I T3 R A Ti Y
OK TIIK
MUSEUM OF COMPAEATIVE ZOOLOGY.
f
THE
Entomologist’s Record
JOURNAL OF variation.
Edited by
J. W. TUTT, F.E. S,
VOL. II. 1891.
P^IOE 7^.
(SPECIAL INDEX Is.)
London :
ELLIOT STOCK, 62, Paternoster Eow, E.O.
Berlin :
R. FRIEDLANDER & SOHN, 11, Carlstrasse, N.W.
\
PREFACE TO VOLUME IE
In presenting Vol II. to our readers, we have most
cordially to thank our largely increased, and increasing, circle
of Subscribers for their support.
Our thanks are more especially due to those who have been
most actively instrumental in increasing our circulation, and
to those who have sent us material for publication. We have,
as is well-known, published a complete Volume in nine
months, and have had no lack of material, but rather an
excess, which shows the active interest taken by our
supporters.
We would beg to remind those Subscribers who leave their
subscriptions till the end of the year, that these should be
paid in advance, as delay makes unnecessary labour and
trouble, and tends to hinder the production and publication of
extra plates, etc.
We have to record that our anticipations relating to the
Special Index to Vol. I. were fully borne out, and all copies
were sold. Such an Index is, of course, absolutely necessary
for reference to everyone who is not a mere collector. May I
call the attention of those Subscribers who have not yet
ordered, to the Special Index for Vol. II. ?
The Editor.
1
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The Entomologist’s Record and Jonrnal of Variation.
VOL. II.
SPECIAL INDEX.
{Coleoptera arranged in order of Genera, the other Families in order of Species).
PRICE ONE SHILLING.
PAGE
COLEOPTERA.
{In order of generic names).
Aepus marinus
... 261
robinii
... 261
Agabus conspersus ...
... 190
didymus ...
• ... 95
guttatus ... ,
... 261
Agrilus sinuatus
... 112
Anaspis septemtrionalis
... 45
Anobium
259, 299
Anthonomus pomorum
... 168
Antbrenus ...
... 259
Apteropeda graminis
... 41
Atemeles emarginatus
... 22
Blaps
... 259
similis
... 143
Bolitobius atricapillus
... 95
Brucbus
... 259
Byrrbus piMa
... 238
Csenopsis fissirostris
... 41
waltoni
... 41
Calandra
... 259
Calathus
... 259
Carabus arvensis
... 168
nitens
... 143
Cetonia aurata
48, 216
C hole va nigricans ...
...
... 302
Chrysomela goettingensis
... 22
graminis ...
... 263
lamina
... 22
menthrasti
... 263
Cicindela campestris
... 168
Cis bilamellatus
... 238
Cleonus nebulosus . . .
... 300
sulcirostris
.. 47
Clerus f ormicarius . . .
... 263
Colymbetes notatus...
... 190
pulverosus
... 190
Conipora orbiculata
... 168
Corymbites bipustulatus
... 143
Corynetes
... 259
Creophilus
... 259
PAGE
Cryptocephalus aureolus . . .
... 261
Ctenopus sulphureus
... 95
Cymbiodyta marginellus ...
... 22
Dermestes
... 259
lardarius ...
.. 302
Dichirotrichus obscurus (obsoletus ?) 22
Dinarda markeli
... 47
Donacia
... 43
affinis
... 190
crassipes ...
... 190
dentata
... 190
dentipes ...
... 22
sagittarise ...
... 22
sericea
... 190
Dorcus parallelopipedus ...
... 302
Dytiscus circumflexus
... 216
marginalis . . , ... 71,
164, 216
Galerucidae ...
... 116
Hallomenus humeralis
... 96
Hedobia imperialis ...
... 143
Heledona agricola ...
... 168
Heterocerus arenarius
... 158
britannicus
... 53
femoraHs
... 158
flexuosus ...
... 158
fusculus
... 53
intermedins
... 158
pulchellus ...
... 53
rectus
... 158
salinus
... 158
Heteroivierous Coleoptera
... 21
Hister margiuatus ...
... 43
Homalota immersa ...
... 263
Hypera rumicis
168, 238
Ilybius fenestratus
190
fuliginosus
... 261
obscurus
... 190
Lathridius
... 259
Lathrobium multipunctum
... 22
Leptura sanguinolenta
... 190
Liopterus agilis
... 95
Liosomus ovatulus
41, 47
var. coUaris
... 47
VI
SPECIAL INDEX.
Lixus paraplecticus
PAGE (
... 190 i
L}'cid8e
20 1
Mordella fasciata ... ....
190
Mordellistena abdominalis
143 1
pumila
143 i
Nacerdes melanura
216
Necrophorus ruspator
216,
302 1
Nitidula obscura
190
Notiophilus 4-punctatus ...
143 1
(Edemera lurida’ ...
22 1
CEdemeridae
20 !
Olophrum piceum
41 1
Omalium
259 j
Othius fulvipennis
41
Otiorhynchus ligneus
41 I
Oxyporus rufus
47 1
Pach}i;a octomaculata
...
168 i
Philhydrus melanocephalus
22 i
Philonthus fucicola
261 ;
marginatus
41
splendens
168,
212
Plinthus caliginosus
...
41
Prionus coriarius
...
216
Pristonychus
259
Pseudolycus
20
Ptinus
259
Quedius
259
molochinus
261
tristis
261
umbrinus ...
261
Bhizophagus cribratus
190
Serica brunnea
302
Silpha laevigata
47,
261
4-punctata
47
thoracica ...
263
Silvanus
259
Sphodrus
259
leucophthalmus
216
Stenus declaratus
41
Tachyporus brunneus
41
Telephorus translucidus ...
119
Tenebrio
259
molitor
95
obscurus ...
95
Thalycra sericea
118
Toxotus meridianus
168,
216
Trogosita
259
Tropiphonis carinatus
41
Xestobium tessellatum
...
119
DIPTERA.
{In order of specific names).
Actia
53
.SlSTEID^
189
annulata ( = flavitarsis), Pepizella
187,
224
aquilegiae, Phytomyza
189
arnicae, Oxyphora = miliaria.
, 0
187,
224
Bigonicheta
53
bovis, Hypoderma ...
187i
189
ccelebs, Macquartia
80
crassitarsis (simplicitarsis), Polidea
80
dubia, Sciomyza
PAGE
... 224
equi, Gastrophilus
... 47
flavitarsis, Pepizella
... 224
geniculatus, Pepunculus ...
... 224
haemorrhoidalis. Micropalpus
... 45
hypostigma, Chlorops
... 224
lamed, Pteropoecila = muiiebris.
Toxoneura
... 224
leachii, Pachygaster
... 224
miliaria, Oxyphora...
... 224
muiiebris, Toxoneura
... 225
Peeiconea
... 71
platycephala, Sapromyza {in
error) 224
PSYCHODA
... 71
PSYCHODID^
71, 240
punctipes (ceps.), Clidogastra {in
error) 187, 224
riparia, Stratiomys 47
ruficeps, Germaria (Gonia) ... 53
sepulchralis, Eristalis ... ... 189
setacea, Sycorax 240
setipennis var. spinipennis, Bigon-
iclieta 53
simplicitarsis, Polidea, vide crassi-
tarsis, P.
spinicincta, Macquartia ... ... 80
strenua, Nemorsea ... 188
terminata, Oxyura in erro7 for
cashii, Pachygaster ... 187, 224
Theiptoceea 53
HEMIPTERA.
{In order of specific 7iatnes').
adjunctus (affirds), Scolopostethus 53
adjunctus (thomsoni), Scoloposte-
tlius ... 53
affirds, Scolopostethus, vide adjimc-
tus, S.
agathinum. Coccus ... ... ... 190
assimilis, Lecanium 306
associalis, Pseuodcoccus 306
aterrima, Brachypelta ... ... 54
betulse, Pulyinaria, 45 ; var. alni 45
cacti. Coccus 306
carpini, Aleurodes 158
CocciD^ 277, 305, 306
distinguendum, Lecanium ... 45
fraxini, Eriococcus ... ... 80
geocoriceps, Henestaris 252
grandis (punctatus), Scolopostethus 53
holophilus, Henestaris 252
insignis, Eriococcus 80
lacca, Carteria ... 306
minimum, Lecanium ... ... 306
olese, Lecanium 306
omata, Strachia ... ... ... 54
persicae, Pulvinaria . . . ... ... 306
personatus, Aspidiotus 306
pulchella, Vinsonia 306
pulveraria, Ripersia ... ... 306
punctato-guttatus, Lygaeus .. 54
punctatus, Scolopostethus, vide gran-
dis, S.S
SPECIAL
PAGE
reticulatum, Lygoeosoma 54
rubicola, Aleurodes ... 158, 277
thomsoni, Scolopostethus, vide
adjunctus, S. ; var. neglectus 53
tomlinii, Ripersia 306
walkeri, Dactylopius 80
HYMENOPTERA.
(/« order of specific names).
eerolaris, Rbizarcba
189
Andrena
14
Calliphora
305
cognata, Acidia
305
COLLETES
14
compar, Opius
15
cyanea, Cbrysis
263
damicomis, Eulopbus
95, 168
digitatus, Cryptus ...
189
dromedrius, Xipbyra
263
extrematis, Cryptus
304
fasciata, Abia
304
gigas, Sirex
... 190, 216
babilis, Hedylus
16
beraclei, Acidia
305
imbricata, Nomada
14
lutea, Cimbex
95
maculata, Nomada ...
14
nigricomis, Abia
95
ruficornis, Rbinopsis
20
ruf o-nigra, Sinia
20
rutilans, Lamprima
20
sericea, Abia
95
setosa, Lampromata
263
spiniger, Polyracbis
116
unicolor. Apis
259
varipes, Polyspbincta
189
westwoodi, Stenamma
54
wiedemanni, Gonyglossum ... 305
zelotes, Opius
61
LEPIDOPTERA.
abbreviata, Eupitbecia
... 235, 298
abietaria, Boarmia ...
79, 96
abietella, Dioryctria (Nepbopteryx,
Phycis) 119, 158, 166, 189
abjecta, Mamestra 177, 278
Abraxas 44
abruptaria, Hemeropbila 92, 115,140, 263
absyntbiata,Eupitbecia 87, 235, 289, 298
absyntbii, Cucullia 142
aceriana, Spilonota 204
aceris, Cuspidia (Acronycta) 60, 76,
77, 82, 115, 133, 167, 169, 170,
190, 201, 203, 210, 230, 244;
vars. infuscata, intermedia, 81 ;
(Arctomyscis) 105
acbatinella, Nyctegretes ... ... 203
acis (semiargus), Lycaena ... 89, 137
Acroxycta 1, 7, 25, 26, 31, 48, 73,
76, 82, 104, 106, 125, 150, 221
actaeon, Hesperia 115, 236, 278, 305
INDEX. Vll
PAGE
acuta, Plusia 80
adelpbella, Pempelia ... 11, 45
adippe, Argynnis 115, 136, 230, 235, 236
adonis (bell^gus), Lycaena 111,
115, 168, 216, 232, 263, 273 ; var. Ill
adusta, Hadena 159, 180, 186, 187,
204, 230, 231, 238, 239, 293
adustata, Ligdia44, 96, 111, 235, 255, 289
advena, Aplecta ...167, 176, 178, 228
advenaria, Epione 110, 135, 159, 227
aegeria, Satyrus (Pararge) 65, 115,
236 ; var. aegerides 137
aegon, Lycaena 115, 137, 167, 179,
182, 204, 235, 236, 263, 290;
= argus, L.
aemulana, Catoptria..
224
11
senea, Pbytometra
115, 135, 236,
285 ; vars.
95
aescularia, Anisopteryx 38, 39, 54,
87, 113, 140, 141
aesculi (pyrina), Zeuzera 21, 90, 91,
140, 229, 263, 300
aetbiops, Erebia, vide blandina, E.
affinis, Cosmia (Calymnia) 113, 140,
164, 177, 216, 228
affinitata, Emmelesia 143, 204, 255,
260, 288, 296
Aganisthos 188
agatbina, Agrotis 239, 289
agestis (astrarcbe), Lycaena 115,
137, 204, 236; vars. 214; vat.
artaxerxes, 180, 188, 218 ; var.
salmacis ... ... ... 188
aglaia, Argynnis 115, 136, 168, 205,
230, 232, 235, 259, 265, 284,
300,302,304; a^. aberrans ... 224
Agrius 188
Agrotis 21, 56, 150, 203
abenella, Oncocera 203
alberta, Argynnis 20
albicapitana, EupcEcilia 233
albiciUata, Melantbia 133, 234, 288
albicolon, Mamestra 135, 159, 203, 204
albimacula, Diantboecia ... ... 213
albipuncta, Leucania 214, 278 ; vars.
grisea-rufa, suffusa ... ... 81
albipunctata, Eupitbecia, 254, 285 ;
var. angelicata 37, 254, 279, 285
albistrigabs, Hypenodes ... 203, 226
albovenosa, Viminia, venosa, V.
albulata, Emmelesia 47, 94, 118,
133, 291 ; var. griseata-sub-
fasciaria 224
alcbemillata, Emmelesia 261
alcbimiella, Gracilaria ... ... ^9
alcyoni]Denella, Coleopbora 134
alexanor, Papilio 70
alexis, Lycsena, vide icarus, L.
alni, Cuspidia (Acronycta) 1, 77,
89, 121, 122, 127, 129, 131, 169,
170, 171, 173, 174, 175, 215,
228, 235, 241, 246, 248, 249, 251,
255, 278, 295; (Jocbeaera) 56,
105 ; vars. obsoleta, suffusa ... 81
Vlll
SPECIAL INDEX.
alniaria (autumnaria), Ennomos
(Eugonos) 72,
alniaria, Ennomos, vide tiliaria, E.
alpina, Pachnobia (Agrotis), vide
hyperborea, P.
alsines, Caradrina 65, 81, 203, 228,
230 ; var. suffusa
alsus, Lycsena (Polyommatus) 182,
203, 236, 263,
alveolus, Hesperia, vide malvse,
Syricbthus.
amataria, Timandra 65, 69, 181,
203, 230, 288,
ambigua, Caradrina 94, 160, 177 ;
var. plantaginis
ampbidamas, Polyommatus
anacboreta, Clostera... 18, 120,
anascibia, Morpbo ...
anastomosis, Clostera
anceps (sordida), Mamestra 168,
203, 204, 228,
andreniformis, Sesia
anella (us), Melia ... 188,204,
angularia (quercinaria), Ennomos
184, 232, 236, 255, 256, 263;
vars 188,
angustalis, Cledeobia
angustea, Scoparia ...
augustiorana, Batodes
annulata, Nyctemera
annulatella, Plutella
anomala, Stilbia 38, 42, 61, 209,
235, 256, 279, 283,
antiopa, Vanessa 94, 115, 137; var.
216; bygisea
antipodum, Argyropbinga ...
antiqua, Orgyia ... 140, 256,
Apamea 48,
Apatela
apbrodite, Argynnis
apiciaria, Epione 65, 178, 206, 225,
237,
apiformis, Sesia 70, 91,
aprilina, Agriopis 70, 206, 207, 230,
253, 263, 273, 286, 290,
aquilina Agrotis ... 177,
arbutana, Eucbromia
arbuti (tenebrata), Heliodes (He-
Uaca) ... 118,133,142,225,
Aectiid.®
Aectomyscis ... 80, 82, 105,
arcuosa, Miana (Cbortodes) 69, 115,
177, 183,
arenella, Depressaria
areola, Xylina, vide litborbiza, X.
argentimaculella, Xysmatodoma . . .
argentipedella, Nepticula
argiades, Lycsena . . . 259, 299,
argiolus, Lycaena 95, 115, 137, 164,
argus = argyrognomon, Lycaena ...
Argynnis
arion, Lycsena
PAGE
89
81
299
305
81
70
238
303
18
230
120
279
190
203
289
289
33
277
305
94
31
264
157
221
14
260
300
295
287
111
291
7
221
234
253
62
111
302
179
224
14
137
PAGE
artemis (aurinia), Melitaea 67, 86,
89, 108, 112, 115, 135, 136,
220, 307 ; vars. 214 ; bibernica,
scotica 213
artemisiella, Coleopbora 287
artemisiella, Gelecbia ... ... 159
arundinis (castansea), IMacrogaster
134, 176, 177, 278
arundinis, Nonagria, vide typbse, N.
asellus, Heterogenea ... ... 235
asbwortbii, Agrotis, vide candelsuram,
A.
asiliformis (vespiformis), Sesia ...
asinalis, Botys 163,
aspersana, Peronea ... 204, 229,
aspbodilana, Tortrix
aspidiscana, Catoptria
assimilata, Eupitbecia ... 164,
assimilella, Depressaria ... 87,
associata, Cidaria, vide dotata, C.
asteris, Cucullia
atalanta, Vanessa 19, 65, 95, 115,
119, 137, 140, 232,263; var. ...
atbalia, INIelitsea 165, 305 ; var.
atlantis, Argynnis ...
atomaria, Fidonia (Ematurga) 20,
87, 88, 111, 133, 180, 206, 239,
289, 302 ; vars....
atra, Laverna
atrata, Tanagra, vide cbseropbyllata,
T.
224
285
286
303
18
256
159
165
72
198
14
95
141
atriplicis, Hadena 279
atropos, Acberontia 115, 253, 278, 295
Attacus 189
augur, Grapbipbora (Agrotis, Noc-
tua) 133, 151, 181, 183, 185,
203, 228, 260, 261, 262, 285;
var. belvetina ... ... ... 262
aurago, Xantbia 253, 279, 290 ;
vo,r. fucata ... ... 7, 37
aureola, Litbosia ... 46, 135, 227
auricoma, Viminia (Acronycta) 1,
2, 76, 105, 169
auriflua (similis), Liparis 164, 190,
206, 259
aurinia, Melitsea, vide artemis, M.
auromarginella, Nepticula 20
auroraria, (muricata) Hyria 167,
177, 183, 188, 203, 227, 285
australis, Aporopbyla 261
autumnaria, Ennomos, vide alniaria,
E.
aversata, Acidalia 65, 69, 206, 230,
288; vars 140, 213
j badiata, Anticlea 40, 69, 86, 87, 88,
' 111, 115, 134, 156, 179 \ va7.... 95
baja, Noctua 164, 177, 204, 213,
i 230, 262, 267, 270
I bajularia (pustulata), Pborodesma
i 69, 158, 168, 233, 288
baliodactyla, Aciptilia 286
SPECIAL INDEX,
IX
PAGE
barbalis, Herminia ... ... ... 164
barrettii {var.), DianthcEcia (Luper-
ina) 181, 216, 233, 275, 276,
279, 289
basilinea, Apamea 140, 164, 203,
204, 228, 230, 263 ; vars. nebu-
losa, unicolor ... ... ... 84
basistrigalis, Scoparia ... ... 69
batis, Thyatira 108, 158, 161, 164,
181, 183, 185, 200, 220, 228, 230,
231, 234, 235, 237, 247, 257;
ab. coufluens, 59; var. juncta... 81
baumanniana (hartmanniana), Ar-
gyrolepia Ill, 135
belgiaria, Scodiona 180 ; var.
fayiUacearia ... ... ... 224
belia, Aiithocharis ... ... ... 239
bellargus, Lycsena, vide adonis, L.
bembeciformis, Sesia 70, 90, 91, 115, 23
bennetii, Agdistis 163
berberata, Anticlea 156
bergmaiiniana, Dictyopteryx ... 289
bertrami, Platyptilia 286
bethunei, Lithophane ... ... 153
betulse, Theda ..115, 119, 232, 263
betulae, Tinagma, vide hammoniella,
Helozela.
betularia, Amphidasys, 46, 69, 78,
83, 93, 114, 118, 133, 140, 164,
167, 168, 207, 230, 232, 233,
234, 264, 280, 287, 302 ;
betularia-prodromaria ... ... 46
bicolorana, Halias, vide quercana, H.
bicolorata, Melanthia vide rubi-
ginata, M.
bicoloria, Miana, vide fumncula, M.
bicuspis, Cerura 131
bidentata, Odontopera (Crocallis)
69, 111, 115, 158, 164, 214, 230,
255, 299
bifida, Dicranura ... ... 284, 307
bilineata, Camptogramma, 65, 141,
168, 202, 230
bilunaria, Selenia, vide illunaria, S.
bimaculana, Ephippiphora ... 289
bimaculata (verticillata), Plusia 80, 81
bimaculella, Chrysoclysta 299
binsevella, Homaeosoma ... ... 203
binaria, Drepana, vide hamula,
Platypteryx.
bipunctaria, Eubolia 65, 116, 164,
204, 230, 234, 236, 288
bipunctidactyla, Mimseseoptilus
(Pterophorus) 285
bisetata, Acidalia ... 65,140, 183
Bisulcia ... 76, 80, 82, 105, 150
biundularia, Tephrosia 44, 69, 85,
87, 111, 133, 157, 227, 235 ; var.
39,215; delamerensis ... 190
blanda (taraxaci), Caradrina 94,
133, 203, 228, 285 ; var. sordida 219
blandina (sethiops), Erebia 202,
281, 282, 284
blomeri (pulchraria), Asthena 227, 255
PAGE
boetica, Lycaena (Polyommatus) 119, 275
boldenarum, Chrysophanus 32, 196
bombyliformis, Macroglossa 112,
184, 229
bondii, Tapinostola ... ... 167, 239
boreata, Cheimatobia ... ... 39
brassicae, Mamestra 65, 140, 204,
206, 228, 2.30, 238, 254, 285
brassicae, Pieris 65, 111, 115, 119,
133, 136, 140, 182, 184, 206, 229
brevilinea, Nonagria ... 225, 278
brumata, Cheimatobia ... ... 140
brunnea, Noctua 66, 86, 161, 228,
230, 266, 269 ; ab. nigricans
(Agrotis) ... ... 224
bucephala, Pygaera (Phalera) 140,
232, 238, 305
butleri, Erebiola ... 33
caeruleocephala, Diloba 76, 77, 164
caesia, Dianthoecia ... ... 207, 279
caesiata, Larentia 21, 180, 281, 282, 283
caesiella, Swammerdammia ... 289
caesonia, Colias ... 271
cagnagellus, Hyponomeuta ... 44
caja, Chelonia (Arctia) 43, 44, 78,
118, 140, 142, 163, 206, 229, 293,
299; vars. 44, 213, 214, 216;
lutescens, 303 ; theosoma ... 214
C-album, Grapta 13, 136, 307 ; var.
hutchinsoni ... ... ... 136
Caledonia, Prothoe 71
caledoniana, Peronea ... 87, 287
caledoniella (new), Micropteryx ... 252
californicus, Oniticellus ... ... 144
caliginosa, Acosmetia 183, 184, 300
callunae {var.)., Bombyx 86, 180,
186, 231, 299, 303
caltheUa, Micropteryx 107, 117, 279
camelina, Notodonta (Lophopteryx)
39, 69, 140, 164, 183, 213, 229,
231, 232, 233, 235, 239, 255,
257, 283
eampoliliana, Grapholitha ... 255
cana, Catoptria ... ... ... 289
candelarum, Agrotis var. ashworthii,
62, 215, 279
candidata, Asthena 69, 111
caniola, Lithosia 278, 286
cannae, Nonagria ...225, 239, 272, 278
capensis, Deilephila ... ... 215
capreolella, Depressaria ... ... 182
capsincola, Dianthoecia 36, 140,
168, 203, 207, 228, 231, 260
capsophila, Dianthoecia 37, 207,
233, 273, 276, 279
Caradrina 48, 93, 94, 278
carbonaria, Fidonia... ... ... 20
cardamines, Euchloe (Anthocaris)
72, 111, 115, 132, 135,136, 165,
168, 239, 299, 304; var. ... 299
cardui, Vanessa (Cynthia; Pyrameis)
65, 91, 115, ■'37, 140, 206, 232,
236, 263
§
X
SPECIAL INDEX
carmelita, Notodonta 85, 90, 119,
139,
carnica, Agrotis (Pacliuobia), vide
hyperborea, A.
carnelia, Ilithyia (Crambus)
carpiui (pavoiiia), Saturiiia 46, 61,
87, 95, 112, 115, 117, 118, 154,
215, 225, 231, 233, 277, 300;
vars. infumata, 198, 223 ;
rosacea ... ... ... 198,
carpophaga, Diantbcecia 37, 142,
273,
cassiope (epipbron), Erebia 205,
281,
castanea, Noctua 239 ; var. neglecta
180, 239,
castanese, INIacrogaster, vide anin-
dinis, ]\I.
castigata, Eupitbecia 87, 141,
castrensis, Bombyx vars. ...
caudana, Teras
cecropia, Attacus (Actias) 153, 189,
cembrae, Scoparia 203,
centaureata (oblongata), Eupitbecia
141, 255, 288, 289,
centonalis, Nola 166,
cerago (fulvago), Xantbia 230, 237,
289,
certata, Scotosia (Eucosmia, Tri-
pbosa) ... 69, 116, 141, 142,
cerussellus, Platytes ... 203,
cervinaria, Eubolia ... 141,
cespitalis, Herbula ...
cespitana, Sericoris ...
cespitis, Luperina 228, 231, 232,
237, 253, 254, 257,
cbseropbyllata, Tanagra 158, 206,
230, 263,
cbalcogrammella, Coleopbora
cbamomillse, Cucullia 69, 94, 95,
112,
cbaonia, Notodonta 94, 112, 184,
206,
Chaeaxes
cbardinyi, Agrotis
cbenopodii (trifobi), Hadena 30,
140, 203, 228,
cbi, Polia 84, 206, 302 ; var. oliva-
cea, 84, 107, 200, 219 ; sufEusa,
84, 158, 200,
Chilades
cblorana, Halias 95, 178, 215,
cbrysidiformis, Sesia
cbrysippus, Danais 187, 240 ; var.
alcippus 240 ; dorippus
cbrysitis, Plusia 65, 115, 164, 204,
230, 233, 238, 263, 282,
cbrysonucbellus, Crambus ...
cbrysorrboea, Liparis 140, 229, 259 ;
error
ClDARIA
cilialis, Nascia ... 134, 176,
ciuctaria, Boarmia 17, 96,
cinerea, Agrotis .. 161, 164,
fAGE
228
285
223
279
302
261
255
214
289
304
286
298
288
290
164
288
206
203
204
276
291
81
235
232
188
56
238
219
117
305
167
240
288
203
206
236
177
135
307
cingilella, Elacbista
cinxia, Mebtsea ... ... 87,
circellaris, Xantbia, vide ferruginea,
X.
cirsiana, Epbippbora (Halonota)
141,
citrago, Xantbia 140, 164, 228, 237,
253,
citrana, Catoptria 138,
citraria, Aspilates ... 87, 235,
clatbrata, Strenia 190, 204, 210,
230; vars. ... ... 108,
Cleopatra, Gonopterj^x
cloaceba, Scardia 141,
C-nigrum, Noctua 140, 228, 230,
237, 261, 262 ; (Agrotis)
coenosa, Laeba
COLEOPHORA 45,
Colias14; vars.
colqubounana, Sciapbila
comariana, Peronea...
comes, Tripbaena, vide orbona, T.
comitata, Pelurga ... 188, 204,
comma, Grapta 13,
comma, Hesperia ... ... 115,
comma, Leucania 65, 159, 164,
203, 204, 228, 230, 255 ; vars.
uigropuncta, ocbreacea
complaua, Litbosia 46, 164, 167,
183,
complanula (lurideola), Litbosia
46, 65, 177, 183, 206, 229, 234,
comptana, Pboxopteryx
concbana, Sericoris... 188, 203,
concolor, Nonagria (Tapinostola,
190, 223, 239, 257)
confinis, Gelecbia ...
conflua {error) festiva, Noctua 260,
261, 262, 266, 267, 268, 269,
270, 271, 279; var. borealis,
268, 271; tbule... 21,
confusabs (cristulabs), Nola 110,
117, 133, 163,
conigera, Leucania 65, 115, 140,
162, 168, 203, 235, 285 ; vars.
flavipunctum, intermedia
conjunctaria (polygrammata), Pbi-
balapteryx
consignata, Eupitbecia
consocieUa, Rbodopboea ...
i consonaria, Tepbrosia 96, 110, 117,
I 134, 143, 227,
I consortaria, Boarmia
1 conspersa, Diantbcecia 168, 214,
I 227, 231, 264, 275, 276 ; vars.
I obbterae, obscurae, ocbrea
j conspicibaris, Xylomiges vars. in-
I termedia, medio-bnea, mela-
i leuca
! constrictata, Eupitbecia
j contamiuaua, Teras 21,
I contamineba, Depressaria...
I contaminebus, Crambus 166, 188,
‘ 204; vars.
PAGE
299
160
255
286
176
236
215
117
289
56
176
229
43
233
203
232
14
232
81
227
288
204
229
278
26
266
254
81
307
279
288
235
227
306
81
298
141
159
43
SPECIAL INDEX
XI
contiguaria, Acidalia 279
convolvuli, Sphinx 41, 65, 115,
164, 181, 203, 213, 216, 237,
252, 253, 258, 278, 295, 296,
305, 307
coracina, Psodos 213 ; ah. wahl-
bergi
coronata, Eupitbecia ... 255,
corticana, Paedisca (Penthina)
corticea, Agrotis 65, 115, 159, 161,
166, 203, 204, 228, 300 ; vars.
180,
corydon, Lycaena 137, 204, 216,
236,
corylana, Tortrix
corylata, Cidaria ...118,133,235,
coryli, Demas 17, 76, 77, 95, 143,
180, 183, 229, 231, 232,
254, 293 ; vars....
cosmopborana. Coccyx
costaestrigalis, Hypenodes . . .
costana, Tortrix var.
costella, Hypolepia
costosa, Depressaria
craccae, pastinum error.
campa ...
Crambid^
Cbambomoephus (a)
crataegata (luteolata),
140, 206, 230, 232 ;
crataegella, Scoparia
crataegi, Aporia
crataegi, Tricbiura ...
crepuscularia, Tepbrosia 88, 95,
111, 140, 145, 230, 235 ; vars. 190
crepusculella, Elacbista 176
cretacella, Homoeosoma, vide sene-
cionis, H.
cribralis, Herminia . . .
cribrella, INIyelopbila
cribrum, Eulepia ...
cristana, Peronea ...
cristulaUs, Nola, vide confusalis, N.
croceago, Hoporina... ... 40, 290
croceaUs, Ebulea 45, 203, 229, 288
cruciferarum (xylostella), PluteUa . 158
cruda, Taeniocampa 12, 19, 39, 55,
56, 62, 87, 88, 133,
cubicularis, Caradrina 65, 140, 228,
230,
cucubali, Diantbcecia 181, 228, 229
cucuUa (cucuUina), Lopbopteryx
(Notodonta) 228
cucuUata, Anticlea, vide sinuata, A.
cucullatella, Nola ... 70, 140, 204,
215, 289
CucuLLiA 30, 41, 94
culiciformis, Sesia ... ... 44, 297
cultraria, Drepana, vide unguicula, D.
cursoria, Agrotis 180, 229, 231, 287,
299,302; z/ar. sagitta... ... 302
curtisella. Prays 7
curtula, Clostera (Pygaera) 23, 24 ;
vars 23, 36
224
298
141
213
304
141
238
235,
... 190
... 112
177, 286
... 72
... 280
38, 229
Toxo-
232
43
105
Rumia 65,
var. ... 118
70
89, 136
...38, 65, 287
134, 177, 204
95
183
259
140
282
PAGE
CUSPIDIA 76, 77, 80, 82, 105, 150, 262
cybele, Argynnis 14
cynipiformis, Sesia 44, 91
cytberea (matura), Cerigo 140, 204,
206, 216, 227, 230, 257
cytisaria, Pseudoterpna 158, 190,
230, 235
dablii, Noctua ...261, 262, 266, 307
dalella, PluteUa 296
Danais ... ... ... ... 24
davus, Coenonympba 43, 112, 181,
205, 233, 281, 282; vars. ... 108
dealbata. Scoria ... 109, 111, 187
debiliata, Eupitbecia 298
decoloraua, Catoptria ... 11, 45
decolorata, Emmelesia 87, 227, 255,
288 ; flavo-fasciata 224
decrepitalis, Scopula 294
decurieUa, Dioryctria 189
defoUaria, Hybernia 39, 140; ab.
bolmgreni, 224 ; var 39
degeerella, Adela 289
delpbinii, Cbariclea ... ... 271
dentalis, Odontia 188, 204
dentina, Hadena 133, 164, 180, 203,
204, 230, 255
deplana, Litbosia 46
depuncta, Noctua 262, 286 ; var.
mendosa 262
Depressaria 39
derasa, Gonopbora (Tbyatira) 67,
115, 133, 162, 168, 181, 183,
185, 203, 228, 230, 238, 256,
257, 263, 288
derivata, Anticlea ... ... 87, 115
desertella, Gelecbia 159
designata(propugnata), Coremia 232,
235, 255, 288
desperateUa, Nepticula Ill
dictsea, Notodonta 164, 186, 206,
207, 213, 214, 231, 233,
255, 283, 284, 294
dictseoides, Notodonta 206, 231,
232, 233, 235, 255, 256, 257, 261
diducta, Noctua ( = conflua var. ?) . , . 271
didyma, Apamea, vide oculea, A.
didymata, Larentia 119, 229, 230,
233, 282, 283, 288, 300
diffinis, Cosmia (Calymnia) 113,
115, 140, 164, 206, 207, 228
diluta, AspbaUa 164, 228, 230, 237,
253, 254 ; va7 . nubilata ... 7
dilutaria (osseata), Acidalia 69, 285, 288
dilutata, Oporabia 48, 140, 301 ;
nebulata ... ... ... 224
dimidiana, Pentbina ... ... Ill
dimidiata, Acidalia... ... ... 69
diminutana, Pboxopteryx . . . ... 285
dipsaceus, Heliotbis ... 289, 307
dispar, Cbrysopbanus 35
dispar, Liparis (Ocbneria) 18, 44, 165
disposita, Litbopbanes 153
1 dissimiUs, Hadena, vidi suasa, H.
Xll
SPECIAL INDEX.
PACK
di trapezium, Noctua 66, 261, 262
divisella, Gelechia 178
dodousea (trimacula), Notodonta 70,
119, 184, 229, 235
dodoneata, Eupithecia 89, 257, 279, 298
dolobraria, Eurymene 118, 119, 167,
232, 234, 235, 255, 260
dominula, Callimorpha 115, 118,
142, 166, 167, 190, 203, 235;
vars. ... ... ... ... 44
donelana, Tortrix 216, 221, 223,
239, 240, 264 ; and vide steine-
riana, T.
dotata (associata), Cidaria 69,
141, 235 ; ab. johansoni
Drepanulid^
dromedarius, Notodonta 115,
214, 229, 231, 233, 235,
dubitalis, Scoparia ...
dubitana, Eupoecilia
dubitata, Scotosia (Tripbosa)
65, 86, 88, 141, 164, 228,
260,
dumetana, Tortrix
dumetellus, Crambus
duplana, Retinia
duplaris, Cymatopbora 161, 183,
220, 228, 235, 273, 305; var.
obscura 219
116,
224
227
203^
255,
257,
283
203
203
14,
237,
263,
305
177
180',
279
87
ecbii, Diantboecia, vide irregularis,
D.
edusa, Colias 115, 136, 220 ; var.
bebce 136
egeria, Pararge, vide segeria, Satyrus.
elinguaria, Crocallis 140, 180, 206,
230, 255, 264, 283, 289
elis, Colias 20
elongella, Gracilaria ... ... 215
elpenor, Cbserocampa 41, 65, 115,
168, 207, 225, 229, 237, 255, 263
elutata (sordidata), Hypsipetes 50,
180, 183, 188, 216, 229, 230,
263 ; vars. ... ... 7, 190
elutella, Epbestia ... ... ... *70
emarginata, Acidalia 183, 234, 286, 288
emutaria, Acidalia 160, 203, 284, 298
Erebia 240
ericetana, Ortbotsenia Ill
erosaria, Ennomos 184, 238, 255, 273
erytbrocepbala, Orrbodia var.
glabra 290
Eudorea 62
Eulonche 221
eupborbise, Deilepbila 118, 201, 238, 299
eupborbiae (myricse var.)^ Viminia,
vide myricse, V.
eupborbiata, Minoa... ... ... 190
eupbrosyne, Argynnis 111, 115,
133, 135, 136, 141, 163, 254,
288 ; vars 44, 119
eurytbeme, Colias ... ... 14, 272
exantbemaria, Cabera ... 214, 230
PAGE
exclamationis, Agrotis 65, 132, 140,
168, 204, 228, 230; vars. ... 214
exiguata, Eupitbecia 69, 235, 255, 298
exoleta, Calocampa 86, 111, 164,
179, 204, 230
expallidana, Catoptria ... 176, 178
exteusaria, Eupitbecia 47, 117, 279
extersaria (luridata), Tepbrosia 235, 255
exulans, Zygaena var. subocbracea
142, 218
exulis, Crymodes vars. borea, gelata,
gelida, groenlandica, marmo-
rata, poll ... ... ... 81
fabriciana (oxyacantbella),Sym0etbis 255
fagella, Diumea 141, 147
fagi, Stauropus 110, 115, 116, 188,
210, 212, 216, 227, 228, 232,
235, 277, 278, 295, 302, 307
falcula (falcataria), Drepana (Pla-
typteryx) 15, 54, 118, 135, 143,
205, 230, 234, 235, 255, 283, 299
falsellus, Crambus ... ... ... 286
farinalis, Pyralis ... 141, 166, 233
fascelina, Orgyia 134, 159, 231, 307
fasciana, Erastria ... 69, 227, 235
fasciaria, EUopia ... 86, 143, 158
fasciellus, Nemopbora ... ... 186
fasciuncula, Miana 8, 48, 69, 133,
159, 161, 168, 181, 182, 204,
230 ; vars. 180 ; cana 10, 219 ;
paUida, rubencula, suffusa ... 81
faunus, Grapta ... ... 13, 14
favillacearia-fagaria, Scodiona ... 224
fenestrella, Endrosis 141, 142, 255
fennica, Agrotis (Noctua ?) 56, 261
ferreabs, Litbopbanes 153
ferrugana, Peronea 289
ferruginea (circellaris), Xantbia
164, 228, 230, 237, 286
ferrugata, Coremia 46, 65, 116, 120,
156, 164, 179, 180, 206, 213,
215, 229, 232, 289, 300; var.
200 ; -corculata (Cidaria) ... 224
festalie-Ua, Cbrysocorys 289
festiva, Noctua 164, 181, 182, 204,
206, 228, 230, 238, 260, 261,
262, 263, 266, 267, 268, 269,
270, 271, 279, 300 ; vars. 72 ;
conflua72; tbulei ... ... 266
festucse, Plusia 89, 183, 203, 237, 285, 290
fibrosa, Helotropba, vide leuco-
stigma, H.
filigrammaria, Oporabia 257
filipendulse, Zygsena 11, 20, 91,
110, 140, 155, 162, 199, 200,
236, 278, 280, 304 ; var. basalis,
223 ; cerimus, 223 ; ebrysan-
tbemi, 223 ; cytisi, 223 ; mannii,
223 ; miiioides, 223 ; oebsen-
beimeri, 223 ; orobi (trifolii ?)
223, ramburii 223
fimbria, Tripbsena 86, 135, 141, 142,
177, 228, 287
SPECIAL INDEX.
X /I I
PAGE
fimbrialis, Pyralis 233
firmata, Thera 282
flammatra, Noctua 262
flammea, Meliana ... 134, 176, 177
flammealis, Botys ... ... ... 285
flammealis, Eudotricha ... 233, 288
flavago (ochracea), Gortyna 140,
181, 235, 287, 300 ; vars.
flavago, flavo-auratum
flavago, Xanthia, vide silago, X.
flavalis, Botys
flavicaput (aurifrontella) Chryso-
clista
flaviciliana, Eupoecilia
flavicinctata (ruficinctata), Larentia
281, 282,
flavicomis, AsphaHa (Cymatophora)
38, 39, 40, 87, 88, 229, 282,
283 ; var. finnmarchia, 224 ;
galbanus, 81 ; rosea, 81, 219 ;
80
163
255
227
283
scotica 219, 224
flexula, Aventia ...227, 233, 234, 305
fluctuata, Melanippe 65, 86, 141,
142, 206, 230, 263, 304; vars.
180; z/ar. immaculata... ... 16
fluctuosa, Cymatophora ... 69, 231
fceneana, Ephippiphora ., ... 204
forficalis, Pionea 141, 233
forficellus, Schoenobius ... ... 203
formicseformis, Sesia ... 119, 278
f ormosa, Pempelia ... ... ... 11
f orskaleana, Dictyopteryx . . . 141, 289
forsteraua, Tortrix 141, 288
fragarise, Noctua ... ... ... 269
francill(on)ana. Conchy lis ... 204, 288
fraternella, Gelechia ... ... 134
fraxini, Catocala ... .. ... 62
frigga, Argynnis ... ... ... 259
fuciformis, Macroglossa 63, 119, 133,
135, 237
fuligana (carbonana), Penthina ... 67
fuligana, Sericoris ... ... ... 177
fuliginosa, Arctia (Spilosoma) 61,
85, 86, 177, 229, 231, 254, 289 ;
var. borealis ... ... ... 218
fulva, Tapinostola (Nonagria) 228,
289 ; var. fluxa, 219 ; neurica,
219 ; ochracea, 81, 219 ; pallida,
219 ; punicea, 81, 219; pygmina,
219 ; sub-vars, ochracea-suffusa.
punicea-sufEusa 81
fulvago, Xanthia, vide cerago, X.
fulvana, Catoptria 203
fulvata, Cidaria ...183, 203, 229, 282
funeralis, Jocheaera 56
funerella, Anesychia ... ... 178
furcatellus, Crambus ... ... 70
furcula, Dicranura 183, 229, 231, 232
furuncula (bicoloria), Miana 132,
140, 168, 204, 228, 230, 231, 239,
257, 263 ; vars. albicans, brun-
nea-reticulata, insulicola, pal-
lida, pulmonariae, reticulata,
rufa-reticulata 81
PAGE
furva, Mamestra z/ar. infernalis ... 219
fuscalis, Botys ... 203, 229, 288
fuscantaria, Ennomos 140, 254,
256, 273
fuscodactylus, Mimaeseoptilus (Ptero-
phorus) 289
fuscula, Erastria, vide fasciana, E.
gaedartella, Argyresthia ... ... 141
galactodactyla, Aciptilia ... ... 44
galatea, Arge (Melanarge) 115, 137,
204, 230, 232, 236, 260
galiata, Melanippe 203, 213, 214,
230, 303
galii, Deilephila 306
gamma, Plusia 65, 140, 164, 181,
182, 206, 230, 237
gemina, Apamea 140, 161, 176, 183,
203, 204, 228, 230, 255, 263,
285, 302 ; intermedia, 219 ;
remissa, 219 ; rufescens ... 219
geminana, Grapholitha ... ... 287
geminipuncta, Nonagria 163, 227,
305 ; sub-vars. fusca-unipuncta,
pallida-obsoleta, pallida-uni-
puncta, rufa-obsoleta, uni-
puncta, 81 ; vars. fusca, pallida,
rufa 81
gemmaria, Boarmia, vide rhomboid-
aria, B.
geniculellus, Crambus ... ... 289
genistse, Hadena ... 139, 228, 230
genistsecolella, Coleophora 45
geoffroyella, Harpella 289
geographica, Clidia 150
geryon, Procris ... ... ... 143
gigantana (alternana), Conchylis ... 204
gilvago, Xanthia 16, 253
gilvaria, Aspilates ... ... 204, 216
glabraria, Cleora 96, 110; = jubata
(Boarmia) 224
glandifera, Bryophila 22, 190, 261, 307
glareosa, Noctua 21, 180, 253, 261,
262 ; var. ? hebraica 262
glauca, Hadena 88
glaucata, Cilix, vide spinula, C.
Gl^a 175
glyphica, Euclidia ... 141, 234, 255
gonerilla, Vanessa 15
gonodactyla(trigonodactyla),Platy-
ptilia 238, 253, 288
gothica, Tseniocampa 12, 19, 39, 62,
63, 85, 86, 88, 95, 111, 133, 134,
140, 164, 204, 230, 261, 262 ;
var. gothacina ... ... 86, 111
gracilis, Tseniocampa 12, 19, 40, 85,
86, 88, 115, 134, 180, 204, 235
graminis, Charseas 20 ?, 201, 237,
283 ; vars. gramineus, 219 ; rufa,
219 ; rufo-costa, 219 ; tricuspis, 219
granella, Scardia 289
grisealis, Herminia (Zanclognatha)
65, 69, 288
griseata, Lithostege .... ... 176
XIV
SPECIAL INDEX.
PAGE
griscocapitella, Swammerdammia 289
griseola, Lithosia 46, 65, 176, 288 ;
var. stramiueola 46, 65, 177,
225, 228
groefiana, Scopelosoma ... ... 152
grossulariata. Abraxas 23, 78, 95,
140, 167, 202, 206, 229, 260, 263,
264, 302, 304, 306 ; vars. 43, 190
gysselinella, Cedestis 47
Hadena 12, 276
balterata, Lobophora, vide hexa-
pterata, L.
hammoniella, Helozela (^betulae,
Tinagma) ... ... ... 252
hamula (binaria), Drepana (Platy-
pteryx) 111, 117, 118, 119, 135,
232, 233, 291
Hapalotis 80
harpella, Harpipteryx ... 229, 289
hartmanniana, Ditula ... 19, 202
baruspica (augur), Agrotis... 56, 151
hastata, Melanippe ... ... ... 133
hastiana, Peronea ... 178, 253, 287
hawortbana, Glypbipteryx ... 256
bawortbii, Coelcena ...180, 255, 256, 264
bebe, Arctia ... ... ... ... 10
becla, Colias 20
bectori, Statbmonyma ... ... 33
bectus, Hepialus 134, 158, 206, 229, 289
bellmanni, Tapinostola 176, 177 ;
var. saturata ... 177
beparana, Tortrix ... 141
beparata, Eupisteria 135, 183, 185,
227, 235, 288
bepatica, Xylopbasia 133, 160, 164,
168, 181, 228, 257
Hepialid^ ... ... ... ... 7
bera, Callimorpba 41, 72, 223, 260,
278, 305 ; var. lutescens . . . 239
beracleana (ella), Depressaria 253, 263
berbida (prasina), Aplecta 161,
205, 228, 230
bexadactyla, Alucita ... ... 141
bexapterata, Lobopbora 17, 95, 118,
135, 227 ; var. 118 ; ab. rudol-
pbii .. 224
bippocastanaria, Pacbycnemia ... 95
birtaria, Biston 85, 94, 95, 102, 112,
118, 140, 154, 156, 185, 234,
256, 272
bispidaria, Nyssia 21, 22, 95, 96, 113
bispidus, Heliopbobus ... ... 48
bobenwartbiaua, Catoptria ... 289
bolmiana, Dictyopteryx ... ... 289
Homcbosoma 203
bortuellus, Crambus ... ... 141
bostilis, Pempelia (Pbycis) 11, 279
bumub, Hepialus 140, 229, 289 ;
z'ar. 199; betblandica... ... 21
byale, Colias ... 17, 115, 136
byabnalis, Botys 25
Hybernia 5
Hyboma 82, 150
PAGE
bybridellana, Eupoecilia ... ... 204
Hydrcecia ' ... 48
Hypenides 279
byperantbus, Epinepbelc (Satyrus)
115, 119, 137, 165, 168; vars.
303; arete 137, 261
byperborea (alpiria), Agrotis (Pacb-
nobia) 13, 21, 262, 270; var.
alpiiia 12, 13 ; carnica, 13 ;
glacialis 13
ianira, Epinepbele, vide janira, E.
ibipenella, Coleopbora ... ... 45
icarus (alexis), Lycsena (Polycm-
matus) 65, 87, 115, 137, 140,
141, 206, 207, 233, 236, 238, 263,
290, 299, 304; vars. 72, 111,
119, 214, 303 ; var. icariuus,
137, 304
icbneumoniformis, Sesia, ... ... 288
icterana, Tortrix ... ... ... 204
ictericana, Spbaloptera ... 203, 288
illigerella, Cbauliodus ... ... 134
illunaria (bilunaria), Selenia 38, 39,
40, 69, 86, 87, 88, 111, 145, 213,
230, 289 ; var. juliaria 289
illustraria, Selenia 72, 95, 145, 237
imella. Tinea ... 18, 159, 205
imitaria, Acidalia 65, 203, 234, 285
immanata, Cidaria 55, 65, 202, 214,
230, 280, 282, 283, 289, 299
immorata, Acidalia 214, 279
immutata, Acidalia 176, 178, 183,
203, 234, 238
impar Bryopbila ... ... 202
impluviata (trifasciata), Hypsipetes
183, 203, 235; = autumnabs ... 224
impudens, Leucania, vide pudorina,
L.
impura, Leucania 65, 133, 140, 164,
216, 225, 230 ; var. fubginosa 219
incanaria (yirgularia), Acidalia 65,
140, 183, 289
incerta, Tseniocampa, vide instabibs.
T.
inconspicueba, Micropteryx 11, 45
indigata, Eupitbecia ... ... 69
ino, Argynnis ... ... ... 259
inopiana, Concbybs... ... ... 203
inornata, Acidalia ... ... ... 227
inquinatebus, Crambus ... 203, 285
instabibeba, Gelecbia ... 229, 287
instabibs (incerta), Tseniocampa 12,
19, 20, 23, 24, 38, 41, 43, 46, 55,
56, 62, 63, 69, 70, 71, 86, 88,
111, 140, 204, 263 ; ab. paUida,
224; vars 86
interior, Cobas ... ... ... 14
interjecta, Tripbeena 65, 177, 235,
237, 285, 288
inter jectaria, Acidaba, vide dilutaria,
A.
interrogationis, Grapta vars. f abricii,
umbrosa 14
SPECIAL INDEX
XV
interrogationis, Plusia ... 180, 181
io, Vanessa 115, 137, 164, 206, 236,
264, 283
iota, Plusia 65, 115, 168, 216, 230, 255
iris, Apatura 65, 137, 139, 167, 182,
185, 203, 236, 300
irregularis (echii), Dianthaecia 176, 279
irriguata, Eupithecia .. ... 255
irrorella, Setiua 162, 305 ; var. semi-
signata ... ... ... ... 162
isogrammata, Eupithecia ... 69, 298
jacobaeae, Eucbelia ... ... 135, 220
jaculifera, Agrotis ...221
jauira, Epinephele (Satyrus) 65,
115, 137, 140, 143, 163, 164,
165, 168, 182, 199, 206, 207,
214, 304 ; var. ... 198
janthina, Triphaena 65, 69, 115, 140,
164, 177, 208, 213, 230, 237,
285, 288
jasius, Cbaraxes ... ... ... 188
JocHE^EA 82, 150, 221
juniperata, Thera var. scotica ... 218
kiihnieUa, Ephestia 47
lacertula (lacertinaria), Platypteryx
(Drepaua) 70, 117, 118, 135, 143,
183, 232, 234, 235,
lactana, Phoxopteryx ( Anchylopera)
lactearia, lodis 95, 118, 133, 160,
lacuuana, Sericoris 141,
laeflingiana, Dictyopteryx
lancealis, Botys
lanestris, Eriogaster 12, 38, 57, 94,
107, 215, 229, 277,
lapidata, Phibalapteryx ... 17,
laricella, Coleophora
lariciata, Eupithecia 118, 133, 180,
lathonia, Argynnis ...
lathyrella, Gelechia
lentiginosella, Gelechia
leporina, Cuspidia (Acronycta) 76,
77, 94, 105, 121, 130, 169, 174,
158, 183, 210, 227, 228, 229,
233, 235, 249, 272, 285, 287,
293, 307 ; var. bradyporina, 46,
Leptocircus
LEUCANiiD.gs 78,
leucographa, Pachnobia (Taenio-
campa) 12, 13, 41, 70,
leucomelanella, Gelechia ...
leuconipenella, Coleophora
leucophaearia, Hybernia 21, 39, 140,
leucophaea, Pachetra 59, 109,
leucostigma, Apamea (Helotropha)
228, 231, 296 ; var. fibrosa, 225,
231 ; var. albipuncta, 219 ; var.
albistigma, 177 ; var. lunina
(intermedia) ... ... 80,
libatrix, Gonoptera 69, 88, 133,
164, 182, 207, 228, 230, ^37, 289,
lichenaria, Cleora 204, 233, 235,
290, 296,
283
186
232
229
141
288
300
279
45
298
307
178
45
184
24
299
134
233
252
141
278
177
305
305
PAGE
lichenea, Epunda 38, 48, 61, 235, 306
lienigianus, Leioptilus ... ... 178
lignata, Phibalapteryx 160, 181,
184, 307
ligniperda, Cossus 90, 91, 115, 140,
207, 211, 235, 263
ligustri, Bisulcia (Acronycta) 76,
77, 82, 174, 184, 206, 228, 235,
307 ; ab. sandevalli, 224 ; var.
coronula ... ... ... 224
ligustri. Sphinx 115, 140, 141, 164,
203, 207, 229, 237, 255, 263
limacodes, Heterogenea, vide tes-
tudo, H.
Limenitis 14
limitata, Eubolia, vide mensuraria,
E.
linea (thaumas), Hesperia 115, 138,
143, 163, 232, 236
linearia, Zonosoma, trilinearia,
Ephyra.
lineolalis, Eudorea ... ... 204, 233
lineolata, Eubolia (Mesotype) 203, 259
lineolella, Coleophora .. ... 167
literosa, Miana ...133, 204, 216, 231
lithargyria, Leucania 65, 86, 183,
206, 228, 230, 285 ; var, extra-
linea, 219 ; ferrago, 219 ; ful-
vescens, 81, 219 ; marginata,
72,81; pallida... ... ... 81
lithodactylus, CEdematophorus ... 229
Lithophanes 152
lithoriza (areola), Xylina (Xylo-
campa) 62, 87, 164, 179
Lithosia 45, 46, 260
lithoxylea, Xylophasia 133, 140,
181, 228, 230, 289
littoralis, Leucania ... 86,134,159, 235
littoralis, Prodenia . ... 260, 279
littorana, Sericoris ... ... ... 229
litura, Anchocelis 21, 164, 228, 230,
253, 286, 287, 290
liturata, Macaria ... 40, 135, 158
liturella, Depressaria ... 159, 229
li vomica, Deilephila ... 277, 278
lixella, Coleophora ... 134
Lobophora 118
lobulata, Lobophora 86, 87, 227, 235
lonicerse, Zygsena 11, 109, 110, 182,
280 ; lonicerse-filipen dulse, loni-
cerse-trifohi {Jiybrids) 107
lota, Orthosia ...140,164,287, 290
lotella, Anerastia 188, 203
lubricipeda, Arctia (Spilosoma) 87,
104, 107, 140, 142, 203, 229,
238, 254, 263, 304 ; vars. 58,
107, 120, 188, 213 ; radiata ... 58
lucens, Hydroecia 48, 80 ; vars.
grisea, pallida, rufa 80
lucemea, Agrotis ... 61, 63, 161,
263, 285, 305
lucina, Nemeobius ... 135, 137, 159, 168
lucipara, Euplexia 22, 63, 65, 140,
161, 204, 228, 230, 254, 262
XVI
SPECIAL INDEX
PAGE
luctuosa, Acontia ... ... 90, 285
luculella, Teleia 141
luna, Actias 153
lunaria, Selenia69,139, 213, 227, 230, 255
lundana, Phoxopteryx ... 112, 289
lunigera, Agrotis ...161, 181, 261,
278, 285, 305
lunosa, Anchocelis .. 164, 286, 287, 291
Luperina 275, 276
lupulinalis, Botys ... 259, 277, 279
lupulinus, Hepialus 135, 140, 229,
289 ; var. ... ... ... 108
luridata, Tephrosia, vide extersaria, T.
lurideola, Lithosia,z/iVar. 119; rotuudaria ... 214
pusillata, Eupithecia 235
pustulata, Phorodesma, baju-
laria, P.
puta, Agrotis 96, 115, 160, 190, 228,
230, 235, 257, 285, 286
putrescens, Leucania ... 115, 285
putris, Axylia 140, 203, 206, 228, 236
pygmaeata, Eupithecia 258, 279, 290
pygmeeella, Argyresthia 141
pygmseola, Lithosia 46, 166, 167, 203
pyraliata, Cidaria 183, 204, 285, 299
pyralina, Cosmia 115, 177, 185, 211,
228, 279, 288
pyramidea, Amphipyra 228, 237, 263
pyrella, Swammeidammia 229
pyrina, Zeuzera, m'c/e aesculi, Z.
pyrophila, Agrotis... 212
quadra, Lithosia 168, 289
quadrifasciaria, Coremia 134, 227 ;
vat . thedenii 224
quadripunctata, Caradrina, vide
cubicularis, C.
quaestionella, Gelechia 178
quercana (bicolorana), Halias 95,
168, 216, 227
quercana, Phibalocera ... 141,289
quercifolia, Lasiocampa 65, 111,
115, 133, 155, 177, 222, 225
quercinaria, Ennomos, vide angu-
laria, E.
quercus, Bombyx 65, 115, 140, 154,
155, 186, 190, 236', 288, 289, 299
quercus, Theda 115, 137, 182, 230, 236
radama, Bombyx ... ... ... 240
radiateUa, Cerostoma vars. . . . 255
rapee, Pieris 24, 65, 86, 87, 111, 115,
136, 140, 141, 165, 182, 184,
206, 207, 255 ; vars 44
ravida, Agrotis, vide obscura, A.
reclusa, Clostera 18, 24, 225
rectangulata, Eupithecia 298 ; var.
nigrosericeata 141
rectilinea, Hadena ... 138, 180, 231
regalis, Citheronia 240
remutata, Acidalia ... 11, 140, 230
repandata, Boarmia 65, 204, 236,
299 ; var. 213 ; nigra, 43 ; con-
versaria, ... 168, 185, 190, 215
resinana, Eetinia 63, 79, 95, 112,
119, 189, 239, 263, 264, 293
reticella. Psyche ... ... ... 142
reticulata, Cidaria ... Ill, I15, 279
reticulata, Neuria, vide saponariae,
N.
rhamnata, Scotosia 176, 182, 190, 228
rhamni, Gonepteryx 65, 115, 135,
136, 201, 206, 236, 239, 263;
36
rhizolitha, Xylina ... ... 62, 230
PAGE
rhomboidaria (gemmaria), Boarmia
65, 213, 230, 233, 255 ; var.
perfumaria 53, 140
rhomboidea (stigmatica), Noctua
227, 237, 262, 279 ; var. tristig-
ma ... ... ... ... 262
rhymnus, Lycaena recte Theda . . . 299
ribeana, Tortrix 141
ribesiaria (prunata), Cidaria 116,
230, 255
ridens, Asphalia (Cymatophora) 90,
184 ; vars. erythrocephala,
xanthoceros ... ... ... 81
ripae, Agrotis 135, 166, 181, 203,
239; var. ... 190
rivata, Melanippe 65, 162, 203,
234, 255
roboraria, Boarmia 227, 233, 256 ;
var. ... . ... 118, 197
rosana, Tortrix ... ... ... 141
rostralis, Hypena 69, 117, 140, 164
ruberata, Hypsipetes ...38, 135, 252
rubi, Bombyx 45, 112, 115, 135, 158,
168, 180, 231, 232, 235, 259,
283, 288
rubi, Noctua 160, 176, 177, 182, 183,
184, 228, 2.30, 237, 260, 262,
267, 285; var. 84; var. quad-
ratum ... 270
rubi, Theda 88, 94, 112, 115, 135,
137, 232 ; vars 188
rubidata, Anticlea 115, 139, 156,
162, 227, 235
rubiella, Lampronia 157
rubiginata (bicolorata), ISlelanthia
115, 2.34, 283; var. virgata ... 16
rubiginea, Dasycampa 110, 271,
279, 296
rubivora, Nepticula... ... ... Ill
rubricata, Acidalia ... 176
rubricosa, Pachnobia (Tseniocampa)
12, 13, 19, 85, 86, 88, 96, 111,
115, 134, 164, 204, 235
rubroviridans, Hepialus ... 100, 101
rufa (despecta), Coenobia 204
rufescenteUa, Gelechia ... ... 288
rufillana, Semasia ... 204
rufimitrella, Adda 157
rufina, Anchocelis 228, 230, 253,
254, 286, 290
rumicis, Viminia (Acronycta) 1, 2,
29, 46, 65, 115, 142, 159, 169,
176, 181, 183, 190, 204, 228,
230, 246, 247, 248 ; var. salicis
80, 219
rupicapraria, Hybernia , 38, 39, 87
rupicola, Eupoecilia ... ... 203
ruralis (verticalis), Botys ... ... 141
rurea, X3’lophasia 141, 228, 230;
var. alopecurus, 134 ; argentea,
219; combusta, 81, 161, 219,
255 ; flavo-rufa, 219 ; nigro-
rubida, 219 ; ochrea, 219 ;
putris 219
SPECIAL INDEX.
XXI
PAGE
russata, Cidaria 5, 24, 55, 65, 69,
164, 180, 213, 228, 237, 280,
289; vars. 117; centum-notata 141
russula, Euthemonia (Nemeopliila)
87, 115, 158, 167, 168, 179, 229,
235, 285
rusticata, Acidalia .. 307
salicella, Antithesia 202
salicis, Liparis (Leucoma) 190, 204, 222
salinellus, Crambus 287
sambucalis, Ebulea ... ... ... 204
sambucata, Uropteryx 65, 115, 140,
206, 229, 234, 264, 288
sangii, Micropteryx 11, 45
saponarise, Neuria ... ... 228, 284
satellitia, Scopelosoma 41, 85, 86,
88, 164, 230, 253 ; ab. brunnea 224
satura (porpbyrea), Hadena 186,
238, 239, 279, 293
saturatella, Coleopbora 45
Satuenid^ 101
satyrata, Eupitbecia 112, 298 ; var.
callunaria ... ... 180, 298
Satyein^ 195
satyrus, Grapta ... 13
saucia, Agrotis 263
sauciana, Penthina ... 287
saxicola, Homoeosoma 57, 58, 85, 158
scabiosata(subumbrata), Eupitbecia
234, 255, 298
scabriuscula. Dipterygia, vide pinas-
tri, D.
scballeriana, Peronea 286, 287, 289
scbreibersiana, Argyrolepia ... 89
scintillulana, Cboreutes ... ... 253
scoliseformis, Sesia ... 278, 299, 304
scolopacina,*Xylopbasia 228
Scopelosoma ... . ... 152
scropbularise, Cucullia 63, 64, 81,
94, 279
scutulana, Epbippipbora 229
scutulata (trigeminata), Acidalia
65, 69, 140, 183, 204, 257, 288
segetum, Agrotis 140, 228
selasellus, Crambus ... 178
selene, Argynnis 115, 136, 179, 213,
254, 288
Selenia 299
semele, Satyrus 61, 115, 137, 202,
207, 235, 236, 304
semiargus, Lycsena, vide acis, L.
semibrunnea, Xylina 16, 42, 43, 290
semipurpurella, INIicropteryx 11, 45
senecionis (cretacella), Homoeosoma
42, 58, 92
senex, Nudaria 176, 183, 203, 225, 286
serella, Nepticula ... ... Ill, 158
serena, Hecatera 140, 164, 167, 234, 290
sericea (molybdeola), Litbosia 216, 278
sericealis, Rivula 65, 134, 204, 288
SESIID.E 7, 91
sexalisata (sexalata), Lobopbora
176, 203, 205, 286 ; z-arL .. 18
PAGE
sbepberdana, Peronea ... ... 134
Sibylla, Limenitis 162, 182, 184, 236, 239
siculana, Pboxopteryx ... ... 178
signosa, Litbopbanes ... ... 153
siiaceata, Cidaria 63, 116, 135, 227,
235, 255, 257, 260, 289, 290,
297, 298
silago (flavago), Xantbia 164, 230,
237, 238, 260, 286, 289, 290,
291; (togata-lutea) ... ... 224
similis, Portbesia, vide auriflua, L.
simpliciana, Dicbrorbampba ... 203
simulata, Tbera 298 ; = eognata,
(Cidaria) 224
siuapis, Leucopbasia 115, 136, 233,
254 ; var. erysimi ... ... 136
sinuana, Sciapbila ... ... ... 142
sinuata (cucullata), Anticlea 139,
156, 176, 227, 229, 279, 300, 307
sinuella, Homoeosoma ... 203, 288
siterata, Cidaria, vide psittacata, C.
smaragdaria, Pborodesma 42, 117,
167, 207, 215, 216, 254, 256, 279
sobrina, Noctua 66, 138, 239, 260,
262, 270
sobrinata, Eupitbecia 69, 70, 141, 298
socia, Xylina, vide petrificata, X.
sociata (subtristata), Melanippe 69,
87, 157, 206, 229, 230, 238
sociella, Melia ... ... ... 289
sodaliana, Eupoecilia ... ... 252
solandriana, Poedisca ... 141, 286
SOLENOBIA 233
solidaginis, Calocampa (Cloantba)
20, 257
sordida, INIamestra, vide anceps, M.
sordidana, Poedisca... ... ... 24
sordidata, Hypsipetes, vide elntata,
H.
sororculella, Gelecbia ... 159, 253
spadicea, Cerastis (Orrbodia) 140,
164, 290, 302; vais 303
spadicearia = ferrugata,Cidaria (Co-
remia) ... ... ... ... 224
sparganella, Ortbotelia 210
sparsata, Collix ...139, 176, 183, 184
spartiata, Cbesias 15, 70, 141, 203, 253
spbegiformis, Sesia 71, 91,141, 184,
186, 278, 296
Sphinges 91
splendidana, Carpocapsa .. ... 141
splendidella, Dioryctria (Nepbo-
pteryx) 157, 259, 277, 279, 296
spilodactyla, Aciptilia 162
spinula (glaucata), Cilix 69, 95,
115, 118, 140, 164, 289
sponsa, Catocala ... ... ... 236
sponsana, Peronea ... ... ... 233
stabilis, Tseniocampa 19, 39, 41, 55,
62, 63, 85, 86, 87, 88, 96, 111,
133, 140, 164, 204; vctrs. 95, 119
stagnalis, Hydroeampa ... 203, 229
statices, Procris (Ino) 89, 111, 142,
160, 291
XX 11
SPECIAL INDEX.
PAGE
steineriana, Tortrix 303 ; var.
dohrniana, 221, 223, 239, 2G4,
303; lusana 222
stcllatarum, Macroglossa 65, 115,
263, 304
stigmatica, Noctua, vide rhomboidea.
N.
stramentalis, Pionea 288
stramiuata, Acidalia 226
stramiuea, Leucania 134, 203, 284
stramineella, Gracilaria ... 215, 253
strataria, Ampbidasys, vide pro-
dromaria, A.
stratiotata, Paraponyx ... 70, 203
striana, Ortbotffinia 203
strigata, Hemithea, vide tbymiaria,
H.
strigilis, Miana 8, 24, 65, 132, 160,
168, 181, 182, 204, 208, 228,
230, 257, 262, 271, 286; var.
astbiops, 10, 140, 159 ; fasciata,
81 ; nigro-rufa, 81 ; unicolor,
81 ; virgata ... 81
strigosa, Cuspidia (Acronycta) 29,
76, 77, 121, 127, 171, 175, 178,
205, 241, 242, 244, 250, 278 ;
(Hyboma) ... 105
suasa (dissimilis), Hadena 228;
var. ... 190
subaudiata, Tripbosa ... 14, 15
subbaumanniana, Argyrolepia 176, 204
subfulvata, Eupitbecia ... 213, 289
subbyabna, Obionobas ... ... 20
subjectana, Sciapbila 229
sublustris, Xylopbasia 115, 133,
158, 162, 167, 181, 203, 228
subnotata, Eupitbecia ... 204, 215
subpropinquella, Depressaria ... 253
subrosea, Noctua 261 ; Agrotis ... 262
subsequa (orbona), Tripbsena 46,
134, 163, 180, 206, 279
subtillella. Tinea 20
subtristata, Melanippe, vide sociata,
M.
subtusa, Tetbea 168, 229
subumbrata, Eupitbecia, vide scabi-
osata, E.
sufEumata, Cidaria 86, 94, 111, 132,
206; var. -piceata. ... 86, 111
sufEusa, Agrotis, vide ypsilon, A.
Bulpburella, Dasycera ... 142, 255
superstes, Caradrina 48, 80, 94,
278 ; var. sufiEusa ... ... 80
suspecta, Dyscborista (Ortbosia)
183, 238, 285
swammerdammella, Nemopbora ... 255
sylvanus, Hepialus 206, 227, 229, 302
sylvanus, Hesperia 115, 138, 140,
229, 236
sylrata, Astbena 227, 235
syringaria, Pericallia 115, 168, 181,
213, 260
T.^EiaocAMPA 12, 19, 21, 40, 62, 85, 95
PAGE
tages, Nisionades (Tbanaos) 115,
133, 135, 137, 166
taminata, Corycia (Bapta) 135
taraxaci, Caradrina, vide blanda, C.
tarsipennalis, Herminia (Zanclo-
gnatba) 69, 164, 234
temerata, Corycia (Bapta)... 117, 235
temerella, Gelecbia 159, 253
templi, Dasypolia . . 86, 111, 214
tenebrata, Heliodes, vide arbuti, H.
tenebrosa, Kusina 133, 168, 180,
185, 204, 228, 230 ; = umbratica 224
.tengstroemii, Lycaena, recta Tbecla 299
tenuiata, Eupitbecia ... ' 213, 298
terebrella, Cateremna 301
terrealis, Botys ... 46
terrella, Gelecbia 287
tersata, Pbibalapteryx 158, 1C>4, 234
tesserana, Cbrosis 203
testacea, Luperina 21, 22, 140, 230,
232, 253, 263, 276, 289; var.
cinerea, 219, 263 ; guen4ei, 21,
22, 198; incerta, 81, 198;
nigrescens 219, 263
testata, Cidaria 164, 183, 230, 256,
289, 299
testudo (limacodes), Limacodes
104, 227, 278
tetradactylus, Pteropborus ... 289
teucriana, Tortrix 239, 303
Thais^ 24
tbalassina, Hadena 161, 180, 182,
203, 228
tbaumas, Hesperia, vide linea, H.
Thecla 277
tbunbergella, Micropteryx ... 213
tbymiaria (strigata), Hemitbea 65,
69, 140, 230, 285, 288
tilise, Smerintbus 21, 54, 114, 115,
118, 133, 140, 203, 207, 220,
235, 263, 302 ; vars. 21, 44, 199,
200 ; vars. obsoleta, bipunctata,
centripuncta, costipuncta, suf-
fusa ... 16
tiliaria (alniaria), Ennomos 140,
206, 230, 232, 255, 263, 289
tincta, Aplecta 142, 228
Tineina 38, 92
Tinea 18
tipuliformis, Sesia ... 140, 142, 263
titbonus, Epinepbele (Satyrus) 65,
115, 137, 206, 229, 235; vars. 214
togata, Eupitbecia ... ... ... 158
tormentillella, Nepticula ... ... 158
Tortrix 38, 92 ; species ? {from pine) 303
tragopogonis, Ampbipyra 204, 228,
230, 232
trapeziella, Elacbista ... 62, 111
trapezina, Cosmia (Calymnia) 140,
168, 228, 230, 233, 236, 237, 289
trepida, Notodonta 85, 229
trepidaria, Psodos, vide coracina,
P.
Tri^na 80, 82, 105, 150
SPECIAL INDEX.
xxiii
PAGE
PAGE
triangulum, Noctua 86, 203, 213,
228, 230, 257, 260, 261, 262
trifasciata, Hyjjsipetes, vide implu-
viata, H.
trifolii, Hadena, vide chenopodii, H.
trifolii, Zygeena 108, 109, 110, 139,
155, 163, 167, 168, 183, 199,
200, 203, 280 ; vars. basalis,
confluens, dubia, filipendulae,
glycirrhizse, lutescens, mino-
ides, orobi, syracusia ... ... 199
tridens, Cuspidia (Acronycta) 2,
25, 30, 31, 46, 48, 69, 73, 74, 75,
76, 77, 121, 129, 131, 150, 169,
173, 174, 175, 183, 188, 190,
230, 241, 242, 244, 245, 246,
248, 251 ; vars. bidens, 81,;
Juncta, 81 ; rosea, 50, 81 ;
quinquedentata 81
trigeminana, Epbippipbora ... 203
trigeminata, Acidalia, vide scutulata, A.
trigonodactyla, Platyptilia, vide
gonodactyla, P.
trigrammica, Grammesia,z7V/ not seem to under-
stand is very comprehensive and complete, will be a distinct financial
failure unless our subscribers take it up more generally. It consists of
24 pp., contains every reference to each species mentioned in the
volume, and has occupied a great amount of time in its production. It
will be sent free for 12 stamps by Mr. A. J. Hodges, 2, Highbury
Place, N.
The Annual Exhibition of the South London Society reflected great
credit on the Society, and brought together a number of rare species
and instructive exhibits. A photograph of the committee of manage-
ment appeared in the Sportmg and Dramatic News for April 25th.
Another of the very old collections (that of the late Mr. W. Bennett)
came under the hammer on April 29th. Chrysophaniis dispar tirought
the following prices : --male, £2 15s. ; male, £2 los. ; female (nearly
perfect), ^3 ; pair (damaged), ^3 los. ; pair (much damaged), ^^3 ;
male (underside), £2. A dark var. of Venilia maculata whth the yellow
spots only on the outer margin, was sold for i8s.
Mr. T. I). A. Cockerell has, w^e hear, been appointed Curator of the
Museum of the Institute of Jamaica, at Kingston, Jamaica, and leaves
us in about three months.
The Report of the South London Entomological Society for 1888
and 1889 has now' been published, and those entomologists who are
not members of the Society cannot do better than send 3s. 6d. to the
Secretary. They will find a great deal of interesting and useful matter.
It is to be hoped that those few members of the Council called the
“ Report Committee” will soon justify their existence by commencing
on the 1890 Report.
36
Variation.
Retardai’ion in the Pupal Stage producing Variation. — I
think I can quote one case in which an insect has become darker in
the pupal stage. In 1887 I had a batch of ova of Dianthmia cap-
sincola which hatched early in May, the larvae all grew up together
there being no appreciable difference in the length of their larval stage.
About half the batch emerged the following August, and were of the
usual bright orange yellow. The other half of the batch emerged in
May, 1888, and were all unusually dark in colour. I have them side
by side in my cabinet and the difference is striking. — A. W. Mera,
79, Capel Road, Forest Gate. March 2^rd^ 1891.
Variety of Gonepteryx rhamni. — I was to-day shown a specimen
of Gonepteryx rhamni^ having a large portion of the upper wings
suffused with a reddish-orange colour, shading off to white near the
tips, the lower wings having also a narrow band of the same tint around
the edge, and with the markings not quite uniform. The specimen is
also rather under the usual size and minus the antennae. The insect
was captured in the lane leading to DarenthAVood two years ago by a
working man, who knocked it down with his hat, mistaking it for an
orange-tip as it was flying along. Is not this an unusual variety in this
country ? — Clement T. Youens, Tower Cottage, Dartford, Kent.
April (^th, 1891.
Clostera curtula VARS. — I have some (to me) most extraordinary
insects, supposed to be varieties of C. curtula. They are rather smaller
than C. curtula^ and the whole wing is chocolate-brown instead of only
the tip, as in C. curtula. The lines are, however, almost identical with
C. curtula. They (six in all) were bought from a man named George
Rae, of Sittingbourne in Kent, in 1876. He advertised them as C.
curtula vars. They do not appear to be any European insect, and, as
they were bought for a few pence, there is probably nothing wrong about
them. My friend, Mr. Bird, to whom they belong, obtained a large
number of C. curtula in succeeding years from the same man, but could
not obtain any more of these vars. On showing them last night at the
South London meeting, I obtained the valuable information from Mr.
Carrington that Mr. Farn possesses a specimen with one pair of wings
normal curtula., and the other representing this variety. It is further a
hermaphrodite, and must be a most extraordinary insect. It appears to
have been figured in the Entojuologist some twelve years ago. — A.
Robinson. March 11th, 1891.
Varieties of the Larv/e of Macaria notat.a. — Type: Uniform
shining hazel-brown, with a series of pale green blotches in a line with
and surrounding the inconspicuous brownish spiracles. Head and legs
black, face whitish. A faintly paler ventral band. Ventral spots blackish.
Var. I. Bright green shaded with light yellowish brown on each
segment. Ill-defined hazel-brown or gray sub-dorsal lines, between
which and the spiracular line is a series of oblique brown blotches.
Head and legs black, face green ; belly greenish, clouded with pale
brown, and with a faintly paler central band. Sides of 2nd and 3rd
segments purplish brown. Var. 2. Yellowish green with very faintly
indicated paler dorsal, sub-dorsal, spiracular and ventral bands. Head
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
37
green, with a black dash on the summit of each lobe. Legs purplish
black. First pair of prolegs purple; anal prolegs green. Var. 3. Pale
green, the sides broadly shaded with hazel-brown, forming an irregular
series of pale green dorsal and lateral blotches. Head and legs black,
face green. Both pairs of prolegs tinged with dark purplish brown.
Belly purplish or hazel-brown with a paler or greenish central band.
All the varieties graduate into each other. — C. Fenn. March 2nd, 1891.
Dianthcecia carpophaga and D. capsophila. — I think this 'latter
was claimed as a species in 1868, bred specimens were given me by
Dr. Warren Wright in 1869, and the insect challenged as a species the
same year. Mr. Gregson entered very warmly into the matter, and his
series now before me is so thoroughly graduated that 1 will defy any-
one to point out the border-line between one and the other. I bred
specimens identical with the darkest Manx capsophila from sweet-
william heads out of my garden last year. Where we find one species
of lepidoptera, corresponding with the larva and imago of another
so-called species, I am content to consider them identical. — Sydney
Webb, Dover. February, 1891.
Eupithecia albipunctata var. angelicata. — Last September I
took a fair quantity of larvae of this species at Bishop’s Wood, which
are now coming out. A large percentage of them are the W2cc. angelicata.
It is strange that there are no intermediate forms ; the two are quite
distinct, and had the larvae not been carefully examined, I should be
inclined to think that it is a separate species, but no difference was
noticed, except the usual variation in colouring. — George Jackson,
1 15, Nunnery Lane, York.
I am now breeding Eupithecia albipunctata var. angelicata from larvae
collected in Askham bog. So far, about one-third are of the variety.
The old idea of its having been confined to Bishop’s Wood has therefore
proved to be incorrect. The variety is figured in the Entomologist, vol.
xi., August, 1878. — G. Dennis, n. Tower Street, York. May ^th, 1891.
. [The figure in the Entojjiologist, taken from a specimen bred by Mr.
Prest, who obtained the larvae at Bishop’s Wood, Selby, is not at all a
satisfactory one, and until bred by Mr. Dennis from Askham, was sup-
posed by the York collectors to be restricted to Bishop’s Wood. A
parallel black variety of E. virgaureata is, I believe, bred at Burton-on-
Trent, and similar melanic vars. of this latter species are occasionally
taken by the Paisley collectors. — Ed.]
Erratum. — Page 7, line ii from bottom, for Xanthia aurago vox.
fuscata, read Xanthia aurago fucatal’’
^fOTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
Early Spring Notes. — Wisbech. — In company with a young friend
— Mr. F. Glenny — I left Wisbech early on Easter Monday, for a day’s
pupae digging just over the boundary of the adjoining county of
Norfolk. We had not gone far before we found we had got a tough
job before us, and one which would require a little enthusiasm to
help us through : the wind blowing a gale from the north, with oc-
38
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
casional driving showers of snow and hail. Slight misgivings as to
the possibility of our' being able to do anything began to force them-
selves unpleasantly upon us, especially as on tackling our first trees —
willows — we found the wind so boisterous that we had to strain every
nerve to hang on with the left hand, while we worked with the right.
I should explain here that we were working especially for Hypsipeies
riiberata^ whose favourite places of concealment are the angles caused
by the junctions of the arms of the tree with the trunk. But, not-
withstanding the difficulties of the situation, we obtained three or four
at these trees. This success caused our spirits to rise, so we tramped
along the road and in about half-an-hour came to a row of willow trees,
and set to work. After a time, the sun shone out brilliantly, and after
luncheon we took to the trees again, and had only just recommenced
when a blinding snowstorm overtook us. It was the fiercest and
heaviest storm of a stormy day, and the fields were soon covered with
snow. We stuck to the trees, working the sheltered sides as well as
we were able under the circumstances, with an occasional pause to
scrape the snow off the bottoms of our trousers with our trowels.
The storm left one side of the trees covered with snow, which made
them very cold and unpleasant to handle. But we stuck to our work for
three or four hours longer, with varying success, in a hurricane of wind,
and amidst alternate snowstorm and sunshine ; then we returned, and
reached home about 5 p.m., having passed — if not a very pleasant
day — at least an eventful and profitable one. A good wash, a change
of clothes, and a cup of tea, soon put us right again. Forty-three
Hypsipetes ruberata and eight miscellaneous pupae was the result of
the day’s work. — George Balding, Ruby Street, Wisbech.
Kingstown^ Ireland. — So far, February has been remarkable here
for the early emergence of Lareniia multisfrigaria, which I saw on the
19th, flying in fair numbers, on a cold night with S.E. wind. Larvae of
Stilbia anomala are now nearly full-fed, and by no means rare if
searched for in the right localities, larvae of Epunda lichenea are about
three-quarters of an inch long, those of Noctua xanthographa a pest.
Endromis versicolor also has been emerging with me since February
25th, kept outside an E. window, and several species of Depressaria
(costosa and others) are now flying. — W. F. de V. Kane, Kingstown.
February, 1891.
Pitcaple. — In Scotland we have also been taking Lareniia multisiri-
garia in February. Larvae are abundant, and several of the hybernating
Tortrices and Tineina are flying. — W. Reid, Pitcaple. March, 1891.
Winchester. — Until the heavy snow, my things were emerging nicely
in a cool conservatory, Selenia illunaria led the way. February 26th or
27th I captured one Anisopleryx cEscularia on palings ; March 5th saw
three Asphalia flavicornis and one Eriogaster lanestris emerge ; 6th, one
TcEniocanipa instabilis, followed by more of the two last-named species ;
they then stopped, which is strange, as there are several more of each
species to emerge. E7idromis versicolor on March 13th. My larvae of
su])posed Trichiura craicBgi and Geometra papilionaria are feeding, and
having been exposed to the full severity of the weather, it appears that
a hard dry winter suits them. — G. M. A. Hewett, Winchester. March
'ic\fh, 1891.
York. — At the end of February Hybernia rupicapraria and H. pro-
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
31)
gemmaria were flitting along the hedges here, whilst Phigalia pilosaria
appeared almost daily in my breeding cage, the first emergence being
February 13th. — S. Walker, York. March^ 1891.
Swansea. — Sallows are not nearly out yet (snow still on the ground) ;
this time last year they were in full bloom, and by the end of the month
I had taken many of the common species that frequent them. I have
so far had only Tceniocampa gothica and Sekfiia illunaria out in tny
breeding cages^ kept in a rather warm conservatory. Moths usually due
in October and November came to light the first and second weeks of
February : such as Cheimatobia boreata, Hyberjiia defoliaria., etc. A
beautiful variety of the latter was taken by Sir John Llewellyn in a
moth-trap ; it is quite black with red nervures j I have never seen any-
thing like it in defoliaria before, although a var. of Tephrosia biiindularia
taken in the same district approaches it in colour, and I am informed
by Sir John that melanism is of common occurrence in the neighbour-
hood.— R. B. Robertson, Swansea. March, 1891.
Newbury. — Hybernia progemmaria is out here, and H. rupicapraria,
nothing else is showing at present out of doors ; but some Endroinis
versicolor, which have been in the pupa state for two years, are now
emerging. — M. Kimber. March '^rd, 1891.
West Wickham. — A specimen of Notodonta camelina having made
its appearance indoors (not forced) last week, and one of Halias prasi-
nana a day or two after, I thought I would run down to West Wickham
yesterday (it being fine and warm, with a southerly breeze), to search
for Notodo7ita carmelita. I walked from Croydon through Shirley and
Addington, and examined the tree trunks and fences wherever I could,
but saw no trace of the insect. All I obtained were some species of
Hybernia {leucophcearia, progemmaria, and cescularia) which I could have
obtained equally well in town, and a few Depressarice. One fence had
been freshly pitched (as I found to my cost), and several distorted and
mutilated individuals of the latter genus were writhing and twisting
al)Out in the sticky mess. I should like to know whether any of your
readers have been more lucky in finding N. carmelita. To-day the
wind has got into the east. Perhaps this may account for nothing
having “ shown up ” yesterday. — George Hollis, London. April 'jth,
1891.
Farnboro\ Kent. — This late severe weather has for a time put a
damper on my looking out for the earlier species — previous to it,
however, I have noticed the usual common things, but not in any
quantity — Phigalia pilosaria at light being the most plentiful so far. —
Hope Alderson. March 21st, 1891.
Reading. — There is nothing stirring here yet ; it is still winter, frost,
snow, and east winds. The 24th of March was a warmer day, and a
number of Tceniocampa populeti and one Asphalia flavicornis emerged
in my pupa box, but I have had none out since, — W. Holland. April
2,rd, 1891.
Chester. — The entomological outlook, so far, is a poor one owing
to the continued spell of cold weather. Here and there we have a few
sallows out in bloom — the wonder is how they do it ! From the
Hawarden district I have, in glass jars, an interesting lot of Toenio-
campa stabilis, J. cruda, and T. gothica taken from the catkins at night
— all alive — and undergoing “ a period of examination and inquiry,”
40
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
with what ultimate results it would be difficult to say. Every evening,
at dusk, they wake up and regale themselves upon the fresh catkins I
place daily in the jars. I have not seen a single micro yet, and the
only geometers I notice at night about the sallows, thorns, and briars,
are Selenia illunaria, Hy hernia progem7naria, and Aniiclea badiata, the
two latter, especially A. badiata^ being abundant.— J. Arkle, 2 George
Street, Chester. April 16th, 1891.
Kings Lynn. — Notwithstanding the continued cold weather during
the last few weeks, there seems to be some indication here of a better
season. At any rate, the few species which I have looked for have
been decidedly more plentiful than I have known them to be for several
years. For instance, pupse of Fidonia piniaria are common enough
beneath moss to enable me to collect some 200 or more with very
little trouble, from which I hope to breed a few varieties. Whilst
searching for these, I came across an odd pupa or two of Macaria
liturata, and a nice sprinkling of those of Trachea piniperda. Amongst
the few imagines of the latter which have at present emerged, are some
beautiful varieties. Recent examinations of the shoots of v young
Scotch fir trees has resulted in my finding numbers of pupae of
Retinia tnrionana. This is the first time in my experience that this
species has been fairly abundant here. Of course the larva of R.
turionana continues to serve as a host for several species of ichneumon-
parasites, and I confess that I felt less surprise than annoyance at the
fact that for every healthy pupa found, at least four times the number
of these ruthless destroyers were observed, and I will not apologise for
taking steps to prevent their power for mischief upon the future brood.
In common with several other species of lepidoptera, Cy?natophora
flavicornis has been late in making its appearance. I looked for them
as usual, about the middle of March, but, as I expected, not a single
specimen could be found. However, on the 2nd of April, two spe-
cimens turned up at rest upon the stems of birch, and m the same
locality on the 5th inst., I had no difficulty in finding a dozen spe-
cimens in fine condition. The sallows have been in full bloom here
for some days, but up to the present time not a single suitable
evening has turned up for working them. — E. A. Atmore, King’s
Lynn, Norfolk. April lofli, 1891.
Hereford. — Sallows have been in bloom for perhaps five weeks, and
are not yet over. I have only visited them twice, and on perhaps as
favourable nights as there have been, and the success was very meagre
indeed. The weather has been continuously cold and bleak, and the
sallows exhibit one curious result. In a fine season, the season is
short, each tree bursts into a mass of bloom and is soon over, other
trees may be a few days earlier or later ; but this year, each sallow
tree has developed a few blossoms at intervals, and trees may be seen
with some catkins dead and withered, a few in full bloom, others
developing, and some perhaps hardly beginning to swell, so that each
tree lasts in a miserable way for some weeks. The moths appear to
suffer in a similar manner, instead of coming out in good numbers at
once, each species seems to appear in driblets, as may be guessed
from their small numbers, and the presence of fine and worn spe-
cimens together. All the Tceniocainpas put in an appearance except
gracilis and opima., nor was Hoporma croceago seen. Petrificata, vaccinii.,
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
41
and satelliiia also occurred. One or two fine dark insiabilis and populeti^
and dark and rich coloured sta bills were observed. Leucographa was
very scarce. — T. A. Chapman, Firbank, Hereford. Aprils 1891.
Flowers attractive to Moths. — Mr. Percy Russ, having in this
month’s Record mentioned some flowers attractive to moths, it occurs
to me that I should draw attention to a plant which appears to have
hitherto been little noticed in this country, but which, during my
early experience in Germany, has proved more attractive than all
others, not even honeysuckle excepted. This is the common soap-
wort {Sapo?taria officinalis). In an abandoned bed of the river Lahn
near my native town, this plant grows in large patches where manv
of us used to collect nightly, and at twilight captured most of the
Sphingidcz notably Deilephila elpenor^ D. porcellus, Sphinx pinastri 2iX\d
S. convolvuli., the two latter appearing season after season, often in
surprising numbers ; also some of the Cucullice and many other Nocture.
With the exception of the Isle of Man, I have no recollection of
having seen this plant in cultivated gardens in England, but I think
those who possess suitable grounds should give it a trial, It is very
easily transplanted. I have seen it growing in profusion on the rail-
way bank in front of the signal-box at the Stamford Hill Station,
London. — J. Jager, 180, Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill.
March 21st, 1891.
Notes on Coleoptera in the Hastings district. — At the be-
ginning of the recent winter I took several good species of Coleop-
tera in moss. At Hollington Wood in a small patch of moss
bordering a pathway I found seven Ccenopsis fissirostris., six C. waltoni
and one Tropiphorus carinatus besides a number of common speci-s
including Olophrum piceum, Othius fnlvipen7iis., J'achyporus brunneiis,
Apteropeda graminis, etc., and, in a tuft, a single specimen of
Plinthus caliginosiis. At Ore, in moss, I took about a dozen Tropi-
phorus carinatus., five Ccenopsis waltoni, and numerous common species
including Philofithus marginatus, Stenus declaratus, Liosomus ovatulus,
Otiorhynchus ligneus, etc. After the severe weather, Coleoptera were
hard to find, and the few species I managed to turn up were of tlie
commonest description. — A. Ford, Claremont House, Upper Tower
Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea.
Recent Experience on Hybernating Larv^. — x\ difference of
opinion seems still to exist as to whether hybernating larvae, feeding
on low growing plants, such as plantain, dandelion, Glechorna, Lamium,
etc., should be placed out of doors exposed to all weathers, or on
growing plants in a conservatory or some such house which is
necessarily at a higher temperature than the external atmosphere.
Having just successfully wintered a brood of Callimorpha hera from
ova, I will state how I succeeded, as well as failed on a former oc-
casion. Three seasons ago I placed some young larvae of this species
on a plant of Laniium purpureum out of doors, which in due time
died off. Out of that lot only four per cent, survived, the rest having
evidently succumbed to the cold. Having objection to place my
present contingent of larvae on a growing plant, for reasons given later,
I put them into my conservatory on cut bunches of Lamium pur-
pureum. The food being kept in water remained fresh during the
winter months, until it could be replaced early in the year, the
42
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
temperature never having been below freezing point. By this means
eighty-five per cent, of my larvae survived, while a friend of mine who
put them on a growing plant lost over seventy per cent. In the same
place I successfully reared some larvae of Stilbia atiomala. On the
other hand a large brood of Epimda nigra were unfortunately put on
a growing dock plant, and have all died. My reasons for objecting
to this method are several. First, you can never exclude mould,
which is one of the principal enemies of young larvae, to say nothing
of the depredations made frequently by the appearance of a cole-
opterous larva. Next, we find the foodplant under a glass shade
generally in an unhealthy forced state and invariably producing aphides,
v/hich, if not detrimental to young larvae, must necessarily worry them
considerably. It does not follow, however, that all larvae will thrive
under these conditions, as the following case will prove. Some larvae
of Phorodes7na smaragdaria I had two years ago were kept indoors
and died, whereas last autumn I placed another lot of the same in
an open cupboard out of doors, but sheltered, and although they were
exposed to fog and severe frost, not one of them, I am happy to say,
perished. — J. Jager, i8o, Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill.
March 21st, 1891.
Deposition of Ova by Xylina petrificata (socia). — In response
to Mr. Mason’s query as to the time of ovi-deposition of Xylina socia
I send the following : — Having been asked for some ova of the above
I boxed two females on the* nth of April, and three days after one laid
three eggs, and I posted the moth and eggs to my correspondent.
Subsequently the second one laid about twenty ova which hatched out
on May 8th. I gave them some half-opened birch leaves and one of
lime. They preferred the latter and fed up well upon it, keeping to
the underside of the leaves, I have frequently taken the species on
sallow in the spring, and think that they always lay their eggs at that
season, and not in autumn. I know nothing of Xylina semibrunnea^
having never taken it. The young larvae of socia are whitish maggot-
like creatures, delicate in constitution, but subsequently acquire the
bright green coloration of the more mature stage. — W. F. de V. Kane,
Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown. April -^rd^ 1891.
Note on Homceosoma cretacella (senecionis, Vaughan). — As Mr.
Tutt’s footnote {Ent. Record^ vol. i., p. 326) is calculated to throw
grave doubts on my assertion, which he quotes from one of my letters
to him, that the larva of H. cretacella “ feeds in seedheads both of rag-
wort and tansyP I should like to say at once that the statement is per-
fectly accurate, and would not have been made unless known to be
quite correct. Although, to the best of my belief, ragwort is the only
foodplant on which the larva has been met with m England as yet, in
Scotland it has been found in the seedheads both of ragw^ort [Senecio
jacobcea) and tansy {Tanacetum vulgare). Mr. Tutt’s footnote to the
effect that, according to Mr. Reid, of Pitcaple, “ ragwort is usually
called tansy in Scotland,” is quite beside the point ; and I learn on
excellent authority, that, whatever may be the case round Aberdeen,
ragwort is certainly not called tansy in the Perth district. — Eustace
R. Bankes, The Rectory, Corfe Castle. March, 1891.
Capture of Hister marginatus near King’s Lynn. — Amongst
some Coleoptera captured last season, and sent to Mr. E. A. New-
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
43
bery for determination, is a specimen of Hister marginatus, which I
picked up one fine afternoon in June on a roadside near this town.
Having been told it is a rare insect, I have thought that its occur-
rence here might be worth recording. — E. A. Atmore, King’s Lynn,
April ()fh^ 1891.
Hybernation of Xylina semibrunnea. — can endorse Mr.
Thurnall’s note as to hybernation of Xylma semibrunnea^ as in March,
1889, I took one at sallow; and on April 15th, this year, a friend
and myself visited the sallow, when my friend took one in fairly good
condition. — A. H. Hamm, 46, Granby Gardens, Reading. April
25M, 1891.
Exhibition of the South London Entomological and Natural
History Society. — Perhaps the South London Entomological and
Natural History Society shows its inherent strength better at the
Annual Exhibition than at any other time. The last of these, held
on the 15th and i6th April, at the Bridge House, London Bridge,
S.E., was in every way as successful as its predecessors, and the Society
is to be congratulated on the magnificent lot of things collected
together by its members. How much good such exhibitions do is
])erhaps open to question ; that they do good certainly is not, and those
visitors who were not specialists, but who heard Mr. F. Enoch’s lecture
on “The Hessian Fly” must have gathered some new ideas on insect
life which had never occurred to them before. It is impossible to deal
with anything here except the strictly Entomological part of the Exhi-
bition, nor indeed with the whole of that, but a few of the more im-
portant exhibits will be noticed. The bulk of the Entomological
exhibits were Lepidoptera, but Messrs. Lewcock and Billups exhibited
several drawers of Coleoptera from their collections, the former gentle-
man making a special exhibit of the genus Donacia. Mr. Billups also
exhibited his magnificent collection of Hymenoptera, Diptera, and
Hemiptera, the setting and arrangement of which are excellent through-
out. Still another interesting exhibit was referable to Mr. Billups,
viz.^ a collection of Ichneumonidae, bred during the last four years by
members of the Societ\^, together with the imagines of their respective
hosts, and frequently with the larvae. This was perhaps one of. the
most generally interesting exhibits, and attracted a great deal of atten-
tion. Mr. W. West also exhibited a most interesting box of Homo-
ptera, collected in 1891. Among the Lepidoptera, Mr. R. Adkin exhi-
bited his collection of British butterflies, and a very long series of
varieties of Triphcena orbona {comes). Messrs. W. H. Tug well and J.
R. Wellman exhibited some of their cabinet drawers, the cleanliness
and arrangement of the series being much admired. In Mr. Tugwell’s
exhibit, one noticed fine varieties of Arctia mendica^ A. caia and Boarmia
repa?idata var. nigra, from the Huddersfield district. Messrs. Gregson
and Sydney Webb exhibited varieties of Abraxas grossulariata, the
three drawers of the latter gentleman containing some remarkable
forms ; as also did his drawer of varieties of Vanessa urticcE. Mr. C. A.
Briggs exhibited his drawer of lovely Colias vars., and Mr. C. Fenn,
be ides the series of pale TeEniocampa mstabilis, mentioned in last
month’s Record, exhibited three drawers of his beautifully set Crambidae
and Tortrices, his vars. of the true Crambus contammellus being notice-
able. Mr. S. J. Capper exhibited a fine series of Ccenonympha davus ;
44
TIIK entomologist’s RECORD.
whilst Messrs. Smith, Joy, Adye, and Collings made interesting exhibits.
Mr. F. W. Hawes exhibited vars. of Pieris rapcB^ Argynnis euphrosyne^
etc. ; whilst some excellently mounted life-histories were shown by
Messrs. Croker and Quail. Mr. A. H. Jones exhibited British speci-
mens of Hydrilla palustris, Leucania vitdlina^ and other rarities. Per-
. haps one of the most interesting exhibits in the room was that of Mr.
Leech. His Papilios were indeed fine, and a perfectly black machaon
attracted a great deal of attention, as did his hybrids of Smerinthus
ocellatus-popiili . The large drawer of S. however, contained
fe.ver striking vars. than those exhibited by Mr. J. A. Clark and figured
in the March number of the Record. The varieties of Calliinorpha
duminula., Nemeophila plantaginis, and Arctia caia were also exceedingly
fine. The species of Abraxas., too, were very beautiful and attractive, and
the difference in size in Liparis dispar from different parts of the world,
sliowed what food and environment can do in this direction. Some of
the Japanese species, labelled nov. sp., however, teach a lesson. As a
case to point. Our European Lygdia adustata was exhibited, and directly
below it a series of the same insect from Japan. Our European speci-
mens, besides the typical dark markings, have a more or less (generally
less) developed central band. This band in the Japanese specimens
becomes dark in coloration, hence we get a new species according to
the label. Similar examples of other species were also exhibited.
If this be the way new species are determined, the synonymists of a
century hence will complain of those who name Japanese insects
in the present day. But still the exhibit was a splendid one, and
it is to be hoped that Mr. Leech will exhibit more of his entomo-
logical treasures. Another most interesting exhibit was the Society’s
Canadian collection, lately presented by Messrs. A. and L. Gibb,
and arranged by Mr. W. West. New names are here tacked on to
old faces, and Tephrosia biundularia., Arctia caia, with at least a
dozen other species are happy (?) in having troubles ahead in the
way of synonymy. Mr. R. McLachlan was kind enough to lend his
collection of British Trichoptera, with the cases of the larvae, and I
noticed that Messrs. H. Moore, T. R. Billups and A. E. Cook exhi-
bited nests of wasps. A fine educational collection was exhibited by
Mr. S. L. Mosley, and Exotic Rhopalocera were well cared for by
Messrs. J. Jenner Weir and S. Edwards. Of other matters not strictly
entomological I must leave others to speak. — J. W. Tutt.
^Jractical hints.
By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S.
Look at last year’s “Hints” for this and the previous month.
Collect larvae and pupae of Sesia culicifor7nis, S. cynipiformis, Aciptilia
galactodactyla, Geometra papilionaria, Xanihidce, e*:c. as per instructions
there given. Collect sallow and birch catkins and keep in separate
bags. Collect a bag full of the rolled leaves and terminal shoots of
hawthorn. Many good Tortrices will be bred.
Drooping shoots of spindle contain larvae of Ypo7iomeuta plu7nbellus,
and the webs on the branches larvae of Y. cagTiagellus.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
45
The large twisted bunches at end of bramble shoots contain Aspis
udmanniana', the twisted tops of fleabane {Inula) contain larvae of
Ebulea crocealis ; the twisted shoots of honeysuckle, larvae of Gdechia
i7iouffetdla ; the twisted shoots of Genista tinctoria^ larvae of G. lentigin-
osella.
Coleophora cases should be collected now. Each species should be
kept in different little glass jars, and the cases mounted with the imago
for reference — Coleophora troglodytella makes blotches on fleabane and
Eupatorium \ C. palliatella on oak ; C. ibipennella on birch ; C. genis-
tcecolella on Genista am:^lica ; C. vibicella on G. tinctoria ; C. laricella on
larch ; C. satura^ella on broom ; several species on elm, rose, sallow,
etc. Those on heath must be swept.
.giBLIOGRAPHY.
Additions to the British List and Changes in Nomenclature.
Diptera.
Micropalpus hoe7norrhoidalis, Fin., Meade, Ent. Mo. Mag.., 91. A
supposed British specimen was obtained from Mr. F. Walker, but the
precise locality is unknown.
* Hemiptera.
Lecanium distinguendum, n. sp., Douglas, Ent. Mo. Mag., 96. Dela-
mere Forest, found by Mr. R. Newstead on Vaccinium inyrtillus.
Pulvinaria betulcE, Linn., Douglas, Ent. Mo. Mag., 98. Delamere
Forest,ffound by Mr. R. Newstead on Betula alba. It had been re-
corded before as British, but on insufficient grounds.
F, betulcE var. nov. alni, Douglas, Ent. Mo. Mag,, 100. Lewisham,
•on Alnus glutinosa.
Lepidoptera.
Micropteryx sangii, n. sp.. Wood, E^it. Mo. Mag., 10 1. The species
formerly named M. inconspicuella, turns out to be M. sef7npurpurella,
Catoptria decolorana, Frr. Mr.' Barrett shows in Ent. Mo. Mag., pp.
1 01-103, this species has no right to a place in the British fauna.
Pempelia adelphella. Mr. Barrett also throws this species out of the
British fauna, E7it. Mo. Mag., p. 103.
COLEOPTERA.
Anaspis septent7ponalis, n. sp., G. C. Champion, Ent. Mo. Mag., 104.
Inverness-shire. — T. D. A. Cockerell.
OCIETIES.
City of London Entomological and Natural History Society.
— Thursday, April 16th, 1891. — Mr. Battley exhibited fine specimens
of Bo77ibyx rubi bred from larvae taken at Reigate, one of the females
having a light circle on the right fore-wing between the two transverse
lines. On the left hind-wing one of the rays ended abruptly in the
centre of the wing. Messrs. Clark and Tutt exhibited long series of
LiTHOSiiDiE, and Mr. Tutt read the following notes on parallel variation
46
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
in certain species of the genus Lithosia : — “ The Lithosia consists
essentially of the following groups in their normal forms: (i) Spotted
species as ;fiuscerda, (2) unicolorous golden species as aureola, (3) uni-
colorous yellow-ochreous species as depla7ia, (4) grey species with lighter
costa as griseola, and (5) grey species with distinct yellow costa as com-
phma. If we simply study our well-known varieties, we notice that
what is the typical or general form in one species, becomes varietal in
another; thus griseola has an unicolorous yellow variety stramineola,
and a form in which, the yellow costa is almost as distinct as in com-
planula. Again depla7ia exhibits a bright yellow costa variety, and also
a dark ochreous form. But pyg77iceola, generally considered a var. of
lutarella, exhibits this parallel variation — or rather an attempt to follow
the general forms of other species in its variation — in a most striking
manner.” The first batch of these specimens exhibited showed an uni-
colorous pale yellow form of the same shade as griseola var. stra77imeola,
the second batch of the golden colour of aureola, a third set was of a
dark grey colour with a pale costa like typical griseola, whilst another
batch were leaden'grey with a distinct yellow costa like co77ipla7iula 2o\d.co77i~
phi7ia. In addition, an almost melanic specimen was exhibited, and Mr
Tutt remarked that Mr. Bird had taken a specimen spotted somewhat
like 77iuscerda. The named varieties of Dr. Staudinger’s Catalog were
then noticed as also the fact that p)g7)iceola, though really subject to a
great range of variation in itself, was treated as- a simple varietal form
by Staudinger. Mr. Tutt drew attention to other genera where the
tendency for varietal forms of a species, to follow other species is very
marked, and suggested that among those Nocture which he had worked
out, it was almost universally so. Mr. Heasler exhibited a series of
Agathidiu77i 7iigrmu77i from Highgate Woods.
Thursday, May ']th. — Exhibits : Mr. Tutt, a box of lepidoptera from
Dr. Chapman, including a hybrid between A77iphidasys betularia and
A. prodro77iaria, a very dark specimen of Tce7iioca77ipa populeii, almost
exactly resembling T. mstabilis, a fine banded T. mstabilis, series of
Cuspidia trideTis, Vwimia riwiicis, Cuspidia leporma var. bradyporbia,
Botys terrealis, etc., from Hereford. Mr. Quail, very light cocoons of
Saturnia carpmi, from Wicken, with the imagines bred therefrom, three
being very good vars. Mr. Prout, bred series of Core77iia ferrugata and
C. unideTitata. With reference to the differentiation of these two
species, he pointed out that uTiideTitata has a small V-shaped notch in
the outer margin of the central band, near the costa, but this could not
be traced in his series of ferrugata. Messrs. Clark, Tutt, Huckett,
Hodges, and Milton exhibited series of the species of TriphcB7iidce,
Mr. Clark reading the following account of the life-history of Triphce7ia
subsequa : —
“ In the autumn of last year (1890) I obtained a few eggs of this
species from Forres. The first hatched on August 30th, and I reared
the larvae through the late autumn on knotgrass {Polyg07iu77i aviculare)
and dock leaves {Ru77iex pratensis) in a warm room, to avoid the large
percentage of loss which usually occurs when one attempts to hybernate
larvae.
“ When first hatched, they are semi-loopers, of a yellowish drab colour,
with minute brown spots round each segment, from each of which pro-
trudes a tiny brown hair. Head dark brown. September 6th. — \st
SOCIETIES.
47
77wult. They are now of a dull olive green colour, with a very pale
yellowish stripe down each side, no trace of hairs, but still half loop as
they walk. 2nd moult. Dull brownish colour with distinct yellowish
lateral lines below the spiracles, with a fine yellowish line above, also a
very fine centrally dorsal one, and a minute yellowish line round the
segments. Head pale brown, with three tiny lines down it, anal seg-
ment with one dark patch in centre. On being disturbed the larva falls
to the ground and curls up. Legs and under side olive green. ;^rd
moult. There is now a drab line down each side with a slender black
one underneath and a brown one above. There are also three pale
lines down the back, the side ones are yellowish and the central one
white with two rows of small black spots on either side, those on the
loth, nth and 12th segments being v/edge-shaped and smaller towards
the head ; two black lines down the head and a V-shaped white mark.
Underside drab. 4//? moult. The lateral stripes of a very light brown,
with a darker one above and below each of them, the three pale dorsal
lines are very distinct, the central one being white, whilst on either
side of it is a row of very black oblong spots, each of which alternates
with a similar spot of very pale brown. The head has two distinct
dark brown stripes, continuations of the dark markings on the back.
The legs and underside are of a pale greyish brown, ^th moult. It
has now a very light greyish brown stripe down each side, with minute
black spots down its centre. Both above and below this, is a dark
brown stripe. The three lines down the back are more distinct, being
very light brown edged with black ; the spots on the segments are
oblong in shape, and brown and black alternately. (In all the stages
the larva tapers towards the head). Two distinct black lines on the
head and V-shaped marking on the anal segment. 6/// moult. Same
as last, but the three lines are yellower, the centre one ending in a V-
shaped marking on the head, and the dark spots down the back are
squarer, the light ones much darker, and a distinct wedge-shaped
marking on the anal segment. The larvae pupated in October, and
emerged from November 15th to December 27th.”
Mr. Milton exhibited Eupithecia extensaria., E. pulchellata., and
Ephestia kiihniella ; also the following Coleoptera : — Oxyporus rufuSy
Silpha ^punctata, and Cleonus sulcirostris ; and in Diptera, Stratio?jiys
riparlUy and Gastrophilus equiy bred from the larvae. Mr. Battley
exhibited Silpha Icevigata and other Coleoptera from Southend. Mr.
H easier, series of Lioso7uus ovatuluSy and the var. collar is y from
Highgate. Mr. Lewcock, living specimens of Dinar da 7ncErkeli from
Penzance; also a number of beetles received from Mr. Jarvis, of Cape
Town, on which he read some notes. — G. A. Lewcock and A. U.
Battley, Hon. Secs.
South London Entomological Society. — Thursday y April 2T,rd.
— Mr. South exhibited for Mr. Leech a series of Chrysophanus
phlceasy containing vars. sch77iidtii and eleus ; also an Indian form,
titianuy with the S' like eleus ; a China form with a dark S , the ?
being almost typical, and a strange $ from the Canaries. Mr. Adkin
exhibited E77wielesia albulata just bred from Shetland pupae obtained
in 1888; from these pupae four emerged in 1889, twenty in 1890.
He also exhibited mines of Lithocolletis vacciniella and pupae of Cededis
gysseleniella, in situ in pine shoots from Rannoch. Mr. Tugwell, series
48
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
of Laraitia olivata from Portland and elsewhere, the former being
excessively pnle. Mr. Tutt referred to Heliophobus hispidus ^and
Epunda licheiiea from the same localities as varying in the same
direction. Mr. Tugwell also exhibited vars. of Oporabia dilutata from
I'ilgate and London. Mr. Billups exhibited the collection of parasites
with their hosts which drew so much attention at the South London
Exhibition. Messrs. Carrington, Adkin and Tutt made remarks on
the excellence of this exhibit and its great value. Mr. Billups also
exhibited cocoons of Cetonia aurita with the pupae m situ together
with the imago. Mr. Carrington said that these cocoons were sent
from near Banbury, and were formed in old thatch mixed with clay,
in which various plants were growing. Mr. Billups suggested that the
larvae fed on the roots of these plants, and becaiRe gregarious as
pupae. The larvae lived for three years and the imago did much
damage to roses. — Ed. ,
Notices, reviews, Etc.
The British Noctu^ and their Varieties, by J. W. Tutt, F.E.S.
— The first volume of this work is now ready, and contains a full
description of the original type, of the range of variation, and the
named varieties of every British species to the end of the Caradrinidce.
The general introduction on Variation and its causes extends to 12 pp.
The articles on Acronycta, especially that on Cuspidia tridens and C.psi^
and those on HydrcBcia^ Nonagria, Mia?ia, and Apamea are very complete
and full. The subspecific value of Hydrcecia paludis^ H. lucens^ Miana
fasciuncula, and Caradrma supersies^ Tr., are treated at length, and the
probability of the latter, if distinct, being a British species. The matter
runs out altogether to above 180 pp. I beg publicly to thank all those
entomologists who so kindly subscribed to the work as soon as I sug-
gested taking it in hand, and thus guaranteed me against financial loss.
That most of the leading entomologists, not only of England, but of
North America and Australia did so, is ample proof of the general
interest in the subject, and that a systematic work on variation is much
needed. Those who have not previously sent in their names as sub-
scribers can obtain copies direct from me, or from Messrs. Swan,
Sonnenschein and Co., Paternoster Square, London, E.C. Price
5s. 6d. nett. — Ed.
Annual Reports of the Fruit Growers’ Association and
Entomological Society of Ontario, 1890. — This Report, printed
by order of the Legislative Assembly of Canada, deals so far as the
first part is concerned with a series of comprehensive discussions and a
report on Fruit Culture. The second part is almost entirely confined
to Economic Entomology, and, although the reading will be found
interesting enough to specialists, its use to the agriculturist far tran-
scends its interest to the specialist. To those Entomologists interested
in agriculture, or to those who have friends so interested, no more
instructive volume could be obtained. Lepidopterists will be specially
interested in the graphic account of the destructive habits of Leucania
unipuncta, whilst Hymenopierists and Dipterists will find much in their
sjiecial groups to interest them. It is printed by Messrs. Warwick and
Sons, 68 and 70, Front Street West, Toronto.
JOURNAL OF VARIATION.
No. 3. VoL. II. June 1st, 1891.
MELANISM AND MELANOCHROISM IN BRITISH
LEPIDOPTERA.
By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S.
{Continued from page 35.)
HE earliest explanations of melanic forms were generally
physiological or had a physiological basis, and the
supposition was, that the exciting cause had a
phytophagic origin, and that the larva was affected
in some unknown way by the chemical elements in its
food, or by certain external substances taken with its food.
Thus peaty soils, soils impregnated with iron, leaves covered
with soot, etc., have all been supposed in some mysterious
manner to have affected lepidoptera in the direction of
melanism. Now it is well known that a plant takes the same
inorganic and organic substances for food wherever it may
be grown, and that the proportions of these substances vary
only in the very narrowest degree. Any deficiency of a food-
substance in the soil is at once visible in the vegetation, and
stunted growth is the first result of deficiency. Total deficiency
means “ barrenness ” for any^ plant requiring the absent sub-
stance. Now, whether a plant be grown on a sandy ” or a
“ calcareous ” soil, the chemical analysis will prove that the
plant has its tissues made up of the same substances and in
almost exactly the same proportions on either soil. I would
ask therefore : — How can the food influence colour ? If a soil
has large supplies, in a soluble condition, of all the necessary
foods that a particular plant requires, we get a luxuriant growth.
On the other hand, if a soil has but a small quantity of the
available foods, then that particular plant will be stunted and
sparse in its growth, but the plant on either soil will still be
composed of the same chemical substances. Phytophagic
50
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
varieties in this way would generally be variations in size, as in
the case of the before-mentioned species, Hypsipetes ehitata,
and not variations in colour.
My friend. Dr. Chapman, I know, always connects the
beautiful var. rosea of Cuspidia tridens with cherry {^Ent. Rec.
ii., p. 31), but I do not know that he has formed any idea as
to the way in which the colour may be produced by this food, and
I simply mention the fact to show that other lepidopterists
consider that food does influence colour. Exact experiment
on the matter is undoubtedly needed.
There is one way, however, in which food may more or less
indirectly produce a dark coloration. A plentiful supply of succu-
lent and nutritious food will generally produce insects of large
size, whilst an insufficient supply of food, or even a plentiful
supply of innutritious food will act in the opposite direction.
In these specimens, however, the smaller size is often accom-
panied by the markings being pressed much more closely
together,’ thus giving the insect a darker appearance. This is
especially the case if the ground colour be pale and the markings
dark, for then the area of the pale ground colour becomes
lessened, and the darker markings are developed in a smaller
space. It becomes hard to dissociate this form of develop-
ment from an indirect tendency to disease, or rather to a
change of constitution as Dr. Chapman terms it ; but all
instances of this kind appear to be only very indirectly caused
by food,, and will be found, generally, to be governed by the
environment of the particular species.
In the Ent. Mo, Mag., vol. xiii., p. 132, we find Mr. Birchall
attempting to show us that “ there are great constitutional
differences in animals and plants, which are correlated with
differences of colour,” and he refers to chaps, xxi. and xxv. of
Darwin’s Ani?/ials and Plants under Domestication, where he
states it is shown “ that black and dark-coloured animals
escape man}^ diseases, are less liable to the attacks of parasites,
and will stand changes of temperature, which prove fatal to the
lighter coloured varieties.” Unless in the case of true
albinisms, I should challenge this statement. We must bear
in mind that true ‘‘ albinisms,” which must not be confounded
with ‘Meucochroisms,” are generally looked upon by scientific
men as being a certain form of disease, or rather due to certain
conditions of disease, and we can readily understand that, if
this be so, the white varieties would necessarily be constitu-
tionally weaker than their darker brethren. Mr. Birchall then
MELANISM AND MELANOCHROISM.
51
quotes at length from Mr. A. R. Wallace’s recent Address to
the Biological Section of the British Association at Glasgow^
but the conclusions of Mr. Wallace are ^more or less open to
question, and I doubt altogether, both his conclusions and the
one at which Mr. Birchall arrives : — “As it thus appears certain
that greater strength of constitution and more powerful ano
acute perceptive faculties are, from some yet unknown cause,
associated with dark colours in the vertebrata, may we not
presume that insects are subject to the same law, and that
dark varieties of lepidoptera are able to spread and increase
under adverse conditions, whilst the lighter coloured types fail
to do so, and are consequently eliminated in the struggle for
life, and that the occurrence of melanic forms may be thus
reasonably explained as a simple case of the ‘ survival of the
fittest ’ ? ”
Taking man as the highest of the vertebrata, such a conclu-
sion as this seems to force us on the horns of a dilemma.
Either the pale Anglo-Saxon race, which has shown its strength
over all other races, and has fixed itself as the predominant
race of the world, must still be looked upon as inferior to the
races under its sway, or we must look upon the predominant
race as a great exception to what above is called “the rule,”
although I do not follow out the application of “the rule.”
Dr. F. Buchanan White, dealing with this question {Ent. Mo.
Mag., vol. xiii., p. 149), writes : — “ That melanochroic (or
melanic) insects are peculiarly favoured with stronger constitu-
tions and more acute senses, there is not, I think, any reason
for supposing. Frequently, in fact, melanochroic (and more
frequently, melanic) individuals are of smaller size than the
typical form.” I think decidedly, variation in size in lepidoptera,
has its origin essentially in phytophagic causes, and that where
melanic forms are small, the size is due to phytophagic, the
melanism, to other causes. Mr. S. Radcliff Fetherstonhaugh
also discusses Mr. Birchall’s conclusion in the same volume of
the Ent. Mo. Mag., p. 215, and writes : — “ Mr. Birchall quotes
from learned writers, who assert as fact that dark coloured
animals, from the lower orders up to the superior animal, man,
have advantages in freedom from disease, less liability to
parasites, superior acuteness of the senses, etc., which their
paler coloured fellows do not possess ; I must say, I do not
see any foundation for this doctrine. In the races of men it
certainly does not appear to hold good, as the fair-haired Saxon
is able to hold his own physically and intellectually against the
52
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
darker races. The single instance in which the rule holds
being the albino in all animals, but this is, after all, a diseased
type. If Mr. Birchall’s theory of survival of the fittest be true,
and that the darker races in insects, animals, and the superior
animal, man, are the fittest, the inevitable conclusion to which
it points is, that the darker forms in insect and animal life, and
the negro in man, would, after so many ages of ‘ natural selec-
tion,’ largely predominate in the world, the contrary being,
however, the fact.” This is exactly my own position with
regard to this subject, and I think that such a theory is alto-
gether unsupported and entirely contrary to fact.
But then Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, to account for melanism,
propounds another physiological theory, which is apparently
very far-fetched, but which it would be altogether out of
' reason to assume has no effect. He says : — “ Dr. White
appears to reject Mr. Birchall’s notion that cold, damp
climates, with the absence of sunshine, may be the cause of
the origin of variations of colour, and suggests meteorological
causes.” ^ He then goes on “ May we not then very easily
suppose that variations of colour in insects may be, so to
speak, accidentally produced by external objects present to their
acute vision during the process of generation, and this may
occur again and again. It seems to me a less far-fetched
theory than to assert dogmatically that dark-coloured insects
are endowed with stronger constitutions, and are therefore
perpetuated by natural selection.” ^ This suggestion of Mr.
Fetherstonhaugh is supported by my friend, Mr. Tugwell, in
the Ent. Mo. Mag., pp. 256 and 257, where he writes : — “ I
am far more inclined to believe in the suggestion of Mr. R.
Fetherstonhaugh, that the change is produced by a vivid im-
pression of the colour of the surrounding objects on the female
insects during the period of generation, and a strong tendency
to reproduce in their progeny the same colours among which
they themselves have lived ; and, as we know that this
phenomenon of nature has been accepted, we may fairly be
permitted to consider it as a probable cause of melanism or
leucochroism under suitable conditions.” Mr. Tugwell then
refers to manufacturing districts, London and the New
Forest, in illustration of his idea, and gives as examples, —
^ This is hardly my reading of Dr. White’s paper. He rejects parts of Mr
Birchall’s paper, certainly, but can scarcely reject “ cold and damp,” etc., when he
suggests “meteorological causes.”
^ It must be noted that Mr. Birchall deals with “natural selection ” in a physio-
logical and constitutional way, Dr. White as selection from protective causes.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
53
Boarmia rhomboidaria var. perfumaria and Gnophos obscuraria.
He then goes on to say : — Aberration of colour in an insect
may be occasional and purely accidental, but when we see,
not single specimens, but a constant and invariable pre-
valence of this harmonizing with the surrounding soil, I can-
not but think that the cause may be mainly the powerful
impression of surrounding objects on the female during the
all-important period of life, viz., that of propagation, coupled
with an instinctive provision for the protection of its future
progeny; at any rate, the subject merits a further and deeper
investigation.” I do not know that this theory has ever been
carried further, and I am inclined to think that Mr. Tugwell
is now more in favour of the “ natural selection ” theory from
Dr. White’s point of view than any other. I think, myself,
with regard to this, that it would account for very few cases
of variation, and then only such as appear to me to be better
explained in other ways. {To be continued^)
IBLIOGRAPHY.
Additions to the British List and Changes in Nomenclature.
COLEOPTERA.
Heterocerus britannicus, n. sp., Kuwert, Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-
kdniglichen zoologisch-bota?iischen Gesselschaft in Wien, Dec, 1890, p,
535. The Rev. W. W. Fowler, has a specimen from Dumfries
{E.M.M., 133).
H. fusculus. Kies. The species known by this name in Britain = AT.
pulchellus. Kies. (W. W. Fovvler, E.M.M., p. 133).
Diptera.
Gonia riificeps. Fin. becomes Germaria ruficeps (R. H. Meade,
E.M.M., p. T25).
Bigonicheta spinipennis, Mgn. = a var. of B. selipennis. Fin. (R. H.
Meade, E.M.M., p. 128).
Bigonicheta, Rnd. and Actia, Dsv. = subgenera of Thriptocera, Mcq.
(R. H. Meade, E.M.M., p. 128).
Hemiptera.
Scolopostethus grandis, Horv. = S. punctatus, Edw. A. adjunctus, D.
and S. = S. affinis, Schill. S. adjunctus, Edw. = A. thomsoni, Reut. A.
neglecius, Edw. = a slight var. (with the first antennal joints partly black)
of A. iho7nsoni {)Aoxv2X\\, E.M.M., p. 117). — J. W. Tutt.
URRENT NOTES.
I
If any of the promised subscribers to my work on Varieties of
British Noctuce have not yet received a copy of vol. i., I shall be
54
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
pleased if they will communicate at once with me. Further subscribers
are also needed for what is the only published text-book on the subject.
As will be Seen in the Report of the Ent. Soc. of London printed
this month, parcels of insects may now be sent abroad by sample post.
Strachia ornata^ Linn. ; Brachypelta aterrima^ Forst. ; Lygceus piinc-
iato-guitatus, Fab.; Lygceosoma reticulatum^ hl.-S., species of Hemiptera
not occurring in the British Isles, are recorded by Mr. Luff as occurring
in Guernsey {E.M.M., p. 130).
Mr. R. C. L. Perkins {E.M.M., p. 123) describes a monstrosity of
the ant Stenamma westwoodi, taken last August between Dartmouth and
Stoke-Fleming, the right half of the body “exhibiting characters strongly
characteristic of the while the left half resembles the ? •”
Retarded Development of the Wings of Lepidoptera. — I have
been forcing my pupae this spring in a greenhouse, at an average
temperature of about 65°, and have noticed that several insects have
not expanded their wings for some hours after emergence, and then
only by my using the means suggested by Mr. Anderson (vol. i., p.
304). One specimen {Smerinthus tilice) emerged at 10 a.ni. on March
13th, and had not begun to expand at i p.m. on the following day. I
then put it into a large chip box, and gave it a good shaking, afterwards
turning it back into the pupa box. On examining it a few hours after-
wards, I found it perfectly expanded. Mr. Fenn’s theory (vol. i., p.
327) that this retarded development may occur with deep-burying
larvae, cannot apply here, as I always find the pupae of S. tilice. just
below the surface, often only under the dead leaves, at the roots of lime
and elm. I also have a distinct recollection of a female specimen of
Odonestis potatoria emerging in the early morning, expansion taking
place naturally the same evening. — A. U. Battley, 28, Amherst Park,
N. March 2oth^ 1891. [This shaking up business is exceedingly
strange, but it appears to me that this retarded wing expansion must in
some way be connected with suspended active respiration. The wing
nervures are extended tracheal passages, and it follows that, as they
unroll, air passes through them, or conversely, as air is forced through
them, they unroll. If active respiration be suspended, and the shaking
up induces an active state, I can understand the subsequent develop-
ment of the wing. Has any reader another suggestion to offer as to
the probable cause? — Ed.]
I have a case to record of the pairing of lepidoptera before the
wings were developed, but in this instance the sexes are the reverse of
those mentioned by Mr. Mackonochie with regard to Plaiypteryx fal-
cula {Record^ vol. i., p. 305). In February, 1889, on looking into my pupa-
box I saw a pair of A^iisopteryx cescularia^ in cop.., but the wings of
the male were entirely undeveloped. After a while, however, the wings
unfolded themselves, hung down in the usual way, were finally
folded round the body in the customary manner adopted by this species,
and were in no ways malformed. All this occurred before pairing had
ceased. — R. M. Prideaux, 9, Vyvyan Terrace, Clifton.
I have observed a very similar development of the wings of moths to that
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
55
described by your correspondents in the February number. On the
loth of March, 1889, I looked at my pupae at ii o’clock a.m. and saw
a Taniocampa stabilis on the lid, the wings quite undeveloped and very
small. I looked at it again in the course of the evening, when the
wings had not altered in the least. I concluded it was a cripple,
put it in a box and left it till the next morning, when I found the wings
were perfectly developed. I noticed the same, process of development
several times with T. cruda, in one instance the under wings never
developed at all. — John Williams Vaughan, Jun., The Skreen,
Radnorshire, Erwood R.S.O.
Temperature versus Heredity in producing variation. — To
show the amount of cold that pupae can withstand under natural con-
ditions, and what marvellous vitality they possess, the following
observations may be interesting. In April, 1890, I took a ? TcBnio-
cai7ipa instabilis at sallow bloom, and noting her to be a very pale
variety I reserved her for oviposition, and she laid the remainder of her
eggs. I reared a number of these as far as the pupa stage ; and the
large garden pot in which the larvae went down was placed out of doors
in a shady spot with a north-east aspect, about the very coldest place I
could discover. The pot was exposed to the very severe temperature
of the recent long frost, and from its position must have frequently
been subjected to 30° of frost. The earth it contained, with the pupae,
was frozen hard for over six weeks. About January 23rd, when the
frost had broken up, I removed the pot indoors and sorted out the
pupae, of which there were about five dozen, and I was glad to find that
not one of them had succumbed to the cold. Laid in damp sand in a
very cold room v/ith eastern aspect, and where no fire is ever lighted,
these pupae soon began to show signs of life. The first moth was bred
February 3rd, and to the present date at least forty have emerged.
Considering the temperature of the room where they were kept, they
are at least six weeks in advance of their usual time. The moths bred
follow to a great extent the variation of the parent ? , and I have many
very lovely pale grey, pinkish grey, and other light forms ; among them,
of course, are a few of the ordinary type, the dark reddish brown, and
even these vary in intensity and markings. Not a single black specimen
has emerged, although it is a very common form here. The larvae vvere
fed on sallow. Here, at any rate, is a natural experiment which shows
that heredity beats temperature out of all calculation. If Mr. Merri-
field’s experiments be correct, my instabilis should be certainly darker
than usual, or at any rate some part of the brood should be darker, but
the reverse is the case. This is an extreme case in point of temperature,
for none of Mr. Merri field’s pupae were ever frozen for six weeks, at
least as far as I recollect. During the same frost a few larvae of Cidaria
russata were frozen stiff and hard, but thawed when the frost broke up,
and are now feeding and thriving on strawberry. In two other pots
standing beside the one containing the russata larvae are a lot of C. inwia-
nata ova still unhatched, although laid before the russata ova were
deposited. — C. Fenn, Lee. February^ 1891.
Melanism and Temperature (A note on Mr. Fenn’s experiment
with Taniocampa instabilis). — Mr. Fenn i^Ent. Record., vol. ii., p. 20)
exposed the pupae of instabilis to the great cold of last winter and bred
some very pale specimens, and very properly regards the result as
56
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
chiefly due to heredity, but falls, I think, into error when he advances
the experiment as having any bearing on the conclusions of Mr. Merri-
field, to which his experiment has led ; the fact being that Mr. Fenn
exposed to the great cold of last winter not the pupae of instabilis but
the imagines, histabilis hybernates as a moth not as a pupa, although
it hybernates within the pupa case, that is, the moth is fully developed
within the pupa case in the autumn or early winter, but does not emerge
till the spring. I do not know how long I have been aware that this
is the rule in T(zniocampa^ certainly for many years, and always supposed
it was one of those things that everybody knew, and that one need not
inquire into. It so happens that I have in recent years verified it for
myself in the case of cruda and instabilis^ but I have not made so many
observations as to be able to assert on my own authority that it is in-
variable in these species or universal throughout the genus. — T. A.
Chapman. Firbank, Hereford. Aprils 1891.
Aneurism. — I have very little idea as to the cause of aneurism, but
it is certainly not a rare occurrence, and is not always caused by fluid
contained between the wing membranes. In several which I operated on
last year, whilst the notes were appearing in the Record^ it seemed to be
caused by an air bubble. — Wm. Reid, Pitcaple, N.B. February^ 1891.
Representative Species of Noctu^ and the Male Genitalia. —
It is probably generally known that in North America there are found
certain so-called representative species of moths, which differ only in
small details of colour, marking or structure from their European allies,
while closely agreeing with these in form, size and habit. There can, I
think, be no question that these representative species are related by
blood, and that the differences, such as we find them, have resulted
from their different environment since their separation. Sometimes
these differences appear to be marked in the larval stage, as is the case
with Tri(zna occidentalis 2iW<\ the European Triczna {Cuspidia) psi. Some-
times the peculiar larvie remain very similar and the moths differ in mark-
ing, as seems to be the case with Jocheara fu7ieralis and the European
J. {C.) alni. The amount of difference is very variable ; and the limits of
these representative species, as a class, are hardly defined. I have
given lists of such instances as have fallen under my observation. The
species of the genus Agrotis offer a number of such cases, and this
genus affords also examples of identical species found in America and
Europe. Such, for instance, appear to be A. chardinyi^ pkcta^ c-nigrmn^
ypsilon^ and femiica. 'The species which in America represents the
European A. augm^ is A. haruspica^ and I select this one instance for
the purpose of illustrating the question generally. Writers have not
been hitherto agreed as to the constancy of the differences noted in
marking between the two. In colour, size, and general appearance
the two are indeed so similar that they cannot be well separated, yet it
has been recently shown that they differ in the structure of the male
genitalia. On the supposition that this discovery is real, it would
certainly prove that the male genitalia are more readily susceptible of
change than is colour, size, or marking, and that they are thus to be used
as the basis for specific, not generic, characters. In co-existing forms,
very closely otherwise connected, the genitalia have offered strong
differences — an additional argument for the view here taken. — Au(J. R.
Grote, Bremen.
VARIATION.
' 57
Structure of the cocoon of Eriogaster lanestris. — Has any
one studied Eriogaster lanestris much? Two of mine spun a common
cocoon and pupated therein to the detriment of one another. I sent
them to Mr. Tutt. I had two notes from lepidopterists saying that it had
happened to them with the same insect. Is it an ancestral custom,
nearly lost? Is there any parallel among other insects? How
do they make the lid to the top of the cocoon ? It is plainly visible
long before the pupa emerges, and chips off with quite a clean edge.
The cocoon itself is made in two distinct layers ; the outer hard one
with the air holes .in, amd an inner and soft one of the texture of very
fine brown paper, without any holes at all. The two separate pretty
easily if a cocoon is pulled to pieces. I have never had time to watch
the process of cocoon making, but I should like to have seen the two
working together. The insect itself is a late emerger, generally about
4 o’clock, nine of mine have emerged up to date in each case in
batches of three, consisting of one male and two females, I was looking
into my pot when the last lot came, and they all emerged as nearly
simultaneously as I could see, so that the insect has behaved with
strange, if accidental, eccentricity, in my case. — G. M. A. Hewett, The
College, Winchester.
Variation.
Larentia multistrigaria vars. — I have been capturing Larentia
inultistrigaria for the purpose of getting varieties, and have got some
nice banded forms, and last night three very dark, one as black as
soot, with a few light dots round the edge. — W. Reid, Pitcaple.
March 2^th, 1891.
Homososoma saxicola, Vaughan, as a var. of H. nimbella. —
There can be no doubt that Ragonot, in pronouncing H. saxicola to
be only a variety of nhnbella, expressed the opinion already formed
about it by not a few British entomologists. As Mr. Tutt has quoted
{Record^ vol. i., pp. 325-326) the last half of Mons. Ragonot’s note
in E}it. Mo. Mag., xxii., p. 26, I should like to complete the quota-
tion by recalling the first half which runs thus: — “This appears to
be the most frequent form of nimbella in England I have a number
of British nimbella from Yarmouth, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Pembroke
and Dublin, and none are like Continental specimens of that species.”
At any rate, Mons. Ragonot had plenty of nimbella before him, and,
though he was incorrect in assigning the name saxicola to the great
bulk of our British specimens instead of to only a certain proportion
of them, there seems to me to be no doubt that in considering
saxicola to be a var. of nimbella he formed a perfectly correct con-
clusion about the matter. It is almost certain that, among his British
specimens, Mons. Ragonot must have had some genuine saxicola, and
was acquainted with the form, as he would not have treated of it
without consulting the original description in Ent. Mo. Mag., vii., p.
132 ; but it is clear that he regarded all our examples as belonging to
one variable species. True though it is, as Mr. Tutt says, that all
British nimbella are saxicola, yet it is apparently equally true that
hardly any of them are typical nimbella ! ,
C
58
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Nimbella is a decidedly variable species both in colour, size, and
markings, — several different forms being sometimes bred together from
the very same batch of larvae — and the specimens which occur in
Britain seem for the most part either to be, or to approach the variety
saxicola, or else to be intermediate between that and the type.
Although I have not seen the original specimens of nwibella in the
late Professor Zeller’s collection, I have been fortunate enough to see
those from which Mr. Howard Vaughan described saxicola, but failed
to find any reliable distinction between them and nhnbella.
It is very surprising that in the published notices of saxicola we find
no full and careful comparison betw'een it and nimbella, and no attempt
to differentiate them satisfactorily. In his original description of
saxicola in Ent. Mo. Mag., vii., p. 132, Mr. Howard Vaughan merely
says : “ This species is closely allied to H. nimbella^^ and then proceeds
to separate it from se7iecionis {X), whilst in Mr. J. H. Leech’s British
Fyralides we only read “ This species differs from nimbella in the
longer and narrower fore-wings, the costal streak, and the more con-
spicuous longitudinal white lines,” — all of which characters, it may be
observed, differ considerably in individual specimens of nimbella. It
should be noticed that in Stainton’s Manual, ii., p. 169, the expanse of
nimbella is given as 7-8 lines, which is the exact size of saxicola as given
by Mr. H. Vaughan; the insect therefore, as a general rule, runs rather
larger in all its varieties in Britain than on the Continent.
The foodplants of nimbella and saxicola are the same, and to the
best of my belief no real differences have ever been shown to exist
between the larvae ; in fact, the only description (if it may be so called)
of the larva of saxicola which I can find, is in E.M.M, vi\, p. 132,
where Mr. Howard Vaughan says: “The larva, as well as I can
remember, was short, obese, and greenish, with darker blotches on the
back ” ; and this would of course apply equally well to the larva of
nimbella.
I certainly know of no reliable specific distmctions between the perfect
insects, but if anyone can show any such to exist between nimbella and
saxicola in either or both stages, he will do good service by making
them known ; till then, however, there seems to be no reason for
refusing to accept the conclusion arrived at by Mons. Ragonot that they
are merely different forms of the same species. — Eustace R. Bankes,
The Rectory, Corfe Castle. April /^th, 1891.
Arctia lubricipeda VARS. — It is stated that between i860 and 1870,
vars. of A. lubricipeda in which the dots tended to form longitudinal
lines, only occurred in a timber yard which has since been destroyed.
From my own knowledge I cannot prove or refute this statement, it
is too far back for me ; but my friend, Mr. Jackson, tells me that long
before this date he took it in gardens, timber yards, etc., pretty well all
round York. The variety is by no means common. At a rough guess
I should say that it averages about one var. in every hundred, although
in some years it varies much more than others ; last year was excep-
tionally bad. I have never heard of the true var. radiata as figured
in the Eiitomologist for August, 1874, p. 169, having been taken at
York. — G. C. Dennis, Tower Street, York.
Variation of Catoptria ulicetana. — The majority of the specimens
of Catoptria iclicetana that have come under my notice (and it is an
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
59
abundant species in my collecting grounds) have a pale ground colour
like the Aberdeen specimens more or less ; but a considerable minority
have a greyish, some almost blackish, suffused appearance. I think the
southern form is rather of a brownish shade ? — T. J. Henderson,
Glasgow.
Scandinavian varieties of British Species. — The following
varieties of British species are described in the Entomologisk Tidskrijt,
1890, pp. 201, 202, by Enzio Reuter: — Zonosoma punctaria^ L. ab.
hifuscata. The wings of a dull colour with a sooty coloured fascia, more
densely spotted on each side, the underside of a suffused red, not so
fuscous, with the central part of the upper area of the anterior wings
deeply s iffused with liver-colour. Ab. arcufera (with figure). The
anterior wings with the almost central fascia strongly arched in its
lower fourth, extending from the discoidal cell ( ? ). Thyatira batisy
L. ab. confliiens (with figure). The superior wings with the base and
central area of a dull reddish white ; a semi-oval, dull, olive-fuscous
spot on the costal margin before the centre ; from this, almost to the
hind margin, sparingly sprinkled with fuscous dots, and with a dull
obsolete fascia ; the apical (outer) third decidedly olive-fuscous adorned
with the typical spots but with the posterior one much more obsolete
than in the type ; the cilia unicolorous fuscous. The posterior wings
as in the type, but the pale median fascia paler ; abdomen whitish ( $ ).”
— J. W. Tutt, Westcombe Hill, S.E.
Erratum. — Page 36, lines 3 and 4 from top of page, for Dianthacia
capsincolay read Fidonia conspiciiata.
^fOTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
Pachetra leucophcea bred, with Description of Larva and Pupa.
— As I have recently had the pleasure of rearing this moth — a pleasure
emphasised by various unsatisfactory failures with other species — a
note thereon may be interesting. I received at the end of June, 1890,
ten larvae which had just passed their first moult. They were the pro-
duct of Kentish eggs, and I was indebted for them to the kindness of
Mr. \V. R. Jeffrey. I fed them throughout on Poa annua ; they soon
fed up and passed their second moult, and on July i8th had all com-
pleted the third change. On July 23rd two had already moulted a
fourth time, and thereafter they did not keep together. They all pro-
gressed very slowly after this date, one larva moulting later than the
others, appeared to reach the last skin on fourth moult about August
22nd. The others moulted (fifth moult) into last skin during Septem-
ber. From this date they progressed still more slowly, but seemed full-
fed at end of October. They still, however, often ate a little. During
this period five of them died (sickening, ceasing to eat, and shrinking
till they died). They were kept in a cold room, but did not experience
any freezing temperature. On January 25th, on the frost giving, the
five that were still alive and eating occasionally were brought into a
warm room, when three at once spun up on January 29th, 30th
and 31st; a fourth spun on February loth, having fed a good deal in
the interval ; the fifth continued eating, but did not look robust ; it
60
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
finally, however, spun, but died without changing. The first moth
emerged March 2nd ( $ ), the second March 4th ( $ ), and the others (
and $ ) a few days later. The treatment by which this fairly successful
result was attained was quite artificial. The larvae were throughout
kept indoors in glass jars and fed on Poa annua^ which was changed
every second day until the larvae became sluggish in December and
January, when it lasted about a week ; but throughout, the larvae were
regularly disturbed, and not allowed to rest for hybernation or other-
wise. When they reached the fourth skin each larva had a separate
glass, small, less than three inches high and two in diameter, covered
by a glass plate ; this kept the food fresh, whilst undue moisture was
prevented by half an inch of clean dry sawdust at the bottom, changed
with the food, and a sheet of blotting-paper under the glass cover, this
also dried at each change of food. The larvae usually hid themselves
in the sawdust during the day, they often made therein a smooth
cocoon-like cavity, but without using any silk. I find that I rarely fail
to rear anything to which I pay sufficient attention and individualise
each larva in this manner. Dampness, stale food, and crowding are
the great enemies of success in rearing larvae in captivity, and they all
result from trying to do more than the time and attention available
justify. The full-grown larva has at first blush a very Agrotid appear-
ance. It varies from a nearly uniform nankeen-yellow with markings
only indicated, to a handsome larva with distinct black stripes. There
is a pale dorsal line, quite narrow ; thence to the spiracles (which are
black) is divided into three longitudinal stripes, a dark dorsal one,
a dark (but less dark) lower one, and a pale intermediate one. In all
these the ground colour is the same nankeen-yellow, and the darker
areas depend on the greater or less darkness (and abundance ?) of fine
black mottlings, generally in fine wavy streaks running more or less
longitudinally. The dorsal dark band is darker on each of itfe margins,
and each margin is darker towards the incisions ; the pale band is some-
what darker centrally, whilst the lower band again is darker marginally
and towards the incisions, but only to a degree that requires looking
for, instead of being obvious as in the dorsal dark band. The spira-
cular region is paler, almost amounting to a pale spiracular stripe, and
the lower surface is nankeen-yellow, with a slight fuscous tendency.
The second segment is of a more uniform tint, and the pale dorsal line
extends distinctly through it and on to the head, which is rather brown
than yellow, mottled in a honeycombed pattern, there is also some black
marking about labrum and jaws. In some lights the whole larva has a
pearly lustre, or perhaps a bloom like that on a plum, would best express
the effect. Each segment is divided into four (or five) subsegments by
transverse incisions. The ordinary tubercles are marked by very fine,
nearly transparent, brown bristles, of which there are also some on the
head. The segments taper slightly towards the head, more rapidly (in
two or three .segments) towards the anal extremity. The cocoon (made
in sawdust, only just under the surface, so that naturally I imagine it
gets under a dead leaf or piece of wood and does not bury itself in the
soil) is made with sufficient silk to give it a firm and coherent structure.
The chrysalis has much the colour, size, and general outline of that of
Acronycta aceris, but of course very different except as to broad effect.
The smallest pupa was 20 mm. long by 7 mm. wide, in front of 5th
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
61
segment rather narrower (6 mm.), tapering from the 8th segment,
L)Ut only slightly till the nth, arched dorsally, straighter anteriorly, of a
rich red brown colour, very active when disturbed, with a strength and
energy suggesting great robustness. The surface is smooth and polished,
but over the whole dorsum of the thorax, the wing-cases, etc., very fine
impressed furrows divide the surface into parallel convolutions.
The fixed abdominal segments (segments 5-8) have similar fur-
rows more transverse in direction, most decided on 5th, least
so on 8th; on these and less so on 9, 10 and ii, are dorsal and
subdorsal hollows, just as though dented in by violence ; these
occur in many pupae and are difficult to understand. The 5th
and following abdominal segments have some fine punctures, which are
more marked and numerous towards the anterior margin of each
segment, especially are they so on the 9th, 10th and nth segments.
On these segments, there is a tendency to an angular prominence along
their anterior margins. Spiracles very obvious on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and
II. Ventrally the wing-cases meet and cover the 3rd tarsi; the 2nd
tarsi, antennae, and proboscis reaching just short of this. There are the
two antennae-basal hairs on either side, very slender, brown, also one at
the angle of 2nd segment against the wing base and antenna. Each
abdominal segment also affords a trapezoidal, supra-spiracular and post-
spiracular hair : these are very fine and rather difficult to detect. The
anal armature is placed quite at the dorsal margin of 14th segment, and
consists of a wrinkled black projection 1.4 mm. broad, 0.6 thick, and
i.omm. long, rounded at the end, and terminating in two spines, close
together and nearly parallel, with a graceful regular curvature, down-
wards (ventrally) about 0.7 mm. long; half-way between the armature
and the anterior margin of the segment, there is on the dorsum a trans-
verse hollow or depression arched backwards and terminating laterally
at the base of the armature. I may add that I failed to obtain eggs,
the moths refusing to pair, in spite of the several inducements I held
out to them. — T. A. Chapivian, Firbank, Hereford.
Early Spring ’Notes. — Kmgstown. — On the three worst days of
storm and stress (by the papers) I was digging for pupae, and at night,
taking larvae (now full fed) of Stilbia anomala, Epunda lichenea^ a few
Agrotis lucernea (probably) and any amount of Noctua xanthographa
together with a few Triphcena orbona^ Gnophos obscurata and Satyrus
semele. The east wind was very keen at night, and, in the north, we
had a slight fall of snow and severe frosts. But though cold, Lareiitia
7Hultisirigaria was on flight and has been since February 12th, which
seems to me a very early date. Endroiiiis versicolor also emerged
about February i8th and on for a week, though out in the open, aspect
east. — W. F. de V. Kane, Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown, Ireland.
March 1891.
Aberdeen. — Mr. Reid and I went out to the moors on Saturday night
with the intention of trying the sallows, but we were at least a week too
early and found the trees were not in working order ; on the way out
we picked up a few pupae of Viminia (Acronycla) my7’ic€e., Arctia
fuliginosa and Saturnia carpini. — A. Horne. April 13^'/^, 1891.
Bristol. — In company with my friend, Mr. Prideaux, I have paid two
or three visits to the sallows, and though the usual species may not be
quite so abundant as in some seasons, we have seen fairly good
62
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
numbers. Brephos parthenias also has been abundant on sunny days
in Leigh Woods, but my opportunities for day collecting being limited,
I have only so far secured a very few specimens. — G. C. Griffiths.
April 16 th, 1891.
Weymouth. — Twice this season I have been out “sallowing,” I have found
insects fairly plentiful, but nothing actually worth taking. Tceniocampa
cruda, T. stabilis and T. gothica^ the latter in abundance, and a few
T' instabilis. As we have had a very severe winter, other species may
be a few days or weeks later. — A. Forsyth. April 1891.
Chiiinor. — Sallows are very late this year. I beat nine Taniocampa
populeti last evening from one sallow bush growing under a row of six
aspen poplars. — A. J. Spiller, Chinnor, Oxon. April i^tli, 1891.
Clevedon. — Sallows are almost over. Insects have been tolerably
abundant at the catkins on the few favourable evenings we have had,
but I have taken nothing special. — J. Mason, Clevedon, Court Lodge,
Somerset. April 1891.
Carlisle. — On Good F riday, I set out for Carlisle, prospecting new grounc 1
for the summer; I went first to Armthwaite on the Eden and into Barrow
Wood. Mr. Eales and I searched the mosses on the walls for Eudorea
larvae and Gelechia confinis.^ and among the lichens for Xysmatodoma
argentvnaculella. After a walk of four hours and much searching we
returned discouraged and thoroughly done up. About the middle of
April I started for Kingmoor, and in a sheltered place discovered
Micropteryx in great numbers ; I shook a dozen into my umbrella at
once, and, although having a hundred boxes, had to put eight or ten
into one large box. They are such a size and in splendid condition.
They vary much, many I think are purpurella^ a species I am little
acquainted with. On April 22nd, Mr. Eales, my nephew and I went to
Corby to search the Luzula for Elachista larvae. In two hours we
found about a dozen, which I believe to be trapeziella., and were much
discouraged, thinking we were too early for magnijicella.^ when I noticed
a Luzula leaf puckered together, and my friends also brought some for
investigation. On one small spot about five yards in length we got
them in profusion. No blade was without a larva, some contained two
and even three. My large canister was soon full and my coat pockets
filled with roots and soil. What turns up in breeding will tell what
we have. I brought the whole away and they are doing well. — J. B.
Hodgkinson, Ashton-on-Ribble. May ist, 1891.
Wicklow and Exmouth. — I had 3 days at sallows in Wicklow 3 weeks
since, and one night in Exmouth, Devon. Insects were scarce, especially
in Devon. I took a few \Xylocajupa litho7'iza., Xylina rhizolitha.,
T(Enioca7upa munda., one T. opuna, one X. petrificata (Exmouth) ; and
two Hybernia proge77wiaria on the 20th April (rather late for this
insect in South Devon I think), as well as common Tcenioca77ipas. I
also found at rest in the day time two Cidaria 77iiata, the $ of which
laid a batch of ova. These hatched out on April 30th, but the larvae
would not feed on the young birch leaves I supplied and all died ! Will
some one explain ? I think I have taken the larvae when half-grown
on birch. There is no alder here or I should have tried that. I put
one larva on lime, but fear it is dead also. My experience was
equally unfortunate with Catocala fraxini (foreign) ova. The larvae
would not feed on the young balsam-poplar leaves, sallow nor
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
63
willow. The Lombardy poplar is only in bud still. I should be glad
of any suggestions. — W. F. de V. Kane, Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown,
Ireland. May, 1891. Ent. Record, vol. i., pp. 185 and 260. — Ed.]
Ruthin, N. Wales. — Weather very cold here, though I suppose some
of the early species must be out. I visited the Agrotis ashworthii
locality on March 26th, but all appearances point to a much later season
than last. Larvae of A. ashworthii, A. lucernea and Gnophos obscurata
ought to have been found, but apparently they have not yet left their
winter retreats for I did not see one. Coming home over More
Famman, at a height of nearly 1000 feet, I found a Larentia
multistrigaria, clinging to the stones in the middle of the road, and
almost blown away by the gale. — J. E. R. Allen. March 2Sth, 1891.
Darlingto7i. — We are having very stormy weather, in fact there is no
staying out of doors at all, I should say some of the hybernating larvae
must have suffered, as they were beginning to show up in February,
which was a very fine month here, and I thought I was going to get an
early start, but shall now be later than usual. — W^m. Milburn.
April /^th, 1891.
Elgin. — In the North of Scotland, March and the early part of April
have been very stormy with strong east winds and hard frost at night,
now we are getting bright sunshine, but the frost continues, and in
consequence everything is very late. I have been working the sallows
in the neighbourhood of Forres and Elgin ; TcRniocampa gothica, stabilis,
instabilis and several other species were fairly common, but generally
much worn. I expect the sallows in Morayshire will be a total failure
this year owing to the frost having spoiled the catkins. Retinia resinana
is widely distributed in Morayshire, and often abundant. Mr. Abel,
of Elgin, kindly pointed out a locality for it within a few miles of that
town, where it is distributed over a wide area, and is not rare. I have
also found it in nearly every plantation of young Scotch firs which I
have visited. The insect is in the pupal stage just now. Micros are
not scarce. — Wm. Reid. April 22?id, 1891.
Newbury. — The wonderful change in the vveather (to sudden and
extreme heat) is bringing out numbers of insects in my forcing-house.
Eupithecia pulchellata comes out every day by threes and fours, and at
present only one has been anything but perfect. Macroglossa fuciformis,
Scotosia undulata, Smerinthus ocellatus and Euplexia lucipara have also
emerged this week, and I have taken a few common insects in the
moth-trap, and one Cidaria silaceata on May 4th, which seems early. —
M. Kimber. May \\th, 1891.
CucuLLiA scROPHULARiyE AS A BRITISH INSECT. — This species is
undoubtedly British, although I notice that Mr. Dale doubts its being
so. I am afraid that doubt is often thrown on our rare species being
indigenous, because the writer has been collecting many years and has
not happened to find the species. C. scrophularice has been erroneously
recorded dozens of times, without doubt, by those who have found
C. verbasci feeding on Scrophularia, but the larva of C. scrophularice is
very different. Its usual food appears to be S. nodosa and not S.
aquatica, although C. verbasci feeds on both these plants. In 1889,
whilst collecting in Kent, I picked up six strange larvae not at all like
verbasci, being much stumpier and less strongly marked, near a well
eaten plant of S. nodosa. These pupated at once and whilst three
64
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
emerged last year, one has just appeared. , The imagines are not at all
like C. verbasci but they are very much like C. lychnitis, although
perhaps rather larger and more coarsely scaled, but still it would be
dilhcult to distinguish them in the imago state. The three species are
well distributed and definitely distinguished on the Continent (principally
in the larval stage), where scrophularm appears to be the commonest.
Dr. Staudinger gives the following as their distribution : — “ C. verbasci^
Central and Southern Europe, Southern Sweden, Livonia, Asia Minor,
and Armenia.” “ C. scrophularice. Central Europe, Southern Sweden,
T ivonia, Piedmont, Corsica, North part of the Balkan District, and
Southern Russia.” “ C. lychnitis^ Germany, France, South England,
Corsica, Southern and Western Russia.” By this it will be seen that
verbasci and scrophularice each spread equally north, but that scrophularice
has a more southern range, whilst lychnitis is far more restricted and
more" decidedly a southern species. Britain therefore comes well into
the area of distribution of both the former species. 1 find on reference
to the E7iiomologist, vol. ix., pp. 259-260, that Mr. Harwood quotes
from a letter of the late Mr. H. Doubleday as follows : — “ Cucullia
verbasci and C. scrophularice, are as distinct as any two species of the
genus \ but I believe that few English entomologists are acquainted
with the latter species, which appears to be very scarce in this country at
the present time. The Rev. A. H. Wratislaw, of Bury St. Edmunds,
found a brood of larvse three years since, but he has not met with them
again. M. Constant says it is sometimes abundant in autumn and then
disappears for several years. I sent three or four larvse to Mr. Buckler,
and bred a few moths myself. The larva is quite different from that of
C. verbasci^ being shorter and with fewer markings. The moths appear
the middle or end of May, a month or six weeks later than C. verbasci.
I send for your acceptance a pair that M. Constant gave me. You will
see that this species is more like C. lychnitis than C. verbasci. The
larva of C. verbasci often feeds upon Scrophularia aquatica., but I
believe scrophularice only feeds upon A. iiodosa which always grows in
dry places.” I presume this refererence, by a lepidopterist who un-
doubtedly knew both species thoroughly, has been overlooked by Mr.
Dale, or he would not have suggested that the species was “an
entomological myth,” although the Rev. O. P. Cambridge is of opinion
that “ his Bloxworth examples may not be any more than C. verbasci^
in fact, if they are very like verbasci they probably are that species. I
suppose there are some true scrophularice in various collections but all I
have ever had sent me have turned out to be verbasci. I have never
formed an opinion on Haworth’s scrophularice^ but it may be lychnitis^
although that seems in no way to affect the former as a British species.
In the Rev. E. N. Bloomfield’s Lepidoptera of Suffolk, p. 23, we read : —
“ Larvae of this rare species were taken by Mr. E. Skepper, and the
Rev. A. H. Wratislaw, Some of these were sent to Mr. Doubleday,
and were described and figured by Mr. Buckler.” It is also recorded
on the same page from Lakenheath, Barton Mills and Higham in
Suffolk, by Messrs. T. and J. Brown. — J. W. Tutt. May, 1891.
Flowers attractive to Moths. — I beg to supplement Mr. Russ’ »
“ list of border plants and shrubs which are attractive to moths ” {Record,
vol. i., p. 340) with the following: — Border Flowers. Golden rod
{Solidago canadensis)’, torch flower {Tritonia uvaria and vars.), this
NOTES OX COLLECTING, ETC.
65
flower is very attractive ; bedding geraniums, I find Sphinx convolvuli
partial to the rose-coloured varieties ; Salvia prafensis, moths are
particularly fond of this plant ; the different vars. of garden iris attract
ChcBrocampa elpenor occasionally. Shrubs. Lauristinus^ the flowers
of this attract the sallow moths after that tree is over, so do the flowers
of the common laurel, but I do not remember seeing any at the
Portugal variety ; lavender, this sub-shrub is one of the greatest attrac-
tions to moths in this locality, they literally swarm at it (it is a curious
fact that whilst the humble bee is continually feasting at its flowers, one
never finds the hive bee attracted by it ; tastes differ I presume) ;
Althea frutex and vars., I have taken S. cojivolvuli at the flowers of this
shrub on several occasions, also at flowers of rhododendrons and
weigeleas.
Looking over some old memoranda the other day, I came across
the following list of insects taken at the flowers of lavender by
myself, during the season of 1886; which, I trust, may interest some
of the readers of the Eiitomologisf s Record^ as showing how very
attractive this bloom is to insects. Pieris brassicce, P. rapce^ P. napi^
Gonepiei-yx rhanini^ Vanessa urticce^ V. atalanta, Cynthia cardui^ Pararge
egeria^ Lyccena alexis, Epinephele janira^ E. tithonus^ Coenonympha
pamphilus, Polyomniatus phloeas ; Alacroglossa stellatarum^ Calligenia
mmiata, Lithosia complanula, L. griseola and var. stramineola^ Viminia
riimicis^ Leucania conigera, L. lithargyria, L. impura^ L. pallens^ L.
ccmma^ Xylophasia polyodon^ Mamestra brassicce^ Aliana strigilis, Apamea
oculea^ Caradrina alsines, C. cubicularis^ Agrotis exclamationis^ A. tritici^
A. corticea, Triphoefia janthina, T. mterjecta, T. orbona^ T. pronuba^
Noctua plecta, Phlogophora meticulosa^ Euplexia liicipara^ Hadena
oleracea^ Habrostola urticce^ H triplasia, Plusia chrysitis^ P. iota, P.
gamma, P. pulchrina, Uropteryx sambucata, Epione apiciaria, Rumia
cratcegata, Metrocampa margaritaria, Boarmia repatidata, B. rhomboid-
aria, Gnophos obsctirata, Geometra vernaria, Hemithea thymiaria,
Ephyra trilinearia, Acidalia scutulata, A. bisetata, A. inca?iaria, A.
aversata. A, imitaria, Timandra a?nataria, Thera obeliscata, Afelanthia
ocellata, Melanippe montanata, M. rivata, M. fluctuata, Coremia ferrugata,
C. unidentaria, Camptograinma bilineata, Triphosa dubitata, Cidaria
russata, C. hiimanaia, Eubolia bipunctaria, Anaitis plagiata, Hypena
proboscidalis, Zanclog7iatha grisealis and Rivula sericealis. The row or
hedge of lavender at which all these insects were taken, is about 40
yards long, and is close to the outskirts of a large plantation, which no
doubt, to a great extent, accounts for the number of species taken. —
J. Mason, Clevedon Court Lodge, Somerset.
Hybernating Larv.-e. — The cold season seems to have suited
hybernating larvae. Very nearly all mine have come through, i.e.,
Geometra papilio7iaria, Bo77ibyx quercus (which I was cherishing with
much care, thinking they were Trichiura cratcegi, they are a very
striking larva when small), Lasioca77ipa quercifolia, Boarmia repandata,
some very minute clematis feeder and two Apatura iris. The two
latter are still dormant, but look plump and well. One has spun on
the stem of the sallow and the other to the midrib of a dead leaf. I
hope they will eventually come to life. At present they are covered, as
far as I can see, with a thin film of silk. I suppose sleeving out on fresh
sallow, as soon as they rouse themselves, is the best course to pursue.
66
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
One spun his silly self to the gauze of the bag in which I had sleeved
them for the winter, a course of action which I knew to be dangerous
and meant to prevent, but he did it in the night, and an earwig was up
earlier than I, and ate him or sucked him through the gauze. I expect
one reason why larvae sleeved out for the winter have done so well is
that the frost kept off the earwigs and woodlice, who burrow into
anything and have the most marvellous trick of finding out where one’s
sleeves are. I always inspect mine every morning through the autumn.
I expect one ought to doctor the stem of the branch below to keep these
visitors off. — G. M. A. Hew?:tt. March 26^h, 1891.
Noctua sobrina. — I begin to take the larvae about the end of April,
they are very small at that time. I do not know whether the larvae
hybernate or if the ova lie over all the winter. I am inclined to think
it is the latter (I may be wrong), because, had they hybernated, the
larvae must, I think, have been much larger. Last year, about the end
of April, I began to sweep for them, when I took some that seemed
newly hatched, while a few others were in their first moult. I swept
once or twice every week from that time until about the first week in June,
when they begin to get rather scarce, but the last night I went out,
Saturday, June 7th, I took four larvae full fed. Last season, I took in
all about six or seven dozen larvae, and out of those barely a score of
imagines emerged, the rest were stung. The first emerged in the last
week of July, the last in the second week of August. The ichneumon
did not emerge at the same time but much later. The larvae feed on
bilberry only, at least that is the foodplant here, although heath and
various grasses are growing amongst it. — J. Wylie, 12, Union Street
Lane, Bridgend, Perth. February 20th, 1891.
A good many years ago, when JV.sobrina\w2iSno\. so common as it is now,
I investigated its life-history to a certain extent, and what I know about
it is as follows : — The eggs laid in August, hatch the same season, and
the larvae hybernate small, feeding up in the spring. The larva is very
similar (speaking from memory) to N. brujinea^ N ditrapezium and
their congeners, but, if I recollect rightly, duller and greyer. Its proper
food I believe to be Vacciniu/u, hut I daresay it is not very particular. It
was common enough in the Black Wood at Rannoch. It feeds at night.
— C. Fenn, Lee. January, 1891.
Uncertain appearance of certain Lepidoptera. — Mr. Reid (vol. i.,
p. 341) mentions the disappearance of Epunda lutulenta from his neigh-
bourhood about 1875 1876. Singularly enough we lost this moth here
about the same time. In 1875 was plentiful here, and for years before
— in fact it was a species of which we always depended on getting enough.
In 1876 not one was to be found, and, although the place was tried every
year, I never saw a specimen there again till 1889, when two appeared
at the old spot. In 1890 their numbers had increased, and now I hope
we may have them with us again for a time. In 1871, and before that,
Epunda viminalis was a common thing in a wood near me. In 1872
they were absent, and I never got another at the place till 1888, when
they suddenly appeared again in abundance. I used to get plenty of
Agrotis tritici here till 1877, when they became scarce for a time, but in
1882 and 1883 they turned out again as common as before. Since
those two years, however, it is unusual to get one here. Many other
species I have seen plentiful for a time, then scarce, and then become
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
67
as abundant as ever; so I think Mr. Reid may hope to see Epunda
7iigra and E. lutulenta common again at Pitcaple. By the way, whatever
may be the reason for the disappearance and reappearance of so many
insects — is there any truth in that old story that Melitcea aiirinia moves
its quarters systematically ? A colony occurred on a large common here
for years, and, when I first saw them, they were at the south-west side
of the common, but each year they got further and further across it, till
at last they were in the north-east corner only, and now they are gone
altogether. Should I find them by looking still further to the north-
east? The country does not look likely, as it is under cultivation. —
W. Holland, Reading. April 1891.
Life- History of Gonophora derasa. — After reading the account
{Record^ vol. i., p. 348), about the larva of Gonophora derasa
from Mr. Geo. Elson, I thought, perhaps, he might be glad to know
that for the last three or four years, in the first week in October, I
have beaten the larvae of derasa from Spiraa iilmaria (meadow-
sweet). I have never seen this plant mentioned in any book as its
foodplant. The larvae always hide amongst the leaves in the day
time. I have noticed the larvae of many Noctu^ feed at night and
go to the same place day after day to hide.— W. J. Cross, Ely.
April /^th, 1891.
Killing Lepidoptkra. — It has occurred to me that boxes made
with perforated cardboard lids and bottoms would be at least as useful
as those made with glass tops, and I should think they might be
made at even a cheaper rate. I think indeed they would be more
useful, because the insects in them could be killed as described by
Mr. Turner in your Marc’n number (p. 344), without the trouble of
tilting the lids. The boxes would of course be better laid on their
sides in the tin. — R. D. Postans.
I can quite corroborate Mr. Cutts’ remark (vol. i., p. 345) on the use of
cyanide for killing lepidoptera. I once tried ammonia myself for a short
time, but could not be satisfied with its effects on the wings of some
species. 1 have used cyanide now for some years, and have never
experienced any difficulty in setting insects killed by this agency, as
I have invariably left them in the bottle for a couple of days before
proceeding to pin them. After this interval of time lepidoptera are
always to be found beautifully relaxed. If the insects are not kept in
the bottle as long as this, they must be set within an hour of death ;
otherwise, I admit, the use of cyanide is most disappointing. — J. E.
Tarbat, Reading. March 241b, 1891.
I quite agree with Mr. Turner {Record, vol. i., p. 344) that the
easiest and best agent for killing is ‘880 ammonia, but I think I have
a more perfect apparatus for using it than he describes. I have a
cylindrical tin made for me with a lid at both ends, and one end —
the bottom — has in addition a false bottom of perforated zinc, about
three-quarters of an inch up. I put the boxes of moths in first, and,
having shut the lid, take off the bottom lid and pour a little ammonia
on a piece of sponge and close it again without losing any of the fumes.
Mr. Cutts is certainly right ; it does take the colour out of some
species, especially green and some rich purples and blacks, e.g., Plusia
orichalcea and Penthina fuligana {carbonana). Such species I should
not think of putting into ammonia — the smaller insects, such as the
68
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
above mentioned Tortrix, I kill with tobacco smoke or chloroform and
the larger ones with — what no one up to the present seems to have
made much mention of, but what I consider invaluable — a solution
of oxalic acid. I use it for such things as Sphingid^, most Bombyces,
Notodontid^, some large Noctu.^ih, 1891.
.VRCTIA LUBRICIPEDA VAR. — I have bred an A. luhricipeda with the
pos erior wings slightly flushed with pink instead of yellow ; nothing
108
THE entomologist’s RECOKD.
very striking, but peculiar. — William Farren, 9, Union Road, Cam-
bridge. June 6i/i, 1891.
Thyatira batis (type). — Last summer I took a nice var. of T, batis^
which I greatly prize as T. batis is so little given to variation. As far
as I can judge, it seems quite perfect, evidently fresh from pupa, but
instead of possessing the usual pink-tinted blotches, they are all of
delicate brown, without (or to speak more correctly, having the faintest
tinge of) pink. I look upon it as a genuine var. and not a fraud. —
Hope Alderson, Hilda Vale, Farnborough. May, 1891. [Mr. Alder-
son has since sent me a perfectly fresh specimen, which also is without
the normal pink colour. In The B?itish Noctuce and their Varieties,
p. 2, I write : — “ It seems very strange that the Linnsean description
makes no note of the rosy colour of the spots which are so characteristic
of this species, but I have an Irish specimen without a trace of this
colour.” — El).]
Dark var. of Strenia clathrata. — I took one dark var. of Strenia
clathrata. Does anyone else take it ? I cannot get more than one a
year. — G. M. A. Hewett, The College, Winchester.
Pale Variety of Hepialus lupulinus.— I took a very light
specimen of Hepialus lupulmus at rest on an oak fence in Putney Park
Lane on June 14th. All four wings are of a dirty white with no
markings whatever. — Charles Maxted, 7, Church Terrace, Castel-
nau, Barnes. July ^th, 1891.
C^nonympha davus VARS. — One remarkable feature regarding
Cce7iony7nplia davus is that it gets lighter in colour the further north one
goes, until it is sometimes found almost white in Sutherland. In
Aberdeenshire, C. davus is abundant on all moors, frequenting both
the low swampy ground and the bare, rough, and breezy hill-sides,
where their capture is a matter of some difficulty. In habits they
closely resemble C. pa7nphilus, and from the nature of the ground they
frequent, are difficult to get in good condition. — W. Reid, Pitcaple.
March, 1891.
The Cceno7iy77ipha davus {typhG7i) of Ireland is an intermediate form
with fairly strongly marked ocelli, usually rather dark brown in colour,
but occasionally approaching the paler Scotch form. I have never
taken a typical davus, Hb., in Ireland. In Norway, the pale form is
taken with obsolete markings, and also a small form with decidedly
dark margins, rather dark ground colour and with markings not very
distinct. — W. F. de V. Kane, Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown.
^,0TES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
The genus Zyg^na. — Do all the “Burnets” spin up on grasses,
etc. ? I believe there are two or more species found in Kent under
the name of Z. trijolii. I was in the habit of taking a very large
species at Sandwich, upwards of 30 years ago, in the old locality for
Melitcea artemis which was always called Z. trifolii. They were
excessively abundant in the small marsh just below the mill, and I
frequently gathered a large number of cocoons when searching for
M. arte77iis the first week in June, the moth generally commencing to
appear at the end of that month. The cocoons were always spun
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
109
about T2 to i8 inches from the ground. Now comes the difficulty!
I have worked a certain hill on the chalk over 20 years for Scoria
dealbata and Pachetra leucophcea, and there I take another five-spotted
Zygczna commonly, but not so common as the Sandwich insect, which
also has gone by the name of trifolii. There are, I believe, two
species u*nder one name. The Sandwich insect is much larger and
brighter than the chalk hill species, the spots deeper in colour, but the
chief point is that the former insect always spins its cocoon high up on
the grasses or rushes like Z. filipendulce^ the latter does not. I have
for many years searched for the cocoon but never found it. They
must either spin up close to or amongst the roots themselves. Perhaps,
by pulling up the grass, they might be found occasionally, but I have
never found a single one ; I have seen cocoons, which I have thought
might be the “ Burnet,” but they have always turned out <9. dealbata.
The late Mr. Sydney Smith of Walmer, and other collectors from Deal
used to take the Sandwich insect and always called it Z. trifolii. About
one specimen in ten would have the spots all joined together forming
a large blotch. It would be interesting to know who really takes
trifolii^ and whether they spin up on grasses, or is the Sandwich insect
lonicera ? I have, this year, taken some very curious varieties of the
chalk hill form, some no larger than meliloti, others* with the spots
forming one blotch, their colour sometimes pinkish-yellow. I may
add that the Sandwich insect does not appear so soon by a fortnight
as the chalk hill one. — J. Parry, St. Paul’s, Canterbury, fuly, 1891.
As we understand species, the different forms known collectively as
ZygcBtia trifolii are very puzzling. The largest and most typical speci-
mens of Z. trifolii I have ever received came from Mr. Boult, and
were taken at Spurn. The only blotching that I have in these speci-
mens is the union of the central pair of spots. These are very large,
much larger than from any other locality. The smallest specimens I
have ever taken were found in a marshy field in North Kent. In this
field I never saw a pupa, never could find a pupa, and I am satisfied
that the cocoon is not spun on the grass stems in that locality. These
are nearly all blotched, sometimes two, sometimes three, and occasion-
ally all five spots being joined. From the New Forest I have a long
series of Z. trifolii almost as small as the North Kent specimens. I did
not take these myself, so I dare say they were picked over, but none of
these are blotched except the central pair of spots. These, however,
are undoubtedly the same as the North Kent form. I have a long
series of the Sandwich form from the same locality mentioned by Mr.
Parry, and these vary exceedingly. Some are almost as large as the
Spurn specimens some as small as those from North Kent. Many are
blotched. This, however, forms quite a distinct race from either of
those before-mentioned. An exactly similar lot came to me from
Capt. Robertson, caught in South Wales, and his description of the
latter locality corresponded almost exactly with that at Sandwich. I
was on the latter ground last night and picked off some two or three
dozen cocoons spun up on the sedges as mentioned by Mr. Parry. With
regard, however, to the query as to these specimens being lo7ticerce, they
decidedly are not.
As to the different forms of Z. trifolii., there appears to be no doubt
that the different local races are largely due to environment, and the
110
THE entomologist’s KECORD.
character of the foodplant. Whether these have so far developed two
or even more distinct forms, differing essentially in habit I am not pre-
pared to say, although I have noticed and been struck by the very same
peculiarities noticed. Many hold that meliloti is not really distinct from
trifolii but only differs in scaling, etc., such differences having been
brought about by environment. Of this, as much can be written for as
against, although at present I am inclined to consider it quite distinct
as we understand species. On the same principle, I am inclined to
think that we really have two distinct local races known as irifolii^ but
proof is undoubtedly less available than in the case of meliloti. That
we have a distinct race of Z. filipendulcB I have long been convinced,
'fhis spins its cocoon on grass culms, is smaller than typical filipendulce.,
occurs quite at the beginning of June, almost always shows traces of
the suppression of the lower of the two outside spots and inhabits
marshy fields. I have often supposed that this race has been brought
about by the crossing of Z. filipendulcE. and Z. lonice.rcE as both species
occur commonly in the same locality some four weeks later than the
others have made their appearance, and this idea has received a certain
amount of probable confirmation since Mr. Fletcher has crossed
Z. lonicerce and Z. filipendulcE {Ent. Record., i., p. 352 and ii., p. ii).
As will be seen from our “Current Notes,” Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher has
this year succeeded in rearing hybrids between Z. lonicerce and Z. trifolii.
This makes the matter still more complicated, but there is no doubt that
experiments like Mr. Fletcher’s and that of Dr. Chapman {ante, p. 83)
will soon widen out our present ideas of “What is a species?” At the
same time it opens out a wide range of speculation as to the development
of peculiar local races, in genera similar to Zygcefia, where the superficial
characters of larvae and imagines are so close as to render certain
separation a matter of the utmost difficulty. — J. W. Tutt. July, 1891.
Notes of the Season (Lepidoptera). — Reading. — On May loth
was my first evening out, and I got a female Dasycampa rubiginea
gave me a nice batch of eggs. Mr. Holland and I shared them and the
larvae are getting on well. Then on the 19th, I found a female Stauropus
ftgi, with which Mr. Holland tried assembling, but it was no good ; he
has, however, kept the imago and she is now laying eggs. Yesterday
I found a male S. fagi; so, though the quantity I have got this year has
not been great, the quality has not been bad. I also found 2^ Lobophora
viretata, and afterwards Mr. Holland took three more ; it has, 1 believe,
been taken in the neighbourhood before, but never by Mr. Holland,
who is quite the oldest and most experienced entomologist in Reading. —
E. C. Bazett, Springfield, Reading. June, 1891
Above thirty specimens of I tauropus 7^^/ have been taken here this
year, and I have had a fine specimen sent me from Somersetshire. —
Id. JiRy, 1891.
Wmchester. — During May I took Nola cristulalis freely both here
and at Lyndhurst, Boarmia consonaria fairly freely at Lyndhurst, and
larvae are now feeding up on beech, Epione advenaria near here, a
fair number. I have sent away the ova. Larvae of Geometra
papilionaria at Lyndhurst and a nice lot of Chora glabraria larvae.
They have to be found with the eye on the long tails of fine lichen
dangling from the oaks and beeches, and feed up very slowly. There
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
Ill
are a few Lasiocampa quercifolia larvae about, full fed. I have taken
three, and various boys have taken eight among them. Altogether
the season seems a good one. I have taken a fair lot of Orthosia
upsilon under the willow bark, they squeeze under uncommonly close
pieces — and yet the ichneumons get at them a great deal. Drepana
hamula have been very plentiful this year, but they are cruelly wild. — •
G. M. A. Hewett, The College, Winchester.
AshtoJi-on-Ribble. — About a month ago I captured a very dark grey
specimen of Tephrosia crepuscularia {biimdidaria (?) Ed.). I have never
found one before in this district, but used to take plenty of the creamy
white ones in the same wood about 50 years ago. At Grange-over-Sands,
a week later, C. vacd7iia?ui and Nepticida woolhopieUa were very plenti-
ful, and also N. argetitipedeUa. My breeding has been indifferent.
Mainly a few N. desperatella, N. rubivora^ N sereda, N. luteeUa and
N. weavereUa. A nice series of Gracdaria ononieda has also come out,
one Elachista trapezieda and one Cidaria reticulata^ but it is early yet for
this species. — J. B. Hodgkinson, Ashton-on-Ribble. July 2nd, 1891.
Chathani District. — On June ist, with Mr. Shelton, in the neighbour-
hood of Chatham, we captured Anthocaris carda)7imes, Pieris 7iapi, F.
rapee and Lo77iaspilis 77iarginata (two), and a few days later, by beating,
Ligdia adustata (above a dozen). At Wigmore on the 8th, I found
Argynnis euphrosy7ie and other common species. Two days later at
Queensdown Warren, the locality where Mr. Sabine and myself used to
take so many vars. of Lyccena ado7iis, I got next to nothing, and at
present I have got only one Abraxas id77iata. The place is all cut and
spoiled, scarcely a hedge or bush left. At another locality, however,
the first brood of LyccB7ia adonis swarmed, and several others of this
genus. I captured in half an hour above two dozen fine specimens,
similar to those which Mr. Sabine captured, and of which so much was
written in the Ento77iologist about three or four years since under the
name of bedargus. I found also a beautiful var. of Lyccena adonis, $ .
Upper side bright blue in the centre, shading off to a deep chocolate
border and a similarly marked one of Lycce7ia alexis. On the 12th at
Chattenden, I got one Qlielonia pla7dagmis, two Scoria dealbata, three
Procris statices, one A. carda7ni7ies (the smallest I have ever seen), and
other common species, also Acidalia re77iidata, Asthena candidata and
Halias prasmana. — J. Tyrer, Chatham. July, 1891.
Pitcaple, N.B. — There has been too much cold weather this spring to
have been a good season as yet, but insects are now appearing in
greater numbers. Up to the present I have seen Va7iessa urticce, Pieris
brassicce, P. rapee, P. napi. Poly 0 771 matus phloeas, Tce7iioca77ipa stabilis, T.
i7istabilis, T. gothica and var. gothacina, Caloca77ipa exoleta, C. vetusta,
Dasypolia te77ipli, Pach7iobia rubricosa. Trachea pi7iiperda, Larentia
77iultistrigaria, Cidaria suffu77iata and var. piceata, A7iticlea badiata,
Chesias obliquaria, Selenia ilhmaria, Crocadis bide7itata and Fido7ua
at077iaria. — A. D. Connon, Woodend Brace. Ju7ie ^th, 1891.
I have been having good sport among the hills, the severe frosts have
prevented night work but the sun has shone out brightly during the day,
and in consequence many species have been abundant. In one locality,
Argyrolepia bau77ia7i7ua7ia fairly swarmed ; and among others I have
taken the following : — Pe7dhina ochroleuca7ia, P. dunidiana, Euchro77ua
purpurana (2), E. arbutana, in fair numbers, Orthotce7iia ericetana,
112
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
C7iephasia poliiana abundant, C. ??iusculana, Phoxopteryx unguicella, P.
7fiyrtiila?ta, P. Iunda7ia^ Coccyx cos77iophora7ta^ C. vacciniaTia, Retinia
resmanci^ also some of the rarer Tortrices and other things, — W. Reid,
Perthshire.
Tullamores — I have been across the bog near Tullamore to-day but
saw no C(Z7i07iy77ipha davus or Macroglossa bo7?ibylifor7nis. One or two
Anarta inyrtilli^ one Eupithecia satyrata^ some Theda riibi, some
Saturnia carpmi^ and various common insects. MelitcEa aurinia is
not out yet. — W. F. de V. Kane, Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown.
Drymonia chaonia and Cucullia chamomiles at Christchurch.
— It may be of interest to note that I captured on May 9th a large
specimen of DrymoTiia chao7iia flying at dusk in my garden from which
I obtained some ova ; also Cucullia cha77io77iill(z on the evening of the
nth at laurel blossom close to the same spot. Both are in very fine
condition, and 1 believe have never been taken in this neighbourhood
before. — J. M. Adye, Somerford Grange, Christchurch. JuTie if^th,
1891.
Agrilus sinuatus in the New Forest. — Last autumn I took
several specimens of Agrilus sinuatus {dryseis, Curt.) in the New
Forest. Two of them I have presented to the Hope Collection at the
University Museum. — E. W. Bowell, Wadham College, Oxford.
Bombyx rubi. — On the evening of June loth, I found the males of
this insect flying in numbers on a moor in Inverness. By watching
their flight I discovered a female in the heather already in cop.^ and
by taking my station close to her I netted nine males in a few minutes,
and could doubtless have captured more had I had time to stay longer.
Her attractive power was evidently not lost with her virginity. — John
E. Eastwood, Enton Lodge, Witley.
Notes on Biston hirtaria. — Ova deposited latter part of April,
hatch in about three weeks (middle of May). The species lays very
freely in confinement always in cracks, crevices, etc., if available.
The larva in this neighbourhood feeds normally on lime, but in my garden
occurs on pear, and in captivity will eat almost anything, e.g.^ hawthorn,
birch, etc. I have never noticed the imago on anything but lime,
pear, poplar (once) and hawthorn (a $ worn, so that this would afford
no clue to its food). The larva does not seem to undergo any
important changes of coloration, though when young the tints are
decidedly brighter than afterwards — purplish, ringed (at the segmental
divisions (?) — I have made no proper description of this larva, and
write from memory) with bright yellow. Moults five times — approxi-
mately when ten, nineteen, twenty-eight, thirty-nine and forty-eight days
old, but some of the same batch grow much more slowly than others.
They begin going to earth about middle of July, a fortnight after last moult,
and make no cocoon, not even (at least in captivity) a very fragile one, as
Dr. Buckell suggested, might possibly in the case. Some go down nearly
two inches, others turn on the surface of the earth. The imago seems to
emerge most freely about the middle of April ; I find them most
abundant from April 15th to 25th, but no doubt weather influences
them greatly. Of my batch this spring three emerged on March 25th,
brought about by a S.W. wind. The bulk (except some I forced at a
moderate temperature in January and February, which mostly produced
cripples) from April 14 to 28, and one tardy one on May 7. It cop a-
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
113
lates freely in confinement. Normally, this takes place, as Dr. Buckell
records [ante p. 96), the night following emergence, on the first flight of
the (^, but I believe that if both sexes emerge simultaneously on the
same tree, they pair as soon as the wings are dry; this is almost
certainly the case in captivity, and I have taken very fresh specimens
hi cop. about 4 or 5 p.m. on trees where I had not noticed them on
the morning of the same day. The variation is very great. I notice
in my series two $ ’s having the ochreous ground colour most mixed
with white scales. One has the additional peculiarity of a large
elongate black spot (often present, but generally inconspicuous because
placed on or adjoining the black costal line) midway between central
line and outer dark band. The $ ’s are generally thinly scaled, so
that even bred specimens look worn ; but occasionally one meets with
a specimen nearly as thickly clothed as the and of similar ochreous
colouring. The 2 is very sluggish, seldom if ever using her wings.
I noticed two on one tree trunk almost in the same spot for a fortnight
and at last killed and set them, and they are in perfect cabinet con-
dition.^ With regard to geographical range I can say nothing, never
having seen it out of London. I have been told that it is taken at
Shanklin, but on the authority of an informant not well up in
Geometrae. — Louis B. Prout, 12, Greenwood Road, Dalston, N.R.
J^une 1891.
From the Record., p. 96, it appears that this insect is somewhat
common, if not indigenous, to London. I have ever found it plentiful
in my suburban garden. After a heavy shower, the larvae congregate upon
the trunks, under the projecting branches, upon which they subsequently
distribute during the night to feed. I shall be happy to send living
larvae, if this summer it is as plentiful as of yore with me, to any
entomologist who may send their boxes. — H. E. Barren, 23, Bouverie
Street, E.C.
Cannibalism of Cosmia affinis Larv^. — On June 12th, I beat
some forty larvae of C. affinis., and about ten C. diffinis from elm trees
some three miies from here, and although they all travelled home to-
gether, I detected no signs of cannibalism. To-day I visited the same
locality and beat thirty-two C. affinis, one C. diffinis, and one very
large full-fed Himera pennaria. On reaching home I found the latter
half-devoured by a C. affinis larva, which was very loth to leave its
wretched victim. I also noticed an affinis feeding (in my umbrella)
on a larva of Anisopteryx cescularia. Therefore, it seems probable
that C. affinis is only a cannibal with regard to larvae of species other
than its own. — G. H. Raynor, Victoria House, Brentwood. Jime
20th, 1891.
Meteorological Influences and Sugaring.— I think my experience
is almost identical with that of Mr. Robinson {ante p. 88). In the north,
we do not dread the moon so much as frost and mist. Mist sometimes
is not so bad when collecting Noctuae, but with the little things one can
do nothing. — W. Reid, Pitcaple. May, 1891.
My experience of moonshine also agrees with Mr. Robinson’s. At
Portland there are no trees, and thistle-heads, bramble twigs, and
^ As the ? often fails to develop its wings, and makes so little use of them when
developed, may it not be that in course of time it will become apterous as in so
many early spring Geometers, including the allied Nyssia hispidaria and Phigalia
pilosaiia. I believe nature refuses to develop organs for which there is no use.
114
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Other low plants have to be utilized for sugaring, but notwithstanding
the absence of shade, a calm, warm night was generally successful even
with a bright moon. — E. W. Brown, Shorncliffe Camp. May^ 1891.
Effect of Moonlight. — Messrs. Robinson, Reid and Brown have
pretty well settled this. The moon is not much of a drawback if un-
accompanied by frost, but it very often happens to be frosty when the
moon is bright and atmosphere clear. I never have much hope on
misty or dewy evenings, and am very seldom disappointed at getting
but little, after going round the sugar. — J. Collins, Warrington. May
23M 1891.
Killing Lepidoptera. — I was interested in the notes {Record^ vol. ii.,
pp. 67, 68) on killing lepidoptera (I would never think of leaving
specimens in the cyanide jar longer than is necessary to kill them).
I think potassium cyanide answers every purpose if properly used. I
make my cyanide bottle in the following way : — I put in the bottom of
the bottle about an ounce of cyanide in pieces about the size of a
small chestnut, and cover these with dry plaster of paris ; then I pour
in plaster of the consistency of molasses, sufficient to make a top over
all of ^ inch in thickness. In killing large moths I use a saturated
solution of cyanide and introduce it with a toothpick or splinter of
wood./ This is all introductory to a little point I wish to make in
regard to a plan that I know of no one else having adopted. Coming
home tired, I have been obliged to spread (set) my treasures to keep them
from stiffening. This spreading has to be done when one is tired and
would prefer to rest My plan now is to put all my specimens in the
relaxing jar after returning home, and I then spread them at my
leisure, and I find them perfectly relaxed. I can thus leave them for
forty-eight hours, if necessary. In this way I avoid any stiffening that
may be produced by the cyanide, and spread them the next day, or the
third day after capture. Chloroform, I find, stiffens the thoracic muscles
to such an extent that I never use it. Ammonia I do not like, having
tried it and given it up. I believe that giving the sand in the relaxing
jar a good stirring round before putting in specimens helps to prevent
mould, as does also putting in a fresh piece of paper to put the
specimens on, if left over twenty-four or forty-eight hours. I think the
plan of not spreading the insects when tired and played out, and
putting them in the relaxing jar until you are ready for them, may be
new to many of your readers. — Henry Skinner, American Entomo-
logical Society, Logan Square, Philadelphia. Jime ijth, 1891.
Times of Emergence'. — I quite agree with Dr. Buckell as to the
superior value of field observations in this matter, and hope to see
records with regard to many species. On June i6th I happened to be
hunting oak trunks near here, and found a $ A)nphidasys betularia
just out of the pupa, running very fast up a tree trunk at 6 p.m. The
wings were duly expanded about an hour after. Next day at 5 p.m. I
found a freshly-emerged Smerinthus tilice^ on an elm trunk, with wings
folded over its back and still limp. — G. H. Raynor, Victoria House,
Brentwood. June 2o//q i89£.
Lepidoptera of Sidmouth, Devon. — An account of the Lepidoptera
of Sidmouth may prove of some interest to the readers of the Record.
I have been collecting here for three years, with the exception of
seven or eight weeks during the earlier part of each season, from
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
115
about the middle of April to the middle of June, and have worked
within a radius of five miles of the town. The following is a list of
my captures, or of insects which I know to have been taken here.
Fieris brassiccB, P. rapce^ P. 7iapi, Euchloe carda/nines^ all very common.
Leucophasia smapis^ lairly common, though I have not taken it myself,
not having been here for the first brood, when they are more plentiful.
Colias edusa was abundant along the coast in 1888 and 1889 — I saw
none last year. In 1889 I saw one specimen of C. kya/e, caught by a
boy in the same locality. This is the only specimen taken here I have
seen, though I believe it is plentiful at times. Gonopteryx rhamrii^ very
common, especially hybernated ones. Argynnis paphia and A. aglaia
both extremely common, the former in Harpford Wood, the latter, the
$ ’s of which are very dark, on the moors. A. adippe is not so common,
but may generally be met with in Harpford Wood. Of Melitcea artemis^
my father took a specimen last year, and I hope to obtain more this
season. Vanessa po/ychloros, I have generally found one or two specimens,
but it is by no means common. V. urticc^^ V io^ V. afalania, V. cardui^
all abundant. On August 17th, 1889, my father saw one specimen of
V, a7itiopa^ but not knowing its rarity did not capture it. I have also
heard of others being seen in the neighbourhood. Melanargia galatea
abundant, but local. Pararge egeria, P. megcBra^ Satyrus sejnele^
Epmephele jajiira^ E. iithomis^ E hyperanthus^ Coenonympha paniphiliis^
all extremely plentiful. Theda betulcE, scarce, I have only taken one,
but I have seen others taken close by. Theda quercns^ and T rubi^
very common, especially the latter, of which there were any number last
year. Polyouwiatus phloeas abundant. Lyccena cegon^ L. astrardie^ Z.
icarus, L. bellargus, L. aigiolus fairly plentiful, though the last is very
uncertain in appearance. Syridithus malvce^ Nisionades tages, Hesperia
thau7?ias^ very common. H. ad(Z07t, very abundant, but excessively
local, I know of only one spot it frequents. H. co)7i77ia^ I took two
examples of this insect in 1889. H. sylvanus, abundant. I forgot to
mention that ArgymTiis sele7ie and A. eiiphrosv7ie were both common.
'I he above list, it will be seen, comprises 43 species, which is a good
proportion of British Rhopalocera. Among the Heterocera, the
following are my chief captures ; — Adiero7itia atropos^ Sphmx co7ivolvuliy
S. ligustri^ Chcerocai7ipa elpe7ior, S77iermthus ocellatus^ S. popidi^ S. tilice^
Afacroglossa stellataru)7i, Sesia bembecifor7uis^ Cossus lig7iipgrda^ Calli-
77iorpha do77ii7iula^ Euthe7)ionia russula^ Ardia villica^ Orgyia pudibiuida^
Bo77ibyx rubi^ B. quercus (both very abundant), Lasioca77ipa quercifolia^
Satur7iia carpmi (very common), Cilix spi7tida, Dicratiura vi7iulay
Stauropus fagi and Notodo7ita dromedarius. Nocture. — Gotiophora
derasa, Cuspidia aceriSy Vwimia ru77iids, LeucaTiia co7iigeray L. wipnde/iSy
L. putresceTiSy Chortodes areuosa, Xylophasia sublustrisy Cidaria reticulatay
NeuroTiia poptdarisy Agrotis putay A. corticeay TriphcB7ia ja7ithmay
T(L7iiocai7ipa rubricosa, T. grad/is, T 77m7tda, Cos77iia pyralmay C. diffinis,
C. affi^iiSy Apleda 7iebulosa, Xylma soda, Habrosiola tripartitay H.
triplasiay Plusia chrysitisy P. ioiay P. puldirmay Mania iypicay Catocala
niiptay Eudidia /7ii and Phytometra ceriea. Geometry. — Uropteryx
sa77ibucariay Pe7-icallia syriiigariay Odo7itopera bide/itatay A77iphidasys
stratariay He77ierophila abruptariay Cleora Udie7iariay Pseudoterpna
cytisariay Geo77ieira papilio7iariay Fido7iia piniariay Lobophora polyco77i77iatay
Melanthia bicoloratay A7itidea rubidatay A. badiatay A. nigrofasdaruiy
116
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Coref/iia ferriigata^ C. i/nidentata, Scotosia certata^ Cida?ia sidemta,
C. silaceata^ C, prunata^ C, dofata, Eubolia bipunctaria and Anaitis
plagiata. This list omits the very common insects, and gives a very
fair idea of the Macro-lepidoptera to be found here. Though these
are no great rarities, yet several of them are good insects. Sidmouth
is, I think, a good centre for entomology, and all the woods being open
to the public, and there being much moorland, render it a pleasant
place for entomologists. In conclusion, I should be very glad to give
any help in my power to any one on a visit to the neighbourhood. — W.
R. S. Majendie, Hill’s Cottage, Sidmouth.
Newspaper Entomology. — “A terrible story comes from South
Algeria. M, Kunckel d’Herculais, an ardent votary of natural history,
some time since went to that country to experiment on the phenomena
of the breeding of locusts and their periodical and disastrous flights
over the fertile regions of North Africa. Yesterday he had been engaged
from an early hour in the morning exploring a region where millions
of locusts’ eggs were reported to have been laid. Towards eleven a.m.,
overpowered by the suffocating heat, he lay down in the shade of a
few shrubs. He fell asleep, and a few hours later his corpse was found
under a heap of these loathsome insects. From the examination of
the body it is inferred that myriads of locusts had settled on him as
he endeavoured to obtain his midday siesta, that he crushed many
thousands of them, and attempted to scare them away by firing the
bushes in the shadow of which he had taken rest, but that the
swarms of locusts gradually suffocated him. This is the first authen-
ticated case of such a death, and it has caused a thrill of horror in
Paris, where this martyr to Science was well known.” — Standard^
May ip/Zz, i8gi.
Another item is as follows A young man camping in the Sierras
discovered and captured a butterfly of an unknown species. He sent
it to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, and received for it a
cheque for three hundred and eight pounds, with the request to make
careful search for other moths of the same kind. It was an individual
of a fossil species supposed to be extinct, and great was the excite-
ment among the scientists at the discovery that one of the race had
been recently alive. Although diligent search has been made by men
paid for the service, no other specimen has been found.” — ]. W. Tutt.
Stauropus fact. — I took one specimen of S.fagt while collecting at
West Wickham on June 13th. but unfortunately the left upper wing was
not properly developed. — W. Bloomfield, 14, Canterbury Road. —
July 6i/i, 1891.
OCIETIES.
Entomological Society of London.— yz/Zj/ 1st, 1891. — Mr. Jacoby
exhibited a .specimen of a species of Coleoptera belonging to the family
Galerucidce, with the maxillary palpi extraordinarily developed. Canon
Fowler, on behalf of Mr. Wroughton, Conservator of Forests, Poona,
exhibited specimens of a bug imitating an ant, Polyrachis spiniger, and
of a spider imitating a species of Mutilla, and read the following notes : —
“ I have taken a good many specimens of a bug which has achieved a
SOCIETIES.
117
very fair imitation of Polyrachis spiniger (under the same stone with
which it may be found), even to the extent of evolving a pedicel and
spines in what, were it an ant, would be its metanotum. Curiously
enough, however, these spines are apparently not alike in any two speci-
mens. Is it that this bag is still waiting for one of its race to accidentally
sport spines more like those of P. spiniger, and thus to set the ball of
evolution rolling afresh ? or is it that the present rough copy of spiniger* s
spines is found sufficient to deceive? The bug has also been found in
the Neilgherries. Mr. Rothney remarks on the above species ; — ‘ I have
not found the species mimicking Mutilla ; but in Calcutta and Barrack-
pore, where P. spiniger is a tree ant, forming its net by spinning together
the twigs of a shrub, the mimicking bug also assumes arboreal habits,
and may be found on the trunks of trees with the ants.’ ” Mr. Porritt
exhibited living specimens of Eupithecia extensaria and Geometra s?narag-
daria : the position assumed by the former proved conclusively that it
had rightly been placed in the genus Eupithecia. Mr. Crowley exhibited
two specimens of a Papilio from the Khasia Hills, belonging to an un-
described species allied to P. papo?ie, sub-generic section Chilades.
Col. Swinhoe remarked that he possessed a specimen from Northern
Burmah. Mr. Moore and others took part in the discussion which
followed. Mr. Dallas Beeching exhibited a specimen of Plusia moneta,
recently taken by himself at High Woods, Tonbridge, and specimens
of Gonepteryx cleopaira, lent him for exhibition, which were alleged to
have come from the same locality. Dr. T. A. Chapman exhibited the
larva of Micropteryx calthella, and read the following notes : — “ The
larvae were obtained by placing moths in a cage with damp moss, dead
leaves, and other debris off the surface of the ground. Into this the
moths crept to the depth of half-an-inch, forcing their way into narrow
cavities, and laid their eggs in groups of six or twelve. The eggs are
clothed with fine hairs, tipped with refractive particles. The larva,
about a millimetre in length, possesses on each segment eight processes
of a globular form raised on a very slight pedicel. Besides the thoracic
legs, each of the abdominal segments (eight) possesses a pair of minute
jointed legs of the same type as the thoracic. There are also a pair of
long jointed antennae.” Col. Swinhoe read a paper “ On new species
of Heterocera from the Khasia Hills.” Mr. Crowley read a paper “ On
a new species of ProthoeP Mr. C. J. Gahan read a paper “ On the
South American species of DiabroticaP Part II., being a continuation
of Dr. Baly’s paper on the same genus published in the Society’s Trans-
actions for 1890, Part I. Mr. W. F. Kirby communicated a paper
entitled “ Notes on the Orthopterous family Mecopodidczr Prof. West-
wood communicated “Notes on Siphonophora artocarpi P YQiQxnng to
an appendage of the eyes which had been overlooked in his previous
description. — H. Goss and W. W. Fowler, Hon. Secretaries.
City of London Entomological and Natural History
Society. — Thursday, June iZth, 1891. — Mr. Huckett exhibited a box
of insects from Epping, the most noticeable being Platypteryx hamula,
P. lacertula, Nola cristulalis, Corycia temerata, Tephrosia consofiaria, a
dark variety of Cidaria russata, and Hypena rostralis. All these insects
were taken on May 23rd and June 6th. Mr. Mead, an interesting
exhibit of numerous insects, including Noctute bred this year. Mr.
Simes, living larvae of Saturnia carpini and Catocala nupta. Mr. Quail,
118
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
series of Eminelesia albulata, Eupithecia lariciata and Heliodes arbuti.
Mr. Milton, 27 species of lepidoptera bred this year, among which
might be mentioned Papilio j?iachaon, Sahirftia carpini^ Smerinthus
tilice^ Deilephila euphorbice. (foreign), Habrostola triplasia, Cucullia
verbasci, Amphidasys beiularia^ Eurynnene dolobraria^ lodis lactearia, etc.
Mr. Smith exhibited ////<« bred this year; also Platypteryx
haimila^ P. falcula, P. lacertula and Ajiaitis plagiata from Wickham,
and Platypteryx uvguicula^ Ctlix spmiila and Ephyrn trilinearia from
Chingford.
In Coleoptera, Mr. Burrows exhibited a nice specimen of Thalycra
sericea^ one of the rare club-horn beetles.
Mr. Tutt remarked on the abundance of lepidoptera at Chattenden,
he having taken as many as 180 insects there in a few hours. Mr.
Simes remarked, in connection with his exhibit, that many of 4he
Noctute larvse when first hatched somewhat resemble Geometers, on
account of their not having the full number of legs until after the first
or second skin was shed. Mr. Tutt and others corroborated this
statement. Dr. Buckell, who exhibited the genus Lobophora^ gave an
interesting account of the specimens exhibited. He said that all the
species of the genus were characterised by the development of a lobe
at the base of each hind wing. In sexalisata and halterata this
presents the appearance of an additional wing. Halterata {liexapterata)
occurs in two forms, one with transverse lines more or less over the
whole disc of the wing, the other with a pale zone occupying the whole
of the centre of the wing. Mr. Tutt, in speaking of the last mentioned
variety, remarked that the British specimens came almost exclusively
from South Yorkshire. Messrs. Milton and Quail gave an account of
rearing Cheloma caja larvae, many of w^hich had died of some disease.
From the remarks that followed, it seemed to be a question of bad
food or overcrowding. Mr. Smith mentioned having taken Platypteryx
lacertula at High Beech, and several other members stated that they had
taken the insect in Epping Forest.
Thursday^ July 2nd, 1891. — Exhibits : — Mr. Tutt, a very dark, almost
black specimen of Boarmia roboraria. Mr. Battley, living larvae of
Scotosia certata. He remarked that he had taken this species in several
localities in North London, and had also found the larvae. The latter
are usually spun up between two leaves in the top shoots of the holly-
leaved barberry {Jlfahonia aquifolia) which grows freely in the London
parks and gardens. Dr. Buckell exhibited the ova of Acronycta riimicis
under the microscope. They were deposited only two or three days
before, and consequently had not yet developed the colour and markings
shown in the plate {Eiit. Rec.^ vol. ii.. No. i), but in other respects
testified to the fidelity of the plate to nature and the skill of the
draughtsman. He also exhibited ova of Amphidasys betularia. These
were very small, in that respect resembling A. prodromaria ; they are
ovoid in shape, one end smaller than the other, ribbed longitudinally,
and of a greenish-grey colour. Like the ova of Biston hirtaria, they
are deposited in crevices, but have not much cohesion. Mr. Quail
exhibited bred specimens of Callhnorpha do7?iuiula and Chelo?iia
villica. Mr. Smith, Platypteryx lacertula, Ephyra pimctulata, Cidaria
corylata and a fine variety of Rnmia cratcegata, taken at light at Rectory
Road, the outer half of the left fore-wing being suffused with reddish
SOCIETIES.
119
brown, and the wing rays yellow. Mr. Hill, a very fine variety of
Argy7inis euphrosyne^ taken by a lad in Epping Forest some years ago.
The upper surface was much suffused with black, while the silver spots
on the underside were changed into streaks. He also exhibited a dark
specimen of Dicranura vhiula, and a bred specimen of Cabera pusaria
with the lines on the left fore-wing coalescing. Mr. Bayne exhibited
Plaiypteryx hamula and F. unguicula from Epping Forest, a specimen
of Notodofita dodonaa and some vars. of Lycana alexis {icarus) from
Aylesbury, also some asymmetrical varieties of Tceniocampa stabilis.
Coleoptera. — Mr. Heasler exhibited a series of the ‘‘ Death-watch
beetle ” Xestobuin iessellatum. He stated that although this species was
fairly common in the bark of oak trees, specimens were difficult to obtain,
owing to the hardness of the wood, but at a certain time of the year,
they were to be found crawling on the outside of the bark, probably for
the purpose of oviposition. He had endeavoured to induce them to
make the well-known “ ticking noise, but they only produced a faint
sound, and he suggested that the louder noise was caused by the
acoustic property of their burrow. He also exhibited a series of
Tdephorus traiisliicidus, which he remarked was formerly thought a rare
species, but it had been taken a few years ago at Epping, then at
Highgate, and now he had found it at Beckham.
Mr. Quail read a portion of a letter that he had received from Mr.
Culpin, who had gone out to Brisbane. The subject brought forward
was the position of Lycana bcetica. He stated that three species occurred
in his neighbourhood, viz. bcetica^ and two closely allied species, and
expressed his opinion that they should not be included in the genus
Lycana., but form a separate genus, between Lyc(Bna and Theda. Mr.
Tutt, in remarking on this letter, said that some of the continental forms
of the Lyccenidce had the two sexes resembling respectively the genera
Polyommatus {Chrysophanus) and Lyccena, thus proving the close
connection existing between them. — A. U. Battley and G. A. Lewcock,
Ho7i. Secs.
South London Entomological Society. — Thursday., Jime nth,
1891. — Mr. Adkin exhibited a series of Larentia didy7Jtata', i\Ir. Tugwell,
specimens of Spiloso77ia 7nendica bred from Huddersfield eggs, with
Irish specimens for comparison, also Notodonta car7neliia. Mr. Tutt,
specimens of Vanessa atalanta bred from Deal larvae, the right hind
wing in each, although fully developed, being exceedingly small com-
pared with the others. Messrs. Weir and C. G. Barrett made some
remarks. Mr. Bouttell exhibited bred Core)7iia 7inide7ita7'ia, including
the red form. Mr. Dennis, living larvae of Theda betulae from Epping;
Mr. Adye, Eurynmie dolobraria from New Forest larvae. Several
members remarked on the abundance of species up to the present this
year.
Thursday ,Ju7ie 2^th. — Mr.W. West exhibited a series of bred Sesia for-
77iiccefor)nis and remarked that he had larvae still feeding. Mr. Tugwell
remarked that he had bred what appeared to be Phycis abietella from
shoots of Scotch fir, which had been sent to him containing the resinous
cones of Retinia resinana ; Mr. Barker, Macroglossa fucifor77iis and a
specimen of Epinephde hyperanthus with the left underwing very small,
although perfectly formed, and the other three whngs normal ; Mr.
Briggs, a specimen of Pieris b7'assicce with the left antenna less than half
120
THE entomologist’s IIECOIID.
the size of the right, also a fine dark var. of Papilio machaofi and one
paler than usual ; Mr. Croker, a specimen of Coremia ferrugata with
one antenna, J , the other, $ , the specimen also exhibited some varia-
tion in the wing markings on opposite sides, also a dark Spilosoma
lubrlcipeda ; Mr. Turner, a killing tin made on the plan suggested by
Mr. Farren {Ent. Rec.^ vol. ii., p. 67). This attracted some attention.
Mr. H. Moore, the Orthopteron, Acrydium peregrt'7ium, which has
caused so much devastation in Algeria this year, and Acrydium tartari-
ciwi^ which did great damage in Cyprus, some 8 years ago. An account
of the excursion to Eynesford was then given by Messrs. Carrington
and Lewcock, from which it would appear that 17 species of Diurni,
8 Bombyces, 3 NocTUiE, 22 Geometry., 3 Crambid^, besides other
Lepidoptera were captured; also many good species of Coleoptera. — Ed.
^^OTICES, REVIEWS, Etc.
A List of the Macro-Lepidoptera of Leicestershire with
Dates and Localities. By F. Bouskell and C. B. Headley. Pub-
lished by Geo. Gibbons and Co., 49, King Street, Leicester. Price
6d. Another county list to hand. This time that of the Macro-
lepidoptera of Leicestershire compiled by Messrs. F. Bouskell and C.
B. Headley. Of these local lists there is generally nothing but praise
to bestow, and this is no exception to the rule. Done from pure
love of the subject those responsible have executed their work well, and
there is only one regret, that they have not added notes to the most
interesting species. These local lists always call to mind the great
show that the South London Entomological Society made four years
ago for producing a fauna list of Kent and the adjacent counties.
With every opportunity of obtaining the fullest and most complete
information, and after spending as much money in preliminaries as
many a local list has cost to produce, there has been absolutely
nothing done, the committee seem to have died from sheer inanition,
and, unless the members strongly take the matter up, it would appear
that the council will let the idea collapse completely. One would
think that with such a comparatively large income, the general body of
members would insist on the production of some scientific work instead
of allowing the money to be frittered away on an Annual Report,
which, good enough in its way, if brought out to date, is highly ridicu-
lous when two to three years behind time.
The Dover Pictorial just issued by Messrs. Goulden for the small
sum of sixpence contains no less than thirty photo-print views, with
information upon a variety of topics. Amongst others there is an
article on Entomology, with a list of lepidoptera. This, we notice, has
been revised by members of the Dover Field Club, and is something
more than a mere catalogue of names, as the latest dates of capture,
the localities, and distances from the Dover centre are given in all
the principal instances. Some of these comprise specimens unre-
corded in the entomological literature of the day, such as Sesia
andreniformis in 1889, 1890; Clostera anachoreta^ 1888; and P/iycis
obductella in 1889. The list will, we think, be very useful to those
visiting the town. — Ed.
JOURNAL OF VARIATION
No. 6. VoL. II.
August 15 th, 1891,
THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES.
By Dr. T. A. CHAPMAN.
{Co7itinned from page 77.)
CROl^YCTA {Cuspidia) ahii. — Alni seems to come
nearer to psi, tridens, and strigosa than the remaining
species we have still to examine, though it is dis-
tinguished from all the rest of the genus by the
curious neck which marks off the anal armature of the pupa ;
this seems correlated with its manner of pupating, which is
very like that of leporina. In alni the elaboration for providing
abundant entanglement in the silk, of the end of the cocoon,
is found in this curious groove, the spines remaining of the
same simple type as in tridens ; whilst in leporma it is achieved
by an abundant multiplication of the spines and their curving
into very efficient hooks.
The egg is laid at the end of June or beginning of July,
always solitarily, I conjecture on the upper side of the leaf,
though in captivity it lays them on either side. I recently had
an opportunity of observing psi deposit her eggs when in
freedom. The moth came from some little distance, laid two
eggs a quarter of an inch apart on the under side of a haw-
thorn leaf, and then flew off out of sight. I have already
recorded finding an egg of psi on the upper side of an oak leaf.
Psi as a young larva affects either side of the leaf, but as alni
lives on the upper side, the eggs are probably laid there.
When first laid the egg (PI. VIII., fig. 6) is nearly as colour-
less as that of psi, but soon assumes some coloration, and in
about three days, reaches its proper tint. For twenty-four
hours before hatching it becomes much darker, with the black
head of the larva occupying the summit.
In form the egg is of typical Acronycta shape ; the diameter
12‘2
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
is just over one millimetre, and the height is about 2-5 the
diameter. The ribs are about 53 in number. They increase
in number from the apex by division, and intercalation takes
place at all distances from the top, but rarely further than
half-way down, the ribs are distinctly waved, with correspond-
ing shallow foveolae in the furrows. The micropylar area has a
very regular rosette of fine willow-leaf-shaped cells, in the
centre of a small area not encroached on by the ribs. The
inner egg leaves a distinct colourless margin round the limit of
the outer shell, but this is less obvious at first glance than in
some other species. The inner egg is of a rich chocolate
brown, marked with creamy white, nearly circular, patches,
somewhat irregular in size and disposition, but tending to be
arranged in two circles round a central one, making the egg a
very beautiful and striking object.
My earliest experience of alni was to have five eggs which
produced five moths, but, dealing with larger numbers, I find
the larvae, when first hatched, are so far restless that a certain
number perish from leaving their food and not finding it again.
The newly-hatched larva (PI. VL, fig. 3, 3<3:, fed about two
days) has a large black head, the 3rd, 4th, nth, and 13th
segments pale, the others dark. Its length is 2 mm. The
incisions of the segments are very marked owing to the large
size and projection of the tubercles, the tubercles of 5, 6, 7, 8,
g, and of 12 and 13 are especially large, appearing almost as if
fused together, the plates being fuscous in colour and the lines
between them rufous ; on the loth segment the tubercles are
not quite so large and the spaces between them towards the
posterior margin are white, showing a tendency of this segment
to belong to the pale series. The iith segment has the
characteristic Acronycta form, projecting slightly laterally,
depressed dorsally, and with the tubercles and hairs much
smaller than on any other segments. Each tubercle carries one
hair, of rather greater length than the diameter of the larva
(when newly hatched). The second segment has a black
dorsal plate — Head, when viewed from the front, markedly
heart-shaped. Alni presents, perhaps more than any other
species, the large development of the tubercles and their
angulated margins, as if their forms resulted from their being
closely packed together. They are really large flat plates with
a central hair. So large are the plates that a suspicion arises
as to whether they are not really areas surrounding the
tubercles proper, represented by the bases of hairs, but
THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES.
12B
reasons in favour of such a supposition seem otherwise want-
ing. The disposition of the tubercles is that normal in the
other species.
After the first moult (2nd skin), the general impression is of
a black larva, but really it is rufo-fuscous, with a white dorsal
and sub-dorsal line, but the tubercles are very large and black,
their bases being nearly continuous. On the second segment
the tubercles are separably distinguishable, although apparently
fused together. On 3 and 4 the tubercles are smaller, and
these segments look pale and brindled ; on 5, 6, 7, 8, g and
12, the tubercles are so large as to make these segments look
black, they stand up very pointedly, terminating in a stiff
bristle, and there is a transverse ridge connecting the anterior
trapezoidals and another, still more pronounced, connecting the
posterior ; on the loth segment, the tubercles are smaller and
like large black islets on a white area. On the iith, they are
quite small and the segment looks nearly white. The 12th
segment is decidedly humped with pronounced tubercles. The
13th and 14th look white. There are pale dorsal, sub-dorsal
and lateral lines, and the 12th segment is white beneath. The
pointedness of the tubercles gives an angularity to each seg-
ment taken individually, essentially of the same character as
that which I have called echinate, where the tubercles have
several hairs, here they have only one.
In the 3rd skin (after 2nd moult), it has assumed the bird
dirt plumage, which is so well known as characteristic of the
immature larva, and which is as much or more pronounced in
the next (4th) skin. It is to be remarked that the whiteness
of the nth segment (pale colour being one of the charac-
teristics of this segment as ‘‘weak” in the Acronyctas) of the
newly hatched larva, is the basis from which the white area of
the terminal segment has been gradually developed, making this
larva of all the others, the one that carries this feature to a
marked degree to so late a stage as the 4th skin.
The head and following segments to the loth are black
dorsally, with indications of a white dorsal, and a pale sub-
dorsal line, chiefly as yellowish marks at the incisions of the
segments. The 4th, and to some extent the 3rd, have this
most pronounced. On the 4th segment, the anterior aspect
of the hump which the trapezoidals make on each segment is
orange yellow. The white lateral line is here also most
obvious, giving altogether a paler mottled tone to the 3rd and
4th segments. The loth segment, described as black, has
124
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
dorsally a large creamy wedge-shaped area, stretching forwards
from the nth segment so as to enclose the posterior trape-
zoidals which form a black patch. The nth segment is
creamy, with a dark marbling on the same area that is white on
the lOth segment, and a faint dark marbled streak below.
The 1 2th segment is marbled in this way throughout, except
a creamy dorsal line and the two great black double humps
formed by the trapezoidals and the smaller points of the
supra-spiracular. Segments 13 and 14 are white with a trace
of black marbling. Anal prolegs blackish ; the under surface
is creamy white on n, 12, 13 and 14, fuscous elsewhere.
The 2nd segment has a plate carrying, or corresponding to,
(apparently) 6 trapezoidal tubercles, of which 2 pairs carry
spatula-ended bristles, and are apparently anterior trapezoidals,
though on the other segments it is the posterior trapezoidals
that carry the longest bristles representing the grand ones of
the last skin. The trapezoidals mark out an elevated angular
dorsal area, almost to be called a hump, and most marked in
5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and gth segments. In the 4th skin, the
length, when extended, is 16-17 mm., but it usually sits in the
form of a note of interrogation with the head curved round
against the gth segment, the bending taking place in the 5th
and 6th and gth and loth segments. It eats the leaf irregu-
larly in small rounded patches, giving a jagged outline and a
ragged appearance to the leaf.
The head is sometimes entirely black, but usually has the
upper portion buff with darker tesselations. The segments,
from the 2nd to the gth, are black with a white porcellanous
lateral line fading upwards, a trace of white dorsal line, best
marked in 2, 3 and 4. Segments 3 and 4 are rather paler, with
a sub-trapezoidal whitish line, and other portions buff-coloured.
Traces of a sub-trapezoidal line may elsewhere be observed in
incisions; ii is creamy porcellanous, invaded laterally and
behind from 12 with fuscous, this segment is flatter and
broader than the others ; 12 is large and humped, with a
creamy white dorsal line and other markings, but the tubercles
are large, dark rufo-fuscous, and have fuscous clouds about
them, the anterior trapezoidal with short hairs, the posterior
with larger faintly clavate ; 13 and 14 are creamy, 13 with two
clavate hairs on posterior trapezoidals, 10 is dark fuscous,
invaded behind by creamy, up to trapezoidals, and below them
just to front of segment, joined by a white line between the
trapezoidals ; there is also a white dot at the base of the hair
THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES.
125
on the posterior trapezoidal. The tubercles on this segment
and forward are black, and carry single hairs, with a rufous
point at the base, those on posterior trapezoidals about the
diameter of the larva in length and faintly clavate ; on ii the
tubercles are almost evanescent and the hairs small and fine.
The second segment has on each side two long distinctly
clavate hairs and two simple ones. On 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12
the trapezoidal tubercles are very large and packed closely and
angulated, much as in the newly-hatched larva, being pyra-
midal to the base of the hair, they form an irregular flat
surface on the dorsum bounded by the hair points, on seg-
ments 3 and 4 the fused trapezoidals have each two short
hairs.
The spiracles are black, surrounded by a white line, the
supra-spiracular tubercle is a black plate with very short hair, the
sub-spiracular is in the porcellanous white lateral line and is of
same colour, except in 8, 9 and 10, where it is black, and
where the line is interrupted to the posterior margin of seg-
ment ; the legs, prolegs and ventral tubercles are black, the
ventral surface rufous, except ii, 12 and 13, which are white.
The post-spiracular tubercles are very small black plates with
very minute hairs. The form of the head is distinctive. but
difficult to describe without a figure, except as bifid above.
When the last moult (4th) takes place, the larva in its last
skin has at first much of the coloration of the 4th skin, which
gradually but rapidly fades, or rather intensifies into the well-
known golden and black of the adult larva. Thus the head is
brown, the general tint fuscous with broad, white lateral line
extending irregularly upwards, and shading off without definite
boundary, and involving a great part of loth, nth, 13th and
14th segments.
The yellow plates of 2-9 are brownish, 10-14 P^-le yellowish-
white, and a deep groove separates the anterior from the pos-
terior trapezoidals. The spiracular tubercles are white, pro-
legs yellowish, and legs Yellowish with a black line.
It is perhaps superfluous to say anything about the adult
larva, well-known as it is, owing to its remarkable hairs and
striking colour leading to its being observed with care whenever
met with ; but a few notes may be useful. In length the full-
grown larva is 33 or even 35 mm. Its colours are now changed
in a wonderful manner, but it has also lost all those features,
which it retained up to the 4th skin, of a young Acronycta
larva, its angularity, the whiteness and weakness of the nth
126
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
segment and the tendency to a hump of the 12th. It no longer
sits in ? shape except occasionally when alarmed, it is wonder-
fully uniform in width and bulk from end to end, the front
few segments being only a little smaller, and behind, it tapers
only at the 13th segment. Each segment is full and cushiony,
and (except the head) each has the yellow lozenge on back,
so as clearly to demonstrate not only the 13th but a 14th
segment.
The yellow plates include both trapezoidals, of which the
anterior has a small black bristle, the posterior the clavate
hairs ; on each segment the yellow lozenge has a special out-
line, those of 5th to loth have rounded ends and front and
back edge parallel. On the nth it is square with a minute
notch at the side, on the 12th nearly square, on the 13th curved,
with the concavity forwards, and ends square, the 14th lunated
with only two short hairs ; on the second, it is broader but of
similar shape, on the third, the front edge is produced to a
blunt angle in the dorsal line, and, on the 4th, the same, but
with the addition of a corresponding notch behind.
The yellow lozenges rise a little above the surface as if laid
on, on the 3rd and 4th they include the supra-spiracular
tubercle ; the anterior and posterior edges of each lozenge
paler, in a few specimens nearly white. Each lozenge has
sundry wrinkles disposed in relation to a deep groove that
crosses it transversely about the middle, and has several dark
spots or lines in its course.
This groove, with its ends curving forwards and a shallow
depression in the dorsal line, mark the divisions between
the tubercles. On the 3rd and 4th segments there are no
transverse grooves, the original disposition of the tubercles
being different, on each of them the six hairs of the original
tubercles exist but are very short, none being clavate, a sur-
vival of the circumstance of these being originally pale seg-
ments. Similarly, ii has no clavate hair, is lower dorsally
than the other segments, the anterior trapezoidal has a very
minute hair, and that of the posterior trapezoidal is only as
large as that of the anterior trapezoidals of the other segments.
Segment 2 has two clavate hairs, which always lie closely
together at their ends, this segment still has a double row of
tubercular hairs, and illustrates that this segment is, dorsally,
an equivalent for two segments, what the second equivalent is
ventrally is not so plain ; it appears to have a pair of prolegs
like 3 or 4, whether the appendages of the other half of this
THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES.
127
double segment are represented by the 7nentuni or by the
“ chin-gland,” I do not know.
The rest of the larva is black, dorsally with a greenish-blue,
almost metallic tint, laterally and beneath with a brownish,
bronzed tone, it is elaborately wrinkled, the grooves having a
bluish bloom. The wrinkling is pronounced about the spiracles
and the spiracular tubercles, forming a lateral raised ridge,
until the larva is quite full-fed, when this is filled out and
tolerably level, and the finer wrinkles only are to be discovered.
The spathulate hairs are on either side, two and a short one
on 2nd segment, and one each on 5 to 10, 12 and 13. They
are spathulate, not clavate, that is, the enlarged end is flattened,
the flat sides being dorsal and ventral. The circum-spiracular
and marginal tubercles are also present, each with a minute
blackish-brown hair.
All the other British Acronyctas have normally 5 moults,
unless, perchance, strigosa is to be regarded as an exception,
alni has only 4. But, whilst several of them, probably all,
do upon occasion have only 4 moults, so alni does sometimes
have 5 ; and, when it does so, the larva in the extra, penul-
timate skin, differs from any of those already described, and
shows a transition between the juvenile and adult plumage,
showing that formerly the adult plumage was attained by a
gradual development, and that the abrupt transition occurs by
the suppression of the now lost intermediate stages. One
form of extra skin is like the present 4th, with certain adult
characters superadded, of this form I have seen a good many.
Another form has only been observed in one specimen, and is
more like the adult than the juvenile form, but with some
juvenile characteristics.
Of the former of these two forms, I have noted that out of
about 250 larvae, half had spun up and only some 15 were not
in last skin ; of these 15, 4 were extra moulters, and of the
remaining ii, three were certainly not extra moulters, and
several were likely to die of atrophy, how many of the others
became extra moulters I have not recorded. It would thus
appear, and I have observed a similar circumstance in other
species, that a larva, belated by want of food or other circum-
stances, may die of atrophy, or may display extra vigour, have
an extra moult, and finally be a larger specimen than if the
usual normal course had been pursued.
Roughly, the larva in extra 5th skin resembles that in 4th
skin, but is larger, and differs in colouring. It has a dark
128
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
shade across between segments 13 and 14, and this, with other
dark tinting laterally, gives an appearance of 10, ii, 12, and
especially 13 and 14, having the yellow lozenges of the adult or
a strong indication of them, the colour being yellower than
the creamy white of 4th skin. The loth and 12th are
sometimes very dark in this connection, and the front margin
of the 2nd segment is yellow. The spathulate hairs are spread
laterally instead of being erect as in the previous skins ; these
hairs are really spathulate as in the other skin, though smaller,
much more so than is occasionally to be seen in an unusually
fine larva in 4th skin.
The length of these hairs will give some idea of the relative
development in this respect, and will also show that the extra-
inoulter produces a larger adult larva than normal.
Lengths of spathulate hairs : —
A large fine 4th skin.
Extra fine
4th.
Extra moult
5th.
Adult (5th).
I Adult (6th),
extra moulter.
On 2nd segment ..3|:mm.
3\ mm.
34 mm.
6 mm. 1
7 mm.
On 8th ,, „
2 „
3
! 3a 5>
4 ,,
On I2th ,, 2^ ,,
„
3 > j
4 „ !
4f »
It is to be noted that these larvae produced moths of both
sexes, and further, that the variation is not hereditary. The
memorandum, as to the ratio they presented to the normal
form given above, was for 1888. Ova were obtained in i88g
from these, but in 1889 not one example of this variation in
moulting presented itself, either from the ova laid by the five-
moulters or from the ordinary types. A note on this form will
be found in the Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xxiii., p. 226, and on the
result of the broods of 1889, in the E^itomolo gist's Record, vol.
i., p. 271.
The other var. of larva, of which only one specimen occurred,
appeared in 1889, and presented in its extra (5th) skin a form
much more nearly resembling the usual adult form, at least in
so far that it was on the whole dark, and had the 13 dorsal
yellow marks. The head, instead of being black, had the dorsal
half brown, as is usual in the 4th skin. The yellow patches
are very pale as to their ground colour, but look dark, owing
to the plates of the tubercles being a pale greenish or olive-
brown. Thus that of the 2nd segment is brown, almost like
the head ; segments 3 and 4 have each a double tubercle on
either side (as in the other skins, but noticeable here owing to
the colour differences) ; 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are very much alike,
THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES.
129
in addition to the olive tubercles they have a dark central line
(transverse) or shade, on the loth the anterior tubercles are
dark, but the posterior nearly of the yellow of the ground
colour; the nth, 13th and 14th are uniformly pale (these pale
portions are on the pale area of 4th skin), the 12th has the
tubercles very dark, thus resembling the 2nd.
The paleness of the pale segments is increased by the space
on the loth and nth, between the lozenges, being nearly as
pale as the lozenges themselves, and by an isthmus passing
from the nth to the 12th. There are also, on the forward
segments, traces of a yellowish dorsal line, and also of a sub-
dorsal line at the margin of the lozenges. The dark portion of
the larva has not the velvety metallic sheen of the ordinary
full-grown larva, and it is broadly marked by the pale lateral
band (on level of sub-spiracular tubercles) that the larva has
temporarily just after moulting into the last skin. This line
fades slowly upwards, it tends to invade 3 and 4 in the inci-
sions of those segments, narrows rather on 8, 9 and 10 ; on 1 1
it throws a curious branch upwards and forwards, and is con-
tinuous with the lozenge on 13 (suggestive of juvenile tridens).
The circum-spiracular tubercles are black (with short hairs),
and surrounded with narrow pale rings (like various other
species) on 7, 8, g and to. The marginal tubercle has two
hairs. The sub-spiracular tends to be olive coloured, as do the
others on the pale segments. There is a faint pre-spiracular
tubercle. The nth segment is markedly lower than the others,
whilst the 12th is distinctly humped. The hairs are rather
more clubbed than is usual in 4th skin, less than in the last ;
length of clubbed hairs on 8th segment 2f mm. This larva
died when in its last skin, owing to ill-usage.
The only variation noted in larvae in their last skin was a
band connecting the lozenges of 12 and 13, making one dumb-
bell-shaped mark. There is, however, considerable difference
in the intensity of the yellow, from pale lemon to orange.
No detailed remarks I could make would add to the evidence,
these two vars. of larva in extra (5th) skin afford, that alni was
once a 5-moulter, like the other species of the genus, and that
intermediate forms between the present 4th and 5th skin
plumages at one time existed, some features of which are pre-
served for us by these atavistic variations, and it is also
interesting that, in the latter form, at any rate, some features of
other species of the genus are presented, which are quite absent
in normal alni.
c
130
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
For pupation, the larva seeks a piece of rotten wood or soft
spongy bark ; it will readily accept a piece of elder pith, or
probably anything in which it can easily make a burrow, and it
will adopt a hole already partially made. It is not particular
as to the direction in which it burrows, but seems to prefer to
enter horizontally and then turn upwards, resulting in the pupa
resting head downwards. The depth of the burrow varies from
i|- to 2J inches, generally about if inches (45 mm.). This is
made very rapidly, often in three or four hours, usually eight to
ten, no doubt varying with the nature of the material ; the
width is 7 to 8 mm. The larva throws out all the excavated
material, then when the tube is completed, he stretches out
his head and picks up some of the chips or any other material
within reach, and, with this and some silk, makes a tolerably
firm diaphragm across the opening. Then, retiring to the
bottom of the excavation, he there makes the cocoon proper.
In shaping this out, some further chips are sometimes placed
loosely in the space between the outer diaphragm and the top
of the cocoon proper. The top of the cocoon is made firmly of
silk and chips, and lined closely and smoothly with silk, the
walls have but little silk, but, at the base, some strong silk is
loosely disposed round the sides, and it is in this that the pupa
takes such a firm and abundant entanglement with the anal
spines and groove. The space between the outer defence and
the cocoon proper varies from half an inch to an inch, accord-
ing to the depth of the burrow.
The pupa (PI. III., figs. 4, 4a, 4I?, 4c), in texture, form, and
general outline, is of the psi type, and indeed very like psi, a
little darker in colour, and the free segments tapering rather
more regularly. The length is' 17 to 22 mm., divided between
wings portion 10 mm., free segments 8 mm. ; width 5 mm ;
colour rich deep brown with indications of a black dorsal line,
and the incisions (dorsally of course) of segments 4, 5, 6 and 7
a little raised into a sharp line of nearly black colour. The
back covered by well separated minute pits. Wing cases faintly
corrugated and showing veins. Two hairs at the bases of the
antennae, very small but distinct. Also two fine brown bristles
between the eyes, difficult to find, but quite obvious when
found. Claws of 3rd pair of feet just visible. The spiracles
present a fine raised border, but are not decidedly prominent
as in psi^ leporina^ etc. The anal armature is more elaborate
and specialised than in any other species. There is this
difficulty in observing it properly, that it is constructed for
THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES.
131
seizing strongly the loose silk of the bottom of the cocoon, and
this is always done so effectually, that it is only with great care
and pains that the silk can be unravelled, without damage to
the pupal spines. The spines are arranged on the tridens
formula, i.e., with 2 dorsal and 6 (3 on each side) ventral
spines. They are curved so as to be hooks rather than spines,
the dorsal curved downwards and the ventral upwards. The
latter are, however, not so terminal as in tridens, but are spread
round a semicircle, so that the outer ones are lateral rather
than terminal. The, roughly speaking, round boss, on which
the spines are situated, is separated at its base from the rest of
the pupa by a shallow groove ventrally, but dorsally by a deep
channel or incision, so cut into it that the basal portion of the
boss has a thin round margin over it, with a smooth surface,
passing down to the dorsal spines, which is somewhat shield-
shaped. The pupal margin of the incision presents a series of
longitudinal ribs or buttresses, four on either side, with indica-
tion of a minute one in the intervals between them.
When the moth emerges, it leaves very little trace of an
opening in the outer diaphragm, but there is always a little
wool rubbed off the moth to be observed in the opening. If
the pupae are kept too dry, the moth is unable to force the
outer diaphragm, either because this becomes too hard and
dry, or because the moth has no spare fluid to soften it, the
moth then perishes in the outer chamber.
The larva appears to eat almost anything arboreal, is perhaps
even more omnivorous than psi\ but I have little doubt it is
correctly named, in so far that in the wild state it is fonder of
alder than anything. It is very widely distributed and supposed
to have its headquarters in the New Forest ; I fancy it is as
abundant here as anywhere. My friend. Dr. Wood, finds a larva
or two most years, and I have twice taken it here on birch.
On only one occasion have I searched for it, and then Dr.
Wood and myself (really looking ostensibly for Cerura bicuspis,
which we did not get) each took two larvae off alder.
Alni feeds up the most rapidly of any species I have bred.
In each skin it occupies four days in feeding, one or two days in
moulting, with a few extra days in the last skin. One month
is all the time spent as a larva when the season is reasonably
warm.
{To be contmued)
182
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
RIATION.
Capture of Agrotis obscura and its vars. in Cambridgeshire. —
Some years ago this species was not uncommon in one or two restricted
localities in England. Of late years, however, it has become exceedingly
rare and is now probably the rarest British member of the genus
Agrotis. It was therefore vvith great pleasure that I noticed on the
night of August ist, a specimen on the sugar in Wicken Fen. Since then
Mr. A. Houghton and myselfhave worked most assiduously for the species
and have during the last night or two been reinforced by Mr. G. T. Porritt,
but our combined efforts up to date are not altogether satisfactory from
a numerical point of view, most evenings producing but three or four
specimens between us. However, the specimens are still in fine con-
dition and I have no doubt Mr. Houghton will render a good account
of the species before it disappears for the season. At any rate it is
certainly interesting to know that the species is still among us, and
likely to find its way into our cabinets more frequently than it has of late.
The forms of obscura which we have taken are as follows: — (i).
Costa red, inner margin = obscura, Bork. (2). Costa red,
inner margin grey-brown, space between reniform and orbicular, dark
= var. ravida, Hb. (3). Grey-brown = var. obducta, Esp. (4). Grey-
brown, space between reniform and orbicular, dark = var. bigramma,
Esp. We have also an odd specimen or so each of the following
vars.: — (5). Reddish-brown = var. rufa. (6). Reddish, space between
reniform and orbicular, dark = var. austera, Esp. (7). Greyish-black,
unicolorous = var. suffusa.
It is worthy of remark that those specimens of this species which
were captured some years ago in East Yorkshire appear to show a more
general tendency to a red coloration, whilst those which were taken in
the well-known locality in North Kent were more variable in colour,
like the specimens now being taken in this neighbourhood. — J. W.
Tutt, Wicken. August, 1891.
^fOTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
Notes of the Season (Lepidoptera). — Tewkesbury. — The season is
a fairly good one. With regard to sugar, trees that have been done
night after night have produced for the last three weeks common things
in abundance, but our better things have been scarce. Sugaring just
for one night in distant localities has produced but little. Flowers have
attracted nothing this season, it was just the same last year. Gra?nuiesia
ttilinea and Agrotis excla77iationis have been unusually abundant ; it is
interesting to note how insects seem to have their special season. -Mia7ia
furimcula has been plentiful, also M. strigilis ; I do not remember
ever having noticed the former insect here before. — E. C. Dobree Fox.
So77ierset. — The season has been much against entomological work,
and cold east and north-east winds still prevail, with hail, snow and
sleet. Such fine days as we have had seem to show that the severe
winter will not make lepidoptera scarce. Whites have been very
abundant, and ATithocaris carda77imes was frequent on May 12th.
Cidaria suffu77iata has been out in its usual abundance. On such nights
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
133
as I was able to get at sallows they were unproductive of anything but
T(Enioca7npa gothica^ 2'. stabilis and T. cruda. — W. Macmillan, Castle
Cary. July, 1891,
Lincoln. — I have not had time to do more than a few hours’ collecting
on two or three days ; but have found most insects on the whole
plentiful, I think this promises to be a good season. During a short
expedition on June ist, I saw or took the following: — Pieris napi, P.
brassiccB, Macroglossa fuciformis, Cabera pnsaria, Lomaspilis margmata,
Coremia unidentata, Argynnis euphrosyne, Hesperia paniscus,Hhanaos
tages, Nola cristulalis, Euclidia mi and Tephrosia biundularia. Most of
these seemed recently emerged and were not at all plentiful. I only
saw two M. fuciformis. A. euphrosyne seems exceptionally scarce this
year, as does N. cristulalis ; E. 77ii, later on, was fairly common. On
June nth, besides the foregoing, mostly in increased numbers, I took
Eupithecia lariciata, Hdiodes arbuti, Ephyra pendularia, and one
Nu7)ie7’ia pulveraria. The next day I took T. biimdularia, one, where
last year I had taken some nice dark varieties. Anarta myrtilli were
too nimble for me to catch. Fido7iia ato7naria swarmed ; the females
were numerous, last year I could hardly obtain any although the males
were common. Of Tephrosia punctulata and M . fucifor7nis I saw none,
although I made the expedition for them especially. The former, I
think, could not have been out, as it is usually common here. I have
seen nothing of it earlier this year. On June 20th, I found H. paniscus
almost over, it has been more plentiful this season than for the last few
years (which does not say much), but I did not find it common. I also
took several E. 7ni, H arbuti, E. lariciata, a few Cidaria corylata, two
N. pulveraria, one Plusia pulchrina, one Melanippe hastata, one
Melanthia albicillata, a few N. cristulalis ; lodis lactea7'ia was beginning
to come out. I took two or three Em77ielesia albulata, and one Asthena
luteata. On June 19th, I Fidonia piniaria Chelonia plantaginis
pretty common at another wood, besides E. lariciata, a few F. ato77iaria
and one Anaitis plagiata. I also got a beautiful Chceroca77ipa porcellus,
one Amphidasys betularia, and one S?7ierinthus ocellatus, all freshly
emerged. There were several A. 77iyrtilli, but I only succeeded in
capturing one. — A. Mackonochie, Lincoln. June 26th, 1891.
Winchester. — Common insects have been plentiful, Nola cristulalis on
the tree trunks, always head downwards — conspicuous — like a little
white triangle. Cuspidia psi in immense numbers everywhere. A fair
lot of Xylophasia hepatica at sugar. In a little lane in the suburbs I
have sugared every evening since the middle of June and taken Hade7ia
dentina, C. psi, X. hepatica, Noctua augur, X, polyodon, X. sublustris, X.
lithoxylea, Gonoptera libatrix (hybernated), C. megacephala, C. aceris,
Miana sirigilis, M. fasciuncula, M. literosa, Rusina tenebrosa, Triphoena
profiuba, 2 Gonophora derasa, Leucania pallens, L. impura, Noenia typica,
Caradri7ia blaTtda, i Heliothis marginatus, i S77ierinthus tilicB ! and
I Choeroca7npa porcellus ! The latter rushed like a hawk at my brush, as
I took it out of the pot to sugar a tree, and began feeding. I managed
to change hands and slowly put the brush against the tree, and I luckily
bottled him as he continued to hover. I had no net. Is it not very
unusual to see this class of moths at sugar ? 6". tilioe was sitting on a
tree. Is it any good trying assembling with a female Lasioca7npa
quercifolia ? I am inclined to. — G. M. A. Hewett, Winchester College.
134
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
[I remember occasional instances of C. porcdlus at sugar. One almost
identical with that mentioned above happened to Mr. Ovenden many
years ago when I was with him. — Ed.]
St. Annt's-on-Sea. — We have done pretty well this season on the
sallows, Tceniocajjipa gracilis^ T. opima and T. gothica with T. rubricosa
putting in an appearance, T. gracilis being by far the commonest.
Orgyia fascelma are not nearly so abundant this year as last, but still
we have managed to secure a few larvae. We have also got a fairish
amount of Leucania littoralis larvae off the sandhills and they are just
beginning to turn. — H. Baxter, St. Anne’s-on-Sea.
York. — Sallows yielded plenty of specimens, mostly of the common
tribe, when nights were favourable ; but I was prevented owing to the
wet and cold windy nights which prevailed during the blooming season,
trying them sufficiently often to take Tceniocampa leucographa. This
species was however taken at Bishop’s Wood, near Selby, and, judging
by my previous experience when I took a large number one season, the
species is not uncommon there. Aniiclea badiata I found, on one of the
sallowing nights, flying round the rose bushes in the greatest profusion. —
S. Walker, 75, Union Terrace, York.
Ca?7ibri'ige^ etc. — I found the early part of this season decidedly bad,
and things very late, they are coming out much better now, and seem
tolerably plentiful. A day at Tuddenham (“The Breck Sands”) in
April produced larvae of a Gelechia in Cerastium arvense^ probably G.
fraternella^ and other larvae in flowers of broom, from which I have to-day
bred one Tortrix xylosteana (I expected G. 7}iulinella)^ cases of Coleophora
lixella and C. onos77iella (the latter of which have been coming out the
last week), and one imago, Gelechia velocella. C. alcyoTtipcTiella is now
coming out from cases occurring plentifully near the town, and C.
troglodytella from the Fens. I was at Wicken one day in the middle of
June and collected some larvae of Gelechia 77iorosa from yellow “loose-
strife,” and PeroTtea shepherdana in “ meadow sweet,” and took a series
of Eupoecilia vectisa7ia (? Ed.) and odd specimens of Phoxopteryx paluda7ia^
Chauliodus illigerella^ Stig77i07iota orobaTta^ etc. I saw Mr. Houghton
(the local collector) who told me MeliaTta fla77i77iea had been pretty
plentiful, Nascia cilialis and Vwimia veTiosa just coming out. The larvae
of Plusia orichalcea were very late, I took a few and the last one spun
up July I St, a full fortnight later than in other years, and three weeks
later than last year, which, by the way, was the earliest year I have
known them. Two nights in the Fens, July 4th and 5th, proved
good for “light” and produced Macrogasier castaTiece ( arimdhiis )
slightly worn, but more plentiful than I have ever seen them, about
fifty or sixty in the two nights. Leucania pudorina came freely to “ sugar,”
three L. straminea at honeydew on alder leaves, Xylophasia rurea and
var. alopecurus at “sugar,” one Triphoena subsegua in a heap of rubbish,
and other odd things such as Hepialus hectus^ Core77iia quadtifasciaria^
Her77iinia cribralis^ Rivula sericealis, etc. One thing I have found in
the Fen fresh this year which has pleased me much, viz : — Stratlwiopoda
pedella which occurs plentifully on three alder trees only, although I
tried all over the Fen where alder grows. — W. Farren, Cambridge.
Swansea. — So far as this season goes, insects seem to be scarce, I
have taken some Boarmia co7iso7iaria, but mostly c? c?> the $ 2 being
about one in ten. Oddly enough, the majority of these were taken on birch
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
135
trunks, some hundreds of yards away from a beech wood. Do the
larvae feed on birch also ? Insects seem much later this year than last.
Ma7nestra albicolon is not yet out on the sandhills, and sugar, on June 4th,
only produced one Agrotis ripce. I have taken a good many Melit(za
artemis in a field where they certainly did not occur last year, the question
is, where did they spring from? Leucania turca also occasionally turns
up, but it seems hard to get in good condition. Mr. Holland, who has
been staying with me, has taken Argyi'olepia bau77ianniana^ but
unfortunately his first day’s catch was all spoilt through carelessness. —
R. B. Robertson, Skelty Park, Swansea.
Sligo. — The season here promises to beat the record. All insects are
exceedingly abundant, and “sugar” seems to have quite regained its
old attractiveness, absolutely swarming with the commoner Noctu^.
The time of appearance also is earlier than usual, for instance Plusia v.
a7ireu77i appeared on June 19th, Apa77iea oculea and Noctua xaTithographa
on June 29th, all these being fully three weeks earlier than usual.
Charocampa porcelkis is again abundant, and I am endeavouring to
procure eggs. — P. H. Russ, Sligo.
Brockenhurst. — Having just had a week’s collecting at Brockenhurst
with my cousin, Mr. William Ogden, I thought a few notes might be of
interest to some of the readers of the Record. Arriving on May 30th
we were fortunate enough to have fine weather the whole time, until
the last day, June 6th, which was dull and rainy. ArgyTiTiis euphrosy7%e
was one of the commonest butterflies and was in fine condition. Gotic-
pteryx rha77ini was also abundant and occasionally, Euchlo'e carda77ii7ies
and Theda rubi were taken. Hesperia tages and H. TTialvoe were com-
mon everywhere, and at Stubby Copse Ne77ieobius lucma was by no
means scarce, as we managed to take some twenty specimens between
us. Beating resulted \nEphyra pU7icta7'ia.^ E. trilinearia., E.peTtdularia.^
Corycia ta77ii7iata, \Eupisteria heparata., Cidaria silaceala, Halias prasi-
7iana^ Lithosia aureola., Arctia 77iendica (four females only), Platypteryx
falcula., P. lacertida., P. hamida and P. UTiguicula. On the heath,
BoTTtbyx rubi (males) and Phytoi7ietra cetiea were plentiful, and an occa-
sional Anarta 77iyrtilli., 2 Boar77iia cmciaria., and a single NcTtioria
viridata. Fido/iia pmiaria., Thera obeliscata and Macaria liturata were
taken among the pines, but only one specimen of the latter. On
June 5th we visited Rhinefield, hoping to take Maeroglossa fucifor7)ds
at the rhododendrons, but found they were not in blossom. However,
we succeeded in taking seven specimens at the flowers of the American
honeysuckle, all in fine condition. Other captures during the visit
were Nimieria pulveraria., Ypdpetes ruberata., Euchdia jacobcece, EpioTie
advc7iaria and Lobophora hexapterata., and among larvae might be men-
tioned Triphcena Ji77ibria., Catocala pro77iissa^ Liparis 77i07iacha., and
ArgyTiTiis paphia. — Russell E. James, Chesterville, Hornsey Lane,
Highgate, N.
Hepialus velleda in Bucks. — Whilst mothing at dusk, on June
1 8th last, round the outskirts of a fir plantation, near Tring, but just
beyond the boundary of the two counties (Herts and Bucks), I found
a large number of the common Hepialus lupulinus., hovering over one
particular spot in the thick herbage, as though in quest of a female, and
among them I could just distinguish in the dusk a moth somewhat
larger than the rest ! on making a sweep with the net, among the
136
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
herbage, I found I had secured a fine S and 2 H. velleda^ among a lot
of the commoner species. I should be interested to know how far the
range of this species has been found to extend in the south of late
years. If I remember rightly it has been taken in Kent. — E. Geo.
Elliman, Westcroft, Tring, Ilerts. July loth, 1891. \^H. velleda is, I
believe, found in almost every county in Britain. It is a popular but
erroneous idea that it is a northern species. I used to take it in
abundance near Strood (Kent) some sixteen years ago. — Ed.]
The Rhopalocera of Herefordshire. — The following list contains
most of the species that occur here, and the chief alterations which
have had to be made in an older list simply refer to the relative abun-
dance of the different species. Pieridae. Aporia cratcBgi. No specimens
recorded since 1872, when Miss Hutchinson took two at Kimbolton.
Formerly in abundance at Ross {teste Mr. H. Southall). Pieris brassicce.
Common. Scarce in 1882, about two thirds of the larvae infested with
Microgaster. P. rapcB. Very common. Those larvae fed on red
pickling cabbage seem invariably to produce dark ochreous imagines,
as did some I fed on Smapis arvensis though in a less degree. P. napi.
Common in woods and fields. Some of the summer brood in 1888
were especially dark. I am not sure that those fed on Nasturtiu7?i
officinale do always produce the var. mentioned by Newman. That var.
does occur here not unfrequently, however. Euchloe cardammes.
Common, especially in fields and lanes, the larvae on Sisy??ibriu7n
alliaria in July. The ova are bright orange colour. Leucophasia sinapis.
Abundant, but only in a few localities, though these are extensive. I
have one $ with markings almost like the $ . The var. erysimi has
occurred. The aestival brood is not plentiful. Colias hyale. None
recorded since the one mentioned by Newman. One is reported to
have been captured in the south of the county in 1889 (it subsequently
escaped). C. edusa. Plentiful in 1877; two in 1882 at Dinedor : one
at the Great Doward^ August 1889, one at Bridge Sobers, and several
in the Golden Valley in September. Mrs. Hutchinson has obtained the
var. ( $ ) helice. Gonepteryx rha77ini. Locally not uncommon in woods
in the south, sparingly elsewhere. It occurs here most years, although
there is no Rhani7ius within convenient distance. It must feed on
something else also, but on what ?
Nymphalidae. Argyn7iis selene. Not uncommon in woods. Very
plentiful in 1890. A. euphrosyne. Very common in woods not close
to the town. I have a series of u.s. ; in some the hind wings are very
brightly marked, quite purplish, in others chiefly yellow. A. aglaia.
Occasionally in woods in the south. A. adippe. In woods and fields,
especially on hillsides, found with A, aglaia^ but much commoner. A.
paphia. Dr. Chapman has taken the var. valesma just on the border
of the county (south), so we are anxious to claim that as a Herefordian
also. The type common in w’oods, the $ being very variable.
Melitcea aurinia. Locally plentiful some years ago, since sparingly ; I
have not seen it alive since 1888. Va7iessa c-albu7n. Common, some
years especially so, e.g. 1887. The var. hutchinsoni (spring brood) may
be obtained. V. polychloros. Usually scarce. The larvae were in great
profusion a few years ago. V. urticce. Very common and very variable.
Mr. A. C. Edwards bred the extreme variety figured in Newman’s
British Butterflies^ in August, 1887 (it might appropriately be named
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
137
var. mista). V. to. Also common, varies little except in size. V. antiopa.
One from near Ross (1882) in my collection; another in the Golden
Valley, 1889. V. aialanta. Fairly common, locally abundant. V. cardui.
Some years plentiful {e.g. 1885). A larvae fed on Uriica dioica produced
an imago with the ground colour pink instead of pinkish-brown. Is this
usually the case? Apaturidae. Apatura iris. Not very rare on the
whole. Specimens have been captured in several localities, seen in
others. Satyridae. Melanargia galatea. Scarce and seldom. One at
Dinedor many years ago. Dr. Wood says it occurred rather plentifully
at Eastnor some time ago. Pararge egeria (v. egerides). Common in
woods and lanes near (how many broods are there ?), but less so than
formerly. I once took the type at Dinedor Camp, but fear this specimen
is lost and have not yet taken a second. P. megce.ra. Common. Vernal
brood, contrary to usual rule, scarcer than later one ; much duller and
smaller and less difference between the markings of $ and ? . Satyrus
semele. Formerly close to Hereford, now extinct there ; still common
in places, but very local and restricted in its range. Epinephele ianira.
Very common and variable. The ? more abundant than the g in this
genus. I have taken $ ianira with fore wings very much resembling a
very large $ tithofius. E. tithonus. Common on bushes. Vars. with
extra (small) ocelli, not uncommon. E. hyperanthus. Common,
especially so in 1890, in woods and lanes. I have not yet obtained the
var. arete^ but it would be an easy task to make out a long list of varieties
using the numerical method as in demonstrating vars. of Helix hortensis
and netnoralis. Coenonytnpha pamphilus. Common nearly all the
summer. Mountain specimens much more reddish than those from
lower situations. A form, having the ocelli only just visible, is common
on the Great Doward in August. It also varies much in size. Lycaenidae.
Theda w-album. Occurs in most woods, sometimes common, but is
difficult to obtain in good condition. Larvae not uncommon. T. quercus.
Common in oak woods about the middle and end of July. Larvae often
abundant in June. T. lubi. In fair numbers in most of our woods.
Polyonwiatus phlceas. Common. I have not seen the var. sdimidlii from
this county. Lyccena cegon. None recorded since Newman’s in the
British Butterflies. L. astrardie {agestis). Rare and very local. Most
of the specimens from Backbury, where I once saw it plentiful. L. icatus.
Common everywhere. Var. icarinus not uncommon, early brood larger
and brighter than others. L. corydon. See Entom. xx.. p. 265. The
only instance I know of its having been taken in this county. L. argiolus.
Fairly common in spring, summer brood not so plentiful. Unusually
abundant in 1890. L. setniargus {ads'). I know of no record since
Newman’s {British Butterflies). His locality has been searched for
many years in vain, but in the early part of the century it was not
uncommon here. L. alsus. Sparingly in one locality only where it was
discovered by Dr. Chapman in 1889. It used to occur not far from
Malvern, but was extirpated by young “ entomologists,” more ardent
than scientific. L. arion. Apparently no record except the one in
Newman. Erycinidae. Nemeobius ludna. Very common in Haugh
Wood, but does not remain out long. Hesperidae. Syrichthus malv(z.
Generally common on railway banks and cuttings, on hillsides and in
woods. Nisionades tages. More common than the last in similar
localities. Larger than some Scotch specimens I have seen. Hesperia
138
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
thaumus {linea). Fairly common. H. sylvanus. Locally common in
woods and on bushy hillsides. It seems much to be desired, that
someone would undertake to collate the various forms and varieties from
various parts of the kingdom. A cabinet intended to contain British
insects has been placed in the Museum here. Only the Rhopalocera
have yet been arranged, but I should be very glad to show these to any
entomologist who will let me know beforehand by letter. — E. VV. Bowell,
Hereford.
Hybernation of the larv^ of Noctua sobrina. — With regard
to the question as to whether N. sobrma passes the winter in the egg or
the larval state, the following entry in my 1874 note book may be of
interest, viz\ — Ova laid August 13th and 14th, hatched September ist,
and the larvae from these hybernated very small, although I failed to rear
them, probably because I could not obtain their proper food. In the
following year (1875) ^ larvae sent me from Scotland, June
8th, from these the moths were bred, July 14th, and subsequently. On
August 30th I had a batch of ova hatch, and the larvae again hybernated
as before. These two notes, I think, conclusively show that the larvae
of JV. sobrina like so many other species of that genus hatch in the
autumn and feed up in the spring. It is a nocturnal feeder. — C. P'enn,
Eversden House, Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, Kent.
The Foodplant of Catoptria citrana. — I believe the larvae of
Catoptria citrana feeds on the flower heads of Achillea 7nillefolium
(yarrow) in June. It is double brooded, the'imago appearing the last week
in May, and again in August at Deal, and the moth occurs among the
same plant in July and August. These, also, are the Folkestone dates
which would probably be a little modified by the difference of locality
although it is a well-known fact that many species appear earlier in the
north than in the south. — C. Fenn, Lee, Kent.
I have always taken Catoptria citra?ia among “yarrow” and “rest-
harrow” {Ononis) and was always under the impression that the latter
was its foodplant, but, as I have never bred it, I cannot say for certain.
I take them flying in June and beginning of July, at Tuddenham, which
appears to be a month earlier than the Folkestone date. — W. Farren,
Cambridge. [The species occurs at Deal at the end of May and
beginning of August, but it was most abundant at Tuddenham on July
1 8th this year. Mr. Austin of Folkestone, has bred the species from
yarrow. — Ed.]
Hybernating Iodis vernaria. — I have bred Jodis vernaria right
through the winter. They seem easy. I forgot I had them until the
clematis had been well out for a fortnight when I found them sitting
quite peacefully on the dead stems in the pot. They are exactly like
the dead stems and drop at a touch — quite rigid. In the spring they
change from brown to green, and still drop rigid — beautifully protective.
Mr. Owen Wilson’s picture is a good one of the full grown larvae,
though he failed to get his through the winter. — G. M. A. Hewett,
Winchester College.
Hadena rectilinea. — Owing to the late spring I have done very
little in collecting this season yet, although I have bred a good many
species. I took a female Hade?ia rectilinea last July on a tree trunk,
she was nearly laid out ; however, I got over a score of ova which duly
hatched and fed up to the end of October, they then went down.
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
139
hybernated during the winter, then entered the pupa in the early spring
without coming up to feed again. Now all the entomological books I
have read say this species feeds from autumn to May or April. Will
any reader tell me il they have a similar experience?—}. Wylie, 6,
Union St. Lane, Perth, N.B.
Times of Emergence. — My breeding pots have brought forth a
good many things this year, some species later, some earlier than other
years. Below is a list of species bred, and the time of day each species
errerges. I think it would be interesting if some other entomologists
notified the time. I think Mr. Fenn’s assertion in the Record^ vol. ii.,
p. 70, that species have no special time of day at which they emerge is
a bit too sweeping. I believe the discussion was first started by Miss
Kimber {Record^ vol. i., p. 342), and I think the question a very inter-
esting one ; for my part, I believe, at any rate, most species have their
own time of day to emerge.
SPKCIES BRED.
LOCALITY OR WHERE RECEIVED
EMERGING TIME OF DAY.
Notodo7ita carmelita
A series of pupae from Rev.
B. Smith.
Between 8 and 9 a.m.
Hadena genistce
Young larvae from Dr.
Crallan.
„ 8 and 9.30 a.m.
Arsilonche albove?iosa
— Viminia venosa.
Larvae from the Fens.
„ 9.30 and noon.
A nticka rubidata . . .
Long series from eggs,
Tuddenham.
,. 8 and 10 p.m.
A. smuata ...
Larvae near Cambridge.
„ 7 and 9 a.m.
Collix sparsatct
Larvae from Fens.
,, 8 and 10 p.m.
Selene lunaria
Four from larvae, Mr.
Bower, Lee.
„ 7 and 8 a.m.
— W. Farren, Cambridge.
Bryophila perla appears to emerge from 6 to 8 p.m. One has just
emerged at the latter hour, July 22nd, 1891. — Victor Gerrard,
47, Foulden Road, Stoke Newington.
Hybernating Apatura iris. — My specimens of A, iris emerged
last week — both females. The larvae fed up quickly. They fed at
night, and rested in the daytime on the mid-rib of the upper side of the
leaf, the head towards the base of the leaf. One ought to be able to
find them by the leaf hanging down with the weight of the larva, other-
wise they are almost invisible. When about to pupate, they reversed
their position and attached themselves to the upper side of the leaf,
head towards the point of the leaf. The back of the pupa is very
narrow and indented in exact imitation of the slightly indented sallow
leaf. The pupa again was almost invisible. I am glad to have bred
them right through the winter. — G. M. A. Hewett, Winchester
College.
ZyG/ENA trifolii. — The Z. trifolii mentioned last month {^Record,
p. 109) as sent me by Mr. Boult, were taken on the coast between
Bridlington and Flamborough, and not at Spurn, as there (by error)
stated. — J. W. Tutt.
The genus Zyg^ena. — I have been much interested with the notes
under this head, and especially with Mr. J. Parry’s query “ Do all the
140
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Burnets spin up on grasses?” In the December number of The
Entomologist for 1889, page 297, I have a note on finding empty
cocoons of a gregarious member of the Zygcenidcz^ as well as solitary but
empty cocoons of Bombyx quercus on rocks at Tan-y-Bwlch, North
Wales. I had every reason, from their appearance, colour, etc., to
suppose that the former were cocoons of Z. filipendulce^ but my surprise
was considerable at finding them fixed to the perpendicular rock sur-
faces about a foot or so from the ground, when plenty of rushes and
grass stems were close at hand. It was a common occurrence to come
across about a dozen close together — in some cases touching each
other — but not a single cocoon could I find anywhere else. I have
never taken anything in North Wales belonging to the genus except Z.
filipendulcB^ which is there an abundant, but local insect. As a rule — I
cannot remember an exception to it — the larva spins up on a stone, a
wall, or a rock, but I have never met with collections of cocoons except
at Tan-y-Bwlch. In Newman, page 23, the cocoon of Z. minos is said
to be spun upon stones ; and I hear this is the habit of the insect at
Abersoch. — J. Arkle, Chester. July 22ud^ 1891.
Lepidoptera of Dulwich. — After reading Mr. H. J. Turner’s note
in the Record^ vol. i., p. 349, on the “ Lepidoptera of Brockley,” I
think your readers would be interested in the following list of species
taken by myself in Dulwich during the last few years. Rhopalocera. —
Pieris hrassicce, P. rapce^ Vanessa polychloros^ V. urticce, V. atalanta,
V. cardui, Epinephele janira, Polyommatus phloeas, Lycana Icarus, and
Hesperia sylvaftus. Sphinges. — Sphinx ligustri, Smerinthus ocellatus,
S. popiili, S. iiliLe and Sesia tipuliformis. Bombyces. — Hylophila
prasinana, Nola cucullatella, Arctia caja (larva), Spilosoma lubriciped i,
S. menthastri, Hepialus humuli, H. licpulinus, Cossus ligniperda (larva),
Zeuzera pyriiia, Porthesia chrysorrhcea, Dasychira pudibimda, Orgyia
a7itiqua, Cilix glaucata, Dicra?iura vinula, Lophopteryx camelina and
Phcelera bucephala. Noctuae. — Bryophila perla, Acronycta (Cuspidia)
psi, A. 77iegacephala, Leucania conigera, L. wipura, Gortyna ochracea,
Axylia putris, Xylophasia rurea, X. lithoxylea, X. 77ionoglypha, Dipte7ygia
scabriuscula, Cerigo matura, Luperina testacea, Mamestra brassicce, Jlf.
persicarice, Apa77iea basilinea, A, gemma, A. ophiogra.77i77ia, A. didy7na,
Miana sirigilis (mostly var. cethiops), M. bicoloria, Caradrma ?norpheus,
C. quadripunctata, Agrotis segetu7n, A. excla77iationis, Nociua c-nigru7/i,
N. xanihographa, Ttyphcena janthma, T. pronuba, T C077ies, Ncznia
typica, Mania 77iaura, Tce7iioca77ipa gothica, T. incerta, T. stabilis, T. pul-
verule7ita, Orthosia lota, Anchocelis pistacina, Cerastis vaccinii, C.
spadicea, Xanthia citrago, Caly77i7iia trapezina, C. diffinis, C. affinis,
P)ia7ithcecia capsincola, Hecaiera sere7ia, Miselia oxyacanthce, Euplexia
lucipara, Phlogophora 77ieticulosa, Hadena trifolii, H. oleracea, Cucullia
U77ibratica, Plusia ga77i77ia, Catocala nupta, Hypena rostralis and H.
proboscidalis. Geometrae. — Uropteryx sa77ibucaria, Ru7nia luteolata,
Crocallis elmguaria, Eugonia alniaria, E. fusca7itaria, Phigalia peda7'ia,
Piston hiriaria, A77iphidasys betularia, He77ierophila abruptaria,
Boar7tiia ge77U7iaria and var. perfu7naria, Tephrosia crePuscularia,
He77iithea strigata, Acidalia bisetata, A. trige77ii7iata, A. virgularia,
A. remutaria, A. aver sat a and var.. Caber a pusaria, Halia vauaria.
Abraxas grossulariaia, Hybernia leucophcearia, H. marginaria, H. de-
foliaria, Anisopteryx cescularia, Chchiatobia bru/nata, Oporabia dilutata,
SOCIETIES.
141
Larentia viridaria^ Eupithccia oblongata, E. castigata, E. vulgata,
E. sobrinata, E. rectangulata and var. nigrosericiata, Melanippe
fiuctuata, CaJHptogra7nma bilincata, Triphosa dubitata, T ceriaia,
Cidaria russata var. centum-notata, C. assodata, Eubolia cervinata,
E. limitata and Chesias spartiata. Pyralides. — Pyralis farinalis,
Eurrhypara urticata, Scopula ollvalis, S. prunalis, Botys ruralis, and
Fionea forficalis. Pterophori. — Mimcescoptilus pterodactylus, Leiopiilus
pentadactyla and Alucita hexaddctyla. Crambi. — Crambus prcoidlus,
C. hortuellus. Tortrices. — Tortrix podana, T. xy/osieana, T. rosana,
T. heparana, T. ribeana, T corylana, T unifasciana, T. viridana,
1\ fosterana, Teras cofitaminana, Dictyopteryx laflingiana, D. forska-
leana, Pc7ithina corticana, Hedya ocella7ia, Spilonota irunaculana,
Asvis ud77iannia7ia, Sericoris urticana, S. lacunana, Cnephasia tnuscu-
lana, Grapholitha ncBvana, Pcodisca corticana, P. solandriana, Ephip-
piphora cirsia7ia, Carpocapsa splendidana, C. po77ionella. Tineina. —
Diu^nea fagella, Scardia cloacella, Hypono7neuta paddlus. Harpipteryx
xylostdla, Phibalocera quercana, Gekchia 7nulindla, Tdeia luadella,
^copho7'a pseudospretella, E7idrosis fenestrella, Argyresthia niiidella,
A. pyg77icedla, A. gadartella and Laverna atra. I have not worked
any of the species as systematically as [ could wish, but have no doubt
many more might be added to this list. — Jno. A. Helps, Wood Vale,
Forest Hill, S.E. April 30M, 1891. [In future communications on
‘‘ The fauna of the London (South-east) District,” it would be an
advantage to give only additions to those lists already mentioned. — Ed.]
Societies.
South London Entomological Society. — Thursday, July ^th,
1891. — A series of Lyccena teams from Snodland containing several
varieties, also living larvae of Euclidia glyphica were exhibited by Mr. R.
Adkin. Mr. Oldham exhibited a pallid form of Argynnis euphrosyne, a
yellow var. of Pieris rapee, and dark P. napi from Cambs. Mr. C. A.
Briggs an extreme melanic form of Sphinx ligustri (the fore wings
with the inner margin black, the black coloration passing upwards from
the anal angle to the costa just outside the subUerminal line, the hind
wings with three black bands). Mr. Tugwell stated that he had taken
Sesia sphegiformis for 15 years at Tilgate Forest. In 1883, 19 were
bred and 2 1 taken. This year Mr. L. Gibb and himself had taken 30
larvae in an hour or two, from these 2 $ ’s were bred and taken to
Tilgate, 26 being captured during one morning by “assembling.”
He exhibited alder sticks with the pupa case in situ and also imagines.
—Ed.
Thursday, July 2;^rd, 1891. — Mr. Barker exhibited a very varied
series of Triphcetia fiTubria. Mr. Turner, Bupalus piniaria, bred from
larvae taken at Westerham, showing pale and dark forms of the female.
Mr. Barrett remarked that the white northern form of this species
should be considered the type as it occurred over a much larger area
than the darker southern form. Mr. Turner also exhibited a varied
series of Hybernia leucophcearia, with females of H. 77/arginaria and
A nisopteryx (zscularia. Mr. Hawes, living pupae of Pararge 7uegcera, in
situ ; light green, pice green, and the hitherto unnoted black forms all
142
THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD.
being seen ; and remarked that, so far as he had observed, the varied
coloration had nothing to do with sex. Mr. Dennis dark var. of Spilo-
soma lubricipeda. Mr. Tugwell, a long series ^of ZygcEna exulans from
Braemar, with specimens from Switzerland for comparison, and remarked
that all the British examples he had had were of the var. subochracea.
Mr. Barrett said that this fact seemed good evidence that the species
was not introduced but native. Mr. Nussey, Cucullia absynthii bred,
and remarks were made as to the remarkable protective coloration of
the larvae. Mr. Billups, some half a dozen species of Diptera new or
previously reputed as British. Mr. Waller, bred series of Aplecta tincta^
one specimen being very pale and hardly recognisable, Triph)
Natural Size.-
-2.
f2a. „
Enlarged , k
8 diameters. ”
5)
5)
l2d.
))
Natural Size.-
-3* )»
>)
Enlarged 1
9 diameters. ^
fSa.
3b. „
l3c.
-4.
>9
Natural ”^ize.-
)>
)9
Enlarged
9 diameters. '
..
Uc- »
)>
Natural Size.-
-5-
n
Enlarged
; 5b.
J3
6 diameters.
1 5C.
>5
,, dorsal view of anal armature.
„ ventral „ „
tridens.
„ dorsal „
„ ventral „
„ terminal „
strigosa.
,, dorsal ,, ,,
„ ventral „
„ lateral „
alni.
„ dorsal ,, ,,
„ ventral „
„ lateral „ „
megacephala.
,, ventral „ ,,
„ lateral ,,
{To be continued.)
176
THE EN'I’OMOLOGISTS RECORD.
IgOTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
Notes of the Season. — Wickefi Fen. — Probably, next to Darenth
Wood, Wicken is one of the oldest of the historical entomological
localities of the country still left to us. The mention of the name
suggests at once to the entomologist thoughts of the lovely green and
black ringed larva of Papilio machaon^ and its beautiful imago flying
rapidly from place to place over the level country ; or an abundance of
yellow-haired larvae covering the endless beds of reeds, and occurring
in such profusion that the local collectors considered themselves well
paid by receiving is. 6d. per gross from those who retailed them to
amateurs at a slightly greater cost, and of the resulting imago dashing
wildly at the light, to be captured as the species which occurred
nowhere else in the country, and which, even here, probably occurs
now no more. Lcelid ccEiiosa has not been seen for many years, the
last s])ecimens having been captured by Messrs. G. T. Porritt and A.
Houghton. Wicken also suggests swarms of the beautiful larvae of
Vimmia venosa, twin brother to the plebeian and common V. rwnicis \
crowds of the beautiful Nascia cilialis hurrying up to the light and
sitting contentedly until transferred to the pill-box of the collector;
hurrying crowds of the peeping rough-headed Nonagria hellma7ini,
who, in a wondering way come to look at the light, but are quickly off
again ; reed-boring Macrogaster ariindmis ; root-feeding Calamia
lutosa : numbers of Crambus-\^Q Meliana flanwiea coming up to light
in almost as ghost-like a fashion as the common Chilo phragniitellus.^ to
which it bears no small superficial resemblance. Rare Tortrices and
still rarer Tineina attract the collector, and many a one has found his
way to Wicken with the hope of capturing some of the rarer “ Fen ”
species. It was with some such hope that I paid my first visit to
Wicken on July i8th and 19th, and under the able guidance of Mr.
Farren I cannot say that I was altogether disappointed. Taking Tud-
denham on the way from Cambridge, a series each of Caioptria citrana^
Dicroramplia politana^ Argyrolepia subbati??ianniana, a single specimen
of Anticlea sinuata, some worn Acidalia riibricata^ together with a fine
lot of larvae of Lithostege griseata were the principal results of the few
hours’ work, although sweeping the roadside for a minute or two
showed that Dia7ithoecia irregularis larvae were as abundant as ever.
Going on to Wicken, a few specimens of Caioptria expallidana, Elachista
CT-epusculella, Phoxopteryx paluda7ia, Siig77ionota oroba7ia, Eupoecilia
7Wtula7ia, and, quite at dusk, plenty of Collix sparsafa, with smaller
numbers of I.obophora sexalata, Scoiosia rha77mata and Scoparia pallida
were captured. But we had made up our minds to have a turn at sugar
and light, so, whilst I took charge of the former, Mr. Farren attended to
the latter, and we had scarcely commenced operations before we knew
we were going to have one of those nights in which entomologists and
moths alike revel — drizzle and warm. The sugar revealed a mass of
Le7ica7iia p7idorina with a good sprinkling of Apa77iea ge77iina, Hadena
pisi^ Aplecta advena^ Noctua rubi, and hosts of the common “fen”
species, but nothing special. After an hour’s back-breaking work, at
what the natives call “ knots,” I got back to the light, and found Mr.
Farren hard at it. Acidalia wwiuiata, Nudaria senex^ Lithosia ^riseola,
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
177
■ Miana arcuosa^ Viminia albovenosa (2nd brood), Lasiocampa quercifolia
and Odonestis potatoria were coming up strongly, and above all Nascia
cilialis. I heard of other species, such as Arctia fuliginosa (2nd brood),
Chilo phrag77iitellus and Her77imia cribralis^ some of which the regular
“ fen ” workers appear to consider too common for notice. However,
when midnight arrived we were getting fixed up for boxes, and visions
of colossal labour in the form of “ setting ” appeared, so, when we
had used up all the pins in our zinc box, niutually agreed to box
nothing further except cilialis. Another hour having passed and the
fun getting a little slower, we closed for the night. The next evening
was nothing like so satisfactory as the first. Sugar was as productive
up to about 10.30 p.m., and light for the first hour. Things then got
very slow, and midnight saw us on the road home. Altogether a very
large number of specimens rewarded our efforts. Monday found me
671 route to London, but on Saturday I was at Wicken again for a three
weeks’ stay. During the whole of the three weeks the weather was bad
— wet continuously, and sometimes cold, and this led to the almost utter
failure of light. But there were one or two evenings on which light
did pay, and on Saturday, August ist, Macrogaster arundmis^ Melia7ia
fla77i77iea^ Nascia cilialis and the second brood of Vwihiia albov67iosa all
occurred, rather a mixture for such a date. On another night above a
score of specimens of Se7‘icoris fuliga7ia were captured and on other
nights by spending the early hours of the morning at the lamp a few
No7iagria hell77ia7i7ii were taken. But the weather was dead against
me in this way of collecting, and only a night now and then showed
what the resources of the Fen really were in this direction. Night
after night, however, I went home with above a gross of good Nocture
off the sugar, including such as Agrotis obscura {ravida) and its vars.,
NoTtagria hdl77ia7i7ii,^ type and var. safurata, Helotropha leucostig77ia, and
its vars. albistig77ia and limma, Noctua U77ibrosa, Caradrina (all the
British species except a77ibigua), Triphc67ia interjecta,, T ja7ithma,, Cos77iia
affiTtis^ with a good specimen or two of C. pyralma^ and Cala77iia
phrag77iiiidis mostly in considerable numbers. Lithosia griseola and its
var. stra77ii7teola came to sugar and light freely, Z. lurideola only to
sugar, whilst odd specimens of HypeTiodes coslcestrigalis, Ma77iestra
abjecta and T7-ipJice7ia fi77ibria were not unwelcome visitors. The
second brood of Noctua rubi appeared about August 14th, and a few days
before N. baia was still in good condition. Agrotis tritici var. aquilina
occurred, but was not common like its congener A. nigrica7is, of which I
got some good forms. I was surprised at the few specimens of Orthosia
7ipsilo7i considering the vast quantity of poplar and willow in the neigh-
bourhood, and was also much astonished at the late appearance of
Cala77iia phr ag77iitidis at Wicken, its first appearance being quite a
month later than at Greenwich, and, although I did not want the
species, was rather pleased to pick out a few beautiful var. rufesceTts from
the paler var. and typical form. Tortrix du77ieta7ia was late, only a few
specimens occurring until quite the last few days of my stay. Fine Hyria
auroraria were picked up until August 15th. On the same date
Hydrelia 7mca occurred, and Mr. Porritt saw a specimen of the second
brood of Papilio 77iachao7i on the wing. Since then I have bred others.
With regard to the double-broodedness of this species it occurs to me
that the individual members of a family are double-brooded in alternate
178
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
years. The early May specimens of one year lay ova which hatch very
quickly, and the larvse being full-fed in July emerge in August. These
lay eggs, the larv3e*from which do not spin up until October, and do not
emerge until June or July the next year, when their progeny go over the
winter without a second brood and form the early moths the next year
— thus we get : — First year, early and double-brooded ; second year,
late and single-brooded ; third year, early and double-brooded, and so
on. In this way one easily explains how it is that from the commence-
ment of July until the end of October, larvae of every gradation of size
may be found everywhere on the Fen. Acidalia imvmtaia and Epione
apiciaria w'ere in fine condition up to the end of my stay. A fairly long
series of Cra7ubus selasellus was taken, and I was unfortunate in having
to leave Phoxopteryx sicidana, w’hich was just coming out as I left.
Catoptria expallida7ia and Phoxopteryx paludaua were found but rarely,
and this was general with all the best things. Pero7iea hasiia7ia, by-
the-by, occurred in all stages during the whole time I was present —
imagines, pupae, large and small larvae. A fine Chilo 77mc7-07iellus
occurred on Mr. Houghton’s sheet on the night of August rst, and I
saw a few' specimens in the professional collector’s boxes, but the
species appears to be rare at Wicken. My most disappointing results
w'ere, however, among the Tineina, not that there w'as not an abundance
of them on the Fen ; a good night now and then showed this, and
there w'cre very few' of the rare and generally obtained species that I did
not capture. Givep good weather I do not know' wdiat numbers of these
I might have taken ; as it was the setting got clean beyond me w'hen
w'e did have a good evening with the little things, because of the
number of things at sugar. A7iesychia fmierella^ Gelechia divisetla, G.
oblitella^ G. 77iorosa, G. qu(zsti07iella^ G. lathyrella^ G. 77iuscoselIa and
many others were taken, several Dep7-essarice^ only one specimen of
w'hich has proved a puzzle. But the greatest puzzle is a “plume,”
w’hich Messrs. Porritt, Thurnall and myself are unable to refer to any
of our know’n species. It has a strong superficial resemblance in some
specimens to 77io7iodactyla in colour and markings, but is more nearly
allied structurally, so far as I can make out, to Iie7iigia7ius. Leioptilus
77iicrodactyIa turned up, but “ plumes ” as a rule w'ere conspicuous by
their absence. Larvae of Halias cJilora7ia, small and full-fed, w'ere
abundant in osiers. At the same time imagines were coming to light.
I thought at first I would head this note ’‘The Home of Ease for
Entomologists,” and really a lazy entomologist w'ill find this an enjoy-
able place. I have ahvays had to rough it, and it w'as quite a new' ex-
perience to find old and experienced collectors ready to wait on you,
to sugar, find lanterns and attracting lamps and all other necessaries ;
in fact, to wait on you hand and foot for a small consideration. A note
to Mr. Albert Houghton or Mr. Tom Rowlison at Wicken is all that is
necessary, and a lepidopterist w'ill find himself fixed up with almost
everything, and really when one comes to consider that these men take
us into their best localities, and fix us up as if they had known us a
lifetime, w'e have certainly much to be thankful for. Mr. Solomon
Bailey is another good local collector, and both he and ]\Ir. Houghton
have been especially successful this year w'ith Aplecta adve7ia, Cuspidia
strigosa^ Cyviatophora ocularis and other good species. ]\Iy own special
henchman w'as Mr. John Clark, of the Black Horse, Wicken, and I
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
179
can only reiterate my special thanks to him and Mr. Houghton for
their kindness and help. There is an amusing side to the entry to
Wicken. The best collecting grounds (because the most open) are the
public rights-of-way. One or two men, however, patrol these to turn
an honest (?) penny by suggesting that it is customary to give a trifle, and
if this fails they are ready with the fact that you are trespassing on
“their” ground. The fact of “owners” becoming a species of
“ cadger ” is very obvious. Another line is to sell tickets at so much
per head per day or week. One would think that actual owners would
be above this ; most are, and are very courteous to entomologists into
the bargain. There is good accommodation to be obtained in Wicken,
at the Red Lion, Maid’s Head, or if any one prefers it, at Mrs.
Phillips’ house (The Sycamores). But the lodgings at the pubs, are
really private, and although I stayed at the Red Lion I never knew but
that I was in a private house, having a private door, key, etc., to
myself.
^^'hen I left Wicken with a number of insects on my setting boards
and in my store boxes, averaging about 150 per day for the twenty
days I felt sorry that I could not stay longer to help the native col-
lectors to continue the work of depopulation. However, I hope to go
again, and given good weather, the moths will have a bad time of it. —
J. W. Tutt, Westcombe Hill, S.E. [IMr. G. T. Porritt will give an
account of the Neuroptera, Orthoptera, and Trichoptera captured, in the
next number. — Ed.]
Southend^ Epping Forest, a?id North London. — This season has so
far been fairly good. The sallows at Southend produced the usual
Tcenioaunpidce, also Xylocampa lithoriza, Calocampa exoleta, etc. ; while
Eupithecia pumilata, Anticlea badiata, Coremia ferrugata, a few Aleiicis
piciaria and other geometers, were plentiful in the evenings. Unfortu-
nately, the warm nights always brought a strong south-westerly wind,
which made the sallows hard to work. Lycana argiolns was the only
notable butterfly I took. Epping Forest has proved very productive,
Drepa7ia unguicula, Ephy7a trilinearia, and other common things
swarm, and many others have fallen to my net for the first time. I
have unfortunately missed the best time of the year (June), owing to an
attack of influenza, and the weather now precludes any collecting.
Noctu^ are common on sugar in our garden here. I am waiting for a
decent night to try my luck further afield. No Apamea ophiogra77i77ia
have emerged yet, but my pup^ have darkened, and show the p'attern
of this insect through their skin (these are pupee obtained from larv^
feeding on the stems of ribbon grass). I hope to get them out in a day
or two, if all goes well. — A. U. Battley, Amhurst Park, N. July, 1891.
Boxhill a7id Ashdown Forest. — Larvae of Cucullia verbasci are very
plentiful this year at Boxhill, and yesterday Lyccena eegon was flying in
profusion at Ashdown Forest, also two E7ithe77i07iia russula, female,
taken in good condition, and even Argynms selene is still about.
Insects are very late this year, and, owing to that, I have missed
many things. — A. J. Croker, South Norwood. July, 1891.
Dart77ioor. — I have found Acidalia p7’077iutata abundant on the nor-
thern slopes of Dartmoor, at least fifteen to twenty miles from the sea.
They were to be found by day resting on the granite boulders, which they
closely resembled, and they also came freely to light. The weather has
180
THE entomologist’s KECORD.
been so cold in this neighbourhood, and vegetation so backward, that
few insects are to be found, and larvae are not so plentiful as usual at
this time of the year. — John H. Still.
LiverpooL — The weather during the past month has rendered all
searching for insects futile. I was at Hartford at Whitsuntide, but the
only proceeds were a few Panagra petraria and pupae of Celcena ha-
worthii^ both scarce. Nyssia zonaria has turned up in good numbers
at Crosby. It was almost impossible to walk on the sand hills without
stamping on them. TcEfiiocampa gracilis, too, has been fairly common,
and T. opima exceedingly scarce, one male, which I took myself, is the
only imago I have heard of, though several batches of eggs were
found. — G. A. Marker, Liverpool.
Aberdeen. — I sugared on the coast here on June 12th, and found
the sweets very productive. Some very nice vars. of Hadena de7itina
turned up ; H. adusta was abundant ; a few each of Vimmia inyriccE,
H. thalassma, H. pisi, and Noctua plecta completes the list. On June
13th, I tried the moors, but it was rather windy, and moths at sugar
were consequently scarce. I succeeded, however, in taking a few each
of Vwimia me?iyanthidis, H rectilmea, Rusma tenebrosa, and H. adusta.
I netted Bo7?ibyx rubi, Chesias obliquaria, Anarta 77iyrtilli, Eupithecia
satyraia var. callunaria, E. lariciata, E. piwiilata, E. na7iata, De77ias
coryli (one at rest), Coremia fer7'ugata, Fido7iia piniaria, Mela?iippe
fluctuata (several nice vars.) and F. ato77ia7'ia (as usual in swarms). On
the heather, I found larvae of Noctua 7ieglecta, Plusia i7ite7'rogatio7iis,
Bo77ibyx calhmce, Lare77tia ccBsiata, Triphce7ia orbo7ia, Scodonia belgiaria
and Crocallis elmguaria ; on bilberry, Hypsipetes elutata (in swarms),
Cidaria populata and C. russata ; and on broom, Noctua glareosa.
— Arthur Horne, 31, Watson Street, Aberdeen.
Forres. — The season in the north of Scotland, so far as my expe-
rience goes, is not a very good one, at least so far as sugaring is con-
cerned. On the coast it has been and is doing fairly well, but inland
almost a complete blank. Many species that were common last year
are very scarce this season, notably Hadena rectilmea, H. adusta,
Plusia inter 7‘ogationis, Triphcena subsequa, etc. I took a fine specimen
of the latter at Burghead on June 29th, and went specially to Forres
for this insect about the middle of July, and sugared where I found
them last year, but not one single specimen fell to my lot. Ni the
same time last year I met with some beautiful forms of Agrotis corticea
along with T. subsequa, but it also was absent. The only Noctua that
turned up in quantity was Mia7ia fasciu7icula, very dark red forms
and rather different to the Aberdeen specimens, on which I took
revenge and secured a long series. Lycce7ia artaxerxes has been very
common along the coast south of Aberdeen this season, more so than
I ever remember seeing before. Aplecta occulta is putting in an ap-
pearance at sugar on the sand hills, also A. cursoria and A. tritici. I
took a long series of Cra77ibus du77ietellus near Aberdeen, an insect that
had hitherto escaped my notice, as I often collect on the ground where
1 found them. — Id.
Kingstoivn. — In the middle of July, I was in King’s County on the
borders of the Shannon. The hot weather brought out a quantity of
insect life. I was fortunate enough to capture one Carsia paludata on
the 15th ; and so on the next day I worked some hours in the heat of
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
181
the sun, bogtrotting, and got five more, but the insect was rare. I only
saw about one every half hour, and, with a high wind blowing and a
swarm of flies blinding the sight, it was difficult to capture. Other insects
were very scarce, a few Chelonia plantaginis showing up, one Plusia
(possibly interrogationis)^ and some very worn Ccenonympha typhon. On
the day following, however, I captured two Selidosema plumaria in fine
condition. At sugar I met with hosts of Triphana pronnba, Xylophasia
77ionoglypha and other pests, and found X. lithoxylea plentiful but worn,
a good many X. sublustris, some of which were in good order. Noctua
festiva, N. augur, Cuspidia psi, Hadena pisi, Miana fasciuncula, and a
few M. strigilis were in evidence, also several Phibalapte7yx Ug7iata,
At Howth, friends of mine have taken Agrotis hmigera and other good
things. Dumthcucia barrettii has come out earlier this season, the SileTie
is in great bloom, but they do not seem to be attracted by it so much
as in ordinary years. Three gentlemen have taken about one dozen
between them. — W. de V. Kane, Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown. Ju?ie
2oth, 1891.
Isle of Wight. — I captured the first Sphmx convulvuli that I have
seen this season on August 29th at petunia blossom ; it was in very
fair condition, and I hope to secure some more. Sugar has proved
attractive again, and in the woods the previous evening, 29 different
species of Noctua visited sugared trunks or flower heads, including
all the Triphcenas, excepting subsequa, and of which the most unusual
was a single Dia7ithcjecia cucubali, of which species I was surprised to
take a second the following evening on sugared posts on the Downs.
A single specimen of the second brood of Vimmia riuiiicis also put in
an appearance. Larvae of Agrotis ripce are not quite so plentiful as
last year. I am also taking, upon the same foodplant (which I believe
to be the Sea Atriplex), another larva, varying from bright green to
brown with a yellow stripe on each side (? H. oleracea); this does not
burrow in the sand like that of A. ripcB, but lies extended on the
stems of the foodplant. — Albert J. Hodges. Septe77iber, 1891.
Far7ibo7'ough, KeTit. — I noticed a freshly changed pupa of Gortyna
flavago in thistle stem to-day, August nth ; the few nights I was out a
fortnight ago, I found insects fairly plentiful ; Xylophasia hepatica was
a little worn, but I never met so many before, I generally take a
dozen or so at sugar each season, but this year I discovered they have
a habit of sitting on the largest grass stems close to the top, and, by
hunting with a light after their flight, I found I could take, on an
average, about eighteen during an evening — of course a great number
were useless — still I got a fair proportion of good specimens. Of Plusia
ga77i77ia I have not seen a single one this season. Tima7idra aniataria,
plentiful. Also a good number of Thyatira batis, Go7iophora derasa
and Pericallia syrmgaria, of the latter I captured several $ ’s deposit-
ing, but having been successful in breeding them this season I merely
killed them. Last year I caught a $ which laid, and from the batch
had twenty-seven imagines which nearly all paired, so I have or had a
great number in the sleeve, I saw they had hatched a fortnight ago, but
they remain extremely small and don’t begin to grow much until the
spring is well advanced ; they pupate in a singular manner compared
to other larvie I have bred, attaching themselves by a few slight
threads or slim network head upwards, only two out of the twenty-
182
THE entomologist’s record.
seven were head downwards and fixed by the tail ; the pupae are
nothing like the rest of the family I have bred, being shaped like a
whip-top, and the old larval skin hanging like a long tail in every
case. — H. Alderson, Hilda Vale, Farnboroiigh,
JVit/iersIack. — Scotosia rhaimiata is another addition to the Westmore-
land fauna ; Mr. Threlfall and I captured a few in July. We obtained
about 12 larvae of Depressaria capreolella after several hours’ careful
searching, and a few of the bladder-like mines of Peritiia obscurepun della
in honeysuckle which I had never seen till Mr. Threlfall drew my at-
tention to them. — J. B. Hodgkinson, Ellerslie, Ashton-on-Ribble.
Armagh. — The season up to the present has been most disappointing.
Sugar has, night after night, proved a complete failure owing to the
cold winds, and even favourable evenings failed to produce anything
remarkable. Amon.^ my captures were : Hade7ia pisi^ H. thalassina,
Nodua rubi, JV. fesfiva, Gonoptera libatrix.^ Grammesia irigranunica,
and var. obscuni., Tutt, Mia/ia strlgilis and M. fasduncula. These last
were not at all as abundant as usual, but exhibited considerable varia-
tion. The most were taken on June 22nd and 23rd. On July 3rd, I
took a specimen of M. strlgilis on a thistle-head in the afternoon.
ZygcBna appeared in numbers on June 27th, when I took a lot
of freshly-emerged specimens. The PlusicB, which are usually well
represented in my garden in June, were conspicuous by their absence;
only a solitary P. ganwia turning up. On July 27th and 28th I took a
good number of Bryophila perla on the walls of the Cathedral. Just
now TripluE7ia promiba and Xylopliasia 7uonoglypha are in great abund-
ance, a few dark examples of the latter have occurred. I have, I think,
never seen as many “small whites ” in one place as I saw in a field of
oats on last Sunday morning, as I was driving out to take the duty at
Loughgall. There must have been hundreds of them hovering over and
settling on the oats, I could not stop to determine whether one or
more species were present. Taken as a whole the season from the end
of May to the present has been decidedly bad, and w^ere it not for the
consolations afforded by Coleoptera and golf, I should be on the verge
of despair. — W. F. Johnson, Winder Teraace, Armagh. August 19M,
1891. [The “whites” — Pieris rapoe.^7iapi and brassiccB — have been in
great force at Deal during the last week. — Ed.]
Ly/idliurst. — A fortnight spent at Lyndhurst last month produced far
better results than a longer period last season. Although the weather
w’as not a great deal better than during the corresponding period of
1890, lepidoptera were much more plentiful and some good species
w’ere taken. Unfortunately, how’ever, sugar was again of but little use,
and the list of Nocture taken is consequently very meagre. During
the few fine days that w'e had, Rhopalocera sw_armed. Lwie7iitis sibylla
and Argy7i7iis paphia w’ere very common, and I took four specimens of
the var. valezma ; but although E. ja7iira w^as as c jmmon as ever, I
only saw one of the bleached forms, and that did not exhibit the varia-
tion to any great degree. LyccB7ia agon was in full force on all the
heaths. I captured one extremely small $ , as small as a typical L.
alsus {77ii7ii77ia). Theda que7xus w^as very common over oak and ash,
but mostly kept out of reach. The best butterfly that I took, however,
was Apatura iris, of wTich I took tw^o $ ’s on July 26th ; one of these
after much coaxing deposited twenty-five ova wdiich are now hatching.
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
183
The best species of Heterocera taken were the following : — Zygczna
trifolii'. very local and not common. I took one variety in which the
spots on the upper wings are confluent and form a bar, I also found a
cocoon of this specimen on a blackthorn stem at a height of about two
feet. Nudaria senex : this species was very common at Matley Bog.
It was to be seen in scores between 8.15 p.m. and 9 p.m., fluttering
gently up the stems of the rushes, and was easily boxed. A walk
through the bog in the daytime did not disturb a single example.
Lithosia complana and L. complamtla were fairly common on the lichen-
covered heather near Ringwood, which is recommended for E. cribrum\
the latter species, however, I did not lake. One example of Z.
muscerda was taken at Matley by a friend.* Liparis monacha :
gradually becoming mure abundant towards the end of the month.
Flatypteryx lacertula ; one $ on July 15th. Is not this a very late
date ? Thyatira derasa and T. batis were common over bramble, but
refused to come to sugar. Cymatophora duplaris was taken sparingly
amongst the alders at Matley. Cuspidia tridens : a few on pine trunks.
Leucania lithargyria and Z. pudorina were in fair numbers amongst
the rushes in the peat bogs. Miana arciiosa : one fresh specimen at
Matley. Acos7uetia caligmosa : one specimen at Stubby Copse —thanks
to the “Practical Hints” in the Record for July, 1890. Geometra
papilionaria was fairly common, at first in good condition, but during
the latter part of the month they were worn. I took seven specimens,
in all, of these one was captured about 9 p.m^, and all the remainder
I'/Ctween 10.30 and ii p.m. This insect generally flies at a height of
about seven or eight feet — at least all that I saw and took were flying
at about that height. The flight is very gentle, and the species is fairly
easy to capture. Hyria auroraria {inuricata) : this species was very
common, %ing in the sunshine on the heaths. It was the most
common in the damper portions of these heaths where the plantain (its
food) grew in plenty. The following species were also captured in
more or less abundance at dusk : — Acidalia scutulata^ A. bisetata, A.
i?ica?iaria, A. immutata^ A. emarginata, Ezipisieria heparata (obliterata\
Collix sparsata, Hypsipetes impluviata {trifasciaid)^ H. elutata {sor-
didata), the three Melaiithias^ Eucosjjiia undulata^ Cidaida tes/ata, C.
fulvata and C. pyraliata. Amongst larvae I obtained the following : —
A few S. ocellatiis^ two D. fiircula^ and one P. palpina from sallow, Z.
camelma and D. coryli from beech, Eiipithecia pulchellata from foxglove,
F. pmiaria and T. piniperda from pine, and Hadena pisi which was
fairly common on Myrica gale. — Jas. A. Simes, 4, Cricketfield Road,
Lower Clapton. August lotJi, 1891.
York. — I am glad to report that we have been doing fairly well here
these last two months ; sugaring has been more productive than for
many years, and still continues attractive. Such insects as Acronycta
( Vimuiia) rumicis^ Leuca?iia pudorma., Noctiia rubi., N. augur., Apainea
gej7ii?ia, Plusia festucce., Orthosia suspecta and Collix sparsaia have
been common, A. {Cuspidia) leporma fairly so, considering that a few
odd specimens only have been taken in previous years, Acidalia
imniutata was also more common than usual, but Hydrelia unca, which
has been generally plentiful, was almost absent, only two specimens
-were I believe seen. — R. Dutton, York. August igth, 1891.
Things are undoubtedly looking up again, and collecting here is at
184
THE entomologist’s RECOED.
])resent attended with very good results. Sugar once more seems to
have regained its former attractiveness, and night after night each
patch is well covered with visitors. At Askham Bog, close to the
city, I have done most; Collix sparsata being very common, flying
round buckthorn bushes at dusk, whilst Phibalapteryx lignaia ranks
among the most plentiful of Geometers. Acronycta i Cuspidia) leporina
(all of the variety bradyporind) has been taken in fair numbers and in
fine condition, and last night I captured at sugar a most beautiful
variety of Noctna rubi^ which is of a bright yellow colour. This
species has been abundant this year. — S. Walker, York, July 1891.
Clifton {near Bristol). — The season so far, though very backward
through April, May, and the early part of June, has been a fairly
favourable one, many of the common species being present in very
large numbers and some of our uncertain visitants well represented.
The lateness of appearance of some of the spring species as compared
with last year is however very striking ; Tephrosia punctulata., for
instance, which I recorded in 1890 from April 19th to May 5th, I did
not meet with this year till May 9th, after which I continued to find
it until June nth. Pieris rapce, P. brassicce^ and A crony eta (Cuspidia)
psi also were three or four weeks late as compared with last year’s
records. Sugar was an utter failure here during May : hearing of
others’ success I shall now be encouraged to make another attempt. —
Geo. C. Griffiths. July gth, 1891.
Tilgate and the New Forest. — The season has not been much of a
success with me. With Sesia sphegifoniiis I have done fairly well, but
not much else, and they were quite three weeks late. On Thursday,
July loth, I went for a trip to the New Forest for a few days. I did
not find insects plentiful, nothing came to sugar, and it could hardly
be classed as a satisfactory expedition. Limenitis sybilla was fairly
common, Argynnis paphia var. valezma., I did not see, but had hardly
time to look for it. Larva beating was fairly successful ; 2 Notodonta
chao7iia.^ 2 N. dodonea.^ 3 Asphalia ridens.^ with Amphidasys prodroniaria.^
Fnnof?ios a?igularia., and E. erosaria falling into the tray. The pretty
little Calligenia mmiata was fairly common at dusk. I had the pleasure,
however, of making tlie acquaintance of two species new to me, i.e..,
Acosmetia caliginosa and Macroglossa bombyliforinis. Of the former, I
took five flying in the sunshine on being kicked up in grassy rides ; it
is extremely local, and on being kicked up flies a short distance and
then goes down again, and frequently will not again take flight but goes
down to the bottom of the grass. Thus you may hunt out a corner
they frequent until there are apparently none left, but on returning in
an hour or so you may find more. Of M. bombyliformis I found a few
larvae feeding on Devil’s Bit Scabious, and hard work it was hunting
for them in the scorching sun, with a dozen forest flies as large as wasps
or larger, flying about one. I am told it is difficult to rear ; I have
planted the Scabious in a pot and put the larvae on it under muslin. —
A. Robinson. July 14M, 1891.
Hants., Wmchester. — In one little night expedition I first picked up
three beautiful Angerona priuiaria, one 2 who has laid a few eggs —
this insect I have never taken here before ; they are of a rich orange
throughout, without the dusky margin. I then put my sugar on, and
on the way back took Bisulcia ligustri flying round an ash tree ; she
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
185
has also laid some ova ; this insect I had previously only taken at
Lyndhurst. I then netted a couple of Boarmia repandata var. co7i-
versaria, although in taking the first iny net came to grief. After
picking a few unimportant things off the sugar, a small Geometer flew
up into a big sallow, and on turning the lantern upwards, I saw a
familiar object, in a fine pupa of Apatura iris. I spent an hour over
that and other sallows and got no more, but I am sure it should be
a good way to get them as the sallow leaf looks quite blue by lamp-
light and the pupa pale green, the light colour caught my eye directly.
On the way home I got two Geometra papilionaria., and have been for
it again, but only exploded the fallacy that G. papilionana does not
come out before 12 p.m., as it flies at dusk like other Geometers. I
have never seen A. iris in this wood, though I am often here, and I
have beaten the sallows at all times of the year. It shows how little
we know of the country round us. Thyatira batis and Gonophora
derasa have come to sugar this year here, and Ritsina tenebrosa., Noctua
augur., and Helioihis niarginatus, all of which are new to the immediate
neighbourhood, where I sugar every year. — G. M. A. Hewett. July
i^th, 1891.
Swansea. — I have done very little collecting till recently, the only
things I have taken of note lately are one Plusia orichalcea, taken on
a flower in the sunshine, August 3rd, one Cosniia pyralina at light last
night, and one Geometra papilionaria on July 31st. I have also taken
a few Eupisteria heparata in very good condition, surely very late for
this insect. — R. B. Robertson. August, 1891.
Agrotis ravida. — I took a single specimen of this insect at sugar
on the 15th inst. at Saltburn, Yorkshire. — ^T. Maddison, South Bailey,
Durham. August igth, 1891.
Biston hirtaria. —From the notes which have appeared in the
Record recently, it would seem that this insect is rarely found on the
various species of poplar. I have several times taken the imago on
poplar trunks, but these have always been ? ’s. That the larvae will
feed freely on poplars I have satisfied myself this season, having found
them devouring the young shoots of two species of the genus Fopiilus \
they also feed occasionally on lilac. Whatever the food, the larvae
always prefer the young shoots growing round the roots of the trees,
and they are seldom found feeding at a greater height than four feet
from the ground. As regards the distribution of the species, I can say
nothing, beyond that I have always had an idea that it flourished
nowhere so well as in the “parks” and “squares” of London — more
especially in the northern and north-western districts. Perhaps some
reader can tell us something of its habits and distribution on the Con
tinent ? — Jas. A. Simes, 4, Cricketfield Road, Lower Clapton.
I took the first specimen of B. hirtaria on May nth on a lime
trunk, and going to the same place about 6.30 the next morning, I took
over a dozen. They were very abundant up to the 15th, after which
they fell off in numbers and quality, only a few worn females remaining
on the tree trunks. I took in all about forty specimens, seventy per cent,
of which were females, and much less variable in shade than the males.
I witnessed rather a curious instance of the “reasoning faculties” — if
such a term can be applied to insects — -being overcome by the “heredi-
tary instinct,” I had placed two fertile females in a pill-box, hoping to
18G
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
obtain ova, only one deposited, and, forced by the same mysterious
power which for years had controlled the ovipositing of her ancestors,
at once commenced operations by probing every portion of the box
likely to afford a suitable nick or cranny for the reception of her ova,
but in vain. Nothing daunted, however, she next turned her attention
to her companion, and after a moment’s deliberation proceeded to
insert her long ovipositor between the left upper and under wings, and
disposed of ovum No. i. As it would take up too much space
to describe all the manoeuvres attending the deposition of each ovum,
I need only say that on the next morning no less than thirty ova were
deposited on the under wing and in the interstices between the legs
auvi thorax. I am keeping the specimen as a curiosity. — D. H. S.
Steuart, Royal College of Science, Kensington, W. July 2ist^
1891.
Sesia SPHEGiFORMis IN BIRCH. — I bred a specimen of S. sphegiformis
from birch this year. — A. Robinson, Brettanby Manor, Darlington.
Larvae of Nemophora fasciellus. — I have, this afternoon, been
collecting a few larvse of Nemophora fasciellus^ but they were so few
and far between that I think I must have been too late (I usually go
for them about April 21st). They are most interesting, and a short
note on their habits in the larval and pupal states may be interesting.
I'heir case is a very beautiful one, shaped somewhat like a fiddle, and
open at both ends; they feed by night, eating holes in the leaves of
their foodplant {Ballofa nigra), and in the day hide at the roots, where
it is very difficult to find them, as they do not hold on, but allow them-
selves to roll further down among the roots when the plant is disturbed;
and what seems to me a peculiar thing for a case-maker to do — they
pupate in their cases beneath the surface of the ground. — W. Barren,
Fern House, Union Road, Cambridge. June, 1891.
Bombyx quercus larva pupating in August.— Last Saturday,
29th August, I took in the Warren, Folkestone, a full-fed larva of B.
querrus which commenced to spin up yesterday. It seems a strange
time to find a full-fed larva of this species. — W. G. Mackmurdo,
Aldersbrook, Wanstead. [Normally B. quercus hybernates small, in the
larval stage in the South of England, although occasionally it does so in
the pupal stage. In the North of England and in Scotland the insect
hybernates normally in the pupal stage and becomes what is generally
known as callunco. — Ed.]
The Lateness of the Season. — The following dates speak for
themselves : — August 15th, Notodonta ziczac. 22nd, A. lactana (2).
24th, N. dictcea. All in fine condition. — C. Fenn, Lee.
Curious Foodplant of Smerinthus ocellatus. — A fev/ days
ago I took a larva of this species nearly full-fed on an isolated bush of
wild plum. No other bushes or trees were within thirty yards. — Id.
Hadena porphyrea (s.atura) in Cambridgeshire. — I have still
the capture of another rare species to record. During the last two
nights of my stay at Wicken, I took from the sugar what I thought
were Hadena adusta, a species I had nes^er seen alive. As all my
macros were sent, during the last week of my stay, direct to my friend
Mr. Page to set, I paid no more attention to them until yesterday,
when, taking them from the boards, I at once saw the error I had
made and the value of my captures. The following records of the
SOCIETIES.
187
capture of this species appear to be the only ones ; — Ne\vcastle-on-
Tyne, at rest April, 1845, recorded V. R. Perkins, Ent. x., p. 99;
Kent, Parry and Edney, July and August, 1875 (three specimens);
Edney, (one specimen), 1873, E7it. viii., 229. Besides these there
are the two records in Newman’s British Moths. The April date of
the first record above is a strange one. As is well known to a
few, the species has quite recently been taken in Aberdeenshire, and
amongst my long series of Aberdeen adusta I detected two specimens,
one very small, and another very worn. There is no doubt that the
species may be easily overlooked, as I practically overlooked the
specimens I captured at the time, but its richer colour and the
deeper coloured hind wings give it a very different appearance to
adusta when carefully examined. — J. W. Tutt. Septonber loth, 1891.
SOCIETIES.
Entomological Society of London. — September 2?id, 1891. — Mr.
Frederick DuCane Godman, M.A., F.R.S., President, in the chair.
Mr. G. F. Scott-Elliott exhibited a series of various species of Diptera
collected on RanunculacecE.^ PapaveracccB, and CriicifercB, He said
that during the past summer he had studied about forty species of
plants belonging to the orders named, and that they had all been
visited by insects which were probably necessary for nectariferous
flowers. The majority of the Diptera caught were not confined to one
species or even genus, but in view of the unmodified character of the
flower in the orders named this was only to be expected. Mr. Verrall
observed that certain insects affected certain plants, but that the
Gera7iiacece were seldom visited. The discus don was continued by
Mr. M’Lachlan, Mr. Kirby, and others. Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited
a specimen of the orthopterous insect He77iisaga hastata, de Sauss,
which, in the Transvaal, he observed to attack and feed on Da7iais
chrysippus.^ a butterfly well known from its protective character and
distasteful qualities to have a complete immunity from the usual
lepidopteral enemies. The He77iisaga lurked amongst the tops of tall
flowering grasses, being consequently disguised by its protective
resemblance to the same, and seized the Da7iais as it settled on the
bloom. From close watching and observation Mr. Distant could
discover no other danger to the life of this well-known and highly
protected butterfly. Mr. T. R. Billups exhibited four species of
Diptera, which he believed to be respectively, Oxycera ter77ii7iata,
Meg., Pipezella a7i7iulata.^ Meg., Clidogastra pimctictps., i^ieg., and
Oxyphora ar7iiccB, L., taken at Oxshott, Surrey, on the nth July last.
He mentioned that all of them, were recorded in Mr. Verrall’s list only
as ‘‘ reputed British.” He also exhibited a specimen of Hypoder77ia
bolds, Deg., taken at Plumstead on the 29th July last. Dr. D. Sharp
exhibited several species of ForficulidcB, and called attention to the
diverse conditions of the parts representing the wings in the apterous
forms. Mr. H. Goss exhibited living larvae of Scoria dealbata, reared
from ova. They were feeding on Polyg07iu77i avmilare, but not very
freely; Brachypodiiuii sylraticu77i been named as a food plant for
this species, but he di 1 not find that the larvae would eat this or any
188
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Other grass. The Rev. Dr. Walker exhibited, and read notes on, a
collection of Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Neuroptera, and
Diptera, which he had recently made in Norway. Mr. Champion, Mr.
Billups, and Mr. M’Lachlan took part in the discussion which ensued.
— H. Goss, Hon. Sec.
South London Entomological Society. — Thursday., August i^th,
1891. — Mr. Tugwell exhibited Bryophila perla var. suffusa, from Folke-
stone, also vars. flavescens and distbicta from Deal. Mr. J. E.
Robson, a fine series of Lyc(Z7ia agestis, with vars. salmacis and
artaxerxes, including some very fine undersides and intermediate
forms. Mr. Fenn, some beautifully set Crambus conta77iinellus,
Odo7itia de7italis, Hyria auroraria, Anerastia lotella, Cra7nbus uligino-
set/us, Melia anellus and Sericoris co7icha7ia from Deal and the neigh-
bourhood. Mr. H. J. Turner, a bred series of Pelurga co77iitata, a bred
series of Hypsipetes sordidata {elutata) fed on a mixed diet of hazel,
whitethorn, willow, etc., showing the red, pale, dark, and banded forms ;
an Arctia lubricipeda very dark indeed for a southern form, and a
living larva of Stauropus fagi. Mr. Frohawk, two female Pararge
77iegcera, one with the central area dark as is typical in the male, also
a series of Pieris 7iapi with pale and dark forms captured on the same
date. Mr. Carpenter, a series of undersides of Theda rubi, showing
variation in the white spots, also the banded form of Enno77ios angu-
laria. Mr. W. West, a specimen of Nce7iia typica, with the right fore
leg showing a double tibia, also a series of G/iophos obsc7irata from
Lewes. Mr. Mera, living larvae of Cuspidia tride7is. Mr. Edwards
exhibited specimens of the genus Charaxes, and read the following
notes : — “The genus Charaxes, from the wide distribution and beauty
of its species, combined with strength of wing, forms one of the most
interesting of the Nymphalinae. One species {C. jasius) is found in
Europe on the shores of the Mediterranean ; it is closely allied to an
Abyssinian species. It also inhabits the eastern, western and southern
portions of Africa, is found in Continental India, Ceylon, Andaman
Isles, Malay Archipelago, Eastern Asia, as far north as China, also in
Australia, but is limited in the Pacific Isles. Out of 80 known species,
50 belong to the Ethiopian region. Madagascar has 8 species, and
Dr. Trimen says there are 15 in South Africa, 10 of which come from
the neighbourhood of Natal. They are able to fly very fast, and come
to rotten fruit and sugar. Larv.e. — Finely granulated, thickened
about middle, without spines on body, head large, flattened, crowned
with four spinose horns or processes, anal segment more or less bifid.
Distant says the smooth spineless larva allies Charaxes superficially
with the Satyrinae. Pup^. — Very thick, rounded, smooth, back ex-
tremely convex, head very bluntly bifid, anal segment with two small
round tubercles inferiorly, and four others at its extremity round base
of pedicel, back of thorax globosely prominent, not ridged. Charaxes
shares with the South American genera Aga?iisthos, Ag7'ius and Prc-
p07ia, the distinction of being the most massively formed as well as
the swiftest of known Nymphalinae.” Mr. Billups exhibited some rare
Diptera and Ichneumonidae, amongst others Ne77wr(2a stre7iua, Meig.,
taken at Oxshott on the nth of July last. As regards this species Mr.
Billups stated that at page 320 of this month’s E7it. Mo. Mag., Dr. Meade
described this species as not common, he had taken both sexes in Oxford-
SOCIETIES.
189
shire in 1883, it was also in Miss Decie’s collection captured at Westward
Ho ! and one specimen captured by Mr. Harwood, of Colchester.
Erisialis sepulchralis, L., a male of this scarce Dipteron was taken at
Plumstead by himself on the 17 th of July last, as also a female of
Hypoderma bovis, Deg. With reference to this species Mr. Billups said it
was rare indeed to find it in the perfect imago stage, and that it belonged
to the sub-family ^siridce, Leach (bot-flies, breeze-flies), the larvae
living in sub-cutaneous galls or bots beneath the skin of various
animals ; the larvae of this species being found in the month of May
in galls or tumours on the backs of cattle. When fully fed, which is
mostly in July, they work their way out and fall to the ground to
pupate, the state of pupation lasting some 25 or 30 days. The species
is to be found in all parts of the civilized world. It is a curious coin-
cidence that Mr. Bignell in this month’s Ent. Mo. Mag. records the
capture of this species on the 9th of June, on a moor between Yelveston
and Clearbrook, our member, Mr. Coryndon Matthews, having identified
the species both for Mr. Bignell and Mr. Billups. Phytomyza aquilegice.
This small species of diptera was reared by the exhibitor from some mined
leaves of Aquilegia vulgaris^ L. (the common columbine) growing in
his own garden, the leaves being picked last September and kept until
the following April, when the little fly began to emerge, its pretty little
Hymenopterous parasite, Rhizarcha cErolaris, Nees., not emerging until
nearly a month later. Mr. Billups also exhibited both sexes of the
very handsome Polysphincta varipes, Gr., which he had reared from a
cluster of cocoons presented to him by Mr. C. Fenn from the larvae of
Odo7iestis potatoria. Also a cocoon of Attacus cecropia., from New
York State, presented to him by Mr. Turner on the 4th of May last,,
and from which he had reared no less than 48 specimens of a species
of Crypfus, closely allied to our British species. Cry plus dig/tatus,
Gmel., the females largely preponderating, there being 34, and only 14
males. Mr. Billups called attention to the curious arrangement of cells
formed by this internal parasite in the cocoon of Aitacus^ the outer
circle consisting of 12 cells, the second of 8, and the third or inner
one of 4, so there must have been at least some 48 or 50 cells or in-
ternal puparia, which certainly seemed enormous considering the
large size of this handsome species of Ichneumonidae. — Ed.
Errata. — On page 166, lines 4 and 5, for “Mr. Tugwell, a short
series of Dioryctria abietella bred from fir cones,” read, “ Mr. Tugwell
a short series of Dioryctria deatriella., Hb., = Nephophteryx abietella^
S.V., bred from shoots of Scotch fir bearing resinous nodes of Retinia
resinajiai^ — W. H. Tugwell. Septeniber ziid.^ 1891.
Psyche villosella. — In the note of the meeting of the South
London Entomological Society which appeared in the Entojiiologisfs
Record for September, p. 105, there is a notice of my paper on Psyche
villosella., in which it is stated that the female was never observed to
leave the case ” ; I did not say this, but that I had never seen the
skin of the pupa of a female of P. villosella projecting from the case ;
I have seen them emerge from the case. I did not say that the young
larvae left “ the central portion of their cases free from pieces,” but that
I had observed they were able to lengthen the cases by additions either
at the proximate or distant end. — J. Jenner Weir, Beckenham.
190
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
City of London Entomological and Natural History Society.
— Thursday, September ^rd, 1891. — Exhibits : — Mr. J. A. Cooper a fine
var, of Abraxas grossiilariata from Forest Gate, having a solid black band
across the wings, the yellow markings being entirely absent. Mr. Mera,
a specimen of Nonagria concolor, dark vars. of Badena suasa, and ])ale
forms of Agrotis ripcB and A. iriiici ; also living larvae of Acronycta
{Cuspidia) iridens. Mr. Smith, Liparis monacha, a fine dark banded
form of Enfiouios a7igu/aria, and Scotosia rhanmata, all from Epping
Forest ; also varieties of Ypsipetes ehitata from Lyndhurst. Mr.
Nicholson, Lithosia muscerda, Minoa euphorbiata, a fine specimen of
Boarmia repandaia var. conversaria, dark forms of Ypsipetes elutata,
and a specimen oi Sir ex gigas, all from the New Forest. Dr. Buckell
exhibited a long series of Acronycta {Cuspidia) megacephala, bred this
year from larvae found on poplar trunks in North London last autumn.
One of these was the variety ochrea, Tutt (“like the type, but with
the ground colour of the anterior wings decidedly suffused with
ochreous”). The remainder were examples of the type, but showed
tendencies to variation in two directions : — (i). The pale blotch about
the reniform becoming obsolete, thus giving the specimens a dark,
unicolorous appearance; (2). the presence of a pale longtitudinal dash
under the orbicular, showing a tendency towards a pale form (var.
iuranica, Stdgr.). Two specimens alone, had the reniform distinctly
present, for, although some of the other specimens appeared to the
naked eye to have a reniform, it disappeared when a lens was used.
He also exhibited Strenia clathrata from Leigh, in which the ground
colour was golden yellow, instead of “ dingy white ” as described by
Newman ; and a specimen of Hesperia lineola from the same locality
having the left fore-wing about two-thirds the size of the right. He
also showed some larvae of Danas coryli, and pointed out that they
varied from yellowish-white, through brown, to black, and that the tufts .
of hair were sometimes light brown, and sometimes black, according to
the ground colour of the larva. Mr. Gates exhibited Toxoca7npa
pasti7iu7n from Sevenoaks, Bryophila glandifera from Brighton, and
Spilodes palealis from Herne Bay ; also an albino of the common
starling from Brentwood. IMr. Tutt, Cuspidia 77iegacephala, vars. rosea
and ochrea ; Tephrosia biu7idularia var. deta77ierensis, and a parallel
black variety of T. crepuscularia, both from South Wales ; also a series
of Agrotis obscura and its varieties from Wicken. Mr. Goymour,
Fanessa polychloros, Bo77ibyx quercus, Ac7vnycta ( Vimmia) ru77iicis,
Ag7'otis puta, etc., from Suffolk. Mr. Simes, several species of
preserved larvae, mounted on the foodplants. These included Papilio
77iachao7t, Callunorpha do77ii7iula, Liparis salicis, L. auriflua, Acro7iycta
{Cuspidia) aceris, Cucullia verbasci Pseudoterp7ia cytisaria. Coleop-
tera : — Mr. Heasler exhibited Nitidula obscura and Rhizophagus
C7'ibratus. Mr. Beck, series of Donacia crassipes, D. de7itata, D.
sericea, D. affinis, Lixus paraplecticus, etc., chiefly from Christchurch,
also a specimen of Leptura sa7igui7iole7ita, one of the rarest of the
I^ongicorn beetles, which had not been taken in Britain for many years.
Mr. Milton, Coly77ibeUs pulverosus, C. 7iotatus, Agabtis co7ispersus,
Ilybius fe7iestratus, I. obscurus and Mordella fasciatus ; also a specimen
of Taba7ius autipnnaiis, and an apple twig infested with the scale
insect {Coccus agathUiiu)). Mr Battley exhibited a flower of laburnum
SOCIETIES.
191
picked the same day, and stated that he had seen some fresh male
catkins of sallow during the last fortnight. He also exhibited a series
of Apamea ophiogramma from Stamford Hill, together with the pre-
served larvae, pupae, and cocoons, and read the following notes on the
life-history and habits of the species : —
“Notes on Apamea ophiogramma. — During the summer of 1890, I
had the good fortune to take eight specimens of this somewhat rare
species in our garden at Stamford Hill. These were taken on dates
ranging from July 15th to August 5th, and were mostly worn. Another
specimen came into my hands which was taken at Southgate during
the last week in July. Hearing that the larvae fed on the striped
“ribbon grass” which is grown so extensively for ornamental purposes
in our London gardens, I repeatedly searched several patches to which
I had access. On May 22nd (1891), I noticed that the top shoots in
several places were dying, and a further search revealed a small round
hole either at or below the level of the ground. By cutting off these
stems as low as possible, I obtained some larvae, of which the following
is a description. About one inch long, slender body, thickest at the
third segment, tapering rapidly towards the head, and very gradually
towards the anus. Head small, dark shining brown in colour. Dorsal
area, dirty flesh colour, slightly darker towards the spiracular line.
Ventral area, cream white. Spiracles black. There is a brown
corneous plate on the second segment, having a lighter indentation
down the centre, and another brown plate on the last segment, also
divided by a transverse crack at one third of its extent from the head.
The twelfth segment has four indistinct black spots arranged in a
square, the same marks are also to be traced on the other segments.
The whole surface of the head and body is beset with minute bristles.
It feeds on the interior of the stems and roots of the ribbon-grass, its
presence being indicated by the dying top shoots of the plant. By
cutting off all the affected stems and digging between the roots, I
obtained twenty-five larvae which I put into a large garden-pot half full
of earth, in which several roots of grass had been planted. They were
evidently full-fed, so that the beginning to the middle of May would
be the best time for collecting them. On June 3rd, I noticed that one
of the larvae had spun up, and on June 5th a larva which was lying
exposed, pupated. The pupa is rather slender and very active,
reminding one of a small likeness of Cuspidia psi or C. megacephala.
Colour, bright reddish-brown, slightly darker on the back of the
abdomen. Wing cases, semi-transparent yellowish-brown. It has two
long curved spikes in the tail. Enclosed in a slight silken cocoon on,
or just below the surface of the ground. The greater part of mine
spun up against the sides of the pot, on the surface of the ground, but
a few went about an inch under the surface. Fifteen pupae were
obtained, which emerged as follows: — July loth, four specimens;
July nth, three specimens; July 12th, four specimens; July 13th, two
specimens ; July 15th, one specimen, making a total of fourteen
specimens. One died in the pupa state. Judging from these dates,
one would infer that ophiogramma all emerge at about the same
time, and that if good specimens are wanted, the exact date must be
chosen, a theory which seems to be confirmed by my experience. With
regard to the time of day that these specimens emerged, the majority
192
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
appeared between noon and 7 p.m., only one emerged during the night,
and none during the forenoon. I sugared for the perfect insect from
the beginning of July till the middle of August, only a few evenings
being omitted. My captures were; — July 9th, one specimen; July
15th, two specimens; July i8th, four specimens; July 31st, one
specimen; August ist, one specimen; August ylh, two specimens;
August 8th, two specimens ; making a total of thirteen specimens.
The August specimens were all somewhat worn. These dates agree
fairly with those of the bred specimens, and seem to show that the
beginning to the middle of July is the right time for the imago. The
methods of capture were various, eight being taken on sugar, three on
the wing in the garden, flying over various plants, one in our conserva-
tory, and one came to light in my bedroom. Of the 1890 specimens,
five were taken at honey-dew, two on the wing, and one at light. I
never saw them at flowers, or at any other attractions. The time of
flight naturally varied according to the time of year, some of the July
specimens being taken at 9.30 p.m., while the August specimens
appeared soon after 8.30. Compared with the times of sunset, I find
that they usually begin to fly about half an hour after sunset, and
continue for perhaps three-quarters of an hour. None were seen after
9.30 except the single specimen at light, which appeared at 10.45.
Ophiog) amina comes freely to sugar, and it is probably only owing to
the absence of information about its habits that it is not taken more
commonly. It settles as far from the sugar as possible, and on several
of my patches which were on standard rose trees, and other slender
stems, it completely concealed itself on the opposite side, reaching its
proboscis round the corner to the nearest drop of sugar. It is also
very skittish, and v/ill throw itself off backwards when you are some
distance away, and falling down among the herbage, will be perfectly
concealed. After missing several in this way one evening I tried the
effect of a double dose of rum in the sugar, and took four the next
evening without any trouble. When it first settles it keeps its wings
half raised, and slowly vibrating, but as soon as the rum takes effect
down go its wings, and it then sticks close to the bark. This, how-
ever, raises another difficulty ; it is now rather hard to see on the dark
bark of our London trees, the peculiar festoon ” marking taking away
the triangular look of the insect. On the wing, it is easily seen and
captured. Its flight is low and steady, and it seems to have no
special object in hand, but rather aimlessly flies along. The light
undersides of its wings however make it look much smaller than it
really is, and it may easily be mistaken for Caradrma vwrpheus. The
two specimens I have taken at light both behaved in a similar manner,
so we may safely conclude that this is its usual habit. It enters the
room slowly, flies up to the ceiling, touches it a few times, and then
descending obliquely, settles on the wall. From the reports of various
captures, ophiogramma seems to have been taken in several places
near London during the past two seasons. It must be fairly plentiful
in the neighbourhood of its foodplant, as out of some dozens of
patches of this grass that I have examined this summer, every one
showed traces of the ravages of the larvae.” — G. A. Lewcock and A.
U. Battley, Hon. Secs. Septefube?' 1891.
iNB ''Of^
JOURNAL OF VARIATION.
No. 9. VoL. II. October 1st, 1891.
HEREDITY IN LEPIDOPTERA.
By W. W. SMITH.
February number of the Record contains the
yil! ^^port (p. 313) of a Meeting of the City of London
Entomological and Natural History Society, held
on February 5th. The paper read at the meet-
ing by Mr. J. W. Tutt on “ The Geometrid Genera,
Melaniliia, Melanippe and their Allies,” would be of much
interest to at least one section of entomologists, and
judging from the meagre report, I can form only a vague
opinion of the importance attached to the reading of the
paper and the discussion of the subject. Mr. Tutt appears to
have dealt with the evolution of colours on the wings, more
especially with reference to the bands and wavy lines more or
less complete in certain species of the group. The persistent
tendency of some species in many different groups to vary, and
in some cases to develop special colours, is well known to
entomologists. But so few have investigated the natural
causes or aspect of the subject that its perfect elucidation will
remain for some time a great desideratum. Since Mr. South
wrote some years ago on The effects of certain meteorological
conditions on the habits and economy of Lepidoptera,” the
subject has received the attention of many able observers.
Some have studied its effects on the evolution of colours, and
each year adds new facts towards a solution of the interesting
problem. Owing to a long absence from England, I now know
very little of the species of the group chosen by Mr. Tutt for
their special bearing on the subject of his paper. But the
advantage of having a good series from different parts of the
British Islands, collected in different years, and accompanied
194
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
with notes on the seasons in each locality, was doubtless of
"reat importance and aid in illustrating the paper. By this
means alone can the effects of the seasons and climate in
producing variation on any form be fully worked out. The
experiments of Mr. Merrifield and others have shown that
great variation can be produced by artificial methods, but the
results in all cases cannot be accepted as an exposition of the
natural causes of variation. They, however, will be the
means of suggesting other and better methods, and lead to
better results when studying the subject from a purely natural
aspect.
The theory of the progressive development of bands on the
wings of lepidoptera caused by the union or coalescence of
lines in certain seasons and under certain conditions, is un-
questionably based on a line of reasoning that will ultimately
lead to the perfect elucidation of this form of variation, by it,
the genealogy of many so-called species and varieties will be
traced to this true source of origin. The variation of British
lepidoptera affords the best of all opportunities for the full
investigation of the subject. The many able and earnest
workers resident throughout the country, and the Continental
interchange of specimens, notes of experiments and discoveries,
will always enable British entomologists to lead the way in the
science of variation. The resolution recently adopted by some
of the London societies to devote certain evenings to special
groups or subjects is another step in the right direction towards
dispelling any doubts, and adding new facts to the subject
selected.
With reference to Mr. Tutt’s remarks on reversion and the
progressive development of Lepidoptera from dark to light
forms, or vice versa, I would remark that after much close
observation on the subject in New Zealand, I unhesitatingly
agree with Mr. Tutt in believing the former to be the right
view of the two. In all cases where dark or melanic forms
occur in our climate, they can readily be shown to be partial or
perfect instances of atavism produced in certain districts in-
variably more humid than the localities where the lighter forms
occur, and more typical of their ancestors formerly existing in
the ancient and more humid climate of the Islands. The New
Zealand climate has undergone considerable modification since
the advent of European settlement, and its effects are working
rapid and ruinous changes in the flora and fauna of the
country. The changes in the environment and economy of
HEREDITY IN LEPIDOPTERA.
195
numerous species of Lepidoptera have caused the development
of some remarkable phases of variation. By closely observing
these phenomena for many years, it has of late thrown much
light on the origin and development of several of our local
species and varieties. Mr. Tutt, in his papers on Melanism,
etc., has dwelt at length on the effects of certain localities in
darkening British Lepidoptera, but, so far, that gentleman’s
efforts have been directed towards an explanation of the causes
producing melanism only. When we study the subject in the
opposite direction, we just as easily reach conclusions (in their
bearing as the case may be) in the development of brighter
and paler colours. The sub-family SatyrincB comprise the
blackest species of known Rhopalocera. They also constitute
the second group in Bates’ Structural Classification of Butterflies,
and considering the colours and low structure of the group,
they were, doubtless, among the first to appear in early geolo-
gical times. I am inclined to regard black as the primary
colour of Lepidoptera, and the one most suited to the cool,
wet climates of the ages through which they have passed.
The evolution of the numerous species constituting the group,
or of the higher groups from the Satyrince, need not be dis-
cussed here ; we have sufficient evidence of their great
antiquity and of several species still retaining their primary
colour from their zone of origin through geological time ; it is,
therefore, not difficult to understand how, under the ever-
changing conditions and rapid modification of climates in
modern times, numerous species should develop a tendency to
vary in a given direction. The hereditary tendency to vary is
more strongly marked in some groups than others, but I agree
with Mr. Tutt in laying stress on this as an important factor in
the production (under certain conditions) of Melanism, and it
seems to me that we must take a much wider grasp of the
subject than we have been accustomed to do when dealing
with these important problems. The law of heredity among
insects is comparatively unknown to entomologists, and until
the science is perfectly studied very little sound progress will
be made in developing our knowledge of the laws of variation.
The thought has frequently occurred to me that the peculiar
and beautiful variation of certain groups or species operates
more from within than without. It seems to me not to be the
mere external influences of artificial environment that produce
the variation (useful or otherwise) in a bred species, but to be
due to the law of heredity operating in a given direction. It
196
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
is precisely the same in a state of nature when certain species
are subjected to a rapid change of environment. They suddenly
develop new colours, or their typical colours become greatly
intensified. The closer the conditions of existence approximate
to the zone in which a species was evolved, the more strictly
typical will the colours develop. It is not so much a question
of the origin of a species, as the conditions under which its
colours were evolved, that interests us here. Yet I contend
that heredity plays an important part with many species in
developing peculiar forms of variation. For several seasons I
have been experimenting with Chrysophanus boldenarum, with a
view to ascertaining how far the colours of the imagines could
be affected by varying degrees of dry and moist atmosphere.
The species has varied greatly of late years in our district
owing to the long continuance of dry seasons {Record, vol. i.,
p. 122 ; ii., p. 32), and with a desire to cause a reversion of the
paler colours developed, I instituted some experiments by rear-
ing the larvae from the eggs under cool, moist conditions, and
so far with good results. In the autumn (September) of 1889,
v/e netted a good number of both sexes, and placed them in
suitable houses to pair. In a few days we obtained about a
dozen eggs which were deposited on the under sides of the
leaves of their foodplant {Lagenophora petiolata). These, with
many others which we subsequently obtained, were put into
cool wet pots, and in due time emerged ; we kept them under
the cool shade of a thick pine tree, and kept their food and the
soil and atmosphere in the pots as moist and cool as possible.
On the zinc lids of the pots we placed small pieces of wood,
over this was put a thick covering of calico kept constantly wet.
By this method a cool atmosphere was generated in and over
the pots ; under the treatment a few larvae died at various
stages of growth, but more so during the first moult. The
remainder, which fed up and pupated perfectly, duly emerged
in the imago state in perfect condition. The contrast between
the bred examples of both sexes, and specimens captured this
season in a state of nature for comparison is very striking. The
intense deep black of the males with the almost total suppres-
sion of the discal series of orange spots in the bred examples,
and the pale ground colour with the abnormally marked series
of purple and orange spots of examples taken this season on
the sandy river flats, are cases which add considerably to our
knowledge of the causes of the origin and development of local
races and varieties. The bred specimens are the larger and
VARIATION.
197
finer of the two, and here I may remark that it is the result of
only one season’s experiment.
Now it cannot be doubted that, under the influence of the
long continuance of dry weather and hot sunshine, the species
is rapidly developing a local variety, and it appears to me to be
a case to illustrate how careful we should be when describing
varieties, to note the conditions under which they were evolved,
especially when the species under more favourable conditions
rapidly reverts to the typical colours. Perhaps similar experi-
ments conducted with the British “ Carpet Moths ” would
enlighten us further on the subject. But I leave entomologists
to draw conclusions from their own experiments, whether
certain forms of variation are due to heredity, to seasonable
derangement or artificial environment. The cases cited appear
to me to be due to the former, borne from their zone of origin.
If we consider the immense duration of time of the earlier
geological epochs and their uniform conditions of temperature,
we may form a fairly accurate idea of the origin and stability of
the colours of insects. In any light we study the question, the
value of the results would be greatly enhanced by a series of
sound experiments conducted in close imitation of natural
conditions, and especially bearing in mind the more important
object in view.
Ashburton, N.Z. Ju7te, 1891.
Variation.
Black Varieties of Boarmia roboraria and Liparis monacha.
— When at Mr. Edmonds’ extensive larvae breeding-ground at Windsor,
I saw, among a number of good things, some very dark Boarmia robo-
raria, and several black Liparis monacha (which emerged while I was
there), and amongst them a black female with only a few white specks
near the thorax. I also heard of some black specimens of Vanessa io
having been bred, though not then in Mr. Edmonds’ possession. I may
safely say that any one taking the trouble to go through these grounds
will be amply repaid for doing so. — D. II. S. Steuart, Royal College
of Science, South Kensington, S.W.
Leucania unipuncta var. asticta. — I find there is in the Museum
here a specimen of Z. miipuncta referable to the form asticta, Tutt. The
spot at the base of the reniform is not quite obsolete, but it is of the
same colour as the wing instead of being white. This specimen was
taken in Jamaica by Mr. J. J. Bowrey. — T. D. A. Cockerell, Institute
of Jamaica, Kingston, Jam lira. At/gf-st 10th, 1891.
198
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Variety of Epinephele janira. — On the 28th of July I took a
curious variety of this insect. It was a ? . The upper wings are much
darker than usual, being almost black, whilst the under wings are nearly
white. The upper part of the right underwing is slightly drab in colour,
but in the rest of this wing and in the whole of the other underwing
the colouring matter seems to be entirely absent, as if it had all got into
the upper wings. I beat this insect out of a hedge, and its appearance
when flying was most peculiar, the contrast between the two pairs of
wings being so marked. —John Williams Vaughan, Jun., The Skreen,
Radnorshire, Erwood, R.S.O. August 22nd^ 1891.
Varieties of Saturnia pavonia (carpini). — I have this season
bred some of the strangest aberrations of this species, reared from
larvae taken on the Longmynds, the principal range of hills here. The
first to emerge of this species was a very dark <^ , which I propose to
call ah. infu7nata., owing to the very dark colour of all the wings, this
dark shade has so far invaded the whole colouring, that it has nearly
expelled the ordinary orange colour from the hind-wings. Of this ah.
I obtained two (Js. In a very diminutive pair, ^ and ?, a brilliant
rosy-crimson has suffused the principal markings ; this colour so far
predominating that the bluish part of the crescent of the eye is altogether
wanting, and this crescent reduced to a broad rich crimson arc. The
usually serrated line is scarcely indented at all, and broadly suffused
with crimson. This charming ah. might well be styled rosacea. The
larvae of pavonia also vary a great deal ; some have broad velvety rings
around each segment ; in others these are reduced to small rings
around each tubercle ; while the tubercles themselves offer a great
many gradations. I have now feeding larvae with the following tuber-
cular colours ; the type appears to be bright yellow, the next common
colour is orange, then pink ; while white, black, and purple are of rarer
occurrence. The foodplants appear to be in this neighbourhood, meadow-
sweet {SpircEct ul?7iaria) in the valleys, and the two sorts of heath {Erica
tetralix and E. cwe7'ea) on the hills. I find that the pupa often remains
two years before yielding the imago. — F. B. Newnham, Church
Stretton, Salop.
Black var. of Melit^ea atahlia. — The weather in the “ Landes ”
has been very stormy for some days, much rain and wind breaking
down trees, but it is now pleasantly cool. WTen the sun is out, MelitcEa
athalia is in swarms, especially on the flowers of heath. Only one black
specimen with the red reduced to a marginal row of marks was seen. —
T. A. Chapman. Septe77iber^ 1891.
Luperina testacfa var. gueneei. On rearranging my L. testacea,
I at once recognised a fine specimen of var. gueneei. It was taken, no
doubt, by the late T. P. Brockholes, who used to collect on the banks
of the Dee. It is identical with the only three taken at Rhyl. Mr.
Baxter looked at it to-day, he noted it as distinct from his so-called
7iickerlii — var. incerta {British NocUke and their Varieties, vol. i.,
p. 140). — J. B. Hodgkinson, Ellerslie, Ashton-on-Ribble. J^uiy, 1891.
Gynandrous specimen of Fidonia piNiARiA. — A friend of mine
took a specimen of Fido7iia pmiaria this season, with the wings on one
side the colour of a male and on the other side of the female; one of
the antennae also being pectinated, the other simple. — James AV^arren,
Jun., Capel House, Waltham Cross.
VARIATION
199
Varieties of Smerinthus tili^, Pararge meg^r\ and Hepialus
HUMULi. — The following varieties are in the possession of Mr. Edwin
Gray, of Newstead, Bedford, and are I think worthy of notice, (i). A
male specimen of Smerinthus having the olive-green cross bar
and border of the upper wings replaced by a pale buff colour, the
rest of the wings being paler than the ordinary form, with the usual
amount of black scales. The hind wings very pale with a buff margin
and yellow fringe. Thorax grey and very light olive, abdomen grey.
The specimen was caught on a doorstep in Bedford last June. (2).
A male specimen of Pararge ?negcera^ having the ground colour of the
upper wings replaced by white inclining to tawny-fulvous where it meets
the smoky-brown markings, which are normal as are the hind wings.
This white is of the same kind as sometimes appears in varieties of
Epinephele jafiira, giving them a bleached appearance. This specimen
was caught at Cromer in the middle of the present month. (3). A
female of Hepialus humuli having the fringe and margin of the under
wings bright orange and a pale shade of the same colour being diffused
all over them, most intense on the under side where it is also present
on the fore wings, though the upper side of the latter is normal ; thorax
orange. This variety was taken this season at Cromer. — D. H. Steuart,
Red Court, Bedford. August 2<^th, 1891. [This latter is not at all an
uncommon form. — Ed.]
Varieties of ZvGiENA trifolii. — Mr. Abbott is wrong {E??t. Pec.,
ii., p. 155) when writing of the var. of Z. trifolii. It is the type that
has the second pair of spots coalesced ; var. orobi, Hb. has the same
pair of spots distinct. The other vars. are as follows : — var. filipejidulce,
Hb., basal and central spots coalescing ; var. glycirrhizce, Hb., central
and terminal spots coalescing ; var. basalis, all the spots united
by a line of red of uneven width ; var. 7iiinoides, all the spots
united into a large blotch occupying all the disc. These are all
narrow-bordered varieties. There are also thinly scaled varieties,
varieties with ill-defined or fully-developed sixth spot, and a yellow
variety (lutescens). — Sydney Webb, Dover. Septe?7iber, 1891. [Dr.
Staudinger unites glycirrhizce and filipendulce, Hb.-Gey. under the name
of confluens and writes : — “ mac. omnibus confluentibus,” so that he
would use but one name for these, together with basalis and ??iinoides,
a much less satisfactory division than Mr. Webb’s. He also gives : —
orobi, Hb. 133, mac. mediis separatis ; var. syracusia, Zell, minor, al.
ant. maculis parvis, disjunctis, post, margine lato nigro.” This latter
var. comes from ; — “ Sicily, Spain and Mauritania (N.W. Africa),’’ but
we get this small form in England. Var. dubia, Stdgr. Cat., p. 21 =
transalpina, lAb. = medicagmis, L,di.= cliaj'on Bois., described as: — “var.
major, al. ant. macul. 5 vel 6, al. post, latius nigris.” This form, which
we also get, is recorded from the “ Alps, Pyrenees and doubtfully
from Greece” (Staudinger, Catalog, p. 47). — Ed.]
In Messrs. Abbott and Hodges’ notes on the Zygcence, they both
speak of the yellow variety of Z. filipendulce, and the blotched or barred
form of Z. trifolii. I have not had any experience of Z. filipendulce
this year, but in an old and disused brickfield at Gamlingay, on July
1 6th last, I found Z. trifolii in great abundance, although somewhat
difficult to obtain, as it is an excessively wet and sloppy place, and what
with water up to the shoe tops, and herbage up to the waist, one might
200
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
almost imagine himself fishing, rather than looking for “Burnets;’
however, I was very lucky in finding a yellow d' in cop. with a
barred 2 , from which I also succeeded in obtaining ova, but unfor-
tunately all the larvae are since dead. Like Mr. Abbott’s Z. filipendulce,
my Z. trifolii is of a very beautiful lemon yellow, showing no trace
whatever of red. 1 gathered a large number of cocoons, and was much
pleased in breeding another pure yellow variety, but unfortunately it
is somewhat a cripple, although quite good enough to keep. In
addition to the above two varieties, I found on the next day, viz..^ the
17th, two others which may fairly be said to be intermediate between
the yellow form and the type, the first has the spots and underwings of
a deep orange tinged with red, but still very different from the brilliant
crimson of the type ; the second has the spots on the upper wing of
the normal coloration, but the underwings of the deep orange red as in
the first. Yet another curious form is one in which the top basal spot
on the left wing is yellow, all the rest typical. I also found a number
of the blotched varieties, although by no means as commonly as Mr.
Abbott, the type being much the more prevalent. — W. Bond Smith,
Potton. September^ 1891. [I took this yellow variety some years ago
in North Kent, and named it luiescens in the Young Naturalist. — Ed.]
Varieties of Polia chi in the Leeds district. — During the last
three weeks I have taken a large number of this insect at rest on stone
walls, never in any other position. I have taken only three good
examples of the var. olivacea., but have fresh specimens of every shade
connecting it with the type. A local collector told me that one in
twelve was the usual proportion ; with me it has been about one in
twenty-five. As to the form suffusa^ noted by Mr. Robson, it seems
to be almost as common as the type, and, as we find in the case of
olivacea., intermediate specimens occur. Mr. Carrington informed me
that black ” chi were taken in a certain wood near Leeds ; so far,
however, I have not met with this variety, though I possess some very
dark suffusa. In var. suffusa the under-wings are smoky ; in var.
olivacea they are white, with at most a small blackish blotch on the
margin. — W. Mansbridge, Luther Place, Horsforth, near Leeds.
Variety of Coremia ferrugata. — When collecting at Edlington
Wood, near Doncaster, one day this spring, I captured a specimen of
C. ferrugata^ in which the costal half of the normal purplish bar in the
right wing is obliterated, its place being occupied by ferruginous,
which thus forms a broad dash along the costal margin, the left wing
being perfectly normal. The specimen is quite fresh and in good
condition. — Id.
Thyatira batis (type). — With reference to the note, Entom. Record,
vol. ii., p. 108, I may say that two or three years ago I bred a Thyatira
batis with the spots a delicate light brown, like that described by
Mr. Alderson. It was the last to emerge of a few pupae which I had,
and is without the faintest trace of the rosy colour of the ordinary
form. This gives it somewhat of a “washed-out” appearance, and to
my taste detracts considerably from its beauty. — Joseph Anderson,
JuN., Chichester.
Variety of the Larva of Smerinthus tili^e. — I had a rather
curious variety of this larva, found on August 25th, which, instead of
the normal green colour, was a dingy violet shade. I am not aware
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
201
that this caterpillar is given to variation. I see no mention of the
fact, either in Newman, Kirby, Buckler or Stainton. It has now
turned into a pupa on the top of the soil in the pot. — Id.
Sept 6771 her nth, 1891.
Generic nomenclature and the Acronyctid^. — My “assump-
tions ” {ETit. Record, p. 106) as to the action of the Editor of the Record,
I took from what Mr. Lewcock had written before, that that gentleman
disclaimed the authorship of Cuspidia aceris because the Editor had
himself substituted Dr. Chapman’s generic name for Acro7iycta. If it
w'as not so, will the Editor please tell us who was responsible for the
appearance of the name in ETit. Record, 1890, p. 167 ? If I remember
rightly in the report of the City of London Society elsewhere the
species appears under AcroTtycta. — T. D. A. Cockerell. [Mr.
Cockerell is entirely wrong, (i). I did not “substitute” Cuspidia (or
Ac7’07iycta. (2). Mr. Lewcock neither suggested nor wrote that I did
so. (3). Mr. Lewcock disclaimed responsibility because others had
used Cuspidia before it appeared under his name and because it was
well-known the names were Dr. Chapman’s, and not because I “ sub-
stituted ” Cuspidia for Acronycta. (4). The name Cuspidia could have
occurred at Record, i., p. 167, in one of two ways — either Cuspidia
was in the report, or, the report was without generic names and I
added it. — Ed.]
“ Dr, Chapman’s recently proposed division of the genus AcroTiycta is
adopted in The British Noctuce aTtd their Varieties, and if the genus is
to be divided at all we hope it will stand, as it is the result of a very
painstaking and careful study of the group on Dr. Chapman’s part, and
as it seems to us superior to any division which had previously been
suggested.” — G. T. Porritt, The Naturalist, p. 278.
Use of spots on larva of Ch^rocampa euphorbia. — I was
interested when on the “ Landes ” with what I did -not see of Chcero-
ca77ipa euphorhice. A Euphorbia (para/ias?) growing on the shore had
been eaten by it, and in one place there was much fresh frass. I could
not find the larvae, but I thought once I had done so, the stem of the
Euphorbia had the leaves so eaten off, as to leave their bases as round
coloured spots, and these, C. euphorbice obviously mimics, and thereby no
doubt hides itself. This conclusion is very different to that to be drawn
from its appearance in Capri, where I saw it two years ago. There it
fed openly and most abundantly on a Euphorbia, its aspect
seemed to make it intentionally conspicuous as a warning to enemies.
Can the same larva use the same markings in two such diverse manners,
in different places and under different circumstances? — T. A. Chapman,
Firbank, Hereford.
Strange copulation. — On August 22nd, I found Charceas s,ra77ii7iis
$ , m cop. with Noctua xanthographa g . — W. Mackmurdo, Wanstead.
Action of Chloride of Potassium on Gonepteryx rhamni. — A
friend who used to collect, showed me two specimens of G. rha77ini,
which, after being kept for between two and three years in a bottle of
chloride of potassium, developed the deep orange blotches at the
c
202
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
extremities of the fore wings, which are sometimes said to be found in
varieties of fhamni. — James Warren, Jun., Capel House, Waltham
Cross.
Protective resemblance in Iodis vernaria larvae. — Referring
to Mr. Hewett’s note {ante, p. 138) on /. vernaria larvae, what strikes
me as interesting (from my own observations) is that they hatch green,
turn brown in the autumn, hybernate that colour, retain it in the spring,
until, with their last skin, they re-assume the bright green colour of the
newly-hatched larvae, which they retain in the pupal stage. The ova
are also most interesting, flat, cylindrical, and deposited one upon
another in little steeples of about ten in each, looking, under a glass,
like so many cheeses piled one upon another. — W. Farren, Cam-
bridge. July, 1891.
Mr. Farren is quite right about Iodis vernaria. I kept a female to
lay, and the eggs are, or were, most extraordinary, and they hatched
green. — G. M. A. Hewett, Winchester.
^fOTES ON collecting, Etc.
Notes of the Season. — Ca7nbridge. — In addition to my captures
noted in the Record (p. 134), I have taken a nice set of Gelechia
ncBinferella, Ditula hart77ianniana, A7itithesia salicella, and many odd
things, macro and micro ; notably four specimens one evening of
Xanthosetia zoegana yds. ferrugana on a dry bank in the Fen, no other
specimens of the species being seen, typical or otherwise. They are
very striking, their brown colour being so different to the yellow of the
type. Bryophila wipar seems to have been scarce this year. I only
took ten specimens, although I worked hard for them nearly every
morning for over three weeks. Three were found on July 30th, the
rest singly, with the exception of two on August 17th, and Messrs. Tutt
and Porritt, who were with me on that day took one each. I captured
the last one two days later. Nonagria neu7'ica has been conspicuous by its
absence, partly owing to the weather having been too bad for me to go
after it regularly. The only specimens I know to have been taken this
year were two taken by Mr. Jones of this town last week. — W. Farren,
Fern House, Union Road, Cambridge. August, 1891.
The Island of Eigg. — On the loth of July, two or three hours spent
in collecting on this island (situaW on the west coast of Scotland)
resulted in the capture of the following eight species of insects :
Vanessa urticce. Satyr us se77iele, Coenonympha pamphilus. Abraxas
grossulariata, A7iaitis plagiata, E^ibolia Iwiitata, Ca7nptogra77ima
bilimata, and Cidaria wunatiata. As the climate is extremely humid,
I hoped to find some melanic varieties, but the i77i7na7iata alone exhibits
much tendency in this direction. The two specimens of Vanessa urticce
which I took are unusually large and well marked, but, on the other
hand, the A. grossulariata are small and pale, measuring in fact but
in. across the wings, while the same species taken here expands
ij in., and Newman’s figure is nearly 2 inches. These insects were
abundant, sitting on the fronds of the bracken — what the larva finds
there to feed upon I do not know. On the mainland — in the neigh-
bourhood of Arisaig — Erebia cethiops swarmed ; I took one handsome
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
203
Specimen with the white ocelli unusually large, and some varieties of the
underside, also Geometra papilionaria and Pliisia festuca. — Francis
Gayner, Beech Holm, Sunderland.
Winchester. — Larvae seen pretty abundant. I have taken a lot of
Sphinx ligustri and Smerinthus oceilatus, and a fair lot of 6'. tilice,
Lobophora sexalata and Ephyra orbicularia are in fair numbers on the
Lyndhurst sallows, the latter on the low branches, and they drop at a touch,
also Hypsipetes impluviata on the alders in fair numbers, but they are
delicate. The commoner larvae, Notodonta dromedarius., N ziczac, etc.,
seem plentiful. I have taken several Cucullia lychnitis larvae here on
the flowers of the white mullein. They answer Mr. Owen Wilson’s
description exactly. I took one Sphinx convolvuli at the flowers of Nicotiana
affinis on the 8th, quite fresh, but no more have come, which is a
nuisance, as it cuts up the evening. One must wait for them after
getting one. They are singularly invisible for so large an insect. I
have taken two very small Apaiura iris larvae. Spilosoma lubricipeda
emerged on the 4th from this year’s larvae. — G. M. A. Hewett
Winchester. Septefnber i^th, 1891.
Deal. — July c^th to August 4th. — During this time, which was perhaps
a little less cold, wet and miserable than the rest of this wretched
season, collecting could only be accomplished at the risk of getting wet
through, and this was not at all an uncommon occurrence. So late
was the season that many June species were in full swing at the end of
July, and all data for future reference is absolutely useless. Most
collectors know Deal, so it is waste of time to go into details; the
following are my principal captures, and I have given the date of the
first appearance of each species : — July 4th. Homoeosoma sinuella^
Anerastia lotella.^ Crambus chrysonuchellus^ Chrosis tesserana, Eubolia
lineoldta^ Nyctegretes achatinella., A gratis ripcB (2), A. corticea^ Ha den a
dentina., Leucania C07n7ua^ Xylophasia sublustris and Ma77iestra albicolon.
July 6th. Eupezcilia rupicola^ Lyccena alsus^ Aplecta nebulosa, Herbula
cespiialis, Platytes cerusellus., Agrotis valligera, Hadena chenopodii.,
Ma77iestra anceps., Caradritia morpheus and C. blanda. July 7th. Peronea
co77iariana., Acidalia wiitaria, Spilonota 7ieglectana, Axylia putris.,
Ma77iestra persicarice., Noenia typica^ Apa77iea basilinea, Noclua augur
and Hadena thalassina. July 8th. Ebulea crocealis, Eudorea pallidulalis^
Conchylis inopia7ia.^ Ti77iandra a77iataria, Sphaleroptera ictericana.,
Eupoecilia dubita7ia.^ Cuspidia 77iegacephala., Caradrina alsines, Apamea
ge77iina, Noctua tria7igulu77i and Thyatira derasa. July 9th. Cra77ibus
uligmosellus, Hydrelia unca., Zygcena t7'ifolii.^ Nudaria senex, Sericoris
C07icha7ia., Leucania pudorma.^ Acidalia wimutata.^ Catoptria fulvana.^
Schoenobius forficellus^ Argyrolepia 7nussehliana and Litliosia 77ieso77iella.
July loth. Ortliotcznia stria7ia, Lithosia pyg77icEola^ Cledeobia angustalis,
Paraponyx stratiofalis, Acidalia e/nutaria, Cra77ibus inquuiatellus,
Agrotis tritici and Ho77ioeoso77ia bincevella. July loth. Dia7itlioecia capsin-
cola, and Dicrora7npha svnpliciana. July nth. Hypenodes albistrigalis,
Chesias spartiata^ Botys fuscalis, Aphelia pratana, Hyria auroraria^
Leuca7iia stra77ii7iea, Hydroca77ipa stagnalis and Scoparia cc77d^rce. July
13th. Cuspidia aceris, Melanippe galiata, M. rivata, Callwiorpha do7ni-
7iula, Acidalia pro77iutata^ Ephippiphora trige77iinana, Oncocera ahenella.,
Scoparia dubitalis and Agrotis 7iigrica7is. July 14th. Leucania conigera,
Cidaria fulvata, Sciaphila 7tubila7ia^ and Habrostola urticce. July 15th.
204
THE ENTOMOLOGISTS RECORD.
Coinobia despecta and Herminia cribralis. July i6th. Miana furu7icula^
Crambus warri7igto?iellus, Acida/ia scutulata and Plusia chtysitis.
July 17th. Argyrolepia subbau77ia7i7iia7ia^ Pterophorus 77iicrodactylus and
Heliothis 77iargi7iata. July i8th. Boar77iia repa7idata. July 20th.
LyccB7ia cegoTi, L. corydoTi^ Sciaphila perteraTta^ Co7ichylis gigaTttaTia^
Tortrix icteraTia^ Phoxopte7yx C077ipta7ia, Sericoris cespita7ia, C. fraTicillo-
7ui7ia^ Pte7 ophorus phcccdactylus, P. panddactylus and Eubolia bipuHctaria.
July 2 1 St. Liparis salicis and Aphelia ossea7ia. July 22nd. Melia a7iellay
Mia7ia liierosa and Eupithecia subTiotata. July 23rd. Odo7itia dentalis
and Spilo7iota aceriaria. July' 24th. Ebulea sa77ibucalis, Nola cuculla-
tc/la, LycccTia agestis, Odo7iesti'^ potatoria and Cidaria pyraliata. July
25th. Ephippiphora foc7tea7ia, CoTichylis alter7ia7ia^ Apa77iea ophiogra77wia
and Rivula sericealis. July 28th. Eudorea li7ieolalis^ Pelurga co77iitata^
Nudaria ?7iU7ida7ia and Clear a licheTtaria. July 31st. Cra77ibus C07ita77ii-
vellus^ Cerigo cytherea^ A77iphipyra tragopogOTils, Agrotis suppusa a.nd Noctua
baja. August ist. Eupoecilia hybridellana^ Stre7iia clathrata, Aspilates
gilvaria, Se77iasia rufilla7ia^ Peronea aspersana and Arge galatea,
August 3rd. E77i77ielesia ajffi7iitata. Sugar was of little use. I captured
a dark brown unicolorous $ of Odonestis potataria^ and have a few
larvae, from ova laid by her, now feeding. Cleora liclmiaria^ Agrotis
ripce. and Apa77iea ophiogra77i77ia are, as far as I know, new to the Deal
list. I also collected a number of pupae of OdoTitia deTitalis^ and have
bred a long series. In all, excluding Tine^, I noticed 245 species of
lepidoptera during the time of my stay. — C. Fenn, Eversden House,
Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, Kent.
St. Annds-07i-Sea. — On the few favourable days we had at the end of
April we did fairly well on the sallows, taking Tce7iioca77ipa gracilis (very
plentifully), T. gothica, T. iTistabilis^ T. rubricosa and T. opwia. A few
hybernated specimens were also to be seen, Caloca77ipa exoleta^ Agrotis
suffusa, etc. From that time until this month the wind kept pretty well
in the east, when moths came freely to sugar. Vi77iinia riwiicis seems
the common moth this season, but unfortunately I was too late for it,
and did not get many good specimens. I also took HadcTia adusta, H.
deTithia., H. pisi, Cuspidia psi, Leucania cor7wia., MiaTia strigilis, Ilf.
fasciu7icula., Gra77i77iesia trilmea., Ma77iestra albicolo7i., M. brassicce^
Apa77?eii ge77ii7ia, Heliothis 77iargmatus (2), Noctua f estiva, N. plecta, A.
basili/iea, Agrotis excla77iationis, Ma77iestra sordida, Euplexia lucipara,
Rusma tc7iebrosa, Agrotis corticea, etc., and some worn T. stabilis and
T. gothica on June 17th. I did not get M. strigilis until June 17th, nor
M. fasciu7icula until June 26th; but I missed three days sugaring before
the latter date as the wind was so high. On that date moths simply
swarmed to sugar. It was a very close hot day, with a good deal of
thunder and much rain. With respect to M. strigilis 2cad M.fasciu7icula,
I noticed paiticularly that the former is invariably the larger moth, here
at any rate. Of course the two overlap as it were, but, take them all
through, strigilis is far larger, and this is especially noticeable on the
sugar, when you see ten or twelve of each sort together. The 26th was
certainly one of the best nights I ever recollect for quantity, but I did
not get anything in particular except a few Ma77ieAra albicolon and one
beautiful Agrotis corticea, a very dark velvety looking moth, with the
fringe and tip of the upper wing very light and shiny. I think I made
rather a find on Saturday : I was exploring round our cricket field with
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
205
some of the boys, and, on an old heap of rubbish all among some
nettles, I came across a lot of Tinea imella and took about thirty. I
think this moth must be rather rare, as my friend, Mr. Hodgkinson, who
named them for me, said he had never taken it himself, and he had
collected for fifty years. — T. Baxter, St. Anne’s-on-Sea.
Lake District. — On July 6th I arrived at Keswick for a few weeks’
collecting. The weather during my stay was on the whole fine, but
seemed to affect insects in a way that made them sluggish, and absence
of sunny days made the Diurni scarce, so that I had to work hard for
what I did get. The best insect I took was Erebia cassiope. Newman’s
British Butterflies was my guide as to localities for this, but I only took
it just below Styehead Tarn, at the head of Borrowdale. It occurs
here in a little valley, I think about i,ooo feet above the sea level, down
which runs a brook, the river Derwent being the outlet of the Tarn.
It did not, however, appear to be common here, probably because I
was too late for it, as most of the specimens I took were worn, some
badly so. I visited the spot twice. The first day (July loth) was sunny,
but a fresh breeze swept down from the Tarn. I arrived about midday,
and stayed for rather more than an hour, during which I captured eight
specimens, which were almost all I saw. It is by far the easiest butterfly
to catch of any I know, as it never makes the slightest attempt to dodge
the net. Soon after one o’clock it disappeared altogether, although the
sun was still shining. To-day, on my way home, I had the misfortune
to drop my collecting box, containing the eight specimens of E. cassiope^
amongst some heather and bracken. A two hours’ systematic search
over half an acre was fruitless ; the box and specimens must be there
now ! On July 8th, I carefully searched the greater part of the southern
and western slopes of Helvellyn for the same insect, but failed to find it
although the day was favourable for its flight. On the nth, an expedi-
tion for it to the Red Skrees, near Ambleside, met with no better
success ; but although the western slope near the top seemed very
likely ground for it, and the day was oppressively hot and still, with an
entire absence of sun, I had not a fair chance. On the 13th, I made
an early start for Styehead Tarn again, though it was the dullest of
mornings, with a cold wind blowing. I arrived at about 10.30, but saw
nothing of cassiope for an hour, owing to the dull weather ; when fortune
favoured me, for the only glimpses of sunlight, it seemed, in the whole
district came down my valley. These glimpses were of very short
duration, and few and far between, nevertheless most precious, for
immediately on the appearance of the sun, cassiope appeared, although
when the sun was not shining I could not find a single specimen even
by most careful searching. Once I caught three specimens in hardly
more than thirty seconds of sunshine, and altogether I took nine in
about two hours. The rule seems to be, no sunshine, no cassiope. I
brought home a living 2 , but although I fed her she died in a week
without having laid. Of other Diurni, I took Argynnis selene (much
worn), A. aglaia (fine) and Coenonympa davus. Of the latter, five
specimens on Helvington Moss, near Kendal (2 xes, F. of Lyccena astrarehe, Bgstr. ; var. subochracea, B.
White of Zygoena exulans^ H. (ic R. ; var. borealis^ Stdgr. of Spiloso7na
fuiiginosa, L. ; var. ochracea, B. White of S. ??ienthastri, Esp. ; var. scotica,
B. White of Thera ju?iiperata^ L. etc. ; and amongst the Noctu^ there
are also some forms which are recognised as local races, as, for example,
^ For example, if in a country where a local race had supplanted the more widely
diffused typical form, the latter occurred occasionally, it must be regarded — strictly
speaking — as an aberration only, so far as that country is concerned. — F.B.W.
VARIATION.
219
the var. myric(z^ Gn. of Acronycta euphorbia^ F. It seems probable,
therefore, that some of the numerous forms mentioned by Mr. Tutt are
varieties, in the Staudingerian sense, or local races, whilst others are
merely aberrations. With the large amount of material that Mr. Tutt
has, and his experience in this family, we may hope that some day he
will point out which of the named forms are to be looked upon as
varieties, and which as aberrations. More than half of the species have
yet to be dealt with by Mr. Tutt, but, amongst those already treated
of, a number of varieties which occur in Scotland are mentioned.
Probably many others also occur, but as there is no definite statement
to that effect we will not mention them just now. So far as can be
gathered from a brief examination of the descriptions, the following
Scottish varieties are melanochroic or melanic, i.e. they are darker
(although not necessarily suffused with black) in colour than the type of
the species : —
Cymatophoj'a duplaris L. (3 obKura Tutt ; Asphalia flavicornis L. /3
scotica Stdgr. and 7 rosea Tutt ; Acronycta rumicis L. a salicis Curtis ;
Leucania lithargyria Esp. 7 ferrago F., I extralinea Tutt, and e fidvescefis
Tutt; Z. hnpura Hb. a fuligosina Haw.; Z. pattens L. ectypa Hb.
and 7 rufescens Haw. ; Tapinostola fulva Hb. 7 punicea Tutt, ^ fluxa
Tr., and ij neurica St. ; Hydrcecia nictitans L. h erythrostigma Haw. and
e obscura Tutt ; H. inicacea Esp. h brunnea Tutt ; Helotropha leucostigma
Hb. a albipuncta Tutt ; Xylophasia polyodon L. a obscura Tutt, ft brunnea
Tutt, 7 infuscata B. White and h cethiops Stdgr. ; X. rurea F. e putris
Hb. ^ combusta Haw, and i nigro-rubida Tutt ; Mamestra furva Hb, 7
infernalis Ev. ; Luperina testacea Hb. 7 cinerea Tutt and h nigrescens
Tutt; Caradrina taraxaci Hb. a sordida Haw. The following varieties
are paler than the type; — Cymatophora or F. a scotica Tutt and ft
flavistigmata Tutt; Tapinostola fulva Hb. ft ochracea Tutt and d pallida
St.; Xylophasia zollikoferi Frey a pallida Tutt; X. rurea F. a argentea
Tutt, ft ochrea Tutt and h fiavo-rufa Tutt; Miana fasciunciila Haw. ft
cana Stdgr. Some of the following varieties do not fall into either of the
above groups, whilst the position (so far as can be learned from the
description) of others is somewhat doubtful : — Acronycta menyanthidis
Vw. ft scotica Tutt (pale?); Tapinostola fulva Hb. e pygmina Haw.
(pale?); Apaniea ganina Hb. a rufescens Tutt, ft intermedia Tutt and a
remissa Hb. ; Charceas graminis L. a gra?ni}ieus Haw., ft tricuspis Esp.,
7 rufa Tutt and h rufo-costa Tutt. From these lists it will be seen that
considerably more than half (28 to 18) of the varieties mentioned are
melanochroic (in the sense in which that term is used), thus supporting
the statement made above, that in North British specimens there is
usually a tendency to a darkening of the coloration. We look forward
with interest to the continuation of Mr. Tutt’s valuable work. — F.
Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S., F.E.S. (from the Scottish Naturalist^
Oct., 1891).
PoLiA CHI vars. suffusa and olivacea. — In the Ent. Record, ante,
p. 200, I think Mr. Mansbridge’s note is rather misleading. First of
all the hind wings of var. olivacea are not always “white.” The colour
of the hind wings varies according to sex equally in the type, var.
olivacea and var. suffusa. Mr. Robson’s var. suffusa has a very distinct
deep grey ground colour in both sexes. When Mr. Mansbridge says
that var. suffusa seems almost as common as the type, I feel certain
220
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
that he is referring to the sexes, and calls the females var. suffusa.
Bradford is the great centre for var. suffusa. I have a fairly long series
from Mr. Mansbridge’s locality, Leed>, but the specimens are practi-
cally lyi)ical, the females slii^htly darker grey than the males, but not
the peculiar dark grey in both sexes required to form var. suffusa. I
may be wrong, but I do not think Mr. Mansbridge refers to Mr.
Robson’s variety when he speaks of var. suffusa. — J. W. Tutt.
October, 1891.
Dark vars. of Cymatophora duplaris. — I think it will be found
that the C. duplaris on Cannock Chase are all, more or less, black. I
have bred a beautiful specimen this year from the only larva I had, and
my friend, Mr. G. Baker, has done the same, both being nearly black.
— Charles F. Thornewill, The Soho, Burton-on-Trent. September,
1891 [It would be interesting if Mr. Thornewill would inform us
whether he gets the type or var. obscura, or both {vide British Noctuce
and their Varieties, i., pp. 4-5). — Ed.]
Thyatira batis (Type). — On looking over a series of Thyatira batis
taken here in 1887, I find three specimens with the light spots entirely
devoid of rose-colour, and notice the same in a specimen I took in
South Devon last July. All the examples mentioned are in fresh
condition. Among the full-fed larvae of S7?ierinthus tilicB that I pick up
pretty commonly here, I notice that the green colour of the larva while,
feeding, is generally replaced by a dull livid bluish-brown, violet, or even
dusky rose-colour, after the larva has descended the tree and is seeking
a place for pupation. Probably Mr. Anderson’s larva {Ent. Rec., vol. ii.,
p. 200) was in this stage when found, and had doubtless been of the
usual light green colour previously. — R. M. Prideaux, Clifton, Bristol.
Variation in and abundance of Melit^a artemis ne^r Carlisle.
— In the middle of April last my nephew kindly went for me to Orton
Moss, six miles from Carlisle, to obtain some larvae of the above, of
which he returned with between 400 and 500 (mostly small, but less
likely to be ichneumoned on that account), gathered with handsful of
the dead leaves. When he revisited the spot for food (Devil’s Bit
Scabious, :>cabiosa succisa) the day was dull, and larvae were only to be
seen when odd ones crept up to bask in the occasional gleams of sun ;
constant visits were necessary for fresh food, until a kind and practical
friend gave me “the tip” to try honeysuckle which they took to and
fed up well, although plenty of ichneumons emerged later on. Another
visit early in May for more revealed the fact, that owing to the invasion of
a flock of starlings with a few cuckoos, there was scarcely one to be found.
Out of a hundred pinned by my nephew, quite fifty were varieties, in
fact there were not more than a dozen of the typical artemis, and
some of them are “ gems.” One is transparent black with a blood-red
spot on each wing, another without any scales at all, another with the
left underwing pink like Euchelia jacobcece, two or three with a bright
chain of canary-coloured spots, one similar to a small dull Colias edusa,
and several again with broad deep black borders, and others more like
small Hipparchias than “ Fritillaries.” I have altogether a row and a
half of vars., and I may add there were very few of the varieties
developed. I should like some opinion as to the “disease” and “ pig-
ment ” theories. The larvae were kept in a tub under a shed, out of
doors. — J. B, Hodgkinson. September, 1891.
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
221
CIENTIFIC NOTES.
Agrotis tritici var. subgothica, Haw., and Agrotis jaculifera,
Guen. — In Ent. Rec., i., p. lo, Mr. Butler’s attention was drawn to an
error re the use of Agrotis subgothica^ Haw. In Ent. Rec.^ i., p. 31,
Mr. Butler referred to Grote’s Check List his authority. I pointed out
the error in the July number of the Canadian Entomologist, p. 159,
and Mr. Grote has now put matters straight by sinking subgothica,
Haw., altogether as an American species. In future the American
species will be called jaculifera, Guen. {Canadian Entomologist, xxiii.,
p. 202). It will therefore be necessary for Mr. Butler to rename this
species in the Museum collection. — J. W. Tutt.
Double Pupation. — I think I have before observed that this has
been noticed in several species of Bombyx. It is well known
to occur in B. mori, the common silkworm moth, when, of course, the
cocoons are valueless for commercial purposes. Mr. Bond noticed
that in such cases, the sexes were male and female (a pigeon’s pair).
Did Mr. Hew'ett examine his ? — Sydney Webb, Maidstone House,
Dover. July, 1891.
Generic Names in the Acronyctid^. — I am not now discussing
the theoretical 01 practical importance of the characters disclosed by
Dr. Chapman in this sub-family of the Owlet Moths, but I wish to draw
attention to the reason given for employing the new names. Dr.
Chapman says {Ent, Rec., Sept., p. 150): — “As to the names, my
dithculty was that none of the many names that have been heaped up
as sub genera in this genus admitted of the meanings I wanted.” To
this I say that if every new meaning carries with it new names there
will be an end of stability in generic nomenclature. If new specific
characters are detected one would not rename the species, and the law
of priority is to be equally enforced as to genera. It admits of discus-
sion as to whether the characters disclosed by Dr. Chapman in his
painstaking studies are of practical value, or to be considered as the
exclusive basis of genera in the AcronyctidcE. I believe other groups of
moths may afford characters, by exclusive attention to which existing
classificatory arrangements might be altered. Did the neiv systematists
allow themselves to rename their new generic divisions by excluding all
older terms, we should be plunged into pitiable confusion. In this
genus Acronycta, or Apatela, as I prefer, following the law of priority,
to call it, I believe all the European groups are represented in North
America, where I have discovered Jochecera and Arctomyscis. Other
groups, such as Merolonche and Eulonche, appear to be only North
American. Genera appear to me, as a rule, to be better founded upon
characters taken from the imago, although all the stages afford valuable
indications of the relationship between the species. — A. R. Grote,
Bremen. October \st, 1891.
Addition of Tortrix steineriana var. dohrniana to the British
List. — I find the species exhibited as Tortrix donelana at the Lanca-
shire Society’s meeting is T. steineriana var. dohrniana, the pine-feeding
species allied to T. viburnana'^ in the Ent. Record (i., p. 32).
Messrs. Adkin and C. G. Barrett each exhibited some bred, but apparently
^ The correct spelling of this name is vibiirniana, Fab., Mantissa, ii., 229. — Ed.
222
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
half-starved, specimens at the South London meeting last night, and there
is no doubt about the determination. I have a fairly long series from
Germany, received from Herr A. Hoffmann. This particular var. is
abundant on the Continent in some pine forests, “ Silesian Mountains,
Eastern Hungarian Mountains, Hercynian Mountains,” whilst the allied
var. lusana^ H.-S. 330, comes from the “Alps,” and the type from the
“ Alps and the French and Hungarian Mountains.” The species is,
therefore, new to Britain, but is not new to science, and donelana will
have to be relegated to oblivion. It is a most interesting addition
to our fauna notwithstanding. — J. W. Tutt. October^ 1891.
Expansion of Wings. — I have been able to observe this in Liparis
salicis^ a species well suited for observation, owing to the marked con-
trast between the yellow blood and the white wing scales (I see, by the
way, that some of our entomologists are not sure that the fluid is blood.
I do not presume to dogmatise on the matter, as I have not a micro-
scope of sufficiently high power to determine the presence or absence
of corpuscles, but the fact mentioned by Mr. Reid, that the fluid which
exudes from a pricked wing subsequently coagulates, points to the
presence of fibrin therein). The presence of the blood along the lines
of the nervures was very manifest, but I could see no evidence of its
passing thence into the general inter-membranous space. It was
evident, however, that blood was poured directly into the space,
entering it at the base of the costal margin. I suggest the following
hypothesis in explanation of these appearances. That blood is first
injected into the vessels in which the tracheae lie, and, by unrolling the
tracheae, expands the membranes, and that, subsequently, blood is inde-
pendently poured between the membranes, and that the fibrin resulting
from its coagulation strengthens the wing. — F. J. Buckell, Canonbury
Square. August 1891.
I have been breeding Lasiocampa quercifolia, another species which
has a large quantity of blood poured into the wing between the mem-
branes. I was much struck with the fact that one specimen (a large
and fine female), after the complete expansion of the wings, had several
small globules of the yellow blood collected on the outside of the upper
surface of the superior \vings. Thinking the exudation was simply due
to an excess of b’.ood, and never having noticed such a phenomenon
before, I thought I would leave the fluid to see if it was possible that
it would be absorbed again. As I had expected, it was not, but the
globules on evaporation formed small, black solid fibrinous masses on
the wings. Dr. Chapman thinks the wing was scratched as the moth
forced her way out of the cocoon, hence the exudation. I think, now,
that something of the kind must have occurred. — J. W. Tutt. September
25//^, 1891.
URRENT NOTES.
Dr. Wood has bred Aplota palpella from larvae living gregariously in
silken galleries on the surface of a moss {Homalotheciuvi sericeum) on
which it feeds, the moss growing on an old sandstone wall. The first
emergence took place on July 19th, and a worn specimen was taken
wild on August 15th. A description of the larva occurs in the E.M.M,
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
223
Mr. Eustace R. Bankes describes the larva of Eupoecilia pallidana^
which was first found feeding in seed-heads of Jasione montana some
few years ago. He also records (E.Af.M.) Acrolepia marcidella and
Ephestia pmguis, from the Isle of Purbeck.
Major-General Carden captured seventeen specimens of CaUimorpha
hera in the neighbourhood of Teignmouth in five days, in August last.
Mr. E. W. Janson died at Stroud Green on September 14th, aged 69.
He joined the Entomological Society of London in 1843, was Curator
from 1855-1863 and Librarian from 1863-1874. He did a great deal
of good work as a Coleopterist.
The Rev. G. H. Raynor’s collection is to be sold on October 27th,
at Stevens’ sale rooms. The beautiful condition of the specimens in
this collection is sure to attract a number to the sale rooms.
This has been a great year for rarities, among the Nocture especially.
Nonagria concolor has been taken by Mr. Mera, in Suffolk.
Our dipterists would appear to be in a very unhappy condition.
Five determinations made by Dr. Meade and three by i\Ir. Brunetti, for
Mr. Billups resulted in a mass of error, published in the Efitofnologisi
for September, and corrected by Mr. Verrall in the October number of
the same magazine.
I'he pine-feeding Tortrix steineriana var. dohr7iiana {vide Ent. Rec.,
i., p. 32) has been added to the British list as Tortrix donelana.
The City of London Entomological Society have papers, etc. for
each meeting during the winter, until the end of April, 1892.
The further contributions of Mr. Butler’s “ Notes on the Synonymy
of Noctuid Moths,” which have from time to time appeared in the
Tra?isactio7is of the E7ito77i. Soc. of Lo7ido7i^ have bieen refused by the
Council. Had they been overlooked by a competent practical specialist
they would have been most useful, and the break in their continuity
would have been much more serious than it is.
M. Camilla Schaufuss, editor of the iTisekteTi-Bdrse^ Meissen, Saxony,
has asked me to bring the following before the notice of the readers of
the E7itor7iologisds Record ; — “ All entomologists, who have been or are
still doing literary work in the Science, and those who have made any
specially interesting excursions as well as those who now possess
important collections, are kindly requested to send photos, notes of
their lives, etc. ; biographies and photos of deceased colleagues would
be very welcome. It is intended ultimately to present them to the
entomological departments of the various museums in the world.”
IBLIOGRAPHY.
Additions to the British List and Ch.anges in Nomenclature.
Lepidoptera.
SaturTtia pavonia^ Linn, {carpmi) vars. nov. i7ifn77iata and rosacea^
Newnham {ETtt. Rec.^ p. 198).
ZygceTia trifolii^ Esp. Mr. S. Webb differentiates vars. orobi, Hb.,
filiperidulce^ Hb., basalis and 77imoides {Record, p. 199).
ZygceTia filipeTidulce, Linn. Vars. ochseTihewieri, Zell., cytisi, Hb.,
raTTiburii, Ld., cerinus, Robson, TTiaiinii, H.-S. and chrysaiitheTTii, Esp.
differentiated (R. South, ETitoTn, pp. 234-235).
224
THE entomologist’s lecord.
The following changes in nomenclature have been proposed by
M. Sven Lampa, and are now used extensively by Scandinavian and
Continental lepidopterists ; although, I believe, not yet brought to the
notice of scientific British lepidopterists : —
Lyc(E?m cego7i, Auct., replaced by argus, L. ; argus by argyrognomon,
Bergstr. ; Sesia asiliformis^ Rott., by vespiforuiis, L. ; Hepialus velleda,
Hb., by fusco-nebulosa, De Geer (1778); Cymatophora or^ F., by ypsilon-
grcecujji^ Goze (1781); Moma orion^ Esp,, by alpium^ Osbeck (1778);
Rusina tenebrosa^ by u?7ibratica, G5ze (1781); TceTtiocuTTipa populeti^ Tr.,
by populi^ Strom (1783); Pa7iolis pmiperda, Panz., by griseo-variegata^
Goze (1781); Xa7ithia flavago. Fab. {togata, Esp.), by lutea^ Strom
(1783); EpioTte parallelaria^ Schiff., by vespertaria^ Thnbg. (1784);
Boa?77iia glabra7'ia, Hb., by jubata, Thnbg. ; Tephrosia pUTictularia^
Hb., by scopularia, Thnbg. (1784); Gftophos obfuscaria^ Hb., by
77iyrtillafa, Thnbg. (1792); Scodio7ia belgiaria v2iT. favillacearia, Hb.,
by fagaria, Thnbg. (1784); Cidaria {Thera) si77iulafa, Hb., by cog/tata,
Thnbg. (1792) ; Cidaria {Core77iia) spadicearia, Bkh., by fer7'ugata, Cl. ;
C. ferriigata, L., by oib. corculata, Huen. ; C.{Oporabia) dilutata (Bkh.),
by Ttebulafa, Thnbg. (1784); C. {E77i77ielesia) albulata var. griseata,
Stdgr., by } subfasciaria, Bohem (1852); C. (E.) decolorata by flavo-
fasciata, Thnbg. (1792) ; Cidaria (AstheTtd) luteata^ Schiff., by flavicata^
Thnbg. (1784) ; C. {Hypsipetes) trifasciata^ Thnbg., Bkh., by auiu77inalis^
Strom. (1783).
The following varieties have also been 'described by M. Lampa: —
Argy7i7tis aglaia ab. aberraTis ; Sphinx pinastri 2ib. fasciatu ; Sarrothripa
imdulana ab. glaucana ; Bisulcia ligustri ab. sandevalli (this would
appear to be the var. coronula^ of Haworth) ; Agrotis {Noctua) brunnea
ab. 7iigricans ] A. {Noctua) plecta ab. andersso7ii\ Tceniocaf7ipa mcerta
ab. pallida-, Scopeloso77ia satellitia ab. brunnea-, A7iarta mela7iopa ab.
7vistrd77ii -, A7igerona prunaria ab. spa7ibergi -, Hibernia defoliaria ab.
hol>ngre7ii ; Fsodos coracina ab. -wahlbergi ; Lythria purpuraria ab.
77ievesi-, Lobophora halterata dh. rudolphii -, Cidaria dotata 2ib. joha7iso7ti
(a beautiful specimen of this var “ much shaded with grey-brown ” was
taken at light in Wicken last July); C. {Core77iia) quadrifasciaria w.
thedenii.
The following have also been described ; — Asphalia fiavicornis var.
Jhin77iarchia, Schoy., 1881, E7it. 2'id. p. 121 (this will probably replace
scotica, Stdgr.). Arsilonche albovenosa, Goze, v. 77iurina^ Auriv., 1880, p.
37, V. albida, Auriv., 1880, p. 38 (this latter will probably replace var.
argeniea, Tutt, British Noctuce, i., p. 28). — Ento7nologisk Tidskrift,
1885, pp. 212-213.
Diptera.
Scio77iyza dubia. Fin., captured at Oxshott, August i6th, 1890, and
Lynton, June 17th, 1883 (G. H. Verrall, Ento7n., xxiv., p. 235).
Oxycera ter77iuiata^ Mg., possibly British, but the record, l.c. = Pachy-
gasier Itachii, Curt. Pipu7iculus ge7iiculatus, Isig. (p 'Qxibsb). Pepizella
a7i7iulata^ Mcq., the record l.c. — P. Jiavitarsis ? • Clidogastra pu/ictipes^
Mg., the specimen recorded l.c. as this species does not belong to the
genus. Oxyphora ar7iicce, Fin. = O. 7niliaria, Schrk. Sapro77iyza
plaiycephala, Lw., the record l.c. is erroneous, it does not belong to
Sapro77iyzidce. Chlorops hypostig77ia, the record l.c. is erroneous, the
specimen does not belong to Chloropidce. Pteropcecilia laTned^ not yet
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
225
recorded from Britain. Those recorded as this species = Toxoneura
muliebris^ Har. (G. H. Verrall, Entoifi. xxiv., pp. 235-236).
Notes of the Season. — The Norfolk Broads. — Jupiter Pluvius had
unfortunately taken up his quarters in the district before us, and used
every trick he knew, thunder, lightning, deluges, and cold mists to
follow, to produce an extra three or four inches of water in all the
marshes. The lateness of the season was very noticeable, everything
about a fortnight behind time. We settlt^d down, a party of three,
at Horning on July 29th, to work the neighbourhood for anything
macro-lepidopterous and not too utterly common ; but especially to
hunt out Nonagria cannce. Working at dusk and at light were equally
profitless; Gastropacha qiiercifolia^ Lithosia griseola and strammeola,
Nudaria se?iex^ Epione apiciaria, and Acidalia marginaia were the only
captures till August 5th. When we first took Leucania brevilinea they
were in perfect condition, evidently just out, but very scarce, as our
take never exceeded nine in one evening ; last year they were plentifuj,
and many much worn by August ist. Not one came to the light this
year, and all we took were flying at dusk or settled feeding on flower-
ing grasses ; possibly they may have been more plentiful later on in
the month. Honeydew and grasses appeared the most fashionable
resorts for the Nocture, Leucajiia wipiira and pallens simply swarmed,
and we managed to pick out an Apamea ophiogramma and about a
dozen Helotropha fibrosa from among the common rabble. Amongst
larvae I may mention Chcerocampa elpenor feeding on Menyanthis tri-
foliata (bog-bean), Clostera reclusa^ Eupitheda valerianata^ very nume-
rous, most of them, however, were ichneumoned, and had a very
annoying habit of looking quite healthy till full-fed, when they pro-
ceeded to spin cocoons in sand in a most delusively orthodox manner,
but a week or so after would be found much elongated and bent
round in the cocoon, quite rigid and filled with minute green larvae ;
Saturnia carpini^ both pink and yellow tubercled varieties, on Spirea
ulmaria ; Notodonta ziczac^ Papilio machaon was very plentiful, but the
greater number very late, some still in the first skin. I had two
especially dark through all their changes, even the last skin having the
green, usually the groundwork, reduced to small streaks and spots.
The pupae from both are of a bright pink hue. N. canncB was
certainly the feature of the expedition. Having found a few pupae last
year after much search, and a great destruction of “ He Gladdon ”
(the Norfolk name for Typha latifolia\ “She Gladdon” being applied
to T. angustifolia), we started off for the same spot, and as we
managed to get enough pupae for a nice series each during the three
days we worked for it, perhaps a short account of our method of
working for them may be useful to anyone who, fired by our success,
may start forth to go and do likewise. He must certainly first equip
himself suitably for the purpose, and india-rubber waders or fishing
stockings he must have, unless he prefer rheumatism. The waders
are preferable, coming up higher, and fishing stockings have been
known to get filled, in which case they are not very comfortable ; he
SOTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
c
226
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
must also take a strong and sharp knife to cut off the Typha stems, a
bag to put them into when cut ; and a strong plank for crossing dykes
and more than usually bottomless bogs, is also very useful. First to
find the foodplant. Strong beds by the edges of rivers or broads do
not seem of much use ; straggling or overgrown patches in small ponds
in the bog are more likely. Typha latifolia is the favourite, but where
small patches of it are surrounded by Z*. angustifolia beds, the latter
may produce a goodly number. Plants with the two inmost leaves
fading and yellow should be chosen, though if the larva has but lately
entered a fresh stem the leaves will be scarcely affected, and many
healthy-looking plants, especially with latTolia^ may produce a larva,
the hole where it has entered will often serve as a guide to inhabited
stems. In searching latifolia it is best to take one central leaf in each
hand and gently pull them apart when the pupa, or larva, will be seen,
if there, by looking down the hole thus opened ; but in angustifolia the
leaves wrap round one another more and cannot be opened from the
centre, so the outer leaves should be peeled off till one be found
marked with a round semi-transparent spot like a black bruise on the
leaf, which is caused by the hole eaten almost through the leaf by the
larva before pupating for emergence. The tip of the knife may be
carefully inserted, and the thin piece readily removed, to make sure the
owner is within. The stem should be cut off some six inches below
this hole. Naturally a great many N. typhce are found at the same
time, but they are very easy to distinguish. The larva of caimce. is
green, and its frass, when fresh, is green, and when dry, nearly white,
and has at all times a curious transparent and glutinous appearance ;
the hole for emergence is very circular, and the central leaves are spun
together with silk just above it ; the larva pupates head upwards, and
the pupae has a very distinct beak, enclosing the palpi, pointing
upwards. The larva of typhce. is pinkish brown, and the frass is a
warm sienna brown ; there is generally a mass of it at the top above
the pupa, the first thing that meets one’s eye when pulling apart the
central leaves ; the emergence hole is of irregular shape, and of course
beneath the pupa, as typhce pupates head downwards ; the beak is not
nearly so large as in cannce, and stands out at a right angle from the
pupa. The best treatment for the pupae is to stick the lower end of the
cut stems containing them in wet sand in flowerpots, and stand them in a
large box with plenty of ventilation, and water them freely every day, to
keep the stems from drying, in which case they often shrink and crush
the pupae. The larvae should be treated in the same manner, and if
they crawl out of their old stems, fresh green ones must be provided
for them, and they will rapidly eat their way in. Mine began to
emerge on August 23rd, and continued up to September 12th. The
imagines show great variation of colour from a light buff, generally
found in the females, and no doubt protective as resembling dried
leaves of the typha, through warm reds to a dark leaden brown, but
these dark forms are not frequent. — E. Al’GUSius Bowles, Myddelton
House, Waltham Cross, Herts. September 2^th, 1891.
Reading, — At Reading, moths have been much more plentiful this
summer than they have been for some years, but butterflies scarce. I
have taken Hypefiodes albistrigalis and Acidalia straminata here for
the first time. H. albistrigalis^ by stirring the brambles in the beech
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
227
woods, and one or two at sugar. A. straminafa, by brushing the heath
during the afternoon and evening — a good series. After finding the
larvae of Boarmia roboraria last year, I have been following it up this
summer, and have taken the moth freely in the same woods, at rest on
tree trunks (often high up), stretched out as big as it can make itself and
easily seen. I got two more Argynnis paphia var. m/esina, both in
our beech woods, and three others have, I hear, been taken among the
beeches some sixteen miles from here. Heterogenea limacodes and Aventia
jiexula^ beaten from oak bushes and trees. Anticlea cucullata has
turned up again this year. Two I got were quite in the wood among
Asperula odorata, I wonder if it ever feeds on that. Eupoicilia flavi-
ciliana, netted again on the same hill as last year. A fair lot of
Nonagria geminipuncia. Se/e/it'a /unaria, hea.ten from bushes in June.
Lithosia mesome/la, L. aureola, Asthena blomeri, A. sylvata, Hepialus
sylvinus, Lobophora lobulata, Tephrosia conso?iaria, T. hiundularia,
Eupisteria oblitaria, Cerigo matura, Nociua stigmatica, and D rep a fiu-
lidce are some of the things which were particularly abundant. Zo7iosoma
Imearia was especially swarming, and, as Dr. Buckell remarks, out a
long time, from the middle of June till the end of August. At the end
of July, and throughout August, they took to coming to sugar in
scores. Zonosonia omicronaria, Eupithecia venosata, Coremia qiiadri-
fasciaria, Anticlea rubidata, Lobophora halter ata, L. viretata, Acidalia
inornata, Enmielesia decoloratq, Ftilodontis palpina, Hyria 7?iurinata,
Erastria /asciana, Epione advenaria, Liparis 77ionacha, Dia7ithoecia
nana, Lithosia co77ipla7ia and others were tolerably frequent. Cidaria
silaceata, Eucos77iia undulata, Boar7/iia consort a7’ia, A crony eta {Cuspidia)
lepori/ia, Llalias bicolor a7ia and Sarothripa undnla7ia occasional. Stau-
being so abundant this year, I thought that there was an unusually
good opportunity to look out for the little ways of the animal. A
grand moth like this ought to do something to distinguish itself, but
it does not after all. It was found at all hours of the day, from early
morning until dark, on all sides of the tree and at all heights from the
ground. Three out of four moths were found on small trees ; but
then, our beech woods, though of old standing, are cut severely, and
there are twenty small trees to one of fair size, so that says nothing.
S. fagi seems just to come out and sit on a tree in a very common-
place fashion. They were found over a period of two months, from
the middle of May till the middle of July. Eggs of these, laid on
June 2nd, began to hatch June i8th. The little larvae ate nothing
for a day or so, then fed up well sleeved on apple. They often fought
when they crossed each other’s paths, and a number lost legs or por-
tions of legs in these battles ; but this loss did not always prevent
their pupating, whether it will interfere with the proper emergence of
the moth, I cannot say. In hunting for the larvae of S. fagi, it paid
better to search than to beat. Like the moths they are to be found
for a long time. I got them fully grown at the beginning of August,
and lately, I have taken some quite young ones, which will evidently
feed as long as the leaves remain good. I have found them in nearly
all our woods, mostly on beech, but some on birch and oak. These
fagi did not spin up in the green leaves on the tree, as Newman says,
but always in dead leaves at the bottom of the sleeve, on the side of
the sleeve itself, and in the woods I have found them crawling on the
228
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
ground in search of a pupating place. Sugar has attracted very well
all the summer, excepting just when the lime trees were in blossom, and
then Cosmia pyralina came to it all alone by itself. To-night, for
instance, I am writing this after returning from sugaring, the result of
which is 32 fine Xanthia citrago and a few Asphalia diluta and Catocala
nupta^ besides netting Liiperhia cespitis and Tapmostola fiilva between
times. The species I have taken at sugar this summer are as follows : —
June. — Apa7uea una?iimis^ Dianthoicia cucubali, Miana lasciiincula^ M.
strigilis, Dia7ithacia capsmcola^ Xylophasia hepaiica^ X. rurea^ Thyatira
batis, Go7iophora derasa^Rusma tcTiebrosa^ Gra77wiesia trigra77i77iica^ Axylia
putris^ Agrotis excla77iaiio7iis, Newia reticulata^ Apa77iea basilmea,
Acro7iycta (Cuspidia) 77iegacephala^ HadeTta oleracea^ H. ge7iistcB, H.
thalasshia^ H. dissi77iilis, Dipterygia scabrhiscula^ Xylophasia sublustris,
X. lithoxylea^ Euplexia liicipara^ Noctua bru7mea, N. f estiva^ N plecta^
Triphce7ia proTtuba^ Aplecta 7iebiAosa, A. adreTia, A. prasma^ A. ti7icta,
Mu77iestra sordida^ Apa77iea ge77ii7ia, Ma77iestra persicarice^ M. brassiccE,
Agrotis segetu77i, A. corticea. July. — Some of the species taken in June
became more plentiful this month. Additional things were: — A.ro7iycta
{Bisulcia) ligustri, A. {Cuspidia) leporma^ A. ( Vi77iviia) riwiins^ L.eucaTiia
i77ipude77s^ L. co77i77ia^ L. tii7ca^ Cy/7iatophora duplaris^ Xylopha ia 7710710-
glypha, Cos77iia pyralma, Apa77iea didy77ia^ Noctua stiguiatica^ N.
tria7igulu77i, N augur ^ TriphceTta co77ies, Mia7ia bicoloria^ LeucaTiia palle7is^
Ca)ad7ma 77iorpheus^ C. alsmes, C. faraxaci, Cerigo 77iatu7'a^ Hadena
de7itma^ Agrotis strigula^ A. sylvata, Acidalia aversata, LareTitia oliz’ata,
L. viridaria, Hype77odes albistrigalis, H. costcestrigalis^ Zonoso77ia linearia.
August. — Noctua stig77iatica, Cos77iia pyralma, Caradrhia atsizies, C.
taraxaci, etc., which were out at the end of July, came more freely this
month. Other things were : — Xylophasia scolopacizia^ Cos77iia affi7iis^ C.
diffinis^ C. trapezma^ Dianthoecia cucubali^ Triphoe7ia ji77ibria^ A77iphipyra
tragopog07us, A. pyrazztidea, Ncenia typica^ Ma7?ia 77iaura^ Noctua
c-nigru77i, N. plecta^ N xazithographa, N. iwibrosa, N rubi^ Phlogophora
Tfieticulosa^ Hydrcecia Tiictitans, Gonoptera libatrix^ As^rotis 7iigrica7is, A.
t7'itici, A.puta, Caradrina quadripuiictata^ Leuca7iia lithargyria, Catocala
nupta^ HadeTta trifolii^ Cidaz-ia tT'imcata^ Lithosia griseola, and var.
strammeola^ Nudaria TUUTidaTia^ Scotosia rha77i7iata^ S. dubitata. Sept. —
This month’s things are not much out yet, but up to now have come
Xanthia citrago^ A?ichocelis rufina^ A. lituT'a^ Xanthia circellaris^ Hadena
protea^ Asphalia diluta and Apa77iea leucostigzna, the last named in a
beech wood high on the hill, and far away from any Iris or rush.
Larvae also have been plentiful. EndroTTiis versicolor larvae from eggs
found on birch fed up w'ell, and also several lots of the larvae which I
found later, all are spun up. Remarkably like little bunches of sawflies
these larvae are when young and when they separate, each one looks
very like a great green catkin on the birch twigs I have also found
larvae of Notodonta carTTielita on the birch. These were not sitting on
the twigs as EndroTTiis versicolor does, but on the underside of the
leaves, along the stalk and midrib, making the leaves hang heavy with
their weight. By carefully searching maple, I got a good many larvae of
Lophoptetyx cuculla resting or feeding always along the edge of the
eaten leaf. In looking for these I found a larva of Acronycta {Cuspidia)
alni sitting on the upper side of a maple leaf in a curved position, right
in the middle of the leaf and looking very conspicuous. I searched
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
229
well near this, but, as usual, could not find another. This species
always occurs singly with me. Larvae of Notodonta trepida crawling
down oak trees to pupate, middle and end of July. Those of N.
trimacula, beaten from oak at the end of August, full-fed. N. drome-
darius and, of course, N. ca77ielina, fell frequently enough by beating
birch. Dicra7iura furcula on sallows, A. {Cuspidia) leporma on birch,
Tethea subtusa on aspen. Catocala pro77iissa larvae found in chinks of
bark of oak, they are hard to find, being so much like the licheh cover-
ing the tree. When taken it tumbles about exactly like the larvae of
Ciicullia verbasci. Chceroca77tpa elpCTtor, Macroglossa bo77ibylifor77iis,
De77ias coryli, Asphalia flavicor7iis and Geo77ietra papilio7iaria were very
abundant in the larval state. Other larvae too numerous to mention
occurred. I have just now found one larva of A7iticlea cucullaia on
Galiu77i 77iollugo, and hope to get more. — W. Holland. Septe77iber nth.
St. Afinds-on-Sea. — I have noticed that some insects are very early
and others very late. Agrotis cursoria appeared on July 30th, the
earliest date I have ever seen it. Depressaria 7ia7iatella, Pero7iea asper-
sa7ia and some other August moths were all out in July. On the ist,
on the banks of the Wyre, I took Eupoecilia vectisa7ia, and two-thirds
were worn, although supposed to come out in August, and Sericoris
littora7^a was not to be seen at all. I had a splendid day on the ist,
we went to Poultin, the old capital of the Fylde, and then into a lane
— a new one to me — and worked our way to Cleorleys and the banks of
the Wyre, and took Gelechia 77nilmella. G. mstabiliella were plentiful,
G. 77ioujfetella and several odd Gelechice., of which I do not yet know
the names. KupcEcilia vectisana, Sericoris coTtchaTta, S. Iacu7ia7ia, S.
urticaria, Sciaphila subjectana, Harpipteryx harpella, H. 7ie77iorella,
Depressaria costosa, D. litu ella, Swa77i77terda77iia pyrella, Ebulea crocealis,
Hydroca77ipa stagnalis, Botys fuscalis, Lithocolletis ulicicolella, three sorts
of Coleophora, but I cannot name them. Cidaria fulvata, Larentia
did)'77iata, Core77iia unideTitata, C. ferru^ata, Meld7iippe sociata, M.
77ionta7iata, Hypsipetes elutata, Abraxas grossulariata, (E ie77iatophorus
lithodactylus, Hesperia silvanus, Liparis ckrysorrhcea, etc., but very few
butterflies, only one Satyrus titho7ui’^, a few Pieris napi and P. brassicce.
It was a dull day, so perhaps that may account for it a little. I also got
a few larvae of Dianthoecia cucubali in seed pods of red campion, and
saw some larvae ot Eriogaster lanestris in quite an early stage (black) ;
they evidently are very late. In the Christmas holidays I collected a
number of thistle stems, with larvae of Ephippiphora scutulana in them,
but have only succeeded in getting about a dozen out. — T. Baxter, St.
Anne’s-on-Sea. August ^th, 1891.
Tunbridge Wells. — I do not think any entomological reports have
ever appeared from this beautifully wooded district, so send you a few
notes of what I have taken this season at sugar and light. On the
whole, I consider this season has been a fairly good one for sugar,
certainly for quantity if not quality. The following insects I took at
sugar and light in woods round this town : — Sphinx ligustri, Zeuzera
CESCuli (2), Hepialus hectus, H. lupulmus, H. sylvinus, and H. hu77iuli
(common), Lithosia complanula (several), Euthe77ionia russula ( g very
common on Broadwater Forest at end of July), Chelonia caja and C.
villica (common), Arctia fuliginosa, A. lubricipeda and A. 77ienthastri
(very common). Liparis 77io7iacha (i d' on gas lamp), Uropteryx
•230
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
samhucata (common), Rumia craicBgata (common), Ve7iilia maculata
(common), Metrocampa margaritaria (common), Selenia illwiaria and
.S. lunar ia (common), Odontopera bidentata^ Crocallis e.linguaria (com-
mon), Ennonios tiliaria (common on Amphydasis betularia (i at
light), Boartnia rhomboidaria (common), Tephrosia crepuscular ia^
J'^seudoterpna cytlsaria, Geometra papilmiaria^ Nemoria viridata,
Hetiiithea Ihyfuiaria and Acidalia ornata (one of each), A. aversata and
A. remutata (common), Timandra amataria (3), Cabera pusaria (com-
mon), C. exanthemaria (several), Sit'enia clathrata (3), Panagra petraria
(several), Numeria pulveraria (common). Fidonia piniaria common),
Larentia didymata (several), Ypsipetes elutata (common), Melanippe
siibtrisiata, jM. galiafa, M. fluctuata^ M. mojitanata (several), Camp-
togramma bilineata (common), Cidaria imnianata (common), C.
populata^ C. ribesiaria^ C. testata (common), Eubolia metisuraria and
M. paliimbaria^ E. bipunciaria (common), Tanagra choerophyllata
(several), Platypteryx falcula (i on lamp), Gonophora derasa (5 at
light), Thyatira balls (swarmed at sugar early in June). My friend
Mr. R. E. V. Hanson (one of the few collectors here), caught over
20 specimens of T. balls at sugar. Cymalophora dllula (common),
Bryophlla perla (i), Acrotiycla [Cuspldla) Irldcfis (several), A. (C.)
psl (several), A. {C.) acerls (i), A. (C.) megacephala (i), A. {Vwilnla)
rumlcls (i), Leucanla lllhargyla (common), L. conuna^ L. Unpura
and L. palkfis (common), Hydrcecla nlclllajis (swarmed at sugar),
Xylophasla riirea (very common at sugar), X. lllhoxylea and Z. polyodon
(too common) ; I took one black variety each of Z. polyodon and X.
rurea^ Dlplerygla pmaslrl^ i (usually common), Cerlgo cylherea (i),
Luperlna leslacea (i), Mameslra brasslccs. (common), M. anceps (i), M.
perslcarlce (common), Apamea basllhiea (i), A. genilna (several), A.
oculea (common), Mlana slrlgllls, M. fascliincula, M.furuncula (swarmed
at sugar), Gra^nmesla Irlllnea (common), Caradrma morpheus (several),
C. cublcularls (2), C. alslnes (2), Ruslna lenebrosa (r), Agrolls pula (2),
A. stiff usa (3), A. exclamallonls (common), A. porphyrea (1), Trlphtzna
janlhhia (i), T. orbotia and T. protnib a (common), Noclua plecla (com-
mon), N. c-nlgrum (2), N. Irlanguluin (common), N. brutinea, N.
fesllva, N. rubl, N bala and N. xanlhographa (common), TcEnlocatnpa
golhlca (2), Anchocells plslaclna and A. rufina (several), A.lllura (several),
Cetaslls vaccinll (3), Scopelosoma salellltla (common), Xanlhla sllago
(flavago), 6, X. fulvago (cerago), several, X. ferruglnea (clr cellar Is),
several, Cosmla Irapezlna (common), Agrlopls aprlllna (6), Phlogophora
mellculosa (common), Euplexla luclpara (common), Aplecla herblda (3),
Hadena adusla (several), ZT. proleiis (several), H. denlma (i), H. oleracea
(common), H. plsl (several), H. genlslce (i), Calocampa exolela (i),
Xyllna rhlzolllha (2), Anarla tnyrlllll (severaX on Broadwater and Ash-
down Forests), Plusla chrysllls (several), P. lola (several), P. pulchrlna
(6), P. gatnma (common), Gonoplera llbalrlx (common), Amphlpyrn
Iragopogonls (i), Ncenla lyplca and Mania maura (common), Euclldla
tnl (2). I took very few Rhopalocera owing to want of time and bad
weather. At Abbott’s Wood near Hailsham, one afternoon in July,
Argynnls paphla (4), A. aglala (2), A. adlppe (2), Melanargla galalea (2)
and Theda querciis (i). I usually find September and October the best
months for sugar in this district. — R. A. Dallas Beeching, Tunbridge
Wells, Oclober \sl, 1891.
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
231
Pitcaple. — Insects are still very scarce, and treacle is of no use, but
larvae are more abundant than usual. The following, among others,
are my captures for the last fortnight ; — Smerinthus populi^ abundant ;
Arctia fuliginosa, common ; A. mendica I turned up for the first time
a few days ago, and in a short time picked up a large number ; Orgyia
fascelina^ a few, larvae of this species are excessively late this year ;
Demas coryli^ a few ; Bombyx rubi^ not uncommon ; B. calluna^ three.
I have searched the hills for miles upon miles, and have only taken the
above ; a few years ago it would have been quite possible to have
taken them in cartloads ; Saturiiia carpini^ rather scarce ; Dicranura
furcula^ plentiful ; D. vinula, very common ; Notodonta camelina^
common ; N. dictcea^ a few; N. dictcBoides^ under a dozen ; N. drome-
darius, a few dozens (I have not had time to work up the larvae of this
species yet) ; N. ziczac, fairly plentiful ; Thyatira batis^ scarce, only a
few ; Cymatophora fluctuosa and C. or, both rather scarce ; Acronycta
( Viminia) inenyanthidis in large numbers. I have now searched a wide
district for this species with splendid results. A. (V.) 7nyricce, fairly
plentiful ; Dianthoicia capsincola, a very few ; D. conspersa, not a great
number ; Hadena adusta, abundant ; H. pisi, common ; H. rectilinea,
rare ; Habrostola urticce, common. — W. Reid, Pitcaple. September
iS^h, 1891.
Kingstown, Ireland. — I have had a little leisure, only a few days at a
time, for entomology, but have been rather unfortunate in my captures.
On the coast I have taken a few Agrotis where I expected swarms, a
few cursoria, tritici, and valligera. The latter, however, seem to me
rather remarkable, tending to have the white markings brown, and, in
two instances, this variation is strongly marked. Two or three Helo-
tropha leucostigma and fibrosa have turned up, and one fine Lupe-
rina cespitis $ . The scarcity of moths is well shown iri my captures of
only 5 Miana furunciila and 2 M. literosa ! On ragwort among the
sandhills, scarcely anything to be seen except some Hydrcecia nictitans,
some of which, however, are very good forms. Naming them from Mr.
Tutt’s British NoctucE and their Varieties, they appertain to the nictitans
type, being somewhat small, deep red coloured, sometimes blackish,
with white stigmata. But a few var. erythrostigma are among them,
and also a few griscafiavo, which is the first time I have met this
variety. The district was a peculiar one — a narrow line of sandhills,
with a fen running for miles parallel to it. I certainly expected better
luck, but hope to try a few days more, when these high winds have
subsided. I took a good series of pupje of Nofiagria typhce in the stems
of Typha latifolia, and found 2 on the 15th, which were already empty,
and 2 more have emerged since from those I collected. This insect
must have an extended emergence, for I took several larvae, one of
which was only half grown at the time I met with the empty pupa
cases. I notice that the larvae of Smerinthus ocellatus straggle on
through the season in a similar way. I have now 12 almost full-fed
and 2 about half an inch long. Also some of the same batch of ova
were still green and plump a fortnight ago ; but an accident has pre-
vented my learning whether they were fertile and would hatch out. —
W. F. V. DE Kane, Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown. September 22nd,
1891.
Epping Forest. — When beating for larvae I generally use a sheet, at
232
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
the two sides of which are fastened sticks, and with the assistance of a
friend to hold one end, I hardly lose a larva. I have beaten, or seen
beaten at Monkswood the following larvae, between August 30th and
September 27th. Whilst beating an eye should be kept open for Theda
behdce at High Beech and Fairmead Bottom. Smermthus ocellatus
(sallow), H alias prasmana (beech, eic.), Dasydiira pudibunda^ common
(beech, sallow, etc.), Drepana lacertula (off birch), D. bmaria (oak),
D. cultraria (beech, common). I have also taken the following : —
Dicramira furada^ i (birch), D. vimda, several (sallow), Stauropus
fa^i, I, saw about a dozen (beech and oak), Lophopteryx camelina^
several (beech and whitethorn), Noiodonta dutceoides^ 1 (birch), Notodonta
ziczac, several (sallow), N. chaonia (?), 1 (beech), Phalera bucephala^
common (beech), Demas coryli, common (beech), Acronycta {Cuspidia)
psi (whitethorn), Rumia luteolata (whitethorn), Eurymene dolobraria^
several (oak, beech, etc.), Am/fhidasys betidaria (beech), lodis lacteaiia
(oak, I think), Eiipitheda vidgaia, all these were by day, but beating by
night produces the same species in greater abundance. — A. Quail, 15,
Stamford Hill, N.
Barnsley. — The very late spring, extending well into June, prevented
me from doing any collecting until about the middle of that month.
In my first excursion I found larvae plentiful but very small, in fact,
many of the trees in this district were not in full leaf. Insects have
also been very late ; for instance, Melanippe tristata were not out until
June 29th, their usual time being about the first week in June. How-
ever, they turned up plentifully this year, which is not always the case.
On July I St, I observed the larvae of Pcedisca occultana were in pro-
fusion, the high wind dislodging them and causing them to swing in
webs from all the fir trees. I brought home some and reared them. —
J. Harrison, 7, Gawber Road, Barnsley.
Chatham District, — The weather up to September has been very
unfavourably wet and windy, resulting in more than one wet jacket, but
the usual species commonly found here occurred, such as Melanargia
galatea, Pararge megcera., Argyn?iis aglaia, etc. The following, how-
ever, were conspicuous by their absence from their usual haunts, viz. : —
Vanessa atalanta.^ V. polychloros, V. cardui., Theda w-albuin and T. rubi.
Our new El Dorado for Lyccena adonis has in two visits resulted in
about 40 captures, some of which are in appearance similar to both $
and $ . A young friend with me discovered a quantity of larvae of
Bombyx rubi feeding on some plants amongst grass and wild thyme,
they are now taking to bramble. In addition occurred a moth which,
according to Newman’s British Moths is only taken in Devonshire, viz..^
Toxocampa craccce (? T. pastinum, Ed.). Hesperia comma was in
evidence, as also H. linea ; and why should not H. lineola be found, if
looked for? — J. 1'yrer. September^ 1891
Streatham {Surrey). — While spending three weeks at the above
locality, from the end of August, I devoted a great deal of my time to
collecting Lepidoptera, but owing to the unfavourable weather that pre-
vailed during the greater part of the time, there were very few species
to be found, By working the lamps I took the following: — En?iomos
angularia, E. tiliaria., Melanthia ocellata., Corenna unidentaria, C. pro-
pugnata, C. ferrugata., Pelurga comitata. Hydr(Bcia ?iictita7is^ Luperina
testacea^ L. cespitis (i), Heliophobus popular is ^ Amphipyra tragopogonis
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
233
Pyralis fimbrialis (2), Endotricha flammealis^ Pio7iea forficalis^ etc. On
fences, Boar?nia rhoi7iboidaria, Cosmia trapezina^ Pyralis fartnalis^
Peronea sponsana, Semasia wieberana, etc. At dusk I took a Platypieryx
hamula^ and saw another which I unfortunately misse<^th, 1891.
|OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
253
S^. Anne^s-on-ihe-Sea. — The season with us has been an exceptionally
good one, although August and September have proved unpropitious.
Peronea hastiana has disappointed us ; we intended to breed a large
number, but with all our efforts have succeeded in obtaining about
150 pupae only. Gracilaria stra^nineella^ Depressaria ocella7ia^ yeatiella^
heracleana^ subpropinquella^ arenella and nanatella have all turned up,
but owing to the bad weather we have not paid much attention to
them. Having collected a lot of stems of ^nanthe crocata with larvae
and pupae inside, we bred hundreds of Depressaria nervosa^ and had
to stop setting them from sheer monotony. Eppipiphora populajia^
Choreutes scintillulana, Gelechia temerella and sororculella turned up in
good numbers. Round the gas lamps we have also had fair sport.
PJeuria popularis and Luperina cespitis turning up in good numbers
with swarms of L. testacea. About a fortnight ago I got two PlatypUlia
gonodactyla on a lamp, and yesterday we had a fine imago of Acherontia
atropos brought us, which had come to the light at a signal-box, and
was kept for us by the signalman, who affirmed its identity not as a
moth but as a bat, and informed us that it squeaked. — Holmes
Baxter, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea. October 1891.
Reading. — Until this last week, when we have had really cold nights
with a touch of frost, I have to record a really favourable time for
sugar. At one locality near here, Xanthia citrago have been quite
extraordinary as regards numbers, but I have taken no varieties nor
have I heard of any having been taken. One collector and myself
took about 180 one night, and, a week later, I heard they were still
swarming in hundreds, but we could not spare the time as X. aurago
was then out and the space and time for finding them is so limited; this
year was better than the last three, for we got on an average 16 each
night between us, and with them a fair sprinkling ot the rosy orange
var. At the same time X. gilvago favoured us with occasional visits,
two to four each night, also Epicnda lutuleiita, of which hitherto about
one each year has been taken here, my friend and I secured seven. I
have not heard whether any of the other collectors have seen it. We
have had several new names to add to our list of captures, Noctiia
gla7'eosa being one of them, but that we could not follow up for the
same reason that drew us from X. citrago. I have also only tried one
evening for Sphinx convolvuli^ which did not put in an appearance,
although the garden was full of flowers, including the tobacco plant.
My best evening for captures was on September 14th, on which night we
took over 300 specimens, chiefly X. citrago., Asphalia diluta., N. glareosa
and Hadena protea. — E. C. Bazett, Reading. October ^th, 1891.
Aberdeen. — This season in the north of Scotland has been the worst
I have ever experienced. I hoped that the autumn might turn out well
after such a bad summer but in this I am disappointed. I sugared in
a wood near here to-night (Saturday, October loth), and the following
list gives the result of my captures : — 2 Cerastis vaccinii, i Anchocelis
rufina, i A. litura^ i Scopeloso77ia satellitia, i Agriopis ap7'ili7ia, and a
few Chesias spartiata at rest on broom. What a change from what I
have seen in the same wood at this time of year ! — A. Horne.
October \2th, 1891.
York. — There has been a great falling off in the captures in our
immediate neighbourhood since September. With but one or two excep-
254
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
tions, sugar has been very unproductive so far as the autumn species
are concerned, Asphalia diluta^ Atichocelis rufina etc., being very
scarce. I took a fine specimen of Luperina cespitis on Strensall
Common in September, my first capture of this insect, and I had
another take, new to me, on September 30th, viz., a fine example of
E?inomos fnsca7itaria, ? , which has given me a nice lot of ova. Con-
sidering the great quantity of ash around York, this species may not be
uncommon, but the trees being of good size, beating for the larvae
would be a tiresome job. I am pleased to record that the larvae of
Eupithecia albipunctata is in plenty this year, and, as I have taken a fair
number, I hope to breed the var. angelicaia, which this spring was bred
by one or two of my York friends in good numbers. This species
must feed till almost the close of the year as they are to be found
to-day no bigger than if just hatched, whilst others graduate up to full-
fed. I specially noticed that the angelica growing in those parts of the
wood where the late storms would strike most, yielded very few larvae,
whilst in the more sheltered parts plenty were obtained. — S. Walker.
October i()ih, 1891.
North Londofi. — Larvae are swarming. Mamestra persicarice and
Arctia lubricipeda devour everything that comes in their path, in which
they are assisted by M, brassicce, Hadena oleracea, Euplexia lucipara,
Ncenia typica, A. menthastri and many others. Tree-feeding larvae are
also common. Megacephala larvae may be found in plenty on the trunks
of the black poplars which have been planted so extensively in this part
of London. I have usually found them commonest on sunny days,
half curled round in a crack of the bark, and basking in the sun. A
nice lot of Phorodesma smaragdaria larvae, from Benfleet, are now feeding
on some plants of wormwood and southernwood in our garden. They
have surely been more plentiful this year, for about 260 were taken by
myself and three friends on the same ground. I found no on a patch
of wormwood about the size of a kitchen table. — A. U. Battley, Sussex
House, Amhurst Park. September ^oth, 1891.
Tiverton. — I do not consider that the present summer has been a
very prolific one in this county owing to the windy, wet, unsettled
weather prevailing during the greater part of the last two months.
During the fine spell in June I took a good many Leucophasia smapis ;
these butterflies seem most restricted in their range, and feebly fly one
after another, following the same route. I failed to find any of the
second brood. Argynnis euphrosyne and A. selene were abundant, and
Nola cristulalis was common on the trunks of apple trees. On May
i8th, a $ Arctia fuliginosa laid eggs which hatched on June 7th, the
young larvae fed well and grew rapidly. The first spun up on July
23rd, the imago appearing on August 15th. Demas coryli has been
most abundant, and seems to be by no means particular in the date of
hatching. The first imago came out in the pupa box on May ist ; on
the 15th a $ laid eggs which hatched on June loth, and were pupae
by August 13th. On June loth, I beat a $ from beech — ova on
June nth — the larvae are now turning. Throughout August I procured
at least 150 larvae of all sizes from the beech hedges, and I think it
quite possible to take as many more. Considering the habit the larvae
have of spinning quite a small web and living in it between united
leaves, it is extraordinary that any can be procured by beating. They
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
255
are most easily reared, and when small in the feeding boxes make a
slight noise like the scratching of a pin on paper, as they increase in
size the sound more resembles the ticking of a watch. The larvae of
Notodonta dromedarius were fairly plentiful on birch from 29th July to
loth August. 1 took Sphinx ligustri and Chcerocampa elpenor at honey-
suckle, at which flowers Plusia iota, CucullicL umbratica and Odonestis
potatoria were numerous, and I also captured at honeysuckle three
specimens of Xylophasia riirea var. combiista on one evening, and
another on the next. Mr. C. G. Barrett, who has seen two of the
insects, makes the following remarks : — “No. i. X. rurea yd,x. combust a,
a beautiful dark specimen of this red form. No. 2. X. rurea var. com-
busta, a curious specimen on account of the shape of its orbicular
stigma.” Hadeiia de7itina, Apamea gemma, Leucania comma, L. pattens
and many of the common Nocture swarmed on the flowers of the
rhododendrons during the first week in July. On June 6th, the pupa
of Acronycta atfii hatched, the larva having been brought me in Septem-
ber last by a boy who found it when picking blackberries. Euctidia mi
and E. gtyphica were fairly numerous, but although these moths are
accounted common, I have not yet ever found them very abundant. 1
took H. tenebrata {arbuti) in plenty, flying in the hottest sunshine from
12 to 3 in the afternoon, about the middle of June. Many of the
common Geometers did not show in great numbers owing no doubt to
the weather — the “ Thorns ” have been more or less plentiful. C.
etinguaria very common, Odontopera bidentata also. Besides these I took
E. dotobraria , Setenia tunaria, En7iomos atniaria, erosaria and quercinara.
In June, Core7nia designata was in plenty on the trunks of apple trees, and
sparingly up to date (end of August), B. ge77Wiaria, T. turidata, G.
papitio7iaria, E. porata, Asthe7ia bto77ieri, L. adustata, L. rivata, C.
ribesiaria, C. sitaceaia, E. affinitata and E. decotorata. On 13th June
I captured, flying ai dusk, a few specimens of M. unangulata, but
never saw any except on that one evening. The EupithccicB are repre-
sented as follows : — E. coronata, exiguaia, irriguata, virgaureata,
scabiosata, obtongata and castigata ; and the Micros, by JV. swa77wier-
da77ietta, H. 7ie77W7'etta, Cerosto77ia radiateiia (varieties), E, pseudospre-
tetta, E. fenestretta, H. fabriciana, H. pflugiana, P. tripunctana, C.
muscutana, H. cirsiana, D, sutphuretta, C. fiavicaput, G. ca77ipotitia7ia,
L. tuzetta and very many others. The larvae of Pieris rupee have been
more than usually abundant, and have caused damage to several garden
flowers, particularly to the tropaeolums and mignonette (Newman men-
tions this particularly), indeed larvae of all sorts have been by no means
scarce. I have now some 400 to 500 feeding and have also a large
number of pupae. — J. N. Still, Tiverton. August 2Zth, 1891.
Liverpoot. — This year has been pretty bad here, worse than last. The
rain has spoilt everything. However, larvae have been fairly plentiful
lately, especially Cuspidates, such as Notodonta dictcea, N ziczac, N
dictceoides, N dro77iedarius , N. ca77ietina and Drepana fatcuta. Hetiothis
margmata, too, has been fairly common on restharrow on the sandhills.
I was in Simonswood Moss on Saturday, the 19th inst., and just at dusk,
as we were leaving for the station, the place became alive with Cetcena
haworthii, mostly in bad condition, as this species always seems to be.
I had never seen it in a quantity before ; the specimens were obtained
through laborious searching amongst the heather. If any one does not
256
THE ENTOMOLOGIST S - IIKCOHD.
know how to take it, 6.30 is the time of the day. I see I am credited in
the Record with getting pupae of Celcena haworthii^ this should have been
Glyphipieryx hawortha?ia, the pupae of which may be found in old heads
of cotton grass in April. — G. A. Marker, Liverpool. Sep/. 24///, 1891.
Essex Marshes. — A visit to the Phorodes7ua smaragdaria ground on
Saturday, September 12th, proved very successful. My cousin and
myself were probably two of the entomologists Mr. Quail speaks of
{E7it. Record, vol. ii., p. 207), and we succeeded in finding 53 larvae in
less than two hours. I might mention that about 45 out of the 53
larvae were taken on two small patches of wormwood, no more than a
ew yatds square, both the patches being quite close together. About
150 other larvae that I know to have been taken this year came almost
entirely off the same two patches.— Russell E. James, Hornsey Lane, N.
Larvae beating in Hants. — I took ninety-four Boar77iia roboraria
larvae at Lyndhurst, and hope some will come through the winter.
I also took forty-three Go7iophora derasa larvae last night here. — G. M.
A. Hewett, Winchester.
Stray Notes on Certain Lepidoptera. — Bisto7i hirtaria. I
found several batches of eggs of this insect on the bark of lime trees,
also one batch on an elm. The freshly-laid ova of this species seem
to be of three different colours — yellow, green, and bright metallic
purple — they all, however, turn nearly black before hatching. E7itio77ios
a7igularia. I found the young larvae of this insect plentiful in
Kensington Gardens this year, feeding on lime, they are easy to find if
sought for before the larvae of Orgyia antiqua put in an appearance. In
habits and appearance the young larvae closely resemble Eupithecia
asswiilafa. They eat clean-cut round holes in the leaves, and these
holes never coalesce. The adventitious shoots of the lime seem to be
their favourite resort, and they should be looked for at the end of
May. I bred an exceedingly variable series from the larvae I took in
Kensington Gardens this year, some being exactly like Eti7io77ios fuscaTi-
taria, and one was entirely suffused with brown. Eupithecia pulchellata.
I have often wondered how this insect was got at by its parasites,
living as it does closely shut up inside the foxglove flower. This year
I had the good fortune to catch an ichneumon in the very act. I saw
this fly apparently sitting on a foxglove flower, and, on looking closer,
I saw that it had thrust its ovipositor and nearly all its abdomen
through the petal, and on opening the flower I found a wretched,
squirming pulchellata larva impaled. The ichneumon must have made
a very good shot as the larva was a very little one. Stilbia a7i077iala.
The proportion of males I -have captured to females is about 100
to one, and I should like to know if this is the usual percentage.
There is a striking difference in the flight of the two sexes : that of
the male being exactly like a geometer. Indeed, when Cidaria testata
and populata are about, you cannot distinguish them by their flight.
The female, however, buzzes about like a Noctua and keeps close to
the heather, and only flies about two yards at a time. Notodo7ita
dictceoides. Truly this insect is a terrible cannibal, but, as far as I
can judge, it only devours its own species. I laid down about 250
ova on a good-sized young birch tree, which I enveloped in muslin.
The larvae had plenty of room, nevertheless, I caught them eating one
another on several occasions, and the older they grew the more
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
257
cannibalistic they got. For experiment's sake I placed a nearly full-fed
N. dictmides^ a half-grown larva of the same species, two N. cd^nelvia^
and two N. dromedarius^ about half-grown, into a little cage ; the smaller
N, dictceoides was gone next day, but the other larvae were never touched,
although they were together nearly a week. — Richard Freer.
Hybernation in egg-state of Calocampa solidaginis and
Oporabia filigrammaria. — I do not think it is generally known (at
least, I could obtain no reliable information at the time I made the
inquiry) that Calocanipa solidaginis deposits about the end of September,
remaining in the egg-state throughout the winter, until about April
26th, before hatching, and will take to hawthorn as a substitute for
bilberry. I noted that a good many examples were taken last year.
I should like to hear if anyone’s experience corresponds with mine.
Oporabia filigrammaria also has the same habit, only they hatch in
March and feed up very sharp, as they are full-fed and out of sight
by the middle of May. — J. Harrison, 7, Gawber Road, Barnsley.
Eupithecia dodoneata at Sligo. — I have no doubt all the
specimens captured by me (about a dozen) were taken at dusk flying
along hawthorn hedges ; we have no oak anywhere near here. This
agrees with Mr. Atmore’s experience, and probably the larvae could
be obtained by beating the hawthorn. — P. H. Russ, Sligo. 2 5 //it, 1891.
Single-broodedness of Cidaria silaceata. — I have bred Cidaria
silaceata for the last ten years, and during that time I have only
once had two insects emerge at the end of August, and they were much
smaller than those from the pupae which lie over the winter and emerge
in May. I collect the larvae of C. silaceata in August, and I find
them on willow herb {^Epilobium angustifolium). I have also found
the larvae feeding on E, mo7ita7ium. The insect is on the wing in June, anJ
there is only one brood in the season in this locality. — John Finlay,
Meldon Park, Morpeth. September 'T^oth^ 1891. [In the Isle of Wight,
August, 1889, I took several C. silaceata, all small and very dark,
decidedly a second brood. — Ed.]
Nonagria concolor in Suffolk. — Whilst collecting m Suffolk last
July I captured a single specimen of Nonagria co?icolor. The species
has since been identified by Mr. Tutt. — A. W. Mera, 79, Capel Road,
Forest Gate.
Sugaring for Gonophora derasa and Thyatira batis. — Apro-
pos of a remark in Mr. Simes’ article {Ent. Record, p. 183) that
“ Thyatira derasa and T. batis were common over bramble, but refused
to come to sugar,” I should like to suggest to entomologists that they
should often try sugaring sprays of bramble blossom, instead of trees,
or in bushy localities where there are no trees. I have always taken
T. batis and G. derasa more freely by this method than by any other,
besides numbers of other Nocture, among others I may mention
Miana strigilis and M. furuncula, Cerigo cytherea (abundant),
Xylophasia hepatica (very abundant), Agrotis puta, Aplecta nebulosa,
Noctua trianguhim, Luperhia cespitis etc. Geometry may also be
taken more freely thus than at the sugared trees j I have repeatedly
met with Larentia olivata, besides Gnophos obscii?ata, Acidalia
scutulata and many commoner species. Those sprays on which the
young berries are forming will be found to hold the sugar best. — R. M.
Prideaux, 9, Vyvyan Terrace, Clifton, Bristol. September 25//?, 1891.
258
THE entomologist’s KECOKl).
Stathmopoda pedella in Norfolk. — Mr. P'arren’s note on the
capture of Stathmopoda pedella in the “Fens” {a?ite, p. 134) reminds
me that the species has again occurred here sparingly, amongst alders
of course. Until this year, I had not seen the insect alive for three
or four years, but at one time it was so plentiful here, that, in 1886 or
1887 (I think the latter year) I took sixty specimens one evening in
an hour. It then occurred on some old alders close to the town,
which trees, I am sorry to add, were cut down during the following
winter. From 1887 to July this year, not a single specimen could be
found, although, curiously enough, there are some old alders opposite
those which have been felled, and separated from them only by a
narrow road. It is not surprising that Mr. Farren should be pleased
to meet with such a good and exceedingly local species as S. pedella
undoubtedly is. This insect, when at rest, more resembles a Cole-
opteron than it does a moth. — E. A. Atmore. August 28M, 1891.
EuPITHECIA PYGMiEATA PROBABLY DOUBLE-BROODED. JupitCr PluviuS
Still rules supreme. Yesterday, however, I made an attempt to do a
little collecting, and was surprised to find Eupithecia pygjiiceata. I
obtained four specimens by beating a fence on the roadside near
Lynn. Two of these are in fine condition, and the others, by no
means worn. This suggests the probability of there being two broods
of this species here, for I took several specimens in the same place on
June 15th this year. A little later, about the end of the month, worn
specimens were observed, and then no more were seen until August
26th. E. pygfiiceata occurs, I believe, at Wicken ; and I shall be glad
to know if Mr. Farren has had a similar experience as to times of
appearance. I now remember having taken worn specimens in a fen
near this towm during the second week in July this year. — Id.
Sphinx convolvuli in Hants. — A fine Sphinx mivolvuli in good
condition except for a slight chip out of the right upper wing, was
brought to me on September 26th. It had been found at rest on a
geranium in a green-house, where it had doubtless been attracted the
previous night by a plant of Nicotiana affinis in blossom. Here is a
hint to entomologists to leave their green-house doors open at night. —
(Miss) A. I. Marindin, East Liss, Hants. October \th^ 1891.
The Wicken form of Eup^ecilia vectisana. The Editor’s ? to
my record of the capture of E. vectisana {ante^ p. 134) brought me a
letter from Mr. E. R. Bankes to the effect that he w'as not surprised
to see the ?, as he considered vectisana purely a coast species ; and, as
there had been some difference of opinion as to its being vectisana or
not, Messrs. Warren, Richardson and Griffiths having considered it
vectisa?ia, and Messrs. Tutt and Thurnall being doubtful, whilst I
myself, although not having sufficient knowledge of the group to
venture a definite opinion, yet saw that it certainly looked very
different to the forms of vectisana I have had from other localities,
being very distinctly marked instead of almost plain, and like no
other British species. I sent some to Mr. Bankes to see ; he, doubtful
about them, sent them to Mr. C. G. Barrett, who wrote: — “Those
queer looking Wicken specimens are undoubtedly vectisana^ and
then adds : — “ I certainly never expected to see vectisana appear in so
striking an aspect as in the specimen marked ^ ; indeed, most of
these specimens far surpass what I have seen before.” The specimen
SOCIETIES.
259
alluded to (Sj) has the ground very clear and the markings almost
black. — Wm. Farren, Cambridge. October 6ih, 1891. [My want of
exact knowledge about this species makes me bow to the opinion
expressed by my friend Mr. Barrett, but I am still rather dissatisfied
with the determination, and trust Mr. Farren will be in a position to
give us further information next year, especially regarding its early
stages. — Ed.]
Abundance of Bombyx rubi larv/E. — Larvce of Bombyx rubi are
very common here this year, about five persons having obtained 300,
and without having searched more than three times each ; the best
time to find them appears to be in the early morning with a heavy
dew. — A. A. Bradburne, Brockhurst, Church Stretton.
Erratum. — At the beginning of my notes on collecting in Bedford-
shire {Efit. Record^ vol. ii., p. 206), for Liparis chrysorrhcea read Liparis
auriflua. — D. H. S. Steuart, North Leigh, Prestwick, Lancashire.
October Sth, 1891.
SOCIETIES.
Entomological Society of London. — November 1891. — Mr.
W. F. Kirby exhibited a series of a very dark-coloured form of Apis
reared by Mr. John Hewett of Sheffield, from bees imported from
Tunis, and which he proposed to call “ Punic Bees.” 'fhey were
larger than the black Apis unicolor^ Latr., of Mauritius and Bourbon,
and were almost entirely black, except in the legs, which were of a
more or less reddish colour. Mr. C. G. Barrett exhibited five melanic
specimens of Aplecta 7iebuldsa^ reared by Mr. Collins of Warrington,
from larvae collected in Delamere Forest, Cheshire, and described by
him in the “ Proceedings of the Lancashire and Cheshire Natural
History Society” as A. 7iebulosa var. robso/ii, in honour of Mr. John
E. Robson of Hartlepool. Mr. Barrett also exhibited a beautiful
variety of Argyimis ag/aia, taken in Norfolk by Dr. F. D. Wheeler, and
two specimens (male and female) of Lyccc7ia argiades, taken in August,
1885, on Bloxworth Heath, Dorsetshire, by ]\Ir. C. O. and Mr. A.
Pickard Cambridge respectively. Mr. H. St. John Donisthorpe ex-
hibited a collection of Coleoptera, comprising about thirty-six species,
made in a London granary in 1890 and 1891. The genera represented
included Spfiodrus^ Pristo7iycims, Calathus, Qitedius, Creophilus, 0))ia-
liu77i^ T7'ogosita, Siiva7ws, Lathridius, Der77iestes^ A7ithre7ius, Cory7ietes^
Ptmus, Niptus, A)wbiu7n^ Blaps, Tenebrio^ Cahmdra, Bruchiis^ etc.
Mr. A. B. Farn exhibited a series of specimens of Eubolia Imeolata^
bred from eggs laid by a specimen taken at Yarmouth. The series
included several remarkable and beautiful varieties, and the size of the
specimens was much above the average. The Rev. Dr. Walker ex-
hibited specimens of Argy7uiis mo^ A. pales and A. frigga, from
Norway. Mr. B. A. Bower exhibited, for Mr. J. Gardner, specimens
of Nephopieryx sple7ididella^ H.-S., Botys lupuli/ialis, Clk. and Bryo-
iropJia obsairella^ Hein., taken at Hartlepool last June and August.
Mr. R. Adkin exhibited two very dark specimens of Pero7iea C7'istana^
from the New Forest. Colonel C. Swinhoe exhibited, and remarked
on, types of genera and species of moths belonging to the Tineina, all
260
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
of which had been described by Walker, and placed by him amongst
the LithosidcE. Mr. H. Goss exhibited specimens of Callwiorpha hera^
taken in August last by Major-General Garden in South Devon, and
observed that the species appeared to be getting commoner in this
country, as Gen. Carden had caught seventeen specimens in five days.
Mr. Goss said that the object of the exhibition was to ascertain the
opinion of the meeting as to the manner in w'hich this species had been
introduced into this country. A long discussion on this subject and
on the geographical distribution of the species ensued, in which Mr. G.
T. Baker, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Barrett, Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. M‘Lachlan,
Mr. Verrall, Capt. Elwes, Mr. Fenn, Mr. Jacoby, and others took part.
Mr. C. J. Gahan contributed a paper entitled “ On South American
species of Diabrotica : an Appendix to Part II.” Mr. M‘Lachlan con-
tributed a paper entitled “ Descriptions of new species of holopthalmous
AscalaphidceP Mr. W. L. Distant communicated a paper entitled
“ Descriptions of four new species of the genus FulgoraP Mr. F.
Fnock read a paper entitled “ Additional notes and observations on the
life-history of Atypus piceusP Every detail in the life history of this
spider was most elaborately illustrated by a large number of photographs,
made by Mr. Fnock from his original drawings, and shown by means
of the oxy-hydrogen lantern. A discussion followed, in which Mr. C.
O. Waterhouse, Dr. Sharp, Mr. G. C. Champion, the Rev. A. E. Eaton,
Mr. P. Crowley, and others took part. — H. Goss, Hon. Sec.
City of London Entomological and Natural History Society. —
Thursday., October 1891. — Exhibits: — Lepidoptera. — Mr. Boden,
a series of Hesperia lineola taken near Strood in September, and a
dark specimen of Melanargia galathea. He also showed the specimen
of a Noctua bred from a tomato, previously exhibited on August 6th.
This insect had since been identified as Prodrenia littoralis, Boisduval,
a species hitherto unknown in Britain. He stated that he had failed to
obtain any information as to the locality from which the tomato came,
but expressed an opinion that seeing how extensively this fruit was
now cultivated in England, it was quite possible that the insect might
become naturalized in this country. The larva was brown, with a pig-
like head, and fed on the interior of the tomato during the night,
resting during the day, in a straight posture, outside the fruit. The
cocoon, which he also exhibited, was formed just under the surface of
the sand at the bottom of the garden-pot in which the insect had been
bred. Dr. Sequeira, Xa?iihia silago, Epione apicia^'ia., Scotosia dubitata,
Emmdesia affiiiUaia^ Cidaria si/aceata, a very small specimen of
Abraxas grossu/ariata, 2ind many others. Mr. Quail, life-histories of
Eurynieue dolobraria and Pericallia syringaria ; also a specimen of
Polyommaius virgaurcea, taken on a thistle head at Birling Gap, near
Seaford, August 4th, 1891. The specimen was a male, in good
condition, being, however, slightly worn and appearing to have been
on the wing for some days. Mr. Clark, a series of Dia?ithcecia
capsincola from the north of Ireland ; also specimens of Noctua festiva
and N. conflua from various localities. Mr. Southey, Noctua rubi, N.
festiva and N. tria7tgulum^ with preserved larvae of each. Dr. Buckell,
Xoctua festiva from London district and York, and so-called var. conflua
from Aberdeen, N. sobrina from Perth, N. augur from Highgate and
N. rubi from Suffolk and Muswell Hill. Amongst the latter was a
SOCIETIES.
261
specimen in which the area between the transverse line just beyond the
reniform and the hind margin, was unusually dark. There was also a
dark shade at the base, and the black dot under the orbicular had
become expanded into a longitudinal dash. Mr. Hill, a living larva
of Notodonta dict(zoides from Epping Forest. Mr. Front, various
species from Sandown, Isle of Wight, including Satyrus hyperanthus
var. areie^ A gratis lunigera^ Bryophila glandifera^ Aporophyla australis ^
Cidaria picata^ lodis vernaria^ Emmelesia alchemillata etc. Messrs,
Tutt, Bayne, Milton and Battley also exhibited their series of the genus
Noctua, and Mr. Horne of Aberdeen sent a very variable series of
N. /estiva from his district.
Coleoptera : — Mr. Cripps, Silpha leevigata, Quedius tristis, Q. 77iolo-
chmus, Ilybius fuliginosus^ and Agabus guttatus. Mr. Heasler, Quedius
U77ibrinus, taken among reed refuse on the sides of Barking Creek.
Mr. Milton, Cryptocephalus aureolus^ PhiloTtthus fucicola^ ^pus 77iari7ius
and A. robo7ii.
Mr. Tutt then read a paper on “ The genus Noctua^ with special
reference to N. /estiva and N. coTi/lua/ of which the following is a
brief summary : —
“ Our limited genus, which we call JVoctua, is only a part of the
comprehensive genus Agrotis in its broader form as accepted on the
Continents of Europe and America. Of our species in Noctua. — N.
subrosea and N. /eTiTiica belong rather to our limited genus Agrotis,
whilst augur should be placed apart (it has been suggested by Butler
to restore Graphiphora for this purpose). This genus, closely allied
to, but yet fairly separate from Agrotis, contains some very interesting
species from the point of view of variation, but there is not the same
polymorphic character exhibited by the species as in the latter genus,
Noctua /estiva is the most variable species both in colour and markings.
N. da/ilii D.nd N Tteglecta offer a wide range of colour variation, whilst
N. glareosa varies from pale whitish-grey to intense blackish, and N.
xaTithographa goes through an almost similar range. Bestiva var. coTi/iua
of Treitschke has for a long time puzzled our British lepidopterists,
more particularly it would appear, because writers in the entomological
magazines have of late years referred to the Shetland form of this
species, as well as to the small Scotch /estiva-XC^o. form, under the
name of con/iua. These Scotch specimens are undoubtedly /estiva,
the Shetland species being the true coTi/lua. There is one special
point of variation in the genus worthy of notice ; I refer to the C-like
mark passing round the orbicular in the three closely allied species
tria7igulu77i, ditrapeziu77i and c-7iigru77i. It is formed of two quadrate
spots — one, between the orbicular and reniform, the other, beyond the
orbicular (nearer to the base). In c-7iigru77i, these two spots are always
joined by a line passing under the orbicular ; in ditrapeziu77i, they are
more often joined than not, — in my own series about three-quarters
are thus joined ; in triangulu77i, there are much fewer specimens having
them joined than distinct. The shape of the mark thus made varies
greatly, from two solid blocks with a line joining them, to a solid-
looking letter C, whilst frequently the normally quadrate spots become
somewhat triangular in shape, and thus tend more or less to obsolescence.
It is remarkable that the same superficial mark is developed in Tczfiio-.
ca77ipa gothica and goes through the same gradations.” The history of
262
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Graphif)hora augur var. hdvetma was then referred to, and the parallel
variation in Noctua Ifaia, N. sobrbia, Agrotis subrosea and A. hyperborea^
in the direction of glaucous forms on the one hand and red forms on
the other, was fully entered into. The grey type of N, depuncta^ as
apart from our British form, var. 7nendosa^ Hb., was then considered,
and reference was made to the extreme colour variation of N. glareosa
and N. xanthographa. Of the former species, Mr. Tutt read : — “ This
species has a wide variation in ground colour, which extends from
a pure whitish-grey to black, the characteristic short black transverse
marks, however, being very constant in all its forms of variation,
and standing out conspicuously even in the darkest specimens. These
darkest specimens are, I believe, almost peculiar to the Shetland Isles,
and are excessively rare elsewhere, although there is a record by
Mr. Wylie in the E?ito?nologisf s Record etc., vol. i., p. ii, of three black
specimens having been captured in 1887, near Perth. There is also a
beautiful variety tinged with a delicate rosy colour, as was mentioned
in The Brit. Noct. and their Vars., i., 1 1, as being of frequent occurrence
in those species of Cuspidia and Viminia. which have a similar grey
ground colour. Esper’s diagnosis of this species is: — ‘Alis cinerascentibus,
punctis baseos et pupillis stigmatum nigris, strigis tribus posterioribus
albidis’ {Die Schmet. in Abbildungen etc., p. 387). Our own pale
specimens are distinctly of two forms — one, of a pale whitish-grey, the
second, of a pale lilac-grey, the former being the more common form
found on the Continent, the deepening in tint of some of our specimens
being, perhaps, a foreshadowing of the intense melanism which is so
characteristic of those from the Shetland Isles and probably from the
Scotch Highlands. The hebraica of Hiibner is almost typical, having
the space between the two outer transverse lines of a rather darker
grey’ \Sammlung europ'aischer Schniet.., fig. 642). I have never seen
i>pecimens actually intermediate between the grey and black form but
•Mr. Wylie writes : — ^ During 1887, I took a great number of this species,
varying from black to the normal type, with many intermediate forms
and rosy vars ’ {Ent. Rec.^ etc., vol. i., p. ii).”
He then drew attention to the pallid form of N. iriangulu?n^ to the
superficial resemblance between N. c-nig7'um and Tceniocampa gothica,
to the sexual dimorphism of PP. ditrapezium and to the very rare
occurrence of the red type of N. stigmatica^ the British specimens being
principally var. tristigma^ St. It was remarked that the chestnut-
marbled and red forms of N. dahtii wtro. principally sexual in England,
but that in Aberdeenshire and Ireland the red form was common to
both sexes. The occasional occurrence of N. flammatra in Britain
was noted, as also was the double-broodedness of N. nibi and N.
piecta. The want of variation in N. ujfibrosa was remarked, the rest of
the time being occupied with Noctua f estiva and N. coiiflua (the paper
will appear in next No.). At the end of this paper Dr. Buckell pointed
out certain differences between augur and the typical species of the
geiims Noctua^ and made some remarks on the variation of Noctua rubi
and N. xa?ithographa. Mr. Tutt referred to the seasonal dimorphism
in the former species, and mentioned the capture of a very pale specimen
•of G. augur by Mr. Dutton at York this year.
Thursday., November ^th^ 1891. — Exhibits: Mr. Mead, Miselia oxya-
^:a?ithce^ Mia?ia strigilis and E^iplexia lucipara, all from Epping Forest.
SOCIETIES.
263
Mr. Southey, a fine series of Geometra papilionarla from the New
Forest. Mr. Riches, Hdimrophila abruptaria from Hornsey Rise,
including two very dark specimens, and a bred series of Depressaria
heracliella. Mr. Hollis, pale varieties of Vanessa urticce^ living specimens
of V. atalanta and V. cardui^ and a curious variety of Arctia lubricipeda.
In the opinion of some of the members, the latter had been caused by
the insect passing through a flame. Dr. Buckell, various species
illustrating the difference between northern and southern forms of the
same insect. These included Luperina testacea vars. cinerea and
nigrescens, Tutt, from Hartlepool, a grey specimen of Noctua f estiva
from Aberdeen, Apamea basilmea, greyer than the London form, from
Hartlepool, A. gemina from Aberdeen, with dark central band reaching
completely to inner margin, Hade7ia pisi from Hartlepool, of a greyish
ground colour, and for comparison, specimens from Aberdeen and
London ; also, on behalf of Mr. Levvcock, a spider, found in a garden
at Fulham, about the middle of October. Mr. Battley, a collection of
Lepidoptera taken in his garden at Stamford Hill, including Vanessa
polychloros^ Zeiizera cesculi, Tajiagra chcerophyllata, Gonophora derasa,
and many others ; also varieties of Abraxas grossulariata, bred this
season, and a very pale specimen taken at Enfield in 1879. Mr. Clark,
a series of Retinia 7'esitiana from Perth. Dr. Sequeira, various species
taken in his garden at Cassland Road, South Hackney, including
Vanessa cardui^ Stsia tipulifor77iis^ a dark specimen of He)7ierophila
abruptaria^ Scotosia dubitata^ Plusia chrysitis^ Dipterygia pmastri and
A77iphipyra pyra77iidea. Mr. Hill, Lepidoptera from a garden at Hamp-
stead, including Sphinx ligustri. Mr. Tutt, a fine variety of Agriopis
aprilina, belonging to Mr. Mason, of Clevedon, also varieties of
E717W7710S a7igularia and Miana furinicula. Mr. Bayne, Luperina
testacea and E7ino77ios tiliaria. Mr. Simes, varieties of Ypsipetes elutata
and Lyccena alexis, Hadena protea from Bute, and dark forms of Agrotis
lucernea from Aberdeen. Mr. Nicholson, Gonepteryx rha77ini, Dipterygia
pmastri^ Cucullia iwibratica^ Heliothis peltigera^ Mania 77iaura from
his garden at Clapton. Mr. Huckett, bred specimens of Enno7nos
angularia and Hi77itra pen7iaria. Mr. Smith, Lycce7ia adonis^ L. alsus,
L. cegon, Theda betulcB etc., taken this season. Mr. Prout, Triphcena
pro7iuba^ Hade7ia oleracea and Mela7iippe fluctuata from Dalston, several
specimens showing a tendency to melanism ; also a series of Anchocelis
pistacma from the Isle of Wight. Mr. Milton, Chceroca77ipa elpe7ior^
S}7iermthus tilice. and Cossus ligniperda^ all from Stamford Hill, also a
s].»ecimen of Sphinx ligustri^ bred from a larva found at Bethnal Green.
He also exhibited in Coleoptera, Chryso77iela gra77iinis, C. 77ienthastri,
Clerus for77iicarius and Silpha thoracica : and in Hymenoptera, Xiphyra
dro77iedrius, La77ipronata setosa and Chrysis cyanea. Mr. Heasler,
Ho77ialota im77iersa, taken in fungus at Mitcham.
Dr. Buckell then read his paper on “The Lepidoptera of a London
garden,” in which he summed up the results of his experience between
1881 and the present time in two Islington gardens of the “cultivated
back yard ” order. The record showed that in all 63 species had been
captured, distributed as follows : — 4 species of Rhopalocera, 3 Sphinges,
including i specimen oi Macroglossa steliatarti77i,6 Bombyces,3i Noctuae,
including ophiogra7n77ia, Agrotis saucia^ Triphcena co77ies {orbona),
TcB7iioca77ipa mcerta iinstabilis) and Orthosia ypsilon, 19 Geometrae,
264
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
including Urapteryx sajnbucatit^ Crocallis elinguaria and Amphidasys
bctularia. Dr. Buckell incidentally called attention to the need that
existed for the compilation of a list of the fauna of the London district.
He expressed an opinion that the task was one that might very properly
be accomplished by the Society, and urged the Council to take the
matter in hand.
Messrs. Tutt, Sequeira, Battley, Prout, Hollis, Gates, Southey, Riches,
Milton and Clark continued the discussion on the subject, many
interesting records being given, and, on the motion of Mr. Tutt and
Dr. Sequeira, a vote of thanks was accorded to Dr. Buckell for his
kindness in bringing the subject forward.
Mr. Bellamy asked for some information respecting the hour at
which NocTUiE came to sugar and ivy in the autumn. Mr. Battley
stated that during the last few weeks he had rarely noticed any insects
on sugar after 6 p.m., from 5 o’clock to 5.45 being the best time, but
they came to ivy considerably after that time, some of them being
observed settling at 8 p.m. Mr. Tutt thought it was owing to the fact
that some species preferred sugar to ivy, while others came more
freely to the latter, and that the ivy insects had their natural time of
flight at a later hour than those that came to sugar.
Mr. Prout stated that his series of Anchocelis pistacma were taken on
sugar, immediately after dark. — A. U. Battley and G. A. Lewcock,
Hon. Secs,
Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — October
12th, i8qi. — Mr. C. E. Stott read a paper entitled “ Notes on Cetcena
haworthiip in which he described the haunts of this species, cautioning
the would-be captor of the necessity of very gently approaching the
heather on which the insect rests, otherwise it would take fright and
drop to the roots, from which it is almost impossible to extricate it.
The author then gave a short history of its earlier stages, and concluded
by describing the different local varieties. The paper was illustrated
by specimens of the species. Mr. J. Collins read “ A few remarks
on Aplecta nebulosaP stating he had bred five melanic forms from
Delamere, for which he proposed the varietal name of robsoni, in
honour of the well-known entomologist Mr. J. E. Robson of Hartle-
pool. Mr. Collins exhibited the five specimens, with others bred at the
same time. The secretary read a communication from Mr. J. W.
Tutt, who wrote that the specimens of Tortrix do7iela7ia exhibited at
the last meeting had, at the South London Entomological Society,
been stated to be T. steineria7ia var. dohrnia7ia., and that the name of
do7ielana would therefore fall to the ground. But it was pointed out
that do7ielana had already been referred to stei7ieriana^ but incorrectly
so. Mr. Townsing showed a remarkable gynandromorphous specimen
of Orgyia a7itiqua, the head of which possessed the male structure,
while the body was that of the female. Mr. Harker, a variety of
Va7iessa io., the ground colour of which was fulvous brown, apparently
owing to the thinness of the scales. Mr. Gregson, a very variable
series of Dianthoecia conspersa, including the melanic form. Messrs.
Townsing and Prince, dark forms of Abraxas grossulariata ; and iMr.
Pierce (the secretary), Retinia resinana and their resinous nodules from
the fir trees. — F. N. Pierce, Hon. Sec., 143, Smithdown Lane,
Liverpool.
JOURNAL OF VARIATION.
No. 12. VoL. II. Dkclmber 15th, 1891.
Variation.
Variety of Argynnis aglaia.
This beautiful variety of Argynnis aglaia was captured this year
(1891) at Bevendean near Brighton, and exhibited by me at the City
of London Entomological Society’s meeting of November 19th. The
specimen differs essentially from the typical male of this species in
the great increase of the size of the black spots, and consequent
suppression of the ground colour. It will also be noticed that the
sides are slightly asymmetrical, the right pair of wings being much
darker than the left. The most important points of variation in the
fore-wings, compared with the type, are as follows ; — (i). The blending
of the second and third costal streaks into a black patch, the excessive
development of the discoidal blotch (or fourth streak), and the union
of the fifth and sixth streaks into another blotch. (2). The union of
the lunular black marks parallel to the hind margin with the parallel
row of dots, thus forming a transverse series of black patches. (3). The
excessive enlargement of the zigzag series of black marks running down
266
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
the centre of the wing. (4). The thickening of the nervures (with black
scales) towards the outer margin. On the hind wings there is (i). An
almost entire failure to form the black lunular marks on the extreme
outer margin (especially on the right side). (2). The zigzag line in the
centre of the wing is particularly well developed, whilst the area between
this and the outer margin is shaded with very opaque black scales
which quite obscure the ground colour. (3). The nervures are also
broadly black. The fore-wings show the slightest possible traces of a
concavity in the centre of the outer margin, but otherwise the specimen
appears to be quite normally developed. It is strange that the under-
side shows the spots which are united above, as distinct, and not much
more than the normal size, whilst those near the apex of the wing are
rather less developed than usual. The space between the extreme
edges of the hind wings and the outer row of silver spots is abnormally
broad. — J. A. Clark, The Broadway, London F'ields.
Variation in Noctua festiva and N. conflua.^ — “These are the
most variable and interesting of all the species in this genus. The
interest in them has been greatly enhanced owing to the discovery in
the Shetland Isles of forms totally unlike those obtainable in England,
Ireland and, so far, on the mainland of Scotland, Of these Shetland
examples, which are the true co7tflua^ Mr. J. Jenner Weir writes : —
“This insect varies much; some resemble the ordinary varieties of
conflua^ others are in coloration more like N. dahlii^ and others are very
like N. bru7inea ; all are darker than the normal N. festiva. Some have
a hoary appearance, and indeed present such singular differences that I
do not doubt, if the more remarkable aberrations were examined
separately, they would in the absence of links, be regarded as distinct
species” {Entomologist^ vol. xiii., p. 289); and, writing of “the
Lepidoptera ofUnst,” the same gentleman remarks again of true confiua\ —
“ A most beautiful series of this species was captured, some of a very
rich chestnut colour with well-defined markings, as rich in colour as N.
briumea ; and others of the var. confiua with markings almost obsolete.
Of these, three varieties are figured, ^ Nos. 8, 9 and 10 ” {Entomologist^
vol. xvii., p. 2). Of the general variation of ordinary Noctua festiva,
Newman writes: — “This moth is exceedingly variable. Through the
kindness of friends I have at times possessed hundreds of specimens, of
which I can truly say that no two were exactly alike ” ( British Moths,
p. 349). The endless variation to which this species is subjected, the
remarkable connection between this and the small race, erroneously
known as co7iflua, which is captured on the moors of North England and
in Scotland, together with the occurrence of the true C07ifiua (agreeing
exactly with Icelandic specimens) in the Shetland Isles with festiva,
make this one of the most interesting of our Noctua.
The small form of festiva, generally known as co7ifiua in Britain and
on the Continent, is not the co7iflua of Treitschke, which represents the
Shetland and Iceland form lately introduced into our lists as var. thulei.
I have not the remotest doubt that this true Iceland and Shetland co7ifiua
^ Part of a paper read before the City of London Entomological Society, October
15th, 1891.
2 The figures are very bad, and utterly useless for reference. — JAV.T.
VARIATION.
267
is a good and distinct sub-species, having nothing in common with the
small specimens of festiva which are picked out from hundreds of the
larger forms by our Scotch collectors, and distributed broadcast into
our English collections as co?iflua. This error was due primarily to
Newman, who treated this small race of festiva as a distinct species
under the name of confiua in his British Moths ^ p. 394, erroneously
supposing that these small festiva were Treitschke’s confiua. Of New-
man’s so-called confiua^ Mr. Reid of Pitcaple writes : — “ There is no
difference between the specimens sent out from Aberdeenshire festiva
and confiua. Collectors pick out all the small specimens and call them
confiua (because it is so in Newman’s British Moths ), and all the
large ones and call them festiva. They (both large and small) occur
together here in all localities, almost from the sea-level to several
hundred feet above the sea” {in litt.). I have some two hundred
specimens in my series from different localities in Scotland and England,
and it is impossible to get from the mainland of Scotland, so far as we
at present know, a single form that cannot be obtained occasionally in
our Kent woods. Some of my smallest examples are from Kent, and
some of my largest from Perth and Aberdeen. Of course, local
environment causes some little difference in the appearance of such
a common species, and a tendency to glaucous is more frequent in the
Aberdeen and Darlington districts than elsewhere, the reddest specimens
I have ever seen coming from Perth and Chattenden (Kent), widely
distant localities enough. True festiva and our forms erroneously
called confiua, in their reddest varieties are bright red, more like the
red of bright Noctua rubi, but even brighter than the brightest of these,
still there is none of the dull-brown colour in these festiva vars. that is
characteristic of the true Icelandic and Shetlandic confiua, the reddest
of which resemble somewhat in colour the red-brown type of yV. baia.
These specimens, too, have a differently shaped wing as mentioned by
Herr Hoffmann in his extract quoted below, and this is quite a constant
character, whilst no Scotch confiua, so-called, exhibit this essential
character, whatever their size. That the so-called confiua of Scotch
localities are anything more than festiva, I fail to see, whilst, at the same
time, I consider that the Shetland race is so far differentiated that it
can be at once separated from any forms oi /estiva known. I treat,
therefore, all our English and Scotch festiva as such, dropping altogether
Newman’s erroneous use of the name conjiua, and at the same time
treat our Shetland specimens as a distinct sub-species under the name
of confiua, Tr. Those who have not the Shetland sub-species will of
course find it difficult to follow out the intricate muddle that has been
woven round this species, but I believe I can safely say that in no part
of the mainland of Great Britain has the confiua of Treitschke been
taken, and although undoubtedly some of our festiva may to a small
extent superficially resemble some of the forms of the allied sub-species,
there can be no possible doubt in determination. Of the true co7ifiua
in Iceland, Dr. Mason writes : — “Very abundant and variable ; this was
first described as a species from Icelandic specimens, and differs from
the form usually called N. festiva var. confiua in British collections from
its smaller size; the only British specimens of this form which I have
seen were taken by the late John Sang, at Wolsingham in Northumber-
land ” {Efit. Mo. Mag., xxvi., p, 198); whilst we also read: — “The
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
2()8
Rev. J)r. Walker exhibited a few Nociua conflua, illustrating the varied
forms of this species occurring in Iceland ; and Dr. Mason said that
the only British specimens of N. conflua which he had seen resembling
the Iceland form of the species were taken at Wolsingham, Durham ”
( Trails. Ent. Soc. Land.., 1890, p. xxxvii.). I believe that these two
references apply to the' same specimens, although the county is named
differently in each by Dr. Mason. It appears, too, that the Wolsingham
specimens only resembled ” the Icelandic conflua, which is the nearest
statement I can make of British (except Shetlandic) specimens. So
far, I believe we have never obtained the true conflua on the mainland
of Great Britain. Concerning the conflua from Shetland, Herr Hoffmann
writes : — “ On the authority of Dr. Rossler, I consider conflua a var. of
fesiiva. I saw eight specimens of conflua from the Shetland Isles,
which differ as much from the conflua of Altvater from the mountains
of Norway and Lapland, as they vary among themselves, at least in
colour. First the Shetland form has narrower wings, and the fore
wings have the apex more pointed, although this is not shown in the
figs, in the Entomologist, 1884, plate 1, figs. 8, 9, 10. In colour, they
vary from dark grey-brown to reddish-brown and to a reddish-ochreous.
In Iceland, according to Staudinger, quite similar forms occur. Dr.
Rossler considers conflua the mountain form of festiva ; whilst ova of
conflua, brought by Dr. Bodemeyer from the Silesian mountains,
produced, in Wiesbaden, only festiva in all its varieties, but no conflua.
Part of these, which came out late in the autumn as a second brood,
were found to come nearer to conflua than to the typical festiva of
our flat country. Dr. Rossler has probably tried a large number, and
formed his opinion accordingly. Dr. Staudfuss writes to me : — ‘ Dr.
Wocke has likewise reared a second brood from Altvater, which, more
or less forms an approach to festival According to Dr. Staudfuss,
occurs only in the heart of the Riesengebirge, and he found two larvae
at an elevation of 4,000 feet, which produced festiva not differing in the
least from the form of the flat country. Conflua has never been taken
in the Riesengebirge, whilst this form further east on the Schneeberg
and Altvater at considerable elevation, seems to represent festiva. On
the moors of the Upper Hartz, there occurs a small pale form of festiva,
but I have never found anything approaching conflua in that locality.
Professor Frey gives localities for festiva not only from the lower regions
of the Swiss mountains, but also Sils-Maria in the Upper Engadine
about 5,500 feet high, and therefore on the borders between the lower
and upper Alps : for conflua, only the Berner Alps, Belchen, Engethal
and Eigenthal. The last three are at a height of 3,000 feet, and
therefore on the boundary between the lower region and mountain
region. I only give these details for comparison, to show that conflua
does not represent unconditionally the mountain form, as festiva occurs
everywhere in the mountains at the same elevation 2iS conflua, even much
h\g\\tx^flStett. ent, Zeit., 1884, pp. 360-362). It would appear certain
from this, that Continental entomologists, like ourselves, erroneously
call the small specimens of festiva — conflua, and have not yet differen-
tiated correctly the form known under this name, and it is probable
that those from the Alps are simply small festiva, like our own moorland
forms, but those from Lapland and probably those from Norway are
true. It is certain that the var. borealis is a true conflua variety, for
VARIATION
269
Zetterstedt writes : — “ Similar to N. brunnea^ Fab. or iF. fragarice^ Bork.,
but certainly distinct, it is so much smaller, etc.” {Insecta Lapponica^
941). At the same time, ordinary festiva are taken side by side with it
in Norway, but these are considered perfectly distinct by Scandinavian
lepidopterists ; vide Entom. Tidsknft^ 1885, p. 53. Staudinger writes
of conflua : — “ Perhaps an Alpine and northern variety of festiva or a
Darwinian species,” and gives as localities “ Northern Europe, Silesian
Mountains, the Alps, Iceland and Labrador” {Catalogs p. 83). Of
these, the specimens from the Silesian Mountains and the Alps are
probably only conflua-\ikQ vars. of festiva^ but this is not necessarily so.
My friend, Mr. Reid, I know, believes it possible that the higher
mountainous districts in Perth and North Scotland might produce the
real Shetlandic form, but up to the present time, I have not seen any
from the Scotch mainland. With regard to these Scotch festiva^ which
we have been accustomed to call conflua^ Mr. A. Horne of Aberdeen
writes : — “ I am now convinced that this variety does not occur in
Aberdeenshire, nor, in fact, in any of the northern counties of Scotland.
I have taken N. festiva in, I think, all the counties from Kincardineshire
up to and including Orkney, but they do not appear to be smaller or
paler at any one place than another. At Forres, the majority are of a
red colour. In Professor Trail’s List of the Lepidoptera of the Dee
(x\berdeenshire) is found the following : — '' N, festiva^ abundant, rather
local.’ ‘ W. conflua^ abundant.’ I think this is the principal cause of
Aberdeen collectors sending away their specimens as N conflua ” {in
litt.) ; whilst Mr. Reid writes : — “ A^. festiva has been sent out as N.
conflua by many Aberdeen collectors for ‘exchange’ purposes, and the
fact that festiva never figured in the ‘ Exchange List ’ speaks for itself,
besides I have been told by a collector, that ‘ if we call them festiva^
we should never get rid of them.’ Professor Trail’s list, however, has
much to answer for in perpetuating the blunder. Although some
collectors have worked a great part of the northern counties of Scotland,
I do not think the high mountains have ever been worked for conflua.
I have no doubt, the narrow-winged, unicolorous form occurs freely in
such localities. Mr. Tait of Inverurie, has a few which he captured in
Aberdeenshire. I have taken them myself on some of our high moors,
and I have seen others that have been captured high on our hills. I
cannot say whether the variety has been captured in the mountains of
Perthshire ” {in litt.). Mr. Maddison writes : — “ My specimens of N.
conflua from Lapland, appear to differ slightly from my Morayshire and
other Scotch specimens, in their somewhat paler colour and narrower fore
wings, but I cannot say that the difference appears to be much marked ”
{in litt.) ; whilst Mr. Sydney Webb says : — “ If we can claim conflua at
all, it seems to me that it must be through the Shetland specimens and
not through the Aberdeenshire or Perthshire ones. Stress is particularly
laid, on the Continent, on the narrow fore wing, and certainly the
Shetland specimens possess this in a marked degree” (/;z litt.). The
true festiva as well as conflua occurs in the Shetland Isles.
We may now consider them separately, (i) JLoctua, ~L\rm., festiva,
Hb. Under this name I include all our British forms except the
conflua from the Shetland Isles. The variation in ground colour
extends from a pale whitish-grey to a deep red, and in markings from
exceedingly well-developed blarV quadrate marks between the stigmata
270
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
and beyond the orbicular, as in figs. 2 and 3 of Newman’s British
Moths, p. 348, to a total absence of any dark markings whatever.
The conflua, as figured in Newman’s British Moths, p. 349, are only
small specimens of festiva, and not the true co7iflua of Treitschke.
The species is polymorphic, and it is only possible in the most
general way to classify the forms we get. Some of the specimens
from northern localities have a strong tendency to develop a
glaucous shade, whilst others from exposed localities and moorland
districts, have a tendency to be dwarfed in size, although in our
southern woods, there are frequently very small specimens captured.
One rarely sees at large, such fine large specimens as some of the
North London collectors supply us with for our cabinets, and one
only sees occasionally from our southern woods such deep red-brown
specimens as are obtained near Perth, The Aberdeen specimens some-
times tend to reddish-brown, but this is of a rare occurrence. Hiibner’s
type may be described as follows : — “ The anterior wings slaty-grey at the
base, the extreme outer margin pale red to the subterminal line, the
colour then becomes dark red from this line to midway between the
stigmata ; the transverse lines grey, the reniform outlined in grey, the
orbicular pale pinkish. Hind wings dull grey, fringe red, a dark shade
on hind margin, transverse line and dark lunule” {Sammlmtg eur op.
Sch?fiet., fig. 1 14). This type has no trace of black 'markings on the
anterior wings. In general variation, we are first struck with the range
of colour, which is very great, although not so extensive as in some
other species in the same genus. The great mass of specimens are
coloured with whitish-grey, yellow-ochreous or red, extending in some
specimens (principally Scotch ones) to bright reddish-brown, of the same
shade as in N. rubi var. quadratum of Hiibner, to which some speci-
mens bear more than a superficial resemblance. Two other (almost
purely Scotch) forms occur, one, of a deep grey, the other, of a purplish-
red or plum-colour, the purplish tint being produced as in certain
forms of N. sobrina, N. baia, Agrotis hyperborea and many other species.
There is another Scotch form, dull reddish-brown in colour, common in
Aberdeenshire districts, which is much darker than any of our more
southern forms. In general appearance, too, there is great difference,
some specimens are very mottled, others have a distinct dark quadrate spot
between the stigmata and another beyond the orbicular, whilst sometimes
the basal area (to the central shade) is very pale (grey, ochreous, etc.)
the outer area being much darker. When the extreme outer margin,
beyond the subterminal is also pale, the insect has a banded form, and
sometimes this band is most striking in its development. The stigmata
vary but little ; they are generally pale in colour and well developed.
Only in one specimen of a long series are the two quadrate spots joined
by a line under the orbicular, although an occasional specimen shows a
tendency that way. There is also considerable difference in the
development of the transverse lines, but the only one of these that
occasionally presents any striking character, is the median shade, which
often stands out conspicuously dark on a pale ground colour. In size
there is great variation, and our exposed localities, in the north of
England and Scotland, produce the small specimens which Newman
erroneously called and figured as cojiflua in his British Moths, p. 349.
Hiibner’s type is a very rare form, and I am indebted to Mr. Wylie, of
VARIATION.
271
Perth, for perhaps the best specimen I have ever seen of it It has the
basal area to the central shade of a clear bluish or slaty colour, the outer
area being of a bright red. Of this type Guenee writes : — “ If we only
referred to the phrase in the Wien.-Verz., ‘dunkelrothe und perlfarbige,’
and to the position of these species among those Noctu^ ‘ pupurfarbig,’
with delphinii and purpurina^ we should be left in great doubt, but the
figure of Hiibner, which was perhaps even made from the Theresien
collection itself, which is in fact half purple and half pearly grey, and
which represents well, however, our festiva^ will serve to explain the
difficulty” (Noctuelles, vol. v., p. 331).
(2) Noctua^ Linn., cojiflua^ Tr, — The narrow and more pointed fore-
wings of the Shetland specimens known by the above name, as well as
the difference in tint from any form of festiva^ at once single this out
as distinct from the latter species. The line of demarcation between
this and pestiva is as clearly definable as that between many other
species generally recognised as distinct. Treitschke’s description of
the type is as follows : — “ Apamea conflua. A. alls anticis hepaticis,
maculis ordinariis pallidioribus, strigis obsoletis confluentibus.”
“ Conflua is not much larger than Ap. strigilis. I'he fore wings are
liver-coloured, marbled more or less with yellowish- or reddish-brown.
It is more ochreous on the outer margin and around the paler
stigmata. Of the basal transverse line only a blackish dot is visible ;
the orbicular is very large and pale, whilst in the position of the end of
the claviform is a small black spot. The reniform is large, whilst,
between the stigmata and beyond the orbicular, are dark quadrate
and triangular marks. Before the paler fringe is a pale wavy trans-
verse line, followed by a dark brown band. The hind wings have a
pale ochreous ground colour, with a darker lunule and pale yellowish
fringe” {Die Sch??iet. etc., vol. v., Pt. i, p. 405). Most of the speci-
mens of conflua have a deep brownish coloration, some being more
ochreous, and others red, the latter tint often being distinctly ob-
servable in the central area. It is rare that the ground colour is
entirely red, but I have such specimens in my series. Compared with
the polymorphic festiva, this is a constant species, but still it varies
considerably within narrow limits. The red-brown form, as described
above, is the type, the commoner grey-brown form is the borealis of
Zetterstedt, whilst there is another most striking form, greyish-brown
in colour as in borealis^ but without the dark quadrate spot. I
am doubtful whether Zetterstedt’s diducta^ which he compares
with Cerastis rubiginea^ is a var. of conflua^ but, as it is treated as
such by recent Scandinavian authors, I would include Zetterstedt’s
description. There is some doubt whether Guenee, like Newman,
simply looked upon small fesiiva as conflua, for he writes : — “ It is
always very rare. I believe that it is found in the environs of
Paris, for in M. Boisduval’s collection there is a specimen mixed
with his festiva, and which he, no doubt, reared with them ” {Noctuelles,
vol. v., p. 332). Boisduval’s fig. 3 {leones, Plate 83) is a real Icelandic-
looking conflua, with “ dark inner and outer margin, central and costal
areas slightly ochreous, pale stigmata, and dark red quadrate spot
between them.” — J. W. Tutt. October, 1891.
Variation in Colias ca:sonia. — “ At rest, the roseate underwinged
females of October may be known a hundred yards away in a clover-
272
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
field. The females of the early and midsummer broods differ from
those of late summer and autumn in the very pale yellow, almost
white, colour of the underside of all the wings. In August, this pale
yellow deepens, and in early September, reddish streaks appear along
the veins of the hind wings beneath, while in October, the entire
under surface of the secondaries and the tips of the primaries are
heavily streaked or solidly red. The broad outer border of black in
some females contains a few, more or less distinct, yellow spots, as we
see in the female eurythe7ne or philodice^ but a majority of the in-
dividuals entirely want these spots, although the border is much less
intense than in the males. The colour of the underside of the wings
of the male is much deeper in autumn than in early summer, being
a light orange, and on the upper side of the primaries the fresh males
of October have the black outside border well covered with a beautiful
dusting of red scales. In males examples, of the August brood only a
few scattered (red) scales are to be observed, while a careful examina-
tion of many specimens taken in early summer failed to show to the
writer a trace of this autumn feature. However, hand-bred specimens
might show it, but as I have reared only late summer larvae, I
cannot settle the question. Near the base of the front margin of the
hind wing in the male is a large, oblong, orange-coloured spot of
a mealy appearance. I have noticed the same on the male of
Colias eurydice. One female, taken in August several years ago,
has the ground colour of the upper side of the front wings white, an
approach to the albino, while on the upper side of the hind wings
of many of the October specimens the dark streaks and shades from
the black border reach almost to the base of the wings. — R. R.
Rowley, Curryville, Mo. (From the Entomological News ^ Philadelphia.
September, 1891.)
Variety of the Larva of Cuspidia leporina. — Among the
larvae of Acronycta {^Cuspidia) leporina, which I took off birch on
Wimbledon Common in September last, there was one which had no
erect fascicles of short black hairs on the back. — J. F. Bird, Rosedale,
162, Balling Road, Hammersmith, W. October i^th, 1891.
Variation OF Nonagria cann^e. — The range of variation of Mr.
Bird’s and my owm series of N. ca?ince is similar to that of Mr. Bowdes
{a?iie, p. 226). It includes the normal red buff males, the normal light
buff females, two fine smoky-brown males nearly as dark as black N
typhce, but more “ mousy ” in colour, and one smoky female. — A.
Robinson, i. Mitre Court Buildings, Temple, E.C. October ^th, 1891.
Variety of the L.arva of Biston hirtaria. — I see a note in
the Entomologisf s Record, vol. ii., p. 156, regarding a pale variety of
Biston hirtaria. On looking at my notes of this year, I find that,
when those I had in captivity were full-fed, they w^ere pale, while those
I then found on the trunks of the apple trees, about to pupate, were
dark. I may mention that those in captivity were, during the early
part of their lives, kept in glass bottles wdth wide mouths covered
with muslin, so that they did not suffer from want of light. As it was
a w'et season, those at liberty w^ould have been more exposed to w^et,
and this may have had something to do with the difference in colour. I
kept some of the dark forms, but did not separate the pupae. — C. A.
Bird, Rosedale, 162, Balling Road, Hammersmith, W. Oct. igth, 1891.
VARIATION.
273
El’GOMa fuscantaria (Variation of larva). — Having bred, this
season, a series of the above species, I was particularly interested re-
garding the great variation in the larval state, not only in colour, but in
form also. I am aware of the great difference in coloration of many
larvae, especially among the Geometra: ; but I had not previously
noticed any variation in form. The larvae pupated very slowly, owing
to which reason I had some in pupa before many of the late ones were
an inch in length. The earlier larvae fed up well on ash, in a wooden
receptacle. They were green until the final moult, thus agreeing with
the description in Newman ; but, after the last change, decided humps
were developed and the larvae soon lost their green colouring, and
(when full-fed) much resembled those of E. erosaria^ but with the
humps scarcely so pronounced. On the other hand, the remainder of
the brood were fed up in a large tin, and only a small proportion of
these were humped, the majority being almost smooth and retaining
their bright green colour until pupation. There were some intermediate
forms, but not many. I do not find any marked variation in the
imagines. — Alfred T. Mitchell, 5, Clayton Terrace, Gunnersbury, W.
DianthalCia capsophila and D. carpophaga. — I have collected
D. capsophila in very considerable numbers from time to time, and also
bred them from the N., S.E. and W. of Ireland, and have seen numbers
of the Isle of Man specimens ; and there is absolutely no approximation
to carpophaga that would puzzle any but a tyro. D. carpophaga^ how-
ever, is a variable species, and sometimes the darkest specimens look
to an inexperienced eye like worn carpophaga^ but it never, so far as
I have seen it, acquires the true colour. — W. F. de V. Kane, Sloperton
Lodge, Kingstown. October 20th, 1891.
I quite agree with Mr. Kane, in considering it best to treat D. capso-
phila and D. carpophaga as distinct species. — W. Reid.
Banded var. of Agriopis aprilina. — I have bred an usually fine
form of Agriopis aprilma from pupae collected the first week in Septem-
ber at the base of an oak. It is the finest and darkest of seven or eight
very large specimens from the same tree. It has the central area
between the elbowed and basal transverse lines filled in with black,
making a decided central band. — J. Mason. [I have an exactly
similar specimen in my cabinet, given to me by Dr. Chapman. — Ed.]
Dark vars. of Cymatophora duplaris. — I have to-day seen the
Cymatophora duplaris^ bred by Mr. George Baker, and mentioned by
the Rev. C. F. Thornewill in the Ent. Eec., vol. ii., p. 220, and I may
say that I have met with specimens quite as dark in this neighbourhood,
in fact, the series I possess of this insect and captured here are, taking
the whole of them, darker than those in Mr. Baker’s collection. — John
Hill, Little Eaton, near Derby. November iith, 1891.
Varieties of Lyca:na bellargus. — Whilst collecting near Folke-
stone on September 13th, I took a very fine variety of Z. bellargus
{adonis). The specimen was a male, the upper side of a very dark
slate colour, almost black; and on September 15th I took another
specimen similar to the first. On September 20th I captured a female
of the same species, the colour of the male (of a very bright blue), with
a row of black spots inside the fringe on the upper side of the fore-
wings, and a row of bright red spots on the margin of the hind-wings. —
W. J. Austin, Radnor Street, Folkestone.
274
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Scientific notes.
Wing Structure. — Upon reading Dr. Buckell’s request in the July
number of your instructive journal, it occurred to me that I might be
somewhat fortunately situated for making an attempt at verifying
Kirby and Spence’s statement. First, because I was in possession of
several cocoons of large Bombycid moths, some of which might contain
pupae which would be good subjects for investigation ; and secondly,
although not a microscopist myself, we have a microscooical section in
connection with our Society, and I was sure of obtaining the able and
willing services of some of the members of it. So I examined my
cocoons. There was one, and one only, of the lot, that was of any
value for the purpose — a small Callosamia promeihea^ which seemed to
have fully matured before it died.
I mentioned the subject to one of the younger members of the
section, and read to him Dr. Buckell’s request. He responded with
“let us try.”
I may state here that the investigation extended over several weeks ;
that I took notes of the observations, compared and corrected them,
and, when there was conflict or uncertainty, made further observations to
make sure. When the outer covering of the pupa was removed, the
winglet was seen to be well coloured and scaled; when removed, it
measured just over three-eighths of an inch from joint to apex, and one
fourth of an inch across the widest part, which possibly might have ex-
panded to one and a half or two inches. The first view of it under the
glass suggested compression, — lateral and longitudinal ; the minute
scales were so crowded on one another that they almost stood erect.
When the scales were removed, the transverse corrugations were
disclosed, crossing the winglet at various angles, but to call them fold-
ings seems to convey a wrong impression, drawings or gatherings would
be more correct ; they had an exact resemblance to some gatherings
in ladies’ dressmaking. Longitudinally, the foldings were unmistakable ;
but with nothing like the regularity of a fan, as stated by Kirby and
Spence ; they were of quite unequal length and depth, some were but
slight depressions, others too deep to get the scales removed from them.
None of them extended from the base to the outer angle of wing ; one
would commence near the base, run deep and terminate in a loop,
another would begin about the middle of that one, run beyond it and
out, others formed plaits on the outer angle. These foldings would
account for the broken lines of the transverse corrugations. The
front edge of the winglet had a singularly knotted appearance, which
I could make nothing of at that time.
The next effort was to lay bare the nervures. To this end, I soaked
the winglet in water; it came out an elastic gelatinous mass. The
effort to separate the upper and under membranes was unsuccessful ; on
examining the under side, it was seen that the membrane had parted
over some of the heavy nervures at the base of the wing, disclosing
their structure completely. The end next the joint of one then turned
upward, and I could see into the hollow tube as far as the bend
would allow, the v;alls appearing to be very thin. Inside they were
smooth with a waxy look. A general survey of the exterior reminded
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.
275
me of an earthworm severely contracted. On close inspection they
were seen to be segmented, one end of the segment was prominently
rounded, sloping suddenly to the other end which entered the rounded
end of the one next it. Here also, as far as I could see, the term
“ folded ” is not appropriate. The condition of the costal edge of the
winglet was now clearly displayed, but very difficult to describe. If a
piece of stiff twine is laid on the table, doubled back and forth in as
short bends as it is possible to give it, held in place and viewed from
above, it gives a good idea of the appearance of the front of the winglet
viewed edgeways ; cut the bends on the side representing the centre of
the wing, and it forms a strong resemblance to the upper surface of its
costal edge. Crimped or crimpled would be a suitable term to express
the condition. These views were obtained, and could only be obtained
when the winglet was saturated with moisture.
Kirby and Spence seem to have made their description from observ-
ations on butterflies. From what we know of insects, we should be
warranted in expecting as much diversity in this as in other departments
of their history.
This is but a meagre outline of views obtained, and thoughts sug-
gested, by an intensely interesting series of observations, made in a
direction that offers an almost unlimited field for investigation. — J.
Alston Moffat, Curator of the Entomological Society of Ontario.
Protective colour variation of Dianthgecia conspersa. — I
bred a variety of D. conspersa last year from larvse obtained in Cornwall.
The white is entirely replaced by buff, with a slight greenish tinge (the
latter especially noticeable on emergence) in two of the specimens bred,
and in four others there is transition in all degrees, but with predomin-
ance of the buff, from the type to the variety. The hills in the district
are metamorphic, varying in colour from slaty-grey to blackish, and
they are covered with lichen, especially the yellow lichen. Query — Is
this a protective variation ? It seems possible if not probable, as the
larvse were taken from Silene mflata and 6'. inariiima near the coast. —
W. S. Riding, Buckerell Lodge, Honiton, Devonshire. Oct. 1891.
Generic position of Polyommatus bcetica. — At a meeting of the
City of London Entomological and Natural History Society, held on
June i8th, the proceedings of which were given in the Ent. Rec.^^oX. ii.,
p. 1 1 9, the position of that ubiquitous butterfly which is there called
Lyccena batica was brought forward, a letter from Mr. Culpin, from
Brisbane, having been read advocating its exclusion from the genus
LyccB7ia. It would seem as if the idea had then been thought new.
But it is included, or perhaps, I ought to say, replaced in the genus
Polyommatus under the name P. boeticus^ by Mr. de Niceville in his
Butterflies of I 7idia, Bur77iah a7id Ceylon., vol. iii., published last year.
Mr.de Niceville is undoubtedly entitled to be considered an authority
on Indian butterflies, and he has given the subject of the classification
of the family of the Lyccenidce that occur in India very careful attention.
He has recorded, in the work above referred to, his reasons very fully. —
C. A. Bird, Rosedale, 162, Bailing Road, Hammersmith, W.
October 2^th, 1891.
The generic position of Dianth^cia barrettii. — I wholly dis-
sent from Mr. Buckler in assigning this species a place in the
gtnm Lupe7't7ia. Mr. Tutt says {t7t ///'/'.) that “however necessary a
276
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Dimithacia facies may be for protection etc,, in the imago stage, the
affinities will be best found in the larvae.” It is therefore incontestable
that the imago conforms to the Dianthcecia type ; so much so indeed
that the melanic var, of D. nana often passed for D. barrettii. The
antennae are of the DianthcBcia character, not that of Luperina ;
the emergence of the moth is that of a DianihcBcia ; the pupa is dis-
tinctly Dianthcecian with the well-marked protuberance at the end of
the wing cases. Staudinger and Wocke rank luteago as a Dianthcecia.
It feeds in the larval stage on Silene, which is the characteristic food of
this genus. But Mr. Buckler and Mr. Dobre'e say that the larva is
similar in habits to that of Luperina. How ? The head and first seg-
ment are exactly that of Dianthcecia. The shape also similar to D.
capsophila^ and sometimes the larva of the latter is almost as pale as
that of D. barrettii. The only point alleged is its being an internal
feeder ! And the extraordinary thing is, that the greater portion of the
species in Luperina are not internal feeders. Some of them eat the
roots of plants, as L. cespitis^ others eat the shoots and leaves, but hide
only among the roots, e.g..^ Z. testacea, L. nickerlii and Z. virens. L.
rubella is the only one that is, I believe, an internal feeder, the rest eat
grass, or various portions of low plants, just as D. capsophila does, to
my knowledge, when the capsules are not to be had. In fact, when
capsophila larva is nearly full-fed, it lives, like many Nocture, in the
sand or earth, and eats capsules, leaves or stems of the Silene at night.
I have bred D. barrettii as far as the larval stage, and the larva is a
Dianthcecia larva, except that it is blanched like every internal feeder.
It, hov/ever, also eats leaves and twigs above earth occasionally. Re-
turning again to the imago, the shape and pattern is that of the
Hadenidce., none of the marked characters being wanting. The
Luperinas are conspicuously devoid of these, and are rightly not so
grouped. If we are to overlook this, and class a species from one
characteristic of the larva only, we may as well remove D. barrettii to
the Sesiidce and place it next musciformis. — W. F. de V. Kane,
Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown. October 20th, 1891.
I consider D. barrettii a true Dia7ithcecia., the larvae may have a
superficial resemblance to those of the genus Luperina^ but I am told
by people who should know something about the matter, that they (the
larvae) are really Diarithcecia. The pupae are true Dia7ithcecia^ and the
imagines are certainly in a more natural position among the Dia7ithcecice
than among the species of Luperina. The foodplant should also be
considered, but to my mind, the structural difference of the pupa is the
best argument in favour of the insect being considered a species of
Dia7ithcecia. Reid, Pitcaple, N.B. Nove77iber ^th,
RRENT NOTES.
I would call the attention of our subscribers to the fact that it
would save some trouble to send the shilling for the Special L7idex to
Vol. II. of the Ent. Record., with the annual subscription.
The meeting of the London Entomological Society on the 2nd inst.,
was a very enjoyable and successful one. Mr. Merrifield’s exhibit
proved most conclusively that his low temperature experiments had
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
277
produced disease in the specimens operated on, and that this disease
had been accompanied by partial melanism, as almost all the perfect
specimens were richly coloured, and the more or less crippled specimens
were dark. His paper was meant to prove that cold had produced the
melanism, which it indirectly had done, if the cold was the cause of the
general crippling apparent. Mr. Baker referred certain Lyccence. to
Thecla^ basing his conclusions on the fact that the neuration of the
Lycaenids removed, were identical with that of Thecla^ and differed from
all other species in Lycoe7ia. Mr. Bateson had made experiments on the
coloration of cocoons of Eriogasier lanestris and Saturnia carpi7ii^ and
attempted to disprove Mr. Boulton’s hypothesis, that the larvae of these
species could spin either a pale or dark coloured cocoon according to
their surroundings. His paper is sure to lead to further experiment in
this direction.
Deilephila livornica is recorded from Carrow, near Norwich, having
come to the light of an electric lamp in September. This species is
generally captured in or near nurserymen’s gardens in England, and
are undoubtedly imported in the earlier stages. I have two pairs thus
captured.
Apamea ophiogramma larvae (identified by Mr. South) are said to
have been taken in September, in Nottingham, and buried in cocoa-nut
fibre about October 14th, but had not pupated ten days after {Ent., p.
298). This is rather strange after Mr. Battley’s experience, Eiit. Eec.,
ante^ p. 19 1, Perhaps these larvae will, when the moths appear, prove
to be some species other than ophiograiiwia. Mr. Gardner has captured
the rare Boiys lupulitialis and Nephopteryx splendidella at Hartlepool.
Mr. N. M. Richardson {E.M.M.) publishes the life-history of
Plutella annulatella.
Mr. Douglas describes a new species of Aleurodes {A. rubicola) from
Blackheath ; whilst Mr. Newstead exhibited no less than six new species
of Coccidce at the meeting of the Lancashire Society, on November 9th.
An extensive partial double-brood of Stauropus fagi has occurred at
Reading this autumn, a considerable number having been bred and
captured during October by Messrs. Holland and Clarke. One was
captured by Mr. Barnes as late as November 6th.
The papers on “ Melanism and Melanochroismin British Lepidoptera”
have been reprinted, and can now be had bound in cloth for 2s. 6d.
.^jOTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
Retrospect of a Lepidopterist for 1891. — The year 1891 is
drawing to a close, and again I would draw the attention of our
lepidopterists to a brief summary of the year’s work. From a collector’s
point of view, the season has varied excessively with the locality, and
comparatively near localites have differed remarkably. Taken all round,
the season has been, perhaps, a better collecting season than last, in
spite of the fact that 1891 will belong remembered by meteorologists
as the year in which summer never came. Our Kent collectors send
up a wail of woe; so, also, do the Scotch lepidopterists. Not one
redeeming feature seems to have enlivened the hearts of the workers on
the south-east coast, the north-east coast (Aberdeenshire) and Liverpool.
278
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Yet, at St. Anne’s-on-Sea (so near the latter place) the season has been
everything that could be desired. My few excursions into Kent
produced good results. The season at Reading, Freshwater and York
has been remarkably good, and from Sligo come the same encouraging
reports. Butterflies have not been over abundant, with the exception
of the Fieridce^ Hesperia lineola^ H actceoji and paniscus^ which appear
to have swarmed in their own particular localities. A record of that
occasionally introduced visitor to our shores, Polyommaius virgaurcea
may be found in the pages of the Ent. Record^ but there appears to
be nothing else special, recorded. Among the Sphingidae, Sphinx
convolvuli has occurred somewhat freely, also a few specimens of
Acherontia atropos, and one Deilephela livornica recorded from
Norwich ; whilst, among the Sesiidae, Sesia formicceformis^ S. viusci-
for7nis and S. sphegiforjnis have occurred freely, each in its own
favoured haunts, and A. scoliceformis has been bred from birch in
Rannoch. Lithosia sericea {molybdeold) and L. caniola have occurred
again, and a great take of Callimorpha hera is recorded. Lwiacodes
testudo appears to have been more than usually common, whilst
Messrs. Farren and Jones had rare sport with Macrogaster arimdinis
{castanece). The yellow variety of ZygcBfia pilipendulce has been turned
up in the Isle of Wight. The finding of eggs of Endro7uis versicolor
in some numbers by Mr. Holland, closes the most important records
of the Bombyces. Of the Cuspidatae, Staiiropus fagi (two broods)
comes well to the front, having been fairly abundant both in the
imago and larval stages. The larvae of the commoner Notodontce
have been very abundant. But it is among the Noctu.^: that the
greatest work has been done. Cy77iaiophora ocularis turned up m some
numbers at Wicken, as also did Cuspidia strigosa in the same locality.
Cuspidia alni larvae appear to have been common, whilst larvae of
Vi77ii7iia 77ienyci7ithidis have been more abundant than of late years.
The second brood of Vwiinia albovenosa w’as found in the Fens, the
first brood having been excessively abundant. Leucania albipuncta has
occurred as usual on the south east coast ; whilst ^Messrs. Bird, Bowles
and Robinson are to be congratulated on showing us, at last, how to take
No7iagria can7icB in some numbers. 7ieurica var. arundvieta and
Leuca7iia brevilinea have been much scarcer than usual, but Mr. Mera
is to be congratulated on having turned up No7iagria coficolor compara-
tively near London. I understand that this species has occurred in
about its usual abundance in the old locality, but a new home for the
species may soon lead to some of us being able to get types for our
collections. The rearing of Pachetra leucophcea by Dr. Chapman, from
ova, obtained by Mr. Jeffrey from Kentish parents, leads me to point
out that the parents came, if not from the same locality, from a very
near one to that in which the species was reputed to have been taken
some years ago. I took Ma77iestra abjecta in Wicken Fen, and the life-
history of Apa77iea ophiogra77i7ua having been worked out by jMr. Battley,
we may reasonably hope that our cabinets will soon be better supplied
with this species. The rarer Caradrmidce appear to have been absent
or overlooked as there is only the record of Mr. Hodges’ Guernsey
specimens.^ The life-history of Agrotis lu7tigera has been worked out
^ These I have now seen, and theyjare undoubted Caradrina superstes, H.-S., the
rarest of all our species, both on the Continent and in Britain.
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
279
by Lieut. Brown, whilst the less common Agrotidce. appear to have been
as abundant as usual in their respective haunts, Agrotis ravida in some
numbers, and A. candelariun var. ashworthii being perhaps the best of
them. TriphcBna siibsequa has occurred but sparingly ; the differen-
tiation of Noctua festiva and N. conflua has been worked out ; and
N. stigmatica has occurred in some numbers in the central part of the
Thames Valley. Dasycampa rubiginea has turned up in several localities,
and our Reading friends have supplied us with quite a nice lot of
Xanthia aurago and its vars., whilst Cosmia pyralina has been more
than usually common ; Dianthcecia irregu/aris larvm were very abundant,
at Tuddenham, the suggestion that Dianthcecia capsophila is a var. of
D. carpophaga has been again mooted, D. cczsia has also occurred
rather freely, and Dianthoecia luteago var. barrettii has been well to the
fore. Folia nigrocincta has appeared in its usual haunts, and Hadena
satura has again turned up in Fenland.” H. atriplicis^ confined
almost entirely to Upware in Britain, has occurred, and Cucullia
scrophularicB bred, although its identity with C. lychnitis has been
suggested. Plusia orichalcea still occurs in its old abundance in the
“ Fens,” and Capt. Robertson must get the aid of one of the fen-workers
to prove how common it is at Swansea. Plusia 7uoneta is again
recorded a few times, showing its continued existence here. Stilbia
ano77iala has been here and there abundant, and the Crimsons ” have
again appeared in the New Forest. 1 cannot leave the Noctu^ without
referring to the specimen of Prode7iia littoralis^ bred by Mr. Boden
from a tomato. The species is found in Crete, Syria, Canary
Isles, etc.”
Of the Geometers there is less to note. The usual Highland species
have occurred. Phorodes77ia S77iaragdaria seems to increase in numbers
the more the larvm are worked, and, whilst we have to bewail the total
destruction of the locality for Acidalia ochrata^ our Welsh collectors
have taken A. co7itiguaria^ and our Lewes friends keep up the supply
of A. i77i77iorata. Eupiihecia exte7isaria has been interbred sufficiently
to make it cease to be rare, — E. pyg77iceata, E. coTisigTiata and E.
dodoTieata are all much more wanted species of the genus. Our York
friends gave us E. albipunctata var. a7igelicata this year, for which we were
very thankful. Mr. Farren has bred a beautiful lot of Anticlea smuata ;
Phibalapteryx lapidata has been taken sparingly at Rannoch, whilst
Cidaria reticulata has occurred again as usual. No rare Deltoides or
Pyrales are recorded except Botys lupulmalis (from Hartlepool) ;
perhaps, the two Hype7i,ides are the next best. Our two leading
Hereford lepidopterists have bred Phycis hostilis again, Melia anellus
occurred very sparingly at Deal, whilst the taking of Dmyctria
splendidella by Mr. C. G. Barrett at South wold, by Mr. Jones at
Wallasey and Mr. Gardner at Hartlepool, shows the peculiar localities
of this species. Cra77ibus 77iyellus appears to occur regularly now in
Perthshire, whilst C. diwietellus is common in Aberdeenshire. Of the
Tortrices and Tineina we have several records, of which the most
important are to be found in our Current Notes” from month to
month. Perhaps one of the strangest of these records is that of
Dr. Chapman, who discovered that the larva of Micropteryx calthella
is provided with antennae. Besides the records of Dr. Chapman ;
Dr. Wood, Messrs. C. G. Barrett, Elisha, Bankes, N. M. Richardson’
280
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
C. Fenn, A. F. Griffith, W. Farren, T. Baxter and Lord Walsingham
are well to the front. It is advisable, before leaving the collecting
portion of our work to notice the success of Dr. Chapman in
hybridising Amphidasys prodro77iaria and A. betularia, and that of
Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher in crossing ZygcBTia lo7iicerce with Z. filipe7idulcB^
and Z. lo7iicerce. with Z. trifolii.
From the collector to the chief articles in our magazines is an easy
step, and here, far and away the best are those of Drs. Chapman and
Wood. It is doubtful whether anything so good, relating to the
physiological aspect of entomology, has before been brought before the
entomological public. Mr. Fenn’s diagnosis of Cidaria truncata and
C. i77i77ia7iata is, perhaps, the best paper of its kind printed this year ;
whilst the notes of Dr. Buckell and other entomologists on “ Wing
Expansion ” are increasing our physiological knowledge in another
direction. The Mo7iog7‘aph of British Pterophorma brings up our
knowledge of this group to date, and many a macro-collector, who does
not generally dabble in micros, will be enabled to study this group. A
cheap monograph on the group has long been a desideratum. The
series of papers on “ Melanism and Melanochroism in British Lepidop-
tera ” has been brought to a close, and can now be obtained bound
in cloth in a separate volume.
The Societies all round have done well. The Entomological Society
of London has gone on in its prosperous way. Series of papers of the
utmost scientific value have been printed. The City of London
Society has done, perhaps, more scientific work than any humble
Society has ever before attempted, as the list of papers read before the
Society, and published month by month in the Record, testifies. The
South London Society, under one of our very best collectors, has not a
barren record this year. Two years’ reports in one volume were
published early in the year. The Annual Exhibition was a great
success. Last year’s Report is in hand, and, when Mr. Tug well leaves
the chair, if he can only get this part of the work well forward, he
can certainly look back to a successful year of office. The Lancashire
and Cheshire and the Birmingham Societies do their best, and run the
London Societies close, but have, I believe, not yet adopted any
systematic plan of printing their scientific papers.
Of the publications, the Tra7isactio7is of the Ento77iological Society of
Lo7idon are quite up to their usual excellence. May I again appeal to
entomologists to aid this, our leading society, by becoming members,
as its scientific publications are only limited by its income ? The
E7it077iologisf s MoTithly Magazme still holds the even tenor of its way,
undisturbed by the petty jealousies of its commoner rivals. The
British Naturalist has some most interesting entomological matter.
Collectors of exotic species can still get a considerable amount of
descriptions of new Chinese, Japanese and Indian Lepidoptera and
Coleoptera from the E7ito77iologist, amounting to eighty pages in the
present volume. Our own magazine, essentially popular in its contents,
increases in favour with the public, who appear to have got at last
something to their taste, and a magazine that they can read from
beginning to end and understand the whole.
Of independent works valuable to British lepidopterists, there is very
little to record. Local lists of the Lepidoptera of Leicestershire, Suffolk
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
281
and Dover have appeared. A very comprehensive History of the
British Butterflies^ which should be in the hands of all macro-
lepidopterists, and must prove a delight to all our younger students, has
been written by Mr. Dale, and can be obtained from Mr. Robson of
Hartlepool. The British Noctucs. and their Varieties, vol. i., deals
exhaustively with the early families of the group, and vol. ii. is nearly
ready for subscribers. Mr. C. G. Barrett has a large and comprehen-
sive work on British Lepidoptera in hand; and this meagre list appears
to deal with all the material outside the journals.
From this it may be seen that lepidopterists, in looking over the
twelve months’ work, will do so with mixed feelings, and although there
is little enough of actual scientific value to record, a few valuable
additions have been made to our knowledge, which must prove of the
utmost value in the advancement of our science, and help us towards
that perfection at which we all aim, but which must, from the nature of
our studies, take us an enormous time to reach. — J. W. Tutt.
Notes of the Season. — A Fortnight at Rannoch. — On the 6th
of August, my brother and I left Edinburgh, for Rannoch in Perthshire,
which locality is probably known to all entomologists, at all events by
reputation. It is thirteen miles from the nearest railway station, which
is at Struan, on the Highland Railway, where we arrived at about 2.30
in the afternoon. After a drive through magnificent scenery of moors,
mountains and rushing rivers, we arrived at the Bun Rannoch Hotel at
about 4.30, where we received a hearty welcome from Mrs. Macdonald,
the landlady ; and I here take the opportunity of recommending this
hotel to any one desirous of spending a pleasant time at Rannoch. I
was fortunate enough to meet with another entomologist staying in the
hotel, who very kindly informed me what was to be done at the time.
Erebia epiphron (cassiope) was over, as also was Ccenony7npha typhon
iaavus), but Erebia athiops {blandina) was just coming out, and was
common in its special localities. He also recommended us to make
the acquaintance of Mr. T. \V. Salvage of Brighton, who was staying
in the neighbourhood, and whose long experience of the locality would
greatly assist us in findii g the best localities for the species occurring
in the neighbourhood. We did nothing the first night, except that while
taking a short walk along the shore of the Loch before dinner, we cap-
tured a specimen of Lareiitia ccesiata. The next morning was windy
and showery, which condition of weather continued for the rest of the
day. I was about starting out to try a little larva beating (the weather
being, as I thought, too wet and windy lor imagines), when I was for-
tunate enough to meet with Mr. Salvage, and arranged to spend the day
with him. We accordingly started in search of Larentia fiavicinctala {rufl-
cinctata), one of the best Geometry to be got at that time of the year
at Rannoch. The best way of obtaining this species is by searching
for them at rest on the limestone rocks on the mountain sides. They
are difficult to find, as their colour almost exactly resembles the colour
of a yellow lichen growing on the rocks. They almost invariably (so
my companion informed me) choose the limestone rocks, and it is of
hardly any use looking for them elsewhere. We found it much too
windy for obtaining this species, for after careful searching on the side
of Shiehallion for about an hour, my companion had taken 2 specimens,
and myself none. We took, however, several fine L. ccesiata, which is,
c
282
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
of course, a good deal commoner than L. flavicinctata. It is to be
obtained in the same way as the latter, but is more difficult to see on
the rocks, as its grey colour exactly harmonises with the colour of the
rocks. Besides finding them in this way, we kicked several out of the
heather as we walked through it. • We were obliged to give up search-
ing the rocks for these two species owing to the wind, so, as the sun
came out for a time, we started for another locality with the intention
(if the sun continued shining) of netting a few E. athiops {blandma).
This species is very local, and at Rannoch seems to be confined to an
open space in a wood about four miles to the east, near the banks of
the Tummel, the locality being about 150 yards long by 20 yards wide.
On the way to this place, crossing a bog on the mountain side, we saw
a few CcBnonympha iyphon (davus), and I netted three good specimens.
These were the only specimens of the insect which I took, though I
fancy I saw a few more on the road between Rannoch and Pitlochry.
Having reached the locality for E. CBthiops^ the sun favoured us for a little
while, and we were able to net a fair number in good condition in a
short time, the males being the most plentiful. My experience with
this species coincides with that of Mr. F. H. Wolley Dod with E.
cassiope {Ent. Rec., vol. ii., p. 205), viz., they will not fly unless the sun
is shining, but the moment the sun comes out, out comes blandma all
round you. I took a few larvae of Cymatophora or from some small aspens
on the banks of the Tummel. These larvae spin up between two leaves
during the day, very much in the same manner as Asphalia fiavicor?iis,
except that the latter as a rule spins one leaf folded in half, whereas
C. or spins two leaves together. On returning to Rannoch I was pre-
sented with a splendid Plusia chrysitis by a young 4ady, who had found
it on the hotel wall. In the evening I netted Caradrina quadripujictata
{cubicularis), Cida^da immanata and C. fulvata in the hotel garden,
which completed my first day’s collecting at Rannoch. The next day
the weather was again very unsettled, and I spent most of the morning
setting my captures of the previous day. In the afternoon I took a
walk with my brother to the locality for Erebia cethiops, and netted a
few more specimens of this insect, together with a good lot of Larejitia
didymata, which was swarming everywhere, and another specimen of
Cidaria wimanata. L. didymata was certainly the commonest insect I
observed during my stay at Rannoch, appearing in almost every place
I visited, and quite oblivious of weather. I did not, however, see many
females, and those I did see were much paler than the males, and not
in such good condition. I also took some more larvae of C. or. I
sugared in the evening, but not a single moth came to the sweets. The
next day being Sunday, I did not do any collecting, but along the
southern shore of the Loch we noticed L. didymata in great quantities,
notwithstanding the rain which was falling steadily most of the time.
I took a worn specimen of Thera firmata off the trunk of one of the
pine trees in the Black Wood. Monday was a magnificent day, and I
was soon out with my net. I walked along the south shore of the Loch
for about a mile and a half, when I struck across the rough ground on
the left of the road, shortly before reaching the Allt Druidhe Burn,
intending to work my way up the mountains along the south of the
loch. I had not gone very far before L. casiata began to appear com-
monly among the heather. They were, however, difficult to capture,
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
283
as they always flew so that the sun was straight in my eyes when I
started in pursuit, and it is not the easiest ground one could choose to
run over after them. I managed, however, to secure a few good speci-
mens. Working on, I came to some limestone rocks rather high up on
the mountain sides, which I searched thoroughly for L. flavicinctata
{ruficinctata) and was fortunate enough to find 8 fine specimens. L.
ccesiata was very common too in the same localities, and I also netted 5
specimens of Cidaria populata, unfortunately in rather worn condition,
but presenting very marked variation from the southern specimens,
one or two being almost black. Descending from this place I came
into a beautiful birch wood called Carie Wood, where I took a speci-
men of C. immanata. I then walked on towards the Black Wood,
netting on the way a magnificent specimen of Vanessa U7'iicce^ very large
and dark, especially on the under side, which in the underwings is very
nearly as dark as the underside of the underwings of F. io. On reach-
ing the Black Wood I was somewhat disappointed at not seeing
anything but L. didymata, but I suppose I did not penetrate far enough
into the wood. On the way back to Rannoch 1 obtained a good
specimen of Melanthia bicolorata {rubiginata), and also some larvae of
C. or on some aspens growing by the bridge where the road crosses the
burn at Carie. During the next four days the weather was very
unsatisfactory, being very windy with a good deal of rain, and con-
sequently very little collecting could be done. The only new species
taken were : — Stiibia afwj/iala, 1 specimen on the banks of the Tummel
on the nth. d'his specimen was taken in the afternoon in broad
daylight, which fact does not coincide with Mr. Thornewill’s note
{Ento??iologisfs Record^ vol. ii., p. 209), and I may add that another
specimen was seen in the daytime on the 15th, but was too worn to
keep. Eubolia limitata {mensurarid)^ i on August nth on the banks
of the Tummel, and 4 specimens in Glen Sassun on the 12th. This
species, however, was well over, all the specimens I saw and took being
considerably worn. On the 12th, I took 3 fair specimens of Anaitis
plagiata at rest on the rocks on the side of Craig Var, on the north side
of the village. On the 15th, I had another day’s collecting with Mr.
Salvage, our chief object being larvte, particularly those of Notodoiita
dictcea. We searched aspens in Carie Wood for this species, but the
strictest search only produced i specimen. We consoled ourselves,
however, by taking a good many more C. or. Other larvte taken this
day were 2 Bombyx rubi by the roadside on the south of the Loch, and
I Acronycta ( Vwiinia) menyanthidis in the same situation, and from
birch we beat 2 A. flavicorjiis and one each of the following, viz.
Notodo7ita dro77ieda7'ius^ N. ca77ieli7ia.^ Drepana lacertmaria {lacertula)
and D. falcataria ( ^alcula), besides a good many others unknown to
me. Of imagines I took another V. urticce.^ very dark on the underside,
but not so much so, nor so large, as the specimen taken on the loth ;
I Charceas graminis., i Cleoreris vwiiTtalis^ 2 Crocallis eli7igua7'ia in
which the median band in the forewings is much paler than in the
southern specimens, being nearly the same as the ground colour of the
wings, and a dark C. wwianata. The next day, Sunday, August i6th,
was devoted to a walk to the top of Shiehallion, from which we obtained
a magnificent view. I noticed a great many L. ccesiata on the moun-
tain, and C. populata was also fairly common, but having no apparatus
284
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
with me, I was not able to take more than one specimen. I noticed a
good many particularly dark forms of the latter species. Monday, the
17th, was about as bad as it could be as regards weather — high wind and
drenching ram all day. I did no collecting, but made an inspection of
some of the magnificent insects which Mr. Salvage possesses, exhibiting
some of the most striking varieties and forms from various part of
Scotland. Tuesday, the i8th, was my last day at Rannoch, and I spent
the day collecting with Mr. Salvage. I took a few more E. cethiops
iplandma), the females of which were now well out and the males
getting rather worn, and one Pieris ?iapt\ which species is very strongly
marked on the underside in this locality. We were more fortunate
with the larvae of JV. dictcBa this time, some aspens growing by the side
of Tempar Burn producing a fair number. I took between 20 and 30
in about an hour. I also took 3 larvae of S^nerinthus populi in the
same locality, which I believe from Rannoch produce rather a good
form of imago. C. or also occurred again here. In this place also
Mr. Salvage took two larvae of Dicra7iura bifida, which, though he has
thoroughly worked the locality for some 15 years, he has never before
met with at Rannoch. The next day, my brother and I started on our
homew’ard journey. We drove from Rannoch to Pitlochry and w^alked
through part of the Pass of Killiecrankie, where E. (Bthiops was in pro-
fusion, and a specimen of one of the large species of Argynnis dashed
past us : it was the only butterfly of the genus I saw in Scotland, and
was, I suppose, A. aglaia, though it flew too quickly to be able to say
for certain. We took the train from Pitlochry to Perth, changed to the
express to London, arriving at King’s Cross at about 8.30 the next
morning, very tired, but very well satisfied with our first trip to Scotland.
On the whole I did as w^ell as I expected, as I never expect to do very
much on my first visit to a locality. The weather was not as good as it
might have been, or doubtless the list of captures would have been
greater. I w^as fortunate in securing the help of an entomologist
thoroughly acquainted with the locality, which is certainly a splendid
one, but one in which you must know where to look for the species you
want or you won’t get them. Take E. cethiops for example ; this is
abundant in the place where I obtained it, but is extremely local, and
one might walk many miles in the best of weather, and never see a
single specimen, and the same remark holds good of other species. I
ought perhaps to have done more night work, but as Mr. Salvage, who
sugared a few times whilst I was there, did not take anything at it, I do
not so much regret having neglected it. In conclusion, I cannot but
recommend Rannoch as a thoroughly good locality, and one which will
well repay a diligent collector, and I hope that this, my first visit, will be
the forerunner of many others. — Henry A. Hill, 132, Haverstock
Hill, Hampstead. October ^th, 1891.
King's Ly?m. — Up to the middle of July, the season here was quite
past the average, and I succeeded in taking several good local species.
I have found light in the form of gas lamps unusually attractive,
and amongst the species taken by its means, within two or three
hundred yards of my house, I may mention one Senta ulvce (a dark
var.), two or three Acidalia efnutaria, Neuria saponarice, and Leucania
stra?ninea. A day in the fens near this town, in the middle of July,
gave my brother and me plenty of work, for no less than one hundred
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
285
and seventy-five species (Macros and Micros) were observed, a large
proportion of which we deemed worth boxing. On this day, Euthe^
7nonia russula (males), Hyria auroraria and hydrelia unca were
observed to be common, and a number of each of them in fine con-
dition were boxed. Did time permit, I should like to have enumerated
a few others ; but amongst the Micros, taken in some numbers on that
day, were Phoxopteryx diminutana^ Sericoris micana^ Pce.disca oppres-
sana, and P. bipunctidactylus. In short, the season, up to about the
middle of July, was certainly the best we have had for many years. —
E. A. Atmore, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. August 24II1, 1891.
York. — There appear to be conflicting opinions as to the season
which is now rapidly passing away, but I must say, it is the best
season I have experienced for many years, especially for sugar.
During June, July and August, one had no difficulty in always
securing a good bag, several species being quite common, some
especially so, as Leucajiia pudorina, Apaniea gemina, Plusia festuccB.,
Noctua rubi^ Graphiphora auguj\ Dyschonsta suspecta, etc. The latter
species was very abundant, one might have taken hundreds, yet some
of the generally common species were not at all plentiful. Geometers
I did not find so plentiful as in previous years. Cuspidia leporina
was fairly common, considering that I had only taken two or three
specimens before this season, but on favourable evenings this year I
took as many as half-a-dozen, whilst I had the pleasure of getting a
few ova and feeding up the beautiful larvae. I have sugared a few
times during the past month, but insects are exceedi igly scarce. I
have just spent a day searching for the larva of Eupithecia albipunctata
which produces the variety angelicata, and have got a fair number. —
R. Dutton, Castle Mills Bridge, York. September., 1891.
Torquay. — My visit to Torquay lasted from July 20th to Aug. 13th.
During that time we hardly had one really warm night, whilst on some
nights there was a strong wind which had a disastrous effect upon our
bag. The days were often cloudy and windy, just the reverse of what
entomologists love. Acontia luctuosa was the insect of the season, and
this was very abundant in the same field where I first took it many
years ago, and, had the weather been more propitious, I should have
had a fine long series. Leucania putrescens was not nearly so common
as it is sometimes, the most I took on one evening was, I think,
fourteen, whilst on some evenings not a specimen was secured, and
as a rule, only three or four. Agrotis lucernea was fairly common on
one or two nights \ A. lunigera scarce ; A. obelisca only one, but
probably we were early for this species. Of commcn Nocture the
following occurred more or less freely : Leucania conigera^ Caradrina
blanda^ L. lithargyria, A. put a., Triphcena janthina., T. inter] ecta.,
Mamestra persicaricB^ Apamea oculea., M. brassiccB, PhytOfJietra cenea.
Among the Geometers were Acidalia osseata {humiliata)^ MelaJiippe
pj'ocellata., Hemithea thymiaria, Cidaria pyra/iata, Gfiophos obscurata.,
Lare.ntia olivata, Acidalia imitaria, Cidaria picata and A. proinutata.,
the latter very scarce though formerly it used to be common in this
locality. Among the Pyraiides, Botys asinalis and fiammealis were
both fairly common. The Crambidae were represented by Cranibus
perlellus., C. inquinatellus and C. carnella ; the latter not nearly so
plentiful as I had found it on a former visit, and, curiously enough.
286
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
out of about thirty, sixteen were taken on one morning. Among the
“ Plumes ” Alarasmarcha phcEodactyla and Aciptilia baliodactyla were
extremely abundant. The disappointment of the visit was Lithosia
caniola, of which we only took one specimen. In a good season,
Torquay would well repay a visit, but sugaring, upon which so much
depends at Torquay, was far from being productive, except on two or
three nights this year. — E. C. Dobr^e Fox. October, 1891.
Folkesto7ie. — Anchocelis rufina was very plentiful here at sugar in
September, together with a few Xanihia ferruginea, A. pistacina,
Agrwpis aprilma and Agrotis puta, while X. silago was swarming one
evening at the scabious flowers. — E. W. Brown, Shorncliffe Camp,
Folkestone.
Newbury. — I have not been able to work very constantly or regu-
larly here this season, except in June, early July, and the end of last
month. Most weeks I have had but one evening’s collecting, and it is
hardly fair to judge a season from such casual experiences, but I should
on the whole consider the season a good one, except for sugaring,
which with me has been a total failure. Some insects appeared here
in considerable numbers, which before have only occurred singly,
Lobophora sexalisata, Lithosia mesomelia, Acidalia einarginata and
Platyptilia bertrami for example. L. sexalisata flies immediately before
dusk ; all my specimens were taken among sallow. Acidalia emargin-
ata I found by searching bramble hedges after dark, they hang with
outspread wings from leaves and twigs, and are very conspicuous by
lamp light. P. bertrami is usually taken only after dusk. In a piece of
swampy ground hundreds of this species were flying at night early in
July, but hours of laborious beating in the daytime failed to disturb a
single specimen from among the heather, rushes and yarrow {Achillea
ptarmica). The little swamp I speak of yielded a nice series of Nudaria
sc7iex, some Leucania pudorina, Schrankia turfosalis, and Hypenides
costcestrigalis, all fresh additions to our local list. Butterflies appear to
have been very scarce, especially the Va7iessidcB, but the great failure of
the season here has been the sugaring ; throughout the summer it has
been curiously unproductive. In June some Gra77wiesia trilhiea and
Mia7ia strigilis were attracted, and three or four nights early in July
yielded about two dozen LeucaTiia turca, but this was the only species
present, although sugaring produced such good results at this very
time at Reading and elsewhere. I tried six different hunting grounds
in this district but met with the same disappointing results in them all.
The last week in September proved slightly better, but even then the
insects were few, my largest “take ” on a single night being 5 Xa7ithia
cit7'ago, 2 Cerastis vaccmii, 2 ATichocelis lu7wsa, i A. rufi7ia, 10 A.
litiira, 2 A. pistacma, i Catocala mipta, and 2 Ag7iopis aprilma. —
M. Kimber, Cope Hall, Newbury. October 6th, 1891.
Marlborough. — I was at Marlborough for a week at the beginning of
August. Instead of Noctua depimcta, which I meant to take, persistent
sugaring produced 2 Triphce7ia pro7iuba and i Noctua xa7ithographa.
I netted nice series of Pero7iea aspersa7ia, P. variega72a, P. schalleria7ia
and Pcedisca sola7idria7ia', and took Scoparia ce77ibrcB and Cra77ibus
falsellus singly. In the flower heads of Valerian ( V. officmalis) I found
numbers of EupithecicB larvae, which, from descriptions, I believe, will
prove to be Eupithecia. valeria7tata, a species only added to the
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 287
Marlborough list last year. — M. Kimber, Cope Hall, Newbury.
October 6 th, 1891.
North London. — I have not much of interest to record since my
last note. Amphidasys betularia, which was very easy to rear, showed
itself sublimely indifferent as to its manner of pupation, a large propor-
tion especially of those reared under a fern case turned on the surface
of the earth, others dived into the earth and there changed ; in no case
was a cocoon spun. I have found the larvae of Hadena pisi commoner
than usual at Hampstead this year. I should think, from the number
of pupae of different kinds I met with in digging at Chingford recently,
that any member, who is in a good pupa-digging locality, ought to have
a rich harvest. I find a fern trowel the best to use, the long narrow
blade will explore corners and angles, into which an ordinary trowel
will not go. During the hot close weather, from September 6th to 12th,
insects were very plentiful. I sugared at Wimbledon on the 9th (the
day had been bright and very hot, afternoon somewhat hazy, night
clear, wind S.W., very little of it), and never saw sugar so attractive,
although a worn Triphcena fi7ubria was the only thing out of the
common. Light was very attractive during the same week. — F. J.
Buckell. October, 1891.
St. Amid s-ott-Sea. — The weather during the holidays has been
simply dreadful here, nothing but wind and rain ; but, notwithstanding
this, we have managed to get some moths together. We took several-
well marked Agrotis cursoria on the ragwort, at the beginning of August,
a few A. prcecox, two A. var. aquilina and the common moths, but
none in abundance ; also, Gelechia terrella, Coleophoi'a artemisiella, etc.
I had a few days on the Moors -at Longridge, near Preston, but as the
weather was so bad I did not do much. We took, however, Cidaria
populata, Poedisca occultana, Grapholitha geminana, Penthina sauciana,
Peronea caledoniana, Tortrix viburniana and a few others. At the
Salt Marsh, at Fleetwood, I managed to get a nice series of Coleophora
tripoliella, and some very darkly marked Peronea schalleriana in a lane
near. Also Eupoecilia vectisana, Crambus salinellus and others. I
was late for Gelechia instabiliella, there were plenty, but most of them
worn. I have tried sugaring lately but have seen nothing except the
relics of the past summer, the September moths not having yet put in
an appearance, with the exception of Hydrcecia nictitans, which seems
very abundant. H. micacea is an absentee this season, I have not seen
a single specimen. Anchocelis litura, A. lunosa, Orthosia lota, not yet
out. Peronea hastiana seem very scarce this season. I have been out
several times but have not succeeded in getting many larvae ; I fancy a
great many were killed during the storm we had the third week in
August, which shrivelled all the heads of the sallows as if they had
been frozen, and made them go black. — T. Baxter, St. Anne’s-on-Sea.
September i^th, 1891.
Wisbech. — On the whole, the present season has been a very good
one. Sugar appears to have been more attractive than usual, though
the majority of things taken at it have been of a very common order,
Cuspidia leporina being about the best. Nonagria typhoe has been
abundant during the past month, but Calamia lutosa scarcer than
usual. Hydrcecia micacea has been taken sparingly, as also has Trichiura
cratcBgi at street lamps. Gortyna flavago quite common on lamps, as
288
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
also Eupithecia centaureata and sundry other common species. — G.
Balding, Wisbech. September 28///, 1891.
South-east Devon. — 1 spent about a month in South-east Devonshire
during August, but the weather was wet and stormy the whole time. I
took but little at sugar, the only captures worth recording being two
good specimens of Cosmia pyralina. I tried light for three nights, and
was a little more successful. I did not find larvae plentiful, and was
altogether much disappointed. — Douglas A. Onslow, Selby Lodge,
28, Carlton Hill, N.W. October 20th, 1891.
Clevedo7i. — I have done some little pup^ digging this autumn, and I
never found them in such numbers ; the work has been quite exciting,
and though rather back-aching it has paid well. — J. Mason, Clevedon
Court Lodge. October 30M, 1891.
Weymouth. — I have had four ivy searching expeditions, and have
found insects generally very scarce ; where dozens should have been,
very often have found none at all, and, taken all through, I have only
come across one insect — viz.., Xylma petrificata., worth the boxing. As
regards larvse, Bojubyx rubi and B. quercus are to be found in numbers,
the former more easily when the sun is shining ; they get, if on heath,
more to the top, and, if near bramble, more into the open, apjiarently
enjoying the warmth. — A. Forsyth, Weymouth. PJov. 27id^ 1891.
Hastings District. — This has not been a good season for lepidoptera
here, but I managed to turn up a few good things during the year.
When sweeping for Coleoptera on the cliffs on July 13th, I found a fine
specimen of Sesia ichneunionifor7nis in my net. This is an addition to
our district list. I took another a few days later, in a wood near St.
Leonards, by sweeping ; but, although I worked for it in several likely
localities, I did not find another. By “ mothing ” on the clifis on July
15th, I netted a nice specimen of Nola ce7itonalis., this is also an addition
to our district list. At the same locality, Acidalia osseata was very
common during July, Eubolia bipu7ictaria., Stc7iia pu7ictalis., Platytes
ceruselliis., Homoeoso77ia sinuella, Sphaleroptera ictericana, ^ very com-
mon, $ by no means so, for although I netted dozens of J^’s, I did
not see more than half-a-dozen 2 ’s ; Conchylis francillo7iana (new to
this district), Platyptilia trigonodactyla, all these were more or less
common ; and I also took a few Gelechia rufescentella. At Guestling I
took Argyu7iis paphia ; A. selene and euphrosy7ie were both very
abundant. By beating I got a few Calligenia 77wiiata, Littiosia 77ieso-
77iella {\), Phorodes77ia bajularia (i), He77iithea thyi7iiaria and Etipisieria
heparata (both common), Acidalia scutulata^ A. aversata, A. C77iargi-
nata (common, but local), En7iychia octo77iaculalis, Botys fuscalis (com-
mon), Rhodophcsa consociella, P. tiwiidella and many more. By beating
in various woods near the town I obtained the following : — Lithosia
griseola, L co77iplaniila, Our apteryx sa77ibucata^ Twia7idra a77iataria and
Pa7iagra petraria (both common), Larentia didy77iata (very abundant),
L. pectin it aria., Enwielena affiTiitata, E. decolorata., Coremia propugnata,
Melanthia ocellata^ M. albicillata, Melaiiippe uiumgidata, Gonophora
derasa, Triphcena janthina^ T. mterjecta, Plusia chrydtis, Rivula seri-
cealts (common), Herminia grisealis, Endotricha fla77i77iealis, Botys
lancealis, Ebulea crocealis (common), Pionea stra77iefitalis (I managed to
take a small series of this, it is very local in this district), Scopula
olivalis^ S. prunalis (both very common), Tortrix forsterana (several),
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
289
Pefonea schalleriana, P. ferrugana, Teras caudana^ Dictyopteryx hobjiiana
(locally common), D. bergmannia?ia, D. lorskaleana (both abundant),
Penthina pruniana^ Aspis udmamiiana^ Phoxopteryx lundana (common),
Catoptria hohenwarthiana^ C. cana^ Xanthosetia zoegana (common),
Talceporia pseudo-bombycella, Scardia cloacdla^ S. granella^ Adela
degeerella^ A. viridella^ Swamwerdammia ccesiella, S. griseocapitella, Hypo-
lepia costella^ Hnrpipteryx harpella^ Phibalocera quercana (common),
Harpella geoffroyella, Dasycera olivierella, Gracilaria alchimiella^
Pterophorus fuscodactyliis^ P. tetradactylus^ P. petitadaciylus^ P. piero-
dactylus and many more. Hepiahis hecius was abundant in every wood,
as also were H. lupulmus and H. hii7nuli in every meadow. On fences
I found Nola ciicullatella, Acidalia promutata, A. mcanaria^ Acronycta
psi, Xylophasia lithoxylea^ Batodes atigustiora?ia^ Dichrorhampha peti
verana^ Gelechta populella, Chrysocorys festaliella and many more com-
mon species. At Bexhill, Pidonia piniaria occurred in the ])ine woods,
and F. atofnaria swarmed on the heaths. By working the lamps I
obtained the following : — Svierinthus populi, Lithosia quadra (2), Ai ctia
fuliginosa, Selenia ilhmaria and var. juliaria (both very common),
Crocallis elmguaria, Ennomos Uliana^ Amphvdasvs prodromaria (i),
Geometra papilionaria (i), Ligdia adustafa, Eiipithecia centaureata^ E.
subfulvata^ E. absynthiata, Corejuia fertugata (abundant), C. unidentaria,
Cidaria miata^ C.russata (common and very variable), C. imnianata, C.
silaceata (3), C. iestata, Anaitis plagiata, Cilix spinula^ Bryophila per la ^
Nonagria fulva^ Hydrcecia nictifa?iSj Heliophobus popular is (common),
Luperina testacea (common and variable), Xanthia cerago^ X, silago,
Cosjuia trapezina^ Catocala 7iupta^ Scoparia afigustea, Ct ambus getiicul-
ellus^ Melia sociella, Ephippiphora bimaculana and several others.
Very few species came to sugar, and what did turn up were very com-
mon, such as LeucaJiia palle7is^ Xylophasia polyodo7i (abundant),
GoTiopteryx libatrix, Ncenia typica, Mania 7naura, etc. I netted two $
Bo77ibyx quercus^ from each of which I obtained fully 100 ova; I also
took a fine Angero7ta p7'unafia fiying in the early evening in August
in a wood near here. Most species appeared quite three or four weeks
later than usual, owing, I suppose, to the wet weather which prevailed
during the greater part of the summer and autumn. — A. Ford, Claremont
House, Upper Tower Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea. Nov. loM, 1891.
Howih., etc. — Ag7'otis agathma was abundant, and I took three pairs
in copula and secured ova. They have all hatched out lately, during
my absence, except two or three, but the larvae are hidden in the plant,
at least by day. The members of the Exchange Club may be interested
to hear that I was successful in the expedition to Howth for Dianthcecia
barreitii in June last, and captured some specimens. Also that, having
procured ova, I have been investigating the life-history and habits of the
earlier stages of this rare insect, and have made careful drawings of the
larvae and pupae. I await the result with much interest. Mr. Curzon,
then at Howth, gave me some ova, and also dug out a pupa which
emerged. I was more successful in rearing the larvae than at first I
anticipated. — W. F. de V. Kane, Sloperton Lodge, Kingston, Ireland.
Ro77isey. — Moths have been abundant here, but butterflies, with one
exception, scarce. 7'he small “ white ” has appeared in extraordinary
numbers. I succeeded in taking a few Heliothis dipsaceus for the first
time in the New Forest, but rather worn, and have also taken for the
290
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
first time in this neighbourhood Plusia festuccR. I saw a moth sitting
on a blade of Poa aquafica, evidently just emerged, and, on hunting
about, soon found half-a-dozen empiy cocoons and then one full one
which emerged soon after. The larva seems to bend down a blade of
the grass, and to spin across the angle a thin white cocoon, which is
very conspicuous. — E. Buckell, Romsey, Hants. October ist, 1891.
King's Lynn. — I have nothing worth noting concerning my captures
this month, save, perhaps, the appearance of Eupithecia pygjnceata^ of
which species I took four specimens (two of them in fine condition) on
September 6th. This sun-loving species occurred here as usual about
the middle of June this year. Turning to my notes, I find that on
June 15th I captured a dozen specimens, about half of them in good
condition. My experience of E. pyomeata this season points to the
existence of a second brood. Cerastium glomeratum (mouse-ear chick
weed) is, I believe, the principal food of its larvse here, for although I
have so far found but one larva, the capsules of this plant have been
freely patronised by larvae on the ground where I take the perfect
insect. — E. A. Atmore, King’s Lynn. September 2,0th, 1891.
Canterbury. — I have taken this autumn Orthosia madlenta, 0. lota,
Anchocelis rufina, Xanthia cerago, X. silago, X. aurago, Hoporina
croceago, Anchocelis litura, A. pistacina, Hadena proteus, Miselia
oxyacanthce, Agriopis aprilina, Xylina se?nibrimnea, and one Orrhodia
erythrocephala var. glabra on October 31st. — J. Parry, t. Church
Street, Canterbury.
Culleenamore. — Ivy is now nearly over, and owing to bad weather it
has not been very productive. Calocampa vetusta and Phlogophora
meticulosa were fairly abundant. Orthosia lota, O. madlenta, Orrhodia
vaccinii diW(\ O. spadicea were rare, and the usually abundant Xylina petrifi-
cata entirely absent. The season, though, altogether has been a good
one. — P. Russ, Culleenamore, Sligo.
Soiith Devon. — Here, in South Devon, the season has been very unsatis-
factory, sugaring almost a failure, I cannot count more than half a dozen
fair nights, on each of them there was considerable wind. Frequently on
warm, cloudy nights with a westerly wind, no insects have turned up.
Light in August and September (I did not try it earlier) was more suc-
cessful, and different species seemed to have their own special nights
for flight, e.g., Neiiria pofularis, Cleora lichenaria, Cidaria silaceata.
Larvae have been fairly abundant, but decidedly below rather than
above the average. It seems to me the unusually severe and protracted
winter (worse in Devon and Cornwall than elsewhere) destroyed many
pupae and hybernating larvae. Lyccena cegon is very abundant on the
downs, all over the Lizard promontory, much more so than the common
Lyccena icarus. I took the larvae of Hecatera serc7ia in 1890, at Mullion,
in abundance. It was feeding on Crepis virens, and in no instance did
I find it on either of the sow-thistles, though they were very abundant.
The larvce feed at night on the inside of the flowers, but are easily taken
during the day by gently shaking the plant into a net. They seemed
difficult to rear, as many died away when nearly full-fed (I tried change
of diet to the sow-thistles, but it was refused), and a few were ichneumoned.
Out of more than 100 larvae I succeeded in rearing only 18. Some
dozen or so of these died in the pupal stage. — W. S. Ridixg, Honiton,
Devon. October, 1891.
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
291
Durha7n and Saltbnrn. — So far as my experience here this summer
goes, it has been a very poor season. Both sugar and light were
failures; the same result happened on my journey to Scotland in July,
though on the two or three moderately fine days we had, Geometry
were abundant. On the other hand, at Saltburn in York, in August
and September, sugar was very productive, so that its failure or success
seems to have been curiously local. My Scotch friends all speak in
the most desponding terms of their want of success. Last year was
extremely good for sugar (or treacle, as they say in Scotland), this year
the reverse ; perhaps next year the times will have changed again, and
we north-countrymen shall have a better record. — T. Maddison,
Durham. October, 1891.
Willesden, — I visited my favourite field again this year in May and
June, and found some species unusually plentiful, which looked as if
the season was going to be a better one. For instance, Heliaca arbuti
was the first to appear, and I took a very large number in fine con-
dition ; as soon as this was over, Ino statices came on in equal !orce.
My last visit to this particular spot was on June 20th, when by that
time /. statices was quite a pest, for not infrequently three or four would
be seen upon a single clover blossom ; the females then were more
plentiful than the males. Euclidia mi was out in abundance at the
same time, but I did not take many. Last year Tanagra chcerophyllata
swarmed, but this year it was only just emerging when I left, being later
than last year. Amongst other species that occurred in the same field
was Emmelesia albulata, which was very common on one side only. A
good specimen of Drepana hamula also fell to my net. — J. M. Adye.
December 2nd, 1891.
Hampshire. — Having from time to time noticed the different reports
on sugaring this year, I might add that my experience coincides with
several. At the end of June and beginning of July I made two or
three attempts, and not seeing a single insect I did not repeat the
experiment until near the middle of September, when there seemed
some improvement, which enticed me to continue. On the 20th of
that month the weather was unusually stormy, rain falling in torrents
the whole day more or less, and, if anything, was rather worse in the
evening, so having always good luck on such nights I did not fail to
sugar extra trees. On approaching the last one with my brush, I
observed a considerable number of specimens, which were attracted
evidently by the sugar of the previous evening having been revived by
the rain. I was therefore careful not to disturb them, and lighted my
lantern almost immediately, when I counted between twenty and thirty
on the tree. Most of them were Phlogophora meticulosa, with one or
two Anchocelis lunosa, Xanthia silago, Orthosia macile7ita and two fine
Xylina petrijicata. The other trees, strange to say, only produced a
very few, including another X, petrificata. I took four more of this
latter species in the best condition on other nights following. I under-
stand that sugaring has been again very bad in the New Forest. — Id.
Neuroptera, Trichoptera and Orthoptera. — Wicken and Neigh-
bourhood.— As I was at Wicken this year, a great part of the time Mr.
Tutt was there (from August 5th to 19th), a few notes on the insects
taken in other orders than Lepidoptera may prove interesting as supple-
mentary to Mr. Tutt’s paper on the Lepidoptera, which appeared in the
292
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Record^ vol. ii., p. 176. A good deal of my own attention was of course
also devoted to the Le|)idoptera, but as Mr. Tutt has sufficiently treated
of them, I need not add more to his notes. Mr. R. McLachlan joined
me on August nth, and we worked together until the 15th, our chief
object being if possible to turn up the local Erotesis baltica, of which
only some half-dozen specimens have as yet been taken in Britain, and
all, except one in the Norfolk Fens, at Wicken Fen. When Mr.
McLachlan arrived I had one fine specimen on my setting boards, taken
within a day or two of my arrival at Wicken, but unfortunately all our
efforts failed to turn up another. Perhaps we were too late for the
species, but quite as likely the very unfavourable weather we experienced
accounted for our non-success. It is a very delicate species, and no
doubt its habit, like that of its allied genera, is to fly gently over the
ditches at sunset in the calmest weather. As it was, all the time we
were there it was either wet, or a much too strong wind was blowing on
the Fen, to allow any of this group of insects to fly freely. Even
Leptocerus ate? rimus \\2i^ only very occasionally seen on the wing, though
plenty of specimens could be swept out of the herbage. Next to E.
baltica^ perhaps the most interesting species was Pyrrhosoma tenellum^
which was found commonly on the ditches on Chippenham Fen on the
only visit we made there, on the 13th. Curiously, it was not seen on
Wicken Fen at all, though I had found it there in June the previous
year, uj) to which time it had only occurred in Britain on heaths near
Weybridge, and one or two other similar south of England localities.
Its usually common relative, P. minium, was not seen at all. The
district altogether proved very unsatisfactory for Neuroptera and
Trichoptera ; indeed the paucity of species in a locality so exceedingly
promising in appearance was most extraordinary, and although the
weather was certainly much against us, we were reluctantly forced to the
conclusion that many of the species we naturally expected in such a
locality were not there at all. The few species for which Tuddenham
is given were taken on the 14th, the only occasion of our visit there.
When the locality is not stated, the record refers in all cases to Wicken.
Neuroptera. — Sympetruin striolatum) S. sanguineum, not uncom-
mon, but not nearly so abundant as I found it on Wicken Fen in
August two years ago; yEschna grandis, common, and often seen
“ hawking ” for insects at dusk, a habit, I believe, not indulged in by
any other dragon-fly. Several specimens of another ^schna (probably
cyaned) were seen, but not captured. Lesies sponsa, common on both
Wicken and Chippenham Fens; Ischnura elegans, common; Agrion
pulchellum, common on both Wicken and Chippenham Fens ; one or
two others of the common Agrions, I think, also occurred, but as none
were set, cannot say with certainty which they were ; Pyrrhosoma
temllum, common on Chippenham Fen. Nemoura (species ?), one
species common at Chippenham, but I am a little doubtful as to which
it is ; Raphidia xanihostigma, Chippenham Fen ; Hemerobius margi-
natus, and one or two other commoner species of the genus occurred at
Chippenham ; Chrysopa flava, C. viitata, C. alba, C. ienella and C.
aspersa, all at Chippenham ; C. flavifrons, not uncommon at Wicken.
Trichoptera. — Phryganea abundant and variable; Agrypnia
pagetana, common; Colpotaulius incisus, common; Grammttaulius
nitidus, not uncommon on Wicken Fen; Glyphotalius pellucidus ;
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
293
Limnophilus rhombicus, common, but the specimens small ; L. flavi-
cornis, abundant; L. marmoratiis^ probably the most abundant species
seen; L. stigma-, L.vittatus ; L. auricula, Tuddenham ; L. hirsutus, in
the Fens, and I think also at Tuddenham ; Silo pallipes, Tuddenham ;
Molanna angustata, common ; Leptocerus aterrimus, abundant, but the
sj^ecimens small; Mystacides longicornis Eroiesis baltica, one specimen
only at Wicken Fen ; CEcetis lacustris, not uncommon ; Holoce7itropus
picicornis, abundant ; Tinodes wceneri, Tuddenham ; Lype. phccopa,
several at Tuddenham; Rhyacophila dorsalis, several at Tuddenham.
Orthoptera. — Stenobothris viridulus, common, I believe, though
some of the specimens I captured for examination were the green var.
mollis of S. bicolor, which without close attention might readily be mis-
taken for it ; S. elegans, not uncommon at Wicken, and I think occurred
also at Tuddenham ; S. bicolor, abundant at Wicken and equally so at
Tuddenham; it was exceedingly variable in colour; the purple var.
purpurasce?is was common at Wi( ken, and the green var. ?noilis was
probably equally so ; Gomphocerus inaculatus, at Wicken and Tudden-
ham ; Odontura punctatissima, Mr. McLachlan beat out a nice specimen
in “ the lane ” at Wicken ; Mecanema varia, beaten out of the trees in
plenty at Chippenham Fen ; Xiphidium dorsale, in abundance and of all
sizes on Chippenham Fen, also on Wicken Fen, but less commonly. — •
Geo. T, Porritt, Huddersfield. October 2^th, 1891.
POLYOMMATUS VIRGAURiEA NEAR BeACHY HeAD.— On AugUSt 4th
last, a young collector (Arnold Brown, of South Hackney), a friend of
mine, captured a specimen of Polyo77Wiatus virgaurcea on a thistle flower
in Birling Gap, between Seaford and Beachy Head. The insect is a
in fair condition, but had evidently been on the wing some time. It is
now in my possession. — R, W. Robbins, 79, Chardmore Road, Clapton
Common.
Habits of Retinia resinana. — I had several pupae of Retinia
resiTiana sent to me, but failed to rear any. I noticed that if the pupa
pushed its way quite out of the resinous mass it was sure to die;
in some others where I was successful the stems of fir were put in wet
sand in a perpendicular position, and these emerged only when the
pupa was held partly in. I have not noticed this with other stem-
feeding species. — F. N. Pierce, 143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool.
Septe77iber 27id, 1891.
Demas coryli. — My brother sent me up a number of larvae of this
species from the neighbourhood of Cheltenham. This larva spins up
in a leaf at each change of skin. A study of the larva suggests grave
doubt whether this species is not out of place amongst the Nocture,
where Mr. South has placed it. The analogy between it and the
Orgyias seems very evident. — F. J. Buckell, 32, Canonbury Square.
October 2>th, 1891.
Hadena porphyrea (satura). — From personal experience I can
give a few hints about this species : — ist. The full-fed larva cannot
well be mistaken for that of any other species, although it does
resemble some varieties of Hade7ia adusta. It is of a pale green, but
the peculiar brownish colour of the dorsal surface at once distinguishes
it from all other larvae I have even seen. 2nd. It feeds by night on
the expanded flowers of honeysuckle and whins (gorse) ; it also eats
other plants, but prefers the flowers. I have an idea that this species
will yet be turned up in some numbers in Aberdeenshire. I expected
294
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
to have taken it myself this year, but the total failure of sugar has pre-
vented me, or at least has made it impossible for me to do so. By the
way, I almost forgot to say that the larvae are full-fed by the middle or
end of June. — W. Reid, Pitcaple, Aberdeen.
Habits of Plusia orichalcea. — Captain Robertson’s capture of
Plusia orichalcea is interesting, as it adds another locality for this
local and beautiful species and he should work for the larvae on Eupa-
torium cannahiniini (hemp agrimony). Some entomologists beat for
the young larvae in October, and hybernate them ; I always find this
unnecessary as I can find them easily in the spring, and save “ loss
and trouble ” hybernating them. They are a good size and fairly easy
to find about the last week in May and first in June. They eat pieces
out of the centre of each side of the leaf to the midrib, and the end
of the leaf losing its support hangs down and fades, many leaves
on a stem served in this way looking very conspicuous. Carefully (as
they drop off) bend the stem down, and the larva will probably be
found resting on the underside of a leaf, if young, or if full-fed,
with its hind-claspers grasping the main stem, and its front legs
holding on to the underside of one of the bent leaves. If it is not
on the stem first noticed, look on all near, its presence will soon
be evident by fresh feeding. — W. Farren, Fern House, Union Road,
Cambridge. August 26th, 1891.
ScoPULA DECREPiTALis AT GLASGOW. — Amongst some insects I had
brought me by a young collector to name, I found a Fyrale, which is
undoubtedly Scopula decrepitalis. — T. J. Henderson, Glasgow. October
loth^ 1891.
Times of Emergence. — I most decidedly agree with Mr. Farren on
the “times of emergence” question {ante, p. 139), and I can add one
species at any rate to the list which he gives, viz., Notodonia dictcea,
which has a most inconvenient habit of emerging between ten and
eleven p.m. I have bred it now for several seasons successively, and
find this an invariable rule. The males, too, must be killed as soon
as possible after the wings are dry, or they will be worthless as
specimens in the morning. — Charles F. Thornewill, The Soho,
Burton-on-Trent. September 2nd, 1891.
Mites. — I find the following preparation very useful in getting rid of
mites. It consists of equal parts of oil of thyme, oil of aniseed and
spirits of wine. I find this efficacious both for destroying them in
imagines and also for prevention. I went through a large collection
for a friend of mine three years ago, which was swarming with them,
and although not touched since, there is not a. mite in one of the
40 drawers. The preparation is given in the Insect Hunter’s
Companio7i. — T. Baxter, St. Anne’s-on-Sea. Oct. ^th, 1891.
TyENiocAMPA OPiMA. — It may be of interest to note that I bred a fine
series of T. opinia (as far as the pupal state) from ova collected on the
Lancashire coast, and believe I did not lose a single larva ; they were fed
on sallow, on the air-tight principle and were kept in the shade with
just a little sunshine before 7 a.m., none afterwards. They have
pupated in loose shallow trays which fit the bottom of my breeding
cages, into which the larvae were removed from the bell-glasses, about a
fortnight before going down. I have over 150 pupae, and, should they
emerge all right next spring, I shall be pleased to give fuller particulars
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
295
of the system followed. — J. Mason, Clevedon Court Lodge, Somerset.
Septe7nber T^oth, 1891.
Sphinx convolvuli in Wales. — A very large female S. comwlvuli
was given me on September 2nd. It was caught the day before by a
brother, at rest in a hall of a house a few hundred yards from the sea.
It either came to light or to a lily which was inside the hall. It
measures 4J inches and is bigger by nearly half inch than either of
the two specimens I had previously. Is it abnormally large? — R.
B. Robertson, Sketty Park, Swansea. September 2^th, 1891.
Sphinx convolvuli in Kent. — Next season I intend to plant a few
plants of Nicotiana affinis, to attract Sphinx convolvuli^ as they seem to be
about here. Within the last tour seasons, I have had three dilapidated
specimens brought me, and this year I had one brought from Keston,
on August 17th; but as the captor of it had it in a flower-pot all the
week, it was quite shorn of its beauty, more like a Whitechapel than a
West-ender. On September 27 th, I had a splendid specimen brought
by the road surveyor here, who found it crawling about on the middle
of the road at Green St. Green, not the least damaged. He carried it
in a paper bag. I have been told of different captures of it in this
neighbourhood from time to time. — Hope Alderson, Farnboro’, Kent.
October ^th, 1891.
Foodplant of Chcerocampa porcellus. — In reply to the Editor’s
query, re the foodplant of C.^porcellus^ I beg to state that the larva was
r\o\. feeding on the purple loose strife {^Ly thrum salicaria), but was found
amongst the grass at a short distance from the plant, on which I
presumed it had been feeding, as this is mentioned as one of its food-
plants by the Rev. Seymour St. John. I must not, however, omit to say
that in another part of the field there was some Lady’s Bedstraw from
which it is possible the larva may have wandered. — D. H. S. Steuart,
North Leigh, Prestwich, Lancashire. October 2>th, 1891.
Acherontia atropos in the Isle of Man.— On Saturday afternoon
last, Mr. John Moughton from Laxey, sent to me a beautiful specimen
of this insect, which had been captured by him in Laxey Glen on
Thursday evening last, October 22nd. The insect is in splendid
condition, and probably had not long emerged from the chrysalis before
it was caught. These moths are very uncertain in the time and place
of appearance in the Isle of Man. — H. Shortridge Clarke, 2,
Osborne Terrace, Douglas, Isle of Man. October 26th, 1891.
Difficulty of setting the forelegs of Agriopis aprilina. — I
remember reading (in the Ento??iologist) a short time ago about the
difficulty of setting out the forelegs of Agriopis aprilina. I, however,
set them out on the last I captured, but with some trouble. They
seem gripped like a vice and as if fitted into a notch. It may be the
joint stiffens, that I am unable to say. However, they can be separated
by inserting a fine point between the thickest part and pulling at
the same time with a pair of fine forceps. — Hope Alderson. October
^th^ 1891.
Stauropus fagi and Cuspidia alni in the New Forest. — I beat
a fine full-fed larva of the first mentioned species on beech in the New
Forest, last September. Those of the latter species were comparatively
common this year, though several were ichneumoned. — C. Edward
Crane, Emery-Down, Arundel Road, Eastbourne.
290
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Plutella dalella etc. in Donegal. — I took P. dahlia in Donegal,
also Helotropha leucostigma and Emmelesia affinitata. — G. V. Hart,
14, Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin.
Arctia caja. — Has any one met with the full-grown larva of this
species later than the middle of August ? — T. A. Chapman, Firbank,
Hereford.
Inquiry concerning Moth Trap. — In the Lepidopterisf s Guide,
Dr. Knaggs describes a moth trap, made by placing an inverted cone
of perforated zinc in the top of a tin, in which is a piece of flannel
soaked in sugar, under a false bottom (also of perforated zinc), by which
the moths are attracted. Has any reader of the Record ever tried this
trap ? If so, I should be very thankful for any information as to its
success. — J. H. D, Beales, Beech Hurst, Poole.
Urtication. — Would any reader of the Record, who has met with
stinging larvae, kindly answer the following questions ? With regard to
Question 3, I want a definite statement of the physical appearance of
the rash, not a vague description, such as “like nettle rash” etc. ; also
if any one has done any work on this subject I shall be glad to hear
from them : —
1. By what insect stung, whether larvae or cocoon hairs?
2. Part of body affecied, and to what degree?
3. Character of rash, if any was seen ?
4. If perspiring when stung?
5. If skin be thin or sensitive?
6. Any other remarks.
All letters will be acknowledged. — Richard Freer, Rugeley, Staffs.
Dioryctria splendidella at Wallasey. — My friend, Mr. H. B.
Jones, captured a specimen of Dioryctria spletididella at Wallasey, about
six weeks ago. — G. A. Harker. Septeinber 24//^, 1891.
Dasycampa rttbiginea at Poole. — I had the good fortune to capture
two perfect specimens of this rare insect at ivy, on October 23rd. From
their remarkably good condition, I should imagine that they had only
recently emerged from the pupa. I believe that it is many years since
rubiginea has been recorded from this neighbourhood. — J. H. D.
Beales, Beech Street, Poole. Nove^nber 1st, 1891.
Cleora lichenaria in Ireland.— With reference to Mr. HarkePs
suggestion that he thought C. lichenaria new to Ireland (^Record, ante,
ii., p. 233), Mr. Russ reminds me that he long ago recorded it from Sligo,
where it is rather common. I ought to have remembered the fact as I
have a number of specimens which came from Mr. Russ. — J. W. Tutt.
November, 1891.
Autumn emergence of Endromis versicolor. — I bred some
specimens of E. versicolor this spring, but nearly one half of the pupae
did not emerge at the usual time. A fine ? came out on the evening
of October 6th. The pupae have been kept indoors since the spring. —
H. Alderson, Farnboro’, Kent.
Assembling with Sesia sphegiformis. — I have had one or two
interesting experiences this year. Mention is made by Mr. Tugvvell in
his notes on Sesia sphegifor7uis, that after one successful expedition, he
took down two females on a fine day apparently exactly suited for assem-
bling but met with no success, and he suggests that the cause may have
been due to the condition of the atmosphere. Now, my first experience
NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC.
297
was still more peculiar, for T took down two females on a suitable day,
both having emerged on the same morning, with this result, that, while
one female attracted a large number of males, the other only attracted
two or three during the whole morrnng. I noticed that the attracting
female was very restless, that she usually rested with her abdomen
distended in a peculiar manner, and that on the approach of the male,
when he began to buzz about the cage where she was confined, she
became much excited. On the other hand, the unattractive female was
perfectly quiet and apparently in a sleepy state. Not till the flight was
nearly over did she show any signs of restlessness, or rest with her
abdomen extended in the manner I have mentioned, and not till then
did she attract a single male, but when this began, she attracted two at
once. I gather, therefore, that in this species, the females are only
attractive when they are in the humour for pairing. The pairing of
these insects is most extraordinary. If you allow the male to enter the
cage where the female is, he buzzes about for a moment, then he does
not alight, but backing towards the female they pair, and the male
almost instantaneously drops as if lifeless, suspended, of course, by the
female. The contrast between the apparently lifeless body, thus
hanging, and the insect that a moment before had been buzzing about,
its wings moving with extraordinary rapidity, a simple mass of vitality,
is something to be remembered. My next experience w'as a failure. I
attempted to “ semble ’’ with 6*. culiciformis^ when I quite expected to
be successful. I went to get the pupae but w’as too late, and only
secured one, which emerged directly after I obtained it, and proved to
be a fine female. The morning was bright and sunny, and she buzzed
about freely, but not a single male came. I can only understand this
by assuming that the males were over. I saw one or two which I think
were females depositing, but it seems strange that all the males should
have died so soon. — A. Robinson, i. Mitre Court Buildings, Temple.
October, 1891.
Double-broodedness of Cidaria silaceata. — I think Mr. Tutt is
wrong in assuming this species to be double-brooded on such slight
evidence. Numberless cases of autumn emergence of early summer
species occur ; but before we can conclude they are truly double-
brooded, it will have to be shown that the ova are properly developed
in the female, and that the larvae would feed up and pupate. I never
bred the insect till this year, and they have been emerging slowly ever
since. My friend, Mr. Gardner, who has reared it frequently, tells me
that his experience is the same, and that some of them always emerge
in the autumn. I notice a specimen is out to-day. — John E. Robson,
Hartlepool. November 22nd, 1891.
Under ordinary circumstances, perhaps it would be unwise to suppose
that Cidaria silaceata is double-brooded, on the mere fact that I
happened to capture a fair number of what was undoubtedly a second
brood of this species in the Isle of Wight in August, 1889, but this
personal knowledge is supplemented by the information of many
correspondents and friends in the South of England who all treat it as
a distinctly double-brooded species, and not only so, but speak of its
strong tendency to seasonal dimorphism. The first brood in the south
consists usually of fairly large specimens, with the central band well
broken in a majority of specimens. The second brood consists of much
D
298
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
smaller specimens, the band almost always complete. The partial
double-broodedness of this species, referred to by Messrs. Robson and
Finlay {ante^ p. 257), in a much more northern locality, is rather additional
evidence of my statement, as it is well known that many species which
are distinctly double-brooded in our southern counties, are only partially
so, or otherwise distinctly single-brooded in more northern localities.
The Isle of Wight offers a strange illustration of the complete double-
broodedness of another species, Acidalia emutaria^ which appears to be
rarely so elsewhere, in the localities I have worked, where the species
occurs rather commonly, — at Deal, Higham, Strood, Gravesend, etc.
In the Isle of Wight, Mr. Hodges gets two distinct broods in June and
August, whilst in the former localities, specimens appear continuously
from the beginning of July to the first week in August, but there is no
differentiation of the broods as in the Isle of Wight. I notice that
Newman in his British Moths^ treats C, silaceata as double-brooded, and
there appears to be no doubt that the distinct double-broodedness
noticeable in the south, is reduced to partial double-broodedness or even
single-broodedness in more northern localities, not only in this, but in
many other species. — J. W. Tutt.
The Eupitheci^ in County Sligo. — T)\q Eupithecice I have taken
this year, are as follows : — The earliest to appear was E. abbreviata
at sallow blossoms, on March 27th. In April, I bred E. exiguata from
larvae collected the previous autumn, and obtained larvae of E. sobrinata
beaten from juniper whilst looking for Thera simulata larvae. May
p’-oduced E. venosata, E. nanata, E. pu77iilata^ E. coronata^ E. dodofieata
(flying at dusk along hawthorn hedges, and, I believe, not previously
recorded from Ireland), E. vulgata and E. virgaureata. In June,
E satyrata and its var. callunaria were abundant on moors, and E.
nanata much more so than in the previous month. E. piufiilata also
appeared on the moors, earlier ones having been taken on the low lands.
E. isogra7?i77iata, E. exiguata^ E. submnbraia (occurs on lower slopes of
the mountains, where scabious is plentiful), E. lariciata^ E. constrictata^
E. pulchellata (twelve specimens only, and very worn). In July, E.
debiliata was abundant in woods where the undergrowth is bilberry. The
place to search for this species is on the trunks of large holly trees growing
amongst the bilberry. They are exceedingly difficult to see, being
almost exactly the colour of the bark, on which they rest ; but a tap with
a stout stick disturbs them, and they are netted easily. The second
brood of E. pumilata are smaller and darker than the first, E. tenuiata^
the second brood of E. coronata, E. ^ninutata^ and E. rectangulata . In
August, the only fresh species were, E. absynthiata and E. centaureata^
which completed my list. E. isogra77imata in the larval stage was
exceedingly abundant on a large Cle77iatis vitalba^ growing along a
high wall at a neighbour’s house. It is the only plant of this species
which I know of in the whole county, and was evidently planted there
many years since. Does the larva of this species feed on anything
else ? I have taken the insect at a considerable distance from the plant.
— P. H. Russ, Culleenamore, Sligo. October^ 1891.
Agrotis trux. — .Among some odds and ends forwarded me by Mr.
Gregson unplaced in his cabinet, was a mutilated specimen of an
Agrotis, found in a fruit warehouse at Liverpool. This turns out to be
A. trux, a species once in our lists, but I think properly struck out as
an accidental importation. — S. Webb, Dover.
SOCIETIES.
299
Entomological Society of London. — December 2nd^ 1891. — The
Rt. Hon. Lord Walsingham, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S.. in the chair. Dr.
D. Sharp exhibited and commented on a number of photographs of
various species of LucanidcB belonging to Mons. Ren^ Oberthiir. Mr.
C. G. Barrett exhibited a number of specimens of local forms and
varieties of Lepidoptera, taken by Mr. Percy Russ near Sligo, including
Pieris napi var. near bryo7iice ; Anthocharis cardcujiines (male)j with the
orange blotch edged with yellow, and yellowish forms of the female of
the same species ; very blue forms of Polyommatus alsus ; males of P.
alexis, with the hind margin of the under wings spotted with black, and
very handsome forms of the female ; also varied series of AgroHs
cursoria, A. tritici, A. vallioera, Hydroecia 7nicacea^ H. nictitans, Epunda
lutulenta^ Hadena protea^ Odontoptera bidentata^ Cidaria immanata^ C.
testata^ C. pyraliata and Boantiia repandata. The Rev. S. St. John
exhibited two specimens of Lyccena argiades, taken in Somersetshire by
Dr. Marsh in 1884; three specimens of Deilephila euphorbice., bred from
larvae found feeding on Euphorbia paralias on the Cornish coast in
September, 1889; and a series of varied forms of Anchocelis pistacina^
all taken in a garden at Arundel. Lord Walsingham, Mr. Barrett, and
Mr. McLachlan took part in the discussion which ensued. Mr. Jenner
Weir exhibited and made remarks on two dark specimens of Zygmia
niinos which had been caught by Mr. Blagg in Carnarvonshire. He
remarked that the specimens were not representatives of complete
melanism, and suggested that the word “ phaeism ” — from (puioQ, dusky
— would be a correct word to apply to this and similar departures from
the normal coloration of a species. Mr. C. J. Gahan exhibited speci-
mens of the common “ book-louse,” Atropos pulsatoria., Fabr., which he
had heard making a ticking noise similar to that made by the “ death-
watch ” (Anobium). Mr. B. A. Bower exhibited the following rare
species of Micro- Lepidoptera : — Spilonota pauperana, Frol. ; Gelechia
osseella, Stn. ; Chrysoclysta bwiaculella., Haw. ; and Elachista cingilella.,
Fisch. Lord Walsingham and Mr. Tutt made some remarks on the
specimens. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a variety of Anthocharis carda-
mineSy and one specimen of Sesia scolicEfoi'inis bred from a larva found
at Rannoch.
Mr. G. T. Baker read a paper entitled “Notes on Lyccsna (recte
Theda)., rhyjnnus, tengstrce?nii, and pretiosai^ A discussion followed,
in which Lord Walsingham, Capt. Elwes and Mr. Baker took part.
Mr. F. Merrifield read a paper entitled “The effects of artificial
temperature on the colouring of Vanessa urticce and certain other species
of Lepidoptera.” The author stated that both broods of all three species
of Selenia, Platypteryx falcataria, Va?iessa urticce, Bombyx qucrcus and
var. callunce, and Chelonia caja were affected by temperature in the pupa
stage, the lower temperature generally producing the greater intensity
and darkness of colour ; some of the Va?iessa urticce made a near approach
to the var. polaris of Northern Europe. A long discussion ensued, in
which Mr. E. B. Boulton, Mr. McLachlan, Prof. Meldola, Mr. Barrett,
Mr. Jenner Weir and Lord Walsingham took part. Mr. W. Bateson
read a paper entitled “ On the variation in the colour of the cocoons of
800
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
Eriogaster lanestris and Satur?iia carpini^' and exhibited a large number
ofspecimens in illustration of the paper. Lord Walsingham congratulated
Mr. Bateson on his paper, and on the intelligent care and method
shown in his experiments, and said that he was glad to see that at
C'ambridge there was an entomologist ready to enter this interesting field
of investigation, and perhaps at some future day to contest the palm
with Mr. Boulton as representing the sister University at Oxford. He
had noticed that the larvae of S. carpini^ if left in a box with dead food,
and probably starved, made a light-coloured cocoon; but that when the
cocoon was made under natural conditions, on living foodplants on the
moors, it was of a dark colour. Mr. Boulton, Brof. Meldola, Mr.
Bateson, and others continued the discussion — H. Goss and W. W.
Fowler, Hon. Secs.
CiiY OF London Entomological and Natural History Society.
— Thu?'sday, November 1891. — Exhibits : — Dr. Buckell, portions of
an ash tree, from wLich he had obtained 27 specimens of Zeuzera
pyrina {cesculi) in 1890. The recent gale had snapped the trunk about
7 feet from the ground. The portions shown abundantly illustrated
the ravages made by the larvae, and the consequent weakening of the
tree. Mr. Tutt, varieties of Noctua festiva from Warrington and Cleve-
don ; Agrotis valligera from Sligo, and Agrotis corticea from St. Anne’s-
on-Sea ; Coremia ferrugaia and C. uniaeniaria from Weymouth, illus-
trating the difference in width of the central band; a dark specimen of
JMrentia didy?nata from Liverpool ; Scopula decrepitalis from Glasgow,
and the empty pupa skin of Apaiura iris., all belonging to members of
the Record Exchange Club. Mr. Bellamy, a series of Himera pen7iaria,
taken on lamps at Muswell Hill, one having the transverse lines very
-shaped mark under the discoidal spot. Messrs. Barrett,
Fenn and Tugwell made some remarks relating to the >-shaped mark
in the species of Oporabia. It was remarked that the >-mark in the
specimen of carda7nines exhibited was not on the nervures. Mr. Short ex-
hibited Cuspidia psi, type and \2lt. suffusa, Melanippe fliiciuata, also some
suffused specimens of Spilosoma lubricipeda all from London. Mr.
Billups stated that the ichneumon from Aitacas cecropia {ante, p., 189) was
Cryptus extre?natis which was figured (29) in The Afinuat Report of the
Fruit Growers' Association, Ontario, 1890, p. 66, review'ed in the Ent.
Record, ii., p. 48, where the species is said to be bred frequently from
the cocoons of Telea polyphe77ius. Mr. Hawes exhib ted a living imago
(just emerged), also a living pupa of Polyo77i77iatus phlceas, the emergence
having taken place about three months from the time the egg was laid ;
he also referred to the fact that he had obtained ova from Fieris napi
and Pararge 77ieg<^ra by lamp-light. On one occasion, a $ of the
former laid twelve eggs in a few minutes. Mr. Edwards exhibited some
exotic Papilios and a very rare Hymenopteron — Abia fasciata — from
Oxted. Mr. Adkin stated that he was at Eastbourne from August loth
till the 23rd, the weather being both wet and cold. The three species
of Pieris were abundant, 7iapi especially so ; Argynnis aglaia was also
common, one specimen had the left anterior wing very small; Satymis
seniele, Epinephele ianira and other common species were more than
usually abundant; Lyccena corydon was very common, and this species
appeared to get low down into the roots for shelter in rough weather ;
a few specimens had the spots on the undersides more or less coalesced;
Lyc(B7ia icarus and var. icarmus, no very blue females being observed
except in one limited locality on the Parade. The Vanessidae were rare
except urticcB ; Macroglossa stellata7'U7n occurred, whilst the usual form
of ZygcBna filipendulce had the central pair of spots united ; one speci-
men was found with the pupa sheath adherent, looking like a third
antenna. Sugared flower-heads were fairly attractive ; Abraxas grossu
SOCIETIES.
305
lariata abundant in blackthorn by the edge of the cliff; Acidalia 7nar-
ginepunctata {proinutatd) were generally pale, but a few dark specimens
occurred ; Gnophos odscii ra ta wa.s rare, and Timandra amataria occurred
late in August. In the osiers, larvae of H alias chlor ana were not common,
whilst Pygara bucephala were stripping the plants in many places.
With regard to butterflies hiding in wet and windy weather, and their
general resting habits, Mr. Hawes made some remarks relating to
Hesperia actceon, Mr. Carrington referred to Melitcea athalia and Mr.
Frohawk, to the habits of the larger Fritillaries. Mr. Joy inquired
about the resting habits of the imago of Fapilio machaon^ in naturd^
but no one could inform him. Information was also asked for r< lative
to the specimens of Polyommatus virgaurcea recorded {Ent. Record^ anle,
p. 260), and Mr. Tutt stated that all the information he had was very
meagre, and consisted essentially of what was already published in the
Record. — Ed.
Birmingham Entomological Society. — October 1891. — Rev..
C. F. Thornewill exhibited a number of insects taken on Cannock
during a week spent there this year, including black Cy77iatophora
duplaris ; also a collection made in Buckinghamshire this year, including
Cleora lichenaria, Aventia flexula etc. Mr. G. W. Wynn showed a
series of Geometra papilionai'ia from Wyre Forest larvae. Mr. P. W.
Abbott showed nice series of Selina irrorella^ Agrotis lucernea and
A. lunigera from the Isle of Wight. Mr. R, C. Bradley showed Acidia
cognata from Sutton, and Acidia heraclei from Moseley. Rev. C. F.
Thornewill read a paper on the recent discovery by himself and Mr. R.
Freer at Cannock Chase, of Siilbia ano7nala^ hitherto not considered a
Midland insect, it was so common that last year Mr. Freer obtained 150
specimens, and this year it was equally common.
Nove77iber 2nd^ 1891. — Mr. Bradley showed Gonyglossum wiede-
77ianni, from Sutton. Mr. H. J, Sands showed Calligenia 7niniafa
from New Forest. Mr. W. Harrison showed a specimen of Epio7ie
apiciaria taken at Harborne so late as October 3rd. Mr. G. W. Wynn
showed Nudaria mundana from Clewe Prior. Mr. C. J. Wainwright
showed a number of insects bought at the sale of the Rev. G. H.
Raynor’s collection.
Nov. 16, 1891. — Rev. C. F. Thornewill showed a specimen of Sphinx
convolvuli taken on Sept. 30th at Burton-on-Trent. Mr. G.T. Baker, Calli-
77iorpha hera from Jersey and the Continent ; also Nemeophila plantaginis.
var. hospita from various localities. Mr. P. W. Abbott, Nonagria ge77ii7i^-
puncta and Toxocampa pasiinu77i^ series of each from the Isle of Wight-
Mr. C. J. Wainwright, samples of the new steel pins made by Messrs.
Kirby, Beard & Co. Mr. R. C. Bradley, a series of the genus
Calliphora. Rev. C. F. Thornewill said that he had found in a cellar
at Stretton 40 or 50 specimens of Gonoptera libatrix, also specimens of
Triphosa dubitata. Rev. E. J. Nurse read a paper on “ Wicken Fen
and its Insects,” being mainly an account of a holiday spent there in
July this year, when most of the usual Fen insects were to be taken
freely. The Rev. C. F. Thornewill and others spoke at the close. —
CoLBRAN J. Wainwright, Hon. Sec.
Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. — November
()th, 1891. — Mr. Robert Newstead, F.E.S. read a paper entitled
“ General Notes on the scale insects CocciDiE.” The author gave
306
THE entomologist’s RECORD.
a brief resu7tie of the work done by the earlier naturalists, and
enumerated types of the principal genera (of which he had drawn
large coloured diagrams in illustration). In the course of his remarks
he described the distinctive characters, and exhibited drawings of
the following new species : — Lecaniu77i asswiilis n. sp., on Aster, at
Colwyn Bay; L. 77imi 77111771, n. sp., on Areca, under glass, Cheshire;
Pulvmaria persicce, n. sp., on peach, Cheshire; Pseudococcus asso-
cialis, n. sp., on Ribes, Yorks ; Ripersia to77ili7iii, n. sp., on grass
roots in ants’ nests, Guernsey ; R. pulveraria, n. sp., under leaf
sheaths of Agrostis, Cheshire. Mr. Newstead exhibited specimens of
172 species of Coccid^, including nearly all the known British species.
Mr. Gardiner exhibited Coccus cacti and Carteria lacca, the latter with
their products. The secretary, Aspidiotus personatus , VinsoTtia pulchella
and Lecaniu77i olece ; the latter were much broken by some lepidop-
terous (?) larvae which had formed silken tunnels under the scales. The
President exhibited melanic and other forms of Liparis 77ionacha. Mr.
Gregson, varieties of DiaTithccia co7ispersa, which he divided as follows; —
A variety, black and white, little, if any, ochreous-yellow. Port
Patrick, South Scotland ; var. ochrea all the usual white obscured with
ochre, whole insect ochreous ; var. obscurce all light markings obscured
with brown ochre colour, Forres, Moray ; var. oblitercE. whole insect dark
olivaceous-brown, usual markings faint, sometimes quite obliterated,
Shetland ; also Ab7'axas grossula7'iata bred this year. Mr. Walker,
water-colour drawings of Deilephila galii, and Mr. Stott a Noctua
exhibited some time ago which has since been pronounced by Mr.
Barrett to be a variety of EpuTida Uche7iea. — F. N. Pierce, Hoti, Sec.,
143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. Nove77iber 13//?, 1891.
^JOTICES, REVIEWS, Etc.
Melanism and Melanochroism in British Lepidoptera, by
J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. — These papers which have attracted very consider-
able attention, both at home and abroad, have, at the suggestion of some
of our leading entomologists, been reprinted in book form to facilitate
reference. As a contribution to our knowledge on this particular
phase of variation, nothing so comprehensive has been attempted before,
and all the important suggestions relating thereto have been collected
and dealt with. In the Presidential Address to the Ent. Soc. of Lond.,
1890, Lord Walsingham says: — “An especially interesting line of
inquiry, as connected wdth the use and value of colour in insects, is that
which has been followed up in Mr. Tutt’s series of papers on “Melanism
and Melanochroism in British Lepidoptera” in the E7ito77iologisf s
Record. The book is published by Swan, Sonnenschein and Co.
Price 2S. 6d. bound in cloth ; or can be obtained by sending Postal
Order for that amount to Mr. J. W. Tutt, Westcombe Hill, S.E., or to
Mr. A. J. Hodges, 2, Highbury Place, N., with annual subscriptions for
the E7/t. Record. — Ed.
The Macro-lepidoptera of Winchester and the vicinity. By
the Members of the Winchester College Natural History Society.
Published by E. R. Cousans, Gazette Office, St. Benedict’s Square,
Lincoln. Price Sixpence. — Mr. A. W. S. Fisher is primarily respon.
REVIEWS.
307
sible for this welcome addition to our local lists of lepidoptera, and he
acknowledges his indebtedness to our valuable correspondent, the Rev.
G. M. A. Hewett, “ to whom is due the credit of far the greater part of
the work.” The notes added to each species make the list much more
valuable, and, whilst nothing very exceptional is to be noticed, it shows
what good solid work the members of the College society are doing
under Mr. Hewett’s able guidance. I note that Argyn7iis paphia var.
valesina “occurs at Ampfield occasionally,” that MelitcEa arte?nis^
“formerly taken in many localities is now very rare, if not extinct;”
whilst there are no records for Pamphila pa?iiscus, Grapta c-albmn and
Argynnis lathonia since 1871 ; four specimens of Sphi?ix convolvuli are
recorded for 1891, and Orgyia fascelma has been found by the Rev.
Mr. Hewett ; a large percentage of the Geometrce occurs, amongst
which Acidalia rusticata and A^iticlea smuata are the most noticeable,
whilst Phibalapteryx conjunctaria has crept in by error for P. lignata
(In the old edition of Newman these figures were, I believe, transposed,
and hence many erroneous reports have occurred). Dicranura bifida
“larvae are fairly common on poplar,” and Stauropus fagi occurs rarely
at Ampfield. The occurrence of Bryophila gla7idifera “ on walls in the
town” is interesting (are they the wipar form?); whilst of other
Noctu^, Bisulcia ligustri^ Cuspidia lepori7ia, Agrotis cinerea^ Noctua
dahlii^ Cucullia lychnitis and Heliothis dipsaceus are perhaps some of
the most interesting. But those who are interested in local fauna lists
must bay it for themselves. I may add that a local list of birds is in-
cluded in the same little work. — Ed.
Journal OF the Institute of Jamaica, published by the Institute,
Kingston, Jamaica. — The advent ot Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell in Jamaica
has soon been followed by the publication of a quarterly journal by the
Institute. The scientific section appears to have been written entirely
by Mr. Cockerell, and consists of “ Notes of the transformations of some
Jamaica Lepidoptera,” “Additions to the Fauna and Flora of Jamaica ”
and “ Additions to the Museum.” With regard to Leuca7iia unipuncta^
Haw., Mr. Cockerell writes : — “A specimen of this species, referable to the
form aslicfa, Tutt, is in the Museum collections. It was obtained in
Jamaica by Mr. Bowrey. The larva of this insect is the celebrated
army worm of the United States. Its occurrence in Jamaica is very
interesting, as, although it is extremely widespread. Professor Riley,
in the Third Report of the United States p7it077iological Co77i77iission, says
(p. 91) : — ‘The species has not been found, so far as we know, in the
West Indies, though we certainly think that it exists there.’ In the
Northern United States, the damage done by this species to the cereal
crops is enormous. Professor Riley writes {l.c. p. 92) : — ‘ Last year
(1881), for instance, the amount of damage done to a single crop (oats)
in Illinois and Indiana, was not far from three-quarters of a million
■dollars. The magnitude of the interests involved, causes even a slight
percentage of loss to represent a very large sum. This is readily shown
by the tact that in 1880 the value of those crops subject to the ravages
of Leucania, amounted to over one billion seven hundred millions.’
In the Southern States, although it occurs, it is not appreciably
destructive, and probably we have little to fear from it in Jamaica.
The variety asticta is distinguished from the type, by having no white
spot at the base of the reniform stigma.” — Ed.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME IT
15, 45, 53, 80, 158, 223
11, 35, 53, 81, 107, 157, 222, 252, 276
.. 16, 37, 59, 85, 108, 132, 158, 176, 202, 225, 252, 277
48, 120, 306
11, 82, 143, 223
44
12, 54, 82, 98, 150, 201, 221, 274
.. 20, 45, 71, 93, 116, 141, 164, 187, 213, 238, 259, 299
7, 36, 57, 84, 107, 132, 155, 197, 217, 265
10
Bibliograi hv
Current Notes
Notes on Coelecting
Notices, Reviews, etc.
Obituary
Practic \l Hints
Scientific Notes
Societies
Varivtion
Aberration of Arctia hebe
Abundance of Melitaa artemis near Carlisle, 220 ; of larvae, 237 ; of ditto of
Bo?nbyx rubi ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 259
Action of Chloride of Potassium on Gonopt>-ryx rhamni ... ... 201
Additions to the British List : Coleophora leuconipenella, 252 ; Tortrix steme-
riana var. dohrniana ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 221
Aneurism ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 56, 84
Arachnida ... ... ... 15
Assembling" oi Bombyx rubi, 112 \ Sesia sphe^ifomiis ... ... ... 296
Attractiveness of flowers, 41, 64 ; of lavender, 65 ; of sap of elm ... ... 19
Autumnal emergence of Endjotnis versicolor . 296
Ban ded variety of Agriopis aprilina ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 273
Black varieties, of Boarmia roboraria and Liparis monacha, 197 ; Melitcza
aihalia, Tephrosia biuudularia ... ... ... .. ... ... 157
Breeding of Agrotis lunigeta, 208 ; of Sesia sphegiformis from birch, 186 ; of
'I csnio ampa opima ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 294
British rarities : Cucullia scrophularice ... ... ... ... ... ... 63
CnnnihaXism ot Costma a ffijiis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 113
Capture of Acherontia atropos in Isle of Man, 295 ; Agrotis cinerea, 161, 164 ;
A. obsnira {ravida), 132, 185; Apamea ophiogramma, 210; Cnlli.-norrha
hcra,22^\ Cosmia pyralina at Chichester, 211; Cuspidia alni (larvae) in
New Forest, 295 ; Dasvcampa rubiginea at Poole, 296 ; Deilephila hvoruica,
277 ; Dioryctria sglendidella at Wallasey, 296 ; Hadena porphyrea {satiira)
in Cambs, 186 ; Hesperia lineola in Cambs, 163 ; Noctua concolor, 223, 257 ;
Plusia vu n to, 158, 210 ; Scopula decrepitalis at Glasgow, 294 ; Sf^hinx
convolvuli zPj Clevedon, 237, 252 ; Hants, 258, 1. Man, 213 ; Kent, 295 ; Wales 295
Changes of Nomenclature (Continental) ... ... ... ... ... ... 224
COLEOPTERA . 41, 45, 53, 158
Collecting on the Norfolk Broads . 225
V>nx\^nrieXies oi Cvmatophora dupla>is ... ... ... ... ... ... 273
Deposition of ova by Xylina tetripcata ... ... ... ... ... ... 42
Description of larva and pupa of Pachetra leucophc^a ... ... ... ... 59
„ „ Plates, III. 175; VII. 2; VIII 77
Development of wings, imperfect, 15 ; retarded ... ... ... ... ... 15
Diagrams 145, 146, 147, 148
Differentiation of DianAu^cia carpophaga and D. capsophila, 37, 273 ; of Genera
Pachnobia and 'Paniiocampa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12
Difficult j ot setting forelegs ot Agriopis aprilina ... 295
Diptera... 45, 53, 80, 224
Disuse of wings = Apterous females (?) ... ... ... ... ... ... 154
Double-broodedness of Cidaria silaceata, 257, 297 ; of Stauropus fagi (partial)... 277
35,
Double Pupation
Early Spring Notes
Errata 20, 37, 59, 85, 164, 168, 189;
Error in Natural History Museum Nomenclature
Eupithecise, The, in Co. Sligo ... ...
Exhibition (Annual) of the South London Entomological Society
Expansion of wings, 101, 222 ; physiology of
Fauna (lepidopterous) of Dulwich, ,140; Sidmouth, 114; South London 68,
Fecundation before Hybernation ... ... ... ... ... ... 14,
Fen Notes 176, 225, 291
Flowers attractive to moths, 41, 64 ; lavender ... ... ... ... ... 65
Foodplants of Catoptria citra7ia, 138 ; ChcEroca7npa porcellus, 295 ; Homceosoma
senec>onis,^2\ ot ditto 2cn& H. tiebulella ... ... ... ... ... 92
Foodplants (Curious) of Cuspidia aceris, 210 ; Smerinthus ocellatus 186-
Foi-tnight at Rannoch, A ... 281
Fungus, 'J o)'rubia robertsii, nine, on lurxn ot Hepialus virescens ... ... ... 98
Generic Nomenclature and the Acronyctid.^e 82, 104, 150, 201, 221
221
37, 61
259, 302
... 221
... 298
43
101
163
15
CONTENTS.
309
Ge,r\.eTiQ Volition ot Dianthcecia barretti?', oi Polyommattcs bcetica ... ... 275
Genitalia, The value of, in determining species 13, 82
„ The Male 150
,, and representative species of Noctuse ... ... ... ... ... 56
Genus Acronycta, and its Allies 1, 25, 73, 121, 169, 241 ; (Subgenera Notes) 82, 104
Genus Zyg^na, Notes on the 108, 139, 199
Gynandrous specimen of ... ... ... ... ... ... 198
Habits of Plusia orichalcea, 294 ; of Retinia resinana 293
Hatching of Stauropus fagi ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 210
Hemiptera 45, 53, 80, 158
Heredity in Lepidoptera ... ... 193
Hermaphrodite, Coremia ferrngata ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 156
Hints on Hadena porpkyrca {satura) ... ... ... ... ... ... 293
Hybernating larvae, 41, 65 ; ot A paf ur a iris, 139 \ ot lodis vef'naria ... ... 138
Hybernation of Xylina semibrunnea, 16, 43 ; of larvae of Noctua sobrina, 138 ;
of ova of Calocamf^a solidaginis and Oporabia filigra/?i??ia7'ia ... ... 257
Afnph2dasys prodrojfiaria Standi. A. betularia ... ... ... ... 83
Hybrids: Zygcena lonicer(t-filipendiil(z,ll,19l \ Z. lo7iicer(E-trifolii ... ... 107
Hymenoptera 16
Imperfect development of wings of ... h. ... ... 15
Is A/ia7ia fasciu7tciila a. \&v. ot A/, strigilis ? ... ... ... ... ... 8
Killing Lepidoptera 67, 114
Larva- beating in Hants ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 256
Larvae of Cuc7illia lycli7iitis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 212
Larvae in common cocoon, 107 ; of Bo77ibyx quercus pupating in August ... 186
Lateness of the Season ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 186
Lavender attractive to Moths ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
lAtQ-historg ot Go7iopkora derasa ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 67
Light at Swansea, Captures at ... 212
Melanism and Melanochroism in British Lepidoptera ... 3,31,49,77,97, 145
Melanism and Temperature ... ... .... ... ... .:. ... ... 55
Meteorological influences and “ sugaring ” ... ,. ... ... 88, 113
Mites ... ... ... ... 294
Mortality amongst larvae of Chelo7iia caja 163
Moth-trap inquiry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 296
Neuropteea ... ... 291, 292
New Forest Notes ... ... ... 112, 135
Newspaper Entomology 116
Northern range of He77ie7-ophila abruptaria... ... ... ... ... ... 92
'Notes on hreeding dgrons iimigera ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 208
Notes on Apa77iea ophiogra77i77ia, 191 ; Bisto7t hhdaria, 112, 185; Cossus Iig7tipe7‘-
da, 211 ; Epio7ie vespertaria, 211 ; Noctua sobri7ia, 66, 138 ; t>tilbia a7io77iala 209
Notes (Stray) on Certain Lepidoptera ... ... ... ... ... ... 256
Notices and Reviews : —
Annual Report of the Fruit Growers’ Association and Entomological
Society of Ontario, 1890 48
British Noctuae, The, and their Varieties, J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. . ... 48
Journal of the Institute of Jamaica ... ... ... ... ... ... 307
Larva-Collecting and Breeding, Rev. J. Seymour St. John, B.A., F.E.S. . 12
Lepidoptera, The, of the British Islands, C. G. Barrett, F.E.S. ... ... 252
List of the Macro-Lepidoptera of Leicestershire with dates and localities 120
Macro-Lepidoptera of Winchester and the vicinity ... ... ... 306
Melanism and Melanochroism in British Lepidoptera, J. W. Tutt, F.E.S.
277', 306
Monograph of British Hemiptera-Heteroptera, E. Saunders, F.E.S. ... 252
Monograph of the British Pterzphorina, J. W. Tutt, F.E.S 11
Paper “ On the Genital Armature of the species of the Genus Miana,”
F. N. Pierce, F.E.S 11
Report of the South London Entomological Society 35
Special Index to Vol. I. of “ The Entomologist’s Record, etc. ... 11, 35
The Dover Pictorial .. 120
Obituary : — Henry Edwards, 143 ; Robert Gillo, 82 ; Ferd. Grut, 157 ;
Edmund Hanes, 11 ; E. W. Janson ... 223
Observations on Species of Tceriioca77ipid(E ... ... ... ... ... ... 19
Occurrence of Agrotis pyrophila at Sligo, 212 ; Chora Uche7iaria in Ireland, 296 ;
Cuspidia leporhia, Wanstead, 210 ; Eupithecia dodoneata, Sligo, 257 ; PolyoTti-
matus virgaurcca near Beachy Head, 293 ; Strathmopoda pedella in Norfolk 258
Orthoptera 291, 293
310
CONTENTS.
Paper on “ Reproduction and Parthenogenesis,” Notes on a ... ... ... 72
Pins and verdigris ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... is
Probable Double-broodedness of Eupithecia pygmceata ... ... ... ... 258
Proposed New Bye-laws of the South London Entomological Society ... 166
Protective resemblance in larvae of lodis vernaria^ 138, 202 ; Colour- variation
of Diant hcecia conspersa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 275
Report of the South London Entomological Society ... ... ... ... 35
Representative species of Noctuae and the Male Genitalia 56
Retardation in pupal stage producing Variation ... ... ... ... ... 36
Retarded development of wings ... ... ... ... ... ... 15, 54
Retarded Emergences... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 90
Retrospect of a Lepidopterist for 1891 277
Reviews, vide Notices and Reviews.
Rhopalocera, The, of Hereford
Sale of the late W. Bennett’s Collection ...
Sample Post (foreign) for insects
Scandinavian Varieties of British Species ...
Scotch Insects, Rare ...
Single-broodedness (?) of C/(/eamnce ot Acontia iitctuosa
Times of emergence ... ... ... ... ... ... 70,91,
Torrubia robertsii. Fungus on larva of Hepialus virescens
Tortrices, British, Suggestions for New Work on ... ... ... ... 92
Trichoptera 291, 292
Uncertain appearance of certain Lepidoptera 66, 89
Urtication ... ... 296
\j^e Chcerocampa euphorbice ... ... ... ... ... 201
Value of Genitalia in determining species... ... ... ... 13, 56, 82, 150
Variation in British Lepidoptera (F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S.) ... 217
Variation in Noctua f estiva and W. conjiua 266
Ysirmtion ui Colias ccesojiia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 271
Variety of Arg)'nnis aglaia (with engraving) 265
Wing-expansion, 101, 153 ; physiology of ... ... ... .. 101
Wing-structure ... ... ... ... ... ... 274
WiekevL ioxm ot Eupcecilia vectisa7ia 258
INDEX TO LOCALITIES.
Aberdeenshire : — Aberdeen, 61, 180, 253 ; Pitcaple 38, 86, 111, 231
Bedford 206
Berks Newbury, 39, 63, 85, 237, 286 ; Reading 39, 110, 226, 253
Bucks: — (Hepialus veileda in), 135 ; North... ... .. ... ... ... 233
Cambridge, 134, 163, 186, 202 ; Fens, 176, 238 ; Wicken, 176, 291 ; Wisbech, 37, 287
Channel Islands : — Guernsey ... 87, 159
Cheshire ; — Chester, 39 ; Wallasey, 85, 296 ; Warrington 86, 233
Cumberland Carlisle 62
... 136
... 35
... 54
... 59
... 17
257, 297
... 305
305
302
159
276
14
61
201
186
256
57
82
113
257
92
55
55
90
114, 139, 294
98
252,
37,
88,
CONTENTS.
311
Devon : — Dartmoor, 179 ; Exmouth, 62 ; Plymouth, 235 ; Sidmouth, 114 ;
South, 288, 290 ; Tiverton, 254 ; Torquay 285
Dorset : — 235 ; Poole, 296 ; Weymouth 62, 288
Durham: — 291; Darlington ... ... ‘ ... ... 63
Elgin:— 63; Forres 180
Essex: — Epping 179, 212; Marshes, 207, 234, 256; Southend, 179; Wanstead 210
Gloucestershire: — 85; Bristol, 61; Clifton, 184; Tewkesbury 85, 132
Hants : — 235, 256, 291 ; Christchurch, 112 ; Isle of Wight, 159, 181 ; New
Forest, 112, 135, 182, 184, 295 ; Liss, 158 ; Lyndhurst, 182 ; Hornsey, 289 ;
Winchester ... ... 38, 110, 133, 184, 203
Hereford ... 40, 136
Ireland : — Armagh, 87, 182 ; Donegal, 62, 296 ; Howth, 233, 289, 296 ; Kings-
town, 38, 61, 180, 231 ; Sligo, 135, 212, 257, 290, 296, 298 ; Tullamore, 112 ;
Wicklow ... ... ... 62
Isle of Eigg ... ... ... ... 202 Isle of Man ... 207,213, 295
Kent: — Canterbury, 290; Chatham, 111, 232; Deal, 203; Farnboro’, 39, 181,
295; Folkestone, 286 ; Tunbridge Wells ... 229
Lake District ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 205
Lancashire :-Ashton-on-Kibble, 111 ; Liverpool District, 85, 180, 233,255;
St. Anne’s-on-Sea 134, 159, 204, 229, 253, 287
Lincoln 133
London District : — Box Hill, 179 ; Darenth, 234 ; Dulwich, 140 ; Epping, 179,
231, 234 ; Essex Marshes, 207, 234, 256 ; Highbury, 85 ; North London,
179, 254, 287 ; Southend, 179 ; South London, 68, 163 ; Streatham, 232 ;
West Wickham, 39, 87 ; Weybridge, 234 ; Willesden .. ... 291
Norfolk : — The Broads, 225 ; King’s Lynn, 40,42, 258, 284, 290 ; Norwich, 210, 277
Northampton :—Wansford ... 87
Oxon : — Chinnor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 62
Perth: — Rannoch ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 281
Somerset :— Castle Cary, 132; Clevedon 62, 237, 252, 288
Staffs : — Cannock Chase 88
Sussex : — Ashdown Forest, 179; Beachy Head, 293; Chichester, 211 ; Hastings,
41, 288 ; Tilgate 86, 184
Wales:— Ruthin, 63 ; Swansea ... .. 39,134,185,212, 295
Westmoreland 182 Wilts : — Marlborough 286
York : — 38, 134, 183, 253, 285 ; Barnsley, 232 ; Leeds, 200 ; Saltburn 291
INDEX TO CONTRIBUTORS.
Abbott, P. W 155
Adkin, R., F.E.S 90
Adye, J. M., F.E.S 112, 291
Alderson, E. G 235
Alderson, Hope 39, 108, 181, 295, 296
Allen, J. E. R 63
Anderson, J., Jun., F.E.S.... 200, 211
Arkle, J 39, 139, 154, 163
Atmore, E. A., F.E.S. 40, 42, 258, 290
Austin, W. J. 273
Balding, George ... 37, 238, 287
Bankes, Eustace R., M.A., F.E.S. 42, 57
Barren, H. E. 113
Basden-Smith, H. W 235
Battley, A. U. 21, 45, 54, 95, 117,
142, 167, 168, 179, 190, 215,
238, 254, 260, 300
Baxter, Holmes ... 134, 159, 253
Baxter, T 204, 229, 287, 294
Bazett, (Mrs.) E.C., F.E.S. 110, 210, 253
Beales, J H. D 237, 296
Beeching, R. A. Dallas, F.E.S. ... 229
Beutenmuller, Wm. (from “The
Canadian Entomologist ”) ... 143
Bird, C. A 272, 275
Bird, J. F 272
Blachier, Ch 14
Blackburne-Maze, W. P 91
112,
208,
116
136
225
259
286
289
293
106
Bloomfield, W
Bowell, E. W
Bowles, E. Augustus, M.A.
Bradburne, A. A.
Brown, E, W. ... 84, 113
Buckell, E
Buckell, F. J., M.B. 85,90, 92, 101
222, 235, 287
Cammerer, (Miss) C.
“Canadian Entomologist, The ” 150, 152
Cansdale, W. D., F.E.S. ... 19, 68
Carpenter, J. H go
Chapman, T. A., M.D., F.E.S. 1,
12, 25, 40, 55, 59, 73, 83, 121,
150, 169, 198, 201, 210, 241, 296
Clark, J. A., F.E.S 265
Clarke, H. Shortridge, F.E.S. 207,
213, 295
Cockerell, T. D. A., F.Z.S. 15, 45, 197, 201
Collins, J 86, 89, 114, 233
Connon, A. D.
Crane, C. Edward
Croker, A. J., F.E.S.
Cross, W. J
Dennis, G. C.
Dod, F. H. Wolley
Dutton, R
Eastwood, John E., F.E.S.
... Ill
... 295
19, 156, 179
... 67
37, 58
... 205
183, 284
... 112
71
812
CONTENTS,
Horne, A.
Jackson, Geo.
Jager, J.
James, Russell E
Johnson, W. F., M.A., F.E.S.
87,
289
10
Kane, W. F. de V., M.A., M.R.I.A.,
F.E.S. 37, 38, 42, 61, 62, 108,
112, 180, 231, 273, 275,
Kautz, E
Kimber, (Miss) M., F.E.S. 39, 63,
85, 89, 286
Kirby, W. F., F.E.S., F.L.S. ... 104
Lewcock, G. A., 21, 45, 95, 117,
142, 167, 190, 215, 238, 260, 300
Luff, W. A 143
Mackmurdo, W. G. ... 186, 201, 210
Mackonochie, J. A., M.A 133
Macmillan, W.
Maddison, T. 70, 90, 107, 164, 185,
Majendie, W. S. R
INIansbridge, W. ... ... 7.
Marindin, (Miss) A. J.
Mason, J. 62, 64, 210, 237, 252, 273,
288, 294
Maxted, Chas.
108
Mera, A. W
IMilburn, W. ...
36, 257
63
Mitchell, A. T.
273
Moffat, J. Alston ...
... 153, 274
Elliman, E. G 135 |
Farren, William, F.E.S. 67, 107, I
134, 138, 156, 157, 186, 202,
213, 258, 294 ,
Fenn, Charles, F.E.S. 36, 55, 66, j
70, 86, 89, 90, 91, 101, 138, 186, 203 I
Finlay, J 257 |
Foddv, Wm 107 ,
Ford,“A 41, 232, 288
Forsyth, A 62, 84, 288
Fowler, W. W., M.A., F.E.S. 116, 299
Fox, E. C. Dobree, M.A. 84, 85, 89,
132, 285
Freer, R 88, 256, 296
Gayner, F 202
Gerrard, V 139
Go.ss, H., F.L.S., F.E.S. 20, 71,116,
164, 187, 239, 259, 299
Greene, J., M.A., F.E.S 18
Griffiths, Geo. C., F.E.S. ... 61, 184
Grote, Aug. R., A.M, ... 56, 221
Hamm, A. H. 43
Harker, G. A. 85, 91, 180, 233, 255, 296
Harrison, J., F.E.S 232, 257
Hart, G. V 296
Helps, J. A 140
Henderson, T. J 58, 294
Hewett, G.M.A., M.A. 38, 57, 65,
108, 110, 133, 138, 139, 184, 202,
203,212, 256
Hewett, W 211
Hill, Henry A., F.E.S 281
Hill, John 273
Hodges, Albert J. 23, 87, 155, 159, 181
Hodgkinson, J. B., F.E.S. 7, 10,17,
18, 62, 92, 111, 182, 198, 220
Holland, W 7, 39, 66, 90, 226
Hollis, Geo., F.E.S 39, 156
61, 180, 253
... 37
41
135, 256
182
132
291
114
200
158, 258
Newnham, F. B., M.A
Onslow, Douglas A....
Parry, J 108,
Pierce, F. N., F.E.S. 216, 264, 293,
Pitman, M. A.
Porritt, G. T., F.L.S., F.E.S., 201,
210,
Postans, R. D.
Prideaux, R. M. ... 54, 220,
Prout, Louis B.
Quail, A 207, 211,
Ravnor, Gilbert H., M.A. 17, 113,
Reid, Wm., F.E.S. 15, 38, 56, 57,
63, 86, 92, 103, 108, 111, 113,
231, 273, 276,
Riding, W. S., M.D 275,
Robbins, R. W
Robertson, R. B., 39, 134, 157, 185,
212,
Robinson, Arthur, B.A., F.E.S. 36,
70, 88, 184, 186, 272,
Robson, John E., F.E.S. .. 84,
Rowley, R. R. ...
Russ, Percy H. 135, 212, 257, 290,
Salwey, Reginald E., F.E.S.
Sellon, Reginald S
Sharp, David, M.B., F.R.S. , F.L.S.,
F.Z.S., F.E.S
Simes, J. A 182, 185,
Skinner, Henry (Member of
American Ent. Soc.)
Smith, Gerard
Smith, W. Bond
Smith, W.W.
Spiller, A. J.
Steuart, D. H. S., 15, 20, 154, 185,
197, 199, 206, 259,
Still, John N., F.E.S. ... 179,
Stott, J. H
Tarbat, J. E., M.A. ...
Thornewill, C. F., M.A., F.E.S.
209, 220, 233,
Thurnall, A
TugweU, W. H., M.Ph.S. ... 8,
Turner, H. J. ... 141, 165,
Tutt, J. W., F.E.S. 3, 9, 12, 13, 14,
17, 23, 24, 31, 35, 43, 44, 47, 48,
49, 53, 59, 63, 72, 77, 80, 82, 94,
97, 103, 107, 109, 116, 119, 120,
132, 139, 141, 145, 157, 158, 163,
166, 176, 186, 188, 213, 214, 219,
221, 222, 223, 237, 239, 252, 266,
276, 277, 296, 298, 302, 306,
Tyrer, J Ill,
Vaughan, J. Williams, Jun. 8, 54,
Vipan, J. A. M
Wainwright, Colbran J
Walker, S 38, 134, 183,
Warren, James, Jun. ... 198,
Webb, Sydney 37, 92, 199, 221,
Weir, J. Jenner, F.E.S., F.L.S. ...
Wells, C. M
White, F. Buchanan, M.D., F.L.S.
82
Wylie, J 66,
Youens, Clement T.
the
15,
198
288
290
305
210
291
67
257
112
231
114
293
290
293
295
296
297
271
298
92
163
93
212
114
103
199
193
62
295
254
98
67
294
16
189
166
307
232
198
87
305
253
201
298
189
87
217
138