Skip to main content

Full text of "The Entomologist's record and journal of variation"

See other formats


Tv.S='ctS 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S  RECORD 

AND 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


Edited   by 

J.   V^.    TUTT,    F.E.S. 


PRICE     7s.    6d, 
Special  Index,  Is. 


LONDON: 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Row,  E.C. 

BERLIN: 
R.   FRIEDLANDER  &  SOHN,  11,  Carlstrasse, 


AMERICA: 

PH.  HEINSBERGER,  9,  First  Avenue, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


PREFACE   TO   VOL.   V. 

At  the  conclusion  of  our  fifth  vohnne,  we  beg  to  thank  our  now 
large  circle  of  subscribers,  both  for  their  kind  personal  support,  and  for 
the  help  and  sympathy  which  tliey  have  shown  us  by  introducing 
The  Entomologist's  Record  to  their  friends. 

We  have  attempted  to  make  the  magazine  a  real  desideratum 
to  entomologists,  by  discussing  such  subjects  as  are  from  time  to 
time  brought  under  their  notice ;  by  publishing  collecting  notes,  which 
shall  give  a  fair  idea  of  what  is  being  done  from  month  to  month  in 
various  parts  of  the  country  ;  by  informing  our  readers  of  the  important 
articles  and  records  in  other  magazines,  attempting  thereby  to  separate 
in  some  measure  the  wheat  from  the  chaff  ;  by  attempting  to  lead  those 
who  have  but  little  opportunity  and  time,  to  take  a  scientific  interest 
in  their  work.  In  doing  this,  it  has  been  somewhat  difficult  to  steer 
safely  between  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  to  avoid  falling  into  the  drivel 
which  so  often  goes  by  the  name  of  popular  science,  or,  on  the  other 
hand,  rising  to  those  ethereal  heights,  where  abstruse  subjects  are 
wrapped  in  mystifying  verbiage,  and  are  not  understanded  by  the 
multitude. 

When  The  Entomologist'' s  Record  was  started,  it  was  felt  that  de- 
scriptive monogi-aphs  of  foreign  insects  and  of  little  known  British 
Orders,  were  not  altogether  suital)le  for  a  monthly  magazine  ;  that 
entomologists  wanted  a  monthly  fillip,  the  material  composing  which 
should  be  such  that  any  fairly  educated  man  or  woman  with  a  bent  for 
natural  history  could  understand  it,  and  possibly  learn  something  from 
it.  This  we  venture  to  say  we  have  provided.  The  readers  of  The 
Entomologist's  Record  have  nothing  presented  to  them  that  does  not  bear 
directly  on  their  own  work,  and  are  kept  au  conrant  with  what  is  going 
on  in  the  entomological  world. 

The  fact  that  we  wish  to  make  the  magazine  as  far  as  possible  in- 
structive and  its  contents  scientifically  accurate  explains  our  position, 
where  the  editorial  lash  has  perhaps  fallen  somewhat  heavily.  If  we 
have  injured  the  personal  feelings  of  anyone  we  are  sincerely  sorry,  but 
there  are  times  when  ignorance  must  be  exposed.  When  a  man  mis- 
states facts  and  mis-leads  his  readers,  he  is  doing  he  knows  not  what 
harm.  The  essence  of  good  work  in  any  branch  of  science  is,  that  the 
writer  should  collect  and  digest  his  facts  for  himself  first,  and  not  write 
on  a  subject  until  he  has  mastered  it.  A  writer  is  a  teacher.  If  the 
subject  we  profess  to  study  is  to  advance,  the  youngsters  must  begin 
where  we  leave  off,  and  we  are  doing  the  younger  generation  of  natural- 
ists a  serious  wrong,  when  those  whom  they  look  up  to  as  their 
masters  to-day,  teach  them  error  for  truth.  Ignorance  is  no  excuse 
for  this,  and  we  shall  expose  it  wherever  we  see  that  it  is  doing  harm. 

In  our  younger  days,  it  was  our  greatest  trouble  to  find  out  the  most 
recent  views  and  facts  connected  with  entomological  work.  The 
material  we  want  is  scattered  over  perhaps  three  or  four  sets  of  magazines, 
and  as  many  sets  of  Transactions,  which  in  our  young  days  we  can  ill- 
afford  to  buy.  Our  Chapters  on  the  Life-history  of  a  Lepidopterous 
Insect  have  been  compiled,  with  a  view  to  meet  this  want.  If  our  col- 
lector readers  think  them  dry,  they  must  consider  what  a  large  share  of  the 
magazine  they  usu;illy  get.  We  can  only  make  them  as  readable  as  jDossible, 
without  altering  the  facts  of  the  science.  We  all  began  by  collecting. 
In  old  days,  the  collector  rarely  developed  into  a  scientist ;  probably  not 
one  per  cent,  became  imbued  with  a  desire  to  know  anything  of  the 


PREFACE. 


insects  tliey  collected.  But  tlie  spread  of  education  has  changed  that 
entirely  ;  many  of  the  papers  read  before  the  various  societies  scattered 
over  the  country  show  a  knowledge  and  insight  into  our  science  which 
would  have  been  imi^ossible  a  few  years  ago,  when  the  scientific  side  of 
the  study  was  rarely  presented  and  when  men  collected  for  years 
probably,  before  the  necessity  of  thinking  came  home  to  them.  It  is 
work  of  this  kind  that  The  Entomologist's  Record  sets  itself  to  encourage 
and  to  foster. 

We  are  anxious  to  keep  British  entomologists  in  touch  with  those 
of  similar  tastes  in  various  parts  of  the  world.  We  do  not  think  this 
is  best  done  by  publishing  articles  on  work  done,  or  descriptions  of 
species  from  clistant  parts  of  the  world ;  these  must  be  studied  by  the 
specialist  who  will  buy  the  books  he  needs.  But  among  the  large  amount 
of  material  which  passes  through  our  hands  (and  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
larging our  knowledge  of  what  is  being  done  in  different  parts  of  the 
world,  and  thus  giving  ourselves  a  broader  view  of  the  subject,  we 
exchange  with  all  foreign  magazines  that  will  exchange  with  us),  there 
are  often  articles  or  books  which  contain  information  with  which  the 
British  collector  should  be  acquainted.  These  we  discuss  as  occasion 
demands  from  our  own  British  standpoint,  and  we  feel  satisfied  that  in 
so  doing,  we  interest  all  our  readers.  Glowing  accounts  of  how  to  catch 
Purple  Emperors  and  Jersey  Tigers  may  interest  us  occasionally,  but 
we  cannot  contini;ally  get  up  an  excitement  on  such  subjects. 

One  other  matter  we  would  mention,  and  in  this  we  ask  for  the  aid 
of  all  right-thinking  entomologists.  Britishers  have  been  described  as 
peculiar  in  their  tastes  and  insular  in  their  habits,  with  regard  to  matters 
entomological,  and  not  without  good  reason.  We  have  no  sympathy 
with  the  man  who  prefers  to  remain  ignorant  because  he  is  afraid  to 
have  foreign  insects  in  his  possession  for  comparison  with  British,  lest 
he  should  be  thought  a  cheat.  Those  men  who  study  entomology  as  a 
science  are  well-known ;  they  are  above  susjncion.  At  the  same  time, 
our  insular  prejudices  have  placed  a  high  (if  artificial)  money  value  on 
rare  and  local  British  species.  Why  should  they  not  have  this  value  if 
they  are  thought  worth  it  ?  That  this  is  the  case  is  proved  by  the 
fact  that  the  value  is  fixed  in  British  sale-rooms.  But  this  artificial 
money  value  has  led  often  to  wholesale  fraud,  and  we  shall  continue  to 
protect  our  science  by  exposing  such  fraud  wherever  we  find  it  existent, 
not  so  much  from  a  sympathy  with  the  victims,  who  sometimes  appear 
to  be  pleased  when  victimised  and  extremely  cross  when  a  dirty  piece 
of  work  is  exposed,  but  on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  introduction  of 
foreign  sj)ecimens  as  British,  falsifies  the  data  on  which  our  scientific 
work  is  based,  and  disseminates  error  where  we  want  to  disseminate 
truth.  Ignorance  and  error  are  the  two  greatest  enemies  of  Science. 
Science  is  the  well  of  absolute  truth — all  her  devotees  must  seek  to  drink 
from  it. 

We  are  now  on  the  threshold  of  another  year,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  another  volume.  To  our  subscribers  and  well-wishers  we  would 
say,  the  success  of  the  Magazine  simply  means  a  better  article  for  your 
money,  for  we  wish  to  put  into  the  Magazine  the  whole  of  the  funds 
received  for  it.  To  our  friends  Dr.  Chapman  and  Dr.  Buckell  our  best 
thanks  are  due,  for  kindly  help  and  often  valualtle  guidance.  That  the 
Sixth  Volume  will  find  a  general  welcome  from  all  classes  of  Entomo- 
logists is  the  most  earnest  wish  of 

YOUE  EDITOR. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  V 


FAOB 

Current  Notes 24,44,71,100,149,176,199,217,247,268 

Notes  ON  Collecting 14,48,74,102,153,180,204,224,252,268,296 

Notices,  Reviews,  etc 22,75,200,221,276,306 

Obituary  103,209,248 

Practical  Hints  45,71,200,275,305 

Scientific  Notes  and  Observations  ...  12,  70,  95,  146,  172,  195,  218,  249,  294 

Societies  19,55,80,105,133,156,182,204,229,254,276,307 

Variation  12,45,98,152,175  220 

Aberrations  of  various  Butterflies    ..         ...         .  .         ...         ...         12 

Additions  to   the  British  List: — Argyresthia  illuminatella,  73;    Cataplectica 
farreni,  217  :  Sesia  conopiformis,  217  ;  Aleurodes  avellanae,  178  ;  A.  spiraeae, 
100;  Anisolahis  annulipes,  177;  Degeeria  dalii,  178;  Diastata  hasalis,  74  • 
D.  fumipennis,  73  ;  D.  ohscurella,  74  ;  Mallota  eristaloides,  278 ;  Nemoraca 
quadraticornis,  178;  Trioza  centranthi  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...   248 

Addresses,  Abstract  of  the,  of  the  President  of  the  Entomological  Society     55 
„  „  „        South  London  Entomo- 

logical and  Natural  History  Society  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ..     46 

Advancing  Backward  :  A  Note  on  Melanism,  etc.         ...         ...         ...         ...   175 

Agrotis  agathina,  Contribution,  A,  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Earlier  Stages  in 

the  Life-history  of  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...   169 

American  Entomology,  Glimpses  at  ...         ...         ...         ...         75 

Among  the  Ancients  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...   123 

A  New  Method  of  Relaxing  Insects  305 

Antiques,  Two  Entomological         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...   190 

Apterous  Females  and  Winter  Emergence  96,  147 

Autumn  Season  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  The  268 

Blight 14,  218 

Burnej' and  St.  John  Sales,  The  ...         ...         74 

Butterfly  Catching  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  Mont  Blanc       ,. 233 

Capture  and  Habits  of  Cafaplecftca /a?Te7ii,  Notes  on  the  ...         ...         ...  249 

Classical  Names,  The  Pronunciation  and  Accentuation  of      ...         60 

Classification,  Notes  on  Dr.  Buckell's  Paper  on 6 

Coleoptera     ...     20,52,156;  at  Ipswich  in  1893  52 

Collecting  at  Cromer 252 

Continental  Lepidoptera  sold  as  British 28 

Coremia  ferrugaria  (liA-w.)  And  C.  unidentaria  (Haw.)       ...  ...  ...       m^   115 

Corrections  (see  Errata) 

Danais  archippus,  Anosia plexippus,  or  What?      ...        i 

Dealers  and  Stealers   ...         92 

Descriptionof  plates:  I,  35;  II,  132;  E,  87;  F,  103;  G  257 

Determining  Species,  On  an  Additional  Method  for      8 

Distribution  of  2'mea  msfnjjwnctelja,  Notes  on  the  219 

"Ditty,  A"        22 

Double-brooded  Species :  Clielonia  plantaginis      ...         ...     14 

Early  Appearances      ...         ...         ...         ...     74 

Easter  in  Connemara 224 

Eggs,  On,  as  helping  to  determine  Natural  Affinities    ...  142,   195,   196,  250 

Eggs,  Ichneumoned,  of  Bo»i%«  rti6i  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  253 

Entomological  Trip  to  Forres,  An ...  270 


CONTENTS.  V. 

PAGE 

Entomology  at  Eainham,  Essex,  in  1894 281 

Erebia  epiphron  and  its  named  varieties 161 

Errata 48,111,146,218,297,294 

Euchloc,  A  probably  New  Species 97,146,172,219 

Evolution,  The,  of  The  Lepidopterous  Pupa         25 

Exhibits  of  1893  at  The  York  and  District  Field-Naturalists'  Society  ...     13 

Fen  Notes  180,  302 

Glimpses  at  American  Entomology  75 

Gratuitous  Offer,  The  Kesult  of  a 48 

Hair-tufts  and  Androconia  in  jBwsiroma  reficittato  ...       5 

Have  we  Two  Indigenous  Species  of  Ewc/aoe?      97,146,172,219 

Hybernate  ?  Does  Cucullia  chamomillae       ...         ..         ...         ...         ...         ...     95 

Ichneumons,  Exhibit  of         19 

Irish  Lepidoptera,  Variation  in       ...     47 

Larva  of  ^rctia  caja.  On  the  (with  chromo  plates)  11,32,131 

"  Lead  us  not  into  Temptation."     Pt.  11 36 

Lepidopterous  Pupa,  Evolution  of  ...         ...         ...     25 

Life  History,  The,  of  a  Lepidopterous  Insect,  etc.,  65,  89,  113,  137,  165,  192, 

210,  241,  289 
Life-Histories,  Notes  on  the,  etc:  Agrotis  agathina,  169;  Melanippe rivata  and 

M.  sociata,  294:;  Nyssia  hispidaria,  80,  96  ;  Ocneria  dispar  ...         ...         ...  236 

Melanism  in  Greenland         ...         ...         ...         ...  ..         ...         ...         ...  153 

New  (?)  Method  of  Relaxing  Insects  305 

New  Style  of  Butterfly  Net 71 

Night  Work,  An  Idyll  30 

Notes  of  tlie  Season  ...  (1893)  15,  51;  Spring  Notes,  102,  153;  Season,  182, 

204,  297  ;  From  the  Books  of  the  Exchange  Club  Baskets    ...     224,  272,  297 
Notes: — On  Nyssia  hispidaria,  80,  96;  Some  varieties  of  British  Rhopalocera, 
98;  the  Breeding   of    Lyclopides  palaemon,  etc.,  174;  the  variation  of 
Spilosoma  mendica,  etc.     ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  185 

Notices  of  Papers,  vide  also  "  List  of  Papers  read  before  Societies  " 

Hessian  Fly,  On  the,  F.  V.  Theobald,  M.A.,  F.E.S 217 

On  the  Earlier  Stages  of  the  Nepticulse,  Dr.  Wood  199 

Notices  and  Eeviews: — 

Abstract  of  Proceedings  of  the  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural 

History  Society,  for  the  years  1892  and  1893 203 

Effect,  The,  of  External  Influences  upon  Development,  Aug.  Weismann, 

M.D.,  Ph.  D.,  D.C.L 222 

European  Butterflies  and  Moths,  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.E.S 149 

Forteckning  ofver  Macrolepidoptera  fauna  i  Finland  efter  iir,  1869,  by 

EnzioReuter  276 

Genus  Acronycta,  The,  and  its  Allies,  T.  A.  Chapman  ,M.D.,  F.E.S.  ...  149 
Hero  of  Esthonia,  The,  and  other  Studies,  etc.,  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.E.S.    ...  248 

Kentish  Notebook,  The  ...         ...         ...         150 

New  Mexico  College  of  Agriculture,  Bulletin  10,  September,  1893        ...     79 

New  Mexico  Entomologist,  The  ...         150 

Eandom  Eecollections  of  Woodland,  Fen  and  Hill,  J.  W.  Tutt,  F.E.S.     22 

Ee-issue  of  Hiibner's  "  Sammlung  exotischer  Schmetterlinge  " 149 

Eeport  of  The  Lancashire  and  Cheshire  Entomological  Society 178 

Social  Progress,  1894       306 

Species  des  Hymenopteres  d'  Europe  et  d'  Algerie,  Moiis.  E.  Andre  ...  221 
The  International  Journal  of  Microscopic  and  Natural  Science,  1894  ...  307 
Transactions  of  the  City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History 

Society,  1893 79 

Transactions  of  the  Leicester  Literary  and  Philosophical  Society,  vol.  iii., 

pt.  viii.,  1894 306 

Twenty-Fourth    Annual    Eeport    of    the    Entomological    Society    of 

Ontario,  1893  75 

Victorian  Butterflies  and  how  to  Collect  them,  E.  Anderson  and  F.  P. 

Spiy 221 

Woodside,  Burnside,  Hillside  and  Marsh,  J.  W.  Tutt,  F.E.S.      ...      101,  200 
Obituary: — T.    Henderson,    44:  Wm.  Machin,  209;   Prof.  G.  J.  Eomanes, 

176  ;  J.  Jenner  Weir,  F.Z.S.,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.  (with  plate) 103 

"  Our  Photugraph,"  PL  G 257 

Pairing  Moths  in  Captivity,  On       275 


vi.  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

PoETEY :— A  Ditty,  22 ;  Song  of  the  Seasons,  232  ;  Spring,  130;  To  A.  E.  G.     70 

Probable  New  Species  of  Euchloe,  A 97,146,172,219 

Queries •••         •■  •••   297 

Random  Notes  on  Zi/3aewa  exuZans  and  its  Variations 258 

'Rare  iorm  oi  l-ATV a  oi  Achei-ontia  atropos 220 

Earities,  Captures  and  Eecords  of,  Argyresthia  illwminateUa,  73 ;  Callimorpha 
hera,  254;   Caradrina  cumbigiui,  268,  274,  303;     Catapledica  farreni,  217; 
Catocala  fraxini, '2i8 ;   Deilephila  Uvornica,  224  ;   Deiopeia  pulchella  (1892), 
156;  Heliothis  armiger,  268,  274;    Heliothis  peltiger,  268,  274;    Laphygma, 
exigua,    229,    268,    297;    Leucania  albipuncta,    224,    229,    268,    274,    303; 
Pachetra  leucophaea  217  ;  Pieris  daplidice,  217  ;  Plusia  nioneta,  217  ;  Sesia 
conopiformis,  217;  Sphinx  pinastri,  217  ;  Stiqmonota  ravulana         ...  ...   217 

Eeference  Summary  to  Plates  in  "The  Genus  Aci-onyda &nd  its  Allies"      ...  308 

Eelaxing  Insects,  New  Method  of 305 

Eemarks,  Some,  having  Special  Eeference  to  ^rji/nnis  jjop/iia  46 

Eeminiscences  of  the  late  Wm.  Machin 248 

Eetrospections  and  Forecasts  41,68,  127 

Eeviews,  See  Notices  and  Eeviews 

Sales,  The,  "  Burney  "  and  "  St.  John,"  74  ;  Sale  Notes  152 

Season,  Notes  of  the  ...  (1893)  15,  51;  Spring,  102,  153;  Seasons,  182,  204, 

224,  272,  297 
Short  Notes  from  the  Books  of  the  Exchange  Club  Baskets    ...         224,  272,  297 

RoCIETIES  ' 

,    Birmingham  Entomological  Society 20,  57,  106,  136,  205,  255,  279 

Cambridge  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society 107 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society,  21,  58,  80, 

109,  159,  184,  206,  230,  255,  280 
Entomological  Society  of  London       ...  19,  55,  87,  105,  133,  156,  183,  277 

Herts  Natural  History  Society  and  Field  Club       158 

Lancashire  and  Cheshire  Entomological  Society 21,108,279,307 

Leicester  Literary  and  Philosophical  Society;  Entomological  Section, 

88,  136 

Penarth. Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society       58 

South  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society,   19,  56,  105, 

135,  157,  204,  229,  254,  279 

York  and  District  Field  Naturalists' Society  13,307 

Yorkshire  Naturalists'  Union  (Entomological  Section) 307 

Sound  produced  by  J^eiM-owia  popaZari's       148 

Specific  Distinctness  of  Euchlo'6  cardamines  and  E.  turritis  (97),  146  (172,  219) 

Ten  Days  at  Wicken  Fen      180 

Two  Entomological  Antiques  190 

Whitsuntide  on  the  Cotswolds         155 


INDEX    TO    LOCALITIES. 

Aberdeenshire 74,96,182,273 

Bucks      51 

Cambs :— Wicken        180,  302 

Courmayeur      233 

Cumberland :— Keswick         102,226,301 

Derbyshire  :—Bakewell  74,  299 

Devon  :— North,   17;    South,  254;    Honitou,  225,  272;    Horrabridge,  224; 

Plymouth 16 

Dorset!— Portland,  301;  Weymouth  228,298,300 

Durham:— 273;  Hartlepool 297 

Essex:— Eainham,  155,  204,  226,  281;  Southend 227,298 

Gloucestershire: — Cheltenham,  102,  154;  Cotswolds,  155;  Lj'dney,  153,  182: 

Tewkesbury  154,  225,  273 

Hants  :— 102,  304,  305  ;  Isle  of  Wight,  224,  227,  229,  268,  274,  297,  303 ;  New 

Forest,  154,  226,  227,  301 ;   Southampton,  52,  301 ;  Winchester 204 

Hereford  102 

Herts       156 

Ireland:— 204;  Connemara,  224;   Dublin,  299 ;   Enniskillen,  226;   Galwaj', 

154;  Kingstown,  154;  JMonaghan,  154;  Sligo,  298;  Waterford...  .'..  153 
Isle  of  Wight :— Freshwater,  229,  268,  297,  303;  Sandowu       ...         224,  227,  274 


CONTENTS.  vii. 

PAGE 

Kent :— Deal,  273,  300 ;  Dover,  272  ;  Folkestone,  272 ;  Lee,  224,  226 ;  Roches- 
ter and  Bheerness  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...     51 

Lancashire: — Liverpool        ...         297 

London  District  ...  296 

Norfolk  :— Cromer,  252,  297  ;  King's  Lynn  52,1.55,225,272,299 

Northumberland  :— Morpeth  155,226,273,301 

Oxon       ...         ...         ...         ..     51 

Scotland  :— 272,  273  ;  Forres,  270  :  Glasgow  District,  272  ;  Linlithgow,  300  ; 

Montrose 301 

Somerset :— 51 ;  Bath,  153,  182,  225  ;  Clevedon 155,  224,  225,  299 

Staffs:— Cannock  Chase,  153;  Hugeley      102,225,273 

Suffolk  :— Coast,  225  ;  Ipswich,  52 ;  Tuddenham 181,303 

Surrey: — Dorking,  52;  Weybridge...         ...         74 

Sussex  :— Brighton,  304,         156 

Wales:— Llangollen,  224;  Tenby,  299;   Swansea  154,225 

Yorkshire;— 15,  300;  Doncaster      225,298 


PAPERS    BEAD    BEFORE    SOCIETIES,    NOTICED    AND    RE  i' IE  WED 

DURING    1894. 

BlEMINGHAM    ENTOMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY  : — 

Notes  on  the  Migration  of  Insects,  G.  H.  Kenrick,  F.E.S 136 

On  the  Genus  Hadena,  P.  W.  Abbott 205 

Wayside  Notes  of  a  Naturalist,  Mr.  Urich 21 

Cambridge  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society  : — 

Hair-tufts   and   Androconia   in  Eustromia  reticulata,  T.  A.  Chapman, 

M.D..  F.E.S 5,108 

Parthenogenesis  in  Insects,  F.  V.  Theobald,  M.A.,  F.E.S 108 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society  : — 

Butterfly-catching    in    the    Neighbourhood    of    Mont    Blanc,    J.   W. 

Tutt,  F.E.S 233 

Coremia,  ferrugaria  (Haw.)  and  C.  unidentaria  (Haw.),  Louis   B.  Prout, 

F.E.S Ill 

Further  Notes  on  Selenia  tetralanaria,  A.  W.  Bacot  ...         ...         ...  231 

Life-history  of  Ocnerm  citspar,  C.  Nicholson,  F.E.S.  236 

Notes  on  iVi/ssia /mpidaria,  A.  F.  Bayne         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...     80 

Notes  on  the  Habits  of  Brephos  notha,  A.  U.  Battley  ...         ...         ...  159 

Notes  on  the  Ova  of  Selenia  tetralunaria,  A.  W.  Bacot       ...         ...      207,  231 

Notes  on   the    Parallelism   in   the    Earlier    Stages    between   Eugonia 

querdnaria  Sind  E.  autumnaria,  F.  J.  Bvlc^qU,  M.'B.      ...         ...         ...  231 

On  Assembling  SeZema  tetraZuwaria,  A.  W.  Bacot    ...         ...         ...         ...   160 

On  Butterfly-Pupae  and  the  lines  of   Evolution  which  they  suggest, 

T.  A.  Chapman,  MD.,  F.E.S 160 

Pronunciation  and  Accentuation  of  Classical  Names,  Capt.  B.  Blaydes 

Thompson      60 

Random    Notes    on    Collecting    Lepidoptera  in   Scotland,   Henry   A. 

Hill,  F.E.S 58 

Entomological  Society  of  London  :  — 

Further  Observations  on  the  Tea-Bugs  (Helopeltis)  of  India,  C.  O.  Water- 
house,  F.E.S.,  etc 20 

Notes    on    some   Lepidoptera   received   from  the    Neighbourhood   of 

Alexandria,  G.T.  Bethune- Baker,  F.E.S 20 

On  the  Phylogeny  of  the  Pierinae,  etc.,  Dr.  F.  A.  Dixey,  F.E.S. ...        20,     87 
Rhyncophorus  Coleoptera  of  Japan,  Part  III,  Scolytidae,  W.  F.  H.  Bland- 
ford,  F.E.S 20 

Some  Notes  on  those  Species  of  Micro-lepidoptera  allied  to  Micropteryx, 

etc.,  T.  A.  Chapman,  M.D.,  F.E.S 87 

Lancashire  and  Cheshire  Entomological  Society: — 

Correlations  of  Plants  and  Insects,  R.  Newstead,  F.E.S 108 

Introductory  Remarks  on  the  Genus  Vanessa  and  its  Allies,  C.  H.  Schill     21 

The  New  Entomology,  W.  E.  Sharp 109 

South  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society: — 

Notes  on  Common  Insects,  F.  Enoch 157 


CONTENTS. 


INDEX  TO    CONTRIBUTORS. 


PAGE 

Abbott,  P.  W 303 

Allen,  J.  E.  R 224 

Anon...  ...         ...         36 

Atmore,  E.  A.,  F.E.S 52 

Bankes,  E.  R.,  M.A.,  F.E.S.       218,  219 
Basden-Smith,  H.  W.,  M.A.        ...     16 

Battley,  A.  U 21 

Bayne,  A.  F 80,  200 

Beales,  J.  H.  D 14 

Bedford,  F.  P 195,  250 

Brown,  E.  W.,  Capt.  ...     47 

Brown,  H.  R.,  M. A.,  F.E.S.  ...     92 

Buckell,  F.  J.,  M.B.,     1,22,45,74, 

111,  152,    161,    172,    190,    200, 

221,  276 
Burrows,  C.  R.  N.  Rev.      200,  204, 

220,  275,  281 
Chapman,  T.  A.,  M.D.,  F.E.S.      5, 

11,  25,  32,  131,  174 

Cowie,  W 14 

Crass,  0.  H 100 

Cross,  W.J 224 

Esam,  W.  W 156 

Farren,  W.,  F.E.S 249 

Fenn,  C,  F.E.S 226,  273 

Finlay,  J 45 

Fowler,  W.  W.  Rev.,  M.A.,  F.E.S.        19 
Gibbs,  A.E.,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.  ...156 

Goss,  H.,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S 19 

Greer,  T 182 

Gunning  M.,  M.D 301 

Hewett,  G.   M.  A.  Rev.,  M.A. 

22,   30,  130,  204,  232 

Hewett,  W 13,  15,  297 

Higgs,  M.  Stanger,  F.E.S.  ...182 

Hodges,  Albert  J.  41,  68,  127,  180, 

229,  268,  297 

Home,  A.,  F.E.S., 96,  182 

Johnson,  A.  J 14,  198 

Johnson,  J.  Gilbert  ...      304,305 

Kane,  W.  F.  de  V.,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A., 

F.E.S 148 

Keays,  A.  Lovell,  F.E.S 48 

King,  Thos,  W 52 

Kipping,  S 51 

Kirby,  W.  F.,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.  6,  146 

Mason,  J 45 

Moberley,  J.  C,  M.A.         ...        52,  302 
Morley,  Claude        52 


PAGE 

Mutch,  J.  P.,  F.E.S.  ...      270,  305 

Nesbitt,  A 146 

Newnham,   F.B.,  M.A.  12,  14,  97, 

146,  148,  219 
lSricholson,C.,F.E.S.  21, 236, 252, 253,  297 

Page,  H.  E 79 

Pickard-Cambridge,  O.  Rev.,  M.A.     74 
Pierce,  F.  N.,  F.E.S.  ...        21,  198 

Porritt,  G.  T.,  F.L.S.,  F.E  S.        ...  254 

Porter,  W.  E.  H 204 

Pratt,  J.        198 

Prout,  L.  B.,  F.E.S.     Ill,  115,  147, 

224,  227,  274,  294 

Quail,  Ambrose       296,308 

Richardson,  N.  M.,  B.A.,  F.E.S.  ...  228 
Riding,  W.  S.,  M.D.,  F.E.S.  8,  169, 

198    221 

Russell,  S.  G.  C,  F.E.S .'253 

Scarfe,  B 15 

Sequeira,  J.  S.  M.R.C.S 248 

Sheldon,  W.  G 17 

Shipp,  J.W 98 

Smith,  W.  W 149 

Spiller,  A.  J.  51 

Still,  J.  N.  Major,  F.E.S.  ...     95 

Stones,  Wilfrid       14 

Studd,  E.  F 96 

Tait,  R.,  Jun 274 

Thompson,  B.  Blaydes,  Capt.     60,  148 
Thornewill,   C.   F.    Rev.,    M.A., 

F.E.S 48 

ThurnalJ,  A.  303 

Turner,  H.  J.,  F.E.S 19 

Tutt,  J.  W.,  F.E.S.,  24,  28,  44,  45, 
46,  49,  65,  71,  75,  89,  100,  102, 
103,  113,  123,  137,  146,  149, 
153,  165,  173,  175,  176,  182, 
185,  192,  196,  199,  203,  209, 
210,   217,    221,    233,    241,    247, 

250,    257,    258,    268,    289,  306 

Vivian,  H.  W.,  F.E.S 70 

Wainwright,  Colbran  J.  ...        20,  155 
Whittle,  F,  G 227 


[N.B. — The  names  of  the  contributors  to 
the  "  Short  collecting  notes  from  the  Exchange 
club  books "  have  not  been  indexed,  nor  have 
those  of  Secretaries  who  send  reports  of  Societies] . 


LIST  OF  PLATES. 


Plate  1. — Varieties  of  Larvae  of  Arctia  caja;  description  of  plate.  No.  2,  page   35- 
Plate  2.—        „  „  „  „  No.  5       „     132. 

Plate  E. — Photo-plate  of  pupae  of  Microjsteryo!;  „  No.  3       „        87.  y 

Plate  F. — Photograph  of  tlie  late   J.  Jenner    Weir,  F.Z.S.,  F.L.8.,  F.E.S. ;    de-   ^ 

scriptioii  of  plate.  No.  4,  103. 
Plate  G. — Photographof  group  of  Entomologists,  taken  in  Liverpool;  description  t^ 

of  plate,  No.  11,  page  257. 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 

(Lepidoptera  by  G.  B.  Routledge,  F.E.S. ;  other  Orders  by 
G.  A.  Lewcock.) 


o-*-/ 


The  Entomologist's  Record  and  Journal  of  Variation. 


VOL.    V. 


SPECIAL     INDEX, 

Arranged  in  order  of  Species. 


PAGE 

PAGE 

ARACHNIDA. 

Apion  difforme 

..53,  54,     55 

Atypus  piceus 

...     87 

bookeri 

immune        

...     55 
5.5 

Isevicolle       

54,     55 

COLEOPTERA. 

virens           55 

Aspidio-morpha  sante-crucis          ...   107 

Achenium  depressum 

...     55 

Atlious  lisemorrhoidalis 

.54 

Acilius  sulcatus         

53,  136 

vittatus        

54 

Adimonia  caprsea 

...     54 

Attelabus  curculionoides 

207 

sanguinea    

...     54 

Agabus  striolatus 

...     54 

Badister  bipustulatus 

53 

sturmi          

...     54 

sodalis          

156 

uliginosus    ... 

...     54 

Bagous  argillaceus    ... 

218 

Agathidium  marginatum    ... 

...    1.^)6 

Barynotus  obscurus  ... 

136 

Agriotes  lineatus       

...     .53 

sclioaiierri   ... 

..       110,  136 

pallidus        

...     54 

Bembidium  litorale  ... 

55 

Amara  acuminata     

.53 

lampros 

53 

bifrona 

...      .53 

4-maculatum 

53 

communis 

...     53 

4-guttatum  ... 

53 

curta            

...     53 

Blaps  mucronata 

54 

familiaris 

...     53 

Bledius  atricapillus  ... 

156 

ovata            

...   110 

opacus 

156 

plebeia         

...     53 

tricornis       

156 

spinipes        

...   156 

unicornis 

156 

Anchomenus  albipes.. 

...     53 

Bolitobius  exoletus    ... 

.55 

micans 

...     .53 

liygmteus 

50 

oblongus      

53,  156 

trinotatus     .  . 

55 

prasinus       

...     53 

Brachinus  crepitans ... 

53,   156 

Anthonomus  pedicularius  ... 

...     .53 

Brenthidte       

183 

Aphodius  contaminatus 

...     55 

Broscus  cephalotes    . . . 

53 

depressus      

...     .54 

erraticus 

...     53 

Calathus  cisteloides  ... 

53 

fimetarius 

...     .54 

melanocephalus     ... 

.  .     53 

foetens 

...     53 

Callidium  violaceum 

...     54 

fossor 

...     53 

Callipogon  friediinderi 

105 

granarius     

...     53 

Calosoma  inquisitor  ... 

108 

hsemorrhoidalis     

...     54 

Carabus  catenulatus... 

55 

inquinatus 

53,     55 

granulatus 

53 

lividu.s          

...     55 

nemoralis     ... 

...     53 

prodromus 

...     54 

violaceus      

53 

rufipes          ...          

...     54 

Cardiopborus  equiseti 

183 

sordidus       

...     54 

Cercyon  hsemorrhoidalis 

.  .     54 

SPECIAL     INDEX. 


PACK 

.  54 
.  156 
.  156 
,  55 
,  54 
55 


Ceuthorrhynchus  poUinarius 
Choleva  agilis... 
angustata     ... 

chrysomeloide.s       

grandicollis  

sericea  ...         

watsoni         ...         ...         ...         ...     55 

Clirysomela  fastuosa...         ...         ...  54 

polita            ...         ...         ...         ...  54 

varians         ...         ...  53 

Cistela  muriiia           ...         54 

Clivina  fossoi-,..         ...         53 

Coccinella  bi punctata          ...        54,  55 

Egg  of           229 

22-punctata             53,  184 

14-punctata             ...            54,  110,  184 

7-punctata    ...         ...         ...        53,  55 

variabilis      ...         55,  230 

Coeliodes  4-maculatiis          ...         ...  54 

Ccenopsis  waltoni      ...         156 

Colymbetes  fuscus      ...         ...         ...  54 

pulverosus ...         ...  54 

Coptomia  mutabilis 20 

opalina         ...         ...  20 

Coi'ynetes        ...         ...         ...         ...  21 

Gossonidae       ...         ...         183 

Creophilus  maxillosus          53 

Cryptarcha  strigata    ..         156 

Cryptocephaliis  coryli          205 

nitidulus      205 

Cryptorrhynchus  lapathi    231 

Detnetrias  atricapillus        ...        53,  55 

Dermestes  murinus   ...         ...         ...  53 

vulpinus       ...         184 

Donacia  dentipes       ...         54 

lemnfe           ...         ...         54 

linearis         ...         ...         ...         ...  54 

Dorcus  parallelopipedus       ...         ...  54 

Dromius  linearis        ...         ...         ...  54 

nigriventris            ...         ...         ...  156 

4-maculatus            ...         54 

4-notatus      55 

Dy.schirius  thoracicus 

Dy tiscus  marginalis 

Elaphrus  cupreus      

Enochrus  bicolor 
Erirrhinus  validirostris 


Gas  trophy  sa  polygoni 

rhaphani 
Geotrupes  mutator    ... 

stercurarius  ,5.3, 

sylvatica      

typhcBus       ...         

vernalis 
Gonioctena  litura 

Gronops  lunatus        

Gyrinus  marinus       

opacus 

Haliplus  Havicoliis 

obliquus       


...  156 

...  .54 

...  1.56 

...  53 

...  53 

...  53 

...  54 

...  241 

...  53 

54,  55 

...  53 

...  108 

...  108 

...  54 

...  156 

...  53 

...  54 

...  .53 

...  53 


Haltica  consobrina    ... 
Harpalus  attenuatus... 

proteus 

rotundicollis 

ruficornis     ... 
Helodes  marginatus  ... 
Helops  striatus 
Heterocerus  tevigatus 

obsoletus      

sericans 
Hister  cadavei'inus    ... 

neglectus      

liurpurascens 
Hydrobius  fuscipes    ... 
Hydroporus  dor.salis  .. 

ferrugineus 

palustris 

reticulatus  ... 
Hylastes  obscurus 
Hypera  fasciculata    ... 

punctata      

Hyphydrus  ovatus    . . . 

Ilybius  ater     

fuliginosus  .., 

obscurus       

Ips  4-guttatus 

4-pustulatus 

Lasia  globosa  ... 
Lathrobium  longulum 

terminatum 
Labia  clilorocephala ... 

cyanocei)hala 
Leistus  ferrugineus   ... 

spinibarbis  ... 
Lema  cyanella 

nielanopa 
Leptura  livida 
Limobius  mi.xtus 
Limonius  cylindricus 
Lina  senea 

Loricera  pilicornis    ... 
Lucanus  cervus 

Malachius  bipustulatus 

marginellus... 
Malthinus  punctatus 
Mantura  matthewsi ... 

Meligethes       

Meloe  violaceus 
Melolontha vulgaris  ... 
Mohammus  sartor     . . . 
Myllsena  kraatzi 

Nebria  brevicollis 
Necrophorus  humat  or 

mortuorum 

ruspator       

vespillo         

vestigator     ... 
Nitidula  bipustulata... 
Notiophilus  aquaticus 

biguttatus    

Notoxus  monocerus  ... 


PAGE 

...  156 

...  53 

...  53 

...  156 

...  53 

...  156 

...  55 

...  156 

...  156 

...  156 

...  54 

...  54 

...  64 

...  53 

...  53 

...  156 

...  53 

...  53 

...  156 

...  54 

...  53 

...  53 

54,  136 

...  54 

...  136 

...  136 

...  136 

...  53 
...  156 

...  156 
...  254 
...  2.:4 
...  53 
...  53 
...  53 
...  54 
...  54 

55 
...  110 

55 
...  53 
...  53 

...  54 

...  54 

...  54 

54,  55 

...  53 

...  54 

...  54 

...  136 

...  156 

.  .  53 

...  62 

...  54 

...  54 

...  55 

...  54 

...  53 

...  55 

...  53 

...  54 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


Ocypus  olens 

similis  

Olibrus  corticalis 

geminatus    ... 
Onthophagus  fracticornis   ... 
Otiorrhynchus  ovatus 

picipes 

scabrosus      

tenebricosus 
Oxytelus  nitidulus    ... 

rugosus 

Pachyta  collaris 
Pelobius  hermanni    ... 
Philonthus  politus     ... 

tbermarum  ...         

Phratora  vitellinse    ... 

Pbytobius  velatus     

Plectroscelis  subccerulea 
Plinthus  caliginosus... 
Pogonus  luridipennis 

Polydrusus  micans 

Polystichus  vittatus 

Prasocuris  marginella 

phellandrii  ... 

Prionus  coriarius       

Pristonychus  subcyaneus    ... 
Psylliodes  napi 
Pterostichus  gracilis... 

inaequalis    ...         

madidus 

nigrita  

stiiola  

versicolor     ...         

vulgaris 

Ptinus  fur       

Pyrochroa  serraticornis 

Quedius  picipes         

Ehagium  bifasciatum 

inquisitor     ... 
Rhina  barbirostris    ... 
Rhinosomus  jilanirostris 
Rhizophagus  bipustulatus  .. 

dispar  

Rhizotrogus  solstitialis 
Rhynchites  germanicus 

megacephalus         

Rhyncbophorous  coleoptera 
Japan  (Scolytidse) 

Saprinus  metallicus 

virescens 
Scarabseus 

Serica  brunnea  

Silpha  atomaria 

atrata 

laevigata 

nigrita         

opaca  

4-punctata  ... 

rugosa  

sinuata 

subrotundata  

thoracica 


of 


PAGE 
...       53 

...  53 

...  53 

...  20 

...  54 

...  54 

...  ."^4 

...  54 

...  156 

...  55 

...  53 

...  '231 

...  53 

...  54 

...  156 

...  54 

...  156 

...  156 

...  156 

...  51 

...  54 

...  i.'.e 

55 

...  54 

54,  55 

...  53 

...  54 

...  156 

...  53 

...  53 

...  53 

...  54 

...  110 

...  53 

...  54 

...  207 

...  53 

...  156 
136,  156 
...  183 
...  136 
...  136 
...  136 
...  54 
...  54 
...  54 

20 


...  156 

...  54 

...  75 

...  54 

...  20 

.53,  55,  159 

...  156 

...  110 

...  109 

...  184 

...  53 

...  53 

...  159 

...  53 


Sinodendron  cylindricum  ., 
Sitones  lineatus 

puncticollis...         

Spbseridium  bipustulatum  ., 
Staphylinus  stercorarius  ., 
Stenus  pubescens 

speculator    ... 
Strangalia  armata     ... 

melanura     ... 
Strophosomus  cor j'li ... 

obesus 

retusus 

Stylops  

Sunius  intermedins  ... 

Tachyporus  cbrysomelinus. 

humerosus   ... 

hypnorum 

obtusus 
Telephorus  bicolor    ... 

fulvus 

lividus 

pellucidus     ... 
Thiasophila  angulata 
Thyamis  lycopi 

lurida 
Tribolium  ferrugineum 
Triplax  russica 
Trogopliloeus  halopbilus 
Tropiphorus  carinatus 


CRUSTACEA. 

Apus  canceriformis  ... 

Gonoplex  angulata    ... 

Lininadia  gigas  

Polyphemus  oculus 


DERM  AFTER  A. 

Anisolabis  annulipes 

DIPTERA. 

Alophora  hemiptera... 

Blepharoptera  inscripta 
Bombilius  major       


PAGE 

136 

53, 

55 

55 

54 

54 

156 

53, 

55 

54 

54 

54 

54, 

156 

156 

107 

156 

55 

55 

53' 

55 

55 

54 

54 

54 

54 

156 

54 

55 

55 

55 

156 

156 

..  290 

..  254 

..  290 

..  290 


177,  178 


279 


158 
157 


Callomyia  amsena     158 

Cecidomyia,  larval  parthenogenesis  108 

destructor    ...         ...  217 

Chironomus     ...         108 

Cheilosia  chrysocana            206 

flavicornis    ...         ...         136 

grossa            136 

Chortophila  setaria 158 

Cliniocera  lamellata...         ...         ...  57 


Dactyolabis  gracilipes 
Degeeria  dalii... 
pulchella 


57 
178 
157 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 


PAGE 

Didea  fasciata  ..         ...  ...     57 

Dioctria  flavipes  ...         ...  ...  279 

reinhardi     ...         ...  279 

Driastata  basalis  ...         ...  19,     73 

fumipennis ...  ...         ...  ...     73 

obscurella       .         ...     73 

Echinoyia  grossa       279 

lurida  .         ...  279 

ursina  ...         ...         ...         ...   136 

Ephelia  verinervis     ...         ...         ...     57 

Goniomyia  jecunda  ...         ...         ...     57 

Heteromyza  atricornis        ...         ...  158 

Hypostena  medorina  ...         ...   158 

Hystricopsylla  talpse  278 

Laphria  marginata   ...         ...         ...  279 

Lepsis  punctuin         ...         ...         ...  158 

Limnobia  bifasciata...         ...         ...  279 

Mallota  eristaloides 278 

Meigenia  majuscula  ...         157 

Melanostoma  4-maculata     ...         ...   136 

Merodon  equestris     ...         ...         ...   255 

Myolepta  luteola       279 

Nemorsea  quadraticornis     178 

Phytomyza  aquilegia  19 

Sarcopsylla  penetrans          ...  ...  278 

Sciomyza  rufiventris            ...  ...   157 

Stratiomys  potamida           ...  ...  255 

Syrphus  annulipes    155,  206 

lasiophthalmus       ...         ...  ...   136 

triangulifer             155,  206 

Tachina  77 

Tachinidse        ...         ...         ...         ...     83 

Tricholyga      79 

Urellia  elutata  157 


HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA 

Aleurodes  avellanae 178 


Centrotus  cornutus   ... 
Lecanium  prunatri    . . . 

Hemiptera      

Serinetha  augur 
Trioza  centranthi 


...  158 

...  183 

...  25 

...  135 

...  248 


HYMENOPTERA. 


Agenia  variegata 
Ammophila  lutaria 
sabulosa 


...  57 
...  21 
21,  279 


Andrena  bucephala  ... 

cineraria      

fulva 

trimmerana 
Anomala  cervinops  ... 

Bombus  cognatus 

latreillus      

muscorum 

sj'l  varum     

Caniponotus  ... 
Chalcididae 
Chirocera 
Coelioxys  vectis 
Colas  dispar  ... 
Cremastogaster 
Crabro  cribrarius 

interruptus 

unicolor       

vagus  

Dryophanta  divisa    ... 

Euryproctus  nemoralis 

Formica  nigra 

Glypta  bicornis 

Halictus  smeathmanella 
Haperacmus  crassicornis 
Hymenoptera  aculeata 

Ichneumon  fuscipes  ... 

pyrrhopus    

Ichneumonidse 

Lissonota  sulphurifera 

Microgaster  russatus... 
Miniesa  dahlbomi 

Myrmica  rufa 

sanguinea    ... 

Nomada  alternata     ... 
ochroctana 

Osmia  bicolor... 
xanthomelana 

Rhizarcha  CErolaris  ... 

Sirex  gigas      

Synergus  albipes 

Telenomus 
graptae 

Thalessa  

Trichogramma 

Vespa  crabro 

vulgaris        

Zarsea  f aciata 


PAQB 

...  206 

...  106 

106,  136 

...  57 

...  19 

...  21 
...  136 
21,  206 
...   21 

...  135 

...  108 

...  108 

...  57 

...  19 

...  135 

...  279 

..  57 

...  57 

...  279 

...  157 

...  135 

...  255 

...  19 

...  57 
...  135 
..   21 

...  19 
...  19 
...  83 

...  19 

...  135 

...  57 

...  107 

...  107 

...  57 
...  206 

...  57 
...  206 

...   19 

...  157 
...  157 

...  145 

...  145 

...  77 

...  145 

21,  57 
21,  134 

...  216 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


LEPIDOPTERA. 

abbreviata,  Eupithecia        103,  154,  224 
abietaria,  Boarmia  ...  ...      155,  167 

abjecta,  Mamestra     ...  52,  297,  305 

abruptaria,  Hemerophila    153,  167, 

182,  304 
absinthiata,  Eupithecia      ...        18,  230 
absinthii,  Cucullia    ...         ...         ...   125 

acanthodactyla,  Amblyptilia  ...  280 

aceriana,  Hedya         ...  228 

aceris,  Acronycta  (Ciispidia)         141, 

142,  305,  308 
acbatana,  Sideria       ...         ...         ...  228 

Acidalia  .  .         ...         ...         ...   142 

acis,  Lyc^ena  29,  37,  235 

Acrpeidse  ...         ...         ...       7 

Acronycta       57,  133,  139,  142,  143, 

144,   149,   198,  242,  24.3,  251 
actseon,  Pamphila     ...         ...      235,  273 

Adela 26 

Adelidae  144 

adippe,  Argynnis       ...99,  202,  226,  234 

rar.  chlorodippe ...     19 

rar.  cleodoxa       ...         ...19,  99,   276 

adusta,  Hadeiia  182,  183,  301,  302 

adustata,  Ligdia         ...         ...      155,  182 

advena,  Aplecta         ...  52,  129,  305 

JEchmia  249 

Eegeria,  Pararge  vide  egeria,  P. 

segon,  Lycpena  ...62,  167,  235,  279 

aemulana,  Catoptria 228,  298 

aescularia,  Anisopterj'x  81,  97,  110, 

145,  147,  148,   153 
sesculi,  Zeuzera  vide  pyrina,  Z. 
cethiops,  Erebia        58',  62,  235,  254, 

270,  271,  .307 
affinis,  Calymnia  (Cosmia) ...      274,  305 
affinitana,  Eupcecilia  ...         ...  227 

aflfinitata,  Emmelesia  ...18,  21,  182 

agathina,  Agrotis  169,  171,   172, 

279,  286,  299,  301,  307 
agestis,  Lycyena  vide  astrarche,  L. 
aglaia,  Argynnis        ...  17,  106,  202,  231 

rar.  charlotta      106,  156 

agnes,  Cidaria  ...         ...         ...   134 

Agrotides         181,  284 

Agrotis  18,  202 

ahenella,  Oncocera 254 

ajax,  Papilio 144 

alberta,  Ghionobas 278 

albicillata,  Melanthia  ...      110,300 

albicolon,  Mamestra 301 

albimacula,  Dianthoecia      255 

albipuncta,  Leiicania     52,  224,  229, 
268,  269,  274,  275,  290, 

303,  304,  305 

albistrigalis,  Hypenodes       227 

albovenosa,     Arsilonche    (Viminia) 

129,  140,  142,  181,  193,  230,  308 

albulalis,  Nola  128 

rar.  karelica         276 

alcese,  Spilotbyrus 20 

alchemillata.  Emmelesia         18,  21,  274 
alchymista,  Catephia  ...38,  40,  217 

alexia,  Lycaena  vide  icarus,  L. 


alni,  Acronycta  (Cuspidia)    17,  125, 

141,  226,  308 

alniaria  (tiliaria),  Eugonia  168,  273,  300 

alope,  Cercyonis         ...  139 

alpinellus,  Crambus            ...          36,  38 

alsines,  Caradrina      ...           18,  228,  252 
alstrcemeriana  (alstrcBmeriella),  De- 

pressaria 298,  304 

alternata,  Macaria     ...         ...         ...  279 

Alucita             114,  125 

alveus,  Syrictlms       ...  75 

amataria,  Timandra..           ...      126,  167 

ambigua,  Caradrina    269,  274,  280, 

303,  304 

ambigualis,  Scoparia            ...         ...  183 

ambiguella,  Eupcecilia        ...         ...  109 

Amphidasydae             ...      85,  86,  97,  148 
anceps,  Mamestra  vide  sordida,  M. 

andreniformis,  Sesia           ...          38,  40 

andromacbe,  Ornithoptera  ...         ...  135 

annulata  (omicronaria),   Zonosoma 

(Ephyra) 182,  221 

anomala,  Stilbia      17,  59,  273,  298,  299 

Anosia  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  1 

Anthocaris      ...         ...         ...         ...  7 

antiopa,  Vanessa  29,  37,  38,  39,  40, 

78,  106,  107,   12.5,   126,  1.34,   152, 

191,  205,  214,  234,  235,  288 
antiqua,  Orgyia   140,  143,  167,  168, 

179,  191,  240 

Apamea            ...         ...         ...         ...  205 

Apatura           7 

Apbantopus     ...          ...          ...          ...  7 

Aphnaeus         ...         ...         ...         ...  115 

apiciaria,  Epione       ...           21,  128,  168 

apiformis,  I'rochilium          ...         ...  159 

apoUina,  Doritis         ...         ...         .  .  73 

apollo,  Parnassius         167,  168,  233, 

2.S4,  235 

Aporia  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  7 

applana,  Depressaria            ...         ...  298 

aprilina,  Agriopis      ...         ...48,  62,  301 

aquilina  rar.,  Agrotis           ...         ...  302 

arbuti,  Heliacaride  tenebrata,  H. 
archippus,  Aiiosia  1,  74,  75    76, 

106,  136 

Arctia 88,  131,   133,  139 

arctica,  Nola   ...         ...         ...         ...  276 

Arctiida- 256 

arcuana,  Roxana        ...         ...      126,  305 

arcuatella,  Bcardia     ...         ...        37,     39 

arcuosa,  Miana           ...         ...        15,  301 

areola,  Xylocampa       103,  154,  224,  304 

argentula,  Bankia     ...          ...         ...  231 

argiades,  Lycaena        38,  40,  74,  75,  235 
argiolus,  Lycajna  62,  102,  126,  158, 

159,  23.5,  299 

argus,  Lycaena            ...         ...         ...  235 

Argynnis          ...         ...         ...         ...  7 

argyrana.  Coccyx       ...         ...         ...  153 

Arhopala          ...         ...         ...         ...  115 

arion,  Lycaena  ...         125,  134,  235 

armiger,  Heliothis     ...78,  268,  269,  275 
artemis,  Melitrta  vide  aurinia,  M, 
arundinis,  Macrogaster  ridecastaneae,M. 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


anindinis  (typhse),  Nonagria        59,  280 

ashworthii,  Agrotis  ...         ...         ...  285 

asinalis,  Botys            ...         ...         ...  18 

assimilata,  p]upithecia          ...         ...  230 

assimilella,  Depressaria        ...         ...  304 

associata,  Cidaria       ...         ...         ...  5 

Asteroscopus   ...  142,   143 

astrarche,  Lycsena  17,  62,  228,  229, 

235,  272 

var.  artaxerxes ...  272 

atalanta,  Vanessa         12,  15,  17,  24, 

47,  100,  101,  106,  107,  109,   134, 

144,   153,  191,  234,  269,  299 

athalia,  Melitsea        ...  17,  191,  234,  276 

ran  feimica          ...         ...         ...  276 

atra,  Laveriia ...         ...         ...         ...  125 

atricapitana,  Eupoecilia       ...         ...  19 

atriplicis,  Hadena      ...         ...         ...  302 

atropos,  Acheroiitia        15,  126,  136, 

159,  191,  205,  220,  2S7 

augur,  Noctua  284,301 

aurago,  Xanthia         ...         168,  198,  301 

auraua,  (mediana)  Trycheris          ...  19 

aurantiaria,  Hybernia        ...          15,  85 

aurelia,  Melita?a         234 

auricoma,  Acronycta  (Viniinia)  140, 

142,  308 

var.  pepli  ...          ...          ...          ...  277 

I'ar.  pylisevaarse  ...         ...         ...  277 

auriflua,  Liparis  vide  similis,  L. 
aurinia,  Melitaea      19,  52,  136,  153, 

182,  224,  234 
auromaculata,    Cataplectica    (Hey- 

denia)        217,  248 

australis,  Aporophyla  229,  269,  273, 

274,  300,  303,  304 
autumnaria      (alniaria),     Eugonia 

(Ennomos)           168,  231 

avellanella,  Semioscopus      304 

aversata,  Acidalia      ...  52 


badiata,  Anticlea       ...         102,  153, 
baia,  Noctua 63,  286,  301, 

var.  punctata 

baiulai'ia,  Phorodesma         

baliodactyla,  Aciptilia         

basilinea,  Apamea     ...  80,  301, 

basistrigalis,  Scoparia 
batis,  Thyatyra        17,  47,  126,  183, 

270, 
baumanniana,      Argyrolepia      vide 

hartmanniana,  A. 
belgiaria,  Scodiona  ... 
bellargus,Lyc8ena98,  153,  160,  205, 

235, 

bennetii,  Agdistis      227, 

berberata,  Anticlea   ...         ...      231, 

berenice,  Danais 

suh-species,  janiaicensis,  Danais 

(Tasitia) 

bertrami,  Platyptilia  ...      176, 

bbtulae,  Thecla  ...  52,  159, 

betularia,  Amphidasys      80,  86,  87, 

97,  126,  148,  156,   175,   191,  286, 
300, 

var.  doubledayaria    


224 
305 
276 
63 
305 
302 
298 

301 


255 

272 

298 

275 

74 

74 
228 
167 


306 
187 


bicolorata,  Melanthia      45,  59,  110,  271 
var.  plumbata      ...         ...        13,  271 

bicolor,  Notodonta    ...         ...         ...     42 

bicoloria,  Hierophanta         ...         ...  248 

bicoloria,  Miana         ...  18,  206,  227,  301 
bicostella,  PJeurota   ...         ...         ...  255 

bicuspis,  Dicranura  ...         ...         ...     69 

bidentata,  Odontopera  ...        13,  126 

bifida,  Dicranura       21,  255 

bilineata,  Camptogramma 231 

bilunaria,  Selenia         135,  154,  167, 

168,  224,  226,  304 

binaevella,  Homceosoma       228 

binaria,  Drepana        182 

bipunctaria,  Eubolia   228,  280,  299,  .300 
bipunctella,  Anesychia      ...  38,  39,     40 
biundularia,  Tephrosia  16,  154,  175 

var.  delamerensis  ...  13,     16 

blandina,  Erebia  vide  aethiops,  E. 
blomeri,  Asthena       ...  16,  279,  300 

boeticus,  Lampides     ...         ...         ...  222 

Bombyces    18,  26,  64,  84,  124,  142, 

143,  146,  167 
Bombycidae      ...         ...         ...  7,     62 

Bombycoidae 142,  143 

bombyliformis,  Macroglossa  182,  226 
bondii,  Tapinostola  (Ghortodes)  ...  128 
boreata,  Clieimatobia  15,  158,  168 

Botys 241 

brachydactylus,   Leioptilus   (Ptero- 

phorus)     ...         ...         ...         ,_,     37 

branderiana,  Orthotaenia     ...         ...  227 

brassicae,  Mamestra 182,  301 

brassicae,  Pieris    15,  17,  47,  71,  153,  234 

Brassolidae       ...         ...       7 

Brephides        ...         ...         ...         ...     57 

Brephinae         ...         57 

Brephos  ...         ...         ...         ...   114 

bruceata,  Clieimatobia         ...         ...     44 

brumata,  Cheimatobia       15,  59,  97, 

140,  168 
brunnea,  Noctua  ...  182,  183,  301 
brunnichiana,  Epliippiphora  ...  19 
bucephala,  Phalera  (Pygaera)  ...  271 
Butales  39 

caenobita,  Panthea    ...  ...         ...   143 

caeruleocephala,Diloba63,  109,  142, 

143,  292,  308 
caesia,  Dianthoecia     ...         ...         ...     43 

caesiata,  Larentia       ...  59,  110,  167 

caia,  Arctia  11,  13,  32,  63,  131, 

132,   133,  156,  228, 

288,  304 
c-album,  Vanessa         12,  13,  47,  58, 

103,  134,  141,  154]  299 
ab.  iota-album     ...         ...         ...     22 

callirhoe,  Vanessa      ...         ...         ...   ^34 

callunae,  Bombyx       ...         ...      226    273 

calthella,        JVIici-opteryx        (Erio- 

cephala)    ...         ...         ...         ..      37 

cambrica  (cambricaria),  Venusia  15, 

16,  300 
camelina,  Lophopteryx  (Notodonta) 

125,  271,  300 
Camilla,  Limenitis 235 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


cana,  Catoptria 
candidulana,  Catoptria 
canella,  Gymnancycla 
caniola.  Lithosia 
cannae,  Nonaejria 
capsincola,  Dianthoecia 
capsophila,  Dianthoecia 
carbonaria,  Fidonia  ... 


PAGE 

...  228 
228,  298 
...  305 
..  43 
...  42 
...  18 
...  276 
...  70 


cardamines,  Euchloe       97,  98,  139, 
146,  147,  153,  158,   159,  172,  173, 

205,  '219,  220 
var.  minor  ...         ...         ...   172 

cardui,  Vanessa      17,  109,  136,  144, 
178,  226,  228,  234,  254,  269,  272, 

273,  299 

carnella,  Phalaena     ...   125 

carpinata,  Lobophora        15,  16,  69, 

80,  148,   154 
carpini,    Saturnia    vide      pavonia, 

Saturn ia 
carpophaga,  Dianthoecia        18,  225,  277 
cassinea,  Asteroscopus  vide  sphinx,  A. 
cassiope,  Erebia  ...         ...         ...     62 

castaneie,  Macrogasterl29, 181,  230,  302 
castanea,  Noctua         ..         171,  172,  301 
castigata,  Eupithecia  ...        21,  183 

Castnia  ...         ...         ■••         •••     27 

castrensis,  Bombyx   .  126,  158,  228 

Cataplectica    ..  217,  218,  248,  249 

cecropia,  Platysamia  (Samia)      106,  246 

celerio,  ChfBrocampa 40 

cembrse,  Scoparia      18 

centaureata,  Eupithecia      181 

centonalis,  Nola         17,     62 

certata,  Eucosmia      154 

Cerura  vide  Dicranura 

cerussellus,  Platytes  (Crambus)  104,  228 

cespitalis,  Herbula     ...  18,228,304 

cespitana,  Sericoris 183 

cespitis,  Luperina  14,  273,  299,  300,  304 
chamomillae,  Cucullia         ...21,  95,  224 

chaonia,  Notodonta 17,     57 

Chauliodus      •••  248 

chenopodii,  Hadena  vide  trifolii,  H. 
Chi,  Polia         ...  125,  168,  273,  301 

Chionobas        ...         7 

Chlcephoridfe •.     27 

chlorana,  Halias         27 

christ.ianana,  Tinea  126 

chrysidiformis,  Sesia 227,255 

chrVsippus,  Papilio 1 

chrysitis,  Plusia       52,  96,  126,  191,  272 

Chrysophanidi  167,  222 

Chrysopbanus 7 

chrysorrboea,  Porthesia        ...      128,  191 

chrvsozona,  Hecatera  302 

cilialis,  Nascia  ...         129,  181,  230 

ciliella,  Eupoecilia     19 

cinctaria,  Boarmia 157,  1.58 

cinerea,  Agrotis         104,  305 

ciniflonella,  Depressaria       39 

cinxia,  Melitaea  12,234 

circellaris  (ferruginea),  Mellinia  59, 

269,  300,  301 
circumflexa,  Phalaena         125 


PAGB 

cirsiana,  Ephippiphora        227 

citrago,  Xanthia        ...         ...         ...   126 

citraria,  Aspilates  vide  ochrearia,  A. 

clathrata,  Strenia      228 

Cleodora  248 

Cleopatra,  Gonepteryx  ...38,  40,  234 

cleophile,  Danais       ...         ...         ...     74 

clerckella,  Lyonetia  ...         103,  125,  305 
cloaoella,  Scardia       ...         ...         ...  305 

clothera,  Danais        ...         ...         ...     74 

c-nigrum,  Noctua  16,  227,  229,  252, 

269,  274,  298,  300,  301 

cojnosa,  Laelia  127,  128 

Coenonympha  7,     62 

Colias 7,  137,  174 

Coleophora;      37,  209 

Coleophoridse  ...         ...         ...         ...     39 

comariana,  Peronea  ...         ...         ...  279 

comes  (orbona),  Triphcena     18,  182, 

252,  274,  301 

comitata,  Pelurga      228 

comma,  Hesperia  (Pamphila)        52, 

106,  167,  2.35 
comma,  Leucania      ...         ...      301,  305 

comparana,  Peronea  ...         ...         ...  279 

complana,  Lithosia 272 

compta,  Dianthcecia...         ...         ...     40 

comptana,  Phoxopteryx       ...         ...  304 

comyntas,  Lycaina      ..         ...         ...   106 

concolor  (extrema),  Tapinostola   43, 

1U6,  303 
conflua,  Noctua         ...         ...         ...  301 

conformis,  Xylina  vide  furcifera,  X. 
confusalis,  Nola         ...         ...         ...     17 

conigera,  Leucania    ...         252,  272,  301 
conjunctaria,     Phibalapteryx     vide 

polygrammata,  P. 
conspersa,  Dianthcecia  vid£  nana,  D. 
conspicuata,      Fidonia      vide     lim- 

baria,  F. 
conopiformis,  Sesia    ... 
contaminellus,  Crambus 
conterminana,  Catoptria 
contigua,  Hadena 
convolvuli,  Sphinx    ... 
conwayana,  Argyrotoxa 
coracina  (tiepidaria),  Psodos 
cordigera,  Anarta     ... 


corticea,  Agrotis 
corylata,  Cidaria 
coryli,  Demas 
coryli,  Phalaena 


...  217 

36 

227 

20,  205,  273 

..15,  17,  126 

126 

58 

70 

.301 

...       182,   183 
141,  142,  143,  308 
125 


corydon,  Lycsena  153    159,  160,  235, 

272,  279 


var.  albicans 
var.  apennina 
Cossus   ... 
costalis,  Pyralis 
oostana,  Tortrix 
craccse,  Toxocampa 
Crambi 
Crambus 


160 

98,  160 

26,  91 

305 

39,  227,  305 

279 

...27,  36,  39 
226 


crataegata,  Rumia  vide  luteolata,  R. 
cratsegi,  Aporia  ...         ...        62,  234 

crataegi,  Trichiura 168 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 


PAGE 

42 

145,  154,  155 
129,  181,  230 

102 

298 

88 

39 
227 
103 
106 
227 


36, 
17, 


crenata,  Glyphisia     ... 
crepuscularia,  Tephrusia 
cribralis,  Herminia  ... 
cribruin,  Emydia 
cribrella,  Myelopliila 
crispata,  Las^oa 
cristana,  Peronea 
cristatella,  Bacculatrix 
croceago,  Oporina 

crowleyi,  Caduga       ...         

cruciferarum,  Plutella 
cubiculai'is,  Caradrina  vide  quadri- 

punctata,  C. 
cucubali,  Dianthoecia  ...        18,  225 

cucuUa  (cuculliiia),  Lophopteiyx  ...  227 
culiciforinis,  Sesia     ...         ...         ...     69 

culmellus,  Crambus  ...         ...         ...  228 

cuprella,  Adela  .  .  ...   155 

cursoria,  Agrotis  105,  271,  276,  298,  299 

vars.  brunnea  and  sagitta     2  76,  301 
curtisellus,  Prays       ...         ...         ...  230 

curtula,  Pygpera         ...         ..        125,  204 

Cuspidia  ...         ...  57,  141,  144 

Cuspidiae  133 

cytherea,  Cerigo  vide  matura,  C. 
cytisella,  Cleodora      ...         248 


dahlii,  Noctua 
damone,  Euchloti 
Danai    ... 
Danai  candidi 
Danai  festivi  ... 
Danaida 

Danaidae  

Danais  ... 
Danaus 

daplidice,  Pieris  24,  29,  38, 
152, 
daucellus,  Chauliodus 
decemguttella,  Anesytdiia 
decolorata,  Kmmelesia 
decrepitalis,  Scopala  .. 
decretaiia,  Tortrix     ... 
defoliaria,  Hy  hernia    15,  2 
80,  85,   102, 
degreyana,  Eupoecilia 
delicia,  Hypochrysojis 
delius,  Parnassius 
delphinii,  Phalaena 
Demas  ... 
dentelJa,  ^']chmia 
dentina,  Hadena      52,  62, 
183,  205, 
Depressarise     ... 
depuncta,  Noctua 
derasa,  Thyatira 
devotella,  Heydenia  ... 
dia,  Argynnis ... 
Dicranura 
dictsea,  Notodonta  17,   21, 


dictseoides,  Notudonta  17, 
var.  frigida 


256, 

297, 

301 
146 

% 

190 
6 
6 

4 

7 

1, 

74 
6 

■93, 

125, 

217, 

234, 

235 

228 
305 

18, 

182 

137, 

272 
39 

1,  44 

,  58, 

1U9, 

125, 

126 
36 
222 
307 
126 

142, 

143 
249 

107, 

182, 

206, 

301, 

305 
39 

270, 

271 
305 
218 

234', 

235 

287 

136, 

206, 

207, 

300 

153, 

154, 

225, 

298, 

300 
276 

didyma,  A])amea   18,  227,  228,  277, 

301,  302 
didymata,  Larentia  ...         ...        59,  154 

diffinis,  Galymnia  (Cosmia)  298,  305 

Diloba  142,  143 

diluta,  As[)halia 

dilutaria  (interjectaria)  Acidalia 

dilutata,  Oporabia 


13 

228 

15 

183 
302 

278 
56 


dimidiata,  Acidalia  ... 

dipsacea,  HelioMiis    ...  19,  181,  226, 

discoidalis,  Erebia     ... 

disippus,  Limentis     ... 

dispar,  Ocneria     109,  110,  128,  218, 

230,    236,    237.    238,    239,    240, 

255,  256,  294 
dispar,       Polyommatus       (Chryso- 

phanus)      37,  39,  93,  152 

dissimiiis,  Hadena  16,  70,  158,  205, 

228,  276,  288,  305,  307 


distans  (Isetus),  Oxyptilus 
ditrapezium,  Noctua... 
Diurni  ... 

diversana,  Tortrix     ...         

dodonea,  Notodonta  vide  trimacula, 

N. 
dominula,  Callimoi-pha 
Doritis  (  =  Parnassius) 
dorylas,  Lycaena 
dotata  (associata),  Cidaria    ... 
douri,  Euchloe 
dromedarius,  Notodonta      12,' 

vars.  ijolaris  and  perfusca 
dubi talis,  Scoparia     ... 

dubitata,  Triphosa     

dumetana,  Tortrix     

dumetellus,  Crambus 
dunningiella,  LitliocoUetis  ... 
duplai'is,  Cymatophora 
dysodea,  Hecatera  vide  chrysozona, 

H. 


303 
252 
269 
227 


155,  238 

7 

12,     13 

52,  134 

...   220 

271,  300 
...  276 
...   227 

280,  287 
...  305 
...  106 
...  151 
...   301 


edusa,  Colias       17,  52,  72,  110,  13.3, 

158,  234,  253  254,  269,  272,  273, 

276,  298 

var.  helice  110,  272 

edwardsii,  Lycaena    ...         ...         ...   106 

egea,  Papilio 161,  164 

egea,  Vanessa  ab  I-album     ...         ...     12 

egeria,  Pararge  17,  59,  99,  134,  153, 

157,  207,  299 

iwr.  egerides         ...  2u7 

Elachista  209,  250 

elinguaria,  Crocallis ...     18 

elpenor,  Clioerocampa  ...      129,  300 

elutata,   Hypsi petes  vide   sordidata, 

H. 

elutella,  Ephestia       305 

elynii,  Nonagria         230,  301 

emarginata,  Acidalia  ...      227,  228 

Ennomos  (Eugonia)  ...         ...      114,  142 

Epermenia       ...         ...         ...         ...  248 

epilobiella,  Lavenia ...  228 

Epigraphiidyu 148 

Epinepliele      ...         ...         7 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


PAGE 

epiphron,  Erebia   62,  13.%  1(51,  162, 

163,   164,   16.5,  226,  2.S.5 
var.  bernensis      ...         ...         ...   163 

wr.  cassiope  162,  163,  164,  165 

var.  melampus     ...         ...      162,  164 

var.  nelanius       ...         163,  164,  165 
var.  pyrenaica     ...         ...      164,  165 

Equites 6,   190 

erate,  Colias 133 

Erebia 7,  235 

ericellus,  Crambus     ...  57,  106,  226 

ericetana,  Orthotaenia  ...  19 

erigerana,  Euptecilia  ...         ...  303 

Eriocephala     ...         ...         ...         ...     88 

Eriocephalse 87 

eriosoma,  Plusia        ...         ...         ...  217 

erippus,  Danais  ...         ...         ...     74 

erosaria,  Eugonia      ...         ...         ...     17 

Erycinidse        ...       7 

Erycinides       ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

erythrocephala,  Cerastis  37,  38,  39, 

40,     68 
var.  glabra  ...         ...        37,     39 

escheri,  Lycsena         ...  ...        12,     48 

Euchloe  97,  138,  146,   172,  173,  220 

Euchromia      88 

eupheno  (euphenoides),  Euchloe  ...  220 
euphorbise,  Deilephila  38,  40,  41,  152 
euphrosyne,  Argynnis     15,  9<l,  106,  234 

Eupithecia       ...         ...     50 

Euplaea  ...         ...         ...         ...       4 

Euplfeinae         106 

Eurema  113 

Eur3'mus  =  Colias       137 

euryta,  Planema        ...         ...         ...     19 

Eustroma        5,     6 

exclamationis,  Agrotis         182,  183, 

204,  228,  252,  284,  301 
exigua,  Laphygma    38,  40,  62,  229, 

268,  269,  297 
exoleta,  Calocampa      155,  224,  301,  305 
extersaria,  Tephrosia  ...         ...   159 

extrema,  Tapinostola  vide  concolor,  T. 
exulans,  Zyga^na   43,  255,  258,  259, 
260,  261,  262,  263,  264,  265,  266, 

267,  268,  278,  279,  280 

var.  clara...  266,  267 

var.  flavilinea      261,  267 

var.  starvata        ...         ...  ...  266 

var.  subochracea  259,  264,  266 

var.  vanadis    260,  263,  264,  265, 

266,   280 

fagella,  Diurnea        13,  15,  153 

fagi,  Stauropus       62,  109,  125,  136,  143 
faginella,  Lithocolletis        ...         ...     45 

falcataria,  Drepana       125,  126,  127, 

182,  287 

falsellus,  Ciambus     228 

farrella,  Episclinia  (Anerastia)  36,  39 
farreni,  Cataplectica...         217,  249,  250 

fascelina,  Dasychira ...  27ft 

fasciana  (fuscula),Erastria204,  279,  287 

ferrugalis,  Scopula        298 

ferrugana,  Peronea  (Tortrix)     215,  216 


PAGE 

ferrugata,  Coremia       110,  111,   112, 

115,  117,   1«2,  299 

ra»'.  corculata      ...         ...      116,  117 

var.  linariata      ...         ...         ...   117 

ferruginea,  Xanthia  vide  circellaris, 

X. 
festaliella,  Chrj'socorys        .  .         ...     18 
festiva,  Noctua  ...  15,  183,  301 

festucae,  Piusia        ...      15,208,229,268 
fibrosa,   Apamea   vide  leucostigma, 

A. 
filigramniaria,  Oporabia      ...         ...   168 

filipendulas,  Zygasna      18,  107,  228, 

264,  265,  272,  280,  288 

var.  cerinus  ...         ...         ...  280 

fimbria,  Triphfena  17,  21,  143,  301,  .305 
fimbriana,  Heusimene  ...         ...   155 

fixreni,  Cidaria  ...         134 

flammans,  Phauda     ...         ...         ...   135 

flammatra,  Noctua    ...         ...        38,    40 

flammea,  Meliana         129,  181,  230,  231 
riammealis,  Endotricha        ...         ••■  298 

flavago,  Xanthia        301,305 

flavata,  Gaudaritis    ... 134 

fiavicincta,  Polia        ...         ...         ...    107 

flavicornis,  Asphalia  17,  69,  96,  97, 

111,  136,  147,  276,  304 
fluctuata,  Melanippe... 

rar.  incanata       ...         ...         ...  277 

var.  neapolisata  ...         ...         ...  230 

rar.  virgata  ...  277 

fluctuosa,  Cymatophora       279 

tluviata,  Camptogramma       21,  167,  225 
foenella,  Ephippiphora         ...         ...  229 

forticalis,  Pionea        228,  298 

fonniciformis,  Sesia  ...         ...   182 

fraiicillana,  Conchylis  ...      298,304 

fraxini,  Catocala        126,248 

fugitivella,  Teleia      305 

fuliginosa,  Spilosoma  129,  153, 

181,  300 

fulva,  Tapinostola     273,  301 

fulvago  (cerago), -Xanthia    125,  127, 

229,  271,  274,  300,  301,  305 

rar.  flavescens      ...         229,  274,  301 

fulvata,  Cidaria  228 

fulviguttella,     Cataplectica      (Hey- 

denia)        217,  248 

fumata,  Acidalia        ...         ...         ...   277 

rar.  perfumata    ...         ...         ...  277 

rar.  simplaria      ...  277 

furcatellus,  Crambus  ..  57,  106,  280 

furcifera,  Xylina        ...         ...         ...     38 

furcula,  Dicranura  (Cerura)  21,  59,  300 

rar.  borealis         ...  ...  ...   276 

furfurana,  Bactra      ...218 

furuncula,  Miana  ride  bicoloria,  M. 
turva,  Mamestra        ...         ...         ...  300 

fusca,  Laodama  ...         ...         ...   153 

fuscantaria,  Eugonia  ...         ...     17 


galactodactyla,  Aciptilia 
galatea,  Melanargia  ... 

rar.  procida 
gaJiata,  Melanippe     ... 


182 

..52,  62,  235 

99 

18,  295,  299 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 


PAGE 

galii,  Deilephila         38,40,152 

gamma,  Plusia     125,179,254,269, 

272,  273,  297,  298,  300,  301 

Gelechia  73 

Gelechiida?       37,     39 

gemina,  Apamea    80,  182,  183,  272,  301 
gemma ria,  Boarmia  ...         ...         ...   167 

var.  perfumaria  ...         ...         ...     13 

geniculeus,  Crambus...         298 

genistse,  Hadena        ...         ...         ...  205 

genistella.  Nephopterj'x       ...         ...  305 

genutia,  Papilio         ...         ...  3,       4 

geoffrella,  Harpella   ...         ...         ...   126 

Geometrae   5,  16,  18,  26,  57,  59,  64, 

84,   114,  144,  147,  167,  168,  277 
Geometridae   ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

geryon,  Ino  (Procris)      52,  104,  225,  299 
gilippus,  Danais         ...         ...         ...     74 

gilvago,  Xaiithia  178,  287,  301,  305 

gilvaria,  Aspilates     ...         ...         ...   272 

gilvicomana,  Eupcecilia       ...         ...     40 

glabraria,  Cleora        273,  279 

Gla?a      138 

glareosa,    No'^tua  17,  268,  273,  274, 

279,  280,  301,  302 

var.  suffasa  ...  ...  ...   301 

glauca,  Hadena     153,  154,  205,  206,  273 

glyphica,  Euclidia      228 

gnomana  (costana),  Tortrix  36,     39 

Gonepteryx     ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

gonostigma,  Orgyia...  127,  160,  228 

gothica,  Ta^niocampa        13,  19,  59, 
109,  125,  135,  155,  224, 

272,  301 

var.  gothicina  59,  109,  135,  301 

Gracilaria        26,  27,  39,  219 

gracilis,  Tajniocampa    69,  103,  136, 

153,   154,  224 
graminis,  Chara;as    ...  17,  199,  252 

var.  rufa   ...         ...         301 

grevillana,  Penthina  39 

griseata,  Lithostege 181,  302 

griseola,  Lithosia       158,302 

grossulariata.  Abraxas      13,  38,  41, 

59,  80,  253,  279,  288 
gruneri,  Eiichloe        ...  97,  146,  220 

Hadena 181,  205 

hamana,  Xanthosetia  ...      228,  305 

Hamearis         ...         7 

hartmanniana,  Argyrolepia  ...  182 

hastata,  Melanippe, rar.  hastulata...  279 

hastiana,  Peronea      36,  39,  279 

haworthii,  Cela?na 273,  301 

hectus,  Hepialus        182,  191 

Heliconidfe      ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

Heliconides     ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

Heliconii  190 

helix.  Psyche 293 

hellmanni,  Tapinostola        303 

helveticaria,  Eupithecia      19 

Heodes...  ...         114 

heparana,  Tortrix      228 

hepatica,  Xylophasia  126 

Hepialidse        27 


PAGE 

Hepialus  26,  139,  144 

liera,  Callimorpha      ...         ...      152,  254 

herbariata,  Acidalia...      29,30,37,     40 

hero,  Coenonympha  ...         126 

Hesperia  ...         ...         7 

hesperidis,  Euchloe    ...97,  146,  219,  220 

Hesperidse        7,  221 

Hesperioidse     ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

Heterocera       93,  159 

Heteropodes 7 

Heteroi^terus  ...         ...       7 

Hexapodes       ...         7 

hexapterata,  Lobophora      ...         ...  159 

Hierophanta    ...         ...         ...         ...  248 

Hipparchia      ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

hippocastanaria,  Pachycnemia      ...     74 
hirtaria,  Biston     80,  83,  84,  86,  96, 

157,   167,  184,  304 
hispidaria,  Nyssia  80,  81,  82,  83,  85, 

86,  96,  97,  109,   136,  154,  159,  306 

rar.  tauaria  ...         ...        84,     85 

hispidus,  Heliophobus  229,  268,  300 

hortuellus,  Crambus...         ...         ...  228 

humiliata,  Acidalia  ...         ...         ...   107 

numuli,  Hepialus  109,  139,  183, 

191,  218,  227,  228 
huntera,  Pyrameis    ...         ...         ...   106 

hyale,  Colias 15,  137,  234 

hyalinalis,  Botys       ..  242,243,244 

Hybernia         97 

HyberniidsB     ...         ...     97 

hybridana,  Sciaphila  227 

hyemana,  Tortricodes  ...        97,  148 

hylas,  Lycaena  ...         ...         ...     12 

hyperanthus,  Epinephele    ...         ...     17 

raj-,  lauceolata     ...         ...         ...     99 

Hyponomeuta  39 

Hyponomeutidae         ...         ...         ...     27 

hypophlaeas,  Chrysophanus...         ...     19 


ianira,  Epinephele       17,  44,  58,  63, 

99,  101,   225,  228,  229,  235,  252 
ianthe,  Papilio  ...         ...         ...   164 

ianthina,  Triphaena  ...    18,  63,  301,  305 
icarus,  Lycfena  12,  17,  19,  100,  184, 

191,  235,  271,  272,  276,  299 

rar.  ccerulea         ...         276 

rar.  icarinus        ...         ...         ...     12 

ichneumiformis,  Sesia         305 

icterana,  Tortrix  vide  palleana,  T. 
ilicifolia,  Lasiocampa  ...38,  42,  152 

illuminatella,  Argyresthia  ...         ...     73 

illustraria,  Selenia  vide  tetralu- 

naria.  S. 

illustris,  Plusia  37,     49 

imitaria,  Acidalia      ...     52 

immanata,  Cidaria    ...         ...  9,  23,     50 

rar.  marmorata  ...         9 

immutata,  Acidalia 15,228 

impluviata,  Hypsipites  ride  trifas- 

ciata,  H. 

impudens,  Leucania 129,  302 

impura,  Leucania      ...         228,  268,  301 
incerta,  Enome  240 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


iiicerta  (instabilis),  Tseiiiocampa 

103,  155,  224,  272,  301,  304 
Incompletse     ...         ...         ...         ...   152 

indigata,  Eupithecia...         ...         ...   154 

inornata,  Acidalia     ...  272 

instabilella,  Lita        ...  ...         ...   101 

interinediella,  Puinea  227,  228,  231 

interrogationis,  Gi'apta  (Polygonia) 

106,  141,  144 
interrogationis,  Plusia  ...  225,  301 
interruptana,  Stigmonota  ...  3-*,  39 
io,  Vanessa       17,  47,  ]03,  lOf.,  134, 

153,  158,   167,  23+ 
iole,  Nathalis ...         ...         ...  ..     19 

iris,  Apatura         125,  126,  127,  154, 

205,  207,  256,  283 
var.  iole    ...  ...  ...         ...  205 

irriguata,  Eupitliecia  ...         ...   102 

irrorella,  Setina         ...         ...         ...   158 

jacobsefe,  Euclielia     ...         ...  21,  106 

jamaicensis-major,  Papilio  ...  ...  2 

japonica,  Enome        ...         ...  ...  240 

jasioneata,  Eupithecia          ...  18,  279 

juniperata,  Thei-a      ...         ...  19,  21 

kuhniella,  Ephestia  ... 


lacertiuai'ia,  Drepana  125,  126,  127, 

lafauryana,  Tortrix     .. 

lambdella,  CEcophora 

lancealis,  Perinepliele 

lanceolana,  Bactra 

lanestris,  Eriojrasttr    125,  182,  20?, 

var.  aavasaksae  ... 
lapella,  Phalaena 
lapponaria,  Nyssia    ... 
Larentiidae 

lariciata,  Eupithecia  ...        21, 

laserpitiella,      Cataplectica      (Hey- 

deuia) 
Lasiogma 

latona,  Argynnis        29,  40,  93,  126, 
152,  234, 
lemuata,  Cataclysta  ... 
leporina,  Acronycta   (Cuspidia)    15, 

17,  125,  141,   142,  175,  225,  271, 

300, 

Leucania  ...         ...         ...        50, 

leucographa,  Pachnobia       ...15,  69, 
leucomelas,  Phalaena 
leucophsea,  Pachetra  38,  56, 174, 175, 

205, 
Leucophasia  ... 

leucophearia,  Hybernia        102,  109, 

110,  135,  153, 

leucostigma,  Apamea  13,  302, 

levana,  Araschnia     ...         ...      134, 

var.  prorsa  .  ...       1.34, 

leuwenhoeckella,  Pancalia 

libatrix,  Gonoptera  ...         191,  274, 

Libytheidse 

lichenaria,  Cleora 

lichenea,  Epunda  143,  27.3,  300, 

lichenella,  Solenobia  ...      292, 


96 

191 
39 
305 
225 
218 
228 
276 
191 
85 
296 
154 

217 


235 
298 


308 
194 
103 
126 

217 
7 

167 
305 
223 
223 
305 
301 
7 
1.54 
301 
293 


PAGE 

lienigianus,  Leioptilus         228 

lignata,  Phibalapter3'X.         ...         ...     15 

ligniperda,  Cossus      ...         ...      136,  225 

ligula,  Cerastis  (Orrhodia)      8,  102,  155 

var.  ochrea  ...         ...         ...       8 

var.  subnigra       ...         ...         ...   155 

ligustri,  Bisulcia  (Acronycta)      141,  308 

var.  olivacea        ...         ...         ■..     13 

ligustri.  Sphinx         75,  228 

Limacodida?     ...         ...         ...         ...     88 

liniacodes,  Heterogenea         88,  114,  242 
Liniacodes       ...         ...         ...        88,  242 

limbaria,  Fidonia      ...         ...         ...     62 

Limenitis         ...         ...         7 

limitata,  Eubolia      ...  18,  204,  228 

linea,  Hesperia  vide  thaumas.  H. 
linearia,  Ephyra  vide  trilinearia,  E. 
lineata,  vide  li vomica,  D.     ... 
lineola,  Hesperia  (Pamphila)        97, 

228,  235,  298 
lineolata,    Mesotype    vide    virgata, 

M. 
lineolea,  Scoparia      ...         ...         ...     18 

Liparidaj  128,  142,  143,  146,  240 

literosa,  Miana  227,  301 

lithargyria,  Leucania    62,  2^8,  252,  301 
Lithocolletis  26,  27,  39,  155,  199 

Lithosia  ...         ...         ...  ••     64 

lithoxylea,  Xylophasia        ...      228,  301 
littoralis,  Leucania   ...         ...18,  70,  301 

littoralis  (littorana),  Sericoris  19,  228 
litura,  Anchocelis  ...15,  269,  301,  302 
liturata,  Macaria 
li  vomica,  Deilephila 


17,  182,   183,  300 
29,  126,127, 

15V,  224 
148 


Lobophora       

lobulata,  Lobophora  vide  carpinata, 

L. 
lonicerse,  Zj'gaena     ...  15,  264,  267 

var.  semi-lutescens         ...         ...     13 

lore j'i,  Leucania         ...         ...         ...     29^ 

lota,  Orthosia 268,  301 

lotella,  Anei'astia      ...         ...         ...     18 

Loxura  ...         ...         ...         ...115 

lubricipeda,  Arctia      13,  15,  24,  56, 

106,  143,  187,  188,  307 
var.  eboraci  ...  106,  152,  :-!07 
var.  fasciata  ...  56,  106,  152,  307 
var.  radiata  ...  ...         13,  307 

var.  zatinia  24,  106 

lucemea,  Agrotis        228,298 

lucina,  Nemeobius    21,  44,  98,  155, 

159,  191,  211,  231,  235 


lucipara,  Euplexia 
luctuosa,  Acontia 
luctuosa,  Spilosoma  .. 
ludifica,  Diphthera    .. 
luna,  Attacus 
lunaria,  Selenia 
1 
var.  delunaria 
lunaris,  (Ecophora 


1-26 
181,  231,  302 

189 

143 

135 

17,  59,  71,  167, 

,  208,  210,  225,  230' 

184,  226- 

305 


lunigera,  AgrotLs     18,  38,  227,  228,  298: 
lunosa,  Anchocelis       269,  273,  286, 

288,  300,  301,  305. 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 


Xlll 


luteolata  (crataegata),  Rumia      216, 

227,  229,  230,  241 

lutosa,  Calamia  268,305 

lutulenta,  Epunda       107,  135,  268, 

274,   298,  300,  304 
var.  liineburgensis  ...         ...   135 

var.  sedi    ...         ...         ...         ...   135 


Lycsena 
Lycaenidae 
Lycaenides 
Lycaeninae 
lychnitis,  Cucullia 


7,  62,  114,  235 
19,  11.5,  221 

7 

114 

71 


maccana,  Peronea 
machaon,  Papilio 


:i6, 

181,  191,  2.33, 
255, 

macnlaria,  Venilia 

niaculea, Lita  ... 
inaja,  Papilio 

nialva?,  Syricthus  (Pyrgus)  100, 

153,   191,  230,  235, 

var.  taras  (lavaterae)      ...        19, 
manniana,  EupcBcilia 
margaritaria,  Metrocampa...      288, 

margaritellus.  Cram  bus       

marginaria  (progemmaria),  Hyber- 

nia     81,  97,  102,  109,  148,  153, 

var.  fuscata  ...         ...        13, 

marginata,  Heliothis  ...        15, 

marginata,  Lomaspilis        

maritima,  Senta         ...         ...      107, 

maritimella,  Coleophora     

marmorea,  Lita        

matura  (cytherea),  Cerigo       58,  62, 

227,  252,  25fi, 

matunia,  Melitaea     ...         ...        12, 

maura,  Mania... 

mediana,  Trycheris  inde  aurana,  T. 
medon  (astrarche),  Lycaena 
megacephala,  Acronycta     ...      141, 
megaera,  Pararge         7,  17,   62,  135, 
153,  191,  211,  235, 
melampus,  Erebia     ...         ...      162, 

Melargus  (galatea) 

Melitaea 

meliloti,  Zygaena 

mellonella,  Galleria 

mendica,  Spilosoma     185,  187,  188, 

var.  standfussi     ... 
mensuraria,     Eubolia     vide     limi- 

tata,  E. 
mtnthastri,  Spilosoma        186,  187, 
188,  271,  280, 

var.  ochracea 
menyanthidis,  Acronycta    133,  140, 
183,  273,  300, 
mercurella,  Scoparia 
merope,  Heteronympha 
mesomella,  Lithosia         15,  17,  225, 
meticulosa,  Phlogophora         15,  71, 

164,     155,    229,    269,    272,    275, 
298, 

miata,  Cidaria  

micacea,  Hydrcecia 301, 


157 

273 

87 

305 

125 

280 
100 
36 
298 
106 

306 
15 
16 
13 

228 
209 
305 

302 
126 
126 

300 
308 

299 
165 
7 
234 
264 
228 
189 
189 


289 
187 

308 
228 
135 
279 


300 
126 
305 


PAGE 

Microdonta     ...         ...  248 

Micropterygidje         ...         ...        87,  144 

Micropteryx  25,  26,  87,  88,  91,  155 

migadactyla,  Platyptilia  rida  ochro- 

dacty'a,  P. 
miniata,  Calligenia  ...         ...         ...  279 

minima,  Lycaena     12,  52,  159,  229,  235 
miniosa,  Tseniocampa      17,  69,  103,  154 
minutata,  Eupithecia  ...         ...  158 

mirabilis,  Oenetus     ...         ...         ...  135 

modestella,  Asychna  ...         ...  305 

moeniata,  Eubolia     ...         ...  ...     29 

monacha,  Psilura    17,  56,  111,  125, 

143,  239,  240,  280 

var.  eremita        ...  187 

moneta,  Plusia  42,  56,  87,  217,  230,  254 
monodactylus,  Pterophorus  18,  103, 

153,  228,  280,  298 
monoglypha,  Xylophasia      47,  228, 

252,  271,  286,  300 

var.  aethiops         ...         ...         ...  301 

montanata,  Melanippe         ...      110,  183 
mori,Bombyx      108,  168,  244,  245, 

290,  293 

Morphidae        ...         ...       7 

multistrigaria,  Larentia       97,  147, 

153,   154,  224,  304 
munda,  Taeniocampa  59,  69,  85,  96, 

102,    103,    111,    136,    154,    155, 

159,  224 

var.  immaculata  ...      157,  159 

munitata,  Coremia    ...         ...         ...  272 

muralis,  Bryophila    ...         ...         ...  299 

murinata,  Minoa       ...         ...         ...   182 

musculana,  Cnephasia         ...         ...  227 

musculosa,  Leucania  ...         ...     29 

myellus,  Crambus     36,  38,  106 

myricae,  Acronycta  ...  19,  139,  140,  308 
myrinna,  Pyrameis  ...         ...         ...  254 

myrtilli,  Anarta        ...  17,  126,  154,  281 


nana  (conspersa),  Diant.hoecia 
nanata,  Eupithecia  ...         154, 
napi,  Pieris        17,  47,  98,  153, 
203, 

ah.  sulphurea      

ab.  sulphureotincta 

var.  bryonia? 

var.  sabellicae 
Nectropidae 

neglecta,  Noctua  vide  castanea, 
Nemeobius 
Nepticula 
nerii,  Sphinx  ... 
neustria,  Eombyx 
ni,  Plusia 

nicellii,  Litliocolletis 
nicippe,  Terias 
nictitans,  Hydrcecia  . 

nigra,  Epunda  

nigricana,  Endopisa 

nigricans,  Agrotis        182,  227, 
271,  284,  285,  286, 

var.  fuliginea      

nigripunctella,  Tinea  73, 


26.  39, 


300, 


18,  229 

183,  255 

157, 

234,  276 
...  276 
...  276 
98,  276 
...  98 
7 

N. 

...  114 

155,  199 
...  126 
...  18 
...  279 
...  151 
...   19 

301,  305 
17,  301 
...  228 

252, 

299,  302 
...  301 

219,  305 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 


PAGE 

nigrofasciaria,  Anticlea       ...      153,  154 
nigroinaculana,  Grapholitha         19,  255 
nimbella,  HomcBosoma        ...         ...     18 

niobe,  Argynnis        ...         ...        40,  234 

nitidella,  Argj'resthia  ...         ...  228 

nitidella,  Fumea  vide  interme- 
diella,  F. 

nivea,  Pcpcilia  ...         248 

niveus,  Acentropus    ...         204 

Noc.tua  292 

Nocture  16,  18,  26,  57,  64,  77,  114, 
124,  139,  142,  143,  144,  168, 
181,     182,    225,    252,    266,    276, 

277,  301 
noctuella   (hybridalis),   Nomophila 

228,  298 

NoctuidcB         ...         ...         7 

Noctuiiise         ...         ...         ...         ...     57 

noeviferella,  Gelechia  249 

notata,  Macaria         ...         ...         ...   182 

notha,  Brephos       69,  103,  138,  159,  184 
Notodontidse  ...         ...         ...         ...   142 

nubeculosa,  Asteroscopus    142,  143,  205 
nupta,  Catocala  ...         126,  274,  305 

Nycteolidse      ...         ...         ...         ...   143 

Nyinphales      6,  190 

JSIymphalidfp 7,  20,  114 

Nymphalides  ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

Nyssia  ...         ...         ...         ...         ■•.     85 


obductella,  Phycis     36, 

obelisca,  Agrotis  229,  269,  303, 

obliquaria,  Chesias  vide  rufata,  C. 

oblongata,  Eupithecia  ...        18, 

obscura  (ravida),  Agrotis       51,  106, 

107,  204,  284,  285,  286,  298,  302, 

303, 

var.  ravida 

obscuraria  (obscurata),  Gnopbos  18, 

227,  272,  273,  280, 

obscurepunctella,  Perittia  . 

obsoleta,  Leucania     ... 

obsoletella,  Lita 

Obtectse  

occulta,  Aplecta 

ocellana,  Hedya         

ocellatus,  Smerinthus  ...        17, 

ocellaris,  Xanthia,  var.  lineago 

ocellea,  Eromene        36, 

ochracea  (ttavago),  Gortyna 
ochrearia,  Aspilates  ...         269,  298, 

ochrodactyla,  Platyptilia 

octogesima  (ocularis),  Cymatophora 
129,  279, 

octomaculana,  Sciaphila      

ocularis,  Uj'uiatopbora  vide  octo- 
gesima, C. 
oculea,  Apamea  vide  didyma,  A. 
CEcophorse 


298 


307 

284 

299 
155 
107 
298 
152 
125 
228 
300 
178 
39 
256 
299 
176 

302 
272 


oleagina,  Valeria 
oleracea,  Hadena 

olivata,  Larentia 
ononaria.  Aplasia 
00,  Dicycla 


16,  52,    182,   183, 

205, 

231,  270, 


39 


301 

271 

29 

287 


ophiogramma,  Apamea       231,  287, 

288,  296 
opima,  Tfeniocampa      69,  154,  155,  224 
or,  Cymatophora        ...         ...        59,  276 

orbona,  Triphaena  vide  comes,  T. 

Orgyia 86,     96 

orion,  Moma 17,  141,  308 

ornata,  Hesperia        ...         ...         ...  222 

Ornithoptera  ...         ...         88 

ornithopus  (rhizolitha),  Xylina   17, 

154,  155 

Orthosidas        143 

ostrina,  Micra  ...         ...        38,     40 

oxyacantbffi,  Miselia...         191,  286,  301 
oxyacaiithella  (fabriciana),  Symae- 

this  ...         ...         ...         ...  305 


padellus,  Hyponomeuta 

padifoliella,  Lyonetia  ...        37, 

palsemon  (paniscus),Carterocephalus 
(Cyclopides) 

paleacea  (fulvago),  Cosmia ... 

palleana  (icterana),  Tortrix  19, 

pallens,  Leucania     16,  52,  252,  300, 

pallidactyla,  Platyptilia  vide  ochro- 
dactyla, P. 

palpina,  Notodonta  ...         ...        21, 

Paltodora         

palustrana,  Mixodia  (Sericoris)    59, 

palustris,  Hydrilla       129,  181,  230, 

Pamphilidi 

pamphilus,  Coenonympba  12,  17, 
47,  99,  228, 
var.  lyllus 

paphia,  Argyuuis  17,  45,  46,  80,  99, 

234, 
var.  valezina        ...         ...        46, 

Papilio  7,  159,  161, 

papilionaria,  Geometra  17,  205, 
206,  227,  230,  256, 

Papilionidse     

Papiliont5s 

Papilioninise  ... 

paradisea,  Ornithoptera 

paralellaria,  Epione  ...         ...13,  15, 

Pararge 

pariaua,  Syma^this  (Hylopoda) 

Parnassidi       ...         ...         ...      114, 

Parnassii         

Parnassius 

parthenias,  Brepbos  68,  103,  111, 
136,  154,  159,   184, 

pai'thenie,  Melitsea 

parva,  Micra  ...         ...         ...        38, 

pascuellus,  Crambus... 

pavonia,  Saturnia  105,  lu9,  llu, 
126,   127,  226,  273, 

pectinea,  Incur varia... 

pectinitaria,  Larentia  vide  viridaria, 
L. 

pedaria  (pilosaria),  Phigalia  17,  74, 
80,  81,  84,  8.3,  102,  106,  109,  160, 

pedella,  Stathmopoda 

pellionella.  Tinea      


150 
39 

174 

298 
228 
301 


125 
248 
73 
302 
114 

235 
99 

299 

99 

174 

287 

7 

7 

114 

134 

3U0 

7 

103 

167 

7 

159 

304 

234 

40 

228 

288 
154 


306 

39 

228 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 


XV 


peltigera,  Heliothis        21,  205,  268, 

269,  275 
pendularia,  Ephj'ra  ...         ...        13,  182 

pennaria,  Himera      ...         ...15,  21,  168 

peregrina,  Hadena     ...         ...         ...     28 

perla,  Bryophila    18,  228,  252,  253, 

299,  .301,  308 
ror.  flavescens     ...         ...         ...  253 

vcw.  suffusa  ...  ...  ...   253 

perlellus,  Crambus ...  228 

var.  warringtonellus     ...  ...    109 

permutana,  Peronea...         ...         ...     19 

perornata,  Hesperia  ...         ...         ...  222 

persephone,  Prodryas  20 

persicariae,  Mamestra  ...         ...  305 

perterana,  Sciaphila...         ...         ...     39 

petraria,  Panagra      ...         ...         ...   182 

petrificata,  Xylina  vide  socia,  X. 
phaeton,  Eupliydryas  ...         ...   139 

Phalenaj  125 

phicomone,  Colias      ...         ...         ...  234 

philodice,  Oolias         ...         ...        19,  139 

phloeas,  Polj'ommatus  (Chrysopha- 
nus)     17,  58,  98,  100,  191,  203, 

223,  235,  271,  .304 

var.  schmidtii     ...     98 

phragmitellus,  Chilo...         ...         ...   181 

phragmitidis,  Calamia         ...         ...  302 

Phycidae  27,     39 

piceana,  Tortrix         36,  39,  280 

pictaria,  Aleucis        ...69,  110,  155,  206 

Pieridse  ...         ...       7 

Pierinae  ...       20,  87,  106,  114,  257 

Pieris 7,  138 

pigra,  Pygaera 158,  273,  300 

pilosellae,  Oxyptilus  (Pterophorus)...     37 
pilosellae,  Zygaena      ...         ...         ...  217 

pimpinelJata,  Eupithecia    ...         ...   274 

pinastri,    Dipterygia  vide    scabriu- 

scula,  D. 
pinastri.  Sphinx         ...  29,  126,  217 

l)inellus  (pinetellus),  Crambus    106,  160 
pinguinalis,  Aglossa...         ...         ...   299 

pini,  Gastropacha      ...         ...         ...  216 

piniaria,  Bupalus  (Fidonia)  16,  153 

182,  231 

pinicolana,  Eetinia 109,  305 

piniperda,  Panolis  17,  110,  154, 

155,  301 

pirce,  Pseudacrcea     ...  19 

pisi,  fladena    ...   125,  126,  191,  205,  273 
pistacina.  Anchocelis         13,  59,  62, 

286,  300,  301 
plagiata,  Anaitis        ...         ...         ...   182 

plantagiiiis,  Nemeophila    14,  21,  5S, 

71,   126,   155,   182,  238 

Plebeii  190 

plecta,  Noctua         16,  182,  183,  252, 

301,  305 

plexippus,  Anosia       1,     76 

archippus  1,  5,  74,  75,  76,  106,  136 

erippus  1,     74 

megalippe        ...         ...         ...       5 

plumbagana,  Uicrorampha             ...  228 
plumbeolata,  Eupithecia     18 


PAGE 

plumigera,  Ptilophora         168 

podana,  Cacoecia        ...         ...         ...   183 

podalirius,  Papilio 233 

PcBcilia  248 

politana,  Dicrorampha        ...         ...  228 

polychloros,  Vanessa     52,  107,  114, 

115,  134,  141,   158,   182,  299 
polygonalis,  Mecyna...  ...        38,     40 

polygrammata,  Phibalapteiyx       ...   152 
polyodon,   Xyiophasia    vide    mono- 

glypha,  X. 
Poly(immatus...         ...  ...         ...       7 

polyphenuis,  Antherea         88 

polyphemus,  Boniby.x  ..,         ...  293 

polyphemus,  Telea 106,246 

polyxena,  Thais         159 

pomonella,  CarpocHpsa         ...        78,  126 
Pontia  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

popularis,  Neuronia     148,  149,  207, 

248,  269,  274,  299,  305 
populata,  Cidaria  5,  6,  59,  126,  231 

populeti,  Tteniocampa  15,  103,  111, 

153,  155,   157,   159 
populi,  Poecilocampa  ...        97,  147 

populi,  Smerinthus  13,  58,  105, 

138,    166,  205,    216,  221,  244, 

254,  276,  294,  300 

var.  roseotincta 276 

Poritia    ..         ...         ...         114 

porcellus,  Choerocampa        ...        14,  2O6 
porphyrea,  Agrotis  vide  strigula,  A. 
porphyrea,  Hadena    ...  15,  29,  302 

liotatoria,  Odonestis    109,  110,  224, 

255,  305 
pra3Cox,  Agrotis  125,  126,  271,  298, 

299,  301 

prasina  (herbida),  Aplecta 301 

prasinana,  Hj'lophila  ...         ...     27 

pratellus,  Crambus 106,  228 

prodromaria,      Aniphidasys       vide 

strataria,  A. 
profugella,  Cataplectica  (Heydenia) 

217,  248 

profundana,  Paedisca  109 

progemmaria,  Hybernia   vide  mar- 

ginaria,  H. 
pronuba,  Triphaena      126,  14.3,  182, 

183,  227,  252,  274,  301 
prosapiaria  (fasciaria),  Ellopia  207,  230 
protea,  Hadena  13,  15,  20,  205,  268,  301 
pruinata  (cytisaria),  Pseudoterpna     207 

prunalis,  Scopula       242 

prunata,  Cidaria         5,  126,  127 

pruni,  Thecia 126,167 

pseudargiolus,  Lyca?na         ...      106,  223 
psi,  Acron3^cta  10,  16,  57,  141,  142, 

174,   175,  194,  301,  303,  308 
Psyche ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  292 

Psycliida?  ...  26,  37,  39,   108,  248 

pterodactj'lus,  Mimaeseoptilus        ...  228 
Pterophoridae  ...         ...         ...         7^  278 

Pterophorina  ...         ...         ...         ...     27 

pudibunda,  Dasychira  21,  109,  110, 

143,  287,  300,  308 
pudorina  (impudens),  Leucania     ...  225 


SPECIAL    INDEX. 


PAGE 

pulchella,  Deiopeia  ...  29,  106,  156 

pulchellata,  Eupithecia  17,  18,  183 

pulchrina,  Plusia      ...         270,  272,  277 

var.  percontatrix  ...         ...  277 

pulveraria,  Numeraria         125 

pulverulenta   (cruda),  Tteniocampa 

97,  103,  111,   155,  224 
pumilata,  Eupithecia    52,  153,  183, 

224,  228 

punctaria,  Ephyra 182 

puncticostaiia,  Stigmonota  ...  227 

punctularia  (punctulata),  Tephrosia 

16,  182 

purpuralis,  Pyrausta  18 

purpuraria,  Lythria ...     29 

purpurella,  Micropteryx      ...        87,  155 

pusaria,  Cabera  226,289 

puta,  Agrotis  13,  158,  227,  269, 

274,  298,  299,  300 
putrescens,  Leucania  ...         ...     18 

putris,  Axylia  252 

pygnifeana.       Coccyx      (Steganop- 

tycha)       155,  184 

pygmpeata,  Eupithecia         299 

pygnipeus,  Crambus  vide  cerussellus, 

P. 

Pyrales  27 

Pyralides  18,  64,  114,  144,  214,  242 

Pyralites         306 

pyralina,  Calymnia 225 

Pyralioidai      ...         ...         ...         ...       7 

pyramidea,  Amphipyra       299 

pyrina,  Zeuzera    126,  127,  143,  160,  191 
pyrophila,  Agrotis  vide  simulans,  A. 

quadri punctata,  Caradrina   52,  287, 

297,  300,  301 
quercifolia,  Lasiocampa        62,  109, 

156,  245,  256,  292 
quercinaria    (angularia),    Eugonia 

144,  168,  206,  231,  255 
quercus,  Bombyx  62,  109,  110,  126, 
191,    198,     199,    228,    230,    238, 

253,  271,  297,  299,  306,  307 
quercus,  Thecla         17,  167 

radiatella,  Cerostoma  109 

i-adiella,  Epischnopteryx     227 

raiella,  Phalaena       ..  125 

rapse,  Pieris         15,  17,  19,  47,  103, 

153,  201,  234 
ravulana,    Stigmonota    (Halonota) 

52,  217 
reclusa,  Clostera  ride  pigra,  C. 

recticella,  Epichnopteryx 227 

rectiliiiea,  Hadena     183,301 

regalis,  Citlieronia    ...         ...         ...   135 

repandata,  Boarmia 18,  183 

rar.  conversaria ...         ...        45,     46 

reticulata,  Cidaria 5 

reticulata  (saponarise),  Neuria    129,  136 
rhamni,  Gonepteryx      98,  138,  234, 

255,  287,  298,  299 
rhizolitha,  Xyliua  vide  ornithopus, 

X. 


PAGE 

Rhodoceridi 113 

rhomboidaria,   Boarmia  vide   gem- 

maria,  B. 
Rhopalocera       17,  64,  98,  114,  124, 

174,  203,  255 

ribeana,  Tortrix         228 

ridens,  Asphalia         ...  17,  102,  155,  160 

ripae,  Agrotis 269,304 

rivata,  Melanippe      ...         294,  295,  296 
roborana,  Spilonota  ...         ...         ...     19 

roboraria,  Boarmia  ...         ...         ...   155 

rorellus,  Crambus      36,  38,     40 

rostralis,  Hypena     182,  300 

rubi,  Bombyx       107,205,2.17,253, 

273,  300 

rubi,  Noctua 15,  299 

rubi,  Thecla    ...     19,  126,  153,  159,  191 

rubidata,  Anticlea    ...         182 

rubiginata,  Acidalia...         ...      302,  303 

rubiginata,  Melanthia  vide  bicolo- 

rata,  M. 
rubiginea,  Dasycampa    19,  68,  143,  155 
rubricata,  Acidalia   ...         ...         ...   181 

rubricollis,  Gnophria  ...        17,  109 

rubricosa,  Pachnobia  (Tajniocampa) 

103,  153,  154,  155,  224,  301 

rufa,  CcEuobia 225 

i-ufata,  Chesias  ...         ...        52,  183 

ruficinctata,  Larentia  ...         ...     59 

rufocinerea,  Elachista         ...         ...  304 

rugosana,  Phtheochroa        ...         ...  227 

rumicis,  Acronycta       16,  133,  140, 

193,  271,  279,  298,  308 
rupicapraria,  Hybernia  74,  102,  153,  304 
rurea,  Xylophasia      ...182,  18.3,  301,  305 

rar.  combusta     ...         ...         ...  183 

russata,  Cidaria  vide  truncata,  C. 
rusticata,  Acidalia ...  249 

sacraria,  Sterrha        38,  40,  278 

sagittata,  Cidaria      128,  302 

salicella,  Lemnatophila       ...         ...  1(3 

salicis,  Leucoma        ...         125,  143,  146 

salinellus,  Crambus  ...         ...         ...  36 

sambucaria,  Uropteryx       ...         ...  228 

saponarise,  Neuria   vide   reticulata, 

N. 
satellitia,  Scopelosoma  15,  102,  103, 

125,   155,  224,  269,  302 
satura,  Hadena  vide  porphj'rea,  H. 

satyrata,  Eupithecia 15,  183 

Satyridae          7 

Satyrinse         114 

Satyroidae       ...         ...          ..         ...  7 

Satyrus            ...         ...         ...         ...  7 

saucia,  Agrotis     143,  227,  269,  288, 

301,  305 

scabriuscula,  Diptcrygia      ...         ...  255 

schalleriana,  Peronea          ...         ...  279 

Sciaphila         ...         ...  174 

scintillans,  Hypochrysops 87 

scoliiformis,  Sesia      19,  21,  70,  255,  280 

scolopacina,  Xylophasia       20 

scopariana.  Coccyx    ...         ...         ...  304 

scutosa,  Heliothis      38,    40 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


PAGE 

aegetum,  Agrotis        16,  18,  59,  182 

252,  254,  285,  300 

selasellus,  Crambus  ...         ...      228,  298 

selene,  Argynnis        ...         ...         ...  234 

semele,  Satyrus  (Hipparchia)  17,  99, 

107,  191,  235,  271,  299 


var.  aristaeus 

99 

semialbana,  Tortrix ... 

36, 

39 

semipurpurella,  Micropteryx 

155 

senex,  Nudaria 

15, 

228 

Serena,  Hecatera 

17, 

52 

sericea,  Lithosia 

279 

sericealis,  Rivula 

228 

serratella,  Phalfena  ... 

191 

servella,  Xystophora 

73 

Sesia     

64, 

202 

Sesiidae            

50 

sexalisata,  Lobophora 

128, 

225 

Sibylla,  Limenitis 

72, 

127, 

191 

silaceata,  Cidaria 

134, 

182, 

207 

silerinella,  Cataplectica  (Heydenia) 

217 

similis,  Porthesia  (Liparis)  .. 

191 

simplicella,  Tinea 

39 

simulans,  Agrotia 

228, 

255, 

298 

sinapis,  Leucophasia      59, 

102, 

153, 

234, 

255 

sinuana,  Sciaphila    ... 

298 

sinuella,  Homoesoma. . . 

228 

smaragdaria,  Phorodesma 

210, 

228, 

229, 

254, 

275, 

298 

smintheus,  Parnassius 
sobrina,  Noctua 
sobrinata,  Eupithecia 

socia,  Xylina 

socialis,  Eucheira 
sociata,  Melanippe 

sociella,  Aphomia 
solandriana,  Poedisca 
Solaris,  Acontia 
var.  lucida 

Solenobia        

solidaginis,  Calocampa 
sommaria,  E 

sordida  (anceps),  Mamestra.. 
sordidana,  Psedisca   ... 
sordidata,  Hyi)sipetes 

sparganii,  Nonagria  ., 
sparsata,  Collix 
spartiata,  Chesias 
spbegiformis,  Sesia   . 
Sphinges 
Sphingidse 
sphinx,  Asteroscopus 
spilodactj'la,  Aciptilia 


...  307 

62 

271 

103,  273,  300 

106 

208,  294,  295, 

296,  298 

18 

13,  109 

40 

38 

108,  292 

48,  58,  301 

...  44 

80,  302 

279 

15,  21,  229, 
231,  270,  279 

38 

15 

168 

42,  304 

...18,  26,  124 

7,  50,  57,  152 

17,  142,  143,  248 

102,  176,  280 


splendidulana.  Coccyx         ...         ...  153 

sponsa,  Catocala         59,  126 

stabilis,  Tseniocainpa  103,  155,  207, 

224,  272,  301 

stachydalis,  Ebulea 305 

statariella,  Cataplectica  (Heydenia)  217 

statices,  Ino 182,265 

steinkellneriana  (steinkellneriella), 

Epigraphia         103,  304 


stellatarum,  Macroglossa  14,  15,  18 

159 

Stenolechia     ...         

sticticalis,  Spilodes 230 

stigmatica,  Noctua    ...         ...      227 

straminata,  Acidalia  

straminea,  Leucania  

strataria,  Amphidasys     17,  97,  102 
110,  111,  148,  167 

striana,  Orthotsenia 

strigata,  Hemithea 

strigilis,  Miana      18,  206,  231,  252 

a;ar.  sethiops 
strigillaria,  Aspilates 
strigosa,  Acronycta      141,  242,  302 
strigula,  Agrotis        ...         ...      231 

strigula,  Nola 

strobilella.  Coccyx     ... 

suasa,  Hadena  vide  dissimilis,  H. 

subbimaculelia,  Nepticula  ... 

subfulvata,  Eupithecia        252,  274 

subgothica,  Agrotis  ...         ...        37 

subjectana,  Sciaphila 
subnotata,  Eupithecia  ...      230 

subpurpurella,  Micropteryx 
subrosea,  Agrotis  (Noctua). ..37,  39 

127 

subsequa,  Triphsena     107,  204,  227 

269,  271,  274,  279,  280 

303 
subsericeata,  Acidalia 
succenturiata,  Eupithecia  ... 
suffumata,  Cidaria    ...         ...      155 

suffusa,  Agrotis      16,  183,  227,  298 

300 
sulphuralis,  Agrophila  vide  trabea 
lis,  A. 

sulphurella,  Dasycera  

superstes,  Caradrina 

suspecta,  Orthosia   1.3,  15,  204,  284 

287 
sylvanus,  Hesperia 
sylvata,  Abraxas 


sylvata,  Asthena 
sylvestrana,  Retinia... 
sylvinus,  HepiaUis   ... 

Syntomis         

Syricthus        

syringaria,  Pericallia 


17,  222,  228 

13,  15,   16,   126 

127,   182 

17 

...      209 

140,  225 


Taeniocampa  ... 
tages,  Nisoniades 
tapetzella.  Tinea 
taraxaci,  Caradrina 
tarquinius,  Feniseca 
temerata,  Bapta 
templi,  Dasypolia 
tenebrata,  Heliaca     . 
tenebrosa,  Kusina 

testacea,  Luperina 

va/r.  x-notata 


16,  17, 

153, 

207 
235 
305 

18,  227, 

272, 

305 
106 
182 
300 
182 

182,  183, 

280, 

288, 

301 

13,  274, 

298, 

299, 

300 
301 

SPECIAL     INDEX. 


testata,  Cidaria  5,  168, 

testudo,  Limacodes  vide   limacodes, 

Heterogenea 

Tethea  

tetradactyla,  Aciptilia 
tetralunaria,  Seleiiia    158,  160,  167, 
IfiS,   169,  184,  207,  231, 

Tetrapodes      

teucrii,  Oxyptilus      

thalassina,  Hadena      182,  183,  205, 

288, 

Thanaos  

thaumas,  Hesperia  Pamphila        17, 
222,  228, 

Thecla 7, 

Theclidi  

Thyatyra        

ThyatyriiiEe 

thymiai-ia,  Hemithea  vide  strigata, 

H. 
tili»,  Smerinthus      155, 

rar.  centripuncta  (maculata)  ... 
tiliaria,  Eugonia  vide  alniaria,  E. 

tiucta,  Aplecta  20, 

Tinea? 26,  64, 

Tineidse  7,  151, 

Tineina    27,  36,  148,  152,  209,  210, 

249, 
tipuliformis,  Sesia    ... 
tithonus,  Epinephele     1' 


PAGE 

301 


149,  182, 

191,  228, 

255, 

togata,  Eupithtcia 270, 

Tortrices      18,  26,  36,  64,  114,  210, 

214,  227,  242, 
Tortricidse       ...  .  ...  7, 

Tortrix 109,  202, 

torvalis,  Pyrausta      

Toxocampa  (Ophiusa)  

trabealii',  Agrophila 181, 

Trachea  

tragopogonis,  Amphipyra     18,  126, 

227,  298,  300, 

trapezina,  Calymnia  

trauniana,  Stigmonota         ...        36, 

tremula,  Phalaena 

trepida,  Notodonta 17, 

trevotiiii,  Bombyx 

triangulum,  Noctua 

trideiis,  Acronycta  10,  57,  139,  141, 
142,  174,  175,  194,  305, 

trifasciata,  Hypsipetes         

Irifolii,  Hadena         52, 

trifolii,  Zygsena       19,  80,  107,  217, 

264,  267,  273, 
trigeminana,  Ephippiphora 
trigeminata,  Acidalia 
trigrammica,  Grammesia    ...      182, 
row.  bilinea 

triguttella,  Lithocolletis      

trilinearia,  Ephyra 

trimacula,  Notodonta  ...      159, 

tripartita,  Habrostola  

Triphsena        •••      271, 

triplacia,  Habrostola  


143 
280 

255 

7 
280 

301 

7 

235 
115 
167 
114 
57 


230 
276 

305 
306 

278 

306 

228 

299 
271 

257 
278 
211 
153 
277 


302 
143 

301 
301 
39 
125 
148 
293 
182 

308 
183 
205 

280 
19 
204 
305 
305 
45 
182 
228 
272 
274 
125 


tripoliana,  Catoptria  ride  semulana, 
C. 

triquetrella,  Solenobia         292 

tristata,  Melanippe 299 

tritici,  Agrotis        18,  105,  227,  255, 

271,  280,  288,  298,  299,  300,  305 

tritophus,  Notodonta  29 

trojana,  Ornithoptera  ...         ...   135 

triincata  (russata),  Cidaria  ...  9,  182 

var.  centum-notata        ...         ...       9 

var.  comma-notata         ...         ....       9 

var.  perfuscata    ...         ...         ...       9 

turnus,  Papilio  ,.         ...         ...     56 

turritis,  Euchloe        ...         ...97,  98,  146 

typhon,  Ccenonympha  ...         ...     58 

var.  laidion  ...         ...         ...  276 

typica,  Mania  ...         126,  272,  301 

nhleri,  Chionobas  var.  varuna        ...  278 
uhnata,  Abraxas  vide  sylvata,  A. 
umbra  (marginata),  Chariclea     271, 

274,  301 
umbrana,  Peronea     ...         ...         ...     36 

umbratica,  Cucullia 21,  52,  287 

umbrosa,  Enome        ...         ...         ...  240 

umbrosa,  Noctna       ...  252 

iinangulata,  Melanippe  ...      18,  252 

unauimis,  Apamea         80,  129,  158, 

181,  302 
unca  (uncula),  Hydrelia  ...  15,  225 
undulata,  Eucosmia...         ...      225,  277 

var.  subfasciata  ...         ...         ...  277 

unidentaria,  Coremia    52,  110,  111, 

112,  115,  116,  182 

unifasciana,  Tortrix 228 

unifasciata,  Emmelesia        274 

unimaculella,  Micropteryx  ...   155 

unipiincta,  Leucania  ..  ...     79 

upupana,  Phoxopterj-x        ...      209,  227 
ursiilana,  Phalasna  ...         ...         ...     84 

urticse,   Habrostola  vide   tripartita, 

H. 

urticse,  Spilosoma      181,  188 

urtica^,  Vanessa     13,  15,  17,  47,  58, 

62,    100,    103,     107,     114,    153, 
157,  158,  234,  238,  255,  270,  299 

vaccinii,  Cerastis  (Orrhodia)    8,  15, 

19,  21,  102,  103,  155,  224,  302 

var.  rufa   ...         ...         ...         ...       8 

va?'.  spadicea        ...         ...         ...       8 

valligera,  Agrotis  vide  vestigialis,  A. 
Vanessa  ...  7,  17,  21,  114,  158 

Vanessidi  ..         ...         ...         ...  113 

variata,  Thera  15,16,182 

variegana,  Peronea ...     19 

vectisana,  Eupujcilia  ...         ...  227 

velleda,  Hepialus       272,279 

ra?-.  earn  us  ...         ...         ...     47 

velleda,  Tolype  ...         ...         ...   145 

veuosa,  Viminia   (Arsilonche)  ride 

albovenosa,  A. 

venosata,  Eupithecia  18 

verbasci,  Cucullia      ...         ...18,  95,  303 

verellus,  Crambus     36,  38,    40 


SPECIAL     INDEX. 


PAGE 

vernaria,  Geometra 145,  225 

versicolor,  Endromis  102,  126,  139, 

148,  207,  270 
verticalis,  Botys         ...         ...         ...  242 

verticillata,  Plusia 217 

vespertaria,   Epione    vide     paralel- 
laria,  E. 


vestigialis,  Agrotis 

vetulata,  Scotosia 
vetusta,  Calocampa 


18,  298,  299, 

300,  301,  305 

168 

110,  274,  300, 

301,  302 
3C5 
126 


v-flava,  Oenophila 

vibiciaria,  Phalsena 

vibicigerella,  Coleophora     ...         ...  209 

viburniana,  Tortrix...         ...         ...  228 

viduaria,  Cleora        ...         ...         ...  152 

villica,  Arctia...  126,  227,  304,  305 

viminalis,  Cleoceris  (Epunda)      17, 

229,  302 
Viminia 
•vinula,  Dicranura 


133,  144 
109,  126,  139, 

140,  287 

277 

...  107,  273 
154 


var.  phantoma 
viretata,  Lobophora 

virgata,  Mesotype      

virgaurese,  Polyommatus    126,  208, 

230,  235 
virgaureana,  Sciaphila 
virgularia,  Acidalia  . 
viridana,  Tortrix 
viridaria,  Larentia   . 
viridella,  Adela 
vitalbata,  Phibalapter 
vitellina,  Leucania 
vulgata,  Eupithecia 


yx 


228 
...  167 
85,  224 
...  274 
...  305 
228,  287 
38,  40,  269 
...  227 


w-album,  Thecla 


107,   167,   182 


Xanthia           79,  114 

xanthographa,  Noctua  13,  269,  273, 

286,  287,  299,  300,  301 

xerampelina,  Cirrhoedia        ...     298  299 

Xylinidse         68 


PAGE 

xylosteana,  Tortrix ...  229 

xylostella   (harpella),   Harpipteryx 

109,  305 


yeatiana,  (yeatiella),  Depressaria  .. 
ypsilon,  Agrotis  vide  suffusa,  A. 


298 


zepbyrana,  Argyrolepia 

Zephyrus 

zetterstedtii,  Platyi^tilia 

Zeuzei'a 

ziczac,  Notodonta        12,' 

zoegana,  Xanthosetia 

zonaria,  Nyssia 

Zygsena 

Zygsenidae 


...      228,  304 

7 

280 

202 

136,   271,  300 

228 

85,   148,  154 

88,  150,  261 

...27,  57,     88 


MOLLUSCA. 

Helix  aspersa  ... 
caperata 
ericetorum  ... 
lapicida 
pomatia 
virgata 

NEUROPTERA. 

Termites 

ORTHOPTERA. 

Acridium 

Aedipoda  tartarica    ... 

Decticus  albifrons 


...  2.54 
...  254 
...  254 
...  158 
106,  254 
...   254 


133 


Orthoptera 


THYSANURA. 


Lepisma 
Podura 


278 
135 


278 


25 


66 
66 


WARNE    &    SON, 

pkintkrs, 

127,  Upper  Grange  Road,  S.E. 


'4JCy^  AND  ^^^^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 

No,  1.     Vol.  V.  January  15th,  1894. 

Daiiais  archippus,  /Inosia  pleXippus,  op  Wliat? 

By    F.    J.    BUCKELL,    M.B. 

By  what  name  ought  we  to  call  the  butterfly  which,  as  regards  its 
generic  designation,  sometimes  figures  as  Anosia,  sometimes  as  Danais, 
whilst  for  its  trivial  name  some  use  arcMpjms,  others  erippus,  and  still 
others  plexippiis  ?  Dealing  first  with  the  trivial  nomenclature,  it  will 
be  necessary,  before  an  answer  to  the  above  question  can  be  given,  to 
determine  what  insect  it  was  that  Linnaeus  described  under  the  name 
of  Papllio  plexippiis.  Two  rival  claimants  for  this  honour  are  in  the 
field ;  one,  which  we  may  call  the  American  butterfly,  is  widely 
distributed  in  America,  has  been  recorded  from  some  of  the  islands  of 
the  Pacific,  and  occurred  sparingly  in  southern  and  western  England 
in  1885,  but  is  not  found  in  India  and  China ;  the  other,  which  may  be 
distinguished  as  the  Indian  butterfly,  is  found  in  India  and  China  but 
not  in  America.  The  rivals  are  sharply  differentiated  by  the  presence 
in  the  Indian  species  of  a  white  fascia,  made  up  of  five  blotches  of 
varying  size  and  shape,  which  crosses  from  the  costa  to  about  the 
middle  of  the  hind  margin  of  the  fore- wings ;  otherwise  the  general 
facies  is  much  the  same  in  both. 

The  first  published  description  (as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  there  is 
reason  to  suppose  that  there  was  an  earlier  MS.  description)  by 
Linnseus  of  the  insect  which  he  named  P.  plexippus  is  to  be  found  in 
Systcma  Naturae,  Ed.  X.,  p.  471,  No.  80  (1758)  a  translation  of  which 
is  as  follows  : — "  Wings  entire,  fulvous  ;  with  dilated  black  veins  and 
a  black  margin  with  white  dots.  Habitat,  North  America.  Fore- wings 
with  a  white  fascia  as  in  the  next  species  (P.  chrysippus)  which  it 
resembles."  In  the  Museum  Ludovicce  tJlricce  (which  is  a  description  of 
the  contents  of  the  Royal  Museum),  p.  262,  No.  81  (1764),  China  is 
added  to  North  America  as  the  habitat  of  the  species,  and  the  following 
more  extended  description  given : — "  Body  black,  it  as  well  as  the  head 
and  neck  being  spotted  with  white  on  the  sides  and  beneath.  Antennas 
black,  clubbed.  Feet  bluish  black.  All  the  wings  fulvous,  rounded, 
hardly  manifestly  toothed,  with  the  surfaces  concolorous.  Margin 
black,  with  white  dots  arranged  in  a  double  row.  Black  veins,  very 
broad,  run  through  the  area  of  the  wings,  by  which  characteristic  it  is 
easily  to  be  distinguished  from  the  rest.  Fore-wings  with  broad  black 
apices,  in  which  part,  near  the  white  dots,  is  also  a  white  fascia  broken 


Z  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    EECORD. 

up  into  five  blotches.  Beneath,  all  the  wings  are  concolorous,  but 
more  faintly  black."  The  entry  in  the  12th  edition  of  the  Sy sterna, 
p.  767,  No.  177  (1767)  is  exactly  a  duplicate  of  that  in  the  10th  edition. 
In  all  these  descriptions  there  is  the  most  explicit  reference  to  the 
white  fascia  which  the  Indian  insect  has,  but  which  the  American  has 
not ;  moreover,  the  statement  that  plexipims  is  like  clirysippus  is  true  of 
the  Indian,  but  not  of  the  American  species.  When  we  turn  to  the 
references  given  by  Linnaeus  to  other  authors,  it  will  be  seen  that  they 
relate  to  the  American  species  ;  but  there  are  so  many  discrepancies 
between  Linnaeus'  descriptions  and  his  references  that  the  latter  cannot 
be  assigned  a  very  high  value  as  evidence  in  any  particular  instance. 
Besides  references  to  Petiver's  Museum,  58,  527,  and  to  Ray,  138,  3,  we 
find  '*  Sloan.  Jam.  2,  p.  214,  t.  239,  fig.  5,  6,"  and  "  Catesb.  Car.  2, 
t.  88."  The  first  of  these  is  to  "  A  voyage  to  the  Islands  Madeira, 
Barbadoes,  ....  and  Jamaica,  ivith  the  Natural  History  .  ...  of  the 
last  of  these  Islands,  by  Hans  Sloane,  M.D. ;  in  the  second  volume  of 
this  work  (1725)  is  a  description  and  a  cojDper-jDlate  uncoloured  figure, 
under  the  name  of  Papilio  Jaemaicensis  major,  of  a  butterfly  that  is 
certainly  not  the  typical  American  species,  but  agrees  with  it  in  not 
possessing  any  white  fascia.  The  other  reference  is  to  a  work  by 
Mark  Catesby  entitled  The  Natural  History  of  Carolina,  Florida  and 
the  Bahama  Islands;  in  the  second  volume  of  this  (1743)  is  a  typical 
coloured  figure  of  the  American  butterfly.  The  description  and  the 
references  being  at  variance  then,  it  seems  more  reasonable  to  give  the 
former  the  greater  evidential  value,  and  by  its  aid  to  arrive  at  the 
conclusion  that  it  was  the  Indian  insect  Avhich  Linnaeus  described  under 
the  name  P.  plexippus,  although  it  is  impossible  to  determine  what  led 
him  into  the  error  of  giving  it  a  North  American  habitat.  This 
conclusion  is  confirmed  by  the  evidence  of  Aurivillius,  who  in  1882 
published,  in  Komjl.  Sv.  Vet.  Ahad.  Handl.,  a  paper  entitled  " Eecensio 
critica  Lepidopterorum  Musci  Ludovic(T  Ulricie  qua?  descripsit  Carolus 
A.  LinnS.  In  this  he  states  that  the  two  specimens  now  remaining  in 
that  Museum  are  of  the  Indian  insect,  and  that  Clerck's  figure  (in 
Icones  Lis.  III.  (inedit)  t.  5,  f.  1,  1764)  is  also  of  the  same.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  all  Clerck's  figures  are  said  to  have  been  made 
from  specimens  in  that  Museum ;  the  copy  of  Clerck's  Icones  in  the 
British  Museum  Library  does  not  contain  the  third  part  mentioned  by 
Aurivillius,  and  it  has  therefore  been  impossible  to  verify  his  statement. 
On  the  other  hand,  Aurivillius  states  that  in  what  he  calls  Schedula, 
and  which  he  sjieaks  of  as  older  than  the  10th  edition  of  the  Systema, 
there  is  a  description  of  the  insect  by  Linnaeus  which  contains  no 
allusion  to  the  white  fascia  nor  any  mention  of  China  as  a  habitat.  If 
this  Schedula  be,  as  I  imagine,  a  MS.  document  preserved  in  the  archives 
of  the  Museum,  it  cannot  be  allowed  to  militate  against  the  conclusion 
arrived  at  on  the  evidence  afi'orded  by  the  first  published  description  in 
the  10th  edition  of  the  Systema. 

In  the  cabinet  of  Linnaeus,  at  present  in  the  possession  of  the 
Linnsean  Society,  we  find  in  one  drawer  a  specimen  of  the  American 
butterfly  labelled  "  Archippus,  Fab.,  Marsham,"  and  immediately  under- 
neath it,  four  specimens  of  the  Indian  ])utterfly  labelled  plexippus  ;  in 
another  drawer  is  another  specimen  of  the  former  labelled  "  Archipjms, 
Abbot  t.  6.  Georgia."  This  evidence  is  of  no  value  quoad  Linnanis,  as 
it  is  clear  that  the  American  si^ecijuens  could  not  have  been  labelled, 


DAKAIS    ARCiriPPUS,    ANOSIA   PLEXIPPUS,    OR   WHAT  !  6 

probably  were  not  placed  in  the  drawer,  until  after  the  cabinet  reached 
this  country  in  1788  ;  it  is,  however,  important  as  indicating  the  opinion 
of  Dr.  Smith,  who  purchased  the  cabinet  and  who  himself  wrote  on  the 
lepidoptera  of  Georgia,  that  it  was  the  Indian  species  that  Linnasus 
called  plexippus. 

The  testimony  of  Fabricius  also  leads  in  the  same  direction.  To 
estimate  its  value  aright  we  must  bear  in  mind  that,  according  to  a 
letter  written  by  him  to  Eev.  W.  Kirby,  dated  March  28th,  1803,  and 
quoted  in  Zoologist,  1852,  p.  3544,  Fabricius  had  lived  two  whole  years 
in  the  gi-eatest  intimacy  with  Linna3us,  and,  we  must  further  remember, 
that  the  latter  spoke  of  the  former  as  a  gi-eater  entomologist  than  him- 
self. It  is  reasonable  therefore  to  conclude  that  the  disciple  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  specimens  of  his  great  master.  Fabricius  in 
Entomologia  Systematica,  Vol.  III.,  p.  49,  No.  150  (1793)  describes  the 
American  species  under  the  name  P.  arcMppus  and  says  that  it  differs 
from  P.  plexippus,  Linn,  by  being  rather  larger  and  by  lacking  the 
fascia  on  the  fore-wings,  in  place  of  which  it  has  somewhat  fulvous 
blotches.  He  gives  plexippus,  however,  an  American  habitat  and  says 
nothing  about  Asia  in  connection  with  it. 

Cramer,  however,  in  Papillons  Exotiques,  Vol.  I.,  p.  4.,  pi.  3.,  fig.  a-b, 
had,  as  early  as  1779,  described  and  figured  a  butterfly  from  Brazil 
under  the  name  of  P.  erippus,  which  is  now  universally  recognised  as  a 
variety  of  the  American  insect ;  Cramer  himself  speaks  of  a  species 
from  New  York  which  differs  but  little  from  his  erippus,  and  in  his 
3rd  volume  (1782)  figures  it  under  the  name  of  P.plexippris,  remarking 
that  this  is  probably  the  insect  Linnteus  indicated  by  the  name  on 
account  of  the  habitat  he  mentions.  In  the  same  volume  Cramer 
describes  and  figures  the  Indian  species  under  the  name  of  P.  genntia. 

The  name  erippus  has  never  come  into  general  use ;  for  three- 
quarters  of  a  century,  archippus  was  the  trivial  name  by  which  the 
American  species  was  most  frequently  designated,  although  pJexippus 
had  a  few  adherents  scattered  over  that  period,  notably  amongst 
American  authors. 

Hiibner's  action  is  interesting.  In  Sammlung  exotischer  Schmetter- 
linge,  Bd.  I,  pi.  20,  fig.  1,  2  (1806?),  he  figured  the  American  butterfly 
under  the  name  Limnas  ferrugineaplexippe  ;  in  the  Verzeichniss  helcannter 
Schmetterlinge  (1816)  he  placed  plexippus,  which  he  then  specifically 
identified  as  the  genutia  of  Cramer,  together  with  chrysippus  in  one 
genus  ;  and  in  another,  a  species  to  which  he  gave  the  name  menippe  and 
which,  by  his  synonymic  references,  we  ascertain  that  he  identified 
with  erippus.  Cram,  and  archippus,  Fb. ;  finally  in  the  2nd  volume  of  the 
Sammlung  exotischer  Schmetterlinge,  pi.  7,  fig.  1,  2  (1820-1?)  he  figured 
another  form  of  the  American  species  under  the  name  of  Anosia 
megalippe.  The  absence  of  letterpress,  relating  to  the  species,  fi'om  the 
copy  of  this  latter  work  which  is  in  the  British  Museum  Library, 
deprives  us  of  all  chance  of  ascertaining  the  reasons  which  led  to  these 
frequent  changes  of  trivial  name,  but  it  is  clear  that  though  at  the 
outset  lliibner  supposed  plexippus,  Linn,  to  be  the  American,  he  sub- 
sequently came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  the  Indian  species. 

The  revival  in  modern  times  of  the  claim,  on  behalf  of  the  Ameri- 
can butterfly,  for  the  name  j^lcxipjyus  dates,  as  far  as  I  can  discover,  from 
1875  ;  in  that  year,  Scudder,  in  "  A  Synonymic  List  of  the  Butterflies 
of  North  America  "  published  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Bujfalo  Society  of 


4  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  8   RECORD. 

Natural  Sciences,  Vol.  II.,  p.  245,  adopts  the  name.  He  was  followed 
by  Godman  and  Salvin  in  their  Biologia  Centrali  Americana — Bhopa- 
locera,  Vol.  I.,  p.  1  (1879)  ;  these  authors  base  their  action  on  the 
habitat  given  by  Linnaeus  and  upon  his  reference  to  Catesby.  Moore 
in  "  A  Monograph  of  Limnaina  and  Enploeina"  published  in  the  Proc. 
Zool.  Soc.  pt.  51,  p.  201-252  (1883)  also  adopts  the  same  course.  In  his 
"  Bntterflies  of  the  Eastern  United  States  and  Canada,"  p.  720  (1889) 
Scudder  discusses  the  proper  name  of  the  butterfly  and  declares  that 
there  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  American  species  was  first 
described  by  Linnaeus  under  the  name  of  plexippus.  None  of  these 
authors,  however,  attempt  to  grapple  with  what  is  really  the  crucial 
difficulty  in  the  way  of  accepting  this  conclusion,  viz. : — the  occurrence 
in  all  his  published  descriptions  of  the  unmistakable  reference  to  the 
white  fascia ;  nor  have  I  anywhere  met  with  such  an  attempt. 

After  taking  into  consideration  the  various  evidence  that  has  been 
adduced,  the  following  propositions  are  submitted  as  an  answer  to  the 
question  with  which  this  paper  of)ens,  so  far  as  concerns  the  trivial 
name. 

1. — The  balance  of  argument  is  against  the  claim  that  the  American 
insect  is  the  plexippus  of  Linneeus. 

2. — The  earliest  name  given  to  that  species  was  erippus,  Cram, 
and,  if  the  "  law  of  priority  "  is  to  be  pedantically  adhered  to,  this  is 
the  trivial  name  that  must  be  adopted. 

3. — The  Fabrician  name,  archippus,  is  that  by  which  the  species  has 
been  most  widely  known,  and  as  changes  in  accustomed  nomenclature 
are  to  be  deprecated,  and  as,  moreover,  erippus.  Cram,  is  a  varietal  form 
found  in  Brazil,  archippus  should  be  retained  as  the  trivial  name  of  the 
species,  and  erippus  used  as  the  name  of  the  variety. 

With  regard  to  the  generic  name,  the  course  of  events  has  been  as 
follows  : — Latreille  in  his  Histoire  Naturelle  des  Crustaces  et  des  Insectes, 
Tom.  14,  p.  108  (1805),  created  the  genus  Danaida ;  the  only  species 
which  he  included  in  it  was  plexippus;  in  Genera  Crustaceorum  et 
Insectorum,  p.  201  (1809),  he  altered  the  name  of  the  genus  to  Danaus ; 
he  gives  no  reason  for  the  change,  but  it  has  been  suggested  that  it  was 
made  because  the  earlier  name  was  already  pre-occupied  in  Botany  ;  in 
Encyclopedie  Methodique,  vol.  ix.,  p.  10  (1816),  he  again  changes  the 
name,  whether  intentionally  or  accidentally  does  not  appear,  to  Danais 
which  is  the  form  it  has  since  retained ;  Moore,  in  the  monograph  to 
which  allusion  has  already  been  made,  states  that  Latreille  altered 
Danaida  to  Danais  in  1807,  and  gives  a  reference  to  Illiger's  Magazine, 
vol.  6,  p.  292  ;  a  careful  search  has  not,  however,  enabled  me  to  verify 
the  statement.  Under  all  the  variations  of  the  name  the  type  species 
given  is  always  p)lexippus  ;  that  by  this  name  Latreille  meant  the  Indian 
butterfly,  although  he  gave  it  an  American  habitat  (therein  probably 
following  Fabricius),  is  cleai',  because  in  the  description  he  emphasizes 
the  presence  of  a  white  band  on  the  fore-wings  ;  moreover,  Godart, 
whose  work  in  the  Encycl.  Method,  was  done  under  Latreille's  super- 
vision, gives  the  name  plexippus  as  synonymous  with  genutia.  Cram. 
This  being  so,  and  it  being  now  held  that  the  Indian  butterfly  is  not 
congeneric  with  the  American,  it  follows  that  if  any  form  of  Latreille's 
name  be  retained  it  must  be  for  the  genus  to  whicli  the  former  belongs. 

Fabricius  in  his  Sy sterna  Glossatorum  (1807)  created  the  genus 
Eupl(ea,  of  which  plexippus  is  given  as  a  type  in  the  abstract  in  Illiger's 


HAIR-TUFTS    AND    ANDROCONIA    IN    EUSTROMA    RETICULATA.  5 

Magazine  ;  this  name  therefore  can  have  no  application  to  the  American 
species. 

Hiibner  in  the  Tentamen  (1810  ?)  gave  the  same  species  as  the  type 
of  his  genus  Limnas  ;  in  the  Verzeichniss  (1816),  the  family  Ferruginece 
of  the  stirps  Limnades  is  divided  into  two  genera,  (1)  Eupl(xa,  including 
plexippe,  chrysippe,  &c  ,  (2)  Anosia,  including  menippe  which  we  have 
already  seen  to  be  synonymous  in  Hiibner's  mind  with  archippus,  Fb. 
He  uses  Anosia  as  the  generic  name  for  the  American  insect,  when 
later  he  figures  it  under  the  trivial  name  megalippe.  It  is  not  sur- 
prising, considering  the  political  history  of  the  time,  that  Hiibner 
should  show  no  sign  of  any  acquaintance  with  Latreille's  works. 

The  name  Anosia  seems  therefore  clearly  marked  out  as  the  right 
generic  designation  of  archippus,  and  the  graceful  alliteration  of  Anosia 
archippus  will  furnish  the  full  answer  to  the  question  with  which  we 
started. 


fiair-tufts    and    ^Iiidrocoriia    in    Eustroma    reticulata. 

By    T.    a.    chapman,    M.D.,    F.E.S. 
Bead  before  the  Cambridge  Entmnological  Society,  Dec.  1st,  1893. 

Mr.  Farren  has  called  my  attention  to  a  tuft  or  brush  of  hairs  on 
the  fore- wings  of  Cidaria  reticulata,  and  has  afforded  me  the  opportunity 
of  examining  a  specimen — I  fear  to  its  considerable  injury ;  I  have 
since  obtained  some  additional  material  from  Mr.  Hodgkinson. 

The  precise  disposition  and  relations  of  this  brush  were  quite  new 
to  me,  but,  as  I  knew  very  little  about  the  matter  beyond  the  fact  that 
such  brushes  occur  in  various  situations  (legs,  wings,  body,  &g.),  I 
referred  to  Mr.  Meyrick's  paper,  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.,  March,  1892, 
which  contains  an  immense  fund  of  information  relative  to  the  external 
structural  anatomy  of  the  Geometr^e.  From  this  source  I  gather  that 
such  brushes  are  rarely  found  on  the  fore- wings  of  Geometers. 

Mr.  Meyrick  places  reticidata  in  the  genus  Eustroma,  Hb.,  one  of 
the  characters  of  which  he  thus  describes : — "  Fore- wings  in  ^  with 
strong  hair  pencil  lying  near  inner  margin  from  base  beneath,  some- 
times partially  clothing  lb."  The  other  species  of  this  genus  which 
I  have  examined  are  prunata,  associata,  populata,  testata  ;  the  description 
is  fairly  applicable  to  them,  the  tuft  forming  a  dense  pencil  which 
arises  in  mass  from  near  the  base  of  lb,  its  root  sometimes  extending 
along  a  portion  of  that  nervure,  and  which  (in  cabinet  specimens)  lies  in 
the  form  of  a  dense  brush  nearly  parallel  with  the  neuration.  C.  reticidata 
does  not  agree  at  all  with  the  above-mentioned  species  ;  it  comes  nearer, 
perhaps,  to  the  genus  Lasiogma,  Meyr.,  in  which  the  hairs  spring  from 
the  whole  length  of  the  submedian  fold.  I  have  had  no  opjDortunity 
of  examining  the  species  comprised  in  this  genus ;  it  may,  therefore,  be 
worth  while  describing  the  arrangement  which  obtains  in  reticulata, 
although  it  seems  improbable  that  this  has  not  been  done  already. 

In  popidata,  which  may  be  taken  as  a  type  of  the  other  species 
that  I  have  examined,  the  hairs  arise  from  a  triangular  area,  situated 
on  the  costal  side  of  nervure  lb.  almost  at  its  extreme  base,  between 
this  nervure  and  the  nervure  above.  In  reticidata,  the  area  from  which 
the  hairs  arise  is  situated  between  lb.  and  the  inner  margin ;  it  is 
quadrangular  in  shape,  its  basal  margin  being  rather  farther  from  the 
base  of  the  wing  than  is  the  apical  margin  of  the  area  (on  the  costal 


b  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  8   BEOORD. 

side  of  the  nervure)  in  populata ;  it  extends  from  the  nervure  to  the 
inner  margin,  and  its  length  is  rather  greater  than  its  breadth ;  by 
measure  it  begins  2-mm.  from  the  base  of  the  wing  and  extends  along 
the  inner  margin  for  2-mm.  The  hairs  do  not  proceed  radially  from 
the  base,  as  in  populata,  but  form  a  fringe  or  flat  brush  which  lies 
closely  appressed  to  the  under  surface  of  the  wing,  passing  in  a  direction 
parallel  with  the  costa  ;  they  are  about  3-mm.  in  length,  and  are  pale  at 
their  bases  but  become  nearly  black  at  their  tips,  where  they  are  a 
little  expanded  and  flattened,  and  end  in  a  sharp  lancet-shaped  point. 

Associated  with  this  brush  is  another  and  more  distinctive  feature 
that  is  not  represented  in  any  way  in  the  other  species  of  Eustroma, 
Hb.,  Meyr.,  which  I  have  examined.  When  the  brushes  are  pushed 
aside  and  the  under  surface  of  the  fore- wing,  which  they  cover,  is  thus 
exposed,  a  circular  patch  of  about  1-5-mm.  in  diameter  is  seen,  lying 
between  lb  and  2  ;  this  patch  forms  an  opaque  orange  mark,  very 
different  from  the  strawy-fuscous  colour  and  semi-transjjarent  texture 
of  the  rest  of  the  under  surface.  At  a  point  on  the  upper  surface  of 
the  hind- wing,  that  is  exactly  opjiosite  this  when  the  wings  are  partially 
extended  is  an  almost  identical  patch ;  this  is  circular,  about  I'Ji-mm. 
in  diameter,  and  its  centre  is  about  at  the  centre  of  the  transverse 
nervure  terminating  the  discoidal  cell ;  it  is  orange  in  colour,  but  at  its 
very  centre  is  decidedly  darker  and  denser. 

These  patches,  when  placed  under  the  microscope  (dried  specimens 
be  it  understood),  present  scales  of  a  long  ovoid  or  fusiform  shape  which 
look  as  if  they  were  not  flat,  but  solid  ;  these  are  perhaps  a  trifle  shorter 
than  the  surrounding  scales,  which  latter  have  square  ends  and  from 
six  to  eight  terminal  teeth  and  are  nearly  twice  the  breadth  of  those 
on  the  yellow  patches.  These  broader  scales  are  striated  longitudinally; 
those  on  the  patches,  however,  are  of  a  netted  granular  texture, 
suggestive  rather  of  contents  than  of  surface  markings,  and  many  of 
them  are  loaded  with  black  material  which  is  probably  air  unexpelled 
by  the  medium  of  preparation. 

These  two  patches  (of  androconia  ?)  then  are  opjDOsite  each  other, 
with  the  brush-fan  lying  between  them ;  if  they  are  the  real  scent- 
organs,  we  may  suppose  the  brush  to  be  of  use  in  keeping  them 
sufficiently  apart  to  ensure  the  passing  over  them  of  a  current  of  air. 


]\[otes  ori  Dp.  Bucl^ell's  Paper  on  Glassificatioii. 

By    W.    F.    KIRBY,    F.L.S.,    F.E.S., 

Assistant  in  Zool.  Dept.,  Brit.  Mus.  (Nat.  Hist.),  South  Kensington. 

Linne  appears  to  have  been  guided  largely  by  size  and  general 
appearance  in  the  arrangement  of  his  groups,  as  he  placed  many 
Nymphalids  (e.g.  Morpho)  among  his  Eqidtes,  and  certain  Papilionids 
among  his  Nymphales.  Such  errors,  of  course,  were  unavoidable  in  the 
infancy  of  Entomology. 

Fabricius  treated  the  Danai  candidi  and  the  Danai  festivi  as  two 
gi'oups,  and  restricted  the  name  Danai  to  the  Whites ;  Danaus  was 
subsequently  used  by  Esper  almost  in  a  generic  sense.  Unless  we 
hold  that  Ave  must  have  male  mythological  names  to  agree  with  the 
masculine  Daaans,  which  would  be  most  convenient  on  the  score  of 
expediency,  we  should  probably  have  to  recognise  brassiae  as  the  type 
of  Danaus, 


NOTES    ON    DR.    BUCKELl's   PAPER   ON    0LAS81FI0AT10N,  7 

Dr.  Buckell  makes  no  allusion  to  Hiibner's  Tentamen.  This  is  a 
mere  two-jjage  list  of  genera  with  types,  but  is  useful  as  fixing  types. 
It  appears  to  me  to  have  been  issued  about  1810,  for  it  contains  one 
name,  apparently  adopted  from  the  Systema  Glossatorum  of  Fabricius, 
published  in  1807.  It  is  more  likely  that  Hiibner  copied  the  name 
from  Fabricius  than  that  Fabricius  co})ied  it  from  Hiibner. 

No  difficulty  can  exist  in  determining  the  type  of  Latreille's  Satyrus, 
as  Satynis  or  le  Satyre  is  used  as  the  name  of  megcera  by  many  of  the 
old  authors. 

I  am  a  little  doubtful  about  the  date  of  publication  of  the  ninth 
volume  of  the  Edinlmrgh  Encyrloj)(edia,  in  which  Leach's  important 
article  appeared.  The  date  usually  given  is  1815,  but  the  volume  is 
dated  1819,  a  discrepancy  which  I  have  not  as  yet  been  able  to  clear 
up.     The  book  may  have  been  issued  in  parts. 

One  or  two  works  not  noticed  by  Dr.  Buckell  may  be  named.  In 
1857  Wallengren,  in  his  Lepidoptera  Scandinavue  Bhopalocera,  divided 
the  Swedish  butterflies  as  follows : — 

PAPILIONES. 

Tetrapodes. 
Satyroidai  : — Ccenonymplia,     Pararye,     Aphantopus     (  hyjjeranthus  ), 
Epinephele,  Safyims,  [^Chionohas,  not  Brit.],  Erebia. 

Nymphalides  : — Limenitis,  Melitcea,  Argynnis,  Vanessa. 

Hexapodes. 
Heliconidcs  : — Colias,  Goniopteryx,  Leucophasia,  Anthocharis,  Pieris, 
Aporia. 

Parnasii: — Doritis  (=;  Parnassius). 
Equites : — Papilio. 

Lyccenides  : — Zephyrus  (  quercus,  betulai  ),  Thecla,  Polyommatus, 
Lyccena. 

Heteropodes. 
Erycinides : — Hamearis  (luctna). 

HESPEEIOID^. 

Heteropteriis,  Hespena,  Syrichtus,  Tlianaos. 

In  1860  Zebrawski,  in  a  work  on  the  Lepidoptera  of  Cracow, 
proposed  the  following  arrangement,  which,  so  far  as  I  know,  is  quite 
unique: — SphingidcK,  Noctuidce,  Boinhycidie,  Papilionidd;,  Geometridce, 
Pyralioidce,  TortricidcB,  Pterophoridce,  Tineidce.  The  Papilionidie  are  not 
sub-divided  except  into  genera  as.  follows : — Doritis  (=  Parnassius), 
Pontia  (=  Pieris),  Melargus  (galathea),  Pararga,  Hipparchia,  Erebia, 
Satyrus,  Apatura,  Limenitis,  Vanessa,  Argynnis  (includes  the  Melitseas), 
Hesperia,  Chrysophanus,  Lyccnna,  Thecla,  Colias,  Gonepteryx,  Papilio. 
As  1  cannot  read  his  Polish,  I  cannot  explain  his  reasons  for  this 
arrangement. 

Finally,  Schatz  and  Rober,  in  their  comjianion  volume  on  genera  to  the 
great  work  on  Exotic  Butterflies  by  Dr.  Staudinger  (1885-92)  distribute 
the  families  as  follows : — Papilionidce,  Pieridce,  Danaidce,  \_Nectropida;'],* 
\_Acr0eida3'],  [Ileliconidie^,  Nyrnphalidce,  [_3Iorphida;^,  [^Brassolidce'}, 
Satyridce,  \_L%bytheidce],  Erycinidce,  Lyccenidce,  Hesperidce. 

*  The  families  within  brackets  have  no  British  representatives. 


8  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S   BECOBD. 

On  an  yidditioiial  JVIetliod   for  Determining  the  Species  of 
certain  Lepidoptera. 

By    W.     S.     RIDING,     M.  D. 

It  has  frequently  occurred  to  me  that  the  structure  of  the  scales  of 
Lepidoptera  might  be  a  helj)  in  the  classification  of  certain  species, 
which,  at  present,  afford  considerable  difficulty.  Some  time  ago  I 
examined  the  subject  cursorily  with  reference  to  the  closely  allied 
varieties  of  Orrhodia  vaccinii  and  0.  ligula,  especially  vars.  rtifa  (Tutt) 
and  spadicea  (Hb.)  of  the  former,  which  have  the  characteristic 
apex  and  hind- margin  of  ligula,  a  good  many  of  which  are  taken  here. 
I  have  long  considered  these  as  vars.  of  ligula,  but  the  general  feeling 
of  lepidopterists  seems  to  be  against  this  view  and  such  specimens 
have,  I  believe,  been  accepted  for  the  most  part  as  varieties  of  vaccinii. 
Kecentlyl  have  again  gone  into  the  question,  with  the  result  of  confirm- 
ing my  previous  imi^ression.  I  find  the  scales  of  the  upper  surface  of 
the  forewings  of  the  types  of  vaccinii  and  ligula  jDresent  a  constant 
difference,  and  that  the  special  varieties  alluded  to  should  be  placed,  from 
this  point  of  view,  under  the  species  ligula  and  not  under  vaccinii. 

In  the  first  place,  I  examined  with  a  microscope  a  tyj^e  specimen 
of  0.  vaccinii  (ochreous,  with  brown  markings  and  pale  wing  rays), 
taking  some  scales  from  the  base,  middle  and  hind  margin  of  the  upj^er 
surface  of  both  fore-wings.  These  I  found  to  vary  in  the  number  of 
teeth,  some  having  3,  others  4,  5,  or  6.  I  added  together  those  having 
a  similar  number  and  took  the  percentage,  with  the  following  result — 

Scales  with  3  teeth  formed  15  per  cent,  of  the  whole. 

55        ^     55        55        ■'-■^        55  » 

fi  4 

55        'J     55        55         ^        55  55 

100 

or,  84  per  cent,  of  the  scales  of  typical  vaccinii  were  found  to  have  3  or 
4  teeth.  I  then  took  the  scales  of  a  typical  0.  ligula  (var.  ochrea,  Tutt), 
our  common  form  here,  which  has  a  yellowish  band  before  the  hind 
margin,  and  found  that  there  were  no  scales  with  3  teeth  but  that — 

Scales  with  4  teeth  formed  15  per  cent,  of  the  Avhole. 
^  44 

55  "  55  55  ^^  55  55 

55  "  55  55  ^^  55  »> 

7  ^ 

55  •  55  55  "  55  55 

100 

or,  85  per  cent,  of  the  scales  of  typical  ligula  had  5,  6,  or  7  teeth. 
These  data  were  confirmed  by  a  general  examination  of  many  other  sjieci- 
mens,  with  an  approximately  similar  result.  We  may  thus,  apparently, 
distinguish  typical  0.  vaccinii  from  0.  ligula  by  the  large  predominance 
of  scales  with  3  or  4  teeth  (about  84  per  cent.)  in  the  former,  and 
of  scales  with  5,  6,  or  7  teeth  (about  85  per  cent.)  in  the  latter.  A 
glance  at  the  field  under  the  microscope  is  sufficient  to  do  this. 

My  attention  was  next  directed  to  ascertaining  whether  this  fact 
would  help  us  in  determining  the  species  of  the  varieties  (hitherto 
classed  as  vaccinii),  rufa  (Tutt)  and  spadicea  (Hb.),  having  a  pointed  apex 


METHOD    FOR    DETERMINING   THE   SPECIES.  9 

and  a  more  or  less  concave  hind  margin.  An  examination  of  a  specimen 
of  this  form  (  =  var.  spadicea,  Hb.  but  approaching  rufa)  gave  the 
following  result — 

Scales  with  4  teeth  formed  10  per  cent,  of  the  whole. 

jj  b       „  „  o_i  ,,  „ 


100 
a  few  with  3  teeth  only,  amounting  to  less  than  ^  per  cent.,  were  left 
out  of  the  calculation.  This  gave  90  per  cent,  of  the  scales  as  having 
5,  6,  or  7  teeth  (89  per  cent,  of  these  having  5  or  6)  and  clearly 
placed  the  insect,  as  to  its  scales,  in  the  ligula  group.  A  second  speci- 
men, similar  to  the  above  but  still  more  approaching  var.  rufa,  showed 
a  like  result — 

Scales  with  4  teeth  formed  3  per  cent,  of  the  whole. 

jj  S      )>         })       "*         }>  }> 

!)  b       „  „       oA  ,,  „ 


100 
or,  97  per  cent,  of  the  scales  had  5,  6,  or  7  teeth  and  86  per  cent.  5  or  6. 
On  the  other  hand,  similar  insects  which  differed  only  in  having  the 
blunt  apex  and  rounded  margin  of  vaccinii — the  true  var.  spadicea  (Hb.) 
and  rufa  (Tutt) — showed  in  one  specimen — 

Scales  with  3  teeth  formed  8  per  cent,  of  the  whole. 
5)  4     ,,  „       bU         ,,  „ 

j>  5     „  „       oi  „  „ 

,»  t)  ,,  ,,  J-  5,  }> 


100 


and  in  another  specimen, 

Scales  with  3  teeth  formed  8  per  cent,  of  the  whole. 
)j  4     „  „       bo         „  „ 

100 

or,  69-5  per  cent,  of  the  scales  had  3  or  4  teeth  only — allying  the 
specimens  in  this  respect  to  the  type  of  vaccinii.  These  data  tallied  with 
a  previous  examination  of  similar  specimens  some  months  ago. 

The  difficulty  frequently  experienced  in  separating  C.  russata  and 
C.  immanata  led  me  to  examine  a  few  of  both  these  species,  to  ascei'tain 
if  any  similar  differentiation  seemed  possible.  Some  six  specimens  of 
C.  russata  and  vars.  perfnscata,  comma-notata  and  centum-notnta  showed 
a  large  predominance  of  scales  with  4  teeth,  which  formed  60  to  80 
per  cent,  of  the  whole,  a  few  only  having  3  and  5  teeth.  This  pro- 
portion seemed  approximately  constant.  One  specimen  of  C.  immanata 
var.  marmorata  on  the  other  hand,  showed  an  average  of  97  per  cent, 
of  scales  with  4,  5,  or  6  teeth  (43  per  cent,  had  4  only),  the  remainder 
having  3 ;  but  one  of  the  type  of  C.  immanata,  with  the  nearly  black 
median  area,  showed  a  preclominance  of  the  scales  with  4  teeth  to  the 


10  THE    entomologist's   KECORD. 

extent  of  70  per  cent.,  the  majority  of  the  remainder  having  5  teeth 
and  the  rest  3  or  6.  The  latter,  then,  as  regards  scales,  showed  a 
similarity  to  russata,  and  no  differentiation  seems  possible.  These  two 
last  results,  based  on  single  specimens,  require  confirmation  or  other- 
wise, but  it  would  appear  as  though  only  the  one  form,  marmorata,  can 
be  differentiated  by  its  scales. 

Experiments  were  also  made  with  the  two  Cuspidia,  tridens  and  pst. 
I  have  only  as  yet  been  able  to  examine  two  specimens  of  tridens,  not 
caring  to  sacrifice  more  of  my  series  of  the  bred  insect.  The  average 
of  the  two  gives — 

Scales  with  4  teeth  formed  35  per  cent,  of  the  whole.* 

})  '-'         )f  }}  '-"  J5  5) 


100 


or,  65  per  cent,  were  scales  with  5  or  6  teeth.  One  had  fewer  scales 
with  6  teeth  and  more  with  4  than  the  other,  but  there  was  the  pre- 
dominance of  those  with  5,  in  both.     Psi  on  the  other  hand  showed — 

Scales  with  3  teeth  formed  6  per  cent,  of  the  whole.* 
4  74 


100 
or,  the  scales  with  3  or  4  teeth  formed  80  per  cent. 

Not  only  is  there  this  difference  between  the  two,  but  the  scales  of 
tridens  have  also  unequal  and  irregular  teeth  with  projection  of  the 
middle  ones,  giving  a  ragged  appearance,  in  a  very  considerable  pro- 
portion, especially  of  those  from  the  centre  and  hind  margin  of  the 
wings,  whilst  the  teeth  of  the  scales  of  jysi  are  comparatively  equal  and 
regular,  and  show  less  tendency  to  projection  of  the  middle  ones. 
This  difference  is  very  noticeable.  Of  course  these  points  remain  oj^en 
for  confirmation  or  otherwise  when  more  bred  sjjecimens  of  tridens 
and  the  darker  varieties  of  psi  have  been  examined.  As  regards  any 
connection  between  colour  and  intensity  of  colour  and  the  number  of 
teeth  of  scales,  I  think,  for  the  most  part,  the  darker  insects  have  their 
scales  with  the  most  teeth,  but  this  is  far  from  invariable,  as  is  seen 
above,  those  from  the  white  centre  of  var.  marmorata  having  more  teeth 
than  those  from  the  true  dark  imvianata  or  the  var.  per/uscata  of  russata, 
and  I  have  noticed  other  similar  cases. 

I  wish  these  notes  to  be  taken  as  suggestive  for  the  most  part, 
though  I  have  endeavoured  to  some  extent  to  guard  against  the  fallacy 
of  too  few  data  by  examining  the  scales  from  three  different  parts  of 
each  wing  and  from  a  considerable  number  of  specimens  (except  in  the 
cases  of  immanata  and  tridens),  still  I  am  quite  aware  of  the  fact  that 
many  more  examinations,  corroborative  or  otherwise,  are  needed  before 
attempting  to  generalize,  but  I  think,  at  all  events,  I  have  made  out  a 
case  for  further  investigation. — Buckerell  Lodge,  near  Honiton. 
November  2Uh,  1893. 

*0n  the  other  hand,  the  total  of  scales  with  4  and  5  teeth  comhined  give 
respectively  91  and  92  percent.,  a  very  close  result. — Ed. 


ON  THE  LARVA  OF  AECTIA  CAIA.  11 

'With  special  reference  to  its  correlated  variations  in  Plumage, 
Moulting  and  Hybernation. 

By     T.     A.      CHAPMAN,      M.  D. 

(Continued  from  Vol.  IV.,  page  290). 

I  have  mentioned  that  there  are  at  least  two  varieties  of  Forwards, 
those  that  attain  their  full  growth  in  the  6th  skin,  and  those  that  do 
not  do  so  until  the  7th,  It  so  happened,  that  in  my  first  brood,  which  was 
apparently  a  very  normal  one,  there  was  quite  a  sharp  line  dividing  the 
Forwards  from  the  Normal  larvte  ;  six  larvae  altogether  were  Forwards, 
and  I  noted  that  these,  in  the  4th  skin,  lacked  the  dorsal  and  lateral  pale 
lines.  In  later  broods  this  was  not  always  the  case,  but  in  the  4th  skin 
the  Forwards  were  if  anything  paler  than  the  Normals  at  that  stage, 
and  at  the  same  time  distinctly  larger  than  Normals  in  5th  skin. 

In  after  broods  there  were  frequently  some  larvee  that  appeared  in 
doubt  as  to  whether  they  would  be  Forwards  or  Normals,  assuming  to 
a  slight  extent  the  caia  plumage  in  the  5th  skin,  without  being  larger 
than  the  usual  hybernating  form  in  that  skin  ;  others  passing  through 
a  normal  5th  skin,  nevertheless  went  on  slowly  into  the  6th  skin,  with 
some  amount  of  caia  plumage,  without  hybernating.  All  these  com- 
pleted their  transformations  without  hybernation,  but  were  always  a 
very  long  way  behind  the  genuine  Forwards  in  point  of  time.  I  have 
since  met  with  these  forms,  though  very  sparingly,  in  broods  from  wild 
eggs. 

In  this  first  normal  brood  the  whole  of  the  Normals  acquired/?t?/(7mosa 
plumage  in  the  5th  skin,  and  there  occurred  only  one  decided  but 
also  important  variety,  represented  by  four  larvte  which  grew 
rather  larger  than  the  others,  appeared  to  have  denser  hair  than  the 
usual  form,  had  fewer  of  the  long  hairs  that  exist  freely,  though  not 
conspicuously  (usually  two  on  each  tubercle),  in  that  form,  and  were  all 
four  of  a  uniform  rich  ruddy  hue,  very  like  the  brightest  form  of 
fuliginosa  ;  probably  these,  more  than  the  normal  hybernators,  suggested 
this  name  for  the  plumage  of  that  stage.  These  four  larvte  were  found 
to  differ  also  in  another  important  respect  from  the  ordinary  Normals. 
It  was  recognised  on  September  11th  that  they  had  all  ceased  feeding 
and  desired  to  hybernate,  and  they  were  accordingly  placed  in  a  cool 
cellar.  On  November  23rd  a  number  of  Normals  together  with  these 
four  special  larvae  were  brought  up  into  a  warm  room.  At  the  end  of 
a  week  all  the  Normals  had  commenced  to  feed,  but  it  was  fourteen  days 
before  these  red  larvae  did  so.  It  appeared  therefore  as  if  these  larvae 
were  not  only  better  nourished  and  more  warmly  clad  than  their 
neighbours,  but  had  also  entered  into  a  more  profound  winter  sleep, 
and  it  seemed  natural  to  conclude  that  they  were  specially  prepared  to 
stand  a  longer  and  more  severe  winter  than  their  brethren. 

It  is  curious  that,  among  the  many  hundreds  of  larvae  which  I 
reared  after  this,  I  never  met  with  one  that  presented  jjrecisely  this 
combination  of  characters,  not  even  among  the  progeny  of  these  very 
individuals.  It  may  perhaps  be  going  too  far  to  suggest  that,  as  I  was 
breeding  exclusively  from  Forwards,  the  idea  of  a  warmer  climate  was 
sufficiently  impressed  on  the  race  to  prevent  such  a  preparation  for 
unusual  cold  being  made,  and  that  the  tendency  to  make  such  prepara- 


12  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  8    RECORD. 

tion  was  eliminated  even  from  the  offspring  of  these  larvae  themselves 
(I  only  reared  one  brood),  by  the  forcing  process  to  which  the  parents 
were  subjected  ;  inasmuch,  however,  as  similar  conclusions  are  pointed 
to  by  other  results,  the  suggestion  is,  perhaps,  not  inadmissible. 

i  did  not  get  a  figure  of  either  of  these  four  larvaj,  the  nearest 
approach  to  them,  and  it  was  very  close  in  appearance,  is  represented 
in  Plate  I.,  fi"-.  2.  The  larva  there  figured  was  hybernating  in  this 
form  in  its  fith  skin,  and  was  one  of  the  varieties  in  the  hybernating 
forms  that  occurred  in  later  broods  but  were  unrepresented  in  the  first, 
in  which  all  hybernators  assumed  fuligiaosa  plumage  in  the  5th  skin, 
and  then  hybernated. 

CTo  be  contimied.) 


SCIENTIFIC  NOTES  &  OBSERVATIONS. 


^>^ 


Pupa  of  Melitaea  biaturna. — Tlie  pu]3a  of  M.  matiirna  is  very 
different  from  that  of  M.  cinxia.  It  is  larger  and  longer  in  proportion, 
and,  in  place  of  being  greyish-brown,  is  of  a  creamy-white,  spotted  with 
intense  black,  the  spots  on  the  thorax  and  wing  cases  being  especially 
large ;  in  some  specimens  the  abdomen  is  more  or  less  brownish.  I 
have  often  reared  this  species  from  the  beautiful  larva. — F.  B.  Newnham. 
December  Gth,  1893. 


Sariation. 

Aberrations  of  Various  Butterflies. — Coenonymplia  pamphilus. — 

I  caught  this  summer  a  very  strange  ab.  of  C.  pampkUm,  in  which  there 

is  a  row  of  six  ocelli  down  the  centre  of  the  underside  of  the  hind-wings. 

The   pupils   of    these   ocelli   are   silvery-white,   the   rings   being  light 

brown.      Vanessa  c-alhum. — I  bred,  among  man}'^  others  this  season,  a 

small  3   c-albuvi,  in  which  what  is  usually   the    (7-like   mark,   which 

gives  the  trivial  name  to  the  species,  is  reduced  to  a  mere  straight  line. 

I  propose  to  call  this  ab.  iota-album,  partly  because  the  name  of  I-album 

is  already  employed  by  Esper  to  denote  an  ab.  of  the  European  V.  egea, 

Cram,  and  partly  because  my  specimen  has  no  dot.      V.  atalanta. — I, 

this  autumn,  reared  two  specimens  of  V.  atalanta,  in  which  the  outer 

row  of  white  spots,  usually  five  in  number,  exhibits  a  sixth,  this  being 

placed  within  the  red  band  of  the  upper  wings.     Lijccena  icarus  ab. 

icarinus,  Scriba. — This  aberration,  which  is  devoid  of  the  basal  dots  on 

the  underside  of  the  upper  wings,  occurs  rather  commonly  here  in  a 

rough  pasture  on  the  S.W.  slope  of  the  Ragleth ;  I  have  caught  many 

specimens  of  both  sexes.     This  aberration  is  generally  scarce,  at  least 

on  the  Continent.     L.  icarus  varies  much  in  size,  my  smallest  measures 

13/16  of  an  inch,  being  much  smaller  tlian  ray  smallest  minima,  while 

my  largest  expands  to  1  9/16  inch.    These  are  both  females.     Thissuiall 

form,  which  appears  about  July  and  is  very  local,  might  almost  be  a 

distinct    species,    approaching   to    the    continental    L.    esehari,    Hubn. 

Another  aberration  is  found  here,  in  which  the  upper  side  is  of  a  bright 

blue  without  any  trace  of  purple.     This  I  take  to  be  the  L.  dorylas  of 

the  older  British  authors,  but  it  is  very  distinct  from  the  Alpine  hylas 


VARIATION.  13 

of  Esper,  or  the  dori/las  of  Hiibner, — F.  B,  Newnham,  Church  Stretton, 
Salop.     December  6th,  1893. 

Varieties  of  Lepidoptera  exhibited  at  the  York  and  District 
Field  Naturalists'  Society. — The  following  exhibits  of  varieties  and 
local  forms  have  been  made  during  the  past  year : — The  President, 
Mr.  G.  C.  Dennis,  F.E.S. :  a  living  specimen  (bred)  of  Arctia  lubricipeda 
var.  radlata  from  Barnsley.  Mr.  R.  Dutton  :  Vars.  of  Ahraxaii  nhaata 
and  Arctia  lubricipeda  ;  dark  var.  of  Abraxas  grossulariata  and  her- 
maphrodite specimen  of  Epione  vesj)ertaria  from  York  ;  forms  of 
Asphalia  diluta  and  Hadena  protea,  also  from  York.  Mr.  J,  Hawkins  : 
Hi/beruia  progemmaria  var.  fuscata  ;  Tephrosia  biundnlaria  var. 
delamerensis  (bred),  and  Zijgaena  lonicerce  var.  semi-lutescens  (bred)  from 
York.  Mr.  S.  Walker :  Vars.  of  Orthosia  suspecta  from  York  ;  also 
Boarmia  rhomboidaria  var.  perfiimaria.  Mr.  G.  Jackson  :  a  number  of 
exceptionally  fine  vars.  of  Arctia  lubricipeda,  bred  from  larvaj  obtained 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  York  during  the  past  few  years  ;  amono-st 
these  were  many  thickly  blotched  specimens,  known  as  the  "  York 
form,"  but  none  of  them  approached  "  k  beaucoup  pres  "  the  now  well- 
known  var.  radiata,  and  Mr.  Jackson  stated  that  he  had  never  suc- 
ceeded in  breeding  this  variety  nor  any  form  nearly  resembling  it, 
although  he  had  bred  the  species  for  a  number  of  successive  years. 
Mr.  W.  Hewett  :  Bisulcia  ligustri  var.  olivacea  from  Driffield  ;  dark 
forms  of  Luperina  testacea  from  Hartlepool ;  vars.  of  Arctia  lubricirjeda 
from  Driffield  and  other  localities,  that  from  Driffield  having  the  fore 
wings  typical,  but  the  hind  wings  of  the  same  colour  as  var.  radiata 
viz.,  smoky  black,  the  base,  wing-rays  and  fringe  alone  being  cream- 
coloured  ;  the  head  and  thorax  were  cream-coloured,  the  body  yellow, 
with  six  black  sj)ots  down  the  middle  and  on  each  side ;  the  anteniiEe 
simple  ;  also  a  fine  var.  of  Arctia  caia  from  Hull,  in  which  the  fore 
wings  were  of  an  almost  uniform  brown  colour,  the  hind  wino-s  beino- 
black  excej^t  at  the  base  and  fringe ;  forms  of  Anchocelis  pistacina  from 
Hull  and  Beverley,  numerous  forms  of  Taeniocarnpa  gothica  selected 
from  more  than  300  specimens  ;  vars.  of  Paedisca  solandriana  from 
Darlington  ;  a  beautiful  melanic  form  of  Smerinthus  popidi  (bred)  from 
Beverley,  and  a  pale  form  from  Hull  ;  a  var.  of  Vanessa  c-albnm  with 
the  hind  wings  of  a  uniform  chocolate  colour  ;  Hybernia  progemmaria 
var.  fuscata  and  Tephrosia  biundularia  var.  delamerensis,  with  inter- 
mediate forms  of  both  sj^ecies,  from  York ;  melanic  forms  of  Diurnea 
fagella  from  Sledmere ;  a  var.  of  Abraxas  grossulariata  having  the  fore 
wings  almost  entirely  black,  from  Beverley,  and  a  similar  var.,  bred 
this  season,  from  York ;  a  long  and  variable  series  of  Lomaspilis 
marginnta  from  York ;  two  suffused  examples  of  Ephyra  pendnlaria 
from  York  ;  pale  forms  of  Abraxas  ulmata  from  Sledmere,  as  well  as 
an  almost  white  specimen  and  another  lead  coloured  of  the  same  sjiecies 
from  Drewton  Dale,  Yorkshire  ;  two  dark  specimens  of  Odontopera 
bidentata  from  Hull  ;  very  dark  Noctua  xanthographa  from  Hull  :  vars, 
of  Orthosia  suspecta  from  York ;  Zygcena  lonicerce  var.  semi-httesceus 
from  York  ;  a  variable  series  of  Apamea  fibrosa  from  Wicken  Fen ;  a 
fine  var.  (bred)  of  Vanessa  urtica} ;  Melanthia  rubiginata  var.  plumbata 
from  the  North  of  Scotland ;  light,  dark,  and  intermediate  forms  of 
Agrotis  puta  from  Kent  ;  several  tine  dark  and  liglit  varieties  of 
Abraxas  grossulariata,  bred  this  season  at  York. — Wm.  Hewett. 


14  THE    entomologist's   RECORD. 

OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

Chelonia  plantaginis  double  brooded. — On  the  lOtli  of  November 
the  pupa  of  C.  plantaginis,  of  which  I  spoke  in  the  November  issue  of  the 
Record,  yielded  its  imago,  a  3  ,  which  is  quite  typical.  The  ova  hatched 
on  the  4th,  5th,  and  6th  of  June ;  the  larvae  were  kept  throughout  in 
a  very  damp  room,  near  a  window  facing  east  which  got  but  a  very 
small  modicum  of  sun. — F.  B.  Newniiam.     December  Qth,  1893. 

Larv^  of  Macroglossa  stellatarum. — The  larva3  of  M.  stellatarmn 
were  rather  common  here  in  August,  and  kept  feeding  on  Galium  verum. 
We  all  know  the  full-fed  larva ;  when  young  it  is  dark  olive  green, 
the  head  and  horn  of  a  still  darker  shade,  while  the  sub-dorsal  and 
spiracular  lines  are  faintly  indicated  by  a  shade  lighter  than  that  of  the 
body.  It  feeds  in  the  same  localities  as  C.  porcellus,  of  which,  strange 
to  say,  I  have  not  seen  a  single  specimen  in  the  larval  state  this  season, 
though  it  is  usually  common  here  on  the  same  food-plant. — F.  B. 
Newnham.     December  6th,  1893. 

Time  of  Flight  of  Luperina  cespitis. — During  September  I  twice 
noticed  L.  cespitis  on  the  wing  between  4  and  5  p.m.  I  have  seldom 
taken  it  at  light  before  11  p.m.,  so  that  it  seems  probable  that  there  are 
two  distinct  times  of  flight. — J.  H.  D.  Beales,  West  Woodhay  Eectory, 
Newbury. 

Macroglossa  stellatarum  near  Manchester. — On  June  20th  I 
took  a  specimen  of  Macroglossa  stellatarum  in  one  of  our  greenhouses, 
and  heard  that  others  had  been  seen  in  the  neighbourhood. — Wilfrid 
Stones,  Northwood,  Seymour  Grove,  Old  Trafford,  Manchester. 
November  25th,  1893. 

Second  brood  op  Nemeophila  plantaginis. — In  looking  over  the 
"  Notes  on  Collecting "  in  this  month's  Record,  I  notice  that  the  Rev. 
F.  B.  Newnham  mentions  an  instance  of  a  larva  of  N.  plantaginis  spinning 
up  in  September.  That  does  not  appear  very  strange  to  me,  as  I  have 
found  no  difficulty  in  rearing  a  second  brood  of  N.  plantaginis  ;  in  fact, 
I  have  reared  a  second  brood  every  year  for  several  years,  and  last  year 
tried  to  get  a  third  but  was  unsuccessful.  I  obtained  larvae  at  Scotstown 
Moor  in  the  beginning  of  May.  The  first  imago  emerged  on  June  18th. 
On  June  21st  I  got  eggs  from  a  female  which  hatched  on  June  28th, 
and  the  larvae  began  to  spin  up  on  August  14th.  The  first  imago  of  the 
second  brood  emerged  on  August  27th.  I  had  then  some  difficulty  in 
getting  a  pairing,  and  it  was  September  4th  before  I  got  eggs  from  the 
second  brood.  These  hatched  on  September  11th  and  fed  up  with 
little  trouble  until  the  middle  of  October,  when,  unfortunately,  1  could 
not  attend  to  them  as  they  required,  so  they  hybernated.  A  friend  of 
mine,  Mr.  J.  Duncan,  successfully  reared  a  number  of  a  third  brood, 
but  he  had  to  put  them  on  their  food  every  day  to  keep  them  from 
hybernating.  He  fed  the  larvfe  on  cabbage. — Wm.  Cowie,  5,  Canal 
Street,  Aberdeen.     November  26th,  1893. 

Blight. — We  have  in  this  part  of  the  country  a  very  extraordinary 
superstition  with  regard  to  what  goes  by  the  name  of  "  blight." 
Frequently  during  the  summer,  after  a  spell  of  hot  weather,  there 
follow  two  or  three  close  and  "  thundery  "  days  when  the  sky  is  com- 
pletely overcast,  though  without  any  sign  of  immediate  rain,  the  effect 
being  to  make  everything  dark  and  dismal.      If  at  such  a  time  a 


NOTES    ON   COLLECTING,    ETC.  15 

countryman  is  asked  his  ojoinion  of  the  weather,  he  will,  in  all 
probability,  say  that  he  doesn't  think  we  shall  have  any  rain,  it  looks 
to  him  more  like  "  blight,"  and  here  his  knowledge  ends.  What  is 
meant  I  have  never  yet  been  able  to  discover,  but  the  general  imj^ression 
seems  to  be  that  the  air  is  so  densely  packed  with  flies  as  to  obstruct 
the  light,  and  that  it  may  remain  so  for  several  days  together — a  highly 
probable  event !  Another  entirely  new  and  interesting  fact  which  1 
learnt  the  other  day  from  a  gentleman  was,  "  that,  after  a  succession  of 
easterly  winds,  all  trees  and  plants  are  found  to  be  covered  with 
thousands  of  grubs  which  have  been  brought  by  the  wind  " — perhajjs 
from  the  depths  of  the  German  Ocean  ?  1  should  like  to  know  if  any 
similar  phenomena  have  been  observed  by  entomologists  in  other 
parts  of  the  country, — Alfred  J,  Johnson,  Boldmere,  Erdington. 
October  Idth,  1893. 

Late  occurrence  of  Argynnis  euphrosyne. — I  took  a  fine  fresh 
specimen  of  this  butterfly  at  Darenth  on  September  6th.  Is  this  not 
unusually  late  ? — B.  Scarfe,  Dartford,  Kent. 

CoLiAS  HYALE. — This  spccics  seems  to  have  been  scarce  in  this 
locality  during  the  past  season.  I  only  saw  one  specimen,  which  I 
captured  near  Darenth  Wood  on  August  13th. — B.  Scarfe,  Dartford, 
Kent. 

NOTES    OF    THE    SEASON    1893. 

York. — The  season  which  is  now  rapidly  drawing  to  a  close,  and 
which  will  long  be  remembered  meteorologically  on  account  of  the 
marvellous  weather  experienced,  has  not  been  (here  at  least)  equally 
memorable  for  the  quantity  or  quality  of  the  lepidoj)tera  noticed.  Many 
generally  common  insects  have  been  either  very  rare,  or  else  entirely 
conspicuous  by  their  absence ;  the  only  species  which  have  been  more 
than  usually  common  at  York  this  season  are  the  following ; — Pieris 
brassicce,  P.  rapce,  Vanessa  urticce,  V.  atalanta,  Acherontia  atrojws, 
Sjyhinx  conoolvuli,  Macroglossa  stellatarum,  Orthosia  suspecta,  Anchocelis 
litura,  Phlogophora  meticidosa,  Hadena  protea,  Abraxas  syloata,  Venusia 
camhricaria,  Lobophora  lobulata,  Collix  sparsata,  H.  marginata,  Thera 
variata,  Diurnea  fagella  ;  whilst  of  those  which  have  not  occurred  in 
anything  like  their  usual  numbers  the  following,  amongst  many  others, 
may  be  quoted  :  —  Zygaena  lonicerce,  Lithosia  raesomella,  Arctia  lubricipeda, 
Acronycta  leporina,  Noctua  festiva,  N.  rubi,  Hadena  porphyrea  (?  Ed.), 
Taeniocampa  pjopideti,  Pachnobia  leucographa.  Epione  vesjjertaria,  Asrnlates 
strigillaria,  Eupithecia  satyrata,  Acidalia  immutata,  Hypsipetes  elutata 
PhibalapAeryx  lignata,  &g.  Of  those  species  which  have  entirely  failed 
to  put  in  an  appearance,  and  which  we  generally  take  each  season  in 
some  numbers  are  : — Nndaria  senex,  Hydrelia  unca,  Plusia  festucoi  and 
Chortodes  arcuosa.  My  first  outing  took  place  on  the  14th  February  in 
quest  of  the  variety  fuscata  of  Hybernia  progemmaria,  of  which  I  took 
six;  my  last  on  the  3rd  November,  when  sugar  produced  but  a 
few  Scopelosoma  satellitia  and  Orrhodia  vaccinii;  H.  aurantiaria  II. 
defoliaria,  Cheimatobia  boreata  and  C.  brumata  were  very  scarce,  whilst 
Oporabia  ddidaria  and  Hiinera  ptennaria  were  not  seen.  I  have  noticed 
the  gradual  diminution  in  point  of  numbers  of  these  species  for  tlie 
past  ten  years ;  each  year  they  become  scarcer  in  this  neighbourhood  • 
why,  I  know  not.  Owing  to  the  almost  tropical  weather,  instances 
of   early  appearances  have  been  far  too  numerous  to  mention  here; 


16  The  entoMologist*s  record. 

on  the  whole,  species  have  appeared  fully  a  fortnight  earlier  than 
usual,  in  many  instances  three  weeks,  and  in  some  exceptional  cases 
even  a  month  in  advance  of  ordinary  seasons.  Melanism. — Instances  of 
melanism  in  specimens  captured  this  season  have  not  been  i;p  to  the 
average.  A  very  large  number  of  the  Noctu^  and  Geobietr.e  (especially 
of  the  former)  which  occur  in  the  neighbourhood  of  York,  are  more  or 
less  subject  to  melanism.  A  full  list  of  the  species  which  show  this 
tendency  and  have  come  under  my  observation  will  be  given  at  some 
future  date.  SaUoics  were  very  unproductive,  being  out  by  the  10th 
of  March,  and  doubtless  on  this  account  the  generally  seductive 
blossoms  failed  to  attract  the  Taeniocampae  in  anything  like  the 
usual  numbers.  Sugar — Whilst  we  have  had  very  few  poor  nights  at 
sugar,  the  quantity  has  rarely  been  gi-eat,  and  the  quality  invariably 
poor ;  the  reason  for  this  has  been  in  my  opinion,  not  the  counter 
attraction  of  honeydew  at  which  I  have  noticed  very  few  moths,  but 
the  general  scarcity  of  NocTU^.  Ivy-hlossoni — On  the  30th  September 
I  had  my  first  night  at  ivy-blossom  in  the  Westwood  Beverley,  where 
the  ivy  is  esjiecially  abundant,  cUnging  in  wild  luxuriance  around  the 
line  old  hawthorn  trees  which  here  form  such  a  conspicuous  feature  of 
the  landscape,  but  although  the  night  was  favourable  from  a  meteoro- 
logical point  of  view,  the  blossom  fine,  large,  and  plentiful,  and  the 
odour  perceptible  even  to  human  nostrils,  our  would-be  guests  failed  to 
put  in  appearance,  except  by  ones  and  twos  ;  it  was  a  very  different  night 
at  ivy-blossom  from  those  one  often  reads  about.  A  friend  of  mine,  who 
has  worked  ivy  on  numerous  occasions  this  season,  informs  me  that  he 
has  had  almost  uniform  bad  luck.  Scarcity  of  Lepidoptera. — Geometry 
have  been  on  the  whole  very  scarce,  and  "  mothing  "  at,  and  after  dusk 
vmiformly  unproductive.  In  the  day  time  at  rest  on  tree  trunks, 
palings,  &c.,  but  especially  the  former,  Teplirosia  himidularia  and  its 
variety  delamerensis,  Venusia  camhricaria,  Asthena  hlomcri,  Lohophora 
lobulata,  Tephrosia  punctulata,  A.  ulmata,  &c.,  have  been  fairly  common, 
whilst  H,  marginata,  Thera  variata,  Fidonia  piniaria,  could  be  obtained  in 
abundance  by  means  of  the  "  beating  stick."  I  think  this  scarcity  has 
been  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  extraordinary  abundance  of  their 
natural  enemies — Ichneumons,  Wasps,  Dragon-flies,  and  Bats,  which 
together  with  Swifts,  Nightjars  and  other  insectivorous  birds  have, 
thanks  to  the  fine  weather,  been  enabled  better  to  follow  their  work  of 
destruction,  and  lastly  and  by  no  means  least,  to  the  great  drought 
which  has  prevailed ;  these  causes  have  also  undoubtedly  tended  to 
minimise  the  number  of  larvae,  which  have  been  unusually  scarce. 
Double-brooded  Sjjecies. — The  following  sjDecies  of  Noctu-^,  which  are 
not  usually  double-brooded  with  us,  have  this  year  been  either  wholly 
or  partially,  double-brooded  :  —  Leucania  pallens,^  Cuspidia  psi, 
Viminia  rumicis*  NoctuapAecta*  N.  c-nigrum*  Agrotis  segetum*  A.  suffusa* 
Hadena  suasa*  and  H.  oleracea. — Williabi  Hewett,  12,  Howard 
Street,  York.     November  11th,  1893. 

Plymouth. — The  collecting  season  here  began  early,  and  continued 
excellent  till  June  ;  larvEe  were  plentiful,  and  imagines  appeared  in 
abundance  in  our  breeding  cages  and  out  of  doors ;  unfortunately,  our 


*  We  are  inclined  to  doubt  whether  in  most  English  localities,  Leucania  pall  ens, 

Viminia  rumicis,  Noctua  plecta,  N.  c.-nigrwm,  Agrotis  segetum,  A.  suffusa  and  Hadena 
suasa  are  not  always  partially  double-brooded. — Ed. 


NOTES    ON   COLLECTING,    ETC.  17 

opportunities  were  few  whilst  this  state  of  things  lasted,  and  when  wo 
had  more  leisure  after  midsummer,  lepidoptera  were  over,  and  hard  work 
resulted  only  in  a  few  solitary  additions  to  our  captures.  In  the  spring 
our  breeding  cages  produced  Ampliidasys  j^i'oclromaria,  Asphalia  ridens, 
Eupithecia  pidcheUata,  Selenia  Innaria,  Smerinthus  ocellatns,  Acronycfa 
leporina,  Acronycfa  alni,  Moma  orion,  Anai'ta  myrtiUi,  Thyntyra  hath,  and 
Geometra  papdlonaria  ;  the  Taeniocampae  were  plentiful  at  the  sallows  ; 
Notodonta  chaonia  and  other  species  came  to  light ;  Nola  confmalis  and 
N.  centonalis*  were  found  at  rest  on  trees  ;  Melitoia  athalia  was  plentiful 
in  one  locality,  and  among  other  captures  may  be  mentioned  : — Maciiria 
lihirata,  Moma  orion,  Liihosia  tnesoineUa,  Gnophria  rubricolUs,  Asthcna 
sylvata,  Hecatera  serena,  and  Cleoceris  viminalls  ;  the  following  were 
some  of  the  larvaj  taken: — Tripluena  fimbria,  Geometra  papilionaria, 
Asphalia  flavicornis  and  A.  ridens,  Phigalia  pedaria,  Taeniocampa  miniosa, 
Asteroscopus  sphinx,  Notodonta  chaonia,  Panolis  piniperda,  Euijonia  ero- 
saria,  Amphidasys  prodromaria,  Ojwrina  croceago,  and  Psilura  monacha. 
After  midsummer  we  took  Geometra  papilionaria  $  and  ^  at  sugar; 
Anarta  inyrtilii,  Charaeas  graminis,  Eugonia  ftiscantaria,  Stilbia  anomala, 
Sphinx  convolvuli,  Noctua  glareosa,  Epimda  nigra,  and  Xylina  rhizolitha, 
the  last  three  at  ivy-bloom  ;  also  a  few  larvae  including  Notodonta  dictam, 
N.  dictceoides,  and  N.  trepida,  Acronycfa  leporina,  A.  alni,  and  Geometra 
papilionaria.  Our  experience  is  that  the  dry  season  has  prevented  the 
abundant  spring  larvse  from  getting  through  the  pupal  stage  and 
producing  imagines. — H.  W.  Basden-Smith,  6,  Hillsborough,  Plymouth. 
November  30th,  1893. 

North  Devon. — I  was  staying  at  Morthoe,  not  far  from  llfracombe, 
from  June  24th  to  July  lUth,  1893,  and  was  able  to  note  certain  of  the 
lepidoptera  which  occur  there  and  in  the  surrounding  district.  I  may 
mention  that  an  interesting  article  on  the  same  locality  at  a  somewhat 
later  period  of  the  year,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  W.  S.  Eiding,  is  to  be 
found  in  Entom.,  Vol.  xvi.,  p.  246  (1883).  Amongst  the  Ehopalocera, 
Pieris  brassicce,  P.  rapcB  and  P.  najn  occurred  in  some  abundance ; 
Argynnis  aglaia  flew  wildly  along  the  hillsides,  and  A.  paphia  fre- 
quented the  more  woody  districts,  especially  near  Clovelly.  The  genus 
Va7iessa  was  well  represented  ;  V.  io  and  V.  atalanta  were  common,  V. 
cardiii  turned  w^  occasionally,  while  V.  urticce  swarmed  everywhere, 
and  was  found  in  all  stages  from  young  larvge  to  battered  imagines. 
Pararge  cegeria  and  P.  megcera  were  occasionally  seen ;  Satyrus  semele 
was  very  abundant ;  Epinephele  ianira  was,  of  course,  everywhere,  and 
bleached  forms  were  occasionally  met  with ;  E.  tithonus  and  E.  hyper- 
anfhus,  as  well  as  Ccenonympha  pamphilm,  were  plentiful ;  Thecla  quercus 
flew  over  the  oaks  near  Clovelly  and  Lynton  in  great  numbers; 
Polyommatus  phlceas  was  not  abundant ;  Lycaena  icarus  was  common, 
but  interesting,  both  sexes  were  large,  the  J  s  were  dark  and  the  J  s  had 
black  spots  on  the  upper  side  of  the  hind-wings,  a  character  which  I  do 
not  remember  to  have  noticed  except  in  Irish  or  Scotch  sj^ecimens ;  L. 
astrarche  was  rejiresented,  so  far  as  my  caj^tures  were  concerned,  by  a 
single  specimen ;  probably  I  was  there  between  the  two  broods ; 
Ilesperia  sylvanus  and  H.  thaiuaas  occurred ;  Colias  ednsa  was  not  seen. 

*Can  this  be  possible  ?  The  only  known  British  localities  for  N.  centonalis, 
are,  Deal  sandhills,  Folkestone,  Hastings  (one  specimen),  and  Isle  of  Wight  (one 
specimen). — Ed. 


18  THE    EKTOMOLOGIST  S    RECORD. 

With  the  Sphinges  and  Bombyces  very  little  could  be  done.     Macro- 
glossa  stcllatarum  occurred  frequeutl}'^ ;  of  Zygaena  filipenduhe  I  only  saw- 
one  pupa ;  a  solitary  Bombyx  neustria  was  netted  at  dusk  on  the  sand- 
hills.    Sugar,  on  the   few   occasions   on  which  it  was  tried,  proved  a 
failure ;  consequently  one  could  not  get  much  of  an  idea  of  the  local 
NocTU^,  but  the  following  came  under  my  notice : — Bryophila  perla, 
one  or  two  specimens  at  rest ;  of  Leucania  littoralis  I  procured  a  good 
series  flying  wildly  at  dusk  and  at  rest  on  flowers  afterwards ;  some- 
thing very  much  like  L.  putrescens  was  taken  out  of  a  spider's  web,  but 
the  occupant  of  the  web  had  treated  it  too  roughly  for  me  to  determine 
its  identity  with   certainty ;    Ajyamea    didyma  occurred   in    the    usual 
variety  of  forms,  and  the  same  remark  applies  to  Minna  strigilis  and  M. 
bicoloria  ;  one  or  two  specimens  of  the  last  species  were  unicolorous  and 
of  a  bright  brick-red  tint ;     Caradrina  alsines   and    C.  taraxaci   were 
common,   but  worn ;    of  the  genus   Agrotis  I  noted  A.  vestigialis,  A. 
segctum,  A.  hmigera  and  A  tritici,  all  of  which  were  taken  on  the  sand- 
hills ;  of  Triphoina  comes  some  good  forms  were  taken ;  one,  which  was 
strongly  barred,  reminded  me  when  at  rest  of  T.  ianthina ;  another  was 
a  very  pale  clay-coloured  form  with  straw-tinted  hind-wings ;  a  few 
Amphipjyra  tragopoginis  were  seen ;   one  or  two  Dianthcecia  conspersa 
were  netted  flying  over  flowers  of  Silene  maritivia,  and  in  the  capsules 
of  the  same  plant  were  numbers  of  larvaj  of  this  genus,  amongst  whicli 
I  recognised  D.  conspersa,  D.  capsincola,  D.  carpophaga  and  D.  cucuhali ; 
the  imagines  of  D.  conspersa  were  of  the  usual  light  southern  form,  not 
ochreous  as  is,  I  believe,  usually  the  case  with  the  Devonshire  variety ; 
a  number  of  D.  capsincola  have  since  emerged  from  the  above-mentioned 
larvse,  but  the  other  species  appear  to  be  lying  over  till  next  year; 
larvse   of    Cuctdlia  verhasci  had  been  abundant,  but  were  nearly   over. 
Amongst    the    GEOMETR^as    observed    were    the   following : — Crocallis 
elinguaria,    not    common ;     Boarmia    repandata,    frequent ;      Gnophos 
obscuraria,  a  rather  dark  form  almost  identical  with  that  found  in  the 
Clevedon  district  in  Somerset ;  worn  Eminelesia  affinitata,  E.  alchemillata 
and  E.  decolorata  flew  at  dusk  in  the  lanes,  and  larva3  of  the  first  and 
last  of  these   si^ecies  were  common  in   capsules  of  Lychnis   dioica  in 
company  with  those  of  Eiqnthecia  venosata  ;  larva3  of  E.  pidchcUata  were 
exceedingly  common  in  foxglove  flowers,  but,  as  usual,  about  90  per 
cent,  were  ichneumoned ;    single   specimens  of  E.  oblongata   and   E. 
absynthiata  occurred  here  and  there ;  I  gathered  a  large  bag  full  of  the 
flowers  of  Melampyrum  pratense  at  Lynton,  and  obtained  from  it  about 
a  dozen  pupa3  of  E.  plunibeolata ;  special  search  was  made  for  larvae  of 
E.  jasioneata,  its  food  plant  (Jasione  montana)  occurs  generally,  but  as  I 
was  some  25  miles  from  the  reputed  headquarters  of  the  species,  I  was 
not  sanguine ;  however,  I  managed  to  find  a  few  larvte  ;  in  this  part  of 
Devon  it  is  a  scarce  and  very  local  insect.     Melanippe  unangulata  and 
M.  galiata  occurred  sparingly,  while  Enbolia  mensuraria  was  common. 
Of  the  Pyralides  I  saw  single  specimens    of    Scoparia   cembrce   and 
S.   lineolea,  and  plenty  of  Fyrausta  purpuralis  and  Herbula  cesjritalis  ; 
Botys  asinalis  was  not  rare  at  dusk  amongst  its  food-plant  on  the  sand- 
hills.    The  Plumes  were  represented  by  a  few^  specimens  of  Pterophorus 
monodactylns  and    Chrysocorys  festaliclla   only.      Anerastia    loteUa    was 
common  on  the  sandhills  at  dusk ;  specimens  of  Homceosoma  nimbella 
were  found  at  rest  on  the  ragwort  heads  at  the  same  time,  and  Aphomia 
sociella  was  frequent.     Among  the  Tortriues  which  I  noticed,  Peronea 


SOOlETlfiS.  Id 

variegana  was  common  and  variable ;  larvas  were  in  evidence  on  the 
Bosa  sphiosissima,  and  from  a  bag  full  I  bred  a  nice  series  of  F .  2)ermid(ma 
which  were  small  but  very  brightly  coloured ;  over  the  same  plant 
Spilonota  roborana  abounded  at  dusk ;  specimens  of  Orthotcenia  striana 
and  0.  erlcetana  were  netted ;  GrapholitJia  nigromaculana  was  abundant 
flying  over  ragwort ;  Sericoris  Jitforana  was  frequent  amongst  its  food- 
plant  on  the  cliffs ;  E2)liq>piplwra  hnmnichiana  and  E.  trigeviinana 
abounded  ;  Eiipoecilia  atrlcapntana  and  E.  ctliella  were  frequent ;  I  found 
Trycheris  mediana  common  on  heads  of  Heracleum  sphondylkmi,  half  a 
dozen  specimens  or  so  on  every  head. — W.  G.  Sheldon.  December 
26th,  1893. 


gOCIETIES. 

The  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. 
— December  lith,  1893. — Exhibits  :— Mr.  South;  specimens  from  South 
Europe  of  A.  adippe  vars.  cleodoxa  and  chlorodippe ;  a  var.  of  T.  rubi 
from  Ireland,  the  upper  side  of  which  was  very  dark,  whilst  there  was 
no  green  on  the  under  side,  but  the  white  spots  were  strongly 
developed  ;  also  S.  malvce  var.  taras  from  Exeter,  in  which  locality  it 
was  said  to  be  not  uncommon.  Mr.  Pearce ;  a  long  series  of  Cliryso- 
phantis  hypophlceas,  series  of  Colias  jMlodice  including  pale  form  of  ?  , 
Terias  nicippe  with  yellow  form  of  5  ,  P.  rapcB  and  various  species  of 
Lycaenidce,  all  from  Alleghany  Co.,  U.S.A. ;  also  Nathalis  iole  from 
Colorado.  A  discussion  ensued  as  to  whether  C.  liypopldctias  should  be 
considered  a  distinct  species.  Mr.  J.  J.  Weir ;  Planema  euryta,  an 
Acrajine  butterfly  from  the  Cameroons,  in  which  the  sexes  differed 
materially  both  in  colour  and  shape,  and  which  was  mimicked  in  each 
of  these  respects  by  the  corresponding  sexes  of  Pseudacroea  jrirce,  a 
Nymphaline  species.  Mr.  Turner  ;  a  long  series  (bred)  of  T.  juniperata, 
arranged  to  show  the  varied  interruption  of  the  band  on  fore-wings. 
Mr.  Billups;  Driastata  basilis,  a  rare  Dipteron  from  Bromley,  Kent,  which 
had  not  hitherto  been  recorded  as  British ;  also  the  following  species 
of  Ichneumouidai,  bred  by  members : — Ichneumon  fuscipes  from  larvee 
of  A.  myricce  (Mr.  Short) :  Bhizarcha  oerolaris  from  larvee  of  the 
Dipteron  Phytomyza  aqHilegia  (Mr.  Billups);  Co?as  tl/spar  from  larvEB 
of  M.  aurinia  (Mr.  Frohawk)  ;  Ichneumon  pyrrhopus  from  Eupithecia 
helveticaria,  GlypAa  bicornis  from  Tortrix  palleana,  Anomala  cervinops 
from  H.  dipsacea,  and  Lissonota  sulphurifcra  from  S.  scoliiformis  (Mr. 
Adkin).  Mr.  Adkiu ;  a  varied  series  of  T.  gothica  from  Rannoch.  and 
yellow  forms  of  Z.  trifoUi  from  Cambridge. — Hy.  J.  Turner,  Hon. 
Beport  Sec. 

Entomological  Society  of  London. — December  6th,  1893. — Mr.  W. 
E.  Kirby  exhibited,  for  Dr.  Livett,  a  series  of  specimens  taken  at  Wells, 
which  L)r.  Livett  considered  to  be  varieties  of  Dasycampa  rubiginca,  but 
which  many  entomologists  present  thought  were  varieties  of  Cerastis 
vaccina.  Mr.  Kirby  added  that  specimens  similar  in  appearance  to  those 
exhibited  had  been  taken  rather  freely  during  the  past  autumn  in 
Berkshire,  and  it  was  suggested  that  they  might  be  hybrids  between  D. 
rubiginea  and  C.  vaccinii.  Mr.  Lovell  Keays  exhibited,  for  Mr.  A.  L. 
Keays,  a  series  of  Lycaena  alcxis  with  confluent  spots  on  the  under  sides 
of  the  front  wings.     He  drew  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  insects  were 


^0  I'Hte  Entomologist's  record. 

all  taken  within  a  short  radius,  and  probably  were  in  the  proportion  of 
about  one  to  forty  of  the  ordinary  form.  All,  with  one  exception,  were 
females.  Mr.  Lovell  Keays  remarked  that  he  had  some  years  ago  met 
with  a  similar  brood  near  Weymouth  in  which  the  confluent  spots  were 
entirely  confined  to  females,  but  in  that  instance  the  proportion  was 
much  higher.  Professor  S.  H.  Scudder,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  U.S.A., 
stated  that  he  had  observed  the  occurrence  of  broods  with  suffused  spots 
in  America,  but  they  were  not  confined  to  any  special  locality.  Mr.  C. 
0.  Waterhouse  exhibited  the  type-specimen  of  Coptomia  opalina  of 
Gory,  from  the  Hope  Collection  at  Oxford,  and  pointed  out  that  it  was 
quite  distinct  from  C.  mntahilis,  W  ;  the  distinct  punctuation  of  the  whole 
insect  and  its  striolate  pygidium  were  sufificient  to  distinguish  it  at  once. 
Mr.  Waterhouse  called  attention  to  this  because  some  French  entomo- 
logists maintain  that  these  insects  are  the  same  species.  He  also  called 
attention  to  Siljiha  atomaria,  Linn.  (Syst.  Nat.,  xii.,  i.,  p.  574),  a  Swedish 
sjiecies  which  aj)peared  to  have  escaped  notice  and  was  not  included  in 
any  catalogue.  The  type  is  still  extant  in  the  Linneean  cabinet,  and 
Mr.  Waterhouse  said  he  was  of  opinion  that  it  is  Olibrus  gernhms  of  our 
collections,  but  he  had  not  had  an  opportunity  of  making  a  critical 
examination.  He  also  exhibited  male  and  female  specimens  of  a 
HelopeUis  (Tea-Bug)  which  he  considered  a  distinct  species,  and  stated 
that  it  had  occurred  only  in  Assam.  Mr.  M.  Jacoby  exhibited  certain 
species  and  varieties  of  the  genus  Ceroglossus  from  Chili,  and  Dr.  D. 
Sharp,  Mr.  J.  J.  Walker,  and  Mr.  Champion  made  remarks  on  their 
geogi'aphical  distribution.  Prof.  Scudder  exhibited  the  type-s]oecimen 
of  a  fossil  butterfly — Prodryas  persephone — found  in  beds  of  Tertiary 
Age  (Oligocene),  at  Florissant,  Colorado.  He  said  the  species  belonged  to 
the  Nyvij^halidce,  and  the  specimen  was  remarkable  as  being  in  more 
perfect  condition  than  any  fossil  butterfly  from  the  European  Tertiaries  ; 
he  also  stated  that  he  had  found  a  bed  near  the  White  River  on  the 
borders  of  Utah,  in  which  insects  were  even  more  abundant  than  in  the 
Florissant  beds.  Dr.  Sharp,  Mr.  Kirby,  Mr.  H.  Goss  and  the  President 
took  part  in  the  discussion  which  ensued.  Mr.  Goss  exhibited  hyl)er- 
nating  larva3  of  Sjrilothyuis  alcece,  which  had  been  sent  to  him  by  Mr. 
F.  Bromilow  from  St.  Maurice,  Nice.  Mr.  W.  F.  H.  Blandford  read  a 
paper  entitled  "  The  Ehynchophorous  Coleoptera  of  Japan.  Part  HI. 
Scolytidai."  The  President,  Dr.  Sharp,  Mr.  Champion,  Mr.  McLachlan, 
and  Mr.  J.  J.  Walker  took  part  in  a  discussion  concerning  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  group  ;  and  the  admixture  of  Pahearctic  and  Oriental  forms 
in  Japan.  Mr.  G.  T.  Bethune-Baker  read  "  Notes  on  some  Lejiidoptera 
received  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Alexandria,"  and  exhibited  the 
specimens.  Mr.  McLachlan  suggested  that  the  scarcity  of  insects  in 
Lower  Egypt  was  possibly  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  much  of 
the  country  was  under  water  for  a  portion  of  the  year,  and  Dr.  Sharp 
said  that  another  cause  of  the  scarcity  was  the  cultivation  of  every 
available  piece  of  land  for  centuries  jiast.  Mr.  C.  0.  Waterhouse  read 
"  Further  Observations  on  the  Tea-Bugs  {HeJopeltis)  of  India."  Dr.  F. 
A.  Dixey  communicated  a  paper  "  On  the  Phylogeny  of  the 
Fiennce,  as  illustrated  by  their  wing-markings  and  geographical  distri- 
bution."— H.  Goss  and  W.  W.  Fowler,  Eon  Sees. 

Birmingham  Entomological  Society. — November  20th,  1893. — 
Exhibits : — Mr.  Rossiter ;  A.  tincta,  H.  contigua  and  H.  protea  from 
Arley ;    also   a   specimen   of   X.   scolopacina   from   Shut   Mill.      Mr. 


SOCIETIES.  21 

Martineau ;  Bombus  muscorum,  B.  sylvarum  and  B.  eognatus,  and  pointed 
out  that  these  three  bees,  though  remarkably  alike  in  appearance,  might 
easily  be  distinguished  from  one  another  by  the  arrangement  of  the 
hairs.  Mr.  Bradley;  males,  females  and  neuters  of  Vespa  crahro  from 
Astwood  Bank ;  also  Ammophila  sahulosa  from  Cannock  Chase,  and 
remarked  that  Mr.  Saunders  in  his  Hymenoptera  Aculeata  gives  no 
Midland  localities  for  the  latter  species.  Mr.  Harrison;  a  nest  of 
B.  eognatus  from  Harl)orne  with  males,  females  and  neuters ;  also 
lepidoptera  taken  during  the  Society's  trip  to  the  Cotswolds  in  June, 
among  them  being  N.  lacina,  E.  jacohaece  and  N.  plantaginis.  Mr. 
Urich,  of  Trinidad,  communicated  "  Wayside  Notes  of  a  Naturalist,"  in 
which  he  described  a  walk  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Port-of-Spain.  A 
number  of  photographs  of  the  district  were  shown,  also  a  boxful  of 
insects  which  had  all  been  captured  during  a  single  walk.  It  contained 
about  50  dragon-flies  and  130  lepidoptera. — C.  J.  Wainwright, 
Hon.  Sec. 

Lancashire  and  Cheshire  Entomological  Society. — December 
llih,  1893. — Exhibits: — Mr.  Harker;  living  specimens  of  a  Corynetes 
feeding  in  Copra,  from  Singapore,  and  S.  scoliiformis  from  the  North 
of  Scotland.  Mr.  Newstead  ;  a  nest  of  Vespa  vulgaris  which  had  been 
built  to  a  rafter  inside  an  outhouse.  Mr.  Gregson ;  a  specimen  of 
H.  peltigera  captured  at  Wallasey  in  1887.  Mr.  Schill  read  "  A  Few 
Introductory  Eemarks  on  the  genus  Vanessa  and  its  allies."  He 
insisted  upon  the  importance  of  studying  single  groups  rather  than  of 
attempting  to  form  gigantic  collections  of  whole  orders,  and  pointed 
out  the  chief  characters  by  which  the  genera  and  species  could  be 
differentiated.  Mr.  C.  G.  Barrett  contributed  some  remarks  on  Mr. 
Merrifield's  recent  experiments  upon  the  effect  of  temperature  on  the 
genus  Vanessa.  Mr.  C.  E.  Stott  showed  a  specimen  of  Ammophila 
lutaria,  Fb.  caj^tured  near  Blackpool  in  July,  1892,  and  read  some  notes 
on  the  species. — F.  N.  Pierce,  Hon.  Sec. 

City  of  London  Entobiological  and  Natural  History  Society. — 
Tuesday,  December  l^th,  1893. — Exhibits  : — Mr.  Battley  ;  a  short  series 
of  Hiviera  pennaria  from  Epping  Forest  and  bred  specimens  of 
Eiqnthecia  lariciata,  also  several  doubtful  "  Pugs  "  from  Hale  End,  most 
of  which  were  thought  to  be  E.  castigata.  Mr.  Prout ;  bred  Emmelesia 
alchemillata  from  Sandown,  also  E.  affinitata  from  various  localities ; 
there  was  no  appreciable  difference  between  the  specimens,  excejjt  the 
slightly  superior  size  of  the  afjimtata.  Mr.  Riches ;  Orrhodia  vaccinii 
from  Salisbury.  Mr.  Clark ;  a  series  of  Thera  jtiniperata  (bred)  from 
Perth,  concerning  which  he  remarked  that  they  were  paler  than  the 
southern  form,  as  is  usually  the  case  with  this  insect.  Mr.  Gurney ; 
Hybernia  defoliaria  from  Hale  End,  including  some  pretty  varieties. 
Mr.  Nicholson  ;  one  of  the  new  opera  glasses  brought  out  Mr.  Aitchison 
of  Poultry ;  this  instrument  is  particularly  suitable  for  field  work  on 
account  of  its  extreme  lightness  (being  made  of  aluminium),  its  com- 
pressibility, and  the  power  and  beautiful  definition  of  its  lenses.  Dr. 
Sequeira ;  a  short  series  of  TripJuena  fimbria,  including  a  magnificent 
red  specimen,  also  Dasychira  pudibunda  and  Hybernia  defoliaria.  Mr. 
Southey  ;  Dicranura  bifida  and  D.  furcula,  Notodonta  palpina  and  N. 
dictoea,  Cucullia  chamomillue  and  C.  uinbratica,  Epione  apiciaria,  Hypsipetes 
elutata  and  Camptogramma  Jluiriata,  all  from  Highgate  and  mostly  bred. 
— C.  Nicholson  and  A.  U.  Battley,  Hon.  Sees. 


22 


THE    entomologist's   RECORD. 


ITTY. 


'ippWAS  one  p.m.:  I  sorely  wished 
^      My  appetite  were  blunter  ; 
Five  hours  since  my  last  meal  was 
dished  ! 
I  met  a  bad  bug-hunter. 

He  gave  me  food,  he  gave  me  drink  : 
His  air  was  gay  and  frisky : 

The  food  was  sandwiches,  1  think  : 
The  drink,  I  know,  was  whisky. 

I  liked  his  commissariat : 
I  did  not  like  his  manner : 

He  woi"e  a  large  and  airy  hat : 
He  waved  a  red  bandana. 

The  dust  it  blew  :  his  coat  so  brown 
Was  powdered  like  a  miller: 

I  took  my  cap  and  brushed  him  down : 
He'd  caught  a  black  Sibylla. 


I  smoothed  his  hair:  I  tied  his  tie  : 
His  boots  with  treacle  painted : 

I  asked  him  for  his  butterfly : 
He  gave  it  up — and  fainted. 

His  nose  I  smote :  his  nose  it  bled  : 
My  ears  with  joy  were  ringing : 

He  oped  his  eyes,  and  as  I  fled 
I  heard  him  softly  singing. 

"  I  creep  all  day  along  the  down  : 
I  crawl  through  copses  shady : 

Take  liere  a  dusky  Meadow-Brown, 
And  there  a  Painted-Lady." 

'Twas  five  p.m. :  I  sipped  my  tea : 
My  appetite  grew  blunter : 

"  Sibylla  black  belongs  to  me ! 

Bless,  bless  that  bad  bug-hunter.'' 

G.  M.  A.  Hewett. 


:OTICES    AND    REVIEWS. 

Random  Recollections  of  Woodland,  Fen  and  Hill,  by  J,  W.  Tutt, 
F.B.S. — This  is  a  book  that  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  lover  of 
nature  ;  whosoever  delights  in  the  sights  and  sounds  of  God's  earth,  and 
for  whom  the  breezy  down,  the  leafy  wood,  the  flower-clad  fields,  the 
country  lane,  possess  more  of  interest  than  the  garish  city,  will  read  it 
with  enjoyment,  and  will  find  that  its  perusal  has  given  an  increased 
zest  to  his  communion  with  nature.  It  is  of  the  type  with  wliich  we 
have  been  made  familiar  by  the  writings  of  the  lamented  Jeffreys,  and 
of  the  talented  author  whom  we  know  as  "  A.  son  of  the  marshes,"  and 
if  the  subtle  artistic  flavour  be  less  manifest  than  in  the  works  of 
those  authors,  the  deficiency  is  amply  atoned  for  by  the  more  jDrofound 
scientific  insight  displayed. 

The  book  consists  of  nine  chapters,  each  dealing  with  a  specified 
locality  and  each,  as  is  evident  from  the  incidents,  humorous  and 
otherwise,  introduced,  containing  a  reminiscence  of  visits  of  longer  or 
shorter  duration  paid  to  the  locality  by  the  author.  The  localities  are 
very  various  both  in  kind  and  in  their  geographical  situation ;  Wicken, 
Chattenden,  Deal,  the  Western  Highlands,  the  South  Foreland,  Strood, 
Guxton,  Paris  and  Freshwater,  are  each  in  turn  the  subject  of  a  chapter  ; 
the  reader  is  made  the  companion  of  the  keenly  observant  author  in  his 
rambles,  and  not  only  learns  something  of  the  occupants  of  each  locality 
and  their  habits,  but  is  introduced  to  many  of  the  scientific  j^roblems 
which  occupy  the  mind  of  the  thoughtful  student  of  nature.  These  are, 
however,  dealt  with  in  untechnical  language,  and  in  a  manner  easy  of 
comprehension. 

As  might  be  exjDected  from  the  well-known  proclivities  of  the 
author,  the  insect  world  comes  in  for  a  large  share  of  attention,  but  the 
oljservations  on  birds,  rej)tiles  and  plants,  with  here  and  there  a  glance 
at  the  forces  at  work  upon  tlie  solid  earth  itself,  reveal  a  many- 
sidedness    not    so    evident    in    the    writings   of   the    authors   before 


NOTICES    AKD    REVIEWS.  23 

alluded  to.  Many  passages  tempt  to  quotation.  As  the  readers  of  the 
Record  will  probably  be  chiefly  interested  in  the  entomological  portions 
of  the  work,  these  will  be  selected  as  the  source  of  one  or  two  extracts. 
Frequent  reference  is  made  to  the  marvellous  resemblance  of  the 
Lepidoptera  to  the  plants,  &c.,  among  which  they  occur  and  to  the  way 
in  which  nature  has  brought  this  about,  thus  leading  to  their  protection 
from  their  enemies,  and  securing  the  perpetuation  of  the  species.  Here 
is  one  such  taken  from  the  chapter  on  the  Western  Highlands  : — 

"  All  !  there  is  a  specimen  of  a  "  carjDet  "  moth  as  it  is  called  (Cidaria 
immanata),  black  with  faint  wavy  lines  on  it,  and  there  is  another  and 
yet  another.  Why  !  is  not  that  the  same  kind  of  moth  that  we  found 
so  abundant  on  the  birches  by  the  Donich  Burn  ?  but  those  were  all 
pale,  of  a  beautiful  silvery  grey  tint,  and  were  difiicult  to  detect  on  the 
bark  of  the  birches.  Yes,  it  is  the  same  kind,  the  very  same,  but  how 
different  in  appearance,  how  variable  in  hue !  What  has  caused 
the  difference  ?  This  is  not  far  to  seek.  The  birds  in  these  Alpine 
regions  have  to  search  keenly  for  food.  A  pale  moth  on  this  black 
rock  would  be  conspicuous  and  would  fall  a  ready  prey,  but  we  have 
noticed  how  difficult  the  dark  ones  are  to  see.  The  dark  ones  are  best 
protected,  therefore  most  of  them  escape,  and  the  dark  race  has  become 
permanent  here.  On  the  birch  trunks  the  dark  ones  would  be  con- 
spicuous, the  pale  ones  jirotected ;  hence  the  dark  ones  are  eaten,  the 
pale  ones  left ;  a  pale  race  would  be  favoured  under  these  conditions 
and  would  establish  itself  there." 

The  following  account  of  the  "  Love-making  of  the  Ghost  "  is  a  good 
example  of  the  author's  descriptive  powers  :  "  See  yonder !  away  on 
that  open  piece  of  grass  land,  a  large  white  moth  swings  to  and  fro  with 
pendulous  motion.  Its  sheeny  white  colour  is  striking  and  remarkable  ; 
it  attracts  your  attention.  It  looks  as  if  it  were  tied  to  a  string,  so 
regularly  does  it  oscillate.  Mark  another  and  yet  another,  all  oscillat- 
ing in  the  same  regular  fashion.  What  does  it  mean  ?  Have  they  a 
purpose  in  their  oscillation  ?  Watch  !  Whilst  you  wait  you  perceive  a 
faint  but  pleasant  odour  as  of  almonds  ;  as  you  wonder  whence  it  comes 
a  dark-coloured  moth  suddenly  passes  before  your  eyes  ;  you  see  it 
strike  the  white  moth  you  are  watching,  and  they  disappear  as  if  by 
magic.  Where  are  they  ?  Gone,  absolutely  vanished  into  the  mists  of 
these  marshes,  perhaps  flying  now  a  mile  away  in  different  directions. 
Perhaps  it  was  an  accident.  Perhaps  the  white  eerie-looking  pendulum 
was  disturbed  by  the  sudden  collision  with  that  dark  moth  and  took 
fright.  Let  us  watch  another.  The  same  scent,  another  rush  of  a  dark 
moth,  a  similar  collision,  a  similar  sudden  and  absolute  disappearance. 
You  watch  again  and  again  always  with  the  same  result.  Light  your 
lantern,  if  you  have  one  !  Look  on  the  herbage  at  your  feet  I  There, 
scattered  all  over  the  grass  and  hanging  from  it  in  every  direction,  are 
large  yellow  moths,  whilst  attached  to  each  is  a  white  one  such  as  you 
watched.  Did  it  not  fly  away  then  into  the  misty  distance  ?  No  !  the 
dark  moth  that  flashed  across  your  eyes  is  the  yellow  one  below.  The 
scent  which  you  noticed  had  attracted  her  from  afar.  She  had  come  to 
seek  her  mate,  consjiicuous  by  his  sheeny  whiteness.  The  sudden 
knock  against  him  was  simply  to  inform  him  of  her  i:)resence  and  of 
her  readiness  to  receive  his  love  embx'ace,  and  there  are  those  hap^^y 
moths,  which  had  disappeared  so  suddenly  from  sight,  hanging  from 
the  gi-ass  culms  at  your  very  feet." 


24  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Another  point  to  wliicli  attention  is  frequently  directed  is  the  life- 
history  of  insects  and  the  changes  through  which  they  pass  in  their 
progress  from  the  egg  to  the  perfect  state,  with  a  glance  from  time  to  time 
at  the  anatomical  and  physiological  facts  involved  in  these  changes. 
The  process  of  changing  its  skin  which  the  caterpillar  of  every  butterfly 
and  moth  goes  through  more  or  less  frequently  in  the  course  of  its 
existence,  is  thus  described  in  connection  with  the  Swallow-tail 
butterfly.  "  A  plant  of  wild  carrot  at  our  feet  is  next  examined.  A 
little  spiny  black  caterpillar  with  a  white  saddle  on  its  back  sits  in  the 
centre  of  a  leaf,  and  represents  this  magnificent  butterfly  in  an  early 
stage,  and  there,  higher  up  on  the  same  plant,  is  a  magnificent  fellow 
in  brilliant  green  with  velvety  black  rings  and  orange-golden  buttons. 

It  is  still  the  same  species  but  of  older  growth But  how  does 

the  small,  black,  spiny  caterj^illar  become  changed  into  a  smooth  brilliant 
green  one  ?  Perhaps  in  the  course  of  our  morning's  walk  we  shall  be 
able  to  learn.  Yes  !  there  is  a  caterpillar  quite  at  rest  in  the  centre  of 
that  wild  carrot  leaf.  Look  carefully  I  You  will  see  that  it  has  spun 
some  white  silk  on  the  surface  of  the  leaf,  and  has  firmly  fixed  the 
hooks  at  the  end  of  its  feet  into  the  silk  to  get  a  firm  foothold.  It 
appears  sickly  and  is  quite  immovable,  but  presently  it  jerks  itself  from 
side  to  side,  and  as  we  look,  the  skin  splits  at  the  back  of  tlie  head,  and 
a  gentle  swaying  from  side  to  side  increases  the  slit.  Then  a  new  head 
is  withdrawn  from  the  old  one,  put  up  through  the  first  oj)ening,  and  the 
l^reviously  immovable  caterpillar  is  now  full  of  life.  It  struggles  and 
wriggles  from  side  to  side,  and  first  one  segment  and  then  another  is 
pulled  out  of  the  old  skin  until  it  is  finally  free  and  the  emjjty  skin  is 
left,  sometimes  so  perfect  as  to  be  quite  deceptive,  whilst  the  caterj^illar 
rests    after  its    exertion   till  its  soft  skin  gets  tougher  by    exposure." 

These  must  suffice,  but  it  would  be  easy  to  fill  a  very  considerable 
space  with  equally  interesting  quotations. —  F.  J.  Buckell,  M.B. 


EURRENT    NOTES. 

The  British  Naturalist,  we  are  glad  to  hear,  is  not  to  be  allowed  to 
collapse.     It  will  in  future  be  located  at  Warrington. 

A  fine  exhibit  of  Sjrilosoriia  zatima  was  made  at  the  South  London 
Entomological  Society's  Meeting  on  Jan.  lltli  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Tugwell, 
side  by  side  with  some  picked  York  varieties.  The  latter,  of  course, 
bear  no  resemblance  to  the  extreme  vars.,  and  it  is  jieculiar  that  in 
those  specimens  (obtained  by  crossing  zatima  with  luhriclpeda),  which 
nearest  approach  the  York  vars.,  there  is  gi'eat  difference  between  the 
York  forms  and  the  hybrids  both  in  the  transverse  band  of  dark  spots 
on  the  fore-wings  and  the  arrangement  of  the  dark  spots  on  the  hind- 
wings.  Many  correspondents  still  ask  whether  zatima  and  luhricipeda 
are  really  the  same  or  closely  allied  species. 

The  Pieris  daplidice  recorded  ante  Vol.  IV.,  p.  299,  is  offered  for  sale 
in  a  contemporary  with  reference  to  notice  in  our  pages.     Verbum  sap. 

We  have  living  larvae  of  Vanessa  ntalanta  received  from  Mr.  Wolfe, 
Skibbereen,  Co.  Cork.     Kather  unusual  for  Jan.  11th. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Clark,  F.  R.S.,  has  again  been  re-elected  President  of  the 
City  of  London  Entomological  Society.  The  members  evidently  know 
when  they  have  a  good  man. 


f^^  AND  ^^^^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  2.     Vol.  V.  February  15th,  1894. 

I'fiE    EVOLlJ'flOJM    OF    tjiE    LEPIDOPl'EI^Ol/^    T\JFJ1. 

A    SKETCH. 
By    T.    a.    chapman,    M.D.,    F.E.S. 

The  earliest  insects  did  not  possess  a  j^iipa  proper.  It  may  be 
doubted  whether  the  term  can  be  rightfully  applied  to  any  stage 
of  some  of  the  Orthoptera,  or  even  of  some  Hemiptera  and  Neurop- 
TERA,  the  transition  from  larva  to  imago  being  gradual,  and  extending 
over  several  moults,  and  the  habits  of  the  insects  differing  little  in  the 
larval  condition  from  what  they  are  in  the  imaginal.  As  the  imago 
came  to  differ  in  form  and  habits  from  the  larva,  so  there  appeared  to 
arise  a  necessity  for  a  quiescent  intermediate  stage,  which  became  more 
and  more  pronounced  as  the  difference  became  greater,  the  change 
})r(»I)ahly  taking  place  along  several  different  lines  of  evolution. 

As  we  are  concerned  only  with  the  Lepidoptera,  it  is  not  necessary 
to  allude  to  the  illustrations  of  this  furnished  by  other  orders,  nor  to 
refer  to  the  systems  of  classification  which  may  be  and  have  been  founded 
upon  this  circumstance,  and  which  agree  with  and  confirm  those  based 
on  other  and  wider  considerations.  It  would  follow,  hoAvever,  from 
the  broad  consideration  of  all  orders  of  insects,  that  those  which  possess 
the  most  quiescent  pupje  have  lieen  the  most  recently  evolved,  and  in 
that  sense,  are  the  highest. 

When  we  come  to  the  Lepidoptera,  and,  applying  this  principle, 
look  for  the  species  or  family  which  has  the  least  inactive  pupa,  we  find 
it  in  Micropferyx,  which  has  been  by  common  consent,  im  other  grounds, 
regarded  as  a  ver}-  low,  if  not  the  lowest,  lepidopterous  type,  and  pre- 
sents strong  ]ioints  of  affinity  with  the  Trichoptera.  In  it  the  segments 
of  the  pupa  are  distinct,  and  preserve  a  certain  amount  of  independent 
movement,  all  the  appendages  (palpi,  legs,  wings,  itc),  are  se])arateand 
distinct  from  each  other,  and  the  whole  pupa  is  rather  soft. 

When  W(i  go  to  the  other  extreme,  to  seek  the  most  inat-tive  pupa,  we 
fiiul,  in  eaclj  family  of  tlie  Butterfiies,  pupre  possessing  no  movement 
whatever,  and  which  consist  of  a  smootli,  rounded,  hard  case,  witli  the 
several  segments  and  appendages  represented  only  by  obscure  lines  on 
the  surface.  A  few  species,  classed  amongst  tlie  Tineina,  appear  to 
have  reached  a  similar  point  by  an  independent  route. 

Looking  for  intermediate  stages  l)etween   these  two  extremes,  we 
find   many  of  them  represented,  not  perhaps  always,  nor  even  often, 


20  THE  entomologist's  record. 

by  a  form  in  the  exact  genealogical  line,  but  by  forms  which  have 
branched  off  at  different  stages,  and  which  have  gone  longer  or  shorter 
distances  on  their  own  paths.  The  great  mass  of  our  larger  moths 
(Macros),  Sphinges,  Bombyces,  Noctuje,  Geojietr.e,  quite  independently 
of  the  Butterflies,  have  reached  a  very  advanced  point  on  this  line,  and 
seem  quite  satisfied  that  it  is  as  advanced  as  is  necessary  ;  they  liave 
evolved  a  tolerably  uniform  and  apparently  very  fixed  type  of  pupa,  iir 
which  the  appendage-cases  are  firmly  incorporated  with  the  general 
mass  of  the  pupa,  and  in  which  complete  solidity  and  rotundity  are 
wanting  only  in  so  far  as  that  the  5th  and  6tli  abdominal  segments 
still  retain  the  power  of  movement  on  those  next  to  them. 

When  we  examine  these  piqiaB  of  the  large  moths,  and  those  of  the 
Butterflies,  more  closely,  we  find  that  they  agree  throughout  in  certain 
characteristics.     Of  these,  the  most  notable  are,  that  the  wings  and  leg- 
cases  are  fused  into   a  mass  which  always  includes  the  4th  abdominal 
segment,  neither  more  nor  less,  the  margins  of  the  wings  and  the   ex- 
tremities of  the  antenna?  and  of  the  third  pair  of  legs   usually  reaching 
to  its  hind  margin  ;  whilst  the  next  incision,  that  between  the  4th  and 
5th  abdominal  segments  possesses  movement,  except  in  those  Butterflies 
where  mobility  is  entirely  lost.     We  find  also  sundry  other  points  of 
importance.     Firstly  and  chiefly,  the  appendages  represented  on  the 
surface  are   the   Avings,  antenna?,   portions  of  the  two    anterior    pairs 
of    legs,    and    rarely    more    than   the   extreme  tips,   and    these    often 
wanting,  of  the  hind  pair  ;  but  there  is  no  sign  of  any  mouth-part  except 
the  maxilla?  (proboscis)  which  are  usually  well  developed  ;  true,  tliere 
are    points  representing    the    mandibles,    and     the    labrum    may    be 
identified  with  a  portion  of  the  head,  but  the  labium  with  its  palpi,  as 
well  as  the  maxillary  palpi,  such  marked  features  in  3Ticropteryx,  are 
entirely  wanting.     There  is  also  wanting  a  part  which  we  should  not 
perhaps  think  of  looking  for,  until  we  had  examined  other  forms  of  pupte 
in  which  it  is  present,  and  that  is  the  dorsal  jjlate  of  the  head  segment. 
Beginning  at  the   bottom   of  the  scale  and  tracing  our  way  up  to 
these,  we  find  a  wide  gap  betAveen  Micropteryx  and  the  form  that  we 
can  at  all  regard  as  next  lowest  and  the  nearest  to  it.     We  may  take 
Nejjticida  or  Adela  as  representing  such  a  form,  though  I  do  not  wish 
to   suggest   that   these   are   very  closely  allied;    rather,  indeed,  that 
they  (and  possibly'  others),  though  low  in  the  line  of  evolution  from 
the   primary   form  represented  by  Mlcropteryx,  have  already  diverged 
considerably   from  each  other.     Here  we  find   head,   thorax  and  ap- 
pendages  fused   together   into   one   mass   with   one    or  more  of  the 
abdominal  segments,  but  only  loosely,  so  that  they  are  easily  separated 
by  a  trifling  amount  of  force  and  separate  from   each  other,  more  or 
less,  when  the  imago  emerges.     At  the  hinder  extremity  we  find  the 
last  three   segments,   the  8th,  9th  and  10th  abdominal,  fused  into  one 
mass  in  the   male   pupa,  whilst  in  the  female  the  7th  is  added.     This 
difference  is  no  doul)t  related  to  tlie  difference  in  the  number  of  seg- 
ments wliich  become  hiddt'U  in  the  imago  within  the  then  terminal 
segment. 

The  advance  from  this  form  seems  to  take  the  shape  of  an  increase 
in  the  number  of  abdominal  segments  that  are  incorporated  in  the 
thoracic  mass.  Two  segments  are  so  incorporated  in  Adela  and  Nep- 
ticula,  throe  in  many  Tine,e,  PsYCHiDiE,  Tortrices,  as  also  in  Cossus, 
liepkilm,  6cq.,  and  four  in  GracUaria  and  LithocoUetes. 


TIIK    KV(i[.rTr<)N    OF    TFIK    I.Fl'I  noI'TEItms    ni'S.  L'( 

Evolution  did  not,  however,  proceed  along  a  single  line,  and  at  some 
point  there  branched  off  the  Pterophorina,  which  have  only  three 
abdominal  segments  in  the  thoracic  mass,  but  differ  from  all  the  species 
we  have  hitherto  considered,  in  rarely  having  a  cocoon,  and  in  being 
fixed  by  the  tail  and  not  possessing  any  longer  the  jiower  of  locomotion 
shown  in  other  "  Micros  "  by  forcing  themselves  out  of  their  cocoons 
when  the  moth  emerges. 

Another  line,  starting  off  from  the  main  trunk  very  early  in  the 
evolutionary  process,  since  all  its  forms  have  still  only  two  al)dominal 
segments  involved  m  the  thoracic  mass  and  all  force  themselves  out  of 
their  cocoons  for  emergence,  differs  in  that  tlie  larva?  feed  more  or  less 
exposed,  the  larvaj  of  all  the  others  so  far  (except  of  some  Pterophcrina) 
feeding  under  webs,  witliin  leaves,  stems,  seeds,  A'c. ;  this  line,  how- 
ever, reaches  a  very  advanced  point  in  the  Zijijnenidae. 

It  is  a  very  curious  circumstance,  and  one  that  has  a  deeper  mean- 
ing than  I  have  yet  been  able  to  fathom,  that,  with  the  exception  of 
Lithocolhtes  and  Gradlaria,  all  the  forms  in  which  the  first  four 
abdominal  segments  are  included  in  the  thoracic  mass,  also  differ  in  a 
very  important  particular  from  those  so  far  considered ;  they  lose  the 
7th  abdominal  segment  as  a  free  one  in  the  male,  the  5th  and  6th  alone 
remaining  so,  and  in  some  cases  these  also  become  fixed.  It  seems  very 
probable  that  this  step  was  taken  in  several  different  lines  of  develop- 
ment, or  if  not,  that  divergence  began  immediately  after  it  had  been 
taken. 

'J'he  Butterflies  originated  ver}^  low  down,  probably  as  low  as  the 
Ilepialidae,  probably  having  Castnia  as  a  stage,  or  rather  as  a  side  branch 
from  a  low  and  extinct  portion  of  the  butterfly  stem.  (This  is  usually 
what  is  meant  when  speaking  of  a  lower  form  as  representing  a  stage 
of  a  higher,  and  not  that  it  is  at  all  a  lineal  ancestor).  The  Macros  cer- 
tainly had  a  separate  origin,  and  represent  the  highest  point  on  another 
hne  of  development ;  I  have  already  alluded  to  their  chief  charac- 
teristics. The  CIdoephon'fJae  {prasiaana,  chlorana,  Sec),  have  reached  a 
high  stage  of  development,  l)ut  probably  along  a  separate  line.  Their 
pupal  characters  are  almost  identical  with  Macros.  Then  there  are 
a  large  number  of  families  that  have  a  pupa  largely  of  the  Macro 
type  ;  the  thoracic  mass  is  solid  and  includes  four  abdominal 
segments,  and  only  the  oth  and  6th  are  free ;  these  are  to  a  large 
extent  no  doubt  side  branches  from  the  main  stem  supporting  the 
Macros,  though  some  may  have  had  a  separate  origin.  They  are  all 
separable  from  the  true  Macros,  by  their  larvae  possessing  prolegs  with 
complete  circles  of  hooks ;  but  they  also  differ  as  pupaa  in  that  almost 
every  family  has  one  or  more  characters  which  the  Macros  have  lost,  but 
which  the  eaidier  forms  possess ;  many  have  the  dorsal  head-plate, 
others  have  some  trace  of  the  maxillary  palpus,  some  dehisce  after  the 
manner  of  the  earlier  forms,  the  head-  and  antenn!i3-pieces  separating 
together,  whilst  a  few  even  retain  the  eye-cover  attached  to  tlu'  dorsal 
head-plate.  Tliese  are  represented  by  the  Pvrales  and  their  allies  tlu; 
Crambt,  Phycid.*;,  ttc.,  as  well  as  by  families  hitherto  jjlaced  with 
TiNEiNA,  such  as  Hi/poiiomentidnf',  Szc. 

The  lowest  Putterllies,  the  Skippers,  are  very  parallel  with  this  last 
section.  The  mass  of  true  butterflies  differ  but  little  essentially  from 
the  Macros,  but,  unlike  them,  do  not  settle  down  in  that  form  in  a  fixed 
manner,  but  proceed  in  various  ways  to  higher  points,  until  what  we 


28  THE  entomologist's  record. 

must  fegard  as  tlie  terminus  of  perfection  for  a  lepidopterous  pupa, 
marked  by  complete  fixity  of  all  parts,  and  roughly  speaking,  Ijy 
complete  rotundity,  is  reached. 


eOjI'l'iplEpI'l'yiL    LEPID0P1'EI^£    ^OLD    £^    Bl^Il'l^ji. 

Bt  J.  W.  TUTT,  F.E.S. 

Probably  never  since  the  sale  of  the  late  Dr.  Harper's  collection,  has 
a  collection  been  brought  to  the  hammer  which,  nominally  purely 
British,  yet  contained  so  many  distinctly  non-British  specimens,  as  that 
of  the  late  Eev.  Henry  Burney. 

In  the  sarcastic  article  on  part  of  this  sale,  from  the  pen  of  a  corres- 
pondent adopting  the  now  de  plume  of  "  A  Country  Cousin,"  which 
ap})eared  in  the  December  number  of  this  magazine  and  of  which  there 
is  a  continuation  in  the  present  issue,  the  facts  are  gi-aplucally  dealt 
with,  but  I  should  like  to  let  a  little  more  daylight  into  some  of  tlie  dark 
problems  Avhich  this  sale  has  opened  up. 

First,  how  were  this  and  similar  collections  formed  ?  On  the  same 
lines  as  those  which  were  made  in  "  the  good  old  times,"  when  the 
correct  naming  of  the  specimens  was  the  ultimate  aim  of  the  individual 
forming  the  collection,  and  the  possession  of  a  larger  number  of  species 
than  his  friends  and  correspondents,  his  main  object  in  doing  so.  Only 
as  necessary  for  the  first  purj)Ose  would  the  older  entomologists,  Avitli 
a  few  notable  exceptions,  ever  invest  a  few  shillings  in  a  book,  and  only 
as  subserving  the  second,  would  they  subscribe  to  a  magazine. 
Stainton's  Manual  was  their  salvation  in  the  one  direction,  and  The 
Entomologist's  Annual  (a  yearly  magazine  showing  the  additions  to  the 
British  fauna)  in  the  otlier.  Everything  else  was  outside  their  province  ; 
they  could  do  nothing  to  advance  scientific  knowledge,  save  within 
these  very  limited  boundaries,  and  possibly  thought  that  only  lunatics 
could  imagine  that  there  was  an}^  science  outside  such  limits. 

Such  were  the  lepidopterists  of  the  old  school  until  tlie  new  and 
philosophical  method  of  treating  natural  science  involved  entomologists 
along  with  other  naturalists  in  its  vortex.  When  this  took  jilace,  the 
old  school  became  divided  into  two  sections,  the  broader-minded  men 
being  ready  and  willing  to  adapt  themselves  to  the  changing  conditions 
of  study,  whilst  the  narrow-minded,  and  frequently  ill-educated,  section 
kept  in  the  old  ruts,  lifting  up  their  voices  from  time  to  time,  now  in 
a  chorus  of  discontent,  then  in  a  Avail  of  despair,  as  they  beheld  the  de- 
struction of  "science,"  as  they  knew  it.  Gradually  this  latter  section 
became  more  and  moi-e  fossilized  ;  they  still  added  to  their  collections, 
occasionally  made  a  stir  by  naming  a  variety  as  a  new  species  after  the 
manner  of  the  heroes  of  old,  spent  enormous  sums  of  money  on  any 
specimen  that  added  a  species  to  fill  up  a  blank  in  their  cabinets,  but 
beyond  this,  became  perfectly  indifferent  to  the  advance  of  science 
Avhich  was  going  on  around  them. 

That  this  is  no  overdrawn  picture,  every  advanced  lepidopterist  well 
knows.  To  this  da}^  I  have  two  correspondents  who,  once  or  twice  a 
year,  write  and  tell  me  of  the  additions  which  they  have  made  to  their 
collection,  and  how  near  they  have  got  to  a  complete  representation  of 
the  lepidopterous  fauna  of  Britain  by  obtaining  typical  specimens.  One 
gentleman  writes  me  that  he  has  added  pereyrina  from  Burney 's  collec- 


OONTlNENTAL    hkl'lliOVTtillA    SOLD    AS    BKITISH.  29 

tion,  satiira  from  Canterbury,  find  so  on  ;  it  is  liis  science,  all  that  lie 
lives  for,  and  the  poor  fellow  enjoys  it  in  his  way. 

It  will  be  no  insult  to  the  late  reverend  gentleman  to  say  that  he 
belonged  emphatically  to  the  old  school  of  collectors.  For  years  he  has 
taken  practically  no  interest  in  entomology  beyond  the  amassing  of  a 
large  collection,  which  probably  not  half-a-dozen  men  have  seen  during 
the  last  quarter  of  a  century.  Out  of  touch  with  the  newer  entomology, 
ignorant  as  to  what  species  had  been  foisted  on  the  British  2)ublic  as 
natives  which  had  no  claim  to  that  position,  as  well  as  of  the  swindlers 
who  live  and  thrive  on  the  gullibility  of  collection-makers  and  rare- 
sjiecies-seekers,  he  spent  vast  sums  of  money  upon  insects  which  were 
foisted  u^jon  him  as  British,  by  gentlemen  (?)  who  found  him  an  easy 
prey,  and  whose  specimens,  with  the  warranty  of  the  "  Eev.  H. 
Burney's  collection  "  attached  to  them,  are  now  dispersed  to  all  parts  of 
the  British  Islands,  to  crop  up  as  British  at  some  future  time  to  puzzle 
scientific  workers  and  to  throw  doubt  upon  conclusions  and  deductions 
that  they  may  have  made.  Who  believes  that  a  single  specimen  of  the 
Leucania  tausculosa,  the  L.  loreyi,  the  Notodonta  tritoplms,  in  short  of 
nine-tenths  of  those  species  mentioned  by  "A  Country  Cousin,"  had  a 
really  British  origin  ?  Some  do,  you  say,  or  they  would  not  have 
bought  them.  Just  so,  but  these  buyers  knew  that  the  specimens  are 
worth  their  money  as  an  investment,  and  buy  them  as  such  to  sell  to 
other  collectors  either  now,  or  at  some  future  time  when  their  own  col- 
lections go  to  the  hammer.  But,  ajjart  from  the  buyer,  who  does  believe 
in  their  British  origin  ?  Well,  I  will  leave  it  to  each  individual's  own 
common  sense  to  hnd  an  answer  to  the  question. 

Now  tliere  are  two  kinds  of  people  who  arc  involved  in  this  fraudu- 
lent sale  of  British  specimens.  Kent  has  for  many  years  had  an  unenvi- 
able notoriety.  Canterbury  and  its  neighbourliood  have  Ijeen,  and  perhaj^s 
still  are,  a  by-Avord  in  entomological  circles.  London  perhaps  comes 
next,  unless  indeed  it  has  to  yield  to  Aberdeen,  which,  during  the  last 
few  years  has  out-Heroded  Herod,  whilst  the  Isle  of  Wight  has  increased 
in  shadiness  in  recent  years.  But  this  is  due  to  individuals  who  outdo 
themselves,  whom  the  older  collectors  know  too  well,  and  who  have  to 
find  a  fresh  coterie  of  buyers  among  the"  younger  additions  to  our  ranks 
on  whom  to  try  their  charms.  These  persons  send  out  their  sjjecimens  of 
A.  lathonia,  P.  daplidire,  L.  acis,  V.  antiopa,  Sphinx  j^iii^ustri,  Deileplida 
livornica,  Deiopeia  pulchella^  Lytliria  purpuraria,  Apjlaata  ononaria,  Eubolla 
moeninta,  Leucautu  miisculosa,  and  so  on,  on  their  own  account,  trusting  to 
their  cheek  to  help  them  through.  But  there  is  another  class  of  rogues 
who  use  the  names  of  well-known  lepidopterists  to  conjure  with.  An 
illustration  referring  to  m^'self  will  sutfice.  In  the  Burney  collection 
was  a  specimen  mai'ked  in  the  Catalogue  as  "Cerastis  eri/tJirocephala  var. 
glabra  (Mr.  Tutt)."  This  was  Lot  169.  Then  Lot  184  reads  :— "  Eerba- 
riuta  (Mr.  Tutt)  2."  Now  I  have  never  seen  a  living  specimen  nor 
have  I  exchanged  a  specimen  living  or  dead  of  either  of  these  insects  in 
my  life ;  nor  had  I  ever  seen  these  specimens  until  they  were  exhibited 
for  sale  in  the  Eev.  H.  Burney's  collection.  Some  rogue  therefore, 
either  in  my  name,  or  in  his  own  with  a  forged  guarantee,  sold  these  to 
Mr.  Burney,  and  thus  a  clue  is  obtained  as  to  the  way  in  which  that 
gentleman  became  possessed  of  his  rarities.  A  space  to  fill  was 
sufficient,  money  did  the  rest.  I  never  Avrote  to  Mr.  Burney  in  my  life. 
I   wonder   whether  anyone   would  pass  oif  these  species  on  any  of  our 


30  THE  entomologist's  RECOUn. 

younger  men  so  easily  ;  I  fancy  that  such  would  make  enquiry  of  me 
before  they  bought  them.  All  I  would  say  to  future  workers  concern- 
ing the  specimens  from  this  collection  is,  *'  If  at  any  time  you  are  posed 
l)y  apparent  facts  deduced  from  specimens  obtained  from  Mr.  Burney's 
collection,  and  if  such  facts  are  contrary  to  conclusions  that  you  would 
otherwise  have  drawn,  stick  to  your  common-sense  conclusions,  and 
suggest  that  the  owners  of  the  specimens  should  in  the  cause  of  Science, 
place  them  in  the  fire  at  the  earliest  opjiortunity. 

This  subject  has  long  been  before  the  public.  Tn  my  jjosition  as 
Editor  of  this  magazine,  I  have  learned  facts  which  have  long  since 
carried  me  past  the  stage  of  disgust.  During  the  last  two  months  ma- 
terial has  l)een  put  into  my  hands  concerning  two  men  from  Aberdeen, 
that  woTild  keep  them  from  imjjosing  on  entomologists  for  a  long  time 
if  one  of  the  victims  took  proceedings  against  them.  Our  own  note 
at  the  head  of  the  Exchange  column  explains  itself,  Imt  whilst  collectors 
show  so  much  anxiety  to  make  up  their  collections  at  the  ([uickcst 
]iossible  rate,  they  must  expect  to  get  a  lilteral  education — and  to  pay 
for  it.  Of  course  Science  is  not  always  the  aim  of  those  who  advertise 
in  the  Exchange  column  ;  in  the  pages  of  the  magazine  these  exchange 
swindles  have  no  place,  and  I  only  incidentally  refer  to  the  matter  here, 
as  indirectly  bearing  on  the  swindling  which  distorts,  distracts  and 
muddles  our  science. 

I  would  give  something  to  know  who  sold  the  hcrhariatu  and  var. 
glabra  to  Mr.  Burney.  Not  a  dozen  men  knew  tliat  I  possessed 
Coverdale's  herhariata,  iintil  the  Decemljer  numl)er  of  the  Bccord  was 
issued,  so  that  evidently  the  originator  of  this  con.])  knew  me  well.  The 
var.  ijlahra  is  of  a  particular  style  of  setting,  which  I  Ijelieve  I  have 
seen  exhilnted  at  one  of  our  London  Entomological  Societies.  If  so,  it 
should  be  traceable,  and  perhaps  the  near  future  will  bring  us  some 
further  information. 


By  Rev.  G.  M.  A.  HEWETT,  M.A. 

All  who  Avander  in  the  night  will  acknowledge  the  strange  fascination 
which  holds  them  during  that  mystic  season.  It  is  not  eas}',  however, 
to  say  exactly  wherein  lies  the  weird  s])ell.  Sometimes,  as  I  am  walk- 
ing in  a  sunken,  high-hedged  lane,  and  the  wind  goes  Availing  over- 
head, trailing  along  tlic  ]ialf-visil)le  cloud-drift,  I  can  almost  see  the 
s})irits  of  the  air,  and  long  to  comprehend  the  strange  songs  tliat  they 
sing  as  they  fly.  From  the  unknown  tliey  come,  and  to  the  unknown 
they  sweep  away,  and  wliat  is  it  to  them  if  a  longing  wiinderer  sees 
their  trailing  garments  and  listens  t(i  their  music  as  they  pass.  So 
different  are  they  too,  and  so  manifold  the  feelings  that  they  evoke. 
To-night  you  will  see  a  strong  spirit,  who  calls  on  3-ou  to  be  up  and 
away  with  him,  to  shout  aloud  and  lift  up  your  voice  mightil}^  in  unison 
with  his.  He  has  the  strong  face  of  a  man,  so  far  as  3'ou  may  beliold 
it.  One  alone  is  he  and  he  rules  the  whole  expanse  of  sky.  On 
another  night  numl)ers  will  not  count  them  ;  the  air  is  full  of  them, 
and  every  song  that  you  have  ever  heard  makes  a  strange  patch-work 
of  melody  in  your  brain ;  on  some  evenings  they  sing  of  hope  and 
much  possibility  of  living  and  doing,  and  on  other  evenings  of  despair, 


NIGHT    WOKK. 


n 


and  that  nothing  has  been  or  ever  shall  be.  iVnd  there  is  pleasure  of  a 
kind  even  then.  Best  of  all  my  haunts  do  I  love  that  sunken 
lane,  with  the  winds  overhead  and  the  stillness  of  its  sheltered 
banks,  where  the  light-winged  moths  flit  across  the  ray  of  my  lantern, 
and  the  hedgehogs  creep  after  the  beetles,  wliile  the  plovers  and  the 
partridges  call  to  their  mates  over  tlie  fields  around.  Sometimes  again 
I  am  on  the  hills,  with  a  breeze  coming  uji  along  the  slopes  of  the 
valley.  This  lireezc  only  comes  ;  it  never  j/oex  like  the  others.  Ever- 
lastingly up  and  up  the  slopes  it  runs  and  stops  and  vanishes.  And  it 
too  sings  its  song,  but  what  the  song  is  I  cannot  hear,  although  the 
breeze  comes  and  comes,  again  and  again,  and  whispers  it  in  my  ear. 
I  think  I  cannot  hear  it  because  the  breeze  never  seems  to  pass  beyond 
me.  There  is  no  time  for  it  to  echo  in  the  brain.  But  there  is  a 
suggestion  in  it  of  health  and  freshness,  of  dewy-scented  flowers  at 
daybreak  before  the  sun  is  high.  Perhaps  it  is  like  the  songs  of  the 
birds,  only  to  be  felt,  and  not  to  be  translated  into  notes  and  words. 
Like  the  birds'  songs,  I  can  recognise  its  variations,  and  that  now  it  sings 
of  this  and  now  of  that,  but  its  meaning  and  its  message  are  too  deep,  and 
come  from  too  far  off  in  the  future.  Perhaps  its  meaning  is  hidden 
because  it  comes  from  that  chamber  of  mysteries — the  Sea. 

And  besides  all  these  older  and  immortal  spirits  of  the  breeze,  there 
are  the  little  earth-born  fairy  zephyrs,  some  haunting  for  days  the 
same  hill-top  and  the  same  dell,  and  others,  born  for  a  moment  in  any 
corner,  whicli  touch  the  cheek  and  die.  Voiceless  little  elves  are  these, 
but  still  presences  to  increase  the  sense  of  wonderment  and  awe.  Men 
talk  of  Ijeing  alone  at  night,  I  am  never  less  alone.  What  does  it 
matter  that  I  laugh  at  myself  and  my  fancies  in  the  broad  sunlight  ? 
Night  comes  again  and  I  know  them  to  be  true. 

Such  are  some  of  the  mysteries  of  the  air.  And  the  mysteries  of 
the  earth  are  not  less  manifold.  First  come  the  perfumes — the  fresh 
clean  smell  of  the  earth  that  makes  the  heart  strong,  the  elder-flowers, 
the  wild  rose,  the  thyme,  and,  best  loved  of  all  b}^  me,  the  honeysuckle  ; 
all  unmistakeable  in  themselves,  but  suggesting  somehow  in  the  darkness 
all  the  host  of  flowers  as  well ;  lilies  of  the  valley  where  none  can  be,  lilac, 
jasmine,  and  many  an  aristocrat  of  the  conservatory.  Then  the  sounds 
of  the  earth  and  its  inhabitants.  The  creaking  of  the  boughs  as  they 
sway  in  the  breeze ;  the  rustle  of  the  mice  in  the  wayside  grass ;  the 
fox's  bark;  the  clamorous  good-night  of  the  pheasant  as  he  flies  up 
to  his  roost ;  the  owls  that  cry  like  lost  souls ;  the  goat-suckers  that 
cla})  their  wings  overhead,  and  ventrilocpxise  along  the  bough.  Until 
the  nervous  system  is  well  trained  to  all  these,  there  is  more  than 
mystery  in  them,  there  is  terror  as  well ;  sometimes  terror  so  abject 
that  the  knees  give  way,  and  a  faint  shock  creeps  iip  the  nerves  from 
the  heels  even  to  the  hair.  I  never  quite  get  rid  of  this  creep  of  the 
nerves,  nor  do  I  greatly  care  to.  It  has  become  a  refined  sort  of 
pleasure  to  me — tluit  ultimum  of  pleasure  which  is  on  the  borderland 
of  pain. 

Loolv,  too,  how  all  the  little  stunted  bushes  become  gnomes  and  dwarfs 
and  dull  impisli  figures  ready  to  spring  out  from  the  holes  and  corners. 
I  am  never  sure  whether  a  pei'fectly  still  night  is  the  more  awesonae, 
or  one  wliereon  a  breeze  makes  the  gnomes  and  dwarfs  nod  tlieir  shape- 
less heads  and  beckon  with  a  weird  and  uncoutli  finger,  and  sends  the 
shadows  of  the  branches  in  the   fitful   moonlight,   flitting  like  ghosts, 


32  THE    ENTuMuLUUISt's    KKOOKI). 

backwards  and  forwards  across  the  path.  Sometimes  even  the  strongest 
nerves  must  get  a  shock.  The  frightened  wood-j^igeon  clattering  from 
his  roost  is  hard  to  bear  witliout  a  start.  A  cow,  frightened  by  the 
light  of  the  lantern  and  blowing  across  the  hedge,  seldom  fails  to  thrill 
the  nerves.  But  I  liave  had  Avorse  surprises  even  than  these.  I  had  to 
stand  and  wait  while  a  badger  came  burrowing  through  the  underwood 
to  look  at  my  light.  What  a  size  he  looked  I  Unsi)eakable  ferocity 
glared  from  his  eyes.  I  must  have  sat  down,  resigned  to  the  worst,  if 
he  had  not  Hed.  Again  in  the  Forest,  after  my  system  had  got  well 
drenched  with  mystery  and  ex2)ectant  of  anything,  while  wa:idering 
through  aisles  and  aisles  of  gigantic  trunks,  where  the  darkness  shut  me 
in  like  a  wall  outside  the  rays  of  my  lantern  and  massed  itself  like 
storm-clouds,  layer  u2)on  layer  up  among  the  towering  branches,  1  have 
shaken  a  bush  to  disturb  the  motlis,  and  with  the  moths  have  roused 
from  his  woodland  lair, — oh,  horror  ! — with  a  savage  snort,  the  Forest- 
ing. More  frightened  than  I  ?  No,  a  tliousand  times,  no  I  And  yet 
once  more.  Wending  my  midnight  way  from  Cral)lje  Wood,  and  gazing 
from  the  hill-top  over  the  sleeping  valley,  with  a  half-moon  low  in  tlic 
west  and  streaks  of  light  cloud  far  away  in  the  south,  have  I  not  sto})i)ed 
in  sudden  wonderment,  to  see,  darting  up  from  the  horizon,  in  and  out 
among  the  clouds,  up  to  the  very  zenith  of  the  heavens,  a  pale  and 
restless  ray  of  light?  1  could  have  endurc'd  it  l)c'tter  had  it  remained 
there,  but  it  vanished  and  came  again,  slanting  now  to  east  and  now 
to  west,  and  then  executing  a  kind  of  dizzy  dance  in  tlie  lieavuns.  I 
suppose  it  was  the  search-light  from  an  ironclad  in  the  Solent,  but  it 
took  me  many  minutes  of  anxious  thought  ))efore  1  was  far  enough 
recovered  to  proceed. 

Such,  in  brief,  are  some  of  the  charms  and  fancies  of  a  night- 
wanderer.  Pages  Avould  fail  to  tell  of  them  all,  and  pages  more  might 
be  added  to  describe  some  of  tlie  discomforts  and  catastrophes.  But 
how  far  the  ever-present  charms  outweigh  the  occasional  troubles  and 
disappointments,  is  a  question  Avhich  no  true  son  of  the  night  will  care 
to  discuss.  Good  Night  1  Yes.  Better  than  day,  even  as  expectation 
is  better  than  certainty.  Good  Night !  Who  would  live  by  «lay,  were 
it  not  for  the  day's  Avork  that  must  be  done  in  the  day.     Good  Night. 


With  special  reference  to  its  correlated  variations  in  Plumage, 
Moulting  and  Hybernation. 

By     T.      A.      CHAPMAN,      M.  D. 

(Continued  from  page  I'i). 

It  may  shorten  the  description  of  the  further  results  observed,  if  1 
say  at  once  that  the  subsequent  broods  I  reared  diifered  from  the  first 
by  showing  an  increase  in  the  number  of  Laggards  and  much  A'ariety  as 
t(3  habit  and  plumage  of  the  Nornuds ;  they  also  presented  very  varied 
forms,  intermediate  both  betAveen  Forwards  and  Normals  and  IjctAveen 
Normals  and  Laggards,  and  this  nniltiplication  of  forms  was,  on  the  whole, 
more  marked  in  eacli  successive  l)rood.  So  much  was  this  the  case, 
that  though  1  began  to  arrange  in  a  tabular  form  the  different  varieties 
that  occurred,  and  had  reached  about  fifteen  headings ;  yet  after  raising 
another  brood  or  tAvo,  I  found  that  each  of  these  headings  Avould  have 


uN    TUK    I,A1{\A    (»F    AK(JtiA    CAIA.  33 

lo  be  subiliviik'd  four  or  live  times,  tiud  that  several  additional  headings 
would  have  to  be  supplied,  so  tliat  I  concluded  that  a  tabular  arrange- 
ment  in  any  detail  would  make  my  results  less,  instead  of  more 
intelligible. 

The  first  and  largest  variation  among  tlie  Normals  was  that  a  large 
section  reached  the  falnjiitom  (hybernating)  stage  only  in  the  6th  in- 
stead of  in  the  5th  skin,  and  there  were  some  that  did  not  do  so  till 
the  7th  skin.  Then  of  these  some  would  tend  towards  being  Forwards  : 
that  is,  though  jmssing  tlirough  a  fiiHginosa  stage  they  would  go  on, 
after  a  very  short  and  formal  hybernation,  to  cnia  plumage  and  ma- 
turity ;  others,  tending  towards  Laggards,  would  do  much  the  same, 
but  very  slowly. 

The  greatest  interest  attaches,  liowever,  I  think  to  the  Laggards  ; 
various  types  of  these  were  luxmerous  in  the  later  broods,  but  only  a 
few  a}:)peared  in  the  first  brood  or  in  any  brood  from  wild  ova.  By  the 
time  Laggards  were  sufficiently  numerous  to  be  studied,  they,  like  the 
Normals,  had  assumed  a  variety  of  different  types. 

In  all  cases  they  fed  more  slowly  and  made  less  growth  at  eacli 
moult  than  the  Normals,  so  that  a  Laggard  would  be  onl}'  in  its  ord 
skin,  when  a  Normal  was  already  prepared  to  hybernate  in  its  5tli  skin  ; 
the  former  also  would  in  its  oth  skin  be  no  further  advanced  as  re- 
gards size  and  plumage  than  a  Normal  in  its  3rd  or  4th  skin  (see  I'l.  ii., 
tigs.  1,  '2,  and  3).  In  one  case  a  Laggard  did  not  reach  its  last  skin 
until  after  13  moults.  Others  would  jjuss  on  to  cuia  plumage,  and  pid- 
gress  more  rapidly  after  reaching  a  certain  stage.  Though  they  all 
seemed  willing  to  perform  a  modified  hybernation  at  any  stage  (that  is, 
to  eat  very  rarely  and  gxow  very  slowly),  they  were  unable  fully  to 
hybernate,  if  takei?  so  to  speak  unawares,  even  when  they  had  reached 
fulttjiiio.^d  plumage.  But  many  individuals  would  begin  hybernation  at 
very  uncertain  stages,  some  in  spilosoma,  some  in/HZ/j///ios«,  and  some  in 
caia  plumage,  but  were  ixsually  easily  forced.  It  also  happened  that 
some  aljerrant  Normals  in  the  later  broods  jirepared  to  hybernate  in 
distinctly  caia  plumage. 

Some  figures  showing  the  proportions  of  different  forms  may  be 
interesting.  Thus,  of  the  second  brood ;  at  a  })articular  date  there 
were  4  Forwards  in  2'upa ;  4  Intermediates  in  6tli  skin  and  caia 
plumage ;  8  intermediates  in  (Jth  skin,  but  apjaarently  hybernators ; 
(three  jars)  say  120  Normals  hybernating  in  5th  skin ;  30  Laggards 
with  4th  plumage  but  in  5th  skin ;  one  Laggard  in  6th  skin  with  4th 
]  ilumage.  Twenty-live  days  later  these  30  Laggards  were  thus  accounted 
for  ;  10  still  feeding  in  6tli  skin,  5  laid  up  for  6th  moult,  14  in  7th 
skin  ;  of  these  14,  1  was  still  in  4th  plumage,  3  in  ordinary  5th  skin 
plumage,  while  10  were  similar  but  tended  to  Ije  ruddy  in  front,  and  4 
of  them  Avere  almost  in  adult  plumage. 

Third  Generation. — Brood  A  was  composed  of  19  Forwards,  547 
Normals,  and  130  Laggards.  Brood  B  contained,  in  tlie  portion  wliich 
I  reared  myself,  4  Forwai'ds,  7  Doiditfuls,  and  136  Normals;  the 
otlier  portion,  which  I  sent  to  Mr.  Merrifield  and  which  he  reared,  as 
already  noted,  at  a  temperatui'c  of  80^,  yielded  150  Forwards,  and  50 
Normals.  It  ought  perhaps  to  be  stated  that  Mr.  ]\Ierritield  expressed 
his  inability  to  say  whether  the  50  that  Avere  not  Forwards  were  Nor- 
mals or  Ijaggards,  as  they  liecame  very  unhealthy  owing  to  the  high 
temperature,  and  to  their  monotonous  diet  of  cabbage. 


34  THE  entomologist's  uecord. 

A  second  brood  raised  from  eggs  laid  by  the  moths  produced  from 
the  four  larvie  of  the  first  brood,  to  which  alhxsion  has  ah-eady  been 
made  (the  grand  fnlighiosa  form),  yiekled  1  Forward,  several  Uoubtfuls, 
o30  Normals,  but  no  Laggards. 

A  fourth  brood,  raised  in  June,  was  the  only  one  that  formed  any 
exception  to  the  rule  that  Forwards  were  as  rare  as  in  earlier  l)roods. 
When  the  brood  was  four  weeks  old,  a  census  showed  that  it  was  then 
composed  of  7G  Forwards:  12  in  6th,  51  in  6th,  and  18  in  7th  skin  ;  85 
Normals :  35  in  4th,  46  in  5th,  and  four  in  6th  skin  ;  49  Laggards : 
three  in  2nd,  two  in  3rd,  and  44  in  4th  skin.  In  this  brood  it  was  very 
difficult  to  divide  the  larvae  into  groui)s,  for  there  was  a  regular  grada- 
tion of  forms  between  the  3  Laggards  in  2nd  skin  at  one  extreme, 
and  the  13  Forwards  in  adult  plumage  at  the  other.  The  brood  no 
doubt  liad  the  benefit  of  a  slightly  higher  temperature. 

Of  a  sixtli  l)rood,  some  were  kept  warmer  than  the  rest  and  yielded 
15  Forwards  and  34  Normals ;  of  which  14  were  larger  and  20  smaller 
hybernators  ;  the  remainder,  232  in  numljer,  presented  15  Forwards, 
79  Intermediates,  44  larger  and  85  smaller  Normals,  and  9  Ijaggards. 
Many  of  them  became  unhealthy,  either  from  inbreeding,  domesticaticm, 
or  want  of  care,  and  the  experiment  was  allowed  to  terminate.  The 
differentiation  of  the  liybernators  into  a  larger  and  a  smaller  form  was 
very  marked  in  the  later  broods,  and  was  usuall}',  but  not  always, 
associated  with  the  hybernation  of  the  larger  form  in  6th  skin. 

Althougli  a  tabulation  of  forms  is,  owing  to  their  great  numl)er  and 
to  their  frequently  passing  into  one  another,  difficult  to  make  either 
complete  or  intelligible,  yet  a  tabulation  of  the  princi})al  and  most 
distinct  forms  may  be  useful. 

Forwards. — 1.  Passes  from  4tli  (Sjyilosoma)  to  5tli  (cain),  omitting 
fuh'ginosa  i)lumage,  feeds  up  rapidly,  and  does  not 
hybernate. 

a.  Adult  in  6th  skin. 

b.  Adult  in  7th  skin. 

Normals. — 2.  Fullyinosa  plumage  in  5th  skin,  in  which  it  hybernates  ; 
cam  plumage  in  6th  skin. 
II.     Adult  in  7th  skin. 
h.     Adult  in  8th  skin. 

3.  Larger  Form  ;  more  profound  hybernation. 

4.  Assumes /«//;//« os«  plumage  in  6th  skin  after  hyber- 

nation ;  adult  in  8th  and  9th  skins. 

5.  Assumes    fMliijiuona  plumage  and  hyl)ernates  in  6th 

skin. 
Laggards. — 6.  Feeds  slowly,  never  assumes  distinct  /«//;///( os(/  2'hiii^<^ge; 
reaches  caia  i:)lumage  in  8th  and  9th  skins. 
7.  j\Iany  variations,  in  which  hybernation  takes  place  in 
6th,  7th,  8th,  or  9th  skins,  and  either  in  Jhliyiuosa 
or  in  caia  plumage. 

I  liave  several  times  taken  "  Laggards "  at  large  ;  i.e.,  larvae  ap- 
parently in  the  plumage  of  the  3rd  or  4t]i  skin,  found  in  Sej)tend)er  or 
October,  and  that  feed  on  slowly  and  do  not  go  into  fulii/inosa  plumage, 
nor  attempt  to  hybernate.  It  is  therefore  certain  that,  though  in 
England  the  gi*eat  mass  of  caia  larvte  is  of  what  I  liave  called  the  Nor- 
mal form,  that  is,  the  form  whicli  is  speciallj'  well  clothed  in  the  5th 


Plate,  T. 


EKaei. 


"We3t,"Newman,  ChrOTno. 


Varieties  of   Larvae    of  Arctia   Caia. 


Fig. 

1 

Fig. 

2 

Fig. 

3 

Fig. 

4 

Fig. 

0 

Fig. 

f) 

Fig. 

7 

Fig. 

8 

ON    THE    LARVA    UV    AKCTlA    (AIA.  35 

skin,  in  wliicli  skin  the  larvfe  liybernate,  nevertheless,  both  the  Forward 
and  Laggard  forms  do  occur  not  uncommonly,  and  it  is  not  perhaps 
unfair  to  assume  that  the  various  intermediate  forms  met  with  in  my 
exj)eriments  also  occur,  though  very  rarely. 

DESCKIPTION     OF     PLATE     I. 

All  Figures  amplified  x  2. 
Hybernating  form  in  oth  skin  ;  resembles  Laggards. 
Hybernating  form  in  (Uh  skin ;  plumage  resembles  red  form 

met  with  in  Brood  1. 
Laggard  in  5th  skin. 
Ordinary  form,  6th  skin  ;  caia  plumage. 
Hybernating  form,  6tli  skin,  long  whitish   hairs;     raia-liko 

jilumage. 
Laggard,  in  Gth  skin. 
Forward,  4th  skin. 
Normal,  4th  skin. 

NOTES   ON   PLATE   I. 

1  may  remark,  in  connection  with  the  jilates,  that  perhaps  of  all 
larva?,  that  of  caia  is  the  most  difficult  to  figure  satisfactorily.  Buckler's 
attempts  to  do  so  were  far  from  successful ;  these,  however,  were  made 
in  the  earlier  years  of  his  work  on  larvaa,  and  he  would,  no  doulit,  had 
he  attempted  it,  have  l)een  more  successful  later.  In  view  of  this 
difficulty,  acknowledged  by  such  a  master  as  Buckler,  and  of  the  further 
fact,  that  wliat  have  to  be  shown  on  my  plates  are  variations  in  length, 
colour  and  density  oi  plumage  without  any  structural  difference,  I 
think  Mr.  Knight  is  to  be  congratulated  on  his  successful  delineations 
and  on  their  reproductions  in  the  plates,  which  are  not  so  far  behind 
the  original  drawings  as  sometimes  happens.  Fig.  8  represents  a 
Normal  larva  in  the  4th  skin,  i.e.,  the  last  stage  with  Spilosotiid 
plumage ;  whilst  fig.  7  represents  the  same  stage,  4th  skin,  of 
a  Forward  larva,  but  an  unusually  dark  form,  in  Avhicli  the  lateral 
yellow  line  is  reduced  to  one  set  only  of  the  diagonal  daslies,  of 
which  in  its  most  definite  development  it  consists ;  frecpiently  in  tliis 
stage  the  Forward  is  even  })aler  than  the  Normal  form.  Tliese  two 
are  from  larvaj  of  the  4th  brood.  Fig.  4  is  a  Normal  in  Gth  skin  that 
in  which  it  assumes  caid  plumage. 

Figs.  1,  2  and  5  (with  fig.  4,  Plate  II.)  represent  various  forms  of 
hybernating  larvae  (Normals)  ;  I  have  already  commented  on  fig.  2. 
Fig.  1  is  in  5th  skin,  and  is  a  variety  that,  by  its  smaller  size,  shorter 
liairs,  and  very  definite  lateral  line,  more  resembles  some  forms  of  Lag- 
gards than  Normal  hybernators.  Fig.  5,  on  the  other  hand,  lias  various 
long  white  hairs,  and  is  of  a  darker  colour  ;  it  makes  a  distinct  approacli 
to  caia  plumage,  and  is  in  Gth  skin.  Fig.  4,  Plate  II.,  exce})t  tliat  it  is 
rather  dark,  or  rather  that  tlie  dark  skin  is  too  distinctly  represented  in 
the  drawing,  and  overpowers  the  effect  of  the  ^^aler  ])lumage,  is  a  Nor- 
mal h3d3ernating  larva  in  5th  skin. 

Fig.  3  is  a  Laggard  in  5th  skin  ;  compare  for  size  with  Normal  in 
4th  skin  (Fig.  8). 

Fig.  G  is  a  Laggard  in  Gth  skin,  smaller  tlian  a  normal  liybernator 
in  5th  skin  ;  it  is  rather  larger  and  darker  than  most  Laggards  at  this 
stage,  and  has  no  lateral  line. 

{To  be  continued). 


36  TUE    p:NTOMUi.O(;iST's    KK(JUKi>. 

"LE£D     iJ^     r^OI'     IjitO    I'EJVIP'l'yil'lOri." 

(part  II). 
By    a    country    COUSIN. 

Having  recovered  from  the  shock  vvliich  my  first  appearance  in  a 
sale-room  ])roduced,  I  feU-  1  should  like  to  see  the  rest  of  the  sj^ecimens 
in  the  late  Kev.  H.  Barney's  collection  and  witness  their  sale.  I  started 
for  the  place  early,  so  that  I  might  have  time  for  a  good  look  at  the 
insects,  and  here  I  am. 

The  first  thing  that  strikes  me  is  that  there  are  nothing  like  so 
many  people  patronising  this  part  of  the  sale  as  were  jjresent  when  the 
Macro-lepido})tera  Avere  sold.  I  at  once  set  to  work  to  inspect  the 
specimens,  but  find  that  if  anything  their  origin  is  more  difficult  to 
trace  than  was  the  case  with  the  jn-evious  lot.  Crainhux  alpiuellus  and 
C  iiiyellus,  without  data,  keej^  company  with  a  single  C.  verellus, 
similarly  situated.  The  latter  is  so  very  rare  in  Britain  that  this 
specimen  is  useless  Avithout  a  clue  to  its  origin.  A  long  series  of  C. 
coiitaiiiliu'lhts  are  all  salinellus :  there  isn't  one  of  the  real  Simon  Pure 
among  them  ;  then  come  ten  C.  rorelln»,  without  any  indi(;ation  as  to 
who  captured  these  s})ecimens  of  a  species  which,  though  very  abundant 
on  the  ('(jntinent,  is  exceedingly  rare  in  this  country.  Then  comes 
rhi/cts  ohdiirtelht,  only  six,  witliout  a  hint  of  their  origin  and  probably 
from  till'  moon,  as  1  think  only  about  three  British  sjjccimens  have 
been  properly  recorded ;  whilst  one  Eronienc  occlJea  may  have  come 
from  the  Equator  or  the  Pole.  Here  are  twenty-one  Anerastia  farreUn, 
including  two  of  the  original  type  sijecimeus  from  New  Yarmouth 
described  by  Curtis.  But  which  are  these  types  ?  "Without  labels, 
there  is  no  clue  to  guide  anyone  as  to  which  is  which  ;  the  twenty-one 
specimens  here  have  been  moved  and  mixed,  and  Curtis's  types  are 
now  a  douljtful  (piantity  to  be  guessed  at,  imless  indeed  some  wiseacre 
will  come  forward  and  swear  which  specimens  Mr.  Burney  pointed  out 
to  him  as  he  glanced  through  the  collection  some  years  ago.  This  may 
be  science,  but  I  fail  to  see  it.  Nothing  wonderful  appears  until  the 
ToKTRicES  are  reached.  Here  are  some  very  fine  bred  T.  piceana  and  four 
T.  qnoviiuw,  with  an  excellent  series  of  T.  scmialhana,  and  then  wc 
reach  a  marvellous  series  of  Peronea  cristana  and  P.  Itastiana  ;  some  of 
tlic  special  vars.  are  really  grand  specimens.  Then  some  fine  P. 
ninbrana  and  P.  maccana  appear  ;  these,  of  course,  although  without 
labels,  are  British  and  no  question  arises  in  the  mind  as  in  the  case  of 
the  Ckajibi — obductella,  rorelhia,  etc.  Ah  1  here  is  Penthina  greviUana, 
hardly  a  distinct  sjjecies  I  should  think ;  whilst  these  are  followed  by 
long  series  of  what  are  generally  considered  rare  species.  Then  in  the 
middle  of  the  Toktkioes  the  true  character  of  this  collection  comes  out. 
C'rammed  higgeldy-piggcldy  into  store  boxes,  pushed  in  here,  tliere  and 
everywhere,  mixed  up  in  almost  inextricable  confusion,  utterly  useless 
fur  scientific  purposes,  are  the  remainder  of  the  Toktkices  and  the 
whole  of  the  Tixeina,  half  of  which  must  have  been  utterly  unknown 
to  the  owner  as  to  whether  they  were  in  his  possession  or  not. 

Here  is  a  lovely  series  of  St/(jmonota  frauniana,  there  some  fine  Sti]/- 
iiionota  interru'pfd'iKt,  yonder  some  Eupacilla  rnanniana  and  E.  diujreijana. 
No  wonder  the  catalogue-maker  had  given  up  liis  work  in  disgust  and 
'•roiiped  together  whole  boxes  full  of  good  insects  as  single  lots,  some 


"leap    ns    NOT    INTO    TE^frTATION."  37 

of  wliieli  contain  450  or  even  500  specimens.  Ah  !  .among  tlie  mass  of 
muddle  the  Psychid^  have  been  re-arranged ;  most  of  the  known 
British  species  are  represented,  and  there  are  twelve  s}>ecimens  of 
Scardia  arciiatella,  a  sight  for  sore  eyes  now-a-days.  Then  the  glorious 
muddle  begins  again.  Hundreds  of  moths !  Thousands  of  moths  I 
Ay,  very  many  thousands  too,  huddled  together,  not  only  without  data 
as  to  whence  they  came  or  by  whom  they  were  taken,  but  even  without 
names,  are  mixed  in  utter  confusion.  Two  or  three  men,  though,  are 
eagerly  scanning  these  heterogeneous  masses !  There  is  a  young 
fellow  who  carefully  jots  down  notes  as  he  goes  along.  He  has  a  happy 
look  on  his  face,  and  one  feels  certain  tliat  he  has  discovered  some  hidden 
rarity  that  he  sincerely  hopes  will  not  be  detected  by  anyone  else.  There 
is  another  earnest  watcher  !  A  much  older  man,  who  seems  very  keen, 
though  witli  only  one  eye  I  He  is  very  alert,  watches  evex\y  change  on 
the  young  fellow's  face,  makes  a  mental  note  of  tlie  drawers  and  l)oxes  over 
which  tlie  most  complacent  smiles  of  self-satisfaction  are  made,  and  then, 
later  on,  dives  into  the  mysterious  depths  of  those  same  drawers  and  boxes, 
looks  radiant  as  he  detects  the  cause  of  happiness  in  his  predecessor's 
face  and  makes  a  note,  which  augurs  ill  for  the  facility  with  which 
either  of  them  will  buy  cheap,  despite  the  muddle.  I  go  on.  Lovely 
Coleopliorae,  rare  Gelechudae  one  comes  across  at  every  glance.  Ah ! 
there  is  a  Lyonetia  padifoliella  mixed  up  in  the  same  lot  with  900  other 
specimens.  Then  we  come  to  the  Plumes,  mostly  in  very  bad  con- 
dition. What  a  muddle  I  Four  species  mixed  up  in  the  series  of 
Pterophorus  pilof^elhie,  and  yes  I  there  is  the  historical  P.  brachydadylm. 
Knocked  down  with  a  liroomstick,  jumped  on  Avitli  hob-nailed  boots, 
set  out  with  a  jioker,  and  you  have  a  fair  notion  of  this  historical 
hr  achy  dactyl  m.  It  may  be  a  distinct  species,  but  if  it  were  in  good 
condition  it  might  probably  be  easily  referred,  as  a  variety,  to  one  of 
our  commoner  species.  Well,  this  appears  to  lie  the  end  of  the 
collection.  No,  not  quite  the  end,  for  now  we  come  across  the  "  un- 
arranged  and  duplicate  specimens."  '' Unarranged  "  must  be  meant 
"  sarcastic,"  as  if  any  of  these  small  things  ever  had  been  arranged, 
but  these  remainder  specimens  must  be  those  which  the  reverend 
gentleman  bought  diiring  the  last  few  j-ears  and  did  not  add  to  the 
previous  confusion.  Here  is  a  box  of  Macros  and  they  look  interesting. 
There  are  four  Chrysopha/miH  dispar  and  some  Lycaena  acis,  whilst  we 
meet  four  Vanessa  anfiopa  and  the  catalogue- maker  has  put  against  one 
''  proI)ah1y  from  Tunl^ridge  Wells."  Then  there  are  sixteen  remnants 
of  Atjrofis  sifhrosea  and  some  mure  Cerasfis  erythrocephala  with  a  var. 
i/lahra.  The  latter  has  a  little  label  on  it  "  ]Mr.  Tutt,"  and — j^es  I  there 
are  two  specimens  of  Acidcdia  lierhariata  with  a  similar  label. 

But  let  us  go  on — Plusia  ilhistris  !  What  does  the  catalogue  say  ? 
"  f'rohahly  one  of  the  original  specimens  said  to  have  been  taken  on 
Salislmry  Plain  by  j\Ir.  S])ratt  in  1810,  ride  Westwood's  Brit.  Moths 
and  E.lil.M..  xxv.j  p.  228  et  p.  24r,."  What  a  nice  Httle  liistory  to 
build  u])  on  the  word  "  J'robably  '"  I  What  is  tlic  muney  value  of  that 
one  little  word?  Then  comes  an  American  specimen  of  Atjrotis 
svhgotliica  .'  What  does  the  catalogue  say  al)out  this  ?  "  Probably  the 
type  specimen  from  Mr.  Paddon,  said  to  have  lieen  taken  near 
]iarnsta|)le,  ride  Stephen's  III.  Brit.  Ent.,  II.,  p.  126,  and  E.M.M.,  xxv., 
]).  224  et  ]».  246."  Another  nice  little  liistory  based  on  the  word 
"  Probably."     Surely  "  Probably  "  is  not  science,   and  if  the  owner  of 


.'•18  THK   entomolooist's   ueoord. 

the  specimen  is  not  sure  where  it  came  from  such  histories  as  these  are 
disgusting.  Here  is  Acontia  solaria  var.  liicida,  and  here  Heliothis 
scutoaa  I  There  is  Goneptenjx  chojjatra  ;  and  now  we  come  to  a  remark- 
able little  history  as  told  concerning  Mr.  Kogers  of  the  Isle  of  Wight. 
Now,  ye  workers!  mark!  In  the  year  1892  Mr.  Rogers  sent  to  Mr. 
Burney — "  Four  SterrJia  sacraria,  two  Leucania  vitelUna,  two  Catephia 
idchyinista,  two  Noctna  Jiammatra,  four  Lajjhygma  exigtia,  with  one 
specimen  '  doubtful '  sent  therewith,  one  Micra  ostrina  and  one  M.  jjarva." 
Where  was  that  Mr.  Hodges  in  1892  ?  What  is  the  use  of  getting 
Agrotis  lunigera  year  after  year,  when  Laphygma  exigua,  and  Caiepliin 
aJchi/misia  are  obtainable  ?  After  this  Mecyna  polygonalis,  Anesychia 
hipnnctcUa  and  Sesia  andreni/orniis  are  likely  to  pall,  and  even  another 
Cranihm  rorcUus  fails  to  evoke  much  interest.  But  I  have  got  to  the 
end  of  this  most  wonderful  collection  at  last,  a  real  collection,  a 
collection  in  Avhich  the  insects  have  been  brought  from  the  four  winds 
of  heaven  and  by  the  age  of  their  settlement  here  have  become 
naturalised  British  specimens,  some  people  may  consider  sans  penr  et 
sans  reproche. 

There  is  still  a  short  time  before  the  sale  begins,  and  so  I  turn  over 
the  Catalogue.  Nothing  except  some  poor  specimens  of  Vanessa 
antiopa  and  Lycaena  argiades  appear  among  the  Rev.  Mr.  St.  John's 
butterflies  !  Ah !  There  are  some  of  the  Deilephila  euphorhiae,  the  larva? 
of  which  have  been  stated  to  have  come  from  New  Quay,  Cornwall.  The 
remainder  of  this  collection  appears  to  be  much  like  what  most  jijcople 
get  together  by  exchange  during  a  few  years'  work.  Ah  !  Two  speci- 
mens of  Nonagria  sparganii,  vouched  for  by  Mr.  Hanbury  and  with  the 
highly  specialised  information  '*  taken  with  others  in  a  south-east 
county."  Poor  old  Hythe  canal !  How  mysterious  you  have  grown  in 
common  with  the  Deal  marshes ;  and  here  is  a  Pachefra  hucophaea 
"  taken  with  others  by  Mr.  F.  J.  Hanbury,  Southdown,  1892.' 
"  Southdown  "  means  "  South  Downs "  I  suppose,  but  are  not  the 
Ashford  and  Wye  clialkhills  part  of  the  North  Downs  ?  Xylina  conformis, 
one  of  the  dark  Welsh,  the  other  of  the  ordinary  German  type,  next 
attracts  attention  together  with  a  strange  Abraxas  grossnlariata,  in  which 
a  malformed  or  reduplicated  nervure  has  produced  the  development  of 
the  central  portion  of  a  wing  on  the  costa. 

But  here  are  some  odds  and  ends,  the  seller's  name  not  marked  in  the 
Catalogue.  Deilephila  galii  six,  "  Eton  Marshes,  1898,"  Lasiocatnpa 
ilicif alia  two,  "  Ascot,  1891-2  taken  by  A.  Edmonds  "  are  remarkable 
"  odds,"  whilst  a  vast  niimber  of  bred  Pieris  dapUdice,  C.  erythrocephala, 
ifec,  l)red  in  Britain  and  set  in  British  style,  figure  among  the  "  ends."  A 
wonderful  lot  of  insects  certainly  are  in  the  room  to-day.  Very 
wonderful !  Almost  remarkable  ! 

And  now  the  auctioneer  mounts  the  rostrum  and  the  sale  begins. — 
Cramhus  alpinellus,  9s.  for  six,  is  not  much  of  a  start,  and  then  some  one 
o-ives  7s.  for  a  dataless  C.  verellus.  "  They  don't  think  much  of  it " 
whispers  a  voice  at  my  elbow,  or  "  it  would  have  fetched  a  good  deal 
more  than  that  if  they  believed  it  to  be  Bi-itish."  C.  myellus  also  must 
be  under  a  cloud,  for  two  specimens  go,  with  a  number  of  other  insects, 
for  14s.  and  another,  with  a  large  lot,  for  Gs.  Well !  what  will  the 
bidders  do  with  C.  rorellus  ?  only  10s.  for  nine,  and  another  with 
thirtv-six  other  specimens  goes  for  4s.  The  public  isn't  keen  on  these 
yet ;  it  appears  to  be  suspicious.     But  then  comes  10s.  for  a  badly  set 


•'  I.KAn    rS    NOT     INTO    TElMl'TATION."  89 

Eromene  ocellea.  "  It  looks  as  if  it  has  been  reset  and  the  wings  have 
slipped  back,"  says  the  voice  at  my  elbow,  and  then  the  buying  public 
shows  how  suspicious  it  is  by  letting  a  lot  with  four  Pliyciti  olxlnctcUa  go 
for  lis.  Here  a  little  life  is  infused  at  the  sale  over  Curtis's  t3q)es  of 
A.  farreUa.  One  feels  pleased  to  see  the  buyers  waken  up  at  the  first 
scientitic  atom  that  has  appeared  in  the  collection,  though  how  they  will 
know  which  are  the  original  specimens  is  (piestionable.  Things  get 
shaky  again  until  a  tine  pair  of  T.  piceana,  with  a  very  long  series  of  each 
of  T.  lafanridua  and  T.  decretana  go  for  80s.,  and  then  some  vars  of  T. 
costana  with  a  pair  of  T.  gnomana  fetch  almost  as  much.  Tortrix 
semialbana,  produces  a  guinea  for  six,  twice  over,  the  third  and  fourth 
lots  being  sold  for  18s.  and  16s.  respectively.  The  series  of  Peronea 
cristana  is  sold  for  £8  12s.  6d.,  one  specimen  being  bought  for  28s.,  but 
the  P.  hastiana  although  equally  fine  go  for  22s.  No  one  apjjears  to 
believe  in  Peathina  greoiUana  and  it  goes  in  a  cheap  lot,  and  then  there 
is  a  complete  breakdown  in  the  prices  until  some  white  vars  of  Sciaphila 
perterana  are  reached.  Stiymonota  trauniana  brings  the  prices  up 
again,  as  also  does  S.  inter ruptana,  but  the  lots  now  consist  of  some  300 
to  400  specimens  and,  as  may  be  expected,  the  prices  get  a  little 
higher.  The  Psychidoi  fetch  good  prices,  £2  5s.  ;  £2  15s.  ;  £2 ; 
£  I  10s. ;  £2  1 6s.  being  paid  for  almost  successive  lots  whilst  the  twelve 
specimens  of  Scard/n  arcnaielln,  in  three  lots  of  four  each,  produce  Kis., 
8s.,  and  12s.  respectively.  A  lot  with  two  T.  simpliciella  produces  £1, 
and  then  the  (Ecophorae  go  for  £2,  and  the  Putales  for  £2  5s.  A  lot 
consisting  of  100  Gracilaria  produce  24s.,  whilst  the  following  lot  of 
500  containing  fifteen  Stathmopoda  pcdella  produce  only  6s.  Then 
come  800  specimens  of  Lithocolletis  for  22s.,  and  350  Hyponomeatas  and 
Dcpressariae  for  26s.,  among  the  latter  no  less  than  seventeen  D. 
cinijiondla.  The  Gelechlidae  and  Coleophoridae  are  all  in  equally  large 
lots  and  most  of  them  fetch  good  prices,  45s.  being  the  highest,  except  a 
lot  of  yOO  moths  containing  most  of  the  Nepticidae  and  a  specimen  of 
Lyonetia  padi/ulieJIa,  which  commands  £4.  The  whole  of  the  Plumes, 
about  700  specimens,  produce  only  £3  10s. 

By  this  time  the  end  of  this  grand  muddle  lias  been  almost  reached 
and  the  specimens  appear  to  have  been,  witli  the  exception  of  a  few 
very  noticeable  Cuambi  and  PiiYciD.i:,  chiefly  bond  fide  British,  but 
certainly  valueless  from  a  scientific  point  of  view.  There  were  some 
Anesychia  bipunctella  though  which  were  bought  cheap  for  British 
sjjccimens,  considering  that  the  insect  is  not  yet  certainly  known  to 
occur  in  this  country. 

When  the  remainder  of  the  Macros  are  reached  more  life  is  infused 
into  the  business.  A  pair  of  Chrysopihanus  dinpar  minus  body  and 
antenna?  are  brought  for  £2  10s.,  whilst  another  luoderate  pair  of  the 
same  produce  six  guineas.  V.  antiopa  (even  when  lalielled  "  Coles, 
Senr.")  produces  only  7s.  per  pair  (I  wonder  liow  this  can  hapjien  in  a 
British  collection),  and  anotlier  pair  of  them  recorded  in  the  E.M.M., 
go  for  the  same  price.  Then  comes  some  remnants  of  N.  mhronca. 
Keninants  indeed,  for  they  are  mere  rags,  but  even  remnants  })roduce 
24s.,  35s.,  and  26s.  for  lots  of  four  eacli.  Then  come  three  C. 
erythrocephaJa  one  var.  glabra  ornamented  with  a  label  on  which  "  Mr. 
Tutt  "  has  been  written.  The  auctioneer  explains  that  Mr.  Tutt  lias  dis- 
owned any  knowledge  of  the  moth,  and  then  someone  gives  8s.  for  tliese 
undoubtedly  foreign  specimens.   Can  human  gullibility  farther  go  ?  Now 


40  THE  kntomolooirt's  reoord. 

to  "  proba1)ly."  Tlie '' prol)abl3^  "  in  connection  witli  Phma  iUustris  is 
valued  at  12s.,  but  in  connection  with  Agrotis  subgothiaa  at  21s.  The 
vahie  of  the  American  "  jji-obably  "  therefore  exceeds  that  of  the 
German  or  French  "  prol)ably  "  by  9s.  What  a  scientific  value  these 
specimens  must  have,  when  even  their  late  owner  did  not  know  that 
they  were  what  they  were  supposed  to  be  !  What !  No  one  believes  in 
this  Acontia  Solaris  after  its  "  probabilities  "  have  been  discussed  ?  Yes  I 
Its  "  probability  "  is  worth  10s.,  but  the  discussion  on  HeliotJds  seldom 
has  raised  its  value  from  4d.  to  £5  10s.  Fourpence,  I  think  that  is  the 
money  value  of  all  specimens  of  scutosa  but  this  one.  I  suppose  this 
one  was  born  or  made  differently.  Of  course  I  am  very  ignorant  and 
these  buyers  very  wise.  They  would  not  buy  it  unless  it  was  Avorth 
the  money,  and  yet  it  don't  look  very  different  from  dozens  of  otliers 
that  I  have  seen.  Then  comes  13s.  for  a  Goncpteryx  cleojyatra.  What 
a  fauna  we  are  getting  in  Britain  now.  Then  come  Mr.  Rogers' 
wonderful  1892  specimens.  Now  we  shall  see  the  price  of  real  British 
rarities.  Four  S.  sacraria,  8s.  I  Three  Leucania  vifellinn,  14s.  !  One  C. 
aJchi/tnista,  14s.  1  Two  Noctua  flaininatra,  14s.  I  Four  Tyaphi/gvia  exigua 
with  one  doubtful,  7s.  !  One  Micra  oslrina  and  one  M.  parca,  7s.  ! 
Well !  how  can  we  fathom  this  ?  If  these  are  British,  they  are  worth 
ten  times  this  sum  according  to  the  wiseacres  here.  If  not,  why  do 
people  give  about  six  times  their  continental  value  for  them  ?  Do  these 
honest  looking  people  really  buy  them  hoping  that  some  day  the 
"  ( )pen  Sesame  "  of  "  Burney's  collection  "  will  repay  them  tenfold  ?  If 
so — Ugh !  I'm  getting  giddy.  Again  the  auctioneer  gives  forth  that 
Mr.  Tutt  disowns  the  two  AcidaJia  herhariata  to  which  his  name  is 
attached,  and  then  a  non-British  species  A.  hipmicteUa  and  a  Mccymi 
jjolygonalis  go  with  the  outsiders  for  7s.  These  four  "  bugs  "  could 
surely  be  bought  at  the  dealer's  whence  they  evidently  came  for  less 
tlian  ]s.  But  I  feel  revived  as  some  good  honest-looking  EnpoeciJia 
giln'comaim  produce  about  15s.  per  jiair.  Then  comes  Sesia  amlreniformis, 
its  value  just  doubled  by  its  position,  15s.  Ah  !  here  are  some  />. 
galii  and  C.  celerio  included  with  320  other  specimens  going  for  7s.  I 
Gone  I  without  the  buyers  of  similar  lots  attempting  to  stay  their 
disgrace.  Here's  D.  compta  going  with  450  other  moths  for  18s.  ; 
this  is  the  way  to  extend  your  collection  ;  and  there  are  many  more 
wonderful  things.  "•  Beg  pardon,"  says  a  voice  as  an  attendant  nearly 
knocks  me  down.  I  soon  waken  u})  and  find  the  next  collection  on  the 
iapls.  The  sale  of  the  great  liurney  collection  is  over.  HerlKiriata, 
jjoh/gonalis,  hiptinctella,  enpltorlyiac,  gaJli,  celerio,  erytliroccpilialu,  iiiohe, 
Idthoiiid,  and  every  other  reputed  si)ecies  in  the  British  list  have  been 
scattered  broadcast  over  the  country,  and  the  words  "  Burney's 
collection"  will  in  tlie  course  of  the  next  few  days  be  ticketed  to 
liundreds  of  specimens,  to  wliich  no  label  was  ever  attached  by  their 
owner.  Vercllns  or  erythrocfii/nihi,  rorcllnx  or  erlerio,  label-less  and 
data-less  from  Mr.  Hurncy's  collection  cannot  [)Ossil)ly  liavc  ;iiiy 
scientific  value,  wli;it  will  be  their  \alue  in  otlier  collections  witli  the 
charmed  label  attached  to  them  ? 

But  the  day's  sale  is  not  over  yet.  The  Eev.  J.  Seymour  St.  John's 
insects  are  to  be  sold.  Three  Vanessa  antiopa  from  "  Dr.  Marsh,  Nor- 
folk," only  produce  ()S.  each.  How  is  this  ?  Did  not  V.  antiopa  from 
iMessrs.  Wigan  and  Parry  ])roduce  about  a  pound  apiece  ?  Tlien  a  pair  of 
Lycaena  argiadcs  (again  '*  received  from  J)r.  iMarsh  "j  produce  £4  10s., 


RETROSPECTIONS   AND    FORE-OASTS.  41 

whilst  three  of  the  specimens  of  D.  eiiphorbiae  referred  to  recently  in 
the  Record,  only  fetch  £2  15s.,  £2,  and  £2  2s.  respectively.  How  is 
this  ?  Did  not  two  specimens,  only  "  probably  "  from  Mr.  Raddon,  and 
with  I  dare  not  say  how  much  of  the  mists  of  antiquity  surrounding 
them,  produce  £G  l(?s.  6d.  and  £(>  6s.  per  specimen?  "Comparisons 
are  odorous,"  says  a  smelly  individual  near  me.  At  any  rate,  "  eu- 
phorbiae  "  evidently  improves  with  age,  and  when  I'm  properly 
tempted,  as  I'm  getting  very  likely  to  be,  I'll  make  mine  as  musty  as 
possible.  The  strange  abortion  of  Abraxas  (jrosstdariata  jjroduces  22s., 
but  as  there  are  no  other  rarities  in  the  collection  no  other  high  j^rices 
are  obtained.  Well,  this  is  very  sleepy  work !  Does  it  pay  to  make  a 
collection  of  British  insects  where  almost  every  lot  j^roduces  on  an 
average  from  Id.  to  2d.  a  bug?  I  must  make  a  collection  for  the 
purpose  of  selling  it  soon,  but  shall  I  make  it  of  rarities  or  good  honest 
British  insects  ?  What  am  I  thinking  about  ?  "  Lead  me  not  into 
temptation  "  is  my  cry  again,  as  I  discover  the  train  of  thought  into 
which  I  am  falling.  ''  Lead  me  not  into  temptation,"  I  mutter  again, 
as  I  pass  out  into  the  pleasant  afternoon  sunshine.  The  sun  and  fresh 
air  revive  me.  I'll  make  no  collection  at  all.  I'll  just  do  as  I  always 
have  done,  watch  the  fruits  of  Nature's  handiwork,  as  exemplified  in 
these  the  most  beautiful  of  her  creatures,  enough  to  know  that  there 
is  more  joy  therein  than  in  the  greedy  striving  of  the  sale-room  world. 
Never  again  will  I  so  unsettle  my  mind,  never  again  come  in  contact 
with  those  who  cheat  and  those  who  delight  in  being  cheated.  Absence 
is  certainly  the  best  way  to  avoid  being  led  into  temptation.  I  have 
received  a  liberal  education  in  these  two  visits,  and  as  some  wise  man 
says  that  "Enough  is  as  good  as  a  feast,"  I'll  take  great  care  that  I 
receive  no  more.  Truly  this  is  collecting  of  a  kind.  Who  are  the 
worse  ?  Those  who  struggle  against  temptation  and  fall,  or  those  who 
lead  their  poorer  brethren  into  temptation  ?  I  do  not  know :  both 
l)erhaps  are  e(j[ually  bad,  and  one  feels  almost  tem2:)ted  to  imagine,  from 
the  keen  delight  that  the  gulled  ones  take  in  being  gulled,  that  after 
all  less  blame  should  fall  on  those  who  gull. 


Bv  A.  J.  HODGES. 

A  bright  and  clear  morning  ushers  in  the  month  of  February,  and  as  I 
sit  in  my  stud}'  the  genial  rays  of  the  thrice  welcome  sun  awake,  from 
their  hybernation,  tlu)se  j)leasurable  anticipations  of  the  approaching 
season,  in  which  one  is  apt  to  let  fancy  run  wild  amid  the  scenes  of  the 
])ast,  gilding  them  with  a  halo  of  the  unknown  possibilities  of  the  future. 
Who  would  say  that  in  the  indulgence  of  these  healthy  and  excusable 
anticipations,  we  have  not  ample  justification  in  the  immediate  past,  as 
in  tlie  glorious  annals  of  tlie  early  days,  of  the  pursuit  of  that  most 
practical  aspect  of  our  favourite  science  of  Entomology,  "tlie  mere 
collecting  "  ? 

And  while  the  natural  instincts  of  every  Englishman  for  that  active 
exercise,  which  is  so  prominent  a  feature  in  successful  collecting,  retain 
their  present  pre-eminence,  so  long  will  "  field-work  "  (a  modern 
euphemism  for  "  collecting ")  command  the  hearty  support  of  that 
immense  majority  of  more  or  less  leisured  collectors,  whose  enthusiasm 


42  'THE    KNTOIMOLOOISt's    T5K00RD. 

is  the  backbone  of  all  entomological  enteri^rise,  and  will  awake,  I  doubt 
not,  the  secret  sympath,y  of  even  our  most  advanced  Scientists  (a 
Capital  S,  Mr.  Printer,  plense.J 

Who  would  have  dared  predict,  when  the  first  captures  of  single 
specimens  of  Flmia  monefa  were  recorded  in  1890  from  Emsworth 
(Hants),  Tunbridge  Wells  and  Reading,  with  scanty  additional  records 
the  next  year  from  the  same  and  neighbouring  localities,  that  in  1893, 
as  many  as  thirty-three  specimens  would  be  bred  from  larvae  collected 
off  monkshood  (Aconitum  naj^ellm)  in  May  by  one  gentleman  alone  ? 
Who  would  give  up  hopes  that  any  of  our  earlier  prizes  may  not  again 
occur  when  in  the  pages  of  an  esteemed  contemporary  the  opinion  is 
expressed,  bj'  a  writer  whose  bond  fides  and  knowledge  are  alike  beyond 
criticism;  that  the  long  lost  Gli/phifiia  crenata  needs  but  "  careful, 
persevering  and  intelligent  search"  to  be  again  added  to  our  list  of 
modern  captures,  even  after  the  interval  (in  this  instance)  of  forty 
years.  A  collector,  of  the  past  generation,  now  resident  in  Liverpool, 
and  Avell-known  for  his  capabilities  of  sincerity  in  friendship  and 
bitterness  in  hatred,  the  latter  occasionally  finding  relief  in  verse  (I 
had  ahnost  said,  poetry)  expresses  in  his  usual  energetic  manner  that 
the  only  reason  why  Lasiocamjm  ilicifolla  does  not  figure  now  in  the 
captures  from  Cannock  Chase,  is  the  sad  decadence  exhibited  by  the 
"  so-called  collectors  "  of  to-day.  A  touching  compliment  to  the  con- 
fidence in  this  gentleman's  sincerity  was  paid  by  the  joint  owner  of  the 
writer's  "  Edd^'stone,"  when  arrangements  were  almost  completed  for 
the  transference  of  that  powerful  illuminant  to  the  wilds  of  Cannock. 
A  possibly  more  convincing  case  in  point  may  be  found  in  Notodonta 
hicolor,  which  has  undoubtedly  been  re-discovered  in  Kerry,  in  S.W. 
Ireland,  its  claims  to  a  residence  in  the  British  Islands  having  been 
dormant  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  since  it  had  last  been  captured 
at  Burnt  Wood,  in  Staffs,  (a  spot  now  a  household  Avord  in  the  mouths 
of  all  collectors  through  this  one  species  alone)  or  since  last  reported 
from  that  lovely  country,  where  it  has  presumably  survived  in  retire- 
ment during  this  long  interval.  We  might  multiply  instances,  but 
the  sun  is  shining,  the  season  advancing,  and  the  swelling  Ijuds  of  the 
sallows  announce  to  us  the  near  approach  of  that  period  when  the 
faithful  lantern,  the  companion  of  many  a  dark  night's  excursions,  the 
trusty  net,  worth  many  a  more  modern  "  improvement,"  and  the 
thousand  and  one  off-shoots  from  these  main  stays  of  the  lepidopteriat, 
must  be  l)rought  out  and  prepared  for  action. 

Before  we  leave  the  comparative  leisure  of  the  winter  season,  we 
Avould  linger  awhile  among  the  many  pleasant  recollections  of  the 
past  few  months,  for  when  the  active  season  commences,  meditation 
and  di>!cursiveness  are  l)oth  alike  at  a  discount,  and  the  i)leasant  and 
chatty  letters  from  correspondents  innumerable,  which  have  brightened 
many  a  l)usy  morning,  will  have  dwindled  to  that  cold  formality  in 
which  "  brevity  "  is  certainly  the  only  "  Avit."  Who  can  not  recall 
the  pleasant  evenings  Avhen,  in  friendly  discussion  Avith  some  congenial 
spirit,  the  open  cabinet  becomes  seemingly  a  magic  chamber,  and  tlie 
series  after  series  of  "  specimens  "  become,  as  it  Avere,  instinct  witli 
life  ;  hoAv  these  feAv,  too  few,  Nonaijria  cannae  recall  the  sunny  Norfolk 
Broads  Avith  their  waving  beds  of  the  great  Heed  Mace  {Tuphalatifolia) 
and  the  Aveary  hunting  for  stems  in  Avliich  the  larva  had  made  its  last 
home  ;  hoAV  that  fine  series  of  Semi  .«i/^//f^<///'or»i/s  Ijrings  back  vividly  the 


llETROSl'EOTS    ANb    FORECASTS.  43 

long  days  spent  at  Til*i,ate  Forest,  with  the  tedioixs  searching  in  the 
thick  bushy  suckers  at  the  foot  of  the  akiers  for  traces  of  the  ravages 
of  the  larva ;  whilst  those  fine  Nonagria  concolor  can  only  recall  the 
generosity  of  a  well-known  entomologist,  together  with  a  feeling  of 
surprise  at  the  way  in  which  its  locality  and  successful  working  can 
for  so  long  past  have  been  preserved  a  mystery. 

How  many  are  the  friendships,  commenced  with  the  most  casunl 
acquaintance  in  the  field,  that  are  cemented  during  these  winter  months 
and  that  bear  fruit  in  due  season,  in  the  true  desire  to  be  of  mutual 
assistance  in  promoting  both  the  growth  of  the  collection  and  the 
pleasure  of  collecting,  and  that  act  as  the  only  check  ujDon  tlie  vast 
and  elaborate  systems  of  exchange  that  grow  up  around  us.  It  is 
worth  recollecting  too,  the  anticipations  with  which  a  precious  parcel 
from  some  friend  whom  it  were  treason  to  call  a  "correspondent" 
merely,  is  unswathed  from  its  ample  packing  ;  anticipations,  the  pleasure 
of  whose  fulfilment  can  only  be  excelled  by  that  of  being  in  the  proud 
position  of  knovving  some  "  desideratum  "  which  will  gladden  the  heart 
of  the  owner  of  the  box  on  its  safe  return.  Surely  this  experience  will 
survive  the  rude  shock  of  the  disappointment  sometimes  caused  by  the 
greed  or  incapacity,  or  even  worse,  of  those  whose  advertisements 
sometimes  tinwittingl}^  obtain  publicit}',  whilst  it  is  those  who,  un- 
fortified by  these  pleasant  recollections,  can  only  be  pitied  for  offering 
gratuitous  insult  to  those  whose  true  assistance  in  promoting  the  best 
interests  of  entomology,  is  unavoidably  occasionally  abused  by  design. 

It  is  during  such  social  moments,  when  friend  opens  his  heart  to 
friend,  that  the  secret  of  some  locality  concealed,  jDossibly  for  j-ears,  is 
revealed,  and  arrangements  are  made  it  may  be,  for  a  midsummer  trip 
to  Braemar,  for  Zi/gaena  exulans,  in  its  elevated  home,  necessitating  a 
2,500-ft.  climb,  or  to  the  Isle  of  Man,  where,  along  its  jDrettily  indented 
rocky  coasts,  in  more  or  less  inaccessible  spots,  among  the  flowering 
bladder-camjiion  (Sileiie  intlata),  the  quick-flying  Diantlioecia  caesia 
may  be  netted  in  June,  and  the  still  rarer  Lithosia  cauiola  occurs  a  few 
weeks  later.  In  this  pleasant  chat,  with  which  the  long  winter 
evenings  are  beguiled,  many  a  hint  lias  l)een  given  and  taken,  the 
recollection  of  which,  when  the  advancing  season  has  given  a  chance 
for  its  trial,  has  awakened  a  feeling  of  gratitude  to  the  more  advanced 
collector  who  thus  kindly  places  his  exi^erience  at  the  dis]30sal  of  the 
tyro. 

When  at  last  the  cabinets  are  closed  and  the  dujjlicates  freely  over- 
hauled, who  is  there  that  cannot  afford  a  hearty  laugh,  whilst  the  fire 
blazes  cheerfully  and  the  chairs  are  drawn  closer,  at  those  undoubtedly 
trying  exjjeriences,  of  which  the  past  season  is  sure  to  have  contributed 
its  share,  to  the  most  experienced  and  fortunate  collector  ?  We  recol- 
lect with  a  momentary  shudder,  that  early,  too  early,  fortnight  during 
May  and  June,  in  Fen  Land,  when  the  N.E.  wind  blew  with  a  keenness 
worthy  of  January,  or  when  on  stiller  evenings  the  fog  rose,  white  and 
opaque,  damping  everything  l)ut  the  spirits  (animal  not  ardent),  when 
the  sheet,  soaked  to  transparency,  Aveighed  its  poles  so  heavily  into 
the  yielding  soil  as  to  gradually  sink  to  earth,  leaving  tlie  light  aloft, 
sole  illuminant  of  the  marshy  and  weird  wastes. 

What  merriment  is  provoked  by  the  visions  of  two  drenched 
figures  battling  with  a  "  South- Wester "  on  cliffs  600-ft.  above  the 
sea,  the  scud  flying  wildly,  l)ut  the  moths,  alas  I  more  deterred  by  the 


44  'tub    ENTOMOtiOGlST^S    RECdlili. 

weather  than  their  would-be  captors,  who  succeed  in  lighting  their 
lanterns  only  to  see  them,  like  their  hopes,  suddenly  extinguished. 

Again,  it  is  the  perfection  of  summer  weather,  hot  and  glaring, 
whilst  in  the  depths  of  a  forest  far  from  any  hostelry,  a  part}'  have  been 
engaged  for  hours,  netting  Neineohins  Iticina,  and  other  irritatingly  actiA'e 
day-fliers.  The  inner  man  has  not  been  forgotten,  and  a  hamper  con- 
tains li(piid  and  solid  refreshment ;  the  halt  is  called,  and  the  parched 
throats  revert  instinctively  to  the  "  liquids,"  when  alas,  a  stumble  I  and 
ale,  sherry,  water  and  milk,  mingle  their  streams  and  "  run  to  earth." 
We  can  laugh  now,  with  our  tumblers  at  our  elbows,  but  it  was  no 
laughing  matter  then.  In  such  reminiscences  we  lose  our  too  aggressive 
individualism,  and  learn  to  respect  in  one  another  those  little  persoii- 
alities  which  oft-times  bristle  upon  us  l)rothers  of  the  net,  as  *'  spines 
on  fi-etful  caterpillar." 

(To  he  continued.) 


guRRENT    NOTES. 

Many  of  our  su1)scribers  will  learn  wntli  regret  that  Mr.  T.  Henderson, 
of  Glasgow,  died  on  December  11th,  1893.  As  a  generous  correspon- 
dent and  keen  tield-naturalist,  he  will  be  missed  by  many,  and  it  is  with 
genuine  regret  and  a  remembrance  of  many  jiast  kindnesses,  that  we 
ourselves  mourn  his  loss. 

Dr.  Knaggs  recommends  methylated  ether  as  a  cure  for  grease  in 
moths.  He  suggests  the  subjection  of  greasy  insects  to  repeated  baths 
until  the  grease  is  soaked  out.  It  is  a  cheaper  fluid  than  benzine  and, 
according  to  those  who  have  since  tried  it,  much  more  effectual.  We 
always,  after  soaking  our  specimens,  bed  them  on  magTiesia ;  then, 
whilst  wet,  we  put  more  magnesia  on  them,  and  leave  them  there  a 
short  time,  when  most  of  the  magnesia  falls  or  nuiy  be  bloAvn  from  the 
scales.     A  camel-hair  brush  will  at  once  remove  refractory  particles. 

The  January  number  of  The  Canadian  Entomoluyint,  gives  a  first- 
class  portrait  of  the  Editor,  the  liev.  C.  J.  S.  Bethune,  whilst  an  ode  by 
our  valued  contributor  Mr.  A.  K.  Grote,  is  printed  in  honour  of  the 
quarter-centenary  of  our  excellent  contem^torary. 

There  is  a  very  old  and  quaint  saying  which  shows  a  certain  con- 
nection between  one's  maternal  grandparent  and  the  power -of  sucking- 
eggs.  Of  course,  this  is  a  very  rude  saying,  l)ut  we  were  reminded  of 
its  triteness  when  we  saw  in  a  contemporary  that  Mr.  Frohawk  Avas 
giving  lessons  to  Dr.  Chapman  on  "  IIow  Epiiwphele  ianira  pupates." 
Such  a  teacher  I     Such  a  scholar  ! 

Hybernia  de/oJiaria  was  very  abundant  in  the  autumn  of  1893,  at 
Victoria,  in  Vancouver  Island.  It  is  really  marvellous  what  a  vast 
range  some  of  our  species  with  apterous  females  have.  Mr.  Danby 
writes  of  the  moths  in  Vancouver  Island  : — "  The  markings  of  the  males 
vary  vei'y  much  ;  I  have  a  series  of  six  which  are  wonderfully  unlike 
each  other  ;  in  fact,  H.  defoliaria  varies  in  its  markings  just  as  much  as 
C.  bruceata  or  E.  soniinaria  do,  and  some  are  beautiful  by  the  very 
reason  of  their  wonderful  contrast  to  the  type.  While  one  has  the 
bauds  nearly  Idack.  another  has  apparently  no  median  band,  but  is 
thoroughly  suffused."  Mr.  J.  Fletcher,  of  Ottawa,  adds  to  Mr.  Danby's 
note  : — "  I  believe  the  British  Columbian  insect  to  be  identical  with  the 


PRACTICAL    HINTS. 


is 


English,  as  I  can  Unci  no  difference  between  eitlier  the  moths  or  the 
caterpillars." 

Mr.  Eustace  Bankes,  with  his  eagle  eye,  has  determined  that  Litho- 
coUetis  trigiitti'lla  is  only  a  variety  of  L.  fai/ineUa.  'J^he  original 
description  was  based  on  a  siiKjle  specimen  taken  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Douglas 
at  Sandei'stead.  No  one  regretted  more  than  did  Mr.  Stainton  in  his 
later  years  these  early  descriptions  made  from  single  specimens,  and 
vet,  even  now,  we  find  collectors,  who  are  field-naturalists  and  not 
students,  occasionally  naming  species  from  two  or  three  specimens, 
without  reference  even  to  the  Continental  figures  and  descriptions  of 
tlie  allied  non-Britisli  species  in  the  same  genus. 

The  cheap  three-penny  edition  of  "  The  Accentuated  List "  to 
which  Capt.  Thompson  alludes  in  his  paper,  can  still  be  obtained  of 
Messrs^.  Gurney  and  Jackson,  1,  Paternoster  Kow.  Will  not  our 
present-day  University  entomologists  prepare  a  new  edition,  in  which 
the  mail}'  additional  names,  both  generic  and  trivial,  which  have  ob- 
tained currency  since  1859,  should  l)e  included,  and  from  which  we 
might  obtain  guidance,  as  to  the  correct  accentuation  of  the  sub-family 
(inn)  and  tribe  {idi)  names  ? 

One  of  the  most  amusing  incidents  that  has  occurred  at  our  London 
Ent.  Societies  lately,  took  place  at  the  City  of  London  meeting  on 
Fel).  6th.  It  was  practically  a  vote  on  Mr.  Erohawk's  power  of  eye- 
sight, as  to  whctlier  certain  male  varieties  of  Argyunis  jxiphki,  belonging 
to  Mr.  J.  A.  Clark,  had,  or  had  not,  a  green  tint  round  the  pale  spots 
present  on  the  hind  wings.  Nineteen  members  were  present,  and  voted 
with  perfect  unanimity  against  Mr.  Erohawk,  everyone  being  able  to 
.see  the  colour.  We  condole  most  sincerely  with  Mr.  Erohawk  on  this 
adverse  judgment. 


Practical  hints. 

Hoartnia  repaaddta  is  a  very  interesting  species  to  breed;  the  lai'vse 
may  be  found,  on  mild  evenings  in  early  spring,  feeding  on  all  sorts  of 
low-growing  plants;  ivy,  honeysuckle  and  bramble  seem  to  be  the 
favourite  food-plants  hereabouts. — J.  Mason,  Clevedon.  January  12th, 
1894. 

The  best  time  to  capture  Mehmthid  rnhiijinata  {hicolurata)  is  about 
an  hour  before  sunset,  when  I  find  it  on  the  wing  in  this  neighbourhood 
among  alders. — J.  Einlay,  Meldon  Park,  Morpeth.    January  2d(h,  1894. 

In  Epping  Eorest  31.  bicolorafa  does  not  fiy  until  sunset,  l)ut  may 
be  beaten  out  of  blackthorn  in  crowds  during  the  afternoon. — E.  J. 
BucKELL,  Canonbury. 


ARIATION. 


BoAKMiA  ifEPANDATA  var.  coNVEKSAKTA. — Thc  Specimens  of  this 
variety  taken  at  liglit  on  June  10th,  1893,  by  Mr.  Vivian  at  (41anafon, 
Port  Talbot  in  Soutli  Wales,  are  remarkable  in  that  their  grouiul  colour 
is  of  a  much  purer  white  than  is  the  case  with  specimens  from  any  other 
district  which  1  have  seen.     Mr.  Moberly  writing  of  these  specimens 


46  THE    ENTOBIOLOGIST  S    KECOUl). 

says : — "  1  have  in  my  collection  New  Forest  specimens  of  that  variety 
and  also  one  which  I  took  near  Totnes,  but  none  of  them  have  the  white 
colour  so  distinct  as  in  his  specimen."  Mr.  Mason,  of  Clevedon, 
writes  : — "  I  take  var.  conversaria  similar  to  Mr.  Vivian's  specimens  in 
this  locality,  in  fact  I  bred  a  nice  series  last  summer  from  larvag 
collected  in  the  early  spring,  the  average  proportion  of  conversaria 
being  about  one  in  twenty-.  I  believe  those  larva^  which  were  fed 
exclusively  on  ivy  produced  the  largest  percentage.  At  the  same  time 
I  bred  two  specimens  much  darker  than  the  ordinary  type  form,  and 
very  similar  to  examples  received  from  the  Raunoch  district."  Mr. 
Sydney  Webb  writes  :— "The  concersaria  from  the  West  always  seem 
to  be  of  a  purer  white  and  black  than  those  from  other  places,  tlie  dark 
hind  margin  of  one  of  Mr.  Vivian's  specimens  makes  it  in  particular  a 
lovely  example." — J.  W.  Tutt,  Westcombe  Hill.     January  31sf,  1894. 

SOiME  KEMAKIvS  HAVING  SPECIAL  REFERENCE  TO  VARIETIES  OF  ArGYNNIS 

I'APHiA. — Mr.  Frohawk  occasionally  delights  in  running  his  head  against 
a  brick  wall,  although  unfortunately  the  operation  does  not  seem  to 
hurt  him  ;  tliis  time  he  has  run  amuck  at  an  off-hand  statement  of  mine 
concerning  Ar(j>innis  paphia.  From  the  warmth  lie  exhibits,  one  would 
think  that  he  alone  has  any  personal  interest  in  A.  paplda,  and  that  no  one 
Itul  himself  and  Mr.  ('arpenter  ought  to  have  any  of  its  varieties. 
Taking  the  matters  at  issue  seriatim  let  us  see  what  they  amount  to  : — 
(1).  Mr.  Frohawk  states  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  South  London 
Entomological  Society  on  October  12th,  "  Mr.  J.  H.  Carpenter  exhibited 
a  very  fine  series  of  white-spotted  forms  of  A.  paphia.  numbering  some 
three  dozen  specimens  ;  Mr.  Tutt  then  alluded  to  Mr.  Clark's '  remark- 
ably fine  series  '  of  white-spotted  forms,  stating  that  many  of  them 
had  patches  of  the  green  colouring  of  tlie  var.  calesina  rej^resented  in 
both  sexes  "  (Entom.,  p.  69).  I  find  on  turning  to  the  South  London 
Entom.  Society's  report  for  October  12th,  that  I  am  reported  by  Mr. 
Williams  as  follows : — "  Mr.  Tutt  remarked  that  this  pale-spotted  form 
was  frecpiently  tinted  Avith  green  as  in  var.  valezina,  more  especially  the 
females  "  (Record,  iv.,  p.  3Uo).  Turning  to  the  original  report  of  the  City 
of  London  Entomological  Society's  meeting,  at  which  the  exhibition  was 
made,  Mr.  Battley's  report  reads  : — "Mr.  Clark  exhibited  .  .  .  Aryi/nnis 
paphia  witli  its  var.  valezina  and  intermediate  forms.  With  regard  to 
tlie  vars.  of  .4.  paphia,  Mr.  Tutt  remarked  that  several  of  the  males 
were  distinctly  green  on  certain  portions  of  the  hind  wings,  and  that 
frequently  these  specimens  were  those  which  developed  j^ale  spots  both 
on  the  fore  and  hind  wings,  thus  showing  a  double  tendency  towards 
var.  calezina,  the  area  around  the  pale  spot  being  the  first  to  become 
green  "  (Eut.  Becord,  iv.,  p.  259).  These  remarks  were  made  with  a  very 
long  series  of  Argijnnis  pajjhia  before  me,  occupying  one  side  (at  least)  of 
a  very  large  store  box  and  I  believe  a  part  of  the  other  side ;  they  were 
hona  fide  conclusions  drawn  from  the  specimens  before  my  eyes  when 
being  exhibited  at  a  full  meeting  of  the  Society,  and  can  be  vouched 
for  l)y  every  lepidojjterist  in  the  room  ;  and  because  Mr.  Chirk  has  been 
kind  enough  to  show  Mr.  Frohawk  eight  specimens,  six  males  and  two 
females,  and  these  did  not  happen  to  show  the  particular  phase  of  varia- 
tion to  which  I  carefully  and  at  length  drew  attention  at  the  meeting, 
Mr.  Frohawk  wants  to  know  wliat  reason  I  have  for  making  "  such  an 
erroneous  assertion "  as  he  styles  it.  He  is  entirely  at  fault.  Mr. 
Clark  exhibited  a  long  series  of  such  forms  and  of  the  accuracy  of  my 


VAKIATTOK.  47 

conclusion,  undoubtedly  Dr.  Buckell,  Mr.  Battley  and  others  could 
speak  if  there  were  need  (which  indeed  there  is  not) ;  what  has  become 
of  the  remainder  of  the  exhibit  is  Mr.  Clark's  business,  but  Mr. 
Frohawk  must  not  lose  his  head  nor  make  himself  childishly  ridiculous 
over  my  bona  fides.  I  do  not  suppose  that,  Avith  sucli  a  series  as  Mr. 
Clark  had,  he  would  keep  the  whole  for  himself,  and  I  su])pose  that 
some  of  the  specimens  have  been  distributed.  j\ly  statement  is  beyond 
cavil,  and  I  do  not  feel  inclined  to  pry  into  Mr.  Clark's  business  as  he 
evidently  showed  Messrs.  Frohawk  and  Carpenter  all  he  cared  to,  and  if 
they  went  to  him  in  the  same  spirit  as  Mr.  Frohawk  has  shoAvn  in  his 
note,  I  am  not  surprised  that  they  did  not  see  the  series  even  if  Mr. 
Clark  should  have  happened  to  have  kept  them.  With  Mr.  Clark's 
series  vividly  in  my  mind  when  I  ins]iected  Mr.  Carjienter's,  the  latter 
looked  a  most  uninteresting  lot. 

(2).  Mr.  Frohawk  further  writes  : — "  When  I  exhibited  the  speci- 
mens of  a  second  emergence  of  A.  paphia  ....  Mr.  Tutt  stated  that 
he  had  lately  seen  examples  of  a  second  brood  of  A.  paphia  in  the 
collection  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Clark,  who  had  obtained  tliem  from  the  New 
Forest  during  the  autumn."  This  is  nearly  but  not  (piite  the  truth. 
In  the  report  of  the  meeting  {Ent.  Record,  vol.  iv.,  p.  306)  Mr.  Turner 
reports  : — "  Mr.  Tutt  remarked  that  he  had  seen  specimens  of  a  second 
brood  of  A.  papltia  and  had  bred  second  broods  of  Vanefisa  urticae,  V. 
atalanta,  V.  in  and  V.  c-album."  Now  this  very  fairly  states  what  I 
did  say,  l)ut  in  a  desiiltory  conversation  canned  on  across  pai't  of  the 
room  and  when  I  was  busy  talking  with  a  friend,  Mr.  Frohawk  asked 
me  where  I  had  seen  them  and  I  immediately  told  him  "at  a  recent 
City  of  London  uieeting,"  and  in  answer  to  another  query  I  remarked 
that  they  might  have  been,  or  most  probably  were,  Mr.  Clark's.  This  is 
all  I  rememlier.  Some  small  specimens  of  .1.  paphia  were  exhibited 
and  these  were  in  some  way  connected  with  remarks  about  a  second 
brood.  Mr.  Frohawk  seeks  to  bind  me  down  to  an  oif-hand  statement 
that  was  only  given  as  such  and  simply  as  an  attempt  to  give  a  courteous 
reply  to  a  (question  qn  which  I  had  given  l)ut  a  passing  thought,  and 
which  to  me  has  no  real  scientific  value.  To  be  the  first  to  bi'eed 
an  odd  autumnal  specimen  seems  to  be  quite  an  important  scientific 
feat.  Well  !  So  be  it  !  Mr.  Frohawk  should  not  leave  his  "  painting  " 
for  "  mud  throwing  "  as  it  does  not  add  eclat  to  his  artistic  powers,  nor 
should  he  set  himself  up  as  an  authority  on  my  statements  or  on  my 
jDOwer  of  eyesight. — J.  W.  Tutt.  [Since  the  above  was  in  type,  the 
specimens  shown  to  Mr.  Frohawk  by  Mr.  Clark  have  Ijeen  exhibited  at 
the  City  of  London  Entomological  Society's  meeting,  and  it  appears 
that  he  really  did  see  the  green-tinted  specimens.  Owing  to  Mr.  Fro- 
hawk's  serious  statements  a  vote  (as  to  whether  the  males  showed  a 
green  tint  or  not)  was  taken.  As  tlae  vote  was  unanimous  against  Mr. 
Frohawk,  perhaps  it  will  b(>  more  charital)le  to  say  that  Mr.  P^-ohawk 
Avould  not  see  what  ever}^  one  else  can  see.     'J'hough  why  ? — Eu.J 

VARi.vnoN  IN  Irish  Lepiuoptkra. — The  following  are  the  only 
noticeable  variations  which  I  have  met  with  here  : — Pieris  brassicae,  J 
of  spring  lirood  very  large  ;  P.  rapae,  4  $  of  a  yellow  tint ;  P.  napi, 
some  (J  s  spotless,  some  Js  very  dark;  Coenoni/mpha  pamphilns,  some 
almost  spotless ;  Hepialm  relleda  var.  carnnn  and  intermediates  ;  Thya- 
ti/ra  baiiK,  3  sjiecimens  with  tlie  s])ots  ]>rown  instead  of  rosy,  the  t3'pe 
also   occurs   here  ;     Xylophat^ia  pulyudon,  some  quite  black,   others   as 


48  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    RECORD. 

lio-ht  as  any  that  I  have  seen  in  the  South  of  England,  others  inter- 
mediate ;  Agriopis  aprilina,  6  specimens  (from  100  dug  pupje)  with  the 
space  between  the  base  of  the  wing  and  the  1st  line  almost  clear. — 
(Cai'T.)  E.  W.  Brown,  Enniskillen. 

Variation  in  Lithomia  solidaginis — I  spent  two  or  three  days  early 
in  Auo-ust  in  the  wild  district  near  Kindnocout,  and  observed  that  the 
specimens  of  Lithoiiiin  solidaginis  which  occur  there  closely  resemble 
the  Yorksliire  form,  but  are  quite  distinct  from  the  form  that  I  take  on 
Cannock  Chase. — (Rkv.)  C.  F.  Thornewill,  Burton-on-Trent. 

Errata. — Page  12,  line  41. — For  "females"  read  "males"  and  for 
"small"     read     "large."     Page     12,     line    43.     For    "  eschari ''    read 


es( 


hcrij 


OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

I'he  result  of  a  "  Qratuitous  Offer." 

I  was  induced  recently  to  try  the  experiment  of  making  a  gratuitous 
distribution  of  my  s]iare  duplicates  for  two  reasons  ;  firstly,  because  of 
my  dislike  of  the  bargaining  and  huckstering  inseparable  from  the  ex- 
change system  ;  and  secondly,  from  a  desire  to  adopt  a  method  wliich 
was  not  uncommon  in  the  days  of  the  old  masters  in  entomology,  a  race 
now  i)assed  away  "to  that  bourne  whence  no  traveller  returns"  (I 
allude  to  such  men  as  Stainton,  Newman,  Westwood,  Doubleday, 
Shepherd,  Janson,  and  a  host  of  others,  for  whose  successors  we  look  in 
vain) ;  it  may  be  of  interest  to  readers  of  this  journal  to  learn  the 
result  of  my  experience. 

My  main  idea  was  to  offer  an  opportunity  of  filling  blanks  in  their 
cabinets,  to  those  younger  lepidopterists  who  lived  in  districts  where 
chalk  insects  are  not  found,  by  placing  them  in  possession  of 
examples  of  those  insects  ;  and,  in  order  to  prevent  disappointments,  I 
requested  that  written  applications  should  precede  the  despatch  of  boxes. 
I  may  here  parenthetically  state,  that  I  had  several  hundreds  of  dupli- 
cates'which  I  desired  to  place  in  the  cabinets  of  others. 

Before  I  had  even  seen  the  notice  in  the  Journal,  I  received  several 
applications  ;  one  from  a  gentleman  with  a  particularly  Hebrew-sounding 
patronymic  resident  near  London,  who  sent  me  a  post-card  informing 
me  that  a  box  was  coming  by  the  next  post  in  order  that  he  might 
secure  a  "  fair  share  of  my  superfluities."  This  gentleman  evidently 
considered  that  I  was  holding  a  sort  of  entomological  scramble,  and  that  it 
was  a  case  of  "  first  come,  first  served."  It  appeared  from  his  letter 
that  he  required  the  insects  to  add  to  a  collection  already  made  by  liis 
son.     Why  did  he  not  collect  them  for  himself? 

There  followed,  during  the  next  few  days,  a  perfect  storm  of  letters, 
post-cards,  and  even  boxes.  One  gentleman  incpiired  if  he  should  send 
a  store  box  (he  obligingly  gave  me  the  precise  dimensions),  into 
which,  1  could  with  ease,  have  packed  three  or  four  hundred  insects ; 
while  several  applicants  asked  for  20  or  30  of  a  species,  to  renew,  or 
increase  their  series.  It  occurs  to  me  that  these  gentlemen  should  have 
endeavoured  to  obtain  a  supply  of  such  dimensions  through  the  medium 
of  exchange ;  a  gratuitous  offer  could  hardly  be  intended  to  apply 
to  them.     Some,  forgetful  of  the  proverbial  gift  horse,  stipulated  that 


NOTES    ON    L'OLliECTlN(i,    ETC.  49 

the  insects  should  be  on  pins  of  a  particular  size  or  on  black  pins. 
Some,  I  am  sorry  to  say  only  a  very  few,  offered  to  make  some  return  ;  in 
the  majority  of  instances  the  species  offered  were  those  described  in  the 
Dfannnl  as  "  common  everywhere."  Nevertheless,  I  was  greatly  obliged 
by  their  offers,  and  in  one  or  two  instances  was  glad  to  avail  myself 
of  them. 

And  now  a  word  as  to  the  boxes  sent.  These  were  a  very  mixed 
lot,  the  "  common  or  garden  "  cigar  box  occupying  a  prominent  position. 
It  will  not  be  out  of  place,  perhaps,  for  me  to  remind  your  younger 
readers,  that  such  a  vehicle,  with  an  address  laliel  stuck  on  the  top,  and 
without  a  shred  of  packing,  offers  an  opportunity  too  good  to  be  lost, 
to  the  Post  Office  officials,  to  "  punch  the  l)ag."  lu  several  instances,  the  in- 
tegrity of  the  boxes  had  suffered  from  their  treatment,  they  being  more  or 
less  smashed  in ;  in  one  case,  the  whole  concern  was  broken  up  ;  in 
another,  some  insects,  which  were  being  sent  to  me,  were  reduced  to  such 
a  condition,  that  I  was  half  inclined  to  suppose  that  the  sender,  having  a 
laudable  desire  to  prevent  their  receiving  any  farther  injury  whilst 
jjassing  through  the  post,  treated  them  to  a  few  turns  in  a  coffee  mill 
before  despatching  them  ;  the  insects,  wings,  thoraces,  abdomens,  legs, 
etc.,  being  reduced  to  a  fine  powder. 

And  now  for  the  moral.  Whilst  some  of  the  letters  received  came 
undoubtedly  from  gentlemen  of  education,  with  whose  modest  require- 
ments I  had  great  pleasure  in  complying,  I  am,  with  regret,  compelled 
to  say,  that  1  fear  the  majority  of  those  who  wrote  to  me,  were  of  the 
genus  "grab."  Some  of  the  former  I  hope  to  be  able  to  supply  with 
additional  insects  in  the  autumn  of  1894  ;  for  even  my  long  rows  of 
duplicates  were,  in  several  cases,  too  short  to  enable  me  to  supjjly 
every  one.  To  the  latter  I  would  say,  "  Amend  your  ways,  and  re- 
member the  saying  relative  to  the  assistance  rendered  to  those  who 
help  themselves. 

My  boxes  are  now  practically  empty,  but  after  my  recent  experience, 
I  shall  hesitate  before  I  undertake  to  collect  and  preserve  any  consider- 
able number  of  insects  for  another  year's  indiscriminate  and  gratuitous 
distribution. — Arthur  Lovell  Keays,  Upwood  Tower,  Caterham 
Valley. 

Note  by  the  Editor. — The  results  of  our  correspondent's  "  gra- 
tuitous offer  "  do  not  come  as  a  surprise  to  me,  although,  in  themselves, 
unsatisfactory  enough.  For  half-a-century  or  more,  those  who  have 
tried  the  effects  of  indiscriminate  gratuitous  distribution  have  told  the 
same  sorry  story,  and  have,  more  or  less,  deduced  the  same  moral. 
Further,  the  lesson  which  they  have  learned  they  have  applied  to  their 
practice,  and  have  ventured  no  more  in  the  same  direction.  But  some  of 
our  correspondent's  generalisations  will  not  hold  water.  Probably  two  of 
the  "  old  school "  to  which  our  correspondent  refers,  "  Stainton  and 
Doubleday,"  were  of  so  entirely  generous  a  natui'e,  that  many  un- 
deserving appeals  met  with  a  ready  response  from  them  but  I  doubt 
whether  even  they,  after  a  little  experience,  ever  went  in  f(U-  indiscri- 
minate distribution,  although,  to  get  an  introduction  through  a  mutual 
friend,  was  sufficient  for  them  to  become  willing  benefactors.  But  it  is 
to  tlie  phrase  "a  race  now  passed  away,"  that  I  take  most  exception. 
This  shows  that  our  correspondent  is  not  at  all  an  fait  with  British 
entomologists,  for  I  could  mention  half-a-dozen  living  lepidopterists 
who  give  away  freely  year  by  year  a  greater  number  of  insects  than 


50 


THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    KECORl). 


did  any  of  those  gciitlumuii  lueutioiiud  by  Lim  at  uuy  time  iii  tlieir 
careers  ;  and  tins,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  in  the  "  good  okl  days  "  books 
were  scarce,  and  there  was  a  class  of  people  who  Avere  really  thankful 
to  these  benevolent  gentlemen  for  their  charity  (in  the  form  of  named 
'*■  tj^pes  "),  but  who  would  now  scorn  to  be  recipients  of  their  bounty. 
I  refer  here  to  the  better  educated  collectors  Avho,  Avith  the  text-books 
now  published,  can  name  their  own  captures,  but  avIio,  before  tlie  days 
of  The  Manual  and  '*  NeAvman,"  were  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  loosely- 
worded  Latin  descriptions,  unless  they  could  afford  Humphrey  and 
Westwood's  expensiA-e  Avork.  Tlie  adA-ent  of  books  has  made  such 
Avholesale  generosity  less  necessary,  and  the  particular  phase  of  it  to 
which  I  have  just  alluded,  al)Solutely  unnecessary;  but  this  does  not 
show  that  the  generous-minded  lepidoi)terist  is  not  as  keen  as  ever  in 
helping  those  Avho  really  want  material  for  scientific  study  and  investi- 
gation. As  for  giving  types  of  butterflies  to  those  people  Avho  pretend 
to  study  entomology  but  are  too  mean  to  l)uy  a  shilling  text-l)Ook  and  find 
out  the  names  of  their  captures  for  themseh-es,  well,  we  are  tliankful  that 
the  good  old  times  are  altered,  and  that  people  have  to  look  up  the  matter 
for  themselves.  To  Avant  types  of  well-defined  species  such  as  exist  among 
Sphiixjidae  and  Sesiklar,  is  ridiculous  ;  the  species  are  clearly  defined  in 
the  A'ery  cheapest  text-books,  and  such  an  application  only  shoAvs  the 
peeping  out  of  "  grab  "  referred  to  below.  Let  beginners  show  that  they 
have  some  grit  in  them,  b}^  Avorking  the  si)ecies  up  for  themselves,  and 
let  them  possess  their  souls  in  patience  until  their  zeal  leads  them  to 
success.  Tlie  use  of  "  types"  of  a  fcAv  of  the  species  of  Leucania  and 
Eupithecia,  or  of  some  of  the  smaller  fry,  is  permissilile,  as  there  is  a 
real  difiiculty  in  identifying  some  of  these  with  certainty  from  de- 
scriptions. That  the  generosity,  which  gaA-e  aAvay  so-called  "  types  " 
and  encouraged  laziness,  has  died  out,  is  a  cause  for  much  thankfulness. 
We  may  certainly  have  fewer  so-called  entomologists,  but  those  Ave 
ha\'e  are  a  better  lot.  That  generosit}^  in  lepidopterists  has  not  abated 
one  iota,  I  can  affirm  from  my  own  knoAvledge.  ProbalJy  no  one, 
during  the  last  fcAv  years,  has  attempted  more  Avork  re([uiring  abundant 
material  than  myself.  The  British  Noctnae  and  their  Varieties  is  enough 
to  proA'e  my  point.  Dui'ing  the  three  years  Avhich  T  spent  over  that 
work,  I  had  some  two  thousand  s})eciniens  in  the  finest  condition,  some  of 
great  rarity,  and  all  of  tlie  utmost  service  as  representing  species  from 
localities  Avhich  I  had  not  Avoi'ked,  giA'en  me  freely,  Avithout  ho|)e  oi  a 
return.  Three  or  four  thousand  more  were  sent  to  me  in  exchange  for 
what  I  could  spare  ;  I  did  my  best,  Avhich  I  am  afraid  Avas  only  a  bad 
"best,"  but  no  one  complained  of  it.  Last  year  I  asked  for  material 
connected  Avith  Ih'itish  Imtterfiies,  my  aim  being  to  get  out  some 
scientific  j^articulars  relating  to  this  group,  Avith  the  stated  intention  of 
publication.  One-half  the  BritisJi  butterfiies  Avere  sent  to  me  in  one  or 
other  of  the  earlier  stages,  and  some  gentlemen  must  Iuiac  spent  a  con- 
siderable sum  of  money,  as  avcII  as  putting  themselves  to  inconvenience, 
in  supplying  my  Avants.  I  maintain,  therefore,  that  the  generous  race 
of  entomologists  has  not  passed  aAvay.  The  adA'anco  of  education  has 
directed  their  generosity  into  other  channels,  through  Avhicli  it  has 
aided  in  the  ju'oduction  of  scientific  Avork,  rather  than  in  encouraging 
another  feather-bed  collector  or  tAvo  to  make  a  collection,  which  he  will 
inspect  through  £.  s.  d.  spectacles,  and  at  Avhich  he  will  onl}'  glance 
with  satisfaction,  Avhen  he  can  determine  that  he  has  made  it  at  a  i)rofit 
based  on  the  gidlibility  of  his  friends  (?)  and  correspondents. 


NOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    ETC.  61 

There  is  only  one  other  ])oint  iu  uur  eurrcfspoudeiit's  letter  which  I 
would  discuss,  ;uid  that  is,  his  "genus  'grab.'"  I  have  touched  on  it 
above,  but  is  it  not  really  the  natural  outcome  of  the  misiilaced  generosity 
which  our  friend  so  much  dejilores,  or  has  it  not  a  still  deeper  origin 
situated  deep  down  in  our  national  life  ?  Education,  so-called,  has  the 
tendency  at  the  present  time  to  resolve  itself  into  a  })rocess  of  driving 
into  students  the  greatest  ijossible  amount  of  information  in  the  shortest 
possible  time.  The  digestion  and  assimilation  of  the  mental  food  are 
of  no  consequence  ;  superficial  results  are  the  only  things  aimed  at. 
Everything  is  to  be  made  easy ;  our  teachers  have  to  simplify,  dilute 
and  pour  in  knowledge  ready  for  use  ;  we,  the  students,  have  only  to 
imbibe  as  mucli  of  it  as  possible.  Not  an  effort  do  we  put  forth.  The 
student  leaves  school ;  he  becomes  say,  a  lejiidopterist ;  immediately  he 
goes  off  to  some  well-known  man,  taking  his  bugs  to  be  named,  because, 
forsooth,  it  Avould  take  too  long  to  search  out  their  names  for  himself. 
The  mental  training  thus  given  is  nil.  There  is  a  short  cut,  and  the 
young  student  (?)  takes  it  as  a  matter  of  course,  thinking  little  and 
caring  less  Avhat  trouble  he  is  putting  his  mentor  to.  Besides,  why 
should  he  get  a  book?  It  is  sixpence  or  a  shilling  saved  if  he  can 
borrow  it,  and  this  leads  ns  straight  to  the  ''  grab  "  development.  The 
first  part  of  our  education  is  a  sort  of  sucking-in  or  rather  soaking-up 
l)rocess,  in  which  the  student,  more  or  less,  resembles  a  sponge.  When 
this  has  reached  a  certain  point  the  second  begins,  and  may  be  summarised 
in  the  one  word  "grab."  (.)ur  social  system  demands"  gTab."  Those 
who  get  the  largest  amount  of  this  world's  goods,  "  grab."  Englishmen 
are  noted  the  wide  world  over  for  their  pushing  capacity  ;  in  other  Avords, 
for  their  "  grab."  Why,  then,  should  our  correspondent  complain  at 
what  has  ])een  elevated  into  a  national  virtue,  or  su])pose,  that  wliat  are 
the  exigencies  of  one  situation,  will  bo  altered  by  the  individual  when 
his  energy  is  directed  into  another  channel.  The  man  who  never  buys  a 
Avork  because  he  can  Ijorrow  it,  he,  who  never  takes  in  a  magazine  because 
a  friend  will  lend  it,  he,  who  never  subscribes  to  a  Society  because  he  can- 
not regularly  attend  the  meetings,  he,  who  Avill  help  in  no  movement 
having  the  general  advance  of  our  science  as  its  object  because  he  is 
not  an  active  participator,  are  all  equally  governed  by  "  grab."  But  to 
suppose  that  such  men  are  naturalists  or  liave  even  the  instinct  of  one. 
Ugh !  It  makes  one  Avho  revels  in  the  sunshine,  who  delights  in  fields 
and  flowers,  shudder.  Poverty  is  their  excuse  but  it  is  a  lame  one,  as 
those  can  vouch  who  know  Avhat  Avork  s(jme  really  })00r  men  do. 

With  the  rest  of  our  correspondent's  article  I  (cordially  agree,  l)ut  to 
suppose  that  generosity  is  dead  amongst  entomologists,  Avill  not  do. 
My  Avider  experience  teaches  me  a  A'ery  different  lesson.  Xature  still 
has  her  devotees,  ricli  and  poor,  Avho  loA-e  her  for  her  oAvn  sake,  and 
Avho  attempt  to  read  her  secrets,  in  spite  of  the  parody  on  tlie  students 
of  Nature,  Avhich  the  genus  "  grab  "  represents. — J.  W.  Tutt. 

Notes  Relating  to  the  Past  Season. 

Sheeriie.ss  and  Rochester. — A.  nice  series  of  Poijonus  Inridipenni's  Avas 
taken  at  Sheerness  in  August.  Coleo})tera  were,  on  the  Avhole,  scarce 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Rochester, — S.  Kipping,  HolsAvorthy,  Devon, 
Jamiary  20th,  1894. 

Oxon,  Bucks  (ind  Somerset. —  Ayrolia  obxcnra  (rartda)  first  appeared 


56  tHE    tei^TOMOLOGIST^S   KECO&fi. 

on  May  28tb,  and  on  June  3rd  was  quite  common.  Altogether  I  and 
my  two  lads  captured  200  fine  specimens.  A  second  brood  api^eared 
in  the  middle  of  iVugust  but  was  less  numerous  than  the  earlier  brood. 
I  captured  Vanessa  jjoh/cMoros  at  sugar  in  my  garden,  and  met  with 
Meh'taea  artemis  in  small  uumbei's  on  the  top  of  the  chalk  hills,  a  strange 
place  for  this  butterfly  ;  I  presume,  however,  that  it  feeds  on  the  scabious, 
which  is  plentiful  there.  I  met  with  single  specimens  of  Melananfia 
(jalafhaea  near  Wendover,  and  on  several  occasions  at  Chinnor  ;  the 
capture  of  solitary  specimens  of  gregarious  species  seems  to  me  worth 
recording.  Pantphila  comma  was  more  abundant  that  I  had  ever  previously 
noticed  it ;  it  evidently  has  a  wide  range  in  both  Oxon  and  Bucks.  In 
the  latter  county  I  observed  Tno  geri/on  in  thousands  during  May  ;  they 
were  accomjjanied  by  Lijcaena  minima,  which  in  one  place  was  in 
immense  profusion.  Mameslra  ahjecta,  occurred  sparingly  at  sugar ;  I 
captured  it  in  my  own  garden.  Colias  ednsa  was  very  common  at 
Orchard  Woods,  Taunton,  in  August,  and  at  tlie  same  place  I  took 
several  Thechi  betnlae  at  rest  upon  blackthorn  hedges. — A.  J.  Spili-er, 
Helston. 

Soutliampton. — After  a  still,  hot  day  in  June,  at  10.45  p.m.,  I 
placed  an  ordinary  duplex  lamp  in  a  room  on  the  first  floor  of  a  liouse 
in  the  outskirts  of  this  town,  which  was  a  long  Ava^'  from  any  wood  or 
real  country,  and  then  threw  up  the  window.  Returning  at  11. lo 
p.m.  I  found  that  moths  had  already  begun  to  arrive,  and  for  the  next 
two  hours  the}^  gave  me  plenty  of  employment.  I  captured  36  speci- 
mens, representing  the  following  species  : — Lcmania  2>allens,  Caradrina, 
cubicularis  (qiiadripiinctata),  Hccatera  serena,  ApJecta  adoena  (1),  Hadena 
denfina,  H.  chenopodii  (trifolii),  H.  oleracea,  Cncullia  uinbratica,  rinsia 
chri/sitis,  Acididia  imitaria,  A.  aversata,  Enpitliexia  pumilata,  Coremia 
unidentaria,  Cidaria  dotata  (associata),  CJiesias  ohliquaria  (rufata)  1. — J. 
C.  MoBEULY,  9,  Rockstone  Place,  Southampton.     Jannanj  2dth,  1894. 

Dorking. — On  Oct.  2nd,  1893,  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  ca})ture  a 
good  specimen  of  Lencaiiia  alhipuacta  at  ivy  ;  the  date  is  noteworthy, 
as  it  is  six  to  eight  weeks  later  than  those  of  the  captures  recorded  by 
Mr.  Hodges  and  Mr.  Prout  {Eat.  Bee,  vol.  iv.,  pp.  253  and  279).  I 
may  say  that  Mr.  Hodges  has  seen  and  identified  my  specimen. — Thos. 
W.  King,  Dorking. 

Kings  Lynn. — I  took  4  sjDecimens  of  Halonota  ravulana  last  year, 
as  against  3  in  1892. — E.  A.  Atmore,  King's  Lynn.     Januarij,  1894. 

CoLEoPTERA  AT  IpswiuH  IN  1893. — The  drought  of  tlie  past  season 
affected  Coleo})tera  to  a  much  less  extent  than  was  the  case  with  Lepi- 
doptera.  Seeing  this  would  probably  be  the  case,  I  decided  to  collect 
the  latter  during  the  hours  of  darkness  only  and  so  devote  the  whole 
of  the  daylight  to  the  pursuit  of  the  former.  There  is  little  doubt 
that  the  number  of  British  coleopterists  is  scarcelj'  half*  that  of  our 
lepidopterists,  but  why  this  should  be  the  case  is  not  easy  to  determine. 
I  have  never  in  any  one  year  taken  more  than  950  specimens  (254 
species)  of  Lepidoptera,  and  that  was  many  years  ago,  Avhen  I  was  a 
beginner  and  '•  everything  was  rare  ;  "  whilst  in  1893, 1  captured  1,352 
specimens  (350  s^jecies)  of  Coleoptera.     The  following  record  of  my 

*  This  appears  to  be  a  very  high  estimate,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
proportionate  number  of  records  made  respectively  by  coleopterists  and 
lepidopterists. — Ed. 


NOTES    ON   COTiLEOTING,    ETC.  53- 

"battles"  will  give  some  idea  of  the  facilities  with  which  beetles  may 
be  obtained,  and  of  the  situations  in  which  they  may  be  found  by  the 
merest  tyro  and  novice  at  the  art. 

Commencing  operations  about  Jan.  28th,  I  took,  within  a  ten-mile 
radius  of  Ipswich  (wliich  locality  is  to  be  understood  as  indicated 
tliroughout  this  paper  when  no  other  is  mentioned),  chiefly  at  the  base 
of  large  poplars,  oaks  and  elms,  where  they  may  readily  be  turned  up 
at  the  roots  of  the  grass  by  the  ever-useful  garden  trowel,  the  follow- 
ing: —  Carahus  violacem,  Nehria  brevicolh's,  Calathm  melanocephahis, 
Fferostichns  madidus,  P.  nigrita,  Amaru  bifrons,  Oci/pus  olens,  and  the 
remains  of  Lucaims  cerims  ^  . 

February  was,  for  the  most  part,  wet  and  foggy ;  conditions  not 
favourable  to  pupa-digging,  nor  early  coleopterising  which  involves 
much  the  same  kind  of  work  ;  however,  still  working  the  "  unconscious  " 
trees,  as  Rev.  Joseph  Greene  terms  them,  I  met  with  very  fair  success, 
turning  ujj  :  —Carahus  granvlatus,  Clivina  fosHor,  Pristonydms  suhcijaneus, 
Fterostifihis  vnhiaris,  F.  inaequalis,  Amara  curta,  Harpalus  atenuattis, 
Bemhidium  quadriiuaculatwn ,  Hydroporuii  palnstris,  Hydrohius  fuscipes, 
Creophilus  maxUlosui^ ;  Silpha  atrata  and  Olibriis  corticalis  were  found 
under  bark  ;  Aphodins  fosnor,  Erirhinus  vorax,  E.  vaUdirostris,  Anfho- 
nomns  pedicnJarius,  Lema  cyanella  ;  the  last  four  were  obtained  from 
under  bark  on  asjien  and  willow. 

March  was  a  grand  month,  when  beetles  were  galore ;  among  those 
taken  were  : — Notiophilm  biguttatus,  one  under  a  stone  at  Epsom ; 
Carahus  nemoralis,  Amara  pleheia  and  A.  co?HmM(i/s,  running  in  sunshine ; 
Anchomenns  ohlongits  (?),  A.  alhipes,  A.  prasiniis  ;  Tachyp)orus  hypnorum, 
Oxytehs  rugosus  and  Stcnm  i^peculaior,  from  sods  ;  Quedius  picipes  ;  Geo- 
tnipcs  stercoran'iis  and  G.  mutator,  flying  at  dusk  ;  Aphndins  granarms, 
under  stones  at  Epsom  :  Agriotcs  lineatns,  Apion  difforme,  from  sods  ; 
Hypera  punctata  and  Sitorifs  lineatus  in  plenty  liy  searching  grass-stems 
with  the  aid  of  a  lantern  at  night ;  Chrysomela  varians,  at  Epsom.  The 
26tli  was  a  red  letter  day  so  far  as  Adephaga  were  concerned,  and 
on  that  day  I  took,  on  the  cultivated  downs  behind  Brighton,  from 
under  pieces  of  matting : — Fterostichus  vulgaris,  F.  madidus,  Calathus 
cisteloides,  Leistis  ferrugineus,  L.  spiniharhis,  Badister  bipustulatus, 
Anchomenus  prasinus,  Brachinus  crepitans;  Agriotes  lineatus,  Ocyjms  similis 
and  hiindreds  of  Stenus  (})robably  speculator)  on  the  uiider  side  of  an 
uprooted,  rotten  turnip. 

Prolific  as  March  may  appear  to  have  been,  April,  Avith  its  almor- 
mally  fine,  sunny  dry  days,  on  which  insects  of  all  kinds  simply 
swarmed,  far  surpassed  it,  as  regards  both  the  quantity  and  (quality 
of  its  Coleoptera.  Broscus  cephalotes  was  obtained  from  sand-pits ; 
Ancliomenus  micans,  Loricera  pilicovnis,  Demetrius  atricapiUus,  Harpalus 
proteus  commonly,  H.  ruficornis  under  stones,  sods,  &c.  ;  Amara  fami- 
liaris  and  ^4.  acuminata  "  snnshiners ;  "  Bemhidium  quadriguttatuin  and 
B.  lampros  ;  Felohius  hermanni,  Haliplus  obliquus,  II.  flaricoUis, 
Hydroporus  reticnlatus  (?),  H.  dorsalis  and  II.  jialustris,  from  jjonds ; 
AciliuK  sidcatus,  Hyphydrus  ovatus,  Gyrinus  marinus,  Enochrus  hicolor  ? 
Ocypus  similis  ;  Necrophorns  Immator,  Silpha  rugosa,  S.  sinuata  and  S. 
thoracica  from  dead  rabbits  ;  Coccinella  septempunctata,  C.  22-p)unctata, 
Lasia  glohosa ;  Dermestes  murinus  and  Nitidula  bipustulata  from  dead 
moles,  weasels,  haAvks,  itc.  ;  Meligethes  (sp.  ?)  froni  dandelion  ;  Geo- 
trupes  sylvaticus,  Aphodins  inquinatus  from  dead  heron  ;  A.  erraticus  and 


54:  THE  entomologist's  record. 

A.  haemorrJioidalis  from  horse  dung ;  Athons  vittatus  under  stones ; 
Coellodes  qiiadrimaculatns,  Cenihorhynchus  pollinarius,  Apion  difforme,  A. 
laecicolle,  Otiorhi/ncJiHS  ovatus,  O.piripes,  0.  scabrosns,  Poh/drosns  micans — 
all  the  Rhynchophora  were  beaten — Phratora  vlteUinae,  Chrysomela 
polita  beaten ;  Frasocuris  jjheUandrii  and  Gastroj)hi/sa  poh/goni  from 
reeds  over  ponds ;  Meloi'  riolacens  walking  along  a  path  in  the  wood ; 
Blaps  imicronata  from  a  cellar ;  Adimonia  caprene  lioaten  from  bushes. 
Truly  a  pretty  list,  and  one  that  contrasts  very  favourably  ^vith  that  of 
Lepidoptera  for  tlie  same  month. 

In  May  few  new  species  were  met  with  ;  tlie  most  notal)le  were  : — 
Di/tiscus  viarginah's  $  ;  Coh/mhefes  jmloerosiis  from  a  pond  ;  Lema  iiiela- 
nopa;  Melolontha  vulgaris;  Telephorus  lifidus,  heaten;  Aphodius  dejtressus. 
On  the  13th,  a  very  fine  specimen  of  Callidinm  violaceum  was  found 
crawling  in  our  Museum  here  ;  it  had  evidently  just  emerged  from  some 
wooden  relic. 

The  list  was  further  augmented  in  June,  by  the  addition  of  Malachius 
bipustulatus,  Philonthns  politus,  TelepJiorus  peUucidus,  T.  fulvas,  Athons 
haemorrlioidalis,  which  fell  with  every  stroke  of  the  beating-stick  ; 
CoccineUa  hipimctata,  C.  l^-pimctata  and  Telephoriis  bicolor  in  abundance  ; 
Donacia  dentipes  ;  Rhizotrogus  solstitmlis  gyrated  i"0und  young  trees 
during  the  middle  of  the  montla  ;  at  the  same  time  Strangalia  armnta 
and  *S'.  melnnura  occurred  on  umbellifera^ ;  Cisiehi  mvrinn,  Gyriiius  opaciis, 
Necrophoriis  ruspntor,  N.  restiglator,  N.  mortxornm,  Hixfer  miicolor  (?), 
n.  cadaver iuus,  H.  neglectiis,  H.  virescens  (?),  H.  pnrpurasccns  (?),  from 
dead  rats,  moles,  &:c.  ;  MaUhinus  punctatns,  Malachias  marginelliis. 
Cholera  grandicollis,  Dorcus  paralJelopipedus,  a  bad  specimen  of  Prionm 
coriarius,  Pterostichus  striola,  Cerci/on  haemorrhoidalis  and  Sphaeridium 
hipnsfniatum  end  the  list,  together  with  a  host  of  Aphodii,  including  A. 
foetens,  A.  firnetarius,  A.  pn'odroinns,  .1.  sordidus  and  A.  rvfipes,  from 
horse  dung. 

July  was  less  productive  of  ( 'oleoptera  than  of  Lepidoptera :  the 
latter  came  freely  to  light,  and  the  woods  swarmed  with  (tp^ojietk.?':. 
I  however  secured  :  —  Strophosomtis  cori/li and  S.  ohesns  in  great  numbers  ; 
one  fine  specimen  of  Lepdnra  livida  from  umbellifera?,  about  8  p.m. ; 
Onthophagus  fracticorni's.  On  the  10th,  various  Hydradepuaga  were 
secured  by  means  of  a  Avatei'-net,  including : — Ih/hius  ater  and  I. 
fnliginosHs,  Colymbetus  fuscus,  Agabus  striolatus,  A,  stiaini,  A.  nligiiwsus, 
whilst  Sertca  lirunnea  and  Donacia  linearis  occurred  commonly ;  Goni- 
octena  litura  and  Agriotes  pallidnlm  were  taken  flying  about  in  the  heat 
of  the  da}'. 

The  very  remembrance  of  the  beginning  of  August  causes  a  thrill 
through  my  veins.  On  the  1st,  I  did  the  very  best  thing  possible, 
viz. :  —  Got  inside  a  suit  of  flannels,  and  strolled  to  ni}'  favourite  hunting- 
ground  some  five  miles  out.  I  was  rewarded  by  a  A'ery  tine  specimen 
of  Hypera  fascicnlata,  as  well  as  Staphylinm  stevcorariiis,  and  a  box  full 
of  common  species.  Two  Nofoxus  vionoceros  next  fell  to  my  net,  and 
were  followed  by  Rhynchites  megacepihalus  (or  R.  geriaanicus),  Dromius 
qnadrimaculatus,  Adimonia  sanguinea,  Mantura  inatthewsi ;  two  Chrysoinela 
fastuosa,  and  one  Donacia  lemnae,  from  the  banks  of  the  Wavenej', 
near  Beccles  ;  Ptinus  fur  from  the  suburbs  of  London  ;  fifty  Geotrupes 
stercorarius,  in  one  evening,  near  Brighton ;  Dromius  linearis,  Thyamis 
lycopi,  and  PsyUiodes  napi,  concluded  the  month  at  home. 

September  was  redolent  with  new  species  of  the  smaller  Brachelytra 


NOTKS    ON    COLLFXTrNC,    I;T(\  r)f) 

and  RfiYNCopHORA,  which  were  rudely  disturbed  iu  their  dreams  of 
winter  quietness  and  warmth,  at  tlie  root  of  this  poplar,  or  under  the 
soft  bark  of  that  willow,  by  finding  themselves  scattered  indiscrimi- 
nately over  the  surface  of  an  inverted  umbrella.  Sept.  1  st,  was  pro- 
ductive of : — NecropJiorm  i-esjnllo,  Sitones  jmncticoUis,  Limobms  mixtus, 
Thyamis  hirida,  Cholecn  waisoni,  C.  sericea,  Apion  difforme,  A.  laevt'coUe, 
A.  immune,  and  A.  hooker!  \  followed  later  by: — Lina  uenea,  Triholinm 
fen-iujineiim,  Cholevo  rhriitiomeUldesi  ;  a  dozen  ,S'/7j>//a  a/ra/a  from  Maldon, 
Essex  ;  Notioplulm  aquatirus,  Helops  striatus,  Triplnx  rusfiiea,  DromiiiK 
qnadrinotatns  ;  and  Comhiis  cnfennJains,  at  sugar. 

After  September,  beetles,  together  with  other  insects,  fall  off  rapidly 
in  number ;  Oct.  28th  is  perhaps  the  only  day  worthy  of  notice,  but 
that  was  exceptionally  good  and  yielded  the  following :  —  Geotrupes 
stercorarhis  ;  SiJpha  atrata  under  bark  and  at  roots  of  oak  ;  Coccinella 
septempundata,  unusually  common  this  year,  beaten ;  Coccinella 
hipunctnta  and  Beiuhidiam  Jittorale  under  bark  ;  Aphodius  inqainatus,  A. 
rontaminatnfi  and  A.  liridus  from  manure ;  Apian  difforme,  A.  immune,  A. 
rirens.  A.  hooker i  (?),  Sitones  Jinenttis,  Prasoeuris  marginella,  Demetrim 
atricapHlns,  Mantura  inaftheirsi,  Stenus  speculator,  and  another  of  the 
genus,  Oxytelus  nitidulus,  Tachyporus  hypnorum,  T.  chrysomelinns  and  T. 
obtusus  ;  four  other  Bkachelytra  and  three  Palpicornia.  In  addition 
to  the  above,  October  yielded  Boletobins  trinotatus,  B.  exoletus  and  B. 
pygmaeus  from  fungi.  In  November  few  fresh  species  were  added  : — 
Achenium  depressnm,  Tachyporus  hnmerosns,  an  unidentified  weevil  from 
oak  bark,  and  several  tiny  Brachelytra.  In  December  I  wound  uj) 
the  season  by  taking  sixteen  Helops  striatus  from  one  sod,  the  debris  of 
Prionus  coriarins,  Coccinella  rariabilis,  and  several  common  species. — 
Claude  Morley,  High  Street,  Ipswich. 


gOCIETIES. 

The  Entomological  Society  of  London  held  its  61st  Annual 
Meeting  on  January  17th ;  Mr.  H.  J.  Elwes,  F.L.S.,  was  elected 
President ;  Mr.  H.  Goss,  F.L.S.,  and  the  Rev.  Canon  Fowler,  M.A.,  F.L.S., 
Secretaries  for  the  ensuing  3^ear.  The  balance  sheet  showed  a  balance 
in  the  Society's  favour.  In  the  absence  of  the  President,  his  address 
was  read  by  Mr.  Merrifield.  IVIr.  Elwes  commenced,  by  insisting  upon 
the  shai'e  in  furthering  the  progress  of  the  science  of  entomology,  which 
might  be  taken  by  the  collector  who,  if  he  be  but  careful  and  orderly 
in  his  collection,  and  exact  and  accurate  in  his  observation  and  in  the 
records  which  he  keeps,  "  has  it  in  his  power  to  observe  and  place  on 
record,  facts  wdiich  must  be  of  greater  eventual  importance  than  they 
now  seem,"  and  thus  to  provide  solid  material  for  the  use  of  the  few 
men  of  far-seeing  intellect,  who  can  exi)lain  the  phenomena  of  nature 
in  a  way  that  all  can  follow  them.  Having  noticed  the  appointment 
of  ^[r.  Warbvirton  to  succeed  Miss  Ormerod  as  consulting  entomologist 
to  the  Royal  AgTicultural  Society,  Mr.  Elwes,  from  his  experience  as  a 
practical  farmer,  as  a  gardener  and  as  a  planter,  exjiresses  doubt 
"  whether,  even  when  the  life-histories  of  noxious  insects  have  been 
thoroughly  worked  out,  we  shall  be  able  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  to  fipply 
that  knowledge  economically  to  their  destruction,"  although  he  admits 
that  in  the  United  States  ''  the  measures  which  have  been  adopted  by 


56  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Prof.  Riley,  aud  his  numerous  assistants  and  followers,  have  often  been 
highly  successful."  The  bibliogi'aphy  of  the  past  year  is  then  glanced 
at ;  the  barbarous  trivial  names  given  by  M.  Oberthiir  are  alluded  to, 
and  the  announcement,  interesting  to  students  of  synonymy,  is  made, 
that  Dr.  Staudinger  is  preparing  a  new  edition  of  his  celebrated 
Catalogue.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  in  this,  the  veteran  author  will  show 
a  wider  acquaintance  with  British  authors  than  was  the  case  in  the  2nd 
edition.  Mr.  Elwes  then  passes  on  to  call  attention  to  the  difficulty 
which  is  occasioned  to  the  student  of  entomological  literature,  by  *'  the 
rapid  increase  of  the  number  of  sliort  notes,  descriptions,  and  pa})ers, 
and  the  great  number  of  periodicals  in  which  they  are  published,"  aud 
suggests  the  appointment  b^^  the  Eoyal  Society,  of  a  committee  to  con- 
sider the  subject.  His  own  idea  is,  that  a  description  of  a  new  species 
should  not  be  recognised  by  scientific  men,  unless  it  is  either  in  Latin, 
English,  French  or  German  (it  is  suggested  by  him  that  Spanish  might 
be  added)  and  is  published  in  some  journal,  either  already  existing  or 
to  be  created,  which  shall  have  been  determined  upon  by  international 
agreement  as  the  recognised  medium  in  each  country  for  such  publi- 
cation. The  importance  of  attaching  good  locality-labels  to  specimens 
is  emphasised,  and  the  deatli-roll  of  the  year  is  then  passed  in  review. 
It  is  noticealjle  how  many  of  the  nauies  were  those  of  veterans  ;  Hagen, 
Blomefield  (former^  Jenyns),  Pascoe,  Burney,  Bo\vring,  Morris  and 
Speyer  were  all  over  seventy  years  of  age,  and  some  of  them  had  passed 
four-score  years. 

At  the  meeting  of  The  South  London  Entojiological  and  Natural 
History  Society,  on  Jan.  11th,  Mr.  J.  J.  Weir  mentioned,  in  connection 
with  an  exliibit  of  American  Butterflies  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Pearce,  that  the 
female  of  Papilio  turnus  was  dimor})liic,  and  that  Limeuitis  disippuK  was 
mimic  of  Anonia  archipjms.  Mr.  Tugwcll,  in  some  notes  on  Spilosoina 
lnhricipeda,  described  the  York  City  form  under  the  name  of  var. 
fasciata  ;  he  also  exhibited  a  pair  of  Plusia  moneta,  which  had  been  bred 
by  Mr.  Matthews ;  also  a  long  series  of  Psilnra  monacha  bred  from 
New  Forest  ova,  some  of  the  specimens  being  very  dark ;  also  a  pair  of 
Pachetra  leucophaea,  taken  hj  Mr.  Hanbury  on  the  North  Downs.  The 
twenty-first  annual  meeting  was  held  on  Jan.  25th.  Mr.  Edward  Step 
was  elected  President ;  Messrs.  Jenner  Weir  and  C.  G.  Barrett,  Vice- 
Presidents ;  Mr.  H.  J.  Turner,  13,  Drakefell  Road,  Hatcham,  S.E., 
Reporting  Secretary ;  and  Mr.  S.  Edwards,  Kidbrooke  Lodge,  Black- 
heath,  Correspondence  Secretary  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  retiring- 
President,  the  genial  veteran  Mr.  J.  Jenner  Weir,  delivered  the 
Presidential  address,  of  which  we  subjoin  an  abstract. 

Before  commencing,  Mr.  Weir  made  the  Society  a  present  of  a 
beautiful  album,  and  trusted  that  members  by  inserting  their  photo- 
gTaphs  therein  would  enable  their  successors  to  see  the  men  who  were 
their  predecessors  in  the  Society's  early  days.  ]\Ir.  AVeir's  vast 
experience,  and  fund  of  information  based  on  liis  knowledge  both  of 
British  and  Exotic  insects,  always  make  his  generalizations  of  value. 
He  first  referred  to  the  pleasurable  excitement  of  collecting,  and  the 
fact  that  as  an  out-of-door  exercise,  the  occupation  of  the  field-naturalist 
tended  to  longevity.  Turning  then  to  tlie  scientific  aspect  of  the  year's 
work,  he  pointed  out  that  the  great  feature  of  the  work  of  the  South 
London  Entomological  Society,  was  the  skill  exliibited  by  its  members 
in  rearing  lepidoptera  from  the  egg.      He   deplored  the  .paucity  of 


SOCIETIES.  57 

observations  made  by  those  Avho  indulged  in  this  interesting  occupation, 

and  showed  how  the  ontogeny  and  phylogeny  of  insects  could  only  be 
studied  by  such  as  bred  them,  and  that  exact  observation  by  careful 
men  would  elucidate  many  entomological  puzzles.  He  then  passed  a 
high  and  well-deserved  eulogium  on  the  scientific  work  of  I  )r.  C/hapman, 
which  was  undoubtedly  never  better  deserved,  especially  referring  to 
his  work  relating  to  the  genus  Acroiiycta  and  the  ontogeny  of  Cuspidid 
psi  and  C.  tridens  and  also  to  his  work  on  classification.  Mr.  Weir 
quoted  some  remarks  made  by  Professor  Westwood  many  years  ago 
relative  to  the  position  of  the  Zi/yaenidae  near  the  Sphinijidae,  and 
pointed  out  the  way  in  which  Dr.  Chapman  had  discovered  their  real 
aflinities.  He  then  discussed  the  experiments  of  Mr.  Merrifield,  and 
pointed  out  how  valuable  were  the  results  obtained,  both  from  the 
phylogenetic  and  the  ontogenetic  points  of  view.  Touching  on  colour 
variation  in  general,  Mr.  Weir  took  the  more  advanced  view  as  to  its 
being  often  due  to  physiological  causes,  the  result  of  the  unsettlement 
of  the  normal  constitution  ttc.  of  the  larvae.  The  direction  of  the 
attention  of  entomologists  to  these  and  kindred  subjects,  Mr.  Weir 
observed,  broke  down  the  exclusiveness  of  British  collectors  who  were 
obliged  to  get  material  from  abroad  for  their  generalizations.  He  was 
astonished  that,  in  Dr.  Smith's  recent  classification  of  the  Noctu^  the 
learned  Professor  sub-divided  them  into  only  three  groups,  of  which 
the  Tlii/ati/riaat'  and  Brephinae  bore  no  comparison  with  the  large  and 
comprehensive  Noctninae ;  but  here  we  are  rather  at  issue  with  the  Ex- 
President,  for  the  Thyatyrinae  and  Brephinae  are  such  distinct  connecting 
gi'oups  that  we  can  well  understand  the  Professor  preferring  to  regard 
them  as  of  equal  value  with  the  compact  mass  of  moths  which  are 
evidently  very  closely  allied,  and  sub-dividing  this  latter  group  into 
families  of  more  or  less  equal  value.  The  Ukephides  too,  Mr.  Weir 
remarked,  had  been  by  Mr.  Meyrick  supposed  to  be  Geometrae,  but 
here  too  we  would  point  out  that  the  consideration  of  the  early  stages 
at  once  showed  Mr.  Meyrick's  position  to  be  untenable.  Some  interest- 
ing notes  followed  on  hybridisation,  but  in  a  short  resume  like  this  it  is 
impossible  to  do  even  approximate  justice  to  a  really  valuable 
addition  to  our  scientific  knowledge.  We  offer  the  Ex- President  our 
hearty  thanks  for  his  address,  and  await  its  publication  with  some 
amount  of  impatience  in  the  Proceedinys  of  the  Society. 

At  the  meeting  of  The  Birmingham  Entomological  Society  on 
Dec.  18th,  1893,  Mr.  Bradley  exhibited  the  following  Diptera,  all  of 
which  were  additions  to  the  British  list  : — Dactyolabis  gvacilipes,  Lw. ; 
Goniomyia  jecunda,  Lw.  ;  Ephelia  rarinercis,  Ztt.  ;  Cliuocera  lamellata, 
Lw. ;  and  Didea  fasciata,  Maccp  Mr.  Harrison  exhibited  three  boxes 
of  Hymenoptera,  taken  during  the  past  year,  including: — Andrenn 
trimmcniiia,  from  a  spot  in  Edgbaston,  where  he  has  seen  it  for  several 
years  ;  in  181)3,  the  parasite  Nonuida  alleriuila,  which  Mr.  Harrison  saw  for 
the  first  time, was  commoner  tlian  its  liost:  JIalirtu.s  sine<i(liinanell<t,  Miiaesa 
dahlbomi,  Crabro  unicolor,  Coelioxys  cedin,  Osmia  bicolvr,  Sec.  Mr.  A.  H. 
Martineau  also  exhibited  Hymenopiera  taken  in  1893  : — Cnibro  inter- 
nipttis  from  Middleton  Woods ;  Mimcsd  dnhlbomi  from  Wyre  Forest ; 
and  Arjenia  ruriegata  fi'om  Selsley,  Glos.  j\Ir.  H.  T.  Sands  showed 
Vetipa  crabro  from  Alvechurch,  where  it  has  been  unusually  abundant. 
Lei'Idoptera  : — Mr,  G.  W.  Wynn  exhibited  Notodonta  chaonia  from 
Wyre  Forest ;  Mr.  Bethuue-Baker,  Crambus  ericellus,  C.  furcateUus  and 


58  TFiE  entomologist's  rkcord. 

Psodos  coracina  (trepidaria)  from  Eannoch  ;  Mr.  G.  H.  Kenrick,   Calo- 

campa  solidatjinis  from  Sutherlaudshire,  which  were  lighter  and  greyer 
than  the  Cannock  Chase  form  ;  Mr.  Bradley  showed  a  variable  series  of 
Chrysophnmis  jMoeas.  Mr.  Belhune-Baker  alluded  to  Mr.  Merrifield's 
experimental  breeding  of  the  species,  which  led  that  gentlemen  to  the 
conclusion  that,  larvaj  reared  at  a  high  temperature,  produced  imagines 
of  dnrk  and  dull  colours,  whilst  those  reared  at  a  low  temperature,  pro- 
duced paler  and  In-igliter  imagines.  Mr.  Bradley  said  that  he  had  taken 
some  very  light  forms  in  Septemlier  and  (October,  and  these  must  have 
fed  u]»  during  tlie  hot  months. 

In  South  Wales,  The  Penartu  Entomoi.ogical  Society  seems, 
judging  from  the  report  presented  at  the  annual  meeting  on  Jan.  20th, 
to  be  doing  good  work.  The  j^apers  read  during  the  past  year  cover  a 
wider  held  than  is  usual  in  such  societies,  and  show  that  the  members 
are  interested  in  the  scientific  problems  that  confront  the  thoughtful 
naturalist.  Sir  J.  T.  D.  Llewellyn,  J. P.,  is  the  President,  and  Mr. 
John  Wallis,  Kendrick  House,  Penarth,  the  Secretary  for  the  coming 
year.  It  is  to  be  lioped  that  the  regretful  reiH'oach  which  is  levelled  at 
them  in  the  report,  will  induce  those  members  who  have  hitherto  only 
been  "  ornamental  "  to  join  the  ranks  of  the  "  useful  ones." 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society*. — 
January  2*id,  1894. — Exhibits  :  —  Mr.  Stillwell  ;  a  variable  series 
of  Ilyhernia  defoliaria  from  Epping  Eorest.  Mr.  Lane ;  a  series 
of  Clu'lonia  plantaglnis.  Mr.  Bacot  ;  a  bred  series  of  Vanessa  c-album, 
one  of  which  had  white  triangular  marks  on  the  underside  of  the  hind 
wings  in  place  of  the  usual  "  comma "  marks  ;  he  stated  that  this 
species  rested  with  its  fore  wings  much  further  forward  than  is  usual 
among  butterflies,  so  that  there  was  a  larger  interval  between  them  and 
the  hind  Avings,  the  habit  serving  to  intensify  its  resemblance  to  a  dead 
leaf.  Mr.  Bell;  a  specimen  of  a  Noctua  taken  on  sugar  at  Tooting 
Common,  its  peculiarity  being  that  a  semi-circular  patch  at  the  outer 
side  of  each  fore  wing  was  entirely  devoid  of  scales ;  the  patches  were 
remarkably  symmetrical ;  the  specimen  was  considered  by  most  of  those 
])resent  to  be  a  ?  of  CWigo  eytherea.  Messrs.  Clark,  Hill,  Prout, 
Battley  and  Dr.  Sequeira  exhilnted  Scotch  lepidoptera.  Mr.  Oldham  ; 
dragon-flies  and  bees  from  Cambridgeshire.  Mr.  Hill  read  a  paper 
entitled  "  Random  Notes  on  Collecting  Lepidoptera  in  Scotland,"  which 
lie  illustrated  by  the  contents  of  three  cases.  The  paper  was  based  on 
the  writer's  exi)eriences  at  Eannoch,  in  August,  1891,  and  in  the 
Orkney  and  Slietland  Islands  in  August,  1892.  Having  described  the 
locality,  Mr.  Hill  passed  in  review  the  insects  he  had  captured.  Two 
specimens  of  Vanessa  urticae  were  very  strongly  marked  and  larger  than 
those  met  with  in  the  South  of  England.  Erebia  hlandina  was  met  Avith 
abundantly  in  one  particular  sjiot  on  the  banks  of  the  Tummell  ;  any 
numlier  might  be  taken  l)y  simply  Avalking  about  in  the  grass  and  net- 
ting tliose  that  flew  up  ;  the  species  was  however  extremely  local;  its 
flight  was  very  similar  to  that  of  Epinephele  ianira,  but  it  always 
disa})peared  entirely  and  refused  to  be  kicked  out,  as  soon  as  the  sun 
Avent  in  ;  the  species  Avas  also  noticed  in  the  Pass  of  Killiecrankie.  It 
Avas  too  late  for  Coenonymplia  typ)hon,  and  only  three  si:)ecimens  Avere 
secured  ;  these  Avere  flying  over  the  heather  on  the  mountain  sides  at 
a  considerable  elcA-ation.  Two  larvjv  of  Smcrinthus  populi,  found  on 
aspen,  yielded  in  the  folloAving  season  two  ?  imagines  Avhich  Avere  much 


SOCIETIES.  59 

paler  than  tlie  ordinary  pale  form,  and  were  suffused  with  pink.  Di- 
cranura  fiircula  was  bred  from  one  of  two  larvae  found  on  the  same 
aspens,  by  Mr.  Salvage  ;  this  was  the  first  time  Mr.  Salvage  had  seen 
this  species  at  Eannoch,  altliougli  he  had  worked  the  locality  for  15  or 
20  years.  Cymatopliorn  or  was  bred  from  larvae  found  on  aspen ;  they 
spend  the  day  between  two  leaves  spun  together,  coming  out  to  feed  at 
night ;  the  imagines  are  much  smaller  than  those  received  from  Win- 
chester, and  their  fore  wings  are  suffused  with  a  pink  or  pale  mauve 
tint.  One  female  Stilbia  anomala,  was  taken  on  the  wing  in  the 
afternoon  ;  it  seemed  to  have  a  tendency  to  fly  round  in  a  circle,  and 
its  movements  Avere  exceedingly  rapid.  Pupte  of  Taeniocampa  (jothica, 
yielded  in  tlie  following  spring,  an  interesting  series  of  imagines,  which 
vary  considerably^  both  in  colovir  and  in  the  usually  dark  central  mark  ; 
in  some  of  tlie  specimens  the  mark  is  practically  unicolorous  with  the 
rest  of  the  wing.  Are  these  the  true  var.  gothicina  ?  *  Sugar  was  an 
entire  failure.  Of  GEOMKTRiE  :  Larentia  didymata  swarmed  in  every 
locality  visited,  the  specimens  being  smaller  and  darker  than  the  ordi- 
nary southern  type.  Larentia  caesiaia  was  also  common,  both  at 
Eannoch  and  in  the  Shetlands ;  it  Avas  very  diflficult  to  discover,  owing 
to  its  perfect  resemblance  to  the  rocks  and  stones  on  which  it  rested ; 
the  Shetland  specimens  are  much  more  strongly  marked,  and  have  a 
much  darker  median  band  than  those  from  Rannoch.  Larentia  riifi- 
rinctata,  of  which  a  fair  numlier  were  taken,  also  rests  on  the  rocks  at 
considerable  elevations  on  the  mountain  sides,  and  is  so  exactly  like  a 
yellow  lichen  which  grows  freely  on  the  rocks,  that  the  practised  eye 
is  necessary  to  detect  it.  The  variation  of  Melanthia  ridiiginata  in 
Scotland  is  considerable  ;  a  form  occurs  not  infrequently  in  which 
the  fore  wings,  and  to  a  less  extent  the  hind  Avings,  are  suffused  Avith 
black.  Cidaria  populata  Av^as  fairly  common  on  the  mountain  sides 
flying  over  the  heather ;  in  some  of  the  specimens  the  Aving-markings 
were  almost  obliterated  by  a  dark  suffusion.  Cidaria  immanata  Avas 
perhaps  the  most  A-ariable  insect  met  Avith,  in  fact,  no  two  specimens 
Avere  exactly  alike  ;  the  median  area  A^aried  in  colour  from  jet  black  to 
pure  Avhite ;  in  the  Shetland  Isles  a  form  is  taken  wliich  is  entirely 
different  from  any  of  those  met  Avith  at  Eannoch. 

Jan.  IGth,  1894. — Exhil)its :  — Mr.  Hill;  a  specimen  of  Catocala 
sponsa,  haA'ing  a  suffusion  of  black  scales  near  the  apical  angle  of  the 
left  hind  Aving.  Mr.  Battley  ;  Cheiinatohia  hrnmata,  of  both  sexes,  the 
Avings  of  the  males  shoAving  considerable  variation  in  the  distinctness 
of  the  transA'erse  lines.  Mr.  Clark  ;  Mixodia  palustrana  from  Perth ; 
also  a  specimen  of  Selenia  hmaria,  bred  on  Christmas  Day.  Mr. 
Nicholson  ;  two  larvfe  of  Pararge  aegeria,  about  half-an-inch  long,  from 
a  brood  which  is  now  hybernating  indoors,  on  grass  groAving  in  a 
floAver-pot.  Mr.  Bacot ;  living  pupa?  of  Taeniocampa  luuada.  Mr. 
Eiches  ;  Agrotis  segetnm,  Mellinia  circellaris  and  Anchocelin ]>istacina,  irom. 
Salisbury  ;  the  circellaris  Avere  rather  dark.  Mr.  Soutliey  ;  a  fine  series 
of  Nonagria  arundinitt  (typhae)  from  Norfolk.  Mr.  Lane  ;  Leucophasia 
sinapis  from  Eeading,  and  Abraxax  grossnlariata.  Mr.  E.  II.  Taylor, 
of  52,  Mimosa  Street,  Fiilham,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Society. 


*  For  account  of  var.  gothicina  see  Britisli  Nor.tuce  and  their  Varieties,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  148-151.— Ed. 


60  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Caj^t.   B.  Blaydes  Thompson  then  read  the  following  paper  on  : — 

The  PEOXUNCIATION  and  ACCENTUATION  of 
CLASSICAL   NAMES. 

There  is  nothing  in  what  follows  which  can  in  any  way  lay  claim 
to  novelty.  I  have  no  new  theory  to  propound,  and  the  statements 
which  I  am  abont  to  make  are  neither  new,  nor  do  they  in  any  way 
rest  npon  my  authority.  I  do  not,  however,  intend  yon  to  infer  from 
this  that  they  will  not  be  new  to  you  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  have  no  doiibt 
that  you  will  be  as  much  surprised  as  I  was,  at  some  of  the  discoveries 
which  I  have  made  during  the  prejiaration  of  this  paper,  especially  as 
regards  the  accentuation  of  both  generic  and  trivial  names.  I  apjoroach 
the  subject  with  considerable  diffidence ;  my  object  has  been  simply  to 
compile  and  summarise,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  some  of  the  leading 
points  in  this  rather  thorny  subject,  and  to  endeavour  to  make  them 
sufficiently  explicit  to  interest  you. 

About  thirty-five  years  ago  numerous  complaints  appeared  in  the 
Entomologtsfs  Wecl'li/  InteUigencer,  from  Lej^idopterists  as  well  as 
Coleopterists,  of  tlie  difficulties  with  which  they  had  to  contend  botli 
in  pronouncing  and  in  accentuating  the  Latin  names  of  insects,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  gigantic  progTess  which  has  been  made  in  educa- 
tion since  ISoU,  such  difficulties  are  still  felt  by  many.  There  are  not 
a  few  well-educated  and  intelligent  men,  whose  classical  education  has 
not  been  very  extensive ;  when  such  are  tempted  out  of  the  beaten 
track  of  commerce  by  the  allurements  of  science,  and  find  tliemselves 
forced  to  cope  with  scientific  nomenclature,  the  difficulties  attending 
the  study  of  whatever  brancli  they  may  select  are  greatly  increased. 

In  consetpience  of  tlie  numerous  synonyms  in  use  amongst  Lepi- 
doptensts,  there  is  considerable  confusion  and  uncertainty  with  regard 
to  the  names  of  many  species,  and  I  venture  to  think  that,  by  jn'o- 
nouncing  or  accentuating  the  name  of  an  insect  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
make  it  sound  like  some  other  name,  that  confusion  and  uncertainty 
are  increased. 

As  regards  the  term  "  pronunciation,"  it  may  be  used  as  referring 
either  to  the  two  methods  which  exist  in  this  countiy,  to  accentuation, 
or  to  quantity.  Of  the  two  methods  of  pronouncing  Latin,  one  is 
called  the  "  English,"  the  other  the  "  Italian,"  or  more  generally  the 
"  Continental."  The  difPerence  between  the  two  consists  in  the  vowels 
being  sounded  differently,  and  in  the  letters  c  and  (j  being  invariably 
hard  in  the  Continental  method,  whereas  in  the  English  method 
they  are  hard  or  soft,  according  to  the  vowel  which  follows  them  ; 
hard  before  a,  o  and  »,  soft  before  e,  i,  //,  and  the  diptliongs  ae  and  oe. 
Into  the  question  as  to  which  of  these  methods  is  the  better,  I  am  not 
going  to  enter,  Init  will  simply  say  that  each  is  riglit,  viewed  from  its 
own  standpoint,  and  that  each  is  looked  uj)on  with  favour  by  its 
patrons  in  the  United  Kingdom.  At  Oxford  the  English  metliod  is 
adhered  to,  whilst  at  Cambridge  tlie  Continental  is  ado])ted  to  some 
extent ;  nor  is  there  uniformity  of  practice  among  the  large  Public 
Schools  of  the  Metropolis,  Clirist's  Hospital  adopting  tlie  Continental 
metliod.  Merchant  Taylors'  the  English.  Amongst  Lepidojiterists  in 
(irreat  Britain,  the  P]nglish  method  of  sounding  the  vowels  in  pro- 
nouncing Latin  words  is  almost  universal,  and  although  certain  Cam- 


SOCIETIES.  6l 

bridge  scientists  hold  to  the  Continental  pronunciation  the  latter  does 
not  gain  ground ;  we  may  accordingly  set  it  down  as  ttii  fait  accompli 
that  naturalists  throughout  the  United  Kingdom  give  the  vowels  the 
same  sound  when  speaking  Latin  words  that  they  do  when  speaking 
Englisli.  It  is  sometimes  maintained  that  the  adoption  by  us  of  the 
Continental  method  would  secure  uniformity  of  pronunciation  amongst 
Europeans,  and  that  tlms  an  ideal  ''  International  pronunciation  "  would 
Ijecome  a  reality.  Strictly  speaking,  however,  tliere  is  no  "  Conti- 
nental "  method,  for,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  each  nation  2)ronounces  Latin 
after  the  analogy  of  its  own  tongue.  In  the  sound  of  the  vowels,  it  is 
true,  there  is  a  general  sort  of  agreement,  but  as  regards  the  consonants 
there  is  the  greatest  diversity  of  usage.  If  the  Continental  nations  had 
attained  to  an  approxiuiate  uniformity  among  themselves  there  would 
be  reason  in  the  suggestion,  but  as  the  matter  stands  it  cannot  be 
logically  supported.  As  an  example  of  the  diversity  in  Continental 
pronunciation  we  will  take  the  word  Cicero  ;  the  French  pronounce 
this  Seeaaijro,  the  Grermans  Tseesai/ro,  the  Italians  Tcheechai/ro,  and 
the  Spaniards   Theethai/ro. 

The  result  of  the  correspondence  in  the  laielliijeacer,  to  which  I 
have  already  referred,  was  that  the  task  of  compiling,  editing  and 
publishing  an  Accentuated  List  of  the  names  of  the  British  licpidoptera 
was  undertaken  jointly  l)y  the  Councils  of  the  Entomological  Societies 
of  the  two  Universities  ;  the  President  of  the  Cambridge  Society  at 
that  time  was  Cliarles  Cardale  Babington,  and  of  the  Oxford  Society 
Kev.  H.  Adair  Picard.  In  tliis  work,  which  was  published  in  1^59, 
every  name  then  in  use  for  Species  or  Genus  is  dealt  with  both  as 
regards  pronunciation  and  accentuation,  and  its  derivation  given. 

The  first  fact  that  is  patent  on  looking  through  the  work  is  that 
the  generic  names  are  mostly  derived  from  Greek  words,  the  trivial 
names  from  Latin.  In  the  preface  the  following  table  of  vowel  sounds 
is  given,  with  tlie  intimation  that  "  every  vowel  in  the  List  is  to  be 
pronounced  short,  unless  marked  long,  thus  e  " : 

"  a,  is  to  be  pronounced  as  in 
^         f}  ))  » 

'■  >)  })  jj 

^  )5  JJ  5) 

"'  „  ^,  „  ■  .  ■■  . 

nr  and  oc  arc  to  be  pronounced  as  long  e,  ei  as  long  /,  and 
au  as  in  naiighti/." 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  sounds  are  to  be  exactly  tlie 
same  as  they  are  in  English.  The  mind  of  the  student  need  not  be 
unduly  exercised  as  to  whether  a  name  is  derived  from  a  Greek  root  or 
from  a  Latin  one,  because  from  whatever  language  it  has  been  derived, 
it  becomes  a  Latin  word  when  inserted  in  a  list  of  Lepidoptera  as 
applied  to  an  insect.  Having  adopted  the  English  method  of  i)ro- 
nouncing  Latin  words,  the  vowels  and  consonants  whicli  they  contain 
must  be  sounded  as  they  are  in  our  own  language.  Tlie  English  arc 
accused  not  only  of  dei)artiiig  from  the  genuine  sound  of  the  (rreek 
and  Latin  vowels,  but  also  of  violating  tlie  qnantiticn  of  these  lan- 
guages more  than  any  other  nation  in  Europe  ;  but  if  the  quautit//  be 
violated,  it  is  not  as  chance  may  direct,  but  regularly  and  in  accordance 
with  the  analogy  of  the  English  tongue,  which,  if  not  so  well  adaptcil 
to  the  pronunciation  of  Greek  and  Latin  as  some  other  modern  tongues, 


hat    ; 

a  as  in  hate. 

met    ; 

e      „      mete. 

hid    ; 
hop    ; 
daclc  ; 

i       „       high. 
0       „       hope, 
il      „       duke. 

62  THE    entomologist's    IlECORD. 

lias.  iicvi'i'tliL-less,  as  tixt'il  and  settled  rules  for  ijroiiouucing  tbciu  as 
any  other.  I  have  so  far  discussed  the  two  methods  of  pronouncing 
Latin  as  contrasted  Avith  each  other,  but  wish  now  to  call  attention  to 
the  confusion  of  them  which  is  not  unfrequently  heard  in  the  pro- 
nouncing of  a  word  partly  in  accordance  with  one  method  and  partly 
with  the  other.  The  errors  most  common  are  sounding  the  /  like  our 
e,  and  the  consonants  c  and  g  hard  irrespective  of  the  vowel  that 
follows  tliem  ;  for  example,  dentin<i  and  hlandina  are  pronounced  as  if 
wiitten  denteena  and  hlandeena,  but  the  error  is  not  consistently  per- 
})etuated  in  aprdina,  sohrina  and  pit^tacina,  the  latter  names  apparently 
not  lending  themselves  so  easily  to  the  practice.  Again,  take  Lycaena  ; 
according  to  the  English  method  the  y  is  long,  the  c  is  soft,  and  the 
dipthong  is  sounded  like  a  long  c ;  in  the  Continental  method  the  y  is 
also  long,  but  the  c  is  hard,  and  the  sound  of  the  dipthong  is  like  our 
long  a.  In  the  one  case  the  pronunciation  would  be  li.seena,  in  the 
other  Ukayna,  but  by  pronouncing  the  Avord  likeena,  as  is  often  done, 
the  two  methods  are  mixed,  and  this  pronunciation  is  incorrect. 
Another  instance  is  the  familiar /«j// ;  in  the  English  method  the  j/  is 
soft  and  the  pi'ojier  pi'onunciation  rhymes  Avith  magi  ;  in  the  Conti- 
nental method  the  g  is  hard  and  the  word  is  pronounced  fdhgee  ;  but 
if  the  English  vowel  sounds  are  retained,  whilst  at  the  same  time  the 
g  is  sounded  hard,  the  two  methods  are  mixed,  and  the  rules  of  the 
English  method  violated.  The  cause  of  this,  in  a  great  measure,  is  the 
inference  that  is  improperly  drawn  that,  because  the  g  is  hard  in  the 
nominative  case,  fngits,  it  must  continue  hard  throughout  the  declension, 
irrespective  of  the  vowel  that  folloAvs  it ;  but  this  is  erroneous. 

To  the  best  of  my  belief,  the  causes  of  a  great  deal  of  this  confusion 
are  to  be  found  in  these  facts  : — 1.  There  is  no  letter  c  nor  j  in  Greek  ; 
2.  There  is  no  k  in  Ijatin  ;  '3.  The  Greek  letters  k  and  y  are  invariably 
sounded  hard  in  that  language ;  4.  When  a  name  (Latinised  of  course) 
which  comes  from  a  Greek  root  is  given  to  an  insect  and  contains  the 
Greek  k,  the  letter  c  has  to  be  substituted  for  the  latter ;  5.  The  letters 
c  and  g  in  English,  have  both  a  hard  and  a  soft  sound,  and  which  of 
the  tAvo  is  to  he  used  depends  upon  the  A'OAvel  that  folloAvs  them.  Re- 
fei'ence  to  an  English  dictionary  will  rcA'cal  the  fact,  that  Avhene\'er  the 
consonant  c  is  immediately  followed  by  either  of  the  a'oavcIs  a,  o  or  », 
the  r  is  hard  ;  but  Avhen  c  is  followed  by  e,  i,  y,  en  or  o?,  it  is  soft.  Good 
illustrations  of  the  hard  and  soft  sounds  of  c  are  to  be  found  in  our 
Catalogues  of  Lepidoj^tera.  Among  the  Bomhycidae  Ave  find  B.  qnercm 
and  L.  querci/olia  ;  in  the  former  the  consonant  is  hard,  because  followed 
by  H  ;  in  the  latter  soft,  because  folloAved  by  /,  although  the  latter  name 
is  deri\'ed  from  the  former  Other  exami)les  of  the  hard  c  are  found  in 
cassiope  and  conspicnata,  of  the  soft  in  ccntoaalix,  cytherea,  nrticac  and 
Coenonyinplta. 

The  letter  g  is  in  the  same  categor}^,  and  is  sounded  hard  or  soft  in 
accordance  Avitli  the  same  rules.  There  are  several  exceptions  to  the 
rule  in  the  English  language,  Avhen  g  is  folloAved  by  e  or  /,  as  for 
example,  get  and  give  ;  I)ut  in  Latin  there  are  none — the  rule  nnist  be 
observed  strictly.  Examples  of  the  hard  and  soft  g  are  also  numerous, 
especially  among  the  Khopalocera.  In  gidatca,  aegoii  and  exigua,  tlie  g 
is  hard  ;  in  agestis,  crataegi,  argiolus,  Jithargyria  and  megaera,  it  is  soft. 

These  tAvo  consonants  seem  to  me  to  be  the  chief  stumbling-blocks 
in  the  pronunciation  of  Latin,  by  persons  Avho  have  not  had  efficient 
instruction  in  the  language.     Such  persons  do  not  seem  to  realise  the 


SOCIETIES.  63 

fact  that  wlicu  a  Latin  name  is  formed  from  a  (Ireek  root,  ov,  as  in  the 
name  cdcrnJeocepliaJn,  from  a  eoml)ination  of  Latin  and  Greek  roots,  it 
becomes  de  facto  a  Latin  word,  and  that  the  sound  of  the  Greek  conso- 
nants is  consequently  inadmissiljle.  Lactometer  is  the  Enghsh  term  for 
an  instrument  used  in  determining  tlie  ([uality  of  milk  ;  it  is  derived 
from  the  Latin  lac  (milk),  and  the  Greek  metron  (a  measure),  but  it  is 
a  purely  English  word  notwithstanding  its  derivation. 

The  only  other  consonant  which  seems  to  require  notice  is  j.  I 
supi)ose  that  if  I  said  there  was  no  j  in  Latin,  I  should  l)e  confronted 
with  [)i"oof  to  the  contrary  from  a  Latin  dictionary,  and  should  be  asked 
how  1  got  rid  of  the  j  in  Jupiter  and  Jmw.  I,  however,  must  maintain 
that  there  is  no  Latin  letter  which  has  the  sound  of  the  English  j,  and, 
in  proof  of  my  statement,  I  produce  a  school-book  called  First  Latin 
Primer  ;  in  the  vocabulary  at  the  end  of  this  no  words  will  be  found 
under  _/,  and  the  names  which  I  suggested  might  be  produced  to  confute 
me  will  be  found  printed  Inp'tter,  Iimo.  In  fact,  in  none  of  the  Latin 
educational  works  now  being  printed  for  the  use  of  schools,  is  the  letter 
j  to  be  found;  /  being  substituted  throughout.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  rounded  j  is  the  modern  form  of  /,  as  c  is  of  ii,  both  being  used  in- 
differently with  vowel  or  consonantal  power.  In  the  Century  English 
Dictionarij,  the  following  passage  occurs  ; — "  J  {•a  only  another  form  of 
I,  the  two  forms  having  formerly  been  used  indifferently,  or,  .7  preferred 
when  final.  In  Latin,  for  example,  /  was  written  where  we  write 
both  *'  and  _/,  and  had,  now  the  vowel  value  of  /,  and  now  the  consonant 
value  of  j,  being  pronounced  as  //,  where  we  now  write  and  pronounce ,/  ; 
e.g. — Hallelujah.  As  a  numeral  /  is  a  A'ariant  form  of  /,  used  generally 
at  the  end  of  a  scries  of  numerals,  and  now  only  in  medical  prescriptions  ; 
as  rj,  six  riij.  eight."  The  trivial  names  caja,  haja,  bajidaria,  arc  to  be 
found  thus  spelt  in  Stainton's  Maanal,  Doubleday's  Catalogne,  and 
Xewman's  British  Moths,  and  accordingly  we  often  hear  them  pro- 
nounced l-ai/dga,  bai/dga,  and  badgidaria  ;  when  we  turn  to  the 
Accentuated  List,  however,  or  to  South's  Synonymic  List,  we  find  them 
spelt  caia,  baia,  and  baitdaria,  and  in  addition  we  find,  that  the  same 
change  has  taken  place  with  ianira  and  ianthina.  With  regard  to 
Jupiter  and  Jmw,  these  are  the  English  names  of  the  Eoman  deities 
lapiter  and  Jnno,  the  /  taking  the  sound  of  the  English  Y. 

I  trust  that  I  have  now  succeeded  in  showing  you  that  the  analogy 
of  our  own  language  being  tlie  rule  for  pronouncing  Ijatin,  there  is  not 
much  need  for  any  other  directions  than  such  as  are  given  for  the  pro- 
nunciation of  English  words.  The  general  rules  are  followed  almost 
without  exception,  and  there  is  little  difficulty  until  we  come  to  the 
[losition  of  the  accent.  We  have  still  two  points  to  deal  witli,  accent 
and  quantity,  and  both  are  complex  and  ditficult ;  I  i)roposc  to  confine 
myself  to  a  few  general  remarks  on  each  of  the  two  jjoints,  and  to  offer 
some  practical  suggestions. 

The  word  accent  is  not  much  used  now  in  the  classical  sense.  In 
modern  parlance,  accent  is  much  the  same  as  stress,  or  emphasis.  If  we 
say  that  the  first  syllable  of  honest  bears  tlie  accent,  we  merely  mean 
that  we  lay  a  greater  stress  on  tliat  syllable  in  pronouncing  the  word. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  accent,  in  the  proper  sense  of  the  term,  and  stress, 
can  exist  in  the  same  word  independently  of  each  other.  The  same 
holds  good  with  respect  to  quantity — the  length  of  time  during  which 
a  vowel  sound  is  prolonged.  In  Ijatin,  there  are  no  accentual  marks 
to  guide  us,  l)ut  the  main  rules  for  accentuation  arc  very  simple.     With 


64  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    RECORD. 

some  trifling  exceptions,  every  dissyllable  has  its  accent  on  the  penul- 
timate, independently  of  the  quantity  of  either  syllable  ;  every  word  of 
three  or  more  syllables,  has  the  accent  on  the  penultimate  if  the  vowel  of 
that  syllable  be  long,  on  the  antepenultimate  if  the  vowel  of  the 
penultimate  Ije  short. 

The  other  point  is  quantity  ;  in  other  words,  whether  the  vowel 
which  gives  the  sound  to  a  syllal)le  is  long  or  short.  Quantity  and  accent 
arve  the  two  component  parts  of  Proaody,  but,  as  this  is  about  the  most 
abstruse  part  of  grammar,  1  shall  not  weary  you  with  a  dissertation 
upon  it,  and  it  would  be  manifestly  superfluous  to  suggest  a  close  study 
of  the  subject.  liet  us  look  at  it  in  a  practical  manner.  The  two 
(juestions  which  require  solution  seem  to  l)c  : — 1.  How  can  an  entomo- 
logist be  apprised  of  the  fact,  that  it  is  possible  that  his  pronunciation 
of  a  Latin  word  is  wrong,  either  in  accent  or  in  quantity  ?  2.  How  can 
he  ascertain  what  the  correct  pronunciation  is  ?  I  may  observe  that 
the  first  (question  can  hardly  arise  in  connection  with  the  trivial  names 
of  any  of  the  Geometrje,  Pyralides,  Tortrices,  or  TiNEiE,  because, 
all  these  have  a  distinguishing  afiix,  the  penultimate  of  which  is  in- 
variably accentuated  ;  it  is,  therefore,  only  in  regard  to  the  trivial 
names  of  the  Khopalocera,  Bombyces,  and  Nocture,  and  in  generic 
names  that  error  is  possible. 

When  a  lepidopterist  hears  the  name  of  an  insect  pronounced 
differently,  either  as  regards  accent  or  quantity,  from  the  manner  to 
which  he  has  been  accustomed,  he  may  safely  infer,  provided  that  the 
word  be  not  a  quadrisyllal)le,  that  either  he  or  the  speaker  is  in  error ; 
it  depends  a  good  deal  upon  whether  the  hearer  is  of  an  enquiring  tarn 
of  mind  or  not,  whether,  with  the  ulterior  object  of  being  accurate,  he 
endeavours  to  ascertain  which  is  the  correct  pronunciation,  or  does  not. 
If  he  had  a  Lithosia  or  a  Sesia  concerning  whose  identity  he  had  some 
doubt,  he  would  probabl}^  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of  consulting 
some  trustworthy  book  or  cabinet,  with  a  view  to  the  resolution  of  his 
doubt.  I  would  suggest  that,  in  the  case  of  a  doubt  about  accent  or 
quantity,  the  Accentuated  List  should  take  the  place  of  the  cabinet.  Two 
editions  of  this  work  are  published,  one  costing  only  three-i^ence,  and 
containing  only  the  names,  with  indications„of  their  accent  and  quantity  ; 
the  other,  costing  five  shillings,  and  containing  in  addition,  some  ac- 
count of  the  derivations  of  the  names,  with  the  reasons,  where  practicable, 
for  the  application  of  such  names.  Looking  at  the  derivations  as  a 
whole,  we  do  not  find  that  they  assist  the  student  of  pronunciation 
to  the  extent  that  might  have  been  expected ;  the  cheap  edition  of  the 
List  is  quite  sufficient  to  furnish  the  enquirer  with  all  that  he  needs  to 
know,  in  order  to  accent  and  pronounce  classical  names  correctly. 

In  conclusion,  while  it  is  too  much  to  hope  that  our  elders  will 
abandon  any  errors  into  which  they  ma}'  have  fallen,  I  would  appeal 
to  young  entomologists  to  make  an  attempt  to  cope  Avith  this  somewhat 
difficult  niatter  and  to  surmount  it.  I  venture  to  tliink  that  it  would 
bo  difficult  to  find  any  one  who  Avould  maintain  that  correctness  of 
promxnciation  and  accent  is  immaterial,  even  in  private,  for  is  tliere 
not  the  possibility  of  the  propagation  of  errors,  especially  among  the 
rising  generation  ?  We  are  all,  however,  in  the  habit  of  exhibiting 
our  captures  in  a  quasi-public  manner,  and  this  necessitates  the  airing 
of  our  Latin  pronunciation  in  public  ;  and  I  think  it  will  be  generally 
admit t<.^d  that  every  effort  should  be  made,  not  only  to  avcia  errors, 
but  to  attain  accuracy  as  far  as  possible.  't   . 


^V  AND  ^^^^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  3.     Vol.  Y.  March  15th,  1894. 

1'lie  Life-plistory  of  a  Lepidopterous  Insect;, 

Comprising  some    account   of  its   Morphology  and   Physiology. 
By    J.     W.     TUTT,     F.E.S. 


Chap.  I. 

CLASSIFICATION. 

1.  On  the  position  of  the  Insecta  in  relation  to  allied 
Classes. — The  Sub-Kingdom  Annulosa  (annulus :  a  ring)  is  charac- 
terised essentially  by  the  fact  that  the  bodies  of  the  animals  belonging 
to  the  several  classes  of  which  it  is  composed  are  made  uj)  of  rings  or 
segments  arranged  along  a  longitudinal  axis.  It  is  usually  divided  into 
seven  Classes,  of  which  Insecta  is  one.  Five  of  these  Classes  are 
grouped  together  to  form  the  Section  Arthropoda,  and  the  classification 
of  this  section  may  be  tabulated  as  follows  : — 

AETHROPODA. — Animals  having  a  body  composed  of  segments 
and  jointed ;  segmental  apj^endages  articulated  to  the  body. 
Division  I. — Branchiata. — Breathing  by  means  of  branchias  or  gills. 

Class  1. — Crustacea. — Head  and  thorax  united  into  a  cephalo- 
thorax  ;  abdomen  distinct ;  two  pairs  of  antennae — called 
respectively  antennaa  and  antennules. 
Division  II. — Tracheata. — Breathing  by  means  of  tracheee. 
Sub-division  1 : — Chelicerata. — No  true  antennee. 

Class  2. — Arachnida. — No   distinct  head,   the  head  and  thorax 
being  united  to  form  the  cephalo-thorax ;  body  divided 
generally  into  cephalo-thorax  and  abdomen  ;  four  pairs  of 
thoracic  legs  ;  no  abdominal  legs. 
Sub-division  2  : — Antennata. — With  one  pair  of  antennfe. 

Class  3. — Onychopora  (Prototracheata). — Body  not  divided  into 

distinct  regions ;  legs  numerous,  but  variable  in  number. 

Class  4. — Mijriapoda. — Head   distinct;    little  or  no  distinction 

between  thorax  and  abdomen ;  legs  very  numerous. 
Class  5. — Insecta  {Kexapoda). — Body  divided  into  head,  thorax 
and  abdomen ;  six  legs  (attached  to  thoracic  segments) ; 
usually  two  pairs  of  wings. 
In  a  very  recent  paper  "  On  the  nervous  system  and  sense  organs  of 


66  THE  entomologist's  record. 

articulated  animals  "  (Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  Zool.  (7),  xiv.,  pp.  404-456),  M.  H, 
Killanes  concludes  that  the  sub-division  of  Arthropods  into  Branchiata 
and  Tracheata  cannot  be  preserved,  and  suggests  the  following  table, 
as  expressing  better  than  any  other,  the  affinities  of  the  groups : — 

I  Myrinpoda 

TBiantennata   ...    -<f  IVripatus 

(  Antennata    <  (_Insecta 

.    ,T  1       J  I  Qi;adriantennata      Crustacea 

Arthropoda    <  ^  ^  ^  t  •       i 

^  ]  rn    T        .  (  Limulus 

/  Chelicerata  ...  ...  ...      ■{    .       ^     ^^ 

[  I  Arachnida 

2.  On  the  Sub-divisions  of  the  Class  Insecta. — The  Class 
Insecta  is  divided  into  Orders;  the  number  of  these  is  differently  esti- 
mated ])y  different  authors  ;  Packard  {Entoiiiolo<ji/  for  Beginners,  1889), 
establishes  sixteen.  These  Orders  are  generally  arranged  in  three 
gi'oujis,  termed  respectivel}^  A-metahola,  Eemi-metahola,  Kolo-metahola. 

A-metahola  (without  change). — The  insects  composing  this  grouj) 
are  such  as  undergo  no  distinct  or  regular  metamorphoses.  Each  stage, 
from  the  ovum  to  the  perfect  insect,  resembles  the  previous  one,  except 
that  at  eveiy  change  of  skin  the  insect  gets  larger  until  maturity  is 
reached.  The  members  of  this  group  have  no  wings,  and  hence 
are  often  called  Aptera,  although  tlie  Order  is  usually  known  in 
scientitic  works  as  Thysanura.  Exam})les  of  this  grouji  are  Sjjring-tails 
(Poditra),  Lepisma,  A;c. 

Herni-metabola  (half-change). — This  grouj)  contains  those  insects 
which  have  their  metamorphoses  divided  into  three  stages  (or  four, 
reckoning  the  egg),  but  which  do  not  differ  much  in  a})pearance  in  the 
several  stages  (excluding  the  egg).  The  stages  are: — 1.  The  egg;  2. 
The  larva,  which  is  smaller  than  the  perfect  insect  and  differs  from  it 
in  having  no  wings  ;  after  several  changes  of  skin  the  larva  becomes  : 
3.  The  jDujoa  ;  this  is  active,  has  considerable  powers  of  locomotion,  and 
possesses  rudimentary  wings.  The  larval  and  pupal  conditions  are  often 
now  considered  as  constituting  only  a  single  stage,  which  is  called  the 
"  Nymph "  stage.  The  pujja  or  (nymph)  undergoes  several  ecdyses 
(changes  of  skin)  before  the  final  stage  is  reached,  which  is :  4.  The 
mature  imago ;  characterised  by  the  possession  of  wings,  but  otherwise 
showing  but  little  advance  on  the  condition  of  the  pupa.  The  Orders 
included  in  this  group  are: — Dermaptera  (Earwigs),  Orthoptera 
(Cockroach,  Locust,  Grassliopper,  &c.),  Blatyptera  (Stone-flies, 
Termites,  etc.),  Odonata  (Dragon- flies),  Bleotopteka  (May-llies), 
Thysanoptera  (Thrips),  IIemiptera  (Bugs,  Aphides,  Coccida3). 

Holo-metabula  (whole  change). — The  insects  in  this  group  have  the 
metamorphoses  divided  into  four  distinct  stages,  and  present  a  very 
different  appearance  at  each  stage.  These  stages  are  : — 1.  Tlie  ovum  ; 
2.  The  larva;  this  is  sometimes  jn-ovided  with  claspers  as  well  as  with  three 
pairs  of  true  legs  (which  are  usually  ill-developed),  and  undergoes  several 
changes  of  skin  ;  o.  The  pu})a  ;  this  is  a  quiescent  form,  incapable  of 
movement  (except  to  the  most  limited  extent),  and  incajjable  of  taking 
nutriment,  it  undergoes  no  change  of  skin  from  the  time  that  it  is  formed 
until  the  imago  emerges ;  4.  The  imago ;  this  differs  exceedingl}^  from 
both  larva  and  i^upa ;  the  claspers  of  the  former  have  disajjpeared,  only 
true  legs  are  present ;  the  wings  are  usually  remarkably  well-de- 
velojied.     Neuroptera  (Lace-wings,  Ant-lion),  Mecopjera  (Scorpion- 


THE    LlFE-HISTORY    OF    A    LErlDOl'TfiKOUS    INSECT.  67 

fly),  Trichopteua  (Caddis-flies),  Coleoptera  (Beetles),  Siphonaptera 
(Flea),  Drpi-ERA  (House-fly),  Lei'iduptera  (Moths  and  Butterflies), 
Hymenoi'tera  (Bees,  Ants,  Icbneunion-flies,  &c.),  are  the  Orders  into 
which  the  Holo-metahola  are  usually  divided,  but  the  number  of  these 
will  vary,  according  as  the  weight  given  to  certain  characters  by  different 
authors  varies. 

3.  On  the  relationship  of  the  various  stages  in  an  insect's 
life. —If  we  consider  the  characters  of  the  various  stages  in  each  of 
the  three  groups,  we  are  at  once  struck  by  the  fact  that  in  the  Rolo- 
metabola,  to  which  the  Lepidoptera  belong  and  in  which  we  are 
therefore  more  particularly  interested,  there  is  an  immense  gap  between 
the  larva  and  the  pupa,  much  greater  than  that  between  the  pupa 
and  the  imago.  Now  we  may  fairly  assume  that  the  original  tendency 
of  all  insects  was  to  have,  not  widely  separated  changes,  but  rather  a 
sequence  of  comparatively  closely  related  ones,  and  that  the  features 
which  characterise  the  metamorphoses  of  the  Lepidoptera  point  to  the 
probability  of  differentiation  in  very  opposite  directions  between  the 
adult  larva  and  the  pupa,  resulting  in  the  quiescent  condition  now 
characteristic  of  the  latter.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  we  find  that  the  earliest 
stages  of  the  lepidopterous  larva  show  a  development  often  termed 
lower,  but  in  my  opinion  simply  more  divergent,  than  that  of  the  larva 
of  the  Hemi-metahola,  so  that  several  stages  are  apparently  missed  be- 
tween larva  and  pupa ;  at  the  same  time,  the  imago  has  undergone  so 
much  gTcater  a  progressive  development,  than  have  those  of  the  other 
group,  that  the  gap  becomes  still  more  striking. 

The  study  of  the  metamorphoses  of  the  Lepidoptera  has  led  Mr. 
Poulton  to  conclude,  that  "  the  suppression  of  intervening  stages  has 
left  the  first  or  larval  stage  in  an  extremely  ancestral  condition,  so  that 
the  larva  in  Lepidoptera  is  far  more  ancient  than  the  first  stage  of  those 
insects  (Orthoptera,  etc.)  which  still  retain  the  more  ancestral  method 
of  metamorjihosis.  These,  therefore,  have  lost  the  early  stages,  whilst, 
Lepidoptera,  etc.  have  lost  all  the  stages  intervening  between  the 
ancient  and  a  very  late  stage"  (Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  Lond.,  1889,  p.  190). 
I  do  not  agree  with  this.  My  own  impression  is,  that  the  whole 
of  the  metamorphoses  of  the  earliest  modifications  of  the  ancestral  type, 
were  confined  within  very  narrow  limits,  and  that  the  slight  changes 
characteristic  of  the  A-metahola  at  the  present  time  represent  this  con- 
dition much  more  correctly  than  any  other,  and  that  their  larvas  are 
the  more  ancestral,  whilst  at  the  same  time  the  needs,  habits,  etc.  of 
those  insects  which  are  supposed  to  have  attained  to  the  most  advanced 
development  in  the  imago  state,  and  which  differ  profoundly  from  those 
more  ancestral  forms,  have  also  undergone  great  modification  in  the  form 
of  their  larvae,  such  modification  tending  towards  a  condition  of  inactive 
helplessness  in  that  stage.  But  this  does  not  necessarily  show  a  more 
ancestral  form,  but  rather  a  modification  in  response  to  environment. 
That  is  to  say,  if  these  larvaa  are  all  essentially  the  outcome  of  the 
ancestral  form,  those  of  Lepidoptera  (and  the  assumed  higher  groups), 
must  be  distinctly  more  specialised  and  farther  removed  from  the 
assumed  primitive  type,  and  instead  of  having  reverted  towards  such, 
they  are,  in  reality,  much  more  specialised,  when  compared  with  the 
primitive  Thysanuran  standard  which  we  set  up.  Instead  of  approaching 
the  primitive  tyjje,  then  the  lejiidopterous  larva  undoubtedly  differs 
very  greatly  from  it,  and  shows,  in  reality,  a  very  high  standard  of 
specialisation. 


68 


THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    KECOKD. 


Perhaps  a  reference  to  the  helplessness  of  our  own  young  is  hardly 
admissible.  Certainly  development  in  two  opposite  directions  at  the 
same  time,  one  taken  by  tlie  larva,  the  other  by  the  pupa  and  imago, 
greatly  enhances  the  difference  between  the  larval  form  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  pupal  and  imaginal  forms  on  the  other.  This  idea  is  borne  out 
by  Mr.  Jackson,  Avho  states  that  the  genital  ducts  of  lepidoptera  pass 
through  an  Ephemerid  stage  and  an  Orthopteran  stage  before  reaching 
that  point  characteristic  of  the  Lepidoptera.  The  former  (Ephemerid) 
stage,  he  states,  ends  at  about  the  close  of  the  larval  life,  i.e.  (I  presume) 
the  genital  organs  of  Lepidoptera  are  as  highly  developed  (although 
not  functionally  active)  at  this  stage,  as  are  those  of  the  Ephemerid 
adult ;  this  fact  does  not,  therefore,  particularly  suggest  that  such 
larvae  represent  a  more  ancestral  type  than  the  Ephemerid  larva,  as 
may  be  assumed  from  Mr.  Poulton's  remarks,  since  the  Lepidopterous 
larva  has  apparently  at  this  early  stage  of  development  reached  a 
point  which  characterises  the  Ei^hemerid  imago.  The  Orthopteran 
stage,  Mr.  Jackson  tells  us,  is  reached  in  the  quiescent  larval  stage 
immediately  preceding  pupation,  which  suggests  that  in  this  structural 
feature  at  least,  the  Lepidopterous  larva  is  as  highly  developed  as  tlie 
Orthopteran  imago.  I  see  clearly,  of  course,  the  great  gap  which  exists 
between  the  larva  and  pupa  of  Lepidoptera,  but  I  think  it  is  brought 
about,  not  so  much  by  the  reversion  of  the  larva  to  a  more  ancestral 
type  than  that  exhibited  by  the  larvas  of  most  other  Orders  of  insects, 
as  by  the  special  development  of  the  larva  in  a  direction  opposite  to 
that  afterwards  assumed  by  the  imago. 

(To  he  continued.) 


i^Ei'i^o^PEei'io]^^  Aj^D  poi^E-eyi^'i'^, 

By     A.    J.     HODGES. 

(Continued  from  p.  44.) 

We  must  break  up  our  evening  gatherings  and  get  to  work  ; 
one  month  is  gone,  and  the  little  we  have  done  Avith  the  "  winter  " 
moths  can  hardly  be  called  a  start ;  as  we  go  home,  cast  a  glance  at  the 
out-lying  gas-lamps  ;  a  few  Geometers  will  visit  them  on  suitably  warm 
dark  evenings.  It  will  require  a  very  propitious  night  to  attract  the 
hybernating  Noctu.i;  to  "sugar;"  but  for  females,  to  obtain  ova  for 
breeding,  it  is  worth  trying.  Kecollect  Cerastis  erythrocephala  and 
Daaycampa  ruhiijinea  are  among  the  h3d3ernators,  also  all  the  Xylinidae  ; 
we  will  not  waste  much  treacle  over  this  "off-chance,"  but  will  pay 
more  attention  to  the  "  sallows  "  when  the  catkins  are  more  generally 
in  bloom. 

A  fortnight  later,  and  a  day's  tri})  to  that  good  old  locality,  Epping 
Forest,  draws  us  from  our  winter  shell  in  earnest.  A  lovely  morning, 
all  nature  rejoicing  in  its  awakening  from  its  winter  sleep,  and  the 
earliest  wind-tiowers  (Anemone  nemorosa)  are  peeping  shyly  up  among 
last  year's  dead  leaves.  The  flocks  of  hungry  blue-tits  (Parus  caerulevs) 
have  found  out  the  favourite  corner  near  Theydon  Bois,  where  we  take 
long  series  of  Brephos  parthenias,  and  vie  in  quickness  with  the  most 
skilful  wielder  of  the  long-handled  nets,  in  the  avidity  with  which  they 
seize  the  wildly-flying  moths.  An  early  sun  and  Ave  get  our  series  fly- 
ing lower,  and  can  afford  to  pity  the  exertions  of  the  later  comers,  and 


RETROSPECTIONS   AND    FORE-CASTS.  69 

adjourn  to  the  "  Wake  Anns  "  Inn,  of  convenient  proximity.  Who  can 
this  be,  armed  with  net  and  boxes,  just  sallying  forth  ?  We  greet  one 
another  warml}^  a  friend  from  the  Midlands,  staying  in  town.  A  few 
words,  captures  examined,  one  Asphalia  jlavicornis  is  the  sum  of  that 
species  in  my  bottle,  and  a  warm  invitation  to  run  down  Cannock  Chase, 
any  number  of  flankornis  on  the  birches  there.  Eegretfully  declining 
the  kind  offer,  we  jiart  company  at  the  station  after  having  glanced  on 
the  way  at  the  spot  near  Chingford,  where  a  month  later,  the  very  local 
Aleucis  inctaria  can  be  found,  by  searching  tlie  sloe-bushes  after  dark. 

The  scent  of  the  sallow-catkins  greets  our  nostrils  on  our  next  visit, 
and  so  recalls  the  pleasurable  expeditions  of  the  preceding  spring,  that 
a  night  is  soon  arranged ;  Crohamhurst,  near  Croydon,  being  the 
spot  selected,  and  the  results,  fine  series  of  Taeniocampa  graciJis  and 
munda,  but  the  following  morning  brings  an  eager  letter  from  far-distant 
Hereford,  "  Season  just  on,  leucoijrapha  plentiful."  This  is  a  chance 
we  cannot  miss,  and  a  few  hours  later  we  are  in  the  lovely  woods  of  the 
distant  county.  The  evening  is  all  that  could  be  desired,  warm,  still, 
and  with  the  sallows  in  their  prime,  and  beginning  with  the  very 
earliest  dusk  after  sunset  we  are  fully  rewarded  with  long  series  of 
Pachnobia  lencographa  and  Taeniocampa  ininiosa,  with  line  forms  of  each 
of  the  allied  species,  excepting  opima,  which  we  promise  ourselves  to- 
morrow. The  opivia  woods  are  equidistant  from  Hereford,  in  the 
opposite  direction,  but  we  must  take  all  the  species  to  complete  the  genus 
locally.  What  does  my  companion  say  !  we  can  get  opima  at  home,  on 
Wanstead  Flats  ?  Yes,  but  we  shan't  much  longer,  the  "  northern  " 
quaker  is  not  at  home  so  far  south,  and  strange  irony  !  it  is  the 
favourite  game,  football,  of  opima's  chosen  counties,  that  is  fast  trampl- 
ing it  out,  in  its  metropolitan  home.  We  will  stay  a  day,  and  return 
to  our  last  night's  woods,  well-known  for  Dicranura  hicuspis,  probably 
a  day's  search  will  find  one  last  year's  cocoon,  empty  ;  undoubtedly 
good  practice,  but  how  much  more  exciting  is  the  chase  of  Brep)hos 
notha,  which  is  plentiful  here  amongst  the  asj^ens  {Populus  trenuda). 
No  matter  if  the  sun  goes  in,  we  will  shake  them  from  the  slender 
trees,  and  try  our  skill  in  netting  them,  ere  they  can  regain  shelter. 
Too  tiring  !  then  let  us  resume  trunk-searching,  Lohophora  lohulata 
is  not  yet  over,  and  is  plentiful,  and  those  old  birch  stumps  show  frass 
between  the  wood  and  the  bark,  evidently  of  Sesia  cidiciformis,  and 
are  worth  working;  let  us  get  them  out  carefully,  a  small,  pale, 
fleshy  gi-ub,  that's  right ;  don't  put  them  in  chip-boxes,  or  they  may 
share  the  fate  of  the  notha,  and  get  into  the  ammonia  jar  instead  of 
the  breeding  cage. 

To  those  of  us  whose  arrangements  are  not  already  mapped  out,  what 
can  appeal  more  strongly  than  an  early  Easter,  welcome  harbinger  of 
the  longer  holidays  of  the  later  season,  and  certainly  this  year  of  grace 
has  done  its  utmost  in  this  direction  to  shorten  the  hibernation,  which 
the  energies  of  many  of  us  undergo.  The  persuasive,  though  silent 
eloquence  of  the  "  posters  "  of  the  Railway  Companies  is  commencing 
to  have  its  effect,  and  the  rival  attractions  of  the  various  well-known 
haunts  of  lepidopterists,  will  soon  be  the  subject  of  earnest  consultation. 
An  unwelcome  doubt  crosses  the  mind  of  the  older  and  more  staid  col- 
lector, as  to  the  real  advantages  which  the  tyro  derives  from  the  modern 
facilities  afforded  him,  by  the  numerous  cheap  excursions  to  such  an 
ancient  "  idtima  thrde  "  as  even  the  New  Forest,  and  which  tempt  him 


70  THE  entomologist's  record, 

to  an  ambition  to  begin  his  career  of  collecting  where  the  older  genera- 
tion left  off.  The  unbidden  thought  arises  as  to  whether  it  will  not  be 
the  case,  in  the  near  future,  that  familiarity  Avith  the  distant  and 
mysterious  "  localities  "  over  which  a  glamour  has  been  thrown  Ijy  the 
records  and  the  results  of  the  doughty  pioneers  coeval  with  Doubleday, 
may  not  lireed  an  undesirable  contempt  for  a  pursuit  of  fame.  Perish 
the  thought  !  If  the  reapers  are  more  and  their  work  lightened,  yet  the 
results  of  tlieir  labours  have  an  ever-widening  and  more  appreciative 
public. 

In  regard  to  the  above  possible  drawbacks,  our  energetic  friends 
across  the  Border,  have  in  some  measure  compensation  for  their  isolation 
from  the  more  active  and  populous  centres  of  entomological  activity. 
No  enterprising "  Field-Day  "  })arty,  even  though  "personally  conducted  " 
from  our  flourishing  MetroiDolitan  Societies,  can  ever  hope  to  penetrate 
the  Highland  haunts  of  Anarta  cordigcra,  or  Fklonia  carhonarid,  nor  to 
ply  the  busy  chisel  to  the  detriment  of  the  birch  plantations,  in  search 
of  the  slow-feeding  larva  of  the  rare  Sesia  scoUaeformis. 


To    A.    R.    G. 

OVER  of  Night,  in  other  lands      ;      Call    forth    thy   spectres    robed    in 


than  mine,  gauzy  light, 

Of  night  made  mystical  by  many  ,           Thy  shadowy  Indians  and  thy  old- 

a  sprite  world  fays. 

And  bashful  woodland  fancies,  made  I      So  shall  the  Old  World  and  the  New 

divine  unite 

By  the   moon's   shining   and   the  :          On  Natuie's  bye-paths  and  Night's 

still  starlight.  |                  silent  ways. 

I  greet  thee,  my  twin  Spirit.     Tell  '       And    when   one   day  the   still   pro- 

thy  tale  cession  moves 

More  often  to  thy  listeners  over  To  seek  those  realms  that  men  call 

seas  :  Heaven  and  Hell, 

Tell  how  the  shadows  brood  o'er  hill  We  twain  may  steal  an  hour,  if  none 

and  vale :  reproves, 

Tell  how  the  voices  whisper  on  the  To  watch  the  Moths  in  meads  of 

breeze.  asphodel. 


SCIENTIFIC   NOTES  &  OBSERVATIONS. 

Protracted  Periods  of  Emergence. — From  my  experience  it  would 
appear  that  Leucnnia  littoraJis  continues  to  emerge  over  a  long  period. 
On  May  8th,  1893,  larvje  were  plentiful  on  the  sand-grass  right  among 
the  sand-hills,  and  appeared  mostly  to  be  full-fed.  Only  a  few  of  those 
which  I  took  rewarded  me  with  imagines,  as  many  of  them  bit  holes 
through  the  muslin  covering  of  the  breeding  cage  in  Avhieh  I  kept  them, 
and  escaped.  Of  the  few  that  did  go  on  unto  perfection,  imagines  were 
still  emerging  on  July  16th.  I  captured  the  imago  plentifully  on  sugar 
towards  the  end  of  May.  The  insect  is  said  to  remain  in  pupa  only  for 
about  fifteen  days.  Hadena  suasa  (ditisimilis)  is  another  species  that 
seems  to  have  a  very  extended  period  of  emergence.  I  took  a  couple 
on  May  2nd  ;  two  or  three  more  during  the  first  week  of  May  ;  some  more 
during  the  last  week  of  that  month,  from  which  I  obtained  ova ;  two  at 
sugar  on  June  13th  ;  one  at  light  on  July  21st.     In  September  I  bred 


SCIENTIFIC    NOTES    AND    OBSERVATIONS.  71 

seven  or  eight  from  the  ova  laid  in  May  ;  the  breeding  cage  was  kept 
out  of  doors  and  there  were  others  which  did  not  emerge  then  ;  one  or 
two  have  done  so  lately,  the  pup!«  having  been  placed  in  a  hot-house. — 
H.  W.  Vivian,  Port  Talbot,  S.  Wales.     December  8th,  1893. 

Kecokds  of  emergences  at  unusual  periods. — Mr.  J.  A.  Clark 
reports  the  emergence  of  a  female  Selenia  limaria  on  Christmas  Day 
1893,  and  of  a  male  on  January  28th,  1894,  in  a  breeding  cage  kept 
out  of  doors  and  not  in  any  way  protected  from  the  cold.  Mr.  J.  C. 
Moberly  bred  a  CucuUia  h/chnitis  from  a  pupa  of  1892  in  November  last. 
Eev.  C.  F.  Thornewill  reports  that  larvae  of  Nemeophila  plantaginis 
which  were  nearly  full-fed  in  July,  yielded  imagines  about  the  middle 
of  August,  and  that  a  few  pupa^  appear  to  be  standing  over  till  next 
season.  Captain  E.  W.  Brown  took  thirty  full-fed  larvae  of  Pieris 
brassicae  at  Enniskillen  on  July  12th,  1893.  From  these,  ten  imagines 
(eight  ^  s  and  two  2  s)  emerged  on  August  3rd  and  4th,  the  rest  are 
going  over  the  winter  as  pupai.  He  asks  what  is  the  explanation  of 
this,  and  suggests  that  it  may  be  due  to  the  nortlierly  situation  of 
Enniskillen  or  that  possibly,  considering  the  abnormal  season,  the  ten 
that  emerged  were  a  partial  third  brood.  Mr.  Claude  Morley  whites 
that  on  the  evening  of  Feb.  27th  a  ^  Phloijophora  meticulosa  emerged 
from  a  pupa  taken  on  Feb.  Gth  under  a  felled  pine.  He  assumes  it  to 
be  from  ova  of  a  third  brood  in  1893. — Ed. 


Hractical  hints. 

New  Style  of  Butterfly  Net. — I  have  received  from  Mr.  Graf- 
Kriisi  a  net,  which  folds  by  means  of  joints  into  a  very  small  compass. 
The  ring  is  made  of  steel  and  the  joints  finished  off  with  brass  rings,  to 
prevent  friction  between  the  steel  parts  and  the  joints.  Its  peculiar 
feature,  however,  is  that  by  means  of  a  simple  screw  arrangement  in 
the  frame  that  supplants  the  ordinary  ferrule,  the  net  is  made  to  fit  any 
stick  whatever.  The  silk  net  seems  to  be  a  very  serviceable  material. 
To  those  that  are  particular  about  their  paraphernalia,  nothing  more 
useful  could  be  recommended. — J.  W.  Tutt. 


Current  notes. 

We  have  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  C.  S.  Coles,  of  Brixton,  which 
is  too  long  to  insert  in  full,  but  probably  some  among  our  readers  will 
"be  interested  in  the  following  extracts  therefrom.  We  thank  our  cor- 
respondent for  his  kindly  expressions  concerning  the  Magazine,  and 
shall  alwaj's  be  glad  to  publisli  suitable  articles  on  the  other  orders  of 
insects  ;  the  difficulty  is  to  get  such. — "  1  should  be  glad  to  see  other 
orders  of  Insects,  besides  Lepidoptera,  dealt  with  more  frequently  in 
the  pages  of  the  EntomoIo(jist's  Record.  There  must  be  many  entomo- 
logists woi'king  amongst  the  Coleoptera,  Hymenoptera,  etc.,  who  would 
be  able  and  willing  to  contribute  articles  or  notes  on  their  favoui'ite 
insects ;  these  would  be  very  welcome  to  tliose  who,  like  myself,  take 
interest  in  other  orders  than  the  ever-popular  Lepidoptera.  There 
are  many  things  in  connection  with  these  other  orders  upon  which  I, 
for  one,  should  be  glad  of  information  and  advice.     For  example  :  some 


72  THE  kntomologist's  record. 

Mnts  on  "  The  Arrangement  of  our  Cabinets,"  from  the  pen  of  Mr. 
Hodges,  appeared  in  the  last  vohime.  These  were  limited  to  the  Lepi- 
doptera ;  but  if  some  Coleopterist,  Hymenopterist,  etc.,  would  perform 
the  same  sei'vice  for  his  own  special  order,  the  information  would 
probably.be  of  great  value  to  many  incipients,  whose  inclinations  may 
lead  them  towards  Beetles,  Bees,  Bugs  or  Blue-bottles.  Again  :  what 
is  the  most  useful  size  pin  for  the  smaller  bees  and  other  Hymenoptera, 
and  are  black  or  white  pins  preferable  for  the  whole  ?  I  have  used 
Messrs.  Kirby,  Beard  &  Go's.  No.  5  for  the  Bomhi,  and  for  insects  larger 
than,  say,  Colletes  succincta,  but  think  that  these  would  be  too  large  for 
the  smaller  species.  Again  :  what  is  the  best  mode  of  collecting  and 
killing  ants  for  the  cabinet  ?  I  have  used  the  laurel  bottle,  but  do  not 
consider  it  entirely  satisfactory.  Of  course,  a  box  for  each  specimen, 
as  with  bees,  is  out  of  the  question.  Are  they  usually  killed  on  the 
spot,  or  brought  home  alive  to  be  treated  with  sulphur  ?  Any  informa- 
tion on  points  like  these  would  be  exceedingly  acceiDtable.  I  have 
noticed  that  the  subject  of  verdigris  crops  up  from  time  to  time.  Probably 
no  perfect  preventive  has  yet  l)een  discovered  ;  it  may  therefore  be  of 
interest  to  note  that  I  have  two  butterflies,  the  remains  of  a  collection 
Avhich  I  formed  more  than  20  years  ago  but  which  has  long  been 
dispersed.  These  two  specimens  have  been  for  many  years,  unknown 
to  me,  lying  by  in  a  small  postal  box.  About  a  year  ago,  I  turned  the 
box  out  for  examination,  and  was  smprised  to  find  the  two  insects  in  a 
perfect  state  of  preservation,  with  no  sign  of  mites  or  verdigris,  each 
apparently  as  good  as  if  only  just  captured.  One  is  a  ^  Colias  edusa, 
taken  by  myself  in  the  month  of  Maj^,  the  other  a  Limeuitis  sih/lla,  also 
taken  by  myself  in,  I  believe,  the  same  year  (1869  or  1870).  Both 
are  on  white  pins  (black  were  unknown  in  those  days),  maker  now 
unknown,  but  they  are  still  in  such  good  condition  that  I  have  placed 
them  in  my  j^resent  collection,  and,  but  for  the  pins,  they  cannot  be 
distinguished  from  those  I  took  last  summer  ;  in  fact,  the  latter  insect 
is  far  superior  to  some  individuals  of  the  same  species  which  I  have  re- 
ceived in  exchange  as  '  good  specimens.'  Can  any  explanation  be 
given  of  this,  to  me  remarkable,  preservation  of  these  insects?  In 
conclusion,  allow  me  to  thank  you  for  having  introduced  your  magazine 
to  my  notice,  and  to  express  the  hope  that  you  may  be  able  to  extend 
its  usefulness  in  the  direction  I  have  suggested  above." 

"Without  entering  into  the  discussion  between  Dr.  Freer  and  Dr. 
Knaggs,  on  the  relative  "  energy  "  in  male  and  female  moths,  we  would 
call  the  attention  of  the  latter  to  a  recent  article  in  the  American  Nntn- 
ralist,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  653,  which  bears  somewhat  on  tlie  paragraph  in 
which  he  refers  in  a  mildly  sarcastic  manner  to  the  experiments  of  Mrs, 
Treat,  The  paragraph  referred  to  runs  thus  : — "  It  is  just  about  twenty 
years  ago  that  I*  penned  a  few  lines  on  a  similar  theory.  Speaking  of 
the  more  noticeable  papers  of  the  season  ( 1874),  I  wrote  as  follows  : — 
'  I^ut,  as  Alice  would  say,  the  '  curiousest '  paper  of  all,  is  devoted  to  the 
subject  of  controlling  the  sexes,  by  a  process  of  starvation  (the  starve- 
lings being  males,  and  the  healthy  well-fed  examples,  females).  When 
it  is  taken  into  consideration  that  the  writer  is  a  lady,  the  whole  affair 
looks  very  like  a  satire  on  the  male  sex  generally.'  This  article,  by 
Mrs.  Mary  Treat,  which  was  published  in  the  American  Naturalist,  vol. 
viii.,"p.  129,  is  endorsed  by  Messrs.  Geddes  and  Thompson."  Now, 
ridicule  is  a  very  useful  thing  in  its  proper  place,  but  facts  are  stubborn 


CtJRRENT   NOTES.  73 

things,  and  Dr.  Knaggs  will  hardly  ridicule  people  nowadays  into  any 
particular  line  of  belief,  as  to  whether  energy  is  required  more  by  male 
or  female  products.  Geddes  and  Thompson  only  quote  Mrs.  Treat's 
experiments  as  un  fait  accompli,  they  can  scarcely  "  endorse  "  them.  We 
have  ourselves  criticised  some  of  these  authors'  conclusions  in  Secondary 
Sexual  Characters  in  Lepidoptera.  But  to  return  to  facts.  In  one  of 
the  Cartwright  lectures  for  18'J2,  by  Henry  Fairfield  Osborn,  on '' Here- 
dity and  the  Germ-cells,"  we  find  : — "  The  causes  finally  determining 
sex  may  come  surprisingly  late  in  development,  and,  according  to  the 
investigations  of  Diising,  and  the  experiments  of  Yung  and  of  Giron, 
are  directly  related  to  nutrition.  High  feeding  favours  an  increase  of  the 
percentage  of  females,  while  conversely,  low  feeding  increases  the 
males,  in  Yung's  experiments  with  tadi^oles,  the  following  results 
were  obtained : — 

Normal  percentage     ...     57  females     ...     43  males 
High  nutrition    92  females     ...       8  males." 

There  are  arguments  on  the  original  neutrality  of  ova  and  other 
matters  of  general  biological  interest,  and  so  far  as  they  have  a  general 
bearing,  directly  interesting  to  the  entomological  student,  and  these 
arguments  backed  up  by  experiments,  go  far  to  prove  that  the  ultimate 
development  of  a  male  or  female  product,  has  more  to  do  with  nutri- 
tion than  the  Doctor  would  appear  to  think.  The  following  part  of 
Dr.  Knaggs'  paper  appears  to  us  as  illogical  as  the  fii'st  part  is 
imscientific. 

An  interesting  paper  on  certain  Micro-lepidoptera  is  published  in  the 
current  number  of  the  E.  M.  M.,  by  Lord  Walsingham .  Tinea  nigripunctella, 
taken  by  Mr.  Atmore,  at  King's  Lynn,  found  hitherto  in  Britain,  only  at 
Bristol  and  Folkestone.  Sericoris  palustrana,  which  was  originally  de- 
scribed by  Zeller,  and  has  long  been  recorded  as  occurring  among  pines  in 
Scotland  and  the  North  of  England,  was  beaten  from  a  fir-tree  on  the  edge 
of  a  marsh  near  King's  Lynn.  But  much  more  important  is  the  addition 
of  Argyresthria  illuminatella,  to  the  British  list,  from  specimens  taken  at 
Forres,  by  Salvage,  among  larch,  and  the  capture  of  a  series  of  very 
similar  specimens  at  King's  Lynn,  which  Lord  Walsingham  thinks  will 
prove  distinct  from  illuminatella,  to  which  the  Scotch  specimens  are 
referred  without  hesitation.  Two  Gelechias  "  of  a  uniform  purplish- 
brown  colour,  with  a  few  pale  specklings  around  the  apex  and  apical 
margin,  and  a  single  obscure  dark  spot  at  the  end  of  the  cell,  the 
antennae  with  a  series  of  three  pale  spots  on  the  outer  third,  the  outer 
one  of  which  is  a  little  before  the  apex ;  the  cilia  somewhat  paler  than 
the  wings,  especially  about  the  anal  angle,  and  the  hind  wings  shining 
slaty-gTey,  with  pale  cilia,  tending  to  brownish-ochreous,  the  abdomen 
inclining  also  to  brownish-ochreous ;  legs  pale,  apparently  unspotted. 
Exp.  al.  14  m.m,"  are  indistinguishable  from  Xystophora  servella,  Z.,  in 
the  Zeller  collection. 

Dr.  Chapman  records  the  emergence  of  a  Doritis  apollina,  at  2  a.m., 
on  Jan.  lyth,  in  a  warm  room  at  74°.  It  was  then  removed  to  a  room 
at  51°.  Next  morning,  at  9  a.m.,  the  wings  were  unexpanded,  taken 
back  to  warm  room,  and  within  five  minutes,  the  wings  were  well  on 
the  way  to  development. 

Mr.  Beaumont  {E.  M.  M.),  adds   Diastata  fnmipennis  (beaten  from 


74  THE    EKTOMOLOGIST  S    RECORD 

Coniferae,  at  Albrighton)  and  D.  hasalis  (from  heather  thatch),  also  D, 
obscnrella,  from  Deal,  to  the  list  of  British  Diptera. 


SOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 


Early  appearances. — Mr.  W.  Reid  reports  that  Phujalia  pedaria 
(pilosaria)  was  out  in  the  neighl)Ourhood  of  Pitcaple  on  December  27th, 
1893.  Eev.  C.  F.  Thornewill  took  Hyhernia  rnpicdpraria  on  Jan.  16th 
and  P.  pedaria  on  Feb.  Jtird,  1894,  at  Bakewell,  and  remarks  that  these 
are  in  each  case  the  earliest  dates  at  which  he  has  observed  the  insect. 
Rev.  J.  E.  Tarbat  found  a  specimen  of  Pachycnemia  hippocastanaria  at 
rest  on  a  pine  trunk  at  Weybridge  on  January  29th,  1894. 

Anosia  archippus  in  Jamaica. — Mr.  T.  D.  A.  Cockerell  writes  me 
from  Las  Cruces  that  this  sj)ecies  certainly  does  occur  in  Jamaica.  He 
also  gives  the  following  list  of  the  known  Jamaican  species  of  Danais  :  — 
D.  archippus,  '?  D.  here-nice  var.,  D.  cleophile,  D.  clothera,  D.  erippns, 
D.  (jdippns,  D.  jamaicensis.  The  commonest  Danais  in  Jamaica,  says 
Mr.  Cockerell,  is  D.  (Tasitia)  jamaicensis,  which  is  a  sub-species  of 
D.  herenice  and  belongs  to  a  different  group  from  D.  archippus.  This 
was  probably  the  form  which  Sloan  figured. — ¥.  J.   Buckell. 

The  Burney  and  St.  John  Sales. — The  thanks  of  everyone  interested 
in  the  morality  and  well-being  of  entomology  are  due  to  Mr.  Tutt,  for 
what  has  been  published  lately  in  the  EntomohMjist's  Record,  relative  to  the 
sale  of  the  late  Rev.  Hy.  Burney's  and  other  collections  of  Lepidoptera. 
It  appears  to  me,  that  in  every  case  where  possible,  it  is  important  to 
hunt  up  records,  and  to  contribute  towards  the  clearing  up  of  errors 
and  confusion,  and,  if  there  be  dishonest  dealing,  to  assist  in  its  detection. 
With  these  views,  I  would  ask  from  those  concerned,  some  explanation 
with  regard  to  the  pair  of  Lycaena  argiades,  sold  from  the  Rev.  Sej'mour 
St.  John's  collection.  In  the  Entomologist'' s  Becord,  vol.  v.,  No.  2,  p.  4U, 
I  read  "  Then  a  pair  of  Lycaena  argiades  (again  '  received  from  Dr. 
Marsh  ')  produce  £4  10s."  Dr.  Marsh's  name  had  occcurred  just  before 
in  connection  with  "  Norfolk."  What,  I  would  ask  then,  is  the  exact 
history  of  this  pair  of  L.  argiades  ?  Is  it  the  pair  which  Mr.  St.  John 
recorded  in  the  Entomologist,  vol.  xviii,  p.  292  (1885)  ?  He  there  men- 
tions having  discovered  two  specimens  (both  males),  in  the  collection  of 
a  friend  living  near  Frome,  and  that  his  friend  told  him  that  "  he  took 
them  with  several  others,  eleven  years  ago,  not  two  miles  from  this 
house  "  (Whatley  Rectory,  Frome),  "close  by  a  small  quarry.'  W^as 
this  friend  "  Dr.  Marsh  "  ?  From  the  price  paid  for  the  "  pair  "  (quei-y 
(J  and  5  ),  it  would  appear  that  the  purchaser  believed  them  to  be 
authentic  British  specimens,  for  the  price  of  Continental  specimens  is, 
I  believe,  sixpence  each.  It  is  very  likely  that  the  questions  I  have 
asked  can  be  satisfactorily  answered,  and,  if  so,  those  concerned  will  no 
doubt  be  much  obliged  for  having  an  opportunity  given  them  of — so 
far— clearing  up  the  history  of  a  small  fraction  of  the  insects,  lately 
dispersed  among  British  collectors.  I  say  "so  far"  because  the 
authenticity  of  Mr.  St.  John's  two  Somerset  L.  argiades  is  still  some- 
what uncertain  ;  their  record  did  not  appear  till  eleven  years  after  the 
time  of  their  capture,  and  their  captor  was  only  given  to  the  world  as 
Mr.  St.  John's  "friend." — (Rev.)  0.  Pickard-Cambridge,  Bloxworth 
Rectory,  Wareham.      Feb.  Idth,  1894.      (There  can  be  no  doubt  we 


NOTICES    AND    REVIEWS.  75 

should  say  that  the  specimens  of  L.  argiades  sold  were  the  same  as  those 
referred  to  by  our  con-espondent,  for  the  Catalogue  of  sale  states 
distinctly : — "  L.  argiades  2,  taken  in  Somerset,  in  1874  by  Dr.  Marsh 
(see  Ent.,  vols,  xviii.,  292  and  xxv.,  21)."  The  word  "  pair  "  may  have 
been  used  for  "  two  "  by  our  correspondent.  We  would  also  ask  whether 
Dr.  Marsh  is  the  same  as  the  Rev.  T.  Marsh  (Record,  vol.  iii.,  p.  195) 
who  captured  the  specimens  of  Si/ricthas  alveas  reported  by  Mr.  C.  G. 
Barrett  some  time  since  as  from  Norfolk. — Ed.). 


SOTICES    AND    REVIEWS. 


Qlimpses  at  yimerican  Entomology. 

The  Tiventy-fourth  Annual  Report  of  the  Entomoloyical  Society  of 
Ontario,  1893,  contains,  as  usual,  much  to  interest  British  entomologists. 
First  among  the  papers  is  a  critique  entitled  Entomological  mistakes  of 
Authors,  by  the  Eev.  T.  W.  Fyles,  F.L.S.,  of  South  Quebec.  Commencing 
with  the  school  books  relating  to  natural  history  authorised  by  Govern- 
ment, he  shows  that  the  lesson  relating  to  the  butterfly's  metamorphoses 
is  made  up  of  a  great  many  errors,  or  rather,  gross  blunders,  of  which 
the  following  appear  to  form  a  summary.  The  butterfly  is  flgured  as  a 
Papilio.  The  larva  and  pupa  are  caricatures  of  those  of  Anosia  archipp^is, 
but  the  larva  in  the  lesson  is  said  to  feed  on  willow,  whilst  that  of 
archipptis  feeds  on  Asclepias.  The  reverend  gentleman,  himself  a  first- 
class  entomologist,  is  unable  to  determine  what  species  is  meant,  and 
comjilains  that  error  should  thus  be  disseminated  broadcast  in  the 
minds  of  the  young.  The  Natural  History  Beaders,  I  may  add,  in  use 
in  our  own  British  schools  similarly  bristle  with  glaring  inaccuracies, 
copied  from  obsolete  text-books  or  made  up  from  imaginary  obser- 
vations. Tlie  author  of  the  paper  then  criticises  a  large  number 
of  allusions  in  Avell-known  works  (poetical  and  prose),  to  entomological- 
matters,  and  even  Charles  Kingsley  and  our  old  friend  Isaak  Walton 
are  brought  to  book.  Kingsley,  it  appears,  makes  the  dragon-fly 
emerge  from  its  nymph  under  water,  whilst  in  The  Complete  Angler,  an 
accurate  description  of  a  larva  of  Sphinx  lignstri,  which  ultimatel}-  died, 
is  followed  by  the  wonderful  guess  that  "  if  it  had  lived,  it  had  doubt- 
less turned  to  one  of  those  flies  that  some  call  flies  of  prey,  which  those 
that  walk  by  the  rivers  may,  in  summer,  see  fasten  on  smaller  flies,  and 
I  think,  make  them  their  food."  The  author  gives  many  other  inter- 
esting and  amusing  references.  He  says  that  Edgar  Allen  Poe,  in  one 
of  his  highly  sensational  tales,  tells  of  '  a  gold  bug.'  This  bug,  he 
informs  us,  was  a  Scarabaeiis ;  but  we  are  not  to  conclude  that  it  was  a 
right  down  honest  '  tumble-bug.'  The  term.  Scarabaeiis,  was  formerly 
used  for  beetles,  generally.  It  may  have  been  a  sort  of  Cotalpha,  but 
it  had  some  peculiar  qualities  ;  ponderosity  was  one — it  was  so  heavy 
that  it  was  used  as  a  plumb  ;  but  notwithstanding  its  gTeat  weight,  it 
was  very  active — it  flew  on  before.  Then,  too,  its  pugnacity  was  re- 
markable— it  bit  its  captor's  hand  ;  and  it  was  not  without  suspicion  of 
exercising  poisonous  qualities,  like  the  centipede  and  the  Tarantula." 
The  reverend  gentleman  further  adds  : — "  1  need  hardly  say  that  the 
species  has  become  extinct."  Tlie  author  further  points  out  the  way  in 
which  men  of  letters  are  disposed  to  under- value  "  those  benevolent, 


76  THE    entomologist's    RECORrt. 

amiable,  and  altogether  worthy  gentlemen,  who  have  been  good  enough  to 
pursue  the  study  of  entomology  for  the  benefit  of  mankind."  He  sa3^s  : — 
"  Does  Fenimore  Cooper  wish  to  portray  an  entomologist !  He  does 
so  in  Dr.  Obed  Batt,  and  the  crowning  scene  in  which  this  personage  is 
presented  is  that  in  which  he  is  brought  forward  by  the  Indians,  seated 
upon  the  Vespertilio  horribilis  americanus,  with  his  butterflies  and  other 
'  specimens  '  disposed  about  his  person — converting  him  into  a  sort  of 
perambulating  museum  ;  "  and  then  our  author  adds : — "Yet  Fenimore 
Cooper  was  considered  a  decent  sort  of  man  !  I  am  told  he  was  a 
churchwarden  ! !  "  This  most  amusing  paper  is  completed  by  a  reference 
to  "  Sir  Thomas,"  Barham's  (the  well-known  author  of  the  Ingoldshy 
Legends)  worthy  entomologist  who,  seeking  for  nymphs,  tumbles  in  the 
water  and  is  drowned.  His  wife,  is  consoled  for  his  loss,  by  the  atten- 
tions of  Captain  McBride,  and  some  time  afterwards  "  Sir  Thomas  "  is 
fished  from  the  depths  "  in  a  dilapidated  condition,"  whilst  "  from  the 
pockets  and  other  i-ecesses  of  his  clothing,  a  number  of  fat  eels  are 
taken."  The  grief  of  the  lady  was  so  great,  that  she  had  some  of  the 
eels  cooked  for  her  supper.     And  this  is  what  she  says  of  them : — 

"  Eels  a  many  I've  ate  :  but  any 

So  good  ne'er  tasted  before  ! 
They're  a  fish,  too,  of  which  I'm  remarkably  fond ! 
So  pop  Sir  Thomas  again  in  the  pond — 

Poor  dear  !     He'll  catch  us  some  more." 

Another  paper  interesting  to  Britishers  is  Dr.  Holland's  "  Notes  and 
Queries."  We  have  not  space  to  do  more  than  quote  one  note,  which 
is  as  follows  : — "  The  banana  merchants  in  our  town  (Alleghany,  Pa.), 
have  proved  themselves  possessed  of  curious  entomological  stores.  I 
have  received  from  them  a  couple  of  living  Tarantulas,  and  not  long  ago 
a  living  specimen  of  Caligo  fencer,  which  had  emerged  from  a  chrysalis, 
hidden  in  a  bunch  of  bananas.  The  insect  had  been  transported  l3y  sea 
and  land,  either  from  Honduras  or  from  some  port  in  the  northern  portion 
of  South  America,  a  journey  of  several  thousand  miles.  This  reminds 
me  that  in  several  consignments  of  eastern  lepidoptera,  I  have  found  one 
Danais  plexippns,  Linn."  (?  Anosia  archipjms,  Ed.).  "  One  of  the  send- 
ings  was  from  Borneo,  the  other  from  Java.  We  shall  soon  hear  of  its 
domestication  on  the  mainland  of  Asia,  and  it  will  probably  spread  all 
over  China  and  Japan.  The  insects  taken  by  the  U.  S.  Eclipse 
Expedition  of  1889,  at  the  Azores,  numbered  among  them  two  specimens 
of  this  butterfly.  There  were  only  about  a  dozen  specimens  of  insects 
taken  at  the  Azores,  by  the  industrious  (?)  naturalists  of  the  jiarty,  and 
I  judge  that  it  must  be  common  there.  Why  we  have  not  yet  beard  of 
its  domiciliation  on  the  African  continent  is  a  mystery  to  me.  It  will 
no  doubt  get  there  before  long." 

In  a  paper  on  "  The  Dragon-fly,"  by  T.  J.  MacLaughlin,  of  Ottawa, 
we  notice  that  he  quotes  Duncan's  description  of  the  breathing  of  the 
larvaj  and  nymphs,  as  follows  : — "  The  larvae  and  nymphs,  although 
living  under  water,  must  respire,  and  j^et  have  no  external  organs  by 
which  they  can  breathe.  Their  method  of  respiration  is  unique ;  they 
breathe  with  their  intestines.  The  large  intestine  is  covered  with 
numerous  trachete,  and  when  the  animal  wishes  to  breathe,  it  opens  the 
orifice  of  the  intestine  and  admits  a  quantity  of  water.  This,  of  course, 
contains  air  mechanically  suspended  which  is  taken  up  by  the  tracheae 
just  mentioned."     Mr.  McLaughlin  adds : — "  In  expelling  the  water 


I 


NOTICKS    AND    REVIKWS.  77 

just  taken  into  the  intestine,  it  is  sent  out  with  considerable  force,  which 
propels  the  animal  forward  with  a  jerk,  several  times  the  length  of  its 
own  body ;  by  this  means,  it  keeps  out  of  the  way  of  its  enemies." 

In  the  address  of  the  President  (W.  Hague  Harrington,  of  Ottawa), 
mention  is  made,  among  many  other  interesting  things,  of  "  Parasitism 
in  Insects."     He  refers  to  Professor  Riley's  work,  and  divides  parasitic 
forms  into  three  groups  : — (I)  Pdra'^ites  Proper,  including  insects  whose 
whole  life  is  passed  upon,  and  is  dependent  upon,  their  host,  and  which 
may  be  sub-divided  into  external,  as  lice,  and  internal  (or  sub-cutaneous) 
as  the  itch-mite.     (2)   Fatal  Parasites,  which,  in  the  larval  stage,  live 
at  the  expense  of  the  members  of  their  own   class.     These  are    also 
sub-divided  into  internal,  where  the  larva  is  nourished  within  the  host 
upon  the   surrounding  fluids,  as  are  the  majority  of  Hymenopterous 
parasites,  and  exlp.rnal,  where  the  larva  attaches  itself  to  the  host  (as  in 
Thalessa),  and  sucks  its  juices.     To  this  sub-division  belong  many   Hy- 
menopterous,   Diptei'ous  and  Coleopterous   parasites.      (3)    Inqailiiiom 
parasites,    which    include    the    numerous    forms   which  live   upon  the 
provision  made  by  other  species,  for  the  sustenance  of  their  offspring, 
or  which  are  found  habitually  associated   with   otlier  insects,   but   not 
injurious  to  them.     This  class  is  sub-divided  into  Fatal  inqnilines,  where 
the  guest's  living  means  starvation  and  death  to  the  host,  and  Cominen- 
sals,  where  association  is  mutually  harmless,  as  where  beetles  are  found 
living  in  the  nests  of  bees  and  ants.     On  the  same  subject  is  another 
article  ''  The  economic  value  of  parasites,  and  predaceous  insects,"  by 
Prof.    J.    B.    Smith,  but,   although   interesting  enough,  the  argument 
throughout  is  weak,  and  the  logic  unsound.     The  Professor  begins  with 
an  apparent  paradox  :  "  No  one  can  realise  more  than  I  do,  how  much 
parasites  maintain    the    balance    and    check   the  increase  of  injurious 
species.     I  am  peifectly  aware,  that  were  it  not  for  parasites,  many 
an    insect    would    become    so    abundant  that  certain   crops  could  not 
be  satisfactorily  grown,"  and  yet  he  goes  on  to  say: — "In  fact   I   am 
almost  ready  to  say  that  parasites  have  no  real  economic  value  to  the 
agriculturist."     There    is    a  certain    amount    of    "heroics"   about   the 
article  that  is  hardly  scientific,  and  Professor  Smith  only  refers  to  well- 
knovvn  facts,  when  he  says  that   "  parasites  do  not   exterminate  their 
hosts  in  any  instance  ;  their  mission  is  merely  to  interj)ose  a  check  to 
undue  increase."     But  he  goes  on  to  say  that  the  farmer  "must  depend 
upon  his  own  exertions  to  save  his  crop.     There  are,   however,   many 
insects  which  are  very  commonly  parasitised,  and  among  them  may  be 
mentioned   the   various  species  of  cut- worms  (Noctua  larvae).     It  is 
nothing  uncommon  to  find  in  an  infested  field,  that  fully  one-half,  and 
sometimes  as  many  as  three-(piarters  of  the  specimens,  will  have  eggs  of 
the  Tachina  flies  attached  to  the  skin,  and  probably  others  have  parasites 
which  are  not  externally  visible."     Now  mark  I     The  writer  continues 
"  yet  the  fact  that  these   cut- worms  are  infested  by   parasites,   is    of 
absolutely  no  value  to  the  farmer."     And  this  is  the  reason  for  such  a 
conclusion  : — "  They  eat  just  as  much  as  if  they  were  not  parasitised,  and 
it  is  really  a  matter  of  little  importance  to  the  agriculturist,  wlicther  the 
food  that  is  stolen  from  him  makes  a  moth   or  a  fly.     The   caterpillar 
feeds    all  the   same  until   it   is   full-grown.     Next  year,   in  the  same 
field,  there  will  be  just  as  many  cut- worms  as  tliere  were  in  the  previous 
year."     Just    so!     "As    many,"    not   more.     Then  this  strange  logic 
continues  :  — "  The  parasites  have  kept  the  number  within  the  same 


78  THE  entomologist's  record. 

limit,  and  the  farmer  has  not  been  benefitted.  If  he  desires  to  save  his 
crop,  he  must  himself  adopt  measures  for  the  destruction  of  these 
insects:  parasites  will  not  helj)  him  in  the  least."  With  this  wise  and 
logical  deduction  we  will  leave  the  paper. 

Another  paper,  on  "  Mosquitoes,"  by  J.  Alston  Moffat,  of  Loudon, 
Ontario,  is  most  interesting  and  instructive.  He  says  in  the  course  of 
it : — "  Travellers  have  recorded  their  experience  with  mosquitoes  in  all 
parts  of  the  world ;  some  declaring  that  those  of  the  Arctic  regions  are 
the  worst  they  ever  encountered,  but  South  America,  from  its  climatic 
condition  and  its  low-lying  lands,  which  are  frequently  flooded,  is  in  a 
position  to  carry  off  the  prize  against  the  world  for  its  crop  of  mosquitoes 
and  that  the  early  travellers  there  were  duly  impressed  with  this  fact 
is  evidenced  by  the  names  given  to  places,  such  as  Mosquito  Coast, 
Mosquito  Bay  and  Mosquito  Town.  In  ancient  history  we  read  of 
armies  on  the  march  being  arrested  on  the  way  and  made  to  beat  a 
hasty  retreat  from  the  attack  of  these  tiny  warriors,  which  is  quite 
believable ;  for  if  we  take  into  consideration  tlie  scant  and  loose  cover- 
ing which  they  probably  wore,  which  gave  the  wearers  so  much  more 
space  to  defend,  they  were  not  in  a  condition  to  jjursue  human  foes, 
when  every  man  of  them  was  engaged  in  a  double-handed  conflict  witli 
such  pertinacious  insect  enemies." 

We  had  almost  overlooked  one  of  the  most  important  papers.  It  is 
on  piire  entomology,  and  entitled  "A  contrasted  summary  of  the  main 
external  Characters  of  Butterflies  in  their  different  stages  of  life,"  by 
Dr.  Scudder.  It  is  in  tabular  form,  and  were  it  not  for  want  of  space, 
we  would  reproduce  it  here,  but  we  have  no  doubt  most  of  our  more 
advanced  readers  will  get  it  for  themselves. 

It  is  impossible  to  go  further  into  this  readable  volume,  but  there  is 
one  thing  we  should  like  to  })oint  out  and  that  is  that  of  1,761  dollars 
received  by  the  Society,  no  less  than  1,000  dollars  was  in  the  shape  of 
Government  grant.  Our  colony  is,  therefore,  far  ahead  of  us  as  regards 
the  public  interest  taken  by  the  Government  in  entomological  work. 
Many  of  the  articles  are  purely  economic,  others  are  descrij^tive  ;  but 
the  advantage  to  agriculturists  of  such  an  annual  volume  which,  we 
believe,  the  Government  distributes  broadcast,  must  be  incalculable,  as 
much  in  leading  their  powers  of  observation  in  the  right  direction  as  in 
the  direct  information  given  in  its  pages.  We  have  no  doubt  that  the 
secretaries  of  our  Societies  could  get  copies  annually  in  return  for  their 
own  Tranmctions  ;  at  any  rate  it  should  be  considered  a  part  of  the  duty 
of  the  larger  Societies  to  provide  their  members  with  a  copy.  J.  Alston 
Moffat,  Es(i.,  Ent.  Soc.  of  Ontario,  Victoria  Hall,  London,  Ontario,  would, 
no  doubt,  arrange  such  an  exchange. 

New  Mexico  College  of  Agricidtnre,  Bulletin  10,  Sei)tember,  1893.— 
Las  Cruces,  whither  Prof.  Cockerell  has  recently  gone  as  one  of  the 
State  Entomologists,  gives  us  this,  and  the  insect  portion  is  written  by 
our  esteemed  correspondent.  Four  of  our  British  si)ecies  of  lepidoptera 
come  in  for  notice:  —  Vanessa  antiojia,  an  imago  seen  on  August  5th, 
whilst  a  brood  of  larvse  were  taken  on  the  same  day  feeding  on  willow. 
Carpocupsa  pomonella ;  apples  offered  for  sale  in  Las  Cruces  were 
observed  to  be  badly  infested.  HeJiothis  armiyer  (the  corn-worm),  the 
larvfBof  which  were  found  on  August  IGth,  living  in  the  sheaths  of  tlie 
young  leaves  of  corn  at  the  College  Farm.  It  is  yellowish-grey  with 
short  almost  invisible  hairs  springing  from  small  blackish  tubercles  ; 


KOTiCES    AND   REVIEWS,  7^ 

the  head  is  pale  ochreous,  shiny  and  sjwtless.  Leucania  nnipnncta  (the 
army  worm).  Of  this  IMr.  Oockerell  writes  : — "  Early  in  August  I  was 
informed  hy  Mr.  Lohman  that  there  was  a  terrible  ])lague  of  cater- 
pillars or  worms  down  at  the  mill,  and  so  went  to  investigate  the  matter. 
Mr.  Schaublin  conducted  me  to  the  field  infested  and  the  sight  there  was 
sufficientl}' astonishing:  thousands  of  army  worms  crawling  over  the 
phtnts  and  on  the  ground,  and  the  alfalfa  so  denuded  of  its  leaves  as  to 
be  hardly  recognizable.  They  had  appeared  suddenly,  as  is  usual,  and 
the  work  of  destruction  had  been  rapid.  Besides  the  alfalfa,  I  noticed 
they  were  very  fond  of  eating  apples  fallen  from  the  trees,  and  many 
even  ascended  the  apple  trees  and  fed  u}ion  the  leaves.  They  also  ate 
some  corn  plants,  leaving  only  the  mid-ribs  of  the  leaves;  they  attacked 
the  leaves  of  sweet  potato,  and  seemed  very  fond  of  capsicum  pepper, 
devouring  the  leaves  and  excavating  the  fruits.  A  wild  Solanum  and 
Amaranthiis  were  also  attacked,  but  though  many  took  shelter  under 
the  grape  vines  they  did  not  attack  them.  This  avoidance  of  vine 
leaves  for  food  was  noted  years  ago  by  Dr.  C.  V.  Eiley.  I  found  they 
were  eating  the  beans,  which  is  noteworthy,  as  Dr.  Eiley  found  tliat 
some  army  worms  which  he  experimented  with  would  not  eat  this 
plant,  although  they  would  accept  peas.  On  the  gi-ound  was  a  piece  of 
cut  water-melon  on  which  many  of  the  w^orms  were  feeding,  and  I  found 
they  took  readily  to  cucumber.  Later  I  found  them  eating  the  leaves 
of  sunflower,  and  two  or  three  worms  were  noticed  on  asparagus." 
"  Mr.  Schaublin  remarked  on  the  number  of  toads  about ;  these  were 
undoubtedly  feeding  on  the  worms.  There  were  also  parasitic  flies — 
flies  not  unlike  a  common  meat-fly,  which  produce  grubs,  whose  lives 
are  spent  in  the  inside  of  caterpillars,  feeding  on  their  juices.  These 
grubs  eventually  kill  their  hosts  and  turn  into  flies  (Tricholyga,  sp.)  like 
their  })arents.  The  fly  places  her  eggs  on  the  skin  of  the  caterpillar, 
and  from  these  the  grulj  hatches.  I  found  one  such  egg  on  one  of  the 
army  worms."  "  The  army  worm,  when  fully  grown,  burrows  into  the 
earth  and  turns  into  a  pupa,  from  which  emerges  the  army  worm  moth, 
known  to  naturalists  as  Leucania  imipiincta.  I  caught  one  of  these  moths 
in  Las  Cruces  some  weeks  ago ;  it  is  of  moderate  size,  jDale  brownish  in 
colour,  with  no  conspicuous  marks." — Ed. 

The  Transactions  of  the  City  of  London  Emtomologic.^l  Society, 
1893. — This  Society  is  to  be  congratulated  on  having  just  issued  its  trans- 
actions, for  this,  the  third  successive  year.  Small  and  unpretentious  as  the 
volume  is,  it  contains  a  vast  amount  of  useful  scientific  information,  all 
comprised  within  some  eighty  pages  of  closely  printed  matter.  Nor 
are  its  contents  calculated  to  interest  members  only.  We  heartily  and 
emphatically  recommend  its  perusal  to  all  entomologists  worthy  of  the 
name.  We  may  even  go  further,  and  say,  that  if  the  papers  read  at 
future  meetings  of  the  above  Society  continue  up  to  the  present  level 
(and  we  have  reason  to  suppose  that  they  will),  no  scientific  entomolo- 
gist— we  use  the  qualification  advisedly — wishing  to  be  '  up  to  date,' 
dare  be  without  a  copy.  The  volume  contains  the  best  efforts  of 
competent  men. 

Among  numerous  other  useful  items  may  be  mentioned,  a  paper  read 
by  Mr.  Tutt,  on  the  "  Genus  Xanthia,"  and  the  scholarly  productions 
of  Dr.  Buckell,  entitled  respectively  "  Specific  Nomenclature,  Past, 
Present,  and  Future  "  and  "  History  of  Butterfly  Classification,"  givino- 
evidence  of  gi-eat  research  ;  also  "  Notes  on  certain  Coleopterous  Insects, 
found  in  City  Warehouses,"  by  Mr.  G.  A.  Lewcock. 


so  THE    entomologist's    RECORD. 

Altogether,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  the  Society  will  receive  a  larger 
amount  of  financial  support  than  hitherto,  in  order  that  it  may  extend 
its  meritorious  labours.  It  is  suggested  that  a  wider  circulation  of  this 
volume  would  assist  in  this  direction,  and  that  copies,  price  2s.,  can  be 
obtained  of  Mr.  C  E.  Nicholson,  202,  Evering  Koad,  Upper  Clapton, 
N.E.— H.  E.  P. 


] 


gOCIETIES. 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. — 
February  2nd,  1894. — Exhibits :  Mr.  Battley ;  the  jaw-bones  of  a  fish 
called  the  Thornback  Kay,  which  feeds  on  crabs,  &c. ;  the  bones  were 
each  provided  with  a  set  of  flattened,  tooth-like  plates,  which  slightly 
overlapped  and  seemed  to  be  of  very  hard  material.  He  also  showed  a 
spine  of  the  same  fish,  and  called  the  attention  of  the  members  to  the 
fact  that  this  spine  Avas  hollow  and  very  hard.  Mr.  Clai'k ;  Biston 
hirtaria.  Lobophora  lobulata,  Zyyaena  trifolii  (a  yellow  var.)  and  Abraxas 
grossidariata  (dark  var.),  all  from  Perth.  He  also  exhibited,  at  Mr. 
Tutt's  request,  the  fine  series  of  Aryi/nnis  paphia,  taken  in  the  New 
Forest  last  year.  In  consequence  of  some  remarks  by  Mr.  Froliawk 
{Entomoloijist,  Feb.  1894)  relative  to  these  sjiecimens,  the  opinion  of  the 
meeting  was  taken  as  to  whether  any  of  the  male  specimens  showed 
traces  of  greenish  coloration ;  th.e  members  were  unanimous  that  such 
was  the  case  with  two  of  the  males.  The  whole  series  consisted  of 
twenty-four  butterflies,  of  which  the  spotted  specimens  were  as  follows  : 
Six  males  with  straw-coloured  spots,  two  of  them  having  also  distinct 
greenish  blotches  on  the  hind  wings ;  six  females  with  greenish  blotches, 
two  of  them  having  also  bleached  looking  markings  on  the  fore-wings. 
Mr.  Prout ;  3Iamestra  sordida  (anceps)  bred  last  January.  He  stated 
that  he  found  this  larva  at  Culver  Down,  Isle  of  Wight,  feeding  on  grass 
at  night ;  it  strongly  resembled  the  larva  of  Apamea  basilinea ;  as  it 
seemed  disposed  to  hybernate,  he  kept  it  feeding  in  a  warm  room,  with 
the  result  that  it  pupated  in  December.  He  also  showed  a  specimen  of 
A.  basilinea  reared  under  somewhat  similar  conditions  in  1892.  He 
was  inclined  to  think  that  sordida  should  be  removed  from  the  genus 
Maviestra  and  placed  before  Apamea  gemina,  A.  unanimis  and  A.  basi- 
linea, as  in  Kirby's  "  European  Butterflies  and  Moths,"  with  which 
insects  he  considered  it  had  more  affinities  tlian  with  the  genus  Mamestra. 
Mr.  Bacot ;  ova  of  Ni/ssia  hispidaria,  laid  in  captivity.  Dr.  Buckell 
remarked  that  they  very  much  resembled  those  of  its  ally  Amphidasys 
betularia. 

Mr.  Bayne,  who  exhibited  a  good  series  of  the  insect,  which  included 
brown,  greenish,  light  grey,  melanic  and  white-margined  forms  of  the 
^  and  gi-een  and  brown  forms  of  the  5  ,  then  read  the  following 
paper : — 

NOTES    ON    NYSSIA    HISPIDARIA. 

On  February  1st,  1893,  two  apterous  ?  s  emerged  in  my  breeding 
cage  from  pujoas  dug  in  Epping  Forest  in  the  late  autumn  of  1892.  The 
preceding  week  or  ten  days  had  been  very  mild  for  the  time  of  year. 
J'higalia  pedaria  {pilosaria)  had  been  observed  in  the  open  on  January 
22nd  and  eight  Hybernia  de/oliaria  had  been  bred  indoors  between  the 


snriKTiES.  81 

25th  and  29tli  of  that  mouth.  Of  course,  as  these  ?  s  were  certainly 
not  P.  pednria,  they  were  at  once  noted  as  Nyssia  hispidaria  and  Feb. 
5th  being  tine  and  bright,  was  devoted  to  searching  for  this  species,  the 
said  search  being  rewarded,  after  five  hours,  hy  a  single  ^  taken  on  a 
"  spear "  oalc.  Hijhernla  mar<jinaria  (progemiaaria),  both  sexes,  and 
Anisopterijx  aeseularia  put  in  a  first  appearance  on  the  same  day.  The 
emergence  of  two  3's  and  a  $  N.  hispidaria  during  the  night  of  Feb. 
7th,  which  was  warm,  gave  the  impression  that  there  was  a  possibility 
that  the  species  might  be  found  more  commonly  than  is  usual  in  the 
Forest,  Avhei-e  three  years'  searching  had  resulted  in  the  discovery  of 
about  *75  of  a  male.  The  next  expedition,  on  the  12th  of  the  same 
month,  was,  however,  hardly  a  success ;  the  wind  was  fresh,  in  fact 
blew  a  gale  from  the  N.W.,  the  weather  was  dull  with  passing  showers 
of  hail  and  rain,  and  the  shade  temperature  ranged  (in  London)  from 
44°  to  34"^.  Only  one  crippled  g"  and  a  ?  with  five  legs  turned  up, 
and  Lepidoptera  generally  were  very  scarce.  The  morning  of  Feb.  19th 
however,  had  a  very  different  aspect ;  the  wind  was  S.E.,  light,  and 
during  the  day  the  temperature  ranged  from  59°  to  46° ;  a  shower  fell 
about  9  a.m.  ;  the  weather  was  splendid  for  February —  mild  with  bright 
sunshine,  and  the  clan  turned  out  in  force  f(3r  a  grand  effort.  The 
first  hispidaria  was  quickl}^  found,  and  before  many  trees  had  been 
searched,  it  became  evident  that  the  moth  was  in  overwhelming  abun- 
dance. At  lU.30  many  were  seen  drying  their  wings  and  some  with 
wings  quite  unexpanded.  The  general  time  for  emergence  seems  to  be 
from  early  morning  to  about  2  p.m.  The  height  at  which  they  usually 
sat  was  four  to  five  feet,  but  a  fair  proportion  were  very  much  higher. 
Some  were  running  rapidly  uji  the  trunks,  while  one  or  two  were  rest- 
ing, apparently  unconcernedly,  with  the  sun  shining  brightly  upon  them. 
They  press  themselves  very  closety  into  crevices  in  the  bark  and  are 
not  by  any  means  eas}^  to  find.  Individuals  were  noticed  on  hornbeam, 
beech,  &c.  as  well  as  on  oak,  and  even  on  trailing  creepers.  Very  few 
cripples  were  met  with.  The  species  must,  as  would  be  expected  from 
the  apterous  condition  of  the  ?  and  the  structure  of  the  antennae  in 
the  3  ,  assemble,  and  it  was  remarked  that  where  a  J  was  discovered 
one  male,  if  not  more,  was  jDractically  certain  to  be  on  the  same  trunk. 
To  give  an  idea  of  the  abundance  of  the  insect  on  this  day,  I  may  say 
that  in  one  favoured  spot  thirteen  were  resting  on  a  large  oak — nine  ^  s 
and  four  J  s.  The  other  s^jring  insects  were  seen  on  the  same  day  but 
were  none  of  them  present  in  more  than  their  usual  numbers.  On  the 
25th  no  searching  was  done — the  entry  in  the  diary  reads  simply  thus : 
"  Went  to  Chingford,  weather  awful,  swore,  and  went  home."  On  the 
27th  a  single  J  emerged  indoors.  On  March  5th  a  good  deal  of  ground 
was  covered  and  about  a  score  of  specimens  turned  up ;  the  morning 
was  fine  Init  the  sky  clouded  over  gradually  as  the  day  went  on ;  the 
weather  was  mild,  wind  N.W.  but  sport  generally  was  not  very  good. 
On  the  12th  of  the  same  month  two  ^  s  and  one  J  were  noticed  and 
the  season,  so  far  as  this  species  was  concei'ned,  closed  at  12.30  on 
March  26th  with  the  capture  of  a  single  (?  drying  its  wings.  Thus  a 
period  of  seven  weeks  had  elapsed  since  the  first  appearance. 

The  insect  is,  I  should  think,  an  easy  one  to  pair  in  captivity.  I 
13laced  a  ^  which  had  been  out  a  day  or  two  with  a  freshly  emerged 
?  ,  in  a  fairly  large  wooden  box,  on  Feb.  8th,  but,  though  I  looked  at 
them  morning  and  evening,  I  did  not  witness  the  pairing ;  however,  on 
the  11th,  the   $   deposited  a  number  of  fertile  ova. 


82  THE  entomologist's  record, 

I  have  never  seen  the  male  in  the  act  of  flyinpj  spontaneously,  but 
we  caused  several  to  take  the  air  by  throwing  them  up.  These  flew 
rai)idly  and  turned  very  sharplj^ — darting  forward  and  doul;)ling  back 
suddenly,  so  that  they  would  be  difficult  to  catcli  on  the  wing. 

In  considering  the  possible  causes  of  this  aljnormal  al)undance  of 
the  species  in  1893,  I  will  first  deal  with  an  important  factor  in  the 
situation — the  weather,  beginning  at  the  point  when  we  commenced  our 
search  for  the  species,  February,  1890.  In  1890  one  imago  was  found. 
Spring  probably  moderately  favourable  for  larvEe.  In  1890-91,  winter 
unusually  rigorous ;  1891,  February  very  favourable  for  appearance  of 
imago,  none  however  found.  March,  April,  and  May  cold,  spring- 
very  backward,  and  perhaps  unfavourable  to  larvae  ;  1891-92,  winter 
again  severe ;  1892,  spring  rather  favourable  to  larvae  ;  October,  a  wet 
month  ;  November,  fairly  dry,  temperature,  average  ;  December  dry, 
the  first  week  cold,  with  low  night  temperature  ;  then  a  fortnight  of 
warm  weather  ;  the  last  week  exceedingly  coLl,  17  to  18  degrees  of  frost ; 
1893,  January,  rather  dry  but  cold,  es[)ecially  the  early  part  of  the 
month  ;  Feljruary,  a  wet  month,  with  temperature  above  the  average  ; 
March,  April,  and  May,  extremely  dry;  larvae  (I  am  told)  plentiful. 
The  probable  effect  of  the  cold  winters  of  1890-91  and  1891-92,  would 
be  to  keejD  down  the  depredations  of  the  moles,  mice,  beetles,  earwigs, 
&c.,  by  extending  the  length  of  time  which  they  spend  in  a  state  of 
tor})idity,  and  possibly  to  reduce  the  numbers  of  these  enemies  to  pupte. 
No  imagines  were  found  by  us  in  either  1891  or  1892,  though  February 
of  the  first-named  year  appeared  to  be  eminently  suited  for  emergence, 
but  the  cold  dreary  spring  months  of  1891  may  have  checked  any 
increase  by  retarding  or  stopping  the  due  development  of  the  larva\  I 
{jm  sorry,  however,  that  I  am  unable  to  speak  as  to  the  frequent  occur- 
rence or  otherwise,  of  the  larvae  in  those  years,  for  this  would  give  a 
truer  idea  of  the  relative  abundance  ;  searching  for  the  imago  being 
often  obstructed  by  the  available  days  happening  to  be  cold  or  Avet.  J 
do  not  know  whether  the  heavy  rainfall  of  October,  1892,  may  have 
favoured  the  pupo3.  Are  they  liable  to  dry  up  ?  As  they  usually,  I 
believe,  bury  themselves  to  a  depth  of  several  inches,  moisture,  dryness 
or  cold  would  not  be  so  likely  to  affect  them,  as  would  be  the  case  with 
pujDaB  lying  nearer  the  surface.  Many,  however,  do  not  inter  themselves 
so  deeply,  as  we  have  found  pup^e  just  under  the  roots  of  the  grass. 
Any  advantage,  too,  gained  by  a  very  wet  and  mild  season,  would 
probably  be  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  extra  activity  of  the  mole, 
and  other  lovers  of  fat  pupfe. 

Some  other  ideas  suggest  themselves.  Immigration  can  scarcely  be 
an  imjiortant  factor  in  a  species  Avith  a  wingless  J  .  It  has,  indeed, 
been  su})})osed,  that  a  reinforcement  of  (J  s  might  increase  the  fertility 
of  a  species,  but  it  seems  unlikely  that  hispidaria  should  have  benefitted 
in  this  way,  although,  from  its  robust  appearance,  a  long  flight  would 
appear  quite  possible.  The  sudden  augmentation  of  numbers,  it  will  be 
noticed,  took  place  in  a  well-known  locality,  where  the  insect  is  found 
in  greater  or  less  numbers,  (generally  the  latter)  every  year.  An 
alteration  in  the  fertility  or  irregular  fertility  of  a  species  in  different 
seasons,  has  been  suggested,  but  I  do  not  know  whether  there  are  any 
facts  in  support  of  this  theory  recorded  in  relation  to  the  macro-lepi- 
doptera.  It  might  be  that  an  unfavourable  change  in  the  weather 
might  retard  oviposition  by  the   ?  ,  or  even  destroy  her,  and  this  may 


SOCIETIES. 


83 


possibly  exert  a  certain  influence  in  some  seasons.  The  day  on  which 
we  found  the  single  <?  in  189U,  was  an  example  of  such  a  change,  the 
afternoon  turning  very  cold,  snow  and  hail  falling  fast,  and  benig  driven 
by  a  strong  N.W.  wind  into  the  crevices  of  the  bark.  I  have  been  told 
by  friends  who  have  reared  the  species,  that  tlie  larva  is  very  subject  to 
the  attacks  of  Ichneamonidae,  Tachinidae,  etc.,  but  we  know  so  lit,tle  as  to 
the  relative  abundance  or  scarcity  of  these  parasites,  that  their  influence 
must,  I  am  afraid,  remain  an  undetermined  factor. 

Eispidaria  is,  I  am  given  to  understand,  a  very  prolific  insect,  but 
it  seems  no  marvel,  when  we  consider  the  perils  through  which  it  has 
to  pass,  that  so  few  reach  maturity.  The  ova  have  to  withstand  the 
attacks  of  tits,  creepers,  spiders,  &c.— By  the  way,  the  Faridae  seem  to 
find  the  forest  tree-trunks  a  prime  feeding  ground  in  the  winter  months  ; 
they  rove  through  the  woods  in  large  flocks. — The  larvae  have  to  run  the 
gauntlet  of  the  inclemency  of  our  springs,  of  lehneumonidae,  Tachinidne, 
birds,  and  other  enemies  ;  the  pupa?  are  beloved  by  the  mole  ;  the  imago 
emerges  in  a  month  so  cheerless  as  is  our  customary  February,  and  in  a 
very  dry  or  frosty  season  might  even  be  unable  to  reach  the  surface. 
Our  friends  (or  enemies)  the  tits  may  often  be  observed  during  the 
winter  months  searching  on  the  ground  and  about  the  roots  of  the 
trees,  and  no  doubt  many  a  $  falls  to  their  lot.  But  the  prolificness  of 
the  species  would  render  probable  its  appearance  in  unusual  numbers, 
whenever  the  attentions  of  its  numerous  enemies  was  in  any  degree 
relaxed,  or  meteorological  conditions  were  unusually  favourable.  It 
may  be  interesting  to  note  in  passing  that  another  moth,  Taeniocampa 
munda,  was  much  more,  abundant  than  usual  in  the  early  part  of  1893. 
Since  1890,  this  moth  has  been  far  from  common,  but  last  spring  it 
might  have  been  captured  by  hundreds  at  the  sallows.  Its  larva  feeds 
on  oak,  and  undergoes  pupation  at  the  base  of  the  tree,  favouring 
similar  situations  to  N.  Mspidaria.  I  fear,  however,  that  we  cannot 
arrive  at  any  very  definite  conclusions  as  to  the  causes  of  the  pheno- 
menal abundance  of  the  last-named  species  last  year.  The  only  really 
determinable  among  the,  perhaps,  many  determining  causes,  appears  to 
be  the  favourable  spring  of  1892  for  the  development  of  the  larva},  and 
the  equally  favourable  February  of  1893,  for  the  emergence  of  the 
perfect  insect. 

Uispidaria  is  a  Vienna  Catalogue,  name  but,  as  that  work  contains  no  de- 
scription of  the  insect,  we  take  the  following,  made  from  Schiifermiiller's 
specimens  by  Fabricius  {Mant.  Insect.,  ii,  p.  191,  no.  59),  as  the  type, 
"  Phalaena  pectinicornis  alis  cinereo-fuscis :  striga  undata  obscuriore, 
margine  alba  punctate,  antennis  flavis.  Nimis  aifinis  P.  hirtariae  at 
paullo  minor.  Corpus  hirtum  griseo-fuscum.  Antennas  flav;e.'  Ala? 
obscuraj  striga  media  undata  obscuriore.  Margo  albo  punctatus." 
Iliilmer  (Sariiml.  europ.  Schmett.,  iv.,  fig.  177),  figures  the  insect  as  pale 
brown  (not  greenish),  the  fore  wings  with  three  and  the  hind  wings 
with  two  transverse  lines.  Inferior  wings,  pale  ;  outer  margin  of  fore 
wings,  yellowish-white.  Treitsclike  {Srlnuet.  v.  Enrnp.,  vi.,  1,  -547), 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  author  to  mention  the  2  ;  to  a  diagnosis 
similar  to  that  of  Fabricius  he  adds  "  foemina  aptera."  Duponchel 
{Hist.  Nat.,  vii.,  154,  3),  describes  the  fore  wings  as  being  of  a  rather 
dark  bistre,  with  a  band  of  a  clearer  tint  at  the  outer  margin,  traversed 
by  three  blackish  diverging  lines,  of  which  two  are  curved  and  the 
third  is  sinuous  and  toothed ;  and  the  hind  wings  as  being  pale  bistre. 


fi4  THE  entomologist's  recorp. 

with  two  blackish  lines,  one  being  faintly  marked.  The  figures  agree 
well  with  this  description.  Herrich-Schaeffer.  in  1844:  (St/st.  Bearheit., 
iii,  fig.  14),  figures  the   $  . 

']\irning  now  to  British  authors  : — Donovan  (Brit.  Insects,  xiii,  pi. 
447),  in  1808,  figures  and  minutely  describes  the  species  under  the  name 
of  Phalaena  ursiilaria  (the  thick-haired  moth).  Both  sexes  are  said  to 
be  represented  in  the  plate,  but  the  figures  are  all  of  males.  Donovan 
would  have  referred  it  to  the  Bombyces  "  without  scruple  ....  Init  for 
the  authority  of  Mr.  Drury,  who  was  so  fortunate  as  to  rear  it  from  the 
caterpillar,  and  which,  being  of  the  looper  kind,  decidedly  proves  it  to 
l)e  of  the  Geometr.^,  instead  of  Bombvx  family."  Donovan  thought 
the  specimens  bred  from  these  larvaa  and  preserved  in  Drury's  cabinet 
(which  Donovan  possessed)  were  unique.  It  seems  rather  curious  that 
he  should  have  thus  re-named  the  insect,  as  he  was  acquainted  with  the 
Mantitisa,  and  especially  as  he  says  "  our  present  insect  has  some  re- 
semljlance  .  .  to  the  sp.  hirtaria,  but  is  smaller,"  while  Fabricius  writes 
"  Ximis  aifinis  P.  hirtariae  at  paullo  minor."  Newman,  in  the  Entomo- 
loijicdl  Miujazine  for  1833  (vol.  i,  413),  described  the  pale  form  as  a  new 
species, under  the  name  of  Nyss'ia  tanaria .  His  description  is  as  follows : — ■ 
"  Fusco  grisea,  metathoracis  margine  anteriori,  lineaque  centrali  longi- 
tudinal! nigris,  ^ ,"  and  he  mentions  as  specific  characters  by  which  to 
distinguish  it  from  hispidaria  and  jjilosnria,  "  its  superiority  in  size  to 
the  former  of  these  ;  the  T  on  the  mesothoi-ax,  formed  by  the  transverse 
and  longitudinal  black  lines  ;  the  broad  pale  margins  of  the  front  wings, 
and  lastly,  tlie  fact  that  the  specimen  emerged  at  such  a  different  time 
of  the  year  from  other  members  of  the  genus  (which,  Guene'e  states,  all 
appear  in  March,  or  earlier),  it  having  been  taken  by  Newman's  father, 
in  June,  1832,  at  Leominster,  in  a  perfectly  recent  state,  and  had 
apparently  never  flown." 

Wood  (Index  Entomologicus,  fig.  1G75)  figures  this  specimen  as  Nyssia 
tanaria,  but  there  is  a  note  by  Westwood,  "  hispidaria  var."  Wood 
gives  reference  to  Entom.  Mag.  and  to  Stephens  (lU.  Hand.,  iv.,  p.  391). 
He  also  delineated  hispidaria  (No.  466),  his  figure  being  of  a  dirty 
brownish-grey  colour,  the  inner  margin  clouded  with  a  darker  shade, 
the  outer  margin  pale  and  the  transverse  lines  indistinct.  Guenee 
(Hist.  Nat.  des  Insedes.,  Geom.  i.,  202)  referring  to  the  tauaria  of 
Newman,  as  figured  by  Wood,  says  "  it  does  not  appear  to  me  even  a 
variety.  It  is  a  fairly  good  figure  of  the  type,  wliilst  No.  466  is  inexact 
and  much  too  dark."  He  adds  that  he  had,  however,  received  from 
England  "  an  individual  much  more  sombre  than  the  French  form." 
Newman  in  his  British  3Ioths  omits  all  mention  of  tanaria,  but  gives  a 
very  good  description  of  our  usual  form  of  hispidaria. 

The  varieties  of  Nyssia  his2ridaria  may  be  roughly  classified  as 
follows  : — (a)  Pale  greenish-grey,  lines  distinct :  (b)  pale  reddish-brown, 
lines  distinct  (Hb.  177) :  (c)  ashy-brown,  w-ith  darker  band ;  this  may 
be  divided  into  two  sub- varieties  (cl)  ashy,  with  a  brownish  tendency 
(the  type)  and  (c2)  ashy,  with  a  greenish  tendency :  (d)  similar  to  the 
type,  iaut  with  the  outer  margin  of  fore-wings  nearly  white  :  (e)  melanic. 
The  first  form  might  well  be  called  var.  tauaria,  Newm.,  though  it  does 
not  always  show  plainly  the  black  T  on  the  meso-thorax.  This  is  the 
form  to  which  Guenee  refers  as  the  type.  Examples  of  this  pale  form 
are,  according  to  our  experience,  rare ;  their  proportion  being  about  2 
or  3  per  cent.     I  have  seen  no  specimens  that  agree  with  Hiibner's 


SOCIETIES.  85 

figure,  though  it  seems  probable  that  such  exist.  It  would  have  a 
similar  relation  to  tauaria  to  that  which  the  ashy-brown  type  has  to  the 
gi'eyer  sub- variety.  The  form  Avith  the  pale  outer  margin  is  also, 
unfortunately,  far  from  common ;  it  is  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  form 
of  the  species ;  in  the  specimen  which  I  exhibit  it  will  be  noticed  that 
the  pale  band  is  continued  across  the  hind-wings,  dividing  these  into  a 
dai'k  basal  area  and  an  outer  nearly  white  area.  Melanic  specimens  are 
likewise  scarce  ;  they  usually  show  traces  of  the  outer  marginal  band. 
I  exhibit  also  a  few  other  variations ;  two  specimens  show  a  tendency 
to  the  development  of  a  solid  black  median  band ;  another  is  a  very 
dull  brown  diffused  example ;  a  third  is  more  thinly  scaled  than  usual. 
The  decidedly  paler  and  more  clearly  marked  character  of  Continental 
(especiall}'  French)  specimens  is  very  evident,  both  from  the  figures  of 
Hiibner  and  Duponchel  and  from  the  remarks  of  Guenee.  The  figures, 
too,  represent  the  insect  as  having  two  lines  across  the  hind-wings;  I 
have  no  specimens  in  which  these  are  present  but,  in  a  few,  there  are 
slight  indications  of  them.  The  great  majority  of  my  examples  from 
Ep2:)ing  Forest  are  tyjjical,  sombre-looking  and  indistinctly  marked. 

And  now  a  few  words  about  the  ?  .  As  has  been  more  than  once 
pointed  out,  there  is  a  pale  greenish-grey  form  and  a  dark  reddish-black 
form.  It  is  most  easily  distinguished  from  the  female  of  P.  pedarid 
by  the  legs,  which  are  nearly  smooth  in  pedaria  but  very  hairy  (at  least 
the  basal  joints  are)  in  hkpklaria.  The  antennje  of  the  latter,  too,  are 
more  pectinated  and  she  is  stouter  structurally, 

Guenee  writing  of  the  genus  Nyssia,  Dup.  remarks  on  the  strong 
build  and  hairiness  of  the  thorax,  the  semi-transparency  of  the  wings 
in  the  ^  (this  transparency  is  rather  noticeable  in  some  examples  of 
hispidaria)  and  the  apterous  character  of  the  J  s.  He  states  that  all 
the  species  are  more  or  less  rare ;  and  that  he  knew  only  Euroj^ean 
species.  Guene'e  divided  the  genus  into  two  groujDS — the  first  having 
the  rings  of  the  abdomen  in  the  $  s  adorned  by  circles  of  colours  often 
rather  bright.  This  first  gToup  includes  our  zonaria,  lapponaria  and 
hispidaria  belonging  to  the  second.  Our  two  species  (omitting  lappon- 
aria, of  which  I  know  nothing)  differ  widely  in  form  and  in  habits, 
hispidaria  resting  on  tree  trunks  and  its  coloration  assimilating  itself 
to  the  trees  on  which  it  rests,  while  zonaria  frequents  sandhills,  its 
coloration  protecting  it  among  the  grasses,  &c.  of  its  habitat. 

Dr.  Buckell  remarked  that  the  Aniphidasi/dae  consisted  so  far  as  this 
country  was  concerned  of  six  species,  three  of  which  had  apterous 
females  and  the  other  three  females  with  fully-developed  wings.  He 
did  not  know  whether  there  were  any  Continental  species  which 
occupied  an  intermediate  position  as  regarded  this  characteristic. 

Mr.  Tutt,  in  rising  to  jjropose  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Bayne, 
congratulated  him  on  the  interesting  paper  he  had  fiu-nished,  and  then 
went  on  to  say  that  he  quite  agreed  with  Mr.  Bayne  on  the  improba- 
bility of  hispidaria  having  been  affected  by  immigration,  although  it 
was  remarkable  how  widely  distributed  some  si)ecies  with  apterous 
females  were,  and  the  males  of  two  species  with  a2)terous  females, 
Hybcruia  defoliaria  and  H.  aarantiaria  Avere  known  to  migrate.  The 
abundance  he  considered  due  to  local  causes,  one  important  feature  tliat 
struck  him  being  that  the  previous  year  the  oaks  had  been  less  deh)liated 
than  usual  by  the  ravages  of  Tortrix  viridaaa,  and  it  was  remarkable 
that  Taeniocainpa   munda,  another  oak  feeder,  was  abundant  the  same 


86  THE    entomologist's    RECOKl). 

year.  The  effect  of  the  utter  defoliation  of  the  oak  trees  in  some  years 
must  often  act  detrimentally  on  other  larvfe  which  are  feeding  at  the 
time,  and  of  these  Nyssia  liispidnria  would  suffer  greatly.  It  was  an 
off-hand  suggestion  certainly  but  seemed  probahle. 

Mr.  Bacot,  who  seconded  the  vote  of  thanks,  observed  that  he 
understood  that  jDupa^  had  been  dug  in  considerable  numbers  during 
the  past  winter,  and  that  the  imagines  emerging  from  these  had  been 
in  the  proportion  of  twelve  or  fifteen  females  to  one  male.  From  fifty 
pupa3  which  he  had  received  from  Epping  Forest  he  had  not,  as  yet, 
bred  a  single  male.  Thinking  it  probable  that  "  assembling  "  Avould 
occur,  he,  on  February  3rd,  took  six  or  seven  females  to  Chingford  and 
placed  them  in  a  small  gauze  cage  about  five  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  evening  was  favourable,  warm  and  windy  though  clear.  The  first 
g-  turned  up  at  about  6.45  ;  others  followed,  in  twos  and  threes  at  first 
but  afterwards  singly  and  at  longer  intervals  until  7.30,  when  the  last 
was  cai:)tured.  The  total  "bag"  was  seventeen  and  one  or  two  others 
were  missed.  Mr.  Bacot  watched  the  cage  in  order  to  try  and  get  a 
sight  of  the  males  as  they  came  up,  but  it  was  too  dark  to  see  them 
i;ntil  they  w^ere  quite  close ;  their  flight  then  seemed  to  be  very  rapid 
and  their  buzzing  against  the  cage  audible  some  feet  away  ;  two  of 
them  flew  against  his  face  and  the  IjIow  was  more  like  that  given  by  a 
beetle  than  by  a  moth,  (^n  reaching  home  tAvo  males  were  put  into 
the  cage  with  the  females;  they  co|)ulated  about  10.30  but  only 
remained  in  copulation  about  fifteen  minutes,  herein  differing  from 
Biston  hirtarta  and  Ampliidasys  hetnlaria,  which  remain  joined  for  some 
hours.  After  seixaration  the  two  males  and  the  virgin  females  were 
removed  to  separate  chip  boxes  for  the  night ;  the  next  evening  the 
males  began  to  get  restive  about  6.30,  and  were  placed  in  the  cage  with 
the  females  that  had  not  commenced  to  lay,  to  which  wei'e  added  two 
that  had  emerged  that  morning.  One  of  the  males,  a  rather  large  one 
with  a  piece  torn  out  of  one  of  his  fore-wings,  went  in  copulation 
within  a  few  minutes  and  the  pair  remained  together  about  fifteen 
minutes ;  after  they  had  separated  the  2  was  removed  and  shortly 
afterwards  the  same  $  was  found  in  copulation  with  another  $  .  Mr. 
Bacot  kept  this  last  5  apart  from  the  rest,  in  order  that  special  note 
might  be  taken  as  to  whether  her  ova  prove  fertile  or  not,  it  having  been 
the  third  time  that  same  $  had  paired  witliin  twenty-four  liours. 
Mr.  Bacot  thinks  that  there  is  probably  a  second  flight,  as  the  males  in 
his  cage  again  began  to  get  lively  about  10.30  to  11  p.m. 

Mr.  Prout  considered  it  probable  that  the  abundance  of  N.  hispularia 
in  1893,  was  due  rather  to  meteorological  or  local  causes,  than  to  immi- 
gration. He  had  done  a  good  deal  of  larva-beating  during  the  last  few 
years,  at  the  spot  Avhere  Mr.  Bayne  found  the  moths  most  abundant,  and 
the  larva  seem  to  have  been  steadily  increasing  in  numbers,  having 
been  specially  plentiful  in  1892.  The  larva  is  not  exclusively  an  oak 
feeder ;  it  will  thrive  Avell  on  hawthorn,  and  hornbeam.  As  hawthorn 
is  obtainable  at  least  a  month  earlier  than  oak,  a  knowledge  of  its  bemg 
accepted  by  the  larvte  may  be  useful  to  those  breeding  the  species  from 
ova.  Mr.  Prout  was  disposed  to  doubt  whether  it  was  safe  to  assume 
that  the  coloration  of  figures,  even  of  those  of  Hiibner,  was  always 
accurate.  He  had  long  thought  that  there  must  be  some  kind  of  con- 
nection between  winter  emergence  and  the  occurrence  of  apterous 
females,  Orrjyio,  etc.,  being  merely  casual  exceptions  due  to  some 
different  cause.     It  was  certainly  interesting  to  note  that  in  the  Ainphi^ 


1.  Head  of  the 
Pupa-skin  of 
Micropteryx 
j)ur2inreUa, 
si  lowing  the 
jaws  partly 
opened. 

X  y5  diameters. 


2.  —The  same, 
showing  the 
jaws  closed. 

X  85  diameters. 


8. — Portion  of 
a  preserA'ed 
specimen  of 
a  half-grown 
larva  of  En'o- 
ccjilidhi  ral- 
thelUi,  show- 
ing the  spicu- 
latcd  globular 
appendages. 
X   14:0  diameters. 


3 


From  photographs  taken  by  Alfred  Watkins,  Esq.,  Hereford 
of  Dr. 

Entom.  Record,  etc 


By  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  Chapman  we  are  able  to  give  the  above  representations  in  illustration 
■'  of  his  paper  (pp.  87—88). 

Plate  E. 


SOOIETiES.  8f 

dasydae,  the  earliest  species  have  apterous  females,  while  those  that 
emerge  later  on,  are  winged  in  both  sexes,  the  solitary  summer  species, 
A.  betulan'a,  alone  having  the  wings  of  the   $   really  well-develoijed. 

Mr.  Clark  mentioned  birch  as  another  plant  on  which  the  larvse 
readily  feed,  and  remarked  that,  in  pupating,  the  larva  frequently 
descends  as  much  as  eighteen  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Entomological  Society  of  London  on  Feb. 
7th,  1894:,  Mr.  Jenner  Weir  exhibited,  on  behalf  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Adye,  a 
specimen  of  Plusia  moneta,  which  had  been  captured  at  Christchurch, 
Hants,  and  remai'ked  that  this  species  was  apparently  becoming  a 
permanent  resident  here ;  the  food-plant,  Aconitum  napellus,  though 
rare  in  England  as  a  wild  plant,  was  very  common  in  gardens.  Mr. 
Weir  also  exhibited  a  nearly  black  specimen  of  Venilia  macidaria,  the 
yellow  markings  being  reduced  to  a  few  small  dots.  Mr.  Hamilton 
Druce  exhibited  a  female  specimen  of  HypQchrysops  scintdlans,  lately 
received  by  him  from  Mioko,  New  Ireland.  He  said  that  only  the 
male  of  this  species  had  been  as  yet  described,  and  read  a  description 
of  the  female.  Mr.  F.  Enock  exhibited  a  nest  of  the  British  Trap- 
door Spider,  Atypus  picens,  recently  found  near  Hastings  by  Mrs.  Enock. 
Mr.  W.  F.  H.  Blandford  stated  that  he  had  recently  o!)tained  an 
additional  species  of  Scolyto-platy pas  from  Japan,  Avhicli,  though  closely 
allied  to  the  species  he  had  formerly  described,  showed  a  veiy  distinct 
modification  of  the  male  pro-sternum.  Mr.  M.  Jacoby  exhibited  and 
remarked  on  a  specimen  of  LepAispa  jrygamea,  Baly,  which  was  doing 
much  injury  to  sugar-cane  in  the  Bombay  Presidency  of  India.  Mr. 
G.  C.  Gliampion  stated  that  he  had  found  an  allied  species  on  bamboo. 
Dr.  F.  A.  Dixey  read  a  paper — which  was  illustrated  by  the  oxy- 
hydrogen  lantern — "  On  the  Phylogeny  of  the  Pierinae  as  illustrated 
by  their  wing-markings  and  geographical  distribution."  Dr.  Dixey 
considers  that  the  wing-markings  in  Pierinae  are  reducible  to  a  common 
plan,  the  chief  features  of  Avhich  are : — (1)  two  dark  bands  or  series  of 
spots,  one  marginal  and  the  other  sub-marginal :  (2)  a  dark  discoidal 
patch  or  patches :  (3)  various  yellow  or  red  patches  in  pre-costal  region 
and  at  the  base  of  the  underside  of  the  hind-wing.  The  dark  series 
represent,  most  probably,  the  remains  of  an  original  dark  or  dusky 
ground-colour,  which  has  given  way,  more  or  less  comjDletely,  before 
an  invasion  of  the  white  or  yellow  that  characterises  most  of  the 
present-day  Pierinae.  A  consideration  of  all  the  evidence  attainable 
seems  to  bear  out  the  conclusion  that  the  darker  colour  is,  in  most  cases, 
the  older,  and  the  present  geographical  distribution  of  the  sub-family 
confirms,  on  the  whole,  the  phylogenetic  results  obtained  from  the 
wing- markings  as  well  as  from  the  more  specially  structural  features. 
Dr.  T.  A.  Chapman  read  a  paper  entitled  "  Some  notes  on  those  species 
of  Micro-Lepidoptera,  allied  to  Micropte.ryx,  whose  larvfB  are  external 
feeders,  and  chiefly  on  the  early  stages  of  Eriocephala  calthella,"  of  this 
we  are  enabled,  by  the  kindness  of  the  author,  to  give  the  following- 
epitome  : 

The  family  Micro  pie  vygidae  is  divisible  into  two  distinct  sul)-faniilies 
which  have  little  in  common.  The  Micropteryges  proper  (purpurella,  itc.) 
have  footless  mining  larvtvj,  pu})£e  of  a  very  low  type  and  possessing  im- 
mense active  jaws  (Plate  E,  figs.  1  e*e  2),  the  imagines  being  without  jaws. 
The  Eriocephalae  (calthella,  &c.)  have  larva3  that  feed  externally  and  tliat 
are  furnisliod  with  three  pairs  of  true  legs  and  eight  pairs  of  abdominal 
pro-legs ;  their  imagines  have  strong  useful  jaws,  with  which  they  eat 


88  THE    entomologist's    RECORt>. 

pollen.  The  metamorphoses  of  Mlcropteryx  have  long  been  known, 
those  of  Eriocephala  are  now  described  for  the  first  time.  The  eggs 
are  spherical  and  have  a  covering  of  minute  vertical  rods,  Avhich  gives 
them  a  snowy  appearance ;  they  are  laid,  several  together,  in  moss 
{Hypnum).  The  larvae  are  most  extraordinary  creatures  and  in  general 
outline  are  not  unlike  the  larvje  of  Ornithoptera  or  of  Antherea  poly- 
phenms  ;  they  are  short,  square,  angular  and  truncate,  with  eight  rows 
of  curious  knobbed  appendages  (Plate  E,  fig.  8),  eight  pairs  of  aljdominal 
pro-legs  of  a  jointed  structure,  an  anal  sucker  and  remarkably  long 
antenna3.  The  larva  feeds  on  Hypnwn,  is  very  sluggish  in  its  movements 
but  rarely  quiescent,  and  requires  a  very  moist  habitat ;  it  spins  an  oval 
cocoon  amongst  moss. 

The  other  external-feeding  Micros  are  the  Limacodidac  and 
Zygaenidae.  This  relationship  of  families  is  further  supported  by 
observations  made  on  the  newly-hatched  larva  of  Limacodes  tedudo 
whose  spines  have,  at  that  period,  an  arrangement  and  structure  more 
resembling  Eriocephala  than  any  other  form.  The  sucker  of  Eriocephala 
and  the  mode  of  progression  of  Limacodes  (almost  unique  amongst 
Lepidoptera)  furnish  another  strong  suggestion  of  the  alliance.  The 
extra  abdominal  pro-legs  present  in  the  larvae  of  Lmjoa  cri^pata  (a 
Limacodid),  which  the  author  hoj^es  to  investigate  further,  seem  a 
reminiscence  of  the  extra  abdominal  i)ro-legs  of  Eriocephala.  The 
points  suggesting  the  alliance  with  the  Zygaenidae  need  further  study. 
It  is  noted  that  Syntomis,  Euchromia  and  other  forms  often  associated 
with  Zygaena  are  very  distinct  from  it ;  they  are  Arctiids  and  there 
is  no  near  relationship  between  Zygaena  and  Arctia.  Eriocephala, 
Limacodes  and  Zygaena,  though  more  nearly  related  to  each  other  than 
to  anything  else,  are  nevertheless  widely  separated  and  may  be  likened 
to  the  islets  which  still  remain  above  the  surface  to  indicate  the  moun- 
tain peaks  of  a  submerged  continent ;  there  must,  in  the  course  of  their 
developmental  history,  have  been  many  intermediate  families.  The 
persistence  of  s^'stematists  in  associating  Arctiid  forms  with  Zygaena, 
and  the  Micro  patterns  of  wing-marking  common  in  Arctiids  are 
probably  results  of  some  alliances  which  are  at  present  obscure.  The 
larvaj  and  pupa?  show  them  to  be  now  widely  separated. 

The  erstwhile  Leicester  Ento3iologioal  Club  has  become  the 
Entomological  Section  of  the  Leicester  Literary  and  Philosophical 
iSociETV.  Its  first  meeting  under  the  new  conditions  was  held  on 
Jan.  25th,  1894,  when  W.  A.  Vice,  M.B.,  was  elected  Chairman,  Kev. 
C.  T.  Crutwell,  M.A.,  Vice-chairman,  and  F.  Bouskell,  F.E.S.,  Hon. 
Secretary.  It  was  resolved  to  hold  meetings  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of 
each  month.  Ur.  W.  S.  Kiding's  paper  (Ent.  Bee,  Jan.,  1894),  "  On 
an  additional  method  for  determining  the  species  of  certain  Lepido})- 
tera,"  was  discussed ;  Mr.  Bates  considered  that,  although  the  number 
of  teeth  in  the  scales  might  aid  in  the  differentiation  of  species,  yet  that 
more  obvious  characters  were  necessary  for  general  use,  and  it  was 
generally  agreed,  that  if  the  scales  were  relied  upon,  extremely  accurate 
observations  of  them  would  be  imperative.  A  new  list  of  the  Lepidop- 
tera of  the  county  is  in  course  of  in-c})aration*  and  a  list  of  the  Coleoptera 
is  contemplated  ;  Mr.  Bouskell  Avill  be  glad  to  receive  notes  relative  to 
the  occurrence  of  Lepidoptera,  whilst  similar  notes  concerning  Coleoptera 
should  be  sent  to  Mr.  F.  Bates. 

*  W  lial  has  become  of  the  much  talked  of  City  of  London  Society's  List  ? — Ed. 


(^^  AND  ^^^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  4.     Vol.  V.  April  ISth,  1894. 


1'lie   Life-jJistory  of  a  Lepidopterous  Iiisect, 

Comprising   some   account   of  its   Morphology   and    Physiology. 
By     J.     W.     TUTT,     F.E.S. 

(Coutinned  from  page  68). 


Chap.  I. 
CLASSIFICATION. 


4.  On  the  kelationship  which  exists  between  the 
SEVERAL  Orders  cojiposing  the  Class  Insecta. — Oue  of  the  most 
recent  attempts  to  show  cliagTammatically  the  evolutionary  relations  of 
the  various  Orders  of  insects  to  each  other,  is  that  made  by  A.  Hyatt 
and  J.  M.  Arms  (Guides  to  Science  Teaching,  No.  viii.)  and  reprinted  in 
Fsyche,  vol.  vi.,  pp.  12-13,  diag.  1,  2,  3.  Tliese  authors  conclude 
that,  of  the  higher  (winged)  forms  which  may  be  assumed  to  have 
arisen  from  a  common  stem,  the  Neuroptera,  Mecoptera  and  Trielioptera 
may  be  considered  as  forming  a  sub-group,  passing  off  from  the  common 
stem  in  different  directions  ;  the  Lepidoptera,  Hymeno2)tera  and  Diptera, 
as  forming  another  radiating  off  in  other  directions,  whilst  tlie  Coleoptera 
have  no  relations  to  the  others  save  through  the  purely  imaginary 
ancestral  l)ase.  Estimating  approximately  the  degree  of  specialization 
attained  by  the  adults  (imagines)  and  taking  it  as  the  basis  of  their  con- 
elusions,  these  authors  consider  tlie  Diptera,  Hymenoj^tera,  Coleoptera 
and  Lepidoptera,  to  be  the  highest  in  the  scale  of  evolution,  their 
relative  order  being  as  here  set  down.  The  relationshiji  of  existin"- 
larval  forms  to  a  primitive  type  and  to  each  other  is  fully  discussed,  as 
well  as  the  moditications  Avhich  particular  groujis  have  undergone  in 
their  relationship  to  the  primitive  type  {Psyche,  vol.  vi.,  pp.  37,  44). 

It  is,  of  course,  absolutely  necessary,  that  in  using  the  terms  hio-her 
a,nd  lower,  we  consider  as  the  highest  grou})  that  which  has  under- 
gone the  greatest  degree  of  specialisation  from  the  ancestral  type,  and 
then,  undoubtedly  the  clioice  lies  between  the  Hymenoptera  and  Diptera. 
Lowne  says  : — "The  Diptera  are  far  more  remarkable  in  tlieir  dcveloi)- 
ment  history,  and  in  the  modification  of  structure  wliicli  they  present 
in  the  adult  or  imago  form.  In  this  relation,  the  strong  tendency  of 
many  to  produce  their  young  alive,  and  the  fact   that  some   have  a 


90  THE  entomologist's  kecoku. 

capacious  matrix  or  uterus,  iu  wliicli  tlic  larvae  are  liatched,  or  even 
attain  the  pupa  form  before  birth,  is  not  without  interest,  presenting  as 
it  does,  some  analogy  with  the  viviparous  cliaracter  of  the  mammalia 
among  vertebrates — whilst  the  nest-building  instincts  are  more  manifest 
in  Hymenoptera  and  in  birds.  It  is  triie  that  the  flies  and  more 
especialty  the  heavy  forms,  with  a  comparatively  tardy  flight  like  the 
blowfly,  have  been  regarded  as  stupid — Sprengel  call  tliem  '  die  dummcn 
Fliegen ' — and  do  not  excite  our  sympathy  and  curiosity  to  the  same 
extent,  as  the  social  Hymeno})tera ;  but  it  is  iuq^ossible  to  judge  of  the 
intellectual  functions  of  an  insect.  The  manner  in  which  the  l)low- 
flies,  and  their  near  allies,  the  horse-flies,  have  made  themselves  at  home 
Avith  man,  speaks  for  their  power  of  adapting  themselves  to  new  and 
varied  conditions.  They  are  cunning,  wary,  and  easily  alarmed,  and 
except  when  benumbed  with  cold,  or  heavy  with  eggs,  know  well  how 
to  avoid  danger.  They  appear  to  me  far  more  clever  in  this  respect, 
than  the  bees  and  wasps." 

On  the  other  hand  Lubbock  writes : — "  liees  are  intelligi'ut  insects 
and  would  soon  cease  to  visit  flowers  Avhich  did  not  supply  tliem  with 
food.  Flies,  however,  are  more  stupid  and  are  often  deceived.  Thus 
in  our  lovely  Parnassia,  five  of  the  ten  stamens  have  ceased  to  produce 
2)ollen,  but  are  prolonged  into  fingers,  each  terminating  in  a  shining 
yellow  knob,  which  looks  exactly  like  a  drop  of  honey,  and  by  which 
flies  are  continually  deceived.  Paris  qiuidrifoJia  also  takes  them  in 
with  a  deceptive  jn'omise  of  the  same  kiiul.  Some  foivign  plants  lia\c 
livid  yellow  and  reddish  flowers  with  a  most  oft'ensive  smell  and  arc 
constantly  visited  l)y  flies,  which  appai'cntly  take  them  for  }»ieces  oi 
decaying  meat." 

It  must  be  granted  that  in  one  particular  the  modification  under- 
gone by  certain  Diptera,  is  very  great.  The  power  which  the  8arco])haga 
have  of  bringing  forth  their  young  alive,  is  an  exceptionally  strong 
})oint  in  favour  of  giving  them  the  highest  position,  but  in  many  other 
directions,  especially  with  regard  to  high  instinctive  faculties,  I  feel 
perfectly  satisfied  that  the  Hymenoptera  are  more  highly  specialised  as  a 
group  than  the  Uiptera,  and  I  believe  that  this  opinion  is  very  generally 
held.  I  should,  therefore,  place  the  Hymeno2)tera  before  the  Diptera  in 
a  table  of  this  kind.  The  anatomy  shows  very  advanced  conditions  in 
both  groups,  but  the  Avell-known  habits  of  ants  and  liees  may  readily 
be  shown  to  far  transcend  any  habits  of  the  Diptera.,  wliilst  many 
structural  points  relating  to  othei"  members  of  the  Hymenojttera  are 
but  little  inferior  to  the  special  structural  pccidiarities  in  certain 
Diptera. 

5.  On  the  origin  of  insects. — 1  sliall  not  attempt  to  discuss  tlie 
different  vicAVs  which  have  been  put  forward  as  to  the  origin  oi  insects. 
Packard  suiiposes  them  to  have  been  developed  from  an  ancestral  form 
resembling  Venues  ;  Miiller  and  Dohrn,  that  they  sprung  from  forms 
resemliling  the  ZiJea  or  larval  condition  of  tlie  Crustacea  ;  Jjubbock  and 
lirauer  consider  that  the  ancestral  form  closely  resembled  the  existing 
genus  Campodca,  one  of  the  Podnrulae,  which  they  suppose  to  be  the 
nearest  re2)resentative  of  the  i)rimitive  form  of  insect  at  present  in 
existence ;  Hiiekel  considers  ProthehiuA  as  the  ancestral  form  from 
which  Echinodermata,  Arthropoda,  Mollusca  and  Vertebrata  have  been 
evolved.  M.  Cholodkovsky  l)elieves  that  insects  were  derived  from 
ScolojicndrcUa-Vxkc  ancestors,  and  fui'thcr  adds  "even  Cralier  considers 


TUK    IJFE-IIISTOKY    OF    A    LEl'IDOl'TEUOUS    INSKl'T.  91 

it  probable  that  the  ancestors  of  insects  were  myriapod-like.  If, 
however,  we  weigh  the  great  difference  lietween  the  Crustacea  on  the 
one  hand  and  the  rest  of  Arthropods  on  tlie  other,  a  close  relationship  l)e- 
tween  Insecta  and  Ci'ustaceans  appears  simjily  impossible.  The  Naupliw^- 
form  of  larva,  an  exclusively  Crustacean  jtossessiou,  the  reniarkal)lc 
resemblance  in  eniliryonic  development  between  Insecta  and  Perijxitns, 
and  the  constitution  of  the  respiratory  and  excretory  organs,  are  facts 
wliich  all  compel  us  to  conclude  that  the  Arthi'opods  are  at  least 
diphyletic  in  origin.  The  Crustacea,  indeed,  are  to  be  derived  from 
marine  Annelids,  which  in  the  course  of  their  develojjment  passed 
through  the  Trochosphere  stage  (which  in  the  Crustacean  development 
became  transformed  into  that  of  Naujih'us),  while  for  the  ancestors  of 
the  Tracheata  we  must  look  to  terrestrial  or  freshwater  Annelids,  more 
of  the  Oligochtete  ty2)e."  All  these  theories  are  necessarily  of  an 
extremely  speculative  nature ;  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge  on 
the  subject,  and  the  disconnected  and  scrap2)y  information  hitherto 
yielded  by  geological  research,  do  not,  at  present,  furnish  the  materials 
for  any  confident  conclusions. 

G.  Cn  the  antiquity  of  inse(;ts. — The  fragmentarj'  information 
furnished  by  geology  is  sufficient  to  show  that  the  Mammals,  and  in  fact 
the  Vertebrates  in  general,  of  the  j^resent  day  had  no  exact  counterparts 
in  ancient  geological  times.  The  Eocene  and  Miocene  Mammalia  bore 
but  little  resemblance  to  those  now  in  existence  ;  the  Saurians  and  flying 
reptiles  of  the  Oolitic  period  differ  entirely  from  any  existing  animals ; 
even  the  fishes  of  the  Devonian  and  Old  Ked  Sandstone  ages,  have 
scarcely  representatives  in  our  fauna  of  to-day.  But  this  is  not  so 
with  regard  to  insects  ;  not  only  do  the  fossil  insects  which  have  been 
found  belong  without  doid)t  to  the  well-defined  Orders  of  Coleoptera, 
Orthoptera,  Neuroptera,  Lepidoptera,  etc.,  with  which  we  are  familiar, 
l)ut  palaeontologists  refer  the  dragon-flies  and  beetles  which  evidently 
existed  in  Mesozoic  and  Palaeozoic  times  even  to  the  genera  of  to-day. 
The  great  antiquity  of  insects  has  Ijeen  proved  most  conclusively  therefore 
by  geological  research,  but  the  various  Orders  are  not  equally  abundant 
in  the  oldest  rocks ;  the  remains  tend  to  show  that  whilst  Neuroptera 
and  Orthoptera  are  probably  the  most  ancient  Orders  of  insects,  Lepi- 
doptera is  among  the  newest,  and  it  is  supposed  that  this  Order  branched 
off  from  the  Neurojjtera  about  the  commencement  of  the  Tertiary  period. 
What  the  original  stem  form  of  the  Lepidoptera  was  like  has  long  been 
a  matter  of  speculation.  Oppenheim  refers  certain  fossils,  found  by 
Hieberlein  in  the  Solenhofer  slate  to  an  Order  connecting  Neuroptera 
and  Lepidoptera,  and  this  has  sometimes  l^een  looked  upon  as  a  probably 
primeval  ty})e,  ])ut  of  Lejndojitera  proper  he  considers  Consuls  to  be 
probably  the  oldest  existing  family.  Dr.  Walter  looks  upon  Micropteryx 
as  the  original  lepidopteron,  and  Dr.  Chapman  has  recently  discovered 
that  this  genus  has  species  wliicli  in  the  j)upa  have  functionally  active 
mandibles.  Brandt,  by  a  different  process  of  reasoning,  supports 
Oppenheim's  view,  that  Cossm  is  the  oldest  form.  But  the  further 
consideration  of  the  various  arguments  which  have  led  uj)  to  these 
views  would  be  out  of  place  here,  and  I  will  only  repeat  again  that 
lepidopterists  are  mainly  agreed  that  the  Lepidoptera  originated  from 
the  Neuroptera,  and  that  the  early  part  of  the  Tertiary  epoch  saw  the 
first  beginning  of  the  Order. 

7.     On   fossil    inskcts    with    i-iiotiiouacic    wings. — It    would    be 


"J2  THE    entomologist's    RECORD. 

impossible  to  give  even  a  brief  resumt'.  of  the  work  wliich  has  been  done 
in  connection  with  the  study  of  fossil  insects  ;  those  interested  can  refer 
to  special  authors  such  as  Scudder  (Fossil  Butterflies,  Salem,  1875  ;  Four 
Memoirs  on  Tertiaries,  and  of  Fossil  Insects  of  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
Washington,  1878),  or  to  the  series  of  papers  written  b}^  (loss,  in  the 
F/nt.  Mo.  Mag.,  vols.  xv.  et  seq.,  entitled  "  Introductory  Tapers  on  Fossil 
Entomology."  The  following  note  is,  however,  worth  recording  here. 
As  is  well  known,  the  wings  of  the  imago  are  carried  on  the  mesotho- 
racic  and  metathoracic  segments,  but  the  follo\ving  would  appear  to 
prove  that  insects  have  been  known  with  three  pairs  of  Avings,  the  third 
pair  being  developed  on  the  first  or  prothoracic  segment.  The 
occurrence  of  tliese  most  remarkable  fossil  insects  is  recorded  Ijy  Mr. 
(.'harles  Brongniart  in  the  Bulletin  de  la  SociiHr  Fheloinafhiqiie  (with 
two  i)lates).  These  three  insects  "  differing  considerably  in  structure, 
AV'ere  found  in  tlie  rich  carljoniferous  l)eds  of  ( 'ommentry,  France ;  two 
of  them  show,  besides  fullj^  developed  mesothoracic  and  metathoracic 
wings,  a  pair  of  prothoracic  wings  bearing  much  the  same  relation  to 
tlie  others  as  the  mesothoracic  tegmina  of  tropical  Phasmida3  bear  to 
their  metathoracic  wings.  They  are  short  sub-triangular  lobes,  having  a 
well-defined  basis  which  is  narrower,  sometimes  mucli  narrower,  than 
the  parts  behind,  and  from  which  course  three  or  four  radiating 
nervules.  Although  in  these  individuals  these  parts  spread  laterally 
like  the  wings  l)ehind  them,  and  are  sometimes  so  broad  at  the  base  as 
to  appear  at  first  sight  more  like  lateral  lobes  of  the  prothorax  (es})ccially 
in  an  English  Carljoniferous  insect  described  l)y  Woodward,  which 
Brongniart  also  places  here),  M.  Brongniart  believes  that  they  were 
movable,  and  could  be  extended  backward  along  the  body  so  as  to 
cover  the  Imse  of  the  mesothoracic  wings.  As  to  the  question  which 
naturally  arises,  whether  these  members  are  to  be  regarded  as  atro}>hied 
organs,  and  therefore  pre-suppose  a  progenitor  e(|uipped  with  three 
pairs  of  fully-developed  and  similar  thoracic  wings,  JM.  Brongniart 
prefers  to  wait  for  further  pala3ontological  facts.  One  recalls  in  this 
connection  the  discussion  between  Haase  and  Cholodkovsky,  in  tlie 
Zoologischer  Anzeiger,  Nos.  235,  239  and  24i  "  (Fsi/che,  vi.,  i)p.  31-32). 

(To  be  continued.) 


DEALERS      AND      STEALERS. 

By    H.    ROWLAND    BROWN,    M.A.,    F.E.S. 

Entomology  is  a  science  ;  it  is  also  a  holjby,  a  pastime.  Pro- 
fessionalism, which  has  crept  into  most  of  our  pastimes,  has  not  let  tlic 
pastime,  entomology,  go  scot  free.  The  reason  for  this  is  ()l)vious. 
The  amateur,  who  has  either  no  leisure  or  lacks  the  inclination  to  work 
for  himself,  looks  to  the  purveyors  of  insects  Avho  exist  all  the  world 
over  to  provide  him  with  specimens  for  wliich  he  is  willing  enough  to 
pay.  This  fact  is  as  noticeable  in  America  as  ui^on  the  Continent,  and 
I,  for  one,  should  be  the  last  to  throw  a  stone  at  tlie  professional 
naturalist,  who  has  probably  contributed  as  much  to  our  scientific 
knowledge  as  the  amateur  who  stays  at  home  and  confines  his  opera- 
tions to  the  neighbourhood  in  which  he  lives,  or  to  such  localities  as 
may  tempt  him  to  make  holiday  visits  to  them.  The  i"eal  evil  which 
the  entomologist  objects  to  and  views  with  dislike  and  susjDicion,  is  the 
existence  of  the  "  carpet-bagger."     By   this   term  I   don't   mean  the 


DRAI.KItS    AND    STEALERS.  93 

collector  of  certain  interesting  Geometers,  but  the  man  who  invades 
the  ranks  of  the  amateur  sportsmen  and  turns  their  wants  and  their 
generosity  to  his  own  profit. 

The  communication  made  by  Mr.  Keays  to  the  February  number  of 
the  Record  and  Mr.  Tutt's  comments  thereupon,  bear  ample  testimony 
to  the  fact,  not  only  that  the  "  carjDet-bagger  "  exists,  but  that  he  exists 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  be  a  positive  nuisance.  Sometimes  he  conducts 
his  exchange  business  from  a  suburban  address,  operating  on  the 
credulity  of  correspondents  with  a  drawer  or  two  full  of  reputed 
"  Britishers  "  picked  uji  at  a  mixed  sale.  More  often  he  does  not  even 
trouble  to  buy  liis  l)ogus  rarities  at  all,  ]iut  sends  his  cigar-boxes 
(empty)  to  too  confiding  distributors,  .and  converts  wliatever  he  may 
receive  to  his  own  commercial  uses.  It  is  quite  conceivable  that  a  very 
decent  caliinetful  might  be  got  together  in  this  way,  and  then  handed 
over  to  the  auctioneer  spiced  with  innocent  little  locality  labels  and 
augmented  with  reset  "  foreigners ""  selected  from  a  dubious  miscellany 
of  Continental  envelopes.  I  do  not  say  that  this  has  lieen  done,  I  hope 
it  has  not  ;  but  that  such  a  thing  is  possible,  the  curious  "  Tutt " 
la])els  in  tlie  Burney  collection  testify  ;  and,  as  the  older  generation  of 
entomologists  i)asses  away,  the  possibiHt}'  of  similar  frauds  will,  unless 
some  safeguard  is  devised,  be  augmented  a  hundred-fold.  What  could 
be  easier,  for  instance,  than  for  an  unscrupulous  vendor  to  dujae  the 
unsuspecting  purchaser  by  aflfixing  to  his  precious  insects  such  labels 
as  "  from  Mr.  Doubleday,"  or  "  froni  Mr.  Stainton,"  with  further  data 
of  the  captui'e  of  the  specimens  in  this  or  that  locality  where  the  rarity 
has  been  known  to  exist  ? 

So  far  as  I  am  aware,  we  have  only  one  solitary  macro  tliat  defies 
reproduction  ad  libitum — the  one-time  indigenous  Chn/sophanus  disjjar. 
This  beautiful  butterfly  may  consequently  be  bought  or  exchanged 
with  impunity.  But  it  stands  alone,  and  all  the  liost  of  Continental 
Heterocera,  to  say  nothing  of  "  Kentisli  "'  P.  daplidice,  A.  Jatlionia,  et 
hoc  genna  omne,  afford  ample  consolation  to  the  "  carpet-bagger "  in 
search  of  i)ence  and  specimens.  It  may  be  objected  that  the  maxim, 
caveat  emjitor,  applies  to  entomological  as  much  as  to  any  other  com- 
mercial transactions.  Very  well  I  Init  how  is  a  purchaser  living,  say 
in  Limerick,  to  ascertain  the  bona-fides  of  a  correspondent  in  Canter- 
bury, especially  when  the  said  correspondent  has  gone  to  the  trouble 
of  sending  a  circumstantial  account  of  his  captures  to  a  recognized 
entomological  magazine  ?  Such  proceedings  break  down  the  safe-guard 
of  published  records,  on  which,  in  ray  opinion,  too  much  reliance  is 
Avont  to  l)e  placed.  My  reason  for  this  opinion  is  as  follows  : — Numbers 
of  reports  appear  in  our  newsimpers  every  year ;  some  of  these  are  sent 
l)y  gentlemen  who  write,  as  unversed  in  entomological  lore,  to  local 
papers  to  annoiuice  that  tliey  are  convinced  that  tliey  have  (any  time 
betAveen  March  and  ( )ctober)  seen  the  celebrated  Camberwell  Beauty 
in  tlieir  Ijack  garden  ;  others  come  from  experienced  observers  Avho 
have  compiled  careful  lists  of  captures  and  observations  in  some  chosen 
sj)0t.  BctAveen  tliese  extremes,  there  are  uncpiestionably  a  number  of 
Avell-meaning  collectors  wliose  knowledge  of  identity  is  about  on  a  par 
with  their  scientific  information  ;  in  their  eyes  certain  common  species 
often  do  duty  for  allied  l)ut  much  rarer  members  of  the  same  genera ; 
whilst,  rice  rersa,  the  rarity  may  fail  to  be  differentiated  from  its 
common   congener — a  mistake,   by  the  way,  to  which  many  advanced 


94  THE  entomologist's  reoord. 

students  have  sometimes  to  plead  guilt3^  Herein,  therefore,  lies  the 
danger  of  placing  too  much  faith  in  records.  A.  (an  incipient)  sends 
to  his  favourite  organ  a  long  list  of  nice  captures.  B.  (the  bogus 
amateur  aforesaid)  spots  A.'s  interesting  notes  and,  on  the  strength  of 
them,  tickets  his  miscellaneous  department  according!}^  ;  he  may,  as  I 
said  before,  even  go  so  far  as  to  publish  a  supplementarj'^  notice  on  his 
own  account  corroborating  the  all-unconscious  A.  And  so  the  evil 
continues,  encouraged  by  the  sublime  indifference  manifested  b}''  those 
collectors  who  are  (piite  satisfied  witli  the  purchase  or  exchange  of 
rarities  "  on  simple  note  of  hand  "  (Cf.  any  numlier  of  insects  in  the 
Burney  collection). 

How  is  this  kind  of  thing  to  l)e  stamped  out  ?  I  can  only  suggest 
one  way,  and  perhaps  that  will  only  "  scotch  the  snake,  not  kill  it." 
.We  cannot  have  entomological  Ins})ectors,  like  a  college  of  heralds, 
making  "a  view  "  of  the  counties  and  overhauling  the  store  boxes  of 
the  young  gentlemen  who  send  lists  to  the  magazines.  But  we  have 
energetic  entomological  societies  in  many  j^arts  of  the  country,  as  well 
as  field  clubs  which  in  some  degree  turn  their  attention  to  this  par- 
ticular branch  of  natural  history.  Perhaps  it  would  not  be  too  much 
to  ask  that,  in  addition  to  the  official  note  taken  of  the  exhibits  of  the 
members  of  these  societies  and  clubs  and  duly  recorded  in  their 
Transactions,  each  such  society  or  club  should  undertake  the  dut_v  of 
requesting  from  correspondents  to  the  magazines,  who  are  not  members, 
further  ])articulars  relative  to  any  capti;res  recorded  within  the  area 
covered  by  the  institution,  and  the  transmission  of  any  important 
specimens  to  the  society  for  exhibition.  It  would  only  be  necessary  to 
adopt  this  course  when  any  very  striking  announcement  was  made. 
and,  while  it  would  be  entirely  satisfactory  to  a  houa-fide  captor  to 
have  his  record  thus  substantiated,  the  bogus  collector  Avould  have 
some  difficulty  in  maintaining  his  claim.  A  whole  crop  of  theoretical 
objections  may  be  raised  to  such  a  proposition,  but  I  think  that,  in 
actual  practice,  the  plan  Avould,  in  discreet  hands,  be  found  to  answer 
to  some  extent  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  intended.  The  great 
majority  of  collectors  are  known  to  some  at  least  of  their  fellow- 
entomologists  ;  a  ver}'  large  proportion  are  themselves  members  of 
some  society  interested  in  science,  or  are  known  to  some  of  its  mem- 
bers ;  only  a  very  few  are  so  far  isolated  as  to  stand  apart  from  all 
entomological  intercourse,  and  the  names  and  achievements  of  many  of 
these  are  a  sufficient  guarantee  of  their  good  faith.  Among  this  last 
class,  however,  the  black  sheep  are  unquestionably  included,  and  in  the 
best  interests  of  tlie  entomological  fraternity  tliey  sliould  be  singled 
out  for  judgment. 

The  system  suggested  above  would  chiefly  operate  in  respect  of 
contemporary  records ;  the  difficulty  still  remains  Avith  regard  to  the 
cabinet  and  other  labels  of  professedly  old  standing,  which  set  out, 
often  circumstantially,  the  reputed  time  and  place  at  which  the  specimen 
was  taken,  with  very  often  a  series  of  names  of  previous  possessors, 
which  still  further  lend  an  air  of  veracity  to  the  guarantee.  How  are 
we  to  discover  the  truth  or  otherwise  of  these  statenients  ?  There  is 
no  test  sav(!  that  of  documentary  evidence,  and  this  must  be  sub- 
stantiated, as  being  in  the  hand^Titing  of  tjiose  whose  signatures  or 
names  are  attached  to  it,  by  men  who  were  acquainted  with  them. 
But  even   in  the  earlier  days  of  "the  Aurelians  "  (the  golden  days  of 


St'IRNTTFrC    NOTrOS    AND    OBSKUVATTON'S.  9o 

collecting,  if  we  are  to  l^eliove  half  we  hear)  there  were  records  ami 
"  Proceedings,"  and  very  few  captures  of  extreme  rarities  failed  to  1)0 
noted  either  in  print  or  in  manuscript,  wliich  notes  may  possibly  still 
be  extant.  It  is  the  duty,  therefore,  of  purchasers  to  insist  on  being 
furnished  ]\v  dealers  with  full  and  convincing  evidence  of  the  nationality 
of  specimens  reputed  to  be  British,  and  auction-room  rarities  unac- 
companied by  such  evidence  should  be  regarded  as  doubtful,  or  better 
still,  be  severely  left  alone. 


Scientific  notes  &  observations. 

Does  Cucullia  ciiamomill^  hybernate  ? — Merrin,  in  his  Calendar, 
includes  this  moth  among  the  hybernated  species  which  have  been  found 
in  February,  and,  in  the  following  month,  mentions  it  as  having  been 
taken  at  rest  on  various  materials,  adding  ''  probably  hyl)ernated."  Does 
it  hyljernate  ?  Neither  W.  F.  Kirby  {Enrojx-cui  Butterflies  and  Moths), 
Stainton  nor  Newman,  mentions  the  fact  (Is  it  a  fact  ? — Ed.),  but  the 
dates  of  appearance  given  by  the  three  auth(3rs  vary,  both  as  regards 
imago  and  larva.  Kirby,  speaking  for  Europe,  gives  April  to  June  for 
the  imago,  and  Jiine  to  August  for  the  larva.  Newman  says  that  the 
imago  appears  on  the  wing  in  April  and  May,  and  that  the  larva?  emerge 
at  the  end  of  May  or  beginning  of  June,  and  are  usually  full-fed  at  the 
end  of  June,  although  stragglers  may  be  occasionally  met  with  as  late  as 
the  third  week  in  July.  Stainton  gives  later  dates  than  the  others — the 
end  of  May  and  June  for  imago,  July  and  August  for  larva^.  During 
the  last  season  or  two,  I  have  taken  the  handsome  larva?  feeding  on 
Fyrethrvm  marltimnm,  the  earliest  date  Ijeing  April  27th,  and  the  latest, 
July  7tli.  (On  July  lyth  I  faih'd  to  find  a  single  larva).  Whilst  small, 
the}^  recjuire  to  be  carefully  searched  for,  owing  to  their  resemblance  to 
the  flower-buds  and  to  their  habit  of  curling  themselves  round  the  stems 
of  the  food-plant.  On  several  occasions  I  have  found  half-grown  larva? 
on  a  plant  of  ryrethnun,  \\'\\\q\\,  ten  days  beft)re,  I  had  searched  carefully 
without  finding  any.  The  larvje  prefer  low-growing  flat  plants,  rather 
than  the  more  robust  ones ;  fre(iuently,  on  the  same  jolant,  are  some 
nearly  full-fed  and  others  very  small ;  they  feed  up  very  rapidly. 
Kirby  {I.e.,  p.  xvi)  says  "  larvae  of  C.  charnomiUae,  Ijred  from  eggs,  have 
l)een  known  to  reach  their  full  growth  in  14  days.  Considering  their 
size,  and  their  habit  of  feeding  exposed  in  the  sunshine,  they  are 
singularly  free  from  the  attacks  of  parasites  ;  the  percentage  of  imagines 
reared,  is  much  larger  than  is  the  case  with  C.  verbasci.  The  earliest 
date  at  which  I  have  known  imagines  to  emerge  from  pupa?  which  were 
found  in  Ma}^,  is  Feb.  2nd  ;  from  July  })upfe,  the  earliest  emergence 
was  on  March  loth.  Out  of  many  pupa?  which  I  had  in  1892  and  1898 
(in  the  latter  year  nearly  lUO),  nt)t  one  imago  appeared  in  the  autunui, 
though  Merrin  mentions  the  species,  in  November,  as  hybernating  in 
tliat  stage.  If  the  moth  does  hybernate  in  a  state  of  nature,  sm-ely  some 
s])('(amens  would  emerge  during  the  autumn,  when  ai'tificially  reai'ed 
and  to  a  certain  extent  forced.  I  have  never  taken  tlie  imago  in  the 
autumn,  and  my  experience  leads  me  to  supjjose  that  the  species  does 
not  hybernate  regularly  in  this  state,  but  I  should  like  to  hear  the 
opinion  of  others. — (Major)  J.  N.  Still,  Seaton,  Devon.     Feb.,  1894. 


90  THE    entomologist's    UErORT). 

(We  believe  that  Merrin's  error  lias  previously  been  discussed  in  tbe  ento- 
mological magazines.  The  moth  has  a  long  period  of  emergence  when 
the  meteorological  vagaries  of  different  years  are  taken  into  account, 
although  not  specially  prolonged  for  any  given  season.  The  imago  may 
occur  from  February  to  May,  the  larva^  from  May  to  August,  according 
to  the  season  in  which  they  are  found.  It  alwaj's,  we  believe,  passes  tlie 
Avinter  in  the  pu})al  state  and  sometimes  goes  over  two  seasons. —  En.) 

Ephestia  iviiiiNiELLA  IN  Aberdeensuike. — Last  autumn,  a  baker, 
in  the  little  village  of  Monymusk,  Aberdeenshire,  complained  to  me 
that  "  maggots  "  liad  got  among  his  Hour.  On  examination,  1  discovered 
that  they  were  the  larva?  of  E.  huhnieUu,  which  were  swarming  both 
outside  and  inside  some  of  the  sacks.  Many  of  them  were  in  the  act 
of  pupating,  and  I  noticed  that  they  always  attached  their  cocoons  to 
the  sides  of  the  bags,  and  never  spun  them  loosely  among  the  flour. — 
A.  H.  HoKNE,  Aberdeen.     Feb.  1894. 

NvssiA  HisrinARiA. — The  paper  by  Mr.  Bajme,  published  in  tliis 
month's  Record,  has  induced  me  to  send  you  the  following  notes  on  this 
species.  The  first  thing  that  strikes  an  angler,  is  the  Avonderful 
resemblance  of  tlie  ^  to  tlie  large-winged  artificial  fly,  called  "  the 
Alder ; "  the  thorax  and  body  resemble  in  a  remarkable  degree, 
botli  in  colour  and  texture,  the  fuzzy  body  of  the  fly.  Again,  no 
description  that  I  have  read,  does  justice  to  the  extreme  beauty  of 
the  fringe  of  the  wings,  which,  if  held  to  the  light,  will  be  seen  to  be 
of  a  most  beautiful  sheeny  gold,  veiy  much  the  colour  of  I'lmin 
chrydtis,  only  lighter  and  brigliter.  So  far  as  I  am  aware,  the  moth 
has  not  been  taken  in  this  neighbourhood  till  this  year,  and  I  was  mucli 
surprised  to  find,  on  the  morning  of  Jan.  31st,  a  freshly-emerged  $  in 
my  breeding  cage,  from  a  ^jupa  which  I  had  dug  here  a  week  previously, 
at  the  root  of  a  poplar.  On  Fel).  8th,  I  found  another  ^  in  my  illumi- 
nated trap,  and  between  that  date  and  March  6th,  took  eight  more  in 
the  trap.  It  is  curious  that,  though  I  have  dug  here  regularly,  and 
have  found  hundreds  of  pupa%  1  never  before  came  across  one  of  this 
species;  and  that, though  during  the  Avhole  of  January,  February  and 
March  of  last  year,  my  trap  was  set  nightly  in  the  same  spot  as  this 
year,  I  never  took  a  specimen  of  it.  i\.ll  my  ten  specimens  have  abroad 
band  towards  the  hind  margin,  lighter  tlian  the  rest  of  the  wings, 
which  extends  over  about  one-fourth  of  the  fore  wings,  and  one-half  of 
the  hind-Avings.  In  one  sjiecimen  this  band  is  (|uite  Avhite,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  fore  Avings  being  greenish-broAvn,  and  of  the  hind  Avings 
very  light  ashy-grey.  Some  of  the  specimens  are  of  a  very  light 
ochreous-  green,  others  are  verj-  dark,  Avhile  still  others  are  intermediate 
in  shade  ;  in  fact,  the  series  shows  much  the  same  range  of  colour,  as  I 
find  in  my  series  of  Biston  liiriaria.  I  have  also  taken  this  year,  for  the 
first  time  in  this  neighbourhood,  A><j)hiili(i  ^fiairicornis  ;  one  specimen  in 
my  trap,  anotlier  bred  from  a  dug  pupa.  Taeniocnmpn  tiimuhi  is  plentiful 
here  this  year,  as  it  Avas  also  last  year.  ^Ir.  Prout  suggests  that  there 
must  be  some  kind  of  connection  betAveen  Avinter  emergence,  and  the 
occurrence  of  ai)terous  J  s,  and  considers  Orgyia  a  casual  exception,  due 
to  some  different  cause  ;  I  had  myself  been  struck  by  the  coincidence, 
and  am  inclined  to  think  there  may  be  more  than  mere  coincidence  in 
it,  but  still  the  vicAV  is  not  free  from  difficulties.  Can  Mr.  Prout  tell 
us  Avhat  is  the  "  different  cause  "  Av^hich  accounts  for  the  apterous  J  s  of 
Or(jyi(i,  and  Avhy  the  same  cause  should  not  also  account  for  those  of  the 


SCIENTIFIC    NOTES    AND    OBSERVATIONS.  97 

Geometei's  ?  Why  are  Geometers  alone  affected  in  this  way  by  winter 
emergence,  and  not  other  groups  ?  Poecilocampa  jmpuli  coincides  in 
point  of  time  with  Chematohia  hrumata,  AsphiiJ/a  flavicornis  witli  Ni/si^ia 
h/'s}>i(larin,  Taeniocampa  p>nlverulenta  and  Tortrieodes  hyemana  with  the 
Hiihernias,  and  the  last  two,  in  this  district,  jirecede  Anisopteryx 
aescnlarla.  Again,  all  Geometers  are  not  so  affected,  for  Larentia  mnlti- 
striiiaria,  which  emerges  at  the  same  time  as  A.  aescidaria,  has  a  J  with 
fully-developed  wings.  Mr.  Front's  remarks  in  relation  to  the 
Amphidasydae,  if  well  founded  and  if  the  same  state  of  things  obtains 
in  the  other  families  in  which  species  with  a|)terous  J  s  occur,  would 
be  most  important  as  indicating,  at  all  events,  some  seasonal  influence. 
But  is  it  a  fact  that,  as  a  general  rule,  the  wings  of  the  $  A.  hetidaria 
are  better  developed  than  those  of  A.  strataria  ?  Stainton,  in  his 
Manual,  says,  speaking  of  the  two  species  indifferently,  "  wings  ample, 
alike  in  both  sexes ;  "  and  Newman  figures  the  2  of  the  latter  species, 
with  ample  wings,  and  gives  no  indication  in  his  description  of  any 
lack  of  development  in  them ;  nor  can  I  see  any  sucb  difference  in  the 
specimens  I  possess  ;  possibly  the  wings  of  A.  strataria  are  more  rounded 
than  those  of  A.  hetidaria,  but  is  this  sign,  a  sign  of  defective  develop- 
ment ?  Turning  now  to  the  HyheriiUdae,  we  find  H.  marginaria,  which 
emerges  in  February,  with  the  wings  of  the  9  to  a  considerable  extent 
developed,  whereas  Anisopteryx  aescidaria,  which  does  not  emerge  till 
a  month  later,  has  an  absolutely  apterous  5  ;  this  seems  to  be  retro- 
gression with  the  advancing  season,  rather  than  jn'Ogression. — E.  F. 
Studd,  Oxton,  Exeter.     March  SOth,  1894. 

A  PROBABLE  NEW  SPECIES  OF  EuciiLOE. — For  some  time  I  have  been 
of  opinion  that  we  have  two  species  of  this  genus  in  England.  The 
insect  Avhich  I  now  take  to  be  a  species  new  to  our  fauna,  is  much 
smaller  than  E.  cardamines,  measuring,  on  an  average,  only  about  an 
inch  and  a  quarter  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  fore-wings.  The  discoidal 
spot  is  placed,  as  in  E.  tnrritis  and  E.  griineri,  at  the  juncture  of  the 
orange  and  white  sjiaces,  not,  as  in  E.  cardamines,  well  within  the  orange 
tip.  When  viewed  under  the  microscope,  the  wing-scales  appear  very 
different  from  those  of  E.  cardamines.  This  insect  differs  from  the 
true  E.  turritis  (which  is  now,  I  think,  very  generally  looked  upon  as  a 
distinct  sijecies*)  by  its  smaller  size,  which  appears  constant,  and  by  the 
costa  of  the  fore-wings  being  dotted  with  black.  I  should  be  glad  if 
collectors  will  look  out  for  this  insect  during  the  coming  season,  and 
also  examine  their  series  of  E.  cardamines  for  any  specimens  answering 
to  the  above  description  ;  if  they  jiossess  any  they  will  be  able  to  see 
the  specific  differences  for  themselves.  It  is  much  rarer  here  than  E. 
cardamines,  and  is  restricted,  so  far  as  I  know,  to  a  small  area.  I  have 
collected  lepidojitera  for  many  years,  both  in  this  country  and  on  the 
Continent,  and,  after  studying  the  various  European  sjiecies  of  the 
genus,  have  personally  no  doubt  that  this  smaller  insect  constitutes  a 
distinct  species  which  has  hitherto  been  overlooked,  in  the  same  way 
that  Pamp)hila  lineola  was  for  a  long  time  overlooked.  I  propose  to 
call  tliis  new  species,  EncJdolJ  hesperidies. —  F.  B.  Newnhabi,  Church 
Stretton,  Salop.     A^ml  4:th,  1894. 


*We  should  be  glad  of  references  to  authorities  upon  this  point. — Ed. 


98  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Sariation. 

Notes  on  some  varieties  of  British  R[iopalooera. — During  1893, 
whilst  looking-  over  various  collections,  I  was  struck  by  the  general 
resemblance  of  some  of  the  varieties  of  the  Tlhopaloccra  contained 
therein  to  Continental  forms.  Mr.  Barrett  (Lep.  Brit.  Isl.,  vol.  I.)  gives 
many  notices  of  vai'ieties  which  resemble  Continental  varieties,  and  I 
can  quite  agree  with  him  in  every  instance.  Appended  I  give  a  list  of 
varietal  forms  from  notes  made  from  the  examination  of  sundry 
collections. 

Pieris  napi. — I  saw  a  $  captured  in  Oxfordshire,  which  bears  a 
strong  resemblance  to  var.  hryoniae,  Och.,  an  Alpine  form ;  it  is  a  little 
smaller  than  the  average  napi,  and  is,  perhaps,  not  quite  so  dark  as  the 
the  typical  hryoniae ;  the  wings  are  of  a  decidedly  yellowish  gi-ound 
colour  with  the  nervures  very  dark,  and  the  whole  of  the  wings  are 
suffused  with  greyish  scales,  thus  giving  the  insect  a  very  dusky 
appearance.     [Is  not  this  var.  sabellicae,  Stph.  ? — Ed.]. 

EucMoe  cardamines. — A  very  small  <?  was  taken  by  myself  at 
Kennington,  near  Oxford,  in  April,  1893,  which  measured  l^g  in.  from 
tip  to  tip  ;  other  small  examples  were  netted  at  the  same  place,  so  that, 
apparently,  a  small-sized  brood  had  been  produced  there ;  a  ?  taken 
with  the  above  has  the  blackish  markings  at  the  apex  of  the  fore-wings 
almost  obsolete.  I  believe  that  the  small  var.  figured  b}^  Mr.  Barrett  (I.e., 
pi.  4,  fig.  2  b,  c)  is  called  turritis,  Och.  on  the  Continent.  [See  p.  97. — Ed.]. 
Gonepteryx  rhamni. — A  J  taken  at  Oxford  appeared  to  me  at  first 
to  be  an  hermaphrodite ;  the  fore-wings  were  yellowish,  the  spots  at 
their  margins  being  l)right  reddish-brown  ;  the  hind- wings  were  of  the 
usual  colour,  but  the  orange  spots  in  their  centre  were  much  smaller 
than  the  average. 

Chrysopliamis  pliloeas. — Mr.  Holland  took  var.  schmidtii,  Gerli.  near 
Oxford  in  the  autumn  of  1893,  and  other  specimens  very  closely 
resembling  this  var.  have  been  met  with  in  various  places.  I  possess 
two  examples  from  the  Cotswold  Hills,  in  which  the  glossy  coppery 
colour  has  faded  almost  to  white  ;  this  is  a  form  intermediate  between 
var.  schmidtii  and  the  type.  I  have  met  with  the  recurrent  variety 
with  the  smoky  wings  at  Hawkesbury  on  the  Cotswolds. 

Lycaena  hellargus. — I  have  a  gynandromorphous  example,  which 
was  captured  at  Ventnor  in  1893,  in  which  the  left  side  is  that  of  a  J 
and  the  right  that  of  a  c?  .  I  have  only  come  across  stray  specimens 
of  this  species  round  Oxford,  where  it  is  very  rarely  seen,  but  it  occurs 
abundantly  on  the  Cotswolds;  on  August  11th,  1893,  the  second  brood 
was  already  nearly  over. 

Lycaena  corydon. — A  singular  var.  of  this  species,  approaching  in 
colour  the  Continental  var.  apennina,  ZelL,  was  shown  to  me  from 
Bournemouth  ;  the  light  bluish  colour  has  altogether  faded  to  a  whitish 
tint;  the  markings  on  the  underside,  though  very  indistinct,  are 
nevertheless  well  defined. 

Nemeohim  lucina. — Some  specimens  taken  in  Bagley  Wood,  Oxford, 
vary  from  a  light  brown  to  a  dark  brownish  black ;  in  some  examples 
the  black  transverse  bands  are  very  broad,  and  absorb  nearly  the  wliole 
of  the  tawny  spots,  making  the  wings  appear  quite  black ;  in  another 
larger  example  the  black  bands  are  very  thin,  being  broken  in  many 


VAKIATION.  99 

places,  so  that  the  whole  area  of  the  wings  aj^pears  reddish  tawny ; 
there  are  other  forms  intermediate  between  these  two.  [Is  not  this  to 
a  large  extent  sexual  ? — Ed.]. 

An/i/nnis  papliia. — The  type  occurs  abundantly  at  times  on  the 
outskirts  of  Bagley  Wood,  but  var.  valezina  has  not  yet  been  taken  at 
Oxford.  A  large  <?  was  taken  there  early  in  1893,  which  is  almost 
I  in.  wider  in  expanse  than  any  other  specimen  which  I  have  seen. 

Arr/i/nnis  adippc. — Out  of  a  very  long  series  of  this  butterfly  taken 
at  Bagley  Wood,  at  Sj)latts  and  Lower  Woods,  Gloucestershire,  and  in 
other  localities,  only  one  specimen  differs  from  the  rest ;  this  approaches 
var.  clcodoxa,  Och.  and  in  it  the  spots,  although  they  are  distinct  on  the 
hind-wings,  yet  lack  the  silvery  colour  which  characterises  them  in  the 
remaining  specimens  being,  instead,  of  a  dullish  tawny  colour.  The 
var.  clcodoxa  is  totally  devoid  of  the  silvery  spots, 

Argijnnis  euphrosync. — A  beautiful  example  of  this  species  was 
captured  by  me  in  Bagley  Wood  in  1893,  in  which  the  upper  sides  are 
smeared  with  black  blotches  that  cover  the  whole  of  the  Avings,  the 
bi'ownish  colour  only  showing  itself  in  small  triangular-shaped  spots, 
at  the  extreme  edges  of  the  wings ;  it  resembles  the  variety  figured  liy 
Mr.  Barrett  (/.  c,  pi.  25,  fig.  2b)  but  is  more  suffused  with  black  than 
that. 

Melanargia  galathea. — A  specimen  referable  to  var.  procida,  Hbst. 
was  taken  in  August,  1893,  at  Change  Cliff,  Cotswold  Hills,  which 
appeared  to  have  just  emerged ;  it  must  have  been  a  late  individual,  as 
another  specimen  captured  a  few  days  before  was  very  much  worn 
and  seemed  to  have  been  on  the  wing  for  a  considerable  time.  Proct'da 
is  found  in  Turkey,  Armenia,  Syria  and  the  Mediterranean  region, 
Spain  excepted  (Stgr.  Cat.,  II.,  p.  27).  The  species  is  very  rare  in  the 
vicinity  of  Oxford,  being  found  only,  so  far  as  I  have  ascertained,  at 
Holton  Stone  Pits,  near  Wheatley ;  in  1891  it  was  unusually  abundant 
on  the  hills  between  Wantage  and  Farringdon  and  at  Childrey,  Berks. 

Satyrns  semele. — Amongst  a  number  of  specimens  taken  at  Bourne- 
mouth, in  1892-3,  I  notice  one  which  closely  approaches  var.  aristaens, 
Bon.,  whilst  a  number  of  others  incline  to  this  form.  According  to 
Staudinger,  var.  aristaem  is  found  in  Corsica,  Sardinia,  and  on  some 
parts  of  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean. 

Pararge  egeria. — This  species  occurs  on  the  oiitskirts  of  Bagley 
Wood,  and  in  a  few  secluded  spots  on  Shotover  Hill ;  it  is  not  so  com- 
mon at  Bagley  as  it  was  formerly,  but  is  still  to  be  met  with  in  its  old 
haunts ;  individual  specimens  differ  considerably  in  the  colour  and 
markings  of  the  wings,  but  I  have  not  seen  any  striking  varieties. 

Epinephele  ianira. — Several  specimens  with  bleached  patches  on  the 
wings  were  taken  in  various  parts  of  Oxfordshire,  the  occurrence  of 
which  I  attribute  to  the  great  heat  that  prevailed  last  year. 

Epinephele  hyperanthns. — One  specimen  taken  by  me,  in  July,  1893, 
at  Oxford,  exactly  tallies  with  the  figure  in  the  Entomologist,  vol.  xxvi, 
p.  281  ;  for  it  I  projjose  the  provisional  name  lanceolata. 

Coenoiu/mpha  pamphiln^. — Varieties  of  this  species  are  not  common 
in  the  Oxford  district.  I  quite  agree  with  Mr.  Barrett,  that  the  var. 
lyllus,  of  British  entomologists,  is  an  error.  Lyllm,  Esp.,  is  a  larger 
insect,  and  as  Mr.  Barrett,  cpioting  Lang's  Uhopalocera  Europar,  says 
"  has  the  hind  margins  often  with  a  narrow  ante-marginal  black  line 
(which  is  invariably  jjresent) ;  the  undersides  of  the  wings  are  of  a  light 


100  THE    entomologist's    RECORD. 

yellow  colour,  with  a  central  reddish  streak  descending  from  the  costa, 
about  two-thirds  across  the  wing ;  the  fore  wings  have  the  apical  spots 
more  distinct  than  in  the  type."  I  have  not  seen  Mr.  Lang's  figure, 
but  the  description  given  by  Mr.  Barrett  is  quite  correct.  Up  to  the 
present  I  have  not  seen  a  true  British  lyUus,  but  I  have  no  doubt  that 
it  may  have  occurred  on  our  south  coasts. 

Syrichtns  malvae. — A  specimen  of  var.  iara.s,  ]\Ieig.  (htrdfcrac, 
Haw.),  was  taken  by  myself  in  1892  in  a  field  opposite  the  barracks 
at  Cowley.  Several  other  specimens  were  taken  at  the  same  place  in 
1893,  but  I  was  unable  to  find  any  larva3,  nor  did  I  see  a  5  in  the  act 
of  oviposition.  They  only  occurred  in  a  small  spot,  a  few  yards  in 
circumference.  Out  of  a  large  series  of  /S.  malvae,  cajDtured  at  Dor- 
chester in  1893,  not  one  differed  from  the  type. 

Vanessa  urticae. — A  specimen  was  taken,  drying  its  wings  on  some 
palings  near  Dorchester  Mill,  on  July  6th,  1893,  which  has  a  peculiar 
gxeasy  or  semi-transparent  appearance,  and  in  which  the  reddish  colour 
has  quite  faded. — John  W.  Shipp,  Oxford,  Jan.  1894. 

I  have  noticed  the  following  varieties  and  aberrations  among  the 
Rhopalocera. —  Vanessa  atalanta. — A  number  of  specimens  showed  a 
distinct  Avhite  spot  in  the  scarlet  band*;  some  sjoecimens  bred  by  a 
friend,  from  larvae  taken  near  here,  are  of  a  very  dull  colour,  tlie  band 
being  of  a  brownish-red  hue,  instead  of  the  usual  brilliant  vermilion  ; 
in  this  strange  brood  were  two  sjDCcimens  in  which  the  wings  are  much 
shorter  on  one  side  than  the  other  (see  Ent.  Ber.  [{.,  pp.  95,  119,  Ed.), 
Chr)/sophanus  pldoeas,  captured  at  Prestwich  Carr,  by  Mr.  Dunn  of 
Wylam,  has  several  of  the  black  spots  on  the  fore  Avings  suppressed. 
Lycaena  Icarus.  Several  ?  s  of  this  species  are  of  a  very  brilliant  l)lue, 
almost  as  gay  as  the  <?  s. — Chas.  H.  Crass,  South  Shields,  Feb.,  189-4. 


©URRENT    NOTES. 

Those  who  have  read  Mr.  Elwes'  "Revision  of  the  genus  (Eneis  " 
published  in  the  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.,  London,  will  be  interested  in  the 
criticism  thereof  by  W.  H.  Edwards  in  The  Canadian  Entomolorjist  for 
March.  It  would  appear  therefrom,  that  the  paper,  so  far  as  it  relates 
to  the  American  species,  is  a  most  unsatisfactory  production,  and  we 
quite  agree  with  the  critic  in  his  concluding  remarks,  that  "  there 
never  will  be  a  final  authoritative  revision  of  any  genus  of  butterflies 
till  the  preparatory  stages  in  every  species  of  it  are  known.  Species 
are  as  clearly  distinguished  by  the  form  and  sculpture  of  their  eggs,  by 
the  forms  and  appendages  of  the  caterpillars,  and  by  the  peculiarities 
of  the  pupfXi,  as  by  the  facies  of  the  imago.  This  feature  has  been  the 
occasion  of  the  endless  and  irreconcilable  differences  that  prevail  m 
nearly  all  genera  up  to  this  day.  To  proceed  further  in  the  same 
direction  is  plainly  a  waste  of  time.  It  is  a  case  of  the  blind  leading 
the  blind,  to  undertake  to  bring  order  out  of  the  confessed  confusion  by 
appealing  to  facies." 

Mr.  J.  W.  Douglas  has  described  (E.M.M.)  another  new  species  of 
Aleurodes  under  the  name  of  A.  sjriraeae,  with  excellent  drawings  of  the 
larva  by  Mr.  E.  F.  Tugwell. 

*Tliis  is  very  common.     See  Ent.  Rcc.  iii.,  p.  247. — Ed. 


CURRENT    NOTES,  101 

Dr.  Knaggs  tells  us  that  the  corrosion  which  ruins  many  of  our 
entomological  specimens,  and  which  we  have  hitherto  called  "  verdigris," 
is  in  reality  oleate  of  copper. 

An  excellent  article  by  Mr.  Eustace  R.  Bankes,  on  "  Lifa  infitdbilella 
and  its  nearest  British  allies,"  has  been  commenced  in  the  current 
No.  of  the  EJLM. 

A  very  interesting  paper  on  an  "  Aberration  of  Epinephelc  lanlra,'" 
with  incidental  notes  on  the  variation  of  many  other  l)utterflies,  a})pears 
in  the  April  number  of  Socieias  Entomoloyica. 

A  new  book  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Tutt,  entitled  Woodmle,  Bar  aside, 
Hillside,  and  Marsh,  is  in  the  press.  It  will  consist  of  a  series  of 
illustrated  literary  sketches  on  somewhat  similar  lines  to  Random  Recol- 
lections of  Woodland,  Fen  and  Hill,  the  publication  of  which  has 
proved  so  successful.  The  new  volume  will  be  published  at  2s.  ()d., 
and  will  be  illustrated  by  many  plates.  It  will  api)eal  alike  to 
entomologists,  botanists,  geologists  and  ornithologists.  The  essays  are 
written  in  popular  and  untechnical  language,  but  yet  from  the  stand- 
point of  the  most  recent  scientific  knowledge. 

At  the  South  London  Entomological  Society's  meeting  on  March  8th, 
an  amusing  scene  occurred  which  shows  our  scientific  (?)  studies  m  the 
light  in  which  they  are  understood  by  some  people.  A  remarkable 
arrangement,  by  means  of  which  a  dummy  Red  Admiral  butterfly  was 
made  to  move  its  wings,  and  a  comprehensive  contrivance  for  capturing 
butterflies  by  decoy,  after  the  most  approved  method  of  the  White- 
chapel  birdcatcher,  were  set  up  for  exhibition.  The  unscientific  nature 
of  the  whole  affair,  and  the  obvious  want  of  taste  which  led  to  its 
exhibition  at  a  so-called  scientific  meeting,  impressed  many  of  the 
members,  who  sarcastically  asked  whether  a  patent  had  been  taken  out 
for  the  apparatus.  These  remarks  appear  to  have  annoyed  at  least  one 
of  the  members  present,  who  made  quite  a  stirring  speech  to  the  effect 
that  this  was  not  a  subject  for  ridicule  but  a  really  scientific  discovery, 
which  might  be  put  to  good  use  in  the  Tropics,  although  it  might  not 
do  for  use  in  England.  It  strikes  us  that,  whether  in  tlie  Tropics  or 
in  England,  the  business  of  jiggling  one's  leg  up  and  down  to  move 
the  wings  of  a  Vanessa  atalanta,  and  the  pulling  of  a  string  at  some 
thirty  yards  distance,  is  not  a  form  of  entomology  that  the  intelligent 
scientist  or  even  collector  wants  to  have  anything  to  do  with.  It  may 
be  an  interesting  discovery  to  aid  in  the  extermination  of  rare  insects, 
and  is  of  about  as  much  interest  to  science  as  a  thumbscrew.  Men  who 
collect  for  information  we  understand  ;  men  who  collect  for  "  sport " 
as  they  call  it,  and  because  they  must  kill  something,  wo  have  re- 
peatedly met ;  but  from  the  man  who  catches  his  bugs  with  an 
intelligence  (?)  excelling  that  of  the  Whitechapel  bird-catcher  who 
Avrings  the  necks  of  all  his  hen  victims  because  they  are  not  cocks, 
may  we  be  delivered.  We  suppose  the  reference  to  its  use  in  the 
Tropics  when  it  would  not  do  in  England  is  on  the  lines  that  an 
ignorant  white  man  is  able  to  do  in  front  of  intelligent  ])lack  men 
wliat  he  dai"e  not  face  l>efore  the  sensible  farm  laljourers  of  his  own 
nation.     Floreat  Entomologia  a  la  Whitechapel. 

Lepidopterists  are  proceeding  apace.  Only  last  moutli  we  chron- 
icled the  hope  of  a  well-known  correspondent  that  he  might  be  able, 
with  a  friend  of  similar  tastes,  to  do  a  little  bug-catching  after  he  had 
shaken  off  this  mortal  coil,  and  now  in  the  British  Naturalist  we  have 


1G2  THE  entomologist's  record. 

still  more  advanced  views  promulgated.  Mr.  Dale  therein  states,  in 
no  measured  terms, — "  Moreover  he  (Haworth)  did  not  possess 
spilodactijlus,  Curt."  Now  if  this  lie  meant  for  a  joke,  we  must  con- 
gratulate Mr.  Dale  on  the  excessive  profundity  of  his  wit,  but  if  it  be 
meant  as  a  real  solid  statement,  it  really  behoves  us  to  ask  Mr.  Dale  in 
what  part  of  the  Shades  he  meets  the  spirit  of  the  late  Mr.  Haworth, 
to  discuss  with  the  latter  what  he  had  in  his  collection  at  the  beginning 
of  the  century.  When  our  poetical  friend  last  month  suggested  that 
the  depai'ted  might  do  a  little  bug-collecting  on  their  own  account,  we 
little  knew  that  Mr.  Dale  had  already  solved  the  mystery  by  being  in 
sjiiritual  communication  with  the  late  Mr.  Haworth. 

Dr.  T.  A.  Chapman  Avill  read  a  paper  "  On  Butterfly  pupa?  and  the 
lines  of  evolution  they  suggest,'  'at  the  London  Institution,  on  April  17th, 
The  Council  of  the  City  of  London  Entomological  Society  give  a  hearty 
invitation  to  all  entomologists  to  be  present,  and  trust  that  as  many  as 
possible  will  attend. 

We  would  ask  those  gentlemen  who  get  eggs,  larva?  or  pupa?  of  any 
British  butterflies  to  spare,  to  send  them  direct  to  Dr.  T.  A.  Chapman, 
Firbank,  Hereford.  It  is  intended  to  publish  a  scientific  work  on  our 
British  Rhopalocera  as  soon  as  the  material  can  be  collected.  Eggs  and 
larva?  of  Leucophasia  sina/pis,  and  the  Skippers  are  particularly  desider- 
ated at  present,  but  those  of  other  species  are  required. 


OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

SiMUNG  Notes. — Mr,  Beadle  of  Keswick,  reported  as  follows  on 
January  24tli : — "  Insects  are  out  early  so  far  ;  I  took  a  specimen  of 
Hybernia  leucophearla  as  early  as  December  31st,  and  it  has  been 
plentiful  during  the  past  week  with  Phigalia  pedaria  and  Hybernia 
def'oliaria."  Mr.  Freer  (Rugeley)  reports,  on  March  6th:— "I  have 
had  one  Endromis  versicolor  out,  but  lack  of  sunshine  probably  will  keej) 
most  of  them  back.  All  the  early  spring  Geometers  have  l)een  earlier 
than  usual,  though  not  common."  Capt.  Robertson  (Cheltenham),  on 
March  13th,  reports: — "I  tried  my  moth  trap  on  February  28th,  but 
only  took  a  few  Hybernia  proijemmaria,  H.  rupicapraria  and  Anticlea 
badiata  (one  specimen),  I  took,  however,  two  more  A.  badiata  on 
March  8th,  a  month  earlier  tlian  last  year.  On  March  7th  I  tried 
sugar,  and  captured  Scopelosoma  sateUitia,  Orrhodia  vaccinii,  0.  spadicea 
and  one  Taeniocampa  munda,  with  more  of  the  last-named  since."  Mr. 
Robinson  reports  : — "  Insects  are  beginning  to  emerge  in  my  breeding 
cage.  To-day  (March  19th)  Ampliidasys  prodromaria,  Asphalia  ridens, 
and  Eujiithecia  irriyuata  have  come  out  all  from  New  Forest  larva? 
beaten  last  year.  I  find  A.  prodromaria  ajjt  to  be  deformed,  and  the 
larva?  of  which  I  had  a  large  number  were  very  much  ichneumoned, 
with  the  result  that  I  got  but  few  pupsB,  E.  irrignata  is  a  pretty  little 
s})ecies  when  bred,  and  I  feel  well  repaid  for  the  trouble  of  searching 
them  out  from  the  chaos  of  the  beating-tray.  Last  year  one  could 
hardly  beat  an  oak  in  the  New  Forest  Avithout  getting  larva?  of  A. 
ridens,  and  of  many  other  sjiecies  too,"  Mr.  Hooker  (Winton,  Hants), 
reports  the  capture  of  "  Lycaena  argiolus,  on  April  2nd,"  and  "■  the  larva? 
of  Kiiiydia  cribrnm,  taken  very  freely  since  the  beginning  of  March, 
some    of    which    have    since    pujjated."     AL    Hereford    insects    were 


JOHN     JENNER     WEIR,     F.Z.S.,     F.L.S.,     F.E.S., 

Reproduced  from  the  British  Naturalist,  by  the  kind  permission  of  j.  E.  Robson,  Esq.,  F.E.S. 

Plate  f. 


OBITUARY.  103 

abundant  at  sallows  during  the  last  fortnight  of  March.  Hoporina 
croceago,  Sco2:)elosoma  satellitia,  Xylina  socia,  Orrhodia  vaccinii  among  the 
hyl'Ornators  ;  Taeniocampa  pnlvervlenta  and  T.  mimda  in  abundance  ; 
rarhnohia  rnhricosa,  T.  mhuosa,  T.  mNtahilis  and  T.  stahiliti  common  ; 
raclmohia  lencoijraphn,  T.  popideti  and  T.  (jraeilis  rare  ;  rterojihornti 
vionodacti/lm  and  Eupithccin  ahhreriata  also  came  to  sallows  ;  Brcphos 
notha  was  common  roinid  the  aspens,  and  jB.  pmrthenias  over  the 
birches,  but  the  fine  weather  kept  them  oiit  of  reach  of  the  net.  and 
they  were  not  to  be  captured.  Hybernated  specimens  of  Poh/i/onia 
c-albnm,  Vanessa  io  and  F.  urticae  were  observed,  with  fresh  sj)ecimens 
of  Pieris  rnpae,  Xylocampa  areola,  and  several  Lemnatophila  saliceUa, 
and  one  Epiijraphia  steinkcUner/eUa  flitting  about  a  hawthorn  hedge. 
Lyomtia  clerckella  and  HyJopoda  pariana  Were  seen  in  a  similar 
situation. — J.  W.  Tutt.     April  2nd,  1894. 


©BITUARY. 


I       JOHN    JENNER    WEIR,    F.Z.S.,     F.L.S.,     F.E.S.       I 
(Eol-n  August   yth,   1822.     Died  March  2or(l,   18'J+.)  I 

One  by  one  the  human  links  in  the  chain  which  connects  the  old 
science  with  the  new  droji  out,  and  entomologists  have  recently  had  to 
bear  more  than  their  fair  percentage  of  loss.  The  loss  is  more  severely 
felt  in  some  cases  than  in  others,  dejjending  largely  upon  whether  or 
not  the  departed  one  has  kept  in  touch  with  the  younger  generation  in 
the  onward  progressive  march  of  science  Avhich  the  last  few  decades 
have  witnessed. 

Such  a  man  we  have  to  mourn  now.  The  death  of  Mr.  J.  Jenner 
Weir  has  removed  from  our  midst  a  man  of  keen  and  vigorous  intellect, 
whose  life  has  been  one  long  devotion  to  the  study  of  the  natui-al 
objects  everywhere  around  him,  and  to  the  advancement  of  science  so 
far  as  in  him  lay.  He  brought  to  the  consideration  of  every  problem 
an  open  and  unbiassed  mind,  and  formed  his  opinions  on  the  facts  at  his 
disposal  at  once  free  from  narrowness,  and  without  a  tinge  of  personal 
bitterness.  He  was  essentially  a  modest  man,  retiring  and  diffident, 
and  yet,  when  necessary,  lie  acted  with  decision,  forming  quickly  sound 
and  accurate  judgments,  and  although  he  published  but  little  his  mind 
was  a  storehouse  of  information  that  was  always  at  the  disjDosal  of  his 
numerous  friends. 

His  gTcatest  pride  was  his  knowledge  that  in  a  modest  way  he  liad 
helped  the  two  great  naturalists  of  the  time,  Darwin  and  Wallace.  It 
is  well  known  that  many  of  the  entomological  references  in  the  works 
of  the  former  were  due  to  Mr.  Weir,  and  for  the  latter  he  undertook, 
in  1868,  a  series  of  experiments  on  the  relation  between  insects  and 
insectivorous  birds,  more  especially  on  the  relation  which  existed 
between  the  latter  and  the  colour  and  edibility  of  Lepidoptera  and 
their  larvae.  The  conclusions  based  on  these  experiments  were 
formulated  in  a  paper  read  before  the  Entomological  Society  of  London 
on  March  1st,  1869,  and  puldished  in  the  Transactions  for  tliat  voar, 
followed  by  a  second  paper  read  on  July  4th,  1870,  and  also  published 
in  the  Transactions. 


104  THK    entomologist's    RECORD. 

Entomology  was  uot  his  first  love.  In  conjunction  with  his  brother, 
Harrison  Weir,  the  well  known  painter,  he  first  formed  a  collection  of 
a  large  number  of  living  Vertebrata.  An  unbroken  interest  in 
vertebrates  was  kept  up,  as  the  brothers'  labours  connected  with  many 
of  our  great  exhibitions  at  various  places  testif3^  British  birds'  eggs 
and  botanical  specimens  both  attracted  his  attention  before,  in  the 
summer  of  1843,  the  study  of  entomology  seriously  took  a  hold  on  him. 
At  that  time  he  was  22  years  of  age  and  resided  at  Camberwell,  which, 
in  his  own  words,  was  "  within  an  easy  walk  of  Dulwich  Wood  of  SO 
acres,  to  which  access  was  to  be  had  without  difficulty.  London,  in 
those  days,  broke  off  abruptly,  and  at  four  miles  from  London  Bridge 
one  was  as  much  in  the  country  as  if  fifty  miles  distant.  There  were 
rookeries  at  the  Tower,  in  St.  Dunstan's  Churchyard,  and  one  nest  in 
Wood  Street,  Cheapside.  Swallows  had  their  nests  in  the  Custom 
House,  and  I  have  often  seen  falcons  on  the  spire  of  St.  Dunstan's 
Church.  One  Peregrine  Falcon  took  up  its  residence  in  the  spire  of 
Shoreditch  Church,  and  committed  sad  havoc  among  the  pigeons  in 
Spitalfields,  and  it  was  no  unusual  thing  for  my  own  pigeons  at 
Camberwell  to  be  suddenly  swooped  upon  lay  a  falcon." 

In  1844  Mr.  Weir  became  friendly  with  Messrs.  Douglas  and 
George  Bedell,  and  soon  afterwards  with  Mr.  Stainton.  These  friend- 
ships soon  led  him  to  become  as  ardent,  if  not  so  well-known,  a  micro- 
lepidopterist  as  themselves.  At  the  end  of  the  year  he  attended  a 
meeting  of  the  Entomological  Society,  and  was  elected  a  member  in 
January,  1845.  This  led  to  his  acquaintance  with  most  of  the  leading 
entomologists  of  that  time,  such  as  Spence,  Stephens,  Westwood, 
Doubleday,  Newman  and  many  others. 

In  June,  1845,  we  find  him  chronicling  the  capture  of  Ino  geryon 
(mitil  then  only  a  reputed  British  species),  Agrotin  cinerea  and  Cramhis 
pygmaem  (ccruscJlMs)  at  Lewes,  and  from  that  time  onwards  various 
notes  from  his  pen  are  to  be  found  scattered  over  the  pages  of  the 
Entomological  magazines. 

His  connection  with  Darwin  and  Wallace  led  him  to  take  more 
than  ordinary  interest  in  the  pliilosophical  aspects  of  science,  and 
whilst  most  of  his  contemporaries  continued  on  in  their  species-making 
lines,  he  ranged  himself  at  once  with  the  younger  men,  and  fought 
manfully  in  their  ranks.  An  accident  in  1870,  by  which  he  lost  the 
top  of  his  left  thumb,  and  was  thus  incapacitated  from  manipulating 
small  and  delicate  insects,  led  him  to  give  a  much  greater  portion  of 
his  time  to  the  study  and  consideration  of  the  larger  species,  and 
butterflies  attracted  his  attention,  the  subject  of  mimicry  having  an 
immense  fascination  for  him.  In  furtherance  of  his  studies  in  this 
interesting  subject,  he  made  a  very  large  collection  of  the  Danaine 
Rhopalocera  and  the  families  of  butterflies  that  mimic  them.  He  made 
a  number  of  exhibits  of  these  specimens  at  the  South  London  Ent. 
and  Nat.  History  Society,  and  the  Entom.  Society  of  London,  and 
read  most  carefully  prepared  notes  thereon,  but  at  the  former  Society 
lie  oft-times  felt  a  want  of  sympathy  with  his  more  advanced  ideas, 
for  very  recently  he  said  in  a  letter  to  the  writer, — "  I  do  hope  you 
will  be  present  to-night.  I  have  some  notes  to  read  which  will  interest 
vou,  and  I  want  your  support.  It  is  difticult  for  a  man  at  my  age  to 
understand  that  comparatively  young  men  publicly  delight  in  expressing 
their  disbelief  in  evolution,  and  almost  in  the  same  breath  inform  you 


SnCIETIKS.  lO") 

that  tliey  have  never  read  the  main  works  thereon,  whilst  at  the  same 
time  pretending  to  do  scientific  work."  Old  views  die  hard,  and  in 
talking  the  matter  over  afterwards  we  agi'eed  that  it  was  good  so  much 
liad  been  accomplished  in  such  a  short  time. 

He  was  on  the  Council  of  the  Entomological  Society  of  London  inter- 
mittently since  1849.  For  seven  years  lie  was  Treasurer  and  twice 
Vice-President.  Why  sixch  an  able  man  was  never  President  is  most 
inexplicable.  Probably  it  was  due  to  his  natural  modesty,  but  for  all 
that  it  remains  one  of  those  things  that  "  very  few  Fellows  can  under- 
stand." He  has  been  Vice-President  of  the  South  London  Entoino- 
logical  Society  for  many  years  in  succession,  and  only  last  year  (1S93) 
at  the  age  of  71,  the  Society  honoured  itself  by  electing  him  I'resident. 
His  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  this  Society  was  almost  on  a  level  Avitli 
that  shown  by  Mr.  Capper  for  the  Lancashire,  and  Mr.  Clark  for  the 
City  of  London  Societies,  the  three  men  standing  out  as  public 
benefactors  in  their  anxiety  to  further  the  interests  of  Science  and  the 
progressive  welfare  of  all. 

With  the  writer,  many  will  feel  that  they  have  lost  a  respected  and 
honoured  friend.  Manv  of  us,  too.  will  feel  that  we  have  lost  a  teacher, 
a  man  of  extensive  erudition  and  knowledge,  a  generous  jiatron  of  our 
studies  to  whom  we  might  turn  for  lielp,  for  information,  for  symjjathy 
and  be  certain  that  we  should  obtain  either  or  all,  so  far  as  was  in  the 
giver's  juiwer.  Through  many  a  younger  man,  Avho  has  learned  at  his 
feet,  it  may  bo  well  said  that  he  being  dead  yet  speaketh,  and  the 
imprint  that  lie  has  made  will  show  the  futility  of  belief  in  annihilation. 
He  has  done  his  work ;  his  successors  will  say  lie  has  done  it  humbly 
but  well. — .].   W.  TuTT. 


gOCIETIES. 

At  the  meeting  of  The  Entomological  Society  of  London,  on 
Feb.  28th,  1894,  Professor  August  Forel,  M.D.,  of  the  University  of 
Ziirich,  was  elected  an  Honorar}'  Fellow  of  the  Society,  to  fill  tlie 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  the  late  Professor  H.  A.  Hagen,  M.D. 
Mr.  G.  C.  Champion  called  attention  to  a  supposed  new  Tjongicorn 
beetle,  described  and  figured  by  Herr  A.  F.  Nonfried,  of  Kacknitz, 
Jiohemia,  under  the  name  of  CaUipogon  friedUinderi,  in  the  Berl.  Ent. 
Zeitsrhr.,  1S92,  p.  22.  He  said  that  the  supposed  characters  of  the 
insect  were  tlue  to  the  fact,  that  the  head  had  been  gummed  on  upside 
down  I  The  Rev.  Theodore  Wood  exhibited  Saturnia  carpini,  with  semi- 
transparent  wings,  a  large  proportion  of  the  scales  being  a])parently 
absent,  l)red  Avith  several  examples  of  the  type-form  at  Baldock,  Herts  ; 
also  a  pale  variety  of  Sinerinfhm  popidi,  which  was  said  to  have  been 
bred,  with  several  similar  specimens,  from  larvjB  marked  with  rows  of 
red  spots  on  both  sides. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  South  London  Entomological  and  Natikal 
HiSTOKY  Society,  on  Feb.  Btli,  1894,  the  following  among  dtlier 
exhibits,  Avere  made: — Mr.  Carpenter  ;  a  form  of  Agrotis  cursor ia  from 
Aberdeen,  which  was  not  distinguishal)le  from  a  southern  form  of  A. 
tritici.  Mr.  AV.  F.  Warne  ;  about  two  dozen  species  of  Lcpidoptera 
taken  near  Rockhampton,  Queenslaiul,  in  a  single  moi'iiing  ;  among  them 


ICCi  TTIK    KNTOMOT.fX;  tint's    KKCOKO. 

were  Anosla  <ireJN'}>2)ns  and  De/'opeia  piilchella.  Mr.  Dennis;  a  specimen 
of  Vanessa  lo,  with  a  small  additional  ocellus  on  eacli  hind  wing,  and  a 
smaller  dark  blotch  below  the  central  blotch  on  the  fore  wings.  Mr. 
Jenner  Weir :  Encheira  socialis,  Westwd.,  perhaps  the  most  archaic 
form  of  the  Pierinae  extant.  Mr.  Frohawk  ;  a  l)red  series  of  Argynnrs 
eaphrosi/ne,  which  were  nearly  eleven  months  in  the  larval  stage.  Mr. 
Manger;  a  land  crab  (Ocypoda  cursor)  iroin  Lagos,  which  was  so  nimble, 
that  it  conld  only  be  obtained  by  sliooting  it.  Mr.  Carrington ;  the 
eggs  of  a  snail  {Bulimns  oblongus)  from  Trinidad  ;  these  were  so  exceed- 
ingly calcareous,  that  they  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  the  eggs  of  a 
bird.  Mr.  Adkin  pointed  out,  and  ilh;strated  l)y  examples  of  the  several 
species,  the  characters  by  Avhicli  the  closely  allied  sj^ecies  miglit  easily 
be  distinguished: — CramJuis  t'ricelhis,  C.  dniuefellns,  C.  pratclJns,  C. 
iiii/ellus,  C.  pinellus,  C  fnrcatelli(s  and  C.  marijariteUns.  Mr.  W.  A.  Pearce 
exhibited  the  folloAving  insects  taken  by  himself  in  Alleghany,  U.S.A., 
in  ly'J2-o  : — Fi/raineis  atalanta,  P.  hnnfera,  Vanessa  anfiopa,  Poli/ijoiiia 
/nfcrrotjafionis,  P.  romnia  (both  broods) ;  also  bred  series  of  Tclca  poli/- 
}>lieinns  and  Samia  cecropia.  A  discussion  ensued  Avith  regard  to  the 
gregariousness  of  the  larvae  of  V.  antiopa,  the  imagines  being  seldom 
met  with  in  company. — At  the  meeting  on  Feb.  22nd,  j\[r.  Jenner  Weir 
exliibited  a  new  butterfly,  belonging  to  the  sub-family  Enj)laeinae,  which 
h(^  liad  described  under  the  name  of  Cadttga  erowlei/t.  Mr.  Carrington  ; 
a  shell  of  Helix  pomatia,  cut  to  show  the  spiral  and  the  smooth  in- 
ternal surface,  Avhicli  latter,  he  stated,  was  siliceous.  Mr.  Auld  (for  Mr. 
Tngwell,  in  order  to  correct  an  error  in  the  report  of  the  meeting  htdd 
on  .Ian.  11th)  ;  a  series  of  the  York  City  form  of  Sjrilosoina  Inbricipeda. 
fin-  which  Mr.  Tugwell  suggests  the  name  var.  ehoraci,  also  series  of  var. 
znfinia,  and  of  the  selected  brood  originating  fi'om  Yorkshire,  for  whicli 
he  suggests  the  name  var.  fasciata.  Mr.  Fearce  :  Feniseca  tarquinins  ; 
spring  and  summer  l)roods  of  Li/caena  psendargiohis ;  L.  roini/ntas  and 
Thecla  edmardsii,  all  h-on\  Pennsylvania,  U.S.A.  Mr.  South  ;  a  specimen 
of  Argyunis  aglaia,  from  Hamjishirc,  which  was  a  modification  of  x-av. 
rharlotta,  the  silvery  spots  being  converted  into  long  streaks  ;  also  f(n" 
Mr.  Rose,  of  Barnsloj',  a  bred  series  of  Phygali'a  j>edaria,  of  whicli  some 
were  uniformly  l)lack,  without  a  trace  of  markings;  for  Mr.  Fowler,  of 
Hingwood,  a  specimen  of  Euchelia  jacobaeae,  in  which  the  costal  stripe 
Avas  carried  round  the  hind  margin  to  meet  the  spot ;  for  Mr.  Allis,  of 
York,  a  photograph  of  three  s})ecinrens  of  S.  Inbricipeda,  in  the  Allis 
collection  at  York,  two  of  which  were  undoubtedly  the  zatima  form, 
although  not  extreme  examjiles. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  P>ii{jiingham  Entomological  Society  on 
January  15th,  1894,  Mr.  G.  T.  J>ethune-Baker  exhibited  Agrotis  obsciira 
i^r<ivida)  from  Wicken;  three  specimens  of  Tapinosiola  C(yiicolor 
taken  near  Wicken  by  AHiei't  Houghton ;  also  a  collection  of 
lepidoptera  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Alexandria;  these  showed  a 
mingling  of  ^Mediterranean  with  Indo-Persian  forms  but  there  were  no 
true  Ethiopian  forms  amongst  them ;  the  collection  contained  twenty- 
two  species  new  to  science  and  is  probably  the  largest  hitherto  received 
from  Egypt.  Mr.  Bradley  exhibited  specimens  of  Andrena  fnlva  and 
.1.  cineraria,  which  had  been  dug  up  at  Sutton  Deeeml)er  2Sth,  1893,  a 
date  at  which  they  should  liave  been  in  the  pu})al  stage  ;  Mr.  E.  Saunders 
had  informed  him  that  Mr.  F.  Enock  had  on  one  occasion  dug  up  an 
Andrena  with  a  parasitic  Nontada  in  December,  but  that  he  knew  of  no 


SOriETIES.  l(i( 

other  similar  case. — The  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  was  held  on 
February  iith,  Mr.  G.  H.  Kenrick  Avas  elected  President ;  Mr.  G.  T. 
Bethuue-Baker,  Vice- President,  and  Mr.  0.  J.  Wainwriglit,  147,  Hall 
Koad,  Handsworth,  Secretary  for  the  ensuing  year.  Mr.  P.  W.  Al)bott 
exhiliited  Aciddlid  hnniiUata  from  the  Isle  of  Wiglit,  one  specimen  taken 
by  himself  in  1891,  others  ca})tured  by  j\Ir.  A.  J.  Hodges  ;  an  unusually 
dark  specimen  of  Hadoui  nana  (dentina)  from  Sutton,  and  a  pale  chalk- 
cliff  form  from  the  Isle  of  Wight;  these  were  utterly  unlike  in 
appearance ;  a  specimen  of  Lohophora  virefata  from  Sutton,  which  was 
small  and  pale  and  lacked  the  usual  median  bands.  Mr.  A.  H.  Martineau 
exhibited  workers  of  3L/rmica  rnfa  and  M.  savguinea,  and  stated  that 
he  had  found  a  nest  of  the  latter  species  at  Wyre  Forest  last  year.  —  (  hi 
March  19th,  Mr.  Martineau  exhibited  a  small  collection  of  Lepidoptcra, 
mainly  Butterflies,  taken  on  Lundy  Island  liy  j\Ir.  R.  W.  (.'base,  many 
of  the  specimens  being  distinctly  below  the  average  size.  It  included 
Sntyrns  semele,  Vanessa  atahintd,  V.urticae,  V.  jJoIi/cJilnros,  Bomhyx  rnhl, 
Zi/gaena  trifolU,  Z.  fiUpondidae,  etc.  Mr.  P.  W.  Abbott  exhil)ited  single 
specimens  of  LcKcania  obsnlpfa  and  Senta  maritima,  from  tlie  neighl)our- 
hood  of  Ely. 

No  notice  of  the  doings  of  the  Ua:mbkidge  ENTo:\i()i.o(;[(Arj  Society 
has  appeared  in  this  magazine  since  April  last ;  the  Society,  however, 
has  not  been  idle.  Since  our  last  report  eight  meetings  have  heew  held. 
At  these  the  following  among  other  exhibits  have  been  made.  Mr. 
Theobald,  who  during  the  winter  lectures  in  North  Kent  on  insects 
injurious  to  cro])s,  kc.  showed  several  cases  illustrative  of  the  life- 
histories  of  suc-Ii  insects ;  also  specimens  of  the  Tortoise  l)eetle,  Aspidlo- 
morp/iu  sanie-cnicis  from  the  Elephanta  caves  of  Bombay  ;  also  Stylojiiscd 
bees  and  mounted  specimens  of  both  ^  and  $  Stylo2)s.  INIr.  Jones  ;  a 
speciuien  of  Vanessa  antiopa  taken  at  Cambridge  in  1S7G  and  Triphaeim 
suhseqna,  taken  at  Chippenhaui  Fen  in  1891.  Mr.  Kickards ;  Thecla 
lo-album,  Agrofis  ohsciira  (rav/'d(<)  (md  Epnnda  luhtJenta,  taken  at  Oaiu- 
bridge  ;  also  some  parasites  lired  from  larva\  of  wliicli  he  gave  tlu^ 
following  history : — 

''  Earl}-  in  June  I  found  scA'eral  green  larvae,  presumably  those  of 
Folia  flamdncla;  on  or  about  the  17th  I  noticed  on  one  of  them  some 
small  objects  which  resembled  green  Aphides,  but  M'hich,  on  examining 
them  through  a  lens,  I  discovered  to  be  parasites ;  they  were  attached 
at  the  junction  of  the  several  segments  of  the  larva,  or,  in  some  instances 
were  found  where  the  false-legs  or  claspers  joined  on  to  tlie  bodv.  In 
appearance  they  resembled  small  flask-sha2)ed  vesicles,  filled  Avitli  a 
very  bright-green  solution  of  chlorophyll,  and  showed  no  traces  of 
either  internal  or  external  organs :  by  the  20th  they  had  increased  in 
size,  and  began  to  assume  a  milky  or  clouded  appearance  and  to  exl libit 
some  slight  indication  of  structure :  up  to  this  date  I  l)elieved  that  they 
were  external  parasites  :  their  develojnnent  was  now  rapid  ;  on  the  21st 
most  of  them  had  freed  themselves  from  any  connection  with  their 
host,  were  whitish-grey  in  colour,  and  in  two  individuals  a  small  black 
rounded  mass  (much  like  the  head  of  a  small  fly)  made  its  appearance 
at  one  end :  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd  all  of  them  were  j^rovided 
with  these  black  masses,  which  I  could  now  see  were  of  an  excre- 
mentitious  nature.  Towards  night  several  of  them  had  assumed  a  more 
or  less  sooty-gi'ey  appearance,  one  being  very  nearly  black  ;  the  legs 
were  now  plainly  visi))le  through  the  skin  of  the  nymph  ur  jjupa ;  on 


lOS  THE    rONTOMOT-OOTST's    KErORn. 

tlie  morning  of  the  23rci  most  of  them  had  become  black,  and  by  night 
all  were  Idack  excepting  four.  They  left  their  host  tail  foremost,  their 
tail  ends  all  pointing  away  from  the  body  of  their  late  host,  and 
changed  to  nymphs  with  the  ventral  surface  upjjermost.  Some  ten  or 
twelve  emerged  on  the  6th  of  July  and  by  the  next  morning  there 
were  about  forty  of  them  out :  the  antennfe  of  the  ^  s  were  branched, 
and  the  branches  kept  opening  and  closing  as  the  insect  walked  about. 
I  l)elieve  they  belong  to  the  genus  Chirocera  of  the  family  Chalrididdc, 
which  follows  next  to  the  IrJineinnouhhic  in  Westwood's  classification. 
I  found  Iavo  larvae  infested  ;  the  one  I  kept  under  observation  had 
forty-four  of  these  parasites."  On  J)ccendier  1st  Dr.  Chapman  read 
tlie  paper  published  on  page  o  of  the  current  volume  of  the  Utrovd, 
and  in  connection  therewith  Mr.  Farren  exhibited  Swifts,  Noctuas, 
Geometers  and  Deltoids  having  hair-tufts  either  on  their  A\ings, 
bodies,  or  legs,  &c.  On  May  12th  Mr.  F.  Y.  Theobald,  M.A.,  F.E  S. 
read  a  paper  on  "  Parthenogenesis  in  Insects,"  of  which  the  following 
is  a  short  epitome.  Having  ])riefly  alluded  to  the  usual  methods  of 
reproduction,  a  short  account  Avas  given  of  exceptional  cases.  The 
C'oelenterata  were  instanced  as  sliowing  metagenesh,  which  is  an  alter- 
nation of  sexual  and  a-sexual  forms,  while  ixirthenogenesis  is  an  alter- 
nation of  two  sexual  forms  and  not,  as  is  often  supposed,  of  sexual 
and  a-sexual  forms.  Partlienogenesis  occurs  amongst  the  Hemijitera- 
liomoptera,  Diptera,  Le2)idoptera,  Hymenoptera  and  Coleoptera.  The 
Aphides  were  dealt  with  at  considerable  length  and  the  differences 
betAveen  the  oviparous  and  viviparous  generations  pointed  oxit ;  reference 
was  also  made  to  the  Coca'dae  and  iJierines.  In  Dij)tera  tAvo  remarkable 
cases  of  larval  parthenogenesis  or  j^aedogftiesis  occurring  in  Cecldotiiyia 
and  Chiroiiomiis  were  mentioned.  Coming  to  Hymenoptera,  allusion  was 
made  to  the  Hive-bee.  Tlie  queen  apparently  is  only  fertilized  once  in 
four  or  live  years,  but  goes  on  laying  eggs  that  pi-oduce  ^  a  and  ?s 
until  the  spermatic  influence  is  exhausted,  after  Avhich  she  produces 
drones  only.  Examples  are  not  numerous  among  I.epidoptera,  partheno- 
genesis only  occurring  in  the  Fsi/rhiddc,  in  Solenohia  and  in  Bondiyx 
mori;  in  the  latter  it  is  probal)ly  a  recently  acquired  habit.  In 
Coleoptera  Stylops  Avas  instanced.  In  concluding  Mr.  Theobald  descrilied 
the  structure  and  development  of  the  true  OA^a  and  ovaries  of  insects, 
and  shoAved  that  pseud-OA-a  arise  from  the  pseud-ovaries  in  the  same 
Avay,  and  that  the  pseud-ovary  is  not  a  germ  gland  but  a  rudimentary 
OA'ary,  haA'ing  the  poAver  of  precocious  and  spontaneous  dcA-elopment. 
IVIr.  Eickard  is  the  President  and  ]\Ir.  W.  Farren  the  Hon.  Secretary 
for  the  j)i"esent  year. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Lancashire  anh  Cueshike  Entojiolouicai, 
Society,  on  Feb.  12th,  1894,  I\Ir.  Stott  exhibited  Calosoma  inquisitor, 
Geotrnpes  typhoens  and  G.  reritah's,  taken  in  Carmarthenshire,  in  1893. 
Mr.  Kobert  NeAvstead,  F.E.S.,  read  a  paper  on  "  Correlations  of  Plants 
and  Insects,"  in  which  he  discussed  tlie  fertilization  of  the  j'ucca,  and 
explained  the  process  as  described  by  Prof.  C.  V.  Rilej',  in  Insect  Life, 
adding  notes  from  his  own  observations,  on  the  insects  Avhich  frequent 
the  floAvers  in  this  country.  He  also  alluded  to  the  gall-making  Bra- 
rltyscelidue  of  Australia,  a  group  of  Corcidac  jDeculiar  to  that  country, 
and  to  the  galls  of  Di2)Josis  rnniicis,  suggesting  it  as  quite  possible  that 
botanists  have  described  malformed  "  tubercles  "  of  some  species  of 
Rninex,  as  he  had  found  a  great  number  of  "  tubercles  "  sAvollen  by  this 


SOCIETIES.  109 

Species.  On  Marcli  12tli,  Mr.  W.  E.  Sliarpe,  whose  interesting  paper 
on  "■  The  New  EntomologN"  "  in  the  Entomolotjitit,  should  be  read  by  all 
students,  gave  a  brief  description  of  the  Britisli  species  of  the  coleopter- 
ous genus  Silpha,  particularly  of  those  which  occurred  locally,  and 
exhibited  illustrative  s]iecimens.  He  (|Uoted  some  remarks  l^y  Prof. 
A.  Giard,  on  Silpha  opucd,  which  is  very  destructive  to  the  French 
beet-root  crops. 

City  of  London  Entojiological  .\ni)  Natural  History  Society. — 
Feb.  20th,  1894. — ^[r.  Heasler  having  sent  in  his  resignation  of  the 
curatorshi}),  Mr.  Bayne  was  unanimously  elected  in  his  stead. 

Exhibits  : — Mr.  Battley  ;  ova  of  Diloba  caerideocephnla.  Mr.  Clark  ; 
a  short  series  of  Gnopliria  rahricoWnf  from  the  New  Forest,  and  a  curious 
pad  of  felt-like  materi;il,  resembling  a  pancake  in  appearance  ;  this  had 
been  spun  in  a  pill-box  l)y  parasitic  larvaj,  which  emerged  from  a  larva 
of  Hepkdus  hamuli ;  the  disintegrated  remains  of  the  latter  were  attached 
to  the  pad.  Dr.  Sequeira ;  the  following  "  Micros  "  from  the  New 
Forest : — Cramhns  perlclhis,  var.  ivarringtonelbis,  Harpipteryx  xi/lostclld 
(harpella),  Cerostotiia  radiatella,  Retinid  pinicolana,  Etipoecilia  nmbitju^lla, 
Paedisca  solandridua  and  F.  p>rofuudand.  There  were  six  specimens  of 
the  latter  species,  three  of  them  having  an  inner-marginal  white  spot 
on  the  fore  wings,  and  the  other  three  no  white  spot,  l)ut  a  distinct 
oblicpie  dark  fascia,  which  gave  them  a  strong  reseuil)lance  to  the  genus 
Tortrix.  Mr.  Lane;  Stanrojtns  faiji  and  Ldsiocdinj)a  qncrcifolia  from 
Reading.  Mr.  Bayne  ;  Hyberuia  defoliaria  from  E})ping  Forest ;  most 
of  these  were  of  the  pale  cream  variety,  with  dark  l)ars. 

March  Gfh,  1894. — Exhibits  :  Mr.  Oldhani ;  a  short  but  very  varialde 
series  of  Hybcrnia  leucophearia  from  Epping  Forest.  Mr.  Clark ; 
some  freshly  emerged  specimens  of  Taeniocattipn  </othica,  reared  from 
eggs  of  var.  (jofhicina ;  the  specimens  were  richly  suffused  with  red  but 
were  in  other  resjjccts  of  the  normal  tjqie.  Dr.  Secpieira ;  the  Indian 
form  of  Vanessa  atalduUi  and  V.  cardni,  which  did  not  appreciably 
differ  from  those  found  in  this  country  ;  also  a  sort  of  spur  from  the 
thorax  of  Dicranura  rinula  with  which,  he  stated,  the  moth  cut  its  Avay 
out  of  the  cocoon.  Mr.  Bayne ;  four  eggs  of  the  Willow  Wren 
{Fhylloscopm  trocMlm),  two  of  which  were  rather  long  and  s])eckled 
with  very  small  reddish  dots,  while  the  other  two  were  roundish  and 
marked  with  reddish  blotches.  Mr.  Battley  reported  that  he  had 
recently  taken  Nyssia  hispidaria  in  Ep})ing  Foi'est  l)y  "  asseml)ling  "  ; 
on  a  frosty  evening  he  secured  about  20  males,  but  on  a  warm  evening 
nearl}'  70  rewarded  his  exertions ;  he  also  stated  that  he  had  found  a 
^  Hybcrnia  inanjinarid.  paired  with  a  $  Fhir/alia  pedaiia  and  that  he 
liad  obtained  ova  from  the  latter.  Mr.  Tutt,  in  connection  with  an 
exhibit  of  some  South  African  flowers  and  of  insects  caught  by  them 
which  had  been  sent  to  Mr.  Hope  Alderson  of  F;irnborough,  said  that 
the  local  name  of  the  plant  is  the  "  moth-catcher  "  and  that  the  flowers 
close  on  any  insect  settling  on  them  and  hold  it  fast  till  it  dies.  Mr. 
Alderson  lioped  to  receive  some  seed  of  the  plant,  which  he  would  try 
and  rear.  Mr.  Tutt  also  passed  round  an  auctioneer's  catalogue  of  a 
sale  of  the  Duchess  of  Portland's  collection  in  1786.  Mr.  Bacot 
exhi))ited  jjupa-cases  of  Saturnia  pavonia,  Bonibyx  quercm,  Odonestis 
potdtorid,  Ddsychira  pudibandd  and  Ocneria  dispar,  and  made  the 
following  remarks: — "It  occurred  to  me  that,  as  many  apterous  Js 
have  the  wing-cases  well-developed  in  the  pupa,  possibly  the   J  s  of 


110  THE    entomologist's    KECORU. 

other  species  niiglit  have  specially  male  characters  developed  in  the 
pupa.  An  examination  of  the  pupa-cases  of  the  species  exhibited 
to-night  yielded  the  following  results  :  In  ;S'.  pavonia,  I),  pudihimda  and 
0.  dispar  the  antennae- cases  are  nearly  as  well  developed  in  the  female 
as  in  the  male  pupa,  whilst  in  the  imagines  the  antenna}  are  only  very 
slightly  pectinated  in  the  J  and  only  occupy  a  small  portion  of  the 
space  covered  by  the  pupal  cases.  In  li.  querent  there  is  no  develop- 
ment suggestive  of  })ectinated  antenn;e  in  the  pu])a,  though  the  antennje- 
cases  arc  ratlier  more  raised  in  the  male  than  iu  the  female  pupa ;  in 
().  potatoria  the  development  is  hardly  noticealile  ;  in  the  imagines  ol 
lioth  species  the  pectinations  are  strongly  marked  in  the  J  s,  slightly 
so  in  the  2  s,  the  latter  species  being  rather  the  more  favoured  in  this 
respect.  From  these  facts  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  tlie  first  group 
have  evolved  from  a  type  or  types  that  had  the  pectinations  of  the 
antennai  well-developed  in  both  sexes  and  in  which,  probabl^^,  either 
sex  would  be  attracted  by  and  fly  to  the  other,  that  the  J  s  subsequently 
lost  the  pectinations  through  disuse,  whilst  in  the  ^  s  of  S.  paiwuia 
they  have  been  still  further  developed.  In  the  second  group  the 
evolution  would  seem  to  have  been  from  simple  to  })ectinated  antemue, 
the  (J  s  having  advanced  farthest  in  this  respect,  whilst  the  puptB  have 
not  yet  fully  res])onded  to  the  change."  Mr.  Koutledge  exhibited  a 
collection  of  Coleoptera  taken  l)y  him  near  Carlisle,  auiong  them  being 
Silplia  ni(/rit(i,  Cocclnclhi  \A-pnnctat(i,  Pterostichns  versicolor,  Aviara 
ontt(t,  Limoiiiiis  cijIlndyicnH  and  liavynotus  schimhcrrl.  Mr.  Tutt  read  a 
})ai)er  on  "  Nature's  Scents,"  in  which  he  pointed  out  that,  as  a  rule,  it 
was  the  inconspicuous  flowers  which  had  the  richest  perfume,  blue  and 
reil  flowers  being  mostly  devoid  of  odour ;  that  this  development  oi 
})erfume  subserved  the  purpose  of  attracting  insects  to  the  blossoms  and 
so  ensured  cross-fertilization  ;  other  scents,  both  in  the  animal  and 
vegetable  kingdom,  were  disgusting  and  jirobably  subserved  a  jDrotective 
function.  Mr.  J.  A.  Skertchley  mentioned  the  case  of  a  South  American 
flower  which  was  of  a  dee})  red  colour ;  it  was  perfectly  sc(;ntless  by 
day  l)ut  during  the  night,  when  its  colour  rendered  it  practically 
invisible,  it  gave  off  a  very  powerful  })crfnme  ;  the  plant  was  visited  in 
large  uumliers  liy  a  species  of  a  Hawk-moth. 

March,  20tJi,  18<J4.— Exhibits  :— Mr.  Prout ;  a  large  number  of 
specimens  of  Coreniia  feyriujarin,  Haw.,  to  illustrate  his  paper.  Mr. 
l)attley  ;  a  living  J  and  ova  of  Anisoptcri/x  ncscuhiria,  in  Kiln,  on  a  twig 
of  birch  ;  the  eggs  were  deposited  in  a  necklace-like  ring,  encircling 
tlie  twig  just  beyond  a  small  shoot ;  there  were  about  24  eggs,  counting- 
round  the  twig,  and  the  band  varied  from  4  to  9  eggs  in  width,  so  that 
in  all  there  were  150-200  eggs.  They  were  covered  with  down  from 
the  anal  tuft,  and  appeared  to  l)e  ovoid  in  shape,  and  attached  by  their 
smaller  end.  I  )r.  Secpieira ;  Aiaphidasi/s  strataria,  FdnoJis  piniperda, 
lli/beriiid  Iciicojiliedvia,  Alencix  piciaria,  all  ])red,  from  the  New  Forest; 
also  several  beautiful  varieties  of  Larcntiacaesiata,  Mclanippe  montanata, 
Mclanthia  (dhicillatd,  and  31.  bicolorata.  Mr.  Goldthwait ;  Colias  edusa, 
with  var.  heJicc,  and  intermediate  forms ;  one  of  the  C.  edusa  had  the 
marginal  pale  spots  so  strongly  developed  on  the  hind  wings,  as  almost 
to  form  a  band.  Mr.  Lane  ;  CaJocaiupa  vetiisfa  from  Aberdeen.  Mr. 
('.  Fenn ;  C.  ferrugata  and  C.  unidentaria,  including  a  Scotch  form  of 
the  latter,  and  a  specimen  with  tlie  median  liand  extremely  narrow. 
Tiiese  two  species  were  also  exhibited  l)y  other  members.    Mr.  Bayiie  ex- 


SOCIETIES.  Ill 

liibited  Psilnra  monacha  from  the  New  Forest,  and  made  the  following- 
remark  s : — "This  species  seem  to  liave  shown— at  least  in  our  experi- 
ence— a  greater  tendency  to  the  production  of  banded  forms  in  1893, 
tlian  in  the  preceding  season  ;  and  the  more  frequent  occurrence  of  dark 
varieties  in  certain  seasons  has  previously  l)een  commented  on  l»y  ]\Ir. 
Tutt.  At  least  five,  including  exannjles  of  both  sexes,  of  those  cajjturcd 
in  18'Jo,  show  this  condition,  and  one  5  in  particular  lias  an  almost 
solid  black  median  band  across  the  fore  wings.  It  will  be  noticed,  too, 
tliat  this  si)ecimen  is  much  below  the  normal  size.  Now,  amongst  those 
taken  in  1892,  only  one  or  two  show  a  deviation  from  the  type  in  that 
direction,  a,nd  the  deviation  is  slight.  All  those  exhibited  were  taken 
cither  as  imagines  or  as  pui)a\  In  1893,  the  larvie  were  sul>jected  to 
the  long  drought  which  had  been  almost  total  for  four  months  previous 
to  the  appearance  of  the  perfect  insect.  They  must  also  liave  experi- 
enced, both  as  larva^  and  pu}>a',  great  alternations  of  temi)eratui-e — hot 
sunny  days  and  cold  nights.  The  date  of  appearance  varies  considerably 
in  different  years;  in  1892  and  1893,  the  species  .was  well  out  at  the 
end  of  June,  whilst  in  1891,  several  fresh  examples  were  taken  at  tlic 
beginning  of  September.  The  $  appears  to  be  very  we.dv  winged — 
a  condition  Avhicli  seems  often  to  obtain  in  families  containing  species 
Avith  a[)terous  J  s." — Mr.  Smith  said  that  he  had  bred  AmphidiiHiin 
slrataria  on  the  1 8th  inst.  from  New  Forest  larva.  Mr.  liattley  reported 
that  Brephos  partlienins  was  just  coming  out  at  Theydon,  and  that 
A.^jjlKilia  fiariconiis  was  getting  worn.  lie  had  also  found  TdeniocaiiijHi 
viimdfi,  common,  and  T.  rriuhi  swarming  on  tlie  sallows  in  the  same 
locality,  and  had  taken  one  T.  popidfti.  Mr.  Frout  tlien  I'ead  a  paper 
on  ''  Coreiiita  ferrafjaria,  ILuv.,  and  Coreiuia  nnidpnt<iria.  Haw." 

A  coKKECTioN.  — Mr.  Jenuer  Weir,  who  Avas  a  personal  friend  of  tljc 
late  J.  F.  Ste})hens,  informed  me,  shortly  before  liis  death,  that  tlie 
latter  lived  not  at  Eltham,  but  at  Fltham  Cottage,  Kennington. — F. 
.1.  BucKErj.. 


Goremia  perrugaria,  jlaaf.  and   C.   iTiiideiitaria,   jiaw-* 

By     LOUIS     B,     PROUT,     F.E.S. 

All  tlirough  the  history  (^f  entomological  nomenclature  there  lias 
been  a  recurring  tendency,  on  account  of  their  great  su})erticial  similarity, 
to  unite  these  two  as  oiie  species,  and  it  was  the  desire  to  obtain  inde- 
pendent evidence  on  the  (piestion  of  their  identity  or  distinctness,  liy 
breeding  Ijoth  forms  from  the  egg,  Avhich  tirst  led  me  intcj  the  study  of 
them.  After  breeding  each  species  several  times,  and  communicating 
Avitli  several  entomologists  avIio  had  information  to  impart  on  the 
subject,  I  Avrote  a  somewliat  tentative  article,  Avhieh  a|i[)eared  in  the 
Ent.  Bee.  of  July,  1892  (vol.  iii.,  p.  150).  jNIy  own  personal  opinion 
Avas  at  that  time,  wliat  Jiasj  since  been  jiroved  correct,  that  Ave  had  two 
quite  distinct  species  to  deal  Avith,  and  that  the  seeming  contradictions 
Avere  to  be  reconciled  thnuigh  the  existence  of  a  red  form  of  nnidentdnd, 
HaAV.  so  like  fernKjuriii,  Haw.  as  readily  to  be  mistaken  for  tliat, 
species. 


*  Abstract,  of  paper  read  before  City  of  London  Eiiiomological  and  Natural 
History  Society,  March  '20th,  1894. 


112  THE    entomologist's    RECORD, 

As  one  of  my  principal  objects  in  preparing  this  paper  is  to  bring 
before  your  notice  and  that  of  entomologists  generally,  the  absolutely 
certain  fact  of  the  distinctness  of  the  two,  and  the  equally'  certain  fact  of 
the  existence  of  red  forms  of  miideiitaria,  Haw.,  and  thus  to  leave  no 
possible  excuse  for  going  over  the  same  ground  again  in  the  future 
liistory  of  entomology,  my  first  point  must  l)e  to  demonstrate  their 
structural  distinctness,  after  which  I  sliall  group  my  other  remarks  under 
the  following  heads — Synonymy,  DiflFerentiation  by  Wing-markings, 
Variation,  Geograi)liical  Distribution,  Habits,  Early  Stages. 

Structural  chakacteristics. — With  regard  to  structural  distinct- 
ness, mv  article  in  the  Eecord,  referred  to  above,  called  forth  a  response 
from  that  careful  and  accurate  observer,  Mr.  F.  N.  Pierce,  to  the  effect 
that  the  male  genitalia  differed  more  widely  even  than  might  have  been 
expected  in  two  such  close  allies,  and  in  the  Record,  vol.  iii.,  p.  177,  he 
<>-ave  rough  figures  of  the  forms  of  the  "  harpes,"  in  each  of  the  two, 
th()U<'h  unfortunately  the  names  were  reversed  in  the  appended  note. 

Thanks  to  the  great  kindness  of  Mr.  Fierce,  who  stands  })rominent 
;uuonf  the  many  entomologists  who  have  rendered  me  willing  assist- 
ance, a  number  of  specimens  have  been  investigated  from  this  jjoint  of 
view,  and  he  has  further  oldigingly  sent  me  his  preparations  for  study 
and  for  exhibition  this  evening,  so  that  I  hope  to  be  able  to  convince 
the  most  scej)tical  of  the  invariability  of  the  form  of  the  genitalia,  and 
the  consequent  confirmation  of  the  view  arrived  at  by  breeding  and  by 
superficial  comparisons.  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Messrs. 
liattley,  Nicholson  and  Jackson  in  lending  microscopes  for  this  evening, 
and  I  trust  you  will  all  avail  yourselves  of  the 
>>^s^\  "^^       opportunity   of    verifying  Mr.   Pierce's   oljser- 

vations  on  the  genitalia.  It  may  be  of  interest 
to  mention  that  Aurivillius  in  his  new  work  on 
the  Scandinavian  lepidoptera  {Nordeus  Fjiirilar, 
18Ul)also  differentiates /ercHj/a /a  and  nnidcntaria 
in  this  way. 

c.  iinidentai  ia.  c.  ferrugaria.  My  attention  lias  also  been  called  to  one 
other  structural  difference,  and  that  is  in  the  matter  of  scale  structure, 
\vhich  has  Ijeeu  so  zealously  and  with  such  interesting  results  taken  in 
hand  l\v  Dr.  W.  S.  Riding.  He  has  rendered  me  most  willing  assistance 
in  examining  specimens  and  tabulating  the  results  as  regards  the  pro- 
portion of  scales  with  different  numbers  of  teeth.  Without  going  very  fully 
into  details,  the  general  result  of  investigations  along  these  lines,  by 
Dr.  Riding  and  Messrs.  A.  U.  Battley  and  A.  Bacot,  seems  to  be  that 
however  much  the  scale  structure  of  individuals  of  a  species  may  vary 
inter  se,  yet  ferriujaria,  Haw.  has  always  a  considerab!^  larger  number 
of  many-teethed  scales  than  unidenfaria.  To  sum  up,  femujarid  gave 
4;-!  per  cent,  of  scales  with  2,  3  or  4  teeth,  and  57  per  cent,  with  5,  6 
or  7 ;  while  in  unidentarid  82'6  per  cent,  had  but  2,  3  or  4  teeth,  only 
17'4  per  cent,  having  5  or  6,  the  ])ercentage  of  G-toothed,  indeed,  being 
but  '2.  I  shall  hope  to  pursue  this  subject  further  at  some  future  time, 
as  1  have  already  some  very  interesting  notes  and  observations  from  the 
gentlemen  whom  I  have  mentioned.  But  I  introduced  the  subject  here 
in  order  to  throw  a  little  additional  light  on  the  s])ecific  distinctness  of 
the  two  insects,  and  need  only  add  that  a  purple  variety  of  im/dnifaria 
examined  by  Dr.  Riding  agreed  with  the  black  forms. 
{To   be  coidiiincd). 


(0!^  AND  ^^^^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 

No.  5.     Vol.  V.  May  15th,  1894. 

I'lie  Life-jJistopy  of  a  Lepidopterous  Iiisect, 

Gomprising  some   account   of  its   Morphology  and   Physiology. 

By    J.     W.     TUTT,     F.E.S. 

(Continued  from  page  92). 


Chap.  II. 
THE   OVUM  OR  EGG. 

1.  On  the  external  structure  of  the  egg. — The  egg  of  a 
lepiclopterous  insect  consists  of  an  outside  shell,  enclosing  protoplasm 
which  is  at  first  homogeneous.  The  outside  shell,  which  forms  a  thin 
pellicle,  is  usually  divisible  into  a  base,  walls  and  an  aj)ex,  the  latter 
being  termed  the  "  micropyle."  By  its  base,  which  is  usually  flat  and 
devoid  of  characteristic  markings,  the  egg  is  attached  to  the  surface  of 
the  food-j^lant  or  other  object  on  which  it  is  deposited  by  the  parent. 
The  walls  are  generally  sculptured  in  some  form  or  other,  although  they 
are  sometimes  quite  smooth.  The  micropyle,  wliich  is  situated  at  the 
summit  of  the  egg,  is  composed  of  delicate  microsco})ic  canals ;  these 
vary  in  number  but  there  are  rarely  less  than  four  or  more  than  six ; 
they  radiate  from  a  small  depression  in  the  centre  of  the  summit  and 
round  this  depression  is  a  rosette  or  circle  of  tiny  cells,  which  are 
usually  of  gi'eat  delicacy.  The  micropyle  is  always  excessively 
minute ;  in  some  eggs,  even  when  viewed  under  a  powerful  lens,  no 
alteration  of  the  ordinary  outline  is  caused  by  it ;  in  others,  however, 
where  it  is  more  depressed  it  is  more  readily  distinguished.  It  is  through 
the  canals  of  the  micropyle  that  the  sperm-cell  of  the  male  passes  to 
fertilise  the  egg. 

The  number  of  longitudinal  ribs  running  from  the  base  to  the 
micropyle  varies  ;  in  the  Vanes.- kli  there  may  be  as  few  as  eight,  whilst 
among  the  Ithodoceridi,  in  the  genus  Eurema,  there  are,  according  to 
Scudder,  from  thirty  to  forty.  The  space  between  the  ribs  is  broken 
up  into  fine  reticulations  which  are  due  to  the  existence  of  transverse 
ribs  of  a  much  more  delicate  nature  than  the  longitudinal  ones.  These 
latter,  however,  vary  considerably,  sometimes  being  coarse  and  at  others 
very  delicate,  sometimes  so  delicate  indeed,  that  the  surface  of  the  egg 
appears  smooth  until  it  is  examined  through  a  lens  of  high  magnifying 


114  THE   entomologist's   RECORD. 

power ;  the  transverse  ribs  show  a  similar  variation.     The  variation  in 
the  elevation  or  compression  of  the  ribs  is  another  striking  character. 

Viewed  in  cross-section,  the  egg  usually  appears  to  be  circular,  but 
sometimes  the  prominence  of  the  ribs  gives  it  a  polyhedral  appearance  : 
Doherty  says  that  in  the  Lycaenid  genus  Poritia,  it  is  hexahedral.  In 
shape  eggs  vary  a  good  deal ;  those  of  butterflies  are  classihed  by 
Scudder  as  "  barrel-shaped,  globular,  hemispherical  and  tiarate."  There 
is  a  general  similarity  of  shape  among  those  of  each  of  the  main 
divisions  although  this  rule  is  not  without  notable  exceptions.  The 
egg  of  the  NocTU.'E  is  usually  of  a  hemispherical  shape,  somewhat 
flattened  at  the  base ;  but  that  of  Xanthia  has  raised  ribs  rising  above 
the  central  point  or  apex  and  curving  down  thereto  and  it  is  not  unlike, 
in  a  general  way,  the  egg  of  a  Vanessa.  The  egg  of  the  Geojietrje  is 
usually  oval  or  ovoid,  but  assumes  the  form  of  a  rather  square-based 
parallelopii^ed  in  Ennomos  (Enyonia)  ;  the  eggs  of  BrepTios,  Alucita  and 
Thyatyra  also  have  the  usual  Geometrid  shape.  The  egg  of  the 
ToRTKiCES  has  the  ajDpearance  of  a  flat  scale,  but  so  has  that  of  Lirnacodes 
testudo  and  of  many  Pyralides  and  other  Micros.  These  examples  are 
sufficient  to  show  that  although  some  general  forms  hold  fairly  well, 
yet  that  there  are  striking  exceptions. 

The  primeval  egg  was  probably  ovoid,  colourless  and  transparent 
and  with  no  sculpturing  on  the  cell  wall.  This  would  soon  undergo 
modifications  in  many  directions  under  need  of  protection  and  con- 
cealment, and  it  is  possible  under  these  conditions  that  one  may  find 
isolated  examples  of  almost  any  form  in  any  of  the  families,  although 
the  simplest  form  of  egg  must  generally  be  found  in  the  lowest  families, 
and  no  highly-developed  structure  can  occur  except  among  the  most 
highly  elaborated  families. 

Among  the  Rhopalocera,  the  eggs  of  the  various  large  sub-families 
are  very  characteristic ;  as,  for  example,  the  globular  egg  of  the  Papi- 
lioninae,  the  nine-pin  or  spindle-shaped  one  of  the  Pierinae,  the  hemi- 
spherical one  of  the  Pamphilidi  and  the  echinus-like  one  of  the 
Lycaeninae.  It  is  also  noteworthy  that  the  egg  of  the  Parnassidi  is  of 
a  somewhat  tiarate  shape.  Superficially,  the  globular  eggs  of  the 
Safyrinae  are  not  very  unlike  those  of  some  PapHioninae ;  and  one 
cannot  but  be  struck  with  the  general  resemblance  between  those  of 
certain  Nymphalidae  and  those  of  the  Pierinae;  the  former  indeed 
appear  to  form  a  rough  connecting  link  between  those  of  the 
Papilioninae  and  Satyrinae  on  the  one  hand  and  the  very  tall  eggs  of 
the  Pierinae  on  the  other.  This  would  appear  to  indicate  a  much  more 
intimate  relationship  between  the  Pierinae  and  the  Nymphalinae  than 
has  hitherto  been  admitted  by  systematists.  Speaking  of  Heodes,  a 
Lycaenid  genus,  Scudder  says  : — "  The  base  of  the  egg  is  broadened  to 
such  an  extent,  that  it  is  only  by  sufferance  that  it  can  be  classed  as  a 
tiarate  egg ;  it  is  rather  demi-echinoid." 

The  egg-shell  appears  to  vary  a  good  deal  in  thickness,  but  this  is 
probably  due  in  part  to  the  thickness  of  the  ridges  and  ribs  with  which 
it  is  covered.  It  is  thinnest  in  Vanessa  ;  delicate  in  Neineobiiis,  in  the 
Pierinae  and  in  some  genera  of  the  Satyrinae ;  whilst  in  Lycaena  and  in 
the  Pampjkilidi  it  is  particularly  tough  and  opaque. 

It  may  be  generally  assumed  that  the  eggs  of  closely  allied  species 
are  very  much  alike  both  in  shape  and  markings.  A  striking  illustration 
of  this  is  furnished  by  Vanessa  polychloros  and  V.  urticae,  the  eggs  of 


CORRMIA    FERBUGARIA,    HAW.    AND   O.    UNIDENTARIA,   HAW.  115 

which  are  almost  identical  in  shape.  In  Sepp's  great  work  (Nederlandsche 
Inselden),  the  illustrations  in  which  are,  as  a  rule,  remarkably  good,  an 
egg  is  erroneously  figured  as  that  of  the  former  species  which  certainly 
does  not  belong  to  it.  This  figure  has  been  handed  down  from 
generation  to  generation  by  naturalists,  as  affording  a  striking  example 
of  the  difference  which  may  exist  l)etween  the  eggs  of  otherwise 
closely  allied  sj^ecies ;  Newman  (British  Butterflies,  p.  8,)  grows  quite 
eloquent  over  a  difference  which  he  certainly  had  never  observed,  and  in 
Dale's  British  Butterflies,  one  of  the  latest  systematic  works  jDublished  in 
this  country,  the  error  is  still  perpetuated,  although  it  had  been  shown  to 
be  an  error  years  before,  Ijoth  in  this  country  (E.  M.  M.,  vol.  viii.,  p.  52) 
and  in  America  {Psyche,  vol.  v.,  p.  152).  Mr.  Dale  thus  writes  {Brit.  Butt., 
p.  xxxi) ;  *'  One  of  the  most  curious  and  striking  facts  is  the  extreme 
difference  in  the  eggs  of  some  species  which,  in  the  perfect  state,  closely 
resemble  each  other.  Thus,  the  egg  of  the  large  Tortoise-shell  is  pear- 
shaped  and  smooth,  whilst  that  of  the  small  Tortoise-shell  is  oblong,  with 
eight  very  conspicuous  ribs.  The  characters  of  each  egg  are,  however, 
so  constant  in  each  species  of  butterfly,  that  anyone  who  has  paid 
attention  to  the  subject,  can  immediately  say  to  what  butterfly  any 
particular  egg  belongs."  This  passage,  although  there  are  no  marks  to 
show  that  such  is  the  case,  is  copied  verbatim  from  Newman  ;  it  is  found 
in  the  Introduction  to  Mr.  Dale's  work,  which  did  not  appear  until  the 
work  itself  was  completed,  and  the  curious  fact  is,  that  in  the  body  of 
the  work  (p.  166),  Mr.  Dale  had  already  given  a  first-class  description 
of  the  real  egg  of  V.  polychloros,  which  he  evidently  copied  from 
Buckler  but  had  entirely  forgotten  by  the  time  he  came  to  pen  his 
Introduction. 

The  intimate  resemblance  between  the  eggs  of  allied  species  be- 
longing to  the  same  genus,  while  they  differ  widely  from  those  of 
species  belonging  to  neighbouring  genera,  has  suggested  the  use  of  this 
character  for  purposes  of  classification.  Mr.  Doherty  {Journal  of  the 
Asiatic  Society  of  Bengal,  1889),  has  divided  the  Lycaenidae  as 
follows : — 

1.  Aphnaeus  group. — Egg  large,  tubercular,  indentations  obscurely 

hexagonal. 

2.  Loxura  group. — Egg  similar,  but  not  tubercular. 

3.  Thecla  group. — Egg  small,  tubercular,  indentations  sharply  cut, 

usually  trigonal. 
4. — Arhopala  group. — Egg  small,  spiny,  indentations  sharply  cut, 
tetragonal. 


Gopemia  peppugaria.  jlaia/".  and   G.   iJiiideiitapia,   jiaw-* 

By     LOUIS     B.     PROUT,     F.E.S. 

(Continued  from  page  112). 

Synonymy  -  Since  then,  we  have  two  perfectly  distinct  species  to 
deal  with,  the  next  question  which  arises  is  the  very  difficult  one  of 
their  synonymy.  When  I  tell  you  with  regard  to  the  two  red  forms 
which  cause  all  our  trouble,  that  in  Germany  and  America,  our  red 
unidentaria  is  known  as  ferrugata,  and  in  Scandinavia  as  var.   (or  ab.) 

*  Abstract  of  paper  read  before  City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural 
History  Society,  March  20th,  1894. 


116  THE  entomologist's  recoed. 

corctilata,  while  in  Germany,  our  ferrugaria  passes  as  spddicearia,  I  think 

some  at  least  of  you  will  agree  with  me,  that  it  is  time  something  was  done 
towards  bringing  about  a  common  understanding ;  for,  however  little 
value  we  may  attach  to  the  "  law  of  priority,"  surely  nothing  but  con- 
fusion can  arise,  if  Ave  go  on  applying  German  notices  of  ferrugata  to 
our  British  species  of  that  name,  when  they  really  belong  to  our  red 
unidentaria. 

We  owe  the  name  ferrugata,  to  Clerck,  who  in  his  Icones,  1759, 
(pi.  6,  fig.  14),  figures  one  of  our  two  species  under  that  appellation  ; 
Linnajus  following  with  a  brief  diagnosis  in  the  Fauna  Suecica,  Ed. 
Alt.,  17G1  (p.  338,  No.  1292);  "alls  purpurascentibus ;  strigis  tribus 
albidis,  postice  cmereis  ;  macula  didyma  fusca."  The  next  name  in  the 
field  was  Hufnagel's  corculata  (Berl.  Mag.,  1769,  p.  616,  No.  94)  ;  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  this  belongs  to  unidentaria.  Haw.,  rather  than  to 
ferrugaria.  Haw.,  for  though  Hufnagel  describes  it  as  "  reddish-brown," 
yet  Kottemburg  distinctly  says  that  the  transverse  band  is  "  broad,  and 
almost  entirely  black." 

In  1776,  the  Vienna  Catalogue  gave  us  spadicearia,  "the  ochre- 
brownish  red-striped  geometer,"  which  Fabricius,  Illiger,  and  Treitschke, 
take  for  a  variety  ol  ferrugaria,  W.  V.  Borkhausen's  spadicearia  (Eur. 
Schmet.,  V.  190,  1794),  is  no  doubt  identical  with  this,  and  is  certainly 
the  extreme  form  oi  ferrugaria,  Haw.,  of  which  I  have  examples  from 
Dr.  Staudinger,  at  the  top  of  my  second  drawer. 

Esper  Hgnres  ferrugaria,  Haw.  (Die  Schmett.  in  Ahhild.,  pi.  40,  fig.  5) 
under  the  name  of  alchemillaria,  which  must  be  due  to  some  misunder- 
standing, for  he  quotes  De  Geer,  whose  alchemiUata  is  quite  another 
species,  namely  didymata,  L. 

Next  Haworth  (Lep.  Brit.  II.,  p.  308),  not  knowing  Hufnagel's 
name  corculata,  rechristens  the  black  species  unidentaria  ;  he  had  ap- 
parently seen  red  forms  of  that  species,  but  took  them  for  varieties  of 
ferrugaria,  for  he  seems  to  describe  such  under  his  ferrugaria  var.  j3. 

But  the  most  difficult  question  still  remains.  Which  of  the  red 
species  did  Clerck  figure  as  ferrugata  ?  I  have  spent  a  great  deal  of 
time  in  studying  his  figure,  and  yet  I  am  afraid  to  express  any  positive 
opinion  on  the  question.  The  figure  is  very  poor,  with  whitish  ground 
colour,  pale  red  central  band  traversed  with  distinct  lines,  and  large 
didymated  spot,  coalescing  in  heart  form.  On  account  of  the  colour 
of  the  band  and  the  distinctness  of  the  lines,  Zeller,  Guenee,  and  the 
Scandinavian  lepidoj^terists  have  accepted  it  as  representing  spa cZ/cearm, 
Bkh.  (=  ferrugaria.  Haw.),  and  Prof.  Aurivillius  (to  whose  courtesy  I 
am  indebted  for  some  Swedish  specimens  sent  to  assist  in  clearing  up 
the  synonymy)  sent  me  this  species  as  "  the  true  ferrugata,  CI."  On  the 
other  hand,  the  whitish  outer  area  in  Clerck's  figure  is  quite  irrecon- 
cilable with  any  representative  of  this  species  I  have  ever  seen,  but 
agi-ees  well  with  my  "  var.  corculata  "  from  Sweden,  and  with  the  Lin- 
Ucean  type  of  "ferrugata  ;"  both  these  latter  are  certainly  of  the  species 
known  here  as  unidentaria.  On  the  whole  I  am  rather  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  the  entire  absence  of  an  outer  ochreous  band  shows  that 
Clerck  had  red  unidentaria  before  him,  and  that  therefore,  as  Ereyer, 
Herrich-Schaffer,  and  probably  Staudinger  (all  having  access  to  Clerck's 
work)  admit,  the  name  ferrugata  rightly  belongs  to  the  darker-banded 
of  the  two  species,  and  that  the  ferrugaria  of  Haworth  should  be  called 
spadicearia,  W.V.  or  spadicearia,  Bkh. 

But,    such    conflicting    views    obtaining    about    the    identity  of 


COREMIA    FEKUUGAHIA,    HAW.    AND    0.    UMDENTARIA,    UAW.  Il7 

ferrugata,  CI.,  it  seems  that  the  synonymy  can  only  be  cleared  np  by 
ignoring  it  altogether,  and  either  accepting  the  ferrugata  of  the  Fauna 
Suecica,  which  is  universally  acknowledged  to  be  the  darker-banded 
species,  as  the  type,  or  by  calling  that  species  corcidata,  Ilfn.  and  adopt- 
ing the  spadicearia  of  the  Vienna  Catalogue  as  the  name  of  the  lighter 
red  species  {ferrugaria,  Haw.). 

I  have  drawn  out  the  following  synonymic  table,  bracketing  the 
name  ferrugata,  CI.  as  doubtful. 

1.  {Ferrugata,  ?  CI.,  6.  14;  Linn.,  F.  S.,  1292). 
Corculata,  Hfn.,  94  ;  Naturf.,  xi.,  p.  87. 
Linariata,  Bkh.,  V.,  {nee.  Fb.),  p.  381. 

Ferrugata  (aria)  ?  Hb.,  285  ;  II.-S. ;  Frr. ;  Bdv. ;  Gn. ;  Packard 
(and  German  authors  generally). 
la.  Ab.  unidentaria.  Haw.,  Lep.  Brit.,  II.,  p.  308. 

2.  Spadicearia  (W.V.,  Earn.  M.,  No.  12)  Bkh.,  V.,  p.  389 ;  H.-S. ; 

Frr. 
Alchemillaria,  Esp.,  40,5  (&  6  ?). 
Ferrugata  (aria)   Hb.,  460  ;    Haw.  ;    Wd. ;  Lampa ;  Aurivillius 

(?  CI.). 
Freyeraria,  Stgr.,  1861.  Cat.,  No.  524. 
In  order  to  complete  our  studies  of  the  nomenclature  of  the  two 
species,  it  may  be  well  to  say  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  their 
generic  name  should  be  Ochjria,  Hb. — already  resuscitated  by  Packard 
in  his  Monograph  of  the  Geometrid  Moths  of  the  United  States.  In 
Staudinger's  Catalogue  the  group  forms  part  of  the  gi'eat  genus,  Cidaria, 
Tr.  according  to  Lederer's  classification. 

DiFFEKENTiATioN — Mr.  C.  Fcnu,  with  a  considerable  portion  of  my 
series  of  purple  forms  of  unidentaria  before  him,  as  well  as  his  own 
material,  drew  me  up  an  admirable  comparative  table  of  the  two, 
which  I  cannot  do  better  than  give  in  extenso. 

"  Unidentaria.  Ferrugaria. 

Black.  Bed. 

(None  of  the  characters  of  distinction  seem  absolute.) 

FORE- WING. 

A. — Median  band  black.  A. — Median  band  red. 

B. — Median  band  followed  by  a  B. — Median   band    followed   by 

generally  interrupted  band  an      uninterrupted      band 

or  a  band  becoming  obso-  continued  in  full  intensity 

lete  below  the  middle.  to  the  inner  margin. 

BB. — The     second    band    of    an  BB. — The  second  band  similar  to 

ochreous  colour  edged  with  unidentaria,  but  the    space 

grey    and    divided    by    a  between      the      first     and 

similar     gi'ey     line  ;      the  second    lines    often    white 

space  between  the  first  and  or  whitish, 
second    lines    often   paler, 
and  sometimes  with  a  few 
scattered  white  scales. 

C. — The  two  submarginal  spots  C. — The  two  submarginal  spots 
very  conspicuous,  black,  black  or  blackish  but  not 
distinctly  margined  on  very  conspicuous,  faintly 
their  outer  edges  with  margined  on  their  outer 
whitish  or  the  pale  sub-  edges  by  the  paler  sub- 
terminal  line.  terminal  line. 


118 


THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  8   EBCOHD. 


D. — A  sei'ies  of  about  four  black 
daslies  follows  the  sub- 
marginal  spots  on  the  ex- 
treme edge  of  the  wing. 

E. — A  distinct  vandyke  almost 
invariably  occurs  in  the 
front  edge  of  the  median 
band  on  the  subcostal 
nervure. 


D. — A  row  of  black  dots  follows 
the  submarginal  sjoots  on 
the  extreme  edge  of  the 
wing. 

E. — An  indistinct  vandyke  some- 
times occurs  in  the  front 
edge  of  the  median  band 
on  the  subcostal  nervure. 


HIND-WING. 


F. — The  band  following  the 
median  (B)  is  rarely  con- 
tinued, and  never  con- 
spicuously so  at  its  hinder 
edge. 

G. — The  lower  part  of  the  wing- 
paler  than  the  upper. 

H. — Xo  dark  grey  shade  below 

the  middle  of  the  wing. 
I. — Four  gi'ey  threads  start 
from  the  inner  margin  but 
gradually  become  obsolete ; 
the  edge  of  the  wing  where 
they  arise  is  clouded  with 
dark  grey  and  contains 
four  black  spots. 


F. — The  band  following  the 
median  (B)  is  almost  in- 
varialily  continued  dis- 
tinctly, more  especially  at 
its  hinder  edge. 

G. — The  upper  part  of  the  wing 
paler  than  the  lower. 

H. — A  dark  grey  shade  below 
the  pale  band. 
I. — Four  grey  threads  above 
the  pale  band  continued 
across  the  wing  in  equal 
intensity,  commencing  on 
the  inner  margin  as  black 
sjjots. 


UNDER    SIDE. 


K. — An  apical  dark  cloud  is 
sometimes  present  on  fore- 
wing,  but  no  cloud  or  shade 
on  hind-wing. 


K. — A  dark  apical  cloud  is  al- 
ways present  on  fore-wing, 
and  a  distinct  grey  cloud 
is  conspicuous  at  the  outer 
margin  of  hind-wing. 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

Except  that  unidentaria  is  slightly  the  larger  insect,  I  see  no 
structural  differences  except  in  the  genitalia  as  already  recorded.  All  t  he 
markings  are  prone  to  considerable  variation,  esijecially  the  size  and 
shape  of  the  median  band,  which  is  often  bisected  by  a  broad  paler 
shade.  The  best  character  for  distinction  appears  to  be  the  dark  shade 
on  the  hind  wing,  as  it  seems  jjretty  constant  both  on  the  upper  and 
under  sides  (H.  and  K.)." 

I  have  very  little  to  add  to  this  ;  1  would  remark  that  the  median 
band  oi  ferrugaria,  Haw.,  is  never  black,  though  sometimes  very  dull 
brownish  or  greyish-red  ;  that  a  stronger  point  might  perhaps  be  made 
of  the  paler  outer  area  of  the  fore  wings  in  unidentaria  ;  that  the  fringes 
oi  ferrufjaria  are  much  more  distinctly  spotted  than  ihosGoi  unidentaria  ; 
that  the  contour  of  the  outer  margin  of  the  central  fascia,  and  of  the 
corresponding  line  on  the  hind  wings,  though  very  prone  to  vary,  is 
nearly  always  distinguishable  in  the  two  species ;  ferrugaria  seeming 
never  to  be  so  deeply  bent  inwards  below  the  middle,  or  the  band  so 
attenuated  on  the  inner  margin,  as  is  general  in  unidentaria ;  and  that 


COREMIA    PEKHUGARIA,    llAW.    ANU    C.    tKlDENTAtllA,    HAW.  IID 

the  dark  mark  on  the  underside  of  unidentaria,  near  the  base  of  the  costa, 
generally  so  conspicuous,  is  either  weak  or  wanting  in  ferrugaria.  It 
is  also  tolerably  certain  that  no  form  of  unidentaria  corresponds  at  all 
to  the  extreme  striated  forms  oi  ferrugaria,  indicated  by  Staudinger  as 
ab.  spadicearia  ("  fascia  media  in  strigis  dissoluta  "')  or  by  Haworth  as 
salicaria  ("  obsolete  strigata?,  nee  fasciataj  "). 

Variation. — Both  s^Decies  are  extremely  variable,  and  it  would  not 
be  difificult  to  occupy  a  whole  paper  with  studies  of  their  variation.  A 
few  general  observations  under  this  head  seem  worthy  of  being  first 
brought  into  prominence  : — 

1. — As  is  usual  in  closely-allied  species,  the  variation  is  largely  on 
parallel  lines. 

2. — The  variation  of  ferrugaria,  Haw.,  is  largely  geographical ;  that 
of  unidentaria,  much  less  so. 

3. — On  the  other  hand,  the  influence  of  heredity,  exceedingly  strong 
in  both  species,  is  shown  even  more  strongly  in  unidentaria ;  so  that 
while  the  red  and  black  forms  exist  together  in  most  localities,  yet  the 
black  forms  hardly  ever  throw  red  in  their  progeny. 

I  will  next  deal,  as  well  as  time  permits,  with  the  variation  of  each 
species  separately. 

As  I  have  ah-eady  shown  under  the  head  of  synonymy,  I  regard 
the  red  forms  as  furnishing  the  type  of  what  we  call  unidentaria. 
Avoiding  the  doubtful  name  ferrugata,  we  may  call  this  type  corculata 
Hfn.,  when  unidentaria  Haw.,  from  its  general  constancy,  is  well  worthy 
to  be  dealt  with  as  ab.  unidentaria,  in  which  light,  rather  than  as  a 
distinct  species.  Dr.  Staudinger  is  now  inclined  to  regard  it.  Packard, 
the  American  entomologist,  speaks  of  it  as  "  a  good  example  of 
melanism." 

Hufnagel's  description  of  corculata,  is  as  follows  : — "  Eeddish-brown, 
on  the  outer  margin  a  black  C,  at  the  base  yellowish-grey."  This  of 
course  is  so  vague  as  to  be  practically  useless,  but  "reddish-brown" 
agi'ees  well  enough  with  some  of  the  "purple  "  forms,  to  allow  of  our 
uniting  this  name  with  ferrugata,  Linn.,  and  leaving  the  well-known 
name  of  unidentaria,  to  the  black  forms.  The  American  red  specimens 
(ferrugata,  Packard),  certainly  belong  to  this  species,  and  seem  to  have 
the  central  fascia  generally  narrower  than  is  common  in  European 
forms  ;  my  warmest  thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  H.  F.  Wickham,  of  Iowa 
City,  for  my  examples,  which  he  took  great  trouble  to  procure,  at  very 
short  notice. 

There  is  a  somewhat  rare  variety  of  ab.  unidentaria,  unknown  to 
Haworth,  which  deserves  notice,  namely  the  var.  coarctata,  WaiTcn. 
This  has  the  central  fascia  very  much  attenuated  throughout,  sometimes 
reduced  to  hardly  more  than  a  thread  ;  there  are  two  in  the  British 
Museum  collection,  Captain  Kobertson  has  one,  Mr.  Fenn  another,  Mr. 
Machiii  a  very  beautiful  example,  and  two  others  have  recently  been 
exhibited  at  our  London  Societies. 

Borkhausen's  spadicearia  was  described  from  a  single  specimen,  and 
that  apparently  a  somewhat  rare  form  of  spadicearia,  W.  V.  We  must 
therefore  take  the  type  of  spadicearia  (z^  ferrugaria.  Haw.),  to  be  (as 
Borkhausen  describes  it)  a  form  with  a  mingled  ochre  and  pale  brown 
ground  colour,  a  broad  brownish-red  band  lighter  in  the  middle, 
mixed  with  whitish  and  traversed  with  brown  lines,  the  discoidal  spot 
distinct.     As  it  appears  to  be  the  earliest  name  not  otherwise  pre- 


120  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S   RECOtll). 

occupied  lor  fer  rug  aria,  Haw.,  it  must  now  stand  for  the  type  of  the 
species,  and  the  commoner  forms  will  be  the  varieties. 

Forms  with  the  band  more  entire,  and  frequently  of  brighter  colour, 
such  as  we  get  so  commonly  in  the  South  of  England,  agree  rather  with 
ferrugaria,  Haw.  ;  his  diagnosis  is :  "  alls  cinereis  fascia  parva  basi, 
aliaque  lata  repanda  medio  rufescentibus  ;  punctoque  postico  didymo 
fusco."  It  will  be  noticed  that  he  does  not  mention  anj'  conspicuous 
ochreous  shade  in  the  ground  colour,  and  this  agrees  fairl}^  well  with 
some  of  our  southern  forms,  but  it  has  resulted  in  leading  Continental 
entomologists,  e.g.,  Guene'e  and  Staudinger,  to  connect  his  ferrugaria 
with  theirs.  This  is  certainly  an  error  ;  Haworth's  type,  which  I  have 
seen,  is  an  ordinary  English  form  of  the  species  we  are  now  considering, 
the  spadicearia  of  Germany. 

Confixaria,  H.-S.  (334),  appears  to  be,  as  Bohatsch  reports  (Wien. 
Ent.  Zeit.,  iv.,  p.  177),  an  aberration  of  this  species  "in  which  the 
many  wavy  lines  have  vanished,  so  that  of  the  pattern  of  the  fore  wings 
the  red-brown  central  area  alone  remains  ;  the  outer  dentated  line, 
with  the  two  blackish  spots  in  the  upper  third,  is  also  indicated,  etc." 
The  band  is  also  reduced  in  width,  and  the  variation  is  in  some  degree 
parallel  to  unidentaria  var.  coarctata. 

Many  interesting  casual  varieties  of  this  species  have  come  under  my 
notice,  on  which  I  would  fain  have  commented  had  time  permitted  ;  but 
I  must  content  myself  with  summing  u})  its  general  topomorphic  vari- 
ation in  the  British  Isles.  The  dark-banded,  non-striated  forms,  and 
those  with  but  little  ochreous  in  the  ground  colour  and  on  the  border 
of  the  hind  wings,  (in  brief,  those  which  bear  so  great  superficial 
resemblance  to  "  red  unidentaria  "),  seem  to  be  confined  to  the  South  of 
England.  The  Yorkshire  moorland  form,  of  which  Mr.  Porritt  very 
kindly  sent  his  bred  series  for  my  inspection,  differs  from  our  ordinary 
southern  forms  in 

1. — The  uniform  brightness  of  the  ochreous  colouring. 
2. — A  general  tendency  to  an  increase  of  its  quantity,  e.g.,  in  the 
marginal  area,  and  on  the  under  surface. 

3. — The  well-marked  hind  wings,  with  more  or  less  ochreous-tinted 
outer  band. 

4. — A  general  difference  in  the  tone  of  the  colouring ;  the  central 
band  never  very  dark  nor  distinctly  purplish,  but  rather  inclining  to 
ferruginous. 

Scotch  forms  are  similar  in  their  general  characters  to  the  York- 
shire forms,  though  with  an  increasing  tendency  towards  the  genuine 
^'spadicearia  "  type — band  paler  than  in  southern  examples,  sometimes 
almost  unicolorous  with  the  ground  colour,  and  often  more  or  less  "  in 
strigis  dissoluta."  Also,  as  Mr.  Keid,  of  Pitcaple,  writes  me  : — "The 
band  is  a  little  narrower,  and,  if  I  may  use  the  term,  the  whole  insect 
has  a  looser  appearance.  I  mean  the  scales  are  not  so  firmly  attaclied 
as  in  the  southern  forms,  hence  it  has  not  such  a  sleek  aj^pearance,"  &c. 
The  Eannoch  form  is  known  among  some  collectors  as  var.  salicaria, 
Haw.,  and  probably  his  type  of  that  supposed  "  species  "  may  have 
been  an  extreme  striated  form  hereof  ;  I  have  failed  in  my  endeavours 
to  trace  either  Haworth's  type  specimen  or  the  one  from  Bentley's 
collection  figured  by  Wood  (555),  which  seems  to  be  a  very  obscure, 
nearly  unicolorous  form. 

The  Irish  forms  of  this  species  are  very  interesting ;  I  am  indebted 


COREMIA  FEKEUGARIA,  UAW.  AND  C.  UNIDEKTARlA,  HAW.     121 

to  Mr.  M.  Fitz-Gibbon  for  the  few  which  I  possess ;  also  to  Mr.  W.  F. 
de  V.  Kane  for  interesting  information  on  the  distribution,  &c.,  and  for 
opportunity  of  inspecting  some  of  his  series.  These  strongly  striated 
forms,  sometimes  with  remarkably  bright  ochreous  outer  area,  are,  he 
tells  me,  abundant  in  certain  localities  in  Co.  Tyrone,  Sligo,  West- 
meath  and  Monaghan.  The  variegated  ai^pearance  due  to  striation, 
&c.,  seems  to  have  become  fixed  in  parts  of  Ireland  as  forming  a  local 
race,  whereas  in  England  it  is  generally  only  aberrational. 

Geographical  distribution. — I  have  been  somewhat  surprised  to 
find  that  the  range  of  our  common /err?^(/arm.  Haw.,  appears  to  be  much 
more  restricted  than  that  of  its  ally.  1  have  no  certain  information  of 
its  occurrence  beyond  the  confines  of  Europe,  though  it  is  very  probable 
that  it  may  extend  into  Siberia.  It  is  common  in  Scandinavia  ;  fairly 
so  in  Germany  and  Austria,  though  generally  more  local  than  unidentaria  ; 
probably  common  throughout  France ;  and  Eversmann,  in  his  Fauna 
Vohjo-UralensiSy  describes  varieties  which  must  belong  to  this  species. 
Staudinger's  "  Europe  (except  Andalusia,  Sardinia  and  Greece)  ; 
Bithynia ;  Altai ;  Amur,"  is  entirely  unreliable,  as  he  treats  all  the 
red  forms  as  one  species. 

Unidentaria,  as  we  call  it,  has,  on  the  other  hand,  a  very  wide 
range  throughout  the  Pala^arctic  and  Nearctic  regions  ;  the  range  of 
the  black  aberration  is  probably  co-extensive  with  that  of  the  red  form. 
We  may  perhaps  safely  give  this  species  the  same  list  of  localities  that 
Staudinger  has  given  to  his  ferriujata,  with  the  addition  of  a  great  part 
of  North  America,  where,  as  in  Europe,  it  is  dimorphic  in  respect  of 
colouring,  so  that  American  entomologists  have  supposed  that  they 
obtain  both  the  fernujaria  and  unidentaria  of  Haworth.  There  is  some 
ground  for  believing  the  range  of  the  species  is  also  extended  southward 
to  Java.  Its  general  representative  in  Australasia  is  cymaria,  Gn., 
which  comes  so  near  some  forms  of  unidentaria  that  it  is  just  possible 
it  may  prove  not  to  be  specifically  distinct. 

In  the  British  Isles  this  species  is  less  abundant  and  more  local  than 
ferrugaria,  Haw.,  and  it  seems  that  our  climatic  conditions  are  more  than 
ordinarily  favourable  to  the  production  of  the  black  race.  The  red 
form,  however,  is  not  infrequent,  though  a  good  deal  overlooked.  I 
have  seen  examples  from  the  North  Loudon  district.  Deal,  Worthing, 
Isle  of  Wight,  Weymouth,  Exeter,  Swansea,  Eugby,  Wicken,  York  and 
from  Co.  Tyrone  in  Ireland.  Concerning  the  range  of  the  black  form, 
it  will  be  simplest  to  enumerate  the  districts  where  it  does  not  occur  or 
is  not  common,  Mr.  Bankes  reports  that  he  has  met  with  but  very  few 
in  his  district  (Isle  of  Purbeck,  &g.)  ;  Mr.  Harwood  that  it  "does  not 
seem  generally  common  here  "  (Colchester)  ;  Mr.  Porritt  that  it  "  does 
not  occur  in  the  Huddersfield  district  at  all  so  far  as  I  know  "  ;  Mr.  Keid 
that  he  has  never  seen  the  insect  alive  and  thinks,  "  if  it  occurs  in  the 
North  of  Scotland,  it  must  be  either  very  local  or  very  rare  "  ;  and  Mr. 
de  V.  Kane  that  his  opinion  is  "  that  unidentaria  is  much  more  restricted 
in  Ireland  than  ferruyaria." 

Habits. — Both  species  are  generally  double-brooded,  but  they  (or  at 
least  ferrugaria,  Haw.)  are  probably  normally  single-brooded  in  the 
North.  Both  nearly  always  hybernate  in  the  pupal  state,  but  Mr. 
South  had  a  curious  experience  with  a  brood  of  unidentaria  in 
1890-91,  when  four  laggards  of  a  brood  from  August  ova  hybernated 
as  larvee  {Ent.,  xxiv.,  pp.  172-3). 


122  THE  entomologist's  record. 

In  many  localities  the  two  species  occur  freely  together,  but  both 
Mr.  Fletcher  and  Mr.  Bankes  have  independently  observed  that  uniden- 
tarta  seems  to  have  a  preference  for  somewhat  moist  localities.  Mr. 
Harrison  of  Barnsley  informs  me  that,  while  both  occur  together  in 
the  Doncaster  district  on  wooded  and  low-lying  limestone  ground,  on 
the  "  cold  northern  moorland  about  ten  miles  away,  with  scarcely  any- 
thing but  fir  trees,"  ferrngafa  occurs  alone  and  plentifully. 

Dr.  Riding  remarks  that  ferrugata  (as  we  know  it  here)  is  more 
frequently  disturbed  by  the  beating-stick  than  nnidentaria,  but  that 
unidentaria  comes  the  more  frequently  to  light;  also  that  the  latter  con- 
tinues later  into  the  autumn. 

Early  Stages. — Mr.  Fenn,  whose  experience  in  describing  larva?, 
&c.  is  too  well  known  to  require  comment,  has  most  kindly  given  me 
permission  to  utilize  his  careful  descriptions,  made  in  1875,  which.  I 
present  exactly  as  he  gave  them  to  me : — 

Ferrugarid  (English  Form). — Description  made  16th  June,  1875, 
Eltham,  Kent : — 

Larva. — Elongate,  slightly  attenuated  anteriorly :  head  rounded, 
face  shining.  Yellowish  brown,  dull  ochreous  brown  or  greenish  gi'ey, 
mottled  and  shaded  with  dark  gi'ey  on  the  middle  segments.  A  series  of 
large  pale  dorsal  diamonds,  each  containing  a  conspicuous  black  spot 
from  5th  to  lUth  segments  ;  on  the  remaining  segments  a  dark  gTey  dorsal 
line.  The  anterior  sides  of  each  of  these  diamonds  most  strongly  defined. 
Subdorsal  line  Avaved,  distinct,  paler  than  the  gi'ound  colour,  and  a 
waved  thread  between  it  and  the  spiracles.  Belly  and  sides  below  the 
spiracles  prominently  pale  reddish  ochreous.  Spiracular  line  dark 
brown,  sometimes  absent.  Usual  spots  whitish,  spiracles  black.  A 
paler  ventral  band,  margined  on  each  side  with  a  grey  band,  between 
which  and  the  spiracles  is  a  row  of  black  spots  or  dots.  Head  dull 
whitish,  the  outside  of  each  lobe  black,  and  two  grey  bars  down  the  face. 

Pupa. — Highly  polished,  moderately  stout.  Anal  extremity  with  a 
short  strong  spike.  Bright  red  brown,  wing  cases  and  dorsal  shade 
darker  brown. 

Unidentaria  (English  Form). — Description  25th  September,  1875, 
Eltham,  Kent : — 

Larva. — Elongate,  slightly  attenuated  anteriorly ;  head  rounded, 
face  shining.  Dark  blackish  brown  on  the  back  and  sides  ;  the  last  four 
segments  jialer,  often  whitish.  An  orange  or  reddish  ochreous  dorsal 
triangle  outlined  with  black,  and  often  filled  up  with  dark  brown  on 
each  segment  from  the  5th  to  the  9th  (or  10th),  the  apex  in  front,  and 
enclosing  a  consjncuous  black  spot.  On  the  other  segments  a  blackish 
ill-defined  and  inteiTupted  dorsal  band.  Subdorsal  line  jiale  ochreous, 
broad  from  the  10th  to  the  13th  segments.,  threadlike  on  the  remainder. 
Spiracles  black  ;  below  them  the  sides  are  very  prominently  reddish 
ochreous  and  paler.  Between  the  subdorsal  line  and  the  spiracles  is  a 
pale  waved  thread.  Belly  brownish,  with  a  broad,  pale,  ochreous 
central  band  enclosing  a  brown  thread  and  edged  with  two  broAvn 
threads,  between  which  and  the  spiracles  a  row  of  black  dots  is  usually 
situated,  or  a  broad,  blackish,  much-interrupted  band.  Head  pale 
brown,  dusted  with  darker,  and  with  a  broad,  black  dash  on  the  outside 
of  each  lobe.  A  conspicuous  black  dash  in  front  of  the  first  pair  of 
prolegs. 

Pupa, — Highly  polished,  moderately  stout.     Anal  extremity  with  a 


AMONG   THE    ANClEKTS.  123 

short  strong  spike.  Dark  red  brown,  wing  cases  and  dorsal  shade  ill- 
defined,  often  not  indicated  by  colour. 

Ferrugaria  var.  salicaria  (Scotch  form  from  Eannoch),  described 
19th  July,  1875.     This  form  is,  I  believe,  single-brooded. 

Larva. — Elongate  (stouter  than  the  English  form),  slightly  attenu- 
ated anteriorly :  head  rounded,  face  shining,  spots  raised.  Ochreous 
with  a  pink  tinge,  mottled  and  shaded  with  grey  on  the  anterior  segments 
A  series  of  large  pale  dorsal  diamonds,  each  containing  a  conspicuous 
black  spot,  from  5th  to  10th  segments ;  on  the  remaining  segments  is 
often  a  dark  grey  dorsal  line.  The  anterior  half  of  each  of  these 
diamonds  is  outlined  with  black  and  filled  up  with  pinkish,  thus  form- 
ing a  triangle  with  blunt  apex,  having  a  black  spot  below  the  base. 
Sub-dorsal  and  a  line  below  it  waved,  thread-like,  of  a  jjaler  shade  than 
the  gTOund  colour.  Sjiiracular  line  dark  grey,  spiracles  black.  Belly 
and  sides  below  the  spiracles  pale  pinkish-ochreous,  sometimes  ochreous 
or  reddish.  A  pale  ventral  band,  edged  with  a  brown  shade,  containing 
two  black  lines,  and  with  a  row  of  prominent  marginal  black  sjjots, 
one  on  each  segment,  from  the  4th  to  the  10th. 

Piqm. — Highly  polished,  moderately  stout.  Anal  extremity  with  a 
short  strong  spike.  Bright  red  brown,  wing  cases  and  dorsal  shade 
darker  brown. 

"  From  these  descriptions  you  will  observe  that  there  is  really  more 
difference  between  the  form  sa  licaria  hndferriu/aria  than  between  the  latter 
and  unidentaria.  In  the  one,  mention  is  made  of  dorsal  diamonds  and 
in  the  other,  of  triangles,  but  the  variety  supplies  the  connecting  link 

and  explains  the  reason The  three  larvee  are  practically 

identical,  the  exaggeration  or  obliteration  of  the  markings  of  the  one 
would  make  the  description  of  the  other  apply.  Here  again  we  have 
the  colour  difficulty ;  they  are  (I  allude  to  our  English  species)  so 
excessively  variable  that  mere  colour  is  no  guide.  Of  the  Scotch  form 
I  had  only  some  eighteen  or  twenty  larvje  and  they  did  not  vary  much, 
but  this  is  too  small  a  number  on  which  to  base  an  oj^inion. 

"  The  pupce  again  seem  the  same,  allowing  for  the  colour  question  " 
(C.  Fenn.  in  litt.,  4th  March,  1893). 

The  larva3  of  both  species  are  very  general  feeders;  as  already 
communicated  to  some  meml)ers  of  this  Society,  I  generally  breed  mine 
when  at  home  on  the  common  garden  marigold. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  only  to  tender  my  best  thanks  collectively  to 
the  very  many  entomologists  (too  numerous  to  mention  individually) 
who  have  freely  given  me  all  the  information  and  assistance  in  their 
power  in  these,  to  me,  most  interesting  investigations  and  studies. 


By   J.  W.  TUTT,  F.E.S. 

I  HAD  often  wondered  when  it  was  that  insects  first  began  to  have 
fancy  values  put  on  them  simply  because  they  were  British.  In  my 
own  mind  I  had  settled  that  it  was  not  till  after  the  days  of  Hawortli, 
and  might  probably  date  from  the  time  Avhen  Curtis  and  Stephens  o-ave 
such  a  mighty  lift  to  British  entomology.  That  there  were  dealers  in 
insects  long  before  this  time  I  did  not  imagine,  and  it  was  with  some- 
thing of  a  shock  that  I  found  Ha  worth  apologising  for  a  blunder  which 


124  THE    entomologist's    RECORD, 

lie  had  made  because  of  a  dealer  supplying  liim  with  a  specimen  com- 
jiounded  of  the  head  of  one  species  stuck  on  to  the  body  of  another. 
Kecently  however  I  have  discovered  that  the  dealer  fraternity  and  fancy 
prices  for  British  insects  existed  at  least  twenty  years  earlier  than 
Haworth's  time.  Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Davies  of  Kington  I 
have  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  A  Catalocjiie  of  the  Portland 
Museum  Sale,  which  is  dated  1786,  and  in  which  the  prices  realised  are 
attached  to  every  lot ;  possibly  it  was  the  auctioneer's  catalogue. 

Before  j)roceeding  to  give  some  account  of  this  interesting  relic  and 
its  contents,  it  may  be  not  unprofitable  to  make  an  attempt  to  realise 
the  condition  of  things  entomological  in  this  said  year  of  grace,  1786. 
On  the  continent  the  new  binomial  system  of  nomenclature  invented 
by  Linneeus  had  been  generally  adopted,  and  his  classification  was 
almost  universally  followed.  The  Vienna  Catalogue  was  little  known ; 
it  was  not  till  Fabricius  called  the  attention  of  entomologists  to  it  in  his 
Mantissa  (1787)  that  it  began  to  emerge  from  obscurity,  and  it  was  not 
till  1793  that  Hiibner  began  the  work  {Sammlung  europdischer  Schmetter- 
linge)  which  elevated  it  into  that  position  of  suj)reme  authority  as  re- 
gards nomenclature  which  it  for  long  occupied.  Fabricius  had  produced 
Si/stcma  Eatomologiae,  Genera  Insectorum  and  Species  Insectorum,  and  by 
these,  and  still  more  by  his  personal  influence  exerted  in  his  numerous 
wanderings,  had  come  to  be  a  power  in  the  entomological  world.  The 
main  bulk  of  those  parts  of  Esper's  great  work,which  relate  to  Ehopalocer  a  , 
Sphinges,  Bombyces  and  Noctu^,  had  been  given  to  the  world,  and 
four  volumes  of  Cramer's  Papillons  Exotiques  were  published.  Probably 
the  works  which  were  in  most  general  use  at  that  time,  in  addition  to 
the  12th  edition  of  the  Systeina  Naturae,  were  those  of  De  Geer  and 
Geoff roi  and  the  published  volumes,  five  in  number,  of  Papillons  d' 
Europe  which  generally  go  by  the  names  of  Ernst  and  Engramelle. 
Hiibner  was  just  coming  into  note,  the  first  part  of  his  Beitrdge  having 
made  its  appearance  in  the  year  of  which  we  are  speaking.  In  our  own 
country  Berkenhout  had  introduced  the  Linnjean  nomenclature  in  his 
Outlines,  which  was  probably  the  "  Manual  "  of  the  entomologists  of  the 
day,  and  Harris  and  Wilkes  had  brought  out  second  editions  of  their 
works  in  which  the  new  names  were  more  or  less  accurately  attached  to 
indigenous  species.  Barbut,  five  years  earlier,  had  illustrated  the 
Linna^an  genera  of  the  class  Insecta  by  figures  of  a  representative  species 
of  each,  drawn  from  nature.  Drury's  magnificent  work  on  exotic 
insects  was  in  the  hands  of  those  who  could  afford  to  obtain  it.  The 
Linneean  cabinet  had  probably  not  yet  readied  this  country,  but  nego- 
tiations were  rapidly  a^jproaching  comjiletion,  if  not  already  completed, 
for  its  transfer  here.  Fabricius  had  visited  England  once  at  least,  and 
was  in  communication  with  some  of  our  entomologists,  specially  with 
Sir  Joseph  Banks.  From  the  Species  Insectorum  we  learn  that  many 
notable  collections  existed  in  this  country.  Fabricius  mentions  those  of 
Banks,  Hunter,  Drury  and  Bloinfield  in  London ;  of  Lee  at  Hammer- 
smith, and  of  Blackburn  at  Oxford.  The  jiatron  saint  of  Entomology 
was  undoubtedly  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  who  had  been  elected  President  of 
the  Koyal  Society  eight  years  previously,  and  who  retained  that  post 
till  his  death  in  182U.  To  his  industry  in  acquiring  continental  litera- 
ture and  to  his  generosity  in  making  arrangements  for  the  transfer  of 
his  library  to  the  nation  after  his  death,  the  students  of  to-day  are 
gi'eatly  indebted,  for  most  of  the  cojjies  of  the  works  of  "  the  Ancients  " 
which  are  now  in  the  British  Museum  are  from  his  librai'y. 


AMONG    THE    ANCIENTS.  125 

But  revenons  d  nos  motitons.  The  Catalogue  itself  is  a  fine  bit  of 
work  with  an  engi-aved  Fi'ontispiece,  and  cost  each  would-be  buyer  five 
shillings.  The  sale  occupied  39  days  (one  day  beyond  the  time  esti- 
mated) and  the  objects  sold  realised  some  £1 1,523.  Insects  formed  but 
a  small  part  of  the  collection,  but  it  is  they  alone  that  interest  us  here. 

At  the  outset  I  find  a  note  in  the  book,  evidently  written  at  the  time 
of  the  sale,  to  this  effect : — "  The  name  of  Humphry  occurs  so  often 
in  this  Catalogue  and,  as  it  is  well  known  that  he  bought  almost  all  on 
commission  for  others,  to  save  time,  as  well  as  hereafter  to  fix  the  proper 
names  of  those  wlio(m)  he  bought  for,  the  initial  H.  only  is  added. 
J.  L."  These  initials  are  those  of  Jno.  Laskoy,  Crediton,  the  original 
owner  of  the  Catalogiie. 

It  would  appear  that,  besides  Humphry,  men  named  Dennis,  Allan- 
son,  Bailey,  Francillon,  Money,  Hunter,  Forster,  Eoper,  Seaton, 
Marsham,  Tennant  and  Pownall  jiurchased  the  greater  part  of  the 
Exotics  in  the  collection,  but  with  the  exception  of  Drury,  Francillon 
and  Marsham,  no  one  had  a  chance  against  Humphry  in  buying  the 
British  insects.  Many  lots  however  contained  British  and  Exotic  in- 
sects mixed,  and  in  some  cases  no  attempt  to  subdivide  them  is  apparent. 

As  samples  of  the  prices  realised  the  following  are  interesting : — 
"  Lot  268.  Eight  species  of  very  rare  Phalenfe,  viz.,  gonostigma,  curttda, 
solids,  cori/li,  monacha,  atra,  L.  and  2  undescribed,"  £1  3s.  "  Lot  275. 
Five  rare  species  of  Phalenee,  viz.,  absinthii,  aim,  gamma,  circumflexa,  L., 
and  a  nondescript,"  £1  10s.  "Lot  277.  Eighteen  ditto,  such  as 
dromedarius,  palpina,  leporina,  eamelina,  &g.  all  labelled,"  £'J,  Is.  "Lot 
280,  Ten  rare  sj^ecies  of  Phalence,  viz.,  fulvago,  occulta,  L.,  &c."  £1  12s. 
"Lot  282.  Twenty  species  of  small  Phalense,  chiefly  Alucitae,"  £1  10s. 
"  Lot  283.  Ten  rare  species  of  Phalenee,  viz.,  pisi,  chi,  gothica,  satelUtia, 
triplacia,  &c."  £1  13s.  "  Lot  287.  Various  lepidoptera,  many  of  them 
very  rare,  such  as  Phalena  proicox,  L.,  of  which  there  are  no  less  than 
12  pairs,"  £3  13s.  6d.  With  the  exception  of  this  last  Lot,  which  was 
bought  by  Drury,  all  the  above  Lots  were  bouglit  by  Humphry. 
This  was  in  the  Third  day's  sale.  In  the  Sixth  day's  sale,  a  mixed  lot, 
chiefly  without  names,  were  bought  by  Humphry.  The  important 
items  appear  to  have  been  :  "  Lot  585.  Nineteen  specimens  of  English 
Phaleuce,  among  which  is  a  pair  oi prcecox,  L."  £2  5s.  "Lot  588.  Six 
species  of  rare  English  Papiliones,  viz.,  aiiiiopa,  ins,  avion,  L.,  &c.  all 
fine,"  £1  13s.  "  Lot  590.  Four  species  of  English  Phalense,  viz., 
tremula,  dromedarius,  curtula  and  ziczac,"  £2  18s.  "  Lot  595.  Four 
species  of  English  Phalense,  viz.,  fagi,  or  the  lobster,  lanestris.  Spotted 
Ermine  of  Harris,  &c."  £2  3s.  Among  this,  too,  was  "  Lot  593. 
Fourteen  beautiful  Paj)iliones,  viz.,  a  pair  of  dapUdice,  sometimes  found 
in  England,  maja,  L.  &c."  16s.  ;  these  dapUdice  therefore  were 
not  sold  as  British.  All  the  important  Lots  in  this  day's  sale  also  went 
to  Humjjhry.  In  the  Eighth  day's  sale  there  are  none  designated  as 
British  ;  many  appear  in  fact  without  the  slightest  data.  In  the  Tenth 
day's  sale  however  we  find  a  mixture  of  British  and  Exotic  species. 
Lots  1020-1ij33  were  all  bought  by  Humphry.  "  Lot  1021.  Nine  rare 
species  of  English  Phalena^,  among  which  are  falcataria,  lacertinaria, 
defoliaria,  pulveruria,  and  others."  £1.  "  Lot  1033.  Twenty  species  of 
English  Tinese,  all  rare,  among  which  are  carnella,  raiella,  clerckella," 
lis.  The  Thirteenth  day's  sale  contained: — "Lot  1271.  Seventeen 
species  of  English  Phalenge,  most  of  them  rare,  and  some  nondescript," 


12f>  THK    entomologist's    RECORD, 

£2  6s.  "Lot  1272.  Twelve  ditto,  some  new,  all  rare,"  £2  7s.  "Lot 
1277.  Seven  species  of  rai*e  British  Phalenfe,  among  which  are  leuco- 
melas  and  pisi,"  £1  Is.  These  again  were  all  bought  by  Humjihry. 
In  the  Fifteenth  day's  sale  but  little  of  importance  is  noticeable,  except 
that  aniiopa  and  lineata  figure  among  the  Exotic  sales,  and  that  many 
of  the  lots  consisted  of  a  mixture  of  British  and  Exotic  species.  In 
the  Eighteenth  day's  sale  the  same  mixture  occurs.  In  the  Nineteenth 
day's  sale  we  find  among  others:  "Lot  1977.  Eight  rare  species  of 
British  Papiliones,  viz.,  lathonia,  iris,  primi,  argiohis,  rnhi,  and  2  nonde- 
script," £1  5s.  "Lot  1990.  Nineteen  various  species  of  rare  English 
Phalena3,"  £1  lis.  "Lot  1995.  Twelve  curious  and  rare  species  of 
English  Phalena3,  among  which  are  hepattca,  mijrtiUi,  miata,  jjrmiata,'" 
£1  19s.,  all  bought  by  Humphry ;  whilst  on  the  same  day  "11  curious 
Exotic  Sphinges,"  producecl  3s.  6d.,  and  "11  beautiful  Exotic  Papi- 
liones," 5s.  On  the  Twentieth  day  we  find  "  Lot  2091.  Seven  rare  species 
of  English  Phalen^,  among  which  are  trngopoginis,  ciirago,  typica,  liicipara 
and  prcecox,  L."  £1  5s.  "  Lot  1092.  Twenty-two  curious  and  rare  si^ecies 
of  British  Phalenaj,  amongst  which  are  geoffrella,  pomoneUa,  conwai/ana," 
£1,  (both  bought  by  Humphry)  whilst  "Two  of  Phakena  fraxini,"  with- 
out data,  and  "  Two  pairs  of  Sjjhinx  nerii,"  ditto,  were  sold.  The 
Thirtieth  day's  sale  is  a  striking  one  as  in  the  face  of  the  prices  realised 
both  earlier  and  later ;  some  of  its  lots  must  have  been  very  doubtful. 
Thus  we  have  "  Lot  3171.  Five  sj)ecies  of  very  scarce  British  Papi- 
liones, viz.,  two  pair  of  virgaurece,  three  maturna,  one  hero,''  &c.,  3s.  Gd., 
whilst  for  "Lot  3178.  Eight  species,  including  falcataria,  betularia, 
laceriinaria,  vihicaria,  amataria,  and  defoliaria,"  13s.  "  Lot  3180.  Twelve 
beautiful  and  rare  Tineae,  such  as  arcuana,  christianana,"  £1  2s.  "  Lot 
3182.  A  very  fine  pair  of  Sphinx  atropos,  and  a  new  Sphinx  related  to 
cohi'oZi'hZ/,  lately  discovered  in  Yorkshire,"  £2  4s.  "Lot  3184.  Eleven 
species  of  British  Phalena3,  iduiata,  pojmlata,  bidentata,  &c."  18s.  "Lot 
3186,  Three  extremely  curious  and  rare  English  Phalena3,  among  which 
is  that  very  uncommon  one,  delphinii  ov  the  Pease-blossom  moth,  jnnastri, 
L.  &c."  £1  12s.  "  Lot  3187.  Two  very  curious  species,  viz.,  castrensis 
or  the  scarce  Lacky  Moth,  and  versicolor  or  Glory  of  Kent,"  £1  3s. 
"  Lot  3188.  Four  species  of  British  Phalente,  viz.,  cesadi,  batis,  etc." 
14s.  "Lot  3189.  Three  species  of  the  larger  British  Phalenas,  viz., 
sponsa,  maura,  and  3  pairs  of  a  new  species  related  to  pronuba,"  14s. 
"Lot  3193.  Various  duplicates,  including  j:>}YPcox-,"  £1  lis.  6d.  "Lot 
3194.  Twelve  species  of  the  larger  British  Phalense,  ^at'onm,  quercus, 
chrysitis,  villica,  nupta,  plantaginis,  vinida,"  16s.  6d.  All  these  were 
bought  by  Humphry. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  notes  made  on  rapidly  running  through  the 
Catalogue.  The  number  of  lepidoptera  (both  large  and  small)  from 
America  is  remarkable,  and  although,  generally  speaking,  British  speci- 
mens are  sold  in  separate  lots  from  the  Exotics,  yet  many  are  mixed, 
and  after  studying  the  Catalogue  a  short  time,  one  need  no  longer 
wonder  that  British  collections  in  the  early  part  of  the  century  contained 
large  numbers  of  species  which  have  since  been  proved  to  have  no  locus 
standi  in  the  British  fauna.  If,  as  may  be  su2:)posed  from  this,  most  of 
the  earliest  collections  consisted  of  lepidoptera  from  many  countries,  it 
is  no  wonder  that  doubtful  species  were  introduced  when  British 
collections  began  to  be  the  rage.  The  Catalogue  would  certainly  lead 
any  student  to  understand  that  every  American  and  most  European 


RETROSPECTIONS    AND    FORECASTS.  127 

species  mentioned  by  the  old  authors  as  British  but  which  are  now 
generally  not  accepted  as  such,  were  of  undoubted  foreign  origin. 

The  second  point  that  strikes  one  is  the  existence  of  professional 
dealers  and  buyers  in  these  early  days,  but  it  would  appear  that  such 
were  rather  curio  dealers  in  general  than  dealers  in  lepidoptera  in  par- 
ticular. 

The  third  matter  of  interest  is  the  difference  existing  even  in  these 
early  times  between  the  values  of  British  and  foreign  insects.  Rare 
indeed  is  it  to  find  a  "  Lot "  of  the  former  valued  at  less  than  lOs.,  or  a 
'•  Lot  "  of  the  latter  at  more.  The  fancy  value  for  Britishers  therefore 
dates  back  a  long  way,  and  it  is  evident  that  the  gentlemen  who  now 
supply  the  gullible  British  public  had  predecessors  in  existence  at  least 
110  years  ago. 

A  fourth  point  on  which  the  Catalogue  throws  an  interesting  light 
is  the  nomenclature  in  vogue  at  the  time ;  this  will  be  an  instructive 
study  to  Anti-Staudingerists.  Of  the  macro  names  given  above,  all  but 
three  are  Linneean ;  those  three,  gonostigma,  lineata,  and  nlmata,  are 
Fabrician.  The  following,  which  were  again  revived  by  Staudinger 
after  an  interval  of  disuse,  were  in  use  in  this  country  in  1786 :  fulvago 
(=  cerago)  falcataria,  lacertinaria,  prunata  (^^  rihesiaria),  pavonia.  On 
the  other  hand  aesculi  held  the  ground,  and  was  not  then  known  as 
pyrina. 

By    albert    J.    HODGES. 

(Continued  from  page  70). 

As  every  advantage  has  its  attendant  drawbacks,  so  doubtless  the 
distant  Northern  resident  collectors  will  allow  their  practical  monopoly 
of  the  many  rare  species  and  fine  local  forms  to  be  a  fitting  compensa- 
tion for  the  frequent  absence  of  those  opportunities  of  congenial  society 
which  would  so  shorten  the  weary  return  from  many  a  successful 
expedition. 

How  different  is  the  case  with  the  equally  rich  but  more  accessible 
famous  hunting  grounds  in  the  South  and  the  Midlands  ;  "  sugaring  "  in 
the  New  Forest,  when  the  "  crimsons  "  are  out,  is  almost  as  good  an 
introduction  to  entomological  circles  as  membership  with  one  of  the 
societies  ;  certain  of  the  "  enclosures  "  with  names  too  well  known  to 
need  mention,  are  almost  over- run  during  July  with  collectors,  who 
meet  one  another  season  after  season,  with  unvarying  regularity,  in 
pursuit  of  the  graceful  sibylla  and  the  lordly  iris,  whilst  the  dank  and 
gloomy  Fen,  foimerly  only  mentioned  with  bated  breath  as  a  mystery 
not  to  be  approached  by  the  dilettante  and  frivolous  collector  of  Macros 
only,  is  now  studded  in  the  mist  and  darkness  with  innumerable 
"  lights,  like  gipsy  camp-fires,"  each  with  the  concomitant  weird  sheet, 
whilst  the  sound  of  voices,  more  or  less  cheerful  as  the  sport  waxes 
and  wanes,  is  borne  through  the  fast-falling  darkness,  and  the  most 
treasured  Fenland  species  are  fast  becoming  "  household  words "  in 
every  cabinet. 

Whilst  mourning  the  apparently  inexplicable  extinction  in  recent 
years  of  some  typically  Fen  species,  as  Laelia  coenosa,  and  of  more 
distant  years,  Noctna  suhrosea,  yet  the  eager  jiursuit  of  equally  local 
species  is  being  carried  on  with  the  same  avidity,  and  it  seems  likely 


128  THE  entomologist's  record. 

ah'eacly  that  we  may  have  to  add  Cidaria  sagittata  to  the' same  black 
list,  although  hope  still  lingers  on  and  the  pretty  larva  is  searched  for, 
season  after  season,  with  perseverance  by  amateitr  and  dealer  alike, 
upon  its  common  food-plant,  the  meadow-rue  (Thalictrum  flavum),  which 
is  so  abundant  throughout  the  Fen. 

In  tliis  connection,  a  fertile  subject  for  discussion  may  be  found  in 
the  gradually  increasing  rarity  of  some  species  of  our  Macro-lepidoptera, 
e.g.  Porthesia  chrysorrhoea,  whicli  within  very  recent  years  was  generally 
recorded,  but  has  been  of  late  increasingly  difficult  to  obtain,  although 
occurring  within  the  strictly  Metropolitan  area  (vide,  Ent,  Bee,  Vol.  I., 
p.  349,  Vol.  II.,  p.  140,  etc.)  and  the  series  in  many  cabinets  are  either 
of  a  more  or  less  ancient  api^earance  or  very  incomplete.  The  some- 
what allied  species,  Ocneria  disjjar  is,  of  course,  too  well-known  an 
instance  of  this  to  need  comment,  and  the  series  of  all  of  the  younger 
collectors  of  the  day  are  filled  with  in-bred  specimens,  which  differ 
widely  in  appearance  from  the  genuine  old  captured  examples.  The 
gradual  extinction  of  these  si^ecies  of  Liparidae,  as  with  L.  coenosa 
referred  to  above,  bears  quite  a  different  aspect  from  the  prosjiective 
destruction  of  other  miscellaneous  species  through  over-collecting  to 
the  point  of  extermination,  by  dealers  and  others,  of  which  a  case  in 
point  is  the  jiretty  little  Nola  albtdah's  of  Chattenden  fame,  and  were  it 
not  that  the  Folkestone  local  Chortodes  bondii  has  been  discovered  in 
other  spots  along  our  Southern  coast,  towards  Dorsetshire,  it  is  to  be 
feJired  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  this  species  would  have 
ceased  to  claim  its  place  in  our  lists. 

Let  us  turn  from  these  forebodings  to  the  more  congenial  anticipa- 
tions of  the  season  which  is  so  rapidly  oi^ening,  and  do  not  let  us  forget 
that  "  records  "  for  early  api^earance  of  many  of  our  May  and  June 
species  are  being  broken  season  after  season,  a  result  possibly  due  to 
more  energetic  and  scientific  observation,  as  well  as  to  the  grand 
seasons  with  which  we  are  being  favoured.  Now  is  the  time  for  the 
le2)idopterist  whilst  held  back  from  the  active  pursuit  of  his  favourite 
hobby  by  those  numerous  ties  and  duties  (which  doubtless  act  as  a  most 
viseful  curb  to  the  too  great  devotion  of  many  of  us),  to  cherish  that 
dormant  enthusiasm  which  will  surge  within  until  oitportunity  gives 
the  signal  for  the  incei^tion  of  some  arduous  expedition  to  more  or  less 
distant  and  inaccessible  sj^ots,  where  can  be  accomjilished  the  wild 
desire,  "  To  scorn  delights  and  live  laborious  days."  Had  Milton  ever 
foreseen  the  devoted  perseverance  of  the  average  collector,  he  would 
surely  have  immortalized  Lycidas  with  a  lamp  and  net  and  for  "  days  " 
have  substituted  "  nights,"  but  we  will  forbear,  and  for  a  few  moments 
will  endeavour  to  picture  the  keen  delights  of  a  "  go^d  night "  in  early 
summer  on  the  Fens. 

The  setting  sun  is  fast  disappearing  behind  a  bank  of  clouds,  which 
impelled  slowly  upwards  by  the  gentle  westerly  breeze,  meeting  us  as 
we  leave  the  village  to  wend  our  way  laden  Avith  the  implements  for 
our  night's  work,  gradually  overspread  the  whole  sky  and  confirm  our 
anticipations  of  that  dark  warm  night  in  which  Fen-Avorkers  so  delight. 
As  we  hasten  down  the  "  drove  "  to  our  favourite  spot  we  exchange  the 
cheeriest  of  greetings  with  a  brother  of  the  net,  who  has  already  begun 
work  and  reports  that  the  early  flying  Geometers  are  flitting  around 
the  stunted  bushes  in  plenty,  and  we  net  short  series  of  Lobophora 
sexalisata  and  Epione  apiciaria  before  the  rapidly  increasing  twilight 


RETROSPECTIONS  AND  FORECASTS.  129 

warns  us  that  the  lamp  should  be  already  throwing  its  seducing  radiance 
around.  What  is  that  large  pale  moth  with  long  drooping  body  flying 
heavily  on  the  skirts  of  yonder  reed-bed  ?  A  good  beginning,  as  the 
lucky  captor  announces  a  female  M.  amndinis,  surely  a  very  early 
emergence  and  confirming  our  anticipations  of  some  sport  with  the 
males  of  the  same  species  at  the  lamp. 

Hardly  is  the  sheet  fixed  than  a  "  wainscot "  emerges  from  the 
surrounding  gloom  and  circles  once  or  twice  round  the  lantern,  M. 
flammea  as  expected,  and  fortunately  the  precursor  of  others,  which 
settling  on  the  sheet  and  on  grass  stems  within  the  circle  of  light  are 
soon  prisoners.  DisajDjiointment  is  exjjressed  that  we  have  not  netted 
Viminia  venosa  before  darkness  set  in,  but  we  are  soon  relieved  by  the 
rapid  dash  of  a  very  white-looking  Noctua  into  the  bright  rays  in 
which  we  are  standing ;  it  is  too  quick  for  us,  but  a  second  momentary 
apjiearance  within  the  verge  of  the  lighted  area  gives  a  rapid  net  the 
opportunity  required.  Hardly  is  this  boxed  than  a  sudden  rush  against 
the  sheet  is  felt  and  the  first  ^  arundinis  is  seen  settled  low  down  and 
is  boxed  before  he  can  begin  to  get  lively.  For  an  hour  or  so  we  are 
busy,  the  first  to  disa2Diiear  is  Herminia  cribralis,  which  had  been  early 
and  frequent  in  its  visits,  and  for  a  while  the  slackening  sport  gives  us 
the  necessary  opportunity  for  a  visit  to  the  numerous  sugared  "  knots  " 
of  reeds  which  we  had  prepared  as  an  experiment,  it  being  rather  early 
in  the  season  for  the  usual  luck  with  these.  Not  much  on  the  Fen 
itself.  An  occasional  A.  nnanimis,  with  an  early  L.  imjmdens  and  a  few 
of  the  usual  "free  lances,"  but  as  we  gain  the  higher  ground  just  off 
the  fen-level  our  forethought  is  better  rewarded ;  a  few  posts  and 
saplings  yield  A.  advena  and  N.  saponariae,  whilst  by  good  fortune  we 
succeed  in  boxing  a  very  skittish  C.  ocularis,  but  we  have  still  another 
string  to  our  bow,  in  the  lane  above,  we  have  prepared  numerous  baits 
with  sugared  flower  heads  and  more  knots.  Ah  !  advena  prefers  these 
and  tliis  preference  is  shared  by  another  fine  fellow ;  C.  elpenor  cannot 
resist  them,  especially  so  near  his  head-quarters  and  evident  birth-place, 
he  needs  a  raj^id  and  sure  hand  to  secure  and  a  speedy  quietus  but  is  worth 
it  all.  We  must  not  linger,  the  witching  hour  of  midnight  is  past  and 
the  distant  liglit  on  the  Fen  recalls  us  and  none  too  soon ;  A.  fuliginosa 
has  begun  its  wild  flight  and  seems  to  have  re-started  the  more  staid 
Noctuaj,  and  for  another  hour  we  are  too  busy  to  heed  the  busy  flight 
of  time  and  forget  all  in  the  glamour  of  the  mouient.  The  weird 
appearance  of  our  shadows,  thrown  as  within  a  small  illuminated  islet 
in  a  sea  of  dense  darkness  which  seemingly  surrounds  us,  adds  to  the 
loneliness  and  novelty  of  our  position,  which  in  its  utter  contrast  to 
our  usual  haunts,  constitutes  that  charm  which  will  ever  enthral  the 
ardent  nature-lover  and  which  will  find  its  votaries  year  after  year, 
ready  to  illumine  the  darkness  of  night  to  pursue  their  loved  investi- 
gations into  the  many  problems  of  Nature. 

We  find  fresh  incentives  to  overcome  these  meditative  tendencies  in 
action  and  whilst  the  records  of  the  past  are  recalled  and  the  rarities 
of  former  years  discussed,  a  sharp  outlook  is  kept  on  the  lamp  for  the 
pretty  little  Nascia  cilialis,  formerly  such  a  rarity,  to-night  fortunately 
added  to  our  captures,  whilst  hopes  of  that  greatest  prize,  HydriUa 
palustris,  although  doomed  to  disappointment  again,  yet  tend  to  the 
heightening  of  the  weird  fascination  of  the  hour. 

A  little  longer  and  at  last  even  our  enthusiasm  for  Nature  begins  to 


130 


THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    RECORD. 


wane  before  the  demands  of  Nature  in  a  more  personal  relation,  and 
even  now  lingeringly  and  witli  reluctance,  we  lower  down  and  extin- 
guish our  lamps  and  fold  the  sheet  which  has  done  such  yeoman  service. 
Hiding  the  heaviest  of  our  paraphernalia  in  the  thick  rank  growth 
around,  we  return  to  ourselves,  home,  supper  and  bed. 

Who  is  he,  pent-up  in  crowded  city,  that  does  not  feel  a  chord 
vibrate  in  sympathy  with  such  recollections  and  long  for  the  moment 
when,  in  healthy  and  exhilarating  sport,  the  lassitude  of  the  winter 
may  be  cast  off  and  a  store  of  health  and  pleasant  reminiscences  be 
acquired  for  the  future ;  whilst  in  such  recollections  lies  much  of  the 
subtle  charm  that  invariably  retains  the  active  sympathies  of  every 
individual,  who  may  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  come  within  the 
magic  spell  of  attraction  of  our  favourite  hobby. 


PRING. 


^HITE  and  blue  in  the  sky  this 
morn: 

Shadows  creeping  along  the  hill : 
Spring's  young  life  in  the  hud  new- 
born : 
Tinkle  of  music  in  river  and  rill. 

Cast  off  sorrow  and  cares  that  kill : 

Hie  thee  forth  and  be  glad  to-day. 
What  ai-e  thy  years  to  thee  ?     Youth 
lives  still 
In  many  a  heart  when  flowers  the 
May. 

Youth  in  the  heart,  though  the  hair 
be  grey, 
Calls  us  forth  to  be  boys  again. 
Calls  us  forth  to  see  Nature  play 
With  her  old,  old  playthings — Joy 
and  Pain. 

Joy  to  the  plant,  as  it  drinks  the 
rain : 

Pain  to  the  dripping  beggar's  child : 
Joy  to  the  child,  as  it  links  the  chain  : 

Pain  to  the  daisy  for  flowers  defiled. 

Joy  to  the  hawk  in  the  woodland 
wild : 
Pain  to  the  dove  as  the  claws  sink 
deep. 
Over  her  playthings   hath    Nature 
smiled 
Since  the  world   and  its  wonders 
awoke  from  sleep. 

Lips  may  smile,  when  the  eyes  would 
weep: 
Eyes  may  smile  though  the  heart 
be  sore. 
Nature,  must  thou  thy  secret  keep  ? 
Lovest    thou   sorrow   or    joy    the 
m^re  ? 


Let  me  enter  thy  open  door : 

Let  me  dream  on  thy  bounteous 
breast : 
Lay  me  down  on  thy  flower-strewn 
floor : 
In  thy  presence  is  only  rest. 

Rest  to  the  hawk  in  its  thorn-built 

nest: 

Rest  in  death  to  the  dove  that  died : 

Rest  to  the  day  in  the  twilight  blest : 

Rest  to  the  sands  when  ebbs  the 

tide. 

Must    then   May   and    the    spring's 
young  pride 
Sink  like  this  through  a  minor  key  ? 
Shall  a  man  weep  as  he  weds  his 
bride  ? 
Shall  a  boy's  young  thoughts  as  an 
old  man's  be  ? 

Fie  on  thee,  Nature ;  river  and  lea, 
Sparkle  of  waters  and  whisper  of 
leaves 
Weave  no  riddles  'twixt  thee  and  me. 
Keep  thy  pain  for  the  heart  that 
grieves. 

Time  in  Autumn  to  bind  the  sheaves 
Reaped  from  thy  deeper  wisdom's 
store. 

Chatter  of  swallows  beneath  the  eaves 
Bids  us  sorrow  in  spring  no  more. 

Up  then!     Out!  to  the  shell-decked 
shore, 
To  the  still  green  woods,  to  the 
wind-swept  heath. 
The  storms  in  winter  may  one  day 
roar, 
But   better  in   May  is  Life   than 
Death. 

G.  M.  A,  Hewktt. 


ON   1?afc   LARVA    0^    ARCl*IA    CAIA.  131 

"With  special  reference  to  its  correlated  variations  in  Plumage, 
Moulting  and  Hybernation. 

By     T.     A.      CHAPMAN,      M.  D. 

{Continued  from  page  35). 

In  considering  the  relations  which  these  variations  in  plumage, 
moulting  and  hybernation  bear  to  one  another  and  to  the  history  and 
habits  of  the  species,  some  very  interesting  conclusions  present  them- 
selves, not  indeed  as  proved,  but  as  highly  probable. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  very  interesting  to  find  that  of  a  single  l)rood 
of  larvEe  treated  identically,  some  should  reach  maturity  in  five  moults, 
whilst  others  take  thirteen,  and  this  as  a  matter  of  simple  variation,  and 
quite  apart  from  any  disease.  Such  a  gi-eat  range  of  variation  may, 
probably  does,  exist  in  other  hybernating  Arctiae,  but  in  no  other  hyber- 
nating  larvae,  that  I  have  reared  or  heard  of,  is  it  met  with.  Mr. 
Hellins  records  frequent  and  continuous  moulting  in  some  few  instances, 
but  these  were  always,  in  his  opinion,  pathological. 

As  to  the  use  of  these  variations  to  the  species ;  we  find  in  the  first 
place  that  the  Forward  forms  are  decidedly  favoured,  if  not  caused,  by 
a  high  temperature.  Now,  if  only  the  Normal  form  existed,  it  is 
evident  that  in  a  very  warm  and  early  season  these  would  be  ready  to 
hybernate  at  midsummer,  and  would  jDrobably  largely,  if  not  entirely, 
perish  in  consequence  ;  whilst  a  second  brood  from  the  Forward  moths 
would  reach  the  hybernating  stage  at  a  fairly  favoiirable  date.  In  an 
ordinary  English  summer,  no  doubt  the  Forwards  themselves  or  their 
jirogeny  Avould  perish ;  hence,  no  doubt  also,  the  rarity  of  Forwards  in 
England.  It  is  olivious  again,  that  the  fine  large  hybernating  form  of 
larva,  noted  as  appearing  in  Brood  I,  from  its  larger  store  of  nutriment, 
its  denser  clothing,  and  greater  resistance  to  change  of  temperature,  was 
well  adapted  for  carrying  the  species  through  a  long  and  severe  winter, 
that  might  be  fatal  to  the  ordinary  hybernating  form. 

Then  the  Laggards  may  be  supposed  to  take  up  precisely  the  opposite 
role,  and  to  be  suitable  to  a  very  mild  winter,  in  which  hybernating 
would  be  very  difficult,  although  feeding  up  would  be  impossible. 

These  four  forms  obviously  exist,  freely  commingled  in  our  English, 
race  of  caia,  but  with  the  Normals  largely  predominating,  though  ready 
to  give  way  to  the  Forwards  under  the  influence  of  a  high  temperature. 

My  experiments  amounted  to  an  attempt  to  produce  a  race  which 
shoiild  be  entirely  Forwards,  but  in  this,  broadly  stated  in  this  form, 
they  entirel}'^  failed.  They  did  apjtear,  however,  to  produce  a  certain 
effect  on  the  form  assumed  by  the  larvfe.  They  did,  most  esjiecially, 
j)roduce  an  increase  of  the  Laggards,  and  not  only  an  increase  in  their 
numbers,  but  an  increase  in  their  variety,  and  in  their  constitutional 
stamina.  I  deduced  from  this,  tliat  there  was  a  closer  relationship  be- 
tween the  Forwards  and  the  Laggards,  than  between  either  of  tliem  and 
the  Normals,  probably  to  be  explained  by  the  supposition  that  a  warm 
summer,  favouring  the  production  of  Forwards,  belonged  to  a  climate 
where  the  winter  was  also  warm,  which  would  favour  Laggards  ;  so 
that  the  existence  of  a  race  of  caia  consisting  entirely  of  Laggards  or 
entirely  of  Forwards,  was  extremely  unlikely  ;  one  that  alternated 
between  Forwards  and  Laggards  was  probably  not  infrequent,  and  may 


132  THE  entomologist's  record, 

indeed  very  conceivably  liave  existed  at  some  time  or  place  as  a  pure 
race,  and  would  have  been  quite  parallel  to  the  many  instances  with 
which  we  are  familiar,  of  winter  and  summer  (or  spring  and  autumn) 
broods. 

This  conclusion  is  assisted  by  the  further  fact,  that  the  later  broods 
showed  gi'eat  variation  in  the  Normals,  as  though  they  were  so  crossed 
with  Laggards  and  Forwards,  that  there  were  comparatively  few  that 
did  not  partake  more  or  less  of  the  characters  of  one  or  other  of  these 
forms,  whilst  the  converse  of  this  is  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  brood 
reared  from  profound  hybernators,  in  which  there  appeared  among  530 
larvfe,  only  one  Forward  and  no  Laggards. 

Pedigree  breeding  of  caia  obtained  from  the  extreme  northern  limits 
of  its  distribution,  as  well  as  from  the  southern,  to  jjut  this  conclusion 
to  a  further  test  Avould  be  of  much  interest,  and  might  throw  consider- 
able light  on  the  action  of  climate.  Especiall}^  it  might  in  some  degree 
elucidate  such  facts  as  that  caia,  through  many  successive  Normal 
broods,  can  perpetuate  the  capacity  to  take  on  a  double  brooded  habit, 
with  a  rapid  feeding  summer  brood  and  a  winter  brood  hybernating  as 
larvse. 

The  conclusions  actually  ascertained  or  suggested  by  the  experiments 
which  are  the  subject  of  this  paper,  appear  to  be : — 1.  That  the  larva 
of  caia  presents  three  types,  each  with  subsidiary  varieties.  2.  That 
each  of  these  types,  and  indeed  each  subsidiary  variety,  is  characterised 
by  a  series  of  moults,  a  succession  of  plumage,  and  habits  as  to  hyber- 
nation, in  which  it  differs  from  the  others.  3.  That  caia,  as  we  meet 
with  it,  may  be  regarded  as  a  mongrel  race,  consisting  of  these  three 
types  closely  mixed  and  intercrossed,  but  capalile  of  separation  by 
appropriate  breeding  and  selection,  or  more  probably  of  two  races,  one 
with  hybernating  larvae  and  a  single  brood  annually,  the  other,  consist- 
ing of  an  alternating  summer  and  winter  form.  4.  That  though  these 
two  races  may  conceivably,  under  certain  climatic  conditions,  have 
existed  as  separate  and  pure  races,  (they  may  do  so  now  in  some  parts 
of  the  world  for  ought  I  know),  yet  that  at  present  in  England  the 
hybernating  form  is  most  largely  represented  with  a  small  intermixture 
of  the  digoneutic  form,  which  persists,  as  it  enables  the  species  to  be 
continued  in  exceptional  seasons  that  would  be  destructiA'e  to  the 
dominant  monogoneutic  type. 

DESCEIPTION    OF    PLATE     11. 

(All  Figures  of  Larvae  are  amplified  two  diameters.) 

Fig.  1.  Laggard  of  2nd  brood,  hybernating  in  8th  skin. 

Fig.  2.  Laggard  of  4th  brood,  in  4th  skin. 

Fig.  3.  Laggard  of  2nd  Ijrood,  hybernating  in  7th  skin. 

Fig.  4.  Normal,  hybernating  in  5th  skin. 

Fig.  5.  Normal,  hybernating  in  Gth  skin  ;  large  ca/a-like  form. 

Fig.  6.  Dorsal  view  of  anal  armature  of  caia  pupa,  x  6  diameters. 

Fig.  7.  Lateral  view  of  anal  armature  of  caia  pupa,  x  6  diameters. 

NOTES    ON     PLATE     IL 

Li  Plate  II,  Fig.  1,  we  have  a  form  that  is  very  much  the  same  as 
a  Normal  hyljcrnator,  and  the  figure  gives,  perhaps,  a  Ijetter  idea  of  a 
Normal  hybernator  than  does  fig.  4,  taken  from  a  Normal  hybernating 


Plojte.  2. 


-^ 


U:M^ii''^' 


'^m^^ 


Varieties    of  Larvae    of    Arctia  Caia. 


West,  Newman,  CVrromo . 


SOCIETIES.  133 

specimen.  Fig.  1  is,  however,  a  hybernating  form,  assumed  by  a 
Laggard  at  the  8th  skin.  Fig.  2  is  a  Laggard  in  4th  skin ;  compare 
with  Normal  in  4th  skin  (Plate  I,  fig.  8).  Fig.  3  is  a  Laggard 
hybernating  in  7th  skin. 

Fig.  5  is  a  hybernating  form  that  is  rather  rare,  and  is  remarkable 
for  its  large  size  and  cam-like  plumage ;  several  of  these  occurred  in 
later  broods  ;  the  one  figured  Avas  in  its  6th  skin,  and  was  descended 
from  the  large  red  hybernating  larvae  already  referred  to,  as  the  only 
definite  variety  of  hybernation  that  occurred  in  the  first  brood. 

Figs.  6  and  7  represent  the  anal  armature  of  coia  pupa ;  beyond 
the  opportunity  afforded  for  having  the  drawings  made,  they  have  no 
connection  with  the  subject  of  this  paper,  but  they  interested  me  as 
having,  more  than  any  other  pupa  that  I  have  met  with,  certain  features 
very  similar  to  those  of  Acronycta  pupte.  The  two  definite  dorsal 
spines  and  the  numerous  ventral  set,  being  of  the  same  pattern  as  pre- 
vails amongst  the  Cuspidiae,  whilst  the  texture  of  the  pupa  reminds  one 
a  good  deal  of  Viminia.  These  facts  make  one  suspect  that  the 
resemblance  of  the  larvae  of  Viminia  to  those  of  Arctia  may  indicate 
relationship,  extending  as  it  does  to  an  identity  of  the  lateral  strii^e  in 
menyanthidis  and  rumicis  with  that  found  in  some  varieties  of  young 
caid  larvfe. 


gOCIETIES. 

Three  meetings  of  The  Entomological  Society  of  London  have 
been  held  since  our  last  note. — On  March  14th,  Dr.  D.  Sharp  exhibited 
a  collection  of  White  Ants  (Termites),  comprising  about  a  dozen  species, 
which  had  been  taken  by  Mr.  G.  D.  Haviland,  in  Singapore  ;  he  stated 
that  Mr.  Haviland  had  found  in  one  nest  eleven  neoteinic  queens, — 
that  is,  individuals  having  in  some  respects  the  appearance  of  queens, 
while  in  other  respects  they  were  still  immature  ;  these  neoteinic 
queens  were  accomj^anied  by  kings  in  a  corresj^onding  condition.  Dr. 
Sharp  alluded  to  the  opinion  expressed  by  Mr.  Herbert  Spencer,  in  his 
recent  discussion  with  Prof.  Weissman,  that  the  different  forms  of  social 
insects  were  produced  by  nutrition,  and  said  that  the  observations  made 
by  Prof.  Grassi,  showed  the  correctness  of  this  view.  Mr.  Haviland 
stated  that  two  of  the  species  exhibited,  certainly  grow  fungus  for  their 
use,  as  described  by  Mr.  Smeathman  many  years  ago,  in  the  Philo- 
sophical Transactions.  Mr.  Goss  remarked  that  Virgil  (Gcorgics,  Book 
iv.),  referred  to  the  fact  that  the  different  forms  of  social  insects  were 
produced  by  nutrition,  and  also  to  parthenogenesis  in  Bees.  Mr. 
0.  E.  Janson  exibited  specimens  of  Dicranocephalus  adamsi,  Pascoe,  from 
Sze-chuen,  Western  China,  and  D.  dahryi,  Auz.,  recently  received  from 
the  neighbourhood  of  Meupin,  in  the  same  district ;  he  observed  that, 
although  the  latter  had  been  quoted  by  Lucas,  Bates,  and  others,  as  a 
synonym  of  adamsi,  the  two  species  were  perfectly  distinct ;  the  females 
of  both  were  unknown  to  the  authors,  and  presented  a  remarkable 
difference,  for  whilst  in  dahryi  this  sex  is  similar  to  the  male  in  colour 
and  sculpture,  in  adamsi  it  is  entirely  dull  black,  with  the  upi)er  surface 
minutely  and  densely  punctate.  Mr.  C.  0.  Waterhouse  exhibited,  for 
Mr.  E.  A.  Waterhouse,  a  specimen  of  Colias  ednsa,  closely  resembling 
C.  erate  (a  Continental  species),  which  was  taken  on  Wimbledon  Common, 


134  tHE    entomologist's    RECOftb. 

and  a  series  of  Lycacna  arion,  from  Cornwall.  Mr.  F.  Merrifield  read 
a  paper  describing  further  experiments  on  pupa3  of  Lepidoptera,  with 
comments  on  them  by  Dr.  Dixey.  In  Pararge  egeria,  heat  produced  no 
approach  to  the  South  European  form ;  those  at  temperatures  of  56° 
and  under,  gave  the  most  strongly- marked  imagines.  In  Cidaria  slla- 
ceata,  the  principal  eifect  of  forcing  was  to  reduce  the  size.  In 
Araschnia  levana,  adequate  cooling  of  the  pupse  caused  a  comjilete  con- 
version from  the  prorsa  to  the  levana  form.  In  Vanessa  polychloros, 
forcing  tends  to  yellow,  refrigeration  to  darkness ;  in  this  species,  as 
well  as  in  V.  io,  cooling  produced  marked  reversion  to  ancestral  forms. 
Vanessa  atalanta,  subjected  to  a  very  high  forcing  temperature, 
developed  several  additional  scarlet  spots  and  groups  of  scales,  corres- 
ponding with  more  conspicuous  colouring  of  the  same  kind  in  V. 
caUirrhoii.  Grapta  c-alhum  was  remarkable  for  the  much  greater 
sensitiveness  to  temperature  of  the  first  (or  early  summer)  emergence, 
than  of  the  late  autumn  emergence ;  the  effects  on  this  species  are  much 
more  strongly  marked  on  the  under  side.  From  V.  antlopa  no  results 
were  obtained,  but  this  may  have  been  due  to  the  fact  that  the  pupte 
were  several  days  old  when  they  reached  Mr.  Merrifield.  Dr.  Dixey 
followed  Avith  a  paper,  indicating  the  relation  of  the  results  obtained  by 
Mr.  Merrifield,  to  the  phylogenesis  of  the  species  experimented  on  ;  he 
also  discussed  the  theories  of  Weismann,  and  the  question  of  acquired 
qualities  in  connection  with  heredity,  on  which  he  considered  that  they 

threw  some  light. On   March  28th,  sympathetic  reference  was 

made  to  tlie  sudden  death  of  Mr.  J.  Jenner  Weir.  Mr.  W.  Borrer,  jun., 
exhibited  a  wasp's  nest,  which  had  been  built  in  such  a  way  as  to  conceal 
the  entrance  thereto,  and  to  protect  the  whole  nest  from  observation  ; 
he  believed  the  nest  to  be  that  of  Vespa  vuhjaris  (c.f.  Proc.  Ent.  Soc. 
London,  1892,  pp.  xx  and  xxi).  Mr.  G.  F.  Hampson  exhibited  a  speci- 
men of  Gandnritis  Jiavata,  Moore,  from  the  Khari  Hills,  and  called 
attention  to  the  existence  in  the  males  of  this  S23ecies,  in  the  closely 
allied  British  species  Cidaria  dotata,  Linn,,  and  also  in  two  Jaj^anese 
species  (C.  agnes,  Butl.,  and  an  undescribed  species),  of  an  organ  on  the 
underside  of  the  fore  wing,  which  he  suggested  might  be  for  stridula- 
tion  ;  this  organ  consists  of  a  small  scar  of  hyaline  membrane,  situated 
just  below  the  middle  of  vein  2,  which  is  much  curved ;  this  scar  is 
fringed  with  long  hair,  and  has,  running  down  its  middle,  a  row  of 
sharp  spines  situated  on  the  aborted  remains  of  vein  1,  and  which  is 
cui'ved  up  close  to  vein  2 ;  the  spines  would  naturally  rub  against  j^art 
of  the  costa  of  the  hind  wing,  but  no  spines  or  imusual  roughening 
seems  to  exist  on  that  or  on  any  of  the  veins  on  the  upper  side  of  hind 
wing  against  which  they  could  strike  ;  below  the  scar  is  situated  a  large 
shallow  fovea  or  pit  in  the  membrane,  slightly  developed  in  dotata  and 
Jiavata,  but  much  more  prominent  in  the  two  Jajxanese  species  which, 
should  the  organ  prove  to  be  for  stridulation,  would  probably  act  as  a 
sounding  board.  Mr.  Hampson  said  that  in  the  Japanese  species  C. 
fixreni  of  Brem,  closely  allied  to  Jiavata,  the  males  have  no  trace  of  this 
organ,  and  he  hoped  that  entomologists,  who  have  an  opportunity  of 
observing  dotata  in  life,  would  make  some  experiments  on  living 
specimens  during  the  ensuing  summer ;  probably  confining  males  and 
females  together  would  lead  to  some  results. 

On  April  11th,  the  Hon.  Walter   Kothschild   exhibited   male  and 
female   specimens  of    Ornilhoptera  paradisea,   Stdgr.,   from   Finisterre 


SOCIETIES.  135 

Mountains,  New  Guinea ;  0.  trojana,  Stdgr.,  from  Palawan  ;  0.  andro- 
mache,  Stdgr.,  from  Kina  Balu,  Borneo;  Oenetns  mirahilis,  Itotliscli., 
from  Cedar  Bay,  Queensland ;  and  a  few  other  splendid  species  from 
the  Upper  Amazons.  Mr.  H.  Goss  exhibited,  for  Mr.  G.  A.  J.  Rothney, 
several  specimens  of  a  Heniipteron  (Serinetha  augur,  Fab.),  and  of  a 
Lepidopteron  (Phauda  flammans,  Walk.),  the  latter  of  which  closely 
resembled  and  mimicked  the  former.  He  said  that  Mr.  Rothney  had 
found  both  species  abundantly  on  the  roots  and  trunks  of  trees  in 
Mj^sore,  in  November  last,  in  company  with  Ants  (several  species  of 
Camponotus  and  Or emastog aster).  The  Hemipteron  appeared  to  be 
distasteful  to  the  Ants,  as  it  was  never  molested  by  them,  and  he 
thought  that  the  Lepidopteron  was  undoubtedly  protected  from  attack 
by  its  close  imitation  of  the  Hemipteron. 

At  the  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History 
Society,  on  March  8tli,  Mr.  Adkin  exhibited  specimens  of  Erehia 
epiphron  from  Inverness,  which  were  said  to  be  the  type  and  not  var. 
cassiope.  It  is  generally  stated  in  recent  Avorks  that  the  difference 
between  the  two  forms  consists  in  the  presence  of  white  pupils  in  the 
ocelli  in  the  tyj^e  and  their  absence  in  var.  cassiope.  Knoch,  however, 
in  his  description  of  the  type,  distinctly  says  that  the  occurrence  of 
white  pupils  is  not  a  constant  character.  They  were  not  present  in 
Mr.  Adkin's  specimens  and  Mr.  Weir  said  they  never  occurred  in  the 
forms  found  in  Britain.  Mr.  Routledge  showed  specimens  of  Selenia 
bilunaria,  which  had  lain  over  the  summer  of  1892,  emerging  in  Aj^ril, 
1893;  also  the  progeny  of  a  pair  of  these  "lazy-landers,"  which  had 
emerged  at  intervals  from  August,  1893,  to  February,  1894,  and  were 
all  moderately  small,  althougli  in  some  the  pigment  was  fairly  well 
developed ;  he  also  brought  a  series  of  Epunda  luttdenta  from  Cumber- 
land, which  included  both  var.  lunehurgensis,  Frr.  and  var.  sedi,  Gn. 
Mr.  Fi'ohawk  exhibited  ten  ^  and  ten  J  Pararge  megaera,  bred  by 
himself  from  ova  deposited  on  August  2nd,  1893.  Mr.  Billups  had 
three  rare  Ichneumons ;  Microgaster  russatus,  taken  at  High  Beach  in 
1884 ;  Haperacrims  crassicornis,  of  which  only  one  recorded  specimen 
was  known,  taken  at  Oxshot  in  1892 ;  Euryproctus  nemoralis,  taken  at 
Oxshot  in  July,  1893.  Mr.  W.  A.  Pearce ;  Attacus  lima  and  Citheronia 
rcgalis  from  Wilkinsburg,  U.S.A.  Mr.  Jenner  Weir  showed  <?  and  ? 
Hcteronympha  merope ;  the  two  sexes  are  so  totally  unlike  that,  until 
quite  recently,  they  have  been  sujiposed  to  be  distinct  species ;  the 
chrysalis  is  said  to  be  contained  in  a  frail  network  on  the  ground.  The 
latter  part  of  the  Society's  name  was  justified  by  the  exhibition,  by 
Mr.  Williams,  of  a  local  snake,  CoroneUa  laevis,  taken  at  Camberley,  in 
Surrey,  in  1883.  Mr.  Step  had  found  that  the  flowers  of  the  Butcher's 
Broom  (Riiscus  acideatus)  were  i)roduced  in  pairs  on  the  phylloclade,  but 
that  only  one  bud  opened  at  a  time. 

On  March  22nd,  two  series  of  Hybernia  leucophearia  Avere  forth- 
coming ;  one,  taken  by  Mr.  Turner  at  Richmond  Park,  West  Wickham 
and  South  London,  contained  a  large  number  of  melanic  forms ;  in  the 
other,  from  the  New  Forest,  shown  by  Mr.  Adkin,  the  white-banded 
was  the  predominant  form.  Mr.  South  had  a  long  bred  series  of 
Taeniocampa  gothica,  including  many  var.  gothicina,  which  he  had 
received  from  Mr.  Rose,  of  Barnsley ;  all  were  large  and  of  a  deep  red 
shade.  A  locust  {Aedipoda  tartarica),  captured  at  Brixton  among 
vegetables  imjjorted  from  Italy,  was  shown  by  Mr.  Sauze. 


136  THE  entomologist's  record. 

The  meeting  of  the  Birmingham  Entomological  Society  on  April 
1  Gth,  appears  to  have  been  a  more  than  usually  interesting  one.  Mr.  G.  H. 
Kenrick,  in  some  "  Notes  on  the  Migration  of  Insects,"  suggested  that, 
in  some  cases  at  least,  the  migration  might  possibly  be  similar  to  what 
was  observed  in  birds  ;  that  in  the  case  of  Pyrameis  cardui,  for  example, 
which  occurs  during  the  winter  in  North  Africa,  Egypt,  &c.,  there 
might  be  a  migration  northwards  to  moister  climates  for  the  production 
of  the  summer  brood,  and  a  return  south  again  for  the  winter  brood.* 
Exact  information  was  desirable  as  to  the  actual  hybernation  of  this  and 
other  species  in  this  country.  Exhibits :  Mr.  W.  Harrison  ;  living  larvae 
of  Melitaea  anrinia,  taken  in  considerable  number  on  devil's  bit  scabious 
(Scahiosa  succisa)  at  Arley.  Mr.  P.  W.  Abbot ;  three  specimens  of 
Stauropus  fagi,  bred  from  larvae  obtained  in  Wyre  Forest  last  year  ;  also 
Neuria  reticulata  from  Wicken.  Mr.  C.  J.  Wainwright ;  the  following 
Diptera  taken  in  Wyre  Forest  at  Easter :  a  long  series  of  an  Ech'nomyia 
(perhaps  ursina),  which  was  extremely  abundant,  especially  on  the 
sallows ;  Cheilosia  grossa,  C.  flamcornis,  Syrphus  lasiophthabnus  and 
Melanostoma  quadvimaculata,  all  taken  on  sallow  blossom :  he  remarked 
on  the  bee-like  appearance  of  the  Echinomyia  and  Cheilosia,  the  latter 
resembling  Andrena  fulva  so  closely  that  he  had  had  much  difficulty  in 
recognising  them.     Mr.  K.  C.  Bradley ;  Bomhus  latreillus  from  Sutton. 

Records  have  reached  us  of  meetings  of  the  Leicester  Literary 
AND  Philosophical  Society  (Entomological  Section),  on  Feb.  27th 
and  April  2nd.  Mr.  Bouskell  recommended,  and  the  recommendation 
is  well  Avorthy  of  being  acted  upon,  the  formation  by  the  Section  of 
collections  of  local  and  of  British  insects  with  life-histories.  Economic 
entomology  received  attention.  As  the  result  of  an  enquiry  as  to  the  best 
means  of  dealing  with  the  Onion  grub,  which  is  very  prevalent  in  the 
district,  it  was  recommended  that  cultivation  in  trenches  and  the 
covering  up  of  the  bulbs  should  be  adopted.  As  the  result  of  excur- 
sions to  Charnwood  Forest  at  Easter,  the  following  captures,  amongst 
others,  were  announced : — Brephos  j^dt'thenias  in  good  condition  (out 
fourteen  days  earlier  than  last  year) ;  Asphalia  flavicornis,  one  at  rest 
and  one  on  the  wing  in  the  bright  sunshine ;  two  Taeniocampa  mnnda 
and  one  T.  gracilis.  Of  Coleoptera  :  Rhagium  inquisitor  (8)  and  a  number 
of  larvae  out  of  an  old  stump ;  Ips  4:-guttatus,  plentiful  under  bark ; 
Ips  ^-pustulatus  at  sap  ;  Rhizophagus  dispar,  R.  bipustulatus,  Rhinosoiuus 
planirostris,  Ilybius  ater,  I.  ohscuris  and  Aclius  sulcatus.  The  following 
among  other  exhibits  were  made :  Mr.  Moss ;  Sinondedron  cylindricnm, 
Dorcas  paraUelopipedus,  Barynotus  ohscurus  and  B.  schunherri,  all  from 
near  Loughborough :  larva?  of  Acherontia  atropos,  Cossus  ligniperda, 
Notodonta  ziczac,  N.  dictea,  &c.  from  the  same  district.  Mr.  Bouskell ; 
a  series  of  Nyssia  hispidaria  from  oak  trunks  in  Budden  Wood ;  none 
were  found  at  a  gi-eater  height  from  the  gi-ound  than  one  foot.  Mr. 
Headley ;  Monohammus  sartor,  taken  in  Leicester  on  a  willow  trunk. 

*  We  should  like  to  hear  whether  the  author  of  this  paper  has  collected 
any  information  hearing  on  the  return  to  the  South  of  this  or  any  other 
migrating  species  of  insect.  Information  relating  to  the  possibility  of  Anosia 
archippus  doing  so  has  been  collected  in  America,  but  beyond  the  fact  that  the 
latter  are  known  to  "  swarm  "  in  the  autumn  nothing  further  seems  to  have  been 
proved.  There  is,  we  believe  at  present,  no  shadow  of  reason  even  for  the 
supposition  that  they  return  South.  If  there  be  any  material  or  observations 
on  the  subject,  we  should  be  glad  to  have  references. — Ed. 


^^  AND  ^^^^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 

No.  6.     Vol.  V.  June  15th,  1894. 

I'lie  Life-jJistory  of  a  Lepidopterous  Iiisect, 

Comprising  some   account   of  its   Morphology  and    Physiology. 
By    J.    W.    TUTT.     F.E.S. 

(Continued  from  page  115). 


Chap.  II. 
THE   OVUM   OR  EGG. 

2. — On  variation  in  eggs. — Everything  in  nature  varies,  and  there 
can  be  little  doubt  that  there  is  as  much  variation  in  tlie  eggs  of  Lepi- 
doptera  as  there  is  in  their  larva3,  pupa3  or  imagines ;  comparatively 
little  attention  has  however  as  yet  been  devoted  to  the  subject.  So  far 
as  observations  have  been  made,  they  show  that  not  only  do  the  eggs  of 
diffei'ent  species  differ  from  one  another,  but  also  that  there  is  variation 
in  the  eggs  of  the  same  species  ;  this  may  affect  either  shape,  size, 
colour  or  ornamentation. 

a.  Shape. — Eggs  do  not  always  retain  the  shajDC  which  characterises 
them  when  tirst  laid.  Scudder  figures  the  eggs  of  two  species  of  Eurymns 
(  =:  Colias)  with  flattened  bases,  whereas  the  egg  of  CuUas  is  really  remark- 
ably spindle-shaped,  tapering  rapidly  to  both  ends.  Buckler  gives  two 
descriptions  of  the  egg  of  Colias  hyale ;  in  one  he  says  "  the  egg  is 
like  a  canary-seed  in  miniature ;  "  in  the  other,  "  the  egg  is  of  a  long 
f usif(jrm  shape,  one  end  conical,  the  other  knobbed,  or  like  a  bag  tied 
round  the  neck  ;  "  both  of  these  are  probably  correct.  When  first  laid 
the  egg  is  very  soft,  and  in  some  cases,  looks  as  if  it  were  almost  fluid. 
Eggs  laid  on  glass  apply  themselves  to  it,  and  have  a  very  regular  and 
almost  perfectly  circular  or  oval  outline,  but  if  laid  on  a  leaf  or  other 
irregular  surface,  they  apply  themselves  to  its  irregularities  and  become 
themselves  irregular,  both  in  relation  to  the  surface  to  which  they  are 
applied  and  also  as  regards  their  disturbed  outlines.  Dr.  Chapman  in- 
forms me  that  this  irregularity  was  very  evident  in  eggs  laid  l)y  a  Sropnla 
decrepitali)^,  which  he  forced  to  lay  on  the  deeply  furrowed  leaves  of  Ten- 
crium.  The  egg  of  Colias  has  distinctly,  as  has  just  been  observed,  a  very 
spindle-shaped  outline,  and  is  usually  very  slender,  and  very  j)ointed  at 
the  summit.  There  would  appear  to  be  a  tendency  when  the  egg  is  ap- 
plied to  a  leaf  under  exceptional  circumstances,  for  its  }»asal  part  to  spread 


138  THE  entomologist's  record. 

out  when  soft,  and  an  extreme  spreading  of  the  basal  tip  would  produce 
the  exact  appearance  that  Buckler  describes  as  being  "  knobbed,  or  like 
a  bag  tied  round  the  neck."  This  semi-fluid  condition  of  the  egg  when 
first  laid,  may  explain  an  obsei'vation  mentioned  to  me  by  a  lepidopterist 
who  remarked  that  eggs  of  Gonepteryx  rhamni  varied  immensely,  and 
that  sometimes  one  side  was  flatter  than  the  other.  Very  slight  pressure, 
or  other  slight  external  causes,  might  bring  about  such  a  variation.  The 
eggs  of  Piens  and  Enchloi'  appear  to  show  a  slight  basal  flattening,  which, 
would  probably  not  occur  if  they  were  laid  quite  free  from  attachment 
at  the  base.  Dr.  Chapman  remarks  that  in  Glaea,  the  egg  may  be 
pushed  into  a  chink  and  become  so  altered  by  pressure,  that  its  typical 
shape  and  ribbing  are  entirely  lost. 

There  is  frequently  a  certain  amount  of  variation  in  the  eggs  of 
individual  species.  When  I  was  at  Hereford  in  Easter  week  1893,  I 
examined  some  eggs  of  Brephos  notha  under  a  lens  ;  among  them  was 
one  which  was  very  different  in  appearance  from  the  usual  form  of  that 
species  ;  it  was  oval  in  shape,  and  very  much  smaller  than  the  others. 
Dr.  Chapman  remarked  at  the  time  that  this  was  not  unusual.  The 
altered  shape  could  not  have  arisen  from  jjressure,  or  from  any  peculi- 
arity in  the  environment,  as  the  eggs  were  laid  quite  open  on  a  twig. 

b.  Size. — With  regard  to  variations  in  size,  the  Kev.  John  Hellins 
writes  as  follows: — "Some  time  ago  I  corresponded  with  Mr.  W.  H. 
Harwood  on  the  (Question  as  to  the  eggs  of  Macro-Lepidoptera  varying 
in  size,  and  he  mentioned  instances,  chiefly  among  the  "  Prominents," 
where  he  had  observed  some  difference  in  the  size  of  eggs  laid  by  the 
same  female ;  this  difference  he  had  been  accustomed  to  associate  with 
the  sex  of  the  future  imago,  the  larger  eggs  being  expected  to  result  in 
female  moths,  the  smaller  in  male,  but  I  am  not  aware  that  he  had 
tested  this  theory  very  exactly  :  he  also  furnished  me  with  the  experi- 
ence of  another  entomologist,  who  liad  noticed  that  the  first-laid  eggs 
of  Hawk-moths  are  larger  than  those  which  follow.  These  observations 
interested  me  much,  and  I  meant  to  jnii'sue  them  with  some  care,  but 
so  far,  I  have  not  done  what  I  wished,  and  all  I  can  now  add  is  this — 
Last  June,  I  captured  an  impregnated  female  of  Smerinthus  populi,  and, 
by  shutting  her  up  in  a  large  paper-lined  box,  managed  to  secure  all  her 
eggs  to  the  number  of  230  or  thereabouts ;  I  had  removed  and  given 
away  most  of  tliem  before  she  had  <piite  finished  laying,  but  luckily 
retained  a  few  of  the  earliest,  and  when  I  came  to  compare  these  with 
the  last  half-dozen  that  left  the  ovipositor,  the  difference  in  size  was 
immediately  apparent,  and  on  measuring  them  with  the  micrometer,  I 
found  the  last  were  just  two-thirds  of  the  size  of  the  first.  To  have 
made  this  observation  of  more  value,  I  ought  to  have  measured  the  eggs 
as  they  came  each  day  (I  think  she  was  about  five  days  in  getting  rid 
of  all  her  bui-den),  but  I  did  not  think  of  this  in  time  ;  neither  shall  I 
be  able  to  know  which  sex  of  the  moth  these  small  eggs  would  have 
produced,  for  having  to  leave  home  before  the  larvaj  were  full-fed,  I 
was  obliged  to  commit  them  to  the  care  of  a  youngster,  whose  conscience 
was  not  tender  on  the  point  of  feeding  them,  so  that  on  my  return  I 
found  them  all  dead.  There  is  another  question  that  lias  occurred  to 
me,  but  which  I  cannot  answer  for  certain  ;  does  a  female  moth,  which 
from  any  cause  has  not  reached  the  usual  size  of  the  species,  lay  the 
same  number  of  eggs  as  a  full-sized  moth,  lier  eggs,  being  like  herself, 
under  full  size  ?  or  does  she  lay  a  smaller  number  of  full-sized  eggs  ? 


THE    LIfE-UlSTORY   OF    A    LEPlDOPTEROUS    iNSECT.  l3'J 

I  believe  Mr.  Harwood  and  myself  both  inclined  to  the  latter  view" 
{Ent.  Mo.  Mag.,  xix.,  pp.  208-209).  Dr.  Chapman  has  recorded  that 
there  is  considerable  variation  in  the  size  of  eggs  laid  by  the  various 
species  of  Acronycta.  Jn  Cnspidia  tridens,  there  are,  apparently,  at  least 
two  races  which  lay  differently  sized  and  differently  ril)bed  eggs,  whilst 
the  eggs  of  Viminia  mijricae  also  vary  very  much  in  size.  On  the  other 
hand,  in  the  Arctias  and  many  NocTU-ii,  the  eggs  laid  are  of  remarkably 
uniform  size. 

c.  Colour. — Eggs  do  not  differ  very  much  in  colour  when  laid, 
whitish,  pale  yellow  or  pale  gi'eenish  being  the  most  usual  tints,  but  they 
change  very  quickly,  and  the  colour  of  each  kind  j^robably  then  becomes 
that  which  will  most  exactly  harmonize  with  the  surroundings  amid 
which  the  eggs  are  laid.  They  usually  appear  to  make  their  first  change 
within  24  to  72  lioui'S  of  being  laid.  Besides  this  first  change,  almost 
all  eggs  undergo  a  change  or  series  of  changes  of  colour  during  their 
development ;  this  is  generally  due  to  the  colour  of  the  embryonic  larva 
becoming  visible  through  the  transparent  egg-shell.  In  some  species, 
however,  no  change  in  colour  takes  place,  notwithstanding  that  the  egg 
is  fertile. 

The  first  change,  however,  seems  to  be  probably  due  to  some  other 
cause.  Mr.  Kobson  states  that  "  the  eggs  of  all  the  species  of  Hepudns 
are  white,  or  nearly  so,  when  first  extruded,  but  in  a  very  few  hours 
tliey  turn  to  bluish-black.  Mr.  Hellins  thinks  it  curious  that  the  eggs 
of  humnli  should  turn  black,  as  the  young  larva  is  white.  If  there  was 
anything  in  this  remark,  it  would  apply  with  equal  force  to  all  the 
species,  but  the  fact  is,  that  the  change  of  colours  is  of  the  shell  only, 
and  has  no  connection  at  all  with  the  larva  within,  for  unim])regnated 
eggs  change  in  exactly  the  same  way."  This  change,  probably,  is  de- 
pendent on  the  egg-contents,  although  it  is  a  change  of  colour  of  the 
shell  itself,  and  is  possibly  due  to  the  separation  of  the  cell-contents 
from  the  cell  wall  in  the  very  earliest  stages  of  change  in  the  laid  egg, 
which  probably  takes  place  as  much  in  an  unimpregnated  as  in  an  im- 
pregnated egg,  but  does  not  go  beyond  this  condition  in  tlie  former  case. 
Thus,  again,  the  egg  of  Euchloe  cardamines  is  yellow  when  laid,  but 
becomes  deep  orange  in  about  24  hours,  and  undergoes  no  further 
colour-change  until  the  larvaj  hatch  some  days  later. 

With  regard  to  other  individual  species,  Dr.  Scudder  mentions  that 
in  Cercyonis  alope,  the  colour  changes  from  honey-yellow  to  pale  pink  ; 
that  in  Eiihydryas  phaeton,  the  original  yellow  becomes  strongly  tinged 
with  l)ro\vn,  and  that  in  Eurymus  philodice,  the  yellow  gives  place  to  a 
pale  salmon. 

On  the  other  hand  the  egg  of  Endromis  versicolor,  which  is  jjale 
green  when  laid,  rapidly  becomes  yellow  in  colour,  and  then,  if  fertile, 
gradually  changes  through  orange  to  purple,  whilst  the  infertile  egg 
remains  yellow.  The  first  change,  from  green  to  yellow  would  a])pear 
to  be  somewliat  akin  to  that  which  takes  place  in  E.  cardamines,  and  is, 
perhaps,  not  dependent  on  embryonic  development ;  the  later  changes, 
however,  are  certainly  due  to  such  development. 

Dr.  Jordan  (E.  31.  M.,  vii.,  p.  117)  records  the  following  ol)serva- 
tion  : — "The  well-known  chocolate-coloured  egg  of  Centra  vinida  is 
common  enough ;  but,  at  the  latter  end  of  June,  1  found  an  egg  of 
similar  shape,  only  opaque  white  ;  it  was  on  a  leaf  of  Salix  frayilin.  It 
produced  a  '  puss '  genuine  enough  in  appearance,  though  it  unfortu- 
nately died  in  early  kittenhood." 


i40  •  iMfe  entomologist's  KEcokb. 

Mr.  Hellins,  in  the  article  from  which  we  have  already  quoted, 
makes  the  following  remarks  anent  colour  changes  : — "  A  third  question 
witli  regard  to  eggs  is  this — Do  eggs  of  the  same  species  vary  in  colour  ? 
or  do  they  always  go  through  tlie  same  changes  of  colour  in  approaching 
maturity  ?  Mr.  Buckler  and  myself  have  noted  a  most  decided  variation 
in  the  eggs  of  Ornyia  antiqua ;  often  they  are  of  a  dirty  whitish  hue, 
with  central  brown  spot,  but  sometimes  we  have  met  with  batches  which 
were  ([uite  reddish-brown  all  over  ;  I  believe,  too,  the  eggs  of  Dicrannra 
vinula  vary  considerably  in  the  depth  of  their  brown  colouring.  I  have 
notes  of  a  few  eggs  of  Hepialm  sylchms,  which  I  once  secured ;  when 
laid  they  were  all  of  a  dull  white,  and  most  of  them  remained  so,  with 
the  exception  of  a  tinge  of  yellow,  wliich  came  over  one  side ;  but  one 
egg  became  deep  j^ellow  all  over,  and  the  larva  from  it  when  hatched, 
was  of  a  much  deeper  yellow  than  the  rest,  but  I  did  not  manage  to  rear 
it  so  as  to  see  wliether  this  difference  remained  throughout  its  growth. 
I  have  also  notes  of  various  batches  of  eggs  of  Cheimatohia  brumafa, 
which  did  not  all  seem  to  go  through  the  same  changes  of  colour,  some 
of  them  not  showing  the  dark  hue  which  others  j^ut  on  at  the  last." 

That  most  of  the  clianges  in  colour  are  very  closely  connected  with  tlie 
developmental  clianges  taking  place  within,  will  be  manifest,  if  the  egg 
be  kept  inider  microscopic  observation.  The  first  change,  which  occurs 
very  soon  after  the  egg  is  laid,  probably  represents  the  transition  of  the 
contents  of  the  egg  from  their  primal  homogeneous  condition,  to  the 
condition  which  obtains  at  that  period  when  the  blastoderm  layer  is 
developed.  There  is  sometimes  a  distinct  change  of  tint,  at  others,  the 
whole  surface  becomes  completely  covered  with  black  dots  ;  this  change 
would  appear  to  correspond  with  the  separation  of  the  contents  from 
the  cell- wall. 

The  second  change  appears  to  accompany  the  formation  of  the  germ- 
inal band,  and  appears  to  be  intensified  as  the  growth  of  the  embryo 
continues.  This  probably  accounts  for  the  general  darkness  of  the  tint 
assumed  in  this  stage,  dark  brown,  red,  purple,  lead,  and  other  tints 
being  frequent,  and  lasting  sometimes  for  a  considerable  space  of  time. 

The  third  change  generally  exhibits  an  intensification  of  the  colour 
in  the  jjrevious  stage,  except  that  the  apex  and  frequently  the  base  of 
some  eggs  become  pale  again.  This  is  an  external  sign  that  the  embryo 
is  a2)in-oaching  maturity. 

These  three  changes  in  colour,  therefore,  are  the  naked  eye  appear- 
ances of  the  egg  during  the  condition  of  eml)ryonic  development,  and 
may  be  said  to  separate  the  four  periods  into  which  embryonic  life  may 
be  divided. 

Dr.  Chapman,  in  his  papers  "  On  the  genus  Acronj'cta  and  its 
allies,"  mentions  the  following  facts.  The  egg  of  Viviinia  auricoma, 
which  is  pale  creamy  when  first  laid,  passes  into  a  rich  reddish  chocolate- 
brown,  with  numerous  white  or  creamy  spots.  That  of  V.  myricae,  is 
at  first  yellow,  but  soon  becomes  of  a  pale  salmon-pink,  and  finally,  of  a 
purplish-brown,  with  paler  reddish-brown  spots.  In  V.  menyanfhid/K, 
the  egg,  at  first  yellowish,  soon  becomes  red,  and  at  full  colour  is  2)erliaps 
brown  rather  than  red,  getting  nearly  black  as  the  young  larva 
apjuoaches  hatching.  That  of  V.  rcnosa,  from  sulphur  yellow,  becomes 
reddish-)  irown,  with  paler  markings.  In  V.  rumicis,  tlie  egg,  Avhen  first 
laid,  is  white,  or  faintly  greenish  in  tint,  and  soon  becomes  yellowisli, 
•with  a  net-work  of  red  streaks ;  there  is  a  central  red  or  brown  dot  on 


THJ;    Lii'E-UiSTokY   OF    A   LEpiD0i'*fEk0US    iNHECf.  141 

the  apex,  surrounded  by  a  pale  zone,  and  the  rest  of  the  egg  is  finely 
dotted  with  yellow  or  orange  dots,  on  a  reddish-brown  base  ;  this 
colouring  is  assumed  in  two  days  in  warm  weather,  but  in  cool  weather 
the  change  occiipies  not  less  tlian  a  week.  Coming  to  Cmjiidin,  the  egg 
of  C.  tridcns  is  nearly  colourless,  almost  glassy,  when  first  laid,  but 
ac(|uires  a  certain  whitish  opalescence  as  the  larval  development  })ro- 
ceeds  ;  that  of  C.  ps/  is  very  similar.  That  of  C.  uini  is,  when  first  laid, 
nearly  as  colourless  as  the  two  preceding,  but  soon  assumes  some 
coloration,  and  in  about  three  days  reaches  its  proper  tint,  which 
is  colourless  on  the  margin  but  within  of  a  rich  chocolate-brown, 
marked  with  creamy- white  nearly  circular  patches,  which  tend  to  be 
arranged  in  two  circles,  round  a  central  one  ;  for  twenty-four  hours 
before  hatching,  the  egg  becomes  much  darker,  with  the  black  head  of 
the  larva  occupying  the  summit.  The  egg  of  C.  megacephala  when  first 
laid,  is  of  a  pale  greenish  colour,  uniform  throughout ;  when  fully 
matured  in  colour,  the  colourless  margin,  due  to  the  shrinking  of  the 
inner  egg,  is  wider  than  in  any  other  species  ;  the  inner  egg  presents  a 
series  of  brown  spots,  which  are  not  round,  but  angular,  usually  2)enta- 
gonal,  and  Avhich  differ  in  size  in  different  specimens,  being  sometimes 
mere  dots,  and  at  others  so  large,  as  to  occupy  nearly  as  large  an  area 
as  do  the  pale  spots  in  C.  ahii.  In  C.  striijosa,  the  inner  egg  shrinks 
away  from  the  outer,  leaving  a  clear  margin,  but  as  the  inner  egg  re- 
mains colourless,  the  margin  is  not  so  evident  as  in  the  coloured  species. 
In  C.  leporina,  the  egg,  of  a  pale  straw  colour  at  first,  develops  a 
cliocolate  dot  at  the  apex,  surrounded  by  a  small  circular  reddish  jjatch 
which  is  gradually  invaded  by  the  chocolate  colour ;  then  round  the 
margin  of  the  inner  egg  appear  five  to  eight  reddish  sjjots,  towards 
which  the  chocolate  area  extends  angularly,  leaving  for  a  brief  interval 
a  circle  of  pale  blotches  between  them  ;  finally,  the  dark  colour  sjJi'eads 
over  the  whole  of  the  inner  egg.  The  egg  of  C.  aceris,  when  first  laid, 
looks  very  like  that  of  C.  pd  or  C.  trklens,  but  is  a  little  more  opaque  ; 
as  the  inner  egg  shrinks  and  leaves  a  colourless  margin,  it  assumes  a 
rich  chocolate  colour,  with  pale  straw-coloured  spots,  which  often 
coalesce  and  form  streaks  and  blotches.  In  Bisxdcia  ligustri,  the  egg  is 
of  a  pale  pearly  green,  almost  colourless,  and  very  translucent ;  the 
inner  egg  shrinks  from  tlie  cell,  but  does  not  undergo  any  coloration. 
In  Moma  orion  the  egg  is  extremely  delicate  and  transparent ;  it  acquires 
a  pale  sti-aw  tint,  but  no  deeper  coloration  nor  markings ;  nor  does  any 
change  occur  as  the  contained  larva  l)ecomes  ready  to  hatcli,  except  a 
slight  increase  of  opacity,  the  young  larva  itself  being  very  transparent. 
The  colour  of  the  egg  of  Demas  corijli,  is  pale  greenish  when  laid,  and 
then  becomes  yellowish,  with  a  circle  of  small  red  dots  just  above  the 
widest  part. 

d.  Ornamentation. — The  number  of  the  ribs  with  whicli  lepidopterous 
eggs  are  frequently  ornamented,  often  varies  very  considerably.  Dr. 
Cliapman  re})orts  that  as  a  rule  the  egg  of  Vanessa  pohjchloros  has  eight, 
but  that  in  a  small  projjortiou  there  are  only  seven  ;  also,  that  of  thirty 
eggs  laid  on  the  same  day  by  GrapAa  c-albnm,  thirteen  had  ten,  and 
seventeen  eleven  ribs.  Edwards,  writing  of  the  closely  allied  species 
Grapta  interrogationis,  which,  like  G.  c-albnm,  lays  its  eggs  in  little 
columns,  five  or  six  eggs  being  placed  on  each  other,  says  that  the  number 
of  ribs  does  not  vary  in  the  same  column,  but  that  the  number  of  ribs 
which  is  commonly  ten,  may  be  sometimes  eleven.     He  thinks  it  probable 


142  tUE  entomologist's  RECOtlb. 

that  the  number  of  ribs  is  the  same  for  all  the  eggs  laid  by  one  individual. 
This,  however,  in  the  light  of  Dr.  Chapman's  observation,  is  improbable. 
Mrs.  Peart  made  an  observation  on  the  same  s^^ecies,  in  which  she  found 
that  the  final  egg  of  a  chain  had  eleven  ribs,  while  all  the  others  had 
nine.  Scudder  says  the  number  varies  from  eight  to  eleven.  In  the 
various  species  of  Acronycta,  it  would  appear,  from  Dr.  Chapman's  ob- 
servations, that  there  is  no  constancy  in  the  number  of  ribs.  In  V. 
auricoma,  it  varies  from  57  to  60,  in  V.  venosa,  from  41  to  45  ;  in  Cus- 
pidia  tridens,  the  average  number  is  38,  and  there  are  rarely  more  than 
44,  whilst  in  C.  psi,  the  number  is  rarely  fewer  than  45,  and  some 
specimens  have  as  many  as  54  ;  Dr.  Chaj^man,  however,  met  with  a  case 
in  which  the  eggs  of  C.  tridens  had  from  40  to  52  ribs ;  these  were  laid 
by  a  very  dark  moth,  and  produced  large  and  dark  imagines,  so  that 
Dr.  Chapman  thinks  that  there  may  be  two  distinct  races  of  C.  tridens. 
The  eggs  of  C.  leporina  are  very  variable  in  the  number  of  ribs,  two 
specimens  having  respectively  41  and  63,  but  the  lesser  numbers  are 
the  more  common.  In  C.  aceris  there  are  usually  70  to  75,  but  some- 
times as  few  as  50. 

3. — On  eggs  as  helping  to  ueterjiine  natural  affinities. — The 
eggs  of  Lepidoptera  are  now  much  more  generally  taken  into  account  in 
attempting  to  determine  the  natural  position  of  species.  It  has  been 
made  a  great  point  of  by  Dr.  Chapman,  in  his  researches  into  the  affi- 
nity of  JDemas  coryli,  Biloha  caerideocephala,  and  others  {Ent.  Rec, 
vol.  iii.,  pp.  249,  et.  seq.).  Anent  this  Dr.  Buchanan  White  writes 
(E.  M.  M.,  vol.  vii.,  pp.  230-1) : — "  Lepidopterologists  are  not,  as  a  rule, 
guilty  of  laying  too  much  stress  upon  little  things ;  indeed,  it  may  be 
said  with  truth,  that  they  have  altogether  neglected  to  avail  themselves 
of  almost  any  characters  but  those  afforded  by  colour  of  wings,  streaks, 
spots,  &c.  It  thus  happens,  I  suppose,  that,  till  within  a  very  recent 
period,  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  turn  to  account  the  characters  pre- 
sented by  the  form  of  the  eggs,  and  these  beautiful  objects  have  been 
altogether  neglected.  The  pajjers  upon  the  ova  of  certain  species  of 
Acidalla  and  Ennomos,  published  by  Mr.  Hellins  in  this  Journal,  prove 
what  good  characters  are  afforded,  in  some  cases  at  least,  by  the  form 
and  size  of  the  eggs.  That  the  differences  of  form  should  give  some 
assistance  in  determining  the  position  or  family  of  certain  species,  it  is 
my  object  in  this  note  to  suggest ;  and  as  instances,  I  will  select  the 
cases  of  Asteroscopus  nuhectdosa,  A.  cassinea,  Diloha  caeruleocephala  and 
JDemas  coryli.  The  majority  of,  if  not  all,  British  authors,  have  con- 
sidered that  these  species  should  be  placed  among  the  true  or  false 
BoMBYCES,  but  Herrich-Schiiffer  and  some  other  Eurojjean  entomologists 
have  thought  their  true  position  is  among  the  Noctu^.  What  aid  then 
does  the  form  of  the  eggs  of  these  moths  give  us  in  trying  to  determine 
the  question  ?  The  Notodontid^e,  in  which  family  Asteroscopus  and 
Diloha  are  generally  placed,  have  smooth  eggs,  with  scarcely  any 
sculpture,  and  not  at  all  resembling  the  usual  Noctua-tj'pe  of  egg,  but 
those  two  genera  have  ribbed  eggs  (as  have  the  majority  of  the  Noctu^), 
that  of  Diloha  especially  resembling  in  shape  the  eggs  of  some  of  the 
Boinhycoidae.  With  the  egg  of  Demas  I  am  not  acquainted,  but  it 
probably  differs  in  form  from  the  eggs  of  the  Liparidae,  and  resembles 
the  Noctua-type.  There  is  nothing,  1  l)elieve,  in  the  structure  of  the 
larva?  of  these  three  genera  which  would  forbid  their  being  placed 
among  the  NocTUiE,  while  the  perfect  insects  resemble  NocTuai  far  more 


THE    LIFE-HISTORY    OF    A    LEPIDOPTEROUS    INSECT.  143 

than  they  do  Bombyces,  the  stigmata  and  some  of  the  lines — so  charac- 
teristic of  the  Nocture — being,  except  in  A.  cassinea,  well  defined.  Why, 
therefore,  these  four  species  should  be  retained  in  the  position  they  at 
present  hold  in  the  list  of  British  Lepidoptera,  I  cannot,  for  my  own 
part,  see,  Herrich-Schiiffer  places  Demas  and  Diloba  in  the  Bomhyeoklae, 
and  Asteroscopus  in  the  Orthosidae,  between  Trachea  and  Tethea." 

Dr.  White's  guess,  like,  I  am  afraid,  so  many  other  guesses,  con- 
cerning Demas  coryli  did  not  prove  to  be  correct,  Dr,  Chajjman  states 
that  "the  larva  of  Demas  coryli  is  clearly  a  Liparid ;  Diloba  caeruleo- 
cephala,  although  more  closely  allied  to  the  Nootu^,  is  rather  a 
Notodontid," 

With  regard  to  the  eggs  of  these  and  certain  other  species  of 
uncertain  position,  Dr,  Chapman  wi-ites  : — "  The  only  ground  for  placing 
certain  species  among  the  Noctu.e  would  apj^ear  to  be  the  sculpturing 
of  the  egg,  which  is  unquestionably  of  the  pattern  nowhere  common 
except  among  the  Noctu.?<:  ;  such  species  are  D.  caeruleocephala,  D. 
coryli,  Panthea  caenobita,  DipJdhera  ludifica,  Petasia  cassinea,  and  P. 
mibecidosa.  The  Nycteolidae  have,  however,  never  been  placed  among 
the  NocTU.B,  yet  have  a  very  Noctuid  egg,  and  one  that  in  flatness  even 
exceeds  that  of  Acronycta.  D.  coryli,  P.  caenobita,  and  D.  hidijica  are 
certainly  very  close  to,  if  not  in,  the  Liparidae,  in  which  group  we 
already  have  a  very  great  variation  in  the  characters  of  the  ova — Orgyia 
antiqua  and  Dasychira  pudibunda  with  a  hai'd  smooth  egg,  not  unlike  a 
Notodont,  except  the  flattening  or  hollow  at  the  micropyle ;  Leucoma 
salicis  with  eggs  glued  together  in  a  spumous  material ;  Liparis  monacha 
with  quite  a  delicate  egg,  smooth,  but  with  traces  of  sculpturing  not 
very  remote  from  the  Noctuid  character  of  ludifica  "  (Ent.  Record,  etc., 
vol,  iii.,  p.  274).  This  note  forms  a  very  satisfactory  supplement  to 
and  criticism  of  Dr.  White's  note  above. 

4. — On  the  number  of  eggs  laid. — The  number  of  eggs  laid  by 
various  species  differs  very  gi^eatly,  and  even  among  different  individuals 
of  the  same  species  there  is  great  variation.  Mr.  Hellins  writes  : — "  The 
average  number  of  eggs  laid  by  each  species  is  a  matter  not  always  to 
be  ascertained  easily  ;  I  once  counted  1,200  as  the  number  laid  by 
Triphaena  fimbria,  and  about  the  same  number  in  a  batch  laid  by  T. 
pronuba,  and  these  are  the  highest  figures  I  ever  knew ;  something  over 
200  is,  I  fancy,  a  very  general  number  "  (Ent.  Mo.  Mag.,  vol.  xix.,  pp. 
208-209).  Mr.  Hollis  (Ent.  Rec,  vol.  iii.,  p.  173)  records  some  obser- 
vations made  on  Spilosoma  lubricipeda,  from  whicli  it  appears,  that  in 
that  species,  the  number  laid  is  about  400  to  500.  Dr.  Riding  (Ent. 
Rec  ,  vol.  iv.,  p.  1)  obtained  123  from  a  female  Dasycampa  rubiginea, 
and  Mr.  Bayne  {ib.,  p.  36)  about  70  from  a  female  Stauropns  fagi.  Mr. 
W.  E.  Nicholson,  writing  of  Agrotis  saucia  (//>.,  p.  IIG)  says: — "  Three 
females  Avhich  were  taken,  the  first  on  the  27tli  September,  and  the  two 
otliers  on  the  29th  September,  laid  freely  in  chip  boxes  in  the  course  of 
tlie  next  few  days.  The  batches  of  ova  did  not  look  very  large,  but  I 
subsequently  calculated  tliat  they  must  have  laid  over  a  thousand  ova 
between  them.  I  have  reason  to  believe,  as  the  specimens  were  worn, 
and  one  only  laid  comparatively  few  ova,  that  this  is  only  a  fraction  of 
the  number  that  miglit  be  laid  in  a  state  of  nature."  In  Insect  Life,  vi., 
p.  40,  the  number  of  an  entire  batch  of  ova  of  Zenzera  pyrina,  is  re})orted 
as  between  1,000  and  1,100.  Capt.  Brown  (Eat.  Rec,  vol,  i.,  p.  107) 
obtained  about  200  eggs  from  each  of  two  females  of  Epunda  lichenea. 


144  tflE    entomologist's    RECORf). 

5. — On  the  arrangement  of  the  eggs  when  laid. — The  methods 
adopted  by  the  parent  moths  in  the  disposition  and  arrangement  of  the 
eggs  when  laying  them  are  very  various  ;  some  lay  their  eggs  side  by 
side  in  clusters ;  others  lay  them  also  in  clusters,  but  with  one  egg 
partially  overlapping  another ;  others  again  deposit  them  solitarily, 
either  scattering  them  loosely  on  the  ground  as  is  the  habit  of  Hcpialus, 
or  attaching  them  to  the  bark,  to  a  twig,  to  a  leaf,  or  on  a  leaf-bud  ; 
whilst  the  Micropterygidae  and  Adelidae  are  provided  with  a  cutting 
apparatus,  with  which  they  cut  out  pockets  in  the  leaf  and  deposit  the 
egg  within.  There  is  the  same  resemblance  between  closely  allied 
species  in  the  manner  in  which  they  deposit  their  eggs,  which  we  found 
to  obtain  in  regard  to  shape.  The  eggs  of  the  Pyralides  almost  always 
have  their  edges  overlapping,  imbricated  as  it  is  called ;  this  imbrication 
is  almost  unknown  in  the  Noctu.*:  and  Geometr.b,  although  among  the 
former  it  occurs  in  the  sub-genus  Viminia  of  the  genus  Acronycta,  the 
allied  sub-genus  Cuspidia  having  the  eggs  laid  solitarily,  whilst  among 
the  Geojietr.«  the  imbricated  arrangement  obtains  in  the  case  of 
Eiujonia  quercinaria.  The  imbricated  method  of  egg-laying  must,  to  a 
certain  extent,  depend  upon  the  shape  and  general  flatness  of  the  egg. 

G. — On  the  perils  of  eocj-life. — It  is  generally  supposed,  although 
perhaps  not  altogether  correctly,  that  a  greater  destruction  of  insect  life 
takes  place  in  the  egg  stage  than  in  any  other.  Of  the  great  number  of 
fertile  eggs  laid  by  insects,  only  a  small  percentage  come  to  maturity. 
Some  females,  as  we  have  seen,  lay  considerably  more  than  a  tliousand 
eggs  apiece,  and  yet,  year  by  year,  save  under  very  exceptional  condi- 
tions, only  about  the  same  average  number  of  imagines  is  met  with. 
The  destruction  takes  place  in  all  the  stages,  and  it  is  hard  to  say  in 
which  stage  it  is  the  most  complete.  It  may  be  that  natural  selection 
protects  one  species  moi'e  perfectly  in  one  stage,  another  sjjecies  in 
another  stage,  Init,  so  far,  young  larva?  appear  to  be  the  particular  form 
against  wliich  destructive  agencies  are  most  active.  It  must,  however, 
be  admitted,  especially  in  the  case  of  eggs  laid  in  large  batches  in  the 
same  spot,  that,  if  an  attack  thereon  is  made  by  some  voracious  ento- 
mophagous  enemy,  the  destruction  is  absolutely  complete.  Scudder 
records  on  one  occasion  leaving  a  Pyrameis  cnrtiw/ entrapped  on  a  thistle, 
and  in  a  brief  time  she  laid  several  eggs  ;  but  when  he  went  a  second 
day  to  see  if  there  were  others,  he  found  only  the  bases  of  tlie  eggs 
which  had  been  laid  by  her,  with  a  single  exception  ;  this  egg  presented 
a  peculiar  a})})earance,  for  a  pair  of  ants  were  tugging  at  it,  and  had 
just  succeeded  in  piercing  it  aljove,  so  that  the  egg  was  spoiled  for  him. 
Tlie  same  author  says,  "  The  chief  offenders  are  mites  and  spiders  of 
different  kinds,  and  ants,  who  seem  as  fond  of  animal  as  of  the  sweeter 
vegetable  juices."  Mr.  Edwards  writes  : — "  Tliere  is  a  monstrous  waste 
of  eggs  in  Grapta  inten-ogationis  ;  out  of  the  tliousands  which  must  have 
been  laid  by,  say,  thirty  females,  hardly  twenty  butterflies  resulted.  I 
have  watched  the  eggs,  and  they  are  caiTied  off  and  no  trace  left,  I  sujipose 
by  spiders.  I  liad  a  lot  of  PapiUo  ajax  eggs  laid  in  a  keg,  over  paper,  and 
had  left  them  there  to  hatch,  though  I  usually  cut  off  the  stem  and  hatch 
the  eggs  in  the  house.  I  took  off  the  cloth  one  evening  to  let  the  eggs  get 
the  night  air,  and  in  the  morning,  there  was  no  trace  of  an  egg  on  the 
plant.  So  it  happened  with  atalanta.  Nor  are  tliese  mimite  objects 
by  any  means  free  from  tlie  attacks  of  parasites,  which  pass  their  entire 
existence  within  this  narrow  comijass.     Witness  the  not  inconsiderable 


THE    LIFE-HISTORY   OF    A    LEPIDOPTKROtTS    INStiCT.  145 

list  of  tlie  excessively  minute  Hymenoptera  of  the  genera  Trichogranima 
and  Telenomas,  all  of  which  have  been  raised  by  tlie  merest  accident 
from  eggs  collected  in  the  field.  The  five  known  kinds  have  always 
been  found  on  the  eggs  of  twelve  different  species  of  American  butter- 
flies. Were  this  mode  of  collection  more  commonly  and  authentically 
employed,  doubtless  the  list  would  be  vastly  extended.  It  is  a  curious 
fact,  that  there  are  no  cases  known  to  us  of  parasitic  attack  ujDon  those 
eggs  which  winter,  and  are  therefore  subjected  for  the  longest  period 
to  such  chalices.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  on  the  whole  the 
greatest  destruction  of  lepidopterous  life  takes  place  in  the  egg-stage.'' 
Certainly,  if  the  very  first  larval  stage  be  added  to  it,  the  statement 
would  be  unquestionably  true,  but  scarcely  otherwise  in  iny  opinion. 
The  escape  of  the  more  fortunate  must  be  put  down  to  (1)  The  minute- 
ness of  the  objects ;  (2)  Their  extreme  numbers  ;  (3)  The  brevity  of 
their  existence  as  eggs. 

Mr.  Woodworth  writes  :  — "  I  watched  an  Euvanessa  antiopa  while  she 
was  laying  perhaps  one-third  of  the  egg-mass  ;  at  first,  she  seemed  to  pay 
no  attention  to  me  although  I  was  so  close,  but  finally,  probably  on  account 
of  my  moving,  she  seemed  to  become  restless,  laid  quite  a  number  of 
eggs  on  tojj  of  the  others,  and  then,  without  warning,  was  off.  I  cut 
the  stem  at  once,  and  noticed  on  the  mass  of  eggs  a  little  hymenopterous 
parasite  (Telenomus  graptae),  which  seemed  to  be  depositing  eggs  also. 
It  would  run  across  the  egg  mass,  then  pause  a  moment  or  two  over  two 
or  three  eggs  in  succession,  and  then  be  off  to  another  part  of  the  egg- 
mass  and  repeat  the  performance.  The  specimen  was  preserved,  and 
some  of  the  eggs  allowed  to  hatch,  but  no  trace  of  parasitism  appeared 
in  them." 

7. — On  the  way  in  which  eggs  are  protected. — The  eggs  are  almost 
always  laid  on  the  food-j^lant  in  a  state  of  nature  although,  if  the  species 
be  grass  or  root  feeders,  they  may  be  sprinkled  loosely  on  the  gi-ound 
among  the  roots  of  the  plants  on  which  the  larvae  feed.  In  the  case  of 
eggs  which  are  laid  on  the  food-plant,  those  which  belong  to  species 
that  will  hatch  and  feed  up  the  same  year  are  usually  laid  on  the 
leaves,  the  colour  being  generally  such  as  will  harmonize  with  the  colour 
of  the  leaves  on  which  they  are  placed.  Those  that  will  hybernate,  are 
usually  of  a  dark  colour,  corresponding  to  the  colour  of  the  twig  or  stem 
on  which  the  egg  is  then  most  frequently  deposited.  Those  that  are 
scattered  on  the  ground,  are  usually  of  a  dirt-coloured  or  pearly  apjjear- 
ance.  In  fact,  the  general  colour  is  such  as  to  protect  the  eggs  from 
spiders,  birds,  predaceous  insects  and  other  creatures  that  would  feed 
on  them,  and  from  parasites  that  would  lay  their  eggs  on  them. 

Frequently  jDcculiar  developments  are  noticed.  Thus,  Geometra 
vernaria  lays  its  eggs  one  upon  the  other  (to  the  number  of  about  a  dozen), 
on  the  stems  of  Clematis  vitalba,  the  rouleaux  thus  formed  having  every 
appearance  of  a  broken  twig  or  leaf-stalk.  The  eggs  of  Tohjpe  velleda 
(an  American  species)  are  laid  in  strings,  and  are  covered  by  hairs 
from  the  tuft  at  the  end  of  the  abdomen  of  the  female  moth,  so  that  the 
whole  closely  resembles  a  hairy  caterpillar.  The  female  of  Anisopteryx 
aescularia,  lays  its  eggs  round  and  round  a  twig,  covering  them  with  the 
scales  from  its  anal  tuft,  until  they  fairly  look  like  a  slight  thickening 
of  the  twig.  Sometimes  the  eggs  are  squeezed  into  crevices,  the  female 
being  provided  with  a  long  ovipositor,  as  in  Tephrosia  crepuscular ia,  to 
put  them  into  deep  crannies,  quite  out  of  sight. 


146  THE  entomologist's  record. 

For  the  general  protection  of  the  eggs,  we  find  them  frequently 
covered  thickly  with  hairs  from  the  abdomen  of  the  female.  This  is 
especially  the  case  with  the  Bombyces,  in  which  many  species,  such  as 
the  Lipnridae,  cover  their  eggs  with  a  large  quantit}-^  of  fluffy  scales. 
The  coating  of  Leucoma  salicis  has  a  saliva-like  appearance.  Placed, 
however,  on  the  underside  of  a  poplar  leaf,  it  is  difficult  to  detect  at  a 
little  distance. 


SCIENTIFIC  NOTES  &  OBSERVATIONS. 

Erkatum. — Page  97,  line  48. — For  "  hesperidies  "  read  "  hesperidis." 

Specific  Distinctness  of  Euchloe  cardamines  and  E.  tukkitis. — 
In  answer  to  the  Editor's  note,  asking  for  references  to  authorities  on 
this  ])oint,  I  may  say  that  Mr.  W.  F.  Kirby  treats  E.  turritis  as  a  distinct 
species  (Europ.  Butt,  and  M.,  p.  6),  a  view  held  too  by  Mr.  J.  Watson, 
whom  he  quotes.  Three  friends  of  my  own,  one  of  whom  is  no  mean 
scientist,  as  well  as  myself,  have,  after  carefully  examining  this  species 
under  an  excellent  microscope,  unanimously  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
E.  cardamines  and  E.  turritis  are  two  very  distinct  species.  Dr. 
Staudinger,  on  the  other  hand,  makes  the  latter  merely  a  var.  of  the 
former ;  but  I  very  much  doubt  if  he  would  do  so  in  his  next  catalogue, 
if  his  attention  were  once  called  to  the  matter. — F.  B.  Newnham, 
Church  Stretton,  Salop.     May  2nd,  1894. 

We  have  submitted  the  foregoing  to  Mr.  Kirby,  and  have  received 
the  following  note  from  him  on  the  subject : 

I  believe  that  I  am  the  first  author  who  treated  E.  tnrrttis  as  a  distinct 
species,  as  Mr.  Newnham  has  correctly  stated.  Later  on,  however,  the 
late  Mr.  B.  B.  Labrey  told  me  that  Mr.  Watson  had  wrongly  identified 
his  specimens,  and  had  called  gruencri  or  datnonc  by  the  name  of  turritis. 
If  Mr.  Newnham  has  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  2:)lumules  of 
cardamines  and  turritis,  and  can  establish  a  distinction  between  them,  or 
if  he  has  any  other  evidence  to  offer  in  favour  of  the  two  being  distinct 
species,  it  will  be  a  matter  of  considerable  interest.  We  have  still 
much  to  learn  even  about  British  butterflies.  The  Americans  have 
suggested  that  the  various  forms  of  Pohjijonia  c-album  may  be  distinct 
species ;  this  I  think  unlikely,  but  who  has  bred  the  insect  with  suffi- 
cient care  to  prove  that  they  may  not  be  right  ?  Wm.  F.  Kirby,  Brit. 
Mus.  (Nat.  Hist.).     May   10th,  1894. 

A  PROBABLE  NEW  SPECIES  OF  EucHLOE. — I  was  much  interested  in 
Mr.  Newnham's  note  under  this  heading  in  the  April  number.  Here, 
I  first  came  across  the  diminutive  form  he  mentions  three  years  ago,  but 
did  not  pay  much  attention  to  it  at  that  time,  because,  as  I  only  met 
with  three  or  four  specimens,  I  put  them  down  as  probably  the  results 
of  a  few  half-starved  larvae.  Last  year,  however,  I  saw  a  much  larger 
number,  and  on  several  occasions  this  year  I  have  actually  seen  a  greater 
number  of  the  small  form  than  of  the  large.  The  specimens  I  have 
cajitured  appear  fully  to  bear  out  Mr.  Newnham's  observations,  except 
that  the  form  does  not  seem  to  Ije  limited  here  to  a  restricted  area.  I 
ramble  over  a  good  many  miles  of  country,  and  I  come  across  it  wherever 
I  go. — A.  Nesbitt,  Llandugo.     May,  1894. 

In  The  I'roreedings  of  the  South  London  Entomological  Society  for 
1888  are  quite  a  number  of  papers  on  the  genus  Euchloii,  which  should 


SOIENTIFIO    NOTES    AND    0BSEEVATI0N8.  147 

prove  of  great  interest  during  this  discussion.  As  members  will  have 
such  and  non-membei"S  can  buy  Tlie  Proceedings  for  a  trifle  from  the 
Secretary,  I  Avill  only  refer  to  one  of  these.  It  is  by  the  late  Mr.  J. 
Jenner  Weir,  and  was  read  in  connection  with  an  exhibit  made  by  that 
gentleman  of  British  and  French  specimens  of  Euchloii  cardamines.  It 
is  as  follows : — "  I  have  observed  for  some  years  that  there  is  a  differ- 
ence between  the  Continental  specimens  of  Euchloi-  cardamines,  so  far  as 
I  have  been  able  to  examine  them,  and  those  captured  by  myself  in 
Kent,  Surrey,  Sussex  and  Hampshire.  I  have  a  series  of  twenty-four 
males  of  this  insect  captured  in  the  above  counties ;  these  have  the 
orange  spot  on  the  upper  wings  reaching  but  slightly  beyond  the  dis- 
coidal  black  spot.  The  inner  edge  curves  outward,  not  extending  be- 
yond the  first  median  nervure,  thus  leaving  the  hinder  angle  white. 
This  disposition  of  marking  I  find  perfectly  constant  in  those  I  have 
captured.  In  the  Continental  specimens  I  find  the  orange  sjjot  extends 
considerably  beyond  the  discoidal  spot,  and  is  continued  to  the  inner 
edge  of  the  wing,  causing  the  hinder  angle  of  the  wing  to  be  orange. 
Lang,  in  his  Bhopalocera  Europae,  figures  this  species  with  the  hinder 
angle  orange,  as  though  the  drawing  had  been  taken  from  a  Continental 
specimen,  but  the  orange  of  the  wing  extends  only  in  relation  to  the 
discoidal  spot  to  the  extent  usually  seen  in  British  specimens.  Newman 
in  his  British  Butterflies,  figures  the  species  with  the  shading  in  lieu  of 
colour  extending  to  the  inner  edge  of  the  wing,  as  usual  in  Continental 
but  not  British  specimens.  The  distinction  pointed  out  is  very  small, 
but  if  it  be  constant  our  Euchloii  cardamines  is  an  insular  variety  easily 
separable  from  Continental  specimens  of  the  species  "   (pp.  40-41). — 

J.    W.    TUTT. 

Apterous  Females  and  Winter  Emergence. — I  have  read  with 
interest  Mr.  Studd's  comments  {Eat.  Record,  v.,  p.  1)6)  on  the  opinion 
expressed  by  me  at  the  City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural 
History  Society,  and  although  the  whole  question  is,  I  fear,  more  or 
less  a  matter  of  mere  speculation,  yet  I  would  venture  to  offer  one  or 
two  remarks  in  reply.  First  and  foremost,  I  would  refer  Mr.  Studd  to 
some  thoughtful  observations  and  suggestions  by  Mr.  Tutt,  which  he 
will  find  in  that  gentleman's  "  Secondary  Sexual  Characters  of  Lepi- 
doptera"  (Brit.  Noct.,  HI.,  pp.  viii.-ix.).  It  is  there  pointed  out  that 
of  species  with  apterous  females,  "  there  are  two  distinct  groups  which 
require  separate  consideration."  The  first  group  includes  the  (relatively 
few)  summer  examples,  wherein  the  unusually  large  size  of  the  body  of 
the  female  would  render  adequate  wings  a  disadvantage  and  where, 
indeed,  the  energy  usually  expended  on  wing  develoi^ment  may  be 
devoted  to  the  production  of  additional  fecundity.  In  the  second 
group  (the  winter  examples)  the  scarcity,  at  that  season  of  the  year,  of 
appropriate  hiding  places  about  the  trees  on  which  the  larvte  feed  ', 
would,  I  think,  have  great  influence  upon  the  females ;  and  this  would 
tell  more  on  the  Geometrve  than  on  Poecilocampa  popnli  or  Asphalia 
flavicornis  (also  tree-feeders)  for  at  least  two  reasons: — \.  The  greater 
general  exposure  of  the  Geometraj  by  day.  2.  The  greater  in-oportional 
wing  area  which  they  present  when  at  rest.  It  is  hard  to  see  how  a 
fair-sized  Geometer  could  protect  itself,  as  A.  flavicornis  does,  by  clasj)- 
ing  small  twigs,  unless  it  were  an  exceptional  species  like  Anisopteryx 
aescularia.  Lureniia  multistrigaria  has  no  need  to  resort  to  the  trees, 
and  may  be  well  protected  among  dry  leaves.     But  what  I  had  in  my 


14^  THE    entomologist's    RECORD. 

mind  was  rather  that  meteorological  causes  themselves  might  have  some 
influence,  and  that,  at  any  rate  in  the  depth  of  winter,  the  full  vitality 
and  fertility  of  the  females  in  certain  groups  might  perhaps  only  be 
maintainable  at  the  expense  of  some  of  the  not-indispensable  organs  of 
locomotion,  and  I  still  think  that  the  Amphidasydae,  all  of  which,  with 
the  excejjtion  of  Nyssia  zonaria,  have  similar  resting  habits,  lend  some 
colour  to  this  view,  Mr.  Studd  seems  to  doubt  whether  the  wings  of 
the  female  ^4.  hetidaria  are,  as  a  rule,  better  develoj^ed  than  those  of  A. 
strataria.  I  may  be  mistaken,  but  I  am  certainly  under  the  impression 
that  the  latter  species  is  far  weaker-winged  than  the  former,  although 
the  size  of  the  wings  is  not  greatly  diminished ;  it  is  also  very  liable  to 
malformation  and  I  suspect  that  it  is  almost  entirely  unfitted  foe  flight. 
My  experience  of  Hyhernia  marginaria  and  A.  aeactdaria  has  always  been 
that  they  are  practically  contemporaneous,  not,  as  appears  to  be  Mr. 
Studd's  experience,  that  the  latter  is  a  month  later  than  the  former.  I 
am  not  sure  that  I  know  the  female  of  Tortricodes  hyemana;  Mr.  Tutt 
(/.c,  J},  viii.)  cites  it  as  apterous,  but  this  may  be  only  a  lapsus  calami* 
Among  the  Tineina  the  Epiyraphiidae  show  an  interesting  parallelism 
with  the  Amphidasydae. — Louis  B.  Prout,  12,  Greenwood  Road, 
Dalston.     April  ISth,  1894. 

Endromis  versicolor. — I  had  for  the  first  time  this  sjiring  the 
opportunity  of  noticing  that  this  si^ecies  breaks  oi^en  one  end  of  its  cocoon, 
and  forces  the  anterior  part  of  the  jjupa  well  out,  many  days  before  the 
emergence  of  the  imago.  Knowledge  of  this  fact  may  be  of  use  to  those 
looking  for  pupa3  of  the  species,  as  the  dark  colour  makes  them  very 
conspicuous  objects. — F.  B.  Newnham,  Church  .Stretton,  Salop.  May 
2nd,  1894. 

NoTODONTA  TREPiDA. — I  have  a  few  pupffi  of  this  moth,  reared  from 
ova  laid  in  May,  1892,  which  are  only  now  ])ro(lucing  imagines ;  not  a 
single  imago  from  this  brood  emerged  in  1893. — lb. 

Eggs  of  Lobophora  carpinata. — These  are  remarkable,  being  very 
flat  and  in  outline  an  irregular  oval,  much  the  shape  of  a  small  acacia  bean  ; 
their  colour  is  red  with  a  yellow  band  round  the  side  margin.  Has 
anyone  seen  the  eggs  of  other  species  of  Lobophora  ?  Are  they  also 
ornamented  with  a  stripe  round  the  circumference  ? — W.  F.  de  V. . 
Kane,  Kingstown.     Ajjril  25th,  1894, 

Sound  produced  by  Neukonia  popularis. — The  following  extract 
from  a  letter  recently  received  by  me  from  Mr.  J.  T.  Fountain  of  Bir- 
mingham, relates  a  curious  observation  on  the  above  subject,  made  by 
that  gentleman  last  year,  when  sugaring  on  the  borders  of  Epping 
Forest,  not  far  from  Ponders  End.  "  Whilst  visiting  the  sugar,  Ave  had 
to  keep  crossing  the  corner  of  a  meadow.  I  carried  the  lamp,  and  my 
son  the  net ;  suddenly  I  heard  a  slight  sound  near  my  feet — '  nick,' 
'  nick  ' — as  if  someone  had  touched  the  edges  of  two  knives  together. 
Turning  the  light  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  I  saw  a  moth  flying 
over  the  grass,  which  my  son  captured,  and  which  proved  to  be  N.  popu- 
laris. During  the  two  evenings  we  spent  there,  this  incident  recurred 
23  times  ;  on  every  occasion  l)ut  one,  whenever  we  heard  the  sound,  we 
netted  a  moth  ;  on  the  exceptional  occasion,  not  seeing  any  insect  flying, 

•  Not  exactly  a  lapsus  calami.  Although  the  female  is  not  fully  apterous, 
the  females  in  my  collection  have  the  win^s  very  much  less  developed  than  are 
those  of  the  males. — Ed, 


CURUENT   NOTES.  149 

we  went  flown  on  our  knees,  and  discovered  a  freshly-emerged  specimen 
sitting  on  a  gi'ass  stem.  I  do  not  know  how  the  motli  could  jiroduce 
the  sound,  but  every  time  Ave  heard  the  latter,  the  moth  was  in  evidence. 
Not  a  single  N.  popularis  came  to  sugar,  but  they  were  more  numerous 
near  two  gate  posts  that  were  sugared,  as  if  the  scent  had  attracted 
them."  It  will  be  interesting  to  learn  whether  any  other  entomologist 
has  observed  the  same  jihenomenon.  (Capt.)  B.  Blaydes  Thompson, 
1,  Mylne  Street,  E.G.     May  25(h,  1894. 

Sesia  tipuliformis  in  New  Zealand. — In  the  Record  for  September 
last  (Vol.  iv.,  p.  247),  some  remarks  are  quoted  from  a  pajier  by  Mr. 
Lachlan  Gibb,  on  the  occurrence  of  S.  tipuliformis  in  Montreal.  The 
species  was  first  observed  in  New  Zealand  about  eleven  years  ago,  and 
two  years  later,  was  identified  by  Mr.  Meyrick.  It  is  now  extremely 
common  in  the  South  Island,  where  it  is  working  considerable  havoc 
among  the  currant  bushes.  It  could  be  observed  on  any  day  during 
the  present  month,  in  dozens,  resting  on  the  leaves  of  these  bushes  and 
of  other  plants  in  gardens.  Considering  the  extreme  mildness  of  the 
climate,  the  insect  would  be  certain  to  increase  more  rajjidly  in  this 
colony  than  in  the  more  rigorous  region  of  Canada.  It  is  very  interest- 
ing to  observe  the  progress  of  exotic  insects  in  countries  now  being 
colonized. — W.  W.  Smith,  Ashburton,  N.  Z.     Bee.  1893. 


gURRENT    NOTES. 

We  have  already  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  an  enterprising 
publisher  in  Brussels,  Mons.  P.  Wytsman,  has  undertaken  the  re-issue  of 
Hiibner's  Snmmlung  exotischer  Schmetterlinge.  The  first  part  (livraison) 
has  just  appeared,  and  contains  ten  finely-coloured  plates.  The  re-issue 
is  a  timely  one,  for  the  original  work  is  very  rare,  and,  considering  the 
more  profound,  and  at  the  same  time  more  world-wide  view  of  ento- 
mology which  is  increasingly  characteristic  of  the  entomologists  of 
to-day,  even  in  Great  Britain,  it  is  of  great  advantage  to  be  afforded 
readier  means  of  access  to  plates  and  descriptions,  from  such  a  hand  as 
that  of  Jacob  Hiibner.  The  usefulness  of  the  book  will  be  greatly 
increased  by  the  fact,  that  M.  Wytsman  has  secured  the  co-operation  of 
Mr.  W.  F.  Kirby,  than  whom  probably  no  man  living  has  a  more 
thorough  acquaintance  with  synonymy,  and  who  seems  to  have  all  sorts 
and  conditions  of  entomological  literature  literally  at  his  finger  ends. 
Mr.  Kirby  will  contribute  additional  notes,  and  a  synonymic  index,  and 
by  this  means,  Hiibner's  gi'and  old  book  will  be  brought  thoroughly  up 
to  date.  All  societies  that  can  possibly  manage  it,  should  secure  a 
copy. 

The  valuable  series  of  papers  that  appeared  in  the  earlier  volumes  of 
this  magazine,  on  "  The  genus  Acroni/cta  and  its  allies,"  from  the  pen  of 
Dr.  Chapman,  have  now  been  published  separately,  and  may  be  obtained 
of  Mr.  Porter,  Princes  Street,  Cavendish  Square,  W. 

The  South  London  Entomological  Society  advertises  a  Field  Meetino- 
for  July  7th,  at  Wisley,  Surrey,  conducted  by  Messrs.  Briggs  and  Step. 

Messrs.  Cassell  &  Co.  have  just  commenced  the  re-issue  in  monthly 
parts,  of  Mr.  W.  F.  Kirby's  European  Butterflies  and  Moths ;  the  first 
part  appeared  on  the  2oth  ult.  This  will  afford  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity   to   those   who   desire  to  extend  their  knowledge  beyond  the 


^150  THE  ektomologist's  record. 

lepidopterous  fauna  of  Great  Britain,  to  become  possessed  of  this  valuable 
work.  The  only  subject  for  regret  is  that,  so  far  as  appears  from  the 
prospectus,  there  is  not  to  be  a  supplement  bringing  the  book  ujd  to 
date. 

We  have  received  from  Mr.  Cockerell  No.  1  of  The  Neio  Mexico 
Entomohgist,  a  three-page  pamplilet  pre^^ared  by  himself  and  issued  by 
the  Entomological  Department  of  tlie  New  Mexico  Agi-icultural  Experi- 
ment Station.  It  deals  in  a  simple  practical  way  with  agricultural 
pests,  and  must  be  of  much  use  to  farmers  and  others.  The  Codlin  Moth, 
of  which  in  all  its  stages  drawings  by  Prof.  Eiley  are  given,  forms  the 
piece  de  resistance.  "  In  the  spring,"  says  the  writer,  "  the  moths  lay 
their  eggs  on  the  small  apples,  mostly  in  the  cup  at  the  top  formed  by 
the  calyx.  This  is  done  soon  after  the  flowers  fall,  while  the  little 
fruits  are  still  upright.  The  caterpillar,  or  worm,  hatches  out  of  the 
egg,  and  burrows  into  the  apple  :  once  it  is  inside  the  fruit,  there  is  no 
satisfactory  way  of  killing  it.  Therefore,  it  must  be  poisoned  at  the 
very  beginning  of  its  life,  by  means  of  an  arsenical  compound.  Paris 
Green  is  the  compound  to  be  used.  It  must  be  sprayed  on  the  trees, 
mixed  with  water,  so  that  some  falls  on  ever^'^  forming  apple.  The 
worm  will  then  be  vuiable  to  burrow  without  encountering  some  of  the 
poison."  Instructions  are  then  given  as  to  the  method  of  using  the 
insecticide,  which  is  pronounced  to  be  quite  devoid  of  danger  if  only 
applied  to  young  fruit.  Probably  our  local  authorities  who  have  charge 
of  open  si^aces,  might  find  the  same  compound  useful  to  protect  their 
hawthorns  from  the  ravages  of  Hi/pomonenta  padellus. 

The  very  latest  thing  in  entomological  science  is  to  be  found  in  The 
Entomologist,  p.  172.  It  may  be  divided  into  two  portions.  (1)  Specu- 
lation ;  (2)  Discovery.  It  occurs  in  a  paper  or  heterogeneous  collection 
of  statements  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Dale,  on  "  The  Melanism  Controversy." 
The  "  Speculative  "  i^ortion  reads  as  follows  : — "  The  yellow  varieties  of 
Zygaena,  1  think,  may  be  cited  as  another  instance  of  occasional  pale 
varieties  occurring  on  chalk  soils.  Perhaps  some  of  the  pale  varieties 
are  owing  to  their  emergence  during  brilliant  moonlight."  We  dare  not 
give  our  fancy  free  play,  so  will  only  say  that  this  is  the  most  exquisi- 
tely funny  of  all  the  funny  things  that  Mr.  Dale  has  written,  and  that 
is  saying  a  great  deal.  At  first  we  wondered  whether  the  editor  of  our 
contemporary  was  away  for  a  holiday,  but  second  thoughts  enabled  us 
to  understand  his  position.  We  would  even  have  printed  this  jeu 
d'esprit  from  Mr.  Dale's  facile  pen  ourselves.  The  second  part,  relating 
to  "  Discovery,"  has  a  bearing  on  physical  research  : — "  Leaves  frozen 
on  to  the  ice  will  also  absorb  the  sun's  vays,  the  ice  melting  beneath  and 
around  them."  Eatlier  late  in  the  day  for  this  ;  we  would  suggest  that 
even  ice  itself  absorbs  the  rays  of  the  sun,  and  that  this  is  the  reason 
why  it  melts  when  there  are  no  leaves  on  it.  There  is  another  paragraph 
which  contains  a  faint  suggestion  that  the  study  of  the  process  of  etio- 
lation of  celery,  might  throw  considerable  light  on  the  occurrence  of 
pale  varieties  of  lepidoptera,  but  we  must  forbear  ! 

We  are  pleased  to  recommend  to  nature  lovers,  archteologists,  and 
persons  interested  in  folk-lore  and  kindred  subjects,  I'he  Kentish  Note- 
book :  A  Record  of  Men,  Manners,  Things  and  Events,  connected  icith  the 
County  of  Kent,  Edited  by  G.  ().  Howell,  210,  Eglinton  Eoad,  Plum- 
stead,  Kent.  The  contents  of  this  handsomely  bound  volume  appeal  to 
all  educated  men  and  women,  but  more  especially  to  Kentish  men  and 


CURRfiNT   NOTES.  151 

men  of  Kent,  who  will  find  matters  of  interest  connected  with  their  own 
immediate  neighbourhoods  dealt  with  in  a  manner  at  once  interesting 
and  attractive.  Paragraphs,  with  an  old-world  flavoui-,  about  those 
charming  old-world  towns  and  cities  which  Dickens  so  dearly  loved ; 
quaint  sayings  and  old-time  records ;  accounts  of  some  of  the  strange 
ai'chajological  remains  wliicli  still  occur  among  the  glades  and  hills 
we  love  so  well ;  these  are  mixed  together  in  a  charming  hotch-potch. 
Many  a  jjleasant  hour  may  be  spent  looking  over  these  odd  remnants, 
and  it  is  well  that  in  most  of  our  counties  there  are  to  be  found  a  few 
disinterested  men  and  women  who  delight  in  collecting  these  stray 
records  for  our  delectation.  We  cannot  suppose  that  such  work  ever 
pays ;  probably  the  pleasure  of  doing  it  is  as  gTeat  to  the  writer  as  is 
the  i^leasure  of  reading  it  when  done  to  the  reader.  But  at  any  rate 
such  productions  as  that  under  review  should  not  leave  the  author  out- 
of-pocket,  and  we  trust  that  many  nature  lovers  in  general,  and  Kentish 
naturalists  in  particular,  will  get  their  interest  raised  to  a  sufficiently 
high  pitch,  to  lead  them  to  send  Mr.  Howell  a  postal  order  for  10/-,  for 
The  Kentish  Note-book,  at  which  price  the  book  is  issued. 

It  would  appear  to  be  the  opinion  of  many  of  our  Micro-lepidopterists 
that  LithocoUetis  dunningieUa  is  only  a  form  of  L.  nirellii.  A  well-known 
lepidopterist  says : — "  The  series  in  the  collections  of  Messrs.  Sang, 
Gregson,  Shields,  Bond  and  Shej^pard  shoAved  an  insect  darker,  smaller, 
and  perhaps  with  the  fore  wings  narrower,  which  naturally  appeared  to 
make  two  of  the  opposite  spots  unite  into  a  thii'd  fascia,  but  Stainton, 
in  the  Manual,  describes  the  larger  as  dimningieUa,  the  smaller  moth  as 
niceUii,  evidently  an  anachroism  !  "  Here,  then,  is  something  for  our 
energetic  Micro-lepidopterists  to  clear  up. 

It  is  with  a  certain  amount  of  pleasure  that  we  learn  that  Prof. 
C.  V.  Riley  has  resigned  his  office  of  Entomologist  of  the  U.  S.  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  although  we  regret  to  find  that  considerations  of 
health  and  peace  of  mind  are  among  the  reasons  that  have  induced  him 
to  take  this  step.  Prof.  Riley  stands  out  2^^''  excellence  as  the  practical 
entomologist  among  the  officials  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  as 
the  man  who  knows  the  subject  from  personal  observation  and  is  not 
content  to  regard  the  naming  of  insects  as  the  be-all  and  end-all  of 
entomology.  The  almost  entire  absence  in  the  United  States  of  work 
in  the  more  scientific  branches  of  entomology  done  by  the  professional 
entomologists,  is  really  remarkable.  We  rejoice  to  think  that,  set  free 
from  the  unnecessary  red  tape  and  the  needless  restrictions,  which 
seem  to  characterise  departmental  life  in  the  United  States  as  well  as  in 
this  country,  Prof.  Riley  hopes,  in  connection  with  his  honorary  cura- 
torship  of  the  Department  of  Insects  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum, 
to  do  some  long  contemplated  work  of  a  purely  scientific  character. 

Of  what  does  the  family  Tineid.e  consist  in  America  ?  Prof. 
Fernald  (Eat.  Neics,  p.  138)  writes : — "  The  family  Tineidaj  or  Leaf- 
miners,  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  Lepidoptera The  members 

of  this  family  are  principally  vegetable  feeders,  yet  a  few  of  them  feed 
on  hair,  feathers  and  woollen  fabrics,  often  causing  great  injury.  Many 
of  those  living  on  vegetable  matter  are  of  economic  importance,  since 
they  feed  on  such  plants  as  are  of  direct  value  to  man,  while  a  large 
number  of  the  species  feed  on  plants  that  arc  of  little  or  no  value.  The 
larvaj  of  the  larger  species  feed  under  ground,  on  the  roots  of  plants ; 
between  leaves  rolled  or  drawn  together ;  or  burrow  in  stems,  fungi  or 


152  THE  entomologist's  record. 

decayed  wood.  Some  of  the  larvEe  of  the  smaller  species  live  in  pecu- 
liarly-shaped cases,  which  they  form  from  portions  of  the  leaves  on 
which  they  feed.  The  great  majority  of  the  smaller  sjiecies  mine 
between  the  cuticles  of  the  leaves.  These  mines  are  very  plainly  visible, 
and  their  peculiar  form  is  characteristic  of  the  species."  This  group, 
with  a  simple  "  idae  "  or  family  termination,  would  appear,  according 
to  Prof.  Fernald,  to  comprise  everything  which  we  in  our  ignorance 
used  to  include  in  the  Tineina,  viz :  part  of  Dr.  Chapman's  Pyraloids  in 
the  Obtect.e,  and  a  number  of  the  main  gi'oups  of  iNCOMPLETiE.  If  this 
were  the  ordinary  stjde  of  studies  in  Elementary  Entomology  offered  to 
our  brothers  of  the  net  in  American  Magazines,  we  should  pitj'  them. 
Why  do  not  their  teachers  level  themselves  up  to  modern  ideas  first,  and 
then  teach  afterwards  ?  We  would  recommend  a  careful  working  out  of 
the  classification  of  the  American  moths,  on  the  lines  of  Dr.  Chapman's 
paper.  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lowd.,  1893,  pp.  97-119.  We  would  also  suggest 
that  it  is  high  time  that  some  intelligent  American  entomologist  broke 
away  from  a  classification  based  on  some  particular  imaginal  feature 
(neuration,  palpi,  &c.),  and  attempted  something  more  worthy  the  name 
of  science.  Such  a  lesson  in  elementary  entomology  as  this,  is  some- 
thing like  one  on  geological  science,  based  only  on  the  Biblical  account 
of  the  Flood. 

Two  specimens  of  Chrysophamis  dispar  sold  at  Stevens'  sale-rooms 
on  May  22nd,  realised  £10.  Jn  the  same  collection,  seven  Pieris  dapli- 
dice  with  78  other  specimens,  produced  3s. ;  five  Vanessa  antiopa  with 
49  others,  6s.  ;  four  Argynnis  lathonia  with  88  others,  3s.  ;  whilst  four 
DcilephUa  etijihorbiae,  six  D.  galii,  one  D.  h'vornica,  and  many  other 
Sphingidce  produced  but  7s.  ;  a  pair  of  Agrotis  snbrosea -produced  £1  8s.  ; 
another  pair  £1  2s. ;  and  three  females  of  the  same  species  16s.  Lot 
85,  containing  four  Cleora  vidnaria,  produced  £3,  and  five  Phiholapteryx 
polygrammata  £1  12s.  6d. — On  the  same  day,  Lots  418,  419,  420,  con- 
sisting of  15  Callimorjjha  hera,  "  bred  from  parents  captured  in  South 
Devon,  1892  ;  "  DeilepMla  gain,  "  10,  very  fine,  Eton,  March,  1892  ;  " 
Lasiocampa  ilicifolia,  two,  "captured  by  Mr.  A.  Edmond,  Ascot,  1891-2," 
were  brought  to  the  hammer,  but  we  do  not  know  what  they  produced. 
This  was  followed  on  May  29th,  by  Lots  301-306  ;  in  which  were  10  C. 
hera,  "bred  from  parents  captured  in  South  Devon,  1892.;"  four  L. 
ilicifolia,  "  captured  by  Mr.  A.  Edmond,  Ascot,  1894  ;  "  six  Phihalapteryx 
conjunctaria,  "  taken  by  Mr.  A.  Edmond  in  neighbourhood  of  Windsor, 
1894."  This  last  is  strange  reading  ;  10  galii  at  Eton,  in  March  1892, 
P.  conjunctaria  "  in  neighbourhood  of  Windsor,  1894"  (the  jiresent  year, 
mark  !).     Who  is  Mr.  A.  Edmond  who  captures  these  insects  ?  " 


WARIATION. 

Spilosoma  lubricipeda  vars.  eboraci  and  fasciata. — I  would 
venture  to  appeal  to  Mr.  Tugwell  to  publish  a  description  of  each  of 
these  varieties  and  so  enable  those  lepidopterists,  who  have  no  chance 
of  seeing  his  specimens,  to  identify  the  forms  should  the}^  ever  come 
across  them.  If  to  this  Mr.  Tugwell  would  add  a  diagnosis  of  the 
other  named  forms,  he  would  confer  a  great  boon  on  entomological 
students,  and  as  the  Becord  is  par  excellence  the  student's  magazine, 


NOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    ETC.  153 

probably  the  description,  &c.  would  most  advantageously  find  a  place 
in  its  pages. — F.  J.  Buckell,  Canonbury.     April  28th,  1894. 

Melanism  IN  Greenland. — In  a  paper  on  the  "North  Greenland 
Microlepidoptera"  (Ent.  News)  Prof.  Fernald  writes  : — "  One  of  tlie  most 
interesting  features  of  this  small  collection  is  the  very  dark  colour  of 
the  insects.  The  specimens  of  Laodama  fusca  and  also  of  Pyrausta 
torvalis  are  much  darker  than  any  I  have  ever  seen  before,  either  of 
those  taken  in  New  England  or  in  Labrador,  but  Avheii  we  recall  that 
Mr.  Mengel  states  that  they  rest  on  the  lichen-coloured  rocks  we  have 
not  far  to  seek  for  the  cause  of  this  dark  colour.  The  lichens,  which 
almost  entirely  cover  the  rocks  in  northern  regions,  are  very  dark 
brown  or  black,  and  when  insects  habitually  rest  on  such  places  the 
lighter-coloured  varieties  are  more  easily  seen  and  destroyed  by  their 
enemies,  and  the  dark  forms  are  left  to  proj^agate  the  species,  and  as  a 
result  a  dark  race  is  formed  in  time."  The  specimens  referred  to  were 
taken  at  McCormick  Bay,  North  Greenland,  in  lat.  77°  42'  N.,  between 
July  25th  and  August  1st,  1891.— J.  W.  Tutt. 


OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

Spring  Notes. — Mr.  M.  Stanger  Higgs  of  Lydney,  Gloucestershire, 
reports  that  sallow  has  attracted  nothing  but  the  common  Taeniocampae, 
and  that  beating  and  ordinary  mothing  have  yielded  Anticlea  hadiata, 
A.  nigrofasciaria,  Larentia  nmltistrigaria,  Hybernia  rupicapraria,  II. 
leiicophearia,  H.  marginaria,  Anisopteryx  aescularia,  Eupithecia  pnmilata, 
Taeniocampa  gracilis,  T.  populeti,  and  of  Micros,  Pterophorus  mono- 
dactyla,  Coccyx  splendidtdana,  C.  argyrana  and  Diurnen  fag clla.  He  also 
states  that  larvae  of  Melitaea  aurinia  are  abundant,  and  nearly  full-fed. 

Mr.  T.  Greer  reports  from  Bath  the  capture  of  Euchloe  cardamines 

on  April  2nd,  of  Pyrgtis  malrae  on  April  20th,  and  of  Hemcroplula 
ahrnptaria  at  a  gas-lamp,  on  April  21st.  He  also  notes  the  capture  in 
August  last,  of  Lycaena  bellargus  and  L.  corydon  on  the  ground  above 
Box  Tunnel,  where  the  formation  is  not  chalk,  but  oolitic  lime-stone, 
and  of   Bupalus  piniaria,  which  latter  he  suggests  must  have  been  a 

second  brood. Mr.  L.  H.  Bonaparte  Wyse,  Co.  Waterford,  Ireland, 

writes  : — "  On  April  23rd  I  captured  a  tine  ?  Leucophasia  sinapis,  not 
in  or  near  a  wood  but  in  an  open  tield ;  although  I  have  searclied  care- 
fully whenever  the  weather  permitted,  I  have  not  come  across  another 
specimen ;  I  had  no  idea  that  the  insect  was  found  in  this  part  of  Ire- 
land. Most  of  the  sjjring  butterflies  are  now  out.  Pararge  egeria,  P. 
megaera,  Pieris  rapae  and  P.  napi  are  very  common,  and  occasional 
specimens  of  Euchloii  cardamines  are  to  be  met  with.  I  have  not  yet 
seen  P.  brassicae  on  the  wing,  but  I  always  find  it  later  than  the  other 
two.  Hybernated  sjDccimens  of  Vanessa  urticae  are  every Avhere  ;  a  few 
V.  to  are  met  with  ;  of   V.  atalanta,  which  swarmed  in  our  garden  last 

autumn,  I  have  seen  no  hybernated  specimen." Dr.  Freer,  Avriting 

on  May  2yth  of  the  insects  of  Cannock  Chase,  says : — "  On  April  3Uth 
I  took  a  specimen  of  Notodouta  dictaeoides,  which  I  sliould  think  is  a 
record  emergence  ;  on  the  same  day  odd  specimens  of  Spibsoma  fnligi- 
nosa,  Pachnobia  rnbricosa  and  Iladena  glauca  were  taken,  with  an 
asymmetrical  var.  of  Thecla  rubi.  The  right  wings  were  normal,  but  the 
upper  left  wing  had  a  patch  of  lighter  brown  than  the  rest  of  the  wing, 


154  fnH    tiNtoMOLOGlST's   RECOtlt). 

apparently  occupying  the  area  over  the  discoidal  cell.  The  lower  left 
wing  is  grey  as  contrasted  with  the  right  brown  wing,  and  the  undei'- 
side  of  this  wing  is  a  distinctly  blue  green,  and  contrasts  sti-ongly  with 
the  three  other  wings ;  insect  apparently  a  female,  and  not  a  herma- 
phrodite. Incurvaria  pectinea  was  very  abundant.  May  6th  :  H.  glauca 
and  a  worn  specimen  of  Anarfa  myrtiUi.  May  13th:  A  fine  H.  glauca, 
Eupithccia  indigata,  and  E.  lariciata.  May  18th  :  N.  didaeoides  $  and 
<y  on  some  palings  near  a  village  some  way  from  the  Chase.  May 
20th :  Most  of  the  above  with  the  addition  of  Eupithecia  nanata  and 
Tephrosia  biundularia  (usual  dark  form)  ;  E.  indigata  is  much  commoner 

than  usual,  but  insects  are  very  late." Mr.  Stones  writes  May 

29th  : — "  I  took  a  very  fine  specimen  of  Vanessa  c-alhum  at  rest  on 
the  26th  of   April,  at  Llandudno,  Carnarvon,  North  Wales  ;  and  on 

April   14th  I    took   Nyssia  zonaria  at  Black^jool,  Lancashire." 

The  Rev.  E.  C.  Dobree  Fox  (Castle  Moreton)  reports  on  March  30th, 
that  Taeniocampa  munda  was  more  plentiful  than  usual,  whilst  four 
specimens  of  T.  miniosa  occurred  in  the  district  for  the  first  time.  Day 
work  produced  only  two  Brephos  parthenias  and  two  Larentia  multi- 

strigaria. Capt.  Robertson  writes,  under  date  of  Ajjril  14th,  "  I 

have  just  returned  from  Swansea  after  an  unsuccessful  expedition  for 
black  Tephrosia  crepuscidaria,  of  which  I  only  captured  three  specimens, 
two  of  which  were  typical.  The  only  other  insects  captured  were 
Eupithecia  abhreviata,  Xylocampa  areola,  Lobojjhora  carpinata,  Mesotype 
virgata.  At  my  moth  traj5  last  night  (at  Coxhorne)  I  took  Anticlea 
nigrofasciaria,  Selenia  bilunaria,  Larentia  didymata.  I  captured  a  specimen 
of  Eucosmia  certata  in  the  garden  on  the  11th.  Vanessa  c-albmn  apj^ears  to 
be  common  ;  a  female,  captured  March  30th,  laid  a  few  eggs  on  nettles 
on  April  2nd,  which  hatched  April  11th.     I  have  larvse  of  Nyssia  hisjii- 

daria  feeding  on  hawthorn  and  willow." Mr.  W.  F.  de  V.  Kane 

(Kingstown)  writes  on  April  24th  : — "  The  season  has  been  suitable  for 
sallow  collecting,  but  the  results  as  to  quantity  rather  disappointing 
both  at  Monaghan  and  Galway,  where  I  spent  a  week  collecting. 
Taeniocampa  munda,  however,  seems  to  have  been  more  abundant  than 
usual,  as  hitherto  I  have  rarely  met  with  it ;  but  at  Drumreaske,  one 
night's  beating  produced  some  twenty  specimens  to  myself  and  a 
friend,  and  I  have  records  of  the  species  from  several  new  localities. 
The  ten  specimens  which  fell  to  my  share  are  extraordinarily  varied  in 
colour  and  pattern,  from  a  rich  buff  to  grey-brown,  with  the  spots 
sometimes  obsolete,  at  other  times  very  distinct,  and  many  of  them 
have  a  very  dark  band  across  mid- wing.  T.  opima  occurred  again  in 
Galway,  also  Panolis  piniperda.  Lobojjhora  carpinata  was  scarce,  but 
one  female  laid  some  ova.  T.  gracilis  was  abundant,  but  I  noticed  that 
a  great  many  were  more  or  less  crippled  both  in  hind  and  fore  wings. 
The  season  undoubtedly  in  some  way  affected  the  pupa3  of  this  species 
adversely.  Brotolomia  meticulosa  emerged  early  in  April.  Xylina 
ornithopus  occurred  occasion all}'^  on  the  white  bark  of  birch  trees. 
How  is  it  that  Fachnobia  rubricosa,  which  occurs  but  sparsely  in  Ireland, 
is  sometimes  very  abundant  on  sallows  growing  on  the  edge  of  a  bog  ? 
I  have  taken  a  couple  of  dozen  thus  more  than  once,  but  ordinarily  it 
occurs  singly  and  rarely  all  over  Ireland."'  Mr.  Moberly  on  April 

30th  writes  : — "  At  the  New  Forest  last  Saturday,  three  or  four  hours  hard 
work  only  produced  six  larvae  of  Apatura  iris.  The  scarcity  of  common 
larva3  was  very  noticeable  during  our  beating.     Larvai  of  Cleora  liche- 


iJOTteS   O^   COLLteC*lNG,    feTt).  166 

naria  are  also  scarce,  as  are  those  of  Boarmia  roboraria.  The  exceptions 
to  this  rule  of  scarcity  in  larvse  seem  to  be  B.  abtetaria,  and  in  imagines, 

Asphalia  ridens"- The  Eev.  C.  R.  N.  Burrows  (Rainham,  Essex), 

reports  on  May  3rcl,  that  Suiermthus  tilue  was  captured  on  May  1st, 
Ligdia  adnstata  on  April  25th,  Cidaria  suffumata  and  Alencis  ptctaria  on 

April  11th. Mr.  Mason  (Clevedon),  on  April  12th,  reports: — "  The 

emci-gence  of  T.  viunda  and  T.  ptdverulcnta  in  my  breeding  cage  during 
the  first  week  of  March,  the  continued  mild  weather  and  the  absence 
of  sallow  bloom,  induced  me  to  try  sugar.  The  evening  of  the  8th  was 
gusty,  with  south-west  wind,  and  rain  at  intervals ;  but  not  to  be  dis- 
appointed, just  before  dusk,  a  line  of  trees  just  inside  a  large  wood  was 
sugared,  and  about  7  o'clock  I  sallied  forth.  As  I  turned  my  lantern  on  the 
first  patch  of  sugar,  I  saw  that  moths  were  literally  in  dozens.  Taeniocampa 
munda,  T.  pulverulenta,  T.  gothica,  T.  stabilis,  T.  instabUis,  Orrhodia  Itgula, 
0.  vaccinii,  Scopelosoma  satellitia  and  one  fine  specimen  of  Dasycampa 
rubiginea,  perhaps  a  shade  lighter  than  specimens  taken  last  November, 
but  otherwise,  in  excellent  condition  ;  T.  munda  was  in  splendid  condition 
and  endless  variety,  some  specimens  being  beautifully  banded,  others  of 
a  dark  reddish-brown  colour.  This  first  patch  was  but  a  sample  of  all 
the  other  patches,  except  that  I  got  no  more  jD.  rubiginea  on  this  evening. 
The  next  evening  another  Z).  rubiginea  txnd  S.  satellitia  were  the  only  species 
seen,  as  there  was  the  suspicion  of  a  frost.  The  following  evening  was 
dull  and  warm,  and  insects  were  even  more  numerous,  than  on  the  first 
night ;  Calocampa  exoleta,  B.  meticidosa,  and  A',  ornithopus  coming,  in 
addition  to  the  species  seen  the  first  evening,  whilst  two  more  D.  rubi- 
ginea were  captured,  with  specimens  of  0.  ligula  var.  subnigra.  The 
D.  rubiginea  were  all  males,  and  I  had  never  yet  before  seen  var.  subnigra 
after  hybernation.  The  following  evenings  were  wet,  and  the  sallows 
were  coming  into  flower,  so  I  gave  up  sugaring  for  a  time,  although  on 
a  subsequent  evening  1  took  another  £>.  rubiginea,  missing  a  second  on 
the  same  evening,  whilst  yet  another  fell  to  my  share  from  the  sallows, 
late  in  March,  and  a  friend  took  another.  I  find  larvfe  both  late  and 
scarce ;  Tephrosia  crepuscnlaria,  too,  has  been  very  rare  this  spring." 

Mr.  E.  A.  Atmore  (Kings  Lynn),  on  April  17th,  records  that: — 

•'  Micros  are  coming  on  apace.  I  have  already  taken  several  species  of 
Lithocolletis  and  Nepticula,  Adela  cuprella,  Perittia  obscurepunctella, 
Steganoptycha  pygnueana,  Heusiniene  jimbriana,  and  the  early  species  of 
Micropteryx — semipurpurella,  purpurella,  unimaculella  and  stdtpurpurella." 

Mr.  Finlay  (Morpeth),  writes  on  April  24th  : — "  During  the  time 

that  the  sallows  were  in  blossom  I  only  had  one  good  night,  when  I 
captured  several  P.  piuiperda,  T.  opima,  T.  popnleti,  T.  gothica,  T. 
instabilis,  P.  rnbricosa,  whilst  T.  stabilis  were  very  plentiful  and  T. 
pulverulenta  a  nuisance." 

Whitsuntide  on  the  Cotswolus. — A  small  party  of  members  of 
the  Birmingham  Entomological  Society  spent  May  12th  to  loth  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Selsley.  The  weather  was  not  all  that  could  be 
desired,  and  as  a  consequence  the  captures  did  not  come  up  to  expecta- 
tion. Larva3  of  Nudaria  mundana,  Callimorpha  dominula,  Nemeophila 
plantaginis,  &c.  were  obtained  and  imagines  of  Nemeobim  lucina,  etc. 
The  hymenopterists  were  well  satisfied  with  their  cajjtures,  and  the 
dipterists  rejoiced  in  adding  two  new  species  of  Syrj^hns  to  the  British 
list,  Mr.  li.  0.  Bradley  taking  a  specimen  of  Syrphns  triangulifer,  Zett. 
and  myself  one  of  S.  annuUpcs,  Zett. — Colbban  J.  Wainwkight, 
Birmingham. 


166  THE    entomologist's    RECORD. 

CoLEOnERA    IN    THE     HASTINGS     AND     EaSTBOURNE     DISTRICTS. The 

following  species,  together  with  many  of  less  note,  have  been  taken  in 
the  above  districts  since  October,  1893  :  Agathidhnn  marginatum,  Amaru 
spinipes,  Anchomenus  oftlongus,  Badistcr  sodalis,  Bledius  atricaj)illus,  B. 
tricornis,  B.  unicornis,  Brachinus  crepitans,  CJioIeva  angustatn,  C.  agilis, 
Coenopsis  waltoni,  Cryptarchia  strigata,  Dromius  nigriveniris,  Dyschirius 
thoracicns,  Elaphroiis  cupreus,  Gronops  lunatns,  Haltica  consobrina, 
Harpalns  rotundicoHis,  Helodes  marginatus,  Heterocerus  laevigatus,  H. 
obsoletns,  H.  sericans,  Hydroporus  ferrugineus,  Hylastes  obscurtis,  Lathro- 
binm  longuhm,  L.  terminatum,  MyUoena  Icraatzii  (?),  Philonthus  therrnarum, 
riectroscelis  subcaertdea,  Plinthns  caliginosus,  Phytobius  velatus,  Polystichus 
vitiatus,  Pterostichus  gracilis,  Rhagium  bifasciaiwn,  B.  inquisitor,  Saprinus 
metallicus,  Stenus  jmbescens,  Strophosomus  obesus,  S.  retusus,  Sunius 
intermedins,  Tkiasophila  angulata,  Trogophloeus  halophilus,  Tropiphorus 
carinatus.  The  following  were  taken  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Chatham  :  Bledius  opacus,  Otiorrhynchus  tenebricosus,  Plinthus  caliginosus, 
Silpha  laevigata. — W.  W.  Esam,  St.  Leonard's.     May  21st,  1894. 

Ueiopeia  pulchella  in  Hertfordshire. — I  have  recently  seen,  in 
the  collection  belonging  to  the  Boys'  Farm  Home  at  East  Barnet,  a 
specimen  of  this  moth,  which  was  captured  by  Mr.  Riihl,  the  school- 
master, in  May,  1892,  on  the  bank  of  the  G.  N.  Ky.  near  Oakley  Park 
Station.  Although  a  search  has  been  made,  no  other  specimens  have 
been  seen. — A.  E.  Gibbs,  St.  Alban's.     May,  1894. 


SOCIETIES. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Entomological  Society  of  London  on  May 
2nd,  Mr.  vS.  Stevens  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Argynnis  aglaia  var.  char- 
lotfa,  taken  ]>y  the  late  Eev.  James  Watson  in  the  New  Forest  in  1870. 
Mr.  J.  A.  Clark  exhibited  a  curious  variety  of  xirctia  caia,  having  an 
extraordinary  wedge-shaped  marking  extending  from  the  outer  margin 
to: the  base  of  the  left  hind  wing,  and  also,  on  the  same  wing,  a  small 
spot  which  was  brown  and  white  in  colour,  and  had  the  appearance  of 
having  been  taken  from  the  fore  wing  and  inserted  in  the  hind  wing. 
The  specimen  was  said  to  have  been  taken  at  Abbott's  Wood,  in  July, 
1892.  Prof.  E.  B.  Poulton  exhibited  living  specimens  of  the  larvje  of 
Lasiocampa  qtiercifolia,  which  had  been  surrounded  respectively  during 
the  early  stages  of  growth,  by  black  twigs  and  lichen-coloured  twigs, 
.the  food  being  the  same  in  both  cases.  All  the  larvai  were  shown  upon 
a  Avhite  paper  back-ground,  but  examples  of  the  surrounding  twigs 
which  i)roduced  the  change  of  colour,  were  shown  beside  each  batch. 
The  presence  of  darker  or  lighter  twigs  and  spills  of  paper  of  various 
colours,  was  found  to  cause  very  great  modification  in  the  colour  of  the 
larvse.  When  lichen-covered  twigs  were  used,  the  larvaj  assumed  a 
mottled  appearance,  which  caused  them  greatly  to  resemble  their 
surroundings.  Mr.  A.  E.  Gibbs  has  found  that  larvee  of  Amphidasys 
hetnlaria,  fed  on  birch,  assumed  a  shining  brown  tint  resembling  the 
twi<'"s  of  the  food-plant ;  others,  however,  that  were  fed  on  the  leaves 
of  the  garden  acacia,  which  have  a  bright  green  petiole,  were  green  in 
colour.  The  latter,  however,  is  not  uniformly  the  case  ;  Ur.  Buckell 
reared  a  brood  exclusively  on  acacia,  and  these  contained  both  browu 
and  green  forms,  the  brown  predominating. 


SOCIETIES.  157 

At  the  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History 
Society,  on  Apx'il  12tli,  the  President  referred  to  the  great  loss  which 
the  Society  had  sustained  by  the  deatli  of  Mr.  J.  Jenner  Weir,  who  had 
always  taken  such  an  active  interest  in  its  welfare,  and  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  that  a  letter  of  condolence  should  be  sent  to  Mrs.  Weir. 
Exhibits  :— Mr.  Adkin  for  Mr.  Billups,  the  following  rare  Diptera ; 
Meigenia  majmcula,  from  Dulwich,  new  to  Britain  ;  Scioniijza  rnfiveutris, 
from  Ireland ;  Degeeria  pulchdla,  bred  by  Mr.  Adkin  from  Feronea 
maccana  ;  Urellia  eluta,  from  Lewisham,  and  an  unknown  species  of 
Phorbia :  also  galls  of  Dri/ophaiita  divisa  and  their  maker,  with  Si/nergus 
albipes,  one  of  its  Inquilines  and  five  parasites,  viz.  :  Mesopolobns  fasci- 
veulris,  Syntomaspis  caudatiis,  Upelnms  urozoniis,  Decatoma  biguttala  and 
a  Chalcid.  Mr.  Step  ;  a  specimen  of  a  fungus  (MorcheUa  aescidenta) 
from  Wootton  under  Edge.  Mr.  Jiiger  stated  that  he  had  met  with  a 
considerable  number  of  cripples  of  Bistoii  hirtaria,  all  of  which  were 
malformed  on  the  right  side.  The  President  gave  an  interesting  account 
of  the  curious  habit  indulged  in  by  some  ducks,  of  killing  toads  during 
the  breeding  season,  by  dexterously  slitting  their  abdomens. — On  April 
26th,  the  following  among  other  exhibits  were  made.  Mr.  Dennis ;  a 
bred  Pararge  egeria,  in  which  all  tlie  light  markings  were  much  ex- 
tended. Mr.  Auld ;  a  series  of  Taeniocampa  mnnda,  with  sevei'al 
examples  of  var.  immaculata,  from  West  Wickham ;  T.  popnleti  from 
Westerham.  Mr.  Enoch  read  some  "  Notes  on  common  insects,"  and 
illustrated  the  paper  with  about  fifty  lantern  slides.  The  paper  dealt 
largely  witli  common  pests  and  their  parasites,  such  as  the  sycamore 
aphis,  with  its  numerous  enemies,  the  currant  mite,  the  sawiiy  of  the 
willow  with  the  insects  which  attack  its  larva,  the  flies  whose  larvai 
mine  the  marguerite  plant,  the  parasites  of  the  Hessian  Fly,  and  last, 
but  not  least  beautiful,  the  minute  Fairy  Flies,  of  which  Mr.  Enoch 
stated  that  he  possessed  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  species.  He  laid 
considerable  stress  upon  the  economic  side  of  the  subject,  and  strongly 
advocated  following  the  example  set  by  the  United  States  Government, 
in  having  an  entomological  section  attached  to  the  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment. Most  of  the  information  given  was  the  result  of  original  obser- 
vations, and  unobtainable  in  any  book.*  The  admirable  manner  in  which 
the  interesting  and  peculiar  life-histories  of  these  minute  creatures  were 
pourtrayed  upon  the  screen  and  described,  excited  the  greatest  admiration 
among  the  large  number  of  members  and  friends  present. — On  May 
l(Jth,  Mr.  South  exhibited  a  bred  series  of  Boarmia  cinctaria,  together 
with  the  female  parent  which  was  from  Glengariff,  Ireland ;  the  speci- 
mens were  pale,  like  the  parent,  but  not  so  pale  as  those  captured  by 
Mr.  Kane  some  time  ago.  Mr.  Frohawk  exhibited  a  sjjecimen  of 
Vanessa  urticae  in  which  the  blue  marginal  spots  were  exaggerated  and 
extended  about  twice  as  far  as  usual  into  the  black  border.  Mr. 
Williams  showed  a  bred  specimen  of  Pieris  napi  in  which  only  the 
hind-wings  had  developed.  Mr.  Turner  exhibited  Sirex  gigas  from 
Box  Hill  and  Chichester,  and  BombijUus  major  from  Box  Hill. 
— On  May  2-lth,   the  following,  among  other  exhibits,  were  made  : — 

*  This  being  so,  it  would  be  well  if  the  South  London  Entomological 
Society  printed  the  paper  in  their  Proceedings  as  soon  as  possible.  We  under- 
stood in  January  last,  that  the  Proceedings  for  1892  and  1893  were  then  quite 
reddy  for  the  printer.     When  will  members  get  this  volume  ? — Ed. 


158  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Mr.  C.  A.  Briggs ;  a  specimen  of  Lycaend  argiolus,  in  which  some  of 
the  sjwts  on  the  underside  were  lengthened  into  streaks  ;  also,  a  speci- 
men of  Vanessa  io  in  which  the  eye  was  only  partially  developed.  Mr. 
Dennis ;  one  specimen  of  Vanessa  urticae  with  a  perfect  and  others 
with  an  imjierfect  band  on  the  upper  wing.  Mr.  Adkin  ;  a  long  and 
variable  series  of  Boarmia  cinctaria  bred  from  ova  obtained  from  County 
Cork  ;  an  extreme  variety  had  only  a  broad  marginal  dark  band,  a 
central  light  band  and  basal  dark  patch.  Mr.  Hamm  ;  a  striking  form 
of  Ajiarnea  unnnimis,  in  which  there  was  a  light  grey  cloud  extending 
from  the  apex  of  the  fore-wings  along  the  hind  and  inner  margins  to 
the  base  ;  also  a  sj^ecimen  of  Lithosia  griseola  of  a  brown  instead  of  a 
leaden  hue.  Mr.  BillujDS  ;  the  following  new  and  rare  Diptera : — 
Chortophila  setaria,  Mg.,  from  Dulwich ;  Blepharoptera  inscripta,  Mg., 
from  Oxshott  and  Bromley  ;  Heteromyza  atricornis,  Mg.,  and  Hypostena 
medorina,  Schnr.,  from  Oxshott ;  Lepsis  punctiim,  F.,  and  Callomyia 
amaena,  Mg.,  from  Bromley.  Mr.  Turner ;  two  specimens  of  the  rare 
Homopteron,  Centrotus  cornntus,  taken  by  Mr.  Lewcock  at  Seal  Chart; 
also  Helix  lapirida,  from  Box  Hill. 

We  are  glad  to  introduce  to  our  readers  the  Herts  Natural  History 
Society  and  Field  Club,  which  has  its  head-quarters  at  Watford,  but 
which  is  to  some  extent  peripatetic,  meeting  frequently  at  St.  Alban's, 
and  occasionally  at  Hertford  and  other  places.  The  President  of  the 
Society  is  Dr.  Stradling,  F.Z.S.,  and  its  Secretaries  Messrs.  John 
Hopkinson,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.,  of  The  Grange,  St.  Albans,  and  F.  M. 
Campbell,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S.,  of  Eose  Hill,  Hoddesdon.  Owing  to  the 
fortunate  circumstance  that  one  of  its  most  active  members,  Mr.  A.  E. 
Gibbs,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.,  is  one  of  the  proprietors  of  The  Herts  Advertiser 
and  St.  Alban's  Times,  its  proceedings  are  very  fully  reported  in  this 
county  paper  (in  a  copy  before  us  the  report  occupies  four  columns), 
and  thus  its  educational  influence  as  regards  Natural  History  matters, 
is  very  widely  diffused.  The  181st  meeting  of  the  Society  was  held  on 
April  17th,  and  was  devoted  to  the  readings  of  carefully  compiled  sum- 
maries of  the  observations  of  a  great  many  naturalists  in  various  parts 
of  the  county  during  1893.  Mr.  A.  E.  Gibbs  dealt  with  the  Lepidoptera. 
Sugar  during  the  early  j^art  of  the  year  was  generally  unattractive,  but 
yielded  better  results  in  the  autumn.  Larvse  were  very  abundant,  but 
pupa-digging  was  unproductive.  One  member  reported  that  old  sacks, 
boxes,  &c.  placed  about  the  garden,  j^roved  fertile  traps ;  several  good 
things  being  taken  by  their  means.  As  elsewhere,  the  season  was  an 
early  one,  many  species  emerging  about  a  month  before  their  usual  time. 
The  following  species,  which  had  not  previously  appeared  in  any  of  the 
county  lists,  were  reported  :  Setina  irrorella,  by  Mr.  John  Bowden  from 
East  Barnet ;  Bomhyx  castrensis  and  Pygaera  pigra  by  Col.  Gillum,  from 
the  same  place  ;  Agrotis  puta,  Hadena  dissimilis,  Selenia  tetralunaria, 
Cheimatobia  boreata  and  Eupithecia  minutata,  by  Mr.  S.  H.  Spencer,  jun., 
from  Watford.  Butterflies  were  plentiful,  especially  in  the  early 
summer  months  ;  of  Colias  edusa,  whose  abundance  was  one  of  the  great 
entomological  features  of  1892,  there  is  only  a  single  record  in  1893,  and 
that  from  Harpenden,  where  a  few  specimens  were  seen  ;  the  Vanessas 
were  more  abundant  in  the  larval  than  in  the  imaginal  stage,  while 
exactly  the  reverse  was  the  case  with  the  Whites.  Euchloe  cardamines 
was  more  abundant  than  usual ;  one  member  stated  that  all  the  specimens 
he  captured  were  of  a  small  size ;   Vanessa  polychloros   was   getting 


SOCIETIES.  159 

scarcer ;  Lycaena  corydon  was  reported  from  Lilley  Hoo,  and  L.  minima 
from  a  railway-cutting  on  the  Cambridge  and  Hitchin  line.  Among 
the  Heterocera  :  two  larvfe  of  Acherontia  atropos  were  found  in  tlie 
middle  of  July,  at  St.  Alban's  ;  these  pupated  successfully,  and  the 
imagines  emerged  at  the  end  of  September  or  beginning  of  October ; 
Macroglossa  stellatarum  was  everywhere  much  more  abundant  than  usual ; 
one  member  reported  that  a  specimen  visited  a  piece  of  honeysuckle  that 
he  was  wearing  as  a  button-hole  ;  Trochilium  apiforme  was  netted  at 
Colney  Heath. 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. — 
Ajrril  3rd,  1894. — It  was  unanimously  resolved  to  send  a  letter  of  con- 
dolence to  Mrs.  Weir,  expressive  of  the  great  regret  with  wliich  the 
Society  had  heard  of  the  sudden  death  of  Mr.  J.  Jenner  Weir.  Ex- 
hibits : — Mr.  Tremayne  ;  Nemeobins  lucina,  Lobophora  hexapterata, 
Tliecla  rubi,  Tephrosia  extersaria,  Notodonta  dodonea,  and  others  taken  by 
him  in  the  New  Forest,  at  Whitsuntide  1893.  Mr.  Battley ;  Nyssia 
hispidaria  from  Epping  Forest.  Mr.  Nicholson ;  a  $  Enchloe  carda- 
mines,  bred  from  ova  found  in  the  New  Forest.  Mr.  Southey  ;  Cidaria 
suffamata  from  Hendon,  where  it  seemed  to  have  become  almost  extinct. 
Mr.  Lewcock  ;  Silpha  sid>rotundata  from  Ireland  ;  he  believed  this  to  be 
quite  distinct  from  Silpha  atrata,  although  it  was  considered  by  many 
as  merely  a  variety  of  that  species.  Mr.  Tutt ;  pupte  of  Thais 
polyxena ;  these  pupse  appeared  to  form  a  connecting  link  between 
Parnassius  and  PapiUo ;  they  were  attached  to  twigs  by  the  tail,  and 
also  by  a  belt,  which,  however,  did  not  pass  round  the  waist  as  in  Pa- 
piUo, &c.,  but  was  held  by  two  hooked  processes  on  the  head  of  the 
pupa ;  these  hooks  were  probably  evolved  from  the  two  ear-like 
points  found  in  PapiUo :  he  also  exhibited  drawings  of  a  typical  pupa 
of  PapiUo,  to  illustrate  some  remarks  which  he  made  on  some  apparently 
insignificant,  but  really  important  points,  in  the  structure  of  pupje. 
Mr.  Battley  had  found  Taeuiocampa  popideti  fairly  common  near 
Broxbourne ;  it  was  found  chiefly  on  sallows  which  were  in  close 
proximity  to  aspens,  but  could  also  be  obtained  by  searching  the  aspen 
twigs  after  dark  ;  in  the  same  locality  he  met  with  the  following  species 
and  read : — 

Notes  on  the  habits  of  Brephos  notha. — This  species  occurred  on 
the  outskirts  of  a  wood  near  Broxbourne,  in  which  were  a  few  aspens. 
The  moths  began  to  fly  soon  after  10  a.m.,  at  which  time  they  were, 
like  B,  parthenias,  very  sluggish  and  easy  to  capture.  About  mid-day 
they  retreated  into  tlie  thicker  ])arts  of  the  wood,  but  at  2.15  p.m.  they 
suddenly  ajjpeared  in  large  numbers  on  the  sheltered  side ;  after  five 
minutes'  flight  they  went  back  again  into  the  wood  for  about  ten 
minutes,  when  they  again  re-apj^eared ;  this  was  re^jeated  several 
times. 

Mr.  Tutt  said  that  B.  notha  was  to  be  obtained  in  some  numbers  by 
shaking  the  aspens  at  dusk. 

Aprd  nth,  1894.— Exhibits  : — Mr.  Smith  ;  Thecia  betnlae  and  Ly- 
caena aryiolns  from  Epping  Forest.  Mr.  Bacot ;  Nyssia  hispidaria  and 
Taeniocampa  munda  from  Chingford ;  the  latter,  which  were  bred, 
consisted  mainly  of  the  var.  iiamaaddla.  Dr.  Chapman  remarked  that 
in  years  when  this  species  was  plentiful  the  specimens  showed  no  great 
variation,  Jiut  when  it  was  scarce,  those  specimens  which  did  occur, 
usually    varied    considerably,    both   from   the  type  and  inter  se.     Mr. 


160.  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Goldtliwait ;  Asphalia  ridens,  bred,  from  the  New  Forest,  and  one  dark 
specimen  from  Ongar  Park  Wood,  Essex  ;  also  a  fine  specimen  of  Va- 
nessa antiopa  taken  in  Monk's  Wood,  Essex,  on  April  7th,  by  Mr. 
Whittingham  of  Walthamstovv.  Mr.  Mera  ;  several  hybernated  larva3 
of  Orijyia  ijonostlgma,  part  of  a  brood  hatched  last  June,  the  majority  of 
the  brood  having  fed  up  and  emerged  in  the  autumn.  Mr.  Clark ;  a 
black  specimen  of  Phigah'a  pedaria  from  Barnsley,  and  two  specimens 
of  Crambus  j)i)ietellus  from  Scotland.  Capt.  Thompson ;  a  larva  of 
Zeuzera  jri/riiia  found  in  his  garden  in  Myddelton  Sq.,  E.G.  ;  it  was 
comfortably  ensconced  in  a  piece  of  stick  only  slightly  larger  in  diameter 
than  that  of  its  own  body.  Mr.  Tutt :  (1)  a  typical  Lycaena  corydon, 
ca23tured  in  July  1893  ;  (2)  a  hybrid  between  L.  corydon  and  L.  hellanjus, 
taken  in  copula  with  a  typical  ?  L.  beUargus,  on  May  20th,  1893,  at 
which  time  the  latter  species  was  very  abundant,  L.  corydon  not  being 
on  the  wing  till  some  weeks  later  ;  the  specimen  retained  the  external 
features  of  L.  corydon,  but  had  assumed  to  a  great  extent  the  coloration 
of  L.  hellargus  ;  (3)  a  typical  ^  L.  bellargus  captured  on  the  same  day ; 

(4)  a   5   X.  bellargus,  in  which  the  pigment  had  failed  in  one  hind  wing ; 

(5)  a  pale  var.  of  L.  corydon,  captured  in  July,  1886,  which  was 
probably  to  be  referred  either  to  var.  apennina,  Zell.,  usually  met  with 
in  Italian  mountain  districts,  or  to  var.  albicans,  H.-S.,  usually  met  with 
in  Andalusia;  Staudinger  says  of  the  former  " pallidior,"  of  the  latter 
"  albicans,"  (Cat.  p.  12).     Mr.  Bacot  then  read  the  following  note: — 

On  Assembling  Selenia  tetralunaria. — On  April  7th,  1894, 1  took 
a  freshly-emerged  J  to  Epping  Forest,  to  see  if  she  would  attract  any 
S  s  for  me.  The  night  seemed  a  favourable  one,  being  warm,  with  a 
light  breeze  from  the  E.  I  hung  up  the  ?  in  a  small  cage  about 
6.30  p.m.,  and  she  commenced  calling  shortly  after  7.  The  first  <? 
flew  up  about  7.30,  and  others  continued  to  come  until  8.15.  They 
generally  came  up  singly,  and  at  intervals  of  five  or  six  minutes ;  but 
about  8,  I  found  three  on  the  cage  together.  I  found  I  could  box  them 
without  difficulity  if  I  did  not  use  the  lantern,  but  the  light  seemed  to 
frighten  them.  On  reaching  home  about  10,  I  placed  one  of  the  <?  s  in 
the  cage  with  the  $  ;  he  was  lively  for  a  few  minutes,  but  then  quieted 
down  till  midnight,  when  he  began  to  fly  again  ;  the  $  then  commenced 
to  call,  and  they  paired  at  12.15,  remaining  together  till  9.30  a.m. 
Some  of  the  J  s  were  of  a  light  ochreous  tint ;  I  thought  this  was  a 
characteristic  of  the  summer  brood  only. 

Dr.  T.  A.  Chapman,  of  Hereford,  read  a  very  interesting  jiaj^er 
"  On  Butterfly  pupce  and  the  lines  of  evolution  which  they  suggest."* 


NOTICE    TO    CORRESPONDENTS. 


Will  correspondents  please  be  careful  to  write  generic  and 
trivial  names  as  distinctly  as  possible?  By  so  doing  they  will 
greatly  assist  us  in  avoiding  errors. — Ed. 

*  This  paper  will  be  published,  in  this  magazine  later  in  the  year. — Ed. 


^^  AND  ^^^^^ 


^^J 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  7.     Vol.  V. 


July  15th,  1894. 


EI^EBIJI    EPIPjJl^Orl    JiplD    nfg    r(yl]VIEB    Vyil^IE'l'lEg. 

4  Study  in  Synonymy. 
By    FRAS.    J.    BUCKELL,    M.B. 

llie  tiipe. — The  butterfly  which  Knoch  described  and  figured  in 
1783  (Beitriige  z.  Inseliieiujeschichte,  Stuck  iii.,  p.  131,  pi.  6,  fig,  7)  under 
tlie  name  of  Papilio  epiphron,  was  met  with  by  him  in  abundance  near 
the  Brocken,  in  the  Harz  Mountains.  From  his  description  and  figure 
we  learn  that  it  possessed  the  following  characteristics  : — Wings  rounded, 
not  pointed  at  the  apex,  their  upper  surface  of  a  dark  brown  colour ; 
there  is  an  orange  band  near  the  hind  margin  of  the  fore-wings 
somewhat  narrower  towards  the  inner  margin,  but  not  reaching  either 
this  margin  or  the  costa ;  this  band  is  divided  by  the  nervures  into  six 
compartments,  and  in  from  two  to  four  of  these  are  black  sjjots,  which 
sometimes  have  white  pupils  but  more  often  have  not.  Near  the  hind 
margin  of  the  hind-wings  are  three  good-sized,  more  or  less  circular-, 
orange  blotches,  in  each  of  which  is  a  black  spot  which,  like  those  on 
the  fore- wings,  is  sometimes  white-pupilled  but  more  frequently  blind  ; 
tliese  three  blotches  touch  one  another  and  so  produce  a  certain  band- 
like appearance ;  at  either  end  of  the  three  is  a  faint  orange  blotch, 
smalle;.-  and  without  a  black  centre.  The  under  surface  is  not  re23re- 
sented  in  the  figure  and  the  description  of  it  is  very  meagre.  It  may 
be  inferred,  however,  that  it  is  very  similar  (in  both  wings)  to  the 
upper  surface,  save  that  the  ocelli  or  spots  are  often  more  numerous ; 
Knoch  says  that  he  has  taken  specimens  with  six  ocelli.  It  is  evident 
that  he  was  not  basing  his  description  on  a  limited  number  of  specimens, 
as  was  sometimes  the  case  with  the  earlier  authors,  for  he  says  that 
"  variations  are  found  in  this  PapUio  in  large  numbers  if  the  eye-points 
and  spots  are  taken  into  consideration." 

Fabricius  notices  the  species  under  the  same  name  in  1787  (Mantissa 
Ins.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  40,  No.  411),  having  seen  specimens  in  Boeber's  cabinet ; 
these  evidently  all  had  the  ocelli  white-pupilled. 

Borkhausen,  who  seems  to  have  been  very  fond  of  re-naming  species, 
describes  it  in  1788  (Natnrgcschichte  der  Europ.  Schmett.,  Th.  i.,  p.  77, 
No.  16b)  under  the  name  of  Pap.  eyea.  He  adds  nothing  to  our 
knowledge  of  its  characters,  and  one  is  inclined  to  think  that  he  was 
describing  not  from  nature  but  from  Knoch.  Next  year  (I.e.,  Th.  ii., 
p.  202,)  he  says  that  the  specimens  with  white  pupils  are  females,  and 


162  THE  entomologist's  record. 

inclines  to  the  opinion  that  the  insect  is  identical  with  P.  melampns, 
Fviessly. 

Ochsenheimcr  (1807)  is  an  authority  of  considerable  importance 
inasmuch  as  he  deals  with  both  cpiphron  and  cassiope,  Treitschke  says 
that  Ochsenheimer's  specimens  of  epiphron  came  from  Knoch  himself, 
so  that  there  conld  be  no  doubt  about  their  identity.  Ochsenheimer 
says  (Schmett.  v.  Europ.,  Bd.  I.,  Abtheil.  i.,  p.  258,  No.  41)  that,  so  far  as 
he  knows,  this  butterfly  is  only  met  with  in  the  Harz  Mountains ;  his 
diagnosis  and  description  are  worth  quoting  in  full.  Diagnosis  :  "  Alis 
integi'is  fuscis  viridi  nitentibus,  fascia  rufa,  utrinque  ocellis  nigris  pro 
individuis  numero  diversis."  Description  :  "  The  untoothed  wings  are,  on 
the  upper  surface,  black-brown  with  a  greenish  gloss ;  on  the  fore- 
wings,  near  the  hind  margin,  is  a  yellowish-red  transverse  band,  which 
is  divided  by  the  nervures  into  several  blotches  and  in  which  are 
found  two,  three  or  four  black  eyes,  which  in  the  female  are  larger  and 
have  white  centres,  but  mostly  appear  only  as  black  spots  of  varying 
size,  although  in  none  of  the  many  specimens  before  me  are  they 
entirely  wanting.  The  hind-wings  are  oval  and  have  in  the  middle  of 
the  hind  margin  a  projecting  point ;  along  the  margin  are  three  or  four 
yellowish-red  blotches,  which  often  run  together  into  a  band  only 
divided  by  the  nervures,  and  therein,  as  in  the  fore-wings,  are  black 
spots  or  eyes,  sometimes  with  white  pupils.  The  underside  is  coloured 
like  the  upper  but  is  without  the  gloss.  On  the  fore-wings  the 
yellowish-red  band  is  only  sharply  defined  along  its  outer  margin, 
passing  inwards  into  the  ground  colour,  so  that  often  the  whole  area 
to  the  base  appears,  more  or  less,  yellowish-red.  The  spots  or  eyes 
are  as  on  the  upper  surface,  and  the  same  is  the  case  with  the  hind- 
wings." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  three  new  characters  ajjpear  in  this  de- 
scription :  (1),  a  greenish  gloss  on  the  upper  surface ;  (2),  a  projection 
from  the  centre  of  the  hind  margin  of  the  hind-wings ;  (3),  the  occurrence 
of  a  reddish  coloration  over  the  disc  of  the  fore-wings  on  the  under 
surface. 

We  may  then  define  the  type  as  a  butterfly  in  which,  on  the  fore- 
wings  the  band  is  on  both  surfaces  continuous,  and  on  the  hind  wings 
consists  of  more  or  less  coalescing  blotches ;  in  which  the  ocelli  are 
sometimes,  especially  in  the  female,  white-pupilled  ;  in  which  the  disc 
of  the  under  surface  of  the  fore- wings  often  has  a  more  or  less  coppery 
hue,  and  in  which  the  red  surroundings  of  the  lilack  spots  are  Avell  in 
evidence  on  the  underside  of  the  hind-wings. 

a.  Var.  melampus,  Esp. — The  first  variety  to  get  a  name  was  that 
which  Esper  between  1780  and  1786,  described  and  figured  {Europ. 
Schmet.,  Th.  1,  Bd.  2,  p.  131,  pi.  78,  fig.  2).  under  the  name  of  Pajnlio 
melampns,  supposing  it  to  be  identical  with  the  butterfly  to  which 
Fuessly  had  given  that  name  in  1775.  This  form  had  alread}^  been 
figured  by  Ernst  and  described  by  Engramelle  in  1779  (Pap.  d'  Europe, 
Tom.  1,  p.  85,  pi.  24,  fig.  45),  under  the  vernacular  name  of  Le  petit 
nijgre  d  handes  faiives,  from  Styrian  specimens  in  Gerning's  collection. 
Esper  speaks  of  it  as  found  very  commonly  on  the  mountains  of  Pro- 
vence, and  as  occurring  also  in  Hungary  and  Styria,  and  notes  tliat 
Gerning  had  found  it  in  1766,  in  the  Bernese  AIjds. 

The  characteristics  of  this  form  are  to  be  found  in  the  hind-wings, 
which,  on  the  upper  surface,  have  only  two  tiny  orange  dots,  and  on 


EEEBIA    EPIPHRON    AND    ITS    NAMED    VARIETIES.  163 

the  under  surface  are  without  markings.  Meyer-Diir( iVo?<«.  Mi'm.  Soc. 
Ilehet.,  ]5d.  xii.,  p.  L51,  pi.  2,  fig.  3)  describes  and  iigures  a  variety 
from  the  higher  Bernese  Alps,  which  he  calls  var.  berncnsis,  which  in 
some  respects  resembles  the  form  figured  by  Esper,  It  is  very  i)Ossible 
that  var.  nelamus,  Boisd.,  to  which  reference  will  be  made  in  its  turn, 
is  identical  Avith  this  form,  in  which  case,  it  would  be  better  to  sink 
Esper's  name  as  being  already  the  name  of  a  si^ecies,  and  to  adopt 
Boisduval's  name  for  this  form. 

j3.  Var.  cassiope,  Eb. — The  name  cassiope,  by  which  the  species  has 
been  most  generally  known,  was  given  by  Fabricius  m  1787  (Mant.  Ins., 
vol.  ii.,  p.  42,  No.  417),  to  a  butterfly  which  he  saw  in  Schiffermiiller's 
cabinet,  and  for  which  he  gives  Austria  as  a  habitat,  and  grass  as  the 
food-plant.  There  is  no  indication  that  he  recognised  any  close  affinity 
between  it  and  the  epiphron  of  Knoch,  which  he  had  already  described 
(No.  411).  As  there  is  some  uncertainty  about  the  exact  meaning  of 
some  of  the  words,  I  give  the  original  Latin.  Diagn. :  "  Alis  integris 
fuscis :  fascia  rufa ;  punctis  tribus  ocellaribus  nigris,  posticis  subtus 
punctis  solis."  Description  :  "  Alje  omnes  supra  nigrsB  fascia  marginis 
hand  attingente,  in  posticis  imprimis  maculari  rufa  et  in  hac  puncta  tria 
nigra.  Subtus  anticte  concolores,  postic^e  punctis  tribus  at  absque  fascia 
rufa."  Borkhausen,  in  1789  {I.e.,  Th.  ii.,  p.  204,  No.  16e),  gives  what 
appears  to  be  a  free  translation  of  this,  as  follows  : — "  All  wings  above 
black-brown  with  an  orange  band,  which  on  the  fore-wings  is  undi- 
vided and  does  not  reach  the  margins,  but  which  on  the  hind-wings 
consists  of  separate  blotches  and  has  three  black  points.  On  the 
imderside  the  fore- wings  are  marked  as  above  ;  the  hind-wings  lack 
the  orange  band,  but  the  three  black  points  are  present." 

Ochsenheimer  gives  the  following  diagnosis  {I.e.,  p.  261,  No.  44): 
"  Alis  integris  fuscis  fascia  rufa,  punctis  tribus  nigris  ;  posticis  supi'a 
maculis  rufis  nigro  punctatis,  subtus  foeminaa  cinerascentibus,  punctis 
solis  ;  "  and  he  goes  on  to  say  :  "  The  ground  colour  is,  in  fresh  speci- 
mens, dark  black-brown ;  in  those  that  have  flown,  paler.  A  rust- 
coloured  or  orange  band,  divided  by  the  nervures,  is  found  on  the  fore- 
wings  near  the  hind  margin  ;  it  is  uniform  in  breadth,  and  two  to  four 
black  spots  are  found  in  it.  The  hind-wings  are  oval,  with  a  short 
projection  in  the  middle  of  the  hind  margin  ;  they  usually  show  three 
or  four  orange  blotches,  of  which  some,  rarely  all,  have  black  spots  in 
them.  In  varieties,  there  are  only  one  or  two  of  these  blotches,  and 
the  black  spots  are  hardly,  or  not  at  all,  perceptible.  On  the  underside, 
the  fore-wings  are  somewhat  paler,  the  orange  band  is  sliarpl}'^  defined 
on  both  margins  and  contains  two  or  three  black  spots.  The  hind- 
wings  are  black-brown,  and  not  markedly  darker  from  the  base  to  the 
middle  ;  near  the  hind  margin  are  one  or  several  black  dots  in  hardly 
perceptible  delicate  reddish-yellow  circles.  In  varieties,  they  are  some- 
times entirely  wanting.  The  female  is  larger,  has  a  paler  ground  colour, 
and  its  spots  are  more  numerous  and  larger  on  both  fore-wings  and  hind- 
wings.  The  underside  of  the  fore-wings  is  orange,  with  the  costal  and 
hind  margins  grey-brown ;  the  band  is  distinct,  sharply  defined, 
and  somewhat  brighter  than  the  disc.  The  hind-wings  are  brownish- 
grey  beneath,  darker  from  the  base  outwards,  and  three  or  four  black 
dots  stand  in  hardly- percei^tible  orange  circles,  near  the  hind  margin. 
I  have  received  this  butterfly  from  Styria  and  Switzerland." 
Ochsenheimer  does  not  seenx  to  liave  recognised  any  intimate  connection 


1G4  THK  entomologist's  record. 

between  epijyJiron  and  cassiope,  but  Treitschke,  in  vol.  x.  of  the  same 
work  (1834),  expresses  the  decided  opinion  that  they  are  specifically 
identical. 

Freyer,  in  1831  (Neu.  Beitrilge,  Bd.  i.,  p.  37,  pi.  20,  fig.  1-2),  adds 
that  the  band  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  fore-wings  is  much  fainter  in 
the  male  than  in  the  female,  and  that  whilst  in  the  male  there  is  little 
trace  of  any  eyes  on  the  under  surface  of  the  hind-wings,  in  the  female, 
the  three  eyes  of  the  upper  surface  appear  through  and  are  black- 
kernelled. 

We  may,  I  think,  define  this  Alj^ine  form,  as  possessed  of  the 
following  distinguishing  characteristics  : — Ocelli  never  white-pupilled 
on  the  upper  surface ;  band  entire  on  the  fore-wings,  but  broken  up 
on  the  hind- wings  into  three  or  four  orange  spots  with  black  centres  ; 
on  the  under  surface  of  the  hind- wings  the  black  dots  very  small,  and 
either  not  at  all  or  only  very  obscurely  encircled  with  orange. 

y.  Var.  ninemon,  Haw. — In  that  rare  volume  of  Transactions  of  the 
Entomological  Societij  of  London  (i.,  p.  332),  Ha  worth,  in  1812,  described 
under  this  name  a  butterfly  that  he  had  seen  in  Francillon's  cabinet, 
and  that  had  been  captured  in  Scotland,  by  Stoddart.  In  this,  the  band 
of  the  fore-wings  was  broken  up  into  four  saffron  rings,  of  which  the 
third  was  the  least  and  slightly  exterior  to  the  others  ;  on  the  hind- 
wings  were  only  two  rings.  Beneath,  the  wings  were  coppery-brown  ; 
the  fore-wings  had  three  brown  points  which  were  very  indistinct,  and 
obscurely  surrounded  with  fulvous  ;  the  hind-wings  were  almost  entirely 
unspotted.  This  comes  very  near  to  var.  melampus,  Esj).,  but  there,  the 
band  of  the  fore-wings  was  not  broken  up. 

8,  Var.  nelamus,  Boisd. — Boisduval,  in  1840  (Gen.  et.  Index  Meth., 
p.  26,  No.  195),  establishes  this  form  with  only  two  words  "  Snb-coeca 
(Alp.  Delph.)."  Meyer-Diir  thought  it  might  be  the  same  as  his  feebly- 
marked  specimens  from  high  altitudes  in  the  Bernese  Alps  ;  and  Frey, 
in  1880  (Die  Lepid.  Schweiz,  p.  35),  accepts  this  opinion.  Lederer,  in 
1852  (Verhandl.  zool.-bot.  Vereins  in  Wien,  p.  40),  gives  its  habitat  as 
Mont  Dore,  in  Auvergne,  and  says  that  it  "  has  above  very  little,  on 
the  hind  wings  sometimes  no  red ;  on  the  underside  the  eyes  are  want- 
ing, or  very  obsolete.  Lang  (Tlhop.  Enro-p.,  p.  241)  says:  "An  alpine 
form  in  Switzerland.  It  has  the  black  spots  absent  from  the  fulvous 
bands  on  all  the  wings."  As  already  stated,  it  is  quite  possible  that 
this  form  may  be  identical  with  that  called  melampus,  by  Esper. 

€.  YsiV.  pyrenaica,  H.-S. — Whether  this  form,  Avhich  Herrich-Schiiffer 
(Syst.  Bearheit.,  i.,  fig.  535-8,  vi.,  p.  11)  received  from  the  Pyrenees, 
but  which  Lederer  says  also  occurs  in  the  Styrian  mountains,  is  worthy 
of  a  distinct  varietal  name,  is  perhaps  doubtful.  The  red  band  of  the 
fore  wings  has  become  a  series  of  longitudinal  blotches,  and  on  the 
tmder  surface  of  the  hind  wings,  are  four  hardly -perceptible  black  dots 
without  irides.  Lang  (I.e.)  says  of  it :  "  Larger  than  cassiope,  with  large 
ocelli  on  all  the  fulvous  bands."  This,  however,  is  hardly  in  accord 
with  Herrich-Schaffer's  figures. 

One  or  two  other  names  must  be  glanced  at.  Hiibner  (Samml. 
Europ.,  vol.  i.,  figs.  202)  figures  what  he  calls  Pap.  ianthe,  which  he 
supposes  to  be  identical  with  epipliron,  Kn.,  melampus,  Fuessl.  and  eyea, 
Bork.  It  is  very  diflicult  to  determine  whether  this  is  the  type  or  var. 
cassiope ;  our  two  groat  synonymists  differ  on  the  point,  Staudinger 
inclining  to  the  former  view,  Kirby  to  the  latter.     Newman  in  1844 


THE    LIFE-HISTORY    OF    A    LEPIDOPTEROUS    INSECT.  IfiS 

(Zool.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  729)  describes  and  figures  as  Erehia  melampvs  a 
butterfly  taken  by  INIr.  Weaver  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Eannocli, 
which  differed  from  the  form  which  he  was  accustomed  to  call  E. 
cassio2}e  and  to  obtain  from  Cumberland.  In  his  British  Butterflies 
(p.  80)  however,  he  admits  that  he  was  mistaken  in  supposing  it  not  to 
be  identical  with  that,  and  it  is  not,  I  think,  possible  to  make  any 
varietal  separation  of  the  two. 

Staudinger,  in  his  famous  Catalog,  thus  distinguishes  and  locates  the 
several  forms,  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that,  at  the  time  of  the 
l)reparation  of  that  work  at  all  events,  he  was  largely  ignorant  of 
British  authors : — 

Epiphron. — An  outer  red  fascia  or  maculge  ;  tlie  female  with  white- 
pupilled  ocelli.  Hab. — Hercyn.  Mountains,  Silesian 
Mountains. 

Cassiopc. — Red  obsolete  macular ;  black  blind  ocelli.  Hab. — 
Germany  (south),  Switzerland,  Franco,  Piedmont, 
Hungarian  Mountains  et  Alps,  England  (north),  Scotch 
Mountains. 

Nelamus. — Hardly  ocellated  with  black.     Hab. — Alps. 

Pyrenaica. — Larger  ;  with  large  ocelli.     Hab. — Pyrenees. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  species  is  localised  in  two  distinct  centres 
(leaving  this  country  out  of  the  question  for  the  moment).  The  type 
form  is  found  in  the  more  northerly  area  of  distribution,  its  chief  centre 
being  the  Harz  Mountains,  although  it  is  also  reported  from  the  Riesen 
Gebirge  on  the  east,  and  the  Vosges  on  the  west ;  cassiope,  on  the  other 
hand,  is  an  Alpine  butterfly.  It  may  be  contended  that  only  these  two 
forms  should  be  recognised  as  named  varieties,  and  it  must  be  admitted 
that  the  other  forms  seem  rather  to  be  sub- varieties  of  cassiope,  than 
to  be  entitled  to  varietal  rank.  This  question  must  be  settled  according 
to  the  opinion  of  the  individual  student.  In  this  country,  both  in  the 
Lake  District  and  Scottish  habitats  of  the  species,  cassiope  is  the  pre- 
vailing form  ;  the  type  does  occur  occasionally  in  Scotland,  but  rarely 
with  white  pupils,  although,  according  to  Dr.  Buchanan  White,  even 
such  are  occasionally  met  with.  It  is  a  curious  and  suggestive  fact  that 
Morris,  who  only  knew  the  Lake  District  as  a  locality  for  the  sjjccies, 
nevertheless  figures  it  with  well-developed  white  pupils. 


1'lie  Life-jJistopy  of  a  Lcpidoptepous  Iiisect, 

Comprising  some   account   of  its   Morphology  and   Physiology. 

By    J.     W.     TUTT,     F.E.S. 

{Cmitimied  from  page  146). 

Chav.  II. 

THE   OVUM   OR  EGG. 

8. — On  the  probable  existence  of  sex  in  eo(;s. — It  lias  been 
suggested  that  the  sex  of  imagines  bred  from  eggs  will  be  determined 
l)y  the  conditions  in  regard  to  abundance  of  food  or  the  reverse,  under 
whicli  the  larva?  are  reared  ;  that  under  a  specially  nutritious  diet,  lepi- 
dojjtcrous  larvjB  tend  to  })roduce  female  imagines,  Avhilst  a  starvation 
diet  tends  to  the  jiruductiou  of  males.     This  pre-su}iposes  a  condition 


lG(j  ttiE  entomologist's  REdOUD. 

of  neutrality  as  regards  sex  in  the  newly-laid  egg,  but  I  do  not  know 
that  this  has  ever  been  proved,  even  in  the  slightest  degree.  The  idea 
of  this  sex-determining  influence  of  nutrition  has  probably  arisen  from 
the  well-known  fact  that  bees  and  ants  govern  the  sex  of  their  offspring 
within  certain  limits,  by  special  feeding ;  i.e.  that  larvte,  which  would 
under  ordinary  circumstance  produce  neuters,  can  be  made  to  produce 
queens  if  a  special  course  of  ntitritious  diet  be  commenced  in  the  flrst  two 
or  three  days  of  larval  life.  But  so-called  neuters  are  essentially  females, 
not  fully  developed  it  is  true,  but  of  whose  sex  there  can  be  no  doubt, 
and  I  would  suggest  that  what  hap})ens  in  these  cases  is,  that  the  sexual 
neutrality  of  the  ovum  ceases  on  fertilisation,  and  that  the  special  feed- 
ing only  causes  the  production  of  a  well-developed  instead  of  an 
ill-developed  female. 

That  neutrality  of  the  ovum  ever  exists  in  insects  after  the  egg  has 
been  laid  is  not  pi-obable,  for  in  comparatively  early  stages  of  some 
lepidopterous  larvae,  the  sexual  organs  are  clearly  distinguishalde.  To 
supjiose,  therefore,  that  any  course  of  feeding  of  the  larva  will  alter 
the  sex  of  the  resulting  imago,  is  to  assume  more  than  scientific  ento- 
mologists are  able  to  grant.  Probabl}^  there  is  a  point  in  its  development 
at  which  the  oval  cell  is  sexually  neutral,  but  this  point  may  be  a  long 
way  back  in  its  history,  possibly  as  far  back  as  the  embryonic  stages  of 
the  parent.  If  a  process  of  experimental  feeding  could  be  carried 
out  through  several  successive  generations,  probably  some  influence 
might  he  exerted  ;  but  that  any  influence  upon  the  sex  of  the  resulting 
imagines  can  be  exerted  by  such  a  process  in  a  single  generation,  is  in 
the  highest  degree  doubtful.  If  it  should  happen  that  an  experiment 
seems  to  yield  an  affirmative  result,  it  is  probably  only  a  fortuitous 
coincidence.  Experiments,  to  be  worth  anything,  must  be  begun  at  a 
time  when  the  ovum  is  certainly  neutral,  and  then  perhaps  some 
definite  impression  might  be  made  on  the  progeny. 

It  is  of  course  quite  possible,  that  the  sexual  neutrality  of  the  ovum 
may  be  continued  to  a  much  later  jDeriod  of  development  in  some  species  of 
the  same  class  than  in  others,  and  in  some  classes  of  animals  than  in 
others.  Further  experiments  as  to  the  effect  of  food  on  sex  arc  needed, 
but  all  Avho  have  bred  large  numbers  of  moths  from  eggs,  know  that 
no  amount  of  nutritious  food  will  ensure  a  preponderance  of  females,  nor 
will  a  strictly  starvation  diet  ensure  a  preponderance  of  males,  from  eggs 
laid  in  the  ordinary  course. 

9. — On  the  sex  of  imagines  bred  fkom  successively-laid  eggs. — 
It  has  often  been  suggested  that  there  was  some  general  law  connecting 
the  succession  of  the  eggs  laid  by  the  same  moth  with  the  sex  of  the 
imagines  resulting  therefrom,  and  that  this  took  the  form  of  a  regular 
alternation  of  sex  in  successive  eggs.  It  has  more  than  once  been 
asserted  that,  of  two  isolated  larvae  found  on  the  same  bush,  one  would 
produce  a  male,  the  other  a  female,  the  assumption  being  that  the  two 
isolated  larvae  were  the  progeny  of  successively-laid  eggs,  and  that  their 
contiguity  was  due  to  an  attempt  to  facilitate  the  operation  of  pairing. 
This  would,  of  course,  lead  to  the  most  complete  in-breeding,  a  result 
which  nature  usually  abhors,  and,  as  was  to  be  expected,  experiment 
does  not  bear  out  the  assumption.  To  test  the  assumption,  however. 
Professor  Poulton  undertook  some  experiments,  to  dctermiue  the  sex 
of  the  larvrB  resultiug  from  successivelj^-laid  eggs  of  Smerinthm  j'Opnh'. 
The  experiment  is  detailed  at  length  in  the  Trans.  Ent.  Sue.  London, 


'THi;    LlFE-UiSTOilY   OF    A    LEl'IDOl'tEllOtJS    iNSECf.  l^f 

1893,  pp.  451-6,  but  the  conclusion  at  which  Professor  Poulton  arrived 
did  away  with  the  notion  that  there  Avas  any  regularity  in  the  pro- 
duction of  the  sexes  from  successively-laid  eggs.  On  the  contrary,  "  it 
was  found  that  the  relative  proportion  of  the  sexes  was  subject  to 
immense  fluctuation  on  the  separate  dates  on  which  eggs  were  laid.  As 
regards  eggs  laid  on  any  one  day,  the  sexes  generally  succeeded  each 
other  in  little  groups  of  irregular  size.  No  law  of  succession  of  the 
sexes  could  be  established." 

Bearing  on  this,  is  another  observation  recorded  in  the  Trans.  Linn. 
Soc.  of  London,  vol.  v.,  1890,  p.  156,  in  which  Messrs.  Jackson  and 
Salter  found  that  the  pupaj  obtained  from  different  batches  of  Vanessa  io, 
had  a  large  proportion  of  a  certain  sex,  some  batches  producing  almost 
entirely  males,  others  consisting  almost  entirely  of  females.  Such 
batches,  of  course,  would  greatly  aid  the  inter-crossing  of  the  species, 
and  tliis  state  of  things  is  much  more  probable  than  that  the  sexes 
alternate  in  successively-laid  eggs  with  anything  like  regularity. 

10. — On  the  duration  of  tue  egg  stage. — This  varies  very  greatly 
but  depends  to  a  considerable  extent  upon  whether  the  eggs  hatch  the 
same  year  they  are  laid,  or  whether  hybernation  takes  place  in  the  egg- 
state,  and  in  the  latter  case  upon  the  time  of  year  at  which  the  eggs 
are  laid.  Mr.  Fenn  (Eat.  Rec,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  175-76),  Dr.  Buckell  (I.e., 
p.  255)  and  Mr.  Prout  (I.e.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  292)  have  recorded  some  obser- 
vations bearing  upon  the  question  as  regards  the  Gteojietr.e.  Of  those 
species  whose  eggs  hatched  the  same  year  in  which  they  were  laid,  the 
gi'eater  number  remained  in  the  egg  stage  from  a  week  to  a  fortnight. 
The  shortest  period  recorded  by  JMr.  Fenn  is  two  days  in  the  case  of 
Acidalia  vm/nlaria ;  by  Dr.  Buckell,  four  days  in  the  case  of  Timandra 
amataria,  and  many  species  have  a  period  of  only  five  days.  On  the 
other  hand,  some  species  have  a  much  longer  period,  as  will  be  seen  by 
the  following  instances  from  the  above-mentioned  articles :  Selenm 
telralanaria,  23  days ;  Biston  hirtaria,  17  to  37  days ;  Ampliidasys 
strataria,  30  days ;  Hemerophila  abruptaria,  14  to  26  days ;  Boarmia 
ahietaria,  19  days;  B.  geminaria,  20  days;  Hyhernia  leucophearm,  38 
days ;  Larentia  caesiata,  24  days,  &c.  The  period  varies  for  the  same 
species  in  different  years,  possibly  depending  on  meterological  con- 
ditions. Selenia  hilunaria  has  the  following  record  : — 1860,  1st  brood, 
16  days  ;  1883,  1st  brood,  28  days,  2nd  brood,  16  days  ;  1890  and  1891, 
2nd  brood,  15  days.  Selenia  limaria  took  7  days  in  1865,  12  in  1861, 
and  15  in  1886 — all  1st  brood.  Of  Carnptogramnia  Jinviata  in  1865, 
one  batch  took  5  days,  another  10  days  and  a  third  21  days. 

11. — On  hybernation  in  the  egg  stage. — As  indicated  in  the 
preceding  paragraph,  some  sj^ecies  are  known  to  hybernate  in  the  egg- 
stage.  To  what  extent  this  obtains  among  insects  is,  perhaps,  hardly 
as  yet  ascertained  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  but  among  Lepidoptera 
there  would  appear  to  be  scarcely  any  large  group  in  which  some  of 
the  species  do  not  pass  the  winter  in  this  state.  Of  our  British  butter- 
flies Lycaena  aegon  and  Pamphila  coiiDiia  arc  reported  to  ^J'lss  the  winter 
as  ova,  whilst  several  of  the  Thcclidi  certainly  do  so — among  our  species, 
ThecJa,  quercns,  T.  betulae,  T.  w.-alhum  and  T.  prnni — whilst  allied  species 
do  so  in  America.  Scudder  says  that  some  of  tlie  Clirysojilninidi  winter 
in  this  state  ;  tlie  Paruassidi  also  do  so,  at  least  Fariiassias  apoUo  does. 
Among  the  Bujibyces  a  large  number  of  s})ecies,  as  Orgyia  antiqna, 
liybernatt,'   in   this  stage,   so  also   do  a   large   number  of    Geojietu.i}, 


168  THE  entomologist's  record. 

NocTU^,  &c.  Many  of  the  species  that  follow  this  course  remain  in 
the  egg  for  a  very  long  period.  Among  the  observations  anent  the 
Geometr.*;,  already  referred  to,  will  be  found  the  following  instances : 
—  Epione  apiclaria,  9|  months;  Eugonia  antmitnaria,  7|  to  .10  months; 
Himera  pennaria,  5  months ;  Oporahia  filigrammaria,  4|  months ; 
Cidaria  testata,  8  months ;    Chesias  spartiatn,  4^  months. 

The  condition  of  the  egg  during  the  hybernating  period  is  much 
more  interesting.  It  is  possible  that  some  remain  almost  in  the  initial 
condition  as  laid  all  the  winter.  Buckler  records  that  eggs  of  Bombyx 
mori,  Trichiura  crataegi,  Engonia  tiliaria,  E.  angnlaria  {qnercinarui), 
Cheimatohia  hrumata,  G.  boreata,  Scotosia  vetulata,  Vtilophora  plnmlgera, 
Xanthia  aurngo  and  Pol/a  chi  have  been  examined  from  time  to  time 
until  the  middle  of  January,  and  nothing  but  the  faintest  traces  of  the 
future  larvae  have  been  detected  by  a  microscopic  examination  of  their 
still  fluid  contents,  except  in  the  case  of  A',  aurago,  the  egg  of  which 
on  January  14th  was  found  to  contain  a  partially  developed  larva. 
Some  species,  on  the  other  hand,  hybernate  with  the  larva  fully-formed 
inside  the  egg-shell,  and  only  waiting  for  the  spring  to  eat  its  way  out 
and  commence  larval  life.  This  appears  to  be  a  very  similar  condition 
to  that  of  many  larvaj  which  hatch  from  the  egg,  bvjj:  hybernate  at  once 
without  feeding ;  only  in  the  one  case  the  larva?  hybernate  inside,  in  the 
latter  outside,  the  egg-shell:  in  both  cases  the  larva  is  equally  well- 
formed.  Thus  in  Parnassius  apoUo  the  larva  is  fully  formed  in  the  egg 
in  autumn,  but  it  does  not  hatch  till  early  spring. 

12. — On  the  period  over  which  the  hatching  process  may  extend. 
— One  of  the  most  imjjortant  facts  in  connection  with  the  preservation 
of  a  species,  is,  that  in  many  species  of  more  or  less  wandering  habit, 
the  eggs  do  not  all  hatch  at  one  time.  I  have  frequently  noticed  that 
of  a  batch  of  Orgyia  antiqua  eggs  laid  in  August  a  few  Avill  hatch  at 
once  and  produce  autumnal  larvae,  the  remainder  going  over  the  winter  ; 
of  these  a  few  will  hatch  in  May  and  after\vards  at  irregular  j^eriods, 
until  when  the  last  hatch  they  will  have  been  in  the  egg  state  almost 
twelve  months.  It  is  very  clear  that  by  this  means  many  insects  which 
would,  if  the  eggs  all  hatched  simultaneously  and  under  unsatisfactory 
conditions,  rapidly  become  extinct  or  suffer  very  considerably,  are 
much  aided  in  their  struggle  for  existence. 

13. — On  the  effects  of  exposing  eggs  to  extreme  tempera- 
tures.— Mr.  Merrifield,  whose  researches  into  the  effects  upon  the 
various  stages  of  Lei^idoptera  of  varying  degi'ees  of  temperature  have 
interested  us  so  much  of  late  years,  has  made  some  of  his  experiments 
on  the  eggs  of  certain  species.  In  The  Transactions  of  ihe  Entomological 
Society  of  London,  1890,  pp.  132-133,  he  reports  that  spring-laid  eggs 
of  Selenia  bilunaria  began  to  have  their  vitality  affected  after  being 
"  iced  "  (at  a  temi^erature  of  33°)  in  the  central  red  stage  28  days,  and 
none  hatched  after  60  days'  icing.  The  case  "  Avas  worse  with  spring- 
laid  eggs  of  S.  tetralunarin,  none  of  "udiich  survived  42  days'  icing,  and 
some  summer-laid  eggs  of  the  same  species  fared  no  better.  In  all  the 
experiments  up  to  60  days'  exposure,  and  I  think  beyond  that  period, 
nearly  all  the  eggs,  after  being  removed  from  the  ice,  matured  so  far  as 
to  admit  of  the  formation  of  the  young  larva,  which  could  be  seen 
through  the  transparent  shell.     Tlic  failure  was  a  failure  to  hatch." 

Mr.  Merrifield  makes  the  folloAving  remark  (which,  in  the  face  of 
the  rest  of  the  experiments,  almost  suggests  an  error  of  observation)  :  — 


LIFE-HISTOKY    OF    AGROTIS    AGATHINA.  169 

"A  curious  result  happened  with  some  spring-laid  iUnstrarid  (ictrtilmiarid) 
eggs,  iced  before  they  had  turned  red  ;  two  of  them  Ijccame  l)lackish 
while  in  the  ice  (where  the  eggs  were  kept  for  17  days),  and  hatched 
the  day  they  were  taken  out  of  the  ice,  or  the  next  day,  the  rest 
remaining  red  for  several  days,  and  hatching  in  from  11  to  13  days 
after  removal  from  the  ice.  These  are  strong  examples  of  individual 
character  manifested  at  a  very  early  age."  This  would,  indeed,  be  so, 
but  it  is  remarkable  that  two  eggs  of  a  batch  should  exhilnt  such  a 
decided  difference  from  the  remainder. 

With  regard  to  high  temperatures,  ]\Ir.  Merriiield  reports  that  the 
eggs  of  these  two  species  seemed  in  all  cases  uninjured  by  a  tem])erature 
of  80°  to  90'^,  their  development  being  on  the  contrary  accelerated  by  it. 

14.  On  the  fertilization  of  the  ovum. — The  eggs  are  developed 
in  the  ovaries  of  the  parent,  whence  they  jmss  down  the  oviduct  into 
the  vagina.  In  connection  with  the  vagina  are  one  or  more  })ouches 
called  receptacnla  seminis,  in  which  the  semen  is  stored  after  coiiulation  ; 
from  these  it  passes  into  the  vagina  as  the  egg  passes  along  it  to  the 
ovipositor,  and  sperm-cells  enter  the  egg  through  the  micropylar  tubes, 
one  of  which  fertilizes  the  egg,  so  that  fertilization  of  the  egg  takes 
place  at  the  time  it  is  being  laid,  by  the  spermatozoa  passing  througli 
the  microp3'lar  pores  as  the  egg  leaves  the  opening  of  the  receptacnla 
seminis.  It  is  sometimes  noticed  that  the  latest-laid  eggs  of  a  batch 
are  infertile ;  this  is  probably  due  to  the  supply  of  sperm-cells  being 
exhausted  before  all  the  eggs  are  laid.  Mr.  Bacot,  however  {Ent. 
Record,  vol.  v.)  records  a  case  where  only  eight  eggs  of  E.  fetralunaria 
out  of  a  batch  of  146  proved  fertile,  and  these  were  laid  about  half- 
way through  the  batch.  In  some  insects  the  sperm  fluid  retains  its 
fertilising  properties  for  a  very  long  time.  For  exam])le,  the  queen 
bee  and  ant  pair  but  once,  yet  they  continue  to  lay  fertile  eggs  for 
years.  In  lepidoptera  the  sperm  can  only  last  from  autumn  until  the 
following  spring,  and  then  only  in  such  species  as  copulate  before 
hybernation.     Usually,  of  course,  it  lasts  a  much  shorter  time. 


£  contribution  to  tlie  l(noWledgc  of  tlie  Earlier  stages  in  tlie 
Life-piistopy  of  Hgrotis  agathina. 

By     W.     S.      RIDING,      M.D.,      F.  E.S. 

On  August  26th,  1893,  several  A.  agathina  were  taken  on  the 
heather  at  Gittisham  by  my  son.  One  ?  was  kept  for  eggs.  She 
began  scattering  these  on  the  stems  and  leaves  of  the  heather  on  the 
29th,  and  laid,  during  the  following  week,  close  upon  100.  By  Sept. 
15th  some,  previously  of  a  dirty-white  colour,  had  become  mottled 
with  purj)le  and,  in  a  few  days  more,  many  were  leaden-coloured  and 
the  young  larvae  were  ready  to  emerge.  A  few  broke  their  shells  on 
the  22nd.  The  eggs  are  nearly  s})herical,  slightly  flattened  at  the  base 
of  attachment  and  somewhat  less  so  at  the  apex,  about  -875  mm.  in 
diameter,  with  26  to  32  rather  prominent  ribs,  each  alternate  one 
reaching  nearer  to  the  apex  which  is  reticulated  round  the  micro})yle. 
There  are  faint  transverse  striations.  The  young  larvic  emerge  at  the 
side  of  the  apex  and  do  not  eat  the  shell.  The  body  is  bluish-leaden  in 
colour  and  scattered  all  over  with  a  few  short  hairs;  the  head  is  l»rown 


170  THE  entomologist's  reookd. 

and  very  large.  The  abdominal  legs  on  the  7th  and  8th  segments  are 
rudimentary.  The  larva  loops  and  assumes  a  sphinx-like  attitude  at 
rest :  it  falls  in  a  double  curve,  the  anterior  coil  larger  than,  and  in  a 
different  plane  from,  the  posterior. 

During  the  second  week  of  October  some  of  the  larvfB  moulted  and 
became  glaucous  or  pale  olive-green,  with  a  brown  head  which  was 
smaller  than  the  2nd  segment.  The  latter  bore  a  small  chitinous  plate. 
Each  division  now  became  swollen  in  the  centre,  making  the  insect 
a2)pear  moniliform.  Length  3  to  4  mm.  The  trapezoidal  tubercles 
were  distinguishable  as  faintly  marked  black  sjjots,  each  with  a  short 
hair.  The  abdominal  legs  on  the  8th  segment  had  become  much 
developed,  but  not  lit  for  use. 

By  the  end  of  October  and  early  in  November  many  had  passed 
through  a  second  moult ;  these  were  5  to  7  mm.  long,  and  in  shape 
moniliform  ;  their  ground  colour  was  dark  glaucous  to  olive-gi'cen,  with 
a  brownish  shade  in  some ;  the  under  surface  was  almost  as  dark  as  the 
upper.  The  plate  on  the  2nd  segment  had  disappeared,  but  the 
tubercles  were  well  marked  as  approximate  trapezoidals,  two  anterior 
and  two  posterior  to  the  spiracle.  The  latter  had  two  hairs,  the 

former  one.  On  segments  4  to  11,  the  lateral  tubercles  were  posterior 
and  inferior  to  the  spiracles,  and  had  each  two  hairs.  The  spiracles 
were  })laced  at  the  upper  part  of  the  white  spiracular  line,  which  was 
broad  and  very  conspicuous.  The  dorsal  and  sub-dorsal  lines  were  pale 
and  distinct,  especially  the  former.  The  head  was  pale  brown,  with 
darker  cheeks  and  paler  central  line.  The  true  legs  were  brown,  the 
abdominal  legs  pale  translucent  green  with  brown  extremities,  and 
furnished  with  many  hooks  ;  all  the  latter  were  now  fully  developed  and 
used  for  progression.  Many  rested  in  a  straight  line,  a  few  only  retaining 
the  sphinx  attitude.  They  held  on  to  the  food-plant  tenaciously,  lying 
prone  along  the  stem  and,  when  they  fell,  coiled  themselves  in  two 
different  planes  as  before.  They  fed  indifferently  on  Erica  vulgaris 
and  Erica  cinerea. 

Towards  the  third  and  last  weeks  of  November  a  large  proportion 
had  moulted  a  third  time  and  were  about  8  mm.  in  length.  The  larvte 
were  now  moniliforin  and  somewhat  wrinkled  transversely,  olive  or 
grass-green  in  colour,  and  darker  on  the  lateral  area  than  on  the  dorsal. 
The  dorsal  line  was  almost  pure  white,  the  sul)-dorsal  less  conspicuous 
and  tinged  faintly  with  yellowish-green.  The  spiracular  line  was  a 
little  less  consi^icuous  than  before,  with  a  pale  yellow  blotch  in  the 
centre  of  each  segmental  section  below  the  spiracles.  The  post- 
spiracular  tubercles  and  hairs  were  distinct — there  were  no  anterior 
ones.  The  trapezoidals  were  much  larger  on  the  2nd  segment  than 
elsewhere.  The  head  was  pale  brown  with  an  olive  tint  and  three  pale 
lines  (in  one  green)  with  about  twenty  short  hairs  scattered  over  it. 
The  larva,  on  falling,  coiled  in  a  loose  flat  ring,  with  its  head  directed  to 
the  abdominal  legs,  or  else  rested  more  or  less  straight. 

By  the  middle  of  December,  several  had  passed  through  their  -Ith 
moult,  and  were  1"1  to  1"5  cm.  in  length.  The  larva — moniliform — 
tapered  gradually  from  the  5th  segment  to  the  head.  The  ground  colour 
was  brown,  with  a  reddish  tinge,  most  marked  on  the  dorsum,  and  darkest 
just  above  and  below  tlie  spiracular  line ;  the  underside,  brownish  and 
paler.  The  dorsal  and  sub-dorsal  lines  were  white  and  very  distinct ; 
the  former  was  widest  opposite  the  centre  of  each  segment,  and  darkened 


LIFE-llISTOilY    08*    ACUiOTlS    AGf AtUlffA.  171 

at  each  division.  The  spiracular  line  was  white,  broad  and  very  con- 
spicuous, Avrinkled,  and  with  a  rusty-coloured  blotch  shading  off  to 
yellow  in  the  centre  of  each  segmental  division.  The  trapezoidals  were 
black,  distinct,  Avith  a  single  hair,  and  the  anterior  ones  were  placed  in  a 
small  paler  circle.  The  head  was  pale  brown,  translucent  with  a  darker 
line  on  each  side. 

By  the  middle  of  January,  many  had  moulted  a  5th  time,  and  the 
larva3  varied  in  length  between  2  and  2'5  cm.  (very  nearly  one  inch). 
At  this  stage  the  ground  colour  was  rich  velvety  reddish-brown, 
mottled  with  pale  spots  on  the  dorsum,  and  with  a  tinge  of  purplish 
or  olive-green  in  the  sub-dorsal  area.  Below  the  spiracular  line,  the 
colour  was  similar  to  that  of  the  dorsum,  becoming  underneath  paler 
and  more  translucent.  The  larva  was  moniliform,  tapering  from  the 
5th  segment  forwards  ;  the  12tli  segment  was  larger  than  the  13th.  On 
the  2nd  segment  the  three  dorsal  lines  were  white  and  distinctly  mai'ked, 
though  less  so  than  in  the  younger  larvai.  Elsewhere,  the  dorsal  line 
was  white,  very  narrow  and  inconspicuous,  and  clouded  with  black  at  the 
segmental  divisions,  so  as  to  appear  broken.  The  sub-dorsal  lines  were 
white,  much  more  distinct  than  the  dorsal,  and  broken  in  a  similar  way  ; 
they  were  edged  above,  on  each  segment  from  the  .3rd  to  the  12tli,  with 
a  thick,  black,  velvety  streak,  which,  with  the  pure  white  of  the  line, 
gave  a  characteristic  appearance.  The  spiracular  line  was  white,  broad, 
and  wrinkled,  with  a  rusty-coloured  blotch,  paler  towards  its  circum- 
ference, filling  up  a  large  portion  of  each  segmental  division.  The 
spiracles  were  oval,  edged  with  black,  and  were  placed  close  to  the  upper 
edge  of  the  spiracular  line  on  the  5th  to  the  1  Ith  segments.  The 
tubercles  on  the  dorsum  and  sides  were  black  in  pale  surroundings,  with 
hairs  very  inconspicuous  and  only  visible  under  a  magnifying  glass.  The 
head  was  small,  partly  retractile  into  the  2nd  segment,  of  a  pale  trans- 
lucent brown,  Avith  mottled  cheeks  and  two  dark  brown  curved  lines 
on  each  side  (convexity  inwards).  The  true  and  abdominal  legs  were  of 
a  pale  translucent  brown  ;  the  latter  had,  at  the  proximal  end  of  each, 
a  conspicuous  black  tubercle  with  a  single  hair.  The  larva3  now  rested 
prone,  close  against  the  stems  of  the  heather,  holding  on  by  both  true 
and  abdominal  legs.  Their  colour  admirably  mimicked  the  reds  and 
browns  of  the  dead  and  living  twigs  with  their  lights  and  shades,  and 
made  the  larvee  very  difficult  to  find.  In  confinement,  they  seemed  to 
keep  to  the  thickest  parts  of  the  food-plant  during  the  day,  in  ])reference 
to  other  places  of  concealment.  Some  of  the  smaller  larvai  fell  in  aring, 
but  relaxed  at  once.  My  larvas  preferred  Erica  cinerea  at  this  stage, 
and  devoured  the  leaves  regularly  downwards,  beginning  at  the  upper 
parts  of  each  twig,  whicli  they  completely  cleared. 

Early  in  February,  the  larvte,  though  apparently  healthy,  began  to 
die  off  rapidly,  so  at  last,  I  determined  to  keep  them  in  confinement  no 
longer,  and  placed  those  left  on  a  couple  of  small  patches  of  E.  vulgaris 
and  E.  cinerea,  which  I  had  planted  in  a  corner  of  the  garden.  I  have 
not  noticed  them  feeding  since,  but  having  been  awa}^  from  home  part 
of  the  time,  they  may  have  done  so,  or  some  may  have  jjupated  soon 
after  settling  amidst  their  new  environment.     Nous  verrons. 

During  the  winter,  the  larvai  were  kept  in  a  cool  conservatory, 
wlierc  the  temperature  was  rarely  below  40"".  I  reared  some  Noctua 
najlecla  from  the  egg  at  the  same  time,  and  was  very  much  struck  by 
the  great  similarity  of  the  young  larvai  to  those  of  A.  aijathina  up  to 


172  THE  entomologist's  recokd. 

the  2ik1  moult.  Tndeefl,  had  tliey  become  mixed,  it  -would  have  been 
almost  impossible  to  separate  them,  as  the  only  noticeable  differences 
were  matters  of  degree — those  of  shades  of  colour—  N.  negleda,  becoming 
sooner  grass-green,  and  the  white  of  the  sjiiracular  line  being  less 
intense  in  it.  Their  structure  and  habits  seemed  identical  up  to  the 
time  mentioned.  The  larva3  of  N.  negleda  died  off  in  a  similar  manner 
to  those  of  A.  agathina,  without  any  apparent  cause.  I  may  have  kept 
both  too  long  in  the  conservatory,  which,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year, 
often  became  excessively  hot  diiring  the  day,  and  the  shelter  I  gave 
them  may  have  been  insufficient. 


SCIENTIFIC   NOTES  &  OBSERVATIONS. 

Have  we  two  indigenous  species  of  Euohloe  ? — Mr.  Newnham 
bases  his  differentiation  of  his  suggested  new  sjiecies  E.  hesperidis, 
entirely  on  characters  presented  by  the  imago  ;  his  claim,  however,  can 
only  be  admitted  when  he  has  proved  by  breeding  exi)eriments  that  the 
form  to  which  he  gives  this  name  always  breeds  true  and  never  pro- 
duces the  ordinary  E.  eardamines.  Probably,  all  collectors  have  met 
with  small  specimens  of  this  latter  species.  Newman,  in  his  British 
Butterflies,  p.  158,  quotes  the  following  passage  from  I'he  Northuiuherland 
and  Durham  Catalogue,  by  Mr.  Wailes  : — "  The  usual  expansion  of  the 
wings  is  one  inch  and  eight  lines  to  one  inch  and  eleven  lines,  but  in 
the  year  1832  none  exceeded  one  inch  and  three  lines  ;  and  so  marked 
was  the  difference  all  over  the  country,  that  many  were  inclined  to 
consider  the  specimens  as  those  of  a  distinct  species.  The  following 
season  there  was  no  departure  from  the  normal  size."  Newman  then 
adds:  -"  In  Gloucestershire  this  variation  in  size  has  been  noticed  by 
Mr.  V.  K.  Perkins  both  in  male  and  female."  Mr.  C.  G.  Barrett 
{E.M.M.,  vol.  XXV.,  p.  81),  thus  writes: — "  When  living  at  Haslemere, 
in  Surrey,  I  used  every  year  to  meet  with  perfect  dwarf  specimens — 
about  one-half  the  normal  size—  in  both  sexes,  and  the  males  of  this 
variety  were  invariably  the  earliest  sjiecimens  seen,  the  normal  males 
appearing  two  or  three  days  later.  fSimilar  specimens  occurred  casually 
in  Pembrokeshire,  but  were  not  noticed  to  be  earlier  than  the  rest.  In 
a  marshy  valley  near  Pembroke,  in  one  season,  I  found  several  males  of 
ordinary  size,  in  which  the  black  apical  crescent  was  more  or  less 
suffused  inwards,  and  in  one  specimen  so  much  so,  that  the  suffusion 
affected  one-third  of  the  orange  blotch,  being  blackest  on  the  nervures. 
This  form  was  searched  for  in  succeeding  years  without  success."  Mr. 
T.  D.  A.  Cockerell  in  an  article  on  "  The  Variation  of  Insects  "  (Entovi., 
vol.  xxii.,  J).  176),  calls  this  small  form  EucMoiJ  eardamines  var.  minor. 
With  regard  to  the  position  of  the  discoidal  spot  at  the  juncture  of  the 
orange  and  white  spaces,  it  would  be  interesting  if  every  reader  of  this 
magazine  would  examine  his  series  of  normal-sized  E.  eardamines,  and 
let  us  know  whether  there  is  any  tendency  to  vary,  as  regards  the 
position  of  this  spot.  The  value  of  the  wing-scales  in  determining 
specific  difference  is  at  present  very  indeterminate,  although  it  would 
not  seem  unreasonable  to  regard  constant  and  Avell-niarked  differences 
in  their  shape,  as  a  character  of  consideralile  importance.  If,  as  has 
generally  been  sujjposed  up  to  the  present  time,  the  small  specimens  of 
Euchloc  are   in  reality  a  race  of  eardamines,  which  has  probably  been 


SCIENTIFIC    NOTES    AND    OBSKRVATIONS. 


173 


produced  by  defective  nutrition,  it  may  be  exjiected  tliat  some 
difference  will  be  manifest  in  the  scaling.  So  far,  Mr.  Newnham  has 
only  told  us  in  the  most  general  terms  tliat  "  viewed  under  the 
microscope,  the  wing-scales  appear  very  different  from  those  of  E. 
cardamines.'''  This  one  would  expect  on  [)hysiological  grounds,  even  if 
the  small  form  consists  of  ill-fed  specimens  of  canlniainea,  for  it  is  very 
clear  that  the  scales,  being  structural  and  built  up  from  the  material  in 
the  pupa,  must  suffer  in  common  with  the  other  organs  of  the  imago. 
Unless,  therefore,  there  is  a  strongly  marked  and  definite  difference 
between  the  scales  of  the  two  forms,  a  general  difference  is  not  likely 
to  be  of  much  value.  Mr,  Newnham  does  not  mention  the  females, 
but,  of  course,  if  this  be  a  true  species,  they  occur  with  the  males. 
After  all,  as  I  have  already  observed,  breeding  is  the  one  test  to  which 
now-a-days  every  suggested  new  species  must  be  subjected,  and  it  is 
greatly  to  be  hoped  that  Mr.  Newnham  has  succeeded  in  getting  some 
eggs,  or  will  succeed  in  getting  some  larvae,  and  by  the  results  of  their 
breeding  confirm,  or  disprove,  his  present  opinion. — F.  J.  Buckell. 
June,  1894 

I  have  carefully  looked  through  my  series  of  E.  cardamines,  and  am 
unable  to  differentiate  the  specimens  in  the  way  suggested  by  Mr, 
Newnham.  In  size,  the  specimens  vary  imperceptibly  from  the  smallest 
to  the  largest,  except  in  the  case  of  one  female  which  is  (piite  a  monster, 
compared  with  any  other  cardamines  1  have  ever  seen. 

The  following  table  will  illustrate  the  connection  between  the  "  Size 
of  specimen,"  the  "  Position  of  the  central  black  spot,"  and  "  The  size 
of  orange  blotch  "  in  the  males  at  present  in  my  cabinet.  I  liave  a 
much  larger  number  which  I  must  work  out  later  on : — 


Locality, 

and  Year  of 

Capture. 

Size  of 
Specimen. 

Size  of  Central 
Black  Spot. 

Position  of 

Central 
Black  Spot. 

Size  of 
Orange  Blotch. 

Cuxton,  4.vi.'8S 

Large 

Large 

Just  within  Orange 
Blotch 



Large 

Chattenden,  v. '88 

Small 

Small 
Moderate 

Almost  in  Border 

Small,  and  very 

Yellow 
Small,  and  very 

Y'ellow 

•• 

Large 

Very  Small,  and 
Linear 

Well  in  Orange 
Blotch 

Large 

vi.'Dl 

Large 

Very  Small 

Well  in  Orange 
Blotch 

Large 

11                                    !> 

Small 

Large 

Not  far  in 

Intermediate 

I>                                    1. 

Small 

Large 

,, 

Intermediate 

II                                    'I 

Intermediate 

Large 

Well  in 

Intermediate 

2G.v.'90 

,, 

Large 

On  Margin 

Small 

v.'88 

Small 
Small 

Small 
Large 

" 

.1 

Intermediate 

Moderate 

Just  within 

Large 
Intermediate 

M                                                M 

Large 

Large 

On  Margin 

Intermediate 

West  Ireland,  '80 

Very  Small 

Tiny 

Well  in  Blotch 

Large  (for  Size  of 
Specimens) 

„ 

Very  Small 

Tiny 

Well  in  Blotch 

Large  (for  Size  of 
Specimens) 

Chattenden, 

Small 

Large 

Almost  on  Margin 

Small 

28.v.'92 

II                 11 

Small 

Intermediate 

Almost  on  Margin 

,, 

11                 11 

Large 

Large 

„ 

II                 11 

Large 

Large 

Well  within 

Large 

6.vi.'92 

Large 

Large 

,, 

Large 

v.'88 

Large 

Very  Large 

Just  in 

Large 

N.B.— By  comparing  Colunms  4  and  5.  it  will  be  seen  that  the  position  of  the  black  spot  with 
regard  to  the  orange  blotch,  is  due  almost  directly  to  the  size  of  the  latter,  compared  with  the 
size  of  the  insect. 


174 


THE    ENTOJIOLOGIST  S   RECORD, 


There  are,  I  find,  two  rather  distinct  forms  of  the  females,  one  with 
the  apical  margin  black,  the  other  with  it  pale  grey,  although  some  of 
the  specimens  which  might  be  classed  as  pale,  are  darker  than  the 
others.  I  had  strong  hopes  that  these  would  work  out  according  to 
size  and  give  me  two  distinct  sections,  but  I  find  there  is  no  tendency 
in  that  direction. 

The  following  table  will  illustrate  roughly  the  variation  in  size,  &c., 
of  the  females  in  my  cabinet  at  the  present  time : — 


Locality,  and  Year  of 
Capture. 

Size  of  Specimen. 

Size  of  Central 
Black   Spot. 

Apical  Tip. 

Chattenden,       v.88 

Small 

Large 

Intermediate 

vi.91 

Small 
Small 

Large 

•; 

n                             t) 

Large 

,, 

Dark 

2.vi.88 

Small 

Small 

Pale 

II                   11 

Very  Large  indeed 

Large 

Dark 

28.V.92 

Very  Small 

Large 

Pale 

6.vi.92 

Large 

Large 

Intermediate 

v.88 

Intermediate 

Small 

Pale 

v.88 

Intermediate 

Small 

Pale 

v.88 

Intermediate 

Intermediate 

Pale 

18.vi.90 

Large 

Large 

Dark 

9.V.88 

Small 

Large 

Pale 

9.V.88 

Intermediate 

Large 

Pale 

9.V.88 

Large 

Large 

Pale 

Willington  (bred)  17.V.88 

Large 

Large 

Pale 

Chattenden,  19.vi.90 

Intermediate 

Large 

Dark 

vi.92 

Large 

Large 

Dark 

V.88 

Large 

Large 

Dark 

I  find,  too,  on  examination  of  the  male  sj^ecimens,  that  the  orange 
blotch  varies  indefinitely ;  the  least  well-dcvclojied  blotches  extending 
only  to  the  discoidal  cell,  and  falling  considerably  short  of  the  anal  angle 
of  the  fore-wings.  This,  however,  is  followed  by  slow  and  almost  im- 
perceptible increase  in  various  specimens,  until  the  blotch  is  found 
extending  very  considerably  beyond  the  external  edge  of  the  discoidal 
cell,  and  continued  downward  to  and  filling  up  the  anal  angle,  so  that 
the  supposed  diiferentiation  between  British  and  Continental  specimens 
(ante,  p.  147),  scarcely  holds  good.  It  would  appear  from  Mr.  Weir's 
remarks  that  these  variations  do  not  occur  in  some  localities,  but  they 
appear  to  vary  between  their  extreme  limits  in  many  others. — J.  W. 
TuTT.     June  2Sth,  1894. 

NoTKS    ON   THE    BREEDING   OF   CyCLOPIDES    PALiEMON,    AcRONYCTA    PSI 

AND  Pacuetka  LEUcoPHiEA. — I  liavc  bred  this  sj^ring  three  specimens  of 
Lepidoptera  that  have  been  of  interest  to  me.  (1).  I  bred  a  specimen 
of  Cyclopides  palaemon  from  a  larva  kindly  sent  me  last  autumn  by  the 
Eev.  C.  R.  N.  Burrows.  For  pupation,  the  larva  suspended  itself  exactly 
like  a  Fapilio,  except  that  the  girth  was  loose,  instead  of  being  fixed  by 
sinking  into  the  chitin  of  the  dorsum.  The  larva  jDOssesses  an  "  anal 
comb,"  essentially,  no  doubt,  the  same  appendage  as  that  described  by 
Hofmann  (Ent.  Annual,  1873,  p.  61)  as  existing  in  certain  Sciaph'Ia 
larvae.  I  have  seen  it  in  other  Skijjpers  and  also  in  Colias.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  know  in  what  other  Kuopalocera  it  occurs.  I  find  a 
figure  of  it  in  a  species  of  Colias  in  Scudder  (Butterflies  of  New  Enyland, 

&c.)  but  cannot  discover  any  reference  to  it  in  the  text. 2.  I 

have  bred  a  specimen  of  Aeronycta  (Cuspidia)  jjsi  that  had  been  two 
years  in  pupa,  i.e.  it  was  a  larva  in  1892  and  emerged  in  May,  1894. 
Though  I  have  reared  hundreds  both  of  this  species  and  of  C.  tridens, 


VARIATION.  175 

and  have  several  times  had  individuals  that  tried  to  go  over  into  a 
second  year,  this  is  the  first  time  that  one  has  done  so  successfully. 
Such  cases  have  been  recorded,  but  the  occurrence  is  a  rare  one,  as  is 
shown  by  its  having  only  now  presented  itself  in  ray  experience  after 
long-continued  breeding  of  the  species.  In  this  particular,  C.  })si  and 
C.  tridens  contrast  markedly  with  C.  leporina,  wliich  rather  prefers  to  go 
over  into  a  second  j^ear,  and  often  takes  a  third  or  a  fourth  year  in  jDupa. 

3.  A  number  of  eggs  of  Pachetra  leucophaea  were  sent  to  me 

from  Kent  last  spring  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Jeffreys,  and  in  the  summer 
I  had  twenty-four  larvcB,  of  Avhich  I  sent  away  sixteen  and  kept  eight. 
These  I  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  those  which  I  had  in  the  year 
1891,  but  for  various  reasons  they  did  not  receive  so  much  attention 
as  those ;  as  a  consequence,  instead  of  obtaining  three  moths  from  five 
larvaj,  or  the  equally  good  results  achieved  in  the  following  year  by 
Mrs.  Hutchinson,  I  only  succeeded  in  rearing  one  moth,  which  is  now 
in  the  collection  of  my  friend,  Mr.  E.  R.  Bankes.  So  far  as  I  can  learn, 
however,  this  is  the  only  motli  that  has  been  bred  from  an  unusual 
number  of  eggs  distributed  last  spring. — T.  A.  Chai'MAN,  Firbank, 
Hereford.     June,  1894. 


WARIATION. 

Advancing  backward  :  A  note  on  melanism  in  manufacturing 
DISTRICTS. — A  marvellous  case  of  advancing  backwards  occurs  in  a 
paragraph  written  in  an  unsigned  criticism  in  The  British  Nuturalist, 
p.  152.  It  reads: — "With  regard  to  the  alleged  increase  of  darker 
insects  in  our  manufacturing  districts,  we  take  leave  to  doubt  the  fact. 
When  the  fact  has  been  demonstrated  we  shall  accept  the  theory 
without  hesitation ;  we  feel  that  it  ought  to  be  so,  but  think  it  is  not." 
Either  the  critic  is  entirely  ignorant  of  Entomology,  or  he  has  studied 
the  subject  such  a  short  time  that  he  has  not  yet  informed  himself  of 

what  is  known  about  it,  or But  we  must  forbear !       The  British 

Naturalist  is  published  at  Warrington.  Some  seventeen  years  ago 
Mr.  N.  Cooke  wrote: — "The  most  interesting  case  of  melanism  that 
has  come  under  my  observation — and  my  friend,  Mr.  Greening  of 
Warrington,  can  say  if  I  exaggerate  the  facts — is  the  total  change  in 
the  colour  of  Tephrosia  hiundularia  in  Delamere  Forest.  Some  thirty 
years  since,  when  he  and  1  visited  Petty  Pool  Wood,  this  species  was 
very  abundant,  but  all  were  of  a  creamy-white  ground  colour ;  dark 
varieties  were  so  scarce  that  they  were  considered  a  great  prize.  Now 
it  is  the  reverse,  all  are  dark  smoky-brown — approaching  black  ;  a  light 
variety  is  very  rare.  The  same  change,  and  nearly  to  the  same  extent 
as  regards  numbers,  has  come  over  Ainphidasys  hettdaria.  Throughout 
the  district  from  Petty  Pool,  including  Warrington,  to  Manchester,  the 
black  form  is  now  usually  found.  I  am  inclined  to  suspect  that  climate 
and  manufactures  have  done  more  to  bring  about  tliis  change  than 
anything  else.  During  the  past  thirty  years  what  large  towns  have 
sprung  up  to  the  west  of  this  district !  Runcorn,  Widnes,  St.  Helen's, 
Earlstown,  Wigan,  etc.,  all  pouring  forth  from  their  tall  chimneys 
chemical  fumes  and  coal  smoke,  which  emanations  are  carried  over  our 
collecting  grounds  by  every  westerly  wind."       A  number  of  similar 


X76  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    RECORD. 

observations,  chiefly  from  Lancashire,  are  (juoteil  in  Melanism  and 
Melanochroism  in  Britifih  Lepidnptera.  A  new  race  of  entomologists 
appears  to  have  sprang  up  in  Lancashii-e,  wlio  commence  tlieir  studies  by 
doubtiu"'  the  accuracy  of  tlie  records  made  by  their  direct  predecessors 
less  than  twenty  years  ago.  We  can  understand  a  difference  of  oi)inion 
as  to  the  causes  which  have  produced  the  change  so  often  described,  but 
to  question  the  facts  is  beyond  our  comprehension.  The  writer  in  our 
contemporary  is  probably  a  genuine  Rip  Van  Winkle.  During  the  last 
ten  years  we  have  been  attempting  to  unravel  why  these  things  are  so ; 
now  we  are  told  that  the  things  do  not  exist,  but  when  we  have  proved 
"  the  fact,  then  "  the  writer  in  question  "  will  accept  the  theory  without 
hesitation." 


gURRENT    NOTES. 

It  is  with  extreme  regi-et  that  we  record  the  death  at  the  early  age 
of  46,  of  Prof.  G.  J.  Romanes.  His  was  one  of  those  master  minds, 
which  can  take  the  facts  and  observations  recorded  by  the  humbler 
follower  of  science,  and  weave  them  into  a  philosophical  theory  which 
correlates  and  expounds  them.  Science  has  suffered  a  very  severe  loss 
by  his  untimely  but  not  wholly  unexpected  death. 

In  July,  1890,  a  paper  entitled  "Notes  on  the  Synonymy  of 
Haworth's  plumes,"  was  published  In  this  magazine  (Vol.  I.,  pp.  1)0-95J 
which  brought  a  very  flattering  letter  from  Mr.  Stainton,  who  expressed 
himself  well-satisfied  with  tlie  conclusions  there  enunciated.  One  of 
the  subjects  discussed  was  Haworth's  migadactyla,  and  the  conclusion 
there  arrived  at  was  that  migadadyla,  Haw.  =  spilodactyla,  Curt.  After 
four  years  Mr.  C.  W.  Dale  discovers  that  the  sale  of  Haworth's  insects 
took  place  in  1833  and  that,  according  to  a  sale  catalogue  in  his 
possession,  his  father  bought  the  lot  of  "plumes"  "containing  Haworth's 
miqadactyliis  "  {sic).  It  is  well-known  that  Wood  erroneoush'  considered 
our  herirami  to  be  Haworth's  migadactyJa,  whilst  it  is  equally  well 
known  that  Haworth's  paUidadyla  =  our  hertrami.  Mr.  Dale  appears 
to  have  known  the  fact  relating  to  Wood,  and  immediately  inferred 
that  Haworth's  usage  was  the  same.  He  then  appears  to  have  referred 
to  such  of  Haworth's  "  plumes  "  as  are  still  in  his  collection,  finds  that 
he  does  not  possess  among  them  spilodactyla,  and  at  once  jumps  to  the 
conclusion  that  Haworth  did  not  know  a  species  which  he  describes 
and  locates,  perfectly  unmindful  that  (1)  Haworth's  migadactyla  type 
may  not  have  been  in  the  sale  at  all ;  (2)  That  his  father  (even  if  he 
boiu'-ht  all  the  "  plumes  ")  had  the  specimens  many  years  before  his  son 
C.  W.  was  born,  and  during  the  time  that  he  was  in  nuhibus  and  in  statu 
pupillaris  ;  (3)  That  his  father  may  have  broken,  shifted  labels,  given 
away,  &c.  many  specimens  before  Mr.  Dale  knew  anything  of  entomology, 
and  before  the  collection  came  into  his  possession.  Practically, 
Mr.  Dale  begins  by  saying  that  his  father  bought  the  specimen  (or 
specimens),  then  that  he  does  not  possess  any  specimen  agreeing  with 
Haworth's  description  of  it  and  concludes,  therefore,  that  Haworth 
must  have  described  a  worn  ochrodactyla  as  this  species,  although  it  is 
known  that  Haworth's  ochrodactyla  were  called  palUdactyla,  and  then,  to 
clinch  the  matter,  becomes  scientifically  heroic,  declares  that  he  "  has, 
at  least,  one  advantage  over  Mr.  Tutt  in  having  had  an  entomological 


CURRENT    NOTES.  177 

father,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  Ha  worth,  Curtis,  Leach  and 
other  entomologists  of  former  years  "  and,  in  spite  of  all  the  recent 
information  on  the  subject,  further  wi-ites : — "  When  moths  have  been 
on  the  wing  for  some  time,  they  fade  and  become  paler  than  fresh 
specimens  ;  hence,  in  olden  times,  they  were  often  described  as  distinct 
species.'"  Now  we  would  ask  Mr.  Dale  a  question.  If  those  "  entomo- 
logists of  former  years  "  whom  his  father  knew,  "  often  described  in 
olden  times  "  faded  moths  that  had  "  become  paler  than  fresh  specimens 
as  distinct  species,"  what  entomological  "  advantage  "  has  the  present 
Mr.  Dale  over  Mr.  Tutt,  because  "  his  father  was  well  acquainted  "  with 
a  number  of  men  who  did  such  ridiculously  stujnd  things  ?  Not  that 
we  consider  that  these  authors  did  the  stupid  things  Avhich  Mr.  Dale  lays 
at  the  door  of  his  father's  friends,  any  more  than  we  consider  that  Mr. 
Dale  knows  anything  about  the  subject  Avhich  he  discusses  (?)  so  glibly. 
This  is  nearly  as  good  as  the  Dale  theory  of  the  formation  of  varieties 
by  moonlight  and  caudle-light !  We  have  heard  that  editors  keep  a 
waste-paper  basket ! !  And  this,  my  masters,  is  the  science  of  one  of 
our  would-be  teachers  I 

We  have  before  called  attention  to  the  strange  freaks  of  certain 
people  of  Wicken,  who  anxiously  look  out  for  the  arrival  of  the  inno- 
cent entomologist,  visiting  the  weird  Fens  for  the  first  time.  The 
following  is  a  verbatim  copy  of  some  writing  on  a  slip  of  tea  (?)  paper 
addressed  to : — 

"  Mess.  Hodges  &  Another 
Maids  Head 
Inn 

Wicken. 
Messrs.  Hodge  &  another 

Gentmu 

^Ijt  €\jtstmts 

Public  Notice  any  person  or  persons  found 
trespassing  on  Lands  of  Messrs  I.  A  &  R  Aspland 
and  N  Fuller  in  Wicken  Fen  Avell  be  prosecuted 

Tickets  to  Entomologists  are  issued  for  going  on  the  above  Lands  the 
charge  per  day  being  6d  each  person,  they  can  be  obtained  at  the  Post 
Office  Wicken.  Mr.  I  A  Aspland  has  not  given  permission  to  any 
one  to  go  in  the  Fen  " 

Now  a  "  Public  Notice  "  on  a  slip  of  tea-paper,  addressed  to  "  Mess. 
Hodges  and  another  "  is  good  I  Considering  that  the  "  droves  "  in  the 
Fen  are  public  property,  and  that  these  are  the  best  collecting  grounds  ; 
that  Mr.  Isaac  Aspland,  the  chief  owner,  had  previously  given  "  Mess. 
Hodges  &  another  "  permission  to  go  on  his  part  of  the  ground ;  and 
that  one  of  our  l)est-known  lepidopterists,  Mr.  Moberly,  recently  bouglit 
a  piece  of  the  Fen  to  which  they  had  access  ;  we  do  not  know  what 
term  is  strictly  applicaljle  to  the  writer  of  the  above  "  Public  Notice  1  " 
nor  to  the  person  who  affixed  to  such  a  "  Notice  "  the  official  staiu])  of 
the  Post  Office  of  the  district ! 

Mr.  H.  Swale,  M.B.,  records  (E.M.M.)  that  he  found  whilst  examin- 
ing a  bakehouse  at  Tavistock,  a  large  nuuibcr  of  an  earwig  [Au/.'jol<iliis 


178  THE  entomologist's  record. 

annuh'pes),  liitlierto  unrecorded  for  Britain.  Tt  is  easily  distinguished 
from  its  allies  "  by  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  antennal  joints  being 
white,  the  rest  brown,  and  by  the  dark  ring  round  the  femora  of  the 
otherwise  testaceous  legs." 

A  hard-working  entomologist  is  most  likely  to  make  his  mark,  by 
researches  among  the  Diptera.  Mr.  J.  H.  Verrall  is  now  jMiblishing  in 
the  E.M.M.,  "  A  second  hundred  of  new  British  species  of  Diptera." 
Mr.  Y.  V.  Theobald,  M.A.,  of  Cambridge,  has  recently  pul)lished  the 
first  volume  of  An  Illustrated  Account  of  British  Flies  {Diptera). 

Mr.  J.  W.  Douglas  adds  Aleurodes  avellanae  to  the  British  list,  from 
specimens  captured  on  nut  bushes  at  Glanville's  Wootton,  Ijy  Mr.  C.  W. 
Dale,  whilst  Mr.  K.  H.  Meade  describes  two  new  Tachinids  under  the 
names  of  Degeeria  dalii  and  Nemoraea  quadraticornis. 

Mr.  E.  H.  Taylor  of  Fulham,  recorded  (^.ilf.ilf.,  p.  Ill)  the  capture 
of  a  specimen  of  the  form  of  Xanthia  oceUaris,  known  as  var.  lineago, 
at  Wimbledon,  on  sugar.  Prof.  Meldola  now  (I.e.,  p.  161)  mentions 
the  capture  of  two  specimens  last  autumn,  at  Twickenham,  one  by  Mr. 
Boscher,  the  other  by  himself,  in  the  garden  of  the  former  gentleman. 
Professor  Meldola's  specimen  (teste  Mr.  C  G.  Barrett)  is  also  var. 
lineago.  The  species  is  much  like  A',  gilcago,  but  can  readily  be  told  by 
the  more  pointed  aj^ex  of  the  fore-wings.  Will  captors  of  X.  gilcago 
please  inspect  their  captures  carefully  ? 

We  have  to  thank  the  Lancashire  and  Cheshii'e  Entomological 
Society  for  a  copy  of  their  Report.  It  contains  nothing  of  scientific 
value,  except  Mr.  W.  E.  Sharp's  address,  but  this  is  a  most  valuable 
addition  to  our  scientific  literature,  being  a  thoroughly  intelligent  ex- 
position of  entomology  as  a  science.  Slowly,  but  surely,  the  scientific 
entomologist  is  becoming  a  force  in  the  wider  science  of  biology.  'J'his 
naturally  reacts  on  us,  and  we  are  all  slowly  learning  that  naming 
insects,  although  very  necessary,  is  hardly  science  in  itself,  and  that  the 
entomologists  of  to-day  must  read  the  essays  of  such  men  as  Professor 
Weissmann  and  Mr.  Herbert  Spencer,  if  they  are  to  understand  their 
own  branch  of  biology  on  its  scientific  side,  and  that  the  Lamarckian 
and  Weissmannian  principles  of  heredity  must  be  understood  by  them, 
if  they  are  to  do  their  work  scientifically. 

In  the  Ent.  3Io.  Mag.,  pp.  98-99,  the  Rev.  A.  E.  Eaton  writes  that 
in  The  Ziban,  Algeria,  towards  the  end  of  Mai'ch,  Pyrameis  cardui  (\v\niAi 
hitherto  had  not  been  commoner  in  the  winter  than  Tortoise-  shells  in 
England  are  apt  to  be  in  spring)  became  vei*y  abundant ;  some  of  them 
were  bred  in  the  district,  and  otliers  were  supposed  to  have  migrated 
from  southern  districts.  So  abundant  were  the}',  that  Maha  parciflora, 
M.  sylvestris,  Filagos  parthulata,  and  Plantago  ovata,  were  utilised  for 
egg-laying.  He  further  reports  that  during  the  week  ending  April  11th, 
1894,  their  numbers  had  diminished,  probably  from  dispersion  or  emi- 
gTation.  A  later  record  by  the  same  gentleman,  gives  them  as  still 
abundant,  and  probably  Avaiting  for  a  favourable  chance  to  be  off  to 
pastures  new.  A  day  or  two  before  and  after  June  1 7th,  large  numbers 
of  this  s^jccies  suddenly  appeared  in  this  country,  in  districts  where  it  was 
totally  absent  last  summer  and  autunni,  and  during  the  present  spring 
until  the  date  named.  The  absence  of  colour  and  their  ragged  con- 
dition, i^oints  to  their  being  by  no  means  re(!ently  emerged,  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  they  were  immigrants.  One  feels  puzzled  though 
to  explain  why  it  is  that  a  certain  individual,  after   having  probably 


CURRENT    NOTES.  179 

travelled  from  the  Mediterranean  sliores  to  Kent,  takes  up  a  given 
position  on  the  roadside,  and  continues  on  flight  in  a  space  of  some  6U 
yards  until  it  has  laid  its  eggs,  when  deatli  ensues,  but  so  it  apjiears  to 
be.  Plusia  (jamiita,  in  very  poor  condition,  pallid,  and  of  a  very  different 
type  to  our  bred  British  specimens  of  the  autumn,  has  also  abounded 
since  the  commencement  of  June. 

In  our  March  number  (p.  72)  we  called  attention  to  a  note  by  Dr. 
Knaggs,   ridiculing   the    notion    that   sex    might    be    in    some   degree 
controlled   by  food.     Considering  the   amount  of  time   that  is  being 
expended  on  the  subjects  of  "  Heredity  "  and  "  Germ  cells,"  it  seems 
to  us  rather  ridiculous  that  a  man  should  go  out  of  his  way  in  argument 
to  bring  forward  an  ex23eriment  which  had  no  very  direct  bearing  on 
the  question  at  issue,  and  which  was  shown  at  the  time  by  Professor 
Kiley  to  be  based  on  an  entirely  fortuitous  coincidence,  and  not  on 
results   capable   of    generalisation.      Messrs.    Geddes   and   Thompson 
unfortunately  quote  this  experiment,  and  hence  have  given  widespread 
distribution  to  an  erroneous  deduction.     It  is  well  known  now,  thanks 
to    the    researches    of   Professor    Poidton    and    others,   what  was    not 
generally  known  at  the  time  of  Mrs.  Treat's  experiments,  that  the  sex 
of  an  insect  is  determined  at  a  comparatively  early  stage  of  the  larva 
and,  probably,  even  as  soon  as  fertilisation  is  effected.     But  to  throw 
cold  water  on  experiment,  and  to  suppose  that  there  is  no  connection 
between  nutrition  and  sex,  when  experiments  by  noted  biologists  tend 
to  prove  the   contrary,  only  illustrates   the  fact  that  the  science  of 
entomology  is  in  some  entomologists'  minds  a  thing  ajiart  from  the 
general  subject  of  biology.      A  note  by  Dr.  Knaggs  in   the   current 
number  of  the  E.  M.  M.  is,  therefore,  interesting.     He  states  in  one 
place — what  is  now  well-known — that  larvje  have  sex,  and  speaks  of 
"  female  larva3  when  their  ovaries  are  generally  supposed  to  be  furnished 
with  eggs,"  and  yet  takes  a  page  to  ask  innocent  experimenters  to  waste 
their  time  on  larvje  of  Orgyia  antiqna,  to  prove  that  such  sexed  larvee 
can  have  their  sex  changed  by  nutrition.     No  doubt  this  is  interesting, 
but  the  young  experimenter  will  probably  assert  that  this  is  only  one 
person's  work.     What  we  had  to  complain  of  before  was  the  ridicule 
thrown  on  the  general  principle,  but  things  are  now  changed.     The 
doctor  now  writes : — "  The  effect  of  nutrition,  or  deficient  nutrition  to 
shape  the  future  sex  of  the  hermaphrodite  or  sex-less  embryo  one  can 
comjirehend ;  the  rearing  of  males,  and  the  failure  to  rear  females  by 
semi-starvation,  is  by  no  means  difficult  to  explain."     This  is  all  we  ask 
for.     So  much  scientific  men  have  proved  or  attempted  to  prove  and  so 
much  they  present  for  acceptation,  and  if  Dr.  Knaggs  had  gone  back  to 
this  point  in  his  previous  arguments,  we  should  not  have  found  ourselves 
compelled  to  disagree  with  him.     Having  granted  so  much,  would  it 
not  be  better  for  Dr.  Knaggs  himself  to  experiment  on  the  embryonic 
cell  or  ovum  when  in  a  neutral  state  and  give  his  results,  rather  than 
to  set  our  young  recruits,  who  know  no  better,  to  rear  "  hundreds  "  of 
Orgyia  antiqna  larvas  when  "  their  ovaries  are  generally  supposed  to  be 
furnished  with  eggs,"  in  order  to  get  male  moths  from  female  larvjB  ? 
The  following  information  in  a  foot-note  is  quite  news  to  xxs  and  we 
thank  the  Doctor  heartily  for  it : — "  Malpighi  (de  Bomhyce,  29)  dis- 
covered eggs  in  the   silkworm   larva,  and   Reaumur  {Mem.  In.,  359) 
discovered  eggs  in  the  larva  of  the  Gipsy  moth." 


180  THE  entomologist's  record. 

OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

By    albert    J.    HODGES. 

Tempted  by  the  few  warm  days  and  nights  that  set  in  with  the 
beginning  of  June,  and  anxious  to  inaugurate  a  season  which,  as  far  as 
I  was  concerned,  had  not  yet  commenced,  I  made  hasty  arrangements 
for  a  short  campaign  in  Fenland  and,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Battley,  left 
Liverpool  Street  on  June  6th  for  Soham,  via  Ely.  Our  "  Eddystone," 
which  has  found  previous  mention  in  these  pages,  was,  through  the 
kindness  of  a  friend,  carefully  packed  and  consigned  from  Freshwater 
to  Soham ;  a  somewhat  circuitous  journey  but  one  which  was  safely 
accomplished,  and  the  first  object  that  met  our  view  upon  changing 
from  the  main  line  at  Ely  was  the  familiar  post  and  iron  framework, 
invariably  arousing  the  curiosity  of  porters  and  railway  officials  to  the 
highest  pitch,  the  latest  sapient  suggestion  being  as  to  its  problematic 
uses  in  "  land-surveying." 

As  is  usual  when  starting  on  specially  hazardous  or  early  season 
trips,  the  weather  turned  cold  and  the  wind  "  Xorthered  "  on  the  very 
morning  of  our  departure,  justifying  the  enthusiasm — chilling  query  of 
a  brother  of  the  net,  resident  in  Ely,  as  to  what  we  had  come  for, 
together  with  dubious  suggestions  as  to  the  results  of  our  trip.  These 
prognostications  found  conlirmation  from  the  lips  of  the  local  worthies. 
We  heard  with  dismay  that  "  one  gentleman  had  been  down,  but  he 
only  stoj^ped  one  night,"  and  the  gloom  culminated  with  the  assurance 
that  we  were  in  for  a  regular  "  North-easter."  However,  it  was  too 
late  to  turn  back,  and  we  hoped  for  the  best  and  watched,  with  ghastly 
interest,  the  clouds  that  persistently  gathered  during  the  day  to  dissolve 
at  dusk  "  like  the  baseless  fabric  of  a  vision."  From  laborious  and 
persevering  observations  of  the  small  amount  of  smoke  from  cottage 
chimneys,  that  had  to  do  duty  in  our  case  for  weather-vanes,  we  felt 
almost  qualified  to  offer  our  services  to  the  Meteorological  Department 
as  prophets,  but"  fearing  our  jeremiads  might  arouse  the  ire  of  the 
agricultural  as  Avell  as  the  entomological  sections  of  the  public,  we 
reserved  our  opinion. 

The  first  night  was  certainly  a  bad  beginning,  and  calculated  to 
crush  any  but  the  elastic  spirits  of  the  Hon.  Sec.  of  the  City  of  London 
Entomological  Society,  but  strong  in  anticipation,  we  spent  the  follow- 
ing day  in  perfecting  our  arrangements  for  the  following  night,  which 
proved  much  more  satisfactory,  whilst  during  our  subsequent  stay  we 
had  the  usual  very  occasional  suitable  evening,  which  seems  the  maxi- 
mum average  allotted  to  the  persevering  Fen-worker.  With  our  ears 
deaf  to  the  charms  of  the  sixpenny  tickets  issued  by  the  "  land-owners  " 
of  the  Fen  (or  rather  by  a  "  minority  of  two  "  of  them),  and  strong  in 
the  courteous  permission  of  Mr.  Isaac  Aspland  (which  I  here  have 
great  pleasure  in  acknowledging,  as  well  as  that  of  a  well-known 
lepidopterist,  who  has  recently  acquired  a  freehold  j^lot  in  the  heart  of 
the  Fen),  and  safe  in  the  knowledge  of  the  mysteries  of  "  rights  of 
way,  &c."  we  fixed  our  sheet  nightly  and  made  the  best  of  siich  weather 
as  we  had ;  and  never  can  we  reproach  ourselves  upon  leaving  the  field 
to  others,  for  upon   but  one  solitary  occasion  was  the  "  Eddystone  " 


NOTES    ON    OOLLEnTINr,,    ETC  181 

extinguished  before  its  local  rivals,  and  this  was  when  a  fen-fog  liegan 
to  rise  —  a  sure  sign  of  a  blank  evening.  First  and  foremost  among  our 
cajitures  were  three  sjiecimens  of  Ili/drilJa  pahistrii^,  all  males  of  course, 
and  mostly  in  good  condition — a  very  welcome  sight  after  the  eight  or 
nine  years  which  have  elapsed  since  this  species  Avas  last  captured,  not- 
withstanding that  the  spot  is  annually  worked  most  perseveringly  by 
amateurs  and  professionals  alike.  A  fourth  specimen  fell,  I  believe,  to 
the  lot  of  one  of  the  local  professionals  and  was  at  once  secured  for  the 
collection  of  a  well-known  lepidopterist.  Our  sheet  was  also  honoured 
by  the  attentions  of  Macrogastcr  arundinis,  but  of  which  we  only  secured 
four  specimens,  owing,  doubtless,  to  the  intense  cold  that  usually  set  in 
with  sunset.  Meliana  flammea  occurred  sparingly  but  with  fair 
regularitj^  whereas  Viminia  venosa  only  appeared  to  be  attracted  on  one 
occasion  for  a  few  minutes,  during  a  momentary  respite  from  the 
heaviest  downfall  of  rain  it  was  ever  my  fate  to  encounter  in  the  Fens, 
and  which  we  endured  untlinchingly  for  over  three  hours. 

The  Prominents  and  the  Hawk-moths  sent  an  occasional  represent- 
ative to  the  scene,  Arctia  fnJiijinosa  cheering  us  on  several  nights,  and  of 
A.  nriicae  two  fine  specimens  were  secured,  whilst  among  Geometers, 
Enpifhecia  centanrenta  was  the  most  numerous  visitor,  and  in  Micros,  the 
ever-present  ChiJo  phrriijmiielJnH  deserted  us  not,  whilst  the  delicate  little 
Nascin  cilialis  afforded  us  about  two  dozen  specimens  on  our  best  night, 
which  occasion  will  ever  stand  in  our  recollection  as  another  "  Ked- 
letter"  night,  from  the  above-mentioned  capture  of  the  H.  palnstris, 
when,  needless  to  relate,  we  only  abated  our  efforts  as  the  flush  of  dawn 
aroused  the  distant  "  Chanticleer,"  and  the  song  of  the  larks  soaring 
from  the  corn-fields  surrounding  the  Fen,  broke  the  silence  which  had 
reigned  since  the  cessation  of  the  "  calling  "  of  the  snipe,  and  the  harsh 
rattle  of  the  corn-crakes.  Upon  this  occasion,  common  Noctile  con- 
tinued to  visit  the  "  sugar  "  at  intervals,  all  night,  but  there  was  little 
variet\',  Apmnea  unaniniis  being  in  '  fine  '  condition,  with  an  occasional 
'fine  '  Hadena,  of  varying  species,  and  the  usual  ever-present  A<jrotides. 
For  the  more  aljundant  Fen  Nocture,  we  were  of  course  too  earl}-,  as 
also  for  Herminia  ciibrah's,  of  which  we  only  secured  a  single  sjjccimen. 

Day-work  was  not  neglected,  but  in  our  case,  Wicken  Fen  wore  too 
hackneyed  an  air  by  day,  and  the  first  wild  enthusiasm  for  Fapilio 
macliiwa  had  long  since  departed.  Arduous  trijjs  to  Tuddenham 
(Suffolk)  and  Chippenham,  helped  to  save  us  from  ennui  by  day,  and 
although  the  "  takes  "  were  diminished  by  absence  of  sun,  yet  we  were 
fortunate  in  securing  series  of  HeJiothis  dipsacea  and  Acidalia  rnhricata, 
with  representatives  of  Agrophila  snlj^htiralis,  Acontia  luctnosa  and 
Lithostege  grheata. 

The  pleasure  of  these  trips  was  greatly  enhanced  by  the  society  of 
the  ever -popular  President  of  the  City  of  London  Society,  who  was 
making  a  short  stay  with  another  ardent  entomologist,  at  Wicken,  and 
who  proved  to  be  as  genial  an  acquisition  to  the  social  side  of  village- 
life,  as  to  the  graver  scientific  circles  of  which  he  is  more  often  a  centre. 

Owing  to  the  ill-health  of  our  courteous  hostess  of  1893,  we  were 
com})elled  to  stay  at  the  '•  Maid's  Head  "  Inn,  which,  with  the  limited 
accommodation  at  its  disposal,  is  mostly  occupied  during  the  collecting 
season,  and  possibly  on  this  account  manages  at  the  close  of  one's  stay,  to 
completely  dispel  any  pleasing  illusions  which  may  have  been  indulged, 
of  rural  chai'ges,  commensurate  with  truly  rural  accommodation,  by  the 


182  THE  entomoi.ooist's  reoorp. 

uublnsliiiig-  preseii  tilt  ion  of  an  acconni  M'liicli  would  jiossiMy  not  1  e  out 
of  place  at  a  fasbionaLle  watering-place  during  the  season,  but  which 
is  certainly  someAvhat  of  a  surprise  to  many  of  the  visitors  to  this 
hostelry.  It  is  with  pleasure  we  learn  that  some  of  the  more  enter- 
prising villagers  are  now  offering  accommodation  to  entomologists,  and 
I  would  recommend  sjieciall}^  the  small  and  comfortable  rooms  of  Mr. 
W.  0.  Bullman,  where  ever}'  attention  is  lavished  on  the  fortunate 
visitor. 

A  visit,  replete  with  pleasant  adventure,  genial  society,  and  gratify- 
ing success,  closed  on  Saturday  the  1  Gth  June,  and  will,  I  trust,  be  the 
means  of  inducing  many  who  have  not  yet  been  introduced  to  Fenland,  to 
spend  a  few  days  in  scenes  which  are  a  complete  and  pleasant  change 
from  the  better-known  woodland  haunts  of  the  active  lepidojjterist. 

NOTES    OF    THE    SEASON    1894. 

Vanessa  pohjcldoros  was  exceedingly  abundant  again  this  spring  in 
the  New  Forest,  from  the  middle  of  March  until  about  the  20th  of 
April.— Ed. 

Lydney,  Gloucestershire. — Collecting  here  has  been  very  intermittent 
owing  to  unsettled  weather.  Sesia  formic  if ormis  turned  up,  but  I  only 
had  one  day  at  it,  taking  eleven  specimens.  Larvae  of  Thecla  w-alhum 
were  very  scarce  both  here  and  at  Gloucester,  but  those  of  Melifaea 
anrinia,  Nemeophila  plantaginis  and  Aciptilia  galactodactyJa  were  abun- 
dant. Amongst  other  captures  have  been  the  following  : — Macroglossa 
homhyliformis  (rare),  hio  sUdices,  HepiaJns  hecttts  (rare),  Drepana 
faJcataria  and  D.  binaria,  Hypena  rosiralis,  Tephrosia  ptinctidaria, 
Ejjhyra  punctaria,  E.  linearia  and  E.  pendnlaria,  Asthena  sylvata,  Ihipta 
temerata,  Macaria  vidata,  Fanagra  pjetraria,  Minoa  rnurinata,  Abraxas 
sylcata,  Ligdia  adnstata,  Emmelesia  decoJorata  (rare),  Thera  variata, 
Aidicha  rnbidata,  Oidaria  corylata  and  C.  trnncata,  Anaitis  jdagiata, 
Aniyrolepia  baiimawniana.  Siigar  has  not  been  successfiil,  the  NocTU^ 
being  evidently  behind  time.  The  only  sj^ecies  taken  at  it  have  been : 
—  Graiinnesia  trigrainvtica,  Agrotis  segetnm,  A.  exclamationis,  A.  nigricans, 
Nocina  triangiduin,  N.  brimnea,  Triphaena  orbona,  T.  pronuba  and 
Mamestra  brassicae. — M.  Stanger  Higgs.     Jtine  20th,  1894. 

J^ath. — The  weather  here  has  been  rather  unpropitious  for  collect- 
ing, but  1  have  managed  to  pick  up  the  following  among  other  insects. 
May  tith  :  Heliaca  tenebraia,   Hemerophila  abriqdaria,  Ephyra  anmdata, 

Ligdia  adnstata  and  Cidaria  silaceata. May  14th:   Coremia  ferrvgata, 

C  miidentaria  and  Abraxas  sylvata. May  17th:  Emmelesia  affinitata, 

E.  decolorata  and  Anadis  plagiata. June  3rd:  Sesia  tipulif ormis  and 

Grammesia    trigrammica. June     15th  :     Ephyra    linearia,     Macaria 

litnrata,  Btipahs  piniaria  and  Thera  variata.  Larvae  have  not  been  very 
abundant,  but  nests  of  Eriogaster  lanestris  are  fairly  common  in  haw- 
thorn hedges. — T.  Greer.     June  11th,  1894. 

Aberdeen,  etc. — The  weather  is  very  unfavourable  for  day-collecting, 
but  sugar  is  fairly  successful  when  the  early  summer  frosts  are  absent. 
The  following  are  some  of  my  captures.  Sand  Hills,  Tain,  Eoss-shire, 
June  14th  (wind  W.,  cloudy,  very  warm).  At  sugar:  Hadena  dentina, 
abundant ;  I  boxed  about  lOU  sjiecimens  and  left  probably  double  that 
number ;  H.  oleracea,  H.  adnsta,  Btisina  tenebrosa  and  Xylophasia  rurea 
(the  latter  all  of  the  typical  form)  abundant ;  Hadena  thalassina,  Apamea 
gemina  and  Noctua  plecta,  common ;  several  hybernated  (?  Ed.)  Agrotis 


SOCIETIES.  183 

snff'nfia.       I  netted    Chcsias    rufata,    Scoparia    ambiguah's   and    Srricoris 

cemjitnna. June  loth,  Conntess  Wells   Wood,  Aberdeenshire  (wind  N., 

clear  sky,  bright  moon).  At  sugar:  12  Hi/ppa  rectiliuea,  3  Acronijcta 
meiii/anfhidis,  I  Thijalyra  balls  ;  a  few  each  of  B.  tenebrosa,  H.  adasta, 
H.  thalassiiia,  X.  riirea  and  var.  coinbiista,  N.  plecta  and  A.  gemiaa ;  1 
Macaria  h'turata  and  1  Gidaria  cori/laia.  At  rest :  2  A.  meayaiithidis, 
several  Enpithecia  nanafa  and  E.  safyrata.  Netted :  Hi/psipetes  tri- 
fasciata.^^ June  16th,  same  place  (wind  S.W.,  cloudy).  At  sugar:  13 
H.  rectiliuea,  2  A.  ineni/anthidis,  2  T.  batis  and  others,  as  on  the  loth. 

At  rest :  Enpithecia  pulchellata,  E.  puiiiilata  and  E.  castigata. June 

18th,   Sand  Hills,  Peterhead,  East  Aberdeenshire  (wind  W.,  sky  clear, 

frosty)  only  2  H.  dentina  and  4  H.  oleracea. June  19th,  Conntess  Wells 

Wood  (wind  S.W.,  raining  heavily).     At  sugar :  28  H.  rcctilinea,  5  A. 

menyanthidis,  other  species  taken  on  15th.  and  16tli  abundant. June 

22nd,  Qnantarness  Moor,  Orkney  (wind  VV.,  rather  strong,  sky  clear).  At 
sugar  :  Nothing.     Netted  :  Hepialns  hninnli,  Acidalia  diinidiata,  E.  satyrata 

and  Melanippe  montanata. June   23rd,  Countess    Wells    Wood  (wind 

S.W.,  rather  cloudy).  At  sugar :  20  H.  recfilinea,  2  A.  menyanthidis,  2 
Noctna  brunnea,  1  Agrotis  exclaiaationis,  1  Triphaena  pronnba,  B  Noctua 
/estiva,  3  Boarmia  repandata,  etc. — A.  Horne.  June  '25th,  1894.  [Is 
our  correspondent  quite  sure  that  it  was  the  typical  form  of  X.  rnrea 
which  was  found  so  aljundantly  ?  In  our  experience  the  typical  form 
is  very  rare. — Ed.] 


gOCIETIES. 

The  Entomological  Society  of  London  ajstivates ;  we  are  not  sure 
that  other  kindred  societies  would  not  do  well  to  follow  its  example. 
The  last  meeting  till  the  autumn  was  held  on  June  6th,  1894,  and  was 
a  very  interesting  one.  Mr.  W.  F.  H.  Blandford  exhibited  a  series  of 
eleven  male  specimens  of  Rhina  barbirostris  from  British  Honduras,  of 
which  the  largest  and  smallest  examples  measured  respectively  60  and 
17  mm.  The  diffei'ence  in  bulk,  supposing  the  j^roportions  to  be 
identical,  is  as  43  to  1.  He  remarked  that  this  variation  of  size  is 
es2:)ecially  common  in  the  Brenthidae,  Cossonidae,  and  other  wood-boring 
Coleoptera.  Mr.  A.  J.  Chitty  exhibited  specimens  of  Cardiophorns 
equiseti  taken  near  Braunton,  on  the  north  coast  of  Devon,  in  May,  1891. 
Mr.  McLachlan  exhibited  for  Mr.  J.  W.  Douglas,  male  specimens  of  a 
Coccid  (Lecanium  prunastri),  bred  from  scales  attached  to  shoots  of 
blackthorn  (Prunus  spinosa)  received  from  Herr  Kael  ISulo,  of  Prague. 
Mr.  Douglas  communicated  notes  on  the  subject,  in  which  he  stated  tiiat 
the  species  was  common  on  blackthorn  in  France  and  Germany,  and 
should  be  found  in  Britain.  Lord  Walsingham  exhibited  a  series  of 
Cacoecia  podana,  Scop.,  reared  from  larvas  feeding  on  Lapageria  and 
palms  in  Messrs.  Veitch's  conservatories  in  King's  Koad,  Chelsea,  in- 
cluding some  very  dark  varieties.  The  Hon.  Walter  Kothschild  stated 
that  he  had  taken  the  species  on  lime.  Mr.  C.  Fenn  exhibited  a  long 
series  of  Selenia  lunaria,  part  of  one  brood  from  eggs  laid  in  May,  1893, 
by  a  $  taken  at  Bexley.  In  all,  Mr.  Fenn  bred  about  80  specimens  ; 
of  these,  17  emerged  in  August,  1893,  one  in  October  or  November, 
1893,  and  one  in  January,  1894  ;  all  the  foregoing  were  females  with 
one  exception  :  after  Jaiiuiuy  (lie  rest  of  the  Ijrood  emerged,  the  first 


184  THE  entomologist's  record. 

dozen  or  so  being  all  females,  and  then  males  and  females  emerging  in 
equal  numbers.  Among  that  portion  of  the  brood  which  emerged  in  May 
were  one  or  two  moths  which  pi'esented  the  characters  of  the  usual 
August  brood  (var.  dehinaria),  and  one  or  two  others  Avere  intermediate 
between  the  spring  and  summer  forms.  Mr.  F.  Lovell  Keays  exhibited 
a  variety  of  L.  icarns  (female),  in  which  the  marginal  ocelli  on  the  hind- 
wings  were  entirely  without  the  usual  orange-coloured  lunules.  The 
specimen  was  ca])tured  at  Caterham,  on  May  22nd,  1894,  and  was  the 
first  individual  of  the  species  observed  liy  the  captor  this  season.  Mr. 
J.  H.  Durrant  exhibited  a  series  of  Stccjanoptu ch a  p niimaeana,  Hb.,  taken 
at  Merton,  Norfolk,  between  the  2oth  March  and  the  middle  of  April 
last.  Mr  H.  Goss  read  an  extract  from  a  report  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Preece, 
H.M.  Consul  at  Isjoahan,  to  the  Foreign  Office,  on  the  subject  of  damage 
caused  to  the  wheat  crop  in  the  district  of  Eafsinjan,  1  )y  an  insect  which 
was  called  "  Sen  "  by  the  natives,  and  which  he  described  as  "  like  a 
flying  bug,  reddish-olive  in  colour,  with  heavy  broad  shoulders."  Mr. 
Goss  said  he  had  been  asked  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Preece,  C.B.,  to  ascertain, 
if  possible,  the  name  of  the  species  known  to  the  natives  as  •'  Sen." 
])r.  Sharpe  said  that  in  the  alisence  of  a  specimen  of  tlie  insect,  it  was 
impossible  to  express  an  opinion  as  to  the  identity  of  the  species.  The 
Kev.  Canon  Fowler  exhibited  for  Miss  Ormerod,  specimens  of  Diloho- 
derus  ahderus,  Sturm,  Encranium  arachnoides,  Brull.,  and  Mcijathopa 
vlolacea,  Blanch.,  from  the  La  Plata  district  of  the  Argentine  Territories, 
where  they  were  said  to  be  damaging  the  grass  crops.  Mr.  Hampson 
raised  the  important  point  as  to  what  was  the  legal  "  date  of  publication  " 
of  Part  I.  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Society,  1894.  He  pointed  out 
that  the  question  of  the  priority  of  the  names  of  certain  new  species 
described  therein,  would  depend  upon  the  date  of  publication. 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. — 
Mai/  1st,  1894. — The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  members : 
H.  H.  May  of  Balham,  P.  R.  Eichards  of  Peckham  Eye,  G.  H.  Shields 
and  D.  C.  Bate  of  Dulwich.  Exhibits  : — Mr.  Battley ;  a  series  of 
Brephos  notha  from  near  Broxbourne,  with  specimens  of  J5.  partlienias 
for  comparison.  He  remarked  that  the  cream-coloured  Idotches  so  con- 
spicuous in  parthenias  were  practically  wanting  in  notha,  and  tlie  orange 
band  on  the  hind  wings  in  notha  was  not  so  direct  as  in  parthenias ;  the 
antenucG  of  male  notha  Avere  most  decidedly  pectinated.  ( )ne  of  the 
specimens  of  notha  had  the  left  fore  wing  of  a  dirty- whitish  colour,  and 
the  hind  wings  were  much  suffused  with  black.  Mr.  Bacot ;  a  series  of 
Selenia  tetralunaria  captured  by  "  assembling  "  at  Epping  Forest.  Mr, 
Gurney;  Sdjyhaquadripunctata,  CoccineUa  l^-pmndata,  and  C.22-punctata 
from  the  New  Forest ;  also  Dermestes  vidphms  from  the  dead  body  of  a 
jay  in  Ongar  Park  Wood.  Mr.  Lewcock ;  a  small  but  perfect  specimen 
of  Biston  hirtaria  from  which  a  parasitic  (dipterous)  larva  had  emerged 
and  since  pupated.  Yonng  hirtaria,  larvae  had  also  come  forth  from  the 
opening  made  by  the  parasite ;  these  had  of  course  been  hatched  in 
their  parent's  body  from  imdeposited  ova.  Mr.  S.  J.  Bell ;  some  curious 
ova  laid  on  a  primrose  flower  taken  from  a  bought  bunch.  In  shajie 
they  resembled  l)utter  tubs  and  Avere  of  a  pale  grey  colour  with  a  dark 
brown  ring  round  the  to])  and  another  round  the  base  ;  there  wei'c  also 
two  brown  spots  between  the  rings.  The  eggs  were  laid  in  a  row.  Mr. 
Battley  remarked  that  queen  wasps  were  extremely  plentiful  at  South- 
end, and  recommended  members  to  kill  all  they  came  across  in  order  to 
lessen  the  probability  uf  another  pLigue  like  that  of  last  year. 


^^  AND  ^^/^jjt 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  8,     Vol.  V.  August  15th,  1894. 

JNfotes  on  the  Variatioii  of  ^pilosoma  mendica 

With   some    thoughts    on    the   Ancestral    Type    of  the    Genus. 
By    J.    W.    TUTT,    F.E.S. 

A  few  years  ago  (1885),  British  entomologists  were  startled  by  the 
capture  of  a  pale  form  of  the  male  of  Spilosoma  mendica,  in  Co.  Cork, 
Ireland,  by  Mr.  H.  McDowall.  Tlie  species,  as  is  well-known,  is  usually 
in  this  country  very  distinctly  sexually  dimorphic,  the  males  being  of  a 
deep  sooty-brown  colour,  whilst  the  females  are  white  with  a  few 
scattered  black  spots,  and  are  much  less  thickly  scaled  than  the  males. 
When  Mr.  McDowall  discovered  this  pale  form  in  Ireland,  he  captured 
a  male  and  a  female,  and  from  the  latter  was  fortunate  enough  to  obtain 
eggs  which  he  distributed  to  many  English  collectors,  among  others  to 
Mr.  R.  Adkin  of  Lewisham.  That  gentleman  took  special  pains  in 
rearing  the  larv?e  which  hatched  from  these  eggs,  and  made  many 
observations  on  their  habits  and  economy  ;  he  was,  however,  unable  to 
detect  any  difference  between  them  and  those  of  our  ordinary  form,  and 
they  puj^ated  in  a  similar  manner. 

Many  specimens,  the  outcome  of  these  eggs,  were  distributed 
throughout  our  collections,  but  comparatively  few  individuals  have  since 
been  taken  at  large.  Three  specimens  were  taken  at  light  in  Antrim 
in  1886,  and  five  in  the  following  year,  one  of  which  was  almost  jnire 
white.  Mr.  W.  F.  de  V.  Kane  is  responsible  for  the  statement  tliat 
another  specimen  was  taken  in  Co.  Cork  in  (or  before)  1885.  Females 
have  been  taken  in  Dublin  and  Waterford,  but  what  form  of  male  occurs 
there  has  not  yet  been  determined.  It  would  appear,  however,  that  no 
very  dark  male  has  as  yet  been  taken  in  Ireland. 

In  England,  the  species  does  not,  as  a  rule,  tend  to  vary,  but  a  few 
remarkable  cases  of  variation  have  been  recorded.  From  eggs  obtained 
from  a  female  taken  at  Eltham,  by  Mr.  C.  Fenn,  21  males  and  22  females 
were  bred.  The  females  varied  little  from  the  ordinary  tyjje,  except  in 
the  case  of  one  specimen  which  was  curiously  blotched  with  dark  grey 
on  the  left  fore- wing.  The  males  varied  from  specimens  of  the  usual 
English  type,  to  others  of  a  dull  pale  yellowish-grey,  and  quite  50  per 
cent,  diverged  more  or  less  from  the  usual  blackish-grey  form.  The 
pupaj  were  exposed  to  the  weather  in  a  very  cold  and  damp  spot,  and 
it  has  been  suggested  by  Mr.  Fenn,  that  these  conditions  upset  them  so 
as  to  produce  this  large  amount  of  variation.     Another  very  similar 


186  THE  entomologist's  record. 

brood,  obtained  from  eggs  laid  by  a  2  from  North  Kent,  is  in  my  own 
collection.  It  is  remarkable  that  both  these  broods  showed  females 
tending  to  be  darker  than  usual,  whilst  the  general  tendency  of  the 
males  was  to  be  jialer — an  approach  to  uniformity  in  the  sexes  it  would 
ajjpear. 

Under  some  conditions  therefore,  probably  pathological  and  consti- 
tutional, (in  the  brood  I  have,  some  specimens  were  crippled),  it  would 
appear  that  there  is  a  tendency  in  our  usually  strongly-marked 
dimorphic  English  form,  to  i^roduce  an  insect  approaching  the  Irish 
race. 

Mr.  Adkin  afterwards  crossed  the  Irish  form  (  ?  ),  with  a  male  of 
the  English  form.  From  the  ova  thus  obtained,  two  males  were  bred, 
and  they  differed  from  both  the  Irish  and  English  forms. 

Another  remarkable  race  of  this  sj)ecies  has  been  bred  by  Mr.  G.  T. 
Porritt,  but  in  this  the  variation  is  in  the  direction  of  the  females  be- 
coming streaked  with  black  as  sometimes  occurs  in  the  allied  S .menthastri 
and  S.  luhricipeda.  The  females  here  had  a  great  excess  of  black  mark- 
ings. Some  of  the  most  important  aberrations  are  figured  and  described 
(Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.  1889,  pp.  441-43).  It  is,  perhaps,  worthy  of 
note  that  at  Barnsley  (not  far  from  Huddersfield),  the  ordinary  English 
form  only  is  obtained,  in  fact,  it  has  there,  if  anything,  rather  paler 
males  than  usual,  and  less  strongly- spotted  females. 

The  variety  with  white  males  is  known  as  var.  rustica,  Hb.,  and  is 
the  subject  of  an  interesting  article  by  Mons.  A.  Caradja,  who  is  de- 
voting himself  to  the  study  of  the  Eoumanian  fauna ;  this  article 
appears  in  Societas  entomologica  for  June. 

In  Koumania  M.  Caradja  met  with  S.  mendica  var.  rustica  from  the 
middle  of  May  to  the  end  of  June,  and  in  some  years,  he  says,  there  is 
a  partial  second  brood  in  August.  Basing  his  statement  upon  a  collec- 
tion of  200  males,  the  author  says  that  the  form  is  very  little  subject  to 
variation ;  the  chief  point  of  difference  is  in  the  number  of  black  spots 
which  in  the  fore-wings  ranges  from  2  to  8  and  in  the  hind- wings  from 
0  to  3.  In  eight  of  the  captured  specimens  there  was  a  slightly  smoky 
tint,  which  the  author  siiggests  may  have  been  the  result  of  a  cross 
with  the  tyjie.  The  males  tiy  freely  to  light,  but  hide  away  very  well 
during  the  day,  so  that,  whilst  M.  Caradja  had  no  difficulty  in  netting 
females  in  the  day-time,  inasmuch  as  that  sex  flies  in  the  sunshine  with 
a  short  heavy  flight,  soon  settling  again  in  the  grass,  he  had  only  once 
taken  a  male  in  that  way.  The  larva?  hatch  on  the  sixth  day  after  the 
eggs  are  laid,  and  pupate  before  the  beginning  of  August.  The  larvee 
in  all  their  stages  resemble  those  of  the  tyi^e.  From  some  200  pupa3 
which  the  author  reared  in  1892  no  moth  emerged  until  the  following 
spring ;  but  from  the  fact  that  he  beat  several  half-grown  larva?  from  a 
hedge  at  the  end  of  September  or  beginning  of  October,  1891,  he  con- 
cludes that  there  is  sometimes  an  incomplete  second  brood.  The  article 
then  proceeds  to  deal  Avith  the  geographical  distribution  of  the  variety. 
Several  localities  in  the  north  of  Moldavia  are  mentioned,  and  it  is 
suggested  that  it  was  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Foscani  in  this  district 
that  Iliibner  received  the  specimens  which  he  named  rustica ;  the 
variety  appears  to  replace  the  type  in  the  whole  of  Moldavia,  and  the 
same  is  true  of  Bucovina,  an  Austrian  province  lying  immediately  to 
the  north  of  Moldavia ;  but  all  round  these  two  districts  the  ordinary 
type  alone  occurs,  and  the  variety  is  not  found.     The  author  mentions 


NOTES    ON    THE    VARIATION    OF    SPILOSOMA    MENDICA.  187 

an  isolated  spot  in  one  of  the  southern  Alpine  valleys  where  the  white- 
nialed  variety  is  also  found,  although  its  habitat  is  there  confined  to  a 
few  square  kilometers ;  he  does  not  seem  to  be  aware  of  its  occurrence 
in  Ireland.  The  true  home  of  var.  rmtica  is  stated  to  be  the  Caucasus, 
and  the  author  suggests  that  its  centre  of  distribution  may  hereafter 
turn  out  to  lie  farther  east  or  south  of  the  Caspian.  M.  Caradja  sug- 
gests that,  according  to  the  law  which  holds  good  in  the  geographical 
distribution  of  plants,  this  island-like  occurrence  of  var.  rustica  in  the 
middle  of  districts  inhabited  by  the  ty^je  points  to  the  conclusion  that 
in  the  past  it  was  the  predominating  or  even  the  sole  existing  form, 
and  that  its  more  limited  distribution  to-day  is  due  to  the  type  being 
better  jorotected  by  its  darker  colour.  Further,  seeing  that  on  the 
margins  of  the  districts  which  it  now  inhabits  there  must  be  frequent 
crossings  between  it  and  the  type,  he  thinks  that  its  entire  disajDjjear- 
ance  from  Europe  is  only  a  question  of  time.  In  support  of  the 
opinion  that  the  dark-maled  type  has  developed  from  the  white-maled 
form,  he  refers  to  the  cases  of  Amphklasys  betularia  var.  double  day  aria 
and  Psdnra  monacha  var.  eremita.  The  author  seems,  however,  to  think 
that,  where  the  white  form  still  holds  its  own,  white  may  really  be  the 
best  protective  colour  for  it,  seeing  that  it  occurs  at  a  time  when  the 
ground  is  littered  with  the  white  petals  from  the  fruit  trees.  On  one 
occasion  a  specimen  settled  at  his  feet  in  the  garden,  but  he  was  entirely 
unable  to  discern  it  among  the  fallen  petals,  and  was  actually  going  to 
remove  it  with  the  petals,  which  he  was  clearing  away  in  order  to  find 
the  moth.  He  concludes  that  the  white  variety  is  better  adapted  to  the 
dry  (or  cold)  Continental  climate  of  Moldavia,  Bucovina,  and  the 
Caucasus  than  the  type,  which  seems  to  have  sprung  up  in  ocean- 
bordering  districts. 

It  may  be  well  here  to  glance  at  our  common  species  of  this  genus 
as  a  whole.  Spilosoma  menthastri  shows  but  little  colour  variation  in 
southern  Britain,  being  almost  pure  white  with  black  dots  in  both 
sexes.  As,  however,  we  travel  north  and  west  colour  variation  sets 
in,  and  distributed  over  northern  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland  (so 
far  as  I  have  obtained  specimens)  is  a  buff  race  known  as  var.  ochracea, 
White,  which  has,  moreover,  as  I  have  noticed  in  my  bred  si^ecimens,  a 
tendency  to  become  smoky  coloured  if  ever  so  slightly  crippled.  Both 
sexes,  however,  thus  become  yellower,  and  the  variation  does  not  tend 
in  the  direction  of  sexual  dimorphism. 

S.  luhricipeda  is  an  interesting  species,  inasmuch  as  even  in  our 
southern  English  counties  it  keeps  the  buff  colour  which  S.  menthastri 
only  takes  up  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  locally  in  northern  England. 
But  even  then  the  colour  is  higher  and  deeper  in  the  damper  districts, 
as  in  the  western  Highlands  and  certain  parts  of  Ireland.  In  spite  of 
this,  however,  there  is  a  distinct  sexual  difference  of  tint,  the  yellow 
aiid  buff  of  the  males  being  mucli  brighter  than  is  that  of  the  females, 
but  this  sexual  difference  is  less  marked  in  southern  and  eastern  England 
than  elsewhere. 

Now,  it  is  very  remarkable  that  it  is  just  in  those  areas  where  the 
sexual  difference  of  S.  luhricipeda  is  least  marked  that  the  sexual 
difference  of  S.  mendica  is  most  strongly  accentuated,  the  latter  occur- 
ring, however,  and  showing  but  little  difference  from  our  southern 
specimens,  in  Aberdeenshire.  The  tendency  in  this  latter  species  has 
been  to  produce  a  wliite  female,  less  pigmented  probably,  certainly 


188  THE  entomologist's  record. 

more  transparent,  and  perhaps  of  a  purer  white  than  even  S.  menthastri 
shows  in  its  southern  haunts,  whilst  the  male  is  of  a  brown  so  deep 
that  it  is  sometimes  termed  black,  and  quite  unapproached  by  the 
gTound  colour  of  any  S.  luhricipeda  ;  nevertheless,  in  Ireland  under 
ordinary  and  in  England  under  pathological  conditions,  there  is  a  partial 
assumption  of  the  normal  buff  coloration  of  the  group. 

From  these  facts  a  simple  deduction  or  two  may  be  drawn.  I  am 
of  opinion  that  the  ancestral  type  of  this  group  was  buff-coloured,  be- 
cause this  is  the  coloration  to  which  under  special  conditions  of  environ- 
ment, &c.  all  the  species  revert.  I  take  it  also  that  this  ancestral  type 
was  accustomed  to  a  damp  and  moist  climate,  for  it  is  in  such  a  climate 
that  the  buff  coloration  appears  in  all  the  species  ;  the  white  S.  men- 
thastri of  southern,  eastern,  and  middle  England  becomes  buff  in  the 
moister  districts  of  Ireland,  Scotland  and  northern  England ;  the  pale 
buff  of  the  S.  luhricipeda  that  we  meet  witli  in  our  drier  areas  becomes 
deeper  in  tint  in  the  same  areas  ;  whilst  in  the  more  isolated  and  moister 
jjarts  of  our  islands  where  S.  mendica  is  found  the  deep  brown  of 
British  specimens  retains  the  ancestral  coloration ;  even  the  white  S. 
urticae  tends  there  to  become  cream-coloured  in  many  specimens. 

The  facts,  that  in  S.  menthastri  both  sexes  assume  a  buff  coloration  in 
these  moist  areas,  that  in  S.  hihricipeda  the  sexual  difference  of  colours 
is  less  strongly  accentuated  there,  whilst  in  S.  mendica,  though  the 
males  become  buff,  the  females  are  often  much  less  white  than  those 
from  England,  all  tend  in  the  same  direction,  and  point  to  a  time  when 
the  immediate  progenitor  of  these  species  had  a  buff  male  and  female 
which  were  suited  to  its  then  environment ;  and  after  the  differentiation 
of  our  present  species  we  see  how  possible  it  is  for  natural  selection  and 
climatic  changes  to  have  produced  the  differences  we  now  know  so  Avell. 
One  other  thought  suggests  itself.  This  extreme  sexual  differenti- 
ation in  S.  mendica  is  probably  of  very  recent  origin.  That  it  is  recent 
(as  such  things  go)  is  certain  from  the  occurrence  of  the  ancestral  form 
in  local  areas  distributed  from  Ireland  to  the  Caucasian  mountains  ;  but 
the  recent  development  of  the  "  Huddersfield  "  race  renders  it  highly 
probable  that  the  climatic  changes  in  Britain  and  Central  Europe,  due 
to  the  advance  of  civilization  and  forest  clearing,  may  have  been  an 
important  factor  in  evolving  the  present  forms. 

Without  seeing  the  specimens  and  knowing  the  locality  mentioned 
by  Mons.  A.  Caradja,  it  is  impossible  to  say  how  near  they  are  to  Irish 
specimens,  but  his  reference  to  them  as  the  "  milchweisse  form,"  and 
his  special  mention  of  the  fact  that  "  eight  of  the  specimens  are  of  a 
smoky  tint  "  remind  us  that  one  of  the  Antrim  specimens  was  nearly 
white.  Strange,  too,  the  specimens  recorded  by  Mons.  Caradja  appear 
to  be  entirely  restricted  to  the  valleys  of  the  Pruth  and  Danube  or  to 
isolated  mountainous  valleys,  at  Tirgu  Neamtu,  Kloster  Neamtu  (in 
Carpathians),  Costisa  (in  the  Bistrita  valley),  Husi  (a  small  town 
south  of  Jassy),  Jassy,  Dorohoi,  Comanesti,  the  whole  of  Moldavia, 
Bucovina,  Czernowitz,  Kadanti,  the  Bergell  (a  southern  Alpine  valley)  ; 
yet  he  refers  to  these  comparatively  low-lying  districts  as  possessing  a 
Continental  climate.  It  would  be  interesting  to  get  records  of  the 
climate  and  meteorological  conditions  of  the  localities  where  the  variety 
is  found,  so  that  we  might  compare  them  with  our  Irish  conditions.  I 
am  inclined  to  think,  however,  that  the  assumption  of  the  extreme 
tints  both  paler  (whiter),  and  darker  than  the  buff-coloured  ancestral 


NOTES    ON    TUE    VAKIATION    OF    Sl'ILOSOMA    MENDICA.  189 

form,  have  been  obtained  and  retained  for  protective  purposes,  and  that 
the  pure  white  males  are  as  much  a  development  in  a  special  direction 
suited  to  special  localities  and  conditions,  as  are  the  dark  males  of  oiir 
central  Eurojjean  hedgerows,  coppices,  and  woodsides. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  Mons.  A.  von  Caradja  has  published 
in  Soeietas  entomologica,  vol.  ix.,  p.  49,  another  article  on  this  interesting 
subject.  His  article  is  called  "  Sjnlosotaa  mendica,  CI.  var.  (et.  ab.  ?) 
(?  Standfussi,  Caradja,"  and  he  writes  : — "  By  this  name  I  denote  tlie 
hybrid  form,  obtained  by  crossing  the  female  of  S.  mendica,  with  the 
male  of  its  variety,  rustica.  The  female  of  this  hybrid  naturally  does 
not  differ  from  the  females  of  the  type ;  the  male,  however,  is  exactly 
intermediate  in  colour  between  the  dark  smoky-brown  male  of  mendica, 
and  the  milk-white  male  of  var.  rustica ;  the  wings,  thorax  and  ab- 
domen, both  on  the  upper  and  under  sides,  are  of  a  ver^^  peculiar  grey- 
brown  tint,  which  appears  something  like  a  faint  pearl-grey  cloud 
spread  over  the  white  ground  colour.  The  ordinary  black  spots  on  the 
fore  and  hind- wings  contrast  strongly  with  the  gi'ound  colour.  This 
new  and  interesting  form,  which  occurs  in  nature,  I  name  in  honour  of 
my  highly-respected  friend  Dr.  Max  Standfuss  of  Zurich.  All  my  last 
year's  broods  were  unfortunately  largely  decimated  by  "  pebrine,"  so 
that  I  only  obtained  a  single  pair  of  this  crossing  from  250  larvas. 
This  year  I  hope  to  obtain  better  results." 

"  I  may  here  mention  some  extremely  important  facts.  The  crossing 
of  males  of  var.  rustica  with  females  of  mendica,  is  at  all  events  fruitful ; 
every  egg  yields  a  larva.  On  the  contrary,  of  females  of  var.  rustica 
crossed  with  males  of  mendica,  only  0"15  per  cent,  produced  larvse,  and 
all  of  the  first  crossing  failed." 

"  With  regard  to  the  hybrid  copulation  between  females  of  S. 
luctuosa,  H.-G.,  and  males  of  var.  rustica,  reported  upon  last  year,  I  have 
to  report  that  this  year  I  have  obtained  entirely  different  results,  which 
]3roves  that  the  results  of  a  single  experiment  are  not  always  to  be  relied 
upon.  From  five  crossings  I  did  not  obtain  a  single  larva ;  but  from 
the  sixth  I  obtained  141  larvae,  which  developed  vigorously,  the  first-laid 
eggs  being  those  which  yielded  the  larvae,  whereas  the  remaining  194 
eggs  proved  infertile.  The  reversion  of  the  sexes  in  this  crossing,  viz., 
the  pairing  of  male  luctuosa  with  female  var.  rustica,  and  also  male 
luctuosa  with  female  mendica,  were  entirely  unfruitful." 

The  pairing  of  S.  mendica  with  its  variety  rustica  was  carried  to  a 
successful  issue  some  years  ago  in  Britain  by  Mr.  Adkin.  It  would 
appear  that  the  single  male  cross  obtained  by  Mons.  Caradja  (he  only 
bred  two  moths,  and  describes  both  sexes)  is  not  unlike  many  of  our 
purely-bred  Irish  males.  IIow  far  Ireland  is  an  area  where  the  type 
and  var.  rustica  overlap  has  not  yet  been  determined,  dark  males  not 
having  yet,  I  believe,  been  recorded  from  Ireland. 

The  rearing  of  true  hybrids  between  S.  mendica  and  *S'.  luctuosa,  adds 
another  to  our  already  long  list  of  hyln'ids  obtained  from  allied  species. 
It  would  he  interesting  to  know  whether  S.  luctuosa  will  cross  success- 
fully with  typical  S.  mendica,  or  only  with  var.  rustica.  If  only  witli 
the  latter,  the  fact  would  have  a  strong  bearing  on  the  ancestral  furin 
of  the  genus. 


190  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Wo     EJ^l'OJVIOLOQie^L     ^r^l'lQlJE^. 

By    F.    J.    BUCKELL,    M.B. 

In  a  volume  of  oddments,  mostly  of  a  scientific  nature,  whicli  some 
worthy  of  a  century  ago  had  had  bound  together  and  which  recently 
came  under  my  notice,  were  two  entomological  "  antiques."  The  first 
of  these  was  the  English  translation  of  Fundamenta  Fjntomologiae,  a  work 
which,  although  usually  bearing  the  name  of  Linneeus  and  published 
in  the  seventh  volume  of  that  author's  Amocnitates  Academicae,  was 
really  written  by  one  of  his  pupils,  Andrew  John  Bladh.  The  trans- 
lation is  by  W.  Curtis,  Apothecary,  and  bears  date  1772.  The  work  is 
in  the  nature  of  an  "  Introduction  to  Entomology,"  and  may  be  taken 
to  represent  the  scientific  knowledge  of  the  time.  There  were  evidently 
scoffers  in  existence  then  as  now,  for  the  author  thus  opens  the  third 
section :—  "  As  insects  furnish  but  few  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  the 
ignorant  and  uncivilised  part  of  mankind  have  not  scrupled  to  stigmatise 
the  ingenious  enquirers  after  them  with  the  name  of  fools,  as  these 
animals  apjjeared  to  them  altogether  contemptible,  and  deserved  to  be 
considered  only  as  jDunishment  inflicted  on  jjarticular  countries  for  the 
sins  of  its  inhabitants."  The  author  farther  on  suggests  that  "if  we 
tmderstood  how  to  apjDly  insects  properly,  we  might  use  them  as  we  do 
cats  against  mice,  and  by  attending  to  the  design  of  Nature,  prevent 
much  damage."  The  importance  of  method  and  the  advantage  of 
accurate  synonymy  are  insisted  ujjon.  Next  follows  a  catalogue  of  the 
principal  authors  that  have  written  on  insects,  in  which  our  countrymen 
receive  dvie  recognition.  This  is  succeeded  by  a  descrij)tion  of  the 
several  parts  of  an  insect,  after  which  the  Linna?an  classification  is 
explained.  Lastly,  the  sources  of  the  mythological  names  so  largely 
used  by  Linnaeus  for  butterflies  are  indicated :  those  apjDlied  to  the 
Equites  are  taken  from  Trojan  historj^,  the  sable  butterflies  with  red  or 
bloody  spots  at  the  basis  of  tlieir  wings  receiving  the  names  of  the 
Trojan  nobles,  while  those  ornamented  with  a  variety  of  gay  colours 
were  distinguished  by  the  names  of  the  Grecian  heroes.  The  Hdiconii 
derive  their  names  from  the  Muses.  The  names  of  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  Danaus  are  bestowed  on  the  JDnnai,  "  and  as  these  species 
are  sub-divided  into  two  sections,  viz.  the  wliite  and  parti-coloured,  the 
metaphor  is  so  conducted  that  the  white  ones  j^reserve  the  names  of  the 
daughters  of  Danaus,  and  the  j^arti-coloured  ones  those  of  the  sons  of 
Egyptus,"  "The  names  of  the  fourth  section,  Nymphales,  are  taken 
from  various  nymjihs  of  antiquity ;  and  those  of  the  fifth  section,  Fleheii, 
are  selected  from  different  men  among  the  ancients,  whose  names  are 
worthy  of  remembrance ;  so  that  by  this  means  a  knowledge  of  the 
ancients  may  be  interspersed,  and  this  agreeable  science  be  made  doubly 
pleasing."  The  author  concludes  by  earnestly  recommending  those 
gentlemen,  whose  summer  residence  is  in  the  country,  to  devote  their 
leisure  moments  to  "  the  bringing  up  of  the  larva?  of  insects  and  atten- 
tively observing  their  various  transformations,  their  oeconomy  in  2>rocur- 
ing  food,  their  dexterity  in  preparing  lial)itations,  and  every  other  thing 
they  are  engaged  in.  By  this  means  many  insects  and  their  wonderful 
properties,  M'liich  have  remained  in  obscurity  from  the  beginning  of 
time,  would  be  brought  to  light,  more  especially  if  these  gentlemen 
would  themselves  describe  or  communicate  their  discoveries  to  some 


TWO    ENTOMOLOGICAL   ANTIQUES.  191 

academy  of  sciences.  Thus  would  they  at  one  and  the  same  time 
enrich  the  science  of  natural  history,  and  transmit  their  names  to 
posterity  with  honour." 

The  other  "  antique  "  is  The  Aurelian''s  Vade  Mecim,  by  Matthew 
Martin  of  Exeter,  in  which  city  it  was  printed,  the  date  of  publication 
being  1785.  This  is  a  list  of  plants,  arranged  in  the  alphabetical  order 
of  their  vernacular  names,  with  the  Linntean  names  appended .  Under 
each  plant  are  arranged  the  species  of  Lepidoptera  whose  larvfB  are 
stated  to  feed  upon  it.  Of  these  the  Linnasan  name  is  given  in  one 
column,  the  vernacular  (where  such  exists)  in  another,  and  in  a  third 
the  initial  of  the  author  from  whom  the  information  has  been  derived ; 
for  the  work  is  a  compilation,  and  does  not  embody  the  results  of  the 
compiler's  own  experience.  He  tells  us  that  he  has  consulted  the 
writings  of  Linnajus,  Ray,  Reaumur,  Geoffroy,  Berkenhout,  Withering 
(botanical),  Harris  and  Engramelle.  There  are  some  interesting  ver- 
nacular names  of  plants,  which  seem  to  have  been  lost  in  the  century  that 
has  since  elapsed.  Chenopodium  is  Elite  ;  Chaeropliyllum  si/lvestre,  Cicely  ; 
Lemna,  Duckmeat ;  Triticum  repens,  Quich-grass.  There  are,  too,  some 
interesting  vernacular  names  of  insects  :  Phalena  antiqua,  is  the  White- 
spot  Tussock  moth ;  Ph.  chrysitis,  the  Green  Brazen  moth  ;  Ph.  qucrcus, 
the  Great  Egger  moth  ;  Ph.  lacertinaria,  the  Wild  Rose  moth  ;  Ph. 
hctnlaria,  the  Spotted  Elm  moth  ;  Pap.  ruhi,  the  Green  butterfly ;  Ph. 
oxyacanthae,  the  Ealing  moth ;  Sph.  atropos,  the  Bee  Tiger  Hawk 
moth ;  Pap.  semele,  the  Black-eyed  Marble  butterfly  ;  Pap.  liicina,  the 
Small  Fritillary  butterfly;  Ph.  libatrix,  the  Furbelow  moth;  Pap. 
Camilla,  the  White  Admirable  butterfly  ;  Pap.  atalanta,  the  Admirable 
butterfly ;  Ph.  hmnuli,  the  Otter  moth  ;  Ph.  syringaria,  the  Richmond 
moth ;  Pap.  malcae,  the  Brown  March  butterfly ;  Pap.  antiopa,  the 
Willow  butterfly.  As  regards  the  identification  of  the  Linna3an  names, 
the  author  followed  the  usage  of  his  time,  and  seems  to  have  taken 
Harris  as  his  guide.  The  following  are  instances  of  mistaken  identity  : — 
Butterflies:  argus  is  used  for  (=:)  what  we  now  know  as  teams; 
virgaureae  =  phloeas ;  maera  =  megaera ;  inegaera  =  tithonus ;  ma- 
turna  =  athalia  ;  Camilla  =^  sybilla.  There  was  at  that  time  no  doubt 
about  the  identity  of  Pap.  malvae,  Linn ;  the  history  of  the  subsequent 
confusion  of  that  identity  is  an  interesting  chapter  which,  some  day, 
may  be  worth  elucidating.  My  knowledge  of  moth-synonymy  is  not 
suliicient  to  enable  me  to  trace  the  identity  of  the  moths.  It  seems, 
however,  from  its  vernacular  name  of  the  Yellow-tail  moth,  that 
our  auriflua  was  then  supjjosed  to  be  chrysorrhoea,  Linn.  With 
regard  to  food-plants :  Ph.  aesculi  is  to  be  found  in  alder,  ajij^le 
(within  the  branches),  ash  (within  the  bodies  in  nurseries),  horse- 
chestnut,  jDcar  (inside  of  branches  ?),  and  jDrivet  (do.) ;  for  Paj). 
machaon,  the  following  are  mentioned : — Angelica,  buruet  saxifrage, 
carrot,  fennel,  hemlock,  milky  parsley,  rue  and  wild  si^igncl ;  Pajj. 
ruhi  is  said  to  feed  on  the  buds  of  bramble ;  Ph.  lapella,  within  the  seeds 
of  burdock  ;  on  the  authority  of  Linnaeus,  Ph.  pisi  is  allotted  cucumber 
as  a  food-plant,  but  there  is  evidently  a  doubt  about  the  accuracy  of 
this,  as  it  is  added  in  brackets  (caciimere,  L.,  Fruit  ?)  ;  Ph.  hecta,  is  said 
to  feed  on  the  roots  of  grass,  and  Ph.  serratella,  within  the  leaves  of 
pear,  in  a  tufted  covering. 


192  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Tl^c  Life-jiistopy  of  a  Lepidopterous  Insect, 

Comprising  some   account   of  its   Morphology  and   Physiology. 

By     J.     W.      TUTT,      F.E.S. 

{Continued  from  page  169). 


Chap.  IV.*  '. 
EMBKYOLOGY. 

1. — General  remarks  on  the  study  of  embryology. — Embryology 
concerns  itself  with  the  cycle  of  changes  that  take  place  in  the  fertilized 
ovum,  and  that  have  as  their  result  the  production  of  an  individual 
resembling  its  parents.  Biologists  are  agreed  as  to  the  supreme  im- 
portance of  the  subject,  for  many  of  the  profounder  mysteries  of  living 
creatures  can  only  be  interpreted  by  its  aid.  More  and  more,  therefore, 
of  late  years  has  its  study  engaged  the  attention  of  scientific  men,  and 
entomology,  like  other  branches  of  natviral  history,  has  received  illumi- 
nation from  their  labours.  It  is  now  well  known  that  all  animals 
during  their  embryonic  life  undergo  a  series  of  remarkable  changes 
both  in  form  and  structure.  Sir  John  Lubbock  tells  us  that  ChVoeon 
(an  Ephemerid  insect)  moults  some  twenty  times  before  reaching  its 
final  stage  of  development,  whilst  every  entomologist  has  watched  the 
more  or  less  sharply  defined  metamorphoses  that  other  insects  undergo. 
I  may  remark  that  for  the  present  I  give  the  word  Embryology  a  wider 
meaning  than,  strictly  speaking,  is  warranted,  and  include  all  the  con- 
ditions through  which  the  young  pass  before  reaching  actual  maturity 
as  simply  extensions  of  the  embryological  condition.  How  great  are 
the  changes  which  various  animals  and  plants  undergo  during  develop- 
ment, we  all  know.  In  the  case  of  a  fern  there  is  first  the  spore  ;  this 
gives  rise  to  the  prothallium,  which  in  its  turn  produces  antheridia  and 
archegonia ;  the  latter  undergo  fertilization,  and  it  is  not  till  the  con- 
sequent development  of  the  germ-cell  is  comj^leted  that  the  cycle  of 
change  is  ended  by  the  reproduction  of  a  fern.  Again,  we  may  take 
a  branching  coralline  ;  this  gives  off  a  vast  number  of  huge,  free-floating 
jelly-fishes,  which  in  their  turn  produce  cells  from  which  free-swim- 
ming ciliated  animalcules  are  developed  ;  these  after  a  time  become 
attached  to  rocks  and  reproduce  the  coralline.  Or,  taking  an  example 
from  an  insect,  the  larva  of  a  Dipteron  (Cecidomyia)  produces  asexually 
other  larvae ;  these  pupate,  and  from  the  pupae  male  and  female 
imagines  emerge ;  pairing  ensues,  and  eggs  are  laid  from  which  larvae 
hatch,  and  the  cycle  begins  again.  In  some  cases  the  greater  part  of 
embryonic  life  is  got  through  before  the  embryo  has  a  separate  existence 
from  the  parent,  in  others  after  it  has  such  separate  existence  ;  so  that 
although  the  embryonic  condition  is  often  spoken  of  as  if  it  were 
limited  to  the  development  of  the  young  within  the  egg,  the  term 
really  has  a  much  wider  application. 

2, —  On  the  similarity  between  the  earliest  embkyonk;  stages 
OF  WIDELY  DIFFERING  CREATURES.—  In  their  earliest  embryonic  stages 
the  various  divisions  of  the  largest  classes  of  the  Animal  Kingdom 
present  a  remarkable   similarity  as  regards  their   structural    features. 


*  ChaiJ.  III.  on  Parthenogenesis  uill  follow  this  chapter.    The  material  for 
it  is  not  yet  complete. 


THE   LIFE-HISTORY   OF    A    LEPIDOPTEROUS    INSECT.  193 

Between  the  early  embryos  of  mammals,  birds  and  reptiles  there  is  such 
a  strong  likeness,  that  Von  Baer  tells  us  that,  of  two  embryos  in  his 
collection  which  were  unlabelled,  he  could  not  say  even  to  what  class 
they  belonged ;  they  might  be  lizards,  birds  or  mammals,  "  so  com- 
plete is  the  similarity  in  the  mode  of  formation  of  the  head  and  trunk 
in  these  animals."  Again,  many  of  the  Crustacea  are  exceedingly  alike 
in  their  early  stages,  although  they  become  very  different  in  the  adult 
stage.  When  we  come,  however,  to  genera  and  species,  we  find  that 
the  similarity  of  their  early  stages  is  much  more  pronounced,  the 
similarity  extending  even  to  small  matters  of  detail.  Thus  the  furze 
which  when  mature  bears  prickly  leaves,  has  in  its  early  stages  the 
ordinary  trifoliate  leaves  of  its  leguminous  allies ;  the  young  of  the 
lion  is  striped  like  so  many  other  carnivora ;  the  young  blackbirds  are 
spotted  after  the  characteristic  manner  of  the  thrush  family — and  so  on. 
It  must  be  noticed  that  these  similarities  in  embryonic  characters  do 
not  usually  bear  any  relation  to  the  conditions  of  existence.  Young 
mammals,  birds  and  reptiles,  passing  through  their  earlier  stages  under 
such  different  conditions,  alike  have  a  peculiar  development  of  the 
branchial  arteries.  It  cannot  be  supposed  that,  in  the  womb  of  the 
mother  or  in  the  egg  of  a  bird,  these  have  any  functional  value  or  any 
relation  to  their  then  mode  of  existence,  and  we  can  only  look  upon 
the  peculiarity  as  a  survival  of  a  common  ancestral  feature,  which  at 
one  point  in  the  line  of  descent  had  a  fundamental  value. 

3. — On    the    effect    of    the    differing    conditions    of    EMBRYONIC 

LIFE. — I  have  already  intimated  that  embryonic  life  cannot  be  held  to  be 
limited  to  the  egg-stage,  and  the  proportion  thereof  that  is  completed 
in  that  stage  differs  greatly  in  the  different  classes  of  the  Animal 
Kingdom.  The  embryonic  changes  in  the  egg  of  a  bird  bring  the 
young  bird  very  much  farther  on  towards  the  adult,  both  in  form  and 
development,  than  those  in  the  egg  of  an  insect,  in  which  the  larval 
and  pupal  condition  are  also  distinctly  embryonic. 

It  will  be  readily  understood  that  when  an  animal  embryo  completes 
its  development  to  a  great  extent  within  the  body  of  its  parent  (animal), 
or  is  entirely  dependent  on  its  parents  for  nourishment  (bird),  there  is 
less  need  for  it  to  take  on  any  special  characters  for  its  own  protection 
than  when  it  becomes  actively  indejjendent  early  in  life  (crustaceans  and 
insects,  &c.).  When,  too,  the  method  of  life,  the  habits,  environment, 
&c.  of  the  active  embryonic  form  are  entirely  different  from  those  of 
the  adult,  it  is  evident  that  the  difference  between  them  must  be 
correspondingly  great  if  the  adaptation  of  the  two  forms  to  their 
different  conditions  of  life  is  to  be  equally  perfect.  We  may  find, 
therefore  (and  the  Lepidoi)tera  give  us  a  number  of  instances)  that  the 
larvas  of  allied  species  differ  very  greatly  owing  to  the  diffei-ence  of 
their  habits,  &c.,  whilst  the  imagines  are  very  similar ;  conversely  the 
larvae  may  show  a  close  relationshijj,  though  tlie  imagines  may  be  very 
different ;  the  larvfe  and  imagines  Avith  similar  habits  may  both  bear  a 
strong  resemblance  to  each  other.  Thus  the  larva?  and  pupaj  of  Viminia 
venosa  and  V.  rumicis  show  throughout  a  very  strong  resemblance, 
which  rejiresents  a  real  relationship,  whilst  their  imagines  are  as 
different  as  can  well  be  supposed,  indeed,  until  (piite  recently,  Viminia 
venosa  was,  on  the  strength  of  its  imaginal  appearance,  separated 
generically  from  rumicis,  and  its  superficial  resemblance  in  the  imago 
state  led  to  a  general  belief  among  entomologists  that  it  was  allied  to 


194  TSfi  entomologist's  recohd. 

the  genus  Lencania  (a  jDurely  Agrotid  genvis).  Then  there  is  the 
remarkable  brotherhood  of  Cvsjmlia  tridens  and  ps/,  whose  larvae, 
under  very  similar  methods  of  life,  are  much  alike,  and  their  imagines 
(with  the  same  habits)  scarcely  distinguishable.  Under  such  conditions 
therefore,  it  is  evident  that  the  actual  relationship  of  allied  larvai  on 
the  one  hand,  of  imagines  on  the  other  hand  may,  among  Lepidoptera, 
be  very  much  obscured.  Where,  however,  their  conditions  of  life  are 
similar,  the  larva?,  although  active,  will  obey  more  or  less  perfectly  the 
law  of  embrj^onic  resemblance. 

4. — On  embryology  as  indicatinCx  lines  of  descent. — The  student 
in  dealing  with  this  cpiestion  hns  two  great  points  to  keep  in  mind ;  (1) 
whether  the  similarities  which  he  sees  are  phylogenetic,  that  is,  whether 
they  are  due  to  the  transitory  reappearance  of  the  characters  of  a 
bygone  epoch  in  the  ancestral  history,  or  (2)  whether  they  are  oecological 
in  their  origin  and  due  to  similar  relationship  of  the  animals  to  their 
organic  and  inorganic  environment.  The  characters  manifested  in  the 
egg-state  must  almost  of  necessity  belong  to  the  first  division ;  those  in 
the  active  larval  (considered  as  an  embryonic)  condition  may  belong  to 
the  first  or  second. 

As  Darwin  says :  "  We  are  so  much  accustomed  to  see  a  difference  in 
structure  between  the  embryo  and  the  adult,  that  we  are  tempted  to  look 
at  this  difference  as  in  some  necessary  manner  contingent  on  growth," 
but  it  must  be  agreed  that  there  is  no  reason,  if  such  were  the  case,  why 
the  whole  adult  system  should  not  be  sketched  out  in  the  earliest  stage, 
and  development  proceed  continuoiisly  along  these  lines  to  perfection 
instead  of  the  transitory  appearance  of  certain  structures  wliich  raj^idly 
disappear.  That  the  latter  hajjpens,  therefore,  shows  that  such  a 
supposition  as  the  above  is  wrong  in  princijile,  and  that  the  changes 
have  a  real  phylogenetic  significance. 

We  must  also  bear  in  mind  that  it  is  almost  imjDossible  for  the  same 
individual  to  show  all  the  stages  of  development  in  the  long  line  of 
descent  through  which  it  has  passed  ;  one  will  leave  out  some  (perhaps 
inany)  stages,  which  may  be  shown  in  others.  The  complete  study  of 
embryology  must,  in  time,  give  us  much  more  correct  notions  of  actual 
relationships  than  any  other  line  of  enquiry  ;  for  it  is  highly  probable 
that  the  embryonic  stages  show  us,  more  or  less  complete^,  the  line 
through  which  the  ancestral  form  has  been  developed,  to  produce  the 
present  condition  of  its  offspring.  It  is  to  embryology,  therefore,  that 
we  must  look,  to  furnish  us  with  the  clue  to  the  true  relationships 
which  exist  between  animals,  and  a  true  genealogical  classification  can 
only  be  formulated  by  the  aid  of  the  knowledge  which  it  contributes. 
W^e  aim  at  obtaining  a  "  natural  system."  What  is  this  but  an  indica- 
tion of  the  line  of  descent  of  the  various  sj)ecies  we  study  and  their 
connection  with  each  other  ?  Can  we  wonder,  therefore,  that,  in  the 
eyes  of  most  naturalists,  the  structure  of  the  embryo  is  of  more  importance 
than  that  of  the  adult  ?  Darwin  says : — "  In  two  or  more  gTOups  of 
animals,  however  much  they  may  differ  from  each  other  in  structure  and 
habits  in  their  adult  condition,  if  they  pass  through  closely  similar  em- 
bryonic stages,  we  may  feel  assured  that  all  are  descended  from  one 
parent-form,  and  are,  therefore,  closely  related.  Thus,  community  in 
embryonic  structure,  reveals  community  of  descent ;  but  dissimilarity 
in  embryonic  development  does  not  prove  discommunity  of  descent ; 
for  in   one  of  two  groups  the  developmental  stages  may  have  been 


THE   LlPE-HlSTOllY   OF    A    LEPIDOPTeHOUS    liJSECT.  195 

suppressed,  or  may  have  been  so  greatly  modified  through  adaptation 
to  new  habits  of  Hfe,  as  to  be  no  longer  recognisable.  Even  in  groups, 
in  Avhich  the  adults  have  been  modified  to  an  extreme  degree,  community 

of  origin  is  often  revealed  by  the  structure  of  the  larva3 As 

the  embryo  often  shows  us  more  or  less  plainly  the  structure  of  the  less 
modified  and  ancient  progenitor  of  the  group,  we  can  see  why  ancient 
and  extinct  forms  so  often  resemble  in  their  adult  state,  the  embryos  of 

existing  species  of  the  same  classes Entomology  rises  greatly 

in  interest,  when  we  look  at  the  embryo  as  a  picture,  more  or  less 
obscured,  of  the  progenitor,  either  in  its  adult  or  larval  state,  of  all  the 
members  of  the  same  great  class." 

In  this  slender  outline  of  the  subject,  I  can  only  hope  to  have  said 
enough  to  convince  my  readers  of  the  importance  of  the  study  of  em- 
bryology. I  trust,  too,  that  it  will  be  evident  to  entomologists,  why  it 
is  no  longer  possible  to  rest  content  with  systems  of  classification,  based 
upon  imaginal  features  (palpi,  wing-markings,  neuration,  &g.)  and  why, 
more  and  more,  scientific  men  are  demanding  that  classification  shall 
take  into  account  the  whole  life-history. 


gCIENTIFIC  NOTES  &  OBSERVATIONS. 

On  eggs  as  helping  to  determine  natural  affinities. — With 
reference  to  that  portion  of  Mr.  Tutt's  paper  (Ent.  Bee,  vol.  v.,  p.  142) 
which  deals  with  this  subject,  I  should  like  to  be  allowed  to  make  a 
few  remarks.  As  far  as  I  am  aware,  entomology  is  the  only  branch  of 
zoology  which  has  clung  tenaciously  to  the  doctrine,  well  expressed  by 
Haeckel's  terse  phrase  (GenercUe  Morphologic,  1866),  "  ontogeny  recapi- 
tulates phylogeny,"  in  an  approximately  literal  sense,  and  although  I 
will  not  accuse  Mr.  Tutt  or  any  other  thoughtful  entomologist  of  enter- 
taining the  notion  that  all  moths  at  present  existing  have  sprung  from 
ancestors,  each  of  which  resembled  the  egg  that  the  imago  now  develops 
from,  yet,  nevertheless,  there  seems  to  be  an  undercurrent  of  feeling 
pervading  entomological  literature,  the  tendency  of  which  is  to  consider 
Le])idoptera  with  similar  ova  as  more  closely  allied  than  those  with 
dissimilar  ones ;  this  I  hold  to  be  quite  unsupported  by  facts,  and  cpiite 
at  variance  with  the  conclusions  to  be  drawn  from  other  developmental 
histories.  Anyone  who  has  glanced  at  the  rudiments  of  general 
embryology  must  be  aware  of  the  extremely  diverse  embryonic  types 
of  many  families,  genera,  or  even  species ;  e.g.  in  the  well-known  case 
of  BalanogJossns  Jioioalcwshn  and  B.  kilpfferi,  the  latter  closely  resembles 
in  its  Tornaria  stage  a  free-swimming  star-fish  larva,  and  was  in  fact 
originally  mistaken  for  one,  while  the  former  has  an  opaque  larva 
which  burrows  in  mud.  These  facts,  and  many  others  which  could  be 
brought  forward  indicative  of  a  completely  difi"erent  fundamental 
organization  in  the  larva  of  undoubtedly  allied  genera,  show,  I  think, 
the  absurdity  of  basing  any  classification  on  such  points  of  similarity 
in  ova  as  number  of  ribs  or  external  outline,  wlxich  seems  to  me  like 
trying  to  classify  birds  b}"-  the  number  of  spots  on  their  egg-shells.  In 
fact,  in  general,  I  think,  entomologists  are  far  too  apt  to  rely  on 
embryonic  peculiarities  for  purposes  of  classification  ;  e.g.  if  a  new 
caterpillar  were  discovered  to-morrow  with  foin*  claspers,  whatever  its 


196  THE  entomologist's  record. 

internal  structure  or  wliatever  peculiar  characteristics  the  imago  might 
possess,  it  would  almost  certainly  be  placed  among  the  Geometers,  and 
from  this  it  follows  that  a  heterogeneous  mixture  becomes  packed 
together  into  one  group ;  in  fact,  a  similar  mistake  was  originally  made 
by  Swammerdam,  and  subsequently  l)y  Lamarck  and  Newman,  in 
employing  the  degi'ee  of  metamorphosis  as  the  sole  ground  for  their 
primary  divisions  of  insects,  and  in  these  cases  it  was  soon  found  that 
closely  allied  forms,  such  as  LihelluUdae  and  Neuroptera  Avere  separated, 
while  other  cpiite  remote  forms,  e.cj.  Rhyncota  and  Orthoptera  were 
brought  together,  and  although  insect  classification  is  even  now  in  a 
very  undecided  condition,  the  tendency  seems  to  be  not  towards  a  system 
based  on  any  one  particular  set  of  characters  like  those  already  men- 
tioned, or  that  of  Fabricius  based  on  the  structure  and  function  of  the 
mouth  parts,  or  that  of  Linnaeus  based  on  the  comparative  development 
and  form  of  the  wings,  but  towards  a  system  which  has  for  its  foundation 
a  combination  of  all  these  characters  and  others  besides,  such  as  that  of 
Latreille  or  of  Westwood.  In  consequence  of  this,  naturally  related 
forms  are  now  brought  closer  together,  and  the  groups  now  recognised 
are  more  uniform  and  more  homogeneous  than  in  the  past;  but, 
nevertheless,  even  now  too  little  attention  seems  to  be  bestowed  on  the 
internal  organisation  of  insects  and,  perhaps,  especially  of  Lepidoptera, 
and  I  need  hardly  remind  any  of  the  readers  of  this  magazine  that 
perhaps  the  most  dangerous  maxim  for  a  scientific  man  to  follow  is 
that  of  resting  on  the  laurels  won  for  him  by  his  forefathers. — F.  P. 
Bedford,  326,  Camden  Koad,  N.     July  7th,  ]  894. 

I  print  the  above  because  it  purports  to  be  a  criticism  of  what 
I  myself  have  written,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  appear  to  act  unfairly  by 
suppressing  such  criticism  ;  but  I  must  own  that  I  have  not  the  slightest 
conception  of  the  way  in  which  the  criticism  cuts,  or  how  it  is  sujiposed 
to  touch  the  facts  that  I  dealt  with.  It  is  interesting  to  learn  that 
"  entomology  is  the  only  branch  of  zoology  which  has  clung  tenaciously  " 
to  Haeckel's  famous  phrase ;  as  a  matter  of  fact,  entomological  writings 
as  a  rule,  are  wonderfully  lacking  in  even  the  simjjlest  rudiments  of  such 
scientific  assumptions,  and  I  should  be  pleased  to  have  references  to 
articles  in  which  this  '*  tenacious  clinging  "  is  expressly  shown.  Is 
there  any  entomologist,  thoughtful  or  otherwise,  who  believes  that 
"  moths  have  sprung  from  ancestors  each  of  which  resembled  the  egg 
that  the  imago  now  developes  from  "  ?  The  suggestion  that  some  do, 
shows  that  the  person  who  could  imagine  that  any  entomologists  believe 
such  a  thing,  either  denies  the  possession  of  common  sense  by  entomo- 
logists, or  else  is  stating  his  own  peculiar  views  on  Haeckel's  biological 
principle. 

"  Nevertheless,  there  seems  to  be  an  undercurrent to  consider 

Lepidoptera,  with  similar  ova,  as  more  closely  allied  than  those  with  dis- 
similar ones  ;  this  I  hold  to  be  unsupported  by  '  facts.'  "  I  am  pleased  to 
hear  that  there  is  such  an  undercurrent,  for  there  can  be  no  doubt  of 
its  general  truth  ;  of  this,  a  suigle  season's  observation  in  the  field  would 
convince  anyone  with  average  powers  of  observation. 

"  These  facts indicative  of  a  completely  different  fundamental 

organisation  in  tlic  larva?  of  undoubtedl^r  allied  genera,  etc."  If  there 
is  a  completely  different  fundamental  organisation  in  the  larvas  of  two 
undoul  )tedly  allied  genera,  I  should  be  interested  to  know  why  they  are 
so  "  undoubtedly  allied."     My  notion  of  relationship  or  alhance   has 


SCIENTIFIC    NOTES    AND    OBSERVATIONS.  197 

always  been  that  it  is  indicated  by  a  connection,  similarity  or  resemblance 
in  fundamental  organisation. 

''  Tliese  ....  show,  I  think,  the  absurdity  of  basing  any  classification 
on  such  points  of  similarity  in  ova,  as  the  number  of  the  ribs,  &c." 
Will  Mr.  Bedford  kindly  give  us  the  name  of  any  entomologist  who 
has  based  a  system  of  classification  on  the  number  of  ribs  in  ova. 

"  In  fact,  entomologists  are  far  too  apt  to  rely  on  embryonic  peculi- 
arities for  purpose  of  classification."  This  is  refreshing.  I  have  been 
working  for  a  long  time  at  entomology  now,  but  have  never  come 
across  any  writings  (at  least,  in  Britain)  in  which  this  has  been  done. 
I  may  have  overlooked  them,  in  spite  of  a  very  strong  desire  to  read 
such,  and  shall  be  very  glad  to  be  furnished  with  the  names  of  a  few. 
With  regard  to  the  assertion  that  if  a  larva  were  found  to-morrow  with 
four  claspers,  &c.,  it  would  certainly  be  placed  in  the  Grcometers,  I 
would  recommend  that  Mr.  Bedford  should  write  to  Dr.  Chapman  or  to 
Professor  Poulton,  or  even  to  a  few  less-well-known  giants,  and  propound 
to  them  the  following  conundrum : — "  If  a  larva  were  found  to-morrow 
with  four  prolegs :  In  spite  of  its  internal  economy,  where  would  you 
place  it  ?  "  I  have  no  doubt  the  final  destination  of  that  larva  would 
be  a  matter  of  profound  interest  to  many. 

The  next  phrase  "  that  a  heterogeneous  mixture  is  placed  in  one 
group  "  based  on  such  assumptions  as  these  is  very  ingenuous.  Does 
Mr.  Bedford  mean  to  say  that  the  Geometers  are  such,  and  if  so,  will  he 
kindly  give  us  the  exi^erimental  evidence  from  their  "  internal  struc- 
ture "  which  separates  them,  and  tell  us  how  they  should  be  separated. 
We  are  willing  to  learn,  but  we  cannot  pick  up  much  from  such  bald 
statements  as  these. 

I  am  quite  willing  to  believe  that  Swammerdam,  Lamarck,  and 
Newman  were  very  naughty  men,  and  did  much  to  trouble  the  minds 
of  those  who  should  follow  after  them,  but  I  am  pleased  to  hear  from 
Mr.  Bedford  that  something  has  been  done,  and  I  am  not  even  much 
alarmed  to  find  that  "  insect  classification  "  is  now  in  a  very  undecided 
condition. 

How  joyfully  I  subscribe  to  the  next  sentence  need  hardly  be  said. 
"  The  tendency  seems  to  be  not  towards  a  system  based  on  any  one 

particular  set  of  characters but  towards  a  system  wliich  has  for 

its  foundation  a  combination  of  all  these  characters."  Such  a  statement 
as  this,  I  welcome  from  any  and  every  source.  I  have  proclaimed  the 
same  truth  in  season  and  out  of  season,  wherever  and  whenever  I  have 
had  the  cliance,  and  so  have  a  number  of  other  entomologists  as  well. 

How  Mr.  Bedford  can  consider  that  the  class  of  people,  who  would 
put  any  caterpillar  with  four  prolegs  into  the  Geometers  in  spite  of 
internal  peculiarities,  who  have  learned  from  observation  that  certain 
great  resemblances  are  to  be  found  in  the  early  stages  (eggs,  larva?  and 
pupa?)  and  give  broad  clues  for  classification,  and  who  have  hammered 
away  at  these  points,  can  possibly  have  produced  a  system  in  which 
"  naturally  related  forms  are  now  brought  closer  together,"  so  that  "  the 
groups  now  recognised  are  more  uniform  and  more  homogeneous  than 
in  the  past,"  is  beyond  my  comprehension,  considering  the  general 
contempt  he  shows  for  them  in  the  first  part  of  his  article  ;  I  would  add 
that  when  Mr.  Bedford  (whose  work  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  do  not  know) 
has  worked  out  and  publislied  an  account  of  the  "  internal  organisation  " 
of  one  small  genus  of  insects  that  will  bear  even  a  remote  comparison 


198  THE  entomologist's  record. 

with  Dr.  Chapman's  essay  on  "  The  genus  Acronycta  and  its  allies," 
based  on  their  external  structure,  then  we  shall  be  able  to  judge  how 
far  we  are  all  Avrong  in  our  methods  of  work,  and  how  much  reason 
there  is  for  considering  Mr.  Bedford  as  a  "  Projohet  in  Israel." — J.  W. 
TuTT.     July  10th,  1894. 

On  hybernation  in  the  egg  stage. — Last  autumn  I  took  on  ivy 
a  female  Xanthia  aurago,  which  laid  a  few  eggs  shortly  afterwards. 
Tlie  majority  of  these  began  to  change  within  a  week  or  two,  and  were 
leaden-coloured,  with  the  young  larva3  ready  to  emerge,  before  the  end 
of  November.  They  remained  in  this  condition  till  the  spring,  hatch- 
ing at  the  end  of  March  or  beginning  of  April.  (As  I  sleeved  them  on 
beech  I  cannot  give  the  exact  date  of  hatching).  The  remaining  eggs, 
that  did  not  change,  shrivelled  up  after  a  time,  showing  that  they  were 
infertile.  I  found  the  larvae  nearly  full-fed  in  the  sleeve  towards  the 
end  of  May,  and  they  soon  afterwards  began  to  pupate.  This  ex- 
perience of  the  larva  hybernating  in  the  shell  is  similar  to  that  which 
I  recorded  in  this  Magazine  last  year  (vol.  iv.,  p.  172),  and  it  seems 
probable  that  it  is  the  usual  occurrence  with  this  species,  and  that  Mr. 
Buckler's  (Mr.  Hellins'  ?)  description  of  the  larva  being  undeveloped 
in  the  egg  till  early  in  the  year,  which  Mr.  Tutt  quotes  in  the  July 
number  (p.  168)  as  a  constant  condition,  is  exceptional. — W.  S.  Eiding, 
M.l).,  Buckerell,  Honiton.     Jult/  20th,  1894. 

On  immunity  from  grease. — Mr.  C.  S.  Coles  asks  in  your  issue  for 
March  (p.  72)  if  any  explanation  can  be  given  why  specimens  set  more 
than  twenty  years  ago  are  perfectly  free  from  grease,  verdigris  and 
mites.  For  some  years  past  I  have  received  many  specimens  from 
Southern  India,  and  have  been  struck  with  the  perfect  immunity  from 
grease  of  them  all,  not  a  single  one  out  of  hundreds  being  affected,  not 
even  the  thick-bodied  moths.  On  the  other  hand,  my  own  captures  in 
England  have  suffered  from  the  common  enemy.  In  both  cases  I  use 
white  pins,  and  the  treatment  generally  is  the  same,  but  there  is  this 
difference  : — the  Indians  are  not  pinned  or  relaxed  imtil  they  are  bone 
dry  and  brittle,  being  sent  home  in  papers,  whereas  the  Britishers  have 
been  pinned  and  set  as  soon  as  possible.  Is  this  a  likely  explanation  ? 
Perhaps  other  collectors  of  troi^ical  specimens  will  give  us  the  benefit 
of  their  observations.  I  am  subjecting  all  this  year's  captures,  by  way 
of  experiment,  to  a  thorough  drying  before  pinning,  as  I  conceive  this 
must  have  an  apjjreciable  effect  on  the  ultimate  condition. — Jno.  Pratt, 
The  Cedars,  New  Barnet. 

A  remarkable  incident. — Last  night,  upon  going  into  my  larval 
room,  I  found  that  during  the  day  several  imagines  of  Bombyx  quercns 
had  emerged  and  developed.  I  put  three  of  these  (two  males  and  a 
female)  into  a  cardboard  box.  Upon  lifting  the  lid  about  ten  minutes 
afterwards,  I  was  astonished  to  find  the  two  males  in  copulation  (if  I 
may  be  allowed  the  term),  the  spinster  being  quite  deserted.  These 
two  males  remained  paired  for  about  an  hour  and  a  half  before  sepa- 
rating. On  the  surface,  neither  of  them  appears  to  me  to  bear  any 
marking  distinctive  from  ordinary  males,  with  the  excejjtion,  perhaps, 
of  the  abdomen  of  one  of  them,  which  has  a  slightly  feminine  look 
about  it.  I  have  never  previously  met  with  a  similar  incident,  and 
think  that  one  of  these  "  males  "  may  perhaps  be  hermaphroditic  in  its 
internal  structure. — Alfred  J.  Johnson,  Erdington.     July  16th,  189-4. 

The  two  males  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph  were  sent  to 


CUBBENT   NOTES.  199 

me  by  the  Editor  foi*  examination.  To  all  appearance  they  were  both 
normal  specimens  of  male  B.  quercus,  and  in  no  way  approximated  to 
the  structure  of  the  female.  I  concluded,  from  my  examination  of 
them  with  the  naked  eye,  that  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were 
placed  had  caused  their  genital  structures  to  become  accidentally  en- 
tangled ;  nevertheless,  I  at  once  i)repared  them  for  the  microscope,  only 
to  lind,  as  I  expected,  that  both  were  typical  males.  Taking  into  con- 
sideration the  curious  structure  of  the  genitalia,  which  consist  of  a  pair 
of  backward  hooks  that  appear  to  be  a  modification  of  the  Harpes,  and 
a  single,  very  strong  hook,  almost  at  the  extreme  apex  of  the  abdomen 
(the  Uncus),  and  all  exserted,  one  is  not  surprised  that  some  entangle- 
ment of  the  ancillary  organs  took  place  under  the  conditions  in  which 
these  individuals  were  placed.  It  is  well  known  that  tlie  females  of 
this  si^ecies  have  the  power  of  producing  extraordinary  sexual  excite- 
ment in  the  males,  as  is  evidenced  by  what  is  termed  "  assembling." — 
F.  N.  PiEucE,  7,  The  Elms,  Dingle,  Liverpool.     Juli/  27th,  1894. 


gURRENT    NOTES. 


In  concluding  his  paper  on  the  Nepticulas  {E.M.M.,  pp.  150-4)  Dr. 
Wood  discusses  the  power  of  the  larva?  of  this  genus  and  of  Lithocolletis, 
to  delay  the  ripening  and  death  of  the  part  of  the  leaf  they  are  occupy- 
ing. The  leaf  "  shall  have  put  on  its  red  or  yellow  autumnal  tint,  it 
shall  even  have  dropped  from  the  tree,  have  died  and  turned  brown,  but 
the  area  in  which  the  larva  is  feeding  will  remain  alive  and  green,  not 
merely  for  days,  but  for  weeks,  provided  it  be  not  exposed  to  excessive 
dryness."  It  has  been  suggested  that  the  afflux  of  sap  brought  about 
by  the  larva  is  the  cause  of  this,  but  Dr.  Wood  considers  that  "  looking 
at  one  of  these  green  patches,  with  its  margins  fading  gradually  into 
the  surrounding  brown  area,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  escape  the  con- 
viction that,  it  is  produced  by  some  substance  we  may  call  a  poison,  or 
a  preservative,  which,  taken  up  by  the  sap  is  carried  to  the  cells,  and 
being  appropriated  in  its  progress,  gets  more  diluted  and  attenuated  the 
further  it  travels."  Dr.  Wood  cannot  tell  us  what  the  substance  is,  or 
how  it  is  excreted,  but  "  the  whole  of  its  singular  influence  over  the 
leaf  is  exercised  "  when  the  larva  is  very  young,  and  making  its  pre- 
liminary gallery,  and  that  some  substance  is  then  produced  which  beino- 
absorbed  by  the  vascular  bundles,  among  which  the  creature  is  burro win<>-, 
gets  distributed  to  the  jDarts  of  the  leaf  they  supply,  where  it  is  talven 
up  and  appropriated  by  the  cells.  The  remarks  bearing  on  gall-forma- 
tion are  also  most  interesting.  The  independent  life  of  that  part  of  the 
oak-leaf  in  which  the  larva  of  N.  suhbimacnlella  is,  long  after  the  leaf 
has  fallen  from  the  tree  and  is  dried,  shrunken  and  dead,  must  make  as 
great  an  impression  on  others  as  it  did  on  Dr.  Wood.  But  the  essay 
is  too  good  to  be  treated  like  this  ;  those  who  are  interested  in  Nature's 
wonderful  methods  of  work,  must  read  the  original. 

From  the  Daily  Chronicle  of  July  16th,  1894,  we  learn  that  "  the 
effect  of  a  hot  summer,  followed  by  a  mild,  dry  winter,  is  ah-eady 
beginning  to  be  felt  in  Scotland  in  the  presence  of  a  plague  of  cater- 
pillars. The  pest,  which  is  for  the  moment  devastating  various 
districts,  is  the  larva  of   the  antler  moth  (Charaeas  graminis),  wliose 


200  THE  entomologist's  record. 

special  weakness  is  grass.  Miss  Ormerod  tells  us  that  in  1884  these 
caterpillars  devastated  an  area  of  about  ten  miles  in  extent  of  the 
mountainous  parts  of  Glamorganshire,  and  next  year  spread  over  a 
tract  of  about  seven  by  five  miles  in  Selkirkshire.  The  district  at 
present  infested  is  that  in  which  the  voles  have  been  doing  so  much 
damage ;  only  the  mischief  done  by  the  caterpillars  is  so  great  that  the 
graziers  are  looking  back  almost  with  affection  to  the  more  merciful 
plague  of  mice.  It  is  possible  that  the  drenching  rains  of  the  past 
week  may  check  the  increase  of  the  larv^.  Tor  it  is  noticed  that  a 
sudden  wetting  or  raj^id  change  in  the  state  of  their  food  induces 
violent  purging,  which  soon  reduces  the  grub  to  a  mere  empty  skin." 


Iractical  hints. 


I  want  to  recommend  the  use  of  methylated  spirit  instead  of  rum 
for  mixing  with  the  sugar ;  the  attracting  power  seems  to  be  greatly 
increased  thereby.  —(Rev.)  C.  R.  N.  Burrows,  Rainham.  July  23rd!, 
1894. 

Flies  always  pester  me  to  infuriation.  I  have  found  that  a  liberal 
sprinkling  of  Eucalyptus  oil  on  the  coat  collar  and  face  deters  them 
from  annoying  me. — F.  J.  Buckell,  M.B. 


.^loTICES    AND    REVIEWS. 

Woodside,  Burnside,  HiUside  and  Marsh,  by  J.  W.  Tutt,  F.E.S. — In 
his  new  volume  Mr.  Tutt  gives  us  a  second  series  of  sympathetic  pic- 
tures of  rustic  scenery,  of  birds,  flowers,  and  insects ;  and  these  sketches 
are  even  more  idyllic,  and  perhaps  also  more  matured,  tlian  tliose  which 
were  presented  to  us  in  Random  Recollections  of  Woodland,  Fen  and  Hill. 
An  eminent  Canadian  has  recently  urged  the  desirability,  in  this  age  of 
science,  of  the  cultivation  of  the  humanities.  Such  a  pleasant  blending 
of  these  two — surely  not  absolutely  oj^posing  elements — as  Mr.  Tutt's 
work  displays,  is  unfortunately,  however,  rarely  met  with.  We  open  a 
book  full  of  profound  learning :  it  appals  and  reiiels  us  by  its  techni- 
calities, its  dry  and  frigid  style.  We  pick  uj)  a  volume  written  by  a 
master  of  charming  language,  and  perha2:)s  find  therein  much  that  will 
scarcely  stand  the  test  of  close  and  sober  reasoning.  Here,  however,  we 
have  a  work  which,  if  not  of  the  highest  literary  merit,  is  at  least  clearly 
and  intelligently  written,  and  the  scientific  information  contained  in 
whose  pages  has  been  compiled  in  the  full  light  of  the  latest  discoveries 
and  speculations.  It  is  eminently  a  book  which  urges  us  to  throw  off  the 
"  old  Adam  "  of  the  collector,  and  to  attempt  to  penetrate  farther  and 
yet  farther  still  into  the  arcana  natwne.  The  author  carries  us  in  spirit 
through  some  of  the  scenes  in  which  Mr.  Pickwick  and  his  satellites 
displayed  their  many-sided  abilities.  The  first  chapter,  giving  a  glimpse 
of  the  Kentish  Woods  with  their  thickets  and  flower-bestrewn  clear- 
ings, introduces  us  to  the  famous  Inn  at  Cobham  with  its  memories  of 
Dickens,  and  we  almost  sight  in  passing  the  home  of  the  great  novelist 
at  Gads  Hill.     The  third  describes  the  chalk  hills  and  downs  in  the 


NOTICES    AND    REVIEWS.  201 

neiglibourbood  of  Kochester  on  a  brilliant  day  in  July  ;  the  fourtb,  tbe 
mysterious  and,  to  a  mind  not  attuned  to  tbe  minor  key  of  nature,  tlie 
rather  dreary  marshes  and  meadows  on  the  banks  of  the  Medway  and 
the  Thames.  But  though  these  may  appear  monotonous  to  tbe  super- 
ficial observer,  how  wonderful  are  the  inhabitants  of  tlieir  pools  and 
swamps.  Tbe  second  chapter,  however,  leads  us  far  away  from  Kent, 
and  we  are  wandering  over  the  glorious  hills  and  valleys  of  the  High- 
lands, where  we  see,  midst  other  sights  strange  to  southern  eyes,  water- 
falls, burns,  lochs,  precipices,  rocky  crags  and  towering  mountains. 
But  whilst  we  are  all  nature-lovers,  it  is  the  entomological  portions  of 
the  book  which  will  appeal  most  strongly  to  readers  of  the  Entomologists' 
Record ;  and  here,  revelling  in  his  own  pet  subject,  our  author  is  tread- 
ing on  firm  ground — be  is  on  the  chalky  hillside,  not  on  tbe  yielding 
marsh.  Many  are  the  references  to  the  close  and  important  connection 
between  plants  and  insects  ;  we  are  shown  the  Bee-hawk  moth  extract- 
ing the  honey,  Avbilst  on  tlie  wing,  from  the  masses  of  bloom  of  the 
rhododendrons  ;  the  little  Tortrix  in  its  myriads  and  the  Plume,  in 
company  with  the  bees,  visiting  the  heather,  and  taking  from  its 
abundant  nectar  for  their  sustenance.  We  are  led  to  examine  more 
closely  and  to  observe  bow  fertilisation  is  accomplished  by  these  means  ; 
to  dive  deeper  still  into  the  mysteries  of  nature,  and  to  perceive  that 
tbe  flowers  which  are  most  inconspicuous  and  those  whose  colours  are 
lowest  in  genetic  sequence  are  frequently  provided  with  delicate  odours, 
as  if  in  compensation  for  their  meek  humility,  and  it  dawns  upon  us 
that  the  plants  are  really  bidding  for  the  bees.  But  here  we  must 
quote  Mr.  Tutt's  own  words,  linking  this  attractiveness  of  flowers  for 
insects  with  the  difficult  and  complex  question  of  tbe  relative  develop- 
ment of  the  different  senses  of  the  latter.     He  says  : — 

"  Let  us  see  whether  we  can  discover  at  least  some  of  the  uses  of 
scents  in  flowers.  Have  you  ever  heard  of  the  wonderful  keenness  of 
tbe  sense  of  smell  in  insects  ?  Watch  yon  white  butterfly  !  It  is  flit- 
ting along  the  hedge,  but  suddenly  leaves  it,  as  a  piece  of  white  paper  is 
gently  blown  by  the  passing  breeze  along  the  road.  The  butterfly  flies 
to  the  paper,  toys  with  it,  leaving  it  only  to  return  again  and  again. 
Catch  it  carefully !  Do  not  injure  it !  It  is  tbe  Small  White  Butterfly 
(Pier is  rapae).  Whatever  did  it  mean  by  fluttering  so  lovingly  around 
a  moving  piece  of  white  paper  ?  Ah  !  there  are  two  other  butterflies 
of  the  same  species  really  love-making.  Tbe  male  butterfly  flutters  al)out 
and  postures  himself,  evidently  to  make  himself  agreeable  to  bis  lady- 
love ;  but  the  piece  of  white  paper  is  gently  blown  along  the  road  again, 
and  he  leaves  the  lady  to  toy  around  the  piece  of  paper  as  his  predecesspr 
bad  done.  He  flutters  and  postures  around  tbe  piece  of  paper  as  he  did 
about  the  lady,  and  appears  to  detect  no  difference  between  the  shadow 
and  the  reality.  Once  or  twice  he  approaches  the  paper  with  his 
antenucB,  and  then  in  a  very  short  time  he  satisfies  himself  tliat  tbe 
paper  is  a  fraud  and  delusion,  and  flies  off.  The  female  butterfly  still 
lingers  on  the  hedgeside  yonder,  and  soon  the  reci-eant  and  fickle  knight 
spies  her,  and  love-making  recommences.  Strange,  you  say,  that  tbe 
white  butterfly  cannot  distinguish  between  a  piece  of  white  ])aper  and 
a  lady  of  its  own  kind ;  but  so,  at  first,  it  really  was,  and  only  a  close 
inspection  with  its  antennae  enabled  it  to  discern  the  difference." 

"  If  you  examine  carefully  the  butterfly  which  you  captured,  you 
will  find  that  its  eyes  are  large  and  well-developed  ;  each  consists  really 


202  THE  entomologist's  record. 

of  quite  a  mass  of  eyes,  all  bound  together,  each  of  which  has  a  separate 
hexagonal  facet,  the  surface  of  the  compound  eye  being  strongly  convex. 
Yet  with  such  an  apparently  well-developed  eye,  the  organ  as  an  optical 
instrument  is  very  defective  ;  practical  experiment  has  proved  that  with 
the  exception  of  a  remarkable  power  to  discriminate  masses  of  colour, 
of  a  keen  appreciation  of  slight  differences  of  light  and  shade,  and  of 
an  ability  to  recognise  objects  in  motion,  the  eyes  of  most  insects  are 
practically  useless,  and  so  far  as  the  sight  of  the  white  butterfly  is  con- 
cerned, we  have  seen  that  it  is  attracted  by  anything  of  its  own  colour 
as  quickly  as  l)y  a  female  of  its  own  kind."  What  an  overturning  of 
many  of  our  old  ideas  ! 

Mr.  Tutt's  great  subject,  "  Variation,"  too,  is  once  more  in  evidence. 
The  vagaries  of  the  Carpet  moths  are  glanced  at.  These  are  discovered 
both  in  the  wood  and  on  the  mountain  side,  now  as  patches  and 
scars  on  the  tree-trunks,  now  as  lepidopterous  cracks  and  crannies  of 
the  rocks.  The  blackening  of  the  resting-places  of  moths  by  the  vast 
and  continuous  eruptions  of  smoke  in  manufacturing  centres  is  ex- 
plained, and  the  great  axiom  is  driven  home  that  nothing  in  nature  is 
fixed,  everything  is  variable  and  capable  of  adaptation  to  its  surround- 
ings, this  adaptation  ensuring  the  continued  existence  of  the  species. 
Besides,  of  course,  the  form  and  origin  of  markings  which  are  pro- 
tective are  speculated  upon,  and,  speaking  of  the  metallic  spots  and 
blotches  displayed  on  the  underside  of  the  larger  Fritillaries  (Argi/miis 
aglakt  being  the  species  particularly  referred  to),  Mr.  Tutt  writes  : — 

"  We  may  obtain  a  clue  to  the  manner  in  whicli  these  silver  spots 
have  been  developed  from  the  relatives  of  this  butterfly.  Very  many 
of  these  have  sjiots  somewhat  similar  in  shape  and  position  to  those  we 
see  liere,  but  in  some  species  they  are  pale  yellow,  in  others  white, 
whilst  in  many  the  spots  are  more  or  less  of  this  metallic  character.  Is 
there  any  connection  between  the  three  colours  ?  Yes,  it  would  appear 
from  what  we  know  that  one  is  derived  from  the  other  ;  probably  the 
yellow  gives  rise  to  white,  and  this  in  turn  to  the  metallic  silveiy  white. 
In  a  vei'y  near  relation,  the  High  Brown  Fritillary  (Argi/nnis  adippe), 
we  find  specimens  which  shows  every  possible  gradation  of  size  and 
development,  as  regards  the  spots,  from  entire  absence  of  silver  when 
the  spots  are  pale  yellow  or  whitish,  until  the  spots  unite  to  form  silvery 
streaks.  Here,  then,  the  transition  is  very  evident,  and  when  we  turn 
to  those  species  in  which  the  silver  markings  are  now  so  fixed  and  con- 
stant, there  can  be  but  little  doubt  in  our  minds  that  the  development 
has  been  a  result  of  natural  selection,  and  is  of  the  greatest  possible 
service  to  the  insect.  The  insect  before  us  closes  its  wings.  How  in- 
conspicuous it  at  once  becomes,  for,  as  it  clings  closely  to  a  thistle-head, 
the  shiny  spots  resemble  very  distinctly  the  shiny  bracts  around  the 
capitulum  on  which  the  sun  is  shining." 

But  the  other  orders  of  insects  are  not  neglected,  nor  is  the  economic 
side  of  our  science  forgotten.  We  have  discpiisitions  on  galls,  and  on 
the  damage  caused  by  Sesia,  Zeuzera,  Agrotis,  Torlrix  and  many  others 
whose  habits  of  living  are  so  destructive  to  trees,  roots  and  grain.  The 
varying  metamorphoses  of  the  dragon  flies  ond  grasshoi:)pers,  and  the 
economies  of  the  social  Hymenoptera,  are  described  and  commented  on, 
and  while  dealing  with  the  last,  Mr.  Tutt  gives  the  following  explana- 
tion of  the  origin  of  the  system  of  slavery  prevalent  in  the  nests  of 
certain  ants  : — 


NOTICES    AND    REVIEWS.  203 

"  How  this  slave-making  instinct  originated  is  doubtful.  It  is  well 
known  that  ants  which  are  not  slave-makers  will  carry  off  pupaj  of 
other  s^Decies,  to  be  used  for  food.  If  these  pupte  hatched  before  they 
w^ere  requii-ed  for  that  purpose,  they  would  naturally  do  such  work  as 
they  would  have  done  in  their  own  nest,  and  their  presence  proving 
useful  to  those  in  whose  nests  they  found  themselves,  the  collection  of 
pupai  would  probably  be  persevered  in,  and  in  time  such  collection  may 
have  become  the  sole  aim  of  certain  species,  their  household  duties  in 
the  same  manner  becoming  gradually  and  at  last  entirely  delegated  to 
their  prisoners." 

And  now,  when  the  evening  is  fast  drawing  on,  and  whilst  the  air  ' 
is  perfumed  with  the  sweet  scent  of  the  "  Wood-mother,"  as  the 
Spaniards  poetically  term  the  honeysuckle,  we  j^art  company  with  our 
Mentor.  He  leads  us  out  of  the  marsh  and  leaves  us  beneath  a  haw- 
thorn bush,  looking  out  over  the  weird  flat  country,  and  we  are  alone 
with  Nature — alone,  but  with  a  feeling  of  gladness  and  peace,  for  are  we 
not  in  the  presence  of  the  Great  Mother  whose  manifold  and  wondrous 
works  he  has  been  endeavouring  to  make  us  more  rightly  and  more 
clearly  understand.  We  have  only  lightly  skimmed  this  charming 
book,  whose  attractiveness  is  greatly  heightened  by  copious  illustrations  ; 
it  is  a  volume  which  will  and  must  be  read  by  every  reasoning,  right- 
thinking  entomologist. — A.  F.  Bayne. 

Abstract  of  Proceedings  of  the  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural 
History  Society,  for  the  Years  1S92  and  1S93. — We  are  pleased  to  ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  this  volume,  and  to  bear  witness  to  the  libe- 
rality of  some  of  the  members  of  the  Society,  which  enables  the  Council 
to  publish  such  an  interesting  volume.  There  are  at  least  two  jDapers 
within  its  covers  which  would  raise  it  far  above  the  level  of  the  common- 
place, even  if  there  were  no  other  matter  of  interest  on  its  pages.  These 
are  the  Presidential  addresses  delivered  in  1892  by  Mr.  C.  Gr.  Barrett, 
and  in  1893  by  the  late  lamented  Mr.  J.  Jenner  Weir.  The  former  is 
essentially  an  essay  on  Mimicry  as  exhibited  in  our  native  lepidoptera, 
written  by  a  keen,  observant  and  enthusiastic  naturalist,  who  sees  more 
than  most  people,  remembers  what  he  sees,  and  conveys  clearly  to  his 
readers  his  own  ideas  of  the  bearing  of  the  observations  which  he 
makes.  It  is  an  address,  to  overlook  which  is  a  serious  loss  to  the 
lepidopterist  who  misses  it ;  an  address  which  every  student  will  re- 
quire for  reference  in  the  years  to  come.  The  other  address  is  equally 
valuable.  Thoughtful,  closely-reasoned,  and  scientific  is  the  criticism 
which  Mr.  Weir  offers  on  Science  as  it  is.  Sympathetic  and  genial  are 
his  references  to  those  whom  we  are  pleased  to  own  as  our  mastei's  in 
the  philosophical  natural  history  of  to-day.  Intelligent  and  scientific 
are  the  remarks  he  makes  on  those  points  of  the  subject  which  he 
touches.  It  is  a  remarkable  paper,  which  will  long  live  in  the  memory  of 
those  of  us  who  were  privileged  to  know  him.  But  these  papers  are 
by  no  means  all.  The  notes  accompanying  the  exhibits  made  by  Messrs. 
Adkin,  Weir,  South,  Tugwell,  Hawes  and  others,  are  worthy  of  all 
praise.  Three  other  papers,  "Kemarks  on  Pieris  napi  and  allied  forms," 
"Notes  on  the  Wet  and  Dry  Season  forms  of  certain  species  of 
Bhopidoccra  "  and  "  Isochromatous  Lepidoptera,"  by  Mr.  Weir ;  "  Notes 
on  the  Cocoons  of  Erlogaster  laneslris,"  ])y  Mr.  R.  Adkin  ;  "  On  the  un- 
usual abundance  of  Polyoinmatus  phloeas  in  1893,"  by  Mr.  Hawes,  to- 
gether with  other  papers  of  perhaps  equal  interest,  show  that  this  is  a 


204  THE  entomologist's  record. 

volume  wliicli,  from  a  scientific  point  of  view,  is  of  the  utmost  value, 
and  which  will  have  to  iind  a  place  on  the  book-shelves  of  all  entom- 
ologists who  wish  to  keep  their  knowledge  of  matters  entomological  up 
to  date,  and  who  wish  to  keep  au  courant  with  the  members  of  this 
Society.  The  work  is  inxblished  at  the  Society's  rooms,  Hiliernia 
Chambers,  London  Bridge,  S.E.,  and  its  price  is  three  shillings. — Ed. 


OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

Winchester. — The  weather  is  too  bad  for  words.  The  only  thing 
worthy  of  note  that  I  have  done  is  to  capture  seven  splendid  Trlphaaia 
suhsequa,  one  of  which  woke  me  in  my  bedroom  at  two  in  the  morning 
by  settling  on  my  face.  I  got  uj)  and  boxed  it  on  the  window  (most  of 
which  was  open),  being  too  sleepy  to  look  what  it  was — purely  out  of 
revenge  for  being  woken — meaning  to  slay  it  in  the  morning  for  rousing 
me  from  my  slumbers.  I  did  slay  it — blessing  and  not  cursing. — (liev.) 
G.  M.  A.  Hewett.     July  1894. 

Ireland. —  Stainton's  account  of  the  larva  of  Eubolia  mensnraria  is: — 
"  Hardly  known,  feeds  on  grass."  Between  the  loth  and  25th  of  June 
I  found  several  larvae  feeding  exclusively  on  vetch  by  night.  The 
ground  colour  is  dull  flesh-colour  with  rather  darker  linear  stripes  on 
the  back  and  a  row  of  black  lateral  stripes.  On  July  14th,  along  the 
shores  of  L.  Erne  I  took  a  hundred  and  fifty  Acentrojms  niiwns  flying 
about  the  flowers  of  P.  pecthiatum.  During  this  month  I  have  found 
larvaj  of  Pygaera  curtula  on  almost  every  sallow  bush. — W.  E.  H. 
Porter,  Belleisle,  Lisbellaw,  Co.  Fermanagh.     Jtily  24:th,  1894. 

Bainham,  Essex. —  Agrotis  ohscura  (rivnda)  swarms  here  this  year. 
From  July  5th,  when  I  captured  the  first  specimen,  up  to  the  present 
time  I  have  taken  in  all  96  specimens.  Many  of  them  are  very  finely 
marked.  They  begin  to  come  to  the  sugar  almost  as  soon  as  it  is  put 
on.  My  two  best  nights  were  July  21st  and  July  24th.  On  the  former 
I  secured  27  and  on  the  latter  17  specimens.  All  the  specimens  but 
one  were  taken  in  my  own  garden  ;  that  one  was  taken  about  a  mile 
away,  but  sugar  applied  in  several  directions  around  here  failed  to  yield 
any  more.  I  have  also  noticed  tliis  year  an  extraordinary  amount  of 
variation  in  A.  exclamationis,  and  have  taken  several  specimens  with  tlie 
stigmata  more  or  less  united.  My  experience  is  too  limited  to  enable 
me  to  say  whether  the  variation  is  out  of  the  common,  but  I  cannot 
help  thinking  that  many  of  the  common  species  are  given,  here  on  the 
marshy  ground,  to  considerable  deviation  ;  there  is  no  doubt  that  some 
are  very  different  from  the  forms  found  on  more  elevated  localities.  I 
have  had  some  strange  catches  this  year.  I  took  Dyschorista  snspecfa 
(which,  however,  is  fairly  frequent  at  Brentwood)  and  also  Erafitria 
fnf<cmn(i  (fmcnia)  in  my  garden.     I  thought  the  latter  was  a  wood  insect 

we  have  no  woods  at  all.     Acidalia  trigeminata  also  is  not  rare. — 

(Rev.)  C.  K.  N.  Burrows.     July  31s/',  1894. 


SOCIETIES. 

At  the  meeting  of  The  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural 
History  Society  on  June  14th,  Mr.  Adkin  exhibited  a  very  variable 


SOCIETIES.  2u5 

series  of  Cydostoma  elegans,  Miill.  taken  at  Eeigate  on  June  9tli ;  three 
hybernated  specimens  of  Vanessa  «/ih'o2?a  from  Montreal ;  also  a  series 
(bred  from  Kannocli  eggs)  of  Asteroscopus  nubecnlot-a,  some  of  which 
had  been  three  years  in  pupa.  Mr.  Frohawk  (on  behalf  of  Mr. 
Fremlin)  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Apatnra  iris  that  was  intermediate 
between  the  type  and  var.  iole ;  also  (on  behalf  of  Mr.  South)  a  dwarf 
captured  specimen  of  EiicMo'6  cardamines,  measuring  only  1\  inches  in 
exjianse,  and  another  specimen  in  which  the  apical  j^atch  was  of  two 
shades  of  yellow.  Mr.  Manger  showed  a  specimen  of  Acherontia 
atrojjos  from  Shanghai.  Mr.  West  (Greenwich)  exhibited  specimens  of 
Cryptocephalus  nitidulus,  Gyll.  and  C.  coryli,  Linn,  from  Box  Hill; 
also  two  very  rosy  males  of  Snierinthus  popidi,  which  had  been 
"  assembled  "  by  a  bred  female.  Among  a  bred  series  of  the  same 
species  brought  by  Mr.  Filer  was  a  male  with  the  colouration  of  the 
female,  and  a  specimen  in  which,  the  discoidal  sjDot  on  the  fore- wings 
was  much  smaller  than  in  the  rest  of  the  brood,  this  sijecimen  having 
emerged  in  A\;gust  last.  Mr.  Step  exhibited  Helix  rufescens  and 
LymiKiea  peregra  var.  acuminata  from  Epsom;  also  a  side-blown  egf  of 

Helix  pomatia,  of  which  many  were  found  at  Eeigate. On  June  28th 

the  following  exhibits,  among  others,  were  made : — Mr.  C.  Fenn :  a 
bred  series  of  Geometra  p)tipHionaria,  being  jjart  of  a  brood  of  which 
some  of  the  remaining  larvt\3  were  not  yet  fully  fed ;  also  a  specimen 
of  Heliothis  peltigera,  having  the  blotch  in  the  dark  border  of  the  hind- 
wing  very  lai-ge.  Mr.  Dennis :  eggs  and  young  larva3  of  Bomhyx  rtibi 
from  Eeigate.  Mr.  Turner:  Lycaena  bellargiis  from  Box  Hill,  some  of 
the  females  having  a  consideral)le  amount  of  the  male  colouration. 
Mr.  Adkin :  a  specimen  of  Pachetra  leucophaea,  taken  on  a  bank-side 
at  Eeigate  on  the  occasion  of  the  Society's  Field  Meeting  at  that  place 
on  June  9th.  Mr.  Manger :  a  specimen  of  "  British  Coral "  (Lepralis 
foliacea)  taken  from  a  portion  of  the  French  Atlantic  cable,  about  sixty 
miles  from  Brest. 

The  Birmingham  Entomological  Society  met  on  May  21st,  1894, 
when  Mr.  A.  H.  Martineau  exhibited  pupas  of  Crabro  intcrruptus  which 
he  had  dug  from  a  rotten  stump  at  Middleton,  in  which  locality  he  had 
previously  met  with  the  perfect  insect.  Mr.  P.  W.  Abbott  read  a  i)aper, 
of  which,  through  the  kindness  of  the  author,  we  are  enabled  to  <nve 
the  following  abstract : — 

On  the  Genus  Hadena. — The  author  considered  that  the  correct 
position  of  the  genus  would  be  next  after  Apamea;  he  only  knew  of 
the  occurrence  of  nine  species  {p>rotea,  glatica,  dentina,  dissimilis,  oleracea, 
2>isi,  thalassina,  contigua,  genistae),  in  the  Birmingham  district,  but 
thought  it  probable  that  H.  trifolii  (chenopodii),  might  occur  there. 
Tui-ning  next  to  the  subject  of  variation,  Mr.  Abbott  said : — "  So  far 
as  one  is  able  to  judge  from  a  local  race,  it  seems  to  me  that  Hadena 
glauca  shows  a  large  amount  of  ordinary  variation  ;  but  upon  local 
races  it  is  hardly  safe  to  form  an  opinion ;  however,  the  fact  remains 
that  this  species  exhibits  in  our  district  a  large  amount  of  variation. 
The  feature  that  first  strikes  the  eye,  upon  examining  the  series  of  this 
insect  placed  before  you  to-night  (bred  from  this  district),  is  the  variety 
of  the  shades  of  colour,  ranging  from  ashy-grey  to  smoky  blue-black  ; 
with  (he  darkening  of  the  ground  colour  comes  the  intensifyino-  of  the 
orbicular  and  renitorm,  and  sometimes  of  the  claviform — 1  say  some- 
times, because  the  claviform  is  more  often  ochreous.     I  think  I  may 


206  THE  entomologist's  record. 

say  that  in  this  race  the  claviform  is  seldom  constant,  sometimes  being 
so  large  as  to  almost  obliterate  the  black  bar-like  mark  beneath  the 
orbicular  and  reniform,  whilst  occasionall}'^  it  is  entirely  absent,  and 
every  degi'ee  may  be  observed  between  these  two  extremes.  In  other 
cases  you  observe  that  the  orbicular  and  reniform  are  only  outlined  in 
black  on  the  hind-marginal  side,  and  almost  unite  on  the  inner  side, 
giving  the  appearance  of  a  whitish-grey  splash  on  the  costal  margin. 
When  the  fore- wings  have  a  deep  ground-colour,  I  usually  find  the 
hind-wings  follow  suit.  I  think  I  need  say  no  more  to  show  how 
variable  this  species  is  with  us.  In  H.  dentina,  variation  seems  confined 
to  the  depth  of  colour,  and  our  almost  black  local  form  presents  a  strong 
contrast  to  specimens  from  the  South  Coast."  The  i^aper  concluded 
with  the  following  notes  on  "the  life-history  of  H.  ylanca.'" — "  The  eggs 
are  laid  in  batches  on  sallow  in  May,  and  are  spherical  and  indented  on 
the  top,  with  a  number  of  ribs  from  top  to  bottom  ;  they  are  of  a  pure 
white  when  first  laid,  changing  to  cream,  and  finally  to  a  deep  brown. 
The  young  larva  emerges  in  about  fourteen  days,  and  rests  on  its  food- 
plant  in  a  sphinx-like  attitude;  it  is  of  a  pale  green  colour,  changing  with 
the  several  changes  of  skin,  first  to  a  darker  tint  of  sap-green  with  a  pale 
green  stripe  in  the  region  of  the  spiracles,  then  to  a  rich  velvety  bistre 
brown,  indeed  almost  black.  When  the  larva  is  full-fed,  the  head  is 
joale  shining  brown  and  is  narrower  than  the  second  segment,  and  the 
body  gradually  thickens  towards  the  end ;  the  larva  is  then  hairless, 
and  in  colour  a  pale  umber  brown,  with  an  indistinct  medio-dorsal 
stripe  and  a  dirty- white  line  in  the  region  of  the  spiracles ;  the  back 
is  reticulated  with  darker  shades  of  brown,  and  the  spiracles  are 
pure  white.  If  annoyed,  it  is  extremely  irritable,  and  falls  to  the 
ground,  lashing  out  in  all  directions.  It  pupates  just  below  the  surface 
of  the  ground  in  a  loose  cocoon  of  silk  and  earth.  The  puj^a  has  a 
squarish  tail  with  four  spines,  and  every  segment  is  armed  with  a  ring 
of  spines  ;  it  is  very  active,  moving  at  the  slightest  touch  ;  its  colour  is 

pale  mahogany-brown,  turning  to  black  before   emergence." On 

June  ISth,  Diptera  and  Hymenoptera  were  to  the  front.  Of  the  former, 
Mr.  Bradley  exhibited  Syrphm  trianguJifer  (new  to  Britain),  Cheilosia 
clirysocana,  etc.,  and  Mr.  Wainwright,  Si/rphns  annulipes  (new  to  Britain). 
Of  the  latter,  Mr.  H.  Martineau  showed  Osiiu'a  xauthoniclana,  Andrena 
hucephala,  Noiiiada  ochroctana,  a  remarkably  dark  form  of  Bomhus 
mmcarum,  etc.  All  the  foregoing  were  captured  at  Selsley,  at  Whit- 
suntide. Of  Lepidoptera,  Mr.  Bradley  showed  a  specimen  of  Thecla 
ruhi,  which  had  no  trace  of  white  markings  on  the  underside.  Mr. 
Kossitcr :  Chacrocampa  porcellus,  Notodonta  dictaea,  etc.,  from  Wyre 
Forest. 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. — 
May  loth,  1894.— Mr.  T.  L.  Bix,  of  20,  Hartham  Koad,  Tottenham, 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Society.  Exhibits : — Mr.  Battley ; 
preserved  larvaj  of  Miana  striijiUs  showing  two  distinct  forms  of  color- 
ation, viz.  grass-green  and  dirty  cream  colour,  and  a  third  form  inter- 
mediate between  these  two.  Mr.  Clark ;  a  bred  series  of  Aleucis 
pictaria  from  the  New  Forest.  Mr.  May  ;  larviB  of  Geometra  papilion- 
aria  from  Hayes,  Kent.  Dr.  Sequeira  ;  varieties  of  Ennomos  quercinaria, 
including  a  fine  dark-banded  form.  Mr.  Prout  remarked  that  some 
larvae  of  Miava  fwrmicula,  which  he  had  once  bred,  were  very  similar 
to  those  of  M.  atriyilis  exhibited  by  Mr.  Battley.     Mr.  Battley  stated 


SOCIETIES.  r.,,.l,!  -..1         207 

that,  during  a  visit  to  the  New  Forest  at  Whitsuntide,  lie  had  taken  a 
larva  (nearly  half-grown)  of  Apatnra  iris  from  the  same  branch  of 
sallow  from  wliich  he  took  one  in  1892.  Captain  Thompson  said  that 
he  had  received  a  letter  from  a  Birmingham  correspondent,  who  wrote 
that  he  had  captured  about  twenty  specimens  of  Neuronia  pojmlaris, 
flying  low  over  the  grass  in  Epping  Forest,  and  that  they  had  revealed 
their  whereabouts  by  a  slight  clicking  noise.  Mr.  Trout,  Mr.  Nicholson 
and  others  referred  to  other  instances  of  clicking  noises  produced  by 
butterflies  and  moths. 

June  5th,  1894 — Exhibits:  Dr.  Buckell;  two  eggs  of  the  common 
fowl,  connected  at  the  small  ends  by  an  albuminous  band ;  they  had 
separate  yolks  and  the  shells  were  quite  soft.  Mr.  Clark  ;  three  female 
specimens  of  Endromis  versicolor,  bi'ed  from  Monmouthshire  ova. 
Mr.  S.  J.  Bell ;  three  pupa3  of  Pseudoterpna  pruinnta.  One  of  these 
was  of  a  greenish  tint,  the  larva  having  spun  up  in  a  leaf;  one  was 
suffused  with  very  dark  grey,  the  larva  having  pupated  in  a  cocoon  on 
the  surface  of  the  earth ;  the  third  was  normal,  although  the  larva  had 
mingled  particles  of  earth  in  its  cocoon.  Mr.  May  ;  a  blackish  suffused 
male  specimen  of  Ellopia  prosapiaria  from  Weybridge.  Mr.  Bayne  ;  a 
specimen  of  Notodonfa  dictaea  from  Wood  Green.  Mr.  Mera ;  a  bred 
series  of  Cidaria  silaceata  from  Morpeth ;  they  were  similar  to  southern 
specimens.  Mr.  Nicholson ;  two  specimens  of  Atelahus  curculiouoides 
from  Epping  Forest.  Mr.  Battley ;  Pyrrochroa  serraticornis  from 
Loughton.     Mr.  Bacot  read  the  following  : — 

"  Notes  on  tue  Ova  of  Selenia  tetkalunaria. — On  April  7th  I 
paired  a  bred  ?  of  this  species  with  a  perfectly  sound  ^  captured  in 
Epping  Forest;  they  remained  together  from  12.15  p.m.  to  9.30  a.m. 
and  were  in  no  way  interfered  with.  Both  were  rather  large  speci- 
mens ;  the  2  was  very  dark  and  the  c?  very  light  in  colour.  The  J 
commenced  laying  the  next  night,  and  continued  to  lay  a  few  eggs  each 
night  for  eight  or  ten  days.  The  eggs,  bright  green  in  colour,  were 
generally  laid  singly  and  attached  by  their  side  to  the  box.  On  April 
13th  I  noticed  two  or  three  bright  red  eggs  in  the  chip-box,  and  there 
were  a  few  more  observed  on  subsequent  days.  Altogether  the  batch 
consisted  of  8  of  these  red  eggs  and  13G  green  ones.  The  first  larva? 
hatched  on  May  8th,  and  a  few  more  appeared  during  the  next  few 
days,  but  onli/  the  red  eggs  were  fertile.  My  impression  is  that  these 
were  not  laid  until  the  12th,  as  I  could  see  no  change  or  difference  of 
colour  in  any  of  the  eggs  up  to  that  day.  I  examined  them  every 
morning,  and  am  qiiite  sure  that  while  there  were  no  red  ones  in  the 
box  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  there  were  two  or  three  present  on 
the  13th.  It  is  strange  that  such  a  small  number  should  have  been 
fertilised,  seeing  that  copulation  was  in  no  way  interfered  with.  It 
would  appear  to  have  been  a  few  of  the  eggs  fi'om  the  middle  of  the 
batch  that  proved  fertile,  and  not  those  first  laid,  as  might  have  been 
expected." 

June  Idth,  1894. — Exhibits  :  Dr.  F.  J.  Buckell :  a  specimen  of 
Pararge  cgeria,  sent  by  Mr.  Hodges  from  Guernsey,  which  was  very 
nearly  identical  with  the  Linntean  type  (egeria),  which  diffei-s  from  the 
ordinary  British  form  (really  var.  egerides,  Stdgr.)  in  having  the  spots 
dark  brownish-orange  instead  of  straw-coloured.  Mr.  Battley  :  various 
species  of  Taeniocampa  from  Broxbourne,  including  a  specimen  of  T. 
stabilis  with  the  stigmata  confluent  on  both  fore-wings,  a  single  line 


208  THE  entomologist's  record. 

sniTouncIing  both ;  Mr.  Bate  said  he  had  bred  a  similar  specimen  tliis 
year.  Mr.  Clark :  several  specimens  of  Selenia  Innarid,  forming  part 
of  a  brood  which  had  been  gradually  emerging  since  Christmas  last. 
Capt.  Thompson :  cocoons  of  Plmia  festucae,  sent  by  Mr.  Arkle  from 
Chester,  witli  an  accompanying  letter  to  the  effect  that  he  had  taken 
them  on  the  13th  of  June  spun  up  in  leaves  of  sedge ;  the  leaves  were 
bent  downwards  at  an  obtuse  angle  by  the  contraction  of  the  silk  of 
which  the  cocoons  were  made ;  this  bending  did  not  take  jilace  with 
the  yellow  iris  on  which  they  were  occasionaUi/  found,  but  on  which 
the  larva  readily  feeds.  Mr.  Prout :  a  bred  specimen  of  Melanippe 
sociata  of  a  yellowish  tinge ;  this  specimen  had  lain  over  in  pupa 
throughout  the  winter,  the  remainder  of  the  brood  having  emerged  in 
the  previous  autumn.  Mr.  Bate  :  a  specimen  of  Polyoinmatus  virgaureae, 
which  was  given  to  him  by  the  son  of  the  Rev.  S.  Fellowes  of  Pulham 
St.  Mary  Magdalene,  Norfolk,  at  which  place  he  believes  it  was  taken 
about  ten  years  ago.  Mr.  Francis  Buckell  of  Romsey,  Hampshire,  who 
was  present  as  a  visitor,  exhibited  drawings,  made  by  himself,  of  the 
microscopic  appearance  (under  a  magnifying  power  of  about  3U0 
diameters)  tf  the  Pollen-gkains  of  many  species  of  plants.  He  said 
that  he  was  not  aware  of  any  record  of  observations  on  this  subject. 
He  had  already  examined  and  sketched  the  pollen-grains  of  nearly  700 
species  of  plants,  and  found  that  there  was  considerable  diversity  as 
regards  their  shape,  size,  colour  and  density.  The  usual  colour  was 
yellow,  but  some  were  purplish-black  and  others  of  a  beautiful  red, 
whilst  those  of  the  grasses  were  transparent  like  glass.  The  prevalent 
shape  was  some  form  of  oval,  and  the  species  composing  each  Natural 
Order  presented  broadly  (with  a  few  singular  exceptions)  a  general 
similarity  as  regards  their  pollen.  Thus  in  the  Compositae  the  grains 
were  round  or  oval,  and  furnished  with  a  large  number  of  projections ; 
the  UmheUiferae  had  smooth  narrow  spindle-shaped  grains ;  those  of 
OiKKjraceae  were  mostly  veiy  large  and  triangular,  and  often  with 
marked  ])rojections  at  the  angles ;  the  jiollen  of  the  Boragineae  was 
somewhat  like  a  short  dumb-bell,  and  one  of  the  genei'a  in  this  order, 
Mi/osotis,  presented  grains  of  excessive  minuteness,  although  curiously 
the  species  with  the  smallest  flower  (M.  versicolor)  had  the  largest 
pollen  of  any  in  the  genus.  In  the  Geraniaceae  the  grains  of  the 
species  with  the  smallest  flowers  were  quite  as  large  as  of  those  with 
the  largest.  A  very  curious  shape  characterised  the  pollen  of  Liiananthcs 
douglasii,  each  grain  being  somewhat  like  a  two-legged  stool.  The 
grains  of  some  species  of  the  genus  Sahna  presented  tlie  most  beautiful 
and  elaborate  surface-markings.  Mr.  Buckell  suggested  that  the 
explanation  of  the  varied  forms  of  the  pollen-grains  would  have  to  be 
sought,  partly  in  the  stigmatic  exigencies  of  the  flowers  and  partly  in 
the  structure  of  the  organs  of  the  different  insects  engaged  in  fertilising 
the  ovules  by  carrying  the  pollen  from  one  flower  to  another  ;  doiibtless 
a  process  of  evolution  with  regard  to  the  grains  might  be  discovered  by 
careful  investigation  of  the  various  orders,  genera  and  species. 
Amongst  the  drawings  exhibited  was  one  showing  the  results  of  an 
examination  of  the  pollen  from  the  leg  of  a  humble-bee ;  there  were 
grains  from  five  or  six  diffei'ent  species,  and  it  was  evident  that  this 
humble-bee,  at  all  events,  had  not  limited  its  visits  to  a  single  species 
of  flower,  as  is  alleged  to  be  the  case  with  the  honey-l^ee. 


<^^  AND  ^^^4 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION- 


No.  9.     Vol.  V.  Septejiber  15th,  1894. 

©BITUARY. 

WILLIAM       MACHIN. 

Born  1822.     Died  August  13tb,  1894. 

Another  veteran  entomologist  lias  passed  from  among  us.  A 
kind-hearted  genial  friend,  an  upright  and  conscientious  man,  a  keen 
and  enthusiastic  le^jidopterist,  an  observant  and  diligent  student  of 
nature  was  William  Machin  whose  loss  we  deplore  to-day.  Born  in 
Bristol  in  1822  and  brought  up  as  a  compositor,  he  is  to  be  numbered 
among  that  large  band  of  entomologists  in  whom  an  innate  love  of  nature 
has  developed  itself  in  spite  of  the  drawbacks  attendant  upon  want  of 
leisure  and  of  a  first-class  education.  From  the  first  his  entomology 
was  not  carried  out  on  a  collection-making  basis,  although  he  has 
always  been  an  ardent  and  diligent  field-worker,  and  his  very  earliest 
records  of  captures  made  in  the  entomological  magazines  are  accompanied 
by  notes  of  their  habits  and  life-histories.  One  of  that  jjioneer 
band  who  aided  Mr.  Stainton  in  the  •'  fifties  "  to  collect  the  material 
relating  to  the  life-histories  of  the  Tineina,  he  achieved  remarkable 
success  in  the  rearing  of  the  members  of  this  heterogeneous 
group,  and  the  remarkably  fine  setting  resulting  from  the 
careful  manipulation  of  his  insects  soon  made  his  duplicate  specimens 
of  the  smaller  species  much  desired  by  his  bi'other  entomologists, 
especially  those  of  the  old  Haggerstone  society,  of  which  I  believe 
he  was  an  original  member.  Many  were  the  communications  he 
made  to  the  old  Weekly  InteUiycncer  and  to  the  early  volumes  of 
The  Entomologist.  In  1856  we  find  his  name  mentioned  in  the 
"  List  of  British  Entomologists  "  which  Mr.  Stainton  compiled  for 
the  Entomologist's  Annual  of  that  year,  whilst  a  glance  through  the 
lists  of  rare  species  captured  and  published  in  each  year  in  those 
interesting  volumes  reveals  his  name  over  and  over  again,  far  too 
many  times  to  be  repeated  here.  Pkoxopteryx  upujmna  at  West 
Wickham,  the  breeding  of  Betinia  sylvestrana  from  rinns  picea, 
with  rare  Etachistas  and  Coleophorae  are  mentioned  among  his 
discoveries.  From  these  we  find  that  the  genus  Coleophora  was 
an  especial  favourite  with  him,  and  to  his  keenness  and  discrimination 
we    first    owe    Coleophora    vibicigcrella    and    C.   maritiinella    as    British 


210  THE  entomologist's  record. 

species,  whilst  the  marshes  on  both  banks  of  the  Thames,  especially 
towards  its  mouth,  were  among  his  favom-ite  hunting  grounds. 
But  he  did  not  neglect  the  Macros,  and  the  careful  notes  and 
dates  which  he  kept  of  the  species  he  bred  often  proved  of  the 
greatest  value,  and  he  published  a  considerable  quantity  of  data 
at  the  time  of  a  furious  discussion  on  "  The  prior  emergence  of 
male  and  female  Lepidoptera "  in  The  Entomologist,  vol.  iii.  As 
an  example  of  the  number  of  species  he  frequently  bred  in  a 
season,  we  find  a  very  long  list  in  1868  (Id.,  pp.  12G  and  154). 
Latterly  his  health  has  been  very  unsatisfactory  and  more  than 
one  serious  attack  of  illness  has  prostrated  him,  but  breeding  insects 
still  kept  all  its  old  charm  for  him,  and  to  his  kindness  many 
of  us  owe  our  lovely  specimens  of  Phorodesma  smaragdaria.  So 
recently  as  April  17th  last  it  was  my  i)leasure  to  have  a  chat  witli 
my  old  friend,  and  although  I  expressed  the  hope  that  his  health 
would  improve,  suffering  was  evidently  written  on  his  features 
and  the  disease  (cancer)  from  which  he  died  had  left  a  serious  mark 
on  him.  To  the  end  his  active  interest  in  Entomology  was  maintained, 
and  he  was  perfectly  an  fait  with  every  addition  to  the  British 
fauna.  Even  so  lately  as  in  the  July  number  of  The  Entomologists 
Record  an  exchange  notice  appeared  offering  one  of  his  earliest 
loves — SeJenia  lunaria.  He  has  exceeded  the  three  score  years  and  ten 
allotted  to  man,  he  has  led  a  hai)py  and  useful  if  unobtrusive  life, 
opened  up  for  us  some  of  the  many  bye-ways  to  Nature's  secrets, 
endeared  himself  to  many  friends  who  will  not  blot  out  readily  the 
memory  of  liiui  from  their  minds.  His  collection  is  a  very  fine  one, 
being  especially  rich  in  Tortuices  and  Tineina  and  the  whole  are  in 
the  most  perfect  condition.  It  is  one  of  those  reliable  collections 
composed  entirely  of  British  species  which  represent  a  labour  of  love 
spread  over  a  man's  whole  life. — J.  W.  Tui't. 


1'lie   Life-fJistory  of  a  Lepidopterous  Ii^sect, 

Comprising   some    account   of  its    Morphology   and    Physiology. 

By      J       W.      TUTT,      F.E.S. 

(Continued  from  page  195). 


Chap.  IV. 
EMBEYOLOGY. 

5. — On  the  limitation  of  the  subject  in  the  present  paper. — 
As  I  have  already  stated,  the  embryonic  life  of  an  insect  must  be  held 
to  include  all  the  stages  between  the  fertilization  of  the  ovum  and  the 
emergence  of  the  imago.  The  following  notes,  however,  only  deal  with 
that  portion  of  the  embryonic  development  which  takes  place  within 
the  egg,  and  it  must  be  understood  that  hereafter  I  use  the  term  embryo 
with  that  limitation. 

6. — On  the  method  of  observing  the  changes  that  take  place 
in  the  egg. — This  can  only  be  done  by  the  aid  of  a  microscope.  In 
examining  eggs  with  a  microscope,  very  little  in  the  way  of  apparatus 
is   necessary.     My   own   instrument   is   a   very   simple     one    with    no 


THE    LIFE-HISTORY    OF    A    LEPIDOPTEROUS    INSECT.  211 

accessories,  and  I  do  my  work  with  two  lenses,  a  2^3  and  i/s,  which  I 
find  sufficient  for  all  practical  purposes.  Should  anyone  wish  to  go 
more  deeply  into  the  subject,  his  requirements  will  teach  him  what  he 
must  get  in  addition,  but,  for  the  simple  observation  of  development  in 
the  egg,  this  is  sufficient.  When  we  have  placed  a  suitable  egg  under 
the  microscope,  and  watched  the  various  changes  which  it  undergoes, 
we  are  compelled  to  admit  that — 

•'  There  is  a  wondrous  workshop  here, 
E'en  in  this  dainty  little  pod, 
Here  that  mj'sterious  workman  Life, 
Builds  matchless  temples  to  his  God." 

To  get  eggs  for  this  purpose,  take  an  ordinary  glass  tube  and  enclose 
a  few  females  of  some  common  Tortrix  moths.  They  will  usually  lay 
eggs  on  the  glass,  and  their  egg-shells  are  so  transparent,  that  the 
changes  may  be  most  readily  observed.  The  eggs  of  Pararge  megaera, 
Nemeobius  lucina,  and  many  others,  are  also  good  objects  for  this 
purpose. 

7. — On  killing  eggs  in  which  the  embryo  is  developing  for 
FUTURE  observation. — It  is  sometimes  inconvenient  to  study  the  em- 
bryological  changes  which  go  on  in  an  egg  under  a  microscope  at  the  time 
that  they  actually  occur,  and  in  Insect  life  (vol.  i.,  p.  316)  a  very  good 
method  is  described,  by  which  the  eggs  may  be  killed  and  preserved  for 
future  observation,  although  it  is  one  which  requires  a  considerable 
amount  of  care  in  manipulation.  The  eggs  are  obtained  in  the  ordinary 
course,  and  as  soon  as  a  batch  is  laid,  the  eggs  are  distributed  in  a 
number  of  homceopathic  phials,  each  about  one  inch  high,  with  data, 
etc.,  on  the  cork.  At  the  end  of  the  first  day  one  phial  is  filled  with 
carbolic  acid,  another  on  the  second  day,  and  so  on,  until  on  the  last 
day  a  bottle  is  filled  containing  newly-hatched  larvte.  It  is  found  that 
the  acid  renders  the  eggs  perfectly  transparent,  so  that  the  embryo  can 
be  observed  in  various  stages  of  development.  The  recorder  states  that 
he  mounts  in  benzole  balsam  direct  from  the  carbolic  acid.  Of  coui'se 
there  are  many  insects  whose  eggs  cannot  be  served  in  this  way ;  at 
the  same  time  there  are  hundreds  of  species  whose  eggs  can  be  thus 
manipulated.  Mr.  Woodvvorth  describes  another  method  of  attainino- 
this  end: — "The  method  of  preparation  which  seems  to  have  given 
the  best  results,  is  to  kill  by  heating  in  water  at  8U"C,  which  fixes  the 
tissues  very  well.  Eggs  must  now  be  punctured  with  a  sharp  needle. 
This  is  essential  in  order  that  the  reagents  used  may  j^enetrate.  The 
most  satisfactory  stains  are  Grenachar's  borax  carmine,  and  Czochar's 

cochineal.     The  latter  is  especially  good.     It  is  prepared  as  follows  : 

Place  1  gramme  each  of  cochineal  and  burnt  alum  in  a  mortar,  and 
reduce  to  a  powder;  add  lOU  cc.  of  distilled  water,  and  boil  until  there 
are  but  60  cc,  cool  and  filter  ;  a  few  drops  of  carbolic  acid  should  be  added 
as  a  preservative.  The  hardness  of  the  egg-shell  makes  the  egg  very 
difficult  to  section,  but  if  removed,  it  is  so  delicate  as  to  be  almost  certain 
to  go  to  pieces  during  the  further  manipulation.  The  parafin  metliod 
of  imbedding  was  employed,  and  the  sections  cut  on  the  rockino- 
microtome  made  by  the  Cambridge  Instrument  Co." 

8. — On  the  formation  of  the  egg. — The  evolution  of  every  livino- 
being  from  a  single  unicellular  germ  is  an  established  fact  of  science. 
The  egg  in  insects  is  not  quite  the  earliest  condition  of  the  creature 
because  the  primitive  ovule  can  be  traced  back  to  the  ovuriole  or  even 
to  the  primitive  ovary  before  the  ovariole  is  developed. 


212  THE  entomologist's  record. 

The  primitive  ovary  is  composed  of  a  mass  of  cells,  which  after  a 
time  become  covered  with  a  coating  of  connective  tissue.  The  cells 
are  then  said  to  fuse  to  form  what  is  called  a  syncytium.  To  learn  the 
earliest  condition  of  the  egg,  it  is  almost  certainly  necessary  to  examine 
the  structures  forming  the  ovaries  present  in  the  pupal  or  even  larval 
stage. 

In  the  ovaries  of  butterflies  there  would  appear  to  be,  besides  the 
cells  that  form  the  syncytium,  three  other  kinds  of  cells — the  egg- 
cells  proper,  epithelial  cells,  and  nutritive  cells.  At  the  time  of 
emergence  of  the  butterfly  from  the  chrysalis,  the  ovarioles  are  well 
developed,  and  consist  of  long  slender  filaments  made  up  of  divisions 
which  have  been  called  "  oval  units  "  or  "  egg-chambers."  Those  egg- 
chambers  nearest  the  external  portion  of  the  ovary  are  larger  than  those 
which  are  more  interior,  and  the  egg^-cells  in  them  can  be  distinguished 
from  the  epithelial  and  nutritive  cells  by  their  better-developed  nucleus 
and  nucleoli. 

An  egg-chamber  is  formed  by  the  rapid  multiplication  of  epithelial 
cells,  forming  columnar  stnictures  surrounding  the  egg  -  cell. 
When  the  egg-chamber  has  increased  to  almost  the  size  of  a  fully- 
formed  egg,  the  egg-cell  commences  to  grow  rapidly  at  the  expense  of 
the  epithelial  cells,  Avhich  surround  it  and  form  the  egg-chamber,  the 
latter  being  finally  reduced  to  a  ]iractically  infinitesimal  quantity  of 
waste.  The  ni;cleus  in  the  egg-cell  also  grows  rapidly,  and  occupies  a 
position  on  one  side  and  near  the  upper  end  of  the  cell ;  it  has  a  dis- 
tinct nucleolus.  As  the  egg  approaches  maturity  tlie  nucleolus  dis- 
ajDpears  in  the  nucleus,  the  latter  also  afterwards  disappearing  and 
apparently  diffusing  itself  in  the  yelk. 

The  egg  is  now  really  a  mass  of  yelk,  surrounded  and  embedded  in 
living  protoplasm ;  then  another  nucleus  is  developed  and  forms  the 
female  pronucleus,  which  also  is  surrounded  liy  protoplasm.  This  at 
the  time  of  fertilisation  sinks  into  the  yelk.  The  pronucleus  and  the 
protoplasm  subdivide  into  cells  each  with  a  nucleiis  and  plasma,  and 
the  surrounding  yelk  is  used  as  food.  The  increase  and  development 
of  these  cells  continue  Avith  the  consequent  degeneration  and  absorption 
of  the  yelk.  There  appears  to  be  a  certain  amount  of  analogy  between 
the  breaking  up  of  the  yelk  and  its  consequent  destruction  as  such, 
together  with  the  building  up  of  nucleated  cells  therefrom,  and  the 
histolysis  of  the  pupal  tissues. 

9. — On  the  development  of  the  embryo  in  the  egg. — At  the  time 
that  the  egg  is  laid  the  main  mass  of  it  is  made  up  of  yelk-spherules. 
These  spherules  become  granular,  and  the  granules  gradually  replace 
the  spherules  and  are  themselves  again  changed  into  yelk-cells,  the 
probability  being  that  they  are  thus  changed  in  order  to  form  suitable 
nourishment  for  the  young  embryo.  At  this  time  the  newly-formed 
blastoderm-cells  begin  to  pass  towards  the  circumference,  leaving  the 
degenerated  yelk-cells  in  the  centre.  In  addition  to  these  yelk- 
spherules,  the  egg  contains  a  homogeneous  fluid  which  has  the  ordinary 
composition  of  proto])lasm,  and  consists  essentially  of  the  chemical 
elements — carbon,  hydrogen,  oxygen  and  nitrogen.  The  great  charac- 
teristic of  this  protoplasmic  fluid  is  its  vitality,  its  abilit}^  to  break  up 
and  sub-divide,  to  develop  cellular  structure,  and  to  build  up  tissue  from 
the  cells  produced  by  cell-division.  After  fertilisation  the  protoplasmic 
fluid  inside  the  ovum  remains  in  a  homogeneous  condition  for  a  certain 


THE    LIFK-HISTORY    OF    A    LEPIDOPTEROUS    INSECT.  213 

tmie  ;  this  varies  for  different  species,  biit  is  comparatively  constant  in  tlie 
same  species.  The  lirst  change  that  the  protoplasm  undergoes  is  that  of 
the  ordinary  yelk-segmentation,  but,  once  this  is  set  up,  development  con- 
tinues generally  with  more  or  less  rapidit3\  The  segmentation  starts  at 
a  point  on  the  surface  of  the  yelk  called  the  "  first  segmentation  nucleus," 
and  this  nucleus  undergoes  cell-division  in  such  a  manner  as  to  form 
a  superficial  blastodermic  layer ;  side  by  side  with  this  process  of 
segmentation,  the  yelk  sejijarates  from  the  outside  cell- wall  and  appears 
to  become  enveloped  in  a  sac.  The  blastodermic  layer  (or  layer  of 
segmentation  cells)  has  an  elongated  ventral  plate  formed  in  it,  and  in 
tliis  the  development  of  the  embryo  commences.  This  ventral  plate 
broadens  anteriorly,  but  the  posterior  part  is  divided  transversely  into 
segments.  This  development  is  at  once  followed  up  by  the  formation 
of  a  longitudinal  depression,  the  outer  sac  gradually  enclosing  this 
depression  on  either  side  until  at  last  the  opposite  sides  of  the  epiblast, 
or  outside  layer  of  cells  undergoing  segmentation,  unite  over  the  de- 
pression, leaving  it  as  a  longitudinal  tube.  This  becomes  detached  as  a 
solid  cellular  mass,  which  splits  into  two  longitudinal (mesoblastic)  bands. 
At  this  period  it  would  appear  that  the  amnion  is  formed.  Dr.  Osborne 
writes: — (Science  Gossij),  \ol.  xxi.)  "After  the  yelk  has  become  sur- 
rounded by  the  growth  of  cells  called  the  blastoderm  and  after  the  germinal 
stripe,  or  foundation  of  the  embryo  has  been  differentiated  along  one  side 
of  this  blastoderm,  a  double  fold  of  the  latter  grows  up  all  round  the  cir- 
cumference of  the  germinal  stripe  and  finally  closes  in  over  it,  the  edges 
of  the  fold  fixing  together  and  the  two  layers  (of  blastoderm)  of  which  it 
is  composed,  at  the  same  tinle  separating  from  one  another.  The  inner 
of  these  continuous  with  the  embryo  itself,  and  lying  immediately  over 
it,  is  the  amnion  ;  the  outer,  continuous  with  the  blastoderm  surround- 
ing the  yelk,  is  the  serous  membrane.  Two  sacs  are  thus  formed,  the 
one  within  the  other,  and  between  them  lies  the  yelk.  In  the  lejji- 
dopterous  egg  the  yelk  next  finds  its  way  into  the  space  between  the 
amnion  and  the  serous  membrane,  flowing  over  the  former  and  depressing 
it  and  the  embryo  beneath  it  till  both  are  completely  submerged  in  yelk, 
and  consequently  hidden  from  view."  After  this  the  mesoblastic  bands 
become  divided  into  somites,  and  the  first  traces  of  the  ventral  segments 
may  be  noticed,  followed  by  the  appearance  of  the  three  thoracic  seg- 
ments. The  somites  coalesce  and  the  common  body- cavity  thus  enclosed 
is  called  the  coelom.  The  three  thoracic  segments  bear  legs.  The  head, 
which  appears  to  be  formed  of  four  segments,  and  the  eye-spots  (of 
which  there  are  two  clusters  of  six,  placed  at  the  base  of  the  3rd  seg- 
ment, reckoning  from  behind  forwards)  are  then  developed,  followed  in 
turn  by  the  ventral  prolegs.  The  inner  part  of  the  hypoblast  is  ab- 
sorbed to  form  the  alimentary  canal.  The  cells  now  contained  between 
the  outside  egg-wall  and  the  newly-formed  alimentary  canal  divide 
up  into  clusters,  which  are  gradually  dift'erentiated  into  the  various 
internal  organs.  The  first  of  these  to  be  formed  is  the  dorsal  vessel, 
which  is  so  called  because  it  is  placed  in  the  dorsal  part  of  the  larva ; 
this  corresponds  with  the  heart  of  the  higher  animals.  The  otlier 
organs  gradually  undergo  differentiation,  and  the  mouth  organs  also 
become  developed.  At  this  period  of  development  faint  pulsations  of 
the  dorsal  vessel  are  discernible.  The  separation  of  the  alimentary 
canal  into  an  oesophagus,  a  widened  sac  or  stomach,  and  another  con- 
tracted tube  or  intestine  is  clearly  discernible,  whilst  the  outer  proteid 


214  THE  entomologist's  record. 

part  of  the  egg-contents  is  probably  absorbed  by  cutaneous  endosmosis. 
The  trachefe  are  developed  from  the  spiracles  inwards,  but  do  not 
become  visible  until  injected  with  air.  Such  are  the  broad  outlines  of 
the  larval  development  in  the  egg.  From  a  tiny  mass  of  protoplasm 
in  the  yelk  of  the  egg  we  get  a  larva  produced  such  as  we  know  it 
when  newly  hatched.  The  egg-shell  of  most  of  our  larger  species  is 
too  opaque  to  allow  these  changes  to  be  seen,  but  they  can  be  readily 
observed  in  the  eggs  of  Tortrices  or  Pyralides,  owing  to  the  thinness 
of  the  walls  of  the  eggs  in  these  gToups. 

10. — On  the  early  changes  observed  in  the  eggs  of  Vanessa  anti- 
OPA. — Mr.  Woodworth  (Butt,  of  New  England)  gives  the  following  account 
of  these : — "  The  earliest  stage  known  in  the  development  of  the  egg 
is  when  there  are  about  twenty  cells  present.  These  are  about  uniform 
in  size,  and  all  at  (juite  a  distance  from  each  other,  for  at  this  stage  as 
soon  as  a  cell  divides  the  resultant  cells  separate.  This  is  facilitated 
by  the  degenerated  condition  of  the  yelk-spherules  in  this  region ;  the 
cells  are  amoeboid  in  shape,  and  the  nucleus  very  indistinct  but  of  con- 
siderable size  ;  after  dividing  several  times  the  cells  arrange  themselves 
in  line  and  commence  a  migTation  towards  the  circumference.  In  going 
through  the  degenerated  yolk  they  sometimes  leave,  trailing  out  behind 
them,  a  long  j^rocess  of  protoj^lasm  ;  on  reaching  the  edge  of  this  region 
they  pause,  gather  themselves  together  and  plunge  into  the  mass  of 
undifferentiated  yolk.  While  in  transit,  the  cells  divide  so  as  to  keep 
about  the  same  distance  apart ;  the}'^  do  not  all  reach  the  edge  at  the 
same  time,  but  those  on  one  side  take  their  station  long  before  the 
others.  On  reaching  the  protoplasmic  laj^er,  the  cells  at  once  appro- 
priate that  immediately  before  them  and  so  increase  rapidly  in  size. 
Owing  to  the  granular  material  in  the  absorbed  jDrotoplasm,  the  cell- 
plasma  becomes  darker  and  the  still  unaltered  nucleus  becomes  very 
distinct.  On  the  outside  of  the  protoplasmic  layer  there  was  a  layer  of 
greyish  material ;  this  now  forms  a  cap  over  each  cell  and  extends 
down  each  side  for  a  considerable  distance.  When  all  these  cells  have 
reached  the  circumference  of  the  egg  the  blastoderm  may  be  sujijiosed 
to  be  fully  formed,  though  at  no  time  do  all  the  cells  that  form  it 
resemble  each  other ;  some  commence  their  further  development  before 
the  others  reach  their  proper  position  ;  the  blastoderm  is  complete  aboi;t 
twenty-four  hours  after  dejiosition.  Besides  the  blastoderm-cells  there 
are  in  the  centre  of  the  egg  a  large  number  of  other  cells,  mostly  yolk- 
cells  ;  they  have  no  definite  arrangement,  but  are  j)retty  evenly  distri- 
buted over  the  whole  egg." 

"  The  blastoderm-cells  on  one  side  of  the  egg  continue  to  divide,  so 
that  when  the  blastoderm  is  complete,  the  cells  on  one  side  are  much 
smaller  in  diameter  than  on  the  other ;  they  have,  however,  increased 
in  thickness,  and  so  made  a  thicker  and  more  compact  layer ;  this  is  the 
beginning  of  the  ventral  j)late.  The  cells  which  make  up  this  structure 
are  at  the  bottom  of  the  egg,  and  extend  half-way  up  one  side.  The 
transition  between  this  area  is  quite  abrupt.  In  the  farther  develop- 
ment, the  ventral  ]ilate  sinks  deejier  into  the  yelk.  This  is  accomplished 
within  three  days  after  deposition.  The  first  indication  of  the  process, 
is  a  slight  infolding  of  tlie  upper  end ;  the  blastoderm-cells  begin  to 
grow  over  the  ventral  plate  from  this  point,  and  extend  down  the  sides  ; 
the  edge  of  the  ventral  plate  sinks  down  at  the  same  time.  During  this 
process  of  infolding,  the  whole  ventral  plate  begins  an  upward  move- 


THE    LIFE-HISTOKY    OF    A    LEl'lDOl'TEKOUS    JlSSEcT.  215 

ment,  and  increases  somewhat  in  size  ;  when  the  infolding  is  complete, 
that  is,  when  the  outfolded  edges  of  the  blastoderm  cells  have  met  and 
closed  over  the  whole  ventral  plate,  the  latter  is  about  as  long  as  the 
egg,  but  so  curved  as  only  to  reach  about  three-fourths  way  to  the  to}). 
It  will  be  seen  that  the  embryo  has  now  two  layers  of  cells  outside  of  it, 
one  extending  all  around,  and  the  other  only  across  the  outside  face  of 
the  ventral  plate  ;  between  these  two  layers  the  yolk  penetrates  freely. 
Great  confusion  exists  as  to  the  nomenclature  of  the  membranes,  but  I 
prefer  to  follow  Balfour  in  this  matter,  and  designate  the  inner  as  the 
amnion,  and  the  outer  as  the  serous  membrane,  though  the  reverse  is 
perha^DS  the  more  common  practice.  From  this  history  of  their  forma- 
tion it  is  evident,  that  both  layers  and  the  ventral  plate  are  modified 
blastoderm-cells,  and  that  the  membranes  can  in  no  sense  be  called 
moultings  of  the  ventral  plate." 

11. On    THE    EMBRYONIC     DEVELOPMENT    OF    ToKTKIX    FERRUGANA. —  I 

have  recently  been  studying  the  embryonic  development  of  Tortrix  ferrn- 
gana.  It  appears  certain  that  there  are  in  its  embryo  four  distinct  cephalic 
segments,  which  in  the  early  stages  of  embryonic  development  are  large, 
(compared  with  the  other  segments  which  are  developed  later),  and  are 
made  still  more  distinct  by  the  possession  of  buds  or  processes.  As 
development  goes  on,  these  four  segments  get  welded  together,  and 
become  not  only  proportionately,  but  absolutely  smaller  than  at  first. 
When  the  abdominal  segments  are  in  course  of  development,  there 
certainly  appear  to  be  eleven  of  them.  The  three  thoracic  segments  are, 
in  the  early  stages  of  development,  large  and  almost  circular,  and  the 
next  segment  (1st  abdominal)  is  of  the  same  character,  looking  at  this 
time  much  more  like  a  thoracic  than  an  abdominal  segment,  though  it 
has,  of  course,  no  appendages.  The  eye-sj^ots  in  this  species  are  re- 
markably conspicuous  as  two  reddish  jjatches,  and  become  apparent  at 
about  the  same  time  that  the  abdominal  segments  first  show.  As 
development  proceeds,  the  cells  of  the  develo2)ing  T.  ferrugana  appear 
to  be  stained  here  and  there  with  red  patches,  esj)ecially  along  the 
ventral  area  of  the  alimentary  canal,  but  differently  distributed  in 
different  examples  ;  these  afterwards  spread  over  the  whole  of  the 
embryo.  Dr.  Chapman  suggests  that  this  colour  is  23robably  connected 
with  the  larval  skin.  "When  the  embryo  begins  to  show  traces  of 
segmentation,  the  thoracic  segments  are  seen  to  develop  three  pairs  of 
jointed  buds  or  legs.  At  this  time  the  embryo  occujjies  a  soiuewhat 
curved  position,  with  the  head  slightly  bent  round  towards  the  anal 
extremity,  but  with  the  legs  outside,  i.e.,  the  larva  is  bent  back  on  itself 
so  as  to  form  a  curve  agreeing  roughly  with  the  curvature  of  the  shell, 
with  what  afterwards  becomes  the  ventral  surface  of  the  larva  outside, 
and  the  dorsum  towards  the  centre.  The  embryo  then  gradually 
changes  its  position,  the  anal  segment  curling  round  and  being  })us]ied 
by  the  growth  of  the  preceding  abdominal  segments,  slowly  up  tlic 
ventral  surface  of  the  larva,  whilst  the  dorsum  gets  j)ushed  out,  as  it 
were,  towards  the  centre  of  the  egg.  During  this  process  the  embryo 
becomes  shaped  something  like  the  letter  S,  the  movement  continuing 
until  a  complete  reversal  of  the  embryo  has  been  effected  ;  the  next 
stage  is  that  in  which  the  head  and  anus  are  in  contact,  each  half  run- 
ning almost  parallel,  and  this  again  is  followed  by  an  almost  circular 
position,  in  which  the  dorsal  area  is  outside,  and  the  ventral  surface 
(with  the  legs)  on  the  inside.     The  head  diuing  all  this  time  scarcely 


216  THE  entomologist's  record. 

changes  its  position.  Very  little  further  change  in  position  takes  place, 
the  embryo  by  this  time  occuj^j'ing  all  the  available  space  in  the  egg. 

12. — Keversal  of  position  of  embryo  in  EGfis. — In  dealing  with 
the  embryonic  development  of  Toririx  ferrugana,  I  have  shown  that, 
during  the  first  stages  of  development,  the  ventral  side  of  the  embryo 
is  external,  or  lies  along  the  convex  side  of  the  egg,  development 
commencing  (as  is  usual  in  the  Ai'ticulata  and  Vertebrata)  on  the 
ventral  side  of  the  insect,  and  that,  as  development  and  the  growth  of 
the  segments  proceed,  the  embryo,  on  account  of  the  turning  of  the 
anal  segment  and  its  gradual  upward  movement,  and  that  of  the  grow- 
ing segments  behind  it  along  the  venter,  changes  its  position,  the  ventral 
part  of  the  embryo  gets  turned  towards  the  centre  of  the  egg,  whilst 
the  dorsal  part  is  turned  towards  the  outside. 

Dr.  Osborne  (E.M.M.,  vol.  xix.,  pp.  99-100),  writing  upon  the  way 
in  which  this  reversal  of  position  is  brought  about,  says : — "  How  it 
gets  into  this  position,  if  it  develops  in  the  usual  Arthropod  way,  is  a 
point  which  I  have  only  seen  adverted  to  by  Kowalevski.  Speaking 
of  the  development  of  Sphiiix  popnli  and  Gasiropaclia  pini,  he  says 
("  Embryolog.  Studien  an  Wiirmern  und  Arthropoden."  Memoires  dc 
V Acad.  Imp.  des  Sciences  de  St.  Petersburg,  Series  vii.,  Tom.  xvi..  No.  12, 
p.  56) : — '  Wenn  der  Eiicken  schon  gebildet  ist,  biegt  sich  das  Schwan- 
zende  des  Embryo  auf  die  Bauchseite  und  zwar  so,  wie  wir  schon  beini 
Hydrophihts  gesehen  haben.  Dem  Hinterende  folgend,  dreht  sich  der 
ganze  Embryo  so,  dass  er  jetzt  der  ihn  noch  bedeckenden  serijsen  Hiille  den 
Kiicken  zuwendet,  und  die  Extremitiiten  erscheinen  nach  innen  gerichtet. 
In  diesem  Zustande,  mit  fast  vollstiindig  ausgebildeten  Organen, 
bleibt  der  Embryo  vollstiindig  in  dcm  ihn  umgebenden  Dotter,  den  er  nun 
vermittelst  der  unterdessen  voUstandig  ausgebildeten  Mundorgane  zu 
verschlucken  beginnt  *  *  *  die  *  Larve  liegt  [jetzt]  schraubenfurmig 
auf  der  Bauchseite  Zusammengerollt  bis  sie  das  Chorion  zerreisst  und 
ins  Freie  gelangt.'  The  embryo  of  the  sawfly,  Zaraea  fasciata,  does  not, 
at  any  rate,  get  into  the  loop  position  by  any  molar  movement  of  this  sort. 
When  the  })Osterior  end  of  the  growing  embryo  has  reached  the  remote 
end  of  the  egg,  it  is  bent  ventrally  on  itself,  and  so  grows  forAvards  till 
the  tail  comes  in  contact  with  the  head.  As  the  length  of  the  embryo 
still  continues  to  increase,  the  head  is  withdrawn  to  about  the  middle 
of  the  straight  or  upjDcr  side  of  the  egg,  and  the  larva  about  to  hatch 
lies  in  a  spiral,  Avith  the  tail  opposite  the  head  on  the  other  side  of  the 
body.  It  turns  its  sharp  mandibles  towards  the  shell,  bites  at  it  and 
draAvs  it  in  till  it  is  pierced  and,  by  means  of  a  foot  thrust  through  the 
ojiening,  draAvs  the  flexible  chorion  still  more  Avithin  the  power  of  the 
mandibles,  Avhich  soon  eifect  an  opening  large  enough  for  its  escape. 
This  ingroAvth  A^entrally  of  the  caudal  end  of  the  embryo  appears  to  be 
not  uncommon  in  the  Arthropoda,  Avhere  the  length  of  the  embryo 
exceeds  that  of  the  shell,  and  occurs  even  in  the  case  of  the  globular 
egg  of  Astncus,  as  described  by  Huxley  {The  Cray-fish,  p.  2U3).  In 
the  case  of  an  embryo  making  such  a  rcA'olution  in  the  egg  as  that 
described  by  KoAvalevski,  the  head  Avould  occuijy  two  different  positions 
in  the  same  end  of  the  egg,  relativel}^  to  two  02:)iD0site  sides  before  and 
after  the  revolution.  The  egg  of  Rumia  crataegata  would  be  specially 
favourable  for  making  this  obserA'ation ;  the  shell  at  the  cej^halic  end 
being  distinguished  by  an  ellii)Soidal  ridge :  the  pointed  end  of  the 
ellipsoid   corresponds   Avith  the  position  of  the  head  of  the  larva  just 


CURRENT   NOTES. 


217 


before  hatching ;  and,  of  course,  the  rounded  end  to  tliat  of  the  tail. 
While  the  embryonic  venter  is  still  external,  the  relative  positions  of 
these  parts,  on  Kowalevski's  principles,  should  be  just  the  reverse." 


guRRENT    NOTES. 

i\lr.  Butler  refers  our  Plusia  verticillata,  Gn.  to  Pliisia  eriosoma, 
Doubleday,  Bieff.  New  Zeal,  i.,  p.  285,  n.  114  (1843).  It  would  be 
well  if  this  were  thoroughly  investigated. 

Mr.  Hodgkinson  reports  a  specimen  of  Stigmonota  ravulana  caught  in 
May  at  Grange-over-Sands.  Mr.  Dale  adds  Sesia  coyiopiformis  to  the 
British  fauna,  but  it  would  be  well  if  this  were  confirmed  by  some  other 
authoritative  entomologist.  Pieris  dapUdice  is  recorded  from  Addington 
(Croydon)  by  Mr.  N.  H.  Joy,  and  from  Margate  by  Mr.  S.  Cooper. 
Mr.  G.  Kichardson  of  Beckham  records  five  P.  leucophaea  from  Wye, 
Kent,  and  it  is  also  recorded  from  the  same  locality  by  Mr.  Chittenden  ; 
Plusia  moneta  from  Dover,  Tonbridge,  Tunbridge  Wells,  W^eybridge, 
Merrow  (Guildford),  and  Sprowston  (Norwich),  whilst  Mr.  Waller 
records  the  breeding  of  two  specimens  of  S2)hin.v  pinastri  from  larva? 
captured  in  Suffolk.  The  most  startling  record  of  the  year  thus  far, 
however,  is  the  capture  of  two  larvae  of  Catephia  alchymista  in  Abbot's 
Wood  on  July  5th,  by  Mr.  H.  W.  Sheplieard-Welwyn.  These  larva? 
would  undoubtedly  have  been  objects  of  interest  had  they  been 
exhibited  at  one  of  the  London  Societies'  meetings,  but  they  s]jun  up 
next  day.  One  would  hardly  have  expected  that  any  resident  British 
entomologist  would  have  been  able  to  identify  larv?B  of  C.  alchymista 
off-hand,  and  probably  the  record  is  erroneous.  It  would  also  be  well 
to  enquire  whether  July  5th  is  at  all  a  likely  date  for  the  pupation  of 
the  larv£e  of  this  species. 

A  strange  example  of  Zygaena  trifolii  with  two  normal  fore-wings, 
the  left  hind-wing  replaced  b}^  another  wing  exactly  similar  to  the 
fore- wing  and  the  right  hind-wing  absent  was  taken  by  Mr.  Christy  on 
June  18th  in  W'est  Sussex.  Mr.  J.  E.  K.  Allen  records  the  capture  of 
a  specimen  of  Zygcena  piloselke  with  the  usual  red  on  all  the  wings 
rei^laced  by  pale  yellow. 

The  British  Naturalist  for  August  contains  an  important  contribution 
to  economic  entomology  in  the  shape  of  a  comprehensive  paper 
(illustrated)  on  "  The  Hessian  Fly  "  (Cecidomya  destructor)  by  Mr.  F. 
V.  Theobald,  M.A.  If  our  Government  were  alive  to  their  duties,  they 
would  reprint  this  paper  and  circulate  it  widely  among  farmers.  Mr. 
Dale  propounds  further  conundrums,  but  his  inability  to  apprehend  a 
joke  almost  suggests  that  he  must  have  Scotch  blood  in  his  veins. 

Micro-lepidopterists  have  just  added  another  species  to  the  British 
fauna.  It  was  discovered  by  that  keen  observer  Mr.  W.  Farren  at  the 
end  of  June,  1893,  and  during  the  first  fortnight  of  July,  1894,  by 
sweeping  herbage  near  Cambridge.  The  species  is  described  and 
figured  by  Lord  Walsingham  in  tlie  current  Ko.  of  the  Ent.  Mo.  Mag. 
under  the  name  of  Cataplectica  farreni.  Cataplectica  is  a  new  genus, 
created  by  Lord  Walsingham  for  the  reception  of  profugella,  anro- 
maculata,  fulvrguttella,  statariellu,  laserpjiticlla,  silerinella  and  farreni,  the 


218  THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S   RECORD. 

genus  Heydenia,  in  which  these  species  have  been  previously  placed, 
being  retained  for  devotella,  which  has  the  "  veins  7  and  8  of  the  fore 
wings  separate,"  whilst  Catcqjhctica  has  "veins  7  and  8  of  the  fore 
wings  stalked," 

IJr.  H.  Guard  Knaggs,  discussing  the  value  of  various  moth-grease 
solvents,  says  : — "Methylated  chloroform  docs  its  work  more  quickly, 
with  less  waste  than  ether,  and  without  the  slightest  danger  of  causing 
a  conflagration  ;  either  of  the  ethers  (methylated  ether,  pure  ether, 
petroleum  ether)  mentioned,  on  the  other  hand,  turns  out  a  better 
finish,  besides  being  less  powerfully  ana?sthetic  than  chloroform,  while 
the  price  of  the  methylated  preparation  is  comparatively  insignificant. 
On  the  whole,  I  still  consider  methylated  ether  to  be  the  most  serviceable 
for  entomological  purposes,  especially  at  the  price  "  (E.  M.  31.). 

Mr,  K,  J,  Morton  records  the  yellow  male  of  Hepialus  huinnli,  as 
captured  in  South  Lanarkshire. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Walker  writing  of  the  beetle  Bayous  anjillaceus,  captured 
in  July,  at  Sheppey,  writes  : — "  So  acciirately  was  the  colour  of  the 
beetle  adapted  to  its  surroundings  (the  mud  in  the  bed  of  a  nearly 
dried-up  ditch),  that  it  could  only  be  detected  when  in  motion,  becoming 
to  all  intents  and  juirposes  invisible  as  soon  as  it  stopped." 

Mr,  A.  Thurnall,  with  his  usual  perseverance,  has  at  last  discovered 
the  larva  of  liactru  furfurana.  The  larvae  were  discovered  on  May  12th, 
in  stems  of  Eleocharis  palnstrls  (not  Scirpus  lacnsiris  as  mentioned  in  the 
E.M.M.  p.  164),  ejecting  green  frass,  and  finally  pupated  in  the  stem 
in  a  light  silken  cocoon.  Six  specimens  emerged  between  June  23rd 
and  July  2nd.  A  description  of  the  larva,  with  another  of  the  allied 
B.  hinceolaiHi  for  comparison,  is  published. 

jNlr.  C.  Nicholson,  202,  Everiug  Road,  N.E,  will  read  a  paj^er  on 
"  Ocneria  dispar "  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  City  of  London 
Entomological  Society  to  which  all  entomologists  (members  or  not)  are 
cordiailj'  invited,  Mr.  Nicholson  is  desirous  of  borrowing  a  few  types 
of  the  original  British  race  of  this  species,  and  Avould  be  pleased  to  hear 
from  anyone  willing  to  lend  him  specimens  for  exhibition  of  which,  it 
is  needless  to  say,  the  utmost  care  would  be  taken. 


Scientific  notes  &  observations. 

Erratum. — On  p.  195,  line  13  from  bottom,  before  "families, 
genera,  etc.,"  insert  the  word  "  allied." 

Blight. — I  think  that  the  "  very  extraordinary  superstition  " 
described  in  detail  by  Mr.  A,  J,  Johnson  under  the  above  heading 
(aii/c,  pp,  14-15),  is  by  no  means  confined  to  his  neighbourhood,  but 
prevails  very  generally  throughout  the  country  :  it  is  certainly  an 
article  of  faith  among  the  gardeners  and  natives  of  this  district,  and 
although  when  cross-examined  about  the  matter  they  are  unable  to 
give  any  very  lucid  explanation,  their  idea  apparently  is  that  the  dark 
clouds  are  mainly  due  to  the  presence  in  the  air  of  vast  multitudes  of 
winged  aphides,  which  pass  across  the  country  and  settle  on  the  fruit 
trees,  etc.,  in  their  lines  of  flight.  The  belief  doubtless  originates  in  the 
fact,  that  such  weather  is  especially  favourable  to  the  migration  of  Avinged 


SCIENTIFIC    NOTES    AND    OBSERVATIONS.  219 

aphides,  and  under  those  conditions  I  once,  in  rather  open  country, 
with  neither  trees  nor  hedges  very  close  though  at  no  great  distance, 
drove  through  a  flight,  out  of  which  numbers  settled  on  the  coats  of 
all  our  party.  This  superstition  is  referred  to  by  Mr.  Tlieodore  Wood, 
in  The  Farmer's  Friends  and  Foes,  p.  66  (1888),  where  in  the  course  of 
his  explanation  he  says  :— "  The  easterly  wind,  acting  upon  the  young 
and  tender  plants  tenanted  Ijy  the  progenitors  of  the  swarm,  has 
checked  their  growth  and  rendered  their  sap  unhealthy.  Wing-bearing 
young  have  been  immediately  produced,  borne  along  by  the  self-same 
wind  which  caused  its  appearance,  and  deposited  in  more  or  less  distant 
localities,  and  so  the  easterly  wind  has  really  "  brought  the  blight,"  al- 
though not  at  the  time  or  in  the  manner  usually  supposed  by  the  farmer. 
Thus  it  is,  that  easterly  winds  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  damage 
vegetation  so  extensively,  not  only  by  checking  and  weakening  the  young 
and  delicate  plants,  but  by  bringing  a  host  of  mischievous  creatures 
to  feed  upon  them  while  still  in  an  unhealthy  and  debilitated  condition." 
He  adds :  "  Aphides  migrate  merely  by  rising  from  their  food-plants 
and  allowing  the  wind  to  carry  them  whithersoever  it  will ;  and  in  no 
other  manner  can  they  possibly  travel  to  any  appreciable  distance." 
Surely  the  latter  part  of  Mr.  Johnson's  note  refers  to  this  same  pheno- 
menon, for  if  in  place  of  the  word  "  grubs  "  in  his  informant's  narrative, 
we  substitute  "  winged  aphides,"  we  have  a  passable  account  of  what 
actually  happens. — Eustace  E.  Bankes,  The  Kectory,  Corfe  Castle, 
Dorset.     July  lUh,  1894. 

Note  on  the  distribution  of  Tinea  nigripunctella. — In  his 
restmw  {ante,  p.  73)  of  a  paper  on  certain  Micro-lepidoptera,  by  Lord 
Walsingham,  in  the  Ent.  Mo.  Ma(j.  for  March  last,  Mr.  Tutt  says  : — 
"  Tinea  niyrijniiideUa,  taken  by  Mr.  Atmore  at  King's  Lynn,  found 
hitherto  in  Britain,  only  at  Bristol  and  Folkestone. "  The  words  that  I 
have  emphasized  by  italics  are  not  used  by  Lord  Walsingham,  who 
merely  says  "a  species  of  rare  occurrence,  formerly  taken  near  Bristol," 
and  are — Mr.  Tutt  will,  I  know  well,  forgive  me  for  saying  so— certainly 
erroneous,  for  T.  nigripunctella  has  already  been  recorded  from  five 
localities  in  this  county  (Proc.  Dorset  N.  H.  and  A.  F.  C,  vi.,  p.  166 
(1885);  Entom.,  xix.,  p.  120  (1886)  ;  Lep.  of  Dorsetshire,  p.  48  (1886); 
Entom.,  xxvi.,  p.  88  (1893),  and  from  one  locality  in  Sussex  (Trans. 
Chichester  and  W.  Sussex  N.  H.  Soc,  No.  5,  1886).  In  three  of  these 
six  localities  it,  to  my  knowledge,  occurs  regidarly  though  sjmringly,  and 
it  is  highly  probable  that  it  would  be  found  in  many  other  parts  of  the 
country,  if  carefully  searched  for  at  the  right  time  in  old  out-houses, 
stables,  &c.  In  such  places,  it  may  be  found  sitting  about  on  the  walls, 
reminding  one  strongly  of  a  Gracillaria  by  its  attitude,  and  may  be 
readily  boxed,  for  although  it  shows,  by  waving  about  its  extremely 
long  antennte,  that  it  is  well  aware  of  one's  approach,  it  does  not,  ac- 
cording to  my  experience,  see  fit  to  take  any  steps  to  avoid  capture. — 
Eustace  E.  Bankes,  The  Eectory,  Corfe  Castle,  Dorset.  Jtdy  llth, 
1894.     [We  are  much  obliged  to  Mr.  Bankes  for  this  correction.     Ed.]. 

Further  notes  on  Euculoe  hesperidis. —  Out  of  twenty-two  males 
of  E.  cardainines,  taken  by  myself  in  Oxfordshire,  Cheshire,  Shro2)shire, 
and  Montgomeryshire,  which  range  in  size  from  Vji^-in.  to  l^^/ig-in., 
not  a  single  specimen  exhibits  the  discoidal  spot  in  any  position  other 
than  well  within  the  orange  "  tip."  On  the  other  hand,  out  of  seven 
males  of  the  insect  which  I  call  E.  hesperidis,  which  vary  in  expanse 


220  THE  entomologist's  record. 

from  l^/ic  in.  to  l^/ie  in.,  (tU  have  the  discoidal  spot  placed  at  the 
juncture  of  the  white  and  orange.  The  females  of  this  latter,  of  which 
I  have  four  specimens,  resemble  small  females  of  E.  cardamines  ;  mine 
vary  from  P/ie-in.  to  l^/ie-in.  Both  sexes  appear  much  more  slender 
than  E.  cardamines,  even  allowing  for  difference  of  size.  Under  a 
powerful  microscoj^e,  the  plumules  of  E.  hesperidis  are  narrower  and 
proportionately  much  longer  than  those  of  E.  cardamines,  while  the 
whole  appearance  of  the  wing  is  much  more  even  and  not  nearly  so 
rough  as  is  the  case  in  the  latter  species.  Among  those  species  of  the 
genus  Eucidoe,  in  which  the  males,  at  least,  are  tipped  with  orange, 
cardamines  and  damone  have  the  discoidal  spot  placed  within  the  orange 
tip,  while  in  gnmeri,  eupheno  {euphenoides)  and  douri  {eupheno),  the 
discoidal  spot  is  situated  at  the  juncture  of  the  yellow  and  orange.  I 
regret  to  say  that  I  have  been  unable  to  get  any  larvas  of  E.  cardamines — 
far  less  of  E.  hesperidis — though  I  have  both  searched  and  swept  for 
them  in  localities  in  which  the  former  are  usually  abundant.  I  quite 
agree  with  Dr.  Buckell,  that  it  would  be  a  very  good  tiling  to  obtain, 
if  possible,  the  larvee  of  E.  hesperidis,  but  I  emphatically  differ  from 
him  when  he  seems  to  infer  that  without  this  knowledge  the  differenti- 
ation of  species  is  imj^jossible.  Every  entomologist  must  be  aware,  that 
even  now  there  are  many  Avell-established  species,  whose  larv^  are  as 
yet  unknown,  but  which  nevertheless  are  distinct  species.  In  thej)ast, 
this  was  the  case  in  very  many  more  instances,  but  how  often  did  the 
subsequent  discovery  of  the  la'rva  tend  only  to  ratify  the  prior  suppo- 
sition !  Before  finally  coming  to  a  conclusion  on  this  j)oint,  it  would 
be  well  to  compare  as  many  species  of  the  genus  Euchloc  as  possible,  as 
some  of  them  will  be  found  to  offer  differences  which  are  but  slight,  at 
least  to  the  uninitiated. — F.  B.  Newnham,  Church  Stretton,  Salop. 
August  2nd,  1894. 


Sariation. 

A  RARE    FORM    OF    THE    LARVA    OF    AcHERONTIA    ATROPOS. On  AugUSt 

11th,  181)4,  Mr.  Lewcock  found  in  my  garden  here  two  larvse  of  this 
species,  one  of  which  was  a  full-grown  si^ecimen  of  the  very  rare  dark 
olive-red  variety,  mentioned  by  Stainton  (Man.,  vol.  i.,  p.  89).  The 
following  description  of  it  may  be  of  interest.  General  colour  :  dull 
reddish-brown.  Face  :  pale,  with  three  tine  black  lines  on  each  side  of 
the  anterior  surface  ;  these  incline  towards  the  centre,  Avhere  the  inner- 
most pair  meet.  Body:  the  first  three  segments  whiiish,  but  much 
mottled  with  reddish-brown  at  the  sides,  and  with  a  fine  jjale  dorsal 
line,  which  passes  through  the  very  dark  brown,  well-defined,  sub- 
dorsal area  ;  the  remaining  segments  reddish-brown,  and  marked  on  the 
upper  surface  with  rounded  whitish  spots,  in  place  of  the  black  spots  of 
the  normal  larva.  The  stripes,  which  in  the  ordinary  form  are  yellow 
and  violet,  are  here  replaced  by  dark,  almost  black,  broadish  crossed 
lines,  which  form  a  regular  series  of  St.  Andrew's  crosses,  the  widest 
part  being  at  the  junction  of  the  segments.  These  dark  crossed  lines 
appear  to  replace  tliose  which  are  usually  violet,  which  latter,  however, 
do  not  cross,  but  end  in  a  point  at  the  back  of  each  segment.  Tail : 
black,  with  whitish  nodules.  Spiracles :  deep  black,  circular.  Legs, 
and  proieijs:  ])laekish-brown. — (liev.)  C  li.  N.  Burrows,  Eainham, 
Essex.     August  14//<,  1894. 


VARIATION.  221 

Vaeietiks  of  the  larva  op  Smerinthus  populi. — In  a  brood  of 
larvae  of  this  species  from  a  batch  of  eggs  laid  by  a  5  captured  in  the 
heart  of  Islington,  there  are  three  distinct  forms.  (1).  The  majority 
are  of  the  usual  form,  with  bright  green  bodies,  and  yellow  spots  and 
lines.  (2).  Two  specimens  resemble  the  foregoing  in  colour,  but  in 
addition  to  purple  blotches  round  the  spiracles,  have  a  sub-dorsal  row 
of  the  same  colour.  (3).  Three  specimens  are  grey-green  or  sage-green 
in  general  colour,  and  the  lines  are  much  fainter.  I  am  keeping  the 
three  forms  separate,  in  the  hope  of  determining  whether  there  is  any 
difference  in  the  resulting  imagines. — F.  J.  Buckell.  August  24:th, 
1894. 

Variation  in  Ephyra  annulata. — I  have  bred  a  good  many  Epliyra 
annulafa  (omi'cronaria)  this  year.  They  are  decidedly  darker  in  their 
markings  and  larger  than  those  I  bred  and  captured  last  year.  The 
moister,  colder  weather,  certainly  seems  to  have  produced  finer  forms. 
Again,  I  have  found  the  smoke-coloured  ring  in  the  centre  of  the  fore- 
wings  absent  from  several  ;  is  this  variation  common  in  other  parts  of 
the  country  ?  I  have  also  bred  another  interesting  variety,  in  which 
the  smoke-coloured  lines  and  rings  are  replaced  by  ochreous  ones. — 
W.  S.  KiDiNCx,  M.D.,  Buckerell,  Honiton.  Jime  14i'th,  1891.  [In  our 
Kent  woods,  this  species  is  jxartially  double-brooded,  the  early  brood 
being  much  larger  and  less  orange  than  the  later  specimens.     Ed.]. 


OTICES    AND    REVIEWS. 

Species  des  Hi/mmopteres  cVEurope  et  d'Algerie,  by  Mons.  E.  Andre. 
— We  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  July  part  of  this  well- 
known  work,  which  is  being  published  m  quarterly  parts  by  M. 
Dubosclard,  78  Boulevard  St.  Michel,  Paris,  the  annual  subscription 
being  16  francs.  The  part  just  to  hand  comiDrises  pp.  337-400,  and 
contains  descriptions  of  some  of  the  genera  of  the  Opiidae,  and  of  the 
species  in  nine  genera  of  the  Alysiidae,  together  with  three  beautifully 
executed  plates.  As  an  inducement  to  such  hymeno])terists  as  have  not 
yet  subscribed  for  the  work  to  do  so,  the  publishers  offer  to  forward  the 
complete  work  to  would-be  subscribers,  to  be  paid  for  at  the  rate  of 
lOfr  monthly,  or  30  fr.  quarterly.  Four  volumes  have  already  ap- 
peared, and  the  fifth  and  sixth  (dealing  with  the  Braconides  and 
Chrysides)  are  now  in  course  of  publication. 

Victorian  Butterflies,  and  how  to  collect  them,  by  E.  Anderson  and  F.  P. 
Spry. — We  are  pleased  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  second  and  last 
part  of  this  work.  This  part  contains  an  account  of  the  Lycaenidae 
and  B.esperiidae,vfh.\c\\,  considering  how  little  has  hitherto  been  done  in 
the  way  of  systematic  work  on  the  butterflies  of  any  of  the  Australian 
colonies,  reflects  great  credit  on  the  authors.  The  fauna  of  Australia 
will  always  have  a  great  fascination  for  naturalists.  The  great  anti(iuity 
of  its  isolation  as  a  zoological  region,  and  the  traces  everywhere 
apparent  of  an  old  Antarctic  fauna  and  flora,  have  made  Australia  of 
special  interest  to  palaeontologists,  botanists  and  naturalists  in  general. 
When  we  come  to  study  the  insects  of  such  a  district  we  have  to  con- 
sider them  from  two  points  of  view: — (1).  Those  that  belong  to 
dominant  types,  that  have  spread  widely  in  comparatively  recent  times. 


222  THE  entomologist's  record. 

The  present  volvtme  gives  us  an  example  of  these  in  Lampides  boeticns, 
which  has  been  taken  in  Britain,  and  extends  throughout  the  South  of 
Europe  and  North  Africa,  into  India,  and  almost  continuously  to 
Australia.  (2).  The  antique  forms  which  are  remnants  of  a  very 
ancient  type,  preserved  by  isolation  through  vast  periods  of  time,  and 
from  which  we  may  learn  many  pregnant  lessons.  The  Chrysophanidi 
have  traces  of  small  tails  to  the  hind-wings,  suggesting  this  character 
as  a  very  ancient  and  withal  a  very  persistent  one.  Sexual  dimorphism 
is  frequent  throughout  the  group,  a  highly  interesting  fact  in  face  of 
Doherty's  statement  (which  is  probably  correct)  that  it  is  very  rare  in 
the  tro})ics.  The  ocellation  of  the  undersides,  too,  teaches  many  an 
important  lesson,  and  shows  that  it  also  is  a  very  ancient  and  persisting 
character.  As  is,  perhaps,  to  be  expected,  the  life-histories  of  very  few 
species  have  been  worked  out,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  production 
of  this  book  will  teach  local  workers  what  is  still  desiderated,  and  lead 
to  a  more  complete  knowledge  of  the  early  stages.  The  life-histories 
of  one  or  two  species,  notably  Hypochri/sops  ddicia  and  Ogyris  olane, 
have  been  worked  out  in  considerable  detail,  although  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  a  future  edition  will  give  us  a  much  more  detailed  account  of  the 
structure  of  the  larvae  and  also  of  the  pupa?.  Of  H.  delicia  the  authors 
wi-ite  : — "  The  larvse  are  invarialjly  attended  by  a  number  of  small  black 
ants ;  indeed,  watching  the  ants  is  one  of  the  best  ways  of  detecting 
the  larvae."  In  the  description  of  the  eggs,  too,  it  is  to  be  hoped  we 
shall  be  told  the  peculiar  shapes,  &c.  of  the  micropylar  cells,  the  number 
of  ribs,  the  peculiarity  of  any  reticulations  there  may  be,  ifec.  The 
wandering  habits  of  the  larvae  of  0.  olane  and  the  consequent  pro- 
duction of  a  starved  race  are  most  interesting.  In  the  Hesperids  it  is 
rather  interesting  to  note  that  the  androconia  are  placed  in  a  sac  which 
runs,  as  in  our  species,  from  the  lower  exterior  tip  of  the  discoidal  cell, 
but  instead  of  running  obliquely  towards  the  base  of  the  wing,  as  in 
R.  sylvanus,  H.  thaumds,  &c.,  it  runs  transversely  to  the  inner  margin, 
ending  not  far  from  the  centre.  We  quite  agree  with  the  authors  that 
H.  perornata  is  a  female  form  of  H.  ornata,  unless,  indeed,  a  male  form 
of  perornata  obtains  ;  the  androconia  of  li.  ornata  are  highly  suggestive 
that  a  similar  adornment  should  be  found  in  males  of  perornata  if  it  be 
a  distiiict  species.  We  have  but  little  doubt  that  the  issue  of  this 
welcome  volume  will  soon  reduce  the  noticeable  blanks  in  the  life- 
histories  so  strikingly  manifest,  and  that  they  will  be  worked  out  in  a 
complete  and  satisfactory  manner  by  such  competent  observers  as 
Messrs.  Anderson  and  Spry  in  the  course  of  time  is,  we  venture  to 
think,  quite  certain.  We  are  pleased  to  see  that  the  authors  have  sub- 
mitted, through  Mr.  J.  A.  Clark,  to  Mr.  W.  F.  Kirby  the  doubtful 
material  described  for  comparison  with  the  British  Museum  collection, 
an  example  which  might  be  followed  with  advantage  in  many  other 
cases.  The  complete  work  is  to  be  obtained  from  Mr.  J.  A.  Clark,  The 
Broadway,  London  Fields,  N.E.  for  five  shillings. 

The  Effect  of  External  Influences  upon  Decelopment,  by  August 
Weismann,  M.D.,  Ph.D.,  D.C.L.  (Henry  JVowde,  Amen  Corner,  E.C, 
Price  2s.). — Quite  a  pathetic  interest  attaches  to  the  publication  of  this 
volume — The  Romanes  Lecture  for  1894 — owing  to  the  recent  death  of 
Professor  George  Romanes,  the  founder  of  tlie  Lectureship,  who  Avas 
present  at  the  delivery  of  this  lecture  by  the  talented  author.  The 
name  of  the  author  is  a  sufficient  guarantee  that  the  scientific  public  are 


NOTICES    AND    KEVIEWS.  223 

to  have  a  mental  treat,  food  for  reflection,  something  to  learn  and 
unlearn,  something  to  add  and  much  to  subtract  from  their  previous 
tenets.  Commencing  with  a  statement  of  Nageli's  conception  that 
the  evolution  of  the  organic  world  originated  in  virtue  of  inherent 
internal  forces,  he  states  that  there  are  probably  few  naturalists  who 
now  adhere  to  it,  and  then  plunges  at  once  into  the  potency  of  external 
influences,  which  one  sees  invariably  to  bring  about  ultimately  all  the 
vital  manifestations  of  animals  and  plants  as  reactions  to  such  influences 
and  at  the  same  time  owns  that  we  are  "  not  yet  quite  clear  "  as  to  the 
way  in  whicli  external  influences  have  formed  and  transformed 
organisms.  The  remarks  on  hibernation  (p.  9)  will  be  of  particular 
interest  to  our  readers,  and  after  discussing  the  phenomenon  of  adapta- 
tion by  applying  the  principle  of  selection  not  only  to  the  organism  as  a 
whole,  but  also  to  its  constituent  parts  (intra-selection),  he  illustrates 
his  farther  arguments  largely  from  the  insect- world.  The  change  in 
coloration  of  the  imagines  of  Polyommains  jyJiloeas  under  varying  tem- 
peratures, and  the  dimorphism  of  Vanessa  levana-prorsa  are  discussed  as 
also  the  protective  resemblance  of  the  larvae  of  the  two  broods  of  Lyccena 
psendargiohs  which  vary  in  colour,  the  caterjiillars  of  the  summer  brood 
being  well  protected  on  the  white  flower  buds  of  Citnicifuga  racernosa, 
whilst  those  of  the  later  brood  are  yellow  or  olive-green  in  colour,  and  live 
on  the  flower  buds  of  Acfiiiomeris  squamosa,  which,  bears  yellow  flowers. 
Reference  is  made  to  the  variation  of  larva?  under  differing  colour  sur- 
roundings, and  the  conclusion  is  arrived  at  that  "  in  these  and  similar  in- 
stances, tlie  dimorphism  is  not  consequent  on  double  sets  of  primary 
constituents  of  which  only  one  or  the  otlier  can  attain  to  development,"  but 
that  it "  depends  on  tbe  different  susceptibilities  of  the  histological  elements 
which  in  exquisite  combination  make  up  the  skin."  The  "  differentiation 
of  sex  "  next  occupies  attention,  and  the  remarks  on  the  neuters  or  workers 
of  state-forming  insects — bees,  ants  and  termites — must  be  read  to  be  ap- 
preciated. The  conclusion,  that  poor  feeding  is  not  "  the  causa  efficiens  of 
sterility,  but  merely  the  stimulus  which  not  only  results  in  the  formation 
of  rudimentai-y  ovaries,  but  at  the  same  time  calls  forth  all  the  other 
distinctive  characters  of  the  workers,"  appears  to  be  based  on  ju-etty  safe 
ground.  The  experiment  detailed,  too  (p.  31),  on  Mnsca  vomitoria, 
could  be  supplemented  by  every  British  lepidoi^terist  who  pays  attention 
to  the  rearing  of  his  specimens.  The  bearing  of  a  starvation  diet  on 
larvae  and  the  resultant  imagines  is  discussed,  and  the  author  states 
that  "  the  disappearance  of  a  typical  organ  is  not  an  ontogenetic  but 
phylogenetic  i)rocess  ;  it  never  in  any  case  depends  on  mere  influences  of 
nutrition  such  as  affect  the  development  of  each  individual,  but  is  always 
due  to  the  variations  of  the  primary  constituents  of  the  germ,  which  to 
all  appearance  can  only  come  about  in  the  course  of  numerous  o-enera- 
tions."  Having  given  a  definition  of  "  ids  "  the  secondary  units,  each 
of  which  contains  within  itself  all  the  primary  constituents  that  are 
necessary  for  the  develoj^ment  of  an  individual,  contained  in  the  o-erm- 
plasm,  the  author  discusses  the  production  and  development  of  workers 
males  and  queens  among  the  state-forming  insects,  and  concludes  that 
"  selection  is  the  all-sufficient  principle  on  which  the  development  of 
the  organic  world  has  been  guided  on  its  course."  A  brochure  for  every 
scientific  man  to  read,  mark,  learn  and  inwardly  digest,  it  appeals  with 
especial  force  to  those  naturalists  who  are  first  and  foremost  entomologists. 
— Ed. 


224  THE  entomologist's  kecord. 


HOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

Leucania.  albipuncta  at  Sandown. — I  have  much  pleasure  in  re- 
cording the  re-occurrence  of  this  insect  here ;  a  fine  specimen, 
apparently  fresh  from  the  pujDa,  visited  my  sugar  on  August  ISth.  As 
this  was  on  the  same  ground  where  I  took  one  of  my  two  specimens 
last  year,  I  hope  the  species  has  been  breeding  here,  and  that  others 
may  yet  fall  to  my  lot. — Louis  B,  Pkout,  Sandown.     August  21st,  1894. 

Easter  in  Connemara. — I  had  a  pleasant  trip  into  Connemara 
during  the  Easter  holidays.  The  weather  was  beautifully  fine,  but  too 
dry  in  the  evenings  for  moths  to  be  very  plentiful.  Still  I  had  very 
fair  sport  at  the  sallows.  The  hotels  at  two  places.  Recess  and  Leenane, 
are  in  the  midst  of  sallow  trees,  which  were  at  their  best  during  my 
visit  (March  28th,  to  April  1st.).  Taeniocampa  gothica  was  plentiful, 
and  in  great  variety  ;  of  T.  gracilis  only  two  or  three  came  each  even- 
ing, with  a  few  reddish  forms  ;  T.  stahilis  (dark-banded),  T.  instahilis, 
Pacliuohia  rnhricosa,  Xylocarnpa  areola,  Larentia  multistrigaria,  Eupithecia 
pumilata,  and  E.  abbreviata,  all  occurred  sparingly.  Larvje  of  Odonestis 
potatoria  were  in  great  al)inidance.  Since  the  beginning  of  April,  the 
weather  has  been  very  unfavourable,  and  I  have  taken  little.  I  have 
almost  completely  missed  the  larv^  of  Melitaea  anrinia,  which  were 
common  last  year. — J.  E.  E.  Allen,  Galway.     June  Qth,  1894. 

Taeniocampa  stab i lis  in  July. — As  I  was  sugaring  in  the  New 
Forest  on  July  10th,  I  was  surprised  to  take  a  fresh  specimen  of  T. 
stabilis.  Is  this  not  a  very  unusual  occurrence  ?  Was  it  ever  recorded 
before,  or  was  the  sioecies  known  to  be  double-brooded  ?  I  could  at 
the  same  time  have  beaten  many  larvae  of  the  same  insect.  I  took 
Aqrotis  obscura  near  here,  on  August  7tli. — W.  J.  Cross,  Ely.  August 
dill,  1894. 

NOTES    OF    THE    SEASON    1894. 

Short  Notes  from  the  Books  of  the  Exchange  Baskets. — 
Major  Still  reports  the  capture  of  Deilephila  livornica  at  rhododendron 

flowers,    in    the    second    week    of   June,    at    Horrabridge. Mr. 

Eenn  writes  from  Lee  on  June  12th  : — "  Except  the  miserable  weather 
there  is  little  to  record ;  whether  insects  are  really  scarce  or  not  I  can- 
not say.  They  are  not  to  be  beaten  out  in  the  day-time,  nor  will  they 
fly  at  dusk,  and  such  of  my  friends  as  have  tried  sugaring,  have  had 
no  result  whatever.  Some  larvae  are  abundant,  Tortrix  viridana,  for 
instance,  most  of  the  oak  trees  in  the  woods  near  here  being  utterly 

defoliated." Mr.  Mason,  writing  from  Clevedon  on  June  22ncl, 

says : — "  I  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  take  two  fine  specimens  of 
CucuJlia  charnoviillae  at  Lychnis  dioica  within  the  last  week  ;  the  only 
previous  capture  that  I  know   of  in  this  locality  was  made  in  1892." 

On  June  23rd,  Mr.  H.  Bickert on  Jones  reports  from  Liverpool : — 

"  I  have  done  little  or  no  collecting  since  Easter,  when  (at  Llangollen), 
there  were  any  quantity  of  Taeniocampa  gothica,  T.  pulverulenta,  T. 
stahilis,  T.  instahilis,  Pachnohia  ruhricosa,  T.  mnnda,  Orrhodia  vaccinii, 
Scopelosoma  satellitia  and  Calocampa  exoleta  on  the  sallows.  Anticlea 
hadiata  in  fine  condition  and  a  few  Selenia  hilnnarin  and  Larentia  multistri- 
garia, were  also  ca})tured,  and  I  managed  to  get  a  few  specimens  of 
Taeniocampa  opima." On  June  3Uth,  Kev.  E.  C.  Dobree  Fox  writes 


NOTES    UN    COLLECTING,    ETC.  225 

from  Tewkesbury  : — "  We  all  seem  to  agree  that  the  season  is  a  very  bad 
one.  Sugar  is  a  total  failure,  but  as  I  have  often  foiind  this  to  be  the 
case  until  the  elder  is  out  of  bloom,  we  may  do  better  presently.     Still, 

undoubtedly,  things  are  very  scarce." On  July  2nd,  Mr.  Corbett 

writes  from  Doncaster: — "This  season  is  a  woefully  bad  one  for 
imagines.  I  have  sugared  on  all  sorts  of  nights — wet  and  fine,  warm 
and  cold,  calm  and  windy,  dark  and  bright — and  all  have  been  alike 

bad.     Beating  produces  a  few  common  geometers  and  micros." 

On  July  7th,  Mr.  E.  A.  Atmore  writes  from  King's  Lynn: — "Of  late, 
there  has  been  considerable  improvement  in  the  weather,  and  insects 
have  been  very  abundant.  Macro-lepidoptera  seem  to  be  more  plentiful 
here  than  they  have  been  for  several  years.  Sugar  has  recently  attracted 
swarms  of  common  species,  but  very  few  species  worth  taking.  The 
outlook  just  now  is  not  promising — heavy  rain  last  night  and  again  this 
morning,  with  a  low  barometer,  and  the  mercury,  alas  !  still  sinking." 

On  July  KJth,  Mr.  Freer  reports  from  Kugeley  :  — "  Matters  are 

a  little  better.  I  got  about  thirty  Lithosia  raesomeUa  the  other  day,  and 
four  Notodontii  dictaeolAes  ;  I  also  saw  Plnsla  interroyationis  fLyhigvonnd 

honeysuckle.     Light    seems    a    complete    failure  this  year." On 

July  17th,  Mr.  Mason  writes  from  Clevedon  : — "  Collecting  has  certainly 
improved  this  last  fortnight,  but  sugar  is  still  a  failure,  possibly  owing 
to  the  quantity  of  limes  in  flower.  My  row  of  lavender  will  soon  be  at 
its  best,  but  it  is  not  so  attractive  as  usual.  I  have  turned  up  Peri- 
nephele  lancealis  this  season,  in  some  numbers,  in  a  marshy  plantation, 
but  though  the  locality  has  been  regularly  worked  by  myself  and  others 
for  the  last  ten  years,  I  have  never  seen  or  heard  of  a  sj)ecimen  bein^)- 

taken  before.     I  beat  the  insects  from  Eupatormm  cannabinum." 

On  July  26th,  Dr.  Riding  writes  : — "  The  season  here  is  as  bad  as  an}'- 
I  remember.  All  methods  of  capture  fail  —even  light,  which  is  geuei'ally 
more  or  less  successful  here.     I  hear  from  friends  in  Scotland  that  they 

have  been  having  a  good  time." On  July  26th,  Capt.  Eobertson 

writes  from  Cheltenham  : — "  I  have  just  returned  from  Sw^ansea,  where 
I  went  after  Calymnia  pyralina,  but  did  not  see  a  single  sj^ecimen.  I 
also  tried  my  trap  every  night  with  the  same  result.  I  never  remember 
having  such  a  bad  season.  About  the  only  thing  I  took  at  sugar  was 
a  veiy  unusual  visitor  to  the  sweets,  Cossus  Ugniperda,  which  was  un- 
doubtedly either  sucking  or  smelling  it.  I  also  took  Acronycta  {Cmpidia) 
leporina,  which  is  new  to  my  list  of  Swansea  insects.  Day-hunting, 
only  periodical,  yielded  a  couple  of  Ilydrelia  imcula,  and  a  var.  of 
Epinephele  ianira,  with  a  white  patch  on  the  right  fore- wing.     I  tried 

larva-beating  but  got  nothing." On  July  29th,  Mr.  Greer  reports 

from  Bath :  — "  Insects  seem  to  be  scarcer  than  usual  this  year. 
Amongst  others,  I  have  taken  the  following  : — Hepialus  fiyhmii.-^,  rrocris 
geryon,  Nndaria  mundana,  Hdetiia  luiuiria,  Geoiuetra  vernaria,  Lohophi>ra 
sexalisata,  Cainptoijrainma  Jiaridta,  Scotosia  uadidata,  Leucania  pudoriiKi 
Coeaobia  rnfa,  Didntlioecia  carpophiKja,  and  D.   cucubali.     Tlie  majority 

of  the  Nocture  were  taken  at  light,  sugar  proving  a  total  failure." — 

On  August  2nd,  Mr.  A.  W.  Mera  writes  :  — "  I  have  just  returned  from 
a  visit  to  the  Suffolk  coast,  and  like  most  of  my  brctlireu,  have  found 
insects  much  less  abundant  than  usual.  Sugar  was  no  good  ;  nearly  all 
the  NoctuEe  I  took  were  attracted  to  some  flowering  grass  growing  by 
the  shore.  On  one  or  two  nights  common  things  were  reftlh^  abundant, 
but  the  weather  was  generally  too  boisterous  to  do  much.     The  only 


226  TUB  entomologist's  record. 

things  I  noticed  more  plentiful  than  usual,  were  the  larvae  of  Pyrameis 

cardui." On  August  11th,  Mr.  E.  A.  Bowles  writes  : — "  I  have  but 

little  to  report  of  my  two  visits  to  the  New  Forest.  The  earlier  one, 
in  May,  was  rather  successful,  as  I  got  a  few  nice  Macroglossa  homhyli- 
formis,  and  larva?  were  fairly  plentiful ;  the  oaks  were  stripped  by 
common  geometer  larvge,  and  the  beating-tray  revealed  a  mass  of  such 
plebeian  customers  after  each  beat.  Last  month's  visit  was  spoiled  by 
the  weather.  Argi/nnix  adippe,  Heliothis  dipsacea,  and  AcidaJia  stramr- 
nata,  wei'e  fairly  plentiful,  but  larvas  were  absolutely  wanting,  and  the 
fresh  green  foliage  of  the  oaks  was  utterly  unattached.     Nothing  came 

to   sugar,    and  no    geometers   flew   at  dusk   in   the  woods." On 

August  13th,  Capt.  Brown  writes  from  Enniskillen  : — "  The  season  here 
has  been  very  wet,  sugar  has  been  entirely  useless,  and,  as  I  have  not 
the  conscience  to  tramp  about  the  mowing-grass,  of  which  the  country 
round  here  mostly  consists,  and  a  great  deal  of  which  is  even  yet  not 

cut,  my  movements  have  been  hampered." On  August  15th,  Mr. 

Beadle  writes  from  Keswick  : — "  Sugar  has  little  attraction,  or  else  moths 
are  very  scarce.  The  only  good  day  I  have  had  was  amongst  Erehia 
epiphron,  which  I  think  came  out  all  at  once  during  the  sudden  burst  of 
hot  weather  at  the  end  of  June.  I  went  up  Skiddaw  for  Saturnta  carpini 
but  only  got  one  larva  and  two  late  larva?  of  Bomhyx  caJlnnne.  I  was 
glad  also  to  get  a  series  of  a  Cramhits,  which  Mr.  Tutt  has  determined 
to  be  C.  ericellus.  The  time  of  its  appearance,  so  far  as  I  know,  is  from 
the  middle  to  the  end  of  June  ;  it  flies,  or  is  easily  disturbed,  in  the 
day  time,  and  the  only  place  where  I  have  found  it  is  in  Green  Crag, 
Borrowdale,  near  Keswick.  I  succeeded  in  hatching  forty  or  fifty 
larvse  of  E.  epiphron,  and  fed  them  till  they  were  about  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  long  when  they  died.  The  eggs  are  at  first  j^ellow,  changing  to 
pink  and  darkening  just  before  hatching.  The  larva?  are  dull  yellow 
at  first  but  change  to  greenish  after  commencing  to  feed.  I  fed  them 
on  a  common  species  of  grass  of  which  they  ate  the  edges  of  the  blades." 

On  August  17tli,  Mr.  Finlay    reports    from    Morpeth  : — "  I'he 

weather  here  at   jiresent  is   so  wet  that  collecting  is  impossible,  and 

insects    are    not    plentiful." On    August    20th,    Eev.    C.    K.    N. 

Burrows  Avrites  from  Kainham,  Essex : — "  Things  entomological  have 
undoubtedly  improved  since  the  end  of  June.  I,  at  least,  have  found 
it  so  in  my  part  of  the  world.  My  collecting,  however,  is  chiefly  con- 
fined to  the  use  of  sugar ;  it  is  but  rarely  that  I  get  a  chance  of  using 
the  net  or  in  fact  collecting  in  the  day  time." 

Lee,  Kent. — I  am  afraid  I  must  add  my  testimony  to  that  of  otliers, 
that  this  is  really  a  bad  year.  There  have  been  worse  lately,  but,  after 
tlie  promise  of  tlae  early  spring,  it  is  rather  disheartening.  Micros  are 
getting  a  little  more  jilentiful,  but  I  think  I  have  known  days  when 
Macros  seemed  entirely  absent,  not  even  Cabera  'puf^aria  appearing  on 
the  ai)plication  of  the  beating  stick.  Sugar  is  entirely  useless  here.  I 
have  turned  most  of  my  time  and  attention  to  rearing  larva?,  and  have 
done  pretty  well  in  this  way,  as  indoors  the  weather  has  little  effect. 
I  have  just  got  a  nice  brood  of  Acromjcta  alni  into  j^^pfe?  ^^^d  out  of  a 
big  Ijrood  of  Seleuia  Innnria  the  few  I  kept  for  myself  turned  out  nearly 
all  of  the  summer  l)rood  (delunarta).  I  have  just  set  out  the  last  specimen 
of  the  2nd  summer  brood  of  Selenia  bihmaria,  i.e.  the  3rd  emergence  this 
year,  and  have  got  eggs  which  I  hope  will  not  produce  a  fourth,  for 
they   are   the   result   of   a   cross   between  Yorkshire  and  Sutherland 


NOTES    ON   COLLECTING,    ETC.  227 

imagines,  and  I  hope  they  will  produce  a  dark  race.  Tlie  summer 
broods  are  very  rich  in  colour.  Geometra  papilionaria  has  not  been  rare 
here  but,  unfortunately,  all  I  took  were  males.  They  fly  late,  about 
11  p.m.  I  have  a  small  brood  of  Lophopteryx  cncuUind  feeding,  thanks  to 
the  kindness  of  the  Kev.  B.  Smith  of  Great  Marlow,  They  are  very 
interesting  larvc^.  The  egg  is  laid  simply  on  the  underside  of  the 
maple  leaves  in  shady  woods.  In  confinement  they  will  eat  sycamore. 
Acidalia  emarginata  is  a  desideratum  with  many  people  but  it  is  really 
very  generally  distributed.  It  may  be  beaten  out  of  the  long  grass  in 
woody  places  in  the  day  time,  but  flies  commonly  at  11  p.m.  and  later. 
It  may  often  be  found  at  rest  at  dusk,  on  the  long  grasses  under 
bushes  and  hedges.  The  weather  was  so  utterly  bad  at  the  time 
many  of  our  local  Tortrices  appear,  that  I  failed  with  nearly  all 
of  them  ;  even  of  Phoxopteri/x  uptipana  and  S.  puncticostana,  usually  not 
scarce,  I  did  not  see  an  example,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of 
Tortrix  diversana,  but  Orthotaenki  hrandenana  and  Catoptria  conter- 
minana  were  rather  common. — 0.  Fenn,  Aiujust  8th,  189-1. 

Sandoicn  and  Lyndhurst. — From  July  11th  to  August  4th  I  was  at 
Lyndhurst,  and  managed,  despite  rather  poor  sugaring,  to  obtain  one 
Triphaena  suhsequa,  one  fine  Nocttia  stigmatica,  good  series  of  the 
"  Crimsons,"  short  series  of  Nola  strigula,  Rypenodes  aJbistrigalis,  &c., 
&c.  As  I  did  not  commence  working  at  Sandown  until  August  6th,  I 
was  of  course  too  late  to  report  on  some  of  the  summer  species.  Only 
two  poor  Agrotis  Innigera  ( <?  and  ?  ),  two  or  three  Lencanta  conigera, 
six  Caradrina  taraxaci  (absent  since  the  first  two  nights,  thouo-h  not 
then  worn),  and  one  Agrotis  tritici  were  taken  by  me.  Sugar  has  never 
been  quite  a  blank,  and  one  or  two  nights  have  been  very  decent. 
Cerigo  matiira  and  Amphipyra  tragopoginis  have  been  commoner  than 
usual ;  Agrotis  pnta,  Miana  literosa  and  Apnmea  didyma  nearl\%  biit 
perhaps  not  quite  so  common  as  usual;  Miana  bicoloria  and  A(/rotis 
nigricans  have  been  decidedly  scarce  (for  them).  Only  three  Agrotis 
suffusa  have  turned  up  at  present,  and  no  A.  saucia.  Noctua  c-nigrnm 
is  just  coming  out  but  is  apparently  going  to  be  common.      Gnophos 

obscuraria  has  been  jjlentiful,  but  the  "  blues  "  are  deplorably  scarce. 

Louis  B.  Prout,  August  21st,  1894. 

Southend. — I  have  taken  or  bred  the  following  insects  since  the  end 
of  May.  On  the  3rd  of  June  I  took  Agdistis  bennetii,  Epichnopleryx 
radieUa  and  E.  reticella,  Ephlppiphora  cirsiana,  Eupoecilia  afinituna,  E. 
vectisana,  Bacculatrix  cristatella,  and  Dasycera  sidphurtella.  Much  time 
was  spent  in  hunting  for  cases  of  E.  reticella,  cases  of  Fumea  nitidella 
and  E.  radieUa  were  easily  found,  but  those  of  E.  reticella,  althouo-h 
the  (?  s  were  not  uncommon,  must  have  been  hidden  away,  for  a  close 
search  did  not  yield  a  single  case.  Bombyx  rubi  emerged  ;  the  larvae 
had  been  successfully  hibernated  for  the  first  time.  5th  June.  Tried 
'sembling  with  Bombyx  rubi,  and  attracted  one  <?  .  Dug  up  many  roots 
for  larvaj  of  Sesia  chrysidiformis,  wliicii  used  to  occur  in  this  nei^libour- 
hood,  and  found  plenty  of  larva  of  Hepiulus  humuli.  Eupithecia  culgata 
Ciiephasia  musculana,  Sciaphila  snbjectana,  were  netted.  On  June  7th 
Riiinia  luteolata,  Scoparia  dubitalis,  Fhthcochroa  rngosana,  and  Plutella 
cruciferarum  were  netted,  Acidalia  viarginepunctata  taken  at  lio-]it.  9th 
June :  Triphaena  pronuba  emerged,  and  a  pair  of  Arctia  villica  taken. 
10th  June :  Tortrix  costana  was  bred  from  Epilobium  angiistifolium. 
Sciaphila  hybridana  was  abundant  on  the  salt  marshes.      1 1th  June 


228  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Hadena  snasa  emerging  ;  I  found  the  ova  in  May  of  last  year,  attached 
to  dead  stems  of  Aster  tripoleum.  On  ]  2th  June  :  H.  linmuli,  Cramhiis 
2>rateUiis,  Xnnthosetia  hamana  were  taken.  On  liJth  June :  Hejnalus 
lapnlinus  was  abundant.  On  14th  June  :  Sericoris  littornlis  and  eggs  of 
n.  suasa  were  obtained  at  Shoel)uryness,  and  a  few  young  broods  of 
larvai  of  Boiahyx  eastrensis  oljserved.  On  Kith  June  :  Cramhus  hortueUus, 
Flatytes  cenissellns,  ^  ,?  Craiiibns  falsellus.  17th  June  :  Lycnena  astrarche, 
ArgijroJep'ut  zeplii/rana,  Dichrorharnpha  plmnh(i<jana,  Cramhus  pniscueUns, 
Endopiiia  nigricana  (?),  Pionea  forfical/s,  Sciaphila  rirganreana  bred  from 
sea  lavender,  lyth  June:  Orgyia  gonostigiiin  emerged.  24th  June: 
Fnmea  nitideUa,  3'  bred.  25th  June  :  Euclidia  ghjphlca  and  Xylop)hasia 
lithoxylea.  Two  or  three  broods  of  Eriogaster  lanestris  seen.  26th 
June :  Phorodf^sma  smaragdaria  emerging.  27tli  June :  Sesia  iipidi- 
formis  bred.  28tli  June  :  Xylopltasia  polyodon  everywhere.  2'Jth  June  : 
JJropteryx  sambiicaria  and  C.  maritiina  bred.  30th  June  :  Tortrix  vibur- 
niana  bred  from  sea  wormwood.  Hemithea  strigain  netted.  1st  July  : 
Leioptihis  lienighnius  emerging.  On  3rd  July  :  Nndaria  senex,  and 
Crambns  ctdinelhis  taken.  Fresh  females  of  P.  smaragdaria,  exposed  by 
the  river  wall  until  11  p.m.,  failed  to  attract  liiales.  5th  July: 
Tischerki  dodonaea  bred.  Cramhus  jjerlcUus,  Catopfria  cana,  Tortrix 
nnifasciana,  Leucania  impura.  On  8th  July:  Arctia  caia  emerging. 
Pampliila  sylvanns,  P.  thaumas,  Coenomjmpha  parnphihts,  Nomophila 
noctueUa  taken,  but  no  P.  lineola.  July  9th :  Cidaria  fulvata,  Rivida 
sericealis,  Eupithecia  pyumilata,  Hedya  ocellana,  Tortrix  heparana,  Euholia 
limiiata,  GaUeria  mellonella  netted  ;  at  sugar,  Apamra  didyma,  Leucania 
lilhargyria,  Agrotis  exclamationis  and  Carudrina  <dsines.  10th  July : 
Tortrix  icterirana  taken,  lltli  Jul}^:  Bornbyx  quercus  emerging.  Argy- 
resthia  nitideUa,  Tortrix  ribeana,  Scoparia  mercurella,  Acidalia  dUutaria, 
and  A.  emarginata.  Sphinx  ligustri.  13t]i  July:  Pyrameis  c.ardui  larva? 
on  the  tliistles,  and  a  fine  fresh  H.  hinereUa.  14th  July:  Larvfe  of 
Larerna  epilobiella  abundant ;  Dichrorharnpha  politana  and  Homocsomn 
sinneUa  netted.  15th  July  :  Pterophorus  mnnodactylns,  Hedya  aceriana, 
Euholia  hipmictaria,  Strenia  clathrafa,  Dlimoeseoptihs  pterodactylvs, 
HerhnJa  cespitalis  taken.  July  19th:  Tinea  pell ionella  and  L.  epilobiella 
emerging.  July  20th  :  Xanthosetiazoegana  at  light.  July  21st:  Sideria 
achatana  bred ;  Bryophda  perla.  July  22nd :  Pelurga  comitata  bred. 
Cocoons  of  Zygaena  fHipendulae  everywhere.  Pamphihi  lineola,  Pla- 
typtilia  hertrami,  Acidalia  imninfata,  Cramhus  selasellus,  Epinepjhele  ianira 
and  E.  titlionus,  Cramhus  cnhiiellus,  Catoptria  candidnlana  and  C.  trijioliana 
taken.  July  23rd:  Phibalapteryx  vitalhatae\\\e\gii\g.  The  wet  weather 
during  the  i^ast  week  has  quite  upset  my  out-door  work.— F.  G. 
Whittle.     July  2m,  1894. 

Weymouth. — I  cannot  say  that  I  have  found  the  season  so  bad  as 
have  many  entomologists.  The  weather  has  certainly  greatly  hindered 
collecting,  but  moths  have  been  fairly  common  and  of  good  quality  at 
Portland  where  I  do  most  of  my  collecting.  It  has  been  a  good  year 
for  Agrotis  ])yrophila,  and  a  moderately  good  one  for  A.  Incernea, 
whilst  A.  lunigera,  which  is  sometimes  abundant  at  Portland, 
has  been  very  scarce.  Chauliodes  daucellus,  of  which  I  have  before 
only  taken  odd  specimens,  has  been  abundant  in  the  larva  state  in  the 
wild  carrot.  I  have  often  looked  out  for  this  larva  but  never  before 
came  across  it.  I  understand  that  it  is  usual  for  this  species,  like  many 
others,  to  have  an  occasional  year  of  ])lenty  and  at  other  times  to  l)e 
almost  absent.     (!f  wasjisl  have  not  yet  seen  a  single  worker.     The 


NOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    ETC.  229 

5  s  were  abundant  in  tlie  sirring  as  might  be  expected  from  the  extreme 
abundance  of  wasps  hxst  summer.  I  hope  they  may  take  a  few  years 
now  to  get  up  their  numbers  again,  for  though  they  are  doubtless  very 
useful  insects  they  are  never  welcome  when  in  great  numbers. — 
Nelson    M.    Richakdson.    July  30th,  1894. 

Freshwater. — During  my  temporary  absence  in  Guernsey  upon 
business,  my  brother  was  fortunate,  with  the  assistance  of  my  nephew, 
in  capturing  a  very  richly  mottled  s[)ecimen  of  Laphi/gnia  exujua  at 
sugar  on  Aug.  31st,  and  promjjtly  followed  up  the  success  by  taking  an 
equally  tine  Leucania  alhipuncta  on  Sept.  4th,  also  at  sugar.  Common 
species  are  coming  very  freely,  Noctua  c-nigrum  and  I'Mogophora 
meticulosa  being  especially  a  nuisance,  whilst  Agrotis  ohelisca  and 
Aporophyla  australis  are  occasional  visitors.  I  have  also  to  record  single 
specimens  of  Pbma  festncae  (query,  second  brood,)  and  Heliophohus 
hispidus,  neither  of  which  I  have  ever  taken  here  before,  although  the 
latter  was  reputed  to  occur  in  numbers  formerly  near  Totland  Bay, 
where  I  have  frequently  searched  by  day  without  success.  A  second 
specimen  of  L.  albipuncta  was  captured  at  sugar  last  night  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  spot  at  which  the  former  was  captured. — Albert  J.  Hodges, 
Sept.  8th,  1894. 


Societies. 


At  the  meeting  of  the  South  London  Entomologic.'^l  and  Natural 
HisTOKY  Society  on  July  12th,  Mr.  R.  Adkin  exhibited  a  bred  series  of 
Diaiithoecia  nana,  all  of  which  were  very  very  dark  and  some  unicolorous. 
•  Mr.  Oldham;  a  specimen  of  linmia  luteolata  with  a  well-developed 
waved  line  on  all  the  wings.  Mr.  Auld ;  a  bred  specimen  of  Phoro- 
desma  smaragdaria,  in  which  only  the  discoidal  sjjots  were  present. 
Mr.  C.  A.  Briggs  ;  a  specimen  of  the  rare  Lacewing  Fly,  Nothochrysa 
capitata,  taken  at  Wisley.  Mr.  Perks  ;  the  egg  of  a  CocciueUa,  deposited 
on  the  point  of  a  thorn.  Mr.  Turner  ;  Lycaena  minima  from  Galway, 
showing  gradual  diminution  of  spots  on  the  underside,  and  a  brown- 
suffused  specimen  of  L.  astrarche  from  Reigate.     Mr.  Hall ;  Drosera 

rotundifolia  and    I>.  intermedia,  from   Wisley. On   July   26th,   Mr. 

Carpenter  exhibited  a  bleached  Epinephele  ianira  from  the  New  Forest 
which  he  said  was  the  only  insect  captured  worth  recording  durino-  a 
fortnight's  hard  work  ;  sugar  was  an  absolute  failure.  Mr.  R.  Adkin  ; 
Coccyx  strohiklla  together  with  the  spruce  cones  from  which  they  had 
been  reared.  Mr.  Auld  ;  a  series  of  Ephippiphora  foeneUa,  bred  from 
roots  of  mugwort ;  the  roots  were  shown  with  the  pu})a-cases  in  silu. 
]\Ir.  Mooro ;  a  number  of  fossil  shark's  teeth,  taken  out  of  a  cargo  of 
guano  from  Bull  River,  South  America.  Mr.  Frohawk  said  that  black- 
birds and  thrushes  were  still  in  full  song,  and  remarked  that  it  was 
unusually  late  for  this  to  be  the  case.  Mr.  Step  reported  the  a])pear- 
ance   on  a  ceiling  in  his  house  of  a  rare  fungus  (Peziza  haemasti(/ma). 

On   August  9th,   Mr.  Hall,  in  exhibiting  bred  series  of  Xanthia 

fnlvago  from  Derby  and  Croydon,  stated  that  it  was  usual  to  obtain  a 
greater  proportion  of  var  flavescens  from  the  north  than  from  the  south. 
Mr.  Adkin  (on  behalf  of  Mr.  South)  exhibited  a  bred  series  of  Hyj)si- 
petes  sordidata  from  North  wood,  having  a  very  dai"k  ground  colour  ; 
bred  series  of  Cleoceris  viminalis  from  Blatchworth,  some  of  which  were 
melanic  while  others  were  very  pale  ;  a  specimen  of  Tortrix  xylosteana 
which  had  jet  black  markings  instead  of  rich  reddish-brown ;  a  series 


230  THE  entomologist's  record. 

of  Prays  cnrtiselhis  collected  round  Macclesfield,  which  included  both 
the  normal  and  tlie  uniformly  fuscous  forms.  Mr.  Turner  showed  a 
dark  specimen  of  Melanippe  fluctuata  taken  at  Brockley,  referable  to 

var.  neapolimta. The  meeting  on  August  23rd  does  not  seem  to  have 

produced  anything  worthy  of  record. 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. 
— July  3rd,  1894. — Exhibits: — Mr.  Clark:  a  large  number  of  Aus- 
tralian Lepidoptera  received  from  Mr.  Anderson  ;  also  living  larvae  of 
Selenia  limaria.  Mr.  May  :  an  empty  cocoon  of  Phisia  moneta  from 
Weybridge.  He  stated  that  the  moth  had  emerged  from  this  a  few 
days  previously.  Mr.  Hollis :  bred  specimens  of  Ocneria  dispar.  Mr, 
Prout :  bred  series  of  Eupithecia  assimilata,  upon  which  he  made  the 
following  remarks  : — "  These  specimens  were  reared  from  five  different 
females  taken  in  1893.  Brood  No.  2  was  a  failure,  but  the  others 
showed  a  decided  tendency  to  heredity.  Brood  1  was  composed  of 
small  specimens,  inclining  to  a  dull  unicolorous  form  ;  Brood  3,  similar, 
but  larger ;  Brood  4,  fine  large  reddish  specimens,  well  marked, 
especially  behind  the  central  spot ;  Brood  o,  delicate  greyish  tone, 
recalling  the  tint  of  E.  suhnotata.  This  species  is  only  partially  double 
brooded.  Brood  1,  from  a  female  taken  11th  June,  1893,  produced 
three  at  the  end  of  Jul}^  1893,  the  remainder  emerging  in  May,  1894; 
Brood  5,  from  a  female  taken  11th  August,  1893,  fed  up  during  the 
autumn,  the  imagines  appearing  in  May.  They  fed  either  on  currant 
or  hop,  but  refused  flowers,  while  the  allied  E.  absynthiata  feeds  on 
ragwort  flowers,  and  refuses  hop."  Dr.  Secpieira :  Meliana  flamrnea, 
Viminia  venosa  and  Macrogaster  arundinis,  all  from  Wicken  Fen.  Dr. 
Buckell :  Nisoniades  tages.  He  called  attention  to  the  presence  in  the 
males  of  a  fold  along  the  basal  half  of  the  costal  margin  of  the  fore 
wings.  The  same  character  is  also  present  in  Pyrgns  lualvae,  and  is 
probably  a  scent  organ.  Mr.  Bacot :  full-grown  larvae  of  Amphidasys 
prodromaria  feeding  on  cherry.  Mr.  Battley :  flowers  of  Orchis 
jiyramidaJis,  Ophrys  apifera  (Bee  orchis),  and  Gyninadenid  conopsrn 
(Scented  orcliis)  all  from  Keigate.  Mr.  Bate  said  that  he  had  made 
further  enquiries  as  to  the  specimen  of  Polyomruatus  virganreae 
exhibited  by  him  at  the  last  meeting,  and  that  no  doubt  seemed  to  exist 
as  to  the  authenticity  of  the  capture,  which  took  place  in  July  or 
August,  1880. 

July  17th,  1894.— Exhibits: — Mr.  Oldham  :  a  specimen  of  Rumia 
cratnegata  with  very  distinct  transverse  lines ;  also  some  rats  killed  by 
poison.  Mr.  liattley :  Macrogaster  arundinis,  Hydrilla  p>alnstris,  Her- 
minia  crihralis  and  Nascia  cilialis,  all  from  Wicken,  and  Spilodes  sticticalis 
from  Tuddenham.  Mr.  May  :  bred  specimens  of  Plnsia  moneta,  Geometra 
papilionaria  and  Ellopia  fasciaria.  Dr.  Buckell  ;  living  specimens  of 
Bomhyx  quercus  received  from  Mr.  A.  J.  Johnson  of  Erdington,  near 
Birmingham.  He  read  a  letter  from  that  gentleman,  in  which  he  stated 
that  he  had  placed  three  bred  S])ecimens  (two  males  and  a  female)  in  a 
box,  and  shortly  afterwards  noticed  that  the  two  males  were  in  cop.  He 
further  suggested  that  one  of  them  might  be  hermaphroditic,  although 
they  appeared  to  be  typical  males.  Capt.  Thompson  :  pupa^  of  Nonagria 
eiymi  in  stems  of  Elymns  areuarius. 

August  1th,  1894. — Exhibits: — Mr.  Sauze  :  a  long  series  of  Coccinella 
variabilis  from  Sydenham  and  other  localities.  Mr.  Lewcock  :  a  nearly 
fidl-fed  larva  of  Smerinthus  tiliae.  The  meeting  was  very  small,  many 
of  the  members  being  away  for  their  holidays. 


SOCIETIES.  23 1 

Angnst  2 Is/,  1894. — Mr.  Clark,  in  referring  to  the  death  of  Mr. 
William  Machin,  formerly  a  member  of  the  Society,  proposed  that  a 
vote  of  sympath}^  be  sent  to  his  relatives  ;  this  was  accordingly  done. 
Exhibits  : — Mr.  Gregor  :  Acidalia  manjinepunctnta,  Agrotia  strignla  (dark), 
Cidaria  populata,  Lurentia  olivata,  Hypsipefes  sordiddta  (some  tine  forms) 
and  a  suffused  banded  form  of  Camptogramma  bih'neata,  all  from  North 
Wales.  Mr.  Gates :  a  number  of  microlepidoptera,  mostly  bi'cd,  from 
the  Hammersmith  neighbourhood,  including  Furnea  mtenuediella  ;  the 
females  of  this  species  never  leave  the  larval  case.  Mr.  Clark :  Meh'ana 
fiarnmea,  Bankia  argentula,  Acontia  hictuosa  and  others  from  Wicken. 
Mr.  Lewcock  :  Pachyta  collaris,  Cryptorhynclms  lapathi  and  many  other 
coleoptera ;  the  larva  of  C.  lapathi  feeds  in  the  stems  of  willow  and 
sallow.  Dr.  Buckell :  Bupalns  phiiaria  (  S  s)  from  Oxshott  and  West 
Wickham,  with  a  Scotch  specimen  for  comparison  ;  one  of  the  Oxshott 
specimens  had  those  portions  of  the  wings  which  are  usually  yellow  as 
white  as  in  the  Scotch  specimen,  whilst  in  another  specimen  the  black 
had  encroached  much  more  than  usual  on  the  yellow,  and  on  the  hind- 
wings  had  almost  entirely  obliterated  it ;  also  two  pupa?  of  Nemeohins 
lucina  attached  to  a  withered  primrose  leaf ;  the  larvae  hatched  on  June 
12th,  and  jjupated  on  July  23rd  ;  during  their  earlier  stages  the  larvae 
remained  on  the  fresh  leaf  all  day,  but  in  their  later  stages  they  left  it 
during  the  day  and  rested  on  the  bottom  of  the  glass  in  which  they 
were  being  reared  ;  this  facts  suggests  that  the  larv^  might  be  looked 
for  during  the  day  under  leaves  resting  on  the  ground  or  on  the  ground 
close  to  the  plant  ;  when  the  time  for  pupation  came  neither  attached 
itself  to  the  fresh  leaf,  but  both  retired  to  the  withered  leaf  on  which 
they  now  are,  and  which  happened  to  be  in  the  jar ;  also  a  specimen  of 
Miana  strigilis  from  Highgate,  with  a  reddish  band  near  the  hind 
margin  of  the  fore-wings.     Dr.  Buckell  also  read  : — 

Notes  on  the  parallelism,  in  their  earijest  stages,  between 
EuGONiA  quercinaria  AND  E.  AUTUMNARiA. — I  obtained  a  batch  of  eggs 
last  year  from  a  bred  ?  E.  quercinaria  paired  with  a  bred  ^ ,  both  of 
them  from  larvje  taken  in  Kensington  Gardens.  In  April  last  Capt. 
Thompson  brought  me  some  eggs  of  E.  aidiimnaria  to  rear  for  him. 
Eearing  the  two  species  side  by  side,  I  was  struck  with  tlie  following 
points  of  parallelism  between  them.  1.  The  eggs  were  (to  the  naked 
eye)  indistinguishable,  their  shape  is  jjeculiar  (vide  Ent.  Bee,  vol.  iv., 
J).  23(3)  ;  Mr.  Tutt  describes  it  {Ent.  Bee,  v.,  p.  1 14)  as  "  a  rather  square- 
based  parallelepiped."  2.  In  both  cases  the  eggs  were  laid  overlapping 
one  another  (imbricated)).  3.  In  both  alike  the  hatching  2:)rocess  ex- 
tended over  very  nearly  a  month.  4.  For  pupation  both  spun  leaves 
together,  E.  quercinaria  very  loosely,  E.  antumnaria  somewhat  more 
firmly. 

Mr.  Riches  announced  that  he  had  bred  several  specimens  of  Apamea 
ophiogramma  from  "  Ribbon-grass;"  a  discussion  ensued  as  to  the  proper 
food  of  this  larva  when  in  a  wild  state  ;  Dr.  Buckell  said  that  the  Rev. 
C.  R.  N.  Burrows  of  Rainham  had  bred  3  (?  and  3  $  Anticlea  berberata, 
which  he  placed  together  in  a  glass-topped  box  with  a  spray  of  the  food 
plant ;  on  the  first  night  each  5  found  a  mate ;  on  the  following  night 
some  were  paired  again,  and  the  same  thing  happened  on  the  third 
night.     Mr.  Bacot  read  : — 

Further  notes  on  Selenia  tetkali'nahia. — From  the  fertile  ova  of 
the  batch  upon  which  I  communicated  some  notes  to  the  Society  on 


232  THE  entomologist's  record. 

June  5tli,  I  bred  6  imagines,  Avhicli  emerged  during  the  first  week  of 
July.  I  tried  "  assembling  "  with  them  on  two  occasions,  but  without 
success  ;  jirobably  it  was  too  early  for  the  2nd  brood  in  a  state  of 
nature.  I,  however,  paired  two  of  those  I  bred,  and,  with  a  view  of 
following  up  my  former  observations,  removed  the  female  to  a  fresh 
chip  box  each  day.  The  pairing  took  place  on  the  night  of  July  4th. 
On  the  night  of  July  5th  97  eggs  were  laid ;  these  Avere  deposited  in 
one  large  loose  patch  and  several  smaller  ones  (the  female  of  the  spring 
brood  laid  her  eggs  in  twos  and  threes  only),  they  had  not  turned  red 
on  the  night  of  the  6th,  but  were  all  red  next  morning  (Tlh).  On  the 
night  of  the  6th  34  were  laid  ;  they  were  more  scattered  than  on  the 
previous  night,  but  there  was  one  loose  patch  of  18;  at  1  p.m.  on  the 
8th  these  were  darkening  but  not  yet  red  ;  by  7  a.m.  on  the  9th  they 
had  turned  red.  On  the  niglit  of  the  7th  11  were  laid;  at  7  a.m.  on 
the  9th  one  of  these  had  turned  red,  the  rest  were  only  flesh-coloured  ; 
by  9  a.m.  on  the  10th  all  were  red.  On  the  night  of  the  8th  11  were 
laid ;  at  7  a.m.  on  the  9th  all  these  were  of  a  dull  orange  except  one, 
which  was  red ;  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  two  more  had  become  red, 
and  on  the  evening  of  the  same  .day  all  were  pale  red — one  very  dark 
red  or  purple.  On  the  night  of  the  9th  4  were  laid,  which  were  all 
pale  orange  the  next  morning,  and  all  red  on  the  12th.  On  the  night 
of  the  11th  two  were  laid;  next  morning  one  of  these  was  })ale  red, 
the  other  dirty  yellow  ;  on  the  15th  both  were  dark  red.  These  obser- 
vations seem  to  confirm  the  o^nnion  I  expressed  in  my  notes  on  the 
spring  batch  to  the  effect  that  the  few  fertile  eggs  of  that  batch  were 
laid  in  the  middle  of  the  period  of  de})Osition.  I  did  not  take  note  of 
the  exact  tint  of  the  freshly-laid  eggs  for  the  first  two  or  three  days, 
but  I  do  not  think  that  they  differed  much  from  the  infertile  ones  of 
the  former  batch.  Some  of  the  later  ones,  however,  if  not  orange- 
coloured  when  laid,  must  have  changed  very  rapidly,  as  they  were 
already  of  that  tint  when  I  examined  them  onlj^  nine  or  ten  liou.rs 
after  their  deposition,  and  it  will  be  noticed  that  one  egg  turned  red  in 
this  short  space  of  time. 


pONG  OF  THE   SEASONS. 

Come  forth :  come  forth :  the  spring  to  j    Come  forth  :  come  foith  :   the  autumn 
thee  is  calling :  ;  inists  are  creeping 


The  plover  cries  his  love  o'er  moor 

and  hill ; 
The    skjiark's   notes   from  heaven  to 

earth  are  falling : 
And    in    the    hedgerows    nods    the 

daffodil. 

Come  forth  :  come  forth  :  the  summer's 

fier^'  glances 
Bid    thee  come  dream  heneath  the 

greenwood's  shade : 
Near  where    the    streamlet   mid   the 

bracken  dances : 


About  the  garden  where  the  robin 

sings : 
The  spider  in  his  dewv  net  is  sleeping: 
And  to  his  hoard  his  nuts  the  squirrel 

brings. 

Lie  still  and  rest :    the  winter  winds 
are  wailing: 
The    sparrow  puffs  his   featliers  on 
the  tree : 
And  sullen  clouds  o'er  sullen  skies  go 
trailing. 
What  can  the  dead  earth  tell  to  thee 


And  the  tall  foxglove  blushes  in  the   i  or  me  ? 

glade.  G.  M.  A.  H. 


<^^  AND  ^^^^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  10.     Vol,  V.  October  15th,  1894. 


BiIf'i'Ei^PLy-e^i'eiJir^Q  Iji  fplE  plEigj^lBOl/l^jiOOD   OF 

]V[0]^1'    BhRjlZ* 

By  J.  W.  TUTT,  F.E.S. 

Overhead  the  sky  is  of  a  lovely  blue.  The  suu's  rays  jjass  throuo-h 
the  larches  and  fall  upon  a  sloping  hollow  that  is  filled  knee-deep  with 
scabious  and  thyme,  marjoram  and  gentians,  umbellifers  and  trefoils, 
barberry  and  juniper.  Two  lazy  fellows  are  lounging  idly  in  the  shade 
at  a  little  distance  from  each  other,  each  trusting  that  the  other  believes 
him  to  be  working  as  hard  as  possible  while  he  is  really  glorying  in  his 
own  laziness  as  he  feasts  his  eyes  on  the  snowy  dome  of  Mont  Blanc, 
or  on  the  necklet  of  cloud  from  out  of  which  stands  up,  black  and  o-vim, 
the  sharp  jioint  of  the  Aiguille  Noire  de  Peteret.  Yonder  the  Glacier 
de  Brenva  shows  its  white  ne've,  glistening  in  the  brilliant  sunli(>-ht ; 
whilst  The  Grammont  and  Clietif  smile  grimly  across  the  JJora  Valley 
at  the  two  make-believes  on  the  opposite  side.  Lovely  is  the  Dora 
Valley,  with  its  turlud  glacial  streams,  its  emerald  green,  its  snow- 
capped mountains,  and  its  beautiful  flowers.  Kound  this  delightful  spot, 
in  favourable  localities,  butterflies  and  moths  don't  simply  exist — they 
swarm. 

Let  us  glance  at  some  of  the  butterflies  that  may  be  captured  round 
about  Courmaj^eur  on  a  morning  in  early  August. 

In  the  valley  below  there  Papilio  podalirim  flies  lazily  but  gracefully 
about,  sipping  from  every  muddy  spot.  The  few  P.  machaon  we  see 
are  worn  and  broken,  and  a  half-fed  larva,  picked  up  on  the  bank,  tells 
us  that  we  have  hit  on  a  time  between  the  two  broods  or  else  that  the 
summer  brood  is  past.  But  the  butterfly  of  these  slopes  is  Parnassius 
apollo.  A  lazy,  high-living  chap  is  he,  sucking  away  greedily  at  the 
nectar  of  knapweed  or  scabious,  too  intent  to  mind  the  fingers  that 
pick  him  tenderly  from  his  food,  simply  throwing  out  his  fore  le^s  in 
a  wondering  sort  of  way  as  much  as  to  say.  Where  am  I  now  ?  As 
we  put  him  back  he  goes  on  sucking  again,  flaps  his  wings  once 
or  twice  to  satisfy  himself  that  he  has  discovered  where  he  is  and  then 
after  a  time,  spreads  his  wings  and  launches  himself  in  the  air  so 
lightly  and  easily  that  you  fail  to  see  his  wings  vibrate  to  keep  him  in 
motion.  A  really  fine  fellow  it  is,with  its  crimson  spots  varying  in  size  and 
number,  dependent,  my  companion  says,  on  sex ;  but  this  fliglit  makes  one 
*  Kead  before  the  City  of  London  Jintomological  Society,  bept.  4tb,  1894.      ^ 


234  THE  entomologist's  record. 

think  that,  in  sj^ite  of  the  neiiration  being  so  different,  the  osmaterium 
of  the  larva  is  a  better  guide,  and  shows  that  it  has  closer  affinities  to 
the  Swallow-tails  than  one  would  otherwise  be  inclined  to  suppose. 
Leticophasia  shidpis  threads  its  way  slowly  through  bush  and  grass  and 
occasionally  settles  as  lazily  as  it  flies,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  some  of 
our  English  collectors  think  that  this  species  has  solved  the  problem  of 
perpetual  motion.  In  yonder  lucerne  fields  Aporia  crakegi  disports 
itself,  the  almost  diaphanous  females  reminding  one  of  P.  apoUo  and 
giving  one  the  notion  that  the  most  perfect  specimens  are  but  in  poor 
condition.  With  it  are  Pieris  brassicae  and  P.  rapae,  but  P.  napi 
does  not  put  in  an  appearance,  although  we  met  with  it  later  on  at 
Aix-les-Bains.  Pieris  dajiJidice  flits  easily  along,  but  a  regular  "artful 
dodger  "  it  is.  It  flies  slowly,  and  you  cannot  help  distinguishing  it  at 
once  on  the  wing,  notwithstanding  all  that  has  been  said  to  the  con- 
trary. But  for  all  its  slow  flight  you  often  miss  it ;  it  dodges  just  as 
you  strike,  changes  its  mind  perhaps  when  the  shadow  of  the  net  falls 
on  it ;  at  any  rate  you  miss  about  as  many  as  you  catch.  Gonopteryx 
rhamni  is  just  coming  out,  but  no  G.  deopatra  are  seen.  The  "  Yellows  " 
are  in  fine  condition  and  in  the  humour  to  hunt  a  fellow  on  the  hill- 
side. You  may  talk  about  hunting  butterflies  but  I  have  quite  made 
up  my  mind  that  these  Clouded  Yellows  hunt  me.  One  took  me  a 
pretty  dance,  I  nearly  broke  my  neck — and  got  a  peep  at  him  ;  had 
after  him  again — and  got  a  telescopic  view  at  about  six  yards ;  then  he 
beamed  on  me  as  he  turned  suddenly  and  jDassed  within  an  inch  of  my 
nose,  just  as  I  was  calculating  whether  I  was  to  sink  gracefully  on  my 
back  on  the  bank  or  roll  with  the  loose  stones  I  had  incautiously  stepped 
on  and  thus  end  my  existence  ;  then,  when  I  recovered,  I  saw  him  hover- 
ing over  a  flower  at  the  ver}^  spot  whence  I  had  started  ;  but  when  I 
got  there  he  was  just  sailing  away  over  the  larch  trees.  I  didn't  give 
them  much  chance  of  hunting  me  though,  for  we  soon  arranged  matters 
satisfactorily,  and  whilst  C.  edusa,  C.  liyale  and  C.  phicomone  flew 
peacefully  about  the  bank  I  lay  in  the  shade  and  watched  them.  Ar- 
gynnids  were  in  thousands,  A.  aglaia  and  A.  niohe  in  dozens ;  and  what 
grand  fellows  some  of  the  latter  are  !  what  marvellous  variations  they 
show  in  their  silvery  undersides — and  in  their  upjiersides,  too,  for  the 
matter  of  that.  A.  adiptpe  and  an  occasional  A.paphia,  together  with  a 
much  larger  but  closely- allied  species,  with  a  really  grand  underside  of 
green  and  red,  were  mingled  with  such  lovely  A.  latona.  Just  out  of 
pupa,  they  waved  their  Avings  airily,  now  on  a  flower,  then  on  the  rock 
at  one's  feet.  A.  selene  I  saw  once,  I  believe,  but  A.  eiiphrosyne  was  not. 
A  half-dozen  other  species  besides  perhaps  fell  in  our  way  here,  but 
their  names  are  not  on  British  lists,  except  perhaps  A.  dia,  which  some- 
times is  and  ought  not  to  be.  All  our  British  Melita?as  occurred  and 
many  others  besides — M.  cinxia  on  the  hill-side,  M.  mtrinia  high  on  the 
mountains,  probably  long  over  in  the  lower  regions,  and  M.  athalia  here 
and  there,with  ]\l.partheme,  M.mirelia  and  many  other  species.  The  larvse 
of  Vaneaaa  urticae  occurred  high  on  the  mountains,  where  nine-tenths 
must  starve  before  they  come  to  maturity,  and  })lenty  of  images  a})peared 
as  well.  V.  antiopa,  fine  strong-winged  fellow,  was  only  once  seen  here, 
but  others  appeared  in  the  Cogne  Valley,  where  a  pupa  and  evi- 
dences of  some  hundreds  of  larvas  in  the  shape  of  their  cast  skins  were 
found  ujjon  the  willows.  Vanessa  io  and  Pyrameis  aialanta  were  in 
no  great  abundance,  but  P.  cardui  and   its  larvae  were  everywhere. 


BUTTERFLY-OATOHING  IN  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD  OF  MONT  BLANC.       235 

This  species  was  found  up  to  the  highest  points  we  reached,  sailing  over 
the  top  of  Mont  de  la  Saxe  and  the  Glacier  du  Miage,  free  and  unre 
strained.  Lime  ait  is  Camilla  occasionally  haunted  a  shrubby  honeysuckle, 
and  Melananjia  galatea  kept  company  with  P.  apoUo  almost  everywhere 
on  suitable  slopes.  We  made  a  special  hunt  for  Erehias,  and  got  some, 
although  Erehia  aethiops  occurred  but  twice  and  both  times  at  low 
levels  (at  Bourg  St.  Maurice  and  Gresy  near  Aix  les  Bains),  but  some 
allied  species  swarmed.  Erehia  epiphron  in  varied  conditions  of  dotting 
and  spotting  was  sometimes  not  uncommon.  Pararge  megaera  and 
some  allied  non-British  species  occurred,  but  rarely  in  the  higlier  levels, 
although  the  species  was  abundant  in  the  Val  d'  Aosta,  whilst  H.  semele, 
fine  grand  fellows  some  of  them,  were  met  with  in  many  places. 
Epinephele  ianira,  with  a  double-spotted  relation,  and  Coenonympha 
pamphilns  were  not  uncommon.  Of  the  Hair-streaks  only  one,  and  that 
a  non-British  species,  occurred,  but  the  lovely  Coppers  made  up  for 
them.  Brilliant  little  gems  are  the  males  of  Chrysophanus  virgaurece,  and 
abundantly  they  skipj^ed  from  flower  to  flower,  whilst  C.  pJiIoeas  gave 
us  here  a  bright  form,  lower  down  the  dark  form  which  Mr.  Merrifield 
has  proved  to  accompany  a  high  temperature  and  wliich  has  helped  to 
prove  that  melanism  is  often  the  result  of  a  physical  (pathological)  process 
which  may  be  engendered  in  a  variety  of  ways.  But  Lycaenas  are  the  in- 
sects jjar  excellence  of  the  banks  here.  L.  corydon  and  L.bellargns,  L.  aegon 
and  L.  argus,  L.  astrarche  and  L.  icarus,  L.  acis  and  L.  minima,  L.  argiolus 
and  L.  argiades,  with  fine  dark  L.  avion  sport  here,  and  quite  a  dozen 
non-British  species  besides  :  the  thyme  and  marjoram  teem  with  these 
strange  little  creatures,  which  make  their  wings  appear  to  rotate  by  a 
process  of  moving  those  on  opposite  sides  in  different  directions.  No 
Nemeobius  lucina  were  observed  here,  although  a  second  brood  turned  up 
at  Aix,  but  malvae-like  Skippers  were  in  dozens.  How  many  species 
there  were  I  dare  not  say  ;  whether  Pyrgus  malvae  was  in  fact  one  of 
them  it  is  equally  unsafe  to  assert.  Nisoniades  tages  and  some  butter- 
flies which  resembled  but  were  not  it  occurred,  not  here  but  at  Aosta ; 
but  here,  with  the  Yellows  and  Fritillaries,  thousands  of  Pamphila 
comma  dart  about  diving  their  probosces  deep  into  thistle  and  scabious, 
hustling  tlie  Burnet  moths,  the  apollox,  and  even  the  bees.  P.  linea  and 
P.  lineola,  P.  sylvanus  and  P.  actaeon  all  occur  here,  P.  lineola  much  the 
most  frequently. 

Thus  much  for  some  of  the  butterflies  round  Courmayeur.  Those 
species  which  are  not  found  in  England  find  so  little  favour  in  the  eyes 
of  British  collectors  that  this  must  be  my  excuse  for  not  naming  them ; 
but  when  three-fourths  of  our  British  species  and  as  many  other 
non-British  species  besides,  can  l^e  seen  in  one  or  two  morning  walks 
among  some  of  the  most  beautiful  scenery  in  the  Alps,  with  the  Sovran 
Dome  of  Mont  Blanc  keeping  silent  and  watchful  guard,  where,  when 
butterflies  and  Burnet  moths  pall,  one  can  turn  to  lovely  flowers,  glacial 
torrents,  glistening  snow,  sparkling  cascades,  silent  and  majestic  moun- 
tains or  deep  deep  blue  sky,  can  watch  the  filmy  haze  weave  itself  into 
fanciful  shapes  around  the  aiguilles  yonder  and  float  off  a  wraith  so 
fairy-like  and  light  that  the  blue  of  the  sky  ap])ears  to  pierce  it,  whilst 
the  sound  of  the  cow-bells  comes  peacefully  from  the  pastures  above 
and  woos  the  sleepy  dream-god,  then  I  feel  it  safe  to  assert  that  tliere 
are  many  worse  occupations  than  catching  "Hampstead  Heath"  antiopas, 
"  Dover  "  latonas,  "  Folkestone  "  daplidices,  and  jNIidland  dias,  on  the 
breezy  slopes  of  the  mountains  around  Courmayeur. 


236  THE  entomologist's  record. 

1'fiE    LIFE-jilgfORy    OF    Oe^[EI^I£    DI^P^]^.* 
By  C.  NICHOLSON. 

I  have  chosen  this  insect  as  the  subject  of  a  paper  because,  having 
reared  it  repeatedly  through  all  its  stages,  I  have  noticed  several 
features  in  its  history  which  led  me  to  think  that  it  would  prove 
specially  interesting,  and  furnish  food  for  thought  and  discussion. 

I  will  deal  first  of  all  with  its  nomenclature.  Why  the  moth 
received  its  English  name,  "  The  Gipsy  moth,"  I  do  not  know,  but  the 
female  is  figured  under  that  name  in  1742  by  Wilkes,  (Bowies'  New 
Collection  of  English  Moths  and  Butterflies  in  12  prints,  all  draivn  from 
life,  pi.  X.,  fig  2.),  who  seems  to  have  been  the  first  British  author  to 
notice  it.  Scientifically  it  is  probably  best  known  to  entomologists  as 
Liparis  dispar,  though  it  is  now  called  by  the  name  which  appears  in 
the  title  of  this  paper.  It  seems  to  have  had  no  specific  synonyms 
worthy  of  mention,  although  generically  it  has  experienced  numerous 
vicissitudes.  Linnajus  called  it  Phalaena  (Bomhi/x)  dispar  ;  Haworth, 
Bomhyx  dispariis ;  then  we  have  Hiibner  with  Porthetria  dispar,  and 
Ochsenheimer  with  Liparis  dispar ;  then  Stephens  and  Curtis  with 
Hypogymna  dispar,  and  finally  Herrich-Schaeffer  with  Ocneria  dispar. 
The  generic  name,  Ocneria,  is  probably  derived  from  the  Greek 
ohieiros — "sluggish";  if  this  be  the  origin  of  the  word,  it  is  par- 
ticularly applicable  to  the  female  Gipsy  moth.  The  trivial  name  dispar, 
meaning  "  unlike,"  is  most  appropriately  besto\ved  on  this  species 
because  of  the  striking  dissimilarity  between  the  SL'xes. 

As  most  of  you  are  doubtless  aware,  this  moth  is  remarkable  from 
the  fact  that  it  has  ceased  to  exist  in  a  wild  state  in  Britain  and  has 
degenerated  into  a  purely  domestic  article  of  produce.  On  the 
Continent,  however,  it  is  anything  but  extinct ;  in  fact,  it  occasionally 
becomes  so  excessively  abundant  as  to  strip  large  tracts  of  trees  of  their 
leaves.  It  is  also  unpleasantly  in  evidence  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  where  Brother  Jonathan 
employs  many  men  whose  sole  business  it  is  to  keep  the  numbers  of 
this  insect  in  check,  with  a  view  to  ultimate  extermination.  I  wrote 
to  Prof.  Eiley  for  information  concerning  the  ravages  caused  by  this 
species  in  the  aforementioned  State,  and  received  in  reply  the  three 
Reports  now  on  the  table ;  each  of  these,  as  you  will  observe,  is 
entitled :  "  Special  Eeport  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  on  the 
work  of  extermination  of  the  Gypsy  Moth."  The  Moth  seems  to  have 
been  accidentally  introduced  into  America  about  35  years  ago,  and  it 
gradually  increased  and  sjjread  to  such  an  extent  that,  in  1890,  £10,000 
was  voted  by  the  Legislature  to  be  expended  in  efforts  to  get  rid  of  it. 
Those  efforts  are  still  going  on  merrily,  and  you  will  see,  by  the  map  in 
the  Eeport  for  1894,  that  about  half  the  infested  district  (that  is  about 
100  sq.  miles)  lias  been  cleared  of  the  pest.  The  expenditure  last  year 
amounted  to  about  £15,000.  One  of  the  reasons  given,  in  the  Eeport 
for  1893,  for  its  great  destructiveness  in  America  is,  that  it  was 
introduced  without  its  natui'al  enemies ;  and  this  is  the  reason  why 
those  "  insect  pests  which  are  of  European  origin  have  been  far  more 
injurious  "  in  Anierica    "  than  they   were  ever  known  to  be  in  their 

*  Bead  before  The  City  of  London  Entomological  Society,  Sept.  18th,  1894. 


THE    LIFE-HISTOKY    OF    OCNKKIA    DISPAK.  237 

native  homes."  lu  the  same  Report  twenty-four  species  of  American 
birds  (inchiding  the  famous  Bhie  Jay,  immortalized  by  Mark  Twain) 
are  mentioned  as  feeding  on  tlie  insect  in  three  of  its  stages ;  there  are 
are  also  four  species  of  insects  which  have  been  found  to  destro}?^  the 
ova,  and  seven  true  parasites  which  live  in  the  larvae.  I  cannot  give 
you  any  information  as  to  its  parasitical  enemies  in  Europe,  but  I  do 
know  that  the  audacious  British  sparrow  alights  on  the  scullery  I'oof 
just  outside  my  sitting-room  window,  and  greedily  snaps  up  the  female 
moths  which  I  discliarge  when  I  have  a  superfluity  of  them. 

It  has  been  suggested  by  more  than  one  author  that  tlie  species  was 
originally  introduced  into  this  country  artificially,  and  the  following 
remarks  by  Wilkes,  in  the  1st  edition  of  his  English  Moths  and  Bidlerfiies 
(1746-60)  lend  some  support  to  the  suggestion.  He  says: — "This  moth 
is  very  common  in  Germany,  and  was  produced  [in  England  jire- 
sumably  —  C.N.']  from  a  nest  of  eggs,  that  were  sent  to  Mr.  Peter 
Collinson,  who  gave  them  to  Charles  Lockyer,  Esq.      He  bred   moths 

from  them and  having  turned  numbers  of  them  wild  (as 

I  have  been  informed)  about  Ealing,  near  Brentford  in  Middlesex,  they 
are  to  be  found  there,  but  not  anywhere  else  that  J  have  heard  of." 
However  that  may  be,  there  does  not  seem  much  doubt  that  it  became 
extinct  somewhere  about  1855,  although  it  is  reported  to  have  swarmed 
at  Horning  Fen  in  Norfolk  about  1830,  where  it  seems  to  have  fed  on 
sweet  gale  (see  Ent.,  vol.  xxv.,  p.  259).  All  efforts  to  re-establish  it 
appear  to  have  been  crowned  with  failure. 

It  is  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  the  other  British  lepidopteron 
Avhich  bore  the  name  dispar  is  now  also  extinct  in  this  country  ;  both 
having  been  found  in  the  same  locality,  and  both  becoming  extinct 
within  a  very  few  years  of  each  other. 

The  eggs  of  the  Gipsy  Moth  are  laid  during  the  months  of  Jidy, 
August  and  Sejitember  in  America,  and  I  presume  the  time  is  about  the 
same  wherever  the  insect  occurs.  They  are  usually  deposited  on  the 
trunks  or  branches  of  trees  and  not  on  the  leaves,  since  they  have  to 
pass  the  winter  in  the  egg  state  and  would  be  carried  away  with  the  fall- 
ing leaves,  thus  making  it  difficult  for  the  young  larvfB  to  obtain  food  in 
the  spring.  While  the  female  is  depositing  her  eggs  she  remains  qui- 
escent on  one  spot,  no  part  of  the  insect  moving  except  the  extremity  of 
the  abdomen.  The  eggs  are  about  i/ie  in.  in  diameter,  and  are  shaped  like 
a  rather  flat  orange.  They  are  laid  in  large  patches  of  one  or  more 
layers,  each  patch  containing  from  150  to  300  eggs  thatched  over  with  a 
kind  of  fur,  which  is  in  reality  the  dark,  velvety  scales  so  conspicuous  at 
the  end  of  the  abdomen  of  the  female.  This  furry  substance  is  plucked 
out  by  means  of  an  apparatus  specially  formed  for  the  purpose,  and 
resembling  a  pair  of  forceps  in  miniature.  When  newly  laid,  the  egg 
is  of  a  pale  and  somewhat  watery  chocolate  colour ;  bxit  in  a  week  or 
two  this  changes  to  a  dark  smoky  grey,  and  it  remains  of  this  tint 
throughout  the  winter  until  spring  arrives,  when  it  becomes  almost 
black  a  few  days  before  hatching. 

The  hatching  of  all  the  eggs  in  any  one  batch  is  not  simultaneous, 
which  is  contrary  to  the  usual  rule  in  such  cases,  but  the  young  larvae 
continue  to  come  forth,  a  few  at  a  time,  for  three  or  four  Aveeks,  in 
fact  throughout  April.  The  result  of  this  arrangement  is  that  larvae  in 
all  stages  of  growth,  pupte,  and  even  imagines  are  found  at  the  same 
time. 


238  /  THE  entomologist's  kecord. 

When  first  hatched  the  juvenile  larvfe  are  of  a  light  brown  colour, 
but  they  soon  become  a  very  dark  greyish  black,  the  liead  being  quite 
black  and  shining.  They  are  then  about  |  in.  long,  and  rather  hairy. 
The  hairs  are  black,  and  spring  from  small  black  tubercles ;  some  of 
them  are  nearly  as  long  as  the  larva  itself.  The  larva  moults,  or  casts 
its  skin,  four  times,  at  intervals  of  from  7  to  14  days.  After  the  first 
moult  the  colour  is  not  appreciably  altered.  After  the  second  moult  the 
head  becomes  ditU  black,  and  the  body  is  adorned  with  a  dorsal  series 
of  about  six  orange  spots.  The  casting  of  the  third  skin  reveals  a  more 
elaborate  coat,  the  tubercles  now  becoming  coloured  and  the  whole  body 
of  a  paler  tint ;  the  head  is  also  marked  with  yellow.  The  only  change 
after  the  last  moult  is  that  the  head  is  much  more  suffused  with  yellow. 
When  full-grown,  the  male  larva  is  about  1|  in.  in  length ;  the  female 
about  2^  in.  They  are  similarly  marked.  The  head  is  of  a  rich 
orange  colour,  delicately  mottled  and  irrorated  with  black  and  having 
two  black  stripes  down  the  face.  The  body  is  black  or  grey,  varying 
with  the  individual.  On  the  back  of  each  segment  of  the  body  are 
two  tubercles,  which  emit  short  bristly  hairs  ;  and  along  each  side 
of  the  larva  are  two  rows  of  warts  from  which  spring  longer  and 
softer  hairs  curving  downwards.  All  the  hairs  are  golden  brown. 
The  dorsal  tubercles  are  dark  blue  on  the  first  five  segments,  and 
blood-red  on  the  remaining  seven.  Mr.  Bacot  drew  my  attention  to 
some  small  tubercles  situated  between  the  large  red  dorsal  tubercles 
on  the  9th  and  lUth  segments.  These  have  been  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Poulton,  who,  if  I  have  heard  rightly,  was  unable  to  determine 
their  use. 

Anyone  who  has  had  the  somewhat  doubtful  pleasure  of  rearing  a  large 
number  of  these  larvtB  will  probably  have  marvelled  at  their  wonder- 
ful capacity  for  eating.  They  never  seem  to  need  the  aid  of  the  dainty 
little  "  lieecham  "  or  "  Pepper's  Quinine  and  Iron  Tonic  "  to  improve 
their  appetites.  The  only  preparation  of  iron  that  would  be  of  an^'^ 
service  would  be  the  woodcutter's  axe,  so  that  one  could  fell  a  few  oaks 
and  beeches,  with  whose  leaves  the  perpetual  cravings  of  the  larvae 
could  be  appeased.  When  engaged  in  the,  to  them,  pleasant  business 
of  getting  outside  the  maximum  of  greenstuff  in  the  minimum  of  time, 
the  noise  made  by  the  jaws  of  some  2UU  larvte  resembles  the  gentle 
pattering  of  a  shower  of  rain,  as  it  falls  on  the  leaves  of  trees  and 
bushes.     I  have  heard  it  repeatedly  myself. 

I  have  noticed  a  peculiar  trait  in  the  character  of  these  larvfe,  viz  : 
their  sensitiveness  to  certain  sounds.  When  I  have  been  talking  while 
leaning  over  the  aquarium-glass  in  which  they  were  feeding,  I  have 
frequently  seen  them  kick  up  their  tails  in  a  most  initated  way,  as 
if  they  were  annoyed  at  the  sound,  which  was  probably  intensified 
by  the  vibration  of  the  glass.  Similar  results  may  be  produced  with 
other  larvaj,  as  was  mentioned  in  the  Ent.  Uec.  for  Sept.  1893,  pages 
240-241,  where  Vanessa  urticae,  Bonthyx  qnercas,  Nemeophila  plantaginis 
and  CaUimorpha  dominida  are  referred  to  as  being  affected  in  a  similar 
way. 

The  larvae  of  Ocneria  dispar  rest  in  a  straight  position  on  the  stems 
and  branches  of  their  food-plant.  If  annoyed  they  fall  from  their 
resting-place,  spasmodically  jerking  their  heads  and  tails  up  and  down. 
This  is  more  particularly  the  case  \vhen  they  are  young  and  frisky ;  as 
they  become  older  and  more  staid  they  seem  to  take  life  more  smoothly, 


THE    LIFE-HISTOKY    OF    OCNEUIA    DISPAH.  239 

and  are  not  easily  worried.  These  remarks  apply  equally  to  the  larvre 
of  Fsilnra  monacha,  to  which  species  0.  disjicir  is  very  closely  allied  in 
every  stage  of  its  existence. 

Although  the  larvae  are  moderately  hairy,  I  have  not  found  that  the 
hairs  possess  any  "  urticating  "  j^roperties ;  but  the  short  bristly  ones  on 
the  back  ax'e  capable  of  giving  a  sharp  prick  when  brought  into  contact 
with  the  tender  parts  of  the  hand. 

The  larva  attains  full  growth  in  about  eight  weeks  after  leaving  the 
egg ;  it  is  a  rapid  crawler  and  does  not  roll  into  a  ring  on  the  approach 
of  real  or  fancied  danger.  It  spins  a  very  rough,  open  network  of  silk 
in  some  convenient  corner,  or  between  leaves,  and  therein  becomes  a 
jiupa.  This  network  in  no  way  hides  the  enclosed  pupa,  but  is  only 
just  sufficient  to  restrain  it  from  rolling  about  or  falling  out. 

The  pujife  of  both  sexes  are  of  a  dark  brown  colour,  and  are 
besprinkled  with  little  tufts  of  short  hair  of  a  lighter  shade  of  brown. 
The  male  pupa  is  only  about  half  as  large  as  that  of  the  female ;  it  is 
rather  squarer  at  the  head  and  decidedly  more  pointed  towards  the  tail. 
Both  sexes  rotate  the  tail  segments  very  actively  when  touched. 

The  moths  appear  in  July  and  August,  about  a  month  after  the 
pupation  of  the  larvee. 

In  the  early  stages  of  this  moth  there  is  not  a  very  striking 
difference  between  the  sexes ;  but  as  soon  as  they  arrive  at  the  imago 
stage  they  present  very  few  points  of  similarity.  The  male  differs  very 
materially  from  the  female  in  size,  colour  and  shape,  as  is  evident  on 
the  most  cursory  glance.  The  antennae  of  the  male  are  beautifully 
plumose ;  those  of  the  female  pectinated.  The  fore- wings  of  the  male 
are  of  a  rather  greyish-brown  colour  (either  shade  occasionally 
predominating)  with  darker  transverse  wavy  lines ;  the  hind-wings  are 
always  of  a  lighter  brown  than  the  fore- wings,  and,  as  a  rule,  aj)pear  to 
be  destitute  of  markings,  with  the  exception  of  a  central  dark  lunule : 
there  is,  however,  sometimes  an  indication  of  a  line  parallel  with  the  hind 
margin  ;  though  this  is  rather  more  distinct  in  the  female.  The  fringe  is 
alternately  light  and  dark  on  all  the  wings.  The  female  agrees  with 
the  male  in  the  style  of  the  markings,  but  the  ground  colour  of  all  the 
wings  is  creamy-white.  Both  sexes  have  a  blackish  dot  and  a 
V-shajDcd  mark  rather  above  the  middle  of  the  fore-wing.  The 
distinctness  of  the  transverse  lines  varies  in  both  sexes,  but  especially 
in  the  female,  and  a  variety  of  that  sex  occasionally  occurs  in  wliich 
the  V-shaped  mark  alone  is  present. 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Samuel  Stevens  of  Norwood  for  the  loan  of 
2  males  and  2  females  of  an  original  British  race.  You  will  notice 
that  the  second  male  is  a  very  strikingly  banded  variety ;  otherwise 
there  is  no  particular  individuality  about  our  old  fen  form. 

You  will  see  in  my  boxes  a  number  of  small  males  very  mucli 
lighter  than  usual,  and  having  a  good  deal  of  buff  colour  on  the  fore 
wings  ;  many  of  them  also  have  the  thorax  greyish.  They  are  the 
produce  of  several  generations,  and  were  bred  in  the  first  instance  from 
ova  received  from  Mr.  Bacot,  who  got  them  from  Mr.  Wade-Gery  of 
Winchester  College. 

It  was  by  means  of  a  score  of  larvae,  which  I  ol»tained  in  1886 
from  Mr.  J.  Potts  of  Hull,  that  I  first  made  acquaintance  with  the 
species ;  and  the  acquaintance  had  ripened  into  friendshi})  with  suc- 
ceeding generations,  when  I  unfortunately  lost  the  race  iu  1891. 


240  THE  entomologist's  recced. 

The  male  Gipsy  moth  is  extremely  excitable,  and  flies  wildly  in  a 
zigzagging  manner  during  the  day  in  jirecisely  the  same  way  as  its 
humbler  relative  Oryyia  antiqiui,  which,  in  many  ways,  it  closely  re- 
sembles. The  female,  on  the  contrary,  is  very  lethargic,  usually  sitting 
quietly  within  a  few  inches  of  the  pupa  shell  from  which  she  has 
emerged.  In  one  of  the  Keports  above  referred  to  the  following  re- 
mark occurs:  "  The  female  does  not  fly,  except  diagonally  downwards." 
Those  which  I  have  bred  did  not  seem  to  fly  at  all,  but  they  occasion- 
ally fluttered  about  in  the  box  in  a  manner  remarkably  like  that  of  the 
female  Silkworm  moth.  It  is  probable  that  in  a  state  of  nature  the 
female  flies  late  at  night. 

The  males,  in  common  with  those  of  the  other  species  in  the  family 
Liparidce,  "  assemble  "  very  freely.  In  connection  with  this  I  tried  an 
experiment  with  the  present  species  in  my  sitting-room,  which  is  about 
1 1  feet  square.  One  day  I  found  that  three  females  had  emerged  in 
my  l)ox,  and  I  put  them  close  together  on  the  mantel-board,  and  let  a 
small  male  loose  in  the  room.  The  window  and  the  door  were  wide 
open,  but  he  made  no  attempt  to  escape,  and  it  was  very  interesting  to 
observe  the  steady  business-like  Avay  in  which  he  searched  about,  care- 
fully investigating  the  corners  of  the  floor  and  the  ceiling,  and  working 
up  and  down  the  Avails.  The  whole  proceeding  was  in  most  striking 
contrast  to  the  wild  zigzagging  flight  above  referred  to.  It  took  him 
about  half  an  hour  to  find  the  females ;  I  suppose  this  was  because 
there  was  no  breeze  to  assist  him  in  localizing  their  position.  I  paid 
a  brief  visit  to  the  Natural  History  Museum  some  time  ago,  for  the 
purpose  of  looking  up  this  species  and  its  foreign  allies,  and  was  much 
struck  with  the  very  great  similarity  which  man 3^  of  the  latter  bear  to 
0.  dispar  and  Psilura  monacha,  several  of  them  forming  connecting  links 
between  the  two.  For  instance,  the  male  of  Enome  incerta — an  Indian 
species — has  Avings  almost  identical  with  those  of  0.  dispar  in  colour 
and  marking,  but  it  has  a  pink  body  like  that  of  P.  monacha.  E. 
japonica  (from  Japan)  is  simply  a  larger  edition  of  0.  dispar,  except 
that  the  female  is  more  suffused  Avith  broAvn,  and  has  only  the  V-shaped 
mark  distinct.  E.  umhrosa — likewise  a  native  of  Japan — is  also,  in 
api^earance,  very  closely  related  to  dispar.  The  scourge  of  Massachu- 
setts is  figured  in  the  Eeports  on  the  table,  and  seems  to  be  A'ery  near 
to  the  ordinary  forms  which  we  noAv  breed,  Avhich  I  sujjpose  are 
Continental. 

In  conclusion,  I  regret  that  I  haA^e  not  any  foreign  tj^pes  to  sIioav 
you,  but  I  desire  to  thank  those  members  avIio  have  brought  their  series 
here  this  CA'ening  to  help  to  illustrate  the  paper.  If  I  may  A-enture  to 
suggest  some  points  for  discussion,  I  think  these  tAvo  may  be  productive 
of  some  interesting  opinions: — Why  did  Ocneria  dhpjar  become  ex- 
tinct in  this  country  ?  and.  Why  are  the  wings  of  the  female  so  Avell 
developed,  supposing  that  they  are  not  used  for  flight  ? 


Photography  is  making  entomologists  more  closely  knoAvn  to  each 
other.  In  the  Entomological  News  for  September,  1894,  is  a  photo  of 
tAventy-scA'en  American  entomologists,  including  some  Avell-knoAvn 
names.  We  are  also  indebted  to  Mr.  Capper  for  a  photograph  of  many 
valued  correspondents,  Avho  make  Liverpool  their  entomological  home, 
and  look  u])  to  the  respected  President  of  the  Lancashire  and  Cheshire 
Society  as  their  entomological  jKirent.  The  latter  photograph  Avill  be 
reproduced  in  an  early  number  of  The  Entomologist'' s  Record. 


THE    LIFE-HISTORY   Of    A    LEPlDOPTEROUS    INSECT.  241 

I'lie   Life-jiistory  of   a  Lepidopterous  Irisect, 

Comprising  some   account   of  its   Morphology   and   Physiology. 
By     J       W.     TUTT,      F.E.S. 

(Continued  from  page  217). 


Chap.  IV. 
EMBEYOLOGY. 

12. — Eeversal  OF  POSITION  OF  EMBRYO  IN  EGGS. — (Continued). — 
With  regard  to  the  development  of  the  embryo  in  the  egg  of  Rmnia 
lateolata  (crafacgata)  and  the  position  of  its  head  in  the  ovum,  Dr. 
Osborne  writes  (E.  M.  3L,  vol.  xx.,  p.  147) : — "  The  earliest  eggs  were 
laid  on  or  about  the  15th  of  June.  On  the  28th  I  noticed  the  first 
appeai'ance  of  the  e3^e- spots,  and  the  first  hatching  took  place  on  2nd 
July.  My  note  on  30th  June  runs  as  follows: — 'The  eye-sjwts  from 
their  earliest  api^earance  occupy  the  same  position  relatively  to  the 
sharjD  end  of  the  polar  oval  as  they  do  in  these  advanced  embryos  (and 
which  is  their  position  up  till  hatching) :  consequently  the  aspect  and 
orientation  of  the  dorsal  and  ventral  surfaces  is  constantly  the  same.' 
That  is,  unless  the  embryo  makes,  more  than  four  days  before  hatching, 
that  revolution  in  the  shell  asserted  by  Kowalevski  for  the  lepidoj^terous 
embryo  in  general,  and  which  would  necessarily  bring  its  head  from 
one  side  of  the  shell  to  the  other.  The  presumption  then  would  be  that 
the  embryo  of  R.  crataegata  gets  into  the  loop  form  by  such  a  ventral 
incurvature  and  forward  growth  of  the  tail-end,  as  Ave  have  seen  already 
in  Zavaea,  and  as  is  described  by  Huxley  in  Astaciisy 

To  this  (in  Science  Gossip,  vol.  xxi.)  Dr.  Osborne  adds  : — "  Perhaps 
the  subject  may  be  made  clearer  by  a  brief  consideration  of  the 
different  kinds  of  motion  which  may  be  observed  in  eggs.  These  may 
be  classed  under  four  heads ;  1st,  Movements  due  to  gravitation.  The 
ventral  or  developing  side  of  the  yelk  in  the  egg  of  Gastrophi/sa 
raphina,  e.g.  turns  always  towards  the  upjDer  surface,  though  this 
change  takes  j^lace  so  slowly  that  it  may  occuj)y  several  days  in 
completion.  2nd,  Movements  of  growth  :  strikingly  illustrated  in  the 
egg  of  Calopteryx,  in  which  the  embiyo  becomes  inverted  in  the  shell 
(Balfour,  Comp.  EmhryoL,  i.,  334).  3rd,  Embryonic  movements ;  by 
which  limbs  or  parts  show  movements  without  any  change  in  the 
whole  ;  and  lastly,  4th,  Larval  movements  ;  when  the  jjerfectly  formed 
embryo  changes  its  position  in  the  shell  or  acts  in  any  other  way  as  if 
it  were  independent  of  it.  The  loop  form  of  the  lepidopterous  em- 
bryo Kowalevski  sujiposed  to  be  due  to  the  latter  class  of  movements, 
whilst  in  reality  it  is  only  a  movement  of  growth.  When  in  its  final 
stages,  as  stated  by  Kowalevski  and  as  observed  in  these  eggs  by 
Mr.  Jeffrey,  the  embiyo  of  Botys  devours  the  remainder  of  the  yolk 
and  cuts  its  way  out  of  the  shell,  these  actions  may  be  fairly  described 
as  larval  movements." 

As  there  was  here  a  decided  discrepancy  between  Dr.  Osborne's  and 
Kowalevski's  observations,  and  as  my  OAvn  yiews  agreed  with  tliose  of 
Dr.  Osborne,  viz.  that  the  change  in  2iosition  Avas  due  to  the  groAvth  of  the 
embryo  pushing  up  the  anal  segment  Ijetween  tlie  A^enter  (placed  out- 
side) and  the  sliell  avuU,  tlie  body  being  gradually  pushed  back  into  the 


242  THE  entomologist's  record. 

egg  as  the  anal  segment  was  driven  forward  by  the  growing  segments 
towards  the  head,  which  remained  comparatively  fixed  in  position,  I 
asked  Dr.  Chapman,  whose  experience  is  so  wide,  to  look  through  my 
own  notes  and  these,  and  to  be  kind  enough  to  formulate  his  own 
observations  for  me  to  use.  This  he  has  very  courteously  done,  and 
now  writes : — 

"  Mr.  Tutt  asks  me  to  describe  the  phenomena  associated  with  the 
change  of  position  that  occurs  in  the  young  lepidopterous  larva  within 
the  shell  before  hatching.  I  must,  in  the  first  place,  disclaim  all  idea 
of  being  an  authority  on  the  subject,  and  can  merely  endeavour  to  make 
clear  what  others  have  described,  so  far  as  my  own  observations  have 
enabled  me  to  understand  the  subject.  I  have  followed  the  develop- 
ment of  the  young  larva  in  sundry  Fyralides,  of  which  Botys  hyaUnalis 
is  quite  as  good  as  any ;  B.  verticalis  has  larger  eggs ;  ScopuJa  pnmalis 
is  fairly  satisfactory  for  the  purpose ;  the  transparent- egged  Acronydas, 
especially  A.  strigosa,  afford  good  subjects  for  observation,  but  the  rib- 
bing of  the  shell  somewhat  obscures  details  ;  Limacodes  testudo  also 
gives  a  very  satisfactory  egg  for  the  purpose. 

"  In  all  cases  the  larva  first  appears  on  the  surface  of  the  yelk-mass 
as  a  flat  plate,  of  which  the  central  line  is  the  middle  of  the  ventral 
surface,  and  the  margins  are  the  two  sides  of  the  dorsum  still  far  apart. 
These  mai-gins  however  rapidly  curd  in  and,  at  the  head  and  tail,  the 
young  embryo  soon  has  the  cylindrical  form  we  associate  with  a  larva, 
but  centrally  there  remains  a  wide  opening  through  which  the  mass  of 
the  yelk  is  continuous  with  that  portion  of  it  contained  in  a  central 
cavity  of  the  larva ;  this  central  cavity  is  the  future  alimentary  canal, 
not  yet  j^rovided,  however,  with  any  opening  towards  either  the  head 
or  the  tail.  The  communication  between  the  intestinal  cavity  and  the 
yelk-sac  gradually  becomes  smaller,  and  portions  of  yelk  leave  the  sac 
and  pass  into  the  intestine,  and  contribute  to  the  growth  of  the  embrj'O. 
During  this  period,  it  is  easy  in  flat  eggs  like  those  of  the  Pyralides, 
Tortrices,  Limacodes,  &c.,  to  see  the  embryo  curled  round  a  greater  or 
less  portion  of  the  yelk-sac,  with  its  ventral  surface  towards  the  margin 
of  the  egg,  and  its  dorsal  surface  (aspect  rather  than  surface,  as  the 
surface  is  still  broken  by  the  umbilical  opening)  applied  to  the  yelk-sac. 
There  is  a  little  variation  in  the  degree  to  which  the  yelk  disappears 
before  the  umbilical  opening  closes,  but  when  this  takes  place  the  larva 
forms  a  horse-shoe  or  circle,  with  the  venter  towards  the  shell-wall 
and  its  anterior  and  posterior  extremities  in  contact.  At  this  period, 
also,  there  are  a  varying  number  of  globules  of  yelk  free  in  the  egg- 
cavity  around  the  larva ;  whether  these  are  set  free  by  the  movement 
of  the  larva  that  now  takes  place,  or  still  later  by  the  jaw  action  of 
the  larva  I  am  not  sure,  but  after  the  movement  has  taken  place  the 
young  larva  swallows  these  ;  this  swallowing  of  the  remaining  yelk  may 
indeed  be  regarded  as  a  first  step  towards  eating  its  way  out  of  the  egg. 
Before  the  closing  of  the  umbilical  opening,  the  embrj'^o  may  be  regarded 
as  an  a})pendage  to  the  yelk-sac,  attached  thereto  by  its  dorsal  aspect. 
As  soon  as  the  opening  closes,  however,  the  young  larva  is  truly  a  young 
larva,  possessing  no  organic  connection  with  the  other  egg  structures. 
The  first  use  it  makes  of  this  liberty  is,  to  bend  the  tail  forwards,  and, 
as  it  were,  creep  up  its  own  ventral  siirface,  assuming  in  this  process 
an  S  or  pot-hook  shape,  until  at  length  its  position  is  reversed,  the 
dorsum  being  now  along  the  circumference  of  the  egg,  and  the  venter 


THE    LlPE-TIISTOKY    OP    A    LEPlDOl'TKliOUS    INSECT.  243 

being  central.  The  head  and  tail  sometimes  merely  meet  (in  the  flattest 
eggs),  sometimes  slightly  over-lap,  whilst,  in  the  dome-shaped  eggs,  the 
head  so  over-lajjs,  as  to  take  very  often  a  central  position  in  the  vertex 
of  the  egg,  forming  a  dark  spot  there,  as  in  Acronycta,  Skippers,  and 
many  others. 

"The  essential  importance  of  tliis  observation  is,  thnt  it  shows  that 
the  embr^'onic  position  of  the  nervous  system  is  the  same  in  insects  as 
in  vertebrates,  and  since  it  must  therefore  be  identical  also  in  the  mature 
animal,  it  follows  that  the  venter  of  insects  corresponds  anatomically 
with  the  dorsum  of  vertebi'ates,  and  vice  versa. 

"  As  regards  the  actual  change  of  position  itself,  and  the  position 
afterwards  taken  by  the  larva,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  important  point 
is,  that  the  larva  whilst  still  truly  an  embryo,  that  is,  whilst  still 
attached  to  the  yelk  and  egg  structures,  has  the  venter  outwards,  and 
the  dorsum  towards  the  centre  of  the  yelk  or  egg;  but  when  it  becomes 
free  it  is  no  longer  an  embryo,  it  moves  how  it  likes,  and  though  the 
position  it  takes  up  seems  to  be  very  uniform  throughout  each  species  and 
even  throughout  whole  families,  still  this  has  little,  if  any,  embryological 
significance.  I  have  frequently  seen  larvae  making  this  S-movement, 
and  though  I  have  called  it  "  creeping  up  its  own  ventral  surface,"  it 
goes  on  slowly,  without  any  apparent  voluntary  or  even  muscular  move- 
ments, and  appears  to  be  due  to  the  mere  force  of  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  larva.  Sometimes  it  seems  as  if  the  lengthening  of  the 
larva  led  to  the  extremity  of  the  tail  impinging  against  the  side  of  the  egg- 
shell and,  instead  of  sliding  onwards,  being  caught  and  bent  up.  It  is 
associated  no  doubt  with  the  completion  of  the  growth  of  the  dorsal 
surface  previously  defective  by  the  large  umbilical  opening,  and  now 
more  abundant  in  proportion  to  the  ventral  surface.  I  should  class  it 
therefore  under  Dr.  Osborne's  second  heading  rather  than  under  his 
fourth.  It  proceeds  slowly  and  steadily,  so  that  usually  some  progress 
may  be  noted  in  five  or  ten  minutes. 

"  Very  shortly  after,  what  appear  to  be  voluntary  movements  of 
swallowing  take  place,  the  remainder  of  the  yelk  disappears,  and 
the  remaining  fluid  is  either  absorbed  by  the  larva  through  the  skin, 
or  evaporates  through  the  shell ;  the  trachea  become  visible  by  getting 
filled  with  air,  and  the  larva  begins  the  process  of  eating  through  the 
shell." 

Of  the  forward  movement  of  the  anal  segment  after  its  curvature,  and 
at  the  time  when  it  is  pushing  back  as  it  were  the  ventral  surface  of  the 
larva  from  its  previous  contact  with  the  eggshell,  Mr.  Jeffrey  (E.M.M., 
xxiii.,  p.  173)*  writes  oi  Bofya  hyalinalis  that  on  the  seventh  day  at  5.20 
a.m.  the  terminal  segment  had  become  ventrally  incurved,  gradually 
increasing  in  length ;  that  in  two  hours  more  the  incurvature  had 
perceptibly  increased,  and  that  soon  after  noon  the  anal  segment  had 
reached  to  the  first  pair  of  thoracic  legs  and  he  "  could  plainly  see  it 
advancing  towards  these  legs  and  actually  push  them  forwards  in  its 
course,"  whilst  at  G  p.m.  tlie  anal  segment  had  reached  quite  to  a  level 
with  the  eye-spots — pressing  all  the  thoracic  legs  down  in  its  course. 

*  This  reference  is  to  one  of  the  most  complete  accounts  of  the  embryonic 
development  of  a  lepidopterous  insect  published  in  the  British  magazines.  It 
is  impossible  to  quote  it  at  length,  and  as  it  is  easily  available  to  all  our  readers 
there  is  no  real  need.  Dr.  Osborne's  article  in  Science  Gossip  for  1885  is  also 
well  worth  reading. 


244  THE  entomologist's  reooed. 

13. — On  the  first  appearance  of  the  trachea. — Mr.  Jeffrey 
E.M.M.,  vol.  xxiii.)  thus  writes  on  the  first  ajDpearance  of  the 
tracheas  in  the  embryo  of  Botys  hjalinalis : — "  On  the  tenth  day,  at 
4.30-4.35  p.m.,  the  first  tracheaj  came  suddenly  into  view.  As  the 
tracheae  were  almost  invisible  in  some  of  the  other  larvte,  I  watched 
one  closely  with  the  view  of  noting  the  cause  of  their  appearing  so 
suddenly,  and  saw  them  injected  as  I  suppose  with  air  for  the  first  time. 
At  5.15  p.m.  the  filling  of  the  trachea}  commenced  in  the  posterior 
segments,  a  sort  of  cloud  gathering  at  the  band  where  it  is  close  to  the 
head  and  in  a  line  with  the  eye ;  I  saw  an  apparently  dark  flood  start 
from  this  spot,  and  creeping  along  with  a  sort  of  spasmodic  effort,  fill- 
ing the  branches  in  its  course  till  it  reached  the  head  and  the  whole 
tracheae  became  consjoicuously  visible  on  that  side  of  the  body." 

14.  — On  the  eakliest  traces  of  pulsation  in  the  embryo. — Of 
the  earliest  traces  of  pulsation  in  the  embryo  of  B.  hyalinalis  Mr. 
Jeffrey  {E.M.M.,  vol.  xxii.,  pp.  126-7)  writes  :—"  From  the  5th  to  the 
17th  of  last  August  (1885)  I  was  engaged  in  watching  the  develojj- 
ment  of  the  embryo  in  some  eggs  of  Botys  hyalinaJis,  which  I  had  been 
so  fortunate  as  to  secure,  laid  upon  slips  of  glass,  thus  affording  a  good 
opportunity  for  observing  them  under  the  microscope.  The  early 
stages,  interesting  as  they  were,  may  be  passed  over  here,  but  by  the 
1  nth  being  the  tenth  day  after  incubation,  the  young  larva  was  well 
formed,  and  most  of  the  organs  could  be  made  out.  That  morning  the 
dorsal  vessel  became  visible,  and  at  8  a.m.  I  noticed  the  first  traces  of 
circulation  in  it.  The  pulsations  at  first  were  very  faint  and  feeble, 
taking  place  somewhat  irregularly  at  long  intervals  of  twenty  and  even 
thirty  seconds;  at  2  p  m.,  they  had  become  more  distinct,  with  shorter 
intervals  between  each  beat,  and  became  still  more  accelerated  by  the 
evening.  At  this  time  the  beautiful  ramifications  of  the  tracheae  came 
rather  suddenly  into  view.  The  oral  organs  were  well-developed,  and 
conspicuous  from  their  brown  colour.  The  aasophagus  also  could  be 
distinctly  traced,  especially  when,  by  a  sucking  action,  a  bolus  of  yelk- 
granides  was  drawn  down,  and  seen  to  pass  into  the  alimentar}'  canal, 
which  effort  was  continued  at  intervals  on  the  16th,  till  all  the  remain- 
ing yelk-granules  had  been  ingested.  Then  a  period  of  rest  took  place 
during  part  of  the  17th,  when  a  beautifully  clear  view  of  the  heart 
and  its  action  was  obtained,  the  pulsations  being  timed  at  40  per 
minute,  increasing  to  60  at  8  jj.m.,  the  larva  escaping  from  the  egg  at 
8.10.  Thus,  it  will  be  seen  some  sixty  hours  had  elapsed  from  the  time 
I  was  first  able  to  detect  a  circulatory  movement  in  the  dorsal  vessel." 

15. — Hints  from  the  embryo  as  to  the  number  of  abdominal 
SEGMENTS  IN  THE  LEPiDOPTEROus  LARVA. — Considerable  difference  of 
opinion  exists  between  the  older  entomological  authorities  and  those  of 
to-day  as  to  the  number  of  abdominal  segments  in  the  lepidoptera. 
Packard  was  the  first  to  draw  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  were  ten 
somites  in  the  larval  abdomen,  the  old  authors  only  giving  nine.  Jack- 
son (Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  Lond.,  1889,  p.  151)  refers  to  the  fact  that 
Kowalevski  found  ten  somites  in  the  embiyo  of  Sincrintlius  pojmli,  all 
ten  somites  bearing  feet  (Mem.  Acad.  Imp.  St.  Peters.,  xvi.,  1871,  p.  53  ; 
Taf.  xii.,  figs.  8-10),  whilst  in  an  abstract  of  Tichomiroff's  paper  "  On 
the  development  of  Bomhyx  nwri,"  it  is  stated  that  he  found  eleven  ab- 
dominal somites  in  the  embryo,  all  provided  with  feet  exce2)t  the 
first  (Najjles   Jahreshertchtes,   1882,  p.  142) ;  Graber  records  that  the 


THE    LIFE-HISTORY    OF    A    LEPIDOPTEEOUS    INSECT.  245 

abdominal  segments  of  the  embryo  of  GasteropacTia  quercifolia  were  at 
first  devoid  of  appendages,  and  that  when  they  did  appear  they  de- 
veloped only  on  those  segments  on  which  they  persist  in  the  adult 
(Morp.  Jahrhuch,  xiii.,  1888,  pp.  609-610).  This  last  author  also  finds 
the  abdomen  of  the  embryo  insect  to  consist  of  eleven  true  segments, 
and  he  believes  that  he  has  found  distinct  traces  of  coelomic  cavities  in 
the  eleventh  segment. 

16. On    TfiE    ORIGIN     OF     THE     BLOOD-TISSUE     (BlUTGEWEBe). — The 

important  part  played  by  the  blood-tissue  in  larval  nutrition,  together 
with  the  supposition,  for  many  years  entertained  by  certain  eminent 
scientists,  that  circulation  of  the  blood  did  not  take  place  in  insects, 
has  led  to  considerable  attention  being  devoted  to  the  subject.  The 
origin  of  this  "blood-tissue  "  was  worked  out  at  consideraljle  length  in 
1891  by  Graber  ("  Ueber  die  embryouale  Anlage  des  Blut-  und  Fett- 
gewebes  der  Insekten."  Biol.  Centralbl.,  Bd.  ii.,  Nos.  7-8.,  pp.  212- 
221:)  and  by  Wielowiejski.  The  latter,  who  approaches  the  matter  from 
an  anatomical  point  of  view,  at  the  same  time  expresses  some  general 
opinions  as  to  the  origin  of  the  structures  included  under  this  term. 
He  is  very  careful  not  to  postulate  a  common  origin  for  all  the  com- 
ponent structures  of  his  "  Blutgewebe,"  but  includes  them  under  this 
common  term ;  Avhilst  Graber  does  not  hesitate  to  conclude  that  the 
different  tissues  comprising  Wielowiejski's  "  Blutgewebe  "  are  genetic- 
ally related,  and  from  the  study  of  insect  embryos,  Graber  arrives  at 
the  following  conclusions: — 1.  That  oenocytes  (certain  cell-masses)  are 
derived  from  the  ectoderm.  2.  That  they  are  metamorphosed  into  the  fat 
body.  3.  Thatthe  blood  corpuscles  arise  from  the  fat  body  (and  also  directly 
from  the  oenocytes  ?).  According  to  Graber  therefore  all  these — oenocytes, 
fat  body,  blood-corpuscles,  are  ectodermic  structures,  a  very  bold  con- 
clusion when,  as  Wheeler  says,  "  we  are  accustomed  to  derive  the  cor- 
puscles and  the  connective  tissue  from  the  middle  germ-layer." 
Tichomiroff,  a  Kussian  embryologist,  described  in  1882  ("  The  em- 
bryonic development  of  the  Silk-worm  {B.  mori).'"  Pnbl.  Labor.  Zool. 
Mas.  MoscoH,  vol.  i.)  segmental  masses  of  cells  originating  from  the 
ectoderm  near  the  stigmata ;  whilst  Korotneff,  another  Russian  embry- 
ologist, in  1885  ("  Die  Embryologie  der  Gryllotalpa,"  Zeitsch.  f.  Wiss. 
Zool.,  Bd.  xli.)  also  described  these  cells.  Wheeler,  in  discussing  these 
articles  {Psyche,  vol.  vi.,  p.  255  et  seq.)  considers  Graber  to  be  correct  in 
referring  the  cells  described  in  them  to  the  oenocytes  of  Wielowiejski, 
but  ascribes  the  development  of  the  "  fat-body  "  to  an  entirely  different 
source  from  that  indicated  by  Graber.  The  fat-body,  according  to 
Wheeler,  is  a  "  thickened  part  of  the  inner  coelomic  wall,  due  to  an 
accumulation  of  fat-vacuoles  in  the  cytoplasm  of  the  mesoderm-cells." 
According  to  Graber  it  is  (as  we  have  said)  an  accumulation  of  the 
embryonic  oenocyte  cells  or  those  cells  which  become  oenocytes  in  the 
larva.  Wheeler  gives  reasons  for  supposing  that  there  is  no  connection 
between  these  oenocytes  and  the  blood  corpuscles,  except  in  so  far  as 
they  are  both  "  blood-tissue,"  and  concludes  that  the  fat-body  (as  we 
have  seen  above)  is  not  derived  from  the  oenocytes,  but  is  of  meso- 
dermal not  ectodermal  origin,  as  indeed  has  generally  been  supposed, 
and  that  there  is  no  evidence  for  the  origin  of  the  blood  from  the 
oenocytes.  His  final  conclusions  on  the  origin  of  the  blood-tissue  are 
fully  summarised  in  Psyche,  vol.  vi.,  p.  257. 

Wheeler  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that,  whereas  most  insect  em- 
bryos develop  and  possess  these  large  oenocytic  cells,  only  "  the  winged 


246  TUE  entomologist'cj  KECOKU. 

Orders  of  Hexapoda  "  ajopear  to  possess  oenocytes  in  their  larval  and 
adult  forms.  He  then  goes  on  to  say  that  the  oenocytes  are  of  very 
general  perhaps  universal  occurrence  among  the  Ptery(jota,  Lepidoptera 
being  one  of  the  Orders  in  which  they  are  found.  Of  their  occurrence 
in  this  Order  he  writes  : — "  Few  insects  appear  to  be  better  adapted  for 
tracing  out  the  origin  of  the  oenocytes  than  the  Lepidoptera.  This  is 
especially  true  of  the  larger  Bombycid  moths.  That  the  segmental 
cell  clusters  arise  by  delamination  from  the  ectoderm  was  conclusively 
made  out  in  the  embryos  of  PJatysamia  cecropia  and  Telea  polyphemns. 
Each  cluster  is  several  cell-layers  in  thickness  and  lies  just  behind  and 
a  little  ventral  to  an  abdominal  stigma.  The  succulent  cells  constituting 
the  cluster  are  at  first  polygonal  from  mutual  pressure,  but  as  the  time 
for  hatching  apj^roaches  they  become  rounder  and  more  loosely  united. 
I  have  not  traced  them  through  the  larval  stages  and  merely  record 
these  fragmentary  observations  because  they  completely  confirm  Tich- 
omiroff's  and  Graber's  observation  on  the  origin  of  the  oenocytes  from 
the  ectoderm." 

17. — On  the  origin  of  the  reproductive  cells. — The  earliest  de- 
velopment of  the  ovum  and  spermatozoon  in  the  embryo  of  insects  is 
very  obscure,  but  it  would  appear  that  the  primitive  ovaries  are  com- 
posed of  a  mass  of  cells,  produced  by  an  infolding  of  the  ectoderm ;  but 
whilst  some  writers  assert  that  they  arise  from  the  ectoderm,  others  con- 
sider them  to  be  derived  from  the  mesoderm,  whilst  still  others  trace 
their  origin  back  to  certain  so-called  pole  cells,  which  originate  even 
before  the  blastoderm  is  formed.  However  this  may  be,  it  would  appear 
that  they  are  in  that  early  stage  quite  indistinguishable  from  the  other 
blastoderm  cells. 

Therefore  it  would  ajDpear  that  whilst  the  great  mass  of  cells  become 
differentiated  into  various  structures  which  subserve  a  special  purpose, 
or  perform  their  several  functions,  certain  cells  in  the  ovary  retain  their 
primitive  condition,  and  with  it  the  power,  under  suitable  conditions,  of 
forming  another  individual  of  the  same  species.  On  this  subject  Mr. 
Woodworth  writes  {loc.  cit.) : — "About  the  time  of  the  completion  of  the 
blastoderm,  the  already  differentiated  ventral  plate  infolds  at  a  point  on 
the  median  line  about  two-thirds  from  the  upper  end,  and  forms  a  very 
narrow  pocket.  The  cells  composing  it  look  like  the  rest  of  the  cells  of 
the  ventral  plate  at  this  time ;  they  are  almost  round,  and  have  a  lining 
on  one  side  made  of  the  grey  matter  which  originally  bordered  the  whole 
egg,  but  which  became  a  part  of  the  blastoderm-cells.  The  pocket  re- 
mains open  but  a  short  time,  but  there  is  a  long  depression  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  bunch  of  cells  ;  the  mass  of  cells  is  soon  cut  off  from  the  ventral 
plate  and  they  are  then  free  in  the  body  cavity,  but  remain  in  contact 
with  the  ventral  plate  at  the  point  where  they  were  produced.  Later 
stages  show  that  these  cells  produce  the  generative  organs ;  the  generative 
organs  thus  appear  to  be  produced  by  an  infolding  of  the  ectoderm,  or 
possibly  of  the  blastoderm,  before  the  ectoderm  is  produced,  but  from 
a  portion  which  is  later  to  become  ectoderm.  The  general  idea  has 
been  that  the  generative  organs  in  insects  are  produced  from  the 
mesoderm,  although  Metschnikow,  as  early  as  18G6,  showed  for  certain 
insects  a  different  origin." 

18. — On  the  homologies  of  certain  organs  and  appendages. — 
There  is  a  remarkable  pajier  by  Mons.  N.  Cholodkovsky  "  On  the 
Embryonal  Development  of  FhyUodromia  germanka,"  published  in 
the  Mem.  de  VAcad.  de  St.  Petershourg,  7th  series,  v.,  p.  38  (1891),  and 


THE    LIFE-HISTORY    OF    A    LEIPOPTEKOUS    INSECT.  247 

translated  in  The  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History  for  Dec.  1892. 
It  is  much  too  extensive  to  notice  in  full,  but  the  following  conclusions 
are  particularly  interesting.  The  author  considers  that:  — "1.  The 
head  of  insects  contains  more  than  four  ])rotozonites,  probably  six,  of 
which  one  is  pre-oral,  but  the  rest  are  post-oral.  2.  The  antennae  of 
insects  belong  to  the  first  post-oral  segment,  and  are  entirely  homolo- 
gous with  the  remaining  ventral  extremities.  They  do  not  correspond 
to  the  antennae  of  Peripatus,  but  probably  to  the  chelicerae  of  spiders, 
and  perhaps  to  the  second  pair  of  antenna?  of  Crustacea.  3.  Since  the 
possibility  that  a  number  of  segments  in  the  germinal  streak  of  different 
Arthropods  have  disappeared  is  not  excluded,  a  homology  of  the  mouth- 
parts  of  the  different  classes  of  Arthropoda  cannot  at  present  be  set  up. 
4.  The  abdominal  appendages  of  the  Insectan  germinal  streak  (including 
the  cerci)  are  homologous  with  the  thoracic  legs.  Herein  it  makes  no 
difference  whether  these  appendages  are  attached  to  the  middle,  at  the 
side,  at  the  front  or  hind  margin  (are  meso-,  pleuro-,  pro-,  or  opistho- 
static  in  the  terminology  of  Graber),  provided  only  that  their  cavity  is 
immediately  continuous  with  that  of  the  somite  to  which  they  belong. 
The  fact  that  the  abdominal  appendages  usually  remain  unsegmented 
in  nowise  tends  to  show  that  they  are  not  of  the  nature  of  limbs,  since, 
for  instance,  the  mandibles  also  are  unsegmented.  5.  Many  of  the  ab- 
dominal appendages  of  larvae  and  perfect  insects  are  homologous  with 
the  thoracic  legs,  even  when  they  are  secondary  in  ontogeny.  6.  The 
primitive  function  of  the  first  pair  of  the  abdominal  appendages  was 
ambulatory,  as  also  that  of  the  remaining  appendages.  The  ancestors 
of  the  insects  were  therefore  undoubtedly  homopod,  not  heteropod. 
7.  The  many-legged  insect  larvae  are  to  be  derived  from  the  six-legged 
just  as  little  as  are,  conversely,  the  hexapod  larva?  from  the  polypod  ; 
both  forms  developed  independently  of  one  another.  8.  The  em- 
bryonic envelopes  of  the  insects  probably  corresjDond  to  the  remains  of 
a  trochospere." 

It  may  be  added  that  in  Graber's  "  Vergleichende  studien  am 
keimstreif  der  insekten,"  the  antenna?  are  shown  to  be  decidedly  post- 
oral  in  their  origin,"  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  they  "  corresj^ond  to 
the  second  pair  of  antenna?  in  Crustacea,"  a  conclusion  jjractically 
reached  by  Cholodkovsky  in  No.  2  above. 


URRENT    NOTES. 


Mr.  Harrison  G.  Dyar  offers  some  very  useful  criticisms  on 
Hampson's  Moths  of  India  in  the  current  number  of  the  Entomological 
Neios,  which  should  not  be  lost  sight  of  by  British  lepidopterists. 
Some  of  the  suggestions  relate  to  the  genera  of  many  of  our  common 
British  moths.  There  is  a  very  suggestive  note  comparing  some  of 
Hampson's  generic  nomenclature  with  Kirby's  ;  it  appears  to  us  remark- 
able that,  in  the  search  for  truth,  men  working  in  the  same  room  and 
with  the  chance  of  continually  exchanging  opinions  and  discussing 
points  of  difference,  cannot  agi-ee  as  to  the  correct  names  to  use. 

Mr.  W.  Denison  Roebuck,  F.L.S.,  the  editor  of  The  Naturalist,  has 
given  us  already  a  Bibliography  of  the  records  of  Lepidoptera  published 
with  regard  to  the  north  of  England  for  the  years   1884—1890.     The 


248  THE  entomologist's  record. 

current  number  of  The  Naturalist  contains  the  first  instalment  for  the 
year  1891.  We  notice  that  under  Dr.  Buckell's  name  (p.  3U9)  the 
compiler  has  confounded  Leigh  in  Essex  with  Leigh  in  Yorkshire. 
Some  marvellous  records,  too,  liave  appeared  on  Mr.  Arkle's  authority. 
— Asieroscopiis  sphinx  for  example,  captured  between  Jan.  23rd  and  Feb. 
lOtli.  We  would  suggest  that  Mr.  Arkle  was  rather  mixed  either  as  to 
nomenclature  or  dates  when  he  recorded  this. 

"  If  you  want  work  done  give  it  to  a  busy  man,"  is  an  old  proverb, 
well  illustrated  by  our  indefatigable  friend,  Mr.  W.  F.  Kirby.  Not 
content  with  being  the  authority  on  entomological  nomenclature,  we 
observe  that  he  has  written  an  excellent  literary  and  scholarly  treatise, 
entitled,  "  The  Hero  of  Esthonia  and  other  Studies  in  the  Romantic 
Literature  of  that  country"  (J.  C.  Nimmo,  14,  King  William  St.,  Strand.). 

Professor  Carlier  records  the  capture  of  a  specimen  of  Catocala 
fraxini,  at  rest  on  the  stump  of  a  small  alder  tree  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  Wensum,  souie  two  miles  above  the  city  of  Norwich,  on  the 
morning  of  September  18th. 

The  larvj\3  of  Nenronia  popularis  have  occurred  in  great  abund- 
ance in  the  north  of  France  this  year,  and  have  caused  great  consterna- 
tion among  agricxilturists. 

13r.  Mason  records  the  addition  of  the  Psyllid,  Trioza  centranthi, 
Vallot  (=  neilreichi,  Frfld.),  to  the  English  fauna.  The  insects  were  bred 
from  a  corn  stalk  gathered  near  Bretby  in  Derbyshire ;  the  plant  was 
deformed,  the  iiowers  being  crowded  together  and  the  bracts  broadened. 
The  larva?  were  found  within  the  upper  reflexed  portions  of  the  bracts. 

Mr.  Meyrick  has  discovered  another  entomological  pickle.  He 
affirms  that  Heydenia  is  preoccupied  in  Hymenoptera  ;  Microdonia  in 
Coleoptera,  and  suggests  the  substiti;tion  of  Hierophanta  (type  bicoloria, 
Schiff .) ;  Cleodora  pre-occupied  in  Mollusca,  and  substitutes  Paltodora 
(type  cytiseUa,  Curtis) ;  PoeciHa  in  Pisces,  and  substitutes  Stenolechia 
(type  nivea,  Haw.)  ;  Chaidiodus  is  three  times  i)re-occupied — in  Pisces, 
Neuroptera,  and  Aves,  and  substitutes  Epermenia,  Hb.  He  further 
points  out  that  some  of  the  species  referred  to  the  genus  CatapJcctica, 
Wlsm.,  by  Lord  Walsingham,  have  veins  6  and  7  clearly  separate,  in- 
stancing profiKjelhi,  auromacnJata  and  fuleiijutteUa,  but  thinks  that  the 
character  may  be  variable. 

Dr.  Sharp  and  Mr.  Cham})ion  regret  that  some  of  our  more  interest- 
ing British  beetles  are  disappearing  from  the  New  Forest.  The  supposition 
appears  to  be  based  on  the  fact  that  they  did  not  find  them  in  a  month's 
visit  there  this  year.  If  this  be  the  only  reason,  the  lepidopterists 
might  also  raise  a  wail  over  losing  almost  the  entire  fauna  in  that 
locality.  But  we  do  not  lose  our  fauna  even  piecemeal  without  some 
explanation. 

"  Hope  deferred,"  etc.  We  have  long  looked  for  Mr.  Briggs' 
Monograjih  of  the  Psychidae,  and  now  we  find  Mr.  C  G.  Barrett 
actually  publishing  one  on  these  interesting  insects  in  the  Eni.  Mo.  Maj. 


Eeminiscences  of  Wm,  Machin. — It  is  with  mingled  feelings  of 
pleasure  and  sorrow  that  I  string  together  a  few  reminiscences  of  our 
recently  departed  friend  William  Machin,  whom  I  have  known  more 
or  less  intimately  for  nearly  fifty  years.  He  was  reminding  me,  only 
a  few  weeks  ago,  of  our  firsst  meeting  in  Darenth  (or  Darn)  Wood, 
which  took  place  somewhere  about  the  year  1846.     As  usual,  each  one 


J 


SCIENTIFIC    NOTES    AND    OBSERVATIONS.  249 

showed  his  captures ;  I  had  taken  several  Acidalia  rusticata,  an  insect 
at  that  time  comparatively  rare  and  which  he  had  never  taken.  I  told 
him  the  locality  and  from  that  time  he  was  always  able  to  get  it. 
Many  a  time  have  we  dined  together  on  Sunday  at  the  old  Fox  and 
Hounds  Inn  at  Darenth,  wliere,  during  the  season,  there  was  sure  to  be  a 
good  sprinkling  of  the  old-time  entomologists,  and  where  an  excellent 
dinner  was  served  at  the  very  moderate  charge  of  three  shillings,  and  a 
bed  with  the  wliitest  of  sheets  could  be  obtained  for  sixpence.  Among 
the  brethren  of  the  net  whom  we  used  to  meet  there  were  the  two 
Standishes,  kind,  genial  and  generous ;  cautious  Henry  Harding 
with  the  big  appetite  ;  Peter  Bouchard,  lively  and  impetuous ;  the 
elder  Norman,  quizzical  and  cynical ;  Eandolph  Oxley,  full  of  fun  and 
practical  jokes ;  Holmes,  refined  and  courteous ;  and  many  others, 
whose  names  I  have  forgotten,  now,  alas  !  all  gone.  Some  few  still 
remain,  among  them  S.  Stevens  and  Oldham. 

Never  shall  I  forget  those  jolly  dinners,  seasoned  with  smart 
sayings,  jokes,  repeated  and  playful  badinage.  Our  old  friend  Machin, 
though  not  a  boa  vicant,  used  to  enjoy  them,  though,  like  many 
Englishmen,  he  took  his  pleasures  seriously.  After  those  old  times 
when  we  used  to  meet  frequently  tliere  was  a  long  interval  during 
wliich  we  only  saw  each  other  occasionally,  Imt  whenever  we  met  there 
was  always  something  to  be  learned  from  him,  and  wliat  I  have  always 
admired  in  liis  character  was  the  readiness  with  which  he  gave  any 
information  that  was  asked  of  him.  Of  late  years  we  have  again  been 
much  more  intimate,  and  I  have  abundant  reason  to  remember  him 
gratefully  for  his  kindness  in  assisting  me  in  arranging  and  naming 
my  Macro-lepidoptera.  His  memory  was  surprising  and  his  knowledge 
of  larva?  and  their  habits  something  marvellous. — J.  S.  Sequeira, 
M.R.C.S.,  Crescent  House,  Cassland  Road,  South  Hackney,  N  E. 
Se2)t.  -ith,   1894. 


gciENTIFIC  NOTES  &   OBSERVATIONS. 

Notes  on  the  capture  and  habits  of  Cataplectica  farueni,  a 
Lepidopteron  new  to  Science. — Sweeping  on  the  side  of  a  road, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Cambridge  on  June  26th,  1893,  I  took 
the  first  specimen  of  Tineina,  whicli  turned  out  to  be  new  to  Science, 
and  wliich  has  been  described  and  named  as  above  by  Lord 
Walsingham  in  the  E. 31.31.  for  September  of  this  year. 

When  I  netted  the  first  one,  I  had  just  taken  a  specimen  of  Gelechia 
noevifercUd,  which  species  I  imagined  it  to  be  until  I  had  had  a  closer 
look  at  it  through  the  glass  bottom  of  the  box,  I  then  saw  it  was 
something  I  had  not  taken  before  ;  and  failing  to  determine  it  by  the 
usual  methods,  viz  :  "  Stainton  "  and  comparing  types  in  the  cabinet,  I 
put  it  aside  for  a  less  busy  time. — On  the  1st  of  July  following  I  swept 
three  more  in  a  locality  about  a  mile  from  the  first,  and  on  July  9th  two 
more  about  another  mile  still  farther  removed.  Its  sliape  while  at 
rest  in  the  net,  caused  me  to  look  particularly  for  it  among  the  odd  genera 
coming  near  ^chmia  dentella ;  this  was  not  taking  me  far  from  the 
proper  place  in  the  list,  as  it  apppears  Cataplectica  is  not  far  removed 
from  JEchmia.  Working  for  the  s}iecies  this  year,  I  took  the  first  on 
July  3rd,  and  it  Avas  in  fairly  good  condition  on  the  12th  and  even  later. 


250  THE  entomologist's  record. 

I  took  them  entirely  l^y  sweeping  and  did  not  find  one  part  of  the  day 
particularly  better  than  another,  the  end  of  the  afternoon  being  perhaps 
slightly  the  best.  It  is  a  very  sluggish  insect  at  any  time  and  although 
I  took  a  goodly  series,  I  only  saw  a  single  specimen  before  it  was  in 
the  net,  and  then  only  by  carefully  searching  among  the  herbage  on 
hands  and  knees  ;  to  its  retired  habits  I  should  attribute  its  haviug  been 
overlooked  prior  to  last  year,  not  by  any  means,  as  suggested  by  Lord 
Walsingham  in  the  E.M.M.,  to  its  resemblance  to  some  of  the  obscure 
species  of  Eldchlsta.  It  never  struck  me  at  all  as  being  like  any 
Elachista,  and  I  don't  think  it  could  have  been  overlooked  for  such — in 
fact  I  think  any  micro-lepidopterist  boxing  it  would  not  i)ass  it  over 
or  overlook  it  at  all. 

The  herbage,  among  which  1  swept  it,  was  fairly  mixed,  but  I 
formed  an  opinion  at  first  that  it  was  most  profitable  to  confine  my 
attention  chiefly  to  Centaurea  niyra  ;  Lord  Walsingham,  however,  wrote 
me  that  all  the  known  larvas  of  the  genus  and  its  near  allies,  fed 
exclusively  on  the  seeds  of  various  Umhellifene,  and  acting  on  his 
suggestion  I  was  taking  them  more  freely  by  paying  particular 
attention  to  a  spot  where  there  was  a  lot  of  Pastinica  saliva.  During 
the  month  of  August  I  kept  a  close  look  out  for  spun-up  seeds  on  these 
plants  of  Pastinica,  and  in  the  last  week  detected  small  holes  in  many 
of  the  seeds,  I  found  two  seeds  spun  together  and  a  small  lepidopterous 
larva  inside.  I  then  gathered  all  the  seeds  with  holes  in  I  could  find, 
and  after  a  day  or  so  saw  larvae  crawling  about  in  the  bag ;  if  not 
C.  farreni  they  are  something  very  nearly  allied,  but  as  I  found  them 
feeding  on  the  only  plants  from  which  I  swept  the  imagines,  I  feel 
fairly  sanguine  that  I  have  only  to  wait  till  next  July  to  breed 
CatapJectica  farreni.  Lord  Walsingham  has  made  a  note  of  the 
description,  and  had  figures  made  of  the  larva  to  publish  as  soon  as  it  is 
proved  that  they  are  correct.  The  larvee  appear  to  enter  the  seeds  at  the 
base,  and  eating  the  contents  pass  out  at  the  side,  slightly  spinning  the 
eaten  seed  to  another  which  it  continues  to  feed  on,  and  so  on.  There 
appears  however  to  be  very  little  sign  of  spinning,  it  being  always  very 
slight.  I  trust  any  of  my  old  micro  correspondents  who  do  not  hear 
from  me,  and  who  would  like  types,  will  write. — W.  Farren,  Union 
Eoad,  Cambridge.     Oct.  2nd,  189L 

On  eggs  as  helping  to  determine  natural  affinities  {vide,  ante 
pp.  195-198). — Mr.  Bedford  has  sent  me  a  further  communication 
bearing  on  this  subject,  the  greater  part  of  which,  however,  has  no  re- 
ference whatever  to  Insecta.  As  I  do  not  think  that  a  long  (and 
probably  fruitless)  discussion  on  the  general  subject  would  be  of  the 
sli"htest  interest  to  most  of  the  readers  of  this  Magazine,  nor  that  it 
would  properly  find  a  place  in  a  purely  entomological  magazine,  I 
therefore  only  print  such  parts  of  the  letter  as  refer  to  insects.  Mr. 
Bedford  writes: — 

(1).  "  Mr.  Tutt  seems  still  to  hold  the  ojunion  that  there  can  be  no 
doubt  of  the  general  truth  that  Lepidoptera  with  similar  ova  are  more 
closely  allied  than  those  with  dissimilar  ones.  In  another  place  {Ent. 
Eec,  vol.  v.,  p.  191)  he  says  that  "developmental  changes  have  a  real 
phylogenetic  significance." 

(2).  "  Mr.  Tutt  in  his  remarks  on  my  letter  says,  '  as  a  matter  of 
fact  entomological  writings,  as  a  rule,  are  wonderfully  lacking  in  even 
ihe  simplest  rudiments  of  such  scientific  assumptions'  (viz.,  such  as 
those  implied  in  '  ilaeckel's  famous  phrase').     Would  that  they  were  I 


SCIENTIFIC    NOTES    AND    OBSERVATIONS.  251 

But  how  does  this  statement  tally  witli  the  following : — '  The  eggs  of 
lepido})tera  are  now  much  more  generally  taken  into  account  in  at- 
tempting to  determine  the  natural  position  of  species '  (Ent.  Rec,  vol. 
v.,  p.  143)  ?  If  this  is  true  (and  1  have  no  reason  to  doubt  it),  I  can- 
not imagine  a  better  instance  of  that  '  tenacious  clinging '  to  which  I 
alluded  in  my  letter." 

(3).  "  Why  am  I  expected  to  give  the  name  of  any  entomologist  wlio 
has  based  a  si/stem  (italics  mine)  of  classification  on  the  number  of  ril)S 
in  ova ''  ? 

(4).  "  Why  is  it  incumbent  on  me  to  give  '  experimental  evidence ' 
which  separates  the  Geometers  ?  I  am  not  aware  that  anything  is  known 
of  the  internal  organisation  of  more  than  the  commonest  of  the  group, 
and  until  section-cutting  and  staining  are  preferred  to  tlie  drying  up  or 
blowing  out  to  which  the  best  imagines  are  too  often  subject,  any  classi- 
fication adopted  merely  blinds  our  eyes  to  our  own  ignorance  of  the 
most  important  features  we  classify." — F.  P.  Bedford,  326,  Camden 
Eoad,  N.     August  ISfh,  1891. 

With  regard  to  the  four  points  enumerated  above,  I  would  answer  : 
— (I).  Certainly  I  still  hold  the  opinion.  It  is  impossil)le  for  a  man  to 
inspect  the  eggs  of  the  species  in  any  well-defined  genus  of  butterflies 
or  moths  and  come  to  any  other  conchision.  A  microscojie  increases  the 
conviction  that  the  conclusion  is  a  right  one. 

(2).  Mr.  Bedford's  quotation  of  a  statement  of  mine  in  no  way 
helps  him.  My  statement  is  an  assertion  that  when  difficulties  of  classi- 
fication arise  entomologists  do  consider  now,  more  frequently  than  used 
to  be  the  case  (when  they  do  not  apjDcar  to  have  considered  anything 
except  the  general  ajjpearance  and  markings  of  the  imago)  the  earlier 
stages  of  the  insect.  Dr.  Chapman's  "  Acronycta  and  its  allies  "  is  a 
case  in  point.  But  that  is  a  new  departure  (not  a  "  tenacious  clinging  ") 
and  a  very  good  one.  Mr.  Bedford  says,  "  entomology  is  the  only 
branch  of  zoology  which  has  clung  tenaciously  to  the  doctrine  well 
expressed  by  Haeckel's  terse  phrase,  '  ontogeny  recapitulates  phylo- 
geny  '  "  (ante,  p.  195),  I  asked  for  references  to  "  articles  in  whicli  this 
'tenacious  clinging'  was  expressly  shown."  Mr.  Bedford  gives  me 
none,  because  (and  I  am  sui'e  all  entomologists  who  are  an  fait  witli 
their  subject  will  agree  with  me)  there  are  none. 

(3).  Because  when  a  man  suggests  the  infei'ence  (and  a  very  strong 
one)  that  entomologists  do  go  in  for  the  "  absurdity  of  basing  a  classifi- 
cation on  such  points  of  similarity  in  ova,  as  number  of  ribs  or  external 
outline,"  he  should  be  ready  to  prove  up  to  the  hilt  that  entomologists 
are  as  absurd  as  he  infers  them  to  be. 

(4).  Because  when  a  man  states  that  entomologists  are  crassly 
stupid,  for  that  is  what  it  amounts  to  when  he  says  that,  "  if  a  new 
caterpillar  were  discovered  to-morrow  with  four  claspers,  whatever  its 
internal  structure,  or  whatever  peculiar  characteristics  the  imago  might 
possess,  it  would  almost  certainly  be  placed  among  the  Geometers,  and 
from  this  it  follows  that  a  heterogeneous  mixture  becomes  packed  to- 
gether into  one  group,"  he  should  be  ready  with  the  proof  that  they 
are  such.  Mr.  Bedford  now  not  only  appears  to  have  no  knowledge  of 
the  "  heterogeneous  mixture  that  he  says  the  Geometers  form,  nor  to  be 
able  to  give  any  experimental  evidence  even  that  they  are  a  "  heteroge- 
neoLis  mixture  "  at  all,  but  he  owns  that  he  is  "  not  aware  that  anything 
is  known  of  "  that  "  internal  organisation  "  on  which  he  led  us  to  as- 
sume he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Geometers  were  a  "  hetero- 


262  THE  entomologist's  record. 

geneous  mixture."  I  do  not  imderstand  what  is  meant  by  the  "  drying 
up  or  blowing  out  to  which  the  best  imagines  are  too  often  subject;" 
we  dry  imagines  and  some  collectors  blow  out  larvae,  and  I  am  inclined 
to  consider  that  blown  larvae  are  of  very  little  value,  except  for 
collectors  to  name  their  captures  by.  I  should  be  delighted  if  more 
entomologists  did  their  work  with  microscope  and  pencil,  but  these  are 
not  altogether  unknown  even  in  the  entomological  world. — J.  W.  Tutt, 
Oct.  10th,  1S94. — [We  must  ask  any  contributors  wlio  join  in  this  dis- 
cussion, if  tliere  be  any  further  discussion,  to  limit  their  facts  and 
arguments  to  insects,  and  not  to  travel  over  the  whole  field  of  zoology. 
—Ed.]  

^"OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

Collecting  at  CrC)3ier. — 1  spent  twelve  days  at  the  end  of  July 
with  my  friend,  Mr.  R.  W.  Kobbins  of  Clapton,  at  Sidestrand,  three 
miles  east  of  Cromer,  on  the  top  of  the  cliff.  We  were  within  a  mile 
of  the  famous  "  Garden  of  Sleep,"  and  there  was  no  mistake  about  the 
"  poppyland ;"  there  were  fields  full  of  poppies  everywhere  ;  we  found 
all  the  four  British  species  with  red  flowers.  We  had  fairly  good 
weather,  but  it  was  decidedly  mixed — generally  damp  and  muggy,  Avith 
white  mists ;  at  no  time  during  our  stay  was  it  cold  enough  for  an  over- 
coat. We  could  have  done  with  more  sunshine,  and  were  not 
surprised  to  find  butterflies  practically  absent,  the  ubiquitous 
Epinephele  ianira  being  the  only  species  at  all  common.  Among  the 
moths,  Geometrae  were  very  scarce.  The  only  ones  of  any  note  were 
Eupithea'a  suhfulcata  (1  sp.)  and  3IeJanij)j:)e  imaiKjulata  (common;  rather 
worn),  both  of  which  we  took  on  bramble-flowers.  We  tried  treacling 
heads  of  ragwort,  dock,  hogweed,  (fee.  on  the  cliff's  on  one  night.  Noctuae 
were  numerous,  but  not  select ;  Ayrotis  exdamationis  principally,  with 
A.  segetum,  Axylia  pntris,  Xi/lophasia  monoglypha,  Triphaena  pronuha, 
Caradrina  ahines,  Miana  strigilis,  Leucania  jiaUens,  L.  Jithargyria,  L. 
conigera,  Noctua  c-nigrum  and  N.  plecta.  But  undoubtedly  the  best 
insect  we  took  was  Noctua  ditrapezimi ;  seven  very  decent  specimens  on 
treacle  on  ragwort  heads.  We  were  surprised  to  see  that  the  strigilis 
were  mostly  dark,  many  being  almost  as  black  as  var.  aethiops.  Bramble 
flowers  produced,  besides  many  of  the  above,  Cerigo  matura  (I),  Noctua 
umhrosa  (I),  Triphaena  comes  (5  or  6,  varying  from  pale  jDinkish  buff  to 
dark  grey-brown),  Charaeas  graminis  (1).  We  also  took  several  fine 
specimens  of  Agrotis  nigricans  on  treacle,  all  dark.  We  found  the 
flowers  of  bladder  campion  very  attractive  to  Nocti^.e,  especially  Leu- 
cania patlens,  which  was  a  nuisance  everywhere,  though  there  were 
some  nice  reddish  forms  to  be  had.  iJaywork  resolved  itself  into 
searching  for  Bryophila  pjerJa  on  the  flint  and  cement  walls  which  are 
a  feature  of  this  part  of  the  countiy.  In  the  majority  of  cases  the 
flints  were  of  the  "  cobble  "  type,  and  were  stuck  endways  into  the 
cement,  thus  leaving  projecting  round  knobs  under  which  pevla  was 
fond  of  sitting ;  on  one  occasion  I  found  a  fine  specimen  of  Macroglossa 
steUatarum  at  rest  (in  the  daytime)  on  the  to})  of  one  of  the  round  knobs. 
The  age  of  the  wall  and  the  quantity  of  the  lichen  thereon  were  no 
criteria  as  to  the  presence  or  absence  of  perla  ;  many  most  eligible 
walls  (in  appearance)  were  destitute  of  occupants,  while  the  most  pro- 
ductive of  all  was  comparatively  new,  and  not  at  all  thickly  "licliened." 
On  this  wall,   which  was  near  Trimingham,  we  found  a  fine  sandy 


NOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    ETC.  253 

form  (var.  flavescens,  Tutt)  ;  it  was  common  on  this,  the  only  wall 
where  we  foixnd  it.  On  this  wall  we  also  took  the  type  and  some  dark 
forms,  evidently  near  var.  suffusa,  Tutt.  There  was,  too,  a  very  jjretty 
form,  apparently  a  combination  of  var.  suj^usa  and  var.  flavescens.  In 
several  of  the  var.  flavescens  the  stigmata  seem  to  be  pale  blue,  pro- 
bably from  contrast.  As  far  as  we  could  see,  there  was  no  reason  why 
var.  flavescens  should  have  been  (seemingly)  confined  to  this  wall ;  there 
were  yellow  lichens  on  it,  certainly,  but  not  to  a  greater  extent  than  on 
other  walls  in  the  neighbourhood.  Query  :  Does  perla  feed  on  one  sjoecies 
of  lichen  only,  or  on  any  species  ?  By  means  of  a  newly-emerged  J 
Bomhyx  quercus  (found  on  a  gate  jjost),  we  obtained  eight  males  in  good 
condition  by  "assembling,"  and  we  were  able  to  divide  about  100  ova 
between  us ;  the  young  larvaj  are  being  fed  on  willow  and  jjlum,  and 
are  now  in  their  fourth  skin  and  an  inch  and  one-eighth  in  length. 
The  garden  of  the  farmhouse  where  we  stayed  was  very  productive  as 
regards  Abraxas  grossulariata,  and  the  specimens  were  very  fine.  I 
took  one  of  a  pale  cream  colour  with  the  usual  markings ;  the  ex- 
panded wings  measure  just  two  inches  across.  Larva-beating  was  not 
a  success,  because  there  seemed  to  be  no  larvae,  and  very  few  suitable 
places  to  beat  for  them  if  there  had  been  ;  the  east  side  of  Cromer  being 
very  sparsely  wooded,  and  the  trees  mostly  sycamores ;  what  oaks 
we  did  see  had  an  unjjleasantly  fresh  and  "  uneaten  "  appearance. 
Speaking  generally,  however,  I  should  think  the  locality  (especially 
west  of  Cromer)  would  be  a  good  collecting  ground  in  a  favourable 
year,  as  soon  as  one  got  used  to  the  country. — C.  Nicholson,  202, 
Evering  Road,  N.E.     1st  October,  1894. 

Eggs  of  Bombyx  kubi  "  ichneumoned." — During  the  annual  visit 
of  the  North  London  Natural  History  Society  to  the  New  Eorest  at 
Whitsuntide  last,  Mr.  C.  B.  Smith  caj)tured  a  female  of  this  sjDecies 
and  placed  it  alive  in  a  large  glass-bottomed  pill-box,  in  which  it  laid 
two  patches  of  eggs.  He  left  the  eggs  in  the  box,  which  he  used  oc- 
casionally with  his  other  boxes  in  the  ordinary  way.  Some  days  subse- 
quently he  kindly  presented  me  with  some  of  the  eggs  (about  38),  and 
gave  the  rest  to  Mr.  L.  B.  Front.  In  due  course  mine  commenced  to 
hatch,  and  all  yielded  up  their  larvae  except  about  eight.  I  kept  these 
for  some  time,  wondering  why  they  did  not  hatch,  and  was  one  day 
surprised  to  see  several  very  minute  ichneumon-flies  in  the  box.  I 
examined  the  eggs,  and  found  in  one  or  two  of  them  the  holes  made 
by  the  flies  in  emerging.  The  whole  of  the  eggs  which  did  not  hatch 
eventually  proved  to  be  tenanted  by  these  little  ichneumons,  of  Avhicli 
I  bred  about  30 ;  that  is,  an  allowance  of  three  or  four  flies  to  each 
egg  !  The  question  is,  how  did  they  get  there  ?  I  saw  the  moth  in 
the  box  with  the  eggs,  and  there  was  no  sign  of  the  fly  there  then. 
Mr.  Smith  assures  me  that  he  had  not  noticed  any  insect  in  the  box  other 
than  lepidopterous  from  the  time  the  rnbi  was  jjut  in  until  he  handed  the 
eggs  over  to  me,  and,  curiously  enough,  none  of  Mr.  Front's  eggs  were 
"  stung."  xVlthough  eggs  are  occasionally  "  stung,"  this  is  the  first 
instance  which  has  come  under  my  notice ;  and,  if  any  hymenoptcra- 
loving  correspondent  would  like  a  specimen  or  two  of  the  ichneumon,  I 
shall  be  pleased  to  forward  some.  They  seem  closely  akin  to  Micro- 
gaster. — C.  Nicholson,  202,  Evering  Foad,  N.E.     1st  October,  18U4. 

CoLiAS  EDUSA  IN  SuKREY. — Last  Saturday,  whilst  in  the  train,  I  saw 
a  fine  fresh  specimen  of  Colias  edusa — female — flying  on  the  railway 
bank  between  Weybridge  and  Byfleet  stations.     The  train  was  travel- 


254  THE  entomologist's  record. 

ling  very  slowly  at  the  time,  and  I  was  able  to  have  a  good  view  of  the 
insect.  This  is  the  only  one  I  have  seen  this  year,  and  in  fact  since 
1892,  when  they  were  fairly  plentiful  in  this  district  as  they  were  in 
most  parts  of  the  country.  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  have  found  this  season 
a  most  unprofitable  one,  and  I  have  scarcely  added  to  my  collection  at 
all— S.  G.  KussELL,  Priory  Villa,  Woking.     Oct.  lird,  1894. 

Callisiorpha  uera  in  South  Devon. — I  had  a  very  enjoyable 
time  in  South  Devon  with  Mr.  Jiiger  hunting  for  Calliinorpha  hera 
and  obtained  twenty  specimens,  but  only  some  half-dozen  were  line 
enough  for  cabinet  purposes.  I  kept  the  damaged  females  for  eggs 
and  have  some  from  all  three  forms,  viz :  those  with  red,  orange,  and 
yellow  under-wings.  We  took  the  species  over  miles  of  ground,  and 
1  should  say  it  has  been  there  for  many  more  years  than  most  people 
imagine  and  has  not  been  taken  because  the  district  has  been  practically 
un worked,  whilst  from  the  nature  of  the  ground  there  is  no  fear  of  its 
extermination.  Fyrameis  cardui  and  Plusia  gamma  were  both  common 
and  several  Colias  edusa  occurred.  As  elsewhere  sugar  was  of  no  use 
whatever  and  indeed  it  was  quite  an  event  to  see  a  Noctua  at  all. — G. 
T.  PoKRiTT,  Iluddersfield.     Sejjt.  Uh,  1894. 


OCIETIES. 


The  September  meetings  of  the  South  London  Entomological  and 
Natural  History  Society  were  marked  by  many  interesting  exhibits, 
among  which  were  the  following. —  Sept.  Vith  : — Mr.  Step:  several 
specimens  of  Fohjponis  j^ercnnus  from  Oxshott.  Mi'.  E.  Adkin  :  a  branch 
of  the  rare  Star-thistle  {Centaurea  culcitrap a,  Ij.)  from  Eastbourne.  Mr. 
Manger:  a  specimen  of  the  rare  Stalk-eyed  crustacean  {Gonoplex 
aiKjuhita)  which  had  been  dredged  off  Weymouth.  Mr.  West  of  Green- 
wich :  a  specimen  of  the  rare  beetle,  Lehia  cyanocephala,  from  Bookham, 
and  specimens  of  the  two  races  of  L.  cJilorocephala  for  comparison. 
Mr.  A.  Hall :  a  splendid  var.  of  Fyrameis  myrinna  from  Bogota,  South 
America,  with  the  type  form  for  comparison.  Mr.  C.  G.  Barrett :  a 
specimen  of  Plusia  moneta,  taken  at  Norwich  by  Mr.  Tillett  ;  also  a 
beautiful  red  var.  of  Ocnocera  ahenella,  taken  at  Folkestone  by  Mr. 
Purdey.  Mr.  Murray  (per  Mr.  E.  Adkin) :  a  bleached  var.  of  Erchia 
acthiops  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Carnforth.  Mr.  W.  F.  de  V.  Kane 
(per  Sir.  R.  Adkin)  :  a  pale  grey  form  of  Agrotis  seyefiun  from  the  north 

of  Ireland. Sept.  27th. — Mr.  Winkley  :    four  clutches  of  young 

of  the  mollusc.  Helix  jjomatia  which  had  recently  hatclied.  Mr.  R.  A. 
Adkin  (per  Mr.  Adkin)  :  the  following  molluscs  from  Eastbourne  : — 
Helix  aspersa,  H.  ericetorum,  an  unusually  large  H.  virgata,  H.  caperata, 
the  first  three  species  having  abnormally  high  spines.  Mr.  Perks  :  a 
photograph  of  the  Fox  shark  {Alopecias  vidpes),  recently  caj)tured  off 
the  coast  of  Devonshire.  Mr.  Williams :  a  specimen  of  the  intestinal 
worm,  Gordius  aqiiaticus,  which  had  emerged  from  the  body  of  a  water 
spider.  Mr.  Auld  :  a  larva  of  Fhorodesma  smaragdaria  which  had  been 
feeding  for  fourteen  months.  Mr.  Jiiger  :  a  series  of  CaUimorplia  hera 
taken  by  him  in  S.  Devon  this  year  ;  the  red,  yellow,  and  terra-cotta 
forms  were  all  represented.  Mr.  Winkley  :  two  specimens  of  a  second 
brood  of  Siiterinihus  popnli,  bred  this  year.     Mr.  Filer  :  a  bred  series  of 


SOCIETIES.  255 

Papilio  macliaon,  from  Cambridge,  among  which  was  a  specimen  in 
which  the  marginal  band  of  the  hing  wings  was  so  extended  as  to 
unite  with  the  discoidal  spot.  Mr.  H.  Moore :  a  specimen  of 
Vanessa  urticae  from  Vienne,  in  which  the  two  spots  were  only  re- 
presented by  a  few  dark  scales.  Mr.  A.  Hall :  about  twenty  species  of 
Khopalocera  from  Japan,  identical  or  almost  so  with  British  species, 
and  including  P.  machaon,  Lencophasia  sinapis,  Gonepteryx  rJiamni,  &c. 
Mr.  Adkin  :  Zi/gaena  exidans  from  Braemar ;  Sesia  scoU'/forriiis  from 
Eannoch.  Mr.  Tugwell  (per  Mr.  West)  also  exhibited  Zipjaena  exulans 
taken  this  year  at  Braemar,  with  cocoons  in  situ  on  crowberry. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Birmingham  Entomological  Society  on 
August  2Uth,  Mr.  C.  J.  Wainwright  showed  Stratiomys  potamida  taken 
in  Sutton  Park ;  it  is  the  first  Stratiomys  which  has  been  taken  in  the 
Birmingham  district.  Mr.  R.  C.  Bradley  read  some  notes  upon  Merodon 
eqnestris  which  he  had  been  breeding  from  larvae  sent  to  him  by  Mr. 
McLachlan ;  he  said  that  they  took  a  very  long  time  to  dry  their 
wings — 24  hours  after  emergence  some  of  them  were  still  quite  limp — 
this  he  attributed  to  want  of  sun  ;  the  sjjecies  was  getting  not  at  all 
uncommon  round  Birmingham,  and  he  had  taken  a  number  at  Sutton, 
though  probably  a  few  years  ago  it  did  not  occur  here.  Mr.  A.  H. 
Martineau  had  been  making  a  series  of  experiments  upon  different  kill- 
ing substances  in  order  to  ascertain  their  effect  on  the  colours  of  in- 
sects ;  the  fumes  of  sulphur  seemed  to  preserve  and  even  heighten  the 
colours  of  Diptera  and  Hymenoptera ;  yellows  and  reds,  if  affected  at 
all,  seemed  to  become  more  brilliant  and  never  turned  black,  as  was  the 
case  when  cyanide  of  potassium  or  ammonia  was  used. 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. — 
Sept.  Uh,  1894. — Exhibits: — Dr.  Buckell :  Epinephele  tithonus  (3's) 
from  Leigh,  Essex,  showing  extra  ocelli.  Mr.  C.  G.Jia.iTett  (Lepidoptera 
of  the  British  Islands)  remarks,  that  this  species  is  liable  to  develop 
extra  ocelli  in  maritime  localities.  Mr.  Nicholson :  Eugonia  quercinaria, 
bred  from  ova  laid  by  a  female,  which  was  bred  from  a  larva  beaten  in 
the  New  Forest  in  18^*3  ;  many  of  the  specimens  were  strongly  suffused 
with  brown  at  the  base,  and  hind  margins  of  the  fore  wings,  although 
neither  parent  was  specially  cons})icuous  in  that  respect.  Mr.  Clark  : 
Dicranura  bifida  from  Monmouthshire  ova  ;  he  stated  that  he  found  it 
impossible  to  obtain  eggs  from  this  species  in  captivit}^.  Mr.  Mera :  a 
very  beautiful  and  variable,  though  short,  series  of  Agrotis  tritici  from 
the  East  Coast.  Mr.  Sauze  :  a  series  of  Formica  nigra,  showing  males, 
females  and  neuters,  also  a  female  after  the  wings  had  been  snapped 
off.  Mr.  Bacot :  young  larvje  of  Dipterygia  scahriuscula  ;  also  a  short 
series  of  SeJenia  tetralunaria,  V)red  from  the  ova  on  which  he  read  a  note 
at  the  meeting  on  June  5th.  Dr.  Sequeira :  a  specimen  of  At/rotis 
pyrophila  among  other  insects  taken  at  Ilfracombe.  Mr.  Huckett : 
Dianthoecia  albimacuJa  and  Sesia  chrysidlformis  from  Folkestone.  Capt. 
Tliompson :  Enpithecia  nanata,  Scodiona  belgiaria  and  Pleuronota  bicos- 
teUa  from  the  West  Riding  of  Yorshire,  and  Grapholitha  nlgroinacuhina 
from  Rainham.  Mr.  Tutt  then  read  some  interesting  notes  of  a  holi- 
day spent  with  Dr.  Chapman  in  the  Alps.* 

Sept.  ISth,  1894.— Exhibits :— Mr.  Oldham:  males  of  Odonestis 
potatoria  from  Wisbech ;  one  of  them  was  of  a  buff  colour,  except  the 
usual  obli(jue  dark  streak  whi(;h  was  somewhat  faint.  Mr.  Riches: 
Ocneria  dispar,  and  some  "  Ribbon-grass  "  (Phalaris  ariindinacea  varie- 

*See  ante  p.  233 


256  THE  entomologist's  record. 

gata,  also  called  Digraph's  arundinacea) .     Mr.  Gates:  among  other  in- 
sects, Gortyna  ochracea,  and  the  stems  of  burdock  from  which  they  had 
emerged.     Mr.  Battley :  '2  bred  males  of  Lasiocampa  quercifoUa  from 
Wicken  ;  also  Apatura  iris  (2)  and  Geometra  papilionaria  from  the  New 
Forest.     Mr.  Bayne  :  Noctua  dahlii  from  the  New  Forest  and  Aberdeen. 
Mr.  Tutt  remarked  that  this  species  is  sexually  dimorphic  at  Aberdeen, 
the  males  being  chestnut  broAvn  and  mottled,  the  females,  dark  purplish 
in  tint,  and  that  a  similar  phase  of  sexual  dimorphism  occurred  at  York 
and  in  Essex.    In  Sligo,  on  the  contrary,  both  males  and  females  were  of 
the  dark  purplish  tint,  and  the  mottled  chestnut  males  a})peared  un- 
known, whilst  at  Morpeth  in  Northumberland  the  females  were  of  the 
iisual  purplish  coloration,  but  the  males  were  sometimes  chestnut  coloured, 
at  other  times  dark  purple  like  the  females.    He  further  remarked  that  it 
was  a  species  well  worth  studying,  both  from  the  points  of  geograpliical 
and  of  sexual  variation.    The  red  form  exhibited  by  Mr.  Bayne  he  con- 
sidered very  peculiar  and  certainly  very  rare.     Mr.  Bell :  young  larvaj 
of   Cerigo  matura,  which  Mr.  Tutt  stated  fed  throughout  the  winter  on 
grass.      Mr.   Nicholson  then  read  a  paper  on  "  The   Life-history  of 
Ocneria  dispar.''f    Mr.  Tutt,  in  rising  to  propose  a  vote  of  thanks,  said 
that  he   would  take  the  queries  suggested  by  Mr.  Nicholson  seriatim. 
He  considered  that  the  reason   why  the  species    was  extinct  in  this 
country  was  because  it  was  not  a  native.     Its  whole  history  proved  it  to 
be  an  imported  species  even  when  it  first  became  known.    Thousands  of 
specimens  in  all  stages  had  been  set  loose  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
but  with  the  exception  of  an  odd  specimen  here  and  there,  no  specimens 
were  taken  wild.     Its  abundance  in  the  Fens  for  a  year  or  two  simply 
pointed  to  the  care  with  which  it  was  put  out,  and  to  the  temporary  exis- 
tence of  favourable  conditions.     There  were  thousands  of  acres  of  land,  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  fitted  for  its  establishment  here,  but  it — possibly 
the  agriculturists  would  say  fortunately — will  not  establish  itself.     With 
regard  to  the  second  point,  he  doubted  the  statements  that  the  females 
of  this  species  did  not  fly  in  the  ordinary  way.     Many   moths  were 
known  to  pair  and  lay  some  eggs  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  their 
emergence,  before  flying  away  to  lay  the  remainder  of  their  eggs  at  a 
distance  from  their  place  of  birth.     This  was  particularly   noticeable 
among  the  Arctiidte,  and  probably  some  similar  habit  prevailed   here. 
In  looking  over  the   mapsattached   to    the    reports   dealing  with  the 
spread  of  this  insect  in  America,   one  had  to  bear  in  mind  that   it 
dealt     with     thousands     of     square     miles,     with     an     area     much 
larger    than    the    British    Islands,    and    presenting    great    variation 
in  physical  features,   and    it    was  impossible    to    suppose    that,  how- 
ever energetic  the  larvae  were,  they  could  surmount  rivers  or  moun- 
tains, or  even  spread  over  continuous  large  districts  if  their  own  special 
food  plants  did  not  exist.    For  himself,  he  felt  satisfied  that  their  supposed 
inability  to  fly  was  an  error  of  (or  rather  want  of)  observation,  and  that 
at  present  it  simply  meant  that  they  had  not  been  observed  at  the  right 
time,  probably  very  late  at  night.     The  discussion  was   continued  by 
Mr.  Clark,  Mr.  Gates  and  others.      Mr.  Nicholson  in  reply  said,  that 
it  certainly  would  seem  diflicult  for  the  species  to  have  spread  without 
fli"-ht  on  the   part  of  the   female,  until  one  was  acquainted  with  the 
crawling  powers  of  the  larvae.     As  would  be  seen  from  the  Eeports  on 
the  table,  they  travelled  considerable  distances,  clearing  the  trees  and 
bushes   of  their  leaves,  and  even  devouring  low  plants  when  arboreal 

vegetation  failed. 

tSee  ante  p.  236 


^"^  AND  ^^l-^ 

JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  11.     Vol.  V.  November  ISth,  1894. 


©UR  PHOTOGRAPH. 

The  genial  and  kind-hearted  President  of  the  Lancashire  and 
Cheshire  Entomological  Society  apjDears  never  so  happy  as  when  he  has 
around  him  the  naturalists  of  his  own  immediate  neighbourhood  or 
when  he  is  entertaining  entomologists  from  other  districts  who  are 
making  a  stay  for  business  or  pleasure  in  the  vicinit3^  I*-  ^^^  become 
an  annual  institution  for  him  to  invite  a  few  entomological  friends  to 
spend  a  few  days  with  him,  and  then  to  ask  the  celebrities  of  the 
entomological  world  in  and  about  Liverpool  to  meet  them. 

At  such  a  gathering  as  this  "Our  photograph"  was  taken  l)y  Miss 
Annie  CapjDer,  and  its  reproduction  will,  we  hope,  give  pleasure  to  many 
readers  at  a  time  when  almost  every  local  Society  both  in  England  and 
abroad  has,  thanks  to  the  kindness  of  some  member  or  other,  an  album 
in  which  to  keep  the  portraits  of  those  with  whom  they  have  become 
intiuiate  by  coi-respondence.  "  Our  photograph  "  contains  the  portraits 
of  the  following  gentlemen,  commencing  witli  the  left-hand  corner  of 
the  back  row  : — 

1.  —0.  F.  Johnson  of  Stockport,  a  student  of  our  British  Lepidoptera. 
2.  —J.  Watson  of  Manchester,  who  has  a  wonderful  collection  of  the 
Pierinaeoi  the  world.  3. — C.  G.  Barrett,  F.E.S.,  the  late  President  and 
present  Vice-President  of  the  South  London  Entomological  Society,  one 
of  the  Editors  of  the  Ent.  Monthly  Mag.,  and  one  of  our  best  authorities 
(m  British  Tortrices.  4. — E.  Newstead,  F.E.S.,  the  Curator  of  the 
Grosvenor  Museum,  Chester,  who  is  becoming  well-known  for  his 
excellent  work  with  the  Coccids.  6. — Eev.  A.  W.  Carter  of  Pluyton, 
who  claims  only  a  general  interest  in  our  pursuit.  (3. — J.  W.  Ellis 
M.B.,  F.E.S.,  of  Liverpool,  a  diligent  student  of  British  Coleoptera. 
7. — H.  Capper,  the  eldest  son  of  the  President  of  the  Lancashire 
Society.  8. — Linn^us  Greening,  F.L.S.,  one  of  the  Editors  of  The 
Britkli  Naturalist,  with  a  strong  liking  for  Eeptiles.  \). — Isaac  C. 
Thompson,  F.E.M.S.,  F.L.S.  who  goes  in  more  especially  for  Micro- 
scopic studies.  In  the  second  row  we  have  : — 10. — E. Wilding,  another 
student  of  British  Lepidoptera  and  ColeojDtera.  11. — C.  S.  Greo'son 
an  entomologist  of  the  old  school,  a  keen  and  enthusiastic  collector  in 
days  gone  by,  a  thorough  Britisher  with  a  penchant  for  "  Gooseberry 
moths  "  and  "  Tigers  "  ;  wlio  once  believed  that  anything  would  do  for 


258  THE     ENTf  MOLOOIST's    RKCORD. 

a  name,  and  now  sings  the  virtues  of  his  friends  in  verse.  12. — B.  H, 
Crabtree  of  Manchester,  another  student  of  British  Lepidoptera.  13. — 
S.  J.  Capper,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.,  the  host  and  worthy  President  of  the  Lanca- 
shire and  Cheshire  Entomological  Society,  who  for  17  years  has  kept 
together  a  verj'  powerful  and  happy  band  of  naturalists,  and  whose 
home  is  the  haunt  of  the  entomologists  of  the  neighbourhood,  as  is  his 
collection  the  reference  library  (as  it  were)  for  the  younger  members, 
and  the  varieties  it  contains  the  cause  of  breaking  the  10th 
Commandment  to  most  of  his  visitors.  14. — G.  C.  Bignell,  F.E.S.,  of 
Plymouth,  well-known  for  his  researches  in  Ichneumonidae.  15. — W. 
Johnson  of  Aspull,  near  Wigan,  another  lepidopterist  of  the  old  school, 
(whose  kindness  some  15  years  ago  is  not  forgotten  by  the  writer). 
Now  we  come  to  the  row  who  occupy  the  front: — IB. — W.  E.  Sharp 
of  Ledsham,  an  able  and  philoso})hical  naturalist,  Avith  an  interesting 
style  of  writing,  besides  being  an  excellent  student  of  Coleoptera.  17. 
— C.  H.  H.  AValker,  interested  in  Insect  microscopy,  and  whose  papers 
on  the  "  Wings  of  insects  "  are  an  educational  treat,  and  show  that  the 
observer  can  explain  what  he  sees.  18. — J.  Collins  of  Warrington, 
well-known  to  all  our  readers  as  an  ardent  and  successful  lepidopterist. 
19.— H.  H.  Corbett,  M.R.C.S.,  of  Doncaster,  a  micro-lepidopterist,  a 
skilful  collector  and  observer,  who  ought  to  put  a  great  deal  more 
of  his  work  into  permanent  form  than  his  modesty  will  at  present 
permit  him.  20. — W.  Webster  of  St.  Helen's,  another  student  of 
British  Lepidoptera. 

Some  faces  are  missing  that  ought  to  be  here-  notably  F.  N.  Pierce, 
F.E.S.,  the  Secretary,  to  whom  the  Society  owes  a  great  deal.  The 
dictum  that  a  society  depends  almost  entirely  on  its  I 'resident  and  Secre- 
tary was  never  better  exemplified  than  in  this  flourishing  proA'incial 
society. — Ed. 


By  J.  W.  TUTT,  F.E.S. 

Zygaena  exnlans  has  been  j)robably  one  of  the  most  interesting  of 
British  lepidopterous  insects  for  the  past  few  j'ears,  not  so  much  from 
the  fact  that  there  has  been  any  very  great  interest  in  its  scientific 
claims  to  recognition,  Imt  because  the  regulation  three  inches  or  half- 
row  in  the  box  or  cabinet  has  been  a  blank  (with  a  label  at  the  bottom) 
waiting  for  its  occupants  who  have  been  so  tardy  in  arriving.  We  are 
always  most  interested  in  the  insects  we  have  not  got ;  we  advertise 
for  them  ;  we  speculate  on  what  they  will  look  like  when  Ave  get  them  ; 
and  then,  when  Ave  ha\'e  got  them,  we  fortliAvith  forget  all  about  them, 
and  are  on  the  look  out  for  other  desiderata.  No  tangible  result  in  the 
Avay  of  information  is  forthcoming  from  that  loving  look  we  gaA-ethem, 
and  so,  Avhilst  the  blank  spaces  in  many  cabinets  haA'e  been  slowly  filling 
up,  and  Avhilst  the  excitement  of  many  of  our  friends  has  been  at  boil- 
ing point,  some  of  us,  devoid  of  this  keen  and  intense  desire  merely  to 
possess,  have  been  looking  out  for  some  scientific  remarks,  some  ob- 
servations, some  lengthened  notice  of  the  habits  of  the  species  from 
those  who  have  captured  it,  or  some  notes  at  any  rate  on  its  variation 


RANDOM  NOTES  ON  ZYGAENA  EXULANS  AND  ITS  VARIETIES.  259 

from  tliose  who  have  filled  up  that  ])lank  which  causes  a  shock  to  some 
fellows  when  they  show  another  fellow  their  cabinet  drawers.  This 
experience  has  been  mine  before  now,  so  I  only  describe  wliat  I  know 
to  be  a  fact.  Perhaps  some  of  my  readers  will  say  •'  sour  grapes  ;  " 
may-be  tliat  is  so — although  I  do  not  quite  believe  it.  But  though 
Zygaena  exulans  has  been  so  rare  a  British  insect  in  the  jDast,  we  have 
changed  all  that  now.  Exhibitions  galore  of  the  species — nearly  a 
liundred  in  one  exhibit — show  that  it  has  been  obtained  in  gi-eat 
abundance,  and  that  everyone  who  wants  to  fill  up  that  wretched 
"  blank  "  will  soon  be  able  to  do  so,  if  indeed,  the  consummation  has 
not  already  been  reached. 

But  whilst  our  friends  at  Braemar  were  catching  and  setting  their 
hundreds  of  Zi/<jaena  exulans  in  this  year  of  grace  1894,  I  myself  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  this  fine  interesting  motli  hurtling  along  the 
high  rocky  slopes  with  its  booming  flight,  or  greedily  fighting  its  friends 
on  the  bright-tinted  flowers  of  a  clear-air'd  Alpine  mountain-side.  I 
do  not  know  whether  there  was  anj^thing  in  my  personal  appearance, 
but  it  must  be  owned  that  Zygaena  exulans  would  never  discover  itself 
to  me  in  the  almost  incredible  niimbers,  which,  on  two  occasions,  were 
met  with  by  my  friend  Dr.  Chapman. 

The  specimens  obtained  or  observed,  however,  were  very  interesting, 
and  it  is  of  these  I  would  speak;  and  if  my  Scotch  friends  do  not  like 
my  comparing  their  wonderful  Braemar  specimens  with  the  more  vari- 
able and  sometimes  much  more  beautiful  specimens  which  exist  on  the 
Dauphiny  Aljis,  or  those  of  Savoy  and  Piedmont,  they  must  neither  put 
it  down  to  a  one-sidedness  on  my  j^art  in  drawing  conclusions,  nor  to 
a  supcrfluit}^  of  that  natural  modesty  of  which  I  possess  so  large  a  share, 
but  to  the  fact  that  I  still  have  a  great  Iflank  (which  still  causes  a  great 
shock)  in  my  cal^inet,  waiting  for  those  fine  forms  which  evidentlv  do 
not  occur  at  Braemar,  but  are  probably  waiting  to  be  discovered  else- 
where on  the  heathery  braes  of  the  Scotch  Highlands. 

The  first  British  specimens  of  Zygaena  exulans  which  I  possessed, 
were  kindly  given  to  me  by  my  friend  Mr.  W.  H.  Tugwell  in  (I  believe) 
1886.  The  insect  was  at  that  time  a  great  desideratum,  and  even 
specimens  not  in  the  finest  condition  were  eagerly  welcomed.  How  much 
we  were  indebted  for  a  share  in  the  results  of  the  labour  of  those  gentle- 
men who  first  captured  this  species,  and  what  trouble  they  liad  to  obtain 
those  early  specimens,  only  those  who  have  collected  in  outlying  Alpine 
districts  know.  The  specimens  which  were  given  to  me  by  j\Ir.  Tugwell 
were  a  little  ruljbed,  and  corresponded  excellently  with  Dr.  White's 
definition  of  what  a  Scotch  Z.  exidans  (a  somewhat  dia])hanous  form) 
should  be.  They  evidently  belonged  to  the  variety  which  Dr.  White 
created  specially  for  these  rather  rubbed  specimens,  and  which  he  called 
var.  suhochracea.  But  since  then,  Messrs.  Eeid,  Home  and  others  have 
put  up  on  the  ground  for  three  or  four  years  in  succession  and  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time,  whilst  Mr.  Tugwell  has  also  received  con- 
siderable consignments,  and  as  a  result,  a  great  change  has  gradually 
come  over  our  notions  of  how  a  really  fine  Scotch  Z.  exulans  ouglit  to 
look. 

My  next  experience  in  connection  with  the  species  was  the  receipt 
of  some  specimens  from  the  Swiss  Alps,  sent  to  me  by  Dr.  Staudinger 
and  Professor  Blachier  of  Geneva.  These  were  comparatively  finely 
scaled  insects,  and,  so  far  as  I  could  judge,  were  largely  females,  altliougli 
without  the  pale  nerviires  that  the  females  of  tlie  Scotcli  speciiurus 


200  THK    ENTOMOLOfiTST's    RKCORD. 

(even  in  mucli  poorer  condition)  exhibited.  With  this  amount  of 
material,  in  the  possession  of  wliich  I  suppose  I  was  better  off  than 
ninety-nine  per  cent,  of  British  entomologists,  who,  for  some  unknown 
reason,  will  not  (whether  on  account  of  their  moral  character,  or  for 
fear  the  specimens  might  bite  them,  I  have  never  quite  discovered) 
have  a  Swiss  specimen  in  their  possession,  I  considered  that  I  had 
reached  the  ultiina  Thule  of  the  information,  &c.  to  be  obtained  from 
the  study  of  the  dried  bodies  of  Zygaena  exulans.  However,  to  prove 
that  this  was  so,  I  tried  one  resource,  Staudinger's  Catalog.  There  it 
said  : — 

Zj/gaena  exdans,  Hochenwarth  and  Eeiner,  Bot. 

Beisen,    1792,    p.  oo,  T.  vi.,    I*;    Esp.,  41,  Sumnife  Alpes; 

1-2  ;  Hb.  12,  101  ;  B.,  Mon.  Z.,  3,  3  ;  Ic,  54,  Pyrenees. 

4-5  ;  Frr.,  200,  2;  500,  1  ;  Dup.  ii.,  5,  oa.b. 

a.  var.   vanadis,  Dalman,  Zi/g.  Saec,  223,    6,  f  Lap. ;   Scand. 

(parcissime  squamata,  albo  non  mixta).  Mont. 

*  This  should  be  Zygaena  (Sphin,>-)  exulans,  Hohen- 
warth.  Reiner  und  Hohenwarth's  B<it.  Reisen,  p.  265 ; 
PL  fi;  fig.  2  (1792). 

t     This  should  be  Zygaena  vanadis,  Dalman,  Kongl.  1 
Vetensk-Ak.  Handl.,  1816,  p.  223. 

Was  I  not  happy  ?  "  Sparsely  scaled  and  not  mixed  with  white," 
was  the  diagnosis  of  var.  vanadis  ;  by  assumption  or  inference  therefore 
the  type  must  be  well  scaled  and  mixed  with  ^\'llite.  There  I  was. 
My  Swiss  specimens  were  well-scaled  and  not  mixed  with  white,  whilst 
my  Scotch  specimens  were  poorly  scaled  (probably  rubbed,  as  they  were 
bald-headed),  but  two  s])ecimens  had  traces  of  pale  nervures  and  pale 
thoracic  patches,  which  I  thought  might  be  considered  as  being  "  mixed 
with  white." 

Now  all  this  was  delightfully  clear,  because  everything  appeai^ed  to 
be  exactly  as  it  ought  not  to  be,  and  when  at  last,  about  two  3fears  ago, 
I  saw  some  really  good  male  Scotch  specimens,  which  were  almost  or 
quite  as  thickly  scaled  as,  but  far  less  brightly  tinted  than  the  Swiss 
specimens  which  I  possessed,  and  observed  that  the  thoraces  of  the 
female  Scotch  specimens  were  always  mixed  (sometimes  strongly  so) 
with  pale  yellowish  or  whitish,  i.e.,  the  Scotch  specimens  presented  a 
clear  and  defined  sexual  dimorphism,  of  which  the  main  characteristics 
were  that  the  females  were  more  thinly  clothed  with  scales,  and  possessed 
pale  nervures  extending  from  the  base  to  beyond  the  discal  cell,  as  well 
as  a  pale  inner  margin  to  the  fore-wings,  I  began  to  feel  doubtful 
where  I  was  in  the  matter.  On  the  material  I  then  had,  leaving  out 
the  ephemeral  difference  of  scaling,  I  knew  two  forms  only — a  very 
brightly  coloured  form,  the  females  without  white  nervures,  and  a 
darker  (Scotch)  form,  showing  fairly  defined  sexual  dimorphism. 

I  was  in  this  clear  and  definite  condition  of  mind  when  Dr.  Chapman, 
Avho  had  gone  on  ahead  of  me  into  Savoy,  picked  me  up  at  Chambery 
towards  the  end  of  July,  1894,  and,  although  I  had  l)een  travelling  some 
24  hours  and  was  exceedingly  hungry,  insisted  on  my  glancing  through 
some  glass-topped  boxes  (which  he  had  ready  for  my  inspection  in  his 
coat  pocket)  whilst  I  vainly  tried  to  dispose  of  breakfast,  and  gave  me 
glowing  accounts  of  what  he  had  seen  in  the  La  Grave  district,  espe- 
cially in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lauteret. 


RANDOM  NOTES  ON  ZYfiAKNA  EXtTLANS  AND  ITS  VARIETIES,  261 

Among  other  specimens  exhibited  to  my  admiring  gaze  was  a  grand 
fat  female  Zijgaena.  I  had  never  seen  anything  hke  it  before,  and 
although  the  Dr.  insisted  that  it  was  a  local  form  of  Zygaena  exidans 
(which  ultimately  i)roved  correct),  I  preferred  to  doubt  the  fact — a  pro- 
ceeding that  will  not  be  wondered  at  by  those  who  know  me — and  to 
appear  exceedingly  wise  in  my  utter  ignorance.  However,  they  (there 
were  two  or  three  others)  were  grand  specimens,  large,  broad-winged, 
with  orange  nervures  (extending  from  the  base  of  the  wing  to  the  outer 
spot),  and  an  orange  inner  margin  to  the  fore-wings,  orange  patches  on 
each  side  of  the  thorax,  and  somewhat  similarly  tinted  fore-legs.  One  had 
laid  a  batch  of  eggs,  and  these  were  forwarded  to  a  well-known  authority 
on  Burnets  in  the  South  of  England,  who,  if  he  has  nothing  to  record 
anent  those  eggs,  I,  for  one,  shall  consider  to  have  forfeited  a  great 
share  of  his  reputation  as  an  authority  on  these  interesting  insects. 
This  was  the  first  local  form  met  with  ;  suppose  Ave  call  it  for  short,  var. 
flavilinea.  [I  don't  much  like  the  look  of  that  name  though,  it  puts  me 
in  mind  of  the  classics  which  used  to  emanate  from  a  well-known  city 
in  the  north-west  of  England  some  years  ago,  as  the  production  of  an  ex- 
cellent observer  who  sometimes  now  writes  verse  about  his  friends, 
and  who  always  says  something  funny  about  me  when  he  gets  the 
chance,  but  to  whom  I  bear  no  ill-will — teste  this  parenthesis]. 

The  next  time  the  species  was  met  with  was  above  Gimilian,  on  a 
hillside  that  slopes  down  towards  Cogne,  on  the  north  side  of  the  valley. 
Here  only  two  or  three  specimens  were  taken;  these  were  all  males,  and 
identical  with  the  Scotch  form  in  good  condition  ;  so  identical  that,  mixed 
with  Scotch  specimens,  more  than  one  good  lepidopterist  has  picked  them 
out  as  Scotch,  in  preference  to  real  natives.  They  were  moderately 
well-scaled,  and  were  without  traces  of  paler  markings. 

The  species  was  met  with  again  high  up  in  the  Lauzon  Valley,  on 
the  zig-zag  path  which  leads  to  the  King  of  Italy's  shooting-box,  well 
up  on  the  way  to  the  Col  leading  over  to  Val  Savaranche.  The  weather 
was  dull,  and  insects  would  not  fly  in  the  afternoon  when  we  were  on 
the  spot  where  they  occurred,  some  8,000  feet  above  sea-level.  The 
form,  however,  that  occurred  there  was  a  good  one ;  the  insect  was 
brightly  tinted  and  closely  scaled,  and  the  marks,  which  in  the 
specimens  from  the  La  Grave  district  were  orange,  were  somewhat 
paler — of  a  pale  yellow  rather  than  of  an  orange  tint.  The  nervures 
and  inner  margin  were  both  strongly  lined  with  the  paler  colour,  but 
in  size  the  specimens  were  less  than  those  from  La  Grave.  It  is,  however, 
only  a  modification  of  var.  flavilinea.  Up  to  this  time,  we  either  possessed 
no  males  of  the  flaviUuea  form,  or  the  males  are  ornamented  like  the 
females,  as  ap])ears  to  be  the  case  with  some  of  the  Val  Grauson 
specimens. 

High  up  the  Grauson  Valley,  Dr.  C'luipman  once  more  met  with  the 
species  in  large  numbers.  He  captured  a  good  many,  almost  all  those  taken 
being  in  copula.  Most  of  these  I  put  on  our  limited  suppl}^  of  settingboards 
and  they  turned  out  a  very  fine  series  of  more  than  seventy  specimens. 
About  one-fourth  of  them  are  dark,  strongly-scaled  specimens,  with  no 
trace  of  paler  markings  either  on  the  thorax  or  wings.  These  appear 
to  be  entirely  males,  and  there  is  no  difference  Avhatever  in  the  scaling, 
tint  of  colour  or  red  spots,  between  these  and  Scotch  si^ecimens.  ]>ut 
a  most  important  cliaracter,  however,  does  jiresent  itself.  One  of  the 
supposed  distinguishing  sexual  characters  in  the  Scotch  specimens,  viz., 
the  pale  collar  of  the  females,  is  here  more  or  less  developed  in  the  males  ; 


262  THfi  entomologist's  record. 

some  few  are  without  it  as  in  the  Scotch  specimens,  others  have  it  but  faintly 
marked,  whilst  others  have  it  very  distinctly  marked.  But  whilst  some 
of  these  Val  Grauson  specimens  are  thus  identical  with  the  Scotch  form, 
the  remainder  grade  off  into  specimens  of  a  somewhat  paler  green  tint, 
with  an  access  of  white  mottling,  not  only  on  the  tlioraces,  but  also  on  the 
nervures,  the  white  scales  appearing  even  as  a  })ale  dusting  on  the  wings. 
It  would  be  possible  to  grade  the  series  off  from  darkest  to  palest  without 
a  break,  and  yet  the  two  extremes  are  as  different  as  possible,  whilst 
the  strongest  marked  ''  lined  "  (pale  nervure)  forms  compare  more  than 
favourably  with  the  bright  specimens  from  the  Lauzon  Valley.  These 
latter  (the  "  lined  "  forms)  are  characterised  by  the  varying  amount  of  pale 
mottling  on  the  thorax  (some  specimens  have  it  entirely  covered 
with  pale  grey  scales),  whilst  the  nervures  and  inner  margin  are  also 
pale,  differing  however,  inter  se,  from  an  almost  inconspicvious 
pale  condition,  to  well-marked  and  clearly-defined  pale  lines.  These 
specimens  are  not  only  as  a  rule  brighter  and  yet  paler  in  tint,  but 
more  thinly  scaled.  The  extreme  forms  in  scaling  show  an  almost 
total  want  of  pigment,  approaching  a  Scotch  specimen  in  my  own 
collection,  and  others  which  I  have  seen  exhibited,  in  which  the  scale 
coloration  has  almost  entirely  disappeared  botli  in  the  groiuid  colour  and 
in  the  red  spots,  leaving  the  whole  insect  almost  transparent.  This 
condition  is,  without  doubt,  due  to  the  hard  struggle  that  these  partici;lar 
individuals  have  had  to  come  to  maturity,  which  has  necessitated  the 
use  of  all  their  energy  for  the  formation  of  their  vital  organs,  and  has 
left  no  surplus  to  l^estow  on  such  a  non-vital  part  of  the  organism  as 
colotir,  for  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  these  hard}'  fellows  have,  if  they 
happen  to  be  placed  under  unsatisfactory  conditions  as  young  larv^,  a 
A^ery  hard  struggle  to  exist  in  the  Aljiine  solitudes  wliich  they  beautify. 
This  want  of  colour  must  not  be  confounded  with  a  want  of  scales 
due  to  rubl")ing,  for  the  abdomina  and  thoraces  of  the  specimens  are 
perfectly  scaled,  a  very  good  test  of  general  condition.  In  size,  these 
s])ecimens  vary  from  '76  to  l*2o  inches. 

It  follows,  therefore,  from  these  notes,  that,  as  a  general  rule,  tlie 
specimens  of  the  Grauson  Valley  exhibit  considerable  variation  inter  se  ; 
that  the  better  scaled  and  darker  coloured  specimens  are  usually  (but 
not  solely)  males,  and  belong  absoluteh^  to  the  Scotch  form  of  the  insect, 
whilst  the  brighter  and  paler  specimens  represent  more  nearly  than 
any  other  form  yet  seen  by  me,  the  type  of  Zyyaena  exulans,  as  described 
by  Hohenwarth  (not  Hochenwarth  as  Staudinger  has  it)  and  exhibited 
by  the  specimens  from  Glockner  in  the  British  ]\Iuseum  collection.  It 
also  shows  that  what  is  a  general  dimor]diic  condition  in  one  locality, 
may  cease  to  be  so  in  another. 

Now  let  lis  turn  to  the  Scotch  specimens.  1  liave  exaiuined  a  con- 
sideral)]e  number  of  these,  and  large  exhibits  of  them  have  recently 
l)een  made  at  the  meetings  of  the  various  Entomological  Societies.  The 
males  of  the  Scotcli  form  have  a  dark  ground  colour,  and  fairly  Avell 
developed  red  spots ;  in  some  specimens  these  spots  are  really  strongly 
developed  ;  the  females  are  less  sti-ongh'  scaled ;  their  coloration,  both 
in  ground  colour  and  sj^otting,  is  less  marked,  and  rarely  so  bright  ; 
whilst  the  pale  shoulder  marks  (not  entirely  a  sexual  character  as  Ave 
have  seen  in  the  Grauson  Valley  specimens)  and  pale  nervures  are 
u.sually  present,  even  if  not  well-defined  and  clear.  The  legs,  too.  are 
l)aler  in  colour.  There  is  thus  a  fair  amount  of  sexual  dimorphism 
exliibited  in  the  Braemar  specimens. 


RANDOM  NOTES  ON  ZYGAENA  EXDLANS  AND  ITS  VARIETIES.  263 

Although  I  had  recently  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  so  many  speci- 
mens, I  thought  it  advisable  for  the  purpose  of  this  paper  to  write  to 
Mr.  Home,  who  had  obtained  a  number  of  specimens  this  year,  to 
substantiate  the  views  I  held  or  to  contradict  them.  He  writes  : — "  I 
think  all  the  female  Z.  exulnns  have  more  or  less  whitish  (or  rather  yellow- 
ish) nervures  to  the  fore-wings.  I  never,  however,  saw  a  male  with  any 
trace  of  the  same."  This  bears  out  my  own  observations  on  the  Braemar 
specimens. 

The  Scotch  form,  or  race,  being  practically  identical  then  with  part 
of  that  found  in  the  Grauson  Valley  (although  without  the  range 
of  variation  exhibited  in  the  latter)  but  entirely  different  from 
tlie  specimens  which  I  have  from  other  localities  excepting  Cogne 
and  Lapland,  it  becomes  necessary  to  compare  the  specimens  obtained, 
and  to  enquire  as  to  the  extent  of  minor  variation  exhibited  by 
this  particular  race.  Some  of  the  males  from  the  Grauson  Valley 
and  Braemar  are  so  completely  identical  that  they  are,  as  before  stated, 
inseparable,  lepidopterists  picking  out  Swiss  for  Scotch,  and  vice  versa. 
The  same  dark  ground  colour  and  the  same  tint  of  red  characterises 
both  in  their  s^jotting,  although  an  occasional  Val  Grauson  male 
is,  perhaps,  slightly  brighter  than  any  Scotch  specimens  I  have  yet 
seen,  but  the  difference  is  really  immaterial  in  so  well-defined  a  local 
race.  Males  with  pale  collars,  however,  do  not  appear  to  occur  in 
Scotland.  In  the  latter  country  this  appears  to  be  exclusively  a  female 
character.  In  the  Val  Grauson,  on  the  contrary,  the  males  often  appear 
to  have  it.  But  it  is  chieiiy  among  the  females  that  the  greatest  range  of 
variation  exists.  The  least  well-marked  of  the  Grauson  Valley  female 
specimens  present  no  difference  from  the  Scotch,  but  others  of  them  are 
so  strongly  marked  with  Avhitish  nervui'es,  etc.,  that  they  form  a  very 
decided  range  of  variation  beyond  their  Braemar  relatives.  Their  red 
spots,  too,  are  often  altogether  brighter,  and  the  ground  colour  paler. 
These  extreme  forms  of  the  female  can  as  readily  be  separated  from  ordi- 
nary Scotch  specimens,  as  could  those  from  the  Lauzon  Valley  or 
Lauteret.  The  heathery  environment  in  Scotland  is  altogether  different 
from  the  high  Alpine  pastures  or  the  rocky  mountain  sides  of  the  Grauson 
Valley,  and  the  usually  wet  cloudy  weather  of  the  Scotch  mountains 
gives  place  to  the  clear  air,  bright  sunshine,  dry  atmosphere,  and 
high  day  temperature  of  the  Alps.  Perhaps  herein  lies  part  of  the 
reason  for  this  tendency  to  a  brighter  coloration. 

But  these  Cogne,  Grauson  (in  part)  and  Braemar  si^ecimens  form  a 
very  distinct  race,  and  deserve  a  distinctive  name,  if  they  are  not  indeed 
the  type  form  This,  from  the  definition  of  the  ground  colour  and  pale 
markings  mentioned  in  the  type  description  is  rather  improbal^le,  l)ut  at 
the  same  time,  the  study  of  Scandinavian  authors  makes  it  certain  that 
their  form  is  identical  with  ours,  and  it  is  very  clear  that  Dalman.  as  far 
back  as  1816,  described  the  female  Scandinavian  specimens  as  <^.  exalans, 
and  the  male  as  Z.  ranadis. 

It  will  now  lie  interesting  to  encpiire  into  what  Dalman  sa3^s.  In 
a  paper  entitled  "  Forsok  till  Systematisk  Ui)stallning  af  Sveriges 
Fjiirillar,"  by  J.  W.  Dalman  (Fortsiittning),  publislied  in  the  Koiujl. 
Vetcnshaps  Academieni^  Handlinijar,  1816,  pp.  222-223,  Dalman 
writes : — "  Zijgaena  exulnns.  Alls  anticis  fusco-virescentibus,  subdiaphanis, 
sul)tus  concoloribus,  maculis  quinque  rubris  infequalibus  (venis  albidis)  ; 
posticis  rubris  margine  f  usco-virescenti ;  antennis  vix  clavatis  ;  pedibus 
luteis.    Och.,  ii.,  p.  40,  No.  9  ,;  Hb.,  fig.  12  and  101.    Specimen  nieum  e 


264  THE  entomologist's  keookd. 

Lapponia  Dom.  Ha^ffner.  debeo.  Aiiteiina3  quam  in  pi';ecedentibus  (fili- 
pendulae,  hmicerae,  trIfoUi,  meliloti)  breviores  minusque  incrassatfe. 
Pedes  distincte  lutei  ;  collare  lutescens.  Alas  latiores  et  magis  rotundata^ 
quam  in  Z.  Jonicerae,  cui  etiam  semper  minor."  Then  on  the  following- 
page  (223)  we  read  : — "  Zygaena  vanadis.  Alis  anticis  fusco-virescentibus 
siibdiaplianis,  maculis  quinque  rubris,  basali  exteriori  elongata,  posticis 
rubris  margine  fusco-diaphano  latiore  ;  corpora  pedibusque  nigris  pilosis; 
antennis  brevibus  clava  crassa.  Habitat  in  Lapponia.  Species  ut 
mihi  videtur  distincta,  apud  Auctores  vix  invenienda,  magnitudine  et 
statura  Z.  exulantis,  sed  collare  pedibusque  nigris,  nee  venas  alarum  un- 
quam  albido-squamatas  in  hac  specie  inveni,  nee  macularum  forma 
omninu  eadem.  Antenna?  nigrfe  subtus  atrse,  minima  c^rulescentes, 
clava  crassa,  multo  breviores  quam  in  Z.  lonicerae,  apica  obtusiusculae. 
Thorax  niger  hirsutus,  liaud  virescens.  Abdomen  et  pedes  thorace 
concoloria,  valde  pilosa.  Ak>?  antica?  latiuscula?  s(pAamulis  parum  niti- 
dulis  fusco-cyaneis  tenere  et  parcius  adsjiersje,  unde  aliB  sub-hyahna? 
ap})arent.  Maculas  quinque  rubra?,  colore  et  ordine  ut  in  Z.  lonicerae  ; 
basalis  interior  brevis  ovata,  exterior  elongata,  usque  ad  maculam  an- 
teriorem  medii  paris  parvam  ovatam  jjroducta ;  discoidea  media,  et 
apicalis  singula,  subquadrato-rotundata?.  Posteriores  rubric  margine 
lato  hyalino-fusco." — "  Var.  (3.  Alis  anticis  fusco-cyaneis  maculis  o 
sanguineis,  aiiicali  majori  extus  indaterminata."  "  Diflfert  non  nisi  colore 
saturatiore,  et  macula  apicali  majori  subrotundata  extus  indeterminate 
evanescanti.  Corpus  et  pedes,  immaculata,  et  de  cataro  omnia  cum 
var.  a.  (vanadis)  conveniunt.  Sjiacimen  hnjus  varietatis  unicum,  bene 
consarvatum,  e  Lapponia,  vidi  in  Mus.  Dom.  Schonherri." 

The  desci-iption  "  fusco-virescantibus  "  applies  to  no  Alpine  speci- 
mens that  I  have  yet  seen,  except  those  from  the  Cogne  Valley  and 
part  of  those  from  the  Val  Grauson,  and  the  whole  description 
of  Z.  exnlans  is  an  excellent  one  of  a  female  Braamar  specimen 
— "  sub-diaphanis,  venis  albidis,  j^edibus  luteis,"  are  very  characteristic 
terms,  inde])endent  of  the  colour  definition  which  very  certainly  fixes 
the  form.  From  the  description,  var.  ranndis,  which  Dalman  states 
appears  to  him  to  be  a  distinct  species,  is  of  the  size  and  build  of  Z. 
exnlans  and  differs  from  it  as  wa  see  from  the  above  description 
only  in  tlic  points  which  we  have  learned  to  look  upon  as 
belonging  to  the  mala  specimens  of  exnlans.  It  is  vary  evident 
that  Dalman  had  never  looked  into  the  little  matters  which  saem 
important  to  us  and  that  from  our  point  of  view  all  his  specimens 
formed  a  local  race  differing  from  the  Alpine  type.  His  var.  (S. 
"  fusco-cyaneis,"  shows  that  he  observed  the  colour  dimorphism  of 
green  and  purple  (blue)  so  common  in  almost  all  Zyga?nas.  Here  evi- 
dently then  is  the  earliest  description  of  that  race  Avhich  occurs  in 
Lapponia,  Scotia,  Cogne  and  Val  Grauson,,  and  its  name  must  clearly  be 
vanadis,  whilst  the  var.  snbochracea  of  White,  must  sink. 

To  make  this  as  conq)lete  as  possible,  1  looked  over  the  specimens  from 
Lapland  in  the  British  ]\hiseum  collection.  They  appear  to  be  all  males, 
and  are  distinctly  of  the  dark  Scotch  form,  probably  a  shade  larger  than 
the  ordinary  examjtles  captured,  altliough  differing  in  no  way  from 
selected  specimens  of  the  Scotch  race.  They  are  all  labelled  var.  ranadis, 
and  compare  very  accm-ately  with  Dalman 's  description.  Two  Lap- 
land specimens  received  from  Mr.  Maddison  (one  an  excei)tionally  large 
one)  are  also  of  this  dark  form.     These  two  are  both  males. 


KANDOM  NOTES  ON  ZYGAENA  EXULANS  AND  ITS  VAHtETlES.  2H5 

We  have  now  to  consider  the  type,  and  to  see  what  Sigmund  von 
Hohenwarth  says  in  the  Botanische  Reisen  nncli  einigen  Oberkdrntnerischcn 
benachharten  Alpen  of  Joseph  Keiner.  In  the  Preface,  p.  iii.,  we  read  : — 
'"  In  the  Appendix,  Herr  von  Hohenwarth  furnishes  descriptions  and  accu- 
rate figures  of  some  hitherto  luiknown,  and  other  still  very  rare  insects." 
The  insect  is  figured  PI.  vi.,  tig.  2,  and  on  p.  2*i5  we  read: — "  Sphinx 
exulans  (Der  verwiesener  Demmerungsvogel).  Sphinx.  Alis  superioribus 
hyalino-virescentibus,  albido  nervosis,  maculis  quinque  rubris  utrinque 
conspicuis  ;  inferioribus,  prseter  marginem  apicis  hyalino-virescentem, 
rubris  immaculatis."  Then  follows  a  long  German  description  : — "  This 
moth  has  the  size  of  <S'.  statices  or  *§.  filipendulae.  Head,  thorax,  abdo- 
men, and  the  whole  body  are  above  and  below  dark  black,  covered 
thickly  with  similarly  coloured  scales.  The  head  small,  almost  globular, 
somewhat  narrower  and  stumpily  pointed  below,  and  bent  downwards. 
The  two  palpi  are  curved  upwards,  round,  black-haired  ;  the  tongue 
lying  between  them  wound  spirall}^  and  glittering  black-brown  in 
colour.  The  eyes  beneath  the  antennae  raised,  naked  and  black.  Tlie 
antenna?  moderately  long,  black,  not  transparent,  thread-like,  roundish, 
tliickish  towards  the  end,  awl-shaped  at  the  point,  in  front  marked  Avith 
many  ring-shaped  incisions.  The  thorax  cushion-shaped,  with  a  whitish 
hair}'  band,  interrupted  in  the  middle.  The  abdomen  longish,  almost 
uniformly  thick,  stumpy.  The  six  feet  whitish  or  light  yellowish.  The 
four  wings  longer  than  the  abdomen.  U'ore-wings  somewhat  oval,  of  a 
watery-greenish  colour,  almost  semi-transparent,  with  four  raised  whitish 
ribs,  running  longitTidinally  from  the  base  to  beyond  the  middle  of  the 
wing,  and  live  red  spots  apparent  both  on  the  upper  and  under  sides." 
Then  comes  a  description  of  the  shape,  size  and  position  of  the  live  spots, 
which  it  is  not  worth  while  to  translate  here.  He  then  adds  : — "  The 
hind-wings  have  a  watery-greenish  coloured  margin,  with  a  white  outer 
margin,  the  remainder  of  the  wings  being  entirely  red,  unspotted, 
almost  semi-transiiarent.  This  moth  lives  on  the  extreme  Alpine  sum- 
mits of  the  Eis-geliirge  at  Glockner,  on  the  so-called  Pasterze,  and  lives 
probably  on  the  "  Eis-"  or  "  iihrengetragenden  Beifuss  "  (Arfcinisia  ijla- 
cialis'f)  which  are  almost  the  only  plants  of  this  perpetual  winter  land." 

It  appears  very  evident  from  the  "hyalino-virescentibus,"  of  the 
diagnosis,  that  the  "  water-green  "  specimens  of  the  Alpine  heights  were 
characteristically  inclined  to  be  diaphanous,  whilst  "albido  nervosis" 
shows  that  the  description  was  probably,  but  not  certainly,  made  from  fe- 
male specimens.  This  latter  fact,  however,  makes  it  clear  that  the 
type  is  not  the  insect  usually  sent  out  by  the  Continental  dealers  as 
such,  and  which  we  usually  receive  from  Switzerland,  but  is  another 
local  race,  in  which  the  females  are  brightly  tinted  and  have  distinct 
white  nervures,  agreeing  in  fact  only  with  the  extreme  females  Avhich  I 
have  already  mentioned  as  occurring  in  the  Grauson  Valley,  with  and 
as  an  extreme  female  (and  more  rarely  male)  form  of  var.  van<idii^. 

The  unsatisfactory  nature  of  description  apart  from  specimens  was 
partly  obviated  by  the  satisfactory  discovery  of  specimens  of  Zyijaena 
exulans  from  Gr.  Glockner  in  the  British  Museum  collection,  and  as 
the  original  description  was  made  from  specimens  from  this  locality,  we 
get  some  idea  of  the  form.  Hardly  any  brighter  than  the  Scotch  form, 
the  males  show,  so  far  as  may  be  judged  from  half-a-dozen  s})ecimens, 
scarcely  any  difference  from  that,  but  the  female  is  identical  with  my 
best  "  lined  "  Grauson  specimens.  I  have  no  doubt  therefore  that  the 
Grauson  specimens  exhibit  in  their  l)rightest  phase  an  absolute  identity 


266  THE  entomologist's  record. 

with  the  Glockner  specimens.  The  important  fact  to  remember  is  that 
the  very  bright  specimens  usually  sent  out  as  typical  Swiss  specimens  do 
not  represent  the  type  form.  It  is  clear,  since  the  type  occurs  in  the 
Grauson  Valley  with  var.  vanadis,  that  the  latter  is  in  that  locality 
simply  an  aberration,  wliilst  in  Scotland  it  forms  a  true  variety  or  local 
race,  and  thus  adds  another  to  the  similar  examples  mentioned  in  the 
pamphlet  Strai/  Notes  on  the  Noduae. 

We  have  still  the  known  Swiss  valley  specimens  to  consider.  Those 
I  have  came  (as  I  have  before  stated)  from  Dr.  Staudinger  and  Prof. 
Blachier.  They  are  altogether  brighter  green  in  the  ground  colour,  and 
the  red  spots,  too,  are  brighter ;  the  wings  appear  to  be  actually  broader 
compared  with  their  width,  and  all  the  specimens  that  I  have,  both 
males  and  females,  have  traces  of  a  pale  collar ;  the  females,  too,  have 
no  distinct  whitish  nervures  or  pale  inner  margin.  I  only  write  of 
what  I  have,  but  what  I  know  of  the  species  from  the  Alps  of  Piedmont 
and  Savoy,  makes  me  diffident  in  drawing  conclusions  from  so  small  a 
series  as  a  dozen  specimens.  Nothing  is  so  utterly  absurd  in  the  study 
of  variation,  as  to  attemj^t  to  build  up  generalisations  about  the  local 
forms  of  various  districts,  or  even  countries,  on  the  knowledge  obtained 
from  two  or  three  or  even  half  a  dozen  specimens. 

The  princi})al  forms  known  to  me,  therefore,  are  as  follows: — 

1. — Well  scaled,  brightly  coloured,  with  short,  broad  wings,  some- 
what clearly  defined  dark  margin  to  hind  wings.  Females  almost  as 
bright  and  well  scaled  as  the  males,  with  piale  collar,  but  with  no 
whitish  markings  on  thorax,  nor  whitish  nervures.  Specimens  from 
the  Swiss  Alps  =i^  var.  darn,  n.  var. 

2. — Well-scaled,  dark-green  ground  colour,  less  brightly  coloured, 
males  usually  without  pale  collar,  or  mottling  on  thorax  or  pale  nervures  ; 
females  with  pale  collar  and  pale  mottling  to  thoi-ax,  and  pale  nervures 
to  fore-wings ;  the  dark  margin  to  hind-wing  variable,  but  broader 
and  sometimes  merging  indistinctly  into  the  red  ;  females  more  thinly 
scaled  than  males  =  specimens  from  neighbourhood  of  Cogne  (above 
Gimilian)  ;  Braemar;  some  specimens  captured  Avitli  ty})e  in  Grauson 
Valley.  This  variety  (in  Scotland),  or  aberration  (Grauson  Valley), 
was  named  snbodiracea  by  Dr.  Buchanan  White.  It  had,  however,  been 
descril)ed  in  1816,  as  var.  randdis,  ])y  Dalman.  In  fine  condition,  the 
males  particularly  are  neither  so  thinly  scaled  nor  devoid  of  red  colour,  as 
has  geuerall}'  been  supposed  by  British  collectors,  who,  usually  possessed 
only  poor  specimens  ;  the  scaling  of  the  males  being  well-developed,  and 
the  coloring  often  moderately  bright,  yet  they  are  on  the  whole,  perhaps, 
rather  more  diaphanous  than  var.  dara.  As  a  local  race,  however,  its 
chief  character  is  the  much  darker  ground  colour  of  the  fore-wings. 
This  variety  as  diagnosed  l)y  Staudinger  "  parcissime  squamata,  albo 
non  mixta,"  reminds  one  strongly  of  ral)l)L'd  males  of  the  Scotch  type, 
or  even  of  the  starved  aberration  (starrata  would  make  a  good  name) 
which  I  have  previously  mentioned,  in  which  health  and  colour  alike  are 
gone.  The  orignial  description  however  makes  us  understand  that 
Dalman's  vanadis  was  not  this  starved  form,  but  represents  really  good 
males  of  the  Scotch  form  of  wliicli  \n^  called  the  females — exulans  — 
var.  ranadis. 

3. — The  gTound  colour  of  the  males  dark  green,  the  females  very 
strongly  marked  with  pale  thoraces  and  pale  nervures.  Specimens  in 
the  British  ]\Iuseum  collection  from  Glockner,  whence  the  original  types 
came.  The  males  close  to  var.  vanadk,  the  females  to  4Z/.  Taken  in 
abundance  with  var.  vanadis  in  the  Val  Grauson  =  exulans. 


RANDOM  NOTES  ON  ZYGAENA  EXULANS  AND  ITS  VAKIETIES.  267 

4.  a. — This  is  by  far  the  finest  form  of  all  those  I  have  yet  seen. 
The  specimens  I  have  of  these  are  all  apparently  females  (picked  per- 
haps on  account  of  size  and  beauty,  before  I  thought  of  writing  any 
notes  on  the  species).  They  are  well-scaled  and  very  large,  with  bright 
orange  nervures,  and  oi'ange  mottled  thorax  =:  the  specimens  from 
Lauteret  in  the  La  Grave  district  =  var.  JiaviUnea,  n.  var.  b.  A  sub- 
variety,  closely  resembling  above  (4a),  slightly  smaller,  with  pale 
nervures,  and  thoracic  mottling  yellow,  rather  than  orange.  Thes})eci- 
mens  I  have  of  these  are  also  apparently  selected  females.  How  stupidly 
we  often  do  these  things  ?  A  few  of  the  most  brightly  coloured  and 
strongly  marked  Grauson  Valley  specimens  would  also  come  in  here. 

Such  are  the  variations  of  Z.  exulans  which  have  come  under  my 
notice.  The  above  notes  are  not  drawn  up  from  a  few  specimens,  but 
from  the  examination  of  some  two  hundred  Scotch,  and  almost  as  many 
Alpine  specimens.  To  look  at  the  female  insect  in  a  cabinet,  gives  no 
idea  of  its  exquisite  beauty  when  alive.  Then  its  wings  are  sprinkled 
with  the  finest,  palest  scales,  which  makes  it  look  as  if  it  had  just  tumbled 
out  of  a  flour-bag.  The  Lauteret  females,  with  their  orange  peppering, 
looked  perfectly  lovely  whilst  alive,  and  suggested  a  bag  of  gold-dust, 
rather  than  a  flour-bag,  as  their  last  resting  place. 

In  the  description  used  in  this  paper,  I  have  used  the  term  "  well- 
scaled  "  and  "  poorly  scaled "  in  a  comparative  sense.  With  the 
exception  of  vars.  clara  and  flavilinea,  tlie  species  never  exhibits  any 
scaling  comparable  say  witli  Z.  trifolii  or  Z.  lonicerae. 

Anyone  who  has  once  seen  Z.  exulans  in  its  mountain  homes,  on  the 
Ijorders  of  the  region  of  perpetual  snow  (none  of  the  places  I  have 
mentioned  in  the  Alps  are  less  than  6,00U,  and  it  is  most  abundant  from 
8,0UU  to  9, (JOG  feet)  will  cease  to  wonder  why  so  many  rubbed  specimens 
used  to  be  obtained.  The  insect  is,  of  course,  a  sun-lover,  and  on  dull 
days  gets  well  down  among  the  grass  and  herbage,  jjrobably  as  a  pro- 
tection from  the  ground  frosts,  which  are  frequent  even  in  summer  at 
a  high  elevation.  Add  to  this  that  in  Scotland,  the  Braemar  locality  is 
heathery,  and  one  has  a  full  explanation  of  the  matter.  A  fine  day, 
when  the  insect  is  just  emerging,  will  give  good  specimens ;  an 
occasional  fine  day  with  several  intervening  wet  ones  will  give  an 
abundance  of  specimens,  but  in  poor  condition,  their  beauty  having  l)een 
damaged  probably  b}'-  their  scuttling  about  in  the  herbage,  or  by  the 
wet  itself. 

In  this  paper  I  have  tried  to  comjjare  my  summer  ca})tures  with 
our  Scotch  race,  but  we  have  yet  much  to  learn  about  Zi/gaena  exulans 
and  its  variations.  When  will  one  of  those  collectors  who  get  hundreds 
of  Scotch  exulans  attempt  to  get  some  Scandinavian  and  Lai)land  examples, 
and  increase  onr  knowledge,  by  telling  us  whether  these  show  the  same 
local  variation  and  differences  that  I  have  shown  to  exist  in  the  Alpine 
races  ?  I  am  sure  this  would  be  more  interesting  than  filling  up  blanks 
in  one's  ealjinet  with  (piestionable  British  rarities.  But  to  those  wlio 
enter  into  the  woi'k,  my  experience  offers  a  word  of  warning,  and  that 
is,  that  com})arison  is  not  only  useless,  but  absolutely  misleading,  when 
based  on  narrow  lines  and  worked  out  on  insufficient  material. 
( 'ompared  with  the  Continental  races  which  I  have  seen,  the  amount  of 
variation  in  Scotch  specimens  inter  se  may  be  put  down  as  practically 
nil,  but  they  want  comparing  (as  a  race),  very  closely  with  other  races. 


268  THE  entomologist's  record. 

^URRENT    NOTES. 

Prof.  Poult.on  wishes  it  to  be  known  among  entomologists  who  may 
desire  to  study  tlie  material  in  the  Hope  Collection  at  Oxford,  that 
greater  convenience  and  comfort  exist  for  students  than  has  hitherto 
been  the  case.  One  large  room  has  been  fitted  up  as  the  library,  what 
was  Prof.  West  wood's  room  has  been  thrown  into  the  large  insect  room, 
a  room  has  been  set  apart  for  jjhotography,  and  another  has  been  fitted 
tip  as  a  biological  laboratory.  Prof.  Poulton  states  that  there  is  a  large 
([uantity  of  material  which  wants  working  through,  and  invites  entomo- 
logists to  do  it. 

The  copy  of  the  ninth  volume  of  L'  Encyclopedie  Methodique,  in  the 
library  of  the  Zoological  Department  of  the  Natural  History  Museum, 
is  still  preserved  in  two  parts,  as  originally  issued.  Part  I.  comprises 
pp.  1-328  ;  Part  II.,  pp.  329-828.  The  latter  part  contains  no  indi- 
cation of  the  date  at  which  it  was  published,  but  Hummel,  writing  at 
St.  Petersburg  in  1825  (Essais  Enfotuologiques,  Tom.  I.,  No.  5,  p.  48), 
says  that  it  did  not  appear  till  1824.  Much  of  it  must,  however,  liave 
been  written  some  years  before  that  date. — F.  J.  B. 

As  the  trivial  name  exulans  seems  likely  to  be  a  good  deal  in  men's 
mouths  just  now,  it  may  be  useful  to  point  out  that  the  correct  way  to 
pronounce  it  is  to  accent  the  syllable  ex,  and  to  make  the  n  short. — 
B.  B.  T. 


OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

The  autumn  season  (1894)  in  the  Isle  of  Wight. — An  unusually 
bad  June  and  July  in  my  usual  haunts  had  combined  to  drive  me  to 
"fresh  fields  and  pastures  new,"  with  results  very  gratifying  both  as 
regards  an  increased  number  of  species  "  not  known  "  at  Freshwater, 
and  with  respect  to  increased  knowledge  of  some  of  those  rich 
collecting  grounds,  wliich,  as  the  Norfolk  Broads  and  the  Cambridge 
Fens,  present  so  marked  a  contrast  to  the  breezy  cliffs  of  my  headquarters. 
Towards  the  end  of  August,  the  reports  from  a  brother,  who  was 
energetically  maintaining  the  campaign  during  my  absence,  grew 
gradually  more  encouraging,  and  I  returned  to  the  old  spots  in  the  first 
week  of  September.  I  was  agreeably  welcomed  by  a  sight  of  the  L. 
cxiyita,  recorded  last  month  (ante  p.  229),  and  by  an  already  captured 
L.  albipnncta,  and  at  once  commenced  operations  by  promptly  securing 
a  second.  Encouraging  reports  from  Sandown  raised  fresh  hopes 
which  have  found  due  gratification  during  the  whole  of  the  month,  and 
the  pleasure  of  success  has  been  considerably  enbanced  by  being  shared 
with  several  friends  who  were  aljle  to  embrace  the  o]ii)ortunity  offered. 
(_)f  species  which,  during  the  long  time  I  have  worked  the  western  end 
of  the  island,  I  had  never  previously  met  with  are  the  following : 
Noctua  (jlareosa  (I),  Sept.  "15th  ;  IlcJIophohvi^  hixpida  (1),  about  Sept.  1st; 
Cahwiia  hdosa  (1),  Sept.  25th  (]\Ir.  Tait)  ;  Phsia  fcstucae  (1),  end  of 
.\ugust ;  Hadena  protea,  several,  Sept.  20-27  ;  whilst  of  others,  which 
fi-om  their  lateness  or  comparative  scarcity  I  have  only  met  with 
singly  are,  Epnudd  IntuJenta,  Orthonid  Iota,  Ileliothis  peUi^ier  (1),  (sugar, 
Sept.  26th,  Mr.  Tait),  and  U.  armiger,  (2)  (sugar,  Sept.  27th,  Mr.  Tait), 
and,  in  addition,  I  must  not  fail  to  record  a  very  fine  female  Hcliophohus 


r 


NOTES    ON    OOLLKCTING,    ETC,  2C9 

popularis,  knocked  down  by  Mr,  Abbott,  whilst  sugaring.  The  regular 
autumn  species  have  hitherto  but  rarely  put  in  an  appearance  before 
the  early  frosts  have  di-iven  their  would-be  captor  into  metropolitan 
hibernation,  but  this  year  I  liave  been  pleased  to  meet  with  even  such 
common  species  as  Xanthia  ferrugiiiea,  Scopelosoma  satcUitia,  Anchoreh's 
litura,  A.  lunosa,  etc.  The  features  of  the  season  have  been,  firstl3%  tlie 
capture  of  two  dozen  specimens  of  the  rare  and  little-known  (Jdrddrhid 
ambigua  ;  next,  the  comparative  abundance  (and  lateness)  of  Triphnena 
subseqna,  of  which  over  two  dozen  specimens  fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr. 
Abbott,  myself,  and  friends,  but  which  were,  unfortunately,  mostly 
very  worn ;  farther,  the  comparative  abundance  of  two  good  local  species, 
viz.  Agrotis  obelisca  and  Apornphyla  amtralis ;  and  lastly,  the  agreeable 
diversification  of  the  usual  monotony  by  the  occasional  appearance  of 
such  rarities  as  Lapliygma  exigna  (2),  Leucania  alhipuncta  (6),  Heliothis 
armiger  and  H.  peltiger.  I  must  hei'e  express  my  indebtedness  to  the 
Rev.  C.  E.  X.  Burrows  for  his  valuable  hint  as  to  the  use  of  methylated 
spirit  instead  of  rum,  my  experience  going  to  prove  that  it  is  a  most 
effective  as  well  as  cheap  substitute.  It  has  during  the  month  past  met 
with  a  A'-ery  fair  trial,  as  it  has  competed  over  and  over  again  with  rum 
on  level  terms,  and  proved  its  equal  if  not  superior  merits,  evidently  a 
proof  that  the  Noctuid  palate  is  not  a  refined  one.  The  weather  has 
been  most  unsettled,  and,  from  the  farmers'  and  visitors'  point  of  view, 
most  unsatisfactory,  but  in  so  far  as  the  absence  of  the  usually  early 
frosty  nights  goes,  the  entomologist  has  much  cause  for  gratitude. 
Light  has  not  been  worked  owing  to  the  proximity  to  the  sea,  or  the 
captures  would  have  been  largely  increased,  but  A.  lunosa  has  been 
unusually  plentiful  at  sugar,  but  as  is  usually  the  case  with  the  males, 
in  very  poor  condition ;  a  few  females  have  on  the  contrary  proved 
exceptionally  fine.  Agrotk  puta  has  not  been  the  feature  that  it  was 
last  year  but  it  has  been  amply  revenged  by  Noctua  c-nigrum  and 
Phlogophora  meticulosa,  which  have  been  in  great  numbers  on  some 
nights,  whilst  N.  xantliograpjha  has  been  but  in  normal  quantity. 
Among  the  occasionally  common  things,  Agrotis  sancia  has  occurred  but 
very  sparingly  and  seems  unusually  late  in  its  appearance,  whilst 
Leucania  viteUlna,  evidently  exhausted  by  its  efforts  in  1893,  has  been  a 
much-mourned  absentee.  —In  Diurni  very  little  has  been  done,  as 
'•setting"  has  proved  amjjle  occupation  for  the  shortening  daylight 
hours,  but  when  sunshine  has  tempted  an  expedition  Culias  edma  has 
been  found  in  twos  and  threes  in  its  old  haunts,  from  the  middle  of 
August  to  the  end  of  September,  and  Vanessa  atalanta  appeared  very 
freely  towards  the  latter  date.  Pi/rameis  cardui  has  proved  most 
disappointing,  the  anticipations  of  plenty  indulged  in  on  the  strength 
of  reports  of  numerous  larvae  and  of  the  early  appearance  of  tine 
imagines,  Ijeing  doomed  to  partial  disapponitment.  Plusia  gamma,  at 
the  last  only,  appeared  suddenly  in  numbers  and  imparted  extra 
vivacity  to  the  sugared  patches  at  night  and  to  the  Downs  by  day, 
whilst  in  Geometers  AspUates  citraria  was  early  and  soon  over,  although 
plentiful  for  a  few  days.  In  larva3,  nothing  was  attempted  worth}-  of 
mention  but  Agrotis  ripae  again  proved  scarce  in  its  very  limited 
quarters,  although  not  so  much  so  as  in  189::!,  two  visits  producing 
about  50  and  1  -")  respectively ;  possibly  the  second  (upon  Sept.  27th) 
was  too  late.  Wasps  have  been  extremely  scarce,  but  myriads  of  tiny 
flies  of  two  species  have  on  several  occasions  absolutely  crowded  the 
"  sugar,"  making  one  wish  for  the  society  of  an  enthusiastic  Dipterist. 


270  THE    entomologist's    UECOlin. 

Various    Tipvlidae    and    Trichoptern   have    also    been    in    considera])le 
nunbers. — A.  J.  Hodges,  2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

An  ENTOMOLOGICAL  TRIP  TO  FoRKES,  N.B. — Notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  Forres  is  considered  one  of  the  driest  localities  in 
Scotland,  the  miserable  atmospheric  conditions  that  prevailed  over 
the  greater  part  of  the  kingdom  this  year  penetrated  even  there, 
rendering  each  day  during  our  visit  more  or  less  moist  and  un- 
pleasant. Having  had  a  foretaste  of  what  we  might  expect  before  leaving 
London,  we  arrived  on  Thursday,  Aug.  2nd.  at  11  a.m.,  in  the  midst  of 
a  miserable  drizzle,  accompanied  by  a  cold  N.E.  wind,  armed  with  family 
"  gamps "  and  waterproofs.  Arrangements  had  been  made  with  Mr. 
Eeid,  of  ritcaplo,  to  meet  us  on  our  arrival,  but  through  a  misunder- 
standing as  to  the  dates,  he  was  not  there,  so  we  had  to  drive 
disconsolately  to  our  lodgings.  Finding,  however,  that  everything  had 
been  arranged  for  our  comfort,  our  spirits  considerably  revived, 
and,  after  a  substantial  luncheon,  the  rain  having  cleared  off  pro.  tern., 
we  determined  to  have  a  look  round  our  new  ground  and  plan  where 
we  should  commence  operations.  Our  ardour  was  considerably  damped 
by  the  general  outlook,  every  likely  hunting  ground  appearing  to  be 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  town  of  Forres.  We  therefore 
determined  to  rest  until  the  following  day,  and  to  make  enquiries  as  to 
the  whereabouts  of  already  published  localities,  such  as  Altyre  Woods, 
Culbin  Sands,  etc.  I  will  now  put  our  experiences  in  diary  form : — 
Aiuj.  Srd. — Bright  morning,  sunshiny  and  warm,  started  for  Altyre 
Woods,  about  2  Scotch  miles  from  Forres.  On  arrival  there,  we  got 
about  half-an-hour's  searching  and  secured  about  2  doz.  Erehia  atJiiops, 
when  down  came  the  rain,  and  we  had  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  kill  our 
first  captures,  and  "  wait  till  the  clouds  rolled  by."  Went  out  again 
after  dinner,  saw  Vanessa  urticce  on  the  wing  and  larvae  on  the  nettles. 
Went  to  station  to  meet  our  friend  Mr.  Arthur  Home  of  Aberdeen, 
from  whom  I  knew  I  should  get  all  particulars  as  to  where  to  work 
until  Mr.  Keid's  arrival.  Tea  over,  we  trimmed  our  lamps  and  filled 
our  "sugaring"  tins,  fully  expecting  to  do  grand  work.  Alas!  our 
expectations  were  sadly  disappointed,  as  when  we  had  well  sugared 
the  trees  over  the  Noctna  depmncta  ground,  we  sat  down  to  have  a  happy 
chat  over  the  pros  and  cons  of  the  season,  when  down  came  the  rain 
in  torrents  which  we  faced  for  a  considerable  time  until  it  was  dark 
enough  for  us  to  examine  our  "  sugar."  Not  a  single  insect,  and  in 
most  instances  our  sweets  completely  washed  off  the  trees.  So  much 
for  our  first  night's  work ;  we  went  home,  if  not  wiser,  certainly  wetter 
than  when  we  started,  vowing  vengeance,  however,  on  oet/n'ops  the 
following  morning.  Aug.  4:th. — Slight  rain  in  the  morning  but  looking 
as  if  it  would  clear,  we  started  in  good  time  for  Altyre  Woods 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Home  ;  rain  gradually  increased  until  by  the  time 
we  arrived  there  it  was  coming  down  fast,  ^thiops  was  out  of  the 
question,  so  had  to  be  content  with  1  Larentia  olirata,  at  rest,  and 
having  the  ground  pointed  out  where  I  might  get  larva?  of  Endrornis 
rerslculor  and  Enpitliecia  toijata.  We  then  hurried  back  to  the  station, 
where  my  friend  got  an  early  ti"ain  to  Aberdeen,  trusting  to  find  better 
weather  there.  Sugar  absolutely  blank  ;  we  caught  on  the  wing  at 
dusk  TJiijatijra  btiiit^,  Plus/a  pulchrina,  and  a  few  common  things. 
Av<j.  (itli. — Bright  morning,  E.  ceth'ops  very  plentiful  in  Altyre 
Woods,  but  getting  worn  owing  to  the  heavy  rain.  Some  nice 
forms    of    L.   olivata    and    Hypsipetes   sordidata.       Sugar  still    useless. 


I 


b 


NOTKS    ON    COLLECTING,    ETC.  271 

Amj.  7th. — Findhorn  by  coacli,  distance  5  miles;  saw  on  sandhills 
— Satyrus  scmcle  worn,  Poli/ommaJns  phlaeas  worn,  Lycacna  icarits 
worn,  and  by  beating  and  searching,  we  found  many  beautiful 
forms  of  Agroth  cur  nor  ia  and  A.  tritici.  Wet  in  evening,  did  not  try 
sugar.  Aug.  Sth. — Altyre  Woods.  E.  cethiops  still  in  plenty  and  a  few 
L.  olivata.  Sugared  in  Hedgefield  Wood— utter  failure.  Aug.  9th. — 
Coast  working  for  .1.  cnrsoria  and  A.  tritici.  Heavy  rain.  Aug.  10th. — 
Met  Mr.  Reid  by  early  train,  had  an  early  dinner,  and  started  for 
Culbin  Sands,  about  4^  miles  distant,  found  few  A.  cnrsoria  and  A. 
tritici.  Sugar  in  evening  only  })roduced  1  Noctua  depuncta,  and  a  few 
normal  Xijlophaxia  inonogh/pha  ;  ragwort  Ijloom  would  have  paid  our 
labour  much  better  had  it  been  dry,  wet  as  it  was  we  got  Xanthia 
cerdgo and  \av .  Jldrescens,  Agrotis  nigricans,  tritici,  &c.  Aug.  llth. — Whilst 
having  breakfast  Mr.  W.  Salvage  called,  having  arrived  the  previous 
night,  then  1  knew  that  with  two  professional  collectors  I  should  have 
a  lively  time  of  it.  Arrangeiiients  were  made  for  a  tour  round,  which 
meant  a  walk  round  of  about  15  miles,  distance  appearing  little  object 
to  these  two  gentlemen.  Our  captures  were  very  poor  during  the  day, 
but  we  did  better  in  the  evening  at  ragwort,  although  sugar  certainly 
did  not  pay  the  trouble  of  working,  so  we  agreed  to  work  bloom  only, 
for  a  few  nights.  Aug.  13///. — Findhorn  by  early  coach  ;  A.  cnrsoria  and 
tritici  in  plenty  l)ut  getting  worn — my  daughter  caught  the  first  pair  of 
Agrotis  prcecox.  this  was  to  me  a  new  experience,  never  having  seen 
this  species  before— but  not  a  single  example  of  Triphoina,  al- 
though Mr.  Salvage  had  got  snhseqna  in  plenty  on  the  same  spot  some 
years  ago.  Wet  at  night,  did  not  go  out.  Aug.  14:th. — Altyre  Woods, 
found  L.  olicata,  E.  sohrinafa  worn,  and  larvse  of  E.  togata  feeding  in 
fir  cones  on  trees  standing  from  20  to  40  feet  high,  by  no  means  an  easy 
species  to  work  for,  as  many  trees  may  be  climbed  without  finding- 
infested  cones.  An  opera  glass  would  be  a  great  desideratum  here. 
Ragwort  at  night  produced  2  or  3  N.  depuncta  together  with  species 
already  enumerated.  Aug.  15th. — Mr.  W.  Salvage  informed  us  that 
Melanthia  bicolorata  was  very  variable  in  one  locality,  the  yhy.  plumhata 
being  of  common  occurrence.  So  we  agreed  to  work  for  it,  and  cer- 
tainly had  the  season  been  at  all  a  good  one  we  would  have  got  a  lot, 
as  it  was  we  each  got  2  or  3.  Mr.  Salvage's  splendid  knowledge  of  the 
Forres  district  was  certainly  well  worthy  of  comment.  Ragwort 
produced  no  fresh  species.  Ang.  IQth. — Went  to  Culbin  Sands  and  got 
several  ^1.  pra^cox,  cnrsoria,  and  tritici,  but  these  sands  are  most 
difficult  to  work.  Bloom  work  produced  nothing  new.  Aug.  llth. — 
Went  to  Inverness  sight-seeing,  no  collecting  in  evening.  Mr.  Reid 
left  Forres,  his  week's  stay  was  one  of  hard  work,  but  at  the  same  time 
great  enjoyment  and  genial  companionship.  Aug.  18th.  Beating  for 
M.  bicolorata  and  var.  pJumhata,  found  few  but  worn ;  wet  night. 
Aug.  20th. — Setting  and  packing  up  generally.  Aug.  21st. — Started  for 
Aberdeen,  had  a  night  on  Markar  Links  with  my  friend  Mr.  Home. 
Sugar  not  working,  we  got  back  early,  and  went  over  his  splendid 
collection,  then  -'sampled"  his  duplicates.  Aug.  22nd. — Travelling  all 
day  en  ronte  for  London — thus  ended  a  wet  but  very  enjoyable  lioliday. 
I  forgot  to  enumerate  larva?  found,  and  herewith  append  without  dates. 
Acroiii/cta  Jeporina,  few  ;  A.  ruinicis,  few  ;  Bomhi/x  qucrcns,  scarce; 
Notodonta  cavieliua,  few  ;  N.  dromcdarins,  few  ;  N.  ziczac,  few  ;  I'hrdcra 
huccphala,  plenty  not  taken  ;  Spilosoma  menthasfri,  few  full-fed ; 
Cliariclea  umbra,  plenty,  very  variable,  on  rest-harrow,  ttc. — J.  F. 
Mutch,  359,  Hornsey  Road,  N. 


272  THK  entomologist's  rrcorp. 

NOTES    OF    THE    SEASON    1894. 

Short  notes  from  the  books  of  the  exchange  baskets. — Mr. 
Atmore  (King's  Lynn)  writes  on  July  21st: — "  Insects  have  been  very 
plentiful  during  the  last  month,  but  uncertain,  and  wet  weather  makes 
collecting  difficult.  What  a  nuisance  the  night- jar  (Caprimidgtis  euro- 
paeus)  has  been  in  this  district  this  season.  A  night  or  two  ago,  I 
visited  a  district  in  which  Lithosia  complana  and  Acidalia  inornata  are 
of  annual  occurrence.  I  succeeded  in  taking  a  few  fine  specimens  of 
each,  but  I  believe  tlie  noisy,  and  this  year  numerous  night-jars  got  far 
more.  I  saw  A.  inornata  taken  once  or  twice  by  them,  but  neither 
shouting  nor  stronger  measures  proved  sufficient  to  cause  them,  to  take 
their  departure  ;  they  stuck  persistently  to  their  favourite  corner." — 
Mr.  H.  Page  (New  Cross)  writes  on  August  2oth  : — "  Insects  at  Folke- 
stone were  decidedly  scarce  during  the  month  I  spent  there — July  25th 
to  August  24th.  At  the  time  of  leaving  Lycaena  beUargus  had  not  even 
put  in  an  appearance.  On  August  10th,  I  saw  1  Colias  edusa,  but  did 
not  hear  of  any  others  having  been  seen  save  1  var.  helice,  which  how- 
ever was  not  cajjtured.  Pyrameis  cardui  appeared  in  fair  numbers  but, 
although  otherwise  fine  and  fresh,  about  90  per  cent,  of  them  were 
chipped,  probably  as  a  consequence  of  the  prevalent  high  winds. 
Lycaena  corydon  and  Aspilates  gilvaria  were  not  at  all  abundant,  but 
Gnophos  obsctiraria  was  in  fair  numbers.  Plusia  gamma  swarmed  every- 
where, and  Zygaena  fiUpendidae  was  abundant  on  the  outskirts  of  Dover. 
Sugaring  was  only  productive  of  common  insects  and  those  in  limited 
numbers." — Mr.  A.  Adie  Dalgleish  (Glasgow)  writes  on  Aug.  28th : — 
"  Every  one  seems  to  be  crying  out  about  the  deai'th  of  Lepidoptera 
this  season,  and  I  am  forced  to  do  the  same.  The  spring  of  the  year 
in  the  Ulasgow  district  produced  literally  nothing,  the  outcome  of  several 
nights'  sugaring  in  April  being  only  some  half  dozen  each  of  Taeaio- 
campa  gothica,  T.  stabilis  and  T.  instabilis.  May  was  even  worse  ;  the 
evenings  were  cold  and  a  raw  east  wind  prevailed  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  month.  In  June  I  paid  a  visit  to  Cowal  (Argyle.shire),  and 
took  some  Scojmla  decrepttalis  and  a  tew  other  things.  It  was  not  until 
July,  when  I  paid  a  visit  to  Stonehaven,  that  I  captured  insects  in  any 
(|uantity.  Lycaena  astrarche  var.  artaxerxes  was  in  goodly  numbers, 
and  I  obtained  some  nice  varieties  of  L.  icarns  (  $  ).  Zygaena  Jilipendidae 
swarmed  on  the  top  of  the  cliffs,  and,  in  the  evenings,  Hepialus  velleda 
in  the  bays  below.  Sugaring  brought  quantity  but  hardly  quality. 
Many  common  Noctuids  simply  swarmed  on  some  evenings,  whilst  a 
few  each  of  Aparnea  gemina,  Caradrina  taraxaci,  Mania  typica  and 
Pldogojihora  mcticidosa  were  taken.  At  flowers  I  took  Leucania  conigera, 
Abrostola  tripartita,  Plusia  jmlchrina  and  P.  chrysitis.  A  few  specimens 
of  Gnophos  obscuraria  were  captured,  and  Coremia  inunitata  was  secured 
in  quantity  at  several  places,  together  with  a  host  of  .commoner  geom- 
eters. August  again  has  been  quite  as  unproductive  as  the  earl}^  months 
of  the  year,  the  only  insect  that  I  have  taken  in  abundance  being  Scia- 
phila  octomaculana." — Mr.  Sydney  Webb  (Dover)  writes  on  Sept.  3rd:  — 
"  Constant  rain,  week  after  week,  is,  I  believe,  almost  unprecedented  in 
the  south-eastern  counties.  Larvae  were  literally  washed  away  by  it  in 
the  spring,  and  our  common  chalk-hill  Ijutterflies  and  moths  are  now 
strikingly  absent." — Dr. Riding (Honiton)  writes  on  Sept.;-!rd : — "  Though 
the  weather  changed  for  the  better  a  week  ago,  there  is  not  much  dif- 
ference as  yet  in  the  abundance  of  insects.     Three  visits  to  the  heather 


NOTES   ON   COLLECTING,    ETC.  273- 

on  the  hills  were  fruitless.  A  few  Nocfiia  xanthographa  and  Phisia 
gamma  were  the  only  insects  we  saw  ;  presumably  the  autumn  (August) 
insects  have  not  emerged,  as  not  even  a  Noctna  ylareosa  could  be  found. 
A  few  insects  came  to  light,  but  sjjaringly,  and  good  ones  singly  for  the 
most  jjart.  Luperiua  cespitin,  Ch'oni  (jlahraria,  LoJ)oj)hora  viretata,  and 
Eugonia  tiliaria  have  been  the  best  up  to  date.  There  seems  to  be  an 
abundance  of  larvas  of  Pyrauieis  car  did  feeding  on  the  thistles,  here  as 
elsewhere,  and  the  heat  has  brought  out  some  of  the  common  butter- 
flies at  last.  A  fortnight  ago  a  I'apilio  machaon  came  out  in  one  of  my 
breeding  cases,  another  having  emerged  in  July  and  the  first  in  April 
— all  of  the  same  brood !" — Dr.  Freer  (Rugeley)  writes  Sept.  4th  : — 
*'  Stilbia  anoiiiala  did  put  in  an  appearance,  but  unfortunately  I  was 
away  for  my  holiday  at  the  time  and  so  did  not  get  any.  I  have  reared 
a  considerable  number  of  Hadena  glauca  from  the  egg  this  year,  and 
they  have  done  well  so  far.  They  vary  considerably  in  colour  in  their 
early  stages,  ranging  from  all  hues  of  yellow-green  to  green,  and  from 
greenish-brown  to  rich  bistre  brown,  which  is  their  invariable  colour 
when  full  fed.  The  larvae  of  H.  coutigua,  which  are  now  feeding,  show 
the  same  peculiarity  in  their  earlier  stages." — Mr.  Christy,  writing  from 
South  Argyleshire  on  Sept.  11th,  says: — "In  this  district  the  larvte  of 
Boiiibyx  callnnae,  S<iturni(i  carpini  and  Acronycta  menyanthidis  were 
rather  more  numerous  than  I  ever  saw  them  on  Scotch  moors  in  the 
month  of  August.      Clostera  reclusa  larvaj  are  also  common." 

Mr.  Cannon  (Mannofield)  writes  Sej^t.  22nd  : — "  I  have  done  no  col- 
lecting for  some  time.  Insects  seem  to  have  disappeared  altogether. 
The  only  insect  I  have  seen  of  late  has  been  Folia  chi,  which  was  fairly 
common  sitting  on  the  stone  dykes." — Eev.  E.  C.  Dobree  Fox  (Castle 
Moreton)  writes  on  Sept.  27th:- -"My  experience  has  been  much  the 
same  as  that  of  most  other  entomologists  in  this  country.  The  season 
has  been  a  wretched  one.  Sugaring  was  throughout  a  total  failure.  I 
started  for  Swanage  on  August  6th.  Entomologists  whom  I  met  told 
me  that  Pamphila  actaeon  had  been  plentiful,  but  I  was  too  late  for  it 
and  had  to  work  hard  to  obtain  about  5  dozen  sjjecimens.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  Gnophos  ohscnraria  and  Zygaena  trifolii  [This  is  a 
remarkably  late  date  for  this  insect. —  Ejx]  I  got  nothing  else  worth 
speaking  of,  during  the  week  I  remained  in  Dorsetshire.  A  gentleman 
showed  me  two  or  three  Colias  edma  that  he  had  taken,  but  I  saw  none 
myself." — Mr.  T.  Maddison  (South  Bailey,  Durham),  writes  on  Oct. 
3rd  : — "  This  has  been  about  the  worst  year  for  collecting  I  have  ever 
known.  During  the  summer,  I  have  been  in  Cornwall,  at  Scarborough 
and  at  Saltburn,  and  found  insects  very  scarce  everywhere.  Even  the 
commonest  kinds  ai)peared  in  very  few  numbers." — Mr.  Finlay  (Mor- 
peth) writes  on  October  8th . — "  Insects  during  June  and  July  were 
very  scarce  and  late.  On  Sept.  24:th,  Celaena  haioorthii  were  plentiful, 
flying  over  the  mosses  on  the  moors  about  3  p.m.,  whilst  Noaagria  fulva 
was  also  abundant,  flying  freely  about  5-3U  p.m.  I  swept  the  larvc«  of 
Hadena  jiifii  off  heatlier  in  large  numbers,  and  the  larvfe  of  Bombyx  ruhi 
are  more  abundant  on  the  moors  than  I  have  seen  them  fur  many  years. 
Sugar  is  an  entire  failure." 

Deal. — I  have  just  come  back  from  Deal  where  at  this  time  of  year 
there  is  of  course  little  to  be  done  entomologically.  Aporophyla 
australis  and  Anchocelis  lanosa  were  common  at  sugar,  but  there  w^as 
little  else  :  the  only  things  worthy  of  mention  were  1  Epnnda  Uchenea 
(dark  form),  which  is  I  think  new  to  the  locality,  1  Xylhia  socia  (ditto), 


274  THE  entomologist's  record. 

and  a  few  Cdlocanipa  retrnta  and  Epnnda  lutnlentn. — C.  Fenn,  Lee,  Kent, 
Oct.  5th,  1894. 

Sandown,  I.  of  Wight. — After  writing  my  note  whicli  appeared  in 
this  month's  Record  (p.  224),  I  had  the  good  fortune  fully  to  realize 
the  hope  there  expressed  ;  and  as  records  of  the  occurrence  of  Leucania 
alhipuncta  are  not  very  frequent,  the  details  may  perhaps  possess  some 
interest.  After  some  days  of  wretched  weather,  sugaring  began  to 
improve  on  Aug.  24th,  when  some  fine  forms  of  Aijrotis  puta  and  Noctiia 
c-nhjrum  were  attracted,  but  no  unusual  visitor  except  one  Cosmia 
affinis  (common  inland,  but  rare  on  the  Downs,  where  of  course  1  now 
sugared  as  regularly  as  possible).  On  Axigust  '-^oth  and  26th  I  was  in 
London,  but  returned  to  Sandown  on  the  27th  in  time  to  sugar  the 
same  evening.  During  that  week,  my  success  was  very  satisfactory — 
August  27th,  one  good  L.  albipnnctd  ;  28th,  two  fair  ;  oOth,  one  worn  ; 
31st,  one  good,  one  worn ;  the  latter  completely  sacrificed  in  the  hope 
of  obtaining  eggs ;  another  fairl}'  good  one  followed  on  Sejitember  4th, 
making  a  total  of  8  for  the  season.  AporophyJa  australis  has  been 
fairly  common,  considering  that  I  seem  to  have  had,  as  it  were  to  make 
the  locality  for  it ;  in  1891  and  1892  working  all  through  the  season,  I 
took  respectively  5  and  6,  in  1893  some  two  dozen,  while  this  year  it 
came  regularly  almost  every  night,  though  generally  in  very  small 
numbers.  I  also  take  this  opportunity  of  recording  the  capture 
of  a  fine  Caradrina  aiiibi(jna  and  of  a  rather  worn  Triphacnn  suhscqna, 
(the  latter  new  to  Sandown)  both  on  Sept.  lUth.  leather  curiously, 
though  I  took  all  our  six  species  of  Triphaena,  yet  four  of  them  were 
onl}'  represented  by  one  poor  specimen  each  ;  it  is  needless  to  add,  the 
exceptions  Avere  T.  pronnba  and  T.  orbona.  Other  species  which  made 
their  first  appearance  on  my  sugaring  ground  this  season  were  Catocala 
mipta,  a  fine  specimen  on  August  29th,  Nocttia  glareo^a,  one  sijecimen 
on  September  20tli,  Xdvthia  fnlrago,  two  sj^ecimens,  and  Gonoptera 
libatrix,  two  or  three.  The  autumn  brood  of  Larentia  viridaria,  the 
occasional  occurrence  of  which  I  have  previously  noticed  (see  En- 
tomologist, vol.  xxvii.,  p.  62),  also  appeared  almost  every  night  in 
September ;  I  have  never  known  this  species  come  to  sugar  before. 
Some  fine  forms  of  Luperina  testacea  were  taken  off  unsugared  fences 
and  grass  stems,  but  HejridJits  si/lranus,  which  usually  accompanies  it,  was 
much  scarcer  than  usual,  and  Nenronia  j^opidaris  wan  not  observed  at  all. 
Working  for  larvte  proved  a  failure  on  the  whole  ;  Bupithecia  pim- 
pinellafa  and  some  of  the  common  "pugs"  were  quite  scarce,  and  so 
were  Emmelesia  alchemtUata  and  E.  nnifasciata,  while  Eupithecia 
.succenturiata  and  E.  siihfnlvdtd  (obtained  last  j'ear)  were  not  to  be  had 
anywhere.  On  the  other  liand,  I  was  pleased  to  find  Chariclea  iiuihra  in 
unwonted  plenty  on  the  Ononis ;  in  my  experience,  the  larva  feeds  ex- 
clusively on  the  flower,  chiefly  on  the  corolla  ;  I  did  not  offer  it  knotgrass, 
not  recollecting  Newman's  statement  that  it  "  feeds  greedily  "  thereon — 
knowledge  which  would  have  been  most  welcome  to  me,  as  it  was 
difficult  to  keep  up  the  supply  of  Ononis  flowers,  and  the  larvae  were 
much  given  to  cannibalism  Avhen  reduced  to  short  rations. — Louis  B. 
ruoiT,  12,  Greenwood  Eoad,  Dalston,  N.E.     Se2>t.  24///,  1894. 

Ereshivater,  Isle  of  Wight. —  Upon  my  arrival  at  Freshwater  on  Sei)t. 
17th  I  was  glad  to  learn  that  Caradrina  ainbigna  had  heen  tnken  on 
several  occasions  within  tlie  past  few  days  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abl^ott  of 
Birmingham,  and  by  Mr.  Hodges.  During  the  next  ten  days  1  captured 
8   specimens   (nearly  all  fine  ones)  in  various  localities  within  about  a 


PRACTICAL    HINTS.  275 

mile.  The  moth  sits  fairly  quietly  on  the  sugar  and,  when  not  knocked 
off  by  the  ever-present  Phlogophora  meticnlosa,  is  easy  to  box.  Among 
my  captures  is  one  which,  owing  to  the  slightest  possible  malformation 
of  the  right  fore- wing,  has  developed  into  a  good  variety  ;  the  orbicular 
and  reniform  spots  are  united  within  one  very  clear  circumscription, 
and  thus  form  a  large  asymmetrical  blotch.  On  Sept.  25th,  a  very  fine 
Heliothis  peltigera,  and  the  following  evening  two  equally  good  H. 
armujern,  Avere  taken  at  sugar.  On  Sept.  27th  I  was  fortunate  enough 
to  take  a  perfect  specimen  of  Leueania  albipimcta  at  sugar ;  it  is  of  a 
rather  darker  brown  tint  than  usual.  The  emergence  of  this  species 
must  be  very  protracted,  for  the  earliest  specimen  was  captured  on 
Sept.  4th,  more  than  three  weeks  earlier  than  mine. — E.  Tait,  Jun,, 
Manchester.     Sept.  30th,  1894. 


Practical  hints. 


On  pairing  moths  in  captivity. — In  the  summer  I  began  to  get 
anxious  about  securing  sufficient  variety  to  keep  up  with  the  demands  of 
the  Exchange  Club,  and  wrote  to  a  correspondent  in  Suffolk  asking  him 
to  get  me  some  ova  of  Anticlea  berberata.  He  replied  thus: — "As  I 
had  a  fair  supply  of  pupa3  of  berberata,  I  have  not  found  time  to  go  for 
more  wild  ones.  Many  bred  couples  paired ;  several  however  did  not 
lay,  and  of  the  many  eggs  laid  by  the  rest,  I  do  not  find  any  that  will 
hatch,  all  seem  to  shrivel  up."  He  kindly  beat  some  larvae  and  sent  to 
me,  and  I  reared  a  fair  number  of  imagines.  I  then  paired  several 
couples,  isolated  the  females,  and  participated  in  his  exjDcrience,  for  they 
either  did  not  lay  or  else  laid  infertile  eggs.  Partly  in  disgust,  partly 
in  despair,  I  left  three  jiairs  together  for  three  consecutive  nights.  The 
first  night  all  three  paired,  the  second  night  some  paired,  and  the  third 
night  a  similar  thing  occurred.  The  glass-topped  "  tie  "  box  in  which 
I  had  them  was  now  pretty  well  sprinkled  with  eggs,  and  after  the  first 
night  the  sprig  of  the  food  plant  was  also  favoured ;  in  due  course 
plenty  of  larvte  a^jpeared.  I  had  just  been  thwarted  by  two  females  of 
PJiorodexma  smaragdaria  in  a  similar  way,  and  was  feeling  very  keenly 
that  one  scarcely  knew  how  to  treat  such  shy  layers.  One  had  laid  12 
eggs  of  which  three  hatched,  the  other  laid  none,  and  I  must  say  that 
my  experience  with  A.  berberata  rather  opened  my  eyes.  Do  not  we 
entomologists  who  try  to  breed  fine  specimens  or  varieties  often  waste 
s})ecimens  unsuccessfully  by  not  going  quite  far  enough  ?  May  it  not  be, 
that,  at  least  in  captivity,  the  vitalit}'  of  the  males  is  so  much  impaired 
that  they  are  not  able  to  fertilise  more  than  a  small  number  of  ova  ? 
Are  we  sure  that  even  in  nature  one  pairing  is  sufficient,  and  that 
lepidoptera  do  not  pair  again  and  again  ?  When  anxious  for  eggs  I 
shall  in  future  not  be  in  such  a  hurry  to  separate  the  parents  but  leave 
them  together  until  they  die.  There  is  another  curious  point  about 
this  subject,  viz.,  if  the  females  mate  a  second  or  third  time,  there  must 
be  some  sort  of  attractive  force  left  in  them,  and  it  seems  possible  that 
we  might  perhaps  use  females  which  we  know  to  have  paired  as  lures 
for  wild  males.  I  would  not  of  course  suggest  that  all  species  are  alike  ; 
proljably  many  vigorous  forms  pair  once  and  for  all,  but  when  we  are 
dealing  with  "in-bred"  races,  1  think  a  little  investigation  might  ])ay. 
(Rev.)  C.  R.  N.  BuKKOWs,  Rainham  Vicarage.      October  ot/i,  1894. 


276  THE  entomologist's  record. 

^OTICES    AND    REVIEWS. 

Forteclcninq  ufvcr  Macrolepidoptera  fnuna  i  Finland  efter  dr  1869,  by 

Enzio    Renter.      Published    by  J.    Simelii  Arfvingavs.       Boktryckeri, 

Aktiebolae:,     Helsinsfors. — This    is    a   little    book    which    should    be 

carefully  studied  by  those  who  work  at  the  British  Lepidoptera.     To  a 

great  extent  the  Scandinavian  fauna  is  like  our  own,  and  the   author 

has  worked  out  his  subject  so  systematically  that  compilers  of  systematic 

lists  will  have  carefully  to  look  up  the  new  local  races  and  varieties  which 

are  herein  described.    We  notice,  however,  that  a  great  many  of  the  names 

of  local  varieties  overrun  those  already  given   in  England,  and  must 

sink  into  synonyms.     We  find  among  the  butterflies  two  of  our  north 

and  west  country  forms  of  Pieris  napi  described ;   ab.  aulphnreotmcta  as 

"  Alis  superne  sordide  flavescentibus,  posticis  inferne  laetius  sulphureis, 

$  ,"  considered  distinct  from  Schoyen's  ab.  sulplmrea  (our  well-marked 

Irish  variety  approaching  var.  hryoniae).      We  are  under  the  impression 

that  snlphnreotincta  has  been  named  before.     The  bright  Irish  form  of  L. 

icarus    appears    under    the    name    of    var.    coerulea,    Schilde,    whilst  a 

new    variety    of   Melito'a    athalia,    is    added    to  the  already  long  list, 

\inder    the    title    ab.    fennica    described    as: — "Alis    superne    magis 

conspicue     nigro     limbatis,      fasciis      nigris      transversis      anticarum 

angiistioribus ;    al.    posticis  inferne   a   basi  usque   ad   fasciam  mediam 

unicoloribus    fulvls,    maculis    basalibus    subnullis  ;     $ ."     As  with  us, 

Argynnis  adippe  var.  cleodoxa  is  only  of  very    occasional    occurrence. 

The    occasional    appearance    of     Colias    ednsa    is    noted,    as    is    also 

that    of    Coenonympa    fyphon    var.  laidion.     Our  rose-tinted  specimens 

of  Smerinthns  popidi  are  described  under  the  name  of  var.  roseotincta. 

Mr.  Clark's  var.  centripnacta  (Ent.   Rec,  [.,  p.   329)  of  Smerinthns  tilice 

is  referred  to  under  the  name  of  macnlata,   Miitzel,   whilst  the  hitherto 

considered  var.  knreliai  of  No! a  nJhnlalis  is  referred  to  another  species, 

N.  arctica.      Thei'e  are  some  very  interesting  notes  on  Eriogaster  lanestris 

var.  aavasaksae  and  Bomhyx  rnhi  var.  pygmaeaia  described  as  : — "  Multo 

minor,  corpore  obsctiriore,  strigis  transversis  alarum  anticarum    rectis, 

magis  approximatis,  obsoletis,  extrorsum  obscurius  et  magis   distincte 

terminatis,  J  ;    nolgit.    al.     expaus.     44    mm."       Some    varieties    are 

mentioned    which    appear   to    be    British,    viz. : — Cernra   fnrcnla    var. 

horeaUi^,  which  we  believe  is  one  of  the  forms  described  under  another 

name    by    our   old    British    authors,    Pheosia    dictaeoidcs    var.  frigida, 

Zett,  whilst  a  new  var.,  N.   dromedarius  var.  polaris,  appears  as  if   it 

will  have  to  sink  as  a  synonym  of    our  var.    perftisca.     A   variety   of 

Cymatophora  or  (called    by    Clerck's    name  flavicorni»)   is    noticed    as 

unimnctd'ita,  Meves,    whilst    Asphdia  flavicornis    is    called    by     Goze's 

name  cinerea.      Among  the  Noctu.^e  are  some   very  interesting  notes 

on  the  better  known  northern  forms,  including  a  few  varieties  that  we 

have  not  before  noticed.      Agrotifi  (Noctnn)  bain  var.  pimctata,J.  Mev.  is 

one,   whilst  the  sagitta  of  Hiibner,   our    northern    streaked    var.   of  A. 

cursoria  (?)  is  treated  as  distinct,  with  a  newly  described  variety  hrimnea, 

stated  to    be    "  Obscurior,    alis    anticis    rufobrunneis."       Scandinavian 

examples  of  sagitta  should  be  compared  with  British  specimens  to  see 

whether   identical    forms    are    known   by  the  same  name  in  the  two 

coimtries.     The  variegated  var.  of  Uadena  dissimilis  is  renamed  laeta  and 

described    as    "  dilutior,    alis    anticis    Isetius    griseo-variegatis " ;    laeta 

will    of    course  sink.      The  author  speaks  of  capsophila  as  a  var.  of 


NOTICES    ANI>    REVIEWS.  277 

Dianthoecia  carpophaga,  a  conclusion  for  which  there  is  no  proof  yet 
forthcoming.  The  collectors  who  raged  when  oculea,  Gn.  was  changed 
to  didi/ma,  Esp.,  will  })e  interested  to  learn  that  this  species  is  here 
called  secnlis,  Bjerk  ;  PInsia  pnlchrina  has  a  variety  perrontntn'x, 
Auriv.,  of  which  we  do  not  remember  to  have  heard  before,  whilst 
Toxocampa  is  dropped  for  Ophinsa.  Among  the  Geometr.-k,  Acidah'a 
fumata  gets  in  addition  to  var.  s/'inplnria.  Frr.,  a  new  vai'iety  pcrfnmata 
described  as  "  Obscurior,  alis  omnibus  squamis  fuscis  densius  immixtis, 
fusco-grisescentibus.'"  lionnnia  rinctaria  A'^ar.  macnlata  is  another 
newly  described  form,  whilst  Kncosniia  imdnlata  has  a  variety  xnhfasriata 
described  as  "  Alis  anticis  fascia  media  obscuriore."  A  new  variety  of 
Cidaria  (Melanippe)  fiuctnata  is  described  as  incanata — "  Obscvirior,  alis 
anticis  canescentibus,  fascia  media  usc^ue  ad  marginem  inferiorem 
distincte  extensa."  This  banded  form,  we  believe,  has  been  before 
described  as  var.  virgata,  but  cannot  place  our  hands  on  the  description. 
Numbers  of  varieties  of  common  species  occurring  in  the  west  of 
Ireland  and  Scotland  have  been  described  and  are  referred  to  here, 
although  their  names  are  strange  to  British  eyes  and  ears.  We  are 
rather  of  opinion  that  Hoffmann's  dark  var.  pyhcevaarce  of  Acronycta 
anricoma  will  have  to  sink  under  the  name  of  pepli  (British  NocfiKe  and 
their  Vnrieiies,  vol.  i.,  p.  23) ;  whilst  a  var.  phantoma  of  Cernra  i:invla  is 
interesting.  It  is  we  think  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  the  author 
has  not  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  works  of  British  entomologists. 
The  book  shows  a  very  good  knowledge  of  the  up-to-date  work  of 
German  writers,  but  an  almost  complete  ignorance  of  that  of  our  own 
countrymen.  It  would  perhaps  be  too  much  to  expect  familiarity  with 
the  stores  of  entomological  knowledge  contained  (we  had  almost  said 
entombed)  in  our  magazines,  but  an  author  dealing  systematically  with 
fauna  having  such  close  affinity  with  that  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
ought  at  least  to  have  studied  Barrett's  Lepidoptern  of  the  British 
Islands,  and  Tutt's  British  Noctiuv  and  their  Varieties.  This  attitude  of 
contempt  towards  British  workers,  of  which  Staudinger's  Catalog  is 
such  a  conspicuous  example,  may  be  a  just  punishment  for  our  own 
insularity,  but  it  is  not  scientiiic.  It  is,  moreover,  in  marked  contrast 
with  the  state  of  things  that  obtained  in  the  earlier  days  of 
entomological  literature.  Linne  makes  constant  reference  to  the  works 
of  Ray,  Petiver  and  Wilkes,  the  only  British  writers  in  his  day, 
although  it  must  be  confessed  that  his  references  are  not  infrequently 
misleading.  Geoffrey,  Esper,  Borkhausen  and  Fabricius  also  thought 
the  works  of  these  writers  not  unworthy  of  study,  and  Ochsenheimer 
added  Lewin  to  the  list.  Notwithstanding  this,  as  we  think,  serious 
blemish,  however,  the  little  work  is  well  worthy  of  the  attention  of 
students  of  Scotch  and  Irish  Lepidoptera,  and  should  be  obtained  by 
our  Societies.  Its  price  is  not  stated  on  our  copy,  but  a  note  to  the 
author,  Enzio  Renter,  Helsin(;fors,  Fredriksgaten  45,  Finland,  should 
be  sufficient  to  produce  the  information. — F.  J.  B. 

goCIETIES. 

The  Entomological  Society  of  London  resumed  its  meetings  after 
the  summer  recess  on  October  3rd.  Mr.  W.  F.  H.  Blandford  exhibited 
specimens  of  a  sand-flea,  chigoe  or  nigua,  received  from  Mr.  Szigetvjiry, 
of  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  ('hina,  who  had  found  them  in  the 
ears  of  sewer-rats  trajiped  at  Ningpo.     Mr.  Blandford  stated  that  the 


278  THE  entomologist's  record. 

species  was  allied  to,  but  not  identical  with,  the  American  species, 
Sarcopsylla  penetrans,  L.,  one  of  the  most  troublesome  pests  in  Tropical 
America  and  the  AVest  Indies  to  man  and  various  domestic  and  wild 
animals,  the  female  burrowing  into  the  skin,  usually  of  the  feet,  but 
also  of  any  other  accessible  region.  He  said  that  the  distribution  of  the 
chigoe  was  recorded  over  Tropical  America  and  the  Antilles  from  3U°N. 
to  30''  S.,  and  of  late  years  it  had  established  itself  in  Angola,  Loango, 
and  the  Congo.  Mr.  F.  C.  Adams  exhibited  a  specimen  of  MaUota 
en'staloides,  a  species  of  Diptera  new  to  Britain,  taken  by  himself  in  the 
New  Forest  on  the  20th  July  last.  He  said  the  species  had  been  identi- 
fied l)y  Mr.  Austen,  of  the  British  Museum.  Mr.  Tutt  exhil)ited 
specimens  of  a  form  of  Zygaena  exnlans,  well  scaled,  and  with  the 
nervures  and  fore-legs  of  a  decidedly  orange  colour,  collected  during 
the  last  week  in  July,  by  Dr.  Chapman,  in  the  La  Grave  district  of  the 
Alps,  at  a  considerable  elevation  ;  also  specimens  of  the  same  species 
taken  by  himself  and  Dr.  Chapman  near  Cogne,  and  others  from  the 
Graiison  Valley,  the  females  of  which  were  less  well-scaled.  He  also 
exhibited  Scotch  specimens  for  comparison,  and  stated  that  he  was  of 
opinion  that  the  latter  were  probably  as  thickly  scaled  as  the  Con- 
tinental ones,  but  that,  owing  to  the  differences  in  the  climate  of 
Scotland  and  Switzerland,  collectors  had  fewer  opportunities  of  getting 
the  Scotch  specimens  in  good  condition.  Mr.  P.  M.  Bright  exhibited 
a  specimen  of  Sterrlia  sacraria,  taken  at  light,  at  Mudeford,  in  October, 
1893.  Mr.  J.  J.  Walker  exhibited  a  living  specimen  of  a  large  species 
of  Pulex,  which  he  believed  to  be  Hystricopsylln  talpae,  Curtis,  taken  at 
Hartlip,  Kent.  Lord  Walsingham  read  a  paper  entitled  "  A  Catalogue 
of  the  Pterophoridae,  Tortricidae  and  Tineidae  of  the  Madeira  Islands, 
with  Notes  and  Descriptions  of  New  Sj^ecies."  In  this  paper  thirty-six 
species  of  Lepidoptera  belonging  to  these  families  were  recorded  as  oc- 
curring in  the  Madeiras,  of  which,  thirty  were  noticed  as  peculiar  to 
the  Islands,  twelve  as  common  to  the  Madeiras  and  Canaries,  of  which 
two  were  not  known  as  occurring  elsewhere,  and  one  extends  its  range 
only  to  North  Africa.  Over  thirty  species  were  added  to  the  list,  and 
one  new  genus,  seven  new  species,  and  two  new  varieties  were  described. 

On    Oct.   17th,  Mr.   G.  C.   Champion  read  a  letter,  dated  15th 

August  last,  from  Mr.  J.  Y.  Johnson,  of  Funchal,  Madeira,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  a  recent  visitation  of  locusts  to  the  Island,  and  exhibited 
specimens.  Mr.  Johnson  mentioned  that  Darwin,  in  his  "  Origin  of 
Species,"  recorded  that  in  November,  1844,  dense  swarms  of  locusts 
visited  Madeira.  He  said  that  since  then,  until  August  last,  these  insects 
had  not  visited  the  Island.  Mr.  Champion  remarked  that  the  species 
sent  by  Mr.  Johnson  was  Decticus  alhifrons,  Fabr.,  not  a  true  migratory 
locust.  Mr.  H.  Goss  read  a  letter  he  had  received  from  Captain 
Montgomery,  of  Mid-Ilovo,  Natal,  reporting  large  flights  of  locusts  there, 
extending  over  three  miles  in  length,  on  the  31st  August  last,  and  ex- 
hibited a  specimen  of  the  locust,  a  species  of  Acrklium.  Captain  Mont- 
ti-omery  stated  that,  as  a  rule,  his  district  and  most  of  Natal  was  free 
from  the  pest,  bv;t  that  an  exceptional  invasion  had  occurred  in  1850. 
Mr.  Elwes  exhibited  a  series  of  Clu'onobas  alberta  $  J  ,  Chionobas  iihlcri, 
var.  varuna,  and  Erebia  discoidalifi,  from  Calgary,  Alberta,  N.W.  Canada, 
collected  in  May  last,  by  Mr.  VVolley-Dod.  He  said  that  the  validity 
of  C.  alberta,  which  had  been  questioned  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Edwards,  was 
fully  estal)lish('d  by  these  specimens. —  [We  are  unable  to  agree  with 
this,  the   specimens  appearing  to  bear  uo  distinct  specific  characters, 


SOCIETIES.  279 

whatever,  so  fur  as  a  cursory  examination  of  the  specimens  when  being 
exhibited  allowed  us  to  judge. — Ed.] 

At  the  Meeting  of  the  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural 
HisTOKY  Society  on  October  11th,  Mr.  R.  A dkin  exhibited  a  bred  series 
of  Enpithecia  jasioneata  from  Ireland ;  also  on  behalf  of  Mr.  South, 
Paedisca  sordidcDia,  Peronea  hastiana,  P.  comparana,  P.  comariann,  and 
P.  schuUeriana,  from  Macclesfield.  Mr.  H.  Moore :  a  $  Lycaena  corrj- 
don,  with  male  coloration.  Mr.  McArthur  :  Toxocainpa  craccae,  Noctna 
(jlareosa,  Acroni/cta  rnmicis  and  Agrotis  agathina,  all  from  N.  Devon. 
Mr.  C.  A.  Briggs :  types  of  Pliisia  ni.  Mr.  Winkley  :  a  specimen  of 
Jffefe  jj*oy/ui^m,  showing  the  temporary  epiphragm  formed  at  the  com- 
mencement of  hybernation.  Mr.  Tutt :  a  narrow- winged  specimen  of 
Enpithecia  subnotata,  bred  from  Artemisia  by  Mr.  Baxter,  of  St. 
Anne's-on-Sea.     Mr.  Tugwell  and   Mr.  Tutt    both  exhibited  a   large 

number  of  specimens  of    Zygaena  exulans. On    Oct.    25th:    Mr. 

Johnson  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Abraxas  groasxdariata,  from  his 
garden  at  Walthamstow,  which  had  only  a  few  black  scales,  in  place  of 
the  usual  markings.  Mr.  McArthur  :  bred  series  of  Hypsipetes  sordi- 
data,  the  lighter  specimens  being  from  bilberry-fed  larvaj,  and  the 
darker  ones  from  sallow-fed  larvae.  Mr.  Mansbridge :  the  dry  carcase 
of  a  mole,  taken  from  a  barn-door,  which  was  covered  with  lepidop- 
terous  cocoons  and  jjupa-cases.  Mr.  H.  Moore :  two  specimens  of  the 
Violet  Carpenter  bee  (Xylocopa  violacea),  from  the  Gironde.  Mr.  E. 
Adkin :  a  sijecimen  of  Lycaena  aegon  from  Oxshott,  having  the  two 
costal  spots  on  the  underside  of  the  hind-wing  united. 

The  Meeting  of  the  Birmingham  Entomological  Society  on  Sep- 
tember 17th,  was  chiefly  characterized  by  the  exhibition  of  specimens 
from  the  New  Forest.  The  exhibit  of  Mr.  R.  C.  Bradley  and  Mr.  ('.  J. 
Wainwright  was  the  outcome  of  ten  days  spent  there  in  the  middle  of 
July,  and  included  the  following  Lepidoptera :  freshly  emerged  speci- 
mens of  Litlionid  mesonieUa  and  Erastria  fasciana,  which  were  thus  a  full 
mouth  late  ;  Cleora  glabraria  and  CaUigenia  miniata,  etc.  ;  there  were 
eleven  species  of  dragon-flies,  and  a  number  of  Aculeate  tlymenoj^tera, 
including  Aiiiinophila  sabnlosa,  Crabro  vagns  and  C.  cribrarins  ;  the  chief 
feature  of  the  exhibit,  however,  was  the  collection  of  Diptera,  among 
which  were  : — Alophora  hemiptera  and  Echinomyia  grossa  (both  common), 
E.  lurida  (2),  Myolepta  luteohi  (2),  Laphria  marginata,  Dioctria  reinhardi, 

D.  Jiavipes,  Limnobia  bifasciata,  and  many  species  not  yet  fully  identified, 
including  a  probably  hitherto  undescribed  species  of  D/cranomyia.     Mr. 

E.  C.  Kossiter  had  spent  the  month  of  July  at  Brockenhurst,  and  showed 
Triphaena  subsei/ua,  Cleora^  glabraria,  Macaria  aUernata,  etc.  Of  insects 
obtained  nearer  home,  Mr.  E.  C.  Eossiter  exhibited  Asthena  blomeri, 
Cymatophora  Jinctuosa,  etc.,  from  Arley,  and  Hejna  I  us  relleda  iromClent  ; 
the  latter  species  liad  occurred  more  freely  than  usual  this  year,  but  the 
specimens  were  much  below  the  average  size.  An  interesting  anti- 
(piarian  exhil>it  was  made  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Haines,  who  showed  insects 
captured  by  his  father  thirty  years  ago  ;  among  them  was  Cymatophora 
octogesima,  from  Bewdley. 

The  opening  meeting  of  tlie  Lancashire  and  Cheshire  Entomolo- 
gical Society  for  the  Avinter  session,  took  place  on  Oct.  8th.  Mr. 
C.  S.  Gregson  stated  that  Dasychira  fascelina,  which  he  had  supposed  to 
have  been  exterminated  from  the  sandhills,  was  in  profusion  at  Formby 
in  the  larval  stage  ;  he  exhibited  specimens  of  Lithosia  sericea,  taken 
Ijy  himself  this  year ;  also  Mclanippe  hastata  var.  haslidata  from  Suther- 


280  THE  entomologist's  reookd. 

lanclshire.  Mr.  P.  Bright  of  Bournemouth,  exhibited  a  series  of  a  smoky 
form  of  Sj^ilosoma  menthasiri  from  the  North  of  Scotland;  Zijgacna 
exulans  and  Cramhns  furcatellm,  taken  by  himself  this  year  at  Braemar ; 
Sesta  scoliiformis  from  Eannoch  ;  a  dark  and  well-marked  specimen  of 
Noctna  (jlareosa  from  Montrose ;  dark  forms  of  Psilura  monacha,  Tortrix 
piceana  and  a  chalky  variety  of  Pynjus  malme,  from  the  New  Forest. 

City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society. — 
Sept.  'lad,  1894. — Exhibits: — Mr.  Prout :  a  series  of  seven  Leucania 
alhipmcta,  taken  on  sugar  at  Sandown,  S.W.,  from  which  he  had  been 
unable  to  obtain  ova.  He  had  also  taken  one  specimen  each  of  Caradrina 
amhi<jua  and  Tripliaena  snbseqna.  j\Ir.  Battley  :  Euholia  hipunclana  and 
Zi/gaena  filipendidae  from  Bere  liegis,  Devon.  The  former  were  very 
neat,  and  he  specially  drew  the  attention  of  the  members  to  two  of  the 
latter ;  one  of  these  had  the  black  band  on  the  hind  wings  occupying 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  wing,  as  is  often  the  case  in  Z.  trifoUi ;  the 
other  specimen  had  the  upper  spot  of  the  middle  pair  of  spots,  reduced 
to  a  mere  dot,  and  the  spot  nearest  the  tips,  strongly  bisected  by  the 
wing-ray.  Mr.  Bloomfield :  bred  Nonayria  typhae  from  Bures,  Suffolk. 
Dr.  Sequeira  :  Pferophoms  laonodactylus,  Anthli/ptdia  acaiithodacfyla,  Oxyp- 
tilus  iencri'i,  PlatyptiUa  zetterstedfii,  Aciptilia  spilodadyla  (?  Ed.  from 
Folkestone)  and  A.  tetrudaciyla,  all  from  Folkestone.  Mr.  Bacot :  larvae  of 
Busina  tenebrosd  from  ova,  from  Ongar  Park  Wood  ;  he  remarked  that 
they  were  very  slow  feeders,  and  would  probably  hybernate  when  full- 
grown  :  also  a  bred  series  of  Triphosa  dahitata  from  Chingford.  Mr.  Han- 
bury  :  a  very  striking,  pale  form  of  Agrotis  tritici  from  Hunstanton.  Mr. 
Clark  :  a  variable  lot  of  Gnophos  obscurata  from  Folkestone  Warren. 
Mr.  Tutt,  commenting  on  these,  observed  that  this  species  was  one  which 
responded  very  readily  to  its  environment,  and  hence  produced  very 
strongly  marked  local  races.  Being  an  insect  which  rested  on  the  ground, 
and  occurred  on  a  variety  of  geological  formations,  it  was  interesting  to 
note  how  "  natural  selection  "  had  stepped  in,  and  pei'fected  these  local 
races.  The  dark  New  Forest  and  Perth  races  were,  perhaps,  the  most 
melanic  ;  another  very  distinct  race  occurred  at  Clevedon,  whilst  the 
palest  local  race  yet  obtained  in  Britain,  came  from  the  neighbourhood 
of  Lewes.  At  Folkestone,  it  was  widely  spread,  occurring  by  the  road- 
sides, and  being  scattered  over  the  Warren.  The  geological  conditions 
of  Folkestone  were  not  at  all  uniform,  the  Gault  and  Chalk  both  play- 
ing, however,  a  large  part  in  the  localities  inhabited  by  this  insect. 
The  hedge-sides,  too,  with  their  peaty  and  leafy  coverings,  side  by  side 
with  the  bare  chalk-hills,  tended  to  preserve  dark  and  h'ght  sjjecimens 
somewhat  indiscriminately,  with  the  result  that  a  sort  of  polymorphism 
was  set  up  in  the  species  there,  of  which,  however,  the  palest  rarely 
equalled  the  Lewes  specimens,  nor  the  darkest  the  Perth  specimens, 
whilst  a  very  pretty  form  with  a  dark  central  band  occurred  some 
years  in  fair  numbers,  and  was  rather  remarkable.  Mr.  Tutt :  sj)eci- 
mens  of  Zygaena  exulans  from  Braemar,  Cogne  and  the  Grauson  Valley, 
all  of  wliich  were  referable  to  Dalman's  var.  vanadis  ;  also  specimens 
from  Lauteret  in  Savoy,  and  from  Lauzon  in  Piedmont ;  tlie  Lauteret 
specimens  were  beautifully  streaked  witli  orange  along  the  nervures,  as 
were  the  Lauson  s[»ccimens  with  yellow.  The  extreme  Grauson  speci- 
mens were  almost  identical  with  the  Lauzon  s})ecimens,  yet,  at  the  other 
end,  they  were  inseparable  from  Scotch  specimens.  Mr.  Battley 
referring  to  Vjjgaena  filipcndulae  var.  ceriuns,  said  that  this  variety  could 
be  obtained  at  Lyme  Kegis,  in  one  small  spot,  where  it  bred  regularly 
every  year. 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


No.  12.     Vol.  V.  December  lorn,  1894. 


EJ^l'OJVEOLOQy    Jit    ]^m]i]i£f^,    Eg^E^,    l]i    IS94.* 

By     Rev.     C.     R.     N.     BURROWS. 

I  feel  that,  before  commencing  to  address  you,  1  should  offer  some 
apology  for  appearing  before  you  this  evening,  and  disclaim  at  the  very 
beginning  any  pretence  of  being  able  to  instruct  you  in  matters  entomo- 
logical. I  must  assure  you,  then,  that  I  feel  in  the  jjosition  of  one 
pushed  into  publicity,  and  I  sliould  have  much  preferred  to  remain  the 
"  mute,  inglorious  Milton  "  I  have  ever  been,  and  to  have  taken  the  seat 
of  a  listener,  while  someone  better  qualified  than  myself  interested 
and  instructed  us  ujion  the  subject  of  the  evening. 

While  disclaiming  any  right  to  lecture  you  in  a  learned  or  purely 
scientific  strain,  I  may  yet  lay  claim  to  a  certain  amount  of  experience 
in  collecting,  gained  througli  a  long  course  of  years. 

Tliougli  not  born  witli  a  net  in  my  hand,  my  earliest  memories  are 
entwined  with  entomology,  for  amongst  tlie  first  tilings  whicli  I  can 
call  to  mind,  is  a  visit  with  two  s})inster  ladies  to  Ilounslow  Heath  in 
search  of  Annrta  jni/ytilli,  when  myself  too  young  to  join  in  that  healtliy 
but  somewhat  exhausting  exercise. 

You  will  not  then,  1  hope,  take  me  for  a  novice,  but  rather  for  wliat 
I  really  am,  an  entomological  dabbler — ^perhaps  I  should  say  an  un- 
scientific collector — of  long  standing,  whose  spare  time  for  a  great  number 
of  3'ears  has  been  devoted,  whenever  possible,  to  discovering  and  re- 
cording the  Lepidoptera  which  can  be  taken  in  the  various  localities 
where  my  life  has  been  spent. 

So  far,  I  have  been  introducing  myself  and  not  the  subject  before 
us,  but  it  is  really  this  lifelong  passion  for  collecting,  whicli  has  been 
the  cause  of  my  appearance  before  you  to-night. 

All  English  entomologists  (perhaps  I  ought  to  say  lepidopterists) 
seem  to  have  been  complaining  of  this  year,  1 894,  as  having  been  a  very 
bad  one  for  our  pursuit.  My  systematic  hunt  has  resulted  in  ])uttino- 
into  my  hands  a  number  of  insects  which,  thougli  not,  perhaps,  what 
can  be  called  rarities,  seem  to  me  to  have  a  good  deal  of  interest ;  and 
as  this  belief  seems  to  be  shared  by  my  entomological  advisers,  I  have 
allowed  myself  to  be  prevailed  upon  to  lay  before  you  an  account  of  my 
captures. 

*  A  paper  read  before  the  City  of  London  Entomolosrical  Sorietv,  on  Oor    ifitli 
1894.  '  ■  " 


282  THE    ENTOMOLOfilST's    nEOORD. 

Rainliam,  the  seat  of  my  present  investigations,  is  not  itself  a  veiy 
inviting  place.  If  any  of  you  travelled  to  Southend  in  daj's  gone  by,  or 
to  Gravesend  by  Tilbury  now-a-days,  you  w^ill,  I  am  sure,  know  the 
place.     It  is  the  j)lace  for  stinhs. 

Here  cabbages,  onions  and  other  vegetables  are  grown  for  the  London 
markets ;  and  here,  also,  the  condemned  fish  from  Billingsgate,  the 
blood  from  Smithfield,  and  the  bones  from  everywhere,  are  worked  up 
into  manures.  The  sweepings  of  streets  and  markets,  the  dust  and 
rul)bish  from  contractors'  yards,  sometimes  even  the  offal  from  the 
slaughter  yards,  all,  I  believe,  make  their  M'ay  to  Kainham,  s})reading 
their  aroma  far  and  Avide,  until  they  are  converted  once  more  into 
cabbages,  and  sent  back  whence  they  came. 

But  you  must  not  su|)pose  that  you  know  Eainham  from  Avhat  you 
see  from  the  railway  line.  The  parish  extends  over  a  wide  area.  My 
boundaries  extend  three  miles  north-east  and  three  miles  south-east,  while 
some  two-and-a-half  miles  of  the  northern  bank  of  the  river  Thames  come 
under  my  care.  This  district  embraces  a  variety  of  country.  Towards 
the  river,  it  consists  of  marshes,  reed-beds  and  coarse-grass  lands,  with 
occasional  saltings  and  mud-banks  ;  while  to  the  north  and  east,  the 
land  rises  gradually  and  becomes  more  wooded.  But  even  this  higlier 
land  is  not  so  i^roductive  as  one  would  expect.  The  farmers  fell  what 
trees  they  dare,  and  the  hedges  are  cropped  down  in  the  merciless  fashion, 
which  denotes,  I  believe,  the  presence  of  "high  cultivation"  and 
"scientific  farming." 

But  be  the  district  what  it  may,  so  far  as  actual  collecting  goes  it 
interests  me  little.  My  occupation  limits  my  efforts  chiefly  to  the  use 
of  sugar.  It  is  rarely  that  I  get  a  chance  of  using  the  net.  Hapjiily  I 
have  a  decent  garden,  and  this  garden  I  "  sugar  "  regularly  every  night, 
from  March  or  April  to  October,  by  which  time  I  find  that  human 
nature  refuses  to  set  out  any  more  insects,  and  my  captures  generally 
go  either  mouldy,  or  else  hopelessly  stiff.  I  sugar  then  regularly  in 
my  own  garden,  just  beside  the  railway  station  (where,  by  the  way,  I 
notice  sometimes  that  a  whistle  from  a  passing  engine  will  startle  insects 
off  the  sugar),  and  also,  once  a  week,  in  a  spinny  some  three  miles  away, 
which  spinny  is  my  nearest  approach  to  a  wood.  Once  or  twice  I  have 
tried  sugar  among  the  reed-beds,  with  no  result,  save  the  very  curious 
captures  which  will  be  noticed  farther  on. 

Every  night,  during  tlie  months  I  have  indicated,  the  sugar  pot  is 
brought  out  (usually  by  a  small  boy  duly  instructed  in  the  art), 
almost  every  tree  and  post  in  the  garden  is  smeared  with  the  mixture, 
and  the  "round  "  is  visited  by  me  as  early  or  as  late  as  I  can  manage. 

I  use  the  coarsest,  moistest,  darkest  sugar  obtainable.  All  of  you 
know,  of  course,  what  a  difference  there  is  in  sugars.  Like  the  nigger, 
they  may  be  known  h/f  the  smell.  The  ideal  sugar,  for  our  purpose, 
"  Jamaica  Foots  " — so  difficult  to  oljtaiu  now — being  the  lowest  part  of 
the  contents  of  the  hogsheads  of  mvrejined  sugar,  was  ahvays  to  be  known 
by  its  sweet  smjary  smell,  but  most  samples  now  obtainable  lack  this, 
and  I  imagine,  that  they  are  either  prepared  from  beet-root,  or  else 
have  gone  through  some  new  process  of  refining,  which  has  removed 
the  nice,  though  it  has  certainly  developed  the  nasty,  odour.  This 
odour  is  itself  deceptive,  for  I  have  heard  of  an  entomologist,  who  felt 
sure  that  the  sugar  which  he  used  was  the  right,  because  it  smelf  of  feet. 

I  mix  the  sugar  with  beer  to  the  consistency  of  treacle,  add  methy- 


KN'roMOI.Om      AT     UAINIIAM.     KSSKX.  283 

latod  spirit  (instead  of  rum),  and  a  flavouring  of  oil  of  aniseed  or  essence 
of  jargonelle  pears  (amylic  acetate).  T  have  tried  the  addition  of  poppy- 
heads  and  chloral  hydrate  to  the  mixture,  hoping  more  effectually  to 
stupefy  the  insects,  but  without  much  success,  though  I  fancied  that  the 
poppy  heads  did  quiet  them  a  little  ;  at  any  rate,  this  much  is  certain, 
that  these  latter  additions  do  not  drive  the  moths  away. 

A  brother  collector  tells  me  that  he  once  tried  adding  gin,  and  that 
he  did  not  repeat  the  experiment,  because  he  found  that  the  insects  fell 
from  the  trees  and  lay  stupefied  upon  their  backs  on  the  ground  before 
he  could  get  round  the  first  time ! 

I  am  certainly  under  the  impression  that  change  and  variety  in  the 
way  of  scents  and  flavours  prove  an  advantage,  and  that  I  have  noticed 
2)articular  moths  to  frequent  particular  mixtures.  This  seems  to  me  to 
be  reasonable,  because  natural  scents  and  flavours  are  various,  and  no 
doubt  some  prove  more  attractive  than  others.  Yet  I  would  most  care- 
fully guard  mj'self  against  seeming  to  imply  that  I  think  that  insects 
have  the  same  idea  of  scents  or  stinks  that  we  have.  Apatura  ins  is  said 
to  like  offal — I  don't.  My  only  serious  attempt  to  capture  his  majesty, 
with  a  drowned  pig  and  a  rotten  rabbit,  certainly  drove  him  away,  if 
he  was  in  the  neighbourhood  at  all,  and  I  don't  blame  him  either. 
The  French  are  said  to  "  sugar  " !  with  rotten  decomposed  soap-suds, 
and  the  largest  catch  of  insects  I  ever  saw,  was  made  with  a  mixture  of 
sugar  and  urine.  And  besides  this,  three  years'  residence  in  Rainham 
has  tai;ght  me  that  if  insects  appreciated  sweetness  as  much  as  we  do, 
they  would  have  used  their  advantage  over  men  by  flying  a\vay  as  fast 
as  jjossible,  and  that  collecting  in  the  neighbourhood  and  for  miles 
round  Avould  be  perfectly  useless. 

I  never  consult  temperature,  wind  or  moon,  agreeing  with  a  cor- 
resjjondent  that  all  dei)ends  upon  the  temper  of  the  moths.  Sometimes 
they  won't  come,  sometimes  they  will,  and  1  have  found  that,  given  the 
sugar,  it  does  not  much  matter  what  the  other  conditions  may  be.  The 
onl}'  condition  Avhich  stops  me  is,  when  heavy  rain,  running  down  the 
tree  trunks,  washes  the  sugar  off,  and  this  difficulty  1  have  partly  over- 
come, by  nailing  pieces  of  board  on  to  the  trees,  so  placed  that  the 
running  water  does  not  pass  over  the  sugar. 

I  must  now  pass  on  to  my  experience  in  the  past  season.  My  diar^', 
which  has  been  posted  up  with  more  or  less  regularity  for  a  good  manj^ 
years,  and  which  contains  entries  as  far  liack  as  1870,  tells  me  that  uji 
to  the  end  of  May  few  things  were  about.  During  June,  matters 
improved  slightly,  though  the  species  taken  were  of  the  commonest, 
and  the  specimens  few  and  far  between. 

On  the  last  day  of  June  (a  Saturday,  J  remember,  because  being  out 
of  rum,  I  felt  that  it  was  not  quite  the  thing  for  me  to  go  either  in 
jierson,  or  by  deput^^,  into  a  public-house  bar,  on  that  particular  evening) 
I  first  added  methylated  spirit  to  the  mixture,  and  from  that  date  fortune 
smiled  upon  me  once  more.  AVhether  the  novelty  of  the  scent  (a  trace 
of  paraffin  oil),  or  a  change  in  the  weather,  or  a  general  agreement 
amongst  the  moths  that  strikes  ivere  played  ord  led  to  this  happy  change 
I  do  not  know  ;  all  I  do  know  is,  that  with  the  use  of  methylated  spirit 
my  luck  turned,  and  I  had  no  longer  to  write  in  my  diary  *'  nothing  at 
sugar." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  more  al»out  methods  of  collecting,  therefore 
I   will   content    myself  with  mentioning,    seriatim,  those  amongst   \ny 


284  TTTE    KN'I'OMOI.OOIST's    kecorh. 

captures  wliieli  seem  to  me  to  call  for  notice.  Specimens  of  most  of 
these  I  have  arranged  in  the  two  cases  which  I  have  brought  with  me 
to-night. 

On  July  5th,  1  took  the  first  specimen  of  Agrot/s  ohscura,  a 
lovely  specimen,  tlie  neat  appearance,  gloss}^  wings,  and  bright  red  costa 
of  which,  both  delighted  and  puzzled  me.  I  had  never  seen  the  species 
alive  before,  and,  like  so  many  of  my  recent  correspondents,  I  had  only 
very  poor  specimens  in  my  cabinet.  I  confess,  without  shame,  tliat  I 
thought  at  first  that  I  had  taken  a  curiously-mai'ked  Noclna  aiujur,  a 
mistake  which  ^vas  made  the  more  excusal)le  by  the  capture,  the  same 
evening,  of  a  very  red  specimen  of  the  latter  insect,  tlie  red  tint  being 
very  much  the  same  as  that  on  the  costa  of  the  former. 

I  have  very  little  doubt  that  I  passed  over  several  more  specimens 
of  ^4.  obscnra  before  I  discovered  what  it  was,  and  it  was  not  imtil  the 
8th,  three  days  later,  that  I  noticed  a  second  specimen. 

The  numbers  taken  on  different  evenings,  ranged  from  1  to  27,  and 
the  captures  extended  from  the  otli  of  July,  until  the  Gth  of  September. 
Two  females,  which  I  had  boxed  for  eggs,  escaped  alive  and  well  on 
the  11th  of  September,  and  I  do  not  doubt  but  that,  liad  tliey  remained 
prisoners,  they  would  have  lived  some  time  longer. 

The  species  was  most  common  in  the  last  week  of  Jul}^,  but  did  not 
show  mucli  trace  of  wear  and  tear  until  the  end  of  August.  I  took  in 
all  about  120  sjiecimens,  mostly  in  good  condition.  Ilovv  many  escaped 
me  I  cannot  say  (some  nights  they  were  very  lively,  and  flew  directly 
they  saw  the  light),  and  how  many  my  cat  ate  I  do  not  know ;  1  got 
weary  of  them  towards  the  last,  and  was  not  very  much  concerned  when 
they  got  away. 

In  the  case  l)efore  you  are  62  specimens,  selected  by  Mr.  Tutt  as 
representing  the  chief  points  of  variation.  I  notice  tliat  the  typical  A. 
ohscura  has  the  costa  red,  whilst  the  var.  ravida  has,  in  addition,  a  black 
mark  between  the  stigmata.  These  two  forms  are,  1  think,  well  repre- 
sented in  the  first  and  second  columns.  There  seems  also  to  be  a 
tendency  to  the  development  of  the  complete  transverse  lines  on  the 
upper  wing  which  occur  in  several  other  Agrutides,  and  some  very 
distinct  specimens  of  tliis  variety  are  in  the  third  column,  while  the 
fourth  column  shows  the  forms  which  incline  towards  general  suffusion 
and  obscurity.  A  few  specimens  show  also  the  development  of  a  ladder- 
like series  of  lines  between  the  elbowed  and  subterminal  lines,  which 
will  also  be  very  distinctly  seen  in  some  of  the  forms  of  A.  nigricans,  to 
be  noticed  later  on. 

After  several  failures,  I  succeeded  in  getting  a  good  many  eggs. 
These  do  not  promise  well ;  at  first  yellow,  they  have  now  turned 
leaden  Idack  and  have  lost  their  form.  This  is  not,  I  know,  a 
proof  that  they  will  not  hatch,  for  I  have  before  noticed  eggs,  notably 
of  Orthosia  suspecta,  which  seemed  to  shrivel  up  and  flatten  till  they  lost 
all  shape,  but,  after  all,  hatched  in  due  course.  That  these  eggs  are  not 
simply  infertile  seems  to  be  certain,  because  there  are  (as  is  usual)  a 
few  infertile  ones  Avhich  still  retain  their  yellow  colour. 

The  next  species  which  I  will  refer  to,  is  A.  exclamationis. 
Though  so  common,  I  think  that  it  is  well  worth  examining  for  variation. 
Looking  over  tlie  62  specimens  in  the  case  before  you,  I  feel  that  I  can- 
not say  that  tlie  majority  are  much  out  of  the  common,  though  they 
were  all  taken  on  account  of  some  peculiarity.     Many  of  them  exhibited 


ENTOarOLOGY    AT    KAINHAM,    ESSEX.  285 

when  alive  a  distiiKjt  redness  of  costa  (again  recalling  A.  obscura),  but 
I  must  acknowledge  that  I  don't  see  much  of  it  now  that  they  are  dry, 
though  here  and  there  I  think  it  may  still  be  traced. 

The  most  remarkable  are  the  five  in  the  third  column  with  united 
stigmata,  particularly  the  one  with  the  scorched  appearance  of  the  fore- 
wings.  There  arc  also  two  with  the  outer  half  of  the  fore  wings  clouded 
with  a  darker  shade,  giving  them  a  very  strange  and  distinguished  ap- 
pearance, as  thougli  related  to  A.  ashworthii.  I  have  remarked  the  same 
tendency  in  A.  obscara,  but  it  is,  I  suppose,  unusual  in  both  species. 
One  specimen  seems  to  me  to  be  remarkably  dark,  and  curious  from  the 
entire  absence  of  all  red  tinge.  The  malformed  specimen  at  the  bottom 
of  the  first  row  seems  to  deserve  attention,  inasmuch  as  the  slit  in  the 
right  hand  fore- wing  is  fringed  all  round,  and  the  claviform,  placed  upon 
the  abnormal  lobe,  is  double.  Were  it  not  for  this  position  of  the  clavi- 
form, one  could  aluiost  persuade  one's-self  that  the  insect  possessed  a 
fifth  wing. 

The  infinite  differences  in  the  form  and  development  of  the  stigmata, 
the  difference  in  length  and  width  of  the  claviform,  the  almost  total 
absence  of  both  orbicular  and  claviform,  and  the  smudged  appearance  of 
the  reniform,  are  all  noticeable,  as  well  as  the  ladder-like  series  of  lines 
between  the  elbowed  and  subterminal  lines.  The  pale  central  area  of  the 
wing  is  also,  in  some  specimens,  reduced  to  a  mere  dot  placed  between 
the  stigmata. 

I  have  placed  in  the  same  case  six  s]jecimens  of  A.  segetum,  on  account 
(.»f  remarks  whicli  visitors  liave  made  about  them.  These  black  females 
I  have  always  taken  freely,  and  I  should  like  to  hear  to-night  whether 
other  collectors  have  also  found  them  common.  For  myself,  I  cannot 
hel})  thinking  that  the  reddish  unicolorous  specimen  at  the  bottom  is 
the  more  remarkable. 

I  come  next  to  134  specimens  of  A.  nigricans.  I  may  be  pardoned, 
l)erhaps,  for  the  confusion  which  I  experience  when  I  try  to  arrange 
them  in  order,  and  far  more  when  I  attempt  to  describe  them,  more 
particularly  because  I  have  neither  taken  nor  noticed  such  varieties 
before. 

A  series  of  six,  placed  in  the  last  row,  represent  the  pick  of  my 
takings  in  1893,  and  it  is  curious  to  remember  that  one  or  two  of  them 
suggested  A.  obscura  so  strongly,  that  I  had  actually  entered  them  in 
my  diary  as  that  species,  with  a  query  intimating  my  doubt.  At  that 
time,  I  did  not  possess  a  specimen  of  A.  obscura  to  refer  to,  and  was 
guided  entii'el}'^  by  Newman's  figure  which  you  will  all  remember.  I 
imagine  that  the  distinct  transverse  lines  in  that  figure  led  me  astray. 
I  was  again  deceived  in  the  same  manner  this  year  by  a  specimen  in 
tlie  fifth  column,  which  occurred  with  A.  obscura  and  actually  got  mixed 
up  with  that  species  as  a  small  specimen,  and  when  you  look  at  it  you 
will,  I  think,  agree  that  I  was  justified. 

The  variations  of  A.  nigricans  seem  to  me  truly  remarkable.  I  knew 
nothing  of  the  species  three  years  ago.  Common  though  it  is  generally 
considered,  I  am  convinced  that  if  a  correspondent  had  sent  me  a  few 
years  since  as  A.  nigricans  some  of  the  varieties  in  my  case  to-night,  I 
should  have  put  him  down  for  an  ignoramus  and  myself  (of  course)  for  a 
wise  man. 

The  differences  of  colour,  no  less  than  the  differences  of  markiugs,  are 
confusing  to  a  degree,  and  one  can  see  but  little  likeness  between  the 


286  THE    entomologist's    KECORI). 

almost  l)riok-Tc(l  form  with  yellow  markings  of  the  first,  and  the  almost 
totally  black  of  the  last,  between  the  almost  spotless  reddish-grej^  and 
the  finely-marked  greyish-black. 

The  last  four  sjjecimens  of  all  ajijieal  to  me  most  strongijs  and  I 
think  they  "  take  the  cake,"  both  for  coloration  and  for  delicacy  of 
pattern.  I  do  not  possess  even  one  specimen  of  A.  agathina,  but  imagine 
that  these  pretty  little  forms  approach  that  species. 

With  a  series  like  this  before  me,  one  feels  the  (almost)  absurdity  of 
Newman's  solitary  figure,  and  also  of  Stainton's  six-line  description  : — 
"  F.-w.,  dull-dark  brown,  clouded  with  black,  sometimes  of  a  reddish 
tinge ;  the  more  conspicuous  markings  are,  a  short  blackish  streak  from 
near  the  middle  of  the  l)ase  "  (which,  l>y  the  way  Newman  says,  looks  as 
though  it  had  Ijceu  scraped  with  a  knife)  ;  "  a  black  spot  before  the  orbi- 
cular, a  rhomboidal  black  spot  between  the  stigniata,  orbicular  sometimes 
pale,  reniform  always  so,  especially  its  hind  margin." 

One  cannot  help  feeling,  in  the  face  of  such  variations  as  these  (and 
A.  nigricans  is  by  no  means  alone),  tliat  we  are  indeed  still  in  the  fog, 
if  we  longer  content  ourselves  with  speaking  of  a  light  or  a  dark,  of  a 
red  or  a  black,  of  a  streaked  or  a  blotched,  so-and-so.  I'ossibly  some  of 
my  correspondents  would  be  glad  of  some  of  the  forms  before  us  to-night, 
but  how  on  earth  are  they  to  acquaint  me  with  their  wants,  unless  the 
forms  have  a  name.  Can  we  not  come  to  an  agreement  to  name  varieties  ? 
It  is  done  in  some  cases  not  nearly  so  necessary  as  this.  "  A  black 
Amphidaitys  hetuJaria  "  would  convey  a  clear  intimation  of  what  was  in 
(juestion.  as  would  "  a  dark  Miselia  oxi/acaiithne,''  but  to  speak  of  a  red- 
grey  or  a  black  A.  nigricans,  by  no  means  meets  the  necessities  of  the  case. 

Besides  Iteing  here  so  often  reminded  of  A.  obscura,  I  also  find  myself 
in  some  doubt  as  to  where  to  draw  the  line  between  some  forms  of  A. 
nigricans  and  N.  xanthographa.  You  will,  perhaps,  smile  and  say  to 
yourselves,  why  I  the  form  and  the  structure  forbid  such  a  mistake. 
But  iV.  xanihograjiha  has  sometimes  narrower  wings,  and  I  have  seen 
specimens  (one  of  which,  though  a  poor  one,  is  in  the  case)  which  run 
so  very  close,  that  I  do  not  like  to  decide  for  myself  to  which  species 
they  belong.  And  this  is  especially  the  case,  where  the  white  hind 
wings  of  the  male  A.  nigricans  have  only  a  faint  lunule  but  still  possess 
the  well-developed  marginal  band  which  we  associate  with  the  male  of 
iV.  xan  tit  ograp h a . 

I  come  now  to  a  few  other  species  taken  this  year,  which  seem  to  me 
to  be  somewhat  out  of  the  common.  First,  are  four  specimens  of 
Xylophasia  vwnoghjpha  ;  the  pale  one,  bred ;  the  three  dark  forms  taken  at 
sugar.  The  last  specimen  seems  to  me  to  be  most  interesting,  for  the 
reason  that,  although  as  dark,  or  nearly  so,  as  the  northern  forms,  it 
yet  retains  the  pale  spot  on  the  inner  margin,  which  occurs  in  the  tj'pe. 

Then  1  will  ask  you  to  notice  a  short  series  of  Anclwcelis  pistacina,  rang- 
ing from  yellowish-brown  to  a  fine  red,  the  former  colour  api)earing  to  me 
to  be  most  curious  :  another  series  of  .1.  lunosa,  their  colour  varying 
from  yellowish,  through  a  decided  red,  to  gi'ey  and  even  black  (the 
last  specimen  is  a  puzzle  to  me,  because,  through  the  general  darkness 
of  the  under  wings,  I  fancy  I  can  detect  the  lunule  and  broken  band  of 
this  species  ;  otherwise,  it  would  be  certainh-  a  specimen  of  A.  pistacina)  ; 
two  specimens  of  Noctna  haia,  the  first  red,  which  I  take  to  be  the 
ordinary  form,  the  second  ])urple,  which  almost  suggests  A',  stigmatica, 
but  is  without  the  rhomboidal  dark  mark  lictween  the  stiiimata  charac- 


ENTOMOLOGY    AT    RAINHAM,    ESSEX.  287 

teristic  of  the  latter  species ;  one  or  two  speeimeusof  Caradrina  cnbicnlaris, 
wliieb  seem  to  he  uiueh  darker  than  usual,  a  form  which  aiipears  to  have 
been  rather  common  with  me  this  year  ;  lastly,  a  row  of  N.  xanthographa, 
some  red,  and  three  very  curious  silvery-grey  specimens  which  I  take 
to  be  unusual. 

Having  gone  through  my  exhibits,  which  I  hope  will  at  least  interest 
some  of  the  less  experienced  of  your  members,  I  may,  perhaps,  unless  I 
have  already  taken  up  too  much  of  your  time,  mention  a  few  more  species 
which  I  either  have  or  have  not  taken  at  Kainham.  First  of  all,  the  genus 
Cernra  (i- inula  and  her  sisters),  seems  to  Ije  entirely  absent,  althougli 
poplars,  willows  and  sallows,  as  is  natural  in  such  a  marshy  place,  abound. 
Goiu'ptf'ri/.c  rhaiiiu/'  1  have  not  caught  sight  of  in  three  years,  althougli  a 
single  Triphosd  dnhitatd  told  me  that  there  must  be  buckthorn  within 
reach.  DaKychira  pndihunda  must  be  very  rare  ;  a  single  larva  found 
last  week,  alone  proving  its  occurrence.  None  of  the  "  sharks,"  except 
C.  umhratica,  occur. 

I  have  taken  single  specimens  of  the  following  species,  and  cannot 
account  for  their  presence,  unless  it  be  that,  as  travellers,  they  were, 
perhaps,  trying  to  tind  out  what  sort  of  a  place  Kainham  was,  and  if  it 
be  so,  they  have  every  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  : — 

Dlcycla  oo,  a  species  dear  to  me,  of  which  I  have  had  80  specimens 
on  the  boards  at  once.  There  is  scarcely  an  oak  near.  Orthosui 
smpecta  :  there  is  but  one  birch  tree  for  miles.  I  suppose  that,  although 
the  books  say  of  the  larva  "'  food-plant  unknown,"  most  of  you  know 
that  it  Avill  feed  up  on  birch.  These  two  species  are  those  to 
which  I  referred  as  being  remarkable,  inasmuch  as  they  were  the  only 
cajitures  worth  noting  taken  in  a  i"eed-bed. 

Two  Xanthia  gdrngo,  one  last  year,  and  one  this.  I  am  not  so  much 
surprised  at  taking  this  insect,  as  at  not  having  taken  more,  for  elms  are 
common  enough.  Phibalapteri/x  vitalbata  (at  sugar) ;  there  is  no  cle- 
matis within  three  miles.  Drepana  falcataria.  Remember  the  absence 
of  birch.  Erastria  fasciana  :  taken  flying,  at  8  a.m.  in  my  garden  ;  of 
interest  to  me,  because  Newman  says  this  species  is  common  in  the  bogs 
of  Killarney.  I  have  only  seen  it  in  woods.  A  Geometra  papUionaria 
must  also  have  felt  disappointed  to  have  found  no  birch. 

Larv^  of  Acherontia  atropos  are  fairly  common.  Last  year  I  had 
five  and  reared  three.  This  year  I  have  had  eight,  none  of  which  have 
produced  moths  so  far. 

Apamea  ophioijratnma  is  an  insect  which  everybody  seems  to  want. 
It  was  very  rare  at  Brentwood,  where  I  lived  for  six  or  seven  years 
previous  to  settling  in  Kainham.  I  had  no  sooner  got  into  the  latter 
place,  than  I  began  to  look  aliout  for  means  of  enticing  it  into  my  gar- 
den. The  striped  riljbon-grass  is  a  well  recognised  lure,  and  of  this  I 
found  that  I  possessed  one  stunted  specimen,  growing  in  a  stony 
path.  I  divided  this,  and,  as  is  its  habit,  it  increased  and  multiplied. 
The  first  summer,  I  got  no  A.  ophioyramma;  in  1893,  I  secured  seven, 
and  this  year,  twelve,  between  July  6th  and  August  15th.  I  liave  now 
large  quantities  of  the  food-jilant  growing,  and  hope  next  year  to  succeed 
in  rearing  some  in  captivity. 

But  what  a  difference  there  is  between  catching  A.  ophiogramvin,  and 
possessing  specimens  good  enough  for  one's  cabinet,  if  one  is  particular. 
How  often  what  one  thought  good  at  first  sight,  fails  to  satisfy  after  it 
is  set  out.     I  am  inclined  to  think  that  this,  with  some  other  species — 


288  THE  entomologist's  record. 

sucli  as  RnsiiKi  teiieln-ond,  &c. — re(j[uire  much  more  careful  liaiidling  tliaii 
the  majority  ot'  insects  (the  scales  seem  to  be  more  loosely  fixed),  and  1 
now  kill  A.  ophioiji-amma  with  oxalic  acid,  and  set  it  with  the  least  possible 
delay. 

A.  saacia  seems  to  have  been  entirely  absent  from  Kainham  this  year, 
for  I  have  not  seen  a  single  specimen,  good  or  bad.  The  local  form  is 
a  beautiful  one,  being  much  clouded  with  light  grey,  and  the  specimens 
are  considerably  larger  than  those  which  I  have  been  accustomed  to  meet 
Avith  elsewhere. 

A.  lunosa  has  been  very  abundant  on  sugar  this  year.  One  seems  to 
have  taken  it  more  frequently  at  light,  and  I  find  a  note  that  the  first 
time  I  ever  saw  it  at  sugar,  was  on  September  27th,  1892.  Perhaps  it 
is  a  case  of  ac( pared  taste,  which  has  become  hereditary, 

I  took  a  specimen  of  Hadciia  tluihiftsind  at  sugar,  on  Sept.  -itli  ; 
8t;iinton  gives  June  and  July  ;  Merrin,  May,  June  and  July  ;  Newman, 
May  and  June.  I  bred  H.  suand  (one  out  of  a  number  of  })upa!),  on  the 
loth  of  August ;  Stainton  gives  June  ;  Merrin,  May,  June,  and  some- 
times, August ;  Newman,  June. 

A  friend  took  a  single  Zyijaena  fiUpendtdae,  at  Soutliend,  on  the  4tli 
of  September ;  I  myself  took  one  at  Penzance,  on  August  11th,  181)0; 
Stainton  gives  June  and  July  ;  Merrin,  June  ;  Newman,  June,  begin- 
ing.  I  found  a  freshly -emerged  5  of  Metrocampa  warriaritaria,  sitting 
on  a  grass-stem  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  on  the  night  of  Sept.  oth  ;  Stainton, 
gives  July ;  Merrin,  June  and  July  ;  Newman,  July.  I  find  I  took  a 
specimen  at  light  on  the  3Uth  August,  1893. 

A  friend  writes  me  that  he  was  taking  Agrotis  triliel,  on  Se})t.  1-itli, 
of  this  year ;  Stainton,  gives  August ;  Merrin,  July  and  August ; 
Newman,  July.     1  took  Lencania  impura  a  week  ago. 

Some  of  these  are  doubtless  instances  of  partial  second  broods  :  some, 
perhaps,  cases  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  most  vigorous  and  latest 
developed.  One  can  understand  that,  when  an  insect's  i^eriod  of  flight 
covers  perhaps  a  month,  some  individuals  may  be  delayed  some  little 
while  beyond  the  rest,  and  some  of  these  may  live  long  beyond  the  time 
of  those  first  developed.  Or,  a  change  of  weather,  when  the  larva?  are 
feeding,  may  check  the  growth  of  some,  kill  others,  and  perhaps,  not 
affect  the  remainder,  who  may  have  got  beyond  the  stage  wliere  the 
check  can  be  felt.  In  confinement,  the  larv^y  which  lag  behind  the  others 
generally  seem  to  me  to  die,  but  in  a  wild  state,  they  may  j)ossibly  i)ick 
up  again,  and  go  through  their  changes  successfully,  and,  possibly,  in 
solitary  grandeur.  In  the  year  188G,  I  found  on  June  3rd,  a  magni- 
ficent  2   S<duriii((  r(irj>in/\  evidently  just  emerged,  a  month  late  at  least. 

One  last  word  to  those  who,  like  myself,  hope  against  hoj^e,  for  a 
grand  catch  of  rarities — ^peo[)le  M'ho  have  seen  Fa/u'.s'.sa  autiopu,  but 
liave  not  caught  it.  May  it  not  l)e  that  we,  who  c;all  ourselves  the  un- 
lucky ones,  are  to  liave  our  luck  amongst  varieties,  instead  of  amongst 
species  ?  I  suggest,  of  course,  that  there  must  l)e  varieties  of  common 
Lepidoptera  which  are  as  rare  as  V.  aatiopa,  as  rare,  perhaps,  as  Valeria 
oleac/lua,  and  some  varieties  may  ])rove  to  be  unique.  If  luck  does  not 
favour  us  one  way,  it  may  another.  The  very  commonest  species  may 
produce  a  prize.  How  many  have  been  cheered  and  gratified  by  a 
grand  var.  of  Arctia  cnia,  or  of  Abraxas  grosxnlariata  (I  once  threw 
away  a  wliole  Ijrood  of  semi-trans})arent  specimens  of  the  latter  species, 
onlv  ii'oubling  to  set  two,  to  show  how   lorctcltcd  Hiey   were).      A  great 


THE    LtPE-HlSTOUY    OF    A    LEI'lDol'TEKOlIS    INSECT  289 

friend  and  I  once  could  y;et  nothing  hy  beatnig  Imt  larva^  of  iJahera 
pnsarla.  He  bred  from  hifi  lot  a  moth  lohich  was  eiUirelij  tji'eij.  1  sent 
the  same  friend,  from  Cornwall,  a  number  of  larva?  of  Spilosoma  men- 
thastri.  He  bred  from  them  some  melanic  forms,  -which,  to  say  the 
least,  are  not  to  be  picked  up  every  day,  and  -which  fetched  a  good  2)rice 
when  he  sold  them.  I  must  conclude,  by  thanking  you  fur  your  kind 
attention,  and  1)y  another  humble  apology  for  the  imperfections  and 
commonplaces  of  my  paper. 


I'iie  Life-jiistory  of  a  Lepidopterous  Iiisect, 

Comprising   some   account    of  its   Morphology   and    Pliysiology, 
By     J.      \N.     TUTT,      F.E.S. 

[Continued  from  page  247). 


Chap.   III. 
i'AKTHENOGENESIS  or  AGAMOGENESIS. 

We  have  seen  in  Chapter  IT.  that,  among  the  Lej)idoptera,  it  is 
generally  necessary  that  the  two  generative  elements  should  unite  before 
reproduction  can  take  place,  that  these  two  elements  are  produced  in 
different  individuals,  the  two  sexes  never  being  combined  in  the  same 
individual,  and  that  copulation  between  the  sexes  is  necessary  for  the 
fertilisation  of  tlie  ovum  and  the  consequent  production  of  3'oung.  Still 
it  would  appear  that,  under  certain  conditions,  neitlier  the  two  sexual 
elements  nor  the  copulation  of  the  sexes  is  necessary  for  the  production 
of  young,  since  eggs  will  occasionally  produce  larvfe  without  such  union, 
whicli  Lirvaj  will  develop)  into  full}^  matured  and  fertile  imagines. 

In  the  section  on  the  variation  of  eggs  in  regard  to  colour  (Chap.  II., 
Sect.  2c),  it  is  pointed  out  that  the  initial  colour-change,  which  takes 
place  more  or  less  in  the  eggs,  is  no  sign  of  fertilization  having  taken 
place,  but  that  it  occurs  in  unfertilized  as  well  as  in  fertilized  eggs  and 
is  the  outward  sign  of  an  embryonic  growth  or  cell-change  which  is 
taking  place  within  the  egg  itself.  In  the  unfertilized  egg  this  growth 
usually  goes  but  a  very  short  way,  although  a  much  more  complex  em- 
bryonic structure  is  developed  in  some  species  than  in  others,  and  there 
are  cases  on  record  in  which  this  has  gone  so  far  as  to  give  rise  to  a 
fully  developed  embryo,  which  has  in  due  course  hatched  and  become 
[lerfected.  Nature  then,  under  s})ecial  circumstances,  produces  and 
l)erfects  progeny  from  virgin  females,  without  the  i:itervention  of  the 
male.  The  fact  has  long  l)een  known,  and  the  old  authors  termed  the 
phenomenon  "  Lucina  sine  concnbitu."  Virgil  refers  to  it  in  the  Georgics. 
In  later  days  tlie  phenomenon  has  l)een  termed  "  agamogenesis "  or 
••  parthenogenesis."  Spontaneous  generation  was  the  explanation  given 
liy  the  older  philosophers.  Rejection  of  the  facts  was  the  method  by 
which  the  latter-day  cynic  tried  to  persuade  himself  of  the  impossibility 
of  sucli  an  occurrence.  But  much  as  there  is  to  be  said  for  those  who 
insisted  that  the  experiments  were  not  conducted  with  sufficient  care, 
and  that  the  observations  were  not  sufficiently  accurate,  it  must  be 
admitted  that  the  accuracy  of  many  of  the  observations  is  beyond 
cpiestion,  and  a  scientific  ex})lanation  of  the  phenomenon  must  be 
sought. 


290  THE    entomologist's    RECOftU. 

In  tlie  lowest  Invertebrates,  as  is  well-known,  reproduction  takes 
})lace  either  by  cleavage  or  by  gemmation.  In  the  latter  case,  little  cells 
grow  out  of  the  parent  cell,  which  finally  become  detached,  and  mature 
into  pei-fect  cells  ;  in  the  former,  the  parent  cell  itself  sub-divides  by  fis- 
sion, each  part  becoming  an  indei^endent  organism.  There  is  yet  a  third 
method  in  which  the  whole  cell  becomes  covered  with  a  gelatinous  cyst, 
within  which  the  protoplasmic  body  is  broken  up  into  a  number  of 
cells ;  these  after  a  time  break  open  the  cyst,  and  leave  it  as  separate 
individuals,  the  process  being  termed  encystation.  In  the  Hydrozoa, 
reproduction  is  carried  on  all  the  summer  by  gemmation,  but  in  the 
autumn,  sperm  cells  and  germ  cells  are  produced  in  the  same  individual, 
the  former  fertilizing  the  latter  and  producing  ova,  in  which  stage  these 
creatures  pass  the  winter.  This  method  of  sexual  reproduction  (minus 
the  summer  gemmation)  is  very  common  as  we  ascend  in  the  animal 
scale,  but  when  we  come  to  insects  we  find  that  the  sexes  are  differ- 
entiated in  separate  individuals,  and,  as  a  rule,  that  coition  is  necessary 
for  reproduction. 

Among  the  Crustaceans,  to  which  insects  are  closely  allied,  we  find 
such  species  as  Poli/phemus  ooiJus,  Apus  cancrlformis  and  Li'mnadia  (jlijaa, 
which,  according  to  Newman,  "  contain  only  female  individuals,  the 
presence  of  a  male  being  the  exception."  Dajthnia  has  males  as  well 
as  females,  but  the  females,  according  to  Lubbock,  appear  equally 
prolific  in  the  absence  of  the  males. 

Newman  also  states  (Essay  on  the  employment  of  physlolotikal 
characters  in  classification,  etc.,  1856),  that  "  in  Arachnida,  males  and 
females  are  familiarl}^  known  ;  but  the  fertility  of  the  female  is  not  de- 
})endent  on  coition  with  the  male.  I  have  found  the  isolated  female  of 
Epeira  diadenia,  invariabl}^  produce  her  circular  mass  of  eggs,  and  have 
as  invariably  found  these  to  be  fertile.  If  coition  had  taken  place  at 
all,  it  would  have  been  while  the  females  on  which  I  experimented 
were  in  the  infant  or  larval  state,  and  prior  to  the  first  ecdysis ;  afford- 
ing, if  this  be  made  out,  an  instance  of  a  phenomenon  altogether 
abnormal." 

Most  of  the  records  of  the  occurrence  of  parthenogenesis  in  Lej^i- 
doptera  are,  from  a  scientific  point  of  view,  of  the  most  unsatisfactory 
nature,  being  based  rather  on  chance  observations  than  on  any  specially 
devised  experiments.  This,  however,  need  not  be  wondered  at,  for 
those  entomologists  wlio  breed  insects  in  the  largest  numbers,  usually 
do  so  in  order  to  ol)tain  fine  imagines  for  their  collections,  and  if  they 
wish  to  inbreed  any  species,  they,  as  a  matter  of  course,  pair  their  females 
with  males,  to  ensure  the  fertilization  of  the  eggs.  For  even  when  a 
species  has  a  parthenogenetic  tendency,  only  a  very  foAv  of  the  eggs 
that  are  laid  by  an  imimpregnated  female  are  found  to  be  fertile,  and  a 
very  large  number  of  female  moths  have  to  l)e  sacrificed  in  order  to 
obtain  a  very  small  su})ply  of  parthenogenetically  fertile  eggs. 

This  has  been  well  illustrated  by  Mons.  Jourdan  in  his  article  dealing 
with  this  subject  as  exemplified  in  Botnhyx  mori  {Comptes  Ttendus  Hehdo- 
madaires  des  Seances  de  F  Acadcmie  des  Sciences,  Paris,  vol.  liii.,  1861, 
pp.  1093-1096),  where  he  remarks  that  the  reproduction  of  "  papillons  " 
by  virgin  females  has  often  been  noticed  by  scientific  observers,  and 
that  it  has  long  been  customary  in  the  silk-producing  countries  of 
France,  "to  regenerate  a  worn-out  race  by  using  'la  graine  viei'ge,'  " 
that  is  to  say,  eggs  produced  from  females  without  contact  with  the 


THE    LIFE-HISTOUY    OF    A     I-EI'tDOPtKROUS    INSECT.  291 

mules.  He  then  goes  into  detail  and  shows  vvlial  propurtion  of  female 
moths  give  fertile  eggs  parthenogenetically,  and  states  that  in  his  "  re- 
seai'ehes  into  the  subject  of  sericulture  in  the  Soutli  as  well  as  in  Piedmont 
and  Lombardy,  the  same  remarks  have  often  been  heard."  He  adds: — 
"  Although  we  do  not  attach  a  great  belief  in  this  singular  phenomenon 
among  animals  so  highly  organised  as  butterflies,  iu  the  face  of  all 
these  affirmations  and  of  some  doubts  it  became  necessary  to 
submit  the  fact  to  experiment."  ]n  1850  some  partial  experiments, 
which  gave  no  certain  results,  were  made,  the  experiments  not  ha\ang 
l)een  followed  up  to  the  hatching  of  the  eggs  considered  to  be  fertile. 
In  1851,  further  experiments  were  made  on  yellow  cocoons  from  Briance 
or  Milan,  of  a  form  which  gives  only  one  generation  per  year  ;  the  ex- 
periments were  surrounded  by  every  possible  precaution,  and  wei-e  made 
on  a  large  scale.     A  summary  of  the  results  is  then  appended. 

The  first  experiment  was  as  follows  :— In  June  1851,  three  Imndred 
cocoons  were  selected,  and,  so  that  there  should  be  no  communication 
between  the  imagines  on  their  emergence,  each  cocoon  was  placed  in  a 
small  cardboard  box  carefully  covered  with  gauze,  which  completely  im- 
prisoned the  moth  on  its  emergence.  These  three  hundred  cocoons 
produced  147  females  and  151  males.  The  boxes  containing  the  males 
were  removed,  and  those  containing  the  females  were  carefully  pre- 
served without  being  uncovered. 

Of  the  147  females,  fi  only  gave,  in  the  course  of  their  laying,  really 
fertile  eggs.  2  of  these  gave  seven,  2  four,  1  Ave,  and  1  two.  These 
29  eggs,  preserved  in  their  respective  boxes  without  Ijeing  uncovered,  to 
render  error  im2)0ssible,  were  the  only  ones  which  hatched  in  May  1852. 
There  were  also  a  large  number  of  other  eggs,  which  })assed  from  the 
pale  yellow  (which  is  their  colour  when  newly  laid)  to  the  more  or 
less  slaty-grey  Avhich  replaces  it  after  some  days  in  fertile  eggs ;  but  at 
length  these  eggs,  Avdiich  gave  at  first  the  characteristic  sign  of  fecundity, 
shrivelled  up,  whilst  a  few  others,  which  preserved  until  spring  the 
usual  form  and  colour  of  fertile  eggs,  did  not  produce  larvte  ;  on  opening 
these  last  eggs  they  were  found  to  contain  putrefied  matter,  apparently 
recently  formed. 

In  this  experiment,  therefore,  based  on  the  eggs  of  147  females,  only 
29  larvje  were  produced.  The  total  number  of  eggs  was  about  58,000, 
so  that  the  completely  formed  eggs  were  about  in  the  proi)ortion  of 
1  :  2,000. 

In  Juh'^  of  the  same  year  (1851),  a  second  experiment  was  made  on 
white  cocoons  coming  from  South  China,  of  a  form  giving  five  or  six  suc- 
cessive generations  in  one  year.  Fifty  cocoons  were  shut  up  as  in  the 
last  experiment,  and  from  these  emerged  23  females  and  26  males. 
Seventeen  of  the  twenty- three  females  gave  completel}'  fertile  eggs. 
These  fertile  eggs  were  in  the  proportion  of  1  in  17,  and  hatched  17 
days  after  being  laid.  One  of  these  females  gave  113,  and  the  least 
productive  gave  12.  The  total  number  of  eggs  laid  by  these  23  females 
was  9,000,  of  Avhich  520  pi'oduced  caterpillars. 

The  conclusions  arrived  at  by  Mr.  Jourdan  {I.e.,  p.  1095)  are  very 
interesting.  The  experiments  proved  conclusively  that  virgin  females 
of  the  silkworm  moth  could  reproduce  their  kind  without  copulation 
with  males.  Tliis  pai'thenogenetic  reproductive  power  Avas,  however, 
exceedingly  feeble,  as  the  figures  (quoted  prove.     Again,  of  the  two 


292  TUE  entomologist's  kecord. 

different  varieties  exj^erimentecl  on,  the  form  with  five  or  six  successive 
generations  i)er  year  was  mnch  more  reproductive  parthenogenetically, 
than  that  with  a  single  generation. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  of  tlie  early  essays  on  this  subject 
is,  that  by  Von  Siebold,  whicli  was  translated  Ijy  Dallas,  the  translation 
being  entitled,  "  Ou  a  true  parthf aogenems  in.  moths  and  bees."  Siebold 
was  led  into  his  en(|uiries  by  some  obsei'vations  made  on  the  reproduc- 
tion of  a  species  of  moth  belonging  to  the  genus  Fsiiche  which,  as  he 
noticed,  propagated  without  copulation.  Following  this  up  by  obser- 
vations on  bees  and  the  silkworm  moth,  he  found  that  the  phenomenon 
of  reproduction  by  virgin  females  was  not  at  all  uncommon,  and  adopted 
the  term  "  parthenogenesis  "  (originally  suggested  by  Professor  Owen), 
for  this  peculiarity.  Owen,  however,  had  originally  used  the  term  "  par- 
thenogenesis "  for  what  we  now  know  as  "  alternation  of  generations" 
a  vastly  different  phenomenon. 

According  to  Siebold,  the  oldest  communication  relative  to  repro- 
duction by  female  insects,  sine  concuhitu,  was  made  by  a  surgeon,  J.  P. 
Al])recht  of  Hildersheim,  Avho  in  the  year  1701,  relates,  in  a  memoir, 
that  he  took  a  brown  pupa  which  had  spun  itself  up  on  a  black-currant 
bush,  and  preserved  it  under  a  glass  in  his  summer-house,  to  see  what 
moth  would  be  evolved  from  it.  At  the  end  of  July,  a  moth  of  yellow- 
ish-white colour  escaped  from  it  (supposed  to  be  a  Bombyx  or  Noctua), 
which  in  a  few  days  laid  a  great  number  of  eggs  and  then  died.  In  April 
of  the  followiiig  year,  Albrecht  again  looked  at  the  glass,  and  was  aston- 
ished to  find  young  black  caterpillars  in  it  instead  of  the  eggs.  One  may 
fairly  suppose  from  the  surprise  of  Albrecht,  and  the  communication  he 
made  to  the  Ijcopoldine  Academy  of  Naturalists,  that  he  was  satisfied 
that  copulation  had  not  taken  place.  Pernoulli,  in  1772,  recorded  that 
ISasler  had  olitained  fertile  eggs  from  an  isolated  female  of  Gaslropacha 
qiicrcifolia  which  had  been  l)red  from  a  cater}»illar,  and  further,  that  a 
caterpillar  of  Episema  {Diloha)  caertdeocepluila,  haA'ing  changed  to  a 
pupa,  the  pupa  was  left  in  a  closed  box  without  farther  attention,  and 
that,  about  fifteen  daj's  after,  he  was  surprised  on  opening  the  box  to 
find,  besides  the  enclosed  moth,  a  family  of  young  caterpillars  "  which 
had  already  devoured  the  pupa-case  of  their  mother,  and  a  })ortion  of 
their  own  egg-shells."  Denis  and  Schiffermiiller,  the  well-known 
Viennese  entomologists,  pointed  out  in  1776  (Si/st.  Verz.  der  Schviett. 
(In-  Wiener  Gegend,  &c.,  p.  293),  the  possibility  that  these  cases  were 
simply  eiTors  of  observation,  whilst  Von  Scheven  declared  that  fourteen 
days,  from  caterpillar  through  all  the  phases  of  pupa,  moth,  eggs  and 
dead  larva',  was  hardly  a  reasonable  period,  and  that  the  larvae  were 
probably  from  eggs  laid  by  another  fenuile  moth,  i)reviously  confined 
in  the  same  box. 

Siebold,  lieing  very  dissatisfied  with  what  was  known  about  the  sub- 
ject at  this  time,  turned  his  attention  to  the  "  case-bearers  " — Solenohia 
licheneJla  and  S.  triqnetreUa,  and  during  the  years  1850,  '51  and  '52  (the 
time  it  may  be  observed  when  Mons.  Jox;rdan  was  conducting  his  ex- 
periments on  the  silkworm  moths),  he  collected  several  hundred  cases. 
To  his  great  astonishment  none  but  females  emerged  from  these  cases, 
and  they  commenced  almost  immediately  to  lay  eggs.  They  "  possessed 
such  a  violent  impulse  to  lay  their  eggs,  that  when  I  removed  them 
from  their  cases  ....  they  let  their  eggs  fall  openly.  If  I  had  wondered 
at  the  zeal  for  oviposition  in  these  hiisbandless  Sulc nubia,  how  was  I 


THE     r.TFE-TIISTOKY    OF    A    LF,II'(M'TKROUS     INSECT  2'Jo 

astonished  when  all  the  eggs  of  these  females,  of  whose  virgin  state  I 
Avas  most  positively  convinced,  gave  birth  to  yoimg  caterpillars,  which 
looked  about  with  the  greatest  assiduity  in  search  of  materials  for  tlie 
manufacture  of  little  cases  !  "  This  production  of  fertile  eggs  without 
previous  copulation  has  also  been  observed  in  Sohnohia  lichcueUa,  by 
Wocke  and  Keutti.  Of  Psyche  helix,  Siebold  says  : — "  Of  this  extremely 
remarkable  moth  we  are  at  present  only  certainly  acipiainted  with  the 
female.  In  the  caterpillar  state  it  lives  in  a  case,  which  in  its  form  re- 
sembles a  sinistral  snail-shell."  Siebold,  to  convince  himself  of  their 
sex,  made  dissections  of  many  of  the  wingless  and  almost  footless  moths, 
whose  unfertilised  eggs,  concealed  in  the  pupa-case,  developed  in  the 
same  year. 

In  1795,  Constans  de  f'astellet,  General  Inspector  of  the  silk  industry 
in  Sardinia,  reported  to  Reaumur  that  he  had  reared  caterj)illars  from  un- 
fertilised eggs  of  the  silkworm  moth.  "Ex  nihilo  nihil  tit"  was  Eeaumitr's 
sliort  and  sceptical  reply.  Herold,  in  183S,  reported  that  amongst  tlie 
eggs  of  an  unfertilised  silkworm  moth,  some  here  and  there  passed  wholly 
or  ])artially  through  the  same  changes  which  were  observed  in  eggs  fer- 
tilised by  true  copulation,  although  most  of  the  eggs  remained  unaltered  ; 
and  the  same  author  even  distinguishes  (Disquisitiones  de  animalium 
verfebrin  carentmm  in  oi:o  formatione,  Fasc.  II.,  1838,  Tab.  7,  fig.  31) 
between  the  fcetus  developed  from  fecundated  and  that  developed  from 
unfecundated  eggs,  the  former  making  its  escape  as  a  larva,  whilst  the 
latter  remained  in  the  egg-shell  and  died.  Herold  further  furnishes 
an  exact  and  detailed  description  of  the  changes  which  may  be  detectetl 
with  a  lens,  as  taking  place  in  a  determinate  sequence  in  different  silk- 
worm eggs  which  developed  witliout  fecundation.  He  distinguished 
readily  "  various  degrees  of  the  faculty  of  development  of  unfertilised 
eggs,  which  manifested  tliemselves  ])y  infinite  differences  in  the  dis- 
position, number,  form  and  strength  of  colour,  of  the  coloured  part  of 
the  egg."  In  some  of  these  unfecundated  eggs  the  faculty  of  develop- 
ment had  attained  such  a  high  degi'ee,  that  Herold  "  was  able  to 
extract  a  foetus  from  one  of  them  in  the  middle  of  winter."  According 
to  Herold's  account,  embryos  capable  of  development  were  not 
found  in  all  the  unfertilised  eggs  which  he  examined,  nor  had  he  seen 
young  caterpillars  creep  out  of  unfertilised  eggs,  as  just  before  the 
period  of  hatching  they  ceased  to  live.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind, 
however,  that  Malpighi  as  far  back  as  1669  (Marc.  Malpiijltii  Dissertafio 
de  Boiuhijce,  Londini,  ]i.  82),  was  well  acquainted  witli  theses  differences, 
and  even  then  knew  that  the  eggs  were  not  fertilised  at  the  time  of 
copulation,  but  that  each  one  was  afterwards  fertilised  separately. 

Siebold  (juotes  a  communication  made  to  liim  by  Mons.  I*.  d«  Filippi, 
in  1851,  to  tlie  effect  that  a  celebrated  Englisli  entomologist,  Mr.  dolm 
Curtis,  when  passing  through  Turin,  had  told  him  of  an  isolated  chry- 
salis of  Bomhyx  pob/phemus,  which  he  had  received  from  America,  and 
from  which  a  female  emerged,  all  of  whose  eggs  developed,  adding  that 
he  believed  the  same  thing  happened  with  Bomhyx  riwri,  even  when 
altogether  separated  from  males.  In  proof  of  the  latter,  Filij)pi  stated 
that  in  1850,  he  observed  it  in  that  variety  of  the  silkworm  moth  known 
as  trevotiui,  a  species  having  three  broods  in  the  year,  that  ]\Ions.  Griseri 
who  was  also  much  interested  in  the  silk  industry  had  found  that  many 
eggs  of  virgin  females  develo})ed,  and  had  been  informed  ])y  uiany  otlu^r 
silkworm  raisers  that  they  had  observeil  the  same  fact.     Sieliold  also 


294  THK    KNTOMOMXilS'r's     llKCOKIt. 

mentions  that  various  silkworm  l)reotlers  in  Breslau  anrl  ]\Innieh  gave 
him  similar  information,  and  one  of  them,  Herr  Steiner  of  Breslau, 
enabled  him  to  carry  out  some  experiments  on  an  extensive  scale.  He 
noticed  "  exactly  the  same  well-known  change  of  colour  which  took  place 
in  the  fertilised  eggs  soon  after  their  deposition  "  in  a  large  number  of  un- 
fecundated  eggs  as  had  previous  observers,  but  many  stopped  at  various 
stages,  some  only  becoming  reddish  or  violet,  and  very  few  unfertilised 
eggs  passing  through  the  entire  series  of  colour-change  to  slaty-grej-. 
Siebold  obtained  no  larvae  from  them,  but  in  1854,  Herr  Schmid  of 
Eichstadt  sent  him  unfertilised  eggs  from  which  he  got  larva?.  He  tells 
us  that  lie  expected  to  ])reed  onl}^  males,  his  mind  having  already  been  in- 
fluenced in  the  matter  by  reading  Lacordaire's  account  of  Carlier's  obser- 
vation "  that  he  obtained,  without  copulation,  three  generations  of  Lipariti 
dispar,  of  which  the  last  gave  only  males,  which  naturally  brought  the 
experiment  to  an  end."  Siebold,  however,  reared  both  males  and 
females,  which  copulated  freely,  and  appeared  to  have  quite  the  ordinary 
amount  of  vitality,  whilst  Dr.  Kipp  had  previousl}^  recorded  the  rearing 
of  both  males  and  females  from  some  unfecundated  eggs  of  Smerinthus 
popnli.  Schmid  at  the  same  time  made  some  experiments  which  gave 
a  similar  result. 

Err.\tum. — Page  246,  line  22,  for  "  octoderm  "  read  ectoderm. 


SCIENTIFIC  NOTES  &  OBSERVATIONS. 

Notes  on  the  Life-historv  of  Melanippe  rivata  and  M.  sooiata. 
— Writing  of  the  specific  distinctness  of  these  two  geometers,  which  1 
sujipose  no  one  with  any  knowledge  of  them  could  now  question, 
Newman  (p.  162),  quotes  Hellins  as  saying  that  "  The  difficulty  of  ob- 
taining both  species  in  the  same  stage,  at  the  same  time,  no  doubt  i-en- 
ders  this  comparison"  (of  the  larv;e)"  less  perfect  than  it  might  )»e,  could 
they  be  placed  side  l)y  side,"  kc,  &c.  This  remark  has  always  surprised 
me,  and  shows  either  that  Mr.  Hellins  did  not  take  any  great  pains  in 
the  matter,  or  else  that  M.  rirnta  occurs  earlier,  or  lasts  for  a  shorter 
period,  in  some  districts,  than  in  tlie  Isle  of  Wight.  It  is  quite  true  that 
the  time  of  the  appearance  of  rivata  in  the  imago  state  is,  roughly 
speaking,  intermediate  between  the  two  broods  of  sociata,  but  at  San- 
down,  the  two  always  overlap  in  the  latter  part  of  July  and  first  few 
days  of  August,  for  a  period  of  from  two  to  three  weeks,  according  to 
circumstances.  Of  course,  for  the  purpose  of  a  comparison  of  the  larvae, 
it  matters  not  that  rivata  has  been  on  the  wing  longer  than  sociata, 
since  I  have  always  found  that,  however  worn  it  is,  it  is  good  for  a 
few  eggs  at  least,  and  I  have  sometimes  obtained  quite  fresh  specimens 
after  sociata  was  well  out.  By  the  way,  I  strongly  suspect  that 
Newman's  statement  that  rivata  is  "  never  double-brooded  in  a  state  of 
nature,"  is  not  quite  accurate  ;  it  is,  in  captivity,  a  somewhat  erratic 
species,  some  broods  keeping  rigidly  to  the  long  pupal  period,  others 
producing  one  or  two  precocious  imagines  in  the  autumn,  while  a  friend 
of  mine  had  one  small  brood  (from  a  June  ?  )  which  reached  the  imago 
state  the  same  summer — I  believe  in  only  five  or  six  weeks.  I,  unfortu- 
nately, have  only  limited  opportunities  of  collecting  in  June,  but  the 
rivata  which  I  l)reed  emeroe  from  the  extreme   end  of  Mav    to  aliont 


SCIENTTFK!    NOTES    AND    OBSRUVATIONS.  295 

June  2Gtli,  and  if  this  is  anywhere  near  the  normal  period  at  Sandown 
in  a  state  of  nature,  the  good  specimens  which  I  met  with  a  month  or 
two  later  (this  year  I  took  one  absolutely  perfect  on  August  3Uth),  must 
belong  to  this  class  of  "  forwards,"  and  as  they  are  certainly  entirely 
fertile,  we  shall  have  a  complete  second  cycle,  or  a  genuine,  though 
partial,  "  double  brood."  At  any  rate,  whether  the  August  rioata  be- 
long to  a  second  brood,  or  are  retarded  emergences,  I  determined  this 
year  to  make  them  serve  my  purpose  of  oljtainiug  a  side-))y-side  com- 
parison of  the  early  stages,  and  though  1  did  not  arrive  at  SandoAvn 
until  August  4th,  too  late  to  meet  with  many  rivata,  I  managed  to 
capture  a  worn  $  on  August  13th,  and  took  a  J  soclala  the  same  day 
for  my  comparison.  In  order  not  to  lose  time,  as  I  feared  the  vivata 
would  not  last  long,  I  slipped  a  small  shoot  of  Galium  niolJugn  into  each 
of  the  boxes  where  I  confined  my  $  $  ,  and  on  my  arrival  home,  I  found 
that  both  had  commenced  to  lay ;  the  vivata,  however,  only  laid 
six  eggs,  and  was  dead  l)y  the  morning  of  the  loth;  the  sociata  had 
then  laid  70,  and  I  let  it  go.  Both  species  will  lay  freely  in  chip  boxes 
on  the  little  bits  of  Galiuin  introduced,  but  very  rarely  if  ever,  on  the  box 
itself,  when  they  can  get  the  food-plant.  Both  laid  the  eggs  singly,  on  the 
underside  of  the  leaves,  at  the  edge,  and  generally  near  the  tip,  one  only 
(sociata),  on  the  stem.  The  eggs,  superficially  viewed  (I  was  not  able 
to  subject  them  to  microscopic  examination),  are  similar  in  form  and 
consistency,  of  the  ordinary  ovoid  form  of  the  group,  smooth  and  shining ; 
but  rivata,  besides  being  of  course  the  larger,  is  distinctly  paler,  so  that 
I  should  describe  it  as  almost  cream  colour,  while  sociata  is  decidedly 
tinged  with  yellow  ;  it  also  appeared  that  rivata,  was  perhaps,  slightly 
the  narrower  proportionately,  at  the  narrower  end.  No  change  takes 
})lace  till  very  shoi'tly  before  hatching  (I  have  no  precise  observations 
to  record,  but  certainly  well  within  twenty-four  hours),  when  the  usual 
darkening,  through  an  opacpie  but  not  dark  gTe3ash  to  quite  a  deep 
leaden  tint,  occurs.  A  fcAv  sociata  hatched  on  August  23rd,  and  the 
rest  very  shortly  after ;  one  rivata  on  August  24th,  four  more  within  a  day, 
the  sixth  proving  infertile.  The  duration  of  the  egg  stage  with  rivata, 
may  thus  be  taken  as  one  day  longer  than  with  its  ally,  atmospheric 
conditions  being  identical.  This  observation  is  supported  by  one  made 
upon  the  two  sj^ecies  last  year,  within  ten  days  of  one  another,  when  (in 
July),  each  hatched  a  day  more  rapidly  than  this  year  (in  August),  but 
the  relative  period  was  the  same.  The  larva3  when  first  hatched  are 
very  similar,  and,  rather  curiously,  the  size  difference  is  less  observable 
than  in  tlie  eggs ;  indeed  1  wrote  that  they  were  "  apparentl_v  of  practically 
the  same  size."  They  are  of  a  unicolorous  greyish-yellow,  tlie  head 
deeper,  and  more  of  an  orange  tint.  Both  would  occasionally  drop  by  a 
web  when  touched,  a  hal)it  which  most  of  the  "  carpet  "  larvas  seem  to 
liave  in  their  first  skin,  though,  as  far  as  I  recollect,  only  ijah'ata  retains 
it  into  the  second,  and  even  in  this  case  the  maturer  larva  entirely  abandons 
it.  Most  of  the  sociata  reached  their  first  moult  on  August  28th.  tlie 
more  backward  ones  being  just  the  size  of  their  contemporary  rivata  ; 
on  that  day  I  again  compared  the  non-moulting  larva?,  and  remarked 
that  rivata  was  decidedly  brighter  in  coloui',  almost  apple-gi-een,  while 
sociata  was  of  a  duller,  more  glaucous  green,  and  also  that  rivata  was 
smoother,  sociata  being  a  little  rugose  laterally.  Rivata  reached  its  first 
moult  the  next  day  (August  29th),  and  after  this,  another  com]iarison 
of  the  contemporaries  showed  similar  differences  to  those  just  noted ; 


•>[)>')  THE     KN'l'()5l<>I.n<;Ts'r's   ■UF.i'oRli. 

I  also  observed  a  slight  difference  in  the  favourite  resting  posture,  rivata 
appearing  to  be  more  partial  to  a  straight,  or  nearly  straight  posture, 
whether  holding  on  with  its  fore-legs,  or  not,  sociata  to  an  attitude 
more  or  less  curved.  Many  of  the  sociata  entered  their  third  skin  on 
September  3rd,  the  riouta  on  September  4th  ;  that  day  I  again  compared 
tlie  latter  with  a  backward  sociata,  which  had  been  isolated  for  the 
purpose,  i.e.,  one  which  also  had  only  recently  entered  this  skin.  As 
is  usual  with  the  Larentiidae,  the  characteristic  markings  now  apjiear, 
and  the  two  species  are  now  exceedingly  similar,  much  more  so  than 
in  the  previous  skin ;  a  very  careful  com})arison  led  me  to  doubt 
Avhether  there  was  any  difference  except  those  slight  variations,  which 
one  constantly  ()l>serves  ])etween  individuals  of  the  same  species, 
or  even  of  the  same  brood.  Rivata  was  a  trifle  larger  and  paler,  the 
dorsal  pattern  being  in  a  lightish  brown,  instead  of  dark  brown  as  in 
sociata  (dorsal  spots  and  sub-dorsal  line  in  sociata,  nearly  black)  ;  the 
V-mark  on  the  face,  on  the  other  hand,  was  perhaps  the  better  defined 
in  rivata.  Compared  again  two  days  later  (September  6th),  I  made  the 
following  notes : — "  Dorsal  line  on  hind  segments  quite  black  in  rivata, 
o'reenish-gi'ey  in  sociata,  dorsal  pattern  also  generally  presenting  a 
different  appearance :  in  both,  a  series  of  indistinct  dusky  arrow-head 
markings  pointing  forwai"d,  l:)ut  in  sociata  fairly  clear  whitish  borders 
these  interiorly,  while  in  rivata  the  whitish  is  very  ill-defined,  except 
a  clear  tchite  spot  in  the  apex ;  in  rivata,  too,  the  segment-incisions  are 
somewhat  broadly  orange-brown,  more  contrasted  with  the  ground 
colour  (dirty  gi-eenish-brown)  than  in  sociata."''  On  or  aliout  Sej^tem- 
ber  10th,  the  sociata  entered  their  fourth  and  last  skin,  r/ra /a  folio  wing 
a  day  or  two  later.  Compared  on  September  13th,  they  were  still  very 
similar,  but  rivata  was  the  more  richly  coloured;  the  ground  coloui- 
richer  lu'own,  and  the  pattern  much  more  distinct,  the  white  dorsal 
spots  still  large  and  conspicuous,  and  the  dark  external  shading  of  the 
"  arrow-heads  "  well  pronounced,  its  hinder  half  cpiite  black  ;  in  .>iociata 
the  prima  rista  appearance  ])eing  of  an  almost  unicolorous  dorsal  surface, 
except  the  black  dorsal  lines  on  segs.  2-3  and  10-13.  In  rivata  I  also 
noticed  a  conspicuous  l)lack  spot  on  the  side  of  segs.  8  and  9  (?),  whieli 
were  generally  absent  in  sociata,  or  very  ill-defined.  In  their  final 
skin,  the  sociata  gained  another  day  or  two  on  rivata,  the  latter  going 
to  earth  between  September  21st  and  22nd,  about  a  day  and  a  half  after 
the  most  backward  sociata.  From  these  comparisons,  it  would  appear 
that  there  is  no  period  of  the  larval  existence  Avhen  the  two  larva?  shoA\' 
any  differences  of  obvious  specific  value,  though  such  differences  could 
doubtless  be  made  out  from  the  eggs  ;  I  did  not  observe  the  difference 
l)etween  the  structure  of  the  dorsal  "arrow-head"  between  the  4th  and 
5th  segments  of  the  larva,  which  Hellins  emphasises.  As  for  the 
imagines,  though  I  have  sometimes  seen  series  mixed  in  good  collections, 
yet  this  must  be  due  to  carelessness.  I  have  never  met  with  a  good 
entomologist  who  could  not  discriminate  the  two  with  attention. — 
L.  B.  Prout,  12,  Greenwood  Eoad,  Dalston,  N.E.     Oct.  4:th,  1894. 


OTES    ON    COLLECTING,    Etc. 

Apamea  ophiogramma  in  London. — The  paper  dealing  with  this 
species  which  was  read  by  Mr.  Battley  before  the  City  of  TiOndon  En- 
tomulogical  Socit'ty  on  Sept.  3rd,    1891  (  Eut.  lice,  vol.  ii.,  p.  191)  in- 


k 


NOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    ETC.  297 

duccd  luc  to  import  several  roots  of  striped  ribbon  grass  ;  but  although 
wo  ke})t  careful  watch  both  for  larvte  and  imagines,  none  were  seen 
until  this  year,  when  three  were  taken — one  on  July  8th,  another  on 
July  24th,  and  the  third  on  July  27th.  The  specimen  taken  on  July 
24th  was  perfectly  fresh.  It  seems  that  this  species  is  within  the  reach 
of  any  one,  at  any  rate  in  London,  who  takes  the  trouble  to  import  a 
few  roots  of  the  grass  into  his  garden. — Ambrose  Quail,  Stamford  Hill. 

Laphygma  exigua  in  THE  IsLE  OF  WiGHT. — It  is  my  good  fortune 
to  again  chronicle  the  capture  by  myself  of  this  pretty  and  very  dis- 
tinct little  Noctua  at  Freshwater,  upon  Sept.  25th.  The  specimen  is 
unfortunately  very  faded,  and  in  this  respect  contrasts  very  unfavour- 
alily  with  the  previous  capture  (ante  page  229)  which  however  can 
hardly  be  wondered  at,  as  it  is  more  than  three  weeks  later,  and 
the  weather  has  been  most  unsettled  in  the  meantime.  My  experience 
is  that  L.  exigua  is  most  easy  to  distinguish,  when  upon  the  sugar,  from 
Caradriua  cubicnlarif;,  as  the  latter  sits  very  flat  with  the  wings  over- 
lapping, and  has  a  remarkably  level  appearance,  whilst  L.  exicjiia  droops 
its  wings,  after  the  manner  of  Plusia  ijamma  at  rest. — Albert  J. 
Hodges.     Sept.  2m,  1894. 

Nootua  daiilii  not  AT  York. — The  reference  (ante,  p.  256)  to  the 
occurrence  of  this  species  at  York  is  an  error.  N.  dahlii  has  never  been 
taken  here.  It  occurs  at  Shipley  Glen,  Bradford,  where,  in  some  seasons, 
it  is  common. — Wm.  Hewett,  Howard  Street,  York.     Oct.  23rd,  1894. 

Collecting  at  Crosier  :  a  correction. — The  sentence  in  my  note 
(^p.  252)  referring  to  treacling  on  the  cliff  on  one  night  only  seems  to 
indicate  that  this  was  the  only  treacling  we  did  ;  this  is  misleading. 
I  meant  to  imply  that  we  only  treacled  on  the  cliff  on  one  night  ;  the 
remarks  following  the  sentence  referred  to,  relate  to  the  whole  of 
our  experience  at  Cromer  in  the  treacling  way.  We  tried  it  in  several 
localities  rather  more  inland,  and  found  that  the  tlower-head.s,  when 
treacled,  paid  better  than  trees  ;  of  the  latter,  indeed,  thei'e  were  very 
few  suitable  for  the  purpose. — C.  Nicholson,  202,  Evering  Koad,  N.E. 
Nov.  2nd,  1894. 

Food-plants  of  Bombyx  quercus. — The  larvte  mentioned  in  my 
Cromer  note  last  month  ai'e  about  2  inches  long,  and  seem  disposed  to 
feed  up  without  hibernating.  As  bramble,  rose,  &c.  (to  which  they 
are  now  reduced),  are  getting  scarce,  I  shall  be  very  glad  if  someone 
can  recommend  me  any  evergreen  plant  which  they  will  eat.  Owen 
Wilson  gives  "  Ivy  (in  winter)  ;"  does  anyone  know  if  this  is  un- 
failing, or  is  it  likely  to  be  a  matter  of  taste  according  to  the  brood  ? 
Mine  are  now,  I  think,  in  their  tifth  skin. — C.  Nicholson,  202,  Evering 
Eoad,  N.E.     Nov.  2nd,  1894. 

NOTES    OF    THE    SEASON    1894. 

Short  Notes  froji  the  Books  of  the  Exchange  Baskets. — Mr.  II. 
Bickerton  Jones  (Liverpool)  writes  on  September  4th  : — "  This  season 
has  been,  I  think,  the  worst  I  ever  experienced.  I  believe  matters 
are  improving  with  the  autumn,  as  many  insects  have  been  taken  at 

Delamere    lately." Mr.    J.    E.    Eobson   (Hartlepool)    writes   on 

September  5th : — "  It  has  been  a  wretched  season  here.  Sugar  has 
been  fairly  attractive  to  common  things,  but  the  only  decent  insects 
which  I  have    taken    at   it   are    one    each    of    Mamciitra    ahjecla    and 


298 


THE    ENTOMOLOGIST  S    UECORD. 


Acjrot/'s  ravida.  Kagwort  lias  been  fairly  })roductive  uf  uommon  thing.s, 
and^.  vaUigera, -which,  had  been  quite  rare  for  a  few  years,  was  almost 
as  common  as  A.  tritici.     Can  anyone  tell  me  how  to  distinguish  the 

larvffi  of  these  ?  I  cannot  separate  them." Dr.  Corbett  (Doncaster) 

writes  on  September  6th  : — "  The  season  here  continues  to  be  bad,  but 
a  few  good  things  have  turned  up,  among  which  are  Sdaphila  dnuana 
and  Scoparia  basintr/'galifi.  The  latter  species  was  fairly  common  at 
Edlington  in  July.  I  have  not  seen  one  really  good  sugar  night  so 
far,  but  things  are  improving.     Latterly,  a  few  specimens  of  Cosniia 

jxilfdcca  have  come  to  the  sweets." Mr.  Vivian  (Taibach)  writes 

on  September  8th : — "  Here,  at  Sligo.  I  have  taken  a  fair  number  of 
Agrofis  cursor /'a  and  A.  tritici  on  the  ragwort  tlowers,  with  a  few 
A.  praecox.  A  few  Stilhla  anoiiKiIa  were  captured  flying  over  the 
heath  at   dusk  and   coming  to  light.     At  light  also,  on  the  heath,  I 

captured  A.  tritici,  A.  luccmea  and  Epnndahdtdenta.'' Mr.  Whittle 

(Southend)  writes  on  September  10th : — "  Sugar  is  just  now  fairly 
productive  in  this  neighbourhood.  Noctna  c-nigrum  is  the  insect  most 
strongly  represented.  In  my  line  of  sugar  there  is  a  solitary  ash,  on 
which  I  took,  last  Thursday,  a  fine  Clrrhoedin  xerampdina.  Under 
the  same  tree,  on  Friday,  I  found  on  a  grass  culm  a  beautiful  example 
of  the  same  species,  evidently  only  recently  emerged  ;  also  Dcpressaria 
alstrdvicriella.  Noiiiophila  noctnella  is  absent  apparently,  although  it 
swarmed  here  last  year.  I  have  seen  two  specimens  of  Coliaa  ediisn, 
one  of  which  I  captured.  A  good  supply  of  Phorodcsma  .sinaragdario. 
Iarv;e  have  also  been  obtained  by  careful  searching.  My  hunting 
ground  for  this  species  comprises  about  a  mile  of  saltings.  This  year, 
the  larvi\3  occurred  on  the  same  three  clumps  of  Artemisia  viaritima  on 
which  1  found  them  last  year  ;  one  of  these  yielded  five-sixths  or  more 
of  the  larvaj  taken,  the  proportion  of  larvae  to  each  clump  being  much 
as  last  year.  I  should  say,  from  my  experience,  that  it  is  a  truly 
conservative  larva.  The  most  striking  species  which  I  have  taken 
since  the  2Sth  of  July,  are : — Cramhus  selasellus,  MijeJophila  crihreUa, 
Fctnifthila  Jineola,  Goucpderijx  rhcimni,  Mclanippe  sociata,  Catoplrin 
iripoJiana,  C.  candididana,  Lita  ohsoletclla  (?),  Agdistis  bennetii,  I'yiipithecid 
oblongata,  E.  subfidvata,  AspHates  ocJircaria,  Acidnlia.  snbserlceata  (very 
late. — Ed.),  Cataclysta  lemnata,  ConcltijJis  francillana,  Agrotis  ;/j)silon, 
Depressaria  yeatiana.  At  light  the  following  appeared  : — Lupcrlmt, 
testacca  (very  common),  K.  oblongata,  N.  c-uigriun,  Scopida  fcrrng<dis, 
Endutricha  flaiame<dis,  Notodonta  dictaeoides,  Pionca  forjicalis,  Aspilatcs 
ochrearia,  Crambus  geniculens,  E.  subfidvata.  At  sugar : — Agrotis  ypsilon, 
Flmia  gamma,  Phlogopliora  laeticulosa,  Calymnia  diffinis,  Noctna  c-nigrum, 
Amphipyra  tragopogonis,  Acronycta  rumicis,  Depressaria  applana,  Agrotis 

pida,  Pterophorus   monodactyJus  and  Metrocampa   niargaritaria." 

Mr.  N.  M.  Kichardson  (Weymouth)  writes  on  September  11th: — "I 
am  glad  to  say  that  I  have  not  found  the  season  so  exceedingly  bad  as 
some  of  the  members  of  this  basket,  though  I  have  not  been  able  to  do 
a  great  deal  of  collecting.  I  think,  however,  that  the  season  at 
Portland  is  not  always  influenced  by  the  causes  which  affect  it 
elsewhere,  possibly  from  its  isolated  position.  In  some  respects 
Portland  has  suffered  this  year  ;  for  instance,  Agrotis  Innigera,  which 
is  generally  pretty  common,  has  been  almost  absent.  On  the  other 
hand  it  has  been  a  good  year  for  xl.  pyropltda,  which  varies  exceed- 
ingly in  its  appearance,  and  an  average  one  for  A.  luccmea.'" Mr. 


NOTES    ON    ('OIJ,K0TTNf:,    ETC.  299 

Mason  (Clevedon)  writes  on  Septombei*  T3th : — "  Collecting  here  is  no 
more  a  success  than  it  was  two  months  ago.  Sugar  is  almost  a  failure. 
I  have  scarcely  missed  an  evening  for  the  last  three  weeks  ;  a  couple 
of  dozen  Ampliipura  pi/ramhlea,  with  an  odd  specimen  of  Noctua  ruhi, 
N.  .inittJioi/raphd,  and  Aijrotw  puta  are  all  that  I  have  seen  or  taken. 
The  ivy  is  just  coming  out,  but  I  do  not  feel  very  sanguine  as  to 
autumn  collecting.  There  has  been  a  great  scarcity  of  butterflies  this 
autumn.  Paranje  mcgaera  is  the  only  species  that  has  been  plentiful. 
Whites  are  very  scarce  (much  to  the  delight  of  the  gardener),  so  also 
are  Pi/rameh  atnhmta,  P.  cardni,  Gouepferi/.c  rhamni and  Vanessa  nrticae, 
though  the  last-named  was  abundant  in  the  larval  stage.  Lijcaena 
icarm  has  also  been  scarce,  and  the  few  seen  were  much  smaller  than 
usual.  I  have  seen  one  or  two  specimens  of  Vanessa  2)o]i/ch1oros,  but 
no  Grapta  c-alhwn  ;    both  these  species  ai'e,  however,  usually  scarce 

with  us." Mr.  Atmore  (King's  Lynn)  writes  on  September  17th  : 

— "  The  weather  during  August  interfered  much  with  collecting. 
Agrot/'s  agatlilna  occurs  here,  and  I  tried  for  it  on  one  suitable  night 
during  August  but  got  only  one  specimen,  apparently  just  emerged." 

Rev.  C.  F.  Thornewill  (Calverhall)  writes  on  September  17th  : — 

"  Procris  geryon  was  very  scarce  this  year  in  the  Bakewell  district,  where 
last  year  it  positively  swarmed,  and  its  food-plant  (the  rock  cistus) 
was  very  late  in  flowering.  Mclanippe  tristata  was  equally  scarce,  and 
those  that  I  did  take  were  mostly  boxed  or  netted  whilst  sitting 
on  the  stone  walls,  which  form  such  a  conspicuous  feature  in  North 
Derbyshire  scenery.  Enpitliecia  pi/gmaeata  I  saw  only  on  one  day, 
when  I  caught  two  specimens  and  missed  a  third ;  it  flies  in  the 
middle  of  the  day  in  the  hottest  sunshine,  but  seems  to  be  no  wise 

abundant." Capt.    Robertson   (Coxhorne)  writes   on    September 

2()th  : — "  I  have  just  returned  from  Tenby,  where  I  spent  the  month 
of  August.  The  insects  I  took  there  were : — EpinepheJe  iitlioiuis, 
abundant ;  E.  hiip)eranikm,  worn ;  Pararge  egeria,  in  fine  condition 
and  moderately  common  ;  Lijcaena  arghlus,  scarce  ;  Pllppareliia  semele, 
common  on  the  sandhills ;  Aspilates  ochrearia,  not  common ;  Melanippe 
gah'ata,  scarce  ;  Bombi/x  querrus,  scarce  ;  Bryophila  muralis,  scarce,  on 
old  wall  of  pier ;  EuhoJia  hipunctaria  and  Gnophos  ohscuraria,  fairly 
common  on  the  sandhills  ;  Agrotis  praeco.c,  just  beginning  to  come  out 
as  I  left,  three  or  four  were  obtained  by  shaking  roots  of  sand-rush  ; 
A.  cursoria,  A.  vestigialts,  and  A.  tritici  were  very  common,  especially 
the  latter,  taken  by  the  same  means  as  A.  praecox ;  Bryophila  perla,  on 
stone  walls  everywhere ;  Aglossa  phiguinalis  was  very  large  and 
common  in  an  old  stable ;  Coremia  ferrngata,  Agrotis  nigricans,  Argynnis 
paphia,  and  Pyrameis  carchi,  one  or  two  of  each.  Mr  Graves  went 
over  to  Sandersfoot  about  the  26th  and  took  two  dozen  Stilbia  anomala. 
I  returned  to  Coxhorne  on  the  29th  and  worked  light  and  sugar, 
but  did  not  take  a  single  insect  at  the  latter,  and  nothing  after  the 
6th  inst.  at  the  former,  but  during  the  week  I  took  in  the  moth-trap 
about  40  Nenronia  pjopidaris,  6  Lnperina.  cespitis,  and  a  few  L.  testacca. 
I  also  found  a  very  fine  female  Cirrhoedia  xerampelina  at  rest  on  an  ash 

trunk  on  August  3Uth,  but  have  searched  in  vain  for  more." 

Mr.  J.  E.  R.  Allen  (Glasgow)  writes  on  September  29th  : — "  I  captured 
a  good  variety  of  Vanessa  vrticae  in  Phoinix  Park,  Dublin,  in  August. 
The  two  spots  on  the  fore  wings  are  almost  wanting,  tlu;  blue  border  is 
very  distinct,  and  the  hind  wings  are  almost  black."  'Mr.  S.  Walker 


300  TTIR    FNTOMOLOniST's    REOORT). 

(York)  writes  on  October  1st : — "  I  am  sorry  to  join  the  chorus  of 
lamentation  over  the  badness  of  the  season.  On  the  2nd  July  I  had  a 
day  at  Sledmere  Woods  on  the  Yorkshire  Wolds,  but  everything  seemed 
scarce.  Asthena  blomeri  and  Vennsia  cambricaria,  generally  so  plentiful, 
were  very  scarce.  I  took  a  nice  series  of  Melanthia  alhicHlaia  and  a 
few  fine  Macan'a  liturata,  also  some  fine  Lycaenn  medon,  an  insect  new 
to  me  in  that  district.  During  the  first  fortnight  in  July  I  worked 
Scarborough  and  district  with  little  success.  Mr.  Head  of  that  town, 
and  I  sugared  the  trees  and  fences  near  the  Castle,  but,  with  the 
exception  of  a  fine  series  of  Mamestra  fnrva,  we  boxed  nothing.  Day- 
work  on  the  cliflfs  near  Cay  ton  Bay,  to  the  south  of  Scarborougli, 
yielded  Enholia  hipnnctaria  in  numbers,  but  little  else.  I  found 
the  local  Ejmne  mi^pertnria  in  fair  numbers  during  the  first  days  of 
August  at  Sandburn,  the  females  putting  in  an  appearance  on  one 
evening  only  ;  as  a  rule,  the  latter  are  very  rarely  met  with  at  rest,  and 
are  still  rarer  on  the  wing,  and  a  collector  may  not  take  a  single  one 
for  nights  yet  get  the  males  in  plenty.  Curiously  the  few  larvas 
I  swept  this  year  yielded  female  moths  in  every  case !  The  autumn 
reports  about  larva?  appear  very  favourable.  I  have  taken  Smerlathus 
ocellatus,  which,  on  isolated  sallows  on  Strensall  Common,  were  easily 
seen  and  picked  off  ;  S.pojmli,  Spilosomafniiginosa,  Dasi/chira  piidibnnda , 
Bombyx  ruhi,  Engonia  tiliaria,  Amphidasi/s  bcUdaria  (common),  Dicrannra 
furcula,  Clostera  reelusa  (in  plenty),  Notodonta  camelina,  N.  dictaea,  N'. 
didaeoideti,  N.  dromedarms,N.  ziezac,  Acroni/cta  leporina,  A.  ineni/<iiifh/dix, 

ifec." Mr.  Fenn  (Lee)  writes  on  October  2ad : — "  I  have  lately 

been  staying  at  Deal,  and  although  day-work  was  useless  I  had  a  fair 
amount  of  success  at  sugar.  Excej^t  on  one  night,  the  wind  blew  hard 
from  the  north-east,  but  it  was  not  particularly  cold  and  the  dew  was 
usually  very  heavy.  The  most  sheltered  spots  were  the  most  produc- 
tive, but  there  was  so  little  on  the  wing  that  1  soon  discarded  my  net. 
I  captured  the  following: — Aporophyla  anstralis,  common,  but  getting 
worn  at  the  time  I  left ;  Anchocelis  hinosa,  common,  but  rather  worn  ; 
A.pistacina,  just  out  and  not  scarce  ;  Xanthia  fnli-ago  (cerago),  just  out, 
one  or  two  only  ;  Mellinia  circellaris,  common  and  very  fine ;  Agrotis 
tritici,  common  but  worn ;  A.  vestigialis,  a  few  in  good  condition  ; 
A.  puta,  a  few  fair;  A.  segetimi,  very  fine;  A.  ypsilon  (snffusa),  very 
fine ;  Leiicania  pollens,  one  or  two  only  ;  Hydroecia  nictitans,  one  just 
out ;  Xylophasia  monoglypha,  a  few  worn  ;  Caradrina  cubicidaris,  a  few 
fine ;  Noctna  c-nigrma,  common  and  fine ;  N.  xantJiographa,  common 
and  very  worn;  A.  tragopogoms,  one;  Eptinda  lichenea,  one  of  the  dark 
type  form  ;  E.  hdnlenta,  a  few,  some  fine  pale  forms ;  Phtogophora 
meticnlosa,  common  and  fine ;  Calocampa  vetusta,  a  few  fine ;  Xylina 
soda,  one  fine ;  Plnsia  gamma,  very  common  at  sugar,  not  merely 
flying  round  but  imbibing  freely  ;  Hypena  rostralis,  one.  Larva?  of 
Bombyx   ruhi,    nearly    full-fed,    abundant ;    but    it    was    too    late    for 

Chaerocampa  elpenor." Mr.  N.  M.  Richardson  (Weymouth)  writes 

on  October  11th  : — "  I  have  had  some  very  bad  nights  at  Portland  lately. 
The  autumn  species,  Heliophobus  hiqyidnti,  Epiinda  lichenea,  AncJiocelis 
lunosa,  Luperina  cespitis,  L.  tedacea,  Aporophyla  australis,  &c.   seem  to 

be  late  in  their  appearance,  and  scarce." Mr.  Duncan  (Linlithgow) 

writes  on  October  13th : — "  The  weather  has  been  splendid  here  for 
two  m-  tho,  and  autumn  insects  are  pretty  numerous.  Dasypolia  templi  is 
appearing  in  moderate  numbers  at  light." Mr.  J.  Finlay  (Morpeth) 


NOTES    ON    COLLKCTTNfi,    ETC.  301 

writes  on  October  18tli : — "  Sugar  in  tliis  neighbourhood  is  a  complete 
failure  this  autumn  ;  the  last  time  that  I  tried  it  I  did  not  get  a  single 

insect,  although  the  night  was  very  mild.'' ]\[r.  Beadle  (Keswick) 

writes  on  October  22nd  : — "  Lithomia  solidaginis  has  been  very  fine  this 
year.  I  have  also  taken  a  very  long  series  of  Celaena  haworthii,  which, 
with  L.  solidaginis,  took  very  kindly  to  sugar  during  August.  First 
dates  wei'e : — Di/scJiorisfa  suspeda,  Aug.  10th;  Hadcna  oleracea,  Aug. 
14th  ;  Noefna  dahlii,  and  L.  solidaginis,  Aug.  loth  ;  Hadnia  jyrotea, 
Aug.  16th.  I  have  also  taken  Agrotis  agathina  for  the  first  time.  On 
Aug.  28th  1  took  Nonagria  fnha  and  Noctna  gJarcosa.  Cidaria  testata 
was  abundant  and  very  fine.  I  could  have  taken  hundreds  on  Skiddaw, 
many  of  which  showed  a  great  deal  of  brown  colour  on  the  forewings, 
those  taken  on  Ullock  j\Ioss  being  larger  and  tinged  with  pink  colour. 
Since    September   came    in    we    have    had    grand    weather,    but   the 

east    winds    have    made    collecting   a    failure." Mr.    Moberly 

(Southampton)  writes  on  October  24th  : — "  In  this  neighbourhood  the 
season  has  ended  much  as  it  began  and  has  continued  throughout. 
Neither  sugar,  light,  nor  larva-beating  seems  to  produce  any  profitable 
results.  Three  or  four  hours  work  at  Portland  a  fortnight  ago  resulted 
in  two  Epunda  lichenea  and  two  Anchocelis  lunosa,  and  a  sugaring  night 
in  the  New  Forest  last  Saturday  week  produced  a  considerable  number 
of  Miselia  oxyacanthae  and  nothing  else.  I  hear  from  Heading  that  not 
a  single  Xanthia  aurago  or  X.  gilvago  has  been  taken  there  this  season." 
Forfarshire. — Having  worked  the  neighbourhood  of  Montrose  for 
the  past  fifteen  months  with  my  friend  Mr  Duncan  (the  curator  of  our 
museum).  I  wish  to  record  the  following  captures  of  \octili<:  last  year 
from  July  27tli  to  October  3rd : — Lcncania  rouigera,  L.  lifJian/i/ria,  L. 
impnra,  L.  pallens,  L.  comma  (I  believe  not  taken  in  Aberdeen),  Hi/drorria 
iiictitans,  H.  viicacea  (very  common),  Xylopliasia  lithoxi/Iea,  X.  poh/odon 
(var.  aethiops,  several),  Apamea  didiinia,  Miana  strigiUs,  M.  literosa 
(abundant),  Charaeas  graminis  var.  rufa,  Luperina  testacea  var.  x-no- 
tala,  Celaena  hawortliii,  Mamestra  brassicae,  Caradrina  quadri punctata, 
Jiusina  tenebrosa,  Agrotis  vestigialis,  A.  saucia,  A.  nigricans  var.  fuliqinea 
A.  suffnsa,  A.  praecox,  A.  cursoria  vars.  brnnnea  and  sagitta,  A.  tritici 
vars.  vaUigera  and  albilinea,  Triphaena  ianthina,  T.  fimbria,  T.  p)romd)a, 
T.  orbona  var.  comes,  common,  Noctiia  castanea  (only  one  at  sugar), 
N.  baia,  N.  glareosa  (dark  grey  varieties  and  about  a  dozen  var.  snffnsa), 
N.  c-nigrum  (abundant),  N.  augur,  N.  brnnnea,  N.  /estiva,  N.  confina  (a 
few),  N.  xanthographa,  N.  plecta  (first  taken  August  26th),  Orfhosia  lota 
(three  at  sugar),  Anchocelis  pistacina  (a  few),  A.  litura  (most  abundant), 
Xanthia  fiav ago,  X.fulcago(vsiY.  fiavescens),  Mellinia  circellaris,  Cahpnnia 
trapezina,  Polia  chi  (rather  dark),  Epunda  nigra  (fairly  common),  Hadcna 
oleracea,  Calocampa  vetusta  (thousands),  C.  e.rolcta,  Lithomia  solidai/inis 
(one), Flnsia  gamma,  Amphipji/ra  tragopogonis,  Naenia  typica,  and  Aqriopls 

aprilina. This  year  the  list  has  been  increased  by  Taeniocampa  i/othira 

(and  one  var.  gothicina)  Pachnobia  rubricosa  (slate  colour),  1\  stabilia, 
T.  instabilis,  Panolis  pyiniperda,  Thyatyra  batis,  Cymafophora  duplaris, 
Byrophila  perla  (common  on  many  of  our  walls),  Acronycta  jisi,  Leu- 
cania  littoralis,  Tapinostola  elymi  (fairly  plentiful),  Chorfodcs  arcunsn, 
Miana  bicoloria,  Tapinostola  fulru,  3[aniestra  albicolon,  Apamea  basiliuea, 
A.  gemina,  Xylophasia  rurea,  Agrotis  exclamationis,  A.  corticea,  A.  striijula, 
Hadena  adiista,H.  dentinn,  H.  thalassina,  H.  rectilinea,  Miselia  oxi/arauihae, 
Aplecta  2Ji'<tsina,  Chariclea  ui)d>ra,  I'lusia  interrogationis,   Gonopitera    liba- 


302  TITK    ENTOMOLOOTST's    RKfORn. 

Irix  (two),  Orrhodia  vnccinii  (one),  ScnpcloRoma  snfpUiti'a  (two,  one  with 
white  reniform  and  one  with  red).  Sugar  worked  splendidly  from  June 
9th  until  the  beginning  of  August,  when  we  turned  our  attention  to  search- 
ing ragwort  and  grasses.  During  September,  the  latter  part  of  August, 
and  this  month,  we  have  sugared  29  times,  and  caught  13  insects,  in- 
cluding the  one  0.  vaccinii  and  the  two  S.  sateMitia  mentioned  above. 
For  many  nights  together  we  caught  nothing,  and  in  fact  our  best 
sugaring  night  since  August,  only  yielded  two  insects.  Last  year,  C. 
retnsta,  A.  litura  and  N.  tjlareoMi,  were  seen  in  thousands  ;  this  year  not 
one  has  been  seen. — Montagu  Gunning,  M.D.,  The  Mall,  Montrose,  N.B. 
Ocl.  'ZUt,  1894. 

WIckea. — Mr.  Hodges  has  already  (ante,  p.  180)  given  his  experi- 
ence of  Wicken  in  June.  During  the  same  month  I  made  my  first 
visit  for  this  year  to  that  locality.  I  was,  however,  more  limited  as 
regards  time  than  he  was,  and  was  neither  so  fortunate  in  my  weather, 
nor  so  successful  in  my  take.  In  the  second  week  of  June,  Ajmmea 
nnanimis  and  A.  gemina  were  met  with  in  considerable  numbers  and, 
with  A.  haslUnea  and  Mainestra  sordida,  were  the  most  usual  occupants 
of  our  sugared  knots.  Hadena  adusta  was  also  common,  some  speci- 
mens being  so  fine  and  so  well  marked  and  coloured,  as  to  raise  hopes 
of  H.  porphijrea  (satura),  but  I  have  not  heard  that  the  latter 
insect  was  actually  taken.  Sugar,  in  the  lane  leading  to  the  Fen,  was 
practically  useless.  On  a  fairly  bright  day  at  Tuddenham,  we  found 
Heliothls  dipsacea  and  Acidnlid  rnbujinata  in  some  numbers,  and  occa- 
sional specimens  of  AgropliUa  trnhc(dis  and  Acontla  luctnosa.  A  few 
minutes'  search  for  Lithostege  griseata  produced  several  specimens,  and 
I  think  there  must  have  been  many  more ;  but  the  area  within  which 
they  occur  is  so  limited  (although  the  food-plant  is  abundant  in  all  the 
cornfields),  that  they  seem  not  to  be  freely  taken.  The  cajiture  of 
Hi/driUa  palustris  was,  no  doubt,  the  chief  feature  of  the  early  part  of 
the  season,  Macrogaster  arundinix  is  not  scarcer  at  Wicken  than  it 
was  a  few  years  ago,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  little  careful  nursing 
will  increase  its  numliers.  One  fine  female  has  fallen  to  my  share,  and 
many  males  were  taken.  In  the  last  week  of  July,  I  went  to  Wicken 
again,  and  then  had  rather  more  time  at  my  disposal.  I  found  the 
local  entomologists  very  despondent.  It  had  been  a  shocking  season 
there,  the  rarities  of  the  fen  having,  with  the  exception  of  Agrotis  oh- 
saira,  been  almost  entirely  absent.  One  Aeronycf.a  sfrigosa  and  one 
Hadena  atrlpHcis  but  no  Ci/inatophora  octogesima  were  reported,  and  I 
was  fortunate  enough  to  find  Mr.  Solomon  Bailey  with  a  fine  2  Cldaria 
naiiittata  (the  first  that  had  been  taken  at  Wicken  for  four  years),  which 
is  now  in  my  cabinet.  On  each  day,  during  my  visit  in  July,  there 
was  a  thunderstorm,  which  made  the  fen  very  unpleasant  going ; 
moreover,  the  excessive  damp  made  the  nights  cold,  and  white  mist 
rose  persistently.  Under  these  circumstances,  even  partial  success 
was  more  surprising  than  absolute  failure  would  have  been.  Light  and 
sugar  in  the  lane  were  indeed  useless ;  but  at  sugar  in  the  fen  we  met 
with  Lithosia  griseola,  Apamea  lencostigina  (abundant,  some  fine  forms), 
Lencania  impndens,  Cerigo  matiira,  Agrotis  var.  aquilina,  Cleoceris  viminalix, 
and  an  occasional  Caldmia  phragiiiitidis.  There  were  also  good  forms 
of  Apamea  didi/iua  and  Agrotis  nigricans.  I  took  one  A.  ohscnra  each 
night,  and  Ilecatera  chri/sozona  (di/sodea)  was  taken  at  rest  during  the 
day-time.     The  later  part  of  the  season   appears  to  have  been   much 


NOTES    ON    COLLECTING,    ETC.  303 

like  the  earlier.  Tuplaoatohi  iK'lhiKiiini  has  been  comparatively  scarce,  and 
nothing  else  worth  recording  seems  to  have  been  taken.  In  this  respect, 
Wicken  seems  to  have  shared  the  fate  of  the  New  Forest  and  South 
Hants,  and  in  all  those  places  larvte  have,  since  June,  been  even  more 
scarce  than  they  were  last  j^ear.  Mr.  Albert  Houghton,  who  has  again 
taken  T.  concoJor  and  A.  obiicara,  has  been  a  great  help  to  me  in  many 
ways,  and  has  always  put  himself  and  his  apparatus  at  my  disposal, 
with  a  readiness  which  is  well  known  to  most  frequenter's  of  Wicken. 
1  also  met  with  the  most  uniform  kindness  and  attention  at  the  hands 
of  Mrs.  Kobert  Aspland  and  Mr.  John  Bailey. — J.  C.  Mobeuly,  'J, 
Kockstone  Place,  Southampton.     Oct.  '2dtli,  1894. 

Tnddciiham. — I  was  at  Tuddenham  for  a  day  in  August,  and  found 
a  few  Spilodes  stictiailis,  0.riiptHuti  distans  (laetns),  a  nice  lot  of  Eiijtoen'lia 
crlijerana,  and  saw  the  beautiful  Acidalin  rnbitjinata  in  great  plenty. — 
A.  Thurnall,  144,  Chobham  Koad,  Stratford  Xew  Town,  E.  Oci.  27th, 
18'J4. 

Freshwater,  Isle  of  Wight. — After  having  registered  nothing  but 
ghastly  failures  in  the  collecting  line  uji  to  the  end  of  August,  and 
liaA-ing  these  experiences  corroborated  by  heart-rending  letters  from  my 
correspondents,  telling  of  how  they  went  forth  to  catch  insects  and 
caught  colds,  how  many  insects  thej^  had  captured  to  the  £  sterling  ex- 
pended (usually  three),  and  other  painful  particulars,  it  was  indeed  a 
pleasant  shock  to  the  system,  after  a  ten  hours'  railway  journey  to  the 
Isle  of  Wight,  to  be  told  by  my  old  friend,  Mr.  Hodges,  that  things 
Avere  coming  to  sugar  splendidly.  These  words  put  new  life  into  me, 
and  already  I  felt  that  the  sea  air  was  having  a  beneficial  effect  u})on 
my  health.  Mr.  Hodges,  with  his  usual  kindness  and  forethought, 
knowing  that  I  should  not  arrive  until  late,  had  sugared  some  trees  for 
me.  My  wife  and  a  young  nephew,  the  latter  suffering  from  a  bad 
attack  of  entomological  fever,  opened  the  ball  by  taking  amongst  other 
things  a  pair  of  Caradrina  amhi(jua,  and  the  capture  of  this  rare 
little  Noctua  put  us  in  excellent  spirits,  and  at  the  same  time  quite 
on  the  qui  vice  for  other  rarities.  We  were  also  stimulated  to  woik 
single-handed,  and  try  "  fresh  fields  and  pastures  new,"  and  with  great 
success,  for  the  following  night  Mr.  Hodges  captured  a  specimen  of 
Lencania  aJbipmictn  and  four  Tryphaena  siibseqna,  a  few  Aijrotis  obelisca, 
and,  with  Aporop)hijla  australis,  common  insects  in  abundance.  It  seemed 
quite  like  old  times  to  have  to  devote  one's  whole  day  to  setting,  and 
we  blinked  like  owls  when  we  stole  half  an  hour  from  our  arduous 
labour  to  sally  forth  and  stretch  our  cramjDcd  limbs  in  the  briny.  I 
forgot  to  mention  that  on  the  first  night  a  very  worn  specimen  of 
Tryphaena  subsequa  was  taken,  and  when  about  to  be  reprieved  on  ac- 
count of  its  wretched  plight,  some  one  suggested  keeping  it  for  ova  ; 
that  sealed  its  fate,  and  a  long  vista  of  bred  T.  subsequa  danced  before 
our  eyes.  However,  as  in  three  days  time  there  were  no  signs  of  this 
pleasant  vision  being  realised,  the  insect  Avas  closely  examined,  and  it 
was  found  it  wasn't  "  built  that  Avay,"  and  alas  !  its  condition  was  such 
that  "  the  subsequent  proceedings  interested  him  no  more."  On  Sept. 
16th  another  Leucania  albipimcta  turned  up  ;  this  time  he  fell  to  my 
sugar,  and  on  the  following  evening  I  took  my  first  Caradrina  ambigua  ; 
the  latter  though  small  is  a  striking  insect  at  sugar,  and  could  not  be 
mistaken  for  any  other  member  of  the  genus  excepting  C  snper.'<tcs. 
Whilst  retuniing  acruss  the   Downs  one  night,  in  company   with   Mr. 


304  THE  entomologist's  record. 

Hedges,  from  a  late  round,  I  noticed  my  friend  hit  out  with  closed  fist 
at  Avhat  to  me  seemed  an  imaginary  object ;  however  he  persisted  he 
had  felled  a  moth,  and  after  a  little  searching  we  picked  uj)  a  quite  un- 
conscious specimen  of  Luperlna  cespitis.  I  don't  know  if  this  is  the 
orthodox  way  of  getting  L.  cespitis.  Mr.  Hodges  said  this  was  almost 
the  first  time  he  had  taken  the  insect  at  Freshwater,  and  I  inwardly 
thought,  from  the  treatment  this  sj^ecimen  received,  it  would  be  the 
last ;  but  was  agreeably  surprised  to  take  one  at  rest  on  the  unsugared 
side  of  a  fence  the  following  night.  My  nephew  distinguished  himself 
by  taking  the  first  specimen  of  Epmnda  lutnlenta  in  fine  condition,  and 
shortly  after  my  Avife  took  another ;  this  also  is  new  to  Freshwater — in 
my  experience.  Mr.  Tait,  Jun.  of  Manchester  joined  us,  therefore 
more  fresh  ground  was  ti'ied  by  the  enterprising  and  untirable  members 
of  the  party,  but  without  much  success,  the  best  record  being  a  few 
worn  Tryphaena  snhsequa  ;  it  has  evidently  been  a  snbsequa  year  at 
Freshwater,  judging  from  the  number  of  worn  specimens  (80)  captured 
between  us  in  a  week.  Larva-beating,  which  was  by  no  means  neg- 
lected, yielded  absolutely  nothing,  but  searching  by  night  with  the 
lantern,  we  discovered  some  gorgeous  larvae  feeding  on  the  flowers  of 
devil's-bit-scabious  ;  their  emergence  next  year  in  the  imago  state  is 
looked  forward  to,  as  none  of  us  could  identify  them.  LarvtB  of  Agrotis 
ripae  were  found  on  the  sand  hills,  though  not  so  abundantly  as  in  former 
years.  The  week's  work  between  iis  jaelded  8  C.  avibigua,  2  L.  alhi- 
puncta,  2  E.  hUiilenta,  and  aljout  30  2\  snhsequa,  besides  a  good  series  of 
Agrotis  ohelisca  and  of  Aporophjla  australis  ;  this  success,  coupled  Avith 
the  fine  weather  which  obtained  throughout  our  stay,  made  this  the 
most  enjoyable  entomological  excursion  of  the  season. — P.  W.  Abbott, 
Four  Oaks,  near  Birmingham.     Od.  1894:. 

Sussex  and  Hants. — I  have  no  cause  to  grumble  at  the  past  season, 
as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  list  of  some  of  my  cajjtures.  I  be- 
gan work  in  February  by  collecting  stems  of  Dauctts  carota  for 
Argyrolepia  zepliyrana.  The  moths  began  to  come  out  in  the  first 
week  in  July  (together  with  4  Conchylis  frandllonana)  the  emergence 
continuing  into  August.  Taeniocampa  instahilis,  Hybernia  rupicapraria, 
and  Larentia  midtistrigaria  were  fairly  plentiful.  On  March  17th, 
I  obtained  five  larvae  of  Sesia  spliegiformis  in  alder  stems,  but 
only  managed  to  breed  one  moth.  I  attribute  my  non-success  to 
my  having  exposed  the  stems  too  freely  to  the  sunshine  before  the 
larva3  had  quite  done  feeding ;  the  sap  dries  out  and  this  renders  the 
wood  so  extremely  hard  that  the  larva  is  unable  to  bite  its  way  to  the 
bark  before  pupating  ;  the  moth  I  bred  Avas  in  pupa  when  I  cut  the 
stem.  On  the  same  day  I  took  Aspltalla  flacicornis,  Xylocampa  areola, 
and  Semioscojms  avellanelJa.  On  March  23rd  Brephos  parthenias  was 
fairly  })lentiful  but  flying  high  ;  larvae  of  Deprcssaria  assimilelJa  Avere 
found  feeding  in  broom.  On  the  26th  Chrysoplianm  jjJdoeas  and  larA-se 
of  Arctia  caia  and  A.  villica  Avere  obtained,  and  on  tlie  31st  Phoxopteryx 
comptana  (very  jilentiful),  Herhida  eespitalis,  and  Elachisfa  rvfocinerea  ; 
toAvards  the  middle  of  April  this  latter  insect  Avas  out  in  dozens,  sitting 
about  on  the  grass  stems.  BetAveen  April  1st  and  6th  A.  villica  spun 
uj) ;  on  the  2nd  Biston  liirtaria  was  out,  and  I  bred  one  Coccyx  scopa- 
riana;  on  the  7th  Epigraphla  steiiil-ellneriana,  the  eggs  of  Avhich  are  of 
a  beautiful  bright  scarlet  coloui",  Selenia  bilmiaria,  Hcmerophila  abniptaria 
and  hybernated  specimens  of  Deprcssaria  alstroemcrietla  were  taken,  and 


NOTKS    ON    (:OLLK(TIN(i,    ET(^  805 

on  the  14th  larva^  of  A.  cilllcn  and  Tnjpliaeua  jiinhria.  During;  May, 
faptured  Iloxnn<i  <trciiann,  Sij)H(icthis  oxyacantheUa  (fabriciana),  Aclehi 
rii-ideUa,  A>ii/<'hita  modestcUa  and  a  good  many  common  things.  In  June 
I  found  a  batch  of  larvaj  of  Cncnll/d  i-crhasci  on  Verhnxcmn  thapsus  ;  at 
the  l^eginning  of  the  month  one  A(jrotiH  cinerea,  Grammemi  trigrammica 
(with  two  var.  hilhiea),  Noctim  plceta,  Hadcna  dentina  and  other  sjjecies 
came  to  sugar,  and  I  bred  NoctiKi  Ixiia,  Tryphaeiui  iantldnd,  T.Jiiiibria 
and  Aplecta  tincta.  On  Jul}^  ()th  J  bred  a  very  iine  female  Odonestis 
j)ot(tfori(t,  which  was  as  dark  as  the  males ;  on  the  7th  Acronycta  acerin, 
A. pal,  Leiicaiu'a  comma  and  a  couple  of  fine  Aplccta  advena  were  taken 
at  sugar ;  on  the  lUth  I  found  another  batch  of  C.  verbasci  larvae  ; 
Sesia  ichneumoniforinis,  Aciptilia  haliodactyla,  Xauthosetia  hainana, 
and  Pancalia  Jewenhoekella  were  out ;  between  the  14th  and  the 
end  of  the  month  the  following  were  taken  at  sugar  : — TJiyatyra 
derasa,  Acronycta  aceris,  A.  trideus,  Marnestra  abjecfa,  M.  persicariae, 
Caradrina  taraxaci,  Xylophasia  rnrea,  Calymnia  ajfiais,  Hadena  dis- 
simil/s,  Pyralis  costaiis  (fiiiibrialis),  etc.  ;  during  the  same  period, 
specimens  of  Ebalea  stachydalis,  Tortrlx  duinetana,  T.  costana  and 
Anesychia  decoiKjiitteUa  were  caught.  All  the  foregoing  insects  were 
captured  in  Sussex,  but  I  spent  the  first  week  of  August  in  Hampshire, 
where  I  obtained  a  long  and  variable  series  of  Agroti^  tritlci  and  a,  few 
A.  cesfiiji(dii<,  together  with  Betia/'a  fiyloestrana,  Harp/pteryx  xylostdla 
{li(irpella),  Lita  macnlea,  L.  mdrmorea,  Occnphnrtt  hiinbdeJJd,  Ocropliont 
liinarin,  Gymnancycla  canella,  Ncjihojitery.r  <jiiiistella  and  Ephestid  ebdelld. 
Stray  shots  included  Teleia  fni/itircUd,  llctitiid  pinicoJana,  Scardid 
cloaoUd  and  Tinea  tdpetzelhi  ;  Lyoiuiia  clerchella  have  been  very 
plentiful  in  clierr}'  and  birch,  and  I  found  several  larvae  still  feeding 
while  boxing  the  moths  off  some  palings.  The  middle  of  August  found 
ane  in  good  old  Sussex  once  more.  An  odd  specimen  of  Leucania  straminea 
was  followed  by  the  appearance  of  two  L.  albipuncta,  keeping  one 
another  company  on  adjoining  posts ;  other  species  were  Hydroecia 
nictituns,  Ajximea  leiicostlymd  (1),  Cdlyviiiia  dijjiiu's,  C.ajfinis  (this  species 
had  been  about  for  12  weeks),  Hadeud  dissimilis,  Cdiocala  nupta  and 
Dejjressdrid  yeatieUa.  A  week  later,  tliough  it  was  blowing  half  a  gale, 
I  put  the  sugar  on,  but  took  nothing  on  the  first  round ;  on  commencing 
the  second  round,  however,  I  took  anotlier  L.  albipuncta,  and  two  minutes 
afterwards,  while  looking  at  a  crowd  oi  moths  very  much  inebriated  by 
a  special  l)rand  of  sugar,  another  flew  over  mj^  shoulder.  This  last  was 
the  l)est  I  had  taken  and  was  of  a  hue  reddish-brown  colour.  September 
yielded  Calamla  Intosa,  Hydroecia  micacea,  Nenronia  popidarin, 
Anchocelis  lunosa,  Xanthia  fnlrago,  X.  Jlarayo,  X.  gihago,  Agrotis  saucia 
and  Calocampa  exoleta.  During  July  and  August  I  took  a  series  of 
Tinea  uigripnncteUa,  and  one  Oenophda  r-flara  in  North  Street,  Brighton. 
— J.  Gilbert  Johnson,  24,  Norfolk  Square,  Brighton.  Oct.  I'ith, 
1894.  ^ 

Practical  hints. 

A  NEW  METHOD  OF  KELAXiNU  INSECTS. — Rectified  Wood  Naphtha, 
obtainable  from  any  chemist,  containing  a  trace  of  White 
Shellac,  say  10  gi-ains  to  the  ounce,  apjjlied  to  the  underside  of  the  ex- 
treme base  of  the  wings  by  means  of  a  very  fine  salile  brush,  within  a  few 
seconds  renders  the  wings  quite  pliable  ;  the  insect  is  then  placed  on  the 
setting  board  and  set  to  the  requii'ed  position,  braces  being  used  if 
necessary.      In  from    12  to   24  hours  the  specimen  is  ready  for  the 


306  THE  entomologist's  record. 

cabinet,  showing  no  trace  of  the  niiuiipiilation  it  has  undergone.  The 
shellac  is  recommended  to  prevent  any  possible  future  springing  or 
drooping,  but  the  pure  Naphtha  produces  an  equally  satisfactory  effect 
so  far  as  relaxing  goes.  The  old  tedious  process  of  damping  may  thus 
be  obviated,  and  the  most  delicate  colours  left  luiinjured. — J.  P.  Mutch, 
P.r,0,  Hornsey  Eoad,  N. 


OTICES    AND    REVIEWS. 

Traiisactioufi  of  the  Leicester  Literanj  and  Philnsophical  SacJet)/.  Vol. 
iii.,  Pt.  viii.,  July,  1894. — (Published  by  Geo.  Gibbons  &  Co.,  49,  King 
Street,  Leicester.  Price  9d.) — From  this  we  find  that  the  Entomological 
section  of  this  Society  consists  of  7  members  and  18  Sectional 
Associates,  and  that  five  papers  were  read  between  Jan.  25tli  and  May 
23rd.  Five  periodicals,  lent  by  various  members,  are  circulated  among 
the  members,  whilst  a  sixth.  The  American  Natnralist,  is  subscribed  for 
b}'  the  Council.  Two  interesting  papers  are  printed  in  extenso  (1),  "  A 
short  paper  on  the  British  Micro-lepidoptera "  by  the  Eev.  C.  T.  A. 
Cruttwell,  M.A.,  which  shows  a  combination  of  keen  observation  with 
antiquated  and  obsolete  notions  as  to  the  distribution  of  species  and 
methods  of  work.  Thus  we  read  : — "  Speaking  generally,  the  Pyralites 
and  Tineas  do  not  vary,"  a  remark  sufficiently  wide  of  the  mark  in 
many  genera  of  the  Tineina  ;  whilst,  the  remark  that  "  Leicestei-shire 
shows  a  decided  admixture  of  northern  forms.  It  is  sufficient  to 
mention  the  occurrence  of  the  melanic  forms  of  A.hetularid,  A.pilosariu 
and  H.  progemmaria,  hitherto  scarcely  recorded  south  of  the  Humber," 
shows  a  quaint  clinging  to  the  old  notion  that  melanism  is  a  northern 
phenomenon.  We  read  too  that  "  N.  hispidaria,  chiefly,  though  not 
exclusively  northern,"  occiu's  in  Leicestershire,  another  rather  droll 
statement  considering  the  general  scarcity  of  the  moth  in  really 
northern  localities,  and  its  local  abundance  in  Surrc}',  Cheshire, 
Herefordshire,  Essex,  etc.  The  practical  advice  to  collect  and  i-ear 
larva^  in  large,  closely-fitting  tins  is  contrary  to  our  experience. 
Close-fitting  receptacles  of  any  kind  will  make  all  but  the  smallest 
larva?  sweat,  and  few  enough  will  be  reared  unless  the  larvte  are  full-fed 
at  the  time  of  capture.  But  for  all  that  there  are  a  number  of  sound 
practical  suggestions,  which  show  that  Mr.  Cruttwell  knows  a  great 
deal  about  capturing  insects.  A  somewhat  different  paper  is  Mr.  F. 
Bouskell's  "  Urtication  in  certain  lepidopterous  larvae :  its  causes  and 
effects,"  which  is  a  very  fair  summary  of  the  more  recently  recorded 
cases,  together  with  the  reasons  which  have  been  given  by  various 
authors  to  explain  the  irritation  wliicli  is  frequently  produced.  We 
were  ourselves  very  badly  stung  by  Bornbijx  qnercns  in  August  last,  and 
until  the  whole  of  the  epidermis,  under  which  the  tiny  hairs  were 
embedded,  was  worn  off,  the  irritation  under  certain  conditions  (body 
temperature,  &c.)  remained.  It  is  probable  that  the  irritation  is  not 
always  set  up  in  the  same  way,  but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the 
urtication  set  up  by  B.  qaercnn  is  to  a  large  extent  mechanical,  and  not 
due  to  poison.  If  it  were  due  to  poison,  the  irritation  should  be 
continuous,  whereas,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  irritation  is  spasmodic  and 
recurrent.  We  strongly  advise  our  readers  to  obtain  the  Transactions, 
and  read  these  papers. 

Social  Progress. — (The  Scientific  Press,  Limited,  428,  Strand,  W.C., 
64  pp.,  Price    2s.    6d.) — This    new    scientific    magazine    apjieals    to 


NOTICES    AND    REVIEWS.  307 

scientific  naturalists  rather  from  a  general  than  from  a  special  standpoint, 
and  to  those  of  our  readers  who  are  general  naturalists  first  and  special- 
ists afterwards,  we  cannot  recommend  a  more  valuable  or  a  more 
readable  magazine.  The  Nos.  already  published  contain  many  articles 
of  the  gi'eatest  interest  to  naturalists. 

The  Literaational  Journal  of  Microscopy  and  Natural  Science.  (Pu)j- 
lished  by  Bailliere,  Tindall  &  Cox,  20,  King  William  Street,  Strand, 
W.C.  Price  10s.) — We  are  inclined  to  think  that  the  volume  before 
us  is,  if  anything,  an  advancement  on  its  predecessors.  It  contains 
some  very  interesting  papers  on  general  science  of  which  perhaps  that 
entitled  "  Bacteria  of  the  Sputa  and  Cryptogamic  Flora  of  the  mouth," 
by  Flandi'o  Vicentini,  M.D.,  merits  the  first  place.  Of  the  articles 
specially  interesting  to  us  as  specialists  are  '•  Predaceous  and  Parasitic 
enemies  of  the  Aphides,"  by  H.  C.  A.  Vine,  a  first-class  article,  illustrated. 
"  Heredity  and  its  bearing  on  the  Phenomena  of  Atavism,"  by  Gustav 
Mann,  M.B.,  CM.  "The  Structure  of  Insect  Trachea?.,"  by  Dr.  Alfred 
C.  Stokes.  Besides  these  there  are  a  number  of  very  interesting  short  notes. 
To  entomologists  who  have  microscopes  we  suppose  that  the  magazine 
is  well-known  and  needs  no  introduction.  To  those  who  have  not, 
there  are  -±43  pp.  of  highly  interesting  readable  matter  which  would 
occupy  the  leisure  of  winter  most  profitably  and  combine  pleasure  with 
instruction. — Ed. 


Societies. 

The  meeting  of  the  Lancashire  and  Cheshire  Entomological 
SociEi'Y,  on  Nov.  12th,  was  signalized  by  the  reading  of  a  paper  by 
Mr.  Hewett,  of  York,  on  "  Arcfia  lubricipeda,  and  its  varieties,  rad/ata, 
fasciata  and  ehoraci,  etc.,  in  Yorkshire,  Durham  and  Lincolnshire." 
After  speaking  of  the  older  specimens  of  var.  radiata,  Mr.  Hewett  gave 
a  complete  history  of  the  present  brood,  stated  that  he  believed  this 
form  to  be  genuine,  and  congratulated  Mr.  Harrison  on  his  success. 
Mr.  Hewett  also  exhibited  two  olive-brown  specimens  ( <?  &  ?  )  of 
Bombyx  quercm,  from  Rhanbolds  Moor,  Yorkshire.  Mr.  Arkle,  of 
Chester,  exhibited  a  female  Erehia  aethiops,  from  Witherslack,  with  five 
ocelli  on  each  fore-wing.  Mr.  Watson  exhibited  Farnassiius  delius  and 
P.  siaintheiis,  witli  microscopic  preparations  of  their  palpi  and  antennae, 
and  stated  that  as  the  result  of  careful  examination  he  had  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  these  so-called  varieties  were  really  distinct  species. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Entomological  Section  of  the  Yorkshire 
Naturalists'  Union  reports  that  entomologists  in  all  parts  of  the  county 
are  agreed  that  the  season  of  1894  has  been  one  of  the  worst  known. 
One  member,  who  has  collected  in  a  great  number  of  Yorkshix'e  localities 
for  the  last  17  years,  has  never  before  experienced  such  a  uniform 
scarcity  of  Lepidoptera  in  all  stages.  A  few  species  have,  in  one  stage 
or  another,  been  as  common  or  perhaps  commoner  than  usual ;  among 
these  are  the  following: — Larva3  oi  Agrotis  agathina  at  Scarborough. 
Imagines :  Aspilates  sijhata,  abundant  at  Drewton  Dale  and  Eglington 
Wood,  but  very  scarce  at  Sledmere,  where  it  is  usually  common ; 
Agrotis  obsciira,  more  than  100  specimens  taken  at  Hull,  the  highest 
number  on  any  one  night,  10  :  Hadena  dissimilis  also  at  Hull.  The  season 
up  to  the  end  of  April  was  decidedly  early ;  since  then  everything  has 
been  very  late.  Instances  of  melanism  have  been  rare.  Sallows  and 
sugar  were  miserable  failures,  save  at  Hull,  where  the  latter  seems  to 
have  maintained  its  seductive  powers. 


308 


C/) 

(D 

*    ^H 

<3 

C/3 

■4-> 

•  >— 1 

in 

^ 

K 

OJ 

^ 

Qi 

>. 

C    l: 

0 

i 

<    i 

c/3    >: 

K 

a  g 

S^ 

.  (u  -= 

s^ 

^O  5 

u 

CD    S 

m 

-C    „^ 

0 

"        O 

2 

in  - 

<D 

CI. 
03 

H 

Ph 

k 

H 

(/) 

0i 

C! 

oJ 

s 

Oj 

u 


Q 


1  -a 

V 

bo 

^.■^ 

tr^„-„    -„-„„„„ 

»N           r.            * 

00  CD  C-l  t^   X 

c^i             c»  3-. 

C<l 

M   3 

ice""""     -""""-" 

«            ^            . 

<S   o 

(U«rf 

1  ^ 

m 

2   S^' 

0 

1^ 

bD    .     „     „     „ 

g^     "     "     -     " 

S  ■ — '  7;:1 

^  IX   iC  ^  CM      — .  (M   -^  C-l  0  Tt  0^ 

CC'  '^  -..fi 

(D 

M„„„„    """"-„„ 

^ 

^ 

Qj  aj  'p 

:  S "  " 

"    "    " 

p^    s    s    s    :; 

^  S  o 

0 

'  iM"cr-Tc^r?r   vj  z<\  •*  •*  ■:^  r^  zn 

-h"o--  ^" 

1  order  t. 
the  voh 
IL,  Stam 

< 

a. 

a, 

^  a>  be 

cS 

•  S  t!  *< 

O)   S 

.u  N  ;^ 

-O  := 

bC-^ 

ft 

Plates 
t  parts 
-A  Q 

*J-"""        "     =     =     -"     =     S 

1  M  1  1 

3;    ^    — .    Tf    ■* 

5>  s  !»• 

rt  CO  J{  -^  M    -^  rj  ^  >'?'i  '■■:  ■*  :-5 

■*  >o  "li  lo 

CO 

d  d  d  d  d 

S ;;  =   -ss 

"    "    "    " 

;25  ;z;  2;  ;^  12; 

^dHHhH> 

S  a  ^ 

^  CM  rt"  cT  (tT  co"  o'T  Tt"  ■*"  :>"'  ^^^  cc" 

•i^cT-f-f 

a  Ti  S 

cts;:'*::     j.^^„^^„ 

^ 

ft  ^  P 
c  2  o 

s 

> 

=1  a  ?= 

Qi     CC     '-P 

TO    M    OJ 

S    35 

cS        :i 

.  t— I  >-i   . 

r*  oi  -a 

W* 

>)         -+                               Tj-  cc 

03          CO  -*  l^ 

.  H-l  HH  hH  JV 

_^  5  o 

•0 

t^   «    -H   lO   cc      -H   c^l   iC    0   Tj.  CO   — 

»  CJ  CO  CO  t-^  00 

"-^  o 

03 

^'0  «  -    -   -               "^ 

0) 

eggs 
ons  o 
use  t 

S      ""'"       "     =     5SSrR 

cS      5     =    S    S 

■Sis  o 

E 

s  of 
plan 
rove 

vo  Lc  >c  ..c  uc    -r  'X  -r>  ic  -x  co  31 

•C    32   CO   CTj   05  05 

5 

^ 

?^  x  ft 

+^ 

l^t 

s 

as  ■*  »o  00 
OI  00  t^  1^ 

^-^s 

^.a 

CS  "S 

rH   (N 

^  c  ^ 

s  ce  cs  CI 

?« 

issifj' 
nies,  a 
that  i 

(M  CO  rj.   lO   CO 

rt  CO   'i"   0  CD      -H    M   oCi  ^   iC   CO  t^ 

ii) 

30  o5  rt  ^  CO 

00    03   0    .-^    CO 

bD    ^    «    « 

cS     "    "    " 
ft 

-t;^/^ 

£"""'     sssr    =    =    = 

te 

og.S 

0 

S    "  "   = 

cessary  t 
gh  four  ■ 
e,  and  tli 

% 

0 

00  Xi  00  00  r. 

.2 

1  .  * .   1 

sgs 

^SSSS       SSSRSSS 

«  a  o 

s 

"T^ 

•-I  — ?  -kJ 

'S '?  M 

w 

;2  £  p 

1  1  1  1 

till 

CM  ■*  00  Cl 

?^    *    05 

^0*7; 

0   G   0   0 

CS     !K  ■— 

)Zi^^^ 

'-*_«  bc 

.  HH 

the  above 
the  Plates 
companyii 

on 

■  ■  ■  ".^    "■■■«■• 

5  1  1  ^  §    -  i  §,  1  1  1  •£ 

•    •    •  rS    :  e 

.       .  I-H  HH 
l-(  (_|  HH  1— 1 

|-       .     .     = 

e  »T^  cs 

£  g  §  S  5     S.^si'S  --s^ 

1-.       Jfel 

.mKV 

In  studyii 
to  them,  i 
the 

^ , ^V ^ / 

s                           •'1 

■5                                         !^ 

"-  0  •r'  §  e  e 
s  '^  S  "^-s 

If  iilgg' 

M  hi  t— 1  1— 1 
Is      5     S     5 

Ph 

:^                       0 

ENTOMOLOGISrS    RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


J.   W.   TUTT,   F.E.S. 


JANUARY  15th,  1894. 


PRICE    SIXPENCE. 

Subscription   for   Twelve   Numbers,   post   free, 
SIX     SHILLINGS, 


TO    BE    FORWARDED   TO 


Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  HiGHBL'RY  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Pateekoster  Eow,  E.C. 

BERLIN : 

K.    FRIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

ISEW    YORK: 

Ph.    HEINSBERGER,  9,  First  Aveni'f. 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


THE    GRESHAM 


I-IFE      OFFICE      (LIIVEITE  ID), 

Since  its  foundation  FORTY-FOUR  years  ago,  has  paid  to  Policj'-holders  and 
their  representatives  no  less  than 

lOJ    MILLIONS    STERLING, 

And  holds  now  for  their  protection,  well  invested,  Funds  exceeding 

FIVE     MILLIONS     STERLING, 

With  an  Annual  Income  from  Premiums  and  Interest  on  Investments  exceeding 

NINE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTEEN  THOUSAND  POUNDS  STERLING. 

NEW    PROSPECTUS    MAY    BE    HAD    ON    APPLICATION. 


Thomas  G.  Ack.land,  F.I.A.  Actuary  ^  Manager.  James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

ST.   MILDRED'S  HOUSE,   POULTRY,   LONDON,   E.G. 

Liberal  Terms  to  Solicitors  and  others  who  can  an'd  will  do  effective  work  for  the  Society. 

NATURALISTS^    SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujactnrer  of   Entomologicnl    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grounds  :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at, 
"  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

J.    T.    CROCKETT, 

MAKER    OF    EVERY    DESCRIPTION    OF 

ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL   INSECT   CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects. 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S   STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Pactories-34,   RIDING   HOUSE   STREET  and  OGLE   STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

R.    FRIEDLANDER   &    SOHN, 

CARLSTRASSE   11,  BERLIN,   N.W. 

Entomologists  are  requested  to  apply  for  our  Catalogue  of  books  relating  to  Insects,  which  will  be  sent 
gratis  and  post  free.    These  include  catalogues  of  works  on : — 

Coleoptera,  and  miscellaneous  writings  on  Insects,  Fossil  Insects,  Periodicals.    66  pages  royal  8vo.  with 

2,536  titles. 
Lepidoptera.     42  pages,  with  1,439  titles. 

Hymenoptera,  Neuroptera,  Orthoptera,  Diptera,  Hemiptera.    50  pages,  with  2,186  titles 
The  most  complete  Catalogue  ever  published. 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S    RECORI 


No.;  2. 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


Editkd  by 


J.   V^.   TUTT,   F.E.S. 


FEBRUARY  15th,  1894. 


PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 

Subscription   for   Twtlve   Numbers,   post   free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 


TO    BE    FORWARDED    TO 


Mr.    ALBERT    J.     HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON: 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternostkr  Eow,  E.U. 

BERLIN  : 

H.    FEIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrassk,  N.W. 

NEW    I'OKK: 

I'll.    HEINSBFEGEK,  9,  First  Avenvk, 

Nkw  York,  U.S.A. 


THE    GRESHAM 


r^IFlB      OFFICE      (LIIVEITE  O), 

Since  its  foundation  FORTY-FOUR  years  ago,  has  paid  to  Policy-holders  and 
their  representatives  no  less  than 

lOJ     MILLIONS    STERLING, 

And  holds  now  for  their  protection,  well  invested,  Fands  exceeding 

FIVE     MILLIONS     STERLING, 

With  an  Annual  Income  from  Premiums  and  Interest  on  Investments  exceeding 

NINE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTEEN  THOUSAND  POUNDS  STERLING. 

NEW    PROSPECTUS    MAY    BE    HAD    ON    APPLICATION. 


Thomas  G.  Ackland,  F.I. A.  Actuary  S;  Manager.  James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

ST.   MILDRED'S  HOUSE,   POULTRY,  LONDON,   E.G. 

Liberal  Terms  to  Solicitors  and  others  who  can  and  will  do  effective  work  for  the  Society. 

NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

3  1,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Mantijacturer  of   Entomological    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupse. 
Breeding  Grounds :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  saine  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  ivith  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

THE     ^IRILCT^CRJL.    CJ^LIBIT^ET     IVIAIiEI^. 

J.     T.    CROCKETT, 

MAKER    OF    EVERY    UESCKIPTION    OF 

ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL.   INSECT   CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

\11  best  work  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms-7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 

Factovies-34,   RIDING   HOUSE   STREET  and  OGLE   STREET,  W. 

Th.e  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 

NOW    READY.         PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 

This  is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.     As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed, 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr.    A.    J.    HODGES,    2,    Highbury  Place,    London,    N. 
To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Sliilling)  should  be  sent. 


r  ENTOMOLOGIST'S    RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


J.    W.    TUTT,    F.E.S, 


MARCH  lotlu  IS'M. 


PRICE   NINEPENCE. 

(AMTII     PLATE). 

Subscription   for   Twelve   Kunibers,   post   free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWAKlJf.D    TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.     HODGES, 

•-',  HiGHBLRY  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  5«T0CK,  62,  Patek.nostkk  Eom,   E.U. 

BERLIN  : 

K.    FEIE-DLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK: 

Ph.    HEINSBERGEE,  9,  Finsr  Avem  k, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


THE    GRESHAM 

LIFE      OFFICE      (LIlVriTE  I>), 

Since  its  foundation  FORTY-FOUR  years  ago,  has  paid  to  Policy-holders  and 
their  i-epresentatives  no  less  than 

lOJ     MILLIONS    STERLING, 

And  holds  now  for  their  protection,  well  invested,  Funds  exceeding 

FIVE     MILLIONS     STERLING, 

With  an  Annual  Income  from  Premiums  and  Intei-est  on  Investments  exceeding 

NINE   HUNDRED  AND  FIFTEEN  THOUSAND   POUNDS  STERLING. 

NEW    PROSPECTUS    MAY    BE    HAD    ON    APPLICATION. 
Thomas  G.  Ackland,  F.I. A.   Actuary  ^  Manager.  James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

ST.    MILDRED'S  HOUSE,   POULTRY,   LONDON,   E.G. 

Liberal  Terms  to  Solicitors  and  others  who  can  and  will  do  effective  work  for  the  Society, 

NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Mnniijadurer   of    Entomological    Apparatus   ami    Cabinets   to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College, 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grrounds  :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  Kintj's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nurserj-,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

the:   PiRAcnricAi:.   ca^in^et   iviaksi^. 

J.    T.    CROCKETT, 

maker  of  every  description  of 
ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL       INSECT       CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,   RIDING    HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE    STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

spc:cxjLi:^    inoex 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 

NuW    KEADY.         PKIOE    UNE    SHILLING. 

Tliis  is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.     As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed, 
earl}'^  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr.    A.    J.    HODGES,    2,    Highbury   Place,    London,    N. 

To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  sent. 


Lvju      x^V/VV       X^UJlj. 


Vol.    V. 


^^^ 


THE 


No.    4. 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S   RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 

Edited  by 

J.    W.   TUTT,   F.E.S. 

APRIL    15th,    1894. 
PRICE  NINEPENCE. 

Subscription   for   Twelve  Numbers,   post  free. 
SIX     SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWARDED   TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON • 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62.  P.xkhnost.r  Row.  E.C. 

BEELIN : 

K.    EEIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Cahlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YOKK- 

PL.    HEINSBEEGEE,  9.  Fibst  Atenuk 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   Ltd. 

ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.C. 

West-End  Branch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS    EXCEED    £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),    £913,602. 

TOTAL    PAYMENTS    UNDER   POLICIES,   £11,000,000. 

LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

EvERV  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


ESTB.     1848 


Thomas  G.  Ackland,  F.I.A.,  F.S.S.,  Actuan/  .f-  Maniger.  James  H.  Scott,  Secretai-y. 

NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujacturer  of   Entomological   Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grounds :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Eoad, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Eoad,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

J.    T.    CROCKETT, 

maker  of  every  description  of 
ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL   INSECT   CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,  RIDING   HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE   STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

SP£:CIiLJL.      IM^DEX: 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 

NOW    READY.     •   PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 

This  is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.     As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed, 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr.    A.    J.    HODGES,    2,    Highbury  Place,   London,    N. 

To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  sent. 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S   RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


J.   V7.   TUTT,   F.E.S. 


MAY    15th,    1894- 


PRICE   NINEPENCE. 

Subscription    for   T^velve  Kumbei-s,   post   free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWARDED    TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Eow,  E.C. 

BERLIN  : 

K.    FEIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK: 

Ph.    HEINSBERGER,  9,  First  Avenuk, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


G  R  E  S  H  A IV 

LIFE 

OFFICE,    Lti 

ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.C 

West-End  Branch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS    EXCEED   £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),   £913 

TOTAL    PAYMENTS    UNDER    POLICIES,   £11,000,000. 
LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUIT. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


ESTB.     1848 


Thomas  G.  Ackland,  F.I.A.,  F.S.S.,  Actuary  4"  ^lanager.         James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

3  1,     PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujactitrer  of  Entomological   Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College, 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Lai-vae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grounds :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Eoad, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Oshorne  Eoad,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  piinter) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(So  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,  PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

THs   PRAcmcAu   CA^iN^£:rr   imiake:!^. 

J.     T.     CROCKETT, 

MAKER    OF    EVERY    DESCRIPTION    OF 

ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock.  i 

SPECIAL      INSECT      CABINETS, 
With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  EstimatesI    --on. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUAR       N. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,  RIDING   HOUSE   STREET  and  OGLE   STREET,  V 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  V'    ation 


NOW    READY, 


PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 


This  is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.    As  only  a  limited  nuir 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr.    A.    J.    HODGES,    2,    Highbury   Place,    Londc 

To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  sen* 


is  printed. 


N. 


No.    6. 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S   RECORD' 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


Edited  by 


J.   W.   TUTT,   F.E.S. 


JUNE  15th,    1894- 


PRICE  SIXPENCE. 

Subscription  for  Twelve  Numbers,  post  free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWARDED   TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Eow,  E.G. 

BERLIN  : 

E.    FEIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK: 

Ph.    HEINSBERGEE,  9,  First  Avenuk, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   Ltd. 

ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.G. 

West-End  Beanch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS    EXCEED   £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),   £913,602. 

TOTAL    PAYMENTS    UNDER    POLICIES,    £11,000,000. 
LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


ESTB.      184  8 


Thomas  G.  Ackland,  F.I.A.,  F.S.S.,  Actuary  ^  Manager.         James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujacturer  of  Entomological    Apparatus  and    CabiitTis  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grounds :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.    On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,  PARK    STREET,  WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

J.    T.     CROCKETT, 

maker  of  every  description  of 
ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL   INSECT   CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,  W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,  RIDING   HOUSE   STREET  and  OGLE   STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 


NOW    READY. 


PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 


This  is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.    As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed, 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr.    A.    J.    HODGES,   2,   Highbury   Place,    London,   N. 

To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  sent. 


ENTOMOLOGISTS   RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


J.   Vy^.   TUTT,   F.E.o, 


JULY   15th,    1804- 


PRICE   SIXPENCE. 

Subscription   for   Twelve   Kumbers,   post    free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWARDED    TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Eow,  E.G. 

BERLIN  : 
R.    FIIIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 
11,  Cari.strassk,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK  : 

Ph.    HEINSBERGER,  ^  FiKsr  Aveni  e. 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   Ltd. 


ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.C. 
West-End  Ehaxch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS   EXCEED   £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),   £913,602. 

TOTAL   PAYMENTS    UNDER   POLICIES,   £11,000,000. 

LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


ESTB.      1848 


Thomas  G.  Ackland,  F.I.A.,  F.S.S.,  ArMary  4-  Maniger.         James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

NATURALISTS'     SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujacturer  of   Entomological    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvse  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grounds  :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(ailjc)ining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  zijith  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

J.    T.    CROCKETT, 

MAKER    OF    EVERY    DESCRIPTION    OF 

ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL   INSECT   CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories-34,   RIDING   HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE    STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 

NOW    READY.        PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 

Tliis  is  aVjsolutely  nectssarj'  for  exact  reference.     As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr,    A.    J.     HODGES,    2,    Highbury   Place,    London,    N. 

To  wliom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  .sent. 


No.    8. 


;V' 


THE 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S    RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION 


Edited  by 


J.   W.   TUTT,   F.E.S 


AUGUST   15th,    1894. 


PRICE   SIXPENCE. 

Subscription   for   Twelve   Numbers,   post   free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWARDED    TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.     HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Eow,  E.G. 

BERLIN : 

E.    FRIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK : 

Ph.    HEINSBERGER,  9,  First  Avenve, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   Ltd. 

ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.G. 

West-End  Eranch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS    EXCEED    £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),    £913,602. 

TOTAL   PAYMENTS    UNDER    POLICIES,   £11,000,000. 
LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issuep. 


ESTB.      1848 


Thomas  G.  Ackland,  F.L.\.,  F.S.S.,  Adnanj  Sf  Uaniger.  James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 


NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

3  1,     PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujactuyer  of   Entomological    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grounds :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

THE     I»RACTi:C-aLILi     ClL:BINrET     Bfl[«.H:ER. 

J.    T.    CROCKETT, 

maker  of  every  description  of 
ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL      INSECT      CABIl^ETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms-7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,   RIDING   HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE    STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from.  


SI>ECIAL     INDEX 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 

NuW    READY.        PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 

This  Is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.     As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr.    A.    J.    HODGES,    2,    Highbury   Place,    London,   N. 

To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  sent. 


Vol.  V. 


No.    9. 


iV-/ 


1 


THE 


^      -^< 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S   RECORD 


AND 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


Edited  by 


J.   V^.   TUTT.   F.E.S 


^'  r/m 


SEPTEMBER    15th,    1894- 


PRICE  SIXPENCE. 

Subscription    for    Twelve   Numbers,   post   free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWAUDKD    TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELlilOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Row,  E.C. 

BERLIN : 

E.    FEIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK: 

Ph.    HEINSBKRGER,  9,  First  Avenue, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   Ltd. 

ESTB.    1848  ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.G. 

West-End   Branch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS    EXCEED   £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),    £913,602. 

TOTAL    PAYMENTS    UNDER   POLICIES,   £11,000,000. 

LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


Thomas  a.  Ackland,  P.I.A,,  F.S.S.,  Actuary  ^  Manager.  James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
^^  Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

J^^^  Manujactiirer  of   Entomological    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 

/^^^^^^  Family  and  Eton  College. 

r^a^m  SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 

V^^^O  Breeding  Grounds  :  The  «  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Koad, 

^^W^  (adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 

^  "  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issaed  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

THE     I»mi.CTICJi.i:.     CJLlBIiq^ET     IVIAKEIt. 

J.     T.    CROCKETT, 

maker  of  every  description  of 
ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL   INSECT   CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,    CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,   RIDING    HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE    STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 

SPECXAIL.     INOEX 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 

NOW    READY.        PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 

This  is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.     As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr.    A.    J.    HODGES,    2,    Highbury  Place,    London,   N. 

To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  sent. 


ENTOMOLOGISTS    RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION, 


J.   W.   TUTT,    F.E.S 


OCTOBER    loth,    1894. 


PRICE   SIXPENCE. 

Subscription   for   Twelve  Numbers,   post   free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWARDED    TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Pi.ack,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Eow,  E.G. 

BERLIN : 

E.    FRIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK: 

Ph,    HEINSBERGER,  9,  First  Avenue, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   LTD. 

ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.G. 

West-End  Bkanch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 

ASSETS    EXCEED    £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),    £913,602. 

TOTAL    PAYMENTS    UNDER    POLICIES,    £11,000,000. 
LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


ESTB.      184  8 


Thomas  G.  Ackland,  P.I.A.,  F.S.S.,  ActiMn^  ^  Manager.  James  H.  Scott,  Secretary. 

NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,     PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujacturer  of   Entomological    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grrounds  :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Wiiidsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Oshorne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

J.     T.    CROCKETT,  I 

maker  of  every  description  of 
ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 
SPECIAL      INSECT      CABINETS,  _      . 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects' 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847. 

Show  Rooms— 7a,    PRINCE'S    STREET,    CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories-34,   RIDING    HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE    STREET,  W.  J, 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from^ S 

SP^ECIAL     XNOEX 

To  Volume  IV.  of 

The  Entomologist's  Eecord  &  Journal  of  Variation 

NOW    READY.         PRICE    ONE    SHILLING. 

This  is  absolutely  necessary  for  exact  reference.     As  only  a  limited  number  is  printed  M^ 
early  application  should  be  made  to 

Mr,.    A.    J.    HODGES,    2,    Highbury   Place,    London,    N. 

To  whom  Postal  Orders  (One  Shilling)  should  be  sent. 


ENTOMOLOGIST'S    RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION 


J.   W.   TUTT,    F.E.S 


NOVEMBER    15tK    1894. 


'    h 


PRICE   NINEPENCE. 

Subscription   for   Twelve   Numbers,   post   free, 
SIX      SHILLINGS, 

TO    BE    FORWARDED    TO 

Mr.    ALBERT    J.    HODGES, 

2,  HiGHBiiRY  Place,  London,  N. 

LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Eow,  E.C. 

BERLIN : 

R.    FRIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK: 

Vh.    HP;iNSBRRGER,  9,  First  Avenue, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 


The 


THIS    NUMBER    CONTAINS    A    PHOTOGRAPH, 
next    Number  will    consist   of  36    Pages.    Price    NINEPENCE. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   Ltd. 

ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.C. 

West-End  Branch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS    EXCEED    £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),    £913,602. 

TOTAL    PAYMENTS    UNDER    POLICIES,    £11,000,000. 
LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


ESTB.      184  8 


Mr.  James  H.  Scott,  General  Manager  and  Secretary. 


NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

31,    PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Proppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Natupalist, 

Mamtjacturer  of   Entomological    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Grounds :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nursery,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 

are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

J.    T.    CROCKETT, 

maker  of  every  description  of 
ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS. 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL      INSECT      CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects. 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,  RIDING   HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE  .  STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 


i 


FOR      SAX^C 


Species  of  BRITISH   LEPIDOPTERA 

Including   many  that  are  LOCAL  and    RARE,    good   forms,   etc.,   also   quantity    of 

PUP/E,    OVA,   etc. 

FOR    PRICFS    APPLY    TO 

THOMAS     SALVAGE,     ARLINGTON,    SUSSEX.  ^ 

(J^ate  of  Brighton.) 


\ 


r  ENTOMOLOGIST'S   RECORD 


JOURNAL  OF  VARIATION. 


Editkd  by 


J.   V/.   TUTT.   F.E.S. 


DECEMBER    15th,    1894- 


PRICE   NINEPENCE. 

Subscription   for   Twelve   Numbers,   post  free, 

SIX     SHILLINGS, 
(Including  Special  Index  for  Vol.  V.,  Seven  Shillings) 


TO    BE    FORWARDED   TO 


Mr. 


ALBERT    J.     HODGES, 

2,  Highbury  Place,  London,  N. 

FopVoI.  Vl.to  be  forwarded  to  Mr.  H.  E.  PAGE, 

14,  Nettleton  Road,  New  Cross,  S.E. 


TH 


LONDON : 
ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  Paternoster  Eow,  E.O 

BERLIN : 

R.    FRIEDLANDER    &    SOHN, 

11,  Carlstrasse,  N.W. 

NEW    YORK: 

Ph,    HEINSBERGER,  9,  First  Avenue, 

New  York,  U.S.A. 

IS    NUMBER    CONTAINS    36    PAGES. 


GRESHAM 

LIFE 

OFFICE,   Ltd. 

ST.  MILDRED'S  HOUSE,  POULTRY,  LONDON,  E.G. 

West-End  Branch — 2,  Waterloo  Place,  S.W. 
ASSETS    EXCEED    £5,000,000.  ANNUAL    INCOME    (1892),    £913,602. 

TOTAL    PAYMENTS    UNDER    POLICIES,    £11,000,000. 
LIFE    ASSURANCES.  ENDOWMENTS.  ANNUITIES. 

Every  Desirable  Form  of  Policy  Issued. 


ESTB.      1848 


Mr.  James  H.  Scott,  General  Manager  and  Secretary. 


NATURALISTS'    SUPPLY    STORES, 

3  1,     PARK    STREET,    WINDSOR. 
Ppoppietop,  E.  EDMONDS,  Naturalist, 

Manujactitrer  of    Entomological    Apparatus  and    Cabinets  to  the  Royal 
Family  and  Eton  College. 

SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera)  Ova,  Larvae  and  Pupae. 
Breeding  Gri-ounds :  The  "  Quaker's  Garden,"  King's  Road, 
(adjoining  Long  Walk,  Windsor  Great  Park),  and  also  at 
"  The  Nui'seiy,"  Osborne  Road,  Windsor. 

Price  Lists  are  issued  about  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month  and  (by  special  arrangement  with  the  printer) 
are  Printed  and  Posted  the  same  day.     On  receipt  of  Is.,  every  List  issued  for  one  year  will  be  sent  free. 

(No  connection  with  any  other  firm  in  Great  Britain.) 

31,   PARK    STREET,   WINDSOR  (5  doors  from  Great  Park  Gates). 

J.     T.    CROCKETT, 

MAKER    OF    EVERY    DESCRIPTIOV    OF 

ENTOMOLOGICAL     CABINETS     AND     APPARATUS 

Store  and  Book  Boxes  fitted  with  Camphor  Cells.  Setting  Boards,  Oval  or  Flat,  etc. 

Cabinets  of  every  description  kept  in  Stock. 

SPECIAL   INSECT   CABINETS, 

With  Drawers  fitted  with  Glass  Tops  and  Bottoms,  to  show  upper  and  under  side  without  removing  insects , 

Store  Boxes  Specially  made  for  Continental  Setting,  highly  recommended  for  Beetles. 

All  best  work.  Lowest  possible  terms  for  cash  Prices  on  application.  Estimates  given. 

The  trade  supplied.  ESTABLISHED  since  1847 

Show  Rooms— 7a,   PRINCE'S    STREET,   CAVENDISH    SQUARE,   W. 

(Seven  doors  from  Oxford  Circus). 
Factories— 34,   RIDING   HOUSE    STREET  and  OGLE   STREET,  W. 

The  Largest  Stock  of  Cabinets  and  Boxes  to  select  from. 


FOR      SALE. 


Species  of  BRITISH   LEPIDOPTERA 

Including   many  that  are  LOCAL  and    RARE,   good   forms,   etc.,   also   quantity    of 

PUP/E,    OVA,   etc. 

FOR    PRICES    APPLY    TO 

THOMAS     SALVAGE,     ARLINGTON,    SUSSEX 

(Late  of  Brighton.) 


1»I  O  T  IC  E. 

Subscribers  are  kindly  requested  to  observe  that  all  arrears,  including  unpaid  subscriptions  for 
Vol.  v.,  and  payment  for  Special  Index  to  Vol.  V.  must  be  sent  to  Mr.  A.  J.  Hodges,  2,  Highbury  Place 
N.  Prepaid  subscriptions  for  Vol.  VI.  (which  should,  if  possible,  include  an  extra  shilling  for  the 
Special  Index  to  Vol.  VI.  to  save  trouble)  may  also  be  paid  to  Mr.  A.  J.  Hodges  until  December  31st, 
1894,  after  which  they  must  be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  E.  Page,  Nettleton  Road,  New  Cross,  S.E.,  and  Cheques 
and  Postal  Orders  to  be  made  payable  to  J.  W.  Tutt. 

E2:cH:jLisrc3-E]. 


[Notices  of  Exchange,  which  should  consist  only  of  the  specific  names  of  Duplicates  and  Desiderata, 
AND  MUST  NOT  BE  WRITTEN  ON  PosT  Cards,  are  inserted  without  charge.  Entomological  Books' 
wanted  may  also  be  inserted  in  this  column.] 

[The  Editor  wishes  to  state  that  the  publication  of  Exchanges,  Advertisements,  etc.,  in  this 
Magazine,  is  in  no  way  to  be  taken  as  a  guarantee  of  the  authenticity,  good  condition,  &c.,  of  the  speci- 
mens. This  Notice  is  not  intended  to  throw  doubt  upon  the  bona  fides  of  Advertisers,  etc.,  but  to  free 
the  Editor  from  responsibility,  should  the  privilege  be  abused.]  Marked  *  are  bred.  Exchange  Lists 
addressed  to  J.  VV.  Tutt,  Westcombe  Hill,  S.E„  must  be  received  before  the  8th  for  insertion  in 
the  current  month. 

Exchange    Baskets. — Forwarded: — Dec.  10,    No,    1 Messrs.     Maddison,    Freer, 

Christy,  Riding,  Mason,  Finlay,  Mera,  Cannon,  Burrows.  Oct.26,  No.  5. — Messrs.  King, 
McLean,  Mason,  Whittle,  Fenn,  Atmore,  Turner,  Corbett,  Home,  Richardson, 
Finlay.      Nov.  9th,   No.  2. — Mr.  Booth,  Dr.    Gunning,    Messrs.    Turner,    Duncan] 

Robertson,  Jones,  Allen,  Maddison,  Buchan,  Moberl}'.        Dec.  7th,  No.  3. Messrs. 

King,  Thornhill,  Kane,  Robertson,  Bowles,  Sinclair,  Moberly,  Burrows,  Robinson, 
Riding,  Finlay.  Nov.  Kith,  No.  6. — Messrs.  Vivian,  McLean,  Croker,  Gunning 
Robertson,  Thornewill,  Walker,  Maddison,  Bowles,  Beadle,  Wylie.  Oct.  15th,  No. 
7. — Messrs.  Fox,  Robertson,  Mason,  Dutton,  Riding,  Fenn,  Robson,  Jones,  Richardson, 
Webb.  Dec.  3,  No.  8.— Messrs.  Croker,  Williamson,  Fox,  Dalglish,  Whittle,  Page, 
Webb,  Home,  Atmore,  Maddison,  Finlay.  [It  is  useless  for  members  to  write  to  me 
about  delays.  When  a  basket  is  delayed  the  member  who  should  have  it, 
should  write  to  his  predecessor,  and  so  on  until  the  offender  is  brought 
up  to  scratch.  Members  who  wish  to  be  left  out,  for  a  round  owing  to  absence  from 
home,  etc.,  must  write  to  their  predecessors  in  above  lists. — J.  \V.  T.].  Members 
should  also  acquaint  themselves  with  changes  of  address  for  last  month  and  this. 

Desiderata. — Formicaeformis,  Asiliformis,  Strigula,  S.  urticae.  Bifida,  Caliginosa, 
Depuncta,  Xerampelina,  Retusa,  Pyi-alina,  Lutulenta,  Empyrea,  Genista,  Contigua, 
Cassinea,  Lychnitis,  Asteris,  Melanopa,  Cordigera,  Trigeminata,  Degeneraria,  Viri- 
data.  Good  offers  made  for  any  of  above,  from  this  season's  captures. — Albert  J. 
Hodges,  2,  Highbury  Place.  N. 

Du2ylicates. — Anceps,  Mendica,  Perla,  Furuncula,  Glandifera,  Affinitata,  Temerata, 
Malva?,  Russata,  Zonaria,  Hispidaria  (male),  Abruptaria,  Repandata,  Absynthiata, 
P3'raliata,  Fulvata. — Arthur  Lovell  Kemjs,  Upwood  Tiwer,  Caterham  Valley. 

Duplicates. — Polychloros,   Antiopa,   and   other   species   in   jDapers.      Pupse   of  S. 

pinastri,   Piniaria.      Larvse   of   Pini.      Desiderata. — Almost   any   British    species. 

Ludwig  Endres,  Nilrnberg,  Maxfeldstrasse  34 ;   Germany. 

Duplicates. — Myelins,  S.  alpina,  Alpinalis,  Ochraceella,  Irriguana,  Palustrana, 
Magaritellus,  Dubitalis.  Desiderata. — Rare  Pyralides  (except  Cilialis  and  Decrepi- 
talis),  and  genus  Scoparia. —  IF.  M.  Christy,  Watergate,  Emsivorth,  Hants. 

Diiplicates. — Nortli  American  Lepidoptera — Papilio,  Argynnis,  Colias,  Polyphemus, 
Cecropia,  &c.  Desiderata. — Exotics  of  all  kinds,  and  European  Noctuse.  Send  list  of 
duplicates  or  for  list  of  desiderata. — Chas.  S.  Westcott,  Holmesbury,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  U.S.A. 

Duplicates. — Exotic  Lepidoptera,  Heliconius  rhea  and  melfomene,  Mechanitis 
veritabilis,  Tinetes  marcella,  Catopsilia  heere.  Desiderata. — Exotic  Lepidoptera  or 
Coleoptera. — C.  T.  Jones,  Sinclair  House,  by  Sinclair  Road,  London,  TV. 

Duplicates. — Various  Imagines  and  Pupae.  Desiderata. — Ova  of  Eugonia  autumnaria, 
Alniaria  and  Fuscantaria. —  W.  M.  Christy,  Watergate,  Emsworth,  Hants. 

Duplicates. — Sparmanella,  Linneella,  Baumanniana.     Desiderata. — Literana, Shep- 

herdana,  Caledoniana,   Crisrana,  Maccana,  Lipsiana,  and  many  other  Tortrices. 

A.  H.  Hamm,  24,  Hatherley  Road,  Reading. 

Duplicates. — Edusa,  Atalanta,  Cardui,  Tages,  Tipuliformis,  Trilinearia,  Incanaria, 
Rubiginata,  Corylata,  Pudorina,  Porphyrea,  Glai'eosa,  Augur,  Plecta,  Triangulum, 
Brunnea,  Croceago,  Citrago,  Cerago,  ^nea,  Ostrinalis,  Incarnatana,  Cespitana, 
Fractifasciana,  Alpinana,  Porrectella,  Desertella,  Neuropterella,  Marginella,  Be- 
dellella,  Parvidactyla,  Tetradactyla,  and  many  others.  Desiderata. — Very  numerous. 
—  W.  D.  Cansdale,  Sunny  Banl:,  South  Norwood,  S.E. 

Desiderata. — Assistance  in  any  stage  during  the  season  with  Pj'gmeata,  Helveti- 
cata,  Virgaureata,  Irriguata,  Constrictata  and  Stevensata,  Will  do  my  best  in 
return. —  W.  G.  Sheldon,  15,  Alexandra  Road,  Croydon. 

Duplicates. — Preserved  Larvse  of  Lepidoptera  (about  150  species).      Desiderata. 

Preserved  Larvse  of  species  not  in  collection. —  V.  A.  Lester,  76,  Olinda  Road,  Star))ford 
Hill,  N. 


Duplicates. — Bred  specimens  of  Actias  selene;  hybrids  from  Selene  et  Luna, 
Cecropia  et  Gloveri,  Cecropia  et  Ceanothi,  and  other  rare  moths;  cocoons  of  Luna, 
AnguJifera,  and  Pliobetron  pithecium.  Lists  exchanged. — Emily  L.  Morton,  Newhurgh, 
New  York  (New  \t  indsor  ddiveryj . 

Duplicates. — Punctulata,  Petraria,  Alveolus,  Spartiata,  Illustraria,  Syringaria, 
Cerago,  Silago,  Citrago,  Lucipara,  Macilenta,  Lota,  Pinastri,  Lithoriza,  Dentina,  L. 
comma,  Thalassina,  Typica,  Basiiinea,  Pistacina,  Suffasa,  Zic-zac,  Falcula,  Curtula. 
Kesiderato.— Numerous.— ?f.  Alderson,  Hilda  Vale,  Famhoro',  Kent. 

Duplicates. — Cicindela  sylvicola,  Chlaen.  schrankii,  Anch.  albipes,  Argutor  inter- 
stinct,  Gatops  rotundicollis,  Morych.  aeneus,  Nitens,  Epur.  limbata,  Copr.  lunaris, 
Geotrup.  mutator,  Putritarius,  Hopl.  farinosa,  Aphod.  scrutator,  Cryptohypa. 
pulchellus,  Minutissimus,  Ceutorrhynch.  napi,  Barid.  chloris,  Doreadion  fuliginator, 
and  numerous  others.  Desiderata. — British  and  other  European  Coleoptera. — Eric 
Mary,  Basel.  Austr.  1 1 2,  Switzerland. 

Duplicates. — Sibylla,  Lonicerae,*  B.  quercus,*  Pudibunda,  Punctulata,  Juniperata, 
Leucopliearia,  Spartiata,*  Tyi^haj,*  G.  flavago,*  Stabilis,  Instabilis,  Cerago,*  and 
Silago.*  Desiderati.—Yery  numerous. — H.  A.  Auld,  81,  Belmont  HUl,  Lee,  London,  S.E. 

Duplicates.— Edns-A,  ^gon,  Bembeciformis,*  Velleda  (Shetland),  Davus,  Adonis, 
Paniscus,  Loniceras,*  Coryli,*  B.  trifolii,*  M.  arundiuis  (fair),  Vespertaria,  Trepi- 
daria,  Uarbjnaria,  Cambricaria,  Pinetaria,  Ruficinctata,  Venosata*  (darkj,  Olivata, 
Juniperata,  Immanata,  Rideus,*  Psi,*Chiand  var.  Olivacea,  Rurea  ^vars.),  Piniperda, 
Adusta,*  Lunigera,*  Porphyrea,  Oonflua  var.  Thule,  Capsiucola,*  Alpinalis,  &c. 
DeUderata. — Fine,  to  renew,  on  black  pins.  Arion,  Linea,  Centonalis,  Quercana, 
Aureola,  Salicis,  Russula  (females),  B.  rubi,  Neustria,  Dictgeoides,  Dodoncea,  Derasa, 
Ocularis,*  Strigosa,  Megacephala,  Conigera,  Straminea,  Scolopacina,  Albicolon, 
I  Saponarias,  Sobrina,  Fulvago  (Paleacea),  Empyrea,  Tseniata,  Jasioneata,  Rubricate, 
Sagittata,  &c. — T.  Maddison,  South  Bailey,  Durham. 

Dupli'-ates. — (Jassandra,  Daplidice,  Erysimi,  Edusa,  Ilicis,  Adonis,  Uorydon, 
Argiolus,  Minima,  Arion,  Lucina,  Camilla,  Antiopa,  Cardui,  Didyma,  Phoebe, 
Lathonia,  Cleodoxa,  Paphia,  Ualathea,  Hermione,  Statilinus,  Dryas,  Achine,  Sao, 
Tages,  Thaumas,  PalaBmou,  Fuciformis,  Chrysidiformis,  Geryon,  Trifolii,  Miniata, 
Striata,  Hera,  Pini,  Pyri,  Glaucata,  Camelina,  Maura,  Lucida,  Flexula,  &c.  Desiderata. 
— Any  British  Heterocera. — C.  Beaulieu,  Rue  do  V Archevcche,  Tours  (France). 

-D«_23?ica4es.— Juniperata,  Corydon,  Puta,  Suffusa,  C-nigrum,  Literosa,  Upsilon,* 
Rivata,*  Obscuraria,  Unidentaria.*  ^gon,  Rhamni,  Tithonus.  Desiderata. — Scabio- 
sata,  Minutata,  and  many  common  species. — Louis  B.  Proiot,  12,  Greenwood  Road, 
Dalston,  N.E. 

Duplicates.— \Jrtic3d,  Atalanta,  Artaxerxes,  Caja,  Antiqua,  Multistrigaria,  Im- 
pluviata,  Suffumata  and  var.  Piceata,  Batis,  Adusta,  Chi,  Literosa,  Tenebrosa, 
Meticulosa,  Lucipara,  Thalassina,  Rectilinea,  Solidaginis,  Vetusta,  Gemina  and 
var.,  Lahlii,  Perla,  Furva,  Rufina,  Lucernea,  Perruginea,  Litura,  Rurea  and  var. 
Combusta,  Pupae  of  var.  Callunae.  Desiderata. — Numerous.— J".  W.  Buchan,  Backhill, 
Ruhislaw,  Aberdeen. 

Duplicates.— My Yicm  (pupas).  Desiderata. — Daplidice,  Lathonia,  Dia,  Cinxia, 
Antiopa,  L-is,  W-album,  Pruni,  Betulee,  Hippothoe,  Boetica,  Acis,  Arion,  Argiades 
(Continental).— F.  W.  Buchan,  Backhill,  Ruhislaw,  Aberdeen. 

Duplicates.  —  Edusa,  Cratsegi,  Adonis,  Cinxia,  Blandina,  Lathonia,  Apollo, 
Daplidice,  Zyg.  carnolica,  Z.  achilleaj,  Munda.  Desiderata. — Festucae,  Conspersa, 
Carpophaga,  Serena,  Viminalis,  Oxyacanthse,  Glauca,  Contigua,  Exoleta,  Solidaginis, 
Betulae,  Davus  (Welsh),  Cassiope,  Stramentalis,  Verbascalis,  Octomaculalis, 
Alpinalis,  Scop,  alpina,  and  other  Scoparige.— /.  IF.  Tutt,  Westcombe  Hill,  S.E. 

Duplicates. — Plantaginis,*  Pudibunda,*  Ulmata,  Aprilina,  Pyramidea,  Festucse* 
Desiderata.— GsiliAtA,  Porcellus,  Testudo,  Baiularia,  Trigeminata,  Debiliata,  Cassinea, 
Cespitis,  Agathina,  Retitsa,  Pyralina,  Genistae,  Putrescens,  or  local  Tortrices  on 
black  pins.— >F.  J.  Cross,  Waterside,  Ely. 

Duplicates. — Euphorbiae  *  (three,  from  foreign  pupae),  Croceago,*  Punctidactyla,* 
Acanthodactyla,*  A.  cuprella.  Desiderata. — Very  numerous — Ripae  and  other 
imagines:  Ova  of  Subtusa,  Retusa,  Aurago,  Gilvago,  Diffiuis. — Frank  R.  D.  Onslow, 
The  Woodhouse,  5,  Upper  Richmond  Road,  Putney,  S.W. 

Duplicates. — Glareosa  (red  form),  Flavicornis,  Monacha*  (New  Forest),  Fulva, 
Popularis,  Dominula,*  Augur,*  Salicis,*  Polychloros,  Gothica,  Rubi,*  Umbrosa,* 
lanthina,*  Neglecta,  Jacobaece,*  Promissa,  Cinctaria  (few),  Fasciaria,  Papilionaria. 
Desiderata. — Hispidaria,  Zonaria,  Rubricosa,  Opima,  Gracilis,  Munda,  Saucia, 
Exoleta,  and  offers.  Lists  exchanged. — Frank  R.  D.  Onslow,  The  Woodhouse,  5,  Upper 
Richmond  Road,  Putney,  S.W. 

Exchange. — I  have  a  tine  series  of  North  American  Coleoptera  from  New  Mexico, 
Ai-izona,  California,  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  Alaska,  which  I  offer  in  exchange 
for  books  or  separates  on  Entomology  (especially'  Coleopterology)  in  any  language. 
Address,  stating  what  you  have  for  exchange.  Insects  of  other  orders  will  be  col- 
lected for  those  who  desire  them,  on  the  same  terms. —  H.  F.  Wickham,  Iowa  City, 
Iowa,   U.S.  America. 

Wanted. — Spirit  specimens  of  the  more  uncommon  British  Spiders;  please  send 
list  of  desiderata  in  Lepidoptera,  &c. — G.  E.  Mason,  31,  Purser's  Cross  Road,  Fulham. 


Wanted. — Buckler's  Larvce  of  British  Butterflies  and  Moths  (all  or  any  vols,  except  V.), 
alsoNos.  1,  3  (1864)  of  the  Entomologist.  Lowest  cash  price  to— J.  W.  Tutt,  Westcombe 
[  Hill,  S.E. 

Changes  of  Address. — J.  E.  R.  Allen,  from  the  Grammar  School,  G-alway,  to 
;;  Egerton,  Bolton.    J.  B.  Williamson,  to  3,  Chesterfield  Place,  Bancroft  Street,  Slough. 

Notice. — We  have  again  to  apologise  to  a  very  large  number  of  contributors  for 
holding  over  their  communications,  but  thej'  will  be  printed  as  soon  as  space 
permits. — Ed. 

MEETINGS    OF    SOCIETIES. 

The  City  of  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society,  London 

Institution,  Finsbury  Circus,  E.C. — Tlie  first  and  third  Tuesdays  in  the  month,  at 
7.30  p.m.     Papers  and  Notes  at  every  Meeting. 

The  South  London  Entomological  and  Natural  History  Society,  Hibemia 
Chambers,  London  Bridge. — The  second  and  fourth  Thursdays  in  each  month,  at 
8  p.m. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Tutt  is  reading  a  series  of  papers  on  the  various  species  of  the  genus 
Zygffina. — Hy.  J.  Turner,  Hon.  Report  Sec. 

Entomological  Society  of  London,  ll,  Chandos  street.  Cavendish  Square,  W. 
Next  Annual  Meeting,  Januarj'  16th,  189,").     President's  Address. 

MONOGRAPH  OF  THE  BRITISH  PTEROPHORINA 

By    J.    W.    TUTT,    F.E.S. 
ISSUED  IN  PARTS.  •  PRICE  6d.  EACH.     PART  V.  NOW  READY. 

{Reprinted  from  '  The  British  Naturalist.') 

To  be  obtained  of  Mp.  J.  E.  ROBSON,  of  Hartlepool. 

This  is  the  only  complete  work  published,  which  deals  fully  and  exhaustively  Avith 
the  "  Plume  "  moths.  It  describes  the  variation  of  the  imago,  habits  of  the  larva  and 
imago,  food  plants,  method  of  pupation,  habitat,  times  of  appearance,  and  contains 
almost  all  the  references  to  the  various  species  to  be  found  in  our  Magazine  literature 
of  the  last  thirty  years. 


BOOKS    FOR    NATURE    LOVERS. 

In  crown  8vo,  price  5/- ;  or  5/6  with  gilt  edges,  tastefully  printed  and  bound,  and  with  many  illustrations 

by  E.  T.  CoMPTON. 

IDYL.LS     OF     THE      FIELD. 

By  F.  A.  Knight,  Author  of  "  By  Leafy  Ways." 

The  success  which  has  attended  the  publication  of  Mr.  Knight's  recent  volume,  "By  Leaty  Ways,"  has 
induced  him  to  issue  another  series  of  chapters  in  an  uniform  volume.  These  are  now  just  published 
under  the  title  of  "  Idylls  of  the  Field,"  and  are  tastefully  illustrated  by  Mr.  E.  T.  Compton,  whose 
drawings  to  the  former  volume  added  so  much  to  its  charm. 

ELI,IOT    STOCK,    62,    PATERNOSTER    ROW,     E.C. 


(fStk 


jetzt  vereinigt  mit  der   „Samniler -BorSG** 


Offcrtcnblatt    .  ^  | 

'"'/Qienste  alle.-  Satnmcl-lnUressen.r, 


^ii;,^|y<g^^ig9g^"-4^^i^^ 


^t  flir  ,,Entoniologcu"  uiid  „Sammler"  das  hervorragendste  Blatt,  welches  wegen 
tter  belehrenden  Artikel  sowie  seiner  internationalen  und  grossen  Verbreitung  betreflfs 
.inkauf,  Verkauf  und  Umtausch  aller  Objekte  die  weitgehendsten  Erwartungen  erfiillt 
|jvie  einProbeabonnemeiit  lehrendiirfte.  Zubeziehendurch  diePost(ZeitungslisteNo.3l35) 
and  die  Verlags-Buchhandlung  Frankenstein  &  Wagner,  Leipzig,  Augustusplatz  1. 
kbonnement  bei  Zusendung  unter  Kreuzband  in  Deutschland  u.  Oe>teneich  1  Mk.,  nack 
ii.ler^n  Landern  des  Weltpostvereins  1  Mk.  20  Pfg.  =^  '  '^^'iiintj  2  Pence  =  1  Fr.  .='iO  Cen-, 


FERTILE    OVA    AND    LIVING    ?[JP/E. 

OVA.  Per  doz.  Antiqua,  Angularia,  2d.  Elinguaria,  Pist-~rrfia,  Oxyacanthae,  Chi, 
Cseruleocephala,  Dilutata,  Spartiata,3d.  Nupta,  Autiimnaria,  4d.  Cratsegi,  6d.  Eros- 
aria,  1  -    Sponsa,  1/6 

HEALTHY    PUP^.    Each.    Machaon,  Ligustri,  Ocellatus,  Tilise,  Elpenor,  Vinula, 

Carpini,  ( southern )  A.  Urticae,  Suasa,  Miniosa,  Comitata,  Liturata,  3d.   Chlorana,  Zlo- 

zac,  Dromedarius,  Testudo,  Mendica,  Parthenias,  2id.    Populi,  Reclusa,  Megecephala, 

Capsincola.'.Triplasia.  Ulmata,  2d.    Lanestris,  Illunaria,  Pisi.  Lucipara,  Ruberata,  Mor- 

heus.  lid.    Trepida,  Myricse.  Hispidaria,  Versicolor,  6d.    Venosa,  Dysodea,  Sid.  Aini, 

1/6    Cratsegata,  Jacobae  Hirtaria.  Bucephala,  Incerta,  Stabilis,  Gothica,  Oleracea,  Lub- 

ricepeda.  Id.    Postage  2d.  any  quantity.    Many  other  speciea  during  the  season. 

EXOTIC  LEPIDOPTERA.    In  Papers,  1/-  2/-  &  3.-  per  doz.    Postage  2d. 

Price  Lists  of  Entomological  Apparatus.  Ova,  Pupae  &c.  Post  free  on  appUcation, 

Otir  Full  Illustrated  Catalogue  of  Cabinets,  Insects,  Eggs,  Ski7is,  etc.  2d.  post  free. 

'■-^^    5  Per  Cent  Discount  allowed  ofl  all  Cabinets  for  Cash  with  order. 

J.  &  W.  Davis,  31  -3,  Hythe  St,  Dartford,  Kent. 
JOURNAL   OF   MICROSCOPY  &  NATURAL   SCIENCE, 

(The  Journal  of  the  Postal  Microscopical  Society) 
CONTAINS      112     TO      120      PAGES      OF      READING      MATTER. 

Editor:    A.    ALLEN,    Hon.    Sec.    P.M.S. 

Published  Quarterly — Price  Two  Shillings  and  Sixpence,  or  10/6  the  Year,  post  free  from 
the  Editor,  i,  Cambridge   Place,  Bath. 

Contains  a  number  of  valuable  and  interesting  Articles  relating  to  Microscopy  and  the  Allied  Sciences 
written  by  Scientists,  and  illustrated  with  Lithographic  Plates  and  Wood  Engravings 

London:  BAILLIERE,   TINDALL   &   COX,  20,  King  William  Street,  Strand. 

U.S.A. :  M.  A.  Booth,  Longmeadow,  Mass. 

D.   F.  TAYLER  &  Co.,  Ltd. 
Entomological   Pin  Manufacturers^ 

Small  Heads  and  Perffct  Points,   White,  Black,  and  Gilt, 

BIRMINGHAM    and    LONDON. 


Can  be  obtained  from   Dealers  throughout  the  World. 


THE     NATURALIST: 

A   Monthhj  Journal  of  Natural   Histori/  for  the  North  of  England. 

Edited  by  W.  DENISON  ROEBUCK,  F.L.S. 

(Lovell,  Eeeve  &  Co.,  5,  Henrietta  Street,  Coveiit  Gai-den,  E.G.) 

Published  on  the  1st  of  every  month,  price  inl.,  or  Annual  Subscrij^tion  5s.,  to 

Mr.  W.  DENISON  ROEBUCK,  Sunny  Bank,  Leeds. 


OF 

J.  HUBNER'S  EXOTISCHE   SCHMETTERLINGE  bS&. 

WITH     664    COLOURED     PLATES, 
PRICE     OF     THE     ^WHOLE     W^ORK,     £26, 

Published  in  65    Parts,   each    with    10    Coloured    Plates— Price    of   each    Part,   8/-. 
Only  Subscriptions  to  the  complete  work  accepted. 

List  of  Subscribers  and  Specimen  of  Plates,  post  free  on  demand. 

P.  WYTSMAN,  Scientific  Bookseller,   79   Rue  Neuve,  BRUSSELS. 


The  Best  Boots  for  Travelling  in  all  Weathers. 


"  e.e.e.e;    ^^      /^ 

/  ^    'E.E.E.E." 


ABBOTT'S 

120,  High  Holborn,  W.C. 

ABBOTT'S 

60,  Ludgate  Hill,  E.G. 

ABBOTT'S 

434,  West  Strand,  W.C. 

ABBOTT'S 

183,  186,  Goswell  Road, 
E.C. 

ABBOTT'S 

Corner  of  Holloway  Road 
&  Seven  Sisters  Road. 

SPECIALITE.— Sporting  Boots  of  every  Description 

made  to  order. 

W ATKINS    &   DONCASTER, 

Naturalists  and  fflanafaetareps  of  Entomologieal  Apparatus  and  Cabinets 

Plain  Eiiig  Xets,  wire  or  cane,  including  Stick,  1/3,  2/-,  2/6.  Folding  Nets,  3/6,  4/-. 
Umbrella  Nets  (self-acting),  7;-.  Pocket  Boxes,  6d.,  9d.,  1/-,  1/6.  Zinc  Relaxing 
Boxes,  9d.,  1/-,  1/6,  2/-  Nested  Cliip  Boxes,  8d.  per  four  dozen.  Entomological  Pins, 
assorted  or  mixed,  1/6  per  ounce.  Pocket  Lanterns,  2/6  to  10/6.  Sugaring  Tin,  with 
brush,  1/6,  2/-.  Sugaring  Mixture,  ready  for  use,  1/9  per  tin.  Store  Boxes,' with 
camphor  cells,  2/6,  4/-,  5/-,  6/-.  Setting  Boards,  flat  or  oval,  1  in.,  6d.;  1^  in.,  8d. ; 
2in.,  lOd.;  2iin.,  1/-;  3^  in.,  1/4;  4in.,  1/6;  oin.,  1/10;  Complete  Set  of  fourteen 
Boards,  10/6.  Setting  Houses,  9/6,  11/6;  corked  back,  14/-.  Zinc  Larva  Boxes,  9d., 
1/.,  1/6.  Breeding  Cage,  2/6,  4/-,  5/-,  7/6.  Coleopterist's  Collecting  Bottle,  with  tube, 
1/6,  1/8.  Botanical  Cases,  japanned,  double  tin,  1/6  to  7/6.  Botanical  Paper,  1/1,  1/4, 
1/9,  2/2  per  quire.  Insect  Glazed  Cases,  2/6  to  11/-.  Cement  for  replacing  Antennae, 
6d.  per  bottle.  Steel  Forceps,  1/6,  2/-,  2/6  per  pair.  Cabinet  Cork,  7  by  3^,  best  quality, 
1/4  per  dozen  sheets.  Brass  Chloroform  Bottle,  2/-.  Insect  Lens,  1/- to  8/-.  Glass-top 
and  Glass-bottomed  Boxes,  from  1/4  per  dozen.  Zinc  Killing  Box,  9d.,  1/-.  Pupa 
Digger,  in  leather  sheath,  1;9.  Taxidermist's  Companion,  containing  most  necessary 
implements  for  skinning,  10/6.  Scalpels,  1/8;  Scissors,  2/- per  pair ;  Egg-drilLs,  2d.,  3d., 
1/-;  Blowpipes,  6d.;  Artificial  Eyes  for  Birds  and  Animals;  Label-lists  of  British 
Butterflies,  2d.;  ditto  of  Birds'  Eggs,  3d.,  4d.,  6d. ;  ditto  of  Land  and  Fresh-water 
Shells,  2d;  Useful  Books  on  Insects,  Eggs,  etc. 

Label-list  of  British  Macro-Lepidoptera,  with  Latin  and  English  names  (1894 
edition),  1/6.  Our  new  complete  Catalogue  of  British  Lepidoptera  (every  .species 
numbered),  1/-;  or  on  one  side  for  labels,  2/- 

THE     DIXON  "  LAMP  NET  (invaluable  for  taking  moths  off  Street  Lamps  without  climbing  the 

Lamp  Posts)  2  6. 

SHOW     ROOM     FOR    CABINETS 

O     every  description  for   Insects,   Birds'   Eggs,   Coins,    Microscopical  Objects,   Fossils,   &c. 
Catalogue  (66  pages)  sent  on  application,  post  free. 

A    LARGE    STOCK    OF    INSECTS'   AND    BIRDS'    EGGS    British,  European  and  Exotic), 

Birds,  Mammals,  etc.  Preserved  and  Mounted  by  First-class  Wcrknien. 

Ad°driL-36,  STRAND,  LONDON,  W.C.  (5  doors  from  Charing-  Cress). 


Foi^  u:lintei^  treading  and  Stady. 

The  British  Noctu^  and  their  Varieties,;  stray  Notes  on  the  Noctuae,  by  J.  W 
by  J   W  TuTT  F.E.S.  4  Vols   pnce  7/-             t         F.E.S.  price  1/-. 
per  Vol.  (may  be  had  separateh'.)  [ [ 


Secondary  Sexual  Characters  in  Lepi-    Melanism  and  Melanochroism  in  Lepi 
doptera,  bv  J.  W.  Tutt,  F.E.S.  price  doptera,  by  J.  W.  Tutt,  F.E.S.  Bound 

1/..  ■  in  Cloth,  price  2/6. 


To  he  obtained  from  the  Aidhot;  RayJeigh  Vina,  Westcombe  Hill,  Blackheath,  S.E, 


"  Most  naturalists  express  a  great  deal  of  anxiety  that  their  children  should  take  up  the  study  that 
gives  them  so  much  pleasure,  yet  it  is  well-known  how  few  do  so.  If  they  would  put  your  books 
Random  Recollections  of  Woodland,  Fen,  and  Hill,  and  Woodside,  Biirnside,  tiilhide  and  Marsh  into 
their  children's  hands,  I  have  no  doubt  a  very  large  number  of  the  more  intelligent  of  them  would  become 
interested  in  the  pursuit,  and  in  time  take  more  seriously  to  the  study  of  natural  history.  Besides,  the 
plates  and  wood-cuts  in  your  last  work  make  it  eminently  6tted  for  a  gift  book." — (in  Hit.) 


Woodside,    Burnside,    Hillside    and   Marsh, 

By    J.    W.    TUTT,    F.E.S. 
Bound  in  Cloth,  Price  2  6.  242  pp.  and  50  Illustrations. 

"  How  many  there  are  who  cross  the  marshes  without  seeing  a  heron,  a  kingfisher,  or  an  otter,  who 
would  miss  the  wild  duck's  nest,  who  would  take  no  account  at  all  of  the  caterpillars  that  crowd  the 
branches  of  the  willow  trees.  It  is  mainly  for  the  want  of  training.  Most  of  us  would  like  to  watch  the 
jay  and  the  squirrel,  the  dragonfly  and  the  hawk  moth.  There  are  few  who  cannot  appreciate 
the  beauty  of  the  bee-orchis  when  the  flower  is  shown  them,  even  though  they  may  have  passed  it  by  un- 
noticed. The  keen  observer  who  finds  these  things  for  himself  is  rare.  .  .  .  To  everyone  who  cares 
to  know  something  of  the  delight  which  a  little  training  may  add  to  a  country  walk,  a  book  like  this 
will  be  a  real  boon.  It  is  not  often  the  reviewer's  lot  to  find  a  title  so  exactly  descriptive  of  a  book  ;  nor 
does  one  often  meet  with  a  volume  containing  such  a  wealth  of  rural  lore.  Follow  the  writer  where  you 
will,  you  will  find  him  overflowing  with  interest — at  times,  perhaps,  even  too  full  of  information.  Mr.  Tutt 
is  at  his  best  when  he  is  talking  of  insect  life.  .  .  .  But  although  it  is  easy — even  without  considering 
the  writer's  previous  works — to  trace  his  leaning  towards  entomology,  we  can  also  see  how  deeply  a 
student  of  one  branch  of  natural  history  may  become  imbued  with  at  least  a  liking  for  kindred  subjects, 
and  there  is  almost  as  much  of  birds  and  flowers  in  the  book  as  there  is  about  moths  and  butter, 
flies.  .  .  .  His  would  be  a  captious  soul  who  should  fail  to  recognise  in  this  little  volume  an  admirable 
companion  for  a  country  walk.  It  is  a  book  from  which  he  who  will  may  learn  what  to  look  for, 
and,  to  some  extent,  how  to  see  things  for  himself— may,  perhaps,  in  time  be  drawn  to  '  wander  away,  with 
Nature,  the  dear  old  nurse  — 

'  Into  regions  yet  untrod  ; 
And  read  what  still  is  unread 
In  the  manuscripts  of  God.'" 
— Daily  News.    August  7th  1894. 


Random  Recollections  of  Woodland,  Fen  &  Hill 

By    J.    W.    TUTT,    F.E.S. 

A  series  of  articles  dealing  with  the  wanderings  and  observations  of  a  Field  Naturalist. 
BOUND     IN     CLOTH,     PRICE     Ss. 

"  Another  book  that  invites  us  with  no  uncertain  charm  into  the  open  air  and  tar  from  populous 
towns,  is  Random  Recollections  of  M'oodland.  Fen  and  Hill,  though  Mr.  Tutt's  themes  are  of  course; 
mainly  of  scientific  interest,  and  such  as  appeal  to  the  young  and  zealous  entomologist.  Moths  and  butter- 
flies are  the  objects  of  Mr.  Tutt's  open-air  studies,  as  recorded  in  this  interesting  book,  and  the  varied ! 
results  of  an  old  campaigner  among  field  naturalists  are  therein  gathered.  There  is  nothing  that  savours; 
of  the  cabinet  and  its  pungent  odours  abouf  these  vivid  and  entertaining  recollections  of  an  experienced 
entomologist,  and  much  that  is  of  interest  to  the  general  reader,  with  still  more  that  is  likely  to  prove 
useful  to  the  collector  who  does  his  own  collecting." — Saturday  Review.     Feb.  17th,  1894, 

"  Under  the  title  of  Random  Recollections  of  Woodland,  Fen  and  Hill,  Mr.  J.  \V.  Tutt  has  just 
published  a  capital  little  book,  which  ought  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  every  schoolboy  who  has  any 
inclination  towards  an  interest  in  natural  science.  We  should  think  it  impossible  for  such  a  one  to  read 
through  it  and  not  have  those  leanings  very  considerably  strengthened.  The  author  is  a  keen  and 
enthusiastic  field  naturalist,  and  in  the  book  he  takes  the  reader  with  him  on  nine  of  his  holiday  excur- 
sions, and  in  a  chatty  and  humorous,  yet  fascinating  way,  he  lays  before  him  the  various  scientific  01 
philosophical  questions  relating  to  lepidoptera,  which  are  so  largely  engaging  the  attention  of  entomologists 
at  the  present  day.  It  is  long  time  since  we  read  a  book  of  its  kind  with  more  pleasure." — The  Naturalist. 
March,  1894. 

ORDER    FORM. 

Dear   Sir, 

Please  forward  me  a  Copy  of  ""Woodside,  Burnside,  Hillside,  and 
Marsh,"  for  which  I  enclose  Postal  Order  value  2/6,  and  of  "Random  Eecollections 
OF  Woodland,  Fen  and  Hill,  for  which  I  enclose  Postal  Order  value  3/-. 

4    1,  i,'^-^  Name...... 

Address 

To  J.  W.  TUTT, 

Rayleigh   Villa, 

Westcombe   Hill,   S.E. 


1       I       I 


C5 


I  H