Seber Tiee wipe gomes Php yroein ony noavign 7 OSs one. Slik Aart oe) ehh oka tore Oana 7b Ase one bao Richicliod tented - saree 3 sere len re Oe 80 Cues need aad pe te Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/entomologist07brituoft iy ee JOIO] | E fo gael THE eo dicies CONDUCTED BY EDWARD NEWMAN. VOLUME VII. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., STATIONER’S HALL COURT. 1874. «‘ Observe the Insrct Race ordained to keep The lazy Sabbath of a half-year’s sleep. Entombed beneath the filmy web they lie, And wait the influence of a kinder sky. When vernal sunbeams pierce their dark retreat The heaving tomb distends with vital heat ; The full-formed brood, impatient of their cell, Start from their trance, and burst their silken shell; Trembling awhile they stand, and scarcely dare To launch at once upon the untried air. At length assured, they catch the favouring gale, And leave their sordid spoils and high in ether sai Mrs. BaRBAUED. ‘“‘ Even in favour of the mere butterfly-hunter—he who has no higher aim than that of collecting a picture of Lepidoptera, and is attached to insects solely by their beauty or singularity—it would not be difficult to say much. Can it be necessary to declaim on the superiority of a people, amongst whom intellectual pleasures, however trifling, are preferred to mere animal gratifications? Is it a thing to be lamented that some of the Spitalfields weavers occupy their leisure hours in searching for the Adonis butterfly, instead of spending them in playing at skittles or in an alehouse? Or is there, in truth, anything more to be wished than that the cutlers of Sheffield were accustomed thus to employ their Saint Monday ys; and to recreate themselves, after a hard day’s work, by breathing the pure air of their surrounding hills while in pursuit of this, their ‘untaxed and undisputed game’ —Kirpy AND SPENCE. CONTENTS. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Adams, C. L. 207 Anderson, Joseph, jun. 22, 161, 164 Baly, Joseph §8., F.L.S. 293 Barrett, J. P. 71 Bartlett, Henry, 296 Batchelor, T. 81 Bell, Alfred 210 Bennett, A. W., M.A., B.Sc., F.L.S. 135 Bignell, G. C. 185 Birchall, E., F.L.S. 21, 121, 149, 271 Borrer, W., jun. 186 Bradbury, 8. 91 Bright, A. H. 213 Brook, George 292 Brunton, T. 43 Buckton, G. B., F.R.S., F.L.S. 114, 141 Capper, Samuel James 216 Carrington, John T, 205, 206, 228 Clifford, John R. S. 22, 129, 208, 224, 225, 226, 230 Clogg, Stephen 259 Cole, William 14 Cooke, Nicholas 178 Cooke, W. 163 Cope, W. J. 213 Corbin, G. B. 44, 45, 70, 182, 137, 167, 182, 183 Cordeaux, John 161, 203 Crewe, Rev. H. Harpur, M.A. 290, 291 Dale, J. C., F.L.S., the late 290 Dashwood, E. 8. 140 Dawson, George R. 23, 94, 169 Dearnley, F. 163 Doubleday, Henry 87, 112, 115, 260 Edwards, W. 163 Eedle, T. 206 Kgles, Rey. E. H. 91, 178 Fitch, E. A. 24, 45, 140, 298 Fletcher, J. E. 69, 71 Forbes, W. A. 23, 112, 162, 165, 185, 231, 234. Gardner, J. 178 Garlick, Constance 259 Gatcombe, J. 233 Goss, H. 203, 205 Gregson, C. 8. 17, 68, 255 Grigg, William H. 179 Grubb, John 91 Gulliver, George 259 Gustard, H. Stafford 203 Hamilton, A. 212 Hamilton, J. 72 Hamlin, C. 259 Harper, W. 218 Harrison, John 163 Harwood, W. H. 129, 288 Herkomer, Mrs. Hubert 73, 98, 145, 170, 193, 217, 241, 265 Hervey, Rev. A. C. 91, 259 Hillman, Thomas 290 Hodges, H. C. 233 Hodgkinson, J. B. 90, 175, 231 178, 205, 229, 230, . Jennings, Rey. P. H. 285 - Kay, R. 291 vi CONTENTS. Leconte, John L., M.D. 277 Raynor, G. H. 21, 228 Lilly, J. A. 228 Reeks, Henry, F.L.S. 89, 110,” 222, Llewelyn, John T. D., F.L.S. 260 231 Lockyer, Bernard 138 Robinson, Henry 204 Lomas, T. 164 Robinson-Douglas, W. Douglas £162, Lucas, T. P., M.D. 292 227 Luff, W. A. 10, 42 Ruston, A. Harold, 185 Macmillan, W. 140 Shearwood, Geo. P. 224 Maling, W. 89, 225 Sheldon, Wm. 178 Marshall, W. C. 209, 213 Sims, H. 180 Mathew, G. F., R.N., F.L.S. 62 Smith, Frederick 66, 166, 257 May, J. W. 252, 267 South, R. 174 McRae, W. 22 Standish, F. O. 20, 23, 44 Meek, E. G.19, 165, 177 Stevens, Samuel, F.L.S. 173, 204 Mills, Rev. John W. 174 Moncreaff, Henry 93, 130, 132 Talbot, William 15 Mosley, S. L. 228 Tawell, J. A. 189 Thomas, W. 164 Newman, Edward, F.L.S. 24, 49, 58, | Thompson, W. 174 70, 88, 93, 97, 105, 119, 125, 140, 184, | Timms, E. W. 96, 296 211, 212, 213, 234, 236, 242, 260,295 | Trangmar, F. 164 Norgate, Frank 69 Tugwell, W. H. 86, 88, 160, 205 Oldfield, G. W. 139, 289 Walker, Rev. F. A., M.A., F.L.S. 75, Oldham, Charles 228 79, 198 Walker, Francis, the late 4, 12, 25, Parry, G. 16, 289 86, 46, 54, 71, 74, 75, 92, 93, 94, Paul, Arthur W. 154 98, 99, 100, 103, 118, 126, 147, Pease, Edward R. 174 166, 193, 195, 196, 207, 208, 218, Perkins, Anne Steele 20, 210 219 : Peyton, W. 82 Weise, Anna 1, 50 Phillips, F. J. 165 Wellman, J. R. 43, 227 Porritt, Geo. T., F.L.S. 90, 109, 110, | Wigan, W. 171, 172, 205, 233 175, 180 Williams, John 21 Potts, J. 162 Wilson, Owen 13, 113, 168 Poulton, E. B. 176, 177 Wittich, H. 104, 181 Prest, Wm. 181 Wormald, P. C. : Price, David M. G. 139, 182, 204, 206 |! Wratislaw, Rev. A. H.)M.A. 175 CONTENTS. vil ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS. Acanthocinus edilis 93, 213 Acidalia rubricata—is it a single- brooded species ? 175 Acronycta Alni at Doncaster 162; in Yorkshire 163; near Doncaster id. ; at Malvern id.; near Sheffield 178; in the New Forest 186; at Lynd- hurst 205 % Leporina 177 Agrotera nemoralis 216 Albipuncta, Lathonia and Leucophea, in the matter of 16 Anarta Myrtilli 178 Andrena tibialis and Stylops 143 Andricus noduli 99 = quadrilineatus, gall of, in Essex 140 Ant, hermaphrodite 115; white, bred at Kew 188 Anthrocera Lonicere 181 Anthocharis Cardamines, variety 70 Anticlea sinuata in Hampshire 44; near Dorking 164 Ants, foraging 56; leaf-cutting 57; | making mad 58; and tiger-beetles 60; winged, swarming of a brood 83; the plague of 233 Apamea unanimis making up in decayed willow-wood 180 Apaturis Iris in Monmouthshire 203 Aphelopus melaleucus 26 Aphides of Amurland 12; British, requested 114, 141; a note on 166 Aphides, three notes on 12; no indi- genous in New Zealand 48 Aphilothrix Corticis 50 ar Globuli, a gall-maker new to Britain 24 a Radicis 3, 45 Pe Rhizomatis 51 > serotina 170 3 Sieboldii 52; in England 93 Aphis-honey 13 Aphis-life in the Fall, yearly close 12 Arctia larva, aquatic 117 » lubricipeda, variety 169 » Menthastri, food of 230 Argynnis Adippe, variety 49 os Lathonia at Broadstairs 233; near Canterbury 288 3 Niobe 88; in Kent 171, 172, 178, 225, 288 Asthena Blomeraria at Malvern 163 Attelabidze 284 Bark-galls 50 Bat, parasites of 215 Bees, humble, wanted for New Zea- land 47; fertilizing gentians 113; and wasps, economy 141; ferti- lizing flowers 184; honey 292 Beetle, timber-boring 187; epizoic 293 : Belt, Thomas, F.G.S., ‘The Natu- ralist in Nicaragua’ 56 Belytide 30 Betularia, buff variety 164 Bethylide 34 Biorhiza aptera 3; on roots of Deo- dars 47 Blennocampa Cerasi 236 Blepharicide 104 Bluebottles on leaves 294 Boarmia larva, ichneumonideous para- site on 91 Beus seminulum 6 Bombus Lucorum 231 Bombyx with aquatic larva 94 Botys Terrealis bred 178 Brachycentrus subnubilus bred 47; on the common comfrey 186 British Bee-keepers’ Association 192 Bud-galls 145 Butterflies, migrating 60; in New- foundland at Christmas 89; migra- tion of 110, 161; at Dry Drayton 198, 224 Cabinets, insect, metal drawers for 213 Captures of Hymenoptera near Nor- wich 67; at Little Hampton id.; in the Island of Anglesea 68; in the Vili New Forest 138; in Sutherland- shire 207; at or near Eastbourne during the latter part of July 224 Carabus nitens in the New Forest 44 Cassida vittata 118 Catocala Fraxini at Folkestone 228; near Canterbury 289 Ceraphronide 28 Cetonia aurata 44 Chauliodus cherophylellus bred id. Chelogynus dorsalis 27 Chesias obliquaria 178 Cherocampa Nerii near Lewes 290 Cidaria picata double-brooded in con- finement 230; life-history id. Cirrhedia xerampelina near Llan- gollen 20 Clostera, hybrid specimen 47 Cnethocampa pityocampa said to occur in Kent 81, 82; and another, as observed at Nice 104; larve 181 Coffee-borer of Natal 188 Coleoptera, Scotch 215; Rhyncho- phorous, classification of 277 Collection, Olivierian 95 Coluocera Atte 115 Congregation of Psen 47 Crocallis elinguaria 285 Crotch, George Robert, death of 236 Crymodes exulis again taken 178 i en bipustulatus 112 supposed new 23 Cy nips ‘argentea 194 » cerricola 73 » conglomerata 266, 293 » ~ conifica 170 » Hartigi 145 » hungarica 217 » Kollari 241 Lignicola 252, 265, 293; addi- tional parasites 252 » tinctoria 218 » Truncicola 146 sy yaa rubiginea at Christchurch 2 Dasypolia Templi 113 Deane, Henry, death of 119 Death-watch, supposed 140 Deilephila Euphorbie at Harwich 46 Deiopeia pulchella in Cornwall 188, 259; in Sussex 204; in Hampshire 259, 290; near Christchurch 259; CONTENTS. near Hastings id.; at Brighton id. ; near Lewes 290 Dianthecia albimacula bred; descrip- tion of the larva 180; near Folke- stone 165; and larvee 177 capsincola, is it double- brooded? 228 rf compta 19 e conspersa and D. compta V7 Diapridz 29 Dicondylus pedestris 27 Diptera, Amurland European 103; congeries of 165 Dipterous insect, ash-leaves affected by 215 Dor-beetle at work 132, 182 Dryinide 34 Dryocosmus cerriphilus 75 Dryophanta macroptera 98 East Sussex, a few days in 160 Ecitons 56 Embolemide 33 Embolemus Ruddii 25 Emmelesia unifasciata 260; at Chel- tenham 209 Entomological pins 71 Entomological Society, extracts from soos 46, 94, 115, 143, 186, 214 Epunda lutulenta at West Wickham 43; eggs 286 Ks nigra at Sherwood Forest 228 Epyris niger 28 _Erastria fuscula, food-plant 185 * venustula at Horsham, Sus- sex 206 ’ Eremobia ochroleuca at Christchurch 22 Eriogaster lanestris five winters in the pupa state 91 Eupisteria heparata, description of the larva 175 Eupithecia consignata 164 oy innotata, note on 68; and E. egenaria 87, 115; food-plant 291 iy Knautiata 255; of Greg- son = E. minutata of Hiibner 290 4: new to Science, with notes on its life-history 255 es plumbeolata 205 > pygmeata 231 CONTENTS. Eupithecia valerianata 231 Euryporus picipes 118 Field Naturalists’ Society 181 Flies, two-winged, notes on the wing- bones 36, 100, 126, 147, 196, 219 Food of Arctia Menthastri 230 Food-plant of Erastria fuscula 185; new(?) for Melitea Artemis 203; of Orgyia gonostigma 204, 226, 227; of Eupithecia innotata 291 Geometer larve eating oak-galls 165; correction 234 Glow-worms, colonizing 183 Goat-moth larva underground 125 Gordius aquaticus 212 Gortyna flavago and its house- holding 121; at Horsham in Octo- ber 139 Gryon misellus 6 Haggerston Entomological Society 236, 296 Halonota Grandevana at Hartlepool 90, 178 Haltica rata 214 Haplogastra 283 Heloride 33 Hepialus Velleda at Horsham, Sussex 204 Hive-bees, black 215 Honey-bees 292 Hornet, death through the sting of 209, 231 Hornets, do they ever build in the ground? 257 Humble-bees wanted for New Zealand 47; fertilizing gentians 113 Hybrid specimen of Clostera 47 Hylurgus piniperda, testaceous speci- men 91 Hymenoptera reposing 45; captures in 1873, 66; nest-building 70 Insect congeries 14, 165; develop- ment, is heat the chief agent in? 167; Dipterous, ash-leaves affected by 215 Insects, certain, emerge from the pupa by hydraulic pressure 15; taken at Glenarm 43; oak-leaf 92; photographs of, taken with camera obscura 94; in limestone caves 95; 1x organs of hearing in 113; injurious to wheat 115; to coffee-trees 118; Spitzbergen id.; pollen-eating 135; destructive to coffee plantations 144; Netherland 149, 271; names of 185; peat 210 Labeo vitripennis 26 Larva of Zygeena Trifolii, description 90; Bombyx with aquatic 94; Arctia, aquatic 117; goat-moth, underground 125; of Dianthecia albimacula, description 130; of Eupisteria heparata, description 175; of Notodonta Carmelita, de- scription of varieties 176; Lepi- dopterous, walnut eaten by 214; Dipterous, Turkey carpet eaten by 215 Larve, Geometer, eating oak-galls 165, 234; required for figuring 168; of Dianthecia albimacula 177; hairy, on the black currant 181; rearing in earthenware pots 208; of Saturnia Carpini, do they hybernate? 227, 289 Lathonia, Leucophea and Albipuncta, in the matter of 16 Lepidoptera, cause of shrivelling of wings 13; forwarded to Edward Newman by G.F. Mathew, Esq.,R.N. 62; controlling sex in 69; certain, mode of oviposition 285; contribu- tion to the history 291 Leucania albipuncta at Folkestone 228 Leucophasia Sinapis ovipositing 175 Ligdia adustata, life-history 229 Lime-galls 45 Limenitis Sibylla at Hendon 174 Linnean Society of London, extract from Proceedings 141 Liparis auriflua and L. chrysorrhea 22, 129 Locusts devouring woollen materials and leather 118; a railway train impeded by 166 Longicorn destructive to coffee planta- tions at Natal 95 Lycena Argiolus ovipositing 292 Macherium maritimum 207, 215 Macrogaster Arundinis, description of the larva 21 9 = a x CONTENTS. Macro-Lepidoptera taken in Alderney 10; additions to the list 42; of Liibeck 154 Mantid, a living, exhibited 188 Megastigmus, note on 71 ; Melanagria Galathea in Lincolnshire 203 Melanippe fluctuata 286 Melitea Artemis 24; new (?)food- plant for 203 Microgaster in Brazil 207 Miselia Oxyacanthee 287 Moth, Yucca 214 Moths, names of 182 Mycetophilide 103 Nematus latipes 252 Newcastle-on-Tyne Entomological So- ciety 72 Night-flyer, gold-cloth 122 Noctua glareosa at Sherwood Forest 228 »» sobrina in Rannoch 205; cor- rection 228 Nola albulalis, &c.,in North Kent 180 » centonalis at Sittingbourne 205 Nomenclature, zoological 119 Notodonta Carmelita (read N. came- lina), description of varieties of the larva 176 Oak-galls, descriptions 1, 50, 78, 98, 145, 170, 193, 217, 241; Geometer larve eating 165; correction 2384, 265 Oak-leaf insects 92 GEdipoda Germanica, red and blue varieties 79 CEnistis quadra 185 Olivierian collection 95 Oniscigaster Wakefieldi 117 Ophiodes Lunaris near Brighton 164 Orchids, pollen masses 234 Orgyia gonostigma, food-plant 204, 226, 227 Ornithomyia ayicularia 212 Orthoptera, musical 117 Orthosia litura 287 Owen, Alfred, death of 216 Oxyura, notes on 4, 25 Pachnobia alpina from Bremar, &c. ° 3 in Rannoch 2065 correction Parasite, ichneumonideous, on a Bo- armia larva 91 Parasites 137; of a bat 215; of Cynips Lignicola, additional 252 : Parasitism, Goureau’s observations on 93 Phibalapteryx vitalbata 286 Phigalia pilosaria 91 Phlogophora meticulosa 287 Phycis Dayisellus 47, 112; economy 132 Phylloxera Quercus 208 Pieris Napi 162 », Rape, variety 140, 162 Pins, entomological 71 Platypsylla Castoris 294 Platypteryx Sicula near 179 Plusia interrogationis near Driffield 23; read P. Pulchrina 94 Polia flavocincta abundant at Hud- dersfield 292 2 Pollen-eating insects 135 Polydrusus sericeus 112 Potato-beetle, Colorado 116 Potato-bug, Colorado 105; artificial remedies 106, 107, 108, 109; sup- posed 183 Proctotrupide 33 Prosacantha varicornis 6 Psen, congregation of 47 Ptilophora plumigera 22 Pupa, certain insects emerge from by hydraulic pressure 15 Pyrarga Egeria, &c. 129, 161 Bristol Rhinomaceride 284 Rhopalocera, Continental, geographi- cal distribution 75 Rhynchitide 284, 285 Root-galls 2 Rose-beetle 44 Rose-galls 94, 113 Saturnia Carpini—is it ever double- brooded? 139, 162; do the larve hybernate? 227, 289 : Satyrus Semele, tenacity of life in a specimen 23 Sawflies, life-histories 252, 267 Scelionide 9 Scotosia certata 140 Selandria annulipes 267 Smerinthi, hybridizing 21 , CONTENTS. Smerinthus ocellatus emerging in September 233 Solenobia, supposed albino 186 South London Entomological Society _ 24, 48, 71, 192 Species, British, alias Continental 20 Sphinx Convolvuli at Christchurch 22; at Maidenhead 218 5 Pinastri at Harwich 46 Spider, mimicry in 61, Spiders 59 Sterrha sacraria near Neath 260 Syntomis Phegea as a British insect 88 Teniocampa opima, &c., hints on breeding 86; breeding 110 Tapinostola Bondii at Lyme Regis 205, 292 Teleas clavicornis 6 Telenomus brachialis 4 ii Laricis 5 os Othus id. ‘The Naturalist in Nicaragua’ 56 Thecla Pruni in Buckinghamshire 174 » Quercus with an orange spot 69 » Rubi, variety 215 . W-album on the flowers of the lime tree 174 Thorn, bull’s-horn 61 Thoron fornicatus 7 Tiger-beetles and ants 60 Tortrix cerasana and T. ribeana 112 Trichiura Cratsegi 228 Trigonaspis megaptera 193 Tryphena fimbria 286 Vanessa Antiopa near Newcastle 225 35 Polychloros in Northumber- land 89; at Westbury-on-Trym 174 Varieties, red and blue, of Gidipoda Germanica 79; of the larva of Noto- donta Carmelita, description 176 Variety of Argynnis Adippe 49; of Anthocharis Cardamines 70; of Meliteea Selene ? 97; of Pieris Raps 140, 162; of Pieris Napi 162; buff, of Betularia 164; of Arctia lubrici- peda 169; of Thecla Rubi 215 Walker, Francis, death of 260 Wasps, our common 222; and bees, economy 141 West London Entomological Society 96, 296 Wing-bones of the two-winged flies 36, 100, 126, 147, 196, 219 Wings of Lepidoptera, cause of shriyelling 13 Xanthia aurago near Llangollen 20, 21 Xenomerus Ergenna 7 Xylina conformis near Neath 260 Yucca moth 214 Zeuzera Aisculi 139 Zoological nomenclature 119 Zygena Lonicere, breeding 109 » Trifolii, description of the larva 90 sae weg the Alph Contributors and Subjects annually, inst ish intended in future to publ ¥*% It is THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 125.] JANUARY, MDCCCLXXIYV. [Price 6d. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropdischen Hichengallen.’ By Miss ANNA WEISE. (Mr. Walker has most kindly consented to add, under each description, such remarks on the parasites of the gall-maker, or the inquilines of the gall, as may have come under his own notice; these will be accompanied by any observations that may tend to illustrate the subject and render it more complete, such additions being always signed with his name. I may also say that in the course of this translation it may frequently be convenient to intersperse, in the form of footnote or other- wise, certain allusions to, or illustrations of, a theory of my own, namely, that under no circumstances are these oak-galls new or independent parts or organs of the oak; that when we see an object, such as an oak-apple, which we have been _ taught to suppose a new part or organ, additional to the stems, leaves, buds, flowers, stipules, hairs, &c., described by botanists, we are not to conclude it is thus new or additional, but rather to regard it as a form or phase of one of these, caused by the presence or by the prior action of an insect, in some manner or by some process not yet ascertained, and concerning which it would be useless for an entomologist to speculate, seeing it is rather the province of the chemist to conduct such researches. This theory, if so it may be called (perhaps hypothesis were the better word), has not been generally accepted, but on the contrary, has been rigorously and most ably controverted by naturalists who have given great attention to the subject of oak-galls: among others, I may mention Mr. Peter Inchbald, whose arguments in the ‘Field’ newspaper cannot fail to interest every entomologist, although they were subsequently disputed by Mr. Parfitt, of Exeter, in the same newspaper. The discussion in this instance was confined to the psewdo-balani, or false acorns, familiarly VOL. VII. B 2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. known as Devonshire or woody galls of the oak; but the hypothesis comprehends all known galls. On the other hand, Mr. W. F. Bassett, of Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., has concluded that certain American galls, the development of which he had watched from the earliest stage, “were only a modified leaf-stem and blade, and that the tuft of long woolly hairs which terminates the cell is only the enormous develop- ment of the leaf’s pubescence.” (See Entom. vi. 552.) The late Jamented Mr. J. B. Walsh opposed this idea, and there never has been an entomologist whose opinion is entitled to greater respect. Therefore, although fully convinced of the soundness of my position, I am very desirous it should receive the most searching investigation. These additions will always be signed with my own name.—Edward Newman. | TI. RootT-GAL.s. The two kinds of root-galls with which we are acquainted, being invariably covered with earth, we rarely enjoy the opportunity of examining them.—G@. LZ. Mayr. Fig. 1.—ApnHinotarix Rapicrs. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3 Aphilothrix Radicis—The gall produced by this species is found on the roots of old oak-trees, near their junction with the trunk, and is generally sparingly covered with earth : in form it is almost spherical, but the surface is irregular, and not unlike that of a potato; in size the specimens differ greatly, some being as small as a walnut, while others are as large as a man’s fist; externally it is very rough, and of a dark brown colour; the interior is hard and woody, and contains a considerable number of oval larva-cells. The imago appears in April.—G@. Z. Mayr. Aphilothrix Radicis, which has not been found in England, is attended in the gall by Synergus incrassatus, one of the inquiline Cynipide, or lodgers, whose presence in the galls is not in accordance with the welfare of the first inhabitants.— Francis Walker. Fig. 2.—BIoRHIZA APTERA. Biorhiza aptera.—This species occurs on rootlets, which vary in size from the quill of a raven to that of a goose, and seems only to be found on oak-trees that have been uprooted. It rarely occurs singly, and when this is the case it varies in size from a pea to a cherry; generally several are clustered together in one spot on the root, in which case all of them are flattened where they press 4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. against each other (as is also the case in Cynips Ter- ricola), forming altogether a brown mass, on the extreme of which the outline of each separate gall is readily to be perceived. When recent this gall is said to be succulent, but when dry its section exhibits a reddish mass of cells, divided from each other by their septa. Harting states these galls have but one cell, but on investigation I find that the smaller or pea-sized specimens possess from one to three cells, and the larger or cherry-sized galls from three to five, or in some instances as many as nine; these larger cells are oval, measurmmg seven millemetres in their longest, by six mille- metres in their shortest, diameter, and are enclosed in a pale yellow, softish, thinly-walled capsule, which is throughout firmly united with the substance of the gall.—G. Z. Mayr. The existence of Biorhiza aptera, whose gall has been often found on the roots of oak-trees in the south of England, is liable to be shortened by the introduction of the germ of a new life within it, as it is not secure from Callimome Roboris, one of the gorgeous Chalcidiz, or metallic-coloured flies, of which much must be said afterwards.—Francis Walker. Notes on the Oxyura.—Family 2. Scelionide. By Francis WALKER, Esq. TELENOMUS BRACHIALIS. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. TELENOMUS LaRICIs. TELENOMUS OTHUS. 6 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. GRYON MISELLUS. Bevus SEMINULUM. PROSACANTHA VARICORNIS. TELEAS CLAVICORNIS. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 7. THORON FORNICATUS. In anticipation of preparing some notes on the distri- bution and characters of the generally parasitic Hymenoptera, the translation of the classification of the families, which are distinguished by their comparatively small size and simple structure, is here continued. The Ichneumonids, Braconids, Cynipids, are deferred, and a Synopsis of the European genera of Chalcids has appeared in the “ Notes 8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. on Chalcidiew.” The remaining families, of which the Myma- ride and Platygasteride have already been noticed, are interesting on account of their indicating various beginnings of the Hymenopterous race, and from their being individually and collectively, as it were, a life set above a life, or being part of a double existence going on in a single outer form, the increase of one being by the decrease of the other, exhibiting or suggesting the same process in continually higher degrees. The Scelionide are nearly allied to the Platygas- teride, but excel them and the Mymaride in the development of the wings, of which the vein or bone has much resemblance to that of the Chalcidiz ; they are also distinguished from the Platygasteride by the structure of the antenne, and have a greater variety in size and in form. The little Telenomi are parasitic on eggs of Lepidoptera and of Hemiptera, and the more diminutive Beus occurs on windows, where Myma- ridw may often be secured by means of a brush and a bottle. Thoron may be found on banks of ponds, and occasionally take to the water. Scelio and Sparasion are widely different from the two preceding genera. The Cerapbronide are also in some of their forms of very minute size; one kind may be considered as an injurious insect, being, like Asaphes and Coryna, a devourer of the beneficial Aphidii. ‘There do not appear to be any links between them and the other families. The slow movements of the Diapridz are very unlike the quickness in running or in jumping of the two preceding families; the males are distinguished by their elegant antenne, and the species, like the Belytide, dwell chiefly in woods, where they are parasites on wood-eating or on fungus- eating Coleoptera or Diptera. Platymischus. inhabits the sea-shore, where it is of frequent occurrence in the South and West of England, and is probably parasitic on some sea-weed insect. In the Belytide and in the Proctotrupide the fly begins to rise above the more rudimentary structure, which distinguishes the preceding families. A Proctotrupes has been observed to be parasitic on Orchesia micans and on Lithobius. The Heloride, like the Proctotrupide, indicate a passage to the higher tribes, but there is no occasion here to mention particulars of this transition. In the Embolemide there is a still nearer approach to aculeate Hymenoptera, which include part of the Bethylide. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ScELIONID. A. Club of the antenne not jointed. a. Wings developed. - - - b. Wings none or rudimentary. * No scutellum. : - - - *« Scutellum developed. - - - B. Club of the antenne jointed. a. Subcostal vein shortened, not joining the costa. - - - > - b. Subcostal vein not shortened, joining the costa. * Marginal branch very long, at least four or five times as long as the stigmatic branch. + Scutum with two ‘sharply-defined complete furrows. Antenne of the male long, verticillate; of the female clavate. - ++ Scutum without such furrows. Antenne of the male not verticillate. + Hind tarsi thick. Middle tibize with feeble spines. - tt Hind tarsi not cha Middle ree hon: spines. - - - - ** Marginal branch very short, mostly shorter than the stigmatic branch. + First abdominal segment narrow. + Second abdominal segment the largest. - t Third abdominal segment the largest. § Furrows of the parapsides very distinct. Wings with no postmarginal branch. §§ Furrows of the parapsides not apparent. Wings with a long postmarginal branch. - +; First abdominal segment broad. t Front with a sharply-defined border. - tt Front with no such border. § Postmarginal branch much developed, longer than the stigmatic branch. x Postscutellum with some spines. = - - X X Postscutellum with no spine. A Antenne filiform in the female. : - AA Antenne clavate in the female, filiform in the male. + Marginal branch punctiform. Last joint of the club of the antenne twice as long as the preceding joint. - - THORON. Bzuvs. AcouLus. BonNEURA. XENOMERUS. TELEAS. PROSACANTHA. TELENOMUS. ANTERIS. BaRryconus. SPARASION. 'TRIMORUS. Apreus. GRYON. 10 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. +--+ Marginal branch half as long as the shaft of the stigmatic branch. Last joint of the club of the antenne little longer than the preceding joint. Body short, contracted. | HapRonorus. §§ Postmarginal branch wanting, or shorter than the stigmatic branch. x Postmarginal branch wholly wanting. - SCELIO. x x Postmarginal branch much shorter than the stigmatic branch. - : - TpRis. SPARASION. A. Flagellum of the antenne with horizontal hairs. - - - - - frontale, Latr. B. Flagellum with hairs not horizontal. a. Head slight. Mesothorax eneous-green. - enescens, [oerst. b. Head and mesothorax black. - - lepidum, Poerst. The genus Trimorus is established on Gryon Nanna and on G. Phlias; Apegus leptocerus is mentioned as the type of the genus Apegus, but no description is given. In like manner Hadronotus laticeps and H. stygirus are merely mentioned as the representatives of that genus, but are not described. A short description is given of Scelio fulvipes, found near Aachen; Idris flavicornis is cited as the only species of that genus, but is not described. FRANCIS WALKER. A List of Macro-Lepidoptera taken in Alderney. By. W, A. Lurr. — THE following, with one or two exceptions, were taken from the 23rd to the 30th of June, 1873 :— Melitea Cinxia.—Rather plentiful, but only in one loca- lity, in a valley on the west coast of the island; they had, however, been out some time, and were nearly all much worn. Vanessa Urtice.—Saw one specimen. Pyrameis Atalanta.—Plenty of hybernated specimens. P. Cardui.—One. Pyrarga Megera.—Two specimens, one with a bipupilled eye-spot. I may here say that this variety is not at all uncommon in Guernsey and Sark. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ll Epinephele Janira.—Extremely abundant. Polyommatus Phleas.—Not uncommon. Lycena Icarus.—By far the most abundant species. Colias Hdusa.—One specimen, sent me in 1868 from Alderney. Pieris Rape.—Very common. P. Brassice.—Saw only two. Acherontia Atropos.—\I have no doubt that this insect is common, as I had:a good description of the larva from one of the natives. Sphina Convolvuli.—Received a specimen from Alderney in 1868, Macroglossa Stellatarum.—Two. Euchelia Jacobee.—Not uncommon; the food-plant, Senecio vulgaris, very abundant. Chelonia caja.—Seems commoner than in Guernsey; I took four specimens. C. villica.—One. Arctia fuliginosa.—Not uncommon. A. lubricipeda.—Very common. A, Menthastri.—Took several. Liparis auriflua.—One larva feeding on hawthorn. Bombyx Trifolii—Found the larve pretty common all around the coast, but they were most abundant close to Fort Touraille ; there I took fifty specimens in about two hours: they were feeding on a coarse, wiry grass growing amongst the sand. Rumia crategata.—Took two or three. Acidalia subsericeata.—Several on the west coast. Aspilates citraria——Not uncommon, but of no use as specimens, being too much worn. Abraxas grossulariata—Pupe abundant on gooseberry and currant bushes. Emmelesia decolorata.—Not uncommon. Melanippe ocellata.—One. Camptogramma bilineata.—Extremely abundant. Cidaria russata.—Not uncommon. Pelurga comitata.—One fine specimen. Xylophasia polyodon.—Several at sugar. Mamestra Brassice.—Larve abundant. Apamea oculea.—One. 12 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ~ Miana strigilis—Two at sugar. Agrotis Segetum.—One. Tryphena pronuba.—Two at light. Diantheecia conspersa.—Found several young Dianthecia larve feeding in the seed-pods of ragged robin (Lychnis Flos-Cuculi), which I suppose were Conspersa, but I did not succeed in rearing them. Phlogophora meticulosa.—One or two at sugar. Euplexia lucipara.—Not uncommon. Cucullia umbratica.—Several resting on stones and gate- osts. Plusia Gamma.—Extremely abundant. The above list shows a total absence of many of the com- monest British Lepidoptera on the wing in June. The island is so exposed, and almost devoid of hedges and trees, that I was almost surprised to find so many species. The nearest point of France, Cape La Hogue, is only ten miles distant, so that rare species would be not unlikely to occur if the island was searched at all times of the year. W. A. Lourr, Guernsey. Three Notes on Aphides. By Francis WALKER, Esq. 1. Aphides of Amurland.—There are only two species of the Aphis tribe to record from Amurland, but they are both of interest on account of their distribution elsewhere. The first is Lachnus Piceze, known as one of the most northern insects observed, and of frequent occurrence among the snows and glaciers of Switzerland: it appears occasion- ally and irregularly near London, but has not been often observed in England. The second is Dryobius croaticus, a native of Italy and of Croatia, and closely allied to D. Roboris, which is a native of more Northern Europe, and some may suppose that the difference between the two, and the more darkened wings of the former, is the effect of a difference of climate. 2. Yearly Close of Aphis-life in the Fall.—October is the egg-laying season of Lachnus Picew, and of very many other kinds of the Aphis tribe, and at this epoch there is a great gathering of Aphides to the spots which witnessed in the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 13 spring their exclusion from the egg state. Many-coloured leaves are continually falling, or are wafted by the breeze, and are freighted with more or less limited companies of Aphides, which they convey peacefully to the earth, to mingle there with dust. Their futurity is secured in the egg, and the quiet close of their yearly life differs much from the summer period. They are not now destroyed by outward nor by inward enemies, and are free from the officious over- running of the ants, when the latter remark their growing, but transitory, abundance, and calculate on a proportionate supply of honey. 3. Aphis-honey.— Bees find their honey comparatively prepared for them in flowers, but the honey by the medium of Aphides has various beginnings, and analysis may show whether it has a difference in quality by the difference in its origin. It is extracted from the crevices of old oak trees, from the twigs of young oak trees, from the roots of grass, of sow-thistles and of parsneps, from the nettle and the bramble, from the ivy and the honeysuckle, from the willow and the poplar, from the bog-myrtle and the sea-aster, and its sweet- ness has abundance of other sources. FRANCIS WALKER. Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Cause of Shrivelling of Wings of Lepidoptera.—Will some of your correspondents assign a satisfactory reason for the shrivelling of the wings of Lepidoptera? There are doubtless several causes to which this imperfection can be traced. Amongst others is the scarcity of provisions when the larvae are about to be full fed, which will no doubt lead to this. When the feeding-house contains many larve of the larger sorts it is really difficult to provide them with sufficient pro- vender; and though you may supply them over-night with what you consider to be “fa heavy feed,” in the morning when you approach the breeding-cage, to your surprise, you find it contains nothing but sticks and stalks, and hungry animals. It requires an old hand to be able to cater properly - for creatures with such enormous appetites, and if the quantity of food is insufficient the result will be shrivelled-winged 14 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. imagos. But this is not always the reason for this malforma- tion. This season I had two larve of Liparis dispar, which were confined in a large, wide-mouthed glass with a muslin cover, and which were abundantly fed, their food being the large leaves of the plum, and their number so small there was no difficulty about it, and they spun up in the midst of plenty on the 21st and 24th of July. The imagos appeared on the 15th of August; both females, with shrivelled wings. Should the pupa be enclosed in a glass or box which is not sufficiently large to give the imago ample room to expand, the same shrivelling will occur; but in this case, neither a want of space nor a scarcity of food could have been the cause.— Owen Wilson ; Cwmffred, Carmarthen, August 16, 1873. Insect Congeries.—Many species of insects are known to occur occasionally in vast swarms, and our entomological periodicals contain several records of facts of this description. In the “‘nest-room” at the British Museum may be seen a cluster of the Dipterous fly Atherix Ibis, concerning which Walker’s ‘ Diptera’ contains the following note:—‘ The female of this fly is gregarious, and attaches its eggs in large clusters to boughs hanging over streams, and there remains, and shortly dies. The cluster is generally pear-shaped, and sometimes contains many thousands of dead flies, and con- tinually receives accessions by new comers settling upon it.” Similar masses have since been found of even larger size, and they are probably not uncommon. I have a vivid recollection of seeing small heaps of dead bodies of winged ants on the roof of the great tower of the Abbey Church of St. Alban’s, in September, 1870 ; and a like swarm gave rise to an alarm of fire at Cobourg in 1865,—noticed in the daily papers at the time: smoke was apparently seen issuing from the spire of the cathedral; a scaffolding was hastily erected, and a man sent up with buckets of water to check the impending conflagra- tion. It was then discovered that an immense congregation of winged ants flying around the tower was the sole cause of the alarming phenomenon. Everyone recollects the service the myriads of Syrphide and Coccinelle rendered to penny- a-liners in search of a subject on which to exercise their Horid pens during the “silly season” a few years back; and many kinds of Aphides and Thrips are ofttimes equally anxious to achieve notoriety by the mere force of numbers, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15 As a contribution to this subject I beg to put on record an incident which my brother and I witnessed during an after- noon’s ramble at the latter end of August last. We were “prospecting” in a favourite nook of ours in Epping Forest, near the village of Woodford, when we chanced upon an astonishing sight: a patch of fern and broom, about four yards square, was literally blackened by a swarm of a little fly, Sepsis cynipsea, Z.; every frond and twig seemed alive with the myriads of insects, slowly moving about and gently fanning their beautiful, spotted, iridescent wings with a steady and simultaneous motion. Some idea of their pro- digious numbers may be formed when I mention that two or three sweeps of a butterfly-net secured a mass of flies which weighed more than half a pound! We noticed that the mass exhaled a rather strong, and by no means an unpleasant, odour of “lemon-thyme.” The swarm consisted of males and females; but a long examination of the spot failed to throw any light on the cause of this assembly. The larve, Mr. Walker informs me (I am indebted to him for the name of the insect), feed on decaying matter, but we could find no difference in this respect in the small patch of herbage covered with the insects, or the ground beneath them, com- pared with the surrounding open forest glade. Mr. Walker once found a large cluster on a statue in Highgate Cemetery. I shall be glad if this notice leads to the publication of similar facts, for a rational explanation of this class of phenomena, based on observation, would certainly be wel- comed by all lovers of Nature-—Win. Cole; The Common, Stoke Newington, N. Certain Insects emerge from the Pupa by Hydraulic Pressure.—Being only a beginner and having seen nothing in any work I have read on the emergence of insects from the pupa, but that they “wriggle out,” 1 was surprised and delighted when I saw the wonderful power at their command to effect their deliverance. On the 14th of July last, as I sat ‘watching some Bembeciformis dry themselves after their birth on the stem of an old willow, I took in my fingers a pupa that had just come to the mouth of its tunnel, and holding it between my eye and the light, being in a gloomy part of a wood at the time, I saw that the anal segment of the case was empty, and the enclosed insect emitting several drops of fluid 16 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. till this space was full, when the case burst in the usual place, and the insect walked out; there was no wriggling or con- tortion during the operation. I had frequently observed this fluid in the recent cases, but had no idea of the use the insect had made of it in expelling itself from its envelope by its means. Readers acquainted with the pressure of fluids will understand the comparatively immense power an insect may have in this way. As I had several hundred pupz of Bembeciformis and Typhe I had frequent opportunity of observing the process, and these moths emerge at a convenient time, from eight to twelve o’clock a.m., for observation. I also remarked that when the pupe of Typhe were removed from the support of the stem of the food-plant the abdominal segments of the case were forced off, the anterior remaining on the insect, but when supported this did not happen.— William Talbot ; Tarbert, Limerick. In the matter of Lathonia, Leucophea, and Albipuncta (Entom. vi. 563).—I have sent you the dates and localities of the three above-named insects, all taken within fourteen miles of Canterbury, as I see by the December number of the ‘Entomologist’ many specimens of the above-named insects, in fact the majority of those sold as British were nothing but continental, and the three insects named I have no hesitation in saying have their head-quarters in this locality. The first- named I took the first year I collected, which is about seven- teen or eighteen years ago, when my father, brother and myself took nineteen, all of which Mr. Cooke, of New Oxford Street, had alive, as he was collecting in this locality. I did not see it again until 1868, when I took thirteen. Since then I have taken it every year, and believe I shall continue to do so. As to Pachetra leucophza, the first I ever saw was taken by myself on June 13th, 1872, which was a female, and not knowing the insect I forwarded it alive to Mr. Stevens, who named it for me. I then worked hard to find more, and tried the next night, when I only found one poor specimen, which was flying at the top of the long grass. I then tried sugar, and the first time I sugared, which was a Saturday night, I took twenty-three, out of which there were only four bad specimens; the others were as good as bred. I sent an old one alive to Mr. Bond, also a second to Mr. Newman. I also took two on the 19th and one on the-2lst. All the above I THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 17 took in about eight days. This year I have not taken so many: although I have worked very hard for them I have only taken twenty, and about one-half of these were bad specimens; the females are almost sure to be good. No one could be taken in with continental specimens of P. leuacopheza, as they differ from ours as much as though they were two distinct species: our specimens are very pale, being almost white; the marks are quite white, especially along the hind margin of the wings; whereas the foreign specimens are larger and very much darker in colour, even on the under side. I will now mention Nonagria albipuncta, the third specimen known, which I took in a pine wood, August 12th, 1869, and sent alive to Dr. Harper, of Hyde Park; on the 16th I took one; on the 17th, one; on the 19th, three. I also sent one or two of the others off alive. In 1870 I took eleven fine specimens in our Blean, Hospital, and Pine Woods; in 1871, a collector, named Edney, and I took upwards of twenty, mostly fine; in 1872, only nine specimens; and in 1873, only five specimens between two of us. I may add that had we worked well we could have taken upwards of a hundred in 1871. In conclusion, if any private gentleman is in want of the above-named three species, I shall be but too happy to take him to my hunting-ground, where I can promise he shall take them himself.—G@. Parry; Church Street, St. Paul’s, Canterbury, December 1, 1873. D. conspersa and D. compta (Entom. vi. 518, 546, 564).— In reply to Mr. Meek’s singularly inaccurate and illogical paper, permit me to answer him categorically. First, then, I never asked if D. compta was British. I wished that some one would place so-called British (Irish ?) specimens(?) in a relaxing-box, &c., and never showed him a Dianthecia compta, or said I took one on the Big Hill of Howth, in Wales, or elsewhere ; he and others called my Penmaenbach var. of Conspersa, Compta; mot J; and I am quite sure no amount of placing it in a damp box will ever make it Compta. I think your readers perfectly understand what he pretends puzzles him, hence I need not pursue that phantom, but proceed at once to show that Mr. Warrington cannot help me much. He (Mr. Warrington) says, in reply to my question: —“] have seen the remarks about Compta and Conspersa in the ‘Entomologist.’ I recollect picking out Conspersa in D 18 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. your collection as most like the one I took in Ireland, named Compta; but, as I said before, I do not know Compta so well as to distinguish the difference, so I took Mr. Meek’s word for it: it was the latter end of July when I took it.” But he says nothing of having seen Mr. Meek take one. How logical Mr. Meek is, when he says he spent night after night looking for one species and did not take another species, | need not comment upon, merely observing D. Cesia var. Manani appears as a fleeting blue speck, gliding more like a Sphinx from flower to flower, and frequenting those Silene plants which grow nearest to high-water mark on the coast, whilst D. Barrettii appears as a spinning dark Plusia Gamma-like flying moth, and frequents those plants of Silene and honey- suckle which grow at a considerable elevation up the banks and grassy slopes. And last, I do not remember telling any- body “Sesia Philanthiformis was common at Howth.”* I did not want that species when I was there, else I should have gone more on the southern end of Howth, amongst the almost inaccessible cliffs, not on grassy banks, where D. Barrettii is most abundant, and where there is only one small patch of rock which could supply the peculiarly stunted plants of sea-pink within range of the splash of the tidal spray, which this species seems to affect most. Even at Onchan, Isle of Man, Mr. Meek might have noticed that he only found the pupa of Philanthiformis within a zone of a few feet wide, and in June, not July, and that zone within a few feet of high-water mark; at any rate, I directed him so to search for it there. I am quite aware one person may take a species and others fail to find it, but there are species I should not expect to find under certain circumstances, for example,— Mr. Meek wrote me several letters (now before me) from the “ Manx Arms,” Onchan, Isle of Man, in June, 1871, asking me to come and show him how to find the larve of Polia nigrocincta, he having failed to find it in its very best time (first two weeks in. June), and said he had taken a new Bombyx. When I got there Mr. Warrington had sold him * (Possibly the following is the passage to which Mr. Meek referred :— “ Additions to Mr. Birchall’s List of the Lepidoptera of Ireland.—Sesia Philanthiformis freely on the coast of Howth, from the baths to the Round Tower in Dublin Bay, where the sea-pink (Statice Armeria) grows upon the rocks. June and July.—C. S. Gregson; Stanley, Liverpool.” ‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine,’ vol. iy. p. 70.—Edward Newman. ] THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19 several Nigrocincta larve at three shillings each. I met him on the rocks, and took eighteen larve that night, and think he took about the same number, as we worked close together. Afterwards he showed me three of his new Bombyx on the sets, asking me what they were. I said, “ Gluphisia crenata, certain.” Next day he observed, “ Well, you see they are bred here and on the sets, but I should have liked you to have seen them alive.” I remarked, “J did not doubt their being bred here; the question is, Were they fed here?” Now, as I do not know a single plant of their reputed food growing near Onchan, I think I may fairly be excused if I refuse to go searching for it there. But to return to D.compta. Now we know how many specimens are reported from Howth, I think lam more justified than ever in asking that the so-called (Irish) Compta, which have so freely been moving about amongst buying collectors of Lepidoptera, should be tested ; but another reason is also patent. Polia nigrocincta is also being offered for sale, and being sold freely. Now, as Mr. Meek has had all the Manz specimens of this species which have been sold, with one or two exceptions, up to this year, so the numerous specimens being sold cannot be, and, so far as those of them which have been submitted to me for identifi- cation go, are not Manx, or like Manx, specimens: they are the common suffused German form of this species, not the variety called Statices, in consequence of its differing so very materially in colour and intensity of markings from any form of continental P. nigrocincta I have yet obtained or seen. Three Compta have recently been in Lancashire ; but without any desire to depreciate Mr. Meek’s success, I feel bound in justice to myself to show there is no truth in his statement, that I said this or did that, as I am sure that the time has quite come when people should cease reiterating that I said so and so, or did so and so, for any purpose.—C. S. Gregson ; Rose Bank, Liverpool, November 9, 1873. Diantheecia Compta (Entom. vi. 563)—Where is Mr. Warrington? I shall feel greatly obliged if he will come forward and state the fact ‘hat he captured Compta with me at Howth. On referring to my diary I find the following notes :—June 2lst, six Barrettii, one Compta; June 28rd, one Compta, seven Barrettii; June 25th, one Compta taken by Warrington, and thirteen Barrettii by myself. Although 20 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. I stayed till early in July I did not find any more Compta that season. I shall be very pleased to join any London gentleman entomologist next season for a trip to Howth, when no doubt we can settle the “matter of Dianthecia Compta” for ever. I may add that Compta occurs on the cliff at the bottom of Sir Edward Burrows’ grounds, and the paths are beautifully ornamented with fuchsias, sweet-williams, and nasturtiums, also huge patches of sea-pink and Silene maritima, collected from various parts of the coast; every particle of the latter was destroyed by a well-known entomo- logist about six years ago, much to Sir Edward’s annoyance. —E. G. Meek ; 56, Brompton Road, S.W. British Species alias Continental (Entom. vi. 563).—True lovers of the collecting of British insects must hail with pleasure the remarks of our valued friend, Mr. Henry Doubleday, on the authenticity of numerous rare species passing as British, but in reality and without doubt aliens; such a mode in forming a collection of British insects is very damaging to this interesting Science. I, for one, have lost much of the interest I hitherto had, principally from this cause, that there is scarcely any depending on an insect (called rare) from whatever quarter you may receive it.—F. O. Standish; 1, Glendale Villas, King’s Road, Cheltenham, December 1, 1878. [This controversy must now cease.—E. Newman.] Xanthia aurago and Cirrheedia xerampelina near Llan- gollen (Entom. vi. 547, 564).—In the ‘Entomologist’ for December, 1873, Mr. Gregson records the capture of a speci- men of Xanthia aurago at Llangollen, and states that he is not aware of any previous capture of that insect on this side of England or in Wales. It may, therefore, interest him to know that in the year 1865 I found a good, fresh specimen of X. aurago, resting, by day, on the staircase of this house, which is ten miles from Llangollen. I am unable to give the exact date, as I had not then begun to collect with any system. It was one of the first moths I ever captured, but is still in good preservation, though unfortunately set on a common pin. It was not till some years afterwards that, on obtaining your ‘British Moths,’ I learned the name and value of the species. I may mention that though I have never taken another Aurago, my THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21 sisters and I have, at different times, found Xanthia gilvago and Cirrhedia xerampelina within the limits of our own garden.—[ Miss] Anne Steele Perkins; Ashgrove, Overton, Flintshire, December 2, 1873. Xanthia Aurago (Entom. vi. 564).—Permit me to say that I think Mr. Gregson’s note scarcely adds to our knowledge of the westerly range of Xanthia Aurago. The insect having long ago been recorded to occur in Ireland, its capture at Llangollen is not ‘remarkable, so far as westerly longitude is concerned.— Edwin Birchall. Hybridizing Smerinthi.—This year I bred out specimens of Smerinthus ocellatus and S. Populi, which I was lucky enough to have crossed, male Populi with female Ocellatus ; in about twenty-four hours after she began to deposit her batch of eggs: they were deposited in batches differing in number; they were all unattached; the number deposited was a hundred and seventy, deposited at intervals, and more so after being disturbed. The duration in the egg state was fifteen days; colour at first was bluish, then changed in a few days to a light flesh-colour; the caterpillar fed on apple-leaves. After feeding for three weeks began to wander from their food, and died with the diarrhea. If you can throw out a few hints it may be a guide for the future, to myself as well as others, how to treat them if lucky enough to cross. Is this a common occurrence ?—John Williams ; 100, Well Street, Hanley, Staffordshire, November 12, 1873. Description of the Larva of Macrogaster Arundinis.—The following notes on this larva may be useful, as being fuller than those given in your work on ‘ British Moths.’ On May 9th, 1873, I found a single larva of this species inside the stem of a reed, at Wicken Fen. The following description was taken on May 10th:—Bulk slender in proportion to length; head flattened, about half the size of the 2nd seg- ment, and retractile within it; form cylindrical, but tapering towards the extremity; a corneous plate, with ten black spots on the 2nd segment. The larva is covered with a number of warts, emitting some six short hairs on each segment, but more numerous on the last. Spiracles pink, and not easily perceptible. General colour a pale rose. Head dull ochreous; mouth black, with two black spots on each side. Medio-dorsal line conspicuous, being of a darker tint 22 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. than the ground colour; subdorsal line broader, interrupted, and of a brownish colour; spiracular line very indistinct. Each segment, excepting the first two, is mottled with two patches of brown, nearly coalescing. The under surface is pinkish white. Hind legs blackish pink. Claspers of a dull white colour. The larva unfortunately did not go into pupa successfully.—G. H. Raynor; St. John’s College, Cam- bridge, October 20, 1873. Liparis aurifilua and L. chrysorrheea.—\t may be within your recollection that I raised the question, in the ‘ Entomo- logist’ of June last, as to whether it was now the habit of L. auriflua to form a common nest in the winter season, since that has become, on the average, so much milder than formerly. I had never myself found any such winter colony, and friends of whom I enquired made the same admission ; and also that in autumn, beating for larve, they had not found the species feeding gregariously. No reply was sent to your pages, or none that you thought desirable to publish. This month I have seen many of their winter nests, more particularly in the hedges lying towards the marshes below Gravesend, where it is, doubtless, colder in winter than in many places. I have forwarded to you a couple of these colonies for examination. Somehow, I still think it is not the normal habit of L. auriflua thus to congregate; but 1 may be wrong.—John R. S. Clifford; 120, Windmill Street, Gravesend, October 10, 1878. (I think Mr. Clifford’s larvae, which are very small, will turn out to be L. chrysorrhceea.—Edward Newman. | Ptilophora plumigera.—lt is very likely that many speci- mens of Notodonta plumigera have been taken in Hampshire ; but as at the time your invaluable ‘ History of Moths’ was written, Buckinghamshire was the only recorded locality, I thought it might be worth while to mention that on the evening of November 20th I took a magnificent specimen from a street-lamp, and at the same time a male Petasia cassinea, also in splendid condition.—Joseph Anderson, jun. ; Alresford, Hants, November 21, 1873. Dasycampa rubiginea, Eremobia ochroleuca, and Sphinx Convolvuli, at Christchurch.—On the evening of the 7th of November I caught a fine specimen of Dasycampa rubiginea at ivy-bloom in my own garden. The Rey. A. C. Hervey THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 23 informed me that he had caught three specimens of this beautiful Noctua in this neighbourhood last year. Ithink, therefore, we may fairly claim Christchurch as one of the localities for Rubiginea. I wish also to mention (as I find some reference to Eremobia ochroleuca in the ‘ Entomologist’ for November) that I caught several specimens of this insect on the evenings of the 14th, 18th, and 19th of August last; and in August, 1871, one flying by day. On the 8rd of October a boy brought me a live specimen of Sphinx Con- volvuli: being a female, and in rather a dilapidated condi- tion, I kept it for a fortnight, in the hope of obtaining some eggs, but I am sorry to say it died without gratifying me.— W. McRae; Christchurch School, Hants, Nov. 22, 1873. Plusia interrogationis near Driffield (Entom. vi. 516).— Like your correspondent, Mr. Robinson, I had the pleasure of taking a very fine specimen of Plusia interrogationis on the llth July, 1873, over some honeysuckle.—Geo. R. Dawson; Poundsworth, near Driffield, November 21, 1873. Supposed New Cryptocephalus.—In May, 1870, | took, flying in the bright sunshine, in the trench that surrounds the old Roman camp on the summit of St. Catherine’s Hill, Winchester, a specimen of a smallish Cryptocephalus, perfectly black, with the exception of a small yellowish spot at the extremity of each elytron. Mr. F. Smith, of the British Museum, referred this to a variety of C. Morzi, from which, however, it differs by its much larger size, being nearly half as big again as that species. Mr. EK. W. Janson, however, thinks that it must be Cryptocephalus lineola, with specimens of which it certainly agrees better than with C. Mori. Lineola is, I believe, almost exclusively a northern species, so that its occurrence in such a southern locality as Win- chester is interesting.—W,. A. Forbes. Singular fact: Tenacity of Life in a Specimen of Satyrus Semele.—One day, being very windy, while sojourning on the South coast during the past summer, and for want of better employment, I amused myself in netting a few Satyrus Semele, and in the act of getting one in my cyanide-bottle the head got cut off; as the Semele tried to escape I pill-boxed it, and had it therein alive for four days, occasionally letting it out, and it would fly a short distance. ‘The head, with antenne, blew out of my net. One would almost ask, Whereabouts was its vitality '—F, O. Standish ; 402, High Street, Cheltenham. 24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Aphilothrix Globuli, Hart., a Gall-maker new to Britain.— I found a gall of this species on oak in Hockley Bull Wood, near here, on the 13th of October. This species is allied to Aphilotrix Gemme, Zinn. (=Fecundatrix, Hart.), the maker of the artichoke gall of the oak.—#. A. Fitch ; Down Hall, Rayleigh, Essex, November 15, 1873. Correction of Error.—The plant, in the flower-heads of which I find galls produced by Urophora solstitialis, Zinz., is not Serratula tinctoria, as I stated (Entom. vi. 142), but the common knapweed (Centaurea nigra).—Id. The South London Entomological Society.—The Second Annual Exhibition of this Society took place at the “ Horns” Assembly Rooms, Kennington, on Wednesday, December 10th, and was well attended, notwithstanding a thick fog which prevailed all the evening. The principal exhibitions were :— Lepidoptera, by Mr. Wellman (the President), Mr. Farn, Mr. Allin, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Williams; Mr. Boden also exhibited some remarkable varieties; Mr. Hoey exhibited several life-histories of great interest. Coleoptera, by Mr. Champion, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Jarvis, Mr. Oldham, and Mr. Bull. Neuroptera, by Mr. M‘Lachlan. Hymenoptera, by Mr. Hoey. Diptera, by Mr. Verrall. Exotic Lepidoptera, by Mr. Janson.—Edward Newman. Haggerston Entomological Suciety—The Sixth Annual Exhibition of this Society took place at their Rooms, 10, Brownlow Street, Dalston, on the 18th of November. Among the most interesting objects were a striking variety of Galathea, exhibited by Mr. Stevens; very fine varieties of Nupta and a black Grossulariata, by Mr. Kedle ; and a black variety of Paphia, by Mr. Moore.—Id. Melitea Artemis.—A Plate, on steel, with four coloured figures of the English, Irish and Scotch forms of Melitea Artemis, illustrating Mr. Birchall’s paper in the December ‘Entomologist’s Magazine, may be obtained on application to the Author, Kirkstall Grove, near Leeds, price one shilling, post free. Fig. 1 represents the English form of Artemis; fig. 2, male and female of the Irish form (var. Hibernica) ; fig. 3, the Scotch form (va. Merope). THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 126.] FEBRUARY, MDCCCLXXIYV. [Price 6d. Notes on the Oxyura.—Family 3. Ceraphronide. 4. Dia- pride. 5. Belytide. 6. Proctotrupide. 7. Heloride. 8. Embolemide. 9. Bethylide. 10. Dryinide. By Francis WALKER, Esq. a tp ZA Zi FSS \ Vi ‘ a9 2 | : = pe a ———=— 7 ’ J Lw4 \ + 7 “a EmBonemvus Rupp. ; VOL, VII. E THE ENTOMOLOSIST. LABEO VITRIPENNIS. APHELOPUS MELALEUCUS. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. DiconpyYLuUs PEDESTRIS. 28 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. EPpyRIs NIGER. CERAPHRONIDS. A. No ocelli. - - : - - LAGYNODES, female. B. Ocelli conspicuous. a. Wings without a determinate costal stigma, or merely with a linear one. *« Front between the base of the antenna with a spine. - - : - - LagynopDEs, male. ** The same with no spine. - - - CERAPHRON. b. Wings with a broad costal stigma. * Wings hairless. — - : - _- ‘TRICHOSTERESIS. ** Wings hairy. + Antenne of the male serrated. yee of the female bare. . LyaoceRrus. ++ Antenne of the male filiform: Byes of ae female hairy. — - - - MEGASPILUs. The genus Lagynodes was previously named Microps, but Foerster does not recognize the latter name, because it had been already applied to a reptile and to a beetle. The genus Ceraphron of Jurine is not identical with that of Latreille and of Nees, but corresponds with the genus Calliceras of the latter, and the name Calliceras is set aside by Foerster on account of its resemblance to the Dipterous genus Callicera. The genus Megaspilus formerly included the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29 species which now represent the genera Lygocerus and Trichostoresis, aud the type of the latter is Cenaphron clandestinus, Nees (= glaber, Boh.). op OP DIAPRIDE. . Wings notched at the tips. - - : ENTOMACIS. . Wings not notched at the tips. . First joint of the antenn very much dilated. PLarymiscuus. First joint of the antenne not very much dilated. * Front much elongated. First joint of the oo + + § antenn distorted in the middle. - - GALESUS. Front not much elongated. First joint of the antenne not distorted. Subcostal vein not extending to the costa. Subcostal vein with a stigmatic branch at the tip. - - . - - ANEURHYNCHUS. Subcostal vein with no stigmatic branch at the tip. - - - - Lasottes, fem. Subcostal vein extending to the costa. Male. Antenne 12-jointed. - - - CEPHALONOMIA. Antenne with thirteen or fourteen joints. Antenne with thirteen joints. First joint of the flagellum hardly half as long as the second. - - - PaRAMEstus. First joint of the flagellum as long as the second or longer. Second abdominal segment with one or more grooves at the base. Wings with a costal vein. - - . JpIoTYPA. Wings with no costal vein. - + - HEMILEXIS. Second abdominal segment with no groove at the base. - = - - - SPILoMIicRus. Antenne 14-jointed. Wings with no basal vein. - - - Diapria. Wings with a basal vein. First joint of the flagellum distinctly shorter than the second. - - - BASALYS. First joint of the flagellum not distinctly shorter than the second. - = - LoxorTRopPa. Female. Antenne 12-jointed. Head large and flat. - CEPHALONOMIA. 30 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. §§ Head not large and flat. x Wings with no basal vein. o Scutum with distinct furrows. - - oo Scutum with no furrows. - - - x X Wings with a costal vein. o Club of the antenne 5-jointed. Scutum with furrows. - - : - - oo Club of the antenne at most 4-jointed. Scutum with no furrows. - - : + Antenne with thirteen joints. § Club of the antenne with only one joint. - §§ Club of the antennz with more joints. x Abdomen conical, acuminated. . F x x Abdomen truncated at the tip. o Wings with no marginal branch. — - - oo Wings with a marginal branch. - - tt Antenne with fourteen joints. - - GLYPTONOTA. DIApRia. IpDIOTYPA. LoxoTRoPa. MonELATA. PARAMESIUS. HEMILEXIs. SPILOMICRUS. PoLyPEZA. Of Entomacis, which he describes as closely resembling Encoila (= Cothonaspis), there are three species, which he does not name, and he is quite silent as to the species of the other new genera which he has established. BELYTIDA. Male. A. Eyes bare. a. Scutum without furrows. Incisures of the abdo- men very strongly marked. - - - b. Scutum with furrows. Incisures of the abdomen not very deep. - . - - B. Eyes hairy. a. Postscutellum with a stout spine. - - b. Postscutellum with no spine. * Middle keel of the metathorax divided near the tip. - - - - - 2k Midile keel of the metathorax not divided. + Radial areolet none, or open. { Stigmatic branch and postmarginal branch so much thickened that the radial areolet is hardly distinct. § Basal veins obsolete. . . - - §§ Basal veins distinctly emitted. - - - tt Radial areolet more or less distinctly formed. § Fore tibie with a tooth ora spine. = - - IsMARUS. PstILoMMa. OxyYLABIS. BELyTA. SYNACRA. PANTOLYTA. ZYGOTA. 00 co ae + + THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3l Fore tibize with no tooth nor spine. —- - ACLISTA. - Radial areolet closed. Petiole of the abdomen not or only slightly longer than the metathorax. Scape with the border at the tip produced, and in some aspects dentate. - - - ACROPIESTA. Scape with the border at the tip not produced. Apical ventral segment straight, grooved. - ANECTATA. Apical ventral segment somewhat curved, not grooved. - - - - - Pawnroctis. Petiole of the abdomen much longer than, mostly twice as long as, the metathorax. Marginal branch more than twice as long as the radial areolet. : - - - MACROHYNNIS. Marginal branch not twice as long as the radial areolet. Marginal branch as long as or hardly longer than the stigmatic branch, always much shorter than the radial areolet. - - XENOTOMA. Marginal branch much longer than the stigmatic branch, generally as long as the radial areolet. Scape as long as the first joint of the flagellum. Second abdominal segment contracted on each side. . . - - LuProRHAPTUS. Scape longer than the first joint of the flagellum. Second abdominal segment not contracted. - CINETUS. Female. . Eyes bare. . Scutum without furrows. Incisures of the abdo- men very strongly marked. - : - IsMARUS. . Seutum with furrows. Sutures of the abdomen not deep. - - - - - PsILoMMA. . Eyes hairy. . Antenne with more than twelve joints. * Antenne 14-jointed. No ocelli. - : - - - ANOMMATIUM. With ocelli. Radial areolet hardly distinct. - - - Panroryra. Radial areolet well defined. —- . - ANEOTATA. Antenne 15-jointed. Postscutellum with a stout spine. - - OxyLaBIs. Postscutellum with no spine. 00 +++ He t+ a ++ ++++ ma THE ENTOMOLOGIST. First joint of the flagellum almost as long as all the following joints together. - - First joint of the flagellum much shorter than all the following joints together. Middle keel of the metathorax forked. - - Middle keel of the metathorax not forked. Third dorsal abdominal segment much longer than the fourth. Marginal branch as long as the radial areolet. Last joints of the flagellum more than twice as long as broad. - : - - Marginal branch much shorter than the radial areolet. Last joints of the flagellum not more than twice as long as broad. - : - Third dorsal abdominal segment not longer or not much longer than the fourth. Dorsum of the abdomen with eight segments. Radial areolet closed. Joints of the flagellum only slightly shortened near the tip. - - - - Joints of the flagellum much shortened near the tip. - : - - - . Radial areolet open. Stigmatic branch and submarginal branch much shortened, the former emerging from a nearly right angle. - - - - - Stigmatic branch and submarginal branch not unusually shortened, the former emerging from a very crooked angle. - - - Dorsum of the abdomen with less than eight segments. Dorsum of the abdomen with seven segments. - Dorsum of the abdomen with less than seven segments. Marginal branch more than twice as long as the radial areolet ; recurrent continuation of radial DIPHORA. Br yta. CINETUS. XENOTOMA. ZELOTYPA. PANTOCLIS. ZYGOTA. ACLISTA. ACROPIESTA. branch intersecting the basal vein. - - MAcRoHyYNNIs. Marginal branch shorter, as long as, or a little longer than, the radial areolet ; recurrent con- tinuation of radial vein not intersecting the basal vein. Dorsum of the abdomen with three segments ; second unusually elongated, almost extending to the tip. Marginal branch distinctly shorter than the radial areolet. - - - Mrora. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 33 vm Dorsum of the abdomen with three, very rarely with four, segments; second not unusually elongated. Marginal branch not shorter than the radial areolet. - - - L&rPTORHAPTUS. Of Ismarus Foerster has described three species—Rugu- losus, Halidayi and Neesii, the last being a synonym of Belyta unomala, Nees. Of Psilomma, Oxylabis, Synacra, Pantolyta, Zygota, Aclista, Acropiesta, Anectata, Pantoclis, Macro- hynnis, Xenotoma, Leptorhaptus, Anommatium, Diphora, Zelotypa, and Miota, he mentions no types. PROcTOTRUPIDA. Foerster makes of the genus Proctotrupes two genera, Proctotrupes and Disogmus, the type of the latter being P. areolator, to which he adds three other species, as follows :— A. Fourth, fifth and sixth joints of the flagellum dentate. a. The tooth near the tip of each of these joints. * First joint of the flagellum distinctly longer than the second. - - - - - discrepator. ** First joint of the flagellum as long as the second. equator. b. The tooth in the middle of each of these joints. - areolator. B. The above joints not dentate. — - - - picicornis. HELOoRIDz. This family is limited to one genus, Helorus. Of this Foerster observes that he has one species, H. anomalipes, Panz., from the pupa of Hemerobius, and he distinguishes it from the other species, as follows :— A. Antenne luteous. - - - - ruficornis, Foerst. B. Antenne black. a. Scutum quite scabrous. Legs wholly black. nigripes, Foerst. b. Scutum quite smooth. ‘Tibi and_ tarsi luteous. - - - - anomalipes. EMBOLEMID&. A. Eyes convex. Ocelli large. Basal joint of the antenne shorter than the first joint of the flagellum. Wings complete. - EMBOLEMUS. F 34 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. B. Eyes quite flat. Ocelli very small. Basal joint of the antenne much longer than the first joint of the flagellum. Wings rudimentary. = - - ‘ - Myruecomorria. Myrmecomorpha corresponds with Pedinomma, Foerst., and is an earlier name. I have found the species on which it is founded under a stone near Chepstow. BEtHYLIDA. A. Head without ocelli. - - - - SCLERODERMA. B. Head with ocelli. a. Wings without a stigma. ** Wings with a stigmatic branch and a marginal branch. — - . - : - BeEtHyYLuvs. ** Wings with no marginal nor stigmatic branch. + Antenne 13-jointed. - - - - ATELEOPTERUS. ++ Antennee 12-jointed. - - - - HOoLopeptus. b. Wings with a stigma. * Basal vein with a diverging branch. + Antenne 12-jointed. - -- - - PERISEMUS. }+ Antenne 13-jointed. - - - - Gontozvs. ** Basal vein with no branch. + Furrows of the parapsides distinct. Abdominal segments about equally long. - - Epyris. ++ Furrows of the parapsides not apparent. Ab- dominal segments unequally long. - - IsopracHium. Foerster changes Scleroderma to Sclerochroa, because the former name was previously used in Botany. Ateleopterus is founded on Bethylus ateleopterus, Perisemus on B. triareo- latus, Goniozus on B. clavipennis and on B. fuscipennis, and Isobrachium on B. dichotomus: all these species were pre- viously described by him, and B. dichotomus is a synonym of B. fuscicornis, Nees (male), and of B. nigricornis, Nees (female). The materials of this family do not agree well together; a connection may be traced between them and the Chrysidide. DRYINIDA. A. Vertex much compressed. a. Winged. - - - - . Dryinvs. b. Wingless. = - - - - - GoNaToPUS., B. Vertex convex, not compressed. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 a. Hind head deeply excavated. Vertex and neck separated by a sharp edge. - - - LaBro. b. Hind head slightly concave. Vertex and neck not parted by a sharp edge. * Fore tarsi of the female with long claws. Pro- thorax of the male distinctly visible above, not longer than the mesothorax. + Fourth joint of the fore tarsi of the female much longer than the third. Prothorax of the male and female as long or neatly as long as the mesothorax. — - - CHELOGYNUS. ‘it Fourth joint of the fore tarsi of the female as long as or a little longer than the third. Prothorax of the male and female much shorter than the mesothorax. - - ANTEON. * Fore tarsi of the female without long claws. Prothorax not visible above, or longer than the mesothorax. + Prothorax much longer than the mesothorax. Mesothorax with no trace of the furrows. Wings short, spatulate. = - - Mysrropnorus. +t Prothorax not or slightly visible ane Meso- thorax wide, with distinct furrows. Wings ample. - - - - - APHELOPUS. There are no illustrations here ai the Ceraphronida, Diapride, Belytide, Proctotrupide, and Heloride; they are figured in Jurine’s ‘ Nouvelle Méthode.’ The Ceraphronida come next to the Scelionide, and, like them, are distinguished by the sculpture at the base of the abdomen, and bya simple costal vein. The Diapride, like the great part of the Platy- gasterida, have no wing-veins, or none beyond the base of the wing. In the Bely tide ‘and Proctotrupide there are indications of an increase of bones in the wing, and this increase is more extensive in the Heloride. The Dryinidex come last, and are distinguished by their rapid movement, and by their mimicry of some of the aculeate Hymenoptera. Additional notes on the preceding families, which conclude the series of British Oxyura, are deferred till opportunity occurs of examining in detail the genera and their respective species. Francis WALKER. 36 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Notes on the Wing-bones of the Two-winged Flies. By Francis WALKER, Esq. VEINS. AREOLETS, g Subcostal vein. R_ Subcostal areolet. k Radial vein. K Radial areolet. ec Cubital vein. C’ Cubital areolet, 1st. ec’ Cubital vein, 1st branch. C” Cubital areolet, 2nd. e’’ Cubital vein, 2nd branch. B’ Prebrachial areolet. d’ Prebrachial vein, 1st branch. BY” Pobrachial areolet. d’’ Prebrachial vein, 2nd branch. D Subapical areolet. m Pobrachial vein, 1st branch. Y Anal areolet. y Pobrachial vein, 2nd branch. v Anal vein. Figs. 1 & 2.—Diadocidia ferruginosa. Mycetobia pallipes. Figs. 3 & 4.—Ditomyia annulata. “Platyura. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 37 Figs. 5 & 6.—Mycetophila. Macrocera. The above figures, and others which will follow, are from the drawings of A. H. Haliday. The same letter refers to the same parts in all the figures. One of the chief attractions in noticing the Diptera is the great variety of their manner of flight, and this corresponds with the difference of structure in the wings. These variations will be briefly traced in some notes, which are preceded by the following extract from the MSS. of A. H. Haliday on the same subject. “The subcostal areolet lies between the costal vein and the first longitudinal vein, usually the mediastinal (but if this vein is effaced, then the subcostal). “ The mediastinal areolet lies next beyond this, between the mediastinal and subcostal veins; and if the mediastinal vein is wanting there is no mediastinal areolet. “ The radial areolet lies between the subcostal and radial veins; if the latter divides into two branches at the end, another radial areolet is enclosed between them; and in either case, if the radial vein is connected with the subcostal bya transverse vein, the radial areolet may be thus divided into more than one. This areolet may become entirely closed without extending to the margin, in case the radial vein rejoins the subcostal before the end, as in Laphria, Volucella, Hirmoneura, and Midas. 38 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. “The cubital areolet lies between the radial and cubital veins; if the latter is branched a second cubital areolet is enclosed between its branches, as is ordinary with many families of Diptera, e.g. Tabanide. In this case, parti- cularly, the cubital and radial veins are not uncommonly joined by a transverse vein, forming a third cubital areolet. When this is the case the direction of the veins may be so modified as to make it doubtful whether the radial or cubital vein be the one that is branched; but analogy to allied genera will generally give a clue, even where the direction of the veins is so far changed as to give the contrary appearance, as in some of the Asilide. Rarely the cubital vein also returns to the subcostal, so that the cubital areolets do not extend to the margin; this is the case in Hirmoneura and in Midas. “‘ Before the prebrachial vein lies the prebrachial areolet, bounded in front by portions of the (subcostal) radial and cubital veins, or some of them, and at the tip by the prebrachial transverse vein. Between the prebrachial and pobrachial veins is the pobrachial areolet, usually bounded at the tip by a more or less evidently oblique or transverse vein (the pobrachial transverse vein), often in connection with a twist or branching of the longitudinal veins. Between the pobrachial and anal veins lies the anal areolet, which.is open to the margin when the subanal vein runs on as a con- tinuation of the pobrachial, as in the Tipulidez generally, and in some other cases, but becomes closed when the subanal vein runs to join the anal; either obliquely, as in Syrphide, Conopide, Stratiomyde, Asilide, and the neighbouring families in general; or transversely, as in most Muscide, many Empide, and the Dolichopide. These three areolets: (the prebrachial, pobrachial, anal), sometimes jointly called the ternate areolets, can in most cases be determined from the manner in which the conjugate axis divides into the three veins,—prebrachial, pobrachial, and anal; and their determination is of prime importance for the determination of the others. A very characteristic areolet, also, when it is pre- sent, is the discal, which (generally speaking) lies beyond the prebrachial and pobrachial, commencing in the angle between the tips of these two. “The veins which run to the margin of the wing from the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 prebrachial, or the discal, and the pobrachial areolets, scarcely admitting of any further classification, are compre- hended under the general name of externo-medial veins, and the areolets adjacent to them are called externo-medial, and discriminated when necessary by their ordinal number, com- mencing with that nearest the tip of the wing. This one only, on account of the characters it affords, has received a peculiar name (the subapical areolet) ; it lies immediately behind the cubital areolet, and is bounded behind by a vein (the first of the externo- medial veins), which is also, when it has to be noticed, called subapical vein, or subapical portion of the prebrachial vein, of which in most of these cases it appears as the continuation. This subapical vein is often (Cyrtoneura, Alophora, Hyalomyia, Conops, Pangonia, and many Syr- phide, &c.) curved, so as to meet the cubital vein and close the subapical areolet before the margin (many Muscide, Tachinini, Syrphidez), or it is forked, and the anterior branch runs obliquely towards or to the cubital vein, and becomes to all intents a transverse vein (the subapical transverse), closing the subapical areolet as before mentioned. *¢ Sometimes another of the externo-medial areolets becomes closed before the margin (as in‘many Asilidz, Cyrtus, &c.), the last but one of the externo-medial veins running obliquely or transversely to meet the last of them. In Nemestrina, and a few allied forms, the areolets towards the posterior margin and tip of the wing become so subdivided by supernumerary veins that it is only by comparison with simpler forms that we can trace the limits of the cubital area and the two branches of the cubital vein, the externo-medial veins being too complicated for any available denominations. But here, also, the prebrachial, discal, pobrachial and anal areolets being distinct, the boundaries of the externo-medial portion of the wing are still defined. The portion of the wing which lies behind the anal vein and beyond the axillary lobe, or sinus, is divided by the subaxillary vein into two open areolets, the axillary before and the subaxillary behind that vein, or if the vein be wanting the whole space is comprised under the former of these. “In general, it is easiest to trace out the analogy and apply the nomenclature to the Diptera Brachycera. Among these, having followed out the gradual simplification of the system 40 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. of veins and change in their direction, little difficulty arises from such anomalies as an additional transverse vein, such as subdivides the subapical areolet into two in Microdon, or the pobrachial in Idioptera. The Hypocera are hardly to be reduced with certainty to an analogous type, but the simpli- city of the veining and the contrast between the strong veins which end in the fore margin, and the faint ones (venule) which run to the hind margin, allow of and recommend a different and simple nomenclature. “ The Nemocera have a much greater variety in the veining of the wings, and there is not a little difficulty in accommo- dating to them the nomenclature used for the Brachycera, partly from the multiplication of longitudinal veins, as in the Psychodini, but yet more from the extreme faintness of the veins in many, as in Simulia, and the ultimate disappearance of all but one or two in the Cecidomyide. Still, apart from these extreme cases, we may observe such a degree of gradual modification of the veining in most as to be able to apply an analogous nomenclature to at least some of the principal veins, and by relation to them to denominate the rest; although it may be doubted whether it is not best to employ a different and simpler numerical nomenclature when the veins become few in number, and the closed areolets nearly null or insignificant. Rhyphus has been taken as the type by which to assimilate the nomenclature of the Nemocera to the Brachycera, as it is scarcely possible to overlook the analogy between Rhyphus and the Leptidz and allied families of the Brachycera. From Rhyphus the transition is not difficult to the Tipulidz, and thence to the Culicide. From the latter probably the Psychodini on the one hand, and the Chironomidz on the other, may be illustrated with sufficient probability. The transition from the Tipulide to the Myce- tophilide is more abrupt; and these last, in respect to the veining of the wings, not only undergo great diversities, but present two manifest types separated by as abrupt an interval. The first of these, characterized by the more or less complete coalescence of the prebrachial and pobrachial areolets (Boli- tophila, Thaumalea, Macrocera, Platyura, Ceroplatus, Dito- myia, Asindulum, Diadocidia, Mycetobia), still preserves most analogy to the preceding family. The second, in which these two areolets are separated by a strong prebrachial vein, but THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 4] in which the pobrachial areolet is prolonged open to the hind margin (Sciophila, Tetragoneura, Leia, Gnoriste, Myceto- phila, Cordyla): this type extends from Sciara to Zygoneura and Lestremia, and thence to Campylomyza and the Ceci- domyiz, in which the simplicity of the veining least of all admits or needs the application of the complicated nomen- clature that may have been retained in the previous families. The Bibionidez, in general, may perhaps be best illustrated by a comparison with the first type of Mycetophilidz (as Platyura, &c.); see Rhyphus also; while Scatopse seems not remote from the second type of that family, and Aspistes presents a case almost as hard to the assumed type as is that of the Diptera Hypocera. “The Culicide and Psychodini have the cubital vein simple, the radial forked. The Tipulide either have both these veins simple (Limnobia, Rhipidia, Rhamphidia, Sym- plecta, Idioptera), or the radial forked (Dixa),—Trichocera, Anisomera, Limnephila, Tipula, Ctenophora, Pachyrina, Ne- phrotoma, Erioptera, &c. In a very few cases (Ptychoptera, Limnophila immaculata, &c.) the veins divide in such a way that we must consider the radial as simple and the cubital forked. In nearly all other cases, when either of these is branched, it is the cubital, and this holds good among the other Macrocera (as Mycetophilide of the first section, and some Bibionidz), as well as in the Brachycera. In 'Tipula and the allied genera—Pachyrhina, Nephrotoma, Megistocera, Ctenophora—there are five externo-medial areolets, of which two are behind the discal areolet, while in the rest,—Limno- bia, Limnophila, Erioptera, Trichocera, Ptychoptera, &c.,— whether the externo-medial areolets be four or five, only one lies behind the discal areolet (which is sometimes wanting). Generally the anal areolet is open to the margin in the Nemocera, though there are a few exceptions (Eriocera nigra, Macq., and Limnobia Trentepohlii, Wied.), and closed in the Brachycera, or nearly so; and in the latter families (Muscide, &c.), small and distant from the margin. In Cylindrotoma, Macq. Dipt. pl. I. f. 15, the subcostal vein seems to reunite with the radial before the end, the usual termination of the former being probably obliterated, and what is elsewhere a transverse vein connecting the subcostal and radial, here appearing as the termination of the former. G 42 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. “Of the three areas into which Latreille divides the wing (exclusive of the extreme basilar area), the costal ends with the cubital vein, or its hindmost branch, if branched. The intermediate extends back from this to the anal vein, and the internal occupies the rest behind the anal vein. ‘The first of these areas becomes very narrow in those Nemocera which lead to Cecidomyia, and recedes more and more from the tip of the wing, not the mediastinal alone, but the subcostal vein often disappearing. In other cases, and generally where the veining of the wing is most fully developed (Tabanide, Asilidz), the costal area takes in the whole tip of the wing, though sometimes the intermediate area expands itself by the curvature of veins as it reaches the margin (so in Midas, &c.). The tip of the wing, therefore, may be considered as the medium point of limit at the margin between the costal and intermediate areas. When the costal vein vanishes without being continued round the posterior margin, it most com- monly ends at the end of the subapical vein.” Francis WALKER. Additions to the List of Macro-Lepidoptera inhabiting Guernsey and Sark. By W. A. Lurr. (See Entom. vi. 375.) THE following were, with one exception, taken during 1873. Sesia Philanthiformis.—One specimen. Captured in Guernsey on June 8th. Nola cristulalis—One. June 17th, in Guernsey. _ Metrocampa margaritaria.—Not uncommon in Guernsey. Odonlopera bidentata.—Mr. Tunley took one in Guern- sey, May 27th. Ennomos angularia.—Bred a specimen on August 20th. Himera pennaria.—One. Taken at light, in Guernsey, by Dr. Wakefield. Nemoria viridata.—Beat several out of furze-bushes on the Guernsey cliffs. Acidalia trigeminata.— Several specimens taken in Guernsey. Macaria notata.—One specimen. Guernsey. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 43 Eupithecia subumbrata.—Not common in Guernsey. EF. nanata.—Several in Sark. Anticlea rubidata.—My notice of Berberata (Entom. vi. 856) must apply to this species. Berberata occurs in Guern- sey, but I have only seen one specimen. A. badiata.—Not rare in Guernsey. Leucania albipuncta.—I find I have included a specimen of this insect amongst my series of Lithargyria. It was cap- tured in 1871, on the flowers of the ragwort, in Guernsey. Dasypolia Templi.mMr. Dawson took one at rest in a conservatory, on November 20th, in Guernsey. Axylia putris—Common in Guernsey and Sark. AXylophasia lithoxylean—Common in Sark. I have taken a specimen in Guernsey. Trigonophora empyrea.—A crippled specimen emerged in my breeding-cage on September 27th. The larva was found in Guernsey. W. A. LUFF. Guernsey. Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc. List of Insects taken at Glenarm, |873.—Smerinthus Populi: bred. Bombyx Rubi: caterpillar, common on heath, September. Agrotis porphyrea: common on heath, September. Hybernia defoliaria: 9th December, 1873, by light. Cheimatobia brumata: 9th December, 1873, by light. Scotosia dubitata: 23rd November, 1873, hybernated females. Cidaria miata: October, hybernated. Sphinx Convolvuli: I saw a specimen of the above insect at Larne, about twelve miles from here, taken in September, 1873, by a miller, off the wall of the mill; it was showed to me for the death’s- head moth.—T. Brunton; Glenarm Castle, Larne, Ireland. Epunda lutulenta at West Wickham.—Referring to the notice in the December number of the ‘ Entomologist,’ wherein Mr. Forbes informs us that he took Epunda lutulenta in his garden in September last, will you allow me to say that in September, 1866, while sugaring in West Wickham Wood with my friend Mr. Miller, we took one specimen of this species.—J. R. Wellman; 14, Portland Place North, Clapham Road, S.W., December 18, 1873. 44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Anticlea sinuata in Hampshire-—The occurrence of a specimen of this local insect—near Winchester, I believe—is recorded in the August number of this journal (Entom. vi. 456). This specimen was taken on the 10th of July, 1873. One evening, on the 30th of the same month, I was collecting on the borders of the New Forest, taking a few of the pretty little A. emarginata,—which, indeed, was about the only species to be met with, for everything has been unusually scarce this season,—and I was somewhat surprised to beat out a very good specimen of A. sinuata from a bush of hawthorn and bramble. I believe it is the first instance of its occurrence in the neighbourhood of the New Forest; and, although I visited the locality several evenings after my capture, I did not see another specimen. ‘The one I caught is the first I ever saw alive.—G. B. Corbin. Chauliodus cherophyllellus bred.—Towards the end of August last I gathered a few larve of this species from off the parsnep growing in my garden. The larva may be detected on the under side of the leaf, near the tip, by giving it a ragged appearance; it changes to pupa by making a netted web on the leaf, and the insect appears in a week or two afterwards. The larva is not much unlike that of Xylopoda Fabriciana—F. O. Standish; 402, High Street, Cheltenham, November 30, 1873. Cetonia aurata, or the Rose-beetle.—Not being a Coleop- terist I do not know whether it will interest your readers to know that, while digging round an old ash-tree for pupe of Lepidoptera, I turned out from a decayed part of the tree about a dozen of this beetle, each in a strongly-made earth- cocoon, similar to that of Cucullia Verbasci, except that. it was free from web. May I ask if it is usual for this pretty beetle to hybernate in this singular way '—Jd. [It had probably fed on the decayed wood of the ash, and had emerged from the pupa state without flying. I do not think it could be said to have hybernated.—E. Newman.| Carabus nitens in the New Forest.—During a day’s col- lecting of Lepidoptera in the New Forest I caught two, and saw several others, of this lovely ground-beetle. They were running about in the sunshine on a boggy piece of heath, and seemed to lose much of their activity if the weather became cloudy. Is such a habit common to this species? as THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 we generally find that its relations, C. hortensis, C. viola- ceus, &c., are lovers of the night rather than of sunshine, for we often meet with ground-beetles when sugaring for Lepi- doptera. Not being a collector of Coleoptera, I need hardly state that Lam unacquainted with the habits of the lovely creatures included in that order.—G. B. Corbin. Aphilothrix Radicis.—After Mayr’s translated description of the gall of this species, Mr. Walker says, “ This insect has not been found in England,” &c. This J think must have been an oversight, as Mr. Marshall includes it in his descrip- tions of British Cynipide (Ent. Mo. Mag. vol. iv. p. 7); also Mr. Miiller, in his list of British gall-insects (Ent. Ann. 1872, p- 6); and I have myself found it at Shirley, in Surrey, and at Rayleigh, in Essex. I believe it to be generally distributed were it only looked for.—E. A. Fitch ; Down Hail, Rayleigh, Essex, January 3, 1874. Hymenoptera reposing.—During the summer I saw what I supposed was some species of wild bee attached to the end of a blade of grass, and as the weather was dull and the wind blowing somewhat briskly it was swayed backwards and forwards, and continually buffetted by the surrounding herbage, yet it held on firmly, without taking any apparent notice of such rough usage, until I attempted to box it, when it immediately flew away. 1 believe 1 have seen a record of a similar occurrence in some journal, but I forget where. Is such a habit of general occurrence, and what is the name of the species possessing such a peculiarity, or are there more than one? To all appearance the insect seemed asleep when I first saw it in its peculiar swinging situation, but as soon as I touched the blade of grass with my finger it flew away, although I did not disturb it half so much as the wind had previously done. I did not see tlie insect settle upon the grass- stem, so I cannot say whether it crawls up, or at once settles at the point, but it does seem a strange situation for an insect to be “rocked to sleep;” but why should I call it strange, when the peculiarities and economy of almost every insect are so wonderfully interesting. Possibly this habit is well known to those who have made the Hymenoptera their especial study,—if, indeed, I am right in referring the insect I saw to that order,—and who will, I hope, give us a fuller account of the insect, or insects, which choose such a position 46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. to rest (?) in, and under what conditions it is chosen ?— G. B. Corbin. [This habit is very familiar to Hymenopterists; I have observed it in several species of Nomada, and also in Chelo- stoma florisomne. ‘These observations have been frequently recorded, and have been styled “roosting by the mandibular process.” — Edward Newman.] Lime-galls.—In the ‘ Fifth Annual Report on Insects of the State of Missouri,’ by C. V. Riley, there is a figure (p. 119) of a gall that grows on the vine-leaf, and the author remarks that similar, but distinct, galls grow on the leaves of hickory and hackberry. Each of these vine-galls contains a pale orange larva, made by a Cecidomyia, which has not yet been described. These galls exactly resemble the excrescences which may be seen here and there on lime-leaves in England, but no insects have been found in these excrescences, except an Acarus, as was mentioned in a French publication, which I cited many years ago in a notice on these formations. It is uncertain whether this Acarus, or mite, is identical with one or other of two kinds of mites which often occur under lime- leaves,— the green Tetranychus Tiliarium, which | have before spoken of, and the little white Acarus, which transfers to itself the hollow remnants of the Aphides, whose conteuts have been already appropriated by Aphidii. The round red gall on the twigs of the lime is of more frequent occurrence than the lanceolate formation before mentioned, and is inhabited by the grub of Sciara tilicola, which leaves them and enters the earth, and there assumes the imago state.— Francis Walker. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London, November 17 to December 1, 1873. Deilephila Euphorbie and Sphinx Pinaslri at Harwich. —Mr. Higgins exhibited two bred specimens of Deilephila Euphorbiz (one a remarkable variety), and a Sphinx Pinastri, taken near Harwich in June, 1872, when several specimens of the former were found in the larva state. Pachnobia alpina from Braemar, §c.—Myr. Champion exhibited a bred specimen of Pachnobia alpina from Braemar ; also Harpalus quadripunctatus from Braemar; Anisotoma THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 macropus from Claremont; A. pallens from Deal; Liosomus Troglodytes from Faversham; and LL. oblongulus from Caterham. Brachycentrus subnubilus Bred.—Mr. W. C. Boyd exhi- bited living larva of Brachycentrus subnubilus, which had been reared from the eggs. ‘They fed upon Conferve, and the cases constructed by them were clearly quadrangular (though the angles were not prominent) and very diaphanous, so that the movements of the larve could be discerned within. Pempelia Davisella Bred.—Mr. Vaughan exhibited Pem- pelia Davisella reared from larva, feeding in a web, upon shoots of Ulex. Biorhiza aptera on Roots of Deodars.—Mry. Miiller re- marked that at a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the 12th instant, Dr. Masters had exhibited some galls found at Wimbledon on the roots of Deodars. That gentleman had since submitted to him further specimens of this gall, which he had found to agree, in external and internal structure, with those of Biorhiza aptera, Fad., usually occurring on roots of oak. Mr. Miiller stated that he had since bred several specimens of Biorhiza aptera from these Deodar galls, and that he believed it to be the first instance where a true Cynips had been known to transfer its attacks from oak to any species of Conifer. Hybrid specimen of Clostera—Mr. Bond exhibited a hybrid specimen between Clostera curtula and C. reclusa, partaking of the characters of both parents. Congregation of Psen.—Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited speci- mens of a minute species of Psen, which he had observed in large numbers in June last, on a pear-leaf at Lewes. They had congregated together on the surface of the leaf like a swarm of bees, though it was not apparent what motive brought them together. Humble-bees wanted for New Zealand.—Mr. Dunning read some portions of a letter which he had received from Mr. Nottidge, enclosing the Eighth Report of the Canterbury (New Zealand) Acclimatization Society, and stating that the red clover had been introduced into the colony, but that they had no humble-bees to fertilize the plant. Also that certain Lepidopterous insects had been accidentally imported into 48 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the islands, and that corresponding ichneumons were wanted to keep down their numbers. He would be glad of any suggestions as to the best mode of introducing such humble- bees and ichneumons into the colony, as might be requisite. It was suggested that by procuring a sufficient number of humble-bees in a dormant condition, and keeping them in this state (by means of ice) during the voyage the result might be attained. No indigenous Aphides in New Zealand.—My. M‘Lachlan mentioned that he had received a letter from Capt. Hutton, from New Zealand, stating that indigenous Aphides did not, apparently, exist there, but imported species were becoming very destructive, and he asked if it would be possible to introduce Chrysopa.—F. G. [Selected by E. Newman.] Proceedings of the South London Entomological Soctety, January lst and 15th, 1874. Mr. J. Jenner Weir exhibited two cases to illustrate “mimicry,” and explained the meaning of the word in its relation to insects. The species included Papilio Merope, a species of Heliconian, another of Pieris, together with the various forms of Danaids, which they resemble (or mimic). Amongst British insects Nemeobius Lucina may be said to be a good representative of mimicry, as it closely resembles Melita Athalia, and is very unlike its congeners. The President exhibited a case of bred specimens of Cidaria russata from various parts of Britain. Mr. Barrow exhibited two large species of Orthoptera from the Cape of Good Hope. Donations of the ‘Entomologist’ and ‘Zoologist’ for January, 1874, from Mr. Newman, and of a copy of ‘The Origin and Metamorphoses of Insects,’ from Sir John Lub- bock, Bart., M.P., were announced, and votes of thanks passed to the donors. Mr. Harris exhibited living specimens of Isotoma trifasciata and Macrotoma plumbea. Mr. Hoey exhibited the larve and pupe of Nonagria geminipuncta, Leucania Phragmitidis, Sesia Tipuliformis, and Tinea tapetzellan—J. P. B. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 127.] MARCH, MDCCCLXXIV, [Paice 6d. ARGYNNIS ADIPPE (MELANIC VARIETY: UPPER AND UNDER SIDES). Variety of Argynnis Adippe——I am indebted to Mr. C. S. Gregson for the loan of this beautiful specimen, which he sent me purposely for figuring in the ‘ Entomologist.’ On the upper side the costal margin itself is black, and immediately beneath this is a narrow fulvous stripe extending from the VOL. VII. H 50 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. base of the wing nearly to its apex ; the distribution of fulvous and black on the remainder of the wing is clearly indicated in the figure, from which it will immediately be seen that black greatly predominates; the basal portion of the wing is iridescent fulvous, and the colour extends along the inner margin to the anal angle; on the hind wing the disk is almost entirely black, the inner margin being tinged with fulvous iridescence, and the hind margin having a double series of fulvous lunules. On the under side the central portion of the fore wing is almost entirely black; the hind wings have five silver spots about the base, but none on other parts of the wing; the median diagonal series of silver spots is entirely absent, but their position is indicated by a series of obscure markings.—Hdward Newman. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen.’ By Miss ANNA WEISE. II. BARK-GALLS. THE three species next to be described are generally found more or less covered with earth, moss, or dead leaves, on the lowest parts of the stem, or on shoots growing out of the ground; others only occur on that portion of last year’s shoots which is above the ground: they are almost invariably in clusters, and in two instances are perceptible only from the unevenness of the bark or the incrassation of the twig. Fig. 3. Aphilothrix Corticis.—Of this rare gall I : have seen only a few clustered specimens. It is of an obconical form, and swells about seven or nine millemetres above the surface of the bark of old oak-stems (probably of Quercus sessiliflora or Q. pedunculata). The aperture at the apex is from three and a half to five millemetres in diameter; more than half of the gall is sunk in the bark, which seems to form a wall round it. It is hard, of a brown colour, and somewhat cylindrical A. CorTIcIs. jn shape, but more or less compressed: the opening is sharply defined and nearly circular; within the opening, and about a millemetre or a millemetre and a half - below the summit, is a convex septum,—thin, hard, and of THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 5 a yellowish colour; in the space between them and the margin is a circle of scabrous points. In the interior is a large larva-cell, and a hole in the convex septum shows where the imago has escaped.—G@. L. Mayr. Aphilothrix Corticis is accompanied in the gall by Synergus incrassatus, which has already been mentioned as a tenant in the gall of Aphilothrix Radicis, and is one of the winter species, Dr. Mayr having divided the Synergi into winter flies and summer flies according to the time of their appear- ance. The following note refers to the likeness of oak-galls to organs of the oak. The differences of the parts of an organism, such as the oak, and the means which successively occasion these differences, are of much interest, as the result of one agent,—the circulation in the living form. But the differences between the kinds of oak-galls are more remark- able: they are also the products of the circulation of the oak, and therefore it would seem to be likely that they must resemble the native products of that circulation; and such in some kinds is the case. But two kinds of galls, quite different in structure, may be found in close contiguity, or almost connected, on the oak; and it remains to be ascertained whether this difference is caused by the puncture, by the egg, by the grub, or by the joint influence of these three.—Francis Walker. Aphilothrix Rhizomatis.—This occurs Fig. 4, partly under ground and partly on those ~ shoots which are but slightly raised above the ground: a roughness or unevenness in the bark is observable, and a crack or furrow appears, in which the galls are seated in sparse clusters: the visible por- tion of each gall is conical or hemispherical, or sometimes nearly oval, and of an ochreous colour ; at the base of the cone are striz or furrows, similar to those on the species next to be described, but these vanish towards the summit, where no trace of such striz is perceptible ; the summit itself is rounded, and is pierced in the centre by the imago in making its escape. Each gall contains one large larva-cell, the exposed portion of which is from two to three millemetres in A, RHIZOMATIS. 52 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. height, and 35 to 5°5 millemetres in diameter at the base. Of this rare gall I have only one small branch, with a number of galls on it: it seems to be found only on Quercus sessiliflora or Q. pedunculata, as these are the only oaks growing in Nassau, the country from which my specimen was recorded.—G. L. Mayr. No inquiline has been observed in this gall.—F. Walker. When nothing is said of the occurrence of the gall in Britain, it is to be assumed that nothing has been recorded, but we must on no account conclude that it is absent on this ground, but that it has escaped observation. We have scarcely a dozen entomologists who collect oak-galls, and therefore many species will of necessity escape notice.— Edward Newman. APHILOTHRIX SIEBOLDI. Aphilothrix Sieboldii.—This red or reddish brown gall is found under or near the surface of the ground, on twigs that are one centimetre or one and a half centimetre in diameter. It seldom occurs alone, but numbers of them are usually found crowded together, and the twig may possibly attain a diameter of three centimetres. The gall itself is conical: it stands from five to six millemetres in height, and its THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Ns diameter at the base is about the same, but is sometimes narrower than this, and sometimes even broader; from the base to the apex it is thickly and coarsely striped or furrowed, and its surface is smooth. Single galls, or those not very crowded, are perceptible on the outside on short or uneven space of the bark, which latter, however, can only be regarded as a ring, for the base of the gall penetrates farther into the bark than the periphery, so that half of the spacious larva-cell is below the circumference of the cone. The substance of the gall is composed of two thinnish layers: the outer one, of a reddish colour, is doubtless full of sap ; while the inner, which is yellowish, is hard and sharply furrowed, from the circumference of the cone to the apex, in a way that makes the furrows appear deeper at the circum- ference than nearer the apex; the striz, or the outer layer, unquestionably result from its adhering so closely to the grooves and furrows of the inner layer during the slow process of drying. In old galls the outer layer is generally cracked, and we then only see the brownish yellow inner layer. In this condition the deeper furrows round the periphery of the cone appears as dots; the aperture through which the imago makes its escape is on the side, and above the periphery of the cone. M. von Siebold has been so kind as to send me typical specimens, found at Dantzig and Friebourg on Quercus sessiliflora, and from these it appears that Professor Schenck considers this gall to be that of Cynips corticalis of Hartig. Now, as Hartig’s description of Corticalis is such that one cannot distinguish it from A. Sieboldii; and, moreover, as Hartig doubtless applies the reference to “Malpighi (op. omn. tab. 17, fig. 60”), although the figure of the gall repre- sents that of A. Sieboldii, 1 think it very probable that C. corticalis and C. Sieboldii are synonyms of the same species, and that Hartig, when describing his Corticalis, had only ill-preserved specimens at his disposal. 1 therefore feel justified in retaining the later name, since under that name the gall is minutely described, and typical specimens have been submitted to me for examination.—G. L. Mayr. Synergus incrassatus inhabits this gall.—F. Walker. I think it will be impossible for an entomologist to examine attentively the beautiful figures of the bark-galls, o4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. produced by Aphilothrix Sieboldii, without perceiving their very close correspondence with the small aborted acorns we find so commonly on the long peduncles of Quercus pedun- culatata. On these peduncles it is not unusual to find one normally developed acorn near the base, and one, two, or three aborted acorns beyond it, as though the first had appropriated the sap destined for the nutriment of the others, as well as its own. These aborted acorns are manifestly represented by the galls in question, the stigma in both instances being the only part of the acorn that protrudes beyond the cup.—Edward Newman. The Synergi—or fellow-workers, or inquilines, or lodgers —have been lately mentioned in the ‘ Entomologist, and a short abstract of Dr. Mayr’s treatise on them may be of use to the observers of galls. He praises Hartig’s work as being a good foundation for the history of oak-gall-making flies, but observes that the above author is less successful with regard to the Synergi, which failure, he says, may be owing to the great difficulty in determining the often very variable species. He adds that these difficulties can only be over- come by continual researches, and by complete and plentiful materials brought together and well arranged. He next says that he has particularly studied the lodgers for a series of ~ years, and mentions his examination of Hartig’s type speci- mens, and the help he has received from correspondents, and the division by Foerster of Hartig’s genus Synergus into two genera, Synergus and Sapholytus, and notices the characters of these two genera, and also of Ceroptre, Phanacis, Peri- clistus, and Xenophanes. The genus Ceroptre, he says, is interesting on account of its biology. He has reared from C. arator, Hart., more than six hundred females, but not one male; and of C. Cerri, Mayr, ninety-eight females, and only four males, and he supposes that only some few females are impregnated, but that the unfertilized also lay developing eggs. He then defines two kinds of parthenogenesis: the mixed parthenogenesis, of which C. Cerri is an example; and the Thelykotik, or simple female parthenogenesis, repre- sented by C. Arator. He next returns to the difficulty of ascertaining the species of Synergus, owing to their great variableness, of which S. melanopus, that lives in many kinds of galls, is the chief example, and concludes that most THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65, of the hitherto described species of Synergus have not been clearly distinguished from each other. He has many proofs that two certainly different kinds of lodgers live together in one gall; and he gives in short the result of his observations on C. lignicola. He isolated about four hundred galls of this species. From most of these only the Cynips appeared; the rest gave the following results :—sixteen galls produced only Synergus melanopus; two, S. melanopus and a Eurytoma; twenty-eight, only, S. Hayneanus; five, S. Hayneanus, with . S. melanopus; two, only S. pallidipennis; three, 8S. palli- cornis; one, S. pallicornis and 8. melanopus; one, S. vul- garis; two, the Cynips and S. melanopus; one large gall produced the Cynips, seven examples of 8. melanopus, and one Eurytoma; four, the Cynips and S. pallicornis; and lastly, two, a Pteromalus. In the galls from which the Cynips and the Synergus appeared the cell of the first was quite closed and normally formed, but the cells of the lodgers were separate in the parenchyma. He mentions a gall of C. cerricola, which afforded him in April nineteen examples of S. thaumacera, and in May two of 8S. variabilis and three of Eurytoma: these all came from one hole, the passage to which was divided, and led from many chambers. It thus seems that in general the contrivances of the lodgers cause the death of the proprietor, for in sixty galls seven produced the Cynips and the Synergus ; the latter only or the parasite proceeded from the rest, and the imprisonment of the Cynips by the Synergus was first observed by Spinola. Life in these kinds of galls may be divided into two parts,—the inner life and the outer life,—the first represented by the Cynips and its parasites, the latter by the Synergus and its attendants; and the multiplying of the Cynips is not only limited by its parasites, but by the Synergi in the outer life; and in case the latter are the victims of other parasites, their habitations are not the less obstacles to the emergence of the Cynips; and the complications of life-forms in a gall are a little epitome of biology generally, with regard to insects. Dr. Mayr observes on the strangeness of the fact, and of its being worthy of close study, that a Synergus lives in one kind of gall three to four months, but in another kind a year or more. The species which appear in winter are more nume- rous than those which appear in summer, and those which are 56 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. disclosed in both seasons use one kind of gall for the winter and another kind for the summer.—Francis Walker. © The Naturalist in Nicaragua:’ a Narrative of a Residence at the Gold-mines of Chontales, in the Savannahs, and Forests; with Observations on Animals and Plants in reference to the Theory of Evolution of Living Forms. By Tuomas Bett, F.G.S. London: John Murray, 1874. Post 8vo; 404 pp. letterpress, and 26 Illustrations on stone and wood. [At Brighton anglers bait for mackerel with a bit of tin: it glitters in the sun, and proves far more attractive to these silly fishes than substantial, wholesome, and natural food. Mr. Belt baits for Natural-History readers with “ evolution of of living forms.” He evidently aims to capture a shoal of naturalists, and considers this the most “kililng bait.” I think he under-rates us; I think he under-values our attain- ments and our intelligence: we are not, like the mackerel, to be caught by tin or tinsel; and this very announcement on the title-page had well-nigh induced me to close the book unread. Fortunately I did not, for ‘The Naturalist in Nicaragua’ is a capital book,—brimful of information, and worthy of attentive study by the most profound entomologist. I have no space in this journal for an extended review, but I will make some entomological extracts, which cannot fail both to instruct and delight my readers, and will recommend - the book far more than anything | can write.in its praise— Edward Newman.) Ecitons, or Foraging Anis.—“I saw many large armies of this, or a closely allied, species in the forest. My attention was generally first called to them by the twittering of some small birds, belonging to several different species, that follow the ants in the woods. On approaching, a dense body of the ants—three or four yards wide, and so numerous as to blacken the ground—would be seen moving rapidly in one direction, examining every cranny, and underneath every fallen leaf. On the flanks, and in advance of the main body, smaller columns would be pushed out; these smaller columns would generally first flush the cockroaches, grasshoppers, and spiders. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 The pursued insects would rapidly make off, but many in their confusion and terror would bound right into the midst of the main body of ants. At first the grasshopper, when it found itself in the midst of its enemies, would give vigorous leaps, with perhaps two or three of the ants clinging to its legs; then it would stop a moment to rest, and that moment would be fatal, for the tiny foes would swarm over the prey; and after a few more ineffectual struggles it would succumb to its fate, and soon be bitten to pieces and carried off to the rear. The greatest catch of the ants was, however, when they got amongst some fallen brushwood: the cockroaches, spiders, and other insects, instead of running right away, would ascend the fallen branches and remain there, whilst the host of ants were occupying all the ground below. By and bye up would come some of the ants, following every branch, and driving before them their prey to the ends of the small twigs, when nothing remained for them but to leap, and they would alight in the very throng of their foes, with the result of being certainly caught and pulled to pieces. Many of the spiders would escape by hanging suspended by a thread of silk from the branches, safe from the foes that swarmed both above and below.”—P. 18. Leaf-cutting Ants.—“ Nearly all travellers in tropical America have described the ravages of the leaf-cutting ants (Gicodoma): their crowded, well-worn paths through the forests; their ceaseless pertinacity in the spoliation of the trees, more particularly of introduced species, which are left bare and ragged, with the midribs and a few jagged points of the leaves only left. After travelling for some hundreds of yards, often for more than half a mile, the formicarium is reached. It consists of low, wide mounds of brown, clayey- looking earth, above and immediately around which the bushes have been killed by their buds and leaves having been persistently bitten off as they attempted to grow after their first defoliation. Under high trees in the thick forest the ants do not make their nests, because I believe the ventilation of their under-ground galleries, about which they are very particular, would be interfered with, and perhaps to avoid the drip from the trees. It is on the outskirts of the forest, or around clearings, or near wide roads that let in the sun, that these formicariums are generally found: numerous I 58 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. round tunnels, varying from half an inch to seven or eight inches in diameter, lead down through the mounds of earth; and many more, from some distance around, also lead under- neath them. At some of the holes on the mounds ants will be seen busily at work, bringing up little pellets of earth from below and casting them down on the ever-increasing mounds, so that its surface is nearly always fresh and new-looking. Standing near the mounds one sees from every point of the compass out-paths leading to them, all thronged with the busy workers carrying their leafy burdens. As far as the eye can distinguish their tiny forms troops upon troops of leaves are moving up towards the central point, and disappearing down the numerous tunnelled passages. The out-going, empty- handed hosts are partly concealed amongst the bulky burdens of the in-comers, and can only be distinguished by looking closely amongst them. ‘The ceaseless, toiling hosts impress one with their power, and one asks—What forests can stand before such invaders? how is it that vegetation is not eaten off the face of the earth? Surely nowhere but in the tropics, where the recuperative powers of Nature are immense and ever-active, could such devastation be withstood.”—P. 71. Making Ants Mad.—“ Don Francisco Velasquez informed me, in 1870, that he had a powder which made the ants mad, so that they bit and destroyed each other. He gave me a little of it, and it proved to be corrosive sublimate. I made several trials of it, and found it most efficacious in turning a large column of the ants; a little of it sprinkled across one of their paths in dry weather has a most surprising effect: as soon as one of the ants touches the white.powder it com- mences to run about wildly, and to attack any other ant it comes across. Ina couple of hours round balls of the ants will be found all biting each other, and numerous individuals will be seen bitten completely in two, whilst others have lost some of their legs or antenne. News of the commotion is carried to the formicarium, and huge fellows, measuring three-quarters of an inch in length, that only come out of the nest during a migration or an attack on the nest or one of the working columns, are seen stalking down with a determined air, as if they would soon right matters. As soon, however, as they have touched the sublimate all their stateliness leaves them: they rush about, their legs are seized hold of by some THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 of the smaller ants already affected by the poison, and they themselves begin to bite, and in a short time become the centre of fresh balls of rabid ants. The sublimate can only be used effectively in dry weather. At Colon I found the Americans using coal-tar, which they spread across their paths when any of them led to their gardens. I was also told that the Indians prevent them from ascending young trees by tying thick wisps of grass, with the sharp points downwards, round the stem: the ants cannot pass through the wisp, and do not find out how to surmount it, getting confused amongst the numberless blades, all leading downwards. I mention these different plans of meeting and frustrating the attacks of the ants at some length, as they are one of the greatest scourges of tropical America, and it has been too readily supposed that their attacks cannot be warded off. ft myself was enabled, by using some of the means mentioned above, to cultivate successfully trees and vegetables of which the ants were extremely fond.”—P. 78. Spiders.—“ Near the river were some fallen-down wooden sheds, partly overgrown with a red-flowered vine: here a large spider (Nephila) built strong yellow silken webs, joined one on to the other, so as to make a complete curtain of web, in which were entangled many large butterflies, generally forest species, caught when flying across the clearing. I was at first surprised to find that the kinds that frequent open places were not caught, although they abounded on low, white-flowered shrubs close to the webs; but, on getting behind them and trying to frighten them within the silken curtain, their instinct taught them to avoid it, for, although startled, they threaded their way through open spaces and between the webs with the greatest ease. It was one instance of many I have noticed of the strong instinct implanted in insects to avoid their natural enemies.”—P. 108. Spiders—* * * * “To return to the spiders. Besides the large owner and manufacturer of each web, who was‘ stationed near its centre, there were on the outskirts several very small ones, belonging, I think, to two different species, one of which was probably the male of a Thomisus, the males in this genus being much smaller than the females. I some- times threw a fly into one of the webs: the large spider would seize it and commence sucking its blood; the small ones, 60 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. attracted by the sight of the prey, would advance cautiously from the circumference, but generally stop short about half- way up the web, evidently afraid to come within reach of the owner, thus having to content themselves with looking at the provisions, like hungry urchins nosing the windows of an eating-house. Sometimes one would advance closer, but the owner would, when it came within reach, quickly lift up one of its feet and strike at it, like a feeding-horse kicking at another that came near its provender, and the little intruder would have to retire discomfited. These little spiders probably feed on minute insects entangled in the web, too small for the consideration of the huge owner, to whom they may be of assistance in clearing the web.”—P. 110. Tiger-beetles and Ants.—“In some parts brown tiger- beetles ran or flew with great swiftness ; in others, leaf-cutting ants in endless trains carried along their burdens of foliage, looking, as they marched along with the segments of leaves held up vertically, like green butterflies, or a mimic repre- sentation of a moving Birnam Wood. Sometimes the chirping of the ant-thrushes drew attention to where a great body of army-ants were foraging amongst the fallen branches, sending the spiders, cockroaches and grasshoppers fleeing for their lives, only to fall victims to the surrounding birds. On the fallen branches and logs I obtained many longicorn-beetles ; the wood-cutters brought me many more; and from this valley were obtained some of the rarest and finest species in my collection. On the myrtle-like flowers of some of the shrubs large green cockchafers were to be found during the dry season, and bright green rosechafers were to be found also common. I was surprised to find on two occasions a green-and-brown bug (Pentatoma punicea) sucking the juices from dead specimens of this species.”—P. 127. Migrating Butterflies.—“ As we rode along great numbers of a brown-tailed butterfly (Timetes Chiron) were flying over ‘to the south-east: they occurred, as it were, in columns. The air would be comparatively clear of them for a few hundred yards, then we would pass through a band, perhaps fifty yards in width, where hundreds were always in sight, and all travelling one way. I took the direction several times with a pocket-compass, and it was always south-east. Amongst them were a few yellow butterflies, but these were THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 61 not so numerous as in former years. In some seasons these migratory swarms of butterflies continue passing over to the south-east for three to five weeks, and must consist of millions upon millions of individuals, comprising many different species and genera. The beautiful tailed green- and-gilded day-flying moth (Urania Letlus) also join in this annual movement.”—P. 152. [It is curious that Mr. Belt, who has seen this beautiful butterfly, should accept the strange hypothesis that it isa moth. It is one of the moth-butterflies, or concealers (Celantes), in which the caterpillars hide themselves in a silken follicle, or cocoon, before changing into chrysalids. All the skippers, or Hesperide, belong to the same natural division — Edward Newman. | The Bull’s-horn Thorn.—* These thorns are hollow, and are tenanted by ants that make a small hole for their entrance and exit near one end of the thorn, and also burrow through the partition that separates the two horns, so that the one entrance serves for both. Here they rear their young; and in the wet season every one of the thorns is tenanted, and hundreds of ants are be seen running about, especially over the young leaves. If one of these be touched, or a branch shaken, the little ants (Pseudomyrma bicolor, Guer.) swarm out from the hollow thorns, and attack the ageressor with jaws and sting. They sting severely, raising a little white lump that does uot disappear in less than twenty- four hours.” —P. 218. Mimicry in a Spider.— On the leaves of the bushes there were many curious species of Buprestidae, and I struck these and other beetles off with my net as I rode along. After one such capture I observed what appeared to be one of the black stinging-ants on the net: it was a small spider that closely resembled an ant, and so perfect was the imitation that it was not until I killed it that I determined it was a spider, and that I need not be afraid of it stinging me. What added greatly to the resemblance was that, unlike other spiders, it held up its two fore legs like antenne, and moved them about just like an ant. Other species of spiders closely resemble stinging- ants: in all of them the body is drawn out long like an ant, and in some the maxillary palpi are lengthened and thickened, so as to resemble the head of one.” —P. 314. . 62 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. List of Lepidoptera forwarded to Edward Newman by G. F. MaTHEw, Esq., R.N. [The names of the butterflies have been most kindly sup- plied by Mr. Hewitson; those of the moths by Mr. Walker. —Hdward Newman.] No. 22. Junonia Lavinia. Rio de Janeiro; Callao; Peru. September, 1872; April, 1873.—Woods at Tijuca, near Rio, and also near Callao and Lima. It is frequently seen alight- ing in pathways or bare spots, where it rests with its wings widely expanded and pressed close to the ground. I believe 1 took the larvex of this species near Lima, but they were not full grown, and all perished on board ship, as I could not procure their proper food in the immediate neighbourhood of Callao. No. 39. Anartia Amathea. Rio de Janeiro. September, 1872.—This pretty species is one of the most common butterflies near Rio, haunting marshy ground in woody places, where dozens of them may be seen flying about together. They are very fond of chasing each other, and usually fly slowly and near the ground, but when frightened they go off at a very respectable pace. No. 31. Eudamus Eurycles. Rio; Callao. September, 1872; April, 1873.—A common species. It flies rapidly, after the manner of all skippers, and is found in woods and waste places, where it delights to fly among long grass and low underwood ; consequently the tails soon become damaged. They are very pugnacious, chasing and fighting every other butterfly, no matter its size, that comes within their reach. No. 58. Agraulis Vanille. Rio; Callao. September, 1872; April, 1873.—1 only saw half a dozen of this species in a marshy piece of ground near Rio, but at Callao it was very plentiful in grassy meadows. There appears to be no difference whatever between the specimens from each country. The one enclosed is from Rio. No. 92. Papilio Archemas. Valparaiso. November, 1872.—The largest butterfly found near Valparaiso, and it is common, though local, in the valleys between. the hills, and also in the flat country near Vino del Mar and El Salto. It flies fast, is difficult to catch, and is seldom perfect. I have worked out the life-history of this species. The specimen THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 63 forwarded, which is slightly crippled, was bred at sea on the 7th inst., in lat. 35° 4’ N., long. 1619 1’ W., after having been in the chrysalis state since November last. No. 93. Pieris Xanthodice. Valparaiso. November, 1872. —Common. I have partially worked out the life-history of this species, and should have done so had we remained at Valparaiso a few days longer. The larve feed on a wild species of cress, and also in gardens on wallflower. Male and female specimens are forw rarded. No. 94. Colias rutilans (male). Valparaiso. November, 1872.—Damp meadows at Limache, about thirty miles inland from Valparaiso. No. 98. Colias rutilans (female). Valparaiso. Novem- ber, 1872.—Rather a scarce butterfly. Is it a variety or female of No. 94? It is frequently found where No. 94 is not. No. 99. Hesperia paniscoides. Valparaiso. November, 1872.— Very common. No. 100. Hesperia fulva. Valparaiso. November, 1872. —Very common. No. 103. Thecla (new species). Valparaiso. November, 1872.—Scarce. Flies round the tops of bushes like a Thecla. No. 105. Lycena chilensis. Valparaiso. November, 1872. —Common. The female has an orange-coloured blotch in the centre of the fore wings. No. 106. Same as No.103. Walparaiso. November, 1872. —Common in dry, grassy spots. ; No. 116. Epinephele (new species). Valparaiso. Novem- ber, 1872. Abundant everywhere. Habits similar to those of S. Tithonus. No. 117. Satyrus chilensis. Valparaiso. November, 1872. —Common. Seldom found below an elevation of eight hundred feet. Habits of S. Semele. No. 118. Epinephele (new species). Valparaiso. Novem- ber, 1872.—Mountain gorges at a considerable elevation, flying among a stunted description of cane. No. 123. Satyrus Montrolit. Valparaiso. November, 1872.—Appeared towards the end of the month in woody mountain gorges. Rather common. No. 124. Hesperia fasciolata. Valparaiso. December, 1872.—El Salto, about seven miles from Valparaiso. Not common. 64 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 125. FEuptoieta Claudia. Valparaiso. December, 1872.—limache and El Salto. Rare. Flies rather weakly. No. 127. Callidryas Eubule (male and female). Val- paraiso. December, 1872.—Tolerably common, but flies fast and is difficult to catch. I have worked out the life- history of this species, and bred several fine specimens. No. 139. Epinephele (new species). Valparaiso. De- cember, 1872.—Appeared towards the end of the month, and was by no means numerous. No. 140. Terias Beigitta. Valparaiso. January, 1873.— Common, but very local, and is a weak flyer. No. 141. Syrichthus Americanus. Valparaiso. January, 1873.—Common, but extremely local. I have another species (but only a single example) from Valparaiso, which comes pretty near this one. No. 169. Detlephila Daucus. Valparaiso. Various dates. —A maritime species, and I have worked out its life-history. No. 171. Ctlenucha (new species). Coquimbo. March 1873.—These singular moths were very abundant in the marshes between Coquimbo and LaSerena. They fly straight and rather heavily in the bright sunshine, carrying their antenne aloft at right angles to their bodies, which gives them a peculiar appearance. Their flight somewhat resembles that of Anthrocera, but they are more active. A tall, umbel- liferous plant, which was in blossom and grew in patches here and there throughout the marshes, was much frequented by them, and on approaching one of these patches the moths flew off in clouds. No. 172. New species. Arica; Peru. March, 1873.— Habits and locality, where found, similar to the above; but the insect was rare. No. 179. New species. Arica; Payta; Peru. March, 1873.—Flies, after the fashion of a Thecla, round the branches of an evergreen prickly and stunted bush growing close to the beach. No. 180. New species. Arica; Callao. March, 1873.— Very abundant, especially in some lucerne fields, where they occurred in countless thousands. . No. 182. Hesperia fasciolata. Arica; Callao. March, 1873.—This species also occurred in prodigious numbers, and IL often had a dozen or more in my net at a time. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 No. 183. Pieris Monuste. Callao. April, 1873.—Com- mon. ‘This species puzzles me, as I fancy there are two or three closely allied, but distinct. No. 184. Pterts Monusie. Callao. April, 1873.—Pro- bably the female of No. 183. No. 185. Anartia Jatrophe. Callao. April, 1873.—This pretty and delicate butterfly was common close to the town of Callao; but although I caught plenty of them very few were fit to set. I suspect they were just passing. In its habits this species reminded me of V. Urtice. When dis- turbed it flies for a short distance, and settles on the road or a wall, and constantly expands and shuts its wings. It isa strong flyer. No. 187. Thecla Marsyas. Callao. April, 1873.—This lovely species was by no means uncommon in the neighbour- hoods of Callao and Lima. Its habits are those of a Thecla. Near Callao I obtained it flying rotind an evergreen shrub growing from eight to ten feet high, possessing ovate- lanceolate and slightly pubescent leaves, and bearing at the tip of each of its branches a conglomerate bunch of mauve- coloured flowers. No. 189. New genus, new species. Valparaiso. Larve taken in December, 1872.—Bred on board. Have worked out the life-history of this species. No. 193. Hipparchia? Valparaiso. Larve taken in January, 1873.—Bred on board. Took the larve of this species at Limache, and have worked out its history. The specimen forwarded is a small one, as some I have bred are nearly twice the size. No. 200. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 123 Life-histories of Sawflies. ‘Translated from the Dutch of Dr. S. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN by J. W. May, Esq. (Continued from p. 76.) Empnytus Serotinus, K/. Imago: Klug, Blatlw. in Magazin Berlin, viii. p. 288, No. 215; Harlig, Blatl-und Holzwespen, p. 253, No. 22. Larva undescribed. Emphytus niger, abdomine et femoribus fulvis, tibiis flavis, tarsis posterioribus fuscis. Although this life-history is incomplete, as I am not acquainted either with the egg or the pupa of the species referred to, | have thought it advisable to publish my observations as far as they go, as it seems to me that the species is very rare, and | might probably wait for a long time in vain before I had an opportunity of completing them. I first observed a larva of this Species many years ago at Beele, near Voorst; since then I have only found two others ; and | have not received a single specimen from any of my entomological friends. The larve I found were very nearly full grown, having only the last moult to undergo: one, as above mentioned, was taken at Voorst, and the others between Wassenaar and the Hague, at the side of the road. They were found on oaks in the beginning of the month of June, and seemed to feed by preference on the young leaves. When at rest they assumed the same position as do the Jarve of Emphytus cinctus, L.,— rolled round spirally, as shown at fig. 1. In feeding they began at the edge of the leaf, eating on toward the midrib. The body was quite round, much wrinkled on the back, and without either hairs or tubercles. They had twenty-two legs. The skin was sea-green in colour, but entirely covered with a sort of white bloom or powder, so that the true colour of the skin could ouly be distinctly seen between the folds. The spiracles, which were eighteen in number, had very narrow, obscure white borders, and were thus so inconspicuous that it was only by the aid of a magnifying-glass they could be distinguished. The outline of the head was round, excepting the parts of the mouth, and flattened anteriorly ; it was of a purplish gray colour to just above the eyes, and from there 124 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. pale yellow, and was thickly covered with white powder along the posterior margin ; as usual, the eyes were inserted in round black spots (see fig. 2). The claws of the anterior legs were brown. After the larve had moulted for the last time the white powder had entirely disappeared. The head now assumed a shining, ochre-brown tint, with black spots, in which were the eyes (figs. 3, 4); the body was of a pale, feuille-morte colour, and wrinkled, the skin being in folds as before. They descended into the ground for the purpose of passing into the pupa state; but as on the occasion of making these observa- tions I only had one or two examples at a time, and I am convinced that any disturbance of the mould prevents the completion of the metamorphosis, [ let them remain quietly. Thanks to which, it may be, the imagos appeared; but in consequence of which I missed the opportunity of observing the pupa, The perfect insects weré produced at the beginning of October: | find two dates mentioned in my notes, namely the 3rd and the 14th of that month. Having regard to the length of the body, and more especially to the neuration of the wings, they certainly belong to the genus Emphytus; the structure of the antennz, however, approaches more nearly to that of Nematus, while the habit of the larva closely agrees with that of many species of Selandria. The head is quadrate, with rounded angles (looked at from above), black, and thickly clothed with very short hairs; the sides of the head, behind the eyes, are very projecting, and the vertex has a number of elevated points. ‘The labrum is very hairy; the _ mandibles are short and broad; the palpi are rather long, the middle joints being of a whitish tint. The thorax is clothed with a short pubescence; the tegule are brown, and the cenchri clear white. The first abdominal segment is black, and deeply notched on the posterior margin, so that, as is the case with the males of Cimbex, a considerable triangular space remains open, within which a white membrane is seen. The rest of the abdomen is shining and orange-yellow, both on the dorsal and ventral surfaces. The valves of the ovipositor are dark brown, nearly black. The antenne are black, and are longer than is generally the case in the genus Emphytus. Wings transparent, iridescent, a little darker at THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 125 tips; the costal nervure and the stigma are sordid brown; the radial and cubital nervures, with their branches, are dark brown; and the remaining nervures orange; the coxe are black ; femora orange ; tibiz yellow, the ends of the posterior pair being brown; tarsi brown, having the base of the first joint yellow. Length of the imago eight millemetres, expanding to seventeen millemetres. Notes on Ephyra punctaria and E. pendularia. By B. G. Coz, Esq. Ir is a well-known fact that the spring and summer broods of many insects are very different in appearance and size. In some cases, as in Selenia, the variation is so great that the two forms might readily be considered distinct, were no other data available for arriving at a decision than those afforded by the superficial characters of the specimens themselves. The genus Ephyra is, I believe, generally considered double-brooded, the spring specimens being held to be the progeny of the preceding summer one; but in rearing larve from the egg I have noticed some facts that seem to show that at least a portion of the spring specimens are from the same batch of larve as the summer brood, although the two forms are so distinct in appearauce. On the 2nd of June, 1874, | captured a female E. punc- taria at Hall End, Chingford, Essex, which laid a batch of eggs, the larve hatching out on the 9th. Most of the larve changed to pupe between the 4th and 13th of July; but on the 16th of July, when the first moth appeared, I had several larve still feeding, and they did not change until the end of the month. The last specimen out that season appeared on the 26th of July; and on the 24th I had found specimens at large in Woodford Forest. These were all the autumnal form, distinguished from the spring specimens by being smaller, with the two dotted lines more distinct, and having between the outer of these and the hind margin of the wings two or more blotches of a beautiful purplish brown. During the present month (on the Ist and 8rd of May) a few specimens bave appeared from the same brood. They are 126 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. all of the large spring form, and exactly similar in appearance to the present moth, captured in June, 1874. A brood of E. pendularia that I reared in 1869 behaved in like manner, moths appearing from July 12th to November 26th, being all the small form; and those pupz which remained over the winter, and came out in the spring of 1870, were of the usual type. It will be noticed that some of the larve of E. punctaria were longer feeding up than their brethren, and possibly these were the individuals that remained over the winter; still it is difficult to conceive the determining cause of the behaviour of the different specimens, and still more of their distinctness of form: the favourite hypothesis that heat hastens the development of the summer broods, and so prevents their feeding sufficiently to grow to their normal size, is here hardly applicable. In the instances I give the larvee were exposed to exactly the same influences, climatic and otherwise, and yet the two phases of the same brood were as well marked as in the forms of Selenia, which the heat hypothesis is supposed to explain. I merely take the above facts from my note-books, in the hope of calling forth correspondence anent the matter, encouraged by your remarks in the last number of the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. viii. 107) that you will be disposed to pardon their crudity. Everyone must agree with the spirit of your request, that collectors would give such extracts more frequently: however imperfect the observations, they may lead to enquiry; and they would at least be more interesting and suggestive reading than the usual Latin “ roll- call” of the slain, or those mythical accounts of the capture of re-set alien rarities in England, the exposure of the frauds and follies in connection with which have brought the British entomologist into such disrepute with true naturalists, and made him the subject of ridicule amongst the more sober and less gullible members of the craft. B. G. Core. The Common, Stoke Newington, N. May 11, 1875. — a THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 127 Some Remarks on Collecting and Collectors. By W. Arnocp Lewis, F.L.S. (Entom. viii, 103.) Likk others of your readers I take an interest in the subject which Mr. H. R. Cox has descanted upon in the last number of the ‘Entomologist, and with your permission I will write down some reflections which have suggested themselves to me in a collector’s experience of several years. I can confirm Mr. Cox’s reference to “the good old free spirit of collecting.” Free enough, in all conscience, that collecting was. 1 have myself spoken with a gentleman who in one year captured on the south coast eight hundred specimens of Colias Hyale, and I recollect that he boasted roundly of the exploit! The same once informed me, when | was in search of the second brood of Leucophasia Sinapis, that I need not expect again to see that insect in the neighbourhood, because he had that season taken the whole spring brood. It is possible that your correspondent has himself heard of these incidents, or others like them; and on these facts I should wish to make one or two remarks. Anyone who captures eight hundred butterflies of one kind, when his own collection receives perhaps four-and- twenty, must have a very distinct mofive. Mr. Cox speaks most truly when he hints that “the pleasure of entomological rambles” could have little to do with such a feat. What pleasure, in truth, could come from taking the lives of eight hundred defenceless Hyale? After the capture of, let us say, the first one hundred and fifty, sensations of ‘ pleasure” must have begun to give way to physical fatigue. In Mr. Cox’s expressive words, the object was once “ principally a day’s innocent pleasure, and not so much with a view to amassing a large number of specimens in the shortest possible time.” But certainly in the case of the eight bundred, “amassing the large number” must have remained the motive long after pleasure, innocent or not, had left the scene. Setting out eight hundred butterflies must be a very tiresome business, and probably no other collector has expe- rience of the labour it entails ; seven hundred and seventy-six 128 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Hyale, we may suppose, would be of no use to the captor, and they would remain over for distribution to Lepidopterists in want of the species. One almost envies this hard-working collector the spectacle of their “unbiassed delight.” [am not perfectly informed whether this was the course taken by the captor of the eight hundred; but, if it was, he has doubtless made himself the most popular collector in the country. Far be it from me to say that this gentleman was anticipating “the modern school.” I merely suggest that such a feat of the old, free spirit of collecting scarcely answers to “a day’s enjoyment,” but savours rather of “ amassing specimens.” In the case of Leucophasia Sinapis the same reflections are suggested rather more strongly ; while Colias Hyale comes at one time in large numbers, and (whether captured or left alone) then disappears to return again after several years, the gentle creature Sinapis may no doubt be easily exterminated. I can picture to myself the dismay of a collector whose “honest” (but too thoughtless) “exertions” have unduly thinned the numbers of a local insect, and the care he will always in future take that a like result shall not again occur. But | can not picture (even to myself) the attitude of mind of a collector who knowingly and with determination extirpates Leucophasia Sinapis, and talks confidently afterwards of the deed being effectually done ! So much for these instances (the two strongest, I admit, that I have ever heard of); and I am happy to gather that in one way of regarding such feats I am in agreement with your correspondent. With him I cry, “Shame on these collectors!” But I must decline to collect “in the style of the good old times,” for these very instances I have mentioned belong (it will be understood) to the period which your correspondent regards approvingly. I desire to add something upon the status and public estimation of collectors. I am neither a reverend divine nor a person of large independent property, but I am accustomed to show, and to exact, civil treatment ; and out of London I have never found the contrary. I do not receive the snubbing which Mr. Cox has “ noticed” in various parts of England, and I hope he is under a misapprehension in regard to it. If, when I visit the New Forest (as I do in fact every summer), I carried off say a thousand Zygzena THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 Meliloti, I could well understand my being supposed to catch burnets for my living. But I see no harm in that. If a collector takes insects by the hundred of a kind, there is little blame to the unsophisticated in supposing that he does it because he is paid. Dealers pure and simple I have nothing to say about. By their trade*they are bound to find, catch, and carry away every insect with the most trifling value. They work for money, not for love; and they are outside the discussion altogether. For the rest, those who treat others well are well treated in return. As I neither cut down people’s trees, nor flog them till I leave beneath each one a heap of leaves and broken branches, and as, speaking generally, I do not commit barbarisms when entomologizing, which I should shun at other times, I never find myself unwelcome, though everyone may know well enough that I go out catching moths and butterflies. I do not understand why others should have different experience. As to collectors’ demeanour towards each other, that is a subject which has caused me reflections times and oft. The mysteries made about a locality; petty dissimulations about time of appearance (to throw another off the scent) ; conceal- ments of the facts of captures being made ;—these and other paltry and more detestable things are, I fear, common. It must be really shocking to encounter a collector with a stock- in-trade of all these arts. Mr. Walton, so long ago as 1835, wrote on this very subject in the ‘ Entomological Magazine’ (vol. ii. p. 279) in very feeling and earnest lai. guage, which all who have the opportunity should peruse. Mr. Shield (‘ Prac- tical Hints,’ pp. 19, 44, 191) and others have, from time to time, done what they could to bring about a better state of things. But remonstrances, notwithstanding, the complaint is, I believe, too well founded; and I regret very much to avow my own conviction that there is only one complete and certain cure for it. The evil has grown entirely out of the fictitious value ascribed to native specimens, and must vanish, like a breath, directly foreign specimens are admitted to have an equal worth. Ihave all the prejudices of one who for sixteen years has collected none but British Lepidoptera; and the intention which I have at length definitely formed of opening my collection to foreign specimens (or rather taking up the European fauna) first had its rise in the condition of Ss 130 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. things to which your correspondent has alluded. I shall not take the line of urging the duty of all to accept European insects. That has been rather offensively done in the past, by some with whose ways and language towards collectors I confess nothing in common. But, as one individual speak- ing for himself, 1 must give up collecting only native insects, because (for one reason) I see to what arts, manners, and customs, I am against my will contributing. W. ArnoLtp LeEwIs. Temple, May 20, 1875. Notes on Oviposition. By the Rev. P. H. JENNINGs. Selenia illunaria.—Laid forty-five eggs on April 27th and 28th, all detached from one another and at random on the muslin cover, none on the food-plant; oval, polished, slightly flattened on the upper and under surfaces; pale yellow, with a slight greenish tinge, changing gradually to dark red. The young larve began to emerge on the seventeenth day, May 14th. Anticlea badiata.—A female, taken on the 19th of April, laid nine eggs on the 20th, six on the 21st, three on the 22nd, One on the 24th, five on the 25th, one on the 26th, five on the 27th, two on the 28th, and three on the 29th; oval, polished, yellow, gradually deepening to orange: all fixed either on the points of the thorns of the food-plant, dog-rose (Rosa canina), or on the edges of the leaves,—with two exceptions, which were attached to a leaf-stalk. The young larve, which began to emerge on the sixteenth day, May 6th, were yellow, with orange-coloured heads. Scotosia dubitata.—A female, taken May 5th, laid thirty eggs on the 6th and eight on the 7th, all detached; fifteen of these were on the upper edge of the leaves of the food-plant, common buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus), and twenty-three on the edge of the under surface; oval, polished, slightly flattened on the upper and under surfaces; pale yellow, with a slight greenish tinge, assuming a reddish hue on the second day. The young larve emerged on the tenth day, May 16th. Asthena candidata.—A female, takeu May 8th, laid fifty- four eggs on the 9th and 10th; almost all singly, very seldom THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 131 in batches of three or four; all on the edges of the leaves of the food-plant, hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus), forty-six on the upper edge, and eight on the edges of the under surface; oval, opalescent, flattened on the upper and under surfaces, so that the edges are quite sharp. The young larve began to emerge on the ninth day, May 18th; they are white, thickly sprinkled with hairs; heads black. Cidaria miata.—A female, taken May Sth, laid seventy- five eggs on the same day, eighteen on the 6th, and four on the 7th; all deposited singly near the middle of the leaves of the common birch (Betula alba), either on the upper or under surface, varying in number from one to ten on each surface ; white, considerably flattened on both surfaces; both ends similarly rounded in shape, a little longer than broad; not polished. The young larve began to emerge on the ninth day, May 14th, attaching themselves by their claspers to the jagged points of the leaves, and standing at right angles, never moving, except bending down to feed. Xylina rhizolitha.—A female, captured April 20th, laid fifty- five eggs; on the 26th, two; on the 28th, three, all scattered on the leaves; on May Ist, twenty-five, all on the muslin; on the 2nd, twelve scattered on the leaves, and ten on the earth, glass, and muslin; three on the leaves, white, Echinus-shaped, slightly rubbed longitudinally: streaks of reddish brown, appeared on the third day. The young larve began to emerge on the fourteenth day, May 10th. P. H. JENNINGS. Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, May 19, 1875. Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Vanessa Atalanta.—I have to record a singular occurrence, which may perhaps interest the readers of the ‘ Entomolo- gist. On March 6th Mrs. Boley, whilst walking through the lane leading to Fermain Bay, noticed one of the leaves in a bed of nettles curled up, and on opening it was surprised to find a small larva of Vanessa Atalanta ; on searching further she succeeded in finding three more. The first larva spun up on April 18th, and on May 11th the first imago put in an appearance.—W, A. Luff. 132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. [“ Almost immediately on emerging from the egg the little caterpillar draws together the leaves of the nettle, and feeds in confinement. As it increases in size it requires more space, and coutinues to increase the size of its domicile up to the period of pupation: when removed from its retreat it feigns death, bending its extremities together; all its move- ments are slow and lethargic, and its only object when exposed seems to be again to conceal itself. The insect appears on the wing in August, September, and October.” (Newman’s ‘Illustrated Natural History of British Butter- flies, p.62.) There seems to be nothing new in Mrs. Boley’s discovery except the time of appearance ; but it is interesting to learn that a butterfly, which in England never leaves the pupa-state before August, should in Guernsey emerge so early as the 11th of May.—EHdward Newman. | Lycena Alsus.—In looking over Newman’s ‘ British Butterflies’ lately I find that Surrey is altogether omitted from the list of localities for L. Alsus. I found it not uncom- monly last season in a chalk-pit near Guildford, the only locality I yet know for it. I did not find L. Adonis in that neighbourhood, though it is included in Newman’s list. I hope to collect at Coombe Wood this season, and shall be glad to furnish you with a list of insects from that locality.— W. Thomas; Surbiton Villa, Surbiton, May 4, 1875. Eupithecia consignata at Cambridge.—Last year I took a female of this species at a lamp-post in Cambridge, which, when confined in a muslin-bag with apple and whitethorn, laid a dozen eggs on the under sides of the leaves. The eggs were laid on May 16th. The larve, which hatched on the 29th of the same month, fed both on apple and whitethorn, but seemed to prefer the latter. The larve were full grown in the last week in June, and I found then that I had eight pupe. Four imagos emerged this year, the first on April 22nd. The remaining four appear quite healthy, and will probably lie over till next year. I have also succeeded in taking three specimens at lamps here this season, unfor- tunately all males; the dates of capture were May 3rd, 4th, and 7th.—Gilbert Raynor ; St. John’s College, Cambridge, May 22, 1875. Eupithecia extensaria (Entom. viii. 108).—Referring to your notice of my capture of KE. extensaria, | have had PE Reiter Pietanctommenicecnetmeetnyiacerens ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 133 several letters from correspondents suggesting to me the probability of its being an odd specimen accidentally imported. The species may have been imported by some of the numerous Black Sea and Baltic steamers trading to Hull. I think it highly probable it has been so introduced. But when? The fine condition of the specimen I took leads me to believe it has been bred in this country. The Eupithecia, generally, are not addicted to roaming; but even if this specimen was an exception it could scarcely have travelled a considerable distance from the nearest steamer without damage to its plumage. The coming season will no doubt show whether the species is established on the ground, or the specimen I have to be a solitary wanderer.—James Sawyer ; 16, Lendal, York, May 8, 1875. Eupithecia extensaria (Entom. viii. 108).—It is sufficient to know Mr. Sawyer to be assured that this recorded capture is in every sense a genuine one, so far as he is concerned ; but steam is slowly working a revolution—even in Entomo- logy: Livonia is practically now as near to us—especially to Hull—as the Continent is to the South Coast of England, for steamers trade weekly direct to Revel, Pernau, and Riga, bringing large cargoes of hemp, flax, linseed, and grain. The Russian peasant sends his produce to market in a dirty state, especially grain and linseed, largely admixed with weeds and rubbish. What more likely than that E. extensaria, in the egg or pupa state, has been brought over in this way? and the probability is strengthened by the locality of the capture being within a mile or two of the dock warehouses where these steamers chiefly discharge. This capture is, I believe, a solitary one, and unfortunately the spot has now been broken up for the extension of the dock, but there would be nothing startling in its having found a domicile here, for the climate is congenial.—N. F. Dobrée; Beverley, May 18,1875. Lupithecia Knautiata (Entom, viii. 38).—Is Mr. Gregson sure that the plant he found this species on was not Scabiosa succisa (Z.)? I have never seen Knautia arvensis out of cornfields, whereas Scabiosa succisa is always found growing in company with the common ling in heathery, sandy ground, Should this be the case, would it not be better for him to alter the name of the species, unless the inflexible law of priority must hold its own in every case; else it might fall under the 134 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. same category of misnomers as Cloantha Solidaginis, which it is known does not feed upon golden-rod (Solidago), but bilberry (Vaccinium).—J. Cosmo Melvill ; May 7, 1875. [The same idea occurred to myself. Scabiosa succisa grows almost everywhere on heaths and wastes near London; Knautia arvensis only in cornfields, and the hedge-banks near cornfields\—Edward Newman. | Leucania extranea or unipuncta (Entom. viii. 108).—As the capture here, by Mr. Parker, of this very rare Noctua has created such a sensation in the entomological world, it may interest some readers to know that, in addition to the countries mentioned by Mr. Doubleday, it is an abundant Australian -species, as mentioned by me at p. 353 of the ‘Entomologist’ for 1873. While sugaring in the Bush, about thirty miles from Adelaide, it became at times a perfect pest. Ihave carefully compared the specimen captured in the New Forest by Mr. Parker with my Australian series, and find his specimen differs from mine in many respects; the colour of the fore wings being paler, and of a much more reddish ochreous colour than the Australian type; the apical streak is more decidedly marked, and the gloss in the hind wings is much stronger, resembling very much, in certain lights, the purple tinge in the hind wings of our Agrotis saucia. In Australia L. extranea emerges from the pupa in March.—H. Ramsay Cox; Lyndhurst. The Season at Lyndhurst.—The season here is remark- able, on account of the great abundance of many common species: lo, Urtice, Rhamni, and Egeria, have swarmed; Polychloros has also been very common, but the specimens are all remarkably small, doubtless caused by the great dry- ness of last year. Although vegetation is in various parts rather late, many insects have come out proportionately early; for instance,—Acosmetia caliginosa was out on the 13th of May, Leucophasia Sinapis was quite passé by the same time, and Lycena Argiolus was also in the same condition in the last week in April.—Jd. Variety of Clostera curtula.—I have just had the good fortune to breed a fine variety of C. curtula: the fore wings are of a rich sepia-brown, which shows up the four wavy white lines to great advantage; where the dark blotch comes near the tip in the usual type, this variety has a rather paler ee a ee eee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 135 one, and the body and hind wings are much darker than usual. I have also bred a specimen of the usual type, which has one tip much paler than the other.—H. Wittich ; 55, Lansdown Road, Dalston, E., May 19, 1875. Xylomiges conspicillaris at Dartford.—Mr. Packman, of Dartford, took a fine female of X. conspicillaris, on the 10th of May. He brought it to me, and I am pleased to say I have a few eggs from it, which apparently are fertile.-—A. B. Farn; New Government Offices, Whitehall, S.W., May 14, 1875. Agrotis Helvetina.—Mr. Taylor kindly brought me _ his specimen of the Noctua, which my friend Dr. Knaggs named Agrotis Helvetina, to compare it with authentic specimens of this species given to me by Dr. Staudinger. I think the continental specimen which Dr. Knaggs examined must have been wrongly named, as such a keen observer could not possibly confound two such very different species. Mr. Taylor's Noctua scarcely differs from the red variety of Neglecta, except in size, being larger, and it may only be a variety of this species; but I cannot speak positively about it till I have seen a male. Agrotis Helvetina closely resembles the dark variety of A. lucernea, but is considerably larger, and has very long legs and antenne.—Henry Doubleday ; Epping, May, 1875. Larve of Cirrhedia xerampelina.—On the 8rd of May I took about twenty larve of C. xerampelina, under moss on ash-trees, near this village. I never took it here before, although I think I saw one of the moths at sugar in August last. I may add that a great many of the larve are ichneumoned.—4., Thurnall ; Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, May 7, 1875. Beetle Destructive to Mangold Wurzel.—I have received almost simultaneous complaints of the destruction of young mangold wurzel in distant localities. In some instances the writers complain that the insects “began to eat the young plants before appearing above ground, and never left off; in many rows taking every plant.” In the ‘ Field’ newspaper I have given all the information I possess respecting this diminutive enemy of the farmer: this is chiefly extracted from the ‘Annales de la Société Entomologique de France’ for 1847, was originally written by M. Bazin, and has been 136 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. copied by Mr. Curtis in his ‘ Farm Insects,’ p.395. Accord- ing to these authorities the beetle in question is the Atomaria pygmea of Heer, the Atomaria linearis of our countryman the late J. F. Stephens: the specimens, of which I have received a copious supply in a living and excessively restless state, seemed closely to resemble certain examples of an Atomaria, which very many years ago I had named “A. gutta.” I am, however, perfectly willing to accept Heer’s name of “ Pygmza,” or any other that will be tolerably permanent. M. Bazin, as translated by Mr. Curtis, tells us that this little beetle is “generated in great numbers, destroying the buds as they appear, and that on removing the clods -of earth innumerable quantities may be seen.” It seems at first to attack the root only, but afterwards, when the weather is fine, it comes out of the ground, ascends the stem, and devours the leaves. ‘‘ These little creatures often appear in families on a small plant, of which in a few hours nothing will remain but a leafless stalk, which soon withers and dies.” M. Bazin first observed this beetle in 1839 at Mesnil-St.-Firmin ; and some years later M. Macquard stated that “it devoured the fields of red beet in the environs of Lille to such an extent that the cultivators were obliged to re-plough and re-sow the fields.” M. Bazin considers the following remedies to be infallible:—Ist, fallowing; 2nd, heavy rolling; 8rd, good tillage; 4th, powerful manure; 5th, thick sowing. I must in this instance totally disclaim all experimental knowledge of these remedies. I give them solely on the authority of the learned Frenchman, to whom we are indebted for the earliest life-history I have seen of this insect. Mr. W. H. Wayne, an intelligent correspondent of the ‘Field, informs us that the injury “ still continues in spite of salt, lime, and soot,” leading us to believe that he has given these supposed remedies a fair trial. Mangold wurzel is also obnoxious to the attack of several species of the saltant genus Altica, the larve of which mine the leaves in the same manner as those of the turnip are mined by Altica Nemorum; and it has been said that the larve of a necrophagous beetle (Silpha opaca) feed greedily on the leaves, beginning at their edges, just in the same manner as a woodlouse or the caterpillar of a moth. The curious fact of these insects eating green leaves, a diet so opposed to the taste we should THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 assign to it, has been observed by Mr. Maxwell in England, and Guerin-Méneville in France.—Edward Newman. Sugaring: Toads al Sugar.—¥Few who collect insects are ignorant of the system of sugaring and its surroundings, or of the numerous enemies we meet with in the prosecution of the work. I do not allude to game-keepers, and the like, but those minor annoyances, which come uninvited to interrupt our composure and mar our chance of success. It is some- what annoying if we have a good moth on the sugar to see a bat rush in and take it from us whilst we hold the light for its accommodation; neither is it pleasant to cast the light upon the sweetened mixture and find it completely covered with earwigs, woodlice, and a host of other equally unwished for creatures, whose presence seems in most cases to scare away those for which the sweet feast had been spread. Again, how ugly two or three great black slugs look helping themselves to the rum and treacle, although we might have seen something not altogether repulsive in their appearance amongst the dewy grass at our feet. All these, and many other drawbacks are perfectly well known to the entomologist, but I was not aware till last summer that the toad came in the same category, provided circumstances were favourable ; such, however, is the case, as the following facts will prove. A friend of mine was accustomed to sugar the posts of an open fence near his house, and was sometimes rewarded with success. One of these posts becoming infirm a support was placed in an oblique direction from near the top of the post to the ground, and my friend, on going to his sugar, observed that a large toad had crawled up the support and stationed itself close to his patch of sweetened intoxicant, and that as the insects arrived at the attractive bait the toad appropriated them to its own personal use; and my friend further informed me that every night he sugared, the toad was sure to be there, and that he put on a portion of the mixture for the toad’s especial benefit. 1s not this a proof that toads have a memory? At least it is evident that the toad, having found amore abundant or more palatable fare by crawling up the rail, did not fail to be at its post night after night.—G. B. Corbin. [A precisely similar occurrence is recorded in the ‘ Zoolo- gist’ for 1860, at p.7201. It is as follows :—“ There is a tree ¢) 138 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. standing by the side of a ditch in the fens, which leans in, three feet and a half from the ground, two inches out of the perpendicular. ‘There is a small, hollow place in the stem, one inch deep and two inches wide, and growing wider all the way from the ground until it is lost. On this tree, three feet and a half from the ground, I sugar for moths, and on several nights a large toad has ascended the tree to the sugar: it always sils quietly on the trunk, but I never find it on any other tree, although there are several in the neigh- bourhood, all of them ash. I believe the object is to take the moths as they come to the sugar. I have called the men at the railway bridge, which crosses the river near the spot, and one of these men the other night took it down, but it was there again in half an hour. 1 never find any moths on the tree if the toad is there—Walliam Winter.” I have long been familiar with the habit of moths to fall off the sugar in a fit of intoxication: my friend Mr. Doubleday has often spoken to me of having observed toads waiting for moths under his own sugarings at Epping. Iam surprised Mr. Corbin has not two other sweet-toothed visitors to the sugar,—the longtailed field-mouse and a common ground-beetle, an insect, as I said before, much addicted to a “diet of worms :” one can scarcely imagine any similarity between the taste of worms and centipedes and that of rum and treacle. Entomologists always speak of the field-mouse as the “ dor-mouse”—I think an evident error. Perhaps | may mention, in connection with this subject, two other kinds of insect-food for which the toad has a decided leaning: in the first instance this weak- ness may be called beneficial to man; in. the second, prejudicial. The first is the gooseberry-grub (Nematus ventricosus); the second the honey-bee (Apis mellifica). The penchant of the toad for the gooseberry-grub was first noticed by Mr. Leadbitter, of Gray’s Inn, who often observed the abundance of the grub on some currant-trees nailed against a garden-wall at Dorking. Mr. Leadbitter proceeds thus :—“ Perceiving at the same time a toad, sitting quietly in a corner at no great distance, it occurred to me to try if he would eat them. Accordingly, having collected a large quantity of grubs, I presented him with one at the end of a short stick, and was much pleased to see him put out his long tongue, draw the caterpillar in, and devour it greedily. fakes Gens Ad eh THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 I continued to feed him for about a quarter of an hour. Taking a turn in the garden the next day, about the same hour, I saw the old fellow sitting in the same corner as before. The two following days he returned to the same place, but the supply of gooseberry-grubs was exhausted ; and, as the supply failed, the toad absented himself, and was seen no more.” The only birds known to eat the gooseberry- grub are the cuckoo and the redstart: the former is ruthlessly persecuted as a “vermin;” the latter as a consumer of summer fruit. But to return to the toad. It has a propensity rarely observed, but very decidedly developed, for a kind of insect-food that one would have thought rather too pungent for his palate; but a fact was related to me, and published as long ago as 1853 in the “ Proceedings of the Entomological Society,” which places the matter beyond the possibility of doubt. It was stated thus:—“ A stock of bees was observed to grow weaker day by day, until at last it became so pauperised that the hive was removed, and the bees turned adrift to shift for themselves; nothing was amiss with the interior of the hive. A second stock shortly afterwards exhibited similar symptoms of depopulation, and a suspicion was then entertained that some nocturnal depredator entered the hive at night and devoured the bees. About two hours after dark the hive was visited, with a view to an inspection of the interior, but on arriving at the spot with a lantern the owner found a large toad squatted on the alighting-board, and looking about him with bright and animated eyes. Presently a night-roving bee returned home: there was a sudden move- ment on the part of the toad, and the bee vanished. A long interval of patient watching ensued, when a second bee came home: a second movement of the toad followed, and the bee again vanished; but the light of the lantern was this time thrown full on him, and he was distinctly seen to swallow. The toad was caught and killed, and eight still-living bees were taken from the stomach.”— Edward Newman. | Localities and Collectors —That unworked localities, when brought under the vigilant inspection of the entomologist, often produce the greatest number of rarities, is an undeniable fact; consequently, when we have a few hours to spare, we would fain rush off to some locality which we well know has been the scene of some grand “take,” whilst we leave our > 140 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. own immediate neighbourhood comparatively untouched. Again, we well know that some localities are much more productive than others, even provided each has had the same amount of labour expended on it; for instance,—I want no prophetic knowledge to assure me that a day spent in the New Forest will undoubtedly be more remunerative than the same time spent in the fields in this locality ; yet, in the face of these facts, 1 do not hesitate to say that we often neglect places close at home, and the certainty of a moderate success, to run the risk of a total failure at a distance. Supposing we have collected in the same spot season after season, are we sure that we have detected every species to be found there? On the contrary, are we not often surprised at what we take? ] have a case in point:—Last season I was walking through a fir-wood, where I have collected for some years past, and was greatly surprised at capturing a specimen of Macaria alternata, a species I had never dreamt of taking there amongst fir-trees, with no sallow in the neighbourhood; and, later in the season, as if in contrast, | beat out a specimen of the handsome and pine-loving Crambus pinetellus from a bush of spindle, where not a fir-tree stood. The only speci- men of Lobophora hexapterata I ever took was upon an extensive heath in this neighbourhood; but perhaps the most remarkable captures are two specimens of Agrotis valligera, which I took at heather-blooms in the same locality. The occurrence of the latter species upon heaths in this neighbourhood has been doubted by some to whom I have mentioned it; but I have only to say that the specimens are in my cabinet, and can be seen by any person. It is strange that such a coast-loving species should occur here; but it seems equally strange that the heath-loving Selidosema plumaria should be found upon the cliffs at Lulworth, where { took two specimens a few seasons ago, when there for Hesperia Actezon. Thus it seems that no locality has been so thoroughly worked that the number of species actually to be found there are known positively, and the occurrence of a hitherto unsuspected species is no uncommon thing in any locality. The experience of many readers of this journal will undoubtedly bear me out in these remarks.—G. B. Corbin. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 141 Answers to Correspondents. A. R. Wilson.—Melanippe tristata ?—I would take it as a great favour if you would name the accompanying moth. The only moth that it resembles is Melanippe tristata, but it differs from it materially, being much lighter, and the black bands being narrower and more interrupted. I took about eighteen of them in June among junipers; they were abundant, but the wind was high, and | had great difficulty in catching them. They are all light; in fact I have sent you about the darkest of the lot. [Mr. Wilson’s Geometra appears to be a light-coloured specimen of Tristata, Linn. (not of Hiibner), I believe Baron von Nolcken first pointed out that two species were confounded under the name of ‘T'ristata by European ento- mologists. Dr. Staudinger has adopted his views, and the two species stand thus in the second edition of his ‘Catalogue of European Lepidoptera :’— No. 2689. Tristata, Linn. 8.N.X. 526, F. S. 385; Clerck. Icon. 1, 13; Wood’s Index, 566. Limbo- punctata, Nolck. Fn. 1, p. 270. No. 2690, Luctuata, Hb. Btr. 1, 1, 4, Y. p. 34 (1786; Non. Btr. 1, 4, 3, T.). Hastulata, Hb. Bu. Nachtr. p. 110 (1792); Molck. lc. p. 61. Tristata, Hb. 254. ? Pupillata, Thunb. Diss. Ent. 4, p. 62, fig. 13. Both species probably occur in Scotland.—Henry Double- day; Epping, May, 1875.) Edward Thomson.—Food-plant of Gonepterya Rhamni. —Can you, or any of your readers, tell me any other food- plant for Gonepteryx Rhamni besides the two buckthorns,— Rhamnus catharticus and R. frangula? [I have said in ‘ British Butterflies,” p. 147, that the two buckthorns are the only shrubs on which Rhamni is known to feed. I have no later information on the subject; and it will be interesting if another food-plant should be discovered. I have seen the females hovering over an exotic evergreen in my garden, but could not find that she deposited eggs.— Edward Newman. | E. C. Parker.—TVhe capture of Leucania unipuncta or 142 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. extranea has been already recorded (Entom. viii. 110).— Edward Newman. J. Jones.—Phigalia pilosaria: Does it Feed on anything but Oak 2?—Will you kindly tell me through the ‘ Entomolo- gist’ if ever the larva of P. pilosaria feeds on anything but oak? as I have taken two males this season—one on a gas- lamp in January, the other in March—and there is no oak growing anywhere near. [I know of no other food-plant, or should have mentioned it— Edward Newman.) F. H. Ward.—Lepismodes inquilinus.—In reply to your enquiry touching my note on this insect (Entom. viii. 120), the information will be most readily communicated by copy- ing the ortginal note, published in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1863, at p. 8496. It is as follows:—“ New Insect at the Friends’ Institute.—In our London houses two species of insects may be said to swarm; these are the cockroach and the cricket. Everyone knows an infallible cure for these pests, just as everyone knows an infallible cure for whooping-cough and lumbago; everyone recommends the cure to his afflicted neighbour; but every human body continues subject to the two complaints, and every human habitation shelters the two obnoxious fellow-lodgers. The third fellow-lodger, which I propose to call Lepismodes inquilinus, and to which I can give no English name, is confined, so far as my knowledge extends, to the building known as the Friends’ Institute, 12, Bishopsgate Street Without. Its body is half an inch long, and it has antenne and tails each half an inch long, or rather more, so that the entire length is rather more than an inch and a half. Like a judicious epicure it prefers the dining-room to every other apartment in the house, and, like an experienced pilferer, its rambles are entirely nocturnal, concealing itself behind the wainscot by day, and wandering about by night in search of such provisions as sugar, crumbs, and other comestibles. It seems to find no very secure foot- ing on the varnished surface of the wainscoting, and this physical infirmity led to its detection, for, whilst perambulating the treacherous varnish, it frequently lost its hold, and was precipitated, headlong, into cups, saucers, sugar-basins, and slop-basins, and, once in, its infirmity of “poor” or non- prehensile feet effectually preclude its escape. ‘The various household utensils which 1 have mentioned are now used as THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 148 snares, and the numbers of our fellow-lodgers are thus thinned night afler night."—Edward Newman. Percy B. Gregson—Name of Moth.—The moth repre- sented in the drawing is Halias prasinana, the “common silver-lines.” It is neither represented nor described in my ‘ British Moths, because entomologists have placed it among the Micro-Lepidoptera, whereas that work only includes the Macros. This lovely moth is of very frequent occurrence near London, especially on oaks. I much wish entomologists making enquiries of this kind would always send sketches as Mr. Gregson has done; there is no difficulty in recognizing, and therefore none in naming, an insect thus accurately represented, whereas I find descriptions are generally useless. — Edward Newman, J. C. Wesley.— Larve of Winter Moth.—\ have no doubt the young larve are those of Cheimatobia brumata.— Ldward Newman. T. Benson.—Cocoon of Tenthredo Crategi.—In 1872 I found the caterpillar of this cocoon feeding on the hawthorn. I cannot find the description of it in Newman’s ‘ British Moths.’ Will you kindly tell me what it is? [It is the cocoon of a sawfly; nota moth. The name is Tenthredo Crategi—LZdward Newman.] W. Thomas.—Name of a Beetle.—\ captured a beetle to-day (May 12th) on the wing, of a species quite unknown to me; and knowing that your columns of the ‘ Entomo- logist’ are open for any information of the kind I require, I beg you will give me some help with the name of the species, which I am totally unable to ascertain, and of which I also enclose a coloured drawing. The colour all over is more of a dull coppery tint; but 1 found it rather difficult to arrive at the right hue. [I have little doubt from the drawing that the beetle is Trichius nobilis; the colour of that insect is usually rather golden-green than coppery; but I have seen specimens in which the coppery tint prevails.—ELdward Newman.) Charles Wright.—Tiger, or Colorado Beetle.—\ beg to send you for examination some examples of the Colorado potato-beetle, taken on paths in a wood near here, where they swarm. No one here has ever seen anything like them before; and our clergyman quite confirms my opinion that this dreaded enemy has at last arrived amongst us. If you 144 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. are unable to decide yourself, perhaps you will permit some other naturalist to see them, and give their opinion. I shall look anxiously for your next issue, as I am not alone in wishing to take immediate and active measures. (The beetles are Cicindela campestris, a carnivorous ground-beetle, commonly known as the tiger-beetle: they prey exclusively on living insects. The beetles are left at the printing-office, in accordance with the wish my corre- spondent has expressed that some other naturalists should give their opinion.—Edward Newman. | R. J. S.— Name of Gall.—The beautiful gall is made by Cynips Ramuli. I have never met with it, although I have no reason to believe it uncommon.—EHdward Newman. Francis Owen.— Bramble Gall.—The gall is made by one of the Cynipide,—Diastrophus Rubi of Hartig and Schenck (not Rubi of Schrank),—and is common throughout England, generally, I believe, being found on the dewberry (Rubus cesius) ; but according to Mr. Miiller its galls have also been found on the common brake (Pteris aquilina). I have never met with any galls on the bracken myself, so should be very glad of specimens from anyone who comes across them. It, like most of the galls and gall-makers, is preyed on by parasites, the most common being a Eurytoma and a Calli- mome. The Eurytome I have bred in great numbers from galls obtained in different parts of the country: they were named, by Mr. Walker, E. rufipes and E. Rubi, which I believe are synonyms. The Callimome is C. macropterus, Walker. This gall is figured by Réaumur in his third volume, plate 36.—EH. A. Fitch. A Young Collector.—(1) The size of the pin should be regulated by the size of the butterfly: thus a swallow-tail requires a pin much larger than a blue. (2) The ‘ Label List of British Butterflies and Moths, published by E. Newman, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, at fourpence.—Hdward Newman. | Death of Mr. Davis.—William England Davis, the col- lector who discovered, and after whom I had the pleasure to name, Phycis Davisellus, died of consumption on Tuesday, the 18th of May. I knew Mr. Davis well as an ardent and most obliging entomologist.—Hdward Newman. ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 144.] JULY, MDCCCLXXYV. [Price 6d. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropiischen EKichengallen’ by Mrs. Hubert HERKOMER née WEISE. (Continued from p, 122.) Fig. 27. APHILOTHRIX LUCIDA, 27. Aphilothrix lucida, Hart.—The spherical, pale yellow gall which is found on shrubby Quercus pedunculata, Q. sessiliflora, and Q. pubescens, is generally about as large as a cherry, but sometimes is found as big as a walnut. Its whole surface is covered with stiff, stalky or fibrous pro- jections, which stand out radiately, and terminate in a rusty red papilla. In section it exhibits a hard texture, with numerous egg-shaped cavities: in these live the larve of the gall-fly, without being separately enclosed in an inner gall. VOL. VIII. U 146 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. The gall is not deciduous, and the flies appear in March or April.—G. L. Mayr. Herr Kollar and Dr. Mayr both give Synergus melanopus as an inquiline of this gall. One specimen each of S. apicalis and Ceroptres arator have also been bred by Dr. Mayr from this gall, which has not occurred in Britain.—Z. A. Fitch. Fig. 28. APHILOTHRIX GEMM. 28. Aphilothrix gemme, L. (C. fecundatrix, Hart.).— This gall, in shape not unlike the strobile of the hop or larch, grows in the axils of Quercus pedunculata, Q. sessili- flora, and Q. pubescens. It is about the size of a cherry, seldom as large as a small walnut. It consists of a much com- pressed axis, to which the more or less hairy elongate scales are attached, and appear more densely crowded. The outside and lower scales are oval or oval-triangular; those lying on the top or inside are lance-shaped or thread-like. The egg- shaped inner-gall is situate at the end of the short axis; generally the scales surround it so completely that it is not visible at all, or at any rate only the top of it is to be seen. The inner gall is hard; has, when fully developed, a length of eight to nine millemetres, is flattened at its base, and shows at the opposite (upper) extremity a small circular impression, on which rests a very small cone with a shining vertex. If hindrances occur in its regular development it sometimes happens that this imprint, though near the top of the inner oe THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 147 gall, is placed sideways. ‘The surface of the inner gall as well as the surrounding scales are red-brown, and frequently exhibits a very conspicuous longitudinal striation. The large, egg-shaped larva-cell lies in the interior. The inner gal] falls to the ground in the autumn, and remains there through the winter. Finally, I must observe that in some instances the gall remains small, and the inner-gall is of a pale yellow colour, and only as large as a millet or hemp-seed; in such cases parasites are to be expected.—G. L. Mayr. This species, which is common in Britain, is better known by Hartig’s name, C. fecundatrix; the insect described by Linné being supposed to be a Synergus,—but this is doubtful. The inquilines inhabiting this gall are Synergus melanopus, S. evanescens, S. apicalis, and 8. vulgaris; Dr. Giraud also gives Aulax fecundatrix (Bull. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1868); and according to Hartig, Andricus trilineatus is also an inqui- line (Germ. Zeits. ii. 191): this last is probably an error. Eurytoma signata, Callimome inconstans, Megastigmus dorsalis (= Bohemanni), Mesopolobus fasciiventris, and Entedon leptoneurus, have been recorded as_ parasitic in the gall of this species. A Tortrix—Carpocapsa juliana —may be bred freely from these galls, the larva living in the imbricated mass of scales in the autumn. In order to breed the Cynips, inquilines, or parasites, great care must be taken to collect the galls before the inner gall falls; this generally happens in England towards the middle or end of August. The better way is only to collect the inner galls themselves; but if the Tortrices are wanted of course the leaf-bracts must be kept. It has been stated that the egg of this species is only laid in the fruit-buds; this is contrary to my experience, as I believe it is quite as frequently laid in the leaf-buds, if not exclusively so.—E. A. Fitch. Notes on Oviposition. By the Rev. P, H. JENNINGs. (Continued from p, 131.) I HAVE much pleasure in forwarding you a few more notes on oviposition :— Rumia Crategata.—A female, taken May 26th, laid one hundred and thirty-four eggs: seventy-seven were deposited 148 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. on the 27th,—thirty-four of these on the food-plant, common whitethorn (C. oxyacantha); the rest, forty-three, on the muslin cover; those on the food-plant were generally arranged side by side in rows on either surface of the leaves, the largest number in a row being eleven; many, however, were deposited singly; those on the muslin cover were more scattered than those on the leaves, and the arrangement less carefully adhered to. ‘Thirty-seven were laid on the 27th, fifteen on the 28th, five on the 29th, and one on the 30th. Of the whole, fifty-eight were deposited on the food-plant, and seventy-seven on the muslin cover: oblong, equally rounded at both ends, greenish white, glossy, very slightly flattened on the upper and under surfaces. The young larve began to appear on the thirteenth day, June 9th. Venilia maculata.—A female, taken June 2nd, laid nine- teen eggs: twelve on the 3rd, and seven on the 4th; they were deposited on both surfaces of the leaves singly, and in clusters without any arrangement: oblong, equally rounded at both ends, grass-green, glossy. The young larve began to appear on the eleventh day, June 14th. Ephyra omicronaria.—A female, taken May 22nd, laid fifly-one eggs: thirty-two on the 22nd, four on the 23rd, and fifteen on the 25th; of these four only were deposited on the food-plant, common maple (Acer campestris), on the edges of the leaves; one on the glass; and the rest, forty-six, on the muslin cover: oval, white with a slight greenish tinge, not glossy; assumed a reddish hue on the third day after deposition. Asthena luteata.—A female, taken June 4th, laid thirty- three eggs : twenty-two were deposited on the 4th, and eleven on the 5th and 6th,—the former on glass, the latter on the earth: oblong, equally rounded at both ends, slightly flattened on the upper and lower surfaces, light green, glossy ; a large egg for the size of the perfect insect. The young larve began to appear on the twelfth day, June 16th. Acidalia remutata.—A female, taken May 24th, laid forty- seven eggs: twenty-five were deposited on the 25th, thirteen on the 26th,—all on the earth, some singly, some in small clusters,—nine on the 27th, seven on the glass, and two on the edge of a leaf of the food-plant, common hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus): oblong, slightly depressed on the crown, 2) “q THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 149 rounded at the other end, ribbed longitudinally, not glossy ; assumed a beautiful rose-colour on the 4th. The young larve, which were very long and slender, began to appear on the fifteenth day, June 8th. Cabera pusaria.—A female, taken May 22nd, laid thirty eggs: twenty-six were deposited on the 23rd, and four on the 24th; all on the glass or on the muslin cover: oblong, considerably depressed on the crown, rounded at the other end, light green, glossy. The young larve began to appear on the 12th day, June 4th. Strenia clathrala.—A female, taken May 26th, laid fifty- four eggs on the leaves, stem, and flowers, of the common trefoil,—some on the upper, some on the under surface of the leaves, near the middle,—singly, and only one or two on each leaf: oval, considerably flattened on both surfaces, a beautiful bluish green, partaking very much of the colour of the food- plant. The young larve began to appear on the eleventh day, June 6th. Aspilates citraria.—A wasted female, taken June 3rd, laid ten eggs: eight on the 3rd, and two on the 4th: oblong, pale yellow, considerably depressed on the crown, rounded at the other end; attached to the stems of the common trefoil; three singly, the rest in a row up the stem; all with the depressed end upwards; assumed a dusky brown colour on the third day. The young larve began to appear on the fourteenth day, June 17th. Melanippe rivata.—A female, taken May 16th, laid sixty eggs: fifleen on the 16th, thirty on the 17th, seven on the 18th, and eight on the 19th; deposited on the tips of the leaves of the food-plant (Galium mollugo): oval, yellowish white, glossy. The young larve began to appear on the tenth day, May 26th. M. montanata.—A female, taken June 4th, laid one hundred and fifty eggs: thirty-nine were deposited in the box on the 4th, forty-two on the 5th, twenty-six on the 6th, seventeen on the 7th, eighteen on the 8th, two on the 9th, and six on the 16th; of these, deposited from the 5th to the 10th, fifty were laid on the under side of the leaves of the common primrose (Primula vulgaris), and sixty-one on the muslin cover; attached very delicately to the points of the down on the under surface of the leaves, or to the finest fibres 150 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. of the muslin: oblong, equally rounded at both ends, white, glossy. The young larve began to appear on the twelfth day, June 16th, and attached themselves to the lower edge of the leaves, generally with the anterior part of the body curled in after the manner of the Ionic volute, and apparently moving only to bend down to feed. P. H. JENNINGS. Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, June 19, 1875. The Plague of Locusts in America. By Epwarp NEWMAN. Tur Colorado potato-bug, although causing serious and perhaps not altogether groundless anxiety to our transatlantic cousins, has been a source of unalloyed pleasure and profit to ourselves. Doryphora 10-lineata, for so it is called, has brought more substantial sustenance to the penuy-a-liners of St. Giles’s and the Strand than Solanum tuberosum itself; more lasting fame to our natural-history scribes and wonder- mongers than the last new noyel on Evolution. The half- starved literary hack; the fashionable novelist; the mystical purveyors of the grand results of scientific research ; the slip-shod conversationist of society ;—have equal cause to fall on their knees and thank Providence for this inestimable boon. But while we are thus paying this just tribute to the fertility of American soil and imagination, we are forgetting that America herself is suffering under the direst insect- scourge that ever afflicted the human race,—a scourge that has brought disease, desolation, dearth, and death, into thousands of once happy homesteads. Until very lately we have rarely heard of locusts as one of the plagues of America. Egypt has long been celebrated as the mother and nurse of locusts, the seat and centre of locust devastation, whence the plague has spread east and west and south; the north only owes its immunity to the fact that the country is there bounded by the sea, which presents no harvest adapted to its requirings; and even northwards the locust has penetrated Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, and Spain, neither of which countries has enjoyed perfect immunity from the death-fraught visits. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 151 By what route the locusts of Africa have reached the continent of Europe seems involved in some mystery ; whether by the direct passage across the Mediterranean Sea, or the more circuitous course by the Holy Land, seems doubtful; but it is certain that locusts have visited Europe in foree. In the year 591 a swarm visited Italy, pursuing their destructive career, and laying waste all before them until they reached the sea, in which they perished. The pestilence, arising from the stench, carried off men and beasts to the number of more than a million. It were obviously foreign to my purpose to attempt the differentiation of the locusts of the Old Continent and the New; doubtless it would be easy to exhibit scientific charac- ters, but Dr. Cyrus Thomas has lately performed the task in an exhaustive and masterly manner that leaves nothing to be desired. His work on the ‘Acridide of North America’ is one of the most complete monographs ever published. There is a question of nomenclature about which I would raise my feeble voice,—the restriction of the words locust and grasshopper. In England we use the words interchangably, and attach no particular meaning to either. But in America the line seems drawn with great strictness :— Everyone in this country,” says Mr. Bethune, “is perfectly familiar with what is commonly called a ‘ grasshopper ;’ but how very few are aware that what they term a grasshopper, and see too often to think much about, is the same kind of insect as the much-dreaded, famine-producing locust, that constituted one of the plagues of Egypt, and that is an object of so much terror wherever it prevails. A true locust it nevertheless is; but it were well, for many reasons, that our people became accustomed to call it by its right name. Our common species in this province, while it does not possess the power of suddenly appearing in vast numbers and emigrating from place to place, occasionally becomes greatly multiplied, and proves very destructive. The western locust or grasshopper, however, differing but very slightly from our species, is, as we shall presently show, quite as formidable a destroyer as its oriental congener. While the true American locusts are commonly called grasshoppers, and the true grasshoppers are termed crickets, katydids, &c., another element of confusion is mingled with our insect nomenclature, by the common 152 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. practice of giving the name of locust to a totally different insect, belonging to an entirely different order.” The care which Mr. Bethune has taken to establish the correct nomenclature, like the rules of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, instituted with a similar object, tends to increase rather than remove the difficulty in question. ‘lhe terms grasshopper and locust have reference simply to magnitude; the smaller species being called grass- hoppers, and the larger ones locusts. Until this is admitted there will be no solution of this difficult subject. However, there is no doubt that the locust of North America is the Calopterus spretus, a species of the class Orthoptera, and the family Acridide. In giving this creature the credit, or rather discredit, of all the mischief done in the United States, it is necessary to point out the existence of other and larger locusts in the United States, some of which attain an expanse of wing of nine or ten inches. The account given by Bethune of the ravages of Calopterus spretus is as follows, omitting the account prior to 1874:— “ The Plague of Locusts in 1874.—Let us now turn to the terrible visitation of the present year, from the effects of which so many thousands are now suffering the privations of famine throughout immense tracts of country. Last year (1873) the locusts or grasshoppers were stated to have inflicted considerable damage upon crops of various kinds in some of the Western States, principally Nebraska and Kansas; here and there also in Minnesota, Iowa, and Dakota, there were comparatively trifling visitations. But in the month of July of this year there began one of the most serious invasions that has ever occurred in the West. In point of numbers, and in extent of area affected, the plague was probably no greater than on some previous occasions, notably that of 1855 that we have referred to; the great difference, however, is caused by the fact that twenty years ago the country west of the Mississippi River was an almost uninhabited wilderness of prairie, while now it is traversed by a net-work of railways, covered with populous towns and villages, and occupied to a very large extent by multitudes of industrious people. ‘Twenty years ago the locusts affected the food-supply, perhaps, of the buffalo, the Indian, and the scattered frontier settlers, but now their ravages cause desti- THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 tution and misery in tens of thousands of homes. Up to the beginning of July this year all looked bright and fair for the western farmer. His crops of all kinds were, as a rule, growing luxuriantly ; the prospect of a bountiful harvest was quite as good as usual. After that date, however, sooner or later in different localities, all these bright prospects were over- clouded, in many instances utterly destroyed. The following extracts from various newspapers will abundantly tell the tale. As early as the 19th of July a correspondent of the ‘Prairie Farmer’ writes from Howard County, Nebraska :— ‘Corn and potatoes were doing well until recently, when the grasshoppers [locusts] put in an appearance, and the result undoubtedly is, at the present moment, that there is not ten per cent. of these crops and of late oats left in this and the two neighbouring counties; and it is very doubtful if the countless millions of Vandals will leave a vestige of any green thing. The result must be almost certain starvation for new-comers, and must retard the development of this beautiful country for many years.’ A lady correspondent of the same paper writes a few days later from Butler County, also in Nebraska:—‘“ The low-hung clouds have dropped their garnered fulness down.” But alas! and alack! they were not the long-looked-for rain-clouds, but grasshoppers. They passed over on the 23rd, only a few alighting; but a strong south-west wind on the 24th brought back countless millions ; and on the 25th their numbers were fearful to contemplate. They would rise in the air when the sun shone hot, but as it grew cooler they came down like the wolf on the fold. They settled like huge swarms of bees on every living thing. Fields of corn that had been untouched before were now stripped of tassel and blade. A field of early corn was being eaten so fast that the girls went to save a few ears, instead of going to visit a sick schoolmate according to promise. Trees were so loaded with the pests, that those four and five feet high bent down till the tops touched the ground, and in some instances broke off; for three dreadful hours they dashed against the house like hail. So many came in at doors and windows that every aperture was closed; but not till they were so thick on the windows that we were forced to make a business of slaying. The 25th of July will be remembered by the citizens of this and some other counties as the dark day, xX 154 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. when desolation and devastation stared us in the face...... The wheat, which was at first thought to be out of harm’s way, was cut off about one-fourth by the destroying angels; a statement in our country paper says the average will be about eight or nine bushels per acre. After the grasshoppers stopped their depredations there were several damp, cloudy days that brought out new tassels and silks on the corn, but more than a week of hot, dry weather, with scorching winds, checked its growth; so there will be none, excepting a very few fields that partially escaped. Turnips have been grown since the rain; and it is to be hoped there will yet be some potatoes; sweet potatoes were not hurt so badly as the common potato. Broom corn, cane, and Hungarian grass, were unscathed.’ A writer from St. Paul, Minnesota, to the paper above mentioned, says that the locusts ‘ have undoubt- edly destroyed five hundred thousand bushels of wheat, and are likely to destroy another half million of bushels.’ Later on in the season the St. Paul ‘ Press’ publishes the following statement in reference to the plague of locusts in Minnesota:— ‘It is safe to estimate the tilled area in the ravaged district at two hundred and seventy-five thousand acres, and of the area in wheat in that district at two hundred thousand acres: of this area probably not less than one hundred and fifty thousand acres have been destroyed. This represents not less than two millions five hundred thousand bushels of wheat devoured in the germ by the grasshoppers, or about one-twelfth of the wheat crop of the state. Add to this area fifty thousand acres of oats, at thirty-three bushels per acre, or one million three hundred and twenty thousand bushels in all, or one-twelfth of the oat crop of the state; twenty thousand acres of corn, at thirty-two bushels per acre, three hundred and forty thousand bushels, or one-twelfth of the corn crop of the state; and perhaps twenty thousand acres more in rye, buckwheat, barley, potatoes, and other crops; and the full extent of the grasshopper havoc cannot be easily estimated.’ Our readers may further judge of the extent of the calamity and sufferings consequent upon it from the following pastoral letter, issued by the Bishop of Minnesota, and appointed to be read in all the churches in his diocese: —‘ To the clergy and congregations of the diocese of Minne- sota. You are aware that several counties of the State have ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 155 been desolated by locusts. In May I visited Martin county, and saw the beginning of their ravages. I laid the facts before the governor. The plague has increased. Many homes are desolated. They have the right to look to us for relief. They are our own flesh and blood. They are our brothers. They are God’s children. The scourge is an awful one. It may be for our sins. It may be to try our faith in God. It may be to test our humanity. I ask your prayers and your alms. I recommend that an offering shall be taken up on the last Sunday in July, and that a further special contribution of money and provisions shall also be taken at our annual harvest-home festival. Please send your offerings to Hon. Isaac Atwater, Minneapolis, who will send them to the committee in St. Paul. Praying God to bless you, your friend and bishop,—H. B. Wuiprre.’ Extract from a widow’s letter in Brown county :—‘I mortgaged my farm to get seed last spring. Allis lost. What to do I do not know. It would take a tear out of a stone to hear the people talk. I had anice piece of barley almost ready to cut. There is nothing left but the straw, the heads lying thick on the ground. Dear bishop, I am almost heart-broken, and nearly crazy, to think of the long, cold winter, and nothing to depend on. May God help us. May the Lord look to every orphan and widow, and put it in the hearts of his children to help. The widow must not plead in vain.’ The bishop also issued a form of prayer for relief from the plague of locusts, to be used in the churches throughout his diocese. From the September Report of the Department of Agriculture, at Washington, we cull the following note from Kansas :—‘ The late summer and fall crops have been almost entirely destroyed by grasshoppers. The common jumping grasshopper did much damage through the early part of the season, but about the middle of August clouds of the flying ones made their appearance over the county, devouring and destroying vast quantities of vegetation. Gardens were quickly eaten up, corn-fields were stripped of leaves, and in many cases the corn was entirely eaten off; fruit trees are left with naked branches, and in many cases the half-ripened fruit is left hanging on the trees, presenting a sickening sight of death and destruction. In addition to the actual loss by devastation, the loss caused by discouragement will be greater. 156 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Years of patient waiting, hard work, and self-sacrifice, have been destroyed in a few days, with no known remedy for protection; just as the fruits of labour were beginning to be realized, destruction came; and the question with many is: “Is it of any use to try again?” Here is a field for the Department of Agriculture. Some method of protection or relief must be had against the destruction of this insect, or an immense tract of magnificent country will never be what it would without this curse. I am one of those who believe all such things may be controlled by some practical method; it only requires study, enterprise, and means to learn how. This county (Doniphan) could well afford to pay 100,000 dollars for a guarantee that no grasshoppers should ever trouble it again. I have learned that vegetation highly cultivated and growing vigorously is less liable to be destroyed than when on the decline or growing feebly. Thus it is we often see a single tree in an orchard eaten even to the bark, while others of the same variety are not damaged so much; and upon examination it will be invariably found that those mostly eaten were diseased, or had their vitality in some way impaired. This thing was noticeable when the same kind of insects were here six or seven years ago. Of all fruit trees, apple and pear trees suffer the most, while peaches, plums and cherries suffer the least. They eat the leaves off the apples, and leave most of the apples on, but of the peaches they will eat the fruit and leave the foliage; but in many instances, when vegetation is not plenty, | understand they clean all as they go; and I have seen instances of this kind. The damage to vineyards in this county is not so great. They do not seem to relish grapes, and are satisfied by eating off the stems and letting the bunches fall to the ground. There will not be enough corn in this county to feed what stock there is in the county as it should be fed.’ The same report states that ‘the plague’—as it justly terms it—is reported in two counties in Wisconsin, seven in Minnesota, five in Iowa, four in Missouri, thirty iu Kansas, and seven in Nebraska. It adds that ‘the wide-spread destruction which they (the locusts) have caused in the north-west has not been adequately described. In many places large masses of people will probably suffer during the coming winter for the neces- saries of life, their crops having been swept by this remorseless . i THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 157 enemy.’ The next monthly report (that for October) records the prevalence of the plague in two more counties in Minne- sota, two more in Iowa, four more in Missouri, four more in Kansas, four more in Nebraska, three in Texas, two in Colorado, and one in California. The following letter from Kansas is recorded ‘to give some idea of its ravages :’— ‘The farmers in my county had their land for wheat prepared in good time, and in a better condition than [ ever saw. On the 6th of September the grasshoppers made their appearance all over the county. Farmers became alarmed, and did not sow any wheat. About the 18th to the 20th they appeared to go away. Farmers commenced sowing, and got in about two-thirds of their crop. On the 28th and 29th they came the second time, filling the air, reminding one of a snow- storm in December. Some who had sown early had wheat up nice, but you cannot find a spear in any place. Wheat which was sown before the grasshoppers came the first time has been eaten down, until the grain has finally ceased to grow. I am candidly of the opinion that every acre which is sown to-day in this county will have to be sown again. There is no other chance for it; and the great trouble will be that so many of our farmers have sown all their seed, and are not able to buy again. And what will they do? Some who have not been two years on their claims are leaving them, and going over into Missouri and Arkansas to winter, to find something to live upon.’ We might go on to an almost unlimited extent with similar descriptions of the wide-spread devastation caused by these insects, and the consternation they have produced throughout the west. Every agricultural newspaper and a large number of city papers have published throughout the past season similar records of ruin and suffer- ing. To assist their brethren in the afflicted regions, large sums of money have been contributed both by State Govern- ments and by individuals; but it is greatly to be feared that the utmost liberality will hardly save from ruin, though it may relieve temporarily, many farmers who had recently settled on those hitherto attractive plains. Not only, it should be remembered, have they suffered from a dire plague of locusts, but they have also been the victims of a long-continued drought, accompanied in some localities by a terrible hot wind, resembling the sirocco that blasts Southern Europe 158 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. with the dry heat of the African desert. To add also to their series of calamities, the chinch-bug destroyed in many places those crops that the locusts spared.” EpwarpD NEWMAN. (To be continued.) Entomological Notes, Captures, &c. Captures in Somersetshire.—Lately I have become the possessor of Newman’s ‘ British Butterflies, and am some- what surprised to find this county mentioned so seldom. I attribute it to the fact—as Mr. Corbin states in his paper in the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. viii. 139)—“ that unworked localities, when brought under the inspection of the entomo- logist, often produce the greatest number of rarities.” In our (this) neighbourhood I am continually finding species I had no idea were to be found: e.g., in the autumn of last season I had the good fortune to turn up a pair of Lycena Corydon, in good condition, in Orchard Wood, near this town, where no chalk was nearer (to my knowledge) than Dorset; true there is a lime-quarry about a mile or two from the wood. Last week in the same wood I was gladly surprised to take a pair of Melitza Artemis in splendid condition; a few speci- mens were taken by Mr. A. J. Spiller in 1865, but I have visited the locality regularly, and have no knowledge of its having turned up since until last week. A few days after- wards I happened to be hunting in the Neroche Forest, or, I should say, on the marshy grounds around the forest, and took fourteen specimens of M. Artemis, and could have taken dozens more, but all my boxes were filled with Nemeobius Lucina, Thecla Rubi, Leucophasia Sinapis, and Fidonia Atomaria. Now, M. Artemis might annually be found in Neroche, but last week was my first visit to the place; probably as the season advances I might turn up some other insect unknown as a Somersetshire species. Unfortunately, 1 am unable to visit the forest after dark: it is some distance from the town, but I have heard of Eurymene dolobraria, Angerona prunaria, and Geometra papilionaria, having been taken there. Last season | took G. papilionaria, A. prunaria, Thyatira Batis, and Gonophora derasa, at Orchard Wood. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 The season promises good captures, I took a fine specimen of Xylomiges conspicillaris in Gower (South Wales) last month. Amphydasis prodromaria has been very plentiful around this town. Macaria alternata occurred a year or two ago in two localities around here ; and in 1865 Colias Edusa literally swarmed at Orchard Wood; and Colias Hyale appeared singly. Vanessa Polychloros occurs annually; and a fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa was taken near Bridgwater some two years since. I took Sphinx Convolvuli last season; and a friend of mine took Cymatophora ocularis. I have written this chiefly on account of Mr. Corbin’s paper; and should this meet the eye of any entomologists coming in the neigh- bourhood I should be most happy to give them further information ; or if you require a list of the insects of Somer- setshire, | should be most happy to furnish it.—Frederic Stansell ; 45, Alma Street, Taunton, Somerset, June 13, 1875. [I shall feel obliged for such a list, but cannot promise its insertion at present. In no case can J admit mere names, They must be accompanied by dates, localities, and other interesting circumstances.— Edward Newman. | Bait for Apatura Iris.—I\n very good seasons this beau- tiful butterfly frequents a wood in the neighbourhood; but to catch it on the wing is, as all know, a very difficult task, owing to the strength and swiftness of its flight. Several plans have been suggested for luring it into the net; amongst others that of throwing a stone or piece of tin into the air, which the pugnacious insect is said to chase on its descent, thus being brought within reach; then there is that of nailing a dead animal to a tree or paling near its haunts,—and this latter is reported to have been eminently successful, but my own experience has been the reverse; and my reason for now writing is to ask you, and other entomologists whose labours may have been attended with more fortunate results, kindly to give me a hint or two. My brother has taken from time to time several specimens flying, principally females. One male he caught feeding on some excrementitious matter with great avidity; but never have the dead animals possessed any attraction.—Joseph Ander- son, jun.; Alresford, Hants. [1 shall be delighted to record the experience of others. Although I have said so much about the capture of this 160 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. magnificent insect, I never had the pleasure of taking it myself.—Edward Newman.) Larva of Apatura Iris.—On the 8th of June I received from Lyndhurst a fine larva of Apatura Iris, taken on the 7th by Mr. J. Ives. It is said to be the first example of the species in any stage that has been taken there for many years. It appears now to be preparing for pupation, and is attached by its first pair of claspers and by the anal pair toa thickish pad of silk, spun at the junction of two twigs of its food-plant. It has been in this position for two days. Perhaps next spring I may again fall across the species; and should I do so I will not fail to send you examples.— Bernard Lockyer ; 204, Euston Road, N.W., June 18, 1875. Colias Hyale in May.—On May 31st I took a specimen of Colias Hyale (pale clouded-yellow) on the Arundel Road, near Clapham Common, about four miles from Worthing. I mentioned it to Mr. Pratt, the naturalist at Brighton, and showed him the specimen, which is a very good one, evidently of this year’s brood.—A. E. Hunter; Christchurch Vicarage, Worthing, June 15, 1875. Early Appearance of Colias Hyale-—On June 16th my friend Mr. A. T. Cobbold took a fine specimen of Colias Hyale, apparently but just out. It was flying by the side of a river within a mile of this town.—E. F. Bisshopp; Ipswich. [Several other records of the capture of Hyale in May, and one of Helice, have reached me.—Edward Newman.] Food-plants of Gonepteryx Rhamni.—Boisduval, in his ‘Species General,’ gives Rhamnus catharticus, Frangula, and Alaternus: this last is an evergreen shrub, not found growing wild in the United Kingdom, but which has been extensively introduced into garden planting. Mr. Jenner Weir has recorded finding larve of G. Rhamni on the variegated variety, and I also have observed them on an ordinary specimen. I had often seen females hovering about a scrubby Alaternus in a warm corner of my garden; and on the 22nd of May last year observed one deposit several eggs. These duly hatched, and on the 22nd of June nine larve were feeding on the young leaves, some half grown, some smaller; showing that the eggs had not all been laid at the same time. The larve are very sluggish and inconspicuous THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 161 when young, but when about three-parts. grown they are easily distinguished, and move about,—probably for fresh food, as they never seem to entirely consume a leaf or to touch an old one. No doubt they are picked off by birds, as they gradually diminished in number; and only two, which I protected with muslin, reached the pupa state. This year also there were several eggs on the same plant; and on the 30th of May three larve about half an inch long were feeding. The variety Cleopatra is said usually to feed on R. Alaternus ; possibly that plant may be more abundant in Southern Europe than R. catharticus and Frangula. This variety and the typical Rhamni have been stated to have been reared by Dr. Boisduval from “ one brood;” whether this means from eggs laid by one female or from larvz found feeding on one plant, I do not know; if the latter, it would be no proof that they are the same species, as the eggs are laid singly, widely apart, and there is not the slightest reason to conclude that the eggs on one plant are all laid by one female; the probability is, in fact, the other way, for the butterfly is plentiful, and flies from shrub to shrub, depositing only a few eggs on each, even when the shrubs are comparatively large. —N. C. Tuely; Mortimer Lodge, Wimbledon Park, June 5, 1875. Lycena Acis near Cardiff—On Saturday last, the 4th of June, I had the pleasure of taking one male specimen of Lycena Acis, at Penarth, near Cardiff, South Wales. Last year I captured ten specimens (eight males and two females). Alfred F. Langley; Cardiff, June 10, 1875. Pale male of Bombyx Quercus.—I had the good fortune to capture in July, 1874, a male Bombyx Quercus, exactly the colour of the female. I think this variety is very scarce.— John Sumner ; Halsall Moor, Ormskirk, Lancashire. Cherocampa lineata in Glamorgan.—On May 27th I had a specimen of C. lineata brought me alive. It was taken in a cottage in this town.—Lvan John; Llantrisant, Gla- morgan. ; Food-plant of Phigalia pilosaria (Entom. viii. 142).—I see in the ‘Entomologist’ for June you say of Phigalia ___ pilosaria that you “know of no other food-plant” than oak. I bred a good many from the egg in 1873—4: they eat not : only oak, but plum, pear, hawthorn, and wych-elm ; preferring r Y 162 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. plum to all the rest.—John T. Boswell (formerly Syme); Balmuto, Kirkcaldy, N.B., June 1, 1875. [Mr. Doubleday, also, in a private letter dated 3rd June, says that it feeds in Park Hall Woods on hornbeam, birch, sallow, aspen, &c.; and in his own garden, at Epping, on plum, apple, whitethorn, rose, &c. In this matter I have made a palpable and inexcusable blunder, but it arose from infirmity of memory and haste rather than ignorance. In an old number of the old series of the ‘ Zoologist,’ I have told the marvellous life-history of this moth, and I think for the first time in this country; but as my observations have not hitherto appeared in the ‘ Entomologist,’ I hope I shall be excused for the decided egotism implied in reprinting my own lucubrations: it will be seen that so far from giving oak as the only food-plant of Pilosaria, I have omitted the forest monarch altogether.—Edeard Newman. | Description of the Larva of Phigalia pilosaria.—The eggs are laid in crevices of the bark of Carpinus betulus (hornbeam), and some other forest trees, very early in the spring, and are hatched before the leaves begin to expand. The young larve find their way to the buds, and continue to feed on these until the leaves expand, previously to which they grow very slowly, but no sooner are young leaves available than the larve feed on them voraciously, and are full fed by the end of May or beginning of June, when they rest in a nearly straight position, but with the back slightly arched; they neither fall off the food-plant nor feign death when disturbed. The head is prone, of less circumference than the body, and notched on the crown. Body of uniform circumference, beset with numerous conspicuous warts, scarcely amounting to humps; each of these warts emits a strong, but short bristle, which terminates in an extremely fine point: the situation of the warts I will describe :—On the 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments they are small and insignificant; on the 5th segment are two placed transversely on the back, and one on each side, but these are still inconspicuous, although manifestly larger than those on the preceding segments; on the 6th and 7th segments, in the same position, are two dorsal and two lateral warts, all much larger; the same number and arrangement of warts obtains on the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th segments, but all these are small, as on the 5th segment; on all these segments, that is, Ears y nc iy THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 163 from the 5th to the 11th inclusive, there is a minute wart in advance of each principal wart; on the 12th segment are two transversely placed and rather prominent dorsal warts, and two minute warts behind them: every wart terminates in a brisue. Head slightly hairy, opaque brown, with two paler, transverse, waved markings across the face. Body sometimes yellow-green, but. generally brown, with the warts black, and a few yellow markings, viz., on the 2nd segment a transverse mark immediately behind the head; on the back of the 3rd and 4th segments two approximate stripe-like markings, and an amorphous mark in the region of each lateral wart. It descends to the ground, and changes to a smooth pupa just below the surface of the earth, during the first week in June; and the perfect insect appears in January or February following.—(Zool. 8782.) Larve of Xylophasia scolopacina.—I have to record the capture by myself and two friends of over three hundred larve of Xylophasia scolopacina, in woods, at Hampstead and Highgate, between the Ist and 3rd of June. I believe this is the first recorded capture of the insect, so far south, in any stage, though the fact of its occurring near London must have been known to many entomologists for some years. My friend Mr. V. B. Lewes took a number of the imagines in July, 1870, at Bishop’s Wood, Hampstead; and in the same year I took a few at Highgate; and I expect others must also have captured the species in these localities. The larve are rather local, and are most abundant in little sheltered nooks amongst the bushes just off the main rides, near the outskirts of the woods. They are most easily found at night, but can also be taken in the afternoon. They are very fond of biting through a stem of grass about half-way down, and then eating downwards from the point where they cut the stem. Does the species also occur in the woods on the south side of London? I have never seen the imago at sugar; but it is abundant at the flowers of the bramble during July. The larve are now full fed, and most of mine have buried.— Bernard Lockyer ; 204, Euston Road, N.W. Knautia or Scabiosa (Entom. viii. 133) ?—It is not often that I have occasion to differ from my friend Mr. Melvill on botanical matters, but in the case of the habitat of Knautia arvensis I think it very likely that Mr. Gregson may be right, and I do not think anyone could confound Knautia and 164 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Scabiosa. I have often seen the former on heathy hill-sides, far away from corn-fields, in the greatest profusion, growing amongst bracken and furze-bushes. If Mr. Melvill will go with me some afternoon in August to Cobden Edge, above the Strines Valley, Derbyshire, I shall be very glad to show him Knautia in perfection, in the sort of place [ have described ; and perchance we may find not only the larva of E. Knautiata, but many other things worth the ramble.— Joseph Sidebotham ; Southford, June 5, 1875. Ophiodes lunaris in Sussex.—When I was in Sussex last month, a friend, with whom I was out sugaring, fortunately captured Lunaris, as it rose up from the underwood, and he most kindly presented it to me alive on the spot. It is a fine male specimen in good condition, except a slight chipping of the wing. —W. H. Tugwell; 3, Lewisham Road, Green- wich, June 16, 1875. Valeria oleagina in Hertfordshire.—Seeing that in Newman’s ‘ British Moths’ it is stated that “the green- brindled dot (Valeria oleagina) is extremely rare, and that no recent captures had taken place,” I beg to say I have one that came from its chrysalis about a week ago. I cannot say where I obtained the chrysalis, as it was taken with numbers of other kinds from the tree-roots during the winter. Should you think it worth sending for I will forward it to you, if you will let me have it again.— Benjamin Brown; Deards End Farm, Knebworth, Herts, June 17, 1875. [Pray send the specimen by private hand, and let the bearer take it back. I should be sorry to take the responsibility of having so rare an insect in my possession.—H. Newman. | Calephia alchemista in Sussex.—On June 4th I took a specimen of C. alchemista at sugar, in a large oak wood in this county; it was about half-past ten o'clock. - As there were no circumstances of the least peculiarity or interest connected with it, and the specimen closely resembles the figure in Newman’s ‘ British Moths,’ I have nothing further to add about it. I shall be glad of information from entomolo- gists as to its foreign habitats, if any are known.— W., Borrer, jun.; Cowfold, Horsham, Sussex, June 18, 1875. Moths at Cotoneasters.—It may not be generally known to your readers how wonderfully attractive the flowers of Cotoneaster microphylla are at this time of the year to moths, particularly Noctuz. The shrub is now in full bud, | i % _ ‘ ) ‘ 5 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 and is already crowded with Agrotis Segetum, A. exclama- tionis, &c. When in full blossom, later on, 1 have found Aplecta adveua, Leucania conigera, and Mamestra anceps, frequenting it in great numbers, as well as stray specimens of better species. I first discovered the intoxicating power of these flowers last year by noticing the countless numbers of bees they attracted during the day. I am not aware whether the shrub is at all common in gardens; but the three or four I work were planted two years ago in a very heavy soil, and thrive wonderfully.—Gilbert H. Raynor ; Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, June 19, 1875. Visitors to the Trees sugared for Moths.—To the well- known visitors to sugar I can add the great green grasshopper (Acrida viridissima): I suspect it came to feed on the moths, not on the sugar. At Deal I once saw one eating the body of a moth; the moth meanwhile sucking up the sugar as if nothing were amiss. At Bishop’s Wood, Hampstead, I used to see a smaller representative of the great green grass- hopper (Meconema varia, I believe), which certainly took the sugar. Iam almost sure I saw the dormouse often at Bishop’s Wood at sugar. I never tried to catch them, but remember admiring their fuzzy tails, so that I do not think I mistook longtailed field-mice for them. The longtailed field- mouse I never saw at sugar. Here they abound, to the detriment of my excursions; but though 1 have sugared every summer for six years, | have not seen one at sugar.— John T. Boswell (formerly Syme); Balmuto, Kirkcaldy, N.B. On Polydrosus sericeus.—With the exception of one specimen, captured near Winchester last year by Mr. W. A. Forbes, I believe this beetle has not been taken in England for upwards of forty years; and even previous to then it would seem not to have turned up very abundantly. The National Collection in the British Museum only contains three specimens,—two perfect, and one mutilated. My friend Mr. F. Smith possessed one pair in his private collection, which were given him by the late Rev. Mr. Rudd, rector of Kimpton, who took them in this neighbourhood. The insect was quite unknown to me until Mr. Smith kindly pointed out its distinctive characters when examining the specimens in the British Museum. Beyond the fact of its being captured in a wood near here, I could glean no information respecting its economy; therefore did not know 166 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. on what particular plants, if any, it should be searched for. On the afternoon of Sunday, May 30th, accompanied by my nephew, I took a walk to the wood in question, and, after searching diligently for a couple of hours, I took one female. On the following evening, provided with a net each, I and my nephew took eleven specimens, nearly all males. The next evening I went alone, and took fifteen Polydrosi, but chiefly males. On June 38rd, between seven and eight o’clock, Pp.M., my nephew and I took sixteen (the majority of which were also males), making a total of forty-three. Since then other business has prevented my searching for more specimens; in fact, I have no ambition to take any more in one season, now that 1 know where to get them at the proper time when wanted. Of its economy all that I could ascertain from so short an acquaintance was that they were beaten almost exclusively from birch in one particular part of the wood. Whether they feed on the leaves, either in the larval or imago state, I cannot say; all I know is that it was useless beating any branches except those on which the leaves were much eaten by some insects. On flourishing branches, where the leaves were entire, no Polydrosi turned up. Time of appearance: from my experience of one season it would appear that the last week in May and the first in June should be taken advantage of to hunt for the insect. In habits it seems very lethargic, crawling slowly up the side of the net, and not running with the celerity of most of its congeners. It is also difficult to put in the cyanide bottle, as it clings to one’s fingers, or anything its hooked claws come in contact with. These claws seem admirably adapted for holding on to the smooth surface of the birch leaves, especially during high winds.—Henry Reeks; Thruaion, June 1], 1875. Answers to Correspondents. John Sumner.—Amphydasis Betularia.—l1 have a very curious moth, exactly like the figure I enclose,—all black, except a white dot at the anal angle of the fore wings. [The figure represents Amphydasis Betularia va. Mauraria. —Edward Newman. | J. W. Mills.—Chelonia villica.—I do not know whether the cream-spotted tiger (A. villica) is generally abundant or not this year, but we have managed to find ten of these a felt min ti rctnet i ccaperrc tte epncse, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 insects within the last few days. They seem to frequent elm-edges with plenty of grass and undergrowth. {I have not collected for many years, but formerly I used to meet with Villica commonly, but never abundantly ; and the larva much more frequently than the imago.— Edward Newman. | F. G, Phillips.—Singular Gall.—I discovered to-day some oak-galls, the outer crust of which appears to have been eaten off by some insect. Never having myself noticed a similar appearance, and thinking it might interest you, who would doubtless be able to explain the cause of the irregularity, I beg leave to enclose you a specimen. [I have opened the specimen sent, and find it composed of silky fibres; the interior was occupied by a large cell, in which a large, smooth, green caterpillar was reposing, and appeared about changing to a chrysalis, its markings being very obscure, as is frequently the case before changing. The gall, popularly known as “ King Charles’” or the “ oak- apple,” has much the same appearance; the substance has a similar woolly character to that of the object now received ; but the question arises whether the caterpillar so comfortably installed in the interior had any part in producing the gall. I feel unwilling to pronounce; the multiplicity of inquilines found in the oak-apple is truly marvellous. I think shortly to publish some account of them, from a list prepared by the late Mr. Walker; and doubtless it may be considerably extended, as the observations of one entomologist are scarcely likely to exhaust so prolific a subject.—Ldward Newman. | S. L. Mosley.—To rear Galls.—Would you tell me of some good plan to rear gall-insects? When I pluck soft galls and keep them in tin-cans they generally come to nothing, but mould and rot away. (Will Mr. Fitch kindly reply —Edward Newman. ] S. L. Mosley.— Diptera.—W ould any person volunteer to name Dipterous insects? Also, is there such a thing as a complete list of Diptera published? [Volunteers are requested to reply. There is a list of British Diptera published by the British Museum.—Zdward Newman. | Henry Reeks.—Fallen Pears—I am sorry to have had this matter so long in hand without giving a definite reply. 168 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. It is very humiliating to find oneself baffled in all attempts to obtain the solution of a problem that never ought to have been a problem at all. Pears of every kind fall by myriads just after they are supposed to be knit; and this is a pheno- menon that calls for a remedy, but hitherto has called in vain. It is obvious that when the fruit has fallen it is too late to suggest a remedy for that year; but it is also obvious that the fallen fruit must in themselves contain the enemies, and therefore present the opportunity of destroying them by wholesale, and thus prevent the perpetuation of the race. If we cut open a pear,—an infant pear, we will call it, for they all when thus attacked perish in infancy, —we find the interior occupied by small maggots of a pale hue, but yet not quite white: these come out in a few days, and congregate together on the surface of the glass, with which the vessel containing them may be covered; this exodus is probably preparatory to a retreat under ground for the purpose of undergoing metamorphosis. Nothing can be well easier than collecting the fallen pears at this season, and burning them; this summary process must destroy the parent-fly for the next year at least, always assuming that no flies will visit your orchard from other orchards, which I see no possible method of preventing. But I have not yet said to what class and order these flies belong, and here we must have recourse, as usual, to Kirby and Spence. From these high authorities we find that Mr. Knight —I presume the late Andrew Knight, of Downton Castle— attributed the mischief to a small four-winged fly. Kirby and Spence suggest that this was a sawfly,—a suggestion that is strongly corroborated by an observation of my own, for on cutting open a number of these fallen pears, sent me. by Mr. Reeks, I find them inhabited by the larva of a sawfly of minute, but unmistakable, proportions. In opposition to this view I have received from Mr. Fitch a communication stating that two species of Sciara and one of Cecydomia destroy the embryo fruit of the year. The Sciara is most destructive ; and the species are S. Pyri and 8. Schmedbergii. Cecidomyia might also infest pears when fruiting, but | hesitate to say much respecting it; indeed, I feel that my knowledge of the subject is very meagre and unsatisfactory, and I only allude to it under the impression that I may possibly elicit informa- tion from others.—HLdward Newman. 5 « THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 145.] AUGUST, MDCCCLXXV. [Price 6d. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘ Die Mitteleuropiischen Eichengallen’ by Mrs. Hubert HERKOMER née WEISE. (Continued from p, 147.) 29. Aphilothrix solitaria, Fonse. (C. ferruginea, Hart.).—This woody, spindle-shaped gall is developed either without a pedicle, or with a short and thick one, on the axillary buds of Quercus pubescens and Q. sessiliflora. It is surrounded at the base by small bud-scales, and terminates in a style, which varies in length, and is often curved at the top: the blunt point of this style | APmmormrrk sorrarta. generally bears a small papilla or short cone. The gall is brown, and when fresh more or less covered with a yellowish brown wool]. In the interior of this moderately thin, but hard gall, we find a large oval cavity, which is the larva-cell. Its longest diameter is one centi- metre. The fly emerges in September, for on the 28th of that month I found on the oaks fresh galls of this species, showing the hole through which the fly had emerged.— G. L. Mayr. Three different species of Synergus are dwellers in the galls of this species, namely,—S. facialis and S. radiatus, which emerge in July; and S. vulgaris, which lives in the gall through the winter, not emerging till April of the next year. From one hundred galls of this species, collected by Von Schlechtendal, only four produced the gall-maker; the others VOL, VIII. Z 170 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. containing either its inquilines or parasites. The only Chalcid I can find recorded as parasitic on this species is Eupelmus azureus, by Ratzeburg, in his ‘Die Ichneumonen.’ Like many of the bud-galls this species has been confounded with many others by different authors, more especially with A. albopunctata; in fact these species were only satisfactorily separated in 1865 by Schlechtendal, and then he afterwards mistook them the one for the other. This gall was first described as British by Mr. Cameron (E. M. M. x. 85), under Hartig’s name, Ferruginea, who found them in Cadder Wood, near Glasgow. I have also received the true Solitaria from Mr. G. B..Rothera, who, with his friend Dr. Ransom, has found it in Nottinghamshire.—Z. A. Fitch. The Breeding of Gall-flies. By KE. A. Fitcu, Esq. THE flies may be bred from some galls very readily by merely placing them into a chip or any other box, and letting them bide their time, but others require more attention and care, e.g., the succulent galls of Baccarum (the currant oak- gall), Curvator (the kidney oak-gall), ‘Terminalis (the common oak-apple), Megaptera (the oak-trunk gall), and many others, which if collected in damp weather, or are slightly immature and full of sap, are almost sure to mould; in such cases the better way is to leave them in the room for a day before putting them away, and then to remove their covering every day fora short time. I have found the thistle-gall of Urophora Cardui very troublesome. The plan which recommends itself I think before all others is one used I believe extensively by the breeders of Micro- Lepidoptera, and which answers for galls admirably ; that is to procure some common gallipots and rub them down, so as to have a smooth edge, on which a piece of good glass will fit closely, and in this receptacle, which will be almost air- tight, the galls may be kept; it is very convenient also for examination, as the presence of mould or the exit of insects may be seen at once, and the escape of the flies, if the pot be ground smooth, will be impossible, which is not always the case with various boxes; of course anything may be substi- tuted for the gallipot, if it has a smooth edge and flat top. aly THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 171 Care should be taken to have the receptacle very dry, and not to cause the condensation of vapour inside by leaving it in the sun. When we are breeding from galls ‘produced by sawflies (Tenthredinidz), which occur almost exclusively on various species of willows, or some gall-gnats (Cecidomyide), we must have a small quantity of baked earth in the bottom of the jar, as their transformations are subterranean. Great care is necessary in breeding the various insects from galls, because the habits of some of the Cynipide, Chalcidide, Ichnen- monidzx, &c.,—all of which are freely bred from galls,—are such that they may very easily be introduced into the galli- pot, and on their emergence of course are labelled as inhabitants of the galls themselves: for instance, how easy to introduce some half-dozen Aphides (plant-lice), which probably each contain an Allotria (Cynipida) or Aphidius (Ichneu- monidz); then, again, there are the numerous Chalcids and Ichneumons, which are parasitic on leaf-mining Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera; the leaf-miners themselves are also very liable to cause confusion; and when we remember that Mr. Walker bred examples of seventy-five different species (hundreds of specimens of some) from one species of gall in one year,—and these belonging to seven orders of insects, besides Arachnida and Acari,—it is evident the breeder of gall-flies (by this I mean, here, the different insects inhabiting galls) will find quite enough to occupy his attention without the interlopers. After we breed the insects, and when we perhaps see the glasses of some twenty gallipots swarming with flies, we want to know how to preserve them well and quickly: this will best be accomplished by procuring a small basin of boiling water, and by holding the glass some little distance above, and giving it a tap, the greater part of the insects will fall or jump into the water with their wings and legs extended ; then collect them on small pieces of paper—thick blotting, 1 use—and pull their antennae, wings, legs, &c., out, as best suited for examination, and so leave them for a day, when the dried insects will fly off the paper at the least touch from a small knife or even pin; they may then be arranged on cut pieces of card-board (not too thick) with gum tragacanth, and so pinned,—separate species on separate slips; this is not 172 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. much trouble, as the insects may be killed and set quickly, and gummed of an evening or at any leisure time: when nicely set they are fit to be called specimens, and are useful for examination, which probably would not be the case were they left to die a natural death, or attempted to be pinned and set out. One word of advice and caution: label everything very carefully; for breeding purposes only use the galls them- selyes,—no leaves, no twigs, no anything; in killing and setting be very careful not to mix specimens and species from different galls. This must all be attended to, in order to solve some of the interesting problems connected with parasitism and galls. I have only spoken of the breeding of insects from mature galls, as that is only what should be attempted; but in special cases I dare say the gall might be kept by preserving the twig or plant in water, as we should a flower, till it comes to maturity and the larve have a chance of becoming full fed; then detach the gall. I have never attempted to breed insects from immature galls but once, and then in ignorance: it was with the common oak-spangles (Neuroterus lenticu- laris), which I collected in the autumn and winter from the trees, but could never breed the Neuroterus, till last year I collected galls from the ground at the foot of oaks in January and February, and so bred the gall-maker freely ; and that is what must be done with this species and Fumipennis; it does not so much matter with the pretty little Numismatis (silky button-gall). Galls should not be thrown away when the emergence of one series. of insects is complete, as some will have tenants for a twelvemonth; the gall-makers, and various inquilines (dwellers in galls) and parasites, having various and separate times of appearance. E. A. Fitcu. Maldon, Essex, July 1, 1875. Notes on Oviposition. By the Rev. P. H. Jennings. (Continued from p. 150.) Selenia lunaria—A female, taken June 8th, laid one hundred and ten eggs: twenty-eight on the 9th, forty-two on THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 173 the 10th, thirty on the 11th, one on the 12th, seven on the 13th, and two on the 14th; of these one only was deposited on the food-plant on the under surface of a leaf, sixty-two on the glass cylinder, and forty-seven on the muslin cover. Oval; yellow; smooth, but not glossy; all detached from one another. Iodes vernaria.—A bred female laid one hundred and forty-eight eggs: on June 29th seventy-three, and thirty-three on the 30th, fourteen on July Ist, fourteen on the 2nd, seven on the 3rd, and seven on the 4th; these were laid in thirty- five different piles, the piles varying in number of eggs from one to seven, almost always attached to the stem of the food- plant, traveller’s joy (Clematis vitalba). In shape the egg is nearly circular, a little longer than broad, perfectly flat on both surfaces, with very sharply defined rims; the piles are made with the greatest regularity, so that the rims exactly coincide. Colour bright green; sides glossy, and surfaces of the finest polish. The young larve, which began to appear on the fifteenth day, July 14th, were almost white, with nearly black heads. Acidalia aversata.—A female, taken July 2nd, laid forty- three eggs on the 3rd, in clusters very like bunches of grapes, on a string of an old larva-web, which happened to stretch across the glass cylinder: they were deposited with great neatness, the smaller end touching the web, the larger standing out at an angle of 45°, or thereabouts; the several clusters containing from six to thirteen eggs. Oval, flesh- - coloured, not glossy. On the fourth day the signs of fertility ‘appeared in a few red specks on one side, about midway between the two ends. The young larve appeared on the twelfth day, July 15th: heads black, and five alternate rings of gray and black. Corycia temerata.—A female, taken June 380th, laid twenty-three eggs: twenty-one on July Ist and two on the 2nd; all close to the midrib of the leaves of wild cherry, and pressed as much as possible under it. Oval, yellow, glossy. On the fourth day the signs of fertility appeared in a few red specks on the crown, and were followed by others over the whole surface of the egg, which at last assumed an orange- colour, of which colour the young larve appeared on the thirteenth day, July 14th. 174 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. C. taminata.—A female, taken June 21st, laid one hundred and ninety-one eggs: forty-six on the 23rd, twenty-three on the 24th, twenty-two on the 25th, twenty-six on the 26th, fourteen on the 27th, six on the 28th, seven on the 29th, four on the 30th, fifteen on July Ist, sixteen on the 2nd, eight on the 3rd, and four on the 4th; scattered singly on both surfaces of the leaves of wild cherry. Very nearly circular ; flattened on both surfaces; yellowish white, glossy. The young larve, which were almost white, began to appear on the ninth day, July 2nd, two days before the last eggs were deposited. Ligdia adustata.—A female, taken June 17th, laid twenty- nine eggs: twenty-one on the same night, and eight on the 18th; nineteen were attached to a web on the food-plant (Euonymus europzus), two on the muslin cover, four on the edge of the under surface of a leaf, two near the middle of the under surface, one on the edge of the upper surface, and one on the stem of food-plant. Oblong; equally rounded at both ends; dull green, very much resembling the colour of the stem of food-plant; the surface covered with very minute, circular, convex markings; assumed a reddish brown hue on the fourth day. The young larve began to appear on the twelfth day, June 30th. Cidaria corylata.—A female, taken June 21st, laid seven- teen eggs: eight on the 22nd, six on the 23rd, and three on the 24th, attached to the edge of the under surface of the leaf. Of a faint greenish tinge; oblong; equally rounded at both ends; not flattened. The young larve began to appear on the twelfth day, June 4th. Halias prasinana.—A female, taken June 18th, laid three hundred and ninety-three eggs: thirty-three ou the 18th, one hundred and twenty-one on the 19th, eighty-seven on the 20th, fifty-four on the 21st, forty-five on the 22nd, thirty-two on the 23rd, and twenty-one on the 24th; of these thirty- three were deposited in the collecting-box, two hundred and thirty-six on the glass cylinder, and one hundred and twenty- one on the leaves of oak, mostly on the upper surface. In shape much resembling a limpet-shell, but less convex and circular; ribbed from the circumference towards the centre, which is occupied by a small, smooth convexity, around which the ribs rise; deposited both singly and in clusters of THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 175 as many as five, when the circumference of one often over- laps that of others; almost always singly when on the leaves. Yellowish white. The signs of fertility appeared on the third day, the centre assuming a brown hue, which gradually darkened, the circumference beyond it becoming colourless and transparent. The young larve began to appear on the thirteenth day, July Ist: almost white, head large, the body decreasing from the 2nd segment, and almost ending in a point. P. H. JENNINGS. Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, July 17, 1875. The Plague of Locusts in America. By Evwarp Newman. “The Plague of Locusts in 1874 (Extract continued).— To illustrate the reality and intensity of the sufferings that we have alluded to, we shall give one extract only out of a large number that might be quoted. ‘The writer of a letter to the ‘Prairie Farmer,’ dated ‘ Kearney, Nebraska, November 16th,’ thus describes the condition of things in his neighbourhood: —‘ Your readers have been pretty fully posted as to the ravages of locusts over this entire region, the devastation extending from Central Minnesota to the southern limit of Kansas, the whole country being almost as utterly destroyed, so far as provisions are concerned, as if it had been swept by the scathing flames. I speak more understandingly of my own neighbourhood, and shall endeavour to state facts that may be firmly relied upon, and which can be verified, if necessary, by the testimony of others in my own vicinity. The wheat crop, what there was of it, considering the dry weather, was good; but fully one-half of the settlers had no wheat at all; their sole dependence was corn and potatoes; in many instances the very uncertain product of prairie sod, Thus nearly half of our people were dependent solely upon the two above articles, both of which were almost entirely swept away by drought, bugs and locusts combined. Every family nearly, that was able to do so, having friends in lowa and Missouri have gone there to winter: some may return ; others never will. Many proved upon their claims, and have 176 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. left the country for ever. The number of actual homestead settlers is thus reduced fully one-half in my own neighbour- hood, aud of that one-half not one family in ten have provisions, fuel, or clothing, to last them through the winter; fully two-thirds have not food enough to last until the Ist of December. I find, from conversation in Kearney with settlers both north and south for a distance of thirty to fifty miles, that the same statement holds true over almost the entire region. Thus, notwithstanding the cry of some of our papers that “we are not beggars,” more than two-thirds of those now on their homesteads must either beg or starve. In less than thirty days. there will be starvation and death, unless these needs are promptly met. ‘There is no corn, no oats, no feed of any kind for stock, except what is shipped in from a distance; there is no fuel except coal, at from 8 to 11 dollars per ton; there is no work, no money; there is no seed-corn, and, in very many instances, no seeds of any kind for another year’s planting. On the 13th inst. I met two of my neighbours. One has a family of six to provide for, three of them young children: says he,—*“ I have just flour enough to last until Saturday night.” The other has a family of ten, four of whom are sick, and have been since September; one child, a bright boy of some four years, has lost the entire use of his limbs, and now has to have the care of a helpless babe: this man has flour for ten days, and potatoes that will enable him to get along for a week or two longer. Last winter this family of children were entirely without shoes or stockings, with clothing just sufficient to cover nakedness, and ragged at that. The writer of this article has flour for a week,—fifty pounds,—and pays for it in breaking one acre of prairie, thus giving 3 dollars in work for 1°20 dollar-worth of flour. He does not state this complainingly, being glad to get work to feed his five babies at any price. I merely give these three cases asasample. While I give but three, there are many others all around me in fully as deplorable a situation. This want extends over the whole area of country,—west, north, and south; and the farther the settlement is from the supplies, the greater the wants and privations of the settlers.’ “The Plague of Locusts in Manitoba, §c.; specially with reference to Devastations previously to 1874.—Thus far we have THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 177 been describing the extent and terrible results of this year’s plague of locusts in the Western States of the Union. We have now, unhappily, to record its occurrence in our own new province of Manitoba, which adjoins the state of Minnesota, so frequently referred to above. From the following record of visitations previous to this year, it will be observed that they were, in almost all cases, simultaneous with those in the neighbouring States, that we have described in the earlier part of this paper. For this record we are indebted to the letter of the Winnipeg correspondent of the Toronto ‘ Globe,’ which appeared in that paper on the 5th of August last:— ‘Grasshoppers first appeared in Red River towards the end of July, 1818, six years after the commencement of the settlement. ‘They covered the settlement belt, but did not utterly destroy the wheat crop, it being nearly ripe at the time. Barley and other crops were swept away. ‘They deposited their eggs and disappeared; and the following spring the crop of young grasshoppers was immense. These departed before depositing their eggs, but devoured all vege- tation on their route, thus destroying all the crops of 1819. Greatnumbers came in during the season of 1819, and deposited their eggs; so that in 1820 the crops were again all destroyed. Thus for three successive years were the crops in this country destroyed by these pests. They then disappeared for thirty- six successive years, the next visitation being in 1857, when they visited the Assiniboine settlement, doing but little injury beyond depositing their eggs. The following season their progeny destroyed all the crops within their reach. In 1864 they again appeared in considerable numbers, but did little injury to the wheat crop. The following year the young grasshoppers partially destroyed the crops, leaving many districts entirely untouched. The largest swarm ever known came in August, 1867, but the crops were so far advanced that season that they did but little injury. Their eggs produced such immense swarms the following spring that they destroyed everything that had been sown throughout the settlement, and famine ensued. In 1869 they again visited the country, but too late to do much harm. The season following, however, they destroyed most of the growing crops. In 1872 immense hordes of these winged pests again visited a part of the country about the beginning of August. The 2A 178 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. country west of Headingly escaped, and generally the wheat was not much injured, but they played sad havoc with the gardens. Nothing was sown the following spring throughout the infested district, but throughout the western settlements a large crop was grown and saved.’ From the same source we have obtained the following particulars respecting the ravages of the locust in different parts of the province :— ‘The South.—¥rom West Lynn (Pembina) northward, as far as Scratching River, the oats and barley have been entirely destroyed, and the wheat partially. ‘ Palestine.—The latest reports from this settlement confirm the accounts that the settlement is laid waste. ‘ Manitoba Lake.—The shores of this lake are strewn three feet in many places with dead grasshoppers, the wind having driven them into the lake, where they were drowned and cast ashore. ‘The Boyne Settlement.—They are very thick here, and have completely destroyed the oats and barley, and about half ruined the wheat. ‘Portage la Prairie—From Polar Point to the Portage the fields are swarming with grasshoppers, which have devoured the crops. Scarcely anything has escaped. ‘Rat Creek.—In this neighbourhood it is reported that the crops of Kenneth McKenzie, Hugh Grant, and others, are being destroyed, and that the former had commenced cutting his oats and barley for fodder rather than let the pests take all. ‘Rockwood.—The crops in this settlement have suffered severely; oats and barley completely destroyed, and wheat badly injured. ‘“Woodland.—Most of the settlers in this neighbourhood are entirely cleaned out. ‘County of Provencher.—All the crops along the Red River, from Pembina to Stinking River, have been eaten up, excepting, in some instances, a portion of the wheat and potatoes have escaped. ‘Winnipeg.—The gardens in this city and the oats and barley in the neighbourhood are being destroyed. During the evenings, at the going down of the sun, they seek the board-fences and sides of houses in such numbers that in many cases it is impossible to distinguish the colour of the houses, or the material of which they are built.’ Bape , THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 179 “As yet we do not know whether the locust ravages are wont to extend over the great fertile region to the north-west of Manitoba,—that magnificent agricultural region drained by the Saskatchewan River; we hope, and we are strongly inclined to think, that the plague, if noticeable at all, is there trifling in character and moderate in extent. Should it be otherwise, should that ‘fertile belt’ be as subject to these visitations as the states to the south of it unhappily are, it must prove a great hindrance to its rapid settlement. If, on the other hand, it possesses an immunity not shared in by the western states, it will certainly draw from them, before many years are over, and as soon as railway facilities are afforded for transportation of goods and produce, a very large portion of those settlers who are now eaten out of house and home. We fully expect to see the tide of immigration, which for a few years past has been setting so strongly towards the plains of Kansas and Nebraska, turned towards our own more highly-favoured, even though more northern regions of Assiniboine and Saskatchewan.” * Epwarp NEWMAN. (To be continued.) Entomological Notes, Captures, &c. A few Remarks on some Collectors.—W hen I began reading Mr. Lewis’s remarks on this subject (Entom. viii. 127) I thought his rhetoric and clever insinuation respecting the eight hundred Colias Hyale referred to myself (by the bye, I fail to see why “defenceless” should be especially applied to that species), as 1, in company with three other collectors, did capture about that number a few years ago, and, not having heard of a similar number being taken by others, I presumed he referred to me. Glad was I to find, on continuing, that it was not so; and lest some readers, who have either forgotten or did not read the circumstances under which these Hyale were caught, should be misled by Mr. Lewis’s paper, and so connect me with the attempted extermination of the “gentle creature, Sinapis,” 1 crave a few lines space. At p. 179, vol. iv., of the ‘ Entomologist, it will be seen that Jour of us were collecting; and as we were more than ‘hree * Rey. C. J. S. Bethune, M.A., in “ Report of the Entomological Society of the Province of Ontario, 1874,” 180 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. weeks getting the number, the “ physical fatigue” was there- fore not so very great: an average of two hundred and fifty specimens a week is surely not very hard work for four enthusiastic collectors! Great pleasure most certainly did come through my success, which enabled me to give some of my friends some very fine series of this insect. I also attempted a little exchanging, but soon found the greatest pleasure was to be obtained in giving them away. As to the man who “took the whole spring-brood” of Sinapis, it is the first I have heard of it. Anyone who could attempt such a mean and selfish action (unless he were a dealer,—it would be pardonable then), should be treated with silent disdain and contempt.—H. Ramsay Cox; Lyndhurst, June 14, 1875. [This little passage-of-arms must end here.—Z. Newman.] Sugaring for Moths.—I should like to say a word respect- ing sugaring. I have practised that pleasing pastime more than a quarter of a century. I have found that a good deal depends on the atmosphere: the weather gloomy, thick, foggy, damp nights, are the times that I have been successful, beginning about sunset in the month of June; and instead of putting the mixture on about the height of my breast I run the brush right down to the ground.—John Potts. Life-history of Acidalia emarginata.—A female, taken during the first week in August, last year, deposited a few eggs, from which the young larve appeared on the 13th of that month. They grew very slowly until the time for hyber- nation came; and although they fed at intervals throughout the winter they increased very little in size. In March of the present year they began to feed more vigorously ; aud have now, July 13th, become about three-quarters of an inch long, after having lived in the larval state exactly eleven months, and spending most of that long period almost stationary on the dead twigs of the food-plant (Galium mollugo), resting sometimes in a straight position, and sometimes—especially in their very young days—with the back arched. Body tapering anteriorly, ribbed transversely and rough to the touch; the transverse ribs less distinct on the anterior portion of the middle segments. Colour of head and face dark brown. Head notched, and thickly sprinkled with hairs; as are also the 2nd and 8rd segments, on which the hairs point forward. Colour of body various shades of olive-brown. The medio- dorsal line is composed of two slender, darker lines, edging THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 181 another of a much lighter shade; the darker edging lines are only present from the 5th segment onwards to the 12th; on the 4th, Sth, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th segments, are two transversely-placed black dots; and on the Sth, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, there is dark V, with its point towards the head; the divisions of these last-named segments are very perceptible in the lateral skinfold. The spiracles are of the darker shade. The ventral space of an almost uniform olive-brown.—[ Rev. P.H. Jennings; Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, July 13, 1875. Spilodes palealis.—Yesterday (Friday) | had a fine speci- men of 8. palealis emerge from pupa. I found several larve last September, on the road from Dartford to Darenth Wood, feeding in the umbels of wild carrot, which they draw together with a web. They leave this when they are full fed, descend to the ground, and there form a compact, oval cocoon, somewhat resembling an eggar’s cocoon in miniature, but I think rather large for the size of the insect. Some years ago I believe two or three specimens were taken in this locality,—one I know by my friend Mr. Dow; but it is only within the last year or two that the larve have been taken there, and then only sparingly, until last year, when they were taken in abundance. This is the first specimen, so far as I know, that has been bred from the Jarve which were taken at Dartford last year; and this fact will remove any doubt which existed as to whether the larve which were taken there really were S. palealis or not. It is, as far as I have heard, rather a difficult insect to breed, as it does not change to a pupa until about the middle or end of June, although it makes its cocoon in the autumn; and, like many larve which do the same thing, they die off. It is necessary to keep them moist, or they dry up; but, unfortunately, in keeping them moist lies the difficulty, as they are then very liable to go mouldy,—a state of things which has happened to most of mine. I may say that 1 have kept mine out of doors all the time. I find, on examining the remaining cocoons, that I have another one which contains a pupa, which I hope to find out in the course of a few days.— C. W. Simmons; 39, Market Street, Caledonian Road, N., July 17, 1875. Lepidoptera at Rannoch.—I\ was at Rannoch in the first fortnight of July with (thanks to the kindness of Dr. Buchanan White, whose kind assistance was of the greatest value to 182 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. me), a fair amount of success. Sugar was very unproductive, and a few Hadena rectilinea, Noctua conflua, and dark Cymatophora duplaris, were all that I got for my trouble in that line. On the hills, however, I got Psodos trepidaria, Larentia cesiata, Coremia munitata, Larentia salicata, Melanthia ocellata, Cidaria immanata, Scopula alpinalis, and many others. In the Black Wood, Fidonia pine- taria was not out, but Acidalia fumata, Boarmia repandata, and Larentia czsiata, were common, and there were many Tortrices out as well, which Dr. White worked very success- fully; but, as I had a fearful headache on the day we visited the wood, I must plead guilty to having been lazy on that occasion. Near Kinloch, Emmelesia blandiata and Lycena Artaxerxes were out, and Lycena Alexis was very con- spicuous on the banks. I also saw, near the end of my stay, July 12th, a hybernated specimen of Vanessa Urtice.—J. C. Wassermann ; Cullercoats. Apatura Iris (Entom. viii. 159).—This butterfly we occa- sionally see in a wood in this neighbourhood. I was away from home last year while the insect was out; but it was observed several times by my father, the late Mr. Thomas Bentall, feeding on dead moles, and he succeeded in capturing one specimen (a male) at this high-flavoured food. I have to-day bred a specimen (a female) from a larva beaten from sallow on the 5th of June, and which became a pupa on the 1ith.—S. R. Bentall; Nightingale Hall, Halstead, Essea. Apatura Iris (Entom. viii. 159).—I may say that on July 15, 1857, in the Farnham district, | took nine males from oaks with a hoop-net tied to a long pole, one other male on the ground, and two females flying near the ground. I have reason therefore to say that on that occasion the pole was of much service.—Fi'ederic Walker. Apatura Iris (Entom. viii. 159).—I was interested in reading the note by Mr. Anderson concerning this species. My experience would go to prove that there are times when the insect adopts the same mode of flight as other butterflies. Last July (1874) was dry in the early part, at least here, and the wind rose generally at sunset, so that there was but little dew deposited ; and, sure enough, while this dry time lasted A. Iris flew low down, as if searching for the moisture it might otherwise expect to find on the leaves of oak, &c. I THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1838 captured six, and a friend one, without any difficulty ; they all seemed too much engrossed in the search for something to take much notice of our approach.—W. Jagger; St. Ives, Flunts. Argynnis Niobe near Canlerbury.—On the 29th of June [ had the good fortune to take a fine male of this beautiful insect, and to-day have succeeded in taking a second speci- men, which I believe must be a variety, it being without silver spots, but of a dull yellow colour. I believe I saw a third, but cannot speak with certainty, as Aglaia are so like them when on the wing. I have shown this last one alive to a collector here.-—G. Parry; Church Street, St. Paul's, Canterbury, July 6, 1875. [It is the variety Eris of Argynnis Niobe.— EZ. Newman.} Chaerocampa Elpenor, éc., at Sugar.—Last evening, June 22nd, I obtained four specimens of Chcerocampa Elpenor at sugar; three were hovering at one tree, and taken by one sweep of the net. On one tree I counted seventy-three insects, all common species. I do not think I shall over-state it in saying that Agrotis corticea and A. exclamationis came by thousands, and Triphena pronuba by hundreds. I captured two fresh Xylocampa lithorhiza, which seems to give this insect a wide range, as I took it here in February. Can there be a second brood? The only good thing taken here this season was one specimen of Notodonta Chaonia. I should mention that I laid the sugar on early, and that the Chero- campa Elpenor were taken before I lighted up; the evening was close, and without a breath of wind.—[Rev.] A. C. Hervey; Butleigh Vicarage, Glastonbury Somerset. Anticlea sinuata.—On the 19th of June I had the pleasure of finding in one of my breeding-cages a beautiful female Anticlea sinuata. When I was away from home in East Kent, last August, 1 found a caterpillar on Galium verum, with which I was not acquainted; but on the appearance of the perfect insect a reference to ‘ British Moths’ connected the one with the other, and told me the caterpillar | had found was that of A. sinuata.—({Rev.| P. H. Jennings. Larva of Plerophorus rhododactylus.—On the 26th of May last the Rey. T. W. Daltry, of Madeley, and myself, took the larve of Pterophorus rhododactylus very freely in a wood in North Kent. We went in the hope of finding the larve of 184 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. this species, and of Nola albulalis, on the spot we had taken the imagos last July, but were quite baffled, so far as that latter species is concerned. Mr. Daltry soon detected that of P. rhododactylus, feeding just beneath the leaf overlapping the rose-bud, and eating into the bud from the side. Almost as many, too, were found in similar positions at the ends of the young rose-shoots.—Geo. T. Porritt; Huddersfield, July 3, 1875. Capture of Ephippiphora ravulana.—I am pleased in being able to report the capture of E. ravulana, a species that I believe has not been taken since 1868, although diligently searched for. Two years ago Mr. E. G. Meek pointed out to me the spot where he had taken his specimens, and, like a modern entomological sceptic, I had begun to doubt the species, when this year the insect again appeared. I captured my specimen within ten yards of the old locality. Strangely enough I took it on the wing.—Sydney Webb; Redstone Manor House, Redhill, July 8, 1875. [Please say when and where. Date and locality seem to me the very pith and essence of these records.— E. Newman.] Catoptria Aspidiscana and Dicrorampha Tanacetana at Grange.—On Whit-Saturday I went to Grange to look for Catoptria Aspidiscana. The day was a bitter cold one with a very strong wind, with occasional gleams of sunshine, and then it was very hot in sheltered corners. I spent about six hours, although a little rheumatic, hobbling over the rough limestone, and managed to make a great catch, viz., thirty specimens, quite as many as for the previous seven years; the high wind had blown them all together; but I have had to pay the penalty ever since, being unfit to go away. Through the sudden changes and excessive walking I had to give all up and come home; could not move a limb with rheumatism. As soon as I was able to walk out a little I made my way to some gardens last week, and found a small bed of tansy, and most unexpectedly turned up Dicrorampha Tanacetana, a species that I never could get, only some half dozen from my late friend D’Orville. During my forty years’ collecting I have had specimens sent to me of D. Herbosana as this species by well-up entomologists, but they are totally distinct. Now I have taken a splendid series of both sexes: the females are very bad to find; they will hardly fly under ¥ bs ¥ THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 185 any influences, not even touch-paper; they will creep up sometimes, only oftener walk about on the ground. Barrett’s description of its distinctions is an admirable one, the rich yellow irroration and the stigmal differences being well set out. I may add that I have taken a few out of a clump of Michaelmas daisy. I am inclined to think the larva feeds on this as well as on the tansy. ‘They seem excessively partial and local.—J. B. Hodgkinson; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, July 1, 1875. Catephia alchymista near Colchester (Kntom. viii. 164).— In the ‘ Entomologist’ for July | see there is a notice of the capture of Catephia alchymista in Sussex, on June 4th. I have great pleasure in informing you that this fine species has also occurred near Colchester this year, a single speci- men having been found at rest on an oak-trunk on June 9th. It was taken by Mr. Tillaney of this town, and is now in my possession. Since the capture of the first British specimen by Dr. Wallace in 1858, in the Isle of Wight, I believe no other capture has been recorded till this year; so that, unless others have been taken recently, there are as yet only three British examples—W. H. Harwood; 8, West Stockwell Street, Colchester, July 22, 1875. Abundance of Callidium violaceum.—In a summer-house, lately built of pine-slabs, in a garden at Croydon, there have appeared by hundreds specimens of that beautiful beetle Callidium violaceum. They were running over the surface of the pine in all directions, beginning to make their appearance about the second week in June, and continuing about a fort- night. They have now entirely disappeared.—H. Newman. Answers to Correspondents. S. Bradbury.—Thecla Quercus, or purple hairstreak.— Edward Newman. C. E. Johns —Name of a Moth.—I think the moth described must be Metrocampa margaritata.—L. Newman. J. S.—Chelifer cancroides.—Can you tell me the name of the small insect, which I found this morning hanging on to the leg of a fly, and looking like a parachute attached to a balloon? And what is the object of the aérial journey ? 2B 186 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. [The first question is easily answered; the second is a problem more difficult of solution. The insect is Chelifer cancroides. J once found it in vast numbers under the bark of a willow tree on the banks of the New River. They are said to feed on minute Acari, but lam unable to confirm this. The usual situation is suspended to the leg of a fly by means of its extraordinary legs, which remind one of the claws to a scorpion or of a lobster, on a very diminutive scale. When allowed to crawl on a sheet of white paper their claws, or chele, are held in a remarkable and rather threatening attitude, forcibly reminding one of the attitude of a scorpion, a resemblance which the general structure of the creature serves to increase, and indeed which induced Dr. Leach to arrange it with the scorpions, and in close proximity with the spiders. Still we have to deal with its strange propensity to settle itself on the legs of flies. It is of course very natural to suppose that these flies, having a decided weakness for settling on the trunks of willows, and that these scorpion-like creatures having a similar weakness for the toes of a fly should fix themselves thereupon; still there is something that requires explanation — Edward Newman.] Henry Reeks.—Hylesinus Fraxini.—l\ found the enclosed larve and perfect beetles feeding just beneath the bark of young ash-trees. Can you kindly give me any information respecting them? ‘Their great abundance must do the trees some harm. [The beetles are Hylesinus Fraxini. They have long been known as injurious to ash-trees, but more particularly to young ones: as the trees grow older the effect is less marked, and on old trees the injury is scarcely perceptible. Painting the trees with turpentine has been effacacious on a small scale; but itis the more general practice to let the trees outgrow the disorder. I have particularly noticed the partiality shown by the Hylesinus for those young trees which have been previously weakened by the attacks of Zeuzera A®sculi, presenting a parallel case to that of Scolytus destructor and Xyleutes Cossus, the attacks of the moths being almost invariably followed or accompanied by that of the beetles.— Edward Newman. | A. L. S—Mangold Wurzel Beetle.—I1 adopt the term “beetle” because the little creature is so named by the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 187 sender. It is really not a beetle at all, but one of those apparently insignificant creatures which form the subject of Sir John Lubbock’s admirable monograph on the ‘Collembola and Thysanoura.’ In this work it is represented on plate 2 under the name of Smynthurus fuscus, and appears from the synonymy, in which of course I have perfect reliance, to be the “ Podura globosa-fusca” of Linneus. It is not more than a tenth of an inch in length: it has a fat subglobose, body, no neck, a transverse head, and many-jointed antennz ; the basal joint is short, not projecting beyond the head; the second and third are longer, and are followed by a series of fifteen or sixteen very short joints, so short as to appear like mere marks on the exterior, and not to be real joints at all; the legs are short, shorter than the antenne ; indeed they appear ridiculously short in proportion to the obese body. Although these funny little creatures are accused by my correspondent of injuring our crops of mangold, yet 1 am far from being convinced that this is really the case; for it seems difficult to state in what the food of the Smynthuri really consists. ‘They certainly swarm on the young plants of mangold, and on, as well as under, such small stones as may happen to be in the immediate neighbourhood; but their object in thus congregating is by no means obvious. Sir John Lubbock observes that “the majority of the Collembola live on decay- ing vegetable matter, and they are to be found in great numbers in almost all damp places, skipping occasionally like fleas when disturbed.” The object of the skipping propensity, possessed by some of the species, seems to be very doubtful ; and it has been well observed by their eminent historian, that “the possession of a powerful saltatory appa- ratus appears to be a fantastic provision for a species that lives in the chinks and crannies of bark, in the interstices of fungi, or buried among decaying leaves.” Concerning the habits of these Smynthuri very little is known. But few life-studies of them have been sketched; but here is one, touched tenderly and with a master’s hand:—“It is very amusing to see these little creatures coquetting together. The male, which is much smaller than the female, runs round her, and they butt one another, standing face to face, and moving backwards and forwards like two playful lambs. Then the female pretends to run away, and the male runs 188 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. after her, with a queer appearance of anger; gets in front, and stands facing her again; then she turns coyly round; but he, quicker and more active, scuttles round too, and seems to whip her with his antenne; then for a bit they stand face to face, play with their antenne, and seem to bé allin all to one another.” (“ Monograph,” p. 109.) It may seem to some readers that this has but little to do with mangold wurzel and mangold wurzel beetles, but I trust the departure from the strict order of science may be forgiven.— Edward Newman. E. De Brath.—Name of a Beetle-—The beetle is Crypto- cephalus _sericeus. Very common in yellow composite flowers throughout the summer.—Edward Newman. | S. L. Mosley— Diptera.—I1 shall be very glad to name any British specimens of Sarcophaga; of any belonging to the restricted family, Muscide; and of Anthomyide. There is no complete published list of British Diptera; but Mr. G. H. Verrall is at present engaged in drawing one up.—R. H. Meade; Bradford, Yorkshire. John Sterry, J, D.S., George Mennell, William Ashby, and a number of other Correspondents.—Fireflies—From various parts of the country 1 have received accounts of specimens of fireflies captured on the wing, and actually in the act of emitting light. The localities are chiefly—Keston Common, in Kent; Tunbridge Wells; Sandown and Bon- church, in the Isle of Wight; Fordingbridge, near Salisbury ; and Penzance, in Cornwall. A very careful examination and comparison do not reveal any difference in character between these and the males of the ordinary English glow- worm. ‘The prothorax has an indistinct, ochreous mark just within the margin, and without any decided limits beneath ; the legs have also pale longitudinal markings, and the terminal joint of the abdomen is yellow, more especially two circular spots, from which the light is said to emanate; the elytra have three longitudinal keels, which are very feebly pronounced ; and the wings are smoke-coloured. The speci- mens examined are from Keston Common and Penzance.— Edward Newman, John Thorpe.—Hair-worm.—1 enclose you an animal which we. generally take on some rocks where fresh water runs over. We have taken them ten inches long. We should Lae THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 189 be very glad to know its name and character. If you could give us any information about its habits, &c., we should take it as a great favour. [The creature is a Filaria, or thread-worm; one of the section of Entozoa, or intestinal worms. I regret to say that their history is very imperfectly known to me; but during the greater portion of their lives they are certainly parasitic: man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and insects, are subject to their attacks. I have repeatedly found them protruding from the anus of a common ground-beetle, known to entomologists as Feronia madida: they not unfrequently exceed the beetle three or four times in length; indeed, one of them inhabiting man, and called the guinea-worm (Filaria madinensis), is sometimes three feet in length. This species is found in Africa, and inhabits the legs and feet of men, causing tumours and great suffering: it is extracted by a curious process: one end of the worm is seized with forceps and wound round a stick, which process of winding is continued day after day, until the whole is extracted; of course the patient has to keep quiet during the whole time. If during the operation the worm breaks, a portion remain- ing in the flesh, the patient dies. It is believed that the Filarias have two modes of propagation: first, by division, as when a portion is broken off from the body and becomes an independent animal; and secondly, by eggs, which are laid in water, and the young, becoming attached to aquatic animals, are swallowed by birds, and thus find their way to a suitable receptacle for development. It will be observed that I do not state this of my own knowledge, but simply from having read it.— Edward Newman. Henry Reeks.—Fallen Pears.—Mr. Fitch informs me that the pear-maggot, which was the subject of a query by Mr. Reeks in the July number (Entom. viii. 167), is the work of Cecidomyia nigra. Mr. Murray, who has prepared a case for the Bethnal Green Museum, has illustrated with models the mischief-maker at work. He derives his information from Taschenberg, who, in his ‘ Entomologie fur Gartner,’ gives its life-history at p. 364.—Edward Newman. J. Purdue.—Will you please to inform me what part of an English inch is the line, spoken of in measuring beetles, &c. 190 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. [In Kirby and Spence’s ‘ Introduction to Entomology’ the line is stated to be one-twelfth of an inch; but there is a diversity of practice in this respect, which is extremely puzzling.—Ldward Newman. | Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair. Marcu 15, 1875. Lepismodes inquilinus ?—Mr. M‘Lachlan remarked that the species of Lepisma exhibited at the last meeting, by Mr. F. H. Ward, did not, on examination, correspond, as he expected, with the description of L. domestica, a common species in the United States, nor did it coincide exactly with the descriptions of any of the other described species, so far as he had been able to compare them. Lipura corticina.—Prof. Westwood said he had seen British examples of Lipura corticina, Bourlet, on apple trees, though the insect was not included as British in Sir John Lubbock’s Monograph. Boisduval’s Sphinges——Mr. Butler read the following review of Boisduval’s recently-published volumes of the Suites a Buffon (Lepidoptéres), containing the Sphingide (including Zygena, &c.):—“ Dr. Boisduval’s long-expected work on the Sphingide has at length appeared: it is illustrated by eleven excellent coloured plates; and if these had been published without the letterpress, Lepidopterists would have had cause to be grateful to the author; as it is, the work of this veteran entomologist contains so many errors and omissions, that it only obscures the subject which it should have assisted in illuminating. Not only has Dr. Bois- duval, in the three hundred and eighty pages devoted to this magnificent group, apparently taken no pains to ascertain what has been done by other workers during the last nineteen years (entirely overlooking even the Supplement to Mr. Walker’s Cataiogue), but he has returned to the errors of Fabricius and his contemporaries, in his disregard of the law of priority: he calmly renames well-characterized genera and THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19] species, quoting the universally-accepted names as synonyms, and gives no reason whatever for so doing; he constantly gives his own MS, names preference to the descriptions of others; he quotes Catalogue lists of undescribed species, thus conveying to the mind of the unwary student the impression that his species have long been characterized ; and, in addition to all this, he hopelessly confounds together subfamilies and genera whose larve are utterly distinct. In proof of the recent publication of this work (dated 1874) I feel compelled to subjoin an extract from a letter which [ recently received from the author, dated 18 Fevrier, 1875 :— ‘ Le species des Sphingides, Sesiides et Castniides sera mis au vente Lundi prochain chez M. Roret editeur, Rue Haute- feuille a Paris.’” Remarks on the genus Terias.—The Rev. R. P. Murray communicated the following remarks:—“ The species of Terias forming the Hecabe group have long been a source of perplexity to me, and for some time I have entertained a suspicion that most of them were referable to but one species, T. Hecabe, Linn. I think I am now able to bring forward proof that T. Asiope, Mén., at least, is only a form of Hecabe, and some evidence that the same is probably the case with T. Brende, Doubl., Hew., and T. Sari, Horsf. I have frequently received from Mr. Miskin, of Brisbane, specimens of typical T. Hecabe from Rockhampton, and also others of T. Zsiope from Brisbane, these forms being common in their respective localities, while it is by no means common to find them intermixed. So far the only evidence in favour of their forming but one species was afforded by the large number of specimens intermediate in character which came from Rock- hampton. But I now learn, by letters received from Mr. Miskin, that he has succeeded in breeding both forms from larve found on the same plant (Indigofera, sp.), and that he is now convinced that both forms belong to the same species. The curious distribution of the forms would tend to prove that the difference in markings is not sexual, but dependent on certain conditions as yet unknown to us. Both forms appear to be equally common in N.W. India, from whence | have received them in considerable numbers. I have never received the form T. Asiope, Mén., from Japan, where typical Hecabe is common, but curiously enough I have 192 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. seen large numbers of a Terias from Japan, which are, for the most part, indistinguishable from T. Brende, Doubl., Hew., originally described from West Africa, but which graduate insensibly in typical Hecabe, so that I am strongly inclined to believe that this form (Brende) replaces in Japan the AKsiope of Queensland. The evidence is not so strong with regard to T. Sari, Horsf, typical specimens of which seem exceedingly different from T. Hecabe, Z. I possess, however, three specimens from Malacca, two of which are well-marked T. Sari, while the third, which is much smaller, presents certain peculiarities in the interior outline of the black hind margin of the anterior wings. Below, however, the quadran- gular blotch, distinctive of T. Sari, is well-marked. A fourth specimen from the same locality, which must be referred to T. Hecabe, while presenting no trace of the blotch on the under side, exactly agrees in size, and in the markings of the upper side, with the third specimen just described. So that I think it is at least possible that T. Sari will ultimately be found to be but a form of the inconstant T. Hecabe.” Prof. Westwood suggested that the case might be analogous to that of certain English species of Pieris, where certain forms, —e.g., P. Napee, Hsp., and P. Sabellice, Steph.,—now universally recognised as varieties of P. Napi, Z., had long been considered as specifically distinct. Prof. Westwood also suggested that attention should be paid to the times of appearance of the various forms, and the period noted during which they remained in the pupa stage. Mr. A. G. Butler remarked that the latter circumstance had an important bearing on the case of Papilio Ajax, Linn. He expressed a doubt as to the correctness of the supposition that T. Sari was only a form of T. Hecabe, though he thought that the breeding of the latter and T. Msiope from the same food-plant was a strong point in favour of their identity. Death of Mr. Doubleday.—My inestimable friend Henry Doubleday, of Epping, died at his residence on Tuesday, the 29th of June, 1875, sincerely regretted by all who knew him. I intend publishing a short memoir in the September number of the ‘Entomologist,’ when some account may possibly be given of his vast collections and their future destination.— Edward Newman. > THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 146.] SEPTEMBER, MDCCCLXXV. [Price 6d. SmeRrIntHUs Tim1# (VARIETY). Variety of Smerinthus Tilie.—This beautiful variety chiefly differs from the typical colouring in the entire absence of the median transverse fascia of the fore wings. This fascia is of various shapes; sometimes entire, but as frequently interrupted, and forming two conspicuous blotches, the upper situated about the middle of the costal margin; the lower about the middle of the inner margin. The specimen is in the rich collection of Mr. J. A. Clark, to whose courtesy I am indebted for the loan of the specimen.—E. Newman. Description of the Larva of Cleora glabraria.—On the 29th of June last I found two larve on lichens on oak-trunks in the New Forest, which I suspected were Cleora glabraria ; and a fine imago of that species, which emerged last Sunday, proved that I was correct. As there is no description of this larva in ‘ British Moths,’ perhaps the following attempt at one may interest some of the readers of the ‘ Entomologist :’— VOL. VIII. 2c 194 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. With the exception of a lateral fold below the spiracles the skin appears to be smooth and without warts. The ground colour of both the head and the body is whitish green; the former is margined with black; the latter is marked with black spots, consisting of, first, a medio-dorsal series, con- taining one in the middle of each segment, and a smaller one at each division ; secondly, a sub-dorsal series of linear spots on each segment; and lastly, a rather oblique one on the skinfold at the anterior end of each segment: all these black spots are larger on the middle segments. Spiracles incon- spicuous:—H,. J. Channon; Woodlands, Lewisham, July 27, 1875. Description of the Larva of Emmelesia decolorata.— As the larva of Emmelesia decolorata is not described either in ‘British Moths’ or in the ‘Manual, you may, perhaps, think it worth while to give your readers the following notes on this insect:—It is a fat, sluggish larva, resembling in outline some of the Eupithecie (Pulchellata and Linariata, e.g.), and when resting, ex- posed on the plant, is stretched out with the head rather thrown back. In colour it reminds one of the larva of Ephestia elutella. The head is small, of a shining brown colour, and evidently two lobed. On the 2nd segment there is a horny brown plate, and the anal segment, the claspers of which are wide and spreading, is similarly protected. The medio-dorsal line or band is broad and distinct, but tapering to each extremity, and is of a pale colour. The dorsal area is dull, faint reddish, and has a few shining hairs. On the sides the skin seems to be gathered up into a ridge, the summit of which is the palest part of the larva, and forms a nearly white, irregular, lateral stripe. Below this the reddish colour appears again as an irregular line, abruptly marking off the central area, which is pale, and has several small, but distinct, spots of a pale brown colour on each segment. I have generally found the larva on the stameniferous plant of the white campion, although it sometimes feeds within the seed-capsule. Its presence is generally first noticed by the half-eaten petals, although its food is not confined to these. It will eat either petals, or calyx, or seeds ; but it is generally found within the calyx of the unopened flower-bud, devouring the contents. Later on, however, it enters the seed-capsule, , “ iil ter lange A 5 ® THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 195 and may be found there occasionally; but this insect evidently prefers the stameniferous plant. The larva is full- fed in August, and spins a cocoon underground.—[ Rev.] G. A. Smallwood ; Barrow-on-Trent, Derby, July 28, 1875. Description of the Larva of Hydreecia Petasitis.—Of nearly uniform thickness throughout, but slightly tapering towards both extremities. The segmental divisions are not clearly marked, but the sectional divisions are very distinct. The head is glabrous, and of a light brown colour. The body creamy white, and with dark brown oval spiracles. The dorsal surface of the 2nd segment is glabrous, and of a pale brown colour; the 5th and following segments have each a transverse dorsal series of four raised wart-like brown dots ; the interior pair are generally more prominent and distinct than the outer ones; in younger specimens these warts are scarcely perceptible. There are a number of strong brown bristles scattered over the larva, and particularly about the dorsal warts, sometimes actually emanating from them, but generally in the interstices between them. The under side is creamy white. These larve, for which I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Robert Kay, of Spring Bank, Bury, bear a very striking resemblance to those of Phragmateecia Arun- dinis, probably owing to a similarity of economy, both being internal feeders. Hydreecia Petasitis feeds in the substantial subterranean stem of the coltsfoot, Petasites vulgaris, in which it makes large excavations. It is usual to speak of this part as the root, but it seems to me rather an underground stem, from which leaves and flowers emanate every spring. I pre- sume it is generally known that this species is the Vindelicia of Frey. Mr. Kay accompanies the larve with the following interesting particulars— Edward Newman. Hydrecia Petasitis.—With.us Hydrecia Petasitis is not near so common as formerly, partially owing to “ improve- ments ;” and again, the larva is a desideratum with the anglers for bait. Not having obtained eggs at any time I cannot say how or when they are deposited ; but imagine they are placed as low down the stem of the food-plant as possible, so that they may not be destroyed when the plant dies off. With the exception of a few Hydracia micacea, and now and then a H. Humuli (feeding in the stems), H. Petasitis appears to be the only Lepidopterous larva which feeds internally on the 196 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. butter-bur (Tussilago Petasites). Sometimes the presence of the larva may be detected near the bottom of the stems of the food-plant, but in most cases there are no visible signs to show the presence of the insect so busy at work within; and perhaps the best way to find the insect is to pluck up a leaf and examine the base: if sound, it is generally useless examining further. The large plants, in a dry situation, are the most likely. When full grown the larva eats its way through the roots, enters the soil, and changes to a reddish brown chrysalis, without constructing a cocoon of earth,—as stated in Newman’s ‘ British Moths,’—so far as my experience goes, and -remains in the pupal state about three or four weeks. I found my first pupa when searching for larve, July 21st; and at the present time, August 16th, there are several larve still feeding, so that it is possible to find larva, pupa and imago at the same time. Generally it is not advisable to begin digging for the pupz till the third week in August, as the pupe are then in a sufficiently advanced state, and may be taken with the least risk of injury. This season, for the first time, I have noticed a few larve have been infested with a species of Filaria, or thread-worm, apparently the same I have seen bred in larve of Xanthia citrago. The imago may be found by beating and examining the under side of the leaves (withered leaves preferred) in Sep- tember. Like most internal feeders, H. Petasitis is apt to grease badly.—R. Kay. Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Lepidoptera taken at South Shields —Ou the 22nd July last 1 collected here on the coast one specimen of Lithosia — quadra; and on the 27th, two of Liparis chrysorrhea, one of L. auriflua, and one of L. Salicis; the two latter insects being new to this locality. L. chrysorrhcea was taken here two years ago; it has also been taken by my esteemed friend Mr. Wassermann, in his garden, at Cullercoats. Nonagria Elymi has been plentiful on the sand-reed siuce the end of June, and many of them are in fine condition still on August 10th. On July 25th a worn female of Heliothis peltiger came out of rest-harrow, where I was kueeling to box THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 197 N. Elymi: I took it in the hope of obtaining eggs, but in this was disappointed, as she died without depositing egys. Halonota grandevana, Zell., came out towards the end of June, and is becoming more plentiful than when I first met with it three years ago. Gelechia gracilella: ever since L took the first specimens of this insect, in 1870, I have done my best to make it common; but up to the present season [ have not obtained more than a dozen specimens; the locality where I took most of them has been taken for building ground, and the hedge-rows replaced with brick walls. ‘There yet remain two other places where it has occurred singly, and where I hope to obtain specimens for my friends.— Christopher Eales; Laygate Street, August 10, 1875. Captures near Buxton.—On the 9th of August I had an hour on the moors, near the ‘Cat and Fiddle, a country inn about five miles from Buxton. I was not over well prepared for collecting, and had only about forty boxes with me, : which I filled with about twenty-four Penthina sauciana, and the rest with Peronea Caledoniana and Pe. Geminana. 1 never saw more insects. The patch of Vaccinium was literally alive with those and other species. I should not have gone but for meeting with Mr. W. C. Boyd, of Ches- hunt; and he called my attention to P. sauciana. I never before met with this insect.—J. B. Hodgkinson ; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, August 6, 1875. ; Vanessa Antiopa near Ashford.—\t may interest your entomological readers to hear that I caught a good specimen of Vanessa Antiopa in the village-street at Wye, near Ash- ford, Kent, last Saturday, August 14th.—/S. R. Majendie ; Chartham, Canterbury.—From the ‘ Field’ d Vanessa Antiopa near Wells, Norfolk.—While driving yesterday in the neighbourhood of Wells, in Norfolk, I saw a _ fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa, which my father secured with his hat. It is a fresh and perfect specimen. I believe that several were killed on this coast three years ago.— Cyril Dighy ; Buxton —From the ‘ Field, Vanessa Antiopa at Chertsey.—If it can interest British entomologists, 1 beg to inform you that J caught on St. Ann’s Hill, Chertsey, Surrey, on the 10th of August, on a windy and _ cloudy afternoon, a splendid specimen of Vanessa Antiopa— — Wailly; 110, Clapham Road, S.W., August 21, 5. 198 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Erebia Ligea at Margate——During last summer (in August) a specimen of Erebia Ligea was taken by me in the garden belonging to a house in Margate. I have been assured by competent authority that I am correct in the name of my specimen; so this will add another locality in which to find this rare insect.—_W. J. Mercer; 12, Marine Terrace, Margate, August 7, 1875. [I should like to see the specimen, if Mr. Mercer will kindly send or bring it.— Edward Newman.] Colias Edusa on the Wing.—Colias Edusa has been taken at Walton-on-the-Naze this summer, and I saw a specimen at Lyndhurst on June 19th.—W. H. Harwood. Colias Edusa near Long Stratton and Nocton.—Colias Edusa has occurred several times at Long Stratton; and also at Nocton, near Lincoln, in the fen country.—Henry F. Wilson; Forncett St. Peter's Rectory, Long Stratton, Norfolk, Colias Hyale near Long Stratton.—On the 18th of August my brother was so fortunate as to capture a fine specimen of Colias Hyale, a female, on the railway-bank, near Forncett Station. On the 19th I went myself and saw two more, but only succeeded in catching one, a fine female. Would you inform me whether or not Norfolk is further north than Hyale is usually captured ?—Jd. Colias Hyale and C. Edusa in Norfolk.—On Friday the 20th, and Saturday the 21st of August, my brother and | took seven specimens of Colias Hyale and one of C. Edusa on the railway-bank, near Forncett Station, in Norfolk.—d. Deilephila Galii near Norwich.—On the evening of the 7th of August I had the satisfaction to take, at Norwood, a beautiful specimen of the bedstraw hawkmoth (Deilephila Galii).—R. Laddiman ; Cossey Terrace, Upper Hellesdon, Norwich. Depraved Taste of Lithosia complana Larve.—Having a quantity of larve of Nudaria mundana and a few of Lithosia complana, both of which were found feeding on lichens growing on stones, for convenience I kept all together in a large breeding-cage. I was surprised to find the pupe of N. mundana gradually diminishing in number, and at last caught one of the L.vomplana larve in the act of devouring the remains of a pupa; after which it very coolly went to the — j 4 , ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 199 next to repeat the performance. J send this notice thinking it may perhaps be of interest to others breeding L. complana. —R. Kay. Lithosia quadra at Redcar.—While at Redcar last month (July) 1 took Lithosia quadra on the 19th, on the sandhills. It seems to me to be out of place there, more especially as there are no trees within two miles.—George Brook; Fern- brook, Huddersfield, August 3, 1875. Variety of Notodonta palpina.—I have recently bred a very dark variety of Notodonta palpina. It is nearly black, and very much unlike ordinary specimens.—W. H. Harwood. ELupithecia Knautiala.—1 have now before me three series of this species, bred from baby larve, fed separately on the following plants:—No. 1 series fed exclusively upon Scabiosa succisa flowers; No. 2 series fed exclusively upon Scabiosa arvensis; and No. 3 series fed exclusively upon the flowers of Calluna vulgaris. All the food they have had has been gathered from plants growing in my own garden; and the results before me are, first, Nos. 1 and 2 are fine, large, rich, almost purple-brown specimens; and No. 3 only differs in size, not in colour: they are relatively small specimens, but retain all the other characteristics of this species. Seeing it is now the rule of English botanists to ignore the classical generic name, “ Knautia,” and call two plants (which some people think were well separated) both Scabiosa, so | have used that term above.—C. 8. Gregson; Fletcher Grove, Edge Lane, Liverpool, July 21, 1875. Larve of Xylophasia scolopacina.—1 think it is due to myself to say that I first took the larve of Xylophasia scolo- pacina in June, 1873, at Highgate Wood. I took it there again last year; and this year | showed Mr. Lockyer how and where to take it, both at Hampstead and Highgate.—C. WW. Simmons ; 39, Market Street, Caledonian Road, N. Lithosia quadra and Xylophasia scolopacina in York- shire.—1 have taken a female specimen of Lithosia quadra at sugar, besides a fair quantity of Xylophasia scolopacina.— J. Jackson ; 4, Kendray Yard, Barnsley. Tryphena interjecta and Plusia interrogationis.—On the 22nd of July Ll took Tryphena interjecta and Plusia interro- gationis at sugared ragwort.—]V. H. Harwood. Tryphena subsequa at Redcar,—On the 27th of July I took " 200 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. at sugar Tryphana subsequa. I am informed that this is the first recorded capture in Yorkshire.—W. H. Harwood. Dianthecia capsincola at Sugar.—On visiting my sugared ‘J trees on Friday last (August 20th) I was very much surprised | to find a fine female of Diantheecia capsincola. Is it not very unusual to find any of this genus at sugar?—A. Thurnall; . Whitilesford, Cambridgeshire, August 21, 1875. Catocala promissa near Ipswich.—I took a solitary Cato- cala promissa last night, at sugar, in good order. The insect has not been seen in these parts for years. I have also taken Lithosia quadra in two places.—C. F. Long; Borough Asylum, Ipswich, August 22, 1875. Sarrothripa Revayana.—I am now breeding Sarrothripa Revayana, from larve beaten from oak in the New Forest last month. This is a very singular insect, and it seems difficult to decide to what family it really belongs. Its little boat-shaped cocoon seems to indicate a close relationship to the genera Nola and Halias; but the Tortrix-like form of the perfect insect, combined with the method of folding its wings, like a Crambus when at rest, makes it quite a puzzle. The larva was new to me, and I did not know whether to think it a Bombyx or a Noctua, as it seemed to have some of the characters of both W. H. Harwood. The Plague of Locusts in America. By EpwARD NEWMAN. (Concluded from p. 179.) I WILL now turn back, and, still availing myself of Mr. Bethune’s admirable summary, endeavour to show that the locust, although so rarely heard of in England as an insect scourge in America, is no novelty in transatlantic regions. The earliest record of the visitation of locusts in America is — to be found in Gage’s ‘ West Indies,’ a work of which I am unhappily ignorant, except through the extract made by Mr. Bethune. The following refers to the year 1632 :— : “ The first year of my abiding there it pleased God to send one of the plagues of Egypt to that country, which was of locusts, which 1 had never seen till then. They were after the manner of our grasshoppers, but somewhat bigger, which did fly about in numbers so thick and infinite that they did truly cover the face of the sun, and hinder the shining forth THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 201 of the beams of that bright planet. Where they lighted, either upon trees or standing corn, there was nothing expected but ruin, destruction, and barrenness; for the corn they devoured, the fruits of trees they ate and consumed, and hung so thick upon the branches that with their weight they tore them from the body. The highways were so covered with them that they startled the travelling mules with their fluttering about their heads and feet. My eyes were often struck with their wings as I rode along; and much ado I had to see my way,—what with a montero wherewith I was fain to cover my face, what with the flight of them which were still before my eyes. ‘The farmers towards the south sea-coast cried out, for that their indigo, which was then in grass, was like to be eaten up; from the Jngenios of sugar the like moan was made, that the young and tender sugar- canes would be destroyed; but, above all, grievous was the ery of the husbandmen of the valley where I lived, who feared that their corn would in one night be swallowed up by that devouring legion. The care of the magistrates was that the towns of Indians should all go out into the fields with trumpets, and what other instruments they had, to make a noise and to affright them from those places which are most considerable and profitable to the commonwealth; and strange it was to see how the loud noise of the Indians and sounding of the trumpets defended some fields from the fear and danger of them. Where they lighted in the moun- tains and highways, there they left behind them their young ones, which were found creeping upon the ground, ready to threaten such a second year’s plague if not prevented; wherefore all the towns were called—with spades, mattocks, and shovels—to dig long trenches, and therein to bury all the young ones. Thus, with much trouble to the poor Indians and their great pains (yet after much hurt and loss in many places), was that flying pestilence chased away out of the country to the South Sea, where it was thought to be consumed by the ocean, and to have found a grave in the waters, whilst the young ones found it in the land. Yet they were not all so buried, but that shortly some appeared, which, being not so many in number as before, were, with the former diligence, soon overcome.” A century later locusts are recorded as laying waste all the 2vd 202 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. vegetation of Mexico and Yucatan, and as having produced famine and suffering among the people, especially in California. The Jesuit, Father Michael del Barco, who lived as a missionary in that country for thirty years, relates that from the arrival of the Jesuits, in 1697 to the year 1722, the inhabitants were free from the plague; but in the latter year the sufferings of the people were awful. In 1746 and the three years following locusts swarmed without intermission, and after this were absent until 1753 and 1754; and finally, before the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1765; and the plague continued during the two following years. Clavigero, in his ‘ History of Cali- fornia, gives a very interesting account of these several invasions, and describes the appearance and natural history of the insect with great minuteness :-— “The birth of these new grasshoppers has no particular time, but is dependent upon the early or late appearance of the rains, but they generally hatch during the latter part of September or early in October....... Their life; from birth to death, lasts ten months, during which they cast their coats twice, and change their colours five times. When the wings have become of sufficient strength and the body at its maturity, they then begin to ascend into the air and fly like birds, and commence their ravages in every direction, deso- lating the fields of every green thing. 'I‘heir numbers become so extraordinary that they soon form clouds in the atmo- sphere, of which the rays of the sun cast a shadow as they fly. They unite in masses of ten to twelve thousand, always following their conductors, and flying in a direct line without falling behind, for they consume every growing thing before them. To whatever height their guides conduct them to ~ obtain a sight of their food, they follow; and as soon as growing crops or any verdure is sighted, instantly the swarm will alight, and speedily devour and devastate the fields around to that extent, and with that promptitude, that when they are seen by a new swarm of their fellows there is not anything more left to injure or consume. This lamentable insect-plague is bad enough in old and cultivated countries, but in the miserable peninsula of California, where they eat up the crops, green trees, fruits, and pastures, they cause great mortality in the domestic animals of the missions, and, with the effect of their ravages on the cereals and other ar THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 203 garden productions, cause great famines and sickness among the inhabitants and neophytes of the establishments. At one time immense multitudes of these voracious insects died, infecting the air dreadfully with the stench of their corruption and decay.” Subsequent invasions bear date 1838, 1846, and 1855. In the latter year they extended themselves over a larger surface than had ever before been noticed. They covered the terri- tories of Washington and Oregon, and “ every valley of the state of California, ranging from the Pacific Ocean to the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada; covering the entire terri- tories of Utah and New Mexico; the immense grassy prairies lying on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains; the dry mountain-valleys of the republic of Mexico, and the countries of Lower California and Central America; and also those portions of Texas which resemble, in physical characteristics, Utah and California.” The records prove that the locusts extended themselves in one year “ over a surface comprised within thirty-eight degrees of latitude, and, in the broadest part, eighteen degrees of longitude.” The details of this insect-invasion was frightful in the extreme: before them was a productive paradise,—“ orchards, gardens, vineyards, fields of young grain, crops of vegetables,—converted in a single day into a withered, blackened desert.” That summer was the hottest that had been known for ten years. During the two following years the invasion was confined to the east of the Rocky Mountains: in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas, the locusts were especially destructive. The following passage is cited by Mr. Bethune from the ‘ Practical Entomologist,’ vol. il. p. 3:— “<*The last day of August, near the middle of the afternoon, quite a number of grasshoppers were seen alighting, and that number rapidly increased till a litle before sunset. The next morning they appeared much thicker, but were only so from having crawled more into the open air to sun themselves. About nine o'clock they began to come thicker and faster from a northerly direction, swarming in the air by myriads, and making a roar like suppressed distant thunder. By looking up to the sun they could be seen as high as the eye could discover an object so small, in appearance like a heavy snow-storm; each grasshopper very much like a very large 204 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. flake, save that it passed by instead of falling. The number was beyond imagination: the air was literally full of them, and continued so till late in the afternoon ; countless millions passed on, leaving other countless millions covering the earth and devouring the vegetation. Another writer from Kansas states that—‘ Yesterday, September 10th, the locusts made their appearance here, and are devouring everything green. They almost darken the sun in-their flight. I putin sixty-five acres of wheat in the last week of August, which looked fine, but it has nearly all disappeared; by to-morrow night there will not be a spear left. Early-sown wheat will be totally destroyed.’.. From the description given by another writer in Kansas, we may quote the following graphic account:— ‘There is something weird and unearthly in their appearance, as in vast hosts they scale walls, housetops, and fences, clambering over each other with a creaking, clashing noise. Sometimes they march in even, regular lines, like hosts of pigmy cavalry, but generally they rush over the ground in confused swarms. At times they rise high in the air, and circle round like gnats in the sunshine. At such times | think they are caught by currents of our prevailing westerly winds, and are thus distributed over vast tracts of country. The foregoing extracts will give our readers some litle idea of the mode of appearance and the destructive powers of the locusts in the west. We might fill pages,—a volume, indeed, with similar accounts.” The following year, and again in 1868, they appeared to be much less destructive in Central Iowa and North Western Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, and Utah, but did not cross the Mother of Waters, as the great Mississippi has been called. Whether this great river formed a natural barrier to their advance, or whether the eastern limit has been attained, it is impossible to say; but it is certain that hitherto the eastern states have escaped this mighty scourge. In Mr. Riley’s “ Seventh Annual Report on Noxious and other Insects Inhabiting the State of Missouri,” published during the present year, still further details are given, accom- panied by maps, showing the exact limits of the devastation. I cannot aflord more space to that part of the subject, but will conclude with a summary of the food-plants, which shows that it is almost omnivorous :— THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 205 “Scarcely anything comes amiss to the ravenous hosts when famished. ‘They will feed upon the dry bark of trees or the dry lint of seasoned fence-planks, and upon dry leaves, paper, cotton and woollen fabrics. They have been seen literally covering the backs of sheep, eating the wool; and whenever one of their own kind is weak or disabled, from cause whatsoever, they go for him or her with cannibalistic ferocity, and soon finish the struggling and kicking unfortu- nate. They do not refuse even dead animals, but have been seen feasting on dead bats and birds. Few things, therefore, come amiss to them; yet where food is abundant they are fastidious, and much prefer acid, bitter or peppery, food, to that which is sweet. The following resumé of my notes and observations may prove interesting :—‘ Vegetables and cereals are their main-stay; turnips, rutabagas, carrots, cabbage, kohlrabi, and radishes, are all devoured with avidity; beets and potatoes with less relish, though frequently nothing but a few stalk-stubs of the latter are left, and sometimes the tubers in the ground do not escape; onions they are very partial to, seldom leaving anything but the outer rind; of leguminous plants the pods are preferred to the leaves, which are often passed by; cucurbitaceous plants also suffer most in the fruit; in the matter of tobacco their tastes are culti- vated, and they seem to relish an old quid or an old cigar more than the green leaf; tomatoes and sweet potatoes are not touched, so long as other food is to mouth. Of cereals, corn is their favourite; if young and tender, everything is devoured to the ground; if older and dryer, the stalks are mostly left; the silk is, however, the first part to go. All other cereals are to their taste, except sorghum and broom- corn, which are often left untouched. They are fond of buckwheat and flax, but seldom touch castor-beans. Next to vegetables and cereals they relish the leaves of fruit-trees: they strip apple and sweet cherry-trees, leaving nothing but the fruit hanging on the bare twigs. The leaves of the peach are generally left untouched, but the flesh of the unripe fruit is eaten to the stone. Pear-trees, as Mr. Gale informs me, suffered less than any other kind of orchard-tree at the Experimental Farm at Manhattan, Kansas. The tender bark of twig and branch and trunk of all these trees is gnawed and girdled; and these girdled trees present a sad picture as oue 206 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. passes through the ravaged country during the subsequent winter. Sour cherry, apricot, and plum-trees, are less affected by them, while ripe fruit is seldom touched. Of berries, strawberries and blackberries are devoured, where raspberries are frequently unmolested. Flowering shrubs very generally suffer; and they are particularly fond of rose and lilac. Of herbaceous plants, Helianthus, Amaranthus, and Xanthium, are eaten with especial avidity. Grape-vines suffer more from the girdling of the fruit-stems than from defoliation. Forest and shade-trees suffer in different degrees, and some, when young, are not unfrequently killed outright. Last year, honey locust, red cedar, box elder, Osage orange, elm and oak, were either untouched or but little injured, while the following trees were preferred in the order of their naming: ash, willow, cottonwood, balm of Gilead, silver- leaved and Lombardy poplars, black ash, black locust, black walnut, hickory, Ailanthus, maple, Sumach, and evergreens. In every case they show a marked preference for plants that are unhealthy or withered.’” English philanthropists, who have taken such laudable pains to discover outlets for their charity in Africa, would do well to direct their attention to the naturally fruitful, but now desolate, regions westward of the Mississippi: the plethora of English wealth might here find a safety-valve among a people who are really and positively our own kith and kindred.. Attracted by reports, to what was represented a western paradise, thousands of families have migrated from their homes in England to find a desolate, inhospitable waste, rendered so by the ravages of these insatiable destroyers. It may be asked whether the Americans them- selves are doing their best to meet the emergency. And the answer is certainly in the affirmative. Men of science have exerted themselves to the utmost in diffusing a knowledge of the natural history of the insect, and in endeavouring to find means of exterminating or, at any rate, checking the increase of the enemy; while the benevolent have sought, by every means in their power, to repair the losses, and thus mitigate the sufferings. A crumb of comfort remains to the afflicted; although some differences of opinion prevail on the subject, a general opinion prevails that the locust has reached its eastern limit THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 207 in the American continent :—“ It seems to breed only on the higher mountain-elevations, where the atmosphere is very dry and attenuated, and where the soil seldom or ever gets soaked with moisture.” Professor Thomas “ found it most numerous in all stages of growth along the higher valleys and canyons of Colorado, tracing it up above the perennial snows, where the insect must have been hatched, and where it was found in the adolescent state. In crossing the mountains in Colorado it often gets chilled in passing the snows, and thus perishes in immense numbers, when bears delight to feed on it.” “ My own belief,” continues Mr. Riley, “is that the insect is at home in the higher altitudes of Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North West Dakota, and_ British America. It breeds in all this region, but more particularly on the vast and hot dry plains and plateaus of the last-named territories, and the plains west of the mountains, its range being bounded probably on the east by that of the Buffalo grass.” Epwarp Newman. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair. Apri 5, 1875. New Species of Ornithoptera.—Mr. Sealy read the follow- ing notes on the species of Ornithoptera exhibited at the last meeting :—‘ The insect occurs in tolerable abundance along the coast of South Malabar, Cochin, and Travancore. At the town of Cochin, where | live, it is frequently seen. I have also observed it many miles inland, flying over the trees in the low jungles at the foot of the Western Ghauts; but [ have not noticed it at any great height above the sea. In Cochin 1 have seen it from March to August flying over the tops of the tallest cocoa palms, occasionally descending to hover over the flowers, especially those of the large scarlet Hibiscus, near which 1 have caught it in my own garden. The males seem less common than the females, and seldom are perfect on the wing. For several years | could get no 208 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. information regarding the larva; none of the natives knew it, but last monsoon I obtained it, and during June and July many were collected: they fed upon Aristolochia indica, and apparently upon it only. The larve were very splendid, of a rich velvety black, with a lateral band, and a saddle of white and red, very roughly tubercled, and the tubercles tipped with red. I cannot from memory attempt a closer description. A plate in ‘ Wood’s Natural History’ of the imago and larva of a species there given as Ornithoptera Amphrisius corresponds very closely with this Cochin species. But there seems some doubt about its identity. On July 19th, 1874, I obtained a large quantity both of larvae and pupe: the lareee I fed upon Aristolochia, and many changed to pupe. From these many emerged before I left India (August 13th), and others on board ship, from the pupz I took with me. They appear to remain about three weeks in pupa. The pupa possesses the power of making a curious noise, like ‘ pha, pha,’ and makes it very loudly when touched; the noise is accompanied (perhaps produced) by a sharp contraction of the abdominal segments. I thought at first it was merely produced by the rubbing of one ring of the pupa-case against the next, but the sound did not resemble a mere frictional sound; it was more like the sound of the rush of air through small holes,— ‘pha, pha!’ I tried to produce it with a dead chrysalis, but failed; and the pupa sometimes contracted on being touched without making the noise, and appeared unable to make the noise until some time was given to allow them to recover their vigour. A curious incident connected with this insect came under my notice some years ago. In cleaning out the body of a female I turned out a mass of apparently mature eggs, but they all proved unfertile; soon after, in operating upon oe female, a slight pressure upon the body drove an egg out from the oviduct, and a repeated pressure extruded a second; the rest, twenty or thirty, would not come, and were taken out in emptying the body. The two which had been pressed through the oviduct hatched, and all the others shrivelled. { mention this as it seems a sort of confirmation of Von Siebold’s observation respecting bees, that the fertili- zation of the egg takes place on its passage through the oviduct. The two larve lived two or three days, refusing — every leaf I offered them. I did not then know Aristolochia — THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 209 was the food-plant.”. Mr. Sealy also called attention to a peculiarity in the formation of the hind wings of the male, specimens of which he exhibited, there being a large pouch on the anal margin, filled with fluffy hair. Colorado Potato-beetle-—Mr. M‘Lachlan read a letter he had received from an Englishman residing in Pueblo, Colorado, U.S., stating that he had grown potatoes in various parts of the Union, and that he was satisfied it was not necessary for the potato-beetle to have pieces of haulm to support it whilst crossing the Atlantic, as he had found the insect in his potato-pits eating the tubers greedily ; and that unless the English authorities took some steps to prevent the importation of potato-bulbs, he believed the beetle would soon be in this country. Mr. M‘Lachlan drew attention to the following remark by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, in his Report of the Zoological Collections made in Colorado during the summer of 1873 (extracted from the Annual Report of the U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey) with reference to the Colorado potato-beetle:—“ This insect is still marching eastward, not a single specimen having been seen west of the dividing-ridge. It is probable that, should the potato be cultivated on the western water-shed, it would be free from the ravages of this destructive insect for a number of years; but that it would ultimately make its appearance in that region through the agency of the seed. This I believe to be the manner of their introduction to distant localities, as they are sluggish travellers, and quite incapable of spreading so rapidly by their own instinct. This belief is further sustained by their continued absence from the Salt Lake basin, occasioned by the cheapness of vegetables in the Mormon settlements excluding the im- portation of potatoes from Colorado. Not found at a greater altitude than eight thousand feet.” Mr. Bates believed the distribution of the beetle depended more upon climatic con- ditions. The native home of the insect was the eastern plateaus of the Rocky Mountains, as far south as Mexico; and the climate of the West Coast of America being much more like the West Coast of Europe, their Fauvas also bore a great resemblance. He believed the absence of the insect from the west of the Rocky Mountains to depend upon the difference of climate ; and the same cause might be expected 2E 210 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. to prevent the establishment of the insect in countries where the moisture of the atmosphere would probably be fatal to it. Mr. Stevens remarked that on different occasions he had received the insect in great numbers in bottles from Orizaba. May 3, 1875. Siylops taken in Andrena atriceps.—The President exhi- bited specimens of Stylops taken by himself, in the pupa state, in Andrena atriceps, at Hampstead Heath, on the 6th, 9th and 17th of April last. Mr. F. Enoch, who had been there on the 6th, at an earlier hour (between nine and ten o’clock), had been still more successful, having captured as many as seventeen males, one of which, however, was taken after 2 p.M. The President drew attention to the remarkable difference observable in the cephalothorax of the females in these specimens, as compared with those met with in Andrena convexiuscula, and remarked on the importance of not con- founding the species obtained from different Andrene; Stylops Spencii having been derived by Mr. Pickering from A. atriceps, and figured by Professor Westwood in the first volume of the ‘Transactions’ of this Society, while those obtained by Mr. Thwaites from A. convexiuscula had been associated with his name in a monograph of the family by the President in the volume for 1874, under the name of Stylops Thwaitesei. Insects of Kerguelen’s Island—Mr. M‘Lachlan read an extract from a Report made to the Royal Society on the Natural History of Kerguelen’s Island, by the Rev. A. E. Eaton, who was attached, as naturalist, to the Transit of Venus Expedition to the island. Nearly all the insects were remarkable for being either apterous or with greatly abbre- viated wings. There were two Lepidoptera, one (only a larva) probably belonging to the Noctuina, the other to the Tineina. Of the Diptera, one species had neither wings nor halteres; another lived habitually on rocks covered by the tide at high-water, and its larva fed upon a species of sea- weed. All the larger Coleoptera seemed to have their elytra soldered together. Mr. M‘Lachlan said that the theory as to the apterous condition of the insects was, that the general high winds prevailing in those regions rendered the develop- ment of wings useless; and Mr. Jenner Weir remarked that THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 211 the apterous condition was correlated with the fact that plants under similar circumstances were apetalous and self- fertilising ; and hence it was supposed that the existence of winged insects was unnecessary. Chekanops under the Elytra of a Passalus.—Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited a Chekanops, of which he had dis- covered two specimens under the elytra of Passalus punctiger, from Rio Janeiro, thus confirming the statement that these insects attach themselves to the bodies of other insects after the manner of Acari. A New Neuropteron from Swan River.—Mr.C.O. Water- house also exhibited a drawing of a Neuropterous insect of the family Ascalaphidz, from Swan River, presenting the peculiarity of having a large bifid hump on the basal segment of the abdomen dorsally, each division of the hump bearing a crest of hairs. He believed it to be the male of Suphalasca magna, M‘ Lachlan. Collection of Neuroplera from Yokohama.— Mr. Wormald exhibited a collection of Neuroptera, &c., from the neigh- bourhood of Yokohama, received from Mr. H. Pryer. It included several interesting species of Panorpide, including a new genus of that family, according to Mr. M‘Lachlan; fine species of Osmylide, &c. Amongst the Trichoptera was a remarkable species of the genus Perissoneura, black, with a large white spot in each wing, deceptively resembling a butterfly, especially an Ithomia. JUNE 7, 1875. Zygena Meliloti and Z. Trifolii—Mr. Briggs exhibited bred specimens of Zygena Meliloti, accompanying them with the following remarks :—“ In 1872 and 1873 I reared young larve of Z. Meliloti from the New Forest, up to and through hybernation, but they died in the following springs ; and these larve, from the minuteness of the markings on the ground colour, showed a great distinction from the youn larve of Z. Trifolii of the same age. Last year (1874) I found small specimens of Z. Trifolii in company with Z. Meliloti. I therefore took especial care that the eggs I reared were from four typical pairs of (the New Forest) Z. Meliloti, found in copula ; the eggs were (in all four cases) larger than the eggs of Z. Trifolii—a peculiarity I had remarked in previous years. 212 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Several of the moths I found difficult to refer with any degree of certainty to either(?) species. In the autumn many of the young larve had developed markings like those of Z. Trifolii. This spring (having failed in my two previous attempts) I put the Z. Meliloti, of which about thirty out of three hundred survived the winter, into a greenhouse, and in the result got nine pupez; the major portion of the twenty- one others fed and grew with their companions for a while, and then hybernated again. Of the nine pupe six have now hatched, and produced full-coloured specimens of the small Z. Trifolii that 1 found in company with Z. Meliloti last year. The following questions suggest themselves:—(1) Is the Z. Meliloti of the New Forest a separate species or a dwarfed form of Z. Trifolii? (2) If a dwarfed form, did the additional greenhouse heat aid in developing it? (3) If a separate species, can the specimens I bred from have paired with Z. Trifolii previously? I may add that 1 have compared M. Boisduval’s description of the continental Z. Meliloti with the New Forest insect, and they do not agree in several particulars; and I have inspected the British Museum speci- mens of continental Z. Meliloti, and they also differ from the New Forest insect, especially in the form of the wings. The fact of the hybernation of the larva for a second year seems common. I have found it with Z. Trifolii and Z. Meliloti during the last three years, and it has been recorded of Z. Lonicere. Out of one hundred larve of Z. Trifolii that survived last winter I obtained twenty-five pupz (most of which are out); about twenty died, and the rest resumed hybernation, in the first week in June, in a greenhouse, the average daily temperature of which is 75°, and are now hybernating and apparently healthy.” Mr. M‘Lachlan remarked that the insects of the genus hybridized very freely, and alluded to the possibility of their pairing more than once. Mr. W. A. Lewis had noticed that Z. Meliloti was by far the commonest insect in the part of the New Forest which forms its head-quarters, and that, as it appeared to have been only discovered there of late years, it might be a stunted form which had been developed recently. Mr. Weir said that he had taken the insect twenty years ago in Tilgate Forest. Insects of Kerguelen’s Island.—The Rev. A. E. Eaton Ra ae te pce EINE i aR ite terre tf -aN. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 213 exhibited the insects recently taken by him in Kerguelen’s Island. There were about a dozen belonging to the Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera, besides some speci- mens of bird-lice and fleas. Sound produced by Halias prasinana.—Mv. Briggs exhi- bited a specimen of Halias prasinana, which, when taken, was heard to squeak very distinctly, and at the same time a slender filament issuing from beneath the abdomen was observed to be in rapid motion, and two small spiracles close to the filament were distinctly dilated. Living Larva in Andrena Trimmerana.—The President called attention to a living larva which he had that morning extracted from the body of a stylopized female of Andrena Trimmerana, taken at Reigate on the 4th of June,—this larva having a long attenuated telescopic process at the anterior extremity, and two piceous reniform appendages behind, like that of Conops, which he had frequently reared from Pompilus, Sphex, and Odynerus, as described by him in the ‘ Trans- actions’ (vol. iv., ser. 2, 1858, pl. 28). These larve had also been met with in Bombus by Latreille, Dufour, and others, as well as in Osmia, but not in Andrena, which moreover had been doubly victimized in the present instance, having the greater portion of the abdomen preoccupied by another invader, and thriving in spite of this and of the Conops larva subsequently lodged at the base. Podura found on Snow.—The Secretary exhibited some specimens of a minute Podura, forwarded to him by the Secretary of the Royal Microscopical Society, having been found on the snow of the Sierra Nevada, in California. Flea attached to the Neck of a Fowl.—Mr. F. H. Ward exhibited some microscopic slides showing specimens of a flea attached to the skin of the neck of a fowl, and which remained there after the death of the fowl. Jury 5, 1875. Death of Mr. Doubleday.—The President announced the decease of Mr. Henry Doubleday, one of the Original Members of the Society; and Mr. Stainton made some remarks on his entomological labours, and on the great service he had done for Entomology in correcting the nomenclature of the British Lepidoptera. 214 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Ornithoptera from Cochin—Mr. Dunning remarked that the Ornithoptera bred by Mr. Sealy from larve taken at Cochin, South India, and exhibited by him at a recent meeting, had been identified as O. Minos. Curculio attacked by a Fungus.—Mr. Bond exhibited two specimens of a Curculio, sent by Mr. Griffin from Nova Fribourgo, Brazil, which were attached to the same twig, and were both attacked by a fungus. Mr. Janson said that they belonged to the genus Hylopus, and were well known to be subject to such attacks. Osmia nesting in a Lock.—The President exhibited a lock, taken from a gate at Twickenham, entirely filled with the cells of a species of Osmia, which Mr. Smith said was most probably O. bicornis, of which he had known several instances in locks. The larve were still alive and healthy. Parasilic Coleoptera, &c.—The President also exhibited an example of the minute Hylechthrus Rubi, one of the Stylopide, parasitic upon Prosopis rubicola, recently obtained from briars imported from Epirus, and remarked upon a method of expanding the wings of Stylopide. In repose these wings were rolled up in an elongate form; but he found that by pressing them gently forward from below they suddenly became erect, and then easily retained an expanded position. He further exhibited males and females of Spilo- mena troglodytes (one of the Crabronide) reared from bramble-stems found at Shere, in Surrey; also a series of Halictus nitidiusculus, stylopized, and recommended ento- mologists going to the south coast in August to search for stylopized Halicti, especially on thistles. Finally, he remarked on the parasites of Osmia and Anthidium ; and exhibited two specimens of the Coleopterous genus Zonitis (Z. mutica and Z. bifasciata) reared from the cells of Osmia tridentata, and a third (Z. preusta) from those of Anthidium contractum, which latter had also produced two species of Chalcidide (Leucospis dorsigera and Eurytoma rubicola). He enume- rated eleven species of Insect as attacking the same Osmia in various stages, of which he had himself reared six, including the two Zonites aforesaid, the other four being Cryptus bimaculatus, Melitobia Audouini, Halticella Osmicida, and Chrysis indigotea; some of which had been recorded by Dufour and Perris, together with Stelis minuta and two a e ® » THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 215 species of Diptera (Senometopia spinipennis and Conops flavipes); two other Crypti (C. confutor and C. signatorius) being cited by Dr. Giraud. The Zonitis devoured the egg and pollen-paste whereon the Stelis also subsisted; the Chrysis, Crypti and Senometopia fed upon the soft larve externally ; Halticella was reared within the more solid adult larvae, whose tegument, desiccated and black (as in specimens exhibited), served for the hybernation of the parasite; the Melitobia destroyed the nymph in its soft state by external attack, and the Conops deposited its egg in the body of the bee itself after maturity. Specimens of this Osmia alive, and of the briars from which they were produced, were also exhibited, Chrysomela cerealis.—Mr. Champion exhibited a series of recently-captured individuals of Chrysomela cerealis from Snowdon, its only known British locality. Mr. M‘Lachlan stated that he had recently seen this species in the Depart- ment of the Sadne et Loire, in France, in great numbers, each ear of wheat having several of the beetles upon it, and remarked on the singular nature of its sole habitat in Britain. Trap-door Spiders in the Bark of a Tree.—The Secretary exhibited nests of a trap-door spider containing living inmates, sent from Uitenhage, near Port Elizabeth, by Mr. Henry W. Bidwell, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Cape of Good Hope. The nests were not (as is usual) in the earth, but in caviuies in the bark of trees, and the “ trap- door” appeared to be formed of a portion of the bark, thus rendering it most difficult to detect the nests when in a closed condition. The Secretary was also informed that similar nests were constructed in door-posts and other places. American Locusts and Army Worm.—My. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, exhibited sundry of the insect-pests that do so much damage in the United States, including the army worm (Leucania unipuncta) and the Rocky Mountain locust (Caloptenus spretus), and entered at some length into the habits of the latter insect, and the vast amount of desti- tution caused by it, stating that in a short period it devoured almost every living plant, leaving nothing but the leaves of the forest trees, and converting a fruitful country into an absolute desert. From a knowledge of the habits of the 216 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. insect, and believing in its inability to exist in a moist climate, he had predicted that its ravages would not extend beyond a certain line, and he had seen these predictions fulfilled almost to the letter. Having noticed that hogs and poultry grew excessively fat from devouring the locusts, and considering that the use of them as food for man would tend to relieve some of the distress occasioned in the devastated districts, he had, shortly before leaving St. Louis, organized a banquet, at which locusts, prepared in several ways (espe- cially in the form of soup), were served up, and they were pronounced to be excellent. He distributed a number of baked locusts among the members present, but did not recommend thei for food in that state, as the chitinous external tegument and the spines required to be removed before they were fit for digestion. Mr. Riley also stated that he was very desirous of taking a supply of the cocoons of Microgaster glomeratus to America, to lessen the ravages of the larve of the genus Pieris on that continent; and he would be greatly obliged to any entomologist who couid assist him iu obtaining them. [Most heartily do I second Mr. Riley’s request. No one has done so much for Economic Entomology in the United States as Mr. Riley; and I hope entomologists in this country will promote his patriotic views as far as is in their power, since we are certain whatever suggestion is thrown out by so thoroughly practical a naturalist is deserving of the most earnest consideration of his fellow-labourers in every country. With regard to the beneficial effect of importation of Micro- gaster into the United States, I] must decline expressing an opinion. I can only say, try it—Hdward Newman.] Removal of the Sociely—The President stated that this was the last meeting that would be held at Burlington House ; and that due notice would be given to the members when the arrangements at the new rooms of the Society, at 11, Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, were completed ; the library having been already removed to that place. Mr. Dunning proposed, and Mr. M‘Lachlan seconded, a cordial vote of thanks to the Linnean Society for the permission to hold the meetings at their rooms, so long enjoyed by the Entomological Society. This was carried by acclamation. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 147.] OCTOBER, MDCCCLXXYV. [Price 6d. Notes on Oviposition. By the Rey. P. H. Jennrnas. (Continued from p. 175.) Urapteryx sambucata.—A female, taken July 13th, laid one hundred and twenty-three eggs: eleven on the 138th, thirty- eight on the 14th, sixteen on the 15th, thirteen on the 16th, forty-one on the 17th, and four on the 18th. Of these sixty- six were deposited on the muslin cover, forty on the glass cylinder, and forty-seven on the under side of the leaves of the food-plant; some were laid singly, some contiguous and in order; those on the leaves were near the middle of each leaf, spherical, rather longer longitudinally, the end by which they were attached to the surface rather smaller than the other; longitudinally divided into eight flattened sides, which cease towards the top, leaving a circular space slightly depressed, and around which the divisions of the sides rise in small points; straw-coloured, smooth, but only partially glossy; became orange-coloured on the fourth day; lead- coloured just before the young larve were hatched, which took place on the eighteenth day, July 31st. Cabera exanthemaria.—A female, taken July 3rd, laid eighty-five eggs: sixty were deposited on the 5th, eleven on the 6th, and four on the 18th. Of these twenty-five were laid on the upper surface of the leaves of the food-plant, goat- sallow (Salix caprawa), singly and much scattered; twenty- four on the under side and thirty-six on the muslin cover: oblong, depressed on the crown, rounded at the other end, yellow, of the finest gloss, slightly flattened on both surfaces. The young larve began to appear on the thirteenth day, July 18th. Emmelesia decolorata.—A female, taken June 18th, laid twenty-four eggs on the stem and calyx of the food-plant, VOL, VIII. QR j ; 218 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Lychnis dioica, deposited singly: yellow, gradually assuming a darker shade till they became of an orange-colour ; oblong, glossy, very slightly flattened on both surfaces. The young larve, which were yellow, with a black head and a black corneous plate on the 2nd segment, began to appear on the seventh day, June 26th. Melanippe procellataa—A female, taken July 3rd, laid thirty-eight eggs: twenty-three on the 4th, eight on the Sth, and seven on the 6th. The larger number were deposited on the upper edge of the leaves of the food-plant, traveller’s joy (Clematis vitalba), some on the under edge, and one on the stem: almost white, opaque, oblong, slightly depressed on the crown, not glossy. Anticlea rubidata.—A female, taken July 3rd, laid twenty- eight eggs: twenty-two were deposited on the tips of the leaves of the food-plant (Galium mollugo), for the most part singly, sometimes two on one tip, and in one instance six, and six on the muslin cover: oblong, equally rounded at each end; nearly white, glossy, having very much the appearance of pearls attached to the tips of the leaves. The young larvee began to appear on the tenth day, July 13th. Scotosia undulata.—A female, taken July 9th, laid one hundred and seventy-one eggs: thirty-one were deposited on the 1lth, eleven on the 12th, thirteen on the 13th, twenty- four on the 14th, five on the 15th, five on the 16th, two on the 17th, ten on the 18th, fifty on the 19th, one on the 20th, eight on the 2lst, eleven on the 26th: one hundred and eighteen were on the upper side of the leaves, the goat- sallow (Salix caprea), and fifty-three on the under side, all deposited singly: oblong, slightly depressed on the crown; white, slightly glossy. The young larve began to appear on the twelfth day, July 23rd. P. H. JENNINGS, Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, August 18, 1875. Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Captures in Kent.—I had again the pleasure of taking Nola albulalis in the north of Kent during the middle of July last, although I secured very few in comparison with the peo THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 219 number I captured the previous year. I do not think the species has been much less common than then, but scattered over a longer period, the weather being so variable. Last year, the week I was on the ground was exceedingly fine and hot; this year, on the contrary, it rained incessantly nearly the whole time. I also took Apatura Iris about the oaks; and Pterophorus rhododactylus, in both pupa and imago stages, about the wild roses. Amongst the less noteworthy species observed at the same time may be mentioned Melitza Athalia, Vanessa polychloros (pupa common), Sesia myope- formis (empty pupe-cases common in old apple-trees), Calligenia miniata, Acidalia rusticata (in profusion on two elm-hedges), Cidaria picata, Thyatira derasa, T. Batis, Aero- nycta Ligustri, Caradrina Morpheus, Epunda viminalis (very common at sugar), Rivula sericealis, Erastria fuscula, Ebulea crocealis, Pempelia roborella, Pterophorus lithodactylus, and many others.— Geo. T. Porritt; Huddersfield, Sept. 2, 1875. Captures of Lepidoptera.—l observe by Newman’s ‘British Moths’ that he is doubtful about the occurrence of the dark variety of Xylophasia polyodon in the south of England: I venture to add that 1 found one at rest on palings, in Surrey, about July, 1872. I have lately been taking Crambus uliginosellus plentifully here: Stainton, | see, gives only three localities, but in one or two of these it appears to be abundant. I have likewise taken Lycena gon on a heath, about a mile and a half from Esher, in the direction of Claremont, where it appears to be pretty plentiful. Anarta Myrtilli also occurs there. I have been taking also Phibalapteryx lignata in some plenty. I captured one fine Coremia quadrifasciaria on the 6th, in the same locality. Also a fine specimen of Ptilodontis palpina at rest on a fence, on the 10th, which seems to me very late for the species. Endotricha flammealis has been common in Coombe Wood this year, where, also, Acidalia promutata has not been uncommon. A fine specimen of Larentia olivata turned up at light here on the 12th: this appears to be a northern species. I have likewise taken two fine Leptogramma literana ; one on the 2lst.—W. Thomas; Surbiton Villa, Surbiton, August 24, 1875. Vanessa Antiopa at Edlington, near Doncaster.—Hap- pening to be at Edlington on the Sth of September last, 220 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. entomologizing, I met with two men who had just taken a good specimen of Vanessa Antiopa. It was pinned side- ways in a pasteboard-box, along with a lot of Atalanta, Lo, and Gonepteryx Rhamni, which swarm there just now. I secured it for my cabinet.—John Harrison ; Barnsley. Vanessa Antiopa in Norfolk.—A specimen of Vanessa Antiopa was taken here on Friday, August 20th, and is added to a private collection in the neighbouring county of Suffolk. It measures three and one-thirteenth inches across the wings.—John Tudor Frere; Roydon Hall, Diss, August 22, 1875. [From the ‘ Field.’| Vanessa Antiopa in Ireland.—1 am happy to tell you that you may add Vanessa Antiopa to the list of Irish Lepi- doptera, a specimen in very fine condition having come into my possession, taken by a nursery-maid on a road in the neighbourhood of Belfast.—John Bristow ; Chichester Park, Belfast, September 11, 1875. Vanessa Antiopa and Colias Edusa.—My friend Mr. Hill saw a fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa near Berkeley Road Station, on August . 5th, but did not succeed in capturing it. I have been taking Colias Edusa freely on a railway-bank near here, and also in a clover-field near Chepstow, but found the females very scarce; the proportion being twenty males to one female. Colias Hyale I have not seen.— J. Preston; Fishponds, near Bristol, September 20, 1875. Papilio Machaon, Gonepteryx Rhamni, Vanessa Io, and V. Alalanta.—In the Norfolk fens the larve and pupe of Papilio Machaon have been scarce this season.. May not this be attributed to the heavy rains at the season when the larve were feeding? I find Gonepteryx Rhamni and Vanessa lo entirely absent from localities where 1 have never failed to get quantities in former years. Vanessa Atalanta, on the other hand, has been unusually abundant.—&. Laddiman ; Norwich. Colias duea near Hendon and Hampstead.—I and my brother have within the last fortnight captured three very good specimens of Colias Edusa; two near Hendon, and one near Hampstead Heath.—J. Hh. Sharp; September 6, 1875. Colias Edusa near Norwich.—On the 29th of August I saw, at South Walsham, a solitary specimen of Colias Edusa on the wing; on the 30th I also observed another near the THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 221 same place.—R. Laddiman; Cossey Terrace, Upper Hel- lesdon, Norwich. ‘olias Edusa at Darlinglon.—I have the pleasure of recording the capture of two fine examples of Colias Edusa near Darlington. As they are not of usual occurrence I thought it well to let you know.—Thomas Worthington ; Jane Street, Darlington, September 13, 1875. Colias Edusa at Nottingham.—On Friday last, the 18th September, 1 observed two fine specimens of Colias Edusa here, at Nottingham. Is not this very far north for it?— Stanley Birkin; Ruddington Grange, near Nottingham, September 23, 1875. Colias Hyale and C. Edusa in Suffolk.—My son (Hugh Peters), a lad of thirteen years, returned from Aldeburgh yesterday. He informs me that both Colias Hyale and C. Edusa were common in and around that town towards the latter end of August. He captured twenty-one in a few hours, and saw a great many more; but, being a windy day, they were soon out of reach. His captures were thirteen Colias Hyale and eight C, Edusa.—John Peters ; 8, Belgrave Ttoad, St. John’s Wood, N.W., September 4, 1875. Colias Hyale and C,. Edusa at Maldon.—This appears to be quite a Colias season again, as this last week, when out shooting, 1 have noticed both Colias Hyale and C. Edusa many times, at localities in Essex, more than tweuty miles distant from one another. This morning I took my net, and in less than twenty minutes caught eight fine specimens of Colias Hyale, one almost white. I saw others; it is quite common here.—E. A. Fitch ; Maldon, Essex. Colias Hyale.—I have taken several fine specimens of Colias Hyale close to this town during the past week.—W. D. Cansdale; White House, Witham, August 30, 1875. Colias Edusa and C. Hyale near Alresford.—Colias Edusa and C. Hyale have both occurred not uncommonly in this neighbourhood, during the last week in August and the beginning of September.—Joseph Anderson, jun.; Alresford, Hants. Colias Helice at Alresford.—On the 15th of September my brother, Mr. Fred. Anderson, had the pleasure of capturing a fine specimen of this beautiful variety of Colias Edusa flying by the side of a railway-bank in the neighbourhood of this 999 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. town. I wonder whether the experience of other collectors is the same as his, as to the scarcity of the female of C. Edusa; but out of quite a large number of males he only succeeded in taking one female.—Joseph Anderson, jun.; Alresford, Hants. Lycena Arion near Kingsbridge.—The locality in this neighbourhood for this handsome insect was first discovered on the 30th of June, 1856, by Mr. H. Young and myself, at which time, and for many years subseqently, it was to be found in very large numbers; as many as three or four hundred specimens of a morning might be seen sporting about, alighting on the flowers of the wild thyme, and apparently sucking the nectar therefrom. If you give chase for the purpose of catching, it is necessary to be very quick, as they have a peculiar habit of darting into the thick furze, and creeping to its very centre ; and all your beating the bush fails to again get them onthe wing. Although their locality spreads over many miles of slopes thickly covered with furze, inter- spersed with wild thyme, facing the sea, I fear there is a great probability of their becoming almost exterminated, for at the present time their numbers are greatly diminished, chiefly attributable to the practice of the occupiers of the land annually burning patches of the furze for the purpose of destroying rabbits, and also converting it into feeding-ground for sheep and cattle. It seems a pity that so handsome an insect before long should be lost to the British fauna, at least in this district —H. Nicholls; Roseland, Kingsbridge, South Devon, September 6, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Darlinglon.—We have taken nine- teen Sphinx Convolvuli, flying over honeysuckle in our garden, since the 12th of August. We also missed five others.—John Law; Elton Parade, Darlington, September 7, 1875. Sphina Convolvuli in the North of Ireland.—\ caught a fair specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli in the village of Glenarm on Thursday, September 9th, the first specimen | have seen in this locality.— 7. Brunton ; Glenarm Castle, Larne, N. Ireland. Sphinaw Convolvuli at Bristol—A damaged specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli was brought to me this evening. It was captured last Saturday. It flew into an open window in Clifton Park; and, as is usual in such cases, was placed FARGO THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 293 under a tumbler, and allowed to beat itself almost to pieces. It is a remarkably large specimen.—IV. K. Mann; Granby House, Clifton, Bristol, September 14, 1876. Sphing Convolvuli at Witham.—Two specimens of Sphinx Convolvuli have been captured in this town during the past week, and brought to me alive; but having passed through several inexperienced hands they are sadly ruabbed.—W. D. Cansdale; White House, Witham, Essex, Sept. 16, 1875. Sphina Convolvuli at Hawley.—l had a specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli given me yesterday (September 20th). It was captured on a straw-rick in this village by a labouring- man.—H. Jones; Hawley, Farnboro Station, September 21, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Gravesend.—I do not know whether Sphinx Convolvuli has been universally abundant this year, but I have succeeded in capturing twelve, and three others were brought to me. ‘They were nearly all caught at petunias, between half-past six and eight.—H. N. Ridley ; Cobham Vicarage, Gravesend. Sphina Convolvuli al Gravesend.—On Friday last, Sep- tember 17th, a specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli flew into my gardener’s cottage, attracted by the light. After careering once or twice round the room, and unfortunately dashing itself against the ceiling, it alighted on the table, where it was secured. It proved to be in fine condition, with the exception of a slight injury to the thorax.—[Rev.] P. H. Jennings ; Gravesend, September 20, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Huddersfield—On Monday, Sep- tember 20th, at Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield, a specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli was knocked down by some boys, and fearfully damaged.—|[ Rev.] G. C. B. Madden; Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield, September 21, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Hammersmith.—Last evening, Sep- tember 20th, while at a friend’s house, I captured a fine specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli, which had been attracted into the room by some lilies (Lilium auratum), over which it hovered, extending into them a proboscis of unusual length. —D. G. Cowan; Hammersmith. Sphinx Convolvuli near South Hackney.—This insect appears to be somewhat common this season. A specimen was brought to me on the 16th inst., taken in a garden near 224 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. here. I visited the locality the same evening, and captured a splendid female, and have since taken two females in beautiful condition. To-day a friend brought me the remains of a specimen he had rescued from his cat in his garden at Kennington.—C. J. Biggs; South Hackney, Sept. 20, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Barrow-on-Trent.—I took a good specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli here, on the 6th September, flying over petunias.—[Lev.] G. A. Smallwood; Barrow- on-Trent, Derby, September 8, 1875. Sphing Convolvuli at Eastbourne.—On the 10th of Sep- tember I took Sphinx Convolvuli at rest on an old post in the marshes here. It appears to be plentiful here, as several have been takén.—W. FE. Parsons; 35, Langney Road, East- bourne, September 20, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli in Dublin.—lI received a specimen of this moth on the 17th of September, sent from Dublin, where it had been found dead in the streets—7. H. Ormston Pease; ‘Cote Bank, Westbury-on-Trym, Sept. 22, 1875. Sphina Convolvuli at Cullercoats.—Sphinx Convolvuli was taken at rest on a scaffolding-pole at South Shields, in the last week of July, and is now in my collection. I saw another flying over some carnations in my garden at Culler- coats on the 24th ult. It seemed stupefied for a moment by the glare of the lantern, so I got a good look at it, but not having my net in my hand I lost it. I have also taken Hadena Chenopodii at sugar. It is mentioned as a southern species in ‘ British Moths.—J. C. Wassermann; Beverley Terrace, Cullercoats, near Newcastle-on-T'yne. Sphinx Convolvuli at Tottenham.—On the 31st of August I had a fine specimen of this species given me, which was taken at Tottenham the previous evening, attracted by light. This morning I received another from Bexley, taken hovering over flowers in a garden. Unfortunately the latter is much damaged.—B. Cooper; Higham Hill, Walthamstow, Sep- tember 18, 1875. Sphina Convolvuli near Stoke Newington.—1 had given to me last Saturday, by its captor, a specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli, taken from off a gate in the neighbourhood of Stoke Newington.—C, Harris; 82, Pritchard's Road, E., September 15, 1875. Sphina Convolvuli near Newton Abbot.—A fine female speci- men of Sphinx Convolvuliwas brought me yesterday, which had to THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 been caught in a greenhouse close by. It had evidently been laying its eggs; and I kept it for some time in the hope that it would lay more, but I was disappointed. About eight years ago a male specimen of the same species was brought me, which had been caught in the same greenhouse. It is curious that we never noticed them in the garden. Should you think they would be likely to be attracted to the green- house by the flowers?—Charles G. Vicary; Knovles, Newton Abbot, September 20, 1875. PS.—Last evening (since writing you yesterday) we cap- tured two fine Sphinx Convolvuli in our garden. In the years 1846 and 1859 they seem to have been taken in great abundance. I wonder if 1875 will be recorded as an equally abundant year. Do you think it is anything to do with the climate? Would a damp summer be likely to be better for their larve than a dry one ?—ZJd. {I shall probably append a note to these captures when completed.—E. Newman. | Colias Hyale and Sphina Convolvuli at Maidstone.—In this locality, no doubt well known for its entomological riches, my sons and I have, last August, caught some twenty- five specimens of Colias Hyale. I have, between the 17th and 2Ist of September, been fortunate enough to secure five specimens of Sphinx Convolvuli; one male and four females. [Rev.] J. Cave- Browne; Detling Vicarage, Maidstone, Sep- tember 23, 1875. Acherontlia Alropos in Parliament Slreet.—\t may interest your readers to hear that a fine specimen of Acherontia Atvopos was taken in Parliament Street yesterday evening. It flew into the dining-room at the ‘Red Lion Tavern,’ and was captured by one of the waiters, who was alarmed at its size and the peculiar noise it made. Apart from its being rather rubbed, it is a very good specimen of the largest of our Lepidoptera, and is now in my possession.—Frank W. Duprey ; 55, Parliament Strect, Seplember 7, 1875. [From the ‘ Field,’ | Larva of Hepialus sylvinus—I1 see by the book ot ‘British Moths’ that the larve of Hepialus sylvinus is not known. It may be interesting to know that I find the larva several inches in the ground, forming a passage leading to the root of Echium yulgare, upon which it feeds, then retires 2a 296 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. to its domicile, and changes to a chrysalis. The larva is lightish yellow, slightly hairy, with light brown head. The chrysalis is very rough, and wriggles very much. Hepialus Velleda is common in the woods here. You describe it as being a northern species.—Wéilliam Purday; 132, Dover Street, Folkestone, August 31, 1875. Deiopeia pulchella at Budleigh-Salterton.—I caught a fine specimen of Deiopeia pulchella at Budleigh-Salterton, South Devon, on the 18th of August last, on a cloudy but hot day, about twelve o’clock. The locality was on the edge of a high cliff, where it flew out of some herbage.—A. F. Wileman ; 10, Westbury Park, Redland, Bristol, September 16, 1875. Deiopeia pulchella at Biggleswade.—\ have just taken a very good specimen of Deiopeia pulchella (the crimson speckled). It was in a grass-close, or meadow. Its manner of flight reminded me of the veneers as it flew around me, and soon settled again. Its white appearance on the wing was very conspicuous, and would be sure to attract attention. —J. King; Langford Road, Biggleswade, Beds, September 20, 1875. Deiopeia pulchella near Kingsdown.—I have the pleasure to inform you that I captured, on the 19th of September, a fine specimen of Deiopeia pulchella, in the undercliff near Kingsdown.—Charles Boden ; 127, Tooley Street, September 22, 1875. Deiopeia pulchella near Paignton.—\ took another speci- men of Deiopeia pulchella on the 18th of September, at Saltern Cove, near Paignton, where I had the pleasure of recording the capture of one last year. The specimen I have just taken is a very worn male. I roused it accidentally while walking through an uncultivated field near the coast.— J. A. Lilly; Collaton Parsonage, Paignton, South Devon, September 23, 1875. Deiopeia pulchella at Eastbourne.—On Saturday, the 18th of Septemder, while capturing Colias Hyale and C. Edusa, I was fortunate enough to take two specimens of Deiopeia pulchella. ‘They were flying leisurely in a clover-field, taking short flights from one flower to the other. One of them appears to be a variety, the fore wings being nearly destitute of the crimson spots, and is a much larger specimen than the ehininmien ciekia ee ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 297 other.—W. FE. Parsons; 35, Langney Road, Eastbourne, September 20, 1875. Female Pupe of Bombyx Quercus attractive to Males.— The latter end of last month I had two pupe of Bombyx Quercus, which I placed near an open window. I was very surprised a day or two afterwards to see a male oak eggar hovering over the pupa-case. I have often caught them with the perfect insect, but never knew they were attracted by the pupa. The two pupez have since emerged, and are two very fine female specimens. Can you give me any enlighten- ment on the case?—Charles G. Vicary; Knowles, Newton Abbot, Devon, September 13, 1875. Euthemonia russula reared from the Egg.—At the latter end of June and beginning of July I captured four female Euthemonia russula. They produced me about sixty eggs, which were hatched in the third week in July. I fed the larve on dandelion and narrow-leaved plantain ; the favourite being dandelion. About the beginning of August, observing that sixteen or eighteen were progressing much faster than the rest, I removed them to a larger cage, in which they remained until the beginning of September, and retired from sight. On the 15th of that month, seeing no sign of them, I thought to clear the cage of any refuse they had left, and was surprised to see six perfect insects, all females. Since then they have been appearing daily; and I have now sixteen, twelve being females and four males; one female I am sorry to say is acripple. I have not forced them in any way. ‘I'he larve, when small, were kept in a tumbler covered with muslin: as they increased they were removed to a glass cylinder; and the eighteen were removed to a larger cage, and kept in the coolest place I could think of to be handy,— that was the grate in the bed-room,—never exposed to the sun, but subject to the draught of the chimney, and the windows of the room being open day and night. The rest of the larve, about forty, are lively and apparently healthy, and varying in length from about half an inch to an inch: indeed, so active and peculiar is their movement that I am highly amused and fully employed (when changing their food) to prevent their escaping from a sheet of newspaper. ‘Their invariable prac- tice is to roll in a ring; when after a time they will uncurl, and “run-a-muck” with an incredible wriggle across the 928 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. paper. Now, may not these be the progeny of the females that have partaken too freely of the bottle (cyanide), and their constitution been impaired, or are they going to hyber- nate? as I am told is their habit.—G. Haggar ; Folkestone. Leucania albipuncta at West Wickham.— While sugaring at West Wickham Wood, on the 24th of August last, I had the good fortune to take a specimen of Leucania albipuncta ; and, as I believe it has never been taken in that locality before, my capture may be worth recording.—C. Channon ; Woodlands, Lewisham, September 22, 1875. Leucania albipuncta at St. Leonard’s-on-Sea.—l had the good fortune to take a specimen of Leucania albipuncta, at sugar here, on the 20th of August. It is in fair condition.— John T. Sarll; Beauvoir House, Hollington Park, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea, August 31, 1875. Whereabouts of the Specimen of Leucania unipuncta.— As it is desirable that the whereabouts of a British specimen of Leucania unipuncta should be known to entomologists, I beg to inform them that the specimen taken by me in the New Forest, last March, is now in the cabinet of my friend Mr. J. Ross, of Bathampton, near Bath.—£. C. Parker ; Hamp- stead, August 19, 1875. Acronycta Alni near WNottingham.—1 had the good fortune to obtain, on August 18th, two larve of Acronycta Alni, feeding on a plum-tree in our garden here at Ruddington (four miles from Nottingham). Another collector also took one near here about three years ago, and was successful in producing the imago. I am afraid I shall not have the same luck, as mine are not eating at all yet, and seem very uneasy in the cage.—S. Birkin; Ruddington Grange, Notlingham, August 19, 1875. Acronycta Alni at Chatteris—I have great pleasure in recording the capture of a single larva of Acronycta Alni here on the 18th of August. It was taken on a wooden bench under a walnut-tree, which was three or four yards from a row of lime-trees, in the middle of the day. The larva had only three or four bristles on it, and refused to eat any food I gave it, but entered a hollow bean-stalk provided for it on the 20th. This is, I believe, the first occurrence of A. Alni in this neighbourhood.—d, Harold Ruston ; Aylesby House, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, August 21, 1875. Cirrheedia xerampelina at Grantham.—During the night saat THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 999 of the 30th August, 1875, a friend of mine captured two very fine Cirrhedia xerampelina in a telegraph-box, at Grantham, which he kindly presented to me. Four specimens have now been taken during the last fifteen years at Grantham.— Isaac Robinson ; Grantham. Cirrheedia xerampelina near Manchester.—It may perhaps interest Lancashire entomologists to learn that on the 7th of September I took a good specimen of Cirrheedia xerampelina on a lamp in this vicinity. Ihave also seen several wasted specimens of this beautiful insect.—J. H. Aspinwall; Oak Bank, Withington, Manchester, September 21, 1875. Fadena peregrina at Kingston, Surrey.—l have just been so fortunate as to capture a fine fresh specimen of Hadena peregrina, sitting on palings in this neighbourhood, but unfortunately one hind wing is not perfect. I took it on the 17th of September, about 3 p.m.—W. Thomas; Surbiton Villa, Surbiton, September 17, 1875. (Is Mr. Thomas sure of the identity of this insect ?— Edward Newman.) Hadena satura in Kent.—During the last week of July I took a very fine specimen of Hadena satura at sugar, on Braborne Downs. Since then Mr. Edney, a collector here, has taken two more, which I now possess, at the same place. The first that I ever saw was taken by Mr. Edney, in August, 1873, and sent alive to Mr. Doubleday, who named it, and told-him he had a large female taken by the late Mr. Harry Osborne.—G. Parry; Church Street, St. Paul's, Canter- bury, August 23, 1875. Cucullia Gnaphalii near Seal, in Kent.—l had the good fortune to take five larvee of Cucullia Gnaphalii on plants of golden-rod: two on August Ist, and three on the 2nd, near Seal, Kent. I found them feeding on the leaves, and not on the flowers of the plant, as C. Asteris does.—C. W. Simmons ; 39, Market Street, Caledonian Road, London, N., August 4, 1875. Spilodes palealis in Norfolk.—On the 20th of August I took two specimens of this insect; one in my garden at Thetford, and the other in Croxton parish, three miles distant. Mr. Barrett, in his able paper on Norfolk, says, “No recent captures have been recorded.” Colias Edusa and C. Hyale seem to have changed seasons, as | took in the _ same locality C. Edusa on the 24th of June, and C. Hyale at 230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the end ot August. For P. letus I was chiefly indebted to the keen sight of a kind friend, more accustomed to their rapid flight.—Batlershell Gill; 9, Cambridge Terrace, Regent's Park, September 13, 1875. Spilodes palealis at Brockley.—It may be interesting to some of the readers of the ‘ Entomologist’ to know that I took a specimen on the wing of Spilodes palealis on the railway- banks, near Brockley, New Cross, on the 4th of August. I believe this is the second capture of this insect there.— Arthur Bliss; 4, The Terrace, Ladywell, near Lewisham, August 20, 1875. Cosmia pyralina.—This species seems to be but poorly represented in most cabinets, the localities where it occurs being few and far between. It has, however, been known to occur pretty continuously in Monk’s Wood, near Huntingdon ; and being in this part of the country at the time of the insect’s appearance I determined to try for it. I was some- what unfortunate in not being able to get over before the 6th of August, and then only for a single night. Mr. Richardson, of Clare College, met me at the ‘White Hart,’ Alconbury, Weston, where we took up our quarters, though not so com- fortably as we could have wished. One wood we selected, from the group standing in Alconbury, Upton and Sawtry parishes, was that in Sawtry, St. Judith, which, though somewhat smaller than Monk’s Wood, has not been worked so much by entomologists. We sugared some sixty or seventy trees, almost without exception oaks. During the first round we took a couple of Cosmia pyralina on the fifteenth tree, from which we augured much future success. This longing, however, was not to be fulfilled; and the only other C. pyralina we got were two on one tree towards the end of our first round. We commenced a second round about half-past ten, but found insects so scarce that it took but little over half an hour. The other insects attracted by the sugar are scarcely worth mentioning: Noctua baja and Cosmia trapezina swarming everywhere, with a few Tryphena janthina, and single specimens of Tryphzna fimbria, Caradrina alsines, and Epunda viminalis. Three of the Cosmia pyra- lina taken were females, from which I infer that had we been a week or two earlier we should not have found the species so scarce.—Gilbert Raynor; St. John’s College, Cambridge, August 23, 1870. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 931 Phoxopteryx paludana, §c.—It is with much pleasure I record the capture of this lovely species. During the past month (August) I paid a visit to the fens of Cambridgeshire, and succeeded in taking a fine series. It is extremely local, and I could only get to the locality by the help of a leaping- pole, and even then I was knee-deep in slush and sedge, owing probably to the excessive rains. I[ also met with Nonagria Hellmanni, Tortrix dumetana, Euchromia purpurana, Catoptria expallidana, Hyria auroraria, and several other species, including Papilio Machaon, in the larval and imago state. J am sorry to say my companion was not used to leaping, and managed to slide down the pole into about four feet of water and mud, which compelled us to return to head- quarters, “five miles from anywhere, and. no hurry.”—£. G. Meek; 56, Brompton Road, S.W. Ephippiphora ravulana.—In reply to your enquiry con- cerning this species, I beg to say I first met with it at Darenth Wood in 1866. Since then I have met with it in East Sussex. The habits of this species greatly resemble those of the Stigmonota, to which genus I believe it belongs. —K. G. Meek. Coleophora deauratella near Witham.—On the 19th of June last I took a very good specimen of Coleophora deauratella, whilst sweeping for Tinea, on a railway embank- ment near this town.—W, D. Cansdale; Witham, August 30, 1875. Gryllus viridissimus.—I have had six specimens of this grasshopper this season, which I kept alive together for several weeks. On going to their cage one morning I found one dead and half eaten. I was not before aware that Gryllus viridissimus was such a cannibal.—, Laddiman ; Norwich. Answers to Correspondents. N, C. Tuely.—Food-plants of Gonepteryx Rhamni (Entom. viii. 160).—In the year 1874 a supply of eggs of Gonepteryx Rhamni were sent me by Mr. W. Holland, and as they were about to hatch I made every endeavour to find one or other of their food-plants—Rhamuus catharticus or R. Fran- gula—in this neighbourhood. I had never observed either 232 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. of the plants amongst those which grew in this part of the country, neither could I now find anyone who had done so. I enquired of all those who were likely to be able to afford me the desired information, without success. A resident, well versed in Botany, informed me that he had not seen either plant, here, or in North Wales. The first larvee that were hatched died on whatever I gave them; and with a forlorn hope I gave them the leaves of many trees and shrubs, which I knew they were not likely to eat or to live on. Those which hatched later I was able to rear upon buckthorn, kindly sent me every week in tin boxes by Mr. Holland, from Reading. But still the food-plant of G. Rhamni must be here, either in the form of buckthorn or some other plant, as the butterfly, though scarce, is not unfrequently captured. I have seen three specimens only on the wing, two of which were taken. ‘These occurrences were severally in the years 1868, 1871, 1875. At the time I was in need of the plants I searched well the locality in which the first insect had been taken, which was half-way down a rocky hill-side,—a favourite resort that same year for Colias Edusa,—in a densely-wooded lane; but here I could only find oak, ash, elm, whitethorn, blackthorn, hazel, rose, honeysuckle, and innumerable low plants, and not a sign of buckthorn. I visited the gardens, plantations and woods around, with no better success; anda letter in the local paper has not had the desired effect of discovering either of the buckthorns in this county. To show the advanced state of botanical knowledge in these parts, I may mention that during my search for the Rhamnez I had blackthorn, barberry, and rose, brought to me as one of those plants.—Owen Wilson; Carmarthen, August 12, 1875. Alfred Wood.—Name of a Moth.—Will you oblige me by naming the enclosed effigy of a moth? taken at sugar in these (the Wick) woods on the 12th August. The upper wings are dark brown, mottled with a still darker shade of the same colour; the hind wings, with the exception of a broad border of intense black, are yellow, with a light fringe, and a pale oblong mark on the inner margin. I have also taken, more or less freely, in the same locality, during the present season, Cymatophora duplaris, Diphthera Orion, Acronycta Ligustri, A. Menyanthidis, Synia musculosa, Apamea fibrosa, Rusina tenebrosa, and Cosmia diffinis. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 233 [I guess, and it is little better than a guess, that the figure is intended to represent Tryphena fimbria. The broad black border induces this opinion.—LHdward Newman.] T. R. Archer Briggs.— Gall on Hypocheris radicata.—As a great deal has been said lately in the ‘ Entomologist’ respecting different sorts of galls, I think it worth while to enclose some specimens of one which I found on Thursday last (5th August) at Knighton, Wembury, South Devon, on the flower-stems of Hypocheeris radicata. It may be common as a British species, but cannot, I think, be so in the neigh- bourhood of Plymouth. I have seen what may have been the same on an allied plant, Hieracium umbellatum. [The galls on the flower-stems of this plant, sent by Mr. Briggs, are, I think, noé to be attributable to animal influence, but to vegetal, as on examination I could find no traces of insect-life within the galls. The stem is no doubt attacked by a fungus of which I know nothing, except that I have never met with it myself. Only last year | mistook one of these fungoid excrescences for an insect-gall, viz., the elongate orange gall, to be met with on various grasses during the summer, which is produced by Hypocrea (Epichloe) typhina. I opened several which contained a white maggot, probably a species of Chlorops, which I afterwards ascertained had nothing whatever to do with the formation of the gall. There are three or four gall-making insects connected with the hawkweed (Hieracium) and its allies, but only one—Aulax Sabaudi—has occurred in Britain to my knowledge: this Cynips makes hairy, reddish, many-chambered galls on the stems. There are two others, which ought to occur in Britain, both Diptera,— Trypeta reticulata makes galls on the flower-heads, and Cecidomyia sanguinea makes small red galls on the leaves of Hieracium sylvaticum.—L. A. Fitch.) H. J. Channon.— Vitality in the Leg of a Butterfly.—I should like to ask if you could explain a curious phenomenon I witnessed last May. My brother in setting out an Argynnis EKuphrosyne pulled off one of its legs, which shortly after- wards began to move, curling the tarsi round, doubling up close at the next joint, and after a time stretching straight out again. This took place about every minute, and continued from four o’clock till eleven, having been placed on damp cork to prevent its stiffening; and next morning the tarsi 2H 234 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. were still moving, although the motion at the other joint had ceased. The butterfly was quite dead at the time it was set, and I am quite unable to account for the facts stated above. [I am unable to give any explanation of this fact, but it is by no means an unusual occurrence.—Edward Newman. ] G. Haggar.—Food-plant of Selina irrorella.—l have a good batch of eggs of Setina irrorella. Can you kindly inform me what the larve feed on? for on reference to the ‘British Moths’ I find the particulars very scant; indeed, it is there stated that it is taken in situations where the tree- lichens grow. My female was taken in the railway cuttings between Dover and Folkestone, and not a vestige of tree or shrub near; also two males were taken in a similar situation. Perhaps since the account was written something more may be known of its history, and I should like to rear them if possible; though if lichen-feeders I may find it difficult. [I shall be obliged to any entomologist who will give any additional information on this subject.—Edward Newman. ]| Joseph S. Baly.—Honey Bees (Entom. vii. 293).—The phenomenon which your correspondent describes is not uncommon amongst bees, and is thus spoken of by Langstroth in his work on the ‘ Honey Bee,’ p. 116 :—“ Bees sometimes abandon their hives very early in spring, or late in summer or fall. Although exhibiting the appearance of natural swarm- ing, they leave, not because the population is so crowded that they wish to form new colonies, but because it is either so small or the hive so destitute of supplies that they are driven to desperation. Seeming to have a presentiment that they must perish if they stay, instead of awaiting the sure approach of famine, they sally out to see if they cannot better their condition.” Bees, when sallying out under these circumstances, are termed a vagabond swarm: sometimes they try to gain entrance to another better-supplied hive, or more often fall to the ground from exhaustion, and perish. I fear the occurrence is likely to be frequent this year, as, owing to the unusual amount of wet, very few stocks have laid up any stores for the winter, and most are weaker than they were in early spring —H. Jenner Fust, jun.; Hill Cottage, Falfield, Gloucestershire, August 6, 1875. J. S. Woodhouse.—Flies sticking to Glass— What is the cause of flies adhering by the legs to window-panes, and THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 235 ; dying in this position?—Mr. Woodhouse describes very minutely the appearance of flies found in this condition. I offer the following explanation, which is in part problematical, and is almost entirely derived from the publications of others. The disease is attributed to a cryptogamic plant, but whether a fungus or a member of the comprehensive and somewhat heterogeneous order of Alge, we have no positive decision ; botanists seem divided in opinion on the point. Amongst +) those who have written on this plant are Pringsheim, Archer, De Bary, Unger, Thuret, Tute, Gnffith and Henfrey, Braun, i. Robin, Cienkouski and Nageli. The prevailing opinion seems to be that it is an imperfect terrestrial form of Saprolegnia ferax, a fungus of which I know nothing except the name. This particular form is called Sporendonema Musce, and has its habitat in the bodies of flies. Empusa aulica is another fungoid growth of a like nature. These fungi—I call them so, not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on their true character, but simply for convenience— these fungi, or rather their spores, are found to exist in multi- tudes in the bodies both of diseased and of apparently healthy flies: the spores are found floating in the blood of the flies; but in a short time they seem to exhaust all the fluid matter, and then expanding, or rather lengthening into filaments, called mycelia, they at last completely fill the body of the fly with a substance resembling cotton-wool, and the fly at last succumbs to starvation, although to all appearance replete with food, when the fungus makes its appearance at the interstices of the segments and at the spiracle, and throws out spores all round, forming a kind of circle round the fly, entirely composed of these spores and the filaments which emanate therefrom. There seems to be something glutinous, or to say the least, adhesive, in this fungus, for through its instrumentality the fly becomes so firmly attached to the pane that it is frequently impossible to remove it without the loss of a leg. With regard to the fly being fixed to the window-pane, I can only suggest that this circumstance exhibits no selection on the part of the fly, but simply arises from the circumstance that in this selection they are pecu- liarly exposed to observation.— Edward Newman. James Deane.—Musca pluvialis—I enclose a small sample of a species of fly, by which I was much troubled for 236 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. about ten days, but I am glad to say that now only a few stragglers remain. I do not think I exaggerate when I say that there must have been thousands of them in my room where I was performing some operations with cantharides. If you can tell me anything of their history, and where they are likely to have come from, I shall be greatly obliged by your doing so. [The fly is unquestionably Musca pluvialis; but with regard to their economy I have to confess my entire igno- rance, and shall be obliged for information. I have not only heard of, but known, instances of flies assembling indoors in such large numbers, but I cannot find out the attraction, or what it is that induces a line of conduct apparently so much at variance with their general habits—Hdward Newman.| T. R. Archer Briggs.—Gall on Potentilla reptans.—I en- close specimens of another gall from the neighbourhood of Plymouth, and shall be very glad to know the name of it, although it may prove to be but a common one. I found it on the 30th of August, in a pasture in the Tavy Valley, near Plymouth, Devon, occurring, as you will see, on the stems and petioles of the creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans). I do not remember to have noticed it previously. [Mr. Fitch kindly hands me a reply, as under :— I believe this gall is included, both by Marshall and Miiller, under Curtis’s name of Brevicornis, which is probably a synonym of Aulax Potentille of Hartig; or, as Foester has it, Xesto- phanes Potentillz de Villers = Aulax splendens of Hartig.” —E. A. Fitch.] Joseph Anderson, jun.—Lffect of Acids on Green Insects. —I have in my cabinet a foreign beetle resembling a gigantic specimen of Aromia Moschata. The name of it is, I believe, Golofa Porteri, and it should be a brilliant green colour; but one day, thinking to “ kyanise” it, I saturated it with phenic acid, and was mortified by seeing it change to a coppery red. Could you, or any of your correspondents, tell me of an alkali that would be likely to restore the original colour? (‘The effect of acid on the colours of insects is so great that it is better to avoid the use of them altogether. In the case of metallic colours it is less observable than in the delicate wings of Lepidoptera. 1 cannot mention any drug from THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 237 actual experience as likely to restore the original colour; but [ should try spirits of ammonia.—£’. Newman. | Joseph Anderson, jun.—Thera variala.—l\|t is stated in Newman’s $ Illustrated History of British Moths,’ that ‘ the true Variata has never occurred in England.” Will you kindly tell me whether since the work was written it has been discovered in this country? Also what are the distin- guishing characteristics between Variata and Obeliscata? [This is rather a case of nomenclature; and I will endeavour to explain, as well as Lam able. Thera variata, according to Guenee, includes five named varieties, or forms, as they are sometimes called:—A, Obeliscata of Hiibner; B, Fulvata of Fabricius; C, Variata of Wood; D, Simularia of Boisduval; and E, Vitiosata of Frey. The type, according to Guenée, is well figured by Hiibner; and, on the authority of my late friend Henry Doubleday, I said that this form had never been taken in Britain; at the same time adding that “the two were probably distinct species.” Iam still in doubt on this subject; and not possessing an authentic specimen of Variata, can only copy Guenée’s description, with which Mr. Anderson is probably already familiar. I give the original :—‘ Le type, bien figurée par Hiibner, est d’un gris un peu olivatre, saupoudré, avec espace median noiratre, rétréci par en bas, ot il forme de petites taches ovales contigués. La subterminale est distincte, fortement dentées. Les ailes inférieures sont grises, avec une lunule cellulaire distincte et une ligne médiane un peu coudée, noiratre. La femelle est plus grande et souvent plus pale.” (Uran. et Phalen, ii. 372.) Although I have great pleasure in copying this description, I am perfectly satisfied with Mr. Doubleday’s decision that our British species is Obeliscata, and that Variata yet remains to be discovered in Britain. It will, however, be seen that Dr. Staudinger again unites the two, No. 2593 of his Catalogue, giving Variata as the name of the species, and Obeliscata as that of the variety; and Fulvata of Fabricius, Pinetata of Borkhausen, Simulata of Guenée, and, doubtfully, also Ulicata of Duponchel, as synonyms. A second variety, or aberration, is Strangulata of Hiibner. © T’. Matthews.—Hemigynous Specimen oy Lycena Icarus ; Heliophobus popularis at Horley; to Keep the Colour of Dragonflies.—1 am pleased to inform you that I captured a 238 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. hermaphrodite specimen of the common blue (Polyommatus Alexis), the left wings being female, while the right ones are male; this is equally apparent on both sides. Can you tell me if this is a rare occurrence? The specimen was taken in a grassy lane in Horley, on the Ist of September, and is now in the cabinet of Mr. Murray Aston, of Hatchgate, Horley. This gentleman has taken nearly thirty specimens of the feathered gothic moth (Heliophobus popularis) at a lamp in his hall. Can you inform me of the food-plant of this species in its larval state? If I am not asking too much, will you tell me how to make dragonflies keep their colour after death, and where I can procure a work on this order of insects? I may add that Mr. Aston took all his Popularis during the last week in August. [(1) Hemigynous, or half-female, specimens of Lycena Icarus (Alexis), are by no means uncommon, (2) The larva of Heliophobus popularis feeds on grasses. I have said all I know about this insect at p. 291 of ‘ British Moths, where the larva is described. (3) In order to preserve the colour in the bodies of dragonflies, do not kill them until three or four days after they are taken, when the body will be empty. Having killed them with cyanide of potassium, slit the abdomen open with a pair of small scissors, take out the contents, and fill up the cavity with a piece of writing-paper, rolled up in the same form as the body.—#. Newman, | Henry N. Ridley.—Cidemera cerulea.—H. Newman. H. Sturmer.—! am unable to give an opinion as to the name of the larva described.—E. Newman. _G. A. Smallwood.— Variety of Cirraedia xerampelina.—I have this year bred a dark variety of this moth. The colour of the dark central bar is spread over the whole wing, the usual yellow being entirely absent, except on the edges of the central bar, where it forms two conspicuous yellow lines, reaching from the inner margin quite up to the costa. This variety is very distinct and striking ; the more so as this insect is so little liable to variation. [I was formerly inclined to consider this a distinct species ; but seeing that Guenée (‘ Noctuelites,’ i. 402) considers it a variety only,—a judgment in which my late friend Doubleday entirely concurred,—I cannot presume to differ from such authorities.—Edward Newman.) THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 939 W. Oxenden Hammond.—Name of a Beetle.-—Would you kindly name the insect of which I send sketch? I know nothing of Coleoptera, but it looks as if it came near the Longicorns. I found it (or a pair, rather) on an umbelliferous flower. They were there two days consecutively; and the second day I took them. Very probably it is a common insect. Will you kindly say whether it is so or not? (Stragallia elongata. Of frequent occurrence on umbel- liferous flowers.— Edward Newman.] C. Harris —Entozoa in Ox-beef.—The enclosed I found in some boiled round of beef, and which I take to be part, or the whole, of the embryo of some parasite. Is it one of the cestoid worms; and is not its occurrence in the flesh of the ox veryrare? I should esteem it a great favour if you could furnish some information respecting the matter. [I cannot answer the question without consulting more competent authority.—L. Newman. | Sphinx Convolvuli at Bowdon.—Yesterday, September 23rd, a specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli was taken here.— S. Stiirmer ; Bowdon, Manchester, Haggerston Entomological Socielty.—T he annual exhibition of this Society will take place on Thursday and Friday evenings, the 11th and 12th of November; and the Com- mittee will be pleased to receive exhibitions from any entomologist. Application to be made to the Secretary, Mr. F. Bartlett; ‘Brownlow Arms,’ Brownlow Street, Hag- gerston, E. South London Entomological. Society ; 104, Westminster Bridge Road.—At the meeting of this Society, held on Thursday, August 12th, 1875, Mr. J. R. Wellman proposed that a resolution expressive of the deep regret felt by the members at the death of the late Mr. Henry Doubleday, should be placed on the minutes, and also forwarded to Mr. Newman. Mr. Ficklin warmly seconded, and Mr. Power supported, the resolution; and, after several members had spoken of the great loss that the entomological world has sustained, it was unanimously carried. The minute passed is as follows :—“ This meeting desires to record the deep regret 240 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. felt by the members present at the death of the late Mr. Henry Doubleday, whose services to Entomology have been of immense value for many years past, and whose invariable kindness has endeared him to all who have known hin.” Death of Mr. Doubleday—Henry Doubleday, who was without exception the first Lepidopterist this country has produced, died at his residence, at Epping, on the 29th of June, 1875, sincerely lamented by all who enjoyed the pleasure and advantage of his acquaintance. Had he lived two days longer he would have completed his sixty-seventh vear. Mr. Doubleday was remarkable alike for his extensive knowledge of British Lepidoptera, and for the unequalled liberality with which he imparted that knowledge to others. He inaugurated a new era in Entomology by introducing uniformity in the nomenclature of species; thus making the names of British insects correspond with those in use on the continent. At present there is no decision as to the destina- tion of Mr. Doubleday’s collection of Lepidoptera. Various propositions have been made, but the trustees have not fallen in with either of them. The house, out-buildings, furniture, and books, have been sold; and nothing now remains at Epping of the great entomologist but a plain tablet in the Friends’ Burial Ground, showing the spot where his remains rest in peace.—Edward Newman. Errata. In my description of the larva of Emmelesia decolorata (Entom. viii. 194), for “ Ephestia elutella” read “ Ypsipetes elutata”; for “ central” read “ ventral”.—[ Rev. ] G. A. Small- wood ; Barrow-on-Trent, Derby. I see from the September number of the ‘ Entomologist,’ that you have confused my communications with those of Mr. Harwood. The records of “Tryphena_ subsequa,” “'T’. interjecta,” and “ Plusia interrogationis” (Entom. viil. 199), are mine, not Mr. Harwood’s.—Geo. Brook; Fernbrook, Huddersfield. Hydrecia Petasitis feeds on the “butterbur” (Petasitis vulgaris), not on the “ coltsfoot,” as stated (Entom. viii. 195). THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Nos.148 &149.] NOVEMBER, MDCCCLXXY. [Price 1s. Trap-door Spiders in the Bark of Trees. By E. Newman. “Tr is now one hundred and sixteen years since Patrick Browne gave an illustration, in his ‘Civil and Natural History of Jamaica,’ p. 420, tab. 44, fig. 3, of the nest of a trap-door spider, the first record of the kind with which I am acquainted [published in London in 1756]. Seven years later the careful observations of the Abbé Sauvages appeared [in the ‘ His- toire de l’Acad. Royales des Sciences, pp. 26—30, published in Paris, 1763], in which he gave a very good description of the nests of the ‘Araignée magonne’ (Nemesia cementaria), : which he discovered near Montpellier, likening them to little rabbit-burrows lined with silk, and closed by a tightly-fitting, movable door. Rossi [in an article intituled, “ Observatione Insettologische,” published in the ‘Memorie di Matematica et Fisica della Societa Italiana, vol. iv. 1778; and ‘ Fauna Etrusca, vol. ii. 1794] published an interesting account of the nest and habits of a trap-door spider, which he had observed in Corsica, and near Pisa; and from that time up to the present day the curious dwellings of these creatures, many of which have been discovered in warm climates, have continued to attract the attention of naturalists.” The foregoing extract is from a work intituled, ‘ Harvesting Ants and Trap-door Spiders, by J. Traherne Moggeridge, part ii. p. 73. The mode in which these residences are con- structed is admirably explained by Mr. Gosse, at page 115 of his ‘ Naturalist’s Sojourn in Jamaica.’ Both these authors— Mr. Moggeridge, alas! is no more—are inimitable in their Btaphic descriptions of the habits and manners of the living ; a science totally apart from the anatomical details of the VOL, VIII. SF 242 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. dead, with which the attention of naturalists has been too exclusively occupied. Mr. Gosse writes as follows :— “Tn digging their mountain-gardens the negroes often expose the curious subterranean nests of the trap-door spider (Cteniza nidulans), many of which are brought to me. This spider makes its tubular dwelling in soft earth, frequently choosing cultivated ground, on account doubtless of this quality. Each nest is cylindrical, or nearly so, from four to ten inches deep, and about one inch in diameter; the bottom is rounded; and the top, which is at the surface of the soil, is closed very accurately with a circular lid. They are not all equally finished, some being much more compact, and having the lid more closely fitted than others. Some have irregular bulgings and ragged laminated off-sets on the outer surface; but all are smooth and silky on the inside. This smoothness, however, does not preclude any little irregulari- ties or unevenness of surface; nor is it glossy: its appearance rather resembles that of paper, which has been wetted and dried again ; it is always of a reddish buff hue, but the outside is stained of the colour of the surrounding earth. The mouth of the tube and the parts near it are very strong; the walls here often having a thickness of from an eighth to a quarter of an inch, but the lower parts are much thinner. The lid is con- tinuous with the tube for about a third of its circumference, and this part may be called the hinge, though it presents no structure peculiar to itself; it is simply bent at a right angle, as is manifest if a nest be cut longitudinally through with scissors, the incision passing through the midst of the lid. “The mode of construction I judge, from examination of many nests, to be this. The spider digs a cylindrical hole in the moist earth with her jointed fangs or mandibles, carrying out the fragments as they are dislodged. When the excavation has proceeded a little way she begins to spin the lining, which forms the dwelling. I conclude thus because nests are occasionally found a few inches in length with the lid and upper part perfect, but without any bottom, these being evidently in course of formation. I suppose that she weaves her silk at first in unconnected patches against the earthy sides, perhaps where the mould is likely to fall in; and thus I account for the loose, rough lamine of silk that are always found projecting from the outer surface. ‘These are THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 243 overlaid with other patches more and more extensive, until the whole interior walls are covered; after which the silk is spun evenly and continuously all round the interior, in successive layers of very dense texture, though thin. Under the microscope, with a power of 220 diameters, these layers are resolved into threads laid across each other, and intertwined in a very irregular manner; some are simple, varying from a seven-thousandth to a two-thousandth of an inch in diameter, and others are compound, several threads in one part separate, being united into one of greater thickness, which cannot then be resolved. No pellets of earth are ever interwoven with the silk to form the outer layers of the walls, though the adhesive nature of the silk when freshly spun causes fragments of earth to remain attached to the surface. The mouth of the tube is commonly dilated a little, so as to forma slightly recurved brim or lip; and the lid is sometimes a little convex internally, so as to fall more accurately into the mouth and close it. The thick- ening of the hinge by additional layers is, 1 think, accidental only, as out of the many specimens I have examined only one or two had such a structure. In the neatest examples the lid is of equal thickness throughout its extent, agreeing also with the walls for the first few inches of their depth. “One of peculiar compactness, now before me, I have slit open longitudinally with a pair of scissors in the manner spoken of above: the thickness of the substance is in no place greater than one-sixteenth of an inch, which is very regularly maintained throughout the lid and upper parts. The appearance at the cut edge closely resembles mill-board so divided; the layers of which it is composed being very numerous and compact, especially towards the interior side, where they can scarcely be distinguished even with a lens. In this specimen there is what I cannot find in any of the others [ have examined. A row of minute holes, such as might be made by a very fine needle, are pierced around the free edge of the lid, and a double row of similar holes just within the margin of the tube. There are about fifteen or sixteen punctures in each series, and they penetrate through the whole substance, the light being clearly seen through each hole. Now what is the object of these orifices? 1 do not think, as I have somewhere seen suggested, that they are intended to afford a hold for the spider’s claws when she 944 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. would keep her door shut against the efforts of an enemy ; for what would have been the use of having them in the tube, close to the lid, so that not the eighth of an inch intervenes between the series of the lid and that of the tube, when the former is tightly closed. 1 would suggest whether they may not be air-holes, for so tight is the fitting of the lid, and so compact the texture of the material, that J should suppose the interior would be impermeable to air but for this contrivance ; and as those in the horizontal lid might possibly be closed by minute particles of earth rolling on it, the second row around the edge of the perpendicular tube, just at the surface of the ground, would still be available in such a contingency. They may admit also an appreciable amount of light.” Il am not disposed to pursue the subject of these minute holes further than to say that these holes suggest to my mind the idea of a needle and thread having been passed through and through, and the needle and thread subsequently with- drawn. But I will here mention the occurrence in Britain of a spider closely allied to the trap-door makers, the particulars respecting which were communicated to the Linnean Society by myselfin February, 1856, and were subsequently published in the ‘ Zoologist’ for that year (Zool. 5021). This spider is Atypus Sulzeri of Latreille, the Oletera atypa of Walckener ; and a full account of its doings is given from the observations of Mr. Joshua Brown, of Cirencester, who suggests that it was feeding on an earth-worm at the time of capture. A female only was obtained, the males eluding the most diligent search; and Mr. Brown expresses his wonder where they could possibly secrete themselves. There is no trap-door to the domicile of this spider, which consists simply of a single tube constructed in the earth. Walckener, in the first volume of ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Insectes Aptéres,’ thus records its economy al page 244 :— “The female constructs, in rather moist places, a subter- ranean gallery, first in a horizonal direction, and then turning downwards. In the interior of this gallery she constructs a very close, white, silken tube, which she strengthens with bits of grass and moss; and at the bottom of this she deposits her eggs in an oval mass, enveloped in a web of white silk, and fixed by threads at each end. She leaves part of the tube hanging out of the hole to protect the entrance: this external ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 945 part is two or three inches long, and half an inch in diameter. The tissue of the tube is very close, fine and white, and resembles the cocoon in which some lepidopterous pupz are enclosed. It is of uniform diameter, and terminates below in a slightly pointed extremity, which is attached to a bundle of silky hairs interlaced with fibres of plants. Thus the bottom of the tube is protected from the humidity of the earth.” I will now continue the quotation from the ‘ Zoologist,’ in Mr. Brown’s own words :— “When on a visit to Hastings during the past autumn, having to pass through a lane with a high and steep sand- bank on each side partially covered with grass and bushes, I noticed on one of the banks, which had a south aspect, some- thing hanging down, which looked like the cocoon of some moth; but found, on compressing it slightly, that it was quite ‘empty. It then occurred to me that it might be the nest of a spider; and on examining more closely I found, to my surprise, that it descended into the bank, and appeared firmly attached at the distal extremity; so firmly, indeed, that I could not extract the first I found without breaking it. . My curiosity, however, was now thoroughly awakened; and, on finding a second example, I went more cautiously to work, removed the sand carefully with a long knife, and at a depth of nine inches I found the extremity of the structure, and drew it out quite perfect. It was along silken sack, and at the bottom was a hardish lump, which proved to be a spider. The next I tried went very much deeper; indeed so deep that I failed, after much trouble, in getting it out at all. I tried many others, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing in my attempts to get them out entire. I found them vary greatly in length, and think they may be lengthened at various periods of the spider’s growth. In some of the nests there seemed very obvious indications of this lengthening. The usual length was about nine inches, but some were very much longer. Their form is tubular, commonly of an uniform diameter of three-quarters of an inch, and rounded at one end in the form of a purse. They are composed of very fine silk, closely woven throughout; white or whitish within, and covered exteriorly with yellowish or brownish particles of sand, which give the tube a dirty appearance exteriorly ; but inside they are always neat and clean, The exterior portion 246 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. of this tube visible on the bank is about two inches in length, pendant, and always inflated; it is of a darker colour than the subterranean portion of the tube, and agrees in this respect with the general surface of the bank. I took home: one of these tubes in a collapsed state, or with the sides pressed together, and having the spider at the extremity. On opening the box I perceived a movement throughout the tube, as if it were undergoing the process of inflation; this soon subsided. The next morning, however, I was surprised to see the tube inflated throughout its entire length, more especially at that end which had been exposed on the bank. How can.the spider effect this?’ In some of the tubes it is very difficult to discover any external aperture; but, in that portion which is exposed and is distended more than the rest, | sometimes discovered one or more minute openings, protected or covered by a little valve or door. In some nests these openings are not to be detected; when present they open towards the bank. Although very loosely constructed at the lower extremity, I do not think there is an opening there, except when the spider is deepening her burrow; or, I think, in some instances, the spiders would have escaped through it when I extracted the sack. This was never the case.” This process of inflation is one of the greatest possible interest. Although, through the courtesy and kindness of Mr. Brown, I am possessed of ample materials for doing so, I never could discover the mode of inflation. The object was more easy to account for, since the adhesive nature of the silken lining of the sack rendered the walls very liable to cohere, and thus the tubular character of the structure would be destroyed. Mr. Brown most kindly sent me living specimens, in order that I might examine them for myself; which I did with great deliberation and care, but without obtaining any further information. I particularly directed my attention to the subject of food, Mr. Brown having conceived the idea that the spider fed on earth-worms. This idea seems to arise from his having found a mangled earth-worm, in connection with the tube, during the course of his diggings and investi- gations; and more especially from his having been unable to find the wings, legs, or other parts of insects, attached to THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 247 the silky tube; which one would have reasonably expected, had the spider subsisted on an insect-diet. The most rigid search revealed nothing of the kind. Still I am reluctant to believe in the vermivorous appetite of the spider, without more conclusive evidence than we at present possess. A male Atypus Sulzeri was taken from a rabbit-earth while ferretting in the neighbourhood of Bloxworth, in January, 1857, and was transmitted by the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge to Mr. Mead, of Bradford, and recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ for that year (Zool. 5624), The late Mr. Sells, in the Transactions of the Entomolo- gical Society of London has, in a paper intituled, ‘“ Notes respecting the Nest of Cteniza nidulans,” entered into many details concerning these interesting spiders; and Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, the present President of the Entomological Society, has given, in the Transactions of that Society, admirable figures and descriptions of a trap-door spider inhabiting the Ionian Islands, which he has called Cteniza Tonica. (See vol. iii. p. 160, pl. ix.) Sir Sidney Saunders has also greatly distinguished himself as a most painstaking observer, by his researches into the economy of those minute parasitic Coleoptera which prey on bees. Mr. Moggeridge’s admirable work, intituled, ‘ Harvesting Ants and Trap-door Spiders,’ published in 1873, throws con- siderable light on these interesting spiders. 1 must content myself with two short quotations :— “The nests are exceedingly, difficult to find, and in some cases it is only by chance that I have been able to light on them. All these trap-door spiders seem usually to prefer rather moist and shady places and sloping banks, or loose lerrace-walls, where the interstices between the stones are filled up with earth, and concealment is afforded by the creeping Lycopodium (Selaginella denticulata), Ceterach spleen-wort, or maidenhair ferns, with short moss and “aie of white lichen to distract the eye.” (Moggeridge, p- 91. Mr. Moggeridge goes on to describe different forms of nest; and afterwards refers to the well-known habit of the trap-door spider of keeping the door closed by holding on from within. He relates his own experience in these words :— 248 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. “T will now relate what I saw on one of these occasions, for there has been much speculation as to the manner in which the spider clings to the door, and offers the determined resistance which is experienced. No sooner had I gently touched the door with the point of a penknife than it was drawn slowly, with a movement which reminded me of the tightening of a limpet on a sea-rock, so that the crown, which at first projected a little way above, finally lay a little below the surface of the soil. I then contrived to raise the door very gradually, despite the strenuous efforts of the occupant, till at length I was just able to see into the nest, and to distinguish the spider holding on to the door with all her might, with her fangs and all her claws driven into the silk-lining of the under surface of the door. The body of the spider was placed across and filled up the tube, the head being away from the hinge; and she obtained an additional purchase in this way by blocking up the entrance.” Mr. Moggeridge believes that whenever a spider resists in this way she makes the needle-holes, to which former allusion has been made; but, without wishing to controvert the opinion of so excellent an observer, I may perhaps be excused for remarking that the regularity of these minute holes rather militates against the supposition that they are caused by this process of holding on with fangs and claws to prevent the lid being opened by an enemy. I have here to mention a fact and a surmise in connection with these trap-doors that seems to partake rather of the character of romance than of sober reality. The door is covered with Lycopodium and moss, presenting exactly the same appearance as the surrounding surface. Mr. Moggeridge thus describes one particular instance :— “The moss on the door grew as vigorously, and had in every way the same appearance, as that which was rooted in the surrounding earth; and so perfect was the deception that | found it impossible to detect the position of the closed trap-door, even when holding itin my hand. There can be no doubt that many nests escape observation in this way; and the artifice is the more surprising because there is strong reason to believe that this beautiful door-garden is deliberately planted with moss by the spider, and not the effect of mere chance growth.” (P. 97.) THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 249 Up to this date all recorded observations—including those of Mr. Moggeridge, the last and most complete—point to spiders burrowing and constructing habitations in the earth. On the 7th of October last (1874) a communication was received by the Editor of the ‘Field’ from Mr. Bain, of 71, Cornhill, containing a cutting from the ‘ Uitenhage Times,’ a South African newspaper, of which the following copy appeared in the ‘ Field’ of October 10th :— * Remarkable Spider.—Unless we are mistaken, there is a species of this insect in Uitenhage which is at present unknown to entomologists beyond. It was discovered a few years ago by Dr. Dyer in the bark of his oak trees. On very close examination of the bark a beautifully-formed oval lid may be discovered, of about a third of an inch longer diameter. On raising this lid with the point of a penknife it will be found to open into a conical cavity, which is occupied by a small jet-black spider. The insect resists the raising of the lid with the tenacity of an oyster refusing to be opened, and holds on with all its might by two feet. As soon as the penknife is withdrawn, the door is closed with a sudden snap. We have ‘consulted naturalists and books, but have not succeeded in gaining any description that answers to this insect. Should this paragraph meet the eye of anyone pos- sessing information on the subject we should be thankful.” This did meet the eye of one possessed of some information on trap-door spiders, he having read Mr. Moggeridge’s work on the subject. I therefore wrote the following note, which appeared as an Editorial comment on the extract :— “This is one of the great family of trap-door spiders, which have attracted the admiring notice of all naturalists. Of these, the species known as Cteniza nidulans is perhaps the most familiar. It is a native of the West Indies, and constructs in the earth a tube, which it lines with silk. The lid so exactly resembles the surrounding earth, that it is impossible to detect it when closed by the spider from within. Another very interesting species inhabits the Ionian Islands, and forms its tube among the roots of trees; and others inhabiting the south of Europe, more particularly Mentone, have been observed and described by Mr. Mog- geridge, in a work of surpassing interest. It is difficult to say when the very earliest account of these wonderful creatures Qk - £50 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. was published; but those cited by Mr. Moggeridge are among the earliest and best. The most complete and elaborate are by Patrick Browne, in 1756; by the Abbé Sauvages, 1763; by Rossi, in 1778 and 1794; by Mr. Gosse, 1847; and finally by Mr. Moggeridge, in 1873. The description quoted by our correspondent is very exact: but these spiders generally construct their habitations in the earth, and not in the bark of trees. This may, therefore, prove a species of trap-door spider new to science.”— Edward Newman. It. appears that it attracted the attention also of another reader, who designates himself “ Anglo-African,” who wrote the following paragraph, which appeared in the ‘ Field’ of October 17th :— “Tt may interest your readers to learn that the trap-door spider, described in the ‘Field’ of October 10th, is also found in the neighbourhood of the Vaal River, South Africa, in the regions of the Diamond Fields. I have myself discovered two trap-doors. The first time, when lying in my tent one hot Sunday afternoon, with the curtains of the tent up, I observed the trap open just outside the tent, and the spider come out, leaving the trap open. On being slightly alarmed, by pushing a stick in his direction, he retired at once, and closed the trap. So very like the surface was this, that, looking away to call a ‘chum’ to watch him, I could not again see the place. However, our attention was rewarded in a short time by the spider again appearing,—I suppose on a foraging expedition. It was suggested to try if he was afraid of rain, and, on sprinkling the ground on which he had taken his afternoon’s walk, he beat a retreat again. This was repeated several times on his finding nothing was the matter. The door, or trap, was of an oval form, about three-quarters of an inch by half an inch in size, and appeared to have a capital hinge, and was countersuuk, so as to be level with the ground, and fitted in a marvellous way. We took bearings of the spot, and intended to have another interview with our little friend; but a ‘new rush’ set in, and he was completely forgotten. I should mention that this was in gravelly soil. On the other occasion I and my chum were ‘ prospecting,’ but not for trap-door spiders. However, we came on the tube of one in digging away the surface sand, and, carefully working THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 251 round it, got it out intact. It was quite two feet six inches in depth, and at the bottom was three times the size of the tube: this large part was, I presume, the sleeping apartment, as it is evident he must have ‘dined out.’ The tube was straight as possible, and strengthened at intervals of about an inch by extra rings, something like a Malacca cane. The interior, as far as we could see down it, was perfectly smooth, and about the size of the one described above. The trap-door was most cleverly fitted, and, as in the other case, corre- sponded exactly with the surface soil. The tube was quite strong, and bore its own weight easily. Whether or no its maker was inside or not I cannot say, as having, unfortunately, given it to one of our Zulu servants to carry to camp, whilst we proceeded with our work, I never saw it again; and the ‘boy’s’ reason for not bringing it was that, being asked to take a ‘soupjie’ at the canteen, he put it down outside to be safe, and could not find it again. This specimen was found opposite Jautzjie’s Kraal, at Likatlong, and some mile and a half from the Vaal River.—Anglo-A/rican.” It certainly does not appear to me that this spider is of the same species as that recorded on the 10th of October, no mention being made of the tree-trunk habitat. However, I have reprinted it with the view of making the subject as complete as possible. On the 25th of May of the present year Mr. Kemsley, formerly editor of the ‘ Uitenhage Times,’ brought over with him from South Africa some of the spiders alluded to in that paper. They were consigned to his care by his friend Mr. Bidwell, of the same paper, who requested to have them reported on. Having suggested, as previously quoted, that “they might be new to science,” Mr. Bidwell wished it to be ascertained whether such was the case. The spiders arrived in good condition, each in little square pieces of oak-bark, or what was so called, containing the spider and its domicile. They had maintained a rigorous fast during their transit from South Africa to the Strand; in fact, Mr. Kemsley knew not whereon to feed them. However, this abstemiousness did not appear to have interfered with their welfare; and the subject was fully discussed at the meeting of the Entomolo- gical Club, held here on the 23rd of June; and those present seemed to agree with me that the facts were new to science. 252 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. I have distributed them among entomological friends, espe- cially sending some to the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, begging him to investigate the matter, and report to the ‘ Field’ newspaper,—a journal which has distinguished itself for years by the amount and accuracy of the Natural History information it has circulated. Mr. Cambridge, with his usual courtesy and energy, at once entered on the task, and reported as follows :— “4 New Genus and Species of Trap-door Spider from South Africa.—An account (extracted from a South-African newspaper) of the discovery by Mr. Dyer of a trap-door spider, whose nest is made in the bark of trees, was published in the ‘ Field’ of October 10th, 1874. Examples of the nest, with the portion of bark in which each is constructed, together with the spider inhabiting one of the nests, have lately been handed to me by the Editor, with a request that I would write a few words upon the subject. It will, there- fore, I think, interest the correspondent who sent them to learn that the spider belongs, as it appears to me, to a genus not hitherto characterised ; its nest also being of a different type from that of all other trap-door spiders with which I am acquainted. The genus, for which I propose the name Moggridgea (in memory of my kind friend, the late lamented student of trap-door spiders, Mr. J. T. Moggeridge), is allied to Nemesia, Zatr., but differs from it, among other characters, notably in the absence of the usual short, strong spines at the fore extremity on the upper side of the falces, as well as in the wide separation of the eyes of each of the two lateral pairs. The spider which accompanied one of the nests is an adult female, and measures five and a half lines in length. The cephalo-thorax and falces are of a deep shining black- brown colour; the legs, which are short and strong, are of a lighter brown, the metatarsi of those of the second pair being of a clear yellowish white ; the abdomen is of a dark purplish brown; and the tibia, metatarsi, and tarsi of the first and second pairs are furnished underneath, on either side, with a row of strong spines. The nest consists of a silken tube, scarcely more than an inch in length, rugged on the outside in such parts as may be exposed, and formed in the folds and interstices of the rough bark. This tube is closed with a hinged lid of an oval or circular shape (according to the . 5 : i . : THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 253 exigencies of the position), and the entrance appears to be always at the earthward end; 7.e., the tube seems always to run upwards. One of the tubes submitted to me was constructed in the channelled groove of a piece of wood which had apparently formed part of some building or other. The shortness of the tubes, compared with those made in the ground by some species of Nemesia and Cteniza, is remark- able, as is also the position in which they are found; the lid, too, differs from all yet known to me, in being a compound of the two great types into which Mr. Moggeridge has divided those already known,—the ‘ cork’ and ‘ wafer’ types. Lids of the former are of solid construction, and fit into the mouth of the tube like a short cork, without any projecting margin; those of the second (or wafer) type are flatter, of much slighter or thinner make, and simply shut down upon the mouth of the tube. That, however, of the nest under consi- deration is of the ‘cork’ type, with a projecting ‘ wafer’ margin; the cork portion is less thick than that of the typical ‘ cork’ lid, but distinctly thicker than the margin, and fits into the tube, while the margin covers its edges so closely and completely that the nest is entirely concealed,—the outer side of the lid, like that of the exposed parts of the tube, exactly resembling the surrounding surface of the bark. The use of the spines on the falces of Nemesia (and Cteniza) is to excavate the hole in which the tube is made; but, as the present spider forms its nest in channels already made, these spines would be useless, and hence their absence ; or perhaps it would be truer to say that the spider, not being furnished with the necessary implements, but gifted with the trap-door nest-making instinct, has thus fixed upon a position in which excavation is needless. Further details of form, colour, and structure, would be probably out of place here; but I hope shortly to prepare a more minute scientific description, with drawings of the spider and its nest, for publication in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society. With regard to its specific name, I propose to call this very valuable and interesting addition to our trap-door spiders, Moggridgea Dyeri, after its discoverer, Dr. Dyer, of Uitenhage, South Africa; and I would ask that gentleman to use his evidently keen powers of observation for the discovery of the male sex, which would no doubt present far stronger and more 954 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. important specific characters than the female. A subsequent correspondent, ‘Anglo-African, in the ‘Field’ of October 17th, 1874, speaks of this spider being also found in another locality ; but his description of the nest, its great length,— two feet six inches,—and its situation, show that it belongs to a much larger spider, and one of quite a different genus, probably to an undescribed species of Nemesia or Cteniza.— O. P. Cambridge; Bloxworth Rectory, August 20, 1875.” I trust that the interesting subject of trap-door.spiders burrowing in the bark of trees, or at any rate utilizing the fissures of bark for the purpose of constructing their silken domiciles, will claim the attention of our correspondents in South Africa, and especially of the Messrs. Woodward, who have already done so much to illustrate the Natural History of these little-known regions. Epwarp NEWMAN. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropiischen Eichengallen’ by KE. A. Fircu, Esq. (Continued from p. 172.) 30. Aphilothrix globuli, Hart.— This green spherical gall is found in the terminal or axillary buds of Quer- cus pubescens (and probably also of other oaks); one-half or more of the _ gall is covered with the bud-scales, Y) and has a diameter from 8 to 4'3 milli- metres. At the point opposite the base there is a wart (or a blunt cone) of a yellow or rusty red colour. The naked green surface of the gall is soft when fresh, and shows a sappy sub- stratum, which, however, dries up in the autumn, and produces on the still green surface reticular plications or APHILOTHRIX GLOBULI. In situ: a, detached; b, mag- ; . . "nified. | * wrinkles. Inside the soft layer is the woody inner gall, which contains a larva-cell. The surface of this inner gall exhibits reticular rings. According to Hartig the fly emerges in the month of February.—G. L. Mayr. ta. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 255 In a subsequent note (second half, p. 68) Dr. Mayr says :— “The gall falls in October, while it is yet fresh and soft, and passes the winter on the ground.” I have found the galls of this species in Essex (see Entom. vii. 24, and Ent. Mo. Mag. xi. 110) in the autumn, and even as late as the middle of December, still in the bud, where it is easily seen on account of its green colour. I, however, failed to breed any of their inmates, probably from the inner galls withering, as no doubt this species, like the Neuroteri (leaf-spangles), requires to be collected from the ground in the spring to be successful. Dr. Mayr gives Synergus ruficornis, S. vulgaris, and Calli- mome regius, Nees, as inhabiting its galls; Prof. Kaltenbach gives Siphonura chalybea, Zt/zb.; Ratzeburg himself gives Eupelmus azureus, which, as he says, is probably hyper- parasitic ; and Hartig gives Neuroterus (Ameristus) parasiticus as parasitic in the gall of this species. Another year I hope to see which of these we have in Britain.—E. A. Fitch. 31. Aphilothrix autumnalis, Hart.—There is _ fig. 31. much similarity between the gall of this and the last-described species. Like that, more than half is covered with bud-scales: it is, when fresh, of a green colour, and has beneath the scarf-skin a thin fleshy reticulation, and at the summit a small round wart. It differs from the gall of A. globuli in its 4 oeyy. more oval or prolate form; in its being from three arzs, and a half to five millimetres long, and having m situ: a, de- a diagonal diameter of two and a half to three ‘** and a half millimetres; in the surface of the inner gall having no reticular rings, but blunt, longitudinal striations, which also show on the surface of the brown gall, for in the process of drying the thin fleshy layer adheres closely to the inner gall. According to Hartig this gall does not burst forth from the bud till the beginning of October, and falls to the ground in the middle of the same month. I have only found it once, but have had several fresh specimens sent to me by Herr Tschek, of Piesting—G. LZ. Mayr. This gall, I believe, occurs in Britain; but owing to the great confusion existing about the various bud-galls, I think the less said about this rather obscure species the better, at present.—E.. A, Fitch. 256 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. On Capturing, Killing and Setting Hymenoptera.—[The following recommendations and suggestions are by Mr. Frederick Smith, of the British Museum, and are published in the ‘Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for August. I have, perhaps, captured, killed and set more British bees than any man living, and therefore am qualified to express an opinion on Mr. Smith’s method. Mr. Smith’s observations are elicited by a previous paper of Dr. Kriechbaumer’s, the advice given in which Mr. Smith by no means inclines to follow. After criticising somewhat severely the Doctor’s method, Mr. Smith proceeds as follows, and I bear most willing testimony to the value of his advice. It comes here very appropriately as a sequel to Mr. Fitch’s recommenda- tions in the case of gall-flies, which appeared in the July number of the ‘ Entomologist. —Edward Newman. | “Twill, as briefly as I can, describe my own method of capturing and setting Hymenoptera, and leave it for Hyme- nopterists to try both methods, and make known their opinions which is the better. I capture my insects with a bag-net (when I consider a net necessary, because I really capture three-fourths with my fingers) made of the very finest white net that is manufactured, twenty-two meshes to the inch: this is only to be procured at a few of the best shops in London. When collecting, I carry a good supply of the best block pill-boxes of different sizes, packed in a flat tin case that fits a satchel; this prevents the boxes being crushed in travelling to my hunting-ground. On arriving there I transfer the boxes to the right-hand pocket of my coat. When I capture an insect in my net I select a proper- sized box, take off the lid, and secure the insect in it against the side of the net; then, with a little manipulation, I put on the lid. The insect is now quite uninjured, with not a hair on its body ruffled. Each capture I thus secure in a separate box. These boxes I put into the left-hand pocket of my coat; and when | have filled a number, or have taken some great rarity, | put them back into the tin case; if a rarity, I frequently put the box in which I first secured it into one a size larger. Before starting on an excursion I examine all my boxes, to be sure that the lids fit closely ; if they do not, a strip of paper pasted round the rims makes them secure. On arriving home I proceed to kill the insects: I take first THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 257 the largest boxes used and raise the lids on one side, so as to leave a very narrow opening to admit the fumes of sulphur ; I then pile the boxes one upon another in a pyramidal heap, and over the pile I place a bell-shaped glass, usually six inches in diameter, but the size will vary according to the number of boxes; I then take a little powdered sulphur on the end of a thin piece of flat wood (a match in fact), light the sulphur, and place it beneath the bell-glass,—this process will sometimes require repeating once or twice, until the sulphur will no longer burn beneath the glass; it is then sufficiently charged. In this condition I leave it for about half an hour. I then empty the conteuts of the pile of boxes into two or three larger ones, recharge the bell-glass, under which I place the boxes of insects, and leave them until the following morning: the insects will then be in a proper condition for setting. Every insect will be found in the most perfect condition: pubescent ones, such as humble-bees, have not a hair disturbed, and they can be pinned without a chance of any liquid oozing out of the thorax and matting the pubescence. My method of setting and drying specimens is as follows:—For the latter process I use a drying-cage, with door and back covered with net (perforated zinc would answer as well, if not better): the cage has several setting- boards resting upon slips of wood, and corked on one side, the cork being half au inch thick, thus allowing the insects to be pinned at a proper height. The setting process is very easy and simple: having run a pin through the thorax, slightly before the middle of its disk, I mount it on to the setting-board, running the pin into the cork, until the under side of the thorax very nearly touches the cork; the next thing to be done is to arrange the legs in a natural position by the aid of fine plyers and setting-needles, securing the limbs in position, when necessary, with pins; on each side of the specimen I place a table for expanding the wings upon; this is simply a strip of good, stout Bristol-board, that is, stout card. ‘These tables must be of various sizes, and used according to the size of the wings of the insect. Having fixed the tables firmly, I place the wings upon them with a setting-needle, and having, by a little manipulation, if necessary, hooked the wings together, push them forwards into the required position, holding them there with a needle, 2L 258 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. until, with a brace made of a strip of card shorter than the table, and pierced through at one end with a pin, the wings are secured in their proper position. The last process is to arrange the antenne. This can sometimes be done by placing them on the end of the table on which the wings are spread; but, in the majority of cases, it must be done with pins. ‘The time necessary for insects to remain on the setting-boards depends upon a variety of circumstances. I am here alluding only to insects recently caught. In the height of summer, if. dry and hot, a fortnight may do for small or slender insects, but I seldom remove any so soon. Bombi should, even in hot, dry weather, remain at least a month, and at other times must be left five or six weeks, or the wings will be apt, in damp weather, to fall out of position.”—Lrederick Smith. Life-history of the Pear-tree Slug. By Epwarp NEWMAN. by THE “ potato-bug” seems reluctant to cross the Atlantic, and the panic it engendered is dying out, in spite of the energy which some practised scribe or expert conversationist will occasionally strive to maintain or renew the excitement. As if purposely to avail itself of the procrastination of this coy and somewhat problematical mischief-maker, a real insect grievance has taken up its abode in our midst, and seems to demand serious attention. ‘Ihe pear-tree slug is a reality, tangible, palpable, visible, smellable,—for it appeals most forcibly to the olfactory organs. Mr. Fitch, to whom allusion will be made again hereafter, ‘in defence of the slug against this charge, thinks that the smell is only emitted under circumstances of provocation, and may possibly be protective only,—a sort of warning to the aggressor not to taste a creature whose scentis so offensive, lest he should find the flavour as repugnant to his palate as the odour to his olfactory organs. ‘This kind of protection is possessed by the larve of many other sawflies. Complaints as to the burnt-up appearance of our pear-trees, —and, by the way, of our cherry-trees as well—inquiries as to the cause; and a plethora of infallible remedies, with polysyllabic and for the most part unpronounceable names, r . THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 259 have found their way into all our advertising columns and wrappers; yet year after year the plague seems to increase and spread. My object in penning these notes is to bring the creature face to face with his victims,—those who, in ae west and south-west of England, annually lose their pears and their perry through the instrumentality of these insects ; for unless we know our enemy—his appearance, his ways, and his whereabouts—all our attempts to compass his destruction must be futile. We have all heard of the nocturnal slaughter of sheep in Algeria, and of the cunning devices to eradicate the enemy, to stamp out the aggressor, and thus allow the persecuted sheep a respite. Large sums were raised, fertile brains were worked, and engines of all forms and on all principles were constructed, with a view to compass his destruction; nothing was omitted that ingenuity could suggest, valour inspire, or wealth procure. One thing, how- ever, was forgotten; and that was to identify the ovicide. No one had deigned to inquire what particular beast, bird, or reptile, evinced this kleptomania for mutton ; so that lion and leopard, byzna and jackal, vulture and eagle, shared the opprobrium about equally among them; until the hunters, on going the round of the traps at early dawn, found a party of Bedouins squatting on their heels, with mutton on their knees, mutton between their fingers, and abundant evidence of mutton slaughter and mutton cookery unmistakably around them. Then came a revulsion of feeling; then the tide of subtle strategy and impetuous bravery was diverted into another channel. Even before accident supplied me with this apt illustration of my theme, I had arrived at the conviction that it is desirable to ascertain your enemy before “ trying conclusions” with him; and it is in this spirit that L invite attention to the life-history of the pear-tree slug. And here let me state in limine that the earliest, best, most complete, and most accurate account of this objectionable insect was written by Professor Peck, and was printed at Boston, U.S., at the very end of last century, by order of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society. This body awarded fifty guineas and a gold medal for the memoir, which it is now difficult or impossible to procure. Dr. Harris, however, one of the most eminent of American entomologists, has given us 260 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the substance of this essay at p. 418 of his ‘Treatise on Insects Injurious to Vegetation.’ This second account, with some abbreviations and modifications, has been adopted by all subsequent writers; and its chief points are incorporated in the present memoir, not, however, unadvisedly, or without a careful study of the insect in a state of nature. I have also to acknowledge the great assistance I have received from Mr. Edward A. Fitch, one of the best observers of insect life- history that ever lived, and one who has laboured, and is still labouring, most efficiently in the elucidation of our British oak-galls. In June the mother-fly emerges from the earth in which she had voluntarily buried herself. Her first thought, like that of our own female relatives, is matrimony ; and doubtless her powers of attraction, as with us, are taxed to the utter- most; but in what manner they are exercised philosophers have failed to discover. Her second thought, or instinct, or duty, is preparing for a family. A word as to her personal . appearance: she is always in mourning; even before matri- mony she wears the sable garment of widowhood; her head, antennz, body and legs are almost entirely clothed in black ; her wings, otherwise colourless, wear a blackish shade across their middle. Her native tree in this country is the sloe. By beating a sloe-bush, at the beginning of June, into a net or umbrella, after the manner practised by entomologists when thrashing for caterpillars, you may obtain some of these little black, and seemingly lifeless, creatures, which are about the size of a grain of wheat. If they fall into the umbrella— held of course upside down—they will roll over and over to the bottom of the concavity, and there lie perfectly motion- less; of course their object is to assume the semblance of death, so as to deceive the uninitiated. A great number of insects have this habit of feigning death, evidently with the object of rendering their appearance unattractive, and them- selves unrecognisable to those other insects, or animals of any kind, which make living insects their customary food. As though purposely to aid in this life-preserving, and there- fore very excusable, deception, their bodies are so fashioned that by bending their heads downwards beneath their breasts, pressing their antenne, legs and wings closely against the body, and resolutely abstaining from all movement, the whole ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 261 appearance becomes so inorganic that even the sharp, prying eye of a bird would be deceived, and the delicate, discrimi- nating touch of a spider would fail to detect life under this mask of death. Some insects have a special provision for this maneuvre; as in those many-bladed knives which are the delight of schoolboys and the terror of timid mothers, each of the limbs fits with the greatest nicety into a groove purposely fashioned to receive it. If you examine a pill- beetle (Byrrbus), while it is shamming death in this way, you will find it so compact and pill-like that you are quite unable to distinguish the legs from the body until the creature condescends to crawl, and thus reveal the secrets of its structure. Notwithstanding this love of concealment, one or other of the roving males, similarly coloured to the female, but of a far more volatile disposition, is sure to find her, and impregnation and maternity follow as matters of course. Then she may be seen in the act of oviposition,—on a sloe- leaf in the hedges, or a cherry-Jeaf in the garden, or a pear- leaf in the orchard,—and a serious matter she makes of it. So serious and so intent is she in the performance of this maternal duty, that you may sometimes take her off the sloe- leaf between your finger and thumb. She will evince no disposition to fly, make no effort to run, but only resort to the expedient of feigning death,—an expedient that facilitates her capture rather than otherwise, especially if you hold one hand beneath the leaf on which she is operating, in order to arrest her fall. I need scarcely say that this insect is a member of the great family of sawflies,—a family that has long attracted the attention and admiration of the entomolo- gist; nor need [ again describe the saw with which all of them seem to abrade the cuticle of the leaf, leaf-stalk, or twig, on which they deposit their eggs. Suffice it to say that the abrasion made by the insect whose history I am relating is of a’ slightly-curved or crescentic form, and that the egg is laid in this abraded portion. The denuded parenchyma of the leaf thus comes into immediate contact with the under side of the egg, which is of an oblong shape, and is covered with a leathery shell, capable of considerable expansion as the enclosed larva increases in size. Thus the egg is seen very obviously to grow,—a fact familiar to entomologists, but one which 262 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ornithologists may be excused for hesitating to accept, seeing how very brittle are the eggs to which they have devoted their best attention. This faculty of growth in the egg-state was known to Linnzus, and has been recorded by all subse- quent writers on this tribe of insects. To criticise or contra- dict observers so careful as Professor Peck and Dr. Harris is out of the question; but there is one point in which I differ from these most observant and accurate entomologists. Both Peck and Harris either state, or lead us to infer, that the egg is laid and that the larva feeds on the wnder side of the leaf. My own experience is exactly the reverse of this, and agrees with that of the Rev. Charles Bethune, as given at p. 51 of his ‘Annual Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario,’ which I have lately received through the courtesy of my kind friend Mr. Reeks, of Thruxton. My experience agrees with Mr. Bethune’s; | find the larve on the wpper side of the leaf. This want of accord may probably arise from there being several species confounded under one name, and three of them I had named provisionally after the trees on which I found the slug feeding :—Blennocampa Cerasi on the cherry, B. Pruni on the plum or sloe, and B. Pyri on the pear. I find, however, that I am unable to differentiate these in a manner likely to find acceptance with entomologists. I therefore prefer adopting “ Authiops” as a specific name for all our slug-worms, at the same time expressing a feeling of some regret that the word “ nigger,” the literal translation of AXthiops, should have been applied to the sawfly of the “turnip,—a very different insect, and one of which a complete life-history has already been given in the ‘ Entomologist.’ | Another question of some interest, as regards the geographical distribution of insects, arises as to the identity of the slug- worms of Europe and America. There is, however, no necessity to introduce this difficulty to the reader, unless it be to say that the three are so similar that I am unable to separate them. To proceed with our life-history of the one which feeds on the pear-tree. The eggs continue to grow during thirteen days; at first slowly, towards the end of that period more rapidly. On the fourteenth day, according to Professor Peck, the young grub emerges from the egg. I have no doubt this Statement is correct as regards the United States, but I THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 263 cannot say that I have verified it in England. On first emergence they are white or colourless, but in a very short time they are covered with a black, brown, or olive-coloured jelly, of offensive scent and disgusting appearance. Although Peck, Say, Harris, Bethune and others in America, De Geer, Réaumur, Bouché, Hartig and many others on the continent of Europe, and Mr. Westwood in England, have written on this loathsome grub, and although I have read their observa- tions with the attention they merit, 1 cannot say that I thoroughly understand the mode in which this jelly or mucilage is produced: it accumulates on the surface of the skin, until the creature becomes a dark mass without appa- rent life, or even organisation. ‘The slugs are first observable at the beginning of- July,—then of course very small; anda succession continues to make its appearance, and to iufest the leaves of sloe, pear, cherry or service, throughout August and September, and often far into October. ‘They glide with extreme slowness over the surface of the leaf, and partly by means of claspers, a pair of which are attached to the under side of every segment, except the Ist, 4th, and 13th. ‘These claspers seem to possess little of that prehensile property which is so striking a character of the claspers of the cater- pillars of moths and butterflies. In addition to the claspers, fourteen in number, which are situated on the under side of the abdomen, there are six articulated or thoracic legs. These, as well as the head, are invisible, except when the creature is crawling or feeding; indeed, these so-called organs of locomotion are concealed by the body and its concomitant slime or jelly, and their office seems to devolve on the annular segments of the body, which, by alternate dilation and contraction, effect the desired object. This phenomenon is observable in the larve of many other insects, particularly in those which are apparently apod, such as the maggots of flies and some Curculionide. The body is some- what swollen at the anterior extremity, and gradually attenuated towards the posterior, which is slightly raised,—a character frequently observable in this family of insects, as well as in the cuspidate Lepidoptera. During the greater part of their larval existence, these slug-worms seem quite destitute of that rambling propensity which is commonly observable in the larve of Lepidoptera; indeed, in them, 264 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. rambling would be useless, since the upper cuticle and the parenchyma of the leaf, which constitute their principal food, are always within reach without the trouble of moving. These they consume in a very methodical manner, leaving the lower cuticle entire; this very soon dies, withers, and turns brown, making the whole tree look as though covered with dead leaves. The process of exuviation, or casting of the skin, obtains in this, as in all other larva. Before it is performed the little slug wanders about the leaf with more freedom of movement than usual; it is no longer glued, as it were, to the cuticle. After the skin is cast the slug may be seen licking its old coat, an occupation which seems par ticularly enjoyable. The mandibles are also incessantly and actively at work; yet the cast clothing does not entirely disappear, although it is certainly diminished: the anterior part seems to be eaten, the hinder part neglected. This observation is made in con- sequence of the well-known propensity of certain lepidopterous larve to make a meal not only of the egg-shell from which they have just emerged, but also of the garments, which are from time to time thrown aside in favour of a new suit. What a saving might be effected if we humans could thus utilise our old clothes instead of feeding on beef and mutton, the price of which seems gradually advancing towards a point which will render the use of such viands impossible. The changing of the skin takes place in America five times. I cannot say that five is the number of ecdyses in England, as I have not counted the new suits worn by English slug-worms. At the last change the slug loses its jelly-like surface, and appears in a neat yellow skin without any viscidity. This occurs nearly a month after their first escape from the egg-shell; the head and segmental divisions are now quite as perceptible as in any other species of sawfly. Hence- forward it eats no more, but crawls down the trunk of the tree and buries itself in the earth: at the depth of three or four inches, each forms a neat little oval cell, in which to undergo its final changes to a chrysalis and perfect fly. This cell is formed of earth, but is lined and intermixed with liquid glue secreted in the stomach, and ejected by the mouth. This liquid glue is obviously nothing more than silk in a liquid state, —a preparation with which the larva of nearly every moth, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 265 butterfly, hymenopteron, or coleopteron, is provided more or less abundantly, and one which is always applied to the fabrication of a cocoon, cell, or covering of some kind in which to undergo its transformation: When this gum has once hardened, and assumed its final state of leather-like toughness, it is insoluble in water, and forms a perfect protection from wet. In this cocoon the grub resides during the remaining portion of the autumn, also during the entire winter, and until the following summer: it is contracted in size, but otherwise unchanged in character. Its change to a necro- morphous chysalis does not take place until spring has far advanced, and then that state is but of short duration: fourteen or twenty days suffice to mature the perfect insect, and at the expiration of this it emerges from the tomb, and the same cycle of existence is recommenced and recompleted as before. I believe every leaf-eating insect has its parasite,—its appointed enemy, whose office in creation is to keep the leaf- eater in check, and thus maintain the balance of nature. Were it not thus, so vast would be the destruction of vegeta- tion that man himself must perish in the fruitless struggle to maintain life. These insidious parasites, and faithful allies of man, are Hymenoptera, insects of the same class as the flies produced from the slug. A word remains to be said about the supposed remedies ; and here I must confess that | am at fault. In England we trust too much to the inventive genius of chemists and druggists. Whenever these gentlemen offer for sale a prepa- ration which they have previously called by some cacophonic name, the little republic of cultivators is delighted to buy, delighted to be taken in, and delighted to grumble at the inefficacy of the nostrum; and so ends the amusing comedy. In America it is somewhat different; our Transatlantic cousins, having made themselves thoroughly acquainted with the enemy, have had recourse to practical measures with a view to compass his destruction. Sand, ashes, lime, and powdered hellebore, have been tried with great energy; but the last only has been found reliable. The results of these experi- ments were recorded in the September number of the ‘Canadian Entomologist’ for 1870. As soon as the slugs were observed at work in spring they QM 266 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. were treated to a plentiful supply of dry sand, thrown up into the higher branches with a shovel, and over the lower ones through a sieve. The sand stuck thickly to the slimy skins of the grubs, completely covering them. Supposing the enemy conquered, no notice was taken of him for some days, when he was found to have recovered from the assault, and to be as vigorous as ever. It was then determined to test the sand experiment on a smaller scale. Several small branches of pear-trees were selected and marked, on each of which were six slugs, and these were well powdered over, and completely covered with sand. On examining them it was found that they had shed their sand-covered skin, and had crawled out as slimy as before. The sand was applied a second and a third time, with similar results. Ashes were next tried in the same manner as the sand had been, and were found equally ineffectual. Seeing then that sand was useless, the slugs were treated to a strong dose of hellebore and water, which soon finished them. Another experiment was tried with a solution of hellebore, and is thus re- ported :— “On the 13th of August, at 8 A.M., a branch of a cherry- tree was plucked, on which there were sixty-four slugs. This branch had only nine leaves, so it may be supposed it was thickly inhabited. A dose of hellebore and water was showered on them, about the usual strength,—an ounce to the pailful,—when they soon manifested symptoms of uneasi- ness, twisting and jerking about in a curious manner. Many died during the day, and only six poor sickly-looking specimens remained alive the following morning, and these soon after died. During the past season (1870) these slugs have been unusually abundant on our pear-trees, in many cases destroying the foliage so thoroughly that they looked as if they had been scorched by a fire, every leaf in some instances dropping from the trees, so that for a time they were as bare as in mid-winter. Nearly a thousand trees in the young pear orchard of the writer suffered severely. During the latter part of June and the early days of July we had no opportunity of inspecting these trees; and when we visited them on the 7th of July they were so much injured | that we thought they could not be much worse; and, as the slugs were then full grown and fast disappearing, and as the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 267 application of a remedy to so many trees was a matter of so much labour, nothing was attempted to remedy the evil.” Then follows a list of the pear-trees injured ; and from this it appears that some varieties suffered much more severely than others. In the course of a fortnight after these observa- tions were made, new leaves began to push out vigorously on the defoliated trees, and within a month or six weeks all was green again. “In the meantime,” says Mr. Bethune, “the mischief- makers were preparing for a second descent, and we in our turn were preparing to receive them. On the 29th of July, when going through the orchard in the afternoon, the new brood of flies were found in the greatest abundance, resting on the young leaves and on those portions of green which still remained on the leaves partially eaten by the last brood. They were congregated, however, most thickly on those trees where green leaves were most abundant. On disturbing them they would fall to the ground, with the antenne bent under the body, and the head bent downwards..... . We caught sixty specimens, and might have taken hundreds: they were so thickly spread that in many instances there were two or three on a single leaf. By the last week in August the second brood of slugs were hatched. Now those trees which had previously escaped were all more or less infested..... my: 8 raised platform was rigged up in a one-horse cart, in which was placed a barrel of water in which a pound of powdered hellebore had been mixed; and from this elevated stand this mixture was showered lightly on the trees from the rose of a watering-pot. It was astonishing how quickly the trees were cleared by this method: scarcely a slug could be found on a tree the morning after the application had been made; and ten pounds of hellebore, with five or six days’ work of a man and horse, served to go over the whole ground.” Powdered hellebore has been successfully tried in England on asmall scale; but there is an apparent difficulty in raising the water to a sufficient height to be of much service among the giant pear-trees of Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Still | would by no means discourage the attempt. In a scientific point of view it would be interesting to ascertain the identity or otherwise of the “slugs” of Europe and America, and to ascertain also whether the slugs had 268 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. migrated, either naturally or through the instrumentality of man, from the old to the new continent, or vice versd. It is stated, and I doubt not on good authority, that there are two broods of this mischievous insect in America. At present we know of but one in Britain. Let us hope that a second may not hereafter reveal itself. Epwarp NEWMAN. Peckham, October 10, 1875. Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc. Obtaining Eggs from Captive Lepidoptera.—In the ‘Canadian Entomologist’ for September Mr. T. L. Mead, of New York, gives a description of a simple and easily- constructed cage for keeping the females of Lepidoptera in health and vigour until the eggs are deposited on the food- plant. As the method in some of its details is new to me, I thought it might also prove so to some of your numerous readers, and therefore copy that portion of his note verbatim. Mr. Mead says:—“ A notch is cut in the side of an empty wooden-box, through which a branch of willow or other appropriate food-plant is passed, care being taken to select a leafy spray, so as to partially fill the box with foliage. It is then covered with gauze, tacked fast on one side and part way on the adjoining sides, that on the fourth side being held down by a piece of wood fastened to the remaining flap of gauze. ‘This renders easy the examination of the contents at any time. Now, a saucer of dried apples, sugared and partly filled with water, is put in, and the cage is complete. Butterflies, like Limenitis Arthemis, will live in such a vivarium for two weeks and more after their capture, and appear to | enjoy the food provided immensely, laying many more eggs than if enclosed in a bag and allowed to perish of hunger and thirst. Ihave often captured specimens and dropped them in upon the pile of dried apples: instead of fluttering about and endeavouring to escape they instantly unrolled their tongues, and feasted for several minutes upon the repast prepared for them without a motion of the wings.’—Henry Leeks; Thruxton, October 19, 1875. Varieties and Deformities—From time to time the pages THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 269 of the ‘Entomologist’ are illustrated either by pen or pencil,— sometimes both,—with so-called “varieties” of our native Lepidoptera, and in almost every instance the specimens described differ from the normal type of the species, either in the distribution of colours, or in intensity of shade or mark- ings. Occasionally we read of dwarf specimens, or, on the other hand, specimens of gigantic proportions, but we seldom see any account of a deformed individual ; and by deformities I do not mean the poor, crippled creatures we sometimes get in our rearing-cages,—although perhaps they should claim the appellation, “ par excellence,’—but those in which one particular limb, although fully developed, differs from the corresponding one. ‘That such deformities do occur we are all well aware; 1 think they are sometimes not totally unin- teresting to those who really love insects for their own sake. Last summer I and a friend were searching for Acidalia straminata, and whilst near a fir-wood a moth attracted my attention by its peculiar flight. I caught and boxed it, to find it was a specimen of Ellopia fasciaria, with one of its hind wings about ha/f as large as the opposite one, although this dwarfed limb is apparently fully developed, and has the red bar across it similar to the other, but the wing being ‘ shorter than usual the bar is naturally nearer the body; ; consequently the moth looks very one-sided now itis set. I have yet a still more remarkable “deformity” in my cabinet in a male of Colias Edusa. The specimen in question has both fore wings narrow and rounded, almost reminding one in form of the fore wings of Lithosia quadra. Its colours are not so bright as other specimens in my series, but the mark- ings are similar; and on account of the wings being so much narrower the black spot appears to be almost equidistant from the costal and inner margins. Doubtless many readers of this journal possess specimens equally interesting and curious ; but, in nineteen-twentieths of the varieties described, the variation is in colour, and not in form. This I almost wonder at, since the acquisition of varieties is, and has been, such a mania with collectors, and almost anything out of the common course of nature is deemed a prize.—G. B. Corbin. [I am rather pleased that any correspondent of the ‘ Ento- mologist’ should have observed, what is a fact, the general absence from its pages of notices of deformity. 1 entirely 270 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. agree with the spirit that suppresses all notice of deformity among mankind, and am well pleased to see the same for- bearance exercised towards the world of animals.—Edward Newman.) Abundance of Colias Hyale in Suffolk.—I have been sur- prised not to see your natural-history columns crowded by your entomological correspondents with notices of the occur- rence of that, to me, rare butterfly, Colias Hyale. Both it and its near relative C. Edusa have occurred abundantly—the former exceedingly so—in East Suffolk during the last three weeks. A brother of mine, who is collecting, took several specimens of each. Iam curious to know if East Suffolk is the only district that has been visited.—H. J. Rope; Blaz- hall, Wickham Market. (From the ‘Field.’ | Colias Edusa, C. Hyale, Sphinx Convolvuli, and Catocala sponsa, near Petersfield.—1 took here, on September 30th, a rather worn specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli: it was at rest in some long grass when I found it. I also took at sugar here, on August 9th, a fair specimen of Catocala sponsa; and on September 18th, about five miles from here, a good female Colias Hyale. 1 have also taken this autumn ten specimens of Colias Edusa, of which only two were females.— Walde- grave ; Blackmoor, Petersfield, Oct. 18, 1875. Colias Hyale and Sphinx Convolvuli near Birmingham. On the 13th September I captured a good specimen of Colias Hyale near the Ran Dan Woods, about thirteen miles from Birmingham, while out shooting; and on the 23rd I saw one on the wing at Shirley, about six miles from Birmingham. On the 24th I had brought to me a very large specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli, having been captured in a greenhouse in some neighbouring nursery-gardens; and two others at the same time were captured on the outskirts of the town. Both species are exceedingly rare in this neighbourhood, and I never remember having seen either before.— Walter Ludlow ; - Solihull, near Birmingham. {From the ‘Field.’] Colias Hyale, C. Edusa, and Sphinaw Convolvuli, at Hitchin.—Seven specimens of Colias Hyale and four of C. Edusa have been taken by the boys in this school within the last month. ‘They were all taken on the Midland and Great Northern Railway embankment, a little to the north of Hitchin Station. Two gentlemen have taken specimens of THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 271 Sphinx Convolvuli here lately, one of which has come into my possession; and another has been found in the garden here.—John Grubb; The Woodlands, Hitchin, September 25, 1875. Colias Edusa and Sphinx Convolvuli at Hendon.—On September 13th a male Colias Edusa was taken in the garden here by my friend Mr. Brown; and on the 26th, a fine female Sphinx Convolyuli was brought me; it was found at rest on a post. In the evening of the same date I took a male, as it was hovering over a bed of scarlet geraniums.—R. South ; Goldbeater’s Farm, Mill Hill, Hendon. Sphina Convolvuli, Colias Hyale and C. Edusa abundant at Ipswich.—Sphinx Convolvuli has been very plentiful here throughout September; and Colias Hyale and C. Edusa have swarmed everywhere.—C. £. Long; Borough Asylum, Ipswich. Lycena Acis near Cardiff —F¥our specimens of Lycena Acis were taken near Cardiff last year, and one more this year by Mr. Williams, of Marlborough College, one of which is in my possession.—N. Manders ; Marlborough College, Wilts. Deilephila Galit at Weybridge.—My brother and | caught two specimens of Deilephila Galii here, in August, several years ago. ‘They were flying over such flowers as verbenas, geraniums, &c. I have recorded this because I believe the moth is rare.—Oswald Milne; Weybridge, Surrey, October 9, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli in Guernsey.—This fine hawk-moth has been unusually abundant in Guernsey this autumn. The first specimen was brought me on August 26th by a little girl; she had found it at rest on the arcade steps. On August 28th another specimen was brought in a chip-box ; but, as may be supposed, it was too much battered to be of any use as a specimen. September 6th, a boy brought a fine specimen, taken on the window of a house in Pedvin Street. September 16th, a lady collector brought me a fine specimen to kill for her; and on the same day a friend sent me a fine specimen, which had been taken in King’s Road. Septem- ber 17th, a specimen brought, taken on the door of a house in Mount Durand. September 18th, my friend Mr. Derrick called to tell me he had been informed by a lady that Sphinx Convolvuli were very abundant in her garden in King’s Road, ~ { ? i @ t 272 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. hovering over honeysuckle at dusk, and that we were kindly invited to see them. We determined to capture some if possible, so repaired there that same evening. On one of the garden-walls was a large quantity of honeysuckle in full bloom, which was evidently the attraction. We stationed ourselves in front of it, net in hand; we had not long to wait before they began to put in an appearance; and after several unsuccessful attempts we succeeded in capturing five. We were told that two cats belonging to the house stationed themselves on the wall regularly every evening watching for these moths, and often succeeded in capturing them. Sep- tember 23rd, a specimen was brought me, very much worn and wasted. September 24th, we again visited the honey- suckle in King’s Road; and, although it was almost blowing a gale of wind, succeeded in taking one moth. Besides the above captures, which have come under my more immediate notice, | have heard of the following :—Two were taken at rest on a white sheet hanging in a garden in Mount Durand; the captors, thinking them very beautiful, pinned them alive on some wax-flowers under a glass-shade, thinking, no doubt, that the insects would die in a very short time; both insects and flowers must have been greatly improved. Another specimen was exhibited in the window of a boot-maker’s shop in Smith Street; and a gentleman living in Candie Road found one crushed on his garden-walk. My friend Mr. Cumber has also given me the following list of captures, most of which have been added to his collection :—Two taken in the sick-ward and one in the yard of Town Hospital ; two in‘a garden in Brock Road; one at rest on a greenhouse, near Victor Hugo’s house in Hauteville; one at rest on a railing near Salarie Battery ; and one on a street-door knocker. A full-grown larva was brought me from Alderney on October 14th, and has been forwarded to Mr. Newman to describe in the ‘ Entomologist;’ and J] am informed that a great number of specimens of the perfect insect have been captured there this season.—W, A. Luff; Guernsey. Description of the Larva of Sphina Convolvuli.—Oppor- tunities of examining the larva of Sphinx Convolvuli are of such rare occurrence in this country that I was delighted to avail myself of Mr. Lufl’s kindness in sending me a specimen. It was by no means what the various figures and descriptions THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 273 had led me to anticipate; indeed no description I had read had given me any idea of the reality. The entire absence of oblique lateral stripes at first induced the conclusion that some mistake had been made in determining the species: this idea, however, was soon dissipated, and was speedily followed by the conviction that I had the larva of Sphinx Convolvuli before me. The face when the creature is at rest is held nearly in a vertical position; the mouth, however, is inclined slightly backwards towards the feet, which are inclined forwards. It is very slightly convex, and notably narrower than the 2nd segment, which partially receives it: this segment is narrower than those which follow, and which are of nearly equal substance to the 13th, and this is evidently less than the rest, as usual in larve ; on the 12th is an arcuate, decurved, caudal horn, which is moderately stout at the base, and tapers to an acute point; the body is transversely wrinkled, and has manifest incisions separating the segments. The colour of the head is green, with a slender black line between the cheeks; this forks at the lower extremity and includes the mouth; each cheek has two longitudinal black stripes, whereof the exterior on each cheek slightly exceeds the interior both in length and breadth. The body is bright apple-green, with six longitudinal series of black spots, and a narrow black medio-ventral stripe commencing on the dth segment and terminating on the 12th; this narrow stripe is interrupted between the 5th and 6th segments, and also between the 6th and 7th: the medio-dorsal area is without black markings, and the sub-dorsal area has a distinct series, one on every segment, excepting the 2nd, 5th, and 6th; each spot is seated in the incision between the segments, and is therefore double, part on the preceding, part on the following segment; the anterior portion pointed and slightly oblique, the posterior portion rounded: the last of this series on each side is linear, oblique, and continuous with the caudal horn, which is chestnut-brown with a black tip: the second series of black spots on each side is lateral, and situated exactly half-way between the series already described and the spiracles ; in position these spots alternate with those in the sub-dorsal series: the third series of black spots on each side is spiracular; each spiracle is oblong and black, and is _ surrounded with a very delicate pale circumscription; each 2N | : 4 274 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. spiracle forms the centre of a nearly circular black spot; the nine spiracles thus surrounded form the third spiracular series ; the medio-ventral line, already described, is dilated into a black blotch between each pair of abdominal claspers; the legs are black and shining: the claspers are pale green, with black, curved and prehensile ciliz ; each has a black spot on its outer side, This larva was found in Alderney, feeding on the leaves of the large bindweed, Convolvulus sepium. The specimen buried itself on the 14th of October, and so remains. I will now say a few words about a pupa of the same species, dug up in a potato-field at Deptford, and now before me. This is two inches and an eighth in length, and of propor- tionate thickness: the case containing the maxille is trans- versely marked, as if with rings; itis perfectly detached from the body, except at its insertion; it is parallel with the body for two-thirds of its length, and then, after nearly touching the leg-cases, is bent inwards and upwards, and terminates in a blunt extremity ; the anal extremity of the pupa is obtuse and scabrous. The extraordinary abundance in which this species has appeared this year, as recorded in the pages of the ‘ Ento- mologist, is only equalled by the records in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1846, when it appeared throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom. Taking the records alphabetically, we find it occurred at Aylsham, Blackheath, Bridlington, Cam- berwell, Carlisle, Chipping Norton, Chelmsford, Clonmel, Dunmow, Faversham, Hackney, Hessle-on-Humber, Hull, Huddersfield, Hythe, Kingsbury, and a variety of other places in the vicinity of London, Leyton, Leicester, Norwich, Nottingham, Preston, Reading, Sudbury, Tooting, Tunbridge, Uppingham, Winchester, York, and Yarmouth: in the last- named locality it is reported to have occurred “in immense quantities,” one person having taken fifty-seven, and enormous numbers having been seen on Caistor Marrams, a sandy district by the sea-shore. The interval of twenty-nine years, between 1846 and 1875, did not pass without the occurrence of Convolvuli being occasionally noticed ; and I find captures of the insect recorded in almost every volume of the ‘ Zoologist’ or ‘Entomologist’ until this year. In 1868 it appeared in abundance on the Norfolk and Suffolk coast, more particu- larly at Aldeburgh, as recorded in the ‘ Field’ newspaper. Its THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 275 profuse occurrence on the eastern coast in 1868, coupled with its abundance in Guernsey during the present year, seems to favour my theory that our rarer Lepidoptera are frequently “ blown over” from the Continent. The speed at which a Sphinx can travel, even when unaided by the wind, is truly marvellous, and when assisted by a favourable breeze it may perhaps be greater still. I see my friend Mr. Biggs combats this idea—Edward Newman. Sphina Convolvuli.—This insect must have occurred very abundantly this season, as since my last communication [ have obtained seventeen more, nearly all in good condition; and, including those taken by others, upwards of sixty have been taken in the same locality, all flying over the blossoms of marvel of Peru, which seems specially attractive to them. How to account for their occurrence in such numbers is a puzzle; but I think the greatest evidence against the migra- tory theory is that some of the specimens caught last were in the finest condition, which would seem to indicate a succes- sion of freshly-developed insects. As far as I have observed the insect is rather shy in its habits and easily startled, as I noticed that when struck at and missed they went right away, and seldom or never returned to the same spot to feed. They did not seem to have much partiality for light, as when the glare of a lantern was turned on them they invariably receded from it; but I have seen them flying in the most brilliant moonshine, when you required no lamp to distinguish them. The majority of the specimens taken were females, and several of those I examined contained no eggs. The last specimens I know of were captured on the Ist of October. I visited the spot several favourable evenings after this, but saw no more of them.—C. J. Biggs; South Hackney, Oct. 19, 1875, [The absence of eggs in the ovaries of many of the females of the larger Sphingide has been fully noticed by Mr. Doubleday in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. p. 1862), by myself in the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. ii. 263), and by Mr. Biggs in the above communication. In such cases the abdomen is per- fectly empty, a mere hollow cylinder; and the same phenomenon has been observed in some of the Noctuide. This absolute sterility among the females of Sphinx Convol- vuli amounts to a very large percentage: seven out of eight having been found in this condition. The proportion of sterile o F 3 276 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. females of Acherontia Atropos is smaller, but still very con- siderable; it has not been ascertained with any degree of accuracy. Well, then, how is the race continued? Do the few fertile females deposit their eggs in the autumn during the great festival of honey-sucking? or after honeysuckle, marvel of Peru, petunias, verbenas and geraniums have been laid under contribution, and the pregnant female nourished with an abundant supply of sweets? According to the con- current testimony of continental entomologists the eggs are laid and the larve are hatched in the autumn, the latter feeding up quickly, and retiring beneath the ground before the winter has deprived them of the means of sustenance: it will be found that there is abundant time for this state of maturity to be attained. A few moths may remain unde- veloped until spring; but I take it a vast majority emerge at the end of August or during September of the following year. —Edward Newman. | Sphinx Convolvuli at Maldon.—Sphinx Convolvuli has been found about here tolerably plentiful, my pupils having secured about a dozen specimens. Also Colias Hyale has been about here in the lucerne-fields.—[Rev.] J. W. Mills ; St. Lawrence Rectory, Maldon, Essex, October 11, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Winehmore Hill.—On the 18th of September one of the national school-boys here brought me a perfect specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli.i—D. G@. Lathom Browne; Uplands, Winchmore Hill, October 1, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli in the West of Scotland.—The West of Scotland must be included among the numerous lists of localities which have this year been visited by Sphinx Convolvuli. J have just received one, which was caught in a greenhouse at Row, near Helensburgh.—J. H. Pearson ; 208, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Oclober 2, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Hazeleigh, Essex.—I picked up a mutilated specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli on a public road near Hazeleigh Rectory, on September 18th. I hear that the species has also been captured at Maldon this autumn.— Gilbert H. Raynor; St. John’s College, Cambridge, October 14, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Hastings.—While playing croquet about the end of September last I was surprised by seeing a fine specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli hovering over a bed of THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 277 geraniums. J tried to secure it, but was unsuccessful. The next evening it returned to the same spot just at the same time, and is now a specimen in my collection. " this and the preceding species. Synergus nervosus and S8. palliceps are its inquilines; and Kaltenbach gives a Eurytoma verticillata as its parasite.—Z. A. Fitch. VOL. VIII. QP Fig. 32. 290 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 33. Aphilothrix callidoma, Hart.—This beautiful spindle- shaped and long-stalked gall breaks forth from the axils of Quercus pubescens in such a manner that the small bud, a. APHILOTHRIX CALLIDOMA in situ. b. Detached. c. A section of the same. from the point of which the thin pedicle proceeds, is not altered externally. The gall is about the size of a barley- corn, either short or long spindle-shaped. Its surface is green or red when recent; later on it becomes reddish brown, and exhibits a few or many either sharp or indistinct longi- tudinal striations. However, in some specimens there is not a trace of these striations to be detected. The top of the gall is marked, and terminates in a wart or short cone: it has a yellow-brown colour, and is bald; the remaining part of the gall and the foot-stalk are scantily covered with moderately short, white, deflected hairs. Sometimes one meets with specimens in which the thin stalk is rather short, and the basal half of the spindle very long, with the upper half, however, very short. In the section the cell appears as a large, longitudinally oval cavity, bordered by a thin, white, inner gall, whichis on all sides conterminous with the substance of the gall; above and beneath this inner gall is found a brown reticulation. According to Dr. Giraud’s observations the galls are found from the month of July to October, and the earliest fall off, whilst others are only beginning to develop themselves. I have myself only found them once late in the autumn.—G, LZ. Mayr. This gall was first described by Malpighi; and Hartig did THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 291 not breed the Aphilothrix, although he once met with the larva; Giraud being the first to describe the perfect insect, and he only had two galls, out of some thirty or forty, which produced the proper gall-maker, the others being infested with Synergi, of which Dr. Mayr gives two species as inhabiting these galls, viz. S. nervosus and S. vulgaris; Ratzeburg says Siphonura brevicauda, Nees, was bred from them by Hartig. I found one specimen of this very remark- able gall last July (1874) at Rayleigh, but failed to meet with others. See Ent. Mo. Mag. xi. 110.—E. A. Fitch. A Month’s Entomologising in North Kent. By W. H. TuGwe tt, Esq. A MONTH in the country! This may seem a small matter to many of my favoured “ brothers of the green-gauze net;” but to a pent-up Londoner it is a weighty and anxious question to settle, where he will fix his tent for his annual campaign; and, having in successive years tried the New Forest, Isle of Wight, Devonshire, Dorset, and Sussex, this July, 1875, I determined to try my own county,-viz. North Kent, and endeavour to get a new series of Apatura Iris, which lordly species I had not taken since 1858; so having secured some comfortable rooms at a farm-house, in a very wooded district between the Thames and Medway, on July 6th I arrived at my intended hunting-grouuds. A few miles walk across country, on a hot July morning, had prepared an appetite for an inside-lining of sandwich and the juice of the grape. I sat down on a gate at the entrance of a wood to discuss these animal necessities, and complete for the nonce my mundane happiness by a pipe—when, lo! sailing grandly overhead came his imperial majesty, displaying proudly, it would seem, his newly-acquired purple robes, and settled a few feet above my head on the outer branches of a young ash. I could only sit and contemplate his imperial majesty, and enjoy the sight of his rare beauty as he sat on his leafy throne, as at the moment I was quite unprepared to invade his sylvan retreat, having only a very short-handled net at hand. During my stay, however, I had the pleasure of taking fourteen,—-seven males and seven females. The 292 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. weather during most of the month was most unpropitious for collecting, we having such continued rain and wind, which not only prevented work, but soon spoiled the condition of most insects. All the male Apatura Iris I took Were more or less damaged, but the females were in fine order. This species continued on the wing the month through, that is to say, when the weather would permit. I captured a male on the 3lst. I got eggs from two females, but unfortunately they proved infertile. Catching Apatura lris is most exciting work, but it involves a great waste of time, as one has to wait the coming of their majesties, and this year they were scarce,—some days not one would be seen,—and a long ash-pole is not a convenient thing to collect with generally. The exquisite little Nola albulalis, too, was one of my objects of search, and I succeeded in taking it in splendid order; and when really fine it is extremely pretty. I failed, as did everyone else, to find it in the numbers Mr. Porritt reported last year; this season Mr. Porritt only secured nine or ten specimens in his week’s stay. I found this species particularly influenced by weather,—the slightest fog or north-east wind and you may as well go home, for not a specimen will rise, although I could take them when the underwood was saturated with heavy rain. A striking feature to me was the absence of any of the fritillaries: the only species 1 saw during my stay was Melitea Athalia, and of that very few indeed; possibly that . species was over. ‘Thecla W-album was common, but soon out of condition, owing to the wet and wind. The autumn brood of Lyczena Argiolus was just out as L left. The common Vanesside and Satyrs comprised the Diurni; in fact this group was but poorly represented. The wet, cold weather seemed propitious for sugar, as I never experienced such a numerous attendance at my ambrosial banquets before ; many species absolutely swarmed. I have counted over fifty Rodophza tumidella on one tree, beside hosts of others. Although I got nothing especially rare, I secured a fine series of many good things: Lithosia quadra was a rare visitor; Mamestra abjecta, I got but one; Agrotis ravida, a fine series; Triphena fimbria was most abundant, and in every shade of brown from palest to THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 293 darkest; Agrotis nigricans, too, was in splendid variety ; Thyatira batis, T. derasa, Acronycta Ligustri, A. Rumicis, Cosmia affinis, Amphipyra Tragopogonis, Noctua triangulum, Gonoptera libatrix, and Epunda viminalis, were common ; whilst Xylophasia polyodon, Triphena pronuba, T’. orbona, Agrotis Tritici, Apamea oculea, Miana strigilis, and Cosmia trapezina, jostled each other for standing-room,—it was a sight to see them. ‘The following better things, too, were less abundant:—Hypenodes albistrigalis, H. costestrigalis, Pyralis glaucinalis, P. fimbrialis, Phycis roborella, and a few extremely fine T'oxocampa pastinum. I certainly never saw sugar so attractive before. The underwood being so much soaked by rain made it bad for beating and for getting Geometre. However, I obtained Limacodes Testudo, Nola strigula, Cidaria picata, Pericallia syringaria, Melanthia rubiginata, Eupithecia plumbeolata, and E. tenuiata; the local Acidalia rusticata was not rare in ils peculiar spots; Acidalia inornata deposited me sixteen eggs, from which I obtained sixteen imagos this October,— this appears contrary to rule; and from a batch of eggs of Acidalia emutaria, from the Gravesend marshes, I reared a fine series, only five weeks in larva, and imagos produced early in September, although a few of the same batch are hybernating as larve. Of the Tortricina I only met with the following :—Tortrix transitana, T. corylana, Dichelia Grotiana, Leptogramma Boscana, Peronea Schalleriana, P. variegana, P. tristana, Leflingiana, Penthina ochroleucana, Antithesia salicana, Phtheocroa rugosana, Pedisca profundana, Argyrolepia ewneana, Eupecilia angustana, and Cochylis inopiana: the beautiful Pterophorus rhododactylus was difficult to get in any number; so many larve had been collected that the species was and probably will be, year by year, a more scarce insect. It is well to know the life-history of all species, but al times it may not be an unmixed good, as it entails, in many instances, av almost entire destruction of a species, by too closely working it in its larval state. Had the weather been more propitious I should doubtless have had better sport; but I returned from my trip well pleased with North Kent as a collecting-ground. W. H. Tuewe t. 8, Lewisham Road, Greenwich. 294 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Recreations of a Country Doctor concerning Sugaring. By H. W. Livert, M.D. Ir was about the year 1830 that I met with and was enchanted by Rennie’s books in the Library of Entertaining Knowledge,—‘ Insect Transformations, &c. From that time to the present (with, [ am sorry to say, an hiatus of some twenty years) I have been a collector, though still but a “ discipulus,” as quaint old Izaak Walton says. One reason why I have not attained the rank of “magister” may be because I have not known anyone near of kindred taste with whom I could work and learn; but the principal hindrance has been my limited opportunities, owing to the engrossing nature of my profession,—one which of necessity occupies nearly all one’s time, often Sundays as well as working-days. With what envy have I read from time to time of expedi- tions to the New Forest or other favoured localities, with the long lists of consequent captures; of the “ happy hunting- grounds,” where larve of the most desirable species would tumble into your umbrella at each tap of the beating-stick ; or where the graceful Camilla might be seen “ skimming lightly o’er the plain;” where C. Edusa and Hyale might congregate; or even the great emperor himself might royally disport, delighting the eye and quickeniug the pulse of the would-be captor! But to me—occupied most of the day, and of necessity at home when not so occupied, with holidays very few and far between—such delights were only to be read of and dreamt about, not to be enjoyed. Doubt- less there must be many an aspirant to entomological know- ledge with like limited opportunities ;—for the encouragement of such I write this paper. I live in a small city,—a rus in urbe, certainly,—and in which most of the private houses have gardens attached: my own is a fairly good one, and in it ] have taken many species, some rare. In 1868 we took eight specimens of §. Convolvuli, hovering over a small bed of petunias less than three feet in diameter; and all of which specimens, | may note by the way, were seen at exactly the same time on the five or six evenings they appeared, viz. just at twilight. I took in 1872 a specimen—the only one | ever saw—of D. rubiginea, on. the berries of a yew on the lawn. C. sponsa and G. erythro- cephala—the last an especial great take—fell victims to their THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 295 liking for sugar; and of this year’s captures I will now proceed to speak. I may premise that 1 brush my sugar—made into syrup with beer, and flavoured with rum—at about sunset on two espalier apple-trees, standing some few yards apart. I brush it in one continuous streak, from about five feet high to | within a foot or two of the ground: from this some thin lines of the syrup will run, on which many moths will settle in preference. I have read much of favourable nights,—calm, dark, warm, moist; I cannot say that I have found any kind . of night peculiarly favourable or otherwise. My most ; successful night of the later part of this season was on the 16th of October, when the moon, nearly full, was shining brightly; the wind north-east, and a good deal of it; the thermometer lower than usual (it fell to 33° that night): and yet I took eight or nine species, including three X. semi- brunnea, and C. exoleta and A. aprilina. I began to sugar early in August, and took my last moth November 3rd. At the commencement I did not possess one of those useful oval zinc boxes which I subsequently procured, but only a cyanide bottle, yet with this I missed very few. I took in it three C. nupta, though how so large a moth got in without injury is a mystery. ‘The last month I have used the oval box, with bruised laurel-leaves, adding to them a little chloroform just before using, as I find the moth drops in more readily on account of the vapour, and is almost instantly rendered quiet, if not insensible, so that the box is ready for another capture. I have taken eight or ten insects at one visit quite rapidly ; and if a small piece of leno be put into the box, the moths catch their feet in its meshes, and do not injure each other. To prevent the stiffness consequent upon death by chloroform, I put the captures I wish to retain, after examination, into a relaxing box, ¢.e. a mustard-tin, contain- ing bruised laurel-leaves covered with leno, and give the rejected ones a chance for their lives by placing them on the grass, and I find that they nearly all recover. Whether their narrow escape renders them teetotallers for ever after, I have mot ascertained. I fear not, unless they are much more _ Virtuous than the genus homo. _ The species I have taken in the three months on the two trees are as follows :— “T. batis, one; B. glandifera and B. perla, common; 296 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. A. tridens; A. Rumicis; L. lithargyria, plentiful; L. stra- minea; A. putris; X. lithoxylea; X. polyodon, dozens; A. oculea; M. strigilis; C. cubicularis; A. puta, a dark series; A. suffusa; A. saucia; A. segetum; A. exclamationis, dozens; A. nigricans; T. janthina; T. orbona and T. pro- nuba, dozens; N. augur; N. plecta; N. C-nigrum, common; C. Rubi; C. xanthographa, dozens; T. cruda; O. macilenta ; A. pistacina, dozens; A. lunosa, plentiful ; C. spadicea, a few; S. satellitia, common; X. ferruginea, common; P. flavo- cincta, dozens; M. Oxy acanthe, many; A. aprilina; P. me- ticulosa, common; X. lithoriza; C. exoleta; X. rhizolitha, many; X. semibrunnea, eight; A. Tragopogonis, common; C. nupta, three; besides a few Geometers and Pyrales. The interest attached to sugar capturing is certainly great, —something similar I should imagine, “ parva componere magnis,” to that of the sportsman in the East, who cannot tell what noble game may leap out of the tangled jungle at any step; so on a dark night, when the moth-hunter proceeds with “stealthy steps and slow” to the sweetened tree, and turns on the light, he cannot tell what almost unknown rarity may possibly delight his eyes and reward his pursuit; and even some of the more common insects—M. Oxyacanthe or C. diffinis, for example—appear, I think, more beautiful under the lamp than at any other time. I know that when I saw C. exoleta the other night, under such circumstances, I could not imagine what grand prominent I was beholding,— with his full crest and closely shut-up wings he was exactly like some important member of that family. But it is quite time that I should conclude this gossipy paper. Scientific entomologists and practical collectors may think it, | fear me, not worth the space it occupies. I trust there are some, like myself—collectors under difficulties— to whom this paper may afford some measure of encourage- ment when they see how much may be done with but limited means and space at command. Should there be a locality where A. pistacina and P. flavo- cincta are not plentiful, it will give me much pleasure to send any applicant a few, as long as | have any, if he will first send me a post-card. If he receives no reply he must consider that my stock is exhausted. Hi. W. Liverr. Wells, Somerset. . THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 297 PS.—It was a stormy night last night, November 7th, much wind and rain. I did not sugar, but went up to look at the trees, expecting nothing,—when lo! a fine and perfect Dasy- campa rubiginea was my reward. I felt confident that I ought to find the species, but feared the season was too far advanced.—H. W. Livetl. Entomological Noles, Captures, §c. Description of the Larva of Eupithecia logata.—On the 6th of September Sir Thomas Moncrieffe, Mr. W. Herd and I started for a locality where Eupithecia togata has occurred tolerably freely, with a resolute determination not to return home till we had found the larva and made ourselves thoroughly acquainted with its food-plant and habits. The perfect insect always occurs in the neighbourhood of spruce fir- trees; to the spruces we therefore directed our attention. Long did we carefully scan the twigs; diligently did we beat the boughs, but all in vain. “Bother the larve!” we all exclaimed. We stood together racking our brains, and staring up into a tall spruce. “I’ve got it!” we almost simultaneously cried out; “they are in the cones.” “I'll go up,” said Mr. Herd; and up he went, and soon began to pelt us with cones. Amongst them were several from which a copious quantity of fresh frass was protruding. These were quickly laid open with a sharp knife, and very soon a lively, fat, pinkish-looking larva, very like a miniature Cossus ligni- perda, was disclosed to view, which I at once recognised to be Eupithecia togata, from a beautiful drawing which Mr. Buckler executed for me several years ago, from a larva reared on young shoots of spruce, from eggs laid by a captured female. A further search revealed sundry other larve: in one fresh fallen cone we found no less than seven of various sizes. They feed between the scales of the cone, upon the ripe seed at the base. The larva is a uniform dull pink, more or less clouded and spotted with black on the dorsal segments. Some of the smaller aud younger speci- mens were very dingy. ‘The head is black, with two small white dots at the base; on the neck are two conspicuous _ black dots. When full fed it quits the cone, and spins a 2Q 298 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. slight cocoon on the surface of the earth. The pupa is bright red, and resembles that of Eupithecia subfulvata.. Another somewhat similarly-coloured larva, apparently that of a Tortrix, feeds inside the cones in company with that of Eupithecia togata. Sir ‘Thomas Moncreiffe believes it to be A. strobilella.—[Rev.] H. Harpur Crewe; Drayton- Beauchamp Rectory, Tring, November 1, 1875. Paucity of Wasps; Destruction of Fruit by Bees.—I have observed that the bees have been to the full as destructive to the fruit as wasps are in ordinary years: figs, peaches, plums, and pears, have been entirely eaten away by them. Can: there have been any failure in the honey from the flowers this year? or is it only the presence of the wasps that keeps away the bees from the fruit in ordinary years? Last year our honey was all eaten, and our bees nearly destroyed by the wasps. Queen wasps were, as you observe, very abundant in the spring; still this paucity of wasps is partial. A fortnight ago I was staying with a friend about five miles to the north of Launceston, and I never saw wasps more abundant than they were there.—[ev.] G. C. Green; Modbury, South Devon, October 4, 1875. [From the ‘Field.’] [There is no doubt that the past autumn has been remarkable for both these phenomena. I have received fifty- one letters on the first subject, and the daily papers have teemed with communications on the second. In the spring of this year queen wasps were observed in unusual numbers; and it was generally supposed that the workers would be proportionately abundant in the autumn. This has not been the case; but, on the contrary, wasps have been either fewer than usual or entirely absent. Cornwall, Dorsetshire, Devon- shire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Somersetshire, Suffolk, Surrey, and Sussex, have generally enjoyed immunity from the visits and depredations of wasps; while from one locality in Essex, and two in Kent, the number appears to have been as large as usual; and from several localities in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland, greater abundance than common has been reported. In the garden of Her Grace the Duchess Eleanor of Northumberland bottles baited with sugar and water were found to be almost filled with wasps; and the contents of two of these bottles were counted, and found to be respectively nine hundred and one thousand two THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 299 hundred wasps. Mr. Higgins, Her Grace’s gardener, also states that one hundred and three nests have been taken within a circle of one mile from the Hall. With regard to honey-bees, on the contrary, the number has been so large, and the depredations so excessive and so general, that complaints have been published in the daily papers, and propositions have even been made to obtain the interference of the legislation in restricting the number of hives in the localities in which they are situate! A word remains to be said as to the relation between wasps and bees. Pettigrew informs us that wasps, hornets, and humble-bees,-seldom do harm or gain admission to the hives; but this requires modification or explanation as regards wasps; and it will be well to attend more carefully and attentively to the subject. Wasps quarrel and fight with bees, and of course in their altercations they frequently drive the bees from the ripe fruit on which both of them delight to feed. “Set a thief to catch a thief” is an approved and time-honoured maxim; and there is little doubt that one set of robbers is ever a check on another; so that the paucity of wasps may in some measure account for the bees exercising so freely their marauding propensities. I may state that the large number of letters I have received on this subject is doubtless attributable to an enquiry of my own in the ‘ Field’ news- paper.— Edward Newman. | Gall on Hieractum umbellatum.—In a former communi- cation to the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom, viii. 233) I spoke of having seen a gall on Hieracium umbellatum, in the neigh- bourhood of Plymouth. I have since found some dried specimens of this that were laid aside in a cupboard, and now forward them to you. I gathered them several years ago—lI believe in the neighbourhood of Horrabridge, Devon, about ten miles from Plymouth, and on the southern border of Dartmoor. They prove to be very different from what I sent on Hypocherris radicata, and may perhaps be the work of Trypeta reticulata—one of the insects mentioned by Mr. Fitch in his interesting communication concerning the other.—T’. R. Archer Briggs; 4, Portland Villas, Plymouth, October 26, 1875. [I believe the galls are old specimens of Aulax sabaudi of Hartig.—Ldward A. Fitch.) 300 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Lepidoptera near Folkestone.—C. Hyale, tolerably plen- tiful. CC. Edusa, rather scarce. E. russula, eleven females and seven males, bred from the eggs laid in July, and many captured. A. gilvaria, plentiful. L.albipuncta, four. A. saucia, seven. N. glareosa, three in the Warren. N. Dablii, six. X. cerago and X. silago, plentiful on flowers of Scabious. X. flavescens, var., one. X. gilvago, var., two, the bar being broken into dots. Is it not strange that the original type has not been taken? ‘T. retusa, one, worn. P. flavocincta, two. E. lichenea, two. CC. vetusta, seven. C. exoleta, five. X. semibrunnea, three. H. armiger, one, very fine. S. ano- mala, one. Pyralides.—S. palealis, six. M. polygonalis, one. —G. Haggar ; 71, Granville Terrace, Folkestone, Nov.13, 1875. Colias Hyale abundant, and C. Edusa, near Maldon.— During September I succeeded in taking as many as seventy specimens of Colias Hyale, the greater part in a large clover- field, in Woodham Mortimer parish, but something like a score ina lucerne-field, on the glebe-land belonging to Haze- leigh Rectory. One of the females deposited eight eggs —seven in the bottom of a pocket-box, and’one on a clover- head: these unfortunately proved to be infertile, shrivelling up in a few days. Colias Edusa was not abundant: I only secured twelve good specimens, three of which were females. —Gilbert H. Raynor; St. John’s College, Cambridge, November 10, 1875. Colias Edusa at York.—On Thursday, September 9th, I captured a fine specimen of Colias Edusa; on the 11th two more; and on the 25th a Sphinx Convolvuli.—J. Hawkins ; Holgate, York, October 23, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli at Newport, Isle of Wight.—It may interest entomologists to hear that I have taken two speci- mens of the Convolvuli hawk-moth. I caught them both soon after sunset, hovering over a bed of geraniums, on the 22nd and 26th of September.—Frank Morey; Newport, Isle of Wight. [From ‘Science Gossip.’ } Deiopeia pulchella at Hastings.—\ am pleased to be able to record the occurrence at Hastings of a specimen of Deio- peia pulchella on the 17th of October, in a field near here.— E. A. Butler. Deiopeia pulchella in India.—One of your correspondents in the November number (Entom. viii. 280) alludes to having THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 301 heard that Deiopeia pulchella was met with in India. Each year, from 1852 to 1856, it was abundant in my garden at Wuzeerabad (a military station since abandoned), on the banks of the Chenab river, in the Punjab; where I also caught a goodly number of Sphinx Convolvuli, Cheerocampa Nerii, C. Celerio, and a remarkably large C. Elpenor.—[ Rev.) J. Cave- Browne ; Detling Vicarage, Maidstone. Correction of an Error.—In my communication in last month’s number (Entom. viii. 278), ‘‘Wales” should be Wells." —H. W. Livett. Answers to Correspondents. John Parker.—Are there Two Broods of Papilio Machaon in a Season?—It appears there are, from my experience this year. On July Ist I took, at Ranworth, several nearly full-fed larve of that beautiful butterfly, Papilio Machaon: they went into the pupa state in four days; and on the 19th, fifteen days afterwards, the perfect insect appeared.—J. P. [From personal experience I can give little additional information to that published at p. 152 of my ‘ British Butterflies. The butterfly continues to appear throughout the summer; and the larve, pupe and imago were not unfrequently found on the same day by those who hunt the fens assiduously. No trustworthy record has yet been made, showing that the late imagos are the children of the earlier specimens, This, however, appears to have been decidedly the opinion of Harris and Lewin. Lewin’s work was published just eighty years ago; and his statement is so explicit that it seems reliable. Later authors appear to have been mere copyists, and not to record the result of personal observation. I quote Lewin:—“The first brood of this butterfly appears on the wing in the middle of May. The female lays her eggs in ten or twelve days, and in a week’s time the young caterpillars come forth. In six or seven days they shift their first skin; about the end of June they change their skin for the fifth and last time; and in six or seven days they arrive at full growth. They then prepare for their approaching metamorphosis, by fixing themselves with a strong tie round the middle and by the tail. Ina day’s time the chrysalis is complete; and this superb butterfly comes 302 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. forth the July following. The caterpillars from the eggs of this stock are bred about the first week in August. After the usual shifting of their skins they become full fed the end of September, and change to a chrysalis in a short time. In this state they continue through the winter and until the following May.”’—Edward Newman. | N.C. Tuely.— Food-plants of Gonepteryx Rhamni (Entom. viii. 231).—1 see by the October number of the ‘ Entomolo- gist’ that Mr. Wilson was at a loss to find the food-plants of Gonepteryx Rhamni. In addition to the buckthorns the larva will eat the leaves of the apple, pear, and medlar, which no doubt could be supplied in any locality without much trouble.—Edward A. Fitch; Maldon, Essex. G. Haggar.—Setina trrorella.—I once took a number of larve of Setina irrorella at Hayling Island, feeding on a ground-lichen which grows plentifully amongst the grass just outside the tide-mark. They afterwards fed fairly well on the gray lichens, which are not uncommon on apple and other trees, and I reared a set of moths. I believe this larva is exclusively a lichen-feeder.—[Rev.] H. Harpur Crewe; Drayton-Beauchamp Rectory, Tring, October 4, 1875. Food-plant of Setina irrorella (Entom. viii. 234).—In reply to Mr. Haggar, I may say that judging from the quantity of imagos I have found stretching, and the situation where the insect occurs on the rocks—which are well clothed with lichens—at Douglas Head, Isle of Man, and where, as stated in the ‘ British Moths, “there seems no suitable place for tree-lichens to grow” (Mr. Haggar appears to have misread the paragraph), I believe we may safely infer that the larva does feed on lichens which grow on the rocks; at any rate, so far as the above locality is concerned. During the past season I bred a quantity of Nudaria mun- dana, the larve of which I found feeding on lichens growing on stones: by bringing a few pieces of the stone home I had no difficulty in rearing the insect. Perhaps Mr. Haggar might succeed in a similar way with Setina irrorella.— R. Kay; 2, Spring Street, Bury, October 11, 1875. As Mr. Haggar asks for information on the food- plant of Setina irrorella, in the October number of the ‘ Ento- mologist, | copy the following from the Ent. Mo. Mag. viii. 171 (January, 1872), being an extract from a paper by Mr. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 308 Buckler and the Rev. J. Hellins (“Notes on the Earlier Stages of some Species of Lithoside”):—‘ On July 30th, 1865, some eggs were received from Dr. Knaggs, and noted as globular, pearly in texture, and clear purplish brown in colour. ‘The larve hatched August 13th, but no note of them was taken, and they must soon have perished from want of proper food and treatment. However, there is no doubt that in their habitat they must hybernate when small, and feed up in early summer. On May 24th, 1867, after considerable search, a number were found, then approaching full growth, on the Sussex coast. The food is a blackish brown lichen, growing on stones above high-water mark, and in some cases mixed with a yellow lichen,—a fact of much interest when the colouring of the larva is considered. ‘The larva seems fond of sunshine, moving about in it slowly over the stones. When about to moult it protects itself by spinning overhead a number of silken threads, under cover of which it remains until the moult is completed. The moths were bred early in July.” Then follows a description of the full-fed larva.— Edward A. Fitch ; Maldon, Essex. Henry R. Jackson.— Distinction of the Lepidoplterous and Coleopterous Larve.—Will you kindly inform me of any characteristics by which I can always distinguish between the larve of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera ?—H. R. J. [The best distinction that I know of is that the larve of Lepidoptera always possess claspers on the under side of the abdomen, with strongly prehensile hooks. With these they clasp the twigs, and hold them steadily while they devour the leaves; and these organs serve also for progression, enabling them to ascend the trunk of trees with ease and rapidity. Some entomologists have called them feet or legs, often adding an explanatory prefix, as prolegs or fore legs, prehensile legs or abdominal legs. The larve of Coleoptera have no such organs. Then the larve of Lepidoptera have ten ocelli or simple eyes, five on each cheek: these are situated close to the mouth, five on each side, and give to the caterpillar the wondrous power of examining the structure of a leaf, and of thus acquiring information as to whether it is a suitable species on which to feed; these are truly micro- scopes of high power, and are brought systematically almost in contact with the leaf, as we use a pocket-lens of high a anqrer™ = 304 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. power. These two charaeters are always present in Lepi- doptera; and I believe Coleoptera never possess them.— Edward Newman. | John B. Bridgnan.—Lxport of Bees to New Zealand.— I enclose a notice from ‘ Nature’ which I cannot understand. Can you help me? What did Buckland send?—a nest of humble-bees seems to me simply nonsense; and until now I was under the impression that-by far the greater part of fertilisation of clover was done by what I suppose is meant by the “common” bee—the hive-bee. About here, during the time the clover-fields are in full flower, the fields are literally alive with hive-bees, and the noise they make may be heard some distance; of course Bombi are to be found there also. The only other bee I have seen at clover is Cilissa tricincta, and that is only one spot of white clover. ‘Two nests of English humble-bees were last week sent to New Zealand by Mr. Frank Buckland for the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. These insects are specially desired in New Zealand for the purpose of fertilising the common clover. The pro- boscis of the common bee is not sufficiently long to reach down to the pollen of the clover-flower, while the humble-bee is enabled to do so. In this way the insect is expected to do great service to the agriculturist by largely extending the growth of clover. ‘The bees were packed in their own nests in two boxes, and will be under the charge of a member of the New Zealand Council, who is provided with every necessary for their welfare during the voyage. They are expected to arrive about the middle of January—mid- summer at the Antipodes.” (‘ Nature,’ p. 527, October 14th.) —J. B. B. [I have a good deal to say on this subject hereafter; but may just state that I have worked hard at these bees with the valued assistance of the late Mr. Walker and the late Mr. Doubleday, in addition to that of many naturalists still living. Mr. Smith from time to time kindly named our captures, and I shall adopt without hesitation his nomen- clature of the species. The published observations of Mr. Buckland and of the Editor of ‘ Nature’ convey no idea to my mind, nor do I think they will to the minds of entomo- logical readers generally. —Hdward Newman.]} E. NEWMAN, PRINTER, DEVONSHIRE STREET, BISHOPSGATE, /llO-ECED FREO Ae aS = SS ee a rap me ee oo. . nS YZ nae Z ae ae a ze ipa ecpiora teh Coe ; Mex THE ENTOMOLOGIST VOLUME Ix, PSYCHOPSIS MIMICA, LONDON: _ SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., STATIONER’S HALL COURT. 1876. “How many are so regardless,—take so little note of what passes around them, that they would go to their graves without discovering half the beauties of Nature, if no one unfolded its leaves for them; thus losing some of the purest pleasures the embodied soul is capable of enjoying, for want of an interpreter. Such interpreters, while they open to many a new and inex- haustible source of pleasure, are of great utility; and we must love and venerate the man who employs his talents in thus increasing the amount of human happiness.” Epwarp DovusBLEepay. i ef th “ Reader, our companionship ends here. Should the author have persuaded thee to follow in his footsteps, to tread the paths which he has trodden, to gaze with an inquiring and delighted eye on those things which he has gazed on,—it is enough. He bids thee affectionately—farewell |” Epwarp Newmay, in ‘Grammar of Entomology.’ = E “ Read his true nature in his works.” PREFACE. Ma aiid of Ip, has been ns alan in n.Prefages to the : Pealanight for on Editor. briefly. to,summarise;,the principal work in Natyral History recorded in the pages of the yolume; but the author. of those. pleasant, words, after long and faithful service, has. at : length been called away to, his, eternal rest...There canbe no, more appropriate Preface to this, the Thirty-fourth volume, and the last, with which he was connected, than. some, record of,a ; long, life heartily deyoted to the cause of Nature. . , t Epwarp Newman, was born at Hampstead.on the 13th of May,, 1801., His ancestors became members of the Society of Friends at the rise of, that.sect. in 1646, and.several of, them suffered imprisonment on account of their faith, yet, they have, always, remained, stedfast to, their. tenets. His, parents,, George. and, Ann Newman,,had four children, .all sons, of whom, Edward, was the eldest,...Both father and.mother had a taste for Natural History, and early inculcated it in, their. children... One. of, his brothers. writes :—‘‘ Edward's, love, for Natural History was born with, lim,,and.this natural taste was, fostered by both. parents. , Our, father, encouraged ns, by, daily, conversation to observe all, natural objects: he knew the notes of all the birds of the(district,,and imparted the knowledge to, his children. I well remember,him telling us at the.breakfast-table that,that, morn- ing he-had-heard,the chifichaff for the first time that. year, or seen the whitethroat ;.and we, used to record such eyents in our. little, note-beoks,,,, White's ‘ Natural History of; Selborne’ was, the, beloved hook of : the family ; that and ‘ Bewick’s Birds’, were etek ee- all the wild-plants as they came into, blossom, and encouraged us to,eollectand study them.’’, To these books may be added ‘Bingley's, Quadrupeds,’ which, was also. gregt favourite... He, himself writes ;-—‘‘1.had ,a, very, ,very, early predilection, for butterflies; I may say even from my nurge’s arms.” And, ° vl PREFACE. evidence of early work in Natural History appears in a minute memorandum-book, inscribed in large capitals on the first page :— Botany. E. Newman,” without date, but written in pencil; at so early an age that each letter is formed separately, and occasional pages are devoted to ‘‘ pothooks and hangers.” The following is an extract :—‘‘Of the geranium. The class is Monadelphia. The colour is various, being some- times white, in others scarlet; its leaf is round, but ragged; there are peppermint-scented and pencil-blossom. There are many other geraniums, but I do not know their names.”’ Then follows a list of the Linnean divisions :—‘‘ Dodecandria, Icosan- dria, Polyandria (many), Didynamia (4), Tetradynamia (6),” &c. In the year 1812 he was sent to a boarding-school at Pains- wick, in Gloucestershire, of which Oade Roberts, a member of the Society of Friends, was master, where, in addition to being initiated into classical studies, his love for Natural History was developed. On ‘10th mo. 29, 1818,” he writes home to his mother :—‘‘I take great pleasure in botanizing, but there are not so many flowers as there were when I first came here to school; but still I find some. I shall have great pleasure in showing thee my botanical copy-books when I am at home.” This is written in a small neat hand, very different from that in the memorandum-book mentioned above. On ‘2nd month 8rd, 1815,” he is still at Painswick, and writes to a relative aos “T could not give Helen much information with respect to lichens and mosses, as I have only yet studied the first classes ; but Iam now beginning to study the class Cryptogamia, though the snow has been on the ground eyer since I returned.” One of his schoolfellows, a cousin, writes :—‘‘ We were both initiated into a love for Natural History, which continued to interest us in after years; in his case eminently so. * * * What particu- larly impressed itself on my mind was the neatness and accuracy of Edward's drawing of a beetle,—so superior to what any of the rest of us could accomplish.” On leaving school, in the year 1817, he went to Godalming, in Surrey,—his mother’s birthplace,—to which rural town his — father, formerly in business in London as a manufacturer of morocco-leather, had removed on his retirement. The family house is just outside the town, at the corner of the lane PREFACE. Vil leading to Hatch. The father, however, seems to have been by no means tired of commercial life, for he again entered into business—this time at Godalming—as a wool stapler. This step was probably taken by the good man solely for the sake of his son, in order that on leaving school he might begin a commercial career under parental supervision. For ten years father and son continued in the wool trade; but the study of Nature—for which the neighbourhood of Godalming offered great opportunity—proved a strong counter-attraction to the younger man. He was not energetic in the routine of business, and it is to be feared that his absence from duty was frequent; nevertheless, he was far from idle. Indeed, idleness was foreign to his nature; not only at this period, but throughout life, idleness was in his opinion a positive crime. He held that no man need ever be without work. He knew scarcely any rest: if when he came home there were an interval of only a few minutes before a meal, out would come books, papers, and insect-boxes, and he would at once be deep in scientific work. He was generally in bed by ten o'clock at night, but up again in the very early morning; until his later years he was seldom in bed after six o’clock, and in summer-time he would often be up and at work by five, four, and even three o’clock. After 1840 the greater part of his writing was done before breakfast; he would also write from about seven to nine in the evening; but the greater part of the work was done in the uninterrupted quiet of the early morning. It was in this spirit of industry that he wandered away from business at Godalming, and sought more congenial pursuits in the lanes and fields, the woods and commons, of the beautiful county of Surrey. Whether shooting blackcock on Hindhead, climbing old hollow trees for owlets, or wandering about the lanes with an insect-net, the mere present pleasure of the occupation was not the principal charm. ‘* When the lengthen- ing days give the first impulse to the feathered tribes to bend their course northward for the breeding season, it is here that I listen for the first notes of the chiffchaff; here I watch for the blackcap, the nightingale, the willow wrens, the garden warblers, - the whitethroat ; here, hour after hour, have I hunted for their _ nests,—my object not being plunder, but information. Often vill PREFACE. diave I coveredimy” hand with seratches, fromothe prickles: of briars and ‘brambles, in my attempts to gam asatisfactory view ‘of'a nest andiits contents, without causing an'y disarrangement, ‘well knowing ‘how’ great was the risk of desertion: ifthe! parent birds should discover anything ‘amiss; and, when deserted, if I knew not the builders; a nest was valueless: ‘How -welliwas I repaid for bleeding lands; if :I discovered but one point in the history ‘of ‘a ‘species. ‘Eggs: ‘strung: on bents: are: riferin all ‘country places’; old: nests :are: easy tobe seen whem the leaves are gone ;: birds are plentiful im every hedge-row, and their:song is the burthem of the passing» breeze: but to veonneet swith certainty each bird with its mate ;:to. assign) it thewproper nest and propereggs; to learn the exacttime of its: arrivaliand cits departure ;~—all this is a study, a labour, rarely undertaken; ‘and affords a pleasure akin to that which must be felt:by a. traveller exploring countries where man has not before trodden.’ Let the reader turnto the first:chapter of the ‘Letters of Rusticus,’ from which ‘the foregoing’ extract is: taken, and observe: with what microscopic, “yet loving and -living,: detail ‘the ‘natural features of the’ neighbourhood .of Godalming «are: pourtrayed. No words can give so true an account:of these ten! years:spent at Godahning as the‘ Letters of Rusticus.’ i) Extract after extract: might be’ quoted, ‘all to!the point, and jof sexeeeding imterest;. but the short.space which can bes ae to: ¢his»brief memoir doesnot permit.) oe is vor to witty as It will be noticed that ‘ Rusticus’ as: cae spoken» of as: the actual: work: of ‘Mr: Newman. This bringsuforward. the: once- vexed question! of the authorship: of: those: charming ‘Jietters.’ ‘To few besides.:the' author’s -near relatives has: the seeret been divulged ;- even: Edward: Doubleday, his: nearest :friend ‘andi second! self; was: ‘kept. im) ignorance-of the actual fact, although ‘he; in ‘common: with most! naturalists, hadia shrewd suspicion. Whew the.:‘duettets’:appeared in the +t Magazine of )Natural History’ and) the‘ Entomological ‘Magazine’ they caused quite a sensation in Godalming. Written by one who knew Godalming so well, who was so able a writer, as well as so skilled a naturalist; yet no one was able to discover the author. After much discussion they were finally attributed to the late Mr. J. D. Salmon. The veil may now be withdrawn, — PREFACE. ix revealing Mr. Newman as the author of the whole. Much of the information on the birds and mammals of Godalming was, however, gleaned from his kind friend and frequent companion Waring Kidd, who, now in his eighty-eighth year, still lives at Godalming ; and modesty prevented Mr. Newman from assuming the authorship when the facts were not all his own. The ‘Letters’ having been once begun under a nom de plume (‘Magazine of Natural History,’ 1882, vol. v. p. 601) it was convenient to continue the pleasant fiction. It has probably escaped the notice of many that the last of these ‘ Letters’ were published in ‘Chambers’ Journal’ in 1850, and were on the house sparrow; mice, rats, weasels and stoats; feathered mousers; and squirrels. In one branch of his ‘‘ Observations,’’ viz., the life-histories of insects injurious to agriculture, Rusticus was a pioneer: no such work had previously been attempted; and, i great as is its value, few besides Mr. Newman and the late John Curtis have ever ventured upon it. These chapters on Economie Entomology were continued at irregular intervals ‘ in the ‘Entomologist,’ the ‘ Zoologist,’ and the ‘Field,’ until 5 towards the close of his life. b In the year 1826 the wool business at Godalming was j abandoned. It had never been a very profitable concern; and the parent, now past middle life, was desirous of freedom from commercial occupation. The son had never taken to it kindly. In the same year Mr. Newman came up to London, and entered into a rope business at Deptford. Toa nature such as his—delighting in all the charms of a life in the country—the change to Deptford would have been most distasteful, had it not opened out further opportunities for the cultivation of friend- ships and society among men of his own tastes. The rope _ business was to a great extent managed by the foreman, who had held the same post in the wool business at Godalming. It was not allowed to become a drudgery, although to him commerce was never congenial. Only one day in each week was entirely devoted to its affairs; a small part of each of the remaining days sufficed. At the rope-walk he hada large garden, which he subsequently described as a place where everything grew as ‘it liked. A large plot of ground was sown with the common red valerian, because of its attractiveness to insects; and here he b x : PREFACE. would remain in one spot for an hour or more at a time, mute and motionless, intently studying the habits of some insect, until he had mastered the minutest detail. At Deptford he had many friends; and of the friendships then formed many ceased only with life itself. Francis Walker, Edward and Henry Doubleday, John and William Christy, Samuel Hanson, and Dr. Bowerbank, were perhaps the most intimate. Not only amongst scientific men, but in the Society of Friends, and indeed in the whole parish, did he find congenial spirits. His keen wit, acute perception, his knowledge, and genial manner, rendered him a general favourite ; yet he appeared all unconscious of the charm which he possessed. No one could entertain a greater contempt for shallowness and conceit, for a man possessing knowledge only surface-deep who assumed to be an authority; in fact, for ‘“ humbug” in any shape. He scorned to conceal his opinions for fear of giving . offence, and did not spare chastisement wherever deserved. His pen was as powerful in caustic satire as in microscopic description ; and it was brought to bear with effect in parish affairs, in which he took a keen interest. At one time a part of Deptford was without gas, and, curiously enough, as it seems to us in the present day, there was strong opposition to its introduction. He worked vigorously for the cause of light, and had the satisfaction of success. During the period of his residence at Deptford he made many excursions with one or other of his chosen associates. Birch- wood, in Kent—for many years the place at which the annual dinner of the Entomological Club was held, or, as he puts it, ‘‘duly solemnised’’—was frequently visited. In Wales, in Scotland, and in Ireland, he also took long walking tours: in all these rambles he was humbly studying Nature, and care- fully adding to his already vast store of information. In 1826 his parents had remoyed from Godalming to Leominster, in Herefordshire ; and thus a fresh country was opened out. It was here that his first fernery was formed, a graphic description of which is given in the Introduction to the ‘ History of British Ferns.’ Notwithstanding his incessant and unwearying work in Natural History, and that a great part of his life had been PREFACE. x1 spent in constant scientific study, there was no haste to rush into print, for as he himself says, ‘‘ What is done prematurely has most commonly to be done twice ;" and it was not until the year 1831 that his first paper was published. This appeared in the ‘ Magazine of Natural History,’ then edited by J. C. Loudon, and was entitled—-‘‘ Polyommatus Argiolus, Meliteea Euphrosyne and Selene.” His attention at this time and for some few years later—until 1837—was principally devoted to Entomology ; indeed, with the exception of the few short letters of Rusticus, in the ‘Magazine of Natural History’ (1882 and 1888), on birds, the whole of his published writings up to 1888 are upon entomological subjects. It was in 1832, however, that he was fairly broken to literary harness. In that year the ‘ Entomological Magazine’ commenced its career of usefulness: it emanated from the Entomological Club,—a small body of gentlemen, who ; met socially at each other's houses on one evening in every : month. This, the oldest entomological society in the country, was instituted in 1826 by Mr. Samouelle, author of the ‘Entomologist's Compendium ;’ and he and Messrs. Davis, Hanson, and Newman, were the original members. At this time (1832) the Club consisted of the Rey. C. 8. Bird, Messrs. W. Bennett, J. S. Bowerbank, William Christy, jun., John Curtis, A. H. Davis, E. Doubleday, S. Hanson, J. Hoyer, E. Newman, F. Walker, and J. J. Walton. Of these fathers in Ento- mology all but two have passed away. It was not surprising that such men should feel the need of a journal devoted to their science. The “Introductory Address” is of consider- able interest, and sets forth that the projectors anticipate no profit, but have undertaken the work “with a disinterested desire to promote the progress of a science to which they confess themselves zealously attached.” Mr. Newman was chosen Editor, and threw himself heartily into the work. In the first volume, out of sixty-three articles fifteen are from his pen,—many written under pseudonyms,—in addition to elaborate editorial notices of new books. Amongst his writings in this volume attention may be called to the beautiful lines “On the Death of Latreille” (p. 820), as well as to the “Entomological Sapphics” (p. 482), professing to be translations from the Persian, Arabic and Greek, but in xl . PREFACE. reality emanating from his genius alone: entomologists have not often been also poets. Mr. Newman continued to contribute freely in succeeding volumes, writing under various pseudonyms —‘‘Corderius Secundus,” ‘‘E. N. D.,” ‘‘ Rusticus,”’ and others,— as well as in his own name. The five volumes of the ‘ Entomo- logical Magazine’ give the reader a more intimate personal acquaintance with him than any of his books or subsequent writings. It was, perhaps, a feature in his journalism that he and his readers became at once acquaintances, and after a while actual friends ; indeed, many who made his friendship through his writings never saw him, yet have felt his loss as keenly as though they had been constantly in his society. In addition to the members of the Club the following well-known scientific men were amongst the contributors to the magazine :—Messrs. Babington, Dale, Douglas, Haliday, Hewitson, Shuckard, J. F. Stephens, Swainson, Waterhouse, Westwood, and Yarrell, all of whom were more or less personal friends. Edward Doubleday was Editor of the second volume, Mr. Newman of the other four. It was in 1832 that Mr. Newman’s first important publication appeared,—a demy 8vo. pamphlet of 56 pp., entitled, ‘Sphinx vespiformis: an Essay ;’ with the motto :— * All are but parts of one stupendous whole, Whose body Nature is, and God the soul.” This clever attempt at classification created a considerable stir, and met with strenuous opposition. In the year 1833 he was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society; and in the same year he took an active part in establishing the Entomological Society of London, which Society may be said in great measure to have sprung from the Entomological Club, then of the respectable age of seven years. He was elected a member of the first council; Mr. Kirby, honorary President; and Mr. Children, President. During the succeeding years, in addition to editorial work, he wrote occasionally in the ‘Magazine of Natural History,’ and contributed various papers to the above Societies. In the year 1835 the ‘Grammar of Entomology’ was pub- — lished; a most useful little book. ‘The author supposes his — reader utterly ignorant of Entomology, and endeavours to show PREFACE. Xiil him that it is the History of Insects, and the Physiology of Insects, and the Classification of Insects, and the Art of Preserving Insects.” This book soon went out of print. In 1836 the laws and regulations of the Entomological Club were codified; Mr. Newman was re-elected Curator, and Mr. Walker, Secretary ; and an appeal was made for contributions of insects and books. This appeal was most liberally responded to, many gentlemen, Mr. Newman amongst the number, giving their whole collection ; and other valuable donations of insects were received. So liberal were the donations that the Club had to choose between building a museum and paying a \ curator, or disposing of all but the British insects. Eventually the bulk of the collection was presented to the British ' Museum. The second regulation is—‘‘That the Cabinet and Library be open at the house of the Curator, 21, Union } Street, Deptford, on the Friday in every week during the months of January, February, March, April, September, October, November, and December.’’ This practice of throwing open his house to naturalists on one evening in the week was continued until 1841. From that year until 1849 the Club cabinets were under the care of Edward Doubleday and of Francis Walker. On Mr. Newman’s removal to York Grove, Peckham, in 1849, he resumed the curatorship, and in 1856 the weekly assemblies. He always looked forward to the company of his friend Mr. Jenner Weir on these occasions ; indeed, it was in great measure owing to his kind assistance in after years, when health was failing, that they could be continued. In a letter to him, dated 8th September, 1856, 5.45 a.m., he writes:—‘‘1 am re-arranging the Lepidoptera belonging to the Entomological Club, and am doing this solely for the purpose of assisting beginners, who are almost daily applying to me for names. I purpose being at home at six o'clock every Thursday evening for this especial purpose. You will see that the Collection ought to be in better condition than it now is, or I shall not be so useful as I could wish. This idea is not new: I did the same thirty years ago, and continued 7 the practice for many years; but other cares intervened, and the cabinets went to poor Doubleday, whose generous disposition was not qualified for a curatorship, and under him the Collection X1V PREFACE. became reduced to a mere skeleton,—he gave and lent to every- one whatever they asked of him.” This one night in the week was sacred to its purpose: no engagement—not even illness— was allowed to interfere. It was always a pleasure to him to afford information, especially to young men, and they would avail themselves freely of the opportunity. Older naturalists, too, would often come, and their company was a great pleasure to him. In the earlier days this evening was no great undertaking; but in later years it was almost more than his powers permitted. He would come home weak and tired, and needing rest; or he may have been at home ill during the whole week: but Friday evening always found him at his post, ready to show the Collection, or patiently to name captures even if of no great interest or rarity. Of the many young men who were welcomed, few knew how a kind and courteous manner sometimes concealed bodily suffering. The Entomo- logical Club is now in its fiftieth year; and, with the exception of the eight years mentioned above, its Collection has always been under his care, and much of his time was devoted to it. In 1887 he abandoned the rope trade, and wrote to a relative as under :—‘ I am wholly without any definite prospect as regards business, having entirely given up my own, which was a very small affair. * * * Iam very indifferent as to any business engagement, as it is always so great a tie, and cannot be abandoned for any length of time without something like a dereliction of duty: moreover, I think that the opportu- nity for enjoying life will with me shortly expire, and I am desirous, while blest with strength and health, of visiting the country, and breathing the air of mountain-wilds unchecked by the necessity of returning on a certain day.” In the foregoing a record will be observed of that melancholy which, not only at this period but throughout life, at times’ beset him: it was not often of long duration, nor had it any real cause. Only a short time before, he had written :— “To me long life-time, though to thee forbidden, Perhaps may be granted.” Thus showing that the erroneous idea that his life would be short had only recently been entertained. It will be seen that he had already paid a visit to Wales: PREFACE. XV this was just prior to the letter, in company with his friends John and William Christy; and of this visit he wrote in the Introduction to the ‘ History of British Ferns.’ He was now freed from the cares and restraints of business; but no great journey was the result. Having begun to work at ferns he became fairly engrossed with his subject, as was always the case with everything he undertook. But still he was only studying, not writing, or at least not publishing; for, as has been already observed, he never published until his subject had been thoroughly grappled with and mastered. His first paper on ferns appeared, it is true, in 1838; but it was not until 1840 that the ‘History’ appeared, although the first edition only reached to 104 pages. In June, 1839, he went to Ireland, whither he had made an excursion with his friend William Bennett a year or two previously. Starting alone from Newry, knapsack on back, he went northward, and so round the entire coast, until the tour finished at Dublin, in August. Throughout the whole trip he had paid especial attention to ferns, and collected a mass of information concerning them. But every natural object, in whatever branch, was of interest to his cultivated mind; and in the “ Notes on Irish Natural History” (1840), entomological, ornithological, and botanical observations, generally, are to be found. December of the same year found him still without a business, but working hard at the ‘Ferns ;’ not only writing the letter- press, but drawing the illustrations; for the whole of the beautiful drawings which illustrate it—figures, tailpieces, and landscapes —are the product of his careful pencil. Especial attention should be called to the fern scutcheon, with the motto, ‘‘ Elegantia et Humilitate,”’ on the title-page. The book was published early the following year, and was soon out of print. It was printed by George Luxford, the printer of the ‘Magazine of Natural History,’ which Mr. Newman was then temporarily editing, and thus they were associated. The ‘ Ferns’ having gone off so well _ there was inducement to publish other books. Mr. Luxford was a botanist and of literary ability, and therefore somewhat of a ' congenial spirit. Mr. Newman was about to be married, and in 4 want of a business. The idea, therefore, occurred to effect a xvi PREFACE. partnership, and print his own books. This was done; and he once more commenced business—this time as a member of the firm of Luxford & Co., Printers, Ratcliff Highway, at the sign of the “Bouncing B.”” On the accession of an entomological partner the ‘“‘B” received an insect shape, and was used as a trade-mark. Next year, however, Mr. Luxford was bought out of the business; and the printing-office was removed to Deyon- shire Street, Bishopsgate, where Mr. Newman conducted it until 1870, when he retired from business in favour of his son. In June, 1841, the ‘ Phytologist’—a monthly botanical magazine—was started, and was conducted with great spirit for some years: Mr. Luxford was editor; but Mr. Newman wrote frequently, and was responsible for the work. It was never commercially successful; and on the death of its editor, in 1854, it came suddenly to an end. Dr. Trimen, writing in the ‘Journal of Botany,’ remarks:—‘ The thanks of British botanists are due to Mr. Newman for the possession of that valuable repertory of the progress of their department for thirteen years.” After his marriage, Mr. Newman resided for two years in Wellclose Square, being then a near neighbour of Mr. N, B. Ward, whose beautiful, ‘‘ closely-glazed”’ fernery, in one of the worst parts of London, was a constant delight. The ‘stitching parties’’ at Mr. Ward’s brought together many botanists. Mr. Newman having now settled down to a business more congenial than either of the former ones,—namely, printing books on science,—he gave up his former country wanderings, and went to work in earnest. But although thus closely occupied he was by no means debarred from his scientific studies. In . 1840 the ‘ Entomologist’ had been commenced, taking the place formerly occupied by the ‘ Entomological Magazine,’ Mr. Newman being Editor, and contributing freely. In 1841 he published the ‘History of Insects,’ of which he says :—‘ This little book was observed as a caterpillar, in 1835; in 1837 it disappeared, and remained concealed as a quiescent and lethargic pupa, until, roused by the genial influence of the present spring, it has burst its cere-cloths, and assumed the ornamented wings of a gay and volatile butterfly.” At the end of 1842 the ‘ Entomologist’ was discontinued ; but PREFACE. XVil with January, 1843, commenced the ‘ Zoologist,’ of which the founder lived to conduct an uninterrupted series of thirty-three annual yolumes,—a circumstance probably without parallel in the history of journalism throughout the world. He would often look at the row of red volumes on his bookshelves with a quiet pleasure, not unmixed with a certain pride. The following extract from the Preface to the first volume gives, in his own words, an idea of the. character and scope of the journal:—‘ The attempt to combine scientific truths with readable English has been considered by my friends as one of surpassing rashness; and many have been the kind and pressing solicitations I have received to desist from a labour so hopeless; many the suppli- cations to introduce a few Latin descriptions, just to give the work a scientific character. In reply to my friends, I would beg to instance White’s ‘Selborne.’ That most delightful of histories is written in pure, plain, intelligible English, and has found ample favour in the eyes of the public. White is now no more; but his mantle has fallen upon others: a multitude of observers have arisen in the same field, and, what is more to my purpose, have become contributors to the pages of the ‘ Zoologist.’ Nature herself is exhaustless; our field of observation is wider, a thousand-fold, than White ever enjoyed; our capacity for observation is certainly not less. These are the grounds I have for hoping that the ‘ Zoologist’ will sueceed.”’ The practice of writing Natural History in simple English, thus rendering it interesting even to those not deeply versed in Science, was one on which Mr. Newman strongly insisted. In the lists of con- tributors to the pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ appear the names of almost every British naturalist of note. ' In 1844 the second edition of the ‘Ferns’ made its appear- — ance, the first having gone rapidly out of print. In the second edition the work had increased from 104 to 424 pages. The Equisetacee and Lycopodiacee were added, as was also such a mass of additional information that the work was almost rewritten, and hardly to be called a second edition, deserving to rank as a new book. From this time—with the exception of the collected ‘ Letters of Rusticus’ (1849)—until the publication of a third edition of the ‘Ferns,’ in 1854, he brought out no new book, his time and thought being sufficiently occupied with c XVili ; PREFACE. business and with editorial duties. There is no volume of the ‘ Zoologist’ that does not contain numerous articles from his pen: these are upon Entomology, Ornithology, and other branches of Natural History; and many are of considerable importance. With him it was not sufficient to work out only one branch of a science, or even all the various ramifications of that one science: with whatever he undertook he made himself thoroughly familiar. He had taken up the study of Natural History, and everything connected with it was of interest to him,—whether Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Insects, or Plants; he was familiar with every branch of every subject. In the year 1850 he read before the Zoological Society, an ingenious paper proposing a new Physiological Arrangement of Birds. The new system, however, met with slender support, and considerable opposition. An essay ‘‘On the Employment of Physiological Characters in the Classification of Animals,” the result of most careful thought, was published in 1856. These two papers are full of information, and the reasoning is very acute. Some naturalists are still of opinion that Mr. Newman’s views have been too much disregarded by modern systematists, especially as to the proposed division of birds into two great groups, viz. Hesthogene and Gymnogene: the former containing those birds which produce their young clothed with down, eyes open, and capable at once of running and feeding themselves; the latter, those birds which produce their young naked, blind, and helpless. The ‘Insect Hunters,’ or Entomology in verse, appeared anonymously in 1858: it was written for beginners, and gives an insight into the hidden mysteries of the science in simple language. The author discourses pleasantly to a young friend on ‘The Four Stages of Insect-life:’’ ‘Metamorphosis ;” ‘The Scale Wings;”’ &c. There is a charming little poetical Preface. Although anonymous, the author was at once suspected. The book was quickly out of print; and a second edition, bearing the author’s name, was published in 1860. In this sppeataly several other poems, written at an earlier date. In 1858 Mr. Newman became Natural-History Editor of ‘Field,’ and continued to hold that post until his death. Th Natural-History department of that paper, however, largel; « 4 f PREFACE. xix increased, and other editors were added. Amongst his papers in the ‘ Field,’ those on economic entomology are of the greatest value ; and there can be no doubt that it will be long before his *‘life-histories’’ are superseded. Amongst the master-pieces are those of the goat-moth; gooseberry grub; turnip grub; daddy-longlegs ; and pear-tree slug: these valuable contributions were continued to within a month of his death, as a column and a half of the ‘Field’ for May 18th, 1876, is taken up with his * Life-history of the Sandfly, or Simulium.’’ He wrote of these papers :—‘‘ My object in penning these notes is to bring the creature face to face to face with his victims; for unless we know our enemy—his appearance, his ways, and his where- | abouts—all our attemps to compass his destruction must be futile.” Before his time it was usual to consider all insects . found on plants as ‘blight,’ and to purchase some proffered ; nostrum in order to destroy them. No one seemed to consider it possible that some insects might be useful, seeing that others were so obviously hurtful. The articles on the inmates of the Crystal Palace Aquarium—popularly written, yet full of information—are also worthy of considerable attention. From 1858 to 1861 Mr. Newman was engaged on a series of articles in ‘ Young England’ on Insects and Birds. At the same period he acted as Natural-History Editor of the ‘ Friend’ for about two years, writing a column or two in each month's issue of that newspaper. In March, 1861, Mr. Newman had the gratification of receiving a Testimonial—consisting of scientific books—from about seventy gentlemen, in “high appreciation of services rendered in the promotion and diffusion of scientific knowledge.” Mr. Newman had very properly refused to allow his own journal to be used as_ & means for advertising the testimonial to himself, and by this action many were led to believe that the project was distasteful, and held aloof. The books, however, besides being of great use and pleasure to the recipient of the testimonial, were highly “appreciated by his Friday-night visitors. A full history of the transaction will be found in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1861 (Zool. p. 7457), but modesty seems to have prevented it being indexed. ‘Mr. Newman's writings had of late years assumed a more ithological complexion ; and in 1861 his small work, entitled De. 3 PREFACE. —‘Birdsnesting, being a complete description of the birds which breed in Great Britain and Ireland,’ made its appearance. Three years later, however, he was once more engaged on the old favourite subject—the ‘Ferns.’ The price of his beautiful book was necessarily comparatively high; and many low-priced fern books, by other writers or compilers, had made their appearance. In order to compete with these, a fourth edition of ‘ British Ferns’ was published in 1864: it was of smaller size and considerably lower price, and illustrated with steel-plates instead of by woodcuts, as in the former editions. The Intro- duction, as well as that to the former editions, may be noticed as among the most charming of Mr. Newman’s writings. The ‘ Zoologist’ had, since 1860, been growimg more and more bulky: double numbers were frequently resorted to, and yet space could not be found for all the worthy communications that were received. In order to cope with this embarras de richesses, the ‘Entomologist,’ which had been merged in the ‘ Zoologist’ in 1848, resumed its separate existence in 1864. A large part of the entomological communications at once went over to it, and the difficulty was at once satisfactorily met. From that time the ‘Entomologist’ has been steadily increasing in public estimation; and its circulation is, for a purely entomological periodical, unprecedentedly large. Mr. Newman had long felt the want of a book of reference on British birds. Montagu’s ‘ Ornithological Dictionary’ was a most valuable bock, but it was half a century out of date; it had long been out of print, and was very scarce. The idea occurred that what was a desideratum to himself must certainly be so to others. The fourth edition of ‘British Ferns’ being now com- pleted, and the ‘Entomologist’ fairly launched, he at once set to work. With the help of Selby’s ‘ Illustrations of British Ornithology’ (1833), Yarrell’s ‘ History of British Birds’ (1856), the ‘ Zoologist,’ and the ‘Field,’ he laboriously brought the work up to date, giving a reference to Yarrell’s figure of the bird, and Hewitson’s figure of the egg. The editorial additions are naturally very great, and are separated from the original by — editorial brackets. The ‘ Dictionary of British Birds,’ a demy 8yo, extending to 400 pages of small type closely printed, was — published in 1866. PREFACE. Xx1 On its completion, Mr. Newman made preparations for con- tinuing the ‘ Illustrated Natural History of British Moths,’ which was commenced in ‘ Young England.’ Five numbers (80 pp.) had been brought out by Mr. Tweedie, in direct contravention of Mr. Newman’s wish, and without his knowledge: for these five numbers, written at a much earlier date than the remainder and not printed under his supervision, he never would hold himself responsible. It will be seen at once that they are incomplete, and stand sorely in need of the care bestowed upon the rest of the work. Mr. Newman was eventually induced to continue the work, and having once consented he, as usual, laboured with all his heart. The descriptions of the perfect insect and of the larva are most careful and accurate, indeed almost microscopic. The figures, of which there are more than eight hundred, were drawn and engraved under his own superintendence. In all his former works the woodcuts had been drawn by himself, and engraved by Mr. Kirchner; but now the allotted span of life was nearly reached, and his artistic powers had failed. The engraver was the same, however; and the beauty and accuracy of the figures are in great measure owing to his care and skill. ; This book came out in monthly numbers, the last one appearing in June, 1869, when the complete volume was published. Immediately upon the conclusion of ‘ British Moths’ (486 pp. super-royal 8yvo), the companion work was commenced,— ‘An Illustrated Natural History of British Butterflies’ (1871), on which even greater care was evinced, as especial attention was given to geographical distribution. These two works form the text-book of British Macro-Lepidoptera. ‘ British Butterflies’ was written in Mr. Newman’s seventieth year, and was his last complete work. Two years previously he had retired from business, but by no means from labour. He > ‘was at first actively engaged on the above-mentioned work, and on its completion the ‘ Zoologist,’ the ‘ Entomologist,’ and the ‘ Field,’ kept him fully occupied. He was often to be seen at the Crystal Palace Aquarium, and the result of the visits is to be found in various papers in those journals. In the year 1868 he had built an aviary in his garden, and this was a constant source not only of recreation, but of study. There he would sit, until the birds became so tame as to fly to him on his Xxil : PREFACE. entrance and feed from his hand. In ‘Notes of my Bird Cage”’ (Zool. 8.5. 8157) will be found an account of his success in breeding the little Australian parrakeet (Melopsittacus undu- latus): he possessed upwards of thirty at one time, all bred in the aviary. A diary of the birds, after the manner of Gilbert White, was carefully kept, and short notes frequently appeared in the magazines. He had a great affection for all living animals, and could not bear to see anything suffer, even for its own good. He frequently visited the Zoological Gardens, always intent on gaining information; and in his later years was earnestly at work on a new classification of birds. One of his friends writes, with reference to these visits to the Zoological Gardens, and to the proposed classification of birds which he did not live to complete, and of which but few fragments remain :—‘‘ For forty years a visit to the Zoological Gardens has been one of my greatest enjoyments ; but with Mr. Newman, who was my frequent companion, the pleasure was very much enhanced. He would stand to watch the movements of that remarkable bird, the Caviama (Dicholophus cristatus); its position amongst birds “was to him a puzzle, but he at last, I am inclined to think, regarded it as a Raptorial bird, as classified by Mr. Sharpe, of the British Museum. He attached great importance to the mode by which a bird progressed on the ground, and he exhibited almost a childish delight when he first observed that eagles hopped. Natural History was to Mr. Newman not only an intellectual scientific study, but was also an absorbing passion.” He was at this time devoting as much attention to Entomology as to other branches of Zoology, making an especial study of the Gallflies and their productions, of the Sawflies, and the Bees,—the latter chiefly with a view to observations on the fertilisation of plants by their agency. His ‘‘Collected Observations on British Sawflies” were laid aside for years, and their revision and publication in the ‘ Entomologist’ was only commenced shortly before his death. It is hoped that further instalments may yet appear, containing his later views on a natural classification of Insects,—a subject which had continuously occupied his thoughts since 1834, : The end was now drawing near. In February, 1878, he had — PREFACE. Xxiil had a severe illness, from which, although unknown to all but himself, he never entirely recovered: it preyed upon his spirits, and lessened that mental grasp which had hitherto charac- terized him. Towards the end of May, 1876, he again became seriously ill; and although at first it was thought that with his vigorous constitution he would overcome the disease, as he had done previously, he became worse. Further surgical assistance was called in, but to no purpose; and on the 12th of June, 1876, acutely conscious to the last, he passed peacefully away. In his last illness he was patient, and without care or any anxiety. He was interred at Nunhead Cemetery. Mr. Newman was a Fellow of the Linnean and Zoological Societies, of the Royal Microscopical Society, and of the Zoologico-Botanical Society of Vienna; he was also an original member and, in 1854, President of the Entomological Society of London ; an honorary member of the Entomological Societies of France and Pennsylvania, of the Botanical Society of Edin- burgh, and of several minor societies: but the only title on which he set value was that of Academie Cesaree Nature Curiosorum,—the Imperial Academy of Leopold Charles of Austria, consisting of the forty most distinguished naturalists 4 known to the council throughout the world; each takes the cognomen of one of the original members,—his was that of **Latreille.’”” Membership of this learned body conferred the title of Doctor, but he was too modest to use the title. Ostenta- tion of every kind was distasteful to him, and he derided it in others ; indeed, he prided himself on the opposite extreme, and his manner of life was especially simple and retiring. The following extracts, from kindly letters written by Mr. Cordeaux, Captain Hadfield, Mr, Frederick Smith, and Dr. Bowerbank, may fittingly be appended to this memoir, and are but types of many. In writing this sketch of a useful life, difficulty has been felt in condensing the material that has offered: much that would have added to its interest has been reluctantly omitted for want, of space, His loss is no common one, for all who have known him for 80 many years, through his writings and as a correspondent, can testify to the invariable and ready way in which he imparted information: he has done more in his long life of usefulness XXiV ; PREFACE. than any of his contemporaries to foster and encourage a love of natural science. The ‘ Zoologist,’ alone, will ever remain a monument of his indefatigable industry; and, as a storehouse of facts for the working naturalist, will be continually quoted in all future works bearing on its special branches of English Zoology.” «We, his friends and admirers, have lost one whose equal we may vainly seek, for he was a man of wonderful power of mind, of great judgment, a profound thinker, an able writer; and, from his great experience in editorship, better qualified than any of our naturalists for conducting a popular journal like the ‘ Zoologist.’ Ever ready to instruct and encourage, too, the student of Nature; never censorious or dictatorial, though his patience at times must have been sorely tried.”’ “The name of Edward Newman is inseparably associated with the list of those who have themselves advanced natural science, and who have done all in their power to help and encourage others in the field in which they have so successfully laboured.” ‘‘He was esteemed and valued by all who knewhim. His life was usefully and honourably spent in the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge; and the results of his labours, as published, are a more durable and honourable monument than either bronze or marble.” CONTENTS. a ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Adams, C. Lemesle 72, 160 Anderson, Joseph, jun. 155, 260 Andrewes, F. 232 Armitage, G. D. 201 Ashpole, Henry 229 Aspinwall, Alfred 20 Aspinwall, J. W. 183 Auld, Henry A. 78, 139 Barrett, J. Platt 71, 177 Bayley, Miss 211 Benson, L. 262 Bignell, G. C. 203, 255 Birchall, E. Howard 209 Bird, H. M. Golding 261, 269 Blest, W. W. 278 Boden, Charles 182 Bond, Frederick, F.Z.S. 217 Boswell, J. T., LL.D., F.L.S. 257 Bowerbank, J.S., LL.D., F.R.S. 91,129 Brackenbury, Rey. E., M.A. 258 Bradbury, 8. 160, 185 Bridgman, J. B. 159, 173 Briggs, T. R. Archer, F.L.S. 143 Brown, A. M. 140 Brown, Benjamin 279 Brown, J. 204 Browne, E. G. 72, 262 Butler, E. A. 275 sll rap sl - Cansdale, W. D. 257 Carrington, John T. 169, 184, 241, 272, 279 Cave-Browne, Rey. J. 155 Clark, Eustace F. 140, 184 Clark, J. Edmund 69 Clarke, W. B. 130 Cole, G. B. 153 Conquest, Harold 230 Corbett, H. H. 205, 256 | Corbin, G. B. 21, 276 Cox, H. Ramsay 58, 230 Crallan, Rev. Thomas E., M.A. 265 Crewe, Rev. H. Harpur 204, 205, 260 Crossfield, Talbot K. 256, 259 | Daltry, Rev. Thomas W., M.A. 19 | Dobson, H. T., jun. 183 Doncaster, Arthur 276 Eastham, George 157 Edmonds, Walter S. 19 Edwards, G. 142 Edwards, W. 126 Enock, Fred. 128 Farquharson, J. R. Phelps 257 Fitch, E. A. 1, 26, 50, 74, 115, 121 146, 171, 194, 202, 219, 245, 268 Forbes, W. A. 142, 144 Fust, H. Jenner, jun., M.A, 158 Gatcombe, J. 182 | Giles, J. J. 276 Greene, Rev. J., M.A. 150 Gregson, C. S. 8 | Grimond, James 71 Hambrough, Rey. Windsor 182, 205 Hamlin, C. 231 Harwood, W. H. 233, 259 Hedworth, Thos. H. 141 Hervey, Rev. A. C. 92 | Hodge, T. 274 Hodges, H. C. 210 Hodgkinson, J. B, 207, 208, 260 | Holton, E. 88 _ Jennings, Rey. P. H., M.A. 12, 131, 197, 208, 209, 254 d XXV1 Johns, E. F. 92, 258 Jones, Alfred 91 Jones, H. 161, 278 Jones, J. Matthew 54 Katter, Dr. 152 Kay, R. 48, 158, 207 Keyworth, William W. 10 Kynaston, W. H. 137 Laddiman, Robert 20, 81, 208 Lewis, W. Arnold, F.L.S. 69 Livett, H. W., M.D. 261 Luff, W. A. 16, 256, 257 Madden, Rev. G. C., M.A. 71 Maling, W. 19 Manders, N. 262 Mann, W. K. 258 Marée, Charles 20 May, J. W. 3, 247 MeArthur, Neil 182, 259 McRae, W. 207, 258 Michael, Annie 276 Milsom, W. D. 201 Mosley, S. L. 156, 157 Mudie, James 185 Neale, Henry 183, 231 Newman, Edward, F.LS., &c. 26, 42, 49, 59, 73, 89, 96, 97 Norman, 8S. 232 Oldfield, George W. 87 Parker, John 258 Pease, T. H. Ormston 182, 161 Perkins, V. R. 231 Peters, J. 262 Porritt, George T., F.L.S. 18, 47, 88, 139, 141, 178, 186, 197, 211 Pratt, D. 277, 279 Prést, W. 276, 278 Raynor, Gilbert 158 Reeks, Henry, F.L.S. 86 Ridley, H. N. 48 Riley, Chas. V., M.A., Ph.D. 82, 108 CONTENTS. Robinson, E. K. 201, 205, 206 Rogers, H. 231 Rolfe, R. A. 199 Ross, J. G. 183 Roxburgh, Thos. J. 278 Ruston, A. Harold 204 Sarll, John T. 232 Service, Robert 140, 230 Sharp, W. E. 104 Sheppard, E. R. 134, 160 . Simmons, C. W. 70 Smith, Frederick 15, 234 Sorrell, Thomas 159 Standish, F. 0. 68 Stent, R. J. 203 Stenton, E. H. 232 Stevens, Samuel, F.L.S. 183, 193 Stewart, F. 206 Stowell, Rev. Hugh A., M.A. 232, 233 Tasker, Rev. C. J. W. 180 Thomas, W. 92, 141 Thornthwaite, W. H. 19 Threlfall, J. H. 124 Thurnall, A. 17, 48 Tosswill, R. G. D. 142 Tucker, G. 161 Tugwell, W. H. 179 Walker, Francis (the late) 52 Wallace, Alfred Russel, F.L.S., &c. 221 Warner, Septimus 72 Webb, Alfred 93 Webb, Sydney 277 Weir, J. Jenner, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 217, 230, 251, 267 . White, F. Buchanan, M.D., F.L.S. 278 7 White, Rev. J. H., M.A. 93, 281, 234 Whittle, F. G. 208 Wiglesworth, H. 213 Wileman, A. E. 256 Williams, Edward 182 Wilson, Owen 70, 201, 202, 204 - Wilson, T. 20 Wratislaw, Rev. A. H., M.A. 232, 259 aut) bag » Pee NCO CONTENTS. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF Abdomen of earwig, worm in 263 Acherontia Atropos at Folkestone 276 | Bees, instinct of 130; Acidalia emarginata 206 Acronycta Alni at Stratford-on-Avon 20; bred 204; in Carmarthenshire id.; larva, near Derby 232; near Retford id.; at Edwinstowe 276 = auricoma 208 ve strigosa 204 Aculeate Hymenoptera 173 ZEschna mixta at Norwood 162 Agrotera nemoralis, life-history 179; near Herne 208 Agrotis pyrophila at Stratford-on- Avon 20 » saucia at York 20 » tritici and Agrotis aquilina 169, 210 Anatomy, insect 185 Andricus burgundus 74 “ circulans 51 * erispator 268 # Cydoniz 251 by curvator 195 = . var. axillaris 51 z inflator 50 ms multiplicatus 220 bt nitidus 246 we petioli 219 ne terminalis 28, 34 a testaceipes 219 urneformis 194 Anthomyia pluvialis 40 Ants 94; swarms of 234 8 and Imbauba trees 67 Apatura Iris in Huntingdonshire 230 Aphilothrix Clementine 2 i corticalis 143 < Glandule 1 Aphis sp. 42 Arctia fuliginosa, larve 70 » Tubiginosa, injury to linen in bleach-fields by larve 42 Argynnis Adippe, hermaphrodite 203 ‘ Dia 69 a Lathonia at Hastings 275 » Niobe 21 Asthenia pygmeana 92, 141 Attacus, remarkable species 162 oy og Sulzeri in the North of Lon- ; 128 . XXvii SUBJECTS. Balaninus glandium 34 humble, des- patch of to New Zealand 142; uncertain in their appearance 159; and wasps 162; making comb ina hedge 260 Biorhiza renum 115 - sinaspis 117 Blackmore, Trovey, death of 240 Bombus muscorum, Mutilla europea parasitic on 239 Bombyx Rubi, to breed 72; rearing the larva 205 Borer, Yucca, notes on 82, 108 Botys verticalis 278 Braconide 35 Brown, Edwin, death of 240 Bugs introduced into Africa by the Arabs 90 Buttertlies, small, immense flight in the Bermudas 54, 86; and moths, how to relax 137, 152, 180 ; Japanese 192 Cabinets, insect, black spots on 93 Callimome abdominalis 37 oy auratus id, 4) nigricornis 36 regius 37 Callirnorpha Hera 210; near Dover 263 variety 25 Caryoborus, Corozo nuts destroyed by 214 Catalogue of British Insects, new part 264 Caterpillars, preserving 139 Catocala Fraxini 278 Cecidomyia sp.? 40 Chelonia villica, treatment of larve during hybernation 206 Cheerocampa Celerio at Brighton 231; in Berwickshire, 276; at Edwin. stowe id. porcellus, larva 183 Chortobius Davus, in search of 203 Cidaria populata, larva 13 » Yeticulata, larva at Winder- mere 207 Cimbex femorata 3 Clostera anachoreta 232 XXV1li Cuephasia lepidana bred 208 Cnethocampa pityocampa 21 Coccus, species of 216 | Coleoptera 24; new 118; British 162 Coleopterous insects, singular forms 2i5 Colias Edusa 182; early appearance id.; near Dublin id.; and var. Helice in Carmarthenshire 201; and Colias Hyale, remarks on 217; at Handforth 256; eggs and larve id., 257; var. Helice in South Wales 256 s Hyale, is it double-brooded ? 202; and C. Edusa 230 Collection, the Doubleday 72, 96, 118, 144, 279 Corozo nuts destroyed by a Caryo- borus 214 Cossus ligniperda at sugar 183, 207, 208 Crocallis elinguaria, early hatching 88; does it hybernate? 141 Croesus septentrionalis bred 239 Crymodes exulis near Loch Laggan 263 Cryptoceride, new species 264 Cryptus hortulanus 36 Cucullia scrophularie 233, 259 Cychrus cylindricollis, habits 189, 190 Cynips aries 77 » exclusa 78 » gemmea id. » Kollari, the Devonshire gall 52 Danais Archippus 267; in Sussex 265 Dasycampa rubiginea in December 69; at Hawley 278 Day, red-letter 131 Decatoma immaculata 36 Deilephila Euphorbie, locality for food-plant 263 + Galii near Norwich 258 Deiopeia pulchella at Bournemouth 258; near Christchurch id.; at Brighton 259 ; in the Isle of Wight id.; in Suffolk id.; at Hastings 275; at the Land’s End 276 Dianthecia irregularis 232 Diurnea fagella 141 Doubleday Collection 72, 96, 118, 144, 279 Dragonfly infested by red parasite 235 Dryophanta agama 150 ” cornifex 172 CONTENTS. | Dryophanta disticha 171 c. divisa 147 43 folii 123 x longiventris 146 ~ scutellaris 121 Earwig, worm in abdomen 263 Easter at Witherslack 124 Ebulea crocealis, larva 88 » Stacbydalis 191 Elachistide 39 Electricity? are the colours of Lepi- doptera influenced by 251 Enemies to horse-chestnut shoots 239 Ennomos alniaria 278 ‘3 angularia, variety 49 Enoicycla, female 24 Entomological Society, proceedings 22, 117, 162, 186, 213, 263 Entomological pins 160, 184, 209 Entomology, journalist’s 234; in Corn- wall id. Ephemeride 191 Ephydra, larve and pupex 118 Ephyra orbicularia 208 » pendularia var. 217 Epunda nigra at Rugby 19; not double-brooded 185 Eremobia ochroleuca at Deal 232; south of York 262 Eulophus gallarum 39 Eupelmide 38 Eupithecia larve in Ireland 260 Eupithecia saturata var. callunaria 205 Eupithecidex, British, an attempt to arrange by their larval charac- teristics 8 Eurymene dolabraria, larva 254 Eurytomide 36 Flea, the mole’s; a discovery for Leap-year 89 Food, variation of Lepidoptera ac- cording to 263 Food-plant of Deilephila Euphorbie, locality for 236 Food-plants of Gonepteryx Rhamni 79, x02; of Saturnia Carpini 161; of S. cynthia id. Fungus on insects 215 Galls of Aphilothrix Glandule 1; of A. Clementine 2; of Synophus po- litus 27; of Andricus terminalis CONTENTS. 28; of A. inflator 50; of A. curvator | var. axillaris 51; of A. circulans 52; of Cynips Kollari id.; of A. burgundus 75; of Spathegaster Giraudi id.; of S. aprilinus 76; of | (2?) Cynips aries 77; of (?) C. ex- clusa 78; of (?) C. yemmea id.; of Biorhiza renum 116 ; of B.synaspis 117; of Dryophanta scutellaris 121; | of D. folii 123; of D. longiventris 146; of D. divisa 147; of D. agama 150; of D. disticha 171; of D. cor- nifex 172; of Andricus urneformis 194; of A. curvator 195; of A. tes- taceipes 219; of A. petioli id.; of A. multiplicatus 220; of A. Cy- donie 245; of A. nitidus 246; of A. crispator 269 Galls, oak 143 Geometra papilionaria, variety 205 Gnat, common 191 Gonepteryx Rhamni, food-plants 70, 202 Hadena rectilinea, larva at Winder- mere 207 Haggerston Entomological Society 264 Halias prasinana 262 Harvest-bug, remedies for attacks of | 239 Hedya (Spilonota) ocellana 41 Heliothis armiger 261 js peltiger at Blackpool 183 Heliozela sericiella, mines of 24 Hemerobius in winter 48 Hemerophila abruptaria, larva 197 Hemiteles areator 35 Hermaphrodite Argynnis Adippe 203 Horse-chestnut shoots, enemies to 239 Humble-bees, exportation of to New Zealand 15 Hybernia leucophearia 277 Hydrecia petasitis 207 Hymenoptera, aculeate, doings and observations among. during 1875, 173; relation of various groups 186; work on 213 Hyria auroraria, larva 197 Ichneumonide 35 Inseet fauna of St. Helena 90; cabi- iy black spots on 93; anatomy _ Insects, list of the best captured at or XxXixX near Whittlesford during the past season 17; inhabiting oak-apples 29; of Kent and Surrey 71; wind- pipes of 91; organs of the senses in id.; circulation of blood in id.; relaxing 137, 150, 152, 153, 155; fungus on 215; South African, mimicry in id.; Coleopterous, sin- gular forms id.; and plants, peculiar relations 221; British, new part of Entomological Society's Catalogue 264 Instinct of bees 130 Journalist’s Entomology 234 Lampides bestica 92, 132 Larentia cesiata near Bury, shire 158 Larva of Cidaria populata 13; of Li- thosia aureola 47; of an Cstrus (?) infesting man 71; of Ebulea cro- cealis 88; of Nola ‘albulalis 177; of Strenia clathrata 178; of Macro- glossa stellatarum 183; of Chero- campa porcellus id.; of Hemero- phila abruptaria 197; of Hyria auroraria id.; of Bombyx Rubi 205; of Cidaria reticulata and Hadena rectilinea at Windermere 207; twigs of horse chestnut at- tacked by 216; of Acronycta Alni near Derby 232; of Lurymene dola- braria 254; of Danais Archippus 265; of Stauropus Fagi 268 Lanca- Larvee of Arctia rubiginosa, injury to linen in bleach-fields by 42; va- rieties of Vanessa lo, &c., probably caused by starving 49,87; of Arctia fuliginosa 70; of Lepidoptera, pre- serving 72, 81; preserving 78, 104, 139,157; in reeds 92; and pupe of Ephydra 118; of Chelonia villica and Pericallia syringaria, treatment during hybernation 206 ; burrowing id.; Eupithecia, in Ireland 260 Latridius lardarius 34 Lepidoptera, captures 18; at New- castle-ou-Tyue 19 ; preserving larve 72, 81; collected at Great Malvern in 1875, 126; of the Higher Alps 162; foreign 184; spring and autumn broods 191; transmission by post 211; varieties and rare British 213; rare, in the Isle of XXX Wight 231; are the colours of in- fluenced by electricity? 251; varia. tion of according to food 263; at sallow-bloom 272 Lepidopterous insect parasitic on Fulgora candelaria, habits 258 Leucania albipuncta in the Isle of of Wight 231; at Deal, 232; at St. Leonard's id. :. vitellina in the New Forest 183 G Life-histories of sawflies 3, 247 Life-history of Agrotera nemoralis 179 Limacodes Asellus, remarks on the oviposition 68 Linnean Society of London, ceedings 94 Lithosia aureola, larva 47 + sericea 207 Lithoside, scarcity of 276 Locust, the true, near Wells 261 Locusts, ravages of, in Spain 214, 235 Lycena argiolus 257 » Arion 204 pro- Machaon and Podalirius 157 Macroglossa stellatarum, larva 183 Macro-Lepidoptera, additions to the list of, inhabiting Guernsey 16 Mamestra objecta 48 Megastigmus dorsalis 38 Megathymus Yucce, notes on 82, 108 Melanagria galathea, varieties 193 Metrocampa margaritata, buff-co- loured 161, 211 Micro, name of 161 Microdus rufipes 36 Microtypus Wesmaelii id. Mines of Heliozela sericiella 24 Mites, preservation against 71; and grease 155, 156 Mosquitoes in Ireland 93 Moths, names 20; and butterflies, how to relax 137, 180; preserving from mites and grease 140 Mutilla europea parasitic on Bombus muscorum 239 Nematus consobrinus 247 » gallicola 236 Newman, Edward, obituary notice y., 145 Noctua flammatra in the Isle of Wight 231 Nola albulalis, larva 177 CONTENTS. Notes upon sugaring 10; on ovi- position 12: on oak-apples 32; on preserving larve 78; on the Yucca borer 82, 108 Oak-apples, notes on 32 Oak-galls, descriptions of 1, 26, 50, 74, 115, 121, 146, 171, 194, 219, 245, 268 Oporabia filigrammaria near Bury, Lancashire 158 Orgyia pudibunda double-brooded 262 Otiorhynchus picipes 135, 160 Oviposition, notes on 12; of Lima- codes Asellus, remarks on 68 Pachnobia alpina 209, 241 - hyperborea 241, 279 Pachytylus migratorius near Wells 261 Papilio Machaon, are there two broods in a season ? 20; in Sussex 230 Parasite, red, dragonfly infested by 235 Parasites of Osmia 118 Pericallia syringaria, treatment of larve during hybernation 206 Pieris Brassice, ravages of 257 , Rape in winter, 69 x » var. Aurea 199 Pimpla, species of from galls of An- dricus terminalis 35 Pionea margaritalis 277 Pins, entomological 160, 184, 209 Plants and insects, peculiar relations of, as exhibited in islands, 221 Platymesopus Erichsonii 39 (?) rs Westwoodii id. Podalirius and Machaon 157 Polysphenis seéricina, description from Gueneée 73 Pseudo Bombyces, time of appearance 206 Psyllide taken near Lee, Kent 216 Pteromalide 38 Pteromalus Cordairii 39 s Dufourii id. * gallicus id. = leucopezus id. is meconotus id. . stenonotus id. Pupe of burrowing larve 206 . Pyralis verticallis in Westmoreland 260 Pyrameis Atalanta in Perthshire 71 CONTENTS, Pyrameis Huntera in S. Devon 255 + Virginiensis 279 Ravages of locusts in Spain 214, 235; of Pieris Brassicm 257 Reclusa, early emergence 132 Red-letter day 131 Relaxing and grease 182 Rophidia Ophiopsis 161 Sallow-bloom, captures at 272 Saturnia Carpini, hatching 142; food 161, 186 » eynthbia, food 161 Sawflies, life-histories of 3, 247; Bri- tish, collected observations on 59 Scopula decrepitalis, is it double- | brooded ? 205 Selidosema plumaria, &c., near Alver- stoke 233 Semasia(Ephippiphora) gallicolana 41 Sericoris irriguana near Loch Laggan 263 Spathegaster aprilinus 76 Giraudi 75 5 Sphekodes, British species of 97 Sphekodes Ephippiata 103 Py fuscipennis 104 : gibba 102 . rufescens id. a subquadrata 103 Sphinx Convolvuli at Rugby 19; near Newcastle, Staffordshire id.; at Bury 48; in Gloucestershire 231; near St. Ives id.; at Salisbury id. ; at Deal 232; in Orkney 257; at Clifton 258; at Winchester id.; near Christchurch id. Spiders in the bark of trees 167 Spilodes palealis 278 189 Stauropus Fagi, larva 269 Strenia clathrata, larva 178 Stylops Kirbii 191 Sugaring, notes upon, during Sep tember and October, 1875, 10 _ Swarm of ants 234 _ Synergus socialis 34 Synophus politus 26 XXXl | Teniocampa 262 | Terias Lisa, immense flight in the Bermudas 54, 86 | Tetrastichide 39 Tetrastichus Diaphantes id. Thecla Quercus 41 Thrips sp. 42 Tillus unifasciatus 183 Tinea, new British 159 Tortrix viridana 40 Torymide 36 Trochilium allantiformis 204 “Valeria oleagina,” correction of error 299 Vanessa Antiopa near Basingstoke 201; at Cheltenham id.; in Filey Bay id.; at Lea Bridge marshes 229; in Dumfriesshire 230; in the Isle of Wight 256 a Io, &c., varieties, probably caused by starving the larve 58, 87 Variation of Lepidoptera according to food 263 | Varieties of Vanessa Io, &c. 58, 87; of Melanagria galathea 193; of British Lepidoptera 213 Variety of Callimorpha Hera 25; of Ennomos angularia 49; of Geo- metra papilionaria 205; of Ephyra pendularia 217 Wasps and bees 162 Weevil, hop 134, 160; new to Britain 263 Wilkinson, Thomas, death of 120 Worm in abdomen of earwig 263 Xanthia gilvago a cannibal 158 Stapbylinide of the Amazon Valley Xylina lambda 191 Xylotrogus brunneus 183 Zeiraphera communana 40 Zoological collections, use of yellow glass for 132 Zygena Filipendule with yellow spots 117; at Dulwich, 211 » nubigena, is it a Scottish insect? 142, 158 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 151.] JANUARY, MDCCCLXXVI. [Prick 6d. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Frrcu, Esq. (Continued from vol. viii. p. 291.) ; > ” . “ APHILOTHRIX GLANDULZ. a. Natural size of gall in situ. b. The same magnified. c. Section of the same. 34. Aphilothrix Glandule, Hart.—The gall is conical, swelling out at its base, and assuming a turban-like form; the lower part of this base is surrounded by the scales of the axillary bud, while the upper part projects from the bud. This gall attains a longitudinal diameter of six millimetres, _and has the same length at the base. When fresh the gall is green, and covered with snow-white, silky, recurved, smooth hairs. The top of the gall carries a mastoid process, yellow and naked. ‘The section geuerally exhibits two cavilies: VOL. IX. B 2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the upper one—the larger of the two—is egg-shaped, and surrounded by a thin whitish layer (of the inner gall) ; the lower cavity—extending in a horizontal direction—is either empty or filled with a spongy reticulation.—G. L. Mayr. Dr. Mayr gives no Synergus as inhabiting this gall, but undoubtedly there is one, as in a letter from Mr. Rothera relating to this gall, which he has found at Ollerton, near Nottingham, he says:—“ On making a longitudinal section of a third gall, I found at the base the same irregular decaying space as before; but in the neck of the gall three chambers, separated by septa, and each containing a well- developed maggot.” This clearly points to Synergus. As Dr. Mayr does not give the time of appearance of the gall, I may say Mr. Rothera found it first on the 27th of August, and later immature specimens on the 28th of September, but in a different year; so the immature gall is probably to be met with throughout the autumn.— EL. A. Fitch. 35. Aphilothria Clementine, Gir.—This spherical gall is about the size of a pea (five millimetres). Its base is insignificantly elongate, and has at its Fig. 35. summit, exactly opposite, a short coni- cal projection. It is of a brownish yellow colour, and several small, flat- tened, conical projections are irre- = b - gularly scattered over its surface, Apnmorurx Crementixn, Which is slightly rugose and sprinkled a,b. Gallsof A. Clementine, With hairs, which are recurved in the c. Section of the same. direction of the base of the gall. Near the top, however, and especially below the more or less distinctly-marked point, the growth of these hairs is more abundant. The section exhibits two layers of the consistency of leather: the exterior one is thin and yellow; the interior also thin and red-brown, enclosing a large spherical cavity, in which the yellow spherical inner gall lies loosely. Director Tschek informed me by letter that he had found this gall lying on the ground under high trees of Quercus sessiliflora, on the topmost branches of which tree it appears to grow. The gall seems to fall late in the autumn, generally after the first frost. Director Tschek noticed in those galls which had recently fallen that they still retained the bud-like scales at their base. Frauenfeld THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3 and Tschek succeeded in breeding some flies as early as February and March, the greater number, however, not appearing before the following October and November.— G. L. Mayr. In a subsequent note Dr. Mayr has the following (second half, p. 68) :—“On the 2nd October, 1870, I found, near Gutenstein, in North Austria, the still green galls of this species, in great numbers, on the ground under high trees of Quercus sessiliflora, some of which were surrounded by the bud-scales. From hundreds of these galls a single gall-fly : emerged on the 23rd March of this year (1871), so that I may t expect a great number in the autumn.” Again, in the q *Verhandlungen’ for 1872 (vol. xxii.), he tells us that ‘‘ from t the Gutenstein galls of this species I bred at the end of February, and particularly in March (1872), a great number : of the gall-maker. On the 8th October, 1871, I also found in an oak wood, near Vienna, some galls under large trees of B Quercus sessiliflora.” Synergus melanopus and S. vulgaris were bred from the galls by Dr. Mayr. Curiously, the gall from which the original description was taken by Giraud was found under a tree by a very young person at Wiener- Neustadt.— EZ. A. Fitch. Life-histories of Sawflies. Translated from the Dutch of Dr. S. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN by J. \W. May, Esq. (Continued from vol. viii. p. 125.) Cimpex Femorata, LZ. Larva and imago:—Brischke und Zaddach, Beobachtungen itber die Arten der Blatt-und Holzwespen (in Schriften der K. physikalisch-ackonomischen Gesellschaft zu Kénigsberg, 3er Jahrgang, 1862), p. 252, and the authors quoted. Cimbex (mas) violaceo-nigra, antennis tarsisque luteis; (feem.) lutea, thorace fusco-piloso, abdominis basi cingulo nigro-violaceo. The indigenous Cimbices form four groups :—C. hume- ralis, Fourc., stands by itself, and C. Amerine, L., is equally distinct; Lucorum, Vitelline and Betuleti, A/., form the 4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. third group (if one may say of the two former that they each separately form a group); and there remain in addition C. connata, Schr., Sylvarum, F., Femorata, Z., and perhaps Fagi, Zadd., respecting which it is not yet proved, not only whether it be indigenous, but also whether it be a species. This last group was regarded by Klug and subsequently by Hartig, following the first-named author, as forming one species, Cimbex variabilis, which name I adopted in my first catalogue. It is, however, quite certain, and has been shown by repeated observations of its metamorphosis, that C. con- nata, the first species in my new catalogue, is a distinctly separate species; its metamorphosis is described and figured in the seventh volume of this publication* (p, 59 et seq., pl. 1 and 2). With about equal certainty, chiefly relying on the different coloration of the female, it may be taken that Sylvarum, #’. (Betule, Zadd.), is a true species. Perhaps Fagi will have to be referred to this last species; this is, however, doubtful, if, as Brischke considers, the larva displays fixed distinguishing characteristics, and feeds exclusively on beech. ‘There remains, lastly, one other species, feeding on willows, and which will form the subject of this paper. There is, however, another difficulty with regard to this species. Brischke, who found these insects in great numbers, divides them into two groups: the one, which remains of a sordid green colour during the whole of its larval existence, lives, according to this author, on smooth-leaved willows; the other, which at the latter period of its larval state becomes reddish, or even flesh-coloured, lives on the leaves of the goat-willow (Salix caprea). I have never seen these red larvae, but, at the same time, I have never met with Cimbex larve on the goat-willow. This being so, we are not much concerned with the question whether this larva, which is only known to us by description, really represents a species or not. Nevertheless, should the pale variety Pallens be produced from it, and, as Brischke asserts, from it alone, it would occur in the neighbourhood of Arnhem. Although willows are very numerous in our well-watered country, the larger insects inhabiting this species of tree are never met with in large quantities. Perhaps excursions, * ‘Tijdschrift voor Entomologie’; translated in ‘ Zoologist’ for July, 1869. "S45 aise. +. aay CEM ates oe kat THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 5 undertaken at the right times, along our rivers, on the banks of which scarcely anything but various species of willow is to be seen, would amply repay the trouble. 1 have not as yet tried this method of search, and have but seldom met with Cimbex larve on willows growing along the roads or ditches. I am thus by no means able to say as regards our country, as Brischke says of the environs of Dantzig, that the present species is numerously represented in it; on the contrary, | am bound to state that it is of very infrequent occurrence. Besides having been taken by me, the larva has been found by C. B. Voet, the celebrated Lyonet, and Messieurs H. Gerlach and F. J. M. Heylaerts, jun. The following are the observations of the first-named writer in his manuscript work, dedicated to the stadholder, William I11.:—‘ I found this larva on willow trees. In crawling it principally makes use of its six sharp anterior claws; for the rest it has, besides these, sixteen very short, blunt feet or processes, with which it attaches itself very strongly to the Jeaves, according to my notion, in the same way as boys lay hold of the stones by means of pieces of leather; but, as far as ] have observed, it only makes use of the eight feet immediately following the sharp claws, simply dragging along the rest of the body bent round underneath. It very seldom moves or crawls about, lying almost always curled up, with the tail against the anterior feet and the head. It fed on willow-leaves up to late in September, and then crept into the refuse of rotting leaves,” &c. Lyonet writes as follows, in his work, ‘Recherches sur Yanatomie et les métamorphoses de différentes espéces d’Insectes, pp. 168, 169:—‘“ La mouche dont on va parler nait d'une fausse-chenille encore 4 vingt-deux jambes et dont le onziéme anneau est le seul qui en est dépourvu. Elle vit de feuilles de saule et a un pouce et sept lignes de longueur. Je suis porté a croire que c’est la méme dont parle Goedaert, tom. i., expér. 64, et quwil prend pour une chenille véritable. ll dit pareillement que la sienne vivoit des feuilles du méme arbre, mais il] ajoute qu’elle ue faisoit qu’un repas par jour, et vécut chez lui deux ans et vingt-quatre jours sans manger ni agir: aussi ne marque-t-il pas quelle ait changé de forme, ce qui pourroil bien n’étre provenu que de ce quwelle ne se portoit pas bien, ou avoit été gardée dans un lieu trop froid; 6 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. car le froid, ainsi qu’il est connu, retarde les fonctions animales des insectes, et les suspend méme entiérement quand il parvient & un certain point; de sorte qu’un animal peut rester ainsi des années dans un état d’entiére léthargie et de parfaite inactivité, sans mourir, et peut reprendre ensuite toutes ses fonctions lorsqwon le transporte dans un air temperé. Quoi qu'il en soit, les miennes firent leurs deux ou trois repas par jour; et aprés s’étre repues, elles se courberent en hélice ou limagon, comme la sienne, ainsi qu’on la voit représentée fig. 22, en se tenant couchées sur la feuille dont elles vivoient et accrochées par les six pates antérieures, avec une force suflisante & pouvoir braver les vents assez violens. En juillet, mes fausses-chenilles de cette espéce, sans que j’aie remarqué qu’elles eussent premiérement quitté leur peau comme le font grand nombre de celles de leur classe, entrérent en terre. Elles s’y firent des coques ovalaires, passablement unies, dont la forme, un peu rétrécie vers le milieu, se voit fig. 23, et qui, pour la conleur, ressembloient & du cuivre rouge mat, et par la dureté pouvoient résister a une pression de quelque force. L’insecte s’y changea en une nymphe blanchatre, & yeux noirs, dont tous les membres se distinguoient aisément, et étoient arrangés ainsi qu’on le voit par devant fig. 24, et de coté fig. 25. Il n’y avoit que les ailes, qui ramassées en tas, et appliquées contre les cotés de la nymphe, se terminoient entre la seconde et la troisiéme paire de jambes, qui ne se reconnoissoient pas si bien. J’eus en juin de année suivante des mouches males et femelles de ces fausses- chenilles, et ainsi aprés moins d'une année de jeune.” After these two quotations I can considerably shorten my description. I never observed the egg: this is probably inserted by means of the robust ovipositor of the female in a cut made by her saw in a twig of the willow. The larve which I found had already moulted for the second or third time: they then resembled, except as to size, the full-grown larva represented at fig. 1. The head and body are of a gray greenish yellow; a bright blue stripe extends along the | back, beginning just behind the head and terminating very near the anus; this stripe is of a darker tint between the folds. The whole body is transversely divided into folds, on which are fine white grains or points. ‘There are twenty-two THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 7 legs. The spiracles are bordered with black, the margins being somewhat expanded on the under side, so that they present the outline of a hart’s hoof; above them are the orifices of the glands. This larva differs from that of Connata in the absence of the yellow lines on the back next to the blue stripe; also in the ground colour being less green, and in having no row of darker dots above the spiracles; the skin below these is also less verrucose. [From the larva of Sylvarum it differs in being less yellow and more of a gray tint; the head also is darker, and the dorsal stripe begins higher up and extends further; it is also more verrucose below the spiracles. As regards food, Femorata eats the leaves of the willow, while Connata feeds on alder, and Sylvarum on birch. Femorata lives in the larva state from June to August or September. It does not pass the pupa state on the branches, but makes its cocoon in the mould or at the roots of the trees. The cocoon is of a dark colour. ‘The insect only enters into the pupa state a fortnight or three weeks before its emergence as an imago, which, like the other species, gnaws off a piece of the cocoon. Some larve remain two winters or, more accurately, a year and a half in the cocoon. The only difference between the male of this species and that of Connata is that the wings do not exhibit any blue tinge. I do not consider it necessary to give a detailed description of this insect; a comparison of figs. 4 and 5 with fig. 16 of plate 2, vol. vii., first series, will suffice. I should only say that the colour of the body appears to me to be darker, while the antenne are more entirely red. I cannot, however, state confidently that these characters always prevail. The female also differs very little from that of the species mentioned. The thorax, which is more of a bronze colour in Connata, is, together with the head, in this species more thickly covered with woolly, brownish yellow hairs. The purple of the abdomen is in this species much blacker, has less of a coppery tint, and generally does not extend so far backwards: for example, in Connata, segments 1 and 2 and a triangle on segment 3 are of that colour; in Femorata only the first segment, with triangles on the centre of two or more succeeding segments. 8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. At fig. 6 I have represented the tarsus of one of the posterior legs enlarged, in order to show more clearly the singular little soles which are found on the under sides of the joints, and consist of a flat disk with a thick projecting muscular border. In the catalogue | named this species Cimbex lutea: this is the Linnean name of the female. I adopted this name on the authority of Zaddach. I see, however, that Linnzeus first described the male, which he called Femorata; and I there- fore think it is more reasonable to adopt this latter name, unless one were to drop both names as being collective names of certain species which he regarded as one; in which case precedence would have to be given to the name adopted by Brischke and Zaddach, namely Cimbex Saliceti. The female variety Pallens, which, according to the above- mentioned authors was also reared from larve feeding on willows, differs in the following particulars:—The dorsum of the thorax is of the same loamy yellow as the margins of the prothorax, and has only a wedge-shaped brown spot on the mesothorax; the abdomen, in the two examples with which I am acquainted, is entirely yellow, without any dark purple band or spots; lastly, the legs are entirely yellow, and the outer margin of the anterior wings is clouded with brown. There is no record of the place where these two examples were taken, so that I cannot confidently assert that they are indigenous. An Altempt to Arrange the British Eupithecide by their Larval Characteristics. By C. 8. Greeson, Esq. AT present, look where we will, we find this genus so muddled and mixed in our various books and lists that it seems evident our authors were, or are, little more than mere compilers, not one of them having shown any knowledge of the relationships of these most interesting groups of Lepi- doptera. Thus we see in one list Togata, which is not an Eupithecia at all, placed between Juniperata and Pumilata, the larve of which differ much from each other; whilst in another work we have Assimilata, with its long, slender larva, placed between Minutata and Tenuiata, two larve which | think almost as far removed from each other as it is | : 2 i" ¢ ‘ 2 | ry 4 a ¥ 1 ‘ THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 9 from either of them; and again, in another list, we have the long, slender, cylindrical larva of Subfulvata of Haworth preceding the stout, swelled-out larva of Succenturiata of Linn., followed by the long, slender larva of Centaureata, which is followed again by the short, broad larva of Linariata. Here, I think, we see how utterly chaotic our Eupithecide are placed; and in order to clear up the British species, and place them somewhat more naturally, | have annexed a list, drawn up and arranged entirely from my own knowledge of the larve of this genus. Had | obtained any assistance from any of my friends the arrangement might have been more perfect; but they might have had to share the blame of any shortcomings. As itis, l alone am blameable; but as I am not acquainted with the larve of more than six or eight of the forty to fifty European Eupithecide which are not British, I make no pretence of placing the British species as I might do had I bred nearly the whole of them, as [ have bred the British species. I may say, I treat one or two species, now in our list, as mere aberrant forms of good species, and I also reject Venosata and Togata as not being true Eupithecias: it may be that some of the continental Eupithecide might connect them with Curtis’s genus in my mind if I knew these larve ; but, in the absence of such knowledge, I prefer to reject them, or at best to place Venosata before the true pugs. Its larva being so different from any other European pug-larva I know, and utterly unlike any British pug-larva, I shall then for perspicuity group our British species from the form of the larva; and as I have found, during many years pug breeding, that this is a pretty general guide to markings also, though not absolutely so, I shall follow the annexed plan. Larva shortish, broad from head to anus.—Venosata. Larva short-attenuate.—Plumbeolata, Isogrammata, Pyg- meata, Helveticata = Arceuthata, Tenuiata, Rectangulata, Pumilata, Debiliata, Valerianata. Larva medium and stout.—Trisignata, Pulchellata, Lina- riata, Succenturiata, Satyrata, Expallidata, Albipunctata, Companulata, Knautiata, Minutata, Absynthiata, Subnotata. Larva long, cylindrical, generally tapering to head.— Consignata, Castigata, Virgaureata = Pernotata (var.), Irri- guata, Vulgata, Abbreviata, Dodoneata, Exiguata, Pimpi- nellata, Centaureata, Subfulvata, Nanata. Cc 10 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Larva slender.—Uariciata, Pusillata, Fraxinata, Innotata, Indigata, Constrictata, Assimilata, Coronata. I have placed Coronata last in the arrangement, because I hardly know a better place for it. I may say of Togata I know nothing of its larva, though I spent a jolly day at Black Park, Bucks, with my old friend the late Edward Hopley, after the perfect insect, in July, 1862; and the description given in Ent. Mo. Mag. vol. ix. p. 114, being without size or shape, does not help me to place it. The author, it is true, gives some characters, but these only confound confusion ; he says, “central,” “ dorsal,” ‘subdorsal,” &c.; and as I have always thought the dorsal line or marking was the central line or marking (on the back), I begin to think “things is getting mixed,” when we have both central and dorsal, especially as further on he says: “ An odd, internal- looking animal, strongly resembling a miniature Cossus ligniperda”! but as I fail to find any remarks about the red marks or blotches so conspicuous upon the Jarva of C. ligni- perda, I cannot connect them, or see any resemblance from this vague description. I purpose placing this insect in a new genus; and with one more remark shall close this paper. Egenata is another form, which I treat as a variety of Innotata; hence have omitted it from the list of species. I am aware that some of my friends will differ from me in this, but, nevertheless, I hold to my opinion at present. When I am shown I am in error, I shall gladly admit that I did not know as much to-day as I may to-morrow; and nothing will give me more pleasure than to be corrected, if, trusting to my memory of our pug larve (some of them not having been bred or even seen by me for nearly twenty years), | have misplaced or malplaced-them, my object being simply to place them less incongruously than they at present stand in our books and in our cabinets. C. S. GREGSON. Rose Bank, Fletcher Grove, Edge Lane, : Liverpool, October 3, 1876. : Notes upon Sugaring, during September and October, 1875. By Wixtuiam W. Keryworru, Esq. THE following notes upon sugaring I have taken during last September and October, with the object of finding out, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ila! if possible, some data which can be relied upon with some sort of certainty as to what sort of night is likely to produce a good haul of Lepidoptera. ‘The sugar I used was always about one half-pint of common black treacle, with about a tablespoonful of rum; and I always sugared the same trees. 1. Day fine, towards evening cloudy, with slight south- west wind and heavy dew. A very fair number. 2. Day dull and close, with very heavy thunder-storm in the middle of the afternoon, after which there was a brisk wind from the west. A great number before the moon rose, after which I found very few. 3. Day fine, with wind from the west, sky clear, and no dew. Only three very common species. 4, Day fine, with no wind, cool in the evening, and no dew. Nothing at all except a few earwigs. 5. Day fine, but dull towards evening, no dew, and a good deal of wind. Very few of any kind. 6. Very fine day, cloudy towards evening, with a slight dew and gentle south-west wind. A moderate number. 7. Very windy day, with alternating cloud and sunshine; the wind dropped towards evening, and there was a slight dew. About twenty specimens of common species. 8. Very fine day, cloudy and close in the afternoon and evening, with a slight west wind and dew. A great many of all sorts. 9. Very stormy and wet morning, which cleared up about noon, and the wind dropped to a light breeze from the west; the vegetation very wet with the rain in the morning. Numerous species, 10. Day rather cold and windy, but warmer towards even- ing, with a slight dew. A very large number of common species. 11. Very close day, with a light west wind, and a slight dew in the evening. A great number. 12, Magnificent day, without a cloud, but extremely windy, and a very slight dew. Nothing at all. 13. Very warm day (with a good many butterflies about), with hardly any wind and no dew. Very fair number. 14. Very fine day, but rather misty, which increased towards evening, and the grass very wet. Only four common ones. 12 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15. Very fine day and close, with a moon in the evening, no dew. Nothing at all. 16. Day fine, with two or three slight showers, and very - misty at night, with no wind. Ten or twelve common species. 17. Windy day, with a few showers in the morning: in the evening the wind subsided, and the grass remained wet from the rain in the morning. A great number before the moon rose. 18. Morning very wet, with strong west wind. It cleared up in the afternoon when the wind dropped. A very fair number. 19. Day cloudy and close, with wind from the west, which increased about eight o’clock. Very fair for about twenty minutes, after which there was hardly anything. 20. Dull day, with rather a strong wind from the south, which abated towards evening; very cloudy, and a slight dew. Very great number. 4 Judging from the above notes, I find that as a rule fine or showery days—with a west or south wind and some sort of moisture on the grass, either rain or dew, and no, or at least a very young, moon—are good, if the wind is not too strong ; whereas a dry night, or when the wind is north or east, is usually bad. WiLLIAM W. KeEywortH. Alderley Edge, near Manchester. Notes on Oviposition. By the Rev. P. H. JENNINGS. (Continued from vol. viii. p. 218.) . I sEND you a few more notes on oviposition, which will bring what I have to say to a close till next season. A. scutulala.—A female, taken August 12th, laid thirty- seven eggs: twenty-five on the 13th and twelve on the 14th. Of these thirty-one were deposited on the under surface of the leaves, four on the upper, and two on the stem of food- plant, G. Mollugo; some were laid singly and some in batches, Varying in number, the largest seven: oval, slightly flattened on both surfaces; attached to the leaf or stem by the small end; cream-coloured, not glossy ; surface covered THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 13 with minute, circular, convex markings. Signs of fertility began to appear in reddish specks on the sides, together with a deepening of colour throughout. The young larve appeared on the seventh day, August 25th. S. vetulata.—Three females, taken the first and second weeks in July, laid a number of eggs on the ground, without any adhesive property: oblong, equally rounded at both ends; whitish, with the faintest yellow tinge, partially glossy. The deposition of the eggs did not take place till some time after the females had been taken. They were fed, and survived till the month of August. The eggs are now, November 18th, of a light brown. S. rhamnata.—Two females, having been fed about a fortnight, laid twenty eggs on August 3rd and thirty-two on August 4th: oblong, equally rounded at both ends; bright yellow ; became orange-coloured on the fourth day, of which colour they still remained on November 18th. C. picata.—A female, taken July 16th, laid thirty eggs: a few on the under surface of the leaves of the food- -plant (G. Mollugo), the rest pressed closely amongst the stems of the blossoms and the leaflets springing up around them: oblong, equally rounded at both ends; white, with faintest greenish tinge, partially glossy. P. H. JENNINGS. Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, November 18, 1875. Entomological Notes, Captures, Se. Descriplion of the Larva of Cidaria populata.—As there is such a slight description of the larva of this species in ‘British Moths, I think a more complete one will not be considered out of place in the pages of the‘ Entomologist.’ I may say here, that although | have reared a large number of these larve, | have never seen any of the “ green-tinted” - forms mentioned by Mr. Newman. This year I fed up two broods from eggs obtained from moths captured last season, and from them the following notes were taken. The eggs were deposited about July, 1874, and began to hatch on the 3rd of April of the present year. The newly-emerged larva 14 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. were dark greenish brown, the sides yellowish green, and the head dark wainscot-brown. ‘They fed up well on bilberry ; and on the 38rd of June, being full grown, their description was taken as follows:—Length about an inch and a quarter, and of average bulk in proportion. ‘The head has the lobes rounded, but is rather flat in front, and is slightly broader than the 2nd segment. Body tolerably, but rather unevenly, cylindrical, tapering a little towards the head; there is a slight lateral rrdge, which on the 38rd segment takes the form of a distinct swelling. The skin has a tough appearance and is rather rongh; there are a few exceedingly minute hairs upon it; the segments slightly overlap each other, rendering the divisions distinct. The ground colour varies in different specimeus from a median shade of brown to almost black, the great majority, however, being of the paler type. In these the head is of the same colour, with two median pale lines, and a reddish brown mark on the side of each lobe. On the dorsal ‘surface is a series of large, pale, almost diamond- shaped whitish marks, each of these marks being more or less mottled with brown spots and streaks; those on the posterior segments are the largest and most conspicuous; those on the others indeed vary very much both in size and distinctness, in some being confused and not so noticeable. The pale whitish subdorsal lines are distinct only on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments, being a continuation of the two pale lines on the head; the space between these pale lines is filled up by a short black stripe, and on the 3rd segment (the swollen one) is a transverse black collar. Along the spiracular region, on the lateral ridge, are a few dull reddish brown marks. The ventral surface and claspers are of the same shade as the ground of the dorsal surface, but there is a distinct, narrow, dark brown central line, rather broadly bordered with pale grayish white. Legs brown. The cocoon is very slight, and is formed by drawing together with silken threads a few old leaves. The pupa is about five-eighths of an inch in length ; the eye-, leg- and wing-cases prominent ; the anal tip pointed. Colour pinkish brown, the wing-cases streaked with dark | brown; dorsal line broad, dark brown; behind the head it divides into a V-like mark; there is also a dark brown ventral stripe from the base of the wing-cases to the anal tip. The first imago emerged on the 2lst of June.—Geo. 1. Porritt; Huddersfield, November 2, 1878. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15 Exportation of Humble-bees to New Zealand.—Some months ago J was waited upon by a gentleman who gave me to understand that he called by desire of Mr, Frank Buckland to ask my advice as to the best method to be adopted in order to introduce some species of our humble-bees into New Zealand, the object being the fertilisation of the seeds of red clover, there being no bee in the colony whose tongue is long enough to effect that purpose. After some considera- tion of the matter 1 gave my opinion, and I still adhere to it. I have been greatly surprised by reading an extract from ‘Nature’ of the 14th of October last, by which I learn that Mr. Frank Buckland has sent two nests of humble-bees, packed in their own nests in two boxes, under the charge of 4 a member of the New Zealand Council,—I suppose of the ' Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. I should be glad to 5 hear of the success of this undertaking, but for several f reasons | am of opinion that the result will prove an utter failure: be that as it may, I wish it to be distinctly under- stood that the method adopted is not one of my recommend- q ing. On reading that “the bees were packed in their own ’ nests,” I conclude the species was one of the surface-builders ‘ —“ moss-builders” they are usually erroneously called, since the majority of the nests of these bees have little or no moss used in their construction. The species is not particularised, but I may, | think, safely conclude that it was Bombus Mus- ~_ corum or B. senilis. These are not such hardy species as ‘ some of those that construct their nests under ground, and __ therefore not species I should recommend for exportation. The surface-building bees found in Great Britain are seven in number, and all these finish their labours and disappear several weeks before the hardier species. The nests sent would, I presume, contain male, female, and worker bees, My observations of humble-bees have extended over thirty- five years, and | believe that the impregnation of females never takes place in the nest; | also believe that it always takes place in the open air, and that no impregnated female ever returns to the nest. When this act has taken place, the female, in my opinion, at once seeks for a suitable hyber- naculum in which to pass the winter, I therefore conclude that none of the females in the nests sent are impregnated, and I anticipate that the broods will perish on the voyage; or, if by great care any arrive at New Zealand, it will only 16 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. be a few unfertile females. Having expressed somewhat reluctantly my opinion,—so adverse to the desired success,— I will state what I believe to be the only plan that can be adopted with any hope of success. In the first place, I should not think of attempting to introduce any surface- building species. [I should select two or three of the hardiest ones,—such as Bombus terrestris, B. Lucorum, B. Hortorum, and B. subterranea. In order to make the chance of success as great as possible, I should take care to send only impregnated females: these can now be obtained, all the humble-bees having retired to their winter-quarters. A number of such females were required some years ago for scientific purposes: a collector was employed, who searched under my own instructions. The result was that he obtained in a few days over fifty females, all in a torpid state. My plan would be to get a number of such torpid bees, and, by some of the best-known means of refrigeration, keep them in a state of torpidity during the voyage. This once accom- plished, success would be certain. Humble-bees survive four or five months of torpidity, and they can now be exported in a much shorter time than five months. This is the plan I recommended when applied to, and I should certainly not have thought of trying an experiment which I fear will prove a total disappointment.—Frederick Smith. [ From the ‘Field.’ } Additions to the List of Macro-Lepidoptera inhabiting Guernsey.—Sesia Megilleformis ?—Having noticed that the Sesia mentioned in a previous list (Entom. viii. 30) as Ichneumoniformis seemed somewhat different. from the usual type, as figured in Newman’s ‘ British Moths,’ I sent it to the late Mr. H. Doubleday, with an enquiry as to whether it had been correctly named. The following was Mr. Doubleday’s reply :—‘“I do not possess a Sesta exactly like the one you sent. It is very closely allied to Ichneumoniformis, but the yellow bands on the abdomen are fewer, and the caudal tuft is not exactly the same. I never saw the Megilleformis of Hiibner; but Dr. Staudinger gives it as a variety of Ichneu- moniformis, and says there are only three yellow bands on the abdomen.” Nonagria geminipuncta.—One specimen taken, flying to the light of my lantern at the Grande Mare, Vazon, on September Ist. Xylina pelrificata.—One specimen taken at ivy-bloom, October 14th.—W. A. Luff; Guernsey. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 17 List of the best Insects caplured at or near Whitllesford during the past Season.—(Vhose marked * I had uot pre- viously taken here).—* Sesia formiceformis.—Nine taken amongst osiers, July 27th. S. apiformis.—Thirty or more bred from pup dug. * Hepialus heclus.—Very common in one wood. *Nudaria senex.—Forty taken by myself and friend flying over rushes, July 10th, from 8 to 8.30 P.M. Orgyia fascelina.—One male bred from larva.—Lasiocampa quercifolia.—One full-fed larva found. Epione apiciaria.— A few amongst sallows. *Selenia illustraria.—One fine male netted. Amphydasis prodromaria.—One at rest and one at light. Geometra papilionaria.—One attracted by light. Jodis vernaria.—Five or six netted over clematis. Corycia taminata——Two netted in June. Lupithecia isogrammata.—Very common over clematis. * Lobophora sexalisata.—One at rest on a hawthorn-stem. * LZ. hexaple- rata.—Two males netted in May near aspen. Ypsipetes tmpluviata.—One bred from pupa under alder-moss, Melan- thia albicillataa—One only, taken by a friend. Anticlea z sinuala.—Six bred from the six larve recorded last year; f none this year. A, rubidala.—Two netted in June. A. de- ' > >), agen BT. rivata.—One netted in May. A. berberata.—Seven or eight over a barberry-bush. Coremia quadrifasciata.—Two worn ones netted. Phibalapteryx tersata and P. vitalhata.— Three or four netted over clematis. Scotosia certata.—Seven flying round a barberry-tree. Platypleryx unguicula.— Three females bred, and two males netted. * Cymatophora duplaris.—One at sugar in garden. *C. ocularis.—Two bred, and two more pupe dug. Acronycta strigosa.—Two at rest and one at sugar in garden. * Leucania pudorina.— One at sugar in garden. JZ. comma.—Four at light. L. straminea.—Fitty-five bred from larve found in May. Nonagria typhe.—Two bred from pupe. N. geminipuncta. —Fifteen bred from a large number of pupe. Calamia phragmitidis.—Saw traces of larve; also one larva. Neuria saponarie.—Three at light in June. Cerigo cytherea.— Common at light, sugar, &c. *Miana literosa.—Five at sugar in garden. Agrolis saucia.—One at sugar. A. ravida. —Common at sugar and light. Z'ryphena interjecta.— Common, flying very swiftly. Noctua rhomboidea.—One at sugar in garden, August 17th. *Z’eniocampa populeti.— D {8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Three at sallow-bloom, March 3lst. J’. munda.—Seven at sallow-bloom, March 380th. *Xanthia citrago—Two at sugar in garden. *X. cerago and *X. silago.—Very common at sugar. *X. gilvago.—Sixty or seventy at sugar in garden. * Cirredia verampelina.—Twelve bred from larve found in May. * Tethea subtusa.—One at sugar in garden, July 21st. Eremobia ochroleuca.—Two larve feeding on darnel, and one bred; they would not touch cock’s-foot grass. Hecatera dysodea.—Three at light and one at rest. * Epunda lutu- lenta.—Twelve fine ones at sugar in August. * Agriopis aprilina.—One bred from pupa dug. Xylina semibrunnea. —Forty at ivy-bloom and sugar. Dysthymia luctuosa.— Several seen and one taken. Y'ovocampa pastinum.—About a dozen taken, more common than usual, and very much earlier. Aventia jflexula—One fine female at sugar.—d. Thurnall; Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, Nov. 17, 1875. Captures of Lepidoptera.—I have the pleasure to inform you that I have been fortunate enough to add to my collection during the past season a fine specimen each of Noctua flam- matra and H.scutosa. They were both taken near Norwich on July 10th and August 11th respectively. They were captured at light by a young friend who was collecting for me, and came into my possession while quite limp. Unfortunately, I had provided my friend with some rather long pins amongst others, and one of these he passed through the thorax of N. flammatra, not knowing the rarity of the insect. In order that the insect should go into my cabinet, which, being home-made, had very shallow drawers, I was foolish enough to remove about one-tenth of an inch from the head of the pin with a pair of pliers, and thereby cause a suspicion as to its being a genuine English specimen. This should prove a word of warning to fortunate captors of scarce insects. I have, however, not the slightest doubt as to its capture in Norfolk; though the fact of it having been taken within twenty miles of the North Sea goes towards establishing your theory that the majority of our greatest rarities have been blown over from the Continent. To H. scutosa the same remarks apply, though fortunately it is properly pinned. I may mention that these insects form a most valuable addi- tion to the list of Norfolk Lepidoptera, and should be very pleased at any time to show them, by appointment, to i THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19 Mr. Barrett, or any other entomologists from that county. I have taken during the past and preceding seasons about a dozen specimens of H. armiger from the same locality, though they, with few exceptions, are by no means in good condition. This also is an addition to the Norfolk Fauna. In conclusion, I would advise collectors never to call a locality unprofitable until they have tried the attraction of light. The following are among the captures I have lately made by its employment:—S. Convolvuli, L. quadra, E. do- lobraria, A. prodromaria. N. dictwa, N. dicteoides, N. trepida, N. chaonia, N. dodonza, C. ridens, L. cespitis, A. saucia, C. xerampelina, E. ochroleuca, C. chamomilla, &«.—W. H. Thornthwaile ; 416, Strand, W.C., November 19, 1875. Lepidoptera at Newcastle-on-Tyne.—I have few novelties in Lepidoptera, the capture of which to report during the past season. ‘Those most worthy of note are one Ennomos erosaria in Thornley Woods, in September; a fine male, just escaped from the pupa. Three Oporabia filigrammaria came to light near the town; no heather grows within two or three miles of the place of their capture; without doubt the larvee feed on willows or sallows. Also one specimen of the pretty little Pyralis fimbrialis. Notwithstanding the cold and wet summer we experienced in the North, insects were rather plentiful, more especially Noctuz; the common species appeared in swarms. Also Tortrices seemed more abundant than usual; the best of my captures were three or four Peronea umbrana. Butterflies were very scarce, with the exception of Pieris Brassice ; the second brood being more abundant than I have noticed for several years.—W. Maling. Sphinx Convolvuli near Newcastle, Staffordshire —A very fine Sphinx Convolvuli was brought to me this autumn (end of September), which had been knocked down in this parish, and captured by a working man. Having fallen into inexperienced hands it had unfortunately got a good deal rubbed. It was a very large specimen. [ fancy North Staffordshire is an unusual locality for this fine moth.— [Rev.] Thomas W. Daliry; Madeley Vicarage, Newcastle, Staffordshire, November 23, 1875. Sphinx Convolvuli and Epunda nigra at Rugby.—l have had three specimens of Sphinx Convolvuli brought to me this season, taken at rest here; others have been seen, but 20 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. unable to get them. I also took at sugar one stormy night, about the end of September, a specimen of Epunda nigra; it was on a post in some gardens; I have not found another. I believe this.is a new locality—Walter S. Edmonds; 28, Lawford Street, Rugby, November 20, 1875. Acronycta Alni and A. pyrophila at Stratford-on-Avon.— I have taken a caterpillar of Acronycta Alni. Is it a very great rarity? I have also taken several specimens of Agrotis pyrophila at sugar; they were never taken here before.— Charles Marée ; Stratford-on-Avon, October 4, 1875. Agrotis saucia at York.—l have pleasure in recording the capture of a fine specimen of Agrotis saucia on the 6th of October. Also-a rather worn one of Xanthia gilvago. Calo- campa vetusta came to sugar on the 16th, one specimen, along with numbers of C. exoleta.—T’. Wilson; North View, Holgate, York, October 20, 1875. Answers to Correspondents. J. Parker.—“Are there Two Broods of Papilio Machaon in a Season?” (Entom. viii. 301.)—This question does not yet appear to “be satisfactorily decided. The time of emergence of this species from the chrysalis state seems to be very uncertain. If I may judge from experience those produced from egys laid in May do not always emerge the same year, as one is given to understand by Lewin, but the majority producing imagos the following May or June. On the 3rd of August, 1874, I procured, at Ranworth, four dozen chrysalides of Papilio Machaon, one of which emerged on the 6th and two on the 7th of the same month; all the rest made their appearance as imagos in May and June, 1875. In previous years I have noticed the same circumstance. In July, 1875, I brought from the Norfolk fens a quantity of larve of this species, which in due time reached the chrysalis state, one of which emerged about three weeks afterwards, and a perfect specimen from the same stock came out on November 26th, the temperature of the room being 36° Fahr. It lived six days in an apparently dormant state. Is not this rather extraordinary ?—Robert Laddiman ; Norwich. Alfred Aspinwall.— Names of Moths.—Would you kindly name the three moths enclosed? No. 3 seems to me greatly THE ENTOMOLOGIST. o1 to resemble Barrettii, the general colour and the white spot at the anal angle of the under wing leading me to this conclusion.—A. A. ((1) Amphipyra Tragopogonis, (2) Hydrecia nictitans, (3) Hadena dentina.—Edward Newman. | G. B. Corbin.—Cnethocampa pityocampa and Argynnis Niobe.—Where is Cnethocampa pityocampa? I am led to make this enquiry from the fact of having been somewhat surprised last season at the very common occurrence of this species in Kent, and the silence which has prevailed this year with regard to its occurrence. Is the species so thoroughly British that no question can be raised as to its authenticity, or has my isolated position as a collector prevented me from recognising the well-known fact? Surely if the species was so common as represented upon fir-trees, they have not been exterminated in one season’s collecting, assiduously as that might have been carried out; or did the continued rains and floods of spring and early summer destroy the hopes of this season with this particular species ? Again, has Argynnis Niobe been taken this season at the bottom of that particular “huge rent” amongst the rushes in Kent, or has that also disappeared with Cnethocampa pityocampa? If I mistake not, it was stated in the ‘ Ento- mologist,’ at the time of the occurrence of Argynnis Niobe, that a pair were to be figured in its pages; but the non- appearance of these portraits seem to point to the fact that some doubt existed as to the thoroughly British origin of the specimens in question. Did such a doubt exist? To persons like myself, who live away from the great marts of entomolo- gical specimens and information, the news of a new species added to our native Fauna is regarded with perhaps greater interest than we should otherwise experience; and with regard to the two species, Cnethocampa pityocampa and Argynnis Niobe, I must say my interest and curiosity were awakened, but it certainly has not been satisfied; possibly, however, I have felt some bias from the doubts expressed about the thorough genuineness of all these specimens at the lime of their capture. I understand that Argynnis Niobe has unquestionably been taken in England once or twice, which is perhaps sufficient to establish its identity as a British insect ; but I had hoped that this season would have recorded its further occurrence in that particular locality in Kent, 22 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. which county seems to have become quite an emporium for entomological rarities. —G. B. C. [I am much obliged to Mr. Corbin for these enquiries. I cannot believe in the Kentish captures of these two species, in this respect differing from my lamented friend Henry Doubleday, who was so honest and truthful in all his state- ments that he was ever willing to credit those of others. When I penned the paragraph to which Mr. Corbin alludes, I certainly interided to figure Argynnis Niobe as British ; but the specimen in my possession on further information proved so questionable that I postponed the drawing and engraving sine die. I have received records of the capture of twenty-six specimens of Daplidice and a round dozen of Podalirius, which | suppress for the same reason.—Hdward Newman.] Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. NOVEMBER 3, 1875. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair. This being the first meeting of the Session, the President read the following address :— Gentlemen,—On the opening of our new Meeting Room and Library, at the commencement of the present Session, it may be fitting to inaugurate our reunion and installation here by a few introductory remarks. Your Council has long been conscious of the many inconveniences experienced from the former inaccessible position of our Library at Bedford Row and its disconnection with our Meeting Room, conceded to us by favour of the Linnean Society at Burlington House, The numerous additions, moreover, to our bibliographical collection having superadded want of space to other exigen- cies, it has been deemed expedient to provide for these requirements in combination with some other Society capable of affording us adequate accommodation. By the unremitting exertions of our Secretary, Mr. Grut, this has finally been accomplished ; and although the advantages of bringing our Library and Meeting Room into juxtaposition in a more central site must necessarily involve a certain increase in our annual expenditure, it may not unreasonably be anticipated THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 23 that the beneficial influences resulting therefrom will not be confined to those only who now muster in our ranks, but will also constitute a source of attraction to others. Arrangements have likewise been made whereby, as already intimated in convening this meeting, our Library will be open to Members and Subscribers every Monday from two to seven o’clock, as heretofore, and on every Wednesday and Friday from two to five o’clock, instead of one day in the week. I must also bring under your notice that we are indebted to the liberality of one of our Members for a further proof of the interest which he has on several occasions exhibited on behalf of this Society, in providing for the entire expense of transferring our Library to this locality, as well as of the glazed book- cases and fittings requisite for its reception. In connection with these ameliorations it has been found necessary to alter the days hitherto appointed for our meetings from Monday to Wednesday, the former day in each week being already appropriated to the meetings of the Medical Society. Our Anniversary Meeting, however, will still be held on the third Monday in January, as prescribed by the Bye-Laws, but at an earlier hour,—namely, five o’clock in the afternoon. It has also been deemed opportune to revert to the former custom, as originally provided by the founders of this Society, of holding our meetings in the first week of each month throughout the year, instead of having certain bi-monthly meetings to obviate the difficulty arising from the closing of the rooms at Burlington House during the summer recess. Having thus adverted to the changes, made with a view to promote the interests of this Society and the convenience of its Members, I would further draw your attention to the expansion which it has been deemed advisable to give to the usual custom of introducing friends at our meetings, by throwing open our doors to all entomologists indiscriminately on this occasion as appertaining to one and the same system, actuated by corresponding impulses, and influenced by similar attractions in common with ourselves. Our policy is not one of exclusiveness, but rather that of fostering and developing new sources of emulation from within and from without, which can best be effected by cultivating a closer intimacy with those who are fellow-labourers in the same field. To all such we tender a hearty welcome. I would venture, in conclusion, to suggest to some few of our most 24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. esteemed Members, who are habitual absentees, the benefits which they might be enabled to confer by returning to our horizon from their remoter orbits in the realms of ether, and shedding new lustre upon our discussions. We are each of us more or less liable to be called upon in various ways to satisfy the importunities of conventional obligations ; and in looking forward to the future as fraught with propitious augury, we must rely upon the zealous co-operation of all to improve our vigour and efficiency. We will uow proceed, Gentlemen, to the ordinary business of the evening. On the proposal of Mr. Sheppard, seconded by Mr. Bates, it was agreed that the thanks of the meeting be given to the Members of-Council and the Secretary for the trouble they had taken on behalf of the Society in making arrangements for the new Meeting Room and Library, and in removing and entirely re-arranging the collection of books. Also, that the thanks of the meeting be given to the Member who had so generously aided the Society by undertaking to provide the expenses of removal to Chandos Street. Mines of Heliozela sericiellan—Mr. Boyd exhibited speci- mens of the mines of Heliozela sericiella. He had succeeded in rearing the insects, by confining them with a young oak- plant, and thus was enabled to discover their habits, of which nothing had hitherto been known. The mines were formed in the foot-stalks of the leaves. Female of Enoicyla.—My. M‘Lachlan exhibited a living apterous female of a Trichopterous insect, Enoicyla (probably E. pusilla, Burm.). He had recently bred it, with others, from cases forwarded to him by Mr. Fletcher, of Worcester, the discoverer of the insect in this country. Mr. M‘Lacblan gave an account of its structure and singular habits. The perfect insects emerge in November, the males being furnished with ample wings. Coleoptera.—Mr. Champion exhibited examples of the following Coleoptera recently captured by himself, viz., Cryptophagus Populi (varying greatly in size and colour), taken from the burrows of Colletes Daviesana, near Farnham, Surrey ; Orchestes semirufus, Gyll.? from Woking; Epurea neglecta, beaten from faggot-stacks at Darenth Wood ; and Psammodius porcicollis from Whitsand Bay. The last-named had been taken by Mr. 8. S. Walker. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 152.] FEBRUARY, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. Variety of Callimorpha Hera. By Epwarp NEWMAN. CatitmrorPHaA Hera (the upper figure represents a variety). I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Luft for the oppor- tunity of figuring this beautiful variety of a species which is but little known to English collectors. An illustration of the normal form of Hera has already appeared in the pages of the ‘Entomologist, and is reprinted here in order to afford VOL, IX. E 26 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. readers an opportunity of comparing with the variety. It will be observed that the oblique cream-coloured stripes which adorn the normal insect are in this aberration partially or altogether wanting. In the normal insect six such stripes are present, five of these reaching the costa, and the sixth being situated at the base of the wing, immediately in contact with the body. I will try to make my meaning intelligible. To begin with calling the basal stripe No. i it will be observed that it is slender and pointed, and intermediate between the costal and inner margins; in some examples it is continued almost as a thread-like line towards the anal angle. No. 2 is on the costa only, is parallel to No. 1, and much resembles it, but is rather less. No. 3 is variable: it gene- rally extends obliquely from the costa to the anal angle; at the costa it is broad, but gradually diminishes to a point before reaching the angle; in the variety it generally ceases almost immediately below the costa, but reappears as a slender line near thé anal angle. No. 4 is costal only, and smaller; a mere spot, almost square. No. 5, in the normal insect, extends from the costa obliquely downwards, until it meets No. 6, also oblique, but tending in another direction; they unite in forming a letter V; in the variety this ceases imme- diately below the costa: the hind wings present but small difference in the distribution of their markings; their colour is scarlet, with black spots. After taking all this trouble in trying to describe the differences that exist between the normal insect and the aberration, I feel that I have not expressed those differences nearly so well as Mr. Willis has done in the drawing, which Mr. Kirchner has engraved with such consummate skill. EpwaRD NEWMAN. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropadischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fircn, Esq. (Continued from vol. viii. p. 291.) 36. Synophus politus, Hart.—This more or less spherical gall grows out of the axillar and terminal buds of the Turkey oak, and varies much in shape. 1 shall first of all describe the one that is commonest and most regularly developed. ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 27 It is generally about the size of, and has very much the appearance of, a large gall of Cynips lignicola. At first it is greenish, but when mature of a yellowish clay-colour, some- times almost black. It is sprinkled all over with small Fig. 36.—GaLut or SYNOPHUS POLITUS. whitish warts, and covered with short hairs, which are only visible with the aid of a magnifying-glass (sometimes the base, which generally retains the bud-scales, is fixed to, and grown into, the branch). At the point opposite the base either a small umbilicate cavity or a small conical tubercle is often found. The section shows that the gall consists of two layers: the exterior one is green when fresh, and consists of bark substance; the interior one, however, which contains the larva-cell, is formed of trne wood substance. As the second variation, 1 might mention that form which bears crippled leaves on its surface, but in all other respects perfectly agrees with the former variety. From this second variation a third form is very often developed: in this case the gall appears to have so long a continuity that it could easily be mistaken for a mere swelling of the stem (con- sequently it does not look like a bud-gall); this delusion is all the more easy if the fly is not developed the first year, and the following year the gall continues to grow asatwig. A fourth variety is interesting on account of the constancy of its size and shape; we often meet with an oak on which we only find this variety in great numbers: it is spherical, and is about five millimetres in diameter; the small white warts are wanting, or are far less conspicuous than in the first-described form; the umbilic or conical projection at the top is also wanting. In section it exhibits a much thinner layer of bark and wood substance, while respectively the larva-cell is very 28 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. large. From this form a Synophus is developed, which perhaps is generally smaller, but differs in no way from specimens bred from the normal form: as an important fact, ] must mention that I have bred from these galls some specimens which do not in the least differ even in size. The normal flight-time of the gall-fly is March and April; I have, however, extracted living specimens from a gall I cut open the following autumn. With those galls which have been collected some time before the flight-time of the fly, it is certainly advisable to soak them for some hours in water, as the gall-fly is often unable to bite through the wood-layer, which gets very hard and dry from being kept in a room. On the 9th April of this year I found a leaf of the Turkey oak, of which only one half was developed: to the midrib adhered a mature gall of Synophus politus, from which a fortnight later a fly emerged.—G. L. Mayr. Dr. Mayr records Synergus variabilis, Syntomaspis Cerri, Callimome regius, Megastigmus Synophri, and M. dorsalis, as having been bred from the galls of this species. Will they follow the introduction of Quercus Cerris into Britain? —E£. A. Fitch. he ara A (] finn « Wises SNe, 23 DR ne 9) sy: Did S EQVSQVWDV ao = Gay Way ee Fig. 87.—ANDRICUS TERMINALIS. a. Gall of Andricus terminalis. b. Section of the same, showing the numerous larva-cells. 87. Andricus terminalis, Fabr.—This well-known, quick- growing fungus-gall is developed from the terminal, rarely | from the axillar, buds of Quercus sessiliflora, Q. pedunculata, and Q. pubescens. It is generally spherical, a little broader THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29 than long (two to four centimetres in diameter). It is fully developed about the middle of May, when it is of a pale yellow or brownish yellow colour, but where exposed to the sun it assumes a rosy tinge. ‘This fungoid gall exhibits in the interior a great number of egg-shaped, yellowish white larva-cells, which are closely surrounded by the spongy parenchyma, At the end of May or beginning of June the gall-makers, as well as the inquilines and some parasites, make their appearance. In June the rose-chafers (Cetonia) eat their way into these galls in such a manner that the spongy tissue is either partly or entirely consumed, and the galls become resinous. If we look for the galls of this species in the following winter or spring, on the twigs, we shall find the fungoid substance entirely destroyed by efflorescence, and only the inner galls remaining, adhering to one another. From these inner galls, however, parasites are often produced, even in the second year.—G. LZ. Mayr. The gall of this species is the well-known oak-, or King Charles’, apple, and is probably one of the best-known insect-productions of Britain, but not so generally is the production connected with the producer ; it is very widely dis- tributed. The galls, which vary greatly in size—more so than in the dimensions given by Dr. Mayr—are, or were formerly, in great request upon the anniversary of the Restoration, the 29th of May. Respecting life in these galls, I cannot do better than reprint two notes of the late Mr. Francis Walker on the subject, one published as long ago as 1846, in the ‘ Zoologist’ (iv. 1454—7) ; the other recent (Entom. v. 432), but referriug as it does in a great measure to the previous paper, it is as well they should appear consecutively. “List of Insects inhabiting Oak-apples. “The well-known oak-apples are inhabited by a great variety of insects, which constitute a little world, and derive their nourishment either immediately or indirectly from those galls. The insects in the following list have emerged from a considerable number of oak-apples collected in the neigh- bourhood of Southgate during the summer of 1845. “June, 1845.—Nitidula grisea, 1. Balaninus glandium? 149 during this and the following months of summer. Forfi- cula auricularia, a few in the summer; some of them were 30 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. larve. Psocus subocellatus? a few in the summer and autumn. Atropos.- ? abundant till the winter. Teras Quercus-terminalis, 495. Synergus socialis; a few specimens of two or three other species of Cynipites appeared in the summer. Pteromalus Naubolus, 7 females. Pteromalus ? 2 males; nearly allied to the preceding species. Pteromalus semifascia, 1 female. Pteromalus ovatus, 5 males. Ptero- malus domesticus, 6 or 7 females during the summer. Eupelmus urozonus, 4 females. Eulophus gallarum, Nees, 1 (E. Euedoreschus, Walker, Mon. Chal. i.). _Cecidomyia ? 1. Cecidomyia f 2. Tortrix yiridana, 2 or 3.* ** July..—Physoevria ? 2 or 8. Nitidula grisea, |. Latridius lardarius, 1. Corticaria transversalis, 2. Carpa- limus fuliginosa, 1. Aleochara ? 2. Ochestes Quer- cus, 4. Pimpla ? 1. Pimpla ? 1. Hemiteles area- tor, 1. Teras Quercus-terminalis, 29,110. Synergus soci- alis, 516. Decatoma immaculata, 8 females. Megastigmus dorsalis; 109 males and 12 females. Callimome cingulatus, viridissimus, parellinus, inconstans, confinis, minutus, exilis, chlorinus, mutabilis, latus, leucopterus, abdominalis, lepto- cerus, autumnalis, 496 males and 443 females. Pteromalus Naubolus, 218 males and 164 females. Pteromalus dilectus, 4 males and 4 females. Pteromalus fuscipennis, 8 males and 2 females. Pteromalus fasciiventris, 1 female. Pteromalus ? 4 males; nearly allied to P. Naubolus. Ptero- malus ovatus, 35 females. Pteromalus hilaris, 2 females. Eupelmus urozonus, 2 females. Tetrastichus Diaphantes, 1 male and 45 females. Eulophus gallarum, 174. Eulophus Agathyllus, n.s., 1 female. Inostemma Boscii, 1. Cera- phron ? 1. Drosophila ? about 20; it is nearly allied to D. cellaris. Lozotenia Xylosteana, 1. Zeiraphera communana, 3. Chetochilus sylvellus, 1. Pentatoma lurida, 1 Jarva. Anthocoris Nemorum, 20 and upwards in all stages of growth, during this month and August. A few Arachnida and Acari, of such species as dwell under the bark of trees, appeared in this month and in August. “ August.—Dromius 4-maculatus, 1. Cryptophagus cel- laris, 1. Corticaria transversalis. 10. Microgaster aoe Aphidius ? 1. Teras Quercus-terminalis, 66. Synergus * A large caterpillar, probably of a Noctua, sometimes consumes the whole interior of the oak-apples. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 31 socialis, 15. Decatoma immaculata, 3 males and 2 females. Megastigmus dorsalis, 633 males and 578 females. Calli- mome, 264 males and 595 females; species the same as in July. Eupelmus urozonus, 3 males and | female. Tetra- stichus Diaphantes, 11 males. Chetochilus sylvellus, 1. Aphis ——? Thrips undescribed, 25 and upwards, Ptero- malus Naubolus, 403 males and 599 females. Pteromalus dilectus, 15 males and 29 females. Pteromalus fuscipennis, 12 females. Pteromalns platynotus, 5 females. Ptleromalus planus, 1 female. Pteromalus dubius, 1 female. Pteromalus fasciiventris, 1 male. Pteromalus decidens, 1 female. Ptero- malus ovatus, 5 females. “ Seplember.—Cryptophagus cellaris, 1. Latridius trans- versus, 3. Corticaria transversalis, 14 and upwards. Mega- stigmus dorsalis, 12 males and 9 females. Callimome, 4 males and 17 females; species the same asin July. Ptero- malus Naubolus, 24 males aud 23 females. Pteromalus dilectus, 1 male and 2 females. Pteromalus ——? 2 females; nearly allied to P. Naubolus. Pteromalus ——? 4 males; nearly allied to P. Naubolus. Pteromalus decidens, 1 female. Pteromalus ovatus, 3 males and 15 females. Eupelmus urozonus, 2 males. Ceraphron ——? 1. Ceraphron ——? 1. 3 “ Oclober.—Megastigmus dorsalis, 4 males. Pteromalus dilectus, 1 female. Pteromaius ovatus, 1 female. Tetra- stichus Diaphantes, 1 female. “ December.—Megastigmus dorsalis, 3 males and 3 females. Callimome nigricornis, 1 male. “ January, 1846.—Megastigmus dorsalis, 8 males and 4 females. Callimome nigricornis, 2 males. “ February.—Megastigmus dorsalis, 33 males and 6 females. Callimome nigricornis, 35 males. Pteromalus domesticus, 6 females. Eulophus gallarum, 600 and upwards. “ March.—Bracon ——? 1. Synergus socialis, 4. Calli- mome nigricornis, 6079 males and 981 females. Pteromalus domesticus, 16 females. Eulophus gallarum, 4513. * April.—Synergus socialis, 5. Megastigmus dorsalis, 100 or upwards. Callimome nigricornis, 10,600 and upwards. Pteromalus Naubolus, 2. Eulophus gallarum, 10. “ May.— Bracon ——? 6. Megastigmus dorsalis, 40. Cal- limome nigricornis, 30. Callimome ? 2or 3. Ptero- malus Naubolus, 708. Pteromalus ovatus, 20. Ue 32 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. “ June.—Megastigmus dorsalis, 5 males and 1 female. Pteromalus Naubolus and ovatus, 179. Eupelmus urozonus, 3 males and 5 females. ‘Tetrastichus Diaphantes, 128. “Summary of Species and Specimens.—Coleoptera, 9 species ; 191 specimens, and upwards. Orthoptera, 1 species ; 5 specimens. Neuroptera, 2 species; some hundreds of specimens. Hymenoptera (Cynipites), 4 or 5 species; 30,246 specimens. Hymenoptera (Parasitic), 45 species; 24,417 specimens, and upwards. Diptera, 3 species; 23 specimens, and upwards. Lepidoptera, 5 species; 9 speci- mens, and upwards. Hemiptera, 5 species; 51 specimens, and upwards. Arachnida and Acari, 5 or 6 species; a few specimens. ‘Total—species, 75; specimens, 55,000 and upwards. “All the Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Neuroptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Aptera, with the exception of Balaninus Glandium and Drosophila, were probably acci- dental visitors. “'Teras Quercus-terminalis is the cause of the formation of the oak-apples, in each of which a great number of its larve reside; sometimes sixty flies or upwards emerge from an oak-apple. It varies exceedingly in size, but usually all the individuals produced from one oak-apple are of one sex, and of the same size. Sometimes the habits of the larva are solitary, and it then lives in two other kinds of galls that are formed on oak-leaves. “ Synergus socialis is one of the ‘ Inquilini,’ or dwellers in hired houses, as some of the Cynipites have been termed. “Pteromalus Naubolus is, perhaps, only a variety of P. semifascia.—Lrancis Walker.” (Zool. 1846, p. 1454.) “ Notes on Oak-apples.—The plan of creation requires a continual appearance and disappearance of material exist- ence. Each form of life is from dust; and having performed its part, or completed its circle, returns to dust, which is again gathered up into new creatures; and these numberless and ever-varying circles constitute the great round of exist- ence, and the whole work is preserved in order by the control which the parts exercise upon each other. The oak-leaf falls and returns to dust, which serves for the growth of the oak, and, in process of time, is developed again into leaves. In other cases the circle of existence is less simple, and two THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 33 circles of life are combined; and some part of the substance of the oak-leaf is transformed into oak-spangles by means of a gall-fly. In the oak-currant the circle is more complicated, for not only gall-flies, but also parasitic flies take part in the work. In the oak-apple the arrangement is far more intricate, for very numerous kinds, perhaps one hundred in number, representing all the chief orders of insects, are occupied in it; and it is not only inhabited by insects, but is also frequented by Acari or mites, whose chief dwelling-place is wood-moss, where the species of Bryobia, Zetes, Tydeus, Iphis, Murcia, Nothrus, Oribates, Pelops, Penthaleus, Hoplo- phora, Eumeus, Erymeus, Caligonus, Carabodes, Celeno, Cepheus, and the more elegant Eupodes and Linopodes abound; and British Entomology is in need of a book on these wood-moss mites; and oak-apples afford abundant materials for another volume. Andricus terminalis, by means of its punctures and egg-laying, is the means of forming the oak-apple, which supplies its offspring with board and lodging ; but numerous enemies appropriate to themselves the bodies, or the food and habitation, of this offspring; and other kinds avenge the Aborigines by consuming their invaders. Some kinds inhabit the oak-apple for two months ; one species lives a year in it; and the successive generations of this fly pass from oak-apple to oak-apple. But the life- history of the other kinds requires to be traced for ten months elsewhere. Each oak-apple is tenanted by many individuals of the Teras, and there is much to be observed as to how the grubs are distributed through the oak-apple during its growth, and in noticing the successive arrival of other species, which find their way into the oak-apple, or insert their eggs therein. In conclusion I will mention two or three oak-apple insects, in addition to those which I have previously noticed. Lampronota Segmentator:—this is probably a parasite of Peecilochroma corticana (Fam. Tortricide), a moth that frequently emerges from oak-apples. Psylla ——: —I have not yet ascertained the name of this species; it has a very close resemblance to P. Buxi. Anthomyia pluvialis :— another species of this genus, A. canicularis, has been reared from the cottony oak-gall, the habitation of Andricus Ramuli. Eulophus Gallarum is frequent in these two galls.—/rancis Walker.” (Entom. v. 431.) F 34 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. COLEOPTERA. Latridius lardarius.—July. In the synopsis to Walker’s first paper nine species of Coleoptera are said to be included ; if we reckon the two species of Lathridius mentioned, viz. L. lardarius and L. transversus, we have ten. From this, and from the habits of the two species, I think we may infer the insect referred to is the same as that bred in September—the L. transversus, Oliv., and not L. lardarius, De Geer. Balaninus glandium ?—Walker marks this species with a query, and it is very probable that the beetles bred by him were Balaninus villosus, Herbst, and not the acorn-feeding B. glandium, Marsh, as B. villosus (which is a British species) has been bred from oak-apples by Dr. Reinhard, Dr. Suffrain, and Prof. Kaltenbach. Besides B. villosus, another species of this genus is common in Britain as a gall- inquiline; the larve of B. Brassice, Fab., feeding on the substance of the willow- and sallow-galls of Nematus saliceti (= Vallisnieri) and N. pedunculi. ORTHOPTERA. In addition to the common earwig, another Orthopterous — insect has been bred from the galls of this species, viz., Meconema varia, Fad. (the tree-grasshopper). HYMENOPTERA (Cynipites). Andricus terminalis, Fab. = Teras Quercus-terminalis.— This insect, the true gall-maker, was for some time rather unhappy in the choice of its generic name, as Teras, the name given to the genus erected by Hartig, had priority with | the Lepidoptera, Treitschke having taken it for a genus of Tortricidae. Marshall then endeavoured to resuscitate Geof- frey’s name, Diplolepis, while Dr. Forster, in his synopsis of genera, proposes Dryoteras; but on Dr. Mayr’s authority it is now included in Andricus. Synergus socialis—\n Dr. Mayr’s monograph of the Synergi this is given as a synonym of S. melanopus, Hart., and 8. facialis, Hart., only, recorded as inhabiting A. termi- nalis galls. However, as 8. facialis occurs in the summer of the first year, probably all Walker's species so bred belonged to this species, as I breed it very commonly from oak-apples THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 35 in the summer myself, and they are certainly all S. faci. alis, H.; those bred in March and April of the second year may be S. melanopus, H. (= 5S. socialis, 7.), as this species passes the winter in many oak-galls. The identification of Synergi is always difficult, so it is quite likely that these two species—S. melanopus and S. facialis—were included by Walker under the Hartigian name, 8. socialis: a Synergus in the spring from this gall has not occurred to me at present. These are the true Inquilini, or, as Walker terms them, “dwellers in hired houses;” they are, I believe, invariably vegetable-feeders, living on the substance of the gall, and so in many cases depriving the legitimate inhabitants of their means of sustenance; in their manner of parasitism thus somewhat resembling the cuckoo-bees (Cuculine). I find no 3 record of any other species of Cynipide, as having been . detected to be in any way connected with the galls of this species. HYMENOPTERA (Parasitic). Ichneumonide. Hemiteles areator, Panz., Grv.—This species las been bred from many Lepidopterous pupe, in which it is probably hyper-parasitic on other [chneumonide ; it was very probably connected with Tortrix viridana in this case. Ratzeburg records two other species of Hemiteles bred from this gall, viz., H. coactus, Rizd., and H. punctatus, Rizd. Lampronota segmentata = Lissonolta segmentator, Fab. (Entom. v. 432). Pimpla spp.?—Ratzeburg also records (Ichn. d. Forst.) two species of Pimpla from A. terminalis galls, both bred by Herr Reissig in the spring of the second year, viz., P. calobata, Grv., and P. caudata, Rizb.; whether these were the two species bred by Walker it is difficult to determine. P. alter- nans, Grv. = P. scanica, Vil/.,a species parasitic on Orchestes Quercus, has also occurred in these galls. ia 2 Jj ite Braconide. Bracon ?—March and May, second year. Ratzeburg received his B. caudatus from Herren Brischke, Tischbein, Reissig, and Nérdlinger, all obtaining it from these galls in May of the second year, thus coinciding with the six speci- mens bred by Walker in time of appearance. Bracon 36 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. immutator, Nees, has been bred from these galls by Dr. Reinhard ; it was probably parasitic on a Curculio. Microgaster sp.?—Both sexes of Microgaster (Apanteles) breviventris, Rizb., have been bred from the gall of this species, in which they were probably parasitic on Orchestes Quercus. Aphidius sp.?—This undetermined species of Aphidius was probably parasitic on an Aphis. In addition to the above list of Ichneumonide, Ratzeburg received three other species from his numerous corre- spondents, as follows :— Cryptus hortulanus, Grv.(Ichneumonidez).—“ Herr Reissig bred one femalé from Cynips terminalis galls at the end of May of the second year; with it the very common Hemiteles punctatus.” (Ichn. d. Forst. ii. 124.) Microtypus Wesmaelii, Rizb. (Braconide). Ratzeburg himself bred a solitary individual from an A. terminalis gall, which he erected into a new genus, separated from Micro- gaster; it was bred, with hundreds of Torymide, at the end of June (1847). Microdus rufipes, Wesm. = Therophilus rufipes, Nees. (Braconide).—Several specimens bred by Herr Bouché from these galls, in which it was parasitic on Hedya ocellana. CHALCIDID&. Eurytomide. os x Pie Decatoma immaculata.—Ratzeburg records Eurytoma ~ — signata, Nees, as very commonly bred from this gall; he also gives it as parasitic in several other galls and on a Lithocolletis. It is undoubtedly a compound species, and from his description certainly a Decatoma; so the A. termi- nalis-bred specimens were probably the same species as Walker’s D. immaculata. Torymide. Callimome nigricornis, Fab.—This is Syntomaspis caudata, Nees. Ratzeburg gives Torymus admirabilis, Férst. (= cri- nicaudis, Ratz.) as bred commonly from A. terminalis galls; they are both synonyms of this species, which occurs very abundantly in the spring of the second year. It has also THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 37 been bred from the common oak-spangle gall of N. lenticu- laris; and Kaltenbach says it has been bred from Orchestes Quercus, by Herr Reissig. We meet with great confusion in trying to work out the records of parasitism in Chalcidide ; the species themselves are perplexing, and the synonymy more so; e.g. Ratzeburg, in ‘Die Ichneumonen, under Torymus caudatus, Nees, arranges specimens he had received from correspondents bred from galls of A. terminalis, Rh. Eglanterie (a rose species), and from galls of Nematus viminalis (a willow species); whilst under T. admirabilis and T. crinicaudis, besides the oak-gall specimens, he includes specimens bred from Tortrix strobilana, thus having three specific names for one species, and in one species including four certainly distinct. But to return to Kaltenbach’s assertion that this species is parasitic in Coleopterous larve, which is interesting, we have the following quotation occur- ring in Mayr’s excellent and most lucid monograph :— “In Von Heyden’s collection there is a female with the statement,—‘ From beetle-larva under oak-bark, Bostrichus ?’ —which was named C. admirabilis by Dr. Forster. It is three millimetres long; oviduct, five millimetres long; blue, with a slight green shade; abdomen for the most part violet ; legs green, with yellow tarsi; mesothorax very finely punc- tate, almost smooth and shining. Although undoubtedly this specimen does not differ from the species bred from A. terminalis galls, it may be found to belong to another _ species, when the above-quoted economy shall be proved to ~~ be correct.” Apart from dwelling in galls various species of Torymidz are known to be parasitic on Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera ; but these are the only two instances, as far as I know, of its connection with the Coleoptera; and here, as in many other cases of parasitism, further observation would be satisfactory. Callimome abdominalis, Boh.—Cingulatus, Nees (Walker's list) and Cyniphidum, Ratz., are synonyms. This species, which occurs in many other oak-galls, may be bred in June and July of the same year. Callimome regius, Nees, = C. inconslans, Wik. (Walker's list) = leucopterus, Wik. (Walker's list) = longicaudis, Riz, Callimome auratus, Fonsc. = viridissimus, Bob. (Walker’s list) = ? parellinus, Wik. non Boh. (Walker's list) = con- 38 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Jinis, Wik. (Walker’s list) = minutus, Wlk. (Walker’s list) = ? evilis (Walker’s list) = mutabilis, Wik. (Walker’s list) = latus (Walker’s list) = chlorinus, Wlk. (Walker's list) = leptocerus, W1k.(Walker’s list) = autumnalis, Wik. (Walker's list = muscarum, Nees = propinguus, Forst. = propin- quus, Ratz. = appropinquans, Ratz. = gallarum, Ratz. = nanus, Forst. = basalis, Wik. = curtus, Wik. = incon- spectus, Wlk. = bicolor, Wik. = ? terminalis, Wik. = microstigma, Wlk.—This and the preceding species—C. regius, Nees—are of general occurrence in oak-galls, as probably might be inferred from the list of synonyms. Megastigmus dorsalis, Fabr. = Bohemanni, Ratz. = wanthopygus, Férst.—This species has been bred from most oak-galls. Dr. Mayr describes six varieties, and says: “A. terminalis, a single specimen in July of the same year, var. (f).’ Mr. Walker seems to have had a succession of emergences: it occurred with him from July of the first year to. June of the second. I have only bred it in June, July, and August of the first year, and then commonly. It is curious this species should not affect this gall so much in Germany, as in Britain it is especially common in it; e.g. Walker’s 1560 specimens compared to Mayr’s 1, with his numerous correspondents: it is also unnoticed by Ratzeburg in connection with this gall. Eupelmide. Eupelmus urozonus, Dalm.—This species is figured in the ‘Entomologist,’ vi. 226, from one of A. H. Haliday’s draw- ings. It may be bred commonly from these galls in the summer. Ratzeburg says of E. azureus, a synonym of this species, that it is hyper-parasitic in this “and- other galls on Eurytoma and Microgaster. Pteromalide. In addition to the fourteen species mentioned by Walker, Ratzeburg gives -the following, besides several doubtful instances; but owing to the immense number of species, and to the very close resemblance between many, the question of synonymy must be difficult; but as with the Torymide, so with the Pteromalide, several varieties and species are recorded under different names; but in this genus we have no Mayr to follow at present. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 (1) Pleromalus Cordairti, Ratz. = ¢ Neesii, Ratz.—Bred by Herren Erichson and ‘Tischbein from the gall of this species, and of A. curvator. (2) Pleromalus Dufourti, Ratz.—Bred by Herr Reissig from second-year galls of A. terminalis and Cecidomyia (Hormomyia), Lagi. (3) ? Pleromalus gallicus, Ratz.—Bred by Herr No6rd- linger from ‘* Gallapfeln.” (4) Pleromalus leucopezus, Ratz.—Terminalis-bred speci- mens, received by Ratzeburg from Herren Nérdlinger, Tisch- bein, and Reissig (commonly). (5) Pleromalus stenonotus, Ratz.—Ratzeburg bred both sexes of this species from this gall himself, and received a female from Ziegler, bred from Tinea cognatella—H ypono- meuta cognatella, Hiid. (6) Pteromalus meconolus, Ratz.—A single female bred by Ratzeburg ; and fifteen males and five females bred by Herr Tischbein from these galls. Herr Nérdlinger also bred it from them at the end of May (first or second year not stated). (7) ? Platymesopus Westwoodii, Ratz.—Bred by Herr Saxesen in July, 1837, from an oak Cynips; the species was not specified, but it was probably A. terminalis. (8) Platymesopus Erichsonii, Ratz.—Bred by Herr Erich- son, from the gall of this species (A. terminalis). Elachistide. Eulophus gallarum, Lin.—This is one of the most frequent and abundant inhabitants of oak-apples, and it is also com- mon in many other galls, occurring in both the first and second years. Ratzeburg gives five species of Eulophus and eight species of Entedon as parasitic on Orchestes Quercus alone. Ratzeburg’s Entedon scianeurus is probably this species, which is not a true Eulophus, but an Olynx. Tetrastichide. Tetrastichus Diaphantes = Cirrospilus Diaphantus, Wk. _ —This insect belongs to a very extensive family, Walker alone having described about one hundred and eighty species of Tetrastichus. I believe the above includes all the Chalcidide mentioned Age” THE ENTOMOLOGIST. by Walker. Ratzeburg mentions two or three others, in addition to those noticed above. Next to the Chalcidide, but lower in the scale of creation than that family, come the Proctotrupide, the most slightly-developed of all the Hyme- noptera; of this family two or three species are connected with oak-apples. Walker names two,—a Ceraphron and an TInostemma (Platygasteride); Ratzeburg (‘Die Ichneumonen,’ ii. 181) figures a Ceraphron bred from these galls, and which he erected into a new genus—Dendrocerus Lichtensteinii ; this may be synonymous with the first species of Walker— Ceraphronide. DIPTERA. Cecidomyia ‘sp.?—Of the two species of Cecidomyide, bred by Walker, it is very probable that one was the C. inflexa, Bremi. Specimens of Tipulide have occurred to me as also to Mr. Rothera, in the summer of the first year, from these galls; but they belong rather to ore than Cecidomyia, I think. Anthomyia pluvialis.—This is ha typical species of the restricted genus Anthomyia. (Homalomyia) canicu- laris, Z., is said to be ey with cabbages, but there are many very Closely-allied species. LEPIDOPTERA. Torlrix viridana, L.—Ratzeburg, in his ‘ Die Ichneu- monen, gives sixteen Hymenopterous parasites of this species, viz., three Braconide, ten Ichneumonide, and three Chalcidide ; of these Hemiteles areator only is included amongst Walker’s insects. It is probable that two or three pupe of this pretty, but far too common, little moth were collected by Walker with the galls, and so came to be bred accidentally with one of its parasites. Zeiraphera communana.—tThis is the Peedisca (Pecilo- chroma) corticana, Hiib., which species is a frequent feeder on these galls: but there is another Hiibnerian P. corticana amongst the Tortrices, with which it must not be confounded —the Antithesia (Penthina) corticana (= picana, Frol.), which feeds on the leaf-buds of willow. Chetochilus sylvellus.—This species is Cerostoma syl- vella, L. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 41 A large Lepidopterous larva has occasionally been found feeding in the interior of these galls, since Walker's notes; but, as far as I know, the species to which it belongs has not been determined at present. (See Entom. viii. 167, and other notes.) In addition to the five species mentioned by Walker, three others have been recorded from this gall. Thecla Quercus.—A larva of this butterfly was found feeding on oak-apples by Mr. Barrett (Ent. Mo. Mag. iv. 153.) Hedya (Spilonota) ocellana, Fab.—A common species, flying in June and July; the larva feeds on various trees and shrubs. Ratzeburg received seven species of [chneumonide as parasitic on it; one of these—Microdus rufipes—is men- tioned in these notes. Semasia (E'phippiphora) gallicolana, Zell., = obscurana, Wilk. non Steph.—On the 23rd June, 1869, Mr. C. W. Dale bred a specimen of this rare species from an oak-apple, collected in the spring, near Sherborne, Dorsetshire, which he first recorded under the name Stigmonota internana, Gu, —quite a different species. However, his mistake was recti- fied by the Editors of Ent. Mo. Mag., who gave us the following piece of information at the end of their note :— “Dr. Réssler states that the larve of S. gallicolana live through the winter in the old and dried galls of Cynips quercts-terminalis, which are firmly fixed on the twigs of young oaks, and that severe winters seem to be fatal to them; after a mild winter nearly every gall collected pro- duced one or several of the moth.” (Ent. Mo. Mag. vi. 186.) As pointed out by Mr. Barrett, in his “ Notes on Tortrices,” in the same magazine, this species has been confounded with Halonota (Phthoroblastis) costipunctana, Haw. Kaltenbach (‘Die Pflanzen-feinde, p. 659) says:—*“P. costipunctana, Haw. — gallicolana, Z. The larva lives, according to Von - Heyden, on oak, in the galls of Cynips terminalis, Z., and is not uncommon at Frankfort: in these it lives in an out- stretched cavity, leaves the gall in October, and the imago appears in May of the following year (Stett. Entom. Zeit. xxi. p. 118). I received this species from Dr. Ott Hofman, who likewise had bred them in numbers from these oak- galls.” From these observations it appears that this moth is undoubtedly an oak-apple inquiline; and from Mr. Barrett’s G 42 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. information, the synonymy of P. costipunctana with galli- colana, as in Doubleday’s list and many German authors, is incorrect, Haworth’s insect being a distinct species. HEMIPTERA. Thrips sp.—These little pests have now been ascertained to belong to the order Thysanoptera, separate from Hemiptera, Homoptera, and Orthoptera, each of which it resembles in some characteristics. Aphis sp.—The species bred by Walker was no doubt Thelaxes (Vacuna) dryophila, Scik., an oak-frequenting species, which feeds on the twigs, leaves, and fruit; it has also been found feeding on the substance of these and folii galls. No doubt other species of Aphides, now included in the genus Homoptera, may be found in and on oak-apples occasionally; but T. dryophila is the only species recorded as being dependent on them for sustenance, as far as I know. Psylla —I am unable to find any true Psylla (Homoptera) connected with oak. The object 1 have had in view throughout these notes has not been so much the embodying of new information as the collating of old, to serve as a starting-point for more extended and confirmatory observation. The interest of parasitism, which affects all orders of insects, is very apparent in the “life in an oak-apple.” E. A. Fitcu. Injury lo Linen in Bleach Fields by the Larve of Arctia rubiginosa. By EDwARD NEWMAN. [AN application for advice on this subject having been made to the Editor of the ‘Field’ newspaper, and having been handed me for my opinion, | wrote to Mr. Eccles, from whom the application originally came, soliciting further information, and asking permission to publish the same. In reply I received the following interesting and explicit letter, to which I have appended a few observations of my own, regretting, however, their insufficiency and incompleteness. Sull, however, | think it will not be considered an unim- portant step to have ascertained the name and nature of an insect that can cause so great an injury, more especially as it Le 4 4 a THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 48 was previously deemed innocuous. I do not attempt to suggest a remedy at present. | “To Edward Newman, F.L.S., &c. ‘*Tarne, November 26, 1875. “Dear Sir,—The firm of which 1 am a member has suffered serious loss by holes in linens exposed on bleach- fields during this summer and autumn in particular, and at same seasons in former years, without being able to ascertain the cause. “J presume you are aware that the system of bleaching linens in this country is a peculiarly tedious one, extending over six weeks. The linens, after having been boiled in soda-ley and thoroughly washed, are spread over bleach- fields, where they remain for days; and this process is repeated again and again, accordiug to quality, for some linens require double the amount of work that others do; and I have invariably found that those which require the most frequent grassing have been most subject to holes. I have been obliged to give the matter very special attention ; and in September last I detected a particular lot of linens very seriously damaged at grass by holes, and this lot covered with thousands of these caterpillars. “T should mention that before being sent to grass I had this parcel of linens most carefully examined, by drawing each web over a pole, erected in front of a window, and found it free from holes. When brought in from grass four days afterwards, I had it examined in the same manner, in same place, and by the same person, when the holes were discovered with thousands of these caterpillars on the webs, and in many cases in the holes; generally at each hole there was a greenish matter, evidently ejected by these caterpillars. Some of the holes were not larger than the head of a pin, but many of them were sufficiently large to admit of the cater- pillars creeping through, and I found them in the act of doing so. At every part of the web where I found holes I found caterpillars in their vicinity, and where there were no holes I did not find them. “JT am sorry 1 did not keep any samples of these holes as they were when discovered, but | had them all very carefully marked, and I now enclose you a few cuttings to show you 44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. their appearance after having undergone the necessary slavery of bleaching. I also enclose samples of same after finishing, and you will remark that these holes are very clean cut. “| fortunately collected a number of these caterpillars in a piece of newspaper which I had in my pocket; they cut their way out of it, leaving on it the same greenish marks, and the holes in it are identically similar to those as made on the linens when examined. I enclose you also this scrap of newspaper. ‘Since the early part of October, when the colder weather set in, these caterpillars have disappeared, and simultaneously the holes are not to be found. I am therefore convinced that the holes in the linens have been caused by these caterpillars, and to an extent which, without seeing, must be incredible. I do not for a moment contend that the caterpillars eat the linens for food; but is it impossible that they eat their way out of the cloth, just as a rat does, to make its exit, for of course the linens when exposed at grass become tossed by wind, &c., and are generally blown into rolls; and when caterpillars are upon the webs they are enclosed in the folds, and may they not eat their way out? Iam convinced that they do; and, as the caterpillars will doubtless appear again next season, I am now mainly anxious to prevent next season the destruction I have had to submit to this year. Can you inform me how this is to be done? “The bleach-fields are forty acres in extent, and, having been in grass for perhaps half a century, they are, of course, very much covered with moss. The moths’-eggs laid this year will doubtless become caterpillars about June next; by destroying their eggs 1 get rid of the plague. I have thought of giving the fields a heavy coat of lime, which is to be had of very best quality in great abundance in this neighbour- hood. I have been recommended salt by one, and nitrate of soda by another; but, as the case is a very peculiar one, I am anxious to act under such professional advice as you are so competent to give. I therefore beg that, even if I have failed to convince you of the possibility of the holes having been caused by these caterpillars in the way | have described (not as food, but as a means of exit), you will nevertheless be good enough to inform me what, in your opinion, is the best means to adopt with a view to rid the field of any eggs laid ; : THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 45 by this or any other moths during the past or in any previous year, and so prevent such eggs becoming caterpillars, for it is as such they have done the injury. “Of course, whatever is used as a remedy must not per- manently do injury to the grass, nor damage any linens which may hereafter be exposed thereon; and, as the extent of ground to be operated upon is so considerable, it is important that the stuff should be as inexpensive as possible to insure the complete destruction of moths’-eggs, &c. “ Hoping you will give the matter your careful considera- tion,—1 am yours faithfully, “Wa. EccLEs.” [In the first place, I may state that the caterpillars, of which I have still a number under my notice, are those of a familiar but not very common moth, well known to entomolo- gists as the ruby tiger (Arctia rubiginosa), At present (December) they seem to be hybernating on the inner side of the flower-pot in which they are confined, covered only by a piece of gauze, and are perfectly stationary, neither requiring food nor exercise. At p. 140 of the ‘ Entomologist’ [ gave a complete life-history of the insect,—of course not mentioning the delinquency in respect of linen-cloth, of which I was totally ignorant, and believe to be entirely exceptional. I will, however, repeat some of the salient points, as they may possibly assist my correspondents in the North of Ireland in pointing out the insect to their neigh- bours, and warning them of the injury it has already done in the bleach-fields. The life-history will be found in eaxtenso in No. 33 of the ‘ Entomologist.’ The parent moth lays its eggs (from thirty to forty in number) on the leaves of the broad-leaved plantain (Plantago major), and also on several species of dock and sorrel: these hatch, and become caterpillars in about fourteen days. They are covered with small, stiff, reddish hairs; and as they crawl up the plantain or dock leaves, or climb the bents or blades of grass, they remind one of miniature bears; in fact, they ascend a blade of grass just as a bear mounts the pole in the Zoological Gardens. But when they are still younger, and not yet possessed by a rambling or climbing spirit,— indeed, while they are quite babies,—they keep on the under side of a dock-leaf or plantain-leaf, or, in captivity, of a 46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. lettuce-leaf, if provided by their care-taker, and then make little circular holes in those leaves, at first not much bigger than shot-holes. Viewed from the upper side of the leaf these holes have a very strange appearance: the body of the caterpillar is completely concealed by the leaf, while the head, just visible through the shot-hole, seems to be making mouths at you from the other side, after the manner of a clown grinning through a horse-collar; the incessant move- ment of the caterpillar’s jaws, as seen through a pocket-lens, tends to make the resemblance more complete. In August these caterpillars generally leave off eating, and prepare for their winter’s rest, retiring towards the roots of the herbage, and there remaining until April, when they feel the calls of hunger, again come abroad, and feed greedily. About the middle of May I have found them full fed, and building their cocoons, in which to undergo the transforma- tion to a chrysalis. The cocoon is rather a curious structure: it is composed of loosely-felted silk, abundantly interspersed with the red hairs which covered the body of the caterpillar, and which seem to have been shed for this especial service ; the shape of the cocoon is something like a boat turned upside down; the chrysalis is very dumpy, and quite black. Before assuming this state the caterpillar emits a quantity of greenish fluid, as stated by Mr. Eccles. This leaves a green stain on the cloth, very similar to that on the piece of news- paper in which Mr. Eccles had imprisoned them. [, am unable to decide whether this green fluid is ejected from the mouth or the anus; | think probably the latter, as such a discharge seems usually to follow the last excrementitious matter prior to the change toa pupa. The samples of injured cloth are very curious: they exhibit little holes of no particular form, but apparently cut by the mandibles of a caterpillar; there is, however, no single aperture large enough for the larva to have passed through: but I do not think this a difficulty of any moment, for the injury remains, and is unquestionably to be attributed to the larvae, whether they were detected occupying the holes, or utilising them as a means of escape. One thing seems perfectly clear, they could not have been made by the moths on their emergence from the pup; the solvent then used, of whatever nature, would not produce the appearance of having been gnawed, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 since we all know that the moth is entirely destitute of mandibles, and of performing a task requiring such energy. Sull 1 have observed that many moths prefer a substance like linen-cloth to which to affix their cocoons; and it seems probable that in this process of cocoon-building they may nibble little holes in the cloth. I know that this is the case with other caterpillars; they use their jaws very freely, often gnawing their way through wood or even harder substances. 1 entirely acquit the caterpillar of any penchant for the linen-cloth as an article of diet, but the injury remains, not- withstanding the acquittal, and every precaution must be taken against its recurrence. 1 confess my inability to suggest any remedy that is likely to prove effectual. There is no doubt that to attack the insects in the egg- state, as Mr. Eccles suggests, is the right plan; but we must not eutirely neglect the first instruction given by Mrs. Glass in her cookery-book, touching the jugging of a hare: “ First catch your hare.” In both instances—hare, and ruby tiger’s eggs—this seems essential. The idea of looking for these eggs would evoke a smile on the gravest countenance: they are no larger than the head of the smallest pin. ‘Then as to attacking them on the broad scale, either by treating the bleach-fields with lime, salt, or nitrate of soda, I fear it is impracticable. Moreover, every experiment of this kind is assuredly a leap in the dark. 1 trust the mischief may not occur again; as in the case of the yellow-tail moth, the Hessian fly, and various other insects which have seemed to threaten a continuous loss, and from time to time have elicited prophecies of famine, which happily still await fulfil- ment, this visit of the ruby tiger may possibly never recur. Sincerely hoping this may be the case, I must content myself with doing as Mr. Eccles suggests,—continuing to give this subject my best and most unremitting attention. Epwarp NEwMaN. |] Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Description of the Larva of Lithosia aureola.—On the 22nd of September last | received from Mr. J. G. Ross, of Bathampton, near Bath, a dozen larve of this species. They varied considerably in size, the largest, a full-grown one, 48 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. being about three-quarters of an inch in length, and tolerably stout in proportion. Head globular and shining, about the same width as the 2nd segment; body rounded above, but nearly flat ventrally; it is of tolerably uniform width, but a little attenuated posteriorly; segmental divisions tolerably well defined; the trapezoidal warts very large and well- developed, giving the surface of the body a rather rough appearance; from each wart springs a tuft of hair. The ground colour is rather a peculiar dark olive-green, thickly freckled with both darker and paler spots, making the creature altogether bear a striking resemblance to the lichens on which it feeds. The shortest, and indeed almost the best, description of it would be simply “lichen-coloured,” the grayish green, or commonest type of lichen-colouring being understood. The dorsal stripe is formed by an interrupted series of narrow black marks; there is also a series of similar, but more conspicuous marks on the subdorsal region, these marks, on the middle segments, being bordered above with whitish; the tubercles are reddish brown; the hairs brown. The head is intensely black, with a very conspicuous, white, A-shaped mark. Ventral surface dull, pale olive-green, with interrupted, smoky central stripe.——Geo. T. Porritt; Hud- dersfield, January 4, 1876. Sphinx Convolvuli at Bury.—Yesterday I had a worn specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli brought to me to identify. lt was captured about the second week in August, whilst on the wing, in a dwelling-house, probably attracted by the light, in the centre of the town.—R. Kay; 2, Spring Street, Bury, December 15, 1875. Hemerobius in Winter—On Sunday morning (January 9th) I found a species of Hemerobius in my room. It was of a brown colour. There had been no fire in the room; and the thermometer in the garden registered 18° of frost on the previous night. Do these insects usually hybernate :—AH. N. Ridley; Cobham, Gravesend, January 12, 1876. [I was not previously aware of this habit in Hemerobius, having never observed it.—Hdward Newman.]} Mamesira abjecta.—I\n my list of the insects sent to you I omitted to send you the capture of a worn Mamestra abjecta, taken in my garden in July or August last.—A. Thurnall ; Whittlesford, December 29, 1875. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No, 153.] MARCH, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. ENNOMOS ANGULARIA (male and female). Variety of Ennomos angularia.—The figures, male and female, of Ennomos angularia, are not only singular as a variety, but also singular as being so much alike as almost to induce the conclusion that they might be referred to some new and undescribed species. ‘They were bred by Mr. Neave from the same batch of eggs, and were the only specimens of this particular coloration. The fore wings have the upper surface uniform dark brown, with a transverse oblique median band of a pale fulvous; the hind wings are paler, shaded to darker towards the margin. Mr. Neave has kindly lent them, purposely for figuring in the ‘ Entomologist, and has accom- panied them with the following information :—“ In the early part of 18741 had eleven eggs of Ennomos angularia given to me; they were all laid singly on the glass lid of a pill- box: of these only four hatched. The larve were fed the whole time upon whitethorn, and produced imagos on the VOL. IX. H 50 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. following days. The pair figured—male, 3rd July; female, 5th; the other two, a male and female, on the 2nd and 8th respectively. ‘These latter were dark, but not so strongly marked as the former. I may add the parent female was darker than the ordinary type.—B. W. Neave; 5, Highbury Grange, Highbury Park, N., February 3, 1876.”—Edward Newman. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropdischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fircu, Esq. (Continued from p. 42.) Fig. 38. GALL oF ANDRICUS INFLATOR (and section of the same). 38. Andricus inflator, Hart.—This gall appears like a ter- minal swelling of the young shoots of Quercus pedunculata, and is clothed with leaves like any other twig. Its develop- ment is undoubtedly caused by the gall-fly laying its egg in the axis of the terminal bud. When the bud is developed in the spring, the top of the axil part remains white, its periphery being but little prevented from development with the leaves; an elongate cavity is exhibited, in a longitudinal section, at the lower part of which lies the small egg-shaped inner gall, like.an egg in a cup of corresponding dimensions 5 the cavity is covered with a thin skin at the top. In June the fly breaks through the upper end of the inner gall and the top membrane. The empty gall continues growing until the autumn, and from its axillary buds several twigs are developed in the course of this and the next year. Professor Schenck calls the C. axillaris described by Hartig a variety of this species. Schenck has bred the fly, and found it identical | THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 with A, inflator. Dr. Giraud tells me in a letter that he takes it fora modified form of the gall of Andricus curvator, A specimen which Professor Schenck gave me consists of a swelling, almost egg-shaped, of about 8 millimetres, by 5:5, full of blisters, thin-walled, the surface of which is uneven, covered with leaf-like scales, on one side leaving folds, the margin of which exhibits indistinct traces of leaves; at the bottom of the large cavity lies an oviform inner gall. This swelling is situated in the upper angle between the twig and the lateral bud; the latter, however, does not grow on the twig itself, but on a very short stumpy lateral. Note 1.—On May 19th of this year (1870?) I found two swollen galls on Q. sessiliflora which seemed to belong to the galls of C. axillaris, although when fresh they differed in appearance. At the beginning of June, I opened the larger of the two, the cavity in which resembled the gall of A. curvator, which species I extracted from it.— G. L. Mayr. 38a. Andricus curvalor var. axillaris —From Mayr’s note, and a subsequent one under cur- vator, it will be seen that figure 38a is referable to Andricus curvator var. axillaris, and not to A. inflator. This gall is, I believe, tolerably well distributed in Britain: it has occurred, but never commonly, almost everywhere I have collected, and has been recorded from Scotland (Ballater) by Mr. Trail. Sapholytus connatus, H., is its inquiline, and Megastigmus dorsalis a parasite, both occurring, like the gall-maker, in the early summer. Ratze- A- cuRvaTor burg says, in his ‘Die Ichneumonen’ (ii. 151), yy tcprs. “T obtained one female from Herr Hartig, which he had determined as Siphouura variolosa, Nees. He had bred his specimens from Cynips disticha and Andricus noduli and inflator.” §. variolosa, Nees, is probably a synonym of Ormyrus punctiger, Westw., a species which occurs in several galls. In addition to M. dorsalis I have bred Syntomaspis caudata, Nees., Pteromalus sp.? and Psocus bipunctatus from these galls.—H. A. Fitch. 39. Andricus circulans, Mayr.—In February and March of last year (1869) I found, in the neighbourhood of Vienna, 52 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. small galls growing out of the axillary buds on stubs of the Turkey oak; the producers of these belong to a new species. These galls are of an elongate-oviform shape, Fig. 59. similar to small ant-pupz, about 2 to 5 milli- metres long; from one to eight occur in a bud, and are so surrounded by the interior - broad and short bud-scales, that only their upper part is visible. When the air is humid, the long linear outside scales stand out in such a manner that the gall is easily seen, but when the weather is dry they close over the galls in such a manner that it is difficult to see them. ‘The galls are naked, of either a brownish yellow, a dirty reddish brown, or a beautiful light red colour, and show, when examined through a strong magnifying-glass, oval or elliptical cells. The walls of the gall are very thin, and enclose the cavity in which the gall-maker lives. Ifa large number of galls occur in one bud, it sometimes happens that one gall is in the centre, while eo the others are arranged round it in a circle; A. crrcutans. When there are only four they resemble the seeds of one of the Labiate: the galls are frequently so compressed that they are flattened at the points of contact. Galls collected in February and kept in a hot room, produced some males at the beginning of March, while the females did not appear tll eight or ten days later; from those collected on March 2lst the flies emerged in April, and of those collected on April 15th many were already pierced ; but from those that were entire the flies emerged in the course of a few days. No Andricus appeared in May —only a few Ceroptres and Pteromalide. 1 have only met with a few specimens this year—G. L. Mayr. In anote Dr. Mayr gives a description of the imago. The Ceroptres referred to is C. Cerri, Mayr.—E. A. Fitch. The Devonshire Gall, Cynips Kollari. By the late Francis WALKER. [At p. 251 of vol. vii. of the ‘Entomologist,’ we read :—“ I was expecting Mr, Walker’s notes on the parasites of Cynips THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 53 Lignicola (read Kollari), when the mournful intelligence reached me that his labours were ended, and his observations had ceased for ever.” These notes were written, although not forwarded, and are here produced, by kind permission of the family, as an appendix to the other information there given concerning this gall and its inhabitants.—Z. Newman.) “Four ingnilines are said by Dr. Mayr to inhabit this gall: Ceroptres arator and C. pallicornis appearing from April to June, S. _melanopus and §. Reinhardi appearing in May and June of the second year. He mentions two para- sites—Callimome regius and Megastigmus sligmaticans ; : and observes that Diomorus calcaratus is a parasite of Stigmus pendulus, which also inhabits this gall. “From some of these galls, gathered in the autumn of 1872, Cynips Kollari, Callimome regius, and Megastigmus stigmaticans, emerged in July, 1873; also one male and one female of Therophilus rufipes. I am indebted to the Rev. T. A. Marshall for the name of this Braconid. In 1874 the above galls produced 1 Callimome regius, female, July 23rd ; 1 Megastigmus stigmaticans, male, July 17th; 1 ditto ditto, August 3rd. “The following list enumerates the products of some galls gathered in the autumn of 1873 :— “September, 1873: 410 Cynips Kollari; 6 Callimome regius, 4 males and 2 females. “October: 110 Cynips Kollari; 2 Callimome regius, 1 male and 1 female; 25 Megastigmus stigmaticans, 24 males and 1 female. “November: 110 Megastigmus stigmaticans, 96 males and 14 females. “ December: 64 Megastigmus stigmaticans, 47 males and 17 females. “January, 1874: 41 M. stigmaticans, 18 males and 23 females. “February: 19 M. ss page 6 males and 13 females. “March: 12 M. stigmaticans, 2 males and 10 females. “April: 5 Syntomaspis caudatus, 3 males and 2 females ; 26 Callimome regius, 18 males and 8 females; 7 C. abdo- minalis; 7 Eurytoma squamea; 24 Decatoma biguttata; 2 Pteromalus fasciiventris; 1 P. tibialis; many of Synergus Reinhardti; 2 Hemitelus areator; 1 Hemerobius fuscus; 2 Psocus sp—? 54 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. “May: 58 Callimome regius, 5 males and 53 females; 3 Megastigmus stigmaticans, 2 males and 1 female; 4 Eury- toma squamea; 4 Decatoma biguttata; 1 D. flavicollis; 1 Dasycera sulphurella; 1 Grapholita Juliana; 1 Passalecus gracilis. “June: 663 Megastigmus stigmaticans, 466 males and 197 females; about 40 Synergus melanopus; 1 Psocus bipunctatus; 2 P. 4-punctatus. “July: 35 Cynips Kollari; 166 M. stigmaticans, 21] males and 145 females. “SR RANCIS WALKER. * September, 1874.” On an Immense Flight of Small Butterflies (Terias Lisa) in the Bermudas. By J. MarrHew Jones, Esq. [Reprinted from ‘ Psyche’ for December, 1875, No. 20, p. 121; and 2 communicated by the Author.) MARVELLOUS indeed, as naturalists well know, are those periodic movements of the feathered race known as spring and autumn migrations. Moved by an instinctive impulse implanted in them by the Creator, thousands upon thousands of birds of all sizes, from the bulky swan to the tivy hum- ming bird, travel by sea or land to distances. so remote that, unless it was ascertained beyond doubt that the space was traversed, the fact would be considered almost incredible. But if we are greatly astonished at the power of endurance exemplified in this long-sustained flight of some of the smallest birds, what will be said when we relate a circum- stance connected with a similar power possessed by a species of butterfly, so small and apparently ineapable of with- standing the violence of the elements, that we know not which is the more remarkable, the distance traversed, or the number of these frail little creatures which lived to reach those remote isles of the ocean, after an aérial journey o some six hundred miles or more ? Thus it was. Early in the morning of the first day of — October, in the year 1874, several persons living on the north side of the main island perceived, as they thought, a cloud coming over from the north-west, which drew nearer and nearer to the shore, on reaching which it divided into two THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 55 parts, one of which went eastward and the other westward, gradually falling upon the land. They were not long in ascertaining that what they had taken for a cloud was an immense concourse of small yellow butterflies (Terias Lisa, Boisd.), which flitted about all the open grassy patches and cultivated grounds in a lazy manner, as if fatigued after their long voyage over the deep. Fishermen out near the reefs, some few miles to the north of the islands, very early that morning, stated that numbers of these insects fell upon their boats, literally covering them. They did not stay long upon the islands, however, only a few days, but during that time thousands must have fallen victims to the vigorous appetites of the blue bird (Sialia sialis, Baird) and black bird (Minus carolinensis, Gray), which were continually preying upon them. Only one other instance ofa flight of these butterflies visiting the islands is recorded (in my ‘ Naturalist in Ber- muda,’ p. 120). Mr. Darwin, in his Naturalist’s Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle,’ writes as follows :—Several times when the ship has been some miles off the mouth of the Rio Plata, and at other times when off from the shores of northern Patagonia, we have been surrounded by insects. One evening, when we were about ten miles from the Bay of San Blas, vast numbers of butterflies,in bands or flocks of countless myriads, extended as far as the eye could range. Even by the aid of a telescope it was not possible to see a space free from butterflies. The seaman cried out “it was snowing butter- flies,” and such in fact was the appearance. More species than one were present, but the main part belonged to a kind very similar to, but not identical with, the common English Colias Edusa. Some moths and Hymenoptera accompanied the butterflies, and a fine beetle (Calosoma) flew on board. The day had been fine and calm, and the one previous to it equally so, with light and variable airs. Hence we cannot suppose that the insects were blown off the land, but we - - must conclude that they voluntarily took flight. The great bands of the Colias seem at first to afford an instance like those on record of the migrations of another butterfly, Pyrameis Cardui (Lyell’s ‘ Principles of Geology,’ vol. iii. p- 63), but the presence of other insects makes the case distinct, and even less intelligible. Before ,sunset a strong breeze 56 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. sprung up from the north, and this must have caused tens of thousands of the butterflies and other insects to have perished. In the ‘Entomologist’ (vol. 1ii., p. 226) it is stated that during a cyclone, and a distance of 600 miles from the African coast and 200 miles from the Cape Verde Islands, a vessel was visited by numerous birds and butterflies, the latter being Diadema Bolina and Pyrameis Cardui. Now the instance related by Darwin only proves the fact of flocks of butterflies being observed ten miles from the land, and that recorded in the ‘ Entomologist’ leaves it an open question as to whether the insects were direct from the coast of Africa or Cape Verde Islands,* or indeed whether they occurred in remarkable numbers. We have, therefore, reason to believe that the vast host of Terias Lisa which arrived at the Bermudas on the lst of October last, and that visitation recorded in the ‘ Naturalist in Bermuda’ as occurring on the 10th of October, 1847, are the only instances known of such extraordinary flights of Lepidoptera, or indeed of any insects being met with at such an amazing distance from land. The question, therefore, naturally arises—How did this immense concourse of butterflies get to the Bermudas? The nearest point of land is Cape Hatteras, in North Carolina, which is somewhere about 600 miles distant, and if they had started from this point and taken a straight line to the islands, without meeting with any contrary winds, it would, at the rate of twelve miles per hour (a fair average rate of travel for any of the Pieride), have taken them two days and two hours (of course including nights) to complete the distance; a space of time almost too great, we should imagine, for an insect in no degree remarkable for robust frame or strength of wing to keep up a continuous flight. We are, however, inclined to think that the presence of this vast concourse of insects at the Bermudas was not owing to ordinary causes, and that we must look to some extraordinary means to solve the mystery. From a very extended series of observations made at inter- vals during the last twenty years, with the view of throwing light upon the migration of North American birds to those * I do not find any record of the occurrence of P. Cardui in the Cape de Verde Islands, although it is found on the islands to the north.--S. H, Scudder. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 islands, we have become impressed with the fact that the largest flights of birds occur there during the period of great atmospheric disturbance. From the latter end of September to that of October, violent revolving gales are prevalent throughout the region which comprises the east coast of the Southern and Middle* States and the North Atlantic in those latitudes, for some 600 or 800 miles from land. At this par- ticular period vast flights of birds of all kinds are proceeding southward along the coast for their winter resorts in Florida, West Indies and South America, and must often meet with the violent gales we have alluded to. Now the observations of scientific aéronauts, like Glaisher and others, teach us that the upper atmosphere is composed of currents of air differing in their courses as elevation proceeds, and some cases are on record in which balloons at a great height have suddenly come in contact with violent direct gales, which carried them onward with such velocity as to render their course one of extreme peril, only escaping destruction by the superior manceuvring of those in charge. Let us suppose a violent revolving gale passing along the coast of the Southern States, about the latitude of the Bermudas, during the period of the autumnal migration of birds and butterflies, engulfing some of those great flights which are then proceed- ing along in a southerly direction. Drawing them up high in its vortex, a direct westerly gale is met with, blowing with great force out to sea. Hurled with amazing rapidity along this cool aérial current, in the course of about three or four hours the heated vapour arising from the Gulf Stream would be met with; and would it be considered as too imaginative to grant that the ascending warmth of that stream has power sufficient to ameliorate the condition of the cool current, to stay its rapid course and allow the animal freight to descend, which, then within a comparatively short distance of the Bermudas, would seek the nearest land by that instinctive impulse so characteristic of these tribes, and aided perhaps by perfect calm or favouring breeze, arrive at those distant isles, without encountering the dangers which—in the form of contrary winds—would most certainly accompany an * Terias Lisa occurs along the Atlantic Coast from New Hampshire to Cuba. It is excessively rare north of Cape Cod, common from New Jersey to Cape Hatteras, and extremely abundant farther south.—S. H. S. I 58 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. intentional migration to the islands? If our theory, however, be an incorrect one, as it may be, we should indeed be glad if some one would lend a helping hand to solve this question of a migration of tiny butterflies from the American main to those small and remote isles, 600 miles away over the rolling waters of the trackless deep. J. MATTHEW JONES. Halifax, N.S., November 15, 1875. Description of some Varieties of Vanessa Io, éc., probably caused by starving the Larve. By H. Ramsay Cox, Ksq., F.L.S. So much has been said on “ varieties ” being produced by starvation that some readers who have not had personal expe- rience in the subject may be a little interested in a short description of the “ varieties ” (so-called) that I lately bred of some of the Vanessez, caused, I believe, by starvation. I should say that the shortness of fare the poor larve were subjected to was quite unintentional. We captured in the New Forest a number of half-grown larvee of Vanessa lo, which were carefully fed for a few days; but owing to my boy’s neglect, and to my being busy with the net, they were left several days without food; all dead leaves and stalks had been devoured. They were a very long time changing, and many fastened themselves to the bottom of the cage, as if too weak to spin up on the top or sides, in the ordinary manner. Very few died either in the larval or pupal state. Nearly all the imagos were of course rather smail; they varied much in the intensity of their colouring, and two spe- cimens are very singularly marked. In one, the yellow costal spot is only represented by avery small white mark: there is scarcely any yellow in the ocellus, a large part of which is filled up with black, the usual chocolate patch in it is also black. The chocolate ground colour is also darker than usual. In the hind wing the ocellus contains only two small round violet spots. ‘he other specimen is similarly marked, except in the hind wings, in which there is no ocellus at all of the ordinary character, but merely an irregularly shaped Pl Ri tA THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 dull whitish blotch, containing a very indistinct small brown mark. Vanessa Urtice and Polychloros were similarly treated : the latter produced no peculiar-looking specimens, excepting that the ground colour was darker than in ordinary bred spe- cimens. The Urtice in spite of their starving came out nearly the natural size. Many have a thick black nervure in the centre of the wing; alsoa brownish patch between the middle costal spot and that in the inner margin, and the dark margin round the wings zs wider than usual. The effects of starving these three species would therefore appear to be similar, as far as the causing of dark spots, patches, &c., goes. Being very interested in the subject, L should be glad to hear from other collectors if they have often noticed the same features when breeding the Vanesse. H. Ramsay Cox. Thornleigh, Forest Hill, January 24, 1876. Collected Observations on British Savw/flies. By Epwarp NEWMAN. BEFORE attempting to catalogue the reputed British species of sawfly, | crave permission to give my own view of what a sawfly is, and also to indicate what I suppose its position in the system of Nature. In doing this I propose to incorporate, recapitulate, and amalgamate, certain opinions I expressed in the year 1832, and during the ten or twelve years imme- diately following. I am led to this course by reading, after a lapse of thirty years, the following passage in a letter addressed to me by the late Dr. Harris, of Harvard University :— “In a private course of lectures on Entomology, given to some of the students of the University four years ago, I endeavoured to explain your system, and made diagrams for the purpose, some of which still remained hanging in the room when our excellent friend Mr. Doubleday saw my collection of insects. I have often wished you would combine in one work all that you have published on the classification of insects, and the characteristics of the groups, .... You have often very happily illustrated what 60 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. before was obscure, and have pointed out some striking resemblances, or affinities, as it is the fashion to call them. You have proved to my satisfaction the centrality of certain groups or types of form containing some of the charac- teristics of the surrounding groups, together with a character peculiarly their own. This, it appears to me, must be the key to affinities, if such exist. ‘That there are really seven great and perfectly natural groups of insects, and that they approach each other as you have represented, appears undeniable. Divide any one of them, and the parts lose their relative value when compared with the other groups.” —Extract from a letter from Dr. Harris to LE. Newman, dated January 7th, 1844; and published in the Memoir of Dr. Harris, by Col. T. W. Higginson, prefixed to the Entomological Correspondence of 1. W.. Harris, edited by Samuel H. Scudder, 1869. At the risk of being considered prosy in the repetition of a thrice-told tale, I will repeat Cuvier’s “ distribution of animals according to their organisation,” and define four groups, which, though virtually identical with those I am about to employ, have different names. The divisions are these :— 1. Endosteate animals, having an endo-skeleton, or internal framework of bone, to which the muscles are attached; the muscles clothe and cover the endo-skeleton, and both are enclosed in a sack, called the skin. We are told by anatomists that this endo-skeleton is continually undergoing disintegration, absorption, and renewal; but of this I am incapable of forming an opinion, still less can I describe any portion of the process. Nevertheless, seeing that the exo-skeleton of the next group is_ repeatedly discarded and reproduced, I am perfectly ready to admit an analogous phenomenon may exist in the endo-skeleton, although the process by which it is performed is so widely different that one fails to follow it in all its details. [These are the Vertebrata of Cuvier. ] 2. LHawosteate animals, which have no internal frame- work of bone, but, in its stead, an indurated skin, enveloping and enclosing the softer parts; and this I call the exo- skeleton, or external skeleton. This answers the same purpose of protection and support to the muscles as the endo-skeleton, but its position is exactly the reverse. ‘The exo-skeleton, as THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 61 I have called it, varies infinitely in its character: in the larve of Lepidoptera it is thin, soft, and flexible in the extreme; while in crustaceans, particularly in the claw of an aged crab, it is so thick, solid, and calcareous, that it can only be broken by a smart blow with the hammer. Between these two opposites of extreme thinness and extreme thick- ness, every conceivable intermediate occurs; but whatever difference exists in this respect all exo-skeletons agree in being repeatedly shed and renewed during life-time. The process of moulting is common to most animals: the bird loses and reproduces its feathers; the suckler its hair; but in exosteates this exuviation extends to the whole covering: this is shed entire, and not only to the covering, for the exuviation extends to the interior, but those organs which are most intimately connected with life share the same fate as the exo-skeleton, of which they actually seem to form part, and are cast off like our old clothes and replaced by a new suit. [have been particularly interested in observing how complete is this internal, as well as external, exuviation in crabs, crayfish, and lobsters, the discarded garments of which form most beautiful objects to examine, showing that even the breathing apparatus to its most minute parts is cast off, and replaced by a new one secreted within the body of the animal. [These are the Articulata of Cuvier. ] 3. Anosteate animals, which have no bones at all, but which have the power of building a house or shell for protection out of material secreted by their own body. I say have the power of doing so; but they do not always exercise the power, very many species having neither bone, shell, nor any substitute for these at any period of life. [These are the Mollusca of Cuvier. } 4. Actiniate animals, which have their several organs arranged in a radiating fashion round a centre, like the star- fish. The other divisions have not this radiating arrange- ment of parts, but are what is called bilateral, that is, they have both sides alike. [These are the Radiata of Cuvier.] The second of these divisions is that to which the sawflies belong; but these require further division. In my Familiar Introduction, published in 1841, I adopted Latreille’s name of Condylopa for this province, but 1 now prefer to propose an entirely new one—Evosteata ; its contents 62 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. are also modified. The province, as altered, contains four sub-provinces, as under :— 1. Heaapods, which at no period of their existence have more than six legs, and which are variously known as butter- flies and moths; gnats and flies; bees, wasps and sawflies ; beetles; locusts and cockroaches; bugs, plant-bugs, plant- lice, animal-lice, springtails; dragonflies and stoneflies, &c. : these are associated by the single and simple, though constant, character of possessing six legs, and no more. These frequently possess also two or four wings; but in a primary definition this appears scarcely deserving of notice, since wings are so frequently wanting. [These are the Jnsecta of Latreille.] Moreover, these insect-wings are in reality windpipes, or, perhaps, speaking with greater precision, portions or branches of windpipe everted and altered expressly to fit them for the function of flight, instead of confining their duties to the more ordinary and—as we believe—normal office of respiration. In order to achieve this additional duty, we find that certain main branches of windpipe, having forsaken their usual site in the interior of the trunk, issue, one or two - from each side of the mesothorax, and one or two from each side of the metathorax, each branch encased in a bony cylinder, which is frequently sufficiently transparent to admit of the structure of the windpipe being seen through its walls; while the constant pulsatory movements of blood- disks everywhere, between each cylinder and its enclosed windpipe, proves, beyond the possibility of doubt, the existence of a circulation throughout the insect world. These external ramifications of the windpipe, and as a consequence its bony casings, are infinitely less numerous than those confined to the trunk, Lyonet having stated that he counted 1804 branches in a specimen of Xyleutes Cossus, and that he only discontinued counting because they eluded the powers of his glass from excessive tenuity. Still they are numerous and conspicuous, and subserve the useful purpose of supplying characters to the descriptive entomologist; but of this more hereafter. We find them always connected with each other throughout their length by a membrane, which, in fact, is double, or composed of two membranes, although it appears as only one: its double character is THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 68 proved by the presence of fluid, which, on the creature’s emergence from the pupa state, is observed to occupy a space between them, sometimes even imparting to the part the appearance of an inflated bladder. Nevertheless, as the insect rapidly advances towards maturity, the blood retires into the trunk, and the bladder is seen to shrink and finally to collapse, while the two membranes approach, unite, and hence- forward become one and indivisible. A word remains to be said about the encased windpipes. These are generally divided and branched, the branches taking many directions, fre- quently anastomosing, and thus forming a complete network or frame, which supports the membrane, distended over them like the canvas over the ribs in the sails of a windmill, and the two united constitute the so-called “wing.” In aquatic larve a very similar arrangement of parts is observable; but while in the imago state the number of these “ wings” never exceeds four, in aquatic larve of hexapods it often rises to twelve or fourteen; then they are employed as swimming organs, in addition to their use as respiratory organs; but the name of “windpipe,” or of some equivalent in the language of science, is retained, while in the perfect insect the name of “ wings” is universally applied. 2. Octopods, which at every period of their existence possess eight legs,—as mites and spiders, and all spider-like animals; in these there is never any indication of wing. [These are the Arachnides of Latreille, | 3. Anisopods, whose legs are mostly ten, but often more, and which are for the most part marine animals,—as crabs, lobsters, crayfishes, prawns, and shrimps. [These are the ' Crustacea of Latreille. ] _ 4, Myriapods, which possess a multitude of legs, and which are familiarly known as centipedes, or hundred legs. [These are the Myriapoda of Latreille. } The essential characteristic of Exosteate structure, neces- sitated, as I conceive, by the external situation of the principal organs of support, is the fusion, amalgamation, or inseparability, of several systems of organs. The organs of support, circulation, and respiration, instead of being detached, as in endosteates, are so inextricably involved as to defeat the attempts of the most skilful anatomist to separate them ; indeed, it seems a necessity that the organs of respiration 64 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. should be attended by those of circulation, and that both should be enclosed by those of support throughout their circuitous and manifold ramifications. In Endosteates the bones form a connected system adapted to the especial function of support, and the organs of respiration consist of a single and simple windpipe opening at its upper extremity into the throat, and terminating at its lower extremity in the lungs, where the air which it has received at the throat comes in contact with the blood, and receives the necessary oxygenation to ensure its life-supporting properties. In hexapods we may suppose the same process of oxygenation necessary, but it does not take place at any fixed point, as the lungs: the process goes on in every part of the trunk, in the legs, wings, and antenne, because the windpipe is infi- nitely divided, and accompanies the blood-vessel in all its windings, however intricate, however ramified; so that the blood is always Jubricating and moistening the windpipe, and thus maintaining it in that condition so essential to the due performance of its functions. In both Endosteates and Exosteates the windpipe is com- posed of a series of rings closely appressed together ; they are sufficiently strong to maintain their form and position against any pressure that may come from without, but still suffi- ciently flexible to offer no impediment to the free motion of the equally flexible bones, which they invariably traverse from end to end. We have lately heard a good deal of flexible glass: these tubular bones, through which the blood and air constantly circulate, may be compared to flexible glass. ‘They also resemble glass in being frequently transparent, so that the functions, in course of progress within, may be observed and watched from without. This transparency, however, is confined to a few families, and, in these families, exclusively to the wing-bones; the existence of transparent bone in the trunk has not been noticed, and probably does not exist. Moreover, the wing-bones of Coleoptera are almost invariably opaque, and of a dark brown colour, which effectually precludes all examination of the interior. This differentiation of the two great provinces of animals —I say two, because 1 make no attempt to cope with the other two, Anosteate and Actiniate—is so totally, so diame- 5 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 trically opposed to the teaching of Kirby and Spence— teaching which for half a century we have been taught to believe infallible—that it would be uncandid, and certainly uncourteous, to omit all mention of these fathers in Ento- mology, supported as they are by other leaders in the domain of science. In pursuance of this object, in the justice of which every reader will concur, I cannot do better than cite their own words. After enumerating the observa- tions of Swammerdam, Réaumur, Bonnet, De Geer, Baker, and Chabrier, all of whom speak more or less decidedly of blood-vessels, currents, moving fluids, pulsations, and circu- lation, they proceed in this emphatic manner, crushing, as it were, the observations of these worthies under the weight of authority,—the authority of Lyonet, Cuvier, and Marcel de Serres,—enforced as it is by their own views on this important and highly interesting question. “But though these arguments, which I have stated in their full force, appear strong, and at first sight conclusive, those which may be urged for the more modern opinion— that no circulation exists in insects, properly so-called— appear to have still greater weight. Lyonet, whose piercing eyes and skilful hand traced the course of so many hundred nerves and bronchie, long after they became invisible to the unassisted eye, and which were a thousand times smaller than the principal blood-vessels opening into so large an organ as the supposed heart of insects might be expected to be, could never discover anything like them. His most painful researches, and repeated attempts to inject them with coloured liquids, were unable to detect the most minute opening in the dorsal vessel, or the slightest trace of any artery or vein proceeding from or communicating with it. And Cuvier, whose unrivalled skill in Comparative Anatomy peculiarly qualified him for the investigation, repeated these enquiries, and tried all the known modes of injection, with equal want of success; and is thus led to the conclusion that insects have no circulation; that their dorsal vessel is no heart, and therefore ought not to be called by that name; and that it is rather a secretory vessel, like many others of that kind in those animals.” —‘ Introduction to Entomology, vol. iv. p. 91. Notwithstanding this very explicit statement of facts and K 66 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. opinions, the learned authors cite the wondrous discoveries of Carus, which seem opposed to them, and finally arrive at this solution :— “The endeavours of M. Carus to discover any proofs of a circulation in their last state, except in the wings at their first development, were without success. He observes that the fact of the currents of fluids in larve, not being defined by vascular parietes, enable us to comprehend the rapidity and facility with which the traces of the circulation are lost in the perfect insect. On the other hand, the existence of a circulation at one period, and its cessation at another, elucidates many circumstances connected with the physiology of these animals; for instance, the contrast between the rapid growth and transformation of the larve, and the stationary existence of the imago, &c. Lastly, he remarks that the phenomena of this circulation do not throw any light on the obscure subject of the mode of nutrition in perfect insects ; which, therefore, must still be supposed to be effected according to the idea of Cuvier,—without the intervention of vessels.”—‘ Introduction to Entomology, vol. iv. p. 96. To Dr. Bowerbank we are indebted for clearing up the doubts about circulation. He attributes the errors, for such they assuredly are, into which Lyonet and other great authorities have fallen, neither to haste, nor inattention, nor inability, but solely to the imperfection of the microscopes they employed. After the publication of his paper in the fourth volume of the ‘ Entomological Magazine, troops of scientific men came to test, and of course ended in verifying, his observation: Professor Owen, Marshall Hall, Newport, Gulliver, Mantel, Geoffroi St. Hilaire. Of the last-named the following reminiscence will be read with pleasure :— “One of the most remarkable of my visitors was the great French naturalist Geoffroi St. Hilaire, who paid a short visit to England in 1833. He had read my paper ‘On the Circu- lation of the Blood in the Larva of Ephemera marginata,’ and doubted the possibility of seeing the valvular action of the great dorsal vessel described therein. I had fortunately in my possession some very favourable subjects for exhibiting these beautiful phenomena; and when all was in order, and the great man applied his eye to the instrument, he-at once saw the very facts he had doubted, and, without moving his es a by THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 eye, he shouted ‘Ah!’ He sat as if glued to it, and did not seem capable of moving from it. His son-in-law, Dr. Martin St. Ange, fed him with the sweet cake that had been offered to him with some wine as refreshment, as he sat gazing at the beautiful sight; but nothing could induce him to remove his eye from the insect, until at last a plunge it made in the cell carried it out of sight; and Geoffroi St. Hilaire started to his feet, threw up both his arms as he strode down the room, and shouted ‘ Magnifique !’” (To be continued.) Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Ants and Imbauba Trees.—Some time ago I sent to Ger- many for publication a note on the relation between our imbauba trees (Cecropia) and the ants which inhabit their hollow stem. As there may be some delay in publishing, I will give you a short abstract. Mr. Belt has already stated that the ants farm scale-insects in the cells of the imbauba stem, and he believes that their presence must be beneficial. This is no doubt the case; for they protect the young leaves against the leaf-cutting ants (dicodoma). Now there is a wonderful contrivance by which, as in the case of the “ bull’s- horn acacia,” the attendance of the ants at the right time and place is secured. At the base of each petiole there is a large flat cushion, consisting of most densely-crowded hairs, and within this cushion a large number of small, white, pear-like or club-shaped bodies (specimens enclosed) are successively developed, which, when ripe, emerge at the surface of the cushion, like asparagus on a bed, and are then greedily gathered by the ants and carried away to the nest. The object of the dense hair-cushion appears to be (1) to secure to the young club-shaped bodies the moisture necessary for their development; and (2) to prevent the ants from gathering the unripe bodies. In most cases it is by honey-secreting glands that the protecting ants are attracted. Now Mr. Belt observed (‘ Nicaragua,’ p. 225) that the honey-glands on the calyx and young leaves of a passion-flower were less attractive to the ants than were the scale-insects living on the stems. This would most likely be the case with the imbauba; and 68 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. it is probable that the use of the little pear-shaped bodies is to form an attraction stronger than that of the scale- insects, and thus to secure the attendance of the protective ants on the young leaves. As far as I could make out, the club-shaped bodies consist mainly of an albuminous sub- stance. The ant colonies are founded by fertilised females, which may be found frequently in the cells of young imbauba plants. Each internode has on the outside, near its upper end, a small pit, where the wall of the cell is much thinner than anywhere else, and where the female makes a hole by which she enters. Soon after this the hole is completely shut again by a luxuriant excrescence from its margins, and so it remains until about a dozen workers have developed from the eggs of the female, when the hole is opened anew from within by these workers. It would appear that the female ants, living in cells closed all around, must be protected against any enemy; but, notwithstanding, a rather large number of them are devoured by the grub of a parasitic wasp belonging to the Chalcidide. Mr. Westwood has observed that the “pupz of the Chalcidide exhibit a much nearer approach to the obtected pupe of the Lepidoptera than is made by any other Hymenoptera” (‘ Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects,’ part xi. p. 162). Now the pupa of the parasite of the imbauba ant is suspended on the wall of the cell by its poster or extremity, just like the chrysalis of a butterfly—Mr. Darwin; in ‘ Nature’ of February 17, 1876. Remarks on the Oviposition of Limacodes Asellus.—In the early part of last year Mr. W. H. Harwood sent me thirteen pupe of this species, from which I reared five female moths and seven males, and as I wanted to obtain the eggs I was determined to run the risk of allowing them to copulate which one pair obligingly did. A female having emerged first, a male followed the day afterwards; and in about an hour or so after it had emerged they copulated: this took place at mid-day. After separation I placed the female in a gallipot with a few beech leaves, and covered it over with a piece of white silk sarsenet and then with glass, and in two or three days I removed the sarsenet and found it bespattered with a whitish and glutinous-looking substance, resembling gum or varnish ;.and not believing it to be the egg, but some 7 POR ila picsictiii a re THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 69 kind of viscous matter which had got dry, I drew my finger over the largest patch and found that moisture came from it, so concluded that it was composed of eggs. Although I applied a strong lens 1 could not detect an egg of any shape; how- ever, 1 put the gallipot aside, and looked every day until some eight or nine days had elapsed, when I found the sar- senet thickly sprinkled with whitish and very minute larve ; but being much engaged at the time, I regret that I was unable to procure food until the second day after the larve had hatched: the weather was hot, and I was sorry to find them in a semi-alive state, and I could not get any to feed. By the species copulating at mid-day, and the eggs being de- cidedly those of a Tortrix, it would appear that it should not be classed in the genus Limacodes with Testudo, where the late Mr. Henry Doubleday puts it, as it certainly is more approximate to the genera Halias and Sarrothripa.—F. O. Standish; High Street, Cheltenham, February 14, 1876. Argynnis Dia.—I\ have to announce an undoubtedly British specimen of this fritillary. It is a female, and was taken in 1872, at Worcester Park, Surrey, by a connexion of my own, Master Wallace A. Smith. He could notidentify his capture, and placed it apart by itself. Very recently, on my looking over his insects, he drew my attention to the specimen as something peculiar. He perfectly recollects making the capture, and the exact spot where it was made. IL found the specimen pinned and set in beginner’s fashion. Mr. Wallace Smith has never had to do in his life with any dealer or collector; and, except things given to him by me, his cabinet contains nothing which he did not catch himself. —W. Arnold Lewis ; Temple, February 14, 1876. Pieris Rape in Winter.—This morning a gentleman brought to me a fresh living specimen of Pieris Rape he had captured in his garden yesterday. This is surprising, as we are now in the midst of the severest frost we have had this winter.—G. 7. Porritl; Huddersfield, February 14, 1876. Dasycampa rubiginea near Street, in December.—1 had the good fortune to obtain a specimen of this moth while geologising and fern-collecting, in a gully about three miles from Street, during the last week of December. The specimen is unfortunately somewhat injured.—J. Edmund Clark ; 20, Bootham, York, February 8, 1876. 70 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Food-Plants of Gonepleryx Rhamni.—In reply to Mr. Edward A. Fitch (Entom. viii. 302), I may say that there is no more difficulty in obtaining the leaves of the apple and pear tree in Wales than there is in finding the Welsh lan- guage there; but the question is, are these the natural food- plants of Gonepteryx Rhamni in Great Britain? Mr. Fitch says the larve will eat apple, pear, and medlar: he may have bred the species upon these plants, or he may have obtained his information from Kaltenbach’ s ‘ Pflanzenfeinde,’ where medlar and the “ Pyrus-arten” are given, besides the buckthorns, on the authority of De Geer. Still I shall be glad to hear if any entomologist has ever found the eggs or taken the larve from either of these trees in this country. If so, it will satisfactorily account for the appearance of the butterfly in Carmarthenshire. In support of Mr. Fitch’s theory, it is also interesting to know that Kaltenbach in the same work gives almost the same additions to the food-plants of Lycena Argiolus. I have generally understood the food- plants of this butterfly to be confined to holly, ivy, and the two buckthorns. Kaltenbach does not mention either holly or ivy as food-plants of the “holly blue,” but, quoting from De Geer, gives R. Rhamni and R. Frangula (De Geer, i. thl. 8 Abh. pp. 62—65), andcontinues to say, that “later observers have found the larve on medlar and apple.” Can any of your readers substantiate this statement? If so I shall be very glad to hear from them, either through the medium of your columns or otherwise.—Owen Wilson ; Carmarthen. The Larve of Arctia fuliginosa * (Entom. ix. 42).—I have perused with much interest Mr. Eccles’ letter with regard to the injury done to his firm’s linen, and would offer a few suggestions for the removal of the damaging agent. I notice Mr. Eccles desires to be informed how to get rid of the eggs. This, I think, is a mistake, as the real enemy is the cater- pillar; and, besides, that is the most tangible object to proceed against. Now, the next thing to be considered is what measures should be adopted for their destruction. I would suggest that Mr. Eccles should employ some boys for a few days about the middle of April to collect these cater- pillars, paying them so much per hundred for all they collect. ‘This would not, I think, be a very difficult task, as * Erroneously printed “rubiginosa” in the February number.—Z. Newman. ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. wi it is a habit with these caterpillars to bask in the sun after hybernation (the state they are in at the present time), when they may be picked up quite easily where they occur. As they are collected it is needless to say that care must be taken to destroy them; and, should there be any difficulty with regard to this, I would suggest, as one means by which some of them might be disposed of, that Mr. Eccles should send me a few dozen, as I am not fortunate (or, as Mr. Eccles would probably say, unfortunate) enough to find them so plentifully near me.—C. W. Simmons; 39, Market Street, Caledonian Road, London, N., February 3, 1876. Preservation against Mites, §c.—Van. Physostigmatis (Calabar bean) is an excellent preservative in cabinets against the attacks of mites and grease, to be used the same way as benzine or corrosive sublimate; and I tried benzine or benzole, as is directed in Newman’s ‘ British Moths,’ but I could not get the insects right after—[Rev.] G. C. Madden ; Armitage Bridge Vicarage, Huddersfield, January 18, 1876. Larva of an Estrus (?) Infesting Man.—I extracted twenty Funyés, an insect like a maggot, whose eggs had been inserted on my having been put into an old house infested by them. As they enlarge they stir about, and impart a stinging sensation ; if disturbed the head is drawn in a little. Wheu a poultice is put on they seem obliged to come out, possibly from want of air. They can be pressed out, but the pimple in which they live is painful. They were chiefly in my limbs.—‘ Living- slone’s Last Journals, vol. ii. p. 4. Insects of Kent and Surrey.—The Council of the South London Entomological Society have decided to attempt the publication of a list of insects found in Kent and Surrey ; and in order to make the Lepidopterous portion as complete as possible, I venture to ask for help from collectors who have worked in either county, and more especially in districts above twenty miles distant from London. Local lists will be gratefully acknowledged.—J. Platt Barrett ; 34, Radnor Street, Peckham, S.E. ) Answers to Correspondents. Pyrameis Alalanta in Perthshire—Several specimens of the above species were seen and captured in our garden at 12 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Blairgourie; and my friend Mr. Guild, of Broughty Ferry, took several in his garden there in September. Can you tell me if it is usual to find this butterfly so far north ?—James Grimond. (The name of this butterfly occurred in every list I received from Scotland when writing my account of British butter- flies, and in no instance is anything said of its rarity. Dr. Buchanan White informs me it occurs in Scotland from the sea level up to the base of Ben Lawers.—E. Newman]. To breed Bombyx Rubi.—I have the last three seasons had a number of larve of Bombyx Rubi which have always died during the winter. I now have some hybernating, and should be glad if. you could tell me when I ought to begin to feed them again, and how they ought to be kept during the winter.—C. Lemesle Adams; Walford Manor, Shrewsbury, December 23, 1875. [Procure a large wooden box of any kind,—a tea-chest will do; put a large tuft of heathy turf in it; instead of a lid, cover with a piece of wire gauze; leave it out in all weathers ; take care that the bottom be perforated to allow the wet to drain off; treated thus, they will be sure to come out.— Edward Newman). Preserving Larve of Lepidoptera.—I shall be extremely obliged if any one will tell me the mode of preserving larve. I have seen some preserved which look very natural, and I wish to know the method employed.—E. G. Browne; Eton College, Windsor. [I have long been promised a paper fully explaining the process, aud accompanied by figures of implements employed. I know not why it is deferred; and trust the author on read- ing this will kindly comply with the wishes of his friends.— Edward Newman.) The Doubleday Collection.—The valuable collection of Butterflies and Moths, belonging to and collected by the late Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, has been now, by the wish of many collectors and with consent of the Trustees, placed in the Bethnal Green Museum; to be called “The Doubleday Collection.”—Septimus Warner; Hoddesdon, February 24, 1876. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 154.] APRIL, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. Description of Polysphenis sericina from Guenée. By Epwarp NEWMAN. PoLysPHENIS SERICINA (female). Tuis beautiful moth being now added to the list of the Lepidoptera of the British Islands, on account of its occur- rence in Guernsey, I think it will be well to copy the description from Guenée. “Fore wings bright grass-green, clouded with olive-green, with the median area, or at least the upper part of it, of a still brighter green, powdered with whitish; the two median lines are very distinct, white, bordered with black; extra-basilar line deeply notched towards the lower extremity; the elbowed line, with the teeth, very distinct, and prolonged into black points. The ordinary markings are more or less hidden in the greenish white; the subterminal line is almost reduced to white dots on the black wing-rays. Hind wings reddish fulvous, with the wing-rays and a cellular mark darker, and a broad, marginal, black band surmounted with a very indistinct transverse line; these markings are per- ceptible on the under side. That of the fore wings with a VOL. IX. L 74 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. large, cellular, black spot. Antenne of the male furnished with slender laminz, which are pubescent on the sides and verticillate towards the tip. Abdomen with the five anterior segments crested, the crests more conspicuous on the third and fourth. Larvee of a grayish flesh-colour, with brownish markings, and the dorsal area lighter and in form of a band; the medio-dorsal stripe very distinct, of a velvety black- brown, with an oblong white mark; in approaching the hinder incision the subdorsal stripe scarcely perceptible, surmounting a yellow spot about two-thirds of the length of each segment, and which becomes black on the 10th and 11th segments; the stigmoidal stripe is scarcely perceptible, and | nearly concolorous with the ground colour. A black base- ment occurs on the 12th segment, and this extends into the | anal claspers. The head is brown, with two black spots on the forehead. It feeds in April on the honeysuckie, and only in the night, and remains continually on the twigs, attacking the lower leaves.”—‘ Nocluelites, vol. ii. p. 72. This fine insect occurs in Central and Western France, Italy, Dalmatia, and the Channel Islands, but is nowhere abundant. Owing to the peculiar habit of the caterpillar, feeding as it does on the lower leaves of the honeysuckle, and only in the night, it is very likely to escape observation ; indeed, in the larva state it would be almost impossible to find. Our southern maritime counties offer it a congenial habitat, and the honeysuckle in all our hedgerows would afford it abundant food, while their excessive trimness and stiffness, so rarely found on the Continent, would offer it ample security against the umbrella and beating-stick of the larva-hunter. Iam indebted to Mr. W. A. Luff, who is now studying the Entomology of the Channel Islands, for this beautiful species. EpwarD NEWMAN. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen’ by EK. A. Frrcu, Esq. (Continued from p. 52.) 40. Andricus burgundus, Gir.—The resemblance between the gall of this species and the one last described is so strong that | am unable to give a constant mark of distinction. If, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 75 in spite of this, I have described A. circnlans as a new species, it is because the flies differ considerably from one another, and A. burgundus appears a month later. Dr. Giraud informed me that he also had met with the species last described, and thought itnew. He thinks that each gall of A. burgundus is formed on an anther, and the union of several galls in an undeveloped flower-bud would produce such an impres- sion. It is certain that the galls of A. cir- culans are generally developed on leaf-buds, and further investigations will show whether the galls of A. circulans are on/y to be found , on leaf-buds, and those of A. burgundus only on flower-buds. The figure of the gall of A. burgundus is from typical specimens. , —G. L. Mayr. GatL or ANDRICUS In the ‘Entomologische Zeitung’ (Stettin), BURGUNDUs (of the xxxi. 396, Von Schlechtendal, in his paper ae i = on gall-flies, describes the gall of another 3 and new species as the Andricus burgundus, Gir. This is another Turkey oak species, and has not occurred in Britain. —E. A. Fitch. 41. Spathegaster Giraudi, Tschek.—This small oviform gall, varying in length from 2°7 to 4°5 millimetres, is deve- loped in the early spring from -the small axillar buds (which are scarcely larger than a pin’s head) of the weakest, one-year old, shoots of Quercus pubescens. When recent it is green, more or less reddish, and gene- rally thickly covered with soft, red, por- rected hairs. It only consists of a thin, moderately soft shell, which forms the larva- * cell; the small bud-scales are situated at the base of the gall. The gall-fly appears in the first fortnight in May. ‘This year, the spring being late, | did not obtain the fly till the Gaur or middle of May, from fresh galls kindly sent — 5. Graupr. me by Director Tschek.—G. L. Mayr. This species—named after Dr. Giraud, from galls found rather commonly near Piesting (Austria), by Tschek (1869, 76 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Verh. der zool.-botan. Gesellschaft, Wien, xix. 559)—is but a _ synonym of one of Giraud’s own species, S. flosculi (1868, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. p. 54), as pointed out by Dr. Mayr. Ceroptres arator, H., occurs in the gall as an inquiline, in the summer of the same year.—L. A. Fitch. 42. Spathegaster aprilinus, Gir.—This vesiculate gall, normally about as large as a pea, is generally developed on the terminal, rarely on the axillar, buds of Q. pubescens, but it sometimes occurs on those of Q. sessiliflora. It is remarkable on account of its rapid growth, as it becomes mature, and ex- hibits the circular hole made by the exit of the fly, within a few days after the bursting of the buds. It is spheri- cal, oviform, or knobby, and either of a yellowish white or yellowish green colour, partly rosy, and covered with short scattered hairs; at its base it rests on the large exterior bud-scales ; wie ih the interior scales, which easily fall Srarnecaster arriinvs., Off, are dispersed about its upper part. It consists of a juicy, thin-walled marenchyma, and contains from one to five cells, which are conspicuous on the outside, appearing like bumps, and are often distinctly divided by furrows; in the interior a some- what perpendicularly-placed marenchyma forms the division of the cells. The cells are large in comparison to the size of the insect, generally oviform, and for the most part placed upright on their longitudinal axis. The galls are often so small that the buds which contain them can only be recog- nised through the bud-scales which are less regularly placed and are more open. Each gall-fly, when escaping, makes a circular hole in the substance of the gall, but it is done in such a mauner that the piece cut out is left adhering at one point. Soon after the escape of the fly the gall shrivels up to such a degree that we only meet with a dry crippled bud in its place. Dr. Giraud states, in his ‘Signalements,’ &c., that he found many galls on April 20th already pierced, and yet he obtained a number of flies up to April 23rd. On the 17th of April, last year, 1 found these galls on the | ; E : THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 77 Laaerberg, near Vienna; some of them were pierced, but in spite of that I obtained many of the gall-flies within the next few days. This year, spring being so late, I did not find them till May 15th; then, however, in great profusion on the Leopoldsberg, near Vienna. They occur as much on shrubby oaks as on old trees. The large well-developed galls were more or less pierced; they only produced two males, but in the course of the same month a number of Platymesopus tibialis, Weste.—G. L. Mayr. I have seen British specimens of this gall, found by Mr. Rothera, near Nottingham. It probably occurs elsewhere ; but, as Giraud observes, it occurs early, and the period of its existence is very short. It is, consequently, very likely to escape observation. In addition to P. tibialis, Mayr obtained four species of Ceroptres arator, H., in June of the first year.—E. A. Fitch. Fig. 43, ? GALL OF CYNIPS ARIES. 43. ? Cynips aries, Gir—This beautiful gall has been sufficiently described by Dr. Giraud in his ‘ Signale- ments,’ &c. (Verh. d. zool.-bot. Ges. 1859, p. 871), with this exception :—‘ Si je ne me trompe, elle siége dans le pétiole @une feuille dont la nervure principale seule a continué a croitre eta produit ce grand prolongement qui la surmonte ;” for the gall is a genuine bud-gall, being developed from the axillar buds, and still retaining the small bud-scales at its base. The specimen figured | received from Dr. Giraud,— G, L, Mayr. 78 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 44, ? Cynips gemmea, Gir.—With regard to this question- able species I refer to the description given in Dr. Giraud’s Fig. 44. ? Gatti oF Cynrps GEMMEA (natural size, and magnified). ‘Signalements,’ &c., and only give a figure from a typical specimen in the imperial zoological cabinet.—G. LZ. Mayr. 45. ? Cynips exclusa, Ratz.—It is very doubtful whether this gall is produced by a distinct species of gall-fly, or only Fig. 45. ? GaLL or Cynips Exciusa (in the bud). belongs to one of those just described. I add the figure of a specimen, from Von Heyden’s collection, which probably is referable to this species; but it is badly preserved, which makes it impossible to refer it to one of the previously described galls (Forstinsekten, iii. 56, pl. v., fig. 8).—G. ZL. Mayr. Notes on Preserving Larve. By Henry A. Aun, Esq. ALTHOUGH the mode of preserving larve for the cabinet is familiar to many practical entomologists, there may be a few who read this journal to whom the method, simple as it is, may be unknown. Specimens are often seen pickled in bottles of spirits; but treated thus they seldom form very beautiful objects, and, enclosed in tubes and vials, cannot be arranged side by side with the imago forms. Therefore, to know how to preserve larve in such a way that they may be THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 79 placed with the perfect insects, and so enhance the interest of their collections, would doubtless be a boon to many a tyro-lepidopterist ; and in the hope that, now the season has fairly set in, some may be induced to experiment upon the commoner species, these few notes are offered. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. _ Fig. 1. Blowpipe; the left-hand figure having the larve attached. Fig. 2. Shows the mode of preserving. For the loan of these two cuts—which illustrated my notes on the same subject, in ‘ Science Gossip,’ a few years back—I am indebted to the kindness of Messrs. Hardwicke and Bogue, the publishers of that journal.-—H. A, A, A blowpipe is required ; but as the instrument, constructed as it generally is, would be unfit for the work, it is necessary to procure some specially made from glass-tubing, the end of which is to be melted and drawn out to a fine point. It is, perhaps, preferable to make them oneself from tubes of 80 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. various diameters, so that the largest or most miuute larve may be operated upon. Two pieces of watch-spring, about three inches long, each having a portion at the tip heated, and then bent at right angles, a quarter of an inch from the end, should be bound round the blowpipe, as shown in fig. 1. A spirit-lamp, tripod stand, and an oven, are also requisite, the latter—represented in the sketch by the glass- bottle, as shown in fig. 2—being easily made from a tin- canister, such as chocolate is generally sold in, by punching out of the lid a hole the size of a florin. It is almost superfluous to mention that the larve should be in good condition, and selected, if possible, shortly after their skins are cast, but not before they have regained their toughness. They should be killed in the cyanide bottle, or with anything not destructive to their colour, and then steeped for an hour or so in a solution of alum to harden the skin. The internal organs are then to be removed by forcing them through the anal aperture with the fore finger and thumb between blotting-paper. The inside being com- pletely removed in this way, the larva should be fastened to the blowpipe in such a manner that the two pieces of watch- spring pressing against the point of the tube may grasp the smallest portion of its last segment. Thus fastened, it can be gently inflated and kept distended whilst drying in the oven, which, in the case of small specimens, will occupy from one and a half to two minutes, according to the heat, which should not be raised very high for those of a delicate colour. It sometimes happens that when inflated the larva does not assume the position required: it bends into a semicircular form, or the head-part curves downwards. To remedy this a simple arrangement of thin wire tied to the blowpipe, as shown in fig. 3, may be made to hold it whilst drying; in fact, by bending the wire it may be held in any position. \) : oe Fig. 3.—Fine wire attached to blowpipe to hold larve whilst drying. When removed from the oven dry, the specimens are ready to be mounted on twigs, very. fine ones being cut to fit in THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 8] between their claspers. If mounted in this way on the food- plant they will possess a very life-like appearance, and form beautiful objects for the collection. Cossus ligniperda preserves admirably ; and the Bombyces will be the favourites of all who take to preserving them. The larve of the Sphingide, if of a green colour, are almost sure to fade during the drying process, which for them should be conducted very slowly. Some persons restore the natural colour by the use of pigments; but this is to be deprecated. If there are many which do not retain their natural appearance, there are, on the other hand, many that do; and by practising on these a proficiency may be acquired which will enable the operator to manipulate the others with better chance of success. Henry A. Avtp. The Retreat, Blackheath. Preserving Larve of Lepidoptera.—Perhaps the following, taken from the ‘ Taxidermist’s Manual,’ may help Mr. E. G. Browne :—“ The easiest way of destroying the caterpillars is by immersion in spirits of wine. They may be retained for a long time in this spirit, without destroying their colours. After having killed the caterpillar, as above directed, make a small puncture at the tail, gently press out the contents of the abdomen, and fill the skin with fine dry sand, bringing the animal to its natural circumference. It is then exposed to the air to dry, aud will have become quite hard in the course of a few hours; after which the sand may be shaken out at the aperture, and the caterpillar then gummed to a piece of card. Another method is, after the entrails are squeezed out, to insert into the aperture a glass tube, drawn to a very fine point. ‘The operator must blow through this pipe while he keeps turning the skin slowly round over a charcoal fire; the skin soon becomes hardened, and, after being anointed with oil of spike and resin, it may be placed in the cabinet when dry. A small straw or pipe of grass may be substituted for the glass pipe. Some persons inject them with coloured wax after they are dried.".—R. Laddiman ; Norwich, March 18, 1876. [Ll have often tried the plan of killing larvae in spirits of M 82 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. wine, recommended by Mr. Laddiman on the faith of the ‘Taxidermist’s Manual, and actually procured a gross of small phials of very clear glass, intending to keep one larva in each; but long before the one hundred and forty-fourth phial was loaded, those at the beginning of the series had become as black as ink, which seemed so objectionable that I abandoned the attempt, and threw away the specimens. I have since received skins filled with fine dry sand, which continued to escape; I suppose through the aperture by which it was introduced. The drawers in which such pre- served larvae were deposited presented the appearance of being infested with mites, and constantly evoked the excla- mation :— I see you have mites here; you must look after them in time!” The coloured wax I have never tried.— Edward Newman. | Notes on the Yucca Borer (Megathymus Yucce, Walk.). By Cuas. V. Ritey, M.A.; Ph. D.* [THE Castnians have always been a favourite group with me, and I have felt a disposition to place them with those familiar Lepidoptera, of which Xyleutes Cossus is an expres- sive example, and which we all seem to recognise by the name of “internal feeders.” It is a group marvellously hete- rogeneous in its adult state, and marvellously homogeneous in the larval state. I recollect well the cachinnation I pro- voked, when in 1832 I proposed they should be associated: it was thought a climax of absurdity to place Xyleutes Cossus and Aigenia Tipuliformis in the same category. Mr. Riley’s most interesting paper gives me some confidence that the idea is not so far-fetched; and I hope hereafter, if I should live, to include other and unlooked-for Xylophagans, even among the Micro-Lepidoptera. But I will quote Mr. Riley. —Edward Newman.} The study of aberrant forms in Nature is always inte- resting. They are continually confronting the naturalist. They baffle the systematist, and constantly remind him of the necessarily arbitrary nature of his classificatory divisions. Few divisions seem more natural, at first glance, than that of * From a Paper read before the Academy of Science of St. Louis, U.S.: communicated by the Author. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 83 the Lepidoptera into Rhopalocera (butterflies, or day-flyers) and Heterocera (moths, or night-flyers). It was no sooner proposed by Boisduval than it was recognised as a most convenient arrangement, and adopted very generally. The antenne in this order are always conspicuous, and _ their clubbed or non-clubbed tips are easy of observation, and associated with other important characteristics which sepa- rate the two groups. The Sphingide, however, by their crepuscular habit, and their antenne thickening towards the end, though terminating abruptly in a point, bring the two groups in Close relationship, and diminish their value; while the Castniide, on the one hand, and the Hesperide, on the other, so intimately connect them, that it becomes almost a matter of opinion as to whether the former should be con- sidered butterflies, or the latter moths. Urania and other abnormal genera make the relationship of the two groups still more perplexing. On antennal structure alone—whether we consider the clubbed or non-clubbed tips according to Boisduval, or the rigidity, direction, and length, which Mr. Grote deems of greater importance—two primary divisions cannot be based. If we take the spring or spine on the hind wings, which is so characteristic of the Heterocera, we meet with the same difficulty, for a large number of moths do not possess it, while an accepted Hesperian (Euschemon Rafflesia, Macl.), from New South Wales, is furnished with it. Nor is there any one set of characters which will serve as an infallible guide to distinguish moths from butterflies; and the number of moths described as butterflies, and the fact that Kirby considers the position of Barbicornis, Threnodes, Pseudo- pontia, Rhipheus, Agiale, and Euschemon, included in his ‘Synonymic Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera’ as doubtful butterflies, gives sufficient proof of the truth of the statement. Between all classificatory divisions, from variety to kingdom, the separating lines we draw get more and more broken in proportion as our knowledge of forms, past and _ present, increases. Every step in advance towards a true conception of the relations of animals brings the different groups closer together, until at last we perceive an almost continuous chain. Even the older naturalists had an appreciation of this fact. Linnaus’s noted dictum, “Natura saltus non facit,” implies it; and Kirby and Spence justly observe that | “It appears to be the opinion of most modern physiologists 84 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. that the series of affinities in nature is a concatenation or continuous series; and that though an hiatus is here and there observable, this has been caused either by the annihi- lation of some original group or species...... or that the objects required to fill it up are still in existence, but have not yet been discovered.” Modern naturalists find in this more or less gradual blending their strongest argument in favour of community of descent; and speculation as to the origin, or outcome rather, in the near present or remote past, of existing forms, is naturally and very generally indulged, even by those who a few years back were more inclined to ridicule than accept Darwinian doctrine. Shall we then say that the old divisions must be discarded because not abso- lute? As well might we argue for the abolition of the four seasons because they differ with the latitude, or because they gradually blend into each other. Entomologists will always speak of moths and butterflies, howsoever arbitrary the groups may come to be looked upon, or however numerous the intermediate gradations. These thoughts naturally present - themselves in considering so osculant a species as the Yucca borer. The entomological reader is aware that the queenly Yuecas cradle and nourish a very curious and anomalous Lepidopteron—the Pronuba yuccasella. The genus is further interesting, from the entomological side, as giving us the insect under consideration. In the home of the Yuccas, and more particularly in the home of the caulescent species, like Y. aloifolia and Y. gloriosa, persons who have occasion to dig up the roots, or subterranean trunks, often notice that these are bored and hollowed out along the axis, the burrow cylindrical, and lined at its upper end with silk, which is generally intermixed with a white, glistening, soapy powder. These tunnellings are made by our Yucca borer, which dwells therein; and their presence may generally be detected by masses of excrement observable amongst the leaves, and by certain chimney-like projections made by the twisting and webbing together of the more tender heart-leaves, or even of the flower-stalk, after they have been partly devoured, into a sort of funnel, from which the excrement is expelled. ‘The tunnellings weaken the trunk and induce rot, so that the plant is not unfrequently prostrated thereby; and as the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 85 insect is sufficiently common in the Gulf States to sometimes be found in every third plant over extended regions, its work renders the Yucca worthless as a hedge-plant, for which it has been tried. In the months of April and May, in South Carolina, but earlier in more southern latitudes, the parent Megathymus may be observed, where the Yuccas abound, passing, with very rapid, darting flight, from plant to plant, remaining but a few seconds at one place, during which she fastens an egg to some portion of a leaf. She is generally seen at this work in the morning hours, ‘The eggs, which are well developed when she issues from the pupa, are laid singly, though several are often attached to the same leaf, generally near its tip, and on the upper or under side indifferently. In the course of about ten days the young reddish brown larva gnaws its way out through the crown of the egg, and conceals itself in a web between some of the more tender terminal leaves. Generally it will be found at first near the tip of a leaf, where the sides naturally roll up and afford a safe retreat. It then gradually works to the base, feeding the while, and rolling and shrivelling the blade as it descends. Other blades are often joined; and, in fact, the insect lives among the blades till it is about one-fourth grown, and seldom enters the trunk before that time. How soon, in the larval development, the white, powdery secretion, already spoken of, appears, or how many larval moults occur, has not been ascertained ; but the more mature larva is always more or less covered with this powdery matter, which doubtless serves as a protection from the mucilaginous liquid which the tissues of the Yuccas contain and freely exude upon interference or maceration. Pupation does not take place ull the subsequent late winter or spring; there being, from all that I can ascertain, but one brood each year. The burrow often extends two or more feet below ground, and during the coldest weather the larva probably remains in a partially dormant state at the bottom. Occasionally two larve inhabit the same trunk; in which case their tunnellings are kept separate, side by side. The pupa state is generally assumed just below the chimney-like funnel at the top of the burrow, and no other preparation is made for it than partial closing, near head and tail, to insure suspension. This 86 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. funnel is, in reality, built and extended by the larva; and what little matter besides silk goes to make its exterior has been added and worked in from the outside. In the several larve that I have had feeding in breeding-cages, this habit of building up and making tubes, for which remnants of leaves and other extraneous substances are pressed into use, struck me as quite characteristic ; and in one instance I have had such a tube extended over nine inches from the tunnelled trunk, the moss on which the section of Yucca rested being used in its construction. In the issuing of the imago the pupa skin is rent on the middle of the notum and across the eyes, and the casings of the legs are never, and those of the antenne seldom, severed from their solderings in the exuvium. The imago rests with its antenne slightly diverging and generally directed for- wards, with the wings elevated, closely appressed, and with the costa of primaries at an angle of about 45° from the body. Regarding the flight, which is diurnal, Dr. J. H. Mellichamp, of Bluffton, S.C., was impressed with the extremely rapid and darting motions of the insect as it passes from plant to plant; and Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of Detroit, who has had very excellent opportunity of observing the species in Volusia Co., Florida, informs me that, when startled, Megathymus flies directly upward twenty or thirty feet, then horizontally for a long stretch,—sometimes out of sight,—and descends as directly as it rose. It frequents open places, is very shy, and generally settles near the ground. (To be continued.) Entomological Notes, Captures, §e. On the Immense Flight of Terias Lisa in the Bermudas (Entom. ix. p. 54).—The majority of the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ will, I am sure, have felt great interest in the valuable paper, by Mr. J. M. Jones, on the extraordinary flight of Terias Lisa to the Bermudas. As I take especial interest in the migration of butterflies, as well as birds, and being ignorant of the geographical range of that species, beyond that given by Mr. 8S. H. Scudder in a footnote at p. 57, I should feel greatly obliged to my friend Mr. Jones if he could kindly answer the following questions:—(1) In THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 87 what proportion of sexes did the butterflies arrive? (2) Was the species previously indigenous to the Bermudas; and, if not, does the food-plant of the larve occur on the islands ? (8) Were the females observed to deposit any eggs? (4) Would the insect in the latitude of the Bermudas hyber- nate; and, if so, at what stage of its existence? Now, asa natural consequence, if Terias Lisa is not indigenous to the Bermudas, and its food-plant does not occur there, this vast flight of butterflies must have perished without providing for the continuance of the species. Darwinian as I am,— thoroughly believing in the evolution of species,—I cannot credit any of these interesting phenomena to “chance.” There must be a design in this occasional and often periodical migration of species, which, in regard of insects, must neces- sarily be, as a rule, only partial, after the manner described by Mr. Bates, as occurring in the Amazon region, and by Mr. Holdsworth, in Ceylon. There can be no doubt, I think, that many of our so-called species originate first by separations, as above alluded to, and then by the breeding inter se of these forced insular forms.—Henry Reeks ; Thruxton, March 8, 1876. Varieties caused by the Starving of Larve.—Mr. H. Ramsay Cox gives the following passage (Entom. ix. p. 58), as to the effect produced upon Vanessa Urtice in the imago state by starving the larve:—‘ The Urtice, in spite of their starving, came out nearly the natural size.” 1 beg to say that I once experienced a somewhat similar effect produced in the imagos of Vanessa Urtice; and a query, as to which, appeared in the ‘Entomologist’ (vol. v. p. 371). My expe- rience, however, was somewhat different from that of Mr. Cox, inasmuch as my specimens were very much smaller than the usual size, the largest measuring one inch and three-quarters, the smallest only one inch and five-sixteenths, respectively, from tip to tip of fore wings. At the time I had no idea of the probable cause; but from a paragraph in Newman’s ‘ British Butterflies’ (p. 54), being an extract from the ‘ Entomologist’ (vol. ii. p. 132), by Mr. J. R. S. Clifford, and remembering that my larve, like those of Mr. Cox, had been left with a short supply of food, I believe the cause of the small size of the imagos was attributable to the deficiency of food whilst in the larva state. My experience, as to the 88 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. wings of the perfect insects being in no way shrivelled, corresponds with that of Mr. Clifford.—George W. Oldfield ; 25, Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, March 1, 1876. Description of the Larva of Ebulea crocealis.—On the 14th of June last I received a few larvee of this species from Mr. J. H. Threlfall, of Preston, who had collected them at Grange; and on the following day a further supply from Mr. W. H. Grigg, of Bristol. The full-grown larva is about half an inch in length, and stout in proportion; head globular, the same width as the 2nd segment; body cylin- drical, slightly attenuated at the extremities; segmental divisions deeply cut; tubercles raised, each emitting a fine hair; a distinct polished plate behind the head. The ground colour is a very pale semi-translucent glaucous-green; the head, and plate on 2nd segment, intensely black and shining ; a dark green pulsating vessel forms the medio-dorsal line, this line dividing even the plate on 2nd segment; the sub- dorsal lines are waved, of the same colour, but finer and less distinct; there are no perceptible spiracular Jines; tubercles and spiracles black; hairs brownish. The ventral surface uniformly very pale, transparent glaucous-green. Feeds on Inula dysenterica, and when full-grown draws the edges of the leaves together, and in the cavity thus formed changes to pupa. The pupa is rather elongated, smooth, and shining ; colour a deep rich brown; the abdominal divisions yellowish brown. The imagos began to appear on June 30th.— Geo. T’. Porritt; Huddersfield, March 3, 1876. Early Hatching of Crocallis elinguaria.—In the early part of last August I took a female of Crocallis elinguaria at Bishop’s Wood, Highgate, which laid me a batch of eggs on the side of a chip-box. At the time I took the moth it was settled on a tuft of grass in the hedge, and had the appear- ance of being just out, so that I concluded the eggs would be useless; but upon looking at them this afternoon I found two small larve out, and the other eggs show signs of approaching fertility. On referring to Newman’s ‘ British Moths,’ I find that the larva lives throughout the winter. Is not this an uncommon occurrence ’—ZH. Holton ; 56, Acton Street, Gray’s Inn Road, March 4, 1876. [There are many instances of recorded deviation from the rule of hybernation in caterpillars.— Edward Newman.) THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 89 The Mole’s Flea: a Discovery for Leap Year.—A rare prescience, analogous to that which led Adams and Leverrier to announce the existence of a ninth planet long before our best instruments had brought it within the range of human vision, induced some of our leading entomologists to name an insect as the Mole’s Flea, just half a century before that saltant hexapod vouchsafed to present himself to the expectant eye of science. Mr. Fitch, whose researches on galls and gall-insects have rendered him the facilis princeps of the Cecidology of this country, has discovered that the mole is thickly infested with a minute flea peculiar to itself. He writes to me thus, in reply to my request that he will give me some details of the capture :—“1 do not think any ‘details of capture’ can be needed for the mole’s flea, as I believe the difficulty would be to find a mole on which these fleas were not abundant. Last spring I caught from thirty to forty moles, and I do not think there was one of them on which [ did not notice these fleas. Several of these moles were dead, though perhaps not stiff, when taken out of the ground, yet their fur contained the fleas; so I do not think they leave the animal so soon as is the case with some others, which I have observed to take their departure immediately after the death of the animal on which they were living. In killing hedgehogs, not always an easy task, I have seen the ground completely covered with fleas immediately afterwards : in one case, which | recollect more especially, the operation took place on a white door-step. 1 remember, last year, on catching a field-mouse, directly | had put an end to its existence by squeezing its throat, the fleas made their exit over my hand. If you recollect, | told you these fleas were blind; and I believe this fact is well known to microscopists.” I see by a list of microscopic objects, obligingly lent me by Mr. Fitch, that a “ mole’s flea without eyes” is advertised for sale; the price is one shilling and upwards for these and other parasites in the same catalogue, Mr. Fitch has supplied me most liberally with specimens of this flea, and L have forwarded a series of them to my friend Dr. Bowerbank, who has immortalised himself by revealing the secrets of the insect-wo1ld and of sponges. Dr, Bowerbank writes as follows :— | have carefully examined the mole’s fleas with a power of 200 linear, viewing them in every possible position, N 90 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. but I cannot detect an eye in any of them. They have beautiful, short, clubbed antenne, and are altogether very interesting little fellows.” J see no alternative, therefore, but to conclude that the mole’s flea is perfectly without eyes; and one sees at once that there is small need of the power of vision in an insect that is never destined to see the light of day except through the intervention of the mole-catcher. To a non-entomologist it must appear strange that the name of “mole’s flea” and “Pulex Talpe” should have been applied to a flea never found on the mole; but entomo- logists will know that this is in strict accordance with the time-honoured custom in the science, for an entomologist will frequently name-an insect after any plant, rather than that on which it feeds. Therefore the name of “ mole’s flea,” having been given by Samouelle, and endorsed by Curtis, Dugés, Westwood, and Walker, must be retained, however inappro- priate for the usurper, and a new name must be invented for this real inhabitant of mole-skin. Having virtually declined the practice of insect-naming and description-writing for thirty- six years, I shall not now resume it; so leave the christening of this little stranger to those who covet, and claim, and not unfrequently do battle for, such barren honours.—Ldward Newman. Bugs Introduced into Africa by the Arabs.—Inside, the dwellings of the natives are clean and comfortable; and before the Arabs. came bugs were unknown. As I have before observed, one may know where these people have come from, by the presence or absence of these nasty vermin, —‘ Livingstone’s Last Journals, vol. ii. p. 33. Insect Fauna of St. Helena.—The following brief extract is part of a letter from Mr. Waller to Dr. Hooker, and is reprinted from ‘ Nature’ for February 3rd:—‘ The insect flora[?], although so extremely limited that I have not in nearly even three months collected more in Coleoptera than one hundred and fifty species, still continues to keep up its character for eccentricity—ringing the changes on some half a dozen types (chiefly Rbyncophorous) to a marvellous extent. We seem, indeed, never to exhaust them, turning up new species almost every time that we can secure a hard day’s work on the Composite ridge. Having ultimately to” work them out, | take scores of specimens, and must have mounted carefully some six or seven thousand already.” THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 9] Answers to Correspondents. Windpipes of Insects: Organs of the Senses in Insects.— ] have read your article about the windpipes of insects (Entom. ix. 62) with much pleasure, and | think you are doing good service in thus enlightening our entomological friends, so few of them trouble themselves about such matters, although they are most interesting subjects for study. Species hunting is all very well; but to my mind the wonderful variations and adaptations of their organs to their especial purposes is by far the more interesting subject of study. Who knows anything about their organs of smell? I have long had some crude ideas on that subject, and I shall hope to discuss that subject with you some of these days.—J. S. Bowerbank ; 2, East Ascent, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea. [Certainly not sent for publication; but 1 hope Dr. Bower- bank will pardon the breach of confidence I commit in publishing it. It is lamentable to reflect that we have abso- lutely no knowledge of the seat of hearing, taste, or smell, in any of the hexapods; indeed, if we have not stood absolutely siill since the publication of the ‘ Bybel den Natuura’ in 1783, we may be said to have retrograded. I make no apology to entomologists for my exultation in having found an approver of my views. This exultation is surely allowable, when we hear the peans with which the naming of a new beetle is hailed.— Edward Newman. | Circulation of Blood in Insects.—In the last number of the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. ix. 90) it is stated that Dr. Bowerbank discovered circulation in insects. In a magazine, named ‘ Ward’s Miscellany,’ of 1838, it says that a German naturalist, Behn, discovered it. I should be obliged if you will kindly tell me on which side is the error.—Al/red Jones; Torquay, March 14, 1876. {Il may refer to this subject again hereafter. It will be sufficient for the present to state that 1 have ascertained the titles and dates of these papers on “ Circulation of Blood in Insects.” 1. Dr. Bowerbank’s papers are as under:—“ Ob- servations on the Circulation of the Blood in Insects.”— ‘Entomological Magazine, vol. i. pp. 239—244, April, 1833. “ Observations on the Circulation of Blood and the Distribu- of the Trachee in the Wings of Chrysops Perla.”—‘ Entomo- logical Magazine, vol. iv. pp. 179—185, October, 1836, 92 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. . 2. M. Behn’s papers are as follows:—“ Discovery of a Circulation in the Legs of Hemiptera, dependent on the motions of the Dorsal Vessel.”—JMiiller’s Archiv., 18385, pp- 554—62. “On the Structure of the Blood Vessels.”— Deutsch. Nat. Beright., 1844, p. 118. I think this will be considered as giving Dr. Bowerbank a decided priority.— Edward Newman. | Lampides beetica.—How many times has Lampides beetica been captured in England?—¥#. F. Johns; Winton House, Winchester, March 16, 1876. [Three: two specimens are said to have been taken by Mr. M‘Arthur; the first on the 4th of August, 1859, and the scecond the day following; the third specimen was taken by Mr. Latimer, near Christchurch, in Hampshire, also on the 4th of August, 1859. (See ‘ British Butterflies, p. 119.) No subsequent record has been published. There is something suggestive of my “ blown-over” theory in this accordance of date.— Edward Newman. | Inquiry respecting Asthenia pygmeana.—I have lately taken a specimen of a Tortrix unknown to me, and which agrees in every respect with Asthenia pygmeana in Stainton’s ‘Manual.’ Have there been any late occurrences of this insect? as I find it nowhere mentioned in the ‘ Entomologist’ or elsewhere. I was surprised to see it turn up, and I think I wust have mistaken it for some other insect. Could you oblige me with any information on the subject? I have never observed a specimen like the above-mentioned before. As there are so few Tortrices occurring this month I think 1 could hardly have mistaken it—W. Thomas; Surbiton ‘ Villa, Surbiton, March 7, 1876. {I am unable to assist Mr. Thomas in this inquiry. I am unacquainted with the species Pygmezana, and I have not seen Mr. Thomas’s specimen. This insect is the Subsequana of Haworth, of whose description Mr. Stainton’s appears to be a translation. A description in German will be found at p-. 281 of Herrich-Schefler’s splendid work, but no figure, it having been previously figured by Hiibner, No. 69. In such a case I would recommend Mr. Thomas to take the insect to Mr. Weir, Mr. Machin, or Mr. Eedle, either of whom would probably be able to give the required information at a glance.—Edward Newman.]| Larve in Reeds.—Could you kindly tell me what the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 98 enclosed larve are? They are abundant in the reeds here. —[Rev.] A. C. Hervey; Beaulieu, March 17, 1876. [The specimens of reeds sent contain each the larva of a parasite, which still requires further examination.— Edward Newman. Black Spots on Insect Cabinets—Can you tell me the cause of black spots arising in the drawers of a mahogany insect cabinet, lined as usual with cork? Some of my drawers are covered with the most unsightly black spots and blotches of all sizes. I find the cork beneath the paper where these marks occur of a blackish colour; but why it should be so I am ata loss to know. At first 1 thought that washing the paper in places with bichloride of mercury, or the accidental dropping of the oil of aniseed, thyme, and spirits of wine, with which I occasionally soak my insects, might have caused this discoloration; but places in some of the drawers where | know neither of these liquids have fallen, accidentally or otherwise, are just as bad. I find neither paint- ing them over with white paint, nor chalking them carefully, are of any use permanently, as the black substance, whatever it is, asserts its supremacy in the course of a short time, in most instances. Can you suggest a remedy? I have had the cabinet many years (probably ten); and it is only within the last year or two these disgusting disfigurements have appeared. They seem, too, to be increasing. The cabinet is mahogany throughout; there is no deal in it anywhere.— J. H. White; Hemingford Grey, St. Ives, Hunts, March 8, 1876. [I have never observed anything of the kind, and can hardly give an opinion. Perhaps some of my correspondents have had similar experience, and will say what remedy was found effective —Edward Newman.} Mosquitoes in Ireland.—On the 26th of January I was bitten by an insect, exactly resembling a mosquito, in the evening by lamp-light, in the residence of a friend in the centre of the county Wexford. I was first attracted by the buzz, with which I have had unpleasant associations both in Australia and America. After allowing it to bite me on both hands, I killed it. The marks of the bites still remain. Have mosquitoes often been observed in Ireland ?—Alfred Webb; 74, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, February 8, 1876. [Culex pipiens, the common gnat, is the only so-called 94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. mosquito of England and Ireland. It is abundant in both countries.—Edward Newman.) W. Thomas; Surbiton.—I am obliged for the notice, but prefer not recording escapes ; moreover, the insect in question would scarcly be recognisable on a gas-lamp.— LZ. Newman. Geo. R. Dawson; Driffield—The hind wings of the female are darkest. This is almost invariably the case in the Noctuidz, when the sexes differ.—Jd. E. F. C.—The food of larva of Bombyx Pernyi is unknown to me. In confinement it will eat oak; but the species ought not to be in the larva state at this time of year.— Edward Newman. Auguslus Priest—Many thanks; but I have repeatedly declined mere lists of names. If accompanied by any parti- culars that could possibly interest other subscribers, or any information respecting the habits, food, &c., of the insects named, such lists would be acceptable.—Edward Newman. Extract from the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Fesruary 17, 1876. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. Ants.—* Additional Observations on Ants,” by Sir John Lubbock, Bart. In this paper Sir John communicated some further experiments in continuation of those contained in his last memoir. As regards the cases in which when an ant has found a store of food, other ants make their way to it, he commenced by referring to some of his recent observations. To the edge of a board communicating with the nest he fastened three parallel strips of paper about a foot long (G, H, and 1). One of these (¢) led to a shallow glass tray contain- ing a number of larve. The object of this was to ascertain how many ants would find the larve for themselves under such circumstances, and, as a matter of fact, none did so. On the middle strip (H), near the centre, and at right angles with it, he placed two strips of paper two inches long, one (k) leading to another shallow tray (F) containing larve, while the other (L) rested on the third strip of paper (1). He then took an ant (F. nigra), marked her, and put her on the tray (F). She immediately took a larva, and went away to the nest along the strip of paper (Hu). Now, it is obvious that THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 95 by always causing the marked ant to cross from the strip of paper (H) to the larve over a particular bridge of paper (k), and if, whenever a stranger came, the paper bridges (K and L) were reversed, it would be shown whether the other ants who came to the larve had bad the direction and _ position explained to them. In such a case they would go right, notwithstanding the interchange of the paper bridges; but if they found their way by tracking the footsteps of the first ant, they would pass over the paper bridge (Kk), and thus be led away from the larve to the strip of paper (1). The result was that out of seventy-nine strange ants, which came up to the point at which the paper bridges diverged, twenty-four went straight along the strip of paper, eleven took the right bridge to the larve, while forty-four were misled, and went over the paper bridge (k) away from the larve to the strip of paper (1). He then slightly altered the arrangement, transfixing one end of the two paper bridges by a pin, and so fastening them by one end to the strip of paper (H), the other ends free, that each of them could be turned either to the larve or to an empty glass tray. When the marked ant came he turned one paper bridge (k) to the larva, the other (L) to the empty tray ; while whenever any other ant came he turned the bridges, so - that K led to the empty tray, and L to the larvee. Under these circumstances, seventeen ants which came along the strip of paper (H), without a single exception, went over the bridge (K) to the empty tray. He then varied the experiment by leaving the paper bridge (K) loose, as at first; but instead of having a separate bridge (L) he cut the strip of paper (H) into two pieces (#’ and H”); then, when a strange ant was coming, he rubbed his finger two or three times over the bridge (k), so as to remove—or, at least, confuse—the scent. As soon as the ant had passed over the first part (H’) of the strip of paper (u), and had arrived on the part (”), he took up the piece (n’) and placed it where the paper bridge (L) had been in the previous experiments, 7.e., so as to connect the end of H with the empty glass tray. By this arrangement the bridge K was left in its place, and, on the other hand, there was a bridge which the marked ant had crossed and re-crossed as often as K, but which led away from the larve. Under these circumstances, out of forty-one ants which found their way to the end of the strip (H), and within two inches of the larvee, fourteen only passed over the bridge (K) to the larvae, 96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. while twenty-seven went over (H) to the empty tray. Taking these observations altogether, out of one hundred and fifty ants which came to the end of the strip of paper (H), and thus within two inches of the larve, only twenty-one took then the right turn, and arrived at their destination. These experiments, therefore, certainly seem to show that when ants flock to a treasure of food, which one of them has discovered, they either accompany one another or else track it out by scent. The fact, therefore, is by no means an evidence of any high intelligence, or any complex system of communica- tion, but is merely an instance of instinct, little higher than that which is found in other social animals. On the other hand, that some higher power of communication does exist, seems, however, to be obvious from some of the facts recorded in Sir John’s previous paper. In the latter part of his present paper the author narrated a variety of experi- ments on the senses of ants, and on their power of recognising friends. A lively discussion followed the reading of the paper.—‘ Nature,’ March 2, 1876. The Doubleday Collection of British Lepidoptera.—The terms proposed by the Trustees of the Doubleday Collection, and agreed to by the Directors of the South Kensington Museum, are—(1) That the Collection shall be lent for a period of five years, after which the Trustees shall have the right of resuming possession of it. (2) That it shall be kept separate and undivided, and called the “ Doubleday Collection.” (3) That it shall be open to the public at all reasonable times, under the care of the attendant; and that due care shall be taken for the protection and preservation of the specimens. (4) That as soon as possible after it has been deposited in the Museum, a Catalogue, specifying the number of each species, &c., shall be made, a copy of which Catalogue shall be furnished to the Trustees. The Bethnal Green Museum is a branch of the South Kensington. The Collection has been safely deposited at the Bethnal Green Museum for about a month. Jt is at present in one of the lower rooms, near Lane Fox’s collection; but, so soon as arrangements have been made for the proper exhibition of the insects, it will be brought up. It has been inspected by several entomologists during the month.—Hdward Newman; 7, York Grove, Peckham, March 18, 1876. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 155.] MAY, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. On the British Species of Sphekodes. By Enwarp NEwMan. 1. SpHEKODES GIBBA, male. 2. Ditto, female. 3. S. SpHEKOIDES, male. 4. Ditto, female (Mr. Smith now places these as synonymous with S.gibba). 5. S. susquaprara, female (the head of the male is of the same subquadrate form). SPHEKODES is a genus of small bees, whose life-history is at present extremely obscure. Authors are by no means unanimous as to the leading question, whether the species are constructors or parasites, who labour not themselves, but avail themselves exclusively of the labours of others. St. Fargeau believed them parasitic on the genus Halictus, but Kirby says they burrow in the ground for purposes of nidification. To Mr. Smith we are indebted for an excellent monograph of the species, published in the ‘ Zoologist’ VOL, IX. 2] 98 THE ENTOMOLOGIST, (Zool., vol. iii., p. 1012), so long ago as the year 1845. In this the following observations occur on the question of parasitism; they will bear repeating after the lapse of thirty years :—“ Most authors who have described or alluded to this genus since the publication of Kirby’s ‘Monographia’ have described these bees as parasitic insects; but I am not aware that anyone has proved them to be so. This supposi- tion | believe to be founded on their wanting the pollinigerous organs, combined with a habit they have of entering holes or burrows in banks, as if in search of the nest of some bee, wherein to deposit their eggs. This, however, is but slight evidence. ‘There is, perhaps, no insect which has the habit of entering the burrows of other species more constantly than Trypoxylon Figulus,—an insect which IL have ascertained to be no parasite, since it furnishes its nest with spiders; still I have observed it burrowing. Again, Ceratina is desti- tute of pollinigerous organs; but this insect has been proved by Mr. Thwaites to construct its own nidus. Réaumur has described Sphekodes as excavating its burrows in the bare sections of banks to the depth of nine or ten inches, in which to deposit its eggs, together with a supply of pollen and honey. Mr. Kirby appears to have entertained the same view; and my own observation leads me to a similar conclu- sion. On several occasions I have seen these bees busily engaged in burrowing; and last summer I watched one thus employed for a considerable length of time. All that I have seen engaged in this way selected a spot either in the midst of a colony of Halicti or Andrenz. I think it, however, very probable that they frequently make use of a ready-formed burrow, and that they furnish a supply of liquid honey in the manner of Colletes or Ceratina. I am thus led to dissent from the generally-received opinion of their being parasitic, and shall endeavour, by future observation, to place their true habits beyond a doubt. Walckenaer, Serville, and St. Fargeau, agree in considering Sphekodes to be parasitic on Halicti. My own observation has shown me that they are as frequently to be found in company with colonies of Andrenz; and, if parasitic, it will eventually be found that they are by no means confined to the genus Halictus.”—‘ Zoologist, p. 1011 (1845). Ten years later Mr. Smith, in his ‘Catalogue of British Bees, seems to remain of this opinion, for he says— THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 “The bees which are included in this genus have hitherto been regarded as parasitic on those comprised in the genus Halictus ; and, indeed, many circumstances tend to support such a supposition. They are usually found burrowing, not ouly in similar situations, but forming mixed colonies. The females of both genera appear some time before the males, and in fact their economy is alike. St. Fargeau places them amongst his division of parasites, immediately following his exotic genus Rathymus, with which they have not the slightest affinity, their only resemblance being in the distri- bution of colours—black and red. The result of my observa- tion leads to the conclusion that no species of the Andrenidz is parasitic. The only apparent support of the theory of their parasitism is the absence of the usual pollinigerous organs. Such, however, is also the case in Prosopis, Ceratina, &c. In the year 1849 I discovered a mixed colony of Halictus abdo- minalis, Andrena nigro-wnea, Halictus Morio, Sphekodes subquadratus, and 8. Geoffroyellus: this being at a short distance from my house I had an opportunity of frequently observing their economy. My visits to the colony were frequent, and I made close observation on the proceedings of the bees; yet, notwithstanding, [ could not in a single instance detect the Sphekodes entering the burrows of Halictus. Those into which the former bee entered were of a smaller diameter than those of Halictus; in fact, inter- mediate in size between the burrows of H. abdominalis and H. Morio—too small to have admitted the female of H. abdominalis. These proceedings were observed on several occasions. No males of any of the bees were to be seen at this time, those of Andrena having disappeared some time, and those of the Halicti not being developed. On visiting the colony one cloudy morning 1 was much delighted to observe the head of one of the species of bees at the mouth of most of the burrows,—the female Halicti at their own burrows, and Sphekodes also at dheir own. The result of my observations of this colony led me to believe, still more firmly, that Sphekodes is not a parasite. Since the time when the above observations were made, I have on several occasions detected Sphekodes busily engaged in forming ber burrow ; a fact which I consider conclusive of the correctness of the opinions above stated.”—‘ Catalogue of Bees, p. 15. 100 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. In 1866 the late Mr. Shuckard, author of ‘Essay on the Indigenous Fossorial Hymenoptera,—a volume of great research,—issued a philosophical, but somewhat incomplete, work, intituled ‘British Bees: an Introduction to the Study of the Natural History and Economy of the Bees Indigenous to the British Isles. I say “‘ incomplete,” inas- much as the species are not systematically described, and the “natural history” of the bees we find under the “ general observations” which are appended to the “ general character” at the head of each genus. This plan has the advantage of admitting a discursiveness of style, which might be out of place in a more scientific and systematic work; but at the same time it allows a vagueness altogether at variance with the precision of true science. As an instance of this vague- ness, the author says that “All the facts recorded, without reference to authorities, are the result either of personal observation or of diligent study, which, from the length of time that has intervened, have become so blended in my mind that I can no longer separate their sources.” So that the author both assumes the liberty of appropriating the researches of others without acknowledgment, and of repudiating pass- ages which may hereafter be pointed out as erroneous, on the plea that they are, in all probability, copied from others. This seems hardly fair to those who have laboured long and assiduously in the same field. Thus the principle of suwm cuique is altogether ignored. Hence we scarcely know for what portion of the following remarks we are to give Mr. Shuckard the credit of originality :— “They are not uncommon insects ; and I have found them abundant in sandy spots sporting in the sunshine on the bare ground, where they run about with great activity; the females chiefly, the males the while disporting themselves on any flowers that may be adjacent; and they are especially fond of ragwort. Their prevalent colours are black and red, the latter occurring only on the abdomen in different degrees of intensity and extension, and sometimes limited to a band across it. Much difficulty attaches to the determination of the species, from the characters which separate them being exceedingly obscure, for it is not safe to depend on the differences in the arrangement of colour upon them, as it varies infinitely; nor can their relative sizes be depended THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 101 upon as a clew, for in individuals which must be admitted to be of the same species, size takes a wider extent of difference than in almost any of the genera of bees. St. Fargeau, who maintains the parasitism of the genus, accounts for it by saying that in depositing their eggs in the nests of the Andrene, Halicti, and Dasypoda, the Sphekodes resorts to the burrows of the species of these genera, indifferent to their adaptation to its own size ; and thus, from the abundance or paucity of food so furnished to its larvae, does it become a large or a small individual. Westwood says they are parasitic upon Halictus. Latreille says they are parasites. They are certainly just as destitute of the pollinigerous apparatus as the preceding genus. Mr. Thwaites once thought he had detected a good specific character in the differing lengths of the joints of the antenne, but I believe he never thoroughly satisfied himself of its being practically available. At all events, great difficulty still attaches to their rigid and satisfac- tory determination. There is an array of entomologists who deny their being parasites. Mr. Kirby says they form their burrows in bare sections of sand-banks, exposed to the sun, and nine or ten inches deep, and which they smooth with their tongues. But then, in impeachment of the accuracy of his observation, he further supposes there are three sexes, founding his statement upon what Réaumur remarks of having observed pupe of three different sizes in the burrows. In the first place, it is not conclusive that these pupx were those of Sphekodes; and secondly, we know that this condition of three sexes is found only in the social tribes, wherein the peculiarity of the economy exacts a division of offices. Therefore his adoption of this inaccuracy militates against the reception of his other statement. But Smith also states that they are not parasites, and apparently founds his assertion upon direct observation. It still, however, remains a debatable point, from the fact of the destitution of the pollinigerous brushes, and thence the character of the food necessary to be stored for the larva. It would be very satisfactory if these apparent inconsistencies could be lucidly explained. If, however, it be ultimately proved that Sphekodes is a constructive bee, as well as Prosopis, we have still this fact exhibited by our native genera, that none of the sub-family of short-tonged bees or Andrenide are parasitical. ‘This is a 102 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. remarkable peculiarity, as it is amongst them that we should almost exclusively expect to find that distinguishing economy, from the seemingly imperfect apparatus furnished in the short structure of their tongues. Jt is possible, however, that Nature has so moulded them as to fit them chiefly for fulfilling its objects within merely a certain range of the floral reign, and which restricts them to visiting flowers which do not require the protrusion of a long organ to rifle their sweet stores.”—‘ British Bees,’ p. 197. It will be seen, therefore, that the economy of these bees was unknown, or rather very imperfectly known, to those who have been the most assiduous in their researches into bee life-history. The insects themselyes—that is, their personal appearance—are familiar to all who have spent pleasant hours in the capture of wild bees. English species are very uniform in colour and general appearance; but those of the same species vary greatly in size. The species agree in having the head and thorax black, without any gloss, and clothed with a very short pilosity of a gray colour; the abdomen is gene- rally of a brick-red colour, and very glabrous; it is always more or less varied with black, particularly at the tip. None of the British species appear to have those yellow or whitish markings on the face which are so conspicuous and ornamental in the genus Prosopis. There are five species described as British by Mr. Smith, as under :— 1. S. gibba is fond of hiding in flowers, burying itself among the florets of composite flowers, especially of thistles ; and these flowers, being in great measure autumnal, it follows that autumn is the proper season for collecting this species, which is also frequently found on sand-banks, in. company with the burrowing bees that commonly frequent such situations. Fig. 1 represents a male; fig. 2, a female (the -unshaded parts of the figure are red in the bee; the line below represents the size); fig. 3 represents a male; and fig. 4, a female of Sphekodes sphekoides: this was the Melitta sphecoides of Kirby, ‘Monographia Apum,’ vol. ii, p- 41; it is not now maintained as a distinct species, but is incorporated with S. gibba, and included under the same. name. 2. S. rufescens.—There is a great confusion about the specific name of this species. It is certainly the Apis gibba THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 103 of Fabricius, but not of Linneus, which name is correctly applied to the preceding species, which it closely resembles. It seems to have been first described by Fourray; and Mr. Smith now combines it with his own S. pellucida, described at p. 1014 of the ‘Zoologist.’ It is equally abundant with Sphekodes gibba, frequenting composite flowers in the autumn, particularly those of thistles and ragwort. ‘The thorax of 8. gibba is wavy ; that of 8. rufescens finely punctured. 3. S. subquadrala.—This species seems of somewhat doubtful distinction. I have a single specimen so-named by Mr. Smith. I took ito ff the blossoms of the ragwort (Senecio Jacobea), in a gravel-pit on Blackheath, very near Vanburgh House. Mr. Smith says he had the good fortune to discover a colony of it; and, by watching it until the time when the males usually appear, at length succeeded, in the month of August, in capturing both sexes in the nest. The females were readily distinguished by their subquadrate heads from all the other species. The males are not so easily distin- guished ; they most closely resemble those of 8. gibba, but their heads are not wider than the thorax, the antenne are proportionately shorter, and the wings are not fuscous as in that species. Fig. 5 represents a female. 4, S. Ephippiata.*—This little bee is extremely common on composite flowers, particularly of ragwort, thistles, and scabious, I have occasionally found it abundantly on the field scabious (Scabiosa arvensis), or, in modern parlance, Knautia arvensis, and less commonly on Scabiosa succisa. It occurs also on Jasione montana on Blackheath, and on Ageratum Mexicanum in gardens. Mr. Smith has said nothing of its favourite flowers, localities, or economy; but, like several previous authors, he raised the varieties into species, and again united them, as in duty bound. Sex has also some bearing on the aspect of the insect, and probably also on its coloration. It is less and more slender than its congeners, and has a good deal the appearance of a small Halictus. Mr. Smith has a very excellent paragraph on this subject, which is admirably appropriate, and will be found particularly useful here, as I have no figure :— * Misprinted “ Ephippia”: the word probably meaning “ ephippiatus,” or saddled, in allusion to the red on the abdomen having a fancied resemblance to a saddle. 104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. “The size alone would serve to distinguish this little bee from its congeners; but it is subject to very considerable variety. The females have sometimes the extreme base, as well as the apex of the abdomen, black, and the head occa- sionally subquadrate; the legs are sometimes nearly black. The males vary much in the degree of colouring in the legs: specimens occur with their feet testaceous-red ; the abdomen also varies much in its markings. I formerly considered it to constitute two species; but I have satisfied myself that it is only avariable insect. In the Linnean Cabinet is the authentic specimen of the Sphex ephippia of Linneus,—one of the varieties of this insect. The M. divisa of Kirby is a dark example of the male, having the antenne black; but they are usually more or less fulvous beneath; but in truth it is almost impossible to decide whether the latter variety be not in reality a very minute male of 8S. gibbus.”—‘ Calalogue of Bees, p. 20. The fifth species is described by Mr. Smith, under the name of S. fuscipennis, which is said to have been found by Dr. Leach at Kingsbridge, in Devonshire. EpWARD NEWMAN. Larve Preserving. By W. EK. Suarp, Esq. To the systematic entomologist who makes a collection of any special group of insects, not so much from a mere love of acquisition of specimens, or ambition to surpass rival collectors, but who looks upon it as an illustration of the various groups, families and genera into which the insect world is divided, it must ever cause regret that this should only be attainable with complete satisfaction in the imago state. In all orders of insects those typical characteristics which unite or divide species into genera and families are displayed in many cases as much in those stages which we must consider as incom- plete, as in the imago form. Bearing this in mind the methodical collector of insects should exhibit not only the imagos of a species, but also side by side with these the unattractive larva from which they sprang, the pupa form and home in which they underwent their metamorphosis, and even the egg from which they were first hatched; and these THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 not placed unmeaningly side by side on pins, but so arranged as will best illustrate the habits, food, and general economy of that species. We could then see at a glance the whole life-history of the insect, and the better appreciate those typical distinctions which are often more forcibly developed in the long larval life than in the indefinite characteristics of the imago. Yet how seldom do we see among collectors such a course adopted. One of the chief reasons for this deficiency is doubtless want of space in cabinets or store-boxes. To introduce into a collection, already sufficiently large, the whole antecedents and surroundings of every species from egg to perfect insect, would require immensely more room than most collectors have to spare. This difficulty, however, is not insurmountable. The real secret lies in the difficulty there is found in satisfactorily preserving these immature forms; and we owe our thanks to Mr. Auld for having given some valuable hints on so difficult a subject. As regards my own experience, I have several times tried this plan of inflation, but have not as yet been able to get very satisfactory results from it. Of course, the fault may lie as much with the want of skill in the operator as with the method itself. My difficulties are these, and perhaps Mr. Auld would say whether he has been able to overcome them, and, if so, how. First, one of the results is a distension and rigidity of the skin perfectly unnatural to the living larve. It is obvious, that as the skin of the caterpillar is blown out to its fullest extent, and kept so till dry, there can be none of the folding in of the skin at the segment joints, neck, &c., and all these indentations are completely lost in the smooth rotundity of the inflated skin; for instance, in such a subject as L. Quercus the narrow purple bands which lie between the segments are extended till the larva is almost unrecognizable ; indeed, it is quite curious to observe the loose flaccid skin, when inflated, suddenly start out to its very fullest extent, like a small balloon. Again, the larva is generally blown out perfectly straight by this method (indeed Mr. Auld gives directions for the attainment of this end), and by the extension of the skin the body is elongated perhaps one-third more than its natural length when in a posture of repose. The head is also stretched out to its furthest extent, claspers and legs the same, and sg 106 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. altogether the inflated skin looks but a wretched caricature of its original self. By this operation, too, the skin becomes very brittle, and unless great care is taken the hair is very likely to be singed, or the skin scorched to a beautiful brown tint. These, however, are but minor objections, the chief one seeming to me to lie in the undue extension and rigidity of the body. Perhaps where I have failed in getting satisfac- tory results, more skilful operators might succeed; but even those museum specimens which I have seen preserved in this way seem open to the same faults. The method I have found to produce the best results I was induced to adopt from a paragraph in ‘Science Gossip,’ - page 234, 1872. The plan consists of injection with white wax. Paraffin wax is what I use injected into the skin after the contents have been removed, as Mr. Auld describes. The wax is melted by being placed in a vessel immersed in hot water, and then injected into the empty skin by a syringe, having a very fine orifice, which is inserted into the anal opening. A piece of cotton, slipped round the last pair of claspers, should be held by the fingers against the syringe to prevent the larva slipping off, which it is very liable to do, and thereby spoil the operation. The melted wax must be urged very gradually into the skin, until the exterior is plump and full, but not so full as to distend any part in an unnatural manner. The skin should be held to the syringe till the wax becomes bard enongh not to run out, and at the same time pliable enough to yield to the fingers, so that any impressions, indentations, or other markings requisite can be made, and the juncture of the segments run round with a blunt knife, lightly or deeply, as the subject may require. The larva can be curled or bent round, the head drawn back as in Vinula, or the front segments pusbed together as in some of the Sphinges. The Geometer larve can be bent into their natural form ; warts, humps, &c., brought into full relief; claspers and legs arranged to satisfaction; and, in short, all the fantastic forms which adorn the exterior of this magazine, imitated to an almost exact copy of Nature,—all which results are quite unattainable with the inflation system. In preserving larve in this way, the principal points to guard against are as follows:—Too rapidly or vigorously filling up the skin, in which case the wax may burst through THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 107 or overflow, and with pilose larve irretrievably spoil the specimen, as when the wax once gets on the outside of the skin it is impossible ever to get it off without pulling all the hair off with it. In the case of smooth larve the wax, if it overflows, can easily be pulled off when hard. If, on the contrary, the injection be carried on too slowly, the orifice of the syringe will be closed by the hardened wax, and must be taken out of the skin and warmed again; and to keep the larva steady at the same time, without the wax already injected into it running out, is no easy matter. With care, however, both these extremes may be avoided. The real difficulty is with very small or slender larve ; indeed, I should suppose for these the inflated mode would answer better than the injection. I have not myself tried much below the size of P. Rape. With hairy subjects the chief difficulty is to prevent the hairs coming out during the process of disem- bowelling; and I should like to know whether any contributor has ever had the courage to attack Chrysorrhcea or Auriflua, and, if so, with what results, as, from bitter experience, | have learned it is better to have nothing to do with them. To ensure the colour of some of the green or transparent skinned larve, a little colouring matter of the correct tint, mixed with the melted wax before injection, will be found to give good results. As regards mounting, it is certainly very unnatural to see larve stuck on the ends of wire, or fastened flat down to cardboard, it being much more in harmony with Nature to mount them on the proper food-plant, which should be carefully dried,—leaves, stem, and flowers, if possible,—and then the larve of different ages skilfully fastened on by the hidden help of wire, gum, &c. 1 should be glad to hear the experience of other ento- mologists on this mode of larve preserving, as I consider many are debarred from this branch of collecting by the numerous and acknowledged difficulties which are attendant. W. E. Swarr. Birkenhead. [The reader will of course understand that I am not responsible for any of the plans recommended by my correspondents. I have not tried either of them.—Edward Newman. | 108 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Notes on the Yucca Borer (Megathymus Yucce, Walk.). By Cuas. V. Ritey, M.A., Ph.D.* (Continued from p. 86.) THE first notice of this insect that we have any record of is that by Boisduval and Le Conte, who figure it under the name of Eudamus? Yucce on plate 70 of their ‘ Iconographie.’ Though there is no text accompanying the plate, it is evident from the generic reference that the insect is considered Hes- perian, and no one could hesitate to so consider it if guided by the figures. In those of the imago the head is unnaturally broad, the body too sleuder, and the antenne with the club too slender and too much hooked. The wings in repose are thrown forward as in Thecla; the antenne erect, and the legs too slender. The larva has the large and nutant head, nar- row thoracic joints, and green, yellow and white longitudinal stripes so characteristic of Hesperid larve. The pupa has much the form and colour of Epargyreus Tityrus, Fabr. In short, these figures, in many respects, and those of the larva and pupa more particularly, are so unlike the insect considered in the present paper, that the question might be justly raised as to whether I am dealing with the Yucce of Boisduval and Le Conte, if the figures in the work in question were known to be generally trustworthy. But 1 have already shown how inaccurate and unreliable some of the said figures are ; while the food-plant, as indicated by the specific name, and the size, markings, and colour of the perfect insects in the plate, leave no doubt as to the identity of Yucce, B. and L., and the species here considered. Too much imagination entered into the composition of that plate, and the probability is that after Le Conte’s figures were received in Europe by Boisduyal, the latter by mistake coupled with Yucce the larva and pupa of some other large Southern Hesperian. The next reference to this insect is by Walker, in 1856, who is the first to briefly describe it as Castnii Yucce. In 1871, Kirby referred it doubtingly .to A%giale, Feld., in Hesperide. In 1872, Scudder made it the type of a new genus (Megathymus) in Hesperide, without further diagnosis than the incorrect figures in the ‘lconographie’ alluded to. * From a Paper read before the Academy of Science of St. Louis, U.S,: communicated by the Author, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109 This reference is followed by Wm. H. Edwards in the Synopsis accompanying the first volume of his work on N. A. Butterflies (1872). Scudder subsequently states that “it is not a buterfly,” and Mr. A. R. Grote, after an examination of specimens collected in Florida, regards it “as belonging to the Castnians, where it is placed by Walker.” It will thus be seen that this insect has sorely perplexed systematists, having been bandied from the butterflies to the moths ; and that the balance of opinion withdraws it from the butterflies and places it with the Castnians—a family which, in some respects, combines the characters of the two great Lepidopterous divisions, but is regarded, and justly, as having most affinities with the moths. I shall endeavour to show that this opinion is not well- founded; that Megathymus is a genuine butterfly, and that its greatest affinities are with the Hesperians. Together with one or two other species it forms a small, aberrant tribe ; but, in order to more fully discuss its affinities, it is necessary to give an exposition of its characters, as no detailed descriptions have yet been published. Affinities.—Scudder, who has certainly given more attention than perhaps any other author to the Hesperians, divides them into two groups, which he considers of tribal value. The first to which he applies Latreille’s name Hesperides is characterized chiefly by the primaries in the male having a costal fold (often inconspicuous, however); by the posterior extremity of the alimentary canal being protected beneath by a corneous sheath, which extends beyond the centrum or body of the upper pair of abdominal appendages, sometimes nearly to the extremity of the appendages; by the club of antenne being elongate, roundly bent, or with a sinuous lateral curve; by the prevailing colour being dark brown, with white or translucent angnlar spots; by the stout body and swift flight; by the eggs being distincly ribbed vertically ; and by the larve generally feeding on leguminous plants and living in horizontal nests made with the leaves. The second tribe, to which he gives Hiibner’s name Astyci, the front wings of the male have no costal fold; the extremity of the alimentary canal is not protected by any extruded sheath ; “the prevailing tints of the wings are tawny and black, marked also but often feebly with pale, sometimes vitreous, spots ;” 110 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the antenne have a stout club, which either tapers rapidly or is devoid of a crook; the hind wings are usually horizontal in rest; the eggs are smooth, usually broader than high ; and the larve “feed on Graminee, and generally construct vertical nests among the blades.” The eggs of the Castnians are, so far as I am aware, unknown and undescribed. In both butterflies and moths they present an infinite variety in form, in sculpture, and in the manner in which they are laid. As a rule, however, those of the larger moths are either ovoid, spherical, or flattened, and rarely subconical or sculptured ; while those of butterfles are more often conical, and present greater variety in form and sculpture. The eggs of Hesperians are subconical, and those of the Astyci, as we have just seen, in being smooth and broader than high, agree exactly with those of Yucce. The larve of the Castnians are, according to Boisduval, endophytous, boring the stems and roots of Orchids and other plants, like the Sesians and Hepialians, and like Yucce. But they are ornamented with the ordinary horny piliferous spots or warts which characterize Heterocerous larve, and have a horny anal plate. Butterfly larva, on the contrary, rarely possess these warts, but frequently have the body uniformly beset superiorly with close-shorn bristles as in Yuccz, such bristles generally springing from minute papille. The newly-hatched larve of the two divisions approach each other more nearly in general appearance, as all animals do, the farther we go back to the commencement of individual life; but though the newly-hatched larva of Yucce bears a general resemblance to the same stage in many endophytous Heterocerous larve (e.g. Xyleutes Cossus), yet in the stiff hairs springing from the general surface, or from very minute points, instead of from distinct tubercles, it agrees with the Rhopalocera. The legs, both false and true, together with their armature and the trophi, are so extremely variable in both divisions that comparisons can hardly be instituted. The endopbytous habit, though very exceptional, is found in butterflies (e.g. Thecla Isocrates, Fubr.: see Westwood’s Intr., ii., p. 869). None of the Heterocerous borers, so far as my experience goes, line their burrows continuously with a matting of silk ; but use the silk very sparingly, or not at all, till about ready to pupate. The larva of Yucca, for the most THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 111 part, lives in a tube of silk, which it builds and extends often several inches beyond the trunk or stem in which it burrows, and from which it often, especially when young, issues to feed. In this, again, it approaches-the Hesperians, which are partial concealers, and live, when not feeding, within silken cases or tubes constructed among the leaves of their food-plants. The pupz of the Castnians, like those of all Heterocerous borers known to me, are, according to authors, armed with rings of minute spines on the hind borders of the abdominal joints—the spines serving a very useful purpose in assisting the pupa out ofits cocoon. Heterocerous borers also pupate in a more or less perfect cocoon, made either within or without the burrow; and, in the issuing of the imago, the mesothoracic covering generally collapses, the leg-cases become unsoldered, and those of the antenne are always separated and often curled back over the head in the exuvium. The Hesperians pupate within the silken cavity occupied as larva, or else in a separate slight cocoon: the pupa is generally attached to a silken tuft by the hooks of the cremaster, and sometimes by a silken girth around the middle of the body besides: it is not unfrequently covered with a slight powdery bloom, and is characterized by the prominence of the prothoracic spiracle: the exuvinm more nearly retains its form, the leg-cases remaining soldered, and even those of the antenne being rarely separated. In not having a well- formed cocoon, in being covered with bloom, in the characters of the exuvium, in the conspicuity of the prothoracic spiracle, but more particularly in the want of minute spines on the borders of the abdominal joints, Yucew is again Hesperian and not Castnian. Indeed, except in the broader anal flap, densely surrounded with stiff bristles, in place of an apical bunch of hooks, in the smaller head and larger body, it resembles Nisoniades in general form, colour, and texture. The typical Castnians, in the perfect state, have the wings large with loose and very large scales, and the hind-wings invariably armed, at costal base, with the long stout spine, or spring, which serves to lock the wings in flight by hooking in a sort of socket beneath the primaries, and which is so characteristic of the Heterocera, The venation resembles more nearly that of the Hepialians, and is totally unlike that 112 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. of the Hesperians. The veins are slender: in the primaries la and 5 are as stout as the rest: the discal cell is short, connected transversely with 3 and with an areolet above: in the secondaries the cell is nearly obsolete, and the indepen- dent or vein 5 of secondaries is as stout as the others. (Comp. Fig. 30 a, b, with Fig. 31.) The antenne, though thickened at tip, are generally long and more or less supple, and there are two distinct ocelli between the eyes, behind the antenne. ‘The Castnians vary much in general appearance, but, whether we deal with the Brazilian Castnia Linus (Cram.) with its narrow, elongate, rounded, clear-spotted wings, and its remarkably elongate and swollen basal joint of the middle tarsi; or with C. Licus (Cram.) which has broad, angular wings; or with the genera Ceretes, Orthia, Gazera, and Synemon—we find the characters above-mentioned constant: they are typical of the family and are Heterocerous characters. Yucce, on the contrary, has none of these characters ; but in the smaller wings, in their venation, in the closeness of the small and narrow scales and hairyness at base, in having no ocelli, and in the unarmed secondaries, enlirely agrees with the Hesperians. 1 attach much less importance to the antenne, size of head and body, or even the spurs of tibiz ; because they are all more variable. Thus, while most of the Castnians have the antennal club tipped with a spine or a bunch of bristles, others (e.g. Castnia Orestes, Walker, from Surinam) have it of the same shape as in Yucce, and unarmed, or even more short and blunt (Synemon Theresa, Doubl.). Again, in most Hesperians the club tapers, or is curved at tip; but there are all degrees of variation, from the extremely curved club of Epargyreus Tityrus (Fabr.) to the straight and blunt club of Oarisma Poweshiek (Parker). The small head and subobsolete spurs in Yucce are abnormal compared with either family ; for most of the Castnians have the spurs much as in Hesperia, and the head almost as broad as the thorax. In the stiffer, relatively shorter antenne, with large club; in the spines which stud the tibie, as well as in the stoutness of the thorax and abdomen, Yucce is again Hesperian rather than Castnian. The Castnians, like the Uranians and many other exceptional moths, resemble the butterflies in being day-flyers ; but the position of the wings in repose, which is a more important THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 113 character, is said by all observers to be similar to that of Catocala, Drasteria, and other Heterocera, viz., deflexed or incumbent. Yucce, both in manner of repose, in colour, and in pattern, is a staunch Hesperian. In short, a careful consideration of the characters of our yucca borer shows that in all the more important characters it is essentially Hesperian; and that in most of those characters by which it differs from the more typical species of that family —as in the small spurs, in having only the apical ones on the hind tibia, in the bial spines, and difference in size of legs ' —it is more Rhopalocerous than Heterocerous. The same holds true when we consider the adolescent states. In the small head of both larva and imago, and in the very large abdomen, it is abnormal; but these characters are traceable to the abnormal larval habit, and are very unimportant compared to the pterogostic and other characters cited. | have long since concluded that general larval form and appearance is so dependent on habit and so variable according to habit, that it is less valuable than more minute structural characters, and that for purposes of classification it has even less value than egg-structure, and infinitely less than imaginal characters. All endophytous Lepidopterous larvae, of what- ever family, have certain general resemblances that are a consequence of similarity of habit; and I give it as my emphatic opinion that Yucce is a large-bodied Hesperian, which, though approaching the Castnians through Synemon, has no real relation with them. In certain marked characters it departs from the Hesperians as at present understood, and the only question which a careful study of the species gives rise to in my mind is—not whether it should be considered a Castnian, but whether it offers characters that necessarily separate it from the Hesperians. Families should, I think, be made as comprehensive as possible and not unduly multiplied ; and in considering aberrant forms, the objects of classification are best subserved by retaining them in what- ever division can claim the balance of characters. It is better to widen than to restrict in the higher groups. LeConte does better service in bringing Platypsylla among the Coleoptera than does Westwood in creating a new Order—Achreioptera —for it. Phylloxera, in Homoptera, is much more wisely retained in the Aphididae than made the type of a new Family. - 114 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Let Yuccw, therefore, be retained in Hesperide. By its aberrant characters it may constitute the type of a third tribe, for which I would propose the name Castnioides. This Tribe consists at present, in addition to Megathymus Yucce, of two other good species, the one from Mexico, the other from Costa Rica. It is very probable that this number will be greatly increased as we come more familiar with the Lepidopterous fauna of Mexico and Central America, where the yuccas and agaves abound; for I have little doubt that the last-named plants will also be found to nourish other species of the Tribe. Enemies.—1 have reared from the yucca borer eleven Tachnia flies, all belonging to the species which I have ~ designated anonyma, and which infests the larve of a number of other Lepidoptera. The fact that Yucce is attacked by such a parasite is further proof that it is more or less an external feeder, since it is hardly probable that the parent Tachina would enter the burrow, and I know of no genuine endophytes that are similarly attacked. Conclusion.— Whether we have in our yucca borer a remnant of more ancient and synthetic types from which the Castnians on the one hand and the Hesperians on the other are derived, or whether we have in it a more recent variation from the more typical Hesperians, are questions which, with _ present knowledge, permit only of a speculative answer. The former hypothesis is, however, the more plausible. The Castnians, while occurring in Mexico, find their greatest development in Central America and Brazil. The few Cast- nioides known, inhabit the southern part of N. America. During the tertiary period, when the ocean reached over the whole Mexican plateau northward, the fauna of North and South America was much more similar than at the present time. It is not difficult to conceive how a Lepidopterous family that was then common to both divisions of the con- tinent, may since that time have deviated in the two directions indicated, and yet have left some less modified forms in the intermediate country. We are assisted in this conception if we view, with some botanists, the Yuccas as remnants of an ancient flora. We may learn from the history of this butterfly, as from that of the Hackberry butterflies, how unsafe it is to describe, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 115 and particularly to create genera, from mere drawings. Megathymus, as founded on Boisduval’s figures, is very much of a myth. It is so with all genera erected by the mere coining of a name without recognizable definition; and while a Hiibner, in making a number of divisions on superficial grounds, may accidentally hit upon relationships which sub- sequent research proves correct, he certainly does not greatly benefit science by his work. Again, we may learn the necessity for the adoption by entomologists of some rules for guidance in matters that do not come within the scope of present accepted rules. Can names connected solely with published figures be accepted? Shall we write Yucce Boisduval or Yucce Walker? Such questions become the more important when two different names are employed. A figure, however good, cannot be considered a definition ; and, whilst most entomologists would consider that the species in question had not virtually been named until described by Walker, others take a different view, and perhaps with reason, since a good figure, so far as recognition of the thing intended is concerned, is infinitely more definite than the majority of the earlier descriptions of species in entomology. In conclusion, | take pleasure in expressing my obligations to Mr. W. F. Kirby of Dublin, Mr. John A. Ryder of *Phila- delphia, and Mr. Herman Strecker of Reading, Pa., for kind assistance in my studies of this insect; and more particularly to my esteemed correspondent Dr. J. H. Mellichamp of Bluffion, S. C., for his efforts in furnishing material, aud to my friend Mr. S. H. Scudder of Cambridge, Mass., for valuable aid, always freely given. Cuas. V. RILey. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Trauslated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mittelenropaischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fitcu, Esq. (Continued from p. 78.) 46. Biorhiza renum, Uart.—This gall is, in the fresh state, very beautiful, though small. It appears towards the end of September on the under sides of the leaves of Quercus sessiliflora, Q. pedunculata, and Q. pubescens, generally in large numbers, and often densely crowded: it is attached to 116 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the leaf by means of a very delicate, extremely short stalk, and is not visible from the upper side. In shape it is either spherical, oval, reniform, or tuber- culate, and has a central diameter of two millimetres. In colour it is at first green; but later on it gene- rally changes to a brilliant red. The gall exhibits in section a suc- culent parenchyma; and in the \ Interior is a larva-cell, without an inner gall. In the month of Octo- ber the galls begin to fall off the leaves: they pass the winter on the ground. Dr. Giraud states that he did not obtain the flies till the fol- lowing summer.—G. L. Mayr. BrornHIZA RENUM. Having described the root, bark, and bud-gails, we now come to the large class of leaf-galls, thirty-three of which are described by Dr. Mayr. In his description of this gall he says, as above, that there is no inner gall; this he subse- quently corrects by saying, “I find a thin, but indistinct inner gall.” This species has been recorded from several localities in England and Scotland, and I have found it widely distributed in Essex, but it only occurs on the leaves for about the first fortnight in October, and, like the oak- spangles, it swells up in the winter; so, in order to be successful in breeding the gall-flies, it is necessary to keep it moderately moist. Dr. Giraud, who was ihe first to breed the Cynips, says :—“ It is remarkable that the galls inhabited by the Biorhiza assume a blackish colour and a regularly oval form, whilst those which are occupied by other insects remain yellow or red, and preserve their irregular form.” Synergus varius, H.,and S. Thaumacera, Dalm. (= Klugii, H., and luteus, #7.), are inquilines of this species, both occurring in April of the second year. Dr. Giraud mentions 8. vul- garis, H.; but, as this is not confirmed by Mayr, it is probable the specimens were referable to S. varius. Schlechtendal bred a male Callimome from these galls, but the species was not specified. The only other parasite I can find recorded is Mesopolobus fasciiventris, Weslw., in addi- _ tion to the Anthomyia (Diptera), which was bred by Hartig, — ; : 4 1 i Sr ie - THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Ll7 who was somewhat doubtful as to its being the producer of the gall. He named the species A. Gallarum.—E. A. Fitch. 47. Biorhiza synaspis, Uart.—This gall may be found in May on the under side of Fig. 47. the leaves of young oaks. It is a green, r.. sappy, smooth ball, of from five to seven (“A/G i) millimetres in diameter, and attached to the ) ay leaf in one spot only. In section it exhibits a central larva-cell, surrounded by a thin Bronmiza syvaspts inner gall bordering the ‘sappy reticulation, (#”"! i” section). In June the gall falls, and assumes a red colour; and towards the end of the month, or in July, it is pierced by the wingless gall-fly. The specimen figured I obtained many years ago from Dr. Giraud (never having found the gall myself). It is of a brownish yellow colour, covered with numerous red spots.—G. L. Mayr. This insect belongs to the Hartigian genus Apophyllus, which is separated from Biorhiza, Westw., through having one less joint in the antenna than that genus. Hartig him- self included this species and Biorbiza aptera both in Apophyllus. Since the publication of his ‘ Mitteleurop. fichengallen, &c., Dr. Mayr has met with the galls of this species in some numbers on Quercus sessiliflora, and more rarely on Q. pubescens in September, thus differing from Hartig’s time of appearance, who says “the gall falls in June.” He also bred from them at the beginning of October several specimens of Synergus albipes, H., and S. physo- ceras, H,; the latter occurs in no other gall but this, Hartig’s specimens, received from Kollar, being bred from “small round galls on the leaves of Quercus pubescens.” This_.gall has not been recorded as British, but it is doubtful whether it does not occur here.—L. A. Fitch. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. : DECEMBER I, 1875. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair. Zygena Filipendule with Yellow Spots.—Mr. W. A. Forbes exhibited a variety of the burnet moth (Zygena Filipendulz) with yellow (instead of red) spots, of which he 118 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. had bred several from larve taken near Winchester. They were bred with others of the ordinary colour; but he believed that the variety was natural, and not caused by extraneous circumstances. New Coleoptera.—Mr. G. C. Champion exhibited speci- mens of Anisotoma oblonga, H7., taken by him near Farnham, and A. curta, Fairm., from Esher, Surrey. The latter was new to the British list. Also A. Algirica, a new species, taken by Mr. Rippon in Algiers. Larve and Pupe of Ephydra.— My. William Cole exhibited carefully-executed drawings of the pupz of a species, appa- rently. belonging to the Dipterous genus Ephydra, which he had taken clinging to the stems of grass below high-water mark, near Southend. The water whence it was taken was brackish. He also exhibited the larve and perfect insects in spirits. Parasites of Osmia.—The President stated, with reference to the numerous parasites found on Osmia tridentata, that M. Jules Lichtenstein, of Montpellier, had recently obtained the Zonitis preusta from the cells of this bee; and likewise the Eucheelius vetusta, Duf, from its desiccated adult larve, in the same way that Halticella Osmicida effects its meta- morphosis; thus making the thirteenth parasite recorded as affecting this Osmia. The Doubleday Collection. [The following correspondence will interest readers of the ‘ Entomologist.’] 11, Duncan Place, London Fields, Hackney, E. March 18, 1876. To the Directors, South Kensington Museum, London, 8.W. GENTLEMEN,—The Doubleday Collection of Lepidoptera, recently placed in the Bethnal Green Museum, is a collection of very great value to all entomologists, containing as it does types of nearly all the British and European species; and it is very essential that it should be open for al] students to be able to compare and name specimens therefrom. This Collection, being arranged according to the universally accepted catalogue of our species, it is, therefore, of the greatest value. During the lifetime of the late Mr. Doubleday, the Collection was always open to any entomologist who wished to inspect it; and we beg permission to have the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 119 same privilege allowed to us at Bethnal Green Museum. It is almost impossible for a student to compare specimens if the Collection is kept in a public place; therefore we venture to hope that the Collection will be kept in a private room. The late Mr. Doubleday was one of our very best authorities on the Lepidoptera, he having diligently studied the species during the whole of a long lifetime, and his knowledge of them was probably greater than any other living British entomologist. Therefore, we beg on behalf of the four entomological societies (the Haggerston, the East London, the South London, and the West London) we represent, to suggest this memorial. If our ideas on the subject are not fully explained herein, we beg to suggest a deputation, con- sisting of two members of each of the above societies, wait upon you at any time or place you may suggest. Signed on behalf of the Haggerston ntomological Society, consisting of one hundred members— J. A. Crank, M.P.S., &c. W. Harper. On behalf of the East London Entomological Society, consisting of forty members—D, Pratr. TT. EEepte. On behalf of the South London Entomological Society, consisting of ninety members—G.C. CHAmpron. J.G.MArsH. On behalf of the West London Entomological Society, consisting of ninety members—T. Bopen. W. Gates. South Kensington Museum, London, S.W. April 7, 1876. Bethnal Green Branch Museum. Sin,—I beg to acknowledge receipt of a memorial, bearing date 18th March, 1876, signed by you and seven other gen- tlemen representing the Haggerston Entomological Society, the East London Entomological Society; the South London Entomological Society, and the West London Entomological Society, in reference to the Doubleday Collection of Lepi- doptera, which has been lent by the Trustees for exhibition in the Branch Museum at Bethnal Green, I have the pleasure to acquaint you that, upon careful consideration of the arrangements necessary for the proper care of the Collection, it has been decided to give full effect to the wishes which have been expressed on the part of the four entomological societies named. A room will be specially provided, and an attendant will be in readiness to show the 120 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Collection to such persons as may apply to the officer in charge for permission to inspect it.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, RUNCLIFFE OWEN, J. A. Crank, Esq. Director, S. Ken. 11, Duncan Place, London Fields, Hackney, E. Death of Thomas Wilkinson.—We regret to have to chronicle the death of Thomas Wilkinson, the distinguished entomologist. Mr. Wilkinson died on Thursday morning, April 13th, at his residence in Cliff Bridge Place. The cause of death is supposed to have been internal rupture. By profession Mr. Wilkinson was a butler; but during the latter part of his life he was in a state of independence. At the time of his death he would be fifty-eight years of age. Mr. Wilkinson was known as an entomologist, not only in Britain, but on the continent of Europe. The greater part of his life he devoted to patient and persevering efforts in rearing our Micro-Lepidoptera, and watching them through the stages of their minute existence. By his indefatigable exertions he succeeded in unloosing many a Gordian knot that would have continued to puzzle the mere theorist for years to come. His knowledge was not confined to entomo- logical science. He was also a great botanist, and was more or less acquainted with many other natural sciences. It was not a little owing to the fine combination of knowledge which he possessed that he succeeded so eminently and so practically in his own favourite branch. He leaves behind him a collection of entomological specimens, which is declared by competent judges to be the best in the country. Mr. Wil- kinson united to his great abilities as a naturalist many personal virtues. He was a steady, upright man, mild and unobtrusive in his manner. There was no element of selfish- ness in his composition. A true lover of Nature, his mind was commonly absorbed in his delightful studies; and he was thus elevated above all meanness. Regardless of praise or reward, he humbly laboured in that field of science which he made his own. In the death of Mr. Wilkinson the town of Scarborough has sustained a great loss.—‘ Scarborough Gazetle, April 20, 1876. Errata.—Y. 103, line 3 (present number), “ Fourray” should be “ Fuureroy ;” lines 8 and 9, after “S. gibba” read “is coarsely, that of S. rufescens finely, punctured.”—Edward Newman. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 156.] JUNE, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Trauslated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropadischen Kichengallen’ by E. A. Fircu, Esq. (Continued from p. 117.) Fig. 48.—DryoPHaNTA SCUTELLARIS (and in section). 48. Dryophanta scutellaris, Oliv. (Cynips folii, Hartig, Schenck, Schlechtendal).—The gall of this species, which is universally known and te be met with throughout Europe, is large, juicy when recent nd spherical. It appears on the under side of the leaves « Quercus sessiliflora and Q. pedun- culata; it only adheres t the leaf in one spot, which is the reason it does not show « 1 the upper side. It varies in size - from one to two centimetres in diameter, and is of a green, yellow, or—if exposed o the sun—red colour; its surface is either smooth or me or less covered with small papilla. Even when dry the ,a:. somewhat resists the dividing knife ; however, it exhibits in .ection no actual inner gall, only a spongy, loose, gingerbread-like parenchyma, which contains VOL, IX. R 122 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the larva-cell in the centre. The gall-makers emerged from the end of September to the middle of December. It is impossible to mistake this species for the one next described, —D. folii, Z.,—as it strictly keeps to the above-mentioned oaks.—G. L. Mayr. The galls of this and the next species have been much confounded together; but as Mayr says that the true D. folii of Linné only occurs on the South European species of oak, —Q. pubescens,—it is hardly. possible that it can be British. I have specimens of D. folii received from Dr. Mayr, and can certainly say I never saw galls like them in this country: they are spherical, as D. scutellaris, with the texture and smoothness of the common D. divisa galls. Our common cherry-galls must, therefore, be referable to D. scutellaris, and possibly, in a few cases, to D. longiventris. They occur commonly in Britain, ranging as far north as Perthshire. I found them exceedingly abundant last autumn twelvemonths, on the large sappy leaves of the stubs and pollards of the : Undercliff, in the Isle of Wight, from which I bred D. scutel- : laris from Ist to 21st January, Synergus pallicornis in May and June, Decatoma biguttata in May, and Callimome regius from May to August. Mayr mentions three species of Synergus and two species of Torymus, as connected with this species, viz.—Synergus pallicornis, H., appearing in May of the second year; Synergus ‘'scheki, Mayr, in April of the second year; and Sapholytus connatus, H., as inqui- lines; and Callimome abdominalis, Boh., on the authority of Hartig; and Callimome regius, Nees, which occurs from October of the first year throughout the summer of the second year, as parasites. In the galls of. this species, as also in those of Cynips glutinosa, C. Kollari, and C. lignicola, Callimome regius is in some cases a parasite of the inquiline, when it is generally rather smaller. Mayr received one specimen of 8. connatus from Tschek, labelled—*“ From D. scutellaris gall;” but possibly it might have emerged from a gall of A. noduli, occurring in the leaf. In Germat’s ‘Zeitschrift’ (vol. ii. p. 192), Hartig describes Neuroterus inquilinus, and says:—“I once bred a single female from a gall of Cynips folii” = scutellaris, Ol. Whether this has been confirmed since, | cannot say. We often find single Synergus larvee living in small chambers made in the yr 1s THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 123 substance of these galls, and in no way connected with the inner gall or dwelling proper of the Cynips. This I have also observed in the galls of C. Kollari, and in the cup of the galls of A. gemme, in which case the tenant is one of the Cynipide—Andricus trilineatus, H. It is an interesting case of parasitism, showing most clearly, although now proved beyond doubt, the vegetal subsistence of Synergus larve. It also has a bearing on the mode of life of different species, and its presence in such a situation in no way interferes with the production of the gall-maker. Schlechtendal describes four varieties of this gall, tenanted by the Dyrophanta, Synergi, and Pteromalide. He also observes that—* In galls which pass the winter under the leaves I can never find a Cynips.” The British inhabitants of these galls, bred by Mr. Rothera and named by Walker, were, besides the gall-maker, Synergus (sp.?), Eurytoma nodularis, Megastigmus dorsalis, Callimome elegans, and Callimome antennatus (? female, ? versicolor). Mayr does not seem to have received M. dor- salis as an inhabitant of the cherry-galls. Walker observes that the specimens from these are rather larger than Ter- minalis-bred specimens. C. elegans is a willow-frequenting species. In addition to the above record of parasitism we have three species of Ichneumonide mentioned by Ratzeburg, as connected with this species, two of which were bred by Bouché and one by Brischke, viz.—Porizon claviventris, Gr.; Bracon aterrimus, Ra/z.; and Orthostigma gallarum, Ratz. He also bred or received the two species of Torymide, men- tioned above; his T. nanus, /érst., “from oak-leaf galls,” were probably from the galls of some other species. ‘T'wo species of Pteromalus—P. fasciculatus and P. jucundus—are mentioned by Forster; and, as noticed at p. 42 of this volume of the ‘ Entomologist,’ an Aphis—T. dryophila—may sometimes be found feeding on the incipient galls of this species.— FE. A. Fitch. 49. Dryophanta folii, Linné (non Hartig).—The gall of this species is moderately common. It only occurs. on Quercus pubescens, It appears on the under side of the leaves about the beginning of June; it is of about the size of a pea, and is a dull, bare, brownish yellow, moderately hard ball; it is covered with scattered inconspicuous flat papilla, adheres to the leaf only at one point, and is not visible on the 124 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. upper side. When mature it exhibits in section a dry, but not dense, radiating parenchyma, and contains in the centre a cavity for a larva-cell, but no inner gall. Late in the Fig, 49.—DryorHantTa rom (and in section). autumn we find some galls fall off, while others still adhere to the leaves. From galls kept in a room the flies appeared from October to December.—G. LZ. Mayr. The inquilines and parasites of this species, given by Mayr, are as follows:—Synergus pallicornis, H., in the spring of the second year; Syntomaspis lazulina, Férst., Mayr and Haimhoffen bred over two hundred specimens of this species, mostly in May and June of the second year; Callimome abdominalis, Boh., in March of the second year; and C., regius, Nees, from March to June of the second year. Mayr also notices an interesting case in which he collected a specimen of this gall on July 18th, then quite immature, which produced Synergus pallicornis in the following spring. —E. A. Fitch. Easter at Witherslack. By J. H. THRELFALL, Esq. On Friday, the 14th of April, Mr. J. B. Hodgkinson and myself went to Witherslack on the old errand. The weather during the week had been anything but propitious; and during our stay, until Monday night, cold winds to some extent neutralised the heat of an April sun. As far as the perfect insect was concerned, Mr. Hodgkinson’s usual per- severance was rewarded with several specimens of such : 3 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 125 insects as Dasystoma salicella, Micropteryx purpurella and M. unimaculella, Depressaria pallorella and D. capreolella, Butalis incongruella, Gracillaria phasianipennella and G. elongella, with others of less note. My own attention was to a great extent confined to larva, and the following fell to our united efforts :—Coccyx hyrci- niana was very plentiful in spruce-firs, in the same plantations as Coleophora Jaricella in the larches; the latter so abundant that almost every bursting shoot was whitened by its occu- pants. The oxeyes along every road were twisted by Dicro- rampha acuminatana and D. consortana; but they are yet too young to take, except for special observation. Lampronia prelatella was in some quantity under wild strawberry-leaves near the plantation; it appears very local, as, although its food-plant occurs plentifully all over the district, we only found it in a space of perhaps one hundred yards. Laverna miscella, mining the Helianthemum, was too young; but Depressaria assimilella, in united broom-twigs, was full grown, and no doubt would have left in a few days. Rumex acetosella yielded its usual variety of Gelechiz ; the larva of G. tenebrella is certainly a most curious one, in no respect like any other of its family that I have seen, perhaps on account of its habit of feeding internally in the stems (the larva is stout, rosy red, and inactive; perhaps it may turn out something else). On the bank Anthyllis shoots betrayed the presence of Gelechia anthyllidella by their bleached appearance, although the surrounding vegetation still retained its wintry appearance. Whilst collecting Ocnerostoma pinia- riella in the leaves of Scotch fir, we were surprised by finding a larva drawing the same together in a web, which is supposed to be Cedestis farinatella or C. gysselinella. Can anyone oblige by describing the difference between the habits of these larve? Selecting the warmest night, we obtained—by beating heather, Myrica gale, and cranberry, into an umbrella—various larve of Noctuze, Geometridae, and Coleophore, including C. pyrrbulipennella and C. juncico- lella, the latter in abundance. Instead of wasting time by endeavouring to select these on the spot, we tumbled the beatings into a sack, and carefully sified them at home, by which means most extraordinary spiders, bugs, &c., were exposed. Elachista gleichenella was abundant on a stiff, 126 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. narrow grass, which grew only under the shelter of some juniper bushes in a dry stony field; but E. serricornella was unobtainable: probably it is a late feeder, as it does not appear before July. This was the result of our holiday; and in the coming months no doubt we shall be furnished with ample material for observation and reflection, and less usefully with perfect insects for the setting-board. The collector should regard the net as useful only when it directs him to the locality of an insect, and gives a clew to the discovery of its larva; and if he should discard it for an entire season, possibly on looking over the year’s work, during the inaction of winter, he would find his cabinet certainly no poorer, and his mind replenished with an amount of information no mere collecting can afford. J. H. THRELFALL. 4, East Cliff, Preston. Lepidoptera collected at Great Malvern in 1875. By Mr. W. Epwarps. April 24th.—Argiolus, T. Rubi, Napi, Rape, Brassice, and Cardamines. May 29th.—Sinapis (scarce), Geryon, Ulmata, Euphor- biata, Omicronaria, Punctaria, Adustata, Marginata, Sylvanus, Alveolus, and Tages. May 30th.—Started for Sinapis; very scarce to former years; captured twenty-nine after walking twelve miles or more. May 31st.—Tried sugar; insects abundant. Amongst my captures were Ocularis, W. Latinum, Batis, Plecta, Rurea, Thalassina, and Prasinana; while Trilinea and Strigilis were swarming. Wind north-east. June 4th.—Insects at sugar; one fine male Alni taken by a friend. My fresh captures were A. Ligustri, Bella, Rumicis; snails, beetles, and centipedes, a pest. Wind north-west. June 7(h.—Fresh captures: one Alni; Anceps, Megace- phala, L. Comma, Furuncula, and Fasciuncula. Wind south-west, and muggy. June 8th.— Tried for Alni in same woods, without success. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 127 June 16th.—Sugar; took Derasa. Glow-worms most brilliant. June 24th.—After much rain beat for Geometrz : captured Marginata, Albulata, Bisetata, Blomeraria, Thymiaria, Rhom- boidaria, Elutata, Albicillata, and Ocellata. June 28th.—Tried sugar; no success. July 1st—Tried sugar; saw Dentina. July 10th.—Perla swarming on the walls in Malvern. July 12th.—Captured at sugar, A. Ligustri (in fine con- dition) ; likewise Brunnea, Festiva, Nebulosa, Conigera, and Lithargyria. Wind south-west, muggy. July 16ih.—Took Adippe, Aglaia, Paphia, G. C-Album, Argiolus (second brood), Semele, Urtice, Bisetata, Margari- tata, and T. Quercus (first time taken in this locality by myself). Insects very numerous. A hot, muggy day, with occasional glimpse of sun. July 191h.—Went in search of Iris, where I had the pleasure of taking it last year; but no success. July 26th.—Tried sugar again ; nothing fresh but Lucipara. July 28i(h.—Tried again the quarters for Iris; but in vain. Fritillaries and worn Linea in abundance. August 3rd.—Tried sugar: took Nictitans, Putris, Cytherea, and Puta. Wind cold, north-west. August 91h.—Took Diluta, Fimbria, Janthina, and Plecta, at sugar, August 171h.—Diluta abundant; captured some fine dark varieties. ‘Trapezina, snails, earwigs, centipedes, and wood- lice, a pest. August 23rd.—Tried sugar; nothing fresh; but was very much astonished to find L. Egeria, with wings extended, evidently sipping away with great gusto the repast which was laid for its nocturnal ally. My friend Mr. Onslow, who has spent many evenings with me this season, was as much surprised as myself to find such an unusual visitor to sugar. Among other lovers of sugar, | have once seen a toad, a dor- mouse, aud common mouse; the two latter upon several occasions. Wind south-west. September 9th.—Captured Citrago, Silago, Cerago, Aurago, and Ferruginea, at sugar. Wind south. Seplember 13th.—Nothing fresh; Xanthias plentiful. Seplember 24th.—Ceruleocephala at the lamps; likewise Pennaria. 128 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. September 30th.—Captured a fine specimen of Convolvuli; Grapta C-Album very abundant; while Urtice and Io, with Agestis, I never saw more plentiful— almost every bramble blossom had a specimen. Edusa has been taken on the railway-banks but sparingly. I think this locality may boast of the number of butterflies: I have taken forty-two out of the list within a radius of eight miles. I was very unfortunate at ivy bloom, owing to so much rain and cold nights. W. Epwarbs. Great Malvern. Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Atypus Sulzeri in the North of London.—Some time ago I was studying ‘Blackwall’s Spiders,’ and have been very much interested in the various accounts, but none gave me so much pleasure as that of Atypus Sulzeri; and ever since I have “had it in my head,” and always look for its tubes whenever I have a chance; and last week, in my rambles in this lovely north of London, I saw what at first appeared like a piece of dirty tape, hanging from the sides of an over- hanging bank. My “heart was in my mouth” directly I saw it, for I felt sure it was the nest of Atypus; so I very carefully dug it out, and at the bottom was the owner,—a female, a most ferocious animal, ready to show fight if touched. I generally like to feel how hard a spider can bite ; and Atypus would take the prize, for I could not stand it. J examined the bank and found several others, the tubes varying from four to seven inches, each containing a female, and at the bottom of one | found the remains of a beetle of some kind. This interested me much, as I read in the ‘Entomologist’ that Mr. Moggridge thought they fed upon worms. I venture to think that the jaws are better formed for feeding upon Coleoptera than soft worms. I send the nest just as I found it, after taking the females out, upon which I am operating to show jaws, &c. LI left several nests for future examination; and on paying a second visit I noticed one blown up, and just as I was taking a fly out of my net I noticed a small spider; and upon bringing my pocket-maguifier upon it found it a young Atypus, but could THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 not think how it got into my net: certainly I had been sweeping. About half an hour after I observed a web, which I thought was a gossamer; but, on closer examination, was surprised to find it covered with a number of young Atypi, the same size as the one found upon my net. I counted those on the web, and found about forty or more: they were passing and repassing each other upon the threads; the web was upon some wild sage. I boxed a dozen, and left the others for future examination, for [ mean to “keep my eye” upon them, and learn all I can. [examined one under my microscope, and was much surprised to see the eyes move round, as though set upon a universal joint.—Fred. Enock ; 30, Russell Road, Seven Sisters Road, April 3, 1876. {Of course | was greatly interested in this communication, and I confess felt extremely sceptical as to the eyes moving round, “as though set on a universal joint;” but not feeling competent to express any opinion on a subject so new and so unexpected, I forwarded the communication to Dr. Bower- bank, whom I have ever found ready to assist me in the editorial comments which I find I am expected to append to very many of the communications received for publication. As a matter of course I solicited Dr. Bowerbank’s sentiments on the subject, which, with his unvarying courtesy, he sent me as under :— “1 have two very fine cast skins of the garden spider, and in both these the eye appears to have been skinned along with the rest of the organs. If it had not been a fixed organ this could scarcely have happened. I have always felt convinced that spiders, like snakes, shed the skin of the eye along with the rest of the dermis. Of course I cannot contradict the assertion of Mr. Enock, as I have not the specimen he refers to; but I presume that the same structural law obtains through the whole tribe of spiders; and I do not think that it is in the power of a hand-lens to determine whether the eye does move or not, and | think it more probable that the reflection of the lens in the eye of the spider has deceived the observer, and a very slight movement of the creature’s head would cause the appearance of a move- ment of the eye. In the compound eyes of the dragonfly, beneath the microscope, the reflection of a pin, placed between the object-glass and the eye, may be seen in every 130 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. one of the lens by a little management; and this fact is well known to old microscopists when the eye is viewed by direct light. I should have replied sooner to your note, but I had to find and examine my spider-skin objects.—J. 8S. Bower- bank ; 2, East Ascent, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea, April 10, 1876.” Notwithstanding Mr. Enock’s firm conviction of the value and validity of the discovery, and notwithstanding also the very rational doubts thrown out by Dr. Bowerbank, I have thought it desirable to bring the whole subject under the notice of entomologists, hoping that, in the brief intervals they may snatch from the worship of the potato-bug and the vine-pest, they will find a solution of the most interesting question that has for a long time claimed their attention. It is fortunate that the ‘ Entomologist’ should have been the first | to record both the burrowing of trap-door spiders into the bark of trees, and the possession of a revolving eye by any member of the octopod exosteates. With regard to Dr. Bowerbank’s example it can scarcely be considered a parallel case, for the reptiles, and emphatically the chameleon, shed their skins entire, eyes and all; and yet they all possess a rotating motion in the eye, and the chameleon more than any other. Of course the discussion cannot end here, and it is, moreover, desirable that it should receive the most searching investigation. — EKdward Newman. | Instinct of Bees.—An interesting exhibition of the instinct of bees occurred to me during the summer. I had been professionally engaged in the town, about a mile from my residence, and upon returning in the middle of the day IL found my bees had swarmed. I always kept empty hives ready, and forthwith hived the bees, placing a white cloth over the hive, because the day was very hot, the sun powerful. I set the hive at one-end of a table close to the spot upon which the bees had fixed. At the time of hiving 1 had not a hive-board ready to place the hive upon, but had one carefully prepared in readiness for the evening, when I proceeded to place the hive upon the board, preparatory to setling it in its position in the bee-house. Upon lifting the hive to set it upon the board, | observed the table, where the hive had stood, covered with numbers of bees, which soon began to run about in all directions, from their having been thus suddenly disturbed. [I did not feel inclined to interfere — THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 13] with them, but simply placed the hive on the board with the entrance towards the bees, and wailed to see the result. They continued to run about the table for about half a minute as if bewildered, not knowing where to find the hive, when I beard a peculiar vibrating and buzzing sound pro- ceeding from the hive. In an instant all the bees faced about, with their heads towards the hive; and in half a minute not a bee was to be seen upon the table,—they had all marched into the hive in regular procession. The above sound appears to have been produced by the queen summon- ing her subjects to take possession of the hive in its new position, and they immediately responded to the call.— W. B. Clarke; 9, Marine Terrace, North Shields, May 10, 1876. [This seems at variance with the observations of our best observers, who deny to bees the sense of hearing.— Edward Newman. | A Red-Leiter Day.—A red-letter day in this season of black frosts, white frosts, persistent north-easters and clouds of dust, is something to give us a little encouragement and raise our drooping spirits. Time present offers nothing to cheer the entomologist, for a long season to-morrow has not failed to be like to-day, so that it seems almost useless to look forward,—biting winds and chilling frosts still prevail. We must, therefore, solace ourselves with a thought of the past; and so a day which would not, in an ordinary spring, be considered worthy of a chronicle, starts forth into vivid remembrance, and seems to ask for a notice it would not otherwise obtain. While penning this I am recalling April 4th,—a lovely day of an extremely pleasant week,—a day reminding us of a line of Horace :— “‘ Solvitur acris hyems, grata vice veris et Favoni.” The balminess of the atmosphere, after a succession of wind, snow and hail, induced me to pay a visit to some sallows in full blossom about four miles distant. Armed with lanterns, boxes, and a wide-spreading dusting-sheet, I set forth with three friends (two of whom are ‘correspondents of yours— Messrs. 8S. O. and H. N. Ridley) hoping for success,—at least in the number of our captures, if not in their rarity. Nor were we disappointed ; at every shake of the gold-coloured branches numberless catkins, and almost as many moths, 132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. came tumbling down upon the sheet: Gracilis and Rubricosa came down plentifully ; Stabilis, Instabilis, Cruda and Gothica in abundance; nor did Exoleta, Satellitia, Vaccinii and Spadicea fail to put in an appearance. “ Here's Gracilis,’— “'There’s Rubricosa,”—“ Here’s Exoleta,” followed in quick succession. The consequent excitement and the soft air of the evening have stamped the day upon onr recollection as peculiarly enjoyable; and now that May is come—charged with March winds, March dust, and March frosts—we look back upon it with the greater pleasure. 1 only hope many of our friends took advantage of it, and, while deriving equal pleasure with ourselves, were still more successful; and they who allowed it to slip by will, I hope, be reminded by our experience, when sallows are again in blossom, to seize the opportunity, and seek occasion to chalk out a good “ red- letter day.”"—[Rev.] P. H. Jennings; Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, May 15, 1876. Early Emergence of Reclusa.—It may be of interest to you that a specimen of Reclusa, in my possession, emerged before the 25th of March, though kept in an atmosphere only two or three degrees above the external air. I see some authorities give May as the time of its emergence—-T. H. Ormston Pease; Cote Bank, Westbury-on-Trym, May 1, 1876. Correction of Error.—Lampides Boelica.—In the ‘ Ento- mologist’ (Entom, ix. 92) it is stated that I took “two” specimens of Lampides Beetica; it should have been “ one,” which I have always understood to be the only one ever recorded.— Neil McArthur; 6, Ashton Street, Brighton, ‘April 24, 1876. y The Use of Yellow Glass for Zoological Collections.—At a recent meeting of the Entomological Society of Belgium, M. Capronnier read a paper giving an account of some experiments which he had made bearing on the question as to how public collections of insects may best be exhibited so as to satisfy all the purposes for-which they are intended. M. Felix Plateau, at a former meeting, proposed to substitute yellow for colourless glass in lighting rooms containing entomological collections. In the discussion which followed it was suggested that experiments should be made by sub- mitting insects to the influence of glasses of various colours. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 133 M. Capronnier was entrusted with carrying out these experi- ments, and the paper referred to contains his_ report. Everyone knows that among the Lepidoptera it is the green and carmine colours which are most rapidly destroyed by daylight. M.Capronnier wished to obtain insects of the year’s hatching, but could only obtain sufficient quantities of Euchelia Jacobee, Z. The inferior wings of this insect are of a deep carmine, uniform in tone,—an important point in the experiments. The principal colours of the solar spectrum are the yellow, the red, and the blue. M. Capronnier rejected the red as giving a tint too dark, and added the mixed colours, violet and green. He had thus four tints chosen with the same degree of tone, and of a moderate shade— yellow, violet, green, and blue, besides a colourless glass. He made five small square boxes of ‘08 centimetres square and 1 centimetre in depth; the whole surface was covered with one of the above-mentioned glasses. Each wing was fixed in the middle of the box, and floated in a bath of very bright light, but protected from the rays of the sun. Each of the wings was partly covered by a band of black paper, and their position was so arranged as to leave exposed successively each of the parts during a period of fifteen, thirty, and ninety days. The following are the results:—Colourless glass.— After fifteen days of exposure the carmine tint was visibly attacked; after thirty days the alteration was more sensible; and after ninety days the work of destruction had rapidly advanced, and the carmine had passed into a yellowish tint. Blue.—With this tint the same alterations took place as in the case of colourless glass. Green.—This colour preserved the carmine during the first fifteen days; a change was indicated on the thirtieth day; and on the ninetieth the alteration was marked. Yel/ow.—During the ninety days the yellow alone left the carmine colour almost intact. M. Capronnier says a/most, for a slight alteration in the tint could be noticed at the end of the nivety days. This last observation proves that there is no absolute preservative, and that collections must be kept in darkness, under penalty of seeing them seriously changed at the end of a given time. Nevertheless, it is evident from the above that the yellow is the best preservative against alterations in the colours of insects. M. Capronnier consequently concludes that a 134 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. yellowish colour should be preferred and combined in every arrangement of an entomological room. Moreover, the cloths that cover the show-cases ought to be yellow rather than green, and, what is important and indispensable, the window- blinds ought to be absolutely yellow. [| have preferred to give the translation of this paper, which appeared in ‘ Nature’ of April 20th, to the original French, which I regularly receive from Brussels, through the courtesy of the secretary, Mons. A. de Born.— E. Newman. |] Answers to Correspondents. E. R. Sheppard.—The Hop Weevil.—A friend of mine, a farmer in North Kent, has asked me to get named for him the beetles, which | send you by this post. They have been doing terrible damage in his hop gardens. I send you a short account of what he told me concerning them:—“ The beetle appears at dusk in the evening; it eats the hop-bine in small holes; sometimes eats the outside skin the whole length of the shoot. They first appeared two years ago; this being the third year of their appearance. They are more numerous this year; sometimes as many as fifteen of these beetles being found on one hop-shoot at a time. They bury themselves about two inches and a half in the mould, in the middle of the hop-stool, during the day lying dormant on their backs. They are round every hop-stool in a garden of four acres of hops, and they have commenced to advance to another adjoining hop-garden. They were never seen before in the neighbourhood. They have not been seen in avy other hop-garden near, although there are many other large hop-gardens in close proximity. Three years ago black- curraut bushes were planted in between the hops, but these were subsequently removed, and then the beetles appeared. The hop-garden is by the side of Darenth Wood.” J send you © with the beetles pieces of the hop-shoots, eaten into holes by these destructive insects. I am not a collector of beetles myself, hence my taking the liberty of sending them to you, thinking that you would kindly name them for me; and if you could inform me what remedy would be best to adopt for their destruction I shall be much obliged. I follow, and THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 135 have followed, Entomology most of my life, and have seen many destructive insects, but [ never saw anything like this before. They injure fresh shoots every night; so you may judge of the wholesale destruction they are causing. My friend has put soot round each stool, but they seem to like that. Now is the time for tying the hop-bine, but of course that would be useless.—L. R. Sheppard; 13, Limes Villas, High Road, Lewisham, Kent, S.E., May 3, 1876. (The beetle is Otiorhynchus picipes: it is entirely nocturnal in its perambulations, hiding in the earth by day, generally close to the stool of the hop-plant, where it is secure from observation. The hop-bine is hollow like a reed, and hexagonal; its outside wall or coating being very rough to the touch. The beetles emerge from their hiding-place at dusk, and climb up the bine, each commencing nibbling just where it suits his inclination, holding on during the operation by the tenacious claws or hooks, with which all his legs are furnished; and indeed so tight does he cling with them that it is difficult to remove him against his will; but, notwith- standing this, he will frequently feign death, and throw himself to the ground, there to remain perfectly motionless, aud exactly like a little lump of earth, until he believes all danger past, when he will slowly and deliberately ascend the bine as before. He seems to possess but a small mouth: this is situated at the extremity of a snout or rostrum, and is furnished with a pair of corneous jaws, with which he digs a way into the wall of the bine in many different places, seldom passing entirely through, but being apparently quite content with having stopped the circulation of the sap, and thereby suspended vitality in that particular bine, and defeated all its endeavours to produce hops. The particular bine becomes flaccid, and to all appearance lifeless; yet this by no means interferes with the ability of the stool to produce more bines, although these, being later, are very rarely so productive, neither are they so likely to bring their hops to maturity. I always find the strongest, largest, and most succulent bines selected for the attack; and I have also remarked that when the attack has proved fatal to one particular bine, and it has become flabby and flaccid, it loses all the attraction it possessed for the weevil, and is neglected, in order that another more healthy victim, one fuller 136 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. of sap and vigour, may be found to attack. Thus, one after another, a third or more of the stools may be destroyed through the repeated weakening of the bines. But the stools suffer from another mode of attack by the same insect; and this introduces me to another section of its life-history, which I have studied the more intently because my late friend, John Curtis, has, as I believe, in his admirable—I must say beautiful—work on ‘ Farm Insects’ left it entirely unnoticed. Greatly puzzled at the omission of a plant so important to farmers as the hop, and an insect so ruinously destructive as the hop-weevil, I thought I must have overlooked it, and have diligently consulted the excellent alphabetical index, and fail to find either the words “hop,” “hop-weevil,” “ Otiorhynchus notatus,” or any mention of an insect which is especially injurious to the hop. 1 therefore think a notice of its life-history may not be unacceptable to hop- growers, seeing that I have made it the object of especial attention. The insects may be seen united in pairs in almost every bop-garden in Herefordshire or Kent at the period of hop-picking, the bines being then removed, and the weevils thus exposed the more readily to view. Immediately aflter- wards the fecundated female enters the earth in close proximity with the stool, and in this she excavates or gnaws a little hollow, in which to deposit her eggs, which are from half a dozen to a dozen in number: these have no particular character, and are sure to escape notice unless purposely sought after, by the summary process of taking up the stool and shaking it over a sheet of dark paper, when the eggs— small, whitish, and nearly round-——-tumble out and are per- ceptible; otherwise, the eggs left to themselves soon hatch and become maggots, without any apparent head, or legs, or antennw, and almost colourless; indeed, they have a semi- transparent look, that rather reminds one of colourless jelly. They remain together in little companies or colonies all through the winter and spring, and probably families are the produce of one act of oviposition. They continue to grow all through the winter, feeding on the substance of the stool, in which they make very evident excavations; they continue thus until May, June, or July, when they separate and retire singly, for the great purpose of transformation. At this time they become chrysalids, very closely resembling the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 larve in their size and whiteness, but differing from these, inasmuch as the legs are now distinctly pronounced, and separate from the body, except at one point of attachment, and each leg is enclosed in a skin or case of its own, and quite transparent. After a fortnight or three weeks, more or less (I do not pretend to say the exact time), the legs begin to assume a brownish hue, and the eyes are clearly perceptible as black points, one on each side of the head, a certain sign that the final change is approaching. The cases or covering of the several limbs then open, and the limbs themselves make their appearance through the fissures, the legs stretching themselves, and with the terminal hooks or claws take hold of any object that may answer the purpose of a fulcrum; then they seem to deliver themselves of the leg-cases, antenna-cases, and wing-cases, and stand revealed as weevils in their proper form, but for a short time continue to retain their white colour, excepting the eyes, which still have the appearance of black specks; the exterior covering of the weevil soon assumes consistency and colour. It is quite idle to propose a remedy, or to pretend that [ can propose a remedy, for the destructive propensities of this insect. It isa great mistake also to suppose that itis any novelty. I have been familiar with it for many years, and have not observed either an increase or diminution in its numbers. Ferns in cultivation have a similar beetle—Otiorhynchus sulcatus— dependent on them for support; so have roses, of which I shall have more to say forthwith; so has the lily of the valley. The process of picking them off with the finger and thumb is too tedious to recommend, otherwise it would be attended with certain success; but how can we be remunerated for the time employed in picking off the weevils from a hop-garden,—they are scareely larger than a large grain of wheat, and it would require thousands to fill a quart measure.—Hdward Newman.) W. H. Kynaston.— How to Relax Butterflies and Moths. —Will you kindly inform me in next month’s ‘ Entomolo- gist’ the best method of relaxing butterflies and moths after they have become stiff?—W. H. Kynaston; Montpellier Lodge, Cheltenham. [Prevention is better than cure. I do not advance this as an entirely new or original idea, yet it is so true and so T 138 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. incontrovertible that I feel it will bear repetition. I will address myself therefore, in tlre first place, to prevention. In my early collecting days, when cyanide was unknown, I used to half-fill my collecting-box with bruised laurel twigs,— twigs I always preferred to leaves, as being more juicy, fuller of sap. I used atin box to prevent evaporation. I spread a piece of muslin over the laurel twigs to keep them from moving; then, to keep both laurel and muslin in their places, I introduced transverse strips of thin cork and fitted them tightly,—so tightly, indeed, that they were unable to move. On these strips of cork I pinned my captures. The lid of the box may also be fitted with these strips of cork, but there is no occasion for a‘second supply of laurel. A strip of India- rubber on the inside of the lid, glued firmly down, assists in preventing evaporation. On reaching home I have always found that the process of desiccation had been arrested, and that both butterflies and moths were in a suitable state for what is called setting. So much for prevention; now for the cure. When the moth is stiff,—incorrigibly stiff,—pin it on a piece of cork, and float the cork on the surface of water in a milk-pan, soup-plate, foot-bath, or basin of any kind; a wet napkin should be spread over the top to prevent evapo- ration. I would recommend the manufacture of relaxing bath on this wise, to be always kept ready: first, the milk-pan, then a hoop, which should just cover the milk-pan, and over the hoop a cloth saturated with water may be strained tight, so that the hoop and cloth can be removed together at once. During the course of each day remove the hoop, examine the insects, and take out those which are sufficiently relaxed, replacing the others, for if left too Jong they will inevitably become mouldy, a calamity which it is “almost impossible to mitigate or remove. Jischew laurel leaves on all occasions, except for killing, because of their promoting mould and grease; but laurel twigs have not the same effect,—the sap is expressed more readily, and ever after they remain ina dryer condition. I am aware there are a number of novel expedients, as ammonia and camphor, both for killing and relaxing, and earnest recommendations for using them. I incline to say “dont.” I find Mr. Greene’s ‘ Insect-Hunter’s Companion’ the only good adviser in entomological matters; but there are some points on which I strongly differ from him, ‘The F Py THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 better way is to ask questions, as Mr. A. M. Brown and Mr. Kynaston have done, and they will be sure to elicit useful replies, and not the less useful because a slight difference of opinion may occasionally find expression. I trust I shall always be ready to give the best counsel within my reach ; and if not in my own personal possession, it is certain to be within the reach of one or other of my numerous readers.— Edward Newman.) Preserving Larve.—Perhaps the alum solution employed by Mr. Sharp was not sufficiently strong, for after steeping larve in it lL have always found their skins hard enough to prevent unnatural distention, when subjected only to very slight pressure.—H. dA. Auld. Preserving Caterpiliars.—\1 am sure Mr. Auld will pardon my suggesting one or two slight improvements which may be made in his mode of preserving larvee (Entom. ix. 78, April). When I first began to practise this branch of Entomology, I did so from Mr. Auld’s instructions, but I soon discovered two points on which there appeared a need for improvement. The first difficulty was with the two pieces of watch-spring affixed to the blowpipe, for, however well they were fastened, they were sure very soon to become sufficiently loose to slip either too much on one side or the other; or sometimes they were so tight that the skin of the last segment was broken ; or else they did not fit sufficiently close to keep the distended skin air-tight when blown into. To get rid of this difficulty a very simple remedy suggested itself to Mr. S. L. Mosley, of this town, namely, to use fine cotton or silk instead of watch- spring: the cotton is simply wrapped round the blowpipe a few times, one fold, then being wound round the very smallest bit of the last segment, which is sufficient to hold it much more closely and firmly than the watch-spring does. The other difficulty I had was with what Mr. Auld terms the “oven.” With his plan I found it rather difficult to get a sufficient amount of heat inside; but a still greater objection arose from the necessity of holding the face quite over it when blowing, which made it impossible to work long without feeling that one’s eyes would soon be almost burnt out. In place of this I dispensed with the “ oven,” and simply placed over the tripod-stand a flat piece of fine wire gauze, through which, of course, however near the lamp may be placed 140 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. underneath, the flame will not pass through, but will allow all the heat from it to do so. The larva may then be blown over it from the side, and thus altogether avoid the unplea- santness of the other method.—Geo. JT’. Porritt; Hudders- Jield, April 5, 1876. A. M. Brown.—Preserving Moths from Mites and Grease. —Can you tell me whether you have found dipping moths and butterflies into a solution of corrosive sublimate in spirits of wine a good plan for preserving them, instead of camphor? I tried the experiment the other day on two butterflies (Brassice and Napi), and found that even after they had been thoroughly dried at an open window, the silky hair on the thorax was matted together, and the subli- mate had crusted in small cakes all over the wings, which cannot be removed by a camel-hair brush. I should be glad if you or any of your correspondents could tell me the cause of this, and suggest a remedy, or a more efficient way of pre- serving the insects. The objection to camphor is that, since it must evaporate, in such a small space as a cabinet-drawer the little particles will settle on the wings of the specimens. —A. M. Brown; The Grammar School, Great Berkham- stead, Herls, May 9, 1876. [My plan is to wash the under side, that is the side not exposed to light, with the solution; using a camel’s-hair brush, and afterwards making it thoroughly dry.— Edward Newman. | E. F. Clark.—How to prevent Grease in Moths and Mites with Beetles—Can you tell me how to best prevent grease in moths and mites with beetles? I find Mr. Greene’s method in his book very difficult, for in taking the inside out I generally spoil the insects.—£. F. Clark ; Ufton Rectory, Southam, Warwickshire, May 1, 1876. [I know of no better instructions than those in Mr. Greene’s ‘Insect-Hunter’s Companion;’ they appear to me to be excellent.—ELdward Newman.|} Robert Service.—Name of Moth.—I1 shall feel greatly obliged if you can tell me the name of the small moths, a male and female, which I send you by this post. I regret to trouble you, but just now I have no books in which the Micro-Lepidoptera are described. These moths were very abundant in an oak plantation at Malice, near Dumfries, on THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 141 the 14th of April. They began to fly between five and six o'clock p.m.; earlier in the afternoon two or three of them were sitting on every oak-trunk. My companion and I were much interested in watching the intelligent way in which the males sought out the nearly- wingless females. We noticed two males rising out of the brushwood, at a distance of at least ten yards from where a female was sitting on a branch, and going straight to her in a curious, hesitating sort of flight, reminding us very much of the manner of a pointer-dog when taking up a difficult “scent.” In another instance I was looking at a female crawling on a tree, when a male flew off another tree at a few yards distance, and, alighting close beside her, copulation at once took place. In these and other cases the males flew against the wind, and almost in a straight line to the females; and we therefore concluded that it was the sense of smell, or something very like it, that was guiding them. It was certainly not sight.—Robert Service ; Maawelltown, Dumfries, N.B., April 20, 1876. [Diurnea fagella; the most abundant of spring moths.— Edward Newman. | W. Thomas.—Asthenia pygm@eana.—l have Asthenia pygmzana, my own capture, in my cabinet, and should be most happy to show it to you or your correspondent Mr. Thomas.— Charles Boden; 127, Tooley Street, April 19, 1876. Does Crocallis elinguaria Hybernate?—Mr. Newman’s reply to Mr. E. Holton (Entom. ix. 88) would lead us to infer that the larva of Crocallis elinguaria usually does hybernate. Is not this a mistake? J never knew an instance of this species hybernating in any other than the egg state.—Geo. 7. Porritt; Huddersfield, April 4, 1876. Mr. Holton’s notice of the hybernation of Cro- callis elinguaria in the egg state (Entom. ix. 88) is in strict conformity with my experience of that species. 1 have bred the species four years from eggs deposited by captured females. I have invariably found them hybernate in that state, and commence hatching the last week in February. The hatching generally extends over a period of from three to four weeks.— Thos. H. Hedworth; Dunston, Gateshead, March 9, 1876. 142 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. W. A. Forbes.—Is not Zygena nubigena a Scottish Insect ? —lIn a conversation I had with you some weeks ago about our British Zygene, you doubted whether Z. nubigena -had occurred elsewhere in these isles than in Ireland. At the time I stated to you my belief that it also occurs in Scot- land; and in a letter J received from Dr. Buchanan White, dated March 9th, he says, amongst other things :—“ Nubigena is not uncommon (I believe) near Oban, whence I have specimens, and I have seen a specimen that was taken in Forfarshire.” ‘This species is also noted as occurring in one or more localities in Scotland—all maritime, I believe—in the “Insecta Scotica,’ now publishing in the ‘Scottish Naturalist. — W. A, Forbes ; 32, Gower Street, W.C., March 29, 1876. [I have received several specimens of Zygzna from Scot- land under the name of Nubigena, but they were so wasted that they might be almost anything. As I enacted the part of sponsor to Mr. Birchall’s lrish Nubigena, I can positively say that I have seen no example of that species from Scot- Jand, and I have rather fallen into the way of not trusting to the names kindly sent me without the specimens. I prefer, therefore, leaving the matter as it stands for the present. I believe Mr. Birchall and Mr. Carrington have seen the so-called Scotch specimen of Nubigena; and I shall be satisfied, and, more than that, gratified, if they will establish the claim of Zygzna nubigena to be considered indigenous to Scotland.— Hdward Newman. | G. Edwards.—Hatching of Saturnia Carpini.—l have some eggs of Saturnia Carpini, laid the second week in April. Will you tell me when the young larve ought to be out, and also if they can be fed upon anything that grows in London? Heath is difficult to procure—G. Edwards ; 10, Gloucester Terrace, April 23, 1876. (Try them with blackthorn ; I think the leaves are exposed now.—Ldward Newman. | Despatch of Humble Bees to New Zealand.—I send you cuttings from the ‘Weekly Press’ of January 15, 1876, of Chistchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, received by last mail, announcing the failure of Mr. John Hall’s experiment to introduce the humble-bee into New Zealand,—a failure which many of your readers will be sorry to hear of.— THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 148 R. G. D. Tosswill; Shirley Villa, Rugby Road, Leamington, March 23, 1876. “We regret to say that, as far as we are in a position to judge, the experiment of introducing humble-bees to this province has not been attended with success. The bees in question were carefully packed by Mr. F. Buckland, and forwarded by Dr. Featherston to the Hon. John Hall, at Plymouth, with full instructions as to their treatment on the voyage. The box containing them was slung right aft; there was a thermometer on the box to show the temperature, and when the weather was cold the Hon. John Hall took the bees into his own cabin, and kept a lamp burning night and day to keep up an equable temperature. Mr. Hall states that the lowest degree shown by the glass was 53°; there was no iée used, Mr. Buckland stating that the heat would not injure them. In spite of all these precautions, however, there is every reason to fear that the bees are dead, as last Sunday week is the last time that Mr. Hall heard them give any signs of life.” [See Mr. Smith’s advice on the subject (Entom. ix. 15, No. 151). Directly I heard of the scheme of sending bees to New Zealand [ entertained misgivings as to the success. It is absolutely necessary to know what species you are sending, what are its habits, what its food, and, finally, what its scientific name, in order that you might communicate with others what you were doing, and if possible obtain their co- operation. Now, as I said at the time, “the published observations” of Mr. Buckland and of the editor of ‘ Nature’ conveyed no idea to my mind on these points, nor do I think they would to the minds of entomologists generally. The failure of the scheme was therefore certain.— Hdward Newman. } T. R. Archer Briggs—Oak Galls——The galls sent are those of Aphilothrix corticalis, Hart. (Germ. Zeit. ii. 190) = A. Sieboldii, Hart. (Germ. Zeit. iv. 406), a species widely distributed in England, but occurring nowhere, as far as L know, abundantly enough to be called common. The galls are of a dull red when fresh, and are tolerably conspicuous and curiously interesting. I have known them to be taken for fungi more than once; thus being something of a “ set-off” against the large number of fungoid growths which are 144 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. constantly being associated with the idea of insect-work. Where is the analogy or anomaly of influence? A copy of Mayr’s beautiful figure and his description has appeared in the ‘ Entomologist,’ vol. vii. p. 52. I am now (middle of April) breeding the Aphilothrix from galls collected last autumn, in six or seven widely-separated localities in Essex, Suffolk, Surrey, Middlesex, and Hampshire, whence it has also been recorded by Mr. Moncreaff (Entom. vii. 93). It had been added to the British fauna four years previously by Mr. Miiller (‘ Gardener’s Chronicle,’ 1870, p. 1312).— Edward A. Fitch. W. A. Forbes.—The Doubleday Collection.—I paid a visit to Mr. Doubleday’s collection at Bethnal Green a short time ago, and was of course exceedingly interested and gratified. Permission, however, to examine his types of European species, which are in book-boxes, was denied me, as it seems that for this purpose it is necessary to have an order from Mr, Owen, director (I believe) of the South Kensington Museum. As this would take a day or two to obtain,—and the entomologist cannot always fix beforehand a day for the purpose,—this regulation will, I fear, seriously invalidate against the use of this part of the collection. My object in writing this to you now is to ask if you cannot, by the exertion of yonr powerful influence in entomological circles, get the regulation repealed. As access to the collection at all is only allowed in the presence of one of the officials of the museum, this additional precaution seems to me super- fluous. In any case, I think permission from the superintendent of the Bethnal Green Museum, who is of course on the spot, to view this part of the collection, ought to be sufficient. At present he is, I believe, powerless to give this.—W. A. Forbes ; 32, Gower Street, W.C. [I am perfectly satisfied to leave the matter in the hands of the three Trustees. They are gentlemen of unquestionably sound judgment in such matters, and I should be very reluctant to interfere with their arrangements. I will, however, consider the matter, and from time to time report in the ‘Entomologist.’ It is obvious, or rather it ought to be obvious, that open boxes without lock or key cannot safely be placed in the hands of every applicant.—Hdward Newman. |} EDWARD NEWMAN BORN May 13th, 1801. DIED June 12th, 1876. Ir is my sorrowful duty to record the death, after a short illness, of him who founded this Journal, and has conducted it during the term of its existence. Not only those who knew him personally, but that wide circle who knew him as a correspondent or through his writings, will feel a shock that one so long beloved has passed away, and will mourn him as a dear friend. As ready as he was able to impart information on every branch of Natural History, he will be regretted by many who sought—and as certainly obtained as sought—his kindly help. Even this number of the ‘Enromoxoaist ’ contains some of his numerous answers to correspondents. His labours are finished, and his earthly career of usefulness is completed; but his memory will remain bright in the minds of those who had the benefit of his friendship. VOL, IX. U THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 157.] JULY, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropadischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fircn, Esq. (Continued from p. 124.) 50. Dryophanta longiventris, Hart.—Up to this time I have only found this gall on the com- mon oak. It agrees with the last-described species in size, shape, substance, surface, at- tachment, and inner structure, but differs from it in colour, The gall of this species is red, and has rather broad, often a little raised (rarely projecting like papille), mostly circular, yellow stripes. Another small distinction is that it is flattened at the base. Should the gall be gathered in an unripe state it shrivels up between the rings, so that the rugose surface ex- hibits red furrows, with yellow tortuous borders; whilst the galls of D. folii would, in such cases, : exhibit irregular tubercles. The a pillar to Da, gall appears at the beginning of (and in section). (andinsection). June. Herr von Schlechtendal states the flight time of the gall-fly as varying from the beginning of August to the end of October. I found great numbers of this species in the Leithagebirge mountains, but only bred a single fly in the winter, and extracted a living specimen from one of the galls in November.—G. L. Mayr. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 147 Von Schlechtendal observes of this gall:—“It often happens that the galls of this species are distorted by inquilines before they are matured; in such cases they hardly attain the size of a pin’s-head.” I have frequently noticed these dwarfed specimens in the next species— D. divisa. The controllers of D. longiventris are Synergus pallicornis, Syntomaspis cyanea, S. lazulina, Callimome abdominalis, and C. regius; also Elachestus Cyniphidum, according to Ratzeburg. This species has been recorded as British by Mr. Miiller (E. M. M. vii. 108), who met with it rather sparingly in the neighbourhood of Norwood.—E£. A. Fitch. 51. Dryophanta divisa, Hart.—Like the preceding, the gall of this species is also found on Quercus pedunculata. It is spherical, but distinctly flattened at the top and bottom, so that it has in the centre a perpendicular diameter of five millimetres, and an horizontal diameter of seven millimetres. It adheres at one point to a side rib, rarely to the midrib, on the under side of the leaf, and is not visible from the upper side. Its surface is glossy, smooth, bare, brownish yellow, and frequently red on the side which is exposed to the sun; it has a few very flat, scattered papille of a darker colour. In section it exhibits a radiating, but not close, parenchyma, and has a large larva-cell without an inner gall. It is distinguished from the two previously-described species by its smaller size, its flattened spherical shape, its shining surface, and by the size of its larva-cell, which is very large with respect to the size of the gall. Frequently there is a tolerably well-defined flat papilla opposite the basal attach- ment, which is a little darker than the surrounding colour. I have not bred the fly as yet.—G. LZ. Mayr. There has been much uncertainty and confusion as to the specific differences in the galls of the three preceding species of Dryophanta. This has also been the case with this and the following species. The distinctive marks of the latter three are as follows:—The galls of Divisa are thick-walled, those of Agama are thin-walled, whilst Disticha exhibits a double cavity in section. Speaking of Agama, Von Schlechtendal says that in some years it occurs in such great numbers as to bend the twigs. With me Agama has occurred sparingly ; and such I believe to be generally the case in 148 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Britain, although, doubtless, like all the Dryophanta galls, it does occasionally occur in profusion; but it is Divisa which is so often met with, and in such great numbers. I have in my collection a small twig with eleven leaves, on which are ninety-four galls; and I believe Mr. Newman had specimens of leaves more densely populated than that. The range of Divisa in Britain is commensurate with that of the oak. Does Schlechtendal, in his notes, refer in part to Divisa? as he only mentions Disticha and Agama in the ‘ Zeitung,’ from which we might infer that he had not then separated the two species, Agama and Divisa; for in Mayr’s two essays on the Synergi and Torymide we have three species of Synergi and two species of Torymide, bred by Schlechtendal from Divisa galls; and only one species of Synergus, and none of the Torymidez, from Agama or Disticha; clearly showing that Divisa must occur in Saxony, and, from the above, might reasonably be considered the commonest species of the three. Formerly he might have been following Hartig, who says of Agama,—“ Sometimes in very great numbers on the leaves of young oaks;” and of Divisa— Not common, near Brunswick.” Under Agama we also have from Schlechtendal some interesting remarks on the inmates of the galls; he says—“ Out of one hundred galls, which I collected for breeding from, eighty-eight were fully matured, and twelve remained small: the former only produced twelve specimens of the fly, and ten parasites and inquilines, in the same year; the remaining sixty-six wintered, and produced in the spring partly Pteromalidz and partly Synergus species; no Cynips. Of the twelve small galls three produced parasites and inqui- lines in the same autumn; the remaining nine wintered.” Here, again, we have evidence of Divisa, as reference is made to inquilines, both in autumn of the first year and spring of the second; a state of things, according to Mayr, existing commonly but in Divisa, where we have Synergus albipes occurring in August of the same year, and Synergus Tscheki and §. pallicornis in March and April of the second. All three species were received from Schlechtendal; 8S. palli- cornis, also, from Reinhard (Saxony). In the ‘Scottish Naturalist’ (vol. ii. pp. 62, 161) Mr. Cameron has two notes on the mode of life of Synergi in these galls. The recorded parasites of this species are—Syntomaspis cyanea, Bok., THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 149 spring of the second year; Callimome abdominalis, Boh., August of thé same year; Callimome regius, Nees, in the autumn of the same year, according to Mayr; Pteromalus Saxesenii, Ratz., in the autumn of the same year; and Pteromalus incrassatus, Ra/z., in May of the second year, according to Ratzeburg. Kaltenbach gives the following parasites of Agama, but on what authority is not stated :— Eurytoma signata, Ns.; Torymus pubescens, Frst.; Eupelmus urozonus, Dim.; Pteromalus fasciculatus, F7rst., and Ptero- malus fuscipalpis, Frs/. (of these the E. signata of Nees is a compound species; T. pubescens, Frst., is also a doubtful species, pow restricted to a rose species of Syntomaspis ; E. urozonus occurs in many of the oak-galls, and the Ptero- mali are best left untouched).—Germar’s ‘ Zeitschrift. The other inhabitants of this gall are the same as those of the preceding species. Hartig, in support of his theory that the genus Cynips was agamic, relates his expe- rience in breeding this species and D. folii. He says of C. divisa (called C. disticha at first, in error) :—“ Cynips disticha was so rare in 1839 that I could not discover a single specimen in my excursions. | first found it myself in 1838, In the summer of 1840 | found it in such immense numbers that with little trouble I collected about 28,000 galls. On an average, about every third gall contained a Cynips; but out of these 9000 to 10,000 flies there was not a single male.” “Tn the summer of 1840, as mentioned above, I bred 9000 to 10,000 females of C. divisa from 28,000 galls. Notwith- standing this I found the galls quite as abundant in 1841 and 1842; and from galls collected, again bred nothing but females. The galls were not collected from one tree, but received each year from a large expanse of country.” He also bred from 3000 to 4000 examples of D. folii, all females. The question of parthenogenesis in some of the genera of Cynipide still remains a puzzle, although it seems nearer solution with some of the entomologists of America, where a male Cynips has been found; but if the European species are not asexual, how exceedingly rare must be the occurrence of the male element to elude detection for so long in the fifty species or upwards, known only in the female sex. I have not found the proportion, which the Cynips bred bear to the number of galls, to be anything like so near as in Hartig’s ~ 150 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. case. The following is a record of parasitism in these galls; galls collected 30th July, 1875, inmates emerged as follows: —July, 1875: one Eurytoma squamea? Walk., male. August, 1875: twenty-one Synergus albipes, Hart.; fifteen Eurytoma squamea? one Decatoma biguttata? Swed.; one Callimome abdominalis, Boh., female; six Pteromalus Saxesenii? Ra/z.; three Pteromalus sp.? September, 1875: two Callimome regius, Nees, male and female. November, 1875 (10th to 22nd): four Dryophanta divisa, Hart., females. April, 1876: one Synergus Tscheki, Mayr, male. May, 1876: ten Eurytoma sp.? nine males and one female; two Decatoma biguttata? ten Syntomaspis cyanea, Boh., males. June, 1876: one Eurytoma sp.? male; eight Syntomaspis cyanea, females. Number of galls collected (including several double and many immature), two hundred and forty-eight; number of insects bred, eighty-six.—JL. A. Fitch. 52. Dryophanta agama, Hart.—This gall, of the size of a hemp-seed, occurs on the side veins of the under side of the leaves of Quercus sessiliflora and Q. pedunculata. It appears first in June, when it is of a yellowish white colour, but later on changes to a more or less intense yellowish brown. It has a bare, smooth, slightly shining surface, and is covered with scattered, flat, brown and inconspicuous nodules. It is moderately hard, transversely oviform, and is much flattened next the leaf, to which it closely adheres, although only attached at the centre, and does not show on the upper side. In section it exhibits a loose parenchyma, from half to one millimetre in thickness, which surrounds a comparatively large larva-cell without an inner gall. Herr von Schlechtendal states October and November to be the flight time of the gall-fly.—G. L. Mayr. Synergus pallicornis and §, albipes, Syntomaspis cyanea and Torymus regius, are the attendants of this species recorded by Mayr.—JL. A. Fitch. Entomological Notes, Caplures, ce. Relaxing, Grease, §c.—The following method of relaxing insects may be recommended for its extreme simplicity and handiness. Take a common glass cylinder,—say four inches THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 151 in diameter and eight inches in height; cut a piece of cork, so as to fit easily within it; soak the cork thoroughly in water; and having pinned on to it as many insects as it will conveniently hold, place the cork on any flat surface,—as a table, &c.,—and cover it over with the cylinder. Nothing more is required; and the whole operation may be effected in a couple of minutes. Twelve hours will be sufficient to relax most Noctuze and all Geometra. Sometimes in this and, as I suppose, in all other methods, the insect will become more or less damp. It is, therefore, desirable, after it has been re-set, to thoroughly dry it by exposure, at a safe distance, to the warmth of a fire. It may be observed that it is almost impossible to ve-set a moth, and still more so a butterfly, so as to please a fastidious eye;—at any rate, I have failed to do so. While admiring, therefore, Mr. Newman’s modest disclaimer of “ originality,” I must thoroughly endorse his motto—* Prevention is better than cure.” As regards Mr. Brown’s question about the employ- ment of the solution of corrosive sublimate, the injury done to his insects arose from two causes :—first, the solution was too strong; and secondly, he used it improperly. The following extract, from a letter written to me by the late Mr. H. Doubleday, will give Mr. Brown the necessary information on these points :—“ I am not an advocate for the use of camphor; it unquestionably tends to make moths greasy. If the under sides of the thorax and abdomen, and the antennae, are carefully touched with a camel’s-hair pencil dipped in a weak solution of corrosive sublimate, they are for ever proof against mites and mould....... I believe that when insects are carefully touched with a weak solution of corrosive sublimate in pure alcohol, they will never mould or be destroyed by mites....... A small piece of sublimate, about the size of a hemp-seed, is sufficient for an ounce of alcohol. It should never be strong enough to give visible crystals on a non-absorbing substance (black),—a piece of blackened ivory, for instance, —when it is wetted with the solution and allowed to evaporate. The best method of applying it is to take a small camel’s-hair pencil and dip it in the solution, pass it along the antenna, and then apply it to the under side of the thorax and abdomen.” N.B. (by myself).—Extreme care is required in applying the solution 152 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. to the antenne. I do not agree with Mr. Doubleday’s opinion about camphor causing grease in insects. To speak more correctly, I should say that insects wll grease, quite irrespective of camphor, which very probably may cause its more speedy appearance. Once more to quote Mr, Newman; to nothing is the aphorism—“ Prevention,” &c.— more applicable than to grease. I am sorry Mr. Clark finds my method of “prevention” so difficult. I am quzte sure that the difficulties may be overcome by anyone gifted with an ordinary deftness of fingers. Let me urge him to try, and try again. Begin on some of the common, stout-bodied moths, having first carefully studied the directions. The method, doubtless, requires some little skill, and much patience; but he will be amply rewarded by seeing his insects, after the lapse of years, as fresh and neat as the day they were set. Lastly,—I have used camphor for twenty-five years, and find it quite guiltless of the many sins laid to its charge. I have always thought it, and still think it, the best preservative. Mr. Brown’s objection—“ As camphor must evaporate, little particles must settle on the wings of the specimens”—is new to me. Will not the particles themselves evaporate ?—[Rer.] J. Greene; Clifton, Bristol. Relaxing Butterflie.—In No. 156 of your valued ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. ix. 137) one of your correspondents wishes to know a good method of relaxing butterflies. Through the kindness of a Lepidopterist, Mr. Pickel, of Landsberg, I am able to give you a description of an apparatus for this purpose, communicated to me for my ‘Entomological News.’ The apparatus consists of an oval zinc-box, seven inches long by four inches wide, and two inches and a half deep, and is closed with a lid, which has an edge of half an inch to draw over it; in one of the sides of the box there is a hole half an inch from the upper edge, through which a zinc tube, quarter of an inch in breadth, is passed slantingly from the inner to the outer side, and is soldered in such a manner that the upper half of the tube reaches about half an inch on the inside of the box, but does not touch the lid, whilst the lower end terminates in a down- ward direction, about an inch and a half on the outside. In order to be able to place the pinned butterflies in the box there are cork strips on the bottom, which are held by thin THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 strips of tin soldered to the sides of the box. Before using the apparatus the spaces between the cork strips must be filled with water; then the butterflies are placed in the box, and the apparatus is locked. A circulation of air then takes place through the tube, and saturates the space inside with moisture, so that in a few hours the butterflies are just as pliable as if they had been just caught. But the chief use of the machine is that, when a Lepidopterist comes home tired at night from all the day’s hunting, he need not sit up for hours in order to set his insects. Perhaps it will be useful to some of your readers to know of this apparatus. You are welcome to make use of my note.—Dr. Kalter; Putbus a. Riigen, June 3, 1876. Relaxing Insects (Entom. ix. 137).—One of our leading entomologists said many years ago that a well-set collection was worth a pilgrimage to look at; and I, for one, most cordially agree with the remark. It is, however, a thing never to be attained, unless one religiously re-sets something like fifly per cent. of the specimens received from corre- spondents. Many collectors, especially country ones, seem to think that the pin leaning—like Major Wellington De Boots’s chimney—“ several degrees from the per-pen-di-cu-lar,” in any direction, is a matter rather to be admired than other- wise; while, of course, bodies, antenne, and legs, are always left to shift for themselves. A good systematic plan of relaxing specimens, previous to re-setting, is consequently of considerable interest to those who take a pride in the appear- ance of their collections, and Mr. Kynaston’s query leads me to recommend the method I use; a rather long experience enabling me to speak highly of it. A deep wooden box, with a loosely-fitting lid, is lined to the depth of an inch or so with plaster of Paris: this is easily managed by turning the box alternately on each side, and pouring in sufficient plaster (mixed to the consistency of cream) to cover it to that extent, keeping the plaster in its place till set by a slip of wood held against the box. By repeating this process for all the four sides, and filling up the bottom to the same depth, the box may be very neatly finished. The lid is, of course, to be coated in a similar way inside. The insects operated on are pinned on a tablet of wood coated with cork, which is mounted table-wise on little legs and placed inside the box, x 154 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. so that in no part does it touch the plaster sides. When the box is used pour water on the plaster, so as to thoroughly saturate it; stick the specimens on the table, put on the lid, and place the whole in the pantry or cellar to be kept cool. To guard against fungi appearing in the box some corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury) may be dissolved either in the water mixed with the plaster or in that first used in damping the box; the former plan is perhaps preferable. From one or two days to a week, according to the size of the insect, will be needed for the specimens to get into fit condition for effective setting. The great point is to have them thoroughly relaxed, or they are apt to spring. To prevent this, also, they should be left for a long time on the boards,—a week or ten days at least is required; but with the above precautions | have never found it necessary to use any such clumsy contrivance as sticking the wings in position with liquid-glue, &c. ‘This can only be required when the insects have not been sufficiently relaxed. Of course I claim no originality for the above method. I believe it is used by many entomologists, but I think it possesses several advan- tages compared with the plans mentioned in most books. Although immersed in avery moist atmosphere the specimens never become saturated with water, as is often the case when a simple wetted box is used.° The bichloride of mercury seems effectually to prevent any appearance of mould, and the rapid evaporation from the porous plaster keeps the air in the box at so low a temperature that even in the height of summer no signs of decomposition are perceptible, while the neatness of the affair and its constant readiness for use are additional recommendations. I have employed one for several years, and it is still as serviceable-as ever. When carefully manipulated, relaxed insects, particularly butter- flies, &c., look quite as well as those set in their original state. 1 have hundreds of Diurni and Bombyces in my collection prepared in this way, and he would be a bold man who would undertake to pick them out from the others. Indeed, there is one element in connection with such perfect methods of relaxing worthy of consideration: inasmuch as the insects retain all their pristine beauty alter undergoing the process, unscrupulous collectors and dealers are enabled to pass off foreign specimens as “ true Britons” with impunity THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 155 to those extraordinary brothers of the (silver) net who seem to think it a pleasure to be cheated, and who are willing to pay a high price for the doubtful gratification of spoiling their collections for all scientific purposes by the introduction of German specimens with a false pedigree. ‘Tastes differ, of course; but were I infected with this comical phase of the *‘amor-habendi” mania, | should prefer manufacturing my own “true British specimens” myself, rather than pay some enterprising gentleman a premium of nineteen and sixpence in the pound for performing so simple an operation for me. —B. G. Cole; The Common, Stoke Newington, N., June 7, 1876. Mode of Relaxing Insects.—A correspondent asks (Entom. ix. 137) how best to do this. I venture to offer the following suggestion, from the experience of an old collector. The plan I have adopted for some years, and found very successful, is at any rate a very simple one. I Jay fine sand, about an inch deep, on the bottom of a common vegetable-dish, and saturate it with water. On this wet sand I lay a piece of cork, and distribute over it the specimens to be relaxed, always taking care that the wings do not touch the sand; and then put on the dish-cover to concentrate all the damp air. In twenty-four—or at most forty-eight—hours the insects will be quite sufficiently relaxed for laying out. TI have in this way relaxed hundreds of specimens sent from abroad, chiefly from India, which came to me with their wings folded together and slipped into envelopes, and thus packed in cigar or biscuit boxes. 1 once relaxed above one hundred specimens from China, which had laid in their envelopes above twelve years. I found the most obstinate of them give way after being under the influence of this cold vapour-bath a couple of days.—[ Rev.] J. Cave-Browne ; Detling Vicarage, Maidstone. Mites and Grease (Entom. ix. 140).—The use of corrosive sublimate is, in my opinion, always to be avoided: it rarely fails to seriously damage the appearance of the specimens to which it has been applied ; causing, moreover the subsequent corrosion and brittleness of the pins. “ En passant,” it has often occurred to me to ask what the supposed advantage may be in the extreme pliability of the entomological pins ; rather than an advantage, it seems to me a very great defect, as 156 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. should there happen to be (which is often the case).a hard place in the cork the pin doubles up, and thus many a. valuable insect has been destroyed. When mites are detected, the spot where the little dust that betokens their presence is collected underneath the specimens should be well saturated with pheenic acid, or an alcoholic solution of carbolic acid, which will do as well and is cheaper; the body of the insect also, except in the case of green insects, when benzine should be employed. Grease, though troublesome, is by no means impossible to get rid of. In this case exception is to be taken to the established rule that “ Prevention is better than cure.” It is far better to let the specimens get greasy than try to prevent it, as with the most skilful manipulation stuffed bodies cannot but look unsightly. When they have become greasy the bodies must be broken off, and soaked for a time —varying according to size—in benzine. My friend Mr. Corbin showed me in his cabinet such large bodies as those of Acherontia Atropos treated in this way, every trace of grease being removed. He gave it as his experience that Atropos is very liable to grease: this varies with my own; I have never had a greasy specimen. It is well, unless abso- lutely necessary, not to saturate the wings with any prepara- tion, as it frequently results in the disarrangement or matting together of the cilia, which cannot afterwards be put right. Dr. Lees tells me that he considers grease rather as a preservative than otherwise. To quote his words:—‘“I do not regard it as a putrefactive change, but in its nature rather the opposite (though it spoils the look of specimens), and more analogous to a peculiar fatty production which takes place in dead human and other bodies, after they have been interred some time. The whole body often becomes changed into this peculiar solid, greasy matter, which is very imperishable.”—Joseph Anderson, jun. ; Chichester, Sussex. Grease and Mites.—1 see several correspondents enquire about grease and mites. [Lam now pursuing a course with my collection which I believe to be a perfect preventative of both, and intend to replace all my common moths this season. My plan is this:—When the insect is killed I clip the body open (underneath), and take out the inside; I then fill the skin with plaster of Paris, and place it on the setting- board. When it is fit to remove | take it off the board, and, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 157 by means of the setting-needle, poke all the plaster out again, and wash the inside of the dried skin with a solution of corrosive sublimate and spirits of wine. The body may then be filled with cotton, if thought proper. I have speci- wens of Dicranura vinula done in this way three or four years ago, which look as fresh as if bred but yesterday ; and the person who gave me the hint had a long series of Salicis, every one with bodies as white as snow.—S. JL. Mosley ; Almondbury Bank, Huddersfield. Preserving Larve.—I am glad to see entomologists are turning their attention to this branch of study. I do all mine by inflating over a spirit-lamp, and have preserved larve from Ligniperda down to a Depressaria, including Chrysorrhea, Auriflua, &c. My greatest difficulty has been with the green larve, such as Pieris Rape, Plusia chrysitis, &c., which not only lose their beautiful green tint, but assume a very ugly brown. I have tried colouring, both internal and external, but with very little success; and have many times been very vexed when correspondents have sent me such larve to operate upon, and have had to return them in such an unsatisfactory state. I disagree with Dr. Kuaggs, when he says that preserved larvae, pupe, &c., should be kept in cases separate from the imagos; I think it is the very use of them, that they should be placed side by side in the same drawer. I not only do this, but include the food-plant as well, dried in a natural position, and the lary mounted upon it.—Jd. Podalirius and Machaon.—UHaving only quite recently returned to England from the Continent, 1 find a large accumulation of the ‘Entomologist’ at my house, which have not been forwarded to me by my friends during my absence; and, upon looking over them, I see numerous questions and answers relative to Machaon being double- brooded. In the neighbourhood of Coblenz, where I have been for the last two years and a half, Machaon is undoubtedly double-brooded. I find on reference to my last year’s diary (1875, which was an extra good year for both Machaon and Podalirius, 1874 being quite the reverse) that I captured my first Machaon on the 13th of May, and captured them almost every day up to the 24th, when they ceased altogether, and did not reappear until August 10th, when they occurred in 158 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. equal profusion as in spring up to the 17th. During the intervening two months and a half numbers of the larve were found feeding on Euphorbia Esula. The difference in the size of the vernal and autumnal specimens was very striking, the earlier brood being so very much smaller. Podalirius absolutely swarmed during May. Of course, I am aware that it does not follow from the fact of Machaon being double-brooded on the Continent that it must also be the case in England; but anyhow it goes some way towards showing the probability of it. I have written these few remarks thinking they may. interest the gentleman making enquiries about Machaon.—George Kastham ; 13, Manchester Road, Southport. | Zygena nubigena, Mann.—With reference to the occur- rence of this species in Scotland (Entom. ix. 142) Mr. Birchall (Ent. Mo. Mag. iii. 33) says: “The specimens of Zygena taken in Argyleshire, and noticed in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1861, p. 7716, as Minos, are Nubigena. I possess a pair of them, through the kindness of Professor Wyville Thomson. —H. Jenner Fust, gun.; Hill Cottage, Falfield, Gloucester- shire. Xanthia gilvago a Cannibal.—Early in June [ beat from a wych-elm tree four larve of X. gilvago and two of T. W-Album. On reaching home thé chip-box containing them was mislaid for about a week. On reopening it to-day I found not only the few seeds and leaves of elm had disap- peared, but also the Thecla larve. I failed to find the slightest trace of their remains. To the best of my know- ledge the larva of Gilvago has not been recorded as a cannibal, and was no donbt forced in this case by the mere necessity of hunger to content itself with this strange diet.— Gilbert Raynor ; Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, June 12, 1876. Oporabia filigrammaria and Larentia cesiata near Bury, Lancashire.—Wishing to obtain larve of L. cxsiata, and, if possible, those of O. filigrammaria, | visited two localities in this neighbourhood, where I hoped to obtain both species; nor was I disappointed, although Filigrammaria was not known to have previously occurred at one of the places worked. Some of the larve, especially those of O. filigram- maria, were found feeding quite exposed ; others at rest; but the majority were obtained by beating ling (Erica vulgaris). THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 Although taken on ling both species will eat whinberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) quite as freely in confinement. On referring to my notes I find my first captures were made May 20th, viz.—three O. filigrammaria and sixteen L. cesiata. My last and most successful attempt was on June 4th, when my bag amounted to one hundred and forty-two O. filigram- maria and thirty-six L. cesiata. Larentia didymata larvie were very numerous along with the above, and equally common feeding on whinberry.—R. Kay; Bury, Lancashire, June 9, 1876. New British Tinea.—I forwarded a few Tinea insects to Mr. Stainton to name, which he very obligingly did. Amongst them was a Tinea angustipennis, ‘an insect,” to use his own words, “very rare on the Continent, and unknown as British.” Also Tinea u.sp.? “unless itis an aberration of T. rusticella, which I do not believe.x—H. S.” Both were captured in the summer of 1874, amongst a wilderness of weeds, near the Acton railway; since ploughed up—alas! T. angustipennis feeds on rotten wood; size 53 lines; prettily marked with black, orange, and purple, transversely ; orange tuft on head. Tinea —? 9 lines; markings as nearly as possible similar to Ferruginella.—Thomas Sorrell ; Bolton House Collegiate School, Turnham Green, Chiswick, May 16, 1876. Bees.—Bees seem very uncertain in their appearance; in some seasons certain species appear in numbers, and the next season none, or next to none, are to be found anywhere. Nomada Jacobee abounded last year, whilst this year [ did not see a single specimen. Andrena Smithella was tolerably abundant this year, and before 1 had only taken a single female. Bees are only to be found during the really fine weather of spring, summer, and autumn, when the country is in its loveliest state; and the situations they take one to are the most attractive,—where the wild flowers bloom. Can anything be more delightful than to find oneself in such a place? the air laden with the perfume of many flowers, and alive with these industrious little creatures, many of them humming over their work with as much variation in their notes as there is in an Kolian harp (I say many of them, for some are silent flyers). Their hum on such occasions as these is the contented hum of a self-satisfied bee; but they 160 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. have far different notes to these: just disturb them, and they will sometimes fly about one’s head with an angry, shrill, piping note; then, again, take them in your fingers, and they will emit quite a piteous whine; some, instead of the easy, comfortable drone, hum with an eager, restless note, as if they thought every minute ought to have ninety seconds instead of sixty; and all intermediate notes may be heard.—J. B. Bridgman (in President's Address, Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society). The Hop Weevil (Entom. ix. 134): Postscript.—My friend has employed about a dozen men and women, night and day, to hunt his hops for this destructive creature. They remove the soil round the. hop-stool in the day-time, and at night (having a light) they pick the weevils off the hop bine. This they have been continually doing for some time. Prior to my having written you on the subject, [ had advised him to try hand-picking by night.—£. R. Sheppard ; 13, Limes Villas, High Road, Lewisham, Kent, S.E., May 24, 1876. Entomological Pins.—I have for some time thought that there is need of a rearrangement of the sizes of entomological pins. I applied to Messrs. Tayler last year to know if they would make me a new size, but they declined. I think if you appealed to the entomological world, through the ‘ Ento- mologist,’ as to whether the need is universally felt, and they replied in the affirmative, no doubt Messrs. Tayler would meet their wishes. The new sizes I suggest are—one same length as No. 10, one between No. 10 and No. 15, one same length as No. 5,—all the same strength as No. 7 (or No. 15; I am not sure whether these two are of the same strength or not). This would give a graduated scale from length of No. 10 to length of No. 5, all the same strength; a strength which I think is best suited for all specimens, except some of the larger moths.—C. Lemesle Adams; Walford Manor, Shrewsbury, June 23, 1876. Answers to Correspondents. S. Bradbury.— Name of an Insect.—1 enclose you a fly which | found in my pupz-box. How it came there is quite unknown to me, as | do not think it is one of the [chneumon THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 161 tribe, and I do not recollect seeing its like before.—S. Brad- bury; May 22, 1876. [The name is Rophidia Ophiopsis, a Neuropterous insect. —Edward Newman. | T. H. Ormston Pease.—Margaritala Buff-coloured.—\s Margaritata often found of a buff tone? One specimen of this moth came to my window last autumn, of about the same colour as Elinguaria; and though I am aware they are to be seen faded to almost the same shade, I have not hitherto come across a living specimen.—T7. H. Ormston Pease ; Cote Bank, Westbury-on-Trym, May 1, 1876. [I have seen specimens of the colour described, but they are not frequent.— Edward Newman. | —— Name of a Micro.—Can you tell me the best method of preserving pupa-cases in a collection? I find that gum will not hold the more polished ones, while they are so light as to blow away with the least breath if not fastened down. Could you identify the following description ? Male.—Entirely of a dusky black, wings narrow and rounded, posterior wings slightly fringed. Female.—Apterous, scaly, with a brush of fine hairs on the last segment, giving the body a truncated appearance. Antenne of female very short. I found two cocoons of a dirty white colour attached to the top of some park-railings, from which the above-described moths emerged last autumn.—7: H. Ormsion Pease. [I scarcely like to mention or suggest a name. Will any correspondent kindly help me ?—EHdward Newman.| G. Tucker.— Food of Saturnia cynthia.—Will you kindly inform me, through the columns of the ‘ Entomologist,’ of the food-plant of the larva of Saturnia cynthia? a species of silkworm moth.—G. Tucker; 242, Prospect Place, High Street, Sheerness-on-Sea, April 21, 1876. [I have never bred this species, but have seen it feeding greedily on oak and plum: [ cannot say with what ultimate success. Perhaps some entomologist who has successfully cultivated it will kindly give the required information. At the same time, information respecting the other silkworms, now so commonly cultivated, will be acceptable—Ldward Newman. | Food of Saturnia carpini.—Mr. Edwards (Entom. ix. 142) may be interested to kuow that last season I fed up some Y 162 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. larve of Carpini on chestnut, which they seemed to prefer to anything else, as they would leave both heath and birch for it—H. Jones; Hawley, Farnborough Station. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. JANUARY 5, 1876. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair. Lepidoptera of the Higher Alps.—The Rev. R. P. Murray exhibited a collection of Lepidoptera taken by himself in the Higher Alps, amongst which were some interesting mountain varieties. ZEschna mixta at Norwood.—Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited a specimen of a dragonfly, rare in this country (Aéschna mixta), which he had picked up, nearly dead, in his garden at Upper Norwood, in the middle of November. British Coleoptera.—Mr. Champion exhibited specimens of Coleoptera, viz., Aleochara hibernica, L?ye, taken at Slieve Donardh, Ireland; Homalota egregia, Rye, from Caterham ; and Cryptophagus subfumatus, Gyl/., taken in the London district. Remarkable Species of Allacus.—Mr. W. H. Miskin, of Queensland, communicated a description of a new and remarkable species of moth belonging to the genus Attacus, of which a male and a female specimen had been taken in the neighbourhood of Cape York. He had named the species A. Hercules. The expanse of the wings measured nine inches, and the hind wings were furnished with tails. The specimens had been deposited in the Queensland Museum, JANUARY 24, 1876—ANNUAL MEETING. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair. (The President gave an able summary of the progress of Entomology during the year, from which the following are extracts. | Bees and Wasps.—Sir John Lubbock has recorded in the ‘Journal of the Linnean Society’ (May, 1875, No. 69) various interesting experiments in continuation of bis “ Observations on Bees, Wasps, and Ants:” tending to show that bees “do THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 163 not communicate with their sisters, even if they find an untenanted comb full of honey;” that, far from exhibiting “any evidence of affection, they appear to be callous and utterly indifferent to one another ;” that even “ their devotion to their queen is of a most limited character;” and that their perception of differences of colour is incontestible,—a deduction equally applicable to wasps. Some experiments were also made “ with the view of ascertaining whether the same bees act as sentinels.” Having found that particular scents had the effect of calling the bees out, he marked twelve, in all, of those which first appeared on several successive days; and, in nine such experiments, “out of ninety-seven bees which came out first, no less than seventy- one were marked ones.” He likewise tested some of the faculties attributed to ants, and especially their “ power of communicating facts to one another,” which his first recited experiments served to corroborate; although “some appeared to communicate more freely with their friends than others,” which did not summon their companions to assist them. - By a further series of ‘ Observations” on these races, more recently read before the Linnean Society, and communicated by the author to ‘ Nature’ (No. 315, November 11th), we are also informed that one ant made no less than one hundred and eighty-seven journeys in a day to carry off larve one by one, without bringing any other ant to assist her; but, in other instances, a different result was witnessed, the ants which had the heaviest task to perform having “ brought far more friends to their assistance than those which had apparently only two or three larve to remove ;” these latter being replaced by others from time to time as each was carried off. Thus, “of thirty ants which were observed, those placed to a large number of larve brought two hundred and fifty friends, while those placed to two or three larve under similar circumstances only brought eighty.” We also find that ants prefer a beaten track, however circuitous, to hazarding a short cut by dropping even “one-tenth of an inch ;” but had retreat been cut off altogether, their ingenuity to devise some other mode of escape might have been more sorely tested. In these and other experiments upon the aforesaid social tribes, the most striking evidence is afforded of the indefatigable industry with which such observations 164 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. have been closely followed up from early morn to “ dewy eve,” and recorded with a precision rarely, if ever, surpassed ; thus affording an admirable illustration how time may be stolen, as it were, for such objects, from other vocations, by activity and perseverance. An interesting account of the habits and metamorphoses of a new species of Sitaris (S. Colletes), parasitic, as its name implies, on a species of Colletes (C. succincta, L.), has been given by M. Valéry Mayet in the ‘Annales’ of the French Entomological Society (Ser. 5, tome v., 1875), with two plates exhibiting the various stages of both these insects, from larva to imago; and of Epeolus tristis, Sim., obtained from the cells of this Colletes. The primitive larva of the aforesaid Sitaris, as carefully described and delineated in this memoir, is furnished with triunguiculate tarsal claws, like that of Meloé; whereas, in M. Fabre’s remarkable life-history of Sitaris humeralis, the tarsi of the latter, in this stage, are represented as terminating in a single powerful claw (un ongle puissant, long, aigu, et tres mobile). The young larva of 8. Colletes is supplied with a caudal apparatus (appareil fixateur, V.M.), consisting of two upcurved spiked appendages attached to the base of the eighth abdominal segment on the dorsal region, having a simultaneous action up and down, between which are two tubular processes emanating from a superincumbent plate, and directed backwards, from whence filaments issue from time to time when the larva desires to affix itself to a hair of the bee or other object. Fabre, however, appears to consider such filaments, in the larva of S. humeralis, as ordinary caudal sete, which he describes as attached to the exterior margin of the ninth abdominal segment (/.¢., p. 810). The Colletes-egg is readily accessible to the young Sitaris, not being deposited by the bee, as in the cells of Anthophora, upon the honey-store itself, but affixed above this to the wall of the cell, whereby the difficulty and danger to be incurred in reaching the same, and the necessity of effecting this mancuvre at the moment of oviposition, are avoided. As this Colletes construcis her cells and deposits her eggs in the autumn, the Sitaris-larve, soon after their birth, attach them- selves to their victims, instead of remaining, like those of S. humeralis, seven months fasting in suspense, from the end THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 of September to the end of April, waiting for the Anthophore to emerge from their hybernacula. When more than one of these larve occupy the same cell of the Colletes, they fight with great ferocity until one alone remains, the others being killed and thrown into the honey; although it not unfre- quently happens that even the victor in this strife, finding the egg partially consumed by one of his former adversaries, and consequently insufficient for his maintenance, shares the fate of the vanquished ; but no such pugnacious dispositions are evinced at other times when consorting together in multitudes. Such contests are avoided in the cells of Antho- phora, where a single Sitaris-larva obtains possession of the egg unmolested at the moment of oviposition on the honey itself; a circumstance upon which M. Fabre comments as a wonderful display of instinct on the part of these larve (l.¢., p. 326). The secondary larva of Sitaris Colletes, which plunges into the honey, continues to feed thereon until April or May of the following year. It is destitute of eyes or ocelli, but still retains the vestiges of legs, and is furnished with spoon-shaped mandibles, acting alternately in the feeding- process. Eight or ten days after ceasing to feed, the adult larva assumes the pseudo-chrysalis stage of corneous con- sistency, within the detached, but still closely-enveloping, larval pellicle, which Fabre aptly compares to a bag of fine gauze. M. Valéry Mayet designates this stage as the “mseudo-nymphe,’—an appellation which he incorrectly attributes to Newport; for the latter, in his several memoirs on the transformations of Meloé (Linn. Trans., vols. xx., xxi.), always speaks of the “adult or pseudo-larva,” referred to in his last memoir as the only intermediate stage in which he had found this insect (/.c., p. 177),—for which stage M. Fabre has substituted the more appropriate denomination of “ pseudo- chrysalide” (p. 356), as not giving birth at once to the imago form, but evolving, within the indurated tegument, a semi- active Jarval form, followed by an ecdysis of the latter preparatory to assuming the condition of a true pupa or nymph (p. 338). Neither he nor Newport ever allude to a pseudo-pupa or pseudo-nymph, applicable rather to the _ aforesaid semi-active stage, which Fabre was the first to notice, and which, from its close resemblance to the antecedent larva, he designates as “la (rvisiéme larve.” 166 THE ENYOMOLOGIST. The pseudo-chrysalis of Sitaris Colletes exhibits this interior metamorphosis —as seen through the semi-transparent corneous tegument-—after about ten weeks, towards the end of July or the middle of August; the perfect beetle emerging usually the following month ; although in some rare instances —attributable, as M. Valéry Mayet conceives, to insufficient nutriment in the primitive stage, when the Colletes-egg has been partially tapped by other competitors—the ultimate metamorphosis is protracted until the autumn of the following year. In Sitaris humeralis, however, such retardation is the general rule; it being only in exceptional cases that some of these remain scarcely more than a single mouth in the pseudo-chrysalis state, completing their metamorphoses in August, and emerging shortly after. But they usually hybernate in the former stage; and it is only in June of the second year that the interior quasi-larval form is separated from the pseudo-puparium, and about five weeks later becomes transformed to a true pupa-nymph; the same month, in fact, when the. adult larva had assumed its corneous tegument in the previous year (Fabre, l.c., pp. 339—343). M. Valéry Mayet recognises this pupa as “la vérilable nymphe” (p.75); therefore the antecedent stage, or “troisieéme larve” of Fabre, and not his “ pseudo-chrysalide,” can alone constitute the pseudo-pupa or “ pseudo-nymphe.” Thus the Sitaris humeralis usually requires two years to complete its metamorphoses, hybernating the first year in the primitive larval condition, and the second in that of the pseudo-chrysalis; whereas the Sitaris Colletes, commencing its operations seven months earlier, generally attains maturity within a single year. The early transformations of two other species of Meloidz have also been investigated by M. Jules Lichtenstein, of Montpellier, who succeeded in nurturing one of the primitive larva of Meloé cicatricosus on the egg of a Vespa vulgaris placed upon honey in a glass tube, and in witnessing its first metamorphosis five days later, when it plunged into the honey, but died after feeding thereon twelve days. This secondary form differed essentially from that of Meloé, described and figured by Fabre, apparently constituting an intermediate stage, closely resembling the antecedent larva, but destitute of caudal sete, with lacteous head and black eyes (the subsequent stage being blind), looking like a THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 minute salamander, with its legs distended on the honey. Experiments were also tried with the primitive larva of the blister-beetle (Cantharis vesicatoria), which could not be induced to feed on the eggs of Vespa or Polistes, nor on simple honey, beyond a few feeble attempts ; but eventually they accepted the honey-bag of the hive-bee as an available substitute for their ordinary food, affixing themselves to this and thriving thereon. In one instance also a compound of honey and young Polistes larve proved equally successful. These primitive larvae are of a brownish black colour, with the second and third thoracical, and the first abdominal segments, more or less pallid, having the usual long caudal sete and triunguiculate tarsal claws. After the lapse of nine days they changed to the secondary form as aforesaid. Three ' of these attained the third stage, having still well-developed legs (pattes assez bien conformées), but with no indication of eyes, coinciding in this respect with those of Meloé and Sitaris. After a time, becoming restless as adults, they were placed upon some earth, woerein they hastily buried them- selves, for the supposed purpose of completing their trans- formations, but contrary, as it would seem, to their accustomed habits. Here they appear to have perished, being no longer discoverable; their death being attributed to insufficient moisture. From the localities frequented by this Cantharis, where the burrows of Halicti also abound, M. Lichtenstein considers it probable that the larve of the former are reared in the cells of these bees; but, in such case, they could not quit those abodes to undergo their ultimate metamorphoses in the earth. Spiders in the Bark of T’rees.—Our attention has been called to a new trap-door spider from South Africa, which forms its nest in the bark of trees, recently described and figured by the Rey. O. P. Cambridge in the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ (November), under the name of Moggridgea Dyeri. The nests, however, figured by Mr. Pickard Cambridge, differ essentially from two which were exhibited at the July meeting of this Society; these being wholly imbedded in the solid bark, and having a hinged lid closely resembling the surrounding parts of the cuticle itself, as if retained in situ; whereas, according to a fuller description of the nests submitted to Mr, Pickard Cambridge, 168 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. published in the ‘ Field’ newspaper of the 28th August, they were stated to “consist of a silken tube, scarcely more than an inch in length, rugged on the outside in such parts as may be exposed, and formed in the folds and interstices of the rough bark (‘Annals and Magazine,’ l.c., pl. x., fig. A); the outer side of the lid, like that of the exposed parts of the tube, exactly resembling the surrounding surface of the bark.” One of these tubes was “constructed in the channelled groove of a piece of wood which had apparently formed part of some building” (/. ¢., fig. B). Other nests, somewhat similar to those referred to by Mr. Pickard Cambridge, were exhibited by M. Lucas, at a meeting of the French Entomo- logical Society (November 10th); the silken tubes—carefully concealed by, and interwoven with, particles of bark— constituting a longitudinal distension above the surface, and ceding to pressure. No reference, however, has been made in any of these descriptions to tubes entirely hidden within the solid bark, having only the lid exposed. From the occupants of these novel abodes being destitute of the spines with which the anterior extremity of the falces is crested in allied races, assisting them to burrow in the earth, Mr. Pickard Cambridge considers that these spiders, “not being furnished with the necessary implements,” fix “upon a position where excavation is needless.” But in the other instances referred to, where the tunnel is equally short, scarcely penetrating beyond an inch, and not corresponding, therefore, with that of any wood-boring larva of similar dimensions, the fortuitous discovery of such a retreat would seem open to question; the fangs being possibly more available than the spines on the falces for operating upon the fibrous tissues, and an economy of labour being effected by utilising any convenient receptacle, as frequently witnessed among other excavators. Some doubts have been entertained whether the access to these domiciles is from above or from below. Mr. Pickard Cambridge now inclines to the opinion that the lid is placed at the upper extremity of the tube as usual, although evidence is wanting upon this point. An instructive account of the habits of this and other allied species, comprising also the preliminary details published in the ‘ Field, has been given in ‘ Newman’s Entomologist’ fo1 November last by the talented Editor of that periodical. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 158.]} AUGUST, M DeCCLXXVI. [Pricx 6d. Agrotis tritict and Agrotis aquilina. Fig. 2.—AGnoris AQUILINA. As there is often some little difficulty in identifying these two species, I think it desirable to point out the difference, with the aid of the above figures. Agrotis tritici usually appears a few days before its ally ; and, although not invariably the case, it is generally more littoral in its habitat; for though frequently found with Agrotis aquilina inland, the latter is seldom found in the same numbers near the coast. In fact, A. aquilina is a more scarce species, and I have never found it in large numbers in*any locality; whereas A. tritici may usually be VOL. IX. Zz “170 fHE ENTOMOLOGIST. taken from the last week in July to the second week in August in profusion, either at sugar or on the flowers of the ragwort, even by day, on all our sandhills and heaths from the North of Scotland to the south coast. A. tritict may be distinguished by the colours being more sharply bright than in A. aquilina; the ground colour of the fore wings is grayish brown,—that is, the gray is more visible than in A. aquilina, where it is suffused with a brownish tint, having a strong inclination to ochreous. In A. tritici the streak, from the base near the costa, is more sharply defined and lighter in colour. ‘The subterminal line in A. tritici is much more distinct than that of A. aquilina; also the hind margin of the reniform stigma is much better defined; whereas in many specimens of A. aquilina it is scarcely visible. A. tritici is much more variable than A. aquilina: it varies from a strongly-marked, clean, black and white form,—very like Agrotis obelisca,—to an almost unicolorous brownish gray, without any distinct marking; while A. aquilina only varies in intensity and depth of colour. A. aquilina is larger, and a generally stronger moth. Let me advise all who have any doubt about the identity of either species to rear each from its early larval state. The larva of A. tritici may be found commonly during May at the roots of the various species of stonecrop which abound ov our coasts, especially Sedum acre, as well as at the roots of grass aud of almost any flowering plant; while that of A. aquilina more frequently feeds upon the leaves than the roots. The larve of both species feed at night. Agrotis tritict. The head of the Larva is shining pale brown, mar- bled with darker brown; the 2nd segment has a dark brown smooth plate ; along the back is a broad gray-brown stripe, followed by a narrower line considerably paler, and a narrow lateral stripe on each side, also pale brown; the Agrolis aquilina. The Larva of Agrotis aqui- lina is slightly larger than that of Agrotis tritici: the head is light gray-brown, marbled with very dark brown; the back dingy brown; the dorsal line pale brown, which with the subdorsal line runs through the blackish plate on the 2nd segment; below this YTHE ENTOMOLOGIST, sides of the larva are dingy green, divided by a narrow gray stripe; spiracles black. Full fed middle to May. The size of the 1MAGo is 1 inch | line to 1 inch 4 lines. Fore wings grayish brown, a very pale gray streak from the base ofthe wing near the costa; stigma wuch paler; hind edge of the reniform stigma being well and _ distinctly marked; three black wedge- shaped spots precede the somewhat distinct subtermi- nal line. ‘The perfect insects appear end of July to middle of August. end of 171 is a line of blackish green, then a thin gray-brown line, followed by another broad stripe of dingy dark green; the black spiracles being beneath its lower edge: the whole aspect of the larva of A. aquilina being dingy. Full fed end of May. The size of the maao is 1 inch 4 lines to 1 inch 5 lines, lore wings pale brownish, with a strong tendency to ochreous; a pale ochreous-brown streak from the base near the costa; stigma much paler, with the hind margin of the reniform stigma scarcely defined, or lost; three or four blackish wedge-shaped dashes precede avery indistinct subterminal line. The moth appears late in July and early in August. Joun T. CarrincrTon. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropiischen Eichengallen’ by KE. A. Frreu, Esq. (Continued from p, 150.) 53. Dryophanta disticha, Hart.—This gall Fig. 53. appears on the under side of the leaves of . Quercus sessiliflora, and is not visible on the LU upper side. meter, It is of a cylindrically-spherical shape, and grows generally to a height of four millimetres, with a little longer transverse dia- It adheres to a side rib by means of a very short pedicle, and is much compressed at that spot; it is also flattened at the top, and has in the centre an umbilicated papilla. ; 1). pIsTICHA It is (and in section). 172 ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. rather hard, bare, somewhat shining ; at first (July and August) of a yellowish white, which changes later on to a yellowish brown, and often slightly rosy. This gall differs from the preceding species in having two Cavities in the interior, one placed above the other, the lower of which contains the larva, and is only confined at the base by a thin wall; the small, upper cavity, however, is surrounded with a thick and loose layer of gall-substance, and separated from the larva-cell by a thin cellular diaphragm. ‘The gall-fly is developed late in the antumn; and, according to Von Schlechtendal, leaves the gall in October and November; while Schenck gives spring as its flight-time.—G. Z. Mayr. 54. Dryophanta cornifex, Hart. Fig. 54, — This horn-shaped gall appears in June on the under side of the leaves of Quercus pubescens. It is at first green, but becomes yellowish brown, often with a reddish tinge; it is shining and moderately hard, and on an average attains to one milli- metre in length by two millimetres in diameter; its base is situated in a cup, of from two and a half to three millimetres in diameter, the margin of which is angular, with a more or less depressed centre. It adheres to the rib of the leaf in such a manner that the point of D. cornirex (and in section). attachment is not visible from the upper side. The gall is sometimes a little narrowed below the middle. In rare-cases it has a small lateral strobile or cone, and is also conical at the top. Interiorly the gall contains a vertically-placed larva-cell, without an inner gall. From galls collected in October, and kept in a room, the flies ewerged in November and December, but they require to te kept rather moist.— G. L. Mayr. This species is Hartig’s Cynips carnifex, Aollar (Germ. Zeit. iv. 405). One specimen of Synergus pallicornis was bred by T’schek, as recorded by Mayr. The gall does not occur in Britain.—Z. A. Fitch, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 173 Doings and Observations among the Aculeale Hymenoptera during 1875. By J. B. BripGMan, Esq.* Tue past season has been the worst I have had for working the Aculeate Hymenoptera since | commenced the study, for though in novelties and rarities | have had no reason to complain, yet the days on which they could be collected have been very few: a few in April, the end of May and beginning of June, and a fortnight in August, were about the only occasions when there was a succession of fine weather. Many causes probably combined to render these insects so scarce. To the want of fine weather must be added, in some degree, the long-continued cold of the previous winter, which lasted till late in spring, the first fine warm day we had occurring on the 29th of April. Another cause may have been the unprecedented drought of the summer of 1874, which materially interfered with the growth and flowering of many plants, thereby causing a great falling off in the quantity of pollen and honey, both of which are essential for food for the larve of the bees. Still another fruitful cause of their scarceness was, no doubt, to be found in the prevalence of north and east winds, and sometimes the two combined. Cold winds or dull weather are very prejudicial to these insects: they will not stir from their bnrrows while either prevail ;-should a cloud even pass between them and the sun they will remain quiet on whatever flower they may happen to be till it is passed, and if of long duration they seem to fall into a deep sleep, or to be almost entirely numb, In consequence of the cold spring all vegetation was backward ; but when it did burst into bloom, and sunshine came, the early bees, which had been retarded by the cold, swarmed in some species. Amongst them was the hitherto unknown female of Andrena bimaculata, a beautiful insect belonging to the division with red or partial red abdomens ; the male was named by Kirby, who took it twice at Barham. Mr. Smith says in his book there are only two specimens known, and these are in the collection of the British Museum. I was fortunate enough to take a few males on * ‘Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturslists’ Society’ Tresident’s Address), 1875—6. Norwich; Fletcher & Son. Price 3s, Gd, | he Fain THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Mousehold three years ago; this year they literally swarmed, not only on Mousehold, but all round Norwich. This species seems to be free from the attacks of the parasitic Stylops. I suppose [ handled over a hundred, but not one of them had a Stylops, although they were in abundance in Andrena atriceps and A. convexiuscula, both of which insects were found in the same place, at the same time. Another Andrena was found in tolerable plenty at the sallows. The male and female of this bee greatly resembles the same sexes of Andrena dorsata, an insect not uncommon at the flower of the bramble during July and August. No bee like this latter has yet been recorded, that I know of, as having been captured in the early spring. Mr. F. Smith has identified this as A: combinata of Kirby, at one time thought to be a variety of the former insect. Kirby,: unfortunately, frequently omitted to give the date of capture, which has in this and another instance given rise to a slight confusion of species. I have not troubled you with a more lengthy description of these insects, because Mr. Frederick Smith is preparing a second edition of his ‘ Catalogue of British Bees, and it will then be done by a far abler pen than mine, and, what is more important, correctly so. With these, at the sallows, the rare Andrena Smithella was not uncommonly found. At Brundall, in the middle of April, I took a Nomada, which, | believe, is new to Britain. It is not much unlike N. lateralis; the latter, however, occurs about a month later. J am sorry to say the rough bank on which I found the two specimens (females) is now cut away to make a railway- siding. Though these species. of Andrena were plentiful, many of the early ones were hardly represented; of Andrena Gwynana and A. parvula, which generally abound on the first fine day towards the end of March, scarcely a specimen was to be found. Kirby divided these litle bees into three species,—Parvula, Nana, and Minutula; but recent writers have considered Parvula as simply a variety of Minutula. This appears to me to be an error, probably caused by the absence of a record of dates of the appearance of these species of Andrena. ‘This genus, as I have before observed, has, as a rule, but one brood in the year, and the three species appear successively, commencing with the earliest THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 175 day of spring and continuing to the end of August. The black-faced male appears with Parvula at the end of March or beginning of April, and lasts till about the end of May. In the middle of May are to be found white-faced males, and the female Nana; and, at the end of June or beginning of July, there is another white-faced male, which differs from the previous one, and with this male appears a female, which at first sight might be mistaken for Parvula; but, as Kirby says in a footnote, the abdomen is of a different shape, and it is less hairy. These three species, being found in abundance close to the city, have enabled me to get a good series, with the dates of capture; and a close examination of these has led me to believe that Kirby was right in his belief of the three species. Amongst the early bees is found one whose habits are veiled in mystery; it is a bee without the necessary hirsuties for conveying pollen, ‘These are invariably absent in the parasitic bees, but it does not necessarily follow that all bees without these appendages are parasitic; for example,—the genus Prosopis, or Hylzus, is entirely without them, but are, nevertheless, constructive bees; the parasilic bee lays its eggs on the honey and pollen collected by another bee, when it finds one suited for its purpose. Many of these parasites are constant in their attacks on certain species of constructive bees; others (of which perhaps the best example is Nomada ruficornis) attack several species varying greatly in size, and consequently in the quantity of honey and pollen they collect for the future young. The Nomada vary in size according to the species they attack, the size being influenced by the quantity of food. ‘Tbe above-mentioned insect varies from three to six lines. Asa rule there is not a great variation in the size of the constructive bees, but amongst the Sphecodes there is just the same variation in size as there is in the Nomade ; these insects are generally found running or flying about the dry banks infested by the Halicti, which, in the different species, vary as much in size as the specimens do in the species of Sphecodes. And it is not Halictus only that Sphecodes attacks (that is supposing it to be parasitic), for in May last I found a large colony of Andrena albicrus, which had made their holes in the hard ground by the sile of a road, and flying about the 176 : THE ENTOMOLOGIST. burrows were several large specimens of Sphecodes rufescens, busily hunting about the burrows, the entrances to which were not exposed, but each was covered by a little heap of dry dust, which is pushed out by the insect when forming the hole. Presently I saw a female Andrena turn its head down- wards into one of the little heaps of dust, as they did when they wanted to enter the burrow; at the same instant up flew a Sphecodes, and, by tugging at its legs and wings, tried to pull the Andrena out, which at last—l suppose annoyed by the persistence of the Sphecodes—turned out and flew away, when the latter quartered the ground in all directions, as if searching for something it had lost, and, not being successful, prepared to fly away, when I captured it. These Sphecodes were large, and fairly corresponded in size to the Andrena, but there were no small ones about; and, as far as my recollection goes, | have not found large Sphecodes without finding large Halicti or Andrenz in its vicinity, and small Sphecodes without small Halicti. Of course this may be only a coincidence, although I think it is more than that. Mr. Smith tells me he has seen them burrowing. ‘This certainly goes far to prove that they are constructive bees; but still my opinion is that they are not so. In the early spring I was struck with the enormous quantity of female wasps that were met with in every direction. ‘This was not confined to this district, as many correspondents to the gardeners’ periodicals noticed the same thing. One of them, who signs himself, “ P. Grieve, Bury St. Edmunds,” writing to the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle’ of June 19th, says:—“ It has been his duty for the last twenty- eight years to count the slain wasps and hornets, for which one penny each is given, up to the end of the month of May. This season the numbers reached the enormous quantity of two thousand five hundred aud sixty-six, and the sum paid for them was £10 13s. 10d.; about five or six per cent. of them were hornets. The numbers captured during the former seasons has varied from five hundred to six hundred, up to the unprecedented number of the present season.” Several others have given statistics of numbers killed or paid for, all proving that the number of these insects has been enormous. The nests, however, in this neighbourhood, as far as my observation has gone, were not so plentiful as [ expected they THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 177 would have been; many of the females must have been killed by the cold weather which occurred during the spring and summer. The leaf-cutter bees, which make a thimble of pieces of leaves for their nest, and then close the entrance with circular pieces after having put in a sufficient mixture of honey and pollen, are said by Shuckard to fix the circular pieces in and hold them in their places by slightly springing them; but in a cell [ examined of Megachile maritima the pieces were certainly cemented in their places round the edge with a substance which looked like wax laid on very thinly, but sull clearly perceptible. At Brundall, at the end of July, I had the good fortune to take another male specimen of Macropis labiata; it was at the little thistle. This makes the fifth specimen taken in Britain, which are all males; and I think, without doubt, establishes this as the locality for the one Mr. Brown took last year. There is hardly any doubt but that the female will yet be taken there, if looked for. At the same time and place I took two females of the rare Nomada xanthosticta ; the bad weather, which prevailed at the time, most likely had something to do with my not taking more of either species. The day I took them the sun shone for full half an hour, when, as usual, a storm came on, and I got—instead of more insects—a wetting. Andrena decorata again abounded at the flowers of the bramble in this neighbourhood; and, though most plentiful, the red variety were very scarce indeed, nearly all being dark. % + ~ . > - The flowers I have found most frequented by bees are willows, sallows, blackthorn, dandelions, veronica, sycamore, brambles, thistles, ragwort, hawkweed, heath, and the Umbellifere. In conclusion, should any feel inclined to study this very interesting branch of natural history, I shall be most happy to render them any assistance that lies in my power. J. B. BriveMan. Descripiion of the Larva of Nola albuilalis.—The larva ot this insect has been known for some time past, but hitherto Qa 178 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. no description has appeared in entomological journals, and no record of its habits has been supplied for the benefit of entomologists. During the present summer I have been able to search in the locality where Dr. Allchin and Mr. Chaney first captured this species twenty years ago, and I succeeded in finding a sufficient number of larve to take descriptions from, and to enable me to observe the method of pupation. Length half an inch when at rest, longer when crawling. Width one-fourth the length, nearly uniform; this gives the larva a short and stout appearance. Ground colour,—two very distinct varieties,—(1) pale yellowish green; (2) bright orange. There are six raised tubercles on each segment, forming two rows on the dorsal area, and two rows on each side; from each tubercle springs a tuft of long whitish hairs. The tubercles themselves are usually of the ground éolour, but an intermediate variety of the larva occurs with the ground colour pale yellowish green and the tubercles orange. The markings are confined to the dorsal area. There are two rows of irregular-shaped black marks, forming in some instances well-defined lines, and in others merely rows of dots, each row being placed between the dorsal and second row of tubercles. In addition, the 7th and 11th segments possess a black band joining the two rows of markings together. ‘The above markings vary much in distinctness. The head is small, sometimes of a pale brown colour, and in other instances almost black. Food-plant the dewberry. When full fed the larva selects a dry twig or culm of grass, upon which it spins its cocoon, formed of silk and portions of bark or grass interspersed. It commences by spinning the base of the cocoon in the shape of a flat boat, and when of sufficient size the edges are drawn together as a covering, fitting very closely round the larva. In this cocoon the change to pupa takes place, and the imago is prepared to emerge within the space of three weeks, or thereabouts.— J. Platt Barrett; 34, Radnor Street, Peckham, July 12, 1876. Description of the Larva of Strenia clathrata.—Last year, at the end of May, the Rev. P. H. Jennings, M.A., of Longfield Rectory, kindly sent me a few eggs of this species: they were oblong-oval, and indented on the upper surface ; the colour grass-green. On the 8th of June they hatched, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 179 -and the newly-emerged larve were dingy green, with the extremities tinged with yellow, and the head pale brown. On being supplied with the common white Dutch clover, they fed well until July 19th, by which time they were full grown, and description taken as follows:—Length about three-quarters of an inch, and of average bulk in proportion ; the head has the lobes globular, is shining, rather hairy, and slightly notched on the crown; body cylindrical, and of nearly uniform width throughout; skin smooth, clothed with a few, almost imperceptible, very short hairs; segmental divisions distinct. The ground colour is bright green, darkest along the sides; the head green, with the mandibles brown ; two parallel white lines extend through the centre of the dorsal area, enclosing between them an almost hair-like, white dorsal line through the centre of a band of the ground colour; the subdorsal lines are also white, as are also the broad spiracular lines, and there is another finer white line between the dorsal and subdorsal ones; segmental divisions yellowish ; the spiracles very minute, black; ventral surface green, longitudinally striped with numerous very fine darker lines. Changes to pupa below the surface of the ground. The pupa is three-eighths of an inch long, rather stout, but tapering sharply towards the anal segment, which finishes with a fine point; the eye-, leg-, and wing-cases prominent; colour dark mahogany-brown. Part of the imagos emerged in the middle of the following month (August), but most remained over the winter, appearing as moths at the end of May and beginning of June last.—Geo. 7. Porritt; Hud- dersfield, July 10, 1876. Life-history of Agrotera nemoralis.—The eggs of this beautiful species are deposited on the twigs of its food-plant, Carpinus Betulus, singly or in small batches, about the first week in June, and are extremely flat and inconspicuous; on first seeing them one could hardly imagine them capable of containing life. Even when deposited on a smooth surface, like a pill-box, they are difficult to see, and when on the stem of the food-plant would almost defy the best pair of eyes to detect. The young larve hatch in about ten days, and at first feed on the under side of the leaves, beneath a loosely-spun web. After the second moult they gnaw little round holes in the leaf, just large enough for them to crawl 180 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. through on their feeding excursions, and through which they re-enter to their little silken abodes for rest and shelter. If touched or irritated, they crawl very quietly either backwards or forwards, Tortrix-like. When full grown they are about nine- tenths of an inch long, of a pale yellowish green colour, the head being of a slightly warmer tint of ochreous, and shiny ; a few colourless bristly hairs are sparsely dispersed over the body, mostly along the spiracles. The larva spins up on a leaf, by neatly and compactly folding up a portion of it, in shape something like a “turnover-tart;” this it lines with silk, making it, doubtless, a secure and water-tight abode, to pass the winter, when of course it is detached from the tree, —a sport to the winds. ‘The imago appears: about the 20th of May following. It is extremely local, and I believe is entirely confined in this country to East Sussex, the reported capture at Willesden not being universally accepted. —W. H. Tugeell; 3, Lewisham Road, Greenwich. Entomological Notes, Captures, §c. Relaxing Moths and Butterflies.—lf not over-working the subject, allow me to offer a few suggestions on the subject of relaxing moths and butterflies; as though your other corre- spondents say much that is most valuable on the subject, yet their various plans may not suit all hunters, especially those who have occasionally to trust their apparatus to a mule’s back over high mountain-passes; and, notwithstanding all that has been written, one great principle, and which it appears to me is the principal one, appears to have escaped them,—that is, speedy relaxing and speedy drying. I find one of the ordinary pocket zinc boxes, corked top and bottom, the very best of all relaxing cases: damp both corks to saturation, place the box over a gentle heat (never more than you can bear your hand upon), and in six hours you may relax the most obstinate insect; shake off the dew- drops, or paint them off with a very soft brush, or even use blotting-paper carefully. Specimens thus relaxed dry in a very short space of time, and lose none of their freshness, because no putrefaction has time to commence. I have lately thus relaxed a large number of specimens sent me THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 18] from India with perfect success. For one large specimen | had to take the largest saucepan our small kitchen afforded, and by placing a piece of wood and cork across the middle, and filling the bottom with water, gave him a gentle vapour- bath, which relaxed him in five or six hours; and the speci- men was perfectly dry on the setting-board in three days. Any plan which for five or six hours keeps the specimens in a gentle warm vapour will relax more speedily and dry more quickly than any other plan I have tried, and | do not find it affect either colour or plumage. For killing moths of all kinds J invariably use cyanide (poison) bottles of different sizes, filled very lightly with cotton-wool, which is placed in the bottles in small pieces, so that the contents may be carefully drawn out piece by piece. The moths bury themselves in the cotton- wool, and may be carried without shaking. Some, | know, have found this plan fail, and that small moths are rubbed. Much of this damage is caused in taking the cotton-wool out, if not placed in the bottles in small detached pieces. With all care some may possibly be damaged slightly. By what other plan can we ensure invariable success? Then L shall be answered: The process stiffens the specimens, and you cannot afterwards set them. I grant that it does, for twelve, and even twenty-four hours afterwards; but leave them in the bottle twenty-four hours and every specimen will be perfectly pliant, for the rigor mortlis has ceased. I found this out by leaving some specimens by accident in a bottle for more than a week, and they set beautifully. When out for several days I pack all my small moths in layers between cotton-wool in one of my poison bottles (I drop one or two drops of water on the bottom and damp the cork), and can set them all with perfect ease at the end of a week: in fact, you might leave them three weeks without damage ; and I find them travel admirably in this manner. I now never touch a moth with my fingers, except to insert the pin for setting; and the amount of midnight labour spared after a hard day’s hunting on the mountains is a relief not to be despised. Can any of your correspondents give a hint as to the best means of handling the antenne in setting? 1 mean the antenne of Noctua, Geometra, &c.; | cannot keep them straight on the setting-boards, do what I will. I have tried pins; small pieces of paper over them; but no plan satisfies 182 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. me: they will curl, or take the impress of the pins or paper. —[Rev.] C. J. W. Tasker; Aigle, Canton de Vaud, La Suisse, July 13, 1876. Relaxing and Grease.—\t long since occurred to me that if the common, cork-lined zine collecting-box would, when the cork was damp, keep moths for hours in a fit state for setting, it would also relax those already stiff: and so it does—excellently, and in a short time; especially if, in winter, the box be placed a little way from the fire. Have any of your correspondents tried “ Dyer’s spirit” for removing grease? It is more powerful than benzine; but, “Cave!” very inflammable. I just pour a little into a saucer and place the insects in it, and let them stay (in a draught) till the spirit is evaporated. A very greasy C. ligniperda, which benzine failed utterly to cleanse, yielded to the action of the above spirit.—[Rev.] Windsor Hambrough ; Worthing, July 6, 1876. Colias Edusa near Dublin.—It may doubtless interest the entomological readers of your journal to hear of the occur- rence of this lovely butterfly in the immediate vicinity of the city. On the 25th of June I observed several individuals of this species newly-emerged from the chrysalis,—very brilliant insects,—in a locality where I had obtained this butterfly about nine years ago. I was then fortunate enough to capture both this species and the pale variety, Colias Hyale. Since that occasion, tll the above-mentioned date, I have never seen the insect on the wing, although looked for yearly.— Edward Williams; 2, Dame Street, Dublin, July 5, 1876. [Colias Edusa has often been reported from Ireland. We are glad to see another collector’s name from Dublin, as the lack of Irish collectors is to be deplored.— Ed. } Colias Edusa.—Colias Edusa seems to be out rather early this season. 1 have already seen several in the neigh- bourhood of Plymouth; the first, June 28rd.—J. Gatcombe ; 8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Devon. Early appearance of Colias Hyale.—On the 8th of June, while out collecting on the Folkestone Hills, I took a beautiful specimen of Colias Hyale. Is not this early? I never remember seeing it so early before.—Charles Boden ; 127, Tooley Street. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 183 Macroglossa stellatarum and Choerocampa porcellus.— Last August I was fortunate enough to find a number of the larve both of Stellatarum and Porcellus, which I was anxious to distribute amongst those who wanted them; but by the time the September number of the ‘ Entomologist’ came out, nearly all had spun up, and consequently very many who -Were most anxious to obtain them were disappointed. As I believe I most likely shall find more, I should be glad to receive the address of correspondents wishing to obtain the larvee I have before mentioned.—H. Neale ; 22, St. Martin's Church Street, Salisbury, July 22, 1876. Heliothis peltiger at Blackpool.—\t may perhaps interest entomologists to learn that my brother captured a fine female of Heliothis peltiger on the 22nd of June, at Blackpool.— J. W. Aspinwall; 1, Oak Bank, Withington, June 23, 1876. Leucania vitellina in the New Forest.—I\t may be inte- resting to record the capture of L. vitellina, at sugar, by Mr. George Tate, in the New Forest, in September last. He remained, however, in perfect ignorance of the importance of his capture, till the insect was recognised by a London entomologist. Mr. Tate has transferred it to my cabinet.— J. G,. —oss; Bathampton Lodge, Bathampton, near Bath, July 17, 1876. Cossus ligniperda at Sugar.—With reference to this species (as | do not think that it is generally known to be one of our sugar-visitors) 1 would just remark that I captured a fine specimen on the 20th July, which was freely partaking of the sweets ; indeed, it seemed feasting upon the luxury to the same extent as a Derasa or Batis would.—H. T’. Dobson, jun.; New Malden, Surrey, July 24, 1876. Tillus unifasciatus and Xylotrogus brunneus.—On the 9th of July I detected a specimen of T’. unifasciatus on some oak palings in this neighbourhood; on the following day I took another; and on the 12th two more, and lost another; on the 15th [ missed another, as it fell amongst the long grass and escaped; on the 17th [ took two more. Lyctus caniculatus was very abundant, and amongst them I detected seven specimens of the rare Xylotrogus brunneus. Is any- thing known in what trees these three species feed, as they evidently only come to suck the new wood? As the locality is close at hand, I visit the spot daily, morning and afternoon ; 184 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. but most have occurred in the morning. Although IL have been on the look-out for both of these species for the last thirty-five years, I never took them before.—Samuel Stevens ; “Toanda,” Beulah Hill, Upper. Norwood, July 18, 1876. Entomological Pins.—\ do not think Messrs. Tayler & Co. ‘need make any additional pins for the use of British entomo- logists, but may safely cease making several sizes which are constantly used by some of my good-natured, but unpractical, correspondents. May I suggest to Mr. Adams, who writes upon this subject (Entom. ix. 160), that if he and other entomologists use the following pins for something like the purposes mentioned below, they will soon like these sizes to the exclusion of all others. Such is my own case, after having used them for about nineteen seasons. No. 6— gilt; for largest butterflies, Sphinges, &c. No. 8—gilt; for Noctuina, and other stout-bodied moths and larger Geometers. No. 10—gilt; for small Geometers, Pyralides, and large Tortrices. No. 18—gilt; for small Tortrices, and all Tinea, excepting smallest. No. 20—gilt; for small Tinee. The No. 18 is an especially useful pin. I wish if Messrs. Tayler & Co. are making any change, it would be to make the heads of all the pins somewhat smaller.—John T. Carrington. Answers to Correspondents. Eustace F. Clark.—(1) Can you tell me to what country the Papilio, Helenus, Stalacthis, Susanna, Heliconea, Phyllis, Danais, Plerippus, and D. Chrysippus, belong, as I have got them, but know nothing of their economy or habitat? (2) Do you know of any competent entomologist who would be willing to name beetles if I sent some to him? I prefer to go by the classification at the end of Mr. Rye’s book. I can identify but few of my insects, and I know no entomologist— in fact, I doubt of there being many—in this neighbourhood. I have also many Lepidoptera I do not know by name. (3) I send you several wings of moths, found by me lying about all together on two successive days. I suppose they had fallen victims to some spider or beetle. Can you tell me to what moths they belong? There is one dark gray, with the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 185 reniform and orbicular clear, and a zigzag line on each side of them, which I particularly want to ascertain among those I have sent. [(1) You will readily ascertain the countries of your foreign Lepidoptera from Staudinger’s list, which may be obtained through Triibner & Co., Ludgate Hill. (2) Any entomologist will be glad to name your captures, after you have done your best to do so for yourself from books; but it is hardly fair to depute all the labour to others; nor would such a course be useful to yourself, for you would learn much less from being told than from finding out by study. Newman’s ‘ British Moths’ and ‘ British Butterflies’ will materially assist your labours, so far as Lepidoptera are concerned. (3) The wings are so damaged that—excepting Noctua augur, Agrotis excla- mationis, and Aplecta advena, all of which you will be able to make out from ‘ British Moths’—it is impossible to identify the species. There was an interesting controversy, as to whether such a destruction of moths as you mention was caused by spider, or mouse, or bat, in the volume of the *Zoologist’ for 1866; and some additional notes were pub- lished in that journal in 1871.—£d.] S. Bradbury.— Epunda nigra.—Can you inform me if this species is double-brooded? as all the pupex I have had ewerged in May last year: one on the 11th this year; a very fine male on the 26th. I enclose a case, and I am of opinion that they feed upon the hawthorn, as I have only found them under that tree, and there is no other but ash. These trees grow in the middle of a fifteen-acre sheep pasture, with no herbage but turf. I will endeavour to find the larva asa proof. [Epunda nigra is not double-brooded. You will see that the food given in the ‘ History of British Moths’ is the great hedge bedstray (Galium mollugo); also other herbaceous plants. The pupa having been found near the hawthorn is not proof that the larva feeds upon this tree. Many low- _ plant feeding larve go to the base of trees when turning to pupe.— Ed. | James Mudie.—Insect Analtomy.—I shall be obliged to you if you can tell me if the anatomy of insects is a subject which has been investigated to any extent, and, if so, what works would be the best guide for me in studying it? 2B 186 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. [The subject of insect anatomy is treated in Newman’s ‘Grammar of Entomology,’ and later, in his ‘ Familiar Intro- duction to the History of Insects. Both these works are, however, out of print. There appears a demand for the latter, and it is to be hoped the publisher will eventually reprint it. —Ed.| Saturnia Carpini.—In reply to Mr. Edwards and Mr. Jones (Entom. ix. 161), the larva of Saturnia Carpini will feed upon whitethoru as well as on anything; and, indeed, is sometimes found on the lower shoots of those whitethorn bushes which happen to be on or at the edges of our heaths. —Geo. T. Porritt; Huddersfield, July 10, 1876. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. JANUARY 24, 1876—ANNUAL MEETING. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair. [The following is an extract from the President’s Address. | Relation of various Groups of Hymenoptera.—Dr. Miiller has recently published a paper in the ‘Bienen Zeitung’ (July 2nd), whereof a summary appears in ‘ Nature’ (No. 314, November 4th), to which a sequel is promised hereafter ; wherein he treats of various groups of Hymenopterous insects, “in which we find a series of forms presenting more and more complex life-relations, accompanied by a higher and higher mental organisation ;” the consideration of which gradations he considers “calculated to throw much light on the question—How has the honey-bee acquired its remark- able instincts?” Commencing with the Tenthredinida, as “amongst the lowest of Hymenoptera,” exhibiting the simplest instincts in their mode of oviposition on the plant. upon which they themselves subsist; he passes on to the Cynipide, where we meet with a new mode of life, their incision giving rise to the well-known galls; after which, proceeding to the “insect-piercing species,” he considers that “this passage from phytophagous to carnivorous habits has not only led to the formation of many new species, but also to a greater complexity in the relation of the parents to THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 187 their young, and to a higher intellectual development, which is shown especially in the arrangements made for the nourish- ment of the larve; since it requires both greater energy and more intelligence to discover and attack a particular species of insect than merely to lay an egg on the plant which has served the mother herself for nourishment,” the passage from the one to the other having, as he conceives, “ been slow and gradual;” and, “on the basis of this increased energy, intelligence, and adaptability,” a still further advance was made by other groups, which, to secure their eggs from molestation, transport their victims to a place of security, involving certain difficulties with which many may have found it impossible to cope. “Thus the ovipositor of the Tenthredo became the sting of the wasp; and thus those species which carried off their victim to a place of conceal- ment would abandon the habit of laying their eggs inside the victim.” But the Tenthredinide can in nowise be regarded as inferior in intellectual capacity to the Cynipide, which exercise no constructive ingenuity in the production of their gall-tenements, as exhibited by some of the former in the weaving of their reticulated cocoons and other artistic performances; while the admirable construction of their double-saws, whose “various modifications might furnish ideas for improved mechanical instruments,” their mullti- .cellular wings, and, in some instances, highly developed furcate and pectinate antenne (Schyzocerus male, Lophyrus male) stamp them as infinitely superior in_ structural organisation to the Cynipide. Yet the natural affinities of these respective families prescribe their relative sequence and precedence in inverse ratio to their faculties and endow- ments. As regards the “insect-piercing species,” their restrictive action being diffused over a vast extent of insect- life, as compensating influences against excessive fecundity, a multitude of these, distributed throughout the whole range, serves to maintain due equilibrium on either side; which is oracularly interpreted as having “led to the formation of many new species:” but this group consists of several very distinct races, the Ichneumonidae, especially those consorting with the Aculeate tribes, being conspicuously superior in energy and intellectual development to the Chalcididae, next in succession, reputed higher in the scale of structural 188 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. organisation and affinity. With respect to the further advance from the ovipositor to the sting, the non-existence of the first-mentioned instrument necessarily involves external deposition of the egg, with all the concomitant requirements of protection for the latter in a closed cell, and provision for the future progeny; but Dr. Miiller would have us believe that, contrary to all analogy, some of the aforesaid “ insect- piercing” races “carried off their victim to a place of concealment,” and were thus led to abandon the habit of laying their eggs “¢nstde the victim,” when (as it would seem) still furnished with the terebra, whose presence or absence wust necessarily determine, zpso facto, the mode of oviposition with its accessories; this organ, however (as we are taught), becoming converted into a sting by “slow and gradual” degrees, while, of course, in the active and essential exercise of its appropriate functions as an ovipositor, or otherwise not a single generation of these reforming groups, now become industrious constructors and purveyors, could have survived such transitional period! Moreover, it is not to the sting alone, but to the whole structural development, that such contrasts extend; comprising, inter alia, peculiar differences in the venation of the wings, corresponding among species allied in other respects, but having no functional advantage in the conservation of the race according to the modification theory; such characteristic exponents, in this . and other orders, symbolizing the members of each kindred associalion with remarkable precision, and serving, coin- cidently with other indications, to determine their otherwise natural alliances. Nor can it be averred that the relative expansion of wing or velocity of flight offer any solution of these diversities in the alary system ; for the Tenthredinide, with their dilated wings and complex venation, are among the most sluggish of these races; while the Oxyuri, the Chrysidide, and some of the Fossores, less amply endowed in these respects, are eminently prone to energy and vivacity. Dr. Miiller, however, eventually demolishes his own super- structure, of progressive acquirements as a reliable principle of continuous advance to “more and more complex life- relations, accompanied by a higher and higher mental organization,” by finally expressing his “opinion that the various proceedings by which the solitary wasps thus protect THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 189 their young against contingencies to which the insect- piercing species are liable, must have at first been arrived at with a consciousness of the object to be effected, but that they have gradually become instinctive, and are now unconsciously inherited from generation to generation.” Thus the “increased energy, intelligence, and adaptability,” which he adduces in the first instance as the “ basis” of such advances made with a conscious object, have gradually lapsed into a retrograde stage of degenerate unconsciousness of purpose, merging into the more familiar phases of hereditary habit ; although, as he subjoins, “it is impossible to watch a wasp at work without feeling that, with these inherited customs, or so-called instinct, much individual effort also comes into play.” We have yet to wait for his ulterior comments on the instincts of the honey-bee, which, by a parity of reasoning, must be considered to emanate from conscious intellectual antecedents, since degraded to unconscious inheritance. Meanwhile another athlete, Dr. Anton Dohrn, has sprung up to contest the palm in a new arena, having published a pamphlet wherein he maintains the principle of universal degradation and retro- gressive development, as opposed to, and entitled to supersede that of, universal progress ! “ Who shall decide when doctors disagree?” FEBRUARY 2, 1876. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., Vice-President, in the chair. Habits of Cychrus cylindricollis.—Mr. M‘Lachlan directed attention to an article, by M. Flaminio Baudi, in the ‘ Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques,’ respecting the habits of Cychrus eylindricollis, which he had taken on Monte Codeno feeding on the body of a snail (Helix frigida), into the shell of which the beetle was enabled to thrust its head and long narrow prothorax. Some interesting remarks were made by Mr. Bates and others on the peculiar structure and habits of the insect, which appeared to have been found only on a very sterile portion of the plateau of the mountain, and in no other part. Slaphylinide of the Amazon Valley.—A valuable paper was communicated by Dr. D. Sharp, entitled “ Contributions to an Insect Fauna of the Amazon Valley—(Staphylinide).” 190 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Of this important group of Coleoptera 487 species were enumerated as inhabiting the valley, of which 463 were described as new, suggesting forcibly how little is really known of the Staphylinide of Tropical America. Dr. Sharp also stated that he had devised a method of covering and hermetically sealing the type specimens, which, he believed, would accomplish their almost complete preservation, and that he hoped soon to be able to publish a description of the method. The author concluded with remarking on the great importance of certain sexual characters in distinguishing the species. Marcu 1, 1876. Prof. J. O. Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., &c., President, in the chair, Habits of Cychrus cylindricollis.—My. Bates read a letter from Mr. Trovey Blackmore to Mr. M‘Lachlan, stating that he was much interested in observing a notice in the ‘ Pro- ceedings’ of this Society respecting the habits of Cychrus cylindricollis, reported by M. Baudi to feed on snails. He had already called attention (in the ‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine,’ vol. xi., p. 214) to the fact that Carabus steno- cephalus, Fatrm., fed on snails, which in Morocco were so very abundant as to form a marked feature in the landscape by covering the bushes so thickly as to resemble, at a distance, clusters of blossom. He had captured in all eighteen specimens of this scarce Carabus, and of these fifteen were obtained either feeding on snails or climbing up bushes of Retama, which were covered with snails, especially Helix planata. The Carabus having an unusually long head, and the prothorax being narrowed anteriorly, enabled it to thrust its head and prothorax a considerable distance within the shell in search of its food. It belonged to a group com- prising several species found in North Africa, which much resembled Cychrus in appearance, and which possessed characters sufficiently marked to entitle them to form, if not a genus distinct from Carabus, at least a subgenus of Carabus. One of them (possibly a var. of C. stenocephalus) occurred in the more northern parts of the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and had been named by Fairmaire C. cychrocephalus; and another species (C, Aumonti, Zuwcas) had been found at Oran THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19] and in the Angera Mountains near Ceuta, which had a far narrower prothorax ; but, as he had not met with it himself, he was unacquainted with its habits. He believed that other Carabi might be found whose habits were similar to those of C. stenocephalus. Spring and Autumn Broods of Lepidoptera.—The Presi- dent drew attention to a subject now being much discussed in Germany and the United States of America, with reference to the spring and autumn broods of Lepidoptera, which proved to be modifications of the same species. He was much interested in the subject, and would be greatly obliged to any entomologist who would furnish him with observations and notes as to the different broods. APRIL 5, 1876. Prof. J. O. Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., &c., President, in the chair. Xylina lambda and Ebulea stachydalis.—Mr. F. Bond exhibited a specimen of Xylina lambda, taken near Erith, in September last, by Mr. W. Marshall, being the fifth instance of its having been taken in Britain. Also Ebulea stachydalis, taken by himself at Kingsbury, Middlesex, in June, 1862. Common Gnat.—The President made some observations respecting the habits of the common gnat, in continuation of his remarks at the meeting of 4th November, 1872. [See ‘Proceedings,’ 1872, p. xxxi.] Large numbers of females had again appeared in his house at Oxford, not a single male having been observed; and he believed that they had hybernated in the house, appearing during the first warm days of spring. He also remarked that Dr. Leconte’s valuable collection of Coleoptera had been presented to the University at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Stylops Kirbii.—Sir Sidney 8. Saunders exhibited two examples of Stylops Kirbii, taken on the wing by him at Hampstead, in the forenoon of the previous day. He had found eighteen males in all: one Andrena contained three undeveloped males. Mr. Enock followed up this exhibition by an account of his own captures of male Stylops at the same time. He captured eleven on the wing, and one Andrena was taken with four individuals. The Ephemeride.—My, Katon stated that he was preparing 192 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. a Supplement (dealing with the limitation of the genera) to his “Monograph on the Ephemeride” (Trans. Ent. Soc., 1871). A considerable amount of new material had been most kindly submitted to him by Mr. Robert M‘Lachlan, of Lewisham, and M. Herman Albarda, of Leeuwarden, com- prising specimens from almost all parts of the world. Amongst the most interesting were some specimens in fuid from South America, and a collection from Sumatra. From the Amazonian collection in spirits, it would appear that the deficiency in legs in Campsurus and some of its allies was due to their being shed with the pupa-skin when the insect obtained well-developed wings. In some forms all the legs were then cast off by the female (this was apparently the case with Euthyplocia also); in others the anterior pair of legs was retained by the female, as it was seemingly by all males. The separation of the legs cast off takes place between the femur and the trochanter. The posterior legs would be useless to them, as on attaining the complete winged stage of development they retain the submarginal pellicle, and live but a few hours in the air. From Lahat there were sub- imagines of a Cronicus, a genus known previously only from a fossil in amber from Prussia. Several new forms, whose existence was expected from analogy, were in these col- lections. The whole family seems to consist of associated series of genera. In every series the forms differ from one another in the number of setz or wings; while in tarsi and neuration and eyes they are very much alike. Such are a form distinguishable from Lachlania by the female possessing three long sete instead of two only; another differing from Potamanthus (restricted) in the middle seta being extremely _ short and minute; and another which resembled Siphlurus, excepting in the possession of a long intermediate seta instead of a minute rudiment of one. There were many new genera allied to the typical Leptophlebia, in addition to the series of species associated with it in the Monograph as sections, which will now be separated as genera from it. Japanese Bullerflies—The Rev. R. P. Murray stated that he was preparing a resumé of all the species of Japanese butterflies hitherto noticed, and that he would be grateful to any entomologist who could assist him with the loan of specimens, ee we THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No, 159.) SEPTEMBER, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. MELANAGHIA GALATHEA (varieties). Varielies of Melanagria galathea.—The three specimens figured above were selected by the late Edward Newman from my collection, and have been carefully drawn by Mr. Willis. The upper specimen is a very singular light VOL. IX. 2¢ 194 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. variety, and is so very dissimilar from the type form that I need not describe the difference: the figure itself is, if any- thing, rather too dark, otherwise most beautifully represented ; the under side is very light and remarkable: this specimen was taken on the south coast of Wales in the summer of 1871. The middle specimen is also a light variety of the insect; but its greatest peculiarity is the = mark placed sideways on the superior wings, and the form of the dark, somewhat triangular patch near the upper edge: this is a specimen I have had for some years, and was taken in Devonshire. The last, which is a very dark form of the insect, was captured near Dover three years ago: the white spots are mostly wanting round the superior, and, partly round the inferior, wings. All the specimens are males.—Samuel Stevens; “Loanda,” Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, August 18, 1876. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fircu, Esq. (Continued from p. 172.) Fig. 55. 55. Andricus urneformis, Fonscol. —From July to late in the autumn we frequently meet with leaves of bushy Quercus pubescens, the upper sides of which are either turned down or partly rolled up, and more or less twisted and folded. On open- ing the leaf we find on the middle rib, at the point where it is thickest and most tightly rolled, a row of small, hard, barrel-shaped or oviform galls, of about the size of hemp- seeds, at first green, then of a rosy or reddish brown colour, with lon- gitudinal striations. The gall is generally firmly attached to the midrib by a short peduncle, and has at the opposite end a saucer- shaped depression, with up-turned edges and a small wart in the A. urnrormts (and in section). centre. In section the gall exhibits THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 195 a moderately thin but hard wall, consisting of an outer layer, originally green in colour, but afterwards brown, covering the thin, brownish yellow, oviform inner gall. Most of the galls have fallen by the beginning. of November; but in the following spring we often meet with leaves that have galls at their basal half, and have been prevented from falling by the thickening of the midrib. We have not been successful in breeding the gall-maker as yet. However, I have extracted a dead specimen from a gall.—G. L. Mayr. The description of this specimen—a female—is given in a footnote. The gall is figured by both Malpighi and Réaumur. It does not occur in Britain. From the galls of this species, and from N. ostreus galls, Dr. Mayr bred a new Synergus,— S. tristis, Mayr,—a species closely allied to S. nervosus and S. Tscheki. It occurred in the spring of the second year, as do also the other inquilines,—Synergus vulgaris, Hart., and Ceroptres arator, Hurt.— FE. A. Fitch. 56. Andricus curvator, Hart. (A. per- Fig. 56. Sfoliatus, Schk., A. dimidiatus, Schk., G.avillaris, Bart.).—This very common gall appears by the end of April, when the leaves of Quercus sessiliflora, Q. pe- dunculata, and rarely those of Q. pubes- cens, begin to develop themselves. It appears on both sides of the leaf, often causing it to curl up, and looks like a green spherical swelling, of about the size of a pea. It often occurs at the margin of the leaf, when we find on the outer or exposed side a more or less distinct furrow, extending in a curve from the centre of the lower side to that of the upper side. This furrow 4. curvAtor (i in section). is absent in those galls which grow in the middle of the leaf, and are surrounded by the parenchyma (A. perfoliatus). This gall is bare above, and covered with fine, short, sparse hairs below; only when on Q. pubescens is the gall piliferous on both sides. It is somewhat cartila- ginous, and has a moderately thin wall enclosing a large cavity, to the sides of which the small, brown, thin-walled inner gall, which is scarcely the size of hemp-seed, loosely adheres. 196 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Two or three galls frequently grow together; then they all have but one cavity, with two or three inner galls. Ifthe gall is developed at the petiole and extends to the base of the leaf, then the latter generally curls up, and does not fall off in the autumn, but, remaining somewhat undeveloped, decays in the course of the winter down to a few remains which adhere to the gall; and the axillar bud belonging to the leaf is developed into a short, crippled, bud-bearing axis (see Entom. ix. 51, fig.38a). This is the gall described by Hartig under the name of C. axillaris, and by Schenck of Andricus inflator. In other cases the gall is developed so near the base of the petiole that the whole stalk is affected by it and grows very crooked, and, being unabie to develop itself any further, produces a swelling at the end of the small twig, which, on a superficial inspection, bears a strong resemblance to a curved gall of Andricus inflator. The gall-fly appears at the end of May or beginning of June.—G. L. Mayr. This, as Mayr says, very common gall occurs throughout Britain, and its producer may be bred with very little trouble. It is particularly common in May; but I believe there is a second brood, rare compared with the first, the galls of which . may be found in the autumn. Synergus albipes, Hart., S. facialis, Hart., S. radiatus, Mayr, are three inquilines occurring in its galls; S. albipes is by far the most frequent inhabitor of the three. Hartig also bred it from these galls, and I have frequently bred both it and S. facialis, with Callimome auratus, Fonsc. (= C. mutabilis, Wlk., Zool., 1846, iv. 1458), Callimome abdominalis, Boh., and Platyme- sopus (Pteromalus) tibialis, Westw., from English specimens, all appearing in June and July of the first year. The following reference may also refer to parasitism in this gall :—‘‘ Eurytoma gracilis, a parasite, is from a gall formed on the midrib of an oak-leaf, which gave the leaf a very crumpled appearance; collected, August 3rd; imago out, August 10th.” (F. Walker and H. Moncreaff, Entom. iv. 77.) Ratzeburg’s information is as follows:—Entedon scianeurus, Ratz., very common in Terminalis galls, but bred from Curvator by Tischbein ; amongst eighteen specimens so bred there was not a single male. This species is probably synonymous with Olynx gallarum, Z. Eulophus levissimus, Ralz., also bred by Tischbein: it was bred by Bouché from THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 197 Ornix avellanella; the male only is described. Eurytoma spec. Pteromalus Cordairii, Ra/z., bred by Tischbein, also from Terminalis galls. Siphonura viridiznea, 2atz., one female, bred by Tischbein from “ Cynips curvator.”. Torymus pro- pinquus, Férs!. = Callimome auratus, Fonsc. Mesopolobus fasciiventris, Westw., a Pteromalus bred from many oak- galls: “ Herr Tischbein again sent me some males in 1850, and they were from Cynips fecundatrix and C. curvator.” Although there is some little confusion in the above, all the . Specimens being bred by Tischbein show that we have several species of Chalcidide parasitic in this gall.—Z. A. Fitch. Description of the Larva of Hemerophilla abruptaria.— Length an inch anda half; head prone, same size as the 2nd segment; body cylindrical, gradually increasing to the 11th segment; colour very light brown, mottled with various shades; the medio-dorsal line increases in width from its commencement to the middle of the 5th segment, and also deepens in colour; it then assumes a much lighter shade to the 8th segment, becoming darker on the folds of the segmental divisions; on the lighter portions there are two black dots above the middle of each segment, placed trans- versely ; the 9th segment is again darker in colour, especially towards the edges of the line, which is irregularly defined ; the 10th and 11th segments are darker on the divisions; on the 12th there is a black line running transversely, and assuming the shape of a bow; the sides are mottled with various shades of brown, being darkest towards the anterior portion of each segment, especially the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th ; the spiracles are dark brown ; the ventral surface is more mottled than the dorsal, with a black V-shaped mark appearing at the commencement of the Sth, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th segments; claspers slightly tinged with green, a black line on the first pair; the bow-shaped line on the 12th segment continues on the llth, running under the 8th spiracle; a mark of the same colour runs under the 9th spiracle. I am indebted to Mr. R. L. Rolph, of Walthamstow, for the eggs of this species.—|[ Rev.] P. H. Jennings. Description of the Larva of Hyria auroraria.—\ am wuch pleased to be able to send a description of this species; and 198 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. for the opportunity of doing so I have to thank Mr. John Harrison, of Barnsley, who gave me a dozen larve on the 4th of September, 1875; and further sent me a supply of eggs on the 19th of July last. The egg is large for the size of the moth, is oblong-square, with the edges rounded, and considerably depressed on the upper side; the colour at first pink, afterwards olive-brown. The young larve fed, but grew slowly, on knotgrass until autumn, when they ceased feeding, and remained rigid on the sides of the cage or on bits of stick, &c., through the winter, and well into the snmmer of the present year; as, at the time in spring when most other hybernating larvee were waking up, they persistently refused to show any signs of vitality beyond moving the front portion of the body backwards and forwards when touched. At this lime they were about five-eighths of an inch in length, and were about the most soberly-attired larve I ever had, being in colour almost uniformly very dark dull brown (almost black in some specimens), and with the exception of a still darker double dorsal line, and being a little paler at the segmental divisions, there was no other colour or marking. The latter part of May having arrived, and finding they did not seem disposed to avail themselves of the various kinds of plants I endeavoured to induce them to accept as food, including Plantago major, Anemone nemorosa, &c., besides the Poly- gonum aviculare, I took them up into a warm room, and again gave them a plentiful and varied supply of provender. Here J had soon the satisfaction of finding that one of them had evidently set to work with a will, again on Polygonum aviculare, and by the Ist of July it was full grown, when L described it as follows:—Length three-quarters of an inch; can scarcely be called slender, though not stout; head the same width as the 2nd segment; it has the face flat, and is distinctly notched on the crown; body somewhat flat when viewed from above, but rounded ventrally ; the 9th segment is the widest, and from it each becomes narrower to the head; the four posterior segments are of nearly uniform width, and about as wide as the 6th; the segments overlap each other considerably, rendering the divisions distinct, and also forming on each side a conspicuous lateral ridge; the skin is ribbed transversely throughout, and has a tough wiry appearance; in shape and habits it bears a very strong resemblance to many THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 199 larve of the Acidalie; ground colour a medium shade of brown, with a very faint pink tinge, and also appears to be slightly powdered with grayish; head brown, marked with grayish,—from it extends the distinct black double dorsal line; there are no perceptible subdorsal or spiracular lines, but the lateral ridge on each side is faintly outlined with pink; the ventral surface is a mixture of dull brown and smoke-colour, with a distinct slate-coloured median line. _ This larva spun up next day, and was the only one I reared to maturity ; the cocoon was loosely constructed in an upper corner of the cage. I had no opportunity of describing the pupa until after the emergence of the imago, which event took place on the 18th of July. Afterwards I found the empty case to be five-eighths of an inch long, the wing-cases prominent, and the anal tip sharply cut; colour reddish brown, the wing-cases conspicuously streaked longitudinally with black. —Geo. T. Porritt; Huddersfield, August 4, 1876. Entomological Notes, Caplures, Sc. Pieris Rape var. Aurea.—Upon reading the paper, “On the Introduction of Pieris Rapzx into North America,” by the late Mr. E. Newman, I was anxious to discover the origin of the yellow variety now found there, and was induced to make experiments with a view to that discovery, and now send you an account of them, together with the results; but first I will quote Mr. Newman. After speaking of the rapid progress made by this destructive insect, and the ravages it has committed, he says:—‘‘ One curious circumstance attending the invasion of this butterfly is that in many parts of the country which it has colonised a new variety of a bright sulphur-yellow, called by Mr. Schudder P. novanglie, has made its appearance. American entomologists are still in doubt whether this is a climatal or food change. It has been noticed by some of them that when the larve hatched from eggs laid by white individuals have been fed upon mignonette, the produce has been this yellow variety; whether the food was the cause or only an accidental coincidence is still under consideration. We do not know whether the experi- ment of rearing the larve of P. Rape entirely on mignonette 200 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. has been tried in this country, nor with what success, although, from the above facts being well known to our English Lepi- dopterists, it seems almost a foregone conclusion that the experiment has been tried.’ About the first week in June I planted a young cabbage in a pot, and taking a couple of females that were depositing their eggs placed them all under a bell-glass. They laid abont thirty eggs; and after a week had elapsed I examined them every morning for the hatching of the larva, which appeared on the 18th. I then remov ed half and placed them upon a mignonette plant, also in a pot; these I bred under a bell-glass in the shade of a tree in the garden. The other half were left on the plant and placed in a hothouse, where the temperature was 65° to 70°, rising to 80° by day, and 85° when the sun shone: they changed to pupe from the 30th of June to the 3rd of July, and emerged as perfect insects from the 9th to the 13th of July. The others, fed out of doors, were exactly a week later in changing to pupe, and came out from the 18th to the 21st. Now for the results. I could not perceive any difference in colour between those fed upon mignonette and the others fed in heat: they were all the ordinary form of P. Rape ; therefore it seems improbable that the food has anything to do with the change, as mine never tasted anything but mignonette from the day they were hatched. Now, it is well known that the variety of Gonepteryx Rhamni called Cleopatra, in which the orange spot on the upper wing is so enlarged as to be spread over nearly the whole of it, is found only in the south of Europe, and especially on the shores of the Mediterranean; and | think probably the yellow variety of P. Rape proceeds from the same cause, and is only another instance of the effect of increased warmth of climate in intensifying colour. Perhaps the failure of my experiments was due to my not having sufficient heat at command, as it was nothing like the temperature of some parts of North America. Mr. Curtis, in his ‘Farm Insects,’ mentions the capture near Oldham, in Lancashire, of a male specimen which had all the wings of a bright yellow colour. Have there been any similar captures in this country? If any readers of the ‘Entomologist’ have made similar experiments to mine, and been successful, 1 hope they will let us know the results; also any information with respect to where this THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 201 variety is most common, and the temperature of those parts would be most acceptable, and perbaps help to clear up what appears to me a very interesting question.—R. A. Rolfe ; Sluffynwood, near Mansfield. Vanessa Antiopa near Basingstoke.—A fine specimen of this insect was captured for me near this place, by a young friend, on the 17th inst. When given to me it was not quite dead.— W. D. Milsom; Southern Road, Basingstoke, August 23, 1876. Vanessa Antiopa at Chellenham.—This, like most other rarities, fell to my lot quite by accident, and when [ was least expecting to make a capture. It was feeding upon the juice Which was running down an elm tree, from a place where Cossus larve were feeding, in one of the public streets of Cheltenham. I climbed up the tree and endeavoured to catch it with my hat, as I had no net with me. [t escaped, aud flew into a gentleman’s garden. Despatching a messenger for a net, in the cause of science | climbed over the palings, and pursned it over the flower-beds, capturing it eventually on some ivy. It wasa five female, and newly emerged. ‘The date of the capture was the 5th August, 1871. Five other speci- mens were reported, as seen, to our College Natural History Society at Cheltenham; but mine was the only capture.— E. K. Robinson; Sandcliffe, Rake, near Petersfield. Vanessa Antiopa in Filey Bay.— Yesterday, August 15th, whilst in a boat fishing in Filey Bay, | caught a Vanessa Antiopa, which settled on the sail of the boat.—G. D. Armt- tage; North Dalton, Hull. Colias Edusa and var, Helice in Carmarthenshire-—My brother-in law, Mr. C. A. Lord, this morning captured the first specimen of Colias Edusa that | have seen taken in Carmarthenshire since 1870, in which year males of the species were plentiful in this locality. The specimen taken by Mr. Lord is a female var. Helice, and was seen flying along the turnpike road. In the afternoon we repaired to the spot where Edusa had formerly been so abundant,-—a steep hill-side covered with furze bushes, with here and there patches carpeted with flowers, and swarming with insect life. There were butterflies innumerable ; but, being rather late on the ground, we only saw one Edusa, and that of the ordinary type. I have never seen this butterfly on the wing after four 2D 202 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. o’clock in the afternoon.—Owen Wilson; Cuwmffrwd, Car- marthenshire, August 22, 1876. Colias Hyale—Is it Double-brooded ?—Noticing several records of the occurrence of C. Hyale and C. Edusa in the ‘ En- tomologist,’ ‘ Field,’ &c., for this year, as “ early appearances,” the question suggests itself whether it is generally thought they are specimens of a spring brood: this, I think, is undoubtedly the case. Last autumn Hyale was especially abundant in this neighbourhood; and Mr. G. H. Raynor had the good fortune to see one female deposit six eggs, which he collected. From this we can infer that the species does not hybernate; and from its appearance in May and June, and again in August and September, it must certainly be a double- brooded species, the spring generation, as with many other species, being much the rarer. My earliest Hyale taken this year was on the 10th June,—a beautifully fresh specimen ; and since then I have seen five or six others. Last spring many specimens were seen and taken. It was abundant in the autumn that year. Should the weather be favourable we may expect a plentiful supply of the autumnal brood of both species—C, Hyale and C. Edusa.— Edward A. Fitch ; Maldon, Essex, August 7, 1876. Food-plants of Gonepteryx Rhamni.—After the statement of such an experienced entomologist as Mr. E. A. Fitch (Entom. viii. 302), that Gonepteryx Rhamni could be reared on “apple, pear, and medlar,’ I have this year made the experiment ; and—whatever they may do in a wild state—in confinement, in this locality, the larva of this insect will not partake of any of these trees. Mr. G. C. Bignell was good enough to send me a larva, and I at once, and “ without much trouble,” set before it a tempting supply of the three trees mentioned by Mr. Fitch, leaving also a small portion of a somewhat dried-up leaf of buckthorn. By the following morning the scrap of buckthorn was entirely devoured, and not one of the other plants was touched. Having no buck- thorn procurable in the neighbourhood, I sent to Mr. W. Holland, of Reading, for some; and for a day or two poor Gonepteryx Rhamni was left with nothing but the stale stalks of its natural food-plant. Apple, pear, and medlar, were all supplied with total unsuccess; not a particle was tried or tasted; and the unfortunate larva was compelled to seek a THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 203 resting-place on the side of the glass jar in which it was con- fined, and in which the stale stalks of the buckthorn remained, rather than take up a position on the other plants. Its food, however, arrived in time: Mr. Holland’s supply was received on the morning that Gonepteryx Rhamni stood a good chance of starving. ‘The buckthorn was placed in the cage; the ‘larva soon ascended the stalk, and that night rested happily in the midst of plenty. It is now a healthy pupa, and will probably be liberated shortly in the imago state to seek to propagate its species in a country where few are to be found. —Owen Wilson; Carmarthen, July 21, 1876. Hermaphrodite Argynnis Adippe.—\ have taken a perfect specimen of an hermaphrodite Adippe: the two right wings male, and two left wings female. Can you tell me if this is unusual ?—R, J. Slent ; 70, Queen Street, Portsea. [This is both unusual and interesting.— Ed. | In Search of Chortobius Davus, and what I obtained.— On my visiting the Albert Museum, at Exeter, to see the collection of insects of the late Mr. D’Orville, of Alphington, the curator in conversation informed me that C. Davus was taken many years ago on Yes Tor, near Okehampton, by a gentleman who collected butterflies, when on his school holidays. Knowing this to be an out-of-the-way place for entomologists to get at, I laid up the conversation in my breast, and determined to see for myself at the first oppor- tunity. Thanks to the railway opening last autumn, that opportunity occurred this summer. Yes Tor is said to be the highest tor on Dartmoor; by the ordnance map it is 2050 feet in height. I started from Plymouth, 12th July, by the 10 o'clock train; and after passing through lovely valleys, woods, and moorland scenery,—for which the south of Devon is so famed,—I arrived at Okehampton at 11.40; and a beautiful bright day it was. I at once started for Yes Tor, net in hand, and ready for the first insect that turned up. On I trudged until I got on the top of the Tor, about 2.30; not a single Davus to be seen. While on the Tor I captured the only two insects I saw; after one I had a good run,— the wind blowing very fresh at that altitude, while 200 yards down it was a dead calm: they both turned out to be - L. pectinitaria. On my way up and down I only saw about fifty butterflies, nearly the whole of which were C. pamphilus, 204 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. I therefore conclude that the captor of the supposed C. Davus very likely was mistaken, and his C. Davus was C. pampbilus. Now, for what I obtained: not a single specimen for my cabinet, but on myself 1 was able to show the result of my walk, for the gnats (Culex pipiens) had served me most unmercifully, having bitten me on my neck, face, and hands, in about fifty places, each place swelling as big as a pea.— G.C. Bignell; 6, Clarence Place, Stonehouse, Aug. 12, 1876. Lycena Arion.—I went to Bolthead for L. Arion on the 17th of July, and only took one specimen. I was informed by a gentleman I met there, also collecting, that Mr. G. F. Mathew had visited it on the Friday before, and only took one. I should like to know Mr. Mathew’s opinion as to whether it is likely that L. Arion will be éxterminated in that locality.—J. Brown; Exeter, August 7, 1876. Trochilium allantiformis.—A fine specimen of this rare insect was taken here by my cousin, Master 8S. W. Jenney, on July 15th, whilst basking in the hot sunshine on a laurel leaf.—[Rev.] H. Harpur Crewe; Drayton-Beauchamp Rectory, Tring, July 28, 1876. Acronycta slriyosa.—| have pleasure in recording a new locality for Acronycta strigosa. I took a single specimen flying at dusk along the side of a hedge of whitethorn and blackthorn, in Chatteris, on the 10th July last. A single specimen was also taken at sugar here two years ago. It does not seem to occur in any abundance here, as L subsequently sugared several times near the spot where mine was taken ; but, as is usual with sugar this year, the result was a blank. —A. Harold Ruston; Aylesby House, Chatteris, Cambridge- shire, August 12, 1876. Acronycta Alni.—I have had the good fortune this year also to breed Acronycta Alni from a larva, taken at Chatteris on the 18th August, 1875, the capture of which was recorded in the ‘Entomologist’ for October, 1875 (Kntom. viii. 228). The insect emerged from the pupa on the 15th April, aud is a female in perfect condition.—Zd. Acronycla Alui in Carmarthenshire.—On the 28th of July last my wile was so fortunate as to beat a larva of A. Alni from an oak tree, near here. ‘This is the first time | have heard of this species having been taken in Carmarthenshire. —Owen Wilson; Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen. THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 205 Is Scopula decrepitalis Double-brooded?—I\n the last week of May this year | was in the Trosachs, in Scouand, beating the bushes, amongst which the whortleberry (Vac- cinium vitis-idza) grows in profusion: I then started three fiue specimens of Scopula decrepitalis, | am not aware of its occurrence there before; but | am anxious to know from some of your northern readers if this moth is usually taken in May, as well as at its recorded time of capture, as given in books upon Lepidoptera, riz. July and August. I may add that the moth only occurred in a very limited area in the middle of this beautiful ravine. | had expected to have taken many good things, but the weather was so cold and wet that there were scarcely any insects about.—[Rer.] Windsor Hambrough ; 40, Marine Parade, Worthing, July 20, 1876. Variety of Geometra papilionaria.—Belore this mouth | never had the pleasure of taking this insect; but since the 13th I have caught five specimens, all at light. One of these, which | caught on the 18th, is straw-colour, and vot green, with the apex of the fore wing rather rounder than usual; the pale transverse lines are very faint, aud the bind wings hardly so deeply dentate as usual, Js this a common variety or not?—A. H. Corbett; Ravenoak, Cheadlehulme, Stouck- port, July 23, 1876. Lupithecia satyrata var, callunaria.—In August and Sep- tember, 1875, | collected a number of larve of E. satyrata var. callunaria, by sweeping the flowers of Calluna vulgaris on the Ross-shire Moors, near Alness. Very few moths appeared this spring; one couple, however, paired, aud || obtained fertile eggs, from which | reared a small brood of larva, which fed up on the flowers of Achillea myriophylia, A. macrophylla, aud Ptarmica mongolica. They were very much larger and brighter, and more variable in colour, than their Ross-shire progenitors, and differed in no appreciable way from the larve of the typical KE. satyrata, which | take in this neighbourhood. Mr. Buckler, to whom | sent speci- meus, says they are true, genulue, uumistakable KE. salty rata. 1 take it, therefore, that it is now finally proved that E. callunaria is nothing but a northern variety of KE, satyrata. [Kev.] H. Harpur Crewe. Rearing the Larva of Bombyx Rubi.—There has always been a difficulty in rearing these caterpillars, as they usually 206 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. die in the winter. This year I have succeeded; and I believe the reason is that a bramble plant was growing in their box, and the larve constantly, even in mid-winter, used to come out of their hiding-place during the night and feed upon the leaves, of which there are always a few remaining till the spring.—E. K. Robinson; Eagle House, St. Leonards. The time of Appearance of Pseudo Bombyces.—In Newman’s ‘British Moths’ the time of pupation of Ptilodontis palpina, Notodonta ziczac, N. dicteea, N. dromedarius, and one of the Drepanule—Platypteryx falcula, is given as September or October. I have found both last year and this that the greater number of larve of these species spin up in the beginning of July, reaching their perfect condition a few weeks after; and this not only i in breeding-cages, but in a state of nature. Noctua brunnea and N. triangulum, which I have bred from ggs laid in June, have already become pupe instead of hyber- nating.—F’. K. Robinson; Eagle House, St. Leonards. Treatment of Larve of Chelonia villica and Pericallia syringaria during Hybernation; and of the Pupe of Burrowing Larve.—Can any reader of the ‘ Entomologist’ inform me the best mode of treatment of larve of C. villica and P. syringaria during hybernation? Mine have almost invariably died off or been attacked by fungus. Also, how to keep those pupe which burrow underground? I have tried both damp and dry earth, and by the former mode lost many through rot or fungus; and by the latter they have become so dry as not to be able to escape from the pupal envelope. When damping them I kept them in a wooden cage, with a depth of earth about four inches, and a layer of moss above, and damped them about once a fortnight; by the latter mode [ kept them in a friable earth, with moss above, and in a wooden box, as when damping.—J/. Stewart ; New Cross. Acidalia emarginata, §c.—1 took a nice series of this somewhat local species during the last week of July, and until the 8th of August: judging from their brightness and the perfect condition of the cilia, | should say the insects had but very recently emerged. Is not this unusually late for them? I should be obliged for information as to the food-plant of the larve. Colias Edusa and C. Hyale have both been captured here this month.—Joseph Anderson, jun.; Chichester. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 207 Cidaria reliculala and Hadena rectilinea Larva at Win- dermere.—Yesterday I took a specimen of Cidaria reticulata at Windermere. In 1856 the late T. H. Allis and I took several specimens; from that time to the present (twenty years) I have gone every year, and to no purpose. It must be arare insect. I must have gone at least fifty journeys, and it is over fifty miles to the lake side from Preston; then I have to row myself across, another mile: so this specimen has been hardly earned. The plant on which it is said to feed (Noli-me-tangere) I have this time found in plenty. A week or two ago I found a queer larva on the same plant, which puzzled Mr. Buckler; but from the last note I had from him it appears to be Hadena rectilinea. | suspect as there is bilberry near, that the moth has dropped eggs just where she alighted.— J.B. Hodgkinson ; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, August 11, 1876. Lithosia sericea.—Last month | captured a few speci- mens of this insect. I should be glad to hear if anyone has met with this species in Cheshire this season? Newman’s ‘British Moths’ gives Cheshire and Lancashire as the only counties where it has been observed. I have often enquired, but so far have failed to hear of anyone who has found the insect in Cheshirea—R. Kay; 2, Spring Street, Bury, Lancashire, August 12, 1876. Hydrecia petasitis.—A brother collector, having noted a very likely place for H. petasitis, we agreed to attempt to find the pupa by digging. During the past week we have visited the place twice, for about an hour and a half on each occasion. The first time we each dug up about five dozen pupx, and on the second occasion some three dozen, in addition to finding a few larva of the same species. We also found one imago at rest, which we considered very early.—Jd. PS.—I am pleased to be able to add that the imagos began to emerge on the 12th, and have appeared daily since; almost invariably emerging during dusk and night.—f. K. Cossus ligniperda at Sugar.—Observing that Mr. H. T. Dobson has called attention to C. ligniperda as a “sugar visitor,” I wish to state that scarcely a season passes without my capturing one or two specimens of this insect at sugar. Last July I caught two in one evening on sugared trees; but it has struck me as somewhat remarkable that every specimen thus caught is a female. This fact has given rise to a doubt 208 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. whether sugar attracts C. ligniperda in the same way that it does most of our Noctue. I am curious to know if males are ever found at sugar. Perhaps collectors will kindly favour us with their experience in this matter. 1 wish further to state with regard to this species that ] have succeeded in rearing two fine male imagos from three larve found two years ago. I fed them on chips of fresh willow and sawdust, mixed with small blocks of the same wood. I kept them in a large flower-pot covered with glass. I mention this because C. ligniperda, like all internal feeders, is considered rather difficult to rear.—W. McRae; Christchurch School, Hants, August 18, 1876. Cossus ligniperda at Sugar (Entom. ix. 183).—I have observed that Cossus ligniperda occasionally visits the sugar- bait. It may interest Mr. H. T. Dobson to know that | have on two occasions taken it: one specimen in August, 1871, and a fine female on July 20th of the present year. Both these were apparently feasting on the sugar with gusto.— R. Laddiman ; Upper Hellesdon, Norwich. Ephyra orbicularia and Acronycta auricoma.—On the 4th inst | was much pleased to find a beautiful specimen of E. orbicularia had emerged in one of my breeding-cages. I had beaten out the larva, but did not recognise it in that stage, never having seen it. A. auricoma | captured at sugar on the 18th inst. I have not taken either of these insects here before.—[Rev.] P. H. Jennings; Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, August 21, 1876. Agrotera nemoralis near Herne.—\ took a single Agrotera nemoralis in the Blean Woods, near Herne, on the 29th of May last; and have since ascertained that the woods are worked very regularly by persons interested in keeping the locality quiet, and that Nemoralis is ove of the objects sought. This announcement may interest some of your readers.— Fras. G. Whittle ; 20, Cambridge Terrace, Lupus Street, S.W., August 23, 1876. Cnephasia lepidana Bred.—The last week in July, being at Witherslack, after Elachista serricornella, with my friend J. H. Threlfall, we came across a quantity of columbine in seed: we gathered some, and up to this time I have bred from it five specimens of Cnephasia lepidana; they are of the second brood. This cannot be its usual food-plant, as it does THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 209 not grow where the insect usually occurs. —/. B. Hodgkinson ; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, August 3, 1876. Pachnobia alpina.—Can any of the readers of the ‘ Ento- mologist’ suggest a food-plant for the larva of this species? The moths have been taken in considerable numbers this season, and timely information as to the food-plant may save the lives of many larve; it seems a pity to lose so good an opportunity of working out the life-history of this hitherto extreme rarity: 1876 may well be called the P. alpina year, as 1872 is that of V. Antiopa. One entomologist who knows the district where the captures have been made, perhaps better than any other, always prophesied that some day or other it would turn up in numbers. Like many other so-called rarities it only wanted hunting for; but Highland collecting is very different work to that of the woods and downs of Kent or Surrey. —£Z. Howard Birchall; London, August 26, 1876. Entomological Pins.—i am glad to see the subject of pins mooted in the ‘Entomologist.’ We can hardly expect to reach perfect uniformity in regard to their use, but we may reasonably hope to obtain something more than we at present possess. I quite agree with My. Carrington that Messrs. Tayler & Co. might safely cease making several of the sizes they now place upon their list. I agree with Mr. Carrington as nearly as possible in the pins I use, with this exception, that I do not consider No. 6 large enough for all Sphinges, and he appears to recommend it for all, without exception. I use No. 12 for those which require a pin larger than No. 6. For all who do not collect Tortrices and Tinea, I think the only other sizes required are No. 8, No. 15, and No. 18; No. 8 for almost all Noctuw, and many butterflies; No. 15 for almost all Geometre; No. 18 for small Geometra, and most Pyrales. Nos. 8 and 15 are so nearly the same in length that their close proximity in the cabinet will only be marked by a keen observer. Mr. Greene, in the ‘ Insect- Hunter’s Companion, says, “ No.7 I consider indispensable.” I imagine he only considers it so for a purpose he immediately proceeds to notice. Whilst on this subject there is another which presents itself, and which is next of kin, ¢.e. “pinning.” At present pins are seen leaning fore or aft, to the right or to the left; and what a marring effect this bas. I will not 2E 210 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. venture to broach any suggestions of my own, but give the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ the benefit of another extract from Mr. Greene’s most useful book:—“ Insert the pin exactly in the centre of the thorax. The head of the pin must slope a very little forwards towards the head of the insect; this will not be noticed when the moth is set. The pin should be clear of the moth on the wnder side three- eighths of an inch. It is of great importance that the pin (the upper part of course) should not lean on either side.” I can add nothing to this good advice. I only say—follow it strictly —[Rev.] P. H. Jennings; Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, August 21, 1876. Erratum.—In the article, “Agrotis tritici and Agrotis aquilina,” in the August number of the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. ix. 169), owing to an unfortunate error the two figures were transposed. ‘Thus the figure named “ Agrotis tritici” should have been named “Agrotis aquilina,” and vice versd,— Ed. Answers to Correspondents. Callimorpha Hera.—I have lately taken here two or three moths which seem different from any I have found in Great Britain. Perhaps some of your readers who have foreign insects may be able to give me the name through your magazine. Jtis about the size of Chelonia villica or Calli- morpha dominula. It seems to me a species of Arctia.— H.C. Hodges ; Lannion, Bretagne, France, August 8, 1876. [The moth is Callimorpha Hera. It was figured in the ‘Entomologist, volume vi., page 33; and a description is there given of the larva and of the perfect insect. Other information is also given, from which the following extracts may be of interest:—“It is many years since Captain Russell announced the capture of several specimens of Hera in Wales. * * The announcement, however, like many others to the same purport, was disregarded, J believe, from an impression that the larve had been imported from the Channel Islands. This has certainly been the case in some instances ; and therefore every instance of capture is open to the suspicion, seeing that, like Clostera anachoreta, the species has failed to establish a permanent footing in Britain.” “Jn 1855 Mr. J. J. Reeve took a very good specimen at ‘ THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 211 Newhaven.” “In the autumn of 1868 Miss Hore, alady residing at Patcham, near Brighton, took a specimen at light.” “In 1871 Mr. D‘Orville, of Alphington, near Exeter, took a specimen at sugar, with which he had baited a corymb of the common tansy.” “This beautiful species occurs through- out the central countries of Europe, extending abundantly into the Channel Islands; also in Western Asia, as Asia Minor and Palestine. It may now be safely added to the British list— Zdward Newman.” This was written in March, 1872. ‘British Moths’ was completed in 1869; but the numbers containing the “ tigers” were published, without the author’s knowledge or consent, many years earlier.— Ed. | Buff-coloured Metrocampa margaritata, &éc.—1 am inclined to think Mr. ‘'T. H. Ormston Pease’s buff-coloured Metrocampa margaritata (Entom. ix. 161) was merely a faded specimen. Many of the green species of Lepidoptera seem liable to fade to this tint, and being tolerably perfect in other respects are often very deceptive. I remember ten years, or more, ago, taking a Pseudopterpna cytisaria of this colour, which stood for several years in my collection as a good variety, until I detected the error, when of course the wretched thing was at once turned out.—Geo. T. Porrilt ; Huddersfield, July 10, 1876. C.—Zygena filipendule.—Master Robertson has just caught a number of specimens of Z. filipendule at Dulwich. Is it not unusual for this insect to occur so near London ? [Zygena filipendule used to occur in many localities nearer London than Dulwich. These have disappeared as the suburbs have steadily extended; but even yet there are several, one being in the grounds of the Crystal Palace, where they occur not unfrequently.— Ld. } Miss Bayley.—Transmission of Lepidoptera by Post.— Can you kindly tell me which is the best method of transmitting imagos and larve by post? Cross pinning is recommended for the former; but it seems to me that the insects run a great chance of being rubbed. For larvae, the difficulty would be to give them air. [For the guidance of Miss Bayley and other readers we offer a few notes on the best way of succeeding in the transmission of entomological specimens by post without injury. Probably the most important matter is in the choice of postal boxes for sending away perfect insects. Those usually 212 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. sold by the dealers are too slight, and frequently carelessly made at the joints, although nicely finished and good looking. lt is unwise to have postal boxes made too large; better to send two boxes, than risk the whole number of insects sent by placing them in one large box. Postal boxes should not exceed three inches by two and a half inches, the top and bottom being each three-quarters of an inch deep; all inside measurements. Of course have smaller sizes. They should be made as follows:—For all sizes, up to that above suggested, the sides of the box should be of quarter-inch deal; the ends the same, or even one-eighth thicker; let in the ends by half-cutting the sides to contain them; secure with wire nails and glue. The top and bottom to be of half to three- quarters inch cork, rough on the outside; this should be secured with glue and light sprigs. When dry the edges are to be filed down to a slight square bevel. The hinge may be of canvas or, better still, of American cloth, with the smooth side out, glued over one side of the closed box. Lastly, have a strong pair of pegs (strong pin points will do) to act as catches on the front edges of the box. When completely dry this box will be found strong enough to bear the weight of a man standing on it. It is a mistake to save weight of box or of surrounding packing, for postage is cheap enough now. Place the insects to be sent away securely in the box; a little—not too much—cotton-wool under each body,—too much is apt to prize up and off the body; then lay over the body a little more cotton-wool, and cross pin over that. It will be found by practice that then the insects are never rubbed. When completed, before sending away, place a piece of paper between the top and bottom of box; this will be secured by the pegs when the box is closed. Im case a ~ body should come loose, this will prevent it injuring all the insects in the box. Having done this, tie the box tightly round with thin string, so as to support it; surround the box with a liberal supply of cotton-wool, wrapping all with black calico; tie on a stamped and addressed loose label, and fear nothing for the safety of the contents. In this manner we know an instance of upwards of four thousand specimens of Lepidoptera (perfect insects) having been sent away in three months in boxes under that size, and nol a single breakage occurred. We believe the postal officials are, as a rule, much more sinned against than sinning. In sending larve by post THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 213 simply put them in quarter or half pound empty mustard tins, with two or three punctures, one-eighth of an inch in diameter, in the lid and bottom of box; when wrapping with a piece of brown paper let the ends of the paper extend an inch over the ends of the box, but have the paper ends open, as in book postage; tie on an addressed label, with the string sealed to the paper to keep it fast. This has been found a very simple and successful method, especially when plenty of food is put in with the larva.—£d. ] H. Wiglesworth.— Work on Hymenoptera.—Could you inform me of a good work on British Hymenoptera for a beginner? One with plates preferred. [Mr. Smith’s ‘ Bees of Great Britain’ and ‘ British Fossorial Hymenoptera’ complete the Aculeata. The volumes are price six shillings each, and are published by the Trustees of the British Museum. There is no monograph of the British Ichneumonide; but there is one of the Tenthredinide in hand.— Ed. | Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. May 3, 1876. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., Vice-President, in the chair. Varieties of, and Rare British Lepidoptera.—The Rey. J. Hellins sent for exhibition various British Lepidoptera, recently submitted to M. Guenée for his opinion and determination. The collection included a dark variety of Acronycta myrice from Mr. Birchall; certain Acidalia, sent by Mr. Hellins and Mr. G. F. Mathew, apparently to be referred to A. mancuniata; several extraordinary aberrations referred to Melanippe rivata, Oporabia, sp. ?, Coremia ferru- gata, &c., from Mr. Dale and Mr. Mathew; an example of Polia Chi, var. olivacea, from Major Hutchinson; several Eupithecie, from Dr. Buchanan White, including the var. Oxydata of E. subfulvata; and an insect which Dr. White proposed to name Septentrionata, not known to M. Guenée, The most important of all was a Noctua, bearing some resemblance to Xanthia circellaris (ferruginea), not known to M. Guenée, taken at Queenstown, flying over bramble- blossoms, in July or August, 1872, by Mr. Mathew. 214 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Concerning this insect it was remarked that it had beeu shown to Dr. Staudinger (now in London) by M. Guenée, and it was also unknown to him as European. Corozo Nuts destroyed by a Caryoborus.—Mr. Douglas exhibited specimens of the Corozo nut (Phytelephas macro- carpa), the vegetable-ivory of commerce, of which the interiors were entirely eaten away by a species of Caryoborus (one of the Bruchides). A specimen of the beetle was shown with nuts, from the London Docks, which had been recently imported from Guyaquil. Ravages of Locusts in Spain.—The Secretary read a letter he had received from the Foreign Office Department, enclosing a despatch from Her Majesty’s Minister at Madrid relative to the steps taken to check the ravages of the locust in Spain. It appeared that considerable apprehension had been felt in many parts of Spain that the crops of various kinds would suffer greatly this year from the locust; and the Cortes had already voted a large sum to enable the Government to take measures to prevent this calamity; and by a circular addressed to the Provincial Governors by the Minister of ‘Fomento,’ published in the Official Gazette, they were directed to make use of the military forces, stationed within their respective districts, to aid the rural population in this object. It was stated that thirteen provinces were threatened with this plague. JUNE 7, 1876. Prof. J. O. Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., &c., President, in the chair. The Destruction of Corozo Nuts by a Caryoborus.—Mr. Douglas made some further remarks on the “ Corozo nuts,” known as vegetable ivory, exhibited by him—at the last meeting, which were attacked by a beetle belonging to the genus Caryoborus. ‘The attention of the officials of the Dock Company had beeu drawn to the serious loss of weight that would be found when the nuts were to be delivered, and they were anxious to ascertain if there was any mode of arresting their depredations, and whether the beetles lived and bred among dried nuts, or entered the kernel in an earlier stage. It was suggested that the mischief originated in the parent beetles laying their eggs in the nuts when still in a green or - soft state, and as there were several larve in each nut the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 215 interior was completely destroyed. The metamorphosis took place inside the nut. Mr. M‘Lachlan, in connexion with the above, exhibited another species of palm (Copernicia conifera) from Rio Janeiro, forwarded to him by Professor Dyer, which were also infested with a species of Caryoborus (C. bactris, Linn.). In this case each nut served as food for a single larva only, which bored in ita cylindrical hole of considerable size and depth. Fungus on Insects.—The President exhibited the larva of an Australian species of Hepialus (he believed from Queens- land), bearing a fungus with four or five different branches issuing from the back of the neck and the tail. Also a fungus growing from the back of a Noctua pupa. Mimicry in South African Insects.—Mr. M‘Lachlan, on behalf of Dr. Atherston, of South Africa, exhibited a pair of very singular Orthopterous insects (belonging to the Acry- diide), which, in colour and in the granulated texture, so exactly mimicked the sand of the district as to render it almost impossible to detect it when in a quiescent state. The name of the insect was uncertain, but it was supposed to approach the Trachyptera scutellaris, Walker. Also some singular oval, flattened cases, open at each end, and from six to eight lines in length, formed of silk, to which was externally fixed a quantity of fine light brown sand. The cases were found under stones in sandy districts, and were stated by Mr. Charles O. Waterhouse to belong to a beetle of the genus Paralichas (one of the Dascillide). Also the cases of a species of Oiketicus of peculiar structure: the inner lining of the tube was, as usual, composed of toughened silk; but to this was attached, externally, a quantity of fine sand, and outside this a number of small angular pebbles, only the tail-end bearing a few rather long twigs and species of grass- stems. Thus the cases differed from those of most species in which substances exclusively vegetable were attached exter- nally, the addition of the pebbles making the cases (which were nearly two inches in length) unusually heavy. Singular Forms of Coleopterous Insects —The President read descriptions and exhibited drawings of two very singular forms of Coleopterous insects from Mr. A. R. Wallace’s private collection. For the first, which belonged to the family Telephoridw, he proposed the generic term Astychina, remarkable for the form of the two terminal joints of the 216 - THE ENTOMOLOGIST. antenne, which were modified in one sex into what appeared to be a prehensile apparatus, different from anything in the insect world, but of which some analogous forms were found to occur in certain Entomostracous Crustacea. The other belonged to the family Cleride, and was named Anisophyllus, differing from all known beetles by the extremely elongated branch of the ninth joint of the antenne. JuLy 5, 1876. Prof. Westwood, M.A., President, in the chair. Psyllide taken near Lee, Kent.—Mr. Douglas exhibited the following Psyllide, taken by himself near Lee, Kent :— Psylla f: on birch trees; possibly P. Betule, Linn., Flor. Psylla spartifoliella, Férst.: on broom bushes. Apha- lara renosa, Foérst.: new to the British Fauna; now first identified as living on Achillea millefolium. Rhinocola aceris, Linn.: on maple trees (Acer campestris). Rhinocola erice, Curtis: on heather. Twigs of Horse Chestnut attacked by a Larva.—The Pre- sident brought for exhibition twigs of horse-chestnut, from Oxford, that had been attacked by some kind of larva, which had eaten away the inside of portions of the stem, causing the buds to drop off. He was in doubt whether the insect was Zeuzera Asculi, or some other; but he would be glad to know if the destruction to trees had been noticed elsewhere. Species of Coccus.—The President exhibited two species of Coccus, one of them on camellia leaves in his greenhouse, which he had previously described in the ‘Gardener’s Chronicle, under the name of C. Camelliz, and which had afterwards been observed by Dr. Verloren in his greenhouse in Holland. The female, which is one line in length, discharges a white waxy matter, having the appearance of the excrement of a young bird. The other species had been sent to him by the Rev. T. A. Preston, of Marlborough, on a species of Euphorbia, obtained from Dr. Hooker, of Kew. The leaves were covered with small scales, which, on close examination, were observed to have two small spines attached; and these proved to be the caudal extremities of the males. These insects emerge from the pupa backwards, and in consequence they make their appearance with the wings drawn forwards over the head. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 160.] [Price 6d. EPHYRA PENDULARIA, var. Tuts very beautiful variety of Ephyra pendularia was exhi- bited by Mr. Milleratthe meeting of the Entomological Society, held on the 7th of October, 1861, and was said to have been bred from a larva found near London, feeding on the exterior of the bedeguar, or mossy gall of the rose. This was probably a mistake, the larva having very likely fallen from a birch tree. I understood at the time that the larva was never seen actually feeding on the bedeguar. The moth is now in my collection. FREDERICK BOND. Staines, Middlesex, September 8, 1876. Remarks on Colias Edusa and Colias Hyale. By J. JENNER WEIR, Esgq., F.L.S., F.Z.S. AttHoucH I have collected the Lepidoptera of this country for at least thirty-six years | have never had oppor- tunities for observing the habits of our two species of the genus Colias in England; but this summer having been unusually hot, I was induced to make a journey to my native town, Lewes, more particularly in hope that they might be plentiful; and I devoted the greater part of the month of August mainly to observing and capturing the two species in question. VOL. IX. QF 218 ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. I took my first specimen of both species on the 7th, and my last on the 28th, of August; I found them in about the proportion of five of C. Edusa to three of C. Hyale. The localities in which I took both species were in Oxsettle Bottom, near Lewes, and in a clover field of twenty-five acres in extent, at Beddingham, about three miles from the town, which field had been once mown, and the second crop left for seed. The habit of both species appeared to me to be for the males to fly very rapidly and wildly across the localities frequented, and rarely, in the case of the clover field, passing beyond its limits. The females were generally resting or flying languidly from flower to flower; but upon seeing the males they usually flew upwards to attract their attention ; and I did not find that any of the males discovered the females when the latter were at rest. During the whole of the period of my observations the two species were constantly emerging from the chrysalis, and nearly all the specimens taken were in fine condition. The males of C. Edusa varied but little in colour; the shade of orange in most was precisely the same, and but few were slightly lighter. None of the females, although but just out, were so brilliant an orange as those in my collection, taken near Brighton some years ago; and although I did not capture one of the variety Helice, still two of the females were scarcely orange in colour, but rather of a dark yellow colour; and one had the orange suffused with black, in the same manner as a specimen in Mr. Bond’s collection, figured in Newman’s ‘ British Butterflies.’ All the males of C. Hyale were of a rich yellow colour, the tint varying very slightly, but some were not nearly so black at the tips of the wings as usual; this remark applies to perfectly fresh examples. The females of C. Hyale were in some cases nearly white; but I took one specimen of this sex quite as yellow as the males usually are; and I am disposed to think that the ordinary colouration of the females in C. Hyale is the reverse of that which obtains in C, Edusa, the lighter variety Helice being rare in the latter species, and the darker variety in the former. 1 find that all the continental specimens I possess of C. Hyale—taken by myself in Saxony, Bohemia, Tyrol, and Switzerland, and received from Russia—are coloured exactly wt ee ee —— ee d ' 4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 219 the same dark yellow in both sexes. The brightest specimen I possess was taken in Tyrol, in September, 1874. I trust the remarks I have made may elicit further commu- nications on the colouration of the females of C. Hyale, as I feel, in common with the views entertained by my lamented friend, the late Editor of the ‘ Zoologist’ and ‘ Entomologist,’ that many of us have too hastily assumed that the yellow specimens of C. Hyale were all males, and the white all females. J. JENNER WEIR. 6, Haddo Villas, Blackheath. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropdischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fircu, Esq. (Continued from p. 197.) 57. Andricus testaceipes, Hart.— This gall is formed by a swelling of the petiole, or a part of the midrib of the leaves of Quercus sessiliflora, in May. The larva-cell is situated in the centre; in many cases, however, the gall-parenchyma contains several dis- persed inner galls, each containing a larva of Andricus noduli. The ques- tion, which still remains unanswered, is whether such petiolar galls were originally produced by A. testaceipes, and A. noduli has only introduced its eggs, or whether the galls are primarily produced by A.nodulialone. Although 1 found these galls by the hundred during the months of August and September, I could never solve this problem. A. noduli, inquilines and : ANDRICUS TESTACEIPES. parasites, | have bred from them, but The spherical galls on the leat no A. testaceipes. are those of A. curvator (56). A, petioli, Hart.—This species is, in fact, A. noduli, according to typical specimens in the zoological cabinet at Vienna. Most Hymenopterists have taken the specimens of A. noduli, bred from these swellings of the petiole, for 220 : THE ENTOMOLOGIST. A. testaceipes, a typical specimen of which is in the Vienna zoological cabinet.—G. L. Mayr. The inquilines and parasites referred to are Synergus apicalis, Hart., Ceroptres arator, Hart., and Megastigmus dorsalis, Fabry. I have often found these galls on the petiole and midrib, but always took them for A. noduli. I have never bred their inmates.—Z. A. Fitch. Fig. 58,—ANDRICUS MULTIPLICATUS. 58. Andricus multiplicatus, Gir.—At the end of May this gall appears on the Turkey oak. It forms at the end, rarely on the side, of the twig a coma, outwardly consisting of rudimentary crippled leaves. This coma rests on and surrounds an irregular, hard, very pilose disk: at the top of this disk there is, hidden by the rudimentary leaves, a number of small, irregularly placed, oviform, yellowish brown inner galls, each of which contains a larva. This interesting gall undoubtedly attains its peculiar shape through the parenchyma being pierced when still in the bud, which prevents the development of the axis; this, together with the thickened and comated parenchyma, forms the disk. The yellow gall-makers are produced in July; but the one-year THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 22] old galls may be found on the trees, and some even adhere after they have lost all the leaves. They then exhibit the opened, unprotected inner galls, surrounded by prickly projections.—G. L. Mayr. The gall of this species occurs only on Quercus cerris, consequently is not known as British. From it Ceroptres Cerri, Mayr, and Megastigmus dorsalis, /abr., may be bred in July of the same year; the latter commonly. Synergus evanescens, Mayr, is another inquiline occurring in the following April; and Callimome regius, Nees, a parasite. Dr. Giraud says “the caterpillars of Grapholita amygdalana live frequently in these galls, feeding on the exterior substance, and even on the cellules when they are young enough.” This Tortrix has also been bred from galls of Lignicola or Kollari.—2Z. A. Fitch. The peculiar Relations of Plants and Insects as exhibited in Islands.* By ALFRED R. WALLACE, Esq., F.L.S., &c. Ever since Mr. Darwin showed the immense importance of insects in the fertilisation of flowers great attention has been paid to the subject, and the relation of these two very different classes of natural objects has been found to be more universal and more complex than could have been anticipated. Whole genera and families of plants have been so modified as first to attract, and then to be fertilised by, certain groups of insects; and this special adaptation seems in many cases to have determined the more or less wide range of the plants in question. It is also known that some species of plants can be fertilised only by particular species of insects, and the absence of these from any locality would necessarily prevent the continued existence of the plant in that area. Here, I believe, will be found the clue to much of the peculiarity of the floras of oceanic islands, since the methods by which these have been stocked with plants and insects will be often quite different. Many seeds are, no doubt, carried by oceanic currents; others probably by aquatic birds. Mr. H. N. Moseley informs me that the albatrosses, gulls, puffins, tropic * Part of the President's Address, in Section D (Biology), at the recent Meeting of the British Association, i) 292 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. birds, and many others, nest inland, often amidst dense vegetation; and he believes they often carry seeds, attached to their feathers, from island to island for great distances. In the tropics they often nest on the mountains far inland, and may thus aid in the distribution even of mountain plants. Insects, on the other hand, are mostly conveyed by aérial currents, especially by violent gales; and it may thus often happen that totally unrelated plants and insects may be brought together, in which case the former must often perish for want of suitable insects to fertilise them. This will, I think, account for the strangely fragmentary nature of these insular floras, and the great differences that often exist between those which are situated in the same ocean, as well as for the preponderance of certain orders and genera. In Mr. Pickering’s valuable work on the ‘Geographical Distri- bution of Animals and Plants,’ he gives a list of no less than sixty-six natural orders of plants wneapectedly absent from Tahiti, or which occur in many of the surrounding lands, some being abundant in other islands,—as the Labiate at the Sandwich Islands. In these latter islands the flora is much richer, yet a large number of families which abound in other parts of Polynesia are totally wanting. Now much of the poverty and exceptional distribution of the plants of these islands is probably due to the great scarcity of flower- frequenting insects. Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera are exceedingly scarce in the eastern islands of the Pacific; and it is almost certain that many plants which require these insects for their fertilisation have been thereby prevented from establishing themselves. In the western islands, such as. the Fijis, several. species of butterflies occur in tolerable abundance, and no doubt some flower-haunting Hymenoptera accompany them; and in these islands the flora appears to be much more varied, and especially to be characterized by a much greater variety of showy flowers, as may be seen by examining the plates of Dr. Seeman’s ‘ Flora Vitiensis.’ Darwin and Pickering both speak of the great prepon- derance of ferns at Tahiti; and Mr. Moseley, who spent several days in the interior of the island, informs me that “at an elevation of from 2000 to 3000 feet the dense vegetation is composed almost entirely of ferns. A tree-fern (Alsophila Tahitensis) forms a sort of forest, to the exclusion of almost THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 223 every other tree; and, with huge plants of two other ferns (Angiopteris evecta and Asplenium nidus), forms the main mass of the vegetation.” And he adds, “I have nowhere seen ferns in so great proportionate abundance.” ‘This unusual proportion of ferns is a general feature of insular, as compared with continental, floras; but it has, I believe, been generally attributed to favourable conditions, especially to equable climate and perennial moisture. In this respect, however, Tahiti can hardly differ greatly from many other islands, which yet have no such vast preponderance of ferns, This is a question that cannot be decided by mere lists of species, since it is probable that in Tahiti they are less numerous than in some other islands where they form a far less conspicuous feature in the vegetation. The island most comparable with Tahiti in that respect is Juan Fernandez. Mr. Moseley writes to me :— In a general view of any wide stretch of the densely-clothed mountainous surface of the island, the ferns—both tree-ferns and the unstemmed forms— are seen at once to compose a very large proportion of the mass of foliage.” As to the insects of Juan Fernandez, Mr. Edwyn C. Reed, who made two visits, and spent several weeks there, has kindly furnished me with some exact information. Of butterflies there is only one (Pyrameis carie), and that rare—a Chilian species, and probably an accidental straggler. Four species of moths of moderate size were observed—all Chilian, and a few larve and pupe. Of bees there were none, except one very minute species (allied to Chilicola); and of other Hymenoptera, a single specimen of Ophion luteus—a cosmopolitan Ichneumon. About twenty species of flies were observed, and these formed the most prominent feature of the Entomology of the island. Now, as far as we know, this extreme entomological poverty agrees closely with that of Tahiti; and there are, probably, no other portions of the globe equally favoured in soil and climate, and with an equally luxuriant vegetation, where insect-life is so scantily developed. It is curious, therefore, to find that these two islands also agree in the wonderful predominance of ferns over the flowering plants—in individuals even more than in species; and there is no difficulty in connecting the two facts. The excessive minuteness and great abundance of fern-spores cause them 224 ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. to be far more easily distributed by winds than the seeds of flowering plants, and they are thus always ready to occupy any vacant places in suitable localities, and to compete with the less vigorous flowering plants. But where insects are so scarce, all plants which require insect fertilisation, whether constantly to enable them to produce seed at all or occasionally to keep up their constitutional vigour by crossing, must be at a great disadvantage; and thus the scanty flora which oceanic islands must always possess, peopled as they usually are by waifs and strays from other lands, is rendered still more scanty by the weeding out of all such as depend largely on insect fertilisation for their full development. It seems probable, therefore, that the preponderance of ferns in islands (considered in mass of individuals, rather than in number of species) is largely due to the absence of competing phenogamous plants; and that this is in great part due to the scarcity of insects. In other oceanic islands—such as New Zealand and the Galapagos, where ferns, although tolerably abundant, form no such predominant feature in the vegetation, but where the scarcity of flower-haunting insects is almost equally marked—we find a great preponderance of small, green, or otherwise inconspicuous flowers, indicating that only such plants have been enabled to flourish there as are independent of insect fertilisation. In the Galapagos— which are, perhaps, even more deficient in flying insects than Juan Fernandez—this is so striking a feature that Mr. Darwin speaks of the vegetation as consisting in great part of * wretched-looking weeds,” and states that “it was some time before he discovered that almost every plant was in flower at the time of his visit.” He also says that he “did not see one beautiful flower” in the islands. It appears, however, that Composite, Leguminose, Rubiacee, and Solanacee, form a large proportion of the flowering plants; and, as these are orders which usually require insect fertilisation, we must suppose either that they have become modified so as to be self-fertilised, or that they are fertilised by the visits of the minute Diptera and Hymenoptera, which are the only insects recorded from these islands. In Juan Fernandez, on the other hand, there is no such total deficiency of showy flowers. 1 am informed by Mr. Moseley that a variety of the magnoliaceous winter's bark THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 225 abounds, and has showy white flowers, and that a bignonia- ceous shrub, with abundance of dark blue flowers, was also plentiful; while a white-flowered liliaceous plant formed large patches on the hill-sides. Besides these there were two species of woody Composite with conspicuous heads of yellow blossoms, and a species of white-flowered myrtle also abundant; so that, on the whole, flowers formed a rather conspicuous feature in the aspect of the vegetation of Juan Fernandez. But this fact—which at first sight seems entirely at variance with the view we are upholding of the important relation between the distribution of insects and plants—is well explained by the existence of two species of humming-birds in Juan Fernandez, which, in their visits to these large and showy flowers, fertilise them as effectually as bees, moths, or butterflies. Mr. Moseley informs me that “these humming- birds are extraordinarily abundant, every tree or bush having one or two darting about it.” He also observed that “nearly all the specimens killed had the feathers round the base of the bill and front of the head clogged and coloured yellow with pollen.” Here, then, we have the clue to the perpetuation of large and showy flowers in Juan Fernandez ; while the total absence of humming-birds in the Galapagos may explain why no such large-flowered plants have been able to establish themselves in those equatorial islands. This leads to the observation that many other groups of birds also, no doubt, aid in the fertilisation of flowers. I have often observed the beaks and faces of the brush-tongued lories of the Moluccas covered with pollen; and Mr. Moseley noted the same fact in a species of Artamus, or swallow- shrike, shot at Cape York, showing that this genus also frequents flowers and aids in their fertilisation. In the Australian region we have the immense group of the Meliphagide, which all frequent flowers; and, as these range over the islands of the Pacific, their presence will account for a certain proportion of showy flowers being found there, such as the scarlet Metrosideros,—one of the few conspicuous flowers in Tahiti. In the Sandwich Islands, too, there are forests of Metrosideros; and Mr, Charles Pickering writes me that they are visited by honey-sucking birds, one of which is captured by sweetened bird-lime, against which it 26 2°96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. thrusts its extensile tongue. I am also informed that a con- siderable number of flowers are occasionally fertilised by humming-birds in North America; so that there can, I think, be little doubt that birds play a much more important part in this respect than has hitherto been imagined. It is not improbable that in Tropical America, where this family is so enormously developed, many flowers will be found to be expressly adapted to fertilisation by them, just as so many in our own country are specially adapted to the visits of certain families or genera of insects. It must also be remembered, as Mr. Moseley has suggested to me, that a flower which had acquired a brilliant colour to attract insects might, on transference to another country, and becoming so modified as to be capable of self-fertilisation, retain the coloured petals for an indefinite period. Such is probably the explanation of the Pelargonium of Kerguelen’s Land, which forms masses of bright colour near the shore during the flowering season; while most of the other plants of the island have colourless flowers, in accordance with the almost total absence of winged insects. The presence of many large and showy flowers among the indigenous flora of St. Helena must be an example of a similar persistence. Mr. Melliss, indeed, states it to be “a remarkable peculiarity that the indigenous flowers are, with very slight exceptions, all perfectly colourless ;” but although this may apply to the general aspect of the remains of the indigenous flora, it is evidently not the case as regards the species, since the interesting plates of Mr. Melliss’s volume show that about one-third of the indigenous flowering plants have more or less coloured or conspicuous flowers, while several of them are exceedingly showy and beautiful. Among these are a Lobelia, three Wahlenbergias, several Composite, and espe- cially the handsome red flowers of the now almost extinct forest-trees, the ebony and redwood—species of Melhania (Byttneriacee). We have every reason to believe, however, that when St. Helena was covered with luxuriant forests, and especially at that remote period when it was much more extensive than it is now, it must have supported a certain number of indigenous birds and insects, which would have aided in the fertilisation of these gaily-coloured flowers. The researches of Dr. Hermann Miiller have shown us by what THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 227 minute modifications of structure or of function many flowers are adapted for partial insect- and self-fertilisation in varying degrees, so that we have no difficulty in understanding how, as the insects diminished and finally disappeared, self- fertilisation may have become the rule, while the large and showy corollas remain to tell us plainly of a once different state of things. Another interesting fact in connection with this subject is the presence of arborescent forms of Composite in so many of the remotest oceanic islands. They occur in the Galapagos, in Juan Fernandez, in St. Helena, in the Sandwich Islands, and in New Zealand; but they are not directly related to each other, representatives of totally different tribes of this extensive order becoming arborescent in each group of islands. The immense range and almost universal distri- bution of the Composite is due to the combination of a great facility of distribution (by their seeds), with a great attractiveness to insects, and the capacity of being fertilised by a variety of species of all orders, and especially by flies and small beetles. Thus they would be among the earliest of flowering plants to establish themselves on oceanic islands ; but where insects of all kinds were very scarce it would be an advantage to gain increased size and longevity, so that fertilisation at an interval of several years might suffice for the continuance of the species. The arborescent form would combine with increased longevity the advantage of increased size in the struggle for existence with the ferns and other early colonists; aud these advantages have led to its being independently produced in so many distant localities, whose chief feature in common is their remoteness from continents and the extreme poverty of their insect life. As the sweet odours of flowers are known to act in combination with their colours, as an attraction to insects, it might be anticipated that where colour was deficient scent would be so also. On applying to my friend Dr. Hooker for information as to New Zealand plants, he informed me that this was certainly the case, and that the New Zealand flora is, speaking generally, as strikingly deficient in sweet odours as in conspicuous colours. Whether this peculiarity occurs in other islands | have not been able to obtain information, but we may certainly expect it to be so in such a marked instance as that of the Galapagos flora, 298 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Another question which here comes before us is the origin and meaning of the odoriferous glands of leaves. Dr. Hooker informed me that not only are the New Zealand plants deficient in scented flowers, but equally so in scented leaves. This led me to think that perhaps such leaves were in some way an additional attraction to insects, though it is not easy to understand how this could be, except by adding a general attraction to the special attraction of the flowers, or by supporting the larve which, as perfect insects, aid in fertilisation. Mr. Darwin, however, informs me that he considers that leaf-glands bearing essential oils are a pro- tection against the attacks of insects where these abound, and would thus not be required in countries where insects were very scarce. But it seems opposed to this view that highly aromatic plants are characteristic of deserts all over the world, and in such places insects are not abundant. Mr. Stainton informs me that the aromatic Labiate enjoy no immunity from insect attacks. The bitter leaves of the cherry-laurel are often eaten by the larve of moths that abound on our fruit-trees; while in the Tropics the leaves of the orange tribe are favourites with a large number of Lepi- dopterous larve; and our northern firs and pines, although abounding in a highly aromatic resin, are very subject to the attacks of beetles. My friend Dr. Richard Spruce—who, while travelling in South America, allowed nothing connected with plant-life to escape his observation—informs me that trees whose leaves have aromatic and often resinous secretions in immersed glands abound in the plains of tropical America, and that such are in great part, if not wholly, free from the attacks of leaf-eating ants, except where the secretion is only slightly bitter, as in the orange tribe, orange-trees being sometimes entirely denuded of their leaves in a single night. Aromatic plants abound in the Andes up to about 13,000 feet, as well as in the plains, but hardly more so than in Central and Southern Europe. They are, perhaps, most plentiful in the dry mountainous parts of Southern Europe ; and, as neither here nor in the Andes do leaf-eating ants exist, Dr. Spruce infers that, although in the hot American forests where such ants swarm, the oil-bearing glands serve as a protection, yet they were not originally acquired for that purpose. Near the limits of perpetual snow on the Andes THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 229 such plants as occur are not, so far as Dr. Spruce has observed, aromatic; and, as plants in such situations can hardly depend on insect visits for their fertilisation, the fact is comparable with that of the flora of New Zealand, and would seem to imply some relation between the two phenomena, though what it exactly is cannot yet be determined. I trust [ have now been able to show you that there are a number of curious problems, lying as it were on the outskirts of biological inquiry, which well merit attention, and which may lead to valuable results. But these problems are, as you see, for the most part connected with questions of locality, and require full and accurate knowledge of the productions of a number of small islands and other limited areas, and the means of comparing them the one with the other. To make such comparisons is, however, now quite impossible. No museum contains any fair representation of the productions of these localities; and such specimens as do exist, being scattered through the general collection, are almost useless for this special purpose. If, then, we are to make any progress in this inquiry, it is absolutely essential that some collectors should begin to arrange their cabinets primarily on a geographical basis, keeping together the productions of every island or group of islands, and of such divisions of each continent as are found to possess any special or characteristic fauna or flora. We shall then be sure to detect many unsuspected relations between the animals and plants of certain localities; and we shall become much better acquainted with those complex reactions between the vegetable and animal kingdoms, and between the organic world and the inorganic, which have almost certainly played an important part in determining many of the most conspicuous features of living things. ALFRED RussEL WALLACE. Entomological Noles, Captures, §c. Vanessa Antiopa at Lea Bridge Marshes.—I had the good fortune to capture a splendid female specimen of V. Antiopa on the 27th August; it appeared as though only just emerged from pupa. It was on a willow tree, sucking the sugar left 230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. from the previous night; as the tree smelt very strong of rum and sugar it would, no doubt, be a good plan to sugar for them. The specimen is at present in possession of Mr. W. Craft— Henry Ashpole; Hyde Road, Hoxton. Vanessa Antiopa in Dumfriesshire—I have just had given to me a live specimen in fair condition of V. Antiopa, which was captured to-day in the gardener’s cottage at Mabie, about five miles from Dumfries.—Robert Service ; Maxwelltown, Dumfries, September 22, 1876. Papilio Machaon in Sussex.—I was very much surprised to see a fine female specimen of Papilio Machaon flying in a secluded valley branching off from Oxsettle Bottom, near Lewes. I captured her for the sake of making quite certain of the species, but released her in hopes she might found a colony there. I cannot find that P. Machaon has been reared by anyone at Lewes for the last twenty years. The spot in which she was taken is rarely visited by naturalists, except during the period Procris globulariz appears ; and the quiet of the place may be inferred from the fact that I saw those shy birds, Gidicnemus crepitans, almost every day on which I visited the locality.—J. Jenner Weir; 6, Haddo Villas, Blackheath. Apatura Iris in Huntingdonshire.—I1 spent a few days in search of A. Iris in the middle of July last, and in woods near Huntingdon took the considerable number of twenty-seven specimens—twenty-one males and six females. My two best days were the 18th and 19th of July, which produced eighteen specimens. J tried carrion, in the shape of several dead hedgehogs, which I distributed about the woods, but only captured one in this way—a fine male. All the rest I took (mostly on the wing) with my net, fixed on an eighteen- feet ash pole. I write this thinking it may interest some of your readers to know that A. Iris is still to be taken in some plenty in our Midland Counties.—Harold Conquest ; West Lodge, St. Ann’s Road, Stamford Hill, N., September 5, 1876. Colias Hyale and C. Edusa.—\ should like to add one or two remarks on Mr. Fitch’s interesting notes respecting these species being double-brooded ; they may serve to encourage other collectors to give us their experience. Many years ago three of us were collecting in the Isle of Thanet; we all worked hard every day at the clover and lucerne THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 231 fields, the weather all the time being very fine and warm. This was early in June. We never caught a glimpse of either C, Hyale, C. Edusa, or its var. Helice, for some days ; after which, in the same fields, C. Hyale and C. Edusa made a sudden appearance, C, Edusa being quite common; C. Hyale was scarce. But all the C. Edusa were miserable specimens, and the C. Hyale were much rubbed. Does this not seem to give one the idea that they had been hybernating, and were merely waiting for the early summer’s sun to induce them to leave their winter retreats? —H. Ramsay Cox; Thornleigh House, Forest Hill, September 11, 1876. Sphinx Convolvuli in Gloucestershire-—On the 7th Sep- tember a very fresh specimen of S. Convolvuli was taken in my garden, attracted as usual by the petunias.—V. R. Perkins ; Wotton-under-Ldge. Sphinx Convolvuli near St. Ives.—A Sphinx Convolvuli was brought to me in perfect condition, caught in a cottage in this parish, on the 22nd of August, 1876.—[ Rev.] J. H. White; Hemingford Grey, St. Ives. Sphinx Convolvuli at Salisbury.—lI took a very fine and perfect specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli on a lamp-post, in this town, on the 7th of this month.— Henry Neale ; 22, St. Martin's Church Street, Salisbury, September 23, 1876. Rare Lepidoptera in the Isle of Wight.—The season has been a very uncertain one, but many good things have been taken ; amongst them—Triphena subsequa, Diphthera orion, Leucania vitellina, Laphygma exigua, a specimen of the very rare Noctua flammatra, Agrous cinerea, A. lunigera, A. obelisca, Aporophila australis, Heliophobus hispida, Luperina cespitis, Pterophorus spilodactylus, Sphinx Convolvuli, Colias Edusa and its var. Helice common, and a few specimens of Colias Hyale; also many others. Mr. Buckmaster and Mr. Black- burn have taken Leucania albipuncta. I hope next month to give you a longer list, as there is every prospect of a fine autumn.—H, Rogers; Roseberry House, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, September 19, 1876. Cherocampa celerio at Brighton.—A specimen of Chaero- campa celerio was taken at Brighton on the 13th of this month by my brother, who brought it to me in splendid condition. It is now on the setting-board.—C. Hamlin; 47, Viaduct Road, Brighton, September 25, 1876. 232 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Larva of Acronycta Alni near Derby.—A larva of A. Alni was taken here last month by my young friend Master Godfrey Fitz Herbert.—[Rev.] Hugh A. Stowell; Derby. Acronycta Alni near Relford.—A fine larva of this rare moth was taken by me at Grove Wood, near East Retford, on the 13th of August last. It was feeding upon hazel.—E. H. Stenton ; 14, Grove Street, East Retford, September 1, 1876. Clostera anachoreta.—Being informed that some ento- mologists doubt this moth being indigenous to Britain, I wish to state for their information that I found the pupa, though I did not know I had done so until the imago made its appearance in my pupe cage on the 8th of May last. A friend of mine (Mr. Harbour), of this town, also found two imagos, which he picked up from the pavement in the street, rather the worse for wear. I did not know of its rarity, or I should have sent this before for the benefit of your readers.—S. Norman; 11, Duke Street, Deal, August 21, 1876. Leucania albipuncta, Eremobia ochroleuca, and Sphinx Convolvuli, at Deal.—I had the pleasure of taking two specimens of Leucania albipuncta on sugar, at the Deal sand-hills, on Wednesday, August 23rd. The pair were not in such good condition as I should have wished, but were tolerable specimens nevertheless. The night was dark and windy, and moths were very abundant on the sugar, which was applied to a row of palings. JI took Eremobia ochroleuca the same night; and also obtained a living specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli, which had been taken in the locality. I sugared for L. albipuncta in vain next night, which was the last of my stay at Deal. Andrewes; Grey Ffriar’s House, Reading, September 20, 1876. Leucania albipuncta at St. Leonard’s.—A very good specimen of Leucania albipuncta was taken here at sugar on Friday last, by Mr. C. Hagges, a friend of mine. I took one myself last year on the same tree, and within two days of the same date.—John T. Sarll; Beauvoir House, Hollington Park, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea, July 25, 1876. Dianthecia irregularis.—1 made four journeys this year for the purpose of finding the larva of this insect, and swept all the Silene Otites 1 could find at Tuddenham, Icklingham, and Lockford. I obtained less than a score of caterpillars, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 233 everyone of which was the victim of an Ichneumon. Neither did I find any larve of Anticlea sinuata, as usual, on the Galium verum at these places—[ev.) 4. H. Wratislaw ; School Hall, Bury St. Edmunds, September 4, 1876. Cucullia schropularie.—May I be permitted to ask, through the medium of the ‘ Entomologist,’ whether there is any well-authenticated instance of the recent occurrence of Cucullia schropularie in this country? I have frequently had “ true C. schropulariz” offered to me by correspondents, but they have invariably proved to be Cucullia verbasci. In Newman’s ‘ British Moths’ it is said that the perfect insects of the two species are hard to distinguish from each other; but, in my opinion, nobody who knows both could easily mistake the one for the other. It is, however, extremely difficult to distinguish between Cucullia schropu- larie and Cucullia lychnitis. The late Mr. Doubleday himself sent me a pair of the former species, which he had received from a correspondent in France as types; and I confess that had I taken them myself I should have mistaken them for Cucullia lychnitis. I believe some people labour under the delusion that all the larve found on Schropularia nodosa are true Cucullia schropularie ; but it is not so, as Cucullia verbasci also feeds on that plant, as well as on Schro- pularia aquatica. I should be very glad if any competent entomologist can give reliable information on the subject, as I have never met with Cucullia schropularie myself; nor have J, during the time I have been a collector, ever seen any trustworthy record of its occurrence in Britain.—W. H. Harwood ; 8, West Stockwell Street, Colchester, Sept. 16,1876. Selidosema plumaria, §c., near Alverstoke.—Spending a few days at Alverstoke, on the Solent, last month, I was surprised to find S. plumaria occurring along the coast from that village westward, as far as my rambles extended,—some three or four miles: only males of course, and all more or less wasted. This is a new, or at least unrecorded, locality for the species; I had previously associated it with heaths. At the same place I took a few Spilodes palealis and Phycis Davisella. To these I may add Pyralis glaucinalis, as I see by Mr. Jenner-Fust’s list that it had not in 1868 been noted from sub-province 5. Aspilates citraria is, I fancy, supposed to be one of those species of which the males are 2H 234 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. much more easily procured than the females. While the males occurred to us almost entirely by day, we found the females in great numbers at the gas-lamps at night, but hardly a male amongst them.—[Rev.] Hugh A. Stowell ; Breadsall Rectory, Derby, September 21, 1876. Swarm of Ants.—About a fortnight ago a swarm of ants— fourteen yards broad, and which took half an hour to pass —were observed by a neighbouring clergyman, whilst fishing in the Ouse in the next parish: thousands fell into the river, and were eagerly preyed on by the roach and dace. They were passing in a south-east direction.—[ Rev.] J. H. While; Hemingford Grey, St. Ives, Hunts, September 5, 1876. [Swarms of ants commonly take place about the middle of August,—a little earlier or later, according to the season. I have observed that these swarms take place usually after rain has fallen, and the air is moist and warm. The species that usually compose these large swarms belong to the division of stinging-ants—Myrmicide; and I should be inclined to believe that the swarm seen by the clergyman was composed of one of the following species:—Myrmica scabrinodis, M. ruginodis, or M. levinodis.—Frederick Smith. |] Journalist's Entomology.—Single strength helpless against multitudinous weakness, a nation powerless against a scourge of animalcule, is by this time an old spectacle. “The strong man, Kwasind,” was he not pelted to death by “the little people” on the river Taquamenaw? And the Abderites, had they not to desert their fatherland by reason of frogs? A fluffy little fly once devastated the pine forests of the Hartz ; and a moth of a certain kind laying its eggs among the hops will still drive Kent into fits. A fly with a partiality for turnips has set all the farmers of bucolic England swearing; and very lately indeed a beetle that preferred potatoes conyulsed the markets of the country. The “Oidium,” I see now, has appeared in strength in South Australia; and, unless the colony can defeat the insect, the cultivation of the vine will be retarded for many years to come. After all, though,. it is an old story. It was “ the little foxes” that ravaged the prophet’s vineyard.—The ‘ World, [The above cutting from the ‘ World, of September 6th (p. 13), is too rich to be lost. If we mistake not its author was, until recently, chairman of a Royal Natural History Society “Limited”!— Lud. ] THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 235 Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London. AuGusT 2, 1876. Sir Sidney S. Saunders, C.M.G., Vice-President, in the chair. Ravages of Locusts in Spain.—A letter was read from T. V. Lister, Esq., of the Foreign Office, transmitting, for the information of the Entomological Society, a copy of a despatch from Sir John Walsham, Her Majesty’s Chargé d@ Affaires at Madrid, relative to the plague of locusts, together with a box containing specimens of the insect, and a number of earthen egg-cases, each containing from thirty to forty eggs. The despatch stated that the Official Report, showing the progress of the plague and the steps taken to exterminate the insect, had not yet been published, but a copy would be sent to the Society in a few weeks. It was said that the damage done by the locusts this year was considerably less than that of last year, owing to the number of soldiers which the Government had been enabled to employ since the war was over to assist the inhabitants of the districts, where the plague existed, in destroying the insects. The insects sent were stated to be specimens of Locusta migratoria; but on examination they were ascertained to be the Locusta albifrons, Fab. (Decticus albifrons, Savigny). Dragonfly infested by Red Parasite-—Mr. M‘Lachlan exhibited a series of thirteen examples of a dragonfly (Diplax meridionalis, Se/ys), recently taken by him in the Alps of Dauphiné, between Grenoble and Briangon (the exact locality being near the village of La Grave, at the base of the Aiguille du Midi), remarkable for the extent to which nearly all were infested by the red parasite described by De Geer as Acarus libellule (perhaps a species of Trombidium). Of the thirteen examples captured casually only one was free from parasites, the number of them on the others being respectively 7, 8, 9, 15, 17, 19, 28, 47, 51, 73, 96, and 111, or a total of 481 on twelve individuals. They were firmly fixed on the nervures towards and at the base of the wing, almost invariably on the under side; but whatever might be the number on any particular dragonfly it was always divided nearly symmetrically on the two sides of the insect,—those much infested having a very pretty appearance, from the wings looking as if spotted with blood-red. He had no 236 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. doubt that the Acari must have attained their position by climbing up the legs of the dragonfly when at rest: probably they did not quit it till the dragonfly died, or perhaps they died with it, so firmly were they fixed. He remarked that the history of the Acari was involved in much obscurity, for it appeared by no means certain that all those existing could ever gain access to dragonflies; just as in the case of the bed-bug and the human-flea, where there niust be myriads that never have an opportunity of tasting human blood. He further noticed that, at the meeting of this Society on the Ist of August, 1864, he exhibited a dragonfly from Montpellier similarly attacked, and it was recorded as Diplax striolata (Tr. Ent. Soc., 2nd series, vol. ii., Proc. xxxvi.). This was an error, the insect being D. meridionalis, which seemed to be particularly subject to attack. Nematus gallicola, Steph.—Mr. Smith read the following note :—“ This is one of the commonest species of sawfly found in Europe; it is the maker of the well-known red galls so plentiful on leaves of different species of willow. The galls are, as Mr. Cameron observes in his communication to the ‘Scottish Naturalist,’ somewhat local, but they are extremely abundant in many situations. I have on many occasions collected large quantities of leaves, more or less covered with galls, and have bred many hundreds of the flies—all proving on examination to be females. Mr. Cameron observes, in the paper alluded to, ‘The male is quite unknown to me; and this appears to have been also the case with Hartig.’ Last spring I collected, in the London district, a | quantity of the galls, placing them in a large flower-pot half-filled with garden mould. The larve soon quitted the galls, and buried themselves in the mould for the purpose of undergoing their transformations. About a month after this the flies began to issue forth, probably to the number of from five to six hundred: among this number I had the satisfac- tion of finding two males. This sex closely resembles the female; but has a narrower body, longer antenne, and the tip of the abdomen is pale; the abdomen is also narrower, and not, as in the female, widened towards the apex. This season I have repeated my experiment, and have obtained a single male out of several hundreds of flies. Mr. Cameron further observes: ‘In all probability they, like Cynips (ligni- cola) Kollari and other Cynipide, propagate without the aid THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 237 of the male sex.’ This observation was undoubtedly made in ignorance of the discovery made by Mr. Walsh in 1868. In the ‘American Naturalist’ for that year, the author records the fact of having himself bred both sexes of Cynips spongifica from galls of the black oak of North America. These galls resemble those of Cynips Kollari, being globular, rather larger than the European galls, but of the same hard woody consistency externally, and of the same spongy substance inside. Mr. Walsh adds: ‘By the forepart or middle of June both male and female gall-flies eat their way out of a certain number, say about one-fourth part; the remainder are not developed until about two months later.’ In a private communication from Mr. Walsh, I learnt that he had, like myself, bred hundreds of the gall-flies from galls collected late in the autumn, all these proving to be females; and that it was not until he made collections of galls in the summer, when a partial development of flies takes place, that he obtained the male, this sex being as one to many hundreds of females. At length he bred three males, one of which he kindly forwarded to me, and which I exhibited at a meeting of this Society. Following up Mr. Walsh’s method of collecting the galls of Cynips Kollari early in the season, —that is, just at the time when they are becoming hardened, and before any flies have escaped from the fresh galls,—l have tried, but hitherto without success, to obtain males of Cynips; but I advise all who are interested in the matter to pursue the same plan, always remembering that these mysteries of Nature are only unfolded at intervals, and then only to favoured votaries. With respect to the obtaining of males of Nematus gallicola, | believe that anyone may collect, even early in the season, thousands of the galls of that insect without obtaining a male; but, in all probability, by persevering season after season, his efforts will, as in my own case, be crowned with success; but I feel assured that unless the galls are gathered before any of the flies have escaped he will have little or probably no chance of success. The same care must also be taken in collecting the galls of Cynips Kollari; collecting them early, just at the time when they harden and become woody, for it is out of the flies first developed that the male may be expected to be found. My having bred thousands upon thousands of flies without obtaining a male should prove a stimulus to others, for that a male exists I 238 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. think Mr. Walsh has determined beyond question. The impregnation of a single female may possibly be sufficient to render her progeny, and their descendants, for several generations, equally fertile; and the same may possibly be the history of Nematus gallicola) The male bred by Mr. Walsh is said not to belong to the restricted genus Cynips, but to one not represented in Europe. This may be the case ; but in all essential generic characters it agrees in a remarkable manner: ‘Spongifica,’ like Cynips proper, has thirteen- jointed antennez ; the neuration of the wings is the same, and no difference is perceptible in the construction of the legs; the differences that are perceptible are in its abdomen being less compressed, and it is glabrous; there may be some other minor differences; the form of the thorax is apparently the same as that of Cynips. The question, ‘Has Cynips a male?’ remains, in the opinion of those who have attentively studied the group, unanswered; but surely more differences must exist between ‘ Spongifica’ and the members of the restricted genus Cynips than a less compressed abdomen, and the absence of the downy pile that is observable on the sides of the abdomen of Cynips Kollari and its allies.” A discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Dunning, M‘Lachlan, E. A. Fitch, and others, took part; it appearing to some of the Members that there was still a considerable amount of uncertainty as to the precise generic rank of the presumed male Cynips. Habits of a Lepidopterous Insect parasitic on Fulgora candelaria.—The President, who was unable to be at the Meeting, forwarded a paper, entitled: “ Notes on the Habits of a Lepidopterous Insect parasitic on Fulgora candelaria, by J. C. Bowring; with a Description of the Species, by J. O. Westwood ;” accompanied by drawings of the insect in its various stages. This curious insect, resembling a Coccus, had been brought to this country twenty-six years ago by Mr. Bowring; and on his return to India he had succeeded in rearing it to its perfect state, proving it to be the larva of a Lepidopterous insect, the general appearance of which induced the Professor to place it among the Arctiide. The larvee were found attached to the dorsal surface of the Fulgora, and as they grew had a cottony covering, which also occurred in the pupa state (a period which appeared to be of very variable duration). The evidence appeared to prove that the larva fed on the waxy secretion of the THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 239 Fulgora, and the cocoon of the pupa was formed of the same substance. Prof. Westwood had previously noticed this extraordinary insect at the meeting of the British Association at Oxford in 1860, under the name of Epipyrops anomala. SEPTEMBER 6, 1876, J. Jenner Weir, Esq., F.L.S., in the chair. Remedies for Altacks of the Harvest-bug.—Mr. Weir men- tioned that, on a recent visit to the South Downs, he had suffered much annoyance from the attack of the harvest-bug, as many as eighty pustules appearing on each foot. Several remedies were suggested, especially rubbing the affected parts with brandy and water; but Mr. Smith stated that on one occasion when he was in the Isle of Wight, and exposed to their attacks, he had found that by taking a dose of milk of sulphur he was effectually relieved from all annoyance, Enemies to Horse-chestnut Shoots.—Professor Westwood communicated a note with reference to some shoots of horse- chestnut, which he had exhibited at the July meeting of the Society, as having been destroyed, apparently by some Lepi- dopterous larvze or wood-boring beetles; but he had since received from Mr. Stainton some shoots that had been forwarded to him by Sir Thomas Moncrieffe, which had been destroyed by squirrels in precisely the same manner. Sir Thomas had himself seen the squirrels at work splitting the shoots with their teeth and extracting the pith. Mr. Smith remarked that he had found the common buff-tip moth (Pygzra bucephala) very destructive of late to the Spanish chestnut, a tree on which the insect is not usually found. Creesus septentrionalis Bred.—Mr. Smith exhibited a series of sixty specimens of a sawfly (Creesus septentrionalis), which he had bred from larve found feeding on young shoots of the alder, growing on the banks of the Sid, near Sidmouth, South Devon. The specimens of the fly were all bred ina single flower-pot, nine inches in diameter. Mutilla europea Parasitic on Bombus muscorum.—Mtr. Smith also mentioned the fact of Mutilla europea having been found parasitic on Bombus muscorum, by Miss M. Pasley, in an Orchard at Shedfield Grange, near Wickham, Hants. He also remarked on a coincidence somewhat remarkable, that on the day previous to his receiving Miss Pasley’s communication, Professor Edward Brandt, of St. 240 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Petersburgh, had informed him that he had fonnd Matilla europea in a nest of Bombus muscorum; this being the first instance that had come to his knowledge of the parasite infesting the nests of that species of humble-bee. Death of Mr. Edwin Brown.—We regret to have to record the death of Edwin Brown, of Burton-on-Trent, who has long been widely known for his great and varied knowledge of Natural History. His first contributions to scientific litera- ture appeared in the year 1843, in the pages of the first volume of the ‘ Zoologist,—quadrupeds, birds, insects, and shells, being the subjects,—thus early foreshadowing that breadth of study which he developed in later life. He continued to send various short papers to the ‘ Zoologist,’ and afterwards contributed many and valuable papers to the Northern Entomological Society and the Midland Scientific Association. In 1863 appeared his chief work, the ‘ Fauna and Flora of the District surrounding Tutbury and Burton- on-Trent,’ which formed a considerable part of the ‘ Natural History of Tutbury, by Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., and Edwin Brown.’ In 1865 and 1866 he read papers on Geology before the British Association; but for some years past his spare time was devoted almost entirely to Coleoptera, of certain sections of which he had formed magnificent collections. Unfortunately his published writings bear but small proportion to his vast store of information. Mr. Brown was a fellow of the Royal Geographical and of the Geological Society. He was born in the year 1818, and died at Tenby, of an apopletic fit, on the lst September, 1876. Death of Mr. Blackmore.—We also have to record the death of Trovey Blackmore, son of the late Charles Philip Blackmore, who died at his residence, The Hollies, Wands- worth, somewhat suddenly, on the 3rd of September, 1876, in his forty-first year. As an entomologist Mr. Blackmore chiefly devoted his attention to Coleoptera. His writings consist of communications upon the Entomology of Algiers —in which country, his constitution being naturally delicate, he generally passed the winter—in the scientific serials of the day. He was also engaged upon a series of articles in the ‘ Miller, on “ Insects Injurious to Grain.” THE ENTOMOLOGIST. No. 161.) NOVEMBER, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. Pachnobia hypoborea. By Joun T. Carrineton. PACHNOBIA HYPOBOREA (male and female). As the year 1876 will hereafter be known amongst Lepi- dopterists as the “Alpina year,’—on account of the large number of specimens captured during the past season in the Highlands of Scotland,—some account of this species may be of interest. Before entering upon the history of its occur- rence in Britain, I will explain its nomenclature. Dalman was the first known entomologist who noticed this moth. He gave it the name of Hypoborea in MS. Zettersdedt, in 1840, published his ‘ Insecta Lapponica,’ in which this moth was first described. He adopted Dalman’s MS. specific name, and placed it in the genus Hadena. Humphrey and Westwood, in 1848, in their ‘ British Moths,’ figure this species under the name of Agrotis alpina. The specimen from which this figure was made was that taken by Mr. Douglas on Cairn Gower, Perth- shire, in 1839, VOL, IX. 21 242 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. In 1847 the late Mr. Doubleday published the first edition of his catalogue of British Lepidoptera: there this species is called Tzniocampa hypoborea, with ? after. Dalman, and with alpina, Westwood, as a synonym. M. Guenée describes and figures it in 1852, in vol. i. (p. 342, pl. iv.) of his ‘Species Général des Lépidoptéres, Noctuelites,’ as Pachnobia alpina; Pachnobia being a generic name of his own creation. In the last edition of Doubleday’s catalogue this species stands as Pachnobia alpina, Wesiwood, with Carnica, Heer, as synonym. The name hypoborea does not appear; why I know not. Carnica is the name under which Hering describes this species, in 1869, in the ‘Stettiner entomologische Zeitung. Heer, given as the nomenclator by Guenée, is clearly a misprint of Hering. Glacialis is the name used by Herrich-Schaffer, in 1849, to describe and figure this insect in his ‘Systematische Bearbeitung der Schmetterlinge von Europa.’ He gives four fine figures of this local red variety on plate 82, vol. ii. Stainton, in his ‘Manual of British Butterflies and Moths,’ published in 1857, shortly, but clearly, describes it as Pachnobia alpina. Dr. Staudinger, of Dresden, in his ‘Catalog der Lepi- dopteren des Europzischen Faunengebiets, 1871, does not refer to Alpina; but his species, No. 1098, is Agrotis hypoborea, Zeit. As synonyms he gives Aqui- lonaris, Ze/t., Alpicola, Zett., Iveni, Huber Hor.; with Carnica, Hering, and Glacialis, H.-S., as varieties. Newman, in his ‘Natural History of British Moths,’ describes it under the name of Pachnobia carniea. Carnica, Her., and Glacialis, H.-S., appear to refer to the same—the red—variety found in Central Europe. The reader will observe that this moth has had the following generic names:—Hadena, Agrotis, Teniocampa, and Pachnobia. A careful examination of a long series of Scotch and continental examples leads me to conclude that this insect is not closely allied to any member of the three former genera, neither in structure, superficial appearance, nor habits in any stage. Therefore, until otherwise proved, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 243 I propose to retain Guenée’s generic name, It should stand in future— PACHNOBIA, Gn. HYPOBOREA, Zett. Being most closely allied to some members of the genus Teniocampa, I propose to let it remain where it now stands in the British list of Lepidoptera; so that the only alteration necessary in our cabinets will be to remove the label ALPiNna, and place it as a synonym below the new label HYPOBOREA. The history of the British examples of this species is shortly as follows:—In 1839 Mr. Douglas took the first example of this moth, as above stated. In 1854 the late James Foxcroft took another, | believe, at Rannoch, in Perthshire. Then for a long period no captures were recorded in Britain, In 1870 Mr. T. Eedle took a specimen at rest on Schiehallion, a mountain in Perthshire: this specimen is, I believe, in the collection of my friend Dr. Battershell Gill, of Regent’s Park. A fourth was bred from a pupa shaken out of moss, while hunt- ing for Coleoptera, by Mr. Allin: this occurred in Braemar, in Aberdeenshire. This was followed by a capture of one, a female, by myself in the Breadalbane district of Perthshire, where it was flying in sunshine between two and three a.m.,, on July 10th, 1874. The same year Mr. Eedle again took a worn one near the site of his former capture. During the summer of 1875 1 searched very diligently and constantly for this species on the very ground where it has been taken this year; also where | took mine in 1874. In this search I was accompanied by Dr. Buchanan White, of Perth, and Duncan Robertson, the schoolmaster of Camghouran, whom I had trained as a Lepidopterist. None of us saw any trace of it, alhough constantly on the look out for the then great rarity. i the early part of August this year, Mr. Robertson sent me a moth for identification, which had been bred from a pupa shaken from moss upon one of the mountains south of Loch Rannoch. I at once saw my old friend Pachnobia. I wrote to him and told him to work for it, and he did so, taking a fine series, A little later I heard that Mr. Wheeler, of Norwich, with a friend, were at Rannoch, and had taken several specimens. Mr. Meek, too, was there, with two professional collectors; they also got some. So that amongst 244 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. these and others there was a goodly number taken, most of which I have had the good fortune to see. Mr. Wheeler has especially shown great kindness in lending for use in the ‘ Entomologist’ his fine series of eight specimens, two of which, male and female, I selected for figuring, and they appear at the head of this article. In examining these Pachnobia hypoborea, I find the first notable character is the wonderful variety of the markings ; I have scarcely seen two alike, and certainly not three. In Mr. Wheeler’s series, independently of those figured, is one which represents the true variely carnica; it is nearly like Herrich-Schiffer’s figure 421, in fact is devoid of all the conspicuous dark markings, with the reddish ground colour of Noctua festiva. Other specimens are of a deep rich red colour, with a bloom upon them like that upon a newly bred specimen of Agrotis agathina. But by far the most handsome specimen is one I have seen which has a ground colour of bright blue: this was taken by Mr. Robertson. As regards their comparison with continental examples, those from Finmark are very constant in the markings, while those from Central Europe are quite as variable as those from North Britain; in fact, were the two series mixed, it would be impossible to separate them, unless differently set. Dr. Staudinger, in his ‘ Catalog,’ says this species occurs in Lapland, Alpine Norway, the Swiss Alps, Mountains of Silesia, and Hungarian Alps. He adds, in a short note in E. M. M., p. 90, vol. xiii., “In 1860 I took this insect (in company with my friend Dr. Wocke), not unfrequently, in Finmark, in July ; and we found pupe, and also larve, at the end of May, in moss. Since then the species has been found on the Dovrefjeld in the centre of Norway, on the Riesengebirge (Silesia), and on the Alps of Switzerland and Tyrol. On the Alps of Carinthia it has a reddish (instead of bluish) coloration, and this form was described by Hering as carnica. * * * J saw in the Museum at Pesth a specimen, taken by the younger Frivaldsky in the Carpathian Moun- tains, which is intermediate between the two forms, * * * The species has a wide distribution on the Continent.” Mr. Wheeler, in a private letter, says :—“ I think (writing of P. hypoborea) it is generally, though sparingly, distributed over the Perthshire mountains, above the level of 2000 or 7 ee THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 245 2200 feet ; what the upper limit may be I do not know. By day it hides closely amongst the rocks and heath, and at night the male flies wildly; the female I never saw on the wing at all.” He also says he and his friend never took more than one or two on any night. I think it probable that there will be few years in future without a recorded capture of Pachnobia hypoborea in Scot- land; but Lam not inclined to think it will be again taken in such number as has been the case this season, which was exceptionally hot and dry in the Highlands. JoHN T. CARRINGTON. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fircn, Esq. (Continued from p. 221.) Fig. 59.—Anpricus Cyponre (and in section). 59. Andricus Cydonia, Gir.—l| hardly think Iam wrong in closely connecting the development of the gall of this species, which also occurs on the Turkey oak, with that of the preceding one, and in stating that the principal difference between the two consists in the galls of A. multiplicatus having a rather flat disk surrounded by the crippled leaves, while those of A. Cydonia have a jug-shaped disk, from the top of which the more or less crippled leaves shoot, ‘The gall appears either in the place of an axillar bud or at the end of a twig. It is either spherical or swollen into the shape of an egg, of the average size of a hazel-nut, green, and thickly covered with short gray hairs, which are either simple or twisted; on the basal half are several scattered 246 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. bud-scales on raised fleshy bases, which are developed into leaves towards the apex of the gall; a bunch of crippled, densely-crowded leaves grows out of and completely fills the mouth of the cup. The vertical section generally shows distinctly that the axillar part of the bud has not been developed in a longitudinal direction, but has been trans- formed into a cup, from the interior of which emanate the undeveloped leaves; and we further see that inner galls are sometimes formed from such leaves, and sometimes are developed from the axis, which proves that, strictly speaking, the gall of this species neither belongs to the true leaf- nor to the true bud-galls. The wall of the gall is at first sappy, but gradually hardens and becomes dry. It is difficult in some cases to distinguish this gall from that of A. multiplicatus. The flies emerge during the first fortnight of June.—G. L. Mayr. Dr. Giraud, who found this gall on Quercus cerris at the end of May, but rarely, thus distinguishes it. Near A. multi- plicatus, but “elle est toujours plus précoce, sa forme est mieux déterminée et elle n’est pas couvert des nombreux plis de la feuille qui distinguent cette derniére.” One inquiline and one parasite are recorded from it by Dr. Mayr in Synergus thaumacera, Dalm., and Megastigmus dorsalis, Fabr., both of which occur in the summer. Another Turkey- oak species not occurring in Britain.— £. A. Filch. 60. Andricus nitidus, Gir.—Of this species I have but one specimen, collected by Von Haimhoffen, which I have had figured for want of a better, though it differs somewhat from the usual shape. According to Giraud the gall adheres to a side vein on the under side of the leaves of Quercus cerris, has a very short and slender pedicle, is spherical (the specimen figured is oviform), with a dia- meter of from four to six millimetres, is light green, and clothed with very short but thick matted hairs. The wall of the gall is moderately thick, of a spongy substance, and surrounds the larva-cell. Lt appears in October, and falls in about three weeks, but preserves its freshness for some time when on the ground: it gradually becomes gray, ANDRICUS NITIDUS. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 247 and at last brown. Dr. Giraud obtained the fly in the following August.—G. L. Mayr. From galls of this species Mayr bred eight specimens of Synergus variabilis, J/ayr, from April to June of the second year, and one male of Sapholytus Haimi, Mayr, in June of the second year; but no parasite is recorded.—Z£. A. Fitch. Life-histories of Sawflies. ‘Translated from the Dutch of Dr. 8. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN by J. W. May, Esq. (Contiuued from p. 8.) NEMATUS CONSOBRINUS, Voll. Imago and larva undescribed. Nematus niger, subnitidus, ore, scapulis, pedibus anticis et posteriorem coxis pro parte pallide flavis, pleuraram macula, abdomine subtus, segmentorum margine supra et pedum posteriorum femoribus et tibiis fulvis. For a long time | considered that the sawfly larva, which in our country feeds on the leaf of the gooseberry and often strips whole rows of bushes, was the same species as the Nematus which treats the currant bushes in the same way, and whose life-history I described in the second volume of this publication (‘Tijdschrift voor Entomologie,’ vol. ii. p. 69, pl. 4; Nematus ventricosus, Klug., ‘Zoologist’ for 1862, p. 8079). It was only after I had made a drawing, some years ago, of the full-grown larva that | began to think that for a mere variety the difference was rather great; and I then determined, if possible, to rear the insect, so as to be able to see in how far the imago corresponded with that of N. ventricosus. After having reared some larve, taken in a garden at Leyden, but without any good result, I received some others from Haarlem, through the kindness of my friend Ritsema, and from these | obtained, in the spring of 1871, a sufficient number of imagos, which enabled me to satisfy myself that the newly-reared species from the gooseberry differs speci- fically from that, with which we are already well acquainted, living on the currant. I could find no description, either in Hartig or Stephens, nor in St. Fargeau or Dahlbom, agreeing 248 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. with my insect, so that I was obliged to bethink me of a name; and, in consideration of its near relationship to Nematus ventricosus, I called it Nematus consobrinus. The points of difference between the two species are shown in plate 10, and will appear from the following description. After I had already been in possession of full-grown larve, some very young examples were sent to me on the 2Ist of May, 1870, from Haarlem (fig. 1): they had shining black heads and black thoracic legs; the body was sordid pale green, having a few, but rather large, black spots on the back and sides. ‘The full-grown larve are represented at figures 2 to 6; the description is as follows:—Head shining green, with numerous little black spots on the vertex, placed in curved rows, and reaching to the clypeus; each of these spots bears a hair. Eyes inround black spots at each side of the head. Body cylindrical, with twenty feet; colour sap- green, with yellow and bluish green. The Ist segment is almost entirely yellow, as are also the large folds of the skin, or rather protuberances, on the sides of the 2nd and 38rd segments (faint); segments 4 to 10, and almost the whole of the 11th, are also yellow. The penultimate segment and the first half of the terminal segment are bluish, the other half of the latter being yellow. The dorsal line is very narrow, and somewhat bluer green than the ground colour. The segments have transverse rows of little, black, shining, wart-like spots, each bearing a hair. On either side of, and close to, the anus is a yellow spine, having a black tip. The larve were in considerable numbers together; they were very voracious, and stripped a branch pretty speedily ; their usual posture was that shown at fig. 3, or even a little more bent,—sickle-shape. About the 26th of May they changed their skin for the last time, when all the little wart- like projections or points, and all the hairs, disappeared. The head was now pale green, smooth and shining, but the eyes were still situate in round black spots; the jaws were brown. The body was of the same green tint as before, the dorsal line being blue and thicker; also there was more orange-yellow on the whole of the Ist segment, as also on the folds above the thoracic legs, and on large spots at the sides; the entire 11th segment was of this colour, as also the 12th, or last, at the anus. — THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 249 From this time they scarcely took any more food, and descended to the ground; shortly after they spun up, some just below the surface and some above, among leaves. The cocoons were of two different sorts (figs. 8 and 9),—one of a chestnut-brown colour and very shining, as though varnished ; the other straw-coloured, and less shining. With regard to this difference among the cocoons I simply attribute it to the greater or less vigour and healthy condition of the larva, the strongest larve producing the darkest-coloured cocoons. Dahlbom mentions in his ‘Conspectus’ a Nematus Gros- sularie (the same as our N. ventricosus) and a Nematus grossulariatus; the latter was identical with his Grossulariz, but constructed a single yellow cocoon on a twig, and not, as the other, a double cocoon of a black or brown colour in, or just on the surface of, the ground. It is evident that Grossulariatus was only a sickly example of Grossulariz. The cocoons spun by my larve were all single; both the brown and the yellow. One would have thought that larve which had become pupz at the end of May would have produced imagos by June, and a second generation in July and August; however, this was not the case; and I found afterwards that the larve which I had got to spin up belonged to the second generation of that year. I never succeeded in rearing the perfect insect, except in March, 1871, from larve which had spun up at the end of May, 1870; and the imagos of that month paired and laid eggs, whence larve were produced, which would again have been full grown in May. From this it appears that the species in question has two early broods, and no summer or autumn brood. Between the 18th and the 22nd of March I obtained ten females and one male. They ali differed from Ventricosus in the coloration of thorax, abdomen, and coxex. The following is a description of the female, taken from a living specimen (see figs. 10 and 11):—Head dark brown, approaching black; the margins of the eyes, however, being yellowish. Eyes black. ‘Trophi sordid white, with the exception of the tips of the mandibles, which are black. Antenne entirely black. Dorsum of the thorax black, with a brown reflection; the pronotum, however, being yellow. Pectus black; only on the pleura, which are very shining, is an oval space of a red-brown colour, gradually Qk 250 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. fading into black, giving an appearance similar to polished tortoiseshell. Wings yellow at their insertion; radius pale as far as the stigma; the latter, together with nervures, dark gray; membrane of the wing iridescent. Abdomen brown- yellow, having on the dorsum six black transverse lines (basis of the segments), diminishing in thickness towards the anus. All the coxe black at the base, or with a black line towards the outer side; femora red-yellow; tibie yellow, the posterior pair being one-half blackish. Anterior tarsi having the ends of the joints brownish; posterior tarsi rather dark. The only male I possessed was black on the upper side, the ventral surface and the legs being yellow. The antenne were pretty robust, somewhat hairy, and entirely black. The head was black, with the exception of the trophi; and in these again the extreme points of the mandibles were black. The thorax was black, with the exception of the pronotum (yellow); scutellum black. The insertion of the wings was yellow; the principal nervures and the stigma deep brown. The dorsum of the abdomen was black, the margins of a brownish orange tint; the under side was also of this colour, but on the upper side the margins of the segments were yellowish. Legs yellow; the four anterior tarsi pale brown at the tips; the posterior coxe had a black smear at the base; the posterior tibie for one-half and the posterior tarsi sordid brown. It will be seen on comparison that there is a very great difference in the imagos between the present species and Klug’s Ventricosus. It may be said that in general this new species is much more darkly marked. As my insects died without having paired with the only male which I had succeeded in rearing, I requested Mr. Ritsema, who had got me the last examples from Haarlem, to see if he could send me some eggs. With a readiness for which I cannot sufficiently thank him he brought me a female from the same bushes, which female while in confine- ment had laid eggs on leaves of twigs placed in water. There was not the least doubt that the insect belonged to the same species. To my astonishment I observed that the eggs were not placed, as I supposed they would have been, in the nervures THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 25) of the leaves, but were simply, and thus without the help of the saw, stuck here and there on to the under side of the leaf (see fig. 13). The eggs were cylindrical, and rounded off at either end (fig. 14); they were very small, of a yellow colour, smooth and shining. In the most developed ones a difference of colour could be observed between the middle and the extremities; whilst the latter remained green the middle became paler in colour, but afterwards more confused with markings; in fact, at last one could make out through the walls of the egg a little head with two black eyes. From two of these eggs young larvae were developed in my room; they crept about half-way out of the shell, but were not able to liberate the whole of the body. It appeared to me very singular that one of these half-born larve began to feed, and, considering the size of its body, managed to eat a pretty large hole out of the leaf. However, they both soon died; probably in consequence of the very abnormal condition in which they were. Note.—It is possible that this species may be the undescribed Nematus cylindricus of Dr. Th. Hartig (see Entom. Zeitung., vol. ii. p. 24, No. 39). Are the Colours of Lepidoptera influenced by Electricity ? By J. JENNER WEIR, Esq., F.L.S. THE following history of an attempt to produce varieties of Chelonia caja, by feeding the larve upon other than the natural food-plants, is translated from No. 154 of the ‘ Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques :’— , “Chelonia caja may well be considered injurious. In the Gatinais, where the vine is much cultivated, C. caja is found almost exclusively in the vine districts. It usually feeds on dandelion, groundsel, milfoil, and other low plants which grow in the furrows; but in a dry spring, when the grass fails, and the peasants take all they can find for their cattle, the caterpillars remorsely devour the buds and young shoots of the vine. The vine dressers are well acquainted with the caterpillar, and the mischief it does in some years is really serious, for it is so common that a couple of hundred may easily be collected in an hour, 252 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. “As is well known, Chelonia caja is one of the most variable of species. Variation amongst insects is a question not less interesting than evolution, and by what circum- stances it is produced has not yet been satisfactorily ascer- tained. Without pretending to have solved the problem, I will briefly relate the result of some experiments I have made with this species, of which I have had sia thousand under my care. I had an idea, in common with other ento- mologists, that the food of the larva might influence the colour of the perfect insect. 1 therefore made separate trials with walnut, horse-chestnut, sumach, box, celandine, carrot, and lettuce; and some I have reared in complete darkness. It will be easily understood why I chose food so diverse. With the walnut, chestnut, and sumach,—trees having a bitter-sweet flavour,—I hoped to produce melanite varieties ; with the box, carrot and celandine, yellow varieties; with the lettuce, light varieties; and from those kept in total darkness I hoped to obtain complete albinism. “ These, however, are the results of my experiments :—The walnut, chestnut and sumach killed many larve; a few, however, reached the perfect state, but they were mis-shapen, half-abortive and crippled; in fact, only worthy of figuring in a museum of curiosities. The box was eaten for a few days, but the larve would then eat no more; and as I did not change the food they all died of starvation. The celandine was eaten greedily; the greater part of the larve formed chrysalids, but all perished in the cocoon except one, which not having sufficient strength to develop emerged a cripple, without indicating any kind of variety. As for the carrot, | found nothing worthy of recording. The lettuce only produced pale, dull, discoloured specimens. Those brought up in total darkness all perished in the third change. Such is the account of my experience: food-plants so diverse as to give fair expectation of good varieties produced none worth record. The few varieties which are in my cabinet were all from larve bred on the usual food-plants, riz. dandelion, chickweed, dock, groundsel, plantain, &c. I have, however, remarked that it was always during s/orms, when the air was charged with electricity, that the varieties emerged. Is it possible that electricity is a chief agent in the variation of Lepidoptera ?” THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 253 This drew forth the following communication from M. E. Bellier de Chavignerie :— “Under the title of ‘Simple Notes’ there have appeared, in ‘ Les Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques,’ several interesting articles by M. le Marquis de Lafitole regarding observations about Lepiduptera, which he has made during several years. In one of these articles M. de Lafitole, in writing of Chelonia caja, gives an account of some experiments which he made in order to obtain varieties of this very variable species, and concludes by suggesting whether electricity is not one of the principal causes of variation among Lepidoptera. “This opinion of M. de Lafitole on the influence which electricity may have in causing varieties, coincides with that expressed by me many years ago in a ‘Note on the Accidental Variation of Lepidoptera, published in the ‘Annales de la Société entomologique de France,’ 1858, p- 299, and to support it I related a very remarkable fact which I had witnessed. The note is as follows:—‘On the 15th of August, 1847, | was in a locality where Lycawna Adonis is found in abundance, in order to obtain a supply of its food-plant. The heat had been intense for several days, and a storm was evidently at hand. In fact, I had scarcely arrived at the hunting-ground, and had only time to pin my ‘first five Adonis, when a violent storm burst and forced me hastily to return. What was my astonishment, on leisurely examining my captures at home,—the result of an excursion so suddenly interrupted,—to find that the colour of my five Adonis, which had emerged but a few hours, was a beautiful lilac, instead of the bright blue which is so notice- able in all the Lycenida. It was in vain that | frequently revisited the same locality ; never again did I see this curious aberration. It would have been interesting to know whether all the Adonis which emerged on the 15th of August, 1847, in the same locality, under the influence of an atmosphere highly charged with electricity, were affected in the same way as the five specimens that I took on that day.’ “My reason for recording this incident—which is, alas! thirty years old, and which the labours of M. de Lafitole have brought to mind—is to draw the attention of entomolo- gists to the subject, and to advise them to direct their investigations to, and to increase their experiences in, the 254 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. important part played by the electric fluid in the creation of varieties. Here is still a vast field for exploration.” With reference to the above notes I can scarcely deem it probable that electricity can be a “chief agent in the variation of Lepidoptera;” it is quite possible, however, that so delicate a blue as that of Lycena Adonis might be affected by the moisture of the atmosphere during a storm. I once took some specimens of Procris globulariz but just emerged, and then of a beautiful green colour; I placed them in a damp box, and was surprised, when proceeding to set them, that they were all of a dark bronze colour, but when they became dry they resumed the bright green colour. Still as the colour of Lepidoptera often does not arise from a pigment, but varies, apparently, according to the direction in which the light falls upon the scales, the same effect might be produced during a storm in the mode in which the scales overlapped each other. I once took, and still possess, a specimen of Lycena Icarus, in which one of the wings, as compared with the other three, is decidedly of a more lilac colour. I have also seen specimens of Procris statices, which were of a bronze colour; but whether they emerged green I am not able to say. I believe that most of the cases, if not all, in which an attempt has been made to produce varieties of Lepidoptera, by feeding the larve on different kinds of food, have yielded but a negative result. J. JENNER WEIR. 6, Haddo Villas, Blackheath, October 13, 1876. Description of the Larva of Eurymene dolabraria.— Length an inch anda half; head notched and rounded on the crown, rather smaller than the 2nd segment. When at rest, with the mouth tightly pressed to the legs, the first three segments much resemble a miniature dog’s head, the head of the larva representing the dog’s nose, and the protuberances of the 3rd segment the ears and crown of the animal’s head. Head reddish brown, assuming a mottled appearance on the cheeks; 2nd and 8rd segments blackish brown, each increasing in size, the 3rd considerably so, especially at the sides, giving the larva when at rest the singular appearance mentioned above. Body, beyond the 3rd segment, with the exception i . ; . THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 255 of the 9th, nearly uniform in size; dorsal surface reddish brown; the 4th segment has four very small black dots, arranged transversely on the Sth, 6th, 7th and 8th segments ; these dots are arranged in pairs, the hinder pair being rather farther apart than the other two; the 9th segment bears a rounded protuberance of a colour slightly darker than that of the four preceding segments, and bounded anteriorly by a black band; the 10th, llth and 12th segments are of much the same shade as the main portion of the body, and have the four black dots nearer together longitudinally ;- the anterior pair on the 9th segment are situated just behind the black band; the posterior pair behind the protuberance. ‘The lateral skinfold is of a lighter shade of brown than the dorsal surface; the spiracles black, surrounded by a light-coloured ring. The claspers and anal flap are of the dark reddish brown of the 2nd and 3rd segments; on the ventral surface the 5th and 6th segments are marked with two large black spots, situated in close proximity to each other; the spots on the 7th, 8th and 9th segments are smaller and farther apart; the light shade of the lateral skinfold is continued on the posterior half of the ventral surface of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th segments, in the anterior portion of which the spots are situated. lam indebted to Mr. J.G. Ross, of Bathampton, and Mr. Peters, of Crawley, for a supply of this larva.—[ Rev.] PB. H. Jennings; Longfield Rectory, Gravesend. Entomological Noles, Captures, §c. Pyrameis Huntera in South Devon.—A very beautiful specimen of this insect was taken by Miss Caroline L, Pole Carew on the 20th September, at Antony, near Torpoint. I had the great pleasure of seeing it on her setting-board this afternoon. On reference to ‘ Morris’s British Butterflies’ L see a record of one taken at Withybush, Haverfordwest, South Wales, in July or August, 1828.—G. C. Bignell; 6, Clarence Place, Stonehouse, September 23, 1876. [The above notice of the capture of Pyrameis Virgeniensis, Dru. (= Huntera, Fadr.), is interesting, as showing how insects from far distant localities frequently occur as foreign visitors to this country. There are several previous records 256 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. of the occurrence of this butterfly in Britain; chiefly from our southern coast. Its natural home is the eastern part of North America; it has no other permanent habitat. There, in some districts, it is as common as its ally P. cardui is here. On receiving this communication I wrote for further informa- tion to Mr. Bignell. He replies: —“1I have made every enquiry, and cannot trace any plant or anything which has been imported from America into the extensive grounds where P. Huntera was taken. The Plymouth docks are—in a direct line—about four miles off; so that it may have been imported in one of the many troop-ships which lie there.” Virgeniensis was first described by Drury, in his ‘ Illustrations on Natural History, in 1773; and in 1775 Fabricius described the same species, under the name of Huntera.— John T. Carrington.] Vanessa Antiopa in the Isle of Wight.—On the 14th of October Vanessa Antiopa was captured here by a fisherman. Unfortunately the insect was destroyed before I saw it, and I only saw the remains.—Talbot K. Crossfield; Shanklin College, Isle of Wight. Colias Edusa at Handforth.—Colias Edusa has been seen in some numbers at Handforth, a village in Cheshire, about eleven miles south of Manchester, by a friend of mine while out rabbit-shooting. He saw many, and caught one male, which he brought to me this morning. This is a very unusual occurrence in this neighbourhood.—H. H. Corbett ; Cheadle Hulme, near Stockport, September 20, 1876. Colias Edusa var. Helice in South Wales.—\1 had the pleasure of taking a rather fine female specimen of C. Edusa var. Helice on September 4th, at a small village called Pendine, about fifteen miles from Tenby. As I had no net at that moment, I immediately gave chase with my hat, and succeeded in capturing it. When it was on the wing I mistook it for C. Hyale; but to my great delight it was otherwise. C, Edusa is very plentiful in this locality, and I have reared a good many.—d. EL. Wileman; Langharne Villa, Chertsey Road, Bristol, September 8, 1876. Colias Edusa.—About a week ago Mrs. Boley captured a female specimen of Colias Edusa, which, on being confined under a glass shade with some sprigs of lucerne, laid a few eggs. Some of these eggs have just hatched, and the larve THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 257 have commenced feeding. I had always understood that eggs of this species were laid in the spring by hybernated females.—W. A. Luff; Guernsey, September 18, 1876. Colias Edusa.—The contributions you have lately pub- lished respecting Colias Edusa and C. Hyale embolden me to offer for record an instance of eggs of this species being laid before winter. On the 12th of August I captured a fine fresh female C. Edusa at rest: she laid in confinement ten eggs, exactly corresponding to the description in ‘ British Butterflies.” From these there emerged on the 18th August several larvae ; only two, however, lived for more than two or three days. These two fed well and grew fast Ull the 9th of September, when ove died during a change of skin; the other, however, lived and grew fast till the beginning of this month, when it was killed by accident. At this time it was probably within ten days of changing, and still feeding fast. —J. R. Phelps Farquharson ; Windsor, October 12, 1876. Ravages of Pieris Brassice.—The larva of this insect has appeared near here in very great abundance this year. A turnip field near this town has suffered greatly from its ravages, the foliage of the turnips in many parts of the field being entirely eaten off.— WV. D. Cansdale; Witham, Essex, September 23, 1876. Lycena argiolus—I am pleased to be able to record a new food-plant for this species. Mrs. Boley, a lady much interested in rearing Lepidoptera, induced a female of Lycena argiolus to deposit its eggs by enclosing it under a glass shade with some ivy blossom and other flowers. It took no notice of the ivy, but laid its eggs on blackberry (Rubus) blossom. The young larve are now feeding on the pollen of these flowers.— W. A. Luff; Guernsey, September 18, 1876. Sphine Convolculi in Orkney.—lIn the autumn of last year Sphinx Convolvuli was abundant at Swanbister, on the south coast of the Mainland of Orkney, about half-way between Kirkwall and Stromness. The first 1 took was on the evening of the 12th August, 1875; and I saw several every night until the 16th or the morning of the 17th, when [ left Orkney for the sonth. A week afterwards my niece, Miss Irvine Fortescue, in a letter, said—“ The large moths have been in the garden in numbers every evening since you left.” 1 caught ten specimens flying over honeysuckle and single 2L 258 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. pheasant’s-eye Pinks, mostly at the former. They appeared about eight p.m., and ceased flying about nine; but after pack- ing up on the morning of the 17th I went out about one a.m., and heard the “ whirr” of the moth. So I lighted a lantern, and in a few minutes caught four specimens. They were in fine condition when caught, but got much damaged in transit, as I had no means of packing them with me. I have no doubt they were bred in Orkney; but on what can the larve have fed? There is no Convolvulus in Orkney, so far as I know; for though Neill gives C. arvensis as an Orkney plant, no one has found it there since.—J. 7. Boswell; Balmuto, near Kirkcaldy. [From the ‘Scottish Naturalist.) Sphinx Convolvuli at Clifion.—On the 13th of October | took a specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli in the conservatory attached to Granby House.—W. K. Mann; 14, Wellington Terrace, Clifton, Bristol. Sphina Convolvuli at Winchesler.—1 took a very fine specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli, while hovering over a bed of geraniums, in this city, during the first week of September. —H. F. Johns; Winton House, Winchester. Deilephila Galii near Norwich.—On the 11th of August Mr. James Stally captured a fine specimen of Deilephila Galii at Lakenham, Norwich.—John Parker; 6, Surrey Terrace, Seplember 30, 1876. Deiopeia pulchella and Sphinx Convolvuli near Christ- church.—Sowe of your readers may be iuterested to know that Deiopeia pulchella has appeared this season in the neighbourhood of Christchurch. On the 6th of October, while walking with my pupils on the sand-hills between Christchurch and Bournemouth, I caught two fine specimens of this beautiful insect, evidently only recently emerged from the chrysalis. Unfortunately one made its escape, but the other is now on wy setting-board. A few days previously one of the boys gave chase to another near the same place, but falling among the ferns he lost sight of it. J think this is the first instance of three having appeared at the same place during the same season. 1 have also to record the capture of a fine specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli on the 2nd of October, by one of my pupils.—W. McRae; Christchurch School, Hants, October 11, 1876. Deiopeia pulchella at Bournemouth.—My pupils and THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 959 myself have had the good fortune to take within the last few days five specimens of this insect. ‘They were all captured on the moorland close to the sea, either at rest or kicked up by the feet in walking. I hear also that another one has been taken in this locality.—[Rev.] EB. Brackenbury; Saugeen, Bournemouth. Deiopeia pulchella at Brighton.—A fine specimen of D. pulchella was captured by my son Charles on the 3rd inst., between five and six p.m., on the Race Hill.—N. McArthur ; 3, Toronto Terrace, Brighton, October 12, 1876. Deiopeia pulchella in Suffolk. —One of my pupils, Mr. C,. J. Gross, found a fine Deiopeia pulchella in a stubble field at Rickinghall, in Suffolk, at the beginning of thts week.— [Rev.] A. H. Wratislaw ; School Hall, Bury St. Edmunds, October 20, 1876. Deiopeia pulchella in the Isle of Wight.—Uast year, on the 8th of July, I took a specimen of Deiopeia pulchella, which has not been hitherto recorded, in a field on the top of the cliff at Shanklin. Last Monday, October 16th, I had the good fortune to capture another specimen within about three hundred yards of the same spot. It was a female, and looked as if it had only just emerged from the pupa— Talbot K. Crossfield, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, October 19, 1876. Cucullia scrophularie.—\ find that my remarks on this species, in the October number of the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. ix. 233), have been in some measure misunderstood, 1 did not question the occurrence of the species in this country, but simply stated my own experience, and asked for well authenticated records of its recent occurrence. Nor did ] wish to imply that Mr. Doubleday had no British specimens in his collection, but simply said that he kindly sent me two foreign specimens as types. On referring to his letter, however, dated March, 1870, I find that 1 had completely forgotten one well authenticated instance. This is what Mr. Doubleday says on the subjects—‘ Cucullia verbasci and C. scrophulariz are as distinct as any two species of the genus; but I believe that few English entomologists are acquainted with the latter species, which appears to be very scarce in this country at the present time. The Rev. A. H. Wratislaw, of Bury St. Edmunds, found a brood of larve three years since, but he has not met with them again, 260 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. M. Constant says it is sometimes abundant in autumn, and then disappears for several years. I sent three or four larve to Mr. Buckler, and bred a few moths myself. The larva is quite different to that of C. verbasci, being shorter and with fewer markings. The moths appear the middle or end of May, a month or six weeks later than C. verbasci. I send for your acceptance a pair which M. Constant gave me. You will see that this species is more like C. lychnitis than C. verbasci. The larva of C. verbasci often feeds upon Scropbularia aquatica, but I believe Schropulariz only feeds upon Scrophularia nodosa, which always grows in dry places."—W. H. Harwood. Eupithecia Larve in Ireland.—Towards the end of August I was staying with friends near Queenstown. | had little or no opportunity of collecting, but one day [ went out for about half an hour and beat the flowers, growing at the edge of the wood and between it and the sea, into an umbrella. The flowers were Senecio Jacobea, Angelica sylvestris, Soli- dago virgaurea, and Evpatorium cannabinum,. On the Senecio the larva of Eupithecia virgaureata was common, much more so than E. absynthiata, which occurred sparingly on this plant and the Enupatorium, together with E. pumilata, E. coronata, and E. castigata; on the Angelica there were plenty of small larve of K.albipuncta. The buds of Clematis flammula in the garden were much eaten by the larva of E. isogrammata. During a short visit to Killarney I found the larva of E. satyrata feeding upon the flowers of Scabiosa snccisa in the wilder parts of the Gap of Dunloe.—[Rev.] H. Harpur Crewe ; October 4, 1876. Pyralis verlicalis in Westmoreland.—In August _I took this “ pearl” at Witherslack ; and I saw a specimen captured near here a short time ago. This is the first time | have known of its occurrence so far north. My mind always associated it with the neighbourhood of London: probably the railways bring specimens amongst us.—J. B. Hodgkinson ; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, September 11, 1876. Bees making Comb in a Hedge.—My ueighbour Mr. Row- land, of Crestow, has just communicated to me the following singular circumstance. In the latter part of the month of June he had a swarm of bees, which, instead of settling in the immediate vicinity of the hive, flew away. As the swarm THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 26] was a small one, and its course of flight lay across some fields of tall mowing grass, he did not think it worth while to follow them. At the commencement of harvest the labourers on the farm discovered in a hedge, which lay in the liue of flight of the wandering swarm, a mass of honeycomb, tenanted by a family of busily working bees. ‘The mass consisted of three combs, the centre one about eight inches in length, flanked by two shorter ones on either side. There was a fair amount of honey in the comb. It was Mr. Row- land’s intention to take the nest and present it to some museum, but unfortunately some cattle got into the field and destroyed it before he could carry his purpose into effect. The hedge in which the comb was built was in no way sheltered or protected.—[{Rer]. H. Hurpur Crewe ; Drayton- Beauchamp Rectory, Tring, October 5, 1876. Heliothis armiger.—Last autumn, while staying in the Isle of Wight, 1 found some larve feeding on the flower- heads of scarlet geranium. ‘There was so much variety in their colour that | made no attempt at delineating them. The markings, which were almost suppressed in the brown specimens, were very distinct and ornamental in the green. They were so numerous that I supposed them to be the larve of a common moth, and did not keep more than bhalf-a- dozen. I tried to feed them on other flowers, but they ate nothing but the flower-buds and petals of geranium. ‘They were in the act of changing to the pupa state when | left the place, and in the journey were injured, so that only one has emerged. August Ist.—It proves to be Heliothis armiger. The pupa was light brown, the wing cases greenish; in a few months it darkened in colour. ‘The shell was so thin as to be almost transparent.—H. M. Golding Bird; 45, Elgin Crescent, Kensinylon, October 13, 1876. Pachylylus migratorius (the true Locusl) near Wells.—I have often had “locusts,” so-called, sent to me; but they have generally proved to be the large green grasshopper (Acrida viridissima), or larva of the privet, or of the death's- head hawk-moth. But last week a specimen of the true locust (Pachytylus migratorius) was brought to me, found at Woodford, near this city, in a bean-field. The specimen is identical with some I have in my cabinet from Egypt and Australia, the wing-cases being of a speckled-brown colour, 262 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. and the true wings greenish; and it measures about four inches across the wings. It is the first specimen | have ever seen alive.—H. W. Livett; Wells, Somerset, September 6, 1876. Answers to Correspondents. J. Peters.—Orgyia pudibunda Double-brooded.—Can you inform me if it is an unusual occurrence for a second brood of Orgyia pudibunda to appear in one year? | took some larve in the hop gardens in Kent during September, 1875. Imagos emerged May 8th, 1876; female laid eggs on 9th of May; the young larve appeared June 16th (thirty-eight days). They went to pupa July 29th. The second brood emerged October 9th, one male and three females; on the 11th two more appeared, male and female. The latter deposited a batch of eggs. Will the latter hatch during the cold season, or will they remain until the spring?—John Peters; 8, Bel- grave Road, St. John’s Wood, N.W., October 19, 1876. [It is not unusual; your eggs will probably not hatch until early spring.—-£d. | L. Benson.—Name of a Moth.—I caught a moth on the bracken, on the 18th of July, which had evidently only just come out. The antenne are brown, the head is green, and the body nearly white; the fore wings are green, with three transverse white lines, which are bordered with darker green ; the hind wings are white. I cannot find it in Newman’s ‘British Moths.’ Will you kindly tell me what it is? [The moth you have taken is Halias prasinana. It is by no means uncommon. The reason you did not find it described in Newman’s ‘ British Moths’ is that it is a Micro-Lepidopteron,—a Tortrix.— Ed. | E. G. Browne (Eton College).—The pupe, of which you and a companion found two hundred and sixteen by digging at the roots of a row of eight elm trees, are probably those of members of the genus Tzniocampa, in large proportion, These will emerge in the spring.— Ed. N. Manders (Marlborough).—Eremobia ochroleuca is not uncommon, aud is generally distributed south of York. Wasps frequently kill and eat Lepidoptera in their imago and larval states. To rear Liparis dispar give the young THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 265 larve leaves of whitethorn, plum, or apple, aud feed liberally until they become pupe.—Ld. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Sociely of London. OcToBER 4, 1876. Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., Vice-President, in the chair. Crymodes exvulis, Sericoris trriguana, §c., near Loch Laggan.—Mr. Bond exhibited, on behalf of Mr, N. Cooke, of Liscard, near Birkenhead, a female variety of Hepialus humuli, pale in colour, and with the usual markings; three fine specimens of Crymodes exulis; fifteen very fine dark (some nearly black) specimens of Epunda lutulenta; and six specimens of the Tortrix, Sericoris irriguana. All the above were taken near Loch Laggan this season. Callimorpha Hera near Dover.—Mr. Stevens meutioned that a specimen of Callimorpha Hera (the Jersey tiger-moth) has been takev at St. Margaret’s Bay, near Dover. Worm in Abdomen of Earwig.—The Secretary read a note from the Rev. Fitzroy Kelly Lloyd, of Pittenweem, N.B., enclosing for inspection a worm measuring two inches in length, extracted from the abdomen of an earwig. Mr. Pascoe said that it was one of the Nematode worms, and was probably a Filaria. Weevil new to Britain.—Mr. Forbes exhibited a weevil (evidently not indigenous to Britain), taken alive amongst some orchids at Highgate, supposed to have been imported from Kecnador. Mr. Pascoe pronounced it to be a Cholus. He subsequently gave a diagnosis under the name of Cholus Forbesii. Variation of Lepidoplera according to Food.—Mr. William Cole exhibited numerous bred specimens of Ennomos angu- laria, bred from eggs laid by the same female, showing slight differences according as the larva had been fed on oak, hawthorn, lime, or lilac, and comparing them with a number of specimens taken at large. In all cases the yellowish tint of the captured specimens was more decided. Locality jor Food-plant of Deilephila Euphorbie.—A letter was read from Mr. E. Higgins with reference to some 264 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. specimens of Deilephila Euphorbiz, exhibited at a meeting of the Society on the 17th of September, 1873, which were then stated to have been captured in the larva state in the neighbourhood of Harwich. Some doubt was expressed at the time, as it was stated that the food-plant did not grow in that neighbourhood; but about the middle of September last he had visited Harwich, in company with Mr. E. W. Janson, and they were afterwards joined by Mr. Durand (from whom he had received the specimens of D. Euphorbie), who undertook to show them the place of capture; and they not only found the food-plant growing there, but in three other places nearly half a mile further on. Descriptions of New Species of Cryptoceride.—My. F. Smith communicated “ Descriptions of New Species of Cryptoceride, belonging to the genera Cryptocerus, Mera- noplus, and Cataulacus,” accompanied by a plate containing figures of all the species, twelve in number; thus raising the number of species described by him. to forty-eight. The descriptions were preceded by some interesting particulars relative to the habits of these insects, especially of Meranoplus intrudens, which constructs its formicarium in the thorns of a species of Acacia, some four to five inches in length; and at a distance of about half an inch from the pointed end a small round hole was made by the ants, which served for ingress and egress to and from the nest. The thorns contained a kind of spongy pith, in which the channels and chambers of the nest were constructed. New Part of the Society’s Catalogue of British Insects.— ‘A Catalogue of the British Wemiptera-Heteroptera and Homoptera (Cidaria and Phytophthires),’ compiled by Messrs. J. W. Douglas and John Scott, was on the table. This was the fifth Catalogue of British Insects published by the Society. Haggerston Entomological Socielya—The Annual Exhi- bition of the Haggerston Entomological Society will be held at 10, Brownlow Street, Dalston, on Thursday and Friday, November 9th and 10th, from Six to Eleven p.m.; and on Saturday, the 11th (special), from Six to Ten p.m. Admis- sion on Thursday by tickets only, which can be obtained of the Secretary, 48, Hadley Street, Kentish Town, N.W. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Nos 162&163:] DECEMBER, MDCCCLXXVI. [Prict ls. Danais Archippus in Sussex. By Rev. THomas E. CRALLAN. Larva or DANAIS ARCHIPPUS. For some two or three years there have been rumours of the appearance in this neighbourhood of an unusual butterfly. The different people who have told me what they have seen have varied so much in their descriptions that it would be very difficult to believe that they had not seen as many different species, if it were not that persons not thoroughly familiar with the objects they attempt to describe are so very apt to give the most opposite descriptions of the same thing. One lady saw a butterfly in her greenhouse, which she was sure was like some she had seen in India; but, neglecting to shut the windows before attempting to capture the insect, she had the mortification of seeing it escape. Another lady described to me a butterfly, which she had seen, as white, with a blue rim round its wings. I thought she had seen Vanessa Antiopa, and, being dazzled by sunlight, had transposed the colours. Then, another lady saw a butterfly drying its wings on the stem of a tree after emerging from the chrysalis, and described it as yellow, with black lines across its wings. Of course this was the appearance of the VOL, IX. 2M 266 ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. under side, and was very puzzling, though, as it turns out, fairly accurate. Waiting till one of my party should pass that way, but occasionally looking at it, she allowed the day to slip away, and going to capture it in the evening—of course it was gone. Then my sister, who has been familiar with the habits and flight of our English butterflies from early days, and has observed those of insects in Southern Europe, brought me word that she had seen a butterfly unlike any English one she knew, and more resembling, in flight and general appearance, some which she had seen in the South of France. I was still too incredulous to make a search in the vicinity for the stranger, and did not come across it accidentally in my rambles. However, on the evening of October 17th, my housemaid brought me a collar- box, with the infortnation that a young labourer, living about a quarter of a mile off, had caught a “ bug” in a field at the back of his house at dinner-time, and thought I should like to have it. (Every insect is called a “bug,” hereabouts.) From long experience I expected a larva of Cossus ligniperda, but on applying my ear to the box I heard a rustling of Wings; and, opening it very carefully, beheld a fine specimen, almost perfect, of Danais Archippus. We are an entomological household, and the excitement generated amongst us by the sight of so grand an insect fluttering in a gigantic cyanide bottle, to which it was at once transferred, may be more easily imagined than described. Upon setting the specimen the next morning I found a scratch across the corner of the left-hand upper wing, and a very slight rubbing of the upper surface, but that the lower wings were still wrinkled, showing that it had not long emerged from the chrysalis. Altogether, considering it had been caught in a hat, and kept seven hours in a box before it came into my hands, it may be considered in very good condition. I have had the pleasure of showing the insect, soon after capture, to Mr. Jenner Weir and Mr. Douglas, of H.M. Customs, and of leaving a tolerably accurate drawing of it, natural size, with the former gentleman. Considering the rumours mentioned above, I am inclined to hope this beautiful insect may have become naturalised in this district. 1 cannot understand this having been an THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 267 imported specimen, as we are forty miles from London, and sixteen or seventeen from Shoreham,—our nearest seaport,— to which, 1 think, no American ships come. If you can furnish any particulars as to larva, food-plant, chrysalis, and their respective seasons, which may help me in my search for it next year, I shall be much obliged. Tuomas E, CRALLAN, Hayward’s Heath, November 6, 1876. Danais Archippus. By J. JENNER WeEtR, Esq., F.L.S. THE specimen of Danais Archippus, which Mr. Crallan was kind enough to exhibit to me, and which forms the subject of the above communication, presents the appearance of a very fine female of the normal North-American type of the species. It had apparently but just emerged from the chrysalis, and there can be but little doubt that the larva had been reared in the neighbourhood. The accidental appear- ance of a North-American Lepidopteron in this country would, under ordinary circumstances, be of trivial importance, but there are reasons in the present case for attaching some value to the fact above recorded. Danais Archippus is a well-known American species, found as far north as Canada, and by Mr. Bates as far south as the Amazonian district (vide Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xxxiii., p. 516). It has lately become naturalised in New Zealand and Australia, and Mr. Butler, of the British Museum, informs me it has been received from New Guinea; a specimen has also this year been taken near Neath, in Wales, as recorded in the ‘ Ento- mologist’s Monthly Magazine, 1876 (p. 107). It is, therefore, found distributed over a large part of the earth’s surface, in three of the six Zoogeographical regions now generally recognised, viz. the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Australian ; itis by no means improbable that the species may become also naturalised in this the Palearctic region. It becomes, therefore, important that its earliest appearance in this country should be recorded. A full account of the insect is given by Mr.C.V. Riley, the State Entomologist of Missouri, in his Third Annual Report, 1871 (pp. 143—152), and a copy of his woodcut of the full-grown larva is given herewith, in 2968 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. order that entomologists may recognise the species if found in England in that state. The perfect insect is so well known that it has not been thought worth while to figure it, particularly as itis so large that its wings would extend beyond the width of the letterpress of this magazine. The larva feeds on several species of Asclepias, viz. A. tuberosa, curassavica, cornuti, and purpurascens: no species of the Asclepiadacez is indigenous to this country; one genus of the order, Periploca, is often grown in the open air, and many of the genera under glass. Mr. Riley states that according to some authors the larva also feeds upon Dogbane (Apocynum): but one genus of the Apocynacee is indigenous here, viz. Vinca; both V. major and minor are common in Mid-Sussex in the woods and in gardens; but whether the larva would feed upon either of these plants must remain an open question at present. The oleander, another Apocynaceous plant, is also very commonly grown in Sussex, with slight shelter during the winter. The colour of the larva is black, white, and yellow. Mr. Riley states that the females certainly hybernate, and deposit their eggs in his district, St. Louis, early in May ; the imago appears about the middle of June; eggs are then again deposited, and a second brood of the butterfly appears in October. It is quite possible that the larva may be found to feed here on some indigenous plants of quite different orders to those which it usually frequents, and this becomes the more likely, as it would form by no means an exceptional case; Bombyx Mori, for instance, can be reared by feeding it either on lettuce or mulberry,—plants belonging to orders as widely different as any two arranged amongst the Exogens. J. JENNER WEIR, 6, Haddo Villas, Blackheath. Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s ‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen’ by E. A. Fircu, Esq. (Continued from p. 247.) 61. Andricus crispator, Tschek.—This recently-discovered gall is found towards the end of May on the Turkey oak: many specimens are frequently crowded together on one leaf, so that it becomes quite crumpled, and forms an elongate THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 269 ball, which only shows the central and side veins, and the small galls of the size of a hemp-seed, while the parenchyma is completely wanting; the leaf-veins are curled at the top, Fig. 61.—ANDRICUS CRISPATOR. after the manner of fern fronds. Should the galls not occur in a mass the leaf becomes better developed, and the spherical galls may be seen projecting equally on each side of the leaf. If the galls appear on the upper side of the midrib, which frequently is the case, then the lower side of the vein swells, turns upwards and forms acurl. The galls occur between the crumpled and generally up-turned sides of the leaf in a central longitudinal furrow, which becomes formed in that manner: they are sappy, when recent, green or red in colour, and on the lower side scantily, on the upper side more thickly, covered with hairs. When mature the galls are hard and yellow; those galls which do not occur on the midrib are less conspicuous on the under side of the leaf. The section exhibits a hard inner gall, which is thoroughly united to the exterior gall substance. The dark-coloured males appear towards the middle of June (later in a cold summer), and after them the rufous females—G. LZ. Mayr. Dr. Mayr bred two females of Ceroptres Cerri in the summer from fresh galls.— LZ. A. Fitch. Observations upon the Larva of Stauropus Fagi. By H. M. Gotpine Birp. As Stauropus Fagi is not a common insect some account of its larval state might be interesting to those who have had 270 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. no opportunity of watching it for themselves. Its peculiar form has been carefully described by Mr. Newman, and so often figures in groups of caterpillars that any description of mine would be superfluous. About a score of eggs were laid by a worn female taken at sugar; one of the young larve was given to me. It was very small and very miserable looking when it came into my hands; it had ceased eating previous to moulting. In two days, that is, by the 21st of August, the mask fell from the face, and then it began the hard task of extricating itself from its old skin. The operation lasted about half an hour, the larva stopping every. now and then for a few minutes’ rest before resuming its struggles. I had never before had an opportunity of seeing this species moulting, and as it had used its long legs just before in walking (though certainly with very little vigour) I was not prepared to see them cast with the old skin; but soon two new pairs were perceived doubled up against the sides of the larva; and this avcounts for the great difficulty Fagi found in freeing itself, as the comparative stiffness of the legs prevented its working back- wards and forwards, after the wriggling fashion of other larve. The legs did not all get free tll the skin had been pushed back to the 6th segment, and then even the flattened tail made its way out with comparative ease. It next proceeded to devour the cast skin, all but the head—which was either too tough, or else was not worth seeking, as it had fallen to the bottom of the cage—and one leg; these were the only relics of the grand struggle. After a day’s rest it began to eat beech, oak, and a little birch. I sketched it in its various stages, and observed that the two caudal horns are not alike in colour, one being rust- red and the other metallic-blue; this was more noticeable as the larva increased in size. It ate sometimes during the day, but was more often at rest, with the body curved round, so that the last segment touched the Ist, the long legs folded one over the other, and holding on to the twig by the four pairs of claspers. On Thursday, the 3lst, it ceased eating ; and by Sunday morning had again changed its skin. After a few hours’ rest Fagi seemed a different creature ; began to feed with a voracity which I have seen in no other larva,—not even in Chelonia caja. All day long it was THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 271 eating: twelve or thirteen bites it took at the leaf to complete the curve; the last to see it at night and the earliest morning visitor found it feeding,—and on nothing but beech; the largest and juiciest leaves were daily put fresh into the cage ; oak was always there, but not touched. It grew rapidly, as one might expect, till the head, which seemed large out of all proportion, looked but a sorry balance for its enormous tail; in fact, the posterior segments seemed alinost too heavy to drag about; and on one occasion Fagi assumed a comical appearance by resting this imposing tail on a bed of moss, while it lost no time in eating as if for a wager. In the day-time the cage was kept out of doors; and if Fagi could be said to eat more greedily at one time than another, it was when the wind was so high as to blow the leaves about in the cage. Instead of being alarmed when disturbed it either continued placidly eating or else curved its tail over its back, and pugnaciously threw out its long legs, as if to resent the interference. A small larva of Orgyia fascelina was feeding in the same cage, and happened once to be resting on a twig too near to Fagi for its own comfort, for, coolly enough, Fagi struck at it with one of its long legs, and sent the unlucky Jarva to the floor of the cage. Fagi enjoyed life so thoroughly as a larva, it seemed as though it meant to remain one all its days; but on September 19th its appetite failed, and the next morning had for the first time forsaken its food, and was sitting disconsolately on the floor of its cage. It soon set about seeking a suitable winter dwelling, and in its ramble (to show that its strength was in no way diminished) crawled under a small saucer, tolerably heavy with earth and moss. Presently it began to draw together a large beech leaf and an oak by little columns of white silk, and by evening the leaves were entirely closed ; so no more was to be seen of Fagi; and I wait for its appearance in another form next summer. Other larve in spinning move their heads to and fro between the two surfaces they wish to unite, carrying the silk in their months; but Fagi scarcely moved its head at all, guiding the silk from side to side by means of one of its legs. The operation was an interesting one. . Although in eating Fagi’s long legs seemed almost to be 272 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. hindrances,—for it steadied the food by means of the first pair, which are similar to those in other larve,—yet from the force with which it hit Orgyia fascelina, and the delicacy with which it used them in spinning, it is clear that the muscular development is considerable. It is difficult to understand how, in moulting, the connection is transferred from the old pairs, so recently in use, to the new ones, which are packed away under the old skin. It is hardly likely that there should be two sets of muscles, which are brought alternately into play at the different moultings. This almost refutes itself, as it suggests a waste in the economy of Nature. It has been said that there is something similar in the case of a crustacean which renews its claws after an injury. But I can see no parallel, for the crab or lobster has no new claw ready to take the place of the one that has been wrenched off; the muscles are simply off duty till, by a slow process, a new claw, very small at first, grows in the place of the lost one. Now Fagi has the two sets of legs at one and the same time; true that one set is not visible till the moulting begins, but then, with scarcely any interval, the active force is trans- ferred from the old to the new, the new pair being considerably longer and stouter than the old. Of course with the claspers they are simply drawn out of the skin, and the muscular action is in no way interrupted or’ suspended, whilst with the long pairs the actual jointed legs themselves are cast aside, and in some mysterious manner the muscles transfer their service to the new. H. M. Goipine Biro. 45, Elgin Crescent, Kensington, October 13, 1876. Capture of Lepidoptera at Sallow-bloom. By Joun T. CARRINGTON. Tue afternoon of June 17th, last year, was like many more afternoons in the Highlands of Scotland,—it was wet; but, in despite of the rain, I started, accompanied by two friends, from Camghouran for a walk of about twelve miles, over the moor of Rannoch, to a solitary shepherd’s cottage, rejoicing in the Gaelic name of Croachan Dhu, meaning in English “ at the black burn.” This district is probably the loneliest, THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 273 wildest, and most barren of the Highlands: here was the home of the wild tribe, so graphically described by Sir Walter Scott in his ‘ Legend of Montrose.’ These “Children of the Mist” lived for years in these mountain fastnesses, secure from the harrowing attacks of the great M‘Cullum More’s little less fierce followers, until hunted down by them and Allan M‘Aulay, whose deep-rooted revenge against them never let him rest. I could not help thinking over all this as I stood on an eminence, from which I could see upwards of twenty mountain peaks, none of less altitude than 3000 feet, many then clad with patches of snow. I marvelled at the many changes which had passed since the days when Ranald MacKagh, “Son of the Mist,” and his son Kenneth trudged with brawny brown legs over perhaps the very ground now occupied by three peaceful “fly-catchers.” But I must return to what I was going to say. After a weary walk we reached the cottage; being received by a salute of barking collies, which to one of my friends, recently from London, was no source of pleasure. After re- freshing ourselves with Miss Campbell’s scones, oat-cake, and cream, we started work for the night: one contingent sugared high on the mountain-side, while the other two did the same on a mountain bog. Your readers will imagine the astonishment of all, as night drew near, to find the moths flying steadily in one direction, quite oblivious of the many patches of intoxicating sweets we had prepared. The next best thing to do was to find out what was the attraction. I need not ask my readers to guess what it was,—for who would think of sallow-blossoms at midsummer? But so they were; and an odd thing it seemed to find such a mixed company at the feast. Here isa list of them:—The genus Hadena seemed to replace our more familiar—at sallows— genus Tzniocampa, for in hundreds were Hadena adusta, H. glauca, H. dentina, H. pisi (in all sorts of variety), H. contigua, and H. rectilinea; H. dentina being in decided majority. In addition to these we took an occasional Acronycta myrice, with A. menyanthidis, Noctua plecta, Rusina tenebrosa, a few Ypsipetes ruberata, and one Notodonta dicteoides. Excepting the absence of a single decently rare moth, the above list is decidedly interesting, as being such an odd mixture of species captured on a single night at sallow- 2N 274 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. bloom. We quite thought we might take something new, or at least of value at these sallows; but nothing beyond those mentioned in this list was seen. At about two o’clock in the morning we had to beat a retreat on account of the steady rain, which began to knock off the satiated moths from the bloom. Our troubles did not end there, for when we got to Miss Campbell’s hospitable house it by no means meant shelter. Whether it is that Highland lairds think their tenants so hardy that little comfort does for them, I know not; but this I do know, that we had to sleep with umbrellas over our bed, which only concentrated the drippings, instead of all being evenly wet. The locality where we found these sallows (Salix caprea var. sphacelata) in flower was at an altitude of upwards of 1400 feet, in a cold wet bog. There is no cultivated land within six or eight miles; and, excepting this shepherd’s cottage, no other house within the same distance. On our return we examined the place by daylight, but found nothing worth taking—further than a series of Ypsipetes ruberata. I have worked the neighbourhood before and since, but always left it with the same feeling of depression; possibly this was caused by want of success in capturing anything rare, added to the dreary solitude. The shepherd’s sister told me that during winter she seldom went further than a few hundred yards from the cottage. JoHN T. CARRINGTON. September 13, 1876. Entomological Notes, Captures, &c. Entomology in Cornwall.—Few counties seem to have received so little attention from entomologists as Cornwall ; this is the more remarkable, as the varieties of soil and numerous genera of plants found there make it a likely resort of many of our rarer Lepidoptera. Being at St. Austell on a visit, in August last, I used the net in the immediate neighbourhood; without anything like hard work | obtained the following result :—Colias Edusa in large numbers, the proportion being one female to about five males; the colour of the males seems to vary more than those THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 275 I have seen from any other district. Of C. Hyale I got only two. Argynnis Paphia was seen in some abundance, though I was too late to take many in good condition. A. Adippe also occurred, but much worn, Pyrameis Cardui moderately plentiful, and in first-rate condition. Lycena Argiolus swarmed on one particular ivy-hedge bordering on a wood, where I also took one Thecla Quercus. I did not go after moths at all, but Macroglossa stellatarum, Xanthia silvago, and Ptilodontis palpina, came in my way, and were secured. For a fine specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli I am indebted to Mr. Brewer, the station master, who brought it to me alive in very good condition; [ heard of another being taken in the town soon after. Nonagria Typhe pupx also occurred freely in reeds on the moors; they were easily found by splitting open the thick stems of plants that presented a faded appearance. I also took three nearly full-grown Chcerocampa Elpenor larve feeding on Fuchsia fulgens. Two Sphinx Ligustri larvae were found feeding on variegated holly. Wasps have long been included in the list of enemies which an entomologist has to contend against; but I think they have rarely been guilty of so impudent an outrage as the following :—I was setting Colias Edusa at a table before an open window; a specimen I had just killed was lying before me; a wasp flew in, and almost immediately settling upon it, bit off the wings with an audible snap of its jaws, and then flew away with the body. It may be wondered why I allowed the wasp to proceed without molestation ; but it did not strike me that it would spoil the insect until I heard it bite off the first wing, which rendered the specimen useless. So curiosity prevented me from disturbing it. If any entomologist contemplates a visit to this neglected county next season, I would strongly advise him to arrange his expedition to terminate with August, as after that month it usually rains frequently.—T7. Hodge; 33, Almorah Road, Islington, N., October, 1876. Deiopeia pulchella and Argynnis Lathonia at Hastings.— Deiopeia pulchella has occurred at Hastings again this year: three specimens have been met with (two on October 18th, and one about a week before). They were all in excellent condition, and were taken at almost the same spot, a 276 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. distance of about two miles from the locality of last year. I have also seen a specimen of Argynnis Lathonia, taken here on the 14th of August, by Mr. 8. Hume.—ZF. A. Butler ; University School, Hastings, November 7, 1876. Deiopeia pulchella at the Land’s End.—This autumn, being at the Land’s End, where I captured Deiopeia pulchella last year, I searched carefully for it up to the time of my leaving at the end of September, but without success. Since my return I have received three specimens in good condition, taken soon after my departure: one by Mr. W. A. Michael; the others by residents in the neighbourhood.— Annie Michael ; 27, York Road, Brighton, Nov. 23, 1876. Acherontia Atropos at Folkestone.—A large specimen of Acherontia atropos was brought to me by a friend, a few days ago, in excellent condition.—J. J. Giles ; Folkestone, October 21, 1876. Cheerocampa Celerio.—Mr. W. Shaw, of Ayton, took a specimen of C. Celerio, in Berwickshire, in 1873. I think the capture of so scarce a species should be recorded, even if somewhat late-—W. Prest ; York. Choerocampa Celerio— On the 29th of last September a fair specimen of C. Celerio was taken at rest on a clothes’- line, in a garden at Edwinstowe. It is now in my possession. —Arthur Doncaster; Broom Hall Road, Sheffeld, November 20, 1876. Acronycta Alni.—On the 2lst of June last I had the pleasure of taking a perfect specimen of A. Alni: it was at rest on a wooden fence in this neighbourhood.—Jd. Scarcity of Lithoside.—It is well known that all the British species of Lithosidz are more or less local; but has it been observed that during the past season the various species have been unusually scarce in their especial localities ? Such has been my own experience. In 1875 one particular spot, near a wood, swarmed with Lithosia stramineola and its near ally (if not variety) L. griseola; but this season I have not seen a specimen of either. Eulepia cribrum, too, has been unusally scarce in its favoured haunts, as well as Lithosia mesomella and L. complana; neither has its commoner and more generally distributed relative, L. complanula, been taken in any numbers. L. helveola and L. aureola I have never found in plenty; but this season not a specimen of either has rewarded THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 277 my search. Whether they have been taken in any part of the forest, or whether L. quadra has turned up in the same locality, I am not prepared to say. It is true I have not had an abundance of leisure to devote to entomological pursuits, but I have spent sufficient time in the forest and elsewhere to prove that in this locality there has been a paucity of this particular class. There is a belt of tall fir trees skirting a young oak wood in one part of my forest hunting-ground, and in previous seasons | have seen L. rubricollis flying around the tops of those trees in countless numbers. This season, however, it has not been so; not that their occurrence in such a situation is at all a guarantee of a good day’s “ take,” even if they are common, for their capture is a difficult matter. Fortunately they fly in the daytime, and are more easily seen than they would be at dusk. It would be interesting to know if this class of moths—the majority of which are lichen feeders—have been scarce in other localities ; and, if such has been the case, what cause has effected it? Is it possible the continued drought in this neighbourhood has had anything to do with such a scarcity? Surely the heat has been sufficient to develope an unusual number of insects. However, lichens prefer a humid atmosphere and situation in which to grow; and the great heat and drought might have been detrimental to their growth. But even in this case [ am not so sure that a scarcity of food could have been the cause of a scarcity of moths this season, as many of them were full-fed larve before the drought began; still it seems extraordinary that in a season when some insects are so common others should be unusually scarce. This, be it understood, is only an observation made in this immediate locality; and my experience may differ considerably from that of others at a distance.—G. B. Corbin. ; Hybernia leucophearia.—Will any entomologist publish his geological experiences of Hybernia leucophearia? Here, on the lower greensand, it is about as common as Vanessa Antiopa or Deilephila livornica, yet generally it is considered as an insect more profuse than welcome. Within a few miles it occurs in plenty, ze. on the London clay north of the Downs (gravel and sand), and Wealden (clay) on the south. My captures in the immediate neighbourhood have been as 278 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. follows :—One specimen previous to 1864, three in 1872, and one in 1874. I have only occasionally seen it in local cabinets.—Sydney Webb; Redstone Manor House, Redhill, Surrey. Ennomos alniaria.—My friend the Rev. E. Austen, who lives a few miles from Dover, presented me last week with two specimens of Ennomos alniaria, which he reared from larve by beating. The food-plant was oak, birch, or willow; most probably one of the two former. The caterpillars spun up between leaves; the moths appeared about the 20th of September. This being his second season of larve rearing, he had no idea of the extreme rarity of his captures until the moths appeared.—W. W. Blest ; Broomscroft, Watering- bury, Kent, November 7, 1876. Dasycampa rubiginea at Hawley.—I have had the good fortune to take two specimens of Dasycampa rubiginea at ivy this season; one on the 12th October, and the second on the 13th. Both specimens are in perfect condition.—H. Jones; Hawley, Farnborough Station, October 20, 1876. Catocala Fraxini.—My friend Mr. W. Shaw, ‘of Ayton, Berwickshire, took a rather wasted specimen of this’ rare species at Netherbyres, in the same county, on the 9th September, 1876. He has kindly added the insect to my collection.— W. Prest ; York, November 1, 1876. Pionea margaritalis.—Last July a specimen of what I then thought was a variety of P. forficalis was caught in my garden at Mile End. However, upon comparing it with the P. mar- garitalis in the Doubleday collection, I find it is undoubtedly this latter species.—D. Pratt; 398, Mile End Road, Lon- don, E., November, 1876. Spilodes palealis.—It may interest the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ to know that my friend Mr. Whitewick, of Bootle, captured a fine female specimen of S. palealis on the 12th of August, while beating for Agrotis precox on the banks of the River Mersey. This is, I believe, the first instance of its capture near here.—Thos. J. Roxburgh; 120, Harlow Street, Park Road, Liverpool, Nov. 20, 1876. Botys verticalis—Mr. Hodgkinson seems surprised to find (Entom. ix. 260) Botys verticalis as far north as Witherslack. Its range is much further north, as it is reported to me by Dr. Trail from Aberdeen, and | myself have seen it at THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 279 Dunkeld. This is not a common species in Scotland,— F. Buchanan White, Perth, November, 1876. Doubleday Collection.—As many of the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ are aware, the hours for visiting this Collection have hitherto been from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. J beg to forward the following letter for publication in the ‘Entomologist.’ —D. Pratt (Sec. to East London Entomological Society) ; 333, J/ile End Road, E. * South Kensington Museum, London, S.W., November 1, 1876. Bethnal Green Branch Museum. Sir,—In compliance with the wish expressed by the members of the Kast London Entomological Society, in the letter received from you to-day, I beg to acquaint you that arrangements have been made for the Doubleday Collection, at the Bethnal Green Branch Museum, to be open for inspection until 9.30 p.m. on Tuesdays.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, P. Cuntirre Owen, Director S. K. M.” * Valeria oleagina:” Correction of an Error (Entom. viii. 164).—I have ascertained that the insect recorded by me as Valeria oleagina is Mamestra persicarie. I regret having made so great a blunder.—Benjamin Brown; Deard’s End, Knebworth. [The footnote to the announcement shows that the speci- men did not receive editorial sanction.—Zd. | Pachnobia hyperborea and Pyrameis Virginiensis: Errata. —By an unfortunate error, detected when too late for altera- tion, these two specific names were incorrectly spelt in last month’s number. They should be hyperborea and Virginiensis. 1 would suggest that the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ should at once correct these errors in their copies, to prevent further confusion.—John T’. Carrington. West London Entomological Society—The fourth annual Exhibition of this Society will take place in the Church Room (adjoining St. Mark’s Institute), George Street, Oxford Street, near Grosvenor Square, on December 7th and 8th, 1876, between the hours of 6 and 11 p.m. Commencing with the Number for January, 1877, THE ENTOMOLOGIST WILL BE EDITED BY JOHN T. CARRINGTON, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FREDERICK BOND, F.Z.S. FREDERICK SMITH. EDWARD A. FITCH. J. JENNER WEIR, F.LS., F.Z.S. JOHN A. POWER, M.D. F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D., F.LS. During the Year 1877 it is intended to publish in the ‘ ENromoLogistT’ an EPITOME OF NOVELTIES AND RARITIES which have occurred in the Entomological Fauna of Great Britain and Ireland since January, 1874,—the date of the last ‘ Entomologist’s Annual.’ Dr. Power has undertaken the Coleoptera; Mr. Carrington, the Lepidoptera ; Dr. Buchanan White, the Hemiptera; Mr. Frederick Smith, the Aculeate Hymenoptera and Diptera; Mr. Fitch, the Galls; &c. To further this object it is requested that notice of all unrecorded occurrences of New and Rare Insects may be sent before the 10th December next. It is also intended to publish frequently Biographical Notices of Eminent Naturalists, accompanied by PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS. The first of these will be a memoir of the late Mr. Henry Doubleday. Every Number will contain one or more WOODCUT ILLUSTRATIONS of Economic Entomology, or other subject of interest. Myr. Bond, Mr. Stevens, and several other Entomologists, have kindly placed at the disposal of the Editor, for figuring, many FINE VARIETIES OF LEPIDOPTERA. Also, in the coming Volume of the ‘Enromoxoaist,’ may be expected, besides numerous articles upon Lepidoptera; a List of the Coleoptera of the neighbourhood of Waterford, by Dr. Power, giving localities and other interesting information; and a valuable paper on the Mimicry existing between Hymenoptera and Diptera, besides occasional notes on the Anatomy of Insects, by Dr. Lowne. Mr. Fitch will continue his translations of Dr. Mayvr’s valuable work upon Galls; this series will be liberally Illustrated as heretofore. A continuance of Mr. May’s interesting translations of Life- histories of Sawflies will likewise appear. There will also appear from time to time Reviews, with extracts, of new Entomological works. : EXCHANGE LISTS of Entomological Specimens will be inserted, as now, free of charge. SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSION — will receive every encouragement. The Editors avow their determination, in conducting the ‘ENnrTomo.ocist,’ to avoid all illiberal or personal allusions likely to promote an unpleasant feeling between contributors. They confidently appeal to all who are desirous of the success of the ‘ ENromo- Loaist’ to give it not only their personal support, but also their warmest recommendation ; remembering that its ultimate prosperity depends not only upon collective, but upon individual, effort. Contributors are earnestly requested to send their communications as early in each month as convenient, addressed to The Editors of the ‘Entomoxoaist,’ care of T. P. Newman, 82, Botolph Lame, London, E.C. Lonpvon, December Ist, 1876. T. P. 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