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
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ENTOMOLOGISrS RECORD
JOURNAL OF VARIATION.
J. W. TUTT, F.E.S.
JANUARY 15th, 1894.
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SPECIALITY— (Lepidoptera) Ova, Larvae and Pupae.
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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).
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SPECXAIL. INOEX
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ENTOMOLOGISTS RECORD
JOURNAL OF VARIATION,
J. W. TUTT, F.E.S
OCTOBER loth, 1894.
PRICE SIXPENCE.
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TOTAL PAYMENTS UNDER POLICIES, £11,000,000.
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ESTB. 184 8
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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.
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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, _ .
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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).
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SP^ECIAL XNOEX
To Volume IV. of
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early application should be made to
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ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD
JOURNAL OF VARIATION
J. W. TUTT, F.E.S
NOVEMBER 15tK 1894.
' h
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Subscription for Twelve Numbers, post free,
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LONDON :
ELLIOT STOCK, 62, Paternoster Eow, E.C.
BERLIN :
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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)
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ALBERT J. HODGES,
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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
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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 . ^ |
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^t flir ,,Entoniologcu" uiid „Sammler" das hervorragendste Blatt, welches wegen
tter belehrenden Artikel sowie seiner internationalen und grossen Verbreitung betreflfs
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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,
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THE NATURALIST:
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per Vol. (may be had separateh'.) [ [
Secondary Sexual Characters in Lepi- Melanism and Melanochroism in Lepi
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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