mr. A. a. Butler communicated a paper by Surgeon-Major Forsayth on the fe histories of sixty species of Lepidoptera from Central India, and exhibited rawings in connection therewith. Entomological collecting on a voyage in the Pacific {concluded from vol. xx, 225).— The "Kingfisher" remained at Callao until the Slst December, when she ft, with the greater part of the Pacific fleet, for a cruise to the southward. On vnuary 16th, 1884, we put into the roadstead of Arica, where we remained for sarly a week, leaving again on the 22nd. During this time I worked the strip of imp grassy land, which extends along the shore for some distance to the northward the town, pretty assiduously for insects, but without much success. Nearly all e Lepidoptera that I met with were of common Callao-forms, the only exception •' all noteworthy being a specimen of the fine Deilephila Annei, Gue'r., of which I eviously possessed a pair from Coquimbo. I found also one or two larvse of a large ■ acrosila, which were unfortunately ichneumoned. Butterflies were represented I about eight species, viz. : Pyrameis Carye, two " blues," a Thecla, two Pamphilce, \Pyrgiis, and a Thymele, all common at Callao. A good many ordinary Pyrales td small Geometers were obtained by beating some cotton bushes near the sea, and tjretty and conspicuous Tinea— not unlike Adela De Geerella in size and marking, H more purpHsh in tint, and with short, densely ciliated, antenna— was plentiful, ling in the sunshine round the tops of the fig-trees; and a small dark Eulepia, imd rarely at Callao, here abounded in wet places. Beetles were poorly represented V a dwarf $ of the common Callao Qoloja, and by a species of Phaleria, very like entomological friends, to add to my collection several conspicuous Chilian butter » and Bomhyces which I had not been able to meet with. On the 22nd, we reac * Corral, the port of Valdivia — a most promising looking spot — but as we remained " •-' only until the morning of the 24th, and it rained heavily nearly all the time, I f ^ nothing except a small Hepialus. Eesuming our southerly course, we reached Port Otway, a fine harbour in ■' peninsula of Tres Montcs, on the evening of May 27th, and lay there the night J^!'^ 1884.) 119 mded for an hour in the twilight, but was unable to penetrate into the dense and aturated forest which surrounds the harbour, or to do anything except to pick up a ;w shells on the beach. Next day (28th), we crossed the stormy Gulf of Peiias, Qd entered the Messier Channel, where we were at once in smooth water, the eather being fine for these regions, and the scenery on either hand most magnificent. ^e anchored for the night in Island Harbour, a singularly beautiful land-locked asin, barely large enough to allow the ship to swing. As there was an hour's day- ght left, I landed and had a pleasant scramble among the dense woods, but btained only a large cricket, and a pretty green Pentatomid bug, under bark. Q-ray [arbour was reached at 1.45 p.m. on the 29th, and I spent the rest of the afternoon 1 shore. The beauty of this very picturesque harbour is sadly marred by the fact lat all the trees on the south side of the harbour for several miles have been jstroyed by fire (I think on the occasion of the visit of the " Challenger," in inuary, 1876), and nothing remains but a melancholy array of bleached, bare stumps, ith a few green bushes springing up between them. Such a quantity of dead mber gave promise of at least a fair number of beetles, but two or three hours of lerably hard work, produced only a small Aiomaria, a Lampyris larva, and two lecimens of a fine, flat, wiry-legged, pitchy-black beetle, I think related to Cucnjus, J. A bug of the genus Xylocoris was abundant under loose bark, but was usually imature. Passing through the " English Narrows," a lovely piece of scenery, but •cidedly ticklish as regards navigation, at noon the next day (30th), we reached ort G-rappler in the evening, in time for a run ashore before dark. Here I got . )thing beyond a few ferns (which were still in great profusion and beauty, although e winter was far advanced), but one of my messmates brought me a prize in the ape of a fine Geometer, 1\ inches in expanse, with the usual lines handsomely :arked in whitish on a rich sepia-brown ground : unfortunately, it was a little imaged in capture. After dark, we were visited by a canoe containing lOFuegians ' all ages and both sexes, who remained alongside the ship for several hours. It is ifficult to imagine a more striking picture of savagery than they presented, as they i; huddled round a small fire in the bottom of the canoe, nearly all of them being i stance here) we were at last able to fully appreciate the wild grandeur of thtij unrivalled scenery of the western Channels of Patagonia. The Cordillera o; Sarmiento, a snowy range of mountains on the mainland, over 6000 feet high, war seen to great advantage : its summits being broken into the most extraordinary aw fantastic shapes, and every valley filled with a deeply crevassed glacier, of the moai lovely blue tint : while away to the southward, Mount Burney, a grand, solitaryil truncated pyramid, 5800 feet high, appeared to close up the Channel in thai direction, the whole forming a scene of indesci'ibable magnificence, never to b forgotten. We put into Isthmus Bay for the night, but I did not land here : leavini again early next morning, the weather soon became thick and squally, and we wei* compelled to anchor in Otter Bay, among some small islands in Mayne Channfi Here we were weather-bound until the morning of the 5th : it rained and snowec good deal, but I took advantage of a party going for mussels, to land on one of t| islands, and to procuj'C a few nice sea-shells. We entered Magellan's Straits at 11 a.m. on the 5th, and anchored in Po| Angosto, on the Fuegian shore, at 4 p.m., too late to land. This is a most beautif J harbour, extending inland about a mile, with a width of barely 250 yards, aijj completely shut in by wooded cliffs, 600 to 1500 feet in height. Leaving Q,gm early next morning, with a strong breeze against us, we got as far as Fortescue B^j on the Patagonian side of the Strait : here I landed, but got nothing whatev Next day (June 7th), we rounded Cape Fro ward, the grand promontory whil'j terminates the South American Continent, at 8 a.m., and reached the Chili] settlement of Punta Arenas (Sandy Point) in the afternoon. The weather had been steadily getting colder during our progress southwa>j and in the Straits of Magellan the country was covered with snow to the watei edge : at Punta Arenas everything was frozen hard, with ice on the pools and lago<: thick enough to admit of skating. In spite of this, in an afternoon's ramble!! found sundry Geodephaga and Ehynchophora (mostly of species oblained here ? me in December, 1880) abundant under logs of wood, &c., as were also the larval a species of Agrotis, these being, like the beetles, quite lively. The pretty gri Carahus suturalis (not unlike a small C. auratus) occurred rarely, and I founci^ good many cocoons of a species of Macrompluilia attached to the under-side of Lj?- The only Lepidopterous imago I saw was a small Gelechia? hihevnSitmg in or panics of seven or eight under bark. |i We left Punta Arenas on the morning of the 10th, having stayed only just 1 !g enough to procure coal, &c. ; but owing to contrary tides and short daylight, wefd not get fairly out into the Atlantic until 9 p.m. on June 11th. After a somev'^ rough passage, we arrived at Monte Video on the evening of the 21st. We I'/ here for four or five days, and then leave for St. Vincent, Madeira, and Plymoife* where we hope to arrive before the end of August. — J. J. Walkee, Monte Viij'^ June, 1884. \ November, 1884.] -„_ DESCRIPTION OF THE LARYA OF STENIA PUNCTALIS. BY THE KEY. J. HELLINS, M.A. After several fruitless attempts by others in former years at un- eiliiig tlie life-history of this species, complete success has been chieved during the past season by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, who has eared the imago from the egg, and again from larv^ taken at large 1 their habitat. For instructions as to when and where the moth ould be found he was indebted to the EeY. C. E. Digby, who, like lyself , had captured it in more than one locality, sometimes almost Q the beach, sometimes at the top of the cliff, but always close to the ^i; the larva, when at large, must, in stormy weather, be quite ithin reach of the salt spray, but it has thriven very well without ly such seasoning to its food in captivity. Towards the end of the second week in August, 1883, Mr. Fletcher q)tured several moths, and some more again a little later, and in both ses obtained eggs from them ; the larvae were hatched in about a :rtnight or rather more, and fed away readily on flowers and leaves y Lotus corniculatus, making awnings (not tubes) of very sticky silk ; r. Fletcher carried his stock through on the same food, supplemented ; times with clover. About Michaelmas Mr. Buckler, who had re- aved eggs from him, sent me a larva, which I placed in a bottle, and, aer a little time, rather neglected ; however, to my surprise, I found lat my neglect had done no harm, for this larva seemed to enjoy its -' iod when damp and rotten rather more than when freshly gathered. J^fore long Mr. Buckler made the same discovery ; he had been ^aug his larvae knapweed and plantain, and on one occasion when ,,, canging the food was obliged to put back a decaying leaf, because a ... imlting larva was fixed on it, and the next time he looked there were t ee of them eating it in preference to the fresher leaves ; and so ;t-ough the winter his batch of larvae remained shut up in tin boxes, a J contentedly living among a mess of dead knapweed and plantain 1' ves, and heaps of their own frass, all spun together with fine but tiacious silk. They moulted four times in the autumn, and I think 'tice again in the spring, and in May several appeared to be full-fed. - this date Mr. Fletcher made an expedition with Mr. Digby to the ^(hiality in which the moths had previously been taken, and by care- iMy removing pebbles and stones was most fortunately enabled to ]tiM the larvae at home, feeding under their silken coverings on vegeta- rubbish composed of grass stems and roots, dead leaves of plants^ [November, 122 quite so far advanced as tbose in my possession, I'"* -^ ' on fresh L Fletcher's own stoch, which had been feeding aU a^ong o, food : in May and June they all became pup. ^l^^^.X moths, ten days of June and the first week of July I bied se Mr pLcher's moths appearing rather later; and on July l^t^i S;e! some eggs obtained by Mr. ^^^^^^^^ZT^ T^I probably the imago has rather an f^^^'f^^l^^Xr. the first/ add here that the newly-hatched larvee of this sea on t ate withered leaves as readily as those freshly gathered^ Where or how the moths deposit their eggs we do n t know my r::!;- rr^etche^r found them ;--- -xi: a.«.«««« and P,..^/.™- during a gale = P *j;*; ^^;^, ;,^ lline^ on the under-side of the lowest leaves It i ™""«^'^; "J ^^^ J flat, and soft looking ; the shell thin, glistening, and "^^^'^^^^^^^ over the slightly convex upper surface ; m colour yellowish , diameter about H mm., the shorter diameter ^ mm. The newly-hatched larva is yellowish in colour, with dark hea and collar, slender, w.th the segments well 'defined ; it at OB- P^^^^^^ silken covering, under which it feeds ; it grows awaj through Augu and September I have just now (October 8th) measured one whi. :' i e iTmm. long, slender in figure, viewed from above pre ty w, :X1 il bulk, extpt that the first segments taper shghly V ritays the front segments and head are seen to taper considerabi he skin is very glistening and translucent, the colour a pale but wa atber the food showing through blackish in whatever region o^^ •rternal vessels it happens to be ; the head very shining, of light . to the collar on second segment large, brown, its pa e median ed^dttralmostblackish-brown; the usual dots small,bl^^^^^^^^^^^ on arge glittering warts darker than the skm, those on th d . Lth'darker than the rest ; spiracles indistinct ; ^^^^J"^^ ''^l larvae of Pyralid^ generally, it lives quietly enough on or amon fid! but is very active when disturbed, wriggling and jumping b. wards or forwards with agility. The full-fed larva is about 19 mm. in length with proport Biuch as before, slender, being stoutest at segment 8, with the tapering each way slightly in a curve, the heaa — -r^^a"^ " 2 the skin at last less translucent, but st,U very glittering , gei 1884.] 123 olour of a pale yellowish stone tint, but all the middle s])ace of the ack shows ashy-grey from the internal vessels, and through this space ^ns the darker interrupted pulsating dorsal vessel ; the segmental plds also show darker ; the head very glittering, in colour clear pddish-chestnut ; the collar is of a much darker brown, reaching pross the whole length of segment 2 on the back, but curving for- ards at the sides, and being cut in two by a pale line, and each half bordered with darker brown again along this line, and also for a ^ort way along the front and back edges ; the spiracles are prominent, [it not easy to see, and are ringed with brown ; the usual dots are ry tiny and jet black, placed on large shining warts ;. on each of gments 3 and 4 there is a pair of large roughly triangular warts >ar the front edge, and four rounder ones on each side, and all these e noticeably darker than the warts on the other segments, and ap- Tcntly form a distinguishing feature ; on the other segments the ipezoidals are placed on large warts of an oblong shape, the front * ir being squarer than those behind, but with each pair the greater ligth runs transversely ; these warts, with the lateral ones, which are r.inder, are all pale blackish ; there is no distinct anal plate ; all the dts bear fine lougish bristles. Mr. Fletcher describes his larvse, fed on fresh leaves, as being ^^tery yellowish-green in colour, with sage-green warts, this difference 0 course being caused by the different colour of the food seen tlough the transparent skin. The larva makes a toughish cocoon, lined with a fabric of white and coated externally with leafy rubbish, about 15 or 16 mm, leg, and about 6 mm. wide. The pupa is about 11 mm. long, slender, 2 im. across the thorax ; the eye-cases rather prominent ; the tongue-, aienna- and leg-cases soldered together, are attached to the body as fa as the end of the wing-cases, thence free, and reaching quite to bb end of the abdomen, and over-reached by the spike only ; the jhulders swell gradually from the head, the abdomen tapers very ;etly, the general figure is cylindrical ; the anal spike is slightly ;u, ed, and is furnished with six curl-topped spines ; the pupa-skin 3 iiooth, not very shiny, under a lens appearing rather roughened ; h colour generally yellowish-brown, the eyes, the tip and the rings f he abdomen, and the tip of the tongue-case, chestnut, the spike ti darker. Exeter : October 9th, 1884. L 2 [November, ' isCEIPTION OF THE LABTA OF CL1.I>B0BIA ^KaVSTALIS. BY GEO. T. PORRITT, T.L.S. Hpspribed them as follows : — „,:;i4. Length, about an inch, .lender, and of ataost umform w,d throihout head and frontal plate glossy, the former has the lob /ed and is slightly narrower than the second segment: bod :Xdrtal th . ienis clearly defined, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th ha, sS rtsverseLpressions,.hiehgi.ethen.a.rinVled^a^™ the remaining segments have each one transverse depress.on , the altogether has a tough appearance „,„a.colour is dir There are two forms :— in ^al. i, lu^ b _ the colour of the dorsal area, and having a tinge of dark green: < '^"irr nl^eCli-colour is pale chocolate-hrown, stro« .ff^-ed: howe;er. eiecially on the -nor seamen s.^^^^^^ rL:"::.Sbi:ctLtbt^^^^^^^^ ^'virur ceandpro4egspalechocolate.brown,.^ .• .Ae 2nd 3rd and 4th segments, and the antenor-legs blaeklj * ' M%1 a^^^^^^^^ the Wv. feeding on dan.p ground ,n a spej . Wh after examination of the old ^.thered remnants 1 t rrkni Mr HolwrU believes to be K.pnu. cu,,ressiforn. Z;C:i saturated with water, ^^^ ^; ^^ ^i! SL'^ t::S::it\;oveandl.ept togjh. by . ,, jroflU-spun ."hite sil. -^^^^J^;-- J^IJS" ,.,f to five eighths^of an u.h ong, of dn. y ^^^ 1^>^^_, ^^^^ ^ casc^ and abdominal point dark f ocolate-brown^ The images emerged from August 2nd to &th. | Huddersfield : Ocloher Glh, 1881. 1884. 125 rOTES ON THE LARVA,. &c., OF ASYNARCEUS CCENOSUS, CURT. BT KENNETH J. MORTON. Asynarclius coenosios, the only British representative of a genus of Vrichoptera which is boreal in its distribution, is a very common insect uring the months of August and September on the elevated moors of his district, and no doubt occurs in similar localities all over Scotland ,nd the northern part of England. This season I succeeded in rearing he species, and am thus enabled to give a few notes concerning the ijirva, nymph, and case. '' The larvae were abundant during the summer in the pools of a eat bog (about 800 ft. above sea-level), and, as far as I could dis- Dver, were the only caddis-worms which occurred there. Out of a ;w taken home at the beginning of August and placed in a glass el with a piece of peaty earth, one in a few days fixed its case to ;c peat and became quiescent. On the evening of the 31st of the me month, a nymph was observed swimming about in a vigorous anner. It very soon left the water and ascended to the muslin <'vering of the glass. The perfect insect, a $ , appeared after a short iterval. tm j! The larva appears to be of the usual Limnophiliform type, with a \ ^11 ovate head, almost quadrate prothorax and transverse meso- ;-K torax ; the abdominal segments slightly depressed, and from the third :f f the penultimate inclusive with a lateral thick fringe of very short, L^e hairs. The head and pronotum are blackish-fuscous in colour ; 1 sonotum paler fuscous, with dark dots and streaks, and narrowly 1 rgined with blackish posteriorly; rest of body greenish-yellow; r [)iratory filaments whitish. A nymph taken from its case, and probably not quite mature, was i^iformly pale yellowish, excepting the eyes, which were blackish. T e mandibles agree in form with the figure of those of Limnophilus n the "Trichoptera Britannica." The respiratory filaments rather fiuierous, arranged on either side of the lateral lines; the last three a lominal segments have a strong lateral fringe ; anal extremity with t J long, slender processes (present also in StenopJiylax and Halesus^ al probably common to all nymphs belonging to the Limnophilida) . r ' tarsi of intermediate legs fringed with fine, rather long, hairs : e legs, I take it, are the principal natatory organs in the nymph. When the larva is young, the case is rather loose, long, slender, ^Ihtly curved, composed of imbricated short lengths of fine stems. •^ ' older case is firmer, made of what appear to be small pieces of ! November, 1 126 bark, short lengths of stems, &c. ; it is very slightly curved, and of nearly equal diameter throughout, in shape not unlike the cases made by StenopTiylax. The case from which the insect was bred had the one end closed with a little heap of sand (in nature, vegetable fragments, irregularly drawn together, are made use of) ; the other end was closed with a membranous network. McLachlan (Mon. Rev. Tr. Eur. Fauna, Sup., pt. II, p. xxviii) describes the case of A. Thedeni from Lake Ladoga as almost entirely composed of stony fragments. He says, however (l. c, p. xxvi), that A. coenosus is an aberrant species of the genus in which it is at present placed. It is very probable, at the same time, that the materials em- ployed by A. coenosus may vary according to the conditions in which the larva is placed. Carluke, N. B. : Octoher 1st, 1884. NOTES ON BRITISH TORTRICES. BY CHAS. G. BAEEETT. {Continued from p. 63). In response to my request (cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xix, 136), speci- I; mens of the original reputed Scottish JRetinia duplana were kindly sent to me by the Eev. H. Burney and Mr. J. B. Hodgkinson. These were certainly B. turionella, but smaller and darker than those taken in the South of England. Mr. A. H. Jones has now allowed me to examine two of his specimens taken in the middle of June among . young Scotch Fir at Hannoch. These interesting specimens help verj' much to explain the insertion and long maintainance of the name oi Retinia duplana as a British species. They are exceedingly dark ir fore- and AiV2c?-wings, much darker than any English turionella that . have seen, not more than half the size of the latter, and the f ulvou- patch is almost confined to the apical space. Nevertheless, they agrei in form and markings most accurately with turionella, and I have m hesitation in saying that I believe them, and all other supposed Britisl duplana, to be truly turionella. The bright orange colour of the heat and collar is very persistent The genuine duplana from Germany is a very glossy mottl species, with rather more elongated fore-wings and a grey head anlT thorax. ; I , Pembroke : Septemher 19th, 1884. ' tof 1884'. 127 BEITISH HOMOPTERA—K^ ADDITIONAL SPECIES OF IDIOCERUS. BY JAMES EDWARDS. Idioceeus DISTINGUENDUS. Idiocerus distinguendus, Kbm. Cicad., 157, 9 (1868). „ cognotus, Fieb.jYerh. k. k. z.-b. Gres. Wien, xviii, 455 (1868). Elytra lacteo-hjaline with three wide brown bands, which do not reach the costa, and are placed as follows, viz., one at the base, one just beyond the middle, and one occupying the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th apical areas. Face greenish-yellow, more or less suffused with fuscous, the latter colour, in strongly marked examples, occu- pying the entire surface from the base of the crown as far as the lower margin of the eyes, leaving a spot adjoining each eye, also a triangular central spot on the base of the crown, and a transversely-oval spot adjoining the lower margin of each eye, of the pale ground-colour. The two last-named spots are frequently connected by a pale line. These markings, however, are exceedingly variable, and more or less perfect in different individuals. Pronotum greenish-yellow in the announce some species at least " new to Britain ;" but our hopes were not destined o be long-lived : one of these two larvse my friend injured when changing its food, nd the other gradually ceased feeding, and died of inanition, though it had been ried with various flowers, and had seemed for a time fonder of Solidago virgaurea ban of the Artemisia ; it was captured about the middle of October, and it lived n to November 2l8t or 22nd. This year again I visited the locality on October 4th, and the first larva that sll into my umbrella (I got but a bare half-dozen of all sorts on that day) was nother of these puzzlers ; whether or not T hurt it, I cannot say, any way, I was oon spared any uncertainty, for after it was boxed it never fed, and in three or four lays* time was dead, and I have not been able to find another. In the hope that some one else may be mors fortunate, I send this note, with he following description of my this year's example : — Length, 13 mm. Figure rather stumpy, skin rugose, ground-colour rich creamy- ^liite, head brown, the dorsal thread rather darker than the ground, and bordered hroughout with strong streaks of full brown, which are widest just at the middle f each segment, and narrow where they meet at the folds ; in the same way the >rown sub-dorsal line varies in width, swelling out in the middle of each segment, aid tapering to the folds ; on segments 5 — 9 these lines, dorsal and sub-dorsal, are mited at their broadest by a deeper brown suffusion, which leaves the fold pale, but incloses the front pair of pale trapezoidals, and is hollowed out behind on either lide the dorsal line so as to let the hinder pair of trapezoidals stand as the apices of ■wo pale spaces extending to the fold, and altogether presenting something of the ifEect of a good fat |VI, supposing its middle V filled up ; there is a redder brown ¥aved line just above the spiracles, which stand on pale ground colour, and beneath hem a darker brown suffused region fading off paler into the pinkish-white of the )elly, and there is a central ventral line of brown. Expallidata, perhaps, comes nearest to this larva, but the difference is apparent in comparison, and the stranger belongs to a smaller species. I am conscious my description does not express exactly what I see ; however, kir. Buckler made very careful drawings, both life size and magnified, and Mr. Bignell has now very kindly figured two segments for me, and preserved the last arva ; we have ample materials for identification, therefore, when the larva turns ip again. — J. Hellins, Exeter : October 15th, 1884. -| OQ [November, Scarcity of Diasemia literalis in PemhroJcesUre.—l hare just (August 7th) paid a visit to the literalis ground. I left home by the 10 a.m. train, and returned Lj^j, at 8 p.m. : the day was intensely hot. By extremely hard working I took eight specimens. It is only just coming out, so I must go again. On a second journey I worked hard two days, and brought back in all nine B. literalis and twelve JEupoecilia Mussehliana. I got up the second morning at half-ljeii past 5, for the chance of a flight before the sun got hot, and obtained only onejftiirt moth. I went down again for the afternoon flight, and captured one B. literalia and one E. MusseMiana ; so all one day's labour was for three moths. — C. G-. BAB-jhiil,! EETT, Jun., Pembroke : August 2\st, 1884. i iflns isid Notes on the ToHrices of Rannoch. — An account of the Tortrices I met withj pf at Eannoch during the last half of June, may not be devoid of interest. I reached Kinloch on the 14th June, and on the following day I visited the | pen Black Wood. The only species I met with on this occ&sion was Fhoxopteryx myrtil'\ % lana, which was very common among Vaceinium. A plantation of young Scotch firs proved to be rich in species. Flying briskly round the tops of the trees from morning until late in the afternoon, Coccyx. cos- 1 ■^', mophorana was not uncommon, and I here also took a fine series of Mixodia rubi ginosana and Retinia pinivorana, also five Betinia duplana of our lists (Scotch form ; ^, of Retinia turionana?), and one Stigmonota coniferana. In open places between the fir-trees, Phoxopteryx uncana, Penthina dimidiana. Clepsis rusticana, were all more or less common, and Eupceeilia ciliella absolutely swarmed On the 20th June, I took a fine series of Euchromia arhutana, Euchromia mygindana, and Coccyx nemorivagana, on the hills, flying in the afternoon sunshine among their food-plant, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi. Mixodia Schulziana, and* Phoxopteryx unguicana, occurred commonly among heath; Penthina prcdong ana ^ and PhlcBodes tetraquetrana among birch ; and Orapholitha campoliliana among ; sallow. The last two species differed considerably from the southern form On the 24th June, I again visited the Black Wood. Tortrices had now in- creased in numbers, for, in addition to Phoxopteryx myrtillana, which was still on the wing, Mixodia palustrana, Coccyx ustomaculana, Serieoris lacunana, irriguana, and Baleana were all to be met with rather commonly among Vaceinium. Irriguanap is, I believe, considered only a small form of Baleana, and I think it will be proved?^ some day that Baleana is only another form of lacunana. I also took Stigmonotdt* coniferana not uncommonly flying around the branches of the larger fir-trees, and^ft one Coccyx cosmopthorana, ? , the only specimen I met with in the Black Wood. i| Although the days were mostly fine, they were not fine enough for " hill work,"! and it was not until the 25th June that a favourable opportunity presented itselfje for visiting the higher slopes. Penthina Staintoniana was then nearly over, for h> orily secured fou" or five fine specimens. They were flying among Vaceinium myrtiU\ lus, upon which the larva is supposed to feed. On the same ground I took threeftt beautiful Amphysa Qerningana. I was surprised to meet with the species at sucbii an elevation, considering that in more sheltered localities on the Loch side it had nofef yet put in an appearance. On the brow of the hill, among " grey moss," Scopariak alpina was common, one or two flying up at every step. k J 1884.] 139 Of larvae, I collected only a few, but I may mention that larvse feeding in the erminal shoots of Myrica gale produced a beautiful and varied series of Poedisca emifuscana. — A. H. Jones, Shrublands, Eltham, Kent : September ISth, 1884. PentJiina Staintoniana, Scotch form of Penthina sauciana?.— It has frequently »een suggested that Penthina Staintoniana is only a northern form of one of the °enthitice, but of wliich it has never been determined. The only species with which can be associated is sauciana. On comparing it, the markings appear to be iden- ical, and the only difference between the two species is in point of colour, Staintoniana >eing much paler than sauciana. To this difference I attach but little importance, onsidering the varied forms which are produced by altered conditions. Both pecies occur among Vaccinium myrtillus, which may be taken as additional evidence, taudinger and Wocke, in their Catalogue, do not mention " Staintoniana^'^ They ive as the geogi-aphical distribution of sauciana — " Grermany, Central and South dps, Scandinavia, Lapland, Livonia, England. I have but little doubt that Stain- oniana is only the " Scandinavian " form of this species. — Id. : October 37'd, 1884. IPenthina sauciana diners from Staintoniana in the shape of the fore- wings, ^hich, in sauciana, are broader with arched costa and truncate hind margin. The ifference between these two species is much the same as that between caprcBana nd hetuletana. Nevertheless, the subject will bear further investigation. — C. G-. tABEETT.] Note on Laccobius minufvs. — This seems to be a rather scarce species. Since )r. Sharp's remarks on the genus {cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 85), I have separated he specimens in my cabinet, and find the result is — L. sinuatus, Motsch., from Vorthing-; L. alutaceus, Th., from Deal ; and L. bipunctatus, Th., from Folkestone. minutus, auct., I do not possess. Mr. Wood remarks {cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 12) that he has only one example ; and my friend, Mr. Newbery, also informs me 6 has all the species, but only one of L. minutus, and that specimen from an old jllection, without any label. — C. Gr. Hall, 7, Beaconsfield Eoad, Deal : October 0th, 1884. On setting Coleoptera. — So many of the carded specimens of beetles sent me by •rrespondents in various parts of the country are not in a sufficiently clean state of counting to please my — perhaps, too fastidious — views of what a collection of ties should look like, that I venture to call attention to a method of setting in- induced by Mr. J. H. Smedley, of this city, and which has been adopted by all to horn we have shown it. All Coleopterists must have noticed that, no matter what [ire be employed, some beetles cannot be mounted with tragacanth without the Itrd bearing traces of the setting needle, in the form of a rough, woolly-looking irface, showing as a dirty blotch round the legs and antennae of the specimen. he method we adopt entirely does away with any unpleasant appearance. The ►ecimens, after having been killed with boiling water, and drained on blotting iper, are set with hot, thin glue upon pieces of old stout card — stout, because thin .rd curls up as the glue contracts on drying. The specimens are set on this in the me manner as when tragacanth is employed, but with far less trouble, and in one- xth of the time, for as each leg or antenna is drawn to its place it is retained M 2 140 [November, there — who has not lost his patience in setting (or trying to set) Byrrhus with I tragacanth ? and such genera as Mister, Byrrhus, Coccinella, Parnus, &c., can be made with no difficulty to show the palpi, antennae, and legs as easily as a Notiophilus, Care must be taken not to have the glue too thick, or there is a liability of the limbs being detached, but a little practice will soon teach the requisite consistence. Another benefit to be derived from this plan is that among the " Staphs " there is no retraction of the segments of the abdomen, but once laid on the glue and pressed down with the needle, this portion of the insect retains its normal appearance. The cards, each containing a day's captures, are marked with date and locality, and put away until time permits of their being re-mounted — a nice pastime for the long winter evenings. Then the cards are cut into pieces, each holding ten or a dozen specimens, these are dropped into boiling water, the specimens at once leave the glue and float on the surface, they are fished out quickly — so that no time for theix relaxation occurs — on to blotting paper to drain, and mounted without any needle by placing them with a brush on a drop of tragacanth (to which a little acacia is best added) on the whitest obtainable card. In a short time the specimens may bel cut out, ticketed with locality and date, if desired, and put away in a conditioii{ which no one can find fault with. It may be objected that the tarsi may become " beclogged," and the specimens daubed with glue, during the setting, but even ii, this does take place, the momentary immersion in boiling water effectually remove^ all traces of this, and restores the specimens to their pristine beauty. The trouble of having to carry a small glue-kettle, and keeping the glue hot while away on s holiday, is far counter-balanced by the rapidity with which a day's " bag " may hi set, and the safety with which the glued cards of specimens will travel. — John W Ellis, 101, Everton Eoad, Liverpool : September 2^rd, 1884. Oufi Insect Allies : by Theodoee Wood. London : Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 1884, 8vo, pp. 238. This is a pleasantly-written readable little book, containing much sounder in formation than is usual in works of the same class, and profusely illustrated. It is we think, almost the author's first attempt at book-making, and his productioi | compares very favourably with many other works on popular entomology. Th^' aim is to give an account of insects that aid us, either as parasites on other noxiou; species, or as scavengers that hasten the destruction of dead or decaying animal o: regetable matters. The exigencies of this position sometimes lead to a dilemma For instance, if the author were to write a book on noxious insects he would car tainly include gnats among them, and yet we here find them doing duty as " allies,' because their larvae undoubtedly tend to purify stagnant water. We must poin out to the author one serious error. At p. 160 he figures what he says is thi larva of a Lace-wing fly (Chrysopa) devouring an Aphis. The figure represent^ if anything, the larva of a Syrphus engaged in such an operation; and thj error is unaccountable, because he largely quotes Mr. Buckton's Monograph, and th latter author very correctly figures a Lace-wing larva on pi. Ixxiv, fig. 2. There ar| some other blemishes or mis-statements ; but we have no desire to be severely critica a writer who has evidently tried to be correct, and, with a few exceptions, ha tH Ite,, % it 01 on succeeded i:' 1884.1 * 141 The Btjttebflies of Etjeope, illusti-ated and described by Henry Charles Lang, M.D., F.L.S. London : Keeve & Co. 1881—1884, pp. 396, super royal 8vo, with 77 chromo-lithograpliic plates. We congratulate Dr. Lang on the conclusion of what was really a gigantic un- dertaking, and in having satisfactorily supplied what was a distinct desideratum to the numerous tourists with entomological proclivities who annually take their holiday on the Continent, and to others who, without being themselves travellers, collect European Butterflies. It is the only work of the kind in existence, and is likely to remain so. Not claiming to be a strictly scientific book, it can, nevertheless, i scarcely fail to be consulted by all classes of entomologists, as a collective work. The arrangement followed is that of Staudinger, but the species figured are those Ithat occur in Europe proper ; the other palsearctic (and some nearctic) species are simply described. The descriptions are (with few exceptions) original, with notes !on distribution and brief references to the larvae (when known). More than 800 figures are given on the 77 chromo-lithographic plates ; they are mostly successful, and in many cases infinitely superior to some hand-coloured figures, already pub- lished, of the same species ; but they fail in giving a correct idea when metallic colours (blues and reds) are necessary, as in the Lj/ccenidce. Possibly there is a deficiency 'in what is commonly termed " readable matter." Type and paper are excellent, and the " printer's errors " not numerous (but occasionally unaccountable). Without reckoning " varieties " or " aberrations," the author enumerates 550 species of Butterflies as belonging to the " European (Palsearctic) Fauna," but we are not clear (from the Systematic List) as to the number of those now known as occurring in Europe proper ; the additions from the Asiatic extension of the " Fauna " have been very numerous of late. The result of the labour of three years is now before those likely to be interested, who will, no doubt, judge for themselves as to how far it meets their requirements j we repeat that, in our opinion, a distinct desideratum has been supplied. CATALOaiJB OF THE LePIDOPTEEA OF THE BRISTOL DISTRICT. By ALFRED E. HuDD. From the Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society. 1878 — 1884. This is another valuable addition to the several local lists that have appeared of late, and which, useful as they are at the present time, cannot fail to be of greater service, for comparative purposes, to future generations of local entomologists. The District " is a large one, and includes portions of both Grloucestershire and Somer- setshire. In the immediate vicinity of Bristol are the celebrated Leigh Woods (doomed we fear to early destruction), the home of Drepana sicula, and probably the only spot where the Lime {Tilia parvifolia) is indigenous in Britain. The total number of species listed is 1310 (as against 1341 in Yorkshire and 1246 in Norfolk), of which 55 are Butterflies, 73 Nocturni, 208 Geometrce, 25 Drepanulce and Fseudo- Bomhyces, 215 Noctuce, 57 Pyrales and Deltoids, 42 Cramhidce, 205 Tortrices, 410 Tineina, and 20 Pterophori. There have been many energetic workers in the Micros in the District, who have helped to swell the list considerably. Here, as everywhere in this country, we have constantly the remark that Butterflies are becoming extinct or scarcer than formerly ; but it is satisfactory to find that Vanessa c-album still occurs in profusion in some parts of the District. Mr. Hudd and his fellow-workers are to be congratulated on having produced an excellent local list. 142 LNovombci i THE NITIDULID^ OF aHEAT BRITAIN. BY KEY. W. W. rOWLEE, M.A., F.L.S. (^Continued from page 98.) MiCETJETJLA, Reitter. M. melanocephala, Er. — Thorax without separate side border, which gives the insect the appearance of a MeUgetlies rather than an Epurcea ; its entirely different contour and certain differences in its month organs, especially the mandibles, seem to justify its separation as a distinct genus. The elytra are testaceous, thorax dark, antennae and legs reddish ; thorax gradually contracted from base to apex, much nan'ower in front than behind, base as wide as base of elytra ; punctuation fine and close ; last joint of antennae as broad as preceding ; legs rather short and strong. Length, I5 lin. The colour of this species is variable ; some specimens are entirely testaceous : this rather common variety is the Nitidula affinis, of Stephens; a much rarer variety, the N.fusca,oi Heer, is entirely black or fuscous ; of this I have only seen two specimens, which are in Mr. Wilkinson's collection, now in the possession of Mr. Mason. This is rather a common species, and occurs on flowers. Shiere, Mickleham, Caterham, Amberley, St. Mary Cray, Purley Down, Gumley, Birch Wood, Torres ; I have beaten it from wild cherry blossom in early spring, at Foremark, near E-epton. Omosiphoea, Reitter. 0. limbata, Er. — Distinguished from Epurcea by its long legs, the posterior of which are somewhat widely separated, and by its different contour. Oval, convex ; thorax twice as broad as long, contracted at base, dilated in middle, as broad as elytra, with strong, broad border ; testaceous or rufo-testaceous, with apical half of elytra and thorax (all but margins) dark ; antennae rather long, with last joint slightly narrower than the penultimate ; punctuation rather strong. Sometimes plentiful in fungi, but very local ; Dartford, Walton- d on-Thames, Shiere, Horsell, Burnham Beeches, Nocton, Eepton, &c. 0 I once beat a specimen from an old cabbage stump, which had been i| pulled up and left to decay. Erichson says it is taken at sap, and m also under fallen leaves in sunny places in early spring. ' Some of the distinctions above given for the different species of 16 EpurcBtt and its allies are very slight, and are often mere matters of jj comparison ; in dealing, however, with the genus, it is impossible in I many cases to give very plain and tangible descriptions ; the only way i to obtain a knowledge of the species is by a careful comparison with types, as was said above ; unfortunately, the rarer species are very difficult to procure as British, but foreign types are easily obtaina-ble, and any one who wishes to work the g(uius would do well to furnish 584. J 143 himself with them, and so avoid the confusion that is constantly occur- ring : this also applies to other genera, like Meligethes ; in many points the best authorities differ in their descriptions, and in some cases the differences they point out may be appreciable in one specimen of a series, but very difficult to make out in another ; when once, however, the general distinctions have been grasped, the species as a rule are not hard to determine. As regards the difference of size and colour, and the frequent occurrence of pale examples of the species that usually have dark markings, it must be remembered that Epurcea is a gregarious genus, and that a number of specimens are usually found together unasso- ciated with other species ; it is, therefore, very easy to determine them in such cases. NiTiDULA, Fahricius. I. Thorax entirely black. i. Elytra with yellow or reddish spots ; thorax with anterior margin straight. N. bipustulata, Linn. — Elytra of a dull black colour, with one well-defined reddish-yellow spot on each, placed a little behind the middle ; antennae entirely black, or dark red with black club ; legs red ; occasionally the margins of the thorax and elytra are reddish-brown, and sometimes the whole body-colour is brownish ; the punctuation, although fine, is stronger than in our other species, but differs somewhat in the sexes, as does also the contour of the thorax, which is somewhat more narrowed in front in the female than in the males ; the anterior margin of the thorax is straight, with hardly a trace of emargination. Length, 1^ — 2? lin. Universally common under dead birds and animals, old bones, &c. N. quadripustulata, Fab. {carnaria, Schall.). — This insect, at first sight, in size and colouring resembles some species of Epurcea ; the elytra are dark, with four irregular light spots often confluent and forming bands ; antennse red with dark club ; legs red ; punctuation of thorax fine but distinct ; anterior margin of thorax quite straight. Length, 1 — 15 lin. This is the smallest of our species, and is rather variable as re- [Igards colour: Stephens' JV. variata is a pal.e variety; its habitat is I the same as that of the preceding species, but it is local and by no 'means common — Hunstanton, Whitstable, Sheerness, Gravesend, Chatham, Darenth, Blackheath, Shirley, Weybridge. ii. Elytra without spots ; thorax distinctly emarginate. N. rujipes, Linn, (ohscura, Fab.). — Body entirely dull black, with very fine, almost invisible punctuation ; antennse red with black club ; legs red ; elytra with traces of striae. Length, li — 2^ lin. Habitat the same as the preceding ; very local, and by no means I a common species ; Dr. Power has taken it in some numbers at Da- I( TAA^ [November, 1884. rentli, and it has been taken at Sheerness, Gravesend, Chatham, Esher, &c. ; Stephens describes it as rather abundant, and gives the following localities : Norfolk, Suffolk, Devonshire, Netley, Grlanvilles Wotton, and Swansea, so that it appears to be generally distributed ; with the exception, however, of Dr. Power, no collector seems to have taken it in any numbers for a long time past. There seems no good reason why the preference should be given to Fabricius' name for this species, as is now generally the case, as the insects in the Linnean collection standing under Silx)^a rujipes are our Nitidula ruJipes ; it is, however, true that the description given by Linnaeus does not accord with them {vide Ent. Ann., 1867, 112), yet neither does it agree with Meligethes rujipes, which his insect is generally supposed to have been. II. Thorax with margin broadly yellow. N. flexuosa, Fabr. — Elytra black, with two very variable spots on each, one at base, and one in middle close to suture ; the four spots are often confluent, and en- close a dark space round scutellum ; antennae rather long, yellowish, with dark club ; legs yellow ; punctuation extremely fine, almost invisible ; thorax with anterior; margin somewhat emarginate, broadest behind middle, and from thence contracted; j,. to base. Length, 1^ — 2i lin. A very rare and doubtful species as British ; Scarborough, Mr. Lawson ; Northumberland, Mr. Bold ; very probably imported with hides or bones ; Mr. Bold himself considered his specimens taken near Newcastle-on-Tyne to have been not truly indigenous. The species of the genus Nitidula are extremely variable in size, as may be seen from the lengths above given. SOEONIA, Erichson. The species of this genus, and also of the genus Omosita, ar^ readily distinguished from all the other Nitidulidce by having the disc] of the thorax distinctly impressed or wrinkled ; some species {e. g.\ Omosiphora limhata) have a distinct longitudinal furrow at the base but their disc is smooth ; slight traces of impressions are visible i: many specimens of Epurcea parvula, and AmpJiotis and one or twcj species of Bldzophagus occasionally show small impressions or punc-iq tures, but these are apparently abnormal, and need hardly be takerii into account when compared with the sculpture of the thorax of the| above-named genera ; our two species of Soronia resemble each othe: very closely in colour, having the thorax and elytra variegated wit] black or dark brown and yellowish or reddish spots ; the elytra hav(| four or five raised lines on each. December, 1884.] 145 S. punctatissima, 111. — Usually much larger than the following species, but occasionally specimens are found that are not larger than a moderate sized S.grisea. In Dr. Power's collection there are several of these small specimens taken by him among a large number of the type form. As a rule, the species may be separated by size, but apart from this, -S". punctatissima is a broader and more convex insect with closer punctuation, and with the sides of the thorax more parallel ; the margins of the thorax and elytra are also somewhat broader and more distinct. Length, If— 2i lin. Usualiy found in or near burrows of Cossus ligniperda : Shirley and Esher, in birch, Dr. Power ; Dunham Park, Manchester, in oaks and alders, Mr. Chappell ; Shiere, under stones and by sweeping, Dr. Capron ; Isle of "Wight, Darenth, Chatham, Addington, &c. S. grisea, Linn. — Narrower in proportion and less convex than the preceding; also rather less closely punctured ; it is also usually of a lighter colour. Length, 1^ — 2^ lin. A widely distributed and rather common species; not so often associated with Cossus as the preceding : Netting Hill, in willows not infested by Cossus, Dr. Power ; Stretford, Manchester, under bark of old apple trees, Mr. Keston ; Prestwich, under bark of alders near Cossus burrows, Mr. Chappell ; at sap of Cossus -miected trees, com- mon, Mr. Champion ; I have beaten it from hawthorn blossoms near the banks of the Trent at E-epton, and in Bretby Wood near the same place, and have also taken it in flood refuse. The larva of this insect is figured in the first volume of the Trans- actions of the Linnean Society by Mr. William Curtis, and again in SVestwood's Classification of Insects, vol. i, p. 142 ; it inhabits willow trees and feeds on frass ; the pupae, according to Westwood, are found it the foot of the trees, beneath the surface, amongst the moist earth ind dehrift there collected. '•f Amphotis, Erichson. This genus may be at once distinguished, apart from differences n the mouth-organs, by the very broad and smooth margins of the ase jhorax and elytra, and the very greatly enlarged first joint of the mtennse, which, when viewed from above, gives the forehead the ti ippearance of being strongly lobed ; the second joint is inserted inf ')eneath the lobe formed by the first, which slightly overlaps it, and la not at the end of the first joint, as is the case with Omosita and other tin ijenera, which have the first joint thickened. t!l8 A. marginata, Er. — Thorax and head ferruginous : elytra dark, with some lighter aarkings, and with five distinct raised longitudinal lines on each ; margins of thorax liai^nd elytra very broad and smooth, of a uniform red colour j punctuation of thorax ine and close, of elytra stronger and more diffuse. Length, 2 — 2\ lin. N 4 lailj 14-6 [December, Eare ; in chinks and crevices of beech and other trees near the runs of Formica fuliginosa : Birch Wood, Tilgate, Coombe Wood, Mickleham, Horsell, Maidstone, &c. Omosita, Erichson. 1. Length, 1? lines; thorax ferruginous, elytra strongly margined, O. depressa, Linn. — Entirely of a rust-red colour, except the head, scutellum, centre of thorax, and a few scattered spots on elytra, which are darker ; thorax with two impressions on disc behind middle, and a strong longitudinal furrow on each side ; posterior margin very distinctly bisinuate ; elytra Tery finely, almost invisibly, punctured, with strong margins. A local species, common in the north of England and in Scotland ; it is usually found under old bones ; Aviemore, Braemar, Dumfries, North Derbyshire, Llangollen (under stones), Shiere, &c. ; Stephens' gives Bottisham, Netley, and Glanvilles Wootton, as localities. 2. Length, IJ lines ; thorax dark, with margins somewhat lighter ; elytra very slightly margined. O. colon, Linn. — This and the next species are at once distinguished from the! preceding by their much smaller size, different colouring, less close punctuation more oblong form, and much narrower margins of elytra ; in fact, O. depressa mighl for many reasons be made a separate genus. 0. colon may be separated from 0 discoidea by its colour, which is dark, with the margins of the thorax somewhal lighter ; the elytra have each a rather small spot behind middle, reaching to suture and a few other light spots towards base ; the thorax is strongly rounded and con tracted in front, so that the anterior margin is considerably narrower than th posterior, and the base shows very slight traces of sinuation. Length, 1 — 15 lin Very common under old bones, and generally distributed. 0. discoidea, Fabr. — Distinguished from the preceeding by having the thora^ not much contracted in front, so that the anterior margin is nearly as broad as tt posterior, and by the elytra having a common light yellowisli spot reaching from bafi fj]^ to beyond middle, and from suture nearly to side margin : the posterior margin the thorax shows hardly a trace of sinuation. Length, 1—1^ lin. Very common under old bones, and generally distributed. c Pkia, Kirby. This genus at first sight closely resembles Meligethes, but is di tinguished by the oblong club of its antennae, by the thorax having lateral stria close to margin, and by the simple front tibise. P. dulcanara, 111. — Eather smaller than Meligethes ceneus, of a dark olii testaceous colour, with suture of elytra and under-side darker; punctuation thorax fine, of elytra almost invisible ; legs yellow ; anterior tibi® simple ; undeii high power slight traces of teeth are visible, and the posterior tibiae are seen to clothed with very short white hairs on their margins ; the antennge are rather lonj in the males than in the females, and the eighth joint in the former sex is enlarg laterally, so that the club appears to be four-jointed in the males, and three-joini 1884. J 147 in the females. Stephens, deceived by this, considered them to belong to separate genera, the female being his Meligethes dulcatnarcB, and the male his Fria trunca- tella. Length, 1 lin. Local, but widely distributed, on flowers of Solanum dulcamara. Thaltcra, Erichson. T. sericea, Sturm.— Bright rust-red, shining, ovate ; thorax strongly punctured ; elytra strongly punctured at base, more feebly at apex ; elytra and thorax closely fringed with short white hairs ; antennae with first joint enlarged, almost semi- circular, club round and very compact ; anterior tibise simple, posterior pairs armed with spines on the exterior side ; occasionally the elytra are of a darker colour. Length, li — 2 lin. Widely distributed, but rare ; at sap o£ infected Cossus trees, and occasionally by evening sweeping ; Birch Wood, Shirley, Ripley, Esher, Surbiton, Mickleham, Loughton, Balcombe (Sussex), Tilgate, Bromley, Forres ; it is the same as Strongylus fervidus, Steph., which, according to Stephens, inhabits fungi; Erichson says that the probable habitat of this species is under-ground, as the structure of the legs seems to indicate, but that on hot summer evenings it comes out on grass and low vegetation. PocADius, Erichson. This genus has a sort of superficial resemblance to Thalycra and Cychramus, but may be distinguished from the first by the regular rows of punctures on the elytra, which are separated by regular rows of yellow hairs, and from the latter by the compact round club of the antennae (the club in Cychramus being elongate), and the fact that the anterior tibiae are produced into a strong point at apex. F.ferrugineus, Fabr. — Oval, convex, shining, of a reddish-brown colour, apex •of elytra sometimes darker ; antennae very short, light red, with dark club, which is Tery compact ; thorax very short in comparison with elytra, with narrow, though distinct, margins, rather difEusely and obscurely punctured ; elytra punctured as above ; legs light red, with all the tibiae produced into a point at apex. Length, 1| — 2 lin. Local, but widely distributed, in fungi, especially, Lycoperdons. (To he continuedj. n 1 - Cis hilamellatus, Wood. — In the description of this insect on p. 130 of this ' volume, owing to a mistake, " puhe pared," which I wrote, was printed ^'puhe paucd,'* and " utrumque " was omitted in line 11, which should read " utrmnque puhe flavd \ordinibus dispositd vesiitum/' &c. I had nothing to do with the description in (English, which I did not see until I received the Magazine, but I may perhaps be ulaHowed to point out that in lines 8 and 10 for "emarginate" we ought to read margined." — Id. : November 13th, 1884. ■jjo [December, EEVISION OF THE BRITISH SPECIES OF SPHECODES, LATR. (INCLUDING NINE ADDITIONAL). BT EDWAED SAUNDEES, E.L.S. In my Synopsis of the British Hymenoptera Aculeata (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1882, pp. 195—199) I described the few British species of this genus then known to me, enumerating six in all. In the same year Yon Hagens, of Diisseldorf, published the last of his several important papers on Sphecodes, in which he describes all the German species known to him, and gives figures of the genital arma- tures of the males, and it is from this paper, published in the Deutsche Entom. Zeitschrift, 26 Jahrg., 1882, 2*^3 Heft, pp. 209—228, pi. 6 and 7, and from specimens very kindly sent to me by v. Hagens himself, that I have been able to identify our species with his. There is no doubt that the genus is a very difficult one to work out, and that the species are superficially exceedingly alike ; but, at the same time, the characters exhibited by the genital armatures of the males are most pronounced, and it is only necessary for collectors to extract these with a fine needle (which is very easily done when the insects are still moist), to enable them to name their captures with ease and certainty. Apart from these characters, the antennae and alar hooks and puncturation afford peculiarities in most cases by which the species may be recognised ; but in some (as far as my examinations have gone) it is positively necessary to extract the armature to refer a specimen for certain to its proper species. In the females it is almost equally necessary to extract the terminal abdominal segment; which is wont to get hidden under the 5th, as its dorsal valve affords characters which are often most useful ; other characters appear ini the number of alar hooks, the colour of the tibial spines, and in the puncturation of the mesothorax, as well as in the sculpture of the metapleurse. The really great difficulty is to assign the right females to the various males, as the sexes are only to be found together for about a month (m August), and even then, as several species sometimes colonize in the same bank, the difficulty is scarcely lessened. The group ii M'hich this difficulty has not yet been satisfactorily surmounted is thai which was formerly known as epUppium, Kirby, but which now ini eludes four British and no less than nine German species. Here tW males are easily distinguishable, but the females are very much alike V. Hagens has distinguished eight forms, but it still remains to hi shown for certain which are referable to which of his nine males fcllf ff)l 5' 12. 1884.] 149 although he makes suggestions which seein, as far as I can judge, to assign them correctly. Any one studying this genus ought certainly to procure his papers, as there is yet room for hope that more of the European species may turn up in this country. I have pleasure in thanking the Eev. E. N. Bloomfield, and Messrs. Bridgman, Harwood, Marquand, Parfitt, Perkins, and Service, for the loan of their specimens, and for several rarities which they have kindly given me. TABLE OF SPECIES. (8) 1. J & 9 • Hooks of posterior- wings 7 — 10, large species. i^\ 9 ^ ^ ' -Posterior tibiae not spinose. 1 ? . Mesothorax Tery shining, puncturation large and remote. (4) 3. (J . Basal pubescent bands of the antennal joints reaching to about one- third of the length of each joint, and widened at the sides. ? . Q-labrous centre of apical dorsal valve very narrow, almost linear... ffibbus. (3) 4. cJ . Basal pubescent bands of antennae very narrow, not widened at the sides. ? . G-labrous centre of apical dorsal valve more or less wide. (6) 5. S . Lacinia of armature not bifid, 2nd sub-marginal cell very narrow. ? . Sides of metathorax reticulated, apical dorsal valve rather narrow, spines of tibiae black reticulaius. (5) 6. S'. unicoJor, of TVestwood, is described as follows : — "The colour of the entire moth is buff, the wings having a silky gloss, and the palpi have a pale ring near the apex ; the back of the abdomen is rather more fulvous, and marked with short black bands. It is an {inhabitant of Java, and is in the collection of the Eev. F. "VY. Hope. The expansion of the wings is two inches and three-quarters." It is perfectly clear that Walker never referred either to descrip- tion or figure of this species ; even his reference, " Dune. Nat., xxxvii, 222," proves so much, since the volume is not quoted and the number of the plate (which Walker evidently believed to be that of the volume), is not quoted correctly : but it is also evident that, if the description had been looked at, the locality given by Westwood, " Java," would have had some weight in Walker's identification of the species, and the figure (which, by the way, is only misleading, as it is coloured utterly unlike any Scopelodes that ever existed, with a combination of burnt-sienna and brick-red), might have made him un- i willing to give the name S. palpalis to the common species of Java. i: 25g i^ December, Walker's Scopelodes unicolor was evidently believed to be West- wood's species, from the fact that it is nearly unicolorous : it occurs at Silhet and Moulmein ; the var. y of Walker's description, from , Ceylon, being a much rubbed example of Moore's S. aurogrisea, and in place of Walker's " Fore-wings with a broad, diffuse, slightly paler band," it should have been noted that the " Fore-wings are much rubbed in the centre." I propose to call S. unicolor^ of Walker, by the name of S. testacea ; as it is distinct from S. unicolor, of West- wood, which we have from Java, and which also is quite distinct from the much commoner S. palpalis. Scopelodes testacea, n. sp. jTte Scopelodes unicolor, Walker (nee Westwood), Lep. Het., 5, p. 1104. n. 1 (1855). Primaries and thorax shining brownish-testaceous ; secondaries pale shining golden-ochreous, with white-tipped fringe ; palpi greyish, with a white sub-apical i band and black tip ; abdomen deep ochreous, with two or three dorsal dots and the i ojj,, anal segment black : expanse of wings, 72 mm. Silhet and Moulmein. Type, B. M. I jstr S. unicolor is represented in the Museum by two specimens, rather ilieco smaller than that from which Westwood's description was taken : the primaries and body are of a shining golden-testaceous colour, and the secondaries whitish- testaceous ; the fringe of all the wings white j^*''' the palpi with a white band near the tips ; the abdomen, as described by Westwood, has a dorsal series of black tufts or " short bands," and the tarsi are tipped with black ; S. palpalis, on the other hand, has . shining, foxy-red, primaries and thorax, and deep ochreous secondaries and abdomen ; the fringes of the wings being tipped with silvery- white ; the abdomen with dorsal bars and anal segment black. J] k fellt British Museum : November, 1884. liieit lie I atfi DESCEIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF COCYTIA. BY HERBERT DRUCE, F.L.S., F.R.G.S., &c. CoCYTIA ElBB^I, sp. n. Primaries and secondaries bluish -hyaline ; the black external borders of the; male narrow, as in C. chlorosoma ; in the female the borders are much broader, th^ Kifen intermediate streaks shorter than in C. Durvillei. The primaries without the sub-i »tto, basal orange patch common to all the other described species. The thorax an^ abdomen light bluish metallic-green, except the anal segments, which are black. Otfi-aoj the under-side the orange-coloured patch is present, as in C. Durvillei. mt.\]^ Expanse, (J , 3 in. ; ? , 34 in. J 1 1884.] X57 Sah. : Aru Islands. Mus. Driice. This very distinct and beautiful species is at once distinguished Tom all those hitherto described by the entire absence of the sub- )asal orange-coloured spots on the primaries, and by its more brilliantly loloured abdomen. The primaries are also somewhat narrower and horter. I have named this fine insect after its captor, Herr C. E-ibbe, "vho obtained it this year in the Aru Islands. On examining the fine series of specimens of G. Durvillei in my )wn collection, I find the orange sub-basal patch very variable : in ome specimens it is quite small and round, in others large and oval. Che black external borders also vary considerably in width. The Beeches, Circus Koad, N.W. : November, 1884. Observations on Lepidoptera near Reading. — Argynnis Paphia v. Valezina. — I saw two specimens of this variety in a wood t Streatly, near Reading, in July, 1876, and secured one of them, which is now in ihe collection of the Reading Museum. Argynnis Selene. — I took a specimen some years ago in Odiham Wood much "uffused with smoky-black, all the markings being much larger and blacker than t'lsual, and those across the centre of the wing forming a band of large square blotches. Melitcea Artemis. — Yarieties of this species also occur near Odiham, some being •vnuch suffused with black and with a broad blackish fascia, others with a moderately road yellowish fascia, and once a specimen was found with the under-side of the hind- dngs nearly devoid of markings. Safyrus Janira. — A female specimen was taken a few years ago at Pangboumin 'hich the whole of the usually dark borders of the wings are white, the only colour- ig being the usual tawny colour of the middle of the wings. This specimen is also 1 the Reading Museum. Satyrus Hyperanthus. — The variety of this species in which the " ringlets " are ibsent from the under-side is occasionally found in this district. Sphinx ligustri. — Of this species I have reared two specimens in which the pink olour of the hind-wings and of the abdomen is replaced by yellowish-white. When idey emerged these portions were of a pale lemon colour. These specimens are also ji the Reading Museum. Liparis dispar. — In August, 1870, at Odiham, I was in the wood one da^, and isd been running after Vanessa polychloros until, being tired out, I flung myself ' own to rest in a wood-ride. As I lay there a moth flew across the ride which, imping up, I secured. To my surprise it was a male gipsey moth in fairly good Dndition. This specimen is also in the Museum here. Its colour is much greyer lan that of the males of the domesticated stock of this species. ■j Lithosia griseola var. stramineola. — This variety is found in fair numbers in a 1 1 KQ r December, fror wild marshy tract a few miles from here. It is not, however, to be found in other neighbouring places in which the typical griseola is common. Spilosoma fuliginosa. — Common in this disti'ict. On one occasion I found a larva feeding on a leaf of Ltstera ovata, and pursuing the search found a considerable number on this unlikely plant. AmpMdasys hetularia. — This species is common here, always of the usual peppered form, but one specimen taken severUl years ago is very coarsely peppered, being, in fact, almost blotched with large black dots. It, however, does not resemble the dark Lancashire varieties. Strenia clathrata. — Several specimens have occui'red in one of our meadows in, which the wings are suffused with black, with only a few white spots towards the margins. Anticlea sinuata. — This species occurs here occasionally on the chalk. Antidea ruhidata. — Rather plentiful about Clematis vltalha with Melanthia procellata and Phibalapteryx tersata. Ph. vitalbata is much less frequently found, although double bi^ooded. Phtbalapteryx lignata. — Yery common in marshy places and low meadows. I have reared it from the egg, the larva feeding especially on a common Galium growing by ditch sides, but being apparently willing to eat any species of Galium. Cidaria corylata. — I have found at Odiham one specimen of the curious band less form of this species, usually found in the north, XylopJiasia suhlustris — Common here at sugar. Xylojihasia scolopacina. — I have taken one specimen in a small wood in this neighbourhood. It was at rest on the trunk of a fir tree. Agrotis cinerea. — One specimen occurred a few years ago on a gas lamp in this town. Agrotis agathina. — This also has occurred singly, and, contrary to its usual jiiiarl habits, at sugar. This was on September 11th, 1876. . j |b Noctua rhomhoidea. — This species may always be depended upon at the end July and beginning of August, at sugar in some of our woods. Dasycampa rubiginea. — This species has also occurred here once, at sugar. Xanthia aurago. — I never saw, or expected to see, such a sight as met my eyj ^ie when I commenced to examine my sugar on the night of September 22nd, 1876J Ifiajr Aurago actually covered every patch of sugar on some of the trees. I never saw anjj j^jfj moth, not even N. xantJiograpJia, in such swarms. I secured as many as I couldj |,jj. possibly find room for, picking out the finest specimens and most beautiful varieties, bul; causing no apparent diminution in their numbers. Many trees were so crowdeoir with them that nothing else could get at the sugar, but at one end of my grounc where they were not quite so plentiful, I secured nine JEpunda lutulenta, four Xylini^ semibrunnea and one Agrotis saucia, besides many other species. Aurago was to b< found' in plenty every night for the succeeding ten days. Xanthia gilvago. — This species occurs every year, at sugar, on some small beecl! and fir trees. Cosmia pyralina.—Thia also occurs here, at sugar, but sparingly. Aplecta occulta.— A single specimen, of a beautiful dark grey colour, was take] at sugar, a few miles away, seven or eight years ago. km I ski liiite ( I i Iran I fcale iA: Aplecta nebulosa.— Specimens taken here differ in colour remarkably from thosi '^\^ [884.1 . 159 from tlie New Forest, the latter are white with distinct markings and very large, 3ut ours are generally smaller and always much suffused with grey, approaching in ihis respect to Yorkshire specimens. Xylina semibrunnea. — This species is to be found close to the town, even among he allotment gardens. We find it in the neighbourhood every year, at sugar and ivy. Epunda lutidenta also occurs annually, at sugar. CucuUia lychnitis. — On June 28th, 1873,1 found larvae near here on Verhascum, Tom which the moths were reared. Eremohia ochroleuca. — The only specimen of this species which has occurred lei'e, to my knowledge, was in the larva state, feeding on Mullein and was reared on ;hat plant. Spilodes palealis. — Taken here once only. Pionea stramentalis. — I have taken two specimens in a wet bushy place. Argyrolepia dubrisana occurs about chalk pits among the wild carrot, Theristis caudella occurs in lanes among spindle, and in the spring is fond of lying across the road in the bright morning sunshine, when it looks very conspicuous* William Holland, 138, Chatham Street, Eeading : November llth, 1884. Colias Edusa near Weymouth. — C. Edusa has been common at Osmington luring the past summer. I saw two J there only last Saturday (October 25th) in sheltered field, visiting Scahiosa succisa : Vanessa cardui has not yet retired into vrinter quarters, several were sunning themselves yesterday morning on the cliffs aear Osmington Mill. — A. E. Eaton, Osmington, near Weymouth : Oct. ZOth, 1884. P.S. — C. JEdusa and V. cardui are still flying here. — Nov. 3rd, 1884. miration of Insects. — In the November number (aiite p. 134) I noticed some remarks on the occasional occurrence of large numbers of certain species of Lepid- tptera in Ireland, usually more or less scarce. In connection with this subject I .bought the following might be of some interest. In June, 1879 (the 6th, as far as [ can remember), I was on board a steamship in the St. Greorge's Channel j the (weather was warm and misty, and there was little if any wind. About the middle f the day a number of insects began to alight on the vessel, and several others were ying round, the species being Vanessa cardui, Plus ia gamma, Stenopteryx hyhridalis^ |jnd others, including some Diptera, such as Musca Ccesar. This would seem to point to a migration of insects to or from Ireland, and, moreover, that the insects were not blown by the wind, but migrated voluntarily. It would be interesting to learn whether the species I observed were specially abundant or the reverse in '[reland in 1879.— T. D. A. Cockeeell, 51, Woodstock Eoad, Bedford Park, Chis- jrick : November, 1884. Silk culture in Assam. — We have received from the India Office an important Dfficial Eeport by Mr. E. Stack, Dii-ector of Agriculture in Assam, on the present state of the Culture in that district, and on the prospects of success so far as regards Mportation to England is concerned. The Eeport is confessedly by no meaiis encouraging, but still hopeful. The ■ndolence and suspicion of the natives stand much in the way. Silk is "culti- I 1 gn [December, rated " there, but in a peculiar way. They have domesticated species, viz., Bomhyx textor and Croesi ("Pat"), AnthercBa aassama ("Muga"), and Attacus ricini ("Eri"). The two latter appear to be the most promising. It is recommended that the cocoons be exported, and not the thread. " Pat " seems to be a near rela- tive of the ordinary mulberry silkworm, whereas the others are " tusser." The enemies, diseases, &c., to which larvae in Europe are subject appear to be equally present in Assam, and there are rats in addition. It is stated, with regard to " Eri," that the number of moults is four, that eight broods can be obtained in a year, and that the minimum life-cycle from egg to oviposition may be only 43 days (the maximum is given as 83 days). With " Muga " it is somewhat different. Five broods are recognised by vernacular names, and the minimum and maximum are 54 and 81 days respectively. There are also about ten " wild " species of silkworms, some of which are pro- bably only the original condition of the domesticated races ; but others are totally different, and these are mentioned as of little importance ; nevertheless, the silk is occasionally used for purposes of adulteration. The empty cocoons of Anthertea Paphia (if correctly determined, the vernacular ^ name for the form is " Salthi,") are utilized as tobacco, or betel, boxes, or as cups for dipping oil. The pupae of this, as of all other wild silkworms, are considered delicate morsels by the natives. Mr. Stack's Report bears the impress of being genuine in all its details. The i facts are concisely stated, and no attempt is shown to generalize upon them in a manner that would lead them to be suspected of being no longer facts. — Eds. Green larva of Ennomos autumnaria {alniaria). — On the 16th August I found, between two sycamore leaves in my garden, a rather large " Thorn " larva of a green colour, minutely besprinkled with white dots. Although a good many years have elapsed since I hredfuscantaria, I could not recognise it as being the larva of that species, but as it was evidently making up for pupation, I knew that a very short time would solve the riddle. I must own, however, that I was greatly surprised when a finely coloured male Ennomos autumnaria emerged. I have reason to believe that the moths bred by Messrs. Tugwell and Davis (the latter this year) were all from stick-like brown larvae. Autumnaria is evidently well established in this neighbourhood ; I have had wild specimens every year since I came. It is, I am almost sure, attached to syca- more, as there is generally one of those trees near the gas lamps they have beenj taken on. The bred specimens are better coloured and larger than those caught. Theii larvfiB in confinement do very well indeed on whitethorn, and thrive on it better thaii| on birch or maple.— Sydney Webb, Maidstone House, Dover : Sept. IQth, 1884. [The published descriptions of this larva all seem to agree in giving the ground* colour as hroton. — Eds.]. k Is Pterophorus gonodactylus douhled Irooded ?— Is it known whether Ptero^ phorus gonodactylus is double brooded ? It is usually supposed to be a June insect but in this district is more frequently taken in the autumn, and during the past ^ season was not uncommon at the beginning of September. The larv» of the earlji '^ J' i 1884.1 161 brood are said to feed in April in the flower stem of Tussilago farfara, just below the flower head ; but, by the time the larvse of the second brood should be feeding, the flowers have of course long been over, and the larvae must feed on or in some other part of the plant. To me there seems little doubt that this is the solution to the problem by Mr. C. S. G-regson in the Entomologist for July, 1873, p. 427, where he says, " I once bred a gonodactylus-Yike insect from a larva found feeding in a kind of gallery made in, or under, the woolly under-side of a coltsfoot leaf found growing on the limestone rocks at Llanferraa in June."— G-EO. T. Poeeitt, Huddersfield : November 11th, 1884. Notes on Dermestes vulpinus and other beetles in Sheppey. — About the end of October, having heard casually that a bone-boiling works at Queenborough was greatly infested with "bugs," which the workmen employed therein could not keep out of their houses, I took advantage of a cold, and consequent loss of the sense of smell for a time, to stroll over and see what the creatures really were. I never before saw beetles in such amazing abundance, the whitewashed walls in the interior of the buildings being literally blackened with Dermestes vulpinus, which could also j be picked up by handfuls under bones, bits of sacking, &c., on the ground. With it Necrobia rufipes occurred in nearly, if not quite equal numbers, Coryncztes violaceus m\di Alphitobius piceus hexug B\m ^e\\ represented: the last-mentioned beetle was more retiring in its habits than the other three, and was usually to be found in the folds of the sacks containing the bones. The foreman of the works complained bitterly of the damage done to the wood- work of the building by the "bugs," and showed me a thick oak plank, about 12 feet long by a foot, wide, reduced to a perfect honeycomb by the ravages of the Dermestes larvae. These, when full-grown, had bored into the solid timber to change to pupae, of which I dug out numbers with the point of a knife, as well as many imagos in a pallid and iminature condition. The other beetles appeared to do no damage whatever. Some fowls were kept in the works, in the endeavour to reduce the number of beetles, if possible j but they appeared to prefer picking the scraps of meat off the bones, which, I was informed, came from various parts of the world, but the greater portion was brought from South America. On the same day I found a specimen of the rare Aphodius consputus, Cr. (named for me by the Eev. W. W. Fowler) in wet debris and dead grass on the bank of a fresh-water ditch, in company with large numbers of Litodactylus leucogaster and Pachyrhinus canaliculatus. In the course of a walk along the Sheppey Cliffs yesterday, I found Erirhinns scirpi not rarely in dead Typha Icitifolia, hibernating in the galleries bored in the plant by the larvae of Nonagria typhce. With it were Limnichus pygmmis (very rarely), Telmatophilus typhce (in profusion), &c., &c. — James J. Walkbe, 23, Ranelagh Road, Marine Town, Sheerness : November l^th, 1884. Note on JSelophorus crenatus, Rey, as a British species. — In a paper by M. CI. Rey, just published in the Revue d'Entomologie, vol. iii, No. 9, entitled " Notices Bur les Palpicornes, et diagnoses d'especes nouvelles ou pen connues," there appears the following notice of a species of Relophorus, which is recorded as from Britain only : " Helophorus crenatus, Rey.— This species is related both to H. strigifrons, Thorns., and H. planicollis, Thorns. It has a less thick-set (ramasse) form than the O Vrtrt [December, first, and the sides of the thorax more rounded. It differs from the second in not having the frontal fovea widened in front, and in having the elytra even more strongly crenate-striate than in that species. L. 3.7 mill. Angleterre (Pandelle')." Dr. Sharp regards both B.planicollis and R. strigifrons as varieties of H. csneipennis, and the above would seem to be another variety ; it is, however, worth recording, and may be identified from the above notice by entomologists who may have it among their Eelophori. — W. "W. Fowlee, Lincoln : Octoher 2Qth, 1884. Captures of Coleoptera near Lincoln.— On October 23rd, in company with Mr. J. J. Walker, I went to Langworth Wood, about eight miles from Lincoln, for two or three hours' collecting. This wood is chiefly known to Entomologists as one of the localities for Eesperia paniscus,^h\c\i has been fairly abundant this year during the end of May and beginning of June. The best beetle we took was Epurcea par- viila, of which we beat about two dozen from faggots, from which we also obtained Bradycellus placidus, Litargus bifasciatus, Alexia pilifera, Conurus immaeulatus, and Ocalea castanea in some numbers ; I have never before found this widely dis- tributed insect plentiful in any one .spot ; by sweeping we obtained Erirhinvs salicis "and Batophila riibi, and by shaking moss Mniophila viuscorum, Agathidinm nigri- nuni, Coeliodes fiiliginosus, Myll(Bna brevicornis, and Bytkinus puncticGllis. Among other beetles I have at different times taken in this Wood are the following : Choleva spadicea, Amphicyilis globus, Meligethes erythropi(,s and viduatus, Scaphidema aneum, Corymb lies pectinicornis, Trachys minuius, Agapantlda lineatocollis, Rhyti- dosomus globulus, RhyncMtes pubescens, Coeliodes subrufus, EUeschus bipunctatus, CeuthorhyncJms marginatus, Apoderus coryli. Thy amis patruelis, and Lina longi- \ collis, the latter abundant on sallows in all stages of development. On May 24th j I took a very fine pair of Aleochara rujlcornis ; the female occurred on some long | grass in a broad ride, and after an hour's fruitless sweeping for further specimens, I ". came back to the same spot and swept the male off evidently the same place where f the female was taken. i In Nocton Wood, near Lincoln, I found last year, on May 19th, several speci- mens of Symbiotes laius and Mycetophagus populi in an old stump, accompanied by Cis bidentatus in some numbers ; Gyrophcena affinis was common in fungi. In flood rubbish near the town I have taken Beinopsis erosa, Ilyobates nigri- collis, Trogophloeus halophilus, Lathrobium longulum, Anisotoma litura, Rhinonchua inconspectus and bruchoides, and many others. Saperda carcharias occurs close to the town, and Ocypus fuscatus, Oxypoda nigrina, PhlcBocharis subtilissima, Trichopteryx longula, and Psylliodes picina may be added to the above list. The water beetles are singularly poor for a fen district, as far as I have worked 9 them, which is, certainly, very little ; not one rare species has turned up, the best i that I have found being Liopterus agilis. — Id. : Idiocerus distinguendus, KirscJib., = I. cognatus, Fieb.—AXthowgh. the accessible evidence warranted the conclusion stated by me, at p. 127 ante, that Kirschbaum's name for this species had priority over that given by Fieber, it yet appears that I was in error, for Dr. Franz Low, of Vienna, who at my request has kindly referred to the works in which the respective descriptions were published, informs me that i *ra Fieber had priority of publication : the name to be adopted is therefore /. cognatus, Fieb.— J. W. Douglas, Lewisham : October Zlst, 1884. 1884] 163 Entomological Society of London. — September Zrd, 1884 : R. MoLach- LAN, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. Lieut.-Col. C. Swinhoe, of Winchester, was elected a Member. Mr. Coverdale exhibited a fine collection of Micro- and other Lepidoptera mounted in a new fashion on the heads of pins flattened out and turned down at a right angle. Mr. Stainton exhibited specimens of Coleophora limoniella and auroguttella, and remarked on their distinctive cliaracters ; and he said that in Mr. Coverdale's box were examples from Shoeburyness that scarcely accorded with the typical limoniella. Mr. Billups exhibited smooth spherical excrescences on birch twigs, about the size of small apples. They were hard, and with no trace of insect agency. It seemed to be uncertain whether they were, or were not, the young condition of the " witch knots " on birch which Miss Ormerod states to be duo in the first instance to a Phytoptus. Also Ocypus cyaneus found by Mr. South in Devonshire, and Loxops coccineus captured by himself at Chobham. Also Odynerus reniformis and its parasite Elampus Panzeri, from Chobham. Mons. Wailly exhibited, and remarked upon, several silk-producing Eombyces, some of which had been reared in this country for the first time. Mr. OllifE exhibited, and remarked upon, a " Cassida " received by Lord Wal- singham from Mr. J. C. arant, of Bahia. It proved to be Porphyraspis tristis, Bohem. With it were the larvae which cover themselves with a coating of filamen- tous excrement, not unlike an inverted bird's nest in miniature, and supported by a furcate anal process ; they fed on cocoa-nut palm. Mr. Poulton read a lengthy paper, illustrated by beautifully coloured diagrams, in continuation of his former remarks on larval markings, &c., and their pro- tective associations. He detailed the history of several of the larger Sphir,gid(B from the early larval stages, showing the modifications undergone during growth, and the apparent influence of food, which although seemingly certain, did not appear to be constant. A discussion took place, in which Messrs. White, Stainton, Weir, McLachlan, &c., joined. October 1st, 1884 : J. W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. Haygarth Addison, Esq., of 145, Seven Sisters' Eoad, was elected a Member. The Secretary read letters from Drs. Packard and Fritz Midler, thanking the Society for their election as Honoi'ary Members. Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited an example of Vanessa cardui from the New Forest, in which the under-wings had blue pupils to the spots. Also a large species of AcrydiidcB from the interior of Africa, of curious robust form, stated to be eaten by the Earthmen of the District (the Kalobari Desert). Mr. Horner exhibited a long series of rare British Coleoptera recently captured by him, including Myrmedonia Raworthi, Philonthus astutus, Hoynalota planifrons, eximia, and languida, Stenus morio, Dyschirius extensus, Trichonyx MaerJcelii, Lathridius testaceus, Cryphalus fagi, Phloeotrya Stephensi, and Ocalea latipennis and castanea. Mr. J. J. Walker exhibited a large collection of beautiful Lepidoptera obtained during his recent cruise in the Pacific. All were in admirable condition. Mr. McLachlan exhibited an example of a species of the Neuropterous Family Nemopteridce, taken by Mr. Walker at Coquimbo, North Chili, and remarked O 2 -J f^A [D&ceinber, upon it as being the first recorded instance of the occurrence of the curious insects of this Family in America. He also exhibited a photograph of a Dragon-fly wing sent to him by Dr. Puton. This was the production of a young medical student at Lyons, and was prepared simply by placing the wing under glass upon a piece of sensitized paper and exposing it to light, the neuration showing out most beautifully distinct in white on the dark ground. Mr. Meldola said any number of impressions might be produced from this, photographed upon glass. It appeared admirably adapted for truthfully detailing complex neuration. Mr. Billups exhibited a specimen of a species of Homalomyia bred by him, in which the left intermediate leg was perfectly double, so far as regarded the tibiae and tarsi. Baron Osten-Sacken communicated " Facts concerning the importation, or non- importation of Diptera into distant lands," in which much curious information was given, mostly in connection with North American species. Mr. Rosenstock communicated a paper on Australian Lepidoptera. Colonel Swinhoe communicated notes on the larvae and habits of many species of Indian Lepidoptera. November 5th, 1884 : The President in the Chair. A. W. Kappel, Esq., of Burlington Gardens, Chiswick, was elected a Member. Mr. Douglas sent for exhibition specimens of the new British Homopteron Idiocerus cognatus, Fieb. {cf. ante pp. 127 and 162), taken by him at Lewisham, with examples of /. tremulce, Estl., for comparison. Also the following Coccidce from Lewisham, viz., Lecanium ribis, A. Fitch, from red currant (which, however, did not appear to materially damage the plants) ; L. cesciiU, KolL, ant this season, and one memorable evening, just at sunset, I found ;:at rest on the long grass in a disused quarry, no less than seven L. ■ Agestis, so close together on one stalk of grass, that I easily got six of them into a pill-box at the first attempt. Within a few inches were five beautiful L. Avion also at rest. These twelve butterflies were all within a space less in size than the crown of a man's hat. It ,may be in place here to note that when the weather has been fine and ^bright, and promises to continue settled, L. Avion rests at night high up on coarse stalks of grass, and is then very conspicuous ; whereas, lin dark unsettled weather, they betake themselves to low thick tufts [of grass or nettles. ( During the next few years L. Avion continued to appear, but very 'irregularly, as regards numbers. The best seasons since 1870 being "those of 1876 and '77, the latter especially, but on no occasion has it "been nearly so abundant as in 1870. As the years '76 and '77 have ■been fully described in Mr. Gross's paper, I need not dwell further Vpon them. Q2 1 QQ [January, Now come the dark days. Part of June, 1877, was damp and ,' broken ; not at all the bright warm skies L. Arion loves (1876 was very hot for part of June). In dark cloudy w^eather they are always still, and, I believe, they will only deposit their ova when the sun is warm and bright. In 1878 the weather was worse, there being hardly a fine ; day in the month. 1879 was yet worse than '78, and since then until this season the same class of weather has been prevalent. ISfow, during all these seasons I have gone or sent many times at the time L. Arion should be out. In 1878, not over a dozen were seen, mostly worn and weather-beaten, for there were hardly ever two consecutive fine days. In 1879 they were yet scarcer, while in 1880, if my memory serve me rightly, only two were obtained, and two or three more seen. For the four years, 1881 — 84, not one has been seen in the Gloucestershire district that I have been able to trace. I will now say a few words about the distribution of L. Arion. Such years as it has been rare, it appeared to be entirely confined to two or three spots of very limited area, whereas when commoner, and especially in 1870, it cropped up here and there nearly all through the country between the two chief "head quarters," which are nearly three miles apart. It also occurs in two or three other localities, one of them being over ten miles away, but everywhere it is limited to small areas. One point of interest would appear to be this. My friend Mr. Merrin used to take the species about a quarter or half a mile furthei west than I have ever done, and at that time he knew of no othe] locality. Since I have been acquainted with the species, not one haf been taken in this old locality, although often visited at the righ time. So local does it seem, too, that, although I have taken it freely up to a certain point, I could never find a specimen beyond the sidei of this one old quarry, in the direction of the old head quarters! notwithstanding that the formation of the ground, herbage, &c. appear identical with that where it was common. ^ Now, what is the probable cause of the diminution or extinctioij of L. Arion ? To my mind the greatest, if not the sole, cause ha been the continued prevalence of unfavourable w^eather, which aliki ^^ caused an immense decrease in the blossoming of the wild thyme, an< prevented free oviposition by the parent butterflies. It will be note< that with continued and increasing fine weather, 1866 — 1870, thi ^ species gradually increased also, until in 1870 it was common. Thai % followed broken seasons, with irregular appearance of the butterfly but still in sufficient number to take advantage of the fine June o i8sr..) 189 1876. lu 1877 they were commoner than in the previous year, but the month of June was partly broken. Many fewer butterflies appeared in '78, and they hardly had a chance of continuing the species ; and from then until 1884, there has not been one fair season. The question now is : have ant survived this long series of bad years ? If only a very few are left, with the finer June of 1884, and should we be favoured with a similarly fine month in 1885, there is hope that L. Avion may again become, if not abundant, still not so very rare ; but I fear this hope is but a very faint one. Burning the grass has, I think, become more prevalent over one of the localities noticed, and it must have had some bad effect ; but the other has never suffered from this to any appreciable extent ; so this cannot be tlie cause, although it may have been an assisting one. As to the " rapacity of collectors," I can say emphatically that it has had no share in the diminution of the species in the district in question. The locality towards Stroud is, I believe, known only to four or five people, including Mr. Goss, to whom I showed the ground in 1876. Only Mr. Merrin and myself have ever systematically visited the ground, and, as will be seen from the record of my experience as given above, no harm can have been done by me in this manner, and Mr. Merrin has never taken nearly so many as myself. In all my wanderings over the Stroud end of the ground ] neve7^ met a stranger collecting, and only on one occasion, at the other end, and this was, I know, only a passing day's visit by an amateur. While, however, I am thus positive that over-collecting has not had anything to do with the disappearance of L. Arion here, I am none the less convinced that it would have been easy for one or two active collectors to have made a clean sweep of the species, and exterminated it in a series of two or three years, no matter how favourable the weather might have been. It has been this conviction that prompted me never to publish the exact locality, and also to be careful myself never to take all I saw, and generally to preserve the species as much as possible. I have said nothing here about the larva of L. Avion, because nothing further appears to have been learnt of it since Mr. Merrin 1 and myself supplied ova to Mr. Porritt and others in 1870. We then all saw the newly-hatched larvse feeding on blossoms of wild thyme, ,ij and that was the last of it. At different times I have spent many \ hours in search for older larvae without avail. J j 37, Midland Eoad, Gloucester : November l^th, 1884. 290 r January, Abnormality in Epinephele Hyperanthus. — On July 22nd, 1883, I took two interesting specimens of E. Hyperanthus, shewing a want of symmetry on the under- side. The typical form of the species has on the under-side (according to Newman) eight ocelli, three on the upper, and five on the lower wing. These we will call 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,* and thus we should give Newman's type specimen a formula thus— left wings, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ; right wings,- ditto. A spotless form would be represented thus— 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ; and in the same way any other specimen might be readily described by substituting a cypher for an absent spot, and placing a convenient figure, say X, for any extra ocellus ; and also when two ocelli become partly united they may be expressed by bracketing tliem together, for instance, Newman figures a variety which would have a formula thus — 1, 2, 3 (4, 5, X,) 6, 7, 8. Having explained my plan, I will now adapt it to my two asymmetrical specimens which I caught near Warlingham, in Surrey. The first, the more remarkable, has a formula 1, 2, 3 (4, 5,) X, 6, 7, 8, for the right under-side, but on the left side it is 1, 2, 0 (4, 5, X,) 6, 7, 8. The second specimen has the right side 1, 2, 3 (4, 5,) X, 6, 7, 8, as before, but the left is 1, 2, 3 (4, 5, X,) 6, 7, 8. Thus we see that in both cases the additional small spot X was united with 5 on the left, but disunited on the right side, while in one specimen the 3rd ocellus on the upper wing was entirely absent on one side, but well marked on the other. I sent the specimens to Mr. Kane, of Dublin, who tells me that such aberrations are rare. Can any reader remember a similar instance ? — T. D. A. Cockeeell, Bedford Park, W. : November, 1884. Tapino.ttola Bondii in the Island of Rugen. — In the Stettiner entomologische Zeitung, 1884, p. 432, Major Alex, von Homeyer records the capture by him, on ^ August 2nd, 1879, of a (? near Stubenkammer in Eiigen. We do not think the f insect had hitherto been recorded from other than its old localities, viz., South of ) England, and G-reece. — Eds. | Note on Dichrorhampha tanaceti. — I have long been puzzled as to what this insect ■ really is. Mr. Stainton, in the Manual, includes it in the genus Bichrorhampha, > the males of which possess a costal fold. In all the specimens which have been sent to me as tanaceti, the males have no fold, nor have I been able to detect one in the i series of the insect I have observed elsewhere. If these insects are tanaceti, Mr. t Stainton must have had some other species before him when he wrote his description for the Manual. On examining the late Mr. Doubleday's collection at the Bethnal G-reen Museum a short time ago, I found, to my surprise, the species tanaceti represented there by only three specimens, all males, with the fold, but most certainly all D. herbosana, or, rather, what we have for some years been calling by that name. D. herbosana I myself bred in Yorkshire from roots of tansy and yarrow, among which plants I also cauglit them flying in numbers, and I cannot be mistaken about the species. Again, Mr. Elisha has this season bred from roots of tansy a long series of what he calls tanaceti, and which agree exactly with the specimens sent to me under that name. I conclude, therefore, that the name tanaceti, which stands in the Doubledaj collection, applies to what we now call herbosana, a true Bichrorhampha, and that J ^nn * The system I here propose is taken from that in use for indicating the arrangement of the : L bands of certam Helices. I thmk it would be found to serve for all the Satyridce. , ^' LL 1885.1 191 the species generally known as tanaceti should be called saturnana, a species, I believe, never yet bred till now, and which the description as given in the Manual exactly suits. I think I can throw some light, or, rather, darkness, upon the existence of another species — senectana. No one exactly knows what this insect is. There is one speci- men so named in the Doubleday collection, which, if- 1 mistake not, is a female herhosana. This sex of that species would appear to be scarce. I only bred one ? to about three dozen S • It is smaller and darker than the e moths was quite voluntary and, in fact, the initial stage of subsequent migration. Again, the movement was evidently a simultaneous one of a large num- ber of moths and not confined to a few individuals only. This fact would seem to imply that the insects were actuated by a common influence, to seek the regions of the upper air. Plusia gamma is always present in greater or lesser abundance in Britain. Its numerical increase or decrease is without doubt (in common with that of most Lepidoptera) regulated, to a very great extent, by meteorological or climatic influences The wet and almost sunless summer of 1879 may have been favourable to the propa' gation of P. gamma, but unless the normal numbers of the species were largelj augmented by immigrants during the early summer months, I cannot think i j would have occurred in such swarms as were observed in August of that yea: * in the Isle of Wight and elsewhere. That several species of Lepidoptera do migrate is beyond contradiction, bu; whether such migration is habitual with those species, or not, there is no evidence td show. It has been suggested that the extensive geographical range of some specie is due to their occasional migrating from place to place. I consider this not onl;j possible but most probable, and I should suppose that such species possess inhereni|! migratory instinct. Probably the instinct is either excited into activity or kept i:|j jl* abeyance by meteorological influence, ' miii As far as concerns Britain, I am of opinion that unless there were occasions iIto( immigration of such species as Colias Hyale, Colias Edusa, Vanessa Antiopa, Sphin\ itfl convoIvuU and several others, British collectors would not have the felicity of takini «!?[ those species in any part of this country. I do not go so far as to say that none c % of the species specially referred to ever breed in Britian ; on the contrary, I admi' moe, that they often do so (more rarely perhaps in the case of V. Antiopa). Still I thin J . f that the peculiarities of our insular climate render the permanent establishment ( those species, and certain others, improbable. Suppose that in any year a number of immigrant Colias Edusa arrived on thl eastern or south-eastern coast of Britain ; during the month of June for instant These immigrants would, most probably, in the course of a few days distribute thenil %,j(|^ selves throughout the length and breadth of the land, and the females would in dtl^J,:{ '% 1885.] 211 course deposit eggs in suitable places. Now, if the general character of the weather were favourable during the following summer and autumn, descendants of the immigrants would occur, in more or less abundance, in many localities where perhaps the species had not been seen for very many years. I have put this forward as a supposed case, but I am aware that touching the abnormal abundance of certain species of Lepidoptera in certain years in Britain, many Entomologists are in favour of the immigration solution of the problem. I cannot see in what other way we can reasonably account for the erratic appearance of such species as I have mentioned, and some others. — Eichaed South, 12, Abbey G-ardens, London, N.W. ; December 9th, 1884. Note on Oviposition in Agrion. — The following observation appears worthy of being recorded. In several localities in Savoy, in July last, Agrion mercuriale (a very local British species) was the commonest of the smaller Agrionidcs. The weather was, and had been, intensely hot, and the breeding places of the Agrion, consisting mainly of shallow road-side ditches and streams, were nearly dried up, leaving only, here and there, patches of wet mud with scarcely any surface water. I soon noticed that certain individual Agrions, when flying, were conspicuous on account of the whitish colour of the whole, or a portion, of the abdomen. On ex- amination these proved to be always females, and the whitish colour due to an incrustation of dry mud ; in some it was only at the tip of the abdomen, in others for its whole length (nearly an inch). The explanation was obvious. These females had been engaged in oviposition, and some instinct had prompted them to sink their eggs as deeply as possible in the mud, so as to afford some chance of escape from the consequences of further evaporation. I am not aware that A. mercuriale (or its near allies) has ever been noticed to descend entirely beneath the surface of the water : in this case such a proceeding would have been impossible. — E. McLachlan, Lewisham: December, 1884. Additional notes on Coleoptera in 1884. — In addition to several species already recorded, I have met with a few Coleoptera during the past season which may be deemed worthy of mention. At Dulwich my best 'captures have been Callicerus rigidicornis, Bolitochara ihella (commonly), Romalota nigricornis and hospita (from Co w«s burrows), Cori/- phium angusticolle, Epurcea melina (Cossvs), Megatoma undata, Cis micans and vestitus, and Balaninus tessellatus. From powdery fungus on decaying birch stumps il took, one aftei'noon, nearly 200 specimens of Lathridius testaceus. Phloeotrya ^^ii Stephens! was also common in nearly every birch log which I examined, but in every njicase the insects were dead and decayed. As far as I could judge the beetles had inever left the logs, some unknown cause having brought about their death almost jjftimmediately upon assuming the perfect form. From West Wickham and the surrounding district I may record Bolitochara ^lucida, Leptusa ruJicoUis (plentiful in Boleti), Tachinus elongatus, Homalium iopte- rum, Frognatha quadricorne (plentiful, but all ? specimens), Scaphidium 4i-macula- 0um, Orfhoperus brtinnipes (Boleti, common), Epurcea longula (Cossus), Meligethes ^^^ovatus, Cryptophagus badiiis, Megatoma, Cis hidentatus and nitidus, Ennearthron Acorntitum (in profusion), Heledona agaricicola (50, from white fungus upon oak) Jand Sibynes poteniillm. 212 [February, From Bognor, where I spent a week early in April, I obtained Corylophus suhlcBvipennis (thi'ee specimens, named for me by the Rev. A. Matthews), Achenium depressum (somewhat commonly), Cassida nohilis, and several local aquatic species. A small patch of sand at the base of Selsea Bill produced Phytosus spinifer and Ptenidium pnnctatutn in abundance. Bryaxis Eelferi was in thovisands upon the sea-wall during almost every hour of sunshine, in company with various CorticaricB, &c. Among some odds and ends, taken principally by desultory collecting, were Orectochilus, Ceuthorrhynchus cochlearice, Phytobius velatus, and P. leucogaster, from Aylsham, Norfolk ; and Platyderus, Scaphidium, and Geotrupes pyrenceus from Belvedere, Kent. I suspect that P. velatus is often overlooked. I took it by dragging aquatic plants, and found that in every instance it remained motionless in the net for several minutes, its sombre hues rendering it very difficult to distinguish among the debris. I may mention that, since my former note {cf. ante p. 129) I have again met with Cis bilamellatus, and, on this occasion, at some little distance from West Wickham. The insect appears to be, at any rate locally, abundant. — Theodore Wood, 5, Selwyn Terrace, Upper Norwood : Beceynber Srd, 1884. Note on Barypeithes brunnipes, 01. — I am unable to find any record of this insect as a destructive species, and suppose that it has been overlooked. I have found it very commonly in strawberry beds, and, upon one occasion, in June, 1882, every fourth or fifth berry was more or less destroyed by the insect. In almost every case it seemed to enter the berry from beneath, creeping under it as it rested on the ground, and then tunnelling upwards. In the same way I found a single specimen of Pterostichus madidus, which appeared to have eaten away the whole of the interior of a large strawberry, nothing but a thin shell remaining. — Id. 61 lal \x [\ I Coleoptera in mid -to inter. — On December 20th, I went for my holiday to Culross, on the northern bank of the Forth. The weather report from there the week previous was nothing but rain, therefore, I hoped to be able to collect beetles, and to find some remaining fungi. Grreat was my disappointment on arrival — hard frost. No use turning stones, moss and bark frozen hard, even haystacts would not yield beetles the cold driving them too far in. I was determined not to return empty-handed and my only chance was a running stream which separates Fife from the curiously divided county of Perth ; it was bitterly cold work pulling stones out of the wateii and searching them. I could only work about an hour at a time, and had three hours at it, with the following result : — 4 Hydrcsna gracilis, 5 H. nigrita, 1 Elmis\ ceneus, 10 E. VolJcmari, 1 E. parallelopipedus, 1 Limnius tuberculatus. The E, VolJcmari were most difficult to find as they were apparently grown over by a kind] its 31 of green slime. On pulling the stones out of the water I placed them on end, and patientl waited for the slightest movement, then I knew I might expect one or other species the Hydrcence were difficult to get from the stones, they clung most tenaciously an often lost a limb on being captured. I found most under the stones piled across the stream partially out of the wateiB^OD and where as a consequence the water runs more rapidly. — Alfred BEAUMONiBiepafj 30, Lady well Park, Lewisham : Jan. 3rd, 1885. ^L. en 1885.J 213 THE NITIBULIDJE OF GKEAT BRITAII^'. BY KEY. W. W. rOWLEE, M.A., F.L.S. {Continued from p . 147). Meligethes, Kirly. This genus of the Mtidulidce is by far the largest in point of numbers ; some of the species are easily separated, but many are very difficult to determine with accuracy, and probably several of our British species will in time be considered as not really distinct ; the denticu- late anterior tibiae, taken in conjunction with the produced prester- num, serve to mark the genus. The head is small and triangular ; the mentum is composed of two pieces closely joined together ; I have dissected it out in many of our species and find considerable variation ; it is contracted in front and deeply emarginate, with a larger or smaller tooth in the middle of the emargination, which sometimes is almost, if not totally, absent ; the mandibles are short, rather broad, but sharp, furnished with one or two small inconspicuous teeth near the apex ; they project slightly beyond the labrum, which is strongly bilobed ; the labial palpi are thick and short, with the last joint broadly truncate ; the maxillary palpi are longer and more slender in comparison, with the last joint truncate at the extreme apex ; the an- tennae are short, with the first joint considerably thickened, and end in a compact round three-jointed club ; the antennal furrows on the under-side of the head are well marked, straight and parallel ; the thorax is always transverse, sometimes very strongly (as in M.pici'pes), at other times slightly (as in M. nanus) ; the body, as a whole, is sub- quadrate, or more or less ovate ; the abdomen has its first free segment as long as the three following, which are of equal length ; the fifth segment is longer, and is furnished with two rounded impressions, which approach one another towards the apex of the segment, and oc- casionally meet ; although they differ somewhat in different species, yet they are not very useful as a character ; the last segment of the abdomen also often presents depressions, tubercles, or raised keels at its apex, especially in the males, which are very useful marks of dis- tinction, and there are also varying depressions and prominencies on the metasternum. Some of the chief characters lie in the legs, which will presently be noticed more at length. The wings are bilobed, the '^' basal part being cut off from the rest of the wing {vide A. Murray, Mon. of the Nitidulidcs, p. 221) ; this is one of the characters that separate the genus from Fria, which has the wing entire ; the separa- tion, however, is not so marked in Meligethes as in Amphotis and some 214 [February, other genera of the NitidulidcB, as it only presents the appearance of rather a small triangular excision on the lower part of the wing. In size the species range from J lin. to If lin. ; as a rule, how- ever, they do not exceed 1 lin. The colour is usually black, sometimes very shiny, sometimes dull or leaden ; several species have a bluish or greenish (occasionally a bronze or purple) metallic lustre ; none, however, of the British species are red or testaceous (like the Continental If.fuscus), except a variety of M. ruji-pes, which is of a dark ferrugi- nous colour ; a mahogany coloured tinge is sometimes present on the purple varieties of M. csneus. As might be expected from the similarity of form, and in most cases of colour, and also in consequence of the large number of species (in the European catalogue there are over 100, of which w^e possess more than 30), their identification is often very dilficult. Various methods of subdividing them have been proposed, and different cha- racters have been adopted by different authors. Erichson trusts chiefly to the denticulation of the anterior tibise ; E-eitter makes a great point of the straightness or emargination of the anterior margin of the forehead, and also of the presence or absence of network or cross striation between the punctures of the thorax and elytra ; while Brisout lays great stress upon the characters of the under-side, par- ticularly of the metasternum and the last abdominal segment bf the males. All the differences that can be found in so obscure a genus must be of great use. The species can be, as a rule, roughly separated into groups by size, colour, and contour ; but the best determining character appears to be the denticulation of the anterior tibise, and the degree of punctuation and of cross-striation between the punc- tures. The anterior tibiae present four or five distinct types of serration or denticulation, and the punctuation and cross-striation also varies considerably ; sometimes the latter takes the form of very fine alutaceous network covering the whole body, sometimes of coarse transverse scratches ; occasionally it is confined to the elytra and is absent on the thorax ; and in one of our species {M. murinus) it is peculiar to the scutellum ; in some cases only very slight traces are visible, which are often so feeble that the interstices are, for purposes of sub-division, conveniently regarded as quite smooth. In all cases a compound microscope with at least a one-inch objective is required for the examination of this* character. The characters of the under-side are, as has been said above, very useful in many cases ; but it is a question whether they are always quite constant, and they are, at all events, better regarded as secondary 2i tie 3r 1885.] 215 for, if a species can be determined (as most can be) from the upper- side without having recourse to the lower, it is much more convenient, especially in the smaller genera where the insects have to be mounted on card, and cannot well be pinned. The colour of the legs and the basal joints of the antennsB are sometimes of use, but they must not be depended upon alone, as they are very apt to be misleading, being very different in even slightly immature specimens ; useful characters are also to be found in the dilatation of the joints of the anterior tarsi of the males of some species, and also in the shape of the middle and posterior tibiae, and the arrangements of the bristles or hairs with which they are clothed. A few words remain to be said with regard to the shape of the anterior margin of the forehead, on which Eeitter, in his " Revision der Europaischen Meligethes Arten " (a work indispensable to any student of the genus), founds his principal divisions. This author divides the genus into three sub-genera, as follows : Jileligetlies, con- taining the bulk of the species, distinguished by having simple claws not toothed at the base ; Odontogethes, which has the claws broader and strongly toothed at the base, containing the single European species O. liehes, Er. (Jf. olivaceus, Sturm) ; and AcanthogetJies, which has the claws as in the preceding genus, but has the forehead deeply excised in a semi-circle and the anterior tibiae strongly toothed, whereas in O. hehes the anterior tibiae are very finely toothed, as in M. riifipes, &c., and the anterior margin of the forehead is straight ; this sub- genus contains our M. solidus, Kug., M. brevis, Sturm (pictus, Eye), and three other species. The sub-genus Meligethes is divided by Eeitter into three divisions according to the shape of the anterior margin of the forehead, which, taking our species alone into consideration, are as follows : 1st. — Eorehead with the anterior margin straight or nearly straight. M. rufipes, Imnharis, fulvipes, coracinus, corvinus, ceneus, viridescens, symphyti, suhrugosus, serripes, nanus {marruhii), ohscurus, lidens, mnhrosus, incanus, ovatus, picipes,flavipes, memnonius, ochropus, hrunnicornis. 2nd. — Forehead with the anterior margin excised, with the angles of the emargination round or obtuse. M. difficilis and var. Kunzei, morosus, viduatus, pedicularius. 3rd. — Eorehead with the anterior margin excised in a semi-circle, or more or less deeply emarginate, with the angles of the emargina- tion acute. M. rotundicollifi, murinus {seniculus $ ), lugubris and var. gagatliinus, hidentatus, erythropus, exilis. I 21Q [February, 1885. These divisions have been given at length, because they have been employed by many English entomologists ; at the same time, although the emargination of the forehead is in many cases a most useful character, it is hardly one on which to found primary divisions ; in the first place, some of the species belonging to the first division have the anterior margin of the forehead emarginate to a certain degree (vide Eeitter, I. c, p. 31), so that a person working the group from descriptions might not know, in some instances, whether they were to be placed in the first or second division, the phrase " straight or almost straight " used by Eeitter being in itself misleading : in the second place, unless the insect is placed with its forehead quite flat under the microscope, the emargination, especially where it is slight, may be passed over altogether ; this is, of course, a very minor ob- jection, but it will be found a practical one. In examining Meligethes as they are ordinarily set, with the head almost at right angles to the thorax, it is often very hard to see the anterior margin to begin with, and if a species can be placed in a group without reference to it, it is much more convenient ; after all the character is not of great im- portance as far as our fauna is concerned, for the first division contains twenty-one species, the second only four, and the third only six, and the species of the third division, at all events, are easily distinguished w^ithout reference to it, so that there are very few species towards the separation of which we are helped by it, if we make it a primary character ; it is true that, in some instances, it is exceedingly useful as a help for separating species that are otherwise closely allied, e. g., difficilis and hrunnicornis, erythropus and obscurus, but in one way this very point forms one of the strongest objections to the use of: this character for the formation of divisions, for by it forms that are evidently very closely connected, if not actual races of the same species, are placed not only in different groups, but in different divi-||^^-' sions, and separated very widely from one another. In the following division of the genus all the above characters! "''''^f have been made use of to a greater or less degree ; it is, however,; almost impossible to divide Meligethes satisfactorily, as, whateveij|'*"fii! arrangements may be made, there will always be some species that! will not fit in, and whose position it will be hard to determine. I may say that I have before me at present the whole of Mr Eye's almost perfect collection of the genus (kindly lent me by Mr Mason), and also Dr. Power's (the latter containing about 1000 speci- mens), besides Mr. Wilkinson's and my own. I must thank Mrj Champion and Mr. CO. Waterhouse for their kindness in sending March, 1885.] , 217 me unique, or almost uuique, specimens for examination ; I am also much indebted to Mr. Grorham and Mr. Champion, both of whom in former years have made a special study of the genus, for valuable information as to localities, plants, habits, &c. ; and to Mr. Newbery, Mr. Chappell, Dr. Capron, and other collectors, who have sent me lists of localities, &c., for various species. I must also thank M. Charles Brisout de Barneville and Herr Eeitter for kindly sending me foreign types. I. Tarsal claws simple. i. Anterior tibiae very finely toothed, rather more distinctly towards apex. 1. Colour black, with at most very slight traces of metallic lustre. A. Legs light. a. Species large, black, oval, or broad oblong ; punctuation and cross striation of elytra forming wavy lines ; club of antennae dark. Of. Sides of thorax considerably contracted towards apex ; thorax rery finely and indistinctly punctured. M. rujipes, G-yll. — The largest of our species ; easily distinguished from all the others (except M. lumbaris) by its size, taken in conjunction with its red legs ; smaller specimens closely resemble M. lumbaris (which is the var. b. of M. rujipes of G-yl- lenhal, Ins. Suec, i, 235), but may be separated by the shape and the punctuation of tlie thorax ; the first joint of the antennae in M. rujipes is light, in M. lumbaris more or less dark, and in the former species the margins of the thorax are broader and of a reddish colour, whereas, in the latter, they are narrower and darker; the latter distinctions, however, although as a rule they hold good, are not always con- stant, and are apt to be misleading. Length, I5 — If lin. Very common and generally distributed ; abundant in hawthorn bloom in spring, and also found on Banunculacece, Bubi, Allium, &c. There is a reddish variety of this species, which is not very common ; Dr. Power has taken it in Hainault Forest, and Mr. Newbery at Highgate ; in this variety the thorax, except the margins, is rather darker than the elytra, but the whole insect is of a dull reddish tint. One of Dr. Power's specimens has the thorax and one elytron of the normal colour, with a slight greenish metallic tinge, and the other elytron of the colour of the variety. )8. Sides of thorax only slightly contracted towards apex ; punctuation of thorax fine but distinct. M. lumbaris, Sturm. — Considerably smaller than the average specimens of the preceding species, rather shorter, narrower, and more oblong, with thorax more dis- tinctly punctured than elytra, first joint of antennae usually dark, and legs con- siderably stronger and of a darker colour than in the preceding species. Length, li— 1^ lin. 218 \ [March, Not common, althougli rather local, on broom, nettles, hawthorn, and TTmhelliferce. Cowley, Dareuth, Horsell, Guildford, New Forest ; Bearsted, Kent, on roses, particularly garden ones, Mr. Gorham ; Southgate, Loughton, Southampton, on Pulicaria dysenterica, Mr. Newbery ; MicMeham, Amberley, Esher, Eepton, &c. In Mr. Eye's collection there is a very small specimen hardly one line in length, with well-marked semi-circular depressions on each side of the thorax, but this is evidently abnormal. h. Species emaller, rather narrow-oblong ; punctuation and cross striation of elytra not forming wavy lines ; antennae en- tirely light. M. fulvipes, Bris. — Oblong-ovate, black, with occasionally a leaden reflection, with short grey pubescence ; very finely punctured with distinct cross reticulation be- tween the punctures ; legs and antennse light red or reddish-yellow, occasionally rather darker ; anterior tibiae with very fine, almost imperceptible, teeth, which are slightly stronger at apex. Length, 1 — li lin. Askham Bog, Fairlight, North Devon, Dagenham, Strood, South- end ; very local in marshy places on TJmhelUfercB and Genistcs. This is a very distinct species, and cannot M^ell be confounded with any other ; rubbed examples occasionally resemble, at first sight, some specimens of M. picipes, but the shape, and the straight, slender and very finely toothed anterior tibiae wdll at once mark the difference ; the very plain cross reticulation between the punctures is a valuable character for the species. B. Legs dark ; at most anterior tibise somewhat lighter. a. Elytra unevenly and rugosely punctured with strong transverse striation between punctures ; length under one line. M. suhrugosus, Gyll. — Ovate, rather convex, shining black ; elytra rugosely punctured with strong transverse striation, especially towards base ; the front tibiae are very finely crenulate, as in M. corvinus, and are rather lighter than the rest, but all the legs are more or less pitchy. Length, | lin. A common continental species, but only one specimen has been found in Britain ; it was taken by Dr. Sharp many years ago on the banks of the Water of Ken, Galloway. The peculiar rugose and wavy sculpture, which is nearest to, but not quite distinct from, the sculpture of M. rufipes, is the chief cha- racteristic of this remarkable insect, which in some points resembles at first sight M, serripes ; this sculpture is very well seen if the insect be placed under a compound microscope in a cross half light. M. suhstrigosus, Er., is a variety of this species of not quite so deep black a colour, less convex, with finer cross striation, and with lighter legs and antenn?e, according to Erichson ; M. Brisout, how^ever, says that they are darker than in the type form. 1835.J 219 h. Elytra evenly punctured with cross reticulation between punc- tures ; length at least one line, cj-. Punctuation weak ; cross reticulation delicate, present on both thorax and elytra. M. coracinus, Sturm. — Oblong-oval, black, rather dull, occasionally with a slight greenish or bronze reflection ; punctuation of elytra and thorax close and fine, with very fine cross reticulation between punctures ; thorax rather variable in shape in the sexes ; legs and antennae pitchy ; anterior tibise rather lighter, very finely toothed, rather more distinctly towards apex; posterior pairs of tibiae straight or almost straight for two-thirds from base, and from thence sharply and obliquely cut off to apex. Length, 1 lin. Not rare on the continent, according to M. Brisout, on flowers of Galium and Prunus spinosa ; very rare in Britain ; only three or four authentic examples are known ; of these I have two before me, one in Mr. Eye's collection with no locality attached, and another which has been kindly sent me by Mr. "Waterhouse, which he tells me was taken at Hampstead ; the latter specimen is a little more strongly punctured on the elytra than Mr. Kye's and foreign specimens that I have seen, and shows the greenish reflection, which, as a rule, is almost entirely absent. I at first thought that this example might be referred to M. subceneus, Sturm, but, on comparing it with a type sent me by Herr Eeitter, I find that M. subcdneus, although very close to it, is more strongly punctured, and has the thorax more contracted in front ; specimens of so-called M. coracinus are in many collections, but they are usually rather dark examples of M. ceneus. I have had several of these sent to me as coracinus ; the mistake is due to the fact that M. coracinus is said to have the greenish reflection : it is, however, as a rule, so very slight, that for all practical purposes the insect may be considered as black. Its very much finer punctuation, and the shape of the posterior pairs of tibiae, serve at once to distinguish it from M. ceneus, with which, however, it need hardly be compared by any one who has seen a true example. /3. Punctuation rather strong ; cross reticulation between punctures rather coarse and uneven, present on elytra only. M. eorvinus, Er. — Ovate, shining black, convex ; punctuation of elytra and thorax rather strong ; interstices of elytra filled with rather indistinct and coarse cross reticulation, of thorax nearly smooth ; legs and antennae black, tibies somewhat thickened towards apex ; anterior tibiee very finely crenulated, crenulations obtuse and hardly perceptible under a considerable magnifying power. Length, IJ lin. On LabiafcB, very rare ; Mickleham, Dr. Power ; on AgrapUs nutans and Melampyrum pratcnse, Caterham, Mr. Champion. It is easily separated from the preceding species by its general contour, larger size, deep black shining colour, and stronger punctuation. ('To he continued^. T 2 220 [March, NOTES ON THREE YEEY EARE SPECIES OP BRITISH COLEOPTEBA. Bt'c. G. hall, Haepalus litigiosus, Dej. — This insect is in Messrs. Matthews' and Fowler's Catalogue of British Coleoptera, but is omitted by Dr. Sharp in his Cat. Brit. Col., 2nd edition, 1883 ; it not even being in the list o£ doubtful species, where he has placed both S. sulphurises and H. griseus. In the Entomologists' Annual, 1858, Eev. J. F. Dawson, in his "Notes on British G-eodephaga" (supplementary to the Geodephaga Britannica), p. 53, says: ^'' Harpalus litigiosus^ Dej., spec, ix., 361, H. Wollastoni, Dawson, Geod. Brit., p. 144. A single example has been found by Mr. Adams, near Purfleet ; others have been taken by Dr. Power and myself, below the cliffs at Kemp Town, and at Southwick, near Brighton ; and on looking over Mr. Curtis's collection recently, I detected therein three examples, which, for almost twenty years, had remained unidentified, having, however, a label attached to each, indicating their respective places and dates of capture. One was taken at Wrentham, Suffolk, in April, 1838 ; another at Slaughter, Gloucestershire, in June ; and the third in the Isle of Wight, in September. To Mr. Curtis, therefore, the credit is due of having first captured it in England." It was afterwards, however, ascertained that the insects above mentioned were really to be referred to tenehrosus, Dej. Referring to the Entomologist's Annual, 1860, p. 124, Dr. H. Schaum, in his '*' Observation on the Nomenclature of British Carabidae," as established in the Catalogue of British Coleoptera, by G. E. Waterhouse, says : " Harp, litigiosus. — The H. Wollastoni, Daws., is erroneously stated to be litigiosus, Dej. ; it is in reality tenehrosus, Dej." So far litigiosus dropped as a synonym of tenehrosus, and we heard no more of it for nearly twenty-three years, when it has appeared again in the British list. Eeeling curious about the re-in statement of this insect, and not finding it mentioned in Mr. Eowler's " Notes on New British Coleoptera" since 1871, Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xix, 121. I wrote to Mr. Eowler on the subject, who kindly gave me the following information : " As to Harpalus litigiosus, I introduced it on Dr. Power's authority \ from three or four specimens that he possesses, all taken in the same locality, and certainly not tenehrosus, or as far as I can make out any of our other species. It wants more working out, for it may not be litigiosus at all. I understood Dr. Power to say that he and Mr. Dawson took it together. I have not come across it in any other 1885.] • 221 collection." I think some further evidence o£ the identity of this insect is required, if it is really the litigiosus of the continent (which has no synonym in the European catalogues) ; it is a most interesting addition to the British list, and it would be very satisfactory to know, if possible, the locality where they were taken, and how many years ago, and whether about the time that Mr. Dawson says of tenehrosus " taken by himself and Dr. Power below the cliffs, &c., " and what Mr. Dawson's opinion was of these identical specimens which are so distinct from tenehrosus ; perhaps Mr. Dawson never saw these speci- mens of litigiosus, hence, his omitting to mention them in his notes in the Entomologist's Annual. EmzoTEOGTJs ocHRACEUS, Knoch. — I believe this insect was introduced as British by the late J. F. Stephens, in his " Illustrations of British Entomology, Mandibulata," vol. iii, p. 221 (October 31st, 1830), under the name of Amphimalla Fallenii, G-yll., and is given by him in his Manual of British Coleoptera, p. 168 (1839), as Rhizotrogus Fallenii ; in the former of his works he says, " The only example I have seen of this species was taken many years since by Mr. Chant, in whose collection it is preserved, but he forgets the exact locality." Mr. E. W. Janson very kindly gives me the following information : *' On the 2nd September, 1850, Mr. Stephens exhibited at the meeting of the Entomological Society of London, specimens of Amphimalla verna, Meg. ? found by Captain Parry at Tenby {vide Trans. Ent. Soc, n. s., i, proceedings p. 34^, and Zoologist, 1850, p. 2938), which, were I have little or no doubt Rhizotrogus ochraceus, as I know that he has given away examples of this species, and still has a goodly series of it in his cabinet ; moreover, my son has two specimens from Mr. Dossitor's collection, and this gentleman restricted his collection to specimens actually taken by himself." I have not heard of any recent captures of this rarity, and if my memory be correct, it is not in the collection of British Coleoptera in the National collection. Trichujs abdominalis, Menetr. — This insect appears to have been announced, with the characters which distinguish it from its nearest ally, T.fasciatus, by the late F. Smith, under the name of T. zonatus, Schmidt (Zoologist, vol. vi, p. 2216 [September, 1848]), when he says : " All the specimens taken in Scotland are, I believe, the T. fascidtus, and all the specimens which I have seen of T. zonatus are from old collections. I have not been able to ascertain satis- factorily the locality of any of the specimens, or by whom they were 222 * [March, captured. T send you short descriptive differences, whereby any one can ascertain which species he possesses, and should any one be able to give the locality of zonatus, and satisfactory evidence of its capture, the question will be at once decided." Mr. O. Janson has a specimen from the late Mr. Chant's collection. Gallicus, Muls., is a synonym of aldominalis, Menetr., and zonatus, Schmidt, apparently another synonym. The continental zonatus, Germ., being a separate species. Like the preceding species, I have heard of no recent captures, and the matter seems to stand as Mr. F. Smith left it in the Zoologist, for September, 1848. However, both R. ochraceus and T. aldominalis are in all the British catalogues, viz., G. R. "Waterhouse, 1858, G. E. Crotch, 1863, E. C. Eye, 18G6, David Sharp, 1871, F. P. Pascoe, 1882, and Sharp's 2nd Edition, 1883, besides Matthews' and Eowler's. Deal : Fehruary 1f,h, 1885. DESCRIPTIONS OF A NEW GENUS AND SOME NEW SPECIES OF PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA. BY MARTIN JACOBT. Cryptocephalus inter stitialis, sp. nov. Robust, oblong, narrowed behind. Below greenish-black, closely pubescent. Thorax, femora, and base of the tibise, fulvous. Elytra metallic-green, deeply and closely punctate-striate, the interstices sub-costate, finely punctured and wrinkled. Length, 4 lines. Sah. : Madagascar (Majunga). Head greenish-black, tlie sides strongly punctured, the middle with a longitu- dinal groove, lower part of face covered with adpressed, whitish, long pubescence. Eyes large, triangularly notched. Palpi, and the two or three basal joints of the antennee fulvous, the latter extending slightly beyond the base of the elytra, their third and the two following joints slender, sub-equal, the rest shorter, black, slightly thickened. Thorax transverse, greatly narrowed and deflexed in front, the sides nearly straight, posterior margin concave, its median lobe distinctly bidentate ; sur- face extremely finely and closely punctured, the punctures slightly elongate, fulvous, extreme posterior margin piceous, serrate throughout. Scutellum sub-quadrate, black, punctured at the sides. Elytra not wider at the base than the thorax, dis- tinctly narrowed behind, of a metallic greenish-bronze colour, each elytron with ten regular rows of deep and closely placed punctures, which, at the posterior portion, are transversely aciculate or wrinkled, the interstices very closely and finely punc- tured, obsoletely raised, more distinctly convex at the sides. The apex of each elytron slightly produced in a rounded point. Legs robust, fulvous, the apex of the tibise and the tarsi black. Prosternum broad, square-shaped. Last abdominal segment with a deep transverse fovea. Pygidium broadly truncate at its apex. 1885.] ^ 223 The single specimen of this large and well-marked species, which is contained in mj collection will, I think, have to be placed in Suffrian's first Group of African CryptocephaU, near C. tridentatus, King., from which it differs sufficiently in its larger size, different coloration, and closely and finely punctured thorax, ^SERNOiDES, nov. gcn., Ghrysomelincd. Sub-quadrate-ovate, convex ; third joint of maxillary palpi Bcarcely shorter than the fourth, the latter transversely shaped ; its apex obliquely truncate. Antennte slender and elongate, the apical joints flattened, the second joint half the length of the third, the fourth shorter than the preceding one. Thorax transverse, about three times as broad as long, its angles acute and produced, surface flattened, the sides thickened and limited interiorly by a deep longitudinal and sinuate fovea. Scutellum triangular. Elytra convex anteriorly, from there to the apex quickly depressed, surface regularly punctate-striate. Prosternum elongate, its surface broadly flattened, not produced in front, its basal margin deeply emarginate. Mesosternum very narrowly transverse, convex. Metasternum longitudinally grooved. Legs long and slender, the tibiae not channelled. Posterior first tarsal joint as long as the two following united. Claws bifid, the inner division long and pointed. » This rather remarkable genus seems somewhat allied to u^sernia in the shape of the thorax and its lateral grooves or fovea?, as well as in the emargination of the base of the prosternum. It differs, how- ever, in its totally different general shape, and the deeply bifid claws. The coloration of the only species known to me is also rather different from most other Australian forms with which I am acquainted, from which the shape of the thorax and the thickened sides, as well as the slender and elongate legs, will distinguish it. ^sernoides nigrofasciatus, sp. nov. Below piceous ; antennae black, basal joints testaceous below ; head black ; thorax piceous, closely punctured ; elytra bright flavous, a spot at the shoulder, a transverse, medially widened band before the middle, extending up the suture, a deeply dentate transverse fascia below the middle, and a spot at the apex, black. Length, 5 lines. Head very closely and finely punctured, obsoletely longitudinally depressed between the eyes ; antennae extending to one-third the length of the elytra, slender, the first three joints testaceous below, the rest black, rather flattened and somewhat widened ; thorax more than twice as broad as long, the sides nearly straight, a little constricted at the middle, all the angles acute and produced, the posterior ones thickened ; surface closely covered with small and larger punctures, the sides much and broadly thickened, preceded anteriorly by a deep fovea and posteriorly by a longitudinal depression ; scutellum impunctate ; elytra wider at the base than the 224 ^ [March, thorax, slightly constricted before the middle at the sides, convex to the extent of their first third, when viewed sideways, from there to the apex rather abruptly declining ; yellow, each elytron with ten rather fine, but regular, rows of punc- tures, the first sutural one very short ; a transverse black band much widened at the suture, and extending upwards to the base, but not to the lateral margin, is placed immediately before the middle, another band below the latter extends from the lateral margins across the elytra, this band is very wide at the bides, and deeply dentate and narrowed near the suture, widening again at the latter place ; a transversely shaped spot is placed at the apex, and a smaller one at the shoulder ; under-side and legs, as well as the anterior margin of the thorax, are piceous. Kal. : South Queensland, Australia. (Two specimens are con- tained in my collection). Calomela (Australica) capitata, sp. nov. Sub-quadrate, convex, obscure metallic dark blue. Head, antennae, and legs, rufous. Thorax closely punctured. Elytra closely geminate punctate-striate. Length, 3 lines. Hah. : Australia, Bockhampton. Head closely punctured. Antennse short, gradually dilated at the terminal joints, the six lower joints rufous, the rest fuscous. Thorax nearly three times as broad as long, the sides closely and strongly, the disc finely, punctured. Scutellum impunctate. Elytra sub-quadrate, not wider at the base than the thorax, each elytron with three double rows of punctures near the suture, the sides more closely and irregularly punctured, distinct to the apex. Under-side purplish, the last abdominal segment, as well as the legs and tarsi, rufous. Claws appendiculate. Collection Jacoby (two specimens). Allied in shape to C. pulchella, Baly, but differing in general colour and the double rows of punctures at the elytra, which extend upw^ards to the base, instead of becoming single rows, as in the allied Bpecies. The head and legs in the present species are also of a more decided rufous colour, while that of the elytra is a leaden-blue, the thorax being more of a greenish-blue. Calomela Q-maculata, sp. nov. Pulvous. Tibiae and tarsi piceous. Thorax with a spot at each side, and a central band, black. Elytra metallic-blue, a spot at the i base, a transverse dentate band at the middle, and another spot near the apex of each elytron, yellow. Var., the thoracic spots very obsolete. Length, 3 lines. Sal. : New G-uinea, Port Moresby. Head with a few indistinct punctures, fulvous, its sides and the anterior margin edged with black. Antennae slendei', extending beyond the base of the thorax, fulvous, the terminal joints obscure fuscous, third joint distinctly longer than the 1885.1 225 fourth. Thorax three times as broad as long, with some deep and scattered punc- tures, the interstices also very minutely punctate ; at the sides a round black spot is placed, and the middle of the disc is occupied by a longitudinal black band, which is divided posteriorly in two branches. Scutellum fulvous. Elytra strongly and very regularly punctate-striate, the apex nearly impunctate ; of the spots, the first is very small and placed close to the scutellum, the intermediate one is of transverse shape not extending to either margin, and has its posterior edge defitate in the middle, the third spot is of irregular rounded shape, and much larger than the first ; the knees, tibise, and tarsi are piceous, rest of the legs and the under-side fulvous. Claws appendiculate. Two specimens of this distinct species are contained in my col- lection. Lamprolina unicolor, sp. nov. Entirely metallic-green. Head and thorax very closely punctured. Elytra strongly and closely rugose-punctate. Length, 2 — 3 lines. I£ab. : Australia. The entire upper surface of this insect is closely and strongly punctured, with- out any arrangements of rows. The antennae extend to the first third of the length of the elytra, and have the last seven joints black, the rest metallic-green. The scutellum is much broader than long, and also punctured. All the characters agree with Lamiorolina, but the species is of smaller size than any of the other described ones, this and the uniform green colour, together with the strong and irregular punctuation, will at once distinguish L. unicolor. I received two specimens of this species from Dr. Pipitz, of Graz. Chalcolamp^^a ruflpes, sp. nov. Ovate, narrowed behind, aeneous. Head, two basal joints of the antennae, and the legs rufous. Tarsi black. Thorax remotely punc- tured. Elytra finely punctate-striate. Length, 4 lines. Sah. : Queensland. Head with a few fine and scattered punctures ; clypeus separated from the face by a deep angular groove, rufous, like the labrum and the rest of the head. Palpi black. Antennee robust, black, the two basal joints rufous, third and fourth joints equal. Thorax transverse, the sides straight near the base, rounded anteriorly, pos- terior margin rounded and broadly produced at the middle, surface very remotely but deeply punctured, a little more closely at the sides than at the disc. Elytra finely and regularly punctate-striate, the interstices flat, extremely finely punctured, femora and tibise rufous. A single specimen in my collection. Easily distinguished from any of the other described species by the colour of the head and legs. FhyllocTiaris cyanicornis, var. conjluens, Jacoby. Hah. : Torres Strait. This variety, of which six specimens are contained in my collections, has, to 226 [March, my knowledge, not been noticed by any author, the species itself, as is well known, being rather subject to variation in regard to colour. In my specimens, the elytra are entirely metallic-blue, with the exception of a narrow, more or less distinct, oblique, fulvous stripe from the shoulder to the suture below the middle, the extreme lateral and sutural margin being of the same colour anteriorly. The central black spot of the thorax is reduced to a small and narrow line. Every other character agrees with the typical form, the only one to which this variety can be referred on account of the indication given by the fulvous stripe, of the original pattern of the elytra, and the central thoracic spot. In one specimen, the elytral stripe also has vanished, and the elytra are uniform blue, with the exception of their lateral edge. Size, colour of the under-side, as well as structure, are absolutely as in the type. Melasoma nigritarsis, sp. no v. Testaceous ; last six joints of the antennae and the tarsi, black ; tibiae more or less piceous ; thorax very minutely, elytra more strongly punctured, their lateral margin thickened. Length, 3 — 4 lines. Hah. : Delagoa Bay, Africa (collected by Mrs. Monteiro). Head with a deep triangular depression, very finely punctured when seen under a strong lens ; anteuneo scarcely reaching beyond the base of the thorax, the terminal joints transverse, five basal joints fulvous, the rest black ; thorax more than twice as broad as long, anterior margin deeply concave, surface scarcely visibly punctured, a little more distinctly at the sides, where a row of longitudinal, rather deep, punc- tures is placed close to the lateral margin ; elytra with the lateral margin distinctly thickened through their entire length, their surface closely and rather strongly punctured. This species seems closely allied to M. Uvida, Stal, but diifers in the colour of the tibiae and tarsi, the more transversely shaped thorax, and its fine punctuation. London : January/, 1885. LITTLE KNOWN BRITISH ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA. BY EDWAED SAUNDEES, F.L.S. Under this heading, in the Magazine for last May (vol. xx, p. f tie 270), I called the attention of Hymenopterists to several rare and doubtful species, about which further information was much needed. Such information has come to hand in a few cases, as the result of last season's collecting, and the questions relating to the following species have been thereby partly cleared up. 1. POMPILUS PECTINIPES, V. d. L., ^ . I captured at Chobham, in August, two males, which, following the views of AYesmael and Thomson, are clearly referable to this l»iiro: > 1885,] 227 species. They are quite distinct from any of our other British Tompili, and also from the <^ of Evagethes, in the structure of the ibdominal segments, and, therefore, there scarcely seems any reason bo doubt that pectinipes is a distinct species of which we now know both sexes. Still, I must own to having doubts, even now, of the dis- tinctness of Evagethes hicolor and P. pectinipes, ? : it scarcely seems possible that the females of two species in two distinct genera should be so alike as these two are. I have again and again most carefully 3xamined them, and can find no character whatever whereby to dis- :inguish them, except the number of sub-marginal cells ; and as jpecimens have occurred with three cells in one wing and two in the )ther, this is scarcely of itself satisfactory, and it seems to me possible l^et that a female may be discovered which may prove to be the real Dartuer of the new ^ . Whether, however, these females are distinct )r not, the males are very easily distinguished ; that under considera- tion at present having the 8th ventral segment tricarinate at the base, she lateral cariusB being sharp and polished, and extending for only .bout a quarter of the length of the entire segment from the base, the entral one dull and rounded, and extending to about two-thirds of he length of the segment, the other ventral segments are not im- ressed longitudinally, as in clialyheatus, but the 6th segment is largely marginate at the apex, the posterior emargination of the prothorai 3 also more rounded than in any other of our red-bodied species. Sphecodes. I think I have said enough on this genus in preceding numbers 0 show that the past season has greatly increased our knowledge of :s very closely allied and difficult species. . Andees-a angustioe, Kirb. Mr. Y. E,. Perkins has forwarded to me from GTloucestershire 3veral males and females of w^hat I believe to be angustior ; the type f the $ , Kirby says, was in Banks's collection, but I have sought it lere in vain ; the type of the J , F. Smith says, is referable to triceps. It is not, therefore, easy to be sure of what Kirby meant, ut the insects taken by Mr. Perkins are quite distinct from any fcher of our species, and appear to me to be identical with sympliyti, erez ; the females would agree with Kirby 's description, but for the )lour of the tibiae, which are not ferruginous, as described by Kirby, ut only more or less testaceous at the base and apex, still, this pro- ibly is a mere matter of colour variation ; both sexes may be known cm Givynana, which is the species they most resemble, by the longer 228 [March, 2nd joint of the flagellum, which, in the (^, is as long as the following two together, and in the ? is as long as the next three. Whereas, in Gwynana the 2nd joint in the $ is only a little longer than the 3rd, and in the % the 2nd is distinctly shorter than the next three. The distance between the eye and the mandible is also longer in Gwynana^ ? , than in the present species, and more shining. In colour this species resembles very pale Gwynana, the hairs of the face being greyish-brow^n, and the margins of the segments of the abdomen fringed with pale hairs. I find specimens in my collection agreeing with those sent by Mr. Perkins, from Wandsworth, ? , and Chobham, $ and ? , and I took two females this year at Bromley, in June. Mr. Perkins' specimens w^ere captured on Allium ursinum, which he says is its usual plant. 4. BOMBUS NIVALIS, Dhlb. ?. Through the kindness of Mr. C. A. Briggs, I have been able toj obtain from Unst, Shetland, a $ , w^hich agrees exactly with the sjDCci- men of that sex in the British Museum; the ^, however, is still wanted to decide for certain if the species found in Shetland be identical with nivalis, Dahlb. St. Ann's, Mason's Hill, Bromley, Kent : January \Qth, 1885. NOTES ON BEITISH TYPHL0CYBID2E, WITH DIAaNOSES OP TWO NEW SPECIES. BY JAMES EDWAEDS. DiCEANONEUEA. 1 (8) Wing-nerves pale. 2 (3) Front margin of crown angular (more conspicuously in $ ) • flavipennis, Zett| 3 (2) „ „ „ „ not angular. 4 (5) Inner margin of genital plates, S , concave, distant, enclosing between then a wide oval sip&ce... ciirinella, Zett 5 (4) „ „ „ „ „ „ at least sub-contiguous. 6 (7) Penis simple. Grenital plates truncate at apex. Lobes of pygofer with out any horn on the inner side similis, n. sj 7 (6) „ „ exactly resembling the claw-joint of a Carahus. Lobes of pygofe each with a large dark coloured horn on the inner side near th apex mollicula, Bol fmi 8 (1) Principal wing-nerves fuscous or black. ^jel 9 (10) Scutellum with a distinct black spot at apex ..-pygmcBa, Dougj ^''^pic! 10 (9) „ immaculate. ^j 11 (12) Third sub -apical area of elytra hyaline 'uaria^a, Hard \ 12 (11) Elytra opaque throughout aureola, ¥&] m^'i' 1885. J 229 1. FLAYIPENNIS, Zett. Deep yellow, abdomen above black. Hind margin of pronotum -with an arcuate notch, of equal width with the base of the scutellum. Elytra deep yellow, mem- brane, and occasionally a small space at the apex of the 2nd and 3rd sub-apical areas, whitish-hyaline. Hind-tibise with a row of distinct black points. Length, 3| mm. A marsli species, at least in Norfolk. 2. ciTEiisrELLA, Zett , J. Sahib., nee Dougl. Dirty yellow ; abdomen above black, paler towards the apex. Corium dirty yellow ; 2nd and 3rd sub-apical areas, except the basal 3rd of the former, hyaline. Membrane fusco-hyaline. Hind-tibiee with a row of distinct black points. $ geni- talia as above. ■ Length, 3^ mm. Foxley Wood, Norfolk. • Judging from the $ genitalia, my insect is certainly identical with that described by J. Sahlberg as citrinella, Zett., and by the same token is clearly the forcipata of Flor. 3. siMiLis, n. sp. 1. Dicranoneuraiimilis,u. \ a. Genital plate. b. Penis. Yery similar in colour to the last, but distinguishable by the very different structure of the i genital plates. The latter when mounted in Canada-balsam (with pressure), are seen to be truncate at the apex, the surface of the truncature being narrow-oblong, with concave sides and straight ends, of which one is twice as long as the other. The penis is very similar to that of the last species. Apart, however, from microscopical examination, this species may be readily separated from the last by the straight sub- 2. 7yp/i?oc2^6a mZicicoZ«,n.s.contiguous inner margins of the 6. Appendages of same,genital plates, and from the next seen from above. by the coloration of the elytra. Stratton Strawless, Norfolk. Length, 3^ mm. 4. MOLLicuLA, Boh., Dougl., citrinella, Dougl, Deep yellow, in some examples inclining to orange ; abdomen above black, pale towards the apex. Hind-margin of pronotum at most faintly concave. Elytra deep yellow, membrane and a wedge-shaped spot at the apex of the 2nd and 3rd Bub-apical areas hyaline. S genitalia, as above. Length, 32 mm. Amongst low plants in dry place. My good friend, Mr. Douglas, having sent me types of the insects i described by him (Ent. Mo. Mag., xii, 27, 28) as citrinella, Zett., and 230 ' ^''^"'^' mollicula, Boh., respectively, I am enabled to make the above correction, The types bear out the respective descriptions in all points, except the \ comparative lengths of crown and pronotum, which, on actual measure- ment under the microscope, are as follows : citrinella, ^ , 2 4<, ? , 2—5; mollicula, c^, 3— 6, ? , 2— 4 ; the pronotum, therefore, proving, in each case, to be at least twice as long as the crown. Seeing that the structure of the ^ genitalia is identical in both the above forms, the comparative differences in the length of the 2nd and 3rd apical areas can scarcely be allowed to confer specific rank, the more especially when we examine specimens intermediate in this respect, but identical in the c? genitalia, of which latter I possess several. id 5. PTGMJEA, Dougl. S . Orange-yellow ; abdomen above black, genitalia yellow. Corium and clavus inwardly paler orange than on their outer sides, nerves deeper orange, inner margin of clavus with a fuscous line. Membrane with a slightly fuscous tinge, nerves pale orange. Legs orange ; claws infuscated. Length, 2^ mm. ^y Darenth Wood, October. The single ^ on which this species was founded still remains unique. 6. TARIATA, Hardy, = aridellus, J. ^ah\h.,= cephalotes, ¥ieb. Pale greenish-yellow, dull ; abdomen black. The colour of the elytra varies to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, or occasionally deep orange-red, the latter in Northern examples. Length, 3k mm. Damp places ; common, but local. 7. AUREOLA, Fall. Crown, pronotum, and scutellum yellow, elytra light yellowish-green ; abdomen above black. Fore-parts and legs, particularly the face and the latter, frequently tinged with red. Easily distinguished from the last, the only British species with which it can be confounded, by its entirely opaque elytra. Length, 2J— 2t mm. On Carices, Findhorn Marsh, Forres, Morayshire. Said to occurfflie on Calluna in August and September. Typhloctba salicicola, n. sp. Somewhat larger and decidedly stouter than T. roscB. Very pale creamy- white, scutellum tinged with pink, at least, in fresh examples. Penis surmounted by a tuft of four long siokle-shaped appendages. Length, 3^—41; mm. On sallows ; common. I have long been of opinion that our pale sallow-frequenting TypUocyha was distinct from rosce, but I have only recently had an opportunity of confirming that opinion by a critical examination of! the ^ genitalia. 136, Rupert Street, Norwich : February 2nd, 1885. k\ tamf 1885. J 231 [I am not disposed to question the correctness o£ the conclusions at which Mr. Edwards has arrived respecting my Dicr. citrinella and D. mollicula, supported as they are by the identity of structure in the ^ genitalia ; for my identification was founded mainly upon the difference in the apical cells of the elytra, which was very apparent in the examples I then possessed, but in some taken since I have noticed the' existence of the intermediate gradation of neuration mentioned. — J. W. D.] ==_==___========= Occurrence of Andrena nigrocenea and Nomada alternata in December. — On December 30tli, 1884, I made a tour of inspection of the various banks in this neighbourhood where I find Att/pus piceus in plenty. Many of the " tubes," or nests having been frequently examined and changes noted dovrn since April 13th, 1882, the date when first I turned up this noble spider in Woking. On touching the loose sand close to one of the tubes, some of it was displaced, and fell down. I was surprised to notice an Andrena walk out of it, and after shaking the sand from his wings, he attempted to fly away, but was quickly boxed, and before I had time to pocket it, a gay Nomada appeared from the loose sand, and succeeded in flying a few inches before I captured it. The day had been beautifully fine and spring-like, the night following we had a sharp frost, and on examining the pot, into which I had put the bees, found both had disappeared under the sand ; the Nomada came up again in two or three days, quietly resting on some damp moss until January 21st, when I took it out, and the next day I found the Andrena four inches under the sand, it was rather sluggish at first, but soon revived, attempting to fly ! I sent both specimens to Mr. E. Saunders, who has kindly named them for me : $ Andrena nigrocenea, and ? Nomada alternata. — F. Enock, Woking : Feb., 1885. Spanish insects and stridulating species. — The past summer I collected numerous insects, more especially Lepidoptera, in north-western Spain. I had drawn up a list of the latter indeed for publication, but as it appeared a little long, I thought it would be better to incorporate it in an account of my summer rambles I am working at for the press. I might, however, mention that melanism was frequent in Asturian insects, the Orthoptera in the mountains being as a rule blackish compared with the same species from the corn fields in the plains of Leon and Castille. The large white Polyommatus Corydon from the same limestone plains is also quite a feature in Spanish entomology, it is, it seems to me, even larger and whiter than in the Apennines ; when I saw it flying I took it for L. sinapis; in the Asturias, however, it has its usual appearance. I gave what attention I could to the stridulation of insects. Crioceris 12-punctata, L., kindly determined for me by Mr. Waterhouse, I found to stridulate as the rest of the genus, by rubbing the apex of its abdomen against the tips of the elytra. I had no idea that this was a British insect, but it appears to be recognised as such by Stephens, who gives Bath and Bristol as localities. I rather suspect that both it and C. merdigera are imported into the country, and not natives so to speak. I do not think that the C. asparagi, L. stridulates as these other two which compose the genus Lenta of Dr. Sharp. Another stridulating insect 9qo [March, I captured Mr. Kirby submitted to Mr. Distant for an opinion, but it is pronounced to be an immature species of Reduvius, of which genus there are doubtless many- musicians. At Yalladolid the sand- wasps and bee-flies Bomhylius and Anthrax were frequent on the sandy plain, and the red striped Meloe majalis, L., was conspicuous in the clover, but our white butterflies Pieris, seem rarer in Spain than England, P. Daplidice being the commonest. — A. H. Swinton, Binfield House, G-uildford : January, 1885, Insect migration. — The last paragraph of Mr. Richard South's article {ante, p. 210), I entirely agree with, and wish to supplement his remarks by briefly recording my experience in 1877. Colias Edusa had not been seen in St. Ives before 1877 by myself, or, I believe, any other entomologist. The first specimen was captured on the 9th June by a friend. The next day (10th) I caught both a S ^^''d $ , which I supposed to be hibernated specimens, but which I now think must have immigrated here. I saw another Edusa on the 17th, and two more on the 18th. In the " Field " newspaper for 16th June, a number of correspondents recorded the occurrence of C. JEdusa in various localities, and in my note-book I wrote : " I now can hardly believe in hibernated specimens." I saw no more individuals until the 8th of August, about two months after their first appearance. On this day I caught eight, all males, in extremely fine condition. I think they must have emerged that day. The wind was strong, and they flew low. A few I picked off the flowers as they settled there. During the month of August literally hundreds, even thousands, were seen ; indeed, C Edusa was by far the commonest butterfly. In Hemingford Meadow, near St. Ives, they were to be seen by scores. I caught sixty-four, and might have caught as many more. Since 1877, although I have been out nearly every day, C. Edusa has not been seen once. What is to account for this sudden and copious supply but immigration? If the season had been unfavoux'able, the migrants would have died, or their progeny. The first specimens seen y^ere females, the male not appearing until the middle of August. This fact specially supports the above conclusion. I positively believe the August specimens to have grown on the spot they were captured, but not the early females. The extreme abundance of Plusia gamma in my garden in 1877 points to the season being peculiarly favourable to migratory movements. — Heebeet E. Noeeis, St. Ives, Hunts. : Fehruary 6th, 1885. Insect Migration. — The observations of Mr. South on insect migration (ante, pp. 208 — 211), are of great interest, and those on P. gamma, are doubly interesting to j me, because I have observed very nearly the same phenomena myself. At Margate, in 1879 (the same year, it will be observed, as that of Mr. South's observations), Plusia \ gamma was so extremely abundant, as to make it hopeless to hunt for other yoctiice, flying both by day and by night everywhere. But one evening in August on going into the garden, I was struck by the fact, that although the number of moths on the wing was about the same as usual, they were all flying in the same direction — Jofff "km ipeoii %: Cerlai laaj I 'liici wins' 1885.1 233 seaward. I procured a net and captured several, they all proved to be P. gamma. The next day on going out it was at once obvious that Plusia gamma was not nearly 80 abundant as it had been on the day before, and all the specimens that could be seen were very poor. I was at first considerably puzzled, but I finally connected the two circumstances together, and concluded tliat there had been a migration northwards, since that was the direction in which the moths observed on the night before were flying. I think, with Mr. South, tliat the extensive geographical range of certain insects is owing to migration. Supposing this be so, we should expect that these species would form a large part of the fauna of islands, distant from the land, and sur- rounded by a deep sea, and, judging from five months' experience of Madeira, this would seem to be the case. Let us take the butterflies of that island ; those I observed were Colias Edusa, very common, January to March ; I also saw on January 15th a light-coloured Colias, but being unable to capture it I could not ascertain the species, it may, very possibly, have been C. Hyale ; Vanessa cardui, V. Callirhoe, this may be regarded as the representative of V. Atalanta in the island (there is a specimen of V. Atalanta, said to come from Madeira, in the British Museum collection, but I doubt whether this species is a native of the island), Lyccena bcetica, in February, at flowers of Pelargonium, and Satyrus xiphioides, also in the month of February, flying round loquat trees and in other situations. Now of these C. Edusa and C. Hyale, probably migrate, and are, at any rate, well distributed ; V. cardui and L. bcetica, are notorious examples of extensive range, and the first, undoubtedly, migrates ; V. Callirhoe is represented even in India by a very nearly allied form (which may be regarded as the typical Callirhoe, and the Madeira insect as its variety, vulcanica, the red markings being paler in the Indian form), and S. xiphioides is very closely allied to the southern form of 'S'. jEgeria. With the moths, again, we find Sphinx convolvuli hovering over Pelargonium flowers at night ; Acherontia Atropos is sometimes taken ; Deilephila euphorbia is abundant in the larval stage on the sea-spurge in the month of May ; Deiopeia pulchella is represented by a specimen taken in a corn-field on May 3rd ; Mamestra hrassicce destroys the cabbage as it is wont to do in England ; Leucania extranea is very common ; we have three species of Plusia ; gamma, abundant, aurifera^ one specimen, and chalcites, one taken at flowers of white verbena, on the evening of May 21st, and, as a last example Nomophila noctuella {hyhridalis) is very common. Certainly, most of these are widely distributed insects, and it is very probable that many of them migrate. I fancy it is a mistake to suppose that the migratory insects are those which have large and seemingly powerful wings, for in Madeira the genus Papilio, for instance, is wholly unrepresented, and how few, if any, of the P. Podalirius, so common on the continent have reached England, and how rarely is Machaon accustomed to leave his native fen and wander over the country. Some Coleoptera also seem to migrate ; I think the genus Calosoma does, but not in numbers ; Coccinella, on the other hand, sometimes forms vast swarms, which astonish the people of the maritime districts (and this genus is represented by numerous individuals in Madeira, two I brought home proved to be C. mutabilis). The water-beetles, too, often fly long distances ; I once had one blown against my 234 [March, hand, and lodge between my fingers, when walking by the sea at Margate, when a strong wind was blowing from the sea. — T. D. A. Cockbrell, Bedford Park : February 2nd, 1885. [It has, I think, been incontestably proved that the swarms of CoccineUa occasionally seen on our coasts are formed not of immigrants, but of w^ould-be emigrants, stopped by, and driven back by, the sea, and accumulating by continuous supplies from inland. The masses of dead Aphides that sometimes form tide-refuse on our southern shores result from the same cause. But with regard to Britain generally, immigration is a far stronger factor than emigration, and enables us to include in our lists of British species, especially in Lepidoptera, a good many beautiful insects that are not truly natives. Some of these certainly, others probably, never breed here. Others again breed for a time, but would become extinct were it not for fresh immigration. This latter remark especially applies to our two species of Colias, and it might even apply to that most notorious migrant, Vanessa cardui. — R. McLachlan.] Further evidence of the existence of insects in the Silurian period. — In the last number of this Magazine I referred to the evidence afforded of the existence of insects in the Silurian period by the discovery of a fossil scorpion in the upper Silurian rocks of the Island of Gothland. Further evidence to the same effect is furnished by the recent discovery, by Dr. Hunter, of Carluke, of a second specimen of a scorpion, in the upper Silurian beds of Dunside, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire. The discovery of this second scorpion had been reported to me prior to the date of my paper, but no description of the specimen having been published, nor any authentic information about it having been received, I did not allude to it. As a preliminary description of this scorpion, by Mr. B. N. Peach, has lately appeared in "Nature" (January 29th, 1885), this note may, perhaps, not be out of place, as a supplement to my previous communication. — H. Goss, Surbiton Hill : February 9th, 1885. Destruction of Fish by larva of LibelhdidcB. — In the Hungarian " Rovartani Lapok " for December last, L. Bird states that the larva of LiheUulidce , species not determined, have made such ravages in the piscicultural establishment of M. le comte Palffy, at Szomolany, that in a pond into which in the last spring 50,000 young fishes were put, only 54 could be found in September, but there were then there an immense quantity of the larvee of LibeUulidce. — Eds. On the sub-aquatic habits of the imago of Stenopsyche, a genus of Trichoptera. — The genus Stenopsyche, McLach., was characterized in 1865 (Trans. Ent. Soc, 5rd series, vol. v, p. 264) from a species from North India {S. griseipennis). Since then the same species, or one very closely allied thereto, has been found in North China, and in Japan. In the latter country it seems to be abundant, and it comes in nearly all collections. My nephew, Mr. W. J. Wilson, recently made a long tour in Japan on his way home from India, and obtained a few insects. Amongst these are a large number of the Stenopsyche in question, and I was induced to question him as to its habits. They were found at the little lake of Yumoto in the main island, at an elevation of about 5000 feet. He says they were abundant before dusk. fiiej liiva ffite 1885. j 235 settliug on the surface of the water, then closing their wings, diving into the water, and swimming ahout vigorously beneath the surface. It seems to me highly desirable to place such an important notice of habits on record. Unfortunately, he is not able to say whether the habit is common to both sexes, or exists only in the ? . Stenop$yche is somewhat allied to Hydropsyche, and has the intermediate legs of the ? scarcely so much dilated as in that genus. They are large insects (sometimes nearly an inch and a half in length with the wings closed), and with remarkably long and narrow anterior wings (which are also much longer than the posterior), so that the long lanceolate form of the insect with closed wings must proTe of decided advantage in swimming beneath the surface ; but they also have very long slender antenna?, which must be somewhat in the way if held porrect, as would be the case when at rest in the open air. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : Jan. 17th, 1885. Notes on Goniodoma Millierella, Ragonot.— It is very true that the generic name of Qoniodoma does not seem well adapted for an insect, whose case is composed of a flower-calyx, which is not at all angular ; besides this, I may observe that the character assigned to Goniodoma, that the larva doee not change to pupa within its case, " metamorphosis extra saccum," does not suit our Goniodoma Millierella any better, since I am very certain I have bred the moths from cases gathered singly, one at a time, amongst which I feel convinced I had no particle of dead stem into which they could have bored. I would not speak so positively had this only happened in a solitary instance, but as I bred in this way from 8 to 10 specimens, I am sure there was no room for error as to the conditions. My cases had not been left on the stems, they were gathered with only a small portion of the inflorescent sprig to which they were attached, and were placed in a little bottle of very small dimensions. Whilst wanting tins I look again at the cases I placed in the bottle as I gathered them, and I am satisfied that there is not amongst them any fragment of stem visible ; hence, the creature must have undergone its metamorphoses within its case. Next, as to the question of referring these insects to the genus Coleophora, I would observe that they do not carry the antennae in the true Coleophora fashion ;* they are never directed in front, nor are they placed close together, but they are always thrown backwards and laid on the back when the insect is at rest. The antennse, besides, seem to me rather longer, more slender and more flexible than is usual in the genus Coleophora. During the winter I will search amongst the stems of Statice virgata, to see if I can find some tenanted by G. Millierella, for up to the present time I have only obtained it from larvae, which had not quitted their cases.— A. Constaijt, Villa Niobe, G-olfe Juan (Alpes Maritimes) , France : November 24th, 1884 Habits of 'Ephippiphora tetragonana. — I was much pleased to read that Mr. Sang had bred this species (see ante, p. 191). I will now give a little of my 1 experience bearing on his discovery. In 1878, I was staying at the Waterloo G-ardens, Windermere ; a rose-tree covered one part of the house next to the lake. It was a very hot afternoon, and I was busy picking Nepticida larvae off the rose-tree, when I spied a fine B. tetragonana sitting on a rose-leaf close by, then another, and then another (in all 3), * Mr. G. Coverdale had also noticed this of limonicUa.— H. T. S. ■ March, 236 came and settled on the tree. I left the place, where, evidently, I ought to hare stopped, to search on various plants amongst the undergrowth, and I saw no more of them. Now I come to reflect on my past experience of the insect, I find that wherever I have taken E. tetragonana, there have been rose-bushes about ; I had expected it to have been a stem or root-feeder.-J. B. Hodgkinson, 15, Spring Bank, Preston : February I2th, 1885. Correction concerning Scoparia cratcegalis.—l am very sorry indeed to have to correct a rather serious error on page 101 of the present volume of the Ent. Mo. Mag. The fact is that all the imagos which emerged from the lichen-feedmg Scoparia larvffi sent me by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher did so whilst I was away from home in the summer, and on my return were worn to shreds, and dead. Mr- Fletcher had written to me that his lots of larv^ had produced Scoparia cratcegalis, and on a close examination of the remnant of mine, I was satisfied they were that species, and should, I think, have believed them to be so, even if Mr. Fletcher had not written to me that his larv£e had produced it. My astonishment may be conceived then, when, a few days ago, Mr. Fletcher wrote, asking me to re-examine my specimens, as he feared he had misled me in saying they were cratagalis, for, on recently placing them in his cabinet, he became doubtful about them, and, indeed, made them out to be lineola. I was then only able to find one specimen, which I was certain had come from those larv^, and though a very worn one, it still seemed to me more like cratcBgalis than anything else ; so 1 at once wrote to Mr. Fletcher, requesting him to send me a couple of his good specimens for examination. He has just done so, and they are, undoubtedly, lineola. It is an unfortunate error, which none can regret more than Mr. Fletcher. In my own copy of the Ent. Mo. Mag. I have crossed out - cratcegalis" from the heading, and written « lineolalis" in its place ; and that seems to me to be the best course to adopt.— Q-EO. T. PoEEiTT, Huddersfield : February 12th, 1885. Entomological Society of I^ot^do^ .—December Srd, 1884 : J. W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., in the Chair. Baron C. R. Osten-Sacken, of Heidelberg, was elected an Honorary Member, and J. J. Walker, Esq., R.N. (formerly a Subscriber) an Ordinary Member. Mr. Stainton exhibited specimens of Goniodoma Millierella, Ragonot, bred by M. Constant from Statiee virgata near Cannes, together with continental G. auro- guttella, F. v. R., from Atriplex laciniata, and British G. limoniella, Staint., from Statiee limonium, for comparison. Mr. H. Q-oss exhibited BanTcia argentula from a new locality ; it had been bred by Mr. Brown from a larva feeding on a Poa. Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited (on behalf of Mr. Lovett) a collection of Micro- Lepidoptera from the vicinity of Graham's Town in the Cape Colony. Mr. Billups exhibited 44 species of Aculeate Hymenoptera from Chobham, cap- tured in 1884, and also a long series of interesting Ichneumonidf^. Mr. Olliff exhibited the remarkable Cucujid {Aciphus singularis) described by him in this Magazine, ante p. 152. The Rev. L. Bloomfield sent a notice respecting the presumed occurrence of 1885.] 237 Astynomus cedilis at Bath, but Mr. C. O. Waterhouse pointed out that the insect was in reality a North American species of Monohammus, which had no doubt been bred from imported timber. Mr. McLachlan exhibited the Caddis-fly from Unst, described by him in this Magazine {ante p. 153) as Mesophylax impiinctatus, var. zetlandicus, and also M. aspersits, and its var. canariensis, for comparison. Mr. H. J. S. Pryer communicated a paper treating casually on Mr. Lewis' views as to the origin of colour in insects, and particularly on two remarkable instances of mimicry in insects from Elopura, North Borneo. In the one case a large Longicorn beetle, NotJiopeiis fasciatipennis, C. O. Waterhouse, with abbreviated elytra, but with broad hind- wings, almost precisely mimicked Mygnimia aviculus, Sauss., a species of SphegidcB ; in the other case, a large Lepidopterous insect described by Mr. Butler as Scolioniima inaignis (new genus and species) mimicked Triscolia patricialis, Burm., a species of ScoIiadcB. A long discussion ensued, in which several members joined, Mr. C. O. Waterhouse and Mr. Butler pointing out various other cases of mimicry in insects. January 21st, 1885 (Annual Meeting). — The President in the Chair. The following Officers were elected for 1885, viz., E. McLachlan, President, E. Saunders, Treasurer, E. A. Fitch and W. E. Kirby, Secretaries, F. Grrut, Libra- rian ; and the following other members of Council, viz., T. B. Biliups, J. W. Dunning, H. Druce, H. Goss, R. Meldola, J. W. Slater, S. Stevens, and J. J. Weir. Mr. Dunning, the outgoing President, read an Address, which was ordered to be printed ; thanks were voted to the Officers, who severally replied ; and the Meeting terminated. February 8t7i, 1885 : R. McLachlan, Esq., E.R.S., President, in the Chair, The President thanked the Society for the honour that had been conferred upon him, and nominated Messrs. Dunning, Stevens, and Weir, as Yice-Presidents for the year. Messrs. H. P. James, of Yalpai-aiso, and H. C. Sandars, of Cleveland Place, Hyde Park, were elected Members. Mr. J. W. Slater exhibited a specimen of Lyccena chryseis, one of three that he was informed had been taken in July, 1878, by Mr. Mutch, in Culter Marsh, Aber- deenshire. Mr. Stainton said that the former records of this insect as British were of ancient date and uncertain authenticity, and that it was very desirable to see more examples from Aberdeenshire and in better condition. Mr. Elwes stated that the specimen resembled the variety known as Stieheri, Grerhard, occurring in Lapland. The Eev. A. Fuller exhibited insects of various Orders collected by him in America on the occasion of the visit of the British Association to Canada in 1884. Mr. W. Cole exhibited a remarkably perfect nest of Vespa norvegica from Epping Forest, and remarked that a friend had, to the best of his belief, obtained a wasp from the same nest that proved to be V. sylvestris. Mr. de Niceville sent for exhibition (through Mr. Distant) several Butterflies, mostly Satyridce, from Calcutta, and remarked on the difference in the size of the ocellated spots on the under-side of the hind-wings in the wet or dry seasons brood, which had caused these different broods to have been described as f>qo [March, distinct species. These spots appeared to become fully developed in the dry season only. Mr. Elwes had observed that in Butterflies common to Europe and Japan the latter had the ocellated spots much the larger. The President expressed an opinion to the effect that the present rage for "species making" in Lepidoptera could only result in the authors of these so-called spebies being debited in the long run with having created a host of synonyms to no purpose. Mr. Stainton exhibited specimens of ChauUodus insecurellus from G-ascony, bred by M. Constant from Thesium divaricatum, and remarked that the localities (Sanderstead, &c.) in this country where the species had been taken were precisely those given for our Thesium humifusum. He had no doubt the insect fed on the latter plant in England. Mr. Billups exhibited a long series of Hemiptera and parasitic Ilymenoptera taken at Headley Lane on January 3rd ; also a pair of Ranatra linearis from Loughton on January IGtli at a spot where no water was then present. A letter was read asking the opinion of the Society as to what list was to be preferred in arranging and naming collections of British Lepidoptera. Several Members addressed the Meeting in support of their own views, but it was generally considered that any recommendation on this point was outside the province of the Society. Herr Buchecker exhibited a large series of drawings of Ilymenoptera. Mr. E. A. Butler exhibited a series of egg-cases of Mantidce from Bechuana- land, of the same type as those exhibited at the Meeting on 1st December, 1883, {cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xx, p. 263), and in one instance apparently identical therewith. Mr. Lewis communicated a paper on a new genus of Histeridce {Niphonius) , of which four species occur in Japan, and remarked on the peculiar structure of the prosternum, &c., which showed its affinity with Ulster, and its differentiation from SynteUa. Mr. G-. F. Mathew communicated life-histories of Papilio Godeffroyi (Fiji), P. ScJimeltzii (Samoa), and Xois Sesara (Fiji). ©bitiuiriT. Edioard Caldwell Rye, F.Z.8. — For the first time in the course of twenty-one years death has claimed one of the editors of this Magazine, one who had been associated with it during the whole of its career: the familiar " E. C. Eye" dis- appears from its cover. Mr. Rye died at Stock well on February 7th, after a very short illness, in the 53rd year of his age. He was born at IG, Golden Square, London, on April 10th, 1832, and was the eldest son of a solicitor. He was educated at King's College School, and subsequently was articled to his father, who intended he should follow the legal profession. So strong, however, were his objections to this profession, that he refused to qualify ; but he continued in his father's office. It is no secret that his aspii'ations lay towards obtaining a position in the Zoological Department of the British Museum, but it was long before a vacancy occurred, and then he was already too old. Subsequently he became managing clerk to a barrister in Lincoln's Inn. In the early part of 1875 the Librarianship 1885.] 239 at the Eojal Geographical Society became vacant ; Mr. Rye applied, and was imme- diately accepted, and he held the post up to his death, with advantage to the Society and credit to himself. From early youth he showed great artistic talent, and this in part served him to occasionally add to his small salary as a lawyer's clerk ; he par- ticularly excelled in drawing entomological subjects on wood, the taste for entomology which he developed at a very early age largely aiding him ; his drawings were those of an entomologist as well as an artist. As is often the case, his early entomological notes concerned Lepldoptera, and the earliest we can find appeared in the " Ento- mologist's Weekly Intelligencer," for May 9th, 1857 (vol. ii, p. 44). But his atten- tion soon became concentrated upon British CoJeoptera, and from the first he displayed not only much success in collecting, but also great acumen, and extensive knowledge of the published literature, and he continued to send notes on new dis- coveries, &c.,to the "Intelligencer," and also to the " Zoologist." In the "Entomolo- gist's Annual" for 1863 he commenced that well-known series of laborious and critical articles on British Coleoptera whicli continued to appear each year down to the close of the " Annual " in 1874, and in the volume for 1872 he also published an annotated List of the additions to the British Fauna from 1840 to 1871, in which he showed that practically 1100 species of beetles (!) had been added during that time : in this list Mr. Rye especially proved his talent for critical compilation, which stood him in such good service afterwards. In the early part of 1864 a private meeting of friends was held to discuss the advisability or otherwise of starting the " Entomologist's Monthly Magazine :" it was decided to do so, and Mr. Rye was offered a position on ihe editorial staff, which he accepted ; and such was his zeal, that articles and notes on British. Coleoptera at once formed one of the leading features in our pages. All those who were associated with him at the commencement survive to deplore his loss, and although only two of the original editors continue to act, these readily testify in how great a degree his energy contributed to render a success that which at first was only an experiment. Latterly his multifarious duties caused him to practically abandon entomology, and a few years ago he sold his magnificent collection of British Beetles to Dr. Mason, of Burton-On-Trent, who, with characteristic liberality, places it at the disposal of all Avorkers, both British and foreign. In 1866 a volume on "British Beetles," extending to 280 pages, with 16 coloured plates, was brought out by Mr. Rye, and published in Reeve and Co.'s popular series ; it was accompanied by a Catalogue of our indigenous Coleoptera, and remains practi- cally the only book on the same subject, treated in a popular as well as in a scientific manner. From 1869, and for several years, he furnished the article Coleoptera (and occasionally others) to the invaluable " Zoological Record," in which his talent as a compiler again asserted itself, and from vols, x to xx (the publication of the latter taking place only a few days before his death), he was sole editor, an onerous duty fulfilled with great tact. Apart from his ordinary duties as Librarian, he compiled the bibliographical portion of the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, and aided the Society in many other ways. For maiiy years he acted as one of the Natural History editors, and sole editor for " Travel," on the " Field " newspaper, and latterly his other literary engagements wei'e exceedingly numerous : his power for work seemed to increase with the demands upon it. 24i0 [March, 1885. For many years he was Kecording Secretary for Section E (Greography) at the meetings of the British Association. In 1859 he joined the Entomological Society of London, but subsequently resigned, and was re-elected in IS*/ 6. In 1874 he be- came a Fellow of the Zoological Society. Mr. Eye's attention to British Coleoptera naturally caused an acquaintanceship with Mr. G-. R. Waterhouse, formerly of the British Museum, who was then de- voting all his spare time to the same subject. This culminated in his becoming engaged to Mr. Waterhouse's second daughter, whom he married in 1867, and who, with four children (the oldest under 17), survives to deplore his loss. Mr. Eye was a good classical scholar, a good modern linguist, and generally of extremely versatile talent. In society he was known (and sometimes feared) for his ready and often caustic wit. From early youth he was passionately devoted to aquatic sports, and was a frequent ^rize winner in amateur racing, matches on the Thames. On Saturday, July 30th, 1881, he suffered frightful injuries from his boat being crushed by a steamer ; these crippled him for many months, yet in time he made a complete recovery, and even resumed his favourite pastime with all the ardour of youth, and at over 50 was still winning prizes. Little more than ten days before his death he complained of feeling unwell, which he attributed to a cold ; but almost immediately smallpox of the worst type declared itself. He was removed to hospital. Almost from the beginning the case was desperate, and, although at one time there was a small gleam of hope, it soon subsided, and he passed rapidly away. How he contracted the disease no one knows, but it was believed to be pre- valent amongst the floating population on the Thames. It is pretty generally known that Mr. Eye's eldest sister is the lady whose name is so intimately associated with female emigi'ation to Canada. His father and mother predeceased him,.his youngest brother died barely two months ago, and there now remain an only surviving brother (who continues his father's practice) and three sisters. Major F. J. Sidney Parry, F.L.S., of Onslow Square, died at his daughter's residence. The Warren, Bushey Heath, on February 1st, aged 74. In him the En- tomological Society of London has lost one of its oldest members, he having been elected in 1840, and he became a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1842. He was born October 28th, 1810. In 1831 he joined the 17th Lancers as a cornet, but retired from the army in 1835. His earliest published paper appears to have been on a new genus of LucanidcB from New Zealand, communicated to the Entomological Society in 1843, and although he published on other families of Coleoptera, it was with the LucanidcB that he became more especially associated, and on them he pub- lished numerous memoirs, the most important (but by no means the last) in the Trans. Ent. Soc, for 1870, to which he appended a revised List, enumerating 357 species. During the whole of his entomological career he had been associated by fi-iendship with Prof. Westwood, who supplemented and illustrated several of his papers. At one time he had a general collection of Coleoptera, but latterly it was limited to Lucanidce and Cetoniidce, the former being very valuable, and probably the most complete in existence. April. 1885.] 241 DESCEIPTIONS OF SOME NEW SPECIES OF LEPIDOPTERA FROM ALaERIA. BY GEORGE T. BAKER. Mr. AVm. Pech, of Budapest, who was collecting in Algeria during the first half of 1884, has recently sent me a very interesting collection of the Lepidoptera then taken, among which are several species which have been submitted to Dr. Staudinger, and have been pronounced by him to be new, these Mr. Pech has kindly asked me to describe. Prom February to the end of April he worked the neigh- bourhood of Lambessa, and, for the remainder of his sojourn, Guelma (which is a good deal nearer the Mediterranean) was his head quarters. As I hope later on to give a detailed account of his captures, I will now, without further remark, describe the species new to science. AnTHOCHARIS PeCHI, 11. sp. Aim anticce et posticm alhcB, puncto discoidali, et cum apice griseis. Ivfra, ales anticcB, apice sulphureo-virescente, alee posticce sulphureo-virescentes, nigro fortiter irroratce, macula centrali parva albida. In the S the wings are white above, the posterior ones looking slightly greyish on account of the darker under-side showing somewhat through. The base of all the wings is rather grejish. The apex and discoidal spot of the anterior-wings are grey, the latter being the shape of an irregular paraiellograra. In the grey apical patch before the tip is a small, indistinct whitish spot. The costa from the base to the discoidal spot is broadly greyish. Beneath. The apex of the anterior-wings is greenish-yellow, finely irrorated with dark grey, the discoidal spot which appears through, but faintly, is pale grey, with a whitish crescent in it. The posterior-wings are greenish-yellow, more in- tensely irrorated with blackish, and have a single small whitish spot in the centre. The fore-part of the thorax by the head is very pale yellow. The antennae are grey, tipped with lemon colour. The fringes are white, greyish by the apex. This description applies also to the $ , but the markings are all darker, and the apical patch and discoidal spot are larger, while in the former there is the faintest trace of the usual transverse spotted band. The extreme apex is also slightly greenish. The ^ measures 32 — 33 mm. ; the ? 36 mm. This species, which I name after its captor, is a near ally to Charlonia, Donzl. {Penia, Prr.), and will immediately precede it. Only five specimens (three <^ and two ? ) of this pretty Anthocharis were taken, which were caught at Lambessa in April. A ^ and $ are in my collection. A. Pechi can be readily distinguished from Tagis by its smaller size, and by the apex and discoidal spot being much greyer, also the white spots in the dark apical patch of Tagis are wanting in Pechi. X 242 [Aprii. Beneath, the apex and hind-wings are yellower and unmottled in the present species, while in Tagis both are considerably mottled. From Gharlonia, its nearest ally, the ^ differs in that its colour is quite white, while in the former the wings are very faintly tinged wdth yellow\ The apical patch, which is brownish in Charlonia, extending down the posterior margin nearly to the anal angle, and being dis- tinctly spotted, is, in JPechi, grey, scarcely reaching more than half way down the posterior margin, and is wdthout the transverse spots. The discoidal spot in Charlonia is large and dark brownish, but in our species it is decidedly smaller and pale grey, also the anterior margin is not pink, as in Charlonia, and the fringes of the fore-wings, which in the latter insect are tinged with yellowy and intersected witli brownish, are in this w^hite. Beneath, the apical patch and hind-w'ings are greener in Pechi, than in Charlonia. The white of the fore-wdngs in the latter is tinged with yellow, especially by the costa, but in ours it is pure white, also the discoidal spot, which in Charlonia show^s through very distinctly, and is almost black, appears through in Pechi very faintly, and is pale grey with a whitish crescent in it. The fringes of the fore-wings have in the present species a slightly greenish hue beneath, but in Charlonia have a good deal of pink in them. Eurther, the hind-wings of the former have only a single, small, whitish, central spot, w^hereas in the latter insect there are several whitish spots in the hind-wings. BOMBTX LOTI, Var. ALGERIEIS^SIS. I believe this pretty little Bomhyx to be only a local form of loti, and have there- fore so named it, as it is certainly worthy of being a named variety. The S is of an uniform reddish-brown ; the anterior-wings having a central white spot, and a sharply and continuously toothed white line, starting from beyond the middle of the inner margin, and reaching nearly to the costa, somewhat in front of the apex. The ? is also unicolorous red-brown, but with scarcely even an indication of the | «"' central spot, and no transverse line. Expanse of wings, S j 27 — 28 mm. ; ? , 40 mm. A fair series of this insect was taken at Guelma in June, two ^ and one ? being now in my cabinet. The ^ differs from loti in the white transverse line being con- tinuously toothed, while in the latter insect it is not toothed at all. The difference in the ? is more marked, as in loti the colour is uniform greyish, but in var. algeriensis it is entirely reddish-brown. BOMBYX Staudiis'geei, n. sp. Alee omnes pallide Jiavo-ochj'acecB, nonfasciatce. Of this new Bombyx several larvse were found at Lambessa in March, which 1885. J 2Ji3 were of a grey colour with red markings. The imago is of an uniform and very pale drab-straw colour, without any markings whatever, the posterior-M-ings are of a slightly warmer hue than the anterior. Expanse of wings, 47 mm. . Only two (^ of this insect were reared, winch came out in Sep- tember (the fumigation for cholera having killed most of the pupae), and of which I possess one specimen. I name this species after the well-known entomologist, Dr. Stau- dinger ; it should, I think, precede trifolii, which is its nearest ally. Though trifolii has some very pale varieties, I know of none to compare with the paleness of this: its anterior-wings are also narrower than in that species, and the apex and hind-margin are rounder ; further, the posterior-wings are not so full as in trifolii. Though the expanse of wings is greater than in trifolii, (^ , generally, it is a more elegant species, and is not so robust looking as that insect. ACIDALIA MAUEITANICA, 71. Sp. AlcB omnes ruhree, griseo-irroratce, macula centrali parva nigra in omnibus alis, alee anticce macula costali nigra ante apicem. This species is of a pale pinkish-clay colour, finely irrorated all over with dark grey, with the central dark spots on the anterior and posterior-wings very distinct, there is also a distinct dark spot on the costa in front of the apex. The first dusky line near the base is almost obliterated, though its position is indicated by three indistinct greyish dots, two of which are near the costa, and one on the inner mar- gin, there is scarcely a trace of the central line just beyond the spot, the dusky irrorations form an indistinct curved sub-terminal line, in which are four or five small darker dots, this is followed by a fine waved lighter band of the ground colour. The marginal line is also composed of the dusky irx'oratione. The hind margin is finely and darkly dotted. The hind-wings are rather paler, but with similar markings to the fore-wings. The fringes are pink, lighter at the edge. Head, thorax, and abdomen, same colour as the wings. Expanse, 23 mm. Of this insect, which will, I think, come next to cervanfaria, only two specimens were taken at Gruelma in June, one of these is now in my collection. All the markings in this species are formed by the dusky irrora- tions, and are throughout very indistinct. Its general look is pinkish- red, slightly irrorated all over with dark grey. ACIDALIA YIEGULAEIA, Var. AFEA. This insect is so close an ally to virgularia, that I cannot look upon it as a new species. The S is grey, with the central dark spots very indistinct ; the darker ba?al space is edged by the first Kne which is dark grey, waved, and arises in a dark spot X 2 2-14 t^P"^' on the costa, terminating in a similar one on the inner margin. The central line is less distinct, but is more defined than in virgularia, the sub-terminal line is not dotted, as in that species, but is a frequently-toothed, well-defined, dark grey stripe, and is followed by a darker shading, which is edged on the outside by a light curved band. Hind-margin dotted with black. Fringes grey. With the exception of the first line, the markings are all continued through the posterior- wings, but the sub-terminal line is very dark and broad. In the ^ the colour is paler, and all the markings less distinct, except the central spots, which are more sharply defined, and the sub-terminal line, which is dotted somewhat as in virgularia. In this sex, the shape of the posterior-wings differs from that insect, the hird-margin having semicircular dentations, making their outline almost angular, and the marginal black dots form an almost continual line. The J measures 20 mm., the ? 22 mm. Only two specimens of this insect were taken at Guelmain June, both of which are in my collection. ACIDALIA TEREJfTIUS, 01. Sp. Alee onines, ocTiraceo-hrimnecB , lineis mediants et suh-terminalihiis parallelis, hrunneis. Alee anticce apice sinuato. This species is of an ochre-brown colour, the basal space being darker brown. The median brown line is parallel with the broad sub-terminal line of the same colour, both being almost parallel with the hind-margin, and extending from the costa up to the inner margin ; these two lines are also continued through the pos- terior-wings, but are less distinct. The hind-margins of the anterior and posterior- wings are bordered by a distinct dark line. The fringes, which are exceptionally long, have the basal half darker brown, with paler extremities. There is a slight gloss over all the wings. The thorax and abdomen are brown ; antennae paler brown. The apex of the anterior-wings is rather sinuate. Only two specimens were taken at Lambessa in April, one is in my collection ; it measures about 13 mm. Ltgta Jouedanaria, var. obscuea. Anterior- wings umber-brown, with all the white markings of Jourdanaria re- placed by a paler brown colour. The hind-wings are also of a browner hue. In the ? the ground-colour is paler than in Jourdanaria, with the white mark- ings also replaced by paler brown ones. Jourdanaria was common at Lambessa in April, and existing with it was this almost unicolorous variety which, being constant and not uncommon, is well worthy of a distinctive name. I possess a cJ and ? . EUPITHECIA AETEMISIATA, Coust., Var. CONSTANTIKA. Anterior-wings brownish-grey, the first darker band, edged on the outside with white, is sharply angulated near the costa, and is very distinct, in front of this {i. e., near the base) are one or two more or less distinct paler lines. Before the median stripe, which is narrower and edged on the outside by a double white line, is a 1885.] 245 whitish, somewhat indistinct, line. The durk sub-marginal line, also edged pos- teriorly with white, is finely and frequently toothed, and extends from just in front of the apex into the anal angle. The sub-costal, median, and inner marginal veins are reddish, and intersect all the markings. The grey posterior- wings have the median and sub-marginal lines darker, and a central dark spot, which latter is wanting in the anterior-wings. The hind-margins of both the anterior- and posterior-wings have a white-spotted line edged interiorly by a dark spotted line. The fringes are grey, tesselated with brown, and sometimes have a pale divisional line. The ^ measures 19—20^ mm. ; the ? 20—21 mm. The ? presents no difference from the ^ , except that it is rather stouter, and the white lines are throughout more marked. This species was common at Lambessa in March. I possess four specimens. Dr. Staudinger tells me that he thinks this may be a local form of artemisiata, Const., if so, it will rank as a variety of that species ; it may, however, prove to be itself a good species. {To he continued.) O^ THE DISTINCTNESS OF AULOCERA SCYLLA FEOM A. BEAHMINUS. BY ARTHUR G. BUTLER, F.L.S., F.Z.S , &c. In the fourth volume of this Magazine (p. 122), I described a species of AuJocera under the name of A. Scylla, the habitat for which was given in our register as near Silhet, and I mentioned that I had seen three specimens of the species. In the same volume, at p. 247, Colonel Lang described a second species under the name of Aulocera Werang from the Werang Pass, Upper Kunawur and from Kashmir. The species described by Lang turned out subsequently to be the same as that figured by Blanchard as the male of his A. hrahminus, which name, therefore, superseded it. In the first volume of their work on the Butterflies of India, Messrs. Marshall and De Niceville regard A. loeranga (sic) as a variety of A. Irahminus, and A. Sci/IIa as a second variety scarcely separable from it : they make the following observations regarding the two so- called varieties : — " Colonel Lang in describing A. weranga writes, that, ' it differs from (the description of) A. Scylla by its paler colour, larger size, more sinuated margins, and the want of the exterior series of white, black-encircled spots ; the whitish dots of A. iveranga being only two or three in number, very small and indistinct.' Mr. Butler adds. 24G ^ [Ap"i' ' the two species are nearly allied, but I tliink quite distinct ;' another point of di:fference being that ' the veins on the under-side of the hind-wing in A. Scylla are powdered w^ith whitish scales.' We are quite unable to separate A. Scylla from A. hraliminus ; it is described from ' near Sylhet,' and if that locality could be accepted definitely, there might be some grounds for its separation ; but the authority for the habitat rests apparently on a very slender basis, and some speci- mens of A. weranga from the N.W. Himalayas present every feature that is given as distinctive of A. Scylla ; it is doubtful whether it can even be retained as a distinct variety." It must be borne in mind that w'hen writing the above neither Major Marshall nor Mr. De Niceville had examined the type of A. ScyUa ; when the latter gentleman saw it a few months ago, he jumped to another hasty conclusion and decided that it was nothing but an under- fed specimen of A. Werang. Few things can be more detrimental to the study of any branch of science than guessing. This has been shown in the present instance, and can be still more easily proved in the case of Mr. De Niceville's recently ventilated views touching seasonal variability, which a little calm reflection w^ould have con- vinced their author to be impracticable; first, because some of these so-called seasonal varieties never yet were taken in the same localities, and others, as Junonia Ahnana and J.Asterie, are all caught flying to- gether at the same time, also Melaniiis Ismene and the so-called M. Leda (for which I propose the name M. determinata ; as the true M. Leda is a totally dissimilar Amboinese species), come constantly from all collectors who pay any attention to details in their collecting, labelled with the same date of capture ; Col. Swinhoe also assures me that in both of these instances the supposed seasonal forms fly together. In a collection received from Mr. J. F. Duthio early in 1884, there were four examples of A. hraliminus, three of which were labelled " Phulaldaru, 12,000 feet, August 15th and 16th," the fourth " Eavee Basin, up to 6,000 feet," the latter agrees best with Lang's type of A. Werany, as I remember it, the band across the wings being narrower than usual. Towards the end of 1884 we received a second collection from Mr. Duthie, in which are two examples of A. Scylla, labelled " near Kutti, 13-14,000 feet," in the same collection several much w^orn ex- amples of A. Sivaha, labelled "Kutti Tangti Yalley, 11-12,000 feet." It is therefore clear that the locality " Silhet " was, at any rate, if not quite correct (which remains to be proved), by no means so far out as Messrs. Marshall and De Nicoville imagined, and as the whole of the 1885.] 247 differences pointed out, sucli as size, form, marking, white veining, &c., are constant, there is every evidence that A. Scylla, instead of being regarded as even a doubtful variety, is a good and constant local form, or, in fact, a distinct species. In conclusion, I would recommend all Entomologists to beware of excitement about any new craze : a few years ago every unusual patch on a wing, every tuft on any part of an insect, was at once labelled either as some form of scent-bottle or musical box for the delectation of Madame Papilio ; in some cases there was sense in the suggestion, but in nine cases out of ten the most pitiable nonsense : now a new craze has arisen ; wheresoever in any genus two species stand a little apart on account of intermediate links not having yet been collected, the Lepidopterist pounces upon them as probable seasonal forms ; whereas, when one really knows anything of any genus of Lepidoptera, one finds that all the representatives of that genus are reduced to very slightly differentiated local races. British Museum : Fehruary, 1885. DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES. by h. geose smith. Papilio Sycorax. Upper-side. Anterior-wings olive-brown, the longitudinal rays in the cell, the nervures, and broad bands between the nervures dark olive-brown. Posterior-wings : the inner half somewhat greener than the anterior- wings, the outer half greenish- grey, in the middle of which between the nervures is a row of five large conical black spots, the two upper spots extending to the cell on the inner side ; on the outer margin are five, large, black, quadrate spots confluent on the outer margin, the spot nearest the upper angle is also confluent on the inside with the upper spot of the central row. The outer margin ashy-grey, deeply indentated between the nervures. Under-side. Both wings as above, but much lighter, and the outer row of spots on the margin of the posterior-wings are distinct. Head and collar ashy-grey. Abdomen greenish-grey above, underneath orange,:t\vo rows of black spots on either Bide. Exp. 6 in. Hah. : Sumatra (Bock). A grand insect, nearest to P. Friapus. Charaxes Yioletta. Upper-side. $ . Anterior-wings dark brown, suffused slightly with violet, with a curved row of violet-blue spots across the middle of the wings, and a sub-marginal row of similar spots from near the costa to the inner margin, the lower half of the two rows becoming confluent, the two sub-marginal spots near the apex nearly white. Posterior-wings with a broad central band of violet-blue, suffused with white from the second sub-costal nervule to the abdominal fold near the anal angle ; above this band are two pairs of violet-blue spots, a sub-marginal row of seven small spots, and 248 f^P"!' a row of elongated spots on tlie margin on each side of the nervules, all violet-blue suffused with white. ? . Anterior-wings with a broad curved band across the centre of the wings from the costa to the inner margin, and two white transverse spots near the apex. Posterior-wings : the inner half, from near the base, white, suffused with violet, a sub-marginal row of small white spots, and a marginal white line intercepted by the nervures, both suffused with violet. Under-side. Both wings as in Ch. CitTiceron, except that the central black line across both wings, which is broadly bordered on the outside with white, is straight and continuous, not irregular and internapted as in Citharon. This species on the upper-side has a general resemblance to Cithceroyi, it is more violet-blue, and is smaller in size, particularly the female, which is not &o large as the male CithcBron, while the under-side of both sexes is very distinct from Cithceron. Exp. 3^ in. Sab. : Delagoa Bay. London : February, 1885. THE LIFE-HISTORY OF ASOPIA {PYRALIS) FAMINALIS. BY THE REV. J. HELLINS, M.A. In his prefatory remarks on Pyralis., Guenee wrote that nothing showed the negligence of entomologists more plainly than their ignorance of the metamorphoses of the species placed by him in that genus ; and, to say nothing of the appearance of farinalis in one's house, certainly to see the moth, as I have, sitting by hundreds on the walls of a mill, one would think it was easy enough to find the larva: yet the late Mr. Buckler, living in a house with a flour-mill attached to it, met with considerable diflficulty in obtaining the larva of this " Miihlgiingler," as Dr. E. Hofmann calls it : it was not to be found on the floors, but had to be hunted out very carefully under projecting ledges of portions of the machinery, where it could form its galleries in safety ; he obtained a few examples also from a stable, where they were feeding in company with A. pinguinalis on mixed rubbish well hidden under an oat-bin. Farinalis may fairly be called a domestic insect, and, contrary to the more common lot of Lepidoptera, it has rather profited than other- wise from human progress : as one can scarcely conceive of any natural collection of seeds or stalks which would nourish it in such numbers as may now be seen. The moth, I know, begins to appear towards the end of June, and continues its flight through July and August ; the larva apparently is hatched in less than a month after the e^g has been laid, and, as Mr. Buckler told me he had satisfactorily ascertained, lives through two winters, becoming a pupa in May or June of the second year ; and the pupa state lasts about a month. The egg is rather long oval in outline, somewhat flattened, about •65 mm. long, and '35 mm. wide ; the shell very thin and soft, finely granulated or wrinkled all over, glistening, in colour dirty white. 1885.] 249 Tlie newly-hatched larva is about 1-45 mm. long, with pale brown head, the body dead white, the usual bristles colourless and long. The full-grown larva is about 25 mm. long when walking, between 22 or 28 mm. when at rest ; stout in proportion, and cylindrical in figure ; the head small and horny, the second segment, which is rather long, tapering rapidly to it ; the thirteenth segment also tapers away rapidly ; the segmental divisions well-marked ; the folds between the thoracic segments complicated as in cuprealis ; each of the remaining segments with an intermediate fold at about two-thirds of its length from its front edge ; the head in colour chestnut-brown, very shining, with the n:iouth blackish ; the second segment paler brown, rather inclining to yellowish ; the anal plate also yellowish-brown ; the rest of the skin most delicately shagreened, and in colour bone-white, the belly whiter ; there is, however, a blackish tinge over the anterior and posterior segments which, throughout the life of the larva, serves (together with its stouter figure) to distinguish it from (EcopJwra pseiidospreteUa and Endrosisfenestrella, which swarm where it is found; the dorsal vessel is also distinguishable by its darker tint ; the usual dots are small and indistinct, surrounded by small pits, and furnished each with a short brown hair ; the trapezoidals arranged (as in AgJossa) almost in squares ; near the front edge of each of the middle segments is a transverse row, interrupted in the middle, of tiny shining fovese, and behind it come short rows set longitudinally near the front pair of trapezoidals, and again near the hinder pair, there are also others below the spiracle ; the spiracles are small, round, and margined with black ; the thoracic legs are of the ground-colour, but tipped with chestnut-brown ; the ventral legs whitish, with the circlet of hooks dark brown. The larvfe I had were living in long tubes of dusty flour spun together rather toughly, and through which they could travel easily : from one of them I bred an ichneumon, named for me by Mr. Bridg- man, JExochus mansuetor. The pupa which I measured was about 10 mm. long, and not quite 3 mm. at its widest, in figure very cylindrical and plump, the wing- cases reaching just half its length ; the tail ending in a blunt knob, without a spike, but set with a group of six curled-topped spines, arranged in three pairs of different lengths, the longest pair being straight, and the other two curved ; the whole pupa-skin glossy, as if varnished ; the wing-cases yellowish-brown, the abdomen redder, and the segmental divisions still darker : the cocoon inside fitted the pupa closely, and was made of tough white silk, well covered outside with rubbish, and not very regular in outline, about ten lines in length, and four in width. Exeter : February 1th, 1885. 160 [April, A NEW DRAGON-FLY OF THE GENUS AXAX FROM MADAGASCAR. BY ROBERT McLACHLAN, F.R.S., &c. Anax tumorifee, n. sp. Length of abdomen {cum appendic), (J, 63 mm., 9 , 60 ram. Length of pos- terior-wing, (J $ , 53 mm. Expanse, S ? » 109 mm. $. Wings hyaline (not tinted). Neuration black (a few transverse nervules, near the base, brownish) ; costal nervure yellow externally. Membranule blackish, whitish at base. Pterostigma brown, rather short (5 mm.), very narrow. 18 ante- cubital and 10 post-cubital nervules in the antorior-wings. Face and mouth-parts yellowish (probably green in life) ; labrum regularly excised, the excision bordered with very pale brown. Top of front slightly produced, semi-circular anteriorly, where it is slightly margined by a greyish line; a large, nearly circular, black spot, not produced in the middle, but the outer edge with four or five not very distinct denti- culations : vesicle black behind, yellow in front (with a crest of black hairs) ; for a short distance on cither side is a narrow black line margining the eyes. Antennse black. Occiput yellow, flat, triangular, slightly rugulose. Back of head yellow, margined with black above in the middle. Thorax yellowish (probably green in living insects), with fine cinereous pubes- cence. Legs shining black ; anterior femora yellowish beneath ; length of posterior femora, 10 mm. Abdomen slender (not depressed), cylindrical, considerably swollen, and after- wards constricted, at base. Colour dark brown (altered), with indications of a black doi'sal line, twice expanding on segments 4 — 7. Lateral impressions extending from segments 3 — 9 (but only faintly indicated on 3 posteriorly). Segments 9 — 10 slightly depressed, each slightly broader than long, and sub-equal. Segment 10 with a blunt central longitudinal carina, on either side of which are two fovese, one posteriorly the other anteriorly, the latter being larger and deeper than the former. Superior appendages long (8| mm.), nearly equalling segments 8 — 10 united, piccous, somewhat castaneous intei-nally ; they are slender, and their outer edges nearly straight up to the incurved apices ; a strong raised keel above from the base to near the apex : the inner edge is at first straight, but somewhat before the middle it is enlarged into a very strong obtuse dilata- tion (the edge of this dilatation is granulose if viewed laterally), after which it is broadly excised, and again slightly dilated to the apex, which is very obtuse, in- curved, viewed above it has a rather broad explanate mar- gin beyond the elevated subapical portion : the upper sui'face is deeply concave between the central keel and the raised outer edge up to the elevated sub-apical portion ; the lower surface shallowly concave, with the outer and inner edges much raised j the inner edge be- yond the dilatation is double with a concavity between, somewhat resembling the lateral impressions on the abdomen. Inferior appendage 1885.] 251 pale yellow, very short, nearly quadrate, scarcely extending to tlie commencement of the dilatation of the superior, hardly narrowed to the end, which is excised, with the angles upturned and produced into an acute black tooth ; the lower surface is flattened with the sides strongly upturned, upper surface deeply concave ; within each outer angle is an elevated black blunt tubercle, which, if viewed laterally, conveys the erroneous impression of belonging to the edge and not to the inner surface. ? (very adult). Generally similar to the $ . Wings very strongly and almost uniformly tinged with bright greenish-yellow (slightly paler at base and at extreme apex), which is sometimes more intense on the nervules, leaving the centre of the cellules paler. 18 — 19 ante-cubital neirules in the anterior-wings. Back of head for most part blackish. Abdomen stouter ; the dorsal dark line more distinct : 10th segment transverse, its apical edge with a large transverse impression (or fovea) on either side of a median production, in which are about four short longitudinal impressed striae. Appendages very small (about h\ mm.), black, in the form of small flattened leaflets narrow at the base, with straight outer edge, and a slight central keel ; apex acute. Valvules not exceeding the 9th ventral segment, black, provided with small and short reddish appendages, of which the second joint consists of several bristles. [I think a second ? (with equally yellow wings) must belong here. It differs in the black spot of the top of the front being conical instead of nearly orbicular, in the slightly smaller wing dimensions (post.- wing, 50 mm.), and especially in the much shorter abdomen, which (appendages absent) is only 50 mm. long, without appearing to have lost any of its length (excepting the appendages'), although it has been broken and mended.] The figures represent the apex of abdomen of $ and ? (with appendages), from above, and the inferior appendage of $ , from side, more enlarged. Hob. : Madagascar. The $ of this insect is essentially peculiar from the form of the anal appendages, and the ? from the uniformly-tinted greenish-yellow wings. The $ of A. dorsaUs, Burm., from the Cape of Good Hope, remains, I think, unknown, but from Hagen's detailed description of the ? type (Verb, zool.-bot. Ges. AVien, 1SG7, p. 37), it cannot belong here, according to the form of the spot on the top of the front, the markings of the abdomen, and especially the colour of the legs. From the same collection from Madagascar I have a ^ Anax that it would be difficult to separate f rom ^. /orwosMS, but as has been already remarked with regard to South African examples, probably of this species, the body is slightly more slender, and the labrum mar- gined with brown instead of black. Lewisham, London : March, 1885. 252 t^P"^' On the generic name Barsine. — Mr. A. Gr. Butler has called attention (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 133) to the pre-occupation of the generic name Barsine by Walker, and suggested a new name for the genus of Geometrina which I had characterized under that name. However, I had already, in a paper read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury (N. Z.) in August last, and published in abstract in the New Zealand Journal of Science for September, pointed out that the genus named by me Barsine was truly synonymous with Boarmia, Tr., as defined by Lederer (whose work I had not previously been able to obtain, as explained in my original paper), and the genus which I had called Boarmia was therefore left without a title ; the latter genus I renamed Gelonia. Mr. Butler's new designation for Boa7'mia is thus unnecessary. — E. Meteick, King's School, Parramatta, N. S. W. : January Uth, 1885. Habits and description of the larva of Tortricodes hyemana. — Early in June last, I was examining an oak-bush in a hedge near here for larvse, when, on opening a rolled-up leaf, I found a very striking brownish Tortrix larva, with a pretty spotted appearance. I did not find the species common, but collected a few from different parts of the bush, took them home, and placed them on a spray of oak in a small bottle of water, covering the whole with a bell-glass. This is a very convenient method for observing the habits of small larvse, as the food keeps fresh for a long time, and the larvse live and make their habitations with- out being inconvenienced by the contact of the sides of the vessel which contains them. Their habits can also in this way be watched at any time without disturbing them. It is necessary, however, for this purpose to have good sized bell-glasses. The larva is not of a very lively disposition, though when disturbed it makes some show of retreating, after the usual manner of Tortrices, but does not easily leave its house when touched. It is rather short and stumpy, and tapers somewhat towards each end : its length, when full-fed, is about 6 lines. The upper portion of the larva is of a rather dull brick-dust colour, inclining to brown, with a dirty greenish tinge between the segments. This tinge, being apparently chiefly due to the presence of food in the intestinal canal, is not constant in its position or intensity, but is seen on different parts of the body at different times. It is more decided, as a rule, towards the head, and on the anal flap is present almost to the exclusion of the brick-dust colour. The head is of a dull yellowish-brown, with the mandibles and palpi darker. The top of the second segment is of the same colour as the head, edged with whitish in front, and with a blackish margin at the sides. There is a distinct whitish dorsal line, and a less distinct line on each side below the first row of spots. The spots themselves are conspicuous from their prominence and size : they are whitish in colour, and have a small black dot in the middle, from which proceed inconspicuous hairs. The under-side of the body is of a yellowish-white colour, on which a very slight tinge of brick-dust can be perceived in patches on the first few and last seg- ments, the division between it and the upper surface being sharply defined. The legs are blackish, as are also the hooks at the base of the claspers. The colour of the head is rather brighter at the sides of the under-part than above. 1885.] 258 The larva turns down the tip of an oak-leaf, thereby forming a habitation of an irregular aiid somewhat conical shape, in which it lives until it has eaten the greater part of the leaf, but during this process it keeps its habitation intact. It then altogether deserts this leaf, and removes to another, and after having made another home for itself in the same way, it eats that leaf also. Thus, when nearly full-fed, a leaf of average size lasts it for board and lodging about two days. It does not leave any frass in its habitation. The larva is full-fed about the middle of June, when it quits its habitation and goes down into the earth, where it spins a very tough cocoon composed of earth and brownish silk, in which it shortly turns to a pupa. In this state it remains during the summer, autumn, and winter, emerging about March in the next year. The pupa is rather dark reddish-brown in colour, with a transverse row of four spikes at the tail, and two rows of smaller ones on the back of each segment. As the moth emerges shortly before the time when the buds of the oak are beginning to shoot, and as the larva does not seem to be at all gregarious, it may be presumed that the eggs are laid singly on the oak-buds. — Nelson M. Richardson, Llangennech Park, Llangennech, E. S. O., Carmarthenshire : March 14th, 1885. The larva of Fhlcsodes teiraqttetrana.—'Prohahlj most of us are familiar with this common larva, living late in the autumn under the turned-down edge of a birch leaf, but it is not, perhaps, so generally known that this is only the latter portion of its history, the manner of its earlier life being very different, and spent within a swelling on the twigs. These swellings are by no means conspicuous, which must account for their having been so commonly overlooked, and my own success in dis- covering them last spring was, no doubt, largely owing to the experience I had recently gained by the study of a very similar kind of growth, the work of H. Servil- lana in the sallow shoots. At the time of discovery they were empty and deserted and the mine within commencing to be filled up by new gi'owth, but on July 3rd I had the pleasure of finding newly-made swellings containing larvae about y\j inch long. Fresh mines were opened from time to to time, but their occupants were found to grow so slowly, that no attempt at collecting them was made until September 20th, on which occasion one or two having been found empty, I judged it advisable to delay no longer, and, therefore, brought home a handful of shoots, and placed them in water. Very shortly I found that an individual or so had left its mine, and was feeding upon the leaves ; having constructed a small chamber by folding over a por- tion of the leaf. In time, all adopted the same practice, but in one or two instances where a leaf lay conveniently near, and the larva was able to reach it by spinning a short connection, I noticed that it continued for a little longer to occupy its old quarters. Hitherto, I had been much puzzled as to what they could be, but with their change in habit the mystery ceased, and to my surprise, as well as somewhat to my disappointment also, I recognised in the larva that I had been watching with such care the very common and widely-known P. tetraquetrana. The swellings occur on the young upright shoots in the heads of birch bushes. Like those of Servillana, they occupy the region of the buds, and also resemble them very closely in shape and general appearance, but are smaller. It is, I think, worthy of notice that in both the growth takes place rapidly, and appears to reach its full 254 f^P"^' development wliilst tlie larva is still very young, agreeing in this respect witli the usual history of gall-formations. The short internal mine measures half-an-inch in length, and sometimes less. It is quite free from frass, and the mouth, .situated at the upper end, is protected by a firm, neatly constructed, tube of frass, that extends for one or two lines along the surface of the growth. It might be supposed from its abundance, that it would prove an injurious insect, but this scarcely seems to be the case. In no instance have I known the shoot killed, though occasionally its growth appears to be checked, and an increased tendency shown to the development of side twigs. The cavity gets filled up in the following season, and the enlargement is also in time outgrown. Neither does it lead to injury by inviting the attacks of insect- feeding birds ; similar kind of food is plentiful enough elsewhere at that time of year, and far more get-at-able, and they seem entirely to have passed over this supply, which is quite the opposite to what happens in the case of Servillana, where, at least, one half the mines get torn open in the hungry months of winter. The full-grown larva is rather stout, cylindrical, tapering somewhat behind, pale yellowish-green. Head dark or pale brown. Thoracic plates also dark or pale brown, with a darker edging behind, and a pale line down the middle. Anal flap yellow. Legs brown. Spots distinct, dark brown or black — they are said in the " Manual " to be whitish. The posterior trapezoidals are considerably smaller than the anterior, and are occasionally absent, or, I should rather say, want the usual dark pigment, in which case the anterior pairs are coiTcspondingly small. Whilst a resi- dent in the twigs, the chief points of difference are that the larva is more slender of shape, rather transparent, with a pulsating red dorsal vessel and reddish tinge over the body. Some years ago I found four or five specimens of a variety, having a broad, but rather faint, red line running along the sub-dorsal region from the 2nd to the I3th segments, inclusive. They produced typical tetraquetratia. It appears to remain within the stem until after the last moult, growing very slowly all the time, but directly it begins to feed upon the leaves a rapid and great increase of bulk takes place, and in a week, or rather longer, it becomes full-fed. It spins up among rubbish, and changes to a pale red pupa. — John H. Wood, Tarrington, Ledbury : Tehruary Qtli, 1885. Coleopliora potentillce, Boyd, in lit. — The larvse of this species I have known for the last two years, but always thought they were those of C. paripenella, for knowing what a general feeder C. paripenella is, and finding it feeding on birch and bramble, under which bushes this same shaped but lighter coloured Coleopliora was feeding on Potentilla tormentilla, 1 concluded they were the same species, and that the very light colour of the cases was due to the food-plant ; but in September of last year, Mr. Fletcher, of Worthing, wrote to me saying he was taking nearly full-fed the larvse of an undescribed Coleophora, feeding on Pofentilla tormentilla, and very kindly offered to send me some, and also went on to describe the history as worked out by Mr. Boyd ; the description he gave so agreed in every respect with the larvse I had noticed on the same plant, that I went at once to Wanstead, found some larvse, and sent them on to Mr. Fletcher, who at once pronounced them to be cases of C. potentillce ; I also found these larvse at Walthamstow and Snaresbrook in most of the sheltered places, under patches of brambles where the food-plant was growing ; they seem to be pretty well distributed all over that part of Epping Forest. 1885.] 255 The aboTe few facts show how necessary it is to publish the history or any information concerning new species as soon as possible, for had not Mr. Fletcher written to me as he did, I should have been perfectly ignorant there was any such species in existence ; and as many of my correspondents hare since seeing the name on my list asked me what the species was, it is very probable the above com- munication may be interesting and useful to many others who collect the Micros. — Geo. Elisha, Shepherdess Walk, City Koad, N. : January, 1885. Larva in Nut CatMns, Sec. — I now add a description of the larva mentioned at p. 203, which I have hitherto been unable to breed. Larva about half an inch long, dusky pale greenish ; head and plate on second segment brownish-black ; when the larva is younger the head and plate (which appear united) are unusually large, and suggest the idea of a diving helmet. This disproportion is the more apparent if the larva is at all stinted of food. In the earlier stages of growth the head is the largest part of the larva, which tapers gradually from the third to the last segment ; the posteriorly attenuated appearance being still further increased by the anal legs projecting behind almost to a point. Anal plate small, and slightly darker. A dark shining spot at top of anal legs ; front feet dark. When full grown the head is not so disproportionately large, nor is it so dark, and the back of the larva is faintly suffused with a smoky tinge. — A. Balding, Wisbech : January lUh, 1885. CJiaiiliodus inseciireUus and C. pontificellus. — The interesting discovery of the larva of Chatdiodus insecurellus on Thesium divaricatum in Gascony, for the know- ledge of which we are indebted to Mons. A. Constant, may not improbably help us to find the larva of its congener, C. pontificellus. This conspicuous large Chauliodus seems by no means uncommon in many parts of Germany and Switzerland ; I have myself seen it in plenty near Eatisbon, but hitherto, strange as it may appear, the larva of so common and striking a species has altogether escaped discovery. Yon Heinemann informs us " Schmetterlinge Deutschlands und der Schweiz, Abth. ii, Band ii. Heft 2," p. 410, that " Frey suspects the larva to be on Thesium montanum ; Eossler that it is on Sarothamnus." I must say that I think the occurrence of the larva of C. insemirellus on a Thesium lends great weight to the probable correctness of the conjecture attributed to Professor Frey, which, however, I do not find mentioned in Frey's " Lepidopteren der Schweiz," though the author specially remarks of C. pontificellus, p. 401, "larva to this hour unknown (in spite of numerous searches by myself and others)." 1 hope, with the new lights we now have, the larva of C. pontificellus will not remain much longer concealed. — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. ; March 14t?i, 1885. Humble Bees successfully introduced into Neio Zealand. — The Canterbury (N.Z.) correspondent of the Anglo-New Zealander and Australian Times, Mar. 13th, states as follows :— " After several unsuccessful attempts to introduce the Humble Bee, we have at last contrived to land a small number alive. This is owing to the decreased length of the voyage since steamers commenced to run between England and New Zealand. The Humble Bees were brought out in the " Tongariro," and 256 f^^piii. had not been here many clays before they emerged from their dormant condition, when they were at once liberated." 'No information as to the sexes of the Bomhi that arrived alive is given, but hopes as to the general fertility of red clover in the Colony, resulting from this importation, are expressed, and we trust they may be realized. — Eds. Anommatus 12-striafus, Miill., and Adelops Wollastoni, Jans. — While digging over a piece of garden ground on the 21st of last month, I turned up a decaying potato, and, seeing that it was tenanted by Coleopterous inhabitants, conveyed it into the house for careful examination. The lodgers proved to be three in number, namely, a specimen of ^?20»zma^M5 12-striatvs, which I had supposed was invariably found in buried logs, and two examples of Adelops Wollastoni. The potato was barely six inches beneath the surface, and it seems rather strange that, after the severe frosts which we have had here, Anommatus at any rate should have been found at so slight a depth. A few days later on I took a third specimen of Adelops, this time in a rotten parsnip. — Theodore Wood, Freeman Lodge, St. Peter's, Kent : March \lth, 1885. Note on Rhizotrogus ochraceus, Knock {cf. ante p. 221). — I have a Welsh spe- cimen of this species, taken by the late Mr. Weaver, which I obtained from him directly afterwards. In the "Zoologist," xiii, p. 4906 (1855), is a note by the late I ta Mr. E. Newman, announcing that this species had then recently been taken by Mr. t)i Weaver in K'orth Wales in some abundance, flying by daylight. But no allusion is made to the previous capture by Capt. Parry in South Wales of the species recorded lia in the Trans. Ent. Soc, i, N.S., Proceed., p. 24, as Amphimalla verna, Meg. ?, and th which, according to Mr. Hall, Mr. E. W. Janson has little or no doubt was Hh. I] ochraceus. Assuming this to be correct, the record of Mr. Weaver's captures is of interest, as showing that the habitat extends from North to South Wales ; yet the absence of intimation about the particular place where, and the time of year when, the insects were taken is quite in accordance with Weaver's reticence on such matters. Like Mr. Hall, I am not aware of any recent captures, yet it may now be hoped that although the infoi*mation is not precise, it may be enough to induce residents and tourists in Wales to be on the look-out for these beetles, and to adopt "the simple plan. That they must take who have the power. And they must keep who can ;" tliat is, keep the captives they may make for those to whom they are desiderata — in other words, all the present generation of collectors of British Coleoptera. T)ie distinctive characters of Eh. ochraceus were pointed out in Mr. Newman's note, yet it may be useful and sufficient to state here that the species, although generally like the common Bh. solstitialis (Midsummer Chafer), is about one-fourth less, and, unlike it, flies by daylight. — J. W. Douglas, 8, Beaufort Gardens, Lewisham : March 2nd, 1885. to nil nitlie ) ^«ocij fatliei ►•^ same, Note on Hypothenemus eruditus, Westto. — This very peculiar little insect, which occurred some fifty years ago in some numbers in the cover of an old book, is sup- % 1885.J 257 posed by many Entomologists to be peculiar to Britain, and to have only been found on this one occasion. M. Fauvel, however, in the " Kevue d'Entomologie," iii, p. 315, proves the identity of the species with Stephanoderes CBostn'chusJ arececs, Hor- nung, from Gruinea and Colombia, and also with S. Boieldieiii, from New Caledonia ; he considers, also, that Bostrichus rujicollis, Fabr., which is given in the last European catalogue as undoubtedly synonymous with H. eruditus, is certainly not identical with it. The European Stephanoderes JShlersii, Eich. {HomoeocrypTialuSy Lindemann), according to M. Fauvel, is a veritable Hypothenemus, and must there- fore be united with R. eruditus as a second species of the genus. — W. W. Fowler, Lincoln : March 10th, 1885. Boreus hj/emalis, Linn., near Killin. — On the 23rd of October last, while searching a moss-covered wall in Grlen Lochay, I took five specimens of an insect which at the time I could not identify ; they were left in the test tube until the other day, when it occurred to me that I should again examine them, but through having been neglected for such a length of time, they were in a very mouldy con- dition. The specimens turned out to be three spissicornis 9J trifolii 9: PAGE Coleophora vibicigerella 66 ColiasEdusa 111,251 , var. Helice 251 Hyale Ill CorcjTa cephalonica 23, 58 Coriscium sulphuiellum 124 Cornifrons ulceratalis 254 Crambus alpinellus 254 contaminellus 167 fucatellus 238 porcellauellus 239 tristellus 125 vigens 238 Cryptoblabes bistriga 29, 57, 183 Cucullia scropbularisB 144 Danais Arcbippus 134, 161, 168, 211, 217 , Larva of 218 Chiysippus 277 Deilepbila livovnica 144 Deiopeia pulchella 12, 68, 252 Dichelia Grotiana 183 Dichrorampba herbosana 1, 125 plumbagana 2 plunibana 2 saturnana 1, 2 tanaceti 1, 125 Dioryctria abietella 52 decuriella 52, 56 sylvestrella 52 Ditula angustiorana 4 EUopia fasciaria 184 Endagria ulula 253 Enuomos angularia 137 eiosaria 170 fuscantaria 170 tiliaria 170 Ephestia cahiritella 24, 58 calidella 24, 58 elutella 24,41,58 ficella 24 ficulella 25, 58 interpunclella 25 lugduiiella 29 passulella 24 Roxburghii 24, 58 semirufa 24, 58 xantbotiicha 24 zeag 25 Epbippipbora iiigricostana 252 Epinepbele Jaiiiroides 253 Pasiphae, var. Philippina 252 Episcbnia Boisduvaliella 23, 57 Erastria fuscula 184 Erouia Boebera 131 Eubolia mensuraria 124 Eucbromia arbutana. Larva of 65 flarameana 65 Eudorea angustea 42, 125 I murana 125 Eupithecia breviculata 254 1 fraxiuata 137 j nanata 125 rectaiigubita 139 XV. PAGE Eupoecilia dubitana 257 flaviciliana 267 implicitana 257 niaculosana 5,6 purgatana 5 rupicola 255 sodaliana 256 Eurhodope advenella 57 marmorea 57 suavella 57 Eurrantbis plumistraria 253 Eurycreon imdalis 254 Eutbemonia russnla 184 Euzopbera oblitella 30, 57 Zellerella 30 Fidonia fasciolaria 253 Galleria cereana 18 mellonella 20, 58 Gastropacha quercifolia 255 Gelecbia albiceps 257 gerronella 257 morosa 255 nanella 257 pinguinella 257 subdecurtella 255 tetragonella (sp.n.), Stainton...99, 162 vilella. Larva of 212,238 Glypbipteryx oculatella, Larva of 42 Gnopbos asperaria, var. pityata 253 mucidaria 253 obscurata 183 Gracilaria stramiiieella 257 Grapholitba caicaiia, Larva of 95 candidulaua 5,6 gerainana 112 Penkleriana 125 , Larva of 235 Wimmeraua 5 Gymnancyla canella 18, 32, 57 Hadena satura, Larva of 63 Halia semicanaria 253 vincularia 253 Halonota trigeminaua 125 Hedya pauperana 254 Servillana 2o6 Heliopbobus hispidus Ill Heliotbis dipsacea 255 peltigera 106 Heterogenea asellus 183, 184 Heterograpbis oblitella 57 Hipparcbia diffusa 130 Homoeosoma biusevella 26, 58, 183 cretacella 26, 58 nebulella 26,58 nimbella 26,58 saxicola 26 seneciouis 26 sinuella 26,68 Hornigia anellus 21 Hydrsecia micacea 124 Hydrilla palustris 255 Hypena crassalis 184 Hypercompa Hera 211 XVI. PAGE Hypermecia augustana 5 crucian a 5 Hypochalcia ahenella 32, 57 Hypolimnas Bolina 168 Hyponoraeuta malinellus 100 rorellus 113 Ino certana 252 lolaus silarus (sp. n.), Druce 154 Larentia caesiata 112, 124 salicata 124 Laverna Stephens! 257 Leucophasia sinapis 214 Ligia Jourdanaria 254 Limenitis Sibj'lla 183 Lithocolletis anderidae (sp. n.), W. H. B. Fletcher... 40 comparella 257 distentella, Larva of 261 scabiosella 257 sorbi 262 Lithographia Penkleriana 4 Lithosia marcida 253 mesoraella 184 Lithostcge griseata 87 Lozotsenia costana 4, 6 Lafauryana 4, 6 musculana 5, 6 Podana 4,6, 137 pyrastrana 4 roborana 4, 6 rosana 4, 125 sorbiana 4 unifasciana 4, 6, 125 x.ylosteana 4, 6 Luperina testacea 124, 188 Lycajna Abencerragus 252 ^gon 184 Argiades 212 Argiolus, var. hypoleuca 252 Astrarche 252 Baton, var. Panoptes 252 boetica 252 Icarus, var. Coelina 252 Tolas 90, 252 melanops 252 , var. Marchandii 252 Theophrastus 252 Macavia liturata 184 Mecyna polygonalis 80 Melanippe fluctuata 42, 124 unangulata 183 Melanthia rubiginata 124 Melissoblaptes anellus 21 bipunctanus 21, 58 cephalonica 23 Melitsea Artemis 214 Phoebe 252 Metasia adelalis 254 suppandalis 254 Metoponia vespertalis 253 Metoptria monogramma 253 Micropteryx Mansuetella 255 Mimeseoptilus celidotus 79 PAGE Myclois advenella 29,57 artecnisiella 30 ceratonise 30, 57 cinerosella 30,57 cirrigerella 30, 57 cribrella 29 cribrum 29 epelydella 30 incanella 30 marmorea 30, 57 pinguis 30, 57, 257 suavella 29, 57 Naclia punctata, var. servula 253 Nascia cilialis 255 Neocheritra Theodora (sp. n.), Druce. 155 Nepheronia arabica 259 Nephopteryx abietella 52 albilineella 53 Davisellus 53 genistella 53,56 propriella 31 roborella 52, 184 spissicella 52, 56 ulicella 53 undulatella 31 Nepticula asneofasciata 138 apicella, Larva of 236, 237 argyropeza 237 assimilella, Larva of 113 aucupariaj 131 Nylandrieila 64, 131 tormentillae 138 Noctua augur 124 Nonagria brevilinea 273, 274 cannae 169 lutosa 170 neurica 256 typhjfi 169, 170 Nyctegretis achatinella 29, 57 Nyssia hispidaria 256,276 Ochsenheimeria Birdella 126 vacculella 252 Ocnogyna boetica 252 ffinectra Pilleriana 5,6 Olindia ulmana 183 Oporabia filigrammaria Ill Orgyia trigotephras 253 Ornix fagivora 64 Orthotaelia sparganella 125 Orthottenia antiquaua 125 Oxyptilus Isetus 255 Pachycnemia hippocastanaria 253 Paedisca occultana 125 oppressana. Larva of 151 Pamplusia mercuriana Papilio Erectheus 5 235 Podalirius, var. Latteri 250 Zelniira 131 Paranthrene tineiforrais 252 Pararge Mega^ra, var. Lyssa 252 Paraponyx stratiotalis 169 Pardia tripuuctana 4 Pellonia sicanaria 253 fter Ptrc Pjra PAGE Pempelia adelphella 54 adornatella 54, 57 albariella 53,56 hetulEe 56, 68 carnella 53 dilutella 53,54 dubiella 54 Fallouella 55 formosa 54, 57 fusca 54, 67 hostilis 54,55,56 janthinella 54 obductella 54, 57 ornatella 53, 57 palumbella 56, 184 rhenella 55 semirubella 53, 57 subornatella 54, 57 tristrigella 56 Penthina capraeana 184 pruniana 5 Pentila undularis 59 zymna 59 Peronea abietana 4 caledoniana 112 hastiana 4 Logiana 4 umbrana 4 Phacellura iiidica 105 Phorodesma bajularia 137 Pieris Aganippe 80 Aspasia 131 Daplidice 250 Pionea mavgaritalis 256 Platyptilia emissalis 80 Plodia interpunctella 25, 58, 124 Plusia chrysitis 67 ni 253 Poliachi Ill Polyommatus Phlaeas 251 , var. Eleus 251 Pseudoterpna coronillaria 253 Pterophorus acanthodactylus 149 Bertrami, Larva of 103 cosmodactylus, Larva of 149 dichrodactylus 104 punctidactylus, Larva of ... 149 ! Pterostoma palpina 161 Ptycholoraa Leclieana 4 Pyralis cost.alis 137 Rhodocera farinosa 251 Satyrus Alcyone 252 Circe 10 Proserpina 10 Sciaphila virgaureana 125 Scoparia angustea, Larva of 209 mercurella, „ 260 Scopula lutealis 125 Semioscopis Steinkellneriana 254 Sericoris bifasciana 137 littorana 126 Sesia albiventris 252 asiliformis 144 doryliformis 252 Smerinthus tilife 137 Spliinx convolvuli 110, 111, 134, 162, 167, 229, 261 Spilothyrus altheae, var. bseticus 252 Spindasis Clymenus (sp. n.), Druce 155 Steganoptycha naevaua 125 Sterrha sacraria 254 Stilbia anomala 124 Swammerdamia oxyacanthella 125 Syrichthus alveus, var. onopordi 252 Tachyris Nerissa 131 Telesto drachmorpha (sp. n.), Meyrick ... 82 Teras effractana 4 Tbalpochares ostrina 253 , var. aestivalis 253 , var. cartbami 253 , var. numida 253 Thecla ilicis, var. sesculi 251 w-album 213 Thestor Ballus 251 mauritanicus 251 Thylacoptila (g. n.) paurosema (sp. n.), Meyrick 106 Tinea boletella 18 caprimulgella 257 pallescentella 125 picarella 90 Tingra tropicalis 59 Tortrix cinnamomeaua 183 corylana 5 diversana 5 dumetana 5 Forsterana 5 heparana 5 ministrana 5 ribeana 5 viburnana 125 Trachonitis Pryerella 30 Trichoptilus compsochares 106 Trifurcula pallidella 65, 263 Vanessa polychloros 252 , var. saturata 252 Xenica Klugii 81 oricbora (sp. n.), Meyrick 82 Xylopbasia polyodon 125 Zelleria hepariella 257 Zetbes insularis 253 Ziuckenia recurvalis l'J5 Zonosoraa pupillaria, var. badiaria 253 Zygsena algira 252 favonia 252 XVlll. NEUROPTERA. PAGE Agraylea multipunctata 269 Beraea pullata 43 Cordulia arctica 93 metallica 94 Crunoecia irrorata 43, 165 Diamphipnoa liclienalis 215 Diplectrona felix 165 Drepanopteryx phalaenoidos 139, 239 Hydropsycbe instabilis 94 Hydroptila flabellifera 269 PAGE Isocelipteron flavicorne 215 fulvum 215 Lepidostoma hirtum 66, 165 Perla virescentipennis 215 Polycentropus Kingi 165 Stenoperla annulata 215 ORTHOPTERA. Onconotus Servillei 40 INDEX TO CONTKIBUTORS. PAGE Anderson, Ernest 166 Atmore, E. A 162 Baker, G.T., F.E.S 90,238, 260 Balding, A 235 Balding, James 279 Bankes, E. R., F.E.S 93 Barker, H. W 241,267,283 Barrett, C. G., F.E.S 1, 42, 100, 111, 112, 124, 137, 183 Bates, H. W., F.R.S 188 Beaumont, A., F.E.S 89,280 Beddard, F. E., M.A., F.R.S.E 110 Bergroth, Dr. E 7 Bignell, G. C 141 Blatch, W. G 203 Bloomfield, Rev. E. N., iM.A., F.E.S. .210.211 Boyd, W. C, P.ES 276 Buckley. W 99 Butler, A. G., F.L.S., &c 59, 64, 110, 127, 156, 259 Cameron, Peter 47,83, 117, 164, 175 Caprou, E., M.D., F.E.S 228, 229, 263 Clarke, W. Eagle, F.L.S 106 Cockerell, T. D. A 62, 186 Copp, H. A 229 Cuthell, Lieut.-Col. T. Q 134 Distant, W. L., F.E.S 60 Donovan, C, Jun., F.E.S 13, 67, 134 Douglas, J. W., F.E.S. ...14, 63, 66, 115, 157, 243 Druce, H. Hamilton, F.E.S 154 Eaton, Rev. A. E., M.A., F.E.S 161 Edwards, James, F.E.S 66, 133 I PAGE Elisha, George, F.E.S 66 [ Elliot, A 161 j Ellis, J. W., L.R.C.P., F.E.S 46, 62, 240, I 266, 280 j Elwes, H. J., F.L.S 10 I Fletcher, W. H. B., M.A., F.E.S. ..13, 40, 42, i 113, 272 Fowler, Rev. W. W., M.A., F.L.S. .33, 43, 61, j 69, 138, 139, 163, 172, 186, 264 I Gardner, J 90, 185 Gore, Rev. H. J., M.A 186 Gorham, Rev. H. S., F.Z.S 13, 186 Go8s, Herbert, F.L.S 134, 162 Graham-Young, A 128 Griffith, A. F 64, 66 Hellins, Rev. J., M.A 211,212 Hodgkinson, J. B 91 Horner, A. C, F.E.S 88 Jeffrey, W. R 126 Jenkinson, F 261 Johnson, Rev. W. F 43, 161, 165 Jordan, R. C. R., M.D 63, 110, 211 King, J. J 94 Lewcock, G. A 115 List, Dr. J. H 240 McLachlan, R., F.R.S. ...13, 93, 165, 215, 239 Manders, N 213, -277 Mathew, G. F., R.N., F.L.S 235 Matthews, Rev. A., M.A 107, 160, 224 Meade, R. H 152, 178 Meyrick, E., B. A., F.E.S 78, 105, 26G Morris, C. H 185 Morton, K. J 43, 66, 139, 269 Nic(5ville, L. de, F.E.S 101 Pavfitt, E Pearce, W. A 187, 241, Perkins, V. R., F.E.S Pim, H. Bedford, F.E.S Porritt, G. T., F.L.S 103, 149, Ragonot, E. L., F.E.S Reuter, Prof. 0. M Sang, John 138, 236, Saunders, E., F.L.S 94, 116, 134, Scott, John Semper, Dr. G., F.E.S Sharp, David, M.B., F.Z.S Sims, H. T Stainton, H. T., F.R.S....9,92,97,99, 237, PAGE 113 267, 283 145 89 209, 260 ...17,52 37 239, 262 148, 184 281, 282 131 ..44, 197 116 112, 135, 238, 263 XIX. PAGE Staudinger, Dr. 0 268 Thouless, H. J 141 Verrall, G. H., F.E.S 179, 199, 230 Walker, J. J., R.N., F.E.S.... 45, 86, 87, 88, 111, 217, 281 Wallengren, Pastor H. D. J 90 Warren, William 131,212,254,279 Waters, Albert H., B.A 212 Wellman, J. R 135 Westwood, Prof. J. 0., M.A., F.L.S 95 Wheeler, F. D., M.A., F.E.S 169, 274 Wilding, R 89 Wood, John H., M.B 151, 261 Wood, Theodore, F.E.S 44, 114, 115, 138, 162, 266 LIST OF NEW GENERA AND SPECIES, &c., DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLUME. COLEOPTERA. GENEEA. PAGE . 225 Anisomeeistes, Matthews CnosDR^mvB, IS. W. Bates 192 C0ETLOPHODE8, Mattheios 160 Mamboicus, ff. W.Bates 190 SPECIES. Anisomeristes zXev, Matthews, N.Zealand 225 Sharpi, „ „ 226 Chondressus granulipennis, H. W. Bates, Mamboia 192 j Craspedophorus cameronus, „ Mt. Cameroons 196 glaber, „ „ 196 Disphajricus Lastii, „ Mamboia 194 multiporus, „ B. Ogowe 193 tarsalis, „ Angola 193 Dromica (Cosmema) quadriguttata, „ Mamboia 189 (Myrmecoptera) purpurasceus, 189 Macronota Halyi, (S/iarp, Ceylon. 197 Mamboicus Lastii, S. W. Bates, Mamboia 191 Megacephala Baxter i, „ Ugogo ... 188 Menigius afrellus, „ Mpwapwa 191 (?) mamboianus, „ Mamboia 191 Orthoperus muudus, Matthews, Britain.. 109 punctatulus, „ „ 108 Sparostes brevilobis, JEE. W. Bates, Zambesi 193 Tefflus cychroides, „ Mamboia 195 DIPTERA. GENUS. Cbratinostoma, Meade .... 152 SPECIES. PAGE Ceratinostoma maritimum, Meade, Brita in (= oceanum, Ifacg.) 152,178 Limnophila sepium, Verrall, England ... 200 Molophilus bifilatua, „ Britain ... 199 Sciara minutisaima, „ England ... 181 subnitens, „ „ ... 180 Theraira spinosa, „ Scotland... 233 HEMIPTERA. SPECIES, Aradus emarginatus, Bergroth, China ... 8 orientalis, „ Japan... 7 Clinocoris antennatus, Reuter, Greece ... 38 Mytilaspis ulicis, Douglas, England 249 Proarna capistrata. Distant, Buenos Ayres 60 LEPIDOPTERA, GENERA. Q,OB.CYUA., Ragonot 23 Heterogeaphis, Ragonot 31 Thtlacoptila, Mej/rick 105 SPECIES. Arctia cajula, Staudinger, Tibet 258 Coleophora paludicola, Stainton, England 9 Gelechia tetragonella, „ „ 99 lolaus silarus, E. H. Druce, Delagoa Bay 154 Lithocolletis andmAsd, Fletcher, England 40 Neocheritra Theodora, S. S. Druce, N. Borneo 155 Spindasis Cly menus, „ Cameroons 155 Telesto drachmorpha, Meyrick, Australia 82 Thylacoptila paurosema „ St. Vincent 106 Xenica oricbora, „ Australia 82 ADDITIONS TO THE BRITIS FORWARD IN COLEOPTERA. Amara nitida, -S^WOT 241,280 Ancliomenus Salilbergi, C/iof^tc? 264 Euplectus iiubigena, i^eiY^er 207 Harpalus calceatus, Sttirtn (reinstated) ... 172 Meligethes murinus, var. planiusculus, JEr. 35 Ortlioperus brunnipes (vera), G^j/?^ 108 coriaceus, i^^j/ 109 corticalis, Bedt 108 mnndns (sip. n.), 3Iatth 109 punctatulus, „ „ 108 DIPTERA. Ceratinostoma oceanum, Macq. (= ma- ritimum, Meade) 152, 178 One hundred additional species enumerated by Verrall ...cf. pp. 179-182, 199—202, 230—234 HEMIPTERA. Aspidiotus camelliae, Boisd 249 limonii, Sign 249 Asterodiaspis quercicola, Bouchi 160, 250 Chionaspis aceris, Sign 159 alni, „ 249 H INSECT FAUNA BROUGHT THIS VOLUME. PAGE Chionaspis fraxini, Si^n 160 salicis, iiwn. 249 Eriopeltis festucae, Fonsc 141 Fiorinia camellicola, Gomst 250 Lecanium rosarum, Snell. v. Yollenh. ... 158 Liburnia guttulifera, ^/rscAJ 133 Mytilaspis flavescens, Targ.-Tozz 249 ulicis, Do«_^ 249 Pul vinaria camellicola, Sign 1 59 HYMENOPTERA. Ascogaster canifrons, Wesm. 229 Bracon Oostmaeli, „ 228 Cephus satyrus, Pans 176 Paraphilius pallipes, i^aZZ 118 LEPIDOPTERA. Coleophora paludicola, Stainton 9 Gelechia tetragonella, „ 99 Lithocolletis anderidffi, Fletcher 40 distentella, ^re^ 261 Nepticula assimilella, ZeZZer 113 Nylandriella, Tengst 65 Ornix fagivora, S^ainfojt 64 LARV^ OF BRITISH SPECIES DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLUME. PAGE Acrobasis sodalella. JRa^oTiof 27 Agrajdea multipunctata (case), Morton .. 269 Bersea pullata (case), „ 43 Crunoecia irrorata, „ „ 43 Grapholitha Penkleriana, Balding 235 Hadena satura, Jordan 63 Nephopteryx hostilis, jBa_9ro»o^ 56 Nonagria brevilinea, Fletcher 272 cannsi, Wheeler 169 PAGE Pffidisca oppressan a, IFoocZ 151 Psyllamali (nymph), Scott 281 Psyllopsis fraxinicola (nymph), „ 281 Pterophorus Bertrami, PorriYi 103 cosmodactylus, „ 149 Scoparia angustea, „ 209 mercurella, „ 266 Trioza remota (nymph), Scott 282 REVIEWS. PAGE European Butterflies: W. F. de V. Kane 14? Elementary Text Book of Entomology: W. F. Kirby 14. Our Insect Enemies : Theodore Wood 143 Fourteenth Annual Report of Noxious, &c., Insects of Illinois : S. A. Forbes 165 OBITUARY. Joseph Sidebotham, F.L.S 46 Nicholas Cooke 46 H.Milne-Edwards 95 PAGE H. Weyenbergh 143 Rev. S. C. Tress-Beale 216 THE y^^^ VOLUME XXII. ^^k EDITOEIAL NOTICE. The Hev. W. W. Fowlee, M.A., F.L.S., of the School House, Lincoln, so well-known in connection with British Cohoptera, has kindly consented to fill the vacancy on the editorial staff occasioned by the death of Mr. Eye. His colleagues commend him to the favourable consideration of the supporters of this Magazine. 1, Paternoster Row : Ma?/, 1885. ON THE VALUE OP THE COSTAL FOLD IN THE CLASSIFICATION OP T0RTRICE8. BY CHAS. G. BAEKETT. Mr. Warren's recent discovery (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, p. 190) of the identity of my Dichrorampha herhosana (Ent. Mo. Mag., ix, p. 27) with the original D. tanaceti, of Wilkinson, by means of type specimens taken by Mr. Thompson at Crewe, and his suggestion that the species placed in most of our cabinets under the name of tanaceti {-ana) should be called saturnana, has had the effect of again drawing more particular attention to this very difficult group. In my own collection I have as follows — besides herhosana = tanaceti, Wlk. : — (1st.) Under the name of tanaceti, 8 (^ and 2 ? from Bristol, 6 ^ and 2 ? from Exeter, 3 (^ and 3 $ reared by Mr. Elisha from larvae in (I think) tansy roots (^Tanacetum vulgare), and 16 ^ and 4 ? taken by myself near Pembroke among the same plant. None of these males have the slightest indication of a co^idlfold, though in many of them the anterior margin is slightly turned up. (2nd.) Also under the name of tanaceti, 10 S and 4 ? from the Pembrokeshire coast, not among tansy, and 5 J and 1 ? from a quarry at Plymouth, so closely resembling No. 1 that the females are abso- lutely alike, and the males are only distinguishable from their posses- sing a very strong and well marked costal fold. ^E, 1885. O [June, (;^i\l.) Under tlio luimo of saturnalia, 2 cT fi*<^iii the Isle of AVigbt, and 1 ^ from Hungerford, AVilts, smaller than the last two species with narrower wings, and with smaller scales. These are quite devoid of the costal fold. (4th.) Also under the name of safurnana, 1 (^ from Teignmouth, and 1 (^ from Darlington, having the costal fold quite distinctly, very slightly larger than No. 3, and rather more brightly clothed with yellowish scales and leaden lines. (oth.) Fhnuhana. — Very numerous specimens from many localities, all the males destitute of the costal fold. These are of the same size as Nos. 3 and 4, with rather broader wings and fewer yellowish scales. (Gth.) Phimhagana. — Many specimens from various places, with narrower wings than any of the preceding, and brighter metallic lines, but variable in size, and in abundance of the yellow scales, all the males having the costal fold, except (7th.) Under the name of phimhagana, 2 ^ from Galway, quite like the A^vker pJumhagana in form and width of wings, but without the costal fold. Twenty-five years ago I took many specimens of this form in the County Galway, but damp, from many journeys and moist climates, injured them, so that the rest were destroyed. (8th.) Among my coutinental types, 3 ^ from Prof. Zeller, labelled saturnana, two of them having also Heinemann s label on the pins, one of which last has the costal fold most distinctly, and the other two are as distinctly destitute of it. Otherwise these three are absolutely alike, they cannot be separated by any other character that I am able to see. They resemble Nos. 1 and 2 pretty closely, but are yellower. In the classification adoJDted by AVilkinson these species — so closely allied that they can only be separated by a slight structural character, hardly visible to the naked eye, and obtaining only in one sex — would be placed, not only in separate genera, but in distinct families, widely separated from each other. It is desirable, therefore, to examine more closely into the value of this peculiarity of the males of so many species of Tortrices — the costal fold — which is entirely ignored in the arrangement of Guenee and Doubleday, but which forms one of the bases of classification in the arrangement followed on the continent, and was regarded by Wilkinson as of such vital importance, that he instituted the family Flicatce solely to receive all the species favoured with this appendage. The value of such a classi- fication as this is best shown by the table below, in which some of the genera and species of the family Plicatce are arranged side by side 1885 v^'ith. those placed in oMer families widely apart, but obviously closely allied to them in form and habits. PLICATE OTHER FAMILIEfS (with fold). ; (without fold). Catoptria cana, falvana, Scopoli- ana, ccBcimaculana, expallidana. Phloiodes tetrar£uetrana, immund- ana, crenana. i Fam. ToETEiciDiE. Lozotainiasorhiana,rosana,x>jlos- \ Tortrix dumetana, diversana, he- teana, Podana, rolorana, costana, &c. parana, ribeana, corvlana, cinnamome- ana, &c. Fara. Caepocap3ID^. Grapholltha conterminana, aspi- discana, iripoliana, amulana, candi- dulana. Fam. AyCHYLOPEEID^. Steganoptycha ncBvana^ geminana. Dichrorampha tanaceti, plumhag- Fam. Caepocapsid^. ana, &c. Endopisa saturnana,plumbana,k.Q. Indeed, a simple enumeration of the species and genera crowded together in the family Flicatce, of Wilkinson (which would occupy too much space here), would seem sufficient to condemn it. In the arrangement followed by Wocke, this incongruity is cleverly avoided, since, while the presence, or absence, of the costal fold is relied upon (I think, always) as a generic (or sub-generic) character, the genera with, and without, folds are so skilfully alter- nated that, to a great extent, the actual relationships betw^een the species are fairly maintained. But here there has evidently been a serious difficulty, in the presence of a large number of "folded" species which could not well be distributed in the same manner without the manufacture of a host of new genera. They have, therefore, been massed together under the generic name of Fcedisca. Here are Catoptria cana, fulvana, Scopoliana, expallidana, and cceci^naculana^ along with Coccyx tcedella, LithograpJiia nisella, suhocellana (campo- liliand), and Fenhleriana, Poedisca opTitJialmicana, Solandriana, setni- fuscana, and sordidana, with the four little Phloeodes, the four larger SpilonotcB, and the whole genus Halonota, lumped together in one unwieldy genus. It must be borne in mind that this costal fold is solely an orna- ment or appendage of the male sex. I am not aware of any case in which a female moth shows any tendency towards assuming it. It consists of a small flap of membrane, usually occupying the basal por- tion of the costal or anterior margin of the fore-wings, from one-third 4 [June, to one-half of their length, which flap of membrane is turned back over the wing exactly in the same manner as the brea?t flap of the collar of a coat. It is usually covered with scales of a rather coarser texture than those of the remainder of the wing, and placed, more or less, in a different direction, so that, though they closely assimilate in colour to the upper-side of the wing, the edge of the fold can generally be seen, by the aid of a lens of slight power, from the different direction of the scales, even though the fold may be pressed very closely down to the surface. When, by any accident, this fold is raised, the space beneath is seen to be thinly clothed with shining white scales, some of which take the form of long hairs, and lie longitudinally under it, but if the fold is turned forward, these hairs rise up and even form a most delicate fan-like tuft, similar to that on the fore-legs of male Hypenidce. I have a FenMerimia showing this very beautifully. In examining the Peroneae, none of which are furnished with the fold, it will at once be noticed that, in many species, such as Teras effractana, the Leptogrammce, Peronea hastiana, abietana, umhrana, Logiana, and others, the shoulder of the strongly arched costal margin is rough from projecting scales. It is exactly this portion with its pro- jecting scales which in so many species is doubled back and forms the *'fold." In what may be regarded as its typical state, the fold is, as I have already said, a narrow slip of doubled-down margin, extending from the base one-third or one-half the length of the anterior margin ; Spilonota, Lithographia, Phloeodes, Poedisca, Catoptria, and Halonota, of Wilkinson, for examples ; but in Ptycholoma Leclieana and Capua ochraceana it occupies more than one-half the costal margin, and in Ditula angustiorana and Pardia tripurictana fully two-thirds, and in these four species it is very neatly folded down throughout its length. Perhaps Ditula angustiorana may be regarded as an exponent of the highest exaggeration of this structure, for its fold is also so hroad as to occupy one-third of the width of the wing near the base. Lozotcenia Podana {pyrastrana) and costana have the short, nar- row, typical fold, but L. rohorana, xylosteana, and rosana have, in addition, the middle portion of the costal margin rolled back very dis- tinctly to the same extent as it infolded down in D. angustiorana. In L. unifasciana the fold does not commence at the base, but, at a short distance, begins gradually a long fold, which occupies — folded or rolled — a large portion of the costal margin. In L. sorhiana and Lafauryana it is placed still further from the base, and is quite desti- 1885. J 5 tute of the typical structure, being simply a turned down edge of the shoulder of the wing, not closely appressed, and without the white scales and long hairs. In L. musculana this divergence is still greater, the fold consisting simply of a tuft of long reflexed scales, which appears like a decided fold, but which, when accidently turned forward, shows a strong tuft of coarse scales arising from the under surface of the margin, and looking like the singular " prominent " tuft on the wings of the Notodo7itidS'. uniguttata, Don., w^hich forms a genus quite distinct from the European, for which latter the name has been wrongly employed by recent authors). Synopsis Specieeum Eueop^aeum G-eneeis Clinocoris, Hahn, Stal. 1 (4) Dorsum abdominis testaceum vel interdum piceum, utrinque testaceo-macula- tum. Connexivum solum angulis apicalibus segmentorum uigris. Pronotum angulis lateralibus fortiter productis (figs, h et i), apicalibus denticulo parvo transversali instructis. * From the descriptions given byPuton, Mr Douglas might have found that it is iaierstinclus and not griseus, which is one of the commonest Heniiptera in England, and that it is griseus (= Ficberi), which here and there might possibly be mixed with the former in collections. 38 f'^^^5^' 2 (3) Caput medio nigro-piceum ; crebre punctatura, clypeo lobis lateralibus dis- £'• erf. e. O. /I. <^. 1*: ^. ^. w,. x^ x^ << <; < < Explicatio figurarum : a, antenna intfrstincti ; 6, id antennati; c, apex capitis grrisci ; cZ, id. interstincti ; e, id. antennati ; /, angulus apicalis pronoti iyiterstmcti ; g, id. .grj-isei r/ et g magis auctae); /i, angvil. lateralis pronoti /erj-wg-aii ; i, id. cZorsa^i* ; k,iA. antennati; I, id. interstincti ; m, segmenta genitalia femina3 grixei ; n, id. interstincti ; o. stylus genitalis maris grisei ; J3, id. interstincti; q, id. antennati (.interdum etiam interstincti) ; r, id. dorsatis ; s, id. ferrugati. tinctissime longiore (ut in fig. c). Prouotum angulis lateralibus longe spinoso- productis (fig. h), piceis. Scutellum macula nigro-picea. Antennae articulo quinto seeundo longiore. Styli genitales maris ut in fig. s. Segmenta genitalia feminse fere ut in fig. n : 1. feerugatus, Fabr. (1). 3 (2) Caput virescenti-testaceum, remotius nigro-punctatum, clypeo lobis lateralibus nonnihil longiore (ut in fig. d). Prono turn angulis lateralibus brevius et obtu- sius productis (fig. i), nigris. Scutellum macula destitutum. (Antennfe in exemplis desunt). Styli genitales maris ut in fig. r. Segmenta genitalia femi- uee fere ut in fig. n 2. doesalis, Jak. (2). 4 (1) Dorsum abdominis nigrum. Counexivum nigro-fasciatum. Prouotum angulis lateralibus breviter dentiformiter prominentibus. Antennae articulo quinto seeundo seque longo vel hoc breviore. 5 (8) Pronotum angulis anticis denticulo brevi transversali instructis (fig./). Venter baud nigro-punctatus. Antennje utriusque sexus testacese, solum versus apicem fuscae. Styli genitales maris in figs. ^ et 5- delineati (structura nonnihil vai'i- antes). 6 (7) Caput clypeo lobisque lateralibus seque longis (fig. e). Antennae longiores (fig. b), articulo seeundo latitudini capitis ad apicem oculorum longitudine gequali vel sub-sequali. Rostrum apicem coxarum sat longe superans. Prono- tum angulis lateralibus paullo fortius prominentibus (fig. ^). Pronotum, scu- tellum et hemielytra irregulariter rugulosa, interstitiis inter puncta convexis. Scutellum immaculatum. Venter lateribus eat obsolete concoloriter punctatus. (J , Long. 8j mm., ? , ignota. Sequenti similis, sed major et superne fere uni- coloriter isabellino-testaceus, inferne magis lividescens.. 3. ANTENKATUS, n. sp. (3). 7 (6) Caput clypeo lobis lateralibus nonnihil longiore (fig. d). Antennae breviores (fig. a), articulo seeundo latitudine capitis ad apicem oculorum fere 5 breviore. Eostrum apicem coxarum intermediarum paullo superans vel basin coxarum posticarum sub-attingens. Pronotum angulis lateralibus obtusius prominulis (fig. /). Superne quam pra;ccdens distincte Isevius, magis nitidum. Scutellum 1885. 39 macvila picea. Yenter sub-lsevis. Femina apico abdominis sanguineo ; segmcnta genitalia in fig. « delineata 4. inteestinctus, Linn. (4). 8 (5) Pronotum angulis anticis spinula transversali armatis (fig.^). Yenter lateribus sat dense nigro-punctatis. Antennae nigro-pieese totse ( J ) vol articulis secundo et tertio obscure testaceis ( 9 )• Rostrum apieem coxarum posticarum paullo superans. Caput clypeo lobis lateralibus distinctissime longiore (fig. c). Pro- notum angulis lateralibus ut in praecedente, sed nigris. Color obscurus, fumatus. Fasciae connexivi nigrse quam in prsecedente multo latiores. Apex abdominis etiani feminse superne nigro-piceus, inferne sordide testaceus. Styli genitales maris ut in fig. o delineatur. Segmenta genitalia feminse in fig. m delineata... 5. GRISEUS, Linn. (5). Abo : 3Iat/ 30th, 1885. [I confess that I omitted to consult the " Synopsis " of Dr. Puton, but I now see that, under the generic name Elasmostethus, Cimex griseus, Linn., is there given as a synonym of Cimex interstinctiis, Linn. ; and Acanfhosoma griseum, var., Flor, is cited as distinct, under the name of E. Fieheri, JakowL, without reference to Linne. The points of difference noted are admittedly very small, except as to the coloration of the antennae, and without an example before me I might not have seen the validity of a species established mostly, as it ap- peared to Flor, Fieber, and almost all other authors, on sexual or colour variation ; still, as I said. I.e., I did not impugn the correctness of Professor Eeuter's conclusion, or his determination of the species, and we are all now greatly obliged by his present differential diagnoses and figures. I said " the CJinocoris knoivn to us in Britain as CI. griseus is one of the commonest ;" of course if this is CI. interstinctus, it is the true griseus that is rare — mutatis mutandis. We have cer- tainly the C. (jriseus of De Geer, of which he records the remarkable care of the female for her young, which was independently confirmed by Mr. E. Parfitt (Brit. Hem., p. 108) ; Kolenati, however (Mel. Ent., iv, 61), in referring De Greer's C. hetulce to Acantliosoma interstinctum, Linn., adds " excluso citato JAm^ei griseum \' yet while he (p. 57) refers Linne's C. griseus to the genus Raphigaster, Lap., he still quotes for it De Greer's fig. 9, t. 14 — the same that he does (p. 61) for inter- stinctus ! — J. AV. D.] (1) Syn. : ferrugat.us, Fabr., 1787 ; ictericus, Pet. non Linn., 1787 ; adusLus, Gmel., 1789 ; ferru- gator, Fabr.. 1 794 ; bispinus, Wolff, 1800. Patria : Europa. In arboribus et arbustus variis, etiam in coniferis. ^ - (2) Syn. : dorsalis, Jak., 1876 : Stall, J. Salilb., 1878. Patria : Sibiria (3) Patria : Gra;cia (Attica !), 2 J , commimicavit Clar. D. E. Reitter. (4) Syn. : inter stinctus, L., 1758 ; betuUe, De Geer, 1773 ; alni, Strom, 1783 ; agathinus, Fabr., 1794 ; griseus, Flor, 1860 ; Fieb., 18ei. Patria : Europa, Sibiria, in Betula et Alno, tempore vemali, etiam in Pino. (5) Syn.: griseus, L., 17.58; griseus van:, Flor, 1860; Ficberi, Jak., 1864. Patria: Europa, Sibiria, in Betula alba, sec. J. Sahlberg etiam in Pino. 40 [Jiiiy, DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF LITHOCOLLl^TIS BRED FROM BIRCH. BY W. H. E. FLETCHER. Ltthocolletis anderid.^, ^7;. n. Antennae greyish ; palpi gi'ey externally, white internally ; face white ; head saffron ; thorax with white and saffron scales, but owing to the damage done in pinning, I cannot give their arrangement. Anterior-wings deep bright saffron, with pearly-white markings, consisting of : — a short straight basal streak, dark-margined on the costal side, at the apex, and one-third of the distance back towards the base on the inner side ; a short streak from the base on the inner margin dark-margined towards the costa, a fascia angulated on the side nearest the base, but less so on the outer side, dark-margined on both sides ; three streaks on the costa, and two on the inner margin, dark-margined on the side nearest the base, the last costal streak being just over the dark apical patch ; cilia dark grey, shaded off to white opposite the streaks. Posterior-wings grey, cilia grey, those on the costal side darker than those on the liind-margin. Body saffron, with many pearly-white scales. Alar, exp., 2\ — 3 lines. Allied to Lith. Hremiella, lautella, and irradiella, from which it may be distinguished by its smaller size and white face, from Lith. ulmifoliella it may be separated by the brightness of the pearly-white markings. The larva feeds in hirch leaves in October. I bred this species in the spring of 1880, of 18S3, and of 1885, but each time only a very few specimens. No doubt I have overlooked its small mine among those of young 0?'nix larvre. The species is named after the vast forest formerly surrounding Pevensey (" Anderida "), of which Abbott's Wood may be regarded as the heir-at-law. I have to thank Mr. Stainton for his kindness in examining specimens. Fairlawn, "Worthing : June 1st, 1885. [I think I may add that the ground-colour of this new Lithocol- letis is paler than in L. Breniiella, and the markings are white, not silvery.— H. T. S.] A male Locust devoured ly a female. — In Dr. Horvath's " Rovartani Lapok " for January, p. 18, E. Yangel relates that he reared to the imago-form two larvse of the rare Locust, Onconotus Servillei, Fisch. ; that he fed them with a common grass ; that one proved to be a male, and the other a female, which soon coupled ; and that immediately after coupling, the female ate up the male. — Eds. 1885.1 41 NOTE ON" THE LEPIDOPTEROUS G-ENUS DOLESCHALLIA. BY W. L. DISTANT. Considerable difficulty is, and has been, experienced in properly- identifying some of the allied species of this genus. I have already been enabled to publish some explanatory remarks on three species, viz., D. Bisaltide, Cram., D. Fratipa, Eeld., and D. Polihite, Cram. (Ehop. Malayana, p. 89) ; but as I find the question is still a complicated one to some students, a few further remarks may not prove superero- gatory. D. Bisaltide, Cram., is a rare species. The sexes — one of which agrees perfectly with Cramer's figure — are in the British Museum, and were Javan specimens in Horsfield's collection. Cramer gives Surinam for the habitat, which is probably a clerical mistake for Sumatra. D. Pratipa, Feld., is closely allied to D. Bisaltide, and is recorded from Tenasserim, the Malay Peninsula and Java. It is probably common to the Indo-Malayan region. D. Polilete, Cram., is the species that has caused the greatest perplexity, and this is owing to Cramer having figured two distinct species as the sexes of one. We must take his first figure (Pap. Ex., iii, t. 234, D.E.) as having priority, and fixing the type. This, as I have pointed out, is quite distinct from the other two species, and is very similar in appearance in both sexes. The British Museum con- tains examples from Silhet, Moulmein, Java, Borneo, and the Philip- pine Islands ; my own collection contains specimens from the Andaman Islands and Java. But Cramer's second figure (Pap. Ex., iii, t. 235, CD.) represents the male of a very distinct Amboinese species, the sexes of which, collected by Mr. Eorbes, I have recently acquired. This has caused the puzzle to Lepidopterists, and as the species from Amboina is thus shown to be without a specific name, I propose that it shall be termed Doleschallia Crameri. 1, Russell Hill Road, Purley, Surrey : June, 1885. Note on a strange food of the larva of E-pTiestia eluteUa. — In the same journal above mentioned, p. 59, J. Frivaldszky states that since 1879 he has had a bottle containing red pepper (Capsicum annuum) in powder, well closed with stout paper; that having opened it in the summer of 1884, he was very surprised to find a small caterpillar partly immersed in the red powder, and covered with a fine network of slight filaments. The larva soon transformed, and from the pupa emerged Ephestia elutella, Hvib. — Eds. 42 [J"^y' Variety of Melanippe Jliictuata. — While looking round for Biston hirtaria in London this spring, my eldest boy picked up a very interesting aberration of this species. The usually dark central fascia of its fore-wings is white, with tlie con- tained central spot black, and the usually whitish broad spaces before and after the fascia are of a dark smoky-grey, thus showing a striking inversion of the natural colouring. — Chas. Gt. Barrett, London : May Wih, 1885. Eudorea angustea locally douhle-hrooded . — -This species, the latest of the group to appear in the autumn, is said to hibernate, on the ground, I suppose, of the occa- sional occurrence of specimens in the spring. Lust May, at Plymouth, when searching on the old walls round the harbour and on Drake's Island for larvse of Bryophila glandifera, I found several larvae of this species full fed, and also pupse. From these the moths emerged after a few days. It, therefore, seems that this species produces a spring brood on the south coast when the winters are so mild as to allow the larva to feed through them, and this habit probably obtains, to some extent, throughout the south of England. I cannot remember, however, that I ever saw a spring spe- cimen at Pembroke, where the moth was abundant in the late autumn. — Id. Glyphipteryx octilatella hred. — The imago of this species abounds in some woods in this neighbourhood, but so locally as to have given me a strong hope of finding its larva. This hope was fulfilled last September, when, after a hunt in the tops of several Juncece and Glumacece, the larvae were found commonly in the spike- lets of Carex milpina, there being often two or three in a spike. They also feed on the fruits of smaller Carices, but, owing to the herbage having been much entangled and beaten down by the rain, I could only find one spike of the latter infested, and this I destroyed in examining it. My larvse remained unchanged until April, and the imagines came out freely during May. — W. H. B. Fletcher, Fairlawn, Worthing : June 1st, 1885. The Entonioloyy of TurJcistan.—T\ie Eev. Henry Lansdell, D.D., F.E.Gr.S.,&c., has recently published two bulky volumes of experiences of travel in " Eussian Central Asia, including Kuldja, Bokhara, Khiva, and Merv " (London : Sampson, Low, & Co., 1885), of extreme interest generally, and, at the present time specially, viewed in connection with the rather uncertain political conditions. They will be of lasting interest scientifically, because the author, in a very extensive appendix to the second volume, has gone to the trouble of having translated all the introductory remai'ks, and of adding the lists of species, in the very numerous already published parts on the Botany and Zoology of Turkistan in Fedchenko's great work on the subject. As this latter work is wholly in the Eussian language (excepting the Latin diagnoses of new species), it has remained very much as a sealed book to the vast majority of students ; therefore, we cordially welcome this opportunity of being able to read the generalizations of the various authors, and of recognising the enter- prise of Dr. Lansdell, who, by going out of his way to add what some may think a dry appendix to a book of travel, has contrived to give the general scientific public an insight into the natural productions of the country, and to show (so far as he is able) the amount of work done by the enterprising traveller Fedchenko, and his devoted wife who accompanied him, and who since his premature death on the European Alps, has continued to edit the sei'ics of memoirs commenced under his auspices. — Eds. 1SS5.] 43 Bercea pullata and Cruncecia irrorata hred. — It may be well to record the breeding of Bercea pullata, Curt., from a larva possessing the same Leptoceridous cliaracters as have been indicated as present in that of Berceodes minuta — another confirmation of the true position of the Bercea group. The case is very like that of Berceodes, not much longer, but thicker, and the larva is remarkable for its reddish head and prothorax. Both larva and case agree with the descriptions given by Pictet under Mystaeides {Adicella) ftlicornis, to such an extent that I consider it desirable the Adicella should be reared in oi'der to make sure the author of the "Recherches" had not Bercea before him, as the two insects frequent similar localities. I have also bred Cranoecia irrorata, Cui't. This proves to be the maker of the small quadrangular cases found about rock springs, and as to the origin of which there has been much speculation. Pictet's account is at variance with my obser- vations. I hope hereafter to give more extended notes on the life-histories of this insect and Bercea pullata. — Kenneth J. Morton, Carluke, N.B. : June loth, 1885. TacJiys parvulus, Dej ., a species new to Britain. — Among some beetles sent to me for names by Dr. J. W. Ellis I found a small Carabid very like Tackys histriatus at first sight, but evidently not that species ; when I was at Southampton a few weeks ago Dr. Sharp and I determined it to be T. parvulus, Dej. As, however, there seemed to be a slight doubt, I applied to Herr Eeitter for a specimen, and he kindly lent me one from his collection ; this exactly agrees with the one I received through Dr. Ellis, except that, being more matiu'e, it is rather darker. T. parvulus belongs to the third section of the genus Taehys, as given in the " Naturgeschichte der Insect. Deutsch.," vol. i, p. 25U ; the other two species comprised in the section are T. quadrisignatus and T. sextriatus. The characteristics of this section are as follows : body more or less convex ; antennse only a little longer than the head and prothorax ; jDrothorax with acute posterior angles ; elytra with two, three or four deep striae next suture ; anterior tarsi simple in both sexes. The following is the description of T. parvulus :— Long, 'i lin. Dark brown or reddish-brown, with a slight metallic lustre ; antennae rather short, brownish, or brownish-yellow, with the base yellow ; legs entirely yellow ; forehead with two fine longitudinal lines on each side ; prothorax sub-quadrate, slightly narrowed behind, strongly depressed at base, with posterior angles acute ; elytra rather convex, with the sutural and three following strise strong, finely but distinctly punctured, reaching almost to base, evanescent before apex ; a fifth stria is obscurely indicated, and the eighth is deep from base to apex. From T. quadrisignatus this species is distinguished by its unicolorous elytra, and from T. histriatus by its more convex form, and the very different sculpture of the elytra, as well as by the posterior angles of the prothorax, which are blunt in T. histriatus, but acute in T. parvulus ; the antennae of the latter species are shorter and stouter, and have the last joint rather stout, rounded at apex, and unicolorous, whereas in T. histriatus the last joint is rather elongate and acuminate, and its apical half is of a much lighter colour. The specimen now recorded was taken by Mr. J. H. Smedley, of Everton, Liverpool, who has asked me to describe it ; he sends me the following account of its capture : "I went to the Wallasey Sandhills last September for Parnassia palus- D 2 4-1 tJ^^y' tris ; I brought three or four large roots home, and when 1 opened the paper, I found the msect in question among the wet roots." This is the third rare or unique species of TacJiys that has been found in the North of England ; there is no doubt that these small coast Cardbidce are very liable to be introduced with ballast, and that they may occasionally establish themselves in small colonies, but there is no evidence to show that this is so in the case before us. T. parvulus is recorded from Grermany, Spain, South France, Piedmont, Swit- zerland, and Syria, so that it is an insect that we should hardly expect to meet with so far north. — W. W. Fowlee, Lincoln : June 10th, 1885. Note on Syncliita juglandis and S. mediolanensis. — On the 9th inst., the Rev. H. S. Grorham and myself met with a colony of a species of Synchita in an old blown-down beech near Lyndhurst ; the insect was found in larval, pupal and imago states, and the specimens varied extremely in size. On attempting to determine the species, I found some difficulty in deciding to which of the two species in our British Catalogue our examples should be referred. S. juglandis has been long recognised as an inhabitant of our country, though of extreme rarity in col- lections ; and in the Entomologist's Annual for 1868, p. 65, Mr. Rye introduced with considerable hesitation a second species {S. mediolanensis) to our list, from examples found by Charles Turner in the New Forest. The series of specimens found by Mr. Grorham and myself show much variation in size and colour ; the paler examples agreeing well with the supposed S. mediolanensis in my collection, and fully matured ones with S. juglandis. Neither Mr. Grorham nor myself entertains any doubt, however, as to all being the same species, so that I feel pretty certain we at present possess in Britain only one species of Synchita, viz., S. juglandis, nuct. Since the time when Mr. Rye's note above referred to was written, an important memoir on the European Colydidce has been given us by Reitter, and this enables us, I think, to decide with certainty that our British species really is the old S. juglandis. Reitter gives three European species of the genus, viz., S. juglandis, S. separanda, Reitt., and 8. mediolanensis. Of 8. separanda I possess specimens from South- Western Europe, and think it probably not distinct from 8. juglandis. 8. mediolanensis I have not seen ; but it is clear our supposed examples of that species are not it. I may here mention that Reitter calls this genus Ditoma, not Synchita, our genus Bitoma, or Ditoma as purists prefer to call it, taking with him the name of Synchitodes, Crotch, the name Synchita being dropped altogether. This course causes extreme confusion, and, so far as I can see, does not even pretend to be of any advantage, so I think should be abandoned. — D. Sharp, Southampton : May 2\st, 1885. Hydradephaga in salt tvater. — Mr. Donovan's note (cf. ante p. 13) reminds me that some months ago I kept several species of Hydradephaga and Palpicornia in a vessel of sea water, in order to ascertain whether they would be in any way affected. As I had anticipated, they lived in perfect health for some little time, and died at last only owing to the unnoticed decease of one of the large Mollusca which was inhabiting the same vessel, and whose dead body tainted the water to such a degree as to kill all the other inmates. The species experimented upon were Haliplus rujico'.lis, Hydroporus planus, Agahus bip ustulatus, nnd Helophorus aquaticus. The 1885.] 45 three latter seemed perfectly at their case throughout ; the former, however, evi- dently found great difficulty in diving, owing to the buoyancy of the water, and remained almost entirely at the surface. Whether these insects would be found at large in salt water is another matter. I have taken numbers of Helophori (four species) beneath seaweed upon the shore, and it is possible that these may have inhabited, at any rate for a time, the perma- nent pools which lie just below high water mark. On the other hand, however, I have never been able to capture water-beetles in ditches directly connected with the sea, although I have frequently endeavoured to do so, and have generally found that water sufficiently saline to support seaweed is consistently avoided by insects. The question of food has probably much to do with this fact, for as very few of the aquatic insects take the water into their systems for purposes of respiration, the presence of certain salts in the surrounding fluid can scarcely exercise any particular influence upon them. But it may very well be that these insects, finding their food in fresh water only, avoid salt water for that very reason, and that those which may be occasionally found in saline pools, or even in the sea itself, have found their way into so unusual a habitation owing to " circumstances over which they had no control." — Theodoee Wood, Freeman Lodge, St. Peter's, Kent : June 4th, 1885. Coleojytera found in salt wafer. — Mr. C. Donovan's note in the June number of this Magazine (p. 13), relative to the capture of Dytiscus marginalis in the sea, recalls to my mind the circumstances under which I took the only Cyhister Roeselii I have ever seen alive. About an hour before sunset one very warm evening in August, 1876, while I was waiting for the ship's boat on the pier at Besika Bay, I saw a large beetle on the wing, which at first sight I thought was one of the larger £uprestidcB. To my surprise, it deliberately flew into the sea, close enough to the pier to be caught by hand, and proved to be a es and ciliar is hj the wings being yellowish, and the tibise and tarsi pale yellow, while he characterises the two species I have named by the terms "Alee hyalinae," but neither the colour of the legs, nor of the wings, can be relied upon as marks of distinction between ustidata a^ndfiiscipes. With the darker specimens of iistulata the best marks of distinction are that fuscipes has the 3rd cubital cellule a little longer than the 2nd, while in ustidata it is shorter ; and in fuscipes the 6th joint of the maxillary palpus is double the length of the 4th ; in ustidata not more than lialf the length. Ateata is a species easily recognised by the fascia in the radial cellule, by the wide blotch, and by the transverse marks on the dorsum of abdomen. j SCHIZOCERA, Latr. j Thomson splits up ScUzocera of the older authors into two : Schizocera having, according to him, the lanceolate cellule petiolate, and the antennge inserted over the clypeus ; and Cyphona with the antenna well up above the clpyeus, and the lanceolate cellule con- tracted. In some species of Schizocera {sensu st.) the lanceolate cellule is certainly contracted, and, I believe, this is the case with most of tbem, but the basal part of the nervure is very short and not always easy to see. The form of the cellule, therefore, cannot serve to separate generically the two divisions ; while I find so many grada- tions in the mode of insertion of the antennae that I am unable to look upon tbis as a generic character. Further, the same species formed the type of Schizocera and Ci/phona, so that the latter name is scarcely admissible. If, then, S. geminata is to be separated from Schizocera, the name of Sericocera, Brulle, should be used, as it does not seem to differ from Cyphona, Thoms., except in having the antenucT longer, and with longer and more silky pubescence. Our two British species of this group belong to Cyphona. 1 (2) Body entirely black, legs black, tibiae and tarsi white geminata, L. 2 (1) Abdomen and thorax in part luteous; femora in part, or wholly, and tibisB , . ,1 .. /tirca^a, Till- and tarsi, yellow (\^1. ii, pl. 5, fig. 9.) {To he contained.) 86 [September, NOTES ON COL^OFTERA AT BEANDON, SUFFOLK. BY J. J. WALKER, R.N., F.E.S. As the Coleoptera of Brandon do not appear to have received as mueli attention as the Lepidoptera , which have made this famous locality a "household word" among collectors, a few notes on some species which have lately fallen to my lot there, may induce other entomologists to further investigate the beetle-fauna of the district, which is certainly one of the most promising I have ever seen. My visit was on July 9th and 10th, and the weather being in every respect favourable, Coleoptera were very abundant ; and, except for the almost tropical heat of the sun's rays, reflected from the light sandy soil, and the swarms of most pertinacious flies which followed one everywhere, collecting was very pleasant and remunerative. Mr. C. Gr. Barrett's interesting notes on coast Lepidoptera occurring here (Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. vii, pp. 197 — 200) may, perhaps, be supplemented by the mention of some familiar sea-side beetles, such as Broscus, Crypticus, Cteniopus, Sitones griseus, CneorJiinus geminatus, &c., which turned up in more or less abundance, with others to be presently mentioned. Indeed, from the general aspect of the localit}", as well as of the plants and insects, it was not difficult to imagine oneself ati Deal or some other favoured spot on the coast, instead of being some forty miles inland. Among many others taken, the following species seem most note- worthy: — Ha^yaJus discoideus: this rare species was, oddly enough, the only one of its genus observed, and it occurred sparingly by grubbing at roots of various plants, in company with swarms ofi Amara fidva ; Amara consularis and Calathus fuscus, with the preceding ; Olihrus miUefolii, in profusion, on Achillea millefolium ; ; Malthinus frontalis, by sweeping ; Malachius rufcollis, locally abund-- ant on short grass just outside the town ; Dryophilus pusilluSj swept up commonly under fir trees ; Cass Ida sa^iguinolenta, by sweeping ; Cteniopus sulphureus, abundant on all sorts of flowers ; Apion ruhens, in plenty by sweeping ; Hypera fasciculata, one only (afterwards lost), under Erodium, as usual; Oymnetron noctis, swarming in flowers of Linaria vulgaris, along with Bracliypterus gravidus ; on the roots of the same plant I found many round whitish galls, probably those produced by the larva of 0. linarice, but all, without exception, w^ere too immature to do anything with ; Ceutlio- rhynchus setosus, by sw^eeping ; C. asperifoliarum, a few specimens on Cynoglossum officinale, but I could find none on the much more 1885. J gy abundant Ecliium vuJgare and Lycopsis arvensis, on whicb. plants I have always hitherto taken it ; C. vicinus, sparingly, by sweeping Achillea miUefolium ; Bnris ahrotani (picicornis), common at roots of Meseda lutea, growing in clean loose sand, the specimens mostly very large and brightly coloured. By promiscuous sweeping on the banks of the Little Ouse, Haliplus Jliiviatilis, Pcederus riparius, Phalacrus caricis, Cercus pedi- cularius (common on Spiraea), and Silis ruficoUis, were the best things obtained. The Lepidopfera were a complete failure, the only one of the Brandon specialities which I saw being a miserably worn Litliostege griseata, and even the commonest species were very poorly represented. The sole exception was CaUimorpha jacolcece, the larvae of which were in the utmost profusion, having nearly everywhere eaten their food- plant, the ragwort, down to the bare stalks. Among the Semiptera I may mention Fseudophlceus Falleni, which occurred sparingly, along with Nysius thymi, at the roots of Erodium. H.M.S. " Cherub," Portland : August Qth, 1885. Ahdera 4:-fasciata, and other CoJeoptera in Kent. — Two or three excursions, in the early part of July, to Cobham Park, one of my favourite old hunting-grounds in the Chatham district, were, as regards Coleoptera, fairly successful, although insects of all orders were by no means as abundant as in past years. The best capture was perhaps Ahdera 4^-fasciata, of which species Mr. Gr. C. Champion and I were fortunate enough to stumble on a small colony, in a large, partly decayed hornbeam tree. It occurred chiefly under the dry, loose bark, and in some very dry fungoid growth on the rotten wood, in company with Cis festivus ; but a few were taken, running very actively on the tree-trunk. Altogether, we bottled about 30 specimens, varying greatly in size, like most wood-feeders : it is one of the most fragile insects with which I am acquainted. Cryptopliagus rujicornis occurred very sparingly under the loose bark of some large ash logs, as before in company with Dqjhyllus lunatus : these logs also produced Euplectus hicolor, Bythiniis Curtisii, Cerylon ferrugineum (common), Paromalus flavicornis, Abrceus glolosus, Lathridius testaceus (a few), JTglesinus crenatns, &c. Cryptarcha strigata and imperialis turned up at the exuding sap of a Cossus- infected oak, and the showy and active Oxyporus rufus in toadstools : and by sweeping, the best things obtained were Homalota hepatica (1), Anisotoma parvula, Cyrtusa pauxilla, Hydnohius strigosus, Tillus elongatus, Liosomus oUongulus (2), and a few Ceuthorhynchideus versicolor —5. J. Walker, H.M.S. "Cherub," Portland : August 6th, 1885. S8 [September, Ceuthorhynchus resedce, Sfc, at Cromer. — This somewhat scarce weevil (for which I had vainly searched every plant of Reseda luteola I met with for many years past), turned up in great profusion at Cromer, at the end of June, on the "Weld," growing abundantly in some fields on the cliffs. In the same locality I met with Olihrus pygmceus, Otiorhynclius raucus, Bai^is ahrotani, and Hylesinus oleiperda, among others, and Bledlus suhterraneus was found in great numbers burrowing in the perpendicular sides of a sand-pit. I shall be glad to give a few unset C. resedce to any Coleopterist in want of the species. — Id. Coleoptera at Tonhridge. — In the winter months, from December to the be- ginning of April, 1885, 1 occasionally collected within two or three miles of Tonhridge. By sifting dead leaves, Metabletus truncatellus and Hahrocerus capillaricornis. In moss, Bemhidium Mannerheimi. In nests of water-rat, Oxypoda vittata and Somalota triangulum ; of grass mice, Ocaleabadia Sind Oxypoda nigrina. In grass tufts, Metabletus ohscuroguttatus, Bradycelliis harpalinus, Conurus immaciilatus, Plinthus caliginosus (1), Tropiphorus carinatus (1). In swampy places in grass tufts or reeds, Lehia chlorocephala, Anchomenus gracilis, Oxypoda lentula (5), Calodera riparia (1), C. oethiops, Somalota ignobilis (1), H. exilis (1), Stilicus orbiculatus. In flood refuse, Anchomenus livens, Callicerns obscurus, Homalota languida S (4), a. pavens, H. luteipes, H. debilis, H. aquatica, S. pygmaa, H. clientida, Achenium humile. Sweeping at the end of April procured for me Coryphium atigusticolle (1), Somalota atricolor, Epurcea melina (1), and Adimonia suturalis on heather. Sweeping and beating from the end of May to middle of July, I got, within a radius of five miles of Tonbridge ; SomcBusa acuminata (1), Oxypoda exoleta (1), O. nigrina (several), Somalota splendens{l), a wonderfully long wiry creature, S. indubia, S. intermedia, Colon Zebei S (2), C. brunneum, nnd two other species of Colon besides, which I cannot make ont,Thalycra sericea (4),Ips 4:-punctata (1 flying), Antherophagus pallens (1 dark specimen), Throscus carinifrons, several in flower blossom, as well as odd ones by sweeping, and one in a faggot. The late Mr. Wollaston found a single specimen crawling on a fence in Tonbridge town. Imagine, therefore, my joy at having found it agaiii. One day I bottled about forty dermestoides , but, alas, only one carinifrons w^as amongst them. Corymbites ' hipustulatus (1 with nearly red elytra) from a fir tree, Limonius minutus (1), Dolopius marginatus, Coenocara bovistcB (I), Sitones cambricus, Balaninus tessellatus, B^'uchus loti (in plenty), Lamprosoma concolor, Lema cyanella, and Strangalia nigra turned up in my net. I found Ips ferrugineus in a house, and a Deleaster dichrous flew to light at dark. In marshy places I found Oodes helopioides, Anchomenus gracilis, Ocyusa picina, Somalota pilosiventris (1), Philonthus micans. In carrion Microglossa pulla and Aleochara lygcBa (1). In dung Somalota Icevana (1) and S. cinnamoptera. Under bark of elm log, Calodera umbrosa (1). Last year I found several in excrement. Oak log produced Scolytus intricatus. Sap of oak stumps •^voduced Microglossa pulla (1), Seterothops i-punctula (1), Somalium planum, Somalota villosula (2), and S. pilosiventris (1) of which I found several in excrement last year. \885. 1 8^ In faggots, Epurcea parvula in plenty, Anthribus albinus (1), and Flinthus caliginosus (1). In or on decaying trunks of horse-chestnut, Melasis bupresfoides (24), Cis pygmceus, Abdera 4.-fasciata, feeding on fungoid growth, llomaiium fygmcBum (1) ; of ehB, Asclera ccarulea ; of oak, Conopalpus testacens ; of willow, Melandrya caraboides, Tillns elongaius, Xyletinus ater (1). A Cossus-infected oak yielded Placusa pumilio and Epura^a diffusa (2).-A. C. Horner, Tonbridge : July, 1885. Coleoptera on Snoivdon.-On August 2nd and 3rd, I spent a short but very pleasant holiday at Llanberis along with Dr. J. W. Ellis, and made two ascents of Snowdon, from Llanberis and Pen-y-pas. Coleoptera were not nearly so plentiful as when Dr. Ellis was there in May, but we succeeded in taking Carabus arvensis, C. catenulatus, Nebria Gyllenhali, Fatrobus assimilis, Pterostichus vitreus, P. athiops, Calathus micropterus, Bradycellus placidus, Aphodius lapponum, &c. We made a long and careful search for the beautiful Chrysomela cerealis, but only succeeded m takinc two, which fell to my lot. Although August is rather too late to look for this species, I do not think it is ever really abundant, otherwise we should have found traces of it in the webs of the immense spiders which occur under almost every large stone Elytra of P. cBthiops, N. Gyllenhali, and many other species were in plenty. Thymus serpyllum, which is said to be the food-plant of C. cerealis, was almost as scarce as the beetle.-E. Wilding, 40, Downing Street, Liverpool : August, 188d. Coleoptera in Thanet.-Yvom the 7th to 15th of July, I was staying at St. Peter's with my friend Mr. Wood, and through his guidance to various localities, I was able . to obtJinsome good series of local insects, among others the following: Tychrus lineatulus at Kmgsgate ; at Pegwell Bay, Donacia nigra in abundance^e^.jc.r«. arenarius, obsoletus,fusculus, Coccidula soutellata, Olibrus oblongus ; atJ)e.l,Melano- tnspunctolineatus, Aphodius sus and nitidus, Donacia thalassina, and a single Odontos- ceUsfuliginosus, .t Birohi.,ton, 3Ialachius viridis, Antherophagus pallens, Ap^on maU. ..Alivesceru,n,Amara conve.iuscula, PsylUodes affinis, Oymnetron noct^. 1 shall be glad to supply Coleopterists with Donac^a nigra or ^f ^^-^;;;*--^- I Bedeord Pim, Leaside, Kingswood Road, Upper Norwood, S.E. : August llth, 188o. Stenolophr. Slcrimshiranus at Lemsha.n.-ln July I found three specimens of Stenolophus Skrimshiranus at Lewisham in a bundle of half-dned grass which I had thrown into a small pond. This insect used to occur commonly m Hammersmith Marshes, but has not, apparently, been found in any numbers for a long time. A. Beaumont, 30, Ladywell Park, Lewisham : August Stk, 188o. Chcsrocampa nerii at Eartlepool.-Yesteraaj morning I had the great pleasure of capturing a specimen of Ch.roca.pa nerii here, it was at rest on tl- -1-^^^ rounding the timber-yard of my firm. The specimen is m f---^^^^;^^^^^^^^^^ evidently hibernated, the colours being somewhat faded, it seems very at.an e to see this species so far North.-J. Qarbnek, 8, Eriar Terrace, Hartlepool : July 2^, 1885. H 90 [September, Tinea picarella hred. — I have been fortunate in breeding lialf-a-dozen specimens of this insect from fungi this summer. — Id. Prolongation of Life in the Pupce of Lyccena lolas. — In June, 1883, a corres- pondent sent me a number of larvae of Lyccena Tolas from Budapest, where this insect is very abundant ; these pupated during the month of July in the same year, and the majority came out in July, 1884, though of course some few of the pupae died. Last winter, when clearing out my cage, I noticed one or two of the pupae looking plump and healthy, so I kept them, but did not give them another thought until July 23rd last, when I saw a nice specimen resting on the glass of the cage, this, on examination, turned out to be a S of the form usually taken in North Africa, -/. e., with the ocelli on the under-side of the wings greatly reduced and obscured ; then, to my surprise, about four days later another appeared, this, however, was a nice ? of the ordinary type. If we had had a cold summer these pupae would, probably, have died, but that they should have lived through two winters is very interesting, and points to a possi- ble cause of the abundance of some butterflies in certain seasons. — G-. T. Baker, Augustus Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham : August 8th, 1885. What is the true Chrysophanus Hippothoe of Linneus ?— In No. 255, p. 64, of this Magazine, Mr. Butler considers that the Linnean species should be Ch. dispar, Haw. {rutilans, Wernbg.). In my" Lepidoptera Scandinaviae, Ehopalocera " (1853), I have already said, " P. Hippothoe auct., non in Siiecia, est repertus, quare synony- miam Linnei citatam, F. S., No. 1046, ad banc speciem — P. Chryseis, W. V. — pertinere credo. Descriptio a illustr. viro, I. c, datanullam differentiam praebet : — Statura P. virgaurecB ut in descriptione Linnei dicitur cum P. Chryseis etiam magis cum P. Hippothoe congruit." When I wrote these words, the Scandinavian peninsula had been by no means so fully explored as it now is, and at that time I thought it not impossible that Ch. dispar might be found. I then did not give Ch. Chryseis its Linnean name. During the twenty-two years that have since elapsed, our country has been thoroughly searched, and in no place has Ch. dispar been found. It is, therefore, impossible that such a butterfly can have escaped the observation of the numerous collectors who have since investigated the peninsula. The species that Linneus described in his " Fauna Suecica," should be one that occurs in Sweden : — " Habitat apud nos rarissime " are the words of Linneus. No species other than Ch. chryseis has been found in Sweden to which the Linnean description is applicable. Messrs. Staudinger and Kirby are thus right in giving to Ch. Chryseis the name Hippothoe of Linneus. Ch. dispar does not occur in Denmark, nor in Finland, but Ch. Chryseis is found in both. In Sweden and Norway Ch. CAr^^eis is nowhere common, but occurs here and there in the southern and middle provinces, and I am sure it is the P. Hippothoe of Linneus. Dalman, in his " Uppstallning af Sveriges Fjarilar" (1816), also says, concerning P. Hippothoe ( = dispar) : — " anne unquam in Suecia inventa haec species ?, mihi numquam obvia, quare fere crediderim synon. Linnei forte ad sequen- tem (= Chryseis) pertinere." — H. D. J. Wallengren, Farhult, near Mjohult, Sweden : August 1th, 1885. l88o.] (^^ The home of Cidaria reticulata. — I have often been asked to give the life- historj of this beautiful insect; by this tinie I ought to know something of it, after thirty years continuous attention. I first met with it in 1856, on the borders of Windermere Lake in Lancashire, then the late T. H. Allis and I met with some five or six specimens ; at the time we both thought it to be a second brood of C. silaceata ; but the year following, T. H. Allis was visiting H. Doubleday at Epping, and as they were looking over the European collection of the latter, he, pointing to reticulata, said, " Thomas, thou oughtest to get this in thy north journey ;" Allis at once said, " I have taken it, both Hodgkinson and I took it last year." H. Double- j day was rather sceptical until specimens were sent to him to enable him to verify the species. In the meantime I had sold mine for one shilling each as silaceata ; year after year we looked for more, but to no purpose ; we had left some pieces of paper on bushes to show which way either of us had gone through the woods, and Allis told Butler, of Kendal, to go and look where the papers were left ; he went, I and took five in one day, some two miles apart ; there have never been as many taken since. I once got three, and during thirty years I have only captured nine specimens. The insect is, like C. silaceata, of a retiring disposition. After tliat, the Eev. J. Hellins, of Exeter, wrote me, saying, that the supposed food-plant was the English balsam, Impatiens noli-me-tangere. I had never seen the plant ; I told Gregson, and he told me where he had seen the plant, but I could not find the place, it was so overgi'own with bushes, &c., until 1877 or 1878, when I got into a fix in a swamp, and was carefully looking where to step next, when I saw a strange plant, I hastily picked it up, got on to a dry place, and was sure it was the long sought-for Impatiens; a few days after I went with working boots on, I looked carefully at all the plants, but saw only the leaves of one plant eaten, I found the larva, sent it on to Mr. Buckler, he pronounced it to be Hadena rectilinea, about one-tliird grown ; he asked me if any bilberry was near : there was some a hundred yards off ; no doubt it was a stray egg laid on the balsam. I went again in September, took a few plants home with me, got my glass and spent several hours in trying to see if I could find any eggs ; I found some, they duly hatched ; the larva, wlieu young, being transparent, looked like a faint white streak; I paid great attention to them, gave them leaves, flowers, and seeds; the latter is the favourite pabulum ; the great difficulty is to keep the plant, it shrivels and dries up if injured in the least, or if air gets to it becomes mouldy directly ; I found the best way to keep it fresh was in a tin canister with blotting paper. I got a fair number of the larvee in 1878, but the mortality was great. The Eev. a. Smart, of Lytham, called one day, and I brought him ten dead larvae in my hand. I suppose the want of the bracing air made them succumb. 1 sent two larva? to Mr. Buckler, from which he bred one imago. The place got destroyed, I have been several times since, but not found one larva ; the plant still exists, but I have not found any larva since 1878. During October, 1883, I went to a place where I had seen the plant some years ago, and I found two larvae only, one each on the 30tli and 31st October ; one emerged in Julj, 1884. Had I not known the exact spot for the little clump of the plant, my long journey at this time of the year would have been fruitless. Last year I re-risited the same place, but six weeks too early ; the larv^ were young; I got fresh supplies of food, and kept thorn singly, they did not seem 92 [September, to thrive, till at last I put plenty of the plant in a large box, without any covering, before the greenhouse window, open night and day, I never disturbed them, and did not know whether I should breed any or not ; however, seven gorgeous specimens have emerged. On the 21th of July, I was on a pleasure excursion, and having four hours to spare, I took a splendid large specimen quite unexpectedly, in fact I could not realize what I had in my net, it was such a great surprise. I paid other visits, but to no purpose. One extraordinai-y thing about the larvae of reticulata is that I never had any ichneumons come from them ; last year I sent J. E. Fletcher two ichneumons with very long antennae that I found among the plant. My own series being already full (16), I shall have some fur my friends. — J. B. Hodgkinson, 6, Fishergate Hill, Preston : Atigust I2tk, 1885. Ochsenheimerla vaccidella. — How does the larva live 1 — Lately, I had sent to me for determination by Dr. W. H. Lowe some specimens of this insect, with the following note on them : — "Last year, whilst walking in Richmond Park, T came across a rotten crab-tree, and by breaking up the wood, I found betAveen the lamina a lazy grey moth ; it would not fly, but would only creep from one crevice to anothei*. To-day (July 17th, 1885), in company with Robert Logan, I visited the rotten crab-tree, and found the same species of moth in good condition, but, as before, unwilling to leave its domicile." Mr. Logan being here about three weeks afterwards, I asked him to send me a note, embodying his own observations as to this insect. They are as follows : — On the 17th July, I saw Dr. Lowe take several fine specimens of Ochsenheimerla vaccidella from under the bark of an old crab-tree in Richmond Park. They did not seem to be anxious to get away, but sidled into the corners of the box, so that several could be put in at once. There was no long vegetation of any kind near, nothing but the shortest of turf ; and the presumption seems to be, that the larvae had fed in the decayed wood, like those of CEcophora sulphurella. — R. F. Logan : August I2th, 1885. I also asked Mr. Beaumont, who had lately taken the insect for a note of his capture : On the third of Augrst, when searching for beetles, I found two Ochsenheimeria vacculella under the baric of a large willow at Lewisham. — Alfred Beaumont, 30, Lady well Park, Lewisham : August 6th, 1885. I may add, that since the above note was written, Mr. Beaumont has handed me several other specimens from under the bark of the willow tree. I have collated the following published notices of this insect : — During the past season I took three specimens of this scarce species. The first beneath the bark of a willow tree, the last on the trunk of an oak tree, at Leather- head.— J. Scott : January 9th, IStU. Intelligencer IX, p. 123, 1861. Sometimes found early in July on windows in houses. The suspicion formerly entertained that it fed on rotten wood, seems, now that the larval habits of O. taurella are known, improbable.— A. Rosslek. Schmett. v. Nassau, p. 214, No. 1286, 1866. 1885. 93 Sometimes early in July on windows in houses. Probably the larva or pupa has been brought in with hay. — A. Eossler. Schmett. v. Wiesbaden, p. 222, No. 1150, 1881. Kare ; observed at Louvain and at Brussels in houses. The larva feeds in rotten wood.— C. De Fre. Ann. Ent. Soc. Belgo, II, p. 114, 1858. I found this abundantly the first half of July, 1870, on the trunks of plum trees, between corn fields, close to the town of Altenburg. — Krause. Stett. Ent. Zeit, p. 296, 1871. Of late years not met with. In August, 1865, the moths were bo plentiful at the Hydropathic establishment at Frauendorf, near Stettin, that the white-washed walls of the buildings were covered with them. Numbers of them might be seen swimming in the pieces of water. — F. O. Buttner. Stett. Ent. Zeit., p. 428, 1880. P. C. T. Snellen in " De Ylinders van Nederland " — Micro- Lepidoptera, pp. 502-4, refers the rye-feediiig larva, which had hitherto been supposed to belong to O. taurelJa to 0. vacculella. The rye-feeder had been bred by Dr. Grallus (Stettin. Ent. Zeit, p. 352, 1865), and by Dr. J. Wtlewaall (Tijdschr. v. Entora., X, p. 23, 1867), but neither author seems to have given any definition of the perfect insect which they bred ; we have only the authority of the two writers, Dr. G-allus saying he bred taureUa, and Dr. Wttewaall pronouncing his insect ureJla ? Had they only described the moths that they hred, others would have had an opportunity of satisfying themselves of the correctness of their determinations. Now, ray friend Heer P. C. T. Snellen upsets all one's previous notions, by saying of O. taureUa, "the larva is, I believe, still unknown, for that which lives in the stems of rye is that of O. vacculella ; " and of 0. vacculella he says, " it lives as larva in the stems of rye, and its mode of life has been very fully described by Grallus and Wttewaall." I must say, that to me, the balance of probability still appears to be that the species, with perfectly simple antennee, O. vacculella, is in the larva state a rotten- wood-feeder.— H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : August 18th, 1885. Assembling of Butalis senescens.—On the 10th inst., happening to notice on the downs here several males of Butalis senescens buzzing round a female which was sitting on a grass stem, I tied up the fair lady in the end of my net which I then laid down upon the ground ; very soon the males began to appear coming up by short flights from stem to stem, and in about half-an-hour I had captured 30 males by simply boxing them as they sat on the net. So far as I could judge they seemed to come about equally from all directions, and not only up against the wind. I am not aware that this mode of attraction has been successfully tried before with any of the genus Butalis.— ^tjstaci: R. Bankes, The Rectory, Corfe Castle : Juli/ 20th, 1885. Cordulia arctica, Zett., in the Schioarzwald {Baden).— The following note adds to our knowledge of the distribution of this arctic and alpine dragon-fly. During a short visit (of which I hope to give a more detailed account hereafter) to the Schwarzwald in the latter part of July and beginning of August, I captured two examples ( ^ ? ) of C. arctica ; one on a peat moss behind the " Wasserfall " Inn 94; [Scpteiuber, above Triberg, the other on the Feldberg (about 4500 ft.) ; more were seen. Its congener, C. metallica, was in extreme abundance at every pond and small lake. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : August 16th, 1885. A great swarm of llydropsyche instah'dis, Curt., in Inverness-shire. — On the evening of July 27th, when driving down Glen Tromie, I passed through a cloud of llydropsyche instahilis, which extended for upwards of five miles. With one sweep of my big net 50 or 60 might be taken, which will give you some idea of the density of the cloud ; I never saw anything to equal it before. I drove down the same glen on the 31st, but did not then see a single specimen. — J. J. King, Tillage of Insh, by Kingussie : August ^rd, 1885. Dead Humhle-hees under Lime trees. — Dead Humble-bees, more or less mutilated, have often been observed iu large numbers under lime trees, and various suggestions have been offered to account for their presence in such a position. Some observations which I was able to make the other day suggest the probable reason for the death and evisceration of such bees, and, therefore, may be worth recording. While walking on Hayes Common, Kent, on the 3rd of this month, I noticed, under a large spreading lime tree, in full flower, that the ground was strewn with bodies of Humble-bees of several species ; I and one of my children picked up a number of them, and found several still moving their legs, and evidently only quite recently mutilated ; nearly every specimen appearing to have been killed in the same manner, having a large hole in the upper surface of the thorax, and another at the apex of the abdomen, the apical segments being removed ; thinking that it would be a good opportunity to try and find out who or what was the cause of their death, I sat down close to the tree and watched. The tree was covered with bloom, and Hive-bees and Humble-bees abounded, but I could not see any wasps, so I at once abandoned the idea that they were the culprits, as some have thought probable ; everything seemed peaceable, and for some time I could see no possible enemy to suspect. At last, I saw among the higher branches a bird, and from the exact spot where it was fidget- ting about, down dropped a carcase of a bee : I at once picked it up, and found the legs still twitching convulsively ; although I did not actually see the bird drop the bee, I think there can be little doubt that it did. I went back again, and sat down to try and discover what bird it was, and after a little time a bird, which was in all probability the same, although I had lost sight of it while examining the bee, came out into a less leafy part of the tree, and I was able to identify it as a great Tom-tit ; and although I have no positive evidence whereby to convict Pariis major, I think the probabilities of his being the culprit are so sti'ong, that it is hardly necessary to seek further for the murderer of these humble innocents. — Edward Saunders, St. Ann's, Mason's Hill, Bromley : August 6th, 1885. Entomological Society of London, 1*^ July, 1885 : E. McLachlan, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. Messrs. Thomas Edmunds, of Totiies, and F. M. Campbell, F.L.S., of Eose Hill, Hoddesdon, were elected Members. Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a species of Coccidce that was causing damage to an India-rubber plant, by spotting the loaves. 95 18S5.1 Mr. Slater read some notes on the effect of magnetism upon insects, and de- tailed the process he adopted for his experiments. Mr C O Waterhouse said that a new collection of British insects for public exhibition was being formed at the Natural History Museum at South Kensington. For some of the more popular Orders there was no difficulty in procurmg materials, but for others, such as Diptera, Symenoptera, &c., this was not so easy and he solicited donations of specimens, so as to enable the collection to be made the more complete and representative. August UK 1885.-J. JB^•NEB \Ve,e, E.q., F.L.S., Vice-P.-e,ident, in the Chair. Mr T \V Hall, of 3, Sew Inn, Strand, was elected a Fellow. Mr Dunning announced that Her Majesty in Council had been pleased to grant a Eo,al Charter of Incorporation to the Society, which Charter was read by he Secretary. Cordial vote, of thanks were unanimously passed to Messrs. Dunn ng and F. Crisp for the.r gratuitot.s services in connection with the -.".>, on of H. Charter fXhe Editors of this Magazine consider this ausp.cous event a ubj t for congralulation to Brit.sh Entomologists ^-erally, and hope it w. ma^-.a y tend to further the interests and usefulness of the Soc.ety, wh.eh now for the flrst tin,e in the course of the 52 years it has existed, acqu.res a legal standpom .] Mr BiUups exhibited an example of Inoste,,«na Bo.cu, Junne, a cunou» 1. le Proc rypid,rspeciallyremarUahleforhavi„gahornproiectingfromthebaseoft abdomen over the thorax and head. He also exhibited the egg-case of a Mant d on : toZco-leaf ; and four species of Cr^is im.ntaia, i,nHaJ«,,^i«, and ..gUcU^ from the burrows of Odynerus spinipes. . , _ .^ Dr Capron exhibited Fkyiodietns ruflpU-tus, a species of I.,„e.«..n.l. new to ^*tr Winston (present as a visitor) exhibited a variety of A.ctia eaja. Mr Horner exh.b.ted several rare species of British Coleoptera. n,chuh g -Z:tll^:::^::^::' O..... ...... mustratlng t. manner in nrDl::n::r:r:3i::rF.of. H. M.,ne.Kdwards, one of the Honorary Me,nbers of the Society^ __ ^^^^^^^^.^^ ^^ ^,.„. . ..;: r:""-- aassiecat^^^^ Of the .ustral.an P.-... and Pterophorida," by E. Meyrick. ^ ©bituarjr. ,.„r. 3«..«o.r.. was born, of English ^^^^^X^^^^" at Bruges, then under French rule, rom -^»- ' ; '^^"^ „, ;„ 1823. and 1814, where he studied medicine, attended -'";'°;\'^:;^ ■;,„„,,„, ,b,„doned for a short time practised as a physician m that citj. ^^ ^^^^ his profession, and devoted himself to the '^^'^y^-^^L^^ his friend of the lower forms of animal life. In the year 182«, » J^J ^^^^.,j^_ ^^ and fellow-labourer, Victor Audouin, then the assistant of Lamarc 96 .SepternLer, 1885. the Jardin des Plantes, he commenced an extensive investigation of the anatomy, physiology, and zoology of the invertebrated animals of the Northern and Western Coast of France ; the results of which were chiefly published in the " Annales des Sciences Naturelles," and were subsequently collected together in fascicules, in the first of which were introduced two Reports on the " Memoires presented to the Academic Royale des Sciences," one by Geoffroy St. Hilaire, and a second by Messrs. Gr. Cuvier and Dumeril. In 1827, the prize for experimental physiology was awarded to H. Milne- Edwards, by the French Academic des Sciences, where he succeeded F. Cuvier as a Member of the Academy in 1838, in the section of Anatomy and Zoology. In 1841, on the death of his friend Audouin, he was appointed Professor of Entomology at the Jardin des Plantes, where he took up his residence in the house then recently occupied by Cuvier ; and in 1862 he succeeded Isidore Greoffroy St. Hilaire as Professor of Zoology at the Jardin des Plantes, and in a year or two afterwards he was made Assistant Director of the Museum there. In 1834 — 1840 appeared a valuable general work by our author on the Crustacea, under the title, " Histoire Naturelle des Crustaces," forming three volumes 8vo, as part of the " Suites a Buffon." This still remains the best zoological text book on the class. In 1857 — 1860, the "Histoire Naturelle des Corallieres" appeared, being the result of a zoological excursion to the coast of Algeria ; and, subsequently, the " Recherches anatomiques et zoologiques faites pendant un voyage sur les Cotes de la Sicile," a fine quarto volume, with nearly 100 coloured plates. Besides these works, and a vast number of detached memoirs, of which the list in the Royal Society's summary extends to more than a hundred items, and which were published, for the most part, in the "Annales des Sciences Naturelles" (the chief zoological periodical in France, commenced in 1824, and which still maintains its rank in French scientific literature), Milne-Edwards prepared several elementary works, which had an enormous circulation ; his " Elements de Zoologie " appeared in 1834, and hi3"Cours elementaire de Zoologie," in 1851, these being the precursors of his opus magnum, " Le9ons sur la Physiologic et 1' Anatomic comparee de I'homme et des animaux," commenced in 1851, and only completed in fourteen volumes in 1881. On the 7th May, 1839, Professor H. Milne-Edwards, was elected one of the Foreign Members of the Linnean Society of London. In 1852 he was also elected one of the ten Honorary Members of the Entomological Society of London ; and in 1868 one of the few Honorary Members of the Entomological Society of France. In 1847, Milne-Edwards was made an Ofilcer of the Legion of Honour, and a Commander of this Order in 1861. In 1856, the "Copley" Medal of the Royal Society of London was awarded to him, on which occasion he came to London to receive it, when the President of that Society observed that " it would be difficult to name any existing naturalist who has prosecuted his researches with success over so very wide a range of investigation." He died on the 29th June last, leaving a daughter (married to a son of M. Dumas) and a son, Alphonse Milne-Edwards, who has, for some years past, been suc- cessfully engaged in the study of Crustacea, upon which he has published a number of excellent illustrated memoirs.— J. O. W., Oxford : August 8th, 1885. October, 1S85.] q,- THE METALLIC GREEN SPECIES OF THE GENUS COLEOPHOEA {METALLOSETIA OP STEPHENS, DAMOPHILA OF CURTIS). BY H. T. STAINTON, F.R.S. From time to time I am asked by correspondents questions as to some of these species ; I will, therefore, note a few details respecting them, treating of them m the following order: — 1, Frischella, li. ; 2, melilotella, Scott ; 3, deauratella, Z. ; 4, Fahriciella, Yill. ; and 5, alcyonipennella, Kollar. 1. Frischella, Lin.,Z., Sta., trifolii, Curtis, B. E., fo. 391.— This ia the largest and brightest of the group, but I imagine it is in very few collections. I believe there are specimens of the case in Mr. Bond's collection : " long, curved, and black, being formed of silk ; it most resembles the case of the larva of C. consjiicuella'" (Ent. Ann., 1861, p. 88). 2. melilotella, Scott, Trans. Ent. Soc, London, n. s., Y, p. 408, pi. 17, f. 1. — This is rather smaller than the preceding, and though a brilliant insect, is scarcely as glossy as Fi'iscliella, but I think it extremely probable that captured specimens of this insect may have been recorded as Frischella. The larva of melilotella feeds in the seeds of Meliloius officinalis, j and was first detected by Mr. John Scott in August, 1859, at Stockton- on-Tees. I received this larva from Mr. Scott on the 11th August, 1859, and nine days afterwards I received the same larva from Erankfort- on-the-Main, where it had been independently observed by my friend Herr Gr. Gr. Miihlig — this is a most curious instance of synchronous discovery. The larva feeds in the seeds of the Melilotus, using the husk of the emptied seed as a case ; at first only a single seed is used, then two are clumsily attached together, ultimately they are so blended as to form a symmetrical cylindrical case. The larvae require to be kept out of doors during the winter, as they do not assume the pupa state till the following season is well advanced — some even pass two winters in the larva state, thus sadly retarding the appearance of the imago. After the perfect insects had been bred towards the end of June, 1860, from the Stockton larvae, Mr. T. H. Allis visited the locality and succeeded in taking a fine series of the insect. Mr. Earn has since met with the insect at Charmouth, and has very kindly supplied me with specimens from that locality. 98 [October, 3. deauratella, Z., Sta., H.-S., Frey. — Much smaller than melilo- tella, and much less glossy ; the basal portion of the antennaD more thickened with scales, and the hinder portion of the abdomen of the female more acuminate, reminding one of a Nemotois scaliosellus, ? ; is this because she has to deposit her eggs in the seed-heads of clover ? IS'o precise information seems yet to have been published as to the mode of feeding of the larva of this species. Early in August, 1869, I received from Herr Anton Schmid, then at Frankfort, Coleo- phora larv?e in the heads of Trifolium arvense, which I believe should be referred to this species. Their cases w^ere cylindrical, rather short, with the mouth slightly turned downwards, and were of a reddish- ochreous colour. When in situ they are scarcely to be perceived by the keenest observer. 4. FahricieUa, Yillers ; spissicornis, Haw., St., C. ; Mayrella, Z. — A small, but pretty, species, well distinguished by the antennas, w^hich are thickly clothed with coppery scales to the middle, and then are sharply annulated black and white. At one time this insect used to fly in great numbers to my attracting light, and 20 or 30 specimens in various stages of scorched- mutilation might be found each morning on the carpet beneath the gas-burner. At that time I grew a little patch of purple-clover very near the house. Now, I have no such patch of purple-clover, and I never see my little friend FahricieUa — may we not here have an instance of cause and effect, and should not the cases of FahricieUa be sought in the seed-heads of purple-clover? Very possibly the dealers in clover-seed know more about the larva of this insect than all the entomologists in Europe put together ! 5. alcyonipenneUa, Kollar, Dup., Z., Dgl., Sta., H.-S., Frey.— The dullest of the group, with the nearly simple antenna? dark for two- thirds of their length, and then white. The simple blackish case is common enough on, or rather under, the leaves of Centaurea nigra in April and May, and the young larvsB may be noticed in September. It makes glassy blotches on the leaves, which readily catch the eye of the observant entomologist. From its feeding up in the spring, and producing the imago after so short an interval, it is very easily reared. Mountsfield, Lewisham : September 12ih, 1885. 1885. J 99 DESCEIPTION OF A NEW GELECHIA FROM OUR SALT-MARSHES : a. TETRAGONELLA. BY H. T. STAINTOK, F.R.S. Exp. al. 5 lines. Head, face, and palpi pale whitish-grey. Anterior-wings pale grey, more or less suffused with dark grey, sometimes entirely dark grey, with four black dots placed in a lozenge form thus : two on the fold, the first of which is not far from the base, and the second about the middle of the fold ; nearly vertically over this last, but slightly anterior to it, is the third dot situated on the sub-costal nervure ; the fourth dot is placed on the disc in the middle of the wing ; this last dot is frequently followed by a second on the disc, half-way between the last named and the hind-margin of the wing ; at the hind-margin itself are some small dark dots round the apex of the wing ; cilia grey. Posterior-wings grey, with the cilia rather darker. This insect differs from G. senectella in the total absence of any ochreous or brownish tiu^e, and is rather neater. Senectella, though it fre'quentlj shows one or two dark spots along the costa, scarcely ever shows us any dark marking on the sub-costal nervure. Taken by Mr. Sang amongst Artemisia maritima in salt-marshes near E-edcar, in the month of July. Mr. Sang has noticed that these insects sit with the wings closely appressed to the body, and the head well up. It varies very much in shade of colour, and in one specimen there was an indication of a pale hinder fascia, of which most specimens show no trace. Mr. Sang writes to me that :— " This species appears to be very sluggish, as I have not seen it on the wing. All I have taken have been by searching among the tufts of Artemisia maritima, v:\ik\i are very short and poor, where the insect only seems to occur— nearest to the sea in the estuary of the Tees. I hardly suspect that the larva will feed on that plant, as most likely the moths only frequent it for shelter. It is the only plant above the very short grass. The moth is sluggish in the net, even at dusk, and looks— when alive— exceedingly narrow at the head end, from the very narrow thorax, and from the wings being so closely appressed for two-thirds of their length. The wings have the appearance of being greasy along the dorsal margin when closed, owing to that part being without any lighter scales. This is the first occurrence of the insect since 1881, when I took three examples." Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : September Ibth, 1885. Cht appear, that there are deep crac s "-' ^7";'^ „ only account for the appearance of the beetles at such a depth ^7 *^^ ^ ' ° tJ they descended into these deep cracks in search ^^ l";^' ^^^^.^ f ^^1 , ^ there of their own accord, or got caught in some way.-W. F. JoH>»os, A g September \Uh, 1885. K. i 1Y^ [October, Experiments with Bruchus-infesied beans. — Having received, in the early part of the present year, a packet of seed beans, a large proportion of which were infested by JBruchus rtifimanns, I determined to sow a quantity of the damaged seed in order to ascertain the true extent of the mischief wrought by the beetles. I therefore selected twenty beans, three of which had each been perforated by three weevils, five by two, and twelve by one only, and sowed them under the most favourable conditions for their growth and general welfare. In about a fortnight the young plants appeared, seemingly in no way the worse for the injury received by the seed. The growth was strong and vigorous, and the condition of the plants all that could be desired. When the time for fruition came round, however, a great change took place. The blossoms were scanty and small, the foliage faded and withered, and in several cases the plants died off without producing a single pod. The first three plants, or those raised from seed pierced by three weevils, were naturally the least productive. One of these was altogether barren, while the re- maining two bore but three pods between them, none of which arrived at perfection. The next five, grown from seed tenanted by two beetles only, were slightly more fruitful, bearing in all six pods, of which five reached their full growth. Two of these five plants, however, were barren. Upon the remaining twelve, the seed of which had but one perforation, I counted twenty-three pods, not more than ten of which arrived at maturity. Only one plant of this latter group was entirely un- fruitful. It will thus be seen that the twenty plants bore among them but thirty- two pods in all, of which less than one-half came to perfection. The bean in question, I should mention, was not one of the most freely-bearing varieties, six pods being the average yield of each plant. The difference, however, between the pro- duce of the infested seed and of that, sown at the same time, which was free from the weevil, proved beyond question that the presence of the beetle is highly preju- dical, not to the germinating qualities of the seed, which appear to be uninjured, but to the reproductive capabilities of the adult plant. A striking feature in connection w4th the above experiment was that the plants raised from weevilled seed, with one single exception, altogether escaped the attacks of Aphis rumicis, from which scarcely anotlier plant in the garden was free. From this I infer that the sap of the weakened plants was of too deteriorated a character to satisfy the fastidious taetes of the" colliers." — Theodoee Wood, Freeman Lodge, St. Peter's, Kent : August 2.1st, 1885. Further note upon Adelops Wollasioni and Anommatus 12-striatus. — Since my previous note upon the subject (Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 256), I have met with these two insects in some abundance, by searching the decaying remains of seed potatoes when the plants were taken from the ground. Adelops was by far the more plenti- ful, as between July 15th and August 1st I took above one hundred specimens, while Anommatus was represented by sixteen examples only. Absence of sight seems but a very small deprivation to the former species, which runs with great swiftness, and eludes the various obstacles in its path with perfect ease. How it does so I could not ascertain, but, although I made repeated experiments on the subject, I never once saw it come into contact with the needles, &c., which i placed immediately in front of it. Anommatus is far more sluggish, and is easily overlooked in the semi- ISS.-i. I 115 liquid matter to which it clings, and which it greatly resembles in colour. It is rather curious that a substance which is so evidently sought after by these two beetles should not be attractive to a greater number of species. I found but four in all, namely, Falagria thoracica, which was tolerably plentiful, Oxytelus insecatus, of which I took but five examples, and the two already mentioned. Other collectors may possibly meet with greater variety. — Id. Note on BatopMla cerata, Marsh. — I cannot find any notice of this insect as an injurious species. Here it has been very destructive this season, feeding upon the leaves of the raspberry, and in some cases reducing them almost to skeletons. The young plants were those most affected ; the more mature were comparatively free. — Id. : September 10th, 1885. Coleoptera at Bainham, Surbiton, c^c, in 1884 — 85. — During the last year I have made several excursions with Mr. Cripps in the neighbourhood of London. Among our captures some of the following may perhaps be worth recording: — Stenolophus teutonus, Ceuthorhynchus campestris, Asclera ccerulea, Grammo- ftera tabacicolor, Telephorus lateralis, Anthocomus fasciatus, Cleonus nebulosus, Coeliodes suhrufus, Tanymecus palliatus, Telmatophilus typhce, Gymnetron becca- hungce, Frirhinus festucce, Malachius pulicarius, and Lina populi. I may also mention Saperda carcharias, of which insect three specimens were brought to I me from Southend, and Gibbium scotias, which I found in the City. We particularly worked the genus Donacia, of which our captures in Surrey were as follows : — B. bidens and dentata, Esher, September ; the latter also from Chobham. D. sparganii, Esher ; one specimen from Sparganium, August. D. sagittaricB, The Wey, Moorparks, Farnham, July. D. lemnce, Farnham and Sunbury, July. D. thalassina, Esher and Farnham, common on rushes, May to July. D. linearis, semicuprea, and sericea, common, as a rule ; the latter, however, rather scarce this year. D. typhcs, Esher and Farnham, on Typha latifolia, June and July. D. menyanthidis, Esher, very local, on a species of reed, June and July. D. comari, \ Esher, four specimens, July. — Gr. A. Lbwcock, 40, Oxford Koad, Islington, N. : September, 1885. Eeduvius personatus at Lincoln.— In July last I found a specimen of this ' Hemipteron on a sack in Lincoln : it has not, I believe, been before recorded from this locality. — H. T. Sims, Lincoln : September 15th, 1885. Semiptera at Lewisham.—Duving the month of September last year I found a good many examples of Idiocerus cognatus on a white poplar tree here, but, with two exceptions, all were females {of. Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 127). This year, during August (but not since) I have taken several males from the same tree ; from this I conclude that August is the honeymoon of the species, that in September, as a rule, I the husbands having become superfluous have perished, and that only a republic of widows remains,— real ferce naturce, for instead of showing any kind of mourning, their colours are brighter than in their nuptial time. ^ ^ 116 [October, On the same poplar I saw a few Phytocoris distinctus taking long courses with the utmost rapidity up the trunk, ultimately ending their exercise in a crevice of the bark, into which they squatted closely, and by their black colour were difficult to distinguish from their " environment," as the covert would be termed in the modern phraseology. The species was first detected at Blackheath on Populus alha, and this tree seems to be its special habitat. Fh. tilia:, found resting on the dark bark of the same tree, was by its light colour rendered conspicuous. — J. W. Douglas, 8, Beaufort Gardens, Lewisham : Septemher 10th, 1885. Hymenoptera at Chohham in August. — Although I have not found this year a good one for Hymenoptera on the whole, still I was fortunate enough in one morn- ing's collecting at Chobham to secure several species worth recording. They were all taken on the common, near what is known as Burrow Hill. Myrmica sulcinodis, Nyl., 1 $ running on the ground ; tliis is the only time that I have met with the ? of this species. Methoca ichneiimonides, Latr., 1 ? running on the ground. Pompilus chalyheatus, Schiodte, ? on a bare sandy spot. Mimesa hicolor, Jur., rather commonly, together with the rarer M. unicolor, Y. de L., but I only obtained females of either species. Both of the black species have now occurred at Chobham, and although so very much ahke, are abundantly distinct structurally ; the raised lines on the under-side of the 9th and following joint of the antennae in the ^ , and the shining dorsal apical segment of the abdomen with its strong lateral carin£e in the ? , at once distinguishing Dahlbomi, Wesm., from unicolor, V. de L. Crahro scutellatus, Schev. — Of this rare species I took three females flying about over the sand. I did not recognise it at the time, or should have tried to get more. I have already recorded the $ from Chobham, having captured two in 1878, but from that time to this I have never met with either sex, but Dr. Capron has taken it at Shiere. Andrena argentata, Sm., males common, flying over the sand close to the ground and very difficult to secure. I only met with two females. Nomada alboguttata, H.-S. — Of this pretty little species, which is a parasite of the above, I obtained two males and four females. Its flight is very similar to that of the Andrena, but its bright orange coloured body will distinguish it, even while flying. I may here remark that I have looked for Andrena lucens, Imh., every year since I first captured it in 1882 on Burrow Hill, and although I have been in the exact spot at the same season of the year several times, I have never again seen it. I took originally three males in July, 1882, and on the Bank Holiday in August I visited the spot, it was a very cloudy day, but I obtained a single female during a short gleam of sunshine on almost the same plant of Erica on which I had taken the males, and it does seem very strange that year after year one should search the locality carefully and not be able again to meet with it. I hope other Hymenopterists will be able to give a better list of captures this year than I am ; the weather has been so favourable that one would have expected Hymenoptera to be unusually abundant. — Edwaed Saundees, St. Ann's, Mason's Hill, Bromley, Kent : Septemher Ihth, 1885. 1885.] 1^' A SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH SPECIES OF CIMBICIDISA, RYLOTOMINA, LOPHYRINA, AND LYDINA. BY P. CAMERON. (^Concluded from page 85.) LOPHYEINA (vol. i, p. 65). The Lophyrina contain only two European genera :— LopJiyrus has an open lanceolate cellule with an oblique cross nervure ; the calcaria membranous at the apex ; and the antennae with a double row of pectinations in the $ . Monoctenus has the lanceolate cellule contracted in the middle ; the calcaria not membranous, and the antenna in the S ^ith only a single row of pectinations. It differs also from Lopliyrus m having the'^fore lobes of the metanotum well developed. LOPHYEUS, Latr. Synopsis or the Species. Females. 1 (2) AntenBffi 23-jointed ; head, thorax, abdomen, and legs, ^-^^ ; jetathorax and base of abdomen black serttferus, Fourc. (= rtcfus, M.). 2 (1) Antenna 19-20-jointed, head and thorax more or less black. 3 (4) Seventh abdomhml segment deeply incised in front of «aws ; antenna "^ ^ 18— 20-3ointed, femora more or less, and head, black pim, ^. '^ 4 (3) Seventh ventral segment not incised in the middle; antenna 18-19- jointed ; femora not marked with black. 5 (6) Antenna 19-jointed; head entirely black frutetorum,^L ng -6 (5) Antenna 18-jointed. ^^ ^ x. a A 7 (8) Calcria simple. u.eso-, metanotum, and back of ^Momen^^^bla* head entirely black ^ ,, 8 (7) Calcaria dilated; head and thorax testaceous; marked with black. 9 (10 A fascia across the vertex ; mesosternum broadly black ; abdomen t^sta- ^ ^ ceous, with black transverse bands on the back / *' (9) No fascia on vertex; mesosternum without black; dorsum^of^abdomen entirely black 10 Males. 1 (2) Antenna 23-jointed ; legs and ventral surtace rea m lu. u..u..., and abdomen smooth, shining, impunctate. , ^n sertuerus. 2 (1) Antennte not 23.iointed ; thorax punctured '. ,' \ „„he base 3 (4) Femora, coxs, and trochanters, black ; stigma p.ceous, black at the base ... 4 (3) Cox« and trochanters partly, and femora entirely, testaceous. 5 (6) Accessory nervure appendiculated close to the apex , ante„n=e^l8-|omted, abdomen testaceous ■• „Krinmpn 6 (5) Accessory nervure appendiculated a little beyond the m.ddle, abdomen reddish. ...frutetorum. (8) Pronotum and mouth entirely black 8 (7) Pronotum not entirely black. 9 (10) Pronotum almost entirely yellow; ^^^^""^ '^"^^f '^••:,:;:20 iointed 10 (9) Pronotum with only a narrow testaceous hne ; antenna tiorsatus. 118 [October, Section I. Accessory nervure in hind-wings received a little beyond the middle ; head and thorax strongly punctured. A. Inner spur on the posterior tibise dilated into a leaf-like expansion ; a more or less clearly defined fascia across the vertex ; antennae 23-jointed = virens and dorsatus. The $ of the latter species may be known from the same sex of virens by there being no fascia over the antennae, there being only a small dark space surrounding the ocelli, by the under-side of the thorax bearing no black, and by the scutellum being much less strongly punctured. The $ may be known from virens S by the spots on the vertex, by the back of abdomen being entirely black, the under-side, too, being not red as in virens ; the antennae are more slender, the last two joints are distinctly shorter than the preceding, while in virens the last three are of nearly equal length, and considerably thicker. B. Hind spurs not dilated, simple. a. Seventh ventral segment not incised, oblong ; legs, for the greater part, whitish-yellow ; abdomen yellow, broadly banded with black ^=frutetorum. h. Seventh ventral segment in front of saw with a triangular incision ; broad, wide, for the greater part black ; legs black at base ; femora (especially the posterior) more or less black ; antennae 19 — 20-jointed = pini. Section II. Accessory nervure appendiculated close to the apex ; body smooth, shining, almost impunctate ; abdomen long, cylindrical ; the 7th ventral segment entire {sertiferus) , or slightly incised {pallipes) ; claws cleft {sertiferus) , or simple {pallipes), = sertiferus and pallipes. Obs. — I have found, in Inverness-shire, a larva on juniper which agreed very well with the description of that of Monoctenus juniperi, but unfortunately failed to rear it. From its wide distribution on the continent, I have no doubt this species will, before long, be dis- covered in Britain. The imago should be looked for in May. LTDINA (vol. i, p. 65). We have only two genera in Britain belonging to this sub-family, namely : — Pamphilius, Latr. (= Lyda, Tab.), with three spines on hind tibiae, and with setaceous, simple-jointed antennae ; and Megalodontes, Latr. (= Tarpa, Fab.), with two closely situated spines on tibise, and the antennae with the joints dentate, and never more than twenty-two in number. 1885.] 119 MEGALODONTES. Synopsis op the Species. 1 (2) The appendages of the antennae equal in length to two of the joints ; an- tennae black or testaceous at the base ; mesonotum with only two, or no, yellow marks ... Klugii, Leach. 2 (1) The appendages equal to one of the joints, and yellow at the base. 3 (4) The marks on thorax and abdomen clear bright yellow ; mesonotum with four marks ; antennae 17-jointed, yellow at base ; the 2nd abdominal segment marked with yellow cephalotes, Fab. 4 (3) The marks on thorax and abdomen white ; mesonotum with two or no marks ; antennae 15 — 17-jointed ; the base testaceous or bluish ; the 2nd I , abdominal segment without any mark plagiocephalus, Fab. ' Kltjgii, Leach, = spissicornis smd. 2yectinicornis, Klug. — The colo- ration is variable ; the mandibles are brownish or black ; the frontal spots vary in size ; the band on vertex may be continuous or inter- rupted in both sexes ; the tegulse may be yellow wholly or in part only, or may be entirely black ; the spots on mesonotum may be absent, as may be also the lateral spots on the two basal segments of the abdomen. The coloration of the antennae varies also, but the i flabellations would appear to be always black. The J" ^^^ five of the ventral segments yellow ; the 4th is much the widest above, this being also the case in the ? . The length of the flabellations readily separates Klugii from the other species. Cephalotes, Fab., = P«^2;er?, Leach ; plagiocephala, Fab. (pi. vi, f . 10, vol. ii). — As with the other species, the colour varies. Grenerally the markings are white, but occasionally (and especially on the abdo- men) yellowish. The tegulse are occasionally black ; there are seldom spots on the sides of the basal abdominal segment in the ? , one is found usually on the third segment in the ^ , which has also the bands on the 5th and 6th narrower than in the $ ; and also the ven- tral segment broadly white ; in the ? there are usually only two of the ventral segments banded with this colour. From cephalotes (which it resembles in having the flabellations not longer than the joints) it may be known by the white colour of the markings, by the thorax having, at the most, only two marks, by the 2nd and 3rd seg- ments not having yellow marks at the sides, and by the wings being yellowish-brown almost throughout. I introduce this species as British on the authority of a specimen in Shuckard's collection, bearing a label marked "from the British Collection, Brit. Mus., Ap. 16/42." It was named " Panzeri;' but not on the label itself. I am not aware of any records for the other species besides those given by Stephens. 120 [October, 1S85. PAMPHILIUS, Latr. Section I. Anterior tibiae with a spine ; calcaria bifid, with a small tooth below the apical one ; vertex without sutures, or with them very thin ; the central region not being separated from the sides, but continuous with them ; sub-costal nervure furcate beyond the middle ; transverse brachial nervure obsolete. The group of eetthrocephalus. Body blue or yiolaceous, with the head in the ? red, wholly or in part ; wings violaceous ; antennse long, 25 — 32-jointed, the 3rd joint as long as the three following together. 1. Pamphilius eettheocephalus, Linn. (pi. vi, f. 3, vol. ii). TJie group of stellatfs. Head and thorax black, spotted with yellow ; abdomen black at base and in middle, the sides and apex reddish. Antennse as long as the body, 25 — 35-jointed, 3rd joint as long as the following two united. 2. Pamphilius stellatus, Christ. = pratensis, Pab., nemoralis, Thoms., ?, Linn. I am not sure that this is nemoralis, Linn., and therefore, do not adopt that name. In the Linnean collection, nemoralis is repre- sented by Nematus fallax, Lep. ; it is not, I think, the original type, but one probably inserted by Sir J. E. Smith. Zaddach refers nemoralis, Lin., io punctata, P. Section" II. Anterior tibiae without a spine : sutures on vertex deep, so that the central part is distinctly separated from the sides, and more or less from the front ; claws bifid ; transverse brachial nervure present. The group of flaviventris. Head, thorax, and abdomen black above, the sides, legs, and more or less of face, yellow. Antennse 24-jointed, the 3rd joint as long as the three following united ; sutures on vertex not very deep, or distinct ; head between antennse projecting, bluntly keeled ; sub-costal nervure broken off beyond the transverse costal nervure ; stigma black, wings usually with a smoky fascia in the middle. This is a very distinct group, and is, to some extent, intermediate between i and ii, inasmuch as the sutures on vertex are not so well developed as in the following groups, yet the lateral furrows are clearly enough defined. The wedge-shaped form of the front is peculiar, as is also the manner in which the sub-costal nervure is broken off beyond the middle. November, 1885.] 121 3. Pamphilius flayiyentrts, Eetz. (pi. vi, f. 5, vol. ii). = pyri, Sc\ii\,=^ fdsciata, Curt. The grovp of stlyaeum. Head and thorax pale ochreouB, with numerous black spots ; metathorax and abdomen black above. Antennse IQ-jointed, shorter than the abdomen, 3rd joint a little longer than the following two together ; head broader than thorax ; lateral sutures on vertex very deep and broad, reaching to the antennae, transverse suture not so broad nor so deep, but still clearly defined. This is a group of small extent, but well defined bj the broad and flat head, short antenna ; by the pale ochreous head and thorax, which bear more black markings than in any other species ; and by the fulvous tinted wings. 4. Pamphilius sylyarum, Stephens (pi. vi, f. 4, vol. ii, ? ). =^fulvipen7iis, Zad. The group of betulje. Body orange, tho^rax and apex of abdomen black ; wings yellowish-hyaline, with a small fascia in the middle, the stigma testaceous. Antennae long, 23— 28-iointed, 3rd joint a little longer than the two following together ; face slightly keeled ; scu- tellum convex in the centre. 5. Pamphilius betul^, L. The group of sylyaticus. Head and body violet-black ; head and thorax marked witli yellow. Antennae and legs yellow, black at the base ; 23 — 31-jointed, the 3rd joint not much longer than the 4th ; face slightly keeled ; wings hyaline, stigma black, paler at apex. A group easily recognised by the violet-black body, yellow scu- tellum, legs, and antennae. 6. Pamphilius sylyaticus, Linn. = nemorum. Fab., =Jlavipennis, Cnrt.^ = stigma, Steph. The group of inanitus. Head black, behind the eyes and below the antennae, yellow. Thorax black, except the pronotum. Abdomen black, broadly fulvous in the middle. Legs straw- yellow. Sutures on vertex deep, the lateral going down to the antennae ; the ocelli with a furrow before and behind, and from the former another furrow proceeds to the middle of the front. Head between the antennae slightly carinated. Antennae 21-jointed, yellow at the base, the rest testaceous, 3rd joint not much longer than the 4th. The yellow and black stigma, the antennae yellow at base, and with the 3rd joint not much longer than the 4th, readily separate this 122 [Nor ember, group from the next (dep/'essus). to wLicli it has a general resemblance in coloration. 7. Pamphilivs rs-ANiTus, Till. (pi. vi, £. Q, vol. ii, $ ). The group of depeessus. Head and thorax black, spotted with yellow marks ; rarely entirely black ; abdomen black at base and generally at apex, fulyons in the centre, rarely fulvous at apex ; legs sti-aw-yellow, the tarsi with a reddish tint. Antennae 19 — 23 jointed, the 3rd joint as long as, rarely shorter than, two following united ; scape black above, yellow beneath ; basal half of flageUum reddish, the apical black above j wings hyaline ; stigma yellow, or partly fuscous. The species agree closely in form and coloration ; the only differences being that some have fewer or no marks on the head, and in one the abdomen becomes for the greater part fulvous, while the stigma may be yellow, fuscous, or blact. Structurally, the an- tennae differ in one or two species having the 3rd joint shorter than the following two united, and thus approach the group of inanitus ; but as these differ from the latter in some respects, and agree with depressus in other characters, they are most naturally placed in the present Section. Zaddach forms a separate group for Jiortorum, but I have not done so, as it merely dift'ers from depressus in the head having the yellow marks obsolete, or much reduced, and in the stigma being blackish ; and arhustorum, moreover, forms a connecting link in this respect. 1 (2) Third joint of antennae not much longer than 4th arhustorum. 2 (1) Third joint of antennae double the length of 4th. 3 (6) Stigma fuscous or black, pleura immaculate. 4 (5) A longish curved mark on each side of vertex ; abdomen fulvous in middle only, stigma fuscous cingulatus. 5 (4) A small mark on vertex touching the eyes; abdomen with segments 3 — 5 entirely fulvous ; stigma blackish kortorum. 6 (3) Stigma yellowish ; pleura marked with yellow. 7 (8) Third joint of antennae not much, if more, than double the length of 4th ; flagellum reddish-yellow latifrons. 8 (7) Third joint of antennae nearly treble the length of 4th. 9 (10) Front rugosely punctured, no mark over antennae ; abdomen mostly violet- black pallipes. 10 (9) Front not rugosely punctured, two marks over antennae ; abdomen broadly fulvous depressus. 8. PAiTPHiLirs AEBUSTOErM, Fab. (pi. vi, f. 7, vol. ii, ? ). = stramineipes, Htg. The short 3rd joint of the antennae easily separates this species from the rest of the group. 1885.1 j^23 9. Pamphilius latifrons, Eall. = maculosus, Zad. Tbis species is unknown to me as British, and I record it on the authority of Mr. Kirby (List of Hymen., i, 338). 10. Pamphilius depeessus, Till. A somewhat variable species in the amount of yellow on the head and thorax, and of fulvous on the abdomen ; the intensity of the punctuation on the head varies also. The P. albo-pictus, Thorns., seems to be a var. of depi^essus, chiefly differing from it in the greater amount of white on the pleura, and in the lateral lobes of the meso- notum being marked with white. I have a specimen of albo-victus from Kingussie. 11. Pamphilius pallipes, Fall. = variegata, Zad. The strongly punctured, opaque, rugose front easily distinguishes this species. In addition to the fact of there being no white or yellow marks over the antennse, the abdomen being only obscure fulvous in the middle serves also to distinguish it. 12. Pamphilius cij^gulatus, Latr. = suffusus, Htg., lalteatus, Zad. This is, perhaps, only a var. of hortorum ; the vertex, however, is less strongly punctured ; there are two conspicuous white marks on the vertex, the stigma is lighter in tint, especially in the middle, and only the centre of the abdomen is fulvous, not the two middle seg- ments, as in hortorum. The $ differs from hortorum ^ in having the scutellum black. 13. Pamphilius hoetoeum, Klug. = haJteata, Pall., sec. Thoms. XTELINA (vol. i, p. 65). Of this sub-family we have only one species, Xi/ela JuUi, Breb. {pusilla, Dal), pi. vi, fig. 11, vol. ii. Sale, Cheshire : October, 1885. ERRATUM. Page 119 — Instead of as printed, read as follows : — Cephalotes, Fab., = Panzeri, Leach. Plagiocephalus, Fab. (pi. vi, f. 10, vol. ii).— As with the other species the colour varies, &c. j^ 2 224) » [November, NOTES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA OF BELFAST. BY CHAS. G. BAERETT, F.E.S. Business requiring tbat I should spend a few weeks of the latter part of this summer at Belfast, I went over full of the hope that in a part of Ireland which has been but little worked since the time of Haliday, something of special interest and rarity would surely turn up. This hope was not realized. "With the exception of single speci- mens of Larentia ccesiata on Divas Hill, Coriscium sulphur ellum in Colin Grlen, Larentia salicata and Stilhia anomala near the Cave Hill, and Plodia interpunctella at the Custom House, hardly a single species was taken which would not be found commonly in ordinary English localities, and the only relief to the monotony of familiar species was when, occasionally, they exhibited some interesting tendency to " sports " and variations in colour from the normal types. Perhaps one of the most interesting in this respect was the abundant Pieris oiapi, which, already known to produce dusky forms in the west, here shewed a special development of colouring, the males as creamy-white as elsewhere in their ground -colour, having the apical blotches black instead of grey, and the round spot below well developed, while in the females the veins of the upper side were also strongly tinged and suffused with black, while the spots in some cases almost coalesced into a band. In some also the under-side was ex- tremely bright in colour and marking. Ahraxas grossulariata was common, of course, and provokingly monotonous in ordinary colouring, but the strange tendency to varia- tion inherent in the species shoM^ed itself, in one specimen, in an unusual direction, a large portion of the fore-wings being suffused with ^flZ^ y(?//o^^, while a narrow band of the same ornamented the hind-wings. MelantJiia rubiginaia was very common among alder, but only of the typical colouring, while Cidaria immanata, which abounded along with it, was in great, beauty, varying from white to blackish in the central band. Euholia mensuraria, which swarmed, was also variable, and sometimes very richly banded, while Melanippe fluctuata, among its darker variations, produced one in which the pale portions of the fore-wings were beautifully covered with delicate rippled or crescented lines. The gas lamps attracted plenty of Luperina testacea, several of which were nearly black, Sydroecia micacea varying to a deep brown, and Noctua augur smaller than usual and with narrower fore-wings. 1885. J 125 On the other hand, all the Xylophasia polyodon seen were of the most ordinary brown form, no approach to the northern and western hlack variety being observed. This is the more remarkable, as the black form occurs near Dublin. Scopula lutealis was extremely abundant and well marked, and Eudorea anqusiea pretty common ; from its time of appearance I judge that it is here single brooded. Two E. murana occurred on a wall in a sheltered valley under trees ; I looked for it in vain on the stone walls on the hills. Cramhus tristellus varied ex- tremely, the ochreous form being rather common, and occasionally having very little indication of the longitudinal streak, but showing a faint tendency to transverse markings. Tortrix unifasciana and rosana were rather more richly coloured than usual, and also T. vibmmana, which occurred on the high hills. Here also Eupithecia nanata was common, and showed a slight ten- dency tow^ards the markings of the variety from the west of Scotland which has lately excited so much interest. Of Sericoris lacunana only the small Moorland form occurred, and Halonota trigeminana (which was scarce) was also small and dark, whilst some of the specimens of Ortliotcenia antiqiiana were among the most strongly marked that have come under my observation. Gra- pholitha Penkleriana (which was abundant) presented occasionally the rich variation of colouring which it shows in the Highlands of Scotland, Sciaphila virgaureana w^as very large and dark, and Stega- noptycha ncemna wonderfully plentiful, but of ordinary colouring. A few JBcedisca occultana and one Coccyx nanana occurred amongst firs, and two or three JDicliroramiplia tanaceti (Jierbosana) on the lower slope of the Cave Hill. This species must be exempted from the slight thrown on the rest, it certainly is not a common English species, unless in the north, and being new to me in the living state was naturally very interesting. Ti7iea pallescentella flew round the lights indoors, having doubtless been at w^ork upon the carpets, Cerostoma nemorella occurred singly in Colin Glen, and Ortliotcelia sparganella by the side of the Lagan, w^here, moreover, w^asps' nests were so plentiful, that it was difficult to avoid stepping into them. Along the hawthorn hedges Swammer- damia oxyacanthella was very abundant, along with Coleopliora nigri- cella and Argyresthia nitidella ; A. semitestaceella was common among beeches, and A. Goedartella in thousands among the alders, sometimes presenting most lovely variations, while, strange to say, A. Brockeella appeared to be totally absent. A small moth buzzing over the ground in a street in the middle 126 [November, of Belfast, one hot day at the end of July, proved to be OcJisenheimeria JBirdella ; it condescended to settle for an instant on a stone, so as to prove its identity by exhibiting its extremely hairy head, and then buzzed away, for I had no means at hand of securing it. It must have been brought in from the country among green fodder, but I saw no other specimen. I seized upon the opportunity of Bank Holiday to run over to the Giant's Causeway — upon which I will not expatiate, nor upon the steam and electric trams and their inability to cope with the rush of holiday visitors, nor upon the furious torrents of rain from the north-west which attacked the said visitors and drove them away — but when the wonders of the place had been duly admired, the angles on the columns (from three to nine) duly counted, the customary fees exacted, and " specimens " purchased, I had, in spite of the rough wind, a short hunt after insects. The thrift (Armeria vulgaris) pro- duced a fevf larvae and pupae of SericoiHs littorana, and the rushes a single sleeping specimen of Lgccsna Alexis {Icarus'). AV^hat a result ! but when this single "common blue " came to be examined, it proved to be a female, having, along with dark clouding, some white blotches on the upper-side, and thus was a very satisfactory variety. A run round Island Magee on Saturday afternoon disclosed a grand coast of bold cliffs, with indications of the nesting of herring- and black-back gulls earlier in the season (indeed, one young one of the former species was still in the nest), and showed cliffs and banks everywhere beautifully ornamented with the largest harebells I ever saw, but of insects (save P. napi, E. mensuraria, and >S'. lutealis) none, and a careful search of the low coast at the other side of the entrance to Belfast Lough furnished no better result. 68, Camberwell arove, S.E. : Septemher 21th, 1885. NOTE ON THE CIECULATION IN EMBEYONIC LAEY^ OE BOTYS SYALINALIS. BY WILLIAM R. JEFFREY. The subject of the " pulsating dorsal vessel," or heart of insects, which is readily seen in most Lepidopterous larvae, having been alluded to in the pages of this month's magazine, is an inducement to put on record the earliest stage in the life of a larva at which I have been able to witness it. Erom the 5th to the l7th of last August I was engaged at times in watching the development of the embryo in 1885.] J27 some eggs of Botys hyalinalis, which I had been so fortunate as to secure, laid upon slips of glass, thus affording a good opportunity for observing them under the microscope. The early stages, interesting as they were, may be passed over here, but by the 15th, being the tenth day of incubation, the young larva was well formed, and most of the organs could be made out. That morning the dorsal vessel became visible, and at 8 a.m. I noticed the first traces of circulation in it. The pulsations at first were very faint and feeble, taking place somewhat irregularly at long intervals of 20 and even 30 seconds ; at 2 p.m., they had become more distinct, with shorter intervals between each beat, and became still more accelerated by the evening. At this time the beautiful ramifications of the tracheae came rather suddenly into view. The oral organs were well-developed, and conspicuous from their brown colour. The oeso- phagus also could be distinctly traced, especially when, by a sucking action, a bolus of yolk-granules was drawn down, and seen to pass into the alimentary canal, which effort was continued at intervals on the 16th, till ali the remaining yolk-granules had been ingested. Then a period of rest took place during part of the 17th, when a beautifully clear view of the heart and its action was obtained, Ihe pulsations being timed at 40 per minute, increasing to 60 at 8 p.m., when great exertion was manifested on the part of the larva just before escaping from the e^g at 8.10. Thus, it will be seen, some sixty hours had elapsed from the time I was first able to detect a circulatory movement in the dorsal vessel. Ashford : October \st, 1885. THE QUESTION RESPECTING- THE aENUS AULOCERA. BY ARTHUR G. BUTLER, F.L.S., F.Z.S , &c. A few days since I received a letter from Major Terbury, now stationed at Campbellpur, but then on a trip to the Murri Hills, in which he says : — " Among the butterflies are two Aulocera, which I cannot think are identical, though 1 now and again take a specimen that appears to link them, they frequent quite different ground; No. 50 (your A. ScyUa ?) being found on the top of the hill 7000 ft. above sea level ; No. 42 on the side of the hill, upwards of 1000 ft. lower down. I have not, so far, taken the two together." Now, when I saw M. de Niceville's somewhat excited reply to a paper which I wrote solely in the interests of truth, I first thought of the motto on the cover of this magazine, and afterwards of the para- graph above quoted, and which bears somewhat weightily in my favour. 1 0Q [November, I will not attempt to inform M. de Niceville respecting the fauna of the Murree (or Murri) hills ; he is resident in India, has the fauna, the altitudes, the climate of every place at his fingers' ends, and can, therefore, afford to look down with profound pity upon those who do not possess his advantages ; but I will tell the readers of this magazine that there must be a considerable difference of temperature between 6000 and 7000 feet altitude above the sea, and much more between 7000 and 12,000 ; that, moreover, there are not a few genera occurring on the Murri hills which are found equally on the plains, such as, Lethe, 'Pyrameis, Atella, Lihijtliea, Lyccena, Teracolus, Colzas, &c., that as Aulocera is not (as M. de Niceville asserts) a Palsearctic genus, but only allied to one, with about as much right to be called Palsearctic as Lethe: as the latter also is found from the N.W. Himalayas to the Philippine Islands, there is nothing very extraordinary in my "ignorant" suggestion, nor is it unprecedented to find the same species on both mountain and plain ; on the contrary, several natural- ists are now trying to explain the existence of slight local differences in the same species by the influence exerted over it by greater or less cold, and one constantly hears it said: — "this large form, or this modification, is the mountain type of so-and-so." British Museum : Octoher, 1885. [We had intended to close this controversy with this paper, but fresh matter, apparently of considerable value, comes to hand. Un- fortunately, we have been obliged to take liberties with nearly all the communications (Mr, Butler's included) so far as concerns the infringement of the terms of the motto on our cover (and on the title-page of vol. i, 186i — 5). And all future communications w411 be treated in the same manner, if necessary, — Ebitoes,] REMAEKS UPON CERTAIN HIMALAYAN SPECIES OF SATYRID RROPALOCERA. BY A. GRAHAM-TOUNG. Having seen a paper by Mr. A, G-, Butler (in the Ent. Mo. Mag. for this year, p. 245) upon the distinctness of his so-called s^^ecies, Aulocera Scylla, it has struck me that a few remarks upon the genus Aulocera, based upon my personal acquaintance with it of over 20 years, might possibly be of use. I may add that I have for the past 17 years resided all the year round in the Himalayas, and have col- lected in Kashmir, Chumba, Kulu and Lahoul, at all heights up to iiearlv 16,000 feet. 1885.] -1^29 Aulocera Padma, ^, I first took near Eajaori in the Kashmir territory in July, 1864, at but little over 3000 feet, and have in June, 1888, taken the same sex at Barkli in the Mundi State in a deodar forest on the banks of the Beas, at barely 3000 feet. Tor some reason that I cannot explain, the females never appear to descend as low as the males do, and it is a very curious circumstance, that as far as my experience goes, the June and July broods seem to consist almost entirely of males ; it was not until 1880 that I succeeded in obtaining a female in June, whereas, in October, the females are in a great majority, some faded, as though they had come out at the higher levels in the summer, and been driven down by the cold, whilst the greater number, to judge from their fresh condition, had but just emerged from the pupa. I never took but one worn and battered male along with this autumnal brood, which seems a true Amazonian one, all females, and appears in October between 3500 and 4500 feet. The two low-level species of Aulocera, Pad??ia and Saraswati, which latter I have taken (August 21st, 1885) at 3600 feet, seem wonderfully constant to the types ; whilst, on the contrary, A. Swaha, which comes next in the order of ascension (7000 — 9000 feet) varies greatly in the colouring of its bands : before I knew much about this species, I made at least three beautiful brand-new species, but an in- creased knowledge of the genus obliged me to suppress their names. The last remaining species, A. hrahminus, which I have found between 8000 and 13,000 feet, is the most variable of all. Those ex- amples which occur on the outer ranges at 8000 feet or so, are constant enough to the type ; but as we go north, and ascend higher, it begins to vary, and once fairly across the great snowy range and in the true Palaearctic zone, it is simply Satyrid variation run "mad," all sorts and conditions of hrahminus varying in every possible direction, some towards Scylla, others towards weranga, with a dozen intermediate forms, which, luckily for us poor perplexed field entomologists, have never yet fallen into the clutches of the species-mongers, who would incontinently have enriched our nomenclature with many new synonyms. In the upper Chandra Valley, all these varieties go flying about, cheek by jowl, in the most amicable way, and worse still, intermarrying in the most unconcerned manner, as if there were no such beings as species-mongers in existence ! No one who has, as I have, observed SOME THOUSANDS of hraliminus in their native wilds, can possibly admit the so-called A. Scylla to be anything more than one of the many varieties of A. hrahminus. 230 [November, One word as to what are called "types." It appears to me the word is used in a misleading sense. A certain school of entomologists seem to consider that the first insect described of any species must of necessity be the type, and look upon it as something sacred, not to be touched or questioned, a golden image in the plain of Dura in fact, for us all to bow down to ! It is only after the careful examination of a long series of any given insect, that the dominant form can be ascertained ; this once done, the true type becomes finally settled. No doubt many of the existing so-called types of species at present slenderly represented in our collections will, in the fulness of time, prove true types, and many others, A. Scylla included, will be relegated to the limbo of pseudo- types. Nothing can be more certain than, that when the life-histories of the Himalayan butterflies come to be known, dire will be the havoc amongst the newly-manufactured species. Callerehia Jiyhrida is another very bad species, and I was some- what surprised that Messrs. Marshall and de Niceville should have admitted its specific rank. It simply swarms here, and I have this season made a careful examination of several hundred specimens to settle the point of its distinctness. I found every possible gradation, both in the shape of the wings (which is, I believe, the ground of separation), the markings of the under-side, and the blindness or pu- pillation of the ocelli beneath, between it and C. Annada, and find it simply impossible to draw the line anywhere, unless one is prepared to admit nhout Jiffy distinct species ! 0. hyhrida must, I fear, cease, and stand under C. Annada, to which it really belongs. ILipparchia diffusa was, when I first took it in the Ravi basin (I found it not uncommon in 1866 and 1867) at once recognised by me as merely a variety of H. Seinele, and I had the less difiiculty in coming to this conclusion, for whereas the specimens of H. Semele (which is very common in Persia) I took near Tabriz and other parts of Azer- bijan agreed exactly with English specimens, those taken in the Shemron, due north of Tehran, had a slight tendency to vary, and specimens from Shahrood-i-Bostan and the mountains near Meshed showed a further, but still very slight, variation. I have no doubt the "missing links" will turn up in Afghanistan (whenever it becomes safe to collect there), and that this form from the Eavi basin, as far as we know, the eastern limit of H. Semele, will prove inseparable from the European type. Kulu, Kangra, Punjab : August 22nd, 1885. 18S.5.] J31 SEASONAL YAEIATIOT^ IN RHOPALOCERA. BY GEOEG SEMPER, F.E.S. At the meeting of the Entomological Society of February 4th, whereof the report has recently been issued with part ii of the Trans- actions for this year, Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited a series of wings of butterflies to illustrate seasonal variation of Indian Bhopalocera. At the 5th " deutscher Geographentag," held at Hamburg, 9 — 11th Apri], 1885, the Committee had arranged an exhibition of objects having in any way relations to geographical studies. In this exhibition I exhibited, among other Lepidoptera, a series of Manila Pierida, showing seasonal dimorphism (see " Fiihrer durch die geographische Ausstellung, Hamburg, 1885," pp. 60, 61). The species exhibited were, TacJiyris JVerissa, Grodart ; Pieris Aspasia, Stoll. ; Et^onia Bcehera, Eschscholtz. Specimens flying during December to March, are nearly all lighter- coloured than those flying from June to September, which are the darkest ; and those from the intermediate months are generally of an intermediate tint. Owing to the tropical climate of Manila, the various broods are not so distinctly separated as in Europe, and, there- fore, it happens that light-coloured specimens may be found during June to September, or dark-coloured from December to March. But, after a careful examination of several hundred specimens, captured in the neighbourhood of Manila, the prevailing colour is as stated above. For example, I may quote the figures in Cramer, Pap. Exot., t. 320, C D E F, PapUio Zelmira. The figures E F represent the light, and C D the dark form of the female of Tachyris Nerissa, Godart. Altona : September, 1885. THE NEPTICUL^ OF THE MOUNTAIN-ASH. BY WILLIAM WARREN. The 11th vol. of the "Linnsea Entomologica" contains a treatise by Prof. Frey on the Nepticulcs, in the course of which he describes as a new species Nep. aucuparice ; and, subsequently, he quotes Tengstrom's description of Nep. Nylandriella, the food of which was not then known. On p. 376, we read : — " N. ATICUPARIJ^, n. sp. Capillis ochreis, antennarum conchula dilute Jlavida ; alis anter.fusco-czneis, subnitidis, apicem versus saturate violaceis, c!7iw5'n5ew. 2^ . 1?. 132 [November, Then follows a more detailed description in German, the principal points of which are : — Head and face paler than in N. viscerella, light ochreous-yellow : the rather conspicuous eye-caps also appear lighter yellow, approaching rather to whitish : base of antennas blackish : palpi whitish. Thorax deep olive-brown, with metallic lustre. Abdomen blackish : legs grey-brown ; hinder tarsi slightly lighter. The fore-wings, which are rather broad, have the same ground-colour as the thorax, and may easily be distinguished from viscerella by their lustre, possessing as they do a much finer scaling. Towards the apex they shine with a very bright purple gloss. # * # Larva green, reminding one of that of viscerella ; as also does the mine, which is often very serpentine. The cocoon, on the contrary, is nearly round, flattened and smooth, in colovir deep reddish-brown. On page 445, there are recorded, under the head of "Addenda," "two insufficiently described and ill-known species," viz., iV5/?«^f/r/eZZ«, Tgstr., and suhnitidella, Z. : that is, species with which Professor Frey w^as personally unacquainted. Of Nylandriella, the description hy Tengstrom himself runs as follows: — " Nylandriella, Zett. {in litt.). — Minima tota £eneo-cinerea nitida, capillis lutescentihiis. Long. al. ant. vix If millim. Simillima prcecedetiti, at duplo minor." Frey adds : " Near Helsingfors, in June ;" and says, " The figure in H.-S. represents an insect entirely leaden-coloured with ochreous-yellow head. May it not be a much-wasted specimen ?" The preceding species in Tengstrom is recorded in a note as concoloreUa, NyL, which is given in Staudinger and Wocke's Catalogue as a distinct species (2956), Bucc. concoloreUa, Tg^tv.^'bwt which there can be little doubt from the description as given by Frey from Tengstrom, is identical with the well-known Bucc. cristatella (2957). Now^, the first thing that struck me when I saw Mr. Griffith's Neptlculcr from Sutherlandshire was their great resemblance to small cristatella ; and the figure of Nylandriella in H.-S. represents them admirably. There is not a trace of purple towards the apex, and the insects are certainly not wasted. The only aiicuparice I have seen were six specimens which were sent me by Mr. Threlfall, of Preston : of these five correspond well wdth Prey's description of auciiparicB, and the sixth is manifestly identical wdth Mr. Griffith's insects. Mr. Threlfall tells me that he breeds two forms of the insect, w^hich different forms he has hitherto attributed to difference in sex. I can- not but think that there are two species confounded. It must be remembered that Prey's description was made from a single bred ? . Since wanting the above, I have had an opportunity of looking over Mr. Stainton's aucupariw and Nylandriella, and I am glad to say 1885. 133 that he considers that there are two species mixed up in his scries of the former : the smaller and unicolorous ones coinciding with those sent him as NylandrieUa, while the larger specimens with purplish apex should be the real aucupari(B, Frey. The discovery of the larva w^ould settle the question more satisfactorily. Amongst a number of Mr. Griffith's captures, which Mr. Stainton received from him alive, were specimens both of aucuparia and Xy~ landrieUa ; the latter being, however, the more plentiful of the two. Merton Cottage, Cambridge : September 2\st, 1885. LIBURNIA GUTTULA, aEKM., AND L. OUTTULIFERA, KBM. : A DIFFERENTIAL ESSAY. BT JAMES EDWARDS. Amongst the series of insects intended to represent Lih. giittula in my collection, I have long had a ^ which I regarded as an abnor- mally small exponent of that species, but having recently taken a series of both sexes of a species evidently identical with my small (^ , I have been lead to investigate the matter, and upon attentive perusal of so much of the literature of the subject as is at my command, I find that my small species is the true guitula, as understood by Kirschbaum, J. Sahlberg, and Fieber, while the larger species is the JDelphax guttuliferus of the author first named. The principal distinctive characters of the two species may be stated as follows : — G-UTTULA, Germ. Length, 2\ — 2\ mm. Insect very rarely macropterous. Elytra not widened towards the apex, which is sub-lanceolate. Dark marking at the apex of elytra very rarely more than a small sub-triangular black spot ; the brown stripe on the corium entirely ■wantingr. Styles (viewed in situ) curved, sub- parallel, scarcely perceptibly flattened, vertically gradually acuminate from the GUTTFLIFEEA, Kbm. Length, Z\ — 4 mm. Insect generally macropterous. Elytra slightly widened towards the rounded apex. A black or dark brown streak on the membrane, continued to the base of the elytra as a wide ill-defined brown stripe, which is sometimes very faint, but always discernible on holding the elytron up to the light. (In the bra- chypterous form the elytra are sub-lanceo- late, but specimens in this state are easily distinguished from guttula by their su- perior size). Styles (viewed in situ) oblong parallel, very distinctly flattened, vertically and suddenly acuminate at about the apical third. 234 [NoTember, It is possible that Marshall, M'riting of guttuJa (Ent. Mo. Mag., i, 200, 2), had both species before bim, for in his description be gives the correct lengtb for true guttula, but he proceeds to remark that the dark stripe on the elytra is sometimes visible to the base, a circum- stance proper to guttulifera, though it never occurs in guttula. The characters assigned by Scott to guttula (Rev. Brit. Delphacidse, Ent. Mo. Mag , vii, 25, 5) apply equally well to either. In Puton's Cata- logue, ed. 2, L. guttulifera, Kbm., appears as a synonym of vittipennis, Sahl., but it seems better to follow the latter author in using the name guttulifera for this species, as it is to be assumed that he had very good reason for adopting Kirschbaum's name in preference to that given by himself. 131, Rupert Street, Norwich : Oct. Ibth, 1885. Danais ArcJdppiis {Anosia Flexipjms) in Dorsetshire. — I cavight, on the 26th September, in a field near my house, a few feet from the sea, a perfect Anosia Flexippus, Lin. She was strong on the wing. Mr. Butler says its captm'e is worthy of record as an additional item in the history of its migration. — T. GtEO. Cuthell, Chaddesley Glen, Parkstone-on-Sea : October 5th, 1885. Sphinx convoJvuli in Co. Cork. — I found, on the 22nd of September last, a specimen of this fine moth floating in the sea in Glandore Harbour. The insect was quite alive, but was considerably rubbed. This is the first occurrence, to my knowledge, of this moth in County Cork. Another specimen, also floating in the sea in this harbour, was seen by a friend about a week after the above-mentioned date. I had shown the Sphinx I captured to the friend in question, so I am sure she could not have been mistaken. There must lately have been an unusually large influx of these Sphinges to these Islands. — C. Donovan, Jun., Westview, Glandore, Leap, Co. Cork : October 9th, 1885. Sphinx convolvuli at Bromley, Kent. — A fine specimen of this species was captured here last month, and is now in the collection of Messrs. J. & C. IS^ussey. — E. Saundees, St. Ann's, Bromley : October 10th, 1885. Sphinx coyivolvidi at WoJcing. — A rather worn specimen of S. convolvuli has been sent me from Woking, near which it was taken. — Id. Sphinx convolvuli and Acherontia Atropos at Kingston-on-Thames. — During last month Sphinx convolvuli has been very common here and about Kingston. In my nine years' experience of this neighbourhood this is the first season in which convolvuli has been found in it. Acherontia Atropos has also been common here this season in the larval state.— H. Goss, Berrylands, Surbiton Hill : Oct. 17th, 1885. 1885. 135 Choerocampa celerio at Walton-on-the-Naze. — I am glad to be able to add another to the long list of captures of C. celerio, Mr. E. Bidwell having kindly given me a specimen which had been caught by his nephew, Master 11. IT. Cotnian, at 2, East Terrace, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on September 15th. The insect when found was resting on the staircase, and was then quite perfect, but having been kept in a box alive for four days was somewhat injured. — J. R. Wellman, 8 (late 219), Medora Eoad, Elm Park, Brixton Rise, S.W. : October, 1885. Which is the true Coleophora flaraqinella ? — Of this insect, so named by Madam Lienig, Zeller writes as follows in the " Isis " of 1816, p. 295 : — " Madam Lienig has sent me several Livonian species of the more obscure forms of Coleophora, but either in solitary specimens, or in specimens in such poor condition (they have perhaps suffered from their journey to Grlogau) , that to name or describe them seems scarcely advisable. I therefore only remark that Col. flavagineJIa, Lienig, is identical with Fischer von Roslerstamm's C. flavagipennella (the former of these names seem preferable from its greater brevity), and is a species of the size of C. luscinicepennella,* with the anterior wings of the same colour, on which the brownish-yellow veins are so broad, that the dirty yellowish ground colour is only perceptible here and there ; towards the apex of the wing are some brown scales ; the antennae are annulated black and white. Madam Lienig found the larva at the Pastorate from March to the end of June on walls, fences, and birch-trunks. The case is small, grey, like a grain of rye." I fear at the present day none of us can decipher the above description so as to apply it to any species. There is no indication of a food plant, the birch trunks may have only been sought as a convenient foothold by some hibernating larva, which had fed up on some low plants, and it might be quite possible that the cases collected from " walls, fences and birch trunks " did not all belong to the same species. Perhaps before seeking information from later writers, it may be as well to say something of Madam Lienig's locality. Few of us have been to Livonia, still fewer to Kokenhusen. " The Pastorate of Kokenhusen," writes Zeller, " is two versts from Kokenhusen itself, and, like that place, is situated on the right bank of the Diina, 14 milesf above Riga. A stream, the Pehrse or Perse, flows near the Pastorate, and falls into the Diina below Kokenhusen A notice of the geological, botanical and climatic conditions of the locality must be deferred to a future occasion.":!: Tengstrom, in his " Bidrag till Finlands Fjiiril-Fauna " in 18-17, introduces C. flavagineUa, Lienig, Zell., with a ?, but only says of it " In the middle of July, once near Helsingfors in a hilly meadow." Zeller, in the 4th volume of the " Linn^a Entomologica," p. 353, gives a more detailed description of the imago, to which I refer my readers. He remarks, " I received from Madam Lienig a specimen of the species, with a case on the pin, which was no doubt that from which the insect had emerged. This case resembles those * Our rose-feeding gryi>hipennella was then known as lusciniftpenneUa. t A German mile is about five English miles. . X This future occasion probably never occun-ed, and the flora amongst which Madam Lienig worked is still unknown to us. 130 [November, whicli, at the end of September, 1848, 1 found in great numbers on Chenopodium album, in places where the plant was well protected from the wind, but not too much shaded. They fed only on the seeds. The case of the young larva is cylindrical, slightly tapered posteriorly, rather short, pale grey, plastered with little bits of grey and brownish dirt, especially towards the mouth end. The case of the full-fed larvse is 3 lines long, cylindrical, slightly tapered at both ends, beneath with a very faint longitudinal keel The wide mouth is almost circular, and placed very obliquely. The ground-colour is pale grey, darker or paler, rarely quite whitish, and in many specimens we see bare streaks and longitudinal lines most frequently on the under-side, the length, breadth and number of these lines vary much. . . . The larva remains unchanged during the winter, and crawls about actively the fol- lowing spring ; I have often found it on fences in the grass, without having been able to breed the imago." He never mentions, either then or afterwards, what moths were produced from these larvse he had collected, so that we do not know whether they were flavaginella or not. Tengstrom, in 1859, introduces in his "Anmarkningar och Tillagg till Finlands Smafjaril-Fauna," p. 157, C. flavaginella without any query, and says, "A female from the neighbourhood of Helsingfors I cannot separate from flavaginella, of which I have eight tolerably well preserved specimens from Madam Lienig's collection.* They somewhat resemble Nylander's punctipennella, especially wasted specimens, and agree also in size ; but fine and uninjured specimens have no spots, but only darker shady streaks between the more shining wing-nervures. Scattered spots occur only in three somewhat wasted and injured specimens. The ground-colour is pale dirty yellow, with faint ochreous-yellow streaks " In the "Stettin, ent. Zeit.," 1864, p. 165, Herr Gr. G. Miihlig, for the first time, endeavoured to (W^erenti&te flavaginella from annulatella ; the larvae of both species feeding on the same plants at the same time. He says, " One used to collect from Chenopodium and Atrlplex the free-sitting, grey and black granulated cases, striped with light gv^j, and gave them some branches of the plants for their food, and eventually there appeared both annulatella and flavaginella ; but, then, one had overlooked that along with the above-mentioned cases, one had probably left on the food-plant larvae with cases composed of green pieces of the seed covers, and which were less easily perceptible. " After repeated attempts to breed the larvse, we have now succeeded in dis- tinguishing the two species. "The free-sitting, ^rw case belongs to flavaginella, whilst that made with the seed-coverings belongs to annulatella. The larva of this last-named species con- structs from fragments of the seeds a case in which it can move about on the plant ; when the case is several days old the bits of seed become yellowish and might betray the concealment of the larva, which then quits this case to construct a new one. When full fed it descends to the earth, and buries itself in the soil, and then spins a case formed of grains of sand, which at a fast glance much resembles the case of flavaginella but it is quite tender and soft to the touch, whilst the case of flavagi- nella is firm and hard." * Two of these specimens were handed to me by Dr. Nylander when I was in Paris in 1859, as a present from Lis friend Dr. af Tengstrom. !885.] 137 Wocke, in big continuation of ITeinemann's " Schmetterlinge Deutschlands und der Schweiz," II, 2, ii, 611, adopts the above differentiation of the two larvse given by Herr G-. G. Muhlig. I should here remark that I liave received specimens as flavaginella from Muhlig and Hartmann ; these are a narrovp-winged, dark brown species xoith no jjale costa, only with a few obscure darker streaks on the anterior wings ; large specimens resemble annulatella in size, but ordinarily the insect is smaller. These specimens, received as flavaginella, do not resemble the two Lienigian types received through the kindness of Dr. af Tengstrom. Madam Lienig's specimens are ochreous (not dark brown), and show hardly any symptoms of darker streaks ; in fact, they closely resemble specimens bred by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher (which I have now before me) from SiKEdafruticosa. This, however, is a plant scarcely likely, from all I can make out, to have occurred in Madam Lienig's locality. How many species of this group of the genus occur on the plants of the Order ChenopodiacecB is a puzzling question ; but I think the proper way will be, first to learn to differentiate all the species, and then we shall be better able to answer the question, "Which is the true C. flavaginella T' — H. T. Staixton, Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : September \^th, 1885. Local Lepidoptera in Camherioell. — In spite of the rapid growth of the metropolis, land the consequent tendency to the destrrction of localities for insects, the general 'cultivation and preservation of trees and shrubs in the roads, gardens and shrub- beries, to some extent counteracts this tendency, and many moths, of species not \asually considered abundant, seem to hold their own in this neighbourhood. Sme- rinthus tilice has twice this summer been found here in public thoroughfares, and Cerura vinula once, and one night I was much astonished at catching a male Phorodesma hajularia flying about a lamp in the street ; I suppose it must have come over the hill from Dulwich Wood. Cidaria dotata and Eupithecia fraxinata have several times been met with close by, and twice Sericoris lifasciana. I confess that I cannot understand the occurrence of this last species, there being apparently no fir trees at hand. An old favourite with which I am much pleased to renew my acquaintance is that lovely creature, Pyra/i* costalis,QXio\.'hev is Chrysoclista linneella, which has become astonishingy plentiful. It was very curious to see them at 9 o'clock on a sunny morning dancing round the trunks of the limes like swarms of black flies. Within the last few days Ennomos angularia and the larvae of Acronycta aceris have been found upon the same trees.— Chas. G. Bakeett, 68, Camberwell arove, S.E. : September 11th, 1885! Melanism in metropolitan Lepidoptera.—l have been a good deal interested this season in the apparently great proportionate increase in numbers of the black forms of Eupithecia rectangulata and Tortrix Podana here in Camberwell. I collected a good deal here twenty-five years ago, and remember that among the ordinary green specimens of E. rectangulata a black specimen would not unfrequently occur ; but this summer nearly every specimen found in the neighbourhood has been more or less black— certainly the green form has been comparatively rare. Unfortunately the black specimens become worn almost immediately, so that very few are worth keeping. ^ 2QQ [November, In Tortrix Podana the melanism seems to be limited to the males, some speci- mens being very black, though the majority are still of the usual beautiful chestnut colour ; but the proportion is very different to what it formerly was. The cause of tliis change is very obscure. Other usually variable species show no such tendency here. Abraxas grossulariata is most provokingly constant in colour, and black Amphydasis hetularia are here unknown. — Id. A new (?) Nepticula larva. — When in the neighbourhood of Newcastle-on-Tyne a short time ago, I was seeking for anything that might turn up. After a while, happening to be looking on the grass, I noticed the mine of a Nepticula which seemed new to me, on a low plant. The plant was Potentilla torment 11 la, and, as I knew we had no species feeding in it, I prostrated myself at the shrine of the goddess at once, and devoted tlie rest of my limited time to her service. With very close, hard searching, I found a few larvse, and now have a few in cocoon. The mine is very neat and clean looking, the larva a very deep clear yellow (much like that of iV^. joo^en'O, and the cocoon small, very pale drab. Mr. Warren tells me that he bred N. (Bneofaseiata last year from a mine on the same plant ; but this certainly is not that species. Mr. Stainton also found a mined leaf in Scotland some years ago, from which he bred an imago, which he cannot refer to any species with which he is acquainted. Should this not be N. torinentiUce, a continental species, it will most likely prove to be new to science. — J. Sang, Darlington : October, 1885. Luciola italica at Darlington. — One evening last June, in one of our streets, several persons noticed two lights waving about in the air, which some fancied were lighted fusees being waved by some one. One of those who saw them, however, fancied they were not anything of the kind, and caught one of them in his hand ; the other escaped. It proved to be a beetle, and was brought to me to name. Knowing that it was not either of our two luminous species, I sent it ujo to Mr. C. O. Waterhouse at the British Museum, wlio kindly determined it for me as above. The occurrence of this South European species here is rather remarkable. The light was briUiant, similar in colour to that of the glow-worm {Lampyris noctiluca), ;j but increased and diminished with equal pulsations about every second. — Id. Hole on Actidium coarctatum, Hal., and Actinopteryx fucicola, Allib. — I have recently taken these two rare species in great abundance from a heap of decaying seaweed, &.c., upon the cliffs ; it would be difficult to say which was tlie more plen- tiful. From a single handful of shakings I got seventeen specimens of the former species, and forty-three of the latter. As a rule, however, the numbers were much I more equal. — Theodore Wood, Freeman Lodge, St. Peter's, Kent : Ootoher 6th, 1885. Pelophila borealis, Payh. : peculiarity of tarsi. — In a series of about five and twenty of this beetle sent to me from Lowry's Lough, Ireland, by the Rev. W. F. Johnson, I found two specimens, both males, which appeared to have lost a great portion of the left hind-tarsus, as it seemed so much shorter than the right hand one ; on examination, however, I found that both tarsi were quite perfect, but that the joints were much contracted, and instead of being very elongate, some of them were almost transverse : the claws were perfect and I could find uo other peculiarity. \885.J 139 I have never noticed this in any beetle before, and it is strange that there should have been two instances in so small a series. They appear to be very ferocious beetles ; many of them reached me alive, and, while I was looking at them, one rushed upon a companion and seized it by the leg like a bull dog, refusing to let go in spite of all I could do to force it to do so. — W. W. Fowlee, Lincoln : Oct. 14':^~^' „f pordova and in 1872 was appointed Professor of Zoology m the ^— ^ ^, .,^ (Argentine Republic). Although .his Uu.vers.ty (sa.d ^^Z S. Zoological \L in America, it had never ta.en a very P- » 'rt logical Society, science until Weyenbcrgh's appo„.tment. He -'»W'»''^'| ^ ^ ,^^,^ he started a most useful publication (" Pertod.co ^^ ;«;° J^^^^ \,^ ,,,, ,,,„Us. for zoological studies in h.s new home «'- ;;™°;;;^ / ; ,„„,er„ nearly all More especially was he an entomologist, and h>s P""';"^* " meritorious Orders of Insects. A life of the «'-*-' P™7;/°'-^; "1 attached by results in the past, has been prematurely^rded^JWey^ — \ v!7^n7l)ohm in recent Nos. of the ...Errata Eidicul.^" is the title of a .enes of PJ-^^^Lr^He" .» >;;» -™^3e1t '.Sl'S" " .. stettmor entomologische .Z««"°?- "^ "i a German publiciition as "0™ !■'«=» A"«J :;^lia;. Se^?o™XbeteS^ tH'Sapier i. the h„o. now under co„s>deraUon. 144 [November, 1885. cancer, and came home for surgical treatment, but unavailingly. A set of thorough workers in Entomology (mostly German and Dutch, although the " foreign " popula- tion consists largely of Italians) established themselves in the Argentine Republic ; one of the most prominent was Weyenbergh. We trust the science is now too-well established there to sustain more than a temporary shock by the decease of one of its best expounders. ENTOMOLoaicAL SOCIETY OF LoNDON, Sept. 2nd, 1885 : R. McLachlan, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The President made apologetic remarks, regretting that his absence from England at the last Meeting precluded him from personally congratulating his col- leagues on the acquisition of a Royal Charter of Incorporation. He also stated, that on the 18th July he had the pleasure of assisting at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Entomological Society of the Netherlands, held at Amsterdam. He desired to publicly thank that Society for the kindness and hospitality he had received on the occasion, and to intimate that their Dutch brethren wished to enter into still further cordial relations with British Entomo- logists. Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited living examples of Euhrychins velatus from Eastbourne, which he had found swimming freely amongst Myriophyllum. Also the larva of Gyrinus marimis ; and a species of Aleurodes found in great numbers on fuchsia, the leaves of which they spotted. Mr. Billups exhibited Telenomus pJialcenarum, Nees, bred from the eggs of Pygcera hucephala, and a large number of Aculeate Hymenoptera from Chobham. The Rev. W. W. Fowler exhibited a specimen of Beilephila livornica, captured near Tenby two years ago. Mr. Ralfe exhibited 18 examples of Sesia asiliformis, bred from eggs laid by a ? taken in a nursery at Coombe Wood; also Cucullia scropMilarice, which had been four years in the pupa state, and an undetermined species of Geometridce bred from eggs laid by a ? captured near Weymouth in August, 1883. Mr. Adkin exhibited an undetermined species of Lepisma, which was common on account books kept in an iron safe in an office in London. Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited specimens of Batrachotettix hufo, a singular toad- like grasshopper taken in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by Mr. Farini ; they ap- peared to vary in colour in accordance with that of the sandy regions in which they lived. Also Palpares immensus, McLach., a large species of Ant Lion, from the same locality. Also cases of a species of Psychidce (from the same district), forming silken tubes covered with sand and small pebbles. Also two immense spiders (fi'om the same disti-ict), apparently a Galeodes, remarkable for curious coriaceous appendages on the hind legs, which might act as suckers. He further exhibited, from the same source, a living example of a large species of CurculionidcB, apparently a Brachycerus. The President exhibited a large collection of Neuropterous insects of all Families, captured in July and August this year in the Schwarzwald, Baden. Their exact de- termination remained, in many cases, for future investigation. Although there were probably no new species amongst them, thei'e were certainly some important points in respect to local distribution. December, 1885.] -£45 NOTES ON THE ACULEATE nYMENOPTERA OF aLOUCESTERSniRE. Bt Y. R. PERKINS, F.E.S. During the past season I have, with the exception of about three weeks at the end of June and beginning of Julj, devoted a good deal of my spare time to the Aculeate iTyme^iOj^^er^ of this immediate district, and although I have been a great portion of the time single handed, I am glad to say that since the holiday season commenced I have had a very active companion in one of my nephews, and with his assistance we have made a very respectable collection, and if we have not added a new species, which is as yet doubtful, we have JB-Ued up several gaps I among the rarer and more local kinds, concerning which I here send a few notes which, possibly, may be of interest to other collectors of these interesting insects. Taking the season through I certainly consider it to have been a good one. In the early spring, when the blackthorn was in blossom, some of the Andrenidce were in immense profusion, and I got nice fresh series of almost all the commoner kinds, together with Nomada alternata, Kirb., which was also plentiful at the same blossoms, while at the same time AnthopJiora and Melecta were here, there, and every- where, about the fields and gardens. I will not take up space by giving a catalogue of the insects captured, but will simply enumerate some of the more interesting species, and add a few remarks upon them. Among the Fossores I have captured the following : — Myrmosa tnelanocephala, Fab., Pompilus niger, Fab., spissus, Schiodte, and pec- tinipes, V. d. L., Agenia variegata, Linn., Ceropnles maculatus, Fab., Mimesa Dahlhomi, Wesm., Crahro tibialis, Fab., clavipes, Linn., gonager, Lep., and varius, Lep. Pompilus niger. Fab., is confined to the woods, but spissus, Schiodte, is all over the place ; wherever we find the larger Sphecodes there we are sure to meet with spissus ; can the wasp have any connection with the bee?, its prey consists of a large brown spicier considerably larger than itself ; pectinipes, Y. d. L., is rare. Agenia variegata, Linn., a wood insect and fairly common, but most diflacult to catch, a net is next to useless, and the collector had much better rely upon his own nimble fingers if he would secure it, it frequents the decaying stumps of beech trees, whose bark has been warped and cracked with the rain and sun ; under this bark it darts with the usual rapidity of these insects, and in a short time it will emerge just at the very place where it is least expected, and if 146 [December, missed is gone in a second not to return again ; what it finds, except the wood-lice which congregate in these places, I do not know, but I caution those who want the insect not to remove the bark to secure it, for that will not answer. It is not so much affected by the sun as many of these insects usually are, and I have seen it quite late of an evening after others have retired. Crahro clavipes, Linn., is found in the same places but it prefers those stumps that are sounder, and whose bark does not show signs of decay. Crahro gonager, Lep., is also a wood insect, and has either been more plentiful, or we have discovered its habitat, for we have taken no less than eleven females this season ; the middle of August is the time it makes its appearance. Crahro V arms, JjB])., is not a wood insect, but occurs along the field banks and burrows in the places where the clay has slipped, and in i other bare patches, preferring the steep inclines. Among the rarer or more local Bees I will mention Prosopis confusa, Nyl., Sphecodes gihhus, Linn., suhquadratus, ^m.,ferruginatus, Schk., hyalinatus, Schk., variegatiis, v. Hag., and offinis, v. Hag., Andrena hicolor, Fab., angustior, Kirb., and clirgsosceJes, Kirb., Gilissa hceynorrJwidaJis, Fab., Nomada alternata, Kirb., Fahriciana, Kirb., and flavoguttata, Kirb., Osmia fulviventris, Panz., aurulenta, Panz., and hicolor, Schrk., Bomhiis cognatus, Steph., and distinguendus, Mor. Without any doubt the greatest capture of the season has been among the Sphecodes, the most difficult and puzzling of all the genera of Bees, and as all our captures in this genus have been carefully examined by my esteemed friend Mr. Edward Saunders,! cannot refrain from publicly thanking him for the vast amount of trouble he has taken in differentiating the species. The first to be met with, about the middle of April, is Sphecodes affinis, V. Hag., this little bee occurs in the woods sometimes in com- pany with Halictus tumulorum, Linn., or other small Halicti, and no doubt it breeds in the same places, but though it does burrow in the banks I have found it much more frequently among heaps of small stones that have been gathered up from the fields and laid by the side of a road, and in these it certainly breeds, and along with it here I have taken Nomada flavo guttata, Kirb., which looks as though it were its parasite, both bees being in about equal proportions. Then comes > suhquadratus, Sm., also a w^ood insect, towards the end of May it may be found flying along the deep ruts made by the wood carts in winter, and in these it makes its burrow ; I have watched it burrowing away 1885.] j^7 in these places several times, it digs away with great rapidity, and throws out the dirt exactly like a Pomjnhts. The next two species, ferruginatus, Schk., and hyaUnatus, Schk., belong more to the open country, their chief habitat seems to be along the steep bracks which are of such frequent occurrence in the pasture fields, at the base of the hills, which are locally called meres, and where the herbage is short and scanty, and in hard dry patches these bees are most likely to be found ; they are very local and appear to be more social, breeding to- gether in little colonies of ten or twelve individuals, and are most easily caught by standing quite still a little below the breeding place. One thing we have observed with regard to these bees, which I think especially worth noticing, is the attraction of males to the female. If a female is caught and^kept a short time in the net, she will attract all the males in the neighbourhood towards her, and my nephew tella me that this is also the case after she has been killed if exposed in an open box ; the great majority of our captures have been males. The last to be mentioned here is variegafus, v. Hag., this seems very rare, and we have only met with it in one locality, it is along these same "meres " in the hard dry patches that Crahro varius, Lep, is caught. There is no doubt this genus is a very peculiar one, whether it is parasitic or not remains still an open question. My own opinion is that it is not, while my nephew, who has captured a great number this year, inclines the other way. I hope next season, now we know of their whereabouts, we shall be able to satisfy ourselves on this point. I have caught several in company with various Salicti, but I have also taken them where no Halicti occur. I have several times seen them digging their own burrows, which they do with the rapidity of a sand w^asp ; and I have also captured them with their heads covered with a yellow pollen. j The flowers on which they occur are thistles (especially the one with pale pink blossoms), ragwort, knapweed, wild parsnip, and the common Crepis ; on this last plant it is more frequently met with than on either of the others. Many of the Ralicti have been very plentiful, but we have only met with one zonulus, Sm. Andrena angustior, Kirb., I took again in the woods in the spring, but it was certainly more scarce than it was last year ; I only met with few specimens, though I searched diligently for it. Of hicoJor, Fab., I took a nice series in the flowers of Malva moschata. A. chrysosceles, Xirb.,w^as abundant on the EupJiorhia amygdaloides. Cilissa ha-mor- rJioidalis, Fab. ; of this local bee I had before this year taken only single N 2 i48 [December, specimens. It seems to be generally associated with the harebell. Smith says he never found it in any other flower, this is certainly not my experience, on the contrary, I have never found it on that flower, but while looking after Andrena hicolor, Fab., the first thing I saw in the Mallow flowers was this bee, and on them I succeeded in securing a good series, and I have taken ^ and ? in coitu ; only twice have I seen it in the Canterbury-bell, which is a common flower in the woods. Nomada alternata, Kirb., has been double-brooded this year, the second brood made its appearance in August, and continued on the wing till the 19th September, on which day I captured the last specimens ; these seem paler and brighter than the spring brood. N. Fahriciana, Linn., which appears to be parasitic on Halictus rubicundus, Chr., was very plentiful in the spring, while N. rujlcornis, Linn., was decidedly scarce. Of the OsmicB, riifa, Linn., swarmed ; auriilenta, Panz., was more abundant than usual, and seemed particularly partial to the flowers of the common bugle — it is quite a wood insect ; hicolor, Schr., as usual was on the slopes of the hills and in the woods, and seemed to occur pretty generally round the district, and we saw it several times con- veying bents, which peculiar habit I drew attention to last year in this Magazine — of this last I captured three or four (^ ; fuJviventris, Panz., which generally burrows in posts, we found making its nidus along with 7'ufa between the stones of my brother's garden wall. Megachile centiincularis, Linn., was there also in great numbers, making use of the leaves of CirccBa hitetiana for its nidus. JBomhus cognatus, Steph., is generally scarce ; we found one nest, and my nephew secured one very curious mouse-coloured specimen of this bee. He also captured in the early spring a very fine specimen of Bomhus dlstinguendiis, Mor., ? , the only one that has yet occurred about here. I have now one more observation to record, and that is on the neuration of the anterior-wings of some of the insects captured during this season. Variations in the anterior-wings of bees being very rare, are all worth recording, and I have met with no less than three distinct variations among our captures, and one of these I consider very remarkable. 1. In one SpJiecodes ferriiginafus, Schk., there are two sub-marginal cells in the right anterior- wing, while the left has only one, and with just a slight trace, or I should say, short petiole, where the start of the second uervure should be. 1885.] 149 2. In another specimen of the same bee, there are hoo sub-marginal cells in the right anterior-wing, and three in the left. Smith, in the "Entomologists' Annual" for 1858, records the capture of a specimen of Sphecodes rufescens, in which the anterior-wing (he does not mention which) has the second sub-marginal cell obsolete. 3. The third instance of variation occurs in a specimen of Halictus villosulus, Kirb., which has only two suh-marglnal cells on either side, both anterior-wings being exactly alike, and decidedly different in their neuration to any Halictus I have ever seen. Wotton-under-Edge : October 17th, 1885. DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA OF PTEROPHOEUS COSMOBAC- TYLUS, B..-S.,= PUNCTIDACTYLUS, STEPH. BY GEO. T. POREITT, F.L.S. I have to thank most sincerely Mr. Eustace E. Bankes, of Corfe Castle, and Mr. Nelson M. Eichardson, of Llangennech, for the trouble they have taken in helping me to an acquaintance with the larva of this species. On the 8th of August, 1884, I received from Mr. Bankes about a score of larvaB which he had collected from Stachys sylvatica as ^' Fterophorus acanthodactylus,'' and I made careful notes on them for that species. The first two images which emerged — on August 17th and 19th respectively — were acanthodactylus, but, to my astonishment, the next specimen, on the 21st, and every one following, were cosmo- dactylus ! I had described two distinct varieties of the larva, but as they had so much in common I had never suspected they might belong to different species; and being also quite ignorant as to which larvae had IDroduced acanthodactylus, and Yi^iiohcosmodactylus, it became necessary to wait for further specimens before anything satisfactory could be ascertained. In the middle of September, Mr. Eichardson forwarded to me alive two fine ? of cosmodactylus, which he had beaten out of furze bushes at Aberayron, in Cardiganshire, with the information that he almost always took the ? in the autumn in such circumstances, and he had no doubt they hibernated in the bushes, and deposited their eggs in spring or early summer. The two moths I placed in a pot of growing Stachys, and various dry leaves, &c., and covered over with gauze. The moths lived well into the winter, but on examining the pot, I think in January or Eebruary (I have no note of the exact date), I found they had died. I was, therefore, very pleased to receive 150 [December, in the middle of August last another consignment o£ eight larvsB from Mr. Bankes, from which I made fresh descriptions. From them I bred six cosmodacfylus, but no acantliodacfylus. The moths were bred from the larvsD described, and on comparing my notes with those taken the previous year, they corresponded so closely that I suppose all were taken from cosmodactylus larvae ; the alternative being that we have but one species under the two names ; or the differences in the larvae must be so slight as to be almost imperceptible. As the acanthodac- tylus I bred were the first specimens to appear, it is possible the species may have been in advance of cosmodactylus, and that the larvae were in fact nearly over when Mr. Bankes collected them ; but this year, although he searched early, he failed to find an acanthodactylus larva at all. It is now most necessary to have careful descriptions of larvae which produce acantlwdactylus, or still better, to rear larvae from acan- thodactylus eggs, and see if both forms of imago would be produced from them. Length, about half an inch, and of the usual stumpy form when at rest. Head small, and narrower than the second segment ; it has the lobes rounded and is highly polished ; body cylindrical, attenuated a little posteriorly, each segment plump and distinct, making the divisions clearly defined ; skin soft, and sparingly clothed with short hairs. There are two very distinct varieties. In rar. I (which, judging from the larvse sent me, is the rather commoner form) the ground-colour is a clear purplish-pink ; head very dark sienna-brown, almost black ; the smoke-coloured dorsal vessel shows through as the dorsal stripe ; sub-dorsal stripes clear white, and very conspicuous ; below them is a narrow and interrupted white line, and another about the same width, but being tinged with pink is not so pale, along the spiracles : hairs white. Ventral surface semi-translu- cent, yellowish-grey ; pro-legs purplish-pink on the outside ; anterior legs of the dark sienna-brown of the head, but with paler rings. In var. II the ground-colour is bright pale green, the markings same as in var. I, except that the white stripes are scarcely so conspicuous ; in some specimens the smoky medio-dorsal vessel is tinged with pink ; and the ventral surface and pro-legs are of the same bright green as the dorsal area. Some few larvse of those received in 1884 were intermediate between the two varieties. The pupa is attached to the food-plant by the tail, and two some- what curved pointed protuberances, which spring from the back, give it a curious appearance. As in the larva, there are two distinct varieties, a purple form and a green form, but each having oblique dark markings. In 1884, the first imago emerged August 2 1st, this year on September 6th. Huddersfield : November ^th, 1885. 1885.] ^g^ THE LARVA OF F^BISCA OPFRESSANA AND ITS HABITS. BY JOHN n. WOOD, M.B. In the course of his valuable " Notes on British Tortrices," Mr. Barrett has given us (Yol. xx, p. 267) descriptive accounts of the larvae of all our Pcediscce with the exception of three. With one of these three, P. oppressana, I had the good fortune to become acquainted four seasons ago, and in each succeeding year I have been able to renew acquaintance with it. Most of our books are silent on the early stages of the insect, but Dr. Knaggs in his " Gruide " says, in the bark of poplar and Merrin's Calendar gives September as the time of feeding — conclusions formed I suspect on the circumstance that the perfect insect appears early in the summer, and has an evident affection for the trunks of poplar. But if the Entomologist wants to find it, let him search the terminal buds on the short side-spurs of the black poplar {Populus nigra) in March and April — if he see a small brown Bomewhat curved projection standing out from the bud, which on closer inspection turns out to be a hollow tube of " f rass " communicating with the interior, he may know that he has found oppresmna. The only insect I am acquainted with that could be mistaken for it would be Hedya aceriana, but the latter feeds later in the year, and the frass- tube instead of projecting at right angles from the bud lies flat upon ; it. I have hitherto failed to learn where the egg is deposited or when it hatches. I have confined the perfect insect without getting eggs, and have carefully examined the buds early in the year without dis- covering traces of larvae, where afterwards at the end of March I have found them present. At that time the larvae, little purplish-brown creatures with rather conspicuous hairs, were rather more than one line long and were actively engaged feeding in the bud. And were I to venture an opinion it would be that the larva lives through the winter closely hidden within a bud, into which it penetrates by an opening too small to be detected, and when the approach of spring awakens it to renewed activity, it then for the first time constructs the character- istic frass-tube, to serve as a general refuse-pipe and ventilator. The bud occupied in March gets eaten out and killed, and then some time in April the larva passes to another, within which it remains until it leaves it to spin up among rubbish in the first or second week in May. The last bud attacked has its growth and development retarded but is not killed, for the tree has begun to shoot and can resist the injury. The larva is semi-transparent, somewhat shining, short, fat, and soft-looking, and of a pale brown colour. Head very small, deep black. Thoracic plate and prolegs also deep black. A small black plate on anal segment. Tamil gton, Ledbury : November, 1885. 152 [December, DESCKIPTION OF A NEW MAEITIME FLY BELONaiNG TO THE FAMILY SCATOMYZIDES, FALLEN. BY R. n. MEADE. The following Dipteron occupies a position intermediate between those in the genera Scatopha(ja and Cordi/lura. It has the elongated horny proboscis with the numerous vibrissse, o£ the species in the former genus, and the sub-cylindrical, incurved, clubbed male abdo- men of those in the latter. I propose to place it in a new genus, whicb I shall call Ceratino- stoma. Schiner describes a new Cordylura (lurida), which, from his account, should also be placed in the new genus. CEEAT] NO STOMA, g. n. Gen. ell. — Caput modice latum; ocuU suh-rotundi, genas ne Jonge tegenti ; antennce hreves, truncatce, epistoma distantes ; arista tenuis, plumata, articulo seciindo prodiicto, et spissato ; setce orales plures ; proboscis elongata, acuminata, cornea ; palpi longi^jili formes, suh-clavafi. Tliorax ellipticus. Abdomen Q-annuIattcm, mare sub-cylindricum, fusi- forme, apice incurvato clavato,femind sub-ovatum, ano aciito. ^cutelluni ^-spinosum. AI(B abdomine longiores. Pedes validi, tibiis setosis. Corpus p>arce pilosum. C. MARITIMUM, Sp. n. Plumheo-nigricans opaciim, thorace olivario-fusco pollinoso, suh-striato ; paJpis pallidis, hreviter nigro-setosis ; proboscide nigro-picea ; pedibus plumbeis, tibiis posticis iritus villosis, tarsis omnibus subtiis falvo-hirtis. Long., (? e^ $ , 8 vim. Head : eyes rather small, oval, widely and nearly equally separated in both sexes ; frontal stripe black, having a brownish tinge on the vertex, and being velvety black in both sexes in front over the antennae ; face extending somewhat obliquely backwards ; epistome but little prominent ; cheeks extending below the eyes, having their front part, together with the face, of a silvery-white colovir with blue reflec- tions ; hinder part of the cheeks, with the occiput, bluish-black, clothed with soft tawny hairs ; frontal bristles extending in a single row along each side of the frontal stripe, from the vertex to the base of the antennae ; those in the posterior half of each row turning outwards, and those in the front half inwards ; oral setae rather short, six to eight in number on each side ; antennae black, the first joint abbreviated, the second somewhat elongated, having a reddisli-brown or grey tinge, with white reflections on the distal margin, and armed with short black bristles ; the third joint oblong, rounded or blunt at the end, and about one and a half times as long as the second ; arista short and mostly somewhat geniculated, the first joint abbreviated, the second two or three times longer than the first, and together with it considerably thickened and clothed with short pubescence ; the third joint slender, four or five times longer than the two others together, feathered with yellowish hairs 1885.1 J53 of moderate length along its basal half, and having the distal half or apex bare ; proboscis pendulous, rather longer than the depth of the head, pitchy-black, horny, with the apex pointed in front, and having two small lips turned backwards. Palpi clavate, nearly as long as the proboscis, whitish-yellow, clothed with short black bristles, and long soft tawny hairs. Thorax of a dull lead or slate colour, somewhat arched, having a distinct transverse suture, and clothed on the dorsum with short thick tomentum of an olive or tea-green colour, which is arranged in irregular shaped but symmetrical patches, broken at the suture ; leaving a central longitudinal pale stripe and a pale spot on each shoulder ; thei*e are only a few fine setae on the dorsum, but a number of shortish strong spines irregularly distributed on the sides. Scutellum slate coloured, with some olive-green tomentum on the sides and apex ; having four long setae and numerous short black hairs. Abdomen oblong-ovate (spindle shaped), and sub-cylindrical in the male, with the apex incurved and thickly clubbed, the liypopygium being large and furnished in front with two black, horny, pointed processes ; in the female oval, and pointed at the extremity ; it is of an uniform dull leaden colour in both sexes, immaculate, and almost smooth, having only a few minute black hairs on the surface ; there are six segments, the first is very short, and so closely joined to the second, that they look like a single long one ; the third, fourth and fifth are nearly equal in length, and so is the sixth in the female, in the male it is globose and partly incurved ; in some specimens the posterior edges of the segments have a pale yellow tinge. Wings rather long, of a pale yellowish- brown colour, with black veins ; the third and fourth longitudinal veins diverge gradually from each other from the site of the internal transverse to the apex of the wing, which is placed almost in the centre between their points ; the internal trans- verse vein is situated a little beyond the point of termination of the second branch of the first longitudinal, and considerably beyond the middle of the discoidal cell ; the external transverse is straight and upright, placed nearly one-third nearer to the internal transverse than to the extremity of the fourth longitudinal ; the costal vein is very slightly ciliated and without spine. Alulets small, white, with yellowish - brown margins, and ciliated with long pale yellow hairs. Halteres with brown stiles, and yellowish-white knobs. Legs of an uniform slate-grey colour, with large whitish pulvilli and long black claws ; the tibia? are all armed with numerous long bristles in both sexes, but the coxae and femora are almost destitute of setae; the front surfaces of the fore coxae, and the under-surfaces of the mesosternum (triangular plate between the fore and middle coxae), as well as those of the hind coxae, are clothed with tufts of soft yellow liairs ; the fore-legs have the femora somewhat thickened, and furnished with short soft yellow hairs on their under-surfaces, mixed with short black ones, which also cover their outer and upper sides ; the tibiffi have four or five long bristles projecting from the distal halves of their under-surfaces ; their outer sides and extremities are also armed with a number of spines ; the middle of the inner and under-surfaces is also clothed with short adpressed golden- yellow hairs, which extend along the whole under-surfaces of the tarsi ; the middle legs have the femora almost smooth, the tibiae armed with a few spines or bristles ; and the tarsi similarly but more shortly clothed with yellow hairs than in the other legs ; the hind-legs have the femora clothed with short soft yellow hairs on their under-surfaces, and have a few short black spines along their upper and outer sides, which are also covered with short black hairs ; the tibia) are somewhat curved, are 254 [December, furnished along their inner surfaces in both sexes with soft black hairs of moderate lengths, and are armed on their outer sides and ends with long black spines ; the inner extremities of the tibiae, and under-surfaces of tarsi, are clothed like the other tarsi with golden hairs. This interesting fly seems to be widely distributed on the British coast, but is of rare occurrence. It lives among the remains of sea weed and other marine rejectamenta above high water mark. The first specimens I saw were kindly sent to me for identification by Mr. W. H. Harris of Cardiff,* who captured them on the Welsh coast, in September, 1884. He found another pair near Cardiff this last summer (1885), and also a single specimen at Ilfracombe in July. I captured a pair myself ( ^ & ? ) at Douglas, Isle of Man, on June 20th, 1885, in company w^ith numerous specimens of Fucellia fucorum, Scatina litorea, and other marine flies ; but though I searched carefully on many subsequent days, I never met with another individual. Bradford, Yorks. : November, 1885. DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF LYC^NIDM. BY UAMILTON H. DEUCE, F.E.S. ' lOLAUS SILARUS, 01. Sp. $ . Above. Primaries brilliant purple-blue, with the apex, costal and posterior margin black. Secondaries bicaudate, brilliant blue, with the costal margin broadly, and the posterior margin narrowly, black. The lobe, with a black margin, reddieh- carmine, shaded with violet. A black patch between the sub-median nervure and the 3rd median nervule containing a small indistinct red spot, also a small black spot between the 2nd and 3rd median nervule containing an indistinct red spot. Under-side glossy white, posterior-wing with a distinct sub-marginal straight red linear band running from above the apex into a red spot between the 2nd and 3rd median nervules. The lobe red, shaded with violet, and a black spot. There is also an irregular broken black line above the lobe, extending to the 2nd median nervule, ? . Above. Primaries violet-blue, whitish at the junction of the 2nd and 3rd median nervules with the median nervure. The apex, costal and posterior margin greyish- black. Secondaries violet-blue, with the apex, costal and posterior margin greyish-black, crossed beyond the middle by an irregular black band, bordered between the sub-median nervure and the 2nd median nervule with brick-red. The lobe reddish-carmine. Antennee black. Palpi black above, white below. Legs white. Expanse, S , li i"- 5 ? » H in. Hah. : Delagoa Bay, East Africa. Mus. Druce. This species is allied to I. Julus, Hew., from which it may be easily distinguished by the unbroken linear band on the under-side of the secondaries, and the spotless white of the primaries in both sexes. • The author of some interesting papers, with excellent illustrations, upon the teeth of flies, published in " Science Gossip." 155 Spindasis Cltmenus, n. sp. ?. Above. Primaries creamy-white, with the costal margin, tlie apex, the posterior margin, and the anal angle, dark brown, a brown spot about the middle of the cell, bordered by the median nervure, and another at the end of the cell extend- ing slightly beyond. Secondaries bicaudate, creamy-white ; anal angle rather broadly brown ; slightly dusted with silver on the posterior margin close to the anal angle. Under-side : primaries same as above, excepting an indication of a brown band beyond spot at end of cell, extending from the costal margin half-way between the 2nd and 3rd median nervules, and a small spot in the cell close to the base. Secondaries yellowish creamy-white, the posterior and anal margins with a black fringe ; the anal angle ochre-yellow, containing two black spots encircled with silver scales. A narrow black streak reaching from the anal margin to near the sub-median nervure blended with a faint silver line ; bdow this and parallel to it is a rather broad silver streak. Also a blackish streak at the base of the sub-median nervure running downwards. Head, thorax, and anal tuft brownish-yellow. Abdomen white, with the base of each segment brown. Antennae brown. Expanse, 1| in. Hah.: W. Africa, Cameroons {Fulle?^). Mus. Druce. This species is quite unlike any with which I am acquainted. Neocheritea Theodora, 7i. sp. -siynatus might have been introduced into this country in ballast. He also brought the examples of Cassididce exhibited by him in March last (cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xxi, p. 258), in order to shew that the colours were still preserved. Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited Heliopeltis Antoni, an Hemipterous insect damaging Cinchona plantations in Java. He mentioned that H. braconiformis, Walk., 1873, was synonymous with Dulichius clavipes, Walk., 1871 : both were from New Gruiuea. Mr. McLachlan exhibited a sketch of a large grasshopper, taken in a hot-house near Birmingham, and remarked that it was probably identical with CopiopJiora cornuta, which had several times recently been found under similar circumstances in this country. Mr. Fitch exhibited examples of Eriopeltis festucce , Fonsc, taken near Plymouth by Messrs. Bignell and Scott, and new to this country {cf. ante, p. 141). Mr. Waterhouse said lie had observed two larger species of Coccidce, of similar nature, on grass. Mr. Buckton communicated a letter from a correspondent in Portvigal concerning the habits of Phylloxera. Mr. Meyrick communicated a paper on Lepidoptera from the South Pacific. January, 1886.] -^q THE HABITS OF NONA Git lA CANN^. I BY F. D. WHEELER, M.A. For mauy years past this species has had a peculiar interest for me ; as long ago as 1871, when I first commenced working the fens with an attracting lamp, it turned up at my light. For some years only a stray specimen or so occurred, all from various parts of the shores of Barton Broad ; but in 1878 I was fortunate enough to light upon a spot in the same fens where N. canncB seems to be something more than a mere straggler ; at least, from that date to the present, I have never failed to take it there in greater or less abundance (chiefly the latter). Like most moths, N. canned has very distinct habits of its own, a word or two on which may, perhaps, not be without interest to those who have had no personal acquaintance with this extremely local jspecies. First as to time of emergence, my own experience would tend to make it a much later insect than is generally supposed. Twice only have I known single specimens to occur so early as the second week in August, while the bulk of my captures have been in September ; in fact, I have invariably found N. typhcd well on the wing before any of its rarer congeners turned up. As soon as dusk sets in canncB commences its flight, the females taking precedence of the other sex, so that of the very few I have taken on the wing half were secured before I lit my lamp, and only on tv/o specially favourable nights have I known them to be attracted by the light. The males, on the other hand, fly from dark to about 10 p.m., or 10.30 at the latest, with a direct and moderately swift T flight, but without any of the whirr and dash that characterize typlics, and but just clearing the top of the herbage, or even flying through it where the stuff is long. They are powerfully attracted by light, and I have hardly ever known them to leave the lamp until, indeed, my invitations to enter a pill box became too pressing to be resisted. This peculiarity makes working for canned the very luxury of entomologizing ; mooring your boat in a convenient creek, you rig up the covering, boil the kettle, and make all preparations for the night, hoisting your attracting lamp within a foot or two of the boat. Presently, as the dusk comes on, the first moths demand your attention ; Chilo forjicellus and mucronellus are still on the wing, with GatacJysta lemnalis and a late specimen or two of Paraponyx stratiotalis and other common things, but the bulk of the fen species are over, and soon this early activity is past, and scarce anything is to be seen save the bats and PhryganidcB, or, possibly, a few Cidaria testata, while the stillness of 170 [January, night settles down, broken only by the sound of wings as a flock of plovers passes over, or by the splash of the wild fowl feeding, and the otters that haunt the adjoining reed bed, or the musical hum of a distant threshing machine. Now is the time to return to the boat for tea, and if you have any love for solitude and the sounds of the night, pleasant, indeed, will be the time as you sit at the entrance of your boat-tent peacefully watching for your moths. Presently there will be the rush of a brownish Noctua dashing about the light, and after cir- cling wildly for a minute or two, it will content itself with buzzing up and down the glasses of the lower lamp ; this is Noctua ruhi, a perfect pest in the fens at the close of the season. Soon come more rubi, till there will rarely fail to be three or four of them about the lamps. Keep a sharp look out and you w^ill see among them one rather larger the rest, and with a preceptibly longer body. Now is your time — not that there is any hurry about it, for our friend is by no means inclined to leave the light — no net is required, take a pill box or cyanide bottle, and your first iV. cannce will soon be secured. Even if standing beneath your " pharos " and keenly on the outlook for visitors, you may easily fail to detect canned as its comes up, so low is its flight and so speedily does it make its way to the ground lamp. Moreover, our Norfolk specimens are rather brown than red, some, indeed, of them are getting on for black, and the colour helps to make them inconspicuous. "When the distant clock strikes ten, you may, if cannce be your only object, give up and turn in for the night, but a few other things are now to be had ; JEnno7nos erosaria, tiliaria, &Jid fus cant aria, possibly an early specimen of Nonagria lutosa, and certainly one or two N. typJim, though the latter is so much less attracted by light than is Cannes, as to give the impression that on this piece of fen the latter is the commoner insect of the two, a very mistaken notion, as w^e shall see. The capture of cannce is, however, attended by some drawbacks, and especially that, owing to its habit of flying through the herbage, it is almost always more or less worn when caught. I have, therefore, long been anxious to breed it, but have never succeeded until this year. All the information I was previously able to obtain from other ento- mologists was that cannce had formerly been bred in small numbers f roul Yaxley, and was still obtained in the same way from a locality in Sussex, but that the pupae were taken with those of N, typhce, and were not recognised until the moths emerged. To this information I added from Treitschke the fact, that cannce might be distinguished from typlice by feeding and pupating with the head up instead of down. However, 1886.] 171 on working the Typha latifolia in the very place where I took canntc on the wing, I found that I invariably got pupae of ti/ph(B and nothing else. Accordingly, I had quite made up my mind that there must be some mistake as to the food plant, and am the more glad to be able to confirm Treitschke's account. In ordinary seasons the locality is inaccessible except by water, and the nature of the soil (a floating or " dancing " bog) makes it impossible to get to any distance inland. This year, however, the ex- treme dryness of the fens rendered it practicable with high boots, and a couple of boards for help at the worst places, to get almost anywhere, and I determined to avail myself of the opportunity. Devoting alto- gether about four days to the task, I searched, as thoroughly as possible, all the fen round my favourite locality, as well as some promising beds of Typha elsewhere ; the result was a large number of pupse of iV. fyphcB, and a very few of can7i(B. The latter I found very easily dis- tinguishable, the larva being greenish instead of putty-coloured, while the pupa is not only decidedly smaller than that of typhce, but is also furnished with a very prominent and conspicuous beak containing the palpi. The distinction given by Treitschke, though usually correct, and in fact the best rough test, is not absolutely reliable, for I obtained one Cannes with its head down, and four or five fyph^ with their heads up. I I suppose that the latter would all have perished, having their backs to their entrance holes ; indeed, two of mine did so, after which I opened the others to give them exit. As the two species of larvae are feeding in precisely similar places, it follows, of course, that the hole of canncB, above the larva, is much higher up the plant than that of typhc^, which is below ; in fact, it is usually quite up in the leafy part of the Typha, and very inconspicuous. The pup^e of ca7incv were all found in the heart of the fen at some distance from the river, a few in small detached plants of Typha latifolia, the greater part in the dense reed-beds, where it was difficult to force one's way. These beds had evidently not been cut for years, and were a perfect miniature jungle, affording magnificent shelter to other creatures besides insects, while they contained here and there considerable quantities of Typha latifolia and anyustifolia, Cladium mariscus, &c. All these plants I searched as well as I could, being by no means satisfied with the take of canned from T latifolia. Ihe smaller species of Typha produced several ^ typhce, hut no cannc. ; still it is much harder to work than the larger plant, growing m dense masses and being liable to turn brown naturally, thus depriving one of ^r« the surest indication of the presence of a larva, so that 1 may very X72 [January, likely ^have overlooked them. The Cladium was certainly eaten in places, but my examination of it produced nothing but cut fingers, while I was unable to find any signs of larval work in the Sparganium. I may add that the pupae seem very delicate, so that, though I carefully avoided touching them, and kept the stems moist in a tin box, only seven moths emerged out of a dozen pupae in all, and of these two were hopelessly crippled. The typhce, on the contrary, came out as though they knew they were common things, until I grew tired of setting them ; I was, however, rewarded by a few fine dark varieties. Paragon House, Norwich : November, 1885. HAEPALUS CALCEATUS, STURM, EE-ESTABLISHED AS BRITISH, WITH NOTES ON OTHER HARPALL BY EEV. W. W. FOWLEE, M.A., T.L.S. A few years ago, when comparatively a beginner at collecting, while hunting for Nehria livida at Bridlington, I turned a large Har- palus out of a sandy place on the cliffs. For a long time I have had it in my collection as my sole representative of H. tenehrosus ; on comparing it, however, a short time ago with specimens of H. tenehrosus taken by Mr. J. J. Walker at Whitsand Bay, near Plymouth, and given me by Mr. Champion, I at once saw that it was a distinct species, which opinion was endorsed by Dr. Sharp ; Mr. C. O. Waterhouse kindly compared it for me with the European Sarpali in the British Museum collection, and found that it was H. calceatus, Sturm. The capture is very interesting, as the species is recorded by Dawson as British in the Entomologist's Annual for 1857, p. QQ, where he says : " A single female example was captured near Swansea as long ago as 1830 by the Eev. C. Kuper. I am surprised that this species should not be common with us, and that its claim to be re- corded should even now rest upon a solitary individual. It is plentiful in France, and occasionally enters lighted apartments in the summer evenings ; moreover, it is a large and conspicuous insect, and very unlikely to be overlooked." Schaum (Insect. Deutsch., I, 585) says, that the species is rather abundant over all G-ermany and the whole of mid-Europe, but that it is not found in England or Sweden. Fairmaire and Laboulbene (Faune Entomol. Franc, p. 132), from whom Dawson probably got his information, mention it as common everywhere in France, and as often flying into rooms at night, attracted by light. Bedel (Faune des 1886.] 178 Coleopt. du bassin de la Seine, p. 173) Rays, that it lives in sandy and open places, and is often found in numbers in the ground or under stones ; he gives a large number of localities in the Seine district, and says that it occurs in Central Asia as well as in Europe. According to M. Bedel (who classes it with Ophonus and not with Harpalus) it belongs to the sub-genus JPseudophonus, Mots., but differs from our other two species of the group {griseus and ruficomis) in having only the two external interstices punctured, and in not being pubescent on the upper surface ; it appears, however, to come nearer to R. cBueus, which also has the external interstices punctured and the upper surface smooth. The following is a detailed description of the insect : — Black or pitcliy-black, under-side sometimes pitchy-brown ; antennse and palpi clear red ; thorax much broader than long, with sides feebly rounded in front and very slightly contracted, almost straight, towards base, posterior angles right angles ; the entire base is coarsely and rugosely punctured, and is depressed on each side, but with no evident basal fovese ; elytra rather long, broader in front than base of thorax, with deep impunctate strife, interstices somewhat convex, the space between the 8th stria and the margin densely and finely punctured, besides the usual marginal row of large^pores ; metasternum rather strongly punctured ; legs black or pitchy- black, tarsi clear red. Length, 11 — 13 mm. (5^ — 6^ lin.). This species somewhat resembles a large male of H. tenehrosns^ but may at once be distinguished by its larger size, sharp posterior angles of thorax, and the punctuation of the base of the thorax, and also by the clear red antennae. H. tenehrosus appears to be somewhat variable ; I have before me a pair from the same locality, of which the male is much darker and more shining than the female, and larger : the female is duller, with a bluish reflection on the elytra ; the thorax also has the sides rather more rounded in front, and the base smoother ; the stri« of the elytra are less deeply impressed, and the legs less robust ; on the other hand, I have a male (taken by Dr. Power at Brighton, in company with Mr. Dawson) that agrees almost exactly with the female just spoken of. It is probably owing to this variation that a confusion has arisen concerning this species and S. litigiosus. As far as I can make out, this latter has never occurred in England, and must be erased from our lists ; it comes, however, very close to S. tenehrosus, being apparently only distinguished by its larger and more parallel-sided thorax, and by having a row of large punctures at the extremity of the 8th stria of the elytra ; the striae also are very finely punctured. OpJionus diffinis, Dej., is sunk by M. Bedel Q. c. p. 170) as 174 * [January, synonymous with O. rotundicollis, Fairra, (ohscurus, Sturm, nee Tab.). As there has been considerable confusion in our lists with regard to this species, I wrote to Herr Eeitter for a specimen, and he kindly sent me one from his collection ; this differs from rotundicollis in having the thorax more strongly punctured and slightly less rounded at the sides, and with the posterior angles in a very small degree more strongly rounded ; the differences, however, are so very slight (especi- ally as a. rotundicollis is somewhat variable as regards punctuation of thorax), that there seems hardly any doubt but that the species are synonymous, or, at the most, that one is a variety or race of the other. Eye (Ent. Ann., 1872, p. 134) says, that " JEf. dijinis stands in the same relation to H. rotundicollis, Fairm., as griseus to rujicornis ;" but in this he is wrong, as the difference in the posterior angles of thorax in the first two species is hardly perceptible, whereas H. griseus has the posterior angles very blunt, almost rounded, while in H. ruji- cornis they are very acute and projecting. I have lately been carefully working through the Ophonus group, and I may add, in conclusion, that although I believe H. cordatus, Duft., and H. rupicola, Sturm, to be distinct species, yet, after a careful examination of a large number of species, I have come to the conclusion that the connecting links between ^. ^:»w;ic/icc//^s, Payk., S. rujiharlis, F. (crihellum, Steph.), and S. pnrallelus, Dej., are so strong, that it is extremely doubtful whether they do not all belong to one species ; of course, the extreme forms are very easy to separate, but some of the intermediate forms cannot be assigned to either one or the other. H. cordatus is distinct by its strongly convex and cordate thorax, which never repeats itself in the other forms (although speci- mens occur that somewhat resemble it in shape, yet they are always distinct), and H. rupicola is easily distinguished by the much stronger and coarser punctuation of the interstices of the elytra. M. Bedel (I. c. p. 70) se'pnTSites puncticollis and rufiharlis on the ground that the latter has no trace of a basal border, whereas, the base of the former is always finely bordered, but M. des Gozis (Eevue d'Entomo- logie, iv, p. 116) proves that this character is not constant, and of no service in settling the difiiculty ; he says that in September, 1883, he took Ophonus puncticollis by hundreds, and that quite half presented no trace of a basal border. As far as my experience goes, specimens from the same locality or spot do not vary much. I once took upwards of two hundred specimens of rujiharlis at Eepton from a spot a foot square, and they were very constant in the shape of the thorax. Lincoln : 2iovetnber 12th, 1885. •1886.1 175 A SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH SPECIES OF CEPHINA. BY P. CAMERON. The species of Oephus appear, with the exception of the common C. pygmcBus and phthisicus, to be rare in this country. They are chiefly found in the South of England, there being only two species found in the North, namely, C. pygmceus and G. phthisicus ; while only the latter is found in Scotland. I believe, however, that some of the European species may yet be discovered in Britain ; and I hope that North and West during next season some attention may be given to the collecting of these insects. C. floralis, Kl., has been recorded as British by Stephens, but I have not myself seen any specimens of this species, which seems to be very little known on the continent. Sub-G-enu8 JANUS, Steph. Antennae slender, filiform, not thickened towards the apex, the 3rd joint longer than the 4th ; eyes oval, not reaching to the base of the mandibles ; abdomen not more than one-half longer than the thorax ; the 4th joint of maxillary palpus double the length of Gth ; the basal joint not half the length of the 2nd. 1. Cephtjs ctnosbati, Lin. (pi. vii, vol. ii, fig. I), =femoratus, Curt., = connectus, Ste., =^faunus, Newm. Black, four anterior tibiae and tarsi testaceous, a line on the pronotum, the base of femora and basal third of posterior tibiee, white. The S has the apical third of the anterior femora, and the whole of the four posterior, reddish, the tibiae pale testaceous, and the base of hinder tibia; white. Not uncommon in the South of England. Sub-Genus PHYLLCECUS, Newm. Antennse 25-28-jointed, thick, sub-filiform, thin at base, becoming gradually thickened towards the apex ; the 3rd joint a little longer than the 4th ; the two basal joints of maxillary palpi nearly equal, the 4th but very little longer than the 6th ; prothorax not transverse ; hind tibiae with one spine. 1 (2) Pronotum yellow, the sides of abdomen with 6 or 7 broad yellow bands, the 4th segment banded with yellow. S'. inermis, Huthe : I find this a very common species and very widely spread, having taken specimens at Exeter, Cambridge, Winder- mere, and Gairloch. I expect most of Walker's S. soluta belong to this. 8. S. recurva, Lw. : this species is very common, especially in gardens. 9. S. suhnitens, n. sp, : on May 11th, 1868, 1 took three specimens of this on a tree-trunk at Denmark Hill, and thought they seemed distinct from S. recurva, but had considerable doubt, desiring more 1886.1 181 specimens to make sure. Year after year I searched in vain, though I was in the same garden almost every day, but when strolling in the garden early in the evening of May 24th, 1873, I noticed a peculiar shimmer in the air under a large mulberry tree ; upon examination it proved to be caused by hundreds of this species. I have never seen it since. It is very closely allied to S. recurva, but is longer and thinner, the thorax somewhat shining, very distinct from the dull thorax of S. recurva ; the wings are broader, with the forks of the forked vein widely diverging at the tip. 10. S. minutissima, n, sp. Nigricans, opaca ; abdomen depressum ; pedes fubci, geniculis saltern tarsisque sordide albidis, tibiis posterioribus sub-clavatis ; halteres et palpi sordide albidi ; alffi latffi. I^o^g-' 1 ^^1^- This species occurred in profusion at Pagham Harbour (then being reclaimed from the sea) on June 22nd, 1876 ; it was so small that it readily crept through the meshes of my fine muslin net, but, like all the species of the genus, was most reluctant to fly. 1 Last winter I made some experiments in Micro-Photography, and was most successful with the wings of this species ; I have, therefore, given a woodcut of the ^^.^.^^H^^ wing, which was taken from a photograph. It is . -^ "-V ^,^^j.iQug ti^at all tlu-eeof these new species I have ^: ; now introduced have the forked vein peculiar, in that **% ^ - /' the forks widely diverge or fade away. This species ^^^" ^_^/ ' is not closely allied to any other ; it is dullish black, ^^v[v— rT,-rC^^^^ j.atl,gj, narrow, the thorax brownish at the sides, and Uthed with pale short dense pubescence, which is also on the scutellum ; the an- Nnn^ are rather short and thick, becoming slightly thicker from base to tip, and with a whitish sheen over them ; abdomen depressed, about two and a half tmies longer than broad, widest a little after middle ; legs obscure brownish, knees tars:, halteres and short palpi dirty dull whitish, in paler specimens the legs are dull pale brownish ; all the tibi^, especially the posterior, widened towards the tip. 11. Fsychoda alhipennis, Ztt. : not at all uncommon on windows in my house. 12 P. hmeralis, Mg. : also not imcommon on windows here, and I possess a considerable number of either this or a pos»,b^ new Bpecies, larger and more ochreous, bred from decaying snails by Mr. J H. A, Jenner of Lewes. Stephens included P. ku,ne.-ahs m h.s Systematic Catalogue of British Insects. 13. I>icrano,n!,ia ornata, Mg. : many specimens of this handsonie species were correctly named and distributed by the late Mr_ J. a Dale, but yet I do not find it recorded as Bnfsh. I caught one myself this year at Bonchurch, I. AV., m June. rt 182 [January, 14. Bliipidia etenophora, Lw. : I caugbt one female of this at Lyndhurst on the 18th of June last. Only one specimen has been hitherto recorded, which was bred at Erankfort-on-the Maine. 15. Limnohia macrostigma, Schum. : common at Lyndhurst last June. 16. L. anmilus, Mg. : one female at Lyndhurst on June 22nd, 1872. This is the grandest species of all the LimnohiadcB, except perhaps Pedicia rivosa. 17. L. nigropunctata, Schum. : one female at Darenth on May 12th, 1867. I also have one caught this spring near Lewes by Mr. J. H. A. Jenner. 18. Tliaumastoptera calceata, Mik : this exceedingly rare species occurred abundantly in a hedgerow near Lymington last June ; three or four might be caught in one stroke of the net. Mik described it in 1866 (Verb, zool.-bot. Wien, xvi, 302) from two males and five females caught by him at Grorz (Goritz) in Austria, and since then I have only noticed the record of one specimen caught by Westhoff in Westphalia in 1882. 19. Aritocha opalizans, O.-Sack. : the occurrence of this species in Great Britain is possibly of even more interest than the last, as it was originally described from North America ; it has, however, since been observed in Austria and Switzerland. I caught two specimens in June, 1884, at Tongue, it therefore very likely lurks under one of Zetterstedt's unrecognised Scandinavian species ; it is also undoubtedly the species intended in Stephens' Catalogue, vol. ii, page 243 ; Genus 20 : (1144) — 7893, 1 ; thoracicus, miJii, as many specimens occur in the British Museum under that name ; this is another proof of the accuracy of Stephens' eye as far as a "genus" was concerned. The group which Osten-Sacken has named Limnohina anomala seem to me to be remnants from a very ancient time, nearly all of them being exceed- ingly widely spread, but left only in isolated colonies ; they are also interesting in being the obvious stepping stones from the Limnohince to the EriopterincB, the closest links of which at present are Thaumas- toptera for the former and Goniomyia or Empeda for the latter, Tliau- mastoptera being apparently a Ooniomyia with the short fork of the radial vein ending in the sub-costal vein, instead of in the costa. 20. Empedaflava, Schum. : this is not uncommon ; I have taken it near here, and also last June at Bonchurch, Lymington and Lynd- hurst. This is a species which may or may not be considered new to Britain, as undoubtedly when "Walker (Ins. Brit. Dipt., iii, 275) de- scribed Acypliona imhuta, Mg., he had a sj^ecimen of this E. flava before him ; however, as both species are British, one must be new to Britain. {To be continued). ,886.; j^gg Bistrihution of Lepidoptera.—An interesting instance of fluctuation in the distriljution of insects occurred to me in July, on the occasion of spending a few days at my old locality, Haslemere. When I left there seventeen years ago I had so thoroughly worked the country for many miles round that it was extremely difficult to find any species of Lepidoptera new to the district. But on this year's visit, on my first walk a couple of miles out of the town I took one species, Homceosoma biticevella, not previously known to occur there ; and on the next day at Woolmer Forest another such novelty occurred, Seterogenea aselliis. Considering the thorough manner in which both localities were formerly worked, I think it quite improbable that these two species inhabited the district at that time. Another day I beat out a specimen of Botyg lancealis, from a hedge which I used constantly to work. This species had previously only occurred once or twice at some miles distance. — Chas. G-. Bakeett, 68, Camberwell Grove, S.E. : September l%th, 1885. Lepidoptera near Haslemere. — Although insects do not seem yet to have recovered from the influence of the late unfavourable seasons, and are by no means I to be found in their former numbers, it was pleasant at Haslemere this summer to see examples of many interesting species, familiar in that neighbourhood in old times, but hardly ever seen by me since. My stay was limited to one week, but I found the beautiful Cidaria picata, as of old, on the hill sides, hiding in the tall hedges, and requiring an immense amount of labour with the beating stick to bring them out. With them I found Melanippe tinangulata, a few Olindia ulmana of both sexes, and rarely Bichelia Grotiana. One of my most gratifying captures was Tortrix cinnamomeana, which occurred in two or three localities among oak, beech, and larch, and of which I secured some very nice specimens. While watching for this species in the late afternoon, one of the children brought a specimen of CryptoUahes histriga, not quite in as good condition as could be desired. On the heath, Anarta myrtilli was flying much more commonly than I used to see it, and if possible, with more than its normal energy. Little else was to be found on these usually productive heath? except an occasional Agrotis por- phyrea or Pleurota hicostella, and the abundant Eupacilia avgustana ; but one Gnophos obscurata occurred of a very pretty colour, dark grey flecked with white scales. Further search for this species produced nothing but a pair of very handsome egg» of the goatsucker, Caprimtdgus europcBiis. My one day at Woolmer forest was delightful, and insects {TahanidcB excepted) most remarkably scarce. It was glorious, after so many years, again to see Limenitis Sibylla soaring and gliding among the oak trees. The lovely creature was not at all common, I suppose I saw altogether but a dozen, yet every one was like a gleam of silver, and it seemed shameful to kill anything so lovely. Such sentiment was, however, tolerably cheap, for they had no intention of being killed, and only three allowed themselves to be deluded within reach. One (the last) fell fairly and evi- dently a victim to curiosity, for as I came to the glade which he frequented, he came down from the oak tree on which he was about to settle down for the night, and sailed close round me, evidently reconnoitring, and doubtless was much surprised and disgusted at the interruption he received, i suppose there was plenty of honey dew on the oak leaves, for bramble flowers seemed to have lost their attraction, 184 [January, neither L. Sibylla nor Argynnis Faphia (which was scarce) seemed to take any notice of them. The only common butterfly was Lycana JEgon, which was plentiful in the open boggy places, and in great beauty. One principal object of my journey that day was Acidalia straminata, but not a specimen could be disturbed from among the heather, and I at last secured two specimens only by the very unexpected method of jarring small fir trees with a heavy stick. They seemed to be resting on the tops of these trees, Macaria liturata appeared to be fairly common among the firs, but mostly worn ; Cleora lichenaria sat on their trunks and limbs, and females of Fidonia piniaria on the tall Carices underneath them. Badly worn specimens of Hypena crassalis and Erastriafuscula were still to be found sitting on the trunks of the same trees, or among the whortleberry below ; and two freshly-emerged JSllopia fasciaria seemed well satisfied to rest on the leaves of the bramble. Single specimens of Euthemonia russula and Aspilates strigillaria came out of the heath ; of Lithosia mesomella, Aventia flexula, Tortrix roborana, Penthina caprceana, and Heterogenea asellus (already noticed), from the oaks; and Nephopteryx roborella from birch ; while Pempelia palumbella was of course among heath in open places. Formerly I should have thought this a poor day's result in that locality ; now I was delighted with it.— Id. : October, 1885. Abnormal neuration in the toings of Hymenoptera. — In our last number, pp. 148 and 149, Mr. Vincent R. Perkins describes some peculiarities in the neuration of the anterior wings of some of his captures. After reading his observations I referred to my own collection to see what I could find in the way of abnormal neura- tion among my own specimens, and, having found several examples, I thought I would add a few remarks supplementary to what Mr. Perkins has already recorded. Sphecodes pilifrons, Th. One ? with only two sub-marginal cells in the left anterior wing, the external nerve of 2nd stcb-marginal being absent. HaUctus rubicundus, Ch., ^ . Both anterior wings with only two sub-marginal cells, the external nerve of 2nd sub-marginal absent. Ralictus villosulus, K. A male and female each with the external nerve of 2nd sub-marginal slightly abbreviated at the apex in either wing ; another $ has the external nervures of the 2nd and drd sub-marginal cells so faintly traced as to be scarcely observable, as also are the nervures of the 2nd apical cell. HaUctus breviceps, Saund., (J . Right anterior wing with only two sub-marginal cells, external nerve of 2nd sub-marginal absent. Andrena Clarkella, K., (J . Left wing with only two sub-marginal cells, external nervure of 2nd sub-marginal indicated only at the base. Another ^ has two sub-mar- ginal cells only in either wing, the external nervure of 2nd sub-marginal completely absent in both ; a ? has this nerve abbreviated in the left wing. Aomada Roberjeotiana, Panz., (? . Right wing with only two sub-marginal cells, external nervure of 2nd sub-marginal absent. Nomadaf acuta, Panz., S • 3rrf sub-marginal cell incomplete in left loing, its external nerve being abbreviated. Noniada ruficornis, L., ? . I have a small $ with two sub-marginal cells only in either wing, the external nervure of 1st sub-marginal cell being onl}'^ just indicated .at its base. Nomada ferruglnata, K., S • Both wings with the external nervure of the 2nd sub-marginal cell abbreviated at the apex ; $ with the external nerve of the Isf sub-marginal abbreviated on the left side. 1686 I ^g^ It would appear from the above instances that the external nervure of the 2nd sub-marginal cell is that most liable to variation, there being 11 out of 11 specimens with this nervure affected, the external nervure of the 1st sub-marginal is affected in two cases, and that of the 3rd in one only. I have not found any peculiarity of neuration among such of the Anthophila as have only two sub-marginal cells ; variation in the forms of the cells is very frequently observable, and makes one doubt the value that has usually been put upon neuration as a basis of classification. — Edwaed Saunders, St. Ann's, Mason's Hill, Bromley, Kent : December 9tk, 1885. Coleoptera near Lewes. — The following notes and list of captures of Coleoptera during 1885 may perhaps be of interest. I began the season by searching moss, tuft pulling, &c., but insects were very scarce compared with former years; some of the commonest were entirely absent, and nothing of particular note was captured. About tlie middle of February I tried flood rubbish, insects were fairly plentiful, but not nearly so common as in the previous year. Abbots Wood, one of our great strongholds, did not produce the usual number of good things, although I worked it at different times of the year. I paid two visits to Laughton Wood, and the quality of insects taken there I am glad to say was a little better. I worked principally in the vicinity of the town ; now and then I had a fair day, but several times I came home without an insect in my bottle, which, I think, must be due in a great measure to the past dry seasons. Appended is a list of my principal captures : — Pelohius tardus, Lewes, common ; Bry chins elevatus, Lewes, fairly common ; Philhydrus melanocephalus, Lewes, very common, but local ; Hydrochiis angustatus, Abbots Wood, common ; Ochthehius ceratus, Lewes, common ; Eydrcena nigrita, Abbots Wood, common ; Stenus paUitarsis, flood rubbish, Barcombe, scarce ; Silpha thoracica, Laughton Wood, scarce; Telmatophilusfyphce,liewes, sc&rce; Endomychus coccineus, Lewes, scarce ; Adalia obliterata, Laughton Wood, scarce ; Chilocorus simil is, Wi\e\s&eld, common ; Elmis Vol km a ri, Lewes, scarce ; Ontfwphagus vacea, Abbots Wood, common ; ApJiodius erraticus, Abbots Wood, very common ; Eoma- loplia ruricola, Lewes, scarce ; Brilus flavescens, Lewes, S , common ; Apion punctigerum, Abbots Wood, scarce ; Briichus cisti, Lewes, common. I have also taken a specimen or two of each of the following, viz.: Licinus depressus, Sphodrus leucophthalmus, Hydroporus memnonius, Proteiniis atomarius, Liodes orbicularis, Anisotoma duhia, Atomaria fimetarii, Cyrtotriplax bipustulatus, Athoiis niger, Corymhites bipustulatus, ScapUdema ceneum, Melandrya carahoides, Pyrochroa coccinea, Orchestes pratensis,Gymnetron rostellum, Apion atomarium, Apion ebeninum, Rhynchites hetuleti, and Orsodac7ia cerasi. The principal part of these last were taken at Laughton Wood, and Abbots Wood.-C. H. Moeris, School Hill, Lewes : December, 1885. Sydnohius Perrisii, Si'c, near Hartlepool. -1 have been fortunate in taking a good series of Bydnobius Perrisii this autumn at Hartlepool, and also three specimens of Mydnobius punatatissimus, as well as the Mlowing :-Anisotoma TriepkH (5), A. rugosa (3), A. duhia (8), A. calcarata (1), A. litura (1), and Colon denticnlatum (1) ; Mr. W. a. Blatch, of Birmingham, has kindly named the above for me. Amongst a miscellaneous lot of my first year's captures, which I sent to my friend 186 [January, Mr. Sang to get named, when he was at Burton-on-Trent, a specimen of the rare Bryoporus Hardy i was discovered, of which only two specimens have been previously recorded ; this specimen is now in Dr. Mason's collection ; I have looked for it again, but without success. — J. G-aednee, 8, Friar Terrace, Hartlepool : November 2Cth, 1885. Observation on the habits of Litodactylus (Phytobius) leucogaster, Marsh. — At the November meeting of the Entomological Society, Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited some living specimens of JEubrychius {Phytobius) velatus, Beck., in order to shew that they swam with their hind-legs after the fashion of a Dytiscide ; these specimens he kindly gave to me after the meeting, and I kept them alive for some time ; they were able to swim not only on the surface but could dive beneath it, and although their natural buoyancy appears to force them upwards yet they are able to dive quite far enough to seize the aquatic plants, and to which they cling, in case they do not project above the surface : if they do, they prefer to seize them near the surface and crawl down them. A little while ago I asked Mr. J. J. Walker if he could procure me living specimens of any of the other members of the genus and its allies, and he kindly captured for me two specimens of Litodactylus leuco- gaster ; these swim in exactly the same way as E. velatus, except that their buoyancy seems to be somewhat greater, and their power of diving below the surface somewhat less in consequence. These sub-aquatic Curculionidre seem to be able to sustain life under water as well as, if not better than, the Dytiscidce. As I was going from place to place, when Mr. Waterhouse gave me his specimens, they were often corked up in a small tube of water for many hours together, but did not seem to be any the worse. — W. W. Fowler, Lincoln : Dec. 9th, 1885. Cryptocephalus frontalis, Marsham. — I have taken this beetle rather freely at Rusper, Horsham, during the month of July. This year it continued till the 22nd, a late date, I believe, for this genus. The Rev. H. S. Grorham, who accompanied me, captured upwards of twenty. — H. J. Q-OEE, 7, Well Road, Hampstead : Decem- ber, 1885. Cryptocephalus frontalis, Marsham. — This species has been captured rather freely this year by Mr. Gore and myself in a place at Rusper where I swept up one specimen in June, 1873. Thanks to Mr. G-ore's hospitality, I was able to re-visit the spot this year on the 15th July. Mr. Gore had previously met with a few this year. The place is a very unlikely looking one for Cryptocephali, being in fact by the side of a corn-field ; but in the ditch some low sallow was growing, and it is my opinion that it was upon that that the insect was sitting. — H. S. Goeham, Shirley Warren, Southampton : December 15th, 1885. Notes on Arachnida. — I have this autumn taken Lycosa riparia, L. Koch, ?, at Lower Camden, Chislehurst, the specimen having been kindly identified for me by the Rev. O. P. Cambridge. This spider is perhaps not uncommon, but it has as yet only been recorded for a very few British localities, and is new to the London district. With the Lycosa I took Micaria pulicaria, Sund., ^ , Tegenaria atrica, Koch, 9 J Linyphia thoracica, Wid., L. tenebricola, Wid., and several others. I have also taken Linyphia bicolor, Bl., and Neriene livida, Bl., at Bedford Park, Chiswick. — T. D. A. CocKEEELL, Bedford Park, W. : Nov. 2lLh, 1885. 188(5.] 187 South London Entomological and Natural Hibtory Society.— The Annual Exhibition was held at 1, Dennian Street, London Bridge, on December 3rd, and was very successful. The following is a summary of the principal exhibits :— Mr. McLachlan : drawers of European Trichoptera, Ant-Lions, Ascalaphidce and NemopteridcB, and the shell-like cases of PsyeliidoB from Zanzibar, noticed in Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, pp. 1, 2. Mr. Jenner Weir : exotic Rhopalocera, including the genera Morpho and CaUgo, and a series of Danais Archippus {Anosia Plexippus) from widely distant parts of the globe. Mr. South (the President) : series of the British species of Melitcea, shewing local variation, species of Argynnis, Lyccena, and CfEtionympha from Britain and Switzerland, many varieties of British Lepidoptera, British Tortrices, Bryophila par and impar, &c. Mr. Adkin : British species of lleliiaea, Argynnis, and T'a)iessa, with numerous varieties, northern forms of Hepialus hamuli, Engonia querciyiaria, also Nola centonalis, Macrogaster caslanece, &c. Mr. Elisha : fine series of British Micro-Lepidopiera, and series of bred Oeometra smaragdaria, and CoIeo])hora vihicigerella from the Essex marshes. Mr. Earn : hermaphrodite Foecilocampa populi, with series of Pteroxia caudella, ^pilonota lariciana, &c. Mr. Wellman : Lepidoptera taken or bred during the year, including Sesia chrysidiformis, ichneumoniforvtis, and culiciformis, Chcerocampa Celerio, Hes- peria Paniscus, Lobophora poJycommata, Lemiodes pulveralis, a third brood of Acidalia rubricata, and second broods of A. trigeminata, holosericeata, &c. Mr. Tugwell : three drawers of varieties of British ZygcBnidce, the unique (as British) Syntumis Phegeea, IVI varieties of Setina irrorella, Dianthoecice shewing local varia- tion, Nola centonalis, &c. Mr. Tutt : a series of Agrotis tritici, nigricans, obelisca, and cursoria, shewing endless variation. Mr. Bird : Lepidoptera from the Fens, including Macrogaster castanece, Acronycta strigosa, Senta uIvcb, Xascia cilialis, Coccyx Ochsenkeimeriana, &c. Mr. J. T. Williams: bred series of Boletobiafuligin- aria, and Acidalia rubricata, &c. Mr. Lovett : varieties of British Lepidoptera. Mr. Bower : Eupoecilia curvistrigana and subroseana, Peronea tristana, hastiana, Coleophora conyzce, &c. Mr. Dobson : Ennomos erosaria, a dark variety of Platypteryx lacertula, &c. Mr. Watkins : exotic Lepidoptera, including silk-pro- ducing BombycidcB. Messrs. Jager and Brooks : Callimorpha Hera, and Cucidlia artemisice from Devonshire. Mr. Neave : a very remarkable variety of Lyccena Alexis, in which the spots of the underside were replaced by a series of dashes, varieties of Ennomos angularia. Abraxas grossulariata, &c. Mr. Hickling : four examples of Sphinx convolvuli from Sidcup. Mr. Hall : a variety of A. grossulari- ata, also Dianthoecia albimacula, Toxocanipa craccce, &c. Mr. Cooper: Pericallia syringaria, &c. Mr. Gaskell : Liihosia helveola, and Dianthcecia conspersa. Mr. Croker: various Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Eymenoptera. Mr. W. Pearce : Acherontia Atropos. Messrs. Eley, Lowery, Barker, &c. : British Lepidoptera. Mr. Billups : British and exotic Coleoptera, including Spercheus emarginatus, JDytiscus lapponicus, &c. ; also several drawers of British Diptera, and Eymenoptera, including LchneumonidcB, and a drawer of British Galls, with their makers and parasites, &c. ; the method of mounting the specimens was much admired. Mr. West (Greenwich) : six drawers of British Coleoptera, including Calosoma sycophanta, Chlcenius SchranMi, &c. Mr. Lewcock : British species of ^^^7^;/^, Prionus coruirnis, Saperda carcharias, &c. Mr. Cripp : British species of Donacia. IVIr. Eley : Notiophilus rufipes, &c. Mr. Enock : three cases illustrating the habits of the British trap -door spider. q 2 188 [Januaiy, Apart from Entomology, there were Exhibitions in other Departments of Natural History. Messrs. Danes and Cook : ornithology. Mr. Mackenzie : birds'- eggs. Messrs. Step and Eowe : British land and fresh-water shells. Mr. Step : illustrations of Surrey fungi. Mr. W. A. Pearce : herbarium of British and exotic plants. Mr. A. E. Pearce : admirable water-colour studies of plants.— W. A. Peaece, Hon. Secretary [abridged by Editoes]. Entomological Society of London, Dec. 2nd, 1885 : J. W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., RL.S., Yice-President, in the Chair. Lieut.-Col. Blathwayt, of Batheaston, Bath, and S. P. Smith, Esq., of Danes Inn, Strand, were elected Fellows. Mr. Enock exhibited photographs of Mymaridce, and drawings copied by the "Auto-copyist," which gave satisfactory results. Mr. Eland Shaw exhibited the species of Copiophora, of which a drawing was brought before the last meeting by the President, from an example taken in a hot-house at Birmingham Mr. Porritt exhibited a melanic variety of Luperina testacea from Grlasgow, and other melanic Noctuce, which he was unable to determine with certainty. Also an Agrotis, probably A. ohelisca, taken at Southport. Mr. Dunning read an annotated List of all the Honorary Members elected into the Society since its foundation. TEOPICAL AFRICAN COLEOFTERA; CHIEFLY FROM THE ZANZIBAR MAINLAND. BY H. W. BATES, F.R.S., . Mauchii (Bates = D. Oatesii, Westw., in Gates' Matabele-laud, p. 359), both differing from D. gigantea in the thorax being longer and narrower, with its lateral margin more obtuse and gently curved, without angles: in these respects both stand midway between D. gigantea and D. limhata (Bertoloni). D. purpurascens differs from D. Mauchii in its purplish-coppery elytra, the shining raised lines of which are all longer, reaching within a short distance of the apex ; the first, at least, as long as the four others. The short streak or elongated spot on each elytron is distant from the base in D. pupurascens. The labrum is black, with a tawny-white central vitta in both sexes. The joints 5—10 of the antennae are very much wdder than in D. gigantea and the elytra more ovate, in both sexes gradually narrowing to the base, with obsolete shoulders. Mamboia, East Central Africa {Mr. J. T. Last) ; several examples. Deomica (Cosmema) quadeigfttata, sp. n. D. citreoguttatae (Chaud.) angustior. Lineari-oblonga cuprascenti-nigra, elytris lateribus carinaque utrinque mediana valde obtusa, nitidis, utrinque maculis duabus rotundis a margine sat distantibusfiavis, P«« mox pone medium, 2nda ante apicem : labro ( 9 ) nigro, vitta mediana jiava : capite lato, {oculis valde prominentib us) undique eleganter strigoso : tliorace fere cylindrico, undulato-strigoso : elytris anguste 190 [January, ohlongis ( $ ), angulo suturali dentato, dorso confertim grosse punctatis : cor- pore subtus cyaneo-violaceo, coxis femoribusque basi viridi-csneis pedibus nigris : antennis Jiliformibus, gracilibus. Long., 15 mm., ? . Distinguished from all other described species by its elytral markings— two round whitish spots on each, distant from the margin, by the obtuse costa down the centre from the base nearly to the apex, on which the punctures are less dense than on the rest of the surface, and by the short and broad head, broad and flattened between the very prominent eyes, and suddenly narrowed behind. The elytra are moderately narrowed towards the base and have distinct humeral angles. One female example taken near Mamboia by Mr. Last. Fam. CAEABID^. Sub-fam. 8QABITINM. \ OcHTROPUS giCtAS, Schiodtc, Kroyer Tidskr., 1847, p. 350, tab. iv, figs. 1 — 4. O. lucano'ides, Putzeys, in Chaudoir, Monogr. d. Scari- tides (1879), p. 22, note. Usambara. One example taken by the Yen. Archdeacon Farler. Chaudoir confounded this species with the much commoner West African O. Savagei, of Hope, apparently not having studied Schiodte's excellent description and figure, in which the broadly flattened penul- timate joint of the labial palpi, the longer and straighter mandibles, the frontal cavity, the peculiar form of the thorax, and the absence of conical projection behind the eyes, are clearly described and figured. The middle tibife have a row of short strong spines on their outer edge above the sub-apical spine ; in O. Savagei the short spines are j reduced to small denticulations. The maxillaB are curved and pointed at the apex ; in O. Savagei they are broadly obtuse. According to Chaudoir's classification this would place the two species in different genera and in different chief sections of the sub-family ; the form of the mentum is also different and the side lobes quite free from thickened margins, whilst they are margined in O. Savagei, as in the restricted genus Scarites. The species is found in West as well as in East Africa, in similar latitudes. Mamboicus, nov. gen. Fades gen. Crepidopteri sed gen. Ochyropo magis ajffinis. Caput sicut in Ochyropo Savagei; mandibulcs ( breviter bilobato ; tibice gradatim dila- tatcB apice extus acutissimce. Long., 10 mm., n\»\i-grej (= M. ffriseus, Mg.?), the frons is however a little more reddish, the pleurae are brown rather than ochreous, and the antennae are usually more darkened, with often the two basal joints more determinately yellow, also what Zetterstedt calls the lower fork of the wing veins is distinctly shorter than the upper, while in M. propinquus they are nearly equal j the male genitalia are most distinct from any species, in that they have only two very long black sickle-like middle appendages, no other portion being black, but these two being very prominent; the upper lamellae are smaller than in M. propinquus, but bear at their upper inner angle a pair of shortish rather thick processes, which usually lie close together (just as the lamellae usually touch in this part in M. pro- pinquus) ; there are no black hooks at the lower inner angle. I do not think this can possibly be Meigen's M. griseus, as that must surely be more grey, and seems to have been recognised by Zetterstedt. Walker's IHrioptera grisea is certainly not a Molophilus at all, according to his table, and his type specimen in the Eritish Museum is a true Erioptera. 200 [February, 25. BhypliolopJius varius, Mg. : this rather handsome species occurred freely near here in a wood in the fen at Chippenham last iSeptember ; Stephens reputed it as British with a query, and Curtis without a query, while in February, 1870, Mr. B. Cooke sent me a specimen named Erioptera varia, but his specimen has the last vein short ; what it is I cannot make out at present. 26. a. Jicsmorrlioidalis, Ztt. : I captured four specimons of this a few days after taking JR. varius, in another marshy wood near the fen at Exniug. 27. B. similis, Staeg : one specimen at Braemar in July, 1873. 28. Dactylolalis 'FrauenfeJdi, Egger : the late Mr. J. C. Dale caught many specimens of this, and recognised it as a new species, which he called Limnohia alpicoJa, and even saw it was generally dis- tinct from any other British species, but I do not think he ever described it. One specimen out of several which he gave me has on the label attached to it " Lakes," hence I suppose it occurs in the " Lake District." 29. Limnophila punctum, Mg. : "Walker's L. punctum is only i. dispar, Mg., both from description and types, but I caught a true L. punctum at Bannoch in June, 1870. 30. L.fuscipennis, Mg. : in the New Forest last June ; a clear character separating this and L. discicollis, Mg., from any Limnophilcs I know is that the base of the second sub-marginal cell is at a right angle with the prsefurca. 31. L. lucorum, Mg. : Walker's i. lucorum is only L. ochracea, Mg., but true L. lucorum occurred freely at Lyndhurst and Lymington last June. L. lucorum has the marginal cross-vein at the base of the fork, or exceedingly near the base. 32. L. sepium, n. sp. : this is probably Zetterstedt's L. lucoru7n, var. /3, and had I not taken numerous specimens of each, I should have thought it immature L. lucorum ; however, I am now convinced it is distinct, as follows : — L. lucorum. Pleuree clear light grey, never yellowish. Marginal cross vein at fork. S'. consimilis, Eln. ; it is not very rare in the north, I took several at Braemar in 1873 and I have odd specimens from the Lake District and North Sutherland. I mention this species because Meade omits it, otherwise it has been reported British. 75. Homalomyia Roserii, Und. : this very distinct species occurred abundantly under one tree in a wood close to Three Bridges Station on July 31st, 1882 ; I had previously caught one at Eotherfield, also in Sussex, on September 8th, 1875. Unfortunately I have been unable to find the female. 232 [March, 76. Anthomyia sylvestris, Fin. : of this fine species I caught two males and one female at Aberlady on June 23rd, 1884 ; T believe it was abundant, but unfortunately I mistook it for Sylemyia conica. I suppose this would come in Meade's genus CJiortophila, but at present I leave all PJiorhia and Chortophila under Anthomyia. 77. A. striolafa, Fin. : this and the following species are fairly described by Schiner, and I believe do not come under any of Meade's species, most of which I possess. A. striolafa used to occur very freely in May on long grasses in a field which is now part of my garden ; since this land has been joined to the garden the species still occurs, but less abundantly. I have also taken it at Darenth, Aber- lady, and near Lewes. Dr. E. H. Meade informs me that it is his Ch. tra'pezina^ Ztt. ; it is, however, very distinct from a specimen I re- ceived from Kowarz named Gli. trapezina. 78. A. discreta, Mg. : very like the preceding species, but it is smaller, and the frons of the male is much wider ; I have taken it at various places, amongst others at Barton, South Walsham, near Lewes, Aberdeen, and Tongue. 79. A. vetula, Ztt. : I am not well satisfied with the name of this species, but yet believe it correct ; one important point is that "Wahl- berg mentions catching it abundantly on March 1st, when it was the only Anthomyia to be seen, while I caught mine abundantly in ^Vidg- ham "Wood near here on March 17th, 1884, when A. muscaria was the only other species about. It is a very small species, with a dark thorax, produced face (hence Zetterstedt's synonym A. naso), thin proboscis, short antenna?, and hind tibiae with from 2 to 4 tiny erect bristles inside. 80. Pegomyia diaphnna, W. : this conspicuous yellow Anthomyia, which at first glance resembles Hyetodesia pallida, has occurred rarely in my own garden and at other places within about two miles. 81. Chirosia aJbitarsis, Ztt.: this very remarkable species, the male of which has the base of the front tarsi whitish, occurred freely in June, 1884, at Loch Maree and at Tongue. The genus Chirosia would come amongst Meade's genera allied to Coenosia, but is easily known by its complete anal vein (like Mycophaga) and its bare arista. 82. Tetanocera Icevifrons, Lw. : amongst other specimens of this I note one taken at Plashet Park near Lewes on July 3rd, 18(58, and another at Kew on July 17th, 1868. 83. Elgiva rufa, Pz. : I think Walker's Tetanocera cucullaria me.] 233 (Ins. Brit. Dipt., ii, 166) is really Elgiva rufa, whicli is common in England, but true E. cuGullaria, L., also occurs though more rarely ; I possess it from Plashet Park near Lewes and from Woking. 84. Psila viUosuJa, Mg. : on my study window on September 9th, 1884 ; probably common, but overlooked. 85. Psilosoma Lefehvrii, Ztt. : I have an old specimen which I do not know the history of, but which I have no doubt is British. 86. Themira spinosa, n. sp. !N'ear T. minor, Hal., and like that, small, entirely black-legged, and having the black costa extending to end of fourth vein ; the front legs are however very different from any figure given by Van der Wulp in Tijda. Ent., vii, Tab. 8, and the end of the male abdomen bears pencils of bristles very like his T. curvipes, I. c, Tab. 8, f. 11 ; the front (^) tibiae have a strong tubercle in front about the middle, on the lower edge of which is a good sized bristle, while just above the tubercle is another double bristle ; the femora are extremely compressed about the middle and swollen after, on this swollen part above are about four strongish bristly hairs, and beneath about the middle is a strong bifid or double tooth, between which the tibial tubercle would lie when the legs are folded, near the base is a long thin bristle ; the basal joint of the front tarsi is thin, except at end, and as long as the next three joints, the second and third being about equal ; the hind tibiae are very strongly twisted about the middle, almost as if broken, and are finely ciliated inside above the twist. The pleurae are greyish above the middle coxae. Of the European spe- cies with fasciculated male genitalia (Cheligaster, 'Mcq.), T. Leaehii, Mg., curvipes, V. d. Wulp, and {Enicita) annulipes, Mcq., have the legs more or less reddish- yellow ; of the black-legged species T. putris, L., is much larger than the others, leaving T. superba, Hal., ciliata, Staeg., and pusilla, Zett., to be distinguished from T. spinosa. I omit Desvoidy's two species (on which the genus was founded) as 1 think his T. pilosa is most likely only T. putris, L., rather than T. superba, Hal., as given by Walker (Ins. Brit. Dipt., ii, 212), and his T. phantasma may well be T. Leaehii, Mg. ; of the three left I possess a male of T. superba, Hal., and in that the hind tibiae are comparatively simple, and the front legs much as Haliday describes them, which is quite distinct from, though allied to, T. spinosa ; T. ciliata, Staeg, besides having presumably simple hind tibiae, has " pleuris immaculatis — femoribus intermediis subtus apice, posticis latere interiori ciliatis ;" T. pusilla, Ztt., is very insufficiently described, but probably has simple hind tibiae and "femora antica subtus — denticulo — et setulis aliquot brevibus nigris." I caught several specimens of this on the islands on Loch Maree, on June 9th, 1884, and one male at Tongue on June 18th, 1884. T. minor, Hal., occurred in company with it on Loch Maree, or at any rate was taken on the same day. 87. Ptilonota centralis, E. : one female at Darenth, May 5th, 1867. 88. Fterojpcsctria palustris, Mg. : several specimens caught on August 3rd, 1884, at Seaford answer well to this species, also some caught at Plashet Park near Lewes on August 4th, 1872, and one at Abbots Wood, Sussex, on July 12th, 1869. I am not at all satisfied with the distinctness of this species from P. oscillans, Mg. 234 [March, 89. SpiJographa Jiamifera, Lw. : I have a female of this from Scotland, given me by Dr. Algernon Chapman. 90. Trypeta jacece, Dsv. : the true T.jacecB, Dsv., with three pairs of bristles on the middle of the thorax, has never been distinguished as British ; I caught several in AYicken Feu from July 3rd to 7th, 1875. 91. Uropliora quadrifasciata, Mg : I caught this well-marked species on July 17th, 1870, near Warrengore Wood, Lewes ; besides this I possess old specimens. 92. Tepliritis vespertina^ Lw. : this species (easily recognised by the pale spot at the tip of the wing being almost pushed out by the extent of the dark lattice-work) is not uncommon. I first distin- guished it from specimens bred by Mr. W. A. Vice, in 1873, from Hypochceris radicata at Banchory, but I have caught it at Handcross in the middle of Sussex on April 12th, 1884, and at Lyndhurst, Fawley, and Eannoch, in June, at Barton in July, and at Esher in August. 93. T. conura, Lw. : this also was bred by Mr. Yice, in 1873, from Garduus palustris ; I caught one specimen at Pitlochrie on July 1st, 1874. 94. T. conjuncta, Lw. : I have specimens (which I believe belong to this species) from Aberdeen, Eannoch, and Three Bridges. Besides this I have a still more typical specimen, the history of which I do not know. 95. UreUia cometa, Lw. : I caught one of this beautiful species at Lymington on June 24th, 1885. 96. Meromyza lata, Mg. : specimens from Lewes, Lewisham and Abbey "Wood seem clearly to be this species. 97. Notipliila nigricoroiis, Stnh. : I have caught this at Lyndhurst on June 26th, 1872, and Bournemouth on July 14th, 1874. 98. JSf. annulipes, Stnh. : one specimen at Plashet Park near Lewes on August 4th, ]872. 99. Ephydra h'eviventris, Lw. : Loew named a specimen caught at Kew on August 4th, 1868, as this ; he ought to know the distinct- ness of this from E. micans, which he named for me at the same time. 1 have not studied the Ephydrincs enough to give any clear opinion myself. 100. Limoaina ferruqinafa, Stnh. : this used to be abundant at Denmark Hill when I lived there. In No. 28, Bactylolabis FrauenfeJdi, line 3, the word " generally " should be "generically." Sussex Lodge, Newmarket : December llth, 1885. 1886. ) 235 Possible acclimatization of Papilio Erecthens, Don., in Euroioe. — This fine species could, probably, be easily acclimatized in the South of Europe. When we left Sydney on March 30th, 1885, I had a number of pupfe which emerged at differ- ent times on the way home, after undergoing great changes of temperature. From Sydney we proceeded through Torres Straits to Singapore, where we arrived on May 8th, and remained for about a month. Larvae and pupae taken in March and April would, in their natural course, produce butterflies in August or September, The temperature at Sydney at the end of March averaged 70° in the shade, and it would continue to get cooler up to the middle of June, which is about the coldest time of the year. At Singapore, in May, the thermometer ranged from 80° to 88°. From Singapore we went for a few days to Batavia, and from thence across the Indian ocean to Aden. The temperature during the passage was, comparatively speaking, cooler, but directly we passed through the straits of Bab-el-mandeb and entered the Red Sea the heat became intense, 89° to 94° in the shade, and not much cooler at night. At Malta, where we arrived on August 2nd and remained until the 7th, the heat was very great, indeed, it was said that they had not experienced such weather for nearly thirty years. On board ship the temperature was only recorded 79° to 93°, but I feel convinced that it must have been higher, for on shore it rose to 120° in the shade, and cases of sunstroke occurred daily, even among the Maltese. Not- withstanding the extreme heat the pupae of Erectheus were subject to, the perfect insects did not appear much earlier than they would have done had they remained in their native country. The first emerged at sea between Java and Aden on June 19th, and the last at sea between Malta and Gribraltar on August 14th. Had we come direct home from Sydney, these butterflies would not have been born until after our arrival in England. There would be no difiiculty in sending a supply of pupae by mail steamer to Brindisi, where they would doubtless soon acclimatize themselves, as the larvae feed almost exclusively upon various varieties of orange and lemon. — GrEEVASE F. Mathew, H.M.S. " Penelope," Harwich : February 12th, 1886. GrapJiolitha PenMeriana bred from Nut and Alder Catkins. — The gi'een larva which last season I found abundantly in catkins of nut and alder, but was unable to rear (see Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xxi, p. 203), has this season proved to be the above species. On the 2nd of November, 1884, I was in the neighbourhood of the nut plantation where I had obtained the larva the previous spring, and was surprised to find that the catkins of the nut were fullv grown, and only required the warm sun of early spring to expand the anthers. The late and very fine autumn had had a similar effect also upon the catkinb of the birch and alder, which, however, were not so forward as those of the nut. It was about the middle of March when I had previously found the larva, then quite small, which I now know to be PenMeriana; three months and a half later, but as I did not expect to be in the locality again for some time, and as the catkins were as forward as I had previously found them in March, I gathered a quantity, selecting those which had an abnormal bulge near the centre. There were a considerable number thus distorted, but when I got them home and examined them I was not able to detect anything which had caused the swelling, nor indeed could I find larvae of any kind in the catkins. I put the catkins, much broken up by examination, into a bottle, and tied a piece of rag over the mouth. Towards the end of February there was a plentiful supply of larvae U 2 236 ■ t^^^^^cb, crawling fibout in the inside of the bottle. The catkins were getting too dry to be eatable, having been in the bottle nearly four months. Being unable to obtain more catkins, as they had been out of flower for some weeks, I placed in the jar some nut buds, and was pleased to see that the larTse ate into them in the same manner that I had found them eating the alder buds in the spring This cleared up the point that the larvae had the same habits upon the nut as upon the alder, of feeding in the catkin when small, and resorting to the buds when the catkins had become too expanded to conceal them ; or as they were then dead, for the withered remains of the catkins upon the trees were less fit for food than those which I had kept in the jar. At the beginning of April, I visited the locality where I had obtained the larvae, thinking I might be able to get a fresh supply, and being anxious to ascertain whether in a state of nature they eat the nut buds. The latter point I was able to settle, as I found numbers of buds scooped out by the larvse ; I could not, however, find any larva?, and all buds that had been eaten had grown considerably since their voracious visitor had left them, so it was evident that those I had in confinement in a cool and almost sunless room, had been more retarded in their growth than their comrades who, though exposed to the frost of winter, and often with their pendulous home encased in snow and ice, yet had the warmth of every hour's sunshine. On the 3rd of May I visited my alder locality, and found the larvae almost full-fed within the buds. When attacking a fresh bud the habit of the larva is generally to make the hole near the foot of the bud, between the bud and the stem, so that when it had got within the bud, the hole by which it had entered was almost concealed. This method of operation had also the advantage, that the larvae were less exposed while eating into the bud than if they had commenced in any other position. On the 25th of May I again searched these alders, and found the larvae then full grown ; the alder was almost fully in leaf, and the larvse in search of fresh pabulum had evidently difficulty in finding unexpanded buds. Buds which had begun to open were webbed at the top slightly to keep them together, and in one instance I found a larva which had webbed together two young leaves, but in this as in all cases where leaves were attached to buds, the larvse appeared only to eat the projecting ribs of the under-side of the leaf. Finding that the larvse were to some extent forsaking the buds, I applied a walking stick rather vigorously to the branches, with the result of finding several larvae in the umbrella held beneath. Two days after this I bred G. Fenkleriana from the larvse out of the nut catkins obtained in November, and on the 6th of July and following I bred it from the larvae got in April and May in alder buds. The larva, when young, is pale green, and tapers slightly and gradually from the third to the anal segment ; head and second segment unusually large and shining black, having somewhat the appearance of a helmet ; thoracic feet dark. As the larva approaches full growth, the third to sixth segments become slightly swollen, and the head and second segment are proportionately less and lose their blackness, being but very slightly darker than the rest of the body, with some brownish markings ; spiracles very small, with a spot above and below very faintly darker ; a few shining Bpots on anal segment ; pupa light brown, with large wing-cases meeting to a projecting point in front ; eye-case large, round, and conspicuously black-brown. — A. Balding, Wisbech : December 30ih, 1885. Longevity of the larva of Nepticula apicella. — At the beginning of September i88e.] 237 I noticed that all the aspen leaves on some young trees had, at the bases of their footstalks, the little commencing mines of this insect. How much earlier the larvae really begin to feed is anotlier matter, as it has to mine up the greater part of the leaf stalk before appearing in the leaf ; and if it makes no better progress then than afterwards, it probably begins at the end of June or beginning of July. I never find any mines empty until the beginning of November, and very few then. The mine does not appear to be enlarged much until after the middle of October. Of course in November the aspen leaves have all been off some time and are quite brown, and many of them half rotted. The great bulk of the larvae remain in the leaves until the middle of November (some even a month later) before entering the ground, so that they will have most likely from five to six months of larval life, as the summer- laid eggs of NepticulcB hatch quickly. There is another matter connected with this species to which, at Mr. Stainton's request, I wish to draw attention. In volume seven of the Nat. Hist. Tineina, the life-history, food-plant, and description of the larva of iV^. apicella are given ; but, most unfortunately, the name, figure, description of imago, and the (Beckenham) locality, are those of argyropeza, a very different insect and quite distinct from apicella. I believe the larva of N. argyropeza is totally unknown both here and on the Continent. This error has caused great confusion in many cabinets ; many specimens of apicella having been distributed, both by myself and others, as the much rarer argyropeza, before the error was detected. In all probability the great biilk of the captured, and all the bred examples extant, are apicella. It would be well if gentlemen having specimens of argyropeza in their cabinets, would rectify the error at once where it exists. — J. Sa^g, 33, Oxford Street, Darlington : February, 1886. Nepticula argyropeza and apicella. — The error of confusing these two insects in the 7th^volume of the Natural History of the Tineina was brought before me by Professor Fritzsche in some manuscript notes which he placed in my hands when we met at Stettin in September, 1803, at the Meeting of German Naturalists at that place. Immediately on my return home I wrote to Professor Fritzsche on the 2nd October, 1863, as follows : — " Having safely reached home the day before yesterday, I write to-day about Nepticula argyropeza. To my great regret I must confess that in the last volume of the Natural History of the Tineina a serious error has occurred. " The larva of my therein mentioned argyropeza belongs to my apicella (the argyropeza, a, Zeller), the imago, however, is really my argyropeza ! The question now arises on what does the larva feed which produces my argyropeza with the costal spot nearer to the base than the dorsal spot ?" Professor Fritzsche replied to this November 5th, 1863 : — " Your note as to argyropeza has much interested me. Now that we have come to a clear understanding as to this species, one matter is still needed, that is, a new name for your argyropeza of vol. 7 of the N. H. Tineina, since, according to the rules of priority, Zeller's name of argyropeza (var. a) must be retained for apicella, Stainton. Please, therefore, to name your argyropeza afresh, and to let me know the new name, in order that I may introduce it in my short paper." 238 ' [March, To this I replied, November 16th, 1863, suggesting the name of suhapicella for the argyropeza noticed and figured in the imago state in the 7th vol. of the N. H. Tineina. I have no reason to believe that Professor Fritzsche ever published his intended paper ; in the mean time, the matter being in his hands, I deferred writing any notice on the subject myself : but now that Mr. Sang has kindly broken the ice for me, I am bound to say a few words. Professor Fritzsche's suggestion that Zeller's naine argyropeza should be retained for my apicella, and that my argyropeza should bear a new name, seems unfortnately to render the whole matter more complicated ; perhaps, for the present, it were better to let that point rest, and look upon my proposed suhapicella as a benevolent wish that has never been carried out. In vol. 7 of the Natural History of the Tineina, pp. 188 — 195, " the larva," " the mode of life," and " the geographical distribution," apply to apicella with " the costal and dorsal spots exactly opposite ;" "the imago" applies to argyropeza with " the costal spot anterior to the dorsal spot." The food and larva of this latter insect has yet to be ascertained. Can it feed on Populus alba (the white poplar) ? — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham : February 6th, 188G. The probable food of Gelechia vilella. — Mr. Warren's note as to his having bred G. vilella (unwittingly) 15 years ago has much interested me. This insect, first described by Zeller from his Sicilian captures in 1844, has since been found widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, and has occurred commonly in several localities in England. In Grermany I believe it has not been found in any plenty, and only in a few localities. In a letter which I received from Herr Josef Mann in October, 1851, 1 find an intimation that the larva of Gelechia vilella feeds on stinging nettles, and is full fed at the beginning of April. This observation, made at Brussa in the spring of 1851, seems never to have been published. Herr Mann's notes on his captures at Brussa in 1851 were not sent to press till eleven years afterwards, and the observation on the larva of G. vilella ■was not recorded in its proper place. Now, after an interval of 35 years ! I place it before the public. Herr Mann subsequently met with the insect in Corsica and in Sicily ; in the former locality he says it was " flying amongst nettles in the evening," in the latter locality that he found " several on walls where nettles and Parietaria grew." — Id. : January 2bth, 1886. Crambus vigens, JButl., or Crambus fucatellus, Christ. — When I was looking over the Museum collection of Crambi a little time ago, I noticed one from Japan named vigens, Butl., which I at once recognised as being identical with C. fucatellus, Christ., and of which I have several specimens from Vladivostock in Southern Amoor. There appears to have been a little confusion with the synonymy of this Crambus, arising, probably, from the fact that Christoph was not aware that his fucatellus had been previously described by Butler. It appears advisable, therefore, in order to prevent this being perpetuated, to put on record the history of this species. 1886.] 239 In the Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist, for December, 1879, p. 456, Butler describes this new Crambus from Japan under the name vixens, one specimen being then in the collection. In the Moscow Bulletin for 1881, vol. Ivi, Christoph, in his paper, Neue Lepid- opteren des Amurgebietes, also describes this same species under the name of fucatellus, saying that he found it from the middle of July to the middle of August at yiadivostock and Askold. Butler's name, therefore, has the priority, so that, hereOj^teT, fucatellus, Christ., must sink as a synonym of vigens, Butler. In Lord Walsingliam's most valuable addition to the Museum, I also found a single poor specimen of this Crambus, to which Zeller had affixed a label, vide j^orcel- lanellus, which is quite a distinct species of Motschulsky's. Zeller's reference to this latter insect was probably caused by the fact that he did not know porcellanellus, and that the dark markings of vigens (which his specimen undoubtedly is) were in his one example very much obliterated. It is unnecessary to describe vigens afresh, as any entomologist can readily refer to the original description ; but I believe thpre is no description of Motschulsky's species in the English language, so that, to prevent any further confusion of these two Crambi, it may be well to describe it here. C. porcellanellus, Motsch : — Anterior wings satiny-white, with a marginal black line from the apex to the third median veinlet, followed by three black dots below this vein. Posterior wings pale brownish-grey, darkest towards the costa, and gradually changing to pure white on the abdominal margin. The fringes are white throughout. The thorax is white, and the abdomen brownish-grey. Beneath the anterior wings are clouded with silvery-brown, excepting on the costal, exterior, and interior margins, and the posterior wings are white, becoming silvery-brownish towards the costa ; body as above. This description is taken from the specimen in the Museum collection from Hakodate, standing next to C. vigens. — Gr. T. Bakee, Augustus Road, Edgbaston : February/ 3rd, 1886. JButalis fusco-cuprea bred. — This insect is given by Mr. Stainton, in the Manual, as "perhaps, not truly distinct" (from the preceding species, senescens). I have always maintained its distinctness, having for the past twenty years been taking it among Lotus corniculatus on our railway banks, where I invariably swept it from, or took it on, that plant. Of late years I had looked for the larva but was never able to find it. We have no thyme within many miles. I had the pleasure, at the end of last year, of having my opinion confirmed by Mr. Gregson having bred a fine series of it, from larvae found in the Isle of Man feeding on Lotus corniculatus. There is no scarcity of thyme in that island, so that it can hardly be a case of com- pelled change of food. The larva spins a slight web up the stems of its food-plant. I have seen the specimens and they are truly fusco-cuprea, so that, perhaps, the doubt as to its specific rank may now be at an end. — J. Sang, 33, Oxford Street, Darlington : February, 1886. Drepanopteryx phalcenoides at Hastings. — Mr. E. A, Butler, formerly of Hastings, has communicated to me a wing of this species, mounted as a microscopic 2-iO ^^-^i'^^' slide, with the following note : "I took the insect at Hastings many years ago, and impaled it on a ' spike.' It ultimately went to pieces, and I preserved only the wing, as I thought it a curious insect. It was named for me, some years ago, by the late F. Smith." This forms an exception to the otherwise ascertained distribution of the insect in Britain (cf. ante, p. 140). There is no prima facie reason why the species should not occur over nearly the whole of this island. Still a suspicion suggests itself to the effect that the Hastings example may have resulted from an egg or pupa on an imported shrub. The mystery attached to this insect in connection with its oc- currence in Britain, is why, having so conspicuous an appearance, it should be so little known. The specimen here alluded to has been already recorded, and should have been included in Mr. Morton's notes at p. 140. The record is to be found in " The Natural History of Hastings and vicinity : first supplement (p. 35)," published in 1883. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham, London : February l^th, 1886. On the occurrence of Orthezia cataphracta, Shaw, in Styria. — Some years ago, when my attention was occupied with the Flora of the calcareous mountains of North Stiermark, I found at the roots of a saxifrage {Saxifraga aizoon) an elegant cream-white insect, which afterwards proved to be Orthezia cataphracta. For assist- ance in its determination I am obliged to Dr. F. Low of Yienna. I found it only at the roots of the said saxifrage, and to be able to see it the plant must be drawn out of the ground. Although the saxifrage abounds on our calcareous mountains, I can obtain the Orthezia up to this time only at the place where I found it at first. On the Krumpalpe Saxifraga aizoon occurs frequently, but I have found yearly at the roots of only a few plants a moderate number of the Orthezia, yet over a range of nearly 1300 met., which is the height of the mountain. Thus we find this insect, which lives in Greenland, Lapland, North England, Scotland and Ireland, to be also an inhabitant of our Alps. I may mention that I found the Orthezia specially on those plants of saxifrage which grew on the more humid and mossy ground. During the last four years I have visited the place at different times from April to Decem- ber, and although I always found females, with and without marsupium, I have failed to obtain a male ; my experiments in breeding have also had a negative result. I hope to finish in a short time a detailed monograph of this anatomically interesting insect. — J. H. List, Zool. Institut, Graz : February bth, 1886. A species of Amara new to Britain. — Among a number of beetles sent me some time ago for determination by Mr. Robert Gillo, of Bath, I found a specimen of an Amara which at once struck me as being different from any of the hitherto recorded British species. I sent the specimen to the Rev. W. W. Fowler, and afterwards to Herr Reitter, the latter of whom returned it as certainly the Amara montivaga, of Sturm, a species which in the most recent European catalogue is given as an inhabitant of middle and northern Europe, but which has not, I think, been previously recorded from Britain. Mr. Gillo tells me he took the specimen near Bath, but does not remember the exact locality or the date of its capture. I have appended a description of the specimen, which is a male. Amara montivaga, Sinrm : — Oblong-oval, slightly convex ; dark greenish-bronze. 1886.1 241 very shiny ; antennse pitchy, with the three basal joints yellow-red ; thorax slightly broader at the base than the elytra, much narrowed in front, sides only slightly rounded ; anterior angles obtuse, and not prominent ; posterior angles right angles, but rounded at the apex ; base of the thorax distinctly sinuate ; basal impressions obsolete ; elytra broad, parallel-sided for two-thirds of their length, faintly sinuate before the apex which is slightly produced; striae simple, rather deeper behmd ; the marginal row of punctures interrupted in the middle ; legs with the femora black ; tibiae reddish ; tarsi brown. Length 3^ lines. This species is at once recognised from all the other British Amarcs by its very broad thorax, the base of which is somewhat wider than the base of the elytra, by its somewhat depressed and parallel-sided form, and by its high polish. It is distinguished at once from lunicollis,ovata, and similata, its nearest allies in Britain, by the absence of any fovea at the base of the thorax.— John W. Ellis, Brougham Terrace, Liverpool: February Wth, 1886. [Dr. Ellis remarks that he sent the specimen to me ; I returned it to him as probably A. nitida, Sturm, a species that is placed in the European lists immediately before A. montivaga ; as Herr Eeitter is acquainted with A. montivaga, his determination must be in all probability correct. It did not, however, appear to me possible that Dr. Ellis's insect could belong to that species, as Schaum (Naturgeschichte der Insect. Deutsch., vol. i, p. 524) lays particular stress upon the legs being entirely black; in the short Latin description of A. montivaga, he says, " pedibus totis nigris," and again in the Grerman description, " die Beine sind ganz schwarz ; " on the other hand, in describing A. nitida, he says, " femora black, tibiae ferruginous, tarsi brown ;" this it will be seen agrees exactly with Dr. Ellis's description ; it is obvious, therefore, that either Schaum or Eeitter must be wrong. I am rather inclined to think that the colour of the legs in the genus Amara, which some authors lay so much stress upon, is a very misleading character. — W. W. F.]. The South London Entomological and Natueal Histoet Society, 2lst January, 1886 : R. Adkin, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. Mr. Frohawk exhibited specimens of the curious ichneumon Allysia manducator, G-r., bred from the Coleopteron Creophihcs maxillosus, L. Mr. Billups exhibited male and female specimens of Sirex gigas, L., belonging to the family Siricidce, and remarked that the larva were very destructive to wood, more especially Fir planta- tions, and cited many instances to show the great rapacity and strength of the mandibles of these destructive creatures. This gentleman also exhibited specimens of the ichneumon Rhyssa persuasoria, which species was parasitic on the Sirex. Mr. Wellman exhibited some striking forms of Xanthia aurago. Mr. Dobson exhibited two specimens of Acherontia Atropos, the pupae having been kept in a temperature of between 60° and 70°, and emerging respectively on the 2nd and 5th of January. Mr. Carrington exhibited a curious malformation of Fieris rupee. Mr. South exhibited specimens of Noctua castanea {neglecta) from the New Forest, and two localities in Perthshire, and said those from the New Forest were gray with an ochreous tinge and were the true neglecta, whilst those from Perthshire were either gray with a reddish tinge or of a decided chestnut colour, the chestnut coloured specimens being the castanea of Esper ; and the reddish tinged gray ex- 242 i' March, amples connecting the true named forms. Mr. Carrington said he had taken and bred both forms in Scotland, where he had found the larva feeding on sallow. February Uh, 1886 : The President in the Chair. Mr. Billups exhibited Agapanthia Uneaticollis, Don., from Lincoln, also Callidium variahile, Linn., and Strangalia 4:-fasciata, Linn., from Chobham. Mr. Rose exhibited a variety of Satyrus Hyperanthus, L., in which the ring-spots of the upper-side, instead of being of the ordinary form, were identical with those usually confined to the under-sides. Mr. Wellman, a fine series of Oporabia Jiligrammaria, H.-S. Mr. J. T. Williams, a very beautiful banded variety of Nyssia hispidaria, Fb. Mr. Joy, subdiaphanous varieties of Vanessa lo, L., and V. urticce, L., and Mr. South, short series of Emmelesia albulata, Schiff, from Switzerland, Kent, IS". Devon, Dumbarton, Rannoch, and the Shetland Isles, and contributed some interesting notes on the different forms exhibited. The President having briefly referred to the sug- gested publication by the Society of a list of the fauna and flora of certain of the southern counties of England, Mr. J. T. Carrington proposed the following resolution : — " That as no complete list of the fauna and flora of the southern counties of England exists, this meeting resolves that the Council of the South London Entomological and Natural History Society be requested to organize the collection and publication of the material for such lists, under the auspices of this Society, of those counties which shall be agreed upon." Mr. Eley seconded the resolution which was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. — H. W. Baeeer, W. a. Peaece, Hon. Sees. Entomological Society of Lomdon, February 3rd, 1886 : R. McLachlan, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The President appointed Mr. F. DuCane Godman, Mr. Stainton, and Mr. J. J. Weir, Vice-Presidents for the year. Dr. Livett, Lieut. Q-oodrich, Mr. Eustace Bankes, and Mr. F. Enock (formerly a subscriber), were elected ordinary Fellows, and Mons. E. L. Ragonot (ex-president of the Societe Entomologique de France) a foreign Fellow. Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited female scales of Coccidae of the genus Eriopeltis, possibly different from E.festucce (cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., a7i(e p. 168). Mr- E. A. Fitch remarked that E.festucce had been recorded as British at a meeting of the Society held about thirty years ago. Mr. Douglas sent for exbibition leaves of Fuonymus japonicus, received from M. Lichtenstein, infested by Chionaspis euovymi (Comstock), first noticed in the United States, but which occurred in great numbers at Montpellier and Nimes, and always destroyed the shrubs attacked by it. The number of S scales was quite out of proportion to the ? . M. Lichtenstein expressed a hope that the insect did not occur in Britain. The President exhibited specimens of Tettix australis, Walker, received from Mr. A. S. Olliff of the Sydney Museum, who had captured them at the river Nepean (N.S.W.) ; Mr. Olliff stated that the insect was decidedly sub-aquatic ; he had found the insects not only on the surface of pools, but also eight or ten inches below the surface on the stems of water-plants, and they descended when approached. The President remarked on the interesting nature of this exhibition, and stated as his 1886.] 243 belief (from personal observation) that many Acrydiidce and Locustidce voluntarily 1 took a bath by leaping on to the surface of streams, &c., swimming to the bank after a short time (if not meanwhile swallowed by fish). Mr. W. F. Kirby exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Ealfe, certain specimens of LyccBna Corydon, &c., purchased by the latter at a recent sale, of a very extra- ordinary character, and suggestive of chemical action. Mr. Weir and others made some remarks on the specimens. The Rev. W. W. Fowler exhibited the British example of Harpalus calceatus, Sturm, recorded ante pp. 172-174 ; also a series of British species of Helophorus, and made some remarks with regard to the extreme difficulties in synonymy affecting this genus. Furthermore he exhibited a specimen of Apion Lemoroi, Brisout ; it was not uncommon on the French shores ; the larvse feed in the stems of Polygonum aviculare, and he was of opinion that it might be found on our own coast. Mr. H. Q-oss read an analysis of Mons. Brongniart's recent work on " Les Insectes Fossiles des Terrains Primaires " (Rouen, 1885), and expounded that author's views on the classification of insects from geological data. The Rev. W. W. Fowler read notes " On a small collection of Languriidce from Assam, with descriptions of two new species." Mr. Baly read a paper *' On new genera and species of Galerucidce" chiefly from the collections of Mr. A. R. Wallace. Mr. J. Edwards communicated the first part of a synopsis of British Cicadina. NOTE ON SOME BRITISH COCCID^ (No. 2). BY J. W. DOUGLAS, F.E.S. The attention given to the Coccidce in this country, although ex- tending over a long period, has been so desultory, intermittent, and imperfect as regards the number of species noticed, that no systematic English work on the subject exists, and much remains to be done, both in collecting and investigation, before the number of species inhabiting Britain can be known. My previous tentative " Note " (p. 157 ante) has brought to me several kind, instructive and encouraging letters ; with the aid therein promised, and that of other entomologists who may be induced to collect and observe, an authentic list of British Coccidid, accompanied by accounts of their varied economy and times of appearance, may be rendered possible. The last item is of im- portance, for much of success in obtaining the males depends upon the time of year when the scales are collected ; and it would too often happen to the collector, that with such vague terms as " spring " or " summer," which for the most part are the only ones given as the season when the males are disclosed, he would find, if he got the scales, that the imagos had flown. One correspondent suggests that I should not say " British 244 [March, 1886. Goccidce,^' because they are cosmopolitan, and wherever the plants that they affect grow, there the insects will be present. It seems, therefore, necessary to state that the term " British " is only employed in the usual zoological sense, not to indicate that the insects are ex- clusively British (the foreign origin of most of the names negatives this), but that the species inhabit or have been introduced into Britain. Although it is true that a comprehensive philosophical idea of species and generic groups can only be obtained by the study of forms from all parts of the earth, yet it must be remembered that the great ma- jority of the collectors of insects in Britain are only able to give attention to those within their immediate reach, and it is to aid and encourage such, with reference to Coccidce, that is now my primary object. In a new field of research the acquisitions, if not absolutely new to science, are at any rate new to the collector, and the pleasure of their discovery is only second in degree to that of him who finds a species unknown before. Of this Kingsley speaks in his " Glaucus " as " the delight of finding a new species, of rescuing (as it seems to you) one more thought of the divine mind from Hela, and the realms of the unknown, unclassified, uncomprehended." There are many delights in store for those M^ho will work up the Coccidce with even a portion of the attention that has hitherto been given to Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. Fortified with a competent knowledge of our native or introduced Coccidce, any one who may have the opportunity will be better pre- pared to enter on the study of the whole cycle of the existence of these organisms ; and the best modern guides will be found in the works of Signoret and Targioni-Tozzetti for Europe, Comstock for America, and Maskell for New Zealand. Eor the information of enquirers as to what they are to look for, where the objects are to be found, and when, I subjoin a brief summary of the prima facie aspect in their ultimate state of such scales as are most likely to occur in this country, either in the open air or under glass, but this list is not exhausted ; together with a list of the plants upon which they have been obtained, omitting those species mentioned in this or my preceding paper. The time of the year can, as a rule, be given only as spring or summer, for in most cases it has not been more precisely stated. The object should be to get the scales as soon as may be before the wonderfully formed males emerge ; the greater interest attaches to this in that the male of many species is not known, and without this knowledge the natural history of the species is im- April, 1886.] 245 perfect. The scale is formed by the moulting of the successive skins lof the insect, combined with and augmented to a greater extent by the secretion by the insect of a waxy matter, which soon hardens into Ispecial forms ; in some genera the scale is wholly formed of such secretion. The insect in all cases lives beneath the shield, the apterous female laying her eggs there and her body then drying up ; the male, losing its mouth organization when it becomes a pupa, when it has attained its wings emerges backwards. The scales of the male, as a rule, are different in form and size to those of the female, as will ap- pear in the following notes. Directions for rearing the males from the scales will be found p. 14, ante. From the adult female scales many Hymenopterous parasites of different genera will be sure to appear, and may be obtained by securing the scales in the same way as those of the males. I have several reared from Lecanium which are very much at the service of any specialist. Scales. DIASPINA. Scale formed in part of moulted skins and in part of secretion by the insect. Aspidiotus — circular or nearly so ; exuviae central or lateral in ^ , concealed, covered with a pellicle with a raised point in the middle. Diaspis — ? circular ; measuring about 41 mm. to about 36 mm., it also has the discoidal and apical patches of the anterior- wings larger and blacker, and the latter has a distinct yellow spot in front of the apex, which is the com- mencement of a lees indistinct transverse band. The small spots on the under-side of the hind-wings are also larger and more distinct. The only ? Levaillantii I have is scarcely larger than the (^ , but it will be seen that the two species are extremely nearly allied. Anthocharis EupJieno^ L., common at Lambessa in April : I have also one remarkably small variety taken at Guelma in May. Colias Edusa, E., common during February around Lambessa, and in June v. Selice was plentiful at Guelma. RJiodocera farinosa, L., Guelma, June, rare. Thecla ilicis, v. oesculi, Hb., Guelma, June, and its aberration, cerri, occurred not unfrequently at Souk Harras. Thestor Ballus appeared on the wing at Lambessa towards the end of February, and was common during the following month ; mauritanicus, Lucas, plentiful at Lambessa for about the first three weeks of February. Polyommatus phlceas, L., common at Lambessa in February, as was also its v. JEleus at Guelma in June. 252 [April, Cigaritis Massinissa, Lucas, Guelma, May, rare. LyccBna hcetica, L., not rare at Souk Harras in June ; Theo- pJirastus, F., Souk Harras, June ; Ahencerragus, Pierret, Lambessa, March, common : it would be quite impossible to distinguish some of my specimens from Baton, v. Panoptes, if they were unlabelled ; Astrarche, Bgstr., Guelma, May, all of the usual Algerian form, i. e., with the red spotted border very bright and broad ; Icarus, v. Coelina, Const. : this variety replaces Icarus in Algeria, and was abundant at Guelma in June ; Argiolus, L., Guelma, June : the only specimen taken comes very near the var. Jiypoleuca, the spots on the under-side being almost obliterated ; melanops, Bdv., rare at Lambessa in March, one V. MarcJiandii was also taken at the same place ; lolas, Och,, one specimen, of the usual Algerian form, viz., with the ocelli beneath to a minimum, was taken at Guelma in May. Vanessa poly chlor OS, L., plentiful during the whole of February around Lambessa, v. saturata occurred at Guelma in May. Melitcea Phoehe, L., one specimen was taken at Lambessa in April, which is a link between Phoehe and Oberthiir's va^viet j punica. Satyrus Alcyone, Schiff., Guelma, May, rare. Pararge Megcsra, v. Lyssa, Guelma, June, not uncommon ; JEgeria, L., rare at Guelma in June, this was of the usual South European form. Epinepliele janiroides, Guelma, June. ; Pasiphae, v. Philippina, Guelma, June, common. Coenonymplia Pamphilus, v. Lyllus, Guelma, July. SpilotJiyrus althcBce, v. hceticus, Guelma, June, rare. Syrichthus Alveus, v. onopordi, Lambessa, March ; Sao, v. ali, Guelma, June. Sesia alhiventris, Ld., one specimen taken at Guelma in June ; doryliformis, O., Guelma, June, rare. Paranthrene tineiformis, Esp., Guelma, June. Chimcera nana, Guelma, July, rare. Ino certana, Lucas, Guelma, May. Zygcena Favonia, F., Guelma, June ; algira, Dup., plentiful at Guelma in June. Naclia 'punctata, v. servula, one specimen from Guelma in June. Lithosia marcida, Mn., Guelma, June. Deiopeia pulcJiella, L., Guelma, June. Ocnogyna hoetica, Eambr. : nests of the young larvae were com- mon in the mountains around Lambessa in February, in the lower 1886.] 253 valleys the larvae were at least half -fed up at the same time : they are polyphagous and easily reared ; the perfect insect begins to appear towards the end of October. Endagria Ulula, ah. algeriensis, one specimen taken at Guelma in June. Orgyia trigotephraSj B., rare at Guelma in June : the specimens taken are of this species, and not anceps, Obr., as is evidenced b}" the darker colour, and the smaller crescent-shaped white mark at the interior angle of the fore-wings. Garadrina, v. sehdonensis, Guelma, June. Cleophana IcBtica, Rambr., Lambessa, April, rare. JPlusia ni, Hb., Guelma, June, rare. Thalpochares ostrina, Hb., Guelma, May ; v. cestivalis, Gn., Guelma, June ; v. carthami, U.S., Guelma, July ; v. Numida, Lucas, Guelma, July, rare. Metoponia vespertalis, Hb., Guelma, June, rare. Metoptria monogramma, Hb., Guelma and Souk Harras, June, not rare. ZetJies insularis, Ramb., Guelma, June : this, I believe, has not been taken in Algeria before. Pseudoteopna coronillaria, Hb., Guelma, June, rare. Acidalia vittaria, Hb., Guelma, June ; numidaria, Lucas, Guelma, May ; litigiosaria, Bdv., Guelma, June, rare ; manicaria, H.-S. : this is, I believe, also new to Algeria, it was taken at Guelma in June. Acidalia inesata, Mill. : this species, of which one specimen was taken at Guelma in June, is, I believe, new to Algeria ; carnearia, Mn., Guelma, June, not uncommon, new to Algeria; incarnaria, H.-S., Guelma, June ; ostrinaria, Hb., Guelma, June ; elongaria, Eambr., Guelma, June. Zonosoina pupillaria, v. hadiaria, Guelma, June. Pellonia sicanaria, L., Guelma, June. JPacJiycnemia hippo cast anaria, Hb., Guelma, June. Gnophos mucidaria, Hb., one specimen occurred at Lambessa in March, it is, I believe, new to Algeria ; asperaria, v. pityata, Eambr., Guelma, June. JFidonia fasciolaria, Hufn., Lambessa, March, Guelma, June. Athroolopha chrysitaria, H., Lambessa, April : I have one speci- men of the pale variety, figured by Lucas, and another, which must be a link very near to the var. Jcabylaria, Oberthiir. Eurranthis plumistraria, YilL, common at Lambessa in April ; some pretty orange-striped varieties were also not rare. Malta vincularia, Hb., Guelma, June, rare ; semicanaria, Frr., Guelma, June. 254 [April, Ligia Jourdanaria, Yill. : this species, wliich was plentiful at Lambessa in April, has not, I believe, been taken before in Algeria. Sterrha sacraria, L., not rare at Guelma in June : I have one curious specimen with the wings of a much dingier yellow, and the transverse stripe brown, and much obliterated; ab.sanguinaria, Guelma, June. Cidaria hilineata, v. testaceolata, Stgr., Guelma, June. Eupithecia hreviculata, Guelma, June. Among the Pyra^idina, the following are most worthy of notice : Cledeohia hit erj unci alis, Gn., Guelma, May. Botys polygonalis, v. meridionaJis and insHtalis, both taken at Guelma in June. Eurycreoji nudalis, Hb., Guelma, June. Cornifrons ulceratalis, Ld., Lambessa, April : this is, I believe, a new locality for this insect. Metasia suppandalis, Hb., and adelalis, Gn., both of these were taken at Guelma in June, and, I believe, are new to Algeria. Cramhus alpinellus, Hb., common at Guelma in June : this is, I think, also new to Algeria. J take this opportunity of making a correction in my former paper on Algerian Lepidoptera. In my description of Bomhyx lofi, var. algeriensis, see page 242 of the last volume, I stated that the ? had no small central whitish spot in the anterior-wings. I have since received another $ specimen which has this spot (as in the parent species) ; it is, however, rather indistinct. Augustus Koad, Edgbaston : December I'Uh, 1885. SOME CAPTURES OF LEPIDOPTERA IN 1885, WITH REMARKS. BY WILLIAM WAEREN. Though my collecting during the season of 1885 was somewhat desultory, yet as I had the good fortune to meet with two or three rarities, with which I hope to become better acquainted another year a short account of my principal captures may prove interesting. To prevent confusion, I will enumerate separately the species met with in the Eastern Counties, taking Cambridge as the centre, and those caught in the London district. My first capture of any importance was on April 26th, at Saffron Walden, when after beating up and down a lane for a whole afternoon without dislodging anything better than a stray S. Steinkellneriana, just before dusk I secured a fine fresh ? H. pauperana. Beaten out 1886.] 255 oi a rose-bush, it flitted quickly along close to the ground for a few yards, and settled beneath a privet leaf, off which it allowed itself to be boxed without further trouble. This specimen was evidently just Dut. The margins of the basal patch and central fascia were marked by slightly raised scales, as in some of the Peronece. I spent two more afternoons after this without seeing another pauperana : and though I have searched regularly every spring for the last six years, I have never been lucky enough to observe a single specimen on the wing. Larvae of E. nigricostana, A. fidigana, and E. rupicola, were as abundant as usual in their favourite haunts. It was while collecting the larvae of this last near Cambridge in April, that I found in the lower part of a hollow stem of Eupatorium a single ElacJiista pupa, which presently produced a ^ imago, that, as far as I can ascertain (and both Mr. Stainton and Lord Walsingham have seen my insect), is distinct from any hitherto described species. A single specimen, however, is hardly sufficient on which to form a species, but further search this spring will possibly enable me to detect the larvae, and throw light on the matter, by breeding the insect in large numbers and both sexes. In June, the usual ground in the Fen districts yielded B. argentula and A. Schrebersiana in undiminished numbers, while in one spot A. SulzeJla and M. Mansuetella were not uncommon. In Wicken Fen the larvae of Gel. morosa and suldecurtella were both abundant in the tops of the yellow and red loose-strifes respectively, but the mines of G^^ac imperialeUa in both broods, were this year conspicuous only by their absence. From a batch of two dozen pupae of G. quercifolia, I bred one imago, which, though unfortunately a cripple, is remarkable by reason of its colour, which is almost exactly the same as that of its smaller, but rarer relative, ilicifoUa. While on the subject of the Fens, it may not be amiss to record that this season the local Pyralid, Nascia cilialis was more than usually abundant, and that a single example of H. palustris, a somewhat damaged ^ , came to the lamp of one of the local collectors. At Tuddenham, in Suffolk, A. suJphuralis, A. ruhricata, and O. IcBfus occurred in profusion, both in June, when I was there, and throughout the summer, while here and there R. dipsacea and H. luctuosa showed themselves in smaller numbers. At Brandon, about the middle of June, I had the good luck to beat out of a spruce fir a fine ? C. OclisenJieimeriana, previously, I believe, only recorded from Lord Walsingham's fir plantations at Merton, where it is said to 256 [April, frequent Abies cephalonica. Continued searching produced a few more, all more or less damaged. The end of May I have since learned is the right time for getting this Tortrix in its perfection. The end of July and beginning of August were spent in looking for B. impar, of which I took a larger number than usual. I think I should be within the mark if I computed the number of specimens taken during the season as at least a hundred, probably twice as many as the captures of all previous years put together. I am inclined to think that this was simply owing to the fact that the search for the species was carried on by a larger number of collectors, and with greater emulation than hitherto, rather than to any real increase in the numbers of the insect. At the beginning of August, also Nonagria neurica was abundant in its reedy haunts ; near Cambridge I have never taken it before August, but in the Norfolk Fens I am told it is out during the second half of July. About the same period I collected a few larvae of P. margaritalis^ and a considerable number of those of lElup. sodaliana feeding in the unripe berries of buckthorn. Early in September, larvae of A. strigosa and A. smuata were to be found, but neither so commonly as in former years. One other good species remains to be recorded, S. Servillana, of which I bred seven fine specimens from larvae collected in April at Monk's "Wood, in Hunts. With regard to this species, it may be useful to draw attention to the fact, that two out of every three sallow twigs cut in spring will have been robbed of their tenants by the birds during the winter months. The rest of my collecting has been, as I said before, chiefly in the neighbourhood of London, and I will now briefly enumerate the most noteworthy captures therein. Early in February, while looking for N. hispidaria in Eichmond Park, I found ^ ^ A. prodromaria, which exhibited a curious instance of malformation. The whole of the abdomen was orange-coloured, and on closer examination was found to be entirely enveloped in a thin membranous integument without any opening at the anus, but so transparent that the parts of the male organs could be clearly discerned through it, imbedded in a sort of waxy, yellow substance. Unfor- tunately, when placed on the setting board, instead of retaining its former appearance and shape as it dried, the abdomen shrank and withered away into a shapeless brown mass, resembling more than anything else a shrivelled pupa-case. I do not remember to have ever heard of a like occurrence, and should be glad to hear of the probable explanation. 1886.1 257 In April, hearing from Mr. Fletclier of Worthing, that, acting on ^he suggestion of Mr. Stainton, he had succeeded in finding larvae of Xjhaul. insecurelJus on Thesium liumifusum, I visited a locality on the downs beyond Sanderstead, where the previous year I had taken an imago, and managed to collect about a dozen larvae and pupae, from which five moths emerged. I w^as not able to look for the second brood at the right time, but at the end of October I caught a ? in the same spot, which was probably intending to hibernate. The month of July pelded the usual Micros in the Parks and suburbs, such as M. oingiois, Gel. 'pinguinella, aJbiceps, and gerroneUa, T. caprimulgella, Lav., iStepkensi, with other commoner species. On a Suburban Eailway Embankment, to w^hich I was introduced by the kindness of a friend, [ secured Ool. Fahriciella, Eup. duhitana, and implicitana, Bucc. iristatella, and AntitJiesia sellana ; of which last species I watched a $ deposit a single egg on the upper-side of a leaf of Flantago lanceolata. From my friend's garden I became possessed of two examples of Gel. nanella, and a third turned up on the trunk of a poplar-tree on Wandsworth Common, whither it must have been blown from some neighbouring garden. At the end of this month and the beginning of August, I had the pleasure of netting, near Sanderstead, a few beautiful pecimens of JEup.flaviciliana, but as I Y>^as late, the majority were worn. Can any one tell me if this species, like Degreyana, is double-brooded ? A single imago of Lith. scabiosella, bred from about 50 mines, collected in October — all the rest of w^hich w^ere either empty or produced ichneumons — and a single Litli, comparella, bred from a mine [from Eipley, in Surrey, which both emerged in November^ were very acceptable. A day at Boxhill in this last month wdth the snow on the ground, produced about 50 Z. hepariella, and a solitary, but equally welcome, Grac. stramineella. About a month earlier, in Headley Lane, I was enabled, again following a hint received from Mr. Fletcher, to detect the larvae of a Nepticida in the radical leaves of Prunella vulgaris, which there is little doubt will produce the hitherto little known and almost unrecognised Nep. headleyella, of which, until last summer, when Mr. Eletcher captured several in the South of England, I believe there existed only the two original specimens caught by Mr. Stainton many years ago in the lane after which he named the species. Lastly, I must not forget to mention the capture at Shoeburyness, on Artemisia maritima of four larvae, three of which I am glad to say have pupated safely, of a "Pug," which I have strong hopes will produce Eup. innotata ; at all events, the larvae answer precisely to the published description of that insect. If I should prove right in my surmise, I shall have no reason to grumble at the results of 1885. Merton Cottage, Cambridge : January 12t?i, 1886. 258 . [April. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW BOMBYX ALLIED TO ARCTIA CAJA. BY DE. STAUDINGER. Aectia cajula, Stgr., n. sp. I received this pretty new species from my friend Mr. H. J. Elwes, and proposed at first to have named it after him, but as it very much resembles a small Arctia caja, I hope he will not object to my naming it cajula. Mr. Elwes informed me that it was caught at a great elevation, 13,000 to 14,000 feet, in the North West Himalaya, in the Tibetan valley of Laboul, many days' journey from any inhabited place. A number of males were taken, but only one female which, to my regret, is not before me whilst writing this description. Arctia cajula is only a little larger than the well-known European Arctia aulica, L. The average length of the fore-wing is 20 mm., whereas in A. caja the average length is 30 mm., and in the variety Wiskotti, Stgr., from Asia Minor, even 40 mm. Cajula has very much the coloration and markings of typical specimens off caja. It is well known that Arctia caja is apt to show most curious aberrations^ and varieties, whereas cajula appears to vary but very little. The anterior wings of cajula do not show as much of the white markings as ini caja ; sometimes there are only from three to four irregular white spots near the base, , a larger white spot in the middle of the costa, and an irregular narrow white fascia i before the hinder margin. These latter marks in many specimens form an X'^il^e marking as in caja. On the under-side the basal portion of the anterior wings is more or less red, tt with some two or thi'ee black spots. \ The posterior wings are of a brighter red than in caja ; they show near the base t i i two email black spots one above the other, there is a larger spot at the end of the > median cell, and three large black spots, generally united so as to form a fascia, before i the hind margin. Before the reddish-yellow cilia is a narrow black sub-marginal i line, sometimes dissolved into separate spots ; this never occurs in caja, where only sometimes the upper part of the cilia themselves are black. On the under-side of tlio posterior wings the colouring is duller, and the two email black basal spots are here confluent, forming a slender fascia. The antennae are black, and proportionately with longer pectinations than the'i white antennae of caja. The head and thorax are smoky-brown ; the palpi some- times rather reddish beneath. The pro-thorax is edged with reddish-white hairs, and also faintly divided with similar hairs in the middle. On the meso-thorax may \ be perceived two faint reddish stripes which never occur in caja. The tibiae, especially the anterior pair, bear reddish hairs ; the tarsi are spotted with yellow. The red abdomen is broadly ringed with black as in caja. Cajula cannot be a dwarf local form of caja owing to the black antennae, the reddish stripes on the thorax, and the black sub-marginal line of the posterior wings, &c. But on the other hand it is probably a local form of a species found on high mountains in Central Asia (Russian Turkestan), by Herr Qrumm Grschimailo, for which he has proposed the name of Arctia Alpherakii. 1886. 259 This form is even smaller with darker brown-black anterior wings, and shows more and broader white markings than cajula. In the specimen of AlpheraJcii before me, the posterior wings have only the three large spots before the hind mar- gin, which are in it not confluent. Otherwise the markings of the anterior wings are similar, the antennse are also dark, and the thorax also bears the two reddish lines. I am certainly of opinion that a larger number of specimens, especially from different localities, would enable us to unite Arctia cajula with AlpheraJcii. Blasewitz, Dresden : January Wth, 1886. ON THE mCONSTANCY OF A QENEKIC CHAEACTEE m NEPHERONIA ARABIC A. BY ARTHUR G. BUTLER, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. In the separation of species of Lepidoptera into genera, it has Ibeen long admitted that neuration is an item of primary importance, and the presence or absence of a vein in either front or hind wings is regarded as an amply sufficient character upon which to found a new genus ; that this is so, as a general rule, I do not deny, but that it is a rule with exceptions is evidenced by the abnormally-veined indi- viduals of well-known species, to which, from time to time, I have thought it of importance to call attention. I have long held the view that, as no species or genus is abso- lutely fixed and stationary, it should be possible not only to find links between species, but also between genera, and I have looked upon aberrations of structure especially when often recurring in individuals of the same species, either as the commencement of a new generic type, or as a reversion to an ancestral type. In my revision of the sub-family Pierinw, in vol. i of " Cistula Entomologica," I separated the genera into three main divisions, dif- fering in the number of sub-costal branches in their front-wings — whether three, four, or five ; and, so far, I had never had cause to doubt the completeness of this arrangement ; but, wishing recently to find some good structural character for separating N. JBuquetii and allies from NepTieronia, to which externally they bear but little resemblance, I carefully re-examined their structure, beginning with our seven examples of N. arahica ; to my astonishment, the first specimen I examined possessed only four instead of five sub-costal branches ; I took up another, and yet another specimen, until I had examined five, still with the same result ; when, iust as I was begin- 260 [April, ning to make up my miud that I had before me a widely distinct genus, I took up the sixth specimen, and then the seventh, both had I jii, five sub-costal branches ; I next examined N'. capensis, five ; three i do unnamed species, five again ; N. Buq^uetii, five ; N. j^gia, five. It thus becomes evident that five out of our seven specimens of JSF. aralica ought to be referred to Division 2 of my Kevision, and the remaining two to Division 3, or, in other words, if neuration be arbitrarily adhered to, that there exist two widely distinct genera in the indi- viduals of one and the same species, and that the aberrant character is the prevalent one in this species. Once more, knowing that a prevalent variation is likely to become (by interbreeding) the normal one, there can be little doubt that in a comparatively short time N. arabica, instead of being, as its describer supposed, a mere variety of N. Buquetii, will be a widely distinct genus, and one that may even, at some future period, be regarded as k a mimic of its common ancestor. C British Museum : February, 1886. DESCRIPTION OF THE LARYA OF SCO PARI A MERCURELLA. BY G. T. PORRITT, F,L.S. On the 14th of April last, I received from Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, of Worthing, a box containing mosses, in which were feeding (living in silken galleries) a number of Scoparia larvae, but of what species Mr. Fletcher was uncertain. The mosses I submitted to my friend Mr. C. P. Hobkirk, who named them Isothecium myurum, and Hypnum cupressiforme^ var. elatum ; and at the end of July and beginning of August a beautifully marked series of Scoparia mercurella was pro- duced from the larvae. On April 16th, I described the larvae as follows : — Length, about half to five-eighths of an inch, and moderately stout ; head polished, the lobes rounded, it is scarcely so wide as the frontal plate, and still narrower than the 3rd segment ; body cylindrical, and of almost uniform width, tapering only a little at the posterior extremity ; segmental divisions deeply cut j skin smooth, and slightly glossy ; the frontal and small anal plate, with the large round tubercles, polished. In adult specimens, the ground-colour is a dingy straw-colour, but in young examples it is strongly suffused with a darker dirty greenish tinge, which dark colour seems to be gradually lost as the larva attains maturity. Head dark brown, with frontal streak and mandibles still darker sienna-brown ; frontal plate very dark 1886.] 261 sienna-brown, almost black indeed ; tubercles olive-brown, the anal plate with a slightly greener tinge. A very faint, narrow, brown, pulsating vessel forms the dorsal line, but there are no perceptible sub-dorsal or spiracular lines. Ventral surface and prolegs the same colour as the ground of the dorsal area, and placed transversely on segments 5 and 6 are three olive tubercles ; legs black, ringed with olive. Huddersfield : February 15fh, 1886. Abundance of Sphinx convolvuli at Scilly last August. — I was there at Christ- mas, and was shown two specimens of S. convolvuli at Tresco Abbey, and was informed that there had often been five or six at a time buzzing in the conservatory. A large larva had been brought in from the island of Bryher, which was supposed to be of this species, and there were said to be many more. But as they were not seen by any entomologist, this must remain uncertain. — F. Jenkinson, Trinity College, Cambridge : March, 1886. Occurrence in Herefordshire of Lithocolletis distentella, a species new to Britain. — Having spent some time in the autumn of 188 i in seeing how far it might be possible to separate the mines of the different common Lithocolletis of the oak from one another, I found that at the end of the season I had among various assortments a small collection of five or six specimens, from which there issued in the following summer, two moths, which Mr. Warren kindly identified as the above species. He tells me that in Staudinger's Catalogue the localities given are France, Switzerland, and Germany, and the food-plants Quercus Robur and pubescens : further, that it is figured in Herrich-Schaffer, 756, and that this author records that it was bred at Zurich by Professor Frey. As a short description will, probably, not be out of place, I append one. Pale saffron, with a silvery-white unmargined basal streak, and four costal and two dorsal ones internally dark-margined ; the first costal streak is continued along the extreme edge of the costa towards the base, and a curved dark line runs through the apical fringe. It is a large, well-marked insect, and with the dark hook in the fringe not likely to be mistaken for any of our other species. Now for a word on the mine, to many, probably, the most interesting part of the subject, more especially as I hope to be able to show that it can be separated ■without difficulty from most if not all of our other numerous oak-feeders. The ,mine is large, sometimes occupying the middle of the leaf between two of the main ribs, and then much resembling the mine of roboris, at others, and this is the more common form, crossing the I'ibs and lying along the edge of the leaf; in both forms arching the leaf considerably. Such are its general features ; the more special ones by which it is distinguished fi'om its allies are the absence of a cocoon ; the pupa being simply suspended by a few cross threads in the centre of the mine, whereas, in all others I am acquainted with, viz., roboris, Cramerella, lautella, quercifoliella, and messaniella, a cocoon of some kind is constructed ; and in the second place, the pre- Y 262 f'^P"^^ sence of a few fine wrinkles only, without any plait or fold on the under-surface of the mine, this plait being present in all the species mentioned above with the exception of rohoris, in which it is completely absent as in distentella. Allusion has already been made to the general likeness of the mine of rohoris to one form of that of distentella, and this additional and important resemblance might be expected, at least in some instances, to make it a matter of difficulty to distinguish | between them by an external examination alone ; opening the mine to ascertain the I condition of the pupa would settle the question at once, but as this is an operation \ not unattended with danger, any means by which it can be avoided would be desir- j able. Now rohoris, it is well known, leaves a large patch of parenchyma untouched 1 in the middle of the mine upon which to spin its cocoon, and contrasting strongly | with the skeletonized portion all round ; but in distentella this patch is not only | much smaller, but, what is more important, it is imperfect, the larva having nibbled j little holes all over it or even broken it up into two portions, — a careless, slovenly j habit, perhaps, correlated with the absence of a cocoon. This difference in the manner in which the leaf has been browsed is so easy of recognition and, so far as my experience goes, so reliable, that such minor points as the lesser arching of the leaf in rohoris, and the fewer and finer wrinkles on the under-side are scarcely wanted to decide between them. My specimens were collected in September and October on under-growtli in a wood, and I have again, in the autumn just past, met with a few more in the same locality. It appears to prefer small-leaved bushes. — John II. Wood, Tarrington, Ledbury : February, 1886. Lithocolletis sorhi, Frey. — The identity of the Lithocolletis from mountian ash, generally known as aucupariella, Scott, has long been rather a sore point with me, as I have always (though almost single handed) maintained its distinctness from pomifoliella. Within the last two years, certain fresh facts connected with it have tended still more to confirm me in my opinion that it is truly a good and distinct species. In the autumn of 1854, I was in a small plantation in the upper part of Weardale, on the edge of the moors, where a few small trees of Prunus padus were growing. L. sorhi was plentiful on the mountain ash, as it usually is with us, at high elevations. I caught sight of a Lithocolletis mine on the Prunus, and further search produced more ; in all about two dozen. Thinking that it might be a novelty I communicated at once with Mr. Stainton, who told me that a species from the Prunus padus was known on the Continent as padella, Glitz. A fair proportion of them duly emerged the following spring, identical with the mountain ash species. I forwarded them to Mr. Stainton at the end of the season. He told me that the continental specimens were lighter and brighter in colour, but declined to give any opinion as to their distinctness from pomifoliella. Looking over them very carefully one day, I noticed, for the first time, that the tarsi were different to those of pomifoliella, which are pale and ringed with dark, but, like those of spinicolella, pale and unicolorous. Now I never find either spinicolella in the sloe, or pomifoliella in the hawthorn on the high grounds where I take the mines of sorhi. I have been told that mines are common in the South of England in the mountain ash, and it will bo of interest to hear to which group tlic moths produced 1886. 203 from them belong. There are no mines in the mountain ash here, although pomi- foliella and spinicolella are common enough, the former espeeially. Prunus padus, 80 little attacked by Lepidoptera (always excepting Hyp.padi), must have rather close affinities with Sorhus aucuparia, as I saw a series of remarkably fine Argyresthia sphiiella, wliich had been captured from the bird -cherry by a friend of mine last autumn, and there is no mountain ash in the neighbourhood, so they had undoubtedly fed on the tree. The mines of the Lithocolletis, probably from the thinness of the leaves, were very large, and the leaves often, in consequence, quite recurved, exactly like the leaves of honeysuckle mined by the larvae of L. trifasciella. — J. Sang, 33, Oxford Street, Darlington : February I5th, 1886. Probable food of Trifurcula pallidella. — Professor Zeller noticed in 1861, that on the Carinthian Alps this insect flew amongst Genista sagittalis, and suggested that it was probably attached to that plant, just as T, immundella is attached to the common broom (Eut. Ann., 1862, p. 140). Wocke in his conclusion of Heinemann's " Schmetterlinge Deutschlands und der Schweiz," Zweite Abth., Band ii. Heft ii, p. 726, says the only specimen he took in Silesia was on Genista germanica. I have been led from the above to infer that with us the insect will be found attached to Genista tinctoria, and when writing to Mr. A. F. Griffith the other day about his two specimens recorded at p. 65 of this volume, I put to him the question if he could remember whether they had been found amongst Genista tinctoria ? His reply was very satisfactory : " My two specimens were taken one evening in a waste corner of a field, near St. Alban's, which was covered with Genista tinctoria, together with Scabiosa succisa, Hypericum^ &c. There are plenty of scattered plants of Genista in the neighbourhood, but this particular corner had been left unculti- vated for several years, and had become quite grown over with the Genista tinctoria." My inference that Genista tinctoria grew in the very locality where the specimens of Trifurcula pallidella had been captured by Mr. Griffith has thus been very fully confirmed. Unfortunately for the anticipations of those who may have been hoping to place a series of the insect in their collections, Mr. Griffith added: " Last year I went there one day and found the whole place ploughed up." — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham : March 8t/i, 1886. Insects at Shiere in 1885. — Although the greater part of the year 1885 was not very productive in insect life, yet I met with several species worth noting, some of which I have not before observed in this neighbourhood. Among the Coleoptera, Oodes helopioides occurred under cut reeds, and Harpalus caspius on the chalk bills ; Luperus flavipes on oak ; Cryptocephalus morcei in the blossom of hawthorn, and pusillus in abundance on Brachypodium pinnatum ; Magdalinus pruni and cerasi on blackthorn, and a few atramentarius in hedges ; some sand-pits afforded Chrysomela Goettingerisis, Calodera umbrosa, Tachyusa scitula, Myrtnedonia limbata, Honialoia elegantula, and scapularis, and also several specimens of the rare Euplectus Kunzei, while casual sweeping gave Ceuthorhynchus Y 2 264 [April, arcuatus, and set osus J Hylesinus oleiperda (several), Colenis dentipes, Anisotoma dubia &nd parvula, Apion eieninum ; and on the 19th of June I captured in the same way an example of Aphodius villosus, swept off short grass on Albury Heath. Early in June I took one of Molorchus minor, and in the same place the beautiful Eros minutus ; Bruchus cawzw and cisti both occurred on Helianthemum vulgare, and with them I met with Mordellistena humeralis, pumila, and hrevicauda. In September I met with Phloeophihis Edwardsii, and a specimen of Lissodena Heyana, which I have taken here once previously ; and in October the curious and uncommon Pseudopsis sulcatus was at last taken in a haystack, an insect I had long searched for in vain, with it occurred Cryptophagus umhratus, Micropeplus margaritce, and Heterothops dissimilis. The much neglected group of Homoptera yielded several good things. In the last week of February I beat out of some young yew trees many fully developed examples of Tettigometra impressopuyictata, which had evidently i hibernated ; with them I also took a male of Idiocerus elegans, Flor, and during the summer took many females of the latter on sallow. Libtirnia lineata, Ferris, ? was not uncommon in the spring, in one grassy spot, but I could take no J . Among ■ the better species I also took guUula, speciosa, Fieheri, niveimarginata, and mesomela, and the fine L. longipennis, Curtis, was plentiful on Gromshall Marsh in the autumn. Stiroma affinis, pteridis, and alhomarginata all occurred, and one of the much less common nasalis, Athysanus canescens, and Doratura stylata (one developed) were ■ taken on Albury Heath, also one of JEupelex cuspidata, Acoeephalus hifasciatus^ and I histrionicus were also taken, the latter seems very distinct from the common and 1 similar looking flavostriatus. Hymenoptera, especially the Aculeate and larger ■ Ichneumonidce, were not at all abundant ; I may, however, mention among the former several Crahro cetratus, the ants Ponera contracta, Tetramorium lippula, and 1 the S of Myrmosa melanocephala, and in the latter Excenterus lituratorius, , Onathoxys marginellus, and Phytodietus rufipictus, Brischke, the latter new to ) Britain. The Braconidce were much better represented, as I can include among my ; captures the following species : Spathius clavatus and ruhidus, Phanonesis catenator, P,hypalus clavafor, Hornms moniliatus, Hecaholus sulcatus, Eoryctes imperator' and spathiiformis, Clinonectrus excubitor, Diachasma fulgida and caffer ; Utetes^ testaceus, and Laccophrys cephalotes (new to Britain) with many others. It was, however, the Oxyura that gave the prize of the year, for on June 15th i I had the good fortune to beat into my net a fine example of Dryinus Jormicarius, Lat., an insect I believe only once before recorded in England. During a short stay at Bournemouth in April, I found Trechiis rubens, Platyderus ruJicoUis, and Cassida oblonga under sea-weed, and on the sand hills Apian sorbi, and Sitones cambricus ; and at Hayling Island in August I met with Heterothops binotata, Homalota vestita and plumbea and on the mud of the eestuary the pretty A\^&id, Idiaster maritima. — Edward Capeon, Shiere : Feb., 1886. Anchomenns Sahlbergi, Chaud., a species neto to Europe. — A short time ago, while examining the Anchomeni in Dr. Sharp's collection, I came across three specimens set aside as undetermined near A. parumpunctatus ; as Dr. Sharp kindly allowed me to identify them I tried to do so, but as I could find nothing that agreed with them among the descriptions I had access to, I sent a specimen to M. Bedel, , 1886. J 265 who returned it as probably Agonum archangelicum, which J. Sahlberg described in 1879 : he also was good enough to copy the description for me from L'Abeille, xix, p. 433 : as, however, I did not feel certain of the species, I communicated with Professor Sahlberg, who very kindly sent me one of his three specimens of A. archangelicum : on comparison with Dr. Sharp's specimens, I saw at once that they did not agree, and again wrote to Prof. Sahlberg, regarding A. Sahlbergi, a species that he had mentioned as near his species ; I also sent him one of Dr. Sharp's specimens. This he has just returned with an authentic specimen of A. Sahlbergi, and it is evident that they are identical, and that A. Sahlbergi must be henceforth regarded as an European insect ; the following is the description : — A. Sahlbergi, Chaud. (Bull, de Mosc, 1850, iii, 117, 30).— Upper surface of a unicolorous bronze-coppery colour ; under-side black, with a slight greenish metallic reflection ; head moderately large, with two impressions in front of eyes ; vertex smooth ; antenna rather long, entirely black ; thorax sub-quadrate, with sides not strongly rounded, slightly contracted to base ; anterior angles marked ; posterior angles very blunt, almost completely rounded, with central furrow distinct meeting a transverse furrow in front, and a small but plain and rather deep round or oblong depression a little before base ; the usual depressions near posterior angles are well marked ; elytra of female considerably widened behind, and narrower towards base ; of male more parallel sided, with fine striae and broad flat interstices, which are extremely finely shagreened ; third interstice with three pores ; legs deep black. Long., 71 — 85 mm. Three specimens, one male and two females, taken by Mr. Henderson on the banks of the Clyde, below Glasgow, Scotland, about 20 years ago ; Dr. Sharp believes it was also taken by Mr. Bishop at the same locality ; it has hitherto occurred in Eastern Siberia, and has not before been found in Europe. From A. parumpunctatus this species differs in the following points : the thorax is narrower and longer in proportion, with the sides less rounded and more evidently, though very gradually, narrowed towards base ; the upper-side is of a unicolorous coppery colour, and the antennse and legs are entirely black, whereas in A. parum- punctatus the thorax is almost invariably more or less greenish-metallic, and the tibiffi and first joint of antennae are pale ; in the female the elytra are more widened behind than in the corresponding sex of A. parumpunctatus ; the central furrow of thorax in the latter species is nearly always clear and uninterrupted to base, but in A. Sahlbergi and A. gracilipes it meets a depression before base. A. Sahlbergi may at once be distinguished from A. gracilipes, which it much resembles, by having only three pores on the third insterstice of the elytra, whereas the latter species has five or six ; the thorax is rather narrower, and the posterior angles much less pronounced ; the deep black legs and antennae will also distinguish it. In A. gracilipes the tibiae, although darker than in A. parumpunctatus, are distinctly pitchy and not deep black, and the first joint of the antennae is reddish beneath ; the colour of A. gracilipes is also redder and less coppery, and the sides of the elytra are much more parallel in the female, and not or scarcely dilated behind. Anchomenus archangelicus {Agonum archangelicum) very much resembles A. Sahlbergi, but has the thorax rather shorter and broader, with the sides more rounded in front and more contracted behind ; it is, however, easily distinguished 266 fAi»-i^' by the much deeper striso of the elytra, and the convex interstices ; the anterior angles of thorax are also less pronounced. In the specimen of A. Sahlbergi sent me by Professor Sahlberg, there is a broad depression near scutellum, and the posterior angles of the thorax are very slightly more marked ; Professor Sahlberg also tells me that some of his specimens are a little less depressed. Dr. Sharp, however, agrees with me in considering that the Scotch specimens must be referred to this species ; at all events, while quite distinct from the other allied species, they so closely agree with this one that it would be impossible to describe a new species upon them, especially when we remember that many Anchomeni present certain variations accordingly as they are found in moujitainous or lowland districts, a fact that Professor Sahlberg notices in his letter to me, as probably explaining any slight discrepancy. — W. W. Fowler, Lincoln : March 11th, 1886. Apion annulipes, Wenck. — I have for several years had a doubtful specimen of an Apion. When sending a box to M. Bedel recently, I enclosed this specimen for his opinion, knowing that he is at present working at this genus. He returned it as the A. annulipes, Wenck. In his articles on New British Coleoptera, &c., the Rev. W. W. Fowler (Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xx, p. 44) states that only two specimens, both females, of this species have been previously captured in Britain. My specimen is a male. The exact locality where my specimen was taken is unknown to me, but it has been collected in this neighbourhood. I shall be glad of any information as to the food-plant of this species. — J. W. Ellis, Liverpool : March lUh, 1886. An abnormal Apion pallipes. — While examining my Apions of last year's capture, I found a ^ example of A. pallipes, Kirby, from Birchington, the right posterior femur of which is armed beneath with a tolerably large and sharp tooth, while the corresponding limb is perfectly simple. At first I thought that the speci- men might possibly be a hermaphrodite, but, as toothed femora are not among the male characters of beetles belonging to this genus, my specimen must, presumably, be a monstrosity. I have carefully examined some fifty examples of A. pallipes in my own and other collections without finding a similar specimen. — Theodoee Wood St. Peter's, Kent : March Uh, 1886. A luminous insect larva in New Zealand. — Whilst collecting recently after dai'k beside a densely shaded creek near Auckland, New Zealand, I observed the pre- cipitous earthy banks of the creek illuminated with great numbers of a larva, which has, I believe, never been reared. It resembles in general appearance an Annelid, being about an inch and half in length, very slender, slimy, and without apparent organs ; but under a microscope (as Professor Hutton has shown me) the head appears that of a predaceous Coleopterous larva, e. g., of one of the StaphylinidcB. The light consists of a small, bright, greenish- white, erect flame, rising fi'om the back of the neck. The larva burrows in the earth, exposing the head and anterior por- tion from the burrow, but having in front of them a sort of irregular slimy network. They occur in great numbers ; I have counted fifty in a square foot of surface. The same or a similar species has been noticed in caves and mines elsewhere in New 1886.] ^ 267 Zealand. It is impossible for a wandering entomologist to attack a larva of these habits ; I should, therefore, be interested if any reader can give me a clue to its rrjjj I systematic identification. I suppose that it is carnivorous, feeding on minute insects, which it entangles in the slimy network ; and I conjecture that it uses its lamp (as I : do mine) to attract them, or, perhaps, to see to eat them. — E. Meteick, Wellington, ]Sr. Z. : Jamiary 24th, 1886. [There is distinct necessity for further information (with examples in fluid) respecting the animal noticed above. The larvse of Stapht/linidce are ordinarily so like the perfect insect in form (allowing for absence of elytra, &c.), that we venture to doubt the connection of the animal with that family. — Eds.] The South London Entomological and Natueal Histoet Society, February 18th, 1886 : R. Adkin, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. Mr. South exhibited a long series of Sydrcecia nictitans, Bork., for the purpose of comparison with a specimen of the same species exhibited at the last meeting by Mr. Chaney, and which was not then identified. Mr. Adkin also exhibited a specimen which closely resembled that of Mr. Chaney. Mr. Rose exhibited series of Bryophila perla, Fb., from Lea Bridge and Eastbourne, Boarmia repandata, L., from Rannoch, and a variety of Acidalia emarginata , L., taken at Heme Bay. Mr. Hall, series of Cleoceris viminalis, Fb., and Xanthia fulvago, L., both bred from Derbyshire larvee. Mr. South said that some of the specimens of the latter insect looked like dark forms of X.fiavago, Fb. Mr. Tugwell exhibited specimens of the supposed new Crambus, together with C. inqidnatellus, SchifP., and C. contaminellus, Hb. Mr. Tugwell stated that he first took this Crambus at Deal in 1877, and he believed the time of appearance to be July and August. Mr. Tutt had taken the species in some numbers at Deal, and Mr. Coverdale had found it at Shoeburyness. Mr. Adkin also exhibited a specimen of this Crambus, and the species to which it approached very closely, viz., C. inquinafellus, C. contaminellus, and C. geniculeus. Haw. Mr. Billups exhibited the following species of Coleoptera, viz., Meligethes exilis, Sturm, and Anthicus Schaumi, Wol., from Lincoln ; Hydnobius Ferrisi, Fair., Mycetoporus nanus, Grrav., and Omalium rugulipenne, Rye, from Hartlepool ; also three species from West Africa belonging to the family CetoniidcB : Ceratorhina Morganii, White, C. Grallii, Buq., and C. Hornimanii, Bates. March 4th, 1886 : The President in the Chair. Mr. Billups exhibited a female specimen of Sirex gigas, L. Mr. Wellman exhibited a series of BanJcia argentula, Hb., from Cambridge. Mr. Oldham, dark forms of Satyrus Janira, L., taken in North Wales. Mr. Adkin, specimens of Nyssia hispidaria, Fb. Mr. South, two specimens of Lyccena Icarus, Rott. {Alexis), one of them a remarkably small specimen, the expanse of wings being only 10 lines, taken at Folkestone, 1885, while the other, from Sligo, measured 1 inch, 5 lines. Mr. Frohawk, a case containing a long and varied series of Melitcea Aurinia, Rott. {Artemis, Fb.), coloured drawings of the larvse and pupse, also specimens of an ichneumon he had bred from the pupee of this species. Mr. Billups stated the ichneumon was Fanteles glonieratus. Mr. Tugwell again exhibited specimens of the 268 "^ - [April, 1886. supposed new Cramhus, for which Mr. Tutt had suggested the name of cantiellus^ and said that he had now seen the Blackheath form of C. contaminellus, Hb., and felt convinced it was identical with the insect from Deal. Herrich-Schaffer figured the Lancashire form of contaminellus very minutely under this name, whilst Hiibner, under the same name, figured most correctly the Deal insect. Now, there were evidently two different representations either of two forms of the same insect, or, probably, of two distinct insects, both having been named contaminellus, but the question must remain an open one, until the insect had been bred. There were exhibits in other branches of Natural History : Mr. Step exhibiting a case of bird's- eggs from Leith Hill, and Mr. Cook several mounted specimens of birds from Hampshire. — H. W. Baekeb and W. A. Peaece, Hon. Sees. Entomological Society of Lo^'DO]s^, March 3rd, 1886 : E. McLachlan, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The following Fellows were elected, viz. : — Mr. J. M. C. Johnston, of Denmark Hill, S.E., and Cav. Piero Bargagli, of Florence. Mr. Pascoe exhibited a Lepidopterous larva from Para, with peculiar cephalic processes — probably that of a Papilio ; also the puparium of the Brazilian race of' Anosia Plexippus {Danais ArcMppus) from the same locality. Mr. Williams exhibited for Mr. Bartlett a gigantic (7 inches) Lepidopterous larva received from Madagascar ; in general characters it resembled the larva of i Gastropacha. Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited certain Columbian Coleoptera, some apparent]y new. Mr. Billups exhibited a rhyncophorous beetle, found alive in a well-known horticultural sale room in London ; Mr. Pascoe stated that it was Cholus Forhesii, , and South American. Mr. Eland Shaw alluded to Mr. Olliff's notes on the aquatic habits of Tettix • australis, read at the last meeting, and showed that, from old records (which he cited), such habits had been recorded for Indian species of the same genus. Prof. Meldola communicated, on behalf of Dr. Fritz Miiller, notes by the latter on the economy and synonymy of " Fig Insects," especially with regard to a paper published by Her Grustav Mayr (" Feigen-insecten ") in 1885, the materials for which had been furnished by Dr. Miiller from the district of the Itajahy in South Brazil. Dr. Miiller sent illustrative specimens in alcohol ; the object of the notes and exhibition was to show that in South Brazil several of these insects presented trimorphic conditions, and that the synonymy was thereby naturally affected. Mr. Poulton read a continuation of his remarks on Lepidopterous larvae and pupa;. This paper was illustrated by diagrams and magic-lanthorn slides. It con- cerned the ontogeny of certain SphingidcB, the protective markings and attitudes of SphingidcB and Dicranuridce, and of Acronycta leporina. An important part of the paper consisted of the results of observations on the enormous loss in weight (by evaporation) sustained by newly-formed Lepidopterous pupce. A discussion fol- lowed, in which many Fellows took part. m, May, 1886.] 269 ON" THE CASE, &c., OF AQRAYLEA MULTIPUNCTATA, CURT. (= HYDROPTILA FLABELLIFERA, BREMI). BY KENNETH J. MORTON. In the " Stettiner entomologisclie Zeitung" for 1864, will be found a memoir by Dr. Hagen, entitled, " Ueber Phryganiden-Greliause." The first portion of it especially, based in great part on the corres- pondence of the author with Bremi, contains much valuable information concerning the earlier conditions of the Triclioptera^ and several problems of unusual interest relating to the life histories of these insects are brought forward. That some of these problems have remained unsolved to the present day, is due, I think, more to a lack of observers than to the difficulties their solution presents, although aquatic insects are necessarily less easy to deal with than others. And on this subject of rearing I may here quote the following remarks from Eaton's Monograph of Ephemeridcd : — " In the absence of elaborate contrivances many JEpJiemeridce can be bred in captivity if confined in flower-pot saucers, or other wide vessels containing little water, duly protected from extremes of temperature. If the bottom be glazed inside it should be thoroughly strewn over with sand or fine river-gravel, that the insects need not die of fatigue in struggling to maintain their footing upon it." These directions suit equally well the Tricho'ptera. An increase in the number of vessels is preferable to the adoption of large ones, since small vessels lend themselves better to exactness of observation ; and in every case I recommend the use of river-sand, a little of which put into the phials containing minute species appears to give all that is required for the maintenance ^of life. At page 115 of Dr. Hagen's paper, we find under Agraylea ? Gehduse, a quotation from one of Bremi's letters, in which is described the finding on water-plants during the summer, of some caddis-cases similar to those which Pictet figures on pi. 20, fig. 10, of the "Eecherches" {Hydroptila pulchricornis) , but differing therefrom on .account of Confervce being made use of in their construction. Yery sbroad and flat femora of the fore legs, and long, sharp, strongly bent claws distinguish the larva, which, when in motion, carries the case on the angle, and is able to put its head out at either end. "When the larva passes into the nymph state, the case is said to be fixed at each of the four corners by means of a stalked fan-like patella. A second letter states that it is only when the larva changes that the case assumes its characteristic oblong form, and that as long as the larva is 270 [May, , feeding the form of the case does not differ from that of those of other Hydroptilidw. It is repeated that the case is carried on the sharp angle, and composed only of Algce. Bremi applied to this remarkable creature the provisional name of Hydroptila flahellifera. He nevei reared the perfect insect, but a nymph supposed to have come out oi' one of the cases, Hagen referred with doubt to Agraylea. According « to Hagen the case of the larva is yellowish, transparent as if made out of thin glue ; structure of the employed vegetable matter not visible. Long., 3 mm. ; lat., 1 mm. ; oblong, widened in the middle, flat, open at both ends. The principal point in connection with the larva is the great length of the middle and posterior-legs. The nymph-case is dark brown, less transparent ; long., 5 mm. ; lat., 1^ mm. ; flat, form exactly as in larval case. At each of the four corners is fastened an appendage (pilzartiger Anhang) with a short pedicel. It may be remarked, that Bremi's words seem to imply that a difference exists between the form of the case of the larva and that of the nymph, while Hagen says explicitly there is none. Further information on HydropiUa flahellifera is given in McLachlan's " Monographic Eevision of the European Trichopteray That author, after referring to a note by Bremi in the " Mitth. uaturf. Gesell. Ziirich,"* 1848, p. 62, and Hagen's account, proceeds to notice larvae found by Dr. Barker (Quarterly Journal Micr. Science, new ser., vol. vii,p. 175) and Eugene Guinard (Mem. Acad. Sci. Montpellier, vol. ix, pp. 139 — 143), both of which he considers to have been the same as Bremi's. It appears that M. Gruinard actually bred the insect (which he named Leiocliiton Fagesii) ; but as he is not an Entomologist, his published description and figures do not sufiice for identification. It was on the 3rd and 5th of JN'ovember last that I received, through the kindness of Mr.McLachlan, two cases with larvae, forwarded to him by Mr. Bolton of Birmingham, which in the main points agreed with Hagen's description. Interesting in themselves, they possessed a double interest, since, though they had been known so long (assuming all the above citations and the cases I had before me to belong to one and the same species), they had always evaded satisfactory elucidation. They were delicate looking things, and my hopes of being able to rear the insects were not great. The wished-for result came about at a most unlikely time. About Christmas, I was surprised to see signs of a change. The semi-transparency of the case allowed one to get some idea of what was going on within, and in a few days it was evident the nymph stage had been reached. Now, out of more than a dozen species * " Bern " is an error in ni5' original citation.— R. McL. I 271 'm Trichoptera wliicli I have bred, in no instance has this stage extended )ver more than five weeks, and ] was therefore curious to know whether ve had here to do with an exception to what seemed a general rule. But no ; on the 25th of January, while there was deep snow lying on ;he ground, a perfect (^ of Agraylea muUipunctata appeared. The equable temperature of the room, in which there was a fire kept burning light and day, had no doubt the effect of "forcing ;" and it may be nentioned that on the day of appearance, the hard frost that had '■'t prevailed for some time shewed signs of giving way. tlie I regret that I was not able to confirm what Hagen says about ''^f!^;he larva. To have made a description would have involved the iestruction of one of my examples, and that, with the limited materials, it was undesirable to risk. But with regard to the long posterior-legs, I may say other larvae, presumably Hydroptilid, possess such, and 3urely Pictet too strongly emphasizes the shortness of the legs in his figures. I From the first my larvae were sluggish, and the cases were almost constantly fixed by the four cables to the glass (once, one of them was fixed almost totally out of the water) ; however, I did see them in motion, and was able to confirm the statement that the case is borne along on the angle— a habit apparently not uncommon in the family. The final fixing was effected precisely as Bremi describes : the case was placed on the flat and each of the corners attached to the glass by means of a silken cable of many threads, which spread out at the point of attachment in a fan-like way (giving rise to Bremi's expressions— " Eiue gestielte facherformige Patella," and "Handchen und Aermchen"). The case is of a brownish colour, but when viewed as a transparency, its basis appears to be of an amber-coloured substance, and round the two ends are seen to be wrought filaments of Confervcd in curves, concave side inwards, and these filaments are likewise carried narrowly along the sides, leaving a longish oval in the centre composed of the basis-substance only. The form may be called oblong ; the ends are slightly rounded, and the sides produced a little. The reason of the more commodious middle part— for in addition to the produced sides, the oval central part is doubtless elastic— is very obvious, and I had often the pleasure of seeing the larva turn I round and present its head at the end opposite to that which it had just left, the revolution being made in the roomy middle part. Without doubt the end openings are also elastic, and close on the withdrawal of the head of the larva. Pictet gives this form of opening as an universal character of the case of Hydroptilidce (Eecherches, p. 224), z -1 272 [Maj but i£ I mistake not, there are exceptions. Fritz Miiller says, wit regard to the Hydroptilidce of the Brazils, that they include the vaoi varied and remarkable larval cases ; and I believe that even our ow species when thoroughly known, will be found to have cases of mos diversified structures, and habits of the greatest interest. Carluke, N.B. : March 8th, 1886. THE LIFE-HISTORY OF NONAQRIA BREVILINEA. BT W. H. B. FLETCHER, M.A., T.E.S. m This curiously local moth was discovered in the Norfolk Fens ir 1864, by Mr. Fenn (Ent. Mo. Mag., i, p. 107), but, I think, little oi nothing has as yet been published about its earlier stages. In April. 1880, Mr. E. G. Meek told me that he bred two specimens the sum- mer before from larvae taken among those of Leucania straminea and other species. He added that they were external feeders, and, I believe, on various plants ; but of the latter point I am not quite sure. Thanks to the untiring kindness and great liberality of Mr. E. ]).' Wheeler, of Norwich, I am now able to give some further particulars^ of the life-history. On July 30th, 1884, I received by parcel post from Mr. Wheelerr six females taken by him in Eanworth Fen. The next day, a very hott one, was spent in moving from Worthing to Deal. No wonder thatt after two long journeys in such weather my friend's kindness only, just escaped being in vain ! However, eight eggs were laid by a fine?! specimen of the form " sme/mea." They were laid singly, and were) very loosely glued to the lining of a band-box. They were of the ) usual Noctua shape, and ribbed in both directions. They were at first t of a very pale cream colour, after a few days of an equally light pink, , and in the middle of April, 1885, they assumed a dull purple hue. The larvae began to hatch towards the end of the month. All but 1 one died before the right food-plant was hit upon. Phints of many Natural Orders, including several grasses, were offered in vain. One • larva took up its natural position on the leaf of a small Carex, and ate j a few mouthfuls, but no more. It and six of its fellows died after a k few days' life. The last larva was hatched on May 6th, and was t placed in a lamp-chimney with some shoots of Arundo phragmites. I . soon had good evidence that it had entered the stem of one of the reeds just above the point where an unfolding leaf diverged from the il886.] 273 ■aos r Off] ■ffiosi lentral shoot. I did not see this larva again until May 17th, when ;he old food-plant was broken up and re-placed by fresh. It was then ibout to moult. The following description was taken :— Bather slender ; length about y\ inch ; lead, corselet, and anal plate brown ; body very light brown, almost white between .he segments, spots rather large, black, surrounded by pale rings, with rather long )lack bristles ; dorsal and sub-dorsal lines white. On May 20th, it was found to have moulted, most likely soon after the above lescription was taken. It was now nearly i inch long, and fairly stout, head, corse- et, and anal plate very pale brown, body pale yellowish-green ; dorsal, sub-dorsal, md spiracular lines white, spots small, with very short black bristles. When placed a reed, it took up its position on the upper-side of the base of a leaf which was l]< iijust unfolding itself from the stem. Here the larva remained for some days, during ^hich it nearly bit off this leaf, and gnawed the still unfolded one above it con- liderably. I described it on June 8th, as follows -.—Nearly ^ inch long ; cylindrical, not papering much at either end ; head and plates pale brown, the former rather darker '"""^ It the top of the lobes ; the lines broad, white, edged with brown, darker than that jf the general surface of the body ; spiracles black ; legs and claspers almost colour- less. Having started from its former position at the base of the leaf-blade, the larva iad gnawed a spiral tunnel in the reed-stem, making two turns in f of an inch, phe " frass " was all thrown out. I took it out of the old reed on June 17th, and by the next day it had bored its full length into a fresh one, having made its entry is before. On June 19th it came out of its burrow and spun a silken pad on the Oiuslin at the top of the lamp-chimney, on which to undergo its last larval moult. liot Unluckily, it lost its hold and died at the bottom of its prison. On June 20th, Mr. Wheeler most kindly went with me to Ean- worth Yen to hunt for the larvae in their own home. It was a cold, showery day, and for the best part of the afternoon our search was in pin. At last, in a small alder carr, we were rewarded by finding some sixteen or seventeen larvae, all of which Mr. "Wheeler most generously insisted on my taking home with me. These larvae fed just like my lamented friend. They entered at the tops of the reeds, bored down two of the joints and made holes as they went, through bill which to eject their frass. All the larvae but two were head down- lanlwards. The forwardest were of the same age as the one I had reared from the egg. The work of the larvae was shown by the reeds being withered at the top ; not always their presence, however, for we found many empty mines, and many full of frass and tenanted by the larvae of CaJamia phragmitidis, those made by the larvae of N. hrevilinea being always clean. On June 21st, I returned home and placed the larvae with reeds in lamp-chimneys and tins. Some of them at once came out of their 274 [May; burrows aud spun pads on which to moult. By June 24th some oV them had changed their skins, and the leaves of the reeds had beer eaten at their edges, like some that we had noticed in the fen. T(! prove that the larvae are really external feeders when mostly full grown, I secured a newly-moulted larva on June 28th, and kept i without food for twenty-four hours. When food was given it, r began by eating a burrow as long as itself in the stem of a reed, i then came out and fed only on the leaves until it pupated, alwayi resting on the outside of a reed or in some old hollow stems given r for the purpose. This, I think, is the usual mode of life, for on Jul] j 5th, I looked through the cage containing the rest of the larvae, eigh j of them being then alive, and found a few empty burrows about th« j length of a larva and the leaves much eaten at the edges. j On June 28th, I described a nearly full-grown larva. "With thf ». change from internal to external feeding it had become quite hand^i* Bome. In markings and colour it greatly resembled the larvae oi ' Neuronia popularis or cespitis, but was not nearly so stout. Length, about If inch, of average thickness in proportion ; head light brown' with slightly darker markings near the top of the lobes and about the mouth ; bodv pale ochreous, almost obscured by thick reticulation of olive-brown ; dorsal, sub ^ dorsal, and spiracular lines broad pale yellow, the last being the palest, with centra stripes of orange, all the lines show on the second segment, the dorsal and sub-dorsa reach almost to the posterior edge of the anal flap, and the spiracular to the posterio: claspers ; spiracles black ; legs pale brown ; pro-legs concolorous with the pal( ventral area. Pupa about f inch long, of usual Noctua shape, i. e., not long and thin as those* of Nonagria geminipuncta ; dull red ; eyes, antennee, legs, and wings rather faintljl; defined; anal segment ending in two stout bristles, -2^0 inch long, remote at theiri' bases, approaching each other near the middle of their length, and bent outwards ala, the ends to form hooks ; around them were three or four shorter and thinner bristles 's| curled at their points. The object of these bristles being, I suppose, to anchor theiij pupa-skin firmly to the cocoon during the escape of the moth. The cocoons were formed on the surface of the soil, rather slightly, of silk, and a few pieces of cocoa-nut fibre and moss interwoven with it. The moths, four in number, emerged during the last week in July. Fairlawn, Worthing : April lOa, 1886. THE HABITS OF THE IMAGO OF NONAGRIA BRm^ILINHA. \ BY r. D. WHEELER, M.A., E.E.S. | My friend Mr. Fletcher, to whose zeal and skill we are no\v( indebted for a knowledge of the larva of this local species, has, with characteristic modesty, requested me to supplement his life-history oi the species with some account of the habits of the perfect insect. 275 My first acquaintanco with it dates back to 1870, when Mr. C. G. Barrett introduced me to the Eanworth Fens-a red-letter day (or rather night) in my entomological diary, so many were the experiences crowded into a few hours : first chasing swallow-tails in the afternoon, 1 involYing experimental acquaintance with the nature of bogs ; then the wonderful sight, to a novice, of Nonagria despecta hovering and fluttering all over the fen in countless numbers ; and later, Apamea fibrosa, Nonagriafulva, Nndaria ^enex, Lithosm griseola, and the var. strmnineola, muscerda, and cmnplanula, all in profusion, while numerous other species entered into the catch-all combined to impress it on my memory, and not least the fact that it was my first trip with Mr. Barrett, my " pater entomologicus." It was while boxing three or four specimens of N. despecta from the net, that my attention was caught by a Noctna sitting on a reed stem with wings still soft and rather crumpled. Even my ignorance recognised it as a "wainscot," and not one of the common ones, and Mr Barrett at once assured me that it was a specimen of the then unique N. hreviUnea* It was not until some years later that my acquaintance with the insect was renewed, circumstances preventing me from collecting in the fens for the next season or two, but m 1871 Mr Barrett took three specimens (I believe) by sugaring, usually a most unprofitable method of work in the fens. Then between 1873 and 1877 some numbers were taken by Messrs. Tarn, Bird, Jenkmson, Barrett, and others, chiefly by working the honeydewed leaves of the sallows late at night. In common with most of the fen Noctu^, irevt- linea is powerfully attracted by this natural banquet, and by searching the leaves with a lamp may be readily secured, either by boxing it at . rest, or more easily by netting as it flies ofi. But this method is by no means equally productive in all seasons, the supply of honeydew being sometimes scanty and poor, and it is by means of the attracting lamp that the species is best known to me. In 1878 Mr. Fletcher, during a month's visit to Eanworth, turned it up thus in some plenty and from that season to the last I have never failed to meet with it, in fluctuating, but, on the whole, increasing numbers. ^ Considering its wide range over the Bure fens, at least from Horning Village o St Benefs Abbey, it is surprising that this insect does not seem to have yet extended its quarters up the Ant, though it certainly occurs at the mouth of that river ; probably, however, it may do so ere long though it is noteworthy that a considerable difference exists in the insect fauna of difierent spots^veninthe^am^range^lffens^ 276 [May, In habit o£ flight, N. hrevilinea is intermediate between the wild dash of L. impura and the steadier motion of the true Nonagricd. Before dark it begins to be on the move, and I have found 8.30 to 9 p.m. the most " lively " time for it. During this half hour and the next, on a favourable night, it affords much exercise to its would-be captor. Early in the evening moths are never much attracted by light, but the lamp serves to show everything that passes, and the Noctuce generally diverge from their course enough to come within a long reach as they dash by. During a trip last season, one of Mr. Barrett's sons, who accompanied me, gifted with active legs and wielding a mighty net, was particularly successful in this way. Making charges out into the darkness beyond the circle of the lamp, and frantically striking with the big net, he generally brought back his spoil. Before 10 p.m. the first flight is over, and thenceforward during the night an odd specimen may be taken now and then, usually coming straight to the lamp, and secured with comparative ease ; when the morning is beginning to dawn it flies again more freely, but the morning flight is but a feeble imitation of that of the evening. Of course, these details refer to a good night ; if the weather be unfavourable, scarcely a specimen will be seen. Perhaps the insect most nearly resembling N. hrevilinea when on the wing is L. impura (by no means so great a pest, by the way, in the deep fens as might be imagined, while pallens is almost absent), but a very little practice suffices to distinguish them, and the commoner species is but little attracted to light. I have occasionally taken N. hrevilinea at rest, in cop., and also flying in the open fen, but if one's captures depended on these methods alone, it would still be a rarity in collections. In conclusion, I may say that, in common with almost all who are acquainted with the species, I believe it should be transferred to the genus Leucania, which in habits and form it far more closely re- sembles ; and the discovery of the larva has made this belief as to the propriety of its removal from the Nonagrice a certainty. The genus Leucania itself, however, is a very heterogeneous one as to the larval habit of the species it embraces. Paragon House, Norwich : Afril, 1886. Nyssia hispidaria near Horsham. — When shooting near Horsham, March 20th, I took a beautiful specimen of N. hispidaria ^ , at rest on an oak tree. — W. C. Boyd, College Eoad, Cheehunt : April I5th, 1886. 277 ENTOMOLOaiCAL FIELD NOTES AT StJAKIN. BT N. MANDEES. The insect-fauna of the Sudan being at present little known, any notes on the region will be interesting ; and, therefore, I venture to record the scanty information I obtained during the campaign in the neighbourhood of Suakin last spring. So much has lately appeared regarding our various operations there, that any detailed remarks on the country itself would be super- fluous ; but I was somewhat surprised to find the country, especially near the mountains, supporting a vegetation in some parts decidedly thick, and not altogether the barren waste I had imagined. Erom the top of the isolated hill at Handoub (12|^ miles inland), the country looks fairly well-wooded and a fine expanse of green meets the eye, which is continued up to quite the foot of the mountains, being more luxuriant in the neighbourhood of the water-courses which dry up during the spring months. The vegetation was of the character usually found in tropical deserts ; Mimosas, thorny Acacias, and various species of EupliorhicB preponderating, the former ran commonly to the size of a thorn-tree, usually very dense, covered with creepers and armed with thorns of of an alarming character. One species known to us there as the *' umbrella Mimosa," and which I am told is peculiar to the Sudan, is remarkable inasmuch as it throws out branches in every direction im- mediately above the ground, and presents a plane surface of closely approximated small flat green leaves which it is impossible to see through, and which, consequently, considerably aided the Arabs in carrying out their sudden attacks. ^lowering plants were naturally not abundant, still I think I might have collected about a score of different kinds ; but I had no means of carrying or preserving them. One species — yellow with a red centre, something like a foxglove — was very fine and conspicuous. Animal life was far more abundant than I had expected, but the night dews were very heavy, and were due to the cool night winds from the sea condensing the hot vapour given off from the earth ; often on waking I found my blanket wet through, and the early mornings were very cold, so that condensation must have taken place very rapidly. The butterflies more particularly engaged my attention, and of these Fyrameis cardui was by far the commonest ; Danais CTirysippus was also not uncommon and in splendid condition, but too difiicultfor me to catch with my improvised net of mosquito netting and telegraph 278 iMay, wire. I saw at least two species of " orange-tip," and was so fortunate as to catch one which Mr. Butler informs me is new. It is interesting as being extremely similar to species from the Sou mail country. Two ^' blues,'' Azarius Zena and A. Gamra v^era decidedly common; the former has a peculiar habit of flying in swarms round the thorn bushes reminding one of Lithosia rulricollis. Another butterfly also new was not uncommon, flying low amongst rank grass, but was difficult to capture on account of the intense glare arising from the sand ; Mr. Butler will shortly describe this novelty. Moths were apparently scarce ; but numerous Micros belonging, I think, to some genus akin to Litlio collet is were not uncommon on the glass of our lamps in the evening; but I saw no Nociucc, unless a large moth, very like an i " under- wing," belonged to this genus, but it persistently declined my offers to an intimate acquaintance ; it was a day -flier very strong on i the wing, and had a disappointing habit of soaring when I was very nearly within range. Beetles were not numerous, being, to a large extent, kept under by the extraordinary number of lizards which swarmed everywhere ; however, I saw one particularly handsome fellow which put me in mind of the " Diamond beetle " of Brazil ; it flew strongly in the hot ;j sunshine and did not appear to be very uncommon though I failed to make a capture. The only other beetle, at all common, was a large black one which had an annoying habit of getting amongst one's kit and crawling over one at night, which made one think of scorpions. Of these latter, some spots where we encamped seemed to swarm with them, whilst at others w^e were more fortunate. I was much impressed by my first sight of a real live specimen, and my ideas derived from dried-up museum specimens received a rude shock. I hesitate to give the dimensions of one we captured, but the officer under whose bed it was found assured me that he had never seen" a larger in India ; all we captured were of a semi-transparent green colour. Several men were stung and suff'ered severely ; and, following their usual tactics, the creatures were very fond of getting amongst the blankets at night and not uncommonly repaying their unconscious host by an unfriendly sting in the morning. Mosquitoes were remarkable for their absence, and this I attribute to the want of water in which the larvae are reared. Concerning house-flies it is unnecessary to speak, suffice it to say that they swarmed in the tents more particularly in countless thousands, until the extreme heat killed them off. I believe ^^ Musca domestica " cannot survive a heat bordering on 100° in the shade ; at any rate, they 1886.] 279 almost entirely disappeared towards tlie end of April, and no one regretted their departure. It was curious how entirely free horses were from flies, &c., there was none of that constant whisking of tails and shaking of heads we are accustomed to during the summer months in England ; and this again I attribute to the want of water (flies are thirsty creatures), and great heat. In conclusion, though I only brought home some half-a-dozen different kinds of butterflies, yet I saw many more, the majority, probably, new ; for instance, I saw a grand Fieris on the day of the engagement at Hasheeu ; but the small opportunities, constant and multifarious duties, and, not least, the decided risk of being myself captured, prevented me from doing justice to an interesting country. Army Medical Staff : February, 1886. Variety of Larva of Acherontia Atropos. — Last autumn I had brought to me a beautiful example of the variety of the larva of Acherontia Atropos, vrhich is mentioned in Stainton's "Manual," but which was perhaps even more remarkable than the variety there described. In this instance the three anterior segments, instead of being of the usual yellow hue, and without markings, were pure white with a broad dorsal marbling of deep black, which came down on each side like a double saddle. The remaining segments were without the oblique markings on the sides, but down the back there was a broad chain of diamond-shaped links and purple tracery. The anal horn and spiracles were as usual ; unfortunately, it buried itself before there was any opportunity of sketching it. — James Balding, "Wisbech : March, 1886. Queries concerning the habits of certain British Tortrices. — Being engaged on a revision of the British Tortrices, and desirous of making my facts as complete as possible up to the present date, I shall be grateful for any information, whether positive or suggestive, as to the food-plants and larval habits of any of the following species, still, as far as positive information goes, quite unknown, and of opinions tending to confirm or modify the accompanying statements concerning certain species whose previous states are more or less ascertained; or concerning the habits of others in the imago state. Tortrices of which the larvae are still unknown : — C. cinctana, Schiff., bifasciana Hb., hybridana, Wo.,osseana, Scop, {pratana, Stn.) , argentana,C\., B. Woodiana, Barr. A. sellana, Hb., B.purpurana, Haw., M. Schultziana, ¥.,palustrana, Z., S. olivana, Tr. {micana, Stn.), umbrosana, Frr. {alternella, Stn.), irriguana, H.-S., Double- dayana, Barr., cespitana, Hb., latifasciana, Haw., ravulana, H.-S., R. arcuella, Ch, O. ulmana, Hb., C. ccBciinaculana, Hb., microgrammana, dn., H. pauperana, Dup., S. upupana, Tr., S. spiniana, Dup., S. compositella, F., internana, Grn., leguminana, Z., IJ. puncticostana, Steph., H.fimbriana, Haw., A. Mussehliana, Tr., Eartmanniana, CI. {Baumanniana, Stn.), subbaumanniana, Wilk., E. albicapitana, Z., gilvicomana, 'R.-Q.,Jlaviciliana, Wlk., Begreyana, McL., Manniana, F. R. Statements requiring confirmation concerning certain Tortrices. 280 t^^^y' A. prodromana : " On the wing freely from 9 till 11 a.m., April 20th." E. W. Int., 1856, p. 28. A. ocJiroleucana : " On rose and fruit trees ?" Heinemann. A. sellana : ? In flower heads of Centaurea nigra and of Plantago lanceolata. P. Lecheana : " Often full-fed by end of April." Heinemann. ? full-fed in autumn. N. Udmanniana, S. tripunctana, rohorana, roscecolana, stiffusana : do the larvee of these hibernate small ? — that of incarnatana does. L. campoliliana : ? " Two broods, v and viii," Snellen. S. PayJculliana : How does the larva feed ? A. derasana : How many broods, one or two ? A. ohtusana : How many broods ? What is the true food plant ? O. ulmana : ? " in leaves of Aquilegia vulgaris,'^ Frej. ? on wych-elm and on hazel. H. arcuella : On hazel inside the twigs. U. trauniana and regiana : Has any one ever seen either actually feeding be- neath the bark ? E. argyrana : ? On leaves or in bark of oak and other trees. IT. Jtmbriana : ? "In rotten wood," Heinemann. G. Alhersana " Hibernates full-fed," Snellen : where and how does it feed ? C. microgratnmana : ? on Ononis spinosa. How, and when ? G. citrana : ? Mining young shoots of yarrow, ? on flowers of Artemisia campestris," Jourdheuille. E.fractifasciana and quadrana : ? " in heads of scahious," Jourdheuille. — W. Waeeen, Merton Cottage, Cambridge : April, 1886. Amara nitida, Sturm. — Previous to the appearance of last month's number of the Ent. Mo. Mag., which contains my notice of the capture of a species of Amara new to Britain, and which had been determined by Herr Reitter as A. monti- vaga, Sturm, I had received a communication from the Eev. W. W. Fowler to the same effect as his editorial foot-note to my record ; with a recommendation that the specimen should be submitted to M. Louis Bedel, of Paris. This I did, and received from M. Bedel, but not in time for a correction of last month's article, a note in which he states most decidedly that the Amara is, as suggested by Mr. Fowler, the A. nitida, Sturm. This species, like the one that the specimen was previously referred to, is quite new to our fauna, though a native of middle and northern Europe. A. montivaga, according to M. Bedel, differs from A. nitida in having black tibies, the posterior angles of the prothorax less rounded, and the scutellary striae of the elytra are provided with a large umbilical pore. — J. W. Ellis, 3, Brougham Terrace, Liverpool : March 14ith, 1886. [The Amara nitida of Stephens (Illus. Mand., i, p. 129), is the common A. pleheia, and has nothing to do with the above-mentioned insect. — W. W. F.] Tachinus scapularis and elongatus at Lewisham. — Last June I obtained from decayed mangold wurzel at Lewisham specimens of Tachinus scapularis Q.ndi elongatus. — A. Beaumont, 30, Ladywell Park, Lewisham : April, 1886. 188'6.] 281 Coleoptera at Falmouth. — I spent a week at Falmouth, from March 8th to 15th, and endeavoured, during this time, to work the district for Coleoptera. The east wind, even in tliis extreme south-west corner of England, had, however, lost none of its bitterness, and the only sheltered place I could find was the sandy beach under the low cliffs to the westward of Pendennis Castle. Here I had the pleasure of seeing Aepys marinus alive for the first time, under stones at high water mark, but it required a lot of working for, and I succeeded in finding only three specimens. An even more welcome sight was that of the tiny and active Actocharis Readingi (hitherto, I believe, recorded as British from Plymouth only), of which a couple of specimens were found running on the under-sides of large stones sunk in the sand, in places where a little trickle of fresh water came down from the cliffs above. FMlonthus fucicola was common here (also at Mylor, on the shores of the harbour), accompanied by the var. variolosus of P. xantholoma, and many of the usual littoral StaphylinidcB, &c. In the lanes, almost the only beetle to be obtained was Phloeophagus ceneopiceus, which occurred plentifully in old stumps in the hedges : its favourite food appeared to be ash, though I found it also in oak, hawthorn, and elder, as well as traces of its former presence in holly. A good looking piece of marshy ground at the head of a large piece of fresh water near the shore, about a mile west of Falmouth (called Swan Pool), produced nothing better than Pcederus fuscipes. A few unset specimens of Phloeophagus ceneopiceus are at the service of any Coleopterist who may wish for the species. — James J. Walkek, H.M.S. " Cherub," Portland : March ^\st, 1886. Description of the nymph of Psylla mali, Schmidtberger. — Pale green, shining* with a fringe of pale hairs round the front of the head, costal margin of the elytra- lobes, and apex of the abdomen, those round the latter longest. Head : anterior margin flattish-convex, crown flattish-convex, with a minute fovea on each side of the centre between the eyes. Eye-caps whitish, through which shines a somewhat round, small, dark spot. Antennae greenish-yellow, apex black. Pronotum with two fovese in front on each side of the centre, and another pair near the posterior-margin, the latter larger than the former. Elytra-lobes whitish, opaque, with a small notch on the costal margin at the extremity of the suture. Legs green, apex of the tibiee and claws dark brown. Abdomen, in one sex, somewhat convex above and under- neath, contracted at the base, whereby the acute extremities of the elytra-lobes overhang the sides ; in the other sex somewhat ovate ; extreme apical margin very narrowly clear brown in both sexes. The insect in this state is to be met with very commonly on apple trees, generally from the middle to the end of May. — John Scott, Lewisham : Feb. 17th, 1886. Description of the nymph of Psyllopsis {Psylla, Foerst.) fraxinicola. — Pale green, thickly farinose. Head : anterior-margin almost straight ; eyes brown or slightly reddish-brown ; antennae pale yellowish, apex black. Elytra-lobes pale greyish-white, costal margin with a fringe of short hairs. Abdomen somewhat oval, slightly convex transversely, pale green, thickly farinose ; apex somewhat thickly clothed with long, fine, white hairs of irregular length. Legs white, extreme 282 [May, apex of the tibisc and tarsi black. As it approaches the perfect state, the abdomen, especially towards the apex, becomes clothed with long, white, curled hairs or fila- ments, and the head and elytra-lobes also in a more or less degree. They live on the under-side of the leaves of the ash {Fraxinus excelsior), in the beginning of July, but do not cause any deformation, and are generally found in little colonies, partly, or sometimes entirely, enveloped in a fine, soft, loose, farinose secretion. When disturbed they are very active. In the " Yerh. der k. k. zool.-bot., G-esellschaft in Wien," for 1879, p. 587, Dr. Franz Low gives his reasons for the separation of the above species and Ps. fraxini from the genus Psylla, Foerster, and other authors, and amongst other characters he points out the remarkable shape of the genital processes (Zange) of the S "when viewed from the side. In Ps.fraxinicola these are hatchet-shaped, and in Ps. fraxini hammer-shaped, and are easy of recognition with the aid of a pocket-lens. There are only two other Eui-opean species known {discrepans and melipTiila), which, like ours, are also attached to the ash. — Id. : March 9th, 1886. Note on Trioza remota, Foerster, together loith a description of the nymph. — This Trioza was described by me in the " Transactions of the Entomological Society," for 1876, p. 557, under the name of T. hcematodes, which is a synonym of it, as are also T. cinnaharina, Forster, and T. dryohia, Flor. It is a common species, and is frequently found on fir trees, if growing in the vicinity of the oak on which it has passed through its various stages, thereby misleading collectors. The nymph is of a pale green colour, flat, broad, about three-fourths as broad as long. Head : anterior-margin almost straight, with a border or fringe of short, pale, shining, fine stiff hairs placed closely together ; eyes reddish-brown. Antennae short, whitish, or very pale greenish, apex brown. Thorax : upper-side very pale green, more or less spotted with yellow down the middle. Elytra-lobes almost white in front, extending beyond the head ; costal margin with a fringe of short, pale, shining, fine stiff hairs placed closely together. Abdomen very pale green, down the middle more or less spotted with yellow, outer margin with a fringe of hairs similar to those on the head and elytra. Legs very pale green, or almost white, apex brown. Tliey are to be beaten at the end of March and beginning of April from oaks, on the under-side of the leaves of which trees they live, apparently singly, and without causing any deformation. — Id. : March 10th, 1886. Neiospaper Entomology. — A correspondent has forwarded a cutting from a Scotch newspaper, which we reproduce. The words italicised by us seem to indicate that a knowledge of elementary entomology is desirable in some quarters in Great Britain, as well as in South Africa : — " A Scourge of Caterpillars. — Much alarm has been caused in the Camperdowu distinct of Durban, says the Cape Times of March 6th, by the scourge of armies of caterpillars, which have appeared amongst the forage crops. One army extends a mile and a half deep, and has swept over seventy acres of fine forage. It is now going in a westerly direction. Another, comprising many millions, has eaten every bit of forage in one district. By to-day the two armies will have joined, and threaten Boston. It is feared it will do more damage than the visitation of the 1878 pest. 1886.] 2S3 It makes its appearance in the form of a small moth, with velvety-blaek body and head, green stripes along sides, and is about quarter-inch long. In a few days it sheds loings, becoming a caterpillar, ayid in a toeek it lays eggs, each caterpillar producing two hundred ! ! It grows two inches, and it blackens the field as they move about voraciously eating. In one place forty acres of forage were reduced to stubble. Even grass has been eaten up." This astonishing statement is, however, eclipsed in a London paper usually well-informed, where we read : — " In common with other countries, Natal has been troubled with an insect plague which has played sad havoc with the crops. It seems to be of the genus Aphis, of which there are many varieties, and a description of it is appended, in order that those suffering from a similar pest in other parts of the world may compare notes : — The pest makes its appearance in the form of a small moth, &c., &c." — Eds. The South Lon^do]^- Entomological and Natural Histoet Society, March l^th, 1886 : R. Adkin, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. Messrs. G. Day, T. H. Hall, W. D. Gooch, and J. W. Tutt were elected Membei's of the Society. Mr. South exhibited specimens of Vanessa Callirho'e, Fab., bred from larvae found at Teneriffe, and contributed some interesting notes. Mr. Wellnian exhibited dark forms of Hypsipetes elutata, Hb., from Barnsley. Mr. Mera, dwarf forms of Lyccena Mgon, Schiff., L. Icarus, Rott., and Vanessa cardui, L. Mr. Adkin, reddish forms of TcBiiiocampa gracilis, Fb., which he said he understood were bred from larvae obtained in the Kentish Marshes, but the specimens exhibited were very different from the ordinary Kentish form. Mr. Carrington stated he had taken this form of T. gracilis in the New Forest, but it was really the Scotch form of the species. Mr. Henderson exhibited the following insects from Lundy Island : — Ichneumon xanthorius, Foerst., Lacon murinus, L., and a species of Tenthredopsis. Mr. Billups, the following species of Coleoptera : — Demochroa gratiosa,Ij., from the Malaccas, Clinteria chloronota,¥., from Ceylon, C.conJinis,F., from N. India, and Polydceis puher, F., Onthophagus gazella, O. Marsyas, O. 4^-punctata, 0\., and Bricoptis variolosa, 01., f; om Madagascar, and Anthia sex- guttata, Lat., from India, and read a short paper on this latter species. Mr. E. Joy read notes on collecting Lepidoptera at Wicken Fen. April \st, 1886 : the President in the Chair. Messrs. C. H. Watson, Gr. P. Shearwood, Stanley Edwards, A. Beaumont, and B. W. Adkin were elected Members. Mr. G-oldthwaite exhibited series of Coenonympha Typhon, Rott., and JErebia cethiops, Esp. Mr. Cooper, Drepana binaria, Hufn., B. cultraria, Fb., and Urastria venustula, Hb., from Epping Forest ; imagines and pupa eases of Eiipacilia ambiguella, Hb., from the New Forest, and varieties of Lyccsna Icarus, Rott. Mr. J. T. Williams, a fine series of Eriogaster lanestris, L., and a long column of varieties of Hybernia leucophearia, Schiff. Mr. E. Joy, Nyssia hispidaria, Fb. Mr. Stevens, Petasia nubeculosa, Esp. Messrs. South and TugweU, fine series of Hybernia marginaria, Bork., var. fuscata. Mr. South said the specimens exhibited were bred from ova received from Mr. J. Harrison of Barnsley, who stated, that the eggs were deposited by a dark female which had been in union with a melanic male. Mr. Billups exhibited the following Coleoptera, taken by him in Headley Lane on the 22nd March, 1886 -.—Panagmis quadripustulatus, Sturm, Lebia chlorocephala, 284 [May, 1886. HofP., and Brachinus crepitans, L, ; also two species of Diptera, Sciaria pulicaria, Hoff., and Trichocera regelationis, L., bred from apples. — H. W. Barker and W. A. Pbarcb, Ron. Sees. Entomological Society or London, April 1th, 1886 : E. McLachlan, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. The following were elected Fellows, viz. : — Messrs. E. Capron, M.D., J. B. Bridgman, F.L.S., T. D. aibson-Carmichael, F.L.S., A. C. Horner, J. T. Harris, Evan John, A. Sidney OllifP (formerly Subscribers), F. D. Wheeler, M.A., of Norwich, •J. W. Ellis, L.R.C.P., of Liverpool, J. Rhodes, F.R.M.S., of Accrington, Martin Jacoby of Kentish Town, J. A. Clark of Hackney, and Greorge Elisha of Shepherdess Walk, City Road. Mr. Crowley exhibited a large number of Lepidoptera from Accra, W. Africa, including long series of Charaxes, Rhomalceosoma, &c., and a series of fine SaturnidcB from Natal. He stated that he was assured that the larvae of several species of the latter entered the earth in order to undergo transformation to pupse. The Rev. W. W. Fowler exhibited the examples of Anchomemis Sahlbergi, Chaud., from the banks of the Clyde, noticed by him in this Magazine, p. 264 ayite, and an example of A. arcJiangelicus, Sahib., for comparison. Mr. Slater exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Mutch, a spider of the genus QaleodeSj and a Cetonia apparently presenting monstrosity in the elytra, but which was owing to intentional reversal in position in one of them. Mr. Billups exhibited Bassus hizonarius, Grrav., from Peckham, a species of Ichneumonidce new to Britain, and a series of Dimeris mira, Ruthe (Braconidce), recently taken in Headley Lane, Surrey. Mr. White exhibited preserved larvse of species of Catocala, calling attention to the remarkable processes on the under-side ; and Prof. Meldola and Mr. Jenner Weir made remarks thereon. Mr. S. Edwards exhibited an apparently exotic spider from an Orchid House at Blackheath. Mr. H. Gross exhibited two remarkable varieties of the $ of Argynnis Faphia, taken in Sussex and Hampshire respectively. Mr. A. Gr. Butler communicated a paper, " Descriptions and remarks upon five new Noctuid moths from Japan." The Rev. W. W. Fowler read a paper on " New genera and species of LanguriadcB," from materials in the British and Cambridge Museums, and the collections of Mr. Gr. Lewis and the Rev. H. S. Grorham. He stated his reasons for the elevation of LanguriadcB to family rank, and gave notes on the habits. Dr. Sharp and Mr. Champion made remarks on this latter subject. Dr. Sharp read a paper "On some proposed transfers of generic names," occasioned by a pamphlet recently published by Mons. Des Gozis, in which that author transferred and transposed many of the most familiar generic names in Coleoptera (such as Carahus, &c.), on the grounds that the current application of these names is opposed to the intentions of the original authors of them. Dr. Sharp stigmatized tlie proposed changes as unsound, and objectionable as occasioning confusion. A long discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Fowler, Waterhouse, Dunning, Pascoe, McLachlan, &c., took part, the proposed changes advocated by M. Des Q-ozis being universally condemned. END OF VOL. XXII. ®b£ ''^nokgical H^rorb/' It has been found tliat a condensed Eecord of all tliat appears each year in the scattered literature of all parts of the globe, on any branch of Science, is of most essen- tial service to all scientific workers, and the " Zoological liecord " was started in 1865 in order to supply this great desideratum for all branches of Zoology. 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