THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE CONDUCTED BY H. G. KNAGGS, M.D., F.L.S. E. C. EYE. E. McLACHLAN, F.L.S. H. T. STAINTON, F.R.S. VOL. V. ' We must take species separately, and study the nature of each." Aristotle, on Animals, Book I, chap. vii. LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. 18 68-9. LONDON PRINTED BY A. NAPIER, SEYMOUR STREET, ETJSTON SQUARE. PREFACE. AX the condusion oithejtfih volume, we beg to express our thanks toour8upporterB,to whom is due the steadily increasiug useful- neas of the Magazine ; hoping also that the termination of a second W„» will fiudusenjoyingtheu,asnow,thesameamicahlerelat,ons with them, and the same unity of purpose amongst ourselves ; w.th the satisfaction of knowing that, in having constantly held m v.ew the advancement of Entomology, we have maintainedan independence of party feeling, the entertainment of which, even in the sl.ghtest aegree, is fatal to scientiic progress, and a thing to he eaehewed by all true naturalists. We regret exceedingly that for many numbers of this volume we were unable, through extreme pressure, to give prompt attenfon to many important communications, and this notwithstanding the issue ofseveral enlarged numbers: our correspondents will please bear ,n „,ind that our constant aim is to clear oif accumulations of materials as soon as possible. In answer to enquiries as to the financial condition of the under- taking, we simply say that experience seems to prove that each volume recoups its expenses (and nearly exhausts our present hm.ted impression) in about four years, a result we had scarcely hoped for at our commencement, and which gives an additional guarantee for a long existence. We have felt, with our supporters, seme slight inconven.ence from the fact of our year commencing in June instead of Jan.u.ry, and would gladly obviate this, but the large number of subscribers in advance renders it now almost impossible to make a new arrange- ment, and we must therefore ask our friends to bear with us m .h,s respect. 1, Paternoster Row : 30t7t Ajpril, 1869. c. INDEX. INDEX TO GENERAL SUBJECTS. PAGE A further reply to Mr. Dunning's remarks on the gender of Acanthosoma, &o, 234 A rejoinder to the Eev. T. A. Marshall's reply on the gender of Acanthosoma 230 A reply to Mr. Donning's remarks on the gender of Acanthosoma . . 208 Abbotia, Note on the genus, of Leach ....... 168 Abraxas grossulariata, Superabundance of ....... 24 „ „ the larva of, distasteful to froga .... 181 Abundance of certain insects in certain years, On the ..... 134 „ „ Colias Hyale in 1868 106, 130 „ „ SphingidaB in Japan during the past summer, Note on . . 173 „ „ Sphinx convolvuli near Exeter ...... 128 „ „ the larvas of Melitsea Cinxia 24 Abuses in Nomenclature .......... 148 Acanthosoma haemorrboidalis or hsemorrhoidale ?, with a word or two on the perpetuation of blunders in nomenclature ...... 181 Acanthosoma ; the beginning of the end 254 Acherontia Atropos at Dumfries, Occurrence of 171 „ „ J, Folkestone 171 „ „ „ Margate 147 „ „ Capture of, on the wing 130 AcidaHa, Notes on the genus, with description of the larva of A. holosericata 95 „ emutaria at King's Lynn ........ 107 „ holosericata, Description of the larva of ..... 95 Acontia Inctuosa, Notes on the earlier stages of ..... 75 Acronycta alni, &c., in Sussex 107 „ „ near Manchester ........ 105 „ „ Note on 208 „ „ On the natural history of 144 Addition of eight species of Coleoptera to the British List . . . 100 „ to the list of British Trichoptera (Agrypnia picta, Kolen.) . . 125 Additions, Note on four, to the list of British Coleoptera .... 196 „ Two, to the British Trichoptera 277 Agabus affinis, Payk., Note on , 17 Agrotera nemoralis, Capture of 106 Agrotis cinerea at Folkestone ......... 78 Agrypnia picta, Kolenati, Note on 125, 143 Amphydasis betularia, Note on variation in 148 Analytical view of the Lepidopterous Fauna of Haslemere and its vicinity 211 Aphodius nemoralis and A. constans. Note on 19 „ porcus, a cuckoo parasite on Geotrupes storcorarius . . . 273 PAGE Aphodius villosns, Captm-e of 44 Apion cerdo, Occurrence in Britain of 124 „ „ „ of, near Newcastle-on-Tyne .... 142 „ scrobicolle, Gyll., Note on 276 Argynnis Eaphrosyne, Notes on the earlier stages of 125 „ Lathonia at Colchester 106, 131 „ „ „ Folkestone, Occurrence of 130 „ „ „ Margate 105,171 „ „ „ Eamsgate 106 Atomaria fermginea and A. fimetarii in Yorkshire, Capture of . . . 143 Attagenus megatoma, Fab., Occurrence of, in London 101 Balaninus cerasomm and B. rubidus, Note on 218 Bedeguar galls, Query respecting ........ 143 Bibio, Description of a new species of 268 Birch-Wood Dinner 51 Blunders in nomenclature, A word or two on the perpetuation of . . 181 Botys asinalis, Abundance of the larvae of, at Bishopstowe .... 205 Brazilian insects 51 British Coleoptera, Notes on (Motschulskian) 197 GyrinidsB, On the 52 Halticida3, Notes on the 163 Hemiptera : additions and corrections 259, 293 species of Malthodes, Notes on the 18 „ „ Scoparia . . ^ 291 Syrphi, Notes on some 7 Bruchus pisi, Note on 20 " Bullettino della Society Entomologica Italiana ; " anno prime : Review . 285 Ca^cilius atricornis, A new species of Psocidaa inhabiting Britain, Description of 196 Captures at Colchester, Early Lepidopterous 23 „ of Coleoptera during the past season 219 „ „ near Manchester 200 „ of Lepidoptera at Howth 78 „ „ Taplow 224 „ „ „ Witherslack 49 „ „ in various localities in March, April, and May . 49 „ „ near Perth in 1868 224 „ of rare Lepidoptera 104 „ „ „ in 1868 147 „ ,, Neuroptera and Trichoptera 125 " Catalogue of the Insects of Northumberland and Durham j Aculeate Hymenoptera." : Eeview 301 " Catalogus Coleopterorum," Tom. ii., Notes upon Gemminger & Von Harold's 247 " Catalogus Hymenopterorum Europse," auctore L. Kirchner : Review . 153 Cathonnioceras socius, a true British species 68 lU. PAGE Catocala fraxini and other rarities in Cheshire, Occnrrence of . . . 128 „ „ at Ipswich 128 „ „ near Manchester . . ' . . . . • • 173 Cecidomyia, On the spinning of the larva of a ...... 220 Cerostoma scabi'ella near Croydon .......•• 131 Ceuthorhynchus urticse. Capture of ....... • 45 Charaeas graminis, Note on the larva of ....... 225 Cheiropachus qnadram, Note on the pairing of . . . . . . 297 Choerocampa Celerio at Binningham 172 „ „ Huddersfleld 150 „ near York ......... 173 Elpenor, Query concerning 108 nerii at St. Leonards 172 porcellus near Tynemouth ....... 72 Chrosis euphorbiana bred . ......... 106 Chrysopa tenella, Schneider, Note on British examples of . . . . 251 Cicindelidae from tropical America, with descriptions of four new species (Gen. OdontocheDa and Pseudoxycheila) 297 Cilix spinula and Notodonta trepida in Kircudbrightshire . . . . 299 Clytus arietis, Live, in Museums 123 Coccinella labiKs, Ee-occurrence of 45 Coccyx hyrciniana. Habits of 206 Coleoptera &c., near Putney, Further notes on 45 Colias Edusa, Note on 77 „ Hyale, Abundance of, in 1868 106,130 „ „ and Argynnis Lathonia at Colchester 106 „ „ and Sphinx convolvuli at Haslemere 130 „ „ in 1868, Notes respecting the abundance of . . . . 253 „ „ near Binningham .......•• 107 „ „ „ London 205 ,. „ „ Eamsgate .......••• 107 „ „ Observations on the occun-ence of, in Britain . . . 175 Collecting in Burnt and Bishop'^ Woods in Staffordshire, Notes on . . 48 „ Sherwood Forest, Kesults of a day and a night's ... 79 „ Management, &c., Notes on (Lepidoptera) : The Caterpillar state . 14 Colletes cunicularia, L., Discovery of a new British Bee .... 276 Collix sparsata, &c., near York 77 Cosmia pyralina in SuflFolk .......•• 23 Crambus rorellus at Folkestone 150 Croesus septentrionalis, Note on 21 Cryphalus binodulus and Hylurgus pUosus, Notes on 198 Ctenicerus pectinicomis and C. cuprous^ Habitats of 276 Curious capture of Lucanus 124 „ locality for Ischnomera melanura .....•• 20 Currant-gall on Salix herbacea, Note on the ....•• 21 Curtis's, The late John, Entomological Drawings 209 IV. PAGE Cynips, Discovery of a male 298 „ lignicola, Economic use for the galls of 171 Cyntliia cardui. Abundance of 205 „ „ Curious variety of the larva of 278 „ ,, Extraordinary variety of 229 Dasycampa rubiginea, Kotes on the earUer stages of 206 Death of Charles Turner 25 „ Thomas Desvignes, Esq 25 Deaths of Foreign Entomologists 26 Deilephila lineata, Acronycta alni, &c., in Sussex 107 „ „ at Guestling 106 „ „ Marlborough 128 „ „ „ Newport, I.W 129 „ „ „ Torquay ......... 104 „ „ in Derbyshire 130 „ Kildare 105,162 „ „ „ Scotland 172 „ „ near Derby 105 Deleaster dichrons, Capture of 20, 21 „ ,, in Scotland 142 Departure of a collector to Ecuador and Bolivia 25 Depressaria subpropinquella and rhodochrella. Note on . . , . 105 Description of a new species of West African Papilio, hitherto considered to be the P. Zenobia of Fabricius 60 Desvignes, Thomas, Esq., Death of 25 Desvignes's Collection of IchneumonidaB, The late Mr 51 Dianthoecia Barretii, Capture of 47 „ CEesia, Capture of ......... 47 „ capsophila bred 24 „ irregularis Hufn. (echii, Bork), Capture of, in Britain . . . 220 Dicrorampha flavidorsana, Knaggs, near Exeter, Occurrence of . . . 128 Difference in shape of thorax in sexes of Hydroporus elegans, &c. . . 169 Dilar, On a neuropterous insect from N.W. India belonging to the genus . 239 Dipterous larvae voided by the human subject 144 Donacia geniculata and D. IsevicoUis of Thomson, Note on the . . . 218 Double broods in hot seasons. Note on 107 Dytiscus lapponicus in Ireland 141 Early and late appeai-ance of Lepidoptera 48 Early appearance of Eupitheciae ........ 280 „ appearances — Saturnia carpini — Smerinthus tiliae .... 24 „ Lepidopterous captures at Colchester ...... 23 Economic Entomology, French exhibition of . . . . . . .50 „ use for the galls of Cynips hgnicola ...... 171 Elachista paladum bred 78 Elater new to the British Lists, Occurrence in Morayshire of an . . 193 PAGE Enoicyla pnsilla, the terrestrial Trichopterous insect, bred in England . 143 „ „ Fnrther note on 170 Entomological Society of London, Proceedings of . . 26, 51, 80, 180, 210, 238 258, 285, 301 Ephemeridse, An outline of a re-arrangement of the genera of . . .82 Epnraea, Habitat of 169 Euperia falvago in Scotland, Occurrence of ...... . 131 Eupithecia consignata bred in Belgium 107 „ „ Description of the larva of 72 ,, „ Note on the pupa of 73 ,, irriguata, &c., at Glanville's Wootton ...... 205 Eupitheciae, Early appearance of 280 „ taken in Derby and the neighbourhood, List of : with notes . 22 Eupoecilia, Notes on some British species of 244 European species of Syrphus allied to S. ribesii 190 Euthemonia russula. Abnormal brood of ...... . 131 *' Faune Entomologique Frangaise, Lepidopteres," par M. E. Berce ; Eeview . 49 Fecundity of the Queen Bee, On the 71 Pidonia pinetaria. Hub. (brunneata, Steph.), Description of the larva of . 108 Fir-feeding Lepidoptera, Notes on the larvae of some .... 178 Formica nigra, An early swarm of ........ 298 French Exhibition of Economic Entomology 50 Fnrther notes on Coleoptera, &c., near Putney 45 Gall-bearing British Plants, A list of 118 „ „ Plants, Second list of 216 Gtdl Insects, Notes on 132 Galls of Cynips lignicola. Economic use for the ...... 171 General Information 25, 50 Geotrupes stercorarius, Aphodius porcus, a cuckoo parasite on . . . 273 Glaciers, Insects found on ......... . 170 Grapta C -album in Devonshire . . . . . . . . .147 Gyrinidae, On the British 53 Gyrinus asneus, Steph., On 217 Habits and transformations of Hylesinus crenatus, H. fraxini, and H. vittatus, Observations on the .......... 120 „ of Hylesinus, Note on the ........ 20 „ „ Satumia carpini in Orkney, Note on the 49 Hadena atriplicis, &c.. Note on ......... 79 „ peregrina at Lewes 150 Halticidse, Notes on the British ......... 163 HeHophobus popularis, Charseas graminis and Luperina cespitis, Note on the larvae of ............ 225 Heliothis peltigera at Exeter 130 PAGE Hemiptera, British ; additions and corrections ..... 259, 293 „ in Palestine and Syria, List of captures of: together with de- scriptions of several new species 27, 65, 114, 135 Hepialus hectus, Natural history of 177 Hereditary variation, Note having reference to 148 Hermaphrodite Satyras Semele, Capture of an 105 Heterocerous Lepidoptera, New species &c., of, from Canterbury. New Zealand, collected by Mr. R. W. Fereday 1, 38, 61, 92 Homalota rufotestacea, Kraatz, Occurrence in Britain of .... 218 Hybemia defoliaria, Late appearance of 253 Hydroporus elegans, &c., On difference in shape of thorax in sexes of . . 169 Hylesinus crenatus, H. fraxini, and H. vittatus, Observations on the habits and transformations of ......... . 120 „ Notes on the habits of 20 Hylurgus pilosus. Notes on Cryphalus binodulus and 198 Hymenoptera, Notes on some parasitic ; with descriptions of new species , 154 Hypermecia angustana of Hiibner, Capture in England of the true : and cor- rection of synonymy ...... ... 251 Hyponomeuta vigintipunctata. Note on 228 IchneumonidEB, The late Mr. Desvignes' collection of 51 Imhoff, Dr. Ludwig, Obituary notice of 150 Insects found on Glaciers 170 Ischnomera melanura. Curious locality for ....... 20 Lamellicom Beetles (Rutelidas) from N. Australia, On two new species of . 8 Larentia salicata in North Devon 205 Larva of Abraxas grossulariata distasteful to frogs 131 „ Acidalia holosericata, Description of the 95 „ Charseas graminis, Note on the ....... 225 „ Enpithecia consignata, Bork., Description of the .... 72 „ Fidonia pinotaria, Hub. (brunneata, Steph.), Description of the . 108 „ Luperina cespitis, Note on the ....... 225 „ Lycsena Artaxerxes, Dcscinption of the 176 „ Polia nigrocincta. Capture of the ....... 77 „ Vanessa cardui, Curious variety of the ..... 278 „ Zygaona nubigena, Observations on the habits of the ... 73 LarvsB of Heliophobus popularis, Charseas graminis and Lupernia cespitis, Note on the 225 „ some fir-feeding Lepidoptera, Notes on the ..... 178 Lepidoptera at Gnestliug, in 1868 . . . . . . . . .174 „ „ HaslomerOj Stray notes on . . . . . . . 227 „ bred and captured in the spring of 1868 .... 48 „ „ &c., in the spring ........ 77 „ captured in Morocco ••...... 299 vu. PAGE Lepidoptera, Descriptions of species of, confounded with others described by Linnaeus and Fabricius • . . . 270 „ from " Goolmurg " in Cashmere, Notes on 33 „ inhabiting Ross-shire, Notes on the. ..... 281 „ swarming on rushes ......... 22 „ taken at Guestling, near Hastings, in 1867 .... 23 Lepidopterons Fauna of Haslemere and its vicinity, An analytical view of the 211 Lencania albipuncta, W.V., a species new to Britain, Capture of . . 173 at Yaxley 278 Libellula (Diplax) vulgata, Note on a British example of . . . . 220 Limenitis Sibylla, Note on the earlier stages of ..... . 226 List of captures of Hemiptera in Palestine and Syria, together with descrip- tions of several new species 27, 65, 114, 135 „ „ Eupithecise taken in Derby and the neighbourhood : with notea . 21 „ „ gall -bearing British Plants 118, 216 „ „ Noctuidse observed in Morayshire ....... 201 Lithobius forcipatus mothing 170 „ „ Note on 197 Lithocharis maritima near South Shields, Capture of 19 Lithocolletis Bremiella on Orobus tuberosus ...... 22 Lithosidse, Notes on the earlier stages of some species of ... . 109 Live Clytus arietis in Museums 23 Localities for Mesites Tardii 99 London Lepidoptera 49 Lucanus, Curious capture of 124 Luperina cespitis. Note on the larva of 225 LycEena Mgon, Natural history of 241 „ „ Arion, New locality for 78 „ „ Artaxerxes, Description of the lai'va of ... . 176 „ „ Medon (Agestis) and Artaxerxes, are they distinct ? . 187 Macaria notata in Scotland .......... 104 Macroglossa stellatarum in the North of England ..... 172 Macro-Lepidoptera at Ranhoch 221 Magdalinus dupHcatus, Germar, in Scotland, OccmTence of . . . 168 Malthodes fibulatus, Kies., Capture of 101 „ „ New locality for 101 „ Notes on the British species of ....... 18 Melitaea Cinxia, Abundance of the larvae of ..... . 24 Mesites Tardii, Localities for 99 „ „ on our North Eastern Coast, Capture of ... • 71 Mild winter, Note on the effects of 254 Morocco, Lepidoptera captured in 298 Moths at Nettles 76 Movements of British Entomologists 25 vni. PAGE Nepticula minuaculella at Cheshnnt 280 Nenronia clathi-ata in England, Note on 251 Neuropterous insect from N.W. India, belonging to the genus Dilar . . 239 New British saw-fly ; Tentbredo olivacea of King 44 „ locality for Lycsena Arion ......... 78 „ species of Lamellicorn Beetles (Rutelidse) from N. Australia, On two . 8 „ Zealand, New species, &c., of Hetei-ocerous Lepidoptera from Canterbury collected by Mr. R. W. Fereday 1, 38, 61, 92 Noctuidae observed in Morayshire, A list of ..... . 201 Nomenclature, A word or two on the perpetuation of blunders in . . . 181 „ Abuses in 148 Northern British Lepidoptera, Notes on ....... 102 Notes on Cicindelidse from tropical America 287 „ collecting, management, &c., (Lepidoptera) ; the caterpillar state 14 „ effects of mild winter ......... 254 „ Lepidoptera at Ashford, Kent ....... 223 „ „ „ Carmarthen ........ 204 „ „ „ Wicken Fen 223 „ Mr. Jenner Fust's " Distribution of British Lepidoptera " . . 147 „ Scotch Lepidoptera ......... 204 „ some British Syrphi ......... 7 ,, the British species of Malthodes 18 „ ,, „ Scoparia (Lepidoptera) .... 291 „ „ currant-gall on Salix herbacea ...... 21 „ „ earlier stages of some species of Lithosidae .... 109 „ „ pairing of Cheiropachus quadrum 297 Obituary notice of Dr. Ludwig Imhoff ....... 150 Occurrence in England of the larva of a terrestrial Trichopterons insect ; Enoicyla pusilla, Burmeister 43, 143 „ of a genus of Coleoptera new to Britain .... 44 Octotemnus glabriculus. Note on the oviposition of .... . 297 Odour emitted by Sphinx cunvolvuli 206 Omias new to Britain, Capture of a species of . * 44 Orthosia suspecta at West Wickham 150 Outline, An, of a re-arrangement of the genera of Ephemeridse . . 82 Oviposition of Octotemnus glabriculus. Note on the 297 Ovipositing of Pamphila Sylvanus, Note on the 129 Pamphila Sylvanus, Note on the ovipositing of 129 Parasitic Hymenoptera, Notes on some, with descriptions of new species . 154 Penthina caprajana and other Lepidoptera bred from sallow . . . 329 Peronea umbrana in Westmoreland ........ 224 Phalacrus substriatus. Occurrence in Yorkshire of 142 Philhydrus, Description of a new species of 240 Pblojodes crenana. Note on 23 IX. PAGE Phoaphsenus Iiemipteras, Note on 70 Pieris Daplidice near Margate, Captnre of . . . . . . . 105 Plusia new to Britain, Occurrence of (P. ni) ...... 107 „ A few notes on the new (P. ni) . . . . . . . 127 „ ni, Further notes on 128 Polia nigrocincta, Capture of the larva of 77 Potaniinus substriatus near Scarborough, Occurrence of ... . 143 Prices of rare British Lepidoptera ........ 25 Pseudopsis sulcatus at Scarborough, Occurrence of .... . 142 Psocidaj, Description of a new species of (Caecilius atricornis) inhabiting Britain 196 Queen-bee, On the fecundity of the . . 71 Railway train stopped by caterpillars 230 " Eeport on the Culture of Bombyx Yama-Mai." : Review . . . 301 Results of a day and a night's collecting in Sherwood Forest ... 79 Rhynchites megacephalus, Germ., in Japan, Occurrence of. . . . 169 Rhynchophora on the South East Coast, Notes of spring .... 70 Rygmodus, White, Note on the genua ....... 194 Saprinus (Gnathoncus) punctulatus, Thorns., Note on . . . . . 250 Satumia carpini, Early appearance of ....... 254 „ ,, in Orkney, Note on the habits of ..... 49 Satyrus Semelo, Capture of an Hermaphrodite ..... 105 Sooparia anguatea, New locality for 131 „ Note on the British species of . ..... 291 „ (Sc. Zelleri, Wocke) new to Britain, Occurrence of . . . . 131 „ Zelleri at Norwood 131 „ „ Note on 149 Scoria dealbata : correction of an error ....... 253 Scottish Lepidoptera, &c Notes on ....... . 104 Scydmsenus fimetarius taken near Newcastle-on-Tyne .... 246 Second broods ? . . . 175 Sesia myopceformis in hawthorn 78 ,, „ ? in Mountain-aah ........ 173 Sialia fuliginosa in Worcestershire ........ 125 Sigara minutissima, Fab., Capture of ....... . 142 Sinodendron cylindricum, Note on the habits of, during oviposition, &c. . 139 Species of Trichopterygia new to the British list, On some ... 9 Sphingidae in Japan during the past summer, Note on the abundance of . 173 Sphinx convolvuli, Abundance of, near Exeter 128 „ „ and a second specimen of Deilephila lineata in Kildare . 162 „ „ and Acherontia Atropos at Folkestone .... 171 „ „ and Colias Hyale near Birmingham .... 107 „ „ and Deilephila lineata at Guestling .... 106 at Alloa, N.B 162 X. xi. Sphinx convolvuli at Haslemere 130 ,, ,, „ Marlborongli 128 „ „ „ Eeigate, Capture of 172 „ „ Ifote on 254 „ J, Observations on tlie occurrence of, in Great Britrin . 160 „ „ Odour emitted by 206 „ „ taken at sea 17 Spilonota lariciana 146 Spinning of the larva of a Cecidomjia, On the 220 Spring Ehynchophora on the South East Coast, Notes on ... . 70 Stanropus fagi, Note on .......... 23 Superabundance of Abraxas grossnlariata 24 SjTphus, European species of, allied to S. ribesii 190 Tapinostola elynii at Cleethorpe, Occurrence of 205 Tenthredo olivacea of King, A new British saw-fly 44 Tephrosia crepuscularia, Early appearance of 253 Terrestrial Trichopterous insect, Occurrence in England of the larva of a ; Enoicyla pusilla, Burmeister 43, 143 " The American Entomologist," edited by B. D. Walsh & C. V. Riley : Review 152 " The Butterflies of North America," by W. H. Edwards : Review . . 78, 180 " The Canadian Entomologist," issued by the Entomological Society of Canada : Review ........... 153 " The Record of Zoological Literature," vol. iv., part 2. Arachnida, Myriapoda, Insecta : by W. S. Dallas, F.L.S. : Review 179 Thyamis, Description of a new species of ...... . 133 Trichoptera, Two additions to the British 277 Trichopterygia new to the British list, On some species of .... 9 Trogosita, A, destructive to silk 276 Turner, Charles, Death of 25 Vanessa Antiopa at Godmanchester ....... 224 „ Atalanta, Small specimen of ....... . 147 „ cardui. Curious variety of the larva of ..... 278 Variation in Amphydasis betularia, Note on ...... . 148 „ Note having reference to hereditaiy ...... 148 Variety of Cynthia cardui. Extraordinary 229 Winter captures 280 Xylina conformis, Note on 278 „ Zinckenii, Another 252 Xylomyges conspicillaris, &c. 24 Yama-Mai culture 149, 252 ZygJBna nubigena, Observations on the habits of the larva of . . . 73 INDEX OF SUBJECTS NOTICED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. PAGE Acheta destructive to forest-trees in Madras, Species of -" Agrypnia picta captured at Highgate ^^ Amazon Valley, Fauna of ^^^ Anax mediterraneus in Italy, Appearance of swarms of "6 Anniversary ileeting ■^"'" Antispila Eivillei, a vine-leaf miner ^ Aphidae attacking vines, Species of ^'^^ Arctia villica, Variety of ^^ Ateuchus sacer. Habits of 51 Bees and "Wasps from India, Nests of 238 Birds and larvae, On the relations between 286 Blatta melanocephala destructive in Orchid-liouses 302 Bombi and Apathi, Mimetic relations between 302 Bombyx Yama-mai "S" British Lepidoptera, Varieties of 51> 238 Butterflies, Notes on eastern • Buprestidse, New species of 238 Csenis macmra. Anatomy of °'- Castnia, Transformations of °^ Catocala fraxini, from Eastbourne 210 Cerostema gladiator, destructive to forest-trees in Madras 26 Chalcididse, Large exotic species of °1 Choerocampa Celerio, captured at Brighton 180 Coffee-tree, Various larvae destructive to the 26 Colletes cunicularia, a new British Bee . ■ • • 302 Conocephalus from "West Africa, found alive in England 285 Cork, A substitute for 286 Crambus myelins, new to Britain 210, 238 Dianthoecia Barrettii from Ireland, Specimens of . . 238 Dilar Homei, from North-west India 286 Drilus flavescens, 2 „ „ 2. „ lineola „ „ » 17. » » . (explanatory diagram, F) . . . . . 292 „ mercurella . » „ „ 11. 9) mnrana „ „ » 15- »> » (base of wing, explanatory diagram B) 292 » pallida „ » „ 1. „ pliEeoleuca „ » „ 10. „ » (explanatory diagram, D) . . . . . 292 „ resinea . j> >j jj 9. 5> truncicolella „ „ „ 14. „ J5 • (explanatory diagram, B, omitting base of wing) 292 „ ulmella „ „ „12. » Zelleri . >i » » 7. REVIEWS. Faune Entomologique Fran9aise, Lepidopteros. — Berce 49 The Butterflies of North America.— Edwards 79, 180 The Canadian Entomologist 152 The American Entomologist 152 Catalogus Hymenopterorum Europse. — Kirchner ...... 153 The Record of Zoological Literature, Vol. iv, pt. 2. — Dallas . . . 179 Bullettino della Societa Entomologica Italiana 285 Report on the Cultm-e of the Japanese SUk-worm, Bombyx Yama-mai. — Wallace 301 A Catalogue of the Insects of Northumberland and Durham (Aculeate Hy- menoptera). — Bold. 301 THE NEW SPECIES, &c., OF HETEROCEEOUS LEPIDOFTEBA FROM CANTER. BURY, NEW ZEALAND, COLLECTED BY MR. R. W. FEREDAY. by achille guenee. Family HEPIALID^.* Genus Pielus. PiELUs UMBEACULATUS, Guenee, n. s. Alee testacea : anticce litura longitudinali alhida, irregulari, nigro infra adumhrata : posticce omnesqxie suhtus testacece, hasi pilis latiorihus. Femina major et dilutior. 50 millimetres. The examples that I have seeu of this species present two well-marked types. In the first the anterior wings of the male are dense, testaceous, sprinkled with an infinitude of paler scales, and the only marking is an unequal whitish band placed in the cellule, commencing as a point and finishing as a dash, the whole broadly shaded with black beneath. The posterior wings are neariy of the same tint, but lees dense, with a brush of hairs, more yellow in colour, at the base. The body and the legs are concolo^us. The female is larger, and extends to 60 mill. All the wings are much paler^an in the male, and the anterior much less dense. The second type is uni^rmly pinkish-gi-ey, with fringes concolorous, and pre- ceded (on the superior wings) by isolated black points. Besides, one sees, at the apex of the band, a transverse series of intermediate black points or streaks. I do not know the female of this form. Pielus v^iolaeis, Gueuee, n. s. AloB modo castanecB, modo grisece vel 7iigricantes,Jlmbrns interseetis : anticcd guttis disco alhescente numerosis irregularihus sparsis, alhidis nigro cinctis, lineaque subterminali nigra margines non attingente : postica suhtus costa Jlavo-brunnea. 40 mill. I only know the male, which varies greatly. The anterior wings are ordinarily chestnut-brown, with the disc whitish ; but the brown often passes into blackish- grey ; the wings are sprinkled with little irregular whitish spots, outlined with black, and other yet smaller spots entirely black ; the largest are in the cellule, and * The British Museum Catalogues indicate many species proper to New Zealand, a country which appears to be very rich in Nocturni. 1 am able to recognize some of them, but tlw greater part of those sent to me seem new ; it may be that the locality where Mr. Fereday collects is different to those which Messrs. Bolton, Colenso, and Sinclair visited, or tliat I have not been able to recognize many of them, from the too often little precise descriptions by Mr. Walker.— A. O. Ju^K, 2 [June, their number and sizes vary very gi'eatly ; besides these there ia generally a black subterminal line well marked, and sometimes interrupted, which does not reach the apex or the inner margin ; another similar line, but less constant, precedes it, com- mencing on the inner margin, but scarcely extending to a third of the breadth of the wing ; the fringe is intersected with black, and preceded by black dots, which alternate with these marginal marks, and which, in well-marked specimens, are outlined with whitish : the inferior wings have the same intersections and the same dots ; they are blackish, but beneath the costa and nervures are covered with castaneous hairs. The body is castaneous, as well as the antennaj, which, as in Pielus in general, are formed of thick triangular joints, and are pitbescent at the tips. Pamilt LEPTOSOMID^. Leptosoma annulatfm, Bdr. Bdv., voy. de I'Astrolab., pi. 5, fig. 9. Nyctemera Doiihledayi, AValk. Cat. Brit. Mus., p. 392. This New Zealand species is the true L. annulatiim of M. Bois- duval, and Mr. Walker has erred in transferring that name to the species from New Holland, which difiers in the patagia being bordered with white as well as the inner margin of the anterior wings ; in the yellow fringe, the spots much less extended, the broader yellow abdominal bands, the yellow face, &c. Thus it is the Australian insect which is unnamed, and I have long designated it in my collection as L. plagiatum. I do not know the larva of annulatum, but the chrysalis which Mr. Fereday sent with the moth has (with the cocoon) great analogy with those of our species of Setina. NOGTUELITES. Trifidoe. Pamilt I. LEUCANIDiE. Genus Nonagria. NOKAQBIA PEOPEIA. Leucania propria, "Walk., p. Ill, 80. Mr. "Walker says that the collar has a line of small black dots. I find here a continuous black line, edged superiorily by a white dash. He says nothing of the under-side, which ia, however, very characteristic, the anterior wings being blackish -grey, and the inferior pale ochreous- white, with a black cellular dot j all with a well-marked series of black terminal dots. NoKAaiiiA JUNcicoLOE, Guouee, n. s. Statura conspectusque LEUCANI2E. Alee anticce pallide testaceee, juncicolores, nervulis paulo nigricantihus, serie transversa punetuloruin nigricantium, Hmhria concolori, absque punctis : posticce supra suh- concolores, subtus pallidiores ; omnes suhtus mmaculatee, corpore concolori, piloso. Size of paludicola. All the insect is of the colour of I'ush or dry reed. Body hairy, uniform, and without spots. Anterior wings oblong, rounded at the hinder margin ; the only markings are a series of little blackish-grey dots on the nervures in the place of the elbowed-line, a dot at the apex of the cellule, and sometimes another on the sub-median vein near the base ; sometimes the nervures are more or less powdered with grey ; fringe concolorous, without dots : inferior wings almost concolorous above, but paler beneath, without markings. Antennce with robust, hut small, laminae. I have only seen the male. N.B. — It is scarcely possible that this can be Leueania unica, Walker, p. 112, in which the anterior wings are without spots, and the abdomen much paler than the thorax. Family hi. APAMID^. Genus Altsia, Guenee, nov. gen. Antennae of the ^ long, crenulated, each crenulation carrying a tuft of hairs at the tip, and a longer one in the middle ; those of the $ cylindrical, pubescent, each joint carrying two longer hairs. Palpi thick, ascending, robust, hairy ; the third joint very distinct, scaly. Haustellum small, robust. Thorax broad, somewhat depressed, quadrate, strongly hairy, but not bristly ; breast very hairy. Abdomen of the ^ long, smooth, silky, not crested, laterally hairy, not conical ; that of the $ conical, thick, and hairy. Legs robust ; the tarsi with spines. Wings oblong, thick ; the superior slightly prolonged at the apex ; the inferior sinuated at the hinder margin. A genus of a very ambiguous aspect, and oscillating between the LeucanidcB, Apamidce, and Noctuidce. At first sight it resembles Xylo- phasia, but the non-crested abdomen, unicolorous palpi, &c., will not permit its being united to that genus. Not knowing the earlier states, and being able to examine only one imperfect female, I place it pro- visionally after Luperina ; but it will not be astonishing if, hereafter, it shall be transferred to another position in the Apamidce, or even in the LeucanidcE. I direct attention to the structure of the male antenna). Altsia specifica, Guenee, n. s. Alee anticcB grisecB, fimbria extima alba spatio medio levissime ruhri- cante, macula reniformi vix conspicua pallidiore, punctis transversis mi- nutis nigricantibus : posticce pallidiores, subtus fere albidce, lunula media obscuriore : corpus griseum, immaculatum. 4 [June, Very large ; the female especially, equalling the species of Apleda in size. All the insect is dusky-grey, powdered with paler scales or hairs, and without any dark spot : the superior wings are oblong, almost toothed at the hinder margin ; the fringe concolorous, not preceded by dots, but the extremity is white in fresh indivi- duals ; all the markings are very faint, the median and basal spaces only being slightly tinted with pale red, thus showing the elbowed line, which is followed by a series of blackish dots, edged with white, and placed on the nervures ; the reni- form stigma indicated by some pale scales : the inferior wings paler grey, with slight darker clouds ; the under-side is entirely whitish, with a large grey cellular lunule, and traces of a median line. The thorax, head, and palpi uniformly grey, without markings. The ? is similar to the male, but much larger. ' Family v. NOCTQID.^. Genus Nitoceis, Guenee, nov. gen. AnteunsD slender, pointed, simply pubescent in the male. Palpi robust, slightly ascending ; the second joint broad, scaly, glossy, spotted with black exteriorly ; the third short, but very distinct. Haustellum rather short. Thorax quadrate, scaly, and glossy, with a raised collar ; the patagia very short, distant, and ordinarily spotted with black at the extremity. Abdomen not crested, slender in the ^ , broad, flattened, and with protruding oviduct in the $ . Legs with spiny tarsi, the spurs long but slender. Wings smooth : superior oblong, almost as broad at the base as at the hind margin, which is rounded; the orbicular stigma very small and punctiform ; the reniform becoming eroded inferiorily, and clearly defined on the exterior border, which appears to emit a point beneath ; the terminal space broadly pale : the inferior wings marked on the under-side with a broad black spot at the internal angle. An exclusively Australasian genus. At first sight one would place it in the ApamidcB by the side of Oelcena and Mamestra, and I think that Mr. Walker has placed in the latter genus all the species known to him. To my eye they seem true Noctuidce, related intimately with the genus Noctua by owe plecta, which should perhaps be added to them. Perhaps one should thus adopt the generic term Ochropleura of Hiibner, that Mr. Walker has used for plecta and its allies. In order to give a more complete idea of this new genus, I describe here all the species I possess, although they do not all pertain to New Zealand ; besides I think it probable that nearly all may be found there. NiTOCEis BicoMMA, Gueuee. Mamestra comma. Walker, p. 239, 40 ?. Alee anticce nigro-cinerece, pulverulentcc, strigis duahus geminis nigris, 1808.] 5 angulosis, sub-terminalique nigro intus limhata, macula orhlcularis tcstacea, punctiformis ; reniformi alba : posticce cinerece, fimbria jyallida, siibfus macula interna diffusa. Size o^ Agrolis exclamationis. Superior wings blackish-grey, with the two lines (extra-basal and elbowed) composed each of two distant black threads, forming very evident elbows and angles, especially between the cellule and the sub-median ; the subterminal line is scarcely sinuated, shaded on the inner side with black, which colom- extends more or less according to the individual, from which emanate small nei*vural dashes of a still deeper black ; the orbicular stigma is very small, either concolorous or of a nut-brown ; the reniform stigma is soiled with black below, nut- brown above, edged exteriorily by a white line : inferior wings blackish, with the fringe shining and almost white, save at the internal angle ; their under-side dusted with black and with a cellular dash ; the large spot at the internal angle much diffused. Thorax obscure, grey, with the first half of the collar darker, and the patagia uniform. The ? is darker, almost black, so that all the lines and shades are nearly absorbed. I think this species is the comma of Mr. "Walker ; but, as that name cannot be retained, it being already employed for a European Leucania, I have modified it in the least possible manner. Mr. AValker knew the female only. NiTOCBis LiMBOSA, Guenee, n. s. Statura N. bicommce, sed paulo minor. Al(e anticcB cinerece, nigro- nebuloscB, spatio terminali excepto, lineis undulatis et angulatis nigris inter- ruptis, maculis ordinariis unieolorihus, orbiculari minima, reniformi lineola alba scepius limbata : posticce grisece subtus macula interna quadrata nigra. Thorax cinereus ; collari apicibusque humerorum nigris. This is closely related to licomma, but smaller ; of a paler grey, especially on the terminal space, which is very distinct, because the ground colour is not clouded there, whereas it has a black appearance everywhere else ; but the costa, the space between the ordinary lines, and the principal nervures, remain grey ; the white thread of the reniform stigma is often prolonged on to the nervure which follows it, which does not occur in bicomma : the inferior wings are paler, almost white, and beneath the spot at the internal angle is very distinct. The colours of the thorax are more marked, and the patagia are especially shorter, more notched ex- teriorily, and marked with a black spot at the extremity. The female is altogether similar to the male, or if anything paler rather than dai-ker. Australia. NiTOCBis EXUNDANs, Guenee, n. s. Statura JV. limbosce. A Ice anticcepor2')hyreo-brunneoe, nigro-marm,oratce, lineis undatis gem^inatis nigris, macula orbiculari albo ; thorax caputque brunnei. (3 [June, I know the ? only. Size and shape of limbosa. Siipei-ior wings wood-green, slightly violaceous, mixed with scorched black-brown ; the ordinary lines are much less angular, and the space between the elbowed line and the sub-terminal forms a complete violet-black band ; the oi-bicular stigma is white and very apparent ; the reniform yellow-brown, with a pinkish tinge, fuller and not bordered with white, at least in my example ; a blackish track follows the sub-median ; the fringe is con- colorous, and is preceded by black dashes ; the inferior wings are as in limbosa. The thorax and the head uniform in colour, wood-brown dusted with black. Palpi flesh- coloured, with the black spot less apparent than in allied species. Australia. NiTOCEis NUNA, Guenee, u. s. Aloe anticce griseo-violacece, costa limboque jjallidioribtis, strigis angulosis nigris, macula reniformi alhida arctata, lineam bifuscatam longitudinalmi jungente, collari in medio albo-maculato. Slightly smaller than the species which precede. Superior wings blackish- grey, violaceous, with the costa and the terminal space paler ; ordinary lines black, sinuated and angulated ; sub-terminal simply waved, and preceded by small black nerval dashes ; all the cellule is filled in with black, in which are seen the two ordinary stigmata, in colour dirty white; the orbicular extremely small ; the reniform much narrowed above, connected beneath with a nervure of the same colour forked at its extremity ; all this divided in the middle by a greyish-violet dash ; a black trace in the ordinary place of the basal line : inferior wings grey, paler at the base ; their under-side almost white, with the cellular lunule, and the spot at the internal angle, black. Thorax blackish-grey, violaceous, uniform, with a white space on the middle of the collar on the upper-side of the head. Australia ; one ,$ . NiTOCRis EPiPLECTA, Guenee, n. s. Ochropleura rorisiigma, "Walker, p. 409, 8 ? ?. Statura affinitasque, N. x>lect(s. Alee anticce violaceo-nigricantes, lituris duabus basalibus albidis nigro adumbratis, costa albicla, cellula longe nigra, punctum orbicularem album, renigeramque dimidio albidam inchideivte. Thorax griseus ; scapulis violaceo-nigris. It resembles our Nodua plecta. Superior wings dull violet-black, the terminal space paler, and the base whitish violet-coloured, divided into three markings by deep black, firstly in the cellule, afterwards by a dash below the median vein, and lastly by a smaller one beneath the sub-median ; the two ordinary spots yellowish- white ; the orbicular punctiform strongly conspicuous in the black cellule ; the reniform divided by a brown dash, and filled in with brown inferiorily, and rests on the median vein ; some black dashes indicate the upper portion of the subterminal line; the inner margin is yellowish-white, as in our A. empyrea : inferior wings white, soiled with grey, especially on the hinder margin ; beneath with the lunide and the spot strongly marked. Thorax whitish-violet, with the patagia and the anterior part of the collar deep shining black. Swan Eiver ; one ^ . (To he continued.) NOTES ON SOME BRITISH SYRPHI. BY G. H. VEEBALL. Amongst the Blptera I collected last year, I have found five species of Syrplms to which I wish to call attention. I cannot call them new to England, as most of them occur in any collection, but none are recorded as species in "Walker's " Diptera Britanuica." They are, certainly, all allied to other acknowledged British species. Under S. auricollis, Meig., occur the true species of that name, and maculicornis, Zett. ; the latter may be at once distinguished by the abdominal bands being entirely interrupted, whilst in auricollis they are only deeply notched on the hinder edge. Both the species occur in gardens near London, maculicornis being much the commoner. Under umbellatarum, Fab., may also commonly be found lasioph- thahnus, Zett., which has slightly hairy eyes in the male, and also has the abdominal spots and epistoma yellower. The epistomal middle line is also more distinct, and the whole insect rather more hairy. Under cinctus, Fall, I think it most probable we have none of the true species, but only cinctellus, Zett. Walker certainly, amongst his varieties of cincfus, gives both species, but I have never yet seen the true form. Cinctellus has the antennse brown above, a black spot on the front just above the antennae, and the scutellum clothed with brownish hairs. Should any entomologist find specimens with wholly yellow antennae, no black spot above them, and the scutellum clothed with yellow hairs, he has the true cinctus, for which I should be much obliged. Cinctellus is common. Under vitripennis, Meig., or rihesii, Linn, is occasionally to be found nitidicollis, Meig., which may be known by its having a brightly shining thorax, and the epistoma ( ? generally) partly black. This insect has also a handsomer appearance than its allies, probably from its pubes- cence being darker. I believe it is rather rare ; it has been recorded as British by Stephens and Curtis. Under alhostriatus, Fall., is also confusiis, Egger, if the latter can be considered a separate species. Schiner confesses that a character taken from the colour of the legs of a Syrplms is a very uncertain one, but says that among a large number of specimens of these two species he can find no tendency to vary. They differ only as follows : Albo striatus has the femora of the four front legs black at the base, a"^®* the hind legs with a broad blackish i-ing, and also a small dark J-'wood the hind tibia;. Gonfusus has tho same parts wholly yellow, '^^^^ '^^ exception of the liind femora, which have only a narrow, distinctly marked ring. I have very poor material to work upon, having only one of each. They, however, agree exactly with the above distinctions. The above remarks show a little of what remains to be done among even the larger species of Diptera ; and it seems to me that the Ento- mological Society can scarcely hope to be able to publish a satisfactory catalogue of them within some years, unless more workers appear on the field. The Mulberries, Denmark Hill, S., 8t/i May, 1868. ON TWO NEW SPECIES OF LAMELLICORN BEETLES (RUTELID^) FROM N. AUSTRALIA. BT CHARLES O. WATERHOUSE. AnOPLO GNATHU S . A. ^NEUS, sp. nov. Ovatus, convexus, nitidus, supra ceneus ; clypeo sat dense, capite puree, punctatis ; ihorace disco parce, latera versus gradatlm fortius densiusgue punctato ; scutello loevi, elytris ad scutellum parce, latera versus gradatim fortius punctatis. Subtus cupreus, sat dense alho- puhescens. Long. 15| lin., lat. 9 lin. Above glossy, seneous. Head sparingly but distinctly punctured ; clypeus somewhat thickly punctured, the angles much rounded, the margin scarcely reflexed. Thorax convex, broadest behind, gradually contracted in front, the sides gently rounded, the extreme margins thickened, the posterior margin reflexed, except near the scutellum ; the whole surface of the thorax punctured, the punctures small on the disc, become larger and deeper towards the sides. Scutellum with only a few small punctures near the base. Elytra convex, gradually increasing in width towards the posterior two-thirds, rounded posteriorly ; suture smooth ; extreme lateral mar- gins coppery, incrassated, especially immediately below the shoulders. The punctures on the elytra are small near the scutellum, but gradually increase in size and depth towards the margins ; the shoulders and apical callosities very delicately punctured. Pygidium coarsely punctured, very sparingly covered with white ^r. Under-side coppery, clothed with white pubescence, the central ^ the abdomen less densely covered. s insect, which, from the outer claw of the anterior tarsus being bifid, I believe to be a female, must be placed next to Oalloodes, althougb in some respects it slightly resembles A. viridi-oeneus, ? . Brit. Mus. Hab. N.E. Australia (Rockingbam Bay) ; collected by E. D. Atkinson, Esq. Callo6de3, White, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., XV, p. 38. C. Atkinsonii, sp. nov. Viridis,nitidus,ovatus, sub-depressus; clypeo antice, thoracis lateribus, elytrorumque margintbios testaceo micantihus ; pedibus cceruleo-viridibus, nitidis. Long. 9—10 lin., lat. 5 lin. Above glossy, green. Head distinctly but not very thickly punc- tured ; clypeus truncate in front with the angles rounded, the anterior margin reflexed, shining with testaceous. Antennae glossy, brown. Thorax contracted in front, green, very sparingly and delicately punctulate, the sides reflecting testaceous, the extreme margin thickened ; the hind margin of the thorax reflexed, except the central portion. Elytra broadest immediately below the shoulders, narrowing towards the apex, moderately thickly punctulate, except at the extreme margins and the suture, which are smooth. The margins of the elytra thickened except at the basal portion. The elytra are slightly dehiscent at the exti'eme apex, which in each elytron is slightly produced. Pygidium acuminate, rugosely punctured, and clothed with short white hair. Under-side shining with aeneous and fuscous, more or less covered with white pubescence, except on the sternum and central part of the abdomen. Legs dark green, glossy ; the four posterior tibiae with a few large punctures on the outside. Brit. Mus. Hab. N.E. Australia (Eockingham Bay) ; collected by E. D. Atkinson, Esq., after whom I have named the species. British Museum, May IWi, 1868. .'ECIES OP TRICHOPTEBYaiA NEW TO THE BRITISH LIST. •^ ^ BY THE EEV. A. MATTHEWS, M.A. ^ Qie season of 1867 proved that our indigenous 'Frichopterygia are % yet thoroughly worked out ; and also proved, if proof had been re- quired, the singular eccentricity of their distribution. In Sherwood Forest I met with two species hitherto only known as inhabitants of 10 [>•""£' Madeira, and tlie Canary Islands, viz., T. ohsccena, Wollaston, and T. anthracina, Matthews, of the latter of which I was lucky enough to find many specimens, though of the former I obtained but one. T. anthracina is a distinct and well-marked species ; it belongs to the first division of the genus, which comprises T. atomaria, and others, whose thorax is much dilated at the base, with its posterior angles produced beyond the shoulders of the elytra ; but from all these it may be easily known by its small size, deep black colour, and short black antennae. T. ohsccena belongs to a group of which T. Guerinii may be con- sidered the type, and all of which have pale or rufescent elytra, and the thorax scarcely dilated at the base. In noticing this species I must apologize to Mr. Wollaston for having formerly led him into error. "When, some years ago, he kindly sent me his specimen of T. olsccena for examination, I returned it to him with the observation, that I did not consider it distinct from T. Guerinii ; and, in consequence of this advice, Mr. "Wollaston has since quoted his ohsccena as a synonym of Querinii. At the period alluded to I was just entering upon the arduous, and then almost hopeless, task of separating the confused mass of in- sects which had abeady poured in upon me from all quai-ters of the world, and I naturally felt anxious to avoid all unnecessary separation of species ; but I soon discovered that it would be impossible to adhere to such a system, and that the only method of arriving at any thing like a true classification would be to follow the example of Col. Motschulsky, and to divide wherever persistent characters could be observed sufficient to justify a division. I found also that one of the most distinctiA'e specific characters exist in the superficial sculpture ; for, where this proves to be identical, every other mark, such as shape and colour, will always agree as a natural sequence. "When I mounted the specimen I had taken at Sherwood, I was much struck by the appearance of its sculpture ; this led to further examination, and I found that, though diflering from Guerinii, it coin- cided exactly in this respect with ohsccena, and that both also difiered from Guerinii in the comparative length of the elytra, and a few other points of minor importance. I therefore feel no doubt that ohsccena is distinct from Guerinii, and that Mr. "WoUaston's name must be restored to the species, A third species new to our list (also from Sherwood Forest) is an extremely pretty Ptilium, allied to Pt. angulicolle, but easily distin- guished by two deep converging lateral lines on the thorax, which is nearly destitute of any central channel. It was found by Mrs. Matthews 18CS.J 11 under the bark of a dead oak ti-ee, and seems to be vexy rare, for, though we carefully examined the greater part of the same tree, we were unable to find a second specimen. In my present notice I shall only give a summary of the characters of these species, as the time must soon arrive when they will be de- scribed at greater length. To them I will also add the diagnostic characters of a genus, which I have separated from Ptilium, to contain the following species, viz., Pt. transversale, Erichson, Pf. concolor. Sharp, and P^. coarctatum, HaHday ; these all differ widely from Ptilium in every anatomical detail ; the most obvious distinction exists in the base of the thorax, which is not, as in the true Ptilia, fitted to the shoulders of the elytra, but overlaps and lies upon them, so as partly to conceal the scutellum. It is not unlikely that the name of the last of these three. Act. coarctatum, will have to be altered ; in 1855 Mr. Haliday described this species, in the Dublin Natural History Eeview, p. 124, under the name of Ptilium coarctatum, and in the same year, M. Thomson described it, in the Ofvers. af Vet. Acad. Forhl., p. 339, under the name of Ptilium elongatum ; the priority must therefore be determined by the month of publication, and this I have not yet been able to ascertain : that the names are merely synonyms of a single spe- cies there can be no doubt, for M. Thomson has very kindly sent me his unique example of elongatum for comparison, and it is specifically identical with Mr. Haliday's type of coarctatum. This species is another remarkable instance of eccentric distribu- tion ; it was discovered almost simultaneously by Mr. Haliday in Ireland, and M. Thomson in Sweden, and has subsequently been taken by M. Aube on the shore of the south of France, and by Col. Mots- chulsky in Egypt. As I have made this species the type of the new genus, I have termed the latter Actidium, in reference to its habits ; its allies, though not strictly littoral, are found among sand and gravel on the margins of rivers and lakes. Teichopteetx axtheacina, Matthews, Ent. Mo.Mag.,ii, 35, 1865. L. c. -^ lin. Ovata, maribus postice valde attenuata, valde con- vexa, nigra, nitida, pilis brevibus argenteis parce vestita, capite modieo, antice elongato, oculis sat magnis, prominulis ; pronoto modieo, valde convexo, postice dilatato, tuberculis sat magnis, ordinibus irregulariter siuuatis confertiin dispositis, interstitiis nitidis, subtiliter retioulatis, 12 IJunc, ornato, lateribus I'otuudatis, late marginatis, augulis posterioribus valde productis, acutissimis ; elytris lougioribus, maribus valde attenuatis, ordinibus sat remotis, sinuatis, modice asperatis, lateribus fere rectis, leviter marginatis, apicibus vix dilutioribus, vix rotundatis : pedibus laete flavis ; autennis brevioribus, piceo-nigris. Trichoptebtx obsc.i;na, Wollastou. AcrotricJiis ohsccena, Woll., Cat. Mad. Col., p. 35, 1857. L. c. ^ lin. Oblonga, elongata, valde convexa, capite atque pro- noto uigris, elytris nigro-castaneis, pilis brevibus flavescentibus parce vestita, capite magno, sat elongato, prominulo, oculis vix prominen- tibus ; pronoto modico, postice vix dilatato, tuberculis sat magnis, ordi- nibus interruptis dispositis, interstitiis nitidis, confertim reticulatis ornato, lateribus levissime marginatis, leviter rotundatis, angulis pos- terioribus acutis, vix productis ; elytris brevioribus, quadratis, haud attenuatis, ordinibus transversis, interruptis, sat profunde asperatis, sutura elevata, apicibus valde rotundatis ; antennis brevioribus, nigro- piceis ; pedibus flavis. Ptilium Halidaii, sp. nov. L. c. ~j^ lin. Elongato-ovale, gracile, valde convexum, lajte cas- taneum, nitidum, pilis brevissimis pallidis sparse vestitum, capite modico, sat elongato, punctis foveolatis profunde impresso, oculis baud promi- nentibus ; pronoto parvo, brevi, capite vix longiori, aut latiori, profunde foveolato-punctato, antice linea mediali, valde indistincta, ad medium baud extensa, postice lineis duabus lateralibus, profunde impressis, ultra medium extensis, atque antice convergentibus, notato, lateribus ad basim fortiter constrictis, angulis posterioribus sat acutis, prominentibus ; elytris sat longis, angustis, ordinibus densis, transversis, sat profunde asperatis, ante medium latissimis ; pedibus atque antennis laete flavis. AcTiDiuM, gen. nov. Characteres diagnostici. Antenna ll-articulatse, articulo 3"° ad basim valde iucrassato, 9"° vix incrassato. Palpi onaxiUares 4-articulati, sat parvi, articulo ultimo aciculari, brevi, fortiter bisinuato, penultimo oviformi, apice extreme truncate. Palpi labiales 4-articulati, sat breves, articulo basali valde iucrassato, 1>)C9,J 13 penultimo profunde bifido, apicibus acutissimis, ultimo exiguo, conico, acutissiino. Lingua magna, palpis longior, ac multo latior, truncato-conica, apice minute bidentato. Paragloss'onoto antice ocliraceo, postice saturatiori ; seutello in angulis lasalibus tuberculo ovato, suhoblt quo, testaceo, carina media apicem haud attingenfe ; elytris tim- brinis, profunde nigro-punctatis ; sterno rugoso-punetato ; pedibus ochraceis, i^unetis magnis irregularihns nigris ; femorihus nigro suh- cijictis ; tihiis leviter denticulatis ; connexivo leviter reflexo. (Antennce desnnt) Long. 3f Jin. ? . Short, broad, sub-depressed, verrucose punctate, not sbiniug. { Brown. Head yellowi^sh-brown, somewhat elongate, the central lobe shorter than the side lobes which meet in front, leaving a small notch, and enclose it. Eyes small , brown, viewed from above somewhat hemispheric. Ocelli minute, remote- placed in a deep cavity beyond the eyes, and almost under the anterior mai-g-in of the pronotum. {Antennae wanting.) Thorax — Pronotum ochreous, almost perpendicular in front, with a dark brown curved line behind the anterior margin ; posteriorly the disc is dark brown ; anterior margin concave ; sides divergent, concave ; hinder angles dilated and rounded ; posterior margin straight across the scutellum ; longitudinally the posterior portion of the disc straight. Scutellum, the raised basal portion triangidar, with slightly rounded sides, to which is joined a central keel tapering towards and dying out before reaching the apex ; at the basal angles an ovate, somewhat oblique, brownish-yellow nodule ; disc dark brown at the base, fading into brownish-yellow as it approaches the apex. i/J^Ts'"is Jaikadeva. -^ The Cashmere specimens do not in any way „ Kamala. 3 difler from those taken in the Simla, Kuna- wur, and districts. AsGTiwis Jeedoni, sp. nov. This species is represented by only one individual (not in good condition) in Dr. Jerdon's seri'^ I have never myself taken it, or seen it in any other coUectic. It is a small Fritillary, allied to Semele, and belonging to the second section of the genus Argynnis, as defined in Westwood's " G-enera ;" the second subcostal nervule is thrown ofi" beyond the end of the cell. TJppEK-siDE — falvous, markings black. Fore-wing — base, and interior margin, below submedian nervure, dark fuscous ; two spots (fii'st circular, second lunular) within, and a streak closing, the cell ; a lai-ge spot below the origin of the first median nervule ; a ti-ansverse, curved, discal series of seven spots ; a suffused spot on costa at two-thirds fi-om the base ; a nearly straight, exterior, trans- verse series of seven spots ; a submai'ginal series of lunules ; and a very slender marginal line, which expands into an angle at the end of each nervule. Bind- wing — the basal half dark fuscous, with a sinuous exterior margin ; an exterior, ti-ansverse series of six spots ; a submarginal series of five lunules ; and a very slender marginal line expanding into an angle at end of each nervule. Under-side — Fore-wing pale fulvous ; mai-kiugs as above, with the exception of the 1868.] 35 fuscous of tlae base and interior margin, wluck is wanting, but is replaced by an additional narrow, lunular, basal mark within the cell. Hind-wing fulvous ; base deep ferruginous, including a basal series of three small silvery spots ; a broad, curved, transverse, discal fascia (with acutely angulated black mar- gins), silvery -white, except where interrupted by two yellowish -white patches ; an exterior transverse curved series of six small ocelli ; the sixth (near anal angle) geminated ; ocelli black, with minute white pupils ; marginal series of large silvery spots, each bordered interiorly with a narrow black lunule. Thorax, abdomen, palpi, antennae, dai'k fuscous ; the latter with ochreous tips to the large, flat, pyriform clubs. Expans. corp, i" ; alar. IJ". Hab. "Groolmurg" (Cashmere). LiMEis'iTES LiGTES. This species is represented bj ouly one much mutilated specimen in Dr. Jerdon's series, which resembles the dark " Kunawur " rather than the light " Simla " variety ; but it differs from all that I have yet seen, in having an exterior trans- verse series, nearly obsolete in fore-wings, but very distinct in hind-wings, of ochreous-red spots, one being placed at the apex of each of the black borders of the submarginal luniiles. The under surface is also suff"used with ochreous-red. This species is subject to a considerable amount of gradual varia- tion. At the commencement of its range near Simla, all the individuals accord well Avith the description of L. Trivena, Moore (Ent. Mo. Mag. Nov., 1864,) having h'oad white fascias occupying nearly one-third of the wing ; while at the extreme northern limit of the range, Tibetwards (as also apparently to the west in Cashmere) , the ftiscia is narrow and only macular, and the insects have a dark sombre look. The food-plant of the larvae is Lonicera tatariea, which has a wide range in the N. W. Himalaya. AuLOCEEA SwAHA. This is one of the commonest insects of the N. W. Himalaya, and does not appear to vary ; the Cashmere specimens exactly resembling those from Simla, Kunawur, Gurhwal, &c. AuLOCEBA Weeanga. This appears to be a rare species. One spe- cimen in Dr. Jerdon's Goolmurg series, and three individuals taken by me in Upper Kunawar, are the only specimens known to me. Epinephile Neoza, sp. nov. This small species oi Epinephile appears to be common at Goolmurg, although in Kunawur it seems to be rare, and confined to only a few localities. On the upper surface it has considerable resemblance to JE. Davcndra ? , which 36 [July, is much smaller, aud want the strongly dentated margins and bright white cilise of the hind-wings of that species. Bavendra $ has moreover often (though not always) a second black spot near pos- terior angle of fore-wings, which never appears in this species. On the under surface of the hiud-wings they are very distinct. (J Upper-side — greyish-brown. In the /ore-wtn(7 the discal portion is broadly suf- fused with a satiny brownish ferruginous ; a single apical spot black. Under-side — fore-wing with markings as above ; but the disc is brightly ferruginous and separated from the grey-brown exterior margin by a narrow, sinuous darker line ; and the apical spot has a minute white pupil and diffused yellowish iris. A transverse fine, scarcely distinct ferruginous line, strongly angulated outwards below the ocellus, crosses the wing beyond the middle. Hind-wings greyish-brown, minutely striated and freckled, with three transverse, sinuous and dentated lines darker ; the fu'st basal, the second discal, the third simula- ting a sub-marginal series of connected lunules. $ . Markings generally as in the male ; but the disc of fore-wings above brightly ferruginous, the apical spot larger, and with an indistinct paler ferruginous iris. On the hind-wings the submarginal lunular line of the under surface ap- pears very indistinctly (or not at all) on the upper surface. Expans. corp, 4^'" ; alar. 1" 6"'. Form of E. Davendra, but with less acutely den- tated margins. Hab. Kunawur and Cashmere. Epinephile Goolmubga, sp. nov. ? Upper-side — dark brown. Fore-wing with two rather large black spots, broadly encircled with pale ferruginous ; one subapical, the other near posterior angle. Under-side — greyish-brown. Fore-wing with discal portion ferruginous ; ocelli as above, but with irides smaller, and with minute white pupils ; an indistinct streak closing the cell, and beyond it a transverse discal line, angulated ex- ternally between the ocelli. Hind-wing irregulai'ly and indistinctly tinted with fuscous, ferruginous, greenish and glaucous ; but a large, medial, ferruginous patch near base ; a curved discal series of seven irregular cuneiform spots, pale yellowish ferruginous, and an incomplete submarginal series of small ocelli, black with yellowish irides ; two below apical and two above anal, angle. Head, thorax, abdomen, palpi, and antennae, brown ; eyes ferruginous. Expans. corp. 4^'" ; alar. 1" 6'". Hab. "Goolmurg" (Cashmere) Epinephile Maiza, sp. nov. (an prcecedentis var.?). ? Upper-side — as in Qoohnivrga, but with the irides of the ocelU much smaller and darker. Under-side — generally as in Qoohnurga ; but in the fore-wing the greyish-brown borders and the transverse discal line are much broader and darker. In the 18f.8. 37 hind-wing the colour is clear, unclouded brown ; the basal ferruginous patch is larger, the discal series of cuneiform spots is incomplete and indistinct, formed of smaller, darker spots, and the foui* submarginal ocelli are entirely wanting. Expans. and Hab. as in Goolmurga. The fore-wing is slightly broader, and has a more rounded apex and more convex exterior margin than in Goohmirga. "Were these insects ^J and ? they would be indubitably set down as sexes of one species ; but both appear to be $ : the}'' may, however, pertain to one species, which is variable, and of which a larger series must be obtained before its character can be correctly defined. PoLTOMMATUs Abiana. "> These (or this ?) species are widely spread „ Naziea. ) through the N". ~W. Himalaya, and shows everywhere a considerable tendency to variation in the colouring of the under surface. The Goolmurg specimens accord with those from Simla and Kunawur. PoLTOMMATUS Ntcula. This very lovely species is common at Gool- murg. In the Simla and Kunawur districts it is not widely spread, but appears in some abundance in certain localities. The rich blue (^ appear to far outnumber the dull brown ? , which are easily taken. PoLTOMMATUs SP. ?. Only two specimens (not in good condition) oc- curred in Dr. Jerdon's series. I have seen it nowhere else. Chrtsophakus Kastapa. This beautiful little " copper," though rare in Simla and Kunawur, seems to be very common at Goolmurg. This series of twenty-three species of Diurnal Lepidoptera, although it cannot be supposed to comprise all the species which fly at Goolmurg in the months of July and August, may be assumed to represent all but the rare ones, and fully to characterize the Lepidopterous Fauna of the region. It will be seen that there is no tendency to tropical, or to truly Indian, forms ; but that, on the contrary, the collection is entirely suggestive of the European Pauna : in some cases the species being identical with well-known European forms, while the rest are nearly allied Himalayau representatives, closely resembling their European congeners. Such collections as this, formed at various points along the Hima- laya, Hindoo Koosh, and ranges westwards to the Caucasus, would be very interesting, as determining exactly where and under what conditions the closely-allied eastern and western congeners first appear, either in contact or in close proximity. Lucknow, 1868. 38 rjuly, NEW SPECIES, &c., OF HETEROCEROUS LEPIDOPTERA FROM CANTER- BURY, NEW ZEALAND, COLLECTED BY MR. R. W. FEREDAY. BY ACHILLE GUENEE. {Contimied from page 6). Grenus Agrotis. Ageotis (Sp^lotis) coeeulea, Gueuee, n. s. Alee anticce cceruleo-grisece, lineis mediis maculisque ordinariis vix ex- presds pallidioribus, saturate cinciis ; subterminali nulla, vel punctulis solum indicata : posticeie maris lutece, margine late griseo, subtus omnes in mare albo- ochracece,in/ceminaalbo-grisece. Abdomen maris utrinque luteum. Palpi crassi. Size and aspect of our hirivia, which is the European species to which it is most nearly allied. The S lias the superior wings distinctly bluish-cinereous, the fringe ooncolorous ; the half line and the two median ones are faintly marked by whitish atoms, and bordered on each side by darker grey ; the orbicular stigma is large, whitish, and well marked, and almost contiguous to the extra basal line ; the reni- form stigma is much less visible, and is separated from the preceding by a square gi-oup of dark atoms ; the subterminal line is obliterated or scarcely indicated by little unequal whitish dots ; other dots, smaller but more visible and more regular, follow the elbowed line : inferior with the ground colour ochraceous, but much obscured by a broad grey band and vague median line : the under-side of all the wings is yellowish-white without markings. Thorax bluish-grey, and the abdomen full yellowish-ochreous on each side. Antennse almost entirely filiform. The ? differs much from the male. Its anterior wings arc somewhat slaty- grey, with the fringe whitish, and the under-side of all the wings whites scarcely yellowish, powdered almost everywhere with grey atoms, as is also the abdomen. But that which best distinguishes this pretty species is the form of the palpi, which varies enormously in the sexes. In the ? they are extremely thick but glossy, and project strongly beyond the front ; the second joint spongy, strongly rounded at the apex, and the third joint is scarcely visible, but in the place of it one sees only a sort of lateral opening. In the ? , on the contrary, they are of the ordinary form, and the third joint is very apparent, ovoid, and directed forwai'd. Ageotis admieatiokis, Gruenee, n. s. Sub-qffinis A. corticea\ Ala?, anticce griseoi, lineis mediis distantibus, maada orbiculari elongata, renigeram fere attingente, clavi/ormi longa : posticm griseoe, fimbria albida ; siibtus albidce, hmula cellulari, lineaque media, Juscis. I have seen only one specimen in rather poor condition. It is rather smaller than corticea. Superior vrings smoky-grey, with the ordinaiy lines much sinuated, blackish and edged with greyish-white atoms ; the two median lines very distant, almost parallel; the elbowed line not angulated inferiorily; the three stigmas pale grey encircled with black ; the reniform almost touches the elbowed line, and is surrounded by blackish shades ; the orbicular very oblong, pyriform, and its apex almost reaching the reniform ; the claviform is very oblong and distinct j the sub- 1868.] 39 terminal line vague ; the hiuder margin marked with black dots : inferior wings uniformly grey with whitish fringes preceded by vague black dots ; beneath they are whiter with a well-marked cellular spot and median shade. Thorax very robust, grey mixed with black, with a blackish line on the anterior part of tho collar. The head is darker, and so are the palpi, the last joint of which is long and truncated. Antennee strong, pectinated. Ageotis ceeopachoides, Guenee, n. s. Alee anticce jvdverece, griseo-suhvirescentes, pimctis terminalibus nigrts, subtus albidce, litura media nigricanti : 2^osticce grisece, fimbria albida, atomis nigris ; thorax griseus ; antennce pectinatce. I have only one example of this Agrotis, which at first sight has the appearance of a Cymatophora allied to flavicornis. Superior wings somewhat dark grey, but entirely covered with long sulphur-coloured or greenish scales which obliterate all markings save the large black dots on the hinder margin ; however, with attention, one is able to see traces of the reniform stigma, and it is possible that, in better maz'ked individuals, the other markings would be visible ; the fringe is long, grey, with the extremity white : the inferior wings are uniformly grey, with the fringes likewise long, whitish, divided by a dark line : beneath, all the wings ,are greenish- grey, powdered with black atoms on the costa; the superior have in addition, imder the costa near the middle, a vague median cellular blotch, and a black dot at the base of the bristle. The thorax is broad, quadrate, dai-ker grey than the wings, like the head, without any line. Palpi very hairy ; the third joint thin, lost amid the hairs of the second. Antennae long, acute, and furnished with long ciliated laminae. Genus Eumichtis, Walker. EuMicHTis sisTENS, Gueiiee, n. s. Al/s integrcB : anticce subviresceiiti-grisece, Uneis mediis serratis nigris, subterminali pallida, maculis bene notatis, orbiculari rotunda, rtniformi magna, claviformi exigua : posticce grisece, lunulis marginalibus nigris. The facies of this species is somewhat ambiguous, and its definite position de- pends upon the discovery of the larva. Perhaps it should be placed in the Hade- nidce near H. sodce. At present it appears best to locate it in its present position. It has some afiinity with M'EETATA, Guenee, n. s. Statura H.mutantis ; ahv anticce brunnece, costa,nervis omnibus, macu- lis, lineisque ordinariis albis, nigro limbatis : posticcB testacece. Thorax alba, brunneo nigroque varius. Antennce pectinat<£. This pretty Hadena resembles onr Neui-ia saponarke in its markings. Superior vrings wood-brown, the costa and all the nervnres white, sti-ongly defined, as are also the ordinary lines, which are bordered with smaU black dashes ; the two first lines somewhat confased, the elbow line is better distinguished by the small black limtiles which margin it ; lastly, the subterminal Une is the best marked in a zig- zag, and forming a ^ between the second and fotirth nervules ; the reniform and orbicnlar stigmas are very conspicuous, white, brown in the centre and bordered with black ; the claviform is confused with the basal markings : inferior wings pale brown with white fringe ; beneath nearly white, with a dark cellular spot and median line. Thorax brown, with black lines, edged with white on the collar and on the patagia. Antennae spatulated and pubescent, furnished with slender but long laminae. The ? diflfers from the S only in its simple antennae. Famelt XTLIXID^. Genus Xtlocamea. Xtlocampa EN'CEPTrEA, "Walker. I have before me both sexes of a species which I think identical with that de- scribed by ilr. Walker (Cat. Lep. Brit. Mus., p. 1736), although the examples present some differences ; notably the absence of the black basal line and terminal dots. The 2 , which 3Ir. Walker has not described, is of a dnUer grey than the 'iA FOBTLN-ATA, Guenee, n. s. Al(e valde dentatce et angulatcE,violaceo-cervin"OPHOS PATSTfTJLAEiA, Q-uenee, u. s. Statura G. ohscuratce. AlcB omnes latce, dentatae, griseo-tesfacece, striatce ; margine lato, Irunneo-ruhricante : anticce macula quadrafa termi- naJi alha. AnteniKB pectinatce. It is as large as the largest ohscurata. AH the wings are strongly toothed, testaceous-gi'ey, powdered with fine blackish atoms. The base of the superior and the last half of all the vrings are tinted with reddish-brown, forming a kind of vague border, which, on the superior, has the appearance of being denticulated inwardly, and is nari-ower opposite to the cellule : beneath, this border does not extend to the margin, and thus fonns a subterminal band ; there is here, on all the wings, a cellulai' black dot, which is larger on the inferior. Body coloured as in the wings, without markings. Palpi little prominent, as in all species of the genus. Antennse furnished with long, but fine, pubescent pectinations. Family xi. ACIDALID^. Genus AsTHE2ifA. AsTHENA MrLLATA, Gueuee, n. s, Statura A. risatce. Alee omnes ruhro-paleacecd, Uneolis multis un- dulatis gi'iseis paraUelis ; diiahiis mediis griseo scepe infuscatis ; punctilio ceUulari nigro : anticce litura ynedia vix conspicua ferruginea. Frons hriinnea. AntenncE iasi albce. This little species approaches more to the true Acidalice than do its congeners ordiiiata and risata, yet its wings have the same form : they are pale straw coloiu- rather than reddish, and are travei-sed by a multitude of grey parallel lines, which are nearly straight, but composed of little lunules ; the two median ones are more blackish-grey, and, behind these, between the second and third nervules, is a more or less distinct geminated ferragiuous mark j a smaU round, veiy distinct, cellular dot, and other similar terminal ones : beneath the lines are distinct only from the cellular dots to the terminal border, and the base of the superior wings is suffused with black. Front cinnamon-brown, and contrasting with the vertex, which is paler than the rest of the head, and whitish, as is also the base of the antennae. I say nothing about the latter, believing that I have only females. 1868.] 43 Family xv. FIDOXID.E. Genus Parage a. Paxagea scissaeia, Guenee, n. s. Al(B siih-angusfatce, alhidce, sericece : anticce linea umlrata longi- tudinali piinctisque cellulari terminalibusque nigris. It approaclies group 11 (Lozogramma). Superior vrings rather narrow, acute at the apex, slender and silky ; bone-white, with the fringe concolorous, preceded by little rounded interneural black dots ; a similar dot in the cellule ; a black lon- gitudinal line parts from the base, and is directed towards the apex, which it does not reach, conspicuous above, but obliterated beneath : inferior wings equally nar- row, somewhat prolonged at the anal angle, paler than the superior, and without markings. Antennae ftimished with fine, but long, cUiations. Front glossy and rounded. Genus Fidox'ia. FiDOxiA (?) SEETULABiA, Gucuee, n. s. Alee omnes paleacece, nitentes, margine fasciaque terminali iiiferrupta nigro-griseis ; linea media punctoque cellulari : subtus concohres, fascia media pallida. Antennce pedinat<£. Palpi acuti. Corpus gracile. I have onlj one sex of this small species, and dare not affirm that it really belongs to the Fidonidce. It has a deceptive appearance of an Acidalia. All the wings are entii-e, shining, straw -yellow with blackish markings, foi-m- ing at fii-st a common border, which is rather unequal, and afterwai-ds another similai- unequal band on the superior, greatly interrupted, and leaving sometimes only a line on the inferior : the superior have, in addition to the elbow line, a cellu- lar dot and two markings on the inner margin : the under-side of the four wings have the markings of the upper, and a distinct median band of the grotmd colour is there seen, but the colom- is paler on the inferiors. Body slender, concolorous. Antennae furnished with long pubescent pectinations. Palpi forming a moderately prominent, but veiy acute, beak. (To he continued.) Occurrence in England of the larva of a terrestrial Trichopterous insect; prohahlif Enoicyh. pvsilla, Burmeister. — I have sevei*al times called attention to the existence, on the Continent, of a Caddis-fly {Enoicyla pusilla) which, in the larva state, lives out of the water amongst moss at the roots of trees ; — the exception in these insects which proves the rule. I believe I can now assert that this is a British insect. Mr. Fletcher, of Worcester, has obligingly sent me several Hving larvae and their cases found in the moss and hchens near the root of willow-trees, and these cases exactly resemble those of Enoicyla pusilla, from Bavai-ia, in my collection : they are of a very ordinary form — slightly curved cylinders made of fine sand. It only remains to breed the insects (which should appear late in the autumn) to enable ns to add this most interesting species to the British Fauna. As might naturally be expected, the lai-va is destitute of the external respiratory filaments common to almost all caddis-worms, but the spiracles ai-e not very evident. E. pusilla is also remarkable inasmuch as the female is wingless and little resembling the male. Several authors, before its transformations were shown, remarked on the occurrence 44 [J"'?' of the perfect male insect, a small creature with little power of flight, in localities where water was absent. Accoi'ding to a letter received from M. Snellen Van Vollenhoven, the larva occurs " in millions" in the wood of La Haye, in Holland. May I ask obsei-vers to keep a look-onfc for this most peculiar insect ? — E. McLachlan, 20, Limes Grove North, Lewisham, June, 1868. Tenthredo olivacea of King, a new British saw-fly. — Of this I took a single specimen at Rannoch, in June, 1865, and have received five examples from Dah-y, Ayrshire, taken by Dr. Sharp. It much resembles the common and variable T. scalaris, but may be at once distinguished by its olive-green, instead of bright green, gi'ound-colour, and by the thoracic black markings, which here form only slender lines marking the sutures of the lobes ; whereas in scalaris they are more conspicuous, and form distinct blotches, even in the least-marked individuals. — Id. Occurrence of a genus of Coleoptera nevj to Britain. — I have just received for determination from Miss Catherine C. Hopley, of Lewes, a S specimen of PhosphcB- nus hemiptsrus, Geoff., captured in her garden at that town. Another example has been taken. This luminous beetle occurs commonly in France and Germany, and is distinguishable from the " Glow-wonn" by its much smaller size and long and stout antennae, and the very short gaping elytra of its male. A full account will appear in our next No. from Miss Hopley's pen. — E. C. Rye, 7, Park Field, Putney, June, 1868. Capture of a species of Omia.s new to Britain. — During the last and the early part of the present month, I have taken in Hackney Marshes a few examples of both sexes, including a pale form, of an Omias evidently different from our recorded species, and which Mr. Rye thinks is to be referred to the O.pellucidus of Schonherr. Of those already known as British, it most resembles 0. hrunnipes, ivom which it may readily be distinguished by the thin scattered grey hairs on its elytra. It is a little larger than that abundant insect (pallid forms of which have, I believe, before now been mistaken for it), dark pitchy-brown in colour, with reddish-yellow antennae and legs, a strongly-punctured rostrum, which is furrowed towards the apex ; a wide, flattish, laterally much rounded, strongly and somewhat irregularly punctured thorax, and strongly punctate-striate elytra. The anterior femora are untoothed, but the tibiae are curved inwardly towards the apex, where they terminate in a sharp point. The male is much narrower than the female. I observe that Stephens, in the " Manual," describes 0. pellucidus, Schon., and does not prefix his desideratum mark ; but, from the absence of the insect in our more reliable recent Catalogues, I presume that in this case, as in many others, he copied the descrip- tion from the original author, under the erroneous idea that he really possessed the species. — W. G. Pelekin, 55, Sandringham Road, Dalston, June, 1868. Capture of Aphodius villosus. — I captured a very few examples of this rare species on the 8th inst., crawling over the diy sand-hiUs at Llandudno. It is just ten years since Mr. Cooke found his single specimen under similar circumstances at Southport.— Jos. Sidebotham, 19, George Street, Manchester, 16th June, 1868. iHG8.] 45 Re-occwirence of Coccinella lahilis.—I took ten specimens of this insect on the 1st inst., at the same place where I took it before, viz., a wood lying between Whitstable and Canterbury. I found them, as before, on heath, but only when the sun was out, in the middle of the day. In cloudy weather I could not find any, by beating the heath or otherwise. They were confined within the space of a few yards, on a few plants growing at the side of a narrow path ; and searching the woods for miles in other directions failed to produce any more. The insect seems to vary somewhat in size. — G. C. Champion, 274, Walworth Koad, June, 1868. Ccupture of Ceuthorhynchibs urticce. — At the end of last April, by sweeping mixed herbage in Headley Lane, Mickleham, I took two specimens of a Ceuthor- hynchus, which, as they correspond with the late Mr. Walton's type of C. urtica in the National Collection, must, I think, be referred to that species. They at first sight resemble Cceliodes didymus, but are considerably narrower than that common insect. — Id. Further notes on Coleoptera, Sfc, near Putney. — In some former notes upon Coombe Wood I mentioned a small stream, forming the extreme western boundary of Wimbledon Common, and in which I have found many running-water Hydradephaga. This stream crosses the Kingston Road at Beverley (or Bavely) Bridge, skirts Richmond Pai-k on the east, thence arrives at Barnes Common, where it is divided on the northern side of that waste into two or three channels, and eventually disembogues itself into the Thames under the first of those narrow iron bridges so difficult to pass on University Boat-race days. In a small portion of one of the Barnes Common channels above alluded to, which receives the drainage of a part of the Common and abounds with the Sweet-Rush, I have found several beetles which are not universally abundant, and whereof a few particulars may not be uninteresting. I have been astonished at the number of species of Stenus to be found in the above-mentioned limited collecting-ground. Of that genus I have already taken twenty-two species in it, — some not of the most trivial. Of them, S. melanarius is the best ; of which I have taken my row, by single specimens mostly. BwpMhalmus, with which it is very likely to be confounded, must be bottled indiscriminately by those who wish to take this insect, which may be recognised at home from its plebeian congener by the darker basal joint of its palpi, its rather less robust build, thinner legs, rather longer elytra (which are not so closely punctured, and exhibit scarcely a trace of the confluent rough punctures behind) and not quite so closely punctured abdomen. These characters are liable to the stigma of " cramhe repetita;" but it may possibly be of help if I again draw attention to them. Next to melanarius, the suddenly bloated, quaint Ut^le fomicatus, whose white knees give the idea of a solution of " continuity " between body and legs, has here rejoiced my eyes ; and plantaris, which I never before heard of as occurring neai' London, picipennis (most " stumpy " of Steni) and latifrons (whose body, d la Kiesenwetteri, it is impossible to elongate too much), both in profusion, and in eras- satm, are the next in degree ; nitidiusculvs, canaliculatus, melanopus (a most active creature), pusillus, the continentally much-vexed ossium, bif&i'eolatus (the real one, alas!) and hinotatus heading the profanum vi'lgus, — Juno, speculator, Rogerij 46 [July- tarsalis, omlatus, hrunnipes, fulvicornis, huphtlialmns (now almost extinct) and cicindeloides, — the last-namccl in myriads. Evcesthetus lceviusc%dus and ruficapilhis, Stilicus geniculatus and orhiculatus, Tachyporus solutus and scitulus, Mylloena trevicomis and mimita (hard to get and harder to set), the common marsh Quedii J and Trogophlcei, Lestevap^mctata,ai,TidPhilont7iusvarius, var. hipustulatus, cinerascens ' and signaticornis, complete the note-worthy Braclielytra. P. signaticornis seems very rare : it occvirs in matted grass-roots, and may be known from villosulus by the usually darker base of its antennsB, its darker legs, and its duller, because more closely punctured, elytra and abdomen. Of the Geodephaga, Stenolophus Tetdorms and AncJiomenus airatus are the best ; and of the Rhyncliophora, Erirhinus schirrliosus (not uncommon), Pachyrinus comari and the black-necked Cionus verhasci : Hydro- nomus, Phytonomus polygoni and pollux (as at Hammersmith marshes, accompanied by its plainly striped form), and other vulgarities abounding. Donacia sericea, Telmatopliihis caricis, Chwtarthria and Cyclonotum in swarms, Simplocaria, Praso- curis heccabimgcB (also not seen by me so near London before), Cassida ohsoleta,, Phyllotreta hrassicw, Corticaria denticulata and Bryaxis juncorum, though all common, will help to swell the list. I have also found here what I suppose to be Limnehitis papposus, conspicuous for the inflation of the middle joint of its palpi. Of the authorities at my command, I can only find mention in Eedtenbacher of this peculiarity ; indeed, the equal size of the joints of the palpi appears to be one of the generic characters of Leach's Limnehius. In the Hemiptera I was surprised to find, commonly, the little enigmatic Hehrus. This does not seem to have been observed near London before. Of some species of Salda to be taken here, elegantula, readily to be known by the suddenly incrassated apical joints of the antennae, is not uncommon, with Monantliia humuU. S. Flori occurs in grass at the edge of the Thames Bank ; the specimens with pai'tially yellow apical joints to their antennae being apparently varieties of the ? . On Wimbledon Common I was much pleased to light upon a little colony of the strident Trox sabv.losus, in and under a very small and desiccated dead lamb. This curious beetle, after foolishly giving notice of its whereabouts by its peculiar squeak, shams death pertinaciously. The grass beneath a very small tuft of wool harboured three specimens. In digging up the roots I found Corymhites holosericeiis, just out of pupa, with its larva. The dry carcase above mentioned also contained several of the pretty Nitidulaquadripustulata, with other commoner carrion-feeders. On the sallows I found Erirhinus salicis, plentifully; replaced in a week by Elleschus hipunctatus. Apion minimum and Epurcea melina also accompanied these species ; and Oxystoma genistce was not uncommon on small spiny broom. In a marshy place, not before examined, I took some PhilontJius nigrita, and P. samguinolentus with its elytral spots confluent ; and, at the old pond near the Mill, Tachyusa atra, Stenits longitarsis, and a nest of Aleochara hrevipennis. When the small scattered ponds here dry up, many Agali, Hydropori, Hydrochi, &c., are easily and plentifully to be taken. In this way I have found Agahus nigro-cBueus, Marsh., considered specifically distinct from chalconotus by continental authors, but not recorded otherwise than as a var. of that insect in our modern lists. Hydroporus lepidus is particularly abundant here. 1868] 47 The rare little Quedius fuscipes, in hay-stack refuse, and Silusa, at its usnal Cossiersa,, which has hitherto been placed in the Irish list only, on the authority of a single specimen recorded by Mr. Bristow, supposed to have been taken near Belfast. — W. F. Kirby, Dublin, June 18th, 1868. Lejndoptera hred and captured in the spring of 1SG8. — The present season opened auspiciously with the capture of six males and one female of N. hispidaria in Richmond Park. Unfortunately, however, all my efforts to establish a brood proved unavailing. At the end of March I recovered my larvae of 0. fascelina, D. ohfuscata, and C. Caja from their tiny outhouse, the remnant of the first-named numbering about a Bcore, of ohfuscata ten, of Caja two. More miserable invalids than the fascelina I never beheld. Wood-lice had worked fearful ravages, too, among the ohfuscata, but what survived appeared to be strong and well. The young budding shoots of broom were partaken of with avidity by the latter — very languidly indeed by the former. Time, however, worked wonders, and the end of May saw a dozen fat fascelina ready to spin, while seven fine olfuscata dived among the long moss in their flower-pot and disappeared. Caja, too, fed up rapaciously after the manner of its kind. At West Wickham, in March, I captured a beautiful jiair of E. cuvellanella and a scries of T. crepuscularia ; while at Shirley my friend Mr. Stanley Leigh took B. parthenias and P. hippocastanaria. In April one of my breeding-cages yielded P. lacertula, T. opima, and B. hirtaria. From Rannoch larva3 1 obtained fine specimens of N. ziczac ; and from larvaj taken nearer home, drumedarius. At the same time there emerged, beautiful among bred insects, A. myrtilli and A. porphyrea, and richly-coloured examples of A. ruhidata, together with many S. ligustn. Now, too, a goodly supply of E. albipunctata, adorned my setting-boards, shortly afterwards succeeded by ccntaureata, na)uita, exiguata. minutata, assimilata, and absynthi.Ua. 48 l-f'-iy In May, two lovely specimens of H. contigua made their appearance, and C. reclusa came out freely. About the same time I bred D. capsincola, cucuhali, conspersa, and ca/rpophaga, the first-named in considerable numbers. About the middle of the month a large brood of E. fuscantaria crept from the shell, and three Kttle cannibal colonies are now established on a privet hedge in the garden. While staying at Oxford I took H. uncana and P. agestis, both freshly out ; and my friend Mr. Leigh met with H. harbalis, in as good condition as possible, at Bagley Wood. N. Lucina, whose time had just commenced, we unfortunately missed, a moment's view of one richly-coloured specimen being only sufiicient to assure us that the pretty little fritillary was out. On a lamp by the New Museum I found the darkest male of 0. pudihunda T have ever seen. At Coombe Wood, the other day, my brother fell in with P. ramana, and at the end of the month the first H. clienopodii emerged from the pupa.— J. B. Blackburn, Grassmeade, June, 1868. Notes on collecting in Burnt nnd Bishop's Woods, in Staffordshire. — I give some results of a week's collecting in June in the above-mentioned woods. In Trichoptera, I again found one Neuronia clathrata (beaten out of birch), and had the pleasure (if pleasure it can be called) of seeing another, but failed to captm-e it. Stenophylax alpestris was beaten rather freely in a marshy place, with neither streams nor ponds in the vicinity. Limnephilus auricula and L. vittatus were beaten from Scotch fii- in exceedingly dry situations.* L. luridus was found in the greenhouse at Willoughbridge. Most of the usual species of Coleoptera, were found ; but I did not see Calosoma inquisitor, which was abundant last season, running on the branches in search of Lepidopterous larvae, and falling to the ground with the larvae still in their jaws on the application of a blow from the beating-stick. In Lepidoptera, I had the pleasure of taking Sesia sphegiformis in both woods. The insect rests upon low plants in the neighbourhood of alder, and one specimen was found among birch, far from alder, hovering over a tuft of Calluna about 4 p.m. ; it is also upon the wing in the evening, flying rapidly and undulating like M. stella- tarum. Angerona prunaria was in profusion. Macaria notata rather sparingly; together with Evypithecia plumheolata, pulchellata, and lariciata. The larva of Traclicea piniperda was abundant ; the pupa is decidedly subterranean. Eymenoptera were plentiful. Diptera very abundant. I captured one Asilus forcipatus carrying Tenthredo livida in its mouth; also Chrysotoxum marginatum rather sparingly, hovering and flying in and out of the heather like some wasps. Tipula crocata was abundant on dusty roads ; all females but one, which was beaten from fir. — Joseph CHAPPtLL, 8, Richmond Eoad, Greenheys, Manchester, 12th J^me, 18fi8. Early and late appearances of Lepidoptera. — Satumia carpini occurred on Chat Moss from the 5th to the 12th April ; A. lepori/aa I found stretching on the 25th May ; and the same evening I saw T. gothica at rest on the trunk of an Alder ; one specimen each of T. populeti and rulricosa emerged from the pupa on the 18th and 20th of May. The latter pupae were dug during the winter, and had been kept in a warm room. — Chas. Campbell, 14, Blackburn Street, Upper Moss Lane, Hulme, Manchester, June 8th, 1868. * The species of Lunnepkilus seem to fly any distance to rest in Scotch-flr. No other tree offers such advantages to tlie collector of these insects.— U. McL. 18GS. 49 Note on the hahits of Saturnia carpini in OrTcney.—Of eleven pupse of S. carpini that I i-eared from larvae found by me in July, ISOe.four produced /emaZes last year (23/5/67 to 16/6/67), four contained ichneumons, and the remaining three pro- duced males in April this year. Is it generally the case that the males remain a year longer in the pupa state than the females ? I do not know if this note be worth insertion in your magazine, but have sent it, as it is new to me, and may perhaps be so to others. — J. Trail, Manse of Harray, Orkney, 12th May, 1868. Captures of Lepidoptera at Witherslack. — On May 9th, 17th, and ISth, I took five specimens of Catoptria aspidiscana ; they needed close searching. The weather was glorious, and I met with my usual assortment of Micros, &c. E. Kilmunella, 0. Loganella and scoticella, P. uncana, 0. rusticana, G. vacciniana, L. miscella, L. decorella (?), 3 larvse of P. tephradactylus on golden rod, a dozen or two cases P. V&rhuelella and one of D. marginepunctella, a dozen beautiful N. viridata and E. octomaculaliSf A, de^'ivata, 0. miata, E. virgaureata, exiguata, and larvae of sohrinata and of T. coniferata. A good number of common species had put in appearance (considering the season was early), and so had the vipers, of which many came to grief with my stick, to the wonder of the natives, who dread them. — J. B. Hodg- KiNSON, 15, Spring Bank, Preston, 20th May, 1868. Captures of Lepidoptera in, various localities in March, April, and May, — At Richmond, P. hispidaria and A, prodromaria. At Loughton, and other parts of ■ Epping Forest, D. unguicula, E. trilinearia, C. temerata, A. pictaria, A. derivata, 8. perlepidana, S. aureola, &c. At Wimbledon Common, E.porata, A. cuprella, 8. radiella, and A. siculana. At Wickhaan, P. lacertula, P. hippocastanaria, E. pusillata, At Leith HiU, T. ruhricosa, T. leucographa, T. populeti, T. gracilis, T. munda, T. miniosa. — Thomas Eedle, 9, Maidstone Place, Goldsmith Row, Hackney, May, 1868. London Lepidoptera. — My brother knocked down in our orchard here, some days ago, a fine female specimen of the Orange-tip butterfly. Is not this a peculiar locality ? A week ago I saw a Bm-net-moth under circumstances still more peculiar. It was flying in the hot sunshine within two or three yards of the Portland Road Station of the MetropoHtan Railway.— H. Montague, Stockwell, 4th June, 1868. Faune Entomologique Fran^aise, Lepidopteres, -par M. E. Berce ; dessins et gravures par M. T. Deyrolle. Vol. i. Rhopaloceres (Paris: Deyrolle fils, 1867). 12mo. 18 plates. The first volume of this series (Coleopteres, par Fairmaire et Labonlbene) has long been considered very useful to Coleopterists ; and we are glad to find that the long-suspended issue is recommenced by the pubUcation of the first of four projected volumes of Lepidoptera. We hope that the editors will not stop here, but complete the series of Coleoptera and Hemiptera which are stated to be in progress, and that the other orders of insects will in turn receive their due atten- tion, so as to aSbrd a complete Entomological Fauna of France. 50 LJuly, A good Manual of Frencli Lepidojitera has long been wanted. De Villiers and Gnenee's book is not safficieutly portable for convenient use, and, moreover, was discontinued at the end of the Rlwpalocera. The entomological traveller in France may now possess himself of a convenient little manual, which, even when completed, will add but little to his baggage. The first hundred pages are chiefly occupied with directions for collecting, taken from the "Nouveau Guide de I'Amateur d'Insectes," and other introductory matter, the value of which is much increased by the woodcuts illustrative of apparatus, nenration, &c. The plates represent about 80 species, sometimes giving the different species or varieties, and frequently both surfaces of the wings ; and in most cases are very well executed. A serious defect, however, which greatly impairs the value of the book, especially to the purchasers of uncoloured copies, is, that the insects figured are rarely described in the test ; a reference to the figure being apparently con- sidered sufficient. "We hope this omission will be remedied in the succeeding volumes and in future editions. It is true that almost any figure wonld be sufficient to identify Lihythea Celtis or Vanessa lo ; but no one could be expected to recognize Erehia Ligea from a plate which does not show the peculiarly characteristic white markings of the under-side of the hind-wings. The arrangement followed throughout is nearly that of Standinger. "We are glad to observe that M. Berce does not adopt the practice (which we find in some French books of Natural History) of popularizing everything, even to the Latin names. There are numerous notices of the food-plants and times of appearance of the larvae ; but, except under the genei-a, we can find no descriptions of larvae. It is to be regretted that M. Berce has passed over without notice various known larvaB (Thecla W-albura and Ccenonympha Davus for instance) ; and in some cases (as in those of Polyommatus Eurydice and Parnassius Mnemosyne), he has added " chenille ?," or even " chenille inconnue," to species of which the larvae have been well described and figured, as both P. Eurydice and P. Mnemosyne have been by Freyer. Notwithstanding these slight blemishes, we believe the book will be found useful to those interested in European Lepidoptera, and especially to the entomo- logical tourist. 6£tt«ral Information. French exhibition of Economic Entomology. — "We have received a circular announcing that the Societe d'Insectologie Agi-icole " (could not our neighbours have invented a better term than '•' Insectologie " ?), of which Dr. Boisduval is president, intends to hold an exhibition of useful and noxious insects, and their products and depredations, with the agents that benefit or injure us by destroying these insects, and the artificial means employed in destroying the dii-ect or indirect destroyers. It will be held in the Palace of Industry at Paris, and is to be open during the whole of the month of August next. This exhibition will no doubt be worthy of a visit from any entomologist who may be in Paris during August ; Dr. Boisduval's reputation is a sufficient guarantee that no means will be spared to render it instructive alike to the agricultm-ist and entomologist. 1S68.] 51 Brazilian insects. — :SIr, Heinrich Barmeister, son of the well-known author of the " Handbuch," who has resided twelve years in Brazil, intends to emulate the example of Messrs. Bates and Wallace, by collecting in Brazil, chiefly in the province of Espirito Santo, with visits to other parts of the South American Continent. Mr. Burmeister has already devoted all his spare time to the breeding of Lepidoptera, and has thus accumulated a mass of facts of the greatest importance with regard to the natural position of many genera. The Birch-wood Dinner.— The annual dinner of the Entomological Club will be held, as usual, at " The Bull," at Birch-wood Comer, on Friday, the 3rd of July. Osbert Salvin, Esq., will preside. The late Mr. Desvignes' Collection of Ichneumonidce. — We have great satisfaction in stating that this important Collection has been purchased by the Trustees of the British Museum. Entouological Society of London, 1st June, 1868. H. W. Bates, Esq., F.Z.S., President, in the Chair, G. P. Shearwood, Esq., of Stockwell, and II Cavaliere Francfort, of Pallanza, Lago ISIaggiore, were elected Members. Mr. Jenner Weir called attention to a Report of a Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Eoyal Honicultm-al Society, in which were some rather remark- able misapprehensions of the habits of the larva of Coleophora hemerobiella. It was explained that none of the Entomologists who are Members of that Committee were present at the Meeting in question. Mi-. F. L. Keays exhibited specimens of Psyche crassiorella from Hornsey, and stated that the oaks were there much disfigured by the curled leaves in which Attelahus curculionides deposits its egg. The Hon. T. De Grey exhibited pupae of Hypercallia Christiernana ; the lai-vae he had found near the end of May feeding on Polygala vulgaris near Shoreham, in Kent. Mr. McLachlan mentioned that he had recently found the larvae in the same locality. Mr. A. G. Butler exhibited varieties of Netneohiv.s Liicina and of Anthocaris cardamines fi-om Heme Bay ; the latter were remarkable for the gi-eat size of the central black spot of the anterior wings ; the posterior pair also showing an indica- tion of this spot. Mr. H. Burmeister (son of Professor Bui-meister) , who was pi-esent as a visitor, exhibited many drawings of the transformations of South American butterflies, together vrith. the pupa-skins and perfect insects of some of them. He mentioned that he had bred a species of Castnia, which he exhibited, from a larva feeding in the interior of the pseudo-bulbs of Orchidacece. Mr. Butler mentioned that Otiorhynchu-s picipes had been causing great damage to roses near Manchester, by eating off" the young shoots. Professor Westwood made some remarks on the habits of Ateuchus sacer, as observed by him at Cannes. Mr. McLachlan exhibited larvae of a caddis-fly which he attributed to Enoicyla piisiUa of Burmeister, the only authenticated instance of one of these insects living out of the water in the larval condition. These had been sent to him by Mr. J. E. Fletcher, of Worcester, who found them at the roots of wUlow-trees. Mr. Frederick Bates communicated " Descriptions of Xew Genera and Species of Hcteromera," from Australia. 52 [Ju'y- OX THE BRITISH GYRrS'ID^. BY D. SHAEP. M.B. The GyrinidcB must be considered as one of the most peculiar and interesting of all the groups of beetles which are found in this country. The family, though it contains very few genera and species, is among the most sharply defined : indeed, though it possesses points of resem- blance on the one hand with the Di/tiscida, and on the other with the Farnidce, it is so distinct as to forbid the idea of its being descended (in a Darwinian sense) from either of them, unless we suppose that an extremely free disappearance of connecting links, of which we can now find no trace, has taken place. It is also interesting to notice that a genus of Carabid(B, Adehtopus of Hope, more resembles the GyrinidcB in general appearance than do any insects of either of the two families to which it is allied : not only is the facies of Adehtopus that of Gyrinus^ but both possess two separate eyes on each side the head, a pecioliarity of structure almost, I believe, without parallel in the rest of the Coleoptera : the dLnieun^n, too, oi Adehtopus are very short and com- pressed, so as to show a great resemblance to those of Gyrinus ; indeed the similarities between Adehtopus and the Gyrinid